Answer to all the Riddles

Two weeks after Nora and her daughter pulled Bobby—a wild dog—out of the woods, AJ heads into work and finds Vieregg at his desk.

Edward (AJ): Morning, man. You don’t show up at the office much. Either you’re really into your job, or maybe you just like hanging around Rahab and Charlotte. Not that I blame you—you’ve been treating yourself lately.

Vieregg: Oh, come on. That’s ridiculous. I’m just making sure she’s getting settled in. I even wished her a happy New Year, you know.

Edward: Sure you did. Just like every other science nerd in that wing. All I’m saying is, you’re as dedicated as my daughter Sylvia these days. Did you hear she picked up some new hound out in the wild?

(Vieregg suddenly looks nervous)

Vieregg: Sylvia found a hound? That’s strange. I’ve never heard of hounds running wild around here. Have you actually seen this dog?

Edward: Not yet. Sylvia wants to make sure he’s trained before she brings him around. And get this—apparently, he walks on two legs. Ever heard of a dog like that? Weird animal. For some reason, he’s scared of Nora, Haldis, and Sylvia, but he’s totally attached to Tove. Sylvia keeps going on about how much this scruffy little thing loves her.

(Vieregg’s gears are turning, and suddenly he starts laughing.)

Edward: What’s so funny?

Vieregg: Think about it. There’s no hound out there that just walks around on two legs. And you’re not going to find wild hounds running loose in the forest, either.

Edward: But wait, didn’t they say all the city shops were sold out of dogs? Someone offered to get a wild one. Maybe they meant a wolf.

Vieregg: Yeah, we’ve got wolves in Norway, but they don’t walk upright. Plus, they’re endangered—people keep a close eye on them.

Edward: So maybe “hound” means something else? Maybe it really was a wolf. I just hope they’re not wrapped up in anything illegal. That could get ugly.

Vieregg: (laughing) You’re missing the point, man! This isn’t about what words mean. Don’t you see what’s really going on here?

Edward: I don’t know, maybe it’s a monkey? We get those winter macaques around here, right?

Vieregg: (cracks up at Edward’s guess) No, no, you’re way off! Sylvia went out into the woods to fetch a hound, right? And she hasn’t brought it to you yet because she needs to train it first—to make it obedient. This “two-legged hound” is a guy. Probably some red-piller, or at least someone raised by one. She caught him and now she wants to teach him some manners. The part where you said they were scared of Nora and Haldis? That was your clue. Hate to say it, but congratulations—you just inherited a red-pilled man. One more mouth to feed at your place!

Edward:..............

Vieregg:...............(snickering)

Edward:................!!!

Edward:...............BULLSHIT!!

Vieregg: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!