Chapter 8

"Then we learn it right now." She pulls out a textbook. They have twelve hours to fill the gaps in Elijah's knowledge—twelve hours to prepare him for questions from people who have spent lifetimes studying mathematics.8:30 p.m. Video call on a borrowed laptop.Dr. Brooks from Harvard appears on screen. Behind him, shelves full of mathematics texts. His office at midnight looks the same as most people's offices at noon; he does not sleep much."Elijah, they're going to test whether you understand or whether you memorized. Know the difference." For the next hour, Brooks runs Socratic questioning, not giving answers, forcing Elijah to find them himself. It is brutal; it is necessary. "Explain the periodicity constraint in three different ways."Elijah stumbles on the second explanation, recovers, finds his footing. By the third explanation, his voice is steady."Good," Brooks says. "That's how you know you understand something—when you can teach it differently each time."9:00 p.m. Elijah's kitchen table.His grandmother sets down a plate: macaroni and cheese, his favorite, made the way she has made it since he was old enough to sit in a high chair."Baby, why are you doing this? You already showed them you're smart."Elijah pushes the food around his plate. He is not hungry; his stomach has been in knots since this afternoon. "Because Dr. Whitfield said I don't belong there, Grandma. And if I don't finish this, he'll always be right."She reaches across the table, takes his hand. Her fingers are rough from years of sorting mail, lifting packages, working jobs that destroyed her back so her grandson could have a chance at something better."Then let's make sure he's wrong." She kisses his forehead, goes to make coffee. It is going to be a long night for both of them.9:45 p.m. The phone rings.Unknown number. Elijah almost does not answer, but something makes him pick up."Is this Elijah Brooks?" A woman's voice, nervous, speaking quietly like she does not want to be overheard."Yes.""My name is Dr. Rachel Kim. I'm a postdoc at Whitfield's lab at MIT. I just want to say what you did today was incredible."Elijah waits. There is more coming; he can hear it in her voice."Lawrence—Dr. Whitfield—he's been making calls all evening trying to find errors in your proof: calling in favors, contacting people in Europe and Asia."

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