//------------------------------//
// The Wager 
// Story: Mini Mysteries 
// by Acologic 
//------------------------------//

Slipstar was eating dessert at his hotel when a young, well-dressed stallion dropped without preamble into the chair beside him.

‘I’ve heard of you,’ said the stallion brusquely. ‘Name’s Whorl. I live around these parts.’

Slipstar remained cordial and said, ‘What can I do for you?’

‘I was thinking… we could have a bet.’

‘A bet?’

‘Yes. You’re a clever pony. Famous for it. How about we test that brain of yours? A bit of fun. You’re game?’

Slipstar smiled. ‘I know you,’ he said. ‘You swindled my friend Cecil Andrews at a party.’

Whorl was not put out; on the contrary, his face lit up. ‘You know Cecil? Well, that’s a pleasant surprise! Ah, good old Cecil, poor chap. Quite gullible. But you must realise it’s all good-humoured. Just a bit of fun. You’ll avenge him, then? And I don’t expect you to play for nothing! Five-hundred bits say you can’t beat me at my game. What do you think?’

Slipstar deliberated. Then he nodded and said, ‘For Cecil’s sake, I’ll take you on.’

‘I’m going to give you a sieve. By the end of the night, it must hold water. You can’t do anything to the sieve. If you can’t hold water in it but I can, then you lose.’

Slipstar agreed to the terms. Once Whorl had given him the sieve, he rose and walked to the kitchens, whose staff he asked a favour. Two hours later he presented the sieve to a disgruntled Whorl, who paid up on the spot.

How did Slipstar win the bet?

Slipstar asked the kitchens to freeze some water. Then he placed into the sieve the ice and showed it to Whorl, thereby winning the bet.