《神奇树屋》 第二十六册 Good Morning, Gorillas 08 A Special Language

　　The rain ended. Slowly the feeding came to a stop.



Big Guy led his family into a clearing. The tallgrass sparkled with misty 1 sunlight.



The silverback lay down and tucked his arms underhis head.



The other gorillas 3 gathered around him. Some beatthe grasses until they were flat.



Ho-ho's mom made a bed of weed stalks for Ho-ho.



Bu-bu's mom made a bed of leaves for Bu-bu. Thenshe made two extra beds for Jack 4 and Annie.



They lay down with all the gorillas to take theirnaps. Jack used his backpack for a pillow.



Lying on his leafy bed, Jack watched the mother ofthe baby gorilla 2 groom 5 her small baby. The motherparted his hair and searched through it, picking at hisskin now and then.



The baby soon wiggled free and crawled around inthe grass. His mother's gaze then rested on Annie. Shemoved over to Annie and gently grabbed one of herpigtails. She studied it carefully.



"What are you doing?" Annie asked.



"She's looking for bugs 6, I think," said Jack.



"Oh, yuck!" said Annie, sitting up.



Jack laughed. Just then, the baby's mother reachedfor him.



"Oops! No thanks! No bugs on me!" he said, and hesat up, too.



The mother gorilla lay back in the grass and closedher eyes. Her baby crawled over to Annie.



"Hi, Little Guy," Annie said tenderly. She picked upthe baby and stroked his head. The baby smiled at herand closed his eyes.



While all the gorillas napped, Jack sneaked 7 the bookout of his pack. He found the gorilla chapter. He readsoftly to Annie:



Gorillas are very smart. A captive gorilla namedKoko has even learned sign language. Sign languageis a special language used by people who cannot hear.



Koko can say-"What?" Annie said loudly. "Sign language? Aspecial language?"Her voice woke Bu-bu and Ho-ho. They sat up andrubbed their eyes.



"So?" said Jack.



"Morgan's secret rhyme!" said Annie. "Don't youremember?" She repeated the rhyme:



To find a special kind of magic in worlds so farapart, speak a special language, talk with your handsand heart.



"Oh... yeah!" said Jack.



"I even know a little sign language," said Annie. "Inschool, we learned how to sign I love you."Annie held up a closed hand. Slowly she lifted herthumb, index finger, and little finger. She showed thesign to Bu-bu and Ho-ho.



"I love you, she said slowly.



The small gorillas looked curious.



Jack made the sign, too.



"I love you," he said to Bu-bu and Ho-ho.



The two little gorillas stared at Annie and Jack.



Then both of them held up their hands. They tried tomake the same sign.



"They love us, too!" said Annie.



"Wow," said Jack. He glanced over at Big Guy.



The silverback's eyes were open! He was watchingthem. Jack quickly closed the book. To his relief, thegiant gorilla turned over.



"Well," Annie said with a sigh, "I guess that doesit.""We spoke 8 a special language," said Jack. "Wetalked with our--" Before he could finish his sentence,Bu-bu pushed him.



"Whoa!" said Jack.



Ho-ho held his little arms above his head. He rearedback and charged at Jack. With a flying tackle, heknocked Jack over.



"What's going on?" said Jack.



"They want to play with you!" said Annie.



Bu-bu jumped on Jack and put him in a headlock.



Jack broke free from the two small gorillas. Hejumped up and dashed into the forest.



Bu-bu and Ho-ho charged after him.



Annie carried Little Guy and followed. She laughedas the small gorillas looked for Jack.



Jack hid behind a tree. He pushed his glasses intoplace. He waited for Bu-bu.



In a moment, she walked by.



"BOO!" Jack shouted, jumping out.



Bu-bu screeched 9 and leaped straight up in the air.



Jack cracked up laughing.



Bu-bu didn't laugh, though. She bit her lip. She hidher face behind her hands.



"Ohhh, Bu-bu," said Annie. "Don't be scared."She gently put the baby on the ground. She reachedout to comfort Bu-bu.



Bu-bu wrapped her arms around Annie's neck. Sheburied her furry 10 head in Annie 's shoulder.



"Jack was just playing," said Annie.



Bu-bu raised her head. She looked at Jack overAnnie's shoulder.



"Friends?" he asked softly.



Bu-bu stuck her tongue out at him.



Jack laughed. Bu-bu showed her teeth in a bigsmile.



"Friends!" said Jack.



Just then, Ho-ho started screeching 11. Jack and Annielooked around. Ho-ho was pointing into the bushes.



"Where's Little Guy?" said Annie. She and Jackdashed around the shrubs 12.



The baby had crawled to a tree. He was looking upat a branch.



A huge, sleek 13 cat with black fur was sitting on thebranch. His pale green eyes stared down at the babygorilla. He looked hungry.



"A black leopard 14," breathed Jack.



The leopard leaped lightly down from his perch 15. Hefaced Little Guy. The baby looked scared.



"No!" cried Annie.



She ran over to the baby gorilla and scooped 16 himinto her arms.



The leopard let out a snarl 17. He lowered his headand started slowly toward Annie and the baby.



Jack panicked. He didn't know what to do at first.



Then he remembered Big Guy's act. Jack took a deepbreath. When he let it out, he made a loud hootingsound.



He tore out from the brush. Hooting 18 like asilverback, he ran between Annie and the leopard.



Jack grabbed a tree limb and shook it. He rippedleaves from branches.



He cupped his hands. He beat his chest.



"WRAAGH!" he roared. "WRAAGH!"Then Jack leaned over and charged back and forthpast the leopard.



Finally, he threw himself on his belly 19. He beganbashing the ground with his palms. He bashed andbashed and bashed.



"Jack!" Annie called. "Jack!" Jack looked up.



"He's gone," Annie said in a quiet voice. "Theleopard's gone. He left a while ago.""Oh," said Jack. He sat up.



He pushed his glasses into place. He looked around.



Then he smiled.