Free Viking Ships at Sunrise by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title. III. Series: Osborne, Mary Pope. Magic tree house series; 15. PZ7.O81167Vh 1998 [Fic]—dc21 98-23602
    Random House, Inc. New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, Auckland
    A STEPPING STONE BOOK is a trademark of Random House, Inc.
    v3.0

For Benjamin Dicker

 

One summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods.
    Eight-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister, Annie, climbed into the tree house. They found that it was filled with books.
    Jack and Annie soon discovered that the tree house was magic. It could take them to the places in the books. All they had to do was to point to a picture and wish to go there.
    Along the way, they discovered that the tree house belongs to Morgan le Fay. Morgan is a magical librarian from the time of King Arthur. She travels through time and space, gathering books.
    In the Magic Tree House Books #8–12, Jack and Annie solved four ancient riddles and became Master Librarians. To help them in their
future
tasks, Morgan gave Jack and Annie secret library cards with the letters M L on them.
    As Master Librarians, Jack and Annie must go on four missions to save stories from ancient libraries. They have already brought back a scroll from an ancient Roman town and a bamboo book from ancient China. Now, they are about to head out on their third mission … 

Jack opened his eyes.
    A thin gray light came through his window. His clock read 5 A.M. All was quiet.
    Today we’re going to ancient Ireland
, he thought,
back more than a thousand years
.
    Morgan le Fay had told him that it was a very dangerous time, with Vikings raiding the coasts.
    â€œYou awake?” came a whisper.
    Annie stood in his doorway. She was dressed and ready to go.
    â€œYeah, meet you outside,” said Jack as he climbed out of bed.
    He pulled on his jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers. He put his secret library card into his backpack with his notebook and pencil. Then he hurried downstairs.
    Annie was waiting for him in their yard.
    The air was damp and misty.
    â€œReady?” she asked.
    Jack took a deep breath.
    â€œI guess,” he said. He was a little worried about the Vikings.
    They walked silently over the dewy grass. Then they ran up their street and into the Frog Creek woods.
    Mist clung to the trees as they walked through the dark woods.
    â€œIt’s hard to see,” said Jack.
    â€œWhere’s the tree house?” asked Annie.
    â€œI have no idea,” said Jack.
    Just then something fell in front of them.
    â€œ
Watch out!
” shouted Jack. He covered his head.
    â€œThe ladder!” cried Annie.
    Jack opened his eyes.
    The rope ladder from the magic tree house dangled in front of them.
    Jack looked up. The tree house was hidden in the mist.
    â€œCome on, let’s go,” said Annie.
    She grabbed the ladder and started up. Jack followed.
    They climbed through the wet air and into the tree house.
    â€œHello,” said Morgan. “I’m glad to see you.”
    She was sitting in the corner. At her feet were the scroll they’d brought back from Roman times and the bamboo book from ancient China.
    â€œI’m so glad to see
you
,” said Jack.
    â€œMe too,” said Annie.
    â€œIt’s good that you both came early,” said Morgan.
    She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a piece of paper.
    â€œHere’s the ancient story you must find today,” she said.

    Morgan handed the paper to Jack. On it were the words:

    The mysterious writing reminded Jack of the writing from their trip to the Roman town of Pompeii.
    â€œThat looks like Latin,” he said.
    â€œVery good,” said Morgan. “It
is
Latin.”
    â€œBut I thought they spoke Latin in ancient Rome,” said Annie. “Aren’t we going to Ireland?”
    â€œYou are,” said Morgan. “But during the Dark Ages in Europe, educated people wrote in