Vacation Under the Volcano - Mary Pope Osborne [2]
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.”
“Ancient Romans?” said Jack. He loved anything to do with ancient Romans.
“Yes,” said Morgan. “This story was in a library in a Roman town. I need you to get it before the library becomes lost forever.”
“No problem!” said Annie.
“Do you have your secret library cards?” asked Morgan.
“Yes,” said Jack.
“Good. Do not lose them. The right people will know what they mean,” said Morgan. “And, as usual, here is a book to help you.”
Morgan handed Jack a book called Life in Roman Times. The cover showed a Roman town with people wearing tunics and sandals.
“That looks great,” said Jack.
“And take this—the name of the story I need,” said Morgan. She handed the piece of paper to Jack, and he put it in his pack.
“Remember,” said Morgan. “Your research book will guide you. But remember: In your darkest hour, only the ancient story can save you. But first you must find it.”
Jack and Annie nodded.
“Go now,” Morgan said softly. “And don’t forget what I just told you.”
“Thanks,” said Jack. He pointed at the cover of the book on Roman times. “I wish we could go there,” he said.
The wind started to blow.
“I almost forgot—I’m going to help you blend in!” Morgan shouted above the wind.
“What do you mean?” shouted Jack.
Before Morgan could answer, the tree house started to spin.
It spun faster and faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
“Oh, cool,” whispered Annie. “Look at us.”
Jack opened his eyes. He pushed his glasses into place.
Morgan was gone. And so were Jack’s jeans, T-shirt, sneakers, and backpack.
Instead, he had on a white tunic with a belt, sandals that laced up, and a leather bag.
He looked at Annie. She was dressed the same way. Morgan had made them look just like kids in an ancient Roman town.
“I guess this is what Morgan meant,” said Jack, “when she said she’d help us blend in.”
“I feel like Cinderella,” said Annie. “I like these clothes.”
“Yeah,” said Jack, although he felt a little as if he was wearing a dress.
Annie looked out the window.
“It’s pretty here,” she said.
Jack looked with her. They had landed in a grove of trees. On one side of the grove rose a gentle-looking mountain. On the other, a town sparkled in the sunlight.
“I wonder where we are,” said Jack. He opened the book about Roman times. He read aloud:
Almost 2,000 years ago, on August 24, A.D. 79, the seaside town of Pompeii (pom-PAY) was a typical Roman town. Many Romans went there on their vacation. They built large houses called villas and planted groves of olive trees along the slopes of a mountain called Mount Vesuvius (vuh-SOO-vee-us).
Annie kept looking out the window as Jack pulled out his notebook and pencil. He wrote:
Jack looked out the window again.
“It does look like a nice place to go on vacation,” he said.
“We must have landed in one of the olive groves,” said Annie.
“Yeah, and that town must be Pompeii,” said Jack.
He looked in the opposite direction. “And that mountain must be Mount Vesuvius.”
Annie shivered. “That name sounds scary,” she said.
“Really?” said Jack. “Not to me.” He looked down at his notes.
“Hey! Did you feel that?” said Annie.
“What?” Jack looked up.
“The ground shook. I heard it rumble, too,” said Annie.
Jack frowned. “I think you were just dreaming again,” he said.
“No, I wasn’t,” said Annie. “Something feels wrong about this place. I really think we should go home now.”
“Are you nuts?” said Jack. “We have to find that lost story for Morgan. Besides, I’ve always wanted to see a Roman town.”
He threw his notebook and the Roman book into his leather bag. Then he went down the rope ladder.
“Come on!” he called when he stepped onto the ground.
Annie just stared down at him.
“Don’t be chicken,” he said. He pushed his glasses into place. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
Annie still didn’t move.
What’s wrong with her? Jack wondered. Usually I’m the worried one.
“Come on,” he pleaded.