7 Now or Never

7 Now OR NEVER "Are you sure that's Cria?" said Jack. "Yes! She's the only silver one. She's wearing a bell. And she's tiny!" said Annie. "Right, right," said Jack. "But we can't just charge over there and grab her. We need to make a plan." "Make it fast!" said Annie. "She looks tired. She can't keep up with the big llamas!" "I know. But look, they've stopped," said Jack. "Something's going on." The two royal guards had stopped on the lowest level of the plaza. Leaving the animals, the guards climbed up to the highest level. They entered a gate that

led to the largest building on the plaza. "The Royal Palace," said Jack, remembering their map. A moment later, the two men returned. Four others followed them. They also carried spears and wore helmets with feathers. "More guards," said Annie. The men were guarding a tall man who walked behind them. The man wore a cape covered with glittering jewels. Gold earrings hung from his ears. His headdress was made of coils of gold with gold feathers that looked like rays of sunlight. All the people in the plaza stopped what they were doing. Everyone stared at the glittering, golden man.

"Who is he?" whispered Jack. "Check the book!" whispered Annie. Jack pulled out their guide. He quickly found a painting that showed a man wearing the same clothes and headdress. He and Annie read together: Emperor Pachacuti ruled the Inca Empire from 1438 to 1471. The fierce

emperor was called Earth Shaker because he created the largest empire in South America. He also founded the secret city of Machu Picchu. "I get it!" whispered Annie. "They took the baby llama as a gift for Earth Shaker. We have to get her back before they give her to him." "Hold on, wait!" said Jack. "We need a plan!" "No! Now's the time!" said Annie. "He and his guards aren't paying attention to her. It's now or never! That's the plan!" Before Jack could stop her, Annie stepped out from their hiding place. "Annie!" he whispered. Annie started walking toward the llamas. Jack looked around. No one seemed to notice Annie. All eyes were on Emperor Pachacuti. High on the plaza, the emperor and his men

were talking. They, too, seemed unaware of Annie heading toward the llamas. Annie walked casually to the little silver llama at the end of the line. She patted Cria's head and whispered in her ear. Then she tried to untie her. But she seemed to have trouble with the knot. She's taking too long, Jack thought frantically. He had to help her. Jack stepped out from his hiding place and headed toward Annie and Cria. He was terrified, but he tried to walk calmly. Before he even got close, the baby llama broke free from the rope. She started sprinting across the plaza. She was heading away from Jack.

"Get her, Jack!" Annie cried. People in the plaza laughed and pointed at Cria. Some Inca children started running after her. Jack charged toward the baby llama, too. He reached her first. He grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her fuzzy silver fur. Annie caught up to them. She held Cria's little head and looked into her eyes. "It's okay…," Annie said breathlessly. "It's okay. We're taking you home to Topa." The baby llama nuzzled Annie's hand. Before Annie and Jack could whisk her away, a man shouted, "Thieves!"