Marco’s father stayed at home for two years. Marco was a young man by now, and he was tall and strong. “Your uncle and I promised to return to China and visit the great Emperor, Kublai Khan, again,” said his father one day. “Do you want to come?”
“Oh, yes, Father, “Marco replied.
“The journey will be dangerous,” said Marco’s father.
“But the Emperor’s city, Peking, is a wonderful place,” Marco’s uncle said. “People there wear fine silk clothes and gold there and we will buy a lot more. When we have sold it, we shall be rich for ever”
So Marco’s father and uncle sailed away again from Venice. It was the year 1271. This time they took Marco with them. First they went to Jerusalem. There they got some holy oil as a present for Kublai Khan. Then they bought some food and horses.
Their journey east to Peking meant travelling all the way across Asia. “I must remember everything I see on this journey,” Marco said himself. They passed the snowy slopes of Mount Ararat,and people told them thet Noah’s Ark was still at the top.
They passed places where oil came out of the ground. Marco saw that the oil could Be used for lighting lamps. “one day,” Marco said, “I shall write a book about this journey.”
Marco travelled in a caravan. A caravan is a lot of people riding togerter for safety,wirh servelled about twenty miles a day. It crossed windy deserts and passed big,dry mountains.