When the grown-ups came back, the twins told them everything.
"It was really bright,"
said Jordan, covering his eyes with his little hands.
Vinnie and Mandy held their breath.
Then Dad smiled at the twins.
"What an imagination!" he laughed.
Jordan looked at Vinnie and Mandy.
"Tell them about your book!" he cried.
"Come on, kids," interrupted Aunt Leah.
"It's nap time."
She led them upstairs.
"What about a game of catch?" asked Uncle Wilson.
"Okay! Let me get my mitt," answered Vinnie.
Mandy followed her brother.
"Whew! That was close!" she said.
"We have to be more careful,"
agreed Vinnie, looking for his baseball mitt.
"Do you want to play?"
"No, I'm going to read," said Mandy.
Vinnie stared at his sister.
"Are you planning to go on a photo trip without me?" he said suspiciously.
"You tried to go without me—three times!" she yelled back.
"Only twice!" Vinnie shouted at her.
Mandy ran up to the attic.
"No!" yelled Vinnie as he ran after her.
When Vinnie got to the attic he saw Mandy with the photo album.
Vinnie grabbed it.
"Let go!" cried Mandy, still holding on.
The children pulled the album back and forth.
Then Vinnie let go.
Mandy fell to the floor and dropped the album.
It lay open to another page.
"Hey, this photo is different," said Mandy.
She picked up the photo.
The picture showed a sandy wilderness.
The sun looked very hot.
The old man was in front of a cave.
Just inside the cave was a glowing object.
"I wonder what's inside the cave?" Vinnie asked.
The photo glowed brighter.
"Looks like we're going to find out," said Mandy.
The children fell down the dark tunnel and landed on warm sand.
They could feel the heat right away.
"Oh, the sun is really hot," said Vinnie.
He slowly opened his eyes.
"We're in a sort of desert,"
she said, looking at the sandy ground.
All around them were short trees and small grassy areas too.
It was very quiet.
"I'm not wearing much!" Vinnie cried.
He was only wearing short pants made out of animal skin.
Mandy was wearing a top and a skirt made out of soft leather.
She rubbed her hand against her skirt.
"It feels very soft," she said.
Vinnie walked over to a tree and leaned against it.
"Where do you think we are?"
"I don't—" Mandy suddenly stopped.
She covered her mouth.
"What is it?" Vinnie asked.
Mandy could not speak.
She lifted a shaking finger at Vinnie.
He heard a low growling noise.
Vinnie slowly turned his head.
"Argh!" he screamed as two growling hyenas ran toward him.