//------------------------------//
// Puzzle 18: It's 'The Mind' 
// Story: School of Logic: a Collection of Puzzles involving the Student Six 
// by Coyotek4 
//------------------------------//

Seconds of dead silence pass by, with both Sandbar and Yona nervously looking at each other. Finally, Yona plays a card face-up on the table. It shows the number 97.

“Aaah, nuts,” Sandbar exclaims, revealing a 95. The others groan in exasperation.

“Yona knew Yona shouldn’t play,” the yak bemoans.

“I had a high number,” the pony replies in defense. “I thought it’d be higher than yours.

Smolder groans again. “Why did Headmare Twilight recommend this game to us. It’s hopeless!”

“I think it’ll just take some more plays to calibrate our minds,” Ocellus answers. “I actually like this game.”

Silverstream picks up the cardboard box that houses the cards. “ ‘The Mind’,” she says. “Weird name for a card game.”

“As in, ‘Does anyone mind playing random cards to the table?’ ” Gallus says. “Where do ponies come up with these ideas?”

“I like the idea,” Sandbar says. “It’s simple but thought-provoking: cards numbered from 1 to 100, everyone gets one card, and everyone tries to play their cards in order.”

“Our headmare likes games that mess with our heads, doesn’t she,” Smolder states.

“Yaks not like headgames,” Yona pouts.

“Well I’ll try another round,” Silverstream says as she shuffles the cards anew. She deals one card facedown to everyone.

“Yona sit this round out, if OK with others.”

“Meh,” Gallus replies. “I’ll just take your card.”

The five students each look at their own cards, and all wait for another to play the first. Seconds pass …


“Look like everycreature got small cards,” Yona comments.

“This is ridiculous,” Smolder states as she reaches for everyone’s cards, save the two in Gallus’s talons. She inspects the four cards now in her claws. “Yeah, we all had small numbers; this would’ve taken a while to start.”

“So much for that round,” Sandbar says with a slight sigh.

Smolder continues to inspect the cards. “Actually, this is interesting. Ocellus, your card was the sum of these other three cards: mine, Sandbar’s, and Silverstream’s. You’re a smart changeling; that give you enough to figure out our three cards?”

Ocellus takes back her own card. “Too many possibilities; I have no idea.”

Smolder takes a second look. “Well these three cards multiply to 360. That should do it, right?”

“Maybe,” Ocellus replies as she ponders the new information … before shaking her head. “No … there’s still multiple possibilities.

Gallus ponders the back-and-forth conversation between Smolder and Ocellus. “Huh … you know, this is interesting.”

“What is?” Silverstream asks.

“If I said what either of my cards was, Ocellus would have enough information to know all three of your cards. Maybe that gives you enough information.”

“Hmmm …” Ocellus muses for a minute, before …


“YONA KNOW ALL YOUR CARDS!!!”