Free Midnight on the Moon by Mary Pope Osborne Page B

going?”
    â€œMaybe a place where people train to be astronauts,” said Jack.
    â€œThat sounds neat,” said Annie.
    â€œYeah,” said Jack. He’d always wanted to meet astronauts and space scientists.
    â€œSo say the wish,” said Annie.
    Jack opened the book again. He pointed to a picture of a dome-shaped structure.
    â€œI wish we could go there,” he said.
    The wind started to blow.
    The tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster and faster.
    Then everything was silent.
    Absolutely
silent. As quiet and still as silence could be.

Jack opened his eyes.
    He looked out the window. The tree house had landed inside a large white room.
    â€œWhat kind of training place is this?” asked Annie.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Jack.
    The room was round. It had no windows. It had white floors and a curved wall lit by bright lights.
    â€œHello!” Annie called.
    There was no answer.
    Where were all the astronauts and space scientists? Jack wondered.
    â€œThere’s nobody here,” said Annie.
    â€œHow do you know?” said Jack.
    â€œI just feel it,” said Annie.
    â€œWe’d better find out where we are,” said Jack.
    He looked at the page in the moon book. He read the words below the picture of the dome.
    A moon base was built on the moon in the year 2031. The top of the dome slides open to let spacecrafts enter and leave.
    â€œOh, man—” Jack whispered.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” said Annie.
    Jack’s heart pounded with excitement. He could hardly speak. “We’ve landed inside a moon base,” he said.
    â€œSo … ?” said Annie.
    â€œSo the moon base is on the moon!” said Jack.
    Annie’s eyes widened. “We’re
on
the moon?” she asked.
    Jack nodded. “The book says the moon base was built in the year 2031,” he said. “So this book was written
after
that! Which means this book is from the
future!
”
    â€œOh, wow,” said Annie. “Morgan must have gone forward in time to borrow it from a future library.”
    â€œRight,” said Jack. “And now we’re in the future, on the moon.”
    Squeak, squeak!
    Annie and Jack looked at Peanut. The mouse was running around in circles.
    â€œPoor Peanut,” said Annie.
    She tried to pick the mouse up. But Peanut hid behind the mango on the letter M.
    â€œMaybe she’s nervous about being on the moon,” said Annie.
    â€œShe’s not the only one,” said Jack. He let out a deep breath, then he pushed his glasses into place.
    â€œSo what’s a moon base?” asked Annie.
    Jack looked at the book. He read aloud:
    When scientists visit the moon for short periods, they eat and sleep in the moon base.
    â€œA space motel!” said Annie.
    â€œI guess,” said Jack. He read more:
    The small base has a landing chamber and a room for storing spacesuits. Air and temperature controls make breathing possible.
    â€œSo that’s why we can breathe,” Jack said.
    â€œLet’s explore,” said Annie. “We have to find the fourth thing for Morgan.”
    â€œNo, first we should study this map,” said Jack. He pulled out his notebook.
    â€œ
You
study it,” said Annie.
    Jack copied the map. Then he drew in the tree house.

    â€œOkay,” he said. He pointed at the X in his drawing. “We’re
here
.”
    Jack looked up. Annie was gone.
    â€œOh, brother,” Jack said. As usual, she had left without him. Before they could even make a plan.
    Jack put the moon book and pencil into his pack. Carrying his notebook and backpack, he started out the window.
    Squeak! Squeak!
    Jack looked back at Peanut. The mouse was running back and forth on the M.
    â€œStay here and be safe,” said Jack. “We’ll be back soon.”
    Jack swung himself over the window sill. His feet touched the floor of the landing chamber.
    â€œAnnie!” he