Professor Bachusrand wrote, “=42” on the wall. He stopped and looked at what he had written. Then he rappelled down the inside wall of the tall tower, where he had been working on his equation. When he reached the bottom, the old lizard celebrated by running around in circles, jumping up and down, and singing.

“The answer is 42 . . . the answer is 42. Whoo-Hoo the answer is 42,” sang Professor Bachusrand.

Students and faculty peeked around the corner to discern the cause of the jubilation, not normally found in the lair of the focused mathematician.

“The answer is 42 . . . the answer is 42. Oh glory . . . the answer is 42,” sang the mathematician.

“What was the question?” asked a student.

The old lizard stopped. His scaly brow furrowed in thought.

“I forgot, but I know my friend Douglas will be thrilled to know that the answer is 42,” said the old lizard.