Okay this Sherlock Holmes/Narnia idea has been on my mind for a long while and I finished this first chapter a week or so ago but was wary to post it since I knew that would mean I would have to continue it; that's the reason I'm posting it now so I'll have a good incentive to complete it.
Note (s): Holmes deduction may sound a bit like what he does in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" at first but I assure you that it is different and really was not what i was aiming for. (:
Know that for the first chapter Narnia characters are not present.
Anyway I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
(Also if you notice anything I should address such as a character going ooc or grammar mistakes I'd like to know.)
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Chapter I
It is most unusual to have two similar but unrelated incidents occur almost simultaneously and it grows even more queer when they take place in the same exact area. Such were the circumstances in the late summer of 1900. The day was, as I remember distinctly, rather warm and arid as I sat in Baker Street looking over the latest newspaper articles while Holmes was presumably out doing another investigation for his latest case. I hadn't seen him since the night before, he had been deep in thought with his legs drawn up in his chair, his chin on his breast and his eyes closed just as I have seen him during many of his most stimulating cases. I could only guess that he noted something of great importance during that night to have left so early in the morning.
I set down the paper, there was nothing I could find that would be of any interest to Holmes, and looked towards the door when he suddenly came in. He briskly walked over and sat down.
“Anything?” said I.
“Anything? With this case anything seems possible even probable-including the impossible. Nevertheless I will not give this case up; it has so many unusual qualities that are exceedingly rare in the various crimes of London,” he stopped short and looked at me then at the folded paper on the table, “There is nothing in this morning's paper that should appeal to me, is there?”
“Not at all, it seems as if everything regarding this particular incident is being kept out of the paper. However, a telegram did arrive for you and it seems as if someone else is in need of your services.”
“I am much too busy at present to oblige myself but what are the matters if I may ask?”
“There are no details.”
“What does it say then?”
I read it aloud:
Most urgent business. Will arrive at 11:30.
Mr. Arnold Wilbur
Holmes took a quick glance at the clock and I rose to leave but he motioned me to remain with him.
“Do stay Watson I would like your company as it seems the details will come forth soon enough.”
Just as he finished there was a rap at the door and Mr. Wilbur's card came in followed by Mr. Wilbur himself. He was a man of medium height in his twenties or thirties but no more than thirty-five. In his hand he held a very curious walking-stick with a handle that was carved into the shape of some animal. He did not have an exceptionally handsome face, he was very red due to the heat, but it could not have been more amiable and he looked surprisingly calm considering that he had called on “urgent business”.
I noticed that Holmes too was looking over our unfamiliar client. As soon as he had run his sharp eye over him he politely went over to introduce the both of us. After we had wrung hands Holmes helped him with his hat and alpenstock and bid him to take a seat.
“I apologise, Mr. Wilbur, that you tired yourself in coming to Baker Street because I do not believe I can help you. You see, recovering lost dogs is not in my line of work. Still, you have come all this way on foot and your children probably miss the dog; I will listen to your account and if it is unusual enough that it interests me I may look into it but I can make no promise.”
Mr. Wilbur looked very flustered as Holmes went on. Naturally, I was just as surprised as he for I came away with nothing that Holmes spoke of. However, I knew my friend well enough to realise that he would explain the logic behind his accurate presumptions.
“Why, Mr. Holmes how in the world did you know that I came about a missing dog? And my children? And walking all the way on foot? I'm sure I did not put that information in the telegram!”
“Quite so! I wasn't aware of any of those things until you arrived,” Holmes replied quite coolly as he sat back down.
“How did you know then?”
“Well it is simple to see that you have come all the way on foot. When you entered you carried with you a very sturdy walking-stick-I know that does not account for too much since some men take one wherever they may go even if they do not walk the entire distance-but you were also flushed and had a good deal of perspiration on your brow. A man that came by another means of travel would look fresher perhaps, even in this warm weather. Now, when I took your hat and alpenstock I noticed that along the edge of your hat there were wiry white, reddish, and black hairs that your wife managed to miss while brushing it off this morning. I knew it wasn't your hair nor any other persons, it had to be some sort of animal. I was puzzled for only a moment until I realised that the handle of your very fine alpenstock was carved into the form of a wire-haired terrier. So certainly you owned a dog but why was it not with you? I could see straight away that you were an athletic man-you were not out of breath when you arrived-so with that and the wear on your stave I gathered you did a fair share of walking. Now a man who walks a good deal and who fancies his dog well enough to have its likeness carved into the handle of an expensive item should like to have this particular dog with him on a long travel, would he not? And as for the children, I only assumed that particular point. What other reason would a man have to consult a detective about a missing dog knowing that he might have to pay a dear price and also call it 'most urgent business'? Many men would only report it as a theft to the police or go to the pound unless, of course, this dog was cherished by others.”
Our client sat awestruck the entire time Holmes gave his explanation. He rubbed his hands nervously together but smiled when Holmes finished.
“Well I never heard such a thing in my life! That is truly astonishing and it makes complete sense!” he laughed heartily in relief, “How were you able to do that?”
“Oh, mere observation,” Holmes answered in a way that I always took as satisfaction.
“Then you are very good at observing.”
“Anyone can observe just as well if only they take the time to learn. But that is not why you came is it? You would rather see my abilities put to good use than be shown how they work. So what are the particulars of this matter? The sooner you explain your incident the better for all of us.”
Mr. Wilbur made himself comfortable and assumed a more serious composure,
“It happened two nights ago. I was taking Prince, my dog as you guessed, out for a walk just as I have at the same time each summer evening, at 6:30. On that night I noticed piercing eyes staring at me from one of the windows of a house I normally walk by, it was very unnerving. I was so focused on those leering eyes that I bumped into a young man who was carrying a good amount of books. They all fell to the ground and I felt terrible for the lad so I offered to help him pick them up since it was my fault after all. I loosed Prince and gathered as many as I could-”
“Do you remember any of their titles?” Holmes remarked suddenly.
“Titles? I'm sorry sir, I'm sure I don't but I do know that there was a rather large green book.”
“Thank you, pray continue on.”
“Well when I turned around Prince was gone. Vanished! I thought at first that he had run off so I went home and waited to see if he would show up that night or the following day but he never came. Later I remembered that one of my colleagues knew of the great work you had done on some very peculiar cases. So I sent the telegram and departed on foot to see if I would be able to catch sight of him on my way or, perhaps, the man that bumped into me.”
“Do you have any other details?”
“Well the lad seemed to be well-dressed, But it was quite dark. He never lifted his head and he was wearing a hat so I wasn't able to get a good look at his face.”
Holmes leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
“And the location?” he asked dryly. I knew at once that he was not interested in the least and rightly so. Even I could see that this was definitely not a very unusual case, dogs are often stolen. Our client did not know what to make of Holmes's nonchalant manners, he only replied to the question by disclosing the location. At the very moment I heard where it happened I swiftly turned to Holmes who was now, of course, leaning in attentively.
“You are confident that it happened /there/?” Holmes asked and rubbed his hands together with a gleam in his eye.
“Yes very, I should know where I take my dog shouldn't I?”
“Of course.”
“You will consider this case then, will you not?”
“Now, Mr. Wilbur, this matter has a certain 'quality' that I am not so quick to dismiss but currently I am overwhelmed with another case of ample concern and I will not be readily available. Situations being what they are I will offer the service of my wonderful comrade and assistant in many of my investigations, Dr. Watson.”
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I'll try and update this as soon as I can. 🙂
*grins*
And just so you know, I squeed over the opening paragraph. 🙂
How very interesting! Please continue!
Thanks both of you. 🙂
I'm glad you like it; I'm hoping to get the second chapter done within a few days to a week.
This is lovely! I never thought I liked mysteries before!
*gasp* *waits on the edge of her seat for the next chapter*
They might not need me but; they might.
I'll let my Head be just in sight;
A smile as small as mine might be
Precisely their necessity.
-Emily Dickinson