05 Night Walk

Chapter 05 Night Walk “ Uh-oh, ” said Jack. “ What is it?” “ I know how to escape the tiger, ” said Annie. “ Our book said tigers don’t attack elephants, right?” “ Yeah, ” said Jack. “ So we should travel through the forest on the back of an elephant, ” said Annie. Jack nodded slowly. “ That is a cool idea, ” he said. “ But—” “ No buts. I’ll get on first, ” said Annie.

She climbed down the tree until she was close to the elephant’s back. She carefully lowered herself off a branch. When her feet rested on the elephant’s back, she let go of the branch. Then she slowly sat down. The elephant let out a low rumbling sound and shifted her weight. “ Don’t worry, it’s just me, ” Annie said softly. She patted the huge creature’s back. “ Thanks, Saba. ” “ Saba?” said Jack. “ That’s her name, ” said Annie. “ She just told me. ” “ Yeah, right, ” said Jack. Arf! Arf! barked Teddy. “ Come on, Jack, ” said Annie. “ It’s not scary. ”

Jack sighed and slowly climbed down the tree. When he was above Saba, he lowered himself off the branch. He put both feet on the elephant. Then he carefully sat down in front of Annie.

Saba rumbled again. “ Tell her not to worry, ” said Annie. “ Pat her head. ” “ Don’t worry, Saba, ” Jack said. He patted the elephant’s head. Her skin was rough and wrinkled.

The elephant curled her trunk back and rested it on Jack’s head. “ Hi, ” he said in a small voice. Saba flapped her ears. Kah and Ko swung to the ground in front of Saba. They chattered at her. She waved her trunk at them. The langurs began bounding through the forest. Saba followed. The rest of the herd followed in line. Saba walked with a calm, rolling motion. Jack felt as if he were riding over ocean waves. A full moon was rising above the trees. “ Where are we going?” Jack asked. “ Just relax, ” said Annie. “ Kah and Ko know where to go. ”

Arf! Arf! Teddy barked from Jack’s backpack. “ You relax, too, ” Jack said to the little dog. Fireflies blinked. The moon lit a path between the trees as the elephants marched on. From a distance came a low growl. Is that the tiger? Jack wondered. The elephants paid no attention. They kept walking through the warm woods. They marched slowly under hanging vines and through misty clearings. Kah and Ko bounded ahead of them, two moon shadows leading the way. “ We’re going far from the tree house, ” said Jack. “ Don’t worry, ” Annie said. Suddenly, a long roar split the night.