"We found our story!" said Jack.
"Yay!" said Annie.
"Indeed," said Brother Patrick. "But alas, BrotherMichael has not yet completed his work. You willhave to return for it.""Oh, shoot," said Annie.
Jack was disappointed, too.
"I don't know if we'll be able to come back," he said.
"I don't know if we can even leave without thestory," said Annie.
Brother Patrick looked puzzled.
The two kids looked at each other, then back atBrother Patrick. It was too hard to explain about thetree house and how the magic worked.
Jack shrugged.
"We'll just have to try," he said.
Outside, the church bell began ringing.
"It is time now for our sunrise prayers," saidBrother Patrick. 'Will you join us?""Thanks, but we better try to go home now," saidJack.
Brother Patrick nodded and led them into thegarden. When he opened the gate, they stopped.
The horizon glowed pink and purple. The sun hadstarted to rise.
No one spoke as the great, fiery ball rose slowlyover the ocean.
Finally, Brother Patrick broke the silence. "Shine, Olight of the sun," he said softly, "on this day filledwith wonder.""That's beautiful ," said Annie.
Jack smiled. He agreed.
Brother Patrick turned to them. "It is such sights asthis that inspire our book-making," he said. "Now go,and may God be with you on your voyage home.""Thanks," said Jack and Annie.
"Do you need me to guide you to your boat?" heasked.
"I don't think so," said Jack.
"Follow the path to the top of the cliff," said BrotherPatrick. "Then use my rope to help you down thesteps.""Okay," said Annie. "Bye!" And she went throughthe gate.
Jack wanted to go home, but he hated leaving themonastery. It was filled with people doing his favoritethings: reading and learning.
"I really like it here," he said to Brother Patrick.
"I'm glad. But you must go now, while the weatheris with you," said the monk. "Everything can changein an instant."Then Brother Patrick turned and went into thechurch.
Jack hurried out the gate. Before he went further,he stopped and pulled out his note-book.
He quickly made two lists:
To make a bookSheep skinGoose quillPaintsTo make paintEarthPlantsJack grabbed the rope and started down. The birds'
cries went on. They worried him. They sounded likewarnings.
Jack reached the rocky ledge and let go of the rope.
"Let's go!" Annie called from the tree"Come on!" Annie called the steps.
"Coming," Jack called.
He put away his notebook and ran along the dirtpath to the edge of the cliff.
Overhead, flocks of gulls circled in the purple sky.
Their cries sounded like screams.
"What's wrong with them?" Jack said.
"Maybe they always do this at sunrise," said Annie.
"Let me go first."Clutching the rope, she started down the steps.
Jack grabbed the rope and started down. The birds'
cries went on. They worried him. They sounded likewarnings.
Jack reached the rocky ledge and let go of the rope.
"Let's go!" Annie called from the tree house.
Jack looked at the horizon one last time.
His heart nearly stopped. A ship was out-linedagainst the sky! Behind it, he saw two smaller ships.
As the ships came into view, their bright sails werefilled with wind and their serpent prows blazed in thenew sunlight.
"Oh no," Jack whispered. "Vikings!" |