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"Hey, you!" "Who? Me?" "Yeah, dirty fellow, I'm talking to you. I am Captain Maximus of the King's army. My men and I are looking for a person named Archimedes. How far does he live from here?" "Go up to that village on the hill. That's where he lives." It's not long before the horses return from the village. Leading them is a very angry Captain. "Hey, you!" "Who? Me?" "Yeah, dirty fellow, don't you recognise me?" "Of course, I do. You are Captain Maximus of the King's army. A few hours ago, you were looking for the house of Archimedes. Did you find it?" "Yeah, but the neighbour said Archimedes had come this way. Do you know him?" "Not fully yet." "Can you recognise him?" "Undoubtedly." "Good, because then you are riding with us." "I can't. I have work here." "Dead men don't work... and you are dead if you don't come with us now." The Captain will have to ride with the old man for a while before he realises how dirty he can be. When they dismount on the fourth morning, the riders have come a long way from where they picked the old man. Leading them is a very tired Captain. "Hey, you!" "Who? Me?" "Yeah, I'm talking to you, dirty fellow. What were you doing back then?" "I was counting the cattle of Sun God." They all laugh at him. "The herd of Sun God comprises bulls and cows, one part of which is white, a second black, a third spotted, and a fourth brown. Among the bulls, the number of white ones is one half plus one third the number of the black greater than the brown; the number of the black, one quarter plus one fifth the number of the spotted greater than the brown; the number of the spotted, one sixth and one seventh the number of the white greater than the brown. Among the cows, the number of white ones is one third plus one quarter of the total black cattle; the number of the black, one quarter plus one fifth the total of the spotted cattle; the number of spotted, one fifth plus one sixth the total of the brown cattle; the number of the brown, one sixth plus one seventh the total of the white cattle. If you are men worth your salt, tell me what is the composition of the herd?" "Who art thou to question us like that?" "Archimedes." "Why didn't you tell us earlier?" "You never asked me. Why does the king wish to see me?" "He wants you to find out how pure is the gold used in the Queen's ring, but before we take you to him... " In the court: "We
threw him in a tub so that he bathes, but after a while, he just got out
of there shouting 'Eureka, Eureka,' and ran away to the jungle."
"Didn't you try to stop him?" "We had a problem, your
majesty." (Archimedes asks. Write at The Tribune or adityarishi99@yahoo.co.in) |
