Get Caught Reading — The Sign of the Ape 2 (2016 Rerun)

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

#GetCaughtReadingMonth

Hello everyone.  As you may have noticed I’m rerunning last year’s mini-series.  It’s about the escapades of our intrepid band of bloggers and their pets.  That was how I participated in Get Caught Reading Month.  After May I’ll get back to my usual posting schedule.

This when I’m not working at my “real” job, I’ll be working on a short story to follow-on the story Chris Graham shared with us in my previous post.  So, I’ve disabled comments today. The comments from last year are still there.

I hope you’ll visit the bloggers included in this post.  Now for the rerun.  Enjoy!

Comics Mural Teagan
Image courtesy of Chris Graham

The month of May is a lovely time of year.  It’s also Get Caught Reading (GCR) Month.  As many of you know, I’m doing a midweek mini-series in support of this public service campaign.  The intention of GCR is to encourage people of all ages to read, and that is what bloggers do with every post.  So this fictional, fanciful story includes an intrepid band of bloggers.

Have you caught me reading any sort of novel?  Why yes you have — the novel that inspired the title of this mini-series, Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Sign of the Four.  The plot has nothing to do with my story though. I was not ambitious enough to try and follow the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes.  You can get The Sign of the Four free here.

Last Time

During the first chapter I found a shimmering airship outside my window.  The pilot looked suspiciously like  Cornelis Drebbel.  Before I knew it, I was in Time Square beginning a chase to “catch” the  Story Reading Ape reading.

At Times Square I glimpsed something very large and very furry carrying a book.  He bounded around the corner.  I ran to the spot, but he was long gone.  Then on the sidewalk I saw a banana.  It had to be the sign of the ape.

The Sign of the Ape — Chapter 2The_Sign_of_the_Four-_in_Lippincott’s_Monthly_Magazine_1890

How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?

Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of the Four Chap. 6, p. 111

 

“Percy and I will meet you at Madame Tussaud’s Celebrity Wax Museum,”  Suzanne from A Pug in the Kitchen had promised.

I had thought the blogger-chef was the only person in New York that I knew.  However, at the famous wax museum I entered a gallery with a marque announcing a new exhibit called Fictional Heroes. I saw familiar faces.

Kasha reading
Kasha reading about Michigan lighthouses

The first thing I noticed was a cowboy who seemed oddly familiar to me.  When I saw author Mary J. McCoy-Dressel  I understood why — it was Tristan Carlson, from Cowboy Boss and His Destiny. Or rather it was a wax version of him. 

Excited barking greeted me.  It was Kasha, Mary’s fur baby.  Kasha stopped for me to pet her, but then tried to run out to the hallway.  Mary of course caught her.

However, something four footed may have been what interested Kasha.  In came two large curly haired dogs.  Mary said she wondered what they were.  A smile slowly spread across my face as I recognized another statue — Ben Andrews of The Gamblers. 

“I believe those would be Laboradoodles, and I think you’re about to meet Christoph Fischer,” I told her just as the writer walked into the room.

Greta-Wilma
Greta and Wilma caught reading

Then I heard the funky guitar music of the original James Bond theme.  I looked back at the collection of wax heroes.  Was there a spy or thriller hero among them?  I didn’t recognize the statue at first.  However, Kasha was sniffing at one.  I saw the wax man was the hero of the John J. Cannon Trilogy, by John W. Howell.

It was odd about the music… Was it my imagination?  I gave my head a shake.  However, I forgot about it when a moment later, Percy the Pug led Suzanne into the exhibit.  Seeing the blogger-chef reminded me…  The opening of the exhibit was shaping up to be such a great party that for a moment I almost forgot the strange events that brought me there.  

“Did you happen to see John W. Howell, out there?” I asked Suzanne, motioning to the hallway.

Lucy digging_John
Lucy digging

“Oh, that must have been the man with the boxer.  I thought he looked familiar,” she replied.  “They were just outside.  The dog was trying to dig up something.  She was really persistent about it.”

That was odd.  I knew John’s pets were well behaved.  I wondered what was going on with Lucy.  However, my thoughts were interrupted when all the dogs started barking furiously.  Suzanne deftly picked little Percy up in her arms.  The other dogs tore out of the exhibit, their author owners running frantically behind them.

As the dogs left, I noticed it on the floor near the wax figures.  The sign of the ape — a ripe yellow banana.  I picked up the banana, examining it carefully.  I saw nothing unusual about it.  There was no clue or suggestion of where the Story Reading Ape had gone.  I followed the sound of barking to another gallery.

A single display was far larger than all the rest, taking up an entire wall. Everyone was transfixed by that figure.  It was a wax exhibit of the Ape himself.  The dogs stopped barking, but Kasha, Greta, and Wilma sniffed every inch of the exhibit.  Percy struggled until Suzanne finally let him down to join the others.

“What has them so excited?” Christoph Fischer asked as he moved closer to Greta and Wilma to make sure they weren’t at risk.  

I explained to him about the chase to catch the Story Reading Ape reading.  Meanwhile I examined the display closely, or at least as much of it as I could reach.  Christoph, being taller than the rest of us inspected the higher portions.  However, we found no clues, nothing that would lead me to the Ape.  The dogs had stopped their sniffing.  Apparently they had lost his trail.  

Ape Gallery

Christoph’s Laboradoodles moved over to me.  I petted the dogs, amazed by their soft curly fur.  I wasn’t sure which was Greta and which was Wilma, but they were both adorable.  Soon the authors were called back to their exhibit.  I was able to quickly introduce Suzanne to Christoph and Mary before the authors had to return to their exhibit.

I detained them long enough to ask if any of them had met John Howell yet.  Apparently John never came inside the museum.  That made me uneasy, so I went looking for the Texas based author.

To my surprise, Percy followed me.  A moment later Suzanne ran behind the pug to catch him.  As I rounded a corner I all but collided with a tall man.

MiMi reading_Dan
MiMi reading for a clue

“Dan Antion?” I exclaimed in surprise.

It turned out Dan was in New York to meet John W. Howell and see his John Cannon wax statue.  Dan carried a small kennel, from which I heard a meow.  I asked if he always traveled with one of his cats.

“MiMi has been acting really clingy and… just strange,” he confessed.  “I could have sworn I heard her meowing back and forth with some other cats, but she was alone.  Then she got one of my books.  She slapped my hand when I tried to take it away from her.  I thought it was best to take her with me.”

I suspected Annette‘s cats had called Dan’s for a meow-wow, just as they had called Crystal.  Then I heard barking from a new canine voice.  Dan looked around worriedly and muttered something I didn’t catch.  Suddenly I realized he must have brought his dog too.

Maddie sniffing_Dan
Maddie on the trail

“Maddie!” he called and then whistled as we all moved toward the barking. 

 Outside the museum was a small landscaped area.  Percy ran to a sizable hole in the ground there.  Dan’s Irish Setter had already gone into the hole, but she ran back out when Dan called her.  At that point I realized the hole wasn’t simply a hole, but a tunnel.

Then I heard it again…  It sounded far away and muffled, but I could hear the funky James Bond guitar music again.  The music seemed to move gradually farther away.  Percy wagged his little tail and gave a yip, as if he meant to say everything was as it should be.  Suzanne and I exchanged puzzled looks.  

“I think John and Lucy are down there,” I told them.

Before you could say boo, Dan along with Maddie and MiMi, went into the tunnel after John W. Howell.  Suzanne tightened her grip on Percy’s leash, but the pug didn’t try to follow the others.

“It might be dangerous — especially for just one person,” Dan called from the tunnel.  “I’d better go after John and Lucy.”

A taxi rolled up.  It was the same driver that brought me to the wax museum, the same driver who looked a lot like the pilot of the airship — I mean the man who looked an awful lot like Cornelis Drebbel.  Suzanne’s eyes widened.

Percy Tie pug hill
Percy reads Pug Hill

“It’s him isn’t it?” she exclaimed.  “It’s the alchemist.  How did you bring Cornelis Drebbel here?” she asked in astonishment.

I told her that he was actually the one who brought me.  At that point I had to admit to myself that the driver/pilot truly was Cornelis Drebbel.  Yes, I had been in denial.  As  Sherlock Holmes said, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”  My driver and pilot had been Cornelis Drebbel, the alchemist.

 

Cornelis began to flirt outrageously with Suzanne.  The two were having such a good time, I didn’t mean to be a wet blanket.  However, all I could think about was the fact that I had no idea where to look next for the Story Reading Ape.  Then I realized I still had the banana, the sign of the ape.  I took a closer look at it.  There was a little sticker, a brand mark, but the writing was Japanese.

Cornelis looked askance.  I showed him the sticker.  

“Oh yes, I know this market.  It’s in Tokyo,” he said, but I gave him a blank stare.  “That’s your next clue.  Come along now.  Get in the car.  We need to take the dirigible to get there,” he added and I mutely got into the cab.

“Well m’lady?  May I have the honor?” Cornelis spoke to Suzanne and she and Percy eagerly got into the taxi.  

“Did you say dirigible?  That sounds like a slow way to get to Japan,” Suzanne commented.  “Cornelis, are you going to use magic?” she asked with a grin.

Cornellis merely wriggled his bushy eyebrows.  

I cringed.  This couldn’t be good.

“Where is that blond?” Cornelis asked hopefully.

“Do you mean Mary J. McCoy-Dressel?” I wanted to know.

“Well yes, we have a brunette and a redhead,” Cornelis said as if explaining to a child. “It would work better if we also had a blond too.”

That of course made no sense at all to me.  However, as if on cue, I heard barking and Kasha bounded up to Cornelis.  Mary ran after her dog, but looked at Cornelis Drebbel in shock.

“Is he?” she began and I nodded.

“Cornelis, what would work better?” I demanded as a queasy feeling formed in my stomach.  “Cornelis Drebbel, you’re not planning some complicated alchemy are you?”

The alchemist wriggled his bushy eyebrows again.  This really, really couldn’t be good.

***

End Chapter 2

If you remember Copper, the Alchemist, and the Woman in Trousers, then you know Cornelis Drebbel’s magic had a tendency to go awry.  Between the alchemist and the Ape, what will happen to our intrepid band of bloggers in Tokyo?  And what about John and Dan (and their pets)?  We left them in that tunnel.  Come back for the next midweek episode to find out.

Copyright © 2016 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

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68 thoughts on “Get Caught Reading — The Sign of the Ape 2 (2016 Rerun)”

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    1. Hi Andrea. I’m glad you enjoyed this crazy romp. It’s fun to let myself have no limits on how ridiculous I let this story get. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” LOL. Mega hugs!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Brilliant chapter, Teagan. I wonder if that tunnel will be a magical shortcut to Tokyo? I love the pictures you have put together and included as well. I hope you’re all safe with Cornelis Drebbel. I hate to think what his magic is going to do this time.
    Looking forward to next week’s episode.
    Weekend hugs to you.
    xx

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    1. Oh Hugh… you are right to worry about his magic. I’d tell you, but i can hardly breathe! 😉 And you’re onto something with that tunnel. Great minds think alike. Thanks for being part of this zany fun. Mega hugs!

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  7. All these interesting writers and Cornelis Drebbel too? Oh, my. What a wonderful mix you’ve created. Can’t wait to read what happens on their way to Tokyo, whether by means of Cornelis and his magic or pedal to the medal and a long, long drive. 😀 😀 😀

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  8. Teagan, this wild serial has delightfully gone to the dogs! I’m a dog lover with two of my own! Well, not to worry about John & Dan in the tunnel. They are no doubt plotting a story about New York’s underground! One of them definitely has a camera and we’ll see photos of ancient, hidden doors and long ago neighborhood scenes. Can’t wait to trek around Tokyo again.I lived there in the 1980s. Happy rest of the week! 💛 Elizabeth

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    1. Hi Elizabeth! It’s great to see you. So you lived in Tokyo? How cool. I know little about it and zero time to research, so that part will be pure fantasy. Loved what you were imagining with the NYC underground! 😀 ❤ Thanks for being part of the fun. Mega hugs.

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  17. I’m so glad you brought back Cornelis Drebbel. I truly enjoyed your Copper, the Alchemist, and the Woman in Trousers series. What could Cornelis possibly have up his sleeve?

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  18. I have used this word before, Teagan when referring to one of your posts, but I’m using it again… BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for the mention and for including us. My Kasha is pleased, as well.

    LOL, Timothy, love that comment! David, I’m wiggling my eyebrows at “woo’d” awakening! One can only hope. 😉

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    1. Oh Mary, you’re too kind. I just let my (barely) inner crazy come out to play. I’m delighted that you and Kasha are enjoying this zany romp. Thanks so very much for being part of the fun. ❤ Mega hugs.

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    1. Hi John. Thanks very much for being part of the fun. Oh applesauce! I just thought. What do we do when we catch him? o_O Great Apes are pretty… errm… large… Maybe Cornelis can come up with something. 😀
      Oh! Just had an idea for chapter 3. Better write it down before sanity kicks in again. Mega hugs. 😀

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  20. Wow! Now Tokio! The Ape sure knows how to give everyone the run around. Great post, Teagan (ah, Greta is the darker haired one and Wilma the blonder…)

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    1. They’re like twins in that I have to look up their names every time. So I let it be that way in the story. 🙂 Yes, things will really get crazy in Tokyo!
      I hope you had a beautiful birthday, Olga. Thanks for visiting here. Huge hugs.

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  23. This is such a fun series Teagan. Not only was I surprised and happy to see a guest appearance by the alchemist, but I am honored to be featured along with John. You definitely have Maddie and MiMi pegged. Maddie would absolutely follow John into the tunnel (as would I). My will likely cringe at the thought. I also know exactly how MiMi got there – https://flic.kr/p/7VQZQr – Thanks for inviting me to participate in your story. I’m looking forward to the next few Wednesdays.

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    1. Hahaha! Kitties and suitcases… they’re as good as boxes. 🐱 Thanks for the link!
      Delighted to have you in the story, Dan. As for the alchemist — I’m still not sure how he managed to get into the story… (Maybe I shouldn’t put too much thought into that, i might scare myself. 😉 ) Thanks for playing along, Dan. Hugs.

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  26. I can see that since I have been away your amazingly creative mind has been making beautiful music:) I love it….and feel like I have come home properly now. I also love the images….a street artist of great repute needs to do a huge mural of your thinkings…….Enjoy this glorious May day…..Janet:)xxx

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    1. Welcome back Janet — I’m so happy to see you! This series actually started when Chris Graham did a bunch of those fabulous images for me. I thought “Wow, there’s a story in each of them!” Then I heard about Get Caught Reading Month and… you see the zany results. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Hummingbird hugs. 🙂

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    1. Oh… I just realized my mistake, Kathryn. “Pantsering” is one thing, but I did this a little too fast. The blond is Mary. But everyone wouldn’t realize that. I will take this down long enough to fix… You aren’t the only one who asked that.
      Never fear, no doggies or kitties will be harmed in the making of this story. 😀
      I appreciate you getting caught reading here, my friend. Huge hugs.

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  29. Good Heavens, you’re being led a merry dance by The Story Reading Ape and now John W Howell too. Knowing how Cornelis is with pretty ladies makes me think you three could be in for a woo’d awakening before you reach Tokyo. It’s not fair if he gets to woo you before I do Teagan.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

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    1. Tee-hee! You cracked me up, David… Woo’d awakening. LOL 😀 Ahh.. Cornelis knows I’d treat him about the way Felicity did. He’ll focus on Suzanne and Mary. But he will be in trouble with all three of us if his magic goes the way it usually does.
      I appreciate you getting caught reading here. Mega hugs my friend.

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