The Berenstain Bears in the Wax Museum (7 page)

Chapter 11

Grand Opening!

Over the next few days, Brother's suspicions increased. The more he thought about it, the more he was sure he knew that face—Igor's face. The
Beartown Gazette
claimed Igor really did hail from Grizzylvania, the legendary home of Count Bearcula. But Brother knew better. He just couldn't figure out exactly where and when he'd seen Igor before.

At last it was the evening of the grand opening. The reception was at seven o'clock in Chez Bearsaud, to be followed at eight by the opening of the wax museum. At nine there would be a showing of
Bearzilla
in the Screaming Room. Then, at midnight, there would be a special showing of the cult rockhorror classic
The Grizzly Horror Picture Show
.

By seven-fifteen, Chez Bearsaud was packed. Waiters in costumes served drinks and appetizers. Brother and Fred took glasses of soda from a tray held by the Frankenbear Monster. Then they were offered crackers by Queen Elizabear.

“What's that black stuff on the crackers?” Brother asked.

“Caviar,” replied Queen Elizabear.

“What's caviar?” said Brother.

“It's fish eggs,” said Fred.

“Uh, no thanks,” said Brother. “I'll pass on the fish eggs. Got any of those little hot dogs?”

“Gullibear has those,” said Queen Elizabear, “but he's tied up at the moment. Haha!”

“Comedian,” muttered Brother as Queen Elizabear moved off through the crowd.

“We should have taken some of those crackers,” said Fred. “This is our dinner, you know.”

“I got news for you,” said Brother. “Those fish eggs are spoiled. They've already turned black!”

Fred was about to tell Brother that fish eggs are supposed to be black when Madame Bearsaud's voice was heard above the din. “Ladies and gentlemen,” she said into the mike she was holding, “velcome to zee grand opening of Madame Bearsaud's Vax Museum and Entertainment Center. At eight I shall open zee museum, vhere you can see Queen Elizabear's crown jewels, vhich I just took from zee safe and placed on Her Royal Highness's head. But first I vant you to see somezing just as magnificent: Lady Grizzly's priceless diamond necklace, never before vorn in public. And here is my great and good friend now!”

As Madame Bearsaud gestured to the entrance, all eyes turned to witness the arrival of Lady Grizzly. She emerged on Squire Grizzly's arm, with a glowing smile on her face. But around her neck was something that glowed even more brightly. The priceless necklace gleamed and twinkled as it reflected the overhead lights.

The buzzing crowd had gone silent the instant the necklace had come into view. Now there was a chorus of oohs and aahs, followed by enthusiastic applause.

“Wow,” said Fred to Brother. “Look at the size of those diamonds! I'll bet they're worth a gazillion!”

“More,” said Brother, staring. “Two gazillion, at least!”

Lady and Squire Grizzly made their way through the admiring crowd. Chief Bruno and Officer Marguerite followed them as closely as they could. Marguerite even had a police dog on a leash.

“Hey,” said Fred, “why the police dog?”

“Maybe the chief's worried about someone stealing the necklace,” suggested Brother.

“While she's wearing it?” said Fred. “And in front of everybody? Who'd be dumb enough to try that?”

All of a sudden, the lights went out. The reception was plunged into total darkness. There were a few gasps of surprise, some shuffling of feet, then a crash. The lights came back on.

“Remain calm,” said Madame Bearsaud, standing by the light switch. “Zere is nuzzing wrong wis zee lights. Someone must have bumped zee switch by accident.”

“What was that crash?” said Squire Grizzly.

“Something brushed against me, dear,” said Lady Grizzly, “and made me drop my plate. Oh, my goodness. There's caviar all over my feet!”

The last words were barely out of Lady Grizzly's mouth when the police dog lunged forward and began licking her feet. “Ha-ha-ha!” cried Lady Grizzly. “Stop that, you brute! It tickles!”

The dog lapped up all the caviar in an instant. But then the dog did something very strange. It jumped up, put its paws on Lady Grizzly, and began to sniff at her necklace.

“Down, Spike!” said Officer Marguerite. “That's not caviar!”

“No, it isn't,” said Lady Grizzly, lifting the necklace to her nose. “But—how odd—it actually smells a little like caviar … Would you have a look at this, dear?”

Squire Grizzly, who knew a thing or two about the jewelry business, sniffed at the necklace and frowned. “This isn't your necklace!” he said. “It's paste—paste with a fish glue base! It's a cheap imitation!”

“Cheap imitation?” wailed Lady Grizzly. “That means my precious necklace has been stolen!” And with that she fainted, keeling over and falling flat on her back.

Squire Grizzly reached down and patted his wife's face as Chief Bruno and Officer Marguerite rushed to his side. “Get back, folks!” barked the chief. “Give her some room!”

“She said something brushed against her!” Fred said to Brother. “Someone must have switched the necklaces while the lights were out!”

“And I think I know who it was,” said Brother, looking all around. “Just before the lights went out, I saw Igor hanging around the light switch. I'll bet he turned out the lights and switched the necklaces. And now he's gone …”

“When the lights came back on,” said Fred, pointing, “I noticed that door closing, as if someone had just gone through it. Let's check it out!”

Chapter 12

In the Wax Museum

When the cubs had slipped through the door, they found themselves in another large room. It was dimly lit, except for spotlights shining down on a collection of lifesize wax figures of famous bears.

“It's a side entrance to the wax museum,” whispered Brother. “Maybe Igor's behind one of the statues. Let's split up and check 'em out.”

“Wait,” whimpered Fred. “What do I do if I find him?”

“Grab ahold of his leg and scream your head off,” said Brother. “I'll run and get Chief Bruno. And if
I
catch him, you do likewise.”

Fred nodded, but he was trembling with fear. Brother gave him a little push, and off he went to look behind Blackbear the Pirate, Genghis Bear, and Count Bearcula. Meanwhile, Brother looked behind Queen Elizabear, Bearjamin Franklin, Gullibear, and the Frankenbear Monster.

But no Igor.

“Hey,” called Fred. “There are three new statues over here! Wax statues of the Bogg Brothers! And they're perfect!”

Brother hurried over and looked. Then he took Fred by the arm and pulled him away from the statues of the Bogg Brothers. “Don't look now,” he said in a hushed voice, “but they're
too
perfect.”

“Huh?” said Fred, looking back at the statues.

“I said, don't look now!” said Brother. “Listen to me. Doesn't it seem odd to you that Madame Bearsaud would put statues of Billy, Bobby, and Bert Bogg, three local-yokel criminals, in her world-famous museum?”