kliffy/timemachine.xml

<story title="Richard and Larry Build A Time Machine" author="Jeremy Penner">
  <loadmodule url="retrochronal.js" />
  <nev name="start">
    <p>"I still can't believe you actually used a [DeLorean]," says Larry.</p>
    <p>"Hey, if you're going to do a thing, you ought to do it right," says [Richard].</p>
  </nev>
  <word name="DeLorean">
    <verb name="Examine">
      Larry looks at the [DeLorean] with astonishment.  [Richard] has done it up to look <i>exactly</i> like the car from
      <i>Back to the Future</i>.
    </verb>
    <verb name="Drive">
      <p>Larry eyes the [DeLorean car].  "Give me the keys," he says.  "I want to take this baby to 88."</p>
      <p>"Oh, it doesn't drive anymore," says [Richard]. "I had to use the engine to power the time machine."</p>
    </verb>
  </word>
  <word name="Richard">
    <verb name="how" display="What have you done?">
      <p>"So, run it by me again," says Larry.</p>
      <p>"I modified this [DeLorean] to send information backwards through time," says [Richard].</p>
      <p>"Just information.  Not matter."</p>
      <p>"Right."</p>
      <p>Larry ponders this for a moment.  "How... how does that even work?"</p>
      <p>[Richard] waves his hands around.  "Spooky action at a distance," he says.</p>
      <p>"No, I mean, augh.  I mean, what can you practically change about the past with this machine?" says Larry.</p>
      <p>
        "Well, so far I've gotten my computer to crash five minutes before I push this [button]," says [Richard], 
        gesturing at one of the controls inside the [DeLorean].
      </p>
    </verb>
  </word>
  <word name="button">
    <verb name="Push">
      <p>Larry reaches for the button and gives it a push.</p>
      <p>"Nothing happened", says Larry, looking at the [computer].</p>
      <p>"I <i>told</i> you you were going to push it," says [Richard].</p>
      <p>Larry opens his mouth to say something, then seems to think better of it.</p>
    </verb>
  </word>
  <pastresponse after="start" future_cause="button.Push" name="crash">
    <p>There is a beep as [Richard Richard's] [computer] spontaneously and inexplicably reboots.</p>
    <p>"Aw, geez, you're going to push the button, aren't you?", whines [Richard].</p>
    <p>"What?  What button?" asks Larry, puzzled.</p>
    <p>"Never mind," says [Richard].</p>
  </pastresponse>
</story>