Rapa Nui!
That’s it?
“Cousin, the treasure I found in this cave
is very precious, but you won’t be taking
it home to New Mouse Island with you,”
she said simply. “This treasure is for the
inhabitants of Easter Island!”
“But what is it?” Trap squeaked.
Thea pointed to seven canoes woven from
reeds. They had been hidden in a corner
of the cave.
“What are those?” Trap asked.
“This is the treasure of Rapa Nui!” Thea
said, gesturing to the seven small boats.
“These are the seven ancient canoes
that the seven courageous young
explorers used to travel to Easter Island
from Polynesia,” she explained.
Trap moaned, his whiskers drooping with
disappointment.
“Yes,” Thea said with a smile. “I was
searching for the seven ancient canoes. But
the PIRATES were looking for another
treasure — one they found by forcing the
professor to help them! Now they’re loading
it onto their ship
... Come on, I’ll show
you!”
We followed Thea to a huge block covered
with a cloth on the shore of the lagoon.
“This
treasure
was found at the bottom
of the sea,” Thea whispered.
She lifted a corner of the cloth to reveal
a bright, shining surface. It was a moai
made of solid gold!
“Now, this is what I call a treasure!” Trap
squeaked, licking his whiskers greedily.
“Let’s see now. I only need a teeny-tiny piece
of this statue and I’ll be RICH! Why don’t
Come and look!
Wow!
I just chip off a little sliver . . .”
Susie
pinched
his ear.
“Don’t you dare touch it!” she warned.
Wild Willie looked at him sternly.
“The moai are SACRED here in Rapa
Nui,” he said seriously. “Those pirates will
soon regret taking a treasure that does
not belong to them.”
“Okay, okay.” Trap sulked. “I was only
kidding !”
I only need a teeny-
tiny piece . . .
Don’t you dare!
We barely had time to cover up the treasure
again before we heard the captain bark,
“
Load the moai!
” to the pirates.
A giant crane descended from the ship’s
deck, grabbing the gold moai and lifting it
up onto the ship.
Thea desperately turned to Wild Willie.
“What can we do?” she asked.
the seven cAnoes
“We have to take ACTION!” he replied.
“Let’s get out of here,
FAST
, and look for
help!”
Vaitea turned toward the tunnel we
had entered from.
“We can’t leave that way,” she said. “The
wind only blows in this direction!”
Wild Willie smiled.
“We’ll leave by sea . . . in the seven
CANOES
!”
Luckily, the cool temperature in the
Follow me!
tunnel had preserved the canoes over time.
They were in perfect condition, and
very fast! We began to paddle, careful not
to make a sound.
As we got closer and closer to the ship,
I was so scared the pirates might see us.
My whiskers trembled with fright!
Luckily, the pirates were too busy
moving the moai. They didn’t notice us
slip by silently in the DARK water. We
paddled around the ship and headed to the
mouth of the cave. When we finally emerged
onto the open sea, we found ourselves under
a starry NIGHT sky that was lit up by the
silvery
light
of the moon.
We saw a small beach nearby. Wild Willie
was first to set his paw on land.
“Let’s quickly gather some dry wood,” he
said. “We’ll light a big
fire
and then I’ll
make some signals that will attract the
attention of mice all the way in the village!”
While we threw more wood on the
fire, Wild Willie used a blanket to
create SMOKE signals. He used
They’ll see
our signals!
Here’s some
more wood!
Morse code to send a distress signal: SOS.
Suddenly, we saw the bow of the
PHANTOM OF THE NIGHT emerge
from the secret cave. The pirates’ ship was
weighed down heavily with the gold
moai. Unfortunately for us, they spotted our
fire right away. The pirates pointed their
cannons in our direction, and we could
hear the captain issue his command.
“Shoot those spies!” the captain
growled. “Ready! Aim! Fire!”
“Help!” I SQUEAKED. “They’ll flatten
MORSE CODE
Morse code is a communication system
invented by Samuel Morse, an American
painter and inventor. The code translates
numbers and letters of the alphabet into
a series of signals of different duration —
either short dots or long dashes. The help
signal, SOS, in Morse code is very simple:
three short dots, three long dashes, and
three short dots.
us into mouse pancakes!”
I closed my eyes and waited for the
cannonball to
squash
us, but
nothing happened! I slowly opened one eye
and then the other, and saw why. The pirates’
ship was sinking from the weight of
the gold moai!
Wild Willie chuckled.
“I knew those pirates would be sorry they
stole that!” he said.
A moment later, a helicopter appeared in
the night
sky, dozens of boats sailed over
the horizon and headed toward our beach,
and cars and trucks
SPED
toward us
over land. Everyone had seen our SOS and
had come to our aid!
And as for the pirates who had been
shipwrecked in the middle of the bay —
well, they wouldn’t be getting away.
They’re down
there!
Let’s go!
They’re coming
closer!
We’re saved!
There they are!
Look!
We gave the seven canoes to the inhabitants
of Easter Island. They were so happy to be
reunited with such a precious historical
treasure — one that had led to the discovery
of Rapa Nui!
To thank us, they organized an amazing
good-bye!
PARTY for us on the beach. They
sang and danced for us and put flower
garlands around our necks.
“What will you do about the gold
moai?” Trap asked Vaitea during the party.
“Are you going to fish it out of the water?”
Vaitea shook her head.
“It’s resting in the sea again,” she replied.
“And that’s where it’s going to stay!”
Soon it was time for us to say good-bye.
We climbed into Vaitea’s SUV and headed
to the airport, the sounds of the Polynesian
music and the blue sea fading behind us.
“Thank you for returning the treasure to
the Rapa Nui people,” Vaitea told us.
“No, thank you!” I replied. “We couldn’t
have done it without your help!”
We waved good-bye as we boarded Wild
Willie’s plane.
Wild Willie settled into his pilot’s seat.
“Captain here,” he said to himself with
a smile. “We’re leaving Easter Island. In a
few hours we’ll be flying over the coast of
CHILE. Our trip will continue all the
way home to Mouse Island!”
Suddenly, I realized that our incredible
adventure had come to an end. We were
going home!
I thought of all my friends waiting for
me and for Thea back in New Mouse City. I
was especially looking forward to seeing my
adorable nephew Benjamin. As I thought
of my loved ones on Mouse Island, I looked
out the window of the plane. The triangular
outline of Easter Island, which was wrapped
in a mass of clouds, receded in the distance.
“Good-bye, Rapa Nui!” I whispered softly
under my whiskers.
As soon as we landed at New Mouse City’s
airport, I hurried to the office of The
Rodent’s Gazette.
“Hello!” I greeted the staff. “I’m back
from Easter Island, and I need everyone’s
help to put out an EXTRA-SPECIAL
edition of the paper!”
The entire staff pitched in, and in just a few
hours, we had put together an amazing
special edition of The Rodent’s Gazette. It
included notes from Thea’s diary and Susie’s
incredible photographs. That evening,
the paper went
on
sale
.
specIAl edItIon
of The RodenT’s
GazeTTe!
It was a fabumouse
success!
NEW MOUSE CITY—
Special correspondent
Thea Stilton of The
Rodent’s Gazette and
Professor Von Dustyfur,
the noted archaeologist
and expert in ancient
treasures, have returned
home to Mouse Island
after being abducted by
pirates.
The famouse
journalist had gone to
Easter Island in search
of a lost treasure. There,
she was captured by a
band of ruthless pirates
who had been holding
Professor Von Dustyfur
captive . . . (continued)
Susie
Shuttermouse’s
Photographs
Trap stuffing
his snout
with shrimp
The joy of dance!
Geronimo encounters
a mysterious moai
Don’t touch the
moai, Trap!
Geronimo about to
toss his cheese
Thea and the
professor:
the pirates’
prisoners
The seven canoes: the real
treasure of Rapa Nui!
Everyone had worked so hard on the
newspaper, and I was hoping my grandfather,
William Shortpaws, would be pleased.
But all he did was pinch my ear.
“I have to admit that this time you did a
pretty good job, Grandson,” he barked. “But
don’t get comfortable! I’ve got my eye
on you all the time, got it?”
I just rolled my eyes at him.
Night fell and I headed home at last. As I
walked down the streets of New Mouse City,
I met rodents around every CORNER.
They greeted me with hugs and smiles
and asked me lots of questions about my
adventure.
“It’s nice to have you back here in
New Mouse City. We missed you !”
I was so happy to be surrounded by so
many
friends
and neighbors who loved me.
I finally arrived home, feeling exhausted.
With a sigh of relief I put on my pajamas,
made myself a nice cup of hot tea, and
slipped beneath the covers of my comfy
bed. It felt so good to be back!
Then the telephone rang.
“Hello?” I answered. “Stilton here.
Geronimo Stilton!”
fInAlly home . . .
or mAybe not?
Hello?
I heard Susie’s familiar squeak.
“Hi, Geronimo!” she chirped brightly.
“I really liked traveling with you.”
Then I heard Thea’s voice in the
background.
“Tell him he’s coming with us on our next
trip!” she squeaked.
“That’s right,” Susie said. “We have
another MYSTERY to solve — and we’re
going to Machu Picchu in Peru!”
Are you
ready for an
adventure?
“Don’t worry, Cuz, I’m coming, too!”
shouted Trap. I guess he was also there.
“Aren’t you
thrilled
? Now pack your little
soon!”
“That’s right, Cheesehead!” Wild Willie
chimed in. “Get ready for an adventure!”
“N-no!” I stammered. “That is, thanks
a million, but I’m not ready. I mean, I’d
love to come, but I have too much work
to catch up on. So, no, thanks! Have a
nice trip.
Good-bye!
”
I heard a chorus of confused protests at
the other end of the phone. But then Wild
Willie’s deep voice cut them off.
“If we say YOU’RE coming, YOU’RE
coming,” he squeaked. “Period!”
“Got it, Cuz?” Trap shouted. “Period! That
means no excuses!”
“
You’ll see, Geronimo!” Thea added.
“You’re actually very ready for the next
adventure!”
“No, no, no!” I replied. “I’m telling you
I’m not ready at all!”
But unfortunately they had already
hung up the phone.
I stayed in bed and thought about it for
a while as my whiskers
quivered
with
uncertainty. But then my eyes fell on a
PHOTO of the five of us on Easter
Island. I looked happy
in it, and I hate to
admit it, but . . . I
almost looked like an
adventurous
mouse! I sighed and
looked out the WINDOW
to the landscape of New Mouse City.
It was a familiar view, and one that I knew
well: There was Singing Stone Square,
and the Fashion Center, and the
harbor with its bobbing sailboats . . .
Yes, it was great being
home. But it
had also been great going on an amazing
adventure far, far away. When you’re
traveling, everything is a challenge and
courage is greatly rewarded. I stared far off
into the horizon. Suddenly I felt BRAVE
and confident.
“I am ready for a new adventure!” I
exclaimed. “A whisker-licking-good
one!”
And I promise to tell
you all about it in
my next book.
Rodent’s honor!
Ah, sweet New
Mouse City!
Join me and my friends as
we travel through time in
these very special editions!
Don’t miss any of
these exciting Thea
Sisters adventures!
He is a spacemouse — the Geronimo
Stilton of a parallel universe! He is
captain of the spaceship MouseStar 1.
While flying through the cosmos, he visits
distant planets and meets crazy aliens.
His adventures are out of this world!
Meet
Geronimo Stiltonix
He is a cavemouse — Geronimo Stilton’s
ancient ancestor! He runs the stone
newspaper in the prehistoric village
of Old Mouse City. From dealing with
dinosaurs to dodging meteorites,
his life in the Stone Age is full
of adventure!
MEET
GERONIMO STILTONOOT
The RodenT’s
GazeTTe
APPEALS TO
READING LEVEL
2
ND
-4
TH
GRADERS
GRADE 4
Who is Geronimo Stilton?
That’s me! I run a newspaper, but
my true passion is writing adven-
ture stories. Here in New Mouse
City, the capital of Mouse Island, my
books are all bestsellers! My stories
are funny, fa-mouse-ly funny. They
are whisker-licking-good tales, and
that’s a promise!
THE TREASURE OF
EASTER ISLAND
Holey cheese — my sister, Thea, was
in danger! She had traveled to Easter