"The knots make the numbers," said Xat-Cerxis. "It is something like an abacus. An abacus has beads to represent numbers. But we do not have beads. We have knots in different patterns. The largest and most beautiful knots are larger numbers. I can use the knots to count sets. Five and five and five and five is "5 times 4". One and one and one and one is "1 times 4". See?" Xat-Cerxis explained. "In my tribe of the Xat, we do not have 'electricity'. We do not have many machines for servants. We do what we can with what we have- what is simple. Teacher has said we live with nature but I do not see it that way. We are one of nature. We do not understand the ways of other men. But there are many ideas... many words and songs. So many it is difficult to know which ones to learn. There are bad teachers, and good teachers in this world."