Rounding Error - Lauren Ipsum: A Story About Computer Science and Other Improbable Things - page 9

Chapter 3. Rounding Error
As they headed out of Bach, Laurie couldn't help but tease Xor a little. “Steganosauruses
don't exist, huh?”
“That lady doesn't know what she's talking about. Her place had some really good bugs,
though.”
“Maybe she's right.”
“She says Steganosauruses don't exist because she's never seen one. But that proves my
point! Steganosauruses are so good at hiding that people think they're imaginary.”
“That doesn't make any sense, Xor.”
“Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” Squawk! Laurie felt something brush
her shoulder. Before she knew it, a fat bird was flying away with Xor in its talons.
“ Hey! ” Laurie ran after the bird as it slowly flew to a nearby branch. It was so fat it was al-
most spherical, about the size and shape of a coconut. There were two more just like it in the
tree.
Laurie jumped at the bird holding Xor, but it tossed the lizard to another bird, which caught
him in its beak. She jumped at that one, but then Xor was thrown to another.
The birds enjoyed playing keepaway. When their mouths weren't full of lizard, they hopped
up and down and sang a silly rhyme:
“Faster and faster—”
“—too fast to follow—”
“—Round Robins throw faster—”
“—than an unladen swallow!”
“Give him back!” Laurie shouted. “He's my friend!” The Round Robins only cackled and
mocked her.