Beatrice Beecham's Cryptic Crypt

Beatrice Beecham's Cryptic Crypt

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By:  Crystal Lake Publishing  Completed
Language: English
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The fate of the world rests in the hands of four dysfunctional teenagers and a bunch of oddball adults. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

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Prologue

PROLOGUEUnlocking EvilThe shop has been in existence for over thirty years, its huge plate glass window a lidless eye gazing out upon an ever changing street. The window has watched a country turn into something quite unrecognisable—quite incomprehensible. Where there had once been chaos, there is now order. Where there had once been civilisation, there is now only brutality. This is a country that has lost its soul in a quest to find a heart. This is a country in the cold, unyielding grip of Nazi doctrine: cruelty in the name of order.This is Vienna, Austria, 1941.Vienna is now an extension of Nazi Germany, since its annexation by the German army in 1938. A climate of oppression is symbolised all around the plaza; the quiet streets, citizens exiled by the evening curfew. Huge flags are draped from the third floor window of the Heldenplatz; bent, black crosses encircled in white, and languishing on a field of blood red.Swastikas.These flags may flap lazily in the chilly Aus

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Wendy Davison
Fantastic book a must read
2021-12-11 06:48:23
1
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Shadow
I think its quite amazing but people never value good things
2021-11-13 08:04:58
1
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Kate Freedom
amazing story but why doesn't it have enough views and votes. it's worth a read
2021-09-10 17:51:46
0
21 Chapters

Prologue

PROLOGUEUnlocking EvilThe shop has been in existence for over thirty years, its huge plate glass window a lidless eye gazing out upon an ever changing street. The window has watched a country turn into something quite unrecognisable—quite incomprehensible. Where there had once been chaos, there is now order. Where there had once been civilisation, there is now only brutality. This is a country that has lost its soul in a quest to find a heart. This is a country in the cold, unyielding grip of Nazi doctrine: cruelty in the name of order.This is Vienna, Austria, 1941.Vienna is now an extension of Nazi Germany, since its annexation by the German army in 1938. A climate of oppression is symbolised all around the plaza; the quiet streets, citizens exiled by the evening curfew. Huge flags are draped from the third floor window of the Heldenplatz; bent, black crosses encircled in white, and languishing on a field of blood red.Swastikas.These flags may flap lazily in the chilly Aus
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Chapter One

CHAPTER ONEScream of the SirenThe Elvis bobbed idly on the ocean. The forty-foot fishing boat was owned by skipper Blenheim ‘Cockles’ Cochran. At this moment Cochran paced about his weathered deck, checking lines as he sang along to the beaten-up CD player lashed to the wheelhouse with thick rope.‘You in pain again, skipper?’ a squat, broad-shouldered man with a rosy-red face said, grinning. ‘I can get you somethin’ for it, if you’d like? You need a double dose, I reckon.’‘You’re as funny as chicken pox, Jimbo,’ Cochran replied with a chuckle.‘And you still can’t sing, Skipper,’ First Mate James ‘Jimbo’ Spirehouse said. ‘You’re gonna have to accept that fact some day. Why not do it now and save my sanity?’‘Because the King still sings, you heathen,’ said Cochran, jerking his head towards the speaker as it pumped out ‘Jailhouse Rock’. ‘And you were crazy before you ever set foot on this boat.’ The two men laughed heartily.Half a mile away, the fishing village of Dorsal Fin
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Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWOLobsters and Liberties‘Ah, Patience! Here is my little Princess of the Nile! How are you this fine morning?’Mr Khaldun Userkaf sipped his coffee, his dark eyes studying his daughter through the mist rising from the brim of his Pharaoh-shaped coffee mug. His sharp, angular features still carried the ghost of his youth and his broad smile was infectious.‘Morning, Poppa,’ Patience said as she tied her long, coal-dark hair into a ponytail. ‘Just a quick status update: I’m fifteen years old, we have no connection to royalty, and the Nile is filthy brown sludge that gives anyone who falls into it raging diarrhoea. You have plans today?’‘Of course,’ her father said, laughing at his daughter’s diatribe. ‘It’s Saturday, and I plan to do nothing!’‘That’ll be the day, Poppa.’Mr Userkaf was renowned for his staunch work ethic. He had been running his travel agency from out of Dorsal Finn for over three decades, and in that time no one in the village could remember him ever
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Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREEThe Reluctant SecretLucas Walker peddled hard, the surrounding cottages zipping by, the rushing sound of the wind tousling his bleached hair and roaring in his ears. On his back, the bright orange paper-sack was now deflated, empty save for a single copy of the Dorsal Finn Herald.There was a time when the last customer on Lucas’ paper round often left him both nervous and exhilarated. In truth, when Maud Postlethwaite had originally allocated the puzzle-loving Newshound to Mr Miller, Lucas had balked at the idea.‘The guy has weird eyes, Maud,’ he’d protested at the time. ‘It’s like he can see right through me.’‘There ain’t nowt wrong with his eyes, young ’un,’ Maud had replied. ‘’cept they might have seen a little too much, too young, maybe. An’ he can’t be blamed for that, now, can he?’‘I suppose not,’ Lucas had sulked. ‘But the guy’s scary.’‘How he looks isn’t how he is,’ Maud assured him. ‘I wouldn’t be sendin’ ye otherwise, would I?’Lucas had seen enoug
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Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOURTeenage FBIThe enrolment phase was a swift affair helped by the incredible efficiency demonstrated by the members of The Blue Thunder Foundation. Shrugging off the melancholy air prevalent at the flagpole, the boys and girls—all in their early to mid-teens—were now inside the hut, a huge space painted in blue and white with a stage and lectern at one end. A Blue Thunder pennant secured to the wall spanned the stage, making an imposing backdrop.A series of small tables, numbered one to four, were manned by members of the foundation who made sure that, by the time an enrolee had worked their way to the last table, they were a member of the organisation, equipped with three sets of folded, cellophane-wrapped uniforms and a membership pack. The latter included Marcus’ much lauded Blue Bolt DVD and comic book.‘So what do you think, Beatrice?’ Patience said with a furtive grin.‘About what?’‘Marcus, of course,’ she said, forcing the tone out of her voice in case anyone
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Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVEHansel & GretelThe room was several square feet, with walls made from red bricks dulled by tangled cobwebs. A mist of fine plaster dust was turned to glittering fire under the beam of Agnes’ torch. But the bright fog didn’t distract them from the bold, red and gothic lettering painted upon the back wall. The text stood out despite the gossamer veneer.In this placeGuilt forges the scriptMaking wayFor the Cryptic CryptA bird in handOwes much to fatePulling open long locked gates‘Come on up here and take a look at this, young Lucas,’ Agnes said next to Dennis. The big man held the flashlight rock-steady so that the lettering on the wall was washed in creamy yellow.Lucas came to stand with them, his face scrunched with fascination.‘Look at that symbol underneath the writing,’ Elmo said quietly. But they had all already seen it; etched upon the old, dusty brickwork, a white eagle, wings frozen in flight, clutching in its talons an iconic symbol of evi
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Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIXThe TridentAt Dorsal Finn library, the metal box retrieved from the drop pod sat innocuously on the reception counter, subjected to the curious gaze of its six liberators.They had found out quickly that the lock on the box was unconventional: a circle with three holes, two at the top and one at the bottom, creating an inverted triangle.‘I could get an FBH from me van to open it,’ Dennis offered.‘FBH?’ Elmo asked. ‘Sounds major.’‘To you it means Flippin’ Big Hammer,’ Dennis laughed.‘Very major,’ Elmo concluded.‘Now, now, Dennis,’ Maud said. ‘We don’t want to be man-handlin’ the box an’ messin’ with its innards now, do we? Kid gloves are needed if we’re goin’ to make sure nothin’ that ain’t already broken stays that way. ’‘I guess so,’ Dennis said after some thought.Agnes was quiet and distant.‘What are ye thinkin’ Agnes?’ Maud asked.‘I can hear Klaus again,’ Agnes said. ‘He’s so faint but he’s there—that voice of his, strong and wilful. But I can’t und
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Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVENGuided by VoicesShe found it quite odd, but for some reason Beatrice couldn’t decide what to wear. It was only a walk along the promenade but her focus had become as fogged as kitchen windows beneath a pan of simmering pasta. Anxiety mixed with excitement, clarity clouded by unfamiliarity.It wasn’t long before she’d keyed Patience’s number into her cell phone.‘What were you thinking of wearing?’ Patience said. .Beatrice told her.‘Call the fashion police,’ Patience moaned. ‘We have a crime in progress.’‘Not good, eh?’ Beatrice said. It was apparent she was totally rubbish at such things. No real surprise since most of her short life had been spent on dressing dishes, not herself.‘What you need is something subtle but not understated. It is your first real date after all.’‘It’s my first date ever,’ Beatrice reminded her.‘Then it’s even more important to create the right impression, right?’‘I suppose,’ Beatrice replied.‘You have that summer dress,’ Pat
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Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHTSeaside RendezvousThe pier had been a late addition to Dorsal Finn, a gift from the Pontefract family back in the 1960’s—a time when piers and ancient bands like The Beatles and The Who were popular. It was a thing of strange beauty. It’s black, wrought iron struts rising from the sea and climbing into impressive archways crowned with huge wooden slats, which supported a pavilion and a few small gift shops.Beatrice walked towards the pier, her eyes watching it grow as she drew closer, and as the elongated structure began to consume her horizon, so did the anxiety of meeting up with Marcus Macbeth. She’d tried to suppress it for most of the day, but now it was loose and hungry and baying for attention. Her heart thumped in her chest, her breathing felt shallow and useless, and when she saw his tall, regal figure—still clad in his smart Blue Thunder suit—standing at the railings, she faltered.‘Giddy goodness, get a grip of yourself,’ she cursed under her breath, her
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Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINECruel Intentions‘What was that all about?’ Patience said to Lucas when The Newshounds turned a corner and Beatrice and Marcus were no longer in view. ‘Why were you so mean to Beatrice?’‘Why did you guys lie about where she’d be tonight?’ Lucas snapped back. ‘You knew didn’t you?’‘About Marcus? Yeah, I knew,’ Patience retorted. ‘And we didn’t lie about anything. We just played it down. Judging by how stupid you’ve been, I think we did the right thing. Anyone would think that you’re jealous.’No sooner had the words popped out and worked their magic, Lucas’ behaviour made sense to Patience. He flinched a little as though what she’d said contained something unsavoury.‘OMG,’ Patience said, hands framing her face. ‘You are jealous! All that red-eye stuff in Eccleston’s is because you like Beatrice, and you saw them together!’‘Yeah,’ he said bitterly. ‘I saw them.’ Lucas turned to face the sea. Anything was better than seeing the shock on Patience’s face. Elmo put a
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