Rounding Error - Lauren Ipsum: A Story About Computer Science and Other Improbable Things - page 10

“Give him back!”
“Give him back!”
“We think he will make—”
“—an afternoon snack!”
“Help!” Xor squeaked in terror. “They want to eat me!”
“Thought he was hiding—”
“—but bird eyes can see—”
“—an evenly dividing—”
“—meal for three!”
“No!” Laurie picked up a stone and threw it at the nearest Round Robin. To her utter sur-
prise, it didn't fly away. The fat, nasty thing caught the stone .
“A stone!”
“How rude!”
“Hardly a treasure.”
“We'll happily juggle it—”
“—for your pleasure!”
They played catch with the stone and Xor. Laurie threw another stone, and then another, but
the birds caught those, too. Now the Round Robins were juggling three stones plus Xor. This
wasn't getting Laurie anywhere. She paused, thinking, another stone in her hand.
“Gave up so soon?”
“We love to play ball!”
“Throw us more toys—”
“—and we'll catch them all!”
Instead of throwing the single stone, Laurie scooped up a large handful and started tossing
them in nice, easy lobs, one by one. The Robins caught each stone and juggled it. If they
hadn't been trying to eat her friend, Laurie would have been impressed.
“What are you doing? Save me!” Xor said.
Soon, the three Robins were having trouble keeping so many things in the air. Laurie threw
the stones harder and faster, trying to knock the birds off balance. They sang for reinforce-
ments.
“More wings, my brothers!”
“More beaks and more talons!”
“We need more Round Robins—”
“—to evenly balance!”