The Case Of The Missing Golden Bird Mask - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Good morning, children. I’d like you all to welcome your new classmate today.”

A PRIVATE JET PLANE PASSES OVER SINGAPORE.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME, SIR.

SIGH…

3

GOOD MORNING, CHILDREN. I’D LIKE YOU ALL TO WELCOME YOUR NEW CLASSMATE TODAY.

HIS NAME IS KIKI, AND HE COMES FROM HAWAII. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE HAWAII IS?

IT CONSISTS MAINLY OF A CHAIN OF EIGHT ISLANDS, INCLUDING HAWAII, THE LARGEST, AND OAHU, LOCATION OF HONOLULU, THE STATE’S CAPITAL AND LARGEST CITY.

HAWAII’S THE 50TH STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ADMITTED IN 1959, LOCATED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

THANK YOU FOR THAT DETAILED ANSWER, PUI YEEN. AND YES, SHE’S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. CLASS. NOW, I WANT ALL of you TO MAKE KIKI FEEL WELCOMED NOT JUST AS A CLASSMATE, BUT AS A FRIEND AS WELL. CAN YOU ALL DO THAT?

YES, MRS. TAN!

YOU MAY TAKE A SEAT THERE BESIDE WEE TECK, KIKI.

4

WHERE’S CARMEN?

WELL, THAT’S A ‘PERFECT PREFECT’ FOR YOU! SOOOO, WT, HOW’S IT LIKE HAVING A MOUNTAIN FOR A NEIGHBOUR? YOU SURE HE WON’T ACCIDENTALLY SQUISH YOU?

HAR HAR… GO ON, LAUGH - I’LL REPORT THIS TO MRS. TAN, AND MAYBE SHE’LL HAVE HIM SIT NEXT TO YOU!

SHE’S ON ‘DUTY’ TODAY - YOU KNOW, LOOKING STERN, ASKING OTHERS TO SHUT UP AND PICK UP WRAPPERS… THAT SORT OF THING.

HAHAHA!

COME ON, GUYS. QUIT PICKING ON THE NEW GUY! MRS. TAN TOLD US TO BE NICE, DIDN’T SHE?

ZAK’S RIGHT. HAWAIIANS ARE POLYNESIANS, SO THEY’RE NATURALLY OF A LARGER-BUILT THAN US SINGAPOREANS. YOU DON’T SEE PEOPLE TEASE YOU FOR BEING SKINNY Prabhash…

5

ERR… NO OFFENCE, BUT I’M NOT USED TO SEEING SOME TWELVE-YEAR OLD STANDING SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH OUR TEACHER, KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BESIDES, BEING SKINNY HAS ITS ADVANTAGES! I BET I CAN OUTRUN THAT GUY IN A RACE HANDS DOWN…

MAYBE… BUT HE’LL BEAT YOU AT WRESTLING FOR SURE!

HA! HA! HA!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON’T LET HIM SIT HERE.

6

HEY, PRABHASH! WAIT UP! *HUFF HUFF*

WHAT’S UP, WT?

OH, NOTHING. I JUST DON’T WANT TO BE THE LAST ONE THERE… THE OTHERS ARE WAITING FOR US AT THE BICYCLE PARK, YOU KNOW…

AIYOH! YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO TAKE IT EASY! HEY, CARMEN, ZAK, PUI YEEN! BEEN WAITING LONG?

DON’T YOU GUYS HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY?! YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS THE CLASS PROJECT TODAY! AS THEY SAY - ‘MONEY LOST CAN BE EARNED; TIME LOST IS LOST FOR GOOD!’

YOU’RE LATE!! WHAT DO YOU THINK?!

‘MONEY LOST CAN BE EARNED; TIME LOST IS LOST FOR GOOD’...

BAH. THIS YEAR’S PROJECT IS CRAP, CRAP, CRAP! I MEAN - ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS?! AREN’T THOSE THINGS, LIKE, ANCIENT?! WHAT’S THERE TO LEARN FROM THEM?!

THAT’S BECAUSE YOU’VE NEVER EVEN TRIED READING UP ON THEM. FYI, THESE ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS MADE US WHO WE ARE TODAY!

YOU’VE GOT THE BABYLONIANS, SUMERIANS AND INCANS, TO NAME A FEW… OR IF YOU’RE TALKING ASIAN CIVILISATIONS, THERE’RE THE KHMERS, MAJAPAHITS, SRI VIJAYANS… OH AND DID YOU KNOW ABOUT…

LOOK, ELIZABETH. THIS IS THE EXHIBITION I TOLD YOU ABOUT - THE RAPA-NUI CIVILISATION EXHIBITION. THEY’RE PUTTING MY TEAM IN CHARGE OF SECURITY…

BREAKFAST AT CARMEN’s HOUSE.

…THE KING OF RAPA-NUI HIMSELF HAD SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED FOR THE EXTRA GUARDS.

OH MY, I THOUGHT THE CENTRAL POLICE DIVISION’D BE HANDLING SOMETHING LIKE THAT… I DO HOPE IT’S NOT DANGEROUS…

THAT’S SO COOL, DAD! THIS EXHIBITION IS JUST WHAT WE NEED! MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME INSPIRATION FOR OUR SCHOOL PROJECT THERE!

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN, CARMEN. THE EXHIBITION OPENS THIS SATURDAY… I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET YOU A FREE ENTRY PASS.

CAN YOU MAKE IT FIVE? IT’S A GROUP PROJECT, SO PUI YEEN, ZAK, PRABHASH AND WT ARE ALL IN AS WELL! PLEASE?

8

ANYTHING FOR YOU, SWEETIE!

SINGAPORE NATIONAL MUSEUM -- RAPA-NUI EXHIBITION OPENING DAY.

WOW! THE STATUES ALL LOOK SO REAL!

YEAH… IT’S AS IF THEY ARE STARING AT YOU… KINDA FREAKS ME OUT, ACTUALLY.

9

10

EXCUSE ME SIR, PLEASE STAND BEHIND THE LINE. AND NO PHOTOS, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

YOUR DAD’S DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB…

BUT OF COURSE! WITH MY DAD IN CHARGE, THIS MUSEUM IS 110% SECURED! IT’S LIKE A FORTRESS!

A MASK…? ER… DON’T YOU GUYS THINK THAT’S A STRANGE THING TO DISPLAY FOR AN EXHIBIT?

I’M GLAD YOU ASKED, ZAK! I MANAGED TO BORROW A FEW BOOKS ON RAPA-NUI FROM THE NATIONAL LIBRARY YESTERDAY, AND THIS IS THE INFO I’VE GOTTEN SO FAR. THIS MASK IS CALLED THE TANGATA-MANU, AND ACCORDING TO ORAL HISTORY RECORDS, THE TANGATA-MANU SYMBOLISES POWER AND STRENGTH, AND IS PASSED DOWN FROM ONE SUCCESSOR OF THE RAPA-NUI THRONE TO THE NEXT.

AND GET THIS -- THE MASK WAS SUPPOSEDLY BESTOWED TO THE FIRST KING BY THE SUPREME GOD MAKE-MAKE HIMSELF!

11

AH, I SEE WE HAVE A RAPA-NUIan ENTHUSIAST HERE. IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED IN OLD CULTURES… I’M THE ASSISTANT CURATOR FOR THIS EXHIBITION. MY NAME IS KUIMI LIA, BUT PLEASE CALL ME LIA.

IT’S NICE MEETING YOU, LIA. I’M PUI YEEN.

MY FRIENDS AND I ARE HERE TO DO SOME RESEARCH FOR OUR SCHOOL PROJECT.

IT’S ON ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS, YOU SEE…

IS THAT SO… MY, THAT SOUNDS FUN!

I’LL TELL YOU WHAT. HOW WOULD YOU KIDS LIKE A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE EXHIBITION? THAT WAY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE EXHIBITS YOU CAN JUST ASK ME ABOUT THEM. WHAT DO YOU SAY?

COOL!!!

AT AHMAD ZAKI’S HOUSE.

HOW’S YOUR PROJECT COMING ALONG, ZAK?

IT’S COMING ALONG GREAT, ABAH! YESTERDAY, THE GUYS AND I WENT TO THE OPENING OF THE RAPA-NUI EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM AND IT WAS AWESOME! THE WAY THOSE PEOPLE OF RAPA-NUI BUILT THEIR TEMPLES … 12

AND THOSE GIANT STATUES- I MEAN, WOW! WE EVEN GOT A PRIVATE TOUR!

HAHA… THAT’S GOOD TO HEAR…

WE HAVE A BREAKING NEWS REPORT. THE GOLDEN BIRD MASK OF RAPA-NUI -- A FEATURED ATTRACTION AT THE RAPA-NUI EXHIBITION- HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM THE SINGAPORE NATIONAL MUSEUM YESTERDAY NIGHT.. THE MUSEUM HAS SINCE BEEN CORDONED OFF, PENDING FURTHER POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. OFFICIAL STATEMENTS FROM THE CHIEF OF SECURITY HAS CONFIRMED THAT HAD BEEN NO SIGNS OF FORCED ENTRY, AND NONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS ON EXHIBIT WERE TAKEN. POLICE ARE URGING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO COME FORWARD --

WT…! YEAH, I JUST SAW IT ON THE NEWS, TOO! CALL THE OTHERS, WE’LL MEET UP AT THE USUAL PLACE… YES, THE PLAYGROUND ACROSS THE OLD HOUSE, SEE YOU THERE! ABAH, CAN I GO OUT FOR AWHILE? IT’S AN EMERGENCY SCHOOL PROJECT MEETING.

MM… OKAY. JUST BE SURE YOU’RE BACK BEFORE 9.

I WILL! THANKS, ABAH!

WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED, CARMEN? YOU SAID THE MUSEUM WAS A FORTRESS! YOUR FATHER’S GUARDS WERE ATTACKED BY GHOSTS AND FAINTED OR SOMETHING?

THAT’S NOT FUNNY, WT.

WELL, HE’S NOT EXACTLY WRONG ABOUT THAT… DAD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HIS MEN BEING DRUGGED -- THEY’RE STILL IN A COMA, AND NO ONE ELSE BESIDES THEM WOULD KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BACK THERE…

13

BE SERIOUS, GUYS! ANOTHER MOSCOW THEATRE INCIDENT IS TOO SCARY TO EVEN THINK ABOUT…

DRUGGED?! HOW?! THIS IS SINGAPORE!! DRUGS ARE BANNED, AREN’T TH--

…!!

THE CULPRITS COULD’VE SLIPPED SOME POISONOUS GAS THROUGH THE AIR VENTS... I’VE SEEN IT ON TV BEFORE, I’M TELLING YOU IT CAN BE DONE…

…FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION THE WORD ‘SCARY’… LOOK OVER THERE, GUYS!! WHAT? THAT OLD ABANDONED HOUSE? BUT IT’S ALWAYS BEEN THERE… …I MEAN THE LIGHTS!

THERE ARE LIGHTS COMING OUT FROM ITS WINDOWS!!

MAYBE… SOMEONE NEW MOVED IN?

LET’S CHECK IT OUT! 14

THAT WALL LOOKS PRETTY EASY TO CLIMB OVER.

THAT’D BE TRESPASSING. I HAVE A BETTER IDEA. WE CAN CLIMB THIS TREE TO GET A BETTER VIEW.

WHAT?!!

SHHH!

15

ARE YOU CRAZY?! IT’S WAY TOO TALL! I’M NOT CLIMBING IT, NO SIRREE! I THINK I’LL DO THE SAME.

WELL THEN, HOW ABOUT YOU STAY BELOW AND KEEP WATCH?

PHEW!

CAN YOU GUYS SEE ANYTHING?

“THIS WAY, HURRY!”

NO - JUST THE LIGHTS.

WOAH! ARE THOSE WHAT I THINK THEY ARE?! THEY LOOK LIKE CCOFFINS…!

16

WHAT? WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE?!

SHUT UP WT, THEY’RE GONNA HEAR YOU!

OOPS, SORRY GUYS, IT WAS MY PDA ALARM. IT’S 9 PM - TIME TO GO BACK.

OMIGOSH! WHAT WAS THAT?!

SHEESH, WT! C’MON, WE’VE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE! “GET OUR BIKES!” “LET’S GO TO WEE TECK’S FOR NOW!”

WHOA, THAT WAS A CLOSE SHAVE… SHOULD WE REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE?

YEAH, AND SAY WHAT? WE WERE CHASED BY SOME BLACK CREATURES AFTER TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY?

YEAH, WE NEED MORE EVIDENCE. THERE HAS TO BE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR IT…

YOU KNOW, WHAT WITH ALL THESE, A RARE MASK GETTING STOLEN, SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE ABANDONED HOUSE… I’M GETTING A CRAZY IDEA HERE. ARE YOU GUYS THINKING WHAT I’M THINKING?

OOH, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN! FIVE GOOD FRIENDS INVESTIGATING MYSTERIES… WE’LL BE LIKE FAMOUS FIVE, SPY KIDS OR MY IDOL NANCY DREW!

THAT SOUNDS GREAT! AND HOW ABOUT MAKING MY SHACK OUR HEADQUARTERS? I CAN TELL MY PARENTS WE’RE USING IT AS A STUDY ROOM. WE CAN ALL MEET HERE AND BRAINSTORM.

SO IF WE’RE GOING TO BE A TEAM OF SLEUTHS, I’M THINKING WE NEED A NAME! BUT IT’S PRETTY LATE NOW, I GUESS GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE! THIS’LL BE THE MOST EXCITING THING WE’VE DONE TOGETHER YET!

18

AGREED!

SO HOW ABOUT WE MEET BACK HERE TOMORROW AT 2 TO DISCUSS THAT, AND OUR VERY FIRST CASE?