As you follow the passageway, you glimpse doorways to your left and right. Some are wooden and carved. Others are plain wood, held together with simple ironwork. You pass them all, following the floor of marble and gold. To the south, the passageway leads to the main entrance.

The last door on your left is redwood, carved with a scene of a medieval tourney. The armour and weapons of the two knights glisten. Startled, you realized that they have been painted with gold and silver leaf. The ladies' clothes are brilliantly painted and their jewels are formed by stones inset into the wood. You almost expect to hear the cheers, the trumpets, and the clash of swords. You stare entranced, and reach out your hand to take the sleeve a lady offers as her favor. Your other hand traces a sword, pets a horse, and examines the elaborate hats of the ladies. You can almost imagine being there... Your clothes shimmer briefly, to an elaborate houpalande. You are startled away from contemplation of the door, to gaze at your elaborately dagged sleeves. You notice, carved about the door in a Gothic hand, the words "To the Middle Ages". As you consider going through the door, you feel your pants changing to tights, and a hat appears on your head. Perhaps this is a fantasy you can entertain. You let your clothes remain, and dream. But then, this intriguing door is not the only place to explore.

You see that the passageway ends, to the north, in a modest door which opens into Alia's workroom.


to go to the workroom.
Alia Atlas/akatlas@mit.edu