Just at that moment, a bloodcurdling roar echoed through the jungle. The devotees stopped chanting, and the guard swiveled, pulling a pistol out of his belt.
Another roar sounded, much closer this time.
The pilgrims bunched together, asking one another what was happening. Suddenly a tiger appeared on the steps of the temple. Everyone screamed in terror.
It was a mighty, lithe, majestic beast.
The tiger stepped forward hungrily.
When it roared for the third time, the pilgrims fled toward the village, practically flying past the cousins’ hiding place. The guard scrambled after them, too scared to shoot.
Watson emerged from the bushes, bravely stepping forward to meet the wild beast.
The Siberian cat and the Bengal tiger sniffed each other with curiosity. Then Uncle Rudyard strode out of the jungle, grinning from ear to ear. “Good girl, Maya, well done!” he said to the tiger, giving her a gentle pat on the neck. Agatha and Chandler joined him in praising the tiger, while Dash kept a safe distance.
“Did your colleagues at the tiger reserve give you any trouble about this?” asked Agatha.
Uncle Rudyard winked. “I just said I was taking my girl for a little walk,” he chuckled. “And now it’s time to go back home, right, Maya?”
He pulled out a collar and leash, but the tiger thought it was a game and bounded away, disappearing into the lush vegetation. “She’s feeling frisky. I’d better go get her, kids,” their uncle said. “Go on into the temple without me!”
He didn’t need to tell them twice.
The lock was still broken, and Chandler nudged the door open with his flashlight. They slipped inside, pulling the door shut in case someone came back and noticed. It was pitch-black and the thick, dusty air smelled of incense.
The circular beam of the flashlight skimmed over the walls, illuminating colorful tapestries, inlaid wooden carvings, bronze vases filled with scented oils, and countless other offerings.
The atmosphere inside the temple was rich and mysterious.
The roaming flashlight beam suddenly fell on the gigantic statue of Kali behind the altar.
“Arrrgh!” yelled Dash. “What kind of monster is that?!”
He instinctively jumped behind Agatha, who stared at the statue in wonder.
It was easily twelve feet tall. The goddess was depicted as a fearsome woman warrior with four arms, and her tongue was sticking out in a hideous grimace. Her skin was black, her robes sheathed with a layer of gold. Three severed heads hung from her belt, and a garland of miniature skulls fell across her chest.
“Don’t be fooled by her looks,” whispered Agatha. “Kali the Black is a goddess of war, but that’s only one of her many aspects. She protects humankind from demons.” She cast a bright smile at her cousin. “And she’s very vengeful with people who act like cowards.”
Dash pulled himself together. “Quick! Look for clues!”
He and Chandler began scouring the room while Agatha took her flashlight and pointed it up at the statue’s four hands. “If memory serves me correctly, Kali wields a sword, a shield, a cup, and a snare,” she said aloud to herself.
The cup was missing.
Kali’s right hand, held highest in the air, was empty.
“The Bengal Pearl was taken from there,” she told her companions. “Can someone please help me up?”
“Right away, Miss!” replied Chandler.
The butler laced his fingers together and boosted her up. Agatha tried to steady herself, touching Kali’s face. “If I could just reach that top hand,” she said feverishly. “But it’s too far away!”
“How could they have taken the pearl from way up there?” asked Dash.
Agatha suddenly froze. She was touching the tip of Kali’s nose, her thinking position.
“What’s wrong, Miss?” asked Chandler.
The girl didn’t reply. Her mind was working overtime.
“What’s going on?” asked Dash. “Did you find a clue?”
Agatha muttered along with her racing thoughts.
“Twelve feet high…No room for a ladder…No way to climb up the statue…” Then she exclaimed, “Oh, of course!”
“Of course what?”
“The thief used some sort of a tool to push the cup out of her hand…something long!” She picked up the camera, zooming in on Kali’s hand. There were a few green wood shavings in the statue’s palm. “I’ve got it!” she cried joyfully. “I know who committed the theft!”
Just then, the door swung open and someone advanced on them.
Agatha’s first thought was that it must be Uncle Rudyard, but one glance at the man’s swirling robes told her it wasn’t him.
The pilgrim stepped forward. Pointing his pistol right at them, he pulled the hood from his head.
His face was familiar. In fact, it was all too familiar.
The face of an actor.
“Naveen Chandra?!” they all yelled in amazement.
Agatha’s mind reeled. So that was the face she thought she’d recognized among the devotees praying at the temple last night!
Flowing black hair, strong chin, elegant bearing…it was definitely Naveen Chandra!
But wasn’t he locked up in jail?
Steadying herself against Kali’s hand, Agatha carefully climbed down to join Chandler and Dash, who were standing stock-still with their hands raised in the air. “Naveen?” she said softly. “Put down the gun. We know you didn’t steal it.”
The man gestured with his gun, signaling that they should all exit the temple. He did not say a word, but glared at them with menacing rage.
Dash obeyed, edging along the wall of the dark room.
In the narrow space, Chandler bumped into a brass vase, spilling essential oil over the floor. Just as Agatha started to follow him out, the temple door was flung open again.
“I collared that smart-aleck Maya!” said Uncle Rudyard as he stepped inside.
The assailant spun around, pointing the gun at him.
As he did, Chandler leaped at him as if he were back in the boxing ring. “Face me, you scoundrel!” he shouted. “I never hit someone from behind!”
The man swiveled in terror, stepping into a knockout right hook. It was just a single punch to the jaw, but with all the power and skill of an experienced heavyweight boxer. The poor man slumped to the ground like a sack of rice.
The room echoed with cheers.
“That’s quite a punch, big man!” exclaimed Uncle Rudyard. “Why did you ever retire from the ring?”
Dash was grinning from ear to ear.
Agatha knelt to check on their unconscious assailant. She pulled up one eyelid. “Look here,” she breathed. “Take a good look at his eyes!”
They weren’t Naveen’s striking peacock blue, but plain brown.
“He’s the spitting image of Naveen Chandra in all other ways. Maybe he was his body double in his movies,” she reflected. Touching her nose, she added, “And I think I know why he came to the village disguised as a pilgrim.”
The others looked blank. Agatha started to fill them in, but stopped short as she noticed the time. “It’s already eleven thirty. We have to get to the dock before the police come for Naveen!”
Chandler threw the unconscious man over one shoulder, and they hurried away.
Twenty minutes later, an unusual group arrived at the village steps: two burly men, one lugging an unconscious pilgrim; two English children; a white Persian cat; and a Bengal tiger on a leash.
Captain Deshpande was chatting with a police officer while a handcuffed Naveen Chandra was being led up the gangplank onto the police boat.
“Stop!” shouted Agatha. “You’ve arrested the wrong man!”
They all turned to stare at the new arrivals. The policeman watched as Chandler lifted the pilgrim’s face. The resemblance to Naveen was unmistakable. Turning to Captain Deshpande, he asked, “What’s going on? Is this some kind of joke?”
“It’s nonsense!�
� the captain replied in an arrogant tone. “Forget these young pests! They think they’re some kind of detectives. They just want to look good for their bosses!”
“Oh, we will look good, Captain!” Agatha smiled, slowly descending the stairs. “Especially after this nice police officer arrests the man who’s actually responsible for kidnapping Amitav Chandra and stealing the Pearl of Bengal!”
Deshpande exploded with fury. “Are you crazy? Who’s going to believe a word you kids say?” he shouted. “This is the Kolkata police! You’re obstructing an investigation!”
The officer touched his arm. “Something’s not right here, Captain,” he said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear from these two young detectives.”
On the riverbank, surrounded by policemen and forest guards, Agatha and Dash began telling their story.
“Our agency received a call from Amitav Chandra, the temple custodian,” said Dash, clicking open an audio file on his EyeNet.
The officer listened to the recording with a skeptical expression.
“At first, we thought Mr. Chandra was asking his friend Deshpande for help, but listen carefully to the last part.” He pressed the rewind button.
“If anything happens to me, tell my dear friend…KSSHHH KSSSHHH…Deshpande!…BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP…
The name “Deshpande” sounded as if it was uttered in shock, as though Mr. Chandra had been caught by surprise by the captain himself.
“This means nothing,” the captain interrupted abruptly. “We have several witnesses who saw his son Naveen break into his house!”
“Of course you do,” said Agatha calmly. “Only it wasn’t Naveen, but his body double, who’s been hiding among the pilgrims all this time! He was the person the neighbors spotted that night, and that’s how you managed to pin the theft on Naveen. Am I right?”
“That’s a despicable charge,” snarled Deshpande. “Arrest these children!”
“Wait just a second, Captain,” the officer interrupted drily. “I want to hear how this story turns out. Go on, kids.”
Agatha took a deep breath. “The body double and Captain Deshpande led Amitav Chandra to the temple at gunpoint, trying to force him to open the door with the key combination that only he knew,” she explained. “When he wouldn’t, they broke the lock. Once they were inside, they couldn’t figure out how to get the Pearl of Bengal down from the statue’s hand. Captain Deshpande started pushing the cup with his cane and finally caused it to fall.”
She looked at the captain, who leaned crookedly on his cane. “We found chips of bamboo in Kali’s hand, Captain,” she added, unfolding her palm to display them. “I’m sure the police will be able to match them.”
“And then?” the officer urged.
“Then Deshpande hid the pearl and Mr. Chandra in a safe place and calmly began his investigation,” said Agatha, beaming. “All he needed to do was find enough witnesses to point the finger at Mr. Chandra’s son. But we spoiled his plans!”
“How so, Miss?”
“When we arrived, he gave us a list of fake suspects as a ploy to keep us busy. But he forbade us to see Chandra’s home or the Temple of Kali, putting both under guard.”
She paused, then added indignantly, “He even organized a search party on the river to show us how much he cared about his missing friend, when all he was doing was finding a fisherman who could support his lies!”
“I’m with you so far, Miss,” the officer said. “But tell me, where is Mr. Chandra hidden? Where is the Pearl of Bengal?”
Agatha winked. “If I were a policeman and not some ‘young pest,’” she said calmly, “I would start by inspecting the captain’s house. You might even find some costumes used by his accomplice, Naveen Chandra’s body double.”
At that moment, Deshpande tried to bolt, lurching toward the steps. But his path was blocked by Chandler, Uncle Rudyard—and a hungry Bengal tiger.
He dropped to his knees in surrender. “I just wanted to retire in comfort,” he sobbed, slumping his shoulders. “As soon as the excitement died down, I would have freed my friend Amitav. I didn’t murder anyone!”
The officer nodded to his colleagues on board the police boat. They took the handcuffs off Naveen Chandra, arresting Captain Deshpande and his accomplice instead. “That’s some fancy detective work, kids,” he said, turning to Dash and Agatha. “What is your agency called?”
“I’m not at liberty to say, sir!” exclaimed Dash, hugging Agatha happily. “But I’m called Agent DM14!”
The two cousins realized that the whole village had gathered around the steps, bursting into applause when the mystery was solved.
“We did it!” Dash repeated, heading into the crowd to embrace Uncle Rudyard. But instead, he bumped into an elderly gentleman holding up the London Times.
He was wearing a linen suit and pince-nez glasses.
“Wh-who are you?” Dash stammered.
The gentleman lowered the newspaper, looking him right in the eye. “Hello, Agent DM14,” he said. “I am your fieldwork observer. I wanted to congratulate you in person. Eye International wants you to know that you did an excellent job. You passed the test with flying colors, Agent.” This said, he disappeared into the crowd without so much as a ripple.
Dash stood frozen, his eyes wide, until Agatha shook him. “What’s up, cousin? You look a bit dazed. Too much excitement?” she asked cheerfully.
His cousin was right, as always. Dash was filled to the brim with excitement and a joy beyond words.
The police found Amitav Chandra bound and gagged inside a large closet in Deshpande’s house. The Bengal Pearl was hidden inside the toe of an embroidered boot. Brahman Sangali was notified immediately, and he gathered the whole village to take the sacred pearl back to the Temple of Kali in a grand procession.
Amitav Chandra and his son, Naveen, also joined the colorful, festive parade, having finally reconciled.
Right behind them were Agatha and her companions.
“Why don’t you come back to Mumbai with me?” Naveen Chandra asked the kids. “I could give you both walk-on roles in my next blockbuster. You’d have a blast! Mumbai is a wonderful city, and there’s nothing more fun than the set of a Bollywood movie.”
Dash was about to say yes when Agatha reminded him of their promise. “I’m sorry, Naveen, but we’re going straight to New Delhi,” she said, loosening the garland of marigolds around her neck, a gift from the people of Chotoka. “We’re going to surprise my parents!”
Naveen seemed quite moved. Evidently the events of the past few days had made him rethink things. “Never forget how important your parents are, kids,” he said solemnly. “And listen to their advice sometimes. Every so often, they’re right!”
Dash and Agatha nodded and laughed.
Behind them, Uncle Rudyard was asking Chandler’s advice about boxing, miming punches in the air. “Should I hold my shoulder like this? Or like this?” he asked over and over. “Like this, right?”
The butler nodded in silence for the hundredth time. He couldn’t take it anymore; Rudyard had been grilling him on his best punches all day.
As the sun went down over the river, the festival turned into a banquet, with course after course of delicious food. Everyone happily stuffed themselves with local delicacies.
Without even pausing to lick his whiskers, Watson devoured a plate of fish, fresh from the Ganges.
Uncle Rudyard was full and almost asleep on his feet. He had made quite a long trek through the jungle to bring Maya back to the tiger reserve. Then he’d flown back in his seaplane.
“You can be the lead pilot this time, slugger!” he told Chandler, seating him at the controls. “Do you know how to take off from on the water?”
Dash changed his mind about the earlier flight. This was the worst takeoff of his life.
The Canadair shaved the tops of the trees like an incompetent barber for the first mile or two, then drifted between the brilliant stars toward New Delhi.
The ch
ildren awoke at dawn when Watson began yowling for breakfast.
“Have we been flying all night?” Agatha asked, stunned by the pink glow of sunrise.
Uncle Rudyard turned around in the cockpit, as lively as ever. “I dozed off for a bit, and the big man got lost,” he shouted. “We’re just passing over the Himalayas!” he laughed. “Say hello to Mount Everest!” Then he started to sing at the top of his lungs, oblivious to Chandler, who’d fallen asleep in the passenger seat.
They touched down in New Delhi at eight in the morning.
“Hello, Mom?” said Agatha into the EyeNet’s speakerphone.
“Why, Agatha darling! How are you?” replied Rebecca Mistery.
“I’m great! Listen, I have a surprise for you and Dad.”
“Oh good, what?”
“I’m here in New Delhi, Mom!” Agatha told her. “With Dash, Watson, and Chandler. And Uncle Rudyard, too!”
This was greeted by sounds of distressed rumbling on the other end of the phone. Dash moved closer to listen.
“What’s the matter, Mom? Is there a problem?” asked Agatha.
“Oh, it’s nothing, dear…Just a bull elephant having a bit of a tantrum!”
“An elephant?” Dash squawked.
“We have a free day today,” Mrs. Mistery continued. “So we thought we’d take a day trip to the Taj Mahal on elephant back! Your father is doing a wonderful job with the steering…”
Agatha laughed while Dash covered his face in despair.
“Would you like to join us?” her mother asked in a bubbly voice.
“No, say no!” whispered Dash frantically. “Right now, all I want is a hotel with a swimming pool, a cold drink, and some time to chill out!”
“We’d love to join you!” Agatha replied. “I can’t wait to see the Taj Mahal!”
Dash slumped back, clutching his head. There was no such thing as time to chill out when your last name was Mistery!
Londoners are famous for staying up late, and Dash Mistery was a total night owl. But the fresh air of Scotland, combined with a very big dinner, made him doze off at nine. One minute he was sprawled on the living-room couch with a plaid blanket over his knees, listening to his granddad Ian and younger cousin Agatha as they sat by a crackling fire, trading stories of their adventures in faraway places. The next, he was out like a light. Was he dreaming, or did someone lift him up gently and carry him into his bedroom, the way his mom used to when he was a kid?
The Pearl of Bengal Page 5