Beak & Paw Detectives
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Magic weaves like strings for marionettes,
The chief instigator reduced to ash, no regrets.
A tale of retribution, a lesson learned,
In this short verse, a twist unearned.
“I'm sure the clown has decided to get revenge on those who touched his personal belongings, and has chosen some terrible magic to do it,” Raja whispered. “What does that have to do with dolls? What did Donut mean by that?” The chipmunk jumped down from the pavement and onto the road, the questions buzzing around in his head.
“Look out!” Someone cried in a thin, frightened voice.
Raja felt his tail grabbed. He was dragged off the road. The chipmunk turned around to look at his savior.
“I’m Oliver. Is your tail all right? It was a dubious adventure pulling you out from under the wheels of that crazy truck!” said the lizard.
“Thank you, Oliver!” The chipmunk exclaimed excitedly.
Krish the peacock ran toward them at full speed. He shouted, stretching his neck furiously:
“Raja, it was him!”
“Who?” asked the astonished chipmunk.
“I could see the red wig and the clown's hat!” squealed the peacock. “You almost got hit by a CLOWN!”
“Coincidence?” Raja said. “I don't think so.”
“Peacocks are adorable creatures, but their voice is so shrill,” whispered the lizard.
“Don't tell him! Krish likes to sing and might get very offended,” warned the chipmunk.
“I'm sorry,” Oliver said and smiled sadly. “Don't mind the depressed lizard.”
The peacock asked, “What happened to you?”
“I’ve lost my tail,” Oliver said, his eyes filling with tears.
“What?” The chipmunk exclaimed.
“Don't be sad. I’ll sing to you!” offered Krish, “What could be better than a good song!”
The peacock coughed and was about to sing an Indian hit when Raja interrupted him, “Krish, wait a minute. Let us first ask the poor lizard what has brought him to our city.”
“I am from the state of Mizoram. It’s a lovely place where bamboo groves grow thick. Cool streams flow in the valleys there. Morning mists gently envelop the hilltops of Mizoram. I came to the city of Jaipur to find the famous wizard. His name’s Sparky.”
“Why do you need Sparky?” wondered the chipmunk.
“He can help me get my tail back!”
“You're wrong. Sparky is just a clown! This is the first time I've ever heard of him practicing magic,” Raja chuckled.
“A clown?” Oliver questioned. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“I'm going back to the circus right now to interview the acrobats. Come with me and find out who Sparky really is!” Krish suggested.
Chapter 5
Treasure in the Heel
Barry went to find his partner Raja. Meanwhile, Amita slipped into the clown's dressing room.
“Why does the clown need so many shoes?” exclaimed the doll, looking in amazement at the piles of boots and shoes on the floor. “He always wears the same boots!”
Amita counted the boots, then found a pair for each. She did the same with the shoes, but one remained unpaired. The doll examined it and noticed that the heel of the shoe was barely holding on. She used a pair of scissors and managed to break it off. There was a silver coin glittering inside the heel!
Barry flew into Donut's dressing room and was delighted to find Raja there. The chipmunk was outraged, “We've searched the whole circus, but Sparky is nowhere to be found! No sign of the elephant or the lion cubs either! Oliver's disappointed and depressed.”
“Who is Oliver?” asked the parrot.
“A lizard from the forests in northeastern India. Oliver has lost his tail and hopes that Sparky the clown can help him.”
“Ha-ha-ha! Sparky?” Barry laughed. “I have a feeling that's not the whole story. Go on.”
“Oliver saved my life. He pulled me out from under the wheels of a truck! Krish said that the clown was driving the vehicle!”
The parrot was outraged and exclaimed. “Didn't I tell you to be more careful on roads?”
“Calm down, Barry. I'm fine.”
“Where's Krish?”
“He found a tiny elephant statue and went to show it to the experts. Promised to be back soon.”
“What else did you find here in the elephant's dressing room?”
“Donut's diary! I'll show it to you.”
The door creaked open and the peacock flew into the room.
“Oliver said he wanted to get some sleep. I helped him find a good hotel near the central park,” Krish said. “Barry, it's good to see you here. Did you visit Amita? Is she all right?”
“She doesn't look well,” said the parrot and sat down next to Raja. “The girl will tell you the rest when she sees you.”
The peacock inquired, “What about the seller of the candy shop? Raja, have you interviewed him?”
The chipmunk sighs in disappointment and replied, “The seller told me nothing of importance. He just talked about the countless boxes being delivered to Sparky from the shoe shop next door.”
“Does the clown buy new shoes every day? Why?” Barry the parrot wondered.
“A millipede of a clown!” laughed the chipmunk.
“Maybe Sparky is preparing a new circus trick that requires many pairs of shoes?” Krish said.
“Barry, take a look at the poem in Donut's diary!” exclaimed Raja. “I have a feeling we're missing something.”