Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens(42)

‘Probably.’

‘Always remember, foursight is what Oculators have when wearing their Lenses.’

‘Shiver me timbers!’

‘All right, Aydee. I’ve got a question for you. It’s going to be a hard one. The hardest math problem you’ve ever seen.’

‘Er . . . I don’t know . . .’

‘Alcatraz, are you sure you want to do this?’

‘No.’

‘Great. That’s comforting.’

‘It’s the best thing I’ve got right now. Aydee, I’m going to ask you a math question, and I want you to keep the number in your head. Only spit it out when we get done, all right?’

‘Okay . . .’

‘Take one and add fourteen.’

‘Er . . .’

‘Then take away nine.’

‘Right.’

‘Then multiply by seventy-four.’

‘Um . . .’

‘Then subtract three.’

‘Well . . .’

‘Then take the square root of that.’

‘What’s a square root?’

‘Then take one third of that.’

‘Got it.’

‘Then multiply by negative one.’

‘Okay.’

‘What?’

‘Hush, Bastille. Then add the number of inches in a foot.’

‘That’s easy.’

‘It is? I’m lost.’

‘Quiet, Kaz. Then add eleven billion.’

‘Okay . . .’