The Detective and the Thief
An Original Story by Susan
Prologue
“This is the place,” the professor said, looking at the ruins of something that resembled a dome. “This, my students, is what we’ve been studying, what I dreamed about finding all these years.”
“Haven?” one of the students, a young woman of about eighteen years of age, asked.
Professor Nelson Filbert nodded. “The Inner City to be exact.” He looked around smiling. “Sara, we have found the Inner Land.” He looked out into the distance, then pointed. “Somewhere out there, in that direction, is the Outer Land.”
“I have always wanted to stand at the Vantage Point,” another student said. “You could see so many beautiful things from there.”
“Yes, Owen, I know. We will get there and you will have your chance.”
“Come, over here,” Professor Filbert continued. “Bridget, let’s have a look at the map, shall we?”
The four of them spread it open to reveal two islands that resembled fingers. One was longer than the other.
“This,” Nelson Filbert continued, spreading his hands over the two islands, “was Haven, the most powerful kingdom in the entire Northern Province. This is where we are standing now, the beautiful Dome of the Inner City, which was located in the Inner Land. Over on the left was the Outer Land where the Vantage Point was situated.”
“Originally,” Owen said, “there was no Dome of the Inner City.”
“Yes, Owen,” Professor Filbert said, “in the beginning it was all one world. It was known as Haven and it’s capital was Safe Haven. On the other side, what before it became the Outer Land, was the Vantage Point and Safe Harbor, two of the biggest and most beautiful attractions.”
“I suppose,” Sara asked. “It would have been lovely to see that.”
“Yes, Sara,” Nelson said, “I would have loved to have seen that also, but remember, this happened long ago, to be more exact, the end of the 22nd century.”
“Pollution was not yet under control as it is today. Harmful algae or red tide blooms occur at any time without warning. Certain factors are present, such as temperature, the amount of saline and nutrients. No one knew the exact combination, not until the genius of two scientists from Haven, Sandor Gristman and Alwin Underhill. They developed the technology to stop red tide and keep it under control.”
“So the Dome was built because of the red tide?” Owen asked.
“Yes, Owen, it was, that was the main reason. They became heroes and as a reward for a job well done, they married the twin daughters of the King Zacaria and Queen Matilda. But the two got carried away. Within a year, Sandor and Alwin were arguing with each other. Alwin wanted to leave the Inner City and the Inner Land altogether and venture over to the Outer Land. He was convinced that the red tide had disappeared and everything was fine on the outside. And so, he and number of men fled from the Inner Land and retreated to the Outer Land. Six months later, almost everyone became sick, including the King Alwin. “
“And that’s when Lord Fallon shows up?” Sara said, smiling. “I love this part.”
Yes, Sara, I am glad you enjoy this part of story, this is my favorite part as well. So, sit back and listen to the story one more time. Now that we have arrived, you might appreciate it much more.”
And so Professor Nelson Filbert began to tell his tale.