Africa Calls.

Chapter 6.

                                                                 

Dawn slowly came awake. She did not know what had woken her, it was just getting light outside.
A feeling of apprehension came over her, something cold clutched at her heart.
Slowly she opened her eyes, and without really moving looked up from where she was lying in her camp bed, and slowly looked around
There, across the room, facing her with black glinting eyes, head poised and held high, fork tongue flickering was the snake. It seemed to mesmerise her, as if trying to hypnotise her.                                                
She caught her breath, could not breath, felt her chest tighten to the point of passing out.She felt a drip of perspiration run down her spine.
They had been warned if coming across one of these snakes. she thought it looked like the black mamba, but right now her brain was dead.She did remember however, never to make a sudden move.
Slowly she tried to calm herself, and let the breath out that she had been holding in.The snake just stayed in place, a gently sway with the head, and the eyes never leaving hers. She looked around with her eyes, hardly moving her head for Nick, but he was nowhere to be seen. Fearful of calling out, she whispered his name under her breath. Where was he?
Suddenly all hell let loose. There was a loud swish, and spatters of blood flew around. Shocked she looked up. One of the guards was standing in front of her with  a machete dangling in his hand."I move quick, was lucky snake watching you, not hear me. No time to try and catch, more dangerous" the guard said. Nick was behind him, as still as if frozen in time, looking a little on the pale side. After a lot of thanking and shaking the guards hand, and being reassured "This did not happen very often," they watched him go off with the dead snake.
Later as they sat on the small veranda of their tent, both still very shaken up, with Dawn cradling a mug of hot tea which had a nip of brandy in it. Nick told her, he had got up early, and crept out so as not to wake her. Whilst outside watching life start to stir around the camp, a guard had run up quickly and said. 'He had seen the snake slither under the canvas flap that Nick had left open, so had come quickly to get it out. "So sorry had to kill, but it would have struck little mama. I no like to kill, but no time to catch snake. He very poisonous."

Taking a deep breath, as she still felt the shakes inside her body, Dawn bravely smiled, and giving Nick a
 hug, went in to get ready for hopefully a calm days viewing. This was wild Africa, and they were on safari,she reminded herself as she checked the shower before getting in.
Their minds were soon taken off from the mornings events.
They saw a beautiful cheetah slowly making it's way in front of them. What a graceful creature it was thought
Nick, how could people hunt such animals. They sat and watched it. Thomas had been telling them off the poaching that had been going on, and the odd capture of live animals for private zoos.
                                                         

"We as game drivers are always looking out for any trouble, we see something, we let park police know. Sometimes they lucky and catch them, but at least we try to stop this trade. Very bad for our country"  Thomas sighed. "We enjoy animals now, yes"

               


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Have been a little busier this week on 'Ratty', he is coming along nicely. Will soon have to think what I am doing about the foliage.

                                                 

                                             
                             Hope you all have a good week and some sunshine to enjoy.And a warm welcome to new viewers.