Gnu in the Zoo — 17 of 30

Chapter 4 - General areas

Section 1 - Riverside

The Riverside is a room. "You come to a crossroads of sorts. A path runs north and south along the western bank of the river, while another runs off to the west.[paragraph break]Between the north and west paths is a large wooden hut. It has a solid, permanent look about it. The windows are covered in wire mesh; you can see nothing through them. [if the Keeper's Hut is unvisited]On the plus side, the[otherwise]The[end if] door has been wedged open[if the Keeper's Hut is unvisited]. (Curious.) There’s a sign on the door which, of course, you can’t read, but as the door smells slightly of Lee, you imagine it might have something to do with him[end if]." It is south of the Gnu Enclosure.

The river is in the Riverside. The grit path is in the Riverside.

[Surrogate object representing the outside of the Keeper's Hut]

The large wooden hut is scenery in the Riverside. "The outside is rather plain. But what’s inside?"

Understand "hut" as the large wooden hut. Understand "wooden hut" as the large wooden hut. Instead of entering the large wooden hut, try going inside.

The windows are an object in the Riverside. "Despite some strained peering, you can still see nothing through the window." They are scenery. Understand "mesh" as the window.

The door sign is an object in the Riverside. "Black squiggles on a white background." It is scenery.

After going north from the Riverside:

say "You follow the susserating stream northwards, past a sign bearing an outline of Africa, until you come to a T-junction in the path. The nearest landmark is a little to the west, so you go that way.";

increase the time of day by five minutes;

continue the action.

After going south from the Riverside:

say "You follow the river south. It is not long before the river comes to its end in a large pond, which itself drains through a weir into a lake stretching out to the west. You proceed along the path over the weir.";

increase the time of day by five minutes;

continue the action.

After going west from the Riverside:

say "You follow the westwards path past a sign bearing an outline of Australia. The first enclosure soon comes into sight.";

increase the time of day by five minutes;

continue the action.

Instead of going nowhere from the Riverside when the noun is northwest, try going inside.