Ch7-The Forest-of-Walking-Trees

CHAPTER SEVEN The Forest-of-Walking-Trees Annie gasped, then burst out laughing. Heart-of-the-Wind laughed, too. "Yes, it is wonderful news! I am glad it makes you happy," she said. "When the sun rises tomorrow, we will leave the City of Dawn and start the long journey back to Palenque. It will take us many moons to get there." "But—but why me?" asked Jack.

"My father believes you are the answer to his prayers," said Heart-of-the-Wind. "He can see you have many things to teach our people." "No, no I don't," said Jack. His words spilled over each other. "I don't know how to farm, I'm not an astronomer or a pyramid builder, I don't know anything about your Mayan calendar—" He stopped to catch his breath. "My father will teach you these things," said Heart-of-the-Wind. "And you will teach us about the wonders in your—what did you call it?" "Travel guide," said Annie. "Yes," said Heart-of-the-Wind, "the wonders in your travel guide." "No, I can't," said Jack. "I don't know how to make any of those things myself, like planes, submarines, skyscrapers, or computers. We live in a world with lots and lots of things, but we have to go to school and study for many years to understand how they work." "Besides, my brother and I really need to go back to our own parents in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania," said Annie.

Heart-of-the-Wind looked confused. "Would your mother and father not think it a wonderful honor for Jack to be the next Great Sun of Palenque?" "They might," said Annie, "but they would miss us too much if we came to live with you." "That's right," said Jack. "We do lots of things with our parents. We have dinner and play games and read books." "And talk and laugh," said Annie. Heart-of-the-Wind lowered her head. "I have lost my own mother," she said. "We talked and laughed together, too. I miss her very much." "So you understand?" Annie said softly. "We would miss our parents terribly. And it would break their hearts if we left them alone. We have to go back home." The Mayan girl looked at Jack and Annie for a long moment. Then she nodded. "Yes. You must go back to your true mother and father," she said. "But I fear my father will not understand."

"So could you help us get back to the cove on the beach?" asked Jack. "So we can cross the sea back to Cozumel? And then go home?" "To our mother and father," said Annie. Heart-of-the-Wind took a deep breath. "Yes, I will help you. I will take you to the shore," she said. "Even though it will make my father sad." "Thank you!" said Jack. "At this time, there are watchmen on the wall," said the Mayan girl. "But I have discovered a hidden way to get to the sea. In the weeks we have stayed here, I have often slipped away at night to explore the forests or swim in the waves." "Wow, you're brave," said Annie. "I like the freedom of the dark," the Mayan girl said. "I can lead you wherever you want to go." "That's great!" Jack said. "There are still guards outside the door," said Heart-of-the-Wind. "I will hold their attention while you climb out the window. Wait for me at the wall where we first met." "Got it," said Annie.

"Stay in the shadows," the Mayan girl said. "Be as quiet as cats." Then she slipped out the door, closing it behind her. "Let's go!" said Annie. "Wait," said Jack. "Let's take off our shoes. They make too much noise." Jack and Annie pulled off their flip-flops and stuffed them in the bag. Barefoot, they stepped to the window. Annie climbed out first. "Take this," Jack whispered. He dropped the bag into Annie's waiting arms. Then he jumped silently to the ground. He could hear voices coming from the other side of the stone building: Heart-of-the-Wind and the guards. Jack and Annie crept away from the House of Columns, moving through the shadows. The night was eerily still, as if everyone in the City of Dawn had disappeared until sunrise. When they reached the break in the stone wall, they crouched down and waited for Heart-of-the-Wind. Jack saw the silhouettes of the guards standing on top of the wall. He counted four watchmen with bows and arrows facing the sea.

The Mayan girl suddenly appeared before them. Jack hadn't seen or heard her approach. "Follow me," she whispered, and she led the way through the narrow opening in the wall. Once they had all squeezed through, Heart-of-the-Wind surprised Jack by turning away from the sea and heading down through thick vegetation growing on the northern slope of the bluff. Jack and Annie followed her down the hill. Prickly bushes and shrubs scratched Jack's bare legs and feet, but he didn't stop. He wanted to be as fleet as Heart-of-the-Wind. At the bottom of the hill, the Mayan girl waited for Jack and Annie to catch up. "To return to the beach, we must first travel through the Forest-of-Walking-Trees," she said. "Forest-of-Walking-Trees?" said Annie. "That sounds cool. But sort of scary." "Do not be afraid," said Heart-of-the-Wind. "They are very kind trees." Jack laughed. "I like kind trees," he said. "Me too," said Annie.