'We'd better be careful," said Annie.
They stepped in their sock feet over the brokencobblestones, trying not to cut them-selves.
They headed down the hillside. On their way, theypassed policemen carrying stretchers with injuredpeople on them.
They passed soldiers directing all those trying toescape the fires.
One man was trying to push a piano down thestreet. Another man was wearing a bunch of hats, allpiled on top of one another. A woman carried herthree little dogs in a bag.
"Everyone's trying to save what's important tothem," said Annie.
"Like the librarian," said Jack. "And us-- we'retrying to save this sign." He clutched the piece ofwood.
When they were halfway down the hill, a soldieron a horse galloped in front of them.
"Get off the street! We're setting off dynamite!" heshouted.
"Dynamite?" said Jack.
"Yikes," said Annie.
People started running in all directions. Jack andAnnie looked around wildly for a safe place to go.
Jack saw an alley.
"There!" he said.
They ran into the alley and crouched on theground.
Jack reached into his bag for their research book.
He looked in the index for the word "dynamite." Hefound it. Then he turned to the right page numberand read:
After the fires started, the mayor had an idea. Hethought that if some buildings were destroyed, thesparks would not fly from one wooden roof to thenext. he ordered some buildings to be blown up bydynamite. His plan did not work. The firestorm ragedfrom building to building, from street to street.
Firestorm, Jack thought. The word sounded terrible.
Just as he put the book away, a huge blast ofdynamite shook the ground.
Dust and dirt flew everywhere, even down thealley.
Jack clutched their sign with one hand. He coveredhis eyes with the other. Annie did the same.
Another huge blast rocked the ground.
Jack tasted grit in his mouth. He looked at Annie.
She was caked with dust from head to toe. He lookeddown at himself. He was just as dirty as she was.
"Hey, would you look at those two!" some-one said.
"Now, that's a story!"Jack looked up. Betty, the newspaper reporter, andFred, the photographer, were standing in front ofthem.
Even though they were also covered with dirt, Fredwas setting up his camera. And Betty was takingnotes in her notebook.
Another dynamite blast shook the ground. "Comewith us! We're headed for the park!" said Betty.
"We can't. We're on our way home, to our parents,"said Annie.
"Well, get going! And be careful!" said Betty. "Let'sbeat it, Fred!"The photographer grabbed his camera equipment,and the two of them rushed off.
"I don't think Betty and Fred recognized us," saidAnnie.
"I don't recognize us," said Jack. Another blastshook the ground.
"Come on," said Annie. "Let's beat it!" Jack andAnnie jumped up. Jack put their sign in his bag. Thenthey started back down the hill. |