There was something familiar about the man who was turning the wheel, but de Hooch couldn't place it. The man was wearing a black hood, as befitted a torturer and executioner.
"Idiot," said the hooded man, giving the wheel of the rack a little more pressure, "explain the following: If a half plus a half is equal to a whole, why is halfnium plus halfnium not equal to wholmium?"
Stretched as he was on the rack, de Hooch could not think straight because of the excruciating pain.
"Because a half is eight point two eight per cent heavier than a hole," said de Hooch.
"You are an idiot, none the less," said the torturer. He gave the wheel another twist. De Hooch wanted to scream, but he couldn't.
"Try again," said the torturer. "What is a half plus four plus four plus four plus four plus—"
"Stop!" screamed de Hooch. "Stop! Stop at the osmium!"
"Ah! But it didn't stop at the osmium," said the hooded man. "It went on and on and on. Plus four plus four plus four plus four plus four—until there were so many plus fours in there that the place looked like an old-fashioned golf course."
"My legs hurt," said de Hooch. The man was no longer wearing a hood, but de Hooch couldn't tell if it was Willows or himself.