Free Polar Bears Past Bedtime by Mary Pope Osborne Page B

for another journey?”
    â€œYes!” said Jack and Annie together.
    Morgan pulled a fourth scroll from the folds of her robe. She handed it to Annie.
    â€œAfter we solve this riddle, will we become Master Librarians?” asked Annie.
    â€œAnd help you gather books through time and space?” said Jack.
    â€œAlmost … ” said Morgan.
    Before Jack could ask what she meant, Morgan pulled out a book and gave it to him. “For your research,” she said.
    Jack and Annie looked at the book’s title: ADVENTURE IN THE ARCTIC .
    â€œOh, wow, the Arctic!” said Annie.
    â€œThe
Arctic?
” said Jack. He turned to Morgan. “Are you serious?”
    â€œIndeed I am,” she said. “And you must hurry.”
    â€œI wish we could go there,” said Annie, pointing at the cover.
    â€œWait—wait a minute—we’ll freeze to death!” said Jack.
    â€œFear not,” said Morgan. “I am sending someone to meet you.”
    The wind started to blow.
    â€œMeet us? Who?” said Jack.
    â€œ
Whoo?
” said the snowy owl.
    Before Morgan could answer, the tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

The air was crisp and cold.
    Jack and Annie shivered. They looked out the window at a dark gray sky.
    The tree house was on the ground. There were no trees and no houses—only an endless field of ice and snow. Morgan and the owl were gone.
    â€œR-r-read the riddle,” said Annie, her teeth chattering.

    Jack unrolled the scroll. He read:
    I cover what’s real
and hide what’s true.
But sometimes I bring out
the courage in you.
What am I?
    â€œI’d better write it down,” said Jack, shivering.
    He pulled out his notebook and copied the riddle. Then he opened the book. He found a picture of a barren white field. He read aloud:
    The Arctic tundra is a treeless plain. During the dark winter, it is covered with snow and ice. In early spring, snow falls, but the sky begins to get lighter. During the summer season, the snow and ice melt and the sun shines 24 hours a day.
    â€œIt must be early spring now,” said Jack. “There’s snow, but the sky is a little light.”
    He turned the page. There was a picture of a man wearing a hooded coat with fur trim.
    â€œLook at this guy,” said Jack. He showed Annie the picture.
    â€œWe need his coat,” said Annie.
    â€œYeah,” said Jack. “Listen to this … ”
    He read aloud:
    This seal hunter wears sealskin
clothing to protect him from icy winds.
Before modern times, native people
of the Arctic lived by hunting seals,
caribou, polar bears, and whales.
    Jack took out his notebook. He wrote:

    He was too cold to write any more.
    He clutched his pack against his chest and blew on his fingers. He wished he were back home in bed.
    â€œMorgan said someone was coming to meet us,” said Annie.
    â€œIf they don’t come soon, we’ll freeze to death,” said Jack. “It’s getting darker and colder.”
    â€œShh. Listen,” said Annie.
    A howling sound came from the distance … then more howling sounds … and more.
    â€œWhat’s that?” said Jack.
    They looked out the window. Snow was falling now. It was hard to see.
    The howling grew louder. It was mixed with yipping and yelping noises. Jack and Annie saw dark shapes coming through the snow. They seemed to be running toward the tree house.
    â€œWolves?” said Annie.
    â€œGreat. That’s all we need,” said Jack. “We’re freezing, and now a pack of wolves is coming for us.”
    Jack pulled Annie into the corner of the tree house. They huddled close together.
    The howling got louder and louder. It sounded as if the wolves were circling the tree house. They whined and yelped.
    Jack couldn’t stand it any longer. He grabbed the Arctic book.
    â€œMaybe this can