pictures.
A low growl sounded over the background noise of vulturine screeches and hisses. Kerry saw four small cubs pad forward from the shade of some rocks.
She chuckled as she watched one cub, which appeared to be the boldest, attempt to climb up its mother’s back. The others pushed at her belly with their hungry mouths. Neither lioness had resumed eating; they continued to look evil-eyed, open-mouthed at the car.
Chad had been looking around, using the powerful camera lens like a telescope. Without speaking, he touched Kerry ’s arm and pointed to a patch of shade. Through the binoculars Kerry saw the male lion, big-headed, with a full rufous mane. A magnificent looking creature. The breeze moved his mane back and forth and Kerry saw the lion yawn hugely and toss his regal head to thwart the noisome flies.
“ Top cat in these parts,” was Chad’s verdict. “Full-bellied – now giving his wives their time at table.”
***
When they drove away Kerry was happy and full of wonder. Being there, you felt the blasting heat of the sun, saw the big cats’ immense power in their rippling muscles, heard the click-crunch of teeth on bone, the zing of a passing insect.
She turned to her companion. “Now I understand what you meant – about having to experience something before you can paint it.”
He grinned. “I knew you’d get it sooner or later.”
“I could even smell the blood,” Kerry said.
The track was narrow. Chad drove on looking for a place to turn. Thick and tangled bush encroached on each side. Stems and branches brushed against the moving car. There was no turning space so Chad drove on slowly.
Ahead, the land dropped away sharply into the slope of a river valley. Below in the distance, looking like a fat sleeping snake, curved the dry river bed – its sand yellow in the sun. Along its banks the vegetation was taller and thicker and greener than in the surrounding bush. Chad pointed out some gaps in the roadside cover at the foot of the valley.
“I ’ll turn there.” Looking at the sky, he added, “Hottest day so far. Thunderstorm’s threatening – it may just hit today.”
At that instant, from the thick bush at the roadside, came a crashing, drumming beat and onto the track ahead of the Fiat, at a fast gallop, burst a zebra, then a second, third and fourth. Kerry glimpsed two more off to one side.
“Let’s test their speed,” Chad shouted, already accelerating down the hill after the zebra.
“Watch the road,” Kerry warned.
“It’s okay,” he said, grinning. “No big rocks or holes.”
Kerry glanced at the speedometer. Saw it passing 40kph, 50kph. Their speed alarmed her. Bu t she had no wish to spoil Chad’s fun. They were on a high after observing the lions close-up.
60kph. The zebra kept on the track. Kerry wondered whether the lions had used its good surface for their final approach. She had read of lions chasing leaping impala along roads and past tourists’ cars.
They dropped to the foot of the valley. Ahead in the dry river bed, the zebra clattered over a stretch of concrete – there to give vehicles a firm crossing during the rains – their hooves kicking up puffs of dust. The Fiat was still travelling at speed and Kerr y knew without asking that Chad’s intention was to cross over and turn on a treeless patch on the far bank.
They were almost on the concrete when they saw the dip.
Chad swore and stomped hard on the brake. “Hold on!”
The car was airborne for two seconds before coming down with a heavy thump onto the concrete. It levelled and hit the far sloping wall solidly, climbed its three foot height and took off again and bounced along the track. Chad pulled the car onto the open veld and started to swing it round.
“Sorry – the bump was a surprise,” he said. “These crossings are usually flat.”
Just then the engine stopped.
Kerry felt a twinge of unease. The revs had been too high for it to have stalled. The petrol gauge showed over
A low growl sounded over the background noise of vulturine screeches and hisses. Kerry saw four small cubs pad forward from the shade of some rocks.
She chuckled as she watched one cub, which appeared to be the boldest, attempt to climb up its mother’s back. The others pushed at her belly with their hungry mouths. Neither lioness had resumed eating; they continued to look evil-eyed, open-mouthed at the car.
Chad had been looking around, using the powerful camera lens like a telescope. Without speaking, he touched Kerry ’s arm and pointed to a patch of shade. Through the binoculars Kerry saw the male lion, big-headed, with a full rufous mane. A magnificent looking creature. The breeze moved his mane back and forth and Kerry saw the lion yawn hugely and toss his regal head to thwart the noisome flies.
“ Top cat in these parts,” was Chad’s verdict. “Full-bellied – now giving his wives their time at table.”
***
When they drove away Kerry was happy and full of wonder. Being there, you felt the blasting heat of the sun, saw the big cats’ immense power in their rippling muscles, heard the click-crunch of teeth on bone, the zing of a passing insect.
She turned to her companion. “Now I understand what you meant – about having to experience something before you can paint it.”
He grinned. “I knew you’d get it sooner or later.”
“I could even smell the blood,” Kerry said.
The track was narrow. Chad drove on looking for a place to turn. Thick and tangled bush encroached on each side. Stems and branches brushed against the moving car. There was no turning space so Chad drove on slowly.
Ahead, the land dropped away sharply into the slope of a river valley. Below in the distance, looking like a fat sleeping snake, curved the dry river bed – its sand yellow in the sun. Along its banks the vegetation was taller and thicker and greener than in the surrounding bush. Chad pointed out some gaps in the roadside cover at the foot of the valley.
“I ’ll turn there.” Looking at the sky, he added, “Hottest day so far. Thunderstorm’s threatening – it may just hit today.”
At that instant, from the thick bush at the roadside, came a crashing, drumming beat and onto the track ahead of the Fiat, at a fast gallop, burst a zebra, then a second, third and fourth. Kerry glimpsed two more off to one side.
“Let’s test their speed,” Chad shouted, already accelerating down the hill after the zebra.
“Watch the road,” Kerry warned.
“It’s okay,” he said, grinning. “No big rocks or holes.”
Kerry glanced at the speedometer. Saw it passing 40kph, 50kph. Their speed alarmed her. Bu t she had no wish to spoil Chad’s fun. They were on a high after observing the lions close-up.
60kph. The zebra kept on the track. Kerry wondered whether the lions had used its good surface for their final approach. She had read of lions chasing leaping impala along roads and past tourists’ cars.
They dropped to the foot of the valley. Ahead in the dry river bed, the zebra clattered over a stretch of concrete – there to give vehicles a firm crossing during the rains – their hooves kicking up puffs of dust. The Fiat was still travelling at speed and Kerr y knew without asking that Chad’s intention was to cross over and turn on a treeless patch on the far bank.
They were almost on the concrete when they saw the dip.
Chad swore and stomped hard on the brake. “Hold on!”
The car was airborne for two seconds before coming down with a heavy thump onto the concrete. It levelled and hit the far sloping wall solidly, climbed its three foot height and took off again and bounced along the track. Chad pulled the car onto the open veld and started to swing it round.
“Sorry – the bump was a surprise,” he said. “These crossings are usually flat.”
Just then the engine stopped.
Kerry felt a twinge of unease. The revs had been too high for it to have stalled. The petrol gauge showed over
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