英语小说网

"Where are we?" said Jack.

"Where's the monkey?" said Annie, looking back at the forest. "Do you think the jaguar caught him?"

"Wait --" said Jack, panting. "I think we got away."

Jack read the writing below the picture. It said: Vampire bats live in the Amazon rain forest. At night, they quietly bite their victims and suck their blood.

"No, monkeys are fast," said Jack.

"Oh, man. What's this?" he said.

He pulled out the book. He turned the pages, searching for help.

"Poor monkey," said Annie. She looked around at the forest.

"Vampire bats?" said Jack. He felt faint.

Jack and Annie stopped running and caught their breath.

"She looks scared," said Jack. "Poor Peanut."

He stopped at a picture of a scary creature.

"We'd better check the book," Jack said.

Squeak. Peanut peeked out of Annie's pocket.

"Peanut! I almost forgot you!" said Annie. "Are you okay?"

"I hope he's okay," said Annie.

The mouse just stared at Annie with her big eyes.

Of course, jaguars are fast, too, Jack thought. But he didn't want to tell Annie that.

"We'll come back," said Jack. "We'll have to be prepared."

Jack nodded. "After dark."

"Where'd she go?" said Annie. "I don't see her!"

Annie and Jack looked around. The rain forest seemed to be getting even darker.

"The way she helped us in the time of ninjas --"

They looked at each other. "We're lost," they said together.

"So we'll come back tomorrow?" Annie asked.

"That way," said Jack, pointing in the opposite direction.

"Jack, I think Peanut wants to help us," said Annie.

"Right. Now which way is the tree house?" said Jack.

"Vampire bats?" said Annie.

Jack nodded. For once he agreed with her.

"Yikes," said Annie. She looked at Jack. "Maybe we should go home."

"How?"

Squeak.

The mouse took off.

"This way," said Annie, pointing.

Annie placed the mouse on the leafy forest floor. "Take us to the tree house, Peanut."

"But what about our mission?" said Annie. "What about Morgan?"

"There!" said Jack. He pointed to leaves rustling on the ground.

"Don't worry, Peanut." Annie started to pat the mouse again. But then she stopped.

Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.

A streak of white passed over the leaves.

Suddenly Jack stopped.

They followed Peanut all the way up to the canopy of the rain forest.

Jack and Annie followed the moving leaves. The streak of white appeared. And disappeared.

Annie pointed at the rope ladder.

Jack glanced around. Annie was standing on the other side of a nearby tree. She was pointing up.

"Let's go," Jack said.

Jack looked up. The tree house.

"Where is she?" asked Jack. He kept staring at the ground.

"Oh, whew," Jack said softly.

"She saved us again," said Annie. "She's running up the ladder. All by herself. Look."

"Yes, there!" said Annie.

"Jack!"

Annie started up the ladder. Then Jack.

Peanut was climbing up one of the ropes.

The forest floor was still. There was no sign of Peanut.