The Opening

The Second Discovery

The Gap — The Zodiac Bronzes

The old innkeeper stood behind the reception desk, watching Jack Williams examine the carved wooden panel on the wall.

The panel depicted the solar system, with the sun at its center and the planets arranged around it in a series of carefully carved circular orbits.

It was an impressive piece of woodworking, particularly for a small country inn outside London.

"That thing's been hanging there longer than I've been alive," the innkeeper remarked.

Jack studied it.

"Has it ever been removed?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"I think there's something behind it."

The old man laughed.

"Young fellow, I've owned this place for forty-two years. If there was something behind that panel, I'd know about it."

Chas smiled.

"That's what the gentleman in Kraków said."

The innkeeper looked at him.

"And was there?"

"Three bronze sculptures worth a considerable amount of money."

The old man's smile disappeared.

"You're serious?"

"Quite."

Jack ran his fingers along the carved orbits.

"Link, are you certain about the translation?"

"THE RELEVANT PASSAGE READS, 'WHERE THE EARTH TRAVELS, THE WAY SHALL OPEN.'"

"That's what I thought."

Jasmine leaned against the reception counter.

"Well, there's the Earth. Why don't you just push it?"

Jack looked at his sister.

"Jazz, sometimes I wonder why I bother solving these things."

"Because you like making them complicated."

"She's got a point," Chas observed.

Jack pressed the small wooden Earth.

Nothing happened.

"See?" Jasmine said.

"Thank you, Jazz."

He tried turning it clockwise.

The little planet moved slightly, then stopped.

Jack frowned.

"Interesting."

He turned it in the opposite direction.

There was a faint metallic click.

Everyone went silent.

"Did you hear that?" Vicky asked.

Jack nodded.

He pressed the Earth again.

This time it moved inward nearly half an inch.

Something released behind the panel.

A narrow seam appeared along its right edge.

"Well, I'll be damned," the innkeeper whispered.

Jack carefully pulled the panel outward.

It swung open on concealed brass hinges, revealing a dark rectangular compartment built into the wall.

Inside sat an old leather suitcase.

For several seconds nobody spoke.

Then Chas said, "Well, Jack, I believe you've done it again."

The innkeeper stepped closer.

"Good Lord. That's been there all these years?"

"Apparently," Jack replied.

The suitcase was covered in dust, its once-brown leather darkened by age. The brass fittings were tarnished, and the handle had begun to crack.

On its lid was a faded symbol consisting of three zodiac signs.

Taurus.

Virgo.

Capricorn.

"The Earth signs," Jack said quietly.

"THAT IS CORRECT," Link confirmed.

Jack reached into the compartment and carefully lifted the suitcase out.

It was surprisingly heavy.

"Here, son," Chas said, helping him lower it onto the reception desk.

The innkeeper stared at the case.

"I've stood behind this counter nearly every day for forty-two years. That thing was sitting ten feet away from me the entire time."

"Rather remarkable, isn't it?" Vicky said.

"Remarkable? Lady, I've spent forty-two years worrying about leaky plumbing, heating bills, and guests stealing towels. And there's been a bloody treasure in my wall!"

Chas laughed.

"Well, we don't know that it's treasure yet."

"Oh, come off it. You didn't fly all the way from America looking for old luggage."

Jack examined the two brass latches.

They were stiff, but neither was locked.

"Everybody ready?"

"Open it!" Jasmine demanded.

Jack released the first latch.

Then the second.

He slowly raised the lid.

Inside, wrapped individually in yellowed cloth, were three objects nestled in fitted compartments.

Jack lifted the first bundle and carefully unfolded the fabric.

A bronze bull emerged.

It stood approximately twelve inches high, its powerful shoulders and muscular neck rendered with extraordinary precision. The animal's head was lowered slightly, as though preparing to challenge an unseen opponent.

Its surface carried a deep brown patina, with subtle variations that brought out the detail of the casting.

"Taurus," Jack whispered.

He placed it carefully on a folded cloth.

The second bundle contained Virgo.

A young woman stood holding a sheaf of wheat, her flowing garments captured in delicate folds. Her face was serene, and even the individual stalks of wheat had been rendered with remarkable care.

Vicky leaned closer.

"Oh, Jack. She's beautiful."

The third casting was Capricorn.

The creature possessed the head and forequarters of a mountain goat, with a gracefully curved fish's tail forming its lower body. The transition between the two was so skillfully executed that the unlikely creature appeared entirely natural.

Jack placed it beside the others.

The three bronzes stood together on the old wooden reception desk.

Nobody spoke for a moment.

Then the innkeeper slowly removed his glasses and wiped them with a handkerchief.

"Those are real, aren't they?"

"Yes," Chas replied. "I believe they are."

"How much are they worth?"

"That's a question we're still trying to answer."

The old man looked from the sculptures to Chas.

"And you knew they were there?"

"We suspected. Jack found a coded message in an old book. The first message led us to three sculptures in Poland. The second brought us here."

The innkeeper shook his head.

"Forty-two years."

He looked at the open compartment.

"My father owned this place before me. Bought it just after the war. He always said the previous owner had been a peculiar old fellow."

"Peculiar how?" Jack asked.

"Very particular about the woodwork. Told my father never to alter the carvings in the reception room. Said they were part of the character of the building."

Jack glanced at the solar system panel.

"Perhaps he knew what was behind it."

"Perhaps."

The old man was quiet for a moment.

Then he looked directly at Chas.

"Now, I suppose we ought to discuss who owns those things."

Chas nodded.

"I was wondering when we'd get to that."

"Well, they're in my building."

"That's certainly true."

"And you've found them."

"Also true."

The innkeeper scratched his chin.

"I haven't the slightest idea what the law says about something like this."

"Neither do I," Chas admitted. "But I have attorneys who can find out."

The old man considered that.

"You're a wealthy man, Mr. Williams?"

"I do reasonably well."

Jasmine snorted.

Chas glanced at her.

"Something amusing, young lady?"

"Nothing, Dad."

The innkeeper smiled for the first time since the suitcase had appeared.

"Well, perhaps we can come to some arrangement."

"I'd prefer that," Chas replied. "I'm not interested in cheating anybody. I want to preserve these sculptures and eventually put them where the public can enjoy them."

The innkeeper looked down at Virgo.

"My wife would have loved that one."

"Was she interested in art?" Vicky asked.

"Not particularly. But she loved beautiful things."

He smiled faintly.

"She died six years ago."

"I'm sorry," Vicky said.

"Thank you."

He reached toward the sculpture, then stopped himself.

"Do you suppose I might have a photograph of them?"

Chas smiled.

"I think we can do considerably better than that."

The innkeeper looked puzzled.

"How would you feel about having a reproduction of all three displayed right here in your reception room?"

The old man blinked.

"You could do that?"

"We have some rather remarkable manufacturing facilities."

"THAT IS A MODEST DESCRIPTION," Link remarked.

The innkeeper looked around.

"Who said that?"

"That's Link," Jack explained. "He's our family AI."

"Your what?"

"Never mind," Chas said. "It's a long story."

Jasmine grinned.

"A very long story.”

Jack had returned his attention to the suitcase.

"There's something else."

He lifted the fitted cloth lining beneath Capricorn.

Underneath lay a folded envelope, yellowed with age.

Across its face were three handwritten symbols.

Cancer.

Scorpio.

Pisces.

Jack looked up.

"The Water signs."

Chas leaned forward.

"Another message?"

Jack carefully opened the envelope.

Inside was a single sheet of paper covered with groups of five numbers.

He smiled.

"Yes, Dad. Another message."

"Where does this one take us?" Vicky asked.

"I haven't decoded it yet."

Jasmine crossed her arms.

"Let me guess. Another old inn?"

"Possibly."

"With another secret compartment?"

"Probably."

"And another old man who doesn't know he's been sitting on a fortune?"

The innkeeper laughed.

"I sincerely hope so, young lady. It's been the most interesting morning I've had in forty-two years."

Chas looked at the three bronzes.

"Well, Jack, that's six."

"Six of twelve," Jack agreed.

"And the next three?"

Jack held up the coded message.

"We'll find out."

"LINK," Chas said, "I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE AIRPLANE AGAIN."

"THE AIRCRAFT REMAINS AT YOUR DISPOSAL, CHAS."

The innkeeper stared at him.

"You have your own airplane?"

"Yes."

"Good heavens. What sort?"

"A jet."

The old man looked at the three magnificent bronzes on his counter, the open compartment in his wall, and the wealthy American family gathered around him.

Then he shook his head.

"Well, I'll tell you one thing, Mr. Williams."

"What's that?"

"If you ever decide to take up another hobby, might I suggest stamp collecting?"

Chas laughed.

"Believe me, I've considered it."

And Jack, already studying the numbers on the next message, barely heard them.

He had another mystery to solve.