The Khipu and the Final Key by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2017-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Indeed, the orange blossom had a cluster of petals in the center that looked like the face of a monkey or a baboon. There were even two dark spots where the eyes would be, and a darker petal in the center that looked like a nose.

Hector nodded. “Yes. It’s called a monkey orchid. It’s not a very creative name, I suppose, but it is definitely an accurate description.”

“Wow! Is this the artifact we’re supposed to return?” asked Benny. “Is it rare or valuable?”

Hector nodded.

“Something someone might try to steal and sell for a lot of money?” Henry added.

Hector nodded again.

“Monkey orchids are somewhat common, but this is the only specimen I’ve ever seen that’s this color. They’re usually white and peach, or sometimes dark red…So this orange orchid is incredibly rare. It would fetch quite a sum if it were put to auction. Plant collectors can be quite willing to spend a lot of money, and the rarer, the better.”

“Where should we take it?” asked Henry. “We’ll return it right away!”

This time Hector shook his head. “I wish I could tell you! It’s not my orchid. I have known the Silvertons for a long time, so when I found this orchid on my greenhouse doorstep, I understood that I should take care of it until the Reddimus Society found out where it belonged. Oh, I should mention, the messenger left something else…I reckon it’s a clue to help you figure out where you should take it.”

Hector picked up a knotty rope from the table next to him. He handed it to Henry, who held it out for the others to see. It was a thin piece of white cord with dozens of other strands tied to it. Some of the strands were wrapped with green, silver, or gold knots.

“What is it?” Benny asked. “It looks like a piece of a sweater that came unraveled.”

“There was only a simple note that came with it,” Hector said. “All it said was, ‘This khipu is the final key.’”

“Khipu? Huh?” Henry repeated. “I’ve never heard of that before.”

Violet touched the soft pieces of rope. “I think it’s pretty. It reminds me of the friendship bracelets I made in school with embroidery thread. But I still don’t know what it means,” she said.

“Didn’t we see something like that in the building?” Benny wondered out loud.

“I think you’re right,” said Grandfather. “Next to all the flower cases there were some old-looking textiles with similar colors and patterns.”

Hector rubbed his chin with his thumb in thought. “The visitor center wouldn’t be a bad place to start looking. I don’t think you’ll find any clues out here!”

Benny looked at the monkey orchid in its glass case. It looked very breakable.

“We have to carry it in that?” he asked.

Hector nodded. “Yes, unfortunately. The monkey orchid is very delicate. It can’t survive extreme temperatures. And since it’s a tropical plant, it needs to stay inside this special container. If it’s exposed to air that’s too dry, it will become one sad little flower.

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