The songs of early-morning birds filled the woods.
Jack opened his eyes and sighed.
They were back in Frog Creek. He could breatheagain. His eyes didn't sting anymore. He was wearinghis own clothes, even his sneakers.
"I wonder what happened to everyone?" Annieasked anxiously. "Andrew, Peter, and their aunt, andBetty and Fred, and all the other people."Jack pulled out their research book. He turned tothe last chapter. He read aloud:
After the earthquake fires were put out, peoplefrom all over the world sent help to San Francisco.
The brave citizens of the city never gave up hope.
Many even wore badges that said, "Let's rebuild atonce." in less than ten years, San Francisco was onceagain one of the loveliest cities in the United States.
"Oh, good," breathed Annie. "Hey, do you have oursign?"Jack reached again into his pack. He pulled out thesign from Peter and Andrew.
He placed it on the floor, next to the list from theCivil War, the letter from the Revolutionary War, andthe slate from the pioneer schoolhouse.
"We have all four writings now," he said.
"So what happens next?" said Annie.
Suddenly, there was a roar. A bright light flashedthrough the tree house.
Jack covered his face. When he peeked over the topsof his fingers, he saw Morgan le Fay.
"Morgan!" Jack and Annie cried joyfully. They bothhugged her.
Morgan hugged them back.
"We found the four special writings for yourlibrary!" said Jack.
Annie picked up the list and the letter. Jack pickedup the slate and the sign.
"Here they are!" he said.
They started to give everything to Morgan. But sheheld up her hand.
"Do not give them to me," she said. "Someone elseneeds them more."Suddenly, a blinding light flashed through the treehouse again. There came a great roar, then silence.
When Jack and Annie opened their eyes, they wereno longer in the magic tree house.
They were standing in a huge, shadowy room. Theroom smelled wonderful--like leather, books, and awood-burning fire.
Flames crackled in a huge stone hearth. Along thewalls were rows and rows of tall bookcases filledwith books.
"Welcome to my library," Morgan said softly.
"Wow," whispered Jack.
"Someone here is waiting to meet you," saidMorgan. "I told him that two special messengerswould soon arrive.""Where is he?" asked Annie.
Morgan pointed to a man dressed in dark blue in acorner of the library. He sat in a chair. His head wasbowed. His hair was black streaked with silver.
"He looks tired," Annie whispered.
"Yes, he and his knights have been defeated,"Morgan said quietly. "He has given up all hope for hiskingdom.""How can we help him?" asked Annie. Morganlooked down at the special writings that Jack andAnnie held.
"Would it help if we showed him these?" Jackasked.
Morgan smiled.
"Come on, let's show him!" said Annie.
They crossed the room and knelt before the tired-looking man.
"Excuse me," Annie said.
The man looked up. He had sad gray eyes.
"We're Morgan's messengers. We've come to help,"said Jack.
The man shook his head.
"I don't understand," he said in a deep, tired voice.
"You are children. How can you help?""Sometimes children can help a lot," said Annie.
"Jack and I have helped a general, and we helpedwounded soldiers.""We helped people caught in an earthquake and atwister," Jack added.
The man straightened up a little. "That is brave," hesaid.
"We want to share how we did it," said Annie. Sheheld up the list from the Civil War.
"This tells you how to help wounded people," shesaid. She held up the letter from the RevolutionaryWar.
"And this tells you that even when things look theirworst, you shouldn't give up," she said.
Jack held up the slate from the pioneer schoolhouse.
"This says, 'If at first you don't succeed, try, tryagain,"' he said.
Then Jack held up the piece of wood from the SanFrancisco earthquake.
"And this says that when you've lost everything,you can still have hope," he said.
The man studied the four special writings. Then helooked at Jack and Annie with piercing gray eyes.
"You were both very kind to find all these thingsand bring them to me," he said. "Are you magic?""Oh no," said Annie. "Morgan is magic. We're justordinary kids."The man smiled. He seemed less sad and wearynow.
"And I am just an ordinary king," he said softly. "Isuppose if two ordinary kids can find courage andhope, then an ordinary king can find it, too."The man slowly stood up.
"I will go now and speak to my knights," he said. "Iwill share the wisdom you have brought me."He wrapped his cape around him. He bowed to Jackand Annie.
"Thank you," he said. Then he strode bravely out ofMorgan's library.
"Yes, thank you," said Morgan, walking over to Jackand Annie.
"You're welcome," they said.
"These are for your library," said Jack. He andAnnie gave Morgan the four special writings.
Morgan smiled.
"Their wisdom will help many readers who comehere," she said.
"Great," said Annie.
"It's time for you to go home now," said Morgan.
Jack looked around Morgan's library. He hated toleave. It was the most wonderful room he'd ever seen"Don't worry. You can come back," said Morgan,reading his mind. "You must come back, for you bothhave helped save Camelot. Good-bye for now."Before Jack or Annie could Speak, there wasanother blinding flash.
Then they were home again, in the tree house, inFrog Creek, in the early morning. |