《神奇树屋》 第二十九册 Christmas in Camelot 01 A Royal Invitation

　　Sunlight had faded from the late-afternoon sky. Puffy snowclouds were moving in.



"Let's hurry. I'm cold," said Jack 1.



He and Annie were walking home from school. TheirChristmas vacation was just beginning.



Cooo--cooo.



"Wait," said Annie. "Look." She pointed 2 to a white bird sittingon a bare tree branch at the edge of woods. The bird the wasstaring straight at them.



"It's a dove," said Jack.



"It's a messenger ' said Annie, "from Morgan.""No," Jack said, afraid to get his hopes up. They hadn't seenMorgan le Fay in a long time. He really missed her.



"Yes," said Annie. "She has a mission for us. I can feel it."In the hush 3 of the cold twilight 4, the dove spread its wings andflew into the Frog Creek 5 woods.



"Come on!" said Annie. "The tree house is back!""You're just hoping!" said Jack.



"I'm knowing!" Said Annie. She ran into the woods, followingthe white dove.



"Oh, brother," said Jack. But he took off after Annie.



Even in the growing darkness, they easily found their way.



They zigzagged 6 between the bare trees and ran over the frozenground until they came to the tallest oak in the woods.



"See?" said Annie, pointing to the top of the tree.



"Yeah," whispered Jack.



There it was: the magic tree house.



"Morgan!" shouted Annie.



Jack held his breath, waiting to see the enchantress at the treehouse window. But Morgan did not appear.



Annie grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Jack followed.



When they climbed inside the tree house, Jack saw somethinglying on the floor. It was a scroll 7, rolled up and tied with a redvelvet ribbon.



Jack picked up the scroll and unrolled it. The thick, yellowedpaper shimmered 8 with large gold writing.



"Wow, Morgan sent us a really fancy note," said Annie.



"It's an invitation," said Jack. "Listen."Dear Jack and Annie,Please accept this Royal Invitation to spend Christmas In theKingdom of Camelot. M"Christmas in Camelot!" said Annie. "I don't believe it!""Cool," whispered Jack. He pictured a beautiful, glowing castlelit with candles and filled with knights 9 and ladies feasting andsinging.



"We're going to celebrate Christmas with Morgan and KingArthur!" said Annie. "And Queen Guinevere!""Yeah," said Jack. "And the Knights of the Round Table, likeSir Lancelot!""Let's go!" said Annie. "Where's the book?"She and Jack looked around the tree house for a book aboutCamelot. The only book they saw was the Pennsylvania bookthat always brought them home.



"That's strange," said Jack. "Morgan didn't send a book aboutCamelot with the Royal Invitation. How does she expect us toget there?""I don't know," said Annie. "Maybe she forgot."Jack picked up the invitation. He read it again. He turned itover, hoping to find more information. The back of the scrollwas blank. He handed the invitation to Annie.



"She must have forgotten," he said.



"Darn," said Annie, staring at the gold writing. "I really wishwe could go to Camelot."The tree branches rustled 10.



The wind began to blow.



"What's happening?" said Jack.



"I don't know--" said Annie.



"Wait a minute," said Jack. "You were holding the invitation,and you made a wish...



The wind blew harder.



"That must have made the magic work!" cried Annie.



Jack felt a surge of joy.



"We're going to Camelot!" he said.



The tree house started to spin.



It spun 11 faster and faster.



Then everything was still.



Absolutely still.