Bright light flooded the tree house again A rustlingsound came from outside the window.
Annie peeked out and laughed. "Hey, there," shesaidJack looked out, too. A giraffe was eating leaves offthe tree. It had a sweet, goofy face.
Jack peered at the world beyond the giraffe Hecouldn't believe his eyes.
He saw a huge grassy plain, a wide river, and tonsof birds and animals--more than he had everimagined in one place.
Giraffes and zebras were on the side of the riverwhere Jack and Annie were. Thomson's gazelles andthe big horned animals were on the other side.
"Where are the lions?" said Jack.
"I don't know." said Annie. "Do you think it'salways this crowded?""Let's find out.". said Jack.
He picked up the book on Africa and looked at thepicture of the animals. He read aloud:
Every yes, in late spring, thousands of zebras andgazelles and millions of wildebeests (will- duh-beests)migrate from the dry plains of Tanzania to Kenya.
"What's 'migrate' mean?" said Annie.
Jack pushed his glasses into place. "It means they gosomeplace else for part of the year--like birds goingsouth for the winter.""Oh, right," said Annie.
Jack turned the page to read more.
Before they are safe in Kenya, the animals mustfirst cross the Mara River.
Zebras go first, then the wildebeests.
The tiny gazelles swim last.
"Ohh," said Annie in a sad voice.
"What's wrong?" said Jack.
"Poor beasts." She looked out the window. "Theyseem afraid."On the far side of the river, the horned animalswere standing at the edge of the steep bank of theriver. They stared down nervously at the rushingwater.
"Jump, beasts! Jump! " Annie shouted.
"Don't be silly. They can't hear you," said Jack.
He studied the board plain. "I wonder where thelions are," he said.
"I don't know. But I have to go," said Annie.
"Go where?" said Jack.
"To the river to help them," she said.
"Help who?" said Jack.
"Those wild beasts on the other side!" said Annie. "Ihave to help them migrate."'Annie handed Jack the scroll and started out of ht etree house.
"Wait a second!" said Jack. "We haven't even readMorgan's riddle yet!"Annie stopped on the ladder.
"Read it now," she said.
Jack unrolled the ancient scroll and read aloud:
I am the color of gold an das sweet as can be. Butbeware of the danger that's all around me. What amI?
Annie started down again.
"Annie!""We'll look for the answer in a minute," said Annie.
"What are you doing?" Jack called.
But there was no stopping her. Jack watched as shehopped off the ladder. Then she started to walkthrough the tall grass, between the zebras andgiraffes.
"I don't believe her " he said to himself. He quicklyput the Africa book into his pack.
He started down the ladder.
When he stepped onto the ground, he lookedaround carefully.
The giraffes were eating the tree leaves.
The zebras we grazing in the grass.
Tons of birds flapped overhead.
This is okay, he thought. He just had one littlequestion:
Where are the lions? |