《神奇树屋》 第三十一册 Summer of the SeaSerpent 02 The Water Knight

　　A salty breeze blew into the tree house. Seagullsscreeched overhead. Jack 2 and Annie looked out thetree house window.



They were high in the branches of a gnarled oldtree. The tree was on a sea cliff beneath snowcappedmountains. The mountains overlooked a rocky coast.



There was no sign of human life anywhere.



"It looks wild and lonely here," said Annie.



"Reallylonely," said Jack. "I wonder where Merlinand Teddy are.""I don't know," said Annie. "They were in the trunkof our tree last time. Let's look for them in this one."She climbed down the rope ladder.



Jack crammed 3 the seashell in his pocket andfollowed her.



"Merlin?" Annie called. "Teddy?"Jack and Annie circled the gnarled tree trunk, butthere was no sign of an entrance into the magicalchamber of Merlin the magician. They circled the treeagain. Jack tapped the bark in several places.



"I have a feeling no one lives inside this tree," saidAnnie.



21"I think you're right," said Jack.



"Maybe they're down by the water," said Annie.



Annie and Jack walked a few feet to the edge of thesea cliff and looked down at the rugged 4 coast. Theysaw three coves 6, separated from each other by rockycliffs. The cliffs were filled with shadowy crags andthe dark mouths of caves.



In the first cove 5, sunlit water flowed from the opensea through a small space between the cliffs, thenwashed onto a pebbly 7 shore.



The second cove was smaller, but looked much likethe first.



The third cove was different. The farthest away, itwas surrounded by a ring of bright green hills. A thinwhite mist hung over its milky-green waters.



"I don't see any sign of Merlin or Teddy," said Jack.



"I guess we'll have to get started without them."22"Read the beginning of Merlin's rhyme again," saidAnnie.



Jack took the shell from his pocket and read aloud:



Before night falls on this long summer day, Ashining sword must find its way Into your hands andout of the gloom-Or Camelot's king shall meet his doom 8.



Jack looked up at the sky. The sun was almostdirectly overhead. "It must be around noon now," hesaid.



"We don't have much time," said Annie. "What dowe do first?"Jack looked back at the rhyme and read aloud:



To begin your quest for this Sword of Light, Callfor the help of the Water Knight 9"Oh, easy," said Annie.



"It is?" said Jack.



"Sure," said Annie. "If he's a Water Knight, he'sprobably down by the water." She started23down the steep, rocky hill that led to the nearestcove.



Jack stuffed the shell back in his pocket. "But who isthe Water Knight?" he yelled as he followed Annie.



"It doesn't matter," she yelled back. "We just haveto go down to the water and call for his help."They climbed over large boulders 10 toward the cove.



The boulders were slippery, but Jack's sneakers kepthim from sliding. A damp breeze blew from the sea. Itmade his skin and clothes feel clammy.



When they got to the shore, Jack wiped the mist offhis glasses and looked around. The wide beach wascovered with silvery pebbles 11, shells, and rows of seafoam. Sandpipers and gulls 1 picked at tangled 13 ribbonsof soggy seaweed.



"The tide must be out," said Jack. He studied thecliffs above the cove. "I don't know how a knight canget down here. A horse could never make it over allthose rocks."24"Let's just do what the rhyme tells us," said Annie,"and see what happens."Annie stretched out her arms. She closed her eyes.



She raised her head toward the sky and shouted: "OWater Knight, whoever you are, come here and helpJack and Annie!""Oh, brother," Jack muttered to himself.



Suddenly they heard the wild cries of seagulls.



"Jack, look!" said Annie. She pointed 14 toward themiddle of the cove.



Seabirds were screeching 15 and flapping above agiant swirl 16 of spray and foam 12. The swirl was spinningjust above the surface of the water, headed towardthe beach!



"Wow!" said Annie. She took off running across thesand.



"Come back!" shouted Jack.



"No! Come look!" said Annie.



Jack hurried to the edge of the surf.



Through the blur 17 of spinning spray and foam, hesaw the silver helmet of a knight appear25above the water. He saw silver breast armor. Thena strange creature burst through the surface, carryingthe knight on its back.



The creature had a horse's head and neck and frontlegs. But instead of back legs, it had a long, silveryfish's tail! With the Water Knight on its back, thehorse creature half galloped 18 and half swam throughthe cove. Seagulls shrieked 19 wildly overhead,following the pair toward the shore.



As the knight drew close to the edge of the water,he looked straight at Jack and Annie. He raised hisgloved hand and beckoned 20 to them.



"Okay, we're coming!" cried Annie. She startedpulling off her sneakers.



"Wait--let's think about this!" cried Jack.



"We don't have time!" said Annie. "He wants tohelp us. He's like the stag that came for us inCamelot.""No, he isn't," said Jack. "He's much weirder 21!"But Annie tossed her sneakers onto the26rocks and splashed through the shallow water. Theknight held out his hand and helped her onto thestrange horse creature. The creature slapped its fish'stail against the water, sending up a fountain of spray.



"Come on, Jack!" Annie yelled. "We can't wastetime!"27[Image: A knight on a horse.]



28Annie's right, Jack thought. They had to find theSword of Light before nightfall. He pulled off hissneakers and tossed them up onto the rocks nearAnnie's. Then he stepped into the cold water andwaded out to the knight.



Annie helped pull Jack up onto the horse creature.



He sat on its scaly 22 tail and clung to Annie while sheheld on tightly to the Water Knight's tunic 23.



The silvery fish's tail slapped the water. A showerof spray rained down on Jack. He closed his eyes.



"Onward," he said faintly.



The Water Knight turned away from the shore.



With more slaps of its tail, the horse creature begangalloping and swimming across the cove. The seagullsshrieked wildly as they swooped 24 after them.



Bumping up and down, Jack clung desperately 25 toAnnie. He kept his eyes squeezed shut and tried hardnot to fall off.



As they sped across the cove, the Water29Knight guided his steed steadily 26 over each rippleand wave. The bumpy 27 ride soon turned into a smoothone.



"This is great!" cried Annie.



Jack opened his eyes. With the wind and spraywhipping his face and hair, he began to feel moreexcited than scared,"I'll bet he's taking us to the Sword of Light!" criedAnnie. "We'll be done with our mission in no time!"That would be too easy,thought Jack. But as theysped over the waves, he grew hopeful Maybe she'sright Maybe it will be easy, he thought. Not all ourmissions have to be hard. But what about the rest ofthe stuff in the rhyme? What about--?



Before Jack could finish his thought, the strangehorse creature stopped and reared up. Jack and Annietumbled over its fish's tail and splashed into the coldwater.



They sank for a moment and then bobbed30back up to the surface, frantically 28 treading water.



They looked up at the Water Knight and his horse.



The knight lifted his arm into the air. He pointed toa pile of boulders near the base of a nearby cliff. Thenhe spread the fingers of his gloved hand in a gestureof farewell.



"Bye! Thanks!" shouted Annie.



The horse creature slapped its fish's tail and took offin a fountain of spray and foam. With the gullscircling above them, the mysterious pair whirledtoward the passage between the cliffs that led out tothe sea. In a moment, they vanished into the openwater beyond.