Spider and Web (collaborative interactive fiction)

[AlternateTorg]

Sorry for the delay. I've had a harder time getting on the computer since my wife had surgery and I've been taking care of both her and the kids. Recovery's going well, though, so things should be back to normal soon.

>LOOK INSIDE SPACE ABOVE CEILING PANEL
I only understood you as far as wanting to look inside the hole.

Yes, that's exactly what we meant, but apparently it thought we were trying to say something more. Simplifying...

>EXAMINE HOLE
You strain, pulling yourself up with your arms, until you can see over the lip of the hole. The space over the acoustical panelling is only a few inches high; but it spreads out around you into darkness.

A small package, wrapped in cloth, is sitting on the panelling, just a few inches from your face.

You move your hands a bit, one at a time, to ease the strain.

[Dodger77]

> Get package

[AlternateTorg]

>GET PACKAGE
(with one hand, hanging by the other)
Taken.

[Dodger77]

>Examine Package
> Open Package

[Grillick]

Before we do those two things:

>DOWN

[AlternateTorg]

Actually, you don't have to worry about not being able to open it with only one hand, because...

>EXAMINE PACKAGE
It's an oblong bundle of cloth, a bit larger than your palm.

Your fingertips ache dully. And a nearby ventilator grille seems to be hissing directly into your ear.

>OPEN PACKAGE
(with one hand, hanging by the other)
It's not yet time.

Ooh, mysterious... *wiggles fingers*

>DOWN
You drop lightly to the ground, flexing your stiff hands.

[AlternateTorg]

>WAIT
Time passes.

[Grillick]

>Open Package

[AlternateTorg]

>OPEN PACKAGE
It's not yet time.

[CCC]

Maybe we need to get out of the main junction?

> NORTH
> OPEN PACKAGE

[AlternateTorg]

>NORTH

Storage Closet
This room is small and, perhaps, rarely used -- not dirty, but not quite as clean and white as the corridors. The door to the south is open.

Two rough wooden crates are backed in a corner of the closet.

>OPEN PACKAGE
It's not yet time.

[AlternateTorg]

>WAIT
Time passes.

If you're unsure of what to do at this point, I have a couple of suggestions of things to try...

[CCC]

> SOUTH
> SOUTH
> SOUTHEAST
> WEST

Let's get this package out of here...

[AlternateTorg]

>SOUTH

Corner At Doors
The hallway runs both east and south from here. There's a featureless metal door to the west, which is closed; a more normal one stands open to the north.

One of the ceiling panels is missing, leaving a rectangular gap above you.

>SOUTH

White Junction
You are in a bare tiled corridor, white tiles and cold white walls. The ceiling is acoustical panelling divided by illuminated strips of plastic. The hall runs north and east, with a branch curving away to the southeast.

>SOUTHEAST
You return up the hallway as it curves around to the south.

Corridor By Entrance
The white corridor begins here, and curves away north. No one is about; the metal face of the entrance door stands closed to the west.

>WEST
The door is very definitely closed.

[CCC]

> OPEN DOOR
> WEST