Lions at Lunchtime (5 page)

As they walked back toward the tree house, they saw the wildebeests in the distance. There were still some crossing the river.

They saw a family of zebras grazing together.

They saw lone giraffes walking from tree to tree, eating the leaves.

And they saw a bunch of lions sleeping in the shade of a tree—
the same tree that the tree house was in
.

“Whoops,” said Annie.

Jack's heart gave a jump.

“So
there
they are,” he said.

Jack and Annie crouched in the tall grass. There was a big lion, three lionesses, and a bunch of cubs.

“I think they're sleeping,” whispered Annie.

“Yeah,” said Jack. “But for how long?”

He pulled the Africa book from his pack and opened it. He found a picture of lions sleeping under a tree.

He read in a whispery voice:

“What did they have for lunch?” Annie broke in.

“Don't ask,” said Jack. He kept reading:

“If they can graze, then we're safe,” said Annie. She started to stand.

“Wait!” Jack pulled her down. “Not so fast.”

He peered around. The words in the book seemed true: the zebras and giraffes didn't seem to be bothered by the lions at all.

“They might be safe. But I'm not sure about us,” said Jack. “We need a plan.”

“What if we wait till they leave?” said Annie.

“That could take hours,” said Jack. “Plus they might be hungry again by then.”

“Oh, right,” said Annie.

“So here's the plan—we tiptoe,” said Jack.

“Tiptoe?”

“Yeah?”

“That's your whole plan?” said Annie.

“Yeah, tiptoe to the rope ladder,” said Jack. “Very quietly.”

“Good plan,” Annie teased.

“Just do it,” said Jack. He stood up slowly. Annie stood with him.

They began tiptoeing through the grass very slowly.

The lion flicked his tail.

Jack and Annie froze.

When his tail was still again, they moved again.

Suddenly, high-pitched laughter split the air.

Jack and Annie stopped.

The hyenas were back! They were standing off to the side, watching Jack and Annie.

Jack and Annie made silent monster faces and shook their fists. But the hyenas only laughed some more.

The big lion stirred lazily. He opened his golden eyes.

Jack felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. But he didn't move an inch.

The lion lifted his head and yawned. His giant teeth gleamed in the sunlight. The lion turned his head as he looked around sleepily.

Jack held his breath as the lion's gaze rested on him. The lion sat straight up. His piercing yellow eyes met Jack's.

Jack's heart raced. His mind raced. He remembered something he'd read—
lions avoid giraffes
.

Jack looked around. There was a giraffe walking toward the tree that the magic tree house was in.

Suddenly, he had a
new
plan.

“Get under that giraffe,” he whispered.

“Now
you're
the one who's nuts,” Annie whispered back.

But Jack grabbed her hand. He pulled her over to the giraffe and underneath it.

The giraffe's legs were so long, Jack and Annie could stand up under it. Jack's head barely brushed the giraffe's golden belly.

The tall creature froze for a few seconds. Then she moved slowly toward the tree.

Jack and Annie walked in the same rhythm as the giraffe.

They got closer and closer to the tree house—and closer and closer to the pride of lions.

The big lion had stood up. He watched them moving under the giraffe.

When the rope ladder was just a few feet away, Jack and Annie dashed out from under the giraffe to the rope ladder.

Annie scrambled up first.

Jack followed right behind her.

As they climbed, the lion growled and leaped at the ladder.

The hyenas laughed.

Jack climbed faster than he'd ever climbed. He leaped after Annie into the tree house.

Annie had already unrolled the scroll. The riddle was gone. In its place was one shimmering word:

HONEY

Jack grabbed the Pennsylvania book. He opened it and found the picture of the Frog Creek woods.

“Iwishwecouldgothere!” he said.

Just then, the giraffe stuck her head through the window.

“Bye,
honey!
” said Annie, and she kissed the giraffe on the nose.

The wind started to blow.

The tree house started to spin.

It spun faster and faster.

Then everything was still.

Absolutely still.

Jack opened his eyes. His heart was still racing. Hyena laughter still rang in his ears.

“We made it,” said Annie.

“Yes,” said Jack. “But it was very close.”

Jack took another moment to calm down. Then he pulled the Africa book out of his pack and put it with the other books.

Annie put the scroll with the other two scrolls.

“The giraffe was the
true
honey on that trip,” she said, “sweet and golden, with danger all around it.”

“Yep,” Jack said. “And now we have just one riddle to go.”

“Yep,” said Annie. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

She started down the ladder. Jack followed. When they hit the ground, they walked through the sunlit woods.

“It's time for lunch,” said Jack.

“I'm full from our picnic,” said Annie.

“Same here,” said Jack.

“What do we tell Mom?” said Annie.

“We say we ate our sandwiches coming back from the store,” said Jack.

“What if she asks
why?
” said Annie.

“Oh … just say we had a picnic with a Masai warrior in Africa,” said Jack.

Annie laughed. “Right,” she said, “because we didn't want him to be mad at us for taking his honey.”

“Right,” said Jack, “the honey from a beehive that a honey guide led us to.”

“Right,” said Annie, “and that happened
after
an elephant gave me a shower. And we scared off two hyenas.”

“Right,” said Jack, “and after you fell into a mudhole because you were helping a million wildebeests migrate across a river.”

“Right,” said Annie. “And
all
that was before a giraffe saved us from a lion.”

“Right,” said Jack.

Jack and Annie left the Frog Creek woods and started up their sunny street.

They were silent for a moment.

Then Jack pushed his glasses into place. “We better just say we ate our sandwiches on the way home from the store,” he said.

“Right,” said Annie.

“And if Mom asks why—” started Jack.

“We'll just say it's a really long story,” said Annie.

“Right,” said Jack, “with, like—ten chapters.”

Annie laughed. “Good plan,” she said.

“
Very
good plan,” said Jack.

They crossed their yard. They went up their steps and through their front door.

“We're back!” Annie shouted.

“Great!” called their mom. “Ready for lunch?”

 

 

 

 

 

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Magic Tree House #12
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