CHAPTER SIX Under the Moon
CHAPTER SIX Under the Moon CHAPTER SIX Under the Moon "Good grief," breathed Jack. "That family has problems." "Maybe we should help them," said Annie. "No, we can't," said Jack. "Right now we have our own problem. We have to start working on our mission. Darn! I should have asked Nan's dad about the artists in the palace." "I think he's too upset to think about that now," said Annie. "You're right," said Jack. "So we need to find some friendly people who work here and ask them." "Let
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CHAPTER SIX Under the Moon
CHAPTER SIX Under the Moon
"Good grief," breathed Jack. "That family has problems."
"Maybe we should help them," said Annie.
"No, we can't," said Jack. "Right now we have our own problem.We have to start working on our mission.Darn! I should have asked Nan's dad about the artists in the palace."
"I think he's too upset to think about that now," said Annie.
"You're right," said Jack. "So we need to find some friendly people who work here and ask them."
"Let's go look for help," said Annie.
As Jack and Annie started toward the door, Nan rushed into the room again."Has Wolfie come back?" she asked frantically. "I'm afraid not," said Annie.
"Oh, dear! Papa will die if Wolfie doesn't return soon!" said Nan, near tears. "Can you help me find him, please?"
"Well, we'd really like to," said Jack, "but-"
"Please!" said Nan again. "Please?" Jack sighed. "Okay," he said. "Sure."
"Thank you!" said Nan. "The palace is very large.I'll go this way, and you go that way. Surely one of us will find him!" She hurried out of the room.
"I'll bet I know where Wolfie is," said Annie."The garden. Remember he kept talking about the garden?"
"Oh, yeah. I think the garden is below that terracewhere I went after everyone laughed at me," said Jack. "Let's go check."
Jack led Annie back through one of the elegant palace rooms and into the party room.Everyone was still seated, eating dinner and talking loudly.No one noticed as Jack and Annie hurried through the double doors and slipped into the room off the terrace.
Jack opened the door, and he and Annie stepped outside.The air was chilly, but it felt good.Jack pulled off his hat and his wig. He gave his head a good scratch.
Annie looked down at the moonlit garden."Do you think that's the garden Wolfie was talking about?" she said.
The silver light of the full moon shone on a large square with flower beds and fountains.Woods bordered the square. Cricket sounds filled the night.
"Probably," said Jack. "Wolfie!" There was no answer.
"Let's go down and look for him," said Annie.
Leaving his wig and hat behind, Jack followed Annie down the stone stairway.As they started across the square, a strange sound came from the woods: AI-YEE!
"What was that?" said Jack. Two creatures scampered out from the trees. "Ahh!" said Jack.
"Don't worry," said Annie. "It's just a squirrel and a cat."
The squirrel dashed over the flower beds and disappeared. The cat ran after it.
"Yeah, but what was that noise from the woods?" said Jack."I've never heard a squirrel or a cat make a sound like that."
Another sound came from behind the trees: WHOOP-WHOOP-WHOOP!
"What was that?" Jack said. "An owl maybe?" said Annie.
"I've never heard an owl make a noise like that!" said Jack. "Have you?" KER-LOO! KER-LOO!
"Yikes! What was that?" said Annie.
"I don't know. Those woods sound like a jungle," said Jack. "Wolfie!" yelled Annie.
There was no answer. Wind shook the treetops. The cricket chirps grew louder.
"This place feels really weird. Let's go back inside," said Jack. "I don't think Wolfie's out here."
"Wait a minute," said Annie. "I think I just heard him."
Jack and Annie both listened. A faint little cry came from the woods. "Annie! Jack!"
"Wolfie is out there!" said Annie. "Wolfie!" She picked up her hoopskirt.She hurried across the square and disappeared down a path that led into the woods.
"Annie, wait!" Jack called. He started after her, but then - WHOOP-WHOOP-WHOOP!
Jack froze. He was sure the whooping sound wasn't coming from an owl. EE!
Was that Annie screaming? Jack wondered. "Annie?" he yelled.He dashed across the moonlit garden and ran down the path to the woods.He stopped between the trees. "Annie?" he called' again.
EE! Something leapt down from a tree branch and landed on the path."Ahhh!" said Jack, jumping back.It looked like a baboon! EE! The baboon bounded away!
KER-LOO! KER-LOO! Jack looked up.Overhead a huge crane glided through the air. KER-LOO! KER-LOO!
AI-YEE! A crowned peacock stood in the moonlight, fanning its green and gold tail feathers.What's going on? Jack thought. This is crazy! AI-YEE! the peacock cried again.
