The white horse stopped at the low wall by theedge of the track.
"He's come for us!" cried Annie. The guards staredin awe at the horse. Annie broke free and dashed overto Jack.
He grabbed her hand and they ran to the horse. Theguards shouted and started after them. But they weretoo late. Jack and Annie had already climbed over thewall and into the waiting chariot.
"Go! Go! white horse.
The horse reared and pawed the air!
The crowd stepped back from the wall.
The guards froze.
Go!" Annie cried to the huge horse.
Jack looked up to where Plato was now standing.
Plato smiled and waved at him.
Then the white horse leaped forward, pulling thechariot behind him.
Jack couldn't even wave back at Plato. All he coulddo was hold on tight as the horse galloped beside theOlympic racers.
Jack bounced up and down. 'Dust and sand got inhis eyes. He squeezed them shut and crouched downin the chariot.
He didn't know where they were going. But itdidn't matter. The white horse was in charge.
Jack heard the thundering noise of the racing horsesand chariots. He heard the screaming crowd.
He felt sand blowing in his face and the hardbumping and rattling of the chariot.
Suddenly, he was thrown backward. He heard aswoosh of wind, then...
Silence.
"Oh wow!" cried Annie.
Jack opened his eyes. All he saw was blue sky. Hepushed his glasses into place and looked around.
"Help!" he cried.
The white horse had grown giant feathery wingsand was pulling their chariot into the sky.
Jack gripped the railing of the chariot and held onfor his life.
"To the tree house!" shouted Annie.
Below, the Olympic crowd watched in stunnedsilence.
The winged horse left the games behind and flewover the temple of Zeus, over the statue of Nike, overthe sacred olive tree and the gymnasium.
On they went: over the poet's house, the Greektheater, and the field of white tents.
Finally, the winged horse coasted to the groundnear the olive grove.
The wheels of the chariot bumped onto the grass.
Then slowly, slowly, they came to a stop.
Jack and Annie stepped out of the chariot. Jack'slegs were so wobbly he could hardly walk.
Annie rushed to the horse and stroked his neck.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Jack patted the horse's long white neck too.
"Thanks," he said. "That was the best ride of mylife."The horse snorted and pawed the ground.
"Come on, Annie. We have to go before they findus," said Jack.
"I don't want to leave him," said Annie. "He's themost beautiful horse in the whole world."Her eyes filled with tears. "We have to," said Jack.
The horse put his head down and touched Annie'sforehead with his soft nose. Then he gave her a gentlepush toward the tree house.
Annie sniffled but started walking. Jack took herhand as they walked through the olive grove to therope ladder of the tree house.
"You first," Jack said.
Annie started up the ladder. Jack followed. Whenthey were inside, Annie hurried to the window. Jackgrabbed the Pennsylvania book.
He pointed to a picture of the Frog Creek woodsand said, "I wish-""Look!" said Annie.
Jack looked out the window. The horse had spreadhis great feathery wings. He was rising from the field.
The white horse flew high into the blue Olympiansky.
Then he disappeared behind the clouds.
"Bye!" called Annie.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Jack pointed again at the Pennsylvania book.
"I wish we could go there," he said.
The wind started to blow.
The tree house began to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still. |