There was a eeriness about the alps today that Teddy.B. Watson had not seen or heard of for many a time. The fog covered over the alps like misty blanket leaving only but the highest tops of the mountain uncovered. Normally the alps were full of bustling tourists. But not today thought Teddy Watson. No, not today. He started descending down the misty mountain, a mountain named Mt. Eaner; a botlesian word meaning 'Fog', and it was true, there was often fog here. But never like this. ***************** Meanwhile, on a completely different subject altogether Sherlock Cug was on a ferry from Stockholm in Finland to Latvia and other countries. He was at this moment on a Seed tour led by the well known explorer Graham R Seed. He was later going to meet up with his partner Teddy Brown Watson in Austria. Cuddling his red wheat bean bag he sat down in the ferry and ordered himself a vodka coffee. It was going to be a long journey but he had plenty of gone off Tropical Fruit Bars to keep him going and 'Jingo' by Terry Pratchett to keep him entertained. ************** Teddy B. Watson was completely lost. This is ridiculous, he thought. He tried his mobile phone but there was no connection. Suddenly, in the shroud of the mist and fog he saw a figure, who he thought he recognized. "Ah! Hello! I'm so glad it's you. This fog is dreadful isn't it. I don't know where I am. I could be in Stockholm ,Helsinki, Tallinn or Riga and I wouldn't know the difference.!" He could only just make out the figure, but he was sure it was who he thought it was. Then the figure took something out of his pocket, and Teddy B. Watson began to panic slightly. "What... what are you doing that for?" Teddy B. Watson's life flashed before his eyes. *********** Meanwhile Sherlock Cug had finally made it to Riga, Latvia, where he was pleased it was a little warmer than it had been in snowy old Estonia, he had found a very nice hotel room and wandered whether he might stay here until Eurovision. But his phone rang..... But his phone rang. "Bother, what is it now?!" Looking at the text message blankly it seemed to him as though for a brief moment in history time itself had stopped. ***************** Ernest Sooty was normally a very calm teddy. In fact he was renound for his simplicity and calmness. But for this one time he was not. He had just texted Sherlock with the news of his friends murder when his phone rang out. "Hello, Ernest Sooty here how can I help you?" "Hi Ernest, it's Sherlock" "Sherlock! is'nt it terrible?are you coming? where are you? how are you? when's the next flight? how.." "Calm down Sooty, I'm on may way to you. I'll try to be there at the end of today but with the rate easyjet are going are be here all night. Apparently they have lost the plane. In the meen time I want you to start on the case....." And then his phone cut off. Suddenly Ernest was all alone again, at least for a while anyway. So he pulled on his extra thick Russian coat and hat and started up the mountain. At the scene of the murder, police had taped off and sealed off the area. A few people were standing watching the proceedings, huddled together for warmth. They were muttering together - 'Why was such an intelligent bear out in the fog anyway' and 'Who would want to kill our Teddy B Watson?'. Ernest Sooty thought he recognized them from the hostel that he had been staying in. He walked up to them. "Terrible isn't it" he started off. The others invited him into their huddle to keep warm. It was Dorothy Dolly, the cook in the hostel who spoke first. "Oh Ernest dear, he'd had such a light lunch aswell. The cold would have killed him if the murderer didn't. Do you have any idea who it could have been?" "Well," said Ernest slowly, "I've been thinking about that. My guess is it had to have been someone staying or living in the hostel. This hostel is the only living place for miles around, and I severely doubt that anyone would trek miles over Alpine snowy mountains, in the fog, to commit the act. No, I'm pretty sure that it would have to be somebody staying in the hostel." "That certainly narrows it down to five or six people; i mean five or six various stuffed creatures, or dolls, if you include myself." said Dorothy. "I'm afraid you are therefore one of the suspects, my dear Dorothy." "Ernest," said Dorothy timidly. "You are a suspect too!" "True very true; but I assure you I wouldn't want to kill one of my dearest friends. Nevertheless, Sherlock Cug is coming here so somebody completely independent can assess the situation." "Oh, I am glad Mr. Sherlock will be able to come. He did rather enjoy his Christmas Cake bars. Oh, and poor Mr. Watson, he loved his cookies. But I can't think of anyone in the hostel who would want to kill him anyway. Who could it be?" "I don't know, Dorothy my dear, I really don't know. Anyway let's get back to the hostel. It's getting cold up here, and Sherlock Cug may have arrived." So they set off back down the hill to the hostelSo they set off down the hill to the hostel. When Dorothy, Ernest and the watchers had arrived back they all sat down and had hot chocolate and cookies in memory of Teddy.B.Watson. It had started to rain. "Looks as though there is going to be a storm heading our way" said Dorothy The storm continued into several bolts of lightning and lots of thunder. Everybody started to sing various verses from the Sound of Music and Dorothy set to work turning some old curtains into brand new dresses for all the little children in the hostel. Suddenly the lights went out (luckily the heating was still on so it didn't really matter). Illuminated by candle light they suddenly heard a slow solemn knock on the door. "Hahn, it's a zombie!" said Dorothy knock knock knock "No, it's a yeti!" shouted Ernest knock knock knock "It's a monster!" screamed everybody in now what was a petrified state. "No, your all wrong, it's me, Mr Cug! Let me in it's tipping it down out here" So they let Sherlock in and warmed him up, soon the lights were up and running again" "Hurray! Our lights are back on!" "So" said Sherlock after a while "What has been happening?" "Sherlock, let's talk in private," said Ernest and so the friends left the now more relaxed gathering and went upstairs to Ernest's room. There Ernest told him everything he knew. "So it has to be somebody living or staying here, you're right," said Sherlock. "Look at this weather, there's always something horrible happening. Thunderstorms or fog, or heavy snow or freezing temperatures." They turned towards the window. "Silly old chap," said Ernest thoughtfully. "Why did he go out that evening?" asked Sherlock. "Well I presume he got lost. He had been out all day - in the morning it was a fine day, and he told me he was going for a walk, should be back by teatime. But by teatime, he hadn't returned. The weather had turned - foggy. We were worried about him but didn't want to go out looking for him just yet as we might get as lost as he was. And it was a nice tea. Dorothy had done Russian pancakes. Oh, I'm hungry now as we speak." "Ernest," Cug paused. "Was everybody there at teatime?" "Well all the guests were I think. I think so, though I'm not sure. Dorothy, the cook, was only there for the beginning, mind, she served up everything and then left. And I don't recall seeing the hotel owner there." "Who is he?" "An American chap, jolly happy fellow really, wouldn't harm a fly, though at one time they say he was an addicted gambler. Society Maximillian, that's his name." ************** Society Maximillian, dubbed 'Society Max' during his gambling days, but now reverted to plain 'Maximillian' was the big-eared owner of the alpine chalet. He had moved to Austria from America a few years ago. When Sherlock Cug entered, he was currently in his office, not working, but fiddling with his radio. "Good day," greeted Sherlock. "Ah," said Maximillian, looking up. "Stupid radio 2, keeps playing the same song over again - January or something, Dale Winton keeps making the same remarks. So you must be the great Sherlock Cug then?" "That I am, yes. Mr. Maximillian, I want to ask you a few questions about the unfortunate incident which happened That I am, yes. Mr. Maximillian, I want to ask you a few questions about the unfortunate incident which happened yesterday" "Ah yes, Mr. Watson. He was a great guy. All this investigation reminds of when I was a cop in the Big Apple. That's Seattle to you British." "Yes, yes that's very nice Mr. Maxmillion."said Ernest "But we need you to answer some questions" "Yes, where were you on the night of the 22cd of January 2003 and precisely 15:30?" "Why, I was sitting down on my armchair when my secutary Pinks von Teddz came in and told me that dinner was almost ready." "I think we have heard enough, lets go." said Sherlock "But, I...." "Come on Ernest" insisted Sherlock dragging him room. "Why did you do that?" said Ernest when they were finally out of the room. "Because, I had just realised something!" "That you have gone mad!" "No, not quite."said Sherlock "But that he said that the Big Apple was really called Seattle but it's really New York!" "Jinkies!" exclaimed Ernest "By jove, your right! So, what can we gain from that?" "Nothing at the moment but I suggest are next stop is down to Pinks von Tedz" "And hopefully down Memory Lane" said Ernest as they walked down the cobbled steps to Pinks office. "Also," said Sherlock Cug, "why did he say he was a cop in America, when Dorothy Dolly told us he was a gambler - I don't think gamblers turn into cops overnight. He may be our prime suspect at the moment. But of course we don't know why he would want to kill Watson." They reached Pinks von Tedz office and politely knocked. "Come in," said a pinkish voice. They entered and they saw not one, but three characters sitting around the desk having a natter whilst drinking coffee. Pinks von Tedz got up from behind her desk. "Ah, Ernest, do come in, and this must be the intelligent Sherlock Cug. I've heard much about you, Mr. Cug. Please, pull up a chair and helf yourself to coffee and cookies." Frau von Tedz was clearly a smart woman teddy, the type that would know all about business but wouldn't know how to make a sandwich. The two detectives sat down. They recognized one of the other characters in the room, it was none other than Dorothy Dolly. She introduced the final person. "Mr. Cug, Mr. von Sooty; this is Dame Katarina Dolliheim." The Dame gave them a quick smile. "Ladies," began Ernest. "How good it is for all three of you to be here. We have some questions to ask...." > "Ladies," began Ernest. "How good it is for all three of you to be here. We have some questions to ask." "Yes, yes." said Sherlock "Lets start with you Miss Dolly" "Oh, o.k but I really can't help you" said Dorothy "First of all, where were you on the night of the night of the 22cd of January 2003 at precisely 15:30?" "Well I was sitting down with a cup of playdoade, dinner wasn't for a while yet and I had turned on the t.v to watch BBC Parliament, they where trying to decide whether or not drinks should be served every hour in the new building they were making. They were voting when I tuned on." "Hmmm, Miss Dolly, you said Mr. Maxmillion was a gambler in New York. Are you sure?" said Ernest "Oh most positive!" "You do realise that this is a double lie." whispered Sherlock to Ernest "Either one could be right or wrong so they are both suspects." "To true, to true" replied Ernest "Lets question Miss von Tedz next." "Miss von Tedz." called Sherlock "Can we see you for a moment" "Moment mal" she said to the person she was talking to on the phone as every good receptionist and secretary should do. "Was there anybody else in the hotel the day Teddy B Watson died?" "No," she said in an Austrian accent. "not that i know of. The three of us here, Maximillian, and Mr. von Sooty here." "Then these are my five suspects," said Sherlock Cug proudly. "Me too?" asked Ernest. "You too," said Cug. "One of you committed the murder." There were gasps all around the room. And then quietly he said to Ernest: "But who, and more importantly why?" "Frau Dolliheim," he said, turning to the aristocratic Austrian lady who had up to this point remained silent. "Why are you staying at this hostel. Surely it is a bit out of the way and a bit shabby for what you are used to?" "You know," she said, "zis is true. But my good friend Pinkz von Tedz vorks here. I have known her zince ve vere in high school togezer. She had invited me to stay - January is not ze season for tourists you know, zer are plently of free rooms." "Zis is true" added von Tedz. "Did you know Teddy B Watson at all?" "No, i did not know him until ve met ven i arrived. He seemed a likeable man, but voz very qviet. Did not say too much. Just as vel." Sherlock Cug decided that was enough for the moment and left the three ladies to their own devices, and went outside with Ernest. "You don't honestly think that I could have murdered Watson, Cug?" asked Ernest. "I have to keep all my options open. But I really need some fresh air now." "Then I know the perfect remedy. Let's go hot air ballooning! As it's a clear day, we can also see a bird's eye view of the crime scene," "What a great idea!" said Sherlock.......... "What a great idea!" said Sherlock. "Matthew has always wanted to go hot air ballooning in Austria!" So they blow up there balloon and took of. "Wow!" exclaimed Ernest "It really is a good view from here!" It was a lovely feeling, the wind rushing through Sherlock's cap and feeling as though nothing else in the world mattered. But it did. "Look, Sherlock" said Ernest "Were coming up to the crime scene" "Let her down" said Sherlock. When Ernest had let the balloon down the two of them and walked over to the place where the murder was committed. All that was left to remind the two of the death was a faint chalk out line and the silent plastic tape blowing in the wind. "They have taken the body away to be examined I see" said Ernest. "Yes" replied Sherlock "We will have to go there soon but at the moment there is more pressing issues. Look around for any signs of evidence." After a while Ernest gave a shout. "Look at this Sherlock! It's a piece of string!" "Not any old piece of string!" said Sherlock looking at the string closely "One end has been cut by scissors it's all frayed! The other end seems to be the start of a new roll of string." "It makes no sense?!" "Hmmmm, I think we now call for a rolplay to find out the victims route. Where was Teddy Watsons favourite walking spot?" "Well everyday he would walk up from the hostel, up the mountain path to our right, you see, which takes you up to Bad Uberludwigshohenbeimholzhausen, then the path skirts around the forest, there, you see, and comes to where we are now, before going directly back down to the hostel." "I see," said Sherlock. "And he did this route everyday?" "I think so," said Ernest. "So the murderer new where he would be. He wanted to do it miles away from everything so nobody would know. And, as Watson took the long path round whatever that long place is called, the murderer came up this path," and Cug pointed to the path that led directly from the hotel to where they were standing,"to be waiting for him. But let's get everybody to reenact what they were doing on that fateful day." So the two got back in the balloon, and flew around for a bit, because Sherlock very much enjoyed doing that, before they landed back at the guest house and grouped everyone together. Cug explained to all of them what they had to do. So they all went to their places. Maximillian was in his office - he stayed in his office and did not have dinner. Dorothy was in the kitchen before she served dinner. Pinkz von Tedz said she was out visiting a friend in the next village, but had come back in time to work in her room for a bit, and then had dinner. Katarina Dolliheim and Ernest Sooty were in their rooms, before coming in to the bar area where they chatted for a while before dinner. Cug surveyed the scene. He was trying to make a connection with this piece of string they found. He decided he needed also to know WHY someone would want to kill Teddy B. Watson, and so decided to ask each of them whether they were in good relations with the bear or not.... ...., and so decided to ask each of them whether they were in good relations with the bear or not. As he was arriving back at the youth hostel he walked into a room were Pinks von Tedz (who had come back from a walk to her friends) was changing a lightbulb. "Why the dickens are you up there Miss von Tedz?" exclaimed Sherlock somewhat bewildered and curious. "No, no reason at all."said Pinks back "Dorothy asked me to change this lightbulb for her. Can't stand on a stool without getting all dizzy,poor dear" "O.K" Sherlock replied now making his way into the bar where Ernest and Katarina were chatting. "What news?" said Katarina sipping here vodka coffee "Not much. Am I interupting anything?" "No, nothing" replied Ernest "We were just about start a round of Cludo. Care to join?" "Yes please!" So they played cludo for a while. Shelock (of course) won guessing that it was Herr Hair in the utility with the inflatable hammer. After a while Sherlock decided to pop the question. "Say, did you have good relationd with Watson? Did he owe you anything? either of you?" Ernest replied first "Well, he was one of my closest friends but as far as anything in my will....nothing springs to mind...no! wait, yes, he did say that he promised to give me all his old crime books and his laptop! but the laptop is playing up a bit anyway at the moment." "Right. And you?" looking at the dame " whats your motive?" "Motive?!" she said with a light laugh "I have no motive. I have only known Watson for a few days and through my friend Pinks or course. as for anything he owned me, I have no bad grudge against him. Like I said I've only known him for a bit, and I am a dame. I have most of the things I want." "One more question. Is Dorothy scared of heights?" "By george (whoever he is) yes!" she can't stand on a stool with out her go... "... yes i've heard it before!" Sherlock interuppted. After the dame had gone to her bed Sherlock and Ernest spoke about what was happening. "It is all very wierd," said Sherlock. "But can we rule Dorothy out? If she is truly afraid of heights, which it seems she is, then she wouldn't have dared the treachorous mountain path which Watson took just before he was killed. And I still don't get this string thing." "Sherlock, I'm sorry, but I'm very tired, if you'll excuse me," Ernest suddenly said. "Why, of course old boy," said Sherlock but before he had finished, Ernest was already out of the room and heading down towards his bedroom for the night. Sherlock sat alone in his room and mused on things, and especially his friend's erratic behaviour. But he concluded that it was just down to the fact that their friend had been killed, and that was enough to get anybody down now and then. He thought back to the scene he had witnessed the first time he arrived in the little Austrian resort. If he couldn't solve the motive or the murderer, then what about the weapon? But with that he fell asleep. In the middle of the night Sherlock was woken up by the sound of somebody walking around - outside. Outside? In the cold snow? The somebody coughed, and walked on. Sherlock got up and went over to the window and peered out. But he could see nothing, it was all completely dark. He went back to bed. In the morning, Maximillian came up to Sherlock at breakfast and said two packages had arrived for him. One package contained some snacks that his family in Latvia had sent him - Pringles, Coconut Macaroons, Fairly traded chocolate etc. But the other one was a special package from the police department. He opened it and discovered they had sent him what they believed was the murder weapon. Cug had always wandered about this for it was not a gun, or an axe, or an inflatable hammer, but it was, rather bizarrely, a ...... , but it was, rather bizarrely........ "Bubblewrap!" exclaimed Sherlock. "Errr, no Sherlock"said Ernest who had now joined them "That's the packaging, the weapons inside." "Oh, sorry," but it was, rather bizarrely a..... "Revision Booklet!" exclaimed Sherlock again. Everybody breathed very deeply in a shocked type manner. "Yes, yes, how very strange. It looks as though the murderer only got up to the section on photosynthesis." said Sherlock. "Who here is revising for a test?" said Ernest. "All the clues don't seem to add up, nor do they subtract, divide or multiply. Lets have a look at the clues: *A piece of string frayed on one edge *A science revision booklet *the fact that Dorothy has a scare of heights *a weird figure in the middle of the night walking about. It just makes no sense....." pondered Sherlock By now as well as Maxmillian and Ernest all the other people had come into the main lounge where Sherlock was looking at the booklet. Sherlock was puzzled but he did have one more piece of evidence, the figure outside in the night could not have been Ernest, he seemed just too tired when he said goodnight. So who was it? the person must of had a cough, he knew that Matthew Seed had a nasty cold but he was all the way in England. It was a puzzling thought, as is much of the other little riddles that had been put up in front of him. Of course the person might of not been the murderer at all, just somebody out for a walk. But it was very suspicious. He was very lucky that there was no train out of here for another week and the person would not leave anyway because then they would know who they are. Just as he was really getting into a deep thought mood Pinks said something of great interest. She suddenly broke down in tears and told everyone through sobs: "It wasn't me, honestly it wasn't me, but when I was living in Stuttgart, I owned a large house. With the large house came a large garden. One day I decided to renovate it and I hired a team of expert gardeners. It wasn't quite Ground Force, but almost. One of the gardeners was an Englishbear by the name of Watson. He had some very good ideas and we spent a week wandering round the garden, discussing plans, and... and to tell the truth I very much liked him. Ahem." she stopped for a hankie. Dorothy handed one to her. "After a week he showed me his finished plans for the garden. To my great horror, he was going to get rid of three of my prized garden possessions: my faithful pony, Rocky; my trusty car, the CrazyCoupé 500Turbo; and my summer playhouse, which was there before I was born I believe. I couldn't believe he would do such a thing like that! I sent him away." "And have you seen him since?" asked Sherlock. "No, not until he arrived here. He had found out that I was working here and wanted a walking holiday up in the mountains, but he had another aim: to try and make amends with me. I was surprised when he turned up - but I promise - I didn't kill him! I had no reason for that!" She broke down in tears and Lady Katarina put a comforting arm round here and tried a few "There, there"s. Sherlock Cug spoke up. "Look everybody. We need to solve this. Somebody here killed our friend. Time's running out to solve this mystery. Graham's coming home on the 23rd May. Please, speak up now, did anybody else know Teddy B Watson before he arrived here?" A timid voice spoke up......... A timid voice spoke up. It was the voice of Mr. Maxmillian. His strong, overpowering, booming voice was replaced by something quite different. "Yes, me and watson were best mates at are college, Barton Teddy, we used to do everything together, go to clubs, revise for tests and play games. I can remember when he did this really cool easter game for me to work out. After a while we broke are friendship over an argument against who would have the last hamburger. Anyway, I never saw him again in'till when I meet him here. We, of course, made up and were friends in'till that day when he died." After this everybody went to bed apart from Sherlock. He was thinking about Dorothy. She had been very quite that evening. Too quite. She has a scare of heights, and yet she went up to the murder scene when Ernest was first investigating the case... Walking in to the kitchen Sherlock noticed Dorothys coat was still there. It had a ball of string in the pocket. Could a piece of string fall out when she was up there at the murder scene? In which case she was not a murderer. But she could be? It was all very stressfull so he decided to go to bed and sleep on it. Again, Sherlock was woken up in the middle of the night with noises going on outside the window. He was quicker in rushing to the window this time, and noticed a faint torchlight outside. It flickered, and then disappeared. But it was not possible to see who was behind it. Odd. So he went back to bed. In the morning, he decided to make enquiries over breakfast. Maximillian was reading the newspaper (MAUFLAND-BOTLEY IN EDUCATION SHAKE-UP: MORE EMPHASIS ON SPELLING AND GRAMMAR). "Ah Sherlock, Good morning," "Good morning, Maximillian, mind if I join you?" "No, not at all, please do." Sherlock sat down. "I'll get straight to the point. You're not American are you? You think the Big Apple is Seattle and you were at college in Barton Teddy, which I know is in England. Though the rumours of you gambling are true - you decided to quit gambling and set up a hostel in Austria - true, but I don't understand why. Explain." "Sherlock, true, I'm not as American as I make out to be. I was born in England and have lived there most of my life. I did go to America once, to experience the gambling there, but I'm afraid my geography is bad. I even thought Russia was south of the equator. And why have I chosen an out-of-the-way place in Austria to build my hostel? Reason number one: it's a lovely location of course. But reason number two: I had to escape the police - the English police - I got caught up in a big gambling scandal in Skegness a few years back, and I've come here to avoid them. I've created a different identity to fool them, like I'm American. I'll have to admit that. Please do not tell the police in England, Sherlock, I'm just telling you because I promise I didn't kill Teddy Watson, like I told you last night, we had made up, and we were friends until he died." Sherlock noticed Dorothy Dolly coming over with some Easter goodies. He decided to ask her about the string, and her fear of heights. "Dorothy! Over here!" he called. "Sherlock, how can I help?" "Well,............... "Well, you can start by sitting down and putting those eggs down." "If you say so" she said uneasily sitting down on the large comfy chair. "I am, to be frank (which i'm not, i'm sherlock), slightly bemused and bewildered." sighed Sherlock "Go on.." "You see,there seems to be a rather full cart load of evidence against you." ventured Sherlock. Dorothy looked suprised, it looked real, not fake. "You are scared of heights and yet on that day when you met Ernest you were up at the crime scene which is very high up. Also I noticed that you have string in your pocket, their was string at the murder scene. What's this all about? Hey? Hey?" "Well,"began Dorothy "It is absolutly true that I am scared of heights and that trip up to the mountain was my last one, you see, because of Watson's death every time I go up I tremble and remember Watson. It was the murder that gave me trouble of heights. As for the string, you are right in saying that I droped that string when I was up there. I carry string because it is useful to tie round chickens etc.. to keep then I one peice. It just so happened that I had taken out a new ball of string to tie up a turkey and had cut the string when I heard that Watson was dead. I stuffed the string into the pocket of my coat and hurried out with all the other people to go to the site. When I was going back to the hostel I took one last look at the site and noticed the peice of string lying on the ground, by that time I was too tired to go back and to afraid to go up there again so I left it there and there it stayed. Or so I thought." The day went on pretty normal after this spiel but when Sherlock went to bed he was again woken up by the noise and somebody outside. Rushing to the window he saw the figure (whom he still could not see very well) and then out came a torch which flicked on and off. After a while the noise went and the figure went. So captivated by this he forgot that the best way to solve this mystery once and for all was just to run out and see who was'nt in there beds. But he had no proof against them even if he did. Anyway he had a feeling that this would be the last time he would see the figure. Suddenly, it all made sense. The answer layed in morse code! Somebody was giving messages to a plane above ( which was the noise) about something! This meant that he would not have much time as the person was probably planning an escape very soon. He would have to act fast. He went to sleep drifting in plans and thoughts that could solve this mystery once and for all. Sherlock woke early, and decided to do some real problem solving before breakfast. He sat at his desk and took a large sheet of paper and several easter eggs to eat and drew a plan of where everybody was, and what there motives were, and what he had already found out. He noticed two gaps - the revision booklet, opened at the page on photosynthesis; and Katarina, who had stayed relatively silent up to now. Everything was so complex, that he really had to read all the previous parts of the stories, but there just wasn't enough time. But today had to be the day to act. He was pretty sure that the murderer would be escaping tonight, by helicopter or plane, to get a quick getaway. Hurrying down to breakfast, he noticed Maximillian's door ajar. Maximillian, Katarina and Ernest were talking together. He knocked on the door and entered. They immediately stopped talking about whatever they were talking about, and Ernest hurriedly put something into his rucksack. "Sorry, I noticed your door was ajar." "I adore jars too," said Maximillian. "Shall we go in for breakfast?" "Yes, let's." So they went into the dining room. Sherlock made an announcement. "Er, everybody, listen up, I am calling a meeting tonight - everybody has to be there. It's time to reveal my findings." In truth, he was not sure what findings he would reveal, but today was the day to find the findings. The weather outside turned windy. A storm would be coming. The weather outside turned windy. A storm would be coming. Sherlock and Ernest finished their breakfast and swifty got up out of their chairs. "I have been thinking Ernest" said Sherlock to his companion as they walked down the corridors towards the front door. "I have come to the conclusion that Watson did'nt go by the path you said." "My dear Cug!" exclaimed Ernest "However can it not be the path?!" "I came to the conclusion via the fact that you said Watson walked the path everyday, unless you were lying"said Sherlock as they jogged down the stairs. "I was certainly not lying!" proclaimed Ernest, slightly offended. "You also said that on that day he said in the morning that he was going for a walk and would be all day. If he took this walk every day then he would be walking for most of his time and that would be just strange." continued Sherlock grabbing his coat from the coat peg. "That is quite true, he certainly did not spend all his time walking!" said Ernest grabbing his too. "Therefore it stands to reason that he was going a longer route that would take all day." finished Sherlock as he pushed open the doors to face the landscape of the valley infront of them. "But Sherlock, he was murdered very near the path and anyway it was foggy and he could of just got lost!" "You said he walked the path every day, he would know it better than his own hand." "So it was just a cowincedence that he was murdered near the path?!" argued Ernest, rather mockingly. "No,"said Sherlock back,"You see over there, that mountain" he said pointing at a mountain north-west of where they where. "That's Mount Eaner. Watson was there that night." proclaimed Sherlock. "How do you know?!" questioned Ernest "Their are footprints a few days old there." "But surely the storm would have washed them away!" "Yes, but not all. There is a large boulder that provides some shelter and a little warmth down there. There are footprints there a few days old, those of Watsons. He must sheltered there a bit to try and regain his bearings and for a little warmth." "Well thats all very well and good but it still doesn't explain how he ended up at the path." "When you look at the sides of the valley what do you notice?" "They are sloping down very slowly but going down the other side of the valley is very rocky and steep." "Quite so, this means that even if Watson could not see he could feel, as long as he was on smooth ground he would be able to find himself down the valley to the river that lies there, the river 'Oh-flowing-so-slowley' he then could follow the current of the water which would take him downstream and eventually meet the bridge which the path crosses. However he probably got mislaid again at this corner in the fog taking him slightly of course and to his eventuall resting place." "Gosh, you really have thought this one through haven't you! It took Matthew ages to write and plan this e-mail!" said Ernest. "Yes, but their is still the problem of the revision booklet!” said Sherlock. “That’s true, I have no idea.” “Here, have a look at this map I’ve made,” “That’s a very good idea. Now we can work out where everybody was.” Sherlock spent the rest of the day pondering by himself. He wouldn’t even let Ernest be with them. He had to do some serious thinking. By the time it was dinner, the bell rang for dinner. “It’s time!” said Ernest, who met him in the corridor leading to the dining room. “Are you ready?” “I think so. I have my hunches, and I think my hunches are right.” “And I have my lunches. Well, dinner actually.” The pair entered the dining room and everybody turned to look at them. You could feel the atmosphere in the room. It was tense. As tense as the night without tents, lost in the Caucasus. Dorothy silently dolopped out the mash and beans. Everybody looked nervous. Dorothy cleared her voice. “Ahem, Ladies and Gentlemen, Bears and Dolls,” she said tentatively, “this evening is a special evening, for two reasons. Firstly, I would like to tell you that Lin and Barry Woodpidgeon, from the neighbouring valley, have given birth to two lovely twins!” The mood relaxed slightly, and there was polite applause and the odd “ooooh, isn’t that nice” from the females. “Um, yes, and the second piece is, as we know, it is Sherlock Cug’s last night with us tonight. I’m sure many of us have grown to get accustomed to him wandering about since he arrived, after the, erm, unfortunate death of our good friend, Teddy B Watson.” “To Teddy Watson!” cried Maximillian, and they raised their glasses. “To Sherlock!” said Ernest. “To Lin and Barry Woodpidgeon!” said Pinkz. “To a wonderful time here at your beautiful hostel, Max, I have very much enjoyed staying here.” Sherlock said. “Indeed, here, here,” said Katarina. “It’s also my last evening here. I have to be back in Vienna tomorrow for a gala concert.” “Actually, me too,” added Pinkz with a cough. “I’m off back to Stuttgart for a few days to see my friends.” “So,” said Dorothy reluctantly, “I guess Sherlock has some news to tell us, about his, er… findings,” “Well,” began the Cug. “I want to pause here to open the lines up to our audience. If you think Dorothy Dolly did the dirty deed, dial now on 023 8074 0318 -1, if it was Ernest Sooty who was not as earnest as it seems, dial 023 8074 0318 -2; if you believe Pinkz von Tedz was pinkier than white, you’ve got it, the same number but with a 3 at the end! If Society Maximillian’s gambling ways has led him to murder, then a 4 at the end, or if Dame Katarina Dolliheim should swap her stately home for a prison cell, put a 5 at the end. Calls cost a maximum of €0,50; please get permission from whoever pays the bill, lines are open now till midnight, so GET DIALLING!” WHO DID IT? “Firstly I want to retell what happened that day.” began Sherlock’s final conclusions. “Watson woke up and decided he would walk longer than usual that day. He packed a light lunch, given to him by Dorothy, said he would be “back by teatime” “Well you be careful up on them mountains,” said Dorothy. “Don’t fret, my dear dolly, I know Mount Eaner and the surrounding area like the back of my hand.” Watson said. “Have you sorted out everything with Frau von Tedz yet?” asked Dorothy. “I think so, just like I am now good friends with Max. I like making up with people. I like people who don’t bear bears grudges.” “See you later then, take care,” “I will,” said Watson, and with that he was off. Morning was a wonderful time for Watson to walk. He started up of the left side of the valley, due south-west up onto the sloping mountain opposite Mount Eaner, and by 11am had reached Bad Uberludwigshohenbeimholzhausen. He stopped for a breather, and then walked down back towards the river going round past the forest, crossed the bridge and walked the other side up the valley, up towards the summit of Mount Eaner. His walk did not lead him all the way up to the top, but forked off right (east) which took him along a narrow ridge to some caves. By this time he was quite tired and hungry, and so stopped in the caves for his lunch. He sat there a while, wondering where else he might go, for he did say he would go all day and had planned to explore around for a while. During this time, it started to cloud over. “Too cloudy, I’d best forego my grand explorations. I’m not in Latvia or the Caucasus now. But it would be nice to explore a little,” thought Watson to himself. “I know, I won’t take the path back down to the hostel, but I’ll go directly down from here, down to the river, and then along the river home.” Yet all this time he was deliberating, the cloud lowered more and more and became a rather dense fog by the time Watson had started out from the caves, now late in the afternoon. He ambled along a bit more. There was a eeriness about the Alps today that Teddy.B. Watson had not seen or heard of for many a time. The fog covered over the Alps like a misty blanket leaving only but the highest tops of the mountain uncovered. Normally the alps were full of bustling tourists. But not today thought Teddy Watson. No, not today. He started descending down the misty mountain, and amused himself with the fact that the mountain, Mount Eaner, was the Botleysian word for ‘Fog’, but then it was true, there was often fog here. But never like this. After a while, Teddy B. Watson realised that he was completely lost. This is ridiculous, he thought. He tried his mobile phone but there was no connection. Suddenly, in the shroud of the mist and fog he saw a figure, who he thought he recognized. "Ah! Hello! I'm so glad it's you. This fog is dreadful isn't it. I don't know where I am. I could be in Stockholm ,Helsinki, Tallinn or Riga and I wouldn't know the difference.!" He could only just make out the figure, but he was sure it was who he thought it was. “How remarkable,” he thought, “that the figure had met him. What luck! What pure chance! What amazing coincidence! Surely too coincidental?” said Sherlock. “Who was this mysterious figure? How had he or she found Teddy B Watson?” “Ernest, I have known you for far too long, and have known you and your relationship with Teddy B Watson. I do not believe you are the murderer. It is not in your nature. You like to solve crimes, not make crime yourself.” “Miss Dolly, I now come to you,” Dorothy put the cherry cheesecake down. “You have suddenly developed a fear of heights since the last time you were up the mountain, the day after Watson died, when you went to investigate it. This does mean that the day before, the day he was killed, you could have gone up to the mountain and killed him. You dropped some string there which you said was used for ‘tying up chickens etc.’. I wonder, Dorothy, if you could have tied up a teddy bear perhaps? Strangled him?” Dorothy looked shocked. “But no, Watson was not stangled. Your reactions over the last few days have been of genuine shock at the appauling tragedy that has happened. Therefore I believe you did not kill him.” Dorothy looked milding relieved. “I know I didn’t kill him.” She remarked. “Society Maximillian, now it is to you I turn. You have a dodgy past. You have escaped the English police and run away to Austria, to build a new life. You weren’t at dinner that night, but you were in your office all day. People have seen you there. I don’t think you would ruin this life here, and have to run away again. You are already wanted in the UK. You have made up with Watson, and now have no reason to kill him. I do not believe you still dislike him. There are many things against you, Max, but more for, and I suspect you did not kill him.” “Katarina Dolliheim, you have kept quiet for most of this investigation, perhaps rightly so as you only knew Watson for a few mere days. However you have a very good friend in Miss Von Tedz. By the way, you don’t have a flying license, do you?” Katarina looked shocked and then quickly calmed herself down. “Er.. no, er… why?” Sherlock ignored the question. “Which leaves Pinks von Tedz, who as I noticed Earlier that day, you went to see “a friend in the village” and then went back to your room before dinner. Which friend, Pinkz? More to the point, which village? There is nothing for miles around, save the few inhabitants of Bad Uberludwigshohenbeimholzhausen and Barry and Lin Woodpidgeon. Watson came here almost specifically to see if he could make it up with you. Destroying your garden was a crime worth murder, was it? Pinks von Tedz, you are the murderer.” A stunned silence floated across the room. Nobody dared speak. It was Sherlock himself that eventually cut the atmosphere. "What do you have to say for yourself? You turned a innocent teddy's bear picnic in to a evil teddy bear murder. Too right, 'when you go down to the woods today you'll never believe your eyes. When you go down to the woods today you're in for a big surprise!" Pinkz remained a stunned silence whilst trying despretly to think of some words to save herself. "I…I…Oh, alright then, I did murder Watson. But I beg you to let me go free and I'll never bother anybody again! Please!" Sherlock's angry stare said more then words could ever say. "Then at least let me pack my bags and say goodbye to my friend Katrina!" Then Sherlock made the biggest mistake of the investigation. He hesitated. Before another word could be spoken Pinkz von Tedz and Katrina were running out the door. "STOP!" shouted Ernest earnestly "Let them be Ernest." replied Sherlock with a strange calmness in his voice. "ARE YOU MAD!" "No, I'm Sherlock. And Sherlock has taken the petrol out of their get-away-plane." with a pleasing simplicity. And sure enough, the four remaining people could hear the hopeless roar of a motor and the terrible cry of despair that comes when a plan has been destroyed. But their was still work to be done. Running hastily outside, Sherlock ran up and whilst the two were still trying to take of and produced a set of keys in which he locked the plane. They were trapped. A little later, the police had been summoned and the plane was being towed away with the murderers still inside. With one glare at Sherlock they were gone forever. The four were now sipping hot choclate with lots of cream and sprinkles. "I'm still a little bemused" stated Max "How on earth was Dame Katrina involved in this affair?" "Ah, now comes the most interesting part of my quest." started Sherlock. He coughed slightly. "Are you all sitting comfterbly? Good! Then I shall begin. I first had my suspisions about Dame Katrina before I had even met her. Being a Dame I presumed she would travel here by a private jet, not lower herself down to a common worklady. After that nothing much really led me to her but one night I woke to hear the sound of somebody outside and a noise. The noise of a jet. For a while this had me puzzeled. The person flying the plane must have been a outsider. And yet there is'nt a airport in miles. I did, however, manage to work out that the plane was using morse code to give messages to the person outside and in my period of serious thinking I put two together and realised it was the Dame flying the plane. But why? It did'nt seem like her cup of tea to go flying out in the middle of the night. Or her slice of cake. Or her chunk of beef for that matter. By this time I was really puzzeled, it was really taking the biscuit and I was getting in to hot water. Yes, come to think of it I was rather cheesed of, no yoke, no wait, that should be 'joke'. Finally I cracked the egg. It was obvious that the Dame was flying out each night to look for places too escape and to see where the police were. They were planning a great (or grape) escape. I was caught like a toad in a hole, I was going to have catch them soon. One thing was for sure: it was'nt going to be a piece of cake." "Gosh!" exclaimed Dorothy "I know" replied Ernest, "how could she do such a thing?" "And how many food related sentences could he fit in to one paragraph?" exclaimed Dorothy. "Go one! This is getting exciting!" eexclaimed Max. "Alright then! Even with this discovery their was still lots of holes in my cheese…" "WILL YOU STOP WITH THE FOOD RELATED SENTENCES!" cried Dorothy. "Sorry, it's just that I'm still quite hungry." apoligized Sherlock. So they gave him some brownie cookies (as is traditional at the end of any Cug story) and he was soon ready to go on with his story. "As I was saying, I still had a lot of gaps." he said confindently looking at Dorothy as he did. "My main issue before I could put a stop to this story was that of the revision booklet. After close inspection of the weapon I detected that it was about photosynthesis. After even closer inspection I also detected that part of the page had been smudged by a black muddy stain, dirt, of course. It became known to me that this person was keen on outside and finding out about the sceince of plants. Suddenly, it all clicked. The revision booklet was Watson's all along! I had made note that he used to be a gardener and that he liked exploring so this fitted the description perfectly." "Your not implying that Watson killed himself are you?" queried Max. "Of course not, I mean the booklet had no blood stains on it, it was'nt even bent! And know criminal would just leave there murder weapon behind. So it was now made known to me that at the time when Watson saw a figure getting something out of his pocket it must have been a knife. Or a ball point pen! Pinkz was a secutary was'nt she? She then stabbed Watson and grabbing his revision booklet dipped it in his blood in a attempt to frame him. Realising this I managed to capture them before it was to late." "You sure worked this whole thing out very good did'nt you." proclaimed Ernest. "And I'm proud of it!" replied Sherlock smiling. A few days passed and the place remained (for once) very peaceful. On the Saturday night Sherlock approached Ernest with some news. "I have just heard that our catch of the day have lost there case and are now in jail." he said looking with his spectacles at a telegram that had just arrived. "That's good!" replied Ernest. "Ah, yes, but also there is some trouble in Stutgart with an English man, an German and a whole roof toop of woodpigeon's. I'm afraid we have over stayed our welcome here and must go to Stutgart at once!" "Surely!" exclaimed Ernest, "but it will be sad saying good bye." He said with now a sudden sorrow in his face. After some crying and sobbing Ernest and Sherlock were ready to leave. "Ohhh, keep warm!" said Dorothy handing them a large parcel of home made mince pies. "Yes, yes. The tourist season is just starting so we should be getting some more people soon." said Max. Just then the doorbell rang. The four all went to the door at once. To there great surprise they found a shark at the door. "Ah, good morrow. Briggite the Shark, at your service!" The shark went inside and looked with a pleasant smile around. "So, what's be happening around here latley?" Sherlock smiled, said a quick farewell and he and Ernest left the shark in the capaple hands (or paws) of the two housekeepers. "What a week it's been! I feel like a good rest!" said Ernest, opening his mini and getting in. "Me too!" said Sherlock simply, also getting in the car. The valley looked somewhat more pleasant now, thought Sherlock as their mini went out of sight.