C-DTHS02 (Nov 11, 1988)
Puzzle
"311613211231103115, 1116311211101115, 1611121015…"
Cipher | 1 Word
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: 31 = 111.
Clue 2: Conway? Look and say?
Answer and Explanation
Answer: 61205
Explanation: This is a ‘Conway’, or ‘Look and say’, sequence in which the first number denotes the amount of the second number in the resulting string (for example, ‘31’ denotes ‘three ones’, or ‘111’, and so on). This process is repeated throughout the puzzle, and doing the same for the last string gives the numbers ‘61205’.
Summary of Receipt
Summary
Transcript
CAFE RECEIPT
RECEIPT NUMBER: DTHS02
RECEIPT DATE: 11 11 1988
MANAGER TITLE: EIGHT
RECEIPT NOTES:
Far out, man. Far out. We met with the Oracle. It was like staring into a fractured mirror—one with a crooked smile and coffee breath strong enough to knock you over. :) I’m not saying everything she said was a lie, of course. But trusting an upturned mouthpiece of Fate? That’s a hard sell, wouldn’t you agree? I think most of what she said was designed to dig into our heads and plant little seeds of doubt… or clarity. Well—mostly. The Oracle offered everyone a warning or a piece of advice. Everyone except me. For me, all she had was a smile.
Baltz naturally got her full attention first. She reached across the table and took his hands, her eyes wide and empty. “You’ll be left on the wrong side of the door,” she said. Poor Baltz, man. That was definitely not what he was expecting to hear. Later, in confidence, he told me he had no clue what she meant—and this is a guy with extensive knowledge of what was and what will be. I can’t say I get it either. Lucky for us, Baltz isn’t the superstitious type. Otherwise, he might never go near another door again. :)
Next, the lovely Lucy got her moment with the Oracle. The way the Oracle looked at her—it was like someone had cracked open a window to the void in the Backscatter. “Your star is burning out,” she said. “And it may never be lit again.” Yikes. Bleak. And definitely concerning.
Then Luthuli had his turn, and for a moment, the Oracle seemed to soften. “There will be one last secret you need to share,” she said. Not the worst fortune of the night, if you ask me. But Luthuli? The look on his face—it was like someone had set his whole house on fire.
Lastly, our Secret employee. The Oracle barely touched him, just looked at him long and slow until he started fidgeting in his chair. “A connection of yours cannot be trusted,” she whispered. And that was that. Still bummed I didn’t get a proper fortune. Oh well. Probably for the best. Most of the Oracle’s prophecies seemed like downers anyway. :)