6 Ch6-A White Comet

CHAPTER SIX A White Comet Once the knight was gone, the candles and torches in the great hall grew dimmer. A bitter chill crept over the room. "What do these three rhymes mean?" said Jack, looking at his notebook. "Who are the Keepers of the Cauldron? What secret door?"

"I don't know," said Annie. "I just know we have to save Morgan." She gathered the red cloak up in her arms. "We've got our first gift," she said. "Let's go." "Wait—we should figure this out first," said Jack. "No. We should just go," said Annie. She turned and headed for the archway. Jack pushed his glasses into place and looked back at the Round Table, at the frozen king and queen, at the frozen knights, and at Morgan le Fay. He loved Morgan. She was their great friend and teacher. If he and Annie did not go on their quest, Morgan's story and the stories of Camelot

and all the stories about the magic tree house would end forever. Jack took a deep breath. He put his notebook into his backpack. Then he turned toward the archway. "Annie?" he said. She was gone. "Annie, wait!" he shouted. "Wait!" Jack ran out of the great hall. "Annie!" "I'm here," she said quietly. "I'm waiting." She was standing at the end of the entrance hall peering outside. "How do we get to the Otherworld?" she asked.

"Maybe the tree house can take us there," said Jack. "Come on." Together, Jack and Annie hurried through the inner courtyard of the castle and over the drawbridge. They ran over the frozen ground to the moonlit grove of trees. Clutching the red cloak, Annie started up the rope ladder. Jack followed. They climbed inside the tree house and sat on the floor. Annie picked up the Royal Invitation. "Close your eyes. I'll make the wish," she said. Jack closed his eyes. He was shivering from the cold. "I wish we could go to the Otherworld," said Annie.

The bare branches of the trees rattled in the wind. "I think it's working!" whispered Annie. The wind stopped blowing. Jack opened his eyes. He and Annie looked out the window. The dark castle loomed against the sky. They were still in Camelot. "It d-didn't work," said Jack, his teeth chattering. "Yes, it did!" whispered Annie. "Look down." Standing below the tree house was the biggest deer Jack had ever seen. The deer was staring up at them with amber eyes. His huge antlers seemed to glow in the cold moonlight.

Most amazing of all, the deer was completely white, as white as new-fallen snow. "A white stag!" said Jack. Puffs of frosty air blew from the stag's nostrils. He stepped toward the tree house and shook his giant head. "He's come to take us on our journey," said Annie. "People don't ride deer," said Jack. But Annie had already started down the rope ladder. Jack watched from the window as she walked to the stag and spoke softly. The stag knelt. Annie climbed on his back. "Come on!" she called to Jack. "Bring the cloak!"