The Medusa Plot



The Medusa Plot is the first book of the Cahills vs. Vespers series. It takes place after the Casper Wyoming incident in Vespers Rising. It will be written by Gordon Korman. It will be released on August 30, 2011. The cover of The Medusa Plot has many notable differences to the other 39 Clues books. Mainly, the 6 Cards Inside design is different and the logo is red.

Some have predicted that part of the story will take place in Florence, Italy because of the cover. Pntapisora had a blog post that said that it is a painting by Caravaggio, and it is called Head of Medusa. The blog post also said that the painting is found in the Uffizi Gallery. Summary: Amy and Dan going to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy and stealing Caravaggio's Head of Medusa.

Sneak Peek
Napa Valley, California, 5:42 a.m., Pacific Time Zone Fiske Cahill loved the early morning — the glorious moment when the sun’s rays broke over the mountain tops. He would always be an easterner, but there was no place quite like California. He eased himself into the mineral bath, feeling the bracing sting of water heated by magma trapped deep within the earth. The ache and stiffness of his sixtynine-year-old body seemed to melt away, and he knew complete relaxation and contentment. Nothing could spoil the perfection of this moment. He closed his eyes. That was his first mistake. There was a tiny splash as the snake hit the water. It was a water moccasin, a baby — the venom is strongest in the very young. Fiske never saw it. He was aware of a sudden stab, followed by blinding pain and then blackness. Two men in coveralls lifted him out of the tub and administered a tiny injection of antivenom to his abdomen. Then they wrapped him up in a vinyl pool cover, carried him to a panel truck, and loaded him inside. As an afterthought, one of the men fished the snake out of the water and tossed it into some tall grass. If it survived and happened to bite another resort guest, it was no concern of theirs.

Ponce, Puerto Rico, 9:42 a.m., Atlantic Time Zone

Long, powerful strokes propelled Reagan Holt through the sparkling Caribbean. At thirteen, she had already completed seven Ironman triathlons, but now she was training for the world championships. Puerto Rico’s lesser-known southern coast was the ideal place for it — great weather, uncrowded roads for running and cycling, and warm, crystal-clear water for swimming. There was even entertainment for these grueling ocean marathons. Through her goggles, she enjoyed the floor show: hundreds of fish species, colorful coral, and. . . A jolt of surprise threw off her rhythm, and she struggled to maintain her textbook form. At first she thought it was an undersea mirage, but no. Twenty yards away, a few feet below the surface, floated a scuba diver in an antishark cage! What’s going on? That was when she saw the hammerhead. It was big—an eighteen footer at least. It moved in a serpentine pattern, its oddly placed eyes sweeping the reef. When its attention locked on Reagan, she knew instantly. The long body became a guided missile hurtling toward her. Panic was immediate and total. Not even the fastest human could outswim a shark. The cage. It was her only option. She made for it, expecting at any moment to feel the devastating bite of jagged teeth. The diver read her mind and opened the cage door. She flung herself inside, slamming the gate shut behind her just as the hammer-shaped snout smashed into the titanium bars. The very sea itself seemed to shake. Reagan was thrown back against the frame, but the structure held. The diver pulled on a signal rope, and a mechanical winch began to lift the cage out of the water. As they broke the surface, she spied the boat. Relief flooded over her. The cost of this training session would not be her life. Crew members swung them in over the gunwale and set them down on the deck. It was all Reagan could do to maintain her footing as she stepped onto the wood planking. “Thanks, you guys! That was so close —” And then she noticed that one of the sailors was pointing a gun at her.

London, UK, 1:42 p.m., Greenwich Mean Time Zone

When anyone advised Natalie Kabra to “find a happy place,” that place was always Harrods. That was the reason for this mental health day away from her boarding school. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. And where better than the most famous department store in the world, located in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge? A glance at a bus-stand billboard took the wind out of her sails. It was an advertisement for AidWorksWonders, a nonprofit organization dedicated to global disaster relief. Peering compassionately out was the organization’s founder, radiating charity, goodwill, and kindness. Natalie didn’t believe it for a second, and she was in a position to know. That woman, Isabel Kabra, was Natalie’s mother — a hard-hearted, cold-blooded conspirator, arsonist, murderer, and terrorist. The only reason she had formed an organization that did good in the world was that it had been her ticket out of jail, to parole and community service. Natalie pitied the poor community Isabel was assigned to serve. Just the sight of her mother almost made her turn around and go back to school. It had been Mum who had first introduced her to Harrods. But one couldn’t blame Harrods for that, Natalie concluded, stepping in through the brass-plated revolving door. Muscle memory took her directly to the Girls’ department — designer only, of course. Without once consulting a price tag, she collected an armload of outfits and headed for the fitting room. She stepped inside, wondering at the second click that came a moment after she shut the door. She tried the handle. Locked. And then her world tilted, dropping her against the mirror. The entire cubicle lifted suddenly and began to move forward. In the Girls’ department, the shoppers paid little attention to the large box being carried out of the department by two employees in Harrods uniforms. No one heard the screams that could not penetrate the soundproof enclosure.

Paris, France, 2:42 p.m., Central European Time Zone

To Nellie Gomez, Les Fraises was the best sidewalk café in Paris, and she had tried most of them. Nellie adored Paris. As much as she missed home, this monthlong class in French cuisine was a dream come true. She loved living in a place where nose rings and punk-rock hair and makeup were considered completely normal. She loved the sights of the city, from the ancient Roman ruins to the ultramodern glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre. But mostly, she loved the food. Her seminar on sauces had run through lunch, which gave her the perfect excuse to visit Les Fraises in the state she was usually in — hungry. The chocolate-strawberry croissant looked a little different as the waitress placed the plate on the table next to her espresso. Was that confectioner’s sugar on top? Was the chef trying to improve upon perfection? She was anxious to find out. Nellie raised the pastry to her lips. Poof! A cloud of powder burst from the croissant, enveloping her face. It was gone in a few seconds. But by then, Nellie was slumped in her seat, unconscious. An ambulance pulled up to the café. Two whitecoated attendants emerged. They lifted Nellie out from behind the table, loaded her into the back, and drove away.

Tel Aviv, Israel, 3:42 p.m., Israel Standard Time Zone

“This way, children.” Alistair Oh held out his arm and guided Ned and Ted Starling into the elevator of the medical office building. How tragic it was that Alistair, at sixty-six, would be offering his assistance to two teenagers in the very prime of youth and strength. It should have been the other way around. Alas, such was the legacy of the search for the 39 Clues. The boys had been victims of a cowardly act of sabotage at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Ned now suffered headaches of such intensity that he could not concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time. He was the lucky one. His brother was legally blind. Alistair sighed. Perhaps Dr. Shallit could help. That was the purpose of their trip to Israel — to see the foremost neurologist in the world. He had achieved miraculous results for patients with similar injuries. Alistair pressed the button, and the elevator began to ascend. At the eighteenth floor, the car slowed and stopped. The door did not open. The next thing he knew, they were dropping, freefalling down the elevator shaft, picking up speed. “Children —” The word died on his lips. There was nothing reassuring to say about plummeting two hundred feet to a violent death. He tightened his grip on the boys’ forearms. What an odd place for their lives to end. Yet it was somehow fitting that members of the same family branch should perish together. In the space of a few vertical feet, the elevator went from terminal velocity to a dead stop. The sudden deceleration flattened all three of them to the floor. Ned bumped his head and cried out in pain and fear. The door opened. Three large men blocked the entrance to the underground parking garage, their faces obscured by desert head scarves. The leader reached down to grab Alistair. He underestimated the older man’s determination. Alistair’s diamondhandled cane came up and fractured the man’s wrist. The attacker cursed and withdrew in pain. Alistair boosted the boys to their feet. “Run!” he ordered. Ned took his blind brother’s arm, ducked beneath the hands that were reaching for them, and took off down a long row of cars. One of the assailants followed in hot pursuit. They were almost at the exit when Ted stubbed his foot against a cement parking curbstone. He never hit the floor. Their pursuer grabbed him in a powerful bear hug. Ned hesitated as the onslaught of another headache shattered everything in his mind except pain. No. Not now — With almost superhuman effort, he turned back to his brother. Ted was caught, and Alistair was subdued back at the elevator. Only he was free. Alistair’s voice echoed in the concrete space. “Go! Call William McIntyre!” With a heavy heart, Ned Starling fled.

Tokyo, Japan, 10:42 p.m., Japan Standard Time Zone

Phoenix Wizard was searching for the hip-hop vibe. That’s what his cousin Jonah had told him to look for. It should have been easy to find in a crowd of screaming fans, all jumping, stomping, and shouting along with Jonah Wizard, the number one recording artist on the planet. The teenage rapper was spectacular. From the upper decks of the enormous stadium he must have appeared insect-size on the stage far below. And yet every move, every beat, every “wassup, yo” sent ripples through the audience. Jonah was a hip-hop hypnotist, and all sixty-five thousand people in the arena were obeying his commands — to get wild, get loud, get down. Except one. Phoenix worshipped his A-list cousin. What twelve-year- old boy wouldn’t idolize a celebrity? And Jonah wasn’t just famous in the music world. He had starred in several movies, including Gangsta Kronikles, his first blockbuster; he had his own reality TV show. His face was immortalized on PEZ dispensers and motorized lollipop holders. Paparazzi followed him everywhere. Yet the music — that was the part that left Phoenix flat. He would have cut his tongue out before saying it aloud, but he thought it was truly awful. Just talking, really. Bragging in time to a simple repeating beat. Why can’t I see what all these people see? Jonah began to whip up the crowd to even greater heights. “I love Tokyo — it’s the only place where ‘yo’ is part of the name of the town! Get up and show me some moves!” The response was seismic. Those fans who weren’t already standing rose to their feet in a wave of tens of thousands of bodies. Phoenix was up with them, hoping that their enthusiasm was contagious. He felt nothing. What could be more pathetic than a Wizard with no rhythm? All around him, people were gyrating as if their very lives depended on it. He watched, amazed, as bodies were lifted up and rolled across the top of the crowd, passing from hand to hand. A teen girl floated over him, her expression sheer bliss. She had found the hip-hop vibe. Determined to share the experience, he climbed onto the armrest of his seat, literally hoisting himself onto the “roof” of the audience. He felt a thrill when he started to move, twirling as he skimmed above the concertgoers’ heads. For some reason, there was no fear. The thousands of hands created a seamless surface. It was almost like swimming — riding ocean currents around the stadium. This was awesome! He couldn’t wait to tell Jonah about it after the concert. And the ride was getting better! He seemed to be picking up speed. But why was he heading away from the stage toward one of the exit tunnels? That wasn’t where the action was! Then he was down out of the throng, in the darkness of the concrete passage, flanked by two men in mirrored sunglasses. “What —?” A foul-smelling wet cloth covered his face. He attempted to struggle, but one whiff of the chloroform brought oblivion.

Although they took place in different time zones throughout the world, the kidnappings were executed at exactly the same moment. The victims had only one thing in common: All seven were members of the Cahill Family, the most powerful family in human history. The kidnappings were by who? The Vespers.

Plot
The book begins when seven Cahills are kidnapped by the Vespers all around the globe. Soon after, Dan and Amy Cahill get picked up by the school bus, which is attacked by three Vesper agents who tried to kidnap one or both of them, but failed due to the siblings' counterattack. Right after the accident, Detective Jack Corelli arrives and takes them home, advising them to get themselves bodyguards. At the mansion, William McIntyre tells them that Cahills all over the world have been kidnapped, and the Cahills then receive a text message from Vesper One on a secure phone he sent them, telling them to go to Florence, Italy by tomorrow morning or else one of the hostages will die.

Sinead Starling, McIntyre and Ian Kabra (who has arrived from London) remain in the Cahill Command Center to find more information about the Vespers and the possible whereabouts of the Cahill hostages, while Dan and Amy go to Florence, where they get a message telling them to steal Caravaggio's "Medusa" located in the Uffizi Gallery. Later, they meet up with Jonah Wizard and Hamilton Holt who help them steal the shield, but when they give the painting to the Vespers, it is found to be a fake and Vesper One sends them a video of Nellie getting shot in the shoulder.

Amy, Dan, Hamilton and Jonah then discover that the real painting was taken by a Mud Angel or Angeli del Fango named Gregor Tobin decades ago. They manage to steal the painting from him but while escaping, they lose the chargers for the Vesper phone. Ian then goes out to look for info on the phone and runs into Evan, who immediately recognizes it as a DeOssie phone and because of how Evan knows this, Ian thinks Evan has potential and then Ian then tells Evan about the Cahills and invites him to join the Command Center.

Upon further investigation of the painting, the siblings (Jonah and Hamilton have left) find Latin words (but with some missing letters) on the back of the painting, prompting Dan to ask his friend, Atticus Rosenbloom, for help. Atticus then tells Dan that the words are Porta Sanavivaria, a place in the Colosseum. Amy and Dan then travel to Rome where Atticus and his half-brother, Jake, give them a tour of the place. Dan soon finds out that the snakes in Caravaggio's "Medusa" is a map of the tunnels in the Colosseum, with the spot where two snakes bite each other as the "X". In the tunnels, they find DaVinci's "Medusa" shield, which Caravaggio based his painting on, and the original copy of a book by Marco Polo called "Il Millione" (The Million), which the Vespers were looking for. After an argument with the Rosenblooms which leads to Jake alerting the police, the siblings steal the manuscript and flee. Later, Atticus sends a message saying that Interpol is after them.

Meanwhile, Jonah, Hamilton, Ian and Sinead find the DeOssie factory in upstate New York (which they suspect to be a Vesper stronghold) and easily sneak in. After searching the whole factory, they don't find the hostages but are able to get some chargers for the DeOssie phone. On the way out, Hamilton accidentally triggers a trap by shaking a vending machine, which blows up the entire factory.

Dan and Amy finally go to give Vesper One the real painting at the drop-off, which is at a circus. At the circus, the painting is stolen by a female trapeze artist working for Vesper One right before the stadium has a blackout. As they exit the building, Dan and Amy see the acrobat dying on the sidewalk. After asking her who had wounded her on her neck, she replies, "Bruciato" (which means 'burned' in Italian, meaning Vesper One has a burn on his arm). As Amy is about to hail a taxi, they receive another text message with a photo of the hostages from Vesper One, who now tells them to go to Lucerne, Switzerland and that the hostages will only be freed after they complete a few more tasks for him.

In the last chapter, it is revealed that Vesper One was posing as a taxi driver and was driving the cab Amy had been about to hail.

Back Cover
One by one, distress calls start coming in from around the globe. Cahills are being kidnapped by a shadowy group known only as the Vespers. Now Amy and Dan have just days to fulfill a bizarre ransom request or their captured friends will start dying. Amy and Dan don't know what the Vespers want or how to stop them. Only one thing is clear, The Vespers are playing to win, and if they get their hands on the Clues... the world could be a hostage of them.Thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, thought they belonged to the world's most powerful family. They thought the hunt for the 39 Clues leading to the source of that power was over. They even thought they'd won. But Amy and Dan were wrong.

Vesper Letter
Greetings, Cahills!

Feel like some breaking and entering? Because I have a teeny little errand for you in Switzerland with my friend, de Virga. You better head out quickly. I still hold seven of your friends, and my trigger finger is feeling mighty itchy.

Vesper One

Puzzles

 * At the back of "The Medusa Plot", around the "Medusa" head, there is a URL which says Damien This will lead you to an excerpt of A King's Ransom.
 * The "Medusa" shield has a code around it. When decoded, it reads, "guardians."
 * The symbols on the first page say, "Damien is alive."
 * The symbols found on pages where the page numbers should be, when put together, say, "The mother was murdered." which probably means that Astrid Rosenbloom didn't die naturally or from diseases but rather, was murdered.
 * The symbols on the Vesper Watch card say: "Password Safe."

Cards

 * Card 266: Vesper Enforcer
 * Card 267: Atticus Rosenbloom
 * Card 268: Spy Camera
 * Card 269: Detective Corelli
 * Card 270: Vesper Watch
 * Card 271: The Enemy is Watching

Trivia

 * This book reveals that Isabel Kabra is out of jail on parole and community service after founding AidWorksWonders, a fake charity for global disaster relief.
 * This is Gordan Korman's fourth book in the series, meaning he, Jude Watson and Peter Lerangis have written the most.
 * In mythology, Medusa was a woman with snakes for hair, and anyone who looked into her eyes turned to stone.
 * Nellie's appearance has changed over the past two years between The Clue Hunt and Cahills vs. Vespers.
 * According to Fiske later in the book, the Vesper Holding Cell may be somewhere in Mexico or the USA because he was the first to arrive (being all the kidnappings happened at the same time) because he was in California and Phoenix being the last because he was kidnapped in Tokyo. But this was thought to be inconsistent because in the fourth book, it was revealed that they were actually in Germany. However the person who told them that was lying. Later it was revealed they are at the Cascade Mountains.
 * At the end of the book, Amy and Dan become one of the Interpol's Most Wanted because their theft of the "Medusa" was confirmed.
 * In this series, Phoenix Wizard appears as Jonah Wizard's cousin and fellow Janus, even though Broderick Wizard (Jonah's father) is not a Cahill. But it could be that Broderick's brother or cousin married Phoenix's Janus mother.
 * The last page has a fingerprint on it. Due to this page being about Vesper One, this could be Vesper One's fingerprint.
 * The picture in the cover, Medusa's head is on a shield. The shield of Perseus had the face of Medusa.