The Seventh Voyage of Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 7) Read Free

tortoise. My biggy discovery is this hidden temple. Its hillside entrance was grown over with long grasses, but I still found it. I am thinking that I want your help in opening this stone tomb.”
    “Gosh, I don’t know Professor. I’m all for scientific discovery, but I think we might oughtta show some regard for the native populace’s property and history.”
    “A naïve sentiment, boy! The world has a right to these treasures! Besides, all of the population is gone. There are no inhabitants here that still care whether some old fossils are treated with care and reverence. Don’t worry, Icksi; science knows best.”
    “Eh hem, I say, this expedition reminds me of Britain’s Egyptian excursions. I echo Mr. Temperance’s concerns and urge you to consider not spoiling this aspect of the island’s heritage.”
    “The Polynesian pinheads of this region don’t know what they possess! To them, these are merely their ancestors’ sacred bones, but to us, the scientifically enlightened, these are curios of history to be drilled, tested, prodded and scrutinized. The South Seas savages would only venerate their dead; we would catalog them!”
    “I still ain’t completely convinced, Perfessor. Just what kind of help from me did you have in mind?”
    “Just grab up that sledge hammer over there, boy, and come smash the stone seal on this sacred shrine.”
    “Eh, hem, yes, but before you do that, Mr. Temperance, I should like to impart with our less than completely conscientious guide a little more data. You know, many felt that wrathful, avenging spirits protected those Egyptian gravesites with powerful curses to prevent tampering by graverobbers. Some feel that many British expeditioneers fell to those curses. We could very well be about to bring dire consequences down upon ourselves.”
    “Fiddle faddle and falderall, child, that is just silly womantalk nonsense. Come now, Tempi-pants, break this seal. Science has come knocking!”
    “I sure enough don’t feel right about that Perfessor Fuzziwitz, that ain’t being considerate towards this island at all. It might be construed as disrespectful toward the island’s ancestry, and I sure wouldn’t want none of no part of that. What do you think, Miss Plumtartt?”
    “I say, you will find me in concurrence with your observations, Mr. Temperance, despite your convoluted use of double negatives. Quite so, for it is my belief that science can afford to slow its harried pace, and learn to observe its subject in the field, as it were, as opposed to under the microscope on some distant continent.”
    “That is a clear indication of why men are in charge in this world. We rule with our heads, while our feminine counterparts are led by emotion. Why, where would this world be if we always let our conscience be our guide? Progress would come to a screeching halt! Now enough of this silly, sentimental, fooling around, break that seal, Teaforants!”
    “I sure am sorry, Perfessor, but I gotta say no to your request.”
    “That was not a request, but an order! You squeamish sissy, give me that hammer! I’ll do it myself!”
    “Nossir, I can’t let you do that, Perfessor!”
    “Quit holding that sledge hammer up above your head where I can’t reach it! Give it to me, now!”
    “I’m sorry, but nossir! Let’s just enjoy the unspoiled tranquility of Valentine Island, okay? What do you say Perfessor Fuzziwitz?”
    “I say, … NO! Unh! As I kick you in the shin to get you to lower the hammer that I may snatch it, leaving you to hop about on one foot holding your bruised leg bone.”
    “I say, my word, how rude!”
    “I do not care for your mamby pamby cowardices. I shall break the stone seal of this shrine and in the name of science, lead the way forward with this...”
    “~Strike!~ ”
    “Did y’all feel that? I could have sworn I felt a light tremor pass under our feet and out across the island. It’s as if we just dropped a big rock in the middle of the proverbial