Episode 8:The missing Pilot
The Mystery Trio are driving in the dark, with the truck from Totis. Through the streets at Titans Knee. It was dark and foggy. Matt in particular remembered the case of the fogmountain all the time. It was so foggy that Matt can't really see the road, he almost drove his truck into the abyss.
Mystery Trio: Oooohhhhh!
James: (frightened) Be careful, Matt! You steer the car right into the abyss!
Rob: (admonishing) Watch out! There were only a few centimeters left and we would have been history.
Matt: Yes, that's good! I'm already slowing down.
Rob: Oh, the fog is pretty dense up here in the mountains.
James: Yeah.
Matt: Hopefully no other car will come our way. I would only see that at the last moment with the many corners.
Rob: So, we really should have left earlier to transfer the item to the new owner. But Dad was absolutely convinced that we would make it in time for dusk.
James: Anyone can be wrong, Rob! Even Dad.
Rob: (applied) Matt, you're constantly getting into the opposite lane!
Matt: Well, it's enough for me. W... w... we've certainly lost our way a long time ago.
James: I am now studying the road map again.
Rob: Yes, do that.
Matt: I don't feel like turning these life-threatening serpentines all night long.
James: Ahh, you know what?
Matt: Mhm.
James: Here in the area is a hotel marked.
Rob: Oh. Is it perhaps even more precise than here in the area?
James: A good deal further up. And then a road goes south.
Matt: Mmhh. Is the hotel located in the next town?
Rob: There is no next place here so quickly. Only mountains, pristine nature, gravel roads...
Suddenly, Matt felt the car drive something over.
Rob: What was that?
Matt: (anxious) Did I run something over? But I... I didn't see anything.
James: Hopefully this wasn't an animal.
Rob: I'll take a look.
James: Do this.
Rob: You stay in the car, yes? Safe is safe.
Rob went out and slams the door.
Matt: I think that's scary, James. If that's a trap. If someone... what does... it's so lonely here and you don't see anything here.
James: Now chill out. I'll also go to have a look. (goes out)
Matt: (anxious) But Jam... es...
There is a knock on the window.
Matt: (frightened) Hhhhaaaach, yes!
James: There was nothing, Matt.
Rob: No. Only slipped earth and grass.
Matt: Aha.
The Mystery Trio saw an abonimation pickup drove out of the fog to the boys.
Matt: Haaahh! An abonimation pickup!
Rob: Yeah.
An old man came out and had a cigarette in his mouth.
Catman: Is dangerous to park here. I almost pushed you off the street. Have you... (coughs) Did you get lost?
James: We... we are looking for a hotel, sir. There must be one here nearby.
Catman: Ahh ha. You probably mean the "King of the Knee". So that's where you want to go. Yes, I know where that is. I've been living here in the area for a long time."
James: Can you tell us then...
Catman: Well, as you think. It's on my way, yes, exactly on my way and, uh, tells old Fynch to finally give up, yes? Tell him that. Oh, it's all so pointless, so pointless. (coughs)
Matt: Uh, what... what is pointless?
Catman: Yes, follow me, otherwise you will end up as demon food in one of the gorges. (coughs)
Catman got back into his car and drove off. The Mystery Trio followed Catman.
James: Come on Matt, otherwise we will lose him!
Matt: Yeah!
Rob: So, I kind of don't like the guy, James. What strange stuff was he talking about?
James: Mhm.
Rob: We are... completely helpless for him.
Matt: Yes, exactly! He can lure us elsewhere and do something bad with us.
James: It is better than driving into the ditch. And besides, there are three of us.
Rob: (screams) The pickup! The pickup! Stop, Matt!
Matt braked abruptly behind the pickup.
James: Aaahhh!
Matt: Why does the guy stop so suddenly?
James: He has turned on the right turn signal.
Rob: Hm.
James: Mmh. There, now he drives straight ahead.
Matt: Mmmhh. We should probably turn here.
Rob: Yes, exactly.
Matt: So, I don't like that. I don't see anything!
James: Stop here.
Matt: Yes, that will probably be the best.
James: Look! There's something up there.
Rob: Huh?
James: Let's get out, brothers.
Matt: So... so, I'll stay here in the car.
Rob: Alone? Are you sure?
Matt: Okay, I'll come along.
James: Light Spell, guys!
The three got out of the car and walked to the building. Only now do the three of them see the big house. It looked rather rott.
Rob: You were right, there really is something.
Matt: A house!
Rob: And what does it read... on the, on the wooden sign?
James: King of the Knee.
Matt: But... but nowhere is light burning. Like in a horror movie.
Rob: This is supposed to be a hotel? There hasn't been a person there for years.
James: Let's go in, guys. A roof over your head is still better than freezing to death out here. Have you locked the car, Matt?
Matt: I don't think so!
Rob: Oh!
James: Doesn`t matter, no one lives here anyway.
They walked up to the entrance and James opened the door.
James: The door is not locked. Well, then... then let's go in.
Rob: I'll light up with the Light Spell.
Matt: Ha, there's a light switch.
Rob: Yes. (Switch is flipped) That's good. There's already light. At least a little.
James: Booah, this is dusty here.
Matt: Ooohh.
Rob: Ahh, here's a Old Scroll...Mmhh, dead line!
Matt: Does anyone really still live here?
Rob: Doesn't look like it, does it?
James saw a coffee cup on the table, he sniffed on it.
James: But in this cup there is still a liquid coffee residue. So recently someone was here.
Matt: I don't know if we should be happy about that. So honestly, I'd rather be alone in the hotel. I once saw a film about a lonely house that a family from the city had rented. And finally, ten bodies were buried in the garden.
Rob: That doesn't help us now, Matt!
Matt: It helps us! By getting out of here as quickly as possible.
James: I would like to look around a bit here though!
Matt: (tearfully pleading) Please, James! There's something wrong here, you can feel it too. Let's drive away, yeah, before it's too late!
James: In this fog? Do you want to get lost and risk falling down a slope, overtired as we all are? The nearest town is hours away.
Matt: Yes, we can sit in the car and spend the night there!
James: Until we are attacked by bandits?
Rob: Hey, knock it off, guys! I think James' suggestion is very reasonable. We'll take a look at the hotel here, and if the whole thing seems too strange, we can always get in the car and drive away.
Matt: Sure, I get it.
The three boys continued to look around the hotel. When Rob spotted something.
Rob: Hey, look!
James: Huh?
Rob: Here! On the reception desk all old pictures of the hotel.
Matt: Huh, that was a really great hotel back then.
Rob: Yeah.
James: And here, look: a man and a other man. Happy arm in arm, right in front of the entrance.
Matt: Huh! This picture here shows a wrecked airplane.
Rob: Indeed. It's a propeller machine.
Matt: Yeah.
James: Mmmhh, I could need some food right now.
Matt: Hah, there's a little fridge in the corner.
Matt went to the fridge and opened it.
Matt: Arrrgh! Everything iced. Yes. But... but at least there's a huge pack of salami here.
Rob: Really?
Matt: Yeah... Do you think we can take here things just like that?
Rob: Yeah, sure, it's a hotel! Afterwards we also pay. It can't be that expensive.
Matt: Mmmhh, good. The expiration date is okay. Hehehe, yaa then. Bon appetit, gentlemen. Welcome to the 0.5 star hotel: "King of the Knee". Enjoy your vacation.
Suddenly the Mystery Trio heard a car driving around outside. Very close by. After that, they also heard a door slam.
James: (whispering) Do you hear that? What is that?
Rob: (laughing) That's the waiter. It's about time.
Matt: (whispering) Who is that?
Rob: (whispering) Now everything is quiet again.
James: (whispers) Come, let's see whats going on!
The Mystery Trio went outside again. But because of the fog, they didn't see much.
Rob: (whispers) Nothing and no one to see.
Matt: (whispers) And what do we do now?
James: (whispers) None of this has to mean anything bad. Maybe another guest has come. Or the owner.
Rob turned around and looked at one of the windows of the hotel. He saw a figure, suddenly he saw an ugly pale face. Rob screamed.
Rob: There was someone!
James: Where?
Rob: There. At the back of the window. Such... such... such a... ugly... ugly grimace.
Matt: (panicked) So, that's it, come guys!
James: Where do you want to go, Matt?
Matt: (panicked) To the car!
Matt ran off into the fog. James and Rob couldn't see him anymore.
Rob: Have you gone insane? Come back now!
James: We must search him, Rob!
The two also ran in the direction in which Matt disappeared. The two stayed with each other.
Rob: Where has he gone?
James: Matt? Matt!
Rob: Matt?
Matt: Here! Here I am! James, Rob, where are you? Now come please, quickly!
Rob: There he is! There he is, I see him.
James: Come on, Rob!
James and Rob ran to Matt, who looked at them desperately.
Rob: Tell me... tell me, what's going on, Matt?
Matt: The car!
Rob: What?
Matt: The car, it's gone! It's gone! You hear, gone! The car is gone!
James: What?
Rob: Yes, but... But that... that can't be!
James: Oh, the Light Spell is useless in this fog!
Matt: The car is gone. Why, why don't you want to believe me?
James: Mmmhh. Look, Matt.
James pointed to another parking lot that has now exposed the fog.
Matt: Uh, why... how... that... That can`t be. That's where it is!
James: Mmmhh. The Car.
Rob: But wait a minute, hadn't we parked over here?
Matt: Doesn`t matter! We're about to leave. Immediately, yes? I don't want to go back to this hotel!
Rob: But I have to get in there again, my backpack is still in the hall. Are you coming along?
James: Sure. Come on Matt.
Matt: But... but only under protest!
The three went back to the hotel and saw their next surprise.
Rob: Aaahh, that... that can`t be?!
Matt: Whats now wrong?
Rob: Yeah, now my... now my backpack is gone.
Matt: We should get out of here as soon as possible.
From behind suddenly came a slightly older man with a pale face. He grinned at the three boys.
Fynch: Good evening!
The Mystery Trio startled and turned around.
Fynch: I haven't had any guests for a long time. I have already brought the luggage to the gentlemen's room.
Matt: (stuttering frightened) Ahh, we... we... we... uh... is the hotel still open?
Fynch: But of course. Welcome to the King of the Knee. I'm Fynch Hunterman, the owner.
Rob: Uh, say, why haven't you had any guests for a while?
Fynch: Hahaha, probably the weather. The Boiling rains are coming here far too often.
Matt: Aahh. Actually, we were just about to drive on.
Fynch: Not a chance in this fog. How did the three of you even find your way here without falling into the gorge or getting eaten by some monsters?
Rob: An older man with long white hair showed us the way.
Matt: Yeah. He drove an Abonimation pickup and smoked like a chimney.
Fynch: Paah, Catman!
James: What?
Fynch: That was Jack Catman. My neighbor over the hill. But now to you. My rooms are fine. Don't worry about it.
James: How much does an overnight stay cost?
Fynch: Hahahahaa! If you help me, you don't have to pay anything.
Rob: What?
James: What do you mean by "help"?
Fynch: Mmmhh, I had to move your car, it was in the middle of the driveway. The car door was not closed. I rolled the car next to the hotel. And in the future, please don't leave backpacks lying around in the way.
Matt: Ahh, we..., we..., we don't even want to...
James: I think we will stay for one night, sir!
Matt: (whispers) But James, we wanted to...
Fynch: Then, then I'll show you your room.
James: Yeah.
Fynch: I hope you guys don't smoke. I can't stand that stuff. Come on! Come on, come on!
Fynch Hunterman took the Mystery Trio to the second floor. Room 1. Fynch got out a key and unlocked the room.
Fynch: So... Here, here it is. Apartment one. There. You'll be satisfied.
Matt: Thank you.
Fynch: Naa, have I promised you too much? Hahaha, only the best for you!
The apartment had three beds in it and a closet with a little frigde.
Rob: Mmmhh, quite okay. Yeah, uh, thanks. We'll get the luggage out of our car and make ourselves as... comfortable as we can here.
Fynch:
Fynch: If you're... if you're hungry, come on over. I can cook you something. There's also a lounge with a library.
Rob: Oh, really?
Fynch: Just, yeah, we don't have a Crystal Ball here... Up here has no internet or electrics, (laughs). See you later then.
Rob: Yeah.
Matt: See you later.
Fynch gave James the key to the apartment. And closed the door and left.
Rob: What a weird guy.
Matt: So... I'll pass on the food. James, how could you agree to stay here?
James: Matt, because I want to know what's going on here. A strange hotel owner with no guests in a dilapidated building.
Rob: Didn't you notice how irritated he reacted when we mentioned the man in the pickup truck?
James: Jack Catman?
Rob: Right. It sounded like Hunterman doesn't like this Catman at all.
Matt: Above all, I felt the guy staring at me. It was really creepy. Can you tell me something clever about that, James?
James: No, Matt. After all, the matter of the car being moved has been cleared up, as has that of the missing backpack.
Matt: Mhm.
James: Besides, I don't think it's so bad here.
Rob and Matt: Really?
James: Just imagine if we were still driving now, completely overtired and in the middle of the fog. That would also have been a horror.
Matt: Yes, yes, the emphasis is on "also"!
XXX
After the three detectives got their luggage out of the car, they looked around their room. In one corner, Rob spotted a framed newspaper article.
Rob: I think you were right again, James?
James: Yeah?
Rob: Somehow we always slip into a case, uh, or a mystery. Look what I found. Here!
James: Let me see! (reads) Mystery of Abonatom plane crash in the mountains. A mysterious plane crash occurred last Sunday in Titans Knee. The plane, a single-engine private airplane from the company Blight Industries, had been hijacked from the Bonesborough airport by an unknown person a few hours earlier. The owner of the plane was knocked down as he tried to board his airplane, which was ready for takeoff. There is no trace of the perpetrator.
Matt: The article looks quite old.
Rob: Yes, unfortunately there is no date on it.
James: Remember the picture hanging in the reception downstairs? There was an airplane on it.
Rob: Yeah!
Matt:: Yes, but... why would someone frame a newspaper article about a plane crash in a lonely hotel?
James: Where was the photo frame?
Rob: Yes, on the shelf next to the little fridge. Right here!
James: Aha!
Rob: What „aha"?
James: If the frame had been here for a while, the panel wouldn't be dusty at this exact spot, but the surface is completely covered with a greasy dusty film. And that means...
Rob: The frame had not been there very long.
Matt: And what does that mean?
James: Someone put it there. Maybe even for us. And that, in turn, means...
Suddenly, one of the windows in the room shattered. A stone was thrown into the window. The Mystery Trio startled.
Rob: Someone threw a rock through the window!
James looked outside and saw someone running away.
James: Someone is running away!
Matt: Well, I'm not running out there to chase him now.
James: That also makes little sense in the fog.
Rob picked up the stone and looked at his two brothers seriously.
Rob: The usual classic, guys. A note is wrapped around the stone.
Matt: And what does it say?
Rob: Get out of here, you'll never get it!
Matt: Huh? It? What don't we get?
James: We could ask Mr. Hunterman about that.
Matt: Haa, great idea. The way he's acting, it's really possible that he threw the stone in here himself. Have you actually seen the guy, James?
James: I don't think it was Hunterman. I rather had the impression that it was this Mr. Catman. The tangled hair, the black jacket...
Matt: You mean the one from the pickup?
Rob: This guy who led us here?
James: I'm not entirely sure, of course. It... it all happened so fast. But I'm sure talking to Hunterman is worth a try. Besides, we need a new room.
Matt: Yeah.
James: With the hole in the window, we can't stay here.
Rob: Too bad, now...when we just made ourselves so...comfortable.
James: Come on, guys!
XXX
When the Mystery Trio entered the reception area, Mr. Hunterman was nowhere to be seen. James went to the place where the photograph with the plane wreckage was hanging and took down the picture.
James: Huh, there is a date on the back. The crash was about 10 years ago.
Rob: That's interesting. Turn the picture around again, James.
James: This must be a mountain meadow. Beyond the tree line. In the background you can see a few rocks.
Matt: Put that picture back up before we get in trouble with Mr. Hunterman.
James: Yeah, yeah.
Matt: The plane is still relatively well preserved. Probably the pilot tried an emergency landing and maybe he survived.
Rob: Yes, but then why did he disappear without a trace?
Out of nowhere, Mr. Hunterman came up behind the three boys.
Fynch: Well, what can I do for you three?
Rob: Uh... yes... mmhh... yes, you know, we would like to change the, uh, room. Someone has damaged the window... (clears throat)
Fynch: (mad) You, you broke a window?!
Rob and James: Noo!
James: Calm down, sir!
Fynch: My window, my window!
James: No! A person unknown to us threw a stone through the window.
Rob: Exactly.
James: We were the victims, not the perpetrators.
Matt: Yeah.
Fynch: A…an attack?
Rob: Yeah.
Fynch: (whining) Oh, here we go again...!
James: What do you mean?
Fynch: I uh... I've had trouble here.
Matt: I see. Is that why the guests stayed away over time?
Fynch: Possible.
James: Do you think your neighbor Catman threw the rock?
Fynch: Possible.
James: Your hotel used to be a top address. In the photo there, is that you with your husband?
Fynch: This... this is Elnor. Yes, my husband. Unfortunately, he left me a few years ago and moved away.
Rob: Mmh, and what's with the photo of the crashed plane?
Fynch: The plane?
Rob: Yeah.
Fynch: Yes, that... that was years ago.
James: In our room we found a photo frame with an article about the accident. It must have been there for a while.
Fynch: Oh, that. Yes, I found it again recently, it was, uh, under the bed. I put it on the shelf and forgot about it. I'm sorry, I should have put it away, of course.
James: No, no, no problem. On the contrary, I found the story very interesting. Tell me, how did the crash happen in the first place? Did the Abonatom plane hit the mountain in the fog?
Fynch: No. No, no. I remember it well. It was a cloudless afternoon when the man made his emergency landing. The thunderstorm didn't come until night. It took days to get the power back on.
James: And, have they caught the criminal?
Fynch: Did the article say it was a criminal?
James: The guy had knocked out the owner of the plane...
Fynch: No, no, no, a criminal he was not, but it's true, that came out later.
Rob: Oh, then (clears throat) ...then he didn't hijack the plane at all?
Fynch: Yes, he did, but he was on the run from murderers. The plane was his only chance. At that moment, he didn't have time to explain. He was from the...Emperor's Coven who had found something specific.
James: You seem to know more details?
Fynch: Yeah. I still remember it well. Emperor's Coven came, the Emperor himself came. Everybody was looking for him, for days. Hahaha, my hotel was full, hehe.
Rob: And have they found the pilot?
Fynch: Yes, after one week. On the other side of the mountain, behind my hotel. There, uh, is a small hut.
Matt: Ah, then he survived?
Fynch: That's what I said. They found him. But not the little black box they were all after.
Matt: A small black box?
Fynch: That's right. (speaks mysteriously) He had a high rank in the coven...
Rob: What was in the box?
Fynch: Who knows? Secret! They didn't tell me.
James: Then the pilot lost the box in the crash?
Fynch: Or, Max Dexterius hid it afterwards.
James: Aha, so the pilot's name was Max Dexterius. What makes you think he hid his secret souvenir?
Fynch: Yes, no one found the box, not even the coven. No matter how hard they searched. I didn't quite believe it at first. But years later, a woman I didn't know came. Strange thing.
James: What do you mean?
Fynch: She said she was the sister of Max Dexterius, but he had died in the meantime. And then she said that the pilot had written her a riddle shortly before he died.
Rob: Riddle?
Fynch: A Riddle about a hiding place that had to be here in our area.
Matt: Aha.
Fynch: Yes, and now she was looking for the box.
Rob: And?
Fynch: She found nothing.
Rob: How do you know that?
Fynch: I just know.
Rob: I see. And... do you know the riddle?
Fynch: Indeed. The woman left it there when she left. I picked it up somewhere. Aah, sit down and wait here. I'll be right back.
Fynch left the boys alone and went to find the riddle.
Rob: Oh my Titan!
James: Guys!...
Rob: Yeah?
James: ...I think it's all connected. The plane crash of the coven guy, the downfall of the hotel, that cranky Fynch Hunterman. Remember what the driver of the pickup truck told us to do?
Rob: Yes. I can still remember somehow: Tell old Fynch to give it up, right?
James: And what was written on the note wrapped around the stone? Get out of here! You'll never get it! Now it all makes sense. It's about the contents of the black box.
Rob: Yeah, wait a minute. You mean Jack Catman with the pickup truck, he doesn't want the box found? And we're supposed to talk Hunterman out of it.
James: Yes, it looks like it. But of course we won't do that.
Matt: Yes, but there's just a flaw in the thinking, James.
James: Hm?
Matt: Fynch Hunterman is not looking for the box. What are we going to stop him from doing?
James: Maybe he is it searching not anymore, but…
Fynch came back out of another room with a note in his hand.
Fynch: Sooo, here, here... I... I have found it.
James: The Riddle?
Fynch: That's how it is. The woman couldn't solve it. I didn't even tried it later. I gave up right away. I guess only a certain kind of person can understand.
James: May we have the note?
Fynch: Mmmhh... Copy it down. You can give it back to me later. Yes, yes, I'll, uh, I'll take a look at the, at the broken window, uh, take a look at the broken window.
James: Mr. Hunterman, one more question. Where exactly did this plane crashed down?
Fynch: In the mountains. Just below the Knee. Yeah, uh, there's a map on the counter. Here.
James: Thanks! Uh-huh. And, um, how long does it take to get there?
Matt: How? You... you, you want to hike to the plane?
Fynch: Walk three hours. It, there is no direct way. You have to fight your way through the wilderness. But it is a very beautiful route. Forests, mountains and lakes.
Matt: Hehe, lakes. Yes, but probably only Boiling Lake?
Fynch: Yes, you must be careful not to fall into it.
Matt: Yeah.
Fynch: So, I'll, uh... I'll take care of the window now. And you'll get apartment 3. Sooo, here's the key
Rob: Thank you.
Fynch: And... finally find it! (emphatically) Find the box! But watch out! Beware of Jack!
Rob: What do you mean?
Fynch: (mysteriously disappearing) Jack! Jack!
James: Hmm. Well, then, let's take a look at the puzzle. Mmmhh... Dear... Here the corner is torn off. So we'll have to do without the name. But listen: (reads aloud) "Remember the dream we always dreamed. Start from the place. Run, fifty far, until you run out of breath, but then it's okay. Take the break, three minutes, then descend the last meters. Stop. Stop. Look around, stop completely. Then you'll find more than the wreckage. Your..." (finishes reading aloud) ...mmhh, well, that name is missing too. Pooah! So, this is an exorbitantly specialized hard puzzle even for me.
Matt: Your right.
James: Nevertheless, I already suspect that the Riddle of the coven guy can only be solved if you take the landscape into consideration.
Rob: Oh, you mean when we go to the plane wreckage and pay attention to the surroundings.
James: Exactly. Above all, from there we should choose the way back that the pilot also took, until he is along to the hut beyond the rocky mountain, where he was found.
Rob: Give me the map, James.
James: Here.
Rob:
Rob: Ahaa. Yes, here. The hut is marked on the map.
James: Yeah.
Rob: It will be best to hike the entire route.
Matt: Ohhh! Well, what the heck. The fact that Dad's customer will be pissed if he has to wait any longer for the potions will probably be the least of our problems.
XXX
One night later, right after breakfast, the Mystery Trio set off for the mountains. The sun was already warming up strongly and the fog had lifted. But the path was overgrown in many places. Apparently it was rarely used, if at all. This gave Rob a thought
Rob: Tell me guys, did you actually see another Abomination car at the hotel?
James: You mean a car from Mr. Hunterman?
Rob: Exactly. How does he buy his food?
Matt: Mhh?
James: I have not been able to discover a garage, nor a second car.
Matt: Maybe Hunterman left really early.
James: We would have heard that.
Rob: Yeah.
Matt: Yes, or already at night.
James: Aha, and who then served us breakfast? At least the hot chocolate was still warm.
Rob: Hm.
Matt: Yes, that's right. Well, maybe he'll let the neighbor supply him with the pickup. Even if the two don't like each other, that's supposed to happen, after all...
James: Quiet!
Rob: (whispers) Whats wrong James?
James: (whispers) Guys, something moved in the bushes back there. Be quiet!
Matt: An animal or a demon?
James: Maybe. If there are animals in black jackets watching us.
Matt: Hunterman?
James: Hunterman, or his neighbor Catman. I felt like I was looking into a cat mask instead of a face.
Matt: A…a cat-mask?
Rob: Oh, let whoever wants to watch us, guys.
James: Oh, you're right, Rob... Oops, what's on the floor here? A cigarette butt.
Matt: And?
James: (sniffs) It's dry and still stinky. So she hasn't been lying here in the damp fog. So it is now certain: we are being watched.
Rob: Mmhh, Fynch Hunterman doesn't smoke. He did say he hates it.
Matt: Mmh. That also speaks for Catman. He did smoke.
James: Yes, however, I had the feeling yesterday that Hunterman's clothes smelled faintly of cigarettes.
Rob: Guys…
James: What?
Rob: ...from this point, by the way, you have a fantastic view of the valley.
Rob was right, the Valley was full of green meadows and beautiful mountains. Nearby was even the Fogmountain. James pointed to a certain spot.
James: That must be Titans Knee in the distance. In the meadow below the summit must be the wrecked plane. So come on. Onward brothers!
Matt & Rob: Alright.
XXX
After a while, the trees turned into brush. The Titans Knee was getting closer and the Mystery Trio were making rapid progress. But suddenly James held his friends back.
James: That's weird. Uh, c... come with me, guys.
Rob: What's wrong with him now, Matt?
Matt: Don't know.
James: There. Look at that pile of stones there.
Rob: Yeah.
James: The boiling water behind it has dammed up into a small lake.
Matt: Yes, and what's so strange about that? It's a dam.
James: At least it used to be. Come on. Follow me to the other side of the boiling river.
James climbed onto the bank with Rob and Matt.
James: That's what I thought. Someone must have diverted the stream a short distance years ago.
Matt: Yes, and what's so exciting about that?
James: This can only mean one thing: The person has drained the basin in the old stream through this dam.
Matt: Mmmhh. Could that have been the coven? In search of the pilot?
James: I'm thinking much more about Fynch Hunterman. He told us yesterday there are a lot of boiling lakes and streams, he warned us about that, Matt. Through the dam, I think he found a way to search the basin for the secret message. It's pretty deep.
Matt: Yeah, but he told us that he didn't care about the hiding place at all.
Rob: Exactly.
James: Apparently he did. Hunterman also searched and searched like a madman. It must have taken weeks to divert the river so that the gorge could run dry.
Matt: Mmmhh. But no one has found the hiding place. Neither the coven, nor the pilot's sister, nor Fynch Hunterman.
Rob: Yes, that's right. Because otherwise he wouldn't have commissioned us to do it.
Matt: Yeah.
James: He outright lied to us when he said he didn't care about the Riddle.
Matt: And what if that wasn't his only lie? The whole story with the Emperor's Coven and that Belos had come, that sounds completely abstruse and completely stupid.
Rob: Hopefully we're not about to fall into a trap right now.
Matt: Yeah. Something is wrong here.
James: We're still figuring that out, Matt.
XXX
Again and again James, Matt and Rob stopped and searched the area for their pursuer. The wreckage of the plane could now be seen in the distance. The sunlight reflected in the abomination mixed with metal parts. They continued to walk. Soon the climb began to the meadow that the pilot had chosen for his emergency landing years ago. And then James pointed ahead excitedly.
James: Guys! The wreck! There it is. Come on!
Rob: Yeah.
Now the three of them ran to the wreckage.
Rob: Oh man! That must have been quite a crash landing.
James: I'll climb in!
Matt: The remains of the door only hang on a hinge.
James took off his backpack and tried to climb into the plane wreck. Luckily, this wasn't that difficult because the plane was lying on the ground. James got on the plane. His two brothers watched him.
Matt: And?
James: Someone took a very close look around here. The entire interior trim has been torn out, the seats are slashed and all the instruments are smashed. Someone systematically searched everything. And if everything doesn't deceive me, then...
Now the three boys heard a rumble.
Rob: You guys hear that?
Matt: Whats that?
James: Up there, a rockfall. An avalanche!
Stones were approaching the plane and James was still in there.
Rob: (screams) Get out of there!
Matt: (screams) Go! Come on, James!
James: I'm coming... not so fast out!
Rob: Under the wreck! That is the only way!
Rob and Matt ran under the wreck. And James just made it and also came to his two brothers. All the stones flew onto the wreck and they could hear several loud bangs. After some time, the avalanche was over. And James looked angrily. They went outside after it was safe again.
James: (coughs) I hate nature! At least when people let them go.
Rob: How... you mean... You mean that was an attack?
James: What else have triggered the avalanche? Well, maybe an animal, but I'm much more likely to bet on our pursuer.
Matt: How, the man with this cat mask?
Rob: But there's nothing up there to see. Presumably he has already disappeared again.
Matt: (thoughtful) Hold on?! Wait a minute? Wait, uh, James, please read the riddle again!
James: (puzzled) The Riddle? Now?
Matt: Yes!
James: Alright.
James took out the Riddle and read it already.
James: Think of the dream we always dreamed. Start on the spot. Run, fifty far, you run out of breath, but then it's okay. By the way, the O at the Okay is written big.
Matt: Read!
James: Yes, calm down! I just wanted to say it. So: take the break, three minutes, then descend the last meters. Stop. Stop. Look around, stop completely. Then you will find more than the wreck.
Matt: (thoughtful) Take the break, three minutes, then descend the last meters.
James: Yeah.
Matt: It's all about diving. Do you understand?
Rob: What?
Matt: According to the rules, you have to make a safety stop when go up. Ab, ab, ab... about 3-5 meters. The break.
Rob: Oh yes! Matt, you are a genius!
Matt: I know! So, in the riddle text, yeah, there are all the diving signs. You can't speak underwater, so, so there's one, a hand sign language. Run, fifty wide. Fifty goes like this, for example, by making a fist. After our case with the sunken village, I researched a bit about diving.
James: Hm.
Rob: Yes, yes, yes, exactly. And, ahem, no more breath...
Matt: Yeah.
Rob: ...shows by placing the flat hand so, here, on the neck.
Matt: Exactly.
Rob: And, and one, an okay goes like this: Form a circle with your thumb and index finger and stretch the remaining fingers upwards.
James: Then it's time to descend the last few meters.
Matt: Yes, and to say that, yes, you stick your thumb down. Stop, stop, you hold your flat hand frontally.
Rob: And, uh, stop everything, you cross your arms to an X.
Matt: And then you'll find more than the wreck. So what you are actually looking for, the treasure. Whatever it is, this treasure.
James: Ohh, you solved the Riddle, Matt!
Rob: Yeah!
James: Now I'm just curious to see what we discover.
Matt: (laughs)
James: Wait, I get the binoculars out of my backpack.
Rob: W.. Ww... what are you up to now, James?
James: Tell me again the order of the characters, Matt! I guess the analogies lie in the landscape.
Rob: The... Analogies?
Matt: I'm sorry, James, but please explain, yes?
James: Analogy means that two structures from different contexts are the same, so analogous. I therefore suspect that the forms of the hand signals can be found here in the landscape. What was the order again, Matt?
Matt: Aah, Fist!
James: Yeah.
Matt: Then flat hand.
James: Yes.
Matt: Then circle with fingers in height.
James: Yeah.
Rob: So what? Do you discover anything that could fit in, James?
James: Yeah i see something!
Rob: Really?
James: There it is. These fat egg stones look like fists. From them, a kind of flat ridge continues, like the flat hand. The sign for: don't have breath anymore. And at the end of the ridge there is actually another eggstone, behind which there are three elongated rocks. That's the okay sign.
Rob: (enthusiastic) That's crazy, we have a trace.
Matt: B... B... B... b... but the text goes even further. Take the break, three minutes, then descend the last meters. Stop, stop, look around, stop everything.
James: So the frontally outstretched hand and the X.
Matt: Mmhh.
James: Aha, mmmhh, hach, no idea. Probably these are clues that you only understand when you have reached the corresponding place.
Rob: Yes, then let's go, friends. So there's something right to Hunterman's story.
Matt: Then, come on!
James: Alright.
XXX
Tired and heated, the three detectives reached the area below the Okay stone after a steep ascent.
Rob: It has to be this round stone here, guys.
Matt: And?
Rob: Yes, here it has to be somewhere.
Matt: The hiding place?
Rob: Yeah...
Matt: Here with the giant egg, right, or with the fingers? They are a hundred meters away.
James: Take the break, three minutes, then descend the last meters. Stop, stop, look around, stop everything. Three minutes break, that, I would rule that out as a location hint, because that was just the signal that all signs come from the world of diving.
Matt: Mmhh. Okay, um, then we'd have to down the last few meters. Actually, this is nonsense, because when diving you climb the last three to five meters.
Rob: Yeah, wait a minute, maybe... maybe it doesn't matter. Yeah, and he means, he means the radius.
James: Yes... that, that must be it. Sure! We have to look within five meters, guys. There's got to be something that looks like a stop sign and like an X, and then...
Suddenly a man with a cat mask came out of a bush. He went to Rob and squeezed his throat, Rob gasped for breath.
Rob: Help! Help! (gagging sounds)
Matt: The Cat-Man! He's squeezing Rob's neck!
James: (screams) Let go of Rob!
Matt: Fuck off!
But the cat man kept squeezing Rob's throat. Matt did a plant spell he had learned from Willow. Roots came out of the ground and grabbed the cat man and threw him away from Rob. Then the cat man disappeared in the bushes.
Rob: (out of breath) "Thank you... Thank you, Matt, thank you!" (coughs)
Matt: The guy was creepy. This... this horrible mask and how he rattled. As if he would get no more breath.
Rob: (strained) Yes,... because it was rather I who didn't get the breath.
Matt: Yes, yes, h... h... h... he was gonna kill you, Rob.
James: In any case, he escaped. We should take the chance and quickly find this thing that everyone wants so badly.
Rob: Yes, but where should we start now? At the egg stone, or, or at the fingers? From a distance, it looked like they were right behind each other, but now you can see that there are many meters between them and..., what do you think, James?
James: Of course we have to search at the egg stone!
Rob: And why?
James: Because Dexterius, the pilot, in the line: but then it is Okay, capitalizes the O of Okay. And that's the clue that we have to look at the big oval stone. You know what I mean? Which looks like an O and not by the fingers.
Matt and Rob: Yeah.
James: Come on, guys!
Rob: (laughs) The commander, ha..., again goes by the name of James Jones.
Matt: (laughs) Like always!
James: Come on!
From the stone, the Mystery Trio estimated a distance of about five meters and walked around in a circle. The next location of the puzzle, the flat hand, was not difficult to find. From a point on the circle one looked between a few trees at a rock about two meters high that could pass for a hand held high. In the rock were three dark crevices that looked like the spaces between fingers.
Rob: Yes, now we just need the X, guys.
Matt: Ha, the X. I've already discovered it. Someone has carved this X here under the middle gap. We have solved the riddle.
Rob: Wait a minute! If no one has beaten us to it yet.
James: So, volunteers forward! Which of you will reach into the opening?
Matt: Mmmhh, great, James. I'll say. Well I'll be so deathly brave. But stand around me, yes, so that no one can see me.
James: Alright.
Matt: Okay, lets go.
Matt reached in and searched.
James: And? (strained sounds from Matt)
Rob: Yes, is there something? (Matt knocks on something)
Matt: Ahhh, wait, yes, yes, t... there... there's something, yes!
James: Aha.
Matt: Oh, a small... a small box.
James: Show me!
Matt: Here!
Rob: So, can you open it?
James: Wait a minute, I'm opening it
When James opened the box, all three looked in, confused.
Rob: Huh?
Matt: What the heck is that?
James: A...a key and one chip shrink-wrapped in foil, just like you use in Crystal Balls.
Rob: Aha, so something from Emperors Coven after all?
James: Well, that remains to be seen. In the hotel I have a Crystal notebook, there we read the data and then we hopefully know more.
Matt: Hmm.
James: And in order not to lose time, you two look around the hotel at the same time. Maybe you'll find a few more clues.
Rob: Where?
James: In Mr. Hunterman's room.
Matt: Uh-huh, what James? I... I don't think that's a good idea.
James: Maybe Hunterman isn't even there. I have a feeling he might be. Then you break the lock with a spell and Rob makes sure no one comes.
Rob: Okay.
Matt: Once again, that sounds like an absolute sure thing, James.
James: Absolutely! Now let's go, come on!
Rob: Alright.
XXX
When James, Matt and Rob returned to the hotel some time later, Matt was relieved. As James had suspected, the house was empty. Mr. Hunterman was not there. The three boys stood in front of the hotel owner's door.
James: Okay Matt. Your part.
Matt: Hmm.
James: I now check the chip in our room.
Matt: Yeah, and what should we look for in Mr. Hunterman's room?
James: No idea. Something related to the plane or the chip.
Rob: Yes, then leave, James. We're already doing that.
James: Okay, see you later guys!
James walked away in his room. Matt knocked on Mr. Hunterman's door.
Matt: Mr. Hunterman?
Rob: Oh, forget it, it's not there. So let's go, break the door with the spell.
Matt: Okay.
Matt made a spell that opened the lock of the door.
Matt: Oh, I hate when we do something like that.
Rob: If we want to provide Hunter with some information, unfortunately we have no other choice. And besides, I finally want to know who went to my throat earlier.
The door opened now.
Matt: So, done!
Rob: Very good! Go, go in!
Matt: Oooach! Is that dirty here. I'm not touching anything here.
Rob: What's in all the boxes in here? Insurance certificates are these. Old invoices from the scroll company. Aha. At some point he didn't pay the bills and they disconnected the lines from him.
Matt: Mhm.
Rob: Well, at least he paid for his electricity.
Matt: And... and what's in the other box?
Rob: Wait a minute... Aha!
Matt: And?
Rob: Yes, several newspaper reports about the plane crash.
Matt: Oh.
Rob: Hunterman didn't just own the one article he showed us, there's a lot more to it.
Matt: Yeah, and what does it say?
Rob: Wait a minute... What... mmhh... the period of the reports shall be several months. And from the headlines, it seems as if there is no mention in any article of the Emperor's Coven, or from Belos, or of the pilot being found.
Matt: What?!
Rob: Moment. Wait a minute, wait a minute. On the contrary, the man... the man remained missing.
Matt: What?
Rob: Yes, and no one knows who he was... Also, there is nothing in it that a person has survived. Nothing of a coven guy and nothing of a hiding place.
Matt: Maybe they kept it a secret.
Rob now heard a door that squealed open behind a wall.
Rob: Strange...
Matt: Yeah, I think so too!
Rob: (whispers) No, I mean the sound I just heard. Behind that wall here.
Matt: Yeah.
Rob: (whispers) Right behind this wall. A door has squeaked... and... oh no,... do you hear the footsteps?
Matt: (anxious) Let's disappear here immediately!
The two boys fled out of the room and collided with James on the run.
Rob: James!
Matt: (agitated) Alarm, James! In Hunterman's room, a door and footsteps could suddenly be heard behind the wall.
James: What?
Matt: Someone came.
Rob: Yes! And I don't want to be strangled a second time.
James: All right! Time to disappear. I'm done and have already packed everything.
Matt: Yes, then quickly to the car, yeah?...
James: Yeah!
Matt: ... Before this weird cat man, or, or the... t... t... the strange neighbor appears.
Rob: Or Hunterman!
James: Come on!
The three of them started to ran outside.
Matt: What's on the chip, James?
James: Numbers and encrypted hints. I... I copied everything.
Rob: Huh... Oh no... What is it... What's that?
James: Oh no!
Matt: The car!
James: All four tires are flat!
Rob: Oh damn! We are trapped.
Matt: (whiny) Yes, and now? We have to get out of here. On foot, this takes days and... and soon it will be dark, we have no chance.
James: He does not want to leave us out. Not as long as he doesn't have the treasure.
Matt: Who, James?
James: Oh no!
Suddenly, 5 abominations came towards the three boys in the middle stood Fynch Hunterman.
Matt: Fynch Hunterman!
Fynch: Here with the stuff! Go, give me what you have found. But immediately!
Rob: Here, Mr. Hunterman, you catch the travel bag. There's everything they're looking for in there.
Fynch: The treasure... The treasure... My treasure!
Rob: And now get out of here, guys!
Since Hunter was distracted, the three boys ran away, away from the hotel. And they ran in the direction to Catman's house.
Matt: Where are we running, Rob?
Rob: Yes, the... the way here must lead to the Catman House, there is no other way.
Matt: And... and there is also the Abomination pickup of him. We'll drive with that, no matter how!
James: Hunterman will soon know that we still have the chip, and it's not hard to guess where we want to go. We can't get rid of him so quickly.
Matt: First of all, we have to find Jack Catman's hut and hope that the car is there and the key is stuck.
XXX
The Mystery Trio almost ran past their destination. After following the gravel road for a while, they arrived at a small hut completely exhausted. The black pickup barely stand out from the dark forest behind it.
James: This is probably the hut of Catman. We once walked almost around the whole ridge.
Matt: Yes, and the car. Hopefully we are lucky and the key is there.
Rob: Not so loud! What if Catman hears us? After all, we make ourselves criminal if we take the car.
Matt: This is probably an absolute emergency!
Rob: Oh man!
James shakes the door handle
James: Dung! Locked!
Rob: It would have been too nice if something had worked smoothly.
James: We have to go into the house, look for the car key.
Matt: What?... what? I... I don't want to get in there, James!
James: There is no light in the hut, he is not there.
Matt: What if he's really the cat guy who wanted to kill us?
James: But we have no other chance. Do you want to wander through the forest on foot here at night? We need a car!
Matt: Alright. Hey, what's that in the back for... for a bright dancing point? There, there in the forest, next to the house. Is... is that an aberration?
Rob: Should I do a Light Spell?
James: That... I wouldn't risk that. In addition, we are approaching it directly. We'll know soon.
When the Mystery Trio got there, they saw a candle in a glass case. And behind this candle was a tombstone.
Rob: That... This is... this is a burning candle, I would say. Yeah, in such a glass housing, so protected from the wind.
Matt: The candle... the candle stands in front of a... uh... is this a tombstone?
Rob: There's something chiseled in. There, it says: My grave. This is really a grave.
Matt: (becoming anxious) But... why is there a dead witch here? Perhaps the grave is also intended for someone who... who hasn't died yet... Maybe for us!
Rob: Chill out, Matt!
James: Nevertheless, we are now going into the house!
Matt opened the door with the same spell from before. And they went into the house.
James: He... He... Hello? Hellllooo? I make a light spell.
James suddenly startled.
Rob: Whats wrong?!
James: Ooch! I really thought there was someone standing in front. But it is only a man-sized painting. Check it out!
Matt: Ohh, who is that? A person in an abomination black tight suit, with fins on the feet. This is a diving suit.
James: Yeah.
Rob: Well, the guy... wears a cat mask.
Matt: A cat mask!?
In front of the painting was a chest. Matt opened it and also saw a cat mask.
Matt: It's also in this chest in here.
Rob: Really?
Matt: Yes, look at that.
James: Aha.
Matt: A diving mask, revised as a cat face. In this disguise, he strangled you, Rob.
Rob: Yes, that also explains this... that strange roar I've heard.
James: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Rob: Just like a traditional abomination diving mask, you can't breathe through your nose when you wear it. So then it was really Catman who lurked us as a cat man.
Matt: Yes, that fits. And here in the chest is also the associated diving suit.
Rob: Crazy!... What about you, James? You don't say anything anymore?
James: When I was a child... oh why didn't I notice it right away?
Matt: Whats wrong?
James: When I was a child, a newspaper report just tied me up. For months. Even, oh, even for years. I also think it was because of this case that I later became a detective.
Matt: What?
James: By the way, it has never been enlightened. The perpetrator was never caught. And even today I sometimes search the Internet for messages about it.
Rob: And?
Matt: Yes, yes, we don't have much time. We need the car key.
Matt now went and looked for the key.
James: Actually, there were several cases behind which, however, there was only one perpetrator, more precisely, it was a thief. The man with the mask.
Matt: The man with the mask?
James: Yes so is it. Also called Sharkman. Or, what I didn't know at the time, apparently Catman.
Rob: Aha.
James: Some thought it looked like a shark. Others thought he resembled a cat, but no one got to see his true face.
Rob: Creepy...
James: There's an old movie. It is about a sympathetic thief, called: The cat. Who robs guests in rich hotels.
Matt: Yes, I know the movie.
James: Maybe that was Sharkman's role model. Maybe that's why he got a cat mask. From then on, I became more and more interested in criminal cases and at some point I lost interest to Sharkman.
Rob: And why, James?
James: Suddenly, there were no more thefts. He may have retired because he had made enough prey.
Matt: But now it's enough with your fairy tale hour, I have the key!
Rob: What?
Suddenly, the three boys saw the painting swinging to the side.
Rob: The oil painting, it swings to the side. This is a secret door.
Mr. Catman came in with an Abomination Blade. And looked at the three boys menacingly.
Catman: Give me back my treasure!
James: What is this secret door, Mr. Hunterman?
Catman: What? Mr. Hunterman? My treasure, you must have it with you, right?
James: I understand! The walk leads through the mountain to the hotel, doesn't it? That's the only way you could get here so quickly.
Catman: Don't mess around here, where is my treasure?
James: And the person in this oil painting, the secret door, puts Sharkman there, right? And you play him!
Catman: Hahahaha, I don't play him, I'm Sharkman! What do you think? I would have much preferred to call myself Catman, the man with the cat mask, but some idiot of sailor on a luxury liner thought my mask was a shark and since then all the newspapers have written Sharkman. And now here with my treasure.
Rob: Oh, what kind of treasure do you think it is, Mr. Sharkman?
Catman: You know that very well. You finally found it.
Matt: But you hid it, Sharkman. You have to know for yourself.
Rob: Yeah.
James: Yes. Prove to us that you are truly Mr. Sharkman.
Catman: What? I, I am... I'm Sharkman. You dare to doubt that? I... I will imprison you and if you starve to death here. I will find what belongs to me. No one should have my treasure. Hands up! And now finally talk!
James: Sharkman! As a child, I admired you. How you robbed the ships and hotels almost invisibly. Elegant, mysterious. You hardly had to use violence. That was the action of a gentleman gangster.
Catman: Haha, you say it boy!
James: You came by plane back then.
Catman: Exactly.
James: You were tracked down and had to flee. At Bonesborough airport, they hijacked a private plane. But no one knew you were the kidnapper. Sharkman the diver thief.
Catman: Nobody, nobody. The two cases were not brought into context. I tricked the Coven.
Matt: So this, this coven guy is the pilot story is complete nonsense?
Catman: Huh? Which, which Coven Guy? Oh? Did he tell that? So, I don't know about a coven guy.
Rob: How, how... what? He? What's going on now?
James: You wanted to fly over the mountains, right?
Catman: Yes, I have a house over at Lake Claw.
James: And a sister. And then a problem occurred while flying.
Catman: I wasn't a good pilot. The rudder is clamped.
James: Aha.
Catman: So I decided to make an emergency landing. And I did it. I took that damn plane down.
James: You were in need. But then you discovered this hut in the distance. And you took your treasure with you. Also your luggage? Your mask?
Catman: No, no. On landing, I injured myself. I couldn't carry anything. Just my secret. I hid it. The mask was later grabbed by Hunterman, the, the dumb idiot!
Matt: Uh, Hun... Hunterman? The hotel owner? What are you talking about?
Rob: You are Hunterman, the hotel owner!
Catman: So now it's enough. Hunterman is a fraud and he wants my treasure.
James: But I thought, didn't you slip into the role of Hunterman?
Catman: I'm Sharkman! I'm Max Daxterius! Max Dexterius is Sharkman, Sharkman is me! This miserable hotel owner, I hate him!
Matt: And what kind of wig was lying in the chest here?
Matt took out a wig from the box that was Fynch Hunterman's hair.
Fynch: My hair. (Catman voice) I am dead. (Fynch Voice again.) I'm a ghost. Nothing but a ghost. (Catman voice) I painted myself. Were you at my grave?
Rob: Oh no, now he's going crazy.
Fynch: (whiny) I don't know who I am! You, you remind me of him.
Matt: Who do I remind you?
Fynch: (Catman Voice) Me. (Fynch Voice again.) To him. To Max. Max Dexterius. But I didn't kill him. He was already half dead when I found him.
Rob: James, I don't understand anything right now. Is the guy Sharkman, aka Catman, aka Max Dexterius, or is he the hotel owner Hunterman?
James: He is everybody of them.
Rob: What?
James: Hunterman wants us to find the treasure for him and at the same time he wants us to hide it for him again. Depending on the role he is currently in. Because originally he is Hunterman the hotel owner who searches for the treasure. But sometimes he is also the thief Dexterius, who has been led into this valley by coincidence.
Matt: What?
Rob: You... you mean, Fynch Hunterman suffers from a personality disorder?
James: Exactly, Rob. At least two personalities live in him. Hunterman is with his second self, Catman, or Sharkman, the inhabitant of this hut, the diver thief and the pilot.
Rob: Yes, and what... what happened to the real pilot? The one, the real thief? They don't have him...
Fynch: (Fynch Voice) Now stop talking. I did not kill Dexterius. I found him in front of the hut. That's where he had saved himself. He was seriously injured. Told me about the crash and then dictated this riddle to me. I, I didn't even know what it was about. I was to tell his sister when she came to look for him.
James: Has she ever been here?
Fynch: No. No one knew the pilot was Sharkman. She never found out. I was the only one who knew the identity of the pilot.
James: Wait a minute. After Dexterius died, you left for the plane and found the diving equipment and cat mask in the plane wreck.
Fynch: Correct. Then I guessed who the pilot really was. Sharkman, the famous thief.
James: Only one thing you did not discover: his prey. And you really wanted to have it.
Fynch: Yes, I knew the Boiling Isles News reports about him and his perfect deeds. And then I started looking.
James: Aha... You searched... and searched. It became your only purpose in life. But you couldn't solve the riddle. More and more you thought your way into the person of Max Dexterius. Which way would he have chosen? How did he come up with the riddle and the hiding place?
Rob: Yes, and with the... over time, it has taken on more and more of its peculiarities. His way of speaking, cigarette smoking. Mr. Hunterman, a part of you has become Mr. Dexterius.
Matt: Yeah.
Fynch: And yesterday since you came to my hotel. I found your detective cards in your luggage.
James: Yeah, yeah.
Fynch: I thought to myself, it's worth a try. Have accused you of a few baits.
James: Yes, and we promptly started to solve the riddle.
Fynch: Yeah, and you haven't even let Max Dexterius stop you.
James: Wait, Max Dexterius you were too, Mr. Hunterman!
Fynch: What?
James: And whenever you felt like Dexterius, you attacked us to prevent us from finding the hiding place. Because his personality wanted to protect the hiding place, of course.
Fynch: Yeah, yeah thats right.
Rob: And what did you do with the real Max Dexterius?
Fynch: I buried him next to the hut. He died before I could get help.
Matt: This is all to creepy and crazy to me... What, what should we do now?
Fynch: Where, where is the treasure?
James: If we give it to you, will you let us go?
Fynch: Once you have given it to me, you can leave. So, here we go!
James: Here!
Fynch: What... What is that?
James: A chip and a key. The legendary treasure...
XXX
A week later, Mystery Trio sat at the Coven Station in Bonesborough. Hunter had just spoken on the scroll with his colleagues.
Rob: Yeah, and what... what does they say?
Matt: How is Mr. Hunterman doing now, Hunter?
Hunter: Well, he is still in the psychiatric coven clinic. The Healing Covenist and Oracle Covenist speak of a particularly severe case of personality disorder. He has become more and more involved with Max Dexterius to find out where he might have hidden the treasure.
Rob: Just crazy.
Matt: Yeah.
Hunter: Yes, yes, you say it, Rob. He even diverted the water of the mountain stream to examine the rock walls in the gorge. Month after month, Hunterman cared less and less about the hotel until his husband finally overcame it and he left his Hunterman.
James: Has he been aware all the time that he has slipped into the role of another guy?
Hunter: Mmmhh, he guessed it, James. It was probably also a kind of hidden cry for help that he directed you to the hotel.
Rob: Well, and what happens to him now?
Hunter: Well, first of all he has to be healed. Punishing him will not be easy, because you can look for a treasure. If he had kept it, then of course he would have made himself criminal.
Rob: He should have informed Max Dexterius' sister. And he didn't do that.
Hunter: Yes, but he cannot be prosecuted for that. However, for the fact that he simply buried the dead pilot and did not inform the Co. Incidentally, the autopsy of Dexterius' body confirmed Hunterman's statements. Dexterius had suffered serious injuries during the emergency landing, from which he died.
James: Well, the question remains...
Hunter: You're interested in the treasure, aren't you? The prey of Sharkman.
James: Yeah.
Hunter: Yeah, you were right with your guesses, James.
James: Oh.
Hunter: On the data chip there are references to lockers on the Groyen Isles, and Stomachtroit, on banks.
Mystery Trio: What?!
Hunter: And the key you found led to a compartment where the other keys and passwords were deposited.
Matt: Holy Titan!
Hunter: But, yes, my friends all over the Isles are gaining access everywhere. I think there will be a lot going to come together.
James: Oh man!
Hunter: Yeah, and for you, of course, there will be a finder's wage. And that will not be a little.
Matt: So that James has solved an old mystery from his childhood, is reward enough for him, right?
James: Well, I wouldn't have put it quite that way, but basically you're right.
All four laughed because of that. And so the adventure has ended well, Fynch finally gets the help he needs and the mystery trio continue to solve cases in the future.
End of Episode 8!
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