Greyson Mann - Deciphering the Code: 5-Minute Mysteries for Fans of Creepers

Also by Greyson Mann:

Five-Minute Minecrafter Mysteries

Extreme Stories from the Extreme Hills

Secrets of an Overworld Survivor

Lost in the Jungle

When Lava Strikes

Wolves vs. Zombies

Never Say Nether

The Creeper Diaries

Mob School Survivor

Creepers Got Talent

This book is not authorized or sponsored by Microsoft Corp., Mojang AB, Notch Development AB or Scholastic Inc., or any other person or entity owning or controlling rights in the Minecraft name, trademark, or copyrights.

Copyright 2017 by Hollan Publishing, Inc.

Minecraft is a registered trademark of Notch Development AB.

The Minecraft game is copyright Mojang AB.

This book is not authorized or sponsored by Microsoft Corp., Mojang AB, Notch Development AB or Scholastic Inc., or any other person or entity owning or controlling rights in the Minecraft name, trademark, or copyrights.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Sky Pony Press books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Sky Pony is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Minecraft is a registered trademark of Notch Development AB.

The Minecraft game is copyright Mojang AB.

Visit our website at www.skyponypress.com.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Special thanks to Erin L. Falligant.

Cover illustration by Grace Sandford

Cover design by Brian Peterson

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-5107-2838-7

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-2371-9

Printed in the United States of America

CRACK THE CODES!

Ready to help Oliver, Audrey, and Sniffs solve a few mysteries in Birchtown? Many of these mysteries will ask you to solve a Creeper Codeto read secret messages hidden within a jumble of words. Heres how to crack those codes.

Read ONLY the words that come after the word HISS.

Answer: Oliver and Audrey are on the case!

BLOW-UP AT THE BLACKSMITHS

Check it out! said Audrey, pointing toward the poster hanging in the window of the blacksmiths shop.

Oliver glanced at the poster, but he was distracted by his own reflection in the glass. He saw a boy with dark messy hair spilling into his glasses. And in those glasses, he saw another tiny reflection. He squinted, wondering how many Olivers he could see if he looked closely enough.

His big sister waved her hand in front of his face. Did you read it or what?

Oliver took a step backward and scanned the poster.

Audrey sighed. Imagine what we could do with a hundred emeralds

Woof!

Oliver chuckled and bent low to scratch his gray dog behind the ears. Sniffs knows exactly what he would do with a hundred emeralds. Hed buy a hundred bones.

Sniffs panted in agreement, his tongue hanging out as he smiled wide.

Well, if I had a hundred emeralds, Id buy a diamond sword todaynot a boring old iron one, said Audrey. Cmon. Lets find the blacksmith.

As she pushed through the heavy door, Oliver turned toward his dog. Sit, Sniffs. Stay.

The dog whined, but he obediently lowered his rump to the ground.

Good boy. Oliver pulled a worn skeleton bone from his pocket and gave it to Sniffs to gnaw on. Then he stepped into the shop.

Audrey was already deep in conversation with Blacksmith Bernard. So about those creepers, she was saying.

Theyve been showing up and blowing up all over Birchtown, said the blacksmith, his voice rising. This morning, one spawned right here in my shop! You should see the damage.

He led Audrey and Oliver past the furnace room and into the back room. It was furnished with a simple bed on one side and a table on the other, just below a window.

Olivers eyes slid past the tabby cat curled up on the table, past the teetering stack of books, and straight to the bowl of bright red apples on the window ledge. His mouth watered. Had he forgotten to have breakfast?

As he stepped into the room, something crunched under his feet. Glass . Thats when he noticed that the window above the table was broken. A gentle breeze blew through.

Luckily my walls are made of obsidian, said the blacksmith, opening the back door. But you should see the crater in the ground.

Audrey stepped out first. Woah! The tips of her boots teetered on the edge of a gaping hole. That must have been a mighty big creeper.

Indeed, said the blacksmith with a sigh. Now what did you say you came for? An iron sword? Let me run downstairs to my storage room and get one.

As soon as he was gone, Audrey pulled her old wooden sword from its sheath. She turned in a slow, steady circle, as if that enormous creeper was going to respawn any second now.

Oliver bent low to examine the crater. It was so deep! At the very bottom, he could see a few steps of a staircase.

I dont think it was a creeper that did this damage, he said, straightening back up.

Audreys face fell. Why not?

Why doesnt Oliver think a creeper was the culprit? Solve this Creeper Code for a clue. Read ONLY the words that come after the word BOOM. Then turn the page to solve the mystery.

I dont think it was creepersfor two reasons, said Oliver. First, the blast must have come from outside the shop, because glass was on the floor inside.

Audrey chewed on a fingernail. Okay. What else?

Creepers hate cats. A creeper wouldnt have blown up outside the window of a house where a cat was sleeping. That creeper would have turned and run the other away.

So then what caused this? asked Audrey, pointing toward the crater.

Oliver pushed up his glasses. TNT, Ill bet. Maybe someone blew a hole to get to something valuable, like

My emeralds! cried the blacksmith, racing out the back door. Someone broke into my storage chest! My emeralds are missing!

Audrey sighed. So much for the emerald reward.

But Olivers eyes lit up. Now we have two mysteries to solve, he said. Why are so many creepers spawning in Birchtown? And who used TNT to steal Mr. Bernards emeralds?