Ch7-Behind the Third Wall

CHAPTER SEVEN Behind the Third Wall. "Let's hurry!" said Annie. As Beauty and Cutie walked toward Baghdad, the loose sand of the desert changed to sunbaked earth. Then the hard earth changed to scrubby grass. Goats and

sheep grazed in the grass, and farms dotted the countryside. It wasn't long before Jack and Annie came to a red clay path. The path led to a crossroads where many travelers were coming from different directions. They were all heading toward the shining city. Jack and Annie rode alongside boys driving sheep and farmers in donkey carts. They passed women with veils over their faces, carrying pots on their shoulders.

Jack kept looking for Mamoon. But he never saw him. Moving with the crowd, Beauty and Cutie clomped across a bridge. Rowboats and barges glided along the yellowish brown river. On the other side of the river was a huge outdoor market with a maze of tents. The market seemed to be filled with people from

many countries. The sharp smell of incense filled the air. Stalls were jammed with burlap sacks, baskets, and carpets. Shoemakers sat cross-legged, stitching shoes. Potters were bent over ovens, baking earth-colored pots. Weavers sat at small looms, spinning silk brocade. "Paper? Pearls?" a merchant shouted. "No thanks!" said Annie. "Pigeons, parrots?" another shouted at Jack. "No thanks!" he said. "I love this place!" said Annie. "What is it?"

"I'll look it up," said Jack. He pulled out their research book and read: In the ninth century, traders from all over the world brought their goods to Baghdad to sell. Baghdad merchants traded paper, fine cloth, and jewelry for goods from Spain, India, Africa, China, Greece, and other lands. These goods were sold in a huge open-air market called a bazaar. "Oh, so a bazaar is sort of like a mall," said Jack.

"It's a lot better than a mall!" said Annie. "Let's get off and look around." "We don't have time to shop," said Jack. "We have to finish our mission." He pulled out Merlin's letter and read: Find a horse on a dome, the one who sees all, in the heart of the city behind the third wall. "It sounds like we pass three walls and then we come to a horse," said Jack. "We'd better keep going." Jack put the book and letter away. Beauty and Cutie ambled through the noisy bazaar. When they left the bazaar, they came to a