Math City Page 4
Chapter 4
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The fleeing of Horizontal Line's group to the mountains was not the end of the matter. After my father's and his group's attack, the Horizontal Line gathered his army and told them, “Dear fat numbers, most of us have been killed, and we cannot confront them because we are fewer than them. We need more guns and guerrillas to get our revenge. Physics City has promised to send us many guns; in return, we have promised we will give them free passage to Math City if we win.”
A dumpy number, (I think he was the boss) asked, “Why provide them with free passage?”
The Horizontal Line thought carefully about the question and answered, “Well, many charitable groups are in Physics City. They give others free moral support. They can rebuild Math City, and we can live in our City again.”
The fat numbers were so excited; they clapped him on the back and said happily, “Long live Horizontal Line….”
Finally, a free trade agreement between the cities was signed, the fat numbers thought that signing this agreement meant foreigners would do anything for free, but the foreigners had never promised to give free help, and this could have serious consequences. The Horizontal Line was not able to tell the truth about the free trade agreement because he feared opposition.
Of course, I should point out this sad fact: the Horizontal Line gained maximum benefit from the lie. He both reaped the fat profit of the free trade agreement and showed to his fans how he could force the foreigners to work hard for freedom in Math City, completely without pay.
One Million, the dentist, said, “Horizontal Line helped us lose weight and saved money. It is great!”
“Foreigners work free of charge! Okay!” number One Hundred Eighty Thousand, the confectioner, said.
One of the other fat numbers said, “It is wonderful, mmmm, but I only intend donating my body to my son.”
Physics City had sent many guns to the Horizontal Line’s group; but the number of guns was much greater than the fat numbers.
Seven Million said loudly, “We have a great many guns now. Come and see.” One Million, the dentist, was surprised and said, “I have counted many teeth in my life, but I still think we are short of people. How can we use these guns? I have only two hands!”
“Well, we should multiply and increase our numbers!” the Horizontal Line said.
One of the fat numbers asked, “How can we increase? We do not have any plus.”
The Horizontal Line answered, “That is a good question. I am minus, and you are fat numbers so I can break all of you into thousands of soldiers. For example, I can change One Million to one thousand soldiers. It means we will have one million number Ones instead of one number, One Million. If all of you turn into number One, we will have millions of soldiers, and no army will be able to stand against us.”
While all of them were clapping, Seven Million said loudly, “After the war, can you make us the way we were before?
“Yes, my dear, I promise. After defeating and capturing the Vertical. H. Line, I will force him to add all Ones up and make you whole again”, the Horizontal Line said.
One Million, who had extracted many teeth, causing pain for many numbers, was afraid and said, “This work sounds painfully hard!”
The Horizontal Line reassured them. “I will not let you feel any pain. It is true that my thorns have sharp points, but they have an anesthetic effect. You will feel no pain when my thorns enter your body.”
The Horizontal Line continued, “In this way, you will dwindle to small numbers. Also, you will lose weight and be safe from the danger of obesity.”
Seven Million spoke again, saying, “I have saved up my body for my family, and I will never give my property to strangers.”
“Please, do not misunderstand me. I do not want to sell your body to others. I just want to enlarge our group for defending ourselves,” the Horizontal Line said.
Confectioner emerged from the crowd and bravely said, “I am One Hundred Eighty Thousand. I believe this little man, and I want to be the first number to be decomposed.” The fat numbers began clapping. The dumpy confectioner thought that they were clapping to salute him, so he nodded his head and bowed as a token of respect, but they never heeded him. They turned their faces toward the Horizontal Line and said, “You are our leader forever.”
The Horizontal Line started cutting the numbers. Like a buzz saw, he broke the fat numbers into millions of tiny pieces.
The Horizontal Line worked day and night, making one number One after another. Each produced number One wore a uniform and got a gun to fight the enemy. Finally, a massive army was made from the numbers One. They were all women, women with long hair, short hair, blond hair, and black hair.
So you can see, although this movement was started with a little street brawl, it slowly and with certainty changed into a military action, and now the numbers One covered all of the mountains, like grass.
The Ladies One did not know how to use their new guns. Only one of them, who was quite similar to an eye, could fire at anything, including the sky, earth, and trees. The Horizontal Line came over and asked, “Who are you?”
She answered, “Sir, I am one of One Million’s eyes.”
Each of the Number Ones looked like a part of a fat number’s body. Some looked like fingers, others like elbows or teeth. The Horizontal Line told Lady One who was like an eye, “Hereafter, you are the leader of my army because you know how to use guns. You are Sergeant One.” Next, he looked at all the other Ones and said, “Sergeant One is your boss after me. She will teach you how to use the new guns.”