Lions at Lunchtime (2 page)
There was the magic tree house. It was shining in the noon sun, at the top of the tallest tree in the woods. Its rope ladder swayed in the shadows below.
“Where's Morgan?” said Annie.
Morgan le Fay wasn't waving at them from the window. She wasn't even at the window.
“I don't know. Let's go up,” said Jack.
They climbed the ladder and went into the tree house.
Sunlight streamed through the window. It lit a stack of books and two scrolls in the corner. The ancient scrolls held the answers to riddles Jack and Annie had solved earlier.
Jack took off his heavy pack.
“Did Morgan leave us a third riddle?” said Annie.
“Looking for someone?” said a soft voice.
Jack and Annie whirled around.
“Morgan!” said Annie.
Morgan le Fay had appeared out of nowhere. She looked ancient and lovely in the bright light.
“Do you still want to become Master Librarians?” she asked Jack and Annie. “So you can help me in my work?”
“Yes!” they said together.
“Wonderful,” Morgan said. Then she reached into her robe and pulled out a scroll.
“You've solved two riddles so far,” she said. “Here is your third.” She handed the scroll to Annie. “And for your researchâ”
She pulled a book out from her robe and handed it to Jack. The book's cover said T
HE
P
LAINS OF
A
FRICA
.
“
Africa?
” said Jack. “Oh, man, I've always wanted to go there.”
He opened the book. He and Annie stared at a picture.
It showed hordes of zebras, tall giraffes, big animals with horns, and tiny, deerlike creatures.
“Hey, that's the animal that led us here!” said Annie.
“A Thomson's gazelle, I believe,” Morgan said.
“Where are the lions?” said Jack.
“You'll find out,” said Morgan.
“Um â¦Â maybe we need to plan this trip,” said Jack.
Morgan smiled. “No. Go ahead. Make your wish now.”
Annie pointed at the picture. “I wish we could go there,” she said.
“Be careful,” said Morgan. “Just keep an eye out.”
“For what?” said Jack.
“The lions, of course,” she said.
“Wait!” said Jack.
Too late.
The wind had started to blow.
The tree house had started to spin.
Jack squeezed his eyes shut.
The tree house spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
Bright light flooded the tree house again. A rustling sound came from outside the window.
Annie peeked out and laughed. “Hey, there,” she said.
Jack looked out, too. A giraffe was eating leaves off the tree. It had a sweet, goofy face.
Jack peered at the world beyond the giraffe. He couldn't believe his eyes.
He saw a huge grassy plain, a wide river, and
tons
of birds and animalsâmore than he had ever imagined in one place.
Giraffes and zebras were on the side of the river where Jack and Annie were. Thomson's gazelles and the big horned animals were on the other side.
“Where are the lions?” said Jack.
“I don't know,” said Annie. “Do you think it's always this crowded?”
“Let's find out,” said Jack.
He picked up the book on Africa and looked at the picture of the animals. He read aloud:
Every year, in late spring, thousands of zebras and gazelles and millions of wildebeests (
WILL
-duh-beests) migrate from the dry plains of Tanzania to Kenya.
“What's âmigrate' mean?” said Annie.
Jack pushed his glasses into place. “It means they go someplace else for part of the yearâlike birds going south for the winter.”
“Oh, right,” said Annie.
Jack turned the page to read more.
Before they are safe in Kenya, the animals must first 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. “They seem afraid.”
On the far side of the river, the horned animals were standing at the edge of the steep bank of the river. They stared down nervously at the rushing water.
“Jump, beasts! Jump!” Annie shouted.
“Don't be silly. They can't hear you,” said Jack.
He studied the broad plain. “I wonder where the lions 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. “I have to help them
migrate
.”
“Are you nuts?” said Jack.
Annie handed Jack the scroll and started out of the tree house.
“Wait a second!” said Jack. “We haven't even read Morgan's riddle yet!”
Annie stopped on the ladder.
“Read it now,” she said.
Jack unrolled the ancient scroll and read aloud:
I'm the color of gold and as sweet as can be. But beware of the danger that's all around me. What am I?
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 she hopped off the ladder. Then she started to walk through the tall grass, between the zebras and giraffes.
“I don't believe her,” he said to himself. He quickly put the Africa book into his pack.
He started down the ladder.
When he stepped onto the ground, he looked around carefully.
The giraffes were eating the tree leaves.
The zebras were grazing in the grass.
Tons of birds flapped overhead.
This is okay
, he thought. He just had one little question:
Where are the lions?
“Come on, Jack!” Annie called. She was almost to the river.
“Just a minute!” he shouted. He wanted to study the giraffes and zebras.
He pulled out the Africa book and found a picture of giraffes. He read:
The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. Its legs alone can be six feet tall, and its hooves can be as big as dinner plates. The giraffe has a very powerful kick, which makes it dangerous to attack. For this reason, lions tend to avoid giraffes.
Jack pulled out his notebook and wrote:
He turned the page and read more:
Zebras live in family groups. As no two zebras have exactly the same pattern of stripes, every baby zebra must learn its own mother's pattern.
Jack studied the zebras, trying to see their different patterns. But in the hazy afternoon light, all the stripes made him dizzy.
He blinked to clear his head, then read more:
Zebras are the first to cross the river because they eat the coarsest grass. After they've thinned down the top layer, the wildebeests arrive and eat the next layer. They prepare the grass for the gazelles, who come last.
Wow
, thought Jack.
Each animal depends on the one that goes before
.
He wrote:
Jack heard Annie shouting from the riverbank. “Jump, beasts! Jump! You can do it! Don't be afraid! Come on!”
He looked up. Annie herself was jumping as she called to the wildebeests.
Jack sighed.
I'd better stop her before there's trouble
, he thought.
He put away the Africa book and his notebook. Then he jogged toward the river. His pack was heavy and lumpy, bumping against his back. He'd forgotten to take out the jar of peanut butter and the loaf of bread.
Jack decided to leave them at the tree house. He turned to go back.
