byChrisK.PowellillustratedbyKennethVincentbyChrisK.PowellillustratedbyKennethVincentCopyright©byHarcourt,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.RequestsforpermissiontomakecopiesofanypartoftheworkshouldbeaddressedtoSchoolPermissionsandCopyrights,Harcourt,Inc.,6277SeaHarborDrive,Orlando,Florida32887-6777.Fax:407-345-2418.HARCOURTandtheHarcourtLogoaretrademarksofHarcourt,Inc.,registeredintheUnitedStatesofAmericaand/orotherjurisdictions.PrintedinChinaISBN10:0-15-351529-5ISBN13:978-0-15-351529-3OrderingOptionsISBN10:0-15-351214-8(Grade4AdvancedCollection)ISBN13:978-0-15-351214-8(Grade4AdvancedCollection)ISBN10:0-15-358119-0(packageof5)ISBN13:978-0-15-358119-9(packageof5)Ifyouhavereceivedthesematerialsasexaminationcopiesfreeofcharge,HarcourtSchoolPublishersretainstitletothematerialsandtheymaynotberesold.Resaleofexaminationcopiesisstrictlyprohibitedandisillegal.Possessionofthispublicationinprintformatdoesnotentitleuserstoconvertthispublication,oranyportionofit,intoelectronicformat.1234567891098512111009080706NickMoskalwastenyearsold.Helivedwithhismotherandfather,andhissister,Sasha.TheyhadawidebackyardwithseverallargetreesandasimplegardenthatNick’smotherworkedoneveryspring.Nickandhissisterwalkedorrodetheirbikestoschooleveryday.Nick’sfatherwasacomputerexpertwhohelpeddesignthecomputersystematthecompanywhereheworked.Sometimeswhentheneighborshadproblemswiththeircomputers,theywouldaskMr.Moskaltohavealook.Healwaysdidsobecausehelikedhisneighborsandwashappytohelpthemout.Nick’smotherworkedparttimeataflowershopintown.3Oneday,inthemiddleofsummer,Nickwasdiggingaholeinhisbackyard.Hewantedtocreateasmall“lake”forhistoysoldierstocrossduringabattle.Whilediggingthehole,Nicknoticedanoddlookingstoneintheground.Hedugitupwithhisshovel,tookacloserlookatit,andsawthatthestonewasapeculiarshadeofwhite....
