285

The White Hour is 285 pages long. At first it seemed like all I had was three and five--thirds and fifths--to work with. Then three and five led me to 15; 15 to 19 and 285. 19 is one fifteenth; 15, one nineteenth; 57, one fifth; 95, one third. I could measure my progress through the pages in any number of ways: On page 93 I would be 27 ninety-fifths--a thick, brutish fraction (four numerals and still nowhere near whole)--through the book, yet two pages later be a clean, combed one third on my way. I can never be halfway through the book, but at page 150 I can be 10 nineteenths; at 152, eight fifteenths; at 145, 29 fifty-sevenths; and at 141, 47 ninety-fiths. A number of many faces and strong, independent character, 285 has chosen compatriots of distinction.