Mountains of Mystery

Ben and Elly

Ben and Elly are twins. They live in Hawaii. Now, this book tells you their beginnings of their adventures, and what their very first adventure was about. Now these tales did not happen yesterday or this week or this year, it was a very, very, long time ago.

Maybe around 1988.

Ben and Elly were going to Wattsburg to meet their cousins. Ben and Elly's parents were visiting Cologne, Germany on a conference and sent the twins to Wattsburg themselves by train.

"I really hope there is things to do in Wattsburg, I always get bored visiting the family in the sticks." Ben yawned.

"First, don't call it that." Elly snapped. "Second, if you are bored, it's because you lack imagination."

"You're right, Elly, I will try to keep a positive attitude."

When the twins got off the train, they were surprised their cousins weren't there. Instead a man in a beard greeted them.

"Hello Ben and Elly, I'm your Uncle Abraham. Do you remember me?" he said.

"Yup, we do! I remember you gave me a digital camera for Christmas last year!" Elly said.

"I have it right here, see?" and she pulled out the camera from her bag.

"Yes, I remember that. You should use it with care, though. It cost me $750!!"

They all laughed. "So, where are our cousins?" Ben asked.

"Oh yes, I need your help with that part." He led them to his car. "Well, about a week ago Daniel started to get sick, and now he can barely talk. We aren't sure exactly what happened. And then just a couple of days ago, Beth lost her sight! She's totally blind!" Abraham got them into the car and got it started. "We've taken them to the hospital but the doctors are baffled."

"Wow. I wonder what happened." Ben said.

"I have a few suspicions. I think it could be This spooky old professor who moved into the Chateau at the top of the mountain near us. He moved in just a few months ago. He may have a clue."

He started speaking really low. "That's where I need your help. The professor, Doctor Van Der Waal, he doesn't know you yet. This town isn't very big, and everyone knows everyone. You're an outsider, so he might not recognize you if you ask a question or two. Well, think about it."

"Here we are!" He said as he got out.

The house was a half-timbered mountain-style house. "Your house looks like it's from Switzerland." Elly e said.

"I like it." Ben said.

"Yeah it was built by settlers from Germany, they were copying styles from their homeland. Here, I will show you to Beth and Daniel." Abraham grabbed their luggage and carried it into the house. In the living room, there was no activity. Abraham lead Ben and Elly first to Beth's room. Beth had dark sunglasses on her eyes, and was listening to music.

"Hello Beth!" Elly said.

"Elly, is that you? So nice to see you. Well, not see you. I am blind!" Beth said.

"Yeah, what exactly happened, Beth?" Ben asked. "Last time we saw you, you didn't even need glasses!"

"Oh it's been terrible. One day, Daniel and I were playing hide-and-seek outside by the lake behind the house, and Daniel stepped into the old derelict house back there, and next thing you know, he was too tired to even walk! And now he can't even TALK!" Beth said in a sad voice.

"What was in the derelict house?" Ben asked.

"Daniel never said. I think it was something terrible, though." Beth said quietly.

"Well how did you lose your sight?" Elly asked.

"Just a couple of days ago, I was in the garden, picking flowers for you guys' visit, and next thing you know, I couldn't see a single thing. Not even all black or all white. I cannot see anything!" Beth was sad again.

"Wow, so nothing happened, you just went blind all of the sudden?" Ben said.

"Yes, as quick as a flash, bang! My sight was gone." Beth said.

"Wow, do you think we should go see Daniel?" Elly asked.

"Yes, I know he'll want to see you, come with me, I have this rope I follow that will take me to his room." Beth stood up and put her hand on a rope that was strung across the floor. She tugged on the rope as she walked, and it led her into the hall, and down the way toward Daniel's room. Daniel was in his bed, and his face was sallow, a pale, unhealthy yellow color. He sat up just a bit as they entered the room.

"hi" he said weakly. His voice could barely be heard.

"Hello, Daniel." Elly said. "Nice to see you."

Daniel smiled weakly and just sat there.

"Oh Daniel, we will definitely find what happened to you make sure you and Beth gets better again." Elly said.

"Oh will you?" Beth said. She looked so happy and tried to do a happy dance, but she stopped.

"Hey, were you gonna do a happy dance?" Ben is an expert on fun stuff. "Why are you not doing it?"

"I might hurt myself." Beth said. "I am blind!"