Part 5: Tom

Puzzle Remix



So, are you ready for some basic maths? I know I always am!



3. The cost of the entire meal comes out to 105 pounds. This total needs to be split to fit our ratio of 2:1. Therefore, Luke's meal cost 70 pounds and the professor's cost 35. What combination of food and drink items can you find that add up to 70?

Because that is all this puzzle is. Unlike some of the other mathsy puzzles, it doesn't obscure it or anything.








Now, as we have some time until our next destination, I invite you to sit back and enjoy the journey.



Would you believe that I am so incompetent I got this one wrong once?



3. One design, while perfectly natural when drawn out in 2-D, stacks the glasses in a way that is impossible to create in reality. On paper, each cup is represented by a single bent line, but real glasses have a rim on the top and walls of a set thickness.












3. By now you've tried visualizing what things would look like if you rotated the triangle around, yes? If you've done that, you should be able to see how many smaller triangles fit in the larger one. Just count them up.








Nice as they are, I'm sure Mr Beluga will find a reason to complain about these plates too.
I wouldn't be surprised... I suppose rich people can just afford to be picky!





3. The sneaky customer ended up getting away with shoes costing 30 pounds, as well as 20 pounds in change.








Nevertheless, this is my case so I'll be searching for Tom alone.
Conduct your own search if you like, but don't get your hopes up.





Honestly, this one is deceptively simple. It seems more complex than it is in practice. Or maybe I'm just dumb and think that. I could believe either at this point.












2. Since 1/6 of the passengers get off at the first station, you know the number must be divisible by six. Start by choosing a number that's divisible by six and see what happens. The principle by which this puzzle is solved should become evident soon.
3. Imagine that 30 passengers are on the train when it embarks. At the first station, the train loses 1/6 of its passengers, meaning five people get off. At the next station, 1/5 of those remaining, or five people, get off. At the next station, 1/4 of those remaining, or five more people, get off. Do you notice a pattern here?

In comparison, this one is EXACTLY as easy as it seems.








If the folks in there find other passengers hanging around outside their door, I'm gonna get an earful.





2. If you've been looking for what parts of A, B, and C don't match the black-and-white image, you'll eventually find an answer. But since there is only a single solution, it may be easier to start by finding how A, B, and C differ from one another.
3. Pay attention to the circles at the centre of each flower. Also take a good look at the number of dots and their positions in each image.










This one is also exactly as easy as it appears.



3. If every preschooler had on a red hat, you'd see every single child go home with a red balloon. Remembering that the children aren't allowed to add their own hat to their total, think about how many children would receive a red balloon if nine kids wore red hats. What about if eight did? Seven? Just keep going down the line.








Whew, that was a lot of puzzles to blaze through, huh? Probably won't do that many all at once again where possible since that was a lot more than it seemed like.

Suspense









Molentary Express

Now, where were we? Oh yes, that's right. We were making our way back to the observation deck checking everything we can. We'll keep heading ba-

Silence





Is everything all right, miss?
I'm fine, thank you. Excuse me.

Molentary Express



Mm, yes, now that you mention it, something about her did seem rather...familiar, as you say.

I'm sure we've seen her before as well but... I can't think where from either right now.



Ah well, we've a child to find so let's see if Sally can help.



Sorry, miss, but we are currently searching for a small child.
Have you seen a young boy wandering around by himself in this carriage?
A little boy, eh? Nope, sorry mister, but that doesn't ring any bells.
Ooh, ooh, what happened? Did he get lost on the train?
Yes. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to track down the missing tot.



Did you know that there's a weird old woman staying in this carriage?



I know it's probably not true, but what if?! She's just so bizarre that I can't help wondering...
But I could get in trouble for speaking ill of passengers. Just forget I said anything, OK?



Your guess is as good as mine, Luke. But it certainly does make one wonder.

It does, doesn't it? Let's go see and find out one way or another.



Well, have no fear! The beautiful and clairvoyant Granny Riddleton stands before you ready to help!
Just as I thought! Who else could this tiny house belong to?
Hey, wait a second! What are you doing here anyway?
So you've heard of me, eh, shorty? Good to know I'm still a hit with the young'uns. Ehee hee!
What do you mean? Of course I've heard of you! We've met before, remember?



But you're here now, so that means you want to hear my spiel, right?

No!

Er, um, no that's quite alright. We know what the deal is. Missed puzzles end up here for us to do. We'll never miss anyw so it doesn't matter. She's harmless, moving on! To the observation deck!



Well, er, I'm... pretty sure this guy isn't Tom. Still, he might know something maybe probably.



Inexplicably, in the US version he's renamed Hank. Why?

No trouble at all, my good man. I take it you're not a passenger, then?
Nah, I'm just a mechanic, innit. I come along for the ride in case somethin' goes belly-up.
But as you can see, she's sound as a pound! Makes my job dead easy.
In fact, I've got so much free time lately I made up a puzzle all by meself. 'Ow about it, then?

The SteveHank. An attempt to write someone from the north of England... by someone who barely knows what that would sound like. Wrong colloquialisms, too many consonants... A poor effort.

Honestly now. The SteveHank is so poor that I am going to ignore his puzzle and leave it to someone else to deal with.



Alright, so we're kind of at an impasse then. We've been everywhere we can get so I suppose we'll just head back to Chelmey and see what he has for us?



Oh but on the way we can talk to Chester since he's in the dining car again now.



No, I don't believe so.



Interesting. Do you have any idea as to where we might find this couple now, my good man?
I believe they are staying in the fourth carriage, sir. May I suggest paying them a visit?
A wonderful suggestion. Thank you for your assistance.
Come along now, Luke. Let's drop in on the couple in the fourth carriage.

That's the one immediately to the south of the dining car.



You may also probably not recognise this room as the one that had the pitcher puzzle in it.



We're dreadfully sorry to intrude, sir, but we are searching for a lost little one.
Did you happen to see or hear anything pertaining to this?
Oh, sweetie, I do believe they might be talking about that darling cutie pie that just passed by. Remember?
Uh... Oh! Yes, yes! He was a cute one, he was. Small and very clever looking, I'd say.
So you did see Tom, then? He's been missing a while now.



Oh pishposh, dear. I bet my best tea set that it was a girl who passed by our room.
Hmm, yes, now that you mention it, I had a feeling that the scamp might have been a girl.



Now I'm all confuddled. I don't have the faintest idea who we're talking about anymore.
What?!



On the contrary, Luke, we may have just stumbled on to some extremely valuable information.
What do you mean, Professor?
You'll see. First, let's return to the scene of Tom's disappearance.

Oh Layton, you and I both know that's not how it works.



First we bug the people we just spoke to, to see if they have a puzzle or not.



It was nice talking with you, though. Let me give you a puzzle for the road!

Um, no, that's quite alright. We'll be fine without it, honest.



NOW we can begin to head back to the site of Tom's disappearance.





So you two are still flipping furniture trying to find that tyke, are you?
Hm? Do you mean to say that the child has been found?
No, no, not at all. What I'm saying is that the child is no longer on this train.
I've asked everyone aboard, but no one gave me an answer that suggested they'd seen the lad.



Fell off?!
Yes, it's entirely plausible given the way children love to run amok.
When you combine that with their oversized heads, you've got yourself a recipe for disaster.
I'll contact the railway police at the next station, so feel free to give up on your search.
Just a moment, Inspector. The windows on this train are very high and every exit is manned.
Given the situation, don't you think it's unlikely a child could have made it off the train unnoticed?
All right, I'll humour you. So, tell me, Layton, where do you think this elusive ankle-biter got off to?



Oh, there's just no reasoning with you. Fine, keep playing detective. Nothing'll come of it, I tell you!

Now, where was it we learned about Tom's disappearance again? Oh, right, that was this carriage. Hm. This presents a bit of a problem. The only real person left to question who might be useful was that girl with the dog but we haven't seen her since then. She was heading in this direction so let's head towards our room and see what we can find.




What's on your mind, my boy? You look distracted.
It's hard to put my finger on why, but I feel like someone has been watching us for a while.



Do you think someone might be tailing us?
It's certainly possible. Keep an eye out for anything unusual.



D-does that count as unusual by any chance, Professor?



It certainly does.
This is strange, though... It's for the same foot as the shoe the inspector gave us earlier.
So it is...

Silence



So, uh, despite it seeming like Layton had everything figured out before now it's only at this moment he actually does. Seems kinda weird, honestly.

So then, Tom must be...
O ho ho ho! Luke, I do believe we've both made a faulty assumption.
Hmm? What exactly do you mean?
Recall, for a moment, the events as they have unfolded thus far.
Er, let's see...

Suspense



That's right. A shoe small enough for a baby.



But it was lodged in such a tiny corner, I don't know how Tom could have squeezed in there.
Correct. In order to get back there, Tom would have to be no more than half your size.



That was my impression as well. Which is why I began to consider a different line of thought.
Luke, what if you and I have already seen Tom about and didn't even know it?
You see, all the while we've been searching for Tom, we've assumed that he's a small child.



I think I see what you're getting at, Professor...



If that strange pair of shoes means what I think it does, then our friend Tom is...

Puzzle Remix

015 Tom's True Identity



He's a puzzle!



1. Those L-shaped pieces are pretty awkward to move around, aren't they? If only you could change the shape of the pieces into something easier to move around. Say...a square, perhaps?
2. Pair each L-shaped piece with a small square block, and treat each pair as a single unit to be moved.
3. By the way, you might be interested to know that this puzzle can be solved in as few as 20 moves.

A goddamn sliding puzzle. Augh. And despite being a short and simple one, it's also kind of a goddamn pain due to the shape of the pieces. I do not like this "puzzle."






End

Molentary Express



Do you recall the girl we saw holding a small dog? I suspect that small dog was our friend Tom.
So if we track down that girl, we'll find Tom!

I do remember her! And finding her is our next objective, so let's get to it.











1. To start, try tracing your way through the maze. This trick is probably old news to you by now, but in case you forgot, it's often helpful to try working your way backward from the exit.
2. Do mazes make your head spin? Take some of the work out of following all those roads by using the Memo function to mark dead ends and the paths that lead to them.





1. "Each time the message is spoken, it can have only one recipient." What you need to remember here is that any one person can only spread the message to one other person at a time. Try reading the problem again bearing in mind the above.