C C C C  C   ;6i'o %$    / 0    H7   H7   H7   H7 '  H7 )  se slots are laid out in a regular pattern, Captain. I'd say they were used for mapping out areas of the interior.You move north.You move south.You move east.You move west.pblank |aqU7 E 4`+^   , and impossible to follow.The slots are about five centimeters wide, and five deep. They intersect and curve away at the area's boundaries.The slots look like some kind of tracking device -- maybe used to guide some kind of vehicle across the plain.Tho 8   This area of the great plain is bounded by a number of slots cut into the otherwise smooth, grey floor. The bounded area is roughly one thirtieth of the distance from the stairways to the shore.The slots are everywhere on the great plain shaft of light.You step through the shimmering light.pgreatN&U7v  ]5r H6b]\ [ C]\ MH*MH* MH* , and in the exact center of the hall there is a single, circular shaft of electric blue light.It appears to be composed of the same metallic substance as the floor.It is not much wider than your shoulders, but it seems almost a solid mass, rather than a 8   -This is a great hall -- the interior of the central building of New York. Like the building itself, the hall is a long, oval shape. Three large circles are inlaid into the floor, side by side. This circle design is mirrored in the ceilingI don't know what to make of those cities out there.pbase$U 7`:z %H$! H: HB /HBH H:HBHB$o %$   8   *This is the base of stairway alpha. To the south, the great plain stretches into the distance, and curves upward at both the east and west to become the "sky". The gravity here is nearly earth normal.Use Pieter's directional system here.  AŅmŕ(Qաq#iAрj!2!!!aϏmQ~/!o&!Ѓ"!!ՏCŕՕ!ժ3_Q"1AQՕV!qՑ!" PժժժAՕЅժ!!ՁЅժ2"ՀՕ1o!oՑ.!o⪀ՀՅ  ))P|?Os|?!!@|@V***+xgxa 5UU?OspՕ!AO?pZ**agy~xQ-UU?Os|AՀՅ#2C?!Opaj**gy~a!,~!~` 5UU like the tendrils of a living creature.pnyclr |OU 'W7*h G.H5H( W MH0{d=< \o %$  = <-! 'WAhind you.The tunnel's mouth is roughly 2 meters wide. The tunnel itself is some 10 meters long.The knob is about the size of a baseball. There are three small holes in its top surface.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almostot. Thousands of nearly invisible, needle-sharp fibers protrude from the tunnel's inner wall. They float, like cilia, in the tunnel's mouth.The fibers retract. The tunnel entrance is clear.You enter the tunnel, and the cilia close up the tunnel mouth be and west, forming an impassable wall. Before you, a half-cylindrical tunnel grows from the square's surface. Its mouth faces west. 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'Y *N 'Y'''.'Y'1'M9.  @. '1'F N '1L @.  '1'F N '1.1  'N'[YG '03''+ ''  '' '' kj J   j0$Yg T*'g*1.' '.  ''. EY=N ' '' sf#  Ef) ''''!7   8o7-'&%t 8f  ''f at now.She hands you the line.You move north.You move south.You move east.You move west. !hMMD0Qq.=U'''.'Y'g'1'77~ N '03''+ ''  'ach the rectangular building first.You are standing at its base.Use Pieter's directional system.You climb easily down the line.She won't hold that.She can't tie the line now.You tie the line securely to the post.That is not possible.She can't do thties the line securely to the post.You pull yourself up to the roof of the building.The roof is as smooth and polished as the rest of the building, but it appears to be semi-transparent.ppintrYou must approach one of the buildings first.You must approtions in the wall you are facing.The indentations are recessed -- about 8 centimeters square.There are indentations in the building, but they're too small for you to get a grip on.The simp climbs to the top easily.The simp climbs down easily.The simp ters high, and hemispherical in shape.You leave the intersection and step up to the building.The rectangular building is about 20 meters tall and 10 wide. Its surface is like polished enamel. A single post rises from the roof, and there are small indentagin to have second thoughts.Do you mean climb up?There is no way to climb the building. There is nothing to hold onto.Which building? The round one, or the rectangular one?You'll have to approach the building first.The round building is perhaps 30 me 8   LThis is the intersection of the wide streets of Paris. The buildings here are mostly round, dome-like. But there is a single rectangular building in every intersection that breaks up the circular monotony.As you step over the edge you be sAWWaqaap1qaՁAa1*Vaq!#y1wuՀ#WWg1!1!1qAvxjafaqVAW11!gg1  Pսh1QaQݿ@1տ1a~qqaAձ*V:VaՁag1a     '1.1  'L'1Y 'LF '1=. '1'LY C? > 'L 1Y'1'C? > H<UH<L H<C H<: HR(Y$' '.  ''. EY=L 'Y *L 'Y'''.'Y'1'M9.  @. '1'F L '1L @.  '1'F Lt 8f  ''f [YG '03''+ ''  '' '' kj J   j0$Yg T*'g*1.7~ N '03''+''   '' '' sf#  Ef) ''''!7   8o7-'&%rely to the post.That is not possible.She can't do that now.She hands you the line.You move north.You move south.You move east.You move west. BXLGI{Ig-EUetU 'g'''.'Y'g'1'7ust approach one of the buildings first.You must approach the rectangular building first.You are standing at its base.Use Pieter's directional system.You climb easily down the line.She won't hold that.She can't tie the line now.You tie the line secu the top easily.The simp climbs down easily.The simp ties the line securely to the post.You pull yourself up to the roof of the building.The roof is as smooth and polished as the rest of the building, but it appears to be semi-transparent.plintrYou me post rises from the roof, and there are small indentations in the wall you are facing.The indentations are recessed -- about 8 centimeters square.There are indentations in the building, but they're too small for you to get a grip on.The simp climbs tothe building first.The round building is perhaps 30 meters high, and hemispherical in shape.You leave the intersection and step up to the building.The rectangular building is about 20 meters tall and 10 wide. Its surface is like polished enamel. A singl rectangular in shape.As you step over the edge you begin to have second thoughts.Do you mean climb up?There is no way to climb the building. There is nothing to hold onto.Which building? The round one, or the rectangular one?You'll have to approach " " 8    This is the intersection of two narrow streets in London. The street's surface is rough, almost like cobblestone, and a distant rumbling sound seems to come from deep below the city. On each of four corners is a building, either round or   N  +*_!1^!Z12ϿWE"2Ͽ.1!SՀ!Ք"?3x%!!ϿT"C!"D"   'MF '1=. '1'MY C> > 'M 1Y'1'C> >  H=gH=^ H=U #H=L H.: HQ(Y$  M 'Y'''.'Y'1'M9.  @. '1'F M '1L @.  '1'F M '1.1  'M'1YG '03''+ ''  '' '' kj J   j0$Yg T*'g*1.' '.  ''. EY=M 'Y * sf#  Ef) ''''!7   8o7-'&%t 8f  ''f [Ynds you the line.You move north.You move south.You move east.You move west. [@@7"Ccx /U'''.'Y'g'1'77~ N '03''+ ''  '' ''ngular building first.You're standing at its base.Use Pieter's directional system.You climb easily down the line.She won't hold that.She can't tie the line now.You tie the line securely to the post.That is not possible.She can't do that now.She ha securely to the post.You pull yourself up to the roof of the building.The roof is as smooth and polished as the rest of the building, but it appears to be semi-transparent.pmintrYou must approach one of the buildings first.You must approach the rectawall you are facing.The indentations are recessed -- about 8 centimeters square.There are indentations in the building, but they're too small for you to get a grip on.The simp climbs to the top easily.The simp climbs down easily.The simp ties the lined hemispherical in shape.You leave the intersection and step up to the building.The rectangular building is about 20 meters tall and 10 wide. Its surface is like polished enamel. A single post rises from the roof, and there are small indentations in the econd thoughts.Do you mean climb up?There is no way to climb the building. There is nothing to hold onto.Which building? The round one, or the rectangular one?You'll have to approach the building first.The round building is perhaps 30 meters high, an 8   >This is the intersection of two avenues in Moscow. The streets are like polished aluminum, and on each of four corners is a building, either round or rectangular in shape, alternately placed.As you step over the edge you begin to have s   xաՁՕ2¢A/Q@ EEP*q^A1ŕՅՀ^AqsʪԔԐ"2ŀ"1!!ŵ1ՕՀԔ"$RԔԀ^",!Ru  HHAP@A1Q!1QAp -  'p"DY?   -   q?VRp"'p"$o %$  VRp"'p"$o %$  :H:#!  n !p"lf`ZTNH B < 6 0 *$  - /pGp"B ! 3p"#ay be a way to eliminate waste.There seems to be a great deal of energy here, Captain.+9Jf)N^U 7'p";2 K k= &H:  H: H: H: H:H:Hin.You would look a little foolish standing in the basin.She will not go near the red button.She isn't here.The basin seems to glow until you release the button.The basin seems to glow until you release the button.I don't have a clue, Captain.That m half a meter in diameter, and only twenty centimeters deep.You drop the into the basin.You don't have that object.Goldie won't stay in the basin.The basin is full.You take the from the basin.The is not in the basin.There is nothing in the bas 8   FThis is one slotted square on the great plain. There is nothing here but a basin at the square's center and a podium some two meters away.pdispoThe podium stands about one meter tall and has a single red disk on it.The basin is roughlyHI -HI  -HI H@  H@~ -H@l  -H@Z   H@@ .  H@&$  ve north.You move south.You move east.You move west.|U7-JJ     'o %$    / 0 HI HI HI ,HI HI   8   &The collection of structures called Paris juts up from the great plain's surface. Wide streets lead directly into the city.I still don't know why Pieter decided to call this place Paris...Paris is a state of mind, Skipper!ppparsYou mo   ŀ^1!a%!eŦŀ^a!^aAŕp!!p P85с!Հ^AUԄCԔԀ^тՕ1^!Հ!ՕՀ^ Y>(#        CW  : H:H:H:H:^ I  o %$ r ^Y>(#        CW  r ^into the copper band.A dark green tetrahedron appears in the indentation.The silvery liquid rises a little but remains in the white band.She isn't here. "dl9zU75 k= &H:  H: H: H  HGHG $HG HG  #HG #HG HG  HG # H>t # H>Z  H>@ " H>&$   rectangular one?pgateYou move north.You move south.You move east.You move west. &5U71N [}}     Zo %$  ;f,f    Will and I talked it over, Captain, and I disagree with him. I think the differently shaped buildings increase your chances of finding something useful.This is Laura, Captain. Pieter stepped out to check on the simps.Which building? The round one, or the 8   DThe rectangular and bulbous shapes of Moscow's skyline rise from the great plain's surface. Smooth streets, like aluminum, end here between towering, gate-like columns.I have a funny feeling about this place. Please be careful, Skipper.     aՀ"Ց!̏"R1a!1SՅs,",a>aՕ2!Հ!qrՒÿ1q1ᨁb&qb_뀪ᩥ#ao쀪1着Ԁ3쀪4Հ6ÿՕ!8Յ#O!<1ՕCóϿ}Qs!ÿ1"1!rЁQÃAA1QՀ Pÿ!1|!!q!!1!!TB1O"qղ!ϼÿ  Captain.We know so little about the biological needs of Ramans, if they even exist. Could this be a dispenser of some sort?Do you think goldie would step on that platform?I don't trust that platform, Captain.The silvery liquid in the tube rises clear p, five centimeters tall and five centimeters wide.The platform lies on the surface of RAMA butted against the cube.The tube is only about one centimeter in diameter and is three meters tall. You notice some sort of silvery liquid in the tube.Search me,les the cube. Below the copper band is a red band which is ten centimeters wide and also circles the cube. Below the red band the cube is white. There is a one meter square platform laying flat on the surface.pfoodThis indentation is five centimeters dee jj8   cYou see a three meter cube here. Positioned in the center of one face is an indentation. To the right of this is a tube which runs to the top of the cube, where you notice a three centimeter wide band of copper. This band completely circ      HH HH HH HH HH  H?t  H?Z  H?@  H?&$  pplondYou move north.You move south.You move east.You move west.d%U71N Qjj     Go %$  (#ffHHHH HH  8   4A city of squat, featureless buildings looms before you. Narrow avenues run between the structures.There is no way to climb the building. There is nothing to hold on to.These buildings look like warehouses to me. 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""(***U**UA (UE#Q"%)1    ݪAӏaa!q1A31ՀŠ!3!ݪ!!݀R)ݪqՀq!!1Ԁ$ՀaݪYAr!!񇆯1"aAՀՀ2Հ&AQ1A!"aϑ̅1ŕ%ՕԢaՅ&qW1ՀݪᡀQAՀ1Հ2Հ#1!2$AŕՕ!Q!!XաՁQ"!KձձQ!MձQ!@ening appears to be about one meter square.You slide down a short chute, and land gently in a cavernous room.ptrap<]U 'y7gP $:cMHS Id c  1c 'yy MH0 rapdoor and jump.The cilia are all facing out. You move through them easily.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almost like the tendrils of a living creature.A bar protrudes from a hatchway-type door set into the floor. The op  8   cThis is the interior of a cylindrical tunnel. To the north is the tunnel's mouth. It is partially obscured by thousands of fibers that seemingly grow from the tunnel's inner wall. There is a trapdoor-like opening here.You must open the t    ,H: -H: -H;  -H;~ H;l  H;Z -  H;@   H;&$      / 0  HCH: H:v +HCc +H:Y HCF H:< H:) H:  H:  H: - H: , H: 8   This is another slotted square on the great plain. In the distance, you can see the skyline of Paris.ppskyYou move north.You move south.You move east.You move west.fl|U77 -05       &ժS1#bOC"T1ժ2$?bAA?_o!Aգ7?.Q/1A11r?_4#%#/AC724125#'DO(4dO##.A?#a1Q3BLJ1A!!1!a!1QQ"1QQ2!Ͽ2ʃ/aAR3a1Aba!Ͽ/1Ϫ!"$"/!)"Ղ!r""#!A!!#Ttca.ժb!#2)!!ח"ǟQQ!ՅO BBPQR!!!"A!#!1!'R!2-"!!!,"!Q"-!"!*"%""/r"b*/  yՀՀՀՀՀ/ՀՀՀՀՕ1"ϿဪQ*!"1!U)q"2AՑqЁՒ#!+a!"ŕՀĴ!*Q!ՀՀ3#3Q*TQ#?!*a11ԷmcπlcGq*!GŕU_a!*!SqŁǀՀning appears to be about one meter square.You slide down a short chute, and land gently in a cavernous room.ptrap;\U 'x7gP $:cMH6 Id c  1c 'xx MH0 apdoor and jump.The cilia are all facing out. You move through them easily.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almost like the tendrils of a living creature.A bar protrudes from a hatchway-type door set into the floor. The ope 8   bThis is the interior of a cylindrical tunnel. To the west is the tunnel's mouth. It is partially obscured by thousands of fibers that seemingly grow from the tunnel's inner wall. There is a trapdoor-like opening here.You must open the tr    H=Z   H=@ #  H=&$     H:EH:; H:1 %H:' # H: $ H: #H: $H:  H:  H: H: H:   #H=t  # ii8   bThis is another slotted square on the great plain. In the distance, you can see the skyline of Moscow.pmskyYou move north.You move south.You move east.You move west.gm}U77 0+5      "ՀՀ!1!ՀՀՀ!1!ՀՀՀ!1!ՀՀՀ!1ԑ!BA4Š]#"'#3!4ŕ$Q2!!ՀՀ!&Š?!!Հ23a!ՁCcTŠ/!Հ"=/Ձ!ՀCŕ$ժ!1(Օ2?!TBձՀ!/"#QՕ""S"32_Ւ#Օš!ժŊ6̌A1Հժ11 UP!1q1Հժ!1q1Հժ!1q1Հժ!1q1Հժ!13q1ՀՕ#$q1ՀC9R/q1  pcFC5'c>! T 'HsHQFMHQGHQFMHQ ity of getting in a raft on the frozen sea.You realize the futility of getting in a raft on the frozen sea. ;AU 'H7<1^* :'%#QHZH6 f e  The pellet balloons into an air-filled raft 3 meters wide by 4 meters long.The raft holds your weight easily. You can paddle in any direction.It may not be machinery. It could just as easily be a towering, complex structure.pnyharYou realize the futil refinery or processing plant, with no passageways through its forest of tubes and scattered monuments. There is, however, one small clearing to the south.This is not a good place to go scuba diving.It is impossible to move through the tangled machinery. 8   [Here, from the island's shore, it is clear that New York is even less like a city than Paris, London, or Moscow. There are no streets or intersections here. Instead, New York appears to be a massive machine of some kind, like a cosmic oil H:  H<  H<t  H<Z  H<@ #  H<&$     H: HCH:| HCi H:_ HCL H:B H:/ H: H:  H: H: H: H: 8   This is another slotted square on the great plain. In the distance, you can see the skyline of London.plskyYou move north.You move south.You move east.You move west.gm}U77 -05    !?ş!"Ͽ-aЁՁա!"("!!ϿՑաЁqЁաR!ѯ!<ձЁa!>᠂Q!-E"G@OA%!uŕ6*!6!рՀՀՀՀՀՀՀՀՀՀՀՅŕ#!Ͽ/Q*!""/R*|!AՀђ"?!A3!*#A!13*#D!|Q"D#O1"^Dq!򀁟1ЅQA11ŖĔ5A! PaՀՀрՀՀрՀՀрՀрBՀ1AԔ2?‚⁂‚", #Q    kPQϪՀՀрϪՀՀрϪՀՀрϪՀՀрϪQϢтC!B!"4ϊ#2#?eՀՅ?evasse opens beneath your feet. You are swallowed by the churning cylindrical sea!pshore .AHU  7_ X_! H5   "  M'Q9 aking sounds are audible as you move across the frozen expanse.Suddenly, there is a rumbling several meters away, followed by an enormous crack! A great fissure opens in the ice--it rips past, throwing you to one side!Ice explodes around you as a huge cr 8   JYou are on the frozen surface of the cylindrical sea. The great plain is roughly to the north. From overhead comes a loud creaking noise, as if from an enormous, unoiled hinge.After some struggle on the ice, you make it to the shore.Cre T 'HWHFMH7HFMHH:  / 0     move north.You move east.You move west. *R U 'H7A<1d*9 T H:   o %$  pcFCT'c! of that liquid.My sailboat would come in handy about now.Whatever you do, don't drink the water.The pellet balloons into an air-filled raft 3 meters wide and 4 meters long.The raft holds your weight easily; you can paddle in any direction.pthawdYou 8   This is the northern shore of the cylindrical sea. The sea's surface curves up to both the east and west. The island called New York is visible in the distance, halfway to the southern shore.This is Laura, Captain. I don't like the look  *(  (* "(**aUUUTPAEQTUUa*****aUUUUUa**** *aUUUTUUFCՑաQffoAՑ!G@@AG‘G@߀A**" *(" *( UUUTQEUTQEUT@***A  (  *1( *( UUUAPPATUT@****(*!*(* UUUU'@UUUa*** "" ?N1D!!d`DI!ъQՁT@pDOա`Dqaс!Ձ5ժ21AՁՁժQ qqDPUUUUU>*****>UUAUUU/**a  (  (  ***UUTQPUU/**Q****/UUQUUUU/**Q  ( A (  **/UUqTPAEAPTUUU**(***/UUUUU/ * NQ1#~"   ening appears to be about one meter square.You slide down a short chute, and land gently in a cavernous room.ptrap<]U 'w7gP $:cMHQ Id c  1c 'ww MH0 rapdoor and jump.The cilia are all facing out. You move through them easily.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almost like the tendrils of a living creature.A bar protrudes from a hatchway-type door set into the floor. The opPA<  M9   M9  the shore of New York island.pthawdYou don't have the laser.You don't have the knife.With what? ){E -GU7 ,f x g    ".CT " MHTC5MH5d_Te, you come within a kilometer of the sheer, unbroken, 500 meter high cliff that is the southern shore. A short time later you are near your original position.The westerly current draws you along, then quickly turns southward. Finally, you run aground on ou leave the calm pocket of water. A powerful current takes you to the northern shore.Your paddling takes you out of the calm water and into a rapid current. Your makeshift craft tumbles over half-submerged baffles as it turns to the south. After some timunications seem to be jammed by a powerful magnetic field.The water is thick with unknown elements, as if it were from some primeval ocean.Using that here was a really smart idea! Your raft is coming apart! You're sinking! You're finished!Immediately, y ]]8   VRPowerful currents draw you away from the shore. Eddies created by some kind of submerged baffles have you circling slowly in the great cylindrical sea.You'll have to paddle to move about.This is not a good place to go scuba diving.Commou move west.U7H A-F H)   !H:   / 0 H:&$   8   This is the northern shore of the cylindrical sea. The sea's frozen surface curves up to both the east and west. The island called New York is visible halfway to the southern shore.pshoreYou move north.You move south.You move east.Y  ժ_QOՀՀD4ՀC$ѱժϊڀϳ!B"_(!"̌cՆ!"aՕՀߌaՀ߰aՀ?Օ3?j4⠨"??Q!!!!Հ(!ՀD!!s3⁄!Br'3! P,պ,,׀Ջ,!&"6Պ!&"Ņ2"/oB3ԁԀUAѕCD!KAŕՀՕCOx?  z#Ƞ!ˠԠԠ Ҡ Ϡ̠ ͱ Ͳͳ ΠϠҠԠ !Π"Ӡ ٠àˠ   Ơ"ӠӠΠ Π  Ҡ   ӠѠ̠ Ӡ ˠ Р Ӡ Š ɠ  ɠ ̠ Š! Ԡ" ̠ Ҡ Ƞ Ӡ ijɠ٠͠ˠΠĠ ԠРĠϠɱ ɲɳ  Π Ҡ ҠͱͲͳԠ Ҡ"ŠΠΠΠ ˠ Ġ ٠ĠŠӠ!ҠҠ ҠŠɠȠŠĠ٠٠vitation to friendship than a greeting of peace. A, the writers of this message, had independently embarked long ago on their own galactic search for intelligent life. This message may simply have been designed to tell something of those beings, their world, and their aspirations. There is no stronger ination Hercules. Arecibo was designed to tell the universe of Earth and her people. It was sent long ago. Could the Ramans have intercepted the Arecibo message, and fashioned a reply as majestic as this huge artifact called RAMA? Perhaps the builders of RAMization. The message looks strangely familiar, like something you once studied in the Academy... it was called... Arecibo! Yes, this message looks a lot like the famous Arecibo message, transmitted by radio telescope to the M13 star cluster in the constell ,  Ss S` SM *; S- S S  |iV;(   , ched to it.This is a heavily constructed iron rod. There are three prongs on one end._lYi = ' q _  !    8   EThis simp, called Goldie, is a multi-use android whose structure is based on the New World monkey family. She is lightweight and agile.It is dark green.This is your typical utility belt. There is a powerful lightweight battery pack attaI don't know what to make of those cities out there.pbase#U  7_9y $H%  H: HB HBH H:HBHB$o %$   8   )This is the base of stairway beta. To the south, the great plain stretches into the distance, and curves upward at both the east and west to become the "sky". The gravity here is nearly earth normal.Use Pieter's directional system here.  + !@pz*1:?uU2uU1]uUTP@3|@"*j*QpA]}_Ux?-+* j A *( !/~zj*/* 4"Qp0(@p|}p@gApx~1|xp`!@`x1|~|~/ P? C2?uE@!P@*.*(A ?R!/"!*(*(U}UB}uUZ(+/ G?WUEQPEPU1*:{?~*+/?z*+!-UbTPXPAAQ*.!*+" *jz .)%W_WUW$UVZ*z~*+*>j*U}u_U@WUy~t=*Qx!U!]U!_U*  where did you leave the case?The dragonfly is begining to show signs of wear.You may want to limit the dragonfly's use.Fly in which direction?Though you pedal furiously, you can't fly up.You have landed.You can't fly down.You have landed.Due to th 338   ,'The dragonfly is showing serious signs of wear. Reluctantly you repack the dragonfly, realizing you must save it for a more important function.The dragonfly is showing serious signs of wear. You realize you must repack the dragonfly, now $o %$  I don't know what it is, but my scanners keep sensing movement out there.I don't know what to make of those cities out there.pbase8mU 7_9y $H&  H: HB HBH H:HBHB **8   #sThis is the base of stairway gamma. To the south,the great plain stretches into the distance, and curves upward at both the east and west to become the "sky". The gravity here is nearly earth normal.Use Pieter's directional system here. P*_WU!QA_Ak  (! (  (~|u!e@UQTUD$pl|1! -)  )-!/?/ @PTEQT@#UEPA@U x**(*"(*  (2 h|utQAEUTE@1Ppt}ՕՀQq!(aaQՀՀQq!(aaQՀՀQq!(aaQՀՀq! 1Հ?|sOŀՀՀՀՀQ~aaQq!!p@&ՀՀՀՀՀ~x`Հ|sO?|p@ՀՀՀ1!$~yg&1!(aaQaՀՁՀAaq!(aa1aq!(aa1aq!(aa1aq!(aa1aq!(aaաq!(aa񀪡q!!O?aaաq!!~ygՀՀՀՀQgy~aa!!?Os|!?aaաՁဪ!!y~)Հa@pՀՀՀՀA`x~Հ@p|?Os|aaՀՀgy~AA!(a /PՀqձ!(aa!(aaաձձ!(aaՀՀՀՀ1A!(aa1aՀрՀՅՀՀՀՀ    d you.The tunnel's mouth is roughly 2 meters wide. The tunnel itself is some 10 meters long.The knob is about the size of a baseball. There are three small holes in its top surface.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almost li. Thousands of nearly invisible, needle-sharp fibers protrude from the tunnel's inner wall. They float, like cilia, in the tunnel's mouth.The fibers retract. The tunnel entrance is clear.You enter the tunnel, and the cilia close up the tunnel mouth behin \\8   UThis is the center of an open square. London's buildings rise around you. Before you a half-cylindrical tunnel grows from the courtyard's surface. Its mouth faces east. Set into the floor before the tunnel is a hexagonal knob.You cannotUUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1*UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1UUt**U**! PUQT%)#* !"BHPT"%)/**U!*1UUs**U@RTU!E!$()JR#TUUU*!U1**sQ% *ABHPR"%)/***U*UUR!2U1*RTUUUU*U**BPTTU*U****AU!*1UUq"(!**U*UUUUA*!U1**tUU*U****AU!*1 P*U!**** "!(*RJR"TU3U**UP*TUUE"QT!U"%)#* 2BP#TU*1UUq* UT*** ""(#*J"RT3"!(1*J"RT!*!U1**qUU@ *!TUE2QT"%#)*2 B"PT!%))*U*UU*!*U!P (* ""("*J#RT#E!$(*JR#TU*!U1**rUPT "b!")2Ͽ!'!"1Հ22r!"Q!!"BB1!Ͽ!4!!!/C!!!!!R!AB!Ͽ!%!!!!՟!!!!"R!!B!""b!Ņ!!q!qŅc1q%!"t!=r2!/BCCr!!%3i5 $]' #''']'XF w ]' #'''X C ' #  " ' #e configuration of RAMA, you are unable to fly north. You have landed.Due to the enormous height of the cliff on the Southern hemisphere, you could never fly over it.You have landed.You can't fly that way.Though you flap your arms furiously, your feet ձA1ՕŅqѫO!15_2aեa/BV_!R_"A/Hha/󪊈!qaiřԪ?$!ŕ!!!Ք1ǟ"1!$!:!!AUU1!/!1ՕUQa!!re""E1b!#$2!13#""""!!1!1R2/q41!5"ŕ11!!C P2!$B'Օ$"Ւ#1!t1#6!a"DcA1#3S!B!4RB1RBA"29%1!13$"""s"!"!B"    ĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀÃÃÃÀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀaaՕ(AĀq1A31ՀŠ!3!ĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀ!Q"!ĀĀĀĀR)ĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀqՅՕЀBrr!!񇆯ĀĀĀ1"bAՀՀ2Հ&!(AQ1A!"bϑ̅1ŕՕՀb!!YA!ĀĀĀĀĀĀĀAՁ!bqW1űQAՀ1Հ2Հ#1!2$AŕՕ!Q!!!A11!!Ѐ!!A"q!ĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀ"ĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀĀA BBz PĀ     annot. Thousands of nearly invisible, needle-sharp fibers protrude from the tunnel's inner wall. They float, like cilia, in the tunnel's mouth.The fibers retract. The tunnel entrance is clear.You enter the tunnel, and the cilia close up the tunnel mouth bb8   [ This is the center of an open plaza. The buildings of Paris rise around you. Before you a half-cylindrical tunnel grows from the courtyard's surface. Its mouth faces north. Set into the floor before the tunnel is a hexagonal knob.You cY0D*E$FRSQ .-     (    y   e   Q   =    )  (   ( /     is to the west.The longitude which bisects Paris is to the east.Captain, long range scanners won't work here. 7o3f1'k:78BA~TxHrGlIf<`=Z;T>N?H@BC<W6ight squares east.The longitude which bisects Paris is to the west.The longitude which bisects London is to the east.The longitude which bisects London is to the west.The longitude which bisects Moscow is to the east.The longitude which bisects Moscow which bisects Paris is eight squares east.The longitude which bisects Paris is eight squares west. The longitude which bisects London is eight squares east.The longitude which bisects London is eight squares west. The longitude which bisects Moscow is e 8   _You are standing on the longitude which bisects Paris.You are standing on the longitude which bisects London.You are standing on the longitude which bisects Moscow.The longitude which bisects Moscow is eight squares west. The longitude(!22TR2JH("$ *q*!U1**!QaTUUUSTQ!EDTPB" *2)%!TQ"EU!*1UU!?@#?***("" 1*("!2TR"J(*U**UU@UUUbTQ"E#TP"B &*UUUU!V(******U**B_#x(U@UUUUU*UU*~tRJ("" ?****U**UEy$ *B)%"TQE"UUUU!*1UU!*(*"(!3T#RJ!H(" /***!U1**"utBq@UU2TUQD!PB" *B)%$!TQ"E/UU*UU@C@Q|*(*("! *UU*!B2| !******U**u##UUUUUU*UU##******U**WV##UUUUUU*UU@"?*****A*!U1**!BQ~1UUUUUU*UU?p02?0p@1A*****A*!U1**!E`a1AUUUUUAU!*1$UUUUUU*UU*akD******U**UaUUUUUAU!*1UU!/0Ap******U**UQu2~AUUUUUAU!*1UU!z~ L $******U**%~"`1UUUUUU*UU?@R*****A*!U1**"U}(UUUUUU%)1* "BP#E"QT/UUqU!*1UU"*pq !JR!T"!( ""(****!U1**#UW1Uu BPDQ2TUUUqU!*1UU!z#* "(****!*!U1**!_^4~UUUUUU*UU~#9******U**)`QUUUUUU*UU)$******U**_$^~ P*!j%**** ""(J"RTU"U1**"UTUUU"EQ!$%)*" B!P!TU*UU*!*** ""("JR"T2!!( ""(*!*!U1**"U`U@UE"Q!$%)*2 B!PD#QT(UU*UU*"+k{ ** ""(!*J"RT"!(! ""(***U**U!8UE#Q"     step through the shimmering light.Set into the platform is an oval depression. It appears to be some 30 centimeters long.The romcarts slide into place, and the platform recedes into the floor. Where it once stood, a 3 dimensional form takes shape, as in $ $ 8     You are standing within a narrow shaft of light, you see around you a large, circular room whose walls are shimmering with energy. Before you is the only object in the room: a waist-high platform.Ordinary directions do not work here.You    \o %$  = <-! '^Ast like the tendrils of a living creature.pptunn~QU'^7  * @h 'H@! H@ H@ /H@ H@H@H@H@^ MH0{d=< behind you.The tunnel's mouth is roughly 2 meters wide. The tunnel itself is some 10 meters long.The knob is about the size of a baseball. There are three small holes in its top surface.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almo  j  228   +[The basin is empty.There is something in there all right.thred1thred2thred3Which one?;BIP  ,< !Yp"w b aU  8:  8"  8UT!UQ2DPB $*)!%$TQE"UU!*1UU6}W*(*("" (!#T#RJ!H(" G**U**Q*zaTUUUSTQ!EDTPB" *2)%!TQ"EU!*1UU!QUQ?***("# *(!#!TRJ!(*!U1**! )""2( *!U1**!E*?>:*1UUUUUU*UURURU1|1******U**BJ#/.j"*z1U@UUUUU*UU(RZXUsRJ2("# ****!U1**!U*~.Anj" *B)%"TQE"UUUU!*1UU!*UU'*"!(!#2TR2JH("" ***U**545B*a@U****A*!U1**!TR3sAkjoUUUUUAU!*1UU"*UW#_A******U**U!*B*2*!UUUUUU*UUbU_2U!******U**RS*#j"oUUUUUAU!*1UU!V~bUq******U**B*B+k1UUUUUU*UUU$U#*****AUIU#}*****A*!U1**I/*#UUUUUAU!*1UU&*_U#*****A*!U1**&U+~2~{!UUUUUAU!*1UU!~QUE_*****A*!U1**!UTARJO/2*1UUUUUU*UUjZz1u_RU1******U**a+"*1UUUUUU*UUaU%}*PE#Q"%)1* "BP#E"QT/UUqU!*1UU"*UU}p ( JRT2!!( ""(/****U**U! CS"*~ BPDQ2TUUUqU!*1UU!(hzJbRPTU* "(****!*!U1**7/o!*QUUUUUU*UUh"Jb!hXu_*****A*!U1**NUUUUUAU!*1U P*2UA**** ""(J"RTU"U1**"U-~A~TUUU"EQ!$%)*" B!P!TU*UU*!Uq|*** ""(J"RT#"!( "("**U**U!*~TUUE"Q!$%)*2 B!PD#QT(UU*UU*!T|(* ""(*JR!T2!"( "(/**!*!U1**#Uuk~Q`     \o %$  = <-! 'SAt like the tendrils of a living creature.pmtunn}PU'S7  * ?k &H>  H> H> H. H>H>H> H.S MH0{d=< ehind you.The tunnel's mouth is roughly 2 meters wide. The tunnel itself is some 10 meters long.The knob is about the size of a baseball. There are three small holes in its top surface.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almosnnot. Thousands of nearly invisible, needle-sharp fibers protrude from the tunnel's inner wall. They float, like cilia, in the tunnel's mouth.The fibers retract. The tunnel entrance is clear.You enter the tunnel, and the cilia close up the tunnel mouth b dd8   ]This is the center of an open courtyard. Moscow's buildings rise around you. Before you a half-cylindrical tunnel grows from the courtyard's surface. Its mouth faces south. Set into the floor before the tunnel is a hexagonal knob.You ca$FRSQ .-]''E']e#^'WU])Z'ZE'] E'] ]   8   gThe dragonfly emerges from its case. A shimmering, taut-framed craft.The dragonfly isn't in the case.F'':78BA~TxHrGlIf<`=Z;T>N?H@BC<W6Y0D*Eieter -- communications repaired! "We had to compensate for that energy field you are in. But I think it's all fixed. The similarity of the Raman message to the Arecibo message is truly striking. If both messages serve the same purpose, and I suspect they immaterial figure; a holographic ghost; only an illusion. But one that will undoubtedly have its place in the course of human history. Before you, three-legged, and with as many eyes, stands a Raman.Your comlink sputters, then, "We saw everything!" It's Py have once been in RAMA's plan to visit all three worlds, but now RAMA hurtles toward the sun. What could have gone wrong?Now, unexpectedly, you see it... something that humankind has both feared to look upon, and despaired of ever finding! Its form, an formation is read from the romcarts. The image is of Earth! A holography, but the image is somehow distorted, as if seen from some impossibly great distance...Two other, unknown planets appear. Distant worlds: perhaps like Earth, they are inhabited. It ma*U**U*Q*aTUUUSTQ!EDTPB" *2)%!TQ"EU!*1UU*@1q***("# *(!#!TRJ!(*!U1**U**U@UUUT"QE"T2PB" *aUU**A*!U1**PBJ$( U@UUUUU*UU(*ZSYUDRJ("" ?****U**U!* $*)"%!TQ"E/UUUU*UU*!U*"!(!#2TR2JH("" ***U**U54R*q@UU2TUQD!PB" *B)%$!TQ"E/UU*UU*UQ@A@T*(*("" (!#T#RJ!H(" G*U*1UBT*****A*!U1**U**(UUUUUU*UU*UbU*****A*!U1**URr*UUUUUAU!*1UU*VB&!*****A*!U1**U***UUUUUU*UU*@U&@A*****A*!U1**QE*U * UUUUUAU!*1UUTVURU*** plate. On every other surface, there are tiny openings and small, plug-like protrusions.This may sound crazy, but I'll bet that's some kind of memory storage device, like a read-only memory cartridge. You know, a romcart.I know I've seen that shape befo two powerful-looking claws. There is a kind of hopper on its back.In the hopper there is a small, somewhat ovoid object.The object is ovoid in shape, with one end cut off. It is about 10 centimeters long. On one side there is a circular, darkened glasses open, revealing a compartment some three meters deep. Inside, taking up almost the whole interior, there is a crab-like creature or machine.The door is about two meters high and almost three meters wide.The crab is motionless. It has numerous legs andkiosk is a rectangular block about 4 meters tall and three meters square. There is the outline of a door in one of the walls. Next to the door there are three bars.They are about ten centimeters long, and are placed vertically, side by side.The door slid aa8   ZThis is the intersection of two avenues in Moscow. The streets are like polished aluminum, and there are no buildings on these corners. In the center of the intersection, there is a structure much like a kiosk.Do you mean climb up?The UH **"*U*UU!23UTBJ"*(#!"UPTU#TUPT'UU*U**TAU*)%"TP2B 2*  "*  1" ( *U*UU*A*U1("!2URTR1ZJ!*(! !!"UBTU*!U1**sUU* @UE2T#PB" *)%"TP!@B ,*U*UU*! *@U*(*S("**U*UUTPAE1UU*!U1**tUU*U** *a*U*UU*A*!U1*UUAQTU*U**UAU!*1U**(**U*UU*A*!U1*UU@UU*U**UAU!*1U**  * **U*UU"" *U*UUU*U**)2%*qU!*1UUt**U*UUQPTUA!EUAUA*!U1**tUU*U**Q*1 !! * *(  *AU!*1UUt**U*UUQTPQU*U**UAU!*1U** "*U!*1UUt**U*UUTUUTU*!U1**tUU*U**(**1U!*1UUt|p@!UUU*!('x!~!UA~x@***UUTSO?*?* J?UUy*) %!U~x"` .*()q!`RUAUU*U*UqTSO?|p1|!***U*!x` *)'UQUUQ*bU?U*x~Ux`!`~UP(**qUQ*?"(@BPT/UUU*Ub (?** bBB*U|p!|?*UUE"q|**QUa* "(*b b!xPx~4 rrPU!Eq|*?@PTUEq|!**UxU (* bx~1UU*B*(TU?A**U``U* bPqUUQ*aA?B!PU1Eq|*q**QUaq (%* bxUa`UU*TU|?A!      H> HQ H>  H>H>HQH>YHE C>"-$#I !E?Dw I'IC.<! I'IC.<@ I'IC.<! I'IC.<re. But I can't remember where...I think it's a Raman egg, Skipper! Watch out, it might hatch..! Seriously, though, I wonder what that dark little window is for.pkiosk ~2iHU 'f7 2&5Y rD !(+H>%tems. Your wait will be a short one.OUl}''s$8 'r,'Q'qalmost unbearable level. There is no longer any chance of communication with ENDEAVOR: the ship has by now been burned away by the sun's heat.As the temperature once again drops, you prepare yourself for the exhaustion of your spacesuit's life support sys 500 meters to meet the southern shore. RAMA must be turning! RAMA'S maneuver would have caused the sea to flood the southern plain, had the southern shore not been constructed to contain the overflow. Shortly, the temperature in the interior rises to an MA is once again plunged into utter darkness.Sudden, massive discharges from the tip of bighorn illuminate RAMA'S interior, as if with lightning bolts. The ocean shifts, and you glimpse the churning waters: driven by some G-force, the sea has risen nearlypidly. Across the plains, thousands of crab and spider-like creatures rush toward the cylindrical sea. From both shores, they hurl themselves in. In a short time, there are none left. Energy crackles from the tip of bighorn as the last light fades, and RAlittle horns.Faint at first, but rising in both volume and pitch, a whistling sound seems to come from everywhere. Soon it is loud, even piercing. Then suddenly it stops. In the northern hemisphere, the brilliant light of the straight valleys now fades ra" *#(!#%UT!PRBJ!*(! !##U*U**U!U*1TUUT2QE#T#PB" *)%1TP!BPU*UU** PU***(#" "*(2!2USTR"JU**EPU*1U@UUUT#QE"UTP2B )*UU%!Q1!!"Š!"#$ճ1!!"!!,9AA!!"!ʊq!q!!ՀQЃ!aՀՀ)Հ!aՀBՀ1ʪ1ՀՀAԀAՀ!ձAQ!!ǀՀ!Q1ߑЀՀ!"QAсQŀՀA!Q!Q1BA!Q!Aő!!!1A1"ՀqaՀՀ!Aa1הaՀՀՀՀ11cAՀ33H$Q3աAхq!Q"QA"աQAA!!A!!ՀՀ2ԕAaA!!!!!aA!!!!Ѐ1☞ՀՀO!4Օ!!Q!A! PԔC!!Ւ#OՀQՅ4ՀQ!!!!QձՀ11A!!ՁԀՀQՀՀ!Հ1     8   This area of the great plain is bounded by a number of slots cut into the ground. The slots are about five centimeters wide and five deep. The size of the bounded area is roughly one thirtieth the distance from the stairways to the shore.o%$ s! That's what DNA is made of!"jj}zU7 4*- ^ I_&8 M8 M8 O 'dFFF84*< TS^D]\ H(H($ng about that helix configuration behind the small Raman figure. It all fits. If the triangles are numbers, then the second set of triangles lists the atomic numbers of phosphorous, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen. Add a sugar and you get nucleotide or each RAMA to every system... hard to say. But, Captain, it looks as if RAMA still is determined to take the heat treatment. The sun's dead ahead and we're closing in fast. RAMA's outside temperature is rising. So is ENDEAVOR's.""Wow! I was just thinkiering system. The empty triangle represents zero, the filled-in triangle represents one, and the split triangle represents the number two!""Three cylindrical RAMAs, and three planetary systems, if that's what they are. You see? Maybe one RAMA to a system,do, then information about Raman mathematics, science, biochemistry, and more will be encoded in those symbols. I think Will agrees with me."plightpali1pali2pali3rdvramanpdna"I agree with Pieter," says Will. "Those triangles suggest a ternary' numb KfGo%$&7} '})K 'Ka 'a_ 'ftf o %$  KfGo%$&7} '})K 'Ka 'a_e O'e>_ 'ftf o %$      1Ԕ21aUa*QUTP@!"աa*aUQ*Q( !ʪqaUa*QUTP@!Հ*U*TaU*U*P@|pB *!UQ*Ua*A( -/s~xabQU*aUTP@!4a5!ŀЕAR!ׇ#AԀ!ŅȐԡŠՀڟ*L( HUTP@сRQ*aUS1aŅTB#ՀёA?#1R3111?¿1!OaЀa2qAsQ*U13U`x!ՕԀH*! @p|?ဈ1Qxyxax~Aŕ$Ѐ1?Ա&!Ad!aQ!ՕC APQ??*U* JAAP*U*Uq? (*U*U@JB@@ATU*U*!*qUA* ApQ"1Uq*AUq`x~!*U* @p|f?OU*`x~A!    a!!A?Os|pZ*e1gy~~-Ua"||@Aj*Q!X` 5U!!!#!Q@QZ*!2?T|V**QՅЀQU~`Q+UUA1Aԃq|@Z**1դQI`-UU1EՀ|Qj**3~ՕQK~ 5UUAѨFՀ?@AV**!ЀvHgy~`Q+Uas \\U@P@ ,H:H:H:S  HHA 6 0 * $   $ &  * ,H:xH:o HHH:\* /      !H:/H:&$  H:H:H:S  HHA 6 0 * $   $ &  * ,H:xH:o HHH:\* /      !H:/H:&$       !H: HIH:H:T  ,HIA 6 0 * $    $  & *H:] H:S H:B O A ; 5 / ) #   $ &  * ,! 9,U   m     l6   (  C[ C[ 9+H  KC[  / 0 H:+ / - Jb     ;o %$  m!90  yyzwtmYF: - " CCF*ot crab.Since the spider is mostly red in color, the simp won't touch it.pspdWith what?Your net is hopelessly tangled on the spider.You move north.You move south.You move east.You move west.D(|P[9>IwUC[ 7ous "spider", half creature and half wet-cell battery, drops from the ceiling. Its face hangs inches from yours. As it grins, sparks leap from its tiny teeth... You wake up. You see the spider's carcass being carried away by something that looks like a robtle too heavy and awkward to carry.As the knife slides through the spider's tough outer shell, a powerful jolt of electricity arcs through your clothing. You are unconscious. You dream that you are relaxing in your own warm, comfy bed. Suddenly, an enorm the net. Finally, it falls to the ground. It makes a faint whirring sound, then lies motionless.With what?The crab moves away quickly and is gone.The laser beam slices through the spider's shell. Instantly, the spider explodes! You are dead.It's a litoser look at you.You missed! The spider jumps aside, then pokes the net with one of its spindly legs. It steps back and watches you closely.Missed again! The spider turns to look at you with a different eye.You did it! The spider struggles, entangled ina robot or a living beast, Captain. Proceed with caution.It looks fast. And with those eyes, it must have a 360 degree field of vision. I don't see any teeth. It would be interesting to dissect it, Skipper.The spider dances away, then comes back for a cl You are not alone - several somewhat gawky three-legged "spiders" are here with you.It looks like a three-legged spider, about two meters tall, with a small, round body and three large, blue eyes. Its body and legs are all red.It's hard to tell if it's EёYр^a1I^Q^ CCP*B?/#?QQ!bՑqԀ^ ŕ!‚^ѕA1ե!ё!Հ!1!ՕՀ^A%ԕ!RAMA was constructed, at least in part, to test the level of Earth's planetary culture. Somewhere, the Ramans may have already passed judgment on your world, with your actions -- your ingenuity and resourcefulness -- as a measure of Earth's degree of civil 11As you watch the holograph, the Raman suddenly vanishes, and is replaced by a message contained in diagrams and symbols. In the vastness of RAMA, this message, and all the others which precede it, could have easily gone undiscovered. It may be that 21 qD !(+H:% H: H: H7  H:H:H:H7cBTo %$  5E 'E E 'EH: southward at great speed. Fortunately, the pod executes no hair-raising turns. Instead, it comes to a gentle halt just north of the cylindrical sea.The pod returns the way it came, leaving you and your belongings behind.ppod}U 'E7ds about one meter high, and is about two meters in diameter. Its appearance is that of a flattened, metallic globe perched atop a thin stalk.Whatever it is, it looks kind of forlorn and abandoned.The pod immediately lurches forward, and you are carried 8   This area of the Great Plain is bounded by a number of slots cut into the otherwise smooth, grey floor. Another slot runs through the area's center. Protruding from this slot is a gleaming, metallic pod.Do you mean climb up?The pod stan !**(#8"$)**UUUrTQPRTUUՕbQU*xUPGA1! JUz*(#U*UTQGՁQ*TU** Q1P%*UUTQG6! JTU**(#q1)*UUTQG/A! HRU*!*UaqüOO?uU*Q*U*! QQ!|QP%*UAP!'w!#Q*Uf*(Q!Q`a+Uq?OqZ*ՀՕ-Հxձ`gy~~q*UY!"!%°s|vU*11~Q*U]!a1U*Aais building apparently covers the open, dimly lit shaftway visible below. The shaft looks to be many kilometers deep. It branches away in many directions.Suspended above the floor within this building, are three grey cylinders. They are completely unmarke captain, peering at you with intense concentration.Within this building you see hundreds of rows of small spheres. Each sphere is covered with thousands of small lights arranged in triangular clusters. These lights blink in every possible combination.Thhree glass-topped, rectangular boxes. Each one contains three more glass topped, rectangular boxes. You cannot make out what is inside of those.The floor of this building is polished and as reflective as a mirror. In it you see a space-suited survey craftn a man. A metal band connects loops obviously intended to go around upper arms or limbs -- three of them. Numerous pouches and buckles hang from another band evidently used to encircle the wearer's midsection.On the floor inside the building there are t. But if you move your head slightly from side to side, objects embedded in the columns flash into view: mysterious utensils and tools. Inside one column is an elaborate harness, or uniform, obviously made for a vertically standing creature much taller tha 8   RThrough the roof you see the planetarium-like interior of this building. A three-dimensional star map pinpoints certain star systems. Their significance is perhaps known only to the Ramans.This building contains a forest of glass pillars      ! H8Z  H8@ ( H8&$          H-; H:1 H:' H: H: &H:  *H:: H:. H:% H: H: 'H:  )H:: H:. H:% H: H: 'H:  )H: H:t  pp8   iThe great plain slopes before you to the glassy surface of a narrow valley. The valley runs parallel to RAMA'S axis.pvalleYou move north.You move south.You move east.You move west.u|U70+0   UUa**** *aUUUTUUF@AG‘G@߀A**" *(" *( UUUTQEUTQEUT@***A  (  *1( *( UUUAPPATUT@****(*!*(* UUUU'@UUUa***  *(  (* "(**aUUUTPAEQTUUa*****aUUU"" ?N1D!!d`DI!ъQՁT@pDOա`Dq___Q)꟪CՑաQffoAՑ!G@ &&PUUUUU>*****>UUAUUU/**a  (  (  ***UUTQPUU/**Q****/UUQUUUU/**Q  ( A (  **/UUqTPAEAPTUUU**(***/UUUUU/ * NQ1#~"    ning appears to be about one meter square.You slide down a short chute, and land gently in a cavernous room.ptrap;\U 'v7gP $:cMHR Id c  1c 'vv MH0 apdoor and jump.The cilia are all facing out. You move through them easily.The fibers could be some kind of silicate material. They seem almost like the tendrils of a living creature.A bar protrudes from a hatchway-type door set into the floor. The ope 8   bThis is the interior of a cylindrical tunnel. To the east is the tunnel's mouth. It is partially obscured by thousands of fibers that seemingly grow from the tunnel's inner wall. There is a trapdoor-like opening here.You must open the tr!!!!d, except for several tiny protrusions on one end of each. All three cylinders are rotating slowly.#  K  =  1  %       H7eH7\ H7S H7J H7A H78 'H7/ )H7&$     outh.You move east.You move west. z W WU7,Kt /     jh g  R    'o %$    M 9begin to disassemble your body for easy disposal.Is that glassy surface frozen, Captain? Would it melt?It reminds me of a spillway for excess rainfall. But if it were a spillway, there would have to be a drain somewhere.pstraiYou move north.You move s't make so much as a scratch.The glass absorbs the laser's heat; the surface remains cool to the touch.The intense light blinds you. You stumble back onto the great plain. You cannot see a thing, but you can feel a trio of cold, mechanical claws as they pp8   iThis is a long rift or valley cut into the great plain. Its surface appears to be made of a milky white glass or plastic.The glass appears to be clear. The milkiness is caused by some swirling gas or chemical beneath the surface.You can! ! ! !! _P***q"1"*1"!&*&V&**UEEUM-MUM-MU5!45#U!5"U!5/UU*(*)*)**1)%)*Q( )*A( )**U1SK+KSU!QAKSU!QAKSUM-1MU1E!-MUEEUU*jU*j/**)*q(*a(**U1TRJRTU!TP@RTU!TP@PTUSK+KSU1QAKSU!SK+KSUU*1&V&*!"!&*&!   992P@A1Q!  8   cThis is the interior of a cylindrical tunnel. To the south is the tunnel's mouth. It is partially obscured by thousands of fibers that seemingly grow from the tunnel's inner wall. There is a trapdoor-like opening here.You must open the t"evasse opens beneath your feet. You are swallowed by the churning cylindrical sea!pfrozn .AHQ   HTU  7e ^e%#!  HA   "  M'Q9 aking sounds are audible as you move across the frozen expanse.Suddenly, there is a rumbling several meters away, followed by an enormous crack! A great fissure opens in the ice--it rips past, throwing you to one side!Ice explodes around you as a huge cr 8   JYou are on the frozen surface of the cylindrical sea. New York island is roughly to the south. From overhead comes a loud creaking noise, as if from an enormous, unoiled hinge.After some struggle on the ice, you make it to the shore.Cre"""  urface would provide no traction.pnorthYou move south.You move east.You move west.s'6U7J C/H  H:   !H:   / 0 D HD7 HE, HF! $$8   EThis is the northern edge of the great plain. To the south, east, and west, the plain stretches into the distance.Use Pieter's directional system here.Traveling north would be difficult at first, and then impossible, as the slick grey s"""UUU**)%U**(" *(**U!UTRJj*UTUTQEUUU*UTPB *)%*(****U*(!UUTUU@U!TQEU*UTPB ****(" *U*(!UqPUUUTQUa*aUUT"!UQUUa**UUUTP!B! **UUQ *a ***1*C(!"1Ua**U!TQEUU@UUUT*aUU*Q(****U**UUPU!TQUAPUU1TU*UUU**(" ***A*Ua@j**CUPUPEUU@U*)%U*1**1(" ***UTRJj*UTUUqTQEPT&U%#)*1***aUU%!)(*((h(H"PT!UUUUa**E3%)*1*a****aUURTU!UaUaUUUUa********UUUaUaUUUUa**B2 ******UUU*("!U!UUUUa**UUCTP!B *Q***aUU*(**(BPTU*  * (***U!(**Ua@UEQUTUUUAU*aTUUG* "(*a***U**TUEQPUTU5-1UA*aUU* "(*A**1jZ!V% !"($**J#RPUa**TUTUR5-*K BP1QP'Q!!)+**aUU*rj@Z! J*J"RT$UUU**RU5!-+ B 'P*" ****qUa**JUPUU@U1EQUTU*aU%)+*(***(*Ua*JRTUaUPUU1EQTU*aUa%)+*(*(*(*1(*U*JRTU!(U!@UPUEQUTUaU*a )+* BPT#U*1(** "(**U!(*UPUTUEQUTUU* "" " " "