Ch3-Complete Respect

CHAPTER THREE Complete Respect "Very good!" the guard said. "The Great Mogul eagerly awaits your arrival—and your treasure!" What treasure? thought Jack. What is Annie talking about? "You may pass through the gate," said the guard. "Follow the other ambassadors to the Hall of Public Audience, where the Great Mogul appears each morning before his court nobles."

"Thanks!" said Annie. She pulled Jack along toward the drawbridge. "And do not worry," the guard called after them. "The Great Mogul will not mind your youth. His grandfather became emperor when he was thirteen." "Super! Thanks!" Annie called back. "Hey, what were you talking about back there?" Jack whispered as he and Annie started across the bridge. "We didn't bring any treasure for the Great Mogul! We didn't bring anything!" "Yes, we did," said Annie. "What? Tell me what," said Jack. "Your story," said Annie. "It's in your bag, right?" "You've got to be kidding!" said Jack. "That's not treasure!" "Yes, it is! Think about it! You printed your story in fancy curly type from the computer, right?" said Annie. "I did my drawings with sparkle pens. There were no computers or sparkle pens four hundred years ago! The Great Mogul has never seen writing and artwork like that. Our ordinary stuff would be treasure in his time!"

"I—I don't know.…" Jack didn't know what to think. He just shook his head. "It would be! Trust me," said Annie. "And hurry! We don't want to lose the other ambassadors!" She ran to the entrance of the Red Fort. Jack followed her. They passed through a gateway that opened onto a stone road. The road led to a large square. At the opposite side of the square was a long, low building with columns and arches. "There they are," said Annie. She pointed to the ambassadors' oxcarts rolling toward the building. "That must be the Hall of Public Audience," said Jack. Jack and Annie walked quickly toward the building. The air felt as if it were coming from a hot furnace. By the time they arrived at the hall, Jack felt faint from the heat. The ambassadors from Europe had already gone inside. Fierce-looking guards stood at all the entrances. Daggers and curved swords hung from their belts.

Annie walked up to one of the burly guards. "Excuse me," she said in a low voice, "but we are ambassadors from Frog Creek, and we are supposed to be with those other ambassadors." To Jack's surprise, the guard asked no questions. He nodded and gestured for them to follow him. Annie and Jack followed the guard into the shadowy hall. The air inside was much cooler. It smelled of roses and mint. Hidden musicians played soft music. The burly guard escorted Jack and Annie past the audience of court nobles. All the men had beards or mustaches and wore beautiful coats of many colors and patterns—bright orange, purple, turquoise, green striped, and pale pink with flowers. Next to the nobles, the eight ambassadors from Europe stood along a silver railing. They were lined up in pairs. The burly guard ushered Jack and Annie to the end of the line. Everyone in the hall was facing a high platform with wide steps. The platform was made of sparkling diamonds, emeralds, and pearls. Gold

columns supported a golden canopy above the platform. Statues of two jeweled peacocks with rubies in their beaks were perched above the canopy. Over the golden canopy was another canopy of rich cloth. Tall, thin candlesticks held flickering candles, and servants sprayed rose-scented water into the air. As Annie looked around at everything, Jack slipped their book out of his bag. He huddled over it and read to himself.

Every morning, the Great Mogul sat on his Peacock Throne in the Hall of Public Audience. He demanded complete respect. Everyone had to be perfectly still and silent in his presence. No one was allowed to sit or leave as long as he was in the hall. If his guests spoke to him without permission or did not bow the proper way, he could have them killed. Oh, man! thought Jack. He shoved the book back into his bag and turned to Annie. "Don't speak!" he whispered. "And we have to bow the proper way!" "Don't worry, we learned how to bow in the palace in Vienna," Annie said. "No, this is different!" whispered Jack. "When I messed up there, people just laughed. Here, they kill you!" "Oh. Well, don't forget we've got our potion from Kathleen," Annie whispered. "If worse comes to worst, we can make ourselves small and escape."