> talk to louise
First, you decide to get his address. "Old Joe... he's the guy who lives on Elm Street, right?"

" Wickham street, north of the park." Luckily she's still distracted by Deal or no Deal, making it much easier to get information out of her.

"Right, of course, just by the corner shop."

"No, further up by the skate park, he lives at number 58."

"Right, right, of course."

> talk to louise
"I sometimes worry about old people like that. They're not safe."

"How d'ya mean?" she says, taking another handful of crisps.

"Well, you know what they're like. They put a key under a flowerpot or the doormat and expect nobody to find it."

"Yeah..."

Not exactly the response you were hoping for. What do you do?

1) Drop it
2) Ask directly
3) Be subtle.

> 2
"Does he keep a spare outside?"

"Yeah, that's how I get in. It's always under the loose flagstone on his path."

"Oh, ok. Well at least nobody would guess that."

> talk to louise
"This magic box - you're just pulling my leg, aren't you. There's no magic box hidden in his cupboards."

"No, I swear! I'm not lying! Under his bed, and it actually works, I've seen it!"

"Well, I don't know... I'm not convinced."

> talk to louise
"So is he asleep when you get there, or what?"

"He wakes up when I open the door. He's a really light sleeper, I never have to go and wake him." Great.

> n
You've found out what you need to know, so you leave and walk to Old Joe's house.
It's only a twenty minute walk, so soon enough you're standing outside his house in the garden.

Old Joe's garden
The old stone path leads up to the window and the front door, where flowerpots, rocks, a doormat and so on leave any number of possible hiding places for the key. There's a stone here too, lying inconspicuously in the middle of the grass. Now you've just got to find it...

> x path
The old stone path has weeds growing up between the flagstones. You almost trip over a loose stone as you walk towards the front door.

> lift flagstone
Heaving the flagstone off the path, you see a small brass key in the dirt beneath it. You pocket it, and push the stone back in place.

> open door
You quietly turn the key in the lock. Waiting for the click, you then push the door open slowly...

Whereupon you are ambushed by a tiny, but very ferocious, dog. It seizes your leg and starts growling angrily. You just about manage to kick the thing off, shutting it outside where it begins yapping at the door.

Is there any chance he didn't hear that?

Hallway
The dingy hallway is lined with pictures. Dark red carpet and dark red walls give it a claustrophobic feel.

> u
You creep gingerly up the stairs, careful not to make the slightest noise.

Staircase
The dark, carpeted stairs lead to the upstairs hallway. There are more pictures along the wall. Hiding behind the bannister, you can hear the sound of a door opening, and shuffling feet leaving the bedroom. Old Joe goes into the bathroom. Do you have time to get the box before he comes back?

> u
As silently as you know how, you hurry upstairs.

Upstairs hallway
The dark red colour scheme is starting to get really oppressive. Still more disapproving women glare at you from their frames. Probably not a good idea to hang about, I think. You can hear movement in the bathrom; that means the bedroom's clear...

> n
You slip into Old Joe's bedroom, home of that little magical box that could hold the answer to all your problems...

Bedroom
Old Joe's bedroom is much airier than the rest of the house. In fact the overall colour scheme is grey. This doesn't make for a vast improvement. His grey single bed is wedged in the corner by the window.

> look under bed
Searching under the bed, you see a simple, plain wooden box. The film of dust that lays over everything seems to have not touched the box... it must be regularly used.

> hide under bed
You shuffle quickly underneath the bed.

> z
Time passes...
Joe shuffles towards the bed - you now have a fantastic view of his fuzzy grey slippers - and gets in. Joe is tossing and turning.

> z
Time passes...
There isn't time for that now! You have to stay hidden until he's asleep. His breathing becomes slower and regular.

> z
Time passes...
It sounds as if Joe is asleep now.

> get box
You take the box.

> climb out of window
You clamber out of the window as quietly as you can.

Old Joe's garden
The old stone path leads up to the window and the front door, where flowerpots, rocks, a doormat and so on leave any number of possible hiding places for the key. There's a stone here too, lying inconspicuously in the middle of the grass. There's no sign of the dog...

> open box
You open the box.
You summon the willpower to keep the box shut until you get home.Back in your bedroom, you open the box, and are filled with joy at the prospect of as many boiled eggs as you want for the rest of your life! Finally, there will be no limit of boiled eggs! You can have boiled eggs forever! Then you go to sleep, and dream of boiled eggs. Congratulations. You have everything you could ever possibly want in that box.
[Press any key to end]