The Law of the Jungle - Animal Metamorphosis (5)

Author: K.A. Applegate
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Andalites have always strived to prevent the Yeerks from secretly infiltrating Earth, but they were too late. Now, the Yeerks haveed into every corner of human society, with numerous human controllers. They have police, teachers, soldiers, journalists, and even mayors. They are everywhere, and from an appearance alone, it's hard to tell them apart. Five human teenagers must do everything they can to fight the Yeerks while also struggling to conceal their true identities. If they are harmed, all hope for humanity will be lost, and the future of Earth will be unimaginable. But Marco, a member of the Animorphs, has always been resistant to his own animal morphing abilities. He just wants everyone to lose hope so they can leave this dangerous life as and live normal lives. Jake, Rachel, Cassie, and Tobias know why Marco feels this way. Two years ago, his mother's disappearance shattered his father, and if anything happens to him now, his father, his only family, will completely break. However, one day, something accidental happens, and Marco's life changes forever in Chapter 10: Ants, which was Cassie's idea. Ants. Yes, ants can get into Chapman's basement. Ants can carry away small transmitters. Ants. How am I so unlucky. We spent two hours discussing whether to morph into red ants or black ants. In the end, I angrily left. I don't want to become an ant, red, black, or any other kind of insect. The next day, I met Jake at school. I had just finished history class and failed a small test. I wasn't in a good mood. I was opening my locker, muttering about the Mexican-American War. Who can remember the difference between that war and the Texas Independence War? "Hey," Jake said, "the answer is black. Tobias has studied the ants around Chapman's house, and they're all black." I glanced behind Jake to make sure no one nearby was eavesdropping. "Jake, I don't want to be an insect. I've already been a gorilla, a fish eagle, a dolphin, a seagull, a salmon, and maybe a lobster. I might have forgotten something. Being a gorilla was fun, being a fish eagle was fun, being a dolphin was fun. Ants? Not fun. Becoming an insect is a terrible idea." Jake shrugged and said, "I've been a flea, and that wasn't anything special." He smiled, as if he had made the funniest joke in the world. Then he added, "Actually, it wasn't that bad. I couldn't see anything, I could barely hear anything, I only had a sense of vibration. All I knew was that I liked warm bodies, and when I got hungry, I'd poke a small hole in warm skin." This made him a little uncomfortable. "Well, that was Rachel's blood, I guess. I mean, cat blood, but the cat Rachel turned into." "Jake, have you heard yourself?" "I try not to think about it," he admitted, "but look, we want to give Ax a chance to go home, right? If he stays here, he'll put us in danger. Let's let such a huge Andalite run around Cassie's farm. What if someone sees him? All the controllers will know who he is, and they'll wonder how he got on Cassie's farm." I nodded. "Yes, you're right. But that day, I almost died, I almost got boiled alive. I know you're a big hero, but I'm not." I took out a book from my locker and slammed the door shut, walking down the hallway the other way. Jake followed behind me. I didn't plan to say anything, but then I suddenly asked him, "Do you know what day next Sunday is?" "Sunday? I don't know, what day is it?" "Two years ago, next Sunday will be two years since my mom died. I don't know what to do for her memorial. I don't know if I should talk to my dad about it or just let it go. But I'm sure that if I die this week, it won't be a good time." I kept walking, but Jake didn't follow anymore. Two years ago. That day, my mom sailed out of the dock and into the raging sea. No one knew why she did it; she had never done that before. We always went out together as a trio. That night, after the big wind died down, they found her ship stranded on the rocks. The ship was already completely wrecked. My mom was gone, leaving only a frayed safety rope. They didn't find her body. The Coast Guard said it wasn't strange, the sea was just too big. The universe is the same, a voice in my head told me. Somewhere far, far away, a parent is worried about their child. For a long time, I made up stories about how my mom escaped, maybe she was on a deserted island. But I think I'm a realist. After a while, I accepted that fact. Sometime later, Ax's parents will also accept him and his brother, Prince Elfangor, and never come back. They will realize that they have been lost in the universe forever. Lost in the fight to defend Earth and its people. To help us. I saw Cassie and her friends walking ahead. When she saw me, she just gave me a small smile. We agreed not to be too affectionate at school, so no one would think that I, Jake, Cassie, and Rachel often hung out together. As I walked past her, I whispered, "Tell Jake I'm in." Sometimes, I really hate having a conscience.
Cultural Notes:
Coast Guard – A guard force within the navy or police responsible for coastal rescue, smuggling prevention, etc. The United States has coast guards patrolling its main coastlines day and night to protect the safety of those at sea, inspect smuggling ships, protect the natural environment, and maintain port order. During natural disasters like storms, the Coast Guard also has functions such as rescue and disaster relief. P95-99