[ AttemptToTakeObject item     ancestor after_recipient i j k;
  ! Try to transfer the given item to the player: return false
  ! if successful, true if unsuccessful, printing a suitable message
  ! in the latter case.

  ! People cannot ordinarily be taken.
  if (item == player) return L__M(##Take,2);
  if (item has animate) return L__M(##Take,3,item);

  ancestor = CommonAncestor(player, item);

  if (ancestor == 0)
  {   i = ObjectScopedBySomething(item);
      if (i ~= 0) ancestor = CommonAncestor(player, i);
  }

  ! Are player and item in totally different places?

  if (ancestor == 0) return L__M(##Take,8,item);

  ! Is the player indirectly inside the item?
  if (ancestor == item) return L__M(##Take,4,item);

  ! Does the player already directly contain the item?
  if (item in player) return L__M(##Take,5,item);

  ! Can the player touch the item, or is there (e.g.) a closed container
  ! in the way?
  if (ObjectIsUntouchable(item,false,true)) return;

  ! The item is now known to be accessible.

  ! Consult the immediate possessor of the item, if it's in a container
  ! which the player is not in.

  i=parent(item);
  if (i ~= ancestor && (i has container || i has supporter))
  {   after_recipient=i;
      k=action; action=##LetGo;
      if (RunRoutines(i,before)~=0) { action=k; rtrue; }
      action=k;
  }

  if (item has scenery) return L__M(##Take,10,item);
  if (item has static)  return L__M(##Take,11,item);

  ! The item is now known to be available for taking.  Is the player
  ! carrying too much?  If so, possibly juggle items into the rucksack
  ! to make room.

  k=0; objectloop (j in player) if (j hasnt worn) k++;

  if (k >= ValueOrRun(player,capacity))
  {   if (SACK_OBJECT~=0)
      {   if (parent(SACK_OBJECT)~=player)
              return L__M(##Take,12);
          j=0;
          objectloop (k in player) 
              if (k~=SACK_OBJECT && k hasnt worn && k hasnt light) j=k;

          if (j~=0)
          {   L__M(##Take,13,j);
              keep_silent = 1; <Insert j SACK_OBJECT>; keep_silent = 0;
              if (j notin SACK_OBJECT) rtrue;
          }
          else return L__M(##Take,12);
      }
      else return L__M(##Take,12);
  }

  ! Transfer the item.

  move item to player;

  ! Send "after" message to the object letting go of the item, if any.

  if (after_recipient~=0)
  {   k=action; action=##LetGo;
      if (RunRoutines(after_recipient,after)~=0) { action=k; rtrue; }
      action=k;
  }
  rfalse;
];