Muko Par V: Muko and the Rival

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 16, 2020

Book preview

Author: Greg Materna

Text elaboration: Damaris West

Front cover: Patt Ramenta

Pictures: Agata Szczęsna & Patt Ramenta

All Rights Reserved © 2020 Greg Materna

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below:

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Dedicated to three great mathematicians and cryptologists:

Marian Rejewski, Jerzy Różycki and Henryk Zygalski

for their contribution in solving deadly enigma codes.

Legends of Aivirai

MUKO

and the Rival

part V

Chapter 29

... beeep .... beeep ... Punished ... beeep .... beeep .... Paranoia .... beep ... beeep ... Obsessed .... beep .... beep ... Daunting ... beeep ... beep ... Aversion ... beep ... beep .... Deadlock .... beep .... beep ... Accusing ... beeep ... beep ... beeep .... Tactical ... beeep ... beep ... beep ....

The four friends cast their eyes quickly around Pythagoras' chamber. Everything was exactly as they remembered it: the desks with the papers and fruit on them, the broad beans in their pot on the windowsill, and the armchair. This time, however, the armchair had been pushed to one side and the inner entrance - no longer a secret, of course - was covered by a rug which didn't fool them for one second. Muko and Gelio took one side of the rug each and dragged it back, then together they opened the trapdoor in the floor.

Gelio made a courteous gesture to Paidia, indicating that she should go in front of him, and said, Ladies first.

But Paidia scowled back at him and dug her heels in where she was, clearly answering, 'No way'.

We haven't got time for silly antics like this! Muko hissed at them.

Amartia realised that she would have to solve everyone else's dilemmas, so she quickly slid past them, lowered herself into the opening in the floor, and clambered down the stairs. Paidia followed her example and went second. Gelio and Muko looked at each other, and with just an exchange of nods, agreed that Gelio would go next and Muko would bring up the rear.

It was Muko's job to pull the rug as close as possible to the edge of the trapdoor so that he could reach out, just before closing it, and drag it across the opening to cover it up. It didn't end up exactly as it had been before, but at least it hid part of it and was better than not making the effort at all.

The children descended the stairs as quickly as they could toward the sculpture. When Muko entered the area, he immediately noticed that Amartia was peering intently at the rocks on the grass. Paidia meantime looked thrilled beyond belief, almost crazily so, as if it was the first time she'd been there.

You know, she said to Muko in an excited whisper, it doesn't matter how many times I come here, there's something totally relaxing about it. I feel like I'm floating in a bubble, completely tranquil.

Gelio had overheard her. You wouldn't be floating if what you really liked had anything to do with it, he sniggered. You'd sink like a stone. The only other time I've seen you in such ecstasy was when you were scoffing Block Cake in the Department of Collections, and that'd make a lead weight inside your fat tummy.

Paidia opened her mouth to utter a furious retort. I'll have you know, ... she started.

But Muko couldn't allow them the luxury of these repartees. Hurry up! Let's go and find the other door!

He had to see what Amartia was looking at, however, so he went and peered over her shoulder. What have you got there?

I've just found some interesting marks on the stones, Amartia told him. I didn't pay any attention to them last time we were here. Look! She pointed to some dots and dashes on the stones which were very clear and obvious once one had seen them.

Paidia and Gelio were reduced to glaring at each other, but their curiosity soon overcame them and they went to see what Muko and Amartia had found.

What is it? Paidia asked.

Take a look at these strange symbols, said Amartia, pointing to them.

Paidia, being very switched on in such matters, knew what they were immediately. Muko also recognised them, but they were more difficult to interpret this time than when he'd encountered such things previously.

Suddenly Muko has the sensation that he is sitting in someone's lap. His eyes are closed and all he is aware of is a voice saying, Ok, now this one.

It's a man's voice, and he hears him scratching something on a table with an object like a pencil or a stick. There are two kinds of scratch: one short and one long. He hears three long scratches, followed by a pause, then three short ones, and another pause, then three more long ones.

Have you just made the letters S.O.S.? Muko asks hesitantly.

Yes, indeed I have, the man responds. Clever boy.

What does it mean? Muko persists.

Well, the man tells him, "when you're in danger and