“Okay,” Beezel managed to say.
Mimi had covered her mouth in horror.
As soon as the door to their room closed, the girls rushed to the corner of the bed.
“Gumdrop!” Mimi cried as she searched for her.
“Did he?” Beezel couldn’t bring herself to say it. What if Hector had smashed Gumdrop when he leaned against the bed?
Chapter Six
“Here she is!” Mimi sighed with relief. The little bug had begun to crawl down the foot of the bed toward the floor.
“Whew, that was a close call,” Beezel said.
After they had changed, Mimi put the bug inside the plastic container and popped the lid back on. “I think I’ll leave her in here until we get back from dinner.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Beezel said as she grabbed two sweaters, one for her and one for her sister.
The girls went down the stairs to the hotel lobby. Beezel saw Uncle Hoogaboom and Hector sitting across from each other by the fireplace. When Hector saw them, he stood up and waved.
“Hello there,” Hector said to them. “You both look very nice.”
Mrs. Trimoni had sewn the girls new dresses for their trip. The one Mimi had picked to wear to dinner was made from a bolt of silk Siyan the Snake Charmer had sent the circus from China. Her dress was green with a flowing skirt that swirled when Mimi turned.
Beezel’s dress was made from a sari covered in a pattern of lush red and brown flowers. Her dress fit her like a glove.
“Good and hungry, I hope?” Hector asked.
“You’ll need to put on those sweaters,” Uncle Hoogaboom said. “It’s chilly outside.” Beezel noticed that he had dressed up for their dinner as well. Gone was the long lab coat. It had been replaced by a tweed jacket over a shirt and tie. His pockets, however, were still packed to bulging. A pair of pliers peeked out from one.
On the way to the café, Uncle Hoogaboom said, “I’ve invited a young friend of mine to join us. I hope you don’t mind. We’re working on finding the treasure together.” He put his finger to his lips and said to the girls. “Just between us, mind you!” Then he winked.
Beezel started to ask Uncle Hoogaboom what he meant, but she remembered what Hector had told them back in their room.
“Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, Uncle,” Hector said quickly.
“You’ll like Wiliken—he’s a fine young man,” Uncle Hoogaboom continued. “My friend Pieter, the one I told you about, Hector? Well, his son was Wiliken’s father. He died a few years back. And then Pieter died not too long ago.”
“Oh, that’s sad,” Beezel said.
Uncle Hoogaboom nodded in agreement. “Young Wiliken grew up in the States with his mother. He’s come home to Amsterdam to settle things. I promised his mother I’d keep an eye on him while he’s here.” He shook his head sadly. “He didn’t see much of Pieter, his grandfather.” He sighed. “The boy doesn’t even speak Dutch, except for hallo and dag.” He looked at the girls. “Hello and good-bye.”
They approached a café and Uncle Hoogaboom opened the door. “Here we are,” he said. “Let’s see if Wiliken has secured a table for us.”
The small dark restaurant was lit by the warm glow of amber table lamps. Against the sides of the room, upholstered benches flanked oak tables, creating cozy nooks for talking and eating.
Uncle Hoogaboom scanned the room. “He’s not here yet. We’ll start without him; he won’t mind.” As he chose a table and sat down, he said, “The broodjes are very good here.” He looked at the twins and smiled. “Those are sandwiches.”
They ordered their broodjes, and their food arrived. Still Uncle Hoogaboom’s friend had not appeared.
“Should we wait for him?” Hector asked, sandwich in hand.
“No,” Uncle Hoogaboom said as he prepared to take a bite. “He should have been on time.”
They had no sooner begun to eat than a young man, dressed in black, rushed up to their table.
Beezel took a quick glimpse at him. He looked like a teenager, although it was hard to tell. He was wearing a blue knit ski cap pulled down over his ears, dark glasses and a black jacket.
The young man whipped off his sunglasses. “Can’t see a darn thing with these on,” he said. “Sorry I’m late, Hoogaboom. He was after me again.”
“Did you take the route I told you to?” Uncle Hoogaboom sounded like a teacher reprimanding a tardy student. “He wouldn’t have found you if you had.” He made a “tsking” sound and turned his attention back to his food.
“He saw me as soon as I left the lawyer’s office,” the young man said. “I had a heck of a time losing him.” He stood staring down at them expectantly. Beezel realized there was nowhere for him to sit, but she was trapped on the other side of Hector. She elbowed him.
Hector must have understood her nudge because he rather reluctantly set down his sandwich and stood up. “I’ll grab an empty chair from that table. You sit next to Beezel.”
“Thanks,” he said to Hector. He flashed Beezel a grin as he sat down next to her.
Beezel had a funny feeling she had seen that grin somewhere before, but she couldn’t place it. She concentrated on cutting her sandwich in half.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him take off his jacket and ski cap and set them on the bench between them.
“So,” Hector said as he put the chair at the end of the table and sat down. “Who’s after you?” He took another bite of his sandwich.
“Blasted treasure hunters,” Uncle Hoogaboom hissed.
Wiliken laughed. “Not this time!”
Beezel quickly glanced at Hector. He rolled his eyes and put one hand to his forehead. She bet he was thinking that his favorite uncle had officially unraveled a little bit more. She took a bite of her sandwich and glanced across the table at her sister.
Mimi’s mouth was wide open, gaping as if she had seen a ghost.
“What’s wrong?” Beezel asked, suddenly alarmed.
“You’re … you’re …” Mimi pointed at the young man sitting next to Beezel. “Wil Riebeeck!”
Uncle Hoogaboom glanced up from his meal. “Oh, I beg your pardon. Girls, Hector, this is Wiliken Riebeeck. Wiliken, next to you is Beezel. This is Mimi next to me, and this—” he pointed to Hector—”is my nephew, Hector.”
Wil Riebeeck? Had she heard Mimi correctly? The expression on Mimi’s face said she had. She hadn’t really looked him directly in the face yet. Beezel slowly turned and stared at the young man next to her.
“Hi!” Wiliken said as he put out his hand. “Hoogaboom says you guys are from the States. Me, too. Welcome to Amsterdam.” He smiled and shook each of their hands.
“You’re Wil Riebeeck?” Mimi said dreamily. “The Wil Riebeeck? From the movies?”
“Yes.” He laughed. “I guess I am. But around here, I’m just plain old Wiliken.”
“Dear me, I forgot that you girls might know him as Wil Riebeeck, the renowned American movie star!” Uncle Hoogaboom said with a chuckle.
“Huh,” Beezel stuttered. “Hi,” she managed to squeak out.
She couldn’t believe it. Uncle Hoogaboom’s Wiliken was Wil Riebeeck, the famous actor! And he was sitting right next to her!
I sure hope I don’t faint, Beezel thought to herself.
Wil Riebeeck had been in two blockbuster movies in the last year alone. His picture had been splattered on every tabloid and teen magazine she’d seen. But it was more than his acting that appealed to his fans. Even though he was only seventeen years old, Wil Riebeeck liked to go on dangerous adventures and frequently invited members of the press to come along. Beezel had often wondered if he did so with the hope that a few of the paparazzi would fall into the Amazon River, or tumble down Mount Everest and leave him alone.
“Wow,” Mimi gushed as she stared at him. “You’re so much cuter in person.”
“Uh, thanks.” Wiliken pulled at the collar of his sweater as he scanned the menu. Beezel thought he was holding
it a little higher than he needed to. It almost covered his face. “Maybe you can order for me, Hoogaboom?”
Uncle Hoogaboom nodded.
Try as she might, Beezel found it hard not to stare at him. She had never seen a famous person before. Sure, the Trimoni Circus back home was full of interesting characters, and plenty of them were completely unforgettable, but none of them was famous all over the world. This one was. This one had long blond hair and green eyes. His skin was a golden brown, perfectly set off by the white pullover sweater he was wearing.
“So you’re an actor?” Hector asked after Uncle Hoogaboom ordered Wiliken’s dinner.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” Wiliken smiled again. Beezel caught herself in midsigh. She coughed, in what she hoped was a delicate way, instead.
“I think I forgot to tell you, Hector …” Uncle Hoogaboom wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Wiliken’s grandfather owned a shipping company here. Been in shipping a long, long time, right, Wiliken?”
Wiliken nodded. “Long isn’t the word for it. It’s been in the family for more than three hundred years.”
“That’s right,” Uncle Hoogaboom said. “And while Wiliken is here settling things, we’re going to find some treasure.”
Hector, Beezel and Mimi stopped eating in midbite. They stared at Uncle Hoogaboom, then at Wiliken.
Wiliken nodded in agreement, just as if all Uncle Hoogaboom had done was suggest having coffee after dinner. Then he turned to Beezel and said, “I hear you and your sister are amazing magicians. What kind of magic do you do?”
Beezel didn’t know what to say. She wanted to ask about the treasure, but Hector had told her not to. Besides, Wil Riebeeck had actually asked her a question! And his incredibly green eyes were fixed intently on hers. So she tried to answer him.
“Um … uh … we … uh …” Beezel’s starstruck nerves were back in force. She had the strangest sensation that her vocal cords were tied in a knot.
“We do all kinds, don’t we, Beez?” Mimi chimed in. “I like illusions best.”
They chatted about magic and the Trimoni Circus for a while. Beezel noticed Hector glancing often at his uncle with a worried expression.
Uncle Hoogaboom seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly. Then at nine o’clock, as if a bell had gone off in his head, he stood up and announced, “Lieve hemel! It’s time to go home.”
Hector, Wiliken, Beezel and Mimi quickly gathered their things and followed Uncle Hoogaboom to the front of the restaurant. Uncle Hoogaboom insisted on paying.
“Thank you so much, Uncle Hoogaboom,” Beezel said.
“It was delicious,” Mimi added. “I’m stuffed.”
“Van harte welkom. Glad you enjoyed it,” Uncle Hoogaboom said. “Wiliken and I will see you to your hotel and take a bus home from there.”
“Oh, are you staying near my uncle?” Hector asked Wiliken as they walked.
“Very near,” Wiliken said as he pulled his ski cap down to cover his blond hair. “Right now I live above him in my grandfather’s apartment.”
They came to the front steps of the Merlin Hotel. Uncle Hoogaboom wished them all good night.
“It was very nice to meet you all,” Wiliken said. He turned to face the twins. “As for you two, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night?” Beezel said.
“Yes,” Wiliken said. “I’m looking forward to your opening night.”
“You’re coming to our show?” Mimi asked him.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Wiliken said. “As a matter of fact, I’m coming with Hoogaboom.”
Uncle Hoogaboom glanced at his watch. “Come along, Wiliken. And keep your eyes sharp. Watch out for you-know-who.”
“Not to worry,” Wiliken said, affectionately patting the old man on the back. “I’ll keep an eye out.”
Mimi stared openmouthed as they walked away. “Beezel, Wil Riebeeck is going to be at our opening night.”
“Looks like it.” Beezel put her hand to her chest. As she watched the young man stride confidently down the street with Uncle Hoogaboom, she noticed something. Her heart was beating just as hard as it had been when Fieffie the cat was about to eat her.
Chapter Seven
“Why don’t you finish your math worksheets before we go down to set up for your show?” Hector said to the twins the next morning as he studied their trip schedule. The three had eaten breakfast in the hotel restaurant and come back up to the twins’ room to plan their morning.
“No! Please, anything but that!” Mimi groaned.
“Listen, my little termites,” Hector said as he handed the girls their workbooks. “You’re going to want to go see all the sights next week. The more work we do this morning, the less we’ll have to do then.”
Beezel grabbed a pencil and read the first problem.
If Josie had two chickens that laid thirteen eggs, and Nick had five chickens that laid four eggs, and their mother insisted they make three-egg omelettes …
“What could he be thinking?” Hector mused as he leaned back in the easy chair in the corner of the girls’ hotel room. “An entire ship’s treasure is inside Pieter Riebeeck’s house and they haven’t found it in twenty years? Humph!” He snorted in disbelief.
Beezel erased the answer she had written down. She read the problem over carefully and began to work out again just how many omelettes’ worth of eggs those chickens had laid.
“I suppose it happens as you get older,” Hector announced to no one in particular. “I’ve read that eventually your brain cells just start jumping off the high dive, one by one.”
Beezel erased her answer again. Forty-two omelettes couldn’t be right. She sighed and watched Hector for a moment. He closed his eyes and looked like he was going to take a nap. She began to work out the number of omelettes again.
“He’s really cute, isn’t he?” Mimi interrupted Beezel’s egg count. “I mean, he’s taken cuteness to a whole new level. Like if Wiliken’s cute factor were in my math problem, the answer would be one billion.”
Beezel rubbed her hands over her face. If Mimi said Wiliken Riebeeck was cute one more time, she was quite sure her head would explode. Mimi had managed to work it into the conversation four times after dinner last night and twice since she woke up. One more time, and Beezel would erupt. She knew he was cute. Any animal, including snakes, would look at Wiliken Riebeeck and know he was cute. She didn’t need her sister to keep reminding her.
Beezel glanced at Mimi’s worksheet. She had drawn three little hearts at the top. Inside each one Mimi had written Wil. Beezel felt a tiny pang and had a sudden urge to reach over and cross them out. Instead, she forced herself to think about omelettes again.
The twins worked quietly for a few minutes. Beezel finished her worksheet and waited for Mimi to finish hers.
“Done!” Mimi announced as she slammed her workbook shut.
“What am I going to do about my uncle?” Hector suddenly blurted out from the corner. “He’s all alone now, except for Gaidic. I don’t think Wiliken will stay in Amsterdam long.” He sighed.
Beezel put her workbook on the dresser. “Why don’t you go call him, Hector? Mimi and I can go downstairs and set up for tonight.”
Hector studied them suspiciously. “You’ll stay inside the theater? I don’t want to have to comb the hotel searching for you.”
“We promise!” Mimi plunked her workbook down on top of Beezel’s. She grabbed her backpack and slipped it on.
Beezel eyed the backpack. It was as much a part of Mimi as her short hair and bouncy nature. Mimi kept all her art supplies inside it and took it with her everywhere. But Beezel had a feeling there was a certain reptile among the art pens in Mimi’s backpack this morning.
“Are you sure you have everything?” Beezel asked her sister sarcastically.
“Yep, I’m sure!” Mimi smiled at her and winked. “Well, come on, Beezel!”
Hector stood up. “I’ll be right down. I just want to see if I can talk so
me sense into him.”
The twins walked down the stairs and into the theater where they would perform their magic act that night. Beezel and Mimi went backstage and located all the props that had been shipped from home. Carefully they set them up on the stage.
Back home, the girls had their beloved animals in the Trimoni Circus to use in their act, but bringing animals across the Atlantic Ocean for just ten days was impractical. Before they’d left, the Trimonis had found a man in Amsterdam who was willing to let the girls hire some animals from his petting zoo.
“The man with the animals we hired is coming at six,” Beezel said. “I told him we didn’t want any animals that bit or spooked easily. He said no problem, he has two old sheep he’ll bring us to use in our show.”
Mimi had ka-poofed Gumdrop back into a snake last night, and the boa had slept in the bottom drawer of their dresser in spite of Beezel’s objections. Today, Mimi had ka-poofed Gumdrop into a ladybug again and smuggled her into the theater inside her backpack. Now Mimi had changed her into a wallaby that was hopping up and down the aisles.
“Mimi, Gumdrop is getting away!” Beezel yelled at her sister. She pointed at the wallaby. Ka-poof. Gumdrop was a tortoise.
“She’s just getting a little exercise,” Mimi said. “She can’t get much being a ladybug cooped up in that little plastic container.”
Beezel shook her head. She considered reminding Mimi that she was the one who had put her in the plastic container in the first place. But most of the time, it really wasn’t worth arguing with Mimi about anything. And especially not about animals. “Listen, Mimi, you’ve got to figure out something besides that plastic container to keep her in. You can’t keep her as a ladybug.”
“You’re right,” Mimi answered. “It’s time for Operation GAAD to go into action.”
“I know I’m going to regret this,” Beezel said, “but what exactly is Operation GAAD?”
“Gumdrop As A Dog, of course.” Mimi pointed to Gumdrop. Ka-poof. Gumdrop was an adorable white poodle. Mimi reached into her backpack and pulled out a pink dog collar with a silver heart dangling from it.
The Trimoni Twins and the Shrunken Treasure Page 3
