by Hamill, Ike
“We’ll have to be careful,” said Ben, “but what you found just makes it even more likely that there’s something worth hiding in there.”
“Look at my hand.” Jack held up his palm to Ben and Stephen. A line of blisters stood out across the top of his palm. “This guy is not afraid to hurt us.”
“But it could have been worse,” countered Stephen. “I think he wanted us to get scared off, not hurt.”
Jack tried a different tack—“We just promised my parents that we would run to them the second we found anything dangerous. Don’t you think this qualifies?”
“The first thing they’ll ask is ‘Why didn’t you tell us about this before, Jack?’” said Ben. “I mean, we’re really deep in this now. No way we’re telling them we’ve been trying to figure out how to break in this hotel for days.”
“You gotta admit, this is the coolest thing you’ve ever seen,” said Stephen.
“No way—we’re not going near that place again.”
“Oh, come on,” said Ben. “We have to go back in a week, to see if anyone puts money there.”
“Yeah, they’ll probably figure out we broke in and shoot us,” said Jack.
“Oh please,” sighed Ben.
They argued all the way back to Jack’s house. His mom was out so they had no problem sneaking the ladder back into the garage. They had a late lunch of peanut-butter sandwiches while Jack put ice on his fingers.
Stephen was the first to bring up the hotel. In a hushed tone, he said “Look, we have to go back.” he looked at Ben. Turning to Jack—“You don’t have to go if you don’t want.”
“Yeah, right,” said Jack. “I’m not letting you guys get yourselves killed.”
“Hey!” said Ben, brightening. “What if we cut power to the place?”
“How are we going to do that?” asked Jack. “That’s probably more dangerous than the traps.”
“Besides, the hatch must be powered,” said Stephen. “We won’t be able to get in if we cut the power. Why don’t you just grow a pair, Jack?”
“Look,” said Jack, “this is simple—we’re not going back, and if you guys try, I’m going to tell my parents. It’s just too dangerous.”
The boys were silenced by the impasse.
**********
When Ben awoke Saturday morning, he was in a good mood until Stephen reminded him of Jack’s threat. Their room shared a wall with Jack’s parents, so they conspired quietly.
“You gotta talk to him,” Stephen said to Ben.
“Yeah, I guess,” said Ben. “He seemed like his mind was made up.”
“There’s probably something really cool in there though,” said Stephen. “I gotta know.”
“Okay,” said Ben. He threw off his covers and checked the clock. It was seven in the morning. Cracking the door, he looked down the hall and noted that all the bedroom doors were closed. Ben slipped into the hallway and closed the door silently behind him. Tapping once on Jack’s door, he let himself in. On his bed, Jack studied the letter they had found.
“Hey,” said Ben.
“Hey,” Jack replied. “I think I figured part of this out.”
“Oh yeah?” said Ben.
“Yeah,” said Jack. “It has several riddles in it and there’s a code to it, too.”
“Yeah?”
“And he makes direct reference to the trap I hit, as well as others,” said Jack.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” said Jack. “Anyway, if I’m right, it means there’s another trap in that room.”
“Why would he tell us about the trap though?” asked Ben.
“I don’t know—maybe it’s an invitation, or maybe it’s an even bigger trap,” said Jack.
“Well I just wanted to tell you that Stephen and I will stay away, if that’s what you want,” offered Ben.
Jack studied his eyes. “Okay,” said Jack. “But I think we have to check it out a little more.”
“What made you change your mind?” asked Ben.
“I don’t know,” said Jack. “I guess I figure since he warned us here, and since we know we have to be more careful, we can probably stay safe enough. Besides, it’s a really cool letter, once you figure it out.”
“Cool,” said Ben. “I’ll go wake up sleeping beauty.”
“Oh, I bet he’s already awake,” said Jack.
“Huh?”
“He wakes up early to watch you as you’re still sleeping,” said Jack. “I saw him do it in the tent about a million times.”
“What?” said Ben.
Jack chuckled—“You’re dumb.”
“Very funny.”
Ben crept back to the guest room where Stephen was looking for clothes to put on.
“What did he say?” whispered Stephen.
“We’re on,” answered Ben. “He has seen the light.”
“You the man!” said Stephen. “Let’s keep moving so he doesn’t change this mind.”
**********
After they boys cleaned up and had breakfast, they went back up to Jack’s room to plan. Huddled around the letter, they tried to predict what they’d find and how to counter it. Jack was keeping a list of the supplies they thought they would need.
“So, here’s what I think,” started Jack. “You see this code at the bottom that says ‘6C 1B 7F 80 0D 5F F6 CB?’”
“What the hell does that mean?” asked Stephen.
“It’s hexadecimal,” said Jack. Ben and Stephen looked for further explanation. “It’s a computer numbering system—base sixteen.” he continued, but they still looked at him blankly. “Don’t they teach you about computers at your fancy schools?” he taunted.
“Anyway,” started Jack, “Each of these digits is like four pieces of information. A zero or one—it’s called ‘binary.’”
“What does that have to do with the letter?” asked Ben.
“Well, see how each paragraph begins with a zero or a one? That was my first clue that it was binary. There’s eight paragraphs and, after the first digit, seven sentences. I think he’s telling us which sentences are true and false,” said Jack.
“Get out,” said Stephen.
“Check it out.” Jack pulled out a highlighter. “If you take the ‘6C’ and apply it to the first paragraph, it says that we should find a zero, two true sentences, and one false one.” He highlighted the first and second sentences. “Then you get true, true, false, false—see”
The paragraph now showed the pattern he had described:
0. I’m sure you’re curious as to why this letter encloses money. And I’m also sure you’re wondering why a beam of laser light signals this location. My motivations will become clear if you read this letter carefully. But I caution you—don’t take my benevolence for granted. Any breach of my rules will lead to dire consequences. All loyalty will be rewarded. Let me now answer your questions.
“So, he knows we’re curious, and we’re wondering about the light. Umm, he’snot going to make his motivations clear. Don’t take him for granted, and don’tbreak his rules. But, he doesn’t reward loyalty and this letter won’t answer our questions,” said Jack. “See?”
“Are you sure?” asked Ben. “Couldn’t it mean something else?”
“Well, it could,” responded Jack, “But the ones and zeros that start the paragraphs line up exactly with the first bit of all these numbers at the end. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence. Odds are one in two hundred and fifty-six.”
“Now you’re just making shit up,” challenged Stephen.
“No, seriously!” said Jack. “Haven’t you ever heard that there are eight bits in a byte?”
“Not really, no,” said Stephen.
Ben added, “True story—never heard it. But Stephen, you know that Jack is a serious hacker guy. He’s always breaking into stuff.”
Jack blushed—“That’s only with simple stuff. And this is not that difficult. Maybe back in ninety-one this would have been stuff that nobody knew, but today a lot of peop
le would figure this out.”
“You weren’t even born in ninety-one. What do you know about it?” asked Ben.
“I read stuff,” said Jack. “And I have classes. You guys don’t even go to school, do you?” he joked. “Oh, but that reminds me—there’s another thing. If you look at the ones and zeros at the beginning of each paragraph, you see 00010011, right?”
“Yeah,” said Ben.
“Well that’s hex for nineteen. See, it’s got a sixteen, a two, and a one. That makes nineteen.”
“So?” asked Ben.
“Well it’s just that there’s a bunch of nineteens in the date here. July nineteen, nineteen-ninety-one.”
“I guess,” said Ben.
Stephen was more convinced—“Okay, okay, so what else does it say?” he said.
“Well, for one, it makes sense of why he contradicts himself about the money. It’s because this sentence where he says ‘I can’t keep pouring money into this place,’ is false. But before he says ‘Money hasn’t been a problem,’ and after he says ‘a private trust provides these funds and pays the taxes.’” Jack pointed rapidly from sentence to sentence, a complete graph of the true and false sentences in his head. “Those are both true, so it’s not a contradiction.”
“I didn’t follow any of that,” said Stephen.
“Yeah, really,” said Ben. “Jack—why don’t you just highlight all the true sentences so we can follow what you’re saying.”
“You guys can’t see the pattern?” asked Jack.
“No!” said Stephen.
“Okay, whatever,” said Jack. He skimmed through the letter and had the “true” sentences highlighted in less than a minute. Huddled around the paper, Ben and Stephen read the letter from the top.
July 19th, 1991
Dear Traveler,
0. I’m sure you’re curious as to why this letter encloses money. And I’m also sure you’re wondering why a beam of laser light signals this location. My motivations will become clear if you read this letter carefully. But I caution you—don’t take my benevolence for granted. Any breach of my rules will lead to dire consequences. All loyalty will be rewarded. Let me now answer your questions.
0. In my youth, I assembled a wealth of specialized knowledge. Around the same time, I achieved financial wealth. Money hasn’t been a problem for quite a while. Because I had time and means, I was able to build this hotel. After it was completed, I realized that I wouldn’t always be around to protect my treasure; and I can’t keep pouring money into this place without getting anything in return. Also, I realized that there was no one person I could trust and I’d love to see this place stand for half of fifty years. Little by little, I developed this plan.
0. I’m offering this money as a bribe to you. All you need to do is press the button before July 19th and come collect each year—a private trust provides these funds and pays all the taxes. Money, and a copy of this letter, will appear in this location: your reward for this small puzzle. But you need to take care that nobody sees you coming here. Across the field behind you, the woods provide good cover. Approach the hotel from those woods, if you would. Like me, you would be best served if nobody saw you at the hotel.
1. If I tell you a bit about my life, you may have a better understanding of my motivations. About ten years ago, I lost my wife. May she rest in peace. Bereft, I set my mind to assembling a definitive library of my experience. Avocation became determination, and I focused my energy. Almost to the exclusion of everything else, I concentrated on documenting and preserving my knowledge. Limited health forced me to rush at the end, and there are several areas I need to expand to make my opus complete.
0. In case you’re wondering—there’s nothing in this hotel that anyone besides me would find valuable. Although the documents I’ve assembled are incomplete, I did take the precaution of encrypting the information so only I could understand it. Maybe that will discourage you from doing something inadvisable. Betray my trust at your own risk. After a while, you’ll see the value in taking my bribe. Ask no questions and you’ll be enriched for doing almost nothing. Life hardly ever presents you with such an easy decision.
0. I can imagine what you’re thinking—“Is this a test?” Assuredly, it’s not. Many have tried and failed to discern the true meaning here. But don’t let that stop you from trying. Avarice will betray you. Aim high, but be ready to start at the bottom. Look to your heart when at the depths of despair; you’re looking into my deepest vulnerability, and it’s the Truth.
1. I’d like to offer you some more advice—it may be shocking to you that while on that first step to a higher plane it was in fact the light itself that caused me pain. And that pain contained great power. My resolve told me to climb again until I could make my way back to my feet. Backwards is never the answer, I found. Awake in this new life I feel more alive than ever. And, as my wife would have said, “Only the first King’s Bishop treads without fear.” Live and let live.
1. I hope you’ll take this bribe, and my small bits of information. Any other questions you might have will have to go unanswered. My sincerest apologies for the cryptic nature of this letter. But, take solace in the fact that at first, level heads have patience while their hands part and meet again. A patient man can find his way out of any situation. A hasty man is almost never correct. Let’s consider this you r Job.
Signed,
The Management
6C 1B 7F 80 0D 5F F6 CB
“Wow,” said Ben, “this whole paragraph in the middle is false?”
“Yup,” said Jack. “All that stuff about his wife and why he built this.”
They read on further and then Ben remembered what Jack had said to him earlier—“Hey, where’s that part about the trap you were telling me.”
“It’s here,” Jack pointed. “He says ‘it may be shocking to you that while on that first step to a higher plane it was in fact the light itself that caused me pain.’ Well I was shocked when I took the first step to the higher level.”
“That’s a little dumb,” said Ben.
“Hey, screw you!” smiled Jack. “If I’m right, then we can test it out easy enough.”
“How’s that?” asked Ben.
“Because he says the light caused the pain,” answered Jack. “I bet that means that if we turn off that switch at the beginning, the door in the ceiling won’t close and we won’t get shocked.”
“True—that’s easy enough to test,” said Stephen.
“Yeah, but there’s more important stuff to figure out,” said Jack. “Like here,” Jack pointed, “when he says that there’s nothing valuable, it’s a lie.”
“Well,” said Ben, “how do we find out for sure?”
“The light thing will confirm it somewhat,” answered Jack. “But we’ll also have to keep watch for anything like a ‘King’s Bishop,’ or his ‘deepest vulnerability.’”
“Bishop like chess?” asked Stephen. “Let’s look that up.” he said as he moved over to Jack’s computer.
“Good idea,” said Jack.
“Hey,” said Ben, pointing at the letter, “why does he capitalize ‘job’ here at the end?”
“I don’t know—but this other sentence has a capital ‘truth’ in it,” said Jack.
“Oh,” said Stephen, “I’ve seen a capital truth before. My mom has a thing on the wall that her mom made, and it says ‘I am the Truth, the only light that must shine in your life because I am your Salvation.’ I memorized it for school one time.”
“What does it mean?” asked Ben.
“I don’t know,” said Stephen. “We just had to memorize a poem and it was really short.”
“That might make sense though,” said Jack. “What if he means look in his vulnerability to see light?”
“That’s just as bad as before though,” said Ben. “It doesn’t exactly make anything clearer.”
“I found something,” said Stephen. “Here’s the white King’s Bishop. He can only move on white squares.”
“Because white moves first, and he said first,” answered Jack.
“That’s right,” said Stephen.
“So if ‘Only the first King’s Bishop treads without fear,’ then walking on white things must be safe,” said Jack.
“And that’s one of the true sentences?” Stephen asked.
“Yup,” Jack confirmed.
“Great,” said Ben.
“Hey, put something on that list to prop open that hatch. I don’t want to get stuck in that place,” said Stephen.
“Okay. Let’s go tell my mom that we’re going out to the woods,” said Jack.
**********
“Nope. You need to stick around the house this morning,” Jack’s mom said.
“Aw mom!” protested Jack. “But it’s beautiful outside.”
“It’s not going to kill you to stick around for a few hours,” she said. “Your dad is out running errands, but he said you were to stay here until he got a chance to talk to you.”
“When’s he coming back?” asked Jack.
“He’ll be here at noon,” she said.
The boys spent the morning checking clocks and watching out the windows. Minutes before noon, a sheriff’s car pulled up at the curb, but the sheriff didn’t get out of his car. Stephen watched him from the living-room window while Jack and Ben went upstairs to make sure the letter and money were well hidden under Jack’s bed.
When they came back downstairs, the situation outside hadn’t changed.
“He’s just sitting there,” said Stephen. “Looks like he’s writing something.”
Jack’s dad pulled into the driveway at that moment. Instead of heading towards the door, he met the sheriff at the sidewalk. They shook hands and talked for a minute before coming inside.
“Boys?” yelled Jack’s dad as he came in the front door. “Oh, there you are.”