Amanda Lester and the Purple Rainbow Puzzle Page 18

  “He is,” said Fern. “Archaeology. But he has to do research too. Sometimes we get to go.”

  “Did you go on that peat bog mummy dig?” said Amanda.

  “What peat bog mummy dig?” said Simon, looking up from his experiments.

  “Oh, my dad found a peat bog mummy on an island off Scotland,” said Ivy nonchalantly. She seemed to know exactly what Simon would think of her family’s adventures and was looking forward to teasing him.

  “And you got to go?” said Simon. He seemed disappointed that he hadn’t been invited.

  “No, missed that one. But I did go on one where we found some Roman coins.”

  “You’re kidding,” said Simon, losing all interest in the sarcophagus cover. He walked around to where Ivy and Fern were standing and looked down on the two shorties. Amanda thought that if he was trying to intimidate them into giving up secrets he had another think coming. “Any pictures?”

  “Not on my phone,” said Ivy. “And no, we’re not kidding, are we, Fern?”

  “No,” said Fern. “The coins were amazing. Of course we had to give them to the British Museum. I have some photos back in my room.”

  “I want to go next time,” said Simon. “And can I see them?”

  “It might be during school,” said Ivy.

  “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” said Simon. “Do you think your dad would mind?”

  “Not if you’re responsible and serious,” said Ivy.

  “Am I ever anything else?” said Simon. Ivy coughed. “What? I’m the picture of gravity.”

  Ivy, Fern, and Amanda burst out laughing. “No one has ever photographed gravity,” said Fern.

  “Very droll,” said Simon. “So what do you say, Fern? Can I see the pictures?”

  “If you behave yourself,” Fern said with a twinkle in her eye.

  “Say,” said Ivy, “speaking of gravity, do you think the hacker could affect that?”

  “Gravity?” said Simon. “You’re talking about fundamental laws of the universe. That’s impossible.”

  “I hope so,” said Fern. “Can you imagine?”

  Amanda was getting antsy. She wanted to see what was down there and she was actually worried about Jeffrey. She already didn’t like the guy, but wherever he was Despina and Hill were likely to be with him, and although they were undoubtedly fine, something was nagging at her. Not that she believed in zombies. But she did sense danger and she needed to find out what was happening.

  “I’ll go first,” she said, after she’d sent off a text. “Fern, how do you feel about taking up the rear?”

  “Happy to,” said Fern.

  Amanda climbed through the opening, dangled her legs, and carefully placed her feet on the top step. She shined her light down the stairs. She couldn’t see the bottom. Whatever was down there was way underground.

  “This might be a little tricky,” said Ivy, attempting to get herself and Nigel through the opening and onto the stairs.

  “Hang onto me,” said Simon, maneuvering her carefully.

  Amanda looked up at them. Ivy was tentatively placing her foot on the top step while Simon held her. Most of Nigel, and Fern’s nose, could be seen above them.

  “Got it?” said Fern.

  “Yes,” said Ivy. “Come on, Nigel.”

  Wagging his tail, Nigel jumped into the sarcophagus. Ivy grabbed his lead with the non-Simon hand, then stepped down one more stair.

  “Here I come,” said Fern. “Ouch.”

  “What?” said Ivy.

  “I banged my knee.”

  “Well, watch it,” said Ivy. “If you hurt yourself it will be very difficult to get you out of here.”

  “You should talk,” said Fern.

  “I think you should fine Fern 20p, Amanda,” said Simon.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Simon,” said Amanda. “Would you give it a rest?” She stepped down gingerly. The stairs were slippery. One mistake and she could die. She was starting to worry about Ivy.

  “Everybody ready?” said Fern.

  “Ready,” said the others together.

  “Can you see anything, Amanda?” said Fern.

  “Only stairs,” said Amanda. “This is kind of like when—” She stopped herself. She was going to say, “when Nick and I found the secret room at Legatum.” The last thing she wanted to do was think about him, though, and both Simon and Ivy knew it.

  “Like what?” said Fern.

  “Nothing,” said Amanda. “It isn’t like anything.”

  It seemed to take forever for the group to reach the bottom. The stairs were so steep that you had to be incredibly careful. The only one who didn’t seem bothered was Nigel, who scampered down quickly, allowing Simon to look after Ivy. Amanda didn’t see how Nigel could have guided Ivy down the steps anyway. They weren’t deep enough for him to stand on comfortably.

  Ahead of them lay a narrow stone tunnel that resembled the ones under Legatum. This one was rougher, though, and there was graffiti on the walls.

  “That’s terrible,” said Amanda, eyeing the desecration. “Who would do such a thing?”

  “Idiots,” said Simon. “What does that say?”

  “It’s hard to read,” said Fern. “It looks like it says ‘wretch society.’”

  “Wretch society?” said Amanda. “What does that mean? You’re sure it isn’t wrench society?”

  “Beats me,” said Simon.

  “I’m pretty sure it’s wretch,” said Fern.

  “Hm, not sure I can get a signal down here,” said Amanda. “I’ll see if I can search.” She thumbed her phone, which made the light move all over the tunnel like some kind of strobe. She remembered a school dance she’d been to once where there had been a light like that. Of course no one had asked her to dance back in her one-man-band days. Legatum didn’t have dances. Too frivolous, she supposed. Probably a good thing considering the state of her love life. “Nope, no wretch or wrench society.”

  “Let’s keep going,” said Simon. The group started to move again, slowly. “Anyone hear anything?” Everyone said no. “Got your listening devices?”

  “Forgot it,” said Amanda.

  “What listening devices?” said Fern.

  “I think we’re going to have to write you a first-years primer or something,” said Ivy. She explained how Simon had made them some simple hearing aids that magnified distant voices.

  “You eavesdrop on people?” said Fern, aghast.

  “Have to,” said Simon. “Times are desperate.”

  Fern sighed. “I suppose they are. It’s just so uncivilized.”

  “I hate to break this to you,” said Simon, “but being a detective involves a lot of things that are uncivilized.”

  Everyone stopped. They all knew it was true, but the way Simon had said it was so blunt that it seemed to hit them in the gut.

  “Wait. What was that?” Amanda thought she’d heard something and shined her light down the tunnel again.

  “I didn’t hear anything,” said Simon.

  “No, there was definitely something,” said Ivy.

  “Do you think it was Jeffrey?” said Fern, lowering her voice.

  “I don’t know,” said Amanda. “I’m getting the creeps, though. There’s something weird about this place.”

  “There’s a draft,” said Ivy.

  Amanda held still and tried to sense the air. Ivy was right. It was moving. “Yes, that could be it. Where is it coming from, though? We’re too far from the sarcophagus, and that’s sheltered anyway.”

  “There must be an opening close by,” said Simon.

  Suddenly Amanda saw a tiny flash of light up ahead. “What was that?”

  “You mean that light?” said Simon.

  “I saw it too,” said Fern.

  “It looked like something glinting,” said Amanda. “Let’s see if we can find it.”

  The group crept along the tunnel slowly. The light came and went as they moved position. Sometimes it was as bright as looking i
nto the sun and at other times it winked out completely.

  “It might be Jeffrey,” said Amanda. “Maybe Despina and Hill went on ahead and he caught up with them. Look—there are footprints.” The tunnel floor was rocky, uneven, and dusty, but a few partial prints were just visible. “That looks like a boot. It could be him. Maybe we can track him.”

  Simon peered down at the prints. “They do look fresh,” he said. “Oh, look at that. Metal.” He made his way toward the shining thing he’d seen, then bent down to inspect it. “There’s a crack in the ceiling. The sun was reflecting off this.”

  “Let’s see what it is,” said Amanda, joining him. “Say, that’s a gold coin.” She reached out to pick it up.

  “Better use gloves,” Simon said.

  “You don’t think—”

  “Better to be safe.”

  “I guess you’re right.” She reached in her bag and retrieved her gloves. They felt a bit tight. Cool air always made them shrink.

  “What, you think there might have been a crime committed here?” said Ivy. “Why?”

  “No reason,” said Simon. “Just being careful.”

  “Does it say anything?” said Fern.

  “I think so,” said Amanda, putting her gloves on. She picked up the coin and looked at it carefully. “I can’t make it out though.”

  “Let me see,” said Simon, leaning over Amanda’s hand.

  “Don’t touch it,” said Amanda.

  “I’m not,” he said. “Nope. I can’t tell what it is either. Maybe if we make a rubbing or take a picture and blow it up.”

  “We can do that when we get back,” said Amanda.

  “No, I see what it says,” said Fern. “It isn’t letters. It’s a picture.”

  “What?” said everyone.

  “A leprechaun.”

  20

  In the Tunnels

  The sun was no longer shining on the leprechaun coin. The crack in the tunnel ceiling was so narrow that the light could penetrate for a mere instant each day, if the sun was even visible. The moment had passed.

  “Why would someone bring a toy coin down here?” said Fern. “It isn’t a chocolate one, is it?” She took Amanda’s hand and peered at the discovery in her palm.

  “No,” said Amanda. If anyone knew chocolate coins, she did. She’d once been a chocoholic. This wasn’t one. She could feel the metal. “It’s real.” She took out an evidence bag and dropped it in.

  “But it isn’t real gold?” said Fern.

  “Looks like it,” said Simon. “We’ll test it.”

  “Do you think we’re making too much of all this?” said Ivy. “The whole thing could just be a big party—people dressed up as zombies, having one on over the locals.” She had a point. Maybe they were making a big deal out of nothing.

  “It could,” said Amanda, labeling the bag. “If that’s the case we’ll feel stupid.”

  “Or it could be a huge conspiracy,” said Simon, teasing. “Maybe the government has been covering it all up for years.”

  “If you want to go back, Simon, you can wait at the car, or hitchhike,” said Amanda, putting the evidence bag in her pocket. She was afraid that if she stowed it in her pack, her skateboard would bump against it and damage it.

  “You guys are so melodramatic,” said Simon. “The zombies probably aren’t even a thing.”

  “Maybe not,” said Amanda, “but I want to know what Jeffrey Lestrade is doing here when he’s supposed to be looking for the Moriartys in London.”

  “Fair enough,” said Simon.

  “How far do you suppose the tunnel goes?” said Ivy, listening in various directions.

  “Probably not far,” said Fern. “Although it’s obviously old. I’d venture a guess that the same people who made the stone circle dug it.”

  “That old?” said Amanda, inspecting the walls. The tunnel didn’t look fresh, that was for sure. Beyond that she had no idea how to gauge its age. “What are we talking—Iron Age?”

  “Yes,” said Ivy. “Definitely Neolithic.”

  “Wow,” said Amanda. “They were amazing engineers.” She’d always thought of cavemen as little more advanced than animals. Not that she’d actually bothered to research them.

  “A lot of people don’t realize how sophisticated ancient people were,” said Ivy. “They could be extremely shrewd.”

  “Not shrewd enough to make leprechaun coins,” said Amanda. That she was sure they couldn’t do.

  “Definitely not,” said Ivy, grinning.

  “You know,” said Amanda. “You could make another trove of secrets down here. Hey, you don’t suppose the monks did that, do you? Maybe we’ll find something.”

  “What monks?” said Simon.

  “The ones who built that church.”

  “What makes you think monks built it?” said Simon.

  Uh oh. He was about to deliver a lecture. She could just feel it. “Isn’t England full of monks?” He gave her a look. “What do I know? I’m American. Who then?”

  “The local lords. Thegns. They built parish churches like this one. One way of becoming a thegn was to erect a church, especially one with a tower. Build a church, be a big shot.”

  “So if I were to build a church around here, I’d get a title?” said Amanda.

  “That’s not how it works, Lady Lester,” said Simon.

  “I’m not interested in that stuff anyway,” said Amanda. “I don’t like politics.” Especially since her dad had lost the election for District Attorney of Los Angeles. It had been an ugly campaign and it had changed him. “But I’m sure that whoever built the church had to know about the tunnel.” She still liked the idea of monks. They were so much more mysterious than thegns. “So it’s probably used for religious purposes.”

  “At one time it might have been a bomb shelter,” said Simon. “It’s possible that the sarcophagus was adapted during the Second World War and you couldn’t enter from there before then. Did you know that many children were sent to the countryside for safety? Operation Pied Piper evacuated millions of people.”

  “So the Germans didn’t bomb the countryside?” said Amanda. She didn’t know much about military strategy. Okay, she didn’t know anything about it.

  “A bit early on, but not later. Some people built Anderson shelters, which in many cases were nothing more than fortified garden sheds. Some of them were slightly underground, but nothing like this. This tunnel would have been highly coveted because secure locations were scarce and everyone had to make do.”

  “Is there anything you don’t know, Simon?” said Amanda.

  “Not really.”

  “Ha,” said Ivy. “We’ll see about that.”

  The girls giggled.

  “Yes, you will,” said Simon, completely seriously.

  When the group had continued down the tunnel a ways, Amanda, who was in front, stopped abruptly.

  “Uh oh,” she said. “Fork.” She was looking at nearly identical entrances to two tributaries. You had to pick one or the other or turn around. “What do you think?”

  “Footprints?” said Ivy.

  “Gone,” said Amanda.

  “Let me take a look,” said Simon.

  It was true. The footprints they’d seen near the bottom of the stairs had become fainter and fainter, and now they were nowhere to be seen.

  “Can you hear anything?” said Fern.

  Everyone stood stock-still and listened.

  “I can’t hear a thing,” said Ivy.

  “Ears still clean?” said Amanda.

  Over the last few weeks, Ivy had had occasional trouble hearing, which had scared her half to death. It turned out that she’d had wax in her ears, and when Dr. Wing had cleaned them out she could hear better than ever.

  “No worries,” said Ivy.

  “So which way do we go?” said Amanda. “Wait a minute. Which way are we facing?”

  “North,” said Simon, checking his phone.

  “Away from the stones?” said Amanda. />
  “Yes. So if we take the left fork, we’ll parallel the river.” He was referring to the River Eden, which ran north and south. “The right fork heads toward the Pennines.”

  “The backbone of England?” said Amanda.

  “Correcto,” said Simon. Amanda flinched. The word sounded like “Detecto,” which was an imaginary planet Nick had come up with.

  “I think the zombies are more likely to stay near the river,” said Ivy. “More towns.”

  “If they’re deliberately trying to frighten people, that would make sense,” said Fern.

  “Okay,” said Amanda. “Left fork it is.”

  The group moved forward. When they had entered the left tunnel, which looked exactly like the one they’d come from, and covered a hundred yards or so, Amanda stopped again. “The light is uneven in here.”

  “I noticed that,” said Simon. “I think there are more cracks in the ceiling. They must be minuscule, though. I can’t actually see them.”

  “We must be close to the surface,” said Fern.

  “I’d say six to ten feet,” said Simon. Not exactly Uamh nan-Claigg ionn.”

  Amanda was startled to hear him mention the cave where Thrillkill had contracted his fear of icicles. Something had happened to him, Wink Wiffle, and Blixus Moriarty up there, and she still didn’t know what it was. She had to find out. Whatever it was seemed to be governing events.

  “Do you see how there are piles of dirt around here?” said Simon.

  “Yes,” said Fern. “What do you suppose they’re for?”

  “I think they’re natural.” Simon bent down and felt one of the piles, testing the dirt by rubbing it between his fingers. “I wish Clive were here. He’d know.”

  “Can you get reception?” said Amanda.

  “Actually, yes,” said Simon. “I’ll give him a try.”

  Simon touched his phone a couple of times and he was talking to Clive.

  “Sorry, man,” said Simon. “It was spur of the moment. Next time for sure. Let me turn on the streaming like we did at the factory and you can see.”