2 Eco-Volunteers

Chapter 2 ECO-VOLUNTEERS Horns honked. Motorcycle engines roared. Jack and Annie looked out the window. The tree house had landed in a city park. Skyscrapers towered above the trees. Buses, cars, and motorcycles moved down a busy avenue.

"Not exactly what I expected," said Jack. "Yeah, where are the marmots and red deer?" said Annie. "The rugged, open land?" "Right," said Jack. "And if we're visiting a big city, why are we dressed for the outdoors?" He and Annie were both wearing hiking shoes, cargo pants, and field vests over fleece jackets. "Good question," said Annie. Jack checked their rhyme. "Be Eco-Volunteers," he read aloud. "Hmmm…" "Maybe we're supposed to feed the birds in this park," said Annie. "Or weed the gardens."

"No, I don't think so," said Jack. "That's not much of a mission. Let's go look around." He tucked Morgan's rhyme into a pocket of his field vest. Then he and Annie climbed down the rope ladder. The wind was blowing as they stepped across the grass. They followed a short path to the busy avenue. "Hey, look! That's us!" said Annie. "What? Where?" said Jack. "There! Eco-Volunteers!" said Annie. She pointed to a minibus parked at the corner of the park. On the side it said: MONGOLIAN TOURS ECO-VOLUNTEERS "That is us!" said Jack. "Come on!" He and Annie hurried to the minibus. They stood in line behind two couples with backpacks. A girl with a clipboard was checking names off a list. She looked to be about eleven or twelve.

She had a black braid and wore a long red coat with a sash. "Okay. One bag for each couple," she said. She gave the couples tote bags that said ECOVOLUNTEERS. "Welcome aboard!" After the four volunteers had climbed into the bus, the girl turned to Jack and Annie. "Hello! I'm Tuya!" she said. Tuya had bright eyes and a big smile. "Hi! We're Jack and Annie," said Annie. Tuya looked at her list. "I don't see your names. Who are you traveling with?" "No one. Just ourselves," said Jack. "But we're definitely supposed to be on this tour." Tuya frowned. "I'm afraid the tour company made a mistake," she said. "All children must be with a grown-up." "Oh. Don't worry," said Annie. "Jack and I have been Eco-Volunteers around the world. All by ourselves." Tuya looked doubtful. "Honestly," said Annie. "We've helped rangers in South Africa save endangered rhinos." "We helped rescue an endangered tortoise from a volcano in the Pacific Ocean," said Jack.

Tuya tilted her head and grinned. "You two have great imaginations," she said. "We do. But we're actually giving you the facts," said Annie. "All aboard! Time to go!" the bus driver called. "Trust us," said Jack. "In Greenland, we saved a narwhal. And we rescued a baby llama in Peru." "No, you didn't," said Tuya, giggling. "Yes, we did!" said Annie. "And a snow leopard in Nepal! Honest!" "Okay, okay! I believe you. I do," Tuya said with a laugh. "Quick, get on the bus. Don't speak to the driver, though. I'll explain to him later. Sit in the back. Here, share this!" She handed Annie a tote bag. "Thanks!" Jack and Annie said together. And they followed Tuya onto the minibus.

Tuya sat behind the driver. Jack and Annie slipped quickly to the back. They sat in the last seat. "We made it!" said Annie, sighing. "At least for now," said Jack. Annie looked inside their tote bag. "Cool stuff," she said. "Two pairs of binoculars… T-shirts that say Eco-Volunteers… a brochure—" "Hey, can I see that?" said Jack. Annie handed him the brochure. He read aloud: