Free Night of the Ninjas by Mary Pope Osborne Page B

spine.
    Jack went over to the book and picked it up. He held it near the window. Light from the setting sun was golden on the page.
    Jack stared at the picture on it. In the picture were trees with white flowers. The trees were on the side of a mountain. Near a wide, rushing stream.
    Two people were also in the picture. They wore dark clothes. They had black scarves over their faces. And long swords strapped to their backs.
    â€œOh man,” whispered Jack.
    â€œWho are they?” Annie asked.
    â€œNinjas, I think,” said Jack.
    â€œNinjas? Really?” said Annie.
    â€œMorgan must have left the book open to this page for a reason,” said Jack.
    â€œMaybe that’s where she was when the spell got her,” Annie said.
    â€œOr maybe that’s where the four things are,” said Jack.
    â€œLet’s go!” said Annie.
    â€œNow?” said Jack.
    â€œYes, Morgan’s in trouble! She needs us
now
!” said Annie.
    â€œBut we should read this book first,” said Jack. “So we’ll be prepared.”
    â€œForget it!” said Annie. “Every minute counts!” She grabbed the book from Jack.
    â€œGive it back,” he said. “We have to find out about this place.”
    Annie held the book out of reach. “We’ll find out when we get there,” she said.
    â€œWe don’t even know where
there
is!” Jack said.
    But Annie pointed at the picture. “I wish we could go here,” she said.
    The leaves of the oak tree began to shake.
    Squeak!
    â€œDon’t be scared, Peanut,” said Annie. She scooped up the mouse. Then she put it in the pouch of her sweatshirt.
    The wind began to blow.
    It blew harder and harder.
    The tree house started to spin.
    Faster and faster!
    Jack squeezed his eyes shut.
    Then everything was still. Absolutely still.
    Except for the sound of rushing water.

Jack opened his eyes.
    Annie was already looking out the window. The mouse peeked out of her pouch.
    Jack looked out the window, too. The air was fresh and cool.
    The tree house was in a tree with white flowers. The tree was in a grove of trees on the side of a mountain. Nearby a wild stream rushed downhill.
    Two ninjas were standing on rocks near the water. They were staring at the valley below.
    One ninja was tall. The other was short. They wore black pants and shirts. They had black scarves around their heads. And swords strapped to their backs.
    It was exactly like the picture in the book.
    Jack crouched below the window.
    â€œBe careful,” he whispered. “Don’t let them see you.”
    â€œWhy not?” Annie whispered back.
    â€œThey might think we’re some kind of enemy,” said Jack quietly.
    Annie crouched beside him.
    Jack pushed his glasses into place.
Now
he was going to look at the ninja book.
    He picked up the book. He turned to the beginning. He read:
    Very little is known about the shadowy warriors called ninjas. Historians believe that ninjaslived in Japan between the 14th and 17th centuries. Both men and women were ninjas. Sometimes they fought to protect their families. Sometimes warlords hired them to be spies.
    â€œWow,” whispered Jack. “We’re in Japan, hundreds of years ago.”
    Jack opened his backpack. He pulled out his notebook and pencil. He liked to take notes. He wrote:

    â€œJack,” whispered Annie. “They’re looking up. I think they know we’re here.”
    Jack peeked over the windowsill. His eyes met the dark eyes of the tall ninja.
    â€œ
E-hy!
” the ninja cried. He dashed toward the tree. The other ninja followed.
    â€œOh no!” said Annie.
    â€œWe’ve got to go!” Jack said. “Where’s the Pennsylvania book?”
    He and Annie looked around wildly.
    But where was the book about Pennsylvania? It had the picture of the Frog Creek woods in it. Jack and Annie couldn’t get home without it.
    â€œIt’s not anywhere!” cried