Dark Day in the Deep Sea

“Morgan believes four is the magic number that will ensure success.”
    “We have come to send you on your search for a third secret,” said Teddy.
    Kathleen took a book from under her cloak and handed it to Jack and Annie. “From Morgan’s hands to our hands to yours,” she said.
    Jack took the book from her. The cover showed waves crashing on a beach.

    “Wow,” said Jack. “We’re going to the ocean?”
    “Yes,” said Teddy. “That is where you will next search for a secret of happiness.”
    “The ocean always makes me happy,” said Annie. “Once Jack and I traveled to a coral reef and swam with dolphins. And we ran into an octopus. But he was nice and shy and—”
    “But the shark we saw
wasn’t
shy,” Jack broke in. “It was a big hammerhead.”
    “Oh, my,” said Kathleen.
    “We took a ride in a mini-sub,” said Annie. “It was so cool!”
    “Until it started to leak and—” said Jack.
    “We had to escape!” said Annie.
    “Yeah,” said Jack. “We tried not to splash—so the shark wouldn’t notice us.”
    “We had so much fun!” said Annie.
    Kathleen smiled. “Well, I hope you will not find the same ‘fun’ on this journey,” she said.
    “But in case you do, you have your wand to help you, do you not?” asked Teddy. “The Wand of Dianthus?”
    “Of course,” said Jack. “I always carry it, just in case.” Jack reached into his backpack and pulled out the silvery wand. It was shaped like the spiraled horn of a unicorn.
    “You remember the three rules?” asked Kathleen.
    “Sure,” said Jack. “To make magic, we use a wish with only five words.”
    “And before we use the wand, we have to try our hardest,” said Annie.
    “And the wand can only be used for the good of others,” said Jack, “not just ourselves.”
    “Exactly,” said Teddy.
    “I wonder who the ‘others’ will be on this mission,” said Annie. She looked at Teddy and Kathleen. “Maybe you guys?”
    “I fear not,” said Kathleen. “You must find the third secret on your own.”
    “Just remember to keep your wits about you,” said Teddy.
    “And listen to your hearts,” said Kathleen.
    “Okay,” said Annie. “We’ll tell you all about it when we see you again.”
    Lightning flashed through the woods as Jack pointed to the cover of the ocean book. “I wish we could go there!” he said.
    Thunder cracked in the dark sky. The wind blew harder.
    The tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

J ack opened his eyes. Teddy and Kathleen were gone. The warm air was filled with mist.
    Jack and Annie peered out the window together. The tree house had landed in a tall tree with spreading branches. The mist was so thick they couldn’t see anything around them. But Jack heard the caws of gulls and the swooshing of rolling waves. He smelled salt water and seaweed.
    “The ocean’s out there. Feel it?” said Annie.
    “I hear it and smell it,” said Jack.
    “Then let’s go play in it!” said Annie. She pulled off her sneakers and socks.
    “We can’t just
play
,” Jack said. “We have to look for a secret of happiness.”
    “Well, I’m happiest when I’m playing in the ocean!” Annie started down the rope ladder.
    I’m sure our mission’s harder than that
, Jack thought. He took their library books out of his pack and replaced them with the deep-sea book.
    “Hurry!” said Annie.
    Jack put on his pack and started down after her. He stepped off the ladder onto the misty ground.
    “Come on!” said Annie.
    Jack followed Annie toward the sounds of seabirds and waves. They walked through feathery ferns and climbed a sloping sand dune. When they rounded the top, Jack saw waves rolling onto a wide, sandy beach. But the ocean itself was still shrouded in a gray haze.
    “Wow,” said Annie.
    “Yeah,” said Jack.
    “Come on, let’s go in,” Annie said.
    Jack and Annie hurried down the dune and ran toward the ocean. While Annie waded into the water, Jack stood at the edge and pulled out their research book. “Listen to this, Annie,” he called.
    Jack read loudly:
    Water covers three-quarters of our earth. Most of the ocean is an enormous plain a little more than two miles deep. But some ocean trenches are more than six miles deep.
    “More than six miles?” Annie asked, splashing the water with her hands. “It’s six miles from our house to Aunt Libby’s.”
    “I know,” said Jack. He read more:
    The ocean is