Jack and Annie kept walking across the pasturetoward the road. Annie stopped when they neared thefarmhouse.
"We have to find the silk weaver and give her themessage," she said.
"Let's do that on our way back," said Jack. "I'mworried about finding the Imperial Library.""What if we don't have time?" said Annie. "Wepromised. And he was so nice."Jack sighed.
"Okay," he said. "But let's find her fast. Andremember to keep your head down so no one willnotice us."Jack and Annie bowed their heads as they headedtoward the house.
As they got closer, Jack peeked out from under hishat. An ox pulled a cart filled with hay. Men hoed theground. Women pushed wheelbarrows piled highwith grain.
"There!" said Annie. She pointed to an open porchwhere a young woman was weaving cloth on a loom.
"That must be her!"Annie ran to the silk weaver. Jack looked around tosee if anyone was watching. Luckily, all the farmworkers seemed too busy to notice anything. Stilllooking around carefully, Jack walked toward theporch.
Annie was already talking to the silk weaver.
"What did he say?" the young woman asked. Hervoice was soft but strong. Her dark eyes glowed withhappiness.
"He said you should meet him in the field attwilight," said Annie. "He's so handsome!""Yes, he is. The silk weaver gave Annie a shy smile.
Then she reached down to a basket near her loom andpicked up a ball of yellow thread.
"It was very brave of you to bring the message," shesaid. "Please accept this silk thread as my thank-you."She handed Annie the ball of silk.
"It's beautiful," said Annie. "Feel."She handed it to Jack. The thread was smooth andsoft.
"How do you make silk?" said Jack. "It is made fromthe Cocoons of silk-worms," said the weaver.
"Really? Worms? That's neat," said Jack. "Let mewrite that down."He reached into his sack.
"Please don't!" said the silk weaver. "The making ofsilk is China's most valuable secret. Anyone whosteals the secret will be arrested The Dragon Kingwill have him put to death.
"Oops," said Jack.
He dropped the ball of silk into his sack.
"I think you must leave quickly," whispered the silkweaver. "You have been seen."Jack looked over his shoulder. A man was pointingat them.
"Let's go," he said.
"Bye!" said Annie. "Good luck on your date!""Thank you," the silk weaver said.
"Come on," said Jack.
They hurried away from the silk weaver.
"Stop!" someone shouted.
"Run!" said Annie. |