CHAPTER 1

The walls of the famous Dartmouth University were covered with ivy, granting it, and a number of other schools, entry into the famous “Ivy League”. Dartmouth, as many know, is very far from Australia. Strangely though, they were soon to be connected in a very strange way indeed.

Professor Franklin Landover, Chair of the Mathology department, finished his morning ten-mile run around the Dartmouth track. Even at the age of forty-five, his vigorous workout routine kept him in a shape that would allow him to be the love interest for any attractive female characters he may happen meet in upcoming chapters.

“Dr. Landover!” A young, excited voice shouted. A young coed with long blonde hair and an attractive figure, but horn-rimmed glasses that clearly marked her as intelligent, approached.

“Dr. Landover!” She repeated, in case he had not heard her the first time, although he had. “Juanita Twoflower Skaarsgard. Reporter for the Dartmouth Squawker. Mind if I ask you a few questions?”

Franklin sighed good-naturedly. His study in the glamorous field of advanced mathologistics often attracted a large student fan base.

“Only if we can walk while we talk,” he said. “I have a seminar on how mathologistics might be applied to the shortage of jujubes in the south Ecuadorian rain-forest.”

“Fine by me,” answered Juanita. “Ok, first question. What exactly is mathologistics?”

Franklin smiled. It was a common question. “Mathologistics,” he began, “or, mathology, as it is more commonly known, is the study of math. Ology, from the Greek word meaning to study and math from the word meaning to add and subtract bunches of numbers.”

“But don’t many people study math?” Jaunita asked.

Franklin couldn’t help but grin. “A common mistake,” he replied. “Many, many people use math. Only a few, such as myself, are able to study it.”

“What led you to study mathology, or, should I say, to study the study of math?”

At this question, a far-away look entered Franklin’s eyes. A far-away look. A forlorn look. A look that spoke to a great tragedy, a tragedy most definitely not to be revealed at this time.

“This is my office,” Franklin said, and indeed it was. “I need to go in now. I’ll talk to you later.” And with that, he went in, promising to talk to the young reporter later.

In his office, a small room full of math and mathifacts (math-related artifacts, to the layman) Franklin relaxed. He relaxed until he saw the package on his desk. A package with an address that told Franklin the package was addressed from a place he had not been in a very long time. A place some called "The Land Down Under". A place others, perhaps more accurately, called Australia. Quickly, Franklin opened the package.

“Oh my God.” Franklin said. “I was not expecting the contents of this package at all.”