Secret Safari by Susannah McFarlane Read Free Book Online

the trees with large, flat rocks dotted around as if they had been dropped from the sky and flattened on their way down. The air was even thinner now and it was getting even more difficult to breathe but on those rocks EJ saw something that took her breath away altogether.

In front of EJ was a large, black and hairy face with big, dark brown eyes, spaced quite widely apart and a large, flattened nose, its wide, open nostrils dropping down to a big mouth with thick black lips. And, all around, shaping the smooth grey skin of its face were long, black hairs. But it was the eyes fixed on her that EJ couldn’t stop looking at. She slowly stepped back, keeping low; she wanted the gorilla to know she was a friend, that she wouldn’t hurt it. If it did think she was a threat, EJ would be in trouble. She would be no match for this huge beast with its black barrel of a chest and thick hairy arms and legs. But it didn’t look like it wanted to hurt anyone, none of them did. They were like gentle giants. They sat in the grass, picking things from each other’s fur, scratching themselves, scratching each other, chewing on bamboo sticks. EJ felt incredibly lucky to be so close and watching them but she remembered Rafiki’s advice to keep her distance from any wild animal. She would be no match for an angry gorilla.
    The map from the refuge said there were ten gorillas in this family and that was the number EJ counted, which meant that this family, at least, were all safe. She slipped silently back from the clearing and hiked on in search of the next family. Maybe she had got here before Adriana? Maybe all the gorillas would be safe?
    EJ checked her map. There was supposed to be another, smaller family, with just four adults and a baby, close by. EJ would check on them next. She was trudging along the path, pushing past the vines and branches, when she heard something.
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    phtt
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    What was that? It sounded like something whizzing, flying through the air. And then EJ heard another, heavier noise.
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    THUD
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    It was the sound of something big falling. EJ stopped in her tracks.
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    phtt! phtt! THUD. THUD.
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    There it was again, and again. EJ ducked down. She began to crawl slowly and quietly forwards. Then she heard the sounds a fourth time.
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    phtt! THUD .
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    EJ froze. Then she lifted her head. She was approaching another small clearing with more large rocks and grassy mounds, just like where the gorilla family had been resting. EJ moved slowly up to get a better view into the clearing. She now saw four large gorillas lying down in the grass. EJ felt her mouth go dry. Was she too late? EJ stood up and took a cautious step into the clearing towards the gorillas. And then she took another. As she took her third step, she heard a familiar voice.
    â€˜That’s far enough, EJ12. I should have known my sister would send her pint-sized animal protector. Well, too bad, this baby’s mine.’
    It was Adriana. The short, rather large woman, dressed all in black, with a black pendant hanging from a long chain around her neck, stepped out from behind the sleeping gorillas. With her black hair swept up in the same messy hairstyle, Adriana was unmistakeably A1’s sister. They both shared the same nose and mouth but whereas A1’s eyes were blue and kind, Adriana’s were almost black and mean. And whereas A1’s fingernails were sensibly short and unpolished, Adriana’s were long and painted, some with black and white stripes, some yellow with black spots. She was holding a baby gorilla in one hand with what looked like a rifle in the other.
    â€˜Are you admiring my safari nails, EJ?’ said Adriana. ‘Or my latest catch?’
    â€˜Hello, Adriana,’ said EJ. She was determined to appear calm, even though she could feel the butterflies starting to fly around her stomach and her mouth beginning to dry. ‘I see you’re feeling better. A1 was sorry you