Jack and Annie ran up the street to the book wagon.
The man was carefully stacking the books in the backof the wagon. He was covered with dust and hisglasses were cracked.
"Hey, what's the story?" Annie asked the man.
Jack couldn't help smiling. Annie sounded just likethe newspaper reporter.
"I'm moving all the rare books to the Pavilion," theman said.
"Can we help?" asked Jack.
"Sure, there are only a few left by the door," saidthe man. "Grab 'em! Hurry! The fires on Market Streetwill soon be blowing this way."Jack and Annie ran into the building. Near the doorwere two small stacks of books.
Jack and Annie each gathered up a stack.
The books looked very old and fancy. Some evenhad sparkling gold on their covers. "Wow," whisperedJack.
He and Annie carried the books outside. "Careful,please!" said the man. "All these books are treasures-ancientBibles and hand-painted books."The man carefully took the books from Jack's andAnnie's arms and put them in the back of the wagon.
"Thanks," he said, pushing his hat back. "Run homenow! The fires will be here soon!"As the horses started up the hill, Annie waved andshouted, "Good luck!""I bet he was the librarian," said Jack.
He opened his research book. He looked for aphotograph of the building that had the books.
"Here it is," he said. He read aloud:
People tried to save special things. But they did notalways succeed.
Rare books from a library were moved to thePavilion building.
When the Pavilion building caught fire, all thebooks burned. The building that originally held themdid not burn at all.
"Oh no!" cried Jack. "Stop! Stop!"Clutching the research book, he ran after thewagon. Annie ran with him.
"Stop! Stop!" they both yelled. They ran as fast asthey could over the broken cobble-stones and up thesteep hill.
Near the top, the driver finally heard them. Hebrought his wagon to a halt.
"You can't go to the Pavilion!" Jack cried.
"You have to take them back to the building wherethey were!" said Annie.
"They won't burn there!" said Jack, trying to catchhis breath. 'The building you're taking them to isgoing to burn instead!"The driver looked at Jack and Annie as if they werecrazy.
"You kids need to worry about yourselves, not thesebooks," he said. "Go home to your parents. I'll takecare of the library."Then the man snapped his reins and went on overthe hilltop.
"Come back!" Jack cried.
They watched helplessly as the wagon bumpeddown the street, over the rubble. Smoke billowed upfrom the bottom of the hill.
"I can't believe it," Jack said. He was close to tears.
"We tried, but we couldn't save them," said Annie.
She touched Jack's shoulder gently.
"All those books.. ." His voice trailed off.
"Hey," said Annie. "Someone's crying over there-someone with two kids. Maybe we can help them." |