The Otherworld was completely different from the dark, coldworld Jack and Annie had just left behind.
They were standing at the edge of a pale green meadow. Themeadow was bathed in warm, rosy sunlight. Three horses--oneblack, one brown, one gray--were grazing nearby. On a hillsidebeyond the meadow, red and purple flowers sparkled like brightbuttons.
"It's so nice here," said Annie.
"Yeah," said Jack. "Maybe we won't need this anymore." Hepulled the hood of the cloak off their heads. He was relieved tosee Annie's face--and to see himself!
"What was the first rhyme again?" asked Annie.
Jack took out his notebook. He found the first rhyme and readaloud:
"Beyond the iron gate The Keepers of the Cauldron wait."He looked around warily. "I wonder where the Keepers of theCauldron are?" he said.
"What do you mean?" asked Annie. "We just sneaked pastthem. Remember? WHOOOSH?""I don't know," said Jack. "The rhyme says 'beyond the irongate.' Those guards were standing in front of the gate. Theyweren't beyond it.""Shh," said Annie. "Listen.. .
From over the hill came the faint sounds of sweet, joyfulmusic.
"Maybe the Keepers of the Cauldron are playing that music,"said Annie.
"Maybe . . . ," said Jack. He listened for a moment and smiled.
The music made him feel light and happy.
"Let's go meet the Keepers!" said Annie.
"Not so fast," said Jack. "Shouldn't we be invisible again? Justin case?""I guess so," said Annie, sighing.
Jack pulled the hood of the cloak over their heads. Together,they started walking invisibly across the soft meadow. Theypassed the three horses and climbed the flower-covered hill. Atthe top, they looked down.
"Oh, man," said Jack.
The hill sloped gently down into a misty green glade. In themiddle of the glade, a band of musicians played flutes and pipes,drums and violins. Around the band, hundreds of dancersdanced in a huge circle.
"The Keepers of the Cauldron!" said Annie.
The dancers and musicians were smiling and laughing. Theywore blue coats and green coats, white gowns and yellowgowns. They wore sparkling red slippers and hats with coloredfeathers.
The dancers looked like people--except they all had glitteringgold skin and wings that shimmered in the mist like spun silver.
"They're beautiful!" said Annie.
"Yeah, they are," said Jack.
"I don't think we need to be invisible with them," said Annie.
"I think you're right," said Jack.
He and Annie threw off the red cloak. They left it in the dewygrass and ran down the hill-side to the winged dancers. Thedancers paid no attention to them. They just kept going aroundand around in their joyous circle.
"I feel like dancing with them!" said Annie.
"Me too!" said Jack. It was strange--he was usually shy aboutdancing. But he wanted to join this dance more than anything.
Jack pulled off his backpack. As he set it down, he saw threeswords lying in the grass.
But he didn't stop to wonder about them. The music wascalling.
The winged dancers broke their circle and welcomed Jack andAnnie into their dance. Annie held Jack's right hand as hegrasped the slender golden hand of the dancer on his left.
The dancer smiled down at him. Like the oth-ers, she was astall as a grownup. But she didn't have any lines or wrinkles onher face. All the dancers looked very young--yet they seemedancient at the same time.
As Jack danced around in the circle, his heart leaped. Hisspirits soared. His glasses fell off, but he didn't care. He keptdancing. As he danced, everything in his mind became a blur. Heforgot about Morgan and Camelot. He forgot about the quest forthe Water of Memory and Imagination. He forgot all his fearsand worries.
"Jack, look!" Annie cried.
Jack looked at her. "Hi!" he shouted, laughing.
"No! Don't look at me!" she called. "Look there! Look acrossthe circle!""I can't see!" he said.
"Three knights!" Annie shouted. "Three knights dancing!""Great!" Jack shouted.
"No, Jack! They look awful! They look sick!" Annie yelled. Shepulled away from the circle and tumbled back into the grass.
"Jack!" she called. "Stop dancing!"But Jack didn't want to stop. He wanted to dance to the wildmusic forever. Forever.., and ever.., and ever. |