"The guards are coming!" the servant repeated.
"Uh-oh," said Vinnie.
"Someone must have seen us sneak into the palace," cried Mandy.
Gildong's face was pale.
"We will go to jail if they find us here," he said.
The princess stood.
"Don't worry! I have a plan," she said.
"I will hide you in my palanquin.
Then my servants will carry you out of the palace."
"Prepare my palanquin at the backdoor!"
the princess ordered a servant.
"Yes, Your Highness," the servant replied and then hurried off.
Soon the children were following the princess.
Mandy stopped when she heard something.
"Is that a guitar?" she asked.
Gildong stopped too.
"I think it's a string instrument, a geomungo," he said.
"Only rich people play it."
"Come on!" The princess waved for them to catch up.
Then she led them to a small courtyard.
Four servants stood waiting there beside a beautiful palanquin.
"They will carry you outside the palace," said the princess.
"So I must say good-bye now."
"Good-bye," said Mandy. "And thank you!"
Vinnie and Gildong said thanks too.
Then the three of them ducked into the palanquin.
A moment later Mandy felt the palanquin start to move.
"We're off!" she thought.
Then Vinnie nudged her and showed her the photo.
"Mandy, the photo is glowing blue!" he whispered.
"But where are the three gates?" she whispered back.
Soon the palanquin stopped.
When they climbed out, they saw they were outside the palace gates.
The four men bowed and went back to the palace.
"I must go home to do my chores," Gildong said.
"Good-bye!"
"Thank you for everything!"
said Vinnie, waving to their new friend.
"Good-bye!" Mandy added.
She turned and grabbed Vinnie's arm.
"Come on! Let's see if these are the right gates."
But Vinnie already knew that they were.
He looked at the photo.
It was glowing red.
"We're going home!" he whispered.
The children fell into the tunnel.
When they opened their eyes again, they were back in the attic.
Mandy put the photo back inside the album.
"That palanquin ride reminded me of our Japan trip," she said.
"Yes," Vinnie said, nodding.
"There's only one more page in the album," she said slowly.
"I know," he answered.
"That means there's just one more photo trip left," Mandy added.
Vinnie didn't say anything.
He just nodded.
Then he turned away to hide the sad look on his face.