Free Moonlight on the Magic Flute: A Merlin Mission by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.O81167Mpl 2009 [Fic]—dc22 2008022608
    RL: 2.7
    v3.0

To Janet, Alan, Colin, and Ross,

who have known for a long time

that music is magic
    And with special thanks

to Dr. Jack Hrkach

“I watched the music turn to light.”
    —Sara Teasdale,
A Minuet of Mozart’s

O ne summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods. A brother and sister named Jack and Annie soon learned that the tree house was magic—it could take them to any time and any place in history. They also learned that the tree house belonged to Morgan le Fay, a magical librarian from the legendary realm of Camelot.
    After Jack and Annie traveled on many adventures for Morgan, Merlin the magician began sending them on “Merlin Missions” in the tree house. With help from two young sorcerers named Teddy and Kathleen, Jack and Annie visited four
mythical
places and found valuable objects to help save Camelot.
    On their next eight Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie once again traveled to
real
times and
real
places in history: Venice, Baghdad, Paris, NewYork City, Tokyo, Florence, the deep ocean, and Antarctica. After proving to Merlin that they could use magic wisely, they were awarded the Wand of Dianthus, a powerful magic wand that helped them make their own magic. With the wand, Jack and Annie were able to find four secrets of happiness to help Merlin when he was in trouble.
    Now Jack and Annie are waiting to hear from Merlin again….

J ack was sitting at the computer in the living room. He was doing research on penguins for a school project. His mom and dad were cooking in the kitchen. Jack could smell bread baking in the oven and spaghetti sauce bubbling on top of the stove.
    “Jack!” Annie burst into the living room. “Come with me!” she said.
    “What’s going on?” said Jack.
    “They’re here!” said Annie.
    “Teddy? Kathleen?” asked Jack.
    Annie nodded, her eyes shining.
    “Oh, man!” Jack whispered. He jumped up from his chair and grabbed his jacket and backpack. “Mom, Dad—we’ll be back soon!” he called.
    “Dinner’s in thirty minutes,” their mom called from the kitchen.
    “No problem!” said Annie. Then she and Jack headed out the front door into the cool spring air.
    “Where did you see them?” said Jack.
    “At the edge of the woods!” said Annie. “I was riding my bike home from my piano lesson. When they saw me, they waved.”
    “You didn’t stop and talk to them?” said Jack.
    “No, I pointed to the house,” said Annie, “to let them know I had to get you first.”
    “Oh! Thanks!” said Jack. “We’d better hurry!”
    “I wonder where they’re sending us!” said Annie as they crossed their yard and headed up the sidewalk. “I wonder what our next mission is! Hey, did you bring the Wand of Dianthus?”
    “Yep, it’s in my backpack!” said Jack.
    Jack and Annie ran into the Frog Creek woods. They hurried through the shadowy light of late afternoon, until they came to the tallest tree. Jack looked up. The tree house
was
back. The two young enchanters from Camelot were looking out the window.
    “Hi!” yelled Jack and Annie.
    “Hello!” Teddy and Kathleen shouted.
    Annie grabbed the rope ladder and climbed up into the tree house. Jack followed.
    “We’re so glad you’re back!” said Annie. She hugged Teddy and Kathleen. Jack hugged them, too.
    “How’s Penny?” Jack asked. He’d been missing the little penguin they had given Merlin on their last adventure.
    “Oh, Penny and Merlin have become the best of friends,” said Kathleen. “She has brought him much joy and laughter.”
    “Cool,” said Jack. He wasn’t surprised. Penny had made him really happy, too.
    “What do you want us to do now?” said Annie.
    “On your last missions, you found secrets of happiness to help Merlin,” said Kathleen.
    Jack and Annie nodded.
    “Now, on your next mission, Merlin wants you to help bring happiness to
millions
of