You return to the door of the little houseboat.

You return to the door of the little houseboat.

"I see you out there!"

"Could you unban me from the Miracle Line?"

"No! Get out of here!"

"Duchess? I have a gift for your kids, from 'Grandpa Sam'."

You hear her mumble something, then quiet.

"What? That's... was this one of the old pilots? He told you where I live?"

Her voice closer to the door. Cheek pressed against wood as she peers through the peep hole.

"Did he... damn." A latch clicks. "Just... come in."

Alternative wording

"Did he... damn. And to think I stabbed you, I'm so sorry hon." A latch clicks. "Just... come in."

"You said not to say this on the line -- I'm here to warn you about PIGEON."

You hear her mumble something, then quiet.

"You... oh. He told you my address?"

"Duchess? I just came to warn you about a weird old man named PIGEON."

"I'm here for professional reasons. It's about the negotiator hooked to your sex line."

"You are a snooper! You were already prying about that nice sock importer! Go away!"

"I don't give away information about my clients, myself, or my address you creep! Who do you think you are! Go away!"

"I'm here for professional reasons. It's about Frederik."

"I'm here for professional reasons -- the sock importer."

"And Frederik, yes, I remember! Snooper!"

"Can't we be friends?"

Her only response is to waggle the knife threateningly out of the letterbox.

She responds by poking a serrated kitchen knife out of the letterbox.

"Don't think I won't jab you!"

"It's the gap. I need to fill in the gap!"

"The... gap?"

A dramatic change in her voice. It seems the two of you may share an interest.

"What do you know of the gap?"

"All I know is that he's obsessed."

You hear the latch click open.

"Come in, come in. Quickly."

"Can you help me uncover its secrets?"

"I'm leaving." [Leave.]

"Stay gone, creep!"

Try the door.

A small push on the paint-chipped wood confirms that it is firmly locked.

Knock.

Alternative wording

Knock again.

"Busy! Come back later!"

Unmistakably the voice from the Miracle Line, Duchess.

"I'm here about my colleague -- the sock importer."

You hear her mumble something, then go quiet.

"I know you, don't I, baby? We've spoken before." Footsteps approach the door. "I've been thinking about you... longing for you... I hoped you would come to find me."

Listen to her -- dripping. You do have it!

"I'm not here for sexy reasons."

"No? Poor Duchess... Come close, let me just get this door open..."

Don't.

Move closer.

A serrated blade pops out through her letterbox, jabbing you mercilessly in the abdomen.

Fucking sneak attack!! Deception and wiles!!

Kitchen knife, the closest potential weapon to hand. This doesn't happen often, but it's not the first time, either.

It's a flesh wound. But still, ow!

"You think you're clever finding me here? You think you're the first? Leave me alone! It's my job you pathetic imbecile -- I don't want anything to do with any of you!"

"I'm not into this."

"I don't exist for your entertainment! I... am... a... person!"

The knife thrusts out of the door in time with every furious syllable.

"Yes, stab me again, call me a scumbag! It's what I deserve!"

"You've got this all wrong, I'm innocent!"

"Your wiles didn't work on me, sorry."

Stay away.

A serrated blade pops out through her letterbox, wildly seeking your flesh.

"I'm going to disappoint you."

"Oh baby, never... I can hear it on your tongue. Come close, let me just get this door open..."

"My mind control powers have finally activated, I see."

"You want hypnosis play, baby? I'm your puppet, desperate for your hands on my strings. Come close, let me just get this door open..."

"Alright but we better hurry -- I have people to massacre."

"I'm sure you do, I knew it the moment I heard you speak -- so powerful and strong and important. Come close, let me just get this door open..."

"You shouldn't. I am merely a shadow cast by a lie."

"Don't talk about yourself like that darling, come close to your Duchess, let's just get this door open..."

Fuck yes. Fuck yes!

"I recognise your voice -- you're Duchess."

"I'm here about the gap."

"The... gap?"

"What do you know of the gap?"

You hear the latch click open.

"Get in here. Quickly."

"It's about one of your regulars. The stressed-out negotiator."

You hear her mumble something, then silence.

"Regulars?" Footsteps approach the door.

That was not a rhetorical question and she's ready to be very angry at the wrong answer.

"Please don't be mad."

"Oh. Mad? Why would I be mad?"

Ooh -- that's sarcasm. You can tell by the longitudinal waves.

"And you thought it would be appropriate to come to my home? Get out of here! Leave!"

"At the Miracle Line."

"With the whoring, yes."

"The... who do you think you are? How dare you come to my home like this? Get out of here! Leave!"

"It's about one of your regulars. His name's Frederik."

"Let me in so we can chat."

"Not now!"

Leave it.

You turn away from the door.

Give up and go. [Leave.]

You hear someone giggle softly on the other side.

The blue-painted door of the houseboat before you creaks with the gentle undulations of the bay.

Alternative wording

The blue-painted door of the houseboat is sheltered from the rain, but you can still hear it dancing on the roof above.

Alternative wording

The blue-painted door of the houseboat creaks with complaint in the wind.

Alternative wording

Light shines from the space beneath the houseboat door, spilling an orange glow over your feet.

A soft golden glow shines from within, curtains drawn. Return during the day.