Thanks for the encouragement:
Bob Dubberley, Brock Eastman, Clark Miller, Larry Weeden, and Glenn Williams
Peril in the Palace
Copyright © 2011 Focus on the Family
A Focus on the Family book published by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey, and their accompanying logos and designs, and The Imagination Station, are federally registered trademarks of Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.
TYNDALE and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of Focus on the Family.
With the exception of known historical characters, all characters are the product of the authors’ imaginations.
Cover design by Michael Heath, Magnus Creative
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hering, Marianne.
Peril in the palace / by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker; illustrated by David Hohn. – lsted.
p. cm. – (Imagination Station; bk. #3)
“Focus on the Family.”
Summary: Cousins Patrick and Beth travel in Mr. Whittaker’s invention, the Imagination Station, to thirteenth-century China, where they meet Marco Polo and Kublai Khan and are mistaken for Christian shamans.
ISBN 978-1-58997-629-0 (alk. paper)
[1. Space and time–Fiction. 2. Mongols–Fiction. 3. Polo, Marco, 1254-1323?–Fiction. 4. Kublai Khan, 12 16-1294–Fiction. 5. Cousins–Fiction. 6. Christian life–Fiction. 7. China-History–Y?an dynasty, 1260-1368-Fiction.] I. McCusker, Paul, 1958- II. Hohn, David, 1974- ill. III. Title.
Printed in the United States of America
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9/16 15 14 13 12 11
For manufacturing information regarding this product, please call 1-800-323-9400.
Other books in this series
Voyage with the Vikings
Attack at the Arena
Revenge of the Red Knight
Showdown with the Shepherd
Problems in Plymouth
Secret of the Prince’s Tomb
Contents
Prologue
The Mongols
The Imagination Station
The Horses
The Cooking Fire
Marco Polo
The First Gift
The Palace
Kublai Khan
The Yellow Lamas
The Floating Pitcher
The Chicken
The Mongol Messenger
Good-bye
The Princess
The Nest
In the Dark
Secret Word Puzzle
Prologue
There is an old house in the town of Odyssey. It’s called Whit’s End. Kids love it. It has an ice-cream shop. It also has a lot of rooms with games and displays.
There are exciting things to do at Whit’s End. Kids have fun and learn there.
Mr. Whittaker owns Whit’s End. He is a kind yet mysterious inventor. One of his inventions is the Imagination Station.
The Imagination Station lets kids see history in person. It’s a lot like a time machine.
One day the Imagination Station broke. Mr. Whittaker didn’t know why. He tried to fix the machine in his workshop.
Two cousins, Patrick and Beth, came to visit him. Patrick and Beth are eight years old.
Patrick touched the Imagination Station. Suddenly the machine lit up!
Mr. Whittaker was surprised. He told the cousins about a mystery. The other day he took a trip in the Imagination Station. He visited a relative in long ago England named Albert.
Albert gave Mr. Whittaker a fancy ring. It had a rose on it.
Mr. Whittaker came home. The next morning he found a note in the Imagination Station. The note was written on old paper. It said:
To save Albert, I need a viking sunstone before the new moon. Or Lord Darkthorn will lock him inside the tower.
Mr. Whittaker wanted to help Albert. But he couldn’t. The Imagination Station didn’t work for him. But now it worked for Patrick and Beth.
The cousins also wanted to help Albert. So they traveled to Greenland. They found a Viking Sunstone.
The next day another note came. It said this:
More trouble for Albert. Lord Darkthorn is angry. The Roman monk’s silver cup is missing. We need it before the new moon. May God be with you.
Again Patrick and Beth asked to help. They visited ancient Rome. They were chased by a tiger. And the cousins found the silver cup.
A strange thing happened in Rome. An English knight arrived in the Imagination Station. The cousins were amazed. How could a knight use the Imagination Station?
The knight gave them a message:
“You must tell Mr. Whittaker to search for the golden tablet of Kublai Khan.”
Now Beth and Patrick are off on another adventure. They need to meet Kublai Khan and find his golden tablet.
They also want answers to some puzzling questions:
Who is writing the notes?
What is a golden tablet?
Who is Kublai Khan?
They are about to find out.
The Mongols
On Wednesday, Patrick and Beth were ready to go to China. They were all set to find the golden tablet.
Patrick had on a bright blue tunic with an orange border. The toes of his shoes curled up at the ends.
Beth wore an orange dress. It was made of fine silk. Her shoes were just like Patrick’s.
“Those costumes are great,” Mr. Whittaker said. “You look just like Mongol children.”
“Did you say mongrel?” Beth asked. “That’s what my dog is.”
Mr. Whittaker smiled. His kind eyes twinkled behind his round glasses.
“No, Beth,” Mr. Whittaker said. “I said Mon-gol. The Mongols ruled all of China in the thirteenth century. Today their country is called Mongolia.”
“I’ve heard that word,” said Patrick. “There’s a Mongolian barbecue on Main Street. That restaurant cooks the best meat in town.”
“Well,” Mr. Whittaker said, “in Kublai Khan’s time, Mongols were the best fighters in town.”
“Uh-oh,” said Beth.
“Don’t be afraid,” Patrick said. “I’ll protect you.”
Beth frowned.
“How can you protect me?” she asked. “You don’t know anything about Kublai Khan. What if he’s nasty and mean?”
Patrick looked at Mr. Whittaker. “Is he?” Patrick asked.
“Well, khan means emperor,” Mr. Whittaker said. “So he was one of the most powerful—and richest—men in the world at the time.”
“Emperors can be nasty and mean,” Beth said.
“They can be,” Mr. Whittaker said. “But Kublai was also known for his love of art, astronomy, and knowledge. That will work in your favor.”
“How?” Beth asked.
Mr. Whittaker said, “I prepared some things for you to take with you.”
He walked over to a large closet and rummaged around inside. He came back with three things: a colorful wool bag, a box of very long nails, and a hammer.
“Nails?” Beth said. “Why?”
Mr. Whittaker held up a nail. “Kublai Khan likes new things. He’s never seen one of these.”
“He hasn’t seen a nail?” Beth asked.
Mr. Whittaker put the nail in Beth’s hand.
“No,” Mr. Whittaker said. “So this should please him.”
“If you say so,” she said.
Beth frowned and then studied the nail. It had a square head and a long shaft. It was almost a spike.
She touched the tip of the nail. “It’s sharp,” she said.
“Keep the nails in the wool bag until you need them,” Mr. Whittaker said. He put the hammer in the bag too, and he handed it to Patrick.
“Whoa!” Patrick said. “This is really heavy.” He looked at Mr. Whittaker. “What else is in here?”
“You’ll see,” Mr. Whittaker said. “There are several gifts inside. Each one is wrapped separately. And each one has a tag on it. Read the tags to figure out when to use them. Give away the first gift when you meet someone with a famous name.”
“We’re going to meet someone famous?” Beth asked.
“He wasn’t famous then,” Mr. Whittaker said. “But you’ll recognize his name when you hear it.”
Beth and Patrick looked at each other. Their eyes lit up with curiosity.
“Shall we start the adventure?” Mr. Whittaker asked. He waved a hand toward the Imagination Station.
The Imagination Station
Beth and Patrick climbed into the Imagination Station. They sat in its comfortable black seats.
Beth looked at the dashboard. The two notes about Albert were still there, but the silver cup was gone.
“Did you send the cup back to England?” Beth asked. “It’s not here.”
Mr. Whittaker shook his head. “I’m sure someone from Albert’s time took it,” he said.
“Was it the knight?” Patrick asked.
“Probably,” Mr. Whittaker said. “Somehow he’s able to use the machine.”
“You mean without your knowing,” Patrick said.
“I control the machine with my computer when you travel,” Mr. Whittaker said. “I’m still not sure how he’s making it work.”
The cousins shrugged. They didn’t know either.
Beth thought that Mr. Whittaker looked a little sad.
“What’s wrong?” she asked him.
“I wish you didn’t have to make all these trips,” Mr. Whittaker said. “I should be the one to help Albert.”
“We don’t mind,” Patrick said. “How many kids get to meet Vikings—or a Roman emperor?”
“When can you travel in the Imagination Station again?” Beth asked Mr. Whittaker.
“I don’t know,” Mr. Whittaker said. “For some reason, the Imagination Station’s computer is keeping me out. It may have something to do with the remote control I left in England.”
Mr. Whittaker reached inside the Imagination Station. When he did, the fancy ring from Albert appeared on his finger.
Patrick pointed to the ring. “It’s funny how it only shows up in here,” he said. “What good is wearing it?”
Mr. Whittaker said, “Albert wanted to swap rings. And I couldn’t say no.”
“Swap rings?” Beth said.
“Yes,” said Mr. Whittaker. “I gave him a family ring, and Albert gave me this one.”
Mr. Whittaker tapped the dashboard and said, “Press the red button when you’re ready.”
“We’ll say hello to the knight if we see him again,” Patrick said.
Mr. Whittaker smiled and closed the Imagination Station’s door.
Patrick reached out and pushed the red button.
The Imagination Station started to shake. Then it rumbled.
Beth clenched her teeth and closed her eyes.
Patrick imagined that he was in a jet plane. He pushed his body into the seat and waited. The machine jerked forward.
The rumble grew louder.
The machine whirled.
Suddenly, everything went black.
The Horses
Patrick and Beth opened their eyes.
Patrick and Beth were surrounded by horses. Tan, brown, black, and gray horses. Their heads were large, but their legs were short. They nuzzled the ground, eating grass. Their breath blew out in small gusts.
They hardly noticed Patrick and Beth. Only one horse lifted its head when the Imagination Station faded from sight.
Patrick held the wool bag. Its long strap was draped over his shoulder.
The cousins looked around in silence.
They were in the shade of a tall cliff. The cliff was rugged and red. It went straight up like a building twenty stories tall.
The rest of the area was pale and sandy. Scrubby bushes and patches of short grass pushed up through the sand. Hilly plains with longer grass were in the distance.
The cousins did not see any people or buildings.
“Which way should we go?” Beth asked.
Patrick shrugged.
A small black horse moved toward Beth.
“It’s so cute,” she said.
It nudged her with its nose. She patted it on the head.
“Maybe it wants to give us a ride,” Patrick said.
“That would be stealing,” Beth said.
Suddenly all the horses lifted their heads. Their ears pricked up.
The black horse snorted.
“What’s wrong, horsie?” Beth asked.
The horses looked in one direction.
The cousins followed their gaze.
Seven men on horseback rounded the cliff’s base. The horses galloped through the sand.
“Do you think the men are friendly?” Beth asked. She wanted to hide until she could be sure.
“Maybe they can help us find Kublai Khan,” said Patrick.
“I don’t know—” Beth started to say.
But Patrick waved his arms as if he were doing jumping jacks. “Over here,” he shouted. “Come this way!”
The horsemen slowed. They gathered together in a group. Beth thought they must be talking to one another.
All at once, the horses galloped toward the cousins. The horses’ hooves drummed against the earth.
“It worked,” said Patrick.
“I hope they’re friendly,” Beth said, worried.
As the riders came closer, Beth could see them better. They were dressed in tan tunics. Their long braids of hair flopped in the wind.
The horses’ saddle blankets were rainbow colored. The horses’ manes were cut short.
The horsemen moved closer. They still rode at a full gallop.
“They’re not slowing down,” Beth said.
Patrick put up a hand to wave. “Hi!” he called to them.
Beth stepped toward Patrick. The riders didn’t look like they were going to stop. And they were close. Too close.
“Watch out, Patrick!” Beth called.
It was too late. A horse came alongside them. The rider leaned sideways and grabbed Beth under the arms. He pulled her up onto the saddle.
“Put me down!” Beth shouted.
Beth gasped and tried to twist away. She wanted to jump off. But the horseman held her in place with a strong arm.
“Stop!” Patrick said. He was busy watching Beth, and he didn’t see the other rider. The man rode close to him. He wrapped an arm around his waist and drew him up.
“Put me down!” he shouted at the horseman.
The man paid no attention. He dropped Patrick onto the front of the saddle. He kicked at the horse to speed up.
The man looked grim. He carried arrows and a bow on his back.
This can’t be happening, Patrick thought. We’re being kidnapped by Mongol warriors!
The Cooking Fire
Patrick and Beth rode with the Mongol warriors for a long time. The horses ran fast on the flat and grassy plains.
In the distance, the cousins could see the Great Wall of China. It twisted through the mountains like a giant snake.
After an hour of riding, Beth and Patrick were closer to the wall. Beth noted that it was made out of large yellow stone blocks. It had a square tower. A wide moat blocked the front of the wall.
Beth hoped the warriors would stop at the moat. They didn’t.
Instead, the horses clomped over a wood bridge. It took them over the water. They came to a metal gate in
the wall.
The metal gate was raised by Mongol men on top of the wall. Next, two wood doors opened. The Mongol warriors, with Patrick and Beth, passed through a tunnel.
The cousins’ legs were tired from riding. Yet it was another hour before the Mongols stopped at their camp.
The camp was set up in the middle of tall grass. Several saddled horses, sheep, and oxen grazed nearby.
A round, tent-like house sat at the center of the camp. Beth thought the house looked like a giant cake. The outside was the color of caramel frosting. She had seen pictures of Mongol houses in books at school.
A small fire burned a few feet from the house. A large cooking pot hung over the flames.
The Mongol warriors let Beth and Patrick slide off their horses.
Beth’s legs felt like jelly. “Ow,” she said. “My legs are sore.”
Patrick landed with a thud.
“My legs are numb,” Patrick said. “I think they fell asleep.”
He rubbed his legs. “Ooh! Pins and needles!” he said. He bent his knees and jumped up and down.
His movement startled a nearby horse. It neighed. Patrick waved his hands at it.
“Go away,” he said.
One of the Mongols shouted at Patrick.
The horse reared up with a whinny.
“You’re scaring the horse,” Beth said.
Suddenly the horse rushed toward Patrick. Its mouth was wide open, and its lips were curled back. Yellow teeth showed.
“Yikes!” Patrick said.
He quickly stepped back. He tripped over a rock. The wool bag on his shoulder fell sideways. The weight pulled him off balance.
“Watch out!” Beth called.
Patrick stumbled toward the fire! He was only one step away from the flames.
Patrick yanked up his leg to avoid the fire. He took a giant scissor step right over the pit.
Patrick’s other foot kicked the large pot. The pot rocked back and forth. The liquid inside splashed over the rim and put out the flames.
The Mongol warriors shouted, “Aiii.”
“He jumped over the fire!” said the Mongol warrior who had picked up Beth.
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