Coraline — 86 of 122

Book of Complicated Things

Part of People and Animals

Chapter of the Cat

The black cat is a neuter animal.

The description is "An old black cat, which walks around the whole day and often sits on walls or tree stumps. It doesn't like anybody being too close to her."

The other description is "An old black cat, which knows almost everything about this world and can give useful advice." [It's eyes look different.]

The cat's eyes are part of the cat. "They look almost human."

Instead of taking the cat:

say "Right now, the cat doesn't want to be taken.";

Instead of examining the cat:

if the cat is real:

display the figure of the cat;

otherwise:

display the figure of the other cat;

continue the action.

The mouse is a thing.

The cat is in the Garden.

The cat is edible.

Instead of eating the cat for the first time:

say "[if the cat is not real]The cat says 'Stop! Wait right here if you are hungry!'[paragraph break][end if]";

say "[if the cat is enclosed by the player]The cat struggles to free itself from you.[end if]";

say "The cat disappears and comes back with a dead mouse in its mouth.";

say "It drops the mouse at your feet. Then, it seems to look at you questioningly.";

say "[if the cat is enclosed by the player]The cat jumps back up again.[end if]";

now the mouse is in the location of the player.

Instead of eating the cat:

say "No, not again."

Before kissing the cat:

if the cat is in the Garden:

move the cat to Outside the House;

otherwise if the location of the cat is Outside the House:

move the cat to the Garden;

otherwise if the cat is in The Outdoors:

move the cat to Outside the House;

otherwise if the cat is in the House:

move the cat to Outside the House;

otherwise if the cat is in Liminal Space:

move the cat to Outside the House;

otherwise if the cat is in the Apartment:

let x be the location of the cat;

let next space be a random room in the Apartment which is adjacent to x;

move the cat to next space;

say "The cat runs away from you and you don't see it anymore." instead.

[can the cat go somewhere unreachable?]