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have your secret library cards?” asked Morgan.
    â€œYes,” said Jack.
    â€œGood. Do not lose them. The right people will know what they mean,” said Morgan. “And, as usual, here is a book to help you.”
    Morgan handed Jack a book called
Life in Roman Times
. The cover showed a Roman town with people wearing tunics and sandals.
    â€œThat looks great,” said Jack.
    â€œAnd take this—the name of the story I need,” said Morgan. She handed the piece of paper to Jack, and he put it in his pack.
    â€œRemember,” said Morgan. “Your research book will guide you. But remember:
In your darkest hour, only the ancient story can save you
. But first you must find it.”
    Jack and Annie nodded.
    â€œGo now,” Morgan said softly. “And don’t forget what I just told you.”
    â€œThanks,” said Jack. He pointed at the cover of the book on Roman times. “I wish we could go there,” he said.
    The wind started to blow.
    â€œI almost forgot—I’m going to help you blend in!” Morgan shouted above the wind.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” shouted Jack.
    Before Morgan could answer, the tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.
    â€œOh, cool,” whispered Annie. “Look at
us
.”

Jack opened his eyes. He pushed his glasses into place.
    Morgan was gone. And so were Jack’s jeans, T-shirt, sneakers, and backpack.
    Instead, he had on a white tunic with a belt, sandals that laced up, and a leather bag.
    He looked at Annie. She was dressed the same way. Morgan had made them look just like kids in an ancient Roman town.
    â€œI guess this is what Morgan meant,” said Jack, “when she said she’d help us blend in.”
    â€œI feel like Cinderella,” said Annie. “I like these clothes.”
    â€œYeah,” said Jack, although he felt a little as if he was wearing a dress.
    Annie looked out the window.
    â€œIt’s pretty here,” she said.
    Jack looked with her. They had landed in a grove of trees. On one side of the grove rose a gentle-looking mountain. On the other, a town sparkled in the sunlight.
    â€œI wonder where we are,” said Jack. He opened the book about Roman times. He read aloud:
    Almost 2,000 years ago, on August 24, A.D . 79, the seaside town of Pompeii (pom-PAY) was a typical Roman town. Many Romans went there on their vacation. They built large houses called villas and planted groves of olive trees along the slopes of a mountain called Mount Vesuvius (vuh-SOO-vee-us).
    Annie kept looking out the window as Jack pulled out his notebook and pencil. He wrote:

    Jack looked out the window again.
    â€œIt does look like a nice place to go on vacation,” he said.
    â€œWe must have landed in one of the olive groves,” said Annie.
    â€œYeah, and that town must be Pompeii,” said Jack.
    He looked in the opposite direction. “And that mountain must be Mount Vesuvius.”
    Annie shivered. “That name sounds scary,” she said.
    â€œReally?” said Jack. “Not to me.” He looked down at his notes.
    â€œHey! Did you feel that?” said Annie.
    â€œWhat?” Jack looked up.
    â€œThe ground shook. I heard it rumble, too,” said Annie.
    Jack frowned. “I think you were just dreaming again,” he said.
    â€œNo, I wasn’t,” said Annie. “Something feels wrong about this place. I really think we should go home now.”
    â€œAre you nuts?” said Jack. “We have to find that lost story for Morgan. Besides, I’ve always wanted to see a Roman town.”
    He threw his notebook and the Roman book into his leather bag. Then he went down the rope ladder.
    â€œCome on!” he called when he stepped onto the ground.
    Annie just stared down at him.
    â€œDon’t be chicken,” he said. He pushed his glasses into place. “Come on.