🇺🇸 Jack and the Art Deco Marble of Miami

The moment they stepped off the plane in Miami, the city buzzed with colour. Pastel buildings lined the streets, palm trees swayed in the sea breeze, and everywhere they turned, neon signs flickered like glowing breadcrumbs.

Bernard padded across the sunlit pavement. “The marble we’re looking for was lost in the 1930s — last seen during an Art Deco gala at a famous hotel that no longer exists.”

Imogen opened her travel journal. “If the hotel’s gone, how do we find it?”

“It’s not the hotel that matters,” Bernard replied. “It’s the art. The marble hides in the design.”

They followed him down Ocean Drive to a gallery of restored Art Deco buildings. Their destination: a small museum featuring Miami’s architectural history. Inside, sleek curves, chrome trim, and pastel light displays danced across the walls.

The pouch at Jack’s side began to pulse.

He stepped toward a wall-sized mosaic — swirling geometric patterns with gold, coral, and turquoise inlays.

Ollie gasped. “It’s shaped like a—”

“Marble,” Jack finished, pressing his hand to the centre.

A soft click echoed through the gallery. The wall shifted inward, revealing a hidden chamber lit by soft blue light. At the centre stood a display case. Inside, hovering just above the pedestal:

💎 ART DECO

The marble was stunning — a flawless orb patterned with rose gold and aquamarine spirals. Tiny flecks of mother-of-pearl shimmered inside it, casting shifting reflections across the room.

Bernard bowed slightly. “Art Deco is one of the Marble Kingdom’s oldest and most stylish. She hides what’s delicate, protects what’s rare. A guardian of elegance.”

Jack reached out, but the moment his fingers touched the glass, the chamber darkened — and a riddle glowed across the walls:

“Not by force, nor sound, nor flame,
But light reflected knows my name.
Shine the path with elegance,
And you shall earn my dance.”

Imogen noticed a silver sconce in the shape of a peacock’s fan.

“Reflected light,” she whispered, adjusting the museum’s spotlight toward the wall mosaic. The light split into colours, casting a rainbow onto the glass case.

The marble began to glow — then poof! — it vanished from the case.

Jack gasped, looking down. The pouch shimmered and pulsed.

Pop!
ART DECO had joined the collection.

“That one felt… graceful,” Jack said softly.

“She’s from a different time,” Bernard replied. “And now she’s with us.”

Lenny checked the pouch. “How many does that make?”

“Ninety,” said Ollie. “To go.”

Bernard wagged his tail. “Next up? The Outback. And a marble lost in red dust and thunder.”

Jack zipped the pouch closed. “Let’s go to Australia.”