Jack looked up, the captain the professor and the crew memberwere all gazing out of the side silently down the water. Henry gavecaptain a salute. The captain saluted back. then everyone on boardclapped andshouted. Overhead the clouds disappeared, as if thecurtain had been pulled away from the sky. Pink red swollws lightstraight the blue. The cheery died down.
Let us disturb this water slow more. Commanded captain. Unfoldthe sails, disting up the wowlers,Henry turned to Jack and Anne,Were they prepare the ship, shall we return the shore? He asked.
Yes. Please. Said Anne.
Jack just nodded. He was totally exhausted.
As Joe and Tommy started rowing back toward land, the windshifted and died down to abreeze.
I prodict the fine night. Tonight. Said Henry. Tommy.
As tomorrow too. Said Joe.
The wind should be brisk. I go town and sail. Said TommyWhen they drew close to shore. Tommy and Joe both jumped outof the boat, splashing to the shallows, they pulled the boat ontothe beach. Jack and Anne heaped out, Henry climbed out afterthem.
Thanks. Jack said to the sailors.
Henry walked with Jack and Anne up to the dunes.
Are you sure you will be alright ? he asked. What will you do whennight comes.
Don’t worry. Said Jack . look at our parents before dark.
Luck you.. Henry said wishfully.
I wish we could back to my own family before dark.
I hope you keep having a good voyage. Said Anne .
And I hope you learn a lot. Said Jack.
Bye.
Wait. Beforeyou go, said Henry, I want to give you something.
Henry reached to his pocket of the waist and took out a beautifulnodule shell.
The real reason I ran to my lab when the storm came is to get this.
he said. I didn’t recluse it. But now, I would like togive it to you,Oh, no. Henry. You love it, you keep it. Said Anne.
I do love it. Said Henry. But I wonder want you two love it. Todayyou talked to me, no, you talked to all of us, an important lesson, it’sthe dark day in the deep sea when we caught anything creaturessofter, the professor said we can conquer fear through knowledge,but you told us that fear can wise be conquered throughcompassion. Even we scientists, must never forget to havecompassion for all living creatures. By compassion to littlecreatures, once lived in the shell. Make me very happy.
Oh, ma’am. Thought Jack.
That’s the secret.
Henry held up the gleaming nodule shell, and Anne took it fromhim.
Thanks, Henry. Anne said.
We promise we’ll take good care of it.
Thank you. SaidHenry.
He pressed his hand cross his eyes,Well, I must say goodbye now. enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Henry saluted them, before Jack and Anne could say anything, thescientist turned and walked briskly back to the rowboat.
Let’s go , Anne said toJack. Jack and Anne walked around thedunes, and headed to the sea grass to the rope ladder. When theyclimbed back to the tree house, they looked out the window, therowboat was gliding over the shimmering water of the sun lit sea ,heading back to the HMS Challenger.
Goodbye, mates! Said Jack.
Our mission. Said Anne, as if she just remember .
She looked at Jack, we didn’t discover the secret of happiness.
Yes, we did. Said Jack with a smile. Henry said it actually. Thesecret of happiness is having compassion for all living creatures.
Compassion ? said Anne.
Yeah. That means having sympathy and love for them. Said Jack.
Oh, sure. Anne said matter flakily. Loving other creatures makesme very happy. I wonder why some people don’t get that.
I don’t know. Said Jack.
Too bad to have say a mirror. First. I can octopods talking. SaidAnne.
I know you mean. Said Jack. The octopods just is the octopods, it’sthe real miracle. Anne smiled.
And Henry’s seashell. The little creature inside. And too. She said.
He was a miracle too.
She hold up the shinning shell.
Jack took the shell from her and carefully put it in his backpack, theshell will help us remember the secret of happiness. He said.
I think we always knew it. Said Anne .
Henry just put it in the woods for us . come on let’s go.
Anne picked up the Pennsylvania book and turned to the picture tothe frog creek woods.
Let me go home.
She said repeating the streaming sound of the octopods.
Jack smiled he started to tell her to say it right, but before he could,The tree house started to spin. It span faster and faster. Theneverything was still. Absolutely still.
Soft rain drops paddled against the roof of the tree house,I love been home. Said Anne.
Me too. Said Jack. With a sigh.
Jack and Anne striped on their backpack and pulled on theirsneakers, then Jack took out their research book out of his packand pulled it in the library books,All I want to do now is going to our warm dry house. And see momand dad. Said Anne.
Me too. Said Jack.
And read my new library bookslAnd eat dinner. Said Anne.
A good dinner. Said Jack. No steal biscuits and lemon juice.
He slipped on his backpack, and no peace of soup.
Peace of soup? Asked Anne.
But Jack already started down the ladder, and he read alittle more ,climbing to bed. He continued. Warm dry bed, and warm dry house.
Said Anne following him.
Yeap . said Jack. Stepping on to the web ground.
I guess the octopods want go home too.
Here I wonder what is his name.
Hmm.. said Anne.
She and Jack climbed back on their bikes,I think his name maybe...
Charles.
That sounds right. Said Jack laughing .
I wonder Charles had an octopods wife. And octopods kids,I guess he does. Said Anne.
Let’s better to get way to hold all the arms.
Jack laughedagain.
Yeah, I beg you are right. He said.
And he and Anne took off riding from frog creek woods . the rain fellharder, but it didn’t matter. They were having home. |