《神奇树屋》 第三十三册 Carnival at Candlelight 01 A Book of Magic

　　Dawn was breaking in the Frog Creek 1 woods. Jacksaw a light shining up ahead. He ran toward it. Heran so fast, he couldn't hear his feet hitting theground. He couldn't feel the frosty winter air.



As Jack 2 got closer to the light, he could see themagic tree house at the top of the tallest oak. A girland boy were looking out the window. The girl haddark, wavy 3 hair and sea-blue eyes. The boy hadtousled red hair and a big grin on his face. As the twokids waved at him, Jack felt incredibly happy.



"Jack, wake up!"18Jack opened his eyes. His sister, Annie, wasstanding beside his bed. She was wearing her winterjacket. It was barely light outside.



"I just had a dream about the tree house," she said.



"Really?" Jack said sleepily.



"I dreamed we were running through the woods atdawn," said Annie, "and when we got to the treehouse, Teddy and Kathleen were there waiting forus."Jack sat up. "I just had the same dream!" he said.



"Meet you downstairs," said Annie.



Annie left Jack's room. Jack jumped out of bed, puton his glasses, and threw on his clothes. He grabbedhis winter jacket and his backpack. Then he slippedquietly down the stairs and out the front door.



Annie was waiting on the porch. The February airwas chilly 4. Frost sparkled in the grass as the sun roseover the Frog Creek woods.



19"Ready?" asked Annie.



Jack nodded and zipped his jacket. Without anotherword, he and Annie hurried up their street andheaded into the woods. They ran through the longshadows of early morning, between the bare wintertrees. Then they stopped.



The tree housewasback, just as Jack had seen it in his dream! It washigh in the tallest oak tree, shining in the coldmorning light.



"Wow," breathed Jack. "Dreamscancome true.""Yep," said Annie. "Teddy! Kathleen!" No oneanswered.



"I guess only part of this dream came true," Anniesaid sadly. She grabbed the rope ladder and startedup. Jack followed. Annie climbed into the tree house.



"Oh, wow!" she said.



"What is it?" said Jack.



"They're here!" said Annie in a loud whisper. Jackclimbed in behind her. Their friends20Teddy and Kathleen, apprentices 5 to Morgan le Fay,were sitting under the tree house window. Wrappedin heavy woolen 6 cloaks, they were both fast asleep.



"Hey, sleepyheads!" said Annie. "Wake up!"Kathleen blinked and yawned. Teddy rubbed hiseyes. When he saw Jack and Annie, he gave them awide grin and leapt to his feet. "Hello!" he said.



"Hello!" cried Annie. She threw her arms aroundTeddy. "We both dreamed you were here.""Ah, then our magic worked!" said Teddy.



"Kathleen suggested we send dreams to let you knowwe were here, and it seems our magic sent us todreamland as well.""But now we are all awake," said Kathleen. "And Iam very glad to see you." She stood up, drawing hercloak around her. Her blue eyes sparkled likeseawater in the dawn light.



"I'm glad to see you, too," Jack said shyly.



21"Are you taking us on another Merlin Mission?"said Annie.



"Not exactly," said Teddy. "Merlin has a mostimportant mission for you. But this time, we will notbe going along.""Oh, no!" said Annie. "What if we need your magicto help us?"Teddy and Kathleen looked at each other andsmiled. Then Kathleen turned back to Jack and Annie.



"Morgan thinks you may be ready to use magic onyour own," she said.



"Really?" said Jack.



"Yes," said Teddy, "but Merlin isverycautious about sharing magic powers with mortals,even with two as worthy 7 as you. He is also wary 8 ofmagic being used outside the realm of Camelot.



Nevertheless, Morgan has convinced Merlin to let youprove yourselves. You will be tested on fourmissions.""But we don't know any magic," said Jack.



"Remember what I told you on our last22adventure?" said Teddy. "If we all work together--""Anything is possible!" said Annie. "But you justsaid you weren't coming with us.""That is true," said Kathleen. "And that is why webring youthis."She reached into a pocket of her cloak and pulledout a small handmade book. She gave the book toAnnie.



The cover of the book was made of rough brownpaper. Written on it in neat, simple handwriting wasthe title:



10 Magic Rhymes for Annie and Jack from Teddyand Kathleen23"You made this for us?" said Annie.



"Yes," said Kathleen. "One line of each rhyme is inTeddy's language, and one is in mine, the language ofthe Seal People."Annie opened the book to the table of contents. Sheand Jack skimmed the list of rhymes, and Jack readsome of the entries aloud:



"Fly Through the Air. Make Metal Soft. Turn intoDucks--"Annie giggled 9. "These are so cool!" she said. "Let'sall turn into ducks!""Not now," said Kathleen. "You must use theserhymes very sparingly. There are only ten rhymes inthe book, and each can only be used once. They aremeant to last you for four journeys.""Four?" said Jack.



"Aye," said Teddy. "Merlin has agreed that if youcan use our magic wisely on four missions, he willteach you the secrets that will allow you to makemagic on your own."24"Oh, boy!" said Annie.



Jack put the book of magic rhymes in his backpack.



"So where are we going on our first mission?" heasked.



"This research book from Morgan will tell you,"said Teddy. He took out a book and handed it to Jack.



The cover showed a bright, colorful city surroundedby water.



Jack read the title aloud:



A VISIT TO VENICE, ITALY.



"I've heard of Venice," said Annie. "Last year AuntGail and Uncle Michael went there on vacation.""Aye, 'tis a city that has long welcomed travelers,"said Teddy. "But you and Jack will travel to theVenice of two hundred sixty years ago.""What will we do there?" asked Jack.



"Merlin has prepared careful directions for you,"said Teddy. He pulled a letter out of a pocket in hiscloak and gave it to Jack. "Read this when you get toVenice."25"Okay," said Jack. He put Merlin's letter andMorgan's research book into his backpack.



"Wait a minute," said Annie. "If we take the treehouse to Venice, how will you guys get back toCamelot?"Teddy and Kathleen smiled and held up theirhands. They each wore a ring made of pale blue glass.



"These magic rings belong to Morgan," said Kathleen.



"They will take us home.""Remember," Teddy said to Jack and Annie. "FollowMerlin's directions carefully. If you prove yourselvesto be wise and brave helpers, he will call for youagain soon."Kathleen nodded. "Good-bye now," she said to Jackand Annie. "Good luck."Kathleen and Teddy raised their glass rings to theirlips. Together they whispered words too softly to beheard, then blew on the rings.



Before Jack and Annie's eyes, the two youngsorcerers began to fade into the cool morning air. Inan instant, they had disappeared completely.



26"They're gone," breathed Jack.



"I guess it's time for us to go, too," said Annie.



Jack took a deep breath. Then he pointed 10 at thecover of the Venice book. "I wish we could go there!"he said.



The wind started to blow.



The tree house started to spin.



It spun 11 faster and faster.



Then everything was still.



Absolutely still.