Dingoes at Dinnertime - Mary Pope Osborne [7]
“Listen,” said Jack. He read:
The first people of Australia are called “Aborigines” (say ab-uh-RIJ-uh-neez). They have lived there for 40,000 years. Their myths take place in a time they call “Dreamtime.” In Dreamtime, there is a Rainbow Serpent, who sends life-giving rain.
Aborigine artists paint the Rainbow Serpent on cave walls or on pieces of bark. In special ceremonies, they sometimes honor the Rainbow Serpent by painting their handprints on the magic snake.
“See?” said Annie. “That explains everything!”
“Explains what?” said Jack.
“We put our hands on the painting of the Rainbow Serpent,” she said. “It was like a special ceremony. So the Rainbow Serpent sent the rain to put out the wildfire.”
Arf! Teddy barked.
Jack frowned.
“But it’s not a real creature,” he said. “It’s in Dream time. Not real time.”
Annie smiled.
“Then how do you explain that? ” she said. She pointed at the sky.
The rain clouds were gone. The sun had come back out.
A rainbow curved across the blue Australian sky.
“Oh, man,” whispered Jack. Though the air was warm again, he shivered.
“Teddy led us to the painting,” said Annie. “We should thank him.”
“How did he know about the Rainbow Serpent in the cave?” Jack asked.
“I told you,” said Annie. “He has a touch of magic.”
They looked down at the little dog. Teddy tilted his head and seemed to smile.
“Hey, we have all four gifts now!” said Annie.
“Oh, yeah!” said Jack.
“Let’s go home and see if Teddy’s spell is broken!” said Annie.
Arf! Arf!
Jack put the bark painting and the Australia book in his pack. Then they all headed through the wet, steamy forest in the direction of the tree house.
“I hope the tree house didn’t get burned!” he said.
They went past the clearing, past the gum trees and bushes.
The tree house was waiting for them.
“It’s still here! ” said Annie.
She grabbed the rope ladder and started up.
Jack put Teddy in his pack and followed.
Inside the tree house, Teddy wiggled out of the pack. He pawed the Pennsylvania book.
Arf! Arf!
“Okay, okay,” said Jack. He pointed at a picture of the Frog Creek woods. “I wish we could go there!”
“Over the rainbow!” said Annie.
And the wind started to blow.
The tree house started to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
“Welcome back,” came a soft, lovely voice.
Jack opened his eyes.
It was Morgan! They hadn’t seen Morgan in a long time.
“Morgan!” cried Annie.
She threw her arms around the enchantress. Jack jumped up and hugged Morgan, too.
“It’s good to see you both,” said Morgan.
Arf! Arf!
“And it’s good to see you, too,” Morgan said, smiling at the little dog.
“Look,” said Annie. She reached into Jack’s pack and pulled out the piece of painted bark. “A gift from a kangaroo.”
“We have all four gifts now,” said Jack.
“Good work,” said Morgan.
She picked up their first gift. It was the pocket watch from the Titanic.
“Once upon a time, there was a boy who wasted time,” Morgan said. “This watch teaches him that time is very precious. It must be used wisely.”
Morgan picked up their second gift, the eagle’s feather from the Lakota Indians.
“Sometimes the boy was afraid to stand up for himself,” she said. “The eagle’s feather teaches him that a small creature can be one of the bravest.”
Morgan picked up the lotus flower from the forest in India.
“Sometimes the boy did not respect nature,” she said. “This flower teaches him that nature holds many wonders.”
Morgan picked up the piece of bark with the painting of the Rainbow Serpent.
“Sometimes the boy didn’t want to study other times and places,” she said. “This painting teaches him there is mystery, magic, and wisdom in the traditions of ancient peoples.”
“What boy?” Jack asked.
“Who are you talking about?” asked Annie.
Morgan didn’t answer right away. She placed her hands on Jack’s and Annie’s shoulders.
“Thank you,” she said, “for helping this boy learn his lessons. Thank you for breaking the spell.”
“What boy?” Jack asked again.
Arf! Arf! Arrrrrrrf!
Jack and Annie looked