Paradidático!!!
Autor: ♪WIWIA♫ | Publicado: 2012-06-05T12:42:00-03:00



The
Blue Idol



&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lorde Glinter, um milionário colecionador
de obras de arte, resolve dar uma festa para apresentar ao público sua mais
recente e valiosa aquisição. Com medo de ladrões, convida o detetive Harry Lynx
para protegê-la. Não imaginava, porém, que seu convidado fosse tão competente.



&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hello. I’m Harry Lynx, private
detective. That’s a good name. You see, I never miss a detail. Why don’t you
come with me and see how I work? It’s going to be fun.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Right now, I’m going to a
party at Lord Glinter’s mansion. Lord Glinter is a famous millionaire. He
collects works of art, a very expensive hobby. People say he’s not very rich
now.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Well, he’s giving this party tonight to show
his latest acquisition. It’s a precious statuette from India, the “Blue Idol”.
But Lord Glinter is afraid of thieves. He wants me to be there to protect the
statuette.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When I arrive, the
millionaire comes to greet me, a smile on his face. He’s an old man, and he
walks with the help of a stick.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Detective Lynx! I’m so glad
you’re here! Now I feel perfectly safe.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We are in large room
decorated in oriental style. The Blue Idol is inside a glass box, in the middle
of the room. Lord Glinter’s guests are looking at the statuette with
admiration.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Fantastic!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Wonderful!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Hmm… but it’s so small!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Don’t say that, Mr. Lynx.
It’s priceless!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lord Glinter introduces me
to an archeologist, Mrs. Sands, and to the consul of India, Mr. Bharat.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “There is an interesting
story about the Idol,” Mrs. Sands says. “They say it brings bad luck to his
owner.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I don’t believe in these
silly things,” Lord Glinter says.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “They’re not silly,” the
consul says. India is a magic country. That’s why everybody wants our
treasures.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “In my opinion, Lord Glinter
is very lucky,” says a little man near me. “The Bleu Idol is fantastic!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;I know who the little man is. His name is Joe
Cappuccino, a famous art collector. He and Lord Glinter are great rivals.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “You see, Cappuccino, my
friend, I always win,” says Lord Glinter. “But look! It’s show time!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At this moment, exotic music
begins to play, and a beautiful young dancer comes into the room, performing a
typical Indian dance.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everybody is having fun, but
I can feel something strange in the air. And I’m right. Suddenly, the lights go
out. We’re in the dark, and we don’t know what’s happening. Then we hear a
noise, and a terrible scream fills the air. Somebody falls down.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then I have a brilliant
idea. I light a match. We all see the young dancer on the floor. There’s a
broken wine bottle by her side.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lord Glinter seems to be
nervous, but, but he tries to have the situation under control.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “A doctor! Quick! And James,
turn on the lights!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James, the butler, is near
the electric switch. He turns on the lights. Then we all hear Lord Glinter’s
shout.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Oh, my God, no!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He is looking at the glass
box. It’s broken and empty.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Where is the idol? My
precious Blue Idol?!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, it’s time for me to
get into action. I start my investigation by examining some pieces of glass.
And I’m lucky. I immediately find a clue, something I put in my pocket. Nobody
notices it, they’re all busy.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The dancer is on her feet
again. The doctor says she’s lucky. After a bottle blow on her head, all she
has is headache.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I have a terrible
headache,” she says. “Can I go home now?” she asks Lord Glinter.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Yes, of course,” says Lord
Glinter with a sad expression. “You can all go now. The party is over.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But I have something to say.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “No, Lord Glinter. No one
leaves this room. The criminal is still here.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Are you sure? Who is it,
then?”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Well… I have some
suspects…”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Mr. Cappuccino is one of
them. Maybe he wants the idol for himself.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -That’s a lie!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Then we have the consul of
India. He believes the idol belongs of his country.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Oh yes, but I’m not a
thief!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - And Mrs. Sands, too. She
loves old things.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Nonsense!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I propose we go back to the
moment of the crime, “I say. “What happens when the lights go out? Someone
breaks a bottle of wine. At the same time, the criminal breaks the glass box.
The noise is the same! He steals the statuette. Nobody notices that, because
that’s when the dancer screams. Still in the dark, he criminal has plenty of
time to hide the Blue Idol and join the others. Clever, very clever…”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “But who attacks the
dancer?”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Nobody. It’s just a trick.
In the dark, the girl breaks the bottle, screams, and makes believe she’s
hurt.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Is she the criminal, then?”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “No. She’s just an
accomplice. The criminal is…” and then I make a pause. I like suspense. “The
criminal is Lord Glinter!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everybody is astonished,
except Lord Glinter. He’s furious!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “What?! Are you crazy? The
Blue Idol is mine! I don’t have to steal it!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Well, everything is
possible when you are in desperate need of money. Insurance companies know all
about those tricks…”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “But you can’t prove that!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Oh yes, I can. Look at
this!” and at point I take a piece of wood out of my pocket.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;“What’s that?”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “A piece of wood, Lord
Glinter. From your stick. I’m going to remind you of some details. When you
break the glass box with your stick, you are not very careful, and you break
your stick, too. See? The fragment fits.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lord Glinter’s face is as
white as his hair now. He has no way out.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Very well. Then you know
everything. But don’t you try to follow me!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The old man begins to run.
But he slips on a piece of glass and he falls down. Now it is easy for me to
tie his hands together. Then I call the police. They say the idol brings bad
luck. That certainly seems to be true!

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Inspector Crossfire and his
men arrive, and they take charge of the situation. Before we leave, Mr.
Cappuccino has a question.

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“There’s something I can’t understand,
detective. Where’s the idol?”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Well,” I say with a smile.
“Cherchez la femme*, as they say in France.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then I walk over to the
Indian dancer. I remove her strange hat, and there it is: the Blue Idol. The
statuette is inside the girl’s turban.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Midnight. In front of the
police station, my old friend Inspector Crossfire shakes hands with me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Congratulations, Lynx.
You’re brilliant!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Thank you. You know, I
never miss a detail, but… oops! I have to run!”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “What’s wrong?”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Well, I never miss a
detail… but sometimes I miss my bus. Goodbye!”





*Procurem a mulher



A
LITTLE HELP



Accomplice: cúmplice

Acquisition: aquisição

Archeologist: arqueólogo

To arrive: chegar

Astonished: espantado

Bad luck: azar

To belong: pertencer

Below: golpe, pancada

Bottle: garrafa

Box: caixa

Broken: quebrado

Busy: ocupado

Butler: mordomo

Careful: cuidadoso

Clever: inteligente,
brilhante

Clue: pista

To collect: colecionar

Collector: colecionador

Country: país

Criminal: criminoso

Dark: escuro, escuridão

Desperate: desesperado

Detail: detalhe

Electric switch: interruptor

Expensive: caro

Feet: pés

To fill: encher

To fit: servir

Floor: chão

To follow: seguir

Fragment: fragmento

Glass: vidro

To go out: apagar-se

To greet: saudar,
cumprimentar

Guest: convidado

Hat: chapéu

Headache: dor de cabeça

To hide: esconder

To hit: bater, atingir

Hurt: ferido

Insurance: seguro

To introduce: apresentar

To join: juntar-se a

Latest: mais recente

To leave: deixar, partir

To light a match: acender um
fósforo

Lucky: sortudo

To make believe? Fingir,
fazer de conta

To miss: perder

To move: mover

Noise: barulho

Nonsense: absurdo

To notice: notar

Oops!: epa!; Interj. De
surpresa

Owner: dono

To perform: executar

Piece: pedaço

Plenty of: bastante

Pocket: bolso

To propose: propor

To remind: fazer lembrar