儿童读物 神奇树屋 35 - Night of the New Magicians.docVIP

PAGE PAGE 39 Night of the New Magicians Magic Tree House #35 ? Chapter 1: Four New Magicians Jack sat?on the porch, reading in the summer twilight. Crickets chirped in the Frog Creek woods. The bell of an ice cream truck jingled down the street. Annie stepped out the front door. “Let’s go,” she said. “Where?” said Jack. “Mom gave us money for ice cream,” said Annie. “Cool,” said Jack. He pulled on his backpack. Then he followed Annie down the porch steps. As they headed up the sidewalk, the smell of damp leaves and moss wafted from the woods. Annie stopped walking. “Listen,” she said. Jack listened. “What?” he said. “I don’t hear anything.” “That’s the?point,”?said Annie. “A minute ago, the crickets were blaring away. Now everything’s super quiet.” Jack listened again. Annie was right. All the Frog Creek woods seemed to be holding its breath. “Do you think…?” said Jack. “Maybe,” said Annie, grinning. “Let’s go check!” Jack and Annie hurried across the street and into the dimly lit woods. They walked quickly between the leafy trees, until they came to the tallest oak. A rope ladder dangled from the tree-top. The magic tree house sat high in the branches, catching the last light of day. Jack smiled. “I guess ice cream will have to wait,” he said. “Yep,” said Annie. She grabbed the ladder and climbed up. Jack climbed up after her. Inside the tree house, dusky light filtered through the window. Lying on the wooden floor was a folded piece of paper and a slim book with a red cover. Annie grabbed the paper. Jack picked up the book. “This must be a research book from Morgan,” he said. The book’s title was written in gold letters: “Paris?World’s Fair?” said Jack. “That sounds like fun!” said Annie. “Yeah, but I wonder why we’re going there,” said Jack. “This should tell us,” said Annie. She unfolded the paper. “It’s Merlin’s handwriting.” She read aloud: To Jack and Annie of Frog Creek: I have discovered that an evil sorcerer is plotting to steal the secrets of four new