A Perfect Time for Pandas: A Merlin Mission

their tracks and gaped at them.
    “Hi there,” Annie called. “Can we help?”

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CHAPTER NINE
Totally All Right
    “H elicopter?” said Jack.
    “Yes, I received a call on my cell phone from the military,” said Dr. Ling. “They’re bringing medical supplies and food.”
    “That’s great,” said Annie.
    “We need to get our pandas to other reserves,” said Dr. Ling. “Until the road is cleared, we will send some by helicopter to Wolong Town. From there, a van will take them to a safe reserve.”
    “That sounds like a good plan,” said Jack.
    Dr. Ling smiled. “I am glad you think so,because I would like to ask you to accompany these three cubs on their first helicopter flight. Do you think your grandmother would mind?”
    “No problem. We’ve been in choppers before,” Annie said casually. “Antarctica.”
    “Really?” said Dr. Ling. She looked surprised. “Well, good. I’ll be right back. I need to speak to the helicopter pilot and make a quick call to our staff in Wolong Town.”
    Dr. Ling started to leave the nursery, then stopped. “Why, I just realized—I don’t even know your names,” she said.
    “Jack and Annie,” said Annie.
    Dr. Ling nodded. “Thanks, Jack and Annie,” she said, and then left.
    “This is so cool,” Jack said to Annie. “I was wondering how we’d get back to Wolong Town and complete our mission.”
    Annie smiled at Jack. “Remember—things always seem to work out when we just do the next right thing,” she said.
    “Funny how that works,” said Jack.
    “And this way, we won’t have to leave the cubs yet,” said Annie. She wiped milk off Roly’s mouth with her hand and kissed the top of his head. All three cubs had dropped their bottles and were nodding off to sleep.
    “Can you stay with the kids while I say good-bye to Bing-Bing?” said Jack.
    “Sure,” said Annie. “Say good-bye for me, too.”
    “I will.” Jack hurried out the door. He dashed along the path to Bing-Bing’s house, sidestepping rubble and glass.
    Jack found Master Lee sitting with Bing-Bing on the concrete floor. He was quietly feeding her bits of bread from a small, round loaf. For a moment, the earthquake disaster seemed far away.
    “Bing-Bing loves a snack,” Master Lee said, smiling at the panda, “even when the world is turned upside down.”
    “I know,” said Jack, kneeling beside them. “I gave her some bamboo in the woods. What’s she eating now?”
    “It’s a special treat,” said Master Lee. “Here. You can give it to her.” He handed Jack the loaf.
    The bread was very hard. Jack struggled to break off a piece. Bing-Bing opened her mouth wide, and Jack placed the bread on her pink tongue. As the giant panda chewed, she stared at Jack with her wise and gentle gaze.
    “I thought she ate bamboo,” said Jack.
    “She does,” said Master Lee. “This
is
bamboo, but it’s ground up and mixed with molasses, grains, and vitamins. It’s very healthy. We call it panda bread.”
    Jack turned his head to look at Master Lee. “And it’s baked with love?” he said.
    “Yes …,” said Master Lee, looking puzzled.
    Jack gave him a radiant smile.
    “Is everything all right?” asked Master Lee.
    “Yes. Everything’s all right,” said Jack. “Totally all right.”
    “Good … I’m glad,” said Master Lee. “It has been a very difficult day.”
    “It has,” agreed Jack. “Annie and I have to take the cubs to Wolong Town, in a helicopter. Would it be okay if I took a little panda bread with me? To show Annie?”
    “Yes, certainly,” said Master Lee. He gave Jack a small hunk of the panda bread. “But don’t try to eat it,” he said. “It’s very—”
    “Tough,” finished Jack. “I know—tough as wood.” He put the bread in his backpack. Then he stroked Bing-Bing’s fur. “Bye, beautiful,” he said. He turned to Master Lee. “Bing-Bing is really lucky to have you in her family, Master Lee.”
    The panda keeper nodded shyly. “Thank you,” he said.
    Jack and the giant panda exchanged one last look, then Jack hurried outside.
    Leaping over the rubble, Jack ran back to the nursery. On his way, he saw that the helicopter had landed on the kindergarten playground. Soldiers in green-and-tan uniforms were unloading boxes.
    Jack found Dr. Ling and Annie waiting for him.They were holding Roly and Poly. “Jack, if you take the smallest cub, I will help you all get settled in the helicopter,” said Dr.