《神奇树屋》 第四十册 Eve of the Emperor Penguin 09 Penny and Merlin

　　Peep.



Penny's head was sticking out of Jack 1's jacket. Jackand Annie were wearing their own clothes again-theirjeans, jackets, hats, and scarves. All their heavycold-weather gear for Antarctica was gone.



"We're in Camelot," said Annie, looking out thewindow.



Jack took Penny out of his jacket and held her up tothe window so she could see the grounds of KingArthur's castle.



100The tree house had landed in an apple tree in anorchard. In the near distance, castle towers rose into alate-afternoon sky. Several knights 3 on horses wereriding away from the castle.



"Jack! Annie!"Teddy and Kathleen were running through theorchard, between the trees, over fallen golden leavesand apples.



Jack and Annie waved at them.



"Oh, I just thought of something," said Jack. "Weforgot to find out the fourth secret.""What do you mean?" said Annie. "It's Penny.""No, I don't think so," said Jack. "Remember,Leonardo da Vinci told us a secret of happiness has tobe available to everyone. Not many people can havetheir own baby penguin 4.""Oh, right," said Annie.



"Jack! Annie! Come down!" Teddy and Kathleencalled from below.



"We're coming!" said Annie.



Jack put Penny inside his jacket, then carefully101climbed down the rope ladder after Annie.



"Oh! What did you bring back with you?" saidKathleen.



Penny was peeking 5 out of Jack's jacket again. "Ababy penguin for Merlin," said Annie.



"Look at her!" said Kathleen. "She's beautiful!""Indeed!" said Teddy, petting Penny's downy head.



Peep.



"She wants to help Merlin," said Annie.



"Then let us hurry to him at once," said Teddy.



"Come, follow us."Kathleen and Teddy led the way between the treesto a small wooden cottage at the edge of the orchard 2.



"Merlin's inthere?"asked Jack.



"'Tis a garden house he always loved as a child,"said Teddy. "Morgan thought he would find comfortthere. But alas 6, he seems to have found nothing butmore grief. He will eat nothing, and he has notspoken for days."102Teddy opened the door to the cottage and usheredAnnie and Jack inside.



Morgan was sitting by Merlin's bed. Late-afternoonlight slanted 7 through the window onto the magician'sface. He lay very still. His eyes were closed and hishands were folded on his chest.



A chill went through Jack. Merlin hardly lookedalive.



Morgan turned around. She, too, looked tired, buther face brightened when she saw Jack and Annie.



"Thank goodness you have come!" she said.



Annie crossed the room and hugged Morgan. Jackstepped forward with Penny. "Look what we broughtfor Merlin," he whispered.



"Oh!" said Morgan. The enchantress gently touchedthe little penguin. "She is lovely indeed," shewhispered. "Thank you for bringing her."Morgan turned back to Merlin. "Merlin?" she said.



"Jack and Annie from Frog Creek 8 are here. They wantto talk with you."103Annie stepped forward, while Jack stood in theshadows with Penny. "Hi, Merlin!" said Annie. "Howare you doing?"The magician didn't open his eyes. But he noddedto let Annie know he heard her.



"We have four secrets of happiness to share withyou," said Annie. She reached into Jack's backpack.



She pulled out the poem that the poet Basho hadgiven them on their trip to old Japan.



"Listen, here's a poem from a man named Basho,"said Annie. She read the short poem:



Anold-pond:



a frog jumps inthe, sound of water.



"The secret of happiness for Basho was that he paidattention to small things in nature," explained Annie.



Merlin nodded slowly. "Nature," he said in a raspyvoice.



"That's right," said Annie. "And we brought104you this, too." She pulled out the angel pictureLeonardo da Vinci had drawn 9. She held it up to showMerlin.



"This is an angel drawn by a great genius namedLeonardo da Vinci," said Annie.



Merlin opened his eyes and peered at the drawing.



"Isn't she beautiful?" said Annie. "The secret ofLeonardo's happiness was that he had great curiosityabout everything--angels, art, noses, feathers, flowers,flying. Every day he felt happy when he learnedsomething new."Merlin nodded as he stared at the angel sketch 10.



"Curiosity," he breathed.



"Yes. And here's the third secret," said Annie. Shereached into Jack's pack and pulled out the nautilusshell they'd been given on their trip to the deep ocean.



"A sea creature once lived inside this shell," saidAnnie. "We learned from an ocean scientist that asecret of happiness is having compassion105for all living things, from a tiny shell creature to agiant octopus 11."Merlin took the shell from Annie. He cupped hishands around it and closed his eyes. His face softened 12.



"Compassion," he said. But still he didn't smile.



Jack sighed.



Maybe Merlin isn't going to get better,he thought.



"Give him Penny now, Jack," whispered Annie.



Jack stepped out from the shadows.



"Merlin," he said, "we don't actually know what thefourth secret of happiness is, but we want to give yousomething else."Merlin looked at Jack.



Jack held up the tiny penguin. "Her name is Penny,"he said.



Merlin just stared at Penny. He looked confused.



"She's an orphan," said Jack. "Her parents were lostin a terrible storm."Merlin frowned. "She is very small," he saidhoarsely.



106"Yes. And she wants to live with you," said Annie.



"The emperor of the Cave of the Ancient Crownwants you to take care of her," said Jack. "He says sheis very brave and full of joy."Jack set Penny on the floor. Standing 13 alone, thepenguin looked tiny and fragile.



"Go to Merlin," Jack urged Penny.



Penny waddled 14 across the floor to Merlin. Her littlebody rocked stiffly from side to side as she held outher wings to keep her balance.



Penny stopped in front of Merlin. The little penguinand the old magician stared at each other for amoment. Merlin's expression didn't change.



Peep!



said Penny.



Peep! Peep!



Merlin's face twitched 15. Then he began to laugh. Atfirst his laughter seemed more like coughing thanlaughing, as if he hadn't laughed in a long time. Butthen his laughter grew louder. He stood up andscooped the baby penguin into his arms.



107Merlin hugged Penny to his chest, pressing heragainst his long white beard. His face settled into awarm smile.



[Image: Children and adults.]



108"It is your destiny to care for her, Merlin," saidMorgan. "The emperor of the Cave of the AncientCrown has sent her to you. He is very wise."Merlin nodded. Then, cradling Penny in his arms,he walked to the doorway 16 of the cottage and lookedout. "The air smells like ripe apples and wood smoketoday," he said.



"Yes, my old friend, it does," said Morgan. Shewiped tears from her eyes.



Merlin turned back and looked at Jack and Annie.



"Thank you for bringing-- What did you say hername was?""Penny," said Annie.



"Ah, yes,Penny... to me," said Merlin. "And thank you for yourother gifts as well. I will never forget the secrets youhave shared with me.""You're welcome," said Jack and Annie.



Peep.



"Yes, yes," Merlin murmured to the baby penguin.



"You will stay with me. And we will have a happytime together. Let us go into the orchard and I willshow you the rising moon."109Merlin put Penny down on the ground. The babypenguin took tiny quick steps alongside the magicianas they walked into the orchard. The two strolledtogether between the trees, and a round moon roseover the kingdom of Camelot.