1“No one’s here!” Annie shouted down.

2Jack thought about going home. Then he thought about all the books in the tree house.

3He started up the ladder. When he was nearly to the tree house, he saw light in the distant sky. Dawn was starting to break.

4He crawled through a hole in the floor and took off his backpack.

5It was dark inside the tree house.

6Annie was shining her flashlight on the books scattered about.

7“They’re still here,” she said.

8She stopped the light on a dinosaur book. It was the book that had taken them to the time of the dinosaurs.

9“Remember the Tyrannosaurus?” asked Annie.

10Jack shuddered. Of course he remembered! How could anyone forget seeing a real live Tyrannosaurus rex?

11The light fell on a book about Pennsylvania. A red silk bookmark stuck out of it.

12“Remember the picture of Frog Creek?” said Annie.

13“Of course,” said Jack. That was the picture that had brought them home.

14“There’s my favorite,” said Annie.

15The light was shining on a book about knights and castles. There was a blue leather bookmark in it.

16Annie turned to the page with the bookmark. There was a picture of a knight on a black horse. He was riding toward a castle.

17“Annie, close that book,” said Jack. “I know what you’re thinking.” Annie pointed at the knight.

18“Don’t, Annie!”

19“We wish we could see this guy for real,” Annie said.

20“No, we don’t!” shouted Jack.

21They heard a strange sound.

22“Neeee-hhhh!”

23It sounded like a horse neighing.

24They both went to the window.

25Annie shined the flashlight down on the ground.

26“Oh no,” whispered Jack.

27“A knight!” said Annie.

28A knight in shining armor! Riding a black horse! Through the Frog Creek woods!

29Then the wind began to moan. The leaves began to tremble.

30It was happening again.

31“We’re leaving!” cried Annie. “Get down!” The wind moaned louder. The leaves shook harder.

32And the tree house started to spin. It spun faster and faster!

33Jack squeezed his eyes shut.

34Then everything was still.

35Absolutely still.

36Jack opened his eyes. He shivered. The air was damp and cool.

37The sound of a horse’s whinny came again from below.

38“Neeee-hhhh!”

39“I think we’re here,” whispered Annie. She was still holding the castle book.

40Jack peeked out the window.

41A huge castle loomed out of the fog.

42He looked around. The tree house was in a different oak tree. And down below, the knight on the black horse was riding by.

43“We can’t stay here,” said Jack. “We have to go home and make a plan first.” He picked up the book about Pennsylvania. He opened it to the page with the red silk bookmark. He pointed to the photograph of the Frog Creek woods. “I wish—”

44“No!” said Annie. She yanked the book away from him. “Let’s stay!

45I want to visit the castle! ”

46“You’re nuts. We have to examine the situation,” said Jack. “From home.”

47“Let’s examine it here!” said Annie.

48“Come on.” He held out his hand. “Give it.” Annie gave Jack the book. “Okay. You can go home. I’m staying,” she said. She clipped the flashlight to her belt.

49“Wait!” said Jack.

50“I’m going to take a peek. A teeny peek,” she said. And she scooted down the ladder.

51Jack groaned. Okay, she had won. He couldn’t leave without her.

52Besides, he sort of wanted to take a peek himself.

53He put down the book about Pennsylvania.

54He dropped the castle book into his pack. He stepped onto the ladder. And headed down into the cool, misty air.