Chapter 6: Under the Moon

"Good grief," breathed Lincoln. "That family has problems," said Lori. "Maybe we should help them," said Lucy. "No, we can't," said Lincoln. "Right now we have our own problems," said Lisa. "We have to start working on our mission," said Lori. "Darn, I should have asked Nan's dad about the artists in the palace," said Lincoln. "I think he's too upset to think about that now," said Lynn. "You're right," said Lori. "So we need to find some friendly people who work here and ask them," said Lincoln. "Let's go look for help," said Lana.

As Lincoln and his 10 sisters started toward the door, Nan rushed into the room again. "Has Wolfie come back?" she asked frantically. "I'm afraid not," said Luna. "Oh, dear. Papa will die if Wolfie doesn't return soon!" said Nan, near tears. "Can you help me find him, please?" she asked. "Well, we'd really like to," said Lincoln. "But-" "Please!" said Nan. "Please!" she said again. Lucy sighed. "Okay," she said. "Sure," said Lincoln. "Thank you!" said Nan. "The palace is very large," she said. "I'll go this way, and you go that way," said Nan. "Surely one of us will find him!" she said as she hurried out of the room.

"I'll bet I know where Wolfie is," said Lola. "The garden, remember he kept talking about the garden?" said Lola. "Oh, yeah," said Luan. "I think the garden is below that terrace where I went after everyone laughed at me," said Lincoln. "Let's like go check," said Leni.

Lincoln led his 10 sisters back through one of the elegant palace rooms and into the party room. Everyone was still seated, eating dinner and talking loudly. No one noticed as Lincoln and his sisters hurried through the double doors and slipped into the room off the terrace. Lincoln opened the door, and he and his 10 sisters stepped outside. The air was chilly, but it felt good. Lincoln pulled off his hat and his wig. He gave his head a good scratch.

Lori looked down at the moonlit garden. "Do you think that's the garden Wolfie was talking about?" asked Lori. The silver light of the full moon shone on a large square with flower beds and fountains. Woods bordered the square. Crickets sounds filled the night. "Probably," said Lana.

"Wolfie!" said Lincoln and his 10 sisters. There was no answer. "Let's go down and look for him," said Lynn.

Leaving his wig and hat behind, Lincoln and his other 9 sisters followed Lynn down the stone stairway. As they started across the square, a strange sound came from the woods: AI-YEE!

"What was that, dudes?" asked Luna. Two creatures scampered out from the trees. "Ahh!" said Leni. "Don't worry," said Lana. "It's just a squirrel and a cat," said Lana. The squirrel dashed over the flower beds and disappeared. The cat ran after it.

"Yeah, but what was that noise from the woods?" asked Lincoln. "I've never heard a squirrel or a cat make a sound like that," said Lori.

Another sound came from behind the trees: WHOOP-WHOOP-WHOOP! "What was that?" asked Lola. "An owl maybe?" said Lana. "I've never heard an owl make a noise like that!" said Lynn. "Have you?" she asked. KER-LOO, KER-LOO! "Yikes, what was that?" asked Leni. "I don't know, those woods sound like a jungle," said Luan.

"Wolfie!" said Lincoln and his 10 sisters. There was no answer. Wind shook the treetops. The cricket chirps grew louder. "This place feels really weird," said Lucy. "Let's go back inside," said Lincoln. "I don't think Wolfie's out here," said Lori. "Wait a minute," said Lana. "I think I just heard him," she said.

Lincoln and his sisters listened. A faint little cry came from the woods: "Lincoln and your 10 sisters!" "Wolfie is out there!" said Lola. "Wolfie!" she cried as she hurried into the woods followed by her 9 other sisters. They hurried across the square and disappeared down a path that led into the woods. "My sisters, wait!" Lincoln called. He started after her, but then-

WHOOP-WHOOP-WHOOP! Lincoln froze. He was sure the whooping sound wasn't coming from an owl. EEE-EEE! Was that my sisters screaming? Lincoln wondered. "My sisters!" he yelled. He dashed across the moonlit garden and ran down the path to the woods. He stopped between the trees. "My sisters?" he called again.

EEE-EEE! Something leaped down from a tree branch and landed on the path. "Ahhh!" said Lincoln, jumping back. It looked like a baboon! EEE-EEE! The baboon bounded away!

KER-LOO, KER-LOO! Lincoln looked up. Overhead a huge crane glided through the air. KER-LOO, KER-LOO!

AI-YEE! A crowned peacock stood in the moonlight, fanning its green and gold tail feathers. What's going on? Lincoln thought. This is crazy! Lincoln thought. AI-YEE! the Peacock cried again.

Lincoln heard a rustling in the bushes. Something was moving through the woods, grunting, snorting, and growling. A huge bear lumbered onto the moonlit path! Standing on its hind legs, the bear looked about ten feet tall. It growled.

"Hi?" Lincoln croaked. It stepped toward Lincoln, raking the air with its huge claws. Lincoln began backing away. Then he turned and ran as fast as he could. As he wound his way between the trees, he could hear the bear crashing through the woods behind him.

WHOOP-WHOOP-WHOOP! A dog-like animal bounded across Lincoln's path. Lincoln recognized it. It was a laughing hyena-a creature he and his 10 sisters had seen on the plains of Africa! What's going on? Lincoln wondered again. Where are these animals coming from? he thought.

"Lincoln!" yelled his sisters. "Over here!" they said. They were hiding behind 9 trees. Lincoln ran over and crouched beside them He could hear the bear growling and thrashing through the brush.

"A huge bear's chasing me!" said Lincoln. "I know, he was chasing us, too!" said Lana. "I saw a baboon, a hyena, and a crane!" sputtered Lincoln. "What's happening?" he asked. "I don't know," whispered Lori. "Look, dudes!" said Luna.

From behind the trees, they watched an ostrich prance through the moonlight. Behind the ostrich, a gazelle stepped softly over the path in the woods, looking from side to side. Then the peacock strutted back into sight, fanning its luminous feathers.

"It's like a zoo in these woods," said Luan. "Oh, wow, that's it!" said Lola. The zoo, that's where they're from!" said Lana. "But zoos have cages!" said Lisa. "The animals don't just roam around free!" she said.

"Lincoln and your 10 sisters!" Wolfie's voice was close by. "That's Wolfie again!" said Lucy. "Oh, wow, I'll bet Wolfie like let the animals out of their cages," said Leni. "Help!" Wolfie called. "Oh, man, that kid's crazy," said Lincoln. "I know, but we have to help him!" said Lori.

Lincoln and his 10 sisters crept from their hiding place and walked cautiously down the path. "Lincoln and your sisters, help me!" cried Wolfie. Lincoln and his sisters kept going, stepping in and out of the shadowy moonlight.

Suddenly, Lola gasped and pointed. Wolfie was sitting in the crook of a tree up ahead. A large spotted animal was crouched below him. "A leopard!" whispered Lincoln. The Leopard looked up at Wolfie and growled.