2022-2023學(xué)年神奇樹屋《MTH09DolphinsatDaybreak》

DolphinsatDaybreak

MagicTreeHouse#9

MaryPopeOsborne

ChapterOne

MasterLibrarians

Jackstaredoutthekitchenwindow.

Thesunwasnotupyet.Buttheskywasgrowinglighter.

Jackhadbeenawakeforalongtime.Hehadbeenthinkingaboutthedreamhe'dhad--thedreamaboutMorganleFay.

Thetreehouseisback,Morganhadsaid.I'mwaiting.

Jackwishedthatdreamswerereal.HemissedMorgan'smagictreehouse.

"Jack!"HislittlesisterAnnieappearedinthedoorway."Wehavetogotothewoodsnow!"shesaid.

"Why?"Jackasked.

"IhadadreamaboutMorgan!"exclaimedAnnie."Shesaidthetreehouseisbackandshe'swaitingforus!"

"Thatwasmydream,"saidJack.

"Oh,wow,"saidAnnie."Shetoldyou,too?Soitmustbeimportant."

"Butdreamsaren'treal,"saidJack.

"Somedreamsaren't.Butthisoneis,"saidAnnie."Icanjustfeelit."Sheopenedthebackdoor."I'llseeyoulater!"

"Wait--wait.I'mcoming!"saidJack.

Heracedupthestairs.Havingthesamedreammustmeansomething,hethought.

Hegrabbedhisbackpackandthrewhisnotebookandpencilintoit.

Thenherandownstairs.

"We'llbebacksoon,Mom!"Jackcalledintothelivingroom.

"Whereyougoingsoearly?"hisdadcalled.

"Justforaquickwalk!"saidJack.

"Itrainedlastnight,"calledhismom."Don'tgetyourshoeswet."

"Wewon't!"

Jackslippedoutthedoor.Anniewaswaitingforhim.

"Let'sgo!"shesaid.

Theskywaspalegray.Theairfeltfreshlywashed.

JackandAnnieranuptheirquietstreettotheFrogCreekwoods.

Theyheadedbetweenthetrees.Soontheycametothetallestoakinthewoods.Therewasawoodenhousehighinthetreetop.

"Itisback!"whisperedJack.

Someonelookedoutthewindowofthetreehouse--alovelyoldwomanwithlongwhitehair.MorganleFay.

"Comeup,"calledthemagicallibrarian.

JackandAnnieclimbeduptheropeladderandintothetreehouse.

Inthedawnlight,theystaredleFay.Shelookedbeautifulinarobe.

Jackpushedhisglassesintocouldn'tstopsmiling.

"Webothhaddreamsaboutyou!"saidAnnie.

"Iknow,"saidMorgan.

"Youdo?"

"Yes,Isentthemtoyou,"saidMorgan,"becauseIneedyourhelp."

"Whatkindofhelp?"saidJack.

"MerlintheMagicianhasbeenuptohistricksagain,"saidMorgan."SoIhaven'thadanytimetocollectbooksforCamelot'slibrary."

"Canwecollectthemforyou?"askedAnnie.

"Yes,butinordertogatherbooksthroughtimeyoumustbeMasterLibrarians,"saidMorgan.

"Oh,well,"saidAnniesaidsadly.

"ButyoucanbecomeMasterLibrarians,"saidMorgan,"ifyoupassthetest."

"Really?"saidAnnie.

"Whatkindoftest?"Jackasked.

"Youmustshowthatyouknowhowtodoresearch,"saidMorgan,"andshowthatyoucanfindanswerstohardquestions."

"How?"saidAnnie.

"Bysolvingfourriddles,"saidMorgan.Shereachedintothefoldsofherrobeandpulledoutarolleduppaper.

"Thefirstriddleiswrittenonthisancientscroll,"shesaid."Thisbookwillhelpyoufindtheanswer."

Sheheldoutabook.OnthecoverwerethewordsOceanGuide.

"Thisiswhereyouhavetogo,"saidMorgan.

"Theocean!Oh,boy!"saidAnnie.Shepointedatthecover."Iwishwe--"

"Stop!"JackgrabbedAnnie'shand."Howwillweknowifwe'vefoundtherightanswertotheriddle?"heaskedMorgan.

"Youwillknow,"Morgansaidmysteriously."Ipromiseyouwillknow."

JackletgoofAnnie'shand.Shepointedagainatthecoverandfinishedherwish,"Iwishwecouldgothere."

Thewindstartedtoblow.

"Areyoucomingwithus,Morgan?"Jacksaid.

BeforeMorgancouldanswer,thetreehousestartedtospin.

Jacksqueezedhiseyesshut.

Thetreehousespunfasterandfaster.

Theneverythingwasstill.

Absolutelystill.

Jackopenedhiseyes.

MorganleFaywasgone.

Onlytheancientscrollandtheoceanbookwereleftinherplace.

ChapterTwo

ABreeze

Abreezeblewthroughthewindow.Seagullscried.Waveslappedtheshore.

Anniepickeduptheriddlescroll.Sheunrolledit.TogethersheandJackreadtheriddle:

Roughandgrayasarock,

I'mplainasplaincanbe.

Buthiddendeepinside

There'sgreatbeautyinme.

WhatamI?

"Let'sgofindtheanswer."saidAnnie.

SheandJacklookedoutthewindow.Thetreehousewasn'tinatree.Itwasontheground.

"Whyisthegroundpink?"saidJack.

"Idon'tknow,"saidAnnie."ButI'mgoingoutthere."

"I'mgoingtodoalittleresearchfirst,"saidJack.

Annieclimbedoutofthetreehouse.

Jackpickeduptheoceanbookandflippedthroughit.

Hefoundapictureofapinkislandsurroundedbywater.Heread:

ThisisaCoralreef.Coralsaretinyseaanimals.Aftertheydie,theirskeletonsremain.Overtime,thereefbuildsfromstacksofcoralskeletons.

"Oh,man,tinyskeletons,"saidJack.Hepulledouthisnotebookandwrote:

millionsofcoralskeletons

"Jack!Jack!Comelookatthis,"criedAnnie.

"Whatisit?"

"Idon'tknow.Butyou'llloveit!"shesaid.Jackthrewhisnotebookandtheoceanbookintohispack.Heclimbedoutthewindow.

"Isittheanswertotheriddle?"hecalled

"Idon'tthinkso.Itdoesn'tlookveryplain,"saidAnnie.

Shewasstandingattheedgeofthewater.Besideherwasastrangelookingmachine.

Jackhurriedoverthebumpycoraltogetabetterlook.

Themachinewashalfonthereefandhalfintheclearbluewater.Itlookedlikeahugewhitebubblewithabigwindow.

"Isitaspecialkindofboat?"askedAnnie.

Jackfoundapictureofthemachineintheoceanbook.Heread:

Scientistswhostudytheoceanarecalledoceanographers.Sometimestheytravelinsmalldivingvesselscalledsubmersibles,or"mini-subs,"tostudytheoceanfloor.

"It'samini-sub,"saidJack.Hepulledouthisnotebook.

"Let'sgetinsideit,"saidAnnie.

"No!"saidJack.Actually,hedidwanttoseewhatthesublookedlikeinside.Butheshookhishead."Wecan't.It'snotours."

"Justateenypeek,"saidAnnie."Itmighthelpusfigureouttheriddle."

Jacksighed."Okay.Butwehavetobecareful.Don'ttouchanything,"hesaid.

"Don'tworry,"saidAnnie.

"Andtakeoffyourshoessotheywon'tgetwet,"saidJack.

HeandAnnieslippedofftheirshoesandsocksandthrewthemtowardthetreehouse.

Thentheysteppedcarefullyoverthesharpcoral.

Annieturnedthehandleonthehatchofthemini-sub.Itopened.

SheandJackclimbedinside.Thehatchslammedshut.

Themini-subwastiny.Twoseatsfacedthebigwindow.Infrontoftheseatswasacomputerbuiltintoacontrolpanel.

Anniesatdown.

Jackopenedtheoceanbookandreadmoreonthemini-subpage:

Mini-subshavestronghullstokeepairinandprotectthoseaboardfromwaterpressure.Computersareusedtoguidethemini-subthroughtheocean.

"Oops,"saidAnnie.

"What'swrong?"Jacklookedup.

Anniewaswavingherhandsinfrontofthecomputer.Nowthescreenshowedamap.

"What'sgoingon?"saidJack.

"Ijustpressedafewkeys--"saidAnnie.

"What?Isaidnottotouchanything!"saidJack.

Anairblowercameon.Themini-subjerkedbackward.

"Getout!"saidJack.

HeandAnniescrambledforthehatch.Jackgrabbedthehandle.

Buttheyweretoolate.

Themini-subslidoffthereef.

Thenitdovesilentlydownintothedeep.

ChapterThree

Mini-Sub

"You'vereallydoneitnow,Annie!"saidJack.

"Sorry,sorry.Butlookoutthewindow!"Anniesaid."Look!"

"Forgetit!Wehavetofigurethisout!"Jackstaredatthecomputer.Hesawarowofpicturesatthetopofthescreen.

"Whatdidyoudo?"heasked.

"IjustpressedtheONbutton,"saidAnnie.

"Thescreenlitup.AndIpressedthestarfish."

"Thatmustbethecommandtogounderthewater,"saidJack.

"Yeah.Thenthemapcameon,"saidAnnie.

"Okay,okay.Themapshowsthereef."saidJack."Look!There'sthemini-subonthemap!It'smovingawayfromthereef."

"It'slikeavideogame,"saidAnnie."IbetIknowwhattodo."

Anniepressedakeywithanarrowpointingright.Themini-subonthescreenmovedright.Therealmini-subturnedtotheright,also.

"Great!"saidJackwithrelief."Youpressthearrowstosteerthemini-sub.Sonowwecangoback."

"Oh,no,notrightaway,"saidAnnie."It'ssobeautifuldownhere."

"Wehavetogetbacktothereef,"saidJack.Hiseyeswerestillgluedtothecomputerscreen."Whatiftheownersfinditgone?"

"Lookoutthewindow,"saidAnnie."Justforoneteenysecond."

Jacksighed.Hepushedhisglassesintoplaceandlookedup."Oh,man,"hesaidsoftly.

Outsidetheglasswasastrangeworldofbrightmovingcolor.

Itlookedlikeanotherplanet.

Themini-subwasmovingpastred,yellow,andbluecoral--pastlittlecoralmountains,andcaves--pastfishesofeverycolorandsize.

Jacknoddedslowly.Shemightberight,hethought.Besides,whenwouldtheyevergettovisitaplacelikethisagain?

ChapterFour

FishCity

Therewerefisheverywhere:floatingovertheswayingseagrass,eatingonthewhitesandybottom,peepingoutofcoralcaves.

Somekindsofcorallookedlikebluefingersorlacyfans.Otherslookedlikedeerantlersorlettuceleavesormushroomsortrees.

Jackreadinthebook:

Coralreefsareonlyfoundinwarm,tropicalwaters.Nearly5,000differentspeciesoffishlivearoundcoralreefsintheIndianandPacificOceans.

Jackpulledouthispencilandnotebook.

Hestartedtowritealist.

CoralReefResearch

Warmwater

Over5,000kindsoffish

"Look!"saidAnnie.

Thesubfloatedpastahugestarfish.Thenapinkjellyfish.Thenablueseahorse.

Jackaddedtohislist:

Starfish

Jellyfish

Seahorses

"Whatisthat?"saidAnnie.

Jacksawacreaturethatlookedlikeagiantpancakewithalongtail.

"Astingray!"saidJack.Heputthatonhislistaswell.

"Andthat?"saidAnnie.

ShepointedatthebiggestshellJackhadeverseen.Itwasasbigasafootstool.

"I'llhavetocheckonthatone,"saidJack.HeturnedthepagesoftheOceanbook.Whenhegottothepageaboutclams,hereadaloud:

Thegiantclamofthecoralreefisthreefeetwideandweighsupto200pounds.

"Wow,"saidAnnie.

"Nokidding,"saidJack.Headded"giantclam"tohislist.

"Dolphins!"criedAnnie.

Jacklookedup.Twodolphinswerepeeringinthewindow.Theytappedtheirnosesagainsttheglass.

Theireyeswerebright.Theyseemedtobesmiling.

Jacklaughed."It'slikewe'reinafishtank--andthey'relookingatus,"hesaid.

"TheirnamesareSukieandSam,"saidAnnie."Sisterandbrother."

"You'renuts,"saidJack.

"Here'sakissforyou,Sukie,"Anniesaid.Shepressedherlipstotheglassasifshewerekissingthedolphin'snose.

"Oh,brother,"saidJack.

Butthedolphinopenedhermouthandtossedherhead.Sheseemedtobelaughing.

"Hey,Iknowtheanswertotheriddle--dolphins!"saidAnnie."They'regrayandplain.Buttheyhavegreatbeautyinside."

"Youforgotthe'roughasarock'part,"saidJack."Dolphinskinlookssmoothandslippery."

"Oh,right,"saidAnnie.

Thedolphinsflippedtheirtails.Theyswamoffintothelightbluewater.

"Wait!Don'tgo!"calledAnnie."Sukie!"Butthedolphinsweregone.

"It'stimeforustogo,too,"saidJack.Hewasafraidsomeonemightbelookingforthemini-sub.

"Butwehaven'tsolvedtheriddle,"saidAnnie.

Jackstudiedthebrightunderwaterworld.

"Idon'tseetheanswer,"hesaid."There'snothingplainatalloutthere."

"Thenmaybetheanswer'sinthemini-sub,"saidAnnie.

Theylookedaroundthetinyspace.

"I'llcheckthecomputer,"saidJack.Hestudiedtherowofpicturesatthetopofthescreen.

Hepressedthebookpicture.

ThewordsSHIP'SLOGflashedontothescreen.

ChapterFive

TwoEyes

"What'saship'slog?"saidAnnie.

"It'sadiaryofanoceantrip,"saidJack.

Hepeeredatthecomputerscreenandreadalogentry:

MONDAY,JULY5

"Hey,thatwasjustlastweek,"saidJack.Hereadfurther:

COLLECTEDROCKANDSHELLSAMPLES

MAPPEDOCEANFLOOR

FOUNDTINYCRACKINHULL

"Thisislikeyournotebook,"saidAnnie.

"Yeah,theoceanographerwaswritingnotesonthecomputer,"saidJack.

JackandAnniereadfurther:

TUESDAY,JULY6

CRACKHASWIDENED

MUSTRETURNTOREEFSOON

"Acrackwhere?"saidAnnie.

"Idon'tknow,"saidJack.Hereadfurther:

WEDNESDAY,JULY7

MORETINYCRACKS

CANNOTBEFIXED

HEADINGBACKTOREEFTODAY

"Uh-oh.Thisdoesn'tsoundgood,"saidJack.Hereadfurther:

THURSDAY,JULY8

DEFECTIVESUBRETURNTOREEF

LEAVEFORHELICOPTERTOTRANSPORT

TOJUNKYARD

"Defective'meansbroken,right?"saidAnnie.

"Yep,"saidJack.

"Sothissubisbroken,right?"saidAnnie.

"Yep,"saidJack."Anditwaswaitingtobetakenawaybyahelicopter.Toajunkyard."

"Yikes,"saidAnnie.

"Nowwereallyhavetogetback,"saidJack.

"Let'strypressingthewavespicture,"saidAnnie.

Shepressedthewavespictureonthecomputerscreen.

Themini-subbegantoriseslowly.

"Oh,good,"saidJack.

Thesubwentpastasmallcoralmountain.Itwentpastschoolsoffishandwavingplants.

"Oh!"gaspedAnnie.Jackgasped,too.

Twoeyeswerestaringoutfrombehindagiantseaplant.Theylookedhuman--excepttheywereasbigasgolfballs.

Thesubmovedpastthegiantplant.Jackbreathedasighofrelief.

"What--?Whose--?"sputteredAnnie.

"Don'task"saidJack.

Theystaredbackattheplant.

Justthen,alongarmcameoutfrombehindit.

Thenanotherarmcameout.

Thenanother--andanother--andanother--andanother--andanother--andanother!

JackandAnniestaredinhorroratagiantoctopus.

"It'scomingafterus,"saidAnnie.

Slowly,theoctopuscreptthroughthewater.Itseightarmsreachedforthemini-sub.

ChapterSix

C-R-A-C-K

Theoctopushuggedthemini-sub.Eachofitseightarmshadtworowsofsuckers.Thesuckersstucktothewindow.

Themini-substopped.

TheoctopusstaredatJackandAnniewithhuge,human-likeeyes.

"Idon'tthinkitwantstohurtus,"whisperedAnnie."It'sjustcurious."

"I--I'mgoingtoresearchit,"saidJack.

Hishandsshookasheflippedthroughthepagesoftheoceanbook.

Hefoundapictureofanoctopusandreadaloud:

Theoctopustendstobeagentle,shycreature.Sometimes,though,curiositygetsthebestofitanditcomesoutofhiding.

"Aw.See,Itoldyou,he'sshy,"saidAnnie.Sheyelledtotheoctopus,"Hi!I'mAnnie!He'sJack!"

"Oh,brother"moanedJack.Hereadfurther.

Buttheoctopushashugestrength.Eachofitsanus,ortentacles,hasmanysuckers,whichactlikerubbersuctioncups.Itisnearlyimpossibletofreeanobjectfromtheirgrasp.

"Oh,great,"saidJack."We'llnevergetridofthisthing."

Justthen,Jackfeltadrophithisarm.Water.Helookedupattheceiling.

"Uh-oh,"saidAnnie.

Athincrackranalongtheceiling.Smallercracksbranchedoutfromit.

Waterdrippedfromthecracks."Wefoundthecracks,"saidAnnie.

"Theoctopusbetterletgo!Beforethewholeceilingbreaks!"saidJack.

"Letgo,please.Please!"Annieshoutedattheoctopus.

Thecreatureblinked,asiftryingtounderstandher.

"Please!Please!Please!"sheshouted.

"Comeon,Annie,"saidJack."Itdoesn'tcareifyou'repolite."

TheoctopusblinkedatJack.

"Getoutofhere!"Jackyelledatit."Now!Beatit!Scram!Go!"

Theoctopusshotacloudofblackliquidintothewateranddisappearedintothedarkcloud.Itslongtentaclestrailedthroughthewater.

Themini-substartedtoriseslowlyagain.

"Youhurthisfeelings,"Anniesaid.

"Idon'tthinkso..."SomethingbotheredJack.

Helookedbackattheoceanbook.Hereadtohimself:

Theoctopussquirtsblackinktoescapeitsenemies.Oneofitsmainenemiesistheshark.

"Oh,no,"saidJack.

"What'swrong?"askedAnnie.

Jacklookedoutthewindow.Thewaterwasgrowingclearagain.

Ashadowyfiguremovedtowardthemini-sub.

"Whatisthat?"whisperedAnnie.

Thefishwaswaybiggerthanthedolphins.Andithadaveryweirdhead.

Jackcouldfeelhisheartnearlystop."Ahammerheadshark,"hebreathed.

"We'rereallyintroublenow."

ChapterSeven

RemainCalm

Thesharkswambehindthecoral.

"Wherediditgo?"saidAnnie,peeringoutthewindow.

"Itdoesn'tmatter,"saidJack."Wehavetogettothetop."

"Morewater'scomingin,"saidAnnie.

"Yeah,Iknow.Ceon...faster!"Jackorderedthemini-sub.

"Evenmorewater'scomingin,"saidAnnie,"lotsmore!"

Jacklookedup.Thewaterwasn'tdrippingnow--itwasspurting.

"Afewseconds,afewseconds,"saidJack.Suddenly,themini-subburstoutofthewater.Itbobbedonthewaveslikeacork.Theoceansparkledallaroundit.

"Safe!"shoutedAnnie.

Jackfeltthewaterrisingaroundhisbarefeet.

"Uh--notreally..."hesaid.

"Oops,"saidAnnie."Theoctopusmusthavemadecracksinthebottom,too."

Thewaterwasuptotheiranklesnow.

Jacklookedout.Hesawthereefinthedistance.

"Thesubcanmakeit.Itdoesn'tlookthatfar,"hesaid.

"Go,go,go,"saidAnnie.

Shepressedoneofthesteeringkeys.

Suddenly,thescreenwentblank.

"What'shappening?"saidJack.

Anniepressedthekeyagain.ThenJackpressedtheotherpictures.Nothinghappened.

"It'sdead,"saidAnnie.

"Oh,great,"saidJack.

Nowthewaterwasuptotheirknees.

"Iguesswe'llhavetoswim,"saidJack.Hetookadeepbreath.

"Right,"saidAnnie."It'sagoodthingwehadswimminglessonsthissummer."

"Right,"saidJack."Andit'sabadthingwejustsawashark."

Jackquicklyfoundthepictureofthesharkinthebook.Hereadaloud:

Ifyoueverseeasharkinthewater,don'tsplash.Swimcalmlyaway.

Jackclosedthebook.

"Webetterdothebreaststroke,"saidAnnie."Sowewon'tsplash."

"Yep,andstayclose,"saidJack.

"Veryclose,"saidAnnie.Hereyeswerewide.Butsheseemedverycalm.

Jacktookadeepbreath.Hetriedtobecalm,too.Hecalmlytookoffhisglasses.Hecalmlyputthemandthebookintohispack.Hecalmlyputhispackonhisback.

Annieopenedthehatch.

"Becalm,"Anniesaid.Sheslippedoutofthemini-sub.

"Help,"Jacksaidcalmly.Heheldhisnose.Thenhecalmlyloweredhimselfintotheocean.

ChapterEight

SwimforYourLife!

Jackmovedhisarmsslowly.Hemovedhislegsslowly.Hegentlypushedthewateroutofhiswayashedidthebreaststroke.

Calm,calm,hetoldhimself.

Annieswambesidehim.Theyheadedforthereef.

Allwascalm.

ThenJacksawsomethingoutthecornerofhiseye.

Adarkfinwaszigzaggingthroughthewater.Itwasheadingtowardthem.

Jackwantedtosplash.Hewantedtoyell.Butheremembered:calm.

IbetternottellAnnie,hethought.She'llstaycalmerifshedoesn'tknow.

Hebegantoswimfaster--thenfaster.Anniewentfaster,too.

Theybothswamasfast,andascalmly,astheycould.

SometimesAnniewentevenfasterthanJack,whichmadehimswimfaster.Andfaster.

Jackwassoscaredthathewasn'ttiredatall.Hewasswimmingforhislife--andforAnnie'slife,too.

Hedidn'tlookbacktoseeifthesharkwasstillthere.Hedidn'twanttoknow.

Hejustkepthiseyeonthetreehouseinthedistance.Andhekeptswimming.

JackandAnnieswamandswamandswam.

Ittookforeverforthetreehousetogetjustalittlecloser.

Jackrealizedthereefwasfartherawaythanhehadthought.

Hekeptswimming,buthisarmsandlegsfeltheavy.

Anniewasstruggling,too.

"Float!"shesaid."Float!"

JackandAnnieturnedontotheirbacks.Theyfloatedthewaytheyhadlearnedinswimmingclass.

We'lljustrestforaminute,Jackthought.Thenwe'llkeepgoing.

ButthemoreJackfloated,themoretiredhefelt.Soonhewastootiredeventofloat.Hestartedtosink.

Thenhefeltsomething.

Hisheartstopped.Somethingpushedathiminthewater.

Itwasslipperyandalive.

Hadthehammerheadcaughtupwiththem?

Jackshuthiseyesandwaitedfortheworst.Hewaitedandwaited.Finally,heopenedhiseyes.

Infrontofhimwasashinygrayhead--adolphin'shead!

ThedolphinpushedJackwithitsnose.Itmadehappyclickingsounds.

"Hooray!"criedAnnie.

Jacklookedoverather.

Shewasclingingtothefinofanotherdolphin!Herdolphinwasmovingthroughthewater.

Jackgrabbedthefinofhisdolphin.

Thenthetwodolphinsswamsmoothlythroughthewater,pullingJackandAnnietowardthereef.

Chapter9

Ouch!

Thesunshoneontheocean.Itsparkledlikeadiamond.

Jackfeltsafenow.Hisdolphinwastakinggoodcareofhim.

Thedolphinssloweddownastheynearedthereef.

Jackloweredhisfeet.Hefeltthebumpycoral.Heletgoofthedolphin'sfinandstoodupinthewater.

Anniestood,too.

Thenshethrewherarmsaroundherdolphinandgaveherabighug.

"Thankyou,Sukie!"shecried.Andshekissedthedolphin'snose.

SukietossedherheadandclickedatAnnie.

"KissSamnow!"AnniesaidtoJack.

"You'renuts,"saidJack.

ButSamnuzzledJack'shead.ThenheputhisflippersaroundJack'sneck.

Jackcouldn'tresist.Hethrewhisarmsaroundthedolphinandgavehimaquickkiss.

Samnoddedandmadeclickingsoundslikelaughter.ThenheturnedtoSukie.

Thetwodolphinschatteredtoeachotherforamoment.TheynoddedatJackandAnnieandswamgracefullyaway.

"Bye,Sukie!Bye,Sam!"Annieshouted."Thanks!"Jackshouted.

Thedolphinsleapthighintotheair.ThentheydovebackintothewaterwithaSPLASH!

JackandAnnielaughed."Iwishwecouldswimlikethat,"saidJack.

JackandAnniewatchedthedolphinsuntiltheydisappeared.

"Imissthemalready,"Anniesaidsoftly."Metoo,"saidJack.

Hesatdownintheshallowwater."I'mreallytired,"hesaid.Anniesatbesidehim.

"Metoo,"shesaid.ThewarmwaterlappedaroundtheirshortsandT-shirts.

Jackpulledoffhispack.Hetookouthisglassesandputthemon.Theywereblurrywithwater.

"Guesswhat,"saidAnnie.

"What?"saidJack.

"Isawthesharkwhenwewereswimming,"Anniesaid."ButIdidn'ttellyou.Iwantedyoutostaycalm."

Jackstaredather."Isawit,too.Ijustswamfastersoyouwouldswimfaster."

"AndIswamfastersoyouwouldswimfaster,"saidAnnie.

"Iguessweswamdouble-fastthen,"Jacksaid.Heshookhisheadwithwonder.

"Whatnow?"saidAnnie.

"Wegohome,"saidJack.

"Butwehaven'tsolvedMorgan'sriddleyet,"saidAnnie.

Jacksighed.

Hepulledhisnotebookoutofhispack.Itwassoaked.

Hepulledouttheoceanbook.Itwassoaked,too.

"We'vefailed,"hesaid."Myresearchisallwet.We'llneverbeMasterLibrariansnow."

Jackputeverythingaway."Let'sgo,"hesaidsadly.

Hestoodup.Thenhestarted