PART 3
Nan skipped down the path which led to the brook. The object of her quest was now in sight: a tree, twisted and broken, but still standing.
She reached the gnarled base, careful not to trip on some partially-exposed roots. Gazing upward along the trunk bedecked with fungus and moss, she eyed the treasure at the top. The large bird's nest was still there, as it had been since last year, tucked in between two forking limbs. What species of bird had built it was unknown to Nan, but it would make an exquisite addition to Dan's collection of nature's curiosities.
Nan reached up and grasped a low-hanging limb. She lost her grip as the rotted bark broke loose, crumbling in a cascade of wood chips. She grabbed the limb again, determined to pull herself up.
With a little exertion, Nan was able to raise up high enough to place one foot on a protruding knob of bark. She hoisted herself up to a thick horizontal limb and was now able to stand up, precariously balancing on the weathered wood. From this vantage point she surveyed the situation.
"Easier than I thought," she told herself, for she saw a progression of practically straight limbs which formed an almost perfect ladder.
Branch by branch she scaled the old dead tree. Soon the nest was within her reach. Nan stretched out her arm and was able to dislodge it. She peered into it, finding fragments of egg shells. The construction of the nest fascinated her, for she saw that the bird had included pieces of string which most likely belonged to that kite she had lost last summer.
Marveling at the makeup of the nest, she failed to notice a soft groaning sound, following by a brittle cracking. Before she could react, the branch fell from beneath her.
Nan gasped and tried to scream, but could not utter a sound. The entire world metamorphosed into a waking nightmare of branches that flew in all directions, limbs that seemed forever just inches beyond her grasp, and a spinning, dizzying descent. The ground was suddenly right in front of her face. She slammed into the sandy soil, stirring up twigs and dust and dead leaves, then rolled, ending up on her back.
Through half-closed eyes, Nan saw the sky as a gradually darkening ceiling. A faint ringing sound was coming from somewhere; the clouds spun into a blurry dark gray. The last thing she recalled was the distant splashing of the brook.
Then blackness washed across the landscape.
Nick and Dan walked along a path, each scouting opposite sides of the trail.
"It'll be dark soon," said Nick, glancing at the reddening horizon. "We'll probably hafta get the lanterns."
"Yeah," Dan muttered, not really paying attention to Nick's words.
"You're really worried about Nan, aren't you?" asked Nick.
Dan stopped and turned to Nick. "Why would she run away?"
"Don't know," he said. "Was there some kinda trouble in school today?"
"No," Dan replied. "At least not involving Nan."
Nick was curious. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Jack and Emil were teasing Nat again," Dan explained. Callin' him a coward."
"What was it about this time?" Nick sighed.
Dan related the incident. "I was doin' my acrobatic act like I used to do on the streets. I got mad when they said Nat was too chicken to flip over the fence like I did, and told them to prove their bravery and climb the old dead tree and bring me back the bird's nest from the top..."
Nick stopped Dan. He could see that the boy was getting agitated. He looked him straight in the eye. "Was Nan there when all this happened?"
"Uh... yes. Yes! She was!" Dan recalled. "She was with Bess and they saw the whole thing."
Nick's eyes brightened. "Dan," he said. "I think you just told me where we can find her!"
PART 4
