Free Vacation Under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc. MAGIC TREE HOUSE is a registered trademark of Mary Pope Osborne; used under license.
    v3.0

For Louis deWolf-Stein,
who wanted me to
write about Pompeii.



Jack reached into his drawer and took out his secret library card. He held the thin piece of wood and ran his finger over its shimmering letters: M L.
    â€œMaster 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 to take on vacation. His family was about to leave for a week in the mountains.
    Just then Annie stuck her head into Jack’s room.
    â€œWant to check the woods?” she asked.
    Every morning, they looked in the Frog Creek woods to see if Morgan le Fay and her magic tree house had returned.
    â€œWe can’t,” said Jack. “We’re leaving soon.”
    â€œBut what if Morgan’s there?” said Annie. “What if she’s waiting for us?”
    â€œOh, okay,” said Jack. “Let’s look fast.”
    He grabbed his backpack. He threw in his notebook, his pencil, and his secret library card. Then he followed Annie downstairs.
    â€œWe’ll be back soon!” Annie called.
    â€œDon’t go far!” their dad called. “We’re leaving in twenty minutes.”
    â€œDon’t worry, we’ll be back in
ten!
” said Annie.
    Right
, thought Jack.
Five minutes to the woods
,
and five minutes back
. Even if Morgan sent them on an adventure, they would return at exactly the same time that they left.
    Jack and Annie ran out their front door. In the bright morning sunshine, they hurried across their lawn and down the street.
    â€œI had a nightmare last night,” said Annie.
    â€œWhat was it?” said Jack.
    â€œI dreamed fires were burning,” said Annie. “Everything was smoky and dark, and the ground was shaking. Do you think it was a warning?”
    â€œNah,” said Jack. “Nightmares never come true.”
    They left the sidewalk and headed into the Frog Creek woods. The woods were quiet and peaceful. They walked between sunlit trees until they came to the tallest oak in the woods.
    â€œYay!” said Annie.
    There it was—the magic tree house. And Morgan le Fay was waving from the window.
    â€œHail, Master Librarians,” she said.
    Jack and Annie bowed playfully.
    â€œAt your service,” said Annie.
    â€œThen come on up!” said Morgan.
    They grabbed the rope ladder and started up. When they climbed inside the tree house, they found Morgan holding a book and a piece of paper.
    â€œI have an important mission for you,” she said. “Are you ready?”
    â€œYes!” they both answered.
    Jack’s heart pounded. Ever since Morgan had made them Master Librarians, he had been longing for their first mission.
    â€œYou know I collect books for Camelot’s library?” she said.
    Jack and Annie nodded.
    â€œWell, there have been many great libraries lost in history,” said Morgan. “And with them, we have lost many wonderful stories.”
    â€œThat’s sad,” said Annie.
    â€œIt is,” said Morgan. “But luckily, with the help of the tree house and you two Master Librarians, some of those stories can be saved. Such as this one—”
    Morgan showed them the piece of paper. There was strange writing on it:
    Vir Fortissimus in Mundo
    â€œIs that a secret code?” said Jack.
    Morgan smiled. “In a way,” she said. “Actually, it’s the title of a lost story. It’s written in Latin, the language of the ancient Romans of Italy.”
    â€œAncient Romans?” said Jack. He loved anything to do with ancient Romans.
    â€œYes,” said Morgan. “This story was in a library in a Roman town. I need you to get it before the library becomes lost forever.”
    â€œNo problem!” said Annie.
    â€œDo you