diff --git a/project.godot b/project.godot
index 0ef2aea..64075a8 100644
--- a/project.godot
+++ b/project.godot
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ run/main_scene="res://levels/sandbox/sandbox.tscn"
 config/features=PackedStringArray("4.4", "Forward Plus")
 run/max_fps=60
 
+[autoload]
+
+GameManager="*res://src/game/game_manager.tscn"
+
 [debug]
 
 gdscript/warnings/untyped_declaration=2
diff --git a/src/game/game.gd b/src/game/game.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1ceb58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/game.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+class_name Game extends Node
+## Interface to the game as an application.
+
+## Handy typed singleton access.
+static var manager: GameManagerType:
+	get():
+		return GameManager
diff --git a/src/game/game.gd.uid b/src/game/game.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c7af87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/game.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dxl25lkyped4
diff --git a/src/game/game.tscn b/src/game/game.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a36050e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/game.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://qpq2cm1hgeha"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://dxl25lkyped4" path="res://src/game/game.gd" id="1_qnjlk"]
+
+[node name="Game" type="Node"]
+script = ExtResource("1_qnjlk")
diff --git a/src/game/game_manager.gd b/src/game/game_manager.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8c84bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/game_manager.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+class_name GameManagerType extends Node
+## Autoloaded singleton encapsulating game state.
+
+signal grunk_collected(delta: float)
+
+var grunk_tank := 0.0
+
+var alert_level := 0
+
+
+func collect_grunk(delta: float) -> void:
+	grunk_tank += delta
+	grunk_collected.emit(delta)
diff --git a/src/game/game_manager.gd.uid b/src/game/game_manager.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ce4481
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/game_manager.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://c1i5gnht15x0e
diff --git a/src/game/game_manager.tscn b/src/game/game_manager.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af01b15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/game_manager.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://cnrtgmanw40ei"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://c1i5gnht15x0e" path="res://src/game/game_manager.gd" id="1_08e4a"]
+
+[node name="GameManager" type="Node"]
+script = ExtResource("1_08e4a")
diff --git a/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.gd b/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d1fd31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+extends HBoxContainer
+## Does a funky lil bump when you collect tha grunk
+
+const COUNTER_BUMP_RATE := 0.3
+
+@onready var counter: Label = %Counter
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	Game.manager.grunk_collected.connect(on_grunk_collected)
+	counter.pivot_offset = Vector2(0, counter.size.y)
+
+
+func on_grunk_collected(delta: float) -> void:
+	counter.text = str(int(Game.manager.grunk_tank))
+	counter.scale = Vector2.ONE + Vector2.ONE * clampf(delta / 128.0, 0.1, 1.0)
+
+
+func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	counter.scale = counter.scale.lerp(Vector2.ONE, COUNTER_BUMP_RATE)
diff --git a/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.gd.uid b/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed9c2d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dspsijt4ysg4x
diff --git a/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.tscn b/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f35997
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=3 format=3 uid="uid://cq8qcp5xg41e0"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Theme" uid="uid://b07fevr214mmr" path="res://src/ui/hud/hud_theme.tres" id="1_fwos1"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://dspsijt4ysg4x" path="res://src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.gd" id="2_jfqlp"]
+
+[node name="GrunkCounter" type="HBoxContainer"]
+anchors_preset = 2
+anchor_top = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+offset_top = -45.0
+offset_right = 134.0
+grow_vertical = 0
+theme = ExtResource("1_fwos1")
+alignment = 2
+script = ExtResource("2_jfqlp")
+
+[node name="Label" type="Label" parent="."]
+texture_filter = 6
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 0
+text = "GRUNK: "
+
+[node name="Counter" type="Label" parent="."]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+texture_filter = 6
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 4
+size_flags_vertical = 8
+text = "       0"
+horizontal_alignment = 2
diff --git a/src/ui/hud/player_hud.tscn b/src/ui/hud/player_hud.tscn
index 4a39f23..86fd9be 100644
--- a/src/ui/hud/player_hud.tscn
+++ b/src/ui/hud/player_hud.tscn
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=3 format=3 uid="uid://dq1x21tq06dud"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=4 format=3 uid="uid://dq1x21tq06dud"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Theme" uid="uid://b07fevr214mmr" path="res://src/ui/hud/hud_theme.tres" id="1_lirk3"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://lrsv0185bfu" path="res://src/ui/hud/player_hud.gd" id="2_j6lpx"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://cq8qcp5xg41e0" path="res://src/ui/hud/grunk_counter/grunk_counter.tscn" id="3_5be8f"]
 
 [node name="PlayerHUD" type="Control"]
 layout_mode = 3
@@ -45,3 +46,21 @@ offset_right = 20.0
 grow_horizontal = 2
 grow_vertical = 0
 text = "Press [E] to use"
+
+[node name="MarginContainer" type="MarginContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 1
+anchors_preset = 2
+anchor_top = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+offset_top = -77.0
+offset_right = 123.0
+grow_vertical = 0
+theme_override_constants/margin_left = 32
+theme_override_constants/margin_top = 32
+theme_override_constants/margin_right = 32
+theme_override_constants/margin_bottom = 32
+
+[node name="GrunkCounter" parent="MarginContainer" instance=ExtResource("3_5be8f")]
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 0
+size_flags_vertical = 8
diff --git a/src/world/gunk_body/gunk_body.gd b/src/world/gunk_body/gunk_body.gd
index dba6680..1fe3ca2 100644
--- a/src/world/gunk_body/gunk_body.gd
+++ b/src/world/gunk_body/gunk_body.gd
@@ -218,8 +218,12 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
 	_mutex.lock()
 	var new_total := _clear_total
 	_mutex.unlock()
-	if abs(new_total - _prev_clear_total) > CLEAR_TOTAL_EPSILON:
+	var delta := new_total - _prev_clear_total
+	if abs(delta) > CLEAR_TOTAL_EPSILON:
 		clear_total_updated.emit(new_total)
+		# XXX due to fp error, this will drift from the "true count" over time
+		# but it probably won't matter :shrug:
+		Game.manager.collect_grunk(delta)
 		_prev_clear_total = new_total
 
 	# If paint_continuous wasn't called last frame, stop the current polyline.