The Mummy's Curse Read Online Free Page A

When no one raised a hand, she announced, “It seems as though we have a real mystery here. I think we need a clue. Who did the picture?”
    She glanced around the room, searching for a raised hand. No response. “Anyone?” Frowning, she turned back to the last picture on the board. “That’s very strange. Well, since we haven’t figured out the hidden message, I’ll make that your assignment forFriday. If you can decipher the meaning behind the image, you’ll get extra credit. Perhaps then we’ll find out who created it!”
    While most of the students, including M.E., copied the drawing on paper, Cody and a few others got out their cell phones and snapped pictures of the mysterious eye-in-a-triangle design. Cody planned to take the snapshot to the Code Busters Clubhouse after school and share it with Luke and Quinn. This mysterious message obviously required all four of their code-busting brains.
    When the three o’clock bell rang, Cody and M.E. met outside of class and headed for their clubhouse. It was hidden in the eucalyptus forest nearby.
    â€œFigure out the message yet?” M.E. asked as they trudged up the densely forested hill.
    â€œNo, you?” Cody asked, pulling out her phone to look at the picture. “I thought maybe it was a rebus—one of those messages written mostly in pictures. Like, the eye could stand for the letter
i
. But what would the triangle stand for?”
    M.E. shrugged. “Maybe we can do a Googlesearch for the different meanings of the word
triangle
when we get to the clubhouse.”
    Cody nodded. She took one last look at the puzzling picture, then returned her phone to her pocket for the rest of the short climb. “Come on. I’m sure the guys are already waiting for us. They always beat us there.”
    â€œThat’s because they run here right after they get out of Mr. Pike’s class,” M.E. said. “I’m too tired after school to run anywhere.”
    Several minutes later, they arrived at the small shack the Code Busters had made out of old wooden billboard panels. Over the top they’d spread a camouflage parachute, which formed the roof and disguised the rest of the clubhouse.
    Cody gave the secret knock, tapping out her initials in Morse code, followed by M.E.

    Code Buster’s Key and Solution found on this page , this page .
    Then she said that day’s password: “Yadnom.”
    Code Buster’s Solution found on this page .
    Cody heard scuffling behind the door. Finally, Quinn opened it, letting Cody and M.E. inside before replacing the board that kept out snoops, mountain lions, and Matt the Brat. The girls unloaded their backpacks and joined Luke and Quinn on the newly carpeted floor. They’d found the large remnant behind the school and had carried it up the hill to place over the cold sheet-metal floor.
    The boys appeared to have been working on some kind of picture puzzle. Quinn held his cell phone over a sheet that featured both sides of a dollar bill.

    â€œWhat are you guys doing?” M.E. asked, glancing at the paper that lay in front of them.
    â€œHomework,” Luke said. “We’re studying steganography. Our teacher wants us to find all the hidden symbols on a dollar bill. Quinn’s using the magnifying glass app on his phone.”
    â€œWe’re studying steganography, too,” Cody said. “But Ms. Stad gave us a different drawing to figure out—not a dollar bill. We’re hoping you can help us crack it.”
    â€œSure, after you help us with ours.” Quinn pulled out a real dollar from his pocket and held it up to the light coming in through the thin fabric roof.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” M.E. asked.
    â€œJust checking to see if this has a watermark. It’s one of those invisible images you can only see when you hold paper up to the light. That way, you can tell if it’s counterfeit.” He stared at the bill.