Jack had to find out more about tsunamis quickly.
He read as fast as he could:
A tsunami can strike a few hours--or a fewminutes!--after an earthquake. It depends on thestrength of the earthquake and where it took place.
After earthquakes, it is safest for islanders to seekhigher ground.
We have to get to higher ground now! thought Jack,dropping the book.
He ran down to the edge of the ocean. Boka, Kama,and Annie were still paddling out beyond the waves.
Jack forgot all about their fight.
"Hey, you guys!" he yelled.
They didn't hear him.
Jack went into the shallow water. "Hey, you guys!"he yelled. "Come back!"They still didn't hear him.
Jack ran to his surfboard, grabbed it, and ran intothe ocean. He fought the breaking waves. Once hewas past them, he threw him-self on his board andpaddled wildly.
The wave swells grew as he paddled. He couldhardly see Annie, Boka, or Kama over them. Jackpaddled faster and faster, trying to reach them.
"Hey!" he yelled. "Hey!"Boka looked back at him. He gave Jack a friendlywave, then turned away again.
I have to get them to come to me! Jack thoughtfrantically. "HELP! HELP!" he yelled at the top of hislungs.
The three kids jerked around. They paddled quicklytoward Jack with worried faces.
"What's wrong?" Annie cried when they got closer.
"Are you in trouble?""We all are!" said Jack. "A tsunami might becoming! There was an earthquake when I was on thebeach!""We'd better ride in fast!" said Boka.
"Stay on your bellies!" said Kama. "It's safer!""Here comes a wave!" cried Boka.
They all started paddling.
The swell of the wave picked them up.
They were all swept forward!
Jack gripped the sides of his board as he zoomedalong with the others. Suddenly he dropped down asthe wave curled under. It felt like a roller coaster! Buthe stayed on his board as the wave carried him toshore.
Jack rolled off into the shallow water. He snatchedup his board and ran onto the sand. Boka and Kamawere waiting.
"Good riding, Jack!" said Boka.
"Where's Annie?" asked Jack.
Boka pointed. Annie was in the shallow water,pulling her board in. As they watched, somethingvery weird began to happen to the ocean.
The water around Annie started to pull away. |