BlizzardoftheBlueMoon

MagicTreeHouse36

MaryPopeOsborne

ToElwoodSmith,wholongagoinNewYorkCityinspiredmetowriteforchildren.

DearReader,

FinallyJackandAnniegotoNewYorkCity,theplaceIcalledhomeforovertwenty-fiveyears.NewYorkCityisalarger-than-lifeplace,filledwithskyscrapers,taxis,subways,parks,museums,theaters,andbusy,bustlingstreets.Thecityhasallkindsofweather,too,fromheatwavestoragingsnowstorms.Irememberoneparticularlydramaticblizzardin1996.Thecitycametoacompletestandstillasthewindhowledanditsnowedandsnowedandsnowed.Whenthestormfinallyended,palesunlightshoneonallthewhitestreetsandsidewalks-andeveryonewentouttoplay.Kidsmadegiantsnowmenanddogstunneledthroughthesnowdrifts.

Nomatterwhatdisastersitsuffers,NewYorkCityalwayscomesback.IhopeyouhaveagreatadventuretherewithJackandAnnie.

Hestays,theUnicorn,

Incaptivity…

Yetlookagain-

Hishornisfree,

RisingaboveChain,fence,andtree.

-AnneMorrowLindbergh,"TheUnicorninCaptivity"

Prologue

Onesummerday,amysterioustreehouseappearedinthewoods.AbrotherandsisternamedJackandAnniesoonlearnedthatthetreehousewasmagic-itcouldtakethemtoanytimeandanyplaceinhistory.TheyalsolearnedthatthetreehousebelongedtoMorganleFay,amagicallibrarianfromthelegendaryrealmofCamelot.

AfterJackandAnnietraveledonmanyadventuresforMorgan,Merlinthemagicianbegansendingthemon"MerlinMissions"inthetreehouse.WithhelpfromtwoyoungsorcerersnamedTeddyandKathleen,JackandAnnievisitedfourmythicalplacesandfoundvaluableobjectstohelpsaveCamelot.

FortheirnextfourMerlinMissions,JackandAnnieweretoldtheymusttraveltorealtimesandrealplacesinhistoryandprovetoMerlinthattheycouldusemagicwisely.FirsttheywentonamissiontothecityofVenice.NexttheyjourneyedtotheancientcityofBaghdad.OntheirmostrecenttriptheyvisitedthecityofParisin1889.NowtheyarewaitingtohearfromMerlinagain

CHAPTERONE

TheLastUnicorn

TheNovemberskywasgraywithclouds.Jacksatreadinginfrontofthelivingroomfire.

"Whowantshotchocolate?"hisdadcalledfromthekitchen.

"Me,please!"saidJack.

Thefrontdoorburstopen,andwithagustofcoldwind,Annierushedinside."Jack!Guesswhat!"shewhispered."It'sback!"

"Howdoyouknow?"saidJack.

"Iwaswalkinghomefromthelibrary"Anniepausedtocatchherbreath-"andIsawaflashintheskyabovethewoods.Thelasttimethathappened-"

Beforeshecouldfinishthesentence,Jackjumpedup."Dad,AnnieandIaregoingtogooutsideforawhile!"heshouted."Canthehotchocolatewaittillwegetback?"

"Sure,havefun!"theirdadcalledfromthekitchen.

"Ihavetogetmypack,"JacksaidtoAnnie."Meetyouontheporch."

"Don'tforgettherhymebook!"saidAnnie.

AnnieslippedoutsideandJackranuptohisroom.Hegrabbedhisbackpack.Hecheckedtomakesuretheirbookofmagicrhymeswasinside.

Good,thereitwas.

Jackchargedbackdownstairs.Hepulledonhisboots,putonhisjacket,tiedascarfaroundhisneck,grabbedhismittens,andheadedoutthedoor.

"Comeon!"saidAnnie.

Jackcouldseehisbreathinthecoldair."Brrr,"hesaid."Let'shurry!"

JackandAnnierandownthestreetandintotheFrogCreekwoods.Theywovebetweenthetrees,theirbootscrunchingthroughthefallenleaves.

Jackstopped.Themagictreehousewasback.Highinatalloaktree,itwassilhouettedagainstthegrayNovembersky."Youwereright,"hesaidtoAnnie."Goodwork."

"Thanks,"Anniesaid.Sherantotheropeladderandstartedup.Jackfollowedher.

Whentheyclimbedinsidethetreehouse,JackandAnniesawabookandascrollofparchmentpaperlyingonthefloor.Anniepickedupthescroll,unrolledit,andreadaloud.

DearJackandAnnieofFrogCreek

Iamsendingyouononemoremissiontoprovethatyoucanusemagicwisely.Thispoemwillguideyou.

-M.

'Theverylastunicorn

Isnowhiddenwell

Bythosewhohaveputhim

Underaspell

Fourcenturies,fourdecades

Fromthatafternoon,

AttheendofNovember,

Beforethebluemoon,

Hewillwakeoncemore

Andbefreetogohome

Ifyoucallouthisname:

DivineFlowerofRome.

Youmustcoaxhimtostand

Oncehisnameisspoken.

Hischainwillbreak

Andthespelltoo,bebroken.

Thenayounggirlmustlovehim

Andshowhimtheway,

Lesthebetrappedforever

Onpublicdisplay.

Ifhelosesthischance

Toriseanddepart,

Allmagicwillfade

Fromhishornandhisheart.

"Aunicorn!"breathedAnnie."Ilovehimalready.I'llshowhimtheway!"

"Butthispoemisreallyhardtounderstand,"saidJack."WhatkindofresearchbookdidMorgansendus?"

HepickedupthebookthathadbeenleftforthembyMorganleFay,thelibrarianofCamelot.Thecovershowedarowofskyscrapers.ThetitlewasNewYorkCityGuideBook,1938.

"NewYorkCity?"saidAnnie."IloveNewYorkCity!RememberthegreattimewehadtherewithAuntMallory?"

"Yeah,Iloveit,too,"saidJack."ButwhywouldtherebeaunicorninNewYorkCityin1938?Aunicornisanancientfantasycreature.NewYorkCity'sarealplace,and1938isnoteventhatlongago."

"You'reright,"saidAnnie."Itsoundslikeahardmission.Butdon'tforgetwehaveTeddyandKathleen'smagicrhymestohelpus."

"Yeah,"saidJack.HepulledoutthebookgiventothembytheirfriendsTeddyandKathleen,twoyoungenchantersofCamelot."Theproblemis,wecanonlyuseeachrhymeonce,andwe'vealreadyusedsevenoutoftheten."

"Whichmeanswestillhavethreeleft,"saidAnnie."Whatarethey?"

"PullaCloudfromtheSky,"saidJack.

"Cool,"saidAnnie.

"Yeah,itis,"saidJack."ButI'mnotsureitwillbemuchuse."Helookedbackatthebook.

"FindaTreasureYouMustNeverLose,"hesaid.

"Hey,that'sareallygoodone!"saidAnnie."Theunicorn'satreasure.Sothatrhymecouldtakecareofourwholemission."

"Butitonlypartlyfits,"saidJack."Youcouldcalltheunicornatreasure.Butoncewefindhim,wehavetolosehim.Hehastogobackhome."

"Oh,right..."saidAnnie."Whatelse?"

"Yourfavorite,"saidJack.

"TurnintoDucks."

Annielaughed."Ican'twaittousethatone!"shesaid.

"Ihopeweneverusethatone,"saidJack.Hedidn'twanttowaddlearoundandquacklikeaduck."Theseleftoverrhymesdon'tseemveryhelpfultome."

"Well,let'sjustwaitandsee,"saidAnnie."Butnow..."SheheldupMorgan'sresearchbookandsmiled.

Jacknodded."NewYorkCity,herewecome,"hesaid.Hepointedatthebook'scover."Iwishwecouldgothere!"

Thewindstartedtoblow.

Thetreehousestartedtospin.Itspunfasterandfaster.

Theneverythingwasstill.Absolutelystill.

CHAPTERTWO

WhoAreThey?

Snowblewintothetreehouse.

JackandAnnieworewoolcoats,hats,andmittens.Jack'scanvasbackpackhadturnedintoaleatherbriefcasewithbucklesandashoulderstrap.JackandAnnielookedoutthewindow.

Belowthetreehousewasawide,snow-coveredfieldthatendedinawallofevergreentrees.Beyondthetreeswasacityskyline.

"ThisisdefinitelyNewYork,"saidAnnie."SeetheEmpireStateBuilding?Rememberourvisittothetop?"Shepointedtoafarawaybuildingthatroseabovetheothers."ThismustbeCentralPark.Irememberthatbigfield."

"Yeah,Ido,too,"saidJack."Butwe'velandedinNewYorkin1938.Itwasdifferentbackthen."Heopenedtheirresearchbookandreadfromtheintroduction:

ThecityofNewYorkisthelargestcityintheWesternHemisphere.Itcoversanareaof322squaremiles.

Jackclosedthebook."Whoa.Evenin1938,NewYorkwasahugecity,"hesaid."Thisisgoingtobelikelookingforaneedleinahaystack."

"I'llreadourmissionpoemagain,"saidAnnie.Shereadthefirstversealoud:

Theverylastunicorn

Isnowhiddenwell

Bythosewhohaveputhim

Underaspell.

"Okay,sothisunicornwasputunderaspell,"saidJack,"andhemustbehiddensomewhereinNewYork,orMerlinwouldn'thavesentushere."

"Right,"saidAnnie.Shereadthenextverse:

Fourcenturies,fourdecades

Fromthatafternoon,

AttheendofNovember,

Beforethebluemoon,

"What'sabluemoon?"askedAnnie,lookingup."I'veheardthatexpressionbefore."

"It'swhenyouhavetwofullmoonsinthesamemonth,"saidJack."Itdoesn'thappenveryoften."

"Oh,"saidAnnie.Shereadon:

Hewillwakeoncemore

Andbefreetogohome

Ifyoucallouthisname:

DivineFlowerofRome.

"Wait,doesthatmeantheunicorn'snameisDivineFlowerofRome?"askedJack.

"Iguess,"saidAnnie.Shereadon:

Youmustcoaxhimtostand

Oncehisnameisspoken.

Hischainwillbreak

Andthespelltoo,bebroken.

Thenayounggirlmustlovehim

Andshowhimtheway,

Lesthebetrappedforever

Onpublicdisplay.

Ifhelosesthischance

Toriseanddepart,

Allmagicwillfade

Fromhishornandhisheart.

"SoI'mtheyounggirl!"saidAnnie."AndIhavetohelphimgethome,orhismagicwillfadeawayforever!"

"Right,"saidJack."Okay.Let'sreview:There'saunicornonpublicdisplaysomewhereinNewYorkCity.He'sunderaspell.ThespellrunsoutinlateNovemberbeforeabluemoon.Buthe'llonlywakeupwhensomeonecallshisname,whichisDivineFlowerofRome.Thenayounggirl-you-mustlovehimandshowhimthewayhome."

"Great,"saidAnnie."Let'sgetstarted."

"Getstarted?

How?"saidJack.

"MaybeweshouldtalktosomeNewYorkers,"saidAnnie."WecanaskthemiftheyknowanythingaboutaunicorninNewYorkCity."Shelookedoutthewindow."There'resomepeopleintheparkrightnow."

Jacklookedout.Throughthefallingsnow,hesawgirlscrossingthefieldcarryingskates.Hesawtwopeoplestandingontopofasmallhill.Oneworeacape,andtheotheralongraincoat.

"Ifwestartaskingpeopleaboutunicorns,they'llthinkwe'recrazy,"saidJack.

"Whocares?"saidAnnie."Maybesomeonewillatleastknowsomethingthatcanhelpus.Let'sgodown."Shestarteddowntheladder.

Jackquicklypackeduptheirbooks.Hebuckledhisbagandfollowedher.Whentheysteppedontotheground,JackandAnnielookedaround.Theskatersweregone.Thetwopeopleonthehillweregone,too.

"Where'deverybodygo?"saidJack.

"Idon'tknow.Butwe'llfindsomeoneelse.Comeon,"saidAnnie.

JackandAnniestartedacrossthewidefield.Thesnowwasfallingfastandfuriously.Thewindblewharder.

"Look,afrozenpond,"saidAnnie,pointing."Thatmustbewheretheskaterswerecomingfrom."

WetsnowstucktoJack'sglasses.Hewipedthemoffsohecouldsee.Noonewasskatingonthepondnow.Whirlwindsofpowderysnowswirledovertheice.

"Keepgoing,"saidJack.

Theykepttrudgingthroughthesnow.

"Hey,look!Rememberthat?"saidAnnie.

"What?"saidJack.Hewipedthesnowoffhisglassesagain.Hesawamerry-go-round."Oh,yeah."OntheirtriptoNewYorkwiththeirauntMallory,they'dtakenarideonit.Butnowtheriderlesspaintedhorseslookedsadandlonely.

"Ifeellikewe'rethelastlivingcreaturesinCentralPark,"saidJack.

"Whichwaydowegonow?"askedAnnie."Whichwaydidwecomefrom?"

Itwashardtoseeanythinginthewhitehazeofthefallingsnow.Thebuildingsborderingtheparkandtheskyscrapersinthedistancehaddisappeared.

"Let'sseewhatourbooksays,"saidJack.Heunbuckledhisleatherbriefcaseandpulledouttheirresearchbook.HefoundapictureofCentralParkandread:

CentralParkisavastnaturalareainthemiddleofNewYorkCity.Theparkhasthirty-twomilesofwindingfootpathsandcovers840acresofland.Ithasrockformations,woods,andmanybodiesofwater.Italsohas-

"Okay,okay,gotit,"saidAnnie."It'sabigpark.Isthereamapthatshowswhereweare?"

Jacktriedtoreadfromtheindex,butthewindandsnowmadeitimpossible.Hestuffedthebookbackintohisbriefcase."Forgetit,"hesaid."Let'sjusttrytogetoutofthepark."

JackandAnnieturnedawayfromthelonelymerry-go-roundandwalkedacrossthesnow.AgustofwindblewJack'scapoff.Asheturnedaroundtograbit,hesawacouplewalkingashortdistancebehindthem.

Thetwopeoplelookedliketeenagers.Theywerewalkingwiththeirheadsbowedagainstthewind.Thegirlworeadarkcapewithahood.Theboyworeahatandatanraincoatwithabelt.

"Hey,look-"JacksaidtoAnnie.Butatthatmoment,thewindshookthetrees,andbigclumpsofsnowfellfromthebranches.JackandAnnieduckedandcoveredtheirheads.Whenthewinddieddown,Jacklookedaroundforthecouple.

"They'regonenow,"hesaid.

"Who'sgone?"saidAnnie."Whodidyousee?"

"Twoteenagers,Ithink,"saidJack."Aboyandagirl.Wesawthemearlierfromthetreehouse.Ithinktheymightbefollowingus."

"Waitasecond,"saidAnnie."Twoteenagers?Aboyandagirl?Followingus?Whodoesthatremindyouof?"

AbigsmilecrossedJack'sface."TeddyandKathleen?"hesaid.

"Thinkaboutit,"saidAnnie."Onourlastthreemissions,itseemedlikeTeddyandKathleenwerealwaysnearby,wearingdisguises,readytohelpuswhenweneededit."

"Right,"saidJack."Wecouldsureusetheirhelpnow."Heturnedaround."Hello!"heshouted.

"Hello!"Annieyelled.

Butthewindansweredthemwithahowl.MoreclumpsofsnowblewdownonJackandAnnie.

"Let'sgetgoing,"saidAnnie."They'llfindussoonerorlater.Theyalwaysdo."

CHAPTERTHREE

LostinCentralPark

JackandAnniekeptwalkinguntiltheycametotheicepondagain."We'vebeenherebefore,"saidJack."We'regoingincircles.Howdowegetoutofthepark?"

"Wehavetotrytowalkinastraightline,"saidAnnie.

AnnieandJackstruggledon.Jackkeptlookingback,tryingtocatchsightofTeddyandKathleenagain.Butitwasgettingharderandhardertoseeanything.Wetsnowkeptstickingtohisglasses.Snowhadblownupthesleevesofhisjacket,underhisneckscarf,andintohismittens.

"Yikes!"saidAnnie.ShegrabbedJack'sarm."Look!"

Ahugewolf-likedogstoodonaledgeabovethem,hismouthopen.

"Whoa!"saidJack.

Thedogdidn'tmove.Hestoodperfectlystill.

Annielaughed."Oh,he'sastatue!"shesaid.Sherantoaplaqueunderthedogstatue,brushedoffthesnow,andshoutedtoJack."HisnameisBalto!In1925,hecarriedmedicinesixhundredmilesthroughablizzardinAlaska!"

"That'sreallygreat,"saidJack."Buthowdowegetoutofthepark?"

"Well,ifwefollowthispath,it'sboundtoleadsomewhere,"saidAnnie.

JackfollowedAnnieupawidepath.Theywalkedandwalked,passingasnow-coveredoutdoorstageandafountainwiththestatueofanangel.Raisingheroutspreadwings,theangelseemedabouttoflyaway.

"Whichwaynow?"saidJack.

Twopathsledawayfromtheangelfountain:onetotheright,onetotheleft."Idon'tknow,"saidAnnie."Pickone."

Jackheadedtotheleft.Anniefollowed.Theypassedafrozenlakeandwalkedoveranarchedbridge.Jackkepthiseyesonthegroundandwalkedandwalkedandwalked.Everytimeheliftedhishead,thesnowfeltlikeneedlesagainsthisskin.

Jacktriedtokeepwalkinginastraightline,butthepaththeywerefollowingbegantwistingandturninglikeamaze.Differentpathsbranchedoff,curvingthiswayandthat.Jackrememberedinformationfromtheirresearchbook:

Theparkhasthirty-twomilesofwindingfootpaths.

"Wehavegottogetoffthesepaths!"heshoutedtoAnnie."Orwe'llbelostinCentralParkforever!"

Anniedidn'tanswer."Annie!"Jackshieldedhisfacefromthecuttingwindandlookedback.Hedidn'tseeher.

Jackturnedaroundandaround,lookingforAnnie.Buthecouldn'tseeanything-theworldwascompletelywhite.

"Annie!"hecried.Hadshegoneoffonanotherpath?Wasshelost?"Annie!"

Shecouldwanderaroundinthestormforhours!thoughtJack.Shecouldfreezetodeath!Ihavetofindher!

Jacktriedtostaycalm.Hetookafewbreaths.

Arhyme,hethought.Hecouldn'trememberwhichmagicrhymeswereleft.Hestruggledtounbucklehisbriefcase-hisfingersfeltfrozen.Hepulledoutthebookandhunchedoverit,tryingtoshelteritfromthestorm.Hewipedhisglassesoffandread:

TurnintoDucks.Thatwouldn'thelp.

PullaCloudfromtheSky.Thatwouldonlymakethingsworse.

FindaTreasureYouMustNeverLose.

IsAnnieatreasure?Jackwondered.He'dalwaysthoughtofa"treasure"assomethingsupervaluable,likegoldorsilverorrarejewels.ButrightnowAnnieseemedmorevaluablethananyofthosethings.Sheseemedlikethemostvaluablethingintheworld.Jackfoundtherhymeandshouted:

Treasureforevermustneverbelost!Um-mottacal,um-mottabost!

"Jack!"

Jackwhirledaround.Anniewasstandingrightbehindhim."Thereyouare,"shesaid."Iwasafraidyougotlost."

"Iwasn'tlost,"saidJack.

"Youwerelost."Heslippedtherhymebookbackintohisbriefcase.

"Notme,you,"saidAnnie.

"Whatever,"saidJack."Juststaynearmenow."Hetookherhandandgrippedittightly.

"Okay,let'sfigureoutwhattodo."

"Wait,isthatacastleoverthere?"saidAnnie.

"Awhat?"saidJack."Acastle.Look!"

Peeringthroughthestorm,Jacksawasmallcastlesittingontopofasnowyhill.Alightburnedinawindow.

"AcastleinCentralPark?"Jacksaid."That'sweird."

"Let'sgoseeifanyone'sinside,"saidAnnie."Maybetheycanhelpus.Peopleinacastlemightknowaboutunicorns."

"Oratleastknowhowtogetoutofthepark,"saidJack.

JackandAnniestruggledupthestonestepsthatledtothecastle.Atthetopofthesteps,Jackglancedbackatthepark.Hecouldbarelymakeouttwofiguresinthesnow:oneinadarkcapeandoneinaraincoat.

"Them-it'sthem!"saidJack.

Acloudofwind-drivensnowblewoverthecouple.Jackkeptlooking,eagerforanotherglimpseofthetwoyoungenchanters.Butthesnowhideverythinginsight.

"They'llfindus,"saidAnnie."Comeon."Shepushedopenthedoortothecastleandledthewayinside.

Thedoorslammedshutbehindthem.JackandAnniestoodinadimlylithallway.

"Hello?Who'sthere?"amancalled."JackandAnnie!"shoutedAnnie.

Atall,thinmancamedownacurvingstonestairway.Heworeanold-fashionedblue-stripedsuit."Goodness!Twochildren!"hesaid."Whatareyoudoinghereonadayliketoday?"

"Wegotlostinthepark,"saidJack."Myname'sJackandthisismysister,Annie."

"Pleasedtomeetyou.I'mBillPerkins,"saidtheman."WelcometoBelvedereCastle."

"Whatisthisplace?"askedAnnie.

"Thecastlewasbuiltin1869,"saidMr.Perkins."Itwasmeanttobeadelightfulsurprisewhenonewanderedthepark.Todayit'sadelightfulsurprisewithanatureobservatoryandweatherinstrumentsinside."

"Weatherinstruments?"saidJack.

"Yes.I'vecomefromtheU.S.WeatherBureautocheckthem,"saidMr.Perkins."I'mafraidrightnowourdataistellingusthattheweather'sundergoingarapidandterriblechange."

Jackshiveredinhisdampclothes."Ourdataistellingusthesamething,"hesaid.

"AstormhasblowninfromtheMidwest,bringingwindandsnow,"saidMr.Perkins."Butafternightfall,thingswillgetworse.AnotherstormiscomingupfromtheSouth,gatheringspeedonitsway."

"Thatsoundsserious,"saidAnnie.

"It'sworsethanserious,"Mr.Perkinssaid."It'sdisastrous.Afterdark,thetwosystemswillmeetandcreateamonsterblizzard!ItcouldbetheworstinNewYorkhistory!EvenworsethantheBlizzardof'88!"

Jackcaughthisbreath.

"PoorNewYork,"saidAnnie.

"Ah,yes,it'sthelastthingourgreatcityneedsduringthesehardtimes,"saidMr.Perkins,shakinghishead.

"Excuseme,butIhaveaquestion,"saidAnnie."Doyouknowifthere'safullmoontonight?"

"Well,yes,thereis,"saidBillPerkins."Youwon'tseeit,though-notthroughthosestormclouds.Actually,it'llbethesecondfullmoonthismonth."

"Abluemoon!"saidAnnie.

"You'reexactlyright,abluemoonindeed,"saidMr.Perkins.

"Ihaveanotherquestion,"saidAnnie."Doyouknowwherewecanfind--"

"Um-anyunusualanimals?"Jackinterrupted."Onpublicdisplaysomewhere?InNewYorkCity?"

"Well,yourbestbetinNewYorkwouldbetheBronxZoo,"saidMr.Perkins."Theydisplayallkindsofanimalsfromallovertheworld."

"Great!"saidAnnie."Howdowegetthere?"

"What?Youcan'tgotothezootoday!"saidMr.Perkins."Notinthisstorm!"

"No,no,ofcoursenot,"Jacksaidquickly."Butifweeverdecidetogotothezoo-inthefuture-howwouldwegetthere?"

"Well,thebestwaywouldbetotaketheWestSideIRT,"saidMr.Perkins.

"What'sthat?"saidJack.

"AsubwaylinethatrunsuptheWestSide,"saidMr.Perkins."ThenumbertwotrainonthatlinewilltakeyoutotheBronxZoo."

"Oh,great,thanksforeverything,"saidJack."We'dbettergetgoingnow."HeandAnniestartedtowardthedoor.

"Wait,there'satelephoneupstairs.Letmeringupyourparents.Perhapstheycancomegetyou,"saidMr.Perkins.

"Um,well,"saidAnnie."We-uh-wehaven'tlivedhereverylong,andwedon'thaveatelephoneyet."

"She'sright,"saidJack."Butit'snotfartowherewelive.Wejustneedtogetoutoftheparktothestreet."

"TotheWestSide!"saidAnnie.

"Yeah,yeah,theWestSide,"saidJack."Canyoutellushowtogettherefromhere?"

"Certainly!"Mr.Perkinsopenedthedoor.Windandsnowblastedinsideashepointedtotheright."Crosstheterraceandthenwalkdownthestairstoapath.ThatpathwilltakeyououtoftheparktoEighty-firstStreet,"hesaid."Hurryhomenow!"

"Wewill!"saidJack.

"Thanksalot,Mr.Perkins!"saidAnnie.AndsheandJackheadedbackoutintotheblizzard.

CHAPTERFOUR

HardTimes

Thewindlashedthebaretreesandsweptthesnowintotalldrifts."Thatway!"saidAnnie.Sheledthewaydownthecastlestepstothepath.

"Mr.Perkinswasaniceguy,"saidAnnieastheyheadedtowardthewestsideofthepark.

"Yeah,"saidJack."SomedayI'dliketogobackthereandseeallhisweatherinstruments."JackandAnnietrudgedthroughthestorm,untiltheysawbuildingsjustbeyondthetrees."We'realmostoutofCentralPark!"Anniesaid.

Jacklookedaround."DoyouseeTeddyandKathleen?"hesaid.

"No,butwe'dbetterkeepgoingifwewanttogettothezootoday,"saidAnnie.

Jackagreed.Mr.Perkinshadsaidthattheblizzardwasgoingtoturnintoamonsterafterdark.AnddarkcameearlyinNovember.

Theylefttheparkandcametoawidecitystreet.Allsortsofthingswereblowingaboutinthewind:newspapers,hats,andumbrellasturnedinsideout.JackandAnniegrabbedalamppostandclungtoit,tryingtokeepfromgettingblownaway,too.Whentherewasalullinthestorm,theytrudgedacrosstheavenue.Itwaslinedwithcarshalfburiedinthesnow.

JackandAnniestarteddownasidestreet.Theypassedanoldmanandwomanhuddledinadoorway,wrappedintornblankets,burningafireinasmallstove.Theypassedalineofmendressedinraggedclothesstandingoutsideabuilding.Asignsaid"FreeSoup."

Jackhopedeveryoneoutsidewouldfindbettershelterbeforethemonsterblizzardhit.

"Excuseme!"Anniecalledtothemeninthelineforfreesoup."DoyouknowwheretheWestSideIRTsubwayis?"

"Twoblocks!"saidaman."Keepgoing!"

"Thanks!"saidAnnie.

JackandAnniekeptgoing.Theypassedafirehouse,acheesestore,andanewsstand.Everythingwasclosedandshuttered.Peddlers'cartswerestuckindrifts.

Signsbangedinthewind.Onesaid:MEATBALLSANDBEANS-10CENTS!

Anothersaid:ZITO'SBAKERY-5CENTSALOAF!

Athirdsaid:LODGING-2DOLLARSAWEEK!

JackandAnniecrossedthestreet.Theysawnewsboyshuddledunderatheaterawning.Theboyshadwrappedtheirfeetandlegsinnewspaperstokeepwarm.

"Excuseme,where'sthesubway?"Jackshouted.

"Endoftheblockandaroundthecorner!Greenball!"saidaboy.

Greenball?wonderedJack.Whatdoesthatmean?

"Thanks!"saidAnnie."Youguysshouldgohome!Afterdark,thestorm'sturningintoamonster!"

JackandAnnietrudgedon.Whentheyturnedthecorner,Annieshouted,"Look!Agreenball!"

Ontopofapostwasalargegreenball.Thepostwasnexttoastairwaythatledunderground.Asignsaid:

UPTOWNIRTTRAINS,1,2,3

"That'sit!Mr.Perkinssaidwetakethenumbertwo!"saidAnnie.

"Wait,doyouseeTeddyandKathleen?"saidJack,peeringthroughthesnow.Annielookedwithhimdownthecitystreet.

"Idon'tseethem.ButI'msurethey'llfindus,"saidAnnie.SheandJackstarteddownthestairsthatledunderground.Thestairwaywasfilledwithpeopletryingtogetoutofthestorm.JackandAnniewalkedwiththecrowdintothesubwaystation.

Alonglinewaitedinfrontofaturnstile.Asignovertheturnstilesaid:

SUBWAY:5￠

"Oops,doyouhaveanymoneyforthesubway?"AnnieaskedJack.

"Yeah,IthinkIlefthomewithatleastadollarinchange,"saidJack.Hereachedintohispocketandpulledouttwonickels.

"Cool,"saidAnnie.Sheledthewaytotheline.Astheywaited,Jacklookedaroundthestation.Abanjoplayerplayedasillytune,butnoonesmiled.Amaninragswalkedaround,holdingoutahat,beggingformoney.Jacktookanothernickelfromhispocketanddroppeditintothehat.

"Thankyou,thankyou.Blessyou,"saidthebeggar.

"Sure,"saidJack.

Asthebeggarwalkedon,JacklookedatAnnie."Boy,justalittlenickelmadehimsohappy,"hesaid.

"Iknow.Everyoneseemsreallypooranddesperatehere,"saidAnnie.

"Iwonderwhy,"saidJack.Whilethelinemovedslowlytowardtheturnstile,hepulledouttheirresearchbook.Hereadaloudfromtheintroduction:

Inthe1930s,NewYorkCity,aswellastherestoftheUnitedStates,sufferedthroughhardtimesknownastheGreatDepression.Jobswerescarce,andmanypeoplehadnomoneyorhomes.

"That'swhatMr.Perkinswastalkingabout,"saidJack."Hardtimes."

"Iwishwecouldhelpeveryone,"saidAnnie."Metoo,"saidJack.

"Butrightnowourmissionistosaveaunicornunderaspell,"saidAnnie.

Jackfrowned."Ourmissionsoundslikeafairytalefromamake-believeworld,"hesaid."NottherealworldoftheGreatDepression."

"Iknow,"saidAnnie."Hey,it'salmostourturn.Whatdowedo?"

"Let'swatchthepersoninfrontofus,"saidJack.

JackandAnniewatchedanoldwomanputhernickelintheslotoftheturnstile,whichledtothetrainplatform.Thewomanpushedthroughandjoinedthecrowdofpeoplewaitingforthetrain.JackandAnnieputtheirnickelsintotheslotandpushedthrough,too.

Theplatformwasbitterlycold.Peoplelookedworried,asiftheyfearedthesubwaytrainmightnevercome.Jackfeltworried,too,butmainlybecausetheirmissionwasn'tmakinganys