CHAPTER 46

It was a pretty long flight back to Mother Russia.

Pretty bumpy too. Riding in the cargo hold of a transport plane isn’t exactly the same as flying first class.

“The trip to the pole wasn’t a waste, kids,” said Mom. “We have our videos and photos.”

“We can cut them together to make an awesome documentary,” said Storm. “The guys at Greenpeace might be able to help us too.”

Mom nodded. “For the next few days, we can shift back into treasure-hunter mode and focus on finding the missing Russian masterpieces stolen from the Hermitage.”

“Won’t they just be in storage with all the other Enlightened Ones’ loot?” I asked.

“Not necessarily, Bick. The two things may not even be connected. So, while Dad searches for the E-Ones’ treasure trove, we’ll focus on finding the four stolen paintings from Saint Petersburg. Let’s hope Minister Szymanowicz or Inspector Gorky has some fresh ideas and leads.”

“They do,” said Storm sarcastically. “They think Dad did it.”

“We’re really going to help the Russians?” grumbled Beck. “They’re our enemies.”

I nodded. “They basically banned us from the North Pole. For life!”

“They’ve been spying on us all along!” added Storm. “Tapping our phones. Intercepting our e-mails and texts.”

“Plus”—Tommy sighed—“one of them broke my heart.”

“They’re pure evil,” I said. “So why would we want to help these no-goodniks find their stolen treasure?”

Mom fixed us all with a very stern look.

It got pretty quiet in the hold of that transport plane. Well, as quiet as a droning Antonov AN-74 ever gets.

“The Russians aren’t our enemies,” Mom said in her super-calm voice, which is actually scarier than her angry one. “There are no bad people, no bad nations. Not the Russians. Not the North Koreans. It’s always just a small group of knuckleheads in a country. Usually rich greedy men. Not always. But usually.”

I wish some of those rich greedy men had heard Mom say that in her super-calm voice.

If they had, they’d know the Kidd Family Treasure Hunters were coming to get ’em!