Carmen’s Holiday
	Her tall silhouette stood out in front of the arched window against
the overcast sky. The cool breezes off the Tyraneann Sea caught her thick, 
long, black hair and made it dance like smoke. She looked out over the sea,
which seemed to be about as restless as she was that day. When the thick 
mist and spray had dampened her face thoroughly, she turned towards the fire
set in the stone fire place in the main room, the only source of heat in the
entire hideout. That didn't matter much as in terrible weather she moved her
location to a more tropical climate.

	Carmen was a thief, and a very good one at that. Constantly on the 
move, she stole great treasures through intricate crime sprees and hid them 
in her many hideaways. After a while these areas were discovered by the 
police and the items returned. Still, if Carmen had a particular liking for 
a certain item, she kept it with her here, in an abandoned monastery on the 
rocky cliffs of Agropoli. Many thieves had heard of this place but only few 
had ever seen it for this place was special. This was Carmen's home. That 
didn't mean that she stayed in it very long though for after a few days of 
rest, she would be back in the same spot she was now, staring out the 
paneless window at the same desolate sea, searching for an idea.

	As usual the clatter of dishes had begun behind her as it did every 
morning. It never mattered how early Carmen rose, her faithful companion 
always got up to fix breakfast and anything else the thief had in mind. Kid, 
as she was called by most of V.I.L.E.,  was the only other person who lived 
beside Carmen in Agropoli. As Sherlock had Watson and Hook had Mr. Smee, 
Carmen had Kid Kidman. She was a wisp of a child, thin as a broom and about 
as tall as one. She was very quiet most of the time, looking upon the woman 
she held so dearly in her heart for years. Kid had an undying love for 
Carmen and had expressed it with her life, which she would gladly give thief
on a moments notice. This devotion had eventually touched Carmen and the 
woman made the foundling her daughter. It is hard for geniuses to love so Kid
taught Carmen how to while Carmen stood beside Kid in her battle with 
depression, which she was currently winning. It was a funny relationship 
between a woman of power with all the aces and a child with seemingly 
nothing. Still, the two would be intertwined until the end of their days.

	Kid pulled out the chair as she always did and reached out to seat 
the woman but Carmen hesitated and instead looked up at the brass pots 
hanging from the ceiling, glistening in the fires light. "I wish to have an
adventure today. I'm not in the mood for planning. Let us just go on a lark."
the old thief said, smiling at the pots overhead before sitting down and 
continuing," no themes, no organization,... just a bit of fun. Get my 
helicopter warmed up will you, child. You may come if wish but most I wish 
to do alone." Kidman always ate before Carmen on these days as she knew the 
orders would not wait until after breakfast. She kissed the woman on the 
cheek and hugged her tightly before silently leaving the room, leaving the 
old thief with a smile. Carmen didn't like to be touched but for some reason
never seemed to mind Kid's affectionate ways. " I do believe I'll take a 
holiday today", she proclaimed to the empty room as she put her dish in the
sink. "I do believe I shall."

	Moments later Carmen was in the air and in a matter of hours was 
landing on the heilo-port in Peru. Immediately workers responded by saluting
to their beloved leader and her pet, Kidman as the two went inside to discuss
just how Carmen would get away with the first item on her list, 4 M-62s, some
of the strongest helicopter in the world. "This one not cutting it anymore 
Carmen?" asked one henchman, Clay Tanduree, pointing to the craft she had 
arrived in. Carmen simply smiled as she joined the others in the conference 
room, which was no more splendid than the hideaway in Italy. Still, it did 
the job. When they emerged, there was a familiar twinkle in Carmen's eye. This
was going to be a good one.

	It was dusk as a bright red sports car careened down the beaten dirt road
leading to the base and came to a screeching halt in front of the gate where two guards
were posted. A tall woman with long black hair dressed in red got out of the car facing
away from the two men. She then produced a needle and punctured her own tire. Then 
speaking to the two men in perfect Spanish explaining that she had a flat and was in 
need of assistance. The guards who had had nothing better to do were most obliged to help a 
beautiful woman with her expensive sport car. When the two were immersed in their new jobs, a 
truck silently drove up to the gate and using an laser beam, opened the gates and drove silently
inside. A few moments later the ground shook with the force of 4 M-62s flying towards the 
heavens. The guards turned around to see that the woman was back in her car which now had a bar
atop the roof to which a hook and line attached from one of the copters. As the car and 
passenger were lifted into the air, the two guards at last saw their folly as they viewed the 
license plate for the first time, which stated for all to see: CARMEN." Oh but the fun has just
begun," the brilliant thief chuckled to herself as she watched the two men grow smaller and 
smaller.

	In another part of the world in San Francisco, two detectives were annoyed to learn that
their "favorite" criminal Carmen Sandiego, had struck again. But they were more dismayed to 
learn that Kidman had been with her. What hasn't been stated is that Kid was good friends with
this particular team of detectives and worked there part-time when she had the chance. ACME had
been hoping that Kid would give up crime completely but they saw the difficulty since she was so
attached to a kingpin. Still, it would be nice. The detectives, Ivy, 18  and Zack ,14, were 
teen detectives that specialized in Sandiego crimes, the most complex of crimes. They both 
dreaded Carmen's "holidays", which meant she would be committing crimes that had nothing to do
with each other and wouldn't leave any clues to even the odds. " Chief, why do we have to do 
this? You know we have no chance of stopping her.  It’s hopeless." Ivy wined . "Maybe a bit of 
luck will come your way" , the Chief replied sympathetically. He knew Carmen well as he had 
adopted her 17 years ago from an orphanage when she was 14 and knew full well what a genius this 
woman was with an IQ of 200. Deep inside he knew that it was practically hopeless, but it 
wouldn't hurt to try. He knew she would bring no harm to his detectives. Perhaps lock them in a
basement at most but nothing more. There certainly was no harm in trying.
	
	It was a beautiful night in Barcelona that night. The moon was full and the winds calm.
A perfect night to test new technology Carmen though to herself as the electricians went over 
their maneuvers one more time. Excitement was in the air.3..2...1..Go! Carmen walked down the 
stairs into the left wing of the museum. Making a sharp turn, she brought herself face to face 
with the self portrait of Van Gogh, noted for its intense power of the face. As she reached for
it a metal rod dropped to the floor , interrupting a security beam for only a second, but a 
second to much. In an instant the guards came running in with vicious attack dogs, surrounding 
the woman. Through the open ceiling window came a rope from her jet overhead. Before a man 
could reach for her, Carmen flew up through the window. What followed was a most amazing dog 
fight in the sky. The jet seemed to be playing with the police copters which were now on its 
tail. Under bridges and over buildings they soared, until one copter got above the jet and 
began to hit down upon its roof, forcing it to land. The excited police clambered out of their 
crafts and surrounded the vehicle. One police officer lifted the tinted canopy to 
reveal...a dummy! Where was the real Carmen? In the now empty museum, free to take as much time
as she pleased. But hadn't they seen Carmen ascend into the jet? That wasn't Carmen but merely 
a holographic image of her. The rod dropped to sound the alarms, as a hologram could not, was 
timed. As for the jet, it had been controlled by ground control a half a mile away. Carmen 
laughed to herself as she leisurely strolled through the abandoned museum with her painting. 
A stray attack dog growled at her. "Sit!" Carmen commanded. The dog sat and wagged his tail. 
"Good dog" she said, and walked out the door.
	
	As the jet took its last glance at Spain, Carmen leaned back against her chair and 
looked thoughtfully out the window. What fun I'm having, she thought to herself, But what to do
next?" Her thoughts were interrupted by someone tapping her shoulder. "Would you like some tea,
Carmen?", asked her small child. Poor Kidman , Carmen thought, she hasn't done anything tonight
and yet she is still serving me. I really must repay her and I have just the thing. "I will have
that tea Kid," Carmen replied," And Clay, drop us off in New York City. Call Mr. and Mrs. Ming 
to have the car ready, along with the little surprise I have planned." "As you wish Madam 
Sandiego" said Clay and picked up the phone as the jet shifted its course to New York City.
	
	Carmen ushered Kid down the stone hallway to the garage. The two entered the Lincoln 
town car and it left the underground sanctuary of V.I.L.E. into the brightness of the City. The
two chauffeurs, the Mings, were discussing their plans for that evening in rapid Mandarin. 
Though Carmen could understand them perfectly and usually listened, she was paying no attention
to them. Instead she was watching Kid play with Mr. Ming's pet cormorant. There was something 
about seeing Kid happy that soothed and entranced her. Something almost magical that stirred 
something deep inside of her, something she had never felt before Kidman entered her life. There
were even times that the thief knew she would give anything to see her, even her freedom. In a
way, it was exactly what she was doing now. Entering public places was not really on Carmen's 
top ten list. Still, if it would make her happy.

	The car came to a stop in front of a rather large toy store. Mr. Ming came to open the 
door and Carmen stepped out in her own stately manner with Kid at her heels, and behind her, 
Mr. Ming's cormorant which returned to its master's shoulder. Carmen stopped in front of the 
store and bent down on one knee so she might look Kid in the eye. "Go pick out something you 
like. I know your going to tell me you don't want anything but pick something out 
anyway,...for me" Carmen knew that Kid would refuse a gift or charity simply because she didn't
believe she deserved anything. She also knew that Kidman only liked simple things anyway, so 
offering "anything she wanted" wasn't said out of insanity. Kid was about to protest but Carmen
was already opening the door and the only thing she could do was follow.

	The two Mings entered last behind her. The cormorant, startled by this sudden change of
scenery, flew off Mr. Ming's shoulder and began flying and squawking around a terrified sales 
lady who began to scream hysterically. " Don't be afraid." Carmen called, "It’s just a pet."  At
the sound of her voice the bird flew quietly back to Ming's shoulder. Kid picked out her gift 
quickly knowing Carmen would want out of the store before someone recognized her. She brought 
her selection, a Luma Board, and handed it to her mother who paid for it hastily. The sales lady
suddenly looked up at Carmen as if she was trying to place her. Some sort of celebrity she 
couldn't remember? "Are you,.....somebody?", she asked. Carmen turned and looked at her. "We are
all.....somebody", she replied, smiled, and turned to leave. At that moment a sales boy came up
to the desk. The sales lady turned to him and asked," Walter, is she somebody famous?" The boy 
took one look at her and dropped the boxes he was carrying. "That's Carmen Sandiego! Call the 
police!"

	This had been just what Ivy and Zack had been waiting for. "I’ll commandeer a cab, then
we'll cut her off at the exit", called Ivy over her shoulder while flagging down a cab. They 
finally succeeded in finding one that spoke English. "Listen, we need to catch a criminal. Can 
we use your cab?" To this the Jamaican replied, "Only if I get to drive de car" Ivy protested 
but at last gave in. "Now all we have to do is find her."  Zack looked out over the bustling 
city. "That ought to be easy. We'll just stand on a chair!"

	Meanwhile, the black car was making its way down Broadway. Kidman was happily curled up
next to Carmen who, after watching Kidman make the V.I.L.E insignia for a while, turned to look
out the window. "Would you like to go some where else Carmen?" asked Mrs. Ming in Chinese. "I'm
not sure. Let me think for a while," she answered fluently," May I read that newspaper you have
up there?" Mrs. Ming handed back a copy of yesterday's The Rising Sun, Tokyo's main newspaper. 
As she went through the Japanese  characters, an article caught her eye. "New high-tech bank 
opens in Tokyo tomorrow which is promised by bank president Minchu to be impenetrable by 
anyone." she murmured, gradually raising her voice as she reached the end of the sentence. "This
sounds like a lark" Carmen remarked.  Kidman looked at her. This was defiantly the sort of 
challenge Carmen would never be able to turn away from. "I think I shall go to Japan, Mrs. Ming.
Please drop us off at headquarters." Carmen looked out the window to see the cab with Ivy and 
Zack. It was at this moment that Ivy was also looking out the window, and for one second in time
their eyes met. "Acme" Carmen muttered.
 
	"There she is! After her!", screamed Ivy. "Dis be a car chase mon? Well I have jus de 
ting." and switched on the soundtrack to Mission: Impossible before tearing after the car. Back
in Carmen's car, Carmen switched seats with Mr. Ming. No one could drive through a crowded city
quite like Carmen. Down the street both cab and car sped. Through red lights and intersections 
they tore, scattering people everywhere. Carmen hugged the sidewalk as she made for Times 
Square. But as she turned the last corner, she looked up just in time to see---
"BIG TRUCK!!!!" Mrs. Ming screamed. 

	Big truck indeed. An eighteen wheeler oil trucker was crossing the intersection in no 
hurry. "Hang on boys and girls! This is going to be close!", Carmen called to the back seat. Her
brief look of horror was gone and replaced by what Kid could swear to have been a smile. Nothing
fazes Carmen. She slammed down the brake and spun the wheel wildly to the right. The car made a
hair pin turn but it was screeching backwards closer and closer to the truck. Carmen's foot was
jammed to the floor and in what seemed like a miracle, the car stopped, inches away from the 
tanker. The whole car seemed to sigh with relief. But Carmen wasn't out of the thick yet.


 	The turn had brought her face to face with the astonished detectives. Now what? Carmen 
though rapidly. The truck had left half the street open. If I can just squeeze through...Carmen
backed the car through the small opening, turned the wheel and gunned bast the astonished 
drivers to freedom.
	
	Carmen realized she couldn't go back to the base without being followed so she was going
to have to use plan B. The car pulled to a stop in front of the giant Sony and was quickly 
surrounded by police. All of a sudden the crowd gasped. The V.I.L.E. insignia was flashing 
across the TV "Its Carmen Sandiego" a man cried. "Surprise", murmured Carmen. As Ivy walked over
to the car to open the door, there was an explosion. Through the smoke, the people saw the car 
separate from the wheels to become a jet. Ivy and Zack looked up just in time to see her fly off
into the sunset.

	The dawn was spreading over the city of Tokyo. The first thing the sun hit was a tall, 
sleek black building. Inside this structure a meeting was taking place with Pres. Minchu and the
TV media, for today the back would have its grand opening. Among the guests and guards was one 
person who was unaccounted for. Carmen watched the portable television she had with her. It 
wasn't just that she wanted to watch the program on the bank but she also needed Minchu's 
picture.  "....There isn't anyone who could possibly get by this security system..." the 
television went on to say. "Perfect" Carmen said as she freeze framed Minchu's face and zoomed 
in on the eye. "Please put your eye up to the monitor for retinal scan, Mr. Minchu." said a 
computer. Carmen held up the screen and the machine accepted it.  Lets make this a little more 
fun, Carmen thought as she redirected every security camera to the one in front of her. She then
tipped her hat in front of the lens and smiled. At once the back was swarming with guards. 
Carmen was walking calmly down the hall when suddenly the floor opened up to produce a great 
chasm which of which the top was protected by electric currents. She was always prepared. She 
placed a small box in front of the hole and pushed a small button. The box immediately became a
foot wide bridge. One slip and she would be killed. Carmen never slips, Carmen thought to 
herself and ran across, knocking the bridge into the chasm, inhibiting the three men behind her
from following. Carmen then stepped into the open elevator at the end of the hall. Smiling, she
took off one shoe, pressed a button on its side and produced a tall pointer with which she 
pushed the ceiling out of the way. Then with an automatic grapple, she flew up through the 
ceiling. When she reached the top of the shaft, Carmen forced the door open with yet another of
her inventions. With amazing time she cracked the vault. Inside were countless bars of gold but
Carmen took none. Robbing banks was against the Sandiego Principles, a set of 15 laws that her 
henchmen abided to. What they really were Carmen's ideals, one of which was that stealing that 
would directly hurt people was a low crime, far below her. But leaving her hat at the scene of 
the crime as a flag of victory, was not. Quietly, Carmen left through the shaft. Moments later,
Minchu's camera crew walked out of the elevator to see the vault...open! Minchu's mouth dropped
as he saw the red hat, placed neatly for all to see, on the table by the heavy vault door.
	
	Carmen was still patting herself on the back as she walked towards her car. so immersed
with her success was she that she failed to hear the Acme detectives coming up behind her. 
Suddenly she realized their presence, but they were between her and the car! The only thing she
could do was run. And she ran! Ivy had put a tracking device on the car before it took off in 
New York and had followed her here. Now they were in hot pursuit. Carmen knew this part of town
to know she was headed for a dead end. Think, Carmen, think! she commanded herself . Suddenly 
Mr. Ming's cormorant flew into her mind. She had an idea. Reaching the nearest vendor she could
find, Carmen bought a bag of birdseed and ran with it into a dead end alcove and began to 
scatter the seed. By the time the detectives reached her, there were hundreds of pigeons at her
feet. "What's she doing feeding the birds?" Ivy asked, amazed at this spectacle. "I don't know,
but she’s trapped there. Lets get her!" But when the two detectives ran in, the startled birds 
flew in every direction. The birds seeing only one way out mobbed Ivy and Zack to get out. In 
the confusion, Carmen slipped right past them towards her car. When the last bird cleared out, 
Ivy saw Carmen had vanished again. "Pigeons!, Ivy screamed, "She used pigeons! One of these days
you're going to find out your not as clever as you think you are, Carmen Sandiego!!!" I wouldn't
bet on that Ivy, Carmen thought happily to herself as her car spread wings and reached for the 
sky. She had had her fun. Now it was time to rest. Carmen winged her way home, happy and content 
that she was still, and always would be, the greatest thief of all time.
	
	Back in Italy, Kidman was busy finding a place for the Van Gogh. "Should we put it over
by the window in the corner?" Carmen looked up from a bowl full of soup. "I don't intend to keep 
that piece for long, Kid. I'm more of a Michelagelo myself. Put in the corner. I'll bring it to
the safe house tomorrow." Kid finished the dishes as usual while Carmen reclined in her favorite
chair by the stone fireplace. Once again it was raining and the wind made the fire dance. It was
now that Carmen looked back on the day, settling into a deeper state of relaxation. Mozart was 
playing from the technical room (the Vault) and it seemed to float in the air with the 
firelight's glow. She made a few calls before calling it a night. Kid climbed up into her lap
and oddly enough to most henchmen, Carmen did not protest in the least. At last the two went to
bed. Carmen might rest for a day, maybe two at the most. Then she would be back doing something
completely different. Different countries, clues, and plans along with different thieves. 
Tonight she would dream her dreams. But when the first pale rays reached the old stone walls, 
Carmen was there, grand as ever,  looking out over the endless, gray sea.

				By Anita Knipping