Jack, Annie, Teddy, and Kathleen laughed.
"My," said Kathleen. "I believe I would much rather rideDianthus than go with Merlin!"The white unicorn knelt in the snow. Kathleen and Teddyclimbed onto his back. Dianthus stoodTeddy smiled down at Jack and Annie. "You know 'tis a verygreat honor to be given the Wand of Dianthus," he said.
"I know," said Jack shyly. "Thanks for getting us to the rightplace at the right time today."106"Hey, were you guys in Venice, looking out for us there, too?"said Annie. "And Baghdad? And Paris?"The two young enchanters looked at one another. Then theynodded their heads.
"We knew it!" said Annie. "Thanks for helping us!""And thanks for the book of magic rhymes," said Jack.
"You are most welcome," said Teddy. "And now we must go.
We hope to see you again soon." "Good-bye, Dianthus," saidAnnie. She stroked the unicorn's neck one last time.
Dianthus lowered his head and stared at her with his soft blueeyes. They sparkled in the last bit of daylight. Annie stood onher toes and whispered in the unicorn's ear. Then she steppedback.
Dianthus snorted. He raised his head. Then he leapt forward.
In a flash of silver, the unicorn and his two riders were gone.
107Standing in the cold dusk, Annie stared silently into thedistance.
"What did you say to him?" asked Jack.
"I told him he had to go with Teddy and Kathleen," Anniesaid. She blinked back tears. "I told him they would show himthe way home now.""Oh," said Jack. He put his hand on Annie's back. "Don'tworry. We'll see Dianthus again someday. I just feel it."Annie smiled. "You're starting to sound like me," she said.
"Uh-oh," said Jack. He shivered. Night was falling fast.
"Ready?""Sure, let's go," said Annie. She followed Jack to the tree houseand up the rope ladder. They climbed inside and looked out thewindow.
The lights of New York City were starting to come on. A fullmoon was rising over the snowcovered park.
"Hello, blue moon," said Jack.
108"Good-bye, blue moon," said Annie.
Jack picked up the scroll from Merlin. He pointed to the wordsFrog Creekin Merlin's note. "I wish we could go home!" he said.
The wind started to blow.
The tree house started to spin. It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still. Absolutely still.
A cold wind blew through the Frog Creek woods. A few fatsnowflakes drifted into the tree house. Jack and Annie weredressed in their own clothes again. Jack's briefcase had turnedback into a backpack.
Jack quickly opened the pack and looked inside. "Good," hesaid. "The Wand of Dianthus is still there.""Should we take it home with us?" asked Annie.
"I think so," said Jack. "We can keep it safe109until our next mission." He pulled Teddy and Kathleen's bookof rhymes out of his pack.
"I guess we can keep our book of rhymes as a souvenir," Jacksaid. "We won't be using it anymore since we've used up all therhymes." He stuffed the book back into his backpack.
"We haven't usedallof them," said Annie. "We still have one left, remember?
Find a Treasure You Must Never Lose.""Oh, I already used that one," said Jack. "Come on, let's go."He grabbed his pack and started down the rope ladder.
"What do you mean you already used that one?" Annie said asshe followed him down. "When did you usethatrhyme?"Jack stepped onto the ground. "How do you think I found youwhen you got lost in Central Park?" he said.
"Wait, you thought I was a treasure?" said Annie.
Jack shrugged. "I guess," he said. "At least today I did."110Annie smiled. "Cool," she said. "Thanks for finding me whenyou got lost.""Not me,you,"said Jack. "You're the one who got lost.""No,you,"said Annie.
"You,"said Jack.
"Youyouyouyouyou!" said Annie.
Jack laughed. "Whatever," he said. "Let's go have some ofDad's hot chocolate."The snow began to fall harder. As the cold wind rattled thebare trees of the Frog Creek woods, Jack and Annie hurriedhome. |