《神奇树屋》 第四十册 Eve of the Emperor Penguin 05 Lava Bombs

Jack 1 didn't feel like a happy camper anymore.



Walking through the cold, thin air, he looked at thesnowmobiles parked near the hut.



"We don't know how to drive snowmobiles!" Jackwhispered to Annie. "We haven't trained foranything, including altitude sickness!""That's okay. If we get in trouble, we can use thewand," said Annie.



"No, we can't," said Jack. "We can't use the wandjust for ourselves. Plus, we haven't tried our hardestyet."57"This way, gang," called Nancy. She was usheringeveryone into the small orange building.



Jack and Annie followed the group inside. The one-room hut had plastic chairs, a small heater, axes, jugsof water, and shelves with boxes of trail mix.



"Have a seat and help yourself to some of the bestwater in the world," Nancy said. "It comes frommelted glacier 2 ice."Everyone sat on the plastic chairs. Lucy, Kim, Tony,and Ali poured water into tin cups and lowered theirmasks to drink. Jack was thirsty, but he shook hisheadnoat Annie. He was afraid for them to show theirfaces.



"Before we take off, I want to warn you again aboutthe snowmobiles," said Nancy. "No matter how muchtraining you've had, you must be very careful. Onyour ride up to the crater 3, remember to drivesideways so if the snowmobile slips and rolls over,your leg won't get crushed."Everyone nodded.



58How do you drive sideways?



Jack wondered in a panic.



"Don't be afraid to go fast, and don't lock up thebrakes," said Nancy. "Locking your brakes can spelldisaster.""And watch out for lava 4 bombs," said Ali, thebiologist.



"Lava bombs?" Jack piped. He quickly cleared histhroat and deepened his voice. "Excuse me. Lavabombs?""Lava that spits from the crater," said Ali.



"Spits?" repeated Jack.



"Like oatmeal that bubbles and spatters out of thepot," said Lucy, the space scientist.



"Except these bombs aren't made of oatmeal," saidAli. "They're blobs of fiery 5 hot liquid rock. Some ofthem can be as big as a car. They burn deep holes inthe ice and snow.""If they hit you ...," said Tony, chuckling 7. "Well, justthink about it."Jack didn't want to think about it.



59"Seriously, it's pretty neat," said Nancy. "Formillions of years, hot gas and lava have carved deep,hidden places beneath the surface ice of these slopes-cavernsand towers. No one knows all the secrets ofMount Erebus."Nancy took a last sip 8 of water and put her cupdown. "Okay, guys, you have a few hours to do yourexperiments and get your stories. Then Pete will comeback for us. Let's go!"As Jack stood up to go, he almost fell over. Theroom was spinning. He closed his eyes, but that onlymade it worse. After the others had filed out the door,Jack sat back down on his chair.



I'll just stay here for a second,he thought, his heart pounding.



"You okay?" said Annie, coming back into the hut.



"I'm dizzy," said Jack, trying to catch his breath. "Ithink I've got altitude sickness.""I don't feel so great, either," said Annie. "Trytaking off your mask and goggles 9 so you can60breathe better." She helped Jack lift off his mask andgoggles. "Does that help?""Yeah, a little...." Jack took a deep breath. "But weneedlotsof help.""What do you mean?" said Annie.



"Help getting over altitude sickness," said Jack,"help driving snowmobiles, help dodging 10 lava bombs,help finding an ancient crown... and what isthat,anyway--anancient crown!"Nancy poked 11 her head back into the hut. "What'sup, guys? You coming?""Yikes," said Annie.



Jack quickly tried to put his goggles and mask backon. But it was too late.



"What--what are you--who are you?" Nancysputtered. "You're not a journalist! You're a kid!""Don't worry," said Annie in a deep voice. "He's myson.""What?"said Nancy.



"He is," said Annie. "I often take him on myassignments.""You what?"said Nancy.



61"Annie, give it up," said Jack. "We're caught.""Oh, okay," said Annie. She pushed up her gogglesand pulled down her mask. "I'm Annie, and he's Jack.



We're sister and brother.""I'm going to have a heart attack!" said Nancy.



"What are you kids doing here?""We were looking for ..." Annie stopped. "Urn 6 ..."Jack knew even Annie couldn't explain their missionto save Merlin to Nancy.



"This is unbelievable!" said Nancy. "I've got to getyou two back to the station! Your parents must befrantic. I can't believe this!""No, no, it's our fault. No one will blameyou,"said Jack.



But Nancy was pulling out a small radio. "Come in,Pete. Come in."The radio crackled and popped. Then Pete's voicecame through. "Hear you, Nancy," he said.



"Pete, you need to get the chopper back here quickand pick up two of my group. They're just little kids!"Not so little,thought Jack.



62"Repeat that, Nancy," said Pete.



"Two little kids came with the group!"Nancy shouted. "I didn't know they were kids--oh,it's too hard to explain! Can you come back rightaway, please?""Sure thing," said Pete. "You head up with theothers. I'll pick up the kids.""Thanks. They'll be here at the hut, waiting for youto take them back," said Nancy. "Over and out."