10 A Simple Explanation

Chapter 10 A Simple Explanation Jack didn’t move. He had never been so tired in all his life. “ Breathe, ” said Annie. Jack gulped in cool, clean air. He opened his eyes. He couldn’t see a thing. “ Take off your glasses, ” said Annie. “ They’re filthy. ” Jack took off his glasses. The first thing he saw was his backpack. The white tunics and lace-up sandals were gone. So were their pillow hats and the leather bag.

Jack let out a long, deep breath. As he cleaned his glasses on his shirt, a voice came from behind him. “ I’m very glad to see you safe and sound. ” Morgan le Fay stood in the corner of the tree house. She looked as lovely and mysterious as ever. “ Happy to be home?” she asked. Jack nodded. The sound of the erupting volcano still echoed in his ears. “ It—it was pretty scary, ” he said in a hoarse voice. “ I know. But you were truly brave, ” said Morgan. “ You witnessed a famous event in history. Nowadays, scientists study the remains of Pompeii to find out more about Roman times. ”

“ I feel bad for all those people, ” said Annie. “ Yes, ” said Morgan. “ But most of the people of Pompeii did escape. The city wasn’t completely buried by ash until the next day. ” “ We were almost trapped, ” said Annie. “ But we asked the ancient story to save us. Then a huge gladiator helped us. ” Jack reached into his pack. He breathed a sigh of relief. The scroll was still there! He took it out. It was covered with dust and ashes. “ Here’s the story, ” said Jack. He handed it to Morgan. “ I am deeply grateful, ” she said softly. “ You risked everything to bring this to me. I can never thank you enough. ”

“ Don’t worry about it, ” said Jack. He didn’t want Morgan to know how scared he had been. “ Yeah, no problem, ” said Annie. Morgan smiled. “ You are amazing Master Librarians, ” she said. “ Do you think you’re up to rescuing another ancient story?” “ Yes! ” said Annie. “ Now?” said Jack. Actually he was a little tired now. Morgan laughed. “ No. Take a nice vacation. Come back two weeks from today. Then you will take a trip to ancient China, ” she said. “ Ancient China? Wow, ” said Annie. “ Oh, man, ” said Jack. “ Go home now and rest, ” said Morgan. She handed Jack his pack. “ Thanks, ” he said. “ Bye. ” “ Bye, ” said Annie.

Morgan gave them a little wave. Then Annie and Jack left the tree house and headed down the rope ladder. When they reached the ground, Jack looked up. “ Morgan, ” he called. “ What is that story about—the one we just rescued?” “ It’s called The Strongest Man in the World, ” said Morgan. “ It’s a lost tale about Hercules. ” “ Hercules?” said Jack. “ Yes, he was one of the heroes of the Greeks and the Romans, ” said Morgan. “ He was a son of Jupiter. ” “ Oh, wow. Now I get it, ” said Annie. “ I’m taking it back now to Camelot’s library, ” said Morgan. “ Everyone will be so excited to read it, thanks to you. ” She waved to them. “ Good-bye for now! ”