Hour of the Olympics

Before sunrise in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, eight-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister, Annie, prepare to visit the magic tree house hidden in the local woods. The tree house belongs to Morgan le Fay, a magical librarian from the time of King Arthur who travels through time collecting books. In previous adventures, Jack and Annie earned the title of Master Librarians, receiving secret library cards marked with the letters M L. Their recent missions have involved saving stories from ancient libraries, and this trip to ancient Greece will be their fourth.

Inside the tree house, Morgan gives them a paper with a title written in Greek and a research book called A Day in Ancient Greece. She reminds them of the rules: The research book will guide them, but in their darkest hour only the lost story can save them. They must also show their library cards to the wisest person they meet. Jack wishes them to ancient Greece, and the tree house spins and carries them away.

They land in an olive tree, dressed in tunics and sandals. Beyond the grove, enormous crowds fill a field of white tents and red-brick buildings with columns. Jack reads that they have arrived at Olympia during the ancient Olympic Games, a festival held every four years that drew more than 40,000 people. As they walk among the tents, Annie notices there are no women or girls anywhere. Jack spots what appears to be a woman performing on an outdoor theater stage, but the performer removes her wig, revealing she is a boy. The research book explains that the Greeks invented plays but women were not allowed to act, so men played female roles. Annie declares the rule unfair, and Jack urges them to move on.

A man with a short white beard introduces himself as Plato, a philosopher, which he defines as a lover of wisdom. Annie whispers to Jack that Plato may be the wisest person they will meet, so Jack shows him their Master Librarian cards. Plato is amazed. Jack shows him the Greek title, and Plato recognizes it as the work of a brilliant poet who is a friend of his. He agrees to take them to the poet but warns them never to reveal the poet's identity.

Plato leads them to a house where Jack reads that in ancient Greece, women spent most of their time doing domestic work, boys were sent to school at age seven, and girls were not allowed to attend school at all. Plato returns with a young woman holding a scroll and introduces her as the secret poet. When Annie asks how she learned to read and write, the woman says she taught herself. Plato explains that the poem is wonderful but will get the poet in trouble if it is read in Greece, so Jack and Annie must carry it to their faraway home for safekeeping. The poet hands Jack the scroll. When Annie asks her name, the woman says to call her Anonymous, a word Plato explains means no one knows who wrote it. Annie protests that this is unfair. The poet expresses hope that someday women everywhere will write books just like men, then bows and departs.

Annie is frustrated by the restrictions on women: no writing, no school, no acting. Jack reminds her about the Olympics, which brightens her mood. Plato offers to take them to the games, where he has special seats next to the judges, but he hesitates when he looks at Annie. Girls are forbidden from attending the Olympics, and a girl caught there will face terrible consequences. Annie insists Jack go without her so he can take notes. She will watch the play at the outdoor theater.

Plato tells Jack it is the first day of the games, the day of chariot races. He shows Jack the gymnasium, the sacred olive tree whose branches are woven into winners' crowns, and the temple of Zeus, the chief god in Greek mythology. Inside the temple stands a massive statue of Zeus, at least two stories high, seated on a throne. Plato explains the games are held in Zeus's honor. Trumpets sound, signaling the start of the Olympic parade.

From the viewing stand, Jack watches athletes parade past and takes notes for Annie. Then he notices a short soldier on the sidelines wearing a long cape and red-crested helmet, the same costume from the outdoor theater. A small hand waves from beneath the cape. Jack realizes with horror that the soldier is Annie, who has borrowed a costume to sneak into the games.

Jack frantically signals Annie to leave, but she waves back and turns to watch the chariot race. Dozens of four-horse chariots thunder off the line. Annie begins jumping and shouting in a high-pitched voice, drawing stares. Jack rushes down the steps to reach her. As he descends, Annie pulls off her helmet, her pigtails flying, and her cape falls away. The crowd notices her, and someone shouts for the guards. Two large guards seize Annie before Jack can reach her.

The guards drag Annie through the crowd as Jack pushes after her, but his voice is lost in the noise. More guards arrive and the crowd chants for her arrest. Annie cries out to Jack to use the story. He remembers Morgan's rule: In their darkest hour, only the lost story can save them. He pulls the poet's scroll from his bag and holds it up to the sky. The crowd falls silent as a huge white horse pulling an empty chariot gallops out of the dust toward Jack. The guards stare in awe. Annie breaks free and runs to Jack. Together they climb into the chariot. Annie shouts for the horse to go, and the horse rears, freezing the guards and pushing the crowd back. Jack looks up and sees Plato in the viewing area, smiling and waving.

The horse gallops along the track, and suddenly the chariot lurches upward. Jack opens his eyes to discover the horse has grown giant feathery wings and is pulling the chariot through the sky. The winged horse soars over Olympia before landing near the olive grove. Jack and Annie climb out on shaky legs and stroke the horse's neck. Annie tears up at the thought of leaving. The horse touches her forehead with his nose and nudges her toward the tree house. They climb the rope ladder, and before Jack wishes them home, they watch the horse spread its wings and soar into the sky until it disappears. Annie calls goodbye as a tear rolls down her cheek. Jack wishes them back to Pennsylvania.

Back in the Frog Creek tree house, Morgan greets them and takes the scroll. She reveals the horse was Pegasus, the great winged horse of Greek mythology, and that the poet's story was about him. Annie says the poem was written by Anonymous, and Morgan notes that many talented women used that name in the past. She adds that the story will be a great addition to her library in Camelot. Morgan points to the night sky, where characters from all four Master Librarian missions appear as constellations, including Pegasus with his head, wings, and galloping legs outlined in stars. Annie whispers that she loves Pegasus, and Jack thinks he sees the stars shift as if the horse is rearing.

Morgan praises their work and promises many more missions ahead. With a rush of wind and blinding light, she and the tree house vanish. Jack and Annie walk home through the dark woods, Jack feeling as though someone is guiding them. He recalls Morgan's words that the old stories are always with them and they are never alone. As dawn lightens the sky, he thinks he hears the beating of giant wings somewhere high above.