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[Assistant] A gust of dry wind carried petals from cherry trees through the air. The long branches of the willows swayed over the grass.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie began heading east, keeping their eyes and ears open for more people.


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[Assistant] They walked past flower beds and big rocks. They walked around a pond with swans. They started down a narrow lane between blossoming cherry trees. Just as they came out from under the trees, Jack and Annie saw four men strolling toward them. One man was shorter and older than the others. He wore a straw hat and a tattered brown coat and used a walking stick.


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[Assistant] The other three had shaved heads with top knots, and two swords hung from each of their belts. Samurai, whispered Jack. Yikes, said Annie. Run, said Jack.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie turned around and started running back down the narrow lane. Jack heard the men running after them. Halt, cried a samurai. Jack grabbed Annie's hand and they stumbled to a halt.


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[Assistant] Out of breath they turned to face the three samurai who were rushing toward them. Who are you? One of the samurai barked. He was holding up his sword. Why do you run from us? Are you spies?


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[Assistant] Just as Jack was about to answer, he heard a voice shout, Baku! Koto!


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[Assistant] The man with the walking stick and straw hat was hurrying toward them.


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[Assistant] Baku Koto, what are you doing here? He called out to Jack and Annie. Why did you not wait for me at the bridge?


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[Assistant] Chapter 3. Bajo. The three samurai turned to the man with the walking stick. You know them, master? One asked.


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[Assistant] Yes, of course, the man said. This boy and girl are Bako and Koto, my best students.


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[Assistant] Hi, Master, said Annie, pretending she knew who the man was. We couldn't find the bridge, so we, uh, we, we came here to look for you, said Jack. And now you have found me, said the man. I am sorry you were frightened by my friends. The samurai put away his sword. Forgive me, he said bowing before Jack and Annie. Sure, no problem, said Annie. The samurai turned to the small man.


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[Assistant] Thank you, most honored Master, for your visit with us today.


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[Assistant] All three warriors bowed deeply before the man, then they walked away.


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[Assistant] Why did the samurai call the small man most honored master? Jack wondered.


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[Assistant] When the samurai were gone, the man turned to Jack and Annie, his eyes twinkled. I believe you are safe now, he said. Thanks, said Annie. But I'm afraid we're not Baku and Koto. No, you are not, said the man. But you are not spies either, are you? No, said Jack. I did not think so, said the man. That is why I thought you needed my help. Thank you, said Jack.


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[Assistant] You are most welcome, said the man. Now perhaps you will tell me who you really are and how you came to be here in the Imperial Garden. Our names are Jack and Annie, said Jack. And we, he paused.


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[Assistant] It seemed impossible to explain. Teddy and Kathleen's visit, Merlin's sorrow, Morgan's research book. We came here to search for a secret of happiness, said Annie. The man smiled. I believe that is something we all seek, he said. But you must be very careful, Jack and Annie. The Shogun does not allow foreigners into our country. If you do not have passports, you could be caught and punished.


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[Assistant] We know, said Annie, what should we do? Perhaps you should travel with me today, said the man. You can continue to be my students, Baku and Koto. Good plan, said Jack. You must remember, seek harmony with your surroundings, said the man. Observe the people of Edo and do as they do.


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[Assistant] Seek harmony with your surroundings. Observe the people of Edo and do as they do. Jack repeated to himself. Come, said the man. He started walking briskly through the garden. Jack and Annie hurried after him.


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[Assistant] Excuse me, but what's your name? Annie said. My friends call me Basho. The man answered. Basho, that's a cute name, said Annie. Why did the samurai call you most honored master? Asked Jack. Because I am their teacher, said Basho. What do you teach them? Asked Jack. Basho smiled.


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[Assistant] Today they learned how to listen to a cricket in a wood pile, he said, and how to think like a frog. Cool, said Jack.


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[Assistant] Those must be warrior skills, he thought. Special ways to listen for an enemy or jump around with a sword.


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[Assistant] He remembered how ninjas used secrets of nature to fight their enemies.


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[Assistant] Basho led Jack and Annie through a wooden gate and a high wall.


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[Assistant] They walked over a wide stone bridge that crossed a moat.


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[Assistant] When they came to the other side of the bridge they followed a path that led to a small boat dock on a river.


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[Assistant] Three fishermen were loading wicker baskets into a long flat-bottomed boat. Hundreds of shiny little fish were inside each basket. Basho walked over to the fisherman. Good morning, he said. Good morning, Master Basho, the fisherman said. All of them bowed. Everyone seems to know Basho, Jack thought. May my students and I ride with you down the river, asked Basho.


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[Assistant] Oh yes, of course, Master Basho, one of the men said. We would be most honored to carry you in our humble boat. Thank you, said Basho.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie followed Basho onto the deck of the boat and sat next to the wicker baskets.


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[Assistant] One of the fishermen untied the boat, and the others used long poles to push it away from the dock. The men began pulling down the river.


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[Assistant] The fishing boat floated under a series of bridges, moving in and out of shadows and glittering light.


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[Assistant] One of the fishermen called to Basho. The river is very shallow.


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[Assistant] There has been no rain for a long time, said another fisherman. It is very worrisome to us.


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[Assistant] Yes, it worries me too, said Basho. What's everyone so worried about? Annie asked Basho.


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[Assistant] When the weather is very dry, the people of Yidu worry about fire, said Basho.


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[Assistant] Twenty-five years ago, during a dry spell, half our city was destroyed by a terrible fire. Thousands died. Oh, that's awful, said Annie.


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[Assistant] Yes, since then everyone has worked hard to rebuild the capital, said Basho. Ido is now even more beautiful than before.


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[Assistant] In fact, along this riverbank are many new castles of the samurai. See? There one hides now.


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[Assistant] Basho pointed at a steep rocky cliff above the riverbank.


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[Assistant] Jack shaded his eyes as he looked at the curved roof and high stone walls of a samurai castle.


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[Assistant] Its largest room is called the Thousand Matt Hall, said Basho. What does that mean? asked Jack.


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[Assistant] It means the room can hold a thousand floor mats, said Basho. Cool, said Annie. Basho, where do you live? Basho smiled.


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[Assistant] My castle is on the other side of the great bridge, he said. Jack wondered how many mats Basho's castle could hold. Beyond the steep cliffs the boat traffic grew heavier. Now there were many boats floating on the wide river.


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[Assistant] big sailboats barges loaded with lumber and ferries filled with passengers holding parasols


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[Assistant] The fishing boat glided toward a crowded dock next to a market.


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[Assistant] Thousands of gleaming fish were laid out on tables.


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[Assistant] Men and women also sold fish and other sea creatures from baskets that hung from poles across their shoulders.


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[Assistant] Shrimp, tuna, octopus, eel, they shouted.


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[Assistant] Wait for us while we deliver the fish, Basho said to Jack and Annie. Then we will travel further on the river. The fishermen tied up the boat.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie waited on the landing as Basho helped the crew unload the wicker baskets. Then each man put a basket on his head.


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[Assistant] And started up the stone steps that led to the fish market. No, said Annie. Look. She pointed toward the other end of the dock. Jack looked. He saw several samurai getting off a boat. Quick, grab a basket, he said. Jack and Annie each picked up a basket of fish. As Jack tried to lift the basket to his head, he tilted it. A couple of fish hit him on the nose as they fell to the dock. Leave them, come on, whispered Annie.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie followed Basho and the fishermen up the steps and delivered their fish to a young woman at one of the tables. Jack glanced back at the river. The samurai were standing on the landing, checking someone's passport. Jack looked at Basho. Basho was watching the samurai, too. He turned to the fishermen. Thank you for the ride, he said calmly, bowing to the men. We will walk from here. The fishermen nodded and smiled. Good plan, Jack thought, relieved.


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[Assistant] Come, said Basho. He led Jack and Annie away from the market. Soon they came to a busy road.


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[Assistant] Crowded with pedestrians and travelers on horseback. As they walked along with the crowd, Jack remembered Basho's words. Seek harmony with your surroundings. He tried to blend in by walking at a steady pace. Keeping his eyes down, he worried about their mission. How will we ever find the secret of happiness, he wondered, if we have to keep dodging the samurai? Look at that bridge, said Annie. Jack glanced up.


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[Assistant] A high arched bridge spanned the river. Hundreds of people were walking across it. That is the great bridge, said Basho. It will lead us away from the heart of Ido to the bank of the Sumida River where I live. Great, said Jack.


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[Assistant] He hoped they would be safer away from the heart of Edo. Then maybe they could focus on their search for the secret. Jack, Annie, and Basho joined the crowd crossing the bridge. They walked single file close to the wooden railing. Jack stared straight ahead, careful not to look anyone in the eye. He saw people having picnics on the other side of the bridge. Kids were flying red kites. What's that mountain? said Annie.


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[Assistant] She pointed to a snow-capped mountain looming in the distance. The white cone of the grey mountain rose above fleecy, rose-tinted clouds. That is a volcanic mountain called Mount Fuji, said Basho. I've heard of Mount Fuji, said Jack. That's the highest mountain in Japan, right? Yes, and the most beautiful, said Basho. It is beautiful, said Annie. Jack looked around. Actually,


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[Assistant] He thought, everything seemed beautiful at that moment.


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[Assistant] The green and yellow parasols of the ferryboat passengers below. The pink cherry trees shimmering at the river's edge.


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[Assistant] The red kites and white seagulls gliding through the sky. I love Japan, Jack said softly. I do too, said Basho. We call our world the floating world, for it seems to float on beauty. It really does, murmured Jack.


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[Assistant] Walking across the great bridge, he felt as if he himself were floating through the floating world.


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[Assistant] Basho led Jack and Annie off the Great Bridge and down a crowded road. They passed huge stacks of lumber.


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[Assistant] Then they came to a row of stages built along the riverbank.


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[Assistant] Musicians played on a second stage. They plucked three-stringed instruments and blew on bamboo flutes. Their music was high-pitched and strange, but Jack liked it.


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[Assistant] On another stage was a puppet show. Puppeteers wearing black clothes moved a giant dragon puppet around the stage. A man stood to the side and told a story to the audience. From the back of the crowd, it was hard to hear him. What's he saying? said Annie. He is telling the legend of the Cloud Dragon, said Basho.


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[Assistant] The cloud dragon is one of the guardian animals of the four directions. She has the power of flight and commands the rain clouds. Cool, said Annie.


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[Assistant] Basho led them on past rows of stalls, where craftspeople sold beads, cloth, kites, and paper lanterns. Some boys were holding up yo-yos for sale. Jack was surprised to see yo-yos in old Japan.


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[Assistant] Beyond the craft stalls was a row of inns and cafes.


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[Assistant] The smell of spices and grilled fish filled the air. Yum, said Annie. Jack was hungry too. Would you like to stop at a teahouse? Basho asked them. Yes, Jack and Annie said together. Basho led them toward a small building with an open front. At the entrance, Basho slipped off his sandals. Jack and Annie did the same.


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[Assistant] They placed their sandals in a row of shoes that other people had left by the door. Inside the tea house.


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[Assistant] Cook stirred steaming pots over a wood-burning stove.


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[Assistant] People sat at long, low tables eating with chopsticks and drinking from small cups. Several customers smiled shyly and bowed before Basho. Basho must be a really famous teacher of the samurai, thought Jack, and made Jack feel important to be with him. Basho led them to a table and sat cross-legged on a straw mat. Jack and Annie did the same.


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[Assistant] A waiter with a kerchief around his head hurried to the table.


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[Assistant] Welcome to our humble tea house, Master Basho, he said. Thank you, said Basho.


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[Assistant] The waiter handed Jack, Annie, and Basho warm, wet towels. Thank you, said Jack and Annie. Jack watched Basho wipe his hands on the towel.


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[Assistant] He and Annie did the same, then they all gave their towels back to the waiter.


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[Assistant] I would like plates of sushi for me and my two students, please, said Basho. Thank you, said the waiter bowing.


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[Assistant] While they waited for their food, Jack studied the people in the room.


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[Assistant] Soon the waiter brought over three plates of small cakes of sticky rice wrapped in dark green paper-like strips. He also brought napkins and three pairs of chopsticks. When the waiter had gone,


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[Assistant] Basho spoke to Jack and Annie in a soft voice so no one else could hear. We call this sushi, he said. It is rice with pieces of raw fish in the middle. Raw fish, said Jack. He gulped. And what's this part? Annie pointed at the papery wrapping. Seaweed, said Basho. Seaweed, said Jack. It is very good, said Basho.


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[Assistant] Jack was so hungry he was willing to try anything, even raw fish and seaweed. His only problem was the chopsticks. Try it this way, Jack, said Annie.


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[Assistant] Without thinking, he grabbed it with his fingers and popped it into his mouth. Mmm, said Jack.


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[Assistant] The vinegar tasting rice, the raw fish, and the green salty seaweed were delicious. But Jack stopped and mid chew. Two samurai at another table were glaring at him.


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[Assistant] One of the men had a big scar on his face. The other had fierce, dark eyes. Jack's throat was dry as he swallowed. They saw me mess up with my chopsticks, he thought. They can tell I'm not from Japan. He picked up another piece of sushi with his chopsticks. He glanced again at the samurai. They were watching him like hawks. Jack's hand felt shaky. He tried to stay calm. He remembered a passage from their research book. Samurai did not show their feelings.


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[Assistant] They had great powers of concentration. Chat tried very hard not to show his fear.


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[Assistant] He concentrated on holding the sushi with his chopsticks. He raised the sushi to his mouth and ate it calmly. He lowered his chopsticks and picked up another piece of sushi. He ate it calmly. When Jack looked back at the samurai they were no longer watching him. Jack let out his breath.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie did the same. Basho paid for their meals.


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[Assistant] A large ring had been marked off on the ground with straw. In the middle of the circle, two enormously fat men squatted at opposite sides of the ring.


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[Assistant] Each man looked as if he weighed more than 400 pounds.


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[Assistant] They clapped their hands, then each began stomping his feet. Who are they, said Annie, her eyes wide. Sumo wrestlers, said Basho.


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[Assistant] Sumo wrestling has been our most popular sport for over a thousand years. The two wrestlers were now perfectly still, crouching down with clenched fists. They were glaring at one another. The whole crowd seemed to hold its breath as the wrestler stared into each other's eyes. Suddenly, one wrestler lunged forward and grabbed the other.


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[Assistant] Grunting and groaning, the two men moved backward and forward as spectators cheered wildly.


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[Assistant] Two samurai stepped in front of them. One had a big scar on his face. The other had fierce dark eyes. Excuse me, the scar-faced man said. May we see your passports, please?


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[Assistant] Basho stepped forward. When the two samurai saw him, they bowed. Good afternoon, master, one said. Good afternoon, said Basho. These are my students, Koto and Baku. I'm afraid they left their passports at home today.


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[Assistant] They are your students? said the samurai with the scar.


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[Assistant] Yes, excellent students, said Basho. They have much natural talent. Ah. The two samurai looked at Jack and Annie with interest.


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[Assistant] Will you share your talent with us? One asked, smiling. What talent?


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[Assistant] Jack wondered frantically. Some samurai wore your talent? Basho saw Jack's confusion. Perhaps you would each recite one of your poems, he said. One of our poems? Squeaked Jack.


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[Assistant] What kind of samurai talent is that? He wondered. Do samurai warriors have to know poems? Sure, said Annie. Here's a poem. She took a deep breath and then recited.


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[Assistant] Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. The samurai with his scar nodded. Very good, Koto, he said. The little star twinkles like a diamond.


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[Assistant] The other samurai closed his eyes as if he were seeing the star. Yes, yes, very good, he said. A sparkling diamond high above the world. Excellent. Both samurai then turned to Jack. And you, Baku? One said. Jack stared at them.


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[Assistant] He couldn't remember any poem, not even a nursery rhyme. Uh, a poem. Right, said Jack. Uhm, let's see. Okay, he took a deep breath and said, I love Japan. Man, I really love Japan. The land of Japan is cool. Jack bit his lip. He knew his poem was bad.


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[Assistant] He glanced at Annie. She looked as if she were trying not to laugh. The dark-eyed samurai turned to Basho. An excellent student, he said. Basho nodded. Well, yes, Baku has a, a special talent. He needs work, but the talent is there. The samurai frowned. You say he left his passport at home, Master Basho? Where is his home?


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[Assistant] Just then the drumbeat started again. The samurai turned to look. A new sumo match was beginning. The two samurai moved closer to the ring to get a better look. Basho turned to Jack and Annie. We should leave now, he said calmly. I will take you to my home, where you will be safe. Jack, Annie, and Basho quickly left the sumo crowd and blended in with shoppers walking down a busy street.


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[Assistant] Peddlers carried long poles over their shoulders with baskets swinging on the ends. They shouted about their wares. Shoes and socks, cakes and pastries, rope and twine. One woman had a large box strapped to her back. Books, books, she shouted.


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[Assistant] No thank you, said Jack. He loved books, but he kept going. He was afraid the samurai might show up again at any moment. A boy carried birdcages and shouted, Birds! Birds!


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[Assistant] Suddenly Jack felt a hand on his shoulder. He nearly had a heart attack, but it was just Basho. I live that way, said Basho pointing over the bridge.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie walked with Basho over a small narrow bridge that crossed the canal. Basho led them past a temple.


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[Assistant] Little children were spinning tops on the dusty ground. One called out, Hello, Master Basho. Basho smiled and waved. Then Jack and Annie walked with Basho along the dirt path bordering the river. Tall pine trees lined the riverbank.


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[Assistant] He looked for a steep roof and high stone walls like the castles of the samurai. Through the deepening shadows of twilight, Basho led them to a clearing not far from the river.


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[Assistant] At the center of the clearing was a pond overgrown with weeds. On the far side of the pond moss-covered stones led to the door of a tiny hut.


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[Assistant] The hut was made of bamboo and had a roof of wood shingles.


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[Assistant] Next to the small hut was a large plant with droopy green leaves. Welcome to my castle, said Basho.


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[Assistant] In my heart, my humble cottage is grander than all the castles of the samurai, he explained.


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[Assistant] And my banana tree is more beautiful to me than all the beauty of the imperial garden.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie stared at the large plant with the long droopy leaves.


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[Assistant] I like this tree so much, I have taken my name from it, said Basho. Basho means banana tree. Cool, said Annie. She looked around. It's nice here. Not really, thought Jack.


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[Assistant] He picked up a bundle of wood then ducked through the low door that led into his hut.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie took off their shoes, too, and followed Basho into a small shadowy room. Basho opened his shutters to let in the evening air. Please sit, he said. Thank you, said Jack and Annie. Jack looked around the room for chairs, but there weren't any. The only furniture was a low wooden table and a bamboo chest. Three straw mats covered the earthen floor. Jack and Annie sat down on one of the mats. Basho lit a small oil lamp.


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[Assistant] Then he made a fire in his fireplace. I will prepare tea for us, he said. Rest while I draw water from the river.


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[Assistant] He picked up one of the two wooden buckets near the door and headed outside. When Basho was gone, Jack and Annie looked at each other. I guess this is a three-matte house, said Annie. Jack nodded. You'd think a famous teacher of the samurai would have a hundred-matte house, or at least a fifty-matte house, he said. I like this house, though, said Annie. It's cozy. I wonder who Basho is exactly, said Jack.


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[Assistant] By the light of the crackling fire, he looked up Basho in the index. He is here. Jack turned to the right page and read aloud. Basho is one of Japan's greatest poets.


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[Assistant] He wrote short, beautiful poems that speak to people as clearly today as they did during the Edo period of Japan. Basho's a great poet, said Annie. That explains everything. Sort of, said Jack. It explains why we had to recite poems to the samurai.


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[Assistant] Listening to the soft rushing sounds of the river outside.


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[Assistant] Jack started to feel peaceful for the first time all day. When the water was hot, Basho poured some into each of the tea bowls. Then he handed the warm bowls to Annie and Jack. Thank you, said Annie. Thank you, said Jack. You are welcome, said Basho. Jack carefully took a sip from the steaming bowl. The green tea tasted bitter, but he didn't mind it. Hmm, interesting taste, said Annie.


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[Assistant] Basho, Jack was wondering, if you're a famous poet, why do you live in such a dinky house? Annie, said Jack, embarrassed. She's kidding, I wasn't really wondering that. Basho laughed. Long ago, I dreamed to be a samurai, he said. But I was not happy. All I wanted to do was write poetry. A poet does not need to live in a castle. A poet needs to live with the wind and the clouds.


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[Assistant] Here I have a small garden and my banana tree. I have the sound of the river all day long. Here I have everything I need to write my poems. What do you write about? Asked Annie. Small things, said Basho. A crow picking snails out of the mud, a woodpecker hammering a tree, pine needles scattered by the wind. A poet finds beauty in all the small things of nature.


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[Assistant] Yes, the samurai greatly honor the art of poetry, said Basho. Poetry helps focus the mind. The samurai believe a truly brave warrior should be able to compose a poem even in the midst of an earthquake or while facing an enemy on the battlefield. Can you say one of your poems for us? Asked Annie. Let me think, said Basho. Well, I was working on a new poem yesterday.


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[Assistant] He took a small piece of delicate paper from the box and read aloud. An old pond, a frog jumps in, the sound of water. Basho looked up at Jack and Annie. Hm, said Jack, nice beginning. It is not just the beginning, said Basho. It is the whole poem, a small moment in time. I think it's great, said Annie.


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[Assistant] I love frogs. Your boy makes me love them even more. Would you read it again, please? Jack said. He felt like he must have missed something. Bajo read again. An old pond. A frog jumps in. The sound of water. Jack nodded thoughtfully. Good, he said. It's really good.


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[Assistant] And he meant it. The poem made him feel as if he himself had been right there, by that pond, hearing the frog splash into the water, breaking the silence.


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[Assistant] If you like it, you may have it, said Basho. He handed the paper to Jack. Thanks, said Jack. As he put the poem in his bag, a bell rang softly in the distance. Ah, the temple bells, said Basho. He stood up.


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[Assistant] It is time to rest. I will take a mat and sleep outside. I enjoy sleeping under the stars. And now because of the poem you recited today, Annie.


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[Assistant] You can stay inside and cover yourselves with these mosquito nets, said Basho.


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[Assistant] He pulled some nets from the bamboo chest and handed them to Jack and Annie. But do not worry. In my small house, there are only small mosquitoes.


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[Assistant] Not giant ones like those in the Imperial Palace. Jack and Annie laughed at Bosho's joke. He gave a net to each of them.


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[Assistant] Then he picked up one of the mats from the floor and pulled it outside, closing the door behind him. The fire in the fireplace had died down. The light from the oil lamp had nearly gone out too.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie lay on the straw mats and covered themselves with the mosquito nets. A cricket chirped on the hearth. Jack noticed a patch of light on the floor. He realized it was moonlight coming through the open window. Jack reached out from under the net and put his hand on the square of pale moonlight. He could hear the rustling of the banana plant and the breeze. Half asleep,


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[Assistant] He imagined himself swaying with its long broad leaves. This dinky hut is much nicer than a castle, Annie murmured. I feel like we're tiny crickets going to sleep. Yeah, I feel like I'm holding moonlight in my hand, said Jack. And like I'm a banana leaf dancing in the wind. Sounds like a poem, said Annie. Yeah, maybe I should write it down, said Jack.


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[Assistant] Chapter 7. Clang, clang, clang. Clang, clang, clang. Jack opened his eyes. The sound of bells filled the night.


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[Assistant] Basho was standing in his yard looking at the dawn sky. It was black with smoke. The bells kept clanging. Is there a fire? asked Jack. Yes, said Basho.


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[Assistant] It must be very big, for the bells do not stop ringing from the watchtower. This is what we have feared most. I must go and help the firefighters. We'll help too, said Jack. No, stay here, said Basho.


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[Assistant] He pulled on his socks and sandals, then grabbed a wooden bucket by the door.


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[Assistant] If the fire gets close, wade into the river where you will be safe. But we want to help, said Annie. Yes, wait for us, said Jack. He and Annie pulled on their socks and sandals.


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[Assistant] Come then, said Basho, but if the fire begins to spread you must promise to return here to the river. We promise, said Annie. Then bring the other bucket and follow me, said Basho. I'll get it, said Jack.


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[Assistant] He hurried into the hut and grabbed the wooden bucket by the hearth. It was heavy even without water in it.


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[Assistant] Jack hugged the bucket to his chest and rushed back outside. Jack and Annie followed Basho through the pine forest.


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[Assistant] They passed a farmhouse where two small children stood outside looking at the fiery sky.


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[Assistant] Our father says the lumberyard near the river is burning. The boy shouted to Basho.


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[Assistant] He has gone to help fight the fire, said the girl. Great piles of wood are burning.


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[Assistant] The fire bells kept clanging as Basho, Jack, and Annie rushed past the temple and across the narrow footbridge.


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[Assistant] They hurried up the winding dirt path until they came to the shopping market.


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[Assistant] In the smoky red dawn, people were pushing carts piled high with goods. They were running away from the fire.


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[Assistant] But Bajo, Jack, and Annie ran toward the fire. The air grew hotter and smokier near the teahouses and the performance stages. Sparks flew through the sky. Tiles on rooftops were catching fire and crashing to the ground.


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[Assistant] Basho led Jack and Annie farther through the smoke until they came to the lumberyard. The fire roared as it burned to piles of logs. Flames rose high into the sky.


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[Assistant] Firefighters were passing buckets of water up a line from the river to the fire.


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[Assistant] Others waved huge fans to beat back the windblown flames, while the most daring worked with hooks and axes trying to separate the burning timber.


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[Assistant] Help the bucket brigade, Basho said to Jack and Annie. Get water from the river.


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[Assistant] Basho rushed to help the men beating back the fire with fans while Jack and Annie hurried down to the river. Jack filled their wooden bucket. With water inside, it was so heavy he couldn't lift it. Do it together, said Annie. Right, said Jack. Using all their strength, Jack and Annie carried their bucket up the bank of the river.


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[Assistant] They gave their bucket to the person at the end who gave them an empty bucket. Get more, he said.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie hurried back to the river with the empty bucket. They filled it with water and then struggled back up the bank.


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[Assistant] Over and over, Jack and Annie hauled buckets of water back and forth from the river to the line of firefighters. Everyone worked hard to battle the great blaze, but the flames kept shooting into the sky.


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[Assistant] Eventually the fire leapt over the river and timber on the far bank began to burn.


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[Assistant] Oh no, cried a woman, all of Edo will catch fire now.


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[Assistant] The rice storage houses will burn down, said a man. The harvest will be destroyed.


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[Assistant] Several people began weeping. Jack felt like crying, too. Right in front of his eyes, the beautiful floating world of Ido was about to go up in flames. This is hopeless, he said to Annie.


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[Assistant] Of course, cried Jack, but it's in my bag, back at Bajo's house. We have to get it, said Annie. She shouted to Bajo. Bajo, we're going back to your castle.


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[Assistant] Yes, run for safety, called Basho. Jump into the river. Right, cried Jack. Be careful, Annie shouted to Basho.


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[Assistant] Then she and Jack started running as fast as they could. They raced past the market. They ran across the footbridge, past the temple, and the farmhouse, and through the grove of pines to Basho's house.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie ran inside the tiny hut. Jack grabbed his bag and pulled out the wand. He waved it through the air. Do something to make the fire stop, he shouted. Jack held his breath and waited.


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[Assistant] Let me try, said Annie. She took the wand and waved it. Stop the fire over Edo now, she shouted. Jack and Annie waited again. It's not working, cried Jack. We must be doing something wrong. But this is for the good of everyone, said Annie. I know, I know, said Jack.


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[Assistant] And we've tried our hardest, said Annie. Everyone has.


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[Assistant] Five words, said Jack. We have to use five words. Oh, right, said Annie. She waved the wand through the air again. Put out the fire, she yelled. One more word, cried Jack. Please, shouted Annie. Jack and Annie were blasted by a blinding light.


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[Assistant] An icy wind blew, the air was crystal clear, early sunlight flashed on rock. Jack and Annie were standing on the ledge of a mountain.


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[Assistant] Chapter eight, in the red dawn. Are you, are you okay? Annie asked Jack. She was still holding the wand. Her pig tails blew in the bright wind. Yeah, yeah, but what happened? Said Jack in a daze. He was freezing and out of breath. Where are we? I don't know, whispered Annie.


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[Assistant] Jack shielded his eyes from the brilliant light of the red dawn and looked around.


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[Assistant] Pink clouds floated through the air like piles of cotton candy, through a gap in the clouds.


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[Assistant] He saw hills shrouded in black smoke below. Beneath the smoke, flames rose from the city of Ido. I think we're on Mount Fuji, said Annie. Mount Fuji, said Jack. That's crazy, why are we here? He stopped to catch his breath. He felt dizzy and lightheaded. Ido's burning, we should be there. Maybe the wand didn't understand, said Annie.


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[Assistant] Suddenly, a great mass of thick clouds piled up, ringing the mountaintop like a wall.


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[Assistant] The clouds swirled and whirled and tumbled. They changed color from rose to gold to gray to white. What's going on? cried Jack. The head of a gigantic monster rose from the bubbling clouds. Ah, Jack and Annie screamed. They grabbed each other and crouched down on the rocky ledge.


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[Assistant] The monster had spiky eyebrows and long curled whiskers. It had the horns of a deer, the forked tongue of a snake, and the fiery breath of a dragon.


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[Assistant] Through the swirling clouds, Jack and Annie could see the dragon's snake-like body curling through the clouds and down the mountainside. Its back was covered with shiny scales. Its spine had a row of shark-like fins. The dragon reached out its claws. They were like the claws of an eagle, only a thousand times bigger. The claws gripped the side of the mountain. Jack made himself as small as he could. He covered his head, but Annie jumped to her feet.


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[Assistant] I get it, she cried. I know what's happening. Thank you for coming. Annie get down, Jack shouted.


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[Assistant] Jack is the cloud dragon, said Annie.


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[Assistant] The puppet show, remember, the wand sent her here. What? Why? cried Jack.


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[Assistant] She makes rain. Don't you remember? Rain, cried Annie. She commands the rain clouds. The dragon lowered her giant head, stretching it over the mountain ledge.


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[Assistant] Her scales glittered honey gold in the dawn light. She was still, very still, as if she were waiting for something. Come on, we have to climb on her back, shouted Annie. Why, cried Jack. We have to go with her, said Annie.


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[Assistant] The wand brought us to the dragon, now it's up to us to show her what to do. Okay, okay, said Jack. Annie climbed onto the back of the cloud dragon.


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[Assistant] She sat between two of the dragon's shark-like fins. Jack climbed on behind her.


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[Assistant] He gripped the fin in front of him as if he were holding on to the horn of a saddle. Fly over the fire, yelled Annie. Make rain. Lots of it, shouted Jack.


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[Assistant] The cloud dragon slid off the mountain ledge.


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[Assistant] Jack trembled with cold as the monster slithered through the freezing sea of clouds like a snake through the grass.


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[Assistant] Above Edo, Jack looked down, billowing black smoke and red flames shot into the dawn sky. Now, rain now, Jack said. The cloud dragon reared back her head. Great black clouds flowed from her mouth. The clouds spread across the sky. There was a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning. Then rain began to pour down on the city. The dragon twisted her head this way and that.


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[Assistant] More clouds blew from her mouth and more rain fell on the burning city of Ido.


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[Assistant] As the dragon slithered through the sky, breathing out mountains of storm clouds, rain fell on the flat lands of the rice fields, on the imperial garden,


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[Assistant] The samurai castles, the fish market, and the great bridge.


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[Assistant] Rain fell on the floating world of inns and stages, tea houses, temples and farms. Rain fell on the lumber yard and the pine forest and the canals.


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[Assistant] Slowly the rain washed away all the smoke and flames. Even after the fires of Edo no longer flickered, the Cloud Dragon


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[Assistant] Falling steadily, soaking the gardens and fields, filling the shallow rivers and dried up ponds. The fire's out! Jack shouted.


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[Assistant] Take us to Bashos! Annie yelled to the dragon. The cloud dragon twisted her giant body. She slid through the dark clouds.


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[Assistant] Then she reared up until Jack and Annie couldn't hold on any longer and they were falling backward, somersaulting through the air. Splash! Splash!


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[Assistant] Jack sank to the bottom of the river. He flailed his arms and struggled to the surface.


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[Assistant] His head bobbed up. He spewed out water and gasped for air. He had lost his glasses. He dove back down and grabbed them from the river bottom, then swam back to the surface.


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[Assistant] They had lost their socks and sandals. Their silka monos clung to their bodies. Dripping wet, they gasped for breath and looked up at the sky. Big drops of rain splashed on their faces.


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[Assistant] There was no sign of the cloud dragon, but the cool rain kept falling, bathing the floating world of Ido.


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[Assistant] We asked the cloud dragon to take us there, so I bet she did. Come on, let's find Basho. Jack and Annie stood up and started walking along the edge of the river.


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[Assistant] They walked barefoot through the mud under dripping trees. Hey, there's the clearing said Annie.


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[Assistant] Rain was falling on the charred ruins of Basho's house. The shinkled roof and the bamboo walls of the little hut had burned and collapsed. Where's Basho? said Jack, scared. There, said Annie.


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[Assistant] The famous poet sat on a log next to his banana tree in the gray rain. His clothes were blackened, his face was covered with soot. He clutched his writing box. Pasha! yelled Annie.


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[Assistant] Bajo looked up, a smile crossed his dirty weathered face.


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[Assistant] I looked for you by the river but didn't see you, he said. I am glad you are safe. We're glad you're safe too, said Jack. But your castle, your castle burned down, said Annie. Yes, it burned before the miracle of the rain, said Basho sighing. Jack and Annie sat on the log next to him. Through the smoky drizzle they all stared at the rubble. Trees and plants dripped with rain, a pigeon cooed.


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[Assistant] For a long moment no one spoke, then Annie broke the silence. I'm glad you still have your banana tree, she said. I like the sound of the rain falling on the leaves. Basho looked up but didn't say anything. Yeah, and I like the sound of the river, said Jack. It's louder now since the rain came.


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[Assistant] Basho tilted his head as if listening to the rain and the leaves of the banana plant and to the steady rushing sounds of the river. His face softened. Yes, I like those things too, he said. He held up his wooden box, and I still have my poems. Don't worry, Basho, said Annie. Everything can be built again. And your castle will be even more beautiful than before, said Jack. Basho smiled.


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[Assistant] I suppose that is why the ancients called our fires the Flowers of Ido, he said. What do you mean? asked Jack. After something is destroyed by fire, a good new thing often takes its place, said Basho. Just as after the bleakest winter, beautiful flowers return with the spring. I'm sure you'll make many beautiful flowers, said Annie. Thank you, said Basho.


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[Assistant] I am sorry though that you and Jack will not have a place to stay now. Don't worry, said Annie. We have to travel back to our own house. How far away is that? Asked Basho. Very far, said Annie. She and Jack stood up. But we just need to get back to the Imperial Garden. We'll know the way from there. Good, said Basho. He stood up. Come, I will accompany you back to the garden.


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[Assistant] Thanks, that would be great, said Jack. Basho picked up his walking stick. Then he led Jack and Annie along the bank of the river. Through the light drizzle, they saw a ferry boat moving upstream. Basho waved, and the pilot steered the boat to shore. Jack and Annie followed Basho onto the ferry. The three of them sat together on a wooden bench. The other passengers stared at them.


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[Assistant] Jack was relieved to see that no samurai were on board. Greetings, Master Basho, the pilot said. The other passengers nodded respectfully to Basho. They smiled as if the presence of the great poet gave them hope. The rains were a miracle, were they not, Master Basho? An old woman said. Indeed they were, said Basho. I guess the cloud dragon showed up just in time, said Annie. Annie?


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[Assistant] Whispered Jack. Basho smiled at her.


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[Assistant] I am afraid no one believes in the Cloud Dragon anymore, Annie, he said. But it is lovely to pretend, is it not? Yes, it is lovely, said Annie. The rain stopped as the ferry boat traveled on up the river.


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[Assistant] When they passed the tea houses, Jack and Annie saw firefighters cleaning up after the fire, sweeping up broken tiles, and scrubbing the walkways. Waiters were bringing them tea.


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[Assistant] The sun was shining by the time they passed the puppet stage in the charred lumberyard.


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[Assistant] Whisps of smoke still rose from the black piles of burned logs.


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[Assistant] The ferry boat floated on through the bright morning. It glided under the great bridge and passed the crowded fish market. Fishermen were hauling in their catch from the night before. By the time they moved past the samurai castles and came near the moat of the imperial gardens,


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[Assistant] The sun had completely dried out Jack and Annie's kimonos. The boat pulled up to the landing. Basho helped Jack and Annie onto the dock. He waved goodbye to the boat passengers. Jack, Annie, and Basho walked over the stone bridge that crossed the moat. They walked through the massive gate in the high wall.


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[Assistant] Then they followed the paths of the Imperial Garden around the big rocks and the pond with the swans.


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[Assistant] Jack kept an eye out for horses and samurai warriors, but the garden was as peaceful as when they had first landed. It was filled with birdsong.


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[Assistant] The willow swayed, water from the waterfall tumbled into the green pool.


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[Assistant] Jack caught sight of the sun shining on the tree house high in the cherry tree. Jack stopped walking. We know our way home from here, he said to Basho. Are you certain?


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[Assistant] Asked Basho, he did not seem to notice the treehouse and the cherry tree. We're sure, said Annie, once we start on our way the trip will be easy. Basho nodded.


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[Assistant] You remind me of the famous saying of the samurai, Masashi, he said.


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[Assistant] A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. I've heard that saying before, said Jack. Words can outlive their creators, said Basho.


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[Assistant] Though I will never be so lucky as to have mine outlive me. Don't be too sure of that, said Annie. Basho gave them a little smile. I hope you both will return to Edo someday, he said. Look for me when you come back. I should have a lovely new castle on the river by then. Thanks, said Jack. Goodbye, said Annie. They both bowed to Basho.


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[Assistant] Bajo bowed to them, then the great poet turned and left them.


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[Assistant] Jack and Annie watched Basho until they could no longer see him. Then they turned to go. Just as they started walking, a man stepped out from the shadows of the garden. The man wore a blue coat and two swords hung from his belt. Excuse me, said the samurai. May I see your passports, please?


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[Assistant] Chapter 10, Journey of a Thousand Miles. Jack couldn't speak. Our passports? Said Annie. They, uhm, they got destroyed in a fire on the other side of the Great Bridge. The samurai narrowed his eyes. Your passports burned? He said. Why were you on the other side of the Great Bridge? We were with Master Basho, said Jack.


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[Assistant] Master Basho, said the samurai. Yes, said Annie. We are students of his. Ah, the samurai's expression brightened. So you study poetry with Master Basho? Yes, said Annie. Would you like to hear some poems? No, thought Jack, not again. Yes, please, said the samurai. No problem. Annie thought for a moment and then said, here's a simple little poem.


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[Assistant] She recited, rain falls outside, but the tiny cricket on the hearth is dry tonight. The samurai nodded, hm.


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[Assistant] He said, yes, very simple, but very lovely. Thank you, said Annie. The man turned to Jack. Jack could hardly breathe. His mind was blank. He looked to Annie for help, but Annie just smiled, waiting to hear his poem. Jack cleared his throat. He tried to stay calm. He closed his eyes.


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[Assistant] And let his mind roam over their visit to Japan. He opened his eyes. He looked up at the cloudless sky and said, the sun is shining. The day is hot.


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[Assistant] But moonlight and cool breezes still fill my heart. Leftover from last night.


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[Assistant] Oh, whispered Annie, good. Yes, very good said the samurai. He looked at the sky.


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[Assistant] The moonlight, the cool breeze, he mused, left over from the night. Very good, Master Basho has taught you well. The samurai strolled away, shaking his head and murmuring to himself. He let out a happy laugh, as if delighted with the day. Jack couldn't believe it, they were free. Hurry, let's go, he said, before someone else sees us.


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[Assistant] As soon as they climbed inside the treehouse, Jack grabbed the Pennsylvania book. He found a picture of the Frog Creek woods. As the famous samurai once said,


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[Assistant] A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, said Jack. Or one sentence, said Annie. Right, said Jack. He pointed at the picture. I wish we could go home. Annie gasped. Wait a minute, she said. We forgot our mission. What, said Jack.


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[Assistant] But the wind started to blow. The treehouse started to spin. It spun faster and faster. Then everything was still. Absolutely still.


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[Assistant] The early morning air was cold Jack and Annie were back in Frog Creek


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[Assistant] wearing their own clothes Jack's burlap bag was a backpack again


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[Assistant] We didn't look for a secret of happiness from Merlin. How could we forget that? Oh man, said Jack.


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[Assistant] We were so busy worrying about the samurai and putting out the fire that we forgot our mission.


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[Assistant] What will Morgan say? said Annie. We've never forgotten a mission before, and this one was the most important we've ever had to help save Merlin. Annie was near tears. Wait, wait, calm down, said Jack.


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[Assistant] Let's think a minute. Maybe we actually found the secret of happiness. Maybe we just don't know we found it. You mean like, were we extra happy at any time? asked Annie. Yeah, sort of, said Jack. Were we? I don't know, were you? said Annie. I think a few times, said Jack. Like when? said Annie.


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[Assistant] Like when we were crossing the great bridge with Basho, I felt sort of happy then, said Jack. Me too, said Annie, and I was pretty happy eating sushi. Yeah, but I got scared when I saw the samurai watching me, said Jack. What about the sumo wrestling match, asked Annie. That was fun, said Jack, but I don't know if it really made me happy. Riding the dragon and putting out the fire, said Annie.


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[Assistant] That was great, said Jack, but I was too worried about saving the city to be happy. Making up poems for the samurai, said Annie. Too nervous, said Jack. Well when were you purely happy, said Annie. I think it was when.


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[Assistant] Jack stopped. He felt silly saying what he was about to say. Go ahead, said Annie.


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[Assistant] I think it was when I was lying on the mat in Basho's house, said Jack.


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[Assistant] And I touched that little patch of moonlight on the floor and I listened to the banana leaves in the wind. Oh yes, said Annie, before we fell asleep.


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[Assistant] And I heard the cricket, and I felt like I was a cricket myself going to sleep in a cozy place. Yeah, like that, said Jack.


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[Assistant] It's like what Basho said about finding beauty in the small things of nature, said Annie, like his poem about that frog splashing in the water. I think that's it, said Jack, a secret of happiness.


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[Assistant] Is paying really close attention to the small things in nature. Wow, said Annie. I think that's a great secret to share with Merlin. It is, said Jack. And Bosch's poem will help Merlin understand. Right, said Annie. Let's go, said Jack. Annie climbed down the rope ladder. Jack put his pack on his back and followed her.


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[Assistant] As Jack and Annie started through the chili woods together, Jack noticed things he hadn't seen before.


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[Assistant] He saw tiny blue wildflowers sprouting up from the winter weary ground. He saw fresh anthills in the dirt.


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[Assistant] He saw leaf buds on twigs and green moss on a rock bright in the March sunlight. I feel like I'm seeing spring for the first time, said Jack. Me too, said Annie. Not just for the first time this year, said Jack, but for the first time in my whole life. Me too, said Annie. Jack felt happy, really happy, as he and Annie headed for home


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[Assistant] We hope you have enjoyed this unabridged production of Magic Treehouse Merlin Missions book number nine, Dragon of the Red Dawn. This program was directed by Lewis Milgram, executive producer Orly Moskowitz.


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[Assistant] Text Copyright 2007 by Mary Pope Osborne Production Copyright 2007 Penguin Random House LLC All rights reserved.


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[Assistant] Yes, of course. Go straight ahead, cross the road and go past the sweet shop. Then you'll see a park. There is an ATM in the bank next to the park.


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[Assistant] The father walked into the woods to ponder their problem.


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[Assistant] After hours spent wandering through the trees, he encountered two shadowy silhouettes. The first appeared to be the man's god.


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[Assistant] Both figures offered to lighten the man's burden and act as godfather to his most recent child. But the man refused their offer. He wouldn't entrust his son to those who passed judgment on human life.


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[Assistant] He ventured deeper into the tangled thicket. Here, in the darkest part of the woods, the Father made out a third figure. The sunken eye stared out of its gaunt face, but broke into a crooked smile. This was Death himself, come to offer his services as Godfather.


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[Assistant] He promised to return when the child came of age to bring him happiness and prosperity.


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[Assistant] The father, knowing that all people are equal in the eyes of death, accepted his offer.


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[Assistant] Years later, when the child had grown into an ambitious young man, his skeletal godfather came for his promised visit.


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[Assistant] In his gnarled hand he held a flask containing the cure for all human ailments.


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[Assistant] Death had brought this flask for his godson, promising to make him a successful doctor, but the powerful potion came with very strict rules. If his godson encountered a sick person and Death was hovering at the top of their bed, the doctor could heal them with just a waft of the antidote's fumes. But if Death lingered at the foot of the bed, he'd already claimed the patient as his own, and the doctor could do nothing for them.


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[Assistant] The doctor swept into the palace ready to show off his skills. But when he entered the king's chamber...


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[Assistant] He was dismayed to see death settled at the foot of the bed. The doctor desperately wanted the glory of saving the king even if it meant deceiving his godfather. And so he swiftly spun the bed around and reversed death's position, leaving the doctor free to administer the antidote. Death was living.


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[Assistant] He warned his arrogant godson that if he ever cheated death again, he would pay for it with his life.


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[Assistant] Death and the Doctor continued their travels. After some time, the King's messengers came to collect the Doctor yet again.


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[Assistant] The princess was gravely ill, and the king had promised incredible riches to anyone who could cure her. The doctor approached the princess's chamber with gold in his eyes, but upon seeing the sleeping princess, his greed fell away.


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[Assistant] Death had dragged his lovesick godson away. In an instant, the palace dissolved around them


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[Assistant] The doctor found himself in an immense cave lined with countless quivering candles, each representing the duration of a life.


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[Assistant] As punishment for his godson's foolish attempt to master mortality, death whittled his candle down to its wit.


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[Assistant] Who are you? What are you doing here in my forest? Are you lost peasant? I am no peasant. I am the king of these lands.


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[Assistant] These forests are mine, but yes, I am lost. Could you help me? Ah, you are the king, you say? How very good for you. Well, my king, these forests are mine, and only I know the path out of here. I can show you the way if you like, but I would want something in return.


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[Assistant] What would you want in return? Name your price. I don't need any of those things. Do I look like I do?


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[Assistant] Whatever walks out of it first, you will give me that in return. I will give you one day.


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[Assistant] That is not true. I am overjoyed to be home. With my wife and my son.


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[Assistant] I have made a grave mistake, my dear.


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[Assistant] How can a humble man like me be of service to you? My dear man, your king asks a great favor of you.


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[Assistant] One that he knows will be difficult for you to give.


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[Assistant] But in return, I shall reward you greatly for your sacrifice for your kingdom.


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[Assistant] The people are happy, they have food to eat, and a livelihood to keep them going. What more could a king want?


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[Assistant] Be honest with me, father. Was the woman lying? Or is there more to the story?


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[Assistant] It is only because of her sacrifices that I stand here today.


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[Assistant] I cannot be a prince or a king until she is free.


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[Assistant] I will either bring her back or take her place. Is this understood, father and mother? You must do what you think is right, as I did.


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[Assistant] I am sorry sir, but I am in need of work. I am hungry and able.


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[Assistant] If you could find it in a heart to give me food and some work for a few days I would be most grateful. You look like a kind, generous man.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You must follow my rules, and you will be fed and taken care of. But break one of those rules, and I will make you pay. Is that understood?


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[Assistant] He wishes me to cut all of this in one day. How can I do this?


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[Assistant] I have something else for you. This is my prize cow. You must milk her dry. My supply of milk has shortened.


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[Assistant] We are leaving this place. You will no longer hurt anyone. No more promises to be kept. No more of your tasks. I am your prince. You will obey me. We are leaving this place and you will never be seen again.


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[Assistant] When he finishes the bowl, he will recover instantly.


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[Assistant] Me? No way. I'm not ready to get engaged yet.


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[Assistant] I think Caroline and I have chemistry. We love being together and I'm very attracted to her.


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[Assistant] We want to spend time traveling the world together and really getting to know each other well.


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[Assistant] I wanna make sure we're right for each other before making a lifelong commitment.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Good for you for dumping him. He doesn't deserve a good woman like you.


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[Assistant] You know what they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea. You'll find a good guy.


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[Assistant] Have you tried to meet people on online dating sites? I met Caroline on a dating website.


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[Assistant] Hello. Hi. My name's Robert, and I'm the new graphic designer. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm excited to be a part of the team.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That would be nice. Thank you very much.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Will you stop it, old woman? Always screaming and shouting. I can't even sleep at night with your constant racket.


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[Assistant] Excuse me sir, would you be kind enough to buy some cookies from me?


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[Assistant] Just one box. Please? I don't even want a single cookie.


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[Assistant] Why can I not get a moment to myself? Why is it that...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Will you stop it, old woman? Always screaming and shouting. I can't even sleep at night with your constant racket.


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[Assistant] No! No! I cannot be wrong! That angel has tricked me!


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[Assistant] I am so sorry little fella. It is alright. You don't like cookies. Oh Bullocks, I love cookies. Give me all that you have and I shall pay you for all the cookies that you can make the entire month.


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[Assistant] Here, take all the money and bring me more cookies tomorrow.


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[Assistant] Go round and round, round and round.


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[Assistant] Wah, wah, wah, the baby's on the bus go wah, wah, wah, all day long.


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[Assistant] I have stage fright. I've always had stage fright. And not just a little bit. It's a big bit.


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[Assistant] It didn't even matter until I was 27. That's when I started writing songs. And even then...


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[Assistant] But after a couple years, just writing songs wasn't enough. I had all these stories and ideas, and I wanted to share them with people, but physiologically, I couldn't do it. I had this irrational fear. But the more I wrote, and the more I practiced, the more I wanted to perform, so...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] On the week of my 30th birthday, I decided I was gonna go to this local open mic and put this fear behind me. And when I got there, it was packed. There were like 20 people there.


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[Assistant] But I took a deep breath and I signed up to play and I felt pretty good. Pretty good.


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[Assistant] Until about 10 minutes before my turn, when my whole body rebelled and this wave of anxiety just washed over me.


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[Assistant] Your heart rate increases, your breathing gets faster. Next, your non-essential systems start to shut down, like digestion.


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[Assistant] So then it was my turn, and somehow I get myself onto the stage, I start my song, I open my mouth to sing the first line.


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[Assistant] And something good did happen. I had the tiniest little glimpse of that audience connection that I was hoping for. And I wanted more. But I knew I had to get past this nervousness. That night I promised myself I would go back every week until I wasn't nervous anymore. And I did. I went back every single week. And sure enough, week after week, it didn't get any better. The same thing happened every week. I couldn't shake it.


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[Assistant] All I had to do was write a song that exploits my nervousness. That only seems authentic when I have stage fright. And the more nervous I was, the better the song would be. Easy. So...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] While it was happening, that gave the audience permission to think about it. They didn't have to feel bad for me because I was nervous. They could experience that with me. And we were all one big, happy, nervous, uncomfortable family.


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[Assistant] You know, over time, I didn't have to play the stage fright song at all.


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[Assistant] I'm not joking, you know. This stage fright is real.


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[Assistant] Where does the fat go when you lose weight? Santa Claus takes it away. Nah.


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[Assistant] Our food contains nutrients like carbohydrates, fats and proteins. When we eat food, these nutrients give us energy and help us to grow.


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[Assistant] Now, according to a prevailing research, when we try to lose weight, we actually break down these triglycerides in the presence of oxygen converting them into carbon dioxide, water, and energy. What? My fat turns into carbon dioxide, water, and energy?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yup. We exhale the carbon dioxide gas. Water is given out in the form of urine, sweat or tears. Whereas, we use the energy to perform various activities.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] When I was a child, I always wanted to be a superhero. I wanted to save the world and make everyone happy. But I knew that I'd need superpowers to make my dreams come true.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So I used to embark on these imaginary journeys to find intergalactic objects from planet Krypton, which was a lot of fun, but didn't yield much result.


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[Assistant] When I grew up and realized that science fiction was not a good source for superpowers, I decided instead to embark on a journey of real science to find a more useful truth.


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[Assistant] I started my journey in California with a UC Berkeley 30 year longitudinal study.


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[Assistant] How else you would score in standardized tests of well-being and how inspiring she would be to others?


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[Assistant] When I first saw his picture, I thought that his super powers came from his super color. But now I know it was all in his smile.


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[Assistant] Another aha moment came from a 2010 Wayne State University research project that looked into pre-1950s baseball cards of major league players. The researchers found that the span of a player's smile could actually predict the span of his life.


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[Assistant] Players who didn't smile in their pictures lived an average of only 72.9 years, whereas players with beaming smile lived an average of almost 80 years.


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[Assistant] The good news is that we're actually born smiling. Using 3D ultrasound technology, we can now see that developing babies appear to smile even in the womb.


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[Assistant] When they're born, babies continue to smile, initially mostly in their sleep, and even blind babies smile to the sound of the human voice.


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[Assistant] Smiling is one of the most basic biologically uniform expressions of all humans. In studies conducted in Papua New Guinea, Paul Ekman, the world's most renowned researcher on facial expression found that even members of the Forie tribe


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[Assistant] Who were completely disconnected from western culture and also known for their unusual cannibalism rituals.


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[Assistant] We smile often, and you smile to express joy and satisfaction.


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[Assistant] Outside of this room, more than a third of us smile more than twenty times per day, whereas less than fourteen percent of us smile less than five. In fact, those with the most amazing superpowers are actually children who smile as many as four hundred times per day.


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[Assistant] A research study at Uppsala University in Sweden found that it's very difficult to frown when looking at someone who smiles. You ask why? Because smiling is evolutionary contagious and it suppresses the control we usually have on our facial muscles.


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[Assistant] Mimicking a smile and experiencing it physically help us understand whether a smile is fake or real so we can understand the emotional state of the smiler.


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[Assistant] In a recent mimicking study at the University of Clermont-Ferrand in France, subjects were asked to determine whether a smile was real or fake while holding a pencil in their mouth to repress smiling muscles.


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[Assistant] Without the pencil, subjects were excellent judges, but with the pencil in their mouth, when they could not mimic the smile they saw, their judgement was impaired.


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[Assistant] In addition to theorizing on evolution in the origin of species, Charles Darwin also wrote the facial feedback response theory. His theory states that the act of smiling itself actually makes us feel better, rather than smiling being merely a result of feeling good.


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[Assistant] Uh, in his study, Darwin actually cited a French neurologist, Julien Bouchin, who used electric jolts to facial muscles to induce and stimulate smiles. Please, don't try this at home.


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[Assistant] In a related German study, researchers used fMRI imaging to measure brain activity before and after injecting Botox to suppress smiling muscles.


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[Assistant] The findings supported Darwin's theory by showing that facial feedback modifies the neural processing of emotional content in the brain in a way that helps us feel better when we smile.


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[Assistant] Smiling stimulates our brain reward mechanism in a way that even chocolate, a well regarded pleasure inducer, cannot match.


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[Assistant] And think about it this way, 25,000 times 400.


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[Assistant] And unlike lots of chocolate, lots of smiling can actually make you healthier.


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[Assistant] Smiling can help reduce the level of stress enhancing hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and dopamine, increase the level of mood enhancing hormones like endorphin, and reduce overall blood pressure. And if that's not enough, smiling can actually make you look good in the eyes of others.


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[Assistant] A recent study at Penn State University found that when you smile, you don't only appear to be more likable and courteous, but you actually appear to be more competent.


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[Assistant] So whenever you want to look great and competent, reduce your stress, or improve your marriage, or feel as if you just had a whole stack of high quality chocolate without incurring the calorie cost, or as if you found 25 grand in a pocket of an old jacket you hadn't worn for ages,


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[Assistant] Or whenever you want to tap into a superpower that will help you and everyone around you live a longer, healthier, happier life, smile.


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[Assistant] Thank you to MonkPak for supporting today's episode. MonkPak offers bars which are low-sugar, plant-based, gluten-free, and keto-friendly. Click the link in the description and use the code PSYSHOW to receive 20% off your first purchase of any MonkPak product.


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[Assistant] We tend to talk about the evolution of species as something that happened in some ancient time. Almost as if all species evolved to their modern forms and just…


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[Assistant] But evolution is a never-ending process. And while we humans are still evolving ourselves, our existence is also driving the evolution of many other species. From mosquitoes to coyotes, species from all walks of life are evolving because of ways we've influenced the environment. Today,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We'll look at five of them. One major way that humans are influencing the environment is through urbanization. Essentially, turning rural areas into cities and towns. Urbanization can have all sorts of consequences for the species in an area, starting with habitat loss. As forests, swamps, and other natural environments are bulldozed to make way for concrete jungles,


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[Assistant] Many plant and animal populations disappear. But some luckier species are able to make themselves at home in their new environment. Coyotes are a great example of this. Coyotes are native to North America, west of the Mississippi.


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[Assistant] And in the 1800s, as U.S. settlers moved westward and built up towns and cities, they started breaking up coyotes' natural habitat. In response, some coyotes relocated to less populated areas. But some stayed put.


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[Assistant] And actually learned to thrive in human cities. And even though they're not naturally nocturnal,


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[Assistant] Some started looking for food at night to avoid humans. And they happily adopted human food.


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[Assistant] As their own. In a 2020 study, researchers looked at the diets of coyotes living in the Los Angeles area by analyzing food in their poop and trace elements in their whiskers. And they found that up to 38% of urban coyote's diets consisted of human food, most of which they likely fished out of the trash. They supplemented this with a mouthful of bird seed or ornamental fruit,


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[Assistant] So basically, coyotes are doing more than fine. They've even spread east and made surprisingly successful homes out of places like New York City. But this change in lifestyle has changed coyotes themselves.


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[Assistant] As they adapted to their new fractured habitats, different groups stopped mating with each other, so their gene pools became isolated.


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[Assistant] Over time, these coyotes have evolved into genetically distinct populations. Today, thanks to urbanization, there are distant rural populations of coyotes that are more genetically similar to each other than rural and urban populations that live side by side. Coyotes aren't the only animals that have responded to urbanization by making themselves at home in cities.


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[Assistant] Another is the white ibis. That's a wading bird related to egrets and storks that lives along the coasts of the southeastern U.S. It's also found along the coasts of Mexico and Central America. Naturally, white ibises hang out in estuaries and shallow wetlands,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But in the last century, their natural habitats have gotten developed by humans. And rather than crowd into dwindling wetlands, some have adopted cities as their new homes. Because, like urban coyotes, ibis has learned that living around humans


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[Assistant] means living around food. These birds spend a lot of their time eating handouts from people, as well as scraps from dumpsters and garbage cans. The ibis has a long, gently curved bill that originally evolved for plucking things like insects and crabs out of the mud, but it happens to be pretty handy for foraging through garbage, too. Unfortunately, while ibises love our garbage,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And higher in carbs. This poor nutrition can change the types of bacteria living in their guts, much like an unbalanced diet changes the bacteria in the human digestive system. Researchers have found that the bird's diet of garbage is also associated with higher levels of pathogens like salmonella.


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[Assistant] So far, city ibises don't seem to be any worse for the wear. Some researchers even found that urban ibises are better off than their rural counterparts in a few ways. For instance,


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[Assistant] Eating literal trash toughens up their immune systems, so they're better at fighting off bacteria like E. coli. They're also less stressed, possibly because finding garbage to eat is so much easier than hunting. And researchers have noticed that they also have fewer parasites.


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[Assistant] Which may be because they have more time to clean themselves since they're not working so hard to find food.


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[Assistant] Researchers have yet to determine whether these changes are just behavioral, or if any of them reflect a genetic change. Whichever it is, we're forcing ibises to adapt quickly to a fast-changing environment. Many of the animals that hang out in cities have specifically adapted to those unnatural environments and get along pretty well. But while the arrangement might work out for them,


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[Assistant] It's not always great for the people in those cities. Today, humans around the world are plagued by an especially annoying species of mosquito, with a special taste for human blood.


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[Assistant] Its name is literally Latin for annoying mosquito. But this pest hasn't always been around. It appears to have evolved in just the last few hundred years.


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[Assistant] Gradually evolving into a separate species. And a study conducted in the late 1990s


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[Assistant] Did find that mosquitoes living in the London Underground are a separate species from the mosquitoes that live above ground. But a 2022 study found that the same species found underground in London already existed in the late 1700s in Egypt,


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[Assistant] Almost a hundred years before the London Underground was built. The authors of that study speculated that these mosquitoes actually arose there. Thanks to the long history of agriculture in the region, there were plenty of damp, enclosed spaces like root cellars where they could breed.


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[Assistant] Plus lots of humans to feast on. Basically, they found a niche to fill, so they diverged from their bird-biting ancestors. It's hard to verify the exact history behind the rise of the mosquito, but one thing is pretty clear.


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[Assistant] It had to do with humans. Regardless of whether it arose in the London Underground or old Egyptian cities, this particular mosquito thrives in spaces humans have created.


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[Assistant] Like damp underground cellars, sewers, and subways. So thanks to changes we've made to the environment, we will probably always be living right alongside them.


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[Assistant] Now, urbanization isn't the only driver of recent species evolution. Long before big cities existed, humans were already making their mark on some species.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And one big way they did that was through fishing. For thousands of years, humans have cast their nets or rods in search of large, hardy fish that would make a good meal. And our methods have typically relied on fish being bold enough to go after a hook or swim into a net. So, more often than not, we've taken the biggest, boldest fish


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[Assistant] Survival of the fittest favors timid, smaller fish.


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[Assistant] Researchers in Europe actually measured the differences between various populations of northern pike living in a lake in Germany. By assessing the differences, researchers hoped to understand the effects on populations that had been heavily fished. So, for four years, they caught fish, marked them, collected data on them, then released them back into the water. By the end of the study, they found that they had caught and marked bigger, bolder fish, and the population not sampled,


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[Assistant] The small shy fish would have been the only ones left to breed. This shows how, over time, fishing practices have changed the course of this species' evolution, and the same may be true of other commonly-fished species, too. This may not seem like a big deal, and researchers haven't yet explored the impacts in detail. But one thing we do know is that food webs are incredibly complex.


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[Assistant] And a shift in size and behavior of a population could have far-reaching consequences for both this species and the ones that depend on it. These are some of the less obvious consequences of fishing and hunting by humans.


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[Assistant] But the northern pike isn't the only species to go through a change like this. The bighorn sheep, a species found in mountainous regions in North America, went through a similar population shift. From the early 1970s until 2011, people heavily hunted rams, or male bighorn sheep, living on Ram Mountain in Alberta, Canada. These rams were killed for their horns,


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[Assistant] Which are famously long and curly. But only certain rams were legally allowed to be hunted.


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[Assistant] Their horns had to reach a certain length and curl before they could be killed as a trophy. It takes time to grow horns that long, and some rams grow them faster than others.


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[Assistant] Wiped out the large horned males before they came of age and could pass on their genes to the next generation. A group of researchers in Canada analyzed almost 40 years' worth of data, including 23 years of intense hunting, to better understand the consequences of the selective pressure on bighorn sheep populations. And they found that the average size of horns in their study area declined by over 20% in the 40-year study period. That happened because hunting practices were knocking out the larger horned males before they could reproduce,


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[Assistant] While smaller males kept contributing to the gene pool. Not only that, but since the most intensive hunting stopped in 1996,


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[Assistant] Big horn sheep's horns have yet to return to their previous length.


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[Assistant] Hinting at a permanent change in the genetic makeup of this population. These sheep are just one example of many animals being hunted for their size


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[Assistant] And if you're lying down and comfy to watch this video, the last thing you want to do is get up to quiet the grumble in your stomach. In a perfect world, you'd have a snack right next to you that you could just reach over and start munching on. And those are the moments you'll be thankful


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Their bars are a great snack for anytime of day when you just need simple ingredients


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[Assistant] The sea salt dark chocolate keto nut and seed bar sounds indulgent, but it's also plant-based, gluten-free, and keto-friendly. You don't have to choose between food that tastes good and fuels your body. On your first purchase of any MunkPak product, you can get 20% off by visiting MunkPak.com and entering code SciShow at checkout.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Or by clicking the link in the description down below. Your purchase is backed with a 100% happiness guarantee, so if you don't like it, for any reason, MunkPak will exchange the product or refund your money, whichever you prefer.


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[Assistant] These devices were seen as a fantastic way of whipping prisoners into shape. And that added benefit of powering mills helped rebuild a British economy decimated by the Napoleonic Wars. It was a win for all concerned, except the prisoners.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But of course, the torture device returned with a vengeance, this time targeting the unsuspecting public.


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[Assistant] So the next time you voluntarily subject yourself to what was once a cruel and unusual punishment, just be glad you can control when you'll hop off.


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[Assistant] There is plenty of laundry to be done.


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[Assistant] Absolutely not. My job is to carry the master. Your job is to carry the load. Plain and simple.


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[Assistant] Oh, to the market again. Master should take a day off someday. I love holidays.


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[Assistant] Why does it matter? Let Master put as many sacks on my back as he wants. I am not going to the market anyway, didn't you?


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[Assistant] In 1982, a young nurse was suffering from severe, unrelenting depression.


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[Assistant] She couldn't work, socialise or even concentrate well enough to read the newspaper. One treatment changed everything.


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[Assistant] After two courses of electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, her symptoms lifted.


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[Assistant] She went back to work, then on to graduate school where she earned high grades.


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[Assistant] At first she talked openly about her life-changing treatment.


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[Assistant] But as she realised many people had an extremely negative impression of ECT, she stopped sharing her experience. ECT carried a deep stigma left over from a history that bears little resemblance to the modern procedure.


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[Assistant] The therapy was first used in medicine in 1938.


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[Assistant] In its early years, doctors administered a strong electrical current to the brain causing a whole body seizure during which patients might bite their tongues or even break bones.


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[Assistant] Modern ECT is very different. While a patient is under general anaesthesia, electrodes deliver a series of mild electrical pulses to the brain.


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[Assistant] This causes huge numbers of neurons to fire in unison. A brief, controlled seizure.


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[Assistant] A muscle relaxant keeps spasms from spreading to the rest of the body.


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[Assistant] The only physical indication of the electricity flooding the brain is a twitching foot.


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[Assistant] The treatment lasts for about a minute and most patients are able to resume normal activities about an hour after each session.


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[Assistant] ECT is commonly used to treat severe cases of major depression or bipolar disorder in patients who haven't responded to other therapies or who have had adverse reactions to medication. Half or more of those who undergo treatment experience an improvement in their symptoms.


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[Assistant] Most patients treated with ECT have two or three sessions per week for several weeks. Some begin to notice an improvement in their symptoms after just one session, while others take longer to respond.


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[Assistant] Patients often continue less frequent treatments for several months to a year, and some need occasional maintenance sessions for the rest of their lives.


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[Assistant] Modern ECT is much safer than it used to be, but patients can still experience side effects. They may feel achy, fatigued or nauseated right after treatment. Some have trouble remembering what happened right before a session. For example, what they had for dinner the previous evening.


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[Assistant] Rarely, they might have trouble remembering up to weeks and months before.


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[Assistant] For most patients, this memory loss does improve over time.


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[Assistant] What's fascinating is that despite its proven track record, we still don't know exactly why ECT works. Neurons in the brain communicate via electrical signals, which influence our brain chemistry, contributing to mood and behaviour.


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[Assistant] The flood of electrical activity sparked by ECT alters that chemistry.


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[Assistant] For example, ECT triggers the release of certain neurotransmitters, molecules that help carry signals between neurons and influence mental health.


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[Assistant] ECT also stimulates the flow of hormones that may help reduce symptoms of depression.


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[Assistant] Interestingly, ECT maintenance works better when paired with medication.


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[Assistant] As we come to a better understanding of the brain, we'll likely be able to make ECT even more effective.


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[Assistant] In 1995, more than a decade after her first course of ECT, the nurse decided to publish an account of her experience.


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[Assistant] Because of the stigma surrounding the treatment, she worried that doing so might negatively impact her personal and professional life. But she knew ECT could make a difference for patients when all else failed.


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[Assistant] Though misperceptions about ECT persist, accounts like hers have helped make doctors and patients alike aware of the treatment's life-changing potential.


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[Assistant] As you say Sage, I will remember this.


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[Assistant] Alright, do one thing. Go and water my farm. The monster vanished immediately.


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[Assistant] Alright, I got what I deserved, but he will straighten Mori's tail and be back soon! What can I do then?


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[Assistant] Do you ever go to the centre of London to see famous places like the Tower of London? Yes, sometimes.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Maybe three or four times a year, but I rarely go there in the summer holidays.


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[Assistant] It's always too crowded because there are a lot of tourists. So what do you do in the summer?


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[Assistant] I go to the skate park with my friends nearly every day. We love skateboarding. Do you ever go shopping? I almost never go shopping. I prefer to buy everything I need online. What about you Lucy? What do you do in the summer?


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[Assistant] I did, but the book is superior to the movie. You do agree, don't you?


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[Assistant] Oh right. He was the guy who was wearing an orange cap.


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[Assistant] That's the class that Professor Martin teaches, right?


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[Assistant] Everybody has at least one subject that is especially difficult.


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[Assistant] Remember when I took that physics class, which I wanted to drop after just two weeks? I had to find a tutor, and I ended up doing well.


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[Assistant] Very well, my children. If I can manage to get it, then you shall have it.


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[Assistant] Go up that tree and get that nightingale for my daughter.


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[Assistant] Who dares to steal my nightingale? I will eat you up, the thief. My apologies, oh mighty lion.


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[Assistant] I did not know that the bird is yours. Please, spare my life. I shall pay you a heavy ransom for my mistake. Nothing can save you unless you promise to give me the first thing that meets you when you return home.


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[Assistant] If you agree, I shall spare your life and give you the bird as well.


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[Assistant] It has cost me, for I had to make a promise to the Lion Prince that I will send him the first person I meet.