Basia and Franek are building a treehouse in the apple tree. But when evening creeps into the garden, a strange shadow appears beneath the branches. What is hiding there?
Basia and Franek spent the whole afternoon in the garden, right under the big apple tree. They wanted to build their very own treehouse. A ladder leaned against the trunk. Old planks waited in a neat pile. A hammer tapped softly as they worked, and the children kept pointing and whispering about where the window should go and where the secret entrance would be.
By the time the little house began to take shape, the light had turned gold and thin. The garden grew quieter. Leaves stirred overhead with a dry, whispery sound. Basia paused with a plank in her hands.
Then she looked down.
Something had moved under the tree.
A dark shadow slipped across the grass and stopped near the roots, as if it was watching them.
"Franek," Basia whispered, her voice tiny. "Did you see that?"
Franek followed her gaze. His eyes widened. He gripped the ladder so hard his knuckles went pale.
The shadow moved again.
A soft rustle brushed through the grass.
Basia and Franek stood very still, staring into the growing dusk.
Then came a quiet sound from below.
"Shur, shur..."
And something shifted just out of sight.