Abe Lincoln at Last!: A Merlin Mission

better,” said Sam’s pa. “We’re going to make a real door, aren’t we, boys? Andwe’ll make a real floor with wood, patch the roof, and put mud in the chinks between the logs.”
    “Yes, sir,” said Sam and John together.
    Thomas held the bearskin for his wife and all the children. Then he followed them inside.
    Jack and Annie could hear the sounds of happy conversation coming from the cabin.
    “Wow, what a day to be with Sam, huh?” Annie said to Jack.
    “Really,” said Jack. “But what should we do now?”
    “I don’t know,” said Annie. “I think Sam forgot us in all the excitement.”
    “Like when Tad forgot me under the bed in the White House,” said Jack.
    “Jack! Annie!” Sam came running out of the cabin, calling to them in the fading light.
    “He didn’t forget us!” said Annie.
    She and Jack stepped out of the cowshed.
    “We’re here!” Annie called.
    “I want to give you something!” said Sam. Heheld up a quill pen and a small bottle. “I told you about these. The pen’s made from the feather of a goose, and the ink’s from the roots of a blackberry bush. I want you to have them.”

    “Oh, no, Sam,” said Jack. “You keep them. You need them more.”
    “Take ’em,” said Sam. “I want to thank you for staying by me when I was feeling poorly, and for trying to do my chores. Your kindness truly helped me.”
    “But we didn’t do any chores, not one!” said Annie.
    “You tried, though,” said Sam. “And most important, you both love what I love most: readin’ and writin’. Please.” Sam handed Jack the quill pen and the ink bottle. “Use them to write something special.”
    “We will,” said Annie. “I can carry them, Jack.” He handed her Sam’s treasures, and she put them into her apron pocket. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome,” said Sam. “And what I was going to tell you is—”
    “Yes—” Jack started.
    But before Jack could finish, a
WHOOSH
and a
ROAR
shook the earth, like a speeding train passing by. The ground opened, and Jack felt as if he were falling through space,
    through a tunnel,
         down through blackness,
               into a world of daylight.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Abe Lincoln at Last!
    J ack and Annie looked around in a daze. They were under the trees near the tree house, standing in the same spot where they’d sipped the potion. The air was chilly but bright. A fresh breeze rustled the branches.
    “The magic ended,” said Jack, stunned. “It ended before we could complete our mission.”
    “I know,” Annie said. “And we didn’t get to say good-bye to Sam.”
    “I didn’t even thank him for the quill pen and the ink,” said Jack.
    “I know. These were his treasures,” said Annie. She held up the goose feather and the ink jar that Sam had given them.
    “Wait, that’s so weird,” said Jack. “We’re looking for a feather, and Sam gives us a pen made out of a feather—”
    Annie gasped. “Look, Jack!” She pointed toward the carriageway.
    A tall man in a dark coat and a high black hat was striding toward the grove of trees. He turned his head, as if he were searching for something.
    “At last!” said Jack.
    “Mr. President!” Annie called. She thrust the quill pen and ink bottle back into her pocket and ran toward Abraham Lincoln.
    “Wait!” said Jack, running after her. “What’ll we say?”
    “We’ll figure it out!” said Annie. “Mr. President!”
    Abraham Lincoln turned and looked in their direction. He froze and stared at them, as if he were both astonished and afraid.

    What’s wrong with him?
thought Jack. As they got closer to the president, Jack and Annie slowed to a walk. Abraham Lincoln kept staring at them as if they were ghosts.
    “Hello, sir,” Annie said shyly.
    Jack was speechless.
    The creases in the president’s face gave him a deeply worried look. His gray eyes stared at themwithout blinking. “So it
is
you,” he said in a hushed voice. “Tad told me your names, but I could not believe it might really be you.”
    “What do you mean?” Annie asked.
    “You don’t know who I am?” he said.
    “You’re Abraham Lincoln,” said Annie. “President of the United States.”
    “Yes, but I spent the day with you once long ago,” said the president. “And you vanished, right before my eyes.”
    “We did?” said Annie.
    “Outside our log cabin in Indiana,” said the president.
    “Indiana?” said Jack.
    “Yes, it was the day my father