“Do a long equation for me,” Orinakin said. “One of those multi-step ones. For my own entertainment.”
“I am here for your personal amusement,” Bade said with a smile. “Thirteen times eighteen times twelve divided by six plus eighty-two minus one hundred seventeen equals four hundred thirty-three.”
“Four hundred thirty-three?” Orinakin repeated. He hesitated, thought about it, then said, “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Do you want to do it?” Bade asked.
“Do what?” Orinakin asked. “That problem? I wouldn’t know where to begin without writing it down.”
“At the beginning,” Bade said. “It’s step by step. Try thirteen times eighteen.”
“Thirteen times eighteen?” Orinakin repeated, sounding baffled.
“Eighteen is what?” Bade asked. “Nine times what?”
“Two,” Orinakin said.
“And nine times six equals…?”
Orinakin glanced around, as if for help.
“No,” Bade said, “you can’t look at Selorin’s paper for answers.”
“He never knew, either, anyway,” Orinakin muttered. Running his fingers through his hair, he looked at Bade again. “Nine times six.” He frowned, squinting a little. “Nine. Eighteen. Twenty-seven. Thirty-six. Forty-five. Fifty-four?”
“Yes!” Bade said. “Nine times six is fifty-four. Nine times six is fifty-four, and two nines are eighteen. Nine times six is the same as eighteen times three.”
“Okay,” Orinakin said, seeming to follow along.
“So eighteen times three is fifty-four. So eighteen times thirteen is fifty-four plus eighteen times ten. And you know what eighteen times ten is.”
“One hundred eighty,” Orinakin said.
“Yes,” Bade said, grinning. “Now it’s time to add.”
“Do a long equation for me,” Orinakin said. “One of those multi-step ones. For my own entertainment.”
“I am here for your personal amusement,” Bade said with a smile. “Thirteen times eighteen times twelve divided by six plus eighty-two minus one hundred seventeen equals four hundred thirty-three.”
“Four hundred thirty-three?” Orinakin repeated. He hesitated, thought about it, then said, “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Do you want to do it?” Bade asked.
“Do what?” Orinakin asked. “That problem? I wouldn’t know where to begin without writing it down.”
“At the beginning,” Bade said. “It’s step by step. Try thirteen times eighteen.”
“Thirteen times eighteen?” Orinakin repeated, sounding baffled.
“Eighteen is what?” Bade asked. “Nine times what?”
“Two,” Orinakin said.
“And nine times six equals…?”
Orinakin glanced around, as if for help.
“No,” Bade said, “you can’t look at Selorin’s paper for answers.”
“He never knew, either, anyway,” Orinakin muttered. Running his fingers through his hair, he looked at Bade again. “Nine times six.” He frowned, squinting a little. “Nine. Eighteen. Twenty-seven. Thirty-six. Forty-five. Fifty-four?”
“Yes!” Bade said. “Nine times six is fifty-four. Nine times six is fifty-four, and two nines are eighteen. Nine times six is the same as eighteen times three.”
“Okay,” Orinakin said, seeming to follow along.
“So eighteen times three is fifty-four. So eighteen times thirteen is fifty-four plus eighteen times ten. And you know what eighteen times ten is.”
“One hundred eighty,” Orinakin said.
“Yes,” Bade said, grinning. “Now it’s time to add.”
