VacationUndertheVolcano

MagicTreeHouse#13

MaryPopeOsborne

ChapterOne

ASecretCode

Jackreachedintohisdrawerandtookouthissecretlibrarycard.Heheldthethinpieceofwoodandranhisfingeroveritsshimmeringletters:ML.

"MasterLibrarian,"hewhispered.

Jackcouldn'tbelievethatheandhissister,Annie,werefinallyMasterLibrarians.

Hewonderedifheshouldpackthesecretcardtotakeonvacation.Hisfamilywasabouttoleaveforaweekinthemountains.

JustthenAnniestuckherheadintoJack'sroom.

"Wanttocheckthewoods?"sheasked.

Everymorning,theylookedintheFrogCreekwoodstoseeifMorganleFayandhermagictreehousehadreturned.

"Wecan't,"saidJack."We'releavingsoon.""ButwhatifMorgan'sthere?"saidAnnie.

"Whatifshe'swaitingforus?"

"Oh,okay,"saidJack."Let'slookfast."

Hegrabbedhisbackpack.Hethrewinhisnotebook,hispencil,andhissecretlibrarycard.ThenhefollowedAnniedownstairs.

"We'llbebacksoon!"Anniecalled.

"Don'tgofar!"theirdadcalled."We'releavingintwentyminutes."

"Don'tworry,we'llbebackinten!"saidAnnie.

Right,thoughtJack.Fiveminutestothewoods,andfiveminutesback.EvenifMorgansentthemonanadventure,theywouldreturnatexactlythesametimethattheyleft.

JackandAnnieranouttheirfrontdoor.Inthebrightmorningsunshine,theyhurriedacrosstheirlawnanddownthestreet.

"Ihadanightmarelastnight,"saidAnnie.

"Whatwasit?"saidJack.

"Idreamedfireswereburning,"saidAnnie."Everythingwassmokyanddark,andthegroundwasshaking.Doyouthinkitwasawarning?"

"Nah,"saidJack."Nightmaresnevercometrue."

TheyleftthesidewalkandheadedintotheFrogCreekwoods.Thewoodswerequietandpeaceful.Theywalkedbetweensunlittreesuntiltheycametothetallestoakinthewoods.

"Yay!"saidAnnie.

Thereitwas--themagictreehouse.AndMorganleFaywaswavingfromthewindow.

"Hail,MasterLibrarians,"shesaid.JackandAnniebowedplayfully."Atyourservice,"saidAnnie."Thencomeonup!"saidMorgan.Theygrabbedtheropeladderandstartedup.Whentheyclimbedinsidethetreehouse,theyfoundMorganholdingabookandapieceofpaper.

"Ihaveanimportantmissionforyou,"shesaid."Areyouready?"

"Yes!"theybothanswered.

Jack'sheartpounded.EversinceMorganhadmadethemMasterLibrarians,hehadbeenlongingfortheirfirstmission.

"YouknowIcollectbooksforCamelot'slibrary?"shesaid.

JackandAnnienodded.

"Well,therehavebeenmanygreatlibrarieslostinhistory,"saidMorgan."Andwiththem,wehavelostmanywonderfulstories."

"That'ssad,"saidAnnie.

"Itis,"saidMorgan."Butluckily,withthehelpofthetreehouseandyoutwoMasterLibrarians,someofthosestoriescanbesaved.Suchasthisone--"

Morganshowedthemthepieceofpaper.Therewasstrangewritingonit:

VirfortissimusinMundo

"Isthatasecretcode?"saidJack.

Morgansmiled."Inaway,"shesaid."Actually,it'sthetitleofaloststory.It'swritteninLatin,thelanguageoftheancientRomansofItaly."

"AncientRomans?"saidJack.HelovedanythingtodowithancientRomans.

"Yes,"saidMorgan."ThisstorywasinalibraryinaRomantown.Ineedyoutogetitbeforethelibrarybecomeslostforever."

"Noproblem!"saidAnnie.

"Doyouhaveyoursecretlibrarycards?"askedMorgan.

"Yes,"saidJack.

"Good.Donotlosethem.Therightpeoplewillknowwhattheymean,"saidMorgan."And,asusual,hereisabooktohelpyou."

MorganhandedJackabookcalledLifeinRomanTimes.ThecovershowedaRomantownwithpeoplewearingtunicsandsandals.

"Thatlooksgreat,"saidJack.

"Andtakethis--thenameofthestoryIneed,"saidMorgan.ShehandedthepieceofpapertoJack,andheputitinhispack.

"Remember,"saidMorgan."Yourresearchbookwillguideyou.Butremember:Inyourdarkesthour,onlytheancientstorycansaveyou.Butfirstyoumustfindit."

JackandAnnienodded.

"Gonow,"Morgansaidsoftly."Anddon'tforgetwhatIjusttoldyou."

"Thanks,"saidJack.HepointedatthecoverofthebookonRomantimes."Iwishwecouldgothere,"hesaid.

Thewindstartedtoblow.

"Ialmostforgot--I'mgoingtohelpyoublendin!"Morganshoutedabovethewind.

"Whatdoyoumean?"shoutedJack.

BeforeMorgancouldanswer,thetreehousestartedtospin.

Itspunfasterandfasterandfaster.

Theneverythingwasstill.

Absolutelystill.

"Oh,cool,"whisperedAnnie."Lookatus."

ChapterTwo

TheEndIsNear

Jackopenedhiseyes.Hepushedhisglassesintoplace.

Morganwasgone.AndsowereJack'sjeans,T-shirt,sneakers,andbackpack.

Instead,hehadonawhitetunicwithabelt,sandalsthatlacedup,andaleatherbag.

HelookedatAnnie.Shewasdressedthesameway.MorganhadmadethemlookjustlikekidsinanancientRomantown.

"IguessthisiswhatMorganmeant,"saidJack,"whenshesaidshe'dhelpusblendin."

"IfeellikeCinderella,"saidAnnie."Iliketheseclothes."

"Yeah,"saidJack,althoughhefeltalittleasifhewaswearingadress.

Annielookedoutthewindow.

"It'sprettyhere,"shesaid.

Jacklookedwithher.Theyhadlandedinagroveoftrees.Ononesideofthegroveroseagent1elookingmountain.Ontheother,atownsparkledinthesunlight.

"Iwonderwhereweare,"saidJack.HeopenedthebookaboutRomantimes.Hereadaloud:

Almost2,000yearsago,onAugust24,A.D.79,theseasidetownofPompeii(pom-PAy)wasatypicalRomantown.ManyRomanswentthereontheirvacation.TheybuiltlargehousescalledvillasandplantedgrovesofolivetreesalongtheslopesofamountaincalledMountVesuvius(vuh-SOO-vee-us).

AnniekeptlookingoutthewindowasJackpulledouthisnotebookandpencil.Hewrote:

VacationinPompeii

August24,AD79

Housescalledvillas

Jacklookedoutthewindowagain.

"Itdoeslooklikeaniceplacetogoonvacation,"hesaid.

"Wemusthavelandedinoneoftheolivegroves,"saidAnnie.

"Yeah,andthattownmustbePompeii,"saidJack.

Helookedintheoppositedirection."AndthatmountainmustbeMountVesuvius."

Annieshivered."Thatnamesoundsscary,"shesaid.

"Really?"saidJack."Nottome."Helookeddownathisnotes.

"Hey!Didyoufeelthat?"saidAnnie.

"What?"Jacklookedup.

"Thegroundshook.Ihearditrumble,too,"saidAnnie.

Jackfrowned."Ithinkyouwerejustdreamingagain,"hesaid.

"No,Iwasn't,"saidAnnie."Somethingfeelswrongaboutthisplace.Ireallythinkweshouldgohomenow.

"Areyounuts?"saidJack."WehavetofindthatloststoryforMorgan.Besides,I'vealwayswantedtoseeaRomantown."

HethrewhisnotebookandtheRomanbookintohisleatherbag.Thenhewentdowntheropeladder.

"Comeon!"hecalledwhenhesteppedontotheground.

Anniejuststareddownathim.

"Don'tbechicken,"hesaid.Hepushedhisglassesintoplace."Comeon.It'llbefun."

Anniestilldidn'tmove.

Whatwrongwithher?Jackwondered.UsuallyI'mtheworriedone.

"Comeon,"hepleaded."Wecan'tletMorgandown."

Annieletoutabigsigh."Okay,butwe'dbetterfindthatstoryfast,"shesaid.Finallysheclimbeddowntheropeladder.

Thesunwasbrightandhotastheytookoffbetweentheolivetrees.

WithMountVesuviusattheirbacks,theyheadedforthetownofPompeii.

"That'sweird,"saidAnnie."Idon'thearanybirds."

Shewasright.Thegrovewasstrangelysilent.

"Don'tworryaboutit,"saidJack."Maybethey'reallatthebeach.Comeon--let'sgooverthatbridge."

Heledthewaytoasmallwoodenbridgethatcrossedanarrowstream.Butwhentheygottothestream,theyfoundithaddriedup.

"That'sreallyweird,"saidAnnie.

"Don'tworry,"saidJack."Itjustmeanstherehasn'tbeenmuchrain."

Theycrossedthebridgeandsteppedontoabusystreet.Itwaspavedwithstone.

Peoplewerebuyingthingsintheopenshopsthatlinedthestreet.Somelookedrushedandbusy.Othersmovedslowly.Kidswalkedwiththeirparents.Groupsofteenagerstalkedandlaughed.

Theydon'tseemverydifferentfrompeopleshoppinginFrogCreek,Jackthought.

Exceptfortheclothes,ofcourse.

"Howwillweeverfindtheancientlostlibrary?"saidAnnie,glancingaround.

"Idon'tknow,"saidJack."Justbeonthelookout."

Theywalkedpastshopsthathadhugejarsinthem.WhenJacklookedclosely,hesawthattheywerefilledwithgrain,driedfruit,andolives.Meathungfromtheceilingsofsomeofthestores.

Theypassedanoisytavernwherepeoplewereeatinganddrinking.Ayoungmanplayedastringedinstrument.

"See,there'snothingtoworryabout,"saidJack."Thisplaceisn'tallthatdifferentfromourtime."

"It'snotthat,"saidAnniewithaworriedlook.

"See,there'sabarbershopandashoeshop,"saidJack,pointing.

Aboywasgettinghishaircutbythebarber.Agirlwastryingonanewpairofsandalswithhermother.

"Itiskindoflikehome,"Annieagreed.

Theykeptwalking,untiltheypassedabakeryfilledwithfreshlybakedflatbreads.

"Thatbreadislikepizza,"saidAnnie,smiling.

"Yeah,"saidJack.

Thegoodsmellsfromthebakerymadehimfeelevenmoreathome.JacklookedatAnnie.Shewasstillsmilingastheywalkedon.

Soontheycametoalargesquarefilledwithpeople,cartsandhorses,andmoreshoppingstalls.

"Honeycakes!Stuffeddates!Peacockeggs!"sellerscalled.

Farmersweresellinggrapes,garlic,andonions.Fishermenweresellingallkindsoffish.Afewpeoplestoodonboxes,givingspeechestosmallcrowds.

"Hey,Ibetthisistheforum!"saidJack.Hereachedinhisbagforhisbook.Heflippedthroughituntilhefoundapictureofthesquare.Heread:

ThecenterofaRomantownwascalledaforum.Theforumwasthemainplacewherepeoplemettosellgoodsanddiscusspolitics.

"Iwasright!"saidJack.Hepulledouthisnotebook.Hewrote:

forum=centeroftown

"Jack,"whisperedAnnie."Jack!"Shetuggedonhistunic."Look."

Jackglancedup.Annienoddedtowardanoldwomanwhowasstaringstraightatthem.

Sheworeablackcloak.Hergrayhairwastangledandwild.Sheseemedtobemissingherteeth.

ThewomanpointedabonyfingeratJackandAnnie.

"Theendisnear!"shesaidinaraspyvoice."Gohome,strangers!"

"Yikes,"saidAnnie.

"We'dbettergetawayfromher,"saidJack,"beforepeoplewonderwhoweare."

Heputawayhisnotebook.ThenheandAnniehurriedaway.Theoldwomancackledbehindthem.

ChapterThree

Gladiators!

JackandAnniehidbehindafruitstall.Theywaitedforamoment,thenpeeredaroundthecorner.

"Idon'tseeher,"saidJack.

"Whowasshe?"askedAnnie.

"Idon'tknow.Butshelookednutstome,"saidJack.

"What'sthebooksayabouther?"saidAnnie.

"Shewon'tbeinthere,"saidJack.

"Justlook,"saidAnnie.

Jacksighedandpulledoutthebookagain.Tohissurprisehefoundapictureoftheoldwoman.Hereadaloud:

InRomantimes,therewerepeoplewhocouldseeintothefutureandwarnothersaboutwhattheysaw.Thesepeoplewerecalledsoothsayers.

"See?Shewasn'tnuts,"saidAnnie."Shewasgivingusawarning.Justlikemynight-mare."

"Don'tpayattentiontothatstuff,"saidJack."Soothsayersarefromoldentimes.Peoplefromourtimedon'tbelieveinthem."

"Well,Ido,"saidAnnie."I'msuresome-thingbadisabouttohappen."

Jacksighed."Comeon,wehavetokeepgoing.Wehavetofindthelostlibrary.Thenwe'llleaveatonce."

"We'dbetter,"saidAnnie.

Theyleftthefruitstandandkeptwalkingthroughtheforum.Soontheycametoalargebuilding.Crowdswerestreaminginandoutofit.

"Isthatalibrary?"saidAnnie.

"Let'slook,"saidJack.HelookedintheRomanbook.Hefoundapictureofthebuildingandreadaloud:

MostpeopleinPompeiididnothaveabathtubathome,sotheywentdailytothePublicBaths.Notonlydidpeoplewashatthebaths,buttheyalsoswam,playedsports,andvisitedwiththeirfriends.

"Thatsoundslikegoingtothepool,"saidAnnie."Butit'snotalibrary.Let'skeepwalking."

Theykeptwalking,untilsoontheycametoafancybuildingwithlargecolumns.

"Isthatalibrary?"saidAnnie.Jackfoundapictureofthebuildingandreadaloud:

ThepeopleofPompeiibelievedthatmanygodsandgoddessesruledtheworld.ThisistheTempleofJupiter,theirchiefgod.Inthistemple,theyprayedtoJupiterandofferedhimgifts.Today,wecallthestoriesaboutJupiterandothergodsandgoddesses"myths."

"Myteacherreadmythstous,"saidJack."IrememberstoriesaboutHerculesandApollo."

"Yeah,myteacherreadthem,too,"saidAnnie."IlikestoriesaboutVenusandMedusa."

"Hey,maybethestorywe'relookingforisamyth,"saidJack.

"Right,"saidAnnie."Comeon,hurry.Let'skeeplooking."

Theylefttheforumandturnedontoawidestreet.Jackgasped.Infrontofthemwasanincrediblesight.

Tallwarriorswithhugemuscleswerewalkinginaline.Theyworefancyhelmetsandcarriedheavyshields.

Soldiers,thoughtJack.

Thenhesawthatthewarriors'feetwerechainedtogether,andguardswalkedwiththem.

"Gladiators!"hewhispered.

Jackpulledouthisbookandfoundapictureofthestrongmen.Hereadaloud:

Gladiatorswereslavesorcriminalswhofoughtintheamphitheater(AM-fuli-thee-uh-ter).Theywereforcedtofighteachotherorwildanimalslikelionsorbears.ThepeopleofPompeiithoughtagladiatorfightwasgreatfun.

"That'snotfun!"saidAnnie."NowonderIthinkit'sweirdhere."

"Nokidding,"saidJack."That'snotlikeourtimeatall."

JackandAnniewatchedastheguardsledthegladiatorsaway.Theywenttowardabuildingthatlookedlikeanoutdoorstadium.

"Thatmustbetheamphitheater,"saidJack."Let'scheckitout.

"Oh,allright,butit'snotalibrary,"saidAnnie.

HeandAnniestartedupthestreettowardtheamphitheater.Alargecrowdhadgatheredneartheentrance.Menandwomencheeredasthegladiatorsmarchedinside.

JackandAnniestartedtofollowthem,butaguardhelduphisspear.

"Nochildrenallowed,"hesaidstiffly."Runalongnow."

"Yes,runalong!Runforyourlives!"camearaspy,hissingvoice.

JackandAnniewhirledaround.Itwasthesoothsayer.Shewaswavingherbonyfingeratthem.

"Oh,no!Heragain!"saidJack."Let'sgetawayfromhere."Hestartedtotakeoff.

"Wait!"saidAnnie."Iwanttotalktoher!"

"Areyoucrazy?"saidJack.

Butbeforehecouldstopher,Annieranuptothesoothsayer.

JackwatchedfromadistanceasthewomantalkedtoAnnie.

"Jack,comehere!Quick!"calledAnnie.

"Oh,brother,"saidJack.HesighedandwentovertoAnnieandthesoothsayer.

"Tellhim,"saidAnnie.

ThewomanfixedhergazeonJack.

"AllthestreamsofPompeiihavedriedup,"shesaid.

"Rememberthestreamneartheolivegrove?"saidAnnie.

"Sowhat?"saidJack."Maybetheyjustneedrain.

"No,"saidAnnie."There'remorescarythings.Tellhim."

"Allthebirdshaveflownaway,"thesoothsayersaid.

Jackjuststaredather.

"Shesaidthatalltheratsleft,too,"saidAnnie."Andthecowsaremakingstrangenoises!"

"Butwhy?"saidJack.

"Theseaisboilinghot,"theoldwomansaid."Andthegroundshakesandspeaks."

"See,Itoldyou!"AnniesaidtoJack.

"Butwhyarethesethingshappening?"

Jackaskedthesoothsayer.

"Becausetheendisnear,"shewhisperedhoarsely.

"Wehavetoleavenow!"saidAnnie.

"Butwhataboutthelibrary?"saidJack.

"Whatlibrary?"thesoothsayerasked.

"Showherthestorytitle,Jack,"saidAnnie.

Jacktookthepieceofpaperfromhisbag.

HeshowedtheLatinwritingtothesoothsayer.

"Abookwiththistitleisinalibraryinthistown,"hesaid.

"So?"theoldwomansaid.

"Sowehavetosaveit!"saidAnnie.Shepulledouthersecretlibrarycard.

Thesoothsayerstaredforamomentatthecardandtheshimmeringlettersonit.ThenshesmiledwarmlyatJackandAnnie.

"Yes,Iunderstandnow,"shesaid."TheonlylibraryIknowisinthehouseofBrutus."Shepointedtoalargevillaattheendofthestreet."Lookthere.Quickly."

"WillBrutusmind?"saidJack.

"BrutusandhishouseholdareallinRome,"thesoothsayersaid."Thatismerelytheirvacationvilla."

"Butwecan'tjustgoinandtakesomethingoftheirs,"saidJack.

Theoldwomanshookherheadsadly."Aftertoday,therewillbenothingleftinPompeii,"shesaid."Nothingatall."

Jackfeltachillgodownhisspine.

"Goandgetwhatyoucameherefor,"saidthesoothsayer."Thenleaveatonce."

"Thanks!"saidJack.HegrabbedAnnie'shand."Comeon!"

"Thanks!"Anniecalledtotheoldwoman."Youshouldleave,too!"sheadded.

ThenAnnieandJackstartedrunningtothevacationvilla.Theyranasfastastheycould.

ChapterFour

Books?Books?

JackandAnnieranuptothefrontentranceofthevilla.Jackpushedthedooropen.

"Goin.Hurry,"saidAnnie.

Theyslippedintothemainhall.

"Hello!"Anniecalled.

Therewasnoanswer.Theplaceseemedempty.

Themainhallhadalargeopeningintheceiling.Belowitwasasmallstonepoolfilledwithwater.Jacklookedatitcarefully.

"Oh,Ibetraincomesthroughthehole,"saidJack."Thenitlandsinthatpoolsotheycanuseitfortheirwater."

Hestartedtotakeouthisnotebooktomakeanote.

"There'snotime,Jack!"saidAnnie."Wehavetolookinalltheroomsforbooks!"

"Okay,okay,calmdown,"saidJack.HeputawayhisnotebookandfollowedAnnie.

"Books?Books?"shesaid,peeringintoaroomoffthehall.Shemovedtothenextroom."Books?Books?"Thenshemovedontothenext.

Jacktrailedbehindher.Eventhoughshehadalreadycheckedtherooms,hetookaquickpeekineachofthem.HewantedtoseewhatahouseinRomantimeslookedlike.He'dwritenoteslater.

Thefirsttworoomshadwoodenbeds.Thewallshadpicturespaintedonthem.Thefloorswerecoveredwithtinypiecesofcoloredstone

Thethirdroomhadalowtablewithsilverdishesonit.Threeslopingcoucheswereplacedaroundthetable.Thecoucheswerecoveredwithpillows.

"Thismustbethediningroom,"saidJack."PeoplefromRomantimeslaydownoncoucheswhiletheyate.Didyouknowthat?"

HelookedaroundforAnnie.Wherewasshe?

"Jack!Comehere!"Anniecalled.

Jackfollowedhervoice.Shewasinagardenoffthediningroom.Ithadastonepatio,palmtrees,andgrapevines.Inthemiddlewasapondwithamermaidfountain.

Goldfishswaminthewater.

"Look,there'sanotherroom!"saidAnnie.Shemovedtothedoorofaroomoffthegarden.

Sheopenedthedoorandpeekedinside.

Jacklookedwithher.Alongthewallsoftheroomwerelongshelveswithrollsofpaperonthem

"Rats!"saidAnnie."Nobooks."Sheclosedthedoor."Nobooksinthiswholevilla.Let'sgetoutofhere."

"Justaminute,"saidJack."Ihaveanidea."

HepulledouthisbookonRomantimes.HefoundasectioncalledWRITING.Heread:

Romansusedpensmadeofsmallreeds.Theirinkcamepartlyfromtheblackinkofoctopuses.Theywrotetheir"hooks"onscrollsofpapyrus(puh-PI-rus)paper.

"Aha!"saidJack."That'salibraryofscrolls!Ibetourancientloststoryisinthere!"

ChapterFive

TheEndisHere

Jackthrewopenthedoortotheroomofscrolls.HeandAnnierushedinandranovertotheshelves.

JackpulledoutthepieceofpaperwiththeLatintitleonit:

VirFortissimusinMundo

"Okay"hesaid."Wehavetofindthescrollwiththistitle."

Theybeganfranticallyunrollingscrollsonebyone.TheywereallhandwritteninLatin.

"Hereitis!"saidAnnie.

Sheheldupascroll.Thewordsatthetopmatchedtheoneontheirpaper.

"Yay,"saidJack."IwishIcouldreadLatinsowecouldfindoutwhatthestoryis."

"Don'tthinkaboutitnow!"saidAnnie."Let'sgo!"

AnniehandedthescrolltoJack,thenstartedoutoftheroom.

"Comeon,"shesaid."Bringit!"

"Ijustwanttocheckandseewhatthestory'sabout,"saidJack.

Heputthescrollintheleatherbag.ThenheflippedthroughthebookonRomantimes,lookingforapictureoftheancientscroll.Inthemiddleofthebook,hefoundapictureofavolcanoeruptingoveratown.Underthepicturewaswritten:

For800years,MountVesuviuswasapeacefulmountain,risingabovethetownofPompeii.Then,atnoononAugust24,A.D.79,iteruptedintoadeadlyvolcano.

"Oh,no,"whisperedJack."August24,A.D.79--that'stoday!Oh,man,whattimeisit?"Helookedaroundwildly."Annie!"

Shewasgoneagain.

"Annie!"

Jackgrabbedtheleatherbag.Then,clutchingthebook,hetoreoutofthescrollroom.

"Annie!"hecried.

"What?"Annieappearedatthedoortothediningroom.

"V-v-volcano!"stutteredJack.

"What?"saidAnnie."It's--it'scoming--avolcano--atnoon!"saidJack.Anniegasped.

"Whattimeisit?"criedJack.

"Sothat'swhatthesoothsayermeant!"Anniesaid."Theendisnear."

"Whattimeisit?"Jackaskedagain.Helookedaroundthegarden.

Hesawsomethingnearthemermaidfountain.

"Asundial!"hesaid."That'showtheRomanstoldtime!"

JackandAnnieracedtothesundial."Whattimedoesitsay?"saidAnnie.

"Idon'tknow,"saidJack.Hishandsshookasheturnedthepagesofthebook.Hestoppedonapictureofasundial.Itshowedexamplesofdifferenttimes.Jacklookedbackandforthfromthepagetotherealsundialinthegarden.

"Here!"hesaid.Hehadfoundtheonethatmatched.Jackreadthewritingunderthepicture:

Theshadowonthesundialcanhardlyheseenatnoon.

"Oh,man,"hewhispered.HelookedatAnnie."Theendisn'tnear;theendishere."

Justthenheheardaterribleblast.Itwastheloudestsoundhehadeverheard.

ChapterSix

TheSkyisFalling

ThenextthingJackknew,hewaslyingonthestonepatio.Thepatiostonesweretrembling.Arumblingsoundcamefromtheground.

Jackraisedhishead.Anniewasontheground,too.

"Youokay?"saidAnnie.

Jacknodded.

Everythingwasshakingandcrashingdownaroundthem--pots,plants,themermaidfountain.WaterfromthegoldfishpondsloshedontothepatioandJackandAnnie.

Theybothjumpedupjustasrooftilesbeganfallingintothegarden.

"Webettergetinside!"saidJack.

Hegrabbedhisleatherbag.ThenheandAnniestumbledintothescrolllibrary.

GiantcrackssplitthestonefloorasJackandAnnierantoawindowandlookedout.

GlowingrockswereburstingthroughtheskyaboveMountVesuvius.Thewholetopofthemountainhadblownoff.

"What'shappening?"saidAnnie.

"I'llcheck--"saidJack.HepulledouttheRomanbook.Hereadaloudfromthesectionaboutthevolcano:

Whenavolcanoerupts,hotmeltedrockcalled"magma"ispushedtothesurfaceoftheearth.Onceitgetsoutsidethevolcano,it'scalled"lava."

"Lava!That'slikeburningmud!"saidJack.

"Itcoverseverything!"criedAnnie.

Jackkeptreadingon:

TherewasnorunninglavafromMountVesuvius.Themagmafromthevolcanocooledsofastthatitfrozeintosmallgrayishwhiterockscalledpumice(Pum-iss).Apumicerockisverylightandhasholeslikeasponge.

"Thatdoesn'tsoundtoobad,"saidAnnie.

"Wait,there'smore,"saidJack.Heread

Agreatcloudofpumice,ash,andburningrockshotmilesintotheair.WhenitraineddownonPompeii,itcompletelyburiedthetown.

"Oh,man,"saidJack."Thisisamajordisaster!"

"It'sgettingdark,"saidAnnie.

Jacklookedoutagain.Athickblackcloudwasspreadingovertheearthlikeanumbrella.Thesunvanishedastheskyturnedsmokygray.

"Thatmustbethecloudofpumiceandash!"saidJack.

Justthenthegroundtrembledagain.Chunksofplasterfromtheceilingfellonthescrolls.

"Wehavetogetoutofhere!"saidAnnie.

Theyranfromthescrolllibraryintothegarden.Ashandpumicebegantofall.

"Wehavetocoverourheads!"saidJack.

Theyhurriedfromthegardenintothediningroom.

"Look!Pillows!"saidAnnie."Let'sputthemonourheads!"

Theyhurriedtothecouchesbesidethetableandeachgrabbedapillow.

"Tieitaroundyourheadwithyourbelt!"saidJack.

Theybothpulledoffthebeltsfromaroundtheirtunics.Thentheytiedonthepillows,likegianthats.Achunkofceilingcrasheddownnearthem.

"Let'sgetoutofhere!"saidJack.

Theysteppedoverpiecesoffallenrooftilesandranintothemainhall.Theypushedopenthefrontdoor.

Ablastofheatanddustnearlyknockedthemover.Andwhentheysteppedoutside,pumiceraineddownontotheirpillowhats.

"Run!"criedAnnie.

Theyranfromthevacationvillaintothedark,burningstreets.

ChapterSeven

NightmareatNoon

Inthedistance,fireburstfromMountVesuvius.Burningrocksandfieryashfellfromthesky.

Thehot,dustyairsmelledlikerotteneggsasJackandAnnierusheddownthestreet.Intheforum,everyone--shoppers,soldiers,gladiators,fruitsellers--wasrunningineverydirection.

Stallshadcollapsed.Cartsweresliding.

Jackfroze.Hedidn'tknowwheretogo.

"Thatway!"shoutedAnnie.

JackfollowedherastheyranpasttheTempleofJupiter.Itsmightycolumnshadfallen,anditswallswerecrumbling.

TheyranpastthePublicBathsjustasitsroofcavedin.

"Whichwaynow?"shoutedAnnie.

"Thetreehouseisintheolivegrove!"Jacksaidastheykeptrunning.

"Theolivegroveandthebridgearenearthestreetwithallthoseopenshops!"saidAnnie."Rememberthebridge?"

Jacklookedupattheeruptingmountain.Ared-hotcloudbillowedoverit.Firesburnedonitsslopes.

"HeadinthedirectionofMountVesuvius!"hesaid."ItwasbehindusaswecameintoPompeii."

"Right!"criedAnnie.

SowhileothersranawayfromMountVesuvius,JackandAnnierantowardit.

Onthestreetwiththeopenshops,basketsandbrokenjarsrolledoverthecrackedstones.

JackandAnnieranpastthebakeryandtheshoeshop.Theyranpastthebutchershopandbarbershop.Alltheshopswereempty.Theirownershadfled.

Theclosertheygottothevolcano,themorethegroundtrembled.Thedarkeranddustieritgot.

"Thisisjustlikemynightmare!"criedAnnie.

Jackchokedontherottenfumes.Hiseyeswatered.

"Look!Theolivegrove!"shoutedAnnie.

ChapterEight

SaveUs!

"Thebridgemusthavecavedin!"criedAnnie.

Theystaredatthedried-upstream.Pumicehadpiledupinhugedrifts,likesnow.

"We'llhavetogetthroughthatstufftogetacross!"saidJack.

HeandAnniesliddownthebankontothepilesofpumice.Astheystartedtomoveacrossit,moreandmorefell.

Jacktriedtomovethroughthemillionsofwarm,grayishwhitepebbles.Buthewastrapped.

"I'mstuck!"criedAnnie.

"Metoo!"saidJack.

"RememberwhatMorgansaid!"saidAnnie.

Atthemoment,Jackcouldn'trememberanything.Hewastootiredanddazed.

"'Inyourdarkesthour,onlytheancientstorycansaveyou!"'criedAnnie."Where'syourbag?"

Jackliftedhisbagintotheair,abovetheseaofpumice.Anniegrabbeditandpulledouttheancientscroll.Sheheldituptothedarksky.

"