The undiscovered country from which a puzzle returns
IT ONLY took 32 years to solve Enigma No 45. The version of the weekly New 卅繁消消 puzzle that was set in the issue of 3 January 1980 a problem in linear algebra was, it seemed, too difficult even for New 卅繁消消‘s notoriously clever readers. The deadline for responses passed and, two weeks later on 17 January, Enigma’s editor announced: “No correct solutions were received for Enigma No 45.”
“Frequently we see signs warning us: “wet floor”. Perry Bebbington cannot help seeing these as an instruction which if followed would require the presence of a…
