I click on News and see an announce ment of upcoming tours ON THE TRAIL OF COLONEL FAWCETT Through the Amazon jungle in search of the lost city of Z THE MUMMIES OF TURIM Who are these perfectly preserved bodies in remote Asia Lost cities in the jungle and mummies in the desert sound pretty cool That’s how scams work Annabel explains They sound cool and offer something you want to believe in Then they bleed you for money Their website looks pretty good I say pointing at the screen We look at beautiful photographs of luxury ships trains and camper vans complete with obviously rich people enjoying them selves We watch a video of smiling holidaymakers sipping champagne on beaches and equally happy groups being led through ancient ruins 6 John Wilson
It looks real I say It’s easy enough to make a website look fancy Annabel says Why do you have to be so nega tive I ask my annoyance returning Annabel tilts her head and looks at me Not negative she says Just careful How do you think they found you And I wonder what the Crype Foundation is Sounds shady It’s easy to get someone’s email I say Okay but they sent you mail And they are going to phone you Street address and cell numbers are tougher to get But still possible I say Annabel has a point It is a lot of trouble to go to Annabel shrugs I guess we’re not as private as we like to think Maybe I won’t hear from them I say My annoyance fades as fast as it appeared But I kind of hope it is real It’d be cool to go to the Arctic 7 Lost
Especially in winter Annabel says with a laugh That was really bad I say Even for you But the timing would be great It would be awesome to see where they found Franklin’s ship HMS Erebus Annabel says Did you know that Franklin was lieutenant governor of Tasmania before he went on his last expedition His wife Jane was an explorer in her own right She was the first European woman to travel across Tasmania Do you know everything I ask Of course not Annabel says There’s always more to know and learn I’d quite like to learn more about the Arctic Would you I say Don’t forget Enigma Tours contacted me I can invite anyone What’s to say I’ll invite you Annabel punches me on the arm That hurt I say 8 John Wilson
You deserved it she says looking at her crossword Besides who else would go with you Now Nothing to hold a spike Four letters Nothing to hold a spike Four letters I repeat slowly If nothing is nil and it’s holding the letter a the answer could be nail Annabel looks impressed You’re getting the hang of this Me and my friend I say turning my laptop to face her The screen shows CrypticAid your crossword helper Annabel shakes her head in despair You’ll never learn that way Maybe not but I’ll have a lot more spare time 9 Lost
