Gnu in the Zoo — 16 of 30

Section 2 - Elephant Enclosure

The Elephant Enclosure Entrance is a room. "You stand before the gate of the elephant enclosure. Through the fence and you see a wide concrete floor decorated with closed metal skips and dominated by a large steel shelter. Your nostrils recoil from a pungent mix of sweat, dung and over-ripe fruit." It is east of the Gnu Enclosure Entrance.

The Elephant Enclosure Itself is a room. "The area in front of you could best be described as Vincent’s bedroom and bathroom. Beyond it lies a small, scrubby park in which you imagine he whiles away the daytime." Index map with the Elephant Enclosure Itself mapped east of the Elephant Enclosure Entrance.

The Elephant Enclosure Entrance is connected with the Elephant Enclosure Itself.

The elephant enclosure gate is inside of the Elephant Enclosure Entrance and outside of the Elephant Enclosure Itself. It is a door and scenery. It is lockable and locked. The description of the elephant enclosure gate is "The enclosure’s gate is made up of closely spaced bars and a reinforced box housing the lock mechanism." The white key unlocks the elephant enclosure gate.

The elephant enclosure fence is a backdrop with description "The fence is light chain-link, not unlike that surrounding your enclosure." It is in the Elephant Enclosure Entrance and the Elephant Enclosure Itself.

The skips are objects in the Elephant Enclosure Itself. "They are big metal bins with lids, presumably for storing food or waste. They are not very interesting." They are scenery.

The large steel shelter is an object in the Elephant Enclosure Itself. "The shelter surrounds Vincent on three sides with walls of steel, as well as providing him with a roof. It is lined with straw as bedding." It is scenery.

Vincent's straw is an object in the Elephant Enclosure Itself. "You are familiar enough with straw bedding from your own stall, and feel no need to investigate further." It is scenery.

Instead of taking the straw:

say "Though it is not exactly fixed in place, there's no way you can carry it. It would soon get soggy in your mouth."

The scrubby park is backdrop with description "A wide open space dotted with harassed-looking trees." It is in the Elephant Enclosure Itself.

The trees are an object in the Elephant Enclosure Itself. "Basically oversize scratching posts for Vincent." They are scenery.

Vincent the Elephant is an animal in the Elephant Enclosure Itself. "Under the shelter, Vincent the Elephant lies fast asleep." The description of Vincent the Elephant is "Vincent is a pretty huge pachyderm. Seeing him parked here peacefully, you couldn’t imagine him doing anyone any harm, but you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him in a fight." He is asleep.

Instead of touching Vincent the Elephant:

say "Vincent’s skin is dry and rough. You feel suave in comparison."

[Rather than count attempts, we count the number of times a would-be successful attempt is aborted.]

The number of elephant prods is a number that varies.

Instead of waking Vincent the Elephant:

increment the number of elephant prods;

say "You poke him playfully, but Vincent remains impervious to your prodding. You don’t like to try too hard, in case he wakes up grumpy."

Instead of waking Vincent the Elephant when the number of elephant prods is 2:

say "Throwing caution to the wind, you jab Vincent hard with your horns. With an enormous bellow, his head jerks up, terror in his tiny eyes. It takes you a few seconds to realise that, in so doing, Vincent has accidentally impaled you on one of his long white tusks. Bugger.";

end the story saying "Fatal error: Vincent took exception."

After going west from the Elephant Enclosure Entrance for the first time:

say "You retreat back along the outside of the elephant enclosure. Pausing on the bridge, you glance down at the gurgling waters below[if Night-Time is happening]; you catch the odd glint of reflected starlight, but nothing more[otherwise if Pre-Dawn is happening], at the turbulent surface glimmering mesmerically in the twilight[otherwise]as they flash with ominous glints of reflected red light from the dawning sun[end if]. Best move on.";

increase the time of day by ten minutes;

continue the action.

After going west from the Elephant Enclosure Entrance at least twice:

say "You trip-trap back over the bridge towards your own enclosure.";

increase the time of day by ten minutes;

continue the action.