#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;

my %desc;
{
    local $/ = "";
    while (<DATA>) {
        s/\\\\/\n/;
        s/^(.*)\n//;
        $desc{$1} = $_;
    }
}

print "{$_} => \n$desc{$_}" for (keys %desc);

__DATA__
house_west
You are standing in an open field west of a white house,
with a boarded front door.
\\
There is a small mailbox here.

house_south
You are facing the south side of a white house. 
There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded.

house_behind
You are behind the white house.
A path leads into the forest to the east. 
\\
In one corner of the house there is a small window which is slightly ajar.