The Secret of the Stones

laura and max are twins

they live in london with their mum and dad they always have interesting adventures

on holiday they visit different cities and countries

this summer they are going to stay in a small cottage in the country

the cottage is in a village called stone cross near salisbury

max and laura aren't very happy boring says max

he looks at the map the cottage is in the middle of a field what can we do in the middle of a field

why are we going there asks laura their dad is very tired

he says he wants to relax and to sleep a lot their mum loves the country she wants to

walk and paint it's a very beautiful part of england she says

full of culture tradition mystery mystery say max and laura together

mystery okay let's go

 

 chapter 2 

 

stone cross

the next day uncle stephen and auntie barbara arrive they have lots of suitcases

this year the two families are going on holiday together

mum drives her car dad sleeps dad always sleeps

uncle steven and auntie barbara follow in their slow old car

two hours later they arrive at stone cross and find their cottage in the middle of the field

there are green hills beautiful cottages flowers sheep and cows everywhere

it's lovely say max and laura it's perfect say mum and auntie barbara

dad says nothing he is sleeping in the car what do you think stephen do you like it

uncle steven doesn't answer he is looking into the distance his eyes are very black and strange

what's the matter stephen asks auntie barbara don't you like the cottage

yes it's wonderful he says come on everyone let's take these suitcases inside

wake up andrew dad wakes up

where are we we're here at stone cross come and help we must take the suitcases

into the cottage they take the suitcases and go inside but uncle steven waits

he wants to talk to his wife barbara i must tell you something he says

his voice is very serious this place yes darling this place is in

my book do you remember the book i am studying about

mysteries but stephen that book is very old it's full of strange codes and

secret messages exactly don't you understand this is the place where

come on barbara come on stephen shouts mom from the cottage

we're coming uncle steven and auntie barbara answer but when they walk to the cottage their

faces are white they look very worried

 

 

 

 

 

chapter 3

 

 mr carter and mrs black

 

the cottage is big there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs

downstairs there is a big kitchen a living room and a study uncle steven wants to use the study he

must finish some work during the holiday uncle stephen is a historian

what does uncle steven do exactly laura asks her mother replies he studies history

max is confused but i study history too

at school but it's not my job yes but uncle steven writes books about history he thinks

about history he tries to understand the things that no one understands for example asks

laura well mum replies for example

the mystery of stonehenge so what about stonehenge what is its mystery no one

really knows ask uncle steven tomorrow we can go to see it

suddenly there is a knock at the door mum opens it and an old man comes in

he has white hair and an angry face my name's carter he says in an angry

voice oh you look after this cottage is everything okay

there is one for the fire in the garden there are sheets and pillows upstairs if

you have a problem tell me have you got any problems

now mum remembers yes mr carter is the caretaker he looks

after the cottage when no one is staying in it thank you mr carter it's very kind of

you but we have no problems mr carter wants a problem to solve so he

is not very happy he goes to the door then he stops suddenly turns around and

looks at them mrs black is coming he says mrs black is coming soon

be careful he opens the door and goes out

what asks mom who is mrs black asks max

and why be careful is she dangerous asks auntie barbara

probably a witch from stonehenge says laura everyone laughs

[Laughter] don't talk about things you don't understand says uncle steven

there is another knock at the door they all stop

there is silence in the room max opens the door

no one speaks hello everyone says a happy voice

a woman comes into the cottage she is quite old fat but she is pretty

she has blue eyes silver earrings and a big pink face

hello my name's mrs black mrs black is a housekeeper she helps

with the cooking and cleaning when a family comes for a holiday in the cottage she helps them

she lives in a different cottage in the village with her son mrs black is very nice and they start to

relax later they eat a big dinner and then say goodbye to their new friend the

housekeeper they are very tired and soon everyone is sleeping

everyone but uncle steven he can't sleep

because he is thinking about the book he is studying

 

chapter 4 

laura and max explore the village

 in the morning laura and max decide to

explore the small village of stone cross bye have a nice time come home for lunch at

one o'clock says their mother in the square there is a post office a

bakers a green grocers a news agents and some other small shops

let's buy something to drink in this news agents says max it's very hot

a woman is working in the shop they say good morning and smile at the

woman but she does not smile at them she looks at the twins with cold eyes

you two aren't from stone cross what do you want the woman is not very

friendly uh two cans of coke please says max one pound sixty

she gives them two cans of coke and they give her the money the woman's cold eyes do not change

tourists don't usually come to stonecross she says her voice is cold

too it's not a good idea remember that uh yes okay thank you uh

goodbye says laura they run out of the shop very quickly

in the square the sun is shining everything is normal again

wow there are some strange people in this village says max

they walk along another street and suddenly a man appears he is not very old

he is wearing a dark suit and a tie with a strange design on it the twins stop

the man smiles he says hello hello two explorers in stone cross are you on

holiday are you having a nice time yes yes thank you replies laura my name's

martin knight what are your names max and laura morel they say together

sometimes twins understand what the other is thinking sometimes they speak together

hmm morrell is your father the famous historian stephen morrell no he's our uncle not

our father he's on holiday with us in stone cross do you know him the man doesn't answer

max's question i see stephen morrell is here in stone cross very interesting

and tell me what is he studying at the moment oh a really old book about mysteries and

secret sorry mr knight but it's very late we must go home and have lunch laura stops him come on max it's time to

go can we meet tomorrow says martin knight you can tell me about your uncle's old

book okay says max come on max says laura and the twins go back along the

road sorry max but i don't like that man explains laura

he wants to know about uncle stephen and his books but uncle steven is very famous lots of people want to know about

him i know but this man is different i can't explain why not everyone is

strange in stone cross think of mrs black she's a nice normal woman yes

you're right sorry but now it's quarter to one and we must go home

 

chapter 5 

 

a visit to stonehenge when the twins get home everyone is waiting for them mrs black is there too,

what do you think of our little village she asks the village is lovely but some of the

people are strange replies laura mrs black laughs

i know i know don't worry about the people they don't see many tourists

not many people come to stone cross are you ready to go to stonehenge this

afternoon asks auntie barbara mrs black says

ah you're going to stonehenge it's nothing special a circle of old

stones that's all stonehenge is near the village of

stone cross they take the cars and in 20 minutes they are there

laura suddenly shouts look there it is there it is and down in

the valley they see mrs black's circle of old stones

it's spectacular says uncle steven it's incredible says mom

it's magnificent says auntie barbara wow says laura

it's not very big says max shut up max says everyone

andrew what do you think do you like stonehenge andrew dad doesn't answer

he is sleeping in the car andrew wake up now this time mum is very

angry around the stones there is a fence people can't touch them but they can go

very near and take photographs let's get an audio guide suggests mum

you listen and it tells you the story of stonehenge everyone gets an audio guide and they

start to walk around the enormous stone circle uncle stephen walks in the opposite

direction and looks at his old book of mysteries he reads something and then looks at the

stones then he walks away he looks at the hills and the trees near

the stones hmm three hills around the stones yes it is

a type of triangle he says to himself then he looks at the stones again

uncle steven is thinking half an hour later the others return

stonehenge is fantastic they say but uncle steven is not listening

he's reading his book again and looking at the stones and the hills around them

time for something to drink says mum they all walk to the small cafe near the

tourist shop come on stephen are you coming with us

finally uncle steven puts his book in his bag and follows the others

 

chapter 6 

a feast

 the family finally gets back to the

cottage everyone is very happy but they are also tired

the sun is shining and everything seems in perfect order they park the cars and go to the cottage

that's strange says dad i can't move the key i can't open the door let's try the

other door mum says they walk to the small door at the back of the cottage

suddenly everyone stops the door is open impossible says laura only mrs black has

got a key mom and auntie barbara scream

thieves they say inside the cottage there is chaos the

cupboards are empty the drawers are open and things are on the floor

our money says dad oh my jewellery says mum

uncle steven says what's missing oh we must phone the police

they look in all the rooms but nothing is missing look our money is here

the thief doesn't want money says dad happily and look my jewelry is here

he doesn't want my diamond ring says mum so why what is interesting for a thief

here asks max uncle steven's face is very serious

i think i know the answer to that question this is what the thief wants he says

and takes the book of mysteries from his bag that old book

but why ask max i am studying the mystery of stonehenge

some people think that it is an ancient computer uncle stephen explains

i don't understand says laura ancient people understand lots of things that we

don't understand now things about the stars about energy mathematics and

communication we think that stonehenge is an enormous computer

it connects information to other ancient computers around the world like the

pyramids says laura excitedly exactly perhaps these computers communicate with

space men too wow says max uncle steven continues

my old book of mysteries has a secret code but there is a symbol i don't understand

i want to understand the symbol because i want to understand stonehenge

this computer can be very dangerous because bad people can use the information we must protect the book do

you understand yes they all reply now let's tidy the house everyone must

keep their eyes and ears open yes they all reply

the twins are tidying the house suddenly laura stops and says

max look what do you think this is she gives her brother a small silver object

it is round with a triangle and a strange cross in the middle it's got a pin at the back

it's a brooch yes perhaps it belongs to the thief let's give it to uncle steven

they tell their uncle the story and he looks at the small object he puts it in his desk and his face is

serious he doesn't say anything max and laura go into the living room

there's something strange about that object laura says max i know that symbol yes says laura me too

i recognize it but where from

 

chapter 7 

 

a noisy night

 at seven o'clock mrs black arrives

she helps cook the dinner and listens to the story terrible she says every summer there are

thieves in stone cross they know there are lots of tourists you see but you say that tourists don't come

here answers laura ah oh yes well it depends

some summers there are a lot some summers there aren't a lot suddenly

a telephone rings it is mrs black's mobile phone

oh excuse me she says and smiles at everyone

she goes to the hall and speaks in a soft voice yes yes

okay don't worry everything's alright i don't know perhaps tonight perhaps

tomorrow night okay bye my son she explains

he's 27 and he doesn't know how to cook oh can you believe it

mum laughs i'm sure he prefers your wonderful cooking

later that evening everyone is playing cards together mum is winning she always wins

mrs black says who wants a nice cup of hot chocolate

during the evening and at night it is cold in the house they say yes please mrs black but laura

says no thank you the housekeeper seems offended why not

she asks angrily hot chocolate helps you sleep i can sleep with no problems thank

you replies laura mrs black is not very happy but goes to

the kitchen to make hot chocolate for the others it is creamy chocolatey and delicious

this is wonderful mrs black what is the special ingredient

you have a secret recipe asks mom it's my grandmother's secret recipe

she says and laughs she says good night and goes home

soon everyone is very sleepy and goes to bed only laura isn't tired

it is the middle of the night outside the sky is full of stars but

there is no moon everyone is sleeping mum is dreaming and dad is snoring

suddenly laura sits up in her bed there is a noise

someone is downstairs she relaxes it is probably her father

he sometimes gets up and sleepwalks but no

she can hear her father he is snoring in his bedroom

she gets up very quietly yes there is someone

the noise is in the study she goes downstairs she is very quiet

when she is outside the study she stops and listens she hears the sound of paper

i must be brave she says and pushes the door open quietly stop

thief she shouts but to her surprise she sees mrs black

she is sitting at uncle steven's desk reading his notebooks oh

mrs black it's you says laura hello laura

i can't find my car keys perhaps they are here i don't want to disturb everyone oh all

right says laura but then she remembers mrs black hasn't got a car

at that moment dad and uncle steven arrive they think there is another thief

dad smiles and laughs oh he's mrs black

hello mrs black you're working late tonight uncle steven doesn't laugh

what are you doing in my study mrs black he asks

she tells him the story of the car keys uncle steven replies

tomorrow we can all look for the keys together now it's time to sleep

good night mrs black he opens the door and the housekeeper goes out

she doesn't look at uncle stephen when she says good night everyone

 

chapter 8

 

now i remember

[Music] for two or three days everything is

normal and everyone is happy mrs black says her son has got the car keys and they aren't lost after all

laura looks at mrs black but decides not to say anything

on wednesday afternoon mum and dad go walking dad wants to sleep but mum says

no andrew you can't sleep at all holiday oh all right he replies but he is not

very happy what about you stephen come with us no thank you i must work

auntie barbara laughs and says to mom sarah your husband

sleeps all the time and my husband works all the time don't laugh barbara replies

uncle steven my work is very important everyone laughs

sometimes uncle steven is very funny today i want to work a lot

please don't disturb me he says and goes to the study

can i come with you too asks auntie barbara of course they reply

they all put on their walking boots and say goodbye to the twins

max and laura decide to explore a different part of the village in the village there is a small hill

it is a strange shape and on the top there is a stone cross the village probably has the name stone

cross because there is a stone cross on the hill says laura very clever sherlock says her brother

they look up to the cross on the hill two people are talking near it

the sun is behind them and the twins can't see very well

who are those two people they ask together mrs black and martin knight

let's go and listen says max no max says laura we must listen to it

suddenly she stops her face is white max now i remember

max's face is white too he remembers the same thing

i know me too the symbol yes i know where it comes from yes

mrs black's earrings it's the same symbol what i remember it from martin knight's tie

what this means mrs black and martin knight know the thief

perhaps one of them is the thief do you remember mrs black reading uncle steven's notebook do you remember martin

knight's questions what can we do come on laura follow me

says max they start to go up the hill but mrs black and martin knight aren't there

we're too late where are they now says laura i don't know answers max come on let's go home and

tell uncle steven what we know they start to walk home but on the hill two dark shadows are

watching them from behind the stone cross

 

chapter 9

 

 uncle stephen understands [Music]

uncle steven is happy finally he can work in peace

he makes a cup of tea and goes into his study on his desk there is the old book of

mysteries and the silver broach with the strange symbol he takes the brooch in his hand and

looks at it he knows it is part of the mystery but how

the circle is similar to stonehenge the triangle is similar to the hills

around it but what does the cross mean

uncle steven recognizes the symbol but where from

he drinks some more tea he thinks he looks out of the window

from the window he can see the strange hill in the village and the strange stone cross on the top of it

wait a minute he thinks the strange stone cross he looks at the

brooch yes it's the same he quickly turns to a page in his old

book of mysteries he reads something and shouts yes now i understand now i understand

i must telephone professor johnson in london he takes the phone and calls the number

hello professor it's stephen morrell here

listen we must meet can i bring the book to you in london

it's not safe here but there's a train at five o'clock this evening it gets to london at seven

o'clock yes see you at the station goodbye

and thank you he puts the phone down and picks up his cup of tea i'm sure that tea is cold now says a

cold voice behind him he turns quickly and sees the shadow of mrs black in the door

what are you doing here he asks angrily you don't work today what do you want

mrs black's earrings shine in the sun you know what i want morale she says

give me that book

chapter 10

 a doctor's visit [Music]

max and laura play near a river for some time but later go back to the cottage

everything is quiet they don't have a key so they knock on the door

nobody answers they knock again

and mrs black answers the door she is wearing an apron and she has a rolling pin in her

hand she says hello children i'm making a delicious chocolate cake

for lunch your uncle stephen doesn't feel very well

your parents aren't here and i want to help what do you mean

uncle steven's fine says max he has a headache and a temperature mrs

black replies he works too hard this is very strange

uncle steven is never ill max and laura don't believe the housekeeper

i want to talk to my uncle says laura me too says max

mrs black is a big woman she stands in the door and the twins

can't pass it's not a good idea she tells them

your uncle is upstairs he's resting i want to see my uncle now repeats laura

you can't see him there is a doctor with him now mrs black shouts

laura pushes the woman and she falls to the floor max runs past her too

they go to the study but their uncle is not there they run upstairs

uncle steven are you alright shouts laura but there is no answer

max opens the bedroom door uncle stephen is lying on the bed he

cannot move his arms or legs because there is a rope around them there is a big bump on his head

and his eyes are closed captioning not

a man in available room marty knight they say together

oh yes he laughs your uncle is sleeping now we can take his book

and discover the secret of the stones now no one can stop us

especially two stupid children at that moment mrs black arrives

i see you know my son she says she is holding the rolling pin

suddenly max understands what she wants to do quick laura he pushes his sister to the

floor the rolling pin misses laura's head max jumps up he tries to take the rolling

pin from mrs black laura gets up and starts to run away martin knight tries to stop her but she

is very fast suddenly outside they hear the sound of

a siren it is a police car quick the police shouts martin

he and mrs black run when they arrive at the door there are two policemen waiting for them

they put handcuffs on the two criminals and push them into the police van laura telephones for an ambulance for

uncle steven max speaks to the policeman thank you he says but

i don't understand why he stops under a tree in the garden he sees an

old man mr carter mr carter comes and talks to max

remember boy you must tell me your problems he says i know these people i know this place

i know when there's a problem thank you says max you're welcome the old man

smiles no how about a nice cup of tea.

 

 

chapter 11 

 

the secret of the stones 

the next day everyone is at the hospital uncle steven is in bed

the doctor says that there is only one problem the big bump on uncle steven's head

steven opens his eyes hello barbara what day is it it's thursday darling oh

hello andrew hello everyone what are you doing here

don't you have school today children it's the summer holiday laura replies

we're in stone cross remember says max stone cross

holiday no i don't remember we're in london

i think uncle steven doesn't remember he doesn't remember about the holiday

about mrs black and martin knight and most important of all

he doesn't remember about the secret of the stones you remember the symbol the brooch the

old book of mysteries they ask him he smiles and says

no sorry a policeman arrives

he tells them that the two criminals martin smith and his mother dorothy smith are part of a secret organization

the name of the organization is the black knights he says they want to find the secret of

stonehenge and use the secret to become rich and powerful mr morrell is the only person who knows

the secret and but i don't know the secret says uncle steven

i'm sorry everyone but i can't remember perhaps it's the best thing says auntie

barbara the stones can keep their five thousand year old secret

it's not right to take it from them now everyone agrees

perhaps we can find another secret next holiday say max and laura together

perhaps next holiday i can stay in london says uncle steven

he rubs the bump on his head poor uncle steven

everybody laughs [Laughter] no more adventures this summer says max

but perhaps at christmas says laura who knows