Ch1-Gold Dust, Stardust

#1 New York Times Bestselling Series MAGIC TREE HOUSE #54 Balto of the Blue Dawn

CHAPTER ONE Gold Dust, Stardust Jack was reading on the front porch when Annie peeked out the door. "Bike ride later?" she asked. "Sure," said Jack. "Let's go now, before it gets too dark. Tell Mom and Dad." Annie slipped into the house to tell their parents. Jack closed his book about whales and sharks and stood up and stretched. He was tired from swimming at the lake all afternoon, but he felt good. He loved summer. A bike ride in the warm evening air seemed like the perfect way to end the day.

"Good to go," said Annie, coming out of the house with their bike helmets. Jack and Annie ran down the porch steps and climbed on their bikes. They put on their helmets and pedaled out to the street. As they rode up their block, they waved to a neighbor mowing her lawn and to a couple walking two poodles. "We need a dog!" Annie called back to Jack. "What kind do you want?" he said. "Any kind. I like all dogs," said Annie. "Big or small?" said Jack. "Well, both. I want a little dog and a big dog," she said. "And maybe an in-between dog, too." Jack laughed. "Yeah, I'd like a dog," he said. "But probably just one." "Whoa!" said Annie, putting on her brakes. "Did you see that?" "What?" said Jack, stopping beside her. "Above the woods—a bright flash of light," she said. "You're kidding," he said.

"Not kidding! I had a feeling, even before we left the house!" said Annie. Without another word, she bumped her bicycle over the sidewalk curb and headed into the Frog Creek woods. Jack followed, his bike bouncing over roots and twigs in the shadows beneath the trees. Growing darker by the second, the woods were filled with the sounds of crickets. "Am I brilliant or what?" cried Annie. She had stopped next to the tallest oak. "Brilliant," said Jack, laughing. The magic tree house was perched high in the oak. Their friend Teddy was grinning at them from the window. "It's about time!" he called. "I was getting ready to summon a crow or a rabbit to go get you." Jack and Annie leaned their bikes against the tree and hurried up the rope ladder. Inside the tree house, Teddy greeted them with hugs. "We must hurry," he said. "You are needed right away." "Where? When? Why?" said Annie.

"Where? A seaside town in a vast territory below the Arctic," said Teddy. "When? February 1925. And why? Because Merlin and Morgan believe you can save lives there." "Whoa," said Jack. "Sounds serious," said Annie. "And cold," said Jack. "It is quite serious, and it will be quite cold," said Teddy. "First, you'll need this." He handed Annie a small travel guide: The Territory of ALASKA

"Alaska? Oh, boy, I've always wanted to visit Alaska," she said. "This guide was published in 1925," said Teddy. "So it will be a different Alaska than Alaska today," said Jack. "Precisely," said Teddy. "And you'll need this." He reached into his cloak and took out a small gold box. He handed it to Jack. "What's this for?" said Jack. He started to take off the lid. "No! Don't open it now," said Teddy. "There is a thimbleful of enchanted gold dust inside. It is from Morgan. You can use it only once." "Use it for what?" asked Jack. "In your time of need, you can use it to acquire a great skill that you both will share," said Teddy. "Cool!" said Annie. "Like the time we used the magic mist of Avalon to give us the skill of great rock climbers." "And the time we wished to be great magicians," said Jack. "And great horse trainers."