| There are several essential “ah-has!” to crack the
mystery of the forty-one.
PROPER PRECEPTS
IMPOSE ON PROSE AND DECLINE TWO
The first “ah-ha!” is
to divide the clues into two groups
of PROSE and PRECEPTS.
The 21 Prose:
A FAIR BIRD ITS WINGS ARISE
AND EASTWARD IT FLEW
HIS POTION OF SERPENTS AND
VENOMS BREWS PORTENT
A SCENT SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
PRESENCE GLARES
AHH SIGHED THE MONARCH HOPING
TO SOOTH HIS FLU
EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE ADORES
THE IMP THE LEAST
FOLKS FLEE ALONG ROUTES GROWN
DENSE WITH NEGLECT
HER ORGAN PLAYS TO SAINTLY
ONES THEIR LAST RITE
HIS SEALED HORSE COSTUME PREYS
ON THE MIND
ITS URN THAT IT ADORNED WITH
LEAF ENGRAVING SHATTERED
MOST DEER ENVY THE FROTH THAT
BLEW FROM THE NORTH
MY FOURTH PHRASE CASTS SHY
GLIMPSES NEAR SHADOW
ONLY THE STORMY NIGHT KNOWS
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
OUR COAL CHUTE PROVED THE BETTER
SOURCE OF FOOD
RUBIES INCITE THE FOULEST FEAR
IN BLUE BLOODSTONE
SHREWD SCOUNDRELS DO ASPIRE
TO CLEAR A MURDER PAST
THAT KING OF SPADES MIGHT BE
A MAN OF BRIGHT SENSE
THE HORRIBLE SWORD THE KNIGHT
WIELDED WITH SPITE
THE PAUSE GREW TENSE DARE YE
TO STEP FORWARD
THE VERY COARSE SCORN WASTE
ONCE PAYMENT IS DUE
WHEN THE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT BLAZE
THE SUBHUMAN DIES
WHILE THE BLACK CAT WAITS THE
MICE SWAP TO THE RIGHT
The precepts (rules prescribing
a particular course of action) stand
out because of removal words like
OUSTED, BANISH, REJECT,
AVOID, NEVER INCLUDE,
IGNORE, ESCHEW, FLED,
STRUCK, EXILED, AXE,
DETEST, and REFUSE.
Other words like WIGGED OUT,
COUNT DOWN, SEATED,
INTERMINGLE, and MOCK
are suspect as well.
The 20
Precepts:
A WONDERFUL LITTLE
MAN WIGGED OUT HIS PEERS
ANY SINGLES RESOUNDING HERE WILL
BE OUSTED
BANISH THOSE WHO SEEM THE SAME
AND ALL IN BETWEEN
BLITHE BLACKSMITHS REJECT SWIRLED
SAD TIN
BRAGGART BARTENDERS AVOID TANGLED
TIN ICE
CLEVER CARPENTERS NEVER INCLUDE
SABOTAGED SLIM PEGS
DEEP SEA DIVERS IGNORE THE DIZZY
DEPTH OVER HOPING
EFFECTIVE EDITORS ESCHEW PAGES
THAT ECHO REMORSE
FIVE NOMADS FLED AND TUMBLED OAF
SO OAF
FREAK LIGHTNING STRUCK ALL THE
EXCEPT THE FOURTH
HER MAJESTY EXILED ALL PORTRAITS
RESEMBLING YOU
JESTERS AXE JOKES WITH ANY RESEMBLANCE
TO CLICHES
NAYSAYERS SHUN AND AGITATE A DROWNED
LOATHING
RADIO DRAMAS COUNT DOWN EVERY
SIX AND TWO PIERS
SANE SCHOLARS DETEST ANY LANGUAGE
SOUNDING TRITE
HERETO THE LAST TWO WERE SEATED
TWENTY FIFTH
TWENTY SEVEN COUNTRIES INTERMINGLE
LEGITIMATELY
TWENTY WHO ARE MUDDLED MUST MOCK
THEIR MATE
WEATHER STATIONS REFUSE TO CONFUSE
THIS NEW FOG
Some clues can be applied immediately.
CLEVER CARPENTERS
NEVER INCLUDE SABOTAGED SLIM PEGS
Remove (NEVER INCLUDE) the
jumbled (SABOTAGED) words
SLIM PEGS = GLIMPSES.
A FAIR BIRD ITS WINGS ARISE
AND EASTWARD IT FLEW
HIS POTION OF SERPENTS AND VENOMS
BREWS PORTENT
A SCENT SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
PRESENCE GLARES
AHH SIGHED THE MONARCH HOPING
TO SOOTH HIS FLU
EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE ADORES
THE IMP THE LEAST
FOLKS FLEE ALONG ROUTES GROWN
DENSE WITH NEGLECT
HER ORGAN PLAYS TO SAINTLY ONES
THEIR LAST RITE
HIS SEALED HORSE COSTUME PREYS
ON THE MIND
ITS URN THAT IT ADORNED WITH
LEAF ENGRAVING SHATTERED
MOST DEER ENVY THE FROTH THAT
BLEW FROM THE NORTH
MY FOURTH PHRASE CASTS SHY GLIMPSES
NEAR SHADOW
ONLY THE STORMY NIGHT KNOWS
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
OUR COAL CHUTE PROVED THE BETTER
SOURCE OF FOOD
RUBIES INCITE THE FOULEST FEAR
IN BLUE BLOODSTONE
SHREWD SCOUNDRELS DO ASPIRE
TO CLEAR A MURDER PAST
THAT KING OF SPADES MIGHT BE
A MAN OF BRIGHT SENSE
THE HORRIBLE SWORD THE KNIGHT
WIELDED WITH SPITE
THE PAUSE GREW TENSE DARE YE
TO STEP FORWARD
THE VERY COARSE SCORN WASTE
ONCE PAYMENT IS DUE
WHEN THE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT BLAZE
THE SUBHUMAN DIES
WHILE THE BLACK CAT WAITS THE
MICE SWAP TO THE RIGHT
BRAGGART BARTENDERS AVOID TANGLED
TIN ICE
Remove (AVOID) the jumbled
(TANGLED) words TIN ICE
= INCITE.
A FAIR BIRD ITS WINGS ARISE
AND EASTWARD IT FLEW
HIS POTION OF SERPENTS AND VENOMS
BREWS PORTENT
A SCENT SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
PRESENCE GLARES
AHH SIGHED THE MONARCH HOPING
TO SOOTH HIS FLU
EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE ADORES
THE IMP THE LEAST
FOLKS FLEE ALONG ROUTES GROWN
DENSE WITH NEGLECT
HER ORGAN PLAYS TO SAINTLY ONES
THEIR LAST RITE
HIS SEALED HORSE COSTUME PREYS
ON THE MIND
ITS URN THAT IT ADORNED WITH
LEAF ENGRAVING SHATTERED
MOST DEER ENVY THE FROTH THAT
BLEW FROM THE NORTH
MY FOURTH PHRASE CASTS SHY NEAR
SHADOW
ONLY THE STORMY NIGHT KNOWS
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
OUR COAL CHUTE PROVED THE BETTER
SOURCE OF FOOD
RUBIE INCITE
THE FOULEST FEAR IN BLUE BLOODSTONE
SHREWD SCOUNDRELS DO ASPIRE
TO CLEAR A MURDER PAST
THAT KING OF SPADES MIGHT BE
A MAN OF BRIGHT SENSE
THE HORRIBLE SWORD THE KNIGHT
WIELDED WITH SPITE
THE PAUSE GREW TENSE DARE YE
TO STEP FORWARD
THE VERY COARSE SCORN WASTE
ONCE PAYMENT IS DUE
WHEN THE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT BLAZE
THE SUBHUMAN DIES
WHILE THE BLACK CAT WAITS THE
MICE SWAP TO THE RIGHT
HER MAJESTY EXILED ALL PORTRAITS
RESEMBLING YOU
Remove (EXILED) all words
that rhyme (RESEMBLING) with
YOU.
A FAIR BIRD ITS WINGS ARISE
AND EASTWARD IT FLEW
HIS POTION OF SERPENTS AND VENOMS
BREWS PORTENT
A SCENT SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
PRESENCE GLARES
AHH SIGHED THE MONARCH HOPING
TO
SOOTH HIS FLU
EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE ADORES
THE IMP THE LEAST
FOLKS FLEE ALONG ROUTES GROWN
DENSE WITH NEGLECT
HER ORGAN PLAYS TO
SAINTLY ONES THEIR LAST RITE
HIS SEALED HORSE COSTUME PREYS
ON THE MIND
ITS URN THAT IT ADORNED WITH
LEAF ENGRAVING SHATTERED
MOST DEER ENVY THE FROTH THAT
BLEW
FROM THE NORTH
MY FOURTH PHRASE CASTS SHY NEAR
SHADOW
ONLY THE STORMY NIGHT KNOWS
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
OUR COAL CHUTE PROVED THE BETTER
SOURCE OF FOOD
RUBIES THE FOULEST FEAR IN BLUE
BLOODSTONE
SHREWD SCOUNDRELS DO
ASPIRE TO
CLEAR A MURDER PAST
THAT KING OF SPADES MIGHT BE
A MAN OF BRIGHT SENSE
THE HORRIBLE SWORD THE KNIGHT
WIELDED WITH SPITE
THE PAUSE GREW
TENSE DARE YE TO
STEP FORWARD
THE VERY COARSE SCORN WASTE
ONCE PAYMENT IS DUE
WHEN THE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT BLAZE
THE SUBHUMAN DIES
WHILE THE BLACK CAT WAITS THE
MICE SWAP TO
THE RIGHT
SCHOLARS DETEST ANY LANGUAGE SOUNDING
TRITE
Remove (DETEST ) all words
that rhyme (SOUNDING ) with
TRITE.
A FAIR BIRD ITS WINGS ARISE
AND EASTWARD IT
HIS POTION OF SERPENTS AND VENOMS
BREWS PORTENT
A SCENT SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
PRESENCE GLARES
AHH SIGHED THE MONARCH HOPING
SOOTH HIS
EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE ADORES
THE IMP THE LEAST
FOLKS FLEE ALONG ROUTES GROWN
DENSE WITH NEGLECT
HER ORGAN PLAYS SAINTLY ONES
THEIR LAST RITE
HIS SEALED HORSE COSTUME PREYS
ON THE MIND
ITS URN THAT IT ADORNED WITH
LEAF ENGRAVING SHATTERED
MOST DEER ENVY THE FROTH THAT
FROM THE NORTH
MY FOURTH PHRASE CASTS SHY NEAR
SHADOW
ONLY THE STORMY NIGHT
KNOWS THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
OUR COAL CHUTE PROVED THE BETTER
SOURCE OF FOOD
RUBIES THE FOULEST FEAR IN BLOODSTONE
SHREWD SCOUNDRELS ASPIRE CLEAR
A MURDER PAST
THAT KING OF SPADES MIGHT
BE A MAN OF BRIGHT
SENSE
THE HORRIBLE SWORD THE KNIGHT
WIELDED WITH SPITE
THE PAUSE TENSE DARE YE STEP
FORWARD
THE VERY COARSE SCORN WASTE
ONCE PAYMENT IS
WHEN THE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT
BLAZE THE SUBHUMAN DIES
WHILE THE BLACK CAT WAITS THE
MICE SWAP THE RIGHT
Using the removal clues any further
will prevent the second essential
“ah-ha!”
TWENTY WHO ARE MUDDLED MUST MOCK
THEIR MATE
BANISH THOSE WHICH SEEM THE SAME
AND ALL BETWEEN
MOCK THEIR MATES and SEEM
THE SAME suggest homophones,
words that sound alike and are spelled
differently. e.g. him/hymn, aisle/isle,
bury/berry, etc.
The original list of prose clues
contained these homophones: do/due,
flew/flu, blew/blue, rite/right,
night/knight.
But the clue is asking for TWENTY
WHO ARE MUDDLED, not pairs in
plain view.
SEEM THE SAME confirms this
for SAME (jumbled) = SEAM,
a homophone for SEEM.
There are TWENTY such pairs
contained in the prose clues.
ADORES
= SOARED
pairs with SWORD
SEALED
= LEASED
pairs with LEAST
ASPIRE
= PRAISE
pairs with PREYS
SPADES
= PASSED
pairs with PAST
SCENT
= CENTS
pairs with SCENT
SERPENTS
= PRESENTS
pairs with PRESENCE
RUBIES
= BRUISE
pairs with BREWS
FEAR
= FARE
pairs with FAIR
ARISE
= RAISE
pairs with RAYS
DIES
= SIDE
pairs with SIGHED
SOOTH
= SHOOT
pairs with CHUTE
SOURCE
= COURSE
pairs with COARSE
WAITS
= WAIST
pairs with WASTE
SWAP
= PAWS
pairs with PAUSE
DARE
= DEAR
pairs with DEER
FROTH
= FORTH
pairs with FOURTH
NEAR
= EARN
pairs with URN
LEAF
= FLEA
pairs with FLEE
ORGAN
= GROAN
pairs with GROWN
ONES
= NOSE
pairs with KNOWS
BANISH THOSE ... AND
ALL BETWEEN suggests to remove
these words and all the words between
them, however, doing so higgledy-piggledy
would be a right mess.
A FAIR
BIRD ITS WINGS ARISE=RAISE
AND EASTWARD IT
HIS POTION OF SERPENTS=PRESENTS
AND VENOMS BREWS
PORTENT
A SCENT=CENTS
SO SEVERE ITS SHEER PRESENCE
GLARES
AHH SIGHED
THE MONARCH HOPING SOOTH=SHOOT
HIS
EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE ADORES=SOARED
THE IMP THE LEAST
FOLKS FLEE
ALONG ROUTES GROWN
DENSE WITH NEGLECT
HER ORGAN=GROAN
PLAYS SAINTLY ONES
{NOSE
THEIR LAST
HIS SEALED=LEASED
HORSE COSTUME PREYS
ON THE MIND
ITS URN
THAT IT ADORNED WITH LEAF=FLEA
ENGRAVING SHATTERED
MOST DEER
ENVY THE FROTH=FORTH
THAT FROM THE NORTH
MY FOURTH
PHRASE CASTS SHY NEAR=EARN
SHADOW
ONLY THE STORMY KNOWS
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
OUR COAL CHUTE
PROVED THE BETTER SOURCE=COURSE
OF FOOD
RUBIES=BRUISE
THE FOULEST FEAR=FARE
IN BLOODSTONE
SHREWD SCOUNDRELS ASPIRE=PRAISE
CLEAR A MURDER PAST
THAT KING OF SPADES=PASSED
BE A MAN OF SENSE
THE HORRIBLE SWORD
THE WIELDED WITH
THE PAUSE
TENSE DARE=DEAR
YE STEP FORWARD
THE VERY COARSE
SCORN WASTE
ONCE PAYMENT IS
WHEN THE RAYS
OF BLAZE THE SUBHUMAN DIES=SIDE
WHILE THE BLACK CAT WAITS=WAIST
THE MICE SWAP=PAWS
THE
The correct strategy is to arrange
the clues so that each MOCK THEIR
MATE pairing doesn't eliminate
any words from other pairings.
This clue cannot be the first clue, for it eliminates GROAN.
ONLY THE STORMY KNOWS
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
HER GROAN
PLAYS SAINTLY NOSE
THEIR LAST
Therefore, this must be the first
clue and the rest falls into place.
THE HORRIBLE
SWORD
THE WIELDED WITH
EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE SOARED
THE IMP THE
LEAST
HIS LEASED
HORSE COSTUME
PREYS
ON THE MIND
SHREWD SCOUNDRELS PRAISE
CLEAR A MURDER
PAST
THAT KING OF PASSED
BE A MAN OF
SENSE
A CENTS
SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
PRESENCE
GLARES
HIS POTION OF PRESENTS
AND VENOMS
BREWS
PORTENT
BRUISE
THE FOULEST
FARE
IN BLOODSTONE
A FAIR
BIRD ITS WINGS
RAISE
AND EASTWARD IT
WHEN THE RAYS
OF SUNLIGHT BLAZE THE SUBHUMAN
SIDE
AHH SIGHED
THE MONARCH HOPING
SHOOT
HIS
OUR COAL CHUTE
PROVED THE BETTER
COURSE
OF FOOD
THE VERY COARSE
SCORN
WASTEONCE
PAYMENT IS
WHILE THE BLACK CAT WAIST
THE MICE
PAWS
THE
THE PAUSE
TENSE
DEAR
YE STEP FORWARD
MOST DEER
ENVY THE
FORTH
THAT FROM THE NORTH
MY FOURTH
PHRASE CASTS SHY
EARN
SHADOW
ITS URN
THAT IT ADORNED WITH
FLEA
ENGRAVING SHATTERED
FOLKS FLEE
ALONG ROUTES
GROWN
DENSE WITH NEGLECT
HER GROAN
PLAYS SAINTLY
NOSE
THEIR LAST
ONLY THE STORMY KNOWS
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
Leaving:
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
HORSE COSTUME
CLEAR A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
AND VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS WINGS
OF BLAZE THE SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH HOPING
PROVED THE BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
PHRASE CASTS SHY
THAT IT ADORNED WITH
ALONG ROUTES
PLAYS SAINTLY
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
This anagram/homophone - homophone/anagram
“ah-ha!” confirms that
21 is the correct number of prose
clues, also suggesting a final answer
of 21 words.
ANY SINGLES RESOUNDING HERE WILL
BE OUSTED
Remove (OUSTED) all words
that rhyme (RESOUNDING) with
HERE.
If applied earlier, the key "SEEM THE SAME" words NEAR, FEAR
would have been lost.
SINGLES suggests the rhyme
SEVERE is not removed, for
it has two syllables.
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
HORSE COSTUME
CLEAR
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS SHEER
AND VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS WINGS
OF BLAZE THE SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH HOPING
PROVED THE BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
PHRASE CASTS SHY
THAT IT ADORNED WITH
ALONG ROUTES
PLAYS SAINTLY
THE FORCE OF THE ROSE
EFFECTIVE EDITORS
ESCHEW PAGES THAT ECHO REMORSE
Remove (ESCHEW) all words
that rhyme (ECHO) with REMORSE.
If
applied earlier, the key "SEEM THE SAME" words COARSE,
SOURCE would have been lost
.
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
HORSE
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS
AND VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS WINGS
OF BLAZE THE SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH HOPING
PROVED THE BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
PHRASE CASTS SHY
THAT IT ADORNED WITH
ALONG ROUTES
PLAYS SAINTLY
THE FORCE
OF THE ROSE
JESTERS AXE JOKES WITH ANY RESEMBLANCE
TO CLICHES
Remove (AXE) all words that
rhyme (WITH ANY RESEMBLANCE)
with CLICHES.
If applied earlier, the key "SEEM
THE SAME" words PREYS,
RAYS would have been lost.
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS
AND VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS WINGS
OF BLAZE
THE SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH HOPING
PROVED THE BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
PHRASE
CASTS SHY
THAT IT ADORNED WITH
ALONG ROUTES
PLAYS
SAINTLY
THE OF THE ROSE
DEEP SEA DIVERS IGNORE DIZZY DEPTH
OVER HOPING
Remove (IGNORED) the jumbled
(DIZZY) words DEPTH OVER
HOPING = HOPING
PROVED THE.
This contiguous letter combination
would not have been available at
the onset.
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS
AND VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS WINGS
OF THE SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH HOPING
PROVED THE
BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
CASTS SHY
THAT IT ADORNED WITH
ALONG ROUTES
SAINTLY
THE OF THE ROSE
WEATHER STATIONS REFUSE TO CONFUSE
THIS NEW FOG
Remove (REFUSE) the jumbled
(CONFUSE) words THIS NEW
FOG = WINGS
OF THE.
This
contiguous letter combination would
not have been available at the onset.
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS
AND VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS WINGS
OF THE
SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH
BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
CASTS SHY
THAT IT ADORNED WITH
ALONG ROUTES
SAINTLY
THE OF THE ROSE
NAYSAYERS SHUN AND AGITATE A DROWNED
LOATHING
Remove (SHUN) the jumbled
(AGITATE) words A DROWNED
LOATHING = ADORNED
WITH ALONG.
This
contiguous letter combination would
not have been available at the onset.
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS
AND VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS
SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH
BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
CASTS SHY
THAT IT ADORNED
WITH
ALONG
ROUTES
SAINTLY
THE OF THE ROSE
BLITHE BLACKSMITHS REJECT SWIRLED
SAD TIN
Remove (REJECT) the jumbled
(SWIRLED) words SAD TIN
= ITS AND.
This
contiguous letter combination would
not have been available at the onset.
THE
HORRIBLE
THE IMP THE
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE ITS
AND
VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS
SUBHUMAN
THE MONARCH
BETTER
SCORN
THE MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
CASTS SHY
THAT IT
ROUTES
SAINTLY
THE OF THE ROSE
FREAK LIGHTNING STRUCK ALL THE EXCEPT
THE FOURTH
Remove (LIGHTNING STRUCK)
all occurrences of THE. EXCEPT
THE FOURTH
THE
HORRIBLE
THE
IMP THE
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A MAN OF
SO SEVERE
VENOMS
THE FOULEST {EXCEPT
THE FOURTH}
BIRD ITS
SUBHUMAN
THE
MONARCH
BETTER
SCORN
THE
MICE
TENSE
ENVY THE
CASTS SHY
THAT IT
ROUTES
SAINTLY
THE
OF THE
ROSE
FIVE NOMADS FLED AND TUMBLED OAF
SO OAF
Remove (FLED) the jumbled
(TUMBLED) words OAF SO
OAF = A A
OF SO OF.
FIVE NOMADS suggests five
lone scattered words, not contiguous.
HORRIBLE
IMP
COSTUME
A MURDER
BE A
MAN OF
SO
SEVERE
VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS
SUBHUMAN
MONARCH
BETTER
SCORN
MICE
TENSE
ENVY
CASTS SHY
THAT IT
ROUTES
SAINTLY
OF
ROSE
THERETO THE LAST TWO WERE SEATED
TWENTY-FIFTH
Put the last two of THERETO
as the TWENTY-FIFTH word.
This appears to nix the 21 words
theory... or does it?
HORRIBLE
IMP
COSTUME
MURDER
BE MAN
SEVERE
VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS
SUBHUMAN
MONARCH
BETTER
SCORN
MICE
TENSE
ENVY
CASTS SHY
THAT IT
ROUTES
TO
SAINTLY
ROSE
A WONDERFUL
LITTLE MAN WIGGED OUT HIS PEERS
RADIO DRAMAS COUNT DOWN EVERY SIX
AND TWO PIERS
The PEERS/PIERS connection
suggests that these two clues have
something in common. Both appear
to refer to the book and both have
less than clear meanings.
Remember PROPER
PRECEPTS IMPOSE ON PROSE AND DECLINE
TWO?
These are the TWO clues
to be ignored (DECLINED).
The third essential “ah-ha!”
TWENTY SEVEN
COUNTRIES INTERMINGLE LEGITIMATELY
This clue suggests that 27 is the
correct number of words, not 21.
HORRIBLE
IMP
COSTUME
MURDER
BE MAN
SEVERE
VENOMS
THE FOULEST
BIRD ITS
SUBHUMAN
MONARCH
BETTER
SCORN
MICE
TENSE
ENVY
CASTS SHY
THAT IT
ROUTES
TO SAINTLY
ROSE
And now hold onto your britches
- here is the fourth and final “ah-ha!”
COUNTRIES suggests International.
INTERMINGLE suggests more
anagramming.
LEGITIMATELY suggests legalese
of some sort.
On the very last page of the book
is a photo of Blaine and a line
of mumbo-jumbo.
INTERMINGLE,
INTERNATIONAL,
INTERCHANGE,
coincidence?
IMBROGLIO suggests a difficult
or intricate situation; an entanglement.
INTERCHANGE suggests to
switch each of (two things) into
the place of the other.
With 332.333.343, adding
3+3+2+3+3+3+3+4+3 equals
27.
With 222.332.232, adding
2+2+2+3+3+2+2+3+2 equals
21.
The IMBROGLIO/INTERCHANGE
is a key for anagramming 27
words into 21 words.
3 words become 2 words — HORRIBLE
IMP COSTUME = cherubim metropolis
3 words become 2 words — MURDER
BE MAN = numbered arm
2 words become 2 words — SEVERE
VENOMS = remove sevens
3 words become 3 words — THE
FOULEST BIRD = double the first
3 words become 3 words — ITS
SUBHUMAN MONARCH = mountain
shrub chasm
3 words become 2 words — BETTER
SCORN MICE = concrete timbers
3 words become 2 words — TENSE
ENVY CASTS = seventy ascents
4 words become 3 words — SHY
THAT IT ROUTES = south thirty
east
3 words become 2 words — TO
SAINTLY ROSE = solitary stone
cherubim
metropolis
City
of Angels
Los
Angeles |
|
 |
 |
|
numbered
arm
tattoo
174517 |
remove
sevens
double
the first
2451 |
|
 |
 |
|
mountain
shrub
chasm
Laurel
Canyon |
concrete
timbers
is
the bridge
of
mock wood |
|
 |
 |
|
seventy
ascents
is
to climb
seventy
stairs |
| south
thirty east
on
the compass
points
to a tree |
|
 |
 |
|
solitary
stone
is
located
at
the base |
|
