Jack's glasses were wet with mist. He quickly wipedthem, then looked up.
A man in a brown robe stood before him. The manhad a round red face. He was bald, except for a fringeof hair around his head.
Nearby the rope was tied around a tree.
"I--I'm not an invader," said Jack.
"He's Jack!" said Annie. She was standing behindthe man. "I'm Annie. We're from Frog Creek,Pennsylvania.""We--we come in peace," stammered Jack.
The man's blue eyes twinkled.
"Oh, do you now?" he said. "I wondered what wasgoing on. I had dropped the rope so I could climbdown the steps. But you two grabbed it instead. Howin the world did you get on this island?"Jack stared at the man. He didn't know how toexplain the magic tree house.
"In our boat," Annie said quickly.
The man looked puzzled. "Not many boats cancome ashore at this dark, early hour.""Well, we're very good sailors," said Annie.
Oh, brother, thought Jack. He hoped their sailingskills wouldn't be tested.
"Where exactly are we?" asked Annie. "And whoexactly are you?""You're on an island off the coast of Ireland," theman said. "And I am Brother Patrick.""Whose brother are you?" said Annie.
The monk smiled. "The 'brother' means I'm aChristian monk.""Oh, you're one of the monks who savedcivilization!" said Annie.
The man smiled again.
Annie turned to Jack and whispered, "Let's showhim our cards. I trust him.""Okay," said Jack. He trusted the monk, too.
They both pulled out their secret library cards andshowed them to Brother Patrick.
The M's and L's for Master Librarian shined in thegray light.
--The monk looked at them and bowed his head.
"Welcome, my friends," he said. "Thank you," saidJack and Annie.
"I did not truly think you were invaders," BrotherPatrick. "But on our small island, we are careful ofstrangers.""Why?" said Annie.
"There are terrible stories about Viking raiders," hesaid. "When we see their serpent ships, we must hideor be taken as slaves.""Serpent ships?" said Jack.
"The prows of their ships are often carved in theshape of a serpent's head," said Brother Patrick. "I amafraid it stands for their fierce, cold-blooded ways."Jack looked at the misty gray sea. "Do not worry,"said Brother Patrick.
"They cannot land safely on this island beforedaylight. They're not as good sailors as some people."He winked at Annie.
"Too bad for them," she said cheerfully.
"But tell me, why have you come here?" askedBrother Patrick.
"Oh," said Jack. "I almost forgot."He pulled Morgan's paper from his leather bag. Heshowed the Latin words to the monk.
Serpens Magna"This is the title of a story that we have to takeback to our friend and teacher, Morgan le Fay," saidAnnie.
"I see..." said Brother Patrick. He gave Jack andAnnie a mysterious look.
What he thinking? Jack wondered.
But the monk changed the subject.
"I think you would like to visit our monastery," hesaid.
"What's that?" said Annie.
"The place where we monks live and work," saidBrother Patrick. "Come.""But the sun's not up yet," said Jack. "Won't theothers be asleep?""Oh, no" said Brother Patrick. "in the summer, werise long before daylights We have much to do. You'llsee."The monk led them up a dirt path. Jack hoped theirbook was at the monastery. He wanted to leave thegloomy island with its threat of Viking invaders assoon as Possible.
A low bell started to ring. Jack saw a lonely churchsteeple against the gray sky ahead. |