Stiffy Makane: Apocolocyntosis — 185 of 235

Chapter Three - "Skiff"

The skiff is a thing in the Riverbank. It is fixed in place. "An ebony gondola rests on the sand here." The skiff can be enterable. It is enterable. The description is "Charon's skiff is a gondola, about fifteen feet long, and large enough to hold a number of damned souls." Understand "ebony", "gondola", "boat", and "dory" as the skiff. After examining the skiff for the first time: now the skiff is handled. Check taking the skiff: instead say "It's much too big to take, even if the ferryman allowed you to."

Instead of entering the skiff:

if Charon is broken

begin;

say "Charon winces as he shifts his grip on the pole from his right hand to his left and turns to shake a bony index finger admonishingly in your face. This done, he sullenly resumes his former position.";

otherwise;

if the location is the riverbank

begin;

say "You [if the location of Madame Sosostris is the location]and Madame Sosostris [end if]step into the boat. Charon shoves it away from the shore and steps onto the stern. He poles and the black water slips silently and swiftly by. In a short time, you disembark on the northern bank of the river.";

move the skiff to the Northern_riverbank;

move charon to the Northern_riverbank;

if the location of Madame Sosostris is the location, move Madame Sosostris to the Northern_riverbank;

move the player to the Northern_riverbank;

otherwise;

say "You [if the location of Madame Sosostris is the location]and Madame Sosostris [end if]step into the boat. Charon shoves it away from the shore and steps onto the stern. He poles and the black water slips silently and swiftly by. In a short time, you disembark on the southern bank of the river.";

move the skiff to the riverbank;

move charon to the riverbank;

if the location of Madame Sosostris is the location, move Madame Sosostris to the riverbank;

move the player to the riverbank;

end if;

end if.