you even a little bit curious, Gerald? About the last casket? About why those golden rods had such an effect on you?â
Gerald stretched his arms wide and yawned. âNot even slightly,â he said. âAll of that ended the moment Mason Green dropped dead.â
âIf it was me, Iâd give anything to find out,â Sam said. âJust think: there are two ancient artefacts out there that have some mystical power over you Gerald, and maybe a third one just waiting to be discovered. It was funny enough seeing what one of them did to you. Iâd pay money to see what all three would do.â
Gerald shook his head. âLook, it was a fun adventure and Iâve got a couple of nice souvenirs back at the house. But thatâs it. A week ago that ruby we found in India and the drawing of where the ruby casket is probably hidden were the most important things in my life. I really wanted to beat Green to that last casket, to ruin his quest. But now?â Gerald stretched his arms even wider. âNow, my biggest worry is what food to pack for our camping trip.â
âI guess so,â Ruby said. She picked up a French fry and nibbled an end. âItâd be nice to know what that gem unlocks though.â
âI bet thatâs why Green gave himself up,â Sam said. âTo get closer to Gerald so he could steal the ruby.â
âThe way Greenâs lawyer was going, he would have got off too,â Gerald said.
âMaybe,â Sam said. âBut when Death comes knocking, nothingâs going to turn him away, no matter how much cash youâve got piled up against the door.â
Ruby and Gerald both stared at Sam.
âBit profound for you, isnât it?â Ruby said.
Sam shrugged. âGreen got what was coming to him. Still, it would be interesting to know what he was looking for.â
Gerald dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. âWhatever it is, itâs been buried for a thousand years or more. It can stay that way.â
Samâs eyes flickered towards Ruby, then he gave another shrug. âSo whoâs coming to this party tonight?â he asked.
âAt last count it was a couple of hundred people,â Gerald said. âBut Mumâs phoning around to try to boost the numbers. She wants it to be an âeventâ. And youâll finally get to meet Walter.â
âWho is this Walter?â Ruby asked.
Gerald closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. âMumâs life coach,â he said. âShe brought him back from America. They met at some party at Marthaâs Vineyard. Heâs supposed to help her achieve her full potential, or something.â
âHow does he do that?â Sam said.
âHeâs putting her through some course thatâs meant to make her vibrant and fresh and happy.â
âSheâs sitting on a fortune worth twenty billion pounds,â Sam said. âWhatâs not to be happy about?â
âAh, but itâs not her money,â Ruby said. âAll the money was left to Geraldâhis parents are just looking after it till he turns eighteen.â
âThatâs another five years,â Sam said. âThatâs forever. Plenty of time for her to play at being a gazillionaire.â
âSam!â Ruby frowned at her brother. âDonât be so rude.â
âThatâs okay,â said Gerald. âOne thing Iâve learned from Walter is that sometimes youâve got to take what comes. You canât control everything that happens to you.â
âReally?â Ruby said. âSo nothing is certain?â
Gerald cringed. Ever since his last day of school back in Sydney, the phrase âNothing is certainâ had been popping up all over the place.
âVery funny,â Gerald said, as Ruby and Sam burst out laughing. âAll Iâm saying is if the fates have it in for you, thereâs not much you can do to change