Ch2-Looking for Leonardo

CHAPTER TWO Looking for Leonardo A different bell was bonging in the distance. Bright early sunlight poured through the tree house window. Teddy and Kathleen were gone. Jack looked down at his clothes. He was wearing a knee-length tunic and dark tights. Annie

wore a long dress with puffy sleeves. Jack's backpack had changed into a cloth bag. Jack and Annie looked out the window. The tree house had landed in a tall tree in a garden surrounded by green hedges. Beyond the garden was a sea of red-tiled roofs. A huge eight-sided dome and a stone tower rose high above the red rooftops.

"Welcome to Florence, Italy," said Annie. Jack opened their book and read aloud: In the early 1500s, many artists and craftspeople lived in the city of Florence. The city was filled with silk weavers, potters, and marble workers. Artists made sculptures, paintings, and tapestries. "Cool," said Annie. "I love art." Jack read more: But the most amazing genius of that time did a bit of everything. Leonardo da Vinci was not only a great painter but also an inventor, architect, stage and costume

designer, horseman, chef, geologist, and botanist. "What's a geologist and a botanist?" said Annie. "They're scientists," said Jack. "A geologist studies rocks, and a botanist studies plants." He turned the page. "Come on, we should go," said Annie. "The tree house probably brought us right to Leonardo. We have to find him before he gets away!" "Oh, right," said Jack. Annie started down the ladder. Jack packed up their research book and climbed down after her.

Jack and Annie walked around the tall hedge and came to a busy road that ran along a river. They stared at all the people going by. There were women in long silk dresses, priests in black robes riding donkeys, and soldiers in blue capes riding horses. "I don't see anyone who looks like the guy on the cover of our book," said Jack. "Let's ask someone," said Annie. She walked over to a girl selling flowers by the road. "Excuse me. Do you know a person named Leonardo da Vinci?" "Of course! Everyone knows Leonardo!" said the girl. "He was just here! He bought some

flowers from me. He said he was going to sketch them later." Her eyes shone with excitement. "Where did he go?" asked Jack. "He headed toward the Old Bridge," the girl said. She pointed toward a covered bridge farther down the road. "Thanks!" said Annie. Jack and Annie walked quickly along the bank of the river toward the bridge. "You were right," said Jack. "The tree house brought us right to Leonardo. But while we were talking, he kept walking." "Don't worry," said Annie. "We'll catch up to him."