(defun take-1 (it what)
      (cond ((eq what :all) it)
            ((eq what :none) nil)
            ((and (numberp what) (plusp what))
             (subseq it 0 what))
            ((and (numberp what) (minusp what))
             (last it (- what)))
            ((and (consp what)
                  (= (length what) 1)
                  (numberp (first what)))
             (nth (first what) it))
            ((and (consp what)
                  (= (length what) 2)
                  (numberp (first what))              
                  (numberp (second what)))
             (let ((end (if (minusp (second what))
                            (+ (length it) (second what))
                          (second what))))
               (subseq it (first what) end)))
            ((and (consp what)
                  (= (length what) 3)
                  (numberp (first what))
                  (numberp (second what))
                  (numberp (third what)))
             (let ((end (if (minusp (second what))
                            (+ (length it) (second what))
                          (second what))))
               (loop for e = (subseq it (first what)) then (nthcdr (third what) it)
                     for i from (first what) below end by (third what)
                     collect (first e))))))


    (defun take (thing &rest description)
      (cond ((null description) nil)
            ((and (consp description)
                  (= (length description) 1))
             (take-1 thing (first description)))
            (t (loop for e in (take-1 thing (first description))
                     collect (apply #'take e (rest description))))))