1 The place: Altdorf, in the Swiss canton of Uri. The year is 1307, at
2 which time Switzerland is under rule by the Emperor Albert of Habsburg.
3 His local governor -- the vogt -- is the bullying Hermann Gessler, who
4 has placed his hat atop a wooden pole in the centre of the town square;
5 everybody who passes through the square must bow to this hated symbol of
8 You have come from your cottage high in the mountains, accompanied by
9 your younger son, to purchase provisions. You are a proud and
10 independent man, a hunter and guide, renowned both for your skill as an
11 archer and, perhaps unwisely (for his soldiers are everywhere), for
12 failing to hide your dislike of the vogt.
14 It's market-day: the town is packed with people from the surrounding
15 villages and settlements.
18 A simple Inform example
19 by Roger Firth and Sonja Kesserich.
20 Release 3 / Serial number 040804 / Inform v6.30 Library 6/11 SD
23 The narrow street runs north towards the town square. Local folk are
24 pouring into the town through the gate to the south, shouting greetings,
25 offering produce for sale, exchanging news, enquiring with exaggerated
26 disbelief about the prices of the goods displayed by merchants whose
27 stalls make progress even more difficult.
29 "Stay close to me, son," you say, "or you'll get lost among all these
33 A quiet, blond lad of eight summers, he's fast learning the ways of
38 Further along the street
39 People are still pushing and shoving their way from the southern gate
40 towards the town square, just a little further north. You recognise the
41 owner of a fruit and vegetable stall.
43 Helga pauses from sorting potatoes to give you a cheery wave.
45 "Hello, Wilhelm, it's a fine day for trade! Is this young Walter? My,
46 how he's grown. Here's an apple for him -- tell him to mind that scabby
47 part, but the rest's good enough. How's Frau Tell? Give her my best
58 You warmly thank Helga for the apple.
60 [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
62 >GIVE THE APPLE TO WALTER
65 [Your score has just gone up by one point.]
69 South side of the square
70 The narrow street to the south has opened onto the town square, and
71 resumes at the far side of this cobbled meeting place. To continue along
72 the street towards your destination -- Johansson's tannery -- you must
73 walk north across the square, in the middle of which you see Gessler's
74 hat set on that loathsome pole. If you go on, there's no way you can
75 avoid passing it. Imperial soldiers jostle rudely through the throng,
76 pushing, kicking and swearing loudly.
79 They're uncouth, violent men, not from around here.
82 You're too far away at the moment.
86 There is less of a crush in the middle of the square; most people prefer
87 to keep as far away as possible from the pole which towers here, topped
88 with that absurd ceremonial hat. A group of soldiers stands nearby,
89 watching everyone who passes.
92 The pole, the trunk of a small pine some few inches in diameter, stands
93 about nine or ten feet high. Set carefully on top is Gessler's ludicrous
94 black and red leather hat, with a widely curving brim and a cluster of
98 A soldier bars your way.
100 "Oi, you, lofty; forgot yer manners, didn't you? How's about a nice
101 salute for the vogt's hat?"
106 "I know you, Tell, yer a troublemaker, ain't you? Well, we don't want no
107 bovver here, so just be a good boy and salute the friggin' hat. Do it
108 now: I ain't gonna ask you again..."
112 "OK, Herr Tell, now you're in real trouble. I asked you nice, but you
113 was too proud and too stupid. I think it's time that the vogt had a
114 little word with you."
116 And with that the soldiers seize you and Walter and, while the sergeant
117 hurries off to fetch Gessler, the rest drag you roughly towards the old
118 lime tree growing in the marketplace.
121 Marketplace near the square
123 Altdorf's marketplace, close by the town square, has been hastily
124 cleared of stalls. A troop of soldiers has pushed back the crowd to
125 leave a clear space in front of the lime tree, which has been growing
126 here for as long as anybody can remember. Usually it provides shade for
127 the old men of the town, who gather below to gossip, watch the girls,
128 and play cards. Today, though, it stands alone... apart, that is, from
129 Walter, who has been lashed to the trunk. About forty yards away, you
130 are restrained by two of the vogt's men.
132 Gessler is watching from a safe distance, a sneer on his face.
134 "It appears that you need to be taught a lesson, fool. Nobody shall pass
135 through the square without paying homage to His Imperial Highness
136 Albert; nobody, hear me? I could have you beheaded for treason, but I'm
137 going to be lenient. If you should be so foolish again, you can expect
138 no mercy, but this time, I'll let you go free... just as soon as you
139 demonstrate your archery skills by hitting this apple from where you
140 stand. That shouldn't prove too difficult; here, sergeant, catch.
141 Balance it on the little bastard's head."
145 Short, stout but with a thin, mean face, Gessler relishes the power he
146 holds over the local community.
149 He stares at you, trying to appear brave and remain still. His arms are
150 pulled back and tied behind the trunk, and the apple nestles amid his
154 At this distance you can barely see it.
157 Slowly and steadily, you place an arrow in the bow, draw back the
158 string, and take aim with more care than ever in your life. Holding your
159 breath, unblinking, fearful, you release the arrow. It flies across the
160 square towards your son, and drives the apple against the trunk of the
161 tree. The crowd erupts with joy; Gessler looks distinctly disappointed.
165 In that game you scored 3 out of a possible 3, in 17 turns.
167 Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?