The answer is ERODE The corresponding square is house puzzle by Jamie Coffin Solution: Each line in the paragraph comes from the first passage of text from an Infocom game. The odd disappearances, the mysterious dissolution of regions sacred to the Circle, the lessening of the Powers -- these could only be his handiwork. ENCHANTER This is the last day of your $599 London Getaway Package, and you're determined to soak up as much of that authentic English ambience as you can. TRINITY A ghostly full moon is rising, and a tall iron gate between two pillars bars the way into the courtyard. MOONMIST In other cases, objects and even citizens have been transformed overnight into strange mutations of their previous selves. NORD AND BERT COULDN'T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF IT. The rather ridiculous western outfit you are wearing was the only thing you could find at the costumer's on such short notice, but it's out of place only for its relative sobriety and taste in this crowd. SUSPECT Read along the diagonal to get: ERODE There are a couple of hints in the introduction: The trusty brass lantern is a mainstay of Infocom games, and the plastic swizzle stick was one of the many toys that came with the games (from Hollywood Hijinx). Also Superbrief is a command used in Infocom games.