Free Pride of the Plains by Colin Dann Page B

will be fordable soon.’ But when Moja went to look at it, the river always appeared the same to him. Pembe enjoyed the company of another young animal. He regretted that Moja would soon have to leave but he understood his desperation to find his family.
    Battlescars was busy trying to find a trace of his son. He had one advantage: he at least knew where Moja had last been seen. Challenger had described to Kimya his meeting with Moja by the waterhole where Blackmane had died. So the old male had begun his search there. And Battlescars was not alone. There was another who was looking for Moja.
    For some time at Kamenza Joel had been wrestling with his uncertainty about the cub. He thought it likely it had been killed but he hadn’t verified it. Finally he felt that he ought to do so and consulted his boss Simon Obagwe.
    â€˜I can’t seem to rest easy,’ Joel explained. ‘I’d just like to know for sure about the cub.’
    â€˜So would I,’ Simon said. ‘And you know how Annie feels about him. Why don’t you go back to the place where you say he ran from you before? You could perhaps use more caution this time?’ Simon smiled and raised his eyebrows. It was a subtle hint. ‘You might pick up a clue. We know, don’t we, that he isn’t back with the pride?’
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ Joel answered. ‘I’ve checked that out more than once. When shall I…’
    â€˜You can go today,’ Simon finished for him. ‘There’s not a great deal to do around here at present. Maybeyou should take a couple of the men with you. That way you could cover more ground.’
    Arrangements were made and the time fixed. Joel took two men in the Land-Rover with him, Paul and Joseph. They left the vehicle as soon as practicable, making sure it was fairly well concealed before continuing on foot. Joel headed straight for the river; the other two took more circuitous routes. Paul and Joseph were armed in case of a surprise attack by lion or other large game, but they were expert trackers and didn’t expect a disturbance. Joel never carried a gun as a rule and this day was no exception. He told the other men he wouldn’t stray far from the Land-Rover, and would rely on his senses. After years of working with big powerful mammals in one way or another his eyesight and hearing were acutely developed.
    Joel saw nothing alarming as he trod slowly and cautiously over the ground. It was quiet. The sun glared and its heat kept most game inactive and under cover. Joel tried to ignore the discomfort but every so often he had to mop his face and neck. He slowed further as he neared the river, thinking he could detect some movement on the far bank. As he approached he saw a tawny shape which set his heart beating faster. Soon he could make out that he was looking at a well-grown lion cub. He paused and watched the young creature lie down and put its head on its paws. Joel’s excitement increased. He was almost certain that this was the cub he longed to see. He needed to get just a little closer to make sure. Before doing so he glanced around to see if it was safe, and also to try to pinpoint Paul and Joseph. He couldn’t see Joseph but he saw Paul on his far right and attracted his attention by waving. Paul began to move across.
    A small bird, a honey guide, saw the signal too and flew towards Joel, chattering insistently. It knew of a bees’ nest and wanted help to get into it to expose the fat grubs it relished. It knew help was usually forthcoming because humans liked honey. But it was to be disappointed on this occasion. Joel was irritated by the bird’s fluttering around him, and particularly by its incessant chattering when he needed quiet above all things. The honey guide wouldn’t be put off and Joel feared the disturbance would unsettle the young lion. Sure enough, the bird’s twittering had alarmed it. The cub got up nervously. As Joel moved