by Gaznazdiak » 10 Aug 2017, 11:43 am
A young man is hiking alone in a bleak mountain range when he becomes disoriented in a storm and finds himself hopelessly lost.
Night falls, the storm turns to a blizzard and the man fears he'll frreeze to death. Weak and cold he staggers into a clearing and sees a light ahead.
The man has just enough energy to stagger to the door of a large stone building that looms out of the swirling snow.
After banging for some time, he is finally let in by a tonsured monk.
After a soak in a hot bath and a meal, the man is feeling much better. The monk looking after him tells him he has arrived on their entertainment night and invites the man to join them in the great hall of the monastary.
Once in the hall the man is seated with the others and the Abbott takes the stage to get proceedings underway.
"Who will be first?" asks the Abbott.
Dozens of monks put up their hands, the Abbott points to one, the monk stands, clears his throat and says "21".
The man is bemused by the laughter in response to this.
One after the other monks are chosen, stand and say a number and the audience would laugh.
Thinking he must have wandered into an asylum, he politely asks his guide what is going on.
"It's joke night" replied the monk, "but we only know a few and we've heard them so many times that we numbered them. Someone says the number, we remember the joke, see?"
Wanting to fit in after the kindness show him, the man asks if he can have a turn.
Given permission, the man stands and after consideration, says "164".
Riotous hilarity ensues with monks falling about laughing helplessly.
Wondering at the result, the man finally calms his companion enough to ask what was so funny.
At last catching his breath, the monk replied, "We haven't heard that one before".
fideles usque ad mortem