Pirates Past Noon Read Online Free

a patch of wood.
    Then the rain cleared away more sand. And Jack saw the top of an old trunk.
    He stared. Was it Captain Kidd’s treasure chest?
    â€œHurry, Jack!” cried Annie. She was halfway up the tree house ladder.
    â€œI found it! I found it!” cried Jack. “I found the treasure chest!”
    â€œForget the treasure chest!” said Annie. “We have to go now! The storm’s getting worse!”
    Jack kept staring at the chest. Was there gold inside? Silver? Precious gems?
    â€œCome on!” Now Annie was shouting from the tree house window.
    But Jack couldn’t tear himself away. Hebrushed the rest of the muddy sand off the chest.
    â€œJack, forget the treasure chest!” cried Annie. “Let’s go!”
    â€œGo back!” squawked Polly.
    Jack looked at the parrot. She was perched on the black rock.

    He stared into her wise eyes. He thought he knew her—knew her from somewhere else.
    â€œGo back, Jack,” she said. She sounded like a person.
    Okay. It was definitely time to go.
    Jack took one last look at the treasure chest. He clutched the gold medallion. Then he took off, running toward the tree house.
    His socks and rain boots were still there. He quickly pulled the boots on. He shoved the socks into his backpack.
    The rope ladder was dancing wildly in the wind. Jack grabbed it.
    The ladder swayed as Jack climbed. He was tossed this way and that. But he held on tight.
    At last he pulled himself into the tree house.
    â€œLet’s go!” he cried.
    Annie was already holding the Pennsylvania book. She pointed to the picture of Frog Creek.
    â€œI wish we could go there!” she shouted.
    The wind was already blowing hard. But now it blew even harder.
    The tree house started to spin. It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

Drip, drip.
    Jack opened his eyes.
    Rain was dripping from the leaves of the tree.
    They were back in Frog Creek. The rain was softer. The wind was gentler. The air was sweeter.
    â€œOh man.” Jack sighed. “That was close.” He was still holding the gold medallion.
    â€œPolly’s gone,” said Annie sadly. “I was hoping she might come back with us.”
    â€œNo magic creature has ever come back with us,” said Jack.
    He pulled off his backpack. It was damp with rain and saltwater.
    Jack took out the pirate book. He put it on the stack of books. On top of the dinosaur book. And the knight book. And the mummy book.
    Then Jack put the gold medallion beside the bookmark with the letter M.
    Next he went down onto his knees. And ran his finger over the shimmering M on the floor. “We didn’t find any M’s on this trip,” he said.
    â€œOr the M person,” said Annie.
    Squawk!
    â€œPolly!” Annie cried.
    The parrot swooshed into the tree house.She perched on the stack of books.
    Polly looked straight at Jack.
    â€œWhat—what are you doing here?” he asked her.
    Slowly Polly raised her bright green wings. They grew bigger and bigger until they spread out like a huge green cape.

    Then, in a great swirl of colors—in a blur of feathers and light—in a flapping and stretching and screeching—a new being took shape.
    Polly was not a parrot any longer. In her place was an old woman. A beautiful old woman with long white hair and piercing eyes.

    She wore a green feathered cape. She perched on the stack of books. And she was very calm and very still.
    Neither Jack nor Annie could speak. They were too amazed.
    â€œHello, Jack. Hello, Annie,” the old woman said. “My name is Morgan le Fay.”

Annie found her voice first. “The M person,” she whispered.
    â€œYes. I’m the M person,” said Morgan.
    â€œWh-where are you from?” asked Jack.
    â€œHave you ever heard of King Arthur?” said Morgan.
    Jack nodded.
    â€œWell, I am King Arthur’s sister,” said Morgan.
    â€œYou’re