Ch10-Before the Moon Rises

CHAPTER TEN Before the Moon Rises Jack and Annie looked around the big room. The scholars and scientists were all deep into their reading. "I can't believe Mamoon is the caliph," whispered Jack.

"Remember that life is full of surprises," Annie repeated from Merlin's letter. "Yeah, and Return to the tree house before the moon rises," Jack finished. "I almost forgot that part," said Annie. "Me too," said Jack. "Shh!" said one of the scholars and scientists. "Sorry," said Annie. Jack and Annie looked up at the open window. The sky was pink. The sun would be setting soon. "We have to get back to the tree house," Annie whispered, "before the moon rises."

"I know," said Jack, "but how?" He felt a moment of panic. The tree house is really far away, he thought. If we traveled on Beauty and Cutie, it would take a whole day and night to get there. And what about sandstorms? And bandits? Jack looked at Annie. She was smiling. Magic, she mouthed. Jack caught his breath and nodded. They both looked around to see if any of the scholars or scientists were watching. They weren't. Jack quietly slipped Teddy and Kathleen's book out of his bag. He and Annie turned

their backs to the others and opened the book to the table of contents. Annie pointed to Turn into Ducks. Jack gave her a look. Annie pointed to Fly Through the Air. "Yes!" said Jack. "Shh!" said a scholar. Jack turned to the right page. He held up the book so they both could see. Jack said the first line of the rhyme: Sail through the sky where you wish to go! Annie said the second: Sawn-ee-fore, sawn-ee-row!

"You must be quiet, or you will have to leave the library!" one of the scholars said grouchily. "Don't worry, we're going," said Annie. A wind blew through the tall open window, fluttering the pages of the Arabian Nights book. The scholars and scientists grabbed their papers before they blew away. The wind picked up a corner of the small carpet Jack and Annie were standing on. The carpet rippled. Jack and Annie fell forward. As they tried to stand, the carpet lifted off the floor. "Oh!" cried all the scholars and scientists.

The carpet began floating up. It rose above the long tables. It rose above the shelves of books. Everyone jumped out of their chairs and scrambled out of the way, shouting, "Help!"— "Move!"—"Watch out!"— "Impossible!"—"What is happening?" "Bye!" called Annie. The carpet floated to the tall open window and glided out of the House of Wisdom. Chilly air blew against Jack and Annie. Their head cloths flapped wildly as they clung to the end of the carpet and sailed through the sky. "This is great!" cried Jack. "Really great!" shouted Annie.