Ben took out his BUG and pressed the Wild hot key.
“I’ve managed to get an update from the Kenya Wildlife Service,” came Uncle Stephen’s voice. “They should be on their way soon.”
“They’re too late to save Tomboi’s mother,” said Ben. “She’s been shot.”
“And Tomboi?”
Ben told him everything that had happened. “The hunters are walking back to the lodge now,” he finished.
“Well, they won’t get far,” Dr Fisher muttered. “I’ll tip off the KWS and they can pick them up. I’ll also make sure they get Zoe’s video evidence – that way they’ll have a cast-iron case against Hall and Chitundu.”
Her eyes full of tears, Zoe walked over to say goodbye to Tomboi’s mother. She bent down and gently removed the branches that covered her face. She stroked the lifeless forehead.
Then she started. Had one of the ears twitched? Frantically, she swept away the burial covering and put her hand on the elephant’s side. The next second, she’d jumped to her feet.
“Ben!” she yelled. “Don’t sign off. We’ve got to tell Uncle Stephen. Tomboi’s mother is still alive!”
Two days later a small group of trekkers stood by the waterhole. It was a chilly morning and dawn had just broken, touching the tops of the trees with a golden glow.
Wambua turned to the tourists in his party. “Stand very still,” he said, a big smile on his face. “Here come our beloved elephants.”
Ben, Zoe and Erika watched eagerly as the pale-skinned matriarch led her herd down to the water on the opposite bank. Lester Hall stood slightly apart, snapping away at the scene.
“See the little calf?” Wambua went on. “Tomboi has just had a very lucky escape from hunters thanks to the Kenya Wildlife Service.”
Ben and Zoe grinned at each other. No-one could ever know Wild’s part in the rescue, of course.
“Wambua sounds happy,” said Ben, as the old man walked off. “No-one’s going to stop the Samburu protecting the elephants now.”
“Tomboi’s leg is healing nicely,” Zoe whispered to her brother, as they watched the little elephant wading through some thick reeds, sticking close to Nyeupe. “I wish we could tell him his mother’s alive and being looked after.”
“And that those hunters won’t be bothering them again,” added Ben fervently.
“I’d love to have seen Mr Hall’s face when they told him he wouldn’t be hunting for a good long time,” said Zoe gleefully.
“And Chitundu’s sideline in bush meat is well and truly over,” added Erika.
Frank Hall and Chitundu had been whisked away to the police station, each blaming the other, until they’d seen Zoe’s video, which the police believed had been sent in by a tourist. Then they’d confessed everything.
It had been the talk of the lodge ever since. Runo had been very keen to tell the children about how Chitundu had gone mad since his arrest and kept rambling on about people spying on him from bushes. He’d also told them that his grandfather’s elephant treks were on again and had asked – with a twinkle in his eye – whether Ben and Zoe would like to do the trip on a camel!
“I’m glad Lester’s mum can’t get out here for a few more days,” said Ben. “He’s cool – nothing like his dad.”
“It’ll be good to have him with us for the rest of our stay,” agreed Zoe.
Just then, Lester Hall came over to join them. He held out his camera to show his photos. “This is what I came to Africa for.”
“They look great. You’ll have loads to show your mum,” said Zoe.
Lester looked serious for a moment. “Thanks for letting me hang out with you after…what happened,” he mumbled.
“It’s OK,” said Ben, giving him a friendly nudge. “See how well the calf is looking? You’re a hero…I mean, that’s what I heard. That you wouldn’t let him be shot,” he added quickly.
Lester went a bit pink at this.
Without thinking, Ben rubbed the plasters covering the ant bites and winced.
“What’s that?” asked Lester.
“Ant bites,” said Ben. He wondered what Lester would say if he knew how he’d got them!
Tomboi suddenly broke into a trot, sucked up a trunkful of water and blasted Nyeupe. The old matriarch splashed him back and he rolled over in the mud.
“That’s one happy little elephant!” Zoe laughed.
