256

Chapter 21

"I think we've been approaching this poem thing wrong. The first stanza seems to be just people and places with the number. We have plenty of data already without stretching our resources for more of the same," Marc asked. They were all sitting in the lounge, after having a lengthy debate about who was the most qualified to have the responsibility of the poem dumped on them.

"But these ones were specifically singled out. There's got to be something special about them," Cindy said.

"Well, Death figured one of the lines out. We're pretty sure the fiery mountains are Flira. How did that case stand out?" he asked.

"Higher profile, higher stakes, third-party intervention, and confirmed extraterrestrial involvement," Zora said rapid-fire fast.

"Basically just a bigger case all around," Rodrigo said.

"So we can pretty much skip to the second stanza, then," Cindy said. "Which is about... where we can find the number. And it confirms that this is definitely not a coincidence."

"'All of time' sounds pretty bad if you ask me," Zora said.

"Yeah, and 'it falls on those with fearsome tricks' sort of makes it sound like it's involuntary. Like the number is somehow programmed to do this no matter what, just find people like me automatically," Alex said.

"'All of time'. How old is this poem, anyway?" Marc asked.

"Uh, I couldn't find any direct mentions of it anywhere. No one comes outright and says their talking about the 256 poem, they just mention the poem and everyone knows. But there were implications, of sorts. I couldn't get an exact answer, or even close, but lots of people seem to think it's from the sixteenth or seventeenth century, and that it was found in a boarding house in Florence. I apologize for not being more specific," Rodrigo said.

"No, you did great, Rodrigo. Thank you for working so hard," Death said.

"Four hundred, maybe five hundred years. And that's just when someone thought to write down what they knew; who knows how long this went on before that," Marc said. "You know, we don't know for sure that this came from the same person who sent the number. This could be false information."

"Yeah, but why would someone write down lies in their own records? It doesn't make sense," Zora said.

"Whoever wrote the poem acted like they knew why the number was here and what was trying to be accomplished. We have to assume everything in here is poorly described fact," Cindy said.

"Poorly described? Sorry, but this is the best description of a scientific anomaly I've ever read. It's got cited trials, qualitative data, and understandable metaphors. You can't really ask for much more, given the time period," Rodrigo said.

"'Understandable metaphors' is an oxymoron," Zora muttered. "Like 'Marxist supremacy' or something."

"You get this stuff?" Marc asked. "Why didn't you say something earlier? "

"Because of what you're going to say next."

"This stupid poem thing is your responsibility now."

"Don't worry Rodrigo," Zora clapped a hand on his shoulders. "There are some perks to being a poetry nerd. For instance, now we have a new source of comic relief. Because I promise to never, ever let you live this down."

"Stuff like this is why I hate you all," he said flatly.

"That's not true and you know it!" Zora called teasingly after him. He didn't respond, just kept walking.

"He likes us," she said confidently.

"Actually, while he doesn't like, hate hate you guys, he doesn't agree with nearly any of Marc's decisions, doesn't approve of Zora, has some serious disdain for De--"

"I think that's enough, Cindy," Marc narrowed his eyes.

"Cool trick though," Zora said, stroking the kitten in her lap.

"Why don't you do something constructive and see if you can find any references to 256 in the media. Not breaking news. Past events, things that might have happened before we started investigating, mentions in books or television, anything. You should find plenty," Marc said.

Cindy restrained from saying something sarcastic. You could search any number and get thousands of results. This one would generate even more. And now she had to comb through them all.

"I can help you, if you want," Death offered.

"Well isn't that a change," she said.

"What?"

"Nothing. Thanks. I'd love the help."

"Marc, since you were the one who brought all these kittens here, it only seems fitting that you be the one to get rid of them. Get started on finding them homes and stuff," Death said.

"Sounds fair." Everyone dispersed, even Zora and Alex going to go play darts or something.

"Cindy, before you get started, I'd like to talk to you in my office please," Marc said.

She felt a tiny prick of fear and guilt, like a little kid getting called to see the principal. That was ridiculous. She was an adult. And she hadn't even done anything wrong in the first place, it was Rodrigo who had lied, not her.