In another part of the city, Smo led Chuck and Bruce to the gates of the Taj Mahal. The area was full of tourists eager to have their photo taken in front of the famous monument. No one noticed the two meerkats and one limping llama who entered the lush gardens that stretched all the way to the temple. Chuck paused to admire the magnificent white building. “Humans are certainly capable of great things,” he said.

“You’re telling me. You should try this chicken vindaloo with extra chili I found in the trash over there,” said Bruce, licking his lips. “It’s delicious!”

“I’m not sure a half-eaten curry really compares,” said Chuck. “Smo, why are we here?”

“This is where my contact lives,” the llama replied.

They had stopped near an old box with a sign on it which read DEAF, BLIND, AND LAME: PLEASE HELP. Next to the sign was an old hat with a couple of coins in it. Inside the box sat a sorry excuse for a dog. Half of its left ear was missing, one of its front legs was in a plaster cast, and it was wearing a pair of sunglasses.

A jolly American couple stopped to read the sign. “Hey, Herb, take a look at that cute little doggy,” said the woman. “Give him some money, won’t you?”

“Sure thing, poor little guy. Reminds me of old Tex back home,” said her husband. He dropped a few coins into the hat as they walked past.

“Hi, Smo,” said the dog, lifting off his sunglasses.

“Hey, you’re not blind!” said Bruce.

“I’ll have you know I have extremely sensitive eyes,” the dog replied. He lifted his leg out of the plaster cast and scratched behind his good ear, then glanced at Bruce’s curry. “That looks tasty,” he said.

“Finders keepers!” said Bruce.

“Bruce, Chuck, this is Slumdoggy Dog,” said Smo. “He knows everything that goes on in this city.”

“I like to keep my ear to the ground,” said the dog. “In fact, that’s how I lost half of this one, a rickshaw ran over it. Still, it all helps with the look.” He laughed wheezily. “So, what do you want to know?”

“Your lead was right,” said Smo. “The Eye of the Monkey has been stolen, and the thief performed the Indian Rope Trick. Do you have any idea who that could be?”

“There’s only one man in the whole of India who can do that,” said Slum. “A magician called Ali Up. He’s based in Agra.”

“Sounds like our thief,” said Chuck. “Where can we find him?”

“He has a theater in town,” said Slum.

“Then we must pay him a visit,” said Chuck. “I’ll call Donnie and Jet to let them know to meet us there.”

*   *   *

When neither Donnie nor Jet answered their phones, Chuck left a message. Then Slumdoggy Dog took them to Ali Up’s theater, which turned out to be a run-down building in the middle of town. Outside, a couple of men were putting up a sign that read: ALI UP’S THEATER OF ILLUSION. Standing below the sign, shouting up at the men, was a short man with a neat beard, wearing purple robes and a turban.

“A little up on the left,” shouted the man. “That’s good. This new sign should really draw in the crowds. Everyone will want to see the amazing Ali Up!”

“That’s him,” said Slum.

“Why is he talking about himself like he’s somebody else?” asked Bruce.

“Sounds like he has a high opinion of himself,” said Chuck.

“It is often the way with humans lacking in actual height,” Smo observed.

“It’s lucky that’s not true of the animal kingdom, or we’d have an army of dormice set on taking over the world,” said Slum. “Anyway, as much fun as it’s been hanging out with you, I must be off. I don’t want to miss out on this afternoon’s tour buses.”

“Thank you for your help,” said Chuck.

“Anytime,” Slum replied, with a wag of his tail. “See ya!”

As Slumdoggy Dog headed off, Chuck led the way around the side of the theater to a back door.

“Bruce and I will go inside and try to find out whether Ali Up still has the emerald. Smo, would you wait here in case the others arrive?”

“Of course,” the llama replied.

Chuck and Bruce slipped through the door into the building. They made their way along the corridor to some steps that led to the side of the stage. Red cloth curtains with gold piping hung down from the ceiling and the whole stage was full of mirrors. Bruce looked at his reflection.

“Hey, look, Chuck, there are loads of me.”

“After all that curry, there is indeed a lot of you,” said Chuck, who was examining a plain red wardrobe in the center of the stage. “Ah, a vanishing box.”

“A what?”

“A vanishing box. The magician shuts himself inside it, then, with a dramatic puff of smoke, he disappears.”

They stepped inside the box to take a closer look.

“What does this lever do?” asked Bruce, reaching up to pull it.

“Don’t do tha—”

There was a puff of smoke and the floor beneath their feet fell away. The two meerkats tumbled through the air and landed just in time to see a lid slam shut above them. They were trapped in a large box, the only light spilling in through some slits in the sides.

“What’s going on?” Bruce roared.

“Who are you that would trespass on the property of the great Ali Up?” said a voice nearby. A human eye appeared at one of the slits. “Ah, the Clan of the Scorpion, I presume. The Ringmaster warned Ali Up that you might turn up. And you have fallen straight into Ali Up’s trap!”

“You really do talk funny,” growled Bruce.

“So you are another of the Ringmaster’s hapless circus goons,” said Chuck. “And the thief of the precious Eye of the Monkey.”

“Ali Up works for no one but himself!” cried the magician. “The Ringmaster paid me to steal the jewel for him because he knew only Ali Up was up to such a task. And he will pay even more for this delivery than he did for the Eye.”

“Not if I’ve got anything to do with it. Bruce Force!” Bruce cried. He thrust all his weight against the lid of the box, trying to push it off. But nothing he did had any effect.

Ali Up laughed. “You cannot escape. This box is sealed … just like your fates.”

“For your own sake, I suggest you let us go. The Ringmaster is several cards short of a full deck and not someone you should deal with,” said Chuck.

“No one tells Ali Up what to do,” the magician replied. “I will take you to the Ringmaster’s circus tent and see what he will pay for you.”