Chapter III -- The Next Day
The Rice & The Chessboard
The boardroom is full. Alena stands at the head of the table, an antique chessboard placed before the group. She reaches into her pocket and produces a single grain of rice.
"Before I share my proposition, I want us to play a game. This game will change how you think about the numbers I'm about to present."
She places the grain on the first square of the chessboard.
The Demonstration
One grain -- 7mm long, 2mm wide, 1.5mm tall. Then two on the second square. Four on the third. Each time, doubling.
By the time you reach square 64, the result defies all human intuition.