1. Where's Peanut ?

" Hurry , Jack" shouted Annie .

Annie ran into the Frog Creek woods.

Jack followed her.

" It's still here ! " Annie called

Jack caught up with Annie . She stood beside a tall oak tree .

Jack looked up . The magic tree house was shining in the afternoon sunlight .

" We're coming , Peanut ! " Annie called .

She grabbed the ropr ladder and started up.

Jack followed . They climbed and climbed . Finally the climbed into the tree house .

"Peanut ?" said Annie .

Jack took off his backpack . He looked around .

Sunlight slanted across a stack of books____ books about ninjas , pirates , mumies , knights , and dinosaurs

The letter M shimmered on the wooden floor . M for Morgan le Fay .

" I don't think Peanut's here ," said Jack .

" I wonder where she is ," said Annie .

" How do you know Peanut's a she?" asked Jack .

" I just know it , " said Annie

" Oh , brother ," said Jack.

Squeak !

Annie laughed ." Look, Jack!"

A small pink sock was moving across the floor . Yesterday Annie had turned her sock into a bed for Peanut .

Annie picked up the tiny lump .

Squeak!

A brown - and - white mouse peeked out of the sock . She looked from Annie to Jack with her big eyes .

Jack laughed . " Hi , Peanut," he said .

" Will you help us again today ?" asked Annie .

In old Japan , Peanut had helped them when they'd gotten lost .

" We have to find three more things for Morgan ," said Annie

Jack pushed his glasses into place ." First we have to find a clue that tells us where to begin ," he said .

" Guess what," said Annie .

" What ?" said Jack .

" We don't have to look very far ." She pointed at a corner of the tree house .

In the shadows was an open book .

2. Big Bugs

" Wow" , said Jack , picking up the book . " The ninja book was open yesterday . Now this one. Who opened them ?"

Jack closed the book and looked at the cover .

It showed a picture of a green forest . The trees were very tall and close together .

On the cover were the words The Rain Forest .

" Oh ,wow " said Jack.

" Oh , no ," said Annie .

" What's wrong? " said Jack .

" I learned about the rain forest in school," said Annie ." It's filled with big bugs and spi - ders ."

" I know," said Jack. " Half of them have never even been named .

" It's creepy ," said Annie

" It's neat ," said Jack . He wanted to take lots of notes in the rain forest . Maybe he could even name some unknow bugs .

" Neat? Yuk," said Annie . She shivered .

" I don't get it ," said Jack . " You weren't afraid of dinosaurs ."

" So ?"

" You weren't afraid of the castle guards or the mummy's ghost ."

" So?"

" You weren't afraid of pirates or ninjas."

" So?"

" You're not afraid of really scary things . But you're afraid of little bugs and spiders . That doesn't make sense ."

" So ?"

Jack sighed . " Listen , " he said . " We have to go there . To help Morgan . That's why the book was left open ."

" I know that ," said Annie , frowing .

" Plus , the rain forests are being cut down ," said Jack . " Don't you want to see one before it's too late ?"

Annie took a deep breath and slowly nod-ded .

" Okay , then , let's go," said Jack .

He opened the book again . He pointed to a sky picture that showed blue sky , green leaves , and bright flowers

" I wish we could go there," he said

The wind began to blow.

Squeak

" Stay here , Peanut , " said Annie as she put the mouse in her pocket .

The wind picked up . The tree house started to spin .

Jack squeezed his eyes shut .

The wind was whistling now . The tree house was spinning faster and faster .

Then everyting was still .

Absolutely still .

Wild sounds broke the silence .

Screeeeeech !

Buzzzzzzz !

Chirp ! Chirp !