Chapter 13 Chapter 12 The Professor's Viewpoint

Like a dog picking up a fleshy bone, Ellery was intrigued by this new discovery.In his hand are the materials Bonn handed him just now, and he is going to take them to Professor Yadori's house for analysis. The noon sun was very strong, and it was a bit unbearable to walk in Ellery, who had no green shade and was dressed in a neat suit.He kept taking out his handkerchief to wipe his sweat, but he still couldn't resist the scorching heat.After walking the last corner, he managed to see Professor Yadoli's house. It was a strange building, Ellery said, as if it had been straight out of the Arabian Nights.Turkish-style patterns, inlaid with white marble, and the garden resembles a southern European-style garden; especially, the most attractive thing is the huge swimming pool inlaid with mosaics in the center of the vestibule, and it is filled with cool water.

The professor wore a pair of baggy shorts, soaked his long legs in the sink, and smoked his pipe. As soon as Ellery entered the door, he said loudly and jokingly: "Wow, Professor, your harem is really good!" "Hey! What a harem, I think you still can't get rid of your old problems. No matter how old you are, your words are still so indecent." Ellery blinked mischievously. "Okay, quickly take off your frock coat. Hey, what are you holding?" "Letter. Don't move, I'll come right away." Soon, Ellery changed into his swimming trunks and went back to the pool.Without saying a word, he just jumped into the pool without thinking.

Because of his incorrect diving posture, there was a big splash of water, which splashed the professor sitting by the pool like a drowned chicken, and the pipe in his hand was extinguished. "Hey! Kid, I didn't expect your swimming skills to be so good. Now, before I'm drowned, come up quickly!" Ellery swam over with a wry smile, lay down on the marble, and took Officer Bonn He took out the report, "Let me see what is written?" He browsed the first page first, "Well! Nothing important is written, but it seems that Bonn is quite diligent, and he has already contacted the Hankeku authorities. up."

"Oh! What are you writing?" The professor bent over to light his pipe. "Is there any news over there?" "It's not some reports, such as Principal Pang's autopsy records, and the entire investigation process. But, I have known these old-fashioned things for a long time! Besides, they have already been published in the newspapers.—Hey! What is this? I read it to Listen—he said that Andrew Pang's murder has nothing to do with Thomas Bratt's case, at least so far, they have carefully investigated some of Pang's old letters, and found no connection, hum! Really 'remarkable' report."

"Model essay." The professor smiled helplessly. "This is the story of the Arroyo incident, now let's go back to the Kegam Bay incident!" Ellery flipped through the fourth sheet, "Well! This one is the autopsy report of Ramsen. Knowing that there are no other traces of violence on the body, and the internal organs have no reaction of being poisoned, alas, it’s still old-fashioned.” "Didn't you ask Dr. Ramsen yesterday if Blatt was strangled to death? How did he answer?" "He said he didn't have symptoms of suffocation in his lungs, so he wasn't strangled."

"But why do you suspect that he was strangled to death?" Ellery turned his wrist: "It's not an important question, but because there were no other injured parts on the body, I think his death may be quite important. The fatal injury must be in the head, and according to Ram Xian According to reports, it may have been a blunt force blow to the head or a gunshot. I consider the former and think the former is more likely." The professor pulled his foot up: "Maybe, what else?" "There is no clue about the murderer's route." Ellery shook his head, "Because there is no list of passengers at the station near the bay, and the highway police can't get clues from the houses on both sides of the road, and they didn't even find anyone approaching Kaiga on Tuesday night. Mu Bay."

The professor sighed and said, "As you said, this is a fruitless job. The murderer may come by train, taxi or boat, but these are unknown, maybe he should take a seaplane!" "Ha! Ha! That's a good idea." Ellery laughed, "But teacher, you must not take 'not necessarily' as 'impossible'. I used to make this mistake a lot." Ellery continued Turning to the next page, "Come on, let's look at the rest!" Ellery looked at it for a while, "The next step is the rope that the murderer tied the body to the totem stick." "It's a totem pole! What, is there still no harvest?" Adori corrected.

"Oh! I'm sorry, it's the totem pole. They said that this kind of rope is common and can be bought at any hardware grocery store. Although they couldn't find a clue in the nearby store within ten miles, Attorney Ersham emphasized that He will continue to send his men to investigate." "Well! These people are really patient." Ellery sighed helplessly: "I don't really appreciate this kind of people, but there is no doubt that sometimes they can solve problems... The place where the rope is knotted is the favorite target of the Bonn police officer. But the conclusion is—— Zero. That's the layman's way, but it's solid—that's the opinion of that expert in Bonn. It seems like you and I would tie a knot like that."

"I'm different. I used to be a sailor, and I'm interested in all kinds of knots." "It turns out that you have something to do with water before! Ah, wait a minute, there is news about Paul Luomin here." "Is it that Sun Cultist?" "Yes, it's him—Taishan." After hearing this, Adori couldn't help laughing: "Hey! Please! Can you change your habit of using words indiscriminately!" "Hmph!" Ellery wrinkled his nose mischievously, and then said seriously, "I don't know anything about my past experience. I only know that I met that old Egyptian man in Pittsburgh two months ago. I don't know anything else. As for him There is no trace of the past.”

"Where's the Lin family?" Ellery put the paper down. "What do you know?" The professor stroked his beard: "Did you notice it too? That couple is acting weird. Their quality of life is quite advanced, but I just can't tell what's wrong." Ellery took out the document again and said: "The Metropolitan Police Service said they did not find the names and photos of Percy Lin and Elizabeth. But we can't judge too quickly. The London Police said they will investigate the criminal list again because , they claim to be British nationals, and the UK should have their archives."

"Oh, what a mess! My head can't handle it!" Ellery looked at the professor seriously: "Why, you just know now? I've never solved a case as complicated as this one. I'm afraid you don't know Mrs. Bratt and them now. Is it about the driver?" "What? Is there still a problem?" "Ok!" Ellery told Professor Ardori about what happened in Bratt's study an hour ago. "Well, do you hear me?" Ellery asked. "Hmm! How could such a thing happen?" "Yes! But I'm worried about something else now." "what?" "I don't want to jump to conclusions right away." "Okay, then I won't force you." Professor Yadori paused and said, "Is there anything else I don't know?" "The bellboy at the Roxy Theater testified that a woman who looked like Mrs. Bratt left during the first act on Tuesday night, around nine o'clock." "one person?" "Yeah!" Ellery nodded. "Also, the Bonn police officer has found the original money order to Kegam." "Really?" Professor Yadoli asked excitedly. "It was mailed from the Post Office in Olia, Illinois." "Then they have obtained Kloshak's handwriting!" Professor Yadori asked excitedly. "What handwriting?" "Okay! Stop teasing me and tell me the truth." "Well! Listen, the name is printed on it too. They probably wrote it down as they passed by that town while they were preaching." Ellery said with a shrug. "One more thing, the accountant is checking the cloth Late Megara's account." "Of course, it must be done." "However, until now, nothing amiss has been found. The company has a good reputation, business is good, and everything is operating normally. And the Megara who is traveling around and exploring is probably still swimming on a certain sea. He is It’s been five years since I let go of my career, and I’ve never asked about the company’s affairs. Although Blatt is in charge of everything, it seems that Lincoln is the only one planning the company. But there seems to be some troubles there.” "A dispute with the future mother-in-law?" the professor said teasingly. Ellery dropped the papers unhappily on the marble floor, but picked them up again when, among the papers, he noticed a paper he hadn't seen before. "What's this?" Ellery looked at it. "Great, this is a useful clue." Professor Yadori poked his head over: "Hey! What's that?" "A report on Kloshak. It was sent very recently, from the date it was signed." "What does it say?" "Well... the results of the investigation are quite rich. They say that Kloshak is from Montenegro." "Monte Negro?" Adori murmured and repeated the place name, "Where did you say he was born? But now there is no such country!" "Yes, it is now a political district of Yugoslavia, which seems to have been formally incorporated in 1922." "Well! According to the results of Kermit's investigation, it is said that Klossak immigrated to the United States from Montenegro in 1918 after the war ended and peace was restored, but nothing can be found from the American passport." "Regarding Kloshak's experience, did Kermit find anything else?" Ellery paused for a moment, looked up and said, "Although I only know some outlines, I think it's enough." "After Kloshak immigrated to the United States, he shuttled between big cities and small towns as a businessman, selling some small bags, trinkets and other things." "Well! This is not unusual for foreign immigrants." Ellery continued to read the next paragraph: "He met Harakett of the Sun Cult four years ago, and since then, the two have started to trade together. They specialize in selling something that they call 'Sun Medicine', but in fact it is nothing more than It’s just ordinary cod liver oil. Later, for convenience, I became a disciple of Harakett, helping the old man build the Sun Cult and promote the health law.” "After Arroyo's murder, is there any news about Kloshak?" Ellery looked down and said disappointedly, "No. He disappeared all at once, which is amazing." "Then, what about Principal Pang's servant Klimt?" "There is no news. The two of them disappeared without a trace as if swallowed by the earth. I am also very troubled. I don't know where that guy is. If Kloshak killed him, there should be a body too." ...Where did Kloshak hide his body? Teacher, I think it will be difficult for us to solve the problem before knowing Klimt's whereabouts." Ellery pondered for a while, and then said, "Sometimes, I also suspect that the two of them may be accomplices, but I can't find any evidence." "I don't think you should confuse the two." "I know. I just don't know if he still has contact with Harakett." "Haraket...he was punished by God to become like this." Adori muttered to himself, "It's really sad." Ellery glanced at the teacher with a smile: "Teacher, don't worry, this is just a murder case, and in the report, colleagues in West Virginia seem to have found out Harakett's true identity, and it is also That is to say, according to reports, his real name is Alvi Streka, a well-known Egyptian scholar, and he went crazy due to heat stroke, all of which are the same as what the teacher said. At present, it is only known that he has no relatives, but He didn't do anything harmful. Listen, this is what the report says: 'Prosecutor Hancock Caventy believes that Harakett has nothing to do with Andrew Pang's murder. Fanaticism, though used by some shameless opportunists as bait for fraud, has no motive for killing his victim, so all the facts point the arrow to Kloshak.'How, It's amazing!" "So there is evidence that Croshak is the murderer?" asked the professor. Ellery shook his head: "I don't know if there is any evidence, but it should be correct to include Kloshak as a suspect." "Oh, why do you say that?" "Because the facts show that both Andrew Pang and Thomas Blatt were killed in similar ways. However, what I want to say is that the crux of the problem is not to judge that the murderer must be Kloshak, But who is Klossak?" Attorney Zhang Erjing was puzzled and looked at Ellery in a daze: "What do you mean by that?" "I mean, Kloshak has only let one person see his true colors in this murder, and that person is Harakett. However, we can't expect him to give us any news. Besides, Kloshak What kind of person is Loshak, and who has he become now? Even, he may have already appeared, but we don't know yet!" Adori shook his head violently: "It's ridiculous, the Montenegro people should have a local accent, and his left foot is still a little lame..." "Actually, it's not absurd at all, Professor, there are too many foreigners in this country. In fact, didn't Kloshak use a very pure American accent when he talked to the car rental company in Wilton? I don't think you have Analyze the before and after of the Blatter incident." "Oh, is it?" Adori replied sharply, "Maybe so, but isn't this inference a bit off?" "It used to be, but I don't think so now." Ellery jumped into the pool as soon as he finished speaking, swam around and floated up to the edge of the pool, "I think, if I'm right, in the cloth The person who planned to build the main altar of the Sun Cult near Lutter's house should be Kloshak, and it was before Principal Pang was killed. Does this represent anything?" "right!" Ellery moved and sat down next to the professor. "Now, let's get things straight. We'll start with Kloshak. He's originally from Montenegro, but he immigrated to the United States to work as a trafficker. He killed President Pang, an Armenian born in Central Europe, and Thomas Bratt, a Romanian born in Eastern Europe. Judging from the names of these people, I think they may be from the same country.” "Uh, uh..." Professor Ardoley struck two matches and lit his pipe while moaning, and Ellery, who was lying on the marble, also lit a cigarette, closed his eyes and said, "From the perspective of motivation, this Isn’t central Europe, the Balkans the birthplace of superstition and violence? What does this imply?” "I don't have any special research." Yaduoli said in shock, "When I hear about that place, I can only think of some weird folk legends. This kind of thing is usually seen in some ethnic groups with a lower level of knowledge and a worse living environment .” "It makes sense!" Ellery couldn't help laughing. "Like the story of vampires, remember 'Earl Djogul'? It often becomes the source of nightmares for innocent people. Of course, there are also vampires who steal people's heads." "Okay, it's getting farther and farther." Adori stopped with some anxiety. "Yeah!" Ellery replied quickly. "Judging from the fact that the heart of Ponjiblatt's corpse has not been nailed, it must be a very boring act. Because, a vampire with self-respect, is That important ceremony will never be spared. If a peg were really driven into the heart, I might believe it was the work of a vampire!" "You're not serious again!" Adori protested. "Who doesn't take it seriously?" Ellery said unconvinced. "Professor, you can't think that other people can't do it because you have a good education. Education, laugh off this vampire legend, but we have to consider the possibility that Klossak may believe that vampires go around killing people." "Oh, really? Then your Egyptian cross still exists?" The professor asked earnestly. He sat up, as if he was going to have a long debate, and sat upright. Ellery bent his knees and said, "Professor, what do you think about this problem? I thought so yesterday, but today it seems to have failed." The professor carefully knocked off the ash, and said with the majesty of an associate professor: "Ellery, are you still obsessed with these stupid questions?" "You mean tau isn't an Egyptian cross?" "Exactly." Ellery showed a look of disbelief: "Oh, really? You are an expert in this field, but I bet you on this matter, you must be wrong." "No, I don't bet. I don't have money to bet you. By the way, how do you think the T-crucifix is ​​an Egyptian cross? Where did you get that knowledge?" "Encyclopedia Britannica," said Ellery decisively. "About a year ago, I had the opportunity to learn about different crucifixes by writing detective novels. The T-crucifix is ​​mentioned in the book because it is generally said to be Egyptian." It was created, so it is called the Egyptian cross. In short, in my memory, the T-shaped cross is related to the general cross. You can refer to it.” The professor laughed: "I accept this. Although I don't know the author of that article, I can be sure that he is very knowledgeable. However, being knowledgeable does not mean that he is an expert; sometimes, experts will make mistakes that others often make. .You should know that they are not an authority in some respects! And me? I am not an expert in the history of Egyptian art, but those are my research areas. So, I must tell you, I have never seen anything like' Egyptian crosses' kind of appellation. I think that might be a misnomer. Of course there might be Egyptian objects that look like a T, but..." Ellery asked again dissatisfied: "Then why is it called tau?" Adori nodded and continued: "Because everyone misunderstood the meaning of tau. In ancient Egypt, it was an artifact used by people to hold items. Its shape is very similar to the T in the Greek alphabet, but it cannot be said that because of this That's a tau cross. "Tau is one of the symbols of ancient Christianity. There are many similar to this, like the most famous St. Anthony's cross, isn't it the best example? Just because the pine cane held by St. Anthony looks like a T-shaped cross. Misused, but tau is not, strictly speaking, St Anthony's cross, any more than you and I would call it a cross." Ellery nodded suddenly and said, "So my speculations are all gone? Too bad I've got everything mixed up!" Adori patted him on the shoulder sympathetically: "Actually, if you really want to call it that, I have no objection. This cross has always been recognized as the earliest origin, and with the passage of time, many changes have naturally occurred. And it is widely used. The variations of the cross are too numerous to enumerate. I have a lot of information on hand, such as the cross of the Indians in the Western Hemisphere, the cross of Spain... But it will be futile to investigate in this area. I am willing To give you a clue, there is a cross called 'Anker'." "Anke?" Ellery lowered his head and said in deep thought, "Is it the cross with a circle at the top?" Professor Adori shook his head with a smile and said, "It's not a circle, it's a drop of water! Anke turned out to be like a key." The same thing, its full name is crux ansata. This is often found in Egyptian carvings and represents divinity or kingship. What is particularly distinctive is that its bearer has the divine power to create life." "Create life?" Ellery stared in a daze, "I see. Professor, I think my judgment is still correct." "Oh, how should I say it?" Ellery said triumphantly, "Didn't you tell me that Anke represents life?" "Ok!" "Its horizontal stick is symbolized by an open arm; the vertical stick is replaced by a carcass, and the water drop shape at the top is represented by a head. However, the head of the deceased is chopped off today. Does this represent some kind of significance?" "Yes! There is a possibility." "Kloshak deftly changes the symbol of life into the symbol of death." The professor blinked half-comprehensively, and suddenly laughed: "Boy, I really have you. But, in this way, isn't it farther away from the topic?" Ellery was a little disappointed that he didn't get the professor's sympathy. "What, isn't it?" Professor Yadoli smiled slightly, "Your conclusion is a bit far-fetched. 'Anke' is not actually a symbol of human shape, it has its origin. Remember Streika's foot They are imitated from ancient Egypt. As I said, I am not an expert on Egypt, but it is well known that anker represents the rope tied on the shoe. As for why that kind of rope represents life, I don’t know. It's not so clear." "Teacher, can you make it clearer? I haven't looked carefully at the rope or not." "Hmm! Well, in fact, that kind of thing is not a high-end artwork, it is easy to understand. Come, let me draw it for you." Professor Yadoli picked up the pen and drew on the paper for a while. It turns out that the circle is used to tie the heel; the longitudinal rope under the circle passes through the instep and goes around between the big toe and the index toe; connected. Ellery stared at the dark mass of diagrams, feeling a little despondent.He said listlessly: "Oh! After working on it for a long time, it turned out to be an ugly thing. But, teacher! I still don't understand, how can this shoelace have anything to do with the creation of life?" The professor shrugged his shoulders: "It's no wonder. There are many origins of words or concepts in the world, which often confuse modern people. If you blindly speculate from a scientific point of view, you will get confused instead. "The symbol 'Anke' is often used to mean 'alive', so later it was used to symbolize life. That is to say, the original material was soft, like sandals made of processed papyrus It gradually evolved to the end, and the Egyptians used hard substances to make this symbol, such as wooden amulets or pottery decorations. However, symbolic things sometimes cannot express the original intention of human beings at all.” Ellery stared blankly at the sink, and said blankly, "Oh! I see! Now, then, I have to give up my speculation again. But, sir, didn't the ancient Egyptians crucify their prisoners?" precedent on the cross?" Yaduoli shook his head and smiled wryly, "Why, are you still determined? As far as I know, the answer to your question is 'no'." Ellery adjusted his spectacles and said, "Then I've got to give up all my Egyptological speculations, and lately I've got to be careful not to go astray." "Small knowledge is the easiest to make mistakes. Didn't Pope say such a thing?" "Similarly, it is useless to know too much. Of course, this does not refer to individuals." "Of course, in short, I think you will only get deeper and deeper into a dead end if you blindly explain the facts from Egyptology. You have often liked fantasy since you were a student. Now that I think about it, you really have This tendency." "I'm sorry to trouble you." Ellery said with some displeasure. "I'm really terrified that the teacher expounded so much energy on my self-righteous nonsense. Please forgive me... If Closha If Ke kills and cuts off the head of the victim, and then leaves a T mark on the scene, then the symbol of the cross he intends to leave is obviously not the Anke cross, but the tau cross. In Egypt in the era of the Pharaohs, if the tau cross had no special meaning, then it is impossible for Kloshak to have someone who is fanatical in religion to help him commit murder... The evidence is that Thomas Bratt was tied up in the On the totem stick, oh, no, it is a totem pole. This thing has nothing to do with ancient Egyptology. Not decapitating the victim... so I guess I should stop clinging to the egyptian assumption that maybe the totem pole and thomas' death are just accidental facts - even the tau cross in the christian sense , as far as I know, there is no beheading, so I shouldn't get involved in religion—" Ellery continued to conclude with a disappointed smile, "The word T may be a simple letter, there will be no other Meaning, in other words, T, T..." Suddenly, he stopped talking, the professor looked at him incredulously, and Ellery was still staring at the swimming pool, his eyes were as empty as the pool of water. "What's wrong?" Adori asked. "Could there be such a thing?" Ellery murmured. "It can't be...it's too coincidental, and there's no evidence, although I've thought about it before..." His voice trailed off, even Adori didn't hear any of his questions.The professor sighed and continued smoking his cigarette.The two didn't speak for a long time. At this time, an old black woman ran over in a panic with a displeased expression: "Sir, someone rushed in without ringing the doorbell." "What!... who is it?" "It's a police officer. Smug." "Okay, okay, ask him to come here." Not long after, Bonn came running with a piece of paper in his hand.He seemed excited, breathlessly saying, "Hi! Ellery, great news!" Ellery didn't have the excited reaction he expected: "What's up! What's the news?" "Look at this!" The police officer threw the paper on the marble floor and then collapsed by the pool, gasping for breath like a thug who broke into the harem. Ellery and the professor exchanged glances, then took the piece of paper in his hand—it was a telegram from Jamaica.The telegram is as follows: The sender was Stephen Megara.