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Once a week Albert and his trusty mare,

June, go to market to sell their ever popu-
lar melons. With any luck, nothing unu-
sual happens along the way and they are
home before dark. So why isn't that the
end of the story? Why does the express
train to Darlington wind up on the
beach? What happened to Patty's pet pig?
Who is Patty? Is that a sheep wearing
glasses? How does someone's dream come
true when their boat sinks? And where
did that cockatoocome from? Don't
bother asking Albert and June! They
won't be able to help.

We go about our daily lives unaware that

many small actions contribute to an
unpredictable and often dramatic chain
of causes and effects. In Shortcut David
Macaulay takes the long way around,
applying his imagination and sense of
humor to a string of seemingly inconse-
quential connections. The result is a
whimsical and often thought-provoking
journey through words and pictures
trip you will want to take again and again.

nqqc.
ire
Shortcut
rerfe<}or

C{ri
h L
^ Shortcut
David l^\ocwiaj

Houa^tpn Mrfflir, Company Boston

1995
To Mom and Dad, who began their journey together fifty years ago. Love and thanks.

Copyright 1995 by David Macaulay

All rights reserved. For information about permission to

reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions,
Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South,
New York, New York 10003.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Macaulay, David.
Shortcut / by David Macaulay.
p. cm.
Summary: Visual clues provide answers to the mysterious
interrelationship of a series of brief stories.
ISBN 0-395-52436-9
[1. Literary recreations.] I. Title.
PZ7.M1197Sh 1995 95-2542
[Fic]-dc20 CIP
AC

Printed in the United States of America

BVG 10 987654321
Walter Lorraine (^"*< Books
 CHAPTER ONE

Albert and June are up early. It is market day.

 Once a week they take their ripest melons into town.
As they cross the bridge, Albert and June always make a wish.
 To save time, they will take the shortcut.
Albert removes his coat and helps June up the hill.
 " "-

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When they reach the top, Albert gets his coat and they are off again.
In a little while they stop to eat at the Railway Cafe.
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 June is very hungry. She stretches to reach some tasty clover.
After lunch, they continue toward town, crooning their favorite songs.
9 >

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A rope blocks their path but not for long.
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Their melons are very popular, and the wagon is soon empty.
Once again, Albert and June get their wish.
They are home before dark.
 CHAPTER TWO

Patty and Pearl are the best of friends.

They go almost everywhere together.
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When Patty is busy, Pearl relaxes near the abandoned railway line.
One day, Pearl disappears without a trace. Almost.
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 CHAPTER THREE

With his balloon firmly tied, Professor Tweet spends his days
studying bird behavior.
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Suddenly the balloon breaks free.

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It is heading straight for the cathedral town of Fauxville.
Thinking quickly, the professor tosses everything
over the side. The balloon starts to rise.
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And just in time. Tweet and his balloon are safe.
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 CHAPTER FOUR

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Someone has opened the switch, sending

the Darlington Cannonball onto the abandoned line.
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It soon picks up an extra passenger and disappears into a tunnel.

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After crossing Chestnut Street and the old trestle,

the train rolls on toward the end of the line.

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CHAPTER FIVE

Sybil is off to market.

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She races through town and country.
 Though she follows the sign, it is still a long, long way.
By the time she arrives, Albert is out of melons and she is out of luck.
 \

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 CHAPTER SIX

Patty must find her best friend. First she tries all the familiar places.
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Having no luck, she takes to the road.
 Patty searches high and low.
In the end, there is only one place left to look.
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 CHAPTER SEVEN

Bob sleeps all day. He loves the peace and quiet of the river.
In his favorite dream, he is the admiral of the fleet.
fvSi^
Suddenly he is thrown from his boat. Fortunately, he sinks

to the bottom, which is how he makes his dream come true.

 CHAPTER EIGHT

Professor Tweet has lost his balloon forever.

But by rescuing Clarinda's crafty cockatoo, he has captured
her heart and happily takes up safer work.
 m ***
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 CHAPTER NINE

Even without tracks, the train keeps moving.

It finally comes to rest at the beach.

This is not on the schedule.

 EPILOGUE

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A muffled snort tells Patty where to dig. When Pearl recovers
from her adventure, the two go almost everywhere together.
But never by train.
\^v>^-

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H
Since the publication of his first book,
Cathedral, a Caldecott Honor recipient,
David Macaulay has acquired interna-
tional acclaim. His books have been
translated into a dozen languages, and he
has been honored with countless awards
most recently, a Lifetime
including,
Achievement Commendation from the
National Forum on Children's Science
Books. His most recent book, Black and
White, was awarded the Caldecott Medal
for 1991.

BLACK AND WHITE

"This work engages another side of the
mind. It's a story; it's a puzzle; it's a
game. . . . Macaulay refuses to be con-
firmed by the conventions of the picture
book." Booklist

SHIP
"Fascinating in its dual perspective, Ship
involves readers through Macaulay's orig-
inal approach to an intriguing subject."
Booklist, starred review

Books by David Macaulay:

BAAA
BLACK AND WHITE
A Caldecott Medal Book
CASTLE
A Caldecott Honor Book
CATHEDRAL
A Caldecott Honor Book
CITY
GREAT MOMENTS IN
ARCHITECTURE
MILL
MOTEL OF THE MYSTERIES
PYRAMID
SHIP
UNBUILDING
UNDERGROUND
THE WAY THINGS WORK
 wniikf^ ^wT
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ISBN 0-395-52436-9
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5-T05bT 9 780395"524367