The Amazing Juggling Troupe Of Duckkon Undrum V

by Dan Katz
Answer: VIRTUOSO

The Duck Konundrum requires following the directions precisely. Below is a step by step breakdown of when and where objects move. Within each parsec, the Juggler actions happen first, followed by the landing actions. (Note that "throws toward" means the object leaves the juggler's hand, but it does not move to the indicated hand until it lands 2.5 parsecs later.)

At the end of the Apocalypse, repeating the end-of-routine algorithm gives the word VIRTUOSO, which is the answer to the puzzle, and also describes how skillful the finale would have been if everyone wasn't eaten, asphyxiated or paralyzed.

---

ROUTINE 1 - HACK 'N SLASH 'N THROW

0:01

• J3: Sasha picks up Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to S2.
• J5: Oscar picks up Fire Amulet to O4.

0:02

• J2: Amelia picks up Duck to A1.
• J3: Sasha shifts Crossbow to S3, throws Crossbow toward T3.
• J5: Oscar shifts Fire Amulet to O3, throws Fire Amulet toward A2.

0:03

• J3: Sasha picks up Cthulhu to S2.

0:04

• J2: Amelia shifts Duck to A2.
• J4: Enrique says he wants the Fire Amulet.
• Fire Amulet lands in A2, Duck shifts to A3. Crossbow +1 Against Goslings lands in T3.

0:05

• J1: Teddy shifts Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to T2.

0:06

• J2: Amelia throws Duck toward S3, throws Fire Amulet toward E1.

0:07

• J5: Oscar grabs Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to O2.

0:08

• J5: Oscar shifts Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to O3.
• Duck lands in S3. Fire Amulet lands in E1.

0:09

• J3: Sasha shifts Duck to S4, throws Duck toward E4.
• J5: Oscar throws Crossbow +1 Against Goslings toward T3.

0:10

• J4: Enrique shifts Fire Amulet to E2.

0:11

• J3: Sasha does nothing.
• Crossbow +1 Against Goslings lands in T3. Duck lands in E4.

0:12

• J5: Oscar grabs Fire Amulet to O2, throws Fire Amulet toward E1.

0:13

• No movement.

0:14

• Fire Amulet lands in E1.

0:15

• J4: Enrique shifts Fire Amulet to E2.

END STATE (Highest to Lowest)

• Teddy (1) - empty, empty, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings, empty, empty
• Amelia (2) - empty, empty, empty, empty, empty
• Sasha (3) - empty, Cthulhu, empty, empty, empty
• Enrique (4) - empty, Fire Amulet, empty, Duck, empty
• Oscar (5) - empty, empty, empty, empty, empty

LETTERS AND NUMBERS

• 19: S
• 1 (Crossbow) x 3 = 3: C (Teddy is #1)
• N = 1, Oscar: O (Oscar is #2)
• Fire Amulet: T
• Cthulhu (12): L (Sasha is #3)
• Cthulhu: A
• X = 2, Enrique: N (Enrique is #4)
• 4: D (Amelia is #5)

Result: SCOTLAND

---

ROUTINE 2 - HIGHLAND FLING

0:01

• No movement.

0:02

• J2: Oscar grabs Fire Amulet to O2, throws Fire Amulet toward A1.
• J3: Sasha picks up Haggis to S4.

0:03

• J3: Sasha throws Haggis toward T3.
• J5: Amelia picks up Caber to A1.

0:04

• J1: Teddy throws Crossbow +1 Against Goslings toward A3.
• J2: Oscar picks up Cheeky Wee Monkey to O3.
• J4: Duck flies to S1.
• Fire Amulet lands in A1, Caber shifts to A2.

0:05

• J4: Enrique picks up Giant Clam to E3.
• J5: Amelia throws Caber toward T3.
• Haggis lands in T3.

0:06

• J1: Teddy hands Haggis to A3.
• J3: Sasha hands Duck to E1.
• J5: Amelia picks up Ming Vase to A2.
• Crossbow +1 Against Goslings lands in A3, Haggis shifts to A4.

0:07

• J3: Sasha grabs Fire Amulet to S1.
• J4: Enrique strangles Duck.
• Caber lands in T3.

0:08

• J2: Oscar shifts Cheeky Wee Monkey to O4, hands Cheeky Wee Monkey to E4.
• J3: Sasha shifts Fire Amulet to S4, throws Fire Amulet toward A3.

0:09

• J5: Amelia shifts Haggis to A2, Ming Vase to A4.

0:10

• J1: Teddy shifts Caber to T1.
• Fire Amulet lands in A3, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings shifts to A4, Ming Vase shifts to A5.

0:11

• J5: Amelia shifts Fire Amulet to A1.

END STATE (Highest to Lowest)

• Teddy (1) - Caber, empty, empty, empty, empty
• Amelia (5) - Fire Amulet, Haggis, empty, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings, Ming Vase
• Sasha (3) - empty, Cthulhu, empty, empty, empty
• Enrique (4) - Duck, empty, Giant Clam, Cheeky Wee Monkey, empty
• Oscar (2) - empty, empty, empty, empty, empty

LETTERS AND NUMBERS

• 16: P
• 1 (Caber) x 1 = 1: A (Teddy is #1)
• N = 2, Oscar: S (Oscar is #2)
• Fire Amulet: T
• Giant Clam (18): R (Enrique is #3)
• Cthulhu: A
• X = 2, Amelia: M (Amelia is #4)
• 9: I (Sasha is #5)

Result: PASTRAMI

---

ROUTINE 3 - DELICATOSSIN

0:01

• J3: Enrique picks up Banana Tree to E5.
• J4: Amelia throws Haggis toward E1.
• J5: Sasha grabs Ming Vase to S5, shifts Ming Vase to S4.

0:02

• J1: Duck flies to T3.
• J2: Oscar picks up Flash Gordon Lunchbox to O3.
• J5: Sasha throws Ming Vase toward E5.

0:03

• J1: Teddy picks up Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye to T4.
• J2: Oscar picks up Cheesesteak to O2.
• J3: Enrique picks up French Dip to E1.
• Haggis lands in E1, French Dip shifts to E2.

0:04

• J3: Enrique throws Cheeky Wee Monkey toward A4.
• J4: Amelia throws Crossbow +1 Against Goslings toward O4, throws Fire Amulet toward S1.
• Ming Vase lands in E5, Banana Tree shifts to E4.

0:05

• J2: Oscar throws Flash Gordon Lunchbox toward A3 (repelled by Ming Vase).
• J5: Sasha does nothing.

0:06

• J3: Enrique throws Giant Clam toward T4.
• Crossbow +1 Against Goslings lands in O4. Cheeky Wee Monkey lands in A4. Fire Amulet lands in S1.

0:07

• J5: Sasha throws Fire Amulet toward O1.
• Flash Gordon Lunchbox lands in A3.

0:08

• J1: Teddy throws Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye toward A3 (attracted by Flash Gordon Lunchbox).
• J3: Enrique hands Ming Vase to O5.
• J4: Amelia shifts Flash Gordon Lunchbox to A2.
• Giant Clam lands in T4.

0:09

• J3: Enrique shifts Haggis to E2, French Dip to E3, and Banana Tree to E5.
• Fire Amulet lands in O1.

0:10

• Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye lands in A3.

END STATE (Highest to Lowest)

• Teddy (1) - Caber, empty, Duck, Giant Clam, empty
• Amelia (4) - empty, Flash Gordon Lunchbox, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye, Cheeky Wee Monkey, empty
• Sasha (5) - empty, Cthulhu, empty, empty, empty
• Enrique (3) - empty, Haggis, French Dip, empty, Banana Tree
• Oscar (2) - Fire Amulet, Cheesesteak, empty, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings, Ming Vase

LETTERS AND NUMBERS

• 3: C
• 3 (Banana Tree) x 5 = 15: O (Enrique is #1)
• N = 2, Amelia: M (Amelia is #2)
• Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye: E
• Giant Clam (4): D (Teddy is #3)
• Haggis: I
• X = 4, Oscar: A (Oscar is #4)
• 14: N (Sasha is #5)

Result: COMEDIAN

---

ROUTINE 4 - SLAPSTICK STUFFSLING

0:01

• J3: Teddy picks up Balloon to T5.
• J4: Oscar picks up Chainsaw to O3.
• J5: Sasha picks up Fire Extinguisher to S4.

0:02

• J1: Enrique shifts Haggis to E1, French Dip to E4.
• J3: Teddy throws Balloon toward A4.
• J4: Oscar shifts Chainsaw to O2 and Cheesesteak to O3, hands Chainsaw to T2.

0:03

• J1: Enrique throws French Dip toward A3 (attracted by Flash Gordon Lunchbox).
• J2: Amelia shifts Cheeky Wee Monkey to A5, hands Cheeky Wee Monkey to T5.
• J5: Sasha grabs Haggis to S1.

0:04

• J3: Teddy throws Duck toward E3.
• J4: Oscar throws Fire Amulet toward T1 (repelled by Fire Extinguisher).
• Balloon lands in A4.

0:05

• J1: Enrique picks up Sixteen-Ton Weight to E4, throws Sixteen-Ton Weight toward O5.
• J2: Amelia throws Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye toward O2.
• J5: Sasha picks up Mousetrap to S5.
• French Dip lands in A3.

0:06

• J3: Teddy throws Caber toward E2.
• J4: Oscar shifts Ming Vase to O4, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to O3, and Cheesesteak to O2. Oscar throws Cheesesteak toward A1 (attracted by Flash Gordon Lunchbox), hands Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to E3.
• Fire Amulet lands in T1. Duck lands in E3, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings shifts to E4.

0:07

• J1: Enrique throws Banana Tree toward A5.
• J2: Amelia does nothing.
• J4: Oscar throws Ming Vase toward E5.
• J5: Sasha shifts Mousetrap to S1, Haggis to S5, and Fire Extinguisher to S3.
• Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye lands in O2. Sixteen-Ton Weight lands in O5.

0:08

• J3: Teddy shifts Cheeky Wee Monkey to T3, throws Giant Clam toward E5.
• J5: Sasha grabs Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to S4.
• Cheesesteak lands in A1. Caber lands in E2.

0:09

• J3: Teddy shifts Fire Amulet to T4, Chainsaw to T5.
• Ming Vase lands in E5. Banana Tree lands in A5.

0:10

• J2: Amelia shifts Banana Tree to A3, French Dip to A5. Amelia throws Banana Tree toward O4, shifts French Dip to A3.
• Giant Clam lands in E5, Ming Vase lands in E4.

0:11

• No movement.

0:12

• Banana Tree lands in O4.

END STATE (Highest to Lowest)

• Teddy (3) - empty, empty, Cheeky Wee Monkey, Fire Amulet, Chainsaw
• Amelia (2) - Cheesesteak, Flash Gordon Lunchbox, French Dip, Balloon, empty
• Sasha (5) - Mousetrap, Cthulhu, Fire Extinguisher, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings, Haggis
• Enrique (1) - empty, Caber, Duck, Ming Vase, Giant Clam
• Oscar (4) - empty, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye, empty, Banana Tree, Sixteen-Ton Weight

LETTERS AND NUMBERS

• 3: C
• 2 (Balloon) x 4 = 8: H (Amelia is #1)
• N = 2, Teddy: E (Teddy is #2)
• Banana Tree: E
• Sixteen-Ton Weight (20): T (Oscar is #3)
• Cheeky Wee Monkey: A
• X = 4, Sasha: H (Sasha is #4)
• 19: S (Enrique is #5)

Result: CHEETAHS

---

ROUTINE 5 - THREW ZOO REVUE

0:01

• J1: Amelia shifts Cheesesteak to A5, picks up Mouse to A1.
• J2: Teddy shifts Fire Amulet to T2, grabs Balloon to T4.
• J5: Enrique picks up Gosling to E1.

0:02

• J4: Sasha hands Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to A4.

0:03

• J1: Amelia throws Cheesesteak toward E4.
• J5: Enrique throws Gosling toward E1 (repelled by Crossbow +1 Against Goslings). Enrique shifts Caber to E1.

0:04

• J1: Amelia hands Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to S4.
• J3: Oscar throws Sixteen-Ton Weight toward S5, grabs Giant Clam to O5.
• J4: Sasha throws Mousetrap toward O1, grabs Caber to S1.

0:05

• J1: Amelia picks up Antiduck to A4.
• J2: Teddy throws Cheeky Wee Monkey toward O3 (attracted by Banana Tree).
• J4: Sasha shifts Haggis to S3, Fire Extinguisher to S5. Sasha hands Fire Extinguisher to E5.
• Cheesesteak lands in E4, Ming Vase shifts to E3, Duck shifts to E2. Gosling lands in E1.

0:06

• J2: Alarm goes off!
• J3: Oscar throws Banana Tree toward T5.
• J5: Enrique shifts Gosling to E5, Fire Extinguisher to E4, Cheesesteak to E3, Ming Vase to E2, and Duck to E1.
• Giant Pearl emerges to O1.
• Mousetrap lands in O1, Giant Pearl shifts to O2, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye shifts to O3. Sixteen-Ton Weight lands in S5.

0:07

• J1: Amelia shifts Flash Gordon Lunchbox to A5, grabs Fire Amulet to A2. Amelia throws Antiduck toward T4 (repelled by Duck).
• J4: Sasha throw Crossbow +1 Against Goslings toward A4.
• Cheeky Wee Monkey lands in O3, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye shifts to O4.

0:08

• J2: Teddy grabs Giant Pearl to T2.
• J3: Oscar shifts Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye to E3, Cheeky Wee Monkey to E4. Oscar hands Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye to T3, throws Cheeky Wee Monkey toward E4.
• J5: Enrique throws Duck toward S1.
• Banana Tree lands in T5, Chainsaw shifts to T4, Balloon shifts to T3, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye shifts to T2, Giant Pearl shifts to T1.

0:09

• J2: Teddy hands Chainsaw to O4.
• J3: Oscar picks up Seventeen-Ton Elephant to O3, throws Seventeen-Ton Elephant toward E4 (repelled by Mouse).
• J4: Sasha throws Haggis toward O2.
• Antiduck lands in T4. Crossbow +1 Against Goslings lands in A4.

0:10

• J4: Sasha shifts Caber to S4.
• Duck lands in S1. Cheeky Wee Monkey lands in E4, Fire Extinguisher shifts to E3, Cheesesteak shifts to E2, Ming Vase shifts to E1.

0:11

• J3: Oscar throws Mousetrap toward E1.
• J5: Enrique throws Ming Vase toward O2.
• Seventeen-Ton Elephant lands in E4, Cheeky Wee Monkey shifts to E3, Fire Extinguisher shifts to E2, Cheesesteak shifts to E1. Haggis lands in O2.

0:12

• J3: Oscar throws Chainsaw toward S4.
• J5: Enrique shifts Seventeen-Ton Elephant to E3, Cheeky Wee Monkey to E4. Enrique hands Seventeen-Ton Elephant to O3.

0:13

• J2: Teddy throws Giant Pearl toward O2.
• Mousetrap lands in E1, Cheesesteak shifts to E2, Fire Extinguisher shifts to E3. Ming Vase lands in O2, Haggis shifts to O3, Seventeen-Ton Elephant shifts to O4.

0:14

• Chainsaw lands in S4, Caber shifts to S3.

0:15

• J1: Amelia shifts Flash Gordon Lunchbox to A3, French Dip to A4, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings to A5.
• J2: Teddy shifts Balloon to T2, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye to T3.
• J3: Oscar shifts Seventeen-Ton Elephant to O5, Giant Clam to O4.
• J4: Sasha shifts Duck to S3, Caber to S1, Duck to S5, Sixteen-Ton Weight to S3.
• J5: Enrique shifts Mousetrap to E2, Cheesesteak to E1, Fire Extinguisher to E4, Cheeky Wee Monkey to E3.
• Giant Pearl lands in O2, Ming Vase shifts to O1.

0:16

• J3: Oscar shifts Ming Vase to O2, Giant Pearl to O1.

END STATE (Highest to Lowest)

• Teddy (2) - empty, Balloon, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye, Antiduck, Banana Tree
• Amelia (1) - Mouse, Fire Amulet, Flash Gordon Lunchbox, French Dip, Crossbow +1 Against Goslings
• Sasha (4) - Caber, Cthulhu, Sixteen-Ton Weight, Chainsaw, Duck
• Enrique (5) - Cheesesteak, Mousetrap, Cheeky Wee Monkey, Fire Extinguisher, Gosling
• Oscar (3) - Giant Pearl, Ming Vase, Haggis, Giant Clam, Seventeen-Ton Elephant

LETTERS AND NUMBERS

• 20: T
• 2 (Antiduck) x 4 = 8: H (Teddy is #1)
• N = 3, Amelia: E (Amelia is #2)
• Giant Pearl: L
• Seventeen-Ton Elephant (15): O (Oscar is #3)
• Giant Pearl: R
• X = 5, Sasha: A (Sasha is #4)
• 24: X (Enrique is #5)

Result: THE LORAX

---

ROUTINE 6 - SEUSSACULAR SPECTACULAR

0:01

• J1: Teddy picks up Thing 1 to T1.
• J2: Amelia throws Flash Gordon Lunchbox toward S3 (repelled by Ming Vase).
• J4: Sasha throws Duck toward E5 (repelled by Antiduck).
• J5: Enrique throws Mousetrap toward T1.

0:02

• J1: Teddy throws Banana Tree toward S5.
• J3: Oscar throws Giant Pearl toward A2.
• J4: Sasha hands Sixteen-Ton Weight to A3, picks up Thing 2 to S3.

0:03

• J1: Teddy hands Thing 1 to O1.
• J2: Amelia throws Fire Amulet toward A1 (repelled by Fire Extinguisher).
• J3: Oscar hands Seventeen-Ton Elephant to T5, throws Giant Clam toward S5.
• Mousetrap lands in T1. Flash Gordon Lunchbox lands in T3, Thing 2 shifts to T4, Chainsaw shifts to T5. Duck lands in E5, Gosling shifts to E4, Fire Extinguisher shifts to E3, Cheeky Wee Monkey shifts to E2.

0:04

• J3: Oscar throws Ming Vase toward T3. Oscar grabs Balloon to O2, Antiduck to O4.
• J4: Sasha throws Chainsaw toward T5.
• J5: Enrique throws Gosling toward O4 (repelled by Crossbow +1 Against Goslings).
• Giant Pearl lands in A2. Banana Tree lands in S5.

0:05

• J2: Amelia hands Giant Pearl to T2.
• J4: Sasha shifts Caber to S5, Banana Tree to S1, Flash Gordon Lunchbox to S4, and Thing 2 to S3. Sasha hands Flash Gordon Lunchbox to E4.
• Fire Amulet lands in A1, Mouse shifts to A2. Giant Clam lands in S5, Caber shifts to S4.

0:06

• J1: Teddy throws Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye toward E2 (attracted by Flash Gordon Lunchbox).
• J5: Enrique throws Fire Extinguisher toward T3.
• Chainsaw lands in T5, Seventeen-Ton Elephant shifts to T4. Ming Vase lands in T3. Gosling lands in O4, Antiduck shifts to O5.

0:07

• J3: Oscar shifts Thing 1 to O2, Balloon to O1.
• J4: Sasha throws Giant Clam toward O5.
• J5: Enrique shifts Cheeky Wee Monkey to E3, throws Cheeky Wee Monkey toward S3.

0:08

• J1: Teddy throws Giant Pearl toward S3.
• J3: Oscar throws Gosling toward T4.
• J4: Sasha hands Thing 2 to E3.
• Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye lands in E2. Fire Extinguisher lands in T3, Ming Vase shifts to T2.

0:09

• J1: Teddy throws Seventeen-Ton Elephant toward E5 (Attracted by Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye and Repelled by Mouse).
• Giant Clam lands in O5, Antiduck shifts to O4. Cheeky Wee Monkey lands in S3.

0:10

• J3: Oscar touches the Antiduck to the Duck.
• Giant Pearl lands in S3, Cheeky Wee Monkey shifts to S4, Caber shifts to S5. Gosling lands in T4.

0:11

• Seventeen-Ton Elephant is frozen in midair. Amelia and her objects disappear. Scream causes Giant Pearl to disappear. Slightly-Smaller-Than-Giant Pearl emerges to S1, Banana Tree shifts to S2, and Cthulhu shifts to S3, triggering The Apocalypse.

---

THE APOCALYPSE

• Cthulhu leaves play.
• Cthulhu moves Thing 2 to S3, Seventeen-Ton-Elephant to E3.
• Cthulhu approaches Enrique. He moves Cheesesteak to E3, Seventeen-Ton Elephant to E1, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye to E5, Duck to E2.
• Cthulhu approaches Sasha, moves Banana Tree to S1, Thing 2 to S2, Cheeky Wee Monkey to S3, Slightly-Smaller-Than-Giant Pearl to S4. He moves Caber to S3, Cheeky Wee Monkey to S5.
• Cthulhu approaches Oscar. He moves Giant Clam to O2, Thing 1 to O5, Antiduck to O3, Haggis to O4.
• Cthulhu approaches Teddy. He eats him. (Cthulhu eats Teddy, not the other way around.)

END STATE (Highest to Lowest)

• Teddy (1) - EATEN BY CTHULHU
• Amelia (2) - ASPHYXIATED
• Sasha (4) - Banana Tree, Thing 2, Caber, Slightly-Smaller-Than-Giant Pearl, Cheeky Wee Monkey
• Enrique (5) - Seventeen-Ton Elephant, Duck, Cheesesteak, Flash Gordon Lunchbox, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rye
• Oscar (3) - Balloon, Giant Clam, Antiduck, Haggis, Thing 1

FINAL LETTERS

• 22: V
• 3 (Antiduck) x 3 = 9: I
• N = 3, Enrique: R
• Seventeen-Ton Elephant: T
• Seventeen-Ton Elephant (21): U
• Balloon: O
• X = 3, Sasha: S
• 15: O

Puzzle Answer: VIRTUOSO