African Waterhole

Cavin Wright

Description

A charming tale of the animals living around an African waterhole. The intrigues, anxieties and relationships between such diverse characters as Walter, the warthog, Larry the evil leopard, Percival, the African Grey parrot and Michael the meercat will both amuse young readers and widen their appreciation of the natural world.

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 11 septembre 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783332472
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
AN AFRICAN WATERHOLE



By
Cavin Wright



Publisher Information
An African Waterhole
published in 2013 by Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Copyright © Cavin Wright 2013
The right of Cavin Wright to be identified as author of this book has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyrights Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.



Dedication
For Janet



Walter
Walter made his slow and ponderous way through the tall, dry grass, that stood a meter above the tip of his erect, aerial-like tail.
The warthog cringed at the immense heat of the day beating down on his back. He could hardly wait to immerse himself in water and feel the cool liquid soothe his parched hide.
At length, he emerged from the vegetation, and, checking for unwelcome visitors, strolled casually down to the packed, hard clay surrounding the waterhole.
“Hey, Wally!” called a high-pitched voice from a nearby msasa tree. “How’re you doin’?”
Walter gave an audible groan. “Not the parrot! Not today, of all days!” he muttered to himself.
“Hi, Percy,” he said in a scarcely audible tone. “Okay, I guess. And you?”
Not that he really wanted to know.
The peculiar grey hog reached the water’s edge, but refused to raise his eyes to the tree. With any luck, the parrot would notice the rebuff, and save his stories for the next visitor.
But it was not to be...
As Walter lowered his armoured snout to take his morning drink, Percy took the opportunity to vent forth.
“You know who I saw yesterday, Wally?”
The warthog squinted through his tusks and gave a sigh. He declined to reply, but knew he would hear who it was the damnable bird had met, anyway.


Percival puffed out his chest self-importantly. “I had a chat to Larry!” he announced loudly.
That got Walter’s attention all right.
The warthog’s stubby nose shot from under the water, showering droplets all around. His eyes were wide and Percy caught the desired flash of fear in them as Walter glanced nervously about him.
“Where!?” demanded Walter, screwing up his eyes and glaring directly at the bird. “Where did you see that spotted heathen?”
The leopard was the most feared being in Walter’s world. A leopard could easily make a meal of a warthog, and Walter wasn’t getting any younger. In his youth, he might have stood a chance of gouging a big cat and giving him second thoughts about his lunch menu. But now, he just wanted to live out his days in peace, enjoying his retirement.
“Where?” he grunted even more vehemently.
The African Grey fluffed out his feathers and took his sweet time in answering.
“If you don’t tell me where...” added Walter menacingly.
Percy knew what would follow, and hastily spilled the beans. “A long way from here, Wally!” he cooed. “Up in the kopjies. You know the hills on old van Deventer’s farm?”
“But that’s where Larry lives, you fool!” hissed Walter. “That’s a day’s walk from here! I thought you meant you’d seen him nearby!”
Percy looked a bit deflated. “I might have done!” he said quietly, clearly disappointed that he hadn’t dragged his story out a bit.


“Now, if you don’t mind,” put in Walter pointedly, “I will carry out my ablutions.”
“Feel free...” the parrot had lost interest now that his bombshell had proved a dud.