previous installment is here
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In the headquarters of the Society of Mathematicians
Lander is not an unknown quantity to the Program Commanders of the Government Science Agency. He is a fine mathematician and the head of the Society of Mathematicians. He is the person that can confirm the rumors leaked by Ean, although everybody doubts that he will because he is not a particularly easy going individual. Clearly the conspiracy must have been going on for a long time. Furthermore, the relationship between the Mathematics Unit of GSA and the Society of Mathematicians, never really warm and friendly, is at a low point.
In spite of this, delegation of seasoned Government Science Agency employees led by Sas goes to the SM headquarters to poke around.
Ie, Dy, Nna, Ris, Ank and Man are all included and they decide in the last moment to leave Mek behind because of his unpredictable behavior.
Lander greets them at the entrance to a big conference room. Lavish furniture and top of the line audio visual equipment are a stunning contrast to the spartan and crowded facilities of the Government Science Agency.
"Welcome, welcome," Lander says sourly, glaring at Sas whom he profoundly dislikes.
They sit around the table and are about to start when Lander asks "You do not mind that these proceedings are being recorded?"
"The Dude abides," says Sas trying to break the ice, but Lander is unfamiliar with the phrase.
"How can I help you?" starts Lander even though he must be well aware of what this is all about.
"We have been worrying lately about the productivity in mathematical sciences," Sas begins slowly and stops seeing Lander clench his teeth and appear as if someone poured a glass of lemon juice down his throat. So he momentarily changes his tack and quickly cuts to the end.
"But you must be aware of it," he says, "so we would really like to know how can we help?"
This is a first promising step since at this moment Landers' face relaxes and he stops looking like a vulture waiting to feast on a carcass.
"Well," he says, "the next few decades will be critical for mathematics." "Absolutely critical," he repeats sternly". "And unusual," he adds after a thoughtful pause.
"A distraction of some sort would be helpful," he says signaling that it is all that Program Commanders are going to get.
"A distraction?" asks Sas, "what kind of distraction?"
"The kind that takes attention away from the things that you are noticing," Lander says with irritation and points at his watch indicating that the meeting is over.
"Think about it and have your people talk to my people about the follow-up meeting," he speaks into space on his way out.
Archim's death
The Second Punic War comes to an end and Syracuse is about to fall. Archim sits in his office working. Suddenly Pat and a Roman soldier come in dragging a body of a dead civilian.
"What's up?" Archim asks without looking.
Roman soldier removes his helmet and looks around the office and Pat waits patiently until Archim's attention is on them.
Finally Archim raises his head and notices the soldier, "Who the fuck are you? Have we lost yet?"
"No Sir, not yet" answers the soldier, "I am on a mission from the President of the Society of Mathematicians."
He points at his military gear and shrugs, "A fellow mathematician, not a fighting man really."
"I am the President of the Society of Mathematicians," says Archim with annoyance.
"Not anymore," replies the geek, "we need you to start working for the Last Day Math program."
"But this is a secret program," exclaims Archim, "nobody will know my work!"
"That is exactly the point," says fake soldier, "you have been too busy lately."
Archim is perplexed by this news and he paces around the room thinking.
"The relocation package is good and we can take our toys," Pat whispers to Archim just before sticking his warm tongue into his ear.
"And I can make you more productive than ever," he promises in a voice laden with certainty.
"Ok, ok,"Archims surrenders trying to hide a bulge that suddenly appears in the middle of his tunic.
"I am glad that we came to an understanding," says the fake soldier, "we will only need your last words for the biographers."
Pat embraces Archim and sneaks his hand into the opening of Archim's toga.
"Do not touch my balls!" exclaims Archim with embarrassment.
"Oh, that is a good one!" the soldier says happily, "it will do splendidly."
They leave behind the dead citizen who looks remarkably like Archim, and head to the waiting chariot.
Lander's gambit
Few days after the meeting in the headquarters of the Society of Mathematicians Sas and Lander secretly meet again in a coffee shop.
"I do not want to probe," starts Sas looking at Lander, "but assuming that the rumors are true I wonder if statistics is a part of the sale as well."
Poker face of Lander brightens with a smile and he charges into the opening.
"Statistics is far too important to be sold," he says quickly while crossing his fingers. "Please mind that I do not confirm anything," he adds right away, "but statistics is a pillar of modern society and we cannot live without it. Under no circumstances we are putting it on the table."
He ponders momentarily and adds, "Abstractly speaking."
With math out of the way statistics will be the only game in town, and Sas could not be happier.
"I think I can live with it," he says meekly, "let's talk about a distraction."
"How about a name change?" Lander suggests relieved that he does not have to lie anymore, "Instead of Mathematics Unit of the Government Science Agency we would have the Unit of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences of the Government Science Agency."
"After the sale we would drop "Mathematical"," he adds after a pause.
"Is there such a thing as Statistical Sciences?" Sas asks suspiciously.
"Exactly!" exclaims Lander happily, "this alone can take years to figure out."
"Hmm," murmurs Sas who loves statistics just as she is, "this may require some new ideas."
"Which your community has in abundance," Lander rushes to close the deal.
--------------------------------------------------
In the headquarters of the Society of Mathematicians
Lander is not an unknown quantity to the Program Commanders of the Government Science Agency. He is a fine mathematician and the head of the Society of Mathematicians. He is the person that can confirm the rumors leaked by Ean, although everybody doubts that he will because he is not a particularly easy going individual. Clearly the conspiracy must have been going on for a long time. Furthermore, the relationship between the Mathematics Unit of GSA and the Society of Mathematicians, never really warm and friendly, is at a low point.
In spite of this, delegation of seasoned Government Science Agency employees led by Sas goes to the SM headquarters to poke around.
Ie, Dy, Nna, Ris, Ank and Man are all included and they decide in the last moment to leave Mek behind because of his unpredictable behavior.
Lander greets them at the entrance to a big conference room. Lavish furniture and top of the line audio visual equipment are a stunning contrast to the spartan and crowded facilities of the Government Science Agency.
"Welcome, welcome," Lander says sourly, glaring at Sas whom he profoundly dislikes.
They sit around the table and are about to start when Lander asks "You do not mind that these proceedings are being recorded?"
"The Dude abides," says Sas trying to break the ice, but Lander is unfamiliar with the phrase.
"How can I help you?" starts Lander even though he must be well aware of what this is all about.
"We have been worrying lately about the productivity in mathematical sciences," Sas begins slowly and stops seeing Lander clench his teeth and appear as if someone poured a glass of lemon juice down his throat. So he momentarily changes his tack and quickly cuts to the end.
"But you must be aware of it," he says, "so we would really like to know how can we help?"
This is a first promising step since at this moment Landers' face relaxes and he stops looking like a vulture waiting to feast on a carcass.
"Well," he says, "the next few decades will be critical for mathematics." "Absolutely critical," he repeats sternly". "And unusual," he adds after a thoughtful pause.
"A distraction of some sort would be helpful," he says signaling that it is all that Program Commanders are going to get.
"A distraction?" asks Sas, "what kind of distraction?"
"The kind that takes attention away from the things that you are noticing," Lander says with irritation and points at his watch indicating that the meeting is over.
"Think about it and have your people talk to my people about the follow-up meeting," he speaks into space on his way out.
Archim's death
The Second Punic War comes to an end and Syracuse is about to fall. Archim sits in his office working. Suddenly Pat and a Roman soldier come in dragging a body of a dead civilian.
"What's up?" Archim asks without looking.
Roman soldier removes his helmet and looks around the office and Pat waits patiently until Archim's attention is on them.
Finally Archim raises his head and notices the soldier, "Who the fuck are you? Have we lost yet?"
"No Sir, not yet" answers the soldier, "I am on a mission from the President of the Society of Mathematicians."
He points at his military gear and shrugs, "A fellow mathematician, not a fighting man really."
"I am the President of the Society of Mathematicians," says Archim with annoyance.
"Not anymore," replies the geek, "we need you to start working for the Last Day Math program."
"But this is a secret program," exclaims Archim, "nobody will know my work!"
"That is exactly the point," says fake soldier, "you have been too busy lately."
Archim is perplexed by this news and he paces around the room thinking.
"The relocation package is good and we can take our toys," Pat whispers to Archim just before sticking his warm tongue into his ear.
"And I can make you more productive than ever," he promises in a voice laden with certainty.
"Ok, ok,"Archims surrenders trying to hide a bulge that suddenly appears in the middle of his tunic.
"I am glad that we came to an understanding," says the fake soldier, "we will only need your last words for the biographers."
Pat embraces Archim and sneaks his hand into the opening of Archim's toga.
"Do not touch my balls!" exclaims Archim with embarrassment.
"Oh, that is a good one!" the soldier says happily, "it will do splendidly."
They leave behind the dead citizen who looks remarkably like Archim, and head to the waiting chariot.
Lander's gambit
Few days after the meeting in the headquarters of the Society of Mathematicians Sas and Lander secretly meet again in a coffee shop.
"I do not want to probe," starts Sas looking at Lander, "but assuming that the rumors are true I wonder if statistics is a part of the sale as well."
Poker face of Lander brightens with a smile and he charges into the opening.
"Statistics is far too important to be sold," he says quickly while crossing his fingers. "Please mind that I do not confirm anything," he adds right away, "but statistics is a pillar of modern society and we cannot live without it. Under no circumstances we are putting it on the table."
He ponders momentarily and adds, "Abstractly speaking."
With math out of the way statistics will be the only game in town, and Sas could not be happier.
"I think I can live with it," he says meekly, "let's talk about a distraction."
"How about a name change?" Lander suggests relieved that he does not have to lie anymore, "Instead of Mathematics Unit of the Government Science Agency we would have the Unit of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences of the Government Science Agency."
"After the sale we would drop "Mathematical"," he adds after a pause.
"Is there such a thing as Statistical Sciences?" Sas asks suspiciously.
"Exactly!" exclaims Lander happily, "this alone can take years to figure out."
"Hmm," murmurs Sas who loves statistics just as she is, "this may require some new ideas."
"Which your community has in abundance," Lander rushes to close the deal.
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