Take a magic carpet ride with Keith and Lulu as
they help Nancy Drew solve The Mystery
of the Ivory Charm.
Keith: Is it me, or is this episode unlike any we have read thus far?
Lulu: No, you're right. Nancy even says herself on page 93, "This is the
most interesting mystery I have ever encountered." It’s so exotic…
K: Yeah, we've ditched our usual roadside Americana motif for Indian circus
flair: elephants, snake charmers and trapeze artists, oh my!
L: And let's not forget fortune tellers… The episode opens rather strangely
as an older turban-wearing Indian gentlemen named Rai offers to read Nancy's
fortune while she's waiting at the train station to return home from summer
camp. "You have supernatural powers," he says and warns her of
great danger. He then gives her one of his prized possessions, an unusual
elephant charm made of pure ivory.
K: Her eyes sparkle with interest, not because she's much of an accessories gal, but because she senses it has a mysterious past, one that she's determined
to uncover. After a whole month without a case, our girl is back in business!
L: Hoorah!
K: She boards the train returning to River Heights only to discover that
a young Indian boy named Coya has followed her. He’s run away from
Rai, his evil master, to be nearer to the charm. He says, "I try to
stay with new owner. That way good luck follow me too!"
L: Luckily for Coya, we can always count on Nancy to offer snacks to strangers.
She pays for his fare and invites him over for a bite. Housekeeper Hannah
is not amused, however. "Mercy upon us!" she yells. "Nancy,
what does this mean?"
K: This is the first time that I can think of that she’s brought a
boy home other than Ned.
L: Totally. In this episode, Coya plays the role of the orphan we so often
see in these mysteries. This is certainly unusual to have the character be
male, however. Typically we’re dealing with young, beautiful heiresses.
K: We’re staying true to format, though, because it’s soon revealed
that Coya is an heir… to
a throne!
L: Coya actually has a premonition about this. "Strange vision." He
says to Nancy, "Coya see himself on way to India to rule as great Rajah!"
K: Can I just say I hate how they always have him talking in third person? "Coya
hungry!" or "Coya tired." No one talks like that…
L: Well, his English does improve as the story progresses, also thanks to
Nancy. She’s determined to help Coya uncover his true parentage and
have a better life. They give him the room above the garage and even employ
a tutor, Professor Stackpole, to help him study.
K: Professor Stackpole is an expert in Indian history and culture and from
him we learn lots about temples and bazaars, the caste system, arranged marriages,
omens, superstitions and… charms. The professor can not believe Nancy’s
treasure!
L: Yes, it’s a real find. In fact, everyone in the story is charmed
by the charm. This other character Anita Allison actually falls into a trance
when she sees it!
K: And then there’s that handsome Indian exchange student Basha… Nancy
meets him at a weekend dance at Ned’s university, has a lil’ chat
with him on the dance floor and the poor boy suffers from "a severe
attack of love at first sight!" Nancy’s got the mojo…
L: But, perhaps the oddest thing of all, is that the charm actually does
have secret powers!
K: Exactly. We can usually count on Nancy to reveal that the ghosts were
just projections or there was a trick wire or something like that. But here,
in the final few pages, she abandons her usual Scully and goes all Mulder
on us.
L: I know! She has an inkling that the charm contains a vial of life-giving
potion –
K: Please allow me to interrupt you to repeat that for our readers… Yes,
Lulu did just say "a vial of life-giving potion!"
L: Yeah, we’re just gonna go with
it… In the last chapter, Coya
is murdered by the very people that have kept him from the throne. Nancy
shows up on the scene and breaks open the charm to reveal a tiny vial of –
K: Life-giving potion!
L: Right.
K: She administers it, Coya begins breathing again and –
L: Now I’m interrupting you… Coya begins breathing again and
Nancy shouts, "The King
will live!"
K: George is also there right by her side and states the obvious: "By
discovering the life-giving potion you have solved the mystery of the Ivory
Charm."
L: Well, I’m glad we got that straightened out. Tune in next month
for The Whispering Statue!
08/2003
