The Knight at Dawn

“It’s called the armory,” he said. “It’s where armor and weapons are stored.”
    He shined the flashlight around the room.
    â€œOh, man,” whispered Jack.
    The light fell on shiny breastplates, leg plates, arm plates. On shelves filled withhelmets and weapons. On shields, spears, swords, crossbows, clubs, battle-axes.
    There was a noise in the hall. Voices!
    â€œLet’s hide!” said Annie.
    â€œWait,” said Jack. “I’ve got to check on something first.”
    â€œHurry,” said Annie.
    â€œIt’ll take just a second,” said Jack. “Hold this.” He handed Annie the flashlight.
    He tried to lift a helmet from a shelf. It was too heavy.
    He bent over and dragged the helmet over his head. The visor slammed shut.
    Oh, forget it. It was
worse
than having a five-year-old on your head. More like having a ten-year-old on your head.
    Not only could Jack not lift his head, he couldn’t see anything, either.
    â€œJack!” Annie’s voice sounded far away.“The voices are getting closer!”
    â€œTurn off the flashlight!” Jack’s voice echoed inside the metal chamber.
    He struggled to get the helmet off.
    Suddenly he lost his balance and went crashing into other pieces of armor.
    The metal plates and weapons clattered to the floor.
    Jack lay on the floor in the dark.
    He tried to get up. But his head was too heavy.
    He heard deep voices.
    Someone grabbed him by the arm. The next thing he knew, his helmet was yanked off. He was staring into the blazing light of a fiery torch.

In the torchlight, Jack saw three huge men standing over him.
    One with very squinty eyes held the torch. One with a very red face held Jack. And one with a very long mustache held on to Annie.
    Annie was kicking and yelling.
    â€œStop!” said the one with the very long mustache.
    â€œWho art thou?” said the one with the very red face.
    â€œSpies? Foreigners? Egyptians? Romans? Persians?” said the squinty-eyed one.
    â€œNo, you dummies!” said Annie.
    â€œOh, brother,” Jack muttered.
    â€œArrest them!” said Red-face.
    â€œThe dungeon!” said Squinty-eyes.
    The guards marched Jack and Annie out of the armory. Jack looked back frantically. Where was his backpack?
    â€œGo!” said a guard, giving him a push.
    Jack went.
    Down they marched, down the long, dark hallway. Squinty, Annie, Mustache, Jack, and Red.
    Down a narrow, winding staircase.
    Jack heard Annie shouting at the guards. “Dummies! Meanies! We didn’t do anything!”
    The guards laughed. They didn’t take her seriously at all.
    At the bottom of the stairs was a big iron door with a bar across it.
    Squinty pushed the bar off the door. Then he shoved at the door. It creaked open.
    Jack and Annie were pushed into a cold, clammy room.
    The fiery torch lit the dungeon. There were chains hanging from the filthy walls. Water dripped from the ceiling, making puddles on the stone floor. It was the creepiest place Jack had ever seen.
    â€œWe’ll keep them here till the feast is done. Then turn them over to the Duke,” said Squinty. “He knows how to take care of thieves.”
    â€œThere will be a hanging tomorrow,” said Mustache.
    â€œIf the rats don’t get them first,” said Red.
    They all laughed.
    Jack saw that Annie had his backpack. She was quietly unzipping it.
    â€œCome on, let’s chain the two of ’em,” said Squinty.
    The guards started toward them. Annie whipped her flashlight out of the pack.
    â€œTa-da!” she yelled.
    The guards froze. They stared at the shiny flashlight in her hand.
    Annie switched the light on. The guards gasped in fear. They jumped back against the wall.
    Squinty dropped the torch. It fell into a dirty puddle on the floor, sputtered, and went out.
    â€œMy magic wand!” Annie said, waving the flashlight. “Get down. Or I’ll wipe you out!”
    Jack’s mouth dropped open.
    Annie fiercely pointed her light at one, then the other. Each howled and covered his face.

    â€œDown! All of you! Get down!” shouted Annie.
    One by one, the guards lay down on the wet floor.
    Jack couldn’t believe it.
    â€œCome on,” Annie said to him. “Let’s go.”
    Jack looked at the open doorway. He looked at the guards quaking on the ground.
    â€œHurry!” said Annie.
    In one quick leap, Jack followed her out of the terrible