Slouching Towards Bedlam — 60 of 76

Section 2(c) - Magnetophone

The magnetophone is scenery on the flat table. The description of the magnetophone is "[describe magnetophone]". The magnetophone has a truth state called activated. The activated of the magnetophone is false.

Instead of taking or pushing the magnetophone, say "The magnetophone is far too heavy to move."

Every turn when Flat 2D encloses the player:

if the activated of the magnetophone is true:

if the aetheric module is in the expansion panel:

if the listening of the transmit button is false:

if the contact of the cygnet speaker is false:

now the contact of the cygnet speaker is true;

say "As solid voices become discernable from out of the constant static, a sudden chill descends...[paragraph break][bold type]/(?heartouchothergrow?)\[roman type][paragraph break]A stretching outwards...a growth...[paragraph break][bold type]/(?realblindemptynullwhere?)\[roman type][paragraph break]A stumbling. Confusion.[paragraph break][bold type]/(NOfalseunrealdistantphantomNO)\[roman type][paragraph break]The cold recedes...";

otherwise:

say "[one of]'…since they moved from Tyburn to Newgate. I miss the pomp, to be sure, but it is too far to travel...'[or]'...only women who work are loose women. Just because my daughter can program an engine doesn't mean I should allow such a display...'[or]'...ello? Damn.' A mutter. 'Blast you, you infernal.' An angry shout. 'Hello? My wife gave me this magnetophone as a gift to help me relax. I think she may be trying to kill me...'[or]'...disgusting, if you ask me. A machine killing a man. And I heard it was designed by that woman, you know the strange one on Fleet? Over..'[or]'...match was the worst I've seen in ages...'[or]'...papers say Dickens is on one of his humanitarian rants again. He should be grateful for the poor and downtrodden. Without them to write about he'd be poor and downtrodden himself...'[or]'...in London is 18 degrees centigrade, winds rising to the North...'[or]'...theater is no longer a viable entertainment for a gentleman. Too much rabble. Automaton shows, now that's real entertainment...'[or]'...finding a good scullery maid. Can you recommend one?'[or]'...monsier. C'est un bon idee...'[or]'...think the throne will adopt aether technology. They resolutely hold onto the old ways...'[or]'...tunnel *under* the Channel. Can you imagine. Steam or not, they'll all drown. You won't catch me in there...'[or]'...it gave me absolute chills. I couldn't sleep for days. Mr. Collins must be a disturbed man to have such an imagination...'[or]'...good to hear your voice again, Cyril! How were your travels? Bag an elephant?'[or]'...to spy on us. They could be listening to us now. Our privacy is at stake, I tell you...'[or]'...perfectly right they should be public. We can't catch all the offenders, so we must make an example out of those we do to discourage more crime. My boy is five. I'm taking him to his first hanging tomorrow...'[or]'...you test my patience. Another word and I shall be forced to travel to you and defend my honor...'[or]'...walk before I got into one of those public hansom cabs. Those men who drive them, they're lunatics. Turn the thing over as soon as turn a corner. I've seen men crushed, and all the driver cares about is the condition of his cab...'[or]'...will meet you in our usual place. We must be careful. I fear my father suspects...'[or]'...otland Yard refuses to comment on the accusations that the Crown itself is somehow involved...'[or]'...gentle ladies are up in arms, as their wallpaper, terribly dear and lovingly hung, peel slowly down the walls due to their many steam-powered devices...'[or]'...never give that business my custom again. Imagine the audacity!'[or]'...campus is lovely. If it were not for the insufferable professors and classes, this would almost be paradise...'[at random]";

otherwise:

if the listening of the transmit button is false:

say "The sound of static continues. Faint voices are sometime audible.";

To say describe magnetophone:

say "A stout metallic box, approximately two feet long by a foot deep. On its side is a small label which reads 'Wheatstone/Cooke Aether-Magnetophone Company,' beneath which is ";

if the expansion panel is open:

say "a panel, opened to reveal a small";

if the aetheric module is in the panel:

say " module labeled 'Aetheric Amplifier'.";

otherwise:

say ", empty socket.";

otherwise:

say "a small, closed panel.";

say "[line break]Its front contains a simple toggle switch, a button labeled [']transmit['], and the long graceful curve of a cygnet speaker. At its back is a small valve, connected to a rubber tube which trails along the floor.[no line break]"

The expansion slot panel is a closed openable container which is part of the magnetophone. The description of the expansion slot panel is "[if the expansion slot panel is closed]A small, closed panel labeled [']Expansion slot.['][otherwise]The panel is opened, revealing [end if][if the expansion slot panel contains nothing]a small, empty socket containing two vertical holes.[otherwise]a small module labeled 'Aetheric Amplifier.'"

[PREVIOUSLY: Procedural rule while examining the expansion slot panel: ignore the examine containers rule.]

The examine containers rule does nothing when examining the slot panel.

Instead of taking the aetheric module which is in the expansion slot panel:

now the aetheric module is in the player;

say "With the tiniest *pop* the Amplifier slides from the slot."

Instead of inserting the aetheric module into the expansion slot panel:

now the aetheric module is in the expansion panel;

say "The Aetheric Amplifier nestles perfectly into the open slot."

Instead of inserting anything that is not the aetheric module into the expansion slot panel, say "That does not look as though it will fit in the slot."

Instead of opening the expansion slot panel:

if the expansion slot panel is not open and the expansion slot contains nothing:

now the expansion slot panel is open;

say "The expansion slot panel opens, revealing a small, empty socket containing two vertical holes.";

otherwise:

continue the action;

The toggle switch is a device which is part of the magnetophone. The description of the toggle switch is "A simple toggle switch beside a label reading 'ON/OFF'." Instead of pushing the toggle switch when the toggle switch is switched on, try switching off the toggle switch. Instead of pushing the toggle switch when the toggle switch is switched off, try switching on the toggle switch.

After switching on the toggle switch:

if the magnetophone has been powered up and the activated of the magnetophone is false:

now the activated of the magnetophone is true;

otherwise:

continue the action;

After switching off the toggle switch:

if the magnetophone has not been powered up and the activated of the magnetophone is true:

now the activated of the magnetophone is false;

otherwise:

continue the action;

The cygnet speaker is part of the magnetophone. The description of the cygnet speaker is "Set at the very front of the magnetophone, it is labeled [']INPUT/OUTPUT[']." The cygnet speaker has a truth state called contact. The contact of the cygnet speaker is false.

The valve is part of the magnetophone. The description of the valve is "The valve can be turned to open or close the pipe and thus the tubing. Currently it seems to be [if the valve is open]open[otherwise]closed[end if]." The valve can be open or closed. The valve is closed.

To decide whether the magnetophone has been powered up:

if the valve is open and the toggle switch is switched on:

if the activated of the magnetophone is false:

say "The rubber piping connected to the back of the machine convulses for a moment, a wisp of steam escaping from it. From within, comes a low whirring which slowly increases in pitch and volume. From out of the magnetophone's horn comes a soft echo of static...";

decide yes;

To decide whether the magnetophone has not been powered up:

if the valve is closed or the toggle switch is switched off:

if the activated of the magnetophone is true:

say "The sound of static emanating from the magnetophone is abruptly cut off.";

decide yes;

Instead of opening the valve:

if the valve is open:

say "The valve is already open.";

otherwise:

now the valve is open;

say "A quiet hiss emanates from the valve as it turns, and the tubing gives a small shudder.[paragraph break]";

if the magnetophone has been powered up:

now the activated of the magnetophone is true;

Instead of closing the valve:

if the valve is closed:

say "The valve is already closed.";

otherwise:

now the valve is closed;

say "The hissing sound stops.[paragraph break]";

if the magnetophone has not been powered up:

now the activated of the magnetophone is false;

Instead of listening when Flat 2D encloses the player and the activated of the magnetophone is true:

if the expansion slot panel contains nothing:

say "Static emerges from the magnetophone's speaker.";

otherwise:

say "Voices speak through the static emerging from the magnetophone's speaker."

The transmit button is part of the magnetophone. The description of the transmit button is "A button simply labeled [']transmit[']." The transmit button has a truth state called listening. The listening of the transmit button is false. The transmit button has a truth state called calling successful. The calling successful of the transmit button is false.

Instead of pushing the transmit button:

if the activated of the magnetophone is true:

now the command prompt is "";

now the listening of the transmit button is true;

say "As the button is depressed, the static abruptly stops.";

otherwise:

say "The button stays depressed as long as it is pushed, then releases. Nothing more happens."

Before reading a command when the listening of the transmit button is true:

say "What words are transmitted?[no line break]";

After reading a command when the listening of the transmit button is true:

now the command prompt is ">";

now the listening of the transmit button is false;

let N be an indexed text;

now N is the player's command in upper case;

replace the regular expression "\p" in N with "";

say "[line break]The transmit button releases with an audible pop.";

if N matches the regular expression "CALLING CQ":

now the calling successful of the transmit button is true;

say "[line break]Several voices emerge from the magnetophone's speaker at once:[paragraph break]'Receiving Lon-4-G-C...'[line break]'...earing you - identify Xerxes Yellow Zebra Zebra Yellow...'[line break]'...well enough to...'[line break]'...lear, CQ...go ahead...'";

otherwise if N matches the regular expression "NOTHING WILL BE RESTRAINED FROM THEM WHICH THEY HAVE IMAGINED":

if the calling successful of the transmit button is true:

say "[line break]";

perform Ending C;

if the chosen ending is not Ending C:

reject the player's command;

[hack hacky way to prevent "reject the player's command" from preventing the game from ending...]

Endgame waiting is an action out of world.

Understand "NOTHING WILL BE RESTRAINED FROM THEM WHICH THEY HAVE IMAGINED" as endgame waiting.

Carry out endgame waiting:

if the chosen ending is Ending C:

try silently waiting;

otherwise:

say "That is not a recognized verb."