Welcome to the Jungle by Matt London Page A

if it crashed into Australia.
    â€œYou have quite a lot of work ahead of you, Evelyn,” Professor Doran observed as Sprout and Rick worked with the carrying carrots to swiftly gather the supplies.
    Evie shrugged. “Having work is fine, as long as you make it fun.”
    Professor Doran shook his head in amazement. “You’re so much like your mother. That sounds like something she would say.”
    Evie glowered. “I’m nothing like my mother.”
    â€œHuh, huh, huh,” Professor Doran chuckled. “That’s
exactly
what Melinda would say.”
    When the seeds were all cleaned up, Rick and Sprout ran over to where Evie and Professor Doran were watching.
    Sprout nearly jumped out of his cowboy boots. “Prof! Prof! Rick and I just came up with a mighty fine plan.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œHe’s a genius, this one.” Sprout threw an arm around Rick’s neck. Rick grinned, looking happy to be praised. Evie scowled. Sprout was a rough-and-tumble kid, just like her. Why would he think a super nerd like Rick was cool?
    â€œSo what’s the ‘mighty fine plan’?” the professor asked.
    â€œI’m all riled up thinking about what this here super root can do,” Sprout explained. “Anchor a whole continent? Hoo-wee! I gotta see it for my own self, Prof. I wanna go with these here good folks and see the eighth continent!”
    Evie had to admit, this was the best idea she had heard in a while. They could use the help rooting the eighth continent, and truthfully, she wanted to spend more time with the wild cowboy. She didn’t think she’d ever met someone as nice or as cool as Sprout Sanchez.
    Professor Doran was, however, slightly less excited about this idea. “That is out of the question, Sanchez. I need you here with me, tending to the crops and the labs. We still have a great deal of work to do—work that will enable us to aid more good folks like the Lanes here.”
    â€œAw, well shoot, Prof. Way to call off the hootenanny.” Sprout snapped his fingers in an “aww rats” kind of way and walked off, leaving Rick, Evie, and Professor Doran behind.
    The carrying carrots loaded the last crates and sacks on the
Roost
. Professor Doran walked Rick and Evie to their hovership’s entry ramp, where he said his goodbye. “Please pass my regards on to Melinda, and your father too. I hope my seeds add beauty to your new world.”
    â€œSo do we.” Evie tried to smile, even though she was sad Sprout would not be joining them.
    â€œAnd be careful with this.” Professor Doran placed the small chest containing the super root in Evie’s outstretched hands. “Take good care of it. The Amazonian Super Root is exceptionally rare.”
    â€œI will. I promise.” Evie untied her hoodie from around her waist and put it back on, then slipped the super root into her pocket.
    â€œHey wait a minute!” Rick complained. “I’m older. I should be the one to hold the root.”
    â€œI’ve got it,” Evie said, hugging the small chest protectively.
    â€œYou’re always losing things!”
    â€œAm not!”
    â€œChildren,” Professor Doran cut in. “Surely your time is more valuable than this argument. Get going.”
    A few minutes later, Professor Doran’s botanical lab was behind them, and the
Roost
was over the Pacific Ocean on its way back to the eighth continent, its every compartment filled with Professor Doran’s many gifts.
    But then a strange noise interrupted their journey.
    Thok! Thok!
    â€œDid you hear that?” Rick asked, sounding concerned.
    â€œIt’s probably the crates of seeds sliding around the storage hold.”
    â€œThat makes sense,” he said. “But you know what, just to be safe . . .” And with that, he initiated autopilot.
    Evie tapped the communicator on the command console. “So, umm, you’re