Grand Theft Safari Read Free Page B

crocodiles.
    â€œAlberto, we’re fine,” Mom said. “It didn’t have me. It had my coat.”
    â€œThat is too close!” Dad shouted. “What if it hadgrabbed Marisol?”
    â€œAlberto, please, settle down. It didn’t get Marisol. And I had a way to get out. We worked together as a team. We’re all right.”
    Nigel nodded to reassure Dad.
    â€œI think we’re in over our heads in Africa,” Dad grumbled as he stormed off to his tent.
    I looked at Mom. Dad was usually mild mannered. This was not like him.
    â€œHoney,” she said to me, “he’s just worried, scared he could have lost us. Give him some time. He’ll settle down.”
    â€œDo you think we’re in over our heads here? Should we pack it up and go home?” I asked her. We’d been on lots of research trips in the wild with Mom before. Never had we come this close to dying.
    â€œNo, I don’t think we should pack it up. Or give up. We made a silly mistake by the water. Now we know. We’ll be more careful in the future.”

Chapter Four
    ZEBRAS!
    Nigel suggested we hike through the grasslands, far away from the river, to photograph animals. He said this would be fun and take Dad’s mind off of the crocodile attack.
    We packed our water, loaded the rifles, and followed Nigel into the tall grass. Elea led the way, wagging her tail as we followed her along the foot path.
    â€œStay together. We don’t need a lion pride getting between us,” Nigel advised.
    Dad looked nervously at Nigel.
    â€œAlberto,” Nigel said to Dad, “We’re just being prepared. Where there’s zebras there’s always a chance of a lion.”
    We hiked for about an hour before we found a herd of zebras, grazing on the savannah.
    â€œAwesome,” I whispered so I wouldn’t startlethe zebras.
    â€œTake a picture,” Tomas whispered to me.
    I snapped a few photos. Young zebras trotted around the center of the herd, biting and kicking at one another.
    â€œLooks like the young ones are playing,” Nigel laughed.
    One zebra gave a high-pitched cry. The others looked up, noses in the wind. The herd was still. The lone zebra gave the cry again, only this time louder and more urgent.
    Nigel turned to us. “Something’s out there. Be still.” He had his gun ready and passed his binoculars to me.
    A tawny lion sprang from the grass, rushing the herd. The zebras galloped toward to the east. Another lion came up on the right, pursuing the herd. Then another sprang from the left. The lions were closing in on the herd.
    â€œRun,” I screamed at the zebras, “run!”
    â€œShush,” Mom whispered, motioning toward me.
    I didn’t want the zebras to die.
    â€œIt’s the law of nature. The lions will catch theslowest or the weakest.” Mom said. I knew that but I didn’t want to see it.
    A female lion lunged at a slower zebra at the rear of the herd. Its claws dug into the zebra’s flesh. The zebra screamed as the lion pulled the zebra to the ground. The rest of the herd continued to flee but the lions circled back to feast.
    I turned away because I felt like I was going to throw up. I couldn’t watch anymore.
    â€œLet’s go in the opposite direction. We don’t need to disturb the lions,” Nigel said.
    â€œMarisol,” Nigel asked me as we walked away, “What is the matter?”
    â€œI can’t believe we just stood by and let that happen to the poor zebra,” I said.
    â€œEveryone must eat,” he said. “The lions take the slowest, weakest, or oldest.”
    I nodded my head because I understood but I still didn’t like it.
    â€œThe lions only take what they need to survive and feed their cubs. By eating the weakest of the zebras, it also keeps the zebra herd stronger,” he explained.
    â€œI know that. I learned about the food chain along time ago,” I said sharply.