Muko Part III: Muko and the Key

By Greg Materna

The Citadel of Aivirai is a fantasy world of towers, lakes, bridges, walkways and symbolical trees. In its heart is a school called the Queen of Science Academy, for children of extraordinary mathematical ability. They sleep in dormitories, eat at communal tables, wear colour-coded uniforms, and attend classes taught by mathematical geniuses of past eras. It's a magical place where maths is central to every part of their lives.
The children have no idea how they arrived in Aivirai. Their only recollections of the past come through dreams. They don't understand the concept of parents, or family. The teachers maintain their distance, and discipline is kept by older pupils who appear and disappear at will. Only the eccentric Librarian is reputedly willing to listen to their problems in between ferociously protecting the books which she none-the-less stamps on every page.
The children are introduced to mathematical puzzles in class and given others to solve out of class, but for one boy, Muko, this isn't enough. He overhears two teachers talking about a mysterious but immensely important riddle, and such is his thirst for adventure that he wishes to be the first to solve it.
He forms a small team with three other children and becomes their leader. Amartia, the least sociable of them, is the mathematical genius behind much of their progress. Paidia and Gelio, close friends and comical sparring partners, also bring their intelligence to bear at crucial moments.
The children's quest begins with picking the brains of the delightfully absent-minded Professor Hedgehog, then tricking Pythagoras into getting them past the Librarian's strict access restrictions to seek out an ancient volume. A series of complex mathematical hurdles later, they find themselves in peril of their lives.
What have our four friends let themselves in for? Will they prevail against the machinations of strange artefacts and sinister mountain caverns? Solving the many riddles will add an extra dimension of enjoyment to reading the book, but it is also a magical adventure story accessible to any youngster with or without a mathematical bent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greg Materna
• Release date: Aug 15, 2020

Book preview

Author: Greg Materna

Text elaboration: Damaris West

Front cover: Patt Ramenta

Pictures: Agata Szczęsna

All Rights Reserved © 2019 Greg Materna

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Legends of Aivirai

MUKO

and the Key

part III

Chapter 15

Beep … beeep … beeep … Professor, what is happening? … beep … beeep … beep … beep … Is everything all right? … beeep … beeep … Everything … beep … beeep … is stable" … beep … beep … beeep …

At long last the children had found their way to the sculpture. So this was where it was housed! They gazed all around them and couldn't see any walls, but a sort of mist closed them in quite a distance away, blocking off any view of what might be beyond. Perhaps they were in a large park? There was grass underfoot, and pathways made out of huge stone slabs sunk into the ground. Looking up, they couldn't see the ceiling because it seemed to be emitting light - it was like looking into the sun. But one thing told them they were in a chamber for certain: their voices had an echo, which wouldn't be the case if they were in a totally open place.

There it was, the sculpture. Right in front of them. From the point at which they'd arrived in the chamber, coming up the stairs, it looked like a giant page being held up by a large pile of wood. The page was curved and from above had the form of a letter 's'. It looked as if there was writing on it. They could hear the sound of water, gushing in some hidden place. They could see heavy stones, partly covered by soil and grass, scattered over the ground. A little softer than the sound of water, they could hear a wind blowing through the chamber, and above them they could see the bright light that came from the ceiling.

The friends sat down on the soft green grass. There was a calm aura of welcome about the place, as if they were in a very friendly environment.

This is wonderful, said Paidia, stretching out her legs. I feel like I've come home, you know? I wouldn't mind staying here for ever.

I feel kind of .. balanced. At one with myself. Gelio sighed with contentment and lay back with his hands laced together as a pillow under his head.

I know just what you mean. Muko was also relaxed, but wouldn't allow himself to lose sight of the fact that they had a lot more yet to do. It's like everything's in equilibrium. I find it very restful.

So let's rest, said Paidia.

I've got this feeling, said Gelio stretching luxuriously, that we've arrived and that nothing else matters. I know in theory we haven't got to the end of the road, but I just feel so contented.

Well I think we jolly well ought to feel pleased with ourselves, said Muko. We've found the sculpture that no-one else could. We succeeded where they failed! We should give ourselves a big pat on the back.

I concur, Amartia said, quietly but emphatically.

I wish we could celebrate, Paidia said. I know, I know ... she added hastily before Muko could tell her that it was somewhat premature. "But it just feels so good to reap the reward of all our struggles.

We're a good team, Muko told them. Together we have amazing qualities: determination, persistence, curiosity, creativity, insight, knowledge, resourcefulness … Together we're formidable. We can conquer anything!

Paidia and Gelio lay down full length and rested. But Muko and Amartia walked over to the sculpture to examine it more closely. The wood seemed to be made out of a dead tree trunk.

You know how slowly time goes here, Muko said thoughtfully. Well the sculpture must be very old indeed to be resting on a tree that's now just a trunk.

Amartia nodded.

The page attached to the trunk looked as if it might have been bent by the wind into its 's' form. Muko noticed that it was made of metal and that there were a lot of letters inscribed on it. He tried to read the letters but he couldn't make any sense of them. One thing stood out, which was that the text appeared to be divided into