Jack pulled out his book and found a picture of thestrong men. He read aloud:
Gladiators were slaves or criminals who fought inthe amphitheater (AM-fuli-thee-uli-ter). They wereforced to fight each other or wild animals like lions orbears. The people of Pompeii thought a gladiator fightwas great fun.
"That's not fun!" said Annie. "No wonder I think it'sweird here.""No kidding," said Jack. "That's not like our time atall."Jack and Annie watched as the guards led thegladiators away. They went toward a building thatlooked like an outdoor stadium.
"That must be the amphitheater," said Jack. "Let'scheck it out.
"Oh, all right, but it's not a library," said Annie.
He and Annie started up the street toward theamphitheater. A large crowd had gathered near theentrance. Men and women cheered as the gladiatorsmarched inside.
Jack and Annie started to follow them, but a guardheld up his spear.
"No children allowed," he said stiffly. "Run alongnow.""Yes, run along! Run for your lives!" came a raspy,hissing voice.
Jack and Annie whirled around. It was thesoothsayer. She was waving her bony finger at them.
"Oh, no! Her again!" said Jack. "Let's get away fromhere." He started to take off.
"Wait!" said Annie. "I want to talk to her!""Are you crazy?" said Jack.
But before he could stop her, Annie ran up to thesoothsayer.
Jack watched from a distance as the woman talkedto Annie.
"Jack, come here! Quick!" called Annie.
"Oh, brother," said Jack. He sighed and went over toAnnie and the soothsayer.
"Tell him," said Annie.
The woman fixed her gaze on Jack.
"All the streams of Pompeii have dried up," shesaid.
"Remember the stream near the olive grove?" saidAnnie.
"So what?" said Jack. "Maybe they just ,,need rain.
"No," said Annie. "There're more scary things. Tellhim.""All the birds have flown away," the soothsayersaid.
Jack just stared at her.
"She said that all the rats left, too," said Annie.
"And the cows are making strange noises!""But why?" said Jack.
"The sea is boiling hot," the old woman said. "Andthe ground shakes and speaks.""See, I told you!" Annie said to Jack.
"But why are these things happening?"Jack asked the soothsayer.
"Because the end is near," she whispered hoarsely.
"We have to leave now!" said Annie.
"But what about the library?" said Jack.
"What library?" the soothsayer asked.
"Show her the story title, Jack," said Annie.
Jack took the piece of paper from his bag.
He showed the Latin writing to the soothsayer.
"A book with this title is in a library in this town,"he said.
"So?" the old woman said.
"So we have to save it!" said Annie. She pulled outher secret library card.
The soothsayer stared for a moment at the card andthe shimmering letters on it. Then she smiled warmlyat Jack and Annie.
"Yes, I understand now," she said. "The only libraryI know is in the house of Brutus." She pointed to alarge villa at the end of the street. "Look there.
Quickly.""Will Brutus mind?" said Jack.
"Brutus and his household are all in Rome," thesoothsayer said. "That is merely their vacation villa.""But we can't just go in and take something oftheirs," said Jack.
The old woman shook her head sadly. "After today,there will be nothing left in Pompeii," she said.
"Nothing at all."Jack felt a chill go down his spine.
"Go and get what you came here for," said thesoothsayer. "Then leave at once.""Thanks!" said Jack. He grabbed Annie's hand.
"Come on!""Thanks!" Annie called to the old woman. "Youshould leave, too!" she added.
Then Annie and Jack started running to thevacation villa. They ran as fast as they could. |