Riches: Snog, Steal and Burn

Chapter Seven

Celine was having another weird dream. This time her parents were marching across the front lawn at St Winifred’s, playing in a steel band. The instruments clashed and clanged like a giant nightmare alarm clock. ‘Shut up already,’ she moaned. As she started to come to, the noise didn’t stop. Celine opened one eye. The noise was coming from right underneath her.

Boing boing boing.

WTF? Celine sat up in the lumpy bed, last night’s eye make-up halfway down her face. Her head felt like someone had jumped on it. What had she drunk last night? Downstairs, it sounded like Big Ben was going off. Celine fell out of bed on to the clothes she’d left in a pile last night. Pulling them back on, Celine went to investigate.

She met a bleary-eyed Jhumpa and Luci in the corridor, both still in their night clothes. ‘What’s that noise?’ Celine asked, covering her ears with her hands. She felt bad enough as it was.

‘It’s Stephenson, ringing the gong,’ Luci said. ‘It means we’ve got a visitor.’ She looked at her watch. ‘Shit, it’s eleven o’clock!’

‘You slept in your clothes last night?’ Jhumpa wrinkled her pretty nose at Celine. The Indian girl was wearing a cream silk dressing gown and nightdress, like she was lady of the manor or something.

‘No, dear, I just put them back on,’ Celine said. ‘OMG, my head! Does anyone have any painkillers?’ She needed to go back to bed.

‘OK,’ Luci said. ‘Let’s get dressed and meet back here.’

They reassembled fifteen minutes later, Celine still feeling like utter death. Jhumpa, meanwhile, looked like she’d just stepped off a photo shoot; hair a shiny mane and pristine white pumps and pedal pushers. A cashmere jumper knotted over her shoulders completed the look. ‘What is she, a Fembot?’ Celine grumbled to no one in particular. She was in a bad mood; she couldn’t believe she’d forgotten to pack her leather trilby! It was totally what she needed to hide under right now.

Stephenson was in the entrance hall waiting for them. ‘Your ladyship.’

‘Morning,’ Luci said, blushing slightly. She’d had a bleary flashback of stumbling into the suit of armour in the entrance hall on the way to bed last night. The crash had been enough to wake the dead. The last thing Luci wanted was Stephenson thinking she was getting pissed and didn’t care about her dad. I shouldn’t have let Celine talk me into that last shot.

The butler’s face was as impassive as ever. ‘There’s a gentleman waiting to see you in your father’s study.’

‘News about Daddy?’ Luci said, in a fleeting moment of hope.

‘I’m afraid not, your Ladyship.’ The butler paused. ‘Please, follow me.’

Each girl’s mind was whirring with possibilities as they followed him down the corridor. Who could it be? If the authorities didn’t know what had happened to their parents, who else would? All three could sense the sudden change. Danger was in the air.

Despite it being a sunny day the curtains were drawn and it took several moments to adjust. Jhumpa saw him first; a distinguished old man was sitting in the armchair by the window. Taking the pipe out of his mouth, he looked over his walrus moustache at them.

‘Good morning, ladies.’

Celine and Jhumpa were completely confused, but Luci gave a loud gasp. ‘Professor Adams! What are you doing here?’

‘I apologise for all the skulduggery,’ Professor Adams said to them later.

‘I’m sure you have your reasons,’ Luci said. She’d just been explaining how they knew each other to the other two. A brilliant archaeologist, Professor Adams had been her father’s mentor at York University. Retired for years, Professor’s Adams reputation still preceded him. He’d been a frequent visitor to Cadwallader Hall over the years.

‘All very cosy,’ Jhumpa said impatiently, ‘but I don’t understand what it’s got to do with us.’

Professor Adams surveyed her keenly. Even with the white hair and wrinkled skin, his eyes were sharp and clear. ‘What I am about to tell you must stay between these four walls. It is a matter of utmost importance; a matter that will have dreadful repercussions if certain people aren’t stopped.’

The girls all looked at each other. This sounded really serious. ‘We’re listening,’ Jhumpa said. She didn’t sound so snappy now.

The old professor sat back and steepled his fingers. ‘Your parents all belong to an ancient secret society called The Reclaimers. It was started over a thousand years ago by Christian pilgrims, wanting to return religious artefacts lost through war to their rightful place in the Church. It was a hard, often bloody task. Only the brave survived and many lives were lost over the years.’ He looked at each girl significantly. ‘Only the brave and dedicated can ever hope to become a Reclaimer. It is a lifelong responsibility, full of peril and danger, that no one in the outside world will ever know about.’

‘Over the centuries the remit has widened to other priceless things,’ Professor Adams continued. ‘Objects that tell the story of civilisation: a painting, the scribbled words of prophets, even a little wooden goblet that is widely thought to be the Cup of Christ. There are a lot of people out there in the world who want to use these things for their own ill gains. The Reclaimers try to stop them. To return these objects to where they belong.’

Celine was spellbound. ‘So our parents are these Reclaimers?’ She couldn’t believe it; her mum and dad were the ones who moaned at her about doing her schoolwork and not eating enough fresh fruit. The people Professor Adams were talking about sounded like heroes.

The professor nodded. ‘Your parents were involved in a search for something called The Eye of the Tiger. It is a legendary diamond which was brought to the country of Bhutan by a man called Guru Rinpoche, an eighth century guru hailed as the ‘Second Buddha’. He was a very important man, instrumental in spreading Buddhism throughout the Eastern world.

‘Legend has it Guru Rinpoche left several holy treasures in Bhutan and Tibet, called termas, including the famous Tibetan Book of The Dead. When he came to Bhutan, legend has it he rode on a flying tiger.’

‘Airports on strike, were they?’ Celine quipped. Professor Adams didn’t laugh.

‘When Guru Rinpoche climbed down from the flying tiger, the beast reportedly vanished, leaving behind only one diamond eye. Hence the name, the Eye of the Tiger. He left the diamond there - the place now known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery; a tiny, windswept ledge clinging to a mountainside in the Himalayas. The story goes that if the Eye were ever to leave Bhutan, the country would collapse.’

Jhumpa’s analytical brain was struggling to take it all in. ‘Professor Adams, I don’t mean to be rude but isn’t this a just a fairytale?’

‘That’s what many people think,’ Professor Adams said gravely. ‘But I’m certain the Eye does exist; I have seen the evidence.’

Celine shot a look at Jhumpa - why was she so down on everything? ‘Anyway, Professor…Do go on.’

‘Where was I? Ah, yes. The Eye became the centrepiece of the monastery, a shrine at which people would come and worship. As the years passed, however, instability and fighting started to rock the peaceful Himalayas and the Abbot of the monastery became fearful. Too many people had come to know about the Eye’s existence. If any harm came to it, or it fell into the wrong hands, the very future of Bhutan was in danger.’ He paused. ‘The future of Buddhism, actually. I cannot stress enough the religious significance.

‘The Abbot took the Eye away and hid it, so no one could steal it. Somewhere only the right person would find it. Many years passed and eventually peace was restored to Bhutan. Now it is a free and independent country and the monks of Tiger’s Nest are desperate for the Eye to be restored to the monastery. It’s the very cornerstone of their country and faith.’

‘Where is the Eye now?’ Luci asked.

‘Nobody knows. Most people outside Bhutan think, like you, Jhumpa, that it is just a fairytale.’ Professor Adams’ eyes gleamed. ‘Like myself, however, your parents believed the Eye was real. They spent years trying to locate its whereabouts and were convinced they were close to discovering it. This last trip was going to lead them to it, until they were double-crossed and sent on a wild goose-chase to Kashmir. It was very convenient that there happened to be a band of rebels waiting for them. I am convinced someone paid them off.’

‘To hold our parents hostage?’ Luci was shocked.

‘I’m afraid so, my dear. Your father and the others were becoming far too much of a nuisance to those who want the Eye for their own purposes.’

‘And who are they?’ Jhumpa asked.

The Professor’s lip curled. ‘Mercenaries, who will stop at nothing to get what they want. The Eye is believed to be the world’s largest diamond; it would sell for unimaginable amounts, could even wield unimaginable power, if you believe in that sort of thing. As for me, I believe your parents are being kept alive in case they have any information on the Eye’s whereabouts.’

Luci felt sick. She couldn’t bear to think of her father being mistreated. A horrible vision flashed into her mind. Her father, chained to the wall of a cave, starved and thirsty.

‘We have to find them,’ she said. ‘Professor Adams, tell me what I need to do.’

He nodded approvingly. ‘You’re a spirited girl, Luci. I can see why your father has so much faith in you.’ Reaching down into the leather briefcase by his side, he pulled out a wad of papers.

‘I received this just after your parents went missing. It contains the details of a private bank account for you to use for expenses, along with a letter written by Luci’s father in the event that anything should happen. He asks that you girls carry on the work they’d been doing and find the Eye before the others do.’ He passed the letter round. ‘It’s been signed by all your parents.’

They all read it in silence. ‘Why us?’ Celine asked. ‘This sounds really dangerous, I can’t believe my parents would do this to me.’

‘You’re the only people they truly trust,’ Professor Adams said simply. A small smile crossed his lips. ‘And from what I hear, you make quite a triumvirate - a linguist, a mathematician and an archaeologist? Yes, I think you’ll be very well equipped for the journey ahead.’

‘What if we don’t want to look for it?’ Jhumpa said. Why would she want to risk her life to find some diamond for a country she’d never been to? Probably never would either, unless they thought about opening a Chanel there. Bhutan could just collapse for all she cared.

‘It is your parents’ express wish,’ Professor Adams said gravely. ‘I pray they will be found in time, but in the meantime they have asked you to carry on the quest. Who knows? You may find a clue to their whereabouts along the way.’ His eyes gleamed behind the spectacles. ‘It is imperative the Eye is returned to its rightful place.’

‘Was there anything else in the letter, Professor? How do we know where to start looking?’

‘There is a name,’ the professor said. ‘A Doctor Bate. He works in Marrakech at the university.’

Celine had an image of a fusty bearded guy as old as one of his fossils. ‘So this Doctor Bate will tell us where my dad is?’

Professor Adams held his hands out. ‘That’s all I know I’m afraid.’

‘This is crazy,’ Jhumpa said. ‘We’re expected to go chasing off all over the place with just a name in Marrakech to go on?’

‘What else have we got, Jhumpa?’ Luci said. ‘At least it’s a start.’

Celine gave a small nod. ‘Luci’s right. And I know I’d rather be out doing something than going mad sitting here.’

Anticipation crackled though the air. The professor was watching them closely.

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ Jhumpa said crossly. ‘I suppose I’m in then.’

Luci and Celine grinned nervously at each. Game on.

As Luci showed Professor Adams out, he stopped at the front door. ‘Good luck, Luci. You know, if I was twenty years younger, I would have loved to come along.’

Was that a wistful gleam in his eye?

‘Professor, were you one of the Reclaimers?’ she asked.

The old man slowly peeled back his shirtsleeve. On the underside of his wrist was a small black symbol.

‘My dad’s got that on his shoulder!’ Luci said. ‘He always told me it was something stupid he got done when he was younger.’

‘So he would have.’ Professor Adams smiled. ‘The mark of the Reclaimers is a great privilege, Luci, but one to be guarded.’

‘I’ll honour that privilege, I promise.’

Professor Adams suddenly looked deadly serious. ‘You’re entering a viper’s nest, Luci. Be careful who you trust.’

‘I will,’ she said.

He shook her hand. ‘Until next time.’

‘Next time,’ Luci called after him. She stood and watched as the little car disappeared down the driveway in a cloud of dust.

Chapter Eight

Marrakech, Morocco

It was just a wooden door, down a quiet street off the medina. But once the girls had stepped through into the Riad Aziz, they’d found themselves in a scene out of Arabian Nights. With a huge, domed roof and arched doorways, the centrepiece of the house was a mosaic-tiled courtyard with a pool in the middle. Rose petals floated lazily on the surface, scenting the air. Gold lanterns lit the way along the richly painted corridors. On the floor above, a marble balcony stretched the whole way round the courtyard.

The private suites were no less luxurious, with sunken baths and fireplaces, hand-stitched camel leather on the floors. The girls had landed late and gone straight to their antique wooden beds. Next morning they met on Jhumpa’s private terrace for breakfast. The plan was to have a day to acclimatise, and then go to find this Doctor Bate. Celine and Luci wanted to go and explore in the meantime, but Jhumpa had other ideas.

‘I’m booked into the spa for a massage, manicure and pedicure.’ She sat there regally in her silk dressing gown, sipping from a glass of mint tea.

‘Don’t you want to come with us?’ Luci said. Marrakech looked amazing. She’d been online first thing, checking out what to go and see.

Jhumpa sniffed her pretty little nose. ‘It looks like Mumbai, only smaller.’

‘What is that girl like?’ Celine asked, as they walked out after breakfast. ‘I can’t believe how much she loves herself.’

Luci smiled. ‘Let her be, she’s probably tired.’ Even after twenty-four hours, she could see how high maintenance Jhumpa was. She was also clearly super intelligent, so maybe Professor Adams was right about their talents coming in handy.

‘Whatever, she’s really getting on my nerves.’ They walked out into a wall of heat and Celine shoved on her fluorescent blue Ray-Bans. ‘Let’s go shopping.’

Both girls quickly fell in love with the ancient city. A bustling labyrinth of street markets, it was a riot of colour, noise and delicious cooking smells. Tiny crevices no more than three feet wide were occupied by old men, selling the traditional leather Moroccan slippers. One cave-like shop seemed to stock only old bicycle tyres. There was jewellery, rugs, spice stalls: each owner calling out to them to come and buy their wares.

Celine was doing most of the haggling and the tall, striking blonde girl who spoke fluent Arabic quickly attracted lots of attention. Luci had wandered off to look at a robed man claiming to be selling love potions and came back to find Celine surrounded by a crowd of people having a good-natured argument with a shop owner about the price of his textiles. She eventually came out looking smug with the bargain tucked under her arm.

‘There is some seriously amazing stuff here!’

Next up was a tagine stall, where Luci managed to persuade Celine that the massive clay pot she wanted probably wouldn’t fit in her suitcase. There was a shop next door selling metallic poufs. Celine wouldn’t be put off here, especially when the beaming owner said he could send as many back to Buenos Aires as she liked. Luci gave up and went outside to wait.

Twenty minutes passed before Celine finally came out. Luci looked up from stroking a stray cat that had wandered up. There were hundreds of the skinny creatures all over the city. ‘Has your thirst for shopping been quenched?’

‘For the time being. Talking of thirsts, can we go and get a beer?’

‘How about a mint tea?’ Luci said and frogmarched her over to this really cool underground café she’d seen all the locals go into. The place went quiet as they walked in. Luci wasn’t surprised; even in a place like Marrakech, Celine’s puffball skirt and striped braces were a little out of the ordinary.

The cool stone interior was heaven after the oven-like temperatures outside. After ordering mint tea in Arabic and some baklava, Celine pushed up her sunglasses and sighed happily. ‘So totally in my element. I could stay here forever.’

‘We haven’t got that luxury, unfortunately.’ Their mission was never far away from Luci’s thoughts. ‘Do you want to go check out some of the sights afterwards?’

‘You go, I’ll probably stay round here.’ Celine’s eyes gleamed. ‘There’s this silver necklace back there I have to get my hands on.’

After filling up on tea and the honeyed sweet pastry, they paid and went their separate ways outside. Luci politely refused the man selling hot snails on a street corner and decided to head back into the alleyways. She had the hotel guidebook with her, but it didn’t stop a very persistent young boy trying to show her the way. In the end she gave him a few coins because he made her laugh with a spot-on impression of Andy from Little Britain.

For the next few hours, Marrakech stole her. Luci went down into the 16th century tombs and walked up high on the medina walls. The El Bahlia royal palace was amazing, as was the Museum of Islamic Art. Streets seemed to appear from nowhere or disappear, and twice she ended up back at the place she’d started out in. Luci went with the flow, taking endless pictures. It was all part of the fun of exploring.

Last on the list was the famous Jemaa El Fna, the biggest open-air square in the world. When Luci walked out on to it, she wasn’t disappointed. It was massive, stretching away the length and breadth of at least three football pitches. Over on the far horizon she could see the towering peaks of the Atlas Mountains.

In the middle of the square was the food market - hundreds of identikit makeshift restaurants. Enticing smells wafted across and Luci realised she was starving. Giving the snake charmer coaxing a sleepy cobra out of its box a wide berth, she went to fill her stomach.

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