                                                                                
A Few Words About the PYRAMID Game Itself:                                              
                                                                                
The game was originally created as a birthday present to my girl friend.        
This accounts for a few idiosyncratic twists and a few unprofessio-             
nalities that would appear strange had I wished to write the game for a         
broad public.                 
                                                  
There are in the game a few references to things enclosed in the game           
package that were part of the present (the amulet, for instance).
These can be ignored since they are only "cosmetic."

The current version of THE PYRAMID is V2.1, the most debugged
and updated version up to now. There inevitably remain a few bugs
(some of which cleverly resist my efforts - they are probably immune
by now), but they will be inobtrusive.                                          
                                                                               
Successful players might wonder why they haven't visited all rooms in
the game (according to the "You have seen N rooms ...."). This is
due to the fact that DEATH, HEAVEN & HELL are rooms in the game
- rooms that won't be visited by a winner, obviously.                                              
                                                                               
You may also wonder about the unaccountable up and down of the
SCORE display in the status line. There is a maximum score
of 105, but a player may at any time have up to 190 points (or
more?). Note, however, that you don't need to score a SINGLE
POINT in order to win the game. This is, because I don't
believe in points.                                              

The game is won by DOING THE RIGHT THING rather than GETTING MANY THINGS,       
which doesn't mean that you needn't get a few things to do the right            
thing... The goal is to figure out the MEANING OF LIFE (or LIFF as it's called           
here, according to Douglas Adams' book "The Meaning of Liff").                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
******************************************************************              
ATTENTION! DON'T CONTINUE READING IF YOU DON'T WANT THE SOLUTION!               
******************************************************************              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
This is a short WALKTHROUGH with the basic solution:                            
                                                                                
starting inventory: 100-dollar bill                                             
starting location:                                                              
Rameses Square                                                                  
WEST                                                                            
Bazaar                                                                          
OPEN BOX                                                                        
EXAMINE BOX                                                                     
TAKE CORKSCREW                                                                  
NEGOTIATE /ARGUE /HAGGLE                                                        
inventory + corkscrew                                                           
EAST                                                                            
Rameses Square                                                                  
EAST                                                                            
Taxi Stand                                                                      
WHISTLE or WAVE BILL                                                            
Taxi Cab                                                                        
PAY DRIVER                                                                      
inventory -bill, +small change                                                  
outside shop                                                                    
NORTH                                                                           
souvenir shop                                                                   
TALK TO CLERK                                                                   
BUY AMULET                                                                      
inventory -change, +bill, +amulet                                               
outside shop                                                                    
(The following excursion into the pyramid and the hotel is not                  
compulsory, but will supply information (and fun, perhaps)) If you wish         
to skip it though, continue at the >>> mark.                                    
*EAST                                                                           
outside pyramid                                                                 
NORTH                                                                           
pyramid entrance                                                                
NORTH                                                                           
long passage                                                                    
NORTH                                                                           
ante room                                                                       
NORTH                                                                           
burial chamber                                                                  
NORTH                                                                           
death trap (there is a bit of information to be gained here)                    
NORTH                                                                           
treasure room (might give you some idea about the task in hand)                 
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
EAST                                                                            
barque room                                                                     
UP                                                                              
royal barque                                                                    
DOWN                                                                            
WEST                                                                            
EAST                                                                            
guard room                                                                      
WEST                                                                            
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
outside pyramid                                                                 
(you have seen the pyramid now. The following sequence is a visit to the        
PYRAMID HOTEL that will be of absolutely no avail to you. Continue, if you      
want to ride a clapped-out elevator and eventually find a leather               
suitcase you won't ever need. Or just skip to >>>)                              
EAST                                                                            
hotel lobby                                                                     
NORTH                                                                           
elevator                                                                        
UP                                                                              
hotel corridor                                                                  
NORTH                                                                           
hotel room                                                                      
SOUTH                                                                           
EAST                                                                            
hotel room                                                                      
WEST                                                                            
WEST                                                                            
hotel room                                                                      
EAST                                                                            
SOUTH                                                                           
elevator                                                                        
UP                                                                              
NORTH                                                                           
hotel room                                                                      
TAKE SUITCASE (You don't really want it. But take it if you like.)              
inventory + suitcase (optional)                                                  
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
DOWN                                                                            
SOUTH                                                                           
WEST                                                                            
outside shop                                                                    
(If you feel suicidal try to make your way back to town by foot. You will       
get lost in the desert and die. There is of course a trick to get out of        
the desert....)                                                                 
>>>WHISTLE or WAVE BILL                                                       
taxi stand                                                                      
WEST                                                                            
Rameses Square                                                                  
NORTH                                                                           
museum entrance                                                                 
NORTH                                                                           
museum hall                                                                     
EXAMINE COUNTER                                                                 
OPEN COUNTER                                                                    
LOOK                                                                            
TAKE MATCHES                                                                    
inventory +matches                                                              
(If you feel like taking the cigarettes, do so. But remember: Smoking may       
be hazardous to your health!)                                                   
inventory +cigarettes (optional)                                                
EXAMINE MATCHES                                                                 
WEST                                                                            
(Don't worry about the Japanese tourists when they appear, they are             
friendly.)                                                                      
crafts room                                                                     
EXAMINE DISPLAY                                                                 
TAKE ALL (Oillamp and Coin)                                                     
inventory +oillamp, +gold coin                                                  
EAST                                                                            
EAST                                                                            
shrine room                                                                     
EXAMINE REREDOS (This will tell you what this game is all about)                
EXAMINE CASE                                                                    
INSERT COIN [INTO CASE]                                                         
TAKE SCROLL                                                                     
inventory +scroll                                                               
WEST                                                                            
museum hall                                                                     
NORTH                                                                           
main exhibition hall                                                            
EXAMINE MUMMY                                                                   
TAKE MUMMY                                                                      
inventory +mummy                                                                
(High time to get rid of that suitcase (if you have it). You may also use       
it as a container for your things + mummy)                                      
OPEN SARCOPHAGUS                                                                
ENTER IT                                                                        
...                                                                             
LIGHT LAMP                                                                      
burial chamber                                                                  
(The oillamp will now burn for 25 moves, but you will need it longer than       
that. You will have to refill it.)                                              
(Never try to re-enter the sarcophagus. The scroll is a one-way ticket.         
If you try to enter the sarcophagus in the burial chamber it dissolves          
into thin air. That will be the end, because you can't resurrect the            
pharao without the sarcophagus being in the same room)                          
NORTH                                                                           
narrow passage                                                                  
NORTH                                                                           
(If you're not carrying the mummy you'll die painfully)                         
treasure room                                                                   
TAKE URN AND VIAL                                                               
(Having seen the reredos in the museum you know why)                            
OPEN VIAL                                                                       
(The corkscrew comes in handy now)                                              
DROP CORKSCREW                                                                  
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
burial chamber                                                                  
DROP MUMMY                                                                      
(You might feel like resurrecting the pharao now, but you may well leave        
that for later as well. In this walkthru I'll leave it)                         
EXAMINE URN (don't miss that!)                                                  
(If the lamp starts flickering at any point now be sure to have the             
opened oil vial handy. It is advisable to refill the lamp before it goes        
out, in order not to waste matches.                                             
If it does go out you can't move any further. So be sure to have the oil        
and matches in the same room as you are.)                                       
FILL LAMP or POUR OIL INTO LAMP                                               
[LIGHT LAMP] if it has gone out                                                 
WEST                                                                            
guard room                                                                      
EXAMINE REMAINS                                                                 
TAKE KEYS                                                                       
(You will not find the keys without examining the remains. Further              
browsing through the bones will accomplish nothing, though)                     
EAST                                                                            
SOUTH                                                                           
ante room                                                                       
SOUTH                                                                           
long passage                                                                    
SOUTH                                                                           
pyramid entrance                                                                
DROP LAMP, VIAL AND MATCHES                                                     
(You will need them when you return, but there is no point in carrying          
them around in broad daylight)                                                  
SOUTH                                                                           
south of pyramid                                                                
(There is only ONE pyramid, where there should be three. This should make       
you wonder...)                                                                  
(From here you go >WEST> rolling dunes, >SOUTH> endless desert, where           
you'll invariably get lost, because the topography is weird -that's the         
way deserts are made- . You may find an oasis and reset your life               
expectancy counter by drinking (water, of course. You should not drink          
the oil from the vial... it won't do you any good.) From "endless desert"       
you go southeast to get to:)                                                    
EAST                                                                            
building site                                                                   
EAST                                                                            
(You will be captured and thrown into prison. If you're not carrying your       
keys this will be the last thing to hear of you.)                               
slave quarters                                                                  
OPEN DOOR                                                                       
east of gaol                                                                    
EAST                                                                            
desert trail                                                                    
EAST                                                                            
banks of river Nile                                                             
(Go EAST from here to fall into the River Nile. This way is a shortcut to       
the river's mouth, but you lose all your posessions and will have to            
collect them somewhere among the reeds)                                         
NORTH                                                                           
delta                                                                           
NORTH                                                                           
ocean's edge                                                                    
TALK TO SAILOR                                                                  
(Had you resurrected the pharao he'd be here with you and talk to the old       
sailor himself. He would then get the flag of his barque from the               
mariner.)                                                                       
(As the pharao is not yet resurrected, you must enter the following:)           
ASK SAILOR ABOUT PHARAO or TALK TO SAILOR ABOUT PHARAO                          
(In this case the mariner offers you the flag if you give him "something        
nice". It is advisable to trade something you won't need anymore.)              
TRADE COIN FOR FLAG                                                             
SOUTH                                                                           
delta                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
banks                                                                           
WEST                                                                            
desert trail                                                                    
WEST                                                                            
east of gaol                                                                    
SOUTH                                                                           
oasis                                                                           
DRINK WATER                                                                     
NORTH                                                                           
endless desert                                                                  
NORTHEAST                                                                       
building site                                                                   
WEST                                                                            
south of pyramid                                                                
NORTH                                                                           
pyramid entrance                                                                
TAKE ALL (Lamp, vial and matches)                                               
NORTH                                                                           
long passage                                                                    
NORTH                                                                           
LIGHT LAMP or FILL LAMP THEN LIGHT IT depending on the situation                
ante room                                                                       
NORTH                                                                           
burial chamber                                                                  
(Now we're going to resurrect that mummy. Remember the instructions?)           
WEAR AMULET                                                                     
OPEN URN                                                                        
POUR OIL INTO URN                                                               
SPILL URN                                                                       
(That's all there's to it. The late Pharao Aarkh Anach Rhagh stands now         
before you.)                                                                    
TALK TO PHARAO                                                                  
(What the pharao tells you now depends on whether you have been to the          
ocean and brought back the flag or not. If you haven't, he tells you            
about his ship and that you may use it if you manage to put it into             
working order. You should then look at the barque (>EAST) to find out           
what's missing. If you already have the flag, he offers you his treasures       
that are waiting for you in the treasure chamber)                               
NORTH                                                                           
narrow passage                                                                  
(Only the pharao himself may pass the death trap and live! So you either        
have to carry the mummy or the pharao must be with you. To get the              
treasure chest or jewels out of the chamber you must first resurrect the        
king, because you can't carry the mummy + the treasure)                         
NORTH                                                                           
treasure room                                                                   
TAKE CHEST                                                                      
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
EAST                                                                            
barque room                                                                     
UP                                                                              
in the royal barque                                                             
HOIST FLAG                                                                      
...                                                                             
royal barque                                                                    
(The pharao stays in the past, so you're alone again in the present)            
DOWN                                                                            
barque room                                                                     
DROP ALL THEN TAKE CHEST AND BILL                                               
(You need your hands free)                                                      
WEST                                                                            
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
SOUTH                                                                           
pyramid entrance                                                                
SOUTH                                                                           
outside pyramid                                                                 
WHISTLE or WAVE BILL                                                            
(Be sure not to lose your bill or this is the end)                              
taxi stand                                                                      
WEST                                                                            
Rameses Square                                                                  
SOUTH                                                                           
bus stop                                                                        
EXAMINE VENDING MACHINE                                                         
TURN CRANK                                                                      
OPEN MACHINE                                                                    
EXAMINE IT                                                                      
TAKE TICKET                                                                     
the bus arrives                                                                 
SHOW TICKET                                                                     
(Don't fool around too long at the bus station or you'll miss the bus)          
shuttle bus                                                                     
SIT                                                                             
airport                                                                         
LOOK                                                                            
TAKE LIFF or LIFE                                                               
EXAMINE IT                                                                      
*****YOU WIN*****                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
There is a special option after death: RESURRECT.                               
If you die without saving or if you think it might be fun to be                 
resurrected, have a try. You will be transferred to your hotel room with        
all your current posessions except for the treasure chest. You will keep        
your score as well. It may, however, turn out to be impossible to               
continue the game... If you, for instance, die with your lamp on and            
don't have the oil vial handy (or in the burial chamber) there is no way        
of getting the lamp to burn. If you die in the past, the sarcophagus will       
be moved back to the museum to give you a chance to make the time travel.       
                                                                                
The only way, by the way, to get out of the endless desert between town         
and pyramids (in the present) is a taxi... if you can afford it.                
                                                                                
