The Black Circle - 39 Clues 05

by Patrick Carman

  Once she was up a tree it was hard to get her to come down.""Sounds like my kind of kid," said Dan."But she came to an awful end. She was murdered, Dan.

  They all were. Her brother, Alexei, and her three sisters. And her parents. It was a firing squad, bullets flying everywhere, ricocheting off walls.

  But there's a bright spot, something I think is connected to all this. There are a lot of people who think Anastasia didn't die with the rest of her family."

  "When did she die, then?""Who knows? But some say when they went to examine the grave site years later, her body wasn't there." "Cool!" said Dan."You know what I think? I think Rasputin was a Cahill. I think he might have tried to save Alexei and Anastasia.

  Maybe he gave them whatever it was that made him so hard to kill.

  First Alexei, to cure him of his illness, then Anastasia, to save her From a firing squad. Maybe they couldn't kill her."Dan was silent, his eyes huge, and Amy knew he was lost in superhero daydreams again.Super Dan.

  That's all I need.They kept driving in silence as St. Petersburg disappeared and the countryside started to take over. Rolling hills on either side marked their way, and with the windows rolled down, they smelled the fresh air.

  "The village was one of the last places where Alexei and Anastasia played. Alexei's playroom was a favorite place in the palace. And I'll tell you something else. Right before they took her, at the very end, Anastasia and her sisters hid their most valuable jewels. They sewed them into their clothes so no one could find them."

  "How'd you know about that?" Dan said, turning toward her with a skeptical look.

  "Don't tell me this guidebook has a section on hiding valuables.""Wikipedia," said Amy. "I checked it out while you were sleeping. They hid a lot of jewels in the hems of their dresses and pants.

  Hamilton Holt said that at the Dostoevsky statue there was a jewel on the brick along with the words Alexei's Playroom. I think we should keep our eyes peeled for an article of clothing in this playroom. I bet that's where we'll find what we're looking for."The royal village was coming into view and Amy tapped on the brakes, shifting Tiny Tim into low gear as it spluttered to a crawl.

  "Let's leave Tiny as far away from the security guards as possible. I'd hate to see him get towed away.

  "They parked the car and walked along a lengthy row of gardens and opulent buildings. Grand white fountains trickled everywhere and the flowing lawns were perfectly trimmed."Pretty nice place to be banished," said Dan. "It's not exactly a prison cell.""No kidding," said Amy.

  The royal village was even more spectacular than Amy had imagined. She'd seen pictures, but they hadn't come close to capturing the endless lawns and beautiful buildings."That one is Catherine Palace," said Amy, pointing to a building that went on for what seemed like a mile."The Russians like their buildings long," said Dan. Catherine Palace looked to Dan like an extended doll-house. It was bright blue with white accents and gold trim, about fifty feet tall and ten times as long."And that's our destination," said Amy, pointing down the long row of gardens in the center of the royal village. "Alexander Palace.

  Come on, maybe we can get in and out fast."Alexander Palace was completely different from Catherine Palace. Ancient white columns of stone stood before pale yellow walls that seemed to go on forever in a wide U-shape. Behind the circular driveway lay a sprawling green lawn leading to a shimmering pond.

  "I hope you know where we're going," said Dan. "This place is gigantic. It could take hours to find one room.""I've got it covered," said Amy. She had taken down notes on a piece of hotel stationery, which she pulled out of her pocket.

  "According to a travel blog I read, Alexei's Playroom is on the second floor in the children's wing. We go past the Crimson Room, which will put us in the Marble Hall, then to a Portrait Hall..."Amy kept reading off elaborate directions until they arrived at the arched front door and entered the palace.

  A uniformed tour guide nodded and smiled."Can you point us in the direction of Alexei's Playroom?" asked Dan."Certainly." The man turned and pointed to a wide set of stairs. "Up there, down hall, left. Is great room."

  Amy put away her directions and scowled at Dan. "Show-off."Within minutes, they were standing at the doorway of one of the most incredible playrooms Amy had ever seen."This kid had it good," said Dan. "I'd never leave unless I had to eat or use the bathroom."Alexei's Playroom was a vast space filled with handmade toys of every imaginable kind. There was a miniature tepee at the center of the room with two child-size canoes standing by.

  An elaborate train set with tracks running every which way, a giant stuffed sheepdog, sailing ships, and crates of blocks.

  The ceiling was hung with airplanes and gliders, and toy houses lined one entire wall."I don't see any clothes, do you?" asked Amy. The exhibit was designed to allow viewers to walk through the middle of the playroom on a narrow red carpet and exit on the other side."Come on," said Dan. "Let's get a closer look.""Your parents are nearby?"Amy was on edge already and the voice startled her. When she turned, she saw that the tour guide from downstairs had followed them up."Children are not allowed without parents.

  Little hands are tempted."Amy wished Dan had left the goatee on, but it was too late now.Dan glanced at her, then started talking. "This whole vacation has been the pits. Booooring.

  Just our luck we finally find something really cool and we can't go inside."Amy caught on quickly and jumped in. "Our mom and dad are still over at Catherine Palace, looking at paintings. Ugh."The tour guide seemed to understand."My children love this room also.""Can you take us in?" pleaded Dan.The tour guide glanced back down the hall. It was early yet and the palace was relatively empty. No one else appeared to be coming.

  "Hands in pockets, please! No touching!"Amy and Dan reluctantly pocketed their hands, and the tour guide entered the room in front of them. He was showing them the ships when a rambunctious set of very young British children appeared in the doorway."Mummy! Look at the toys!" yelled one of them, and they were off on a tear, heading straight for the tepee."Stop! Stop! Stay on red carpet!" protested the tour guide. The parents tried to intervene, but the two children raced from one item to the next, just out of reach of the guide.

  This is my chance, thought Amy, spying a closet door. Dan stood his ground, trying his best to obscure her escape from the chaos in the room.

  Before the guide could turn around, Amy had slipped into the closet and closed the door.

  It was dark inside but for a sliver of light seeping through the bottom of the doorway. Amy felt around and discovered that the closet was full of hanging clothes. Could these really be items from such a long time ago?

  Her fingers searched through silky soft and lacy cloth for a jewel along the hems. She reached into a pocket and latched her fingers around something hard. It was small and round, solid and firm, but when she lifted it out and held it close, she felt a fizzy sting in her nose.Mothball!

  "Eeeww," she whispered, dropping the round white ball back in the pocket where she'd found it. Amy dug her fingers into all the pockets she could find: nothing but more mothballs and pieces of fuzz.

  The sound of the tour guide's muffled voice returned."Where is sister?""She's gone up ahead. I think I'll do the same," said Dan.

  Amy's eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness as she kept at it, scrunching each article of clothing between her fingers. She couldn't be sure, but it seemed as if the tour guide was still just outside the door, making sure everything was properly in place.What's this? She had reached into the back of the closet to feel along the hem of a child's dress. Amy got down on her hands and knees and crawled in deeper, keeping a tight grip on the small lump she'd discovered.

  Just then, the handle on the closet door turned and the door opened. Amy stayed perfectly still at the back of the closet, hidden in the forest of coats and dresses. She could see the silhouette of the tour guide."Any chance you could let me have a closer look at the train? I'm big into railroads.

  "It was Dan, who'd c
ome back into the room in the nick of time."Oh. Yes," said the tour guide. "But then I must find others. Bad children should be kept on leash!"

  The closet door closed once more and Amy breathed a sigh of relief. She tore at the hem of the dress, feeling terrible for having to damage such a precious item. For all she knew, it had actually been worn by the grand duchess Anastasia herself.

  The mere thought of it made her hands shake."Got it!" she whispered, feeling the smooth stone between her fingers. She placed it in her pocket, returned to the door, and listened for voices.

  It sounded as if they'd gone."Dan?" she whispered, opening the closet door a tiny crack and peering into the room. The door burst open and Amy fell forward, landing hard on the floor and nearly crushing a toy playhouse filled with miniature figurines."I knew it!" said the tour guide.

  Dan sprang into action, jumping on the stuffed sheepdog.

  "Ride 'em!" he called. Amy's eyes bugged out. Her brother was always ready to humiliate himself for a cause.The tour guide marched toward Dan, his jaw clenched. Amy bolted for the exit, running as fast as she could.

  "C'mon, Dan!"She didn't have to wait long."Run!" Dan howled. "He's right on my tail!"Amy and Dan shot down the staircase with the tour guide close behind."Don't stop, Amy! Just keep going!" said Dan.

  Tour guides were converging from three directions now, but Dan and Amy were just fast enough to reach the front door of the palace first. They dashed out into the bright light of the sunny Russian morning and kept right on going.

  "Do not come back!" yelled the tour guide they'd tricked. He stood fuming between his two coworkers. "Children! They will kill me!"Amy and Dan slowed to a walk and caught their breath. Before long, they were convulsed with laughter."I found some candy in there," said Amy.

  "Kept it for you."She held out a round white mothball, but Dan wasn't taking the bait. "You first!"Amy wound up and threw the mothball toward the pond. She'd driven a car for the first time, touched the clothes of a princess, and found their next lead -- it was a great morning by anyone's standards.

  CHAPTER 9

  Irina Spasky's thumb hovered over the send button on her phone. She couldn't seem to bring herself to make the call. She took a deep breath and put the phone back in the pocket of her thin black coat.

  The Kabras can wait, she thought, turning away from Alexander Palace. Irina began to walk, alone as usual, toward the pond at the other side of the palace grounds.

  She had watched Dan and Amy enter the palace, seen them run out toward that wreck of a car they'd purchased. They had been laughing.

  That bothered her. They were happy, these two. They would get into their tiny automobile and continue on until, eventually, they would lead Irina to trouble of the worst kind. A Lucian double agent. Perhaps a Madrigal.

  They'd found something in the palace, this much was obvious. They were in deeper trouble than they realized.It doesn't have to end badly, she tried to convince herself. Another child flashed before her eyes, younger, blonder. Why do I remember him best as a toddler?

  She remembered little of the last days, and almost nothing about the funeral. Almost everything had faded away but the weather.

  She would never forget the low, oppressive clouds and soft snow as they lowered the casket into the ground. Since then, there had been too many days and nights alone, too much time to think, and far too much compromised.

  Lose a child, and you lose your soul.

  Irina took the phone in her hand again and this time she didn't hesitate to press the button.

  "Finally," snapped Ian Kabra. "Have we got anything to worry about?""Yes," said Irina. She'd arrived at the pond and stood staring into the algae-covered water. "Someone helps them.

  Someone high up in the Lucian branch. It must be.""What makes you think so?" Ian asked."They've just left Alexei's Playroom. They must know about the Lucian connection to the Romanovs."

  "Make sure they don't find themselves in possession of sensitive material. You know what's at stake. One step closer and you'll have to remove them.""I know."Irina paused, but the temptation to goad was too strong."It won't be just me your father punishes," she warned softly, and clicked off her phone.

  At least she wasn't being asked to do anything too drastic to the children yet. She took a device out of her pocket and turned it on.

  A small screen came to life."Where are you off to now, Dan and Amy Cahill?" she said.

  Irina had already placed the coordinates from the parking lot into the device. A distant satellite beamed images onto her screen, zooming in closer and closer until the top of a blue car came into view.

  "Not bad," Irina said, pleased with the clever device the Lucians had only recently put into use in the field.

  The car was blurry and lacking detail on the screen, but the tiny blue top was unmistakable.

  This will be easier than I thought.

  Irina got in her own car, keeping the blue on-screen as she took chase. Two minutes later, the small car turned right."Off the main road," she mumbled, seeing Dan and Amy turn off the highway.

  "You two are full of surprises."A few minutes later, Irina had unexpectedly caught up, finding herself on a one-lane dirt road.

  She no longer needed the satellite viewer because she was quickly overtaking the small car. She hadn't intended to get so close to Amy and Dan, and she certainly didn't want them spotting her.

  But the road was narrow, with plowed-over fields on both sides, and she had a big car. What was worse, the blue car had stopped and was turning around.

  This will be complicated, thought Irina as the little car zoomed closer.

  It was going way too fast, as if the driver was planning to slam right into her front grill. Irina threw her car into reverse and began backing down the dirt road."Stop, you maniacs!" she screamed.

  Her car fish-tailed violently, caught the edge of a big rock, and spun out into the thick, tilled farmland.

  The blue car buzzed up to Irina and screeched to a halt. Its driver was a gray-bearded man whose smile revealed a missing front tooth."Who gave you this car? Where did they go?"

  Irina screeched in Russian, rolling down her window.

  The man nodded with some enthusiasm, which made Irina wonder if he had understood her questions. She peered into the empty backseat."Tell me, you idiot!"

  Irina screamed.The name-calling seemed to upset the driver and his smile evaporated. "Americans," he began. "Gave me ten thousand rubles plus the car in exchange."

  "Exchange for what?" yelled Irina."My truck," said the man.

  "What color was the truck? Which way did they go? Skazhi!"Irina should have known better than to hound an old Russian farmer. He was not amused by her angry tone, and he stared into the farmland as if he were made of iron.Irina reached into her pocket and pulled out a small revolver.

  Her eye was twitching furiously, but when she turned back to the car it widened in shock. The old farmer had slammed his foot down on the gas pedal, shooting a plume of dust and mud through her open window.

  Chunks of farm road flew into Irina's face. She threw her car into gear and hit the gas, but the soft tilled earth she'd backed into gave way and her rear wheels dug in.

  She was stuck.

  Irina coughed and spit, trying to clear all the mud from her mouth. The gunk in her eyes and mouth wasn't nearly as bad as the awful truth.

  “I've lost them.”

  * * *

  "Do you think we've lost her for good?" asked Dan. It had been his idea to enlist the help of the farmer walking along the dirt road.

  Dan's backpack full of money was coming in handy in more ways than he could have imagined."I have no idea, but I don't think I can stay in here much longer. Tiny Tim's trunk is like a mailbox and your feet stink.""I hate to break the news, but it's your feet that stink, not mine," said Dan.

  Amy sniffed."Actually, I think it's the farmer. He needs a bath."Tiny Tim slowed to a crawl and turned a hard right. A few seconds later it stopped and the trunk popped ope
n.

  "You pay now?" asked the farmer.

  "We pay now," answered Dan, crawling out of the trunk and peering around him. Amy came out next and ran for the driver's seat before Dan could beat her to it. She caught his eye in the rear-view mirror and stuck out her tongue.

  When Dan got in the car after paying the farmer, he made his broccoli face."Next time, let's get help from someone who hasn't been walking around in cow manure all day," said Amy.

  They rolled down the windows and Amy hit the gas as the old man wandered into the open farmland, counting his rubles.

  Amy was pushing Tiny Tim as fast as it would go, straight for the airport in St. Petersburg.

  She assumed they'd need to visit one of the two non-Siberian places left on their hunt: Moscow or Yekaterinburg.As the little car strained along, Dan juddered in his seat, holding the honey-colored stone Amy had discovered in Alexei's closet.

  It was an oval, about two inches around and flat like a skipping rock.

  [Proofreader's note: The writing on the rock says M,S -> 52 with 4 broken bones underneath.]

  "No way this thing was missed all those years," said Dan.

  "NRR had to put it there for us.""I agree. I just wish what was inscribed made more sense. He's not making it easy on us.""No kidding."Dan looked carefully at each of the elements on the stone and tried to piece them together. It was just the kind of thing he should be able to figure out.

  "A pile of bones, the number fifty-two, an arrow, and the letters M and S separated by a comma. Cryptic to say the least.""Is the arrow pointing toward the M and the S or away from them?" asked Amy."Away from them," answered Dan. "And the bones, now that I get a better look at them, are cracked. These are broken bones."Amy slammed on the

  brakes way too hard and Tiny Tim swerved along the shoulder of the road. Cars honked from behind and Dan came inches from smacking his head against the windshield.