Warm air washed over Jack. It felt wonderful.
"You have succeeded in your quest," said a soft,soothing voice. "Are you glad to be home?"Jack opened his eyes. Morgan le Pay stood in themoonlight.
"Yes," he said.
"We solved all our riddles," said Annie.
"Indeed," said Morgan. "You have proved that youcan find answers to very hard questions."She reached into the folds of her robe and took outtwo thin pieces of wood.
"A magic library card for each of you," she said.
She gave one to Annie and one to Jack.
"Oh, man," said Jack, feeling the card.
The wooden card was as thin and smooth as anordinary library card. On its surface shimmered theletters M and L.
"These are your Master Librarian cards," saidMorgan. "You are the newest members of the ancientSociety of Master Librarians.""What do we do with them?" asked Jack.
"Take them on your future journeys," said Morgan.
"Only a very wise person or another Master Librarianwill be able to see the let Jack and Annie climbeddown the rope ladder.
As soon as they stepped onto the dark ground, theyheard a roar. They looked up. They saw a blur ofwind and light high in the oak tree.
Then all was silent.
Morgan and her magic tree house were gone.
Jack reached for his magic library card. When hefelt its tingly warmth, he knew that amazingadventures lay ahead.
"Let's go," he said.
He turned on his flashlight.
"The woods don't feel scary like they did before,"said Annie as they walked through the trees. "I'm notafraid anymore.""Me neither," said Jack.
"Hey, the darkness is like a mask," said Annie.
"Yeah," said Jack. "It hides the day, but it brings outyour courage."They came out of the woods.
Jack saw their house in the distance. It lookedwarm and cozy.
The porch light glowed. The moon shone overhead.
"Home," he whispered. "Home," said Annie.
She started running. Jack took off after her, runningto the place that they both loved the best.
JACK'S FACTS ABOUT THE ARCTICIn the summer the sun never sets.
In the winter the sun never rises.
Seal hunters wear sealskin.
Siberian huskies pull dog sleds.
"Igloo" means "house"people can learn from animals.
Polar bears can walk on ice too thin to hold aperson.
The northern lights are an amazing sight. |