Dark Day in the Deep Sea

house; #39)
“A Merlin mission.”
“A Stepping Stone book.”
Audience: RL: 2.7
Summary: When eight-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister, Annie, join a group of nineteenth-century explorers aboard the H.M.S. Challenger, they learn about the ocean, solve the mystery of its fabled sea monster, and gain compassion for their fellow creatures.

eISBN: 978-0-375-89461-9

1. Oceanography—Fiction. 2. Challenger (Ship: 1872–1876)—Fiction.
3. Compassion—Fiction. 4. Time travel—Fiction. 5. Magic—Fiction. 6. Tree houses—Fiction.
7. Brothers and sisters—Fiction.]
I. Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.O81167Dar  2008  [Fic]—dc22  2007029717
    v3.0

For Elyot and Beatrice Harmston

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds
one in its net of wonder forever.”
    —Jacques Cousteau



O ne summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods. A brother and sister named Jack and Annie soon learned that the tree house was magic—it could take them to any time and any place in history. They also learned that the tree house belonged to Morgan le Fay, a magical librarian from the legendary realm of Camelot.
    After Jack and Annie traveled on many adventures for Morgan, Merlin the magician began sending them on “Merlin Missions” in the tree house. With help from two young sorcerers named Teddy and Kathleen, Jack and Annie visited four
mythical
places and found valuable objects to help save Camelot.
    On their next four Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie once again traveled to real times and real places in history: Venice, Baghdad, Paris, and New York City. After proving to Merlin thatthey knew how to use magic wisely, he awarded them the Wand of Dianthus, a powerful magic wand that would help them make their own magic.
    On their last two adventures, Teddy and Kathleen told Jack and Annie that Merlin was very unhappy and not well and that Morgan wanted them to search for four secrets of happiness to share with Merlin.
    Now Jack and Annie are waiting for the tree house to return and take them on their third mission to help Merlin….

J ack felt raindrops. He looked up and saw a summer storm cloud.
    “Hurry!” Jack called to Annie. They were riding their bikes home from the library. Jack’s backpack was filled with library books. He didn’t want them to get wet.
    As Jack and Annie pedaled faster, a large white bird swooped over them and flew into the Frog Creek woods.
    “Did you see that?” cried Jack.
    “A seagull!” called Annie. “It’s a sign!”
    “You’re right!” said Jack. The last time they’d seen a seagull in Frog Creek, the magic tree house was waiting for them!
    “The woods!” said Annie.
    Jack and Annie bumped their bikes over the curb. The rain fell harder as they headed into the wet woods. Their bike tires bounced over the rough ground, crushing leaves and snapping twigs.
    “It must be time to look for another secret of happiness for Merlin!” Jack called.
    “I hope Merlin’s feeling better!” shouted Annie.
    “I hope Teddy and Kathleen came with the tree house!” shouted Jack.
    “Me too!” shouted Annie.
    Jack and Annie steered their bikes under canopies of wet leaves. By the time they came to the tallest oak in the woods, the seagull had disappeared. But the magic tree house was back! It was high in the tallest oak, its rope ladder swaying in the wind and rain.
    Jack and Annie climbed off their bikes and propped them against the trunk of the tree.
    “Teddy! Kathleen!” Annie shouted.
    There was no answer.
    “I guess they didn’t come this time,” Jack said.
    “Darn!” said Annie. “I really wanted to see them.”
    “Boo!” Two older kids looked down out of the tree house window: a curly-haired boy with a big grin and a girl with sea-blue eyes and a beautiful smile. Both were wearing long green cloaks.
    “Yay!” cried Annie and Jack.
    The rain fell harder as they started up the rope ladder. When they climbed into the tree house, they yanked off their bike helmets and hugged Teddy and Kathleen.
    “Morgan sent us to tell you about your next mission for Merlin,” said Teddy.
    “How
is
Merlin?” asked Annie.
    Teddy stopped smiling. He shook his head.
    “Merlin still suffers from an unspoken sorrow,” Kathleen said sadly.
    “When can we see him?” asked Annie.
    “We’ve learned two secrets of happiness to share with him,” said Jack.
    “You may visit him after you have learned two more secrets,” said Kathleen.