Sherlock Holmes World, a work of fiction by the Jeanster

Inspired by an essay by Brad Keefauver at SherlockPeoria.net

CHAPTER ONE

Brad Keefauver's heart pounded with excitement. He was moments away from entering the Sherlock Holmes World amusement park. He had long believed that such a wondrous place would forever be a pie-in-the-sky dream never to be attained.

It had cost billions of dollars to build Sherlock Holmes World. The general public would have to wait another month before they could enjoy it. That is, those who could afford the price of admission: a thousand dollars a day.

Brad and another Sherlock Holmes enthusiast were going to be allowed to preview the amusement park. The owner of Sherlock Holmes World waived the entrance fee for these two.

"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth," said Brad, "but why do we get to visit Sherlock Holmes World for free?"

"Mr. Keefauver, dear fellow," chuckled Anthony Cheevers. "Don't be so modest. It was your essay posted on the SherlockPeoria web site that helped push this project forward to its completion. All we ask is that you give us an honest review of Sherlock Holmes World which we will publish in our next press release. And of course, feel free to post your review at the SherlockPeoria web site."

Brad thought back to when he had written the essay. He wrote it after learning of the opening of Dickens World in Chatham, England.

Yeah, that was a pretty good essay I wrote, Brad silently said to himself smiling.

Brad sat comfortably in the wingback chair of Anthony Cheever's Victorian-style decorated office and slowly gazed at the walls and furniture.

"Where is the other Holmes fan? I heard there would be two of us previewing this place."

"She's already inside the park," said Mr. Cheevers. "She arrived an hour ago. Let's go meet up with her, shall we?"

A hansom cab pulled up outside Mr. Cheevers' office. He and Brad climbed in and soon they were on their way to the entrance of Sherlock Holmes World.

"I have to ask," said Brad. "Why is the admission fee so high?"

"Robotics, my dear fellow. It's very expensive."

"Robotics?"

Brad looked around at the costumed figures walking along the cobblestone streets of the amusement park.

"Yes," said Mr. Cheevers. "These 'people' you see here are all androids. Lifelike, aren't they?"

Brad stared in amazement. If Mr. Cheevers had not told him those were androids he would never had suspected.

"They look so real! Even the way they move and walk!"

Brad thought of the mechanical figures he had seen at Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean who looked real at first glance, but it did not take long to realize they were mechancal.

"Here we are," said Mr. Cheevers as the hansom cab came to a stop.

Brad looked at the number above the door of the building: 221.

"Coming, Mr. Keefauver?" asked Mr. Cheevers who had already climbed out of the cab and was on the front steps of 221 Baker Street. He pressed the doorbell.

Brad got out of the cab and quickly joined his host.

The door opened and Mrs. Hudson greeted them. The android Mrs. Hudson, that is.

"Good morning, dear lady. Two visitors to see Mr. Holmes, please," said Mr. Cheevers as he tipped his hat.

"Go right on up, sirs," said the android. Brad tried not to stare. Then he wondered if staring at an android counted as being rude.

So very lifelike, thought Brad glancing back at the android landlady as they climbed up the seventeen steps.

Then a frightening feeling came over Brad. He thought of that movie he had seen years ago about an amusement park for the rich where the robots in it got out of control and killed most of the visitors.

Cheevers never asked me to sign any liability waiver in the event I'm injured or killed here, thought Brad.

They arrived at the top of the stairs. Brad looked at the letter B on the door. Cheevers knocked.

"Come in," said a voice on the other side of the door.

Cheevers smiled and motioned for Brad to open the door.

Brad turned the doorknob and opened the door that led to the sitting room.

Three seated figures turned and smiled at Brad and Mr. Cheevers.

Brad instantly knew which were Holmes and Watson. The third figure was a woman.

Is she an android or is she the other Holmes fan who gets to preview this place for free? Brad did not drop his gaze at her as tried to discern the answer.

Updated April 27, 2008

Chapter Two
Jeanster's Sherlock Holmes Page
Holmes World