Articles Available Online

Hal stands in front of the screen On the screen the words GANDALF GOES EAST   GO EAST, types Hal   The cursor flashes   BILBO GOES EAST, the screen says   The cursor flashes   Another line of text appears: GANDALF GOES WEST, it says   Hal clenches his hands once, twice He cannot progress in the game without Gandalf GO WEST, he types   The cursor flashes   BILBO GOES WEST, the screen says   Ben comes into the room and walks over to Hal He reads the words on the screen from top to bottom:   GANDALF GOES EAST   GO EAST   BILBO GOES EAST   GANDALF GOES WEST   GO WEST   BILBO GOES WEST   GANDALF GOES EAST   Hal turns to Ben How are you? Hal says   Ben stares at the screen   Stay, says Ben   How are you? Hal says again He sounds uncertain   It’s ‘stay’ says Ben Type ‘stay,’ Hal   Hal types STAY   GANDALF ARRIVES!   The cursor flashes   GO WEST, types Hal He laughs and looks at Ben   BILBO GOES WEST read the words on the screen   Ben stares at Hal as the cursor flashes   Hal turns his back on Ben and goes to the window, a red smear of light He shields his eyes against the fleeing sun How are you? he asks A woman enters with a guitar, singing Hal and Ben go east, into their neighbours’ flat The woman follows, still singing Hal and Ben see their friend Michael asleep on the couch His mouth is hanging open, his body twisted, as if he has fallen from the sky Hal and Ben shout to wake him up Michael shouts back when he opens his eyes and sees them standing above him He was dreaming of murderers and for a moment these two are the people in his dream Then he notices the cushion Hal is holding tightly to his body, and he realises who they are   Hey, how’s it going? says Michael He rubs his eyes   How are you? Hal says, smiling   Ben moves away He stands beside the singing woman and pulls a face What’s all this singing about? he says The woman ignores him and shifts her voice into a higher register The song has arrived at a moment of tension The woman has tears on her face Ben regrets the way he spoke