numbers-such as the square root of 2-which are not ratios of inte-
gers. And thus the discovery was deeply disturbing to the Pythago-
reans, who felt that it revealed an unsuspected and grotesque defect in
the abstract world of numbers. But I don't know what this has to do
with the price of tea in China.
Achilles: Speaking of tea, isn't that the teahouse just up there ahead of us?
Tortoise: Yes, that's it, all right. We ought to be there in a couple of
minutes.
Achilles: Hmm ... That's just enough time for me to whistle for you the
tune which the taxi driver this morning had on his radio. It went like
this.
Crab: Hold on for a moment; I'll get some paper from my case, and jot
down your tune. (Scrounges around inside his case, and finds a blank sheet.)
Go ahead; I'm ready.
(Achilles whistles a rather long tune, and the Crab scrambles to keep up
with him.)
Could you whistle the last few bars again?
Achilles: Why, certainly.
(After a couple of such repeats, the session is complete, and the Crab
proudly displays his transcription:
«(SSSSSO· SSSSSO) + (SSSSSO· SSSSSO)) = ((SSSSSSSO· SSSSSSSO) +(SO· SO))
1\-3b:<3c(Sc+b)=((SSSSSSSO·SSSSSSSO)+(SO·SO))1\3d:3d':3e:3e':
< -<d=evd=e' >1\<b=((Sd· Sd)+(Sd'· Sd'))l\b=((Se ·Se)+(Se' ·Se'))> > > >
The Crab then plays it himself.)
Tortoise: It's peculiar music, isn't it? It sounds a wee bit like music from
India, to me.
Crab: Oh, I think it's too simple to be from India. But of course I know
precious little about such things.
Tortoise: Well, here we are at the teahouse. Shall we sit outside here, on
the verandah?
Crab: If you don't mind, I'd prefer to go inside. I've gotten perhaps
enough sun for the day.
(They go inside the teahouse and are seated at a nice wooden table, and
order cakes and tea. Soon a cart of scrumptious-looking pastries is wheeled
up, and each of them chooses his favorite.)
Achilles: You know, Mr. C, I would love to know what you think of
another piece which I have just composed in my head.
Crab: Can you show it to me? Here, write it down on this napkin.
(Achilles writes:
Va:3b:3c:<-3d:3e:«SSd. SSe) = bv(SSd ·SSe)=c>l\(a +a)=(b+c»
The Crab and Tortoise study it with interest.)The Magnijicrab, Indeed 557