Earthquake in the Early Morning - Mary Pope Osborne [2]
Annie picked up the note lying on the floor. She held it up to the window and read aloud:
Dear Jack and Annie,
Camelot is in trouble. To save the kingdom, please find these four special kinds of writing for my library:
Something to follow
Something to send
Something to learn
Something to lend
Thank you,
Morgan
Jack took a deep breath.
“Okay,” he said. “We have our first special writing: a list from the Civil War.”
“We have the second,” said Annie, “a letter from the Revolutionary War.”
“We have the third,” said Jack, “a poem from a pioneer schoolhouse.”
“Now we just need one more,” said Annie.
“I wonder why we have to find these special writings for Morgan’s library,” said Jack. “How are they going to save Camelot?”
“I don’t know,” said Annie. “But let’s get going so we can solve the mystery. Where’s our research book?”
They looked around the tree house.
Their Pennsylvania book, the book that always brought them home, was lying in the corner. Beside it was another book. Annie picked it up.
“This is it,” she said softly. She showed the book’s cover to Jack. It said:
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 1906
“California?” said Jack. “I’ve always wanted to go to California.”
“Me too,” said Annie. She laughed. “I guess I told Miss Neely the truth after all.”
“Yeah,” said Jack, smiling.
The magic tree house had taken them to a pioneer school in their last adventure. There, Annie had told the teacher, Miss Neely, that they were on their way to California.
Annie pointed at the cover of the California book.
“We really wish we could go there,” she said.
The wind started to blow.
The tree house started to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
“Nice clothes,” said Annie.
Jack opened his eyes.
Annie was wearing a blue-and-white dress with a big sailor collar and white stockings.
Jack was wearing brown knee-length pants, a jacket, a cap, and a tie. His backpack had become a leather bag. He and Annie both wore short lace-up boots.
A church bell started to ring.
Gong. Gong. Gong. Gong. Gong.
“It rang five times,” said Jack. “It must be five in the morning.”
“Yeah,” said Annie. She was looking out the window.
Jack looked with her. The early-morning air felt fresh and cool.
The tree house had landed in a tree at the bottom of a hill. Painted wooden houses and gaslights lined a quiet cobblestone street. A trolley car moved along tracks up the street. It rounded the top of the hill and disappeared.
Tall buildings towered farther off. The sun was behind them, making pink streaks in the blue sky.
“It’s really pretty here,” said Annie.
“Yeah,” said Jack.
He opened the research book and read:
On Wednesday, April 18, 1906, San Francisco was the biggest city on the west coast of the United States. It had a population of half a million people. It was also one of the loveliest cities in the country.
Jack pulled out his notebook. He wrote:
“Let’s go!” Annie said impatiently.
Jack looked back at the book. He wanted to learn more.
“Now,” said Annie. She took the book and notebook away from him and put them into his leather bag. “Let’s not waste any more time.”
Annie left the tree house.
“Doing research is not wasting time,” Jack called after her.
But he slung his bag over his shoulder and followed Annie down the rope ladder. When they had both stepped onto the grass, Jack looked around.
“Where to?” he said.
“Anywhere!” said Annie. “Let’s just explore and see the sights. We can be tourists.”
“Okay,” said Jack. “But don’t forget we have to find the writing for Morgan’s library.”
They started up the cobblestone street. As they walked up the steep hill, the sun rose above the tall buildings.
The early light turned everything to gold: stones, streetlamps, and the glass windows of the silent houses.
“It’s so quiet and peaceful,” said Annie.
“Yeah, everyone must still be sleeping,” said Jack.
Suddenly, out of the quiet came a deep rumbling noise.
Jack stopped. He grabbed Annie’s arm.
“What’s that?” he said.
The noise got louder. It sounded like