Jack opened his eyes. He looked down at hisclothes. He was wearing a blue velvet coat, a longvest, and knee-length pants. His shoes were blackwith shiny buckles.
Jack looked up at Annie and burst out laughing.
Her pigtails had changed into thick, cigar-shapedcurls. She was wearing a pink dress covered with laceand bows. There was a big hoop underneath her skirtto hold it out. The hoop, the skirt, and lots ofpetticoats were all bunched up around Annie..
13"You look like you're standing in a basket," saidJack.
"You look like an old woman," said Annie. Shepointed at Jack's head.
Jack reached up and lifted off a black velvet hat.
But something else was on his head, too. He pulledoff a white wig with curls on the side and a ponytailin the back.
"A wig?" said Jack. His nose tickled. He sneezed,and a cloud of white powder puffed from his wig. "It'scovered in powder! I can't wear this!""Yes, you can," said Annie. "If I have to wear this"-she shook her dress--"you have to wear that.""But why are we dressed this way?" asked Jack.
"Because we're going to a fancy party in a palace along time ago," said Annie.
"Okay, but where's the palace?" said Jack.
Jack and Annie went to the window and lookedout. They had landed in a row of trees that lined a14cobblestone street. At the far end of the street,glittering horse-drawn coaches were parked outsidetall iron gates.
"I wonder if the palace is beyond those gates," saidAnnie, pointing.
15"I don't know," said Jack. "I wish we had a researchbook to help us.""Merlin wants us to rely on our wits and talents,"said Annie.
"Yeah," said Jack, "whatever that means."16Bells rang in the distance: bong, bong, bong, bong,bong.
"Five bongs," said Annie. "What time's the party?"Jack looked at their invitation and read aloud, "'Fiveo'clock in the evening.'""Oh, no! We're going to be late!" said Annie. "Puton your wig!"Jack crammed his wig back onto his head and puton his hat. He pushed the silver flute and invitationinto a deep pocket in his coat.
Annie squashed her hoopskirt and squeezedthrough the opening in the tree house floor. "It's hardto climb down a rope ladder in this dress!" she said.
"Be careful! Go slow!" said Jack.
"But we have to hurry!" said Annie. She jumped offthe ladder and landed on the ground.
Jack hurried down the ladder. "You okay?" heasked.
"I'm fine," said Annie, standing up. "Just got a17little dirty." She brushed off her dress. "Let's ask oneof those guys about the palace." She pointed towardthe coach drivers outside the iron gates.
"Hurry!"Annie started to run. Her skirt swung wildly fromside to side like a giant bell.
"Slow down!" said Jack, rushing to catch up withher. "You can't run in that big skirt--you lookridiculous. Besides, we need to discuss our missionbefore we go to this party.""It's simple," said Annie. "We're looking for abrilliant--""I know--artist," finished Jack. "But how do we findthis person?""We'll get to that part soon enough," said Annie.
"First let's find the party."Jack and Annie walked toward the fancy coachesparked near the gates. "Where's our invitation?" askedAnnie.
"Here." Jack pulled the invitation out of his pocket.
18"Excuse me," said Annie, walking up to the driverof a golden coach pulled by two white horses. "We'relooking for the summer palace." Jack showed theirinvitation to the man.
The driver nodded approvingly. "Ah, so you areguests of the imperial family!" he said. "But why areyou arriving on foot? Where is your coach?""Um, our driver let us out back there," said Annie,pointing down the street.
"I fear he let you out too soon," said the driver.
"You still have quite a distance to go.""We do?" said Annie.
"Yes," said the driver. "I have already delivered myemployer and his family to the palace. I was waitinghere until the party ended. But if you like, I can takeyou there. Young nobles should always arrive bycoach.""Oh, thanks!" said Annie.
Jack straightened his shoulders and tried to looknoble.
"My name is Josef," said the man. "Come, let19me help you up." Josef held out his hand. Annietook it, and Josef helped her up onto a cushionedleather seat.
Josef helped Jack up, too. Then the friendly driverclimbed onto a bench behind the milk white horses.
"Wow, I feel like Cinderella going to the ball,"Annie said to Jack.
Josef snapped the reins. The horses took off, and theguards opened the gates. The coach clattered over thecobblestones into an immense square.
The square was bathed in the last light of day.
Monks in brown robes strolled around a hugefountain. Soldiers in uniforms rode on horseback. Onthe far side of the square was a long building. It hadbright yellow walls and dozens of windows thatflashed with the light of the setting sun.
"Is that the summer palace, sir?" Annie called toJosef.
"Yes, indeed," Josef said over his shoulder.
20"And there is much more that you cannot see!
Behind the palace is a garden of nearly three hundredacres. It has beautiful flowers, orchards, fountains,and a zoo." "A zoo?" said Jack.
21"Hello, boy and girl!" came a high little voice. Aclosed blue coach passed them. A small boy wearing awhite wig was calling from a window. He pointed atJack and laughed. "Your wig is crooked!" he shoutedin his high voice.
22Before the boy could say more, someone pulled himback from the window, and the blue coach rumbledaway.
"What an annoying kid," said Jack. "Is my wigcrooked?""A little." Annie lifted Jack's hat off. She tried tostraighten his wig as they lurched and swayed on thecushioned seat. "There," she said. "That's better."Josef drove the horses to the front of the palace. Thecoach stopped near a staircase that led up to a terrace.
Josef helped Jack and Annie down from their seat.
"I can tell this is your first visit to the palace," saidJosef. "At the door, you must show the guard in thered uniform your invitation. He will direct you to thereceiving line.""The receiving line? What's that?" said Jack.
"That is where you will wait to be introduced," saidJosef.
"Introduced to who?" asked Jack.
23"To Her Imperial Majesty Maria Theresa. She isArchduchess of Austria; Queen of Hungary, Croatia,and Bohemia; and Empress of the Holy RomanEmpire," said Josef.
"Oh, right," said Annie.
Yeah, right,thought Jack. Help! |