coco- Probability: The Art of the LazyFor their first year anniversary, she wanted to do something different. She was creative in her work but all creativity seemed to stop once she left that warehouse in the eve. She stuck to a monochrome blue wardrobe to make clothing purchases and her presentation faster and easier. The side-effect, perceived eccentricity, served her well. She kept in touch with her parents via email and Skype. Her days started at 4:30AM with a wake-up call, a taxi and a plane flight, and they ended at 9:30PM with a plane flight, a taxi, and half-an-hour of world news on the TV before bed. She wanted this to be as interesting as her design work. II. For their first year anniversary, she couriered Matt an early-morning parcel. It was on his desk when he arrived at work. It contained his favourite breakfast - egg and bacon pie - and a puzzle: "In a-mong these letters you'll find a number. Call." He laughed to himself, and ate the pie, before passing the note around. "So, have you called it yet?" said a co-worker. "Called what?" said Matt. "The number." Matt thought awhile, and snatched back the note. He read it over. "The number?" His co-workers laughed. Then they dispersed, because their editor was making the rounds. Matt wheeled his chair closer to Brian's. "I don't get it," he said. Brian laughed again. "But it's easy." "Just tell me," said Matt, unfased. Pointing to the note, Brian pressed his forefinger down on each word. "2, 1, 4, 5, 7, 5... each word is a number, it makes a phone number, you have to call it." Matt laughed, relieved, and wheeled backwards to his desk. "Thanks." He made the call, returned to Brian's side, and spoke conspiratorially: "It was a mail box. Here, I've written it down. The message was in a robotic voice and it said, 'South N X. Yellow cars. 1200 H. Come alone.'" Brian looked at him, silent. "What is it, what is it?" said Matt, happily. "I bet she's behind this, I bet she is, it's fun!" Brian didn't smile so much. "Southern Cross Station. Twelve midday. Yellow cars are cabs, so at the taxi rank, I imagine." "It's fun!" repeated Matt. He left the office at 11:50AM and some co-workers lounged around Brian's desk. "He couldn't figure it out?" asked one. Matt waited at the taxi rank - waiting for a sign - until he saw a man holding a sign with his surname on it. "I'm Matt Davis," he said, his hand out for a shake. But the man ushered him to a limousine door, eschewing the pleasantries. Champagne lined the limousine. Matt couldn't help taking photos of it all with his phone, and he drank half a bottle before they parked. They were beside a helipad. "Oh God!" said Matt, taking pictures. A twenty minute helicopter ride brought him to a country club resort, where she was waiting for him with lunch, a room, and a massage. III. For their second anniversary, she booked the same room at the country club, for the weekend. On the Saturday, they swam in the pool, had massages, and wined and dined 'til the wee hours. On the Sunday, she asked Matt out for a Sunday drive. She directed him, in their hire car, off-road. "Good thing we have a four-wheel-drive," he said. They bumped along in dust clouds for an hour, before jumping back onto sealed roads. "Next left," she said. They were at Nashleigh, famous for its garden maze. At the entrance gate, the attendant smiled at them. "Here you are, Miss," he said, as he handed her a map of the land. "This shows you where you enter the maze. And the café is over here. Good luck!" For Matt, he produced a red envelope. "And for you Sir, a challenge. There's a puzzle in the maze. If you answer the question correctly, there's a free lunch for two at the café... and maybe more." "Is this you?" said Matt, turning around. "Your doing? Did you make up this game?" She didn't reply; she was switching off her phone. "Aw honey," he said, kissing her neck, "you're so sweet." He opened the envelope and read the note inside. "Find the answer to this puzzle: 'Somewhere I might like to be.' Find it by searching for maze elves - the first letters of their names - you'll see!" They stepped into the maze and paused, as Matt was studying the note. "Somewhere I might like to be." There was a minute's silence before she prompted, "How do you find the answer?" "Hmmmm, it says, by searching for maze elves." "Hmmmm, do you think there was one back there?" "Back where?" "I saw a flash of colour, I'm not sure." They retraced their steps and Matt inspected the maze walls. In a crack, near the ground, was a four-inch-high elf, sitting down, holding his name on a sign. "Angry Andy," said Matt. She gave him a pen so he could fill in a blank on the note. They found eight elves. They found their way through the maze. "Somewhere I might like to be," said Matt, staring at the names. "Wish my work friends were here, they always guess your things right." She blinked, and pushed her sunglasses up into her hair. "Let's get a drink at the café," said Matt. At the café she had a quick word with the owner, while Matt was reading the puzzle. Waiters slid over to a table for two and removed two small boxes from the place settings. They were then seated; Matt ordered some wine and oysters, and passed the note over to her. "What's the answer?" he said. "I'm not sure." He pulled the paper over in front of him again. "I see it's 'Awed Ding'. That's a place? Can I see the map of Nashleigh, maybe it's a place on the map." "Matt, let's just have lunch," she said. "I probably have to return to the city tonight." |
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Ko Lying Snake and The Forgetful Hat, Part 1
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