Ch4-Rats!

CHAPTER FOUR Bats! Jack found Annie standing behind a column in a lantern-lit courtyard. The courtyard was quiet and empty. "Everyone in Venice must be at Carnival," said Jack. "I just hope the ruler is home."

"Yeah, we'll ask him if he knows the Grand Lady of the Lagoon," said Annie. "And we'll tell him he has to help us save her from a terrible disaster." Jack looked at his map of the palace. Several rooms were labeled Ruler's Living Chambers. "I guess that's where he lives," said Jack. "We have to go up some stairs called the Giants' Stairs to get there."

"The Giants' Stairs?" said Annie. "Yeah," said Jack. "Listen to this." These stairs are called the Giants' Stairs because they are guarded by two large statues of gods from Roman mythology: Mars, the god of war, and Neptune, the god of the sea.

"Cool," said Annie. "Let's go." Jack and Annie hurried down the passageway that ran along the courtyard until they came to a wide staircase. On either side of the stairs were giant marble statues of strong-looking men. "Mars and Neptune," said Jack. "This is it. Come on." Jack and Annie quickly climbed the Giants' Stairs. At the top, Jack looked at the map again. "Now we turn right and head for the Golden Staircase," he said. Keeping an eye out for more guards, they crept down a hall until they came to a fancy staircase under a gold ceiling.

"There it is," said Jack. "Let's climb up." He and Annie hurried up the Golden Staircase. When they got to the top, they froze. Another guard was slouched against the wall by the stairs. His eyes were closed, and he was snoring softly. Jack motioned to Annie, and they tiptoed past the sleeping guard to the entrance of the ruler's living chambers. Jack glanced at the map. "This is it," he whispered. The door was open. Jack and Annie peeked inside. "Knock, knock?" Annie said in a soft voice. No one answered.

They stepped through the doorway. A fire blazed on the hearth. Overhead many candles burned brightly. The dancing flames cast shadows on a marble floor and a carved gold ceiling. "I have a feeling the ruler's not here," said Annie. "Maybe we should leave." Jack looked at their book. "Wait, the next room is the Map Room," he said. "Let's just take a look." "Okay, but we'd better hurry," said Annie. Jack led the way into the Map Room. Colorful maps hung on the walls. In the middle of the floor were two huge globes. Jack sighed. "I love this room," he said.