"What is Jeopardy?" - RA#6 - Manifesto Maravillado

The Adventures of Birko, Cinders & Piper in What is Jeopardy?

Birko’s perfect night consists of a weak, milky tea, Piper curled up at his feet, and an evening of Jeopardy!—where he confidently shouts out answers, even when they’re spectacularly wrong. But when an unexplained noise disrupts the peace of the Birko Burrow, his competitive streak turns to suspicion.

Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Birko and Cinders embark on a late-night investigation that leads them somewhere unexpected. Is it just a harmless coincidence, or has something—or someone—been lurking in the shadows all along?

Find out in What is Jeopardy?

Act 1: Tickets to Trouble

The Birko Burrow was unusually quiet, save for the occasional sip of weak, milky tea coming from Birko’s recliner. Piper, the ever-watchful Kelpie, lay at his feet, her ears perking up every now and then at the distant sound of birds outside. Birko, however, was glued to the television, watching yet another Jeopardy! rerun with a scowl.

“Honestly,” he muttered, waving his mug at the screen. “Who even knows stuff like this? ‘What is an isosceles triangle’? Come off it.”

Cinders poked her head around the corner, her blonde hair pulled back in a loose bun. “Birko, you’re yelling at the TV again. And for the record, even Piper could’ve gotten that question right.”

Birko looked down at the dog. “She’s smarter than she looks,” he said, earning a wag of Piper’s tail.

Cinders walked in, holding a set of glossy tickets in her hand. “Well, lucky for you, I’ve got a chance for you to redeem yourself.”

Birko glanced at the tickets suspiciously. “What’s this? Another one of your schemes?”

“Not a scheme,” Cinders said, grinning as she handed him the tickets. “It’s a live taping of Jeopardy! Tomorrow night, Brisbane Convention Centre. I entered a competition and won us front-row seats.”

Birko’s face twisted in mock horror. “Jeopardy!? You mean the very thing that’s been tormenting me for weeks?”

“It’ll be fun!” she insisted. “Plus, think of the snacks.”

Birko raised an eyebrow. “Snacks, you say? Alright, I’ll come. But don’t expect me to answer any questions.”

The Next Evening: The Taping

The Brisbane Convention Centre buzzed with excitement as fans filed in, chattering about their favourite Jeopardy! moments. Birko trudged along behind Cinders and Piper, who was proudly wearing her “Assistant Sleuth” bandana.

“I can’t believe they let dogs in here,” Birko muttered. “What’s next? Piper answering questions?”

“She’d probably do better than you,” Cinders said, smirking. “Just enjoy yourself, Birko. This is supposed to be fun.”

“Fun,” he repeated, glancing at the crowd. “Looks like a room full of walking encyclopedias. I’ll stick to my tea, thanks.”

As they took their seats near the front, Birko couldn’t help but notice a burly man sitting a few rows ahead. He had a broad back, a leather jacket, and a scowl that could rival Birko’s own. The man turned slightly, revealing a scar across his jaw.

“Looks like someone’s auditioning for the role of Bond villain,” Birko whispered to Cinders, nodding toward the man.

“Shh,” she said, elbowing him. “The show’s about to start.”

The Game Begins

The host of Jeopardy! appeared on stage, greeted by thunderous applause. The iconic board lit up, and the first round began.

Cinders leaned forward eagerly, scribbling down notes as questions were answered. Birko, on the other hand, loudly whispered wrong answers, earning giggles from the audience.

Host: “This Australian animal is known for carrying its young in a pouch.”

Birko: “What is a dingo?”

Audience Member: “What is a kangaroo?”

Cinders: “Honestly, Birko.”

Host: “This river runs through Brisbane and is one of its defining landmarks.”

Birko: “What is the Yarra?”

Cinders: “That’s Melbourne! It’s the Brisbane River!”

As the game continued, a peculiar category appeared: “Golden Queensland.” The questions in this category seemed oddly specific to Brisbane landmarks and history, referencing obscure details about tunnels, Customs House, and missing treasures.

Cinders frowned, scribbling notes furiously. “This isn’t a regular category,” she muttered.

Birko sipped his tea. “You’re telling me. They’ve lost the plot entirely.”

But as the final question in the category appeared—“This long-lost shipment vanished from Brisbane’s history books, rumoured to be worth millions.”—Cinders froze.

“Birko,” she whispered, leaning closer. “That’s not just trivia. That’s real.”

“What is tea biscuits?” Birko called out absentmindedly, earning more laughs.

“Birko,” she hissed, “focus. That gold shipment was real. This could be pointing to where it’s hidden.”

He gave her a sceptical look. “You’re saying Jeopardy! is dropping treasure maps now?”

Before Cinders could respond, the lights in the room dimmed suddenly. A loud, deliberate cough came from behind them. Birko turned to see the burly man with the scar—Rex “The Wrecker” Deegan—smirking at them.

“You lot should stick to trivia,” Rex said in a gravelly voice. “This gold’s mine.”

Act 2: A Golden Clue

The sudden confrontation with Rex “The Wrecker” Deegan sent a ripple of unease through the lively audience. Birko straightened up in his seat, squinting at the burly man who now loomed over them like a menacing shadow.

“Yours?” Birko muttered, still clutching his tea. “Mate, I think you’re in the wrong show. This is Jeopardy!, not Who Wants to Be a Thug?”

Rex’s lips curled into a half-smile, revealing a glint of gold in his teeth. “Smart mouth, Lawn Boy. But trust me, this game isn’t about points—it’s about finding what’s been hidden for years. And if you two know what’s good for you, you’ll stay out of it.”

Cinders, calm but curious, tilted her head. “And what exactly is ‘it,’ Mr. Deegan? Or should I say The Wrecker?”

Birko’s eyebrows shot up. “The Wrecker? What kind of name is that? You wreck what—grammar quizzes?”

Ignoring Birko, Rex leaned closer. “You don’t need to know the details, love. Just leave the clues to me.” With that, he turned and melted back into the crowd, his heavy boots clunking against the carpeted floor.

Cinders watched him leave, her mind clearly spinning. “Birko,” she said softly, “this is bigger than trivia. Those clues in the Golden Queensland category—they’re leading to something. Something real.”

Birko sipped his tea, unfazed. “Yeah, and that something is a bloke with a flair for dramatic exits. Let him have his fun.”

Cinders ignored him and pointed at her notebook, where she’d scrawled fragments of the Jeopardy! answers. “Look at this—Boggo Road Gaol, Customs House, and the old Treasury Building. All these places connect to the gold shipment that disappeared in the 1800s.”

Birko squinted at her notes. “Great. So Brisbane’s history is one big scavenger hunt. How’s that our problem?”

“Because,” Cinders said, her voice dropping, “someone planted those clues on purpose. And now Rex is after the same thing. If we don’t figure it out first, who knows what he’ll do?”

A Break Between Rounds

As the taping paused for a commercial break, the audience milled about, stretching their legs and chatting. Cinders grabbed Birko’s arm. “Come on. We need to check something.”

Birko sighed but followed her, muttering, “This better not involve crawling through tunnels again.”

The pair, with Piper trotting dutifully beside them, made their way to the production area backstage. Cinders approached a desk piled high with cue cards, clearly belonging to the writers. She rifled through the pile until she found a folder labelled Golden Queensland.

“Cinders,” Birko hissed, glancing around nervously. “You can’t just go snooping like this. What if someone catches us?”

“Then I’ll tell them my assistant dragged me here,” she shot back, flipping through the folder. “Here it is. Look at this.”

Inside was a neatly typed list of Jeopardy! answers and questions, with cryptic notes scribbled in the margins. Next to the question about the gold shipment was a barely legible scrawl: “Customs House tunnel—entry at riverfront.”

Birko leaned over her shoulder, frowning. “A tunnel? Brilliant. Why’s it always tunnels?”

Before Cinders could respond, a deep voice rumbled behind them. “You two really don’t know when to quit.”

They spun around to see Rex, arms crossed and a smug grin on his face. “Snooping where you shouldn’t, huh? That’s my clue you’re holding.”

Birko stepped in front of Cinders, holding up his tea mug like a shield. “Yeah? Well, finders keepers, mate.”

Rex chuckled darkly. “Fine. You want to play this game? Let’s see how far you get.” With that, he turned and strode out, leaving them with a sinking feeling.

“See?” Birko said, gesturing after Rex. “He’s got the intimidation thing down pat. Let’s just let him have his tunnel and call it a night.”

But Cinders was already on her phone, pulling up a map of the Brisbane Riverfront. “No way. We’re following this clue. If Rex thinks he can bully us out of it, he’s got another thing coming.”

Piper barked in agreement, wagging her tail as if ready for action. Birko sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. “Of course you’re in on this, Pipes.”

The Tunnel at Customs House

By the time they reached the Brisbane Riverfront, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the water. The historic Customs House loomed in the distance, its grand stone façade bathed in golden light.

Cinders led the way, notebook in hand, while Birko trailed behind with Piper. “Let me guess,” Birko muttered. “We’re going to find some dodgy hatch, crawl through a narrow hole, and end up face-to-face with Rex and his goons.”

“That’s the plan,” Cinders replied cheerfully.

They circled around the back of the building, where the clue had indicated an entry point. Sure enough, half-hidden by ivy and debris, they found a rusted metal grate set into the ground. Cinders crouched to examine it.

“This must be it,” she said, brushing away leaves. “It’s been here for years—probably forgotten.”

“Forgotten for a reason,” Birko grumbled. “Why don’t we leave it that way?”

But Piper, ever the adventurer, pawed at the grate, her nose twitching with interest. Cinders grinned. “See? Piper agrees.”

Birko threw his hands up. “Fine. But if this turns into another ‘mystery of the creepy underground tunnels,’ I’m retiring.”

With some effort, they pried the grate open, revealing a set of stone steps descending into darkness. Cinders switched on her flashlight and peered inside. “Looks like it leads straight to the old tunnels.”

“Of course it does,” Birko muttered, shaking his head. “Because why would we ever do anything above ground?”

As they climbed down, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of the city faded away. The tunnels were damp and dimly lit, with crumbling stone walls and patches of moss creeping along the floor.

They hadn’t gone far when Piper suddenly stopped, her ears perking up. A faint sound echoed through the tunnel—heavy footsteps.

Cinders motioned for silence, switching off her flashlight. Birko whispered, “Let me guess. Our mate Rex?”

Before she could answer, a familiar voice called out, its tone dripping with smugness. “You really should’ve listened when I told you to back off.”

Rex stepped into view, flanked by two burly men. His grin widened as he spotted them. “Now, let’s see how clever you really are.”

Act 3: A Dangerous Game

The dimly lit tunnel seemed to shrink as Rex “The Wrecker” Deegan stepped closer, flanked by two of his goons. The echoes of their heavy boots mixed with the faint dripping of water from the tunnel walls. Rex smirked, his scar catching the glow of his flashlight.

“Well,” Rex said, folding his thick arms, “looks like you’ve been playing detective. Shame it’s about to end here.”

Birko glanced at Cinders, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Didn’t I say this would happen? Tunnels. Always tunnels.”

“Not the time, Birko,” she whispered back, keeping her eyes on Rex.

Cinders stepped forward, her tone calm but assertive. “Rex, you’re after the gold, aren’t you? That’s why you were at the Jeopardy! taping—those clues were planted to lead people here.”

“Clever girl,” Rex said, his grin widening. “But I’ve been working this lead for years. You and Lawn Boy aren’t about to swoop in and steal my prize.”

Birko bristled. “Lawn Boy? I’ve got half a mind to—”

“To what?” Rex interrupted, chuckling. “Fix my lawn? Pull some weeds?”

Birko opened his mouth to retort, but Piper stepped forward, letting out a low growl. Rex’s goons shifted uncomfortably, but Rex remained unfazed. “Cute dog,” he said. “Hope she’s got a nose for gold, ‘cause you’re gonna need it.”

The Game Begins

Rex gestured to the tunnel behind him. “See, here’s the deal. This tunnel splits in two just ahead. One path leads to the gold. The other? Well, let’s just say it’s a dead end. Literally.”

Cinders frowned. “And you know this how?”

“Because I’ve done my homework,” Rex said, pulling out a folded map that looked eerily similar to the notes she’d taken from backstage. “The Jeopardy! clues were just the tip of the iceberg. But I figured, why solve it alone when I can let you two take the lead? Less work for me.”

Birko crossed his arms. “You mean you don’t know which path to take, so you want us to stumble into the booby traps for you.”

Rex’s grin didn’t falter. “Exactly.”

Cinders glanced at the branching tunnels ahead. Each path looked identical—dark, narrow, and foreboding. She tightened her grip on her flashlight. “We’re not doing your dirty work, Rex.”

“Then you can sit tight while we take a stroll,” Rex said, nodding to his goons. “But if you try anything funny…” He tapped the crowbar hanging from his belt. “Well, I’m sure Lawn Boy doesn’t want a new haircut.”

Piper barked sharply, her eyes locked on Rex. Cinders knelt beside her, scratching her ears. “Alright, Piper. It’s up to you. Find us the right path.”

Birko blinked. “You’re putting this on the dog?”

“Trust her,” Cinders said. “She’s smarter than the three of us combined.”

Piper sniffed the air, her nose twitching as she moved toward the left tunnel. She paused, growled softly, and then turned back, heading confidently toward the right.

“That’s my girl,” Birko said, his chest puffing slightly with pride.

The Tense Trek

The group moved cautiously down the right-hand tunnel, with Piper leading the way. Rex’s goons muttered among themselves, their flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls. Cinders kept her eyes on the floor, scanning for any signs of traps or hidden clues. Birko, meanwhile, muttered under his breath.

“If we survive this, I’m retiring to a life of tea and lawn documentaries.”

“You already do that,” Cinders quipped.

“Exactly,” Birko replied. “No more tunnels.”

They came upon a small alcove where the tunnel widened. Embedded in the wall was an iron plaque covered in rust and moss. Cinders wiped it clean, revealing a cryptic inscription:

“Through the gate, where shadows fall, lies the prize beyond the wall. But only the light shall see it through, lest the darkness swallow you.”

Birko squinted at the plaque. “Great. Now it’s a poetry reading.”

Cinders rolled her eyes. “It’s a riddle, Birko. Something about shadows and light. There’s a clue here.”

Rex stepped closer, his crowbar tapping against the wall. “You better figure it out fast, sweetheart. We’re not here for sightseeing.”

Cinders ignored him, scanning the area with her flashlight. “Light… Shadows… There’s something here we’re missing.”

Piper barked, pawing at the wall just beneath the plaque. Cinders knelt and shone her light at the spot. Faint markings began to glow—a hidden mechanism etched into the stone.

Birko tilted his head. “Looks like a door. What happens if we press it?”

“Hopefully, it doesn’t blow up,” Cinders muttered.

Rex gestured impatiently. “Well? Open it.”

Cinders pressed the markings, and with a low rumble, a section of the wall slid aside, revealing a hidden chamber beyond. The glow of gold reflected off the tunnel walls, illuminating piles of coins and artifacts.

The Double-Cross

“Finally,” Rex said, his eyes gleaming with greed. “After all these years.”

He stepped forward, but Cinders grabbed his arm. “Wait. Something’s not right.”

Rex shook her off. “Nice try, love. This haul is mine.”

As Rex entered the chamber, a faint clicking sound echoed. Cinders’ eyes widened. “Get back!”

The floor beneath Rex shifted, and a set of iron bars shot up, trapping him inside the chamber. His goons scrambled to help, but Cinders held up her hand.

“Don’t,” she said. “The mechanism’s designed to trap anyone who enters. You’ll just get stuck too.”

Rex gripped the bars, his face contorted with rage. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”

“I had a hunch,” Cinders said, smirking. “But thanks for helping us find the gold.”

Piper barked triumphantly, wagging her tail as if to say, Job well done.

Act 4: Trapped with Trouble

Rex “The Wrecker” Deegan gripped the iron bars of his makeshift prison, his knuckles white with frustration. The soft glow of the gold illuminated his furious expression, while his goons hovered awkwardly at the edge of the chamber, unsure of what to do.

“This isn’t over,” Rex growled, glaring at Cinders. “You think you’re clever, but I’ll get out of here.”

Birko crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall. “Oh yeah? What are you gonna do, Wrecker? Flex your way through the bars?”

Cinders shot him a look, but her lips twitched into a smile. “Birko, focus. We still need to figure out how to get the gold out of here without setting off any more traps.”

Rex’s smirk returned, albeit faintly. “You’re assuming you can touch it. These old chambers are full of nasty surprises. Go ahead, make my day.”

Cinders ignored him, turning her attention to the markings on the floor just outside the chamber. Piper sniffed around, her nose twitching as she pawed at a spot near the doorframe.

“Good girl,” Cinders murmured, crouching to inspect. She traced a series of faint symbols etched into the stone—arrows, circles, and what looked like a sunburst.

Birko knelt beside her, squinting at the markings. “Let me guess. Another riddle?”

“Not quite,” Cinders said, her tone thoughtful. “This looks like a mechanism to disarm the trap. The arrows probably indicate the sequence we need to follow.”

“And if we get it wrong?” Birko asked, already regretting the question.

Cinders glanced at the rusted bars holding Rex captive. “Let’s just not get it wrong.”

The Puzzle at Hand

As Cinders studied the symbols, Rex’s goons began to whisper among themselves. One of them, a burly man with a crooked nose, stepped forward. “Boss,” he said, scratching his head, “maybe we should—”

“Shut it!” Rex barked, his temper boiling over. “Let them do the work. We’ll deal with them after.”

Birko raised an eyebrow. “Charming leadership style, mate. No wonder your crew looks thrilled to be here.”

Cinders cut him off with a sharp nudge. “Focus, Birko. I need your help with this.”

Birko sighed, stepping closer as Cinders pointed to the first set of arrows. “We need to press these symbols in the right order,” she explained. “Start with the sunburst, then follow the arrows to the next symbol.”

“Got it,” Birko said, crouching to press the sunburst. A faint click echoed through the chamber, followed by a low hum.

“Good,” Cinders said. “Now the crescent moon.”

Birko hesitated, his finger hovering over the symbol. “What if it’s a trick?”

“It’s not,” Cinders said confidently. “Trust me.”

With a deep breath, Birko pressed the crescent moon. Another click, louder this time, reverberated through the tunnel.

Rex watched intently, his hands gripping the bars. “You’d better not mess this up,” he snarled.

“Thanks for the pep talk,” Birko muttered.

Piper’s Instincts

As they moved to the final symbol, Piper barked sharply, her eyes fixed on the chamber’s ceiling. Cinders followed her gaze and froze. Above Rex, a network of rusted chains and weights hung precariously, ready to drop at the slightest disturbance.

“Birko,” Cinders said quietly, “we have to be careful. If we get this wrong, those chains could collapse.”

“Brilliant,” Birko muttered. “No pressure.”

Cinders pointed to the final symbol, a triangle with three dots inside. “This one,” she said. “It matches the marking above the door.”

Birko pressed the triangle, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a deep groan, the bars began to slide down, freeing Rex from his cage.

“Finally!” Rex exclaimed, stepping forward. But before he could take another step, Cinders held up her hand.

“Stop,” she said. “The gold’s still booby-trapped. You move one piece without disarming the second mechanism, and this whole place will come down.”

Rex scowled but stayed put, glancing warily at the ceiling. “Fine. What’s next, genius?”

An Unexpected Betrayal

As Cinders worked to locate the second mechanism, Rex’s goons exchanged a glance. The crooked-nosed man stepped forward again, this time with a crowbar in hand.

“Boss,” he said, his tone cautious, “maybe we should cut our losses.”

“Cut our losses?” Rex growled. “We’ve come this far. We’re not leaving without that gold.”

“But what if she’s right?” the goon pressed. “This place is a death trap.”

Birko watched the exchange, his mind racing. “Cinders,” he whispered, “I think we’ve got a mutiny on our hands.”

Cinders didn’t look up, her focus still on the symbols. “Let them sort it out. We need to finish this.”

As tensions rose between Rex and his crew, Piper let out a sharp bark, drawing everyone’s attention. She pawed at the floor near the far wall, revealing another hidden marking.

Cinders smiled. “Good girl. That’s the second mechanism.”

Birko crouched beside her. “Alright, what do we do?”

Before Cinders could answer, Rex lunged toward the gold, ignoring her warnings. His goons hesitated, torn between loyalty and self-preservation.

“Rex, don’t!” Cinders shouted. But it was too late.

The Chamber Collapses

The moment Rex touched one of the gold bars, the chains above him snapped. A deafening rumble shook the chamber as rocks and debris began to fall.

“Run!” Cinders shouted, grabbing Piper’s leash.

Birko pulled Cinders back as the ceiling began to cave in. Rex and his goons scrambled for cover, but the weight of their greed had sealed their fate.

As the trio dashed back through the tunnel, the sound of collapsing stone echoed behind them. Dust and debris filled the air, but they didn’t stop until they reached the safety of the surface.

A Narrow Escape

Outside the Customs House, the cool night air hit them like a blessing. Piper barked happily, wagging her tail as if celebrating their survival.

Birko doubled over, catching his breath. “Well,” he said, “that was a disaster.”

Cinders grinned, brushing dirt from her jacket. “We’re alive, aren’t we? And we stopped Rex from getting the gold.”

“Stopped him?” Birko gestured to the sealed tunnel. “We buried him.”

Cinders laughed. “Serves him right. Come on, let’s get home. I think we’ve earned a quiet night in.”

Piper barked in agreement, leading the way to the car.

Act 5: Gold in the Shadows

The drive back to the Birko Burrow was unusually quiet. Birko, still dusting off remnants of the tunnel collapse, muttered under his breath about his perpetual knack for ending up in these messes. Piper sat contentedly in the back seat, wagging her tail as though nothing had happened. Cinders stared out the window, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Birko said, glancing at her. “What’s going on in that brain of yours? Plotting the next adventure?”

Cinders chuckled, shaking her head. “Just thinking about Rex and his goons. Do you think they made it out?”

Birko shrugged. “If they did, good for them. If not… well, you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.”

Back at the Burrow

The familiar coziness of the Birko Burrow felt even more welcoming after the chaos of the evening. Birko immediately collapsed into his recliner, his weak, milky tea already steeping on the side table. Cinders wandered into the kitchen, making her usual Milo.

Piper, ever vigilant, paced around the room before finally curling up at Birko’s feet. He leaned down to scratch behind her ears. “Good job today, Pipes. You’ve earned a bone or three.”

Cinders returned, Milo in hand, and plopped onto the couch. She picked up the remote and started flipping through channels, stopping when a rerun of Jeopardy! came on.

“Oh, come on,” Birko groaned. “Haven’t we had enough of that for one day?”

Cinders smirked. “Maybe, but this time, I’ll bet you actually know one of the answers.”

Birko crossed his arms. “Fine. One question. If I get it wrong, I’m retiring from trivia forever.”

A Full Circle Moment

The host on the screen read the clue: “This Brisbane landmark, built in 1889, played a crucial role in the city’s gold trade.”

Birko’s eyes lit up. “What is… Customs House?”

Cinders burst out laughing. “Finally! You actually got one right.”

Birko grinned smugly, leaning back in his recliner. “See? I’m not just a pretty face.”

Piper barked as if to agree, her tail thumping against the floor.

Reflections on the Adventure

As the show rolled on, Cinders set her mug down and leaned back. “You know, Birko, I think we’re getting pretty good at this whole mystery-solving thing.”

“Yeah, great,” Birko replied, feigning disinterest. “Maybe we should start a business: Birko, Cinders, and Piper—Adventurers for Hire. Got a ghost problem? Lost treasure? Lawn grubs? We do it all.”

Cinders laughed. “I like it. But maybe we’ll stick to solving things when they come to us.”

Birko nodded, raising his tea mug. “Here’s to that. And here’s to staying out of tunnels for a while.”

“Deal,” Cinders said, clinking her mug against his.

As the evening settled into a peaceful rhythm, the memory of the hidden gold and Rex’s dramatic downfall faded into the background. For now, the Birko Burrow was quiet, cozy, and just the way they liked it.

The End.

Stay Tuned for the Next Adventure: The Case of the Bray Park Impostor

Just when Birko thought life in Bray Park couldn’t get any stranger, a baffling mystery emerges—someone who looks just like him is causing chaos around town. With Cinders’ sharp wit and Piper’s keen nose, the trio dives headfirst into a case of mistaken identity, deception, and a few unexpected twists.

Who is the impostor, and what do they want? Find out in The Case of the Bray Park Impostor!