Chapter_One_Shu

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Shu Fang looked around the [[chamber]].

There was a [[vent]] at floor level, and a [[grate]] higher up in the wall. Clare's used [[food tray]] was sat on the floor. A set of stairs led up to the chamber door, which was bolted shut. A [[shadow]] loomed in the chamber's top corner.

<<set $vent to 1>> <<cacheaudio "ambience" "https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/0d422e_4fdc2e64e50749c1bd6b3b8a809e7200.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "dustigans" "https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/0d422e_4fdea8271495415a93450d25486e6fc1.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "dust0" "https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/0d422e_ff18221b3b614c5c979b8b2a670ebc31.mp3">>

<<if $ventseen neq true>>Shu Fang squeezed into the vent and crawled until she came to a T-intersection. There was a bowl here. <<set $ventseen to true>><<endif>>\ <<if $vent is 1>>\ A dustigan sat trying to eat a lolly that was still in its wrapper. The frustrated dustigan kept chewing, spitting it out, then chewing again.<<audio "dust0" play>> [[Help the dustigan]] \ <<elseif $vent is 2>>\ <<if $gather neq true and $recruit neq true>>\ The dustigan was still nibbling on the lolly. It stared at Shu Fang expectantly.<<audio "dust0" play>> \ <<elseif $gather eq true and $recruit neq true>>\ The dustigan was piling lollies into the bowl. Clare would probably need a healthier meal than that. The dustigan turned and stared at Shu Fang expectantly. <<audio "dust0" play>>\ <<elseif $gather neq true and $recruit eq true>>\ Several dustigans were gathered here. One was nibbling on the lolly. It stared at Shu Fang expectantly.<<audio "dustigans" play>> \ <<elseif $gather is true and $recruit is true>>\ The dustigans were piling lollies into the bowl. Clare would probably need a healthier meal than that. One of them stared at Shu Fang expectantly.<<audio "dustigans" play>> \ <<endif>>\ <<if $crumbs is true>>[[Give breadcrumb to the dustigan]] \ <<endif>>\ Was there [[something|something2]] Shu Fang wanted to say? \ <<elseif $vent is 3>>\ <<if $gather neq true and $recruit neq true>>\ The dustigan was still nibbling on the breadcrumb. It stared at Shu Fang expectantly. \ <<elseif $gather eq true and $recruit neq true>>\ The dustigan was piling breadcrumbs into the bowl. It seemed like a lot of work for one dustigan, and not nearly enough crumbs to make a meal. The dustigan turned and stared at Shu Fang expectantly. <<audio "dust0" play>>\ <<elseif $gather neq true and $recruit eq true>>\ Several dustigans were gathered here. One was nibbling on the breadcrumb. It stared at Shu Fang expectantly. <<audio "dustigans" play>>\ <<endif>>\ Was there [[something|something2]] Shu Fang wanted to say? \ <<elseif $vent is 4>>\ <<if $breadseen is true>>\ The dustigans were all swarming around a loaf of [[bread]]. \ <<else>>\ A large swarm of dustigans were hurriedly piling crumbs into the bowl. Suddenly a group of them returned carrying a loaf of [[bread]]. <<audio "dustigans" play>>\ <<set $breadseen to true>>\ <<endif>>\ <<elseif $vent is 5>>\ All the dustigans were gone. "The shadow must have frightened them away," thought Shu Fang. \ <<endif>>\ [[Leave the vent|chamber]]

The grate was far too high for Shu Fang to see inside. [[Leave the grate|chamber]]

Nothing left but <<if $crumbs is true>>breadcrumbs<<else>>[[breadcrumbs]]<<endif>>. [[Leave the tray|chamber]]

<<if $vent is 5>>A voice chuckled in the darkness. "Don't give me that look, little girl. I stole this bread fair and square. I tell you what though, I'll give it back if you can answer my riddle: [[What is the colour of a dustigan's tongue?|something]]"<<else>>Athough it was too dark to see anything, Shu Fang couldn't help but feel that she was being watched. Was there [[something]] Shu Fang wanted to say?<<endif>> [[Leave the corner|chamber]]

<<textbox "$book_search" "WHAT DID SHU FANG SAY?">> \ <<click "Speak">> <<set $book_search to $book_search.toUpperCase()>>\ <<if $book_search is "DARK BLUE">><<replace "#search_results">> "We should all say it together", Shu Fang thought. [[Ready?|ready]] <</replace>>\ <<else>><<replace "#search_results">> Shu Fang's words disappeared into the darkness, as if she'd never said them at all. <</replace>><<endif>><</click>>\ [[Leave the corner|chamber]]

"Dark blue," said the trio in unison. "Drat!" cried the voice from the shadows. "I thought that riddle would be much harder." A loaf of bread flew out of the darkness. Clare caught the loaf and tore off a big piece. She handed the rest to Sam and Shu Fang. [[Continue|https://www.thefloatingworld.com.au/chapter2loom]] <<audio "ambience" fadeout>>\

Shu Fang took a few crumbs and put them in her pocket. <<set $crumbs to true>>\ [[Leave the tray|chamber]]

Shu Fang took the lolly, unwrapped it and gave it back to the dustigan. The dustigan chattered in delight and began nibbling on the lolly. It stared at Shu Fang expectantly. <<set $vent to 2>> <<if $crumbs is true>>[[Give breadcrumb to the dustigan]] <<endif>>\ Was there [[something|something2]] Shu Fang wanted to say? [[Leave the vent|chamber]]

<<textbox "$book_search" "WHAT DID SHU FANG SAY?">> \ <<click "Speak">> <<set $book_search to $book_search.toUpperCase()>>\ <<if $book_search is "YEE HIP CHA">><<replace "#search_results">> <<set $gather to true>>\ <<if $vent is 2>>\ <<if $recruit is true>>The dustigans waddled away into the vent. Moments later they returned and began dropping lollies into the bowl.<<else>>The dustigan waddled away into the vent. Moments later it returned and dropped a new lolly in the bowl. It waddled away and returned again with another.<<endif>> <<elseif $vent is 3>>\ <<if $recruit is true>>The dustigans waddled away into the vent. Moments later they returned and began dropping breadcrumbs into the bowl.<<set $vent to 4>><<else>>The dustigan waddled away into the vent. Moments later it returned and dropped a breadcrumb in the bowl. It waddled away and returned again with another.<<endif>> <<endif>>\ <</replace>>\ <<elseif $book_search is "HIP NIN CHU">><<replace "#search_results">> <<set $recruit to true>>\ <<if $vent is 2>>\ The dustigan waddled away into the vent. Moments later it returned with several more dustigans in tow.<<if $gather is true>> They all began dropping candy in the bowl.<<endif>> <<elseif $vent is 3>>\ The dustigan waddled away into the vent. Moments later it returned with several more dustigans in tow.<<if $gather is true>> They all began dropping breadcrumbs in the bowl.<<set $vent to 4>><<endif>> <<endif>>\ <</replace>>\ <<else>><<replace "#search_results">>\ The dustigan blinked confusedly. <</replace>><<endif>><</click>>\ [[Back|vent]]

<<if $recruit is true and $gather is true>>\ <<set $vent to 4>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $vent to 3>>\ <<endif>>\ <<if $gather neq true>>\ The dustigan started nibbling on the crumb. It stared at Shu Fang expectantly. \ <<elseif $gather eq true and $recruit neq true>>\ The dustigan began collecting breadcrumbs and placing them in the bowl. It seemed like a lot of work for one dustigan, and not nearly enough crumbs to make a meal. The dustigan turned and stared at Shu Fang expectantly. \ <<elseif $gather eq true and $recruit eq true>>\ The dustigans watched as Shu Fang handed over the breadcrumb. In an instant they began work harvesting more crumbs. \ <<endif>>\ <<if $gather eq true and $recruit eq true>>[[Wait|vent]]<<else>>Was there [[something|something2]] Shu Fang wanted to say? [[Leave the vent|chamber]]<<endif>>\

Shu Fang took the bread and crawled back out of the vent. Just as she was about to tell the others what she'd found, a slender hand snatched it from her grasp and slithered up into the darkened corner of the chamber.<<set $vent to 5>> <<display "shadow">>

<<link "BEGIN">>\ <<audio "ambience" loop play>>\ <<goto "Untitled Passage">>\ <</link>>