The Case of the Stolen Keepsake
Chapter 6
by Stacey (SST205 at aol.com)
7/10/02
....and here's the next part of the next story. Sorry they both were short,
but I'm not 100% coherent these days. :p
"'The Mayans of Guatemala and the surrounding regions had
one of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient world. Their
cities flourished across Central America, complete with remarkable
pyramids, temples, observatories and libraries, and their scholars
produced works of literature, philosophy, art and architecture.
Particularly skilled in mathematics and astronomy, Mayan scientists
developed a calendar more precise than that used by NASA even today.
"'With the invasion of the Spanish Conquistadors in the early
1500s, the world of the Mayans--'"
"Aw, Data, must you?" Clark groaned, rolling his eyes
toward the ceiling of the private shuttle.
Holmes raised an eyebrow. "You have an aversion to knowledge,
Mister Devereaux?"
Clark shook his head. "No, sir, but you haven't had to listen
to Data--to Rick rattle on like this for fifteen years."
Holmes grinned. "Perhaps not. I have, however a fondness for
gathering new information when I need it, and I rather enjoy seeing
young people strive to attain it as well."
"So, Mister Holmes, what was it you learned about the gem?"
Andrea asked.
Holmes, Watson, and the visiting Oregonians were taking a
private shuttle to Guatemala. Holmes had announced they would be
at breakfast....
"Guatemala??" nearly everyone had cried except Larry, who
had had a fourth of a jam-covered biscuit in his mouth.
"Yes." Mr. Holmes had answered much more calmly. "Last night
I was awake thinking, so much so that I finally arose and went to the
computer to do a more extensive search on your "One-Eyed-Willy" and
his plunderings...."
"I found that 'Willy' had once had the audacity to steal from
a Mayan temple --I say 'audacity', not because the stone statues the
Mayans called gods really were so, but because such temples were
often laden with numerous deadly booby traps."
Clark snickered and glanced at Michael, who rolled his eyes,
stuck his tongue out at him and mouthed, 'That's what I said'.
Turning to Holmes he said aloud, "So, then, that's where the
jewel came from?"
"A jewel of the same type and dimension was stolen from the
temple, yes." Holmes answered, seeming to not have noticed the
men's exchange. "It was placed in the area which would have been
the 'heart' of one of the idols within the temple."
Rick, who had had his ears tuned to Mister Holmes, and his
eyes still on the papers the detective had let him read, again read
aloud:
"'The most common sacrifice was the Heart Sacrifice. The
priest would stab the victim and take out his beating heart. Other
high priests would pass the heart to each other and smear blood all
over their bodies...."
Stephanie shuddered, and now it was her turn to stick out her
tongue. "Eww...Rick, that's disgusting."
Rick made a face himself. "I didn't write it."
Saying a quick prayer of thanks that the true God didn't
require such things, Brandon fixed his attention on Mister Holmes.
"So, then, why is it that you think Moriarty wants to take the gem
back there, sir?"
Mikey shook his head. "Hold it--Moriarty??"
Holmes grinned. "Yes, Mr. Walsh. Your brother was awake
first, and soon after he woke, one of my liaisons from New Scotland
Yard came to tell me about the young hoodlums that mugged you. She
said that they told her a man matching Moriarty's description came
and offered to purchase the gem from them -- or take it by force. I
am not positive what Moriarty wants with it, but it must be far more
than a 'pretty rock', as your brother put it, if he does."
On to Chapter 7!
Back to chapter 5
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