Solution (source code)

= Solution

The empty representation is nowhere present; prepending shifts all old positions by one:
``
nil' :: List a
nil' = List (\_ -> Nothing)

cons' :: a -> List a -> List a
cons' x (List f) = List query
  where
    query i
      | i < 0     = Nothing
      | i == 0    = Just x
      | otherwise = f (i-1)
``
For a represented length $m$, `cons'` represents length $m+1$, provided that length is representable. Index zero is the new head and each later valid index asks for the preceding old position. The no-holes <invariant> is preserved. No conventional <list> is built by either constructor.