Muffin and I searched that small room for an hour and found nothing, not any sign of another door anywhere.  No clues of any kind, absolutely nothing, how strange is that?  Why would this passage and room be so clean when the other passage is so dirty?  Is it just meant to lead us in the wrong direction?  Hmm, Muffin, let’s follow the other passage back to the library.  Meow, meow.=Okay, don’t like it hear anyway.  Too close to “skinny”.  So back we went, checking the walls carefully along the way, but still found nothing that would help us.  Was I wrong in thinking that book was a clue?  Back in the library we both pick our favorite chairs to sit and think for awhile.  However, it’s now getting late so we decide on going to bed and start fresh in the morning.

We both slept well once again and after a good breakfast I remembered seeing something upstairs.  Let’s take another look upstairs Muffin.  Meow, meow?=I thought we going to library?  We will do that, but upstairs first to find something.  Meow.=Okay.  Once in that large upstairs room I begin my search for a particular painting that I remembered seeing up here last time.  Meow, meow?=What we look for?  Sorry Muffin, you’ll have to wait until I find it.  We haven’t checked this room for, I whisper to her.  Meow!=Right!  There it is Muffin, now, what do you see?  Meow, meow.=It painting of library, showing door to passageway.  That’s right, but what else do you notice?

I set the painting on the floor for her to see better.  She sits in front of the painting for a couple minutes.  Meow, meow!=That not same bookcase door, it different one over by wall!  That’s right, now let’s go to the library.  Once there I begin looking for the “book” that will open the door.  And there it is!  Wasn’t too hard to find since I knew what I was looking for this time.  I pull the book back and the bookcase swings open into the passageway.  This one is also nice and clean.  Muffin and I venture in slowly and carefully and, as usual, the door closes behind us.  The passage goes a little ways and then turns to the right.  As we enter that part of the passage, we see some light further on.  Now we’re getting somewhere.  I tell Muffin to jump onto my shoulder and watch behind us.  Meow.=Okay.

I walk slowly along.  Suddenly the floor gives way beneath us and we fall into some kind of small pit or hole like the other passage.  Meow.=Very sleepy.  Yes, me too.  I open my eyes slightly but everything is blurry.  There is light in here and I’m lying on something, feels like a bed.  I move my other arm and Muffin is lying beside me.  My poor head, always feels like this after being drugged with something.  I don’t quite have enough energy to get up yet.  Where are we?  What is going on with this crazy case anyway?  I can’t even think straight right now.  I hear a voice, but it sounds distant and, that voice!

To be continued.

Steve and Muffin.

© 2020 Steve McLeod.