This puzzle is dedicated to MsRobyn, an awesome Secret Santa!
Warning: Complex directions ahead!
I hope there is time during this busy shopping season for folks to take a break and try a new kind of puzzle. The “Alternative Cryptogram” below does not work much like a regular cryptogram. Instead:
-
A code letter may represent either of two letters. It may stand for another letter (as in a traditional cryptogram), or it may stand for itself. Example: If code letter “A” is a substitute for text letter “R”, then it may stand for either “R” or “A” throughout the puzzle.
-
A letter from the original text may not necessarily be replaced by the same code letter every time it occurs. For example, text letter “A” might be represented by, say, code letter “M” the first time it occurs in the puzzle, code letter “R” the second time it occurs, and code letter “Z” the third time it occurs. The code letters will always substitute for their particular text letters in an alphabetical repetitive loop. In our example “A” would once again be represented by “M” the fourth time it occurs, by “R” again the fifth time it occurs and then the next time with “Z”. This pattern would continue.
-
Think of A =1, B=2, C=3 … Z=26. Once you determine the text letter that code letter “A” represents (other than “A”), place that letter on the first of the 26 dashes below the puzzle. Put code letter B’s alternative on the second dash. Continue in this manner through “Z”. If a code letter only represents itself in the puzzle, then place that letter on the appropriate dash. The source of the quote will then be revealed.
Can you decipher the text and quote source?
++++++++++++++++++
ID KYXF CUNABUW HIBBOJM! UD RYXQ CINEBUW DYGV! UN KYXF CIWLOUD PYRKYGQZ, BBXFM OT BYGV! YJD SQ PUZZPFD NAHQF EBUTZ WUPP LIM PUZZPQH CYV ZOTF. DSQJ NAF GHUJKE WLBUGSD OF MBXQNAIJG EF LYDJ’W BQFOTF. XYYBQ RSHUVDXYZ, AF NEBUGLW, DOQMJ’D KBXF FTOX Y VNBHQ. XYYBF RSTIZWXYM … PQHAYPV … XFYJZ Y PUDNPQ BIW XOTF.
**- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - **