Season of the Sandstorms - Mary Pope Osborne [15]
“I agree, too,” whispered Annie.
“Me too,” said Jack.
“Scientists and scholars from many countries come here to read and study and share their knowledge,” whispered the caliph. “We have thousands of books. They have all been copied by hand.”
“By hand?” said Annie. “That’s a lot of writing!”
“What kind of books?” asked Jack.
“Books of history, mathematics, geography, and medicine,” said the caliph. “But we also have a very special book of fantasy and wonder.”
The caliph took a large, thick book down from a shelf. He rested it on a table and turned the pages to show Jack and Annie. The book was filled with fancy writing and beautiful illustrations. There were pictures of Aladdin and Ali Baba, magic lamps and flying carpets.
“Oh, Tales from the Arabian Nights!” said Annie. “We know those stories.”
“You do? Wonderful!” the caliph said with a smile. “It seems someone from our land has traveled to yours and shared our stories. Perhaps someone will soon bring stories from your land back to us. That is the great power of a book, no?”
“Yes,” said Annie.
“And I hope your land will hear of this book, too, someday,” said the caliph. He held up the book of Aristotle’s writings. “After I have read it, I will have it copied so I can share its wisdom with the world. Thank you for helping me.”
“Sure,” Jack said modestly. “That was our mission.”
“I fear I must now return to my duties,” said the caliph. “But please, stay in the library. Read until you must go to meet your family. And come back someday to visit me.”
“We’ll try,” said Jack.
“Good-bye, Annie. Good-bye, Jack.”
“Bye, Mamoon,” Annie said.
The mighty caliph gave them a warm smile and a deep bow. Then he left Jack and Annie in his wondrous library.
Jack and Annie looked around the big room. The scholars and scientists were all deep into their reading.
“I can’t believe Mamoon is the caliph,” whispered Jack.
“Remember that life is full of surprises,” Annie repeated from Merlin’s letter.
“Yeah, and Return to the tree house before the moon rises,” Jack finished.
“I almost forgot that part,” said Annie.
“Me too,” said Jack.
“Shh!” said one of the scholars and scientists.
“Sorry,” said Annie.
Jack and Annie looked up at the open window. The sky was pink. The sun would be setting soon. “We have to get back to the tree house,” Annie whispered, “before the moon rises.”
“I know,” said Jack, “but how?” He felt a moment of panic. The tree house is really far away, he thought. If we traveled on Beauty and Cutie, it would take a whole day and night to get there. And what about sandstorms? And bandits? Jack looked at Annie.
She was smiling. Magic, she mouthed.
Jack caught his breath and nodded. They both looked around to see if any of the scholars or scientists were watching. They weren’t.
Jack quietly slipped Teddy and Kathleen’s book out of his bag. He and Annie turned their backs to the others and opened the book to the table of contents.
Annie pointed to Turn into Ducks.
Jack gave her a look.
Annie pointed to Fly Through the Air.
“Yes!” said Jack.
“Shh!” said a scholar.
Jack turned to the right page. He held up the book so they both could see.
Jack said the first line of the rhyme:
Sail through the sky where you wish to go!
Annie said the second:
Sawn-ee-fore, sawn-ee-row!
“You must be quiet, or you will have to leave the library!” one of the scholars said grouchily.
“Don’t worry, we’re going,” said Annie.
A wind blew through the tall open window, fluttering the pages of the Arabian Nights book. The scholars and scientists grabbed their papers before they blew away.
The wind picked up a corner of the small carpet Jack and Annie were standing on. The carpet rippled. Jack and Annie fell forward. As they tried to stand, the carpet lifted off the floor.
“Oh!” cried all the scholars and scientists.
The carpet began floating up. It rose above the long tables. It rose above the shelves of books. Everyone jumped out of their