The Cybersybils present Get Sirius

Episode Five
Get Sirius
Dali Tarot Louis XV - King of Wands

Charles Genevieve Louise Augusta Timothé d'Eon de Beaumont is hereby commanded to lay aside the uniform of a dragoon, which he had been in the habit of affecting, and resume the garments of her sex; and is forbidden to appear in any part of our kingdom in any other garments than those suitable to a female.
Louis XV of France

Madeline did not relish breaking the news to her fellow Leo-ness Posh Peyton that Olivia had disappeared. While she had promised the Prof to phone his wife that evening at the house in Deauville, she could only imagine the opera that would ensue once the bad news had been received by the Diva of the Pink Pages herself.

"Posh Peyton's residence, Fichon speaking...what do you want? Who is calling? Shut up, shut up...."

Madeline stared blankly, her gaze transfixed somewhere in hyperspace. "Madame Fichon," she whispered, then cut the connection.

"Aries Libra, a bra lies, a bi liar," Maddie muttered, reviewing the seemingly ridiculous lexigram the Jackal had recited only hours ago. "Fichon might be a liar - and Juan Carlos the cross-dresser? Lexi mentioned that the Jackal often went out in drag...could the two be in cahoots? Juan Carlos probably kidnapped Olivia himself with Fichon's aid - Heavens and Andromeda! That's it - why did I ever go to the brothel yesterday? Why did I ever trust that...jackass!" a distraught librarian wondered aloud.

Ms. Madeline ran to the study and found a pen and a piece of stationery in Professor Peyton's well-equipped Louis XV desk. Resolutely she printed the words ARIES LIBRA.

"Aries and Libra are opposite signs in the Zodiac. Juan Carlos also noted that I am a Leo and Miss Olivia a Taurus...hmmm. Our opposites would then be Scorpio and Aquarius..."

The words SCORPIO AQUARIUS were duly inscribed below ARIES LIBRA. Madeleine studied the new letters intently, her mind sure she could figure out the answer.

"Poor...aqua...rip...car...pious...pious?" she laughed. "That's a good one and would be rather amusing if Miss O wasn't in so much danger. Quasi pious...Sirius! Sirius is the dog star sacred to the Egyptian goddess Isis and another clue - it's so esoteric - I know Sirius is part of the answer, it must be! Let me look it up in this Dictionary of Phrase and Fable...."

Sirius. The DOG-STAR; so called by the Greeks from the adjective seirios, hot and scorching. The Romans called it Canicula, whence our CANICULAR DAYS, and the Egyptians Sept, which gave the Greek alternative Sothis.

"Holy Gnosis! Let me call Lexi and see what he thinks...Sexi? Hi - it's me, Ms. Madeleine...Olivia's been kidnapped and I think Juan Carlos the Jackal and Posh Peyton's secretary are somehow involved....I know! Horrible! Listen, I need your help - and Bruce's, too - do either of you know of an auberge in these parts that has to do with dogs? No, no, not a kennel...anything with a dog motif. Oui, comme chien... Nothing? Wait! Wonderful - you are a genius! Château Chien, you say? Owned near Les Andelys by the Scorpio sisters Mistress Machete and Mistress Stingray, whose motto is: Men are no better than dogs? They are your clients - very Goth, eh? Oh, I'm laughing because it reminds me of a joke I recently told Miss Olivia...Lexi, meet me there, tonight at eight...and bring help...Bruce may not be enough muscle. I'll explain everything later. Tata..."

"Was that the Jackal?" the Prof asked as he entered the room. "Or Posh-ums?"

"Robert, we must go see Juan Carlos at once. Mr. Jackal Jackass and I need to negotiate - and then I'll draw him into my own web of deceit, the cur. We must play as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, for I fear our Olivia is in grave mortal danger. Fetch the car right away!"

With that, the elder Peyton headed toward the barn to retrieve an old Mercedes sedan. "No, not now!" the Professor exclaimed. "Turn over old girl!"

Madeline came running out to the barn and within moments, Professor Peyton could be heard cursing the god of ancient travelers.

"Damn, buggering Mercury! Curse you...you...bloody rotten, thieving hoodlum!"

"Is that a motor bike over there?" Madeline queried.

"That's Olivia's old Vespa. Hasn't run in years."

Maddie smiled, pulled the little racer off of its kickstand and turned the key. An orange bulb lit up brightly, as did a cherubic face.

"Ride like the wind!" Peyton shouted, and soon the Italian motorbike was on its way, kicking up a small flurry of dust and dirt. Maddie was off, a bit wobbly, yet determined to reach the Jackal by whatever means possible.