Epilogue
"I've solved the code!" cried Mike, as Ellie was busy phoning for the police on her mobile. "We're almost there! We just need to keep out of sight for a few more minutes."
As the train pulled into the next station, the children leapt out of the coach, raced down the platform and into the trees opposite the mill. "Stop them!" came a cry from the train.
Mike and Ellie sprinted towards the largest oak tree and spotted a tree hollow high up in the trunk. "It must be in there!" breathed Ellie, as the sound of sirens were heard in the air.
Several minutes later, Mike and Ellie were back on the ground, clutching an old leather satchel inscribed with the initials AMT and containing the silver bars. Barbara and her henchmen were in handcuffs. "Thanks to you the Turing Treasure has been found and those three will face justice" said the officer in charge to Mike and Ellie. "Humph", shouted Barbara, "I would have got away with it if it hadn't have been for you pesky kids!", as she was led into an awaiting police van.
"You know", said Mike to Ellie, "we've visited six places on this adventure. I can't help feeling that there must be some reason why - something linking all six places - something explaining all this. I wonder what it is?"
Can you find a link? This is just for fun and there are no points for it for the competition. Why not post and discuss your theories on the forum (please do not discuss the answers, or ask for hints, for Chapters 1-6 though). The competition closes at midnight on Friday 13th April, so you've got a few more weeks to try solving the codes that you haven't yet cracked. Remember that every team who successfully solves all 6 chapters will get a certificate. The winners will be announced and the answers released on Monday 16th April 2012 at 4pm.
Background:
Alan Turing's contribution to today's society cannot be underestimated. His work, together with the work of many others at Bletchley Park, significantly shortened the Second World War. His subsequent work on `Turing machines' (theoretical computers that can perform any calculation) paved the way for the digital revolution.
Turing himself was a very interesting character. Although Mike and Ellie's adventure is just a story, there is a real Turing Treasure. In 1940, in the early days of the Second World War, Turing wanted to protect himself financially should the UK fall to the Nazis and the currency be devalued. He bought two silver bars worth £250 (around £10,000 in 2012 prices) and buried them in the countryside around Bletchley Park, writing down clues to their location and then enciphering them. After the war, he returned to dig up the silver, but could never find it. Some people believe the location is under what is now a housing estate in Milton Keynes.
You can read more about the life of Turing in Andrew Hodges' biography Alan Turing: The Enigma (Amazon).
© The University of Manchester 2012–2012, All Rights Reserved
Contact us | Privacy notice