The lost painting.
Oliver, Norman, Shane, Charlie and Rita discover a mysterious and ancient lost painting. During their journey to France in Paris, the POstables go to the Louvre Museum to deliver their package. In this last chapter, Oliver O'Toole makes a surprising discovery. This fictional story is inspired by the Masterpiece episode and historical facts. The characters belong to the talented Marta Williamson.
Chapter 4: The devil's painter.
Louvres Museum, Paris, Friday night.
"Follow me to the security station." The museum guard said.
"May I ask what's going on here?" A man in a suit asked.
"Monsieur, these four people have taken this painting." The museum guard replies.
" We work in the Dead Letter Office at the Denver Post Office, Colorado. Our mission is to deliver lost letters and packages. We found a lost painting by the painter Bosch!" Shane exclaimed.
"I'm Frank Munch, curator of the Louvre Museum. Can I see it ? " The curator said with a smile.
The museum guard walked away.
The museum curator looked at the painting for a long time with a magnifying glass.
"My God! It is indeed an original signed by Bosch. It's incredible, you find this painting after more than 500 years ! "The curator smiles.
"Wow I feel like I'm getting an award!" Shane exclaimed.
We're like art superheroes!" Rita exclaimed .
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered !" Norman exclaimed as he and Rita high-fived.
Faced with the general euphoria that reigned, the postal detective preferred to venture into the other rooms of the museum. Oliver stopped in front of a landscape painting. He remained fascinated for a long time by the painting "Sea side by Moonlight." Concentrated, he had not heard for or seen the man next to him.
" The fishermen's nets remind us of the world here below and the sky refers to the beyond. The sailboats of the sailors inclined on the immensity of the ocean are the final stage of the journey of life. And the light of the moon appearing between the clouds symbolizes redemption." The male voice explains.
"Thank you, sir. Didn't know you could get so many messages out of a painting." Oliver added with a smile.
"The brush draws the deepest and most secret thoughts of the soul of its artist." The man with silver hair and a pair of blue eyes with a furtive look said.
"Are you a museum guide dressed for the occasion?" The postal detective asks
"Um yes, sort of." The man answers with a small smile.
Oliver and the strange guide continued their journey through the different rooms, and arrived at the second floor, also filled with paintings, when they stopped in front of one.
"The Ship of Fool or the madness of the people of the whole society who stray from the right path. I had almost forgotten this painting." The man said with a sigh.
"Wait ! So is that you? So you're the devil's painter?" Oliver asked, surprised.
"Yes, that's me or rather a ghost from the past. I am Jheronimus van Aken, alias Hieronymus Bosch " The painter smiles.
"The pleasure is all mine. I am Oliver O'Toole. I didn't expect to meet a Renaissance painter at all today. Why did choice to illustrate religious concepts and sometimes depictions of hell ? What is the goal of your work ? " Oliver asks.
"It's to lead the viewer to devotion. Man is free to choose his destiny, and it is up to him to choose between salvation and damnation. I am only a moralist at the service of God." Bosh answers.
"Oliver! You're here, we've been looking for you everywhere!" Rita exclaimed.
"Voilà ! We contacted Washington and New Haven to receive the last panels of paintings. This way, the entire Bosh triptych is here. It's a luck that the POstables arrived in Paris, Mr. Munck, curator of the museum, said.
It was then that the two employees of the museum hung the lost painting next to the others paintings.
"Oliver, do you think Bosch would be happy to see all his paintings ?" Norman asked.
The postal detective turned and saw Bosh with his back against the wall, smiling at him.
"Yes, I'm sure he is, Norman, I'm sure he is." Even after 500 years, an artist's soul still lives on through his paintings, for Bosh as well as many painters." Oliver replied with a smile.
Dead Letter Office, Denver, Colorado.
Monday, 9.00 am.
"So, this is the office where my painting was found?" Bosh said, smiling.
"Yes, indeed. It's a small office, but on a daily basis it does great things to bring humanity together. We begin each of our adventures with a letter." Oliver explained
"The brush and pen are the seat of emotions. Write on a sheet of paper or drawn on a canvas, each author tells a story. "Bosch smiles.
The DLO door opens and Norman, Shane and Rita enter.
"Oliver, who were you talking to?" Shane asks
The postal detective turned around and the painter had disappeared. Instead of, Shane find a strange book on Oliver's desk.
"Ah, a book about the painter Bosch, now, I understand. And here I suppose that the painter stepped out of the book cover to talk to you." Shane exclaimes.
"Actually, Miss McInerney, that's not entirely wrong." Oliver smiles.
The end.
Author's Note: Dear Postables, I hope you enjoyed this story. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time, because I wasn't sure I would continue writing anymore. I would like to apologize for any spelling, syntax or grammar errors, English is not my native language. Have a good day everyone..