儿童读物 神奇树屋 52 - Soccer on Sunday.docVIP

PAGE PAGE 20 Soccer on Sunday Magic Tree House #52 ? Chapter 1: Seriously? Slowly?and carefully, Jack ran his hands over the face of the stony cliff. His fingers gripped ridges and bumps. He lodged his bare toes into cracks in the rock. He knew he had to get to the top. He pushed with his legs and pulled with his hands. He was almost there. He reached up and grabbed the overhang of the cliff. The wind screamed and blew against Jack, knocking him off balance. His feet slipped! He was dangling by one hand! “Jack!” Jack opened his eyes. It was dark. He could faintly see Annie in the moonlight. “Annie!” he whispered. “We have to?go,” she said. “Have to get?down,” said Jack. He closed his eyes. He was still hanging from the cliff. Annie shook his shoulder. “Jack! Wake up!” “Oh! Whoa…” Jack sat straight up. “Oh, man, I was hanging from a cliff in?Egypt—you—” “You were dreaming about our last mission,” interrupted Annie. “Remember—you were hanging from a cliff, but everything turned out okay. We saved Koku. Remember? The little baboon?” “Right… right,” breathed Jack. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Annie. “What’s going on? What time is it? Why are you awake?” “We have to go to the woods,” said Annie. “It’s back.” “How do you know?” said Jack. “I couldn’t sleep,” said Annie. “I was looking out my window and saw the streak of light—” “That’s it,” said Jack, jumping out of bed. “Let’s go. Are Mom and Dad awake?” “No. If we leave now, we’ll be back before they get up,” said Annie. “Meet you outside.” She slipped out of Jack’s room. Jack didn’t even turn on his light. He changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. He pulled on his socks and sneakers. He threw his notebook and pencil into his backpack. Then he tiptoed down the hall, down the stairs, and out the front door. Annie was waiting on the porch. The sun was about to rise, and birds had started to chirp in the warm summer dawn. “Ready,” Jack whispered. Jack and Annie left the front porch and stepped lightly over the