英语小说网

Squeak.

Annie pointed to the short ninja. "We gave the message to him."

The ninja master.

The master stared at Jack and Annie.

The mouse poked its head out of Annie's pouch.

"Sit," he said.

"Where do you come from?" the master asked.

The back of the cave was lit with dozens of candles. Shadows danced on the walls.

The master stared at the mouse for a moment. Then he looked at Jack. "Who are you?" he asked.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

"It's okay, Peanut," said Annie.

"You mean, you gave the message to her," said the ninja master. "And she has given it to me."

Jack and Annie sat on the cold, hard floor.

"Frog Creek, Pennsylvania," Annie answered.

The ninja bowed to the master. Then he stepped to one side.

Jack and Annie went into the cave. They followed the ninja through the darkness.

"We're trying to help our friend Morgan le Fay," said Jack. "She left us a message."

"I'm Jack and that's my sister, Annie," Jack answered.

In the flickering light, Jack saw a dark figure sitting on a woven mat.

"Yes, our family is at war with them," said the master. "We must leave before they find us."

"But what about helping Morgan?" said Annie.

Just then the tall ninja appeared. He made a sign to the master.

"No, there is no place for you where we are going. You must find your way back to your house in the trees."

"Yes. You must go alone. And beware of the samurai."

"Samurai?" said Jack. He knew that the samurai were fierce Japanese fighters.

"Why?" said Jack.

The master held up Morgan's note. "Perhaps I can help you," he said. "But first you must prove yourselves worthy of my help."

The woman ninja's eyes sparkled. Jack thought she might be smiling.

"Were they the ones in the valley?" Jack asked. "The ones with the torches?"

"We must go now," he said. "The samurai are close."

The master strapped on his sword.

"I have no time now," he said. "I must go."

"Can't we go with you?" said Annie.

The master stood up. He handed Morgan's note to Annie.

"Alone?" said Jack.

"She?" said Jack and Annie together.

"But you have seen the way of the ninja. You can practice it yourselves now," said the master.

The two ninjas led Jack and Annie out of the cave, into the moonlight.

Jack and Annie were all alone.

"H-how?" said Jack.

"Remember three things," said the master.

Jack looked at her. "You can?" he said.

"Use nature. Be nature. Follow nature."

Before he could ask, the master bowed. Then he disappeared into the shadows.

"What?" said Jack.

"They will think you are one of us," said the master. "They will ask you no questions. They will show you no mercy."

The master turned to Jack. "Your tree house lies to the east. That is the way you must go," he said.

How? wondered Jack. How do we find the east?

"Yikes," whispered Annie.

The tall one pointed at the pine forest. Then they too disappeared into the darkness.

"I can do that!" Annie said.