Stiffy Makane: Apocolocyntosis — 177 of 235

Part Seven - "Rats' Alley"

Rats' Alley is an alley. It is east of the Plaza. "Rats[apostrophe] Alley, where the dead men lost their bones[29 as a reference]. A tenement rises to the north." Instead of going inside in Rats' Alley, try going north.

The bone is a thing in Rats' Alley. "One such bone lies on the ground nearby." The description is "A dry bone, possibly a femur." Understand "femur", "dry", and "dessicated" as the bone.

Instead of attacking someone with the bone, say "Dry bones can harm no one[34 as a reference]." Instead of tasting or sucking the bone, say "Dusty, basically flavorless."

Some rats are scenery in Rats' Alley. They are ambiguously plural. The description is "Well, you can't actually see the rats, but you know they're there." Understand "rat" as rats. Instead of doing anything other than examining with the rats, try examining the rats.

Before going north from Rats' Alley:

if the umbrella is held by the player

begin;

if the umbrella is open

begin;

say "(Politely closing the umbrella first)";

now the umbrella is closed;

end if;

end if.