clues in cryptic crosswords don’t make sense Annabel gives me a how can you be so dumb look Patella she says I stare back blankly Pat and Ella are girl’s names and a kneecap is called a patella Simple For you maybe but you’re weird I say Annabel smiles as if I’ve paid her a compliment Sometimes I wish you’d go back to learning pi to some crazy number At least I could understand that But come see this email It’s not the usual spam There’s no link to click They’re not asking for anything It says I’ve been selected for a free cruise Yippee Annabel says A cruise in the Bahamas That’s useful when you live in Australia It says flights are included And it’s not a cruise to the Bahamas It goes through the Northwest Passage It’s called In the Footsteps of Sir John Franklin 2 John Wilson
A moment later Annabel is reading the email aloud over my shoulder Dear Sam ENIGMA TOURS a division of the Crype Foundation has a long history of guiding small groups of adventurous souls to locations of extraordinary interest ENIGMA TOURS is creating several new adventures based on the world’s great mysteries For our first tour we are planning something really special and we hope that you will be interested in a chance to participate In 1845 Sir John Franklin led the greatest Arctic expedition ever into the fabled Northwest Passage Not one of the 129 men on Franklin’s two ships lived to see home again And today their bones lie scattered on the icy shores of Canada’s Arctic islands What went wrong No one knows Would you like to be the one to solve the mystery 3 Lost
ENIGMA TOURS will be offering a small group of people free passage on a trial run of the tour This will include return airfare and two weeks on our luxury motor yacht Arctic Spray All you have to do is spread the word about our great product and allow us to use your name and image in our promotion Your passage will include a companion A brochure has been mailed and within a few days I will call you with more information and answer any questions you may have If you are still interested your name will be entered in a draw I do hope you will consider our unique travel adventures Thank you for your time Sincerely Moira Rawdon Vice-President ENIGMA TOURS ENIGMA TOURS Travel on a ship of the desert 4 John Wilson
See the first light of dawn Visit the sites of ancient conflicts Cross unimagined rivers You’re right Annabel says That’s not normal spam Do you think it’s real I ask Could be I suppose I can’t see any way they could scam you unless Unless what Unless Annabel goes on they’re aliens They might have a plan to abduct teens for a colony on one of Jupiter’s moons It takes me a second to absorb what she’s said That’s crazy I tell her Hmmm I guess you’re right Annabel agrees It’s much more likely they want you for medical experiments Well I think it’s real I say annoyed that Annabel isn’t taking the email seriously I turn back to my computer and search for Enigma Tours 5 Lost
