a story of improbability

8/7/2019 A Story of Improbability

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The Highly Improbable Story of Linda BergmanHi.

I am the Improbability. I mean, the Improbability from the plane crashes due to turbulence, the

Schrodinger equation, the butterfly effect and the uncertainty principle. Thats me. Im actually kind

of famous, however nobody really knows me.

I am the real genius behind the curtains of history, sort of phantom of the opera, a deus ex

machina... and Im currently stuck in a place known as Sarahtown, California. Of all places in this

universe, Im stuck in Sarahtown, California, an average size town on a small planet around an

average size sun in a forgotten corner of this galaxy. Probably the most boring place in the universe.

It is definitely the most unlikely place for something like me to be, and thats probably also the

reason why Im here.

I dont know why Im here. I really dont. You should know, I can use the universe as a computer to

calculate the hardest, most challenging equations, so it means the universe doesnt know it either.

Sad. There is really nothing interesting at all in this place. Perhaps if I spice things up a little?

IMPROBABILITY INTERVENTION

A little airstream coming from the ventilation system of a retirement home in Hannibal, Missouri

was all it took to generate, with the help of the butterfly effect, a rather severe storm in Tijuana,

Mexico, which blew a freshly baked pizza out of the hands of its maker. The storm took this prize

with it all along to Sarahtown, California, where it hit a young girl known as Linda Bergman strait in

the face.

Linda Bergman had just left school, and was walking next to her best friend, Elfrida Elmer. They were

discussing boys.I so like Jonas Walter. I know hes rather dumb, but hes so hot! Elfrida said.

I agree. Smart guy is like synonymous to Ugly Nerd. I mean, just take a look at Richard and

Freddy. They wear glasses that probably date back to the stone age. Elfrida nodded.

Yeah, intelligence isnt really a useful criterion. But who do you like then? Linda glanced enamoured

to the other side of the road.

Riley Watson is so... she sighed. On the other side of the road stood a bunch of male students with

motors. In the center of the group stood a tall and muscular joung man in a leather jacket. Riley

Watson.

Elfrida rolled her eyes.

Earth to Linda Bergman, please respond!disturbed Linda looked at her friend. quit the dreaming,

girl! Hes far out of your league. He like some mix of Zac Efron and Justin Timberlake. He is as perfect

as a bit of snow during a hot summer, and at least as unobtainable.

But he is just so... If she had been paying attention, nothing of all the following would have

happened, but she wasnt, since mr. Riley-perfect-Watson was the only object of her attention. She

didnt see the danger that was rapidly closing in on her. This danger was a maxi-size pizza with extra

onion and anchovy. Linda only saw the danger when it was too late: the pizza hit her in the face. She

screamed, and this sound caught the attention of Riley Watson and his followers. They crossed to

road to witness the disaster.

Wow! Did she get hit by a pizza?OMG! Is she all right? One of the guys bent over to check, but he quickly pulled his head back.


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Oh, thats smelly! riley sniffed.

Oh man, youre right! That totally smells like rotten fish! Gross! Linda was awake and fully

conscious, but she preferred to play dead until this utter embarrassment was over. She heard the

boys leaving, still grinning and making silly pizza jokes. Riley was laughing harder than all the others.

Shit. She slowly lifted the pizza from her face. Elfrida was looking down on her.

Are you... all right?

Im not entirely fine, but Im still alive, so its okay. Elfrida pulled her up. She looked at Linda.

Maybe you should take a bath. Linda saw her reflection in a shopwindow. She was covered with

tomatoes, onion rings, cheese and anchovy pieces.

Yeah, I really need a bath. She looked down. A cat was licking the spilled tomatosauce from her

shoes. Elfrida was feeling clearly uneasy.

I got to go. Euhm... Im allergic to cats. Linda knew she wasnt, so she suspected it was rather an

allergy to filthy friends who resembled garbage cans. She couldnt blame her. Elfirda left off, leaving

Linda alone with her personal disaster.

Oh, whoever did this, be doomed. She thought.

Oh. That was mean. The Improbability looked down on the events caused by his pizza. He had

followed the pizza all the way from Tijuana to Sarahtown, and seen all the problems it caused on its

way. At that moment, he was looking down on Linda Bergman.

Okay, I know Im not a cutie, but that was really mean. I should apologize. The Improbability looked

at his calculations. He was startled by what he saw. He looked at the improbable turn his equations

had made, and suddenly he realised that he would have to do a lot more than apologizing.

That flying pizza of his made the universe unstable in a fundamental way. By embarrassing Linda

Bergman in front of Riley Watson he had broken a causality chain that kept the world spinning

round in some way.

The Improbability looked again and again at the calculations and their inevitable conclusion:

He, and with him the universe, was doomed.

Euhm... sorry. Linda looked up and around her, hoping to see the source of hat miserable apology,

so she could grant that person a potentially deadly look. She didnt see anyone, except for the grey

Siamese cat who was still eating bits of scattered pizza from the pavement.

Oh, great. Im not only embarrassed in front of the cutest boy in the universe, Im also going mad.

And Im talking to myself. How low can you go, Linda Bergman?

Youre not crazy. Really not.

Okay, this is like someones second personality telling him hes not schizoid. How Im I supposed to

believe you? I only see that cat, and if you tell me thats you, I go voluntarily to the closest

madhouse.

I... I can prove it. I really can. The Improbability concentrated.


A bit of wind coming from the east was enough to blow a pack of papers from a desk in the MIT in

Boston, Massachusetts. The wind kept the sheets miraculously together, blowing them over half the

country, and giving the inhabitants of Phoenix, Arizona something interesting to look at when they

were blown trough the streets. It took a while, but the wind carried them strait to Sarahtown,California.


3/12

Now, where is your proof? Linda realised that there was this massive probability that she was

talking to plain air.

Wait and shut UP! Im concentrating. Linda shut up, but she considered this potentially imaginary

creature rather impolite. There it is, on your left. Watch the sky. Linda looked up. The sky was filled

with sheets of paper. They flew right at her, and landed in front of her on the ground, forming a

clean packet. Linda was stunned. She picked up the packet.

Treatise on Improbability was the title. Yeah, last events were indeed quite improbable... she put

the packet in her backpack.

Oh thank God, you understand!

Understand what?

Not, apparently. I m the Improbability

That explains a lot. I guess I have no choice than to believe you. What made you throw that pizza at

me? Did I do you wrong in any way? If the Improbability had been capable of blushing, he would

have done so.Euh... I was bored, I guess. But technically, it wasnt me who threw the pizza! And I didnt want to

hit you in person! Linda looked despising at the direction the voice came from.

Really.

Please, dont be angry with me, there are more important things to do. By throwing that pizza, I

broke an important causality chain. The universe destabilised when I did so! If you dont make Riley

Watson love you, the universe is doomed!

So you didnt only ruin my reputation and fucked up my love life, you also made the universe

instable? Give me one reason why I shouldnt be raging angry with you! the Improbability thought

about this, and remained silent, because actually he couldnt come up with one.

Okay, fine, be angry with me.

I already was. Now, is there anythingyou can do? Id prefer not to have an active role in the

apocalypse, you know.

Only If you and Riley Watson fall in love, the universe will be saved.

How is that possible?

Dont ask me to explain it. I have the whole universe as my brain, and even Idont really get it.

Ok, Mr-I have-the-universe-as-a-brain, what do you want me to do? The Improbability took a look

at Linda.

A bath wouldnt be a bad idea.

Sounds pleasant. We will have to walk to my house, since Im in no condition to take the bus. And

so they did. The Siamese cat kept on following Linda.

Apparently you have a new friend.

I dont need your opinion. By the way, I would appreciate it if you could shut up, I dont want my

mum to see you. Only after she said that, she saw the futility of that sentence, since the

Improbability was invisible.

I know you dont value my opinion very much, but I think it is better if your mum doesnt see you.

Linda had to admit this was true. When they arrived at the house, Linda saw her mother wasnt

there. But getting in would be harder than expected. When her mum wasnt home, she left the key

at the neighbours house, but in this state she couldnt go ask for it.

Dont you have something to get us in? no answer. you can talk, my mum isnt here.Thank you. And no, I dont have something! Im not a box of tricks, you know.


4/12

Sorry, I didnt mean to insult you! But you must admit this is a pretty precarious situation. You have

the whole universe as a brain! You must be able to think of something? The Improbability thought

long and deep.

Do you have a hairpin?

Yeah, here is one she put her hand in her hair and pulled out a rather dirty hairpin.

Now, put it in the lock of the backdoor and move randomly. Linda did so.


The hairpin moved accidentally in the exact way to pick the lock of the backdoor. It didnt take two

minutes before the door clicked open.

Wow. Can you teach me how to do that?

Im afraid not. Its one of my personal tricks...

They hurried inside, followed by the grey Siamese cat, who apparently had decided that Linda had tobecome its new owner. Linda tried to chase it, but it was persistent, and eventually she let it in. She

hurried to the bathroom, followed by the Improbability.

Euhm... Improbability?

Yes?

Whats your gender? the Improbability gave himself a look.

I dont really know. I never worried about it.

Well, your voice sounds male, so could you please not watch me when Im naked.

Fine, I wont the Improbability turned around while Linda was washing herself. He thought about

the gender-question. At the same time, he became curious. He had never seen a naked female of

this species. Now he thought about this, he had never seen any naked females in general. A little

sneak-peek wouldnt harm, would it? He turned around quickly, and turned back immediately

afterwards. Interesting anatomy he thought.

You arent looking, are you?

Oh no, of course not. The Improbability feared a bit of shame sounded through in his voice...

You can look now. Linda had a towel wrapped around her.

There is something different about you.

Yeah, Im freed of pizza-remains.

No, its something else. The Improbability was sure of this, but he couldnt determine what it was.

Linda became a bit worried, and took a look at the mirror.

Aaaaaargh! My hair! What have you done with it? Now he saw what was wrong. Lindas originally

brown shoulder length hair now hang almost at her ass.

I havent done anything! I swear, it wasnt me!

Sure. Who else inthis bathroom could accomplish something this improbable? It wasnt the cat, was

it?

Well... perhaps it is some sort of improbable side effect of my presence here. The growth rate

seems to have increased exponentially. Linda gave him an angry look. You should be happy it

hasnt changed colour, or fell out. There is a chance on that too, you know.

Shut up, I dont want to hear it! This is bad enough! How will I explain this to my mum?

Just tell her something very improbable has happened to you, thats not even a lie. TheImprobability tried to brighten up Linda a bit. I think it suits you. You look... cute.


5/12

You really think so? Actually, the Improbability didnt really think about it, but after a second look,

he had to admit it had a certain aesthetic attraction.

Yes. Its very aesthetically attractive.

You do know how to flatter a girl. I have never been described in such an intellectual way.

Ill consider it as a compliment then.

She redressed.

Im ready. Whats next on the list tosave the universe? Her question annoyed the Improbability.

This is not a game, you know, its very severe business!

Was it also very severe business when you threw that pizza at me?

I didnt think a pizza could cause the instability of the universe, okay? My mistake! I already

apologized for it, can we now close the subject?

You opened it yourself...

We both know now. Fine?Linda decided that there was no profit in continuing on the subject flying

pizza, so she said

Yeah, fine. She went downstairs, grabbed a bag of potato chips from a cupboard and plopped downon the couch. She put on the TV. What shall we watch? I dont know what you like, but we have

both romance and comedy! She didnt get an answer, because the Improbability was already

watching the news. Euh, Improbability?

Watch this! Snow in the Gobi desert!

Wow. Those fellows will be happy! She looked inquiring at the Improbability. You dont have

anything to do with it, do you?

Perhaps I do. It could be the remain of the pizzaincident.

But also the result. Could it be the first sign of the destabilizing of the universe?

That would be very fast, but given the improbability-rate of the situation... Its possible.

In that case, we should do something!

I already told you the only way to save the universe from its doom is making Riley Watson fall in

love with you...

What probably wont happen before the apocalypse, thanks to you. Filled Linda in.

Dont forget who you are talking to! The less probable it is, the more probable I can make it! The

Improbability hesitated a moment. The only problem is, that Im not very familiar with the process

of falling in love. Linda, who had been rather sad during the conversation, suddenly had an idea.

I can teach you! She bended down, and grabbed a box filled with DVDs from the chest. These

movies are the key to love and attraction. Watch them all, and youll be much wiser. The

Improbability decided to give it a try.

Than well do that. If it doesnt help, it wont hurt either. And so they did. They started with Pretty

Woman, and went on with Laws of Attraction, Addicted to love, the love letter, tequila sunrise, the

matrix, Serendipity,... While watching the perils of Neo and Trinity, Linda suddenly asked.

Improbability?

Yes?

Do you have a name, other than The Improbability? He thought about this.

Not that I know. Is it important?

We all have names. They personalise you. I mean, I am my mothers daughter, the way you are the

improbability, but my name is Linda.

I like my name to specify what I am. Thats practical.Than Ill just call you Improbability.


6/12

What do you call the cat? Linda looked surprised.

What does that have to do with it?

Well, you told me names are important, so unless you want to keep calling the cat The Cat, youll

have to name it. It doesnt seem like leaving, anyway. The grey Siamese cat sat at Lindas feet. She

saw the Improbability was right: this cat was definitely not leaving.

Why dont you name it? You caused its presence... the Improbability didnt mind calling the cat The

Cat, but he suspected Linda wouldnt appreciate that proposal. Maybe...

I know it. We call it Schrodinger.

Schrodinger? Whats that for a name?

It was the name of an important scientist, one of the fathers of my favourite branch of physics. He

had this experiment, called Schrdingerscat. I just thought about it.

Okay. Linda picked up the cat. Hi Schrodinger. I hope you like your name, and if not, Im not the

one to complain to.Schrodinger didntseem to mind his name. He rolled himself at Lindas lap and

fell asleep. Soon afterwards, Linda fell asleep as well. The Improbability kept watching TV. Human

love was very interesting. However he still didnt really know what to do with it. Whats love?Shooting aliens and kiss? Having sex in a car and drown? Cursing each other in court and marry?

Maybe I have to mix it all up, to get the perfect love, he thought, and he started immediately

calculating to see how he could implement all this in the universal equation.

A few hours later, Mrs. Bergman came home. She had to pick up the key at the neighbours house,

and wondered how Linda came in without a key. In the living room, she found her daughter, asleep,

with a beautiful cat sleeping next to her. The improbability had hidden the hair carefully behind a

cushion, so Lindas mum wouldnt notice. The TV was still on, and the improbability was very

annoyed when Mrs. Bergman put it off. He had wanted to see the end of Youve got mail. He had

been calculating and thinking about love, but he felt as something was missing from the plan.

Perhaps it had been in the end of this last movie, but he doubted that. Maybe he should take a bit of

rest. Trying to save the universe was exhausting business. The Improbability decided to work out the

Dirac equation, as a relaxation. It occupied him during the rest of the night.

The next morning, Linda woke up on the couch. Her mother was preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

Good morning honey! Sorry for letting you sleep on the couch, but you was deep asleep, and I

didnt want to wake you.

Thats all right.Linda shook her head, suddenly noticing her hair. she tried to hide it, but it wasnt

necessary. Her mother took a look at her, and said.

Nice sweater. Is it new? what? Not a word about the hair, the key, or the cat?

Euh, no, I just dont wear it very much.

I like it. You should wear it more often. Her mother gave her a lunchbox. Heres your lunch. I really

have to go now, see you later! Linda heard the sound of the front door closing with a bang.

Did you notice she didnt notice the hair!

Lucky you, I should say. Linda nodded, but still, she found it unsettling. Did her mother really pay

that little attention to her? No wonder so many teenagers started wearing the most hideous

clothes... she decided to wear a hat, just to hide the hair. Her classmates probably wouldnt be as

inattentive as her mother.

She noticed Schrodinger was following her all the time.


7/12

Sssh! Go! I cant take you! but Schrdinger looked up, as if he wanted to say yes, you can!. Linda

gave up. She opened her bag. come on then. But I warn you! School isnt that great! The cat

jumped gracefully into Lindas bag.

This cat is very improbable. The Improbability said.

Yeah sure. I just hope it wont pee in my bag.

They took the bus to school. Arriving there, Linda immediately noticed something was wrong. Small

groups of students started to whisper when she passed by. She tried to hear what they were saying.

Isnt that Linda-pizza?

Maybe she wears that cap to hide the pizza stains

What a hideous sweater. Linda felt more an more like a paria. She walked to her friends.

Hi Elfrida!

Euh, Hi Linda. Elfrida felt uneasy. The other girls remained silent, waiting for her reaction. Euh, Id

love to chat, but I promised Charlene to bring her my chemistry notes. Elfrida ran off. Again. The

other girls gave Linda the look saying what are you still doing here? Humiliated, Linda took to her

heels.Linda looked for another place to sit, in one of the less popular areas of the playground. Now they

werent within hearing anymore, she said.

Apparently, you didnt just fuck up my love life, you fucked up my life in general. The Improbability

felt terribly sorry. He never wanted to cause her so much personal trouble.

Shall I get them landed? He proposed.

Landed?

You know, make something land on them. An airplane, by example. Or a microwave. Or an UFO.

Linda had to admit this proposal sounded very appalling, but she believed I wasnt a very good idea.

I dont think it would help. It would probably just make things worse. A bell rang.

whats that?

Just the bell. Lessons are about to start.

what do you have now?

Physics, I guess. We better hurry. So they hurried. But they were still late. The demonic Mrs. Ranner

had never been happier.

Well, Miss Bergman! The laws of Newtonian physics dont interest you very much, do they? Or

perhaps, they dont apply to you? Perhaps you are a subatomic particle after all... Mrs. Ranner

circled around Linda, who prayed the ground would open itself for her to fall trough. Well, Miss

Bergman, we wait for your explanation!

I... I missed my bus.

Aha. Please take a seat, so we can finally continue this lesson. The rest of the lesson went fine...

Until they reached the part about nuclear physics.

In nuclear physics, its all about the nucleus. The electrons are the domain of quantum physics.

Lindas bag started to move. Oh crap she thought. Dont let her notice! But of course, Mrs. Ranner

noticed.

Whats that sound? One of the other girls said

I think theres something in Lindas bag.

Aha. Linda?

I dont have anything in my bag? the bag started to make mewing noises.

Ill ask it again. Why do you have a cat in your bag? Linda saw no other exit than deny.Ive got no cat in my bag.She said. Oh Improbability, DO something!


8/12


There is always an incredibly small chance that an object is not where it is supposed to be. The

Schrdinger equation, as calculated for the cat, indicated this chance was that small, that you would

have to wait longer than the lifespan of the universe for it to occur. Improbable enough to happen...

Mrs. Ranner smiled.

Well, If its no cat, Im very curious to see what it is... She bended forward and hissed Open it. The

mewing and moving suddenly stopped. Linda opened the bag. To hers, and Mrs. Ranners surprise:

no cat.

Hmm. Lets continue our lesson. I hope there will be no further delay. She walked towards her desk.

Radiation coming from the nucleus is usually measured with a Geiger counter. Its actually a very

simple device, and I have one here to show you. She took a box from her desk and opened it.

Waaah! Mrs. Ranner screamed. In the box, which had fallen on the ground, sat Schrdinger. He

jumped out with a triumphant mew, and walked towards Linda. Mrs. Ranner was all pale and shaky,

and Linda couldnt remember having her seen like that before.Out! Get... Out! Linda stuffed her notes into her bag, and left the class as fast as possible. When

they were outside, she picked up Schrdinger.

Look at the trouble youve got me into! You are a very, very bad cat, Schrdinger! Schrdinger

looked at Linda with a look in his eyes, saying you arent going to punish me, are you?. Linda

smiled. But the look on Ranners face was worth all the trouble in the universe!

that name must have been prophetic the Improbability said. You are a real quantum cat!

Schrdinger purred in agreement.

So... what do we do now? Linda asked.

Is there somewhere quiet we can go?

Well, there isalways the library... But thats like Nerdville! And Im a human sciences student! They

wont leave me in one piece! The Improbability sighed.

Theyre science students, not cannibals! And if they are, I will protect you. Linda wasnt really

assured by this, but there wasnt very much else to do. They went to the library. Linda hid

Schrdinger under her coat, because she was pretty sure the librarian wouldnt let her in if he saw

the cat. She found a nice and quiet place behind some bookshelves, where she sat down and freed

Schrdinger from his undesirable position is her coat. Since there was not much to do, she picked

the treatise on Improbability from her bag and started to read a bit. She had just come across an

interesting part on the butterfly effect, which she wanted to read to the Improbability, when a

shadow fell over her. She looked up. A guy with big glasses and a weird shirt was looking down on

her. Richard Maxwell.

Euh... Hi.

Hi. You are Linda Bergman, isnt it? Crap. The news of the pizza even reached Nerdville. I like your

cat. Whats its name? Linda was surprised.

Schrdinger.

What a nice name! Schrdinger jumped off Lindas lap and walked suspiciously towards Richard. He

turned a few times around him, and jumped eventually on his lap. He purred, as if he wanted to say

go on, its safe!. Richard patted him. Hes very cute. But arent animals forbidden in school?

Hes not only cute, but also very intelligent. And yeah, they are forbidden, thats the reason why Imhere and not in my physics class. What about you? Got sent away as well?


9/12

No, not really. Of course not. Our math professor is ill, so the whole class came here to study a bit,

play cards, that sort of things.

Oh. Linda turned back to the papers.

What are you reading?

Treatise on Improbability

Wow. Thats pretty tough matter. Isnt it written by Geraldine Butler? Linda checked the cover

page.

Yeah. Richard looked at the loose papers.

But thats an inedited version! Where did you get that from?Linda didnt know what to say. But she

got saved by the bell. By the librarian, actually.

Linda Bergman?

Yes?

The headmaster asked for you. There are the trouble... she thought.Euh, Richard, it was nice

talking to you. Linda hurried away to the headmasters office, leaving Richard a bit confused. The

Improbability was very worried about the headmaster.He cant harm you, can he?

Of course he cant! Hes the headmaster!

Thats what I mean: you were afraid the science students would eat you. And the headmaster is like

the most important person in a school. I thought, if science students can eat you, what can a

headmaster do? Linda sighed. The Improbability was very intelligent, but he clearly had a wrong

idea of school politics.

Thats something else.

Oh. The Improbability didnt really get it. But he had seen Lindas ex-friends, so perhaps the watch

out or theyll eat you rule only applied to students.

The headmaster was Mr. Dorian. He tried to be severe, however he was actually quite friendly. He

had read Linda Bergmans file, and he decided she wasnt a mayhem maker. And in addition to that,

Mr Dorian didnt really like Mrs. Ranner. But he did like cats. So when Linda Bergman came to his

office, accompanied by her grey Siamese cat, he decided she did not really deserve a punishment.

He said

So your cat scared Mrs. Ranner?

Yes...

Well, you know animals arent allowed here, so I believe you deserve a bit of extra work. After your

last class, you must go see Mrs. Ranner, and she will give you some extra physics homework. And if it

turns out to be completely impossible to leave your cat at home, try at least not to take it to your

physics class.

Yes, sir. Linda nor the Improbability believed they got away with it that easy. When they left the

office, the Improbability said

wow! Is he always that easy?

No, not really. Usually, he is far more strict. The improbability whistled.

In that case, you are improbably lucky today.

And what would be the cause of that? Linda smiled. Being friends with the Improbability apparently

did have some advantages. The rest of the day there were no problems... The Improbability got very

bored with the biology professor and tried to make one of the stuffed animals bite him, but lucky for

Mr. Gradski, Linda prevented that.


10/12

But the problems started again soon after classes. Linda had just returned from Mrs. Ranner, taking

a huge pile of extra homework with her. She couldnt put it all in her relatively small bag, when

Schrdinger was inside it as well, so she carried it with her. At the school gate, a group of girls

watched her struggle with the pile of books. Inevitably, she fell. Linda heard the girls talk.

She has become a real nerd!

Yeah, add some spectacles, and the pictures complete.

I cant believe she used to be one of our friends!

Yeah. But I never really liked her. Linda had already heard a lot of insults that day, but this last one

was like a knife in the back. It had been Elfrida Elmer, who used to be her best friend , who said it.

Linda gathered her books, fighting tears and anger. She whispered.

Improbability... Get. Them. Landed.

The pleasure is all mine!


The cargo hatch of an airplane flying above California suddenly broke off. This event caused the lossof a part of the cargo. Most of it landed in the in the Mojave desert, but one particular item, an

industrial size microwave, landed in Sarahtown, California.

Linda watched the sky, hoping to see whatever was coming down. But on the same time, the girls

who the object was meant for, started to move. So unless the object was a ballistic missile with

tracking device, it would almost certainly miss its target.

What has happened? She asked. The Improbability stuttered.

I... I dont know! Perhaps the air capacitance was stronger than I implemented in my calculations.

Or the object isnt heavy enough. I.. Dont know... He sounded terribly ashamed. Perhaps it landed

on the wrong spot.

Never mind. It was a bad idea anyway. They started to leave the school gate area, when

Schrdinger started to miaow. He had fallen out of the bag when Linda fell, and still sat on the

pavement. He mewed plaintive. Oh Schrdinger, whats wrong? Schrdinger pointed his head at

the sky. Linda looked up. She saw something big descending.

That is one impossibly large bird... Oh no! The object! She saw someone was standing in the landing

area. Watch OUT! She screamed. The person did not respond, so Linda saw no other option than

run to the person and push him aside. They fell on the ground. The person happened to be Richard.

What was that? Are you crazy? I could... a large bang interrupted him. Right next to him, an

industrial size microwave had fallen from the sky. Wow... how did you know that? Are you... psychic

or something?

No. Linda said. I have a smartcat.

Richard looked even more confused. Are you all right?

Euh... Yeah, however youre still sitting on me. Linda got up.

Sorry.

Oh, dont apologize! I should be thanking you, since you saved me from being crushed by that...

Richard took a closer look at the object. Microwave. He looked at Linda. Youre probably not going

to tell me more about it? Linda wanted to answer no, but then, she considered the possibility.

Richard was a real nerd, but at least he talked to her, which couldnt be said from the otherstudents. And Schrdinger liked him. Saving the universe was a big thing to do on your own, even


11/12

with the help of the Improbability, and she could use a partner. Linda decided to trust Schrdingers

judgement.

I can tell you, but it might get you involved in something you dont want to be involved in, and you

will probably think Im crazy. Richards instincts told him not to trust it, but he had the curious soul

of a real scientist, so he said.

Go on, I wont think youre crazy.

Im not so sure about that... Linda started telling him her story. Richards eyeballs almost rolled out

of his eye funds.

I... I cant believe this. I just cant. You cant prove this. Richard considered the possibility Linda was

crazy after all.

Oh, yes shecan. Richard looked up, trying to see who said that. Linda smiled.

Richard, meet the Improbability. Improbability, this is Richard Maxwell. His mouth fell open.

Nice to meet you.

The same. He stuttered. so.. It is true? If you and Riley Watson dont get together, the universe is

finished?Thats it. The Improbability said.

But... how?

Dont ask, the universe doesnt know either. Richard shook his head. He thought about it. He could

just walk away, never think about it again. But then, when would he ever come across something

like that again? Probably never. His scientists soul ordered him to stay.

So... do you have some sort of plan? Richard asked. Linda looked at the Improbability, or better, the

direction where his voice came from.

Euh. No. We dont have a Plan. Only... Ideas.

And a battle station?

A battle station? Linda and the Improbability asked simultaneously.

Yes, a battle station? You know, a base of attack? even Schrdinger gave Richard the What The

Heck look. Dont you people ever watch Star Trek?

No. Not really. Richard sighed.

Anyway, we really need one. We can use my attic. Linda really didnt like attics. Better, she hated

them. They made her feel claustrophobic. But since Richard was so enthusiastic, Linda tried to smile

and be happy with it. They agreed to speak each other the next day, after school.

Later, at Lindas home, they sat in her room. Linda was struggling with her physics homework.

Desperate, she said:

I just cant make sense of this! Its like a maze, but not a normal one. It seems to change while Im in

it! The solutions hide themselves!

Let me take a look at it. Im kind of a physics person The Improbability said. physics person was

actually an euphemism. Before he became stuck in Sarahtown for some unknown reason, physics

had been his life. The equations Linda had so much trouble with, were really peanuts. But right at

the moment he wanted to tell her that, he saw her eyes, filled with despair. Perhaps there was

something he could do to help her.

And? Can you solve them?

Im not going to solve them for you, but I might be able to help. But, you must be aware of the

danger. There is even a possibility it could kill you. Lindas despair seemed to add a suicidal side toher decisions.


12/12

Try me.

Ok. Lets hope nothing goes wrong... the Improbability thought. He did what he intended to do.

Lindas eyes widened. Suddenly, she felt like falling. Its going fine. Dont worry. He gave Linda a

look at the math of the universe. She was completely overwhelmed by the amount of data, and

strangely enough, also by a sense of deep understanding. After a while, The Improbability pulled her

back. She collapsed on the bed, breathing heavily, her eyes closed. For once, he wished he had a

material body, so he could comfort her a bit. Finally, she said something.

that... was... weird.

how do you feel?

Exhausted... slightly nauseous... but... I guess thats... normal, no?

I hope I didnt overload your brain.

I hope so... as well.

Maybe you should sleep a bit.

I cant. I have piles of work to do. Linda felt a little better. She got up, took her physics books, and

tried to work. When she looked at the equations, they suddenly became clear to her. There was asystem. A pattern. Linda solved them. She smiled. The Improbability looked at her work with great

satisfaction. She understood. Finally. He loved seeing someone enjoy maths. It was 11 o clock pm

when she finished. The Improbability saw she was exhausted.

Are you almost finished working?

No... Ive finished working on physics. But I still need to type a text for English.

What sort of text?

19th

century English literature. I made enough notes for a descent text, but I still need to type it.

The Improbability didnt think Linda would be able to type anything at all, let alone something so

boring as English literature.

We can always do the experiment of the monkey and the typewriter.

huh?

Well, if you let a monkey walk over a typewriter long enough, he will eventually type Hamlet.

But we have neither a monkey nor a typewriter, and Hamlet wouldnt be of much help either.

We might lack monkeys and typewriters, but we have a cat and a computer. And its not just

Hamlet, it can be every text.Its a bit like picking a lock with random movements.

Aha. In that case... Linda picked up Schrdinger, who wasnt happy at all with this, and said Sorry

to bother you, but its time you return a favour. You got me into this, you can help me out. She

opened a text editor and put Schrdinger on her keyboard.


The chance you get a text that makes sense from random movement, is incredibly small. Not to

mention the chance of getting one particular text. But the feet of the cat touched the exact right

keys, typing a text titled synopsis of 19th

century English literature.

Linda watched the movements of her newly acquired cat with great interest.

Now, you go to bed. The Improbability said. Obedient she went to bed. Right before she fell asleep,

she whispered

Thank you, Improbability...

The Improbability smiled. That night, Lindas dreams were filled with mysterious patterns... And shehad never slept that well.

a story of improbability

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