Afternoon on the Amazon by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

and Annie learned that Morgan was under a spell. To free her, Jack and Annie have to find four special things.
    In old Japan, they found the first thing: a moonstone.
    Now Jack and Annie are about to set out in search of the second thing … in
Afternoon on the Amazon
.

“Hurry, Jack!” shouted Annie.
    Annie ran into the Frog Creek woods.
    Jack followed her.
    â€œIt’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.
    â€œWe’re coming, Peanut!” Annie called.
    She grabbed the rope ladder and started up.
    Jack followed. They climbed and climbed. Finally they climbed into the tree house.
    â€œPeanut?” said Annie.
    Jack took off his backpack. He looked around.
    Sunlight slanted across a stack of books—books about ninjas, pirates, mummies, knights, and dinosaurs.
    The letter M shimmered on the wooden floor. M for Morgan le Fay.
    â€œI don’t think Peanut’s here,” said Jack.
    â€œI wonder where she is,” said Annie.
    â€œHow do you know Peanut’s a
she?
” asked Jack.
    â€œI just know it,” said Annie.
    â€œOh, brother,” said Jack.
    Squeak
!
    Annie laughed. “Look, Jack!”
    A small pink sock was moving across thefloor. 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.
    â€œWill you help us again today?” asked Annie.
    In old Japan, Peanut had helped them when they’d gotten lost.
    â€œWe 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.
    â€œGuess what,” said Annie.
    â€œWhat?” said Jack.
    â€œWe don’t have to look very far.” She pointed at a corner of the tree house.
    In the shadows was an open book.

“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
.
    â€œOh, wow,” said Jack.
    â€œOh, no,” said Annie.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” said Jack.
    â€œI learned about the rain forest in school,” said Annie. “It’s filled with big bugs and spiders.”
    â€œI know,” said Jack. “Half of them have never even been named.”
    â€œIt’s creepy,” said Annie.
    â€œIt’s neat,” said Jack. He wanted to take lots of notes in the rain forest. Maybe he could even name some unknown bugs.
    â€œNeat? Yuk,” said Annie. She shivered.
    â€œI don’t get it,” said Jack. “You weren’t afraid of dinosaurs.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œYou weren’t afraid of the castle guards or the mummy’s ghost.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œYou weren’t afraid of pirates or ninjas.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œYou’re not afraid of
really
scary things. But you’re afraid of little bugs and spiders. That doesn’t make sense.”
    â€œSo?”
    Jack sighed. “Listen,” he said. “We have to go there. To help Morgan. That’s why the book was left open.”
    â€œI know that,” said Annie, frowning.
    â€œPlus, 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 nodded.
    â€œOkay, then, let’s go,” said Jack.
    He opened the book again. He pointed to a picture that showed blue sky, green leaves, and bright flowers.

    â€œI wish we could go there,” he said.
    The wind began to