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TGMD: Case of the Outwitted Detective, Chapter VI

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THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE: THE CASE OF THE OUTWITTED DETECTIVE

Chapter VI:  "Passed Pawn"

REVISED EDITION
Dramatised by Diane N. Tran


"Do not turn around, gentlemen!  I have a revolver pointed at you both!"

And there I stood, with my hands hovered above my head, unable to draw a breath, at a complete loss as to what to do, and I was forced to stare at the arrow-pierced portrait of St. Sebastian upon the gaudy wall.

However, it was Basil who spoke first:  "I know that voice.  It's Deason, the valet."

"Very good, Mr. Basil.  Deduce that all on your own?"

"Well, Deason," said I, a little huffed, "you need not brandish your weapon at us.  Your master has not been harmed."

"I'm not in the least interested in that bloody codger, Doctor!  If the old man was dead, I would be utterly delighted!"

The detective's false eyebrows furrowed in annoyance under his priestly guise.  "Then what are you up to, Deason?"

"I'm taking advantage of situation, sir," replied the valet, pompously.  "I've been trying to figure out that damnable lock of that desk for weeks.  After such kindness on your part, sir, I hate to seem ungracious; but I'm dreadfully afraid I shall have to kill you.  Rather, to kill the both of you two."

I heard the deep tones of the ostentatious mantel-clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour, like a death bell, and still we stood waiting helplessly for whatever might befall.  The very thought of Basil and I lying dead in Stephan-Goddard's garish carpet made me cringe in disgust.

"Deason," queried Basil, finally, with an even tone, "I dislike to interrupt such a melodramatic moment; but is it necessary to kill us?"

The gunman snorted a preposterous laugh:  "For months, Mr. Basil, I have been waiting for an opportunity to thieve the Philopator Emerald for myself, and now you have done it for me, sir, and presented me with a perfect alibi."

We glanced each other in confusion.

"The Philopator Emerald?  Surely, you've heard of it?"

We both shrugged in indication.

"Come now, Mr. Basil, you know treasures riddle about this household as well as I do.  Apart from the Emerald, there is a superb Cellini that would fetch a fine price in the right market."

"We're not after the valuables, my good fellow," said I.

"I'm not your 'good fellow,' you tottering quack!  It's patronising and untrue.  In any case, whether you were here after the valuables or not makes no matter to me.  Let us say that I've caught you both red-handed!"

"I take it that you plan to steal the treasure and pretend that we were responsible," remarked Basil, dryly.

"Exactly, sir.  I shall kill you both, secrete what objects appeal to me, and when the git regains consciousness, I shall explain that I found three ruffians burgling the house.  I shot and killed two of them, while the third fled away with the loot.  Whom will be able to doubt my word?  I shall be regarded as a hero.  I might even have my salary raised."

Basil sighed aloud in defeat:  "I suppose this is the end, old fellow."

"What a sordid way to die," I blurted.  "Shot in the back like a coward!"

My face wrinkled when I heard the deafening cock of the revolver behind me, squeezing my eyes shut in a disgusted rage, and held a deep breath.

"Deason?" questioned Basil, calmly.  "Are we able to have last requests?"

"No."

"Well, could you at the least do us the courtesy of allowing us to face the firing squad?"

There was a silence for a few seconds.

"Very well, gentlemen, turn around — no larks mind!"

"And one last request."

"What now?"

"I am beaten and I admit it.  I have crossed swords with some of the greatest criminals in Europe.  Attempts on my life have been made numerous times; but I've always escaped.  If this is to be my swan-song, at least give me the privilege of shaking the hand of the one who has bested me at last?"

The valet's features broadened into a sinister grin:  "Well, sir, I feel that I am stepping a little out of my station; however, I suppose that situation is unusual.  Didn't expect it to be done in by one of my lowly birth, eh?  Well, I hope you do not object to the left hand, sir.  I'll keep the revolver in my right."

"Of course."

I glanced over my shoulder helplessly as the two mice stood with shaking hands, in complete silence, with a revolver in hand aimed at the ready, and they stared at one another, without a flinch.

Suddenly, the detective twisted his body, grasping onto gunman's forearm and Basil applied leverage and Deason, taken completely by surprise, was flipped with great intensity and struck his head against the desk in a deafening knock.  The impact from the manoeuvre caused the revolver to discharge, causing its corresponding bullet to whistle past and embed itself harmlessly into the plaster of the nearby wall.

"Wretched, little creature!" sneered my friend, as he dashed towards the open desk.

I examined our assailant's injuries.  "His head's a bit gashed. Possible concussion; but it does not appear to be serious."

"I recommend that you learn the Japanese art of bartitsu," quipped Basil, pocketing our prize into his cassock.  "It has before gotten me out of tighter situations than this.  I think we'll take the precaution of closing this desk drawer.  We would not want him to be exposed to further temptation when he awakens."

I tossed the fallen revolver inside the desk before Basil whirled the combination lock and shut it.

"I suppose we better leave these two where they are.  After all we are burglars and we're in disguise.  I do not believe these two facts could be explained satisfactorily to the police."

"Agreed, Doctor," nodded he, retreating to the back of the building, when we heard the bustle of a crowd form before the front door.  "Quickly, we shall contact our client and inform her of our success."  A sly grin crossed to his face, mischievously:  "The game is not quite over yet."

---

<< PREVIOUS - Chapter V: "Absolute Pin"
>> NEXT - TO BE CONTINUED...
Chapter I: "Setting Up the Board"
Chapter II: "Irregular Opening"
Chapter III: "Transposition"
Chapter IV: "Castling Queenside"
Chapter V: "Absolute Pin"
Chapter VI: "Passed Pawn"
---

Philopator means "father-loving" and was a common royal epithet among Hellenistic monarchs; it was the surname of Cleopatra VII of Ancient Egypt, for example.

Benvenuto Cellini was a 16th-century Italian sculptor, goldsmith/silversmith, jeweller, as well as a draftsman, soldier, musician, and writer. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism, an art movement during the Italian High Renaissance, notable for its highly florid style and intellectual sophistication with artificial (rather than naturalistic) qualities, that is influenced by, and reacting to, the harmonious ideals associated with Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and early Michelangelo.

Bartitsu is a mix martial arts developed in England by British engineer Edward William Barton-Wright in 1898 after living three years in the Imperial Japan. It mixes Japanese judo and jujitsu, British boxing, Swiss schwingen, French savate, Greek wrestling, and fencing — and it's said to the first official mixed martial arts in history. Sherlock Holmes said he defeated Professor Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls due to his knowledge of "baritsu" (as it was incorrectly spelt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). I was between the spellings of "bartitsu" and "baritsu," but chose the proper spelling in the end.

"Passed pawn" (or "passer") is a chess term for a pawn with no opposing pawns to prevent it from advancing to the eighth rank, or queening.

Special thanks to AlcyoneSong for being my Grammar Nazi.

The Great Mouse Detective © Eve Titus/Walt Disney
Irene Relda (this version) © Diane N. Tran
Oscar Milde © Diane N. Tran
The name "Sherringford" © Diane N. Tran
© 2015 - 2024 tranimation-art
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jayragepeace's avatar
*blinks* That can't be all - where's the rest of it?