[[It was midday.]]You turn around a corner and look down the street, which continues past rows of houses and brick-clad buildings. The entrance to the government office is [[on your left]].
A carriage rides [[down the street]].You walk somewhat diffidently into the government office.
[[They were scratching away...]]You follow the carriage down [[to the pier]], where [[a café]] serves coffee and tea.
The road [[leads north|It was midday.]]You stand at the pier and look out at the lake.
[[go back|down the street]]You look in the cafe. It's all too expensive; about the right price for Madam by the table (and her dog, you think), but cases don't pay <i>that</i> much. Especially in the country.
(set: $visited_cafe to "yes")
You turn and think, and [[turn around|down the street]]"Where can I make an inquiry here?" you asked, addressing <b>a porter</b> who brought a trayful of glasses from the furthest recesses of the office.
"[[I have to make an inquiry here and to take a copy of a resolution of the Council.]]"That way please! To that one sitting near the window!" said the porter, "[[indicating with the tray the furthest window.]]
You cough into a handkerchief.Double-click this passage to edit it.You walked there, where at a green table spotted like typhus, was sitting a young man with his hair standing up in four tufts on his head, with a long pimply nose, and a long faded uniform. He was writing, thrusting his long nose into the papers. A fly was walking about near his right nostril, and he was continually stretching out his lower lip and blowing under his nose, which gave his face an extremely care-worn expression.
It was kind of gross.
[[You started to ask.]]"May I make an inquiry about my case here . . . of you? My name is Voldyrev. and, by the way, I have to take a copy of the resolution of the Council of [[the second of March.]]"You waited.
The clerk dipped his pen in the ink and looked to see if he had got too much on it.
[[wait longer]]
[[push your case]]Having satisfied himself that the pen would not make a blot, he began scribbling away.
[[wait longer|wait longer 2]]
[[push your case]]"Can I make an inquiry here?" you repeated, as it became too much. "My name is Voldyrev, [[I am a landowner...]]"His lip was thrust out, but it was no longer necessary to blow: [[the fly had settled on his ear.|push your case]]"Ivan Alexeitch!" the clerk shouted into the air as though he had not observed Voldyrev, "will you tell the merchant Yalikov when he comes to sign the copy of the complaint lodged with the police! I've told him a thousand times!"
[["I have come...]] you mutter"in reference to my lawsuit with the heirs of Princess Gugulin. The case is well known. I earnestly beg you to attend to me."
[[and you waited again]]Still failing to observe you, the clerk caught the fly on his lip, looked at it attentively and flung it away.
[[cough]]
[[blow your nose]]
[[wait]]
[[check inventory]]It was of no use.
[[blow your nose]]
[[wait]]
[[check inventory]]You were still unheard.
[[cough]]
[[wait]]
[[check inventory]]The silence lasted for two minutes.
[[cough]]
[[blow your nose]]
[[check inventory]]You have three roubles; your remaining pocket money. (if: $visited_cafe is "yes")[The café's too expensive in any case.](else:)[It's a shame; you saw a café on the pier that you were hoping to attend to.]
[[You put the coin on the table.]]The clerk wrinkled up his forehead, drew the book towards him with an anxious air and closed it.
"A little inquiry...I want only to find out on what grounds the heirs of Princess Gugulin...May I trouble you?"
The clerk, absorbed in his own thoughts, got up, and scratching his elbow, went to a cupboard for something.
[[wait|wait2]]The clerk searched through the cupboard.
[[cough|cough2]]
[[be the clerk]]
[[look around]]
[[lay another rouble on the table]]You cough, and it does nothing.
[[wait|wait3]]You are now the clerk! Wow! What excitement! Virginia Woolf won't be around for nearly fourty years, though Chekhov was of course one of the masters of portraying the network of human connections that pervades all of society - even in a government office!
As for you, you were also waiting.
[[You hear a bump on the table behind you.]]The office is stuffy and ancient. Behind you [[the porter walks back and forth]].
[[cough|cough2]]
[[lay another rouble on the table]]The clerk, finished with his business at the cupboard returned to his table and became absorbed in the book again.
"[[I will trouble you for one minute only...I have only to make an inquiry.]]"The room's air was stifling.
[[lay another rouble on the table]]Another rouble note was lying on your table. You return to it, and decide to be interested in the book.
"I will trouble you for one minute only...I have only to make an inquiry."
[[You do not hear.]]The porter delivered his papers and passed through the office again, giving you a look.
You had two roubles, but you [[laid another rouble on the table|lay another rouble on the table]].Then you heard the man stopping, walking, speaking with a porter. Within the span of a minute another green note laid on your book. Your coffers filled, [[you return.|You go back to the table and lay the green note on the open book.]]The clerk did not hear, he had begun copying something.
You frown and look hopelessly at the whole scribbling brotherhood. <i>They write!</i> you think, <i>They write, [[the devil take them entirely!]]</i>You walked away from the table and stopped in the middle of the room, looking at the floor. The porter must have noticed you, for he went close up to you and asked:
"Well? Have you inquired?"
"[[I've inquired, but he wouldn't speak to me.]]""You give him three roubles," whispered the porter.
"[[I've given him two already.]]"[["Give him another."]][[You go back to the table and lay the green note on the open book.]]The clerk drew his book towards him again and [[began turning over the leaves,]]and all at once, as though by chance, lifted his eyes to Voldyrev. His nose began to shine, turned red, and wrinkled up in a grin.
"Ah... what do you want?" he asked.
"I want to make an inquiry in reference to my case.... My name is Voldyrev."
"With pleasure! The Gugulin case, isn't it? Very good. What is it then exactly?"
[[You explained your business.]]The clerk became as lively as though he were whirled round by a hurricane. He gave the necessary information, arranged for a copy to be made, gave the petitioner a chair, and all in one instant. He even spoke about the weather and asked after the harvest. And when you went away he accompanied you down the stairs, smiling affably and respectfully, and looking as though he were ready any minute to fall on his face before you, the gentleman. You for some reason felt uncomfortable, and in obedience to some inward impulse took a rouble out of your pocket and gave it to the clerk. And the latter kept bowing and smiling, and took the rouble like a conjuror, [[so that it seemed to flash through the air.]]<i>"Well, what people!"</i> you thought as you went out into the street, and [[you stopped and mopped your brow with your handkerchief.]]AN INQUIRY
By Anton Chekhov (1883), translated by Constance Garnett.
Published in <i>Love and Other Stories</i>, 1922.
Translated to Twine for the Zero Hour Game Jam by Neil Bickford, November 5th, 2017.
Thank you for playing!
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