Read Online The Pearl of Bengal by Sir Steve Stevenson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sir Steve Stevenson
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like the girl in
The Wizard of Oz
.
Dash checked the time on his EyeNet, a high-tech gadget that doubled as cell phone, computer, and anything else a budding detective might need in the field. It was almost eight. “And if everything goes well, I’ll be a free man by ten!” he told himself out loud.
He scrawled a quick note on the message board next to the door, then went outside andgrabbed his bike. Within a few minutes, he was weaving along winding roads through the green Scottish countryside. There were thistles and heather and even a few grazing sheep. He soon arrived in the village of Bowden, passing an ancient stone church and a line of pastel Georgian houses. There weren’t many people out this early on a Saturday morning, and the inn where Aileen had arranged for them to meet looked completely deserted.
Dash entered boldly and strode right up to the counter.
The innkeeper wore a chef’s hat and had a tea towel over one shoulder as he rolled out dough for a tart. “Young Mr. Mistery?” he asked without turning around.
Dash paused, dumbfounded. “Uh, yeah, that’s me,” he stammered. “How did you know?”
“Table six, in the corner,” the man replied, picking up a knife to slice pears.
Dash looked around the elegant dining room, wondering why Aileen had booked a table for two in the corner. Was she trying to create a romantic atmosphere?
He sat down with a sigh and waited.
The innkeeper came over, lit the candle in the center of the table, and walked away without a word.
Dash gave another sigh, even deeper this time.
Suddenly, the door swung open. A slender girl stood on the threshold, sun striking her light brown curls. She had bright green eyes and the face of an angel, and was wearing a dress that any girl in London would have called cool. In short, she was gorgeous. And she was walking right toward him!
“Hi, Dash.” Aileen greeted him with a perfect smile. “Sorry I’m late.”
The young detective could feel himselfblushing. “Uh, oh, hi, Dorothy,” he managed to blurt. Embarrassed, he tried to correct himself. “I mean, Aileen.”
She sat down at the table. “I like your look. Very retro, you know?” she said with a smile as she picked up her menu. “You look like an old-school Scotsman!”
Dash caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window and felt a sinking shame. Could he be any more of an loser? The annoying little girl he remembered had grown up to be totally cool. How was he going to catch up? He decided the best way to impress Aileen was to show off his EyeNet. It usually left people openmouthed, asking where they could get one. The answer, of course, was that they were only available to students of Eye International Detective Academy, but Dash’s plans to become the world’s greatest detective were a secret.
“Hey, check out my new cell phone,” he saidslyly, pushing the EyeNet onto the table. “It’s a brand-new prototype, not on the market yet!” He readied himself to respond to a thousand questions, but Aileen barely glanced at it.
“Want to try the vegetarian haggis?” she asked, fixing him with a magnetic stare.
It was hard to imagine a worse combination than tofu and the traditional Scottish pudding made of organ meats, oatmeal, suet, and spices. Dash muttered a few words in response. Luckily, just at that moment, the EyeNet gave a shrill beep. Like lightning, he grabbed it to look at the screen, which was flashing code red.
It was a message from Eye International.
An urgent mission!
Dash jolted out of his seat. “Right now?” he blurted, realizing he had to get back to Agatha as soon as possible. She was the only one who could help him with an urgent investigation. He stared helplessly at Aileen. He would so muchrather stay with her a little bit longer…she was awesome!
But duty was duty. Dash let out a big sigh and muttered, “Uh, um, excuse me, Dorothy, I’ve got to go. It’s superimportant…I’ll call you as soon as I’m finished,
The Wizard of Oz
.
Dash checked the time on his EyeNet, a high-tech gadget that doubled as cell phone, computer, and anything else a budding detective might need in the field. It was almost eight. “And if everything goes well, I’ll be a free man by ten!” he told himself out loud.
He scrawled a quick note on the message board next to the door, then went outside andgrabbed his bike. Within a few minutes, he was weaving along winding roads through the green Scottish countryside. There were thistles and heather and even a few grazing sheep. He soon arrived in the village of Bowden, passing an ancient stone church and a line of pastel Georgian houses. There weren’t many people out this early on a Saturday morning, and the inn where Aileen had arranged for them to meet looked completely deserted.
Dash entered boldly and strode right up to the counter.
The innkeeper wore a chef’s hat and had a tea towel over one shoulder as he rolled out dough for a tart. “Young Mr. Mistery?” he asked without turning around.
Dash paused, dumbfounded. “Uh, yeah, that’s me,” he stammered. “How did you know?”
“Table six, in the corner,” the man replied, picking up a knife to slice pears.
Dash looked around the elegant dining room, wondering why Aileen had booked a table for two in the corner. Was she trying to create a romantic atmosphere?
He sat down with a sigh and waited.
The innkeeper came over, lit the candle in the center of the table, and walked away without a word.
Dash gave another sigh, even deeper this time.
Suddenly, the door swung open. A slender girl stood on the threshold, sun striking her light brown curls. She had bright green eyes and the face of an angel, and was wearing a dress that any girl in London would have called cool. In short, she was gorgeous. And she was walking right toward him!
“Hi, Dash.” Aileen greeted him with a perfect smile. “Sorry I’m late.”
The young detective could feel himselfblushing. “Uh, oh, hi, Dorothy,” he managed to blurt. Embarrassed, he tried to correct himself. “I mean, Aileen.”
She sat down at the table. “I like your look. Very retro, you know?” she said with a smile as she picked up her menu. “You look like an old-school Scotsman!”
Dash caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window and felt a sinking shame. Could he be any more of an loser? The annoying little girl he remembered had grown up to be totally cool. How was he going to catch up? He decided the best way to impress Aileen was to show off his EyeNet. It usually left people openmouthed, asking where they could get one. The answer, of course, was that they were only available to students of Eye International Detective Academy, but Dash’s plans to become the world’s greatest detective were a secret.
“Hey, check out my new cell phone,” he saidslyly, pushing the EyeNet onto the table. “It’s a brand-new prototype, not on the market yet!” He readied himself to respond to a thousand questions, but Aileen barely glanced at it.
“Want to try the vegetarian haggis?” she asked, fixing him with a magnetic stare.
It was hard to imagine a worse combination than tofu and the traditional Scottish pudding made of organ meats, oatmeal, suet, and spices. Dash muttered a few words in response. Luckily, just at that moment, the EyeNet gave a shrill beep. Like lightning, he grabbed it to look at the screen, which was flashing code red.
It was a message from Eye International.
An urgent mission!
Dash jolted out of his seat. “Right now?” he blurted, realizing he had to get back to Agatha as soon as possible. She was the only one who could help him with an urgent investigation. He stared helplessly at Aileen. He would so muchrather stay with her a little bit longer…she was awesome!
But duty was duty. Dash let out a big sigh and muttered, “Uh, um, excuse me, Dorothy, I’ve got to go. It’s superimportant…I’ll call you as soon as I’m finished,
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