Jack opened his eyes.
"I can't tell what kind of rain forest this is," saidAnnie. She stared out the window.
Jack looked out, too. It seemed to be day-time, buthe couldn't see much of anything. The quiet forestwas covered with fog.
Jack opened their research book and read:
The misty rain forest in the mountains of centralAfrica is called a "cloud forest.""Oh, I get it," said Annie. "We're up so high it's likewe're in a cloud.""Cool," said Jack. He pulled out his notebook andwrote:
cloud forest rain forest high up in mountainsthen he read more:
The African cloud forest is home to many animals,including elephants, water buffaloes, black leopards....
"Don't worry," said Annie.
Jack cleared his throat and kept reading:
... antelopes, wild hogs, and gorillas.
"Gorilla's?" said Annie.
"Don't worry," said Jack.
"I'm not worried. I love gorillas," said Annie.
"They're totally great!""I don't know about that," said Jack. He picturedhuge apes pounding their chests. "I'd like to studythem, though. Write down their habits and behavior,just like a real scientist.""Whatever," said Annie. "Let's just go. This'll be afun adventure!" She took off down the ladder.
Jack threw his notebook, the research book, and theflashlight into his pack. He hooked the umbrella overhis arm. Then he followed Annie.
When they stepped onto the ground, Jack could seebetter. The fog had turned into a fine mist.
Jack and Annie started through the cloud forest.
They walked around huge trees draped with moss.
They pushed past tall shrubs and leafy plants.
"Wow, look at that tree," said Annie.
She pointed to a fat tree. It had wide lower limbspadded with thick cushions of moss.
"It looks like a piece of furniture," said Annie, "likean armchair.""Yeah," said Jack. "I better draw it."He put the umbrella on the ground. He pulled theflashlight out of his pack and put it next to theumbrella. Then he took out his notebook and pencil.
As Annie walked ahead, Jack started to draw asimple picture of the fat tree.
"Hey, Jack," Annie called in a whispery voice.
"Come here. Quick!"Jack grabbed his pack. He moved around the treeand caught up with Annie.
"Listen," she said. Jack heard branches snap. Crack!
A leopard? he wondered. Crack! Crack! Jacknervously looked around the forest.
"Maybe we should go back up to the tree house," hesaid. "We could read a little more and learn a littlemore."Annie didn't answer. Jack turned to her~She was grinning from ear to ear as she stared intothe bushes. Jack followed her gaze.
A dark, shaggy little head was peeking out from acluster of leaves.
"Bu, bu?" a small gorilla asked. |