Mystery at Mavadi!

Chapter 10!

I skipped down the street, feeling the sun's rays on my head. Alex kept pace with me. We were investigating again. Well actually we were on errend. Granmama had sent us to go say hi to a friend of hers. But detectives as we were, our keen detective minds were working overtime trying to figure out why the police were patrolling here when the breaking in was clearly down there. 

Alex and I were on this mission while our comrades were busy chlling out at home.  If it hadn't been for the fact that it was for granmama that we had to go out, we wouldn't even have considered walking around in this blistering heat. Granmama was a special friend.

A hen scurried down the path. Another raced after it waving it's wings in the air. They looked exactly like Alex and Robin in the middle of a fight. I told Alex my revelation and earned a playful knock on the head.

The houses down the street were old fashoned but nicely done. There were potted plants in every house as though the vegetation all around wasn't enough. Something slithered along in one of the bushes and I forced my self to ignore it as I trained my eyes on the road ahead and kept walking. I'd heard of snakes here and I did not feel like seeing one. Not now, not ever. 

We kept walking.

Alex stopped so abruptly that I walked several paces before realizing. I backtracked and looked at the house before us. A serene little house with rows of potted plants against the walls.

A dog barked somewhere in there and I was glad I'd left Sasha at home with Am.

We'd walked two steps toward the gate when a shrill female voice greeted us in a friendly tone.

"You must be Maria's grandchildren! Oh, do come in. Wait a moment if you please. I'll just tie Mac up."

Was Mac the dog?

"Let's see now... how long ago did I see the both of you? Seven years? Twelve? James sir was alive back then! What-"

This one sided conversation continued the entire time we were there. Mrs. Lina Peterson was a wonderful host despite the fact she never let her guests get a word in edgewise. She was genourous with her helpings of food and Alex and I didn't complain.

Two hours passed in a blur and soon Alex and I were walking back home with long leisurely strides.

I smiled. "What just happened?"

Alex laughed, "I didn't say one word, Vy. Not one word!"

"And the food was good." I said.

"We should visit again." Alex concluded.

"We should," I agreed and the both of us burst out laughing.

"It was a little weird though..." Alex said.

"What?" I wanted to know.

"The time we were there... did you get the feeling we were being reverenced?"

I'd thought about it. It was true and reverenced was definitely the right word. It was like Lina had seen my grandmother and grandfather there instead of just Alex and me.

"Are you James sir's grandchildren?" an old man's voice asked.

"Yes, sir." I replied.

"I see you have his nose." He said nodding to Alex.

Alex beamed.

"Oh, those were the days..."

Alex and I glanced at each other. We really needed to get back home before lunch. What we didn't need right now was another 'good 'ol days' story. Then again we couldn't just take our leave. He seemed to have known our grandfather.

"... Jhembulingam..." he was saying.

Alex and I glanced back at him. Wha-?

"...difficult times and this stupid vehicle driving around my town, polluting the air!"  He looked at me like I'd asked the cops to patrol his precious street.

Then his eyes softened and he gave the both of us a look of pure reverence. He seemed to have remembered that we were, in fact, 'James sir's' grandchildren. I felt uncomfortable.

Alex swallowed. I guessed she felt the same.

"Sir..." Alex began.

"What do you know about Jhembulingam's treasure?" I asked for her.

"Oh nothing much, child." he said. "But I know it can't be just two measly boxes. Those men with their fance axes and lights expect us to believe that? Hah! They probably found more and took it for themselves! Why in my day-"

"Wait." Alex interrupted him 'Jhembulingam's treasure has been found?"

He blinked. "Of course it has! Where have you been the last three months? Under a rock?"

My head was spinning.

Jhembulingam's treasure had been found. All those stories about a skilled bandit were true. There was actual gold or whatever in the caves. Archaelogists had found two whole caskets! 

Excitement pounded through me. 

The thief! He was after the treasure. I was sure of it. The police! Why were they here? And why was the thief breaking into houses? Something big was going on. 

Confusion dampened my excitement. 

Alex was still listening to the old man, her brown hair getting tousled in the wind. 

I was tired. I'd listen to the rest of the story at home. The sudden excitement had taken my energy and my stomach was full. All I wanted to do was to go to sleep. I waited for Alex to finish her conversation.

There! Chapter 10!

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Teenikel, over and out. B)