diff --git a/bank.zil b/bank.zil
index 15728b2..085d820 100644
--- a/bank.zil
+++ b/bank.zil
@@ -1394,8 +1394,7 @@ the Auckland branch has some.\"" CR>)
 	 <RETURN .X .SB>>
 
 <CONSTANT BONGO-STUFF
-	  <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		 #BYTE 0
+	  <LTABLE 2
 		  "Bongo says, \"You'll have to pardon me, there seems to
 be a cat in the bank.\" You hear the screech of a cat, the scream of an old
 woman, several very fragile things being knocked off shelves, another screech
diff --git a/bankdefs.zil b/bankdefs.zil
index e3946e7..85cbf9c 100644
--- a/bankdefs.zil
+++ b/bankdefs.zil
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@
 <DEFINE-GLOBALS BANK-GLOBALS
 		(BANKTALK 0)>
 
-<CONSTANT BANKNAMES <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-			   #BYTE 0
+<CONSTANT BANKNAMES <LTABLE 2
 		     <VOC "PAULETTE" NOUN>
 		     <VOC "CLINT" NOUN>
 		     <VOC "NANCY" NOUN>
diff --git a/events.zil b/events.zil
index a1c2b05..10acc7e 100644
--- a/events.zil
+++ b/events.zil
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@
 	 <RETURN T .IC>>
 
 <CONSTANT CLERK-DOINGS
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	       #BYTE 0
+	<LTABLE 2
 		" is eyeing you carefully"
 		" adjusts the software on the wall"
 		" watches every move you make"
@@ -786,8 +785,7 @@ break, so someone else will have to take your order.\" She walks away." CR>
 	 <TELL ". ">>
 
 <CONSTANT COOPS
-      <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	     #BYTE 0 "Please cooperate" "Don't confuse me" "Come now">>		
+      <LTABLE 2 "Please cooperate" "Don't confuse me" "Come now">>
 
 <DEFINE SAY-MUZAK ("OPT" (X -1))
 	 <COND (<==? .X -1>
@@ -969,23 +967,19 @@ THE ,MANSION-DOOR ", squints in your " D ,INTDIR
 
 <CONSTANT MACAW-TABLE
 	<TABLE <>
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0
+	       <LTABLE 2
 		       " groans defiance at you"
 		       " lets off an obscene squeak"
 		       " whispers at the top of its voice">
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0
+	       <LTABLE 2
 		       " looks at you with one half-closed eye"
 		       " thinks about scratching its wing, then thinks better of it"
 		       " wobbles back and forth on its perch">
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0
+	       <LTABLE 2
 		       " roars defiance at you"
 		       " lets off an obscene whistle"
 		       " screeches at the top of its voice">
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0
+	       <LTABLE 2
 		       " looks at you with one eye, then the other"
 		       " scratches its wing"
 		       " thinks about scratching a wing, then realises that the one it was thinking about is missing"
@@ -993,22 +987,19 @@ THE ,MANSION-DOOR ", squints in your " D ,INTDIR
 for some hate-object to get over-excited about"
 		       " paces back and forth on its perch"
 		       " flutters excitedly">
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0
+	       <LTABLE 2
 		       " crushes your finger in a vise-like beak-grip"
 		       " lunges at your fingers"
 		       " tears savagely at your hand"
 		       " strikes a jack-hammer blow at you">
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0
+	       <LTABLE 2
 		       "Death to the running dogs of imperialism"
 		       "Power to the downtrodden masses"
 		       "Workers of the world unite"
 		       "Russia got Reagan's brain! Russia got Reagan's brain"
 		       "Kill the pinko fascist commie Christian Democrats"
 		       "The old lady is a Tory">
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0
+	       <LTABLE 2
 		       "Death to the communist dogs"
 		       "Let's lob one into the men's room of the Kremlin"
 		       "Today the Falklands, tomorrow the rest of the empire"
@@ -1137,8 +1128,7 @@ PNEXT ,MOUSY-WISHES "...\" he sighs, half to himself." CR>
 	 <HLIGHT ,H-NORMAL>>
 
 <CONSTANT MOUSY-WISHES
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	       #BYTE 0
+	<LTABLE 2
 	 "No Zalagasa 42 on this one, either. Someday, someday"
 	 "Where are you, my little Ai-Ai? I know you're out there, somewhere"
 	 "Still no Zalagasan Ai-Ai. I know I'll find one someday, but"
@@ -1189,13 +1179,13 @@ He shuts " THE ,FROOM-DOOR " as he leaves." CR>
 <MSETG LLAMA-EATS 2>
 <CONSTANT LLAMA-TABLE
 	<TABLE 0
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0 " blinks at you stupidly"
+	       <LTABLE 2
+		         " blinks at you stupidly"
 		         " emits a hoarse bleat"
 			 " is pretending not to watch you"
 			 " shakes itself and bleats">
-	       <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		      #BYTE 0 " chomps eagerly on"
+	       <LTABLE 2
+		         " chomps eagerly on"
 		         " pauses to bleat, then turns back to"
 			 " is still eating">>>
 			 			 
diff --git a/misc.zil b/misc.zil
index c2e101e..aa2798a 100644
--- a/misc.zil
+++ b/misc.zil
@@ -774,8 +774,7 @@
 	 <TELL .STR ,PERIOD>>
 
 <CONSTANT LIKELIES 
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	 #BYTE 0
+	<LTABLE 2
 	 " isn't likely"
 	 " seems doubtful"
 	 " seems unlikely"
@@ -927,8 +926,7 @@
 	 <TELL "You couldn't do that from " PNEXT ,COULDNTS ,PERIOD>>
 
 <CONSTANT COULDNTS
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	       #BYTE 0 "here" "where you are" "here">>
+	<LTABLE 2 "here" "where you are" "here">>
 
 <DEFINE IS-ARE ("OPTIONAL" (THING <>))
 	 <COND (<ZERO? .THING>
@@ -979,10 +977,8 @@
 
 <CONSTANT FIXTURES
 	<PTABLE
-	 <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		#BYTE 0 "firm" "permanent" "immovab" "secure">
-	 <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		#BYTE 0 "attached" "affixed">>>
+	 <LTABLE 2 "firm" "permanent" "immovab" "secure">
+	 <LTABLE 2 "attached" "affixed">>>
 
 <DEFINE PRSO-NOUN-USED? (WORD1 "OPT" (WORD2 <>) (WORD3 <>) "AUX" WD OFWD)
   <COND (<OR <T? ,PRSO>
diff --git a/nnairport.zil b/nnairport.zil
index c5596e0..3f6e415 100644
--- a/nnairport.zil
+++ b/nnairport.zil
@@ -121,8 +121,7 @@ navigation course yet. Try again when you have." CR>)
 	(ACTION SKYCAPS-F)>
 
 <CONSTANT SKYCAP-DOINGS
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	       #BYTE 0 
+	<LTABLE 2
 		"discussing the weather"
 		"watching passengers struggle with their luggage"
 		"talking about bad working conditions"
diff --git a/parser.zil b/parser.zil
index 8776042..64deafa 100644
--- a/parser.zil
+++ b/parser.zil
@@ -2773,15 +2773,15 @@ OOPS-INBUF, leaving the appropriate pointers in AGAIN-LEXV."
 	       <SETG P-GWIMBIT 0>
 	       .LIT)>>
 
-"PICK-NEXT expects an LTABLE (length=number of strings), with an extra
-byte after the length that's initially 0."
+"PICK-NEXT expects an LTABLE of strings, with an initial element of 2."
 
 <DEFINE PICK-NEXT (TBL "AUX" CNT:FIX STR)
-	 <SET CNT <GETB .TBL 2>>
-       	 <SET STR <ZGET <REST .TBL 3> .CNT>>
-	 <COND (<G=? <SET CNT <+ .CNT 1>> <ZGET .TBL 0>:FIX>
-		<SET CNT 0>)>
-	 <PUTB .TBL 2 .CNT>
+	 <SET CNT <GET .TBL 1>>
+	 <SET STR <GET .TBL .CNT>>
+	 <INC CNT>
+	 <COND (<G? .CNT <ZGET .TBL 0>:FIX>
+		<SET CNT 2>)>
+	 <PUT .TBL 1 .CNT>
 	 .STR>
 
 <DEFINE DONT-HAVE? HAVE (OBJ "OPT" (TAKE? <>) "AUX" L O)
diff --git a/people.zil b/people.zil
index 6064b0f..2e4b398 100644
--- a/people.zil
+++ b/people.zil
@@ -1076,8 +1076,7 @@ Incredibly, you resist the urge to kill the worthless cake-brain on the spot." C
 <MSETG INIT-NERD-SCRIPT 3>
 <GLOBAL NERD-SCRIPT 0>
 <CONSTANT NERD-ARRIVALS
-	  <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-		 #BYTE 0
+	  <LTABLE 2
 		  "The snivelling, ratty and ineffectual nerd stumbles into view again"
 		  "You hear a hatefully familiar whine close at hand"
 		  "The ghastly nerd reappears at your side, peering myopically through his filthy Coke-bottle spectacles">>
diff --git a/random-globals.zil b/random-globals.zil
index ef45f4d..444664e 100644
--- a/random-globals.zil
+++ b/random-globals.zil
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@
 <SETG NOW-PRSI? <>>
 <SETG VERBOSITY 1> "0 = super, 1 = brief, 2 = verbose."
 <CONSTANT YAWNS
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	       #BYTE 0 "unusual" "interesting" "extraordinary" "special">>
+	<LTABLE 2 "unusual" "interesting" "extraordinary" "special">>
 <SETG MEAL-STATE 0>
 <CONSTANT MEAL
       <ITABLE 27 0>>
diff --git a/verbs.zil b/verbs.zil
index 3039764..b2e1eed 100644
--- a/verbs.zil
+++ b/verbs.zil
@@ -3451,8 +3451,7 @@ stay right there." CR>
 		<MOVE ,PRSO ,WINNER>
 		.L)>>  "So that .L an be analyzed."
 
-<CONSTANT MAILING-LIST <TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-			       #BYTE 0 MAGAZINE FLYER COUPON ENVELOPE>>
+<CONSTANT MAILING-LIST <LTABLE 2 MAGAZINE FLYER COUPON ENVELOPE>>
 
 "Count # objects being carried by THING."
 
@@ -3582,8 +3581,7 @@ stay right there." CR>
 	 T>
 
 <CONSTANT HO-HUM
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	       #BYTE 0 
+	<LTABLE 2
 	 "is not permitted in this story without prior written consent, in triplicate, from Infocom, Inc"
 	 "is a violation of the Cambridge Convention, which prohibits it in humourous games"
 	 "cannot be allowed until your bank acknowledges your change-of-address form"
@@ -3595,7 +3593,7 @@ stay right there." CR>
 	 T> 
 	 
 <CONSTANT YUKS
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD])) #BYTE 0
+	<LTABLE 2
 	 "That's impossible"
 	 "What a ridiculous concept"
 	 "You can't be serious">>
@@ -3637,7 +3635,7 @@ stay right there." CR>
 	 T>
 
 <CONSTANT POINTLESS
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD])) #BYTE 0
+	<LTABLE 2
 	 "There's no point in doing that"
 	 "That would be pointless"
 	 "That's a pointless thing to do">>
@@ -3669,8 +3667,7 @@ stay right there." CR>
 	 T>
 
 <CONSTANT PUZZLES
-	<TABLE (LENGTH PATTERN (BYTE [REST WORD]))
-	       #BYTE 0 "puzzled" "bewildered" "confused" "perplexed">>
+	<LTABLE 2 "puzzled" "bewildered" "confused" "perplexed">>
 
 <DEFINE V-SWRAP ()
 	 <PERFORM ,V?WRAP-AROUND ,PRSI ,PRSO>