“Welcome, class, to Art Appreciation and Protection.”

Sophie had thought of the idea for this class the semester before, when she’d still been obsessing over the second David. Today, at least, she could re-live the more successful aspect of the job.

“This class will be only a short overview of various Earth artworks, and the methods used at this time to protect and preserve them. For more in-depth art criticism and more broad knowledge, a longer course would be necessary. I don't hold a degree in art-- I'm an actress by trade, and taught the acting workshop earlier this summer-- but I have loved and participated in the preservation of artworks for the last ten years." By putting them where no one else could steal them. "I think, however, that we have time this summer to get the basics.”

“For instance.” She hit the button on the Danger Shop remote, and smiled, as a photo of the Michelangelo David appeared on the screen. “Michelangelo’s David. Perhaps the most famous statue in the world. Sculpted between 1501 and 1504, commissioned by the city of Florence. A symbol of strength, youth, and beauty; thought to be the epitome of Renaissance sculpture. Unlike many of the previous depictions of Davids, this one is 'peaceful' -- it does not show him in act of killing Goliath, his most famous act. The Digital Michelangelo Project has scanned the statue in an one attempt to preserve the statue for posterity; being able to reproduce it at will is one way to ensure the survival of the art, even if it is separate from the original work.

"Another way is of course, copies. Like all sculptors, Michelangelo made small-scale models, what is known as ‘mercats’ first. He famously made two models, clay fired, then bronzed, identical. Over the last four hundred years they’ve been stolen, lost, re-found, sold, dozens of times. The second David was stolen from the Vatican ten years ago and has never been found.” Ahem.

“The first David… well. Until recently, it was in the hands of private collector, a Mr. Ian Blackpoole.”

Another touch of the button, and they were standing inside a garden party, with food, fountains, and patrons of a museum milling around.

"Inside that door--" Sophie pointed. "Is Mr. Blackpoole's private art gallery. The first David is kept within a climate-controlled vault with:

* a fingerprint key access
* two guards watching the cameras of the gallery outside the room
* a laser grid on the floor which re-sets every five minutes-- not enough time to get across the room and take back the David
* infrared body-heat sensors inside the room which go off within 10 seconds, and
* a weight-detector on the statue's base."

Sophie smiled mischievously. "Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to see if Mr. Blackpoole has spent enough money to safeguard this $8 million dollar statue. Or to act as one of the private guards at this party in order to thwart a theft."