(defun directionp (a)
  (or (eq a :north)
      (eq a :south)
      (eq a :east)
      (eq a :west)
      (eq a :up)
      (eq a :down)))

(deftype direction ()
  '(and keyword (satisfies directionp)))
(defgeneric look (object location)
  (:method ((location location) (item item))
    (dolist (item (items location))
      (when (string-equal string (name item))
	(return (format nil "You look at ~a~%It looks like:~%~a" (name item) (desc item))))))

  (:method ((location location) (keyword direction))
    (macrolet 
	((dir (dir)
	   (let ((a (gensym)))
	     `(let ((,a (,dir *current-room*)))
		(if ,a 
		    (format nil "You gaze into the distance at ~a, to the ~a: ~%~%~a"
			    (name ,a)
			    (string-downcase (format nil "~a" direction))  
			    (or (short-desc ,a) 
				(desc ,a)))
		    "There's nothing to see there")))))
		      
      (case direction
	(:UP (dir up))
	(:DOWN (dir down))
	(:NORTH (dir north))
	(:SOUTH (dir south))
	(:EAST (dir east))
	(:WEST (dir west))
	(t (format nil "You look around yourself, you see:~%~a~% ~a" (name *current-room*) (desc *current-room*)))
	))))