The scene
Pocket Editions · Cover proofsA novel’s cover was printed with a slogan its author had rejected. The copy came back with some ink rubbed off: the words can no longer be read, but their gaps remain.
Three proofreaders each had a different phrase. The system only allowed them to select their assigned phrase without editing it. The layout preserves exactly the number of words in the slogan used.
What we know for certain
One of these people submitted their own cover proof. Nobody modified the phrases, exchanged access or added words. Each block separated by spaces counts as one word; punctuation adds none. The phrases contain no hyphens.
The three accounts
Mireia Sol
Proofreader«My phrase was about a door.»
Nil Costa
Editor«Mine mentioned a garden.»
Ona Vives
Designer«My proposal ended with a window.»
Examine the evidence
0 of 5 openedOpening these five clues does not cost points.
01The preserved gaps
The cover contains five word blocks separated by four spaces. No space is cut off at the edge and no block is split.
02Mireia’s proof
Her complete slogan was: ‘One door leads to another’.
03Nil’s proof
His complete slogan was: ‘The garden holds many ancient secrets’.
04Ona’s proof
Her complete slogan was: ‘Everything begins right beside the open window’.
05Automatic printing
The program prints each proof’s entire phrase and preserves its spaces exactly. It does not remove words to adjust the font size.