Will stepped forward and held up his hands. Slowlythe crowd quieted down.
"Thank you all," he said. "And thank you to themost important person in all the world. She hasgraced us with her presence today."Will made a sweeping bow to a woman in a galleryabove the stage. The woman wore a white dress withpearls. A veil covered her face.
The woman stood up and slowly lifted the veil. Shehad pale, wrinkled skin and small dark eyes. She worea red wig.
The audience members let out a gasp. They all fellto their knees.
"Long live Queen Elizabeth!" said Will.
"Long live Queen Elizabeth!" the crowd shouted.
"Long live Queen Elizabeth!" shouted Jack andAnnie.
The queen smiled. Her teeth were all black! Theaudience didn't seem to mind. They cheered evenlouder.
The queen raised one hand and the crowd instantlyhushed.
"I thank you, my good people," she said. "And Ithank all these good players, every one. Today, theygave us a special kind of magic--the magic of theater.
They turned the very daytime into night.""Oh, man," whispered Jack. That was it-- the specialmagic. Their search was over.
The audience cheered again. When the actors leftthe stage, they gathered around Will to congratulatehim on his success.
Annie pulled Jack aside.
"We found it!" she said. "The magic!""I know!" Jack said. "Will helped us. Let's thankhim!""Later," said Annie. "First I have to show yousomething. I need your help! Quick!"Annie led Jack downstairs and outside. As peoplestreamed away from the Globe, the late afternoon sunwas going down.
"This way," said Annie. She headed for the patch oftrees behind the theater.
When she and Jack stepped into the gloomy shade,Jack saw an odd figure near a tree. A purple capebarely covered his furry back. A golden wig and alion mask barely hid his furry head.
Jack gasped. "The bear! You stole him!""I had to," said Annie. "I went to the cart when noone was looking. I put a costume on him. So if wepassed people on the way here, they'd think he wasan actor.""But you can't just steal him!" said Jack.
"I wasn't stealing. I was saving," said Annie. "I'mnot sure what to do with him now. What do youthink?"Just then the bear's owner charged into the woods.
"Where's my bear?" he shouted. His face was red. Hewas scowling.
"Thieves!" he yelled. "Give him back! I'm sellinghim to the fights!""NO!" said Annie, standing between the bear andthe man. "He's a tame bear! Not a fighter!""She's right!" said Jack, jumping in. "And besides,bear fighting is stupid! Really stupid!""'Tis, indeed," said a deep voice.
Jack, Annie, and the bear's owner whirled around.
Will and Puck were standing at the edge of thewoods. |