儿童英语读物《神奇树屋》第十三册 Vacation Under the Volcano 1 A Secret Code
Jack reached into his drawer and took out his secretlibrary card. He held the thin piece of wood and ranhis finger over its shimmering letters: M L.
"Master Librarian," he whispered.
Jack couldn't believe that he and his sister, Annie,were finally Master Librarians.
He wondered if he should pack the secret card totake on vacation. His family was about to leave for aweek in the mountains.
Just then Annie stuck her head into Jack's room.
"Want to check the woods?" she asked.
Every morning, they looked in the Frog Creekwoods to see if Morgan le Fay and her magic treehouse had returned.
"We can't," said Jack. "We're leaving soon." "Butwhat if Morgan's there?" said Annie.
"What if she's waiting for us?""Oh, okay," said Jack. "Let's look fast."He grabbed his backpack. He threw in his notebook,his pencil, and his secret library card. Then hefollowed Annie downstairs.
"We'll be back soon!" Annie called.
"Don't go far!" their dad called. "We're leaving intwenty minutes.""Don't worry, we'll be back in ten!" said Annie.
Right, thought Jack. Five minutes to the woods, andfive minutes back. Even if Mor-gan sent them on anadventure, they would return at exactly the sametime that they left.
Jack and Annie ran out their front door. In thebright morning sunshine, they hurried across theirlawn and down the street.
"I had a nightmare last night," said Annie.
"What was it?" said Jack.
"I dreamed fires were burning," said Annie.
"Everything was smoky and dark, and the groundwas shaking. Do you think it was a warning?""Nah," said Jack. "Nightmares never come true."They left the sidewalk and headed into the FrogCreek woods. The woods were quiet and peaceful.
They walked between sunlit trees until they came tothe tallest oak in the woods.
"Yay!" said Annie.
There it was--the magic tree house. And Morgan leFay was waving from the window.
"Hail, Master Librarians," she said. Jack and Anniebowed playfully. "At your service," said Annie. "Thencome on up!" said Morgan. They grabbed the ropeladder and started up. When they climbed inside thetree house, they found Morgan holding a book and apiece of paper.
"I have an important mission for you," she said.
"Are you ready?""Yes!" they both answered.
Jack's heart pounded. Ever since Morgan had madethem Master Librarians, he had been longing for theirfirst mission.
"You know I collect books for Camelot's library?"she said.
Jack and Annie nodded.
"Well, there have been many great libraries lost inhistory," said Morgan. "And with them, we have lostmany wonderful stories.""That's sad," said Annie.
"It is," said Morgan. "But luckily, with the help ofthe tree house and you two Master Librarians, someof those stories can be saved. Such as this one--"Morgan showed them the piece of paper. There wasstrange writing on it:
Vir fortissimus in Mundo"Is that a secret code?" said Jack.
Morgan smiled. "In a way," she said. "Actually, it'sthe title of a lost story. It's written in Latin, thelanguage of the ancient Romans of Italy.""Ancient Romans?" said Jack. He loved anything todo with ancient Romans.
"Yes," said Morgan. "This story was in a library in aRoman town. I need you to get it before the librarybecomes lost forever.""No problem!" said Annie.
"Do you have your secret library cards?" askedMorgan.
"Yes," said Jack.
"Good. Do not lose them. The right people willknow what they mean," said Morgan. "And, as usual,here is a book to help you."Morgan handed Jack a book called Life in RomanTimes. The cover showed a Roman town with peoplewearing tunics and sandals.
"That looks great," said Jack.
"And take this--the name of the story I need," saidMorgan. She handed the piece of paper to Jack, and heput it in his pack.
"Remember," said Morgan. "Your research book willguide you. But remember: In your darkest hour, onlythe ancient story can save you. But first you mustfind it."Jack and Annie nodded.
"Go now," Morgan said softly. "And don't forgetwhat I just told you.""Thanks," said Jack. He pointed at the cover of thebook on Roman times. "I wish we could go there," hesaid.
The wind started to blow.
"I almost forgot--I'm going to help you blend in!"Morgan shouted above the wind.
"What do you mean?" shouted Jack.
Before Morgan could answer, the tree house startedto spin.
It spun faster and faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
"Oh, cool," whispered Annie. "Look at us."
