Pythag

Otherwise, he was remarkably doll-like, clad in all his furs, and I was unable to fight a terribly strong urge to enjoy a few moments of seeing Pythag forced to be still and silent.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

I had no difficulty in discerning which of the still figures was Pythag, and had I never met him before that day, I doubt I would have failed to notice the one apple which seemed to have fallen rather far from the Inuit family tree.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

At my suggestion that they both might want to quickly take themselves as far away from the results of their work as possible, Pythag made one of his lightening-like leaps of logic, and announced that “Polaris was beckoning.”

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

Although Pythag, as his closest friends—well, as I called him, because frankly, few others could tolerate his particular style of genius at close range—although Pythag never taught at a university or other institution, it is widely known that the affectionate name “Professor Peabody” was bestowed upon him by a grateful police force at the close of the Case of the Carillean Carbuncle, or as Pythag liked to call it, 300.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

I did not for a moment imagine that Pythag was cavorting about the museum in the all-together.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

Knowing that Pythag would be nettled that I had achieved this summit before him, I decided that I would leave some little proof of my visit.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

But when I returned from the gents, Pythag was nowhere to be found.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

And so once again, I found myself in the Museum of Natural History with Pythag at my side.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

Pythag enjoyed himself immensely on these “tour” occasions, tapping on glass cases and reading aloud from wall plaques to begin his speeches.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002

Perhaps you have already seen from these examples that Pythag was the perfect man to consult on the matter of the missing carbuncle.

Eighteen JAN BURKE 2002