Deafening Silence by Foxymoron

"Sometimes the sound of silence is the most deafening sound of all.” - K L Toth, author of A Test of Faith. 

The expression Deafening Silence goes back a long way, and is, like foxymoron, an oxymoron. The Deafening Silence papyrus, illustrated above, can be found on Alexandria's northern island, inside a building that is called Iseion. Its modern meaning is that it is a striking absence of noise, so profound as to have its own quality. An example was on this hand from this week's Woodberry Pairs:

Winnie, East, opened a 12-14 no-trump and Stefanie, West, transferred to hearts. North doubled and East broke the transfer with 3H, showing four. Now West made a slam try with 4C and the "deafening silence" of East's failure to cue 4D should have been music to her ears. 

The expression "music to one's ears" can certainly be found in Comedy of Errors (1616) and perhaps earlier. West can be sure that East does not have the ace of diamonds, and can confidently bid RKCB and then bid the slam when East shows two key cards and no queen of hearts, with a 5H response. Even a grand opposite AKxx KQxx xxx xx was not out of the question. Both the double of 2D and the lack of a diamond cue should have pointed West in the right direction.  Still 4H+3 was worth 45%, so the field are struggling with the hand too.

Sad to report, Winnie Godber, East on this hand, passed away on 28th August, peacefully in hospital. She was a member of the club for 34 years and a previous Chairperson. Funeral arrangements will be on here and the woodberry.info site when available.