Her face is cute but she's unsavory. Watch out for her knack with knavery. Her last known whereabouts: California. Pinus longaeva is Latin for long-lived pine, and it's a perfect name for the bristlecone pine trees in the White Mountains. Some have been alive more than 4,000 years and that makes bristlecones the oldest living things on Earth. Why, some of these trees were around before the Egyptian pyramids. Dense resistant wood is what helps them weather eons of ice, sand, and drought, and even when bristlecones do die, they can still remain standing for centuries. Or they did until today...
...when noxious Kneemoi careened into California to knock on wood, then she branched out to breathe in the bristlecones, and before you can say another pine mess, every last bristle was gone. She plans to sell the trees on Roddenberry as a nasal decongestant. Gumshoes, you've got to get rough with that stuffed puff and solve today's case...
A Terminator wannabe with wires in his shorts and a short in his wiring. His last known whereabouts: Zimbabwe. Stone sculptures, made by Zimbabwe's Shona people, are a top African art form. It started in the 1960s when a village of sculptors created a new modern style with their carvings of colored stone. The sculptures, often smooth heads or figures blending into rough stone, were unlike much African art because they weren't religious. Self-expression was the most important thing in their creation. Today, Shona sculptures are still being crafted and are valued by art lovers around the world. At least they were until today...
...when Robocrook roared his robo-rover into Zimbabwe. He hooked and hoisted Shona sculptures one by one, then rocketed the rock art to points unknown. Gumshoes, you've got to chisel that chiseler down to size, then wrap up today's case...
She's chic, she's sleek, and she has an evil streak. Her last known whereabouts: Washington D.C. The White House has been home and office to every US president except George Washington. Built partly by slaves, it was first occupied around 1800, then rebuilt after British soldiers burned it in 1814. The White House hasn't always been an easy place to live. It was still unfinished when John Adams moved in, and for the first 30 years, it had no bathroom. But after two centuries of improvement, the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the proud symbol of the American presidency. Or it was until today...
...when Contessa cruised into restricted airspace to do some house hunting. Finding her dream home, she released her steal cable, then whisked the White House away. She's always wanted to be the first lady of crime. Gumshoes, foreclose on that house hustler and crack today's caper...
Nasty coughs and flemmy wheezes, boogers fly when this guy sneezes. His last known whereabouts: Wadi Dhahr, Yemen. What does a royal ruler get when he wants a room with a view? Take a look at this cozy little getaway called the Rock Palace. Perched high atop an amazingly steep rock, the home was built for 18th century Yemeni leader Al-Mansur Ali. More recently, it was a summer palace for the Imam, but its days as a royal residence ended in 1962. The Rock Palace has since become a tourist attraction and skilled Yemeni craftsmen are now restoring the palace to its former glory. Or they were until today...
...when Top Grunge yondered into Yemen wanting a new mobile home for his dear old mom. He decided the Rock Palace was just her style, so he motor-chopped the troncation and hauled it home to Mommy. Boy, seeing them together makes a lot of things clear. Gumshoes, break up this touching reunion and crack today's case...
Looks like a dude from a 70s disco, polyester suit, hair groomed with Crisco. His last known whereabouts: Chichen Itza, Mexico. A thousand years ago when the Maya ruled Northern Yucatán, they built the towering Castillo pyramid. It honored Kuklucán, the feathered serpent god. On the first day of spring and fall each year, the sun's rays slithered down El Castillo's steps like a snake and meet the massive serpent's head carved below. We don't know if Maya builders intended this effect, but the snakes appearance has now become a major event, drawing thousands of people who gather to celebrate the coming of the new seasons. Or they did until today...
...when Vic the Slick slid into Mexico, sidesteps the serpent, then slathered El Castillo with high-grade honey, and called his trained bees to pick up and pilfered the pyramid. Now that sleazeball picked up a whole swarm of partners in crime. Gumshoes, you've got to stop that pyramid pincher and wrap up today's case...
A seeker of fame with an act so lame, he gives rats a bad name. His last known whereabouts: Atlanta, Georgia. Long before the days of the multiscreen cineplex, there was the Golden Age of the movie palace. Huge spectacular one-screen theaters that made going to the movies a real event, and one of the grandest of those old palaces is Atlanta's fabulous Fox Theater. Opened in 1929, the Fox seats nearly 4,000 and has an Arabian fantasy interior that could be straight out of Aladdin. With ornate towers, tents, and balconies, even a star-studded sky, the Fox is really something to see. Or it was until today...
...when Wonder Rat crime-coptered into Atlanta, roped himself a Fox, then choppered it away. Now he's got that captive audience he's always wanted. Trouble is they don't want him. Gumshoes, you've got to outfox that Fox-filching rodent and wrap up today's case...
Her biceps bulge, her laughs are flared. She's so pumped up, she's got muscular hair. Her last known whereabouts, Deir-el-Bahri, Egypt. About 3,500 years ago, Egypt was ruled by Hatshepsut, its first female pharaoh. She was known for building great structures and for expanding Egypt's trade with other countries. Under her rule, a trip was launched across the Red Sea in search of a land called Punt. The successful voyage, which returned with many riches is recorded in pictures and hieroglyphs on the Temple of Hatshepsut. She built a temple as a monument in tomb for herself and it commemorates many events from her reign as pharaoh. Or it did until today...
...when Eartha Brute donned a snaky headband and walked like an Egyptian into Deir-el-Bahri. She toted the temple away and turned it into a sandstone Barcalounger. Gumshoes, bring in the brute and end the throbbing pain of today's case...
A teenage scammer, good with grammar, headed for the slammer. Her last known whereabouts: Spain. Over a quarter billion people today speak Spanish. This beautiful language had its origins in medieval Latin. Latin has lots of words with double Ns like annum, the word for year. The Spanish came up with a clever way to abbreviate those Ns. They created the letter ñ, and the Latin annum became the Spanish año. Many Spanish words include the ñ, such as mañaña, which means tomorrow, and even the name for Spain, España. Spanish is the only modern language that uses the letter ñ. At least it did until today...
...when lawless Miss Larceny, disguised as a flamenco dancer, popped up in sunny Spain then fanned out across the country. With a wicked wave of her flimflamming fan, she looted the letter from banks and books till every tilda-popped ñ was took. She hopes to cash in her copped characters for extra credit in crime class. Gumshoes, the fate of the Spanish language hinges on today's case...
She's got tattoos, her navel's pierced and she hates Yani, something fierce. Her last known whereabouts: Birmingham, Alabama. Jazz music is one of our nation's great contributions to world culture. The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame celebrates that contribution by honoring jazz musicians with ties to that state. You'll find exhibits on jazz greats like W.C. Handy, Lionel Hampton, and famed local jazz teacher John T. "Fess" Whatley. The hall sponsors programs too, like jazz in schools. It brings the cool sounds of live jazz music to over 10,000 kids each year. Or it did until today...
... when Sarah Nade breezed into Birmingham and decided to take five at the jazz hall. Later, she trucked back and struck with a jazz-jolting blast from her super sound system. Ear bleeds were reported in a ten-mile radius. Now she's turned that place of fame into a Hall of Shame. Gumshoes, I'll be kind of blue until you crack today's case...
Polyester fur and a nylon tail, likes to claim that he went to Yale. His last known whereabouts: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. For pure showbiz glamour, France's Cannes Film Festival is tough to top. But to see the best in African films, Ouagadougou is the place to go. Every two years, the city hosts the Panafrican Film and Television Festival, best known by its French abbreviation FESPACO. The festival started in 1969 to help nurture Africa's young film industry, and to promote African films to a global audience. Since then, FESPACO has grown to become one of the biggest cultural events on the continent. At least it was until today...
...when Wonder Rat whirled into Ouagadougou aboard his cheddar chopper. He jumped down on the sculpture that is a symbol of FESPACO, then kept pouncing his pilfering paws until he pogoed away. Now that star-struck stooge is staging a film fest starring himself. Better get a barf bag with your popcorn and Coke. Gumshoes, I'm counting on you to crack today's case...
She can tear you limb from limb, thanks to her membership at World Gym. Her last known whereabouts: Southwest Iran. Persepolis was an ancient city built around 500 B.C. by Darius the Great of Persia. It was constructed mainly for hosting big ol' parties with large palaces and audience hall and elaborate art. During the New Year's Festival, for example, people came from throughout the Persian Empire to bring gifts to the king. In 330 B.C., Alexander the Great sees Persepolis and burned it. Many centuries later, archaeologists uncovered the splendid riches of this once great city. But those riches vanished today...
...when Eartha Brute unearthed herself in Iran. She perused Persepolis, then proceeded to heist horses, filch the freezes, and generally left no stone unstolen. What she'll do to get friends is really a crime. Gumshoes, repossess Persepolis and crack today's caper...
If you're looking for brains, you won't find a trace. Between her two ears is a wide-open space. Her last known whereabouts: Calgary, Alberta. Take a ten-minute drive from downtown Calgary and step millions of years back in time. You can do it at the Calgary Zoo's Prehistoric Park. It's North America's only major park to show dinosaurs in their natural environment. Of course, the dinos aren't real. There are life-size replicas and they're surrounded by plant life and other prehistoric animals which resemble those from the same era. Seeing dinosaurs in their natural habitat almost brings these long dead creatures back to life. Or it did until today...
...when Eartha Brute clomped into Calgary in her cave gal best. She then proceeded to poach the park of every prehistoric beast, and she probably still hasn't noticed that they aren't real. Gumshoes, I'm counting on you to crack today's case...
A well-dressed pest with a taste for the best. Her last known whereabouts: Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since 1894, Argentine presidents have lived in La Casa Rosada, or pink house. Some say the palace was painted pink to set it apart from the US White House. Others say pink was one of the few colors available back then. It was made by mixing beef blood with lime. Either way, La Casa Rosada is a symbol of Argentine government. Traditionally, the country's leaders address the nation from the balcony of this proud pink palace. Or they did until today...
...when Contessa breezed into Buenos Aires and cased the casa. She rounded up a herd of that famous Argentine beef, then stampeded the palace to places unknown. Now she's flying the flag of treason and laughing all the way to the pompous. Gumshoes, you must conclude today's conundrum...
A crook who travels incognita, nibbling chunks of smooth Velveeta. His last known whereabouts: Kassel, Germany. Once upon a time, there were two brothers named Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. They wrote and published more than 200 folk tales they had heard from friends and folks around Kassel. Stories like Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and Rapunzel. The Grimms wanted to publish the tales before they were forgotten and lost forever. They were first translated into English in the 1820s and have since appeared in dozens of other languages to the enjoyment of readers around the world. At least they were enjoyed until today...
...when Wonder Rat pulled a crime for all time in his sleep. He dozed off and in his dreams, he pilfered every page of those classic Grimm tales. When he awoke, the heist was complete and the grim truth is, he's now writing himself into every story. Gumshoes, only you can close the book on today's case...
She dreams of love, but even Cupid couldn't find someone quite as stupid. Her last known whereabouts: New York City, New York. Ah, the Empire State Building, a stone and steel marvel rising a quarter-mile high. It was the world's tallest building for four decades. Amazingly, this mammoth skyscraper was built in just over a year, a speed record that still stands. Today, there are taller towers, but none has the allure and history of the Empire State Building. Blimps once docked on its mast, a bomber crashed into the 78th floor, and it's here mighty King Kong met his fate. But today was ill-fated for the building itself...
...when Eartha Brute copped a copter and parachuted down onto Manhattan like a big piece of bad news. She scooped up the skyscraper, shook it up and down, and giggled like an idiot, then stomped out of town. Now it's up to you gumshoes to wrap up today's case...
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? · 274 quotes