Chapter 10: Life on the Fast Lane
Simba bolted just after these words left Kovu, he had a furious look on his face; angrier than he was when Chester was mistaken to have attacked a lioness. He moved so swiftly it took Chester a few moments to realise he'd gone. Kovu was following Simba closely as though he was eager to see what was going to happen. Chester wondered what Kovu meant. What humans? They're back? When did they come? He had to find out.
Pumbaa: Hey! Where're you going? Come back!
Chester (About to go after Simba and Kovu): Why? I wanna know what they're on about!
Timon: Trust me, kid. You don't! I doesn't concern you anyway!
Chester: Wha? How?
Timon: No-one in the Pride Lands can handle humans! Simba and others can though so don't get involved!
Chester (Losing patience slightly): I'm not from the Pride Lands!
Timon: It doesn't matter!
Chester (Turning away): Then I'm going.
Timon/Pumbaa: DON'T!
Chester (Lost patience completely): WHAT?!?
Pumbaa (Stammering slightly): You don't know what humans are like!
Chester: I AM a human!
Timon and Pumbaa don't have an argument for this so Chester runs as fast as he can in search of Simba and Kovu not caring if Timon and Pumbaa followed him or not.
Once or twice Chester thought he was lost and he worried that the apparent threat was over and he missed it. He eventually came across extremely faded paw-prints and guessed that they were Simba's. Chester was bad enough reading maps let alone tracking but his instincts told him to follow them. His anxiety level was rising and almost reached breaking point when the tracks became fuller.
???: What do you think their doing?
Chester instinctively dropped onto the ground he looked around and saw Kovu and Simba hiding behind some bushes. He was about get up to make himself known when-
Simba: I don't know, do you think they might be related to Chester?
Chester kept low profile and hid behind a small bush so he would remain anonymous. He looked out to where they were looking and he saw two men near Pride Rock, scrambling about in a weird way, almost as if they were chasing something very quick. He also spotted a 4x4 a short distance away with a large cage on wheels joined on to it. Chester put two and two together. Poachers.
Kovu: What? How can they be? They came here a week ago-
Kovu stops abruptly. He apologizes to Simba with reasons unknown to Chester.
Simba: It's O.K. You're right anyway. They couldn't be.
All of sudden they hear screams coming in the direction of Pride Rock. Simba and Kovu weren't paying attention before but now they did. One of the men was looking exceptionally pleased with himself. He is carrying something with ease even though it was fighting for its life. Chester just realised what he'd done: he'd captured Komali and Malika. Simba and Kovu noticed this too as Chester had heard sudden cries of fury.
Poacher1 (Smirking): Thought you could get away, huh? Fat chance! My boss will pay a fine price for you two!
Lionesses came up from behind the poachers roaring them, Kiara and Nala in front. However, the other poacher aimed a tranquillizer at them backing away as he does so, this stops them in their tracks changing most of their faces from anger to fear. The poacher carrying the cubs has reached the cage and is shoving the cubs into it and shutting the door. Suddenly, Simba bursts out from the bushes roaring at him. The poacher jumps in fright and looks at Simba fearfully. Then surprisingly he smirks at him almost mockingly.
Chester (thinking): You are so dead!
Poacher1: Jimmy, look who it is!
The young-looking poacher, who had back-tracked all the way to the 4x4 looked over and just realises what's going on. He looks fearfully from the poacher to Simba.
Jimmy: Oh god.
Poacher1: Yeah, I can't believe it either! Even after last time, "scaredy- cat's" came back for more!
Jimmy (Shaking his head): We can't do this, Dad! It was bad enough before. We're going too far!
Jimmy's Dad (Looking over): What?!? Yeah right! Give me the tranquillizer over!
He holds out his hand for it and his son reluctantly hand s him it. Contentedly, J's Dad arms the gun. Simba catches sight of it and takes a step back staring at it cautiously. The man smirks at him.
J's Dad: Yeah! That's right! Come any closer and it twilight time for you, pal!
The cubs stare pleadingly at Simba through the bars of the cage. Simba doesn't see them as he is engaged with threat J's Dad had placed on him.
J's Dad (Smug): Jimmy! Get in the car.
Jimmy: But-
J's Dad: NOW!
Jimmy looks infuriated by his father but obeys.
J's Dad (to Simba): Well, I bid you fond farewell but please, (he raises the gun) have a parting gift.
Chester feels around his body for something to throw at him and finds a small rock. He takes aim but quickly drops it as Kovu had jumped in to help Simba.
Simba (Sharply but quietly): Don't, Kovu!
J's Dad (Mocking him): Ho-ho! Here for the party, huh?
Just then the 4x4s engine starts up.
J's Dad: Oh well, must dash, chums! It's been fun!
With that the man quickly heads for the car leaving Simba and Kovu dumbstruck. They franticly try to open the cage as time was running out. After a few quick attempts it proved impossible.
Komali/Malika (Nearly crying in fear): Dad! Simba! Don't leave us! Help us!
At that moment the car pulled away taking the cubs with them.
Kovu (Closing his eyes in anger): NOOO!!!
Then something rushed past him quickly with determination powering its limbs. All of a sudden it leaped and latched onto the bars of the cage.
Komali (Eyes lighting up): Chester!!!
Sure enough it was Chester. He was pulling himself up with some difficultly as his feet were being dragged along as the 4x4 gained speed.
Chester (Climbing up): Hi!
With this, he started edging along the perimeter of the cage almost like a ninja. He had a plan but it was very rushed so he wasn't 100% sure it would work. After a couple of seconds he reached his destination. The hitch. Chester knelt down and began to loosen the ball hoping it would work. It was stiff but it was giving away.
J's Dad: Hey, what was that noise?
Chester flinched.
Jimmy: Sorry, that was me.
He looks at his son.
J's Dad (Looking at him in disgust): You li'l stinker!
Jimmy smirks and Chester was relieved so he continued to loosen it. He was sure it was nearly done when-
J's Dad: Now THAT, I definitely heard! What IS that? (Jimmy quickly points at himself) Nice try! The last one didn't even smell!
Jimmy: It doesn't have to! Maybe it was them?
J's Dad looks at the cubs who wander aimlessly around the cage, feinting carelessness to lull him with.
J's Dad: Nah! It was probably nothing.
He watches the road or plains as the case may be while Chester loosens the last part of it and releases it with J's Dad oblivious to what has happened. The connection broke so suddenly Chester was thrown forward and landed on his back as the cage flew over him slowing down. He raised his feet slightly so he could hook it, slowing it quicker. It worked until he felt his skin burn off from being dragged. The cage eventually slowed and halted. He laid back, closing his eyes in relief and then a shadow came over him. Chester looked up and saw Kovu and Kiara towering over him, smiling.
Simba bolted just after these words left Kovu, he had a furious look on his face; angrier than he was when Chester was mistaken to have attacked a lioness. He moved so swiftly it took Chester a few moments to realise he'd gone. Kovu was following Simba closely as though he was eager to see what was going to happen. Chester wondered what Kovu meant. What humans? They're back? When did they come? He had to find out.
Pumbaa: Hey! Where're you going? Come back!
Chester (About to go after Simba and Kovu): Why? I wanna know what they're on about!
Timon: Trust me, kid. You don't! I doesn't concern you anyway!
Chester: Wha? How?
Timon: No-one in the Pride Lands can handle humans! Simba and others can though so don't get involved!
Chester (Losing patience slightly): I'm not from the Pride Lands!
Timon: It doesn't matter!
Chester (Turning away): Then I'm going.
Timon/Pumbaa: DON'T!
Chester (Lost patience completely): WHAT?!?
Pumbaa (Stammering slightly): You don't know what humans are like!
Chester: I AM a human!
Timon and Pumbaa don't have an argument for this so Chester runs as fast as he can in search of Simba and Kovu not caring if Timon and Pumbaa followed him or not.
Once or twice Chester thought he was lost and he worried that the apparent threat was over and he missed it. He eventually came across extremely faded paw-prints and guessed that they were Simba's. Chester was bad enough reading maps let alone tracking but his instincts told him to follow them. His anxiety level was rising and almost reached breaking point when the tracks became fuller.
???: What do you think their doing?
Chester instinctively dropped onto the ground he looked around and saw Kovu and Simba hiding behind some bushes. He was about get up to make himself known when-
Simba: I don't know, do you think they might be related to Chester?
Chester kept low profile and hid behind a small bush so he would remain anonymous. He looked out to where they were looking and he saw two men near Pride Rock, scrambling about in a weird way, almost as if they were chasing something very quick. He also spotted a 4x4 a short distance away with a large cage on wheels joined on to it. Chester put two and two together. Poachers.
Kovu: What? How can they be? They came here a week ago-
Kovu stops abruptly. He apologizes to Simba with reasons unknown to Chester.
Simba: It's O.K. You're right anyway. They couldn't be.
All of sudden they hear screams coming in the direction of Pride Rock. Simba and Kovu weren't paying attention before but now they did. One of the men was looking exceptionally pleased with himself. He is carrying something with ease even though it was fighting for its life. Chester just realised what he'd done: he'd captured Komali and Malika. Simba and Kovu noticed this too as Chester had heard sudden cries of fury.
Poacher1 (Smirking): Thought you could get away, huh? Fat chance! My boss will pay a fine price for you two!
Lionesses came up from behind the poachers roaring them, Kiara and Nala in front. However, the other poacher aimed a tranquillizer at them backing away as he does so, this stops them in their tracks changing most of their faces from anger to fear. The poacher carrying the cubs has reached the cage and is shoving the cubs into it and shutting the door. Suddenly, Simba bursts out from the bushes roaring at him. The poacher jumps in fright and looks at Simba fearfully. Then surprisingly he smirks at him almost mockingly.
Chester (thinking): You are so dead!
Poacher1: Jimmy, look who it is!
The young-looking poacher, who had back-tracked all the way to the 4x4 looked over and just realises what's going on. He looks fearfully from the poacher to Simba.
Jimmy: Oh god.
Poacher1: Yeah, I can't believe it either! Even after last time, "scaredy- cat's" came back for more!
Jimmy (Shaking his head): We can't do this, Dad! It was bad enough before. We're going too far!
Jimmy's Dad (Looking over): What?!? Yeah right! Give me the tranquillizer over!
He holds out his hand for it and his son reluctantly hand s him it. Contentedly, J's Dad arms the gun. Simba catches sight of it and takes a step back staring at it cautiously. The man smirks at him.
J's Dad: Yeah! That's right! Come any closer and it twilight time for you, pal!
The cubs stare pleadingly at Simba through the bars of the cage. Simba doesn't see them as he is engaged with threat J's Dad had placed on him.
J's Dad (Smug): Jimmy! Get in the car.
Jimmy: But-
J's Dad: NOW!
Jimmy looks infuriated by his father but obeys.
J's Dad (to Simba): Well, I bid you fond farewell but please, (he raises the gun) have a parting gift.
Chester feels around his body for something to throw at him and finds a small rock. He takes aim but quickly drops it as Kovu had jumped in to help Simba.
Simba (Sharply but quietly): Don't, Kovu!
J's Dad (Mocking him): Ho-ho! Here for the party, huh?
Just then the 4x4s engine starts up.
J's Dad: Oh well, must dash, chums! It's been fun!
With that the man quickly heads for the car leaving Simba and Kovu dumbstruck. They franticly try to open the cage as time was running out. After a few quick attempts it proved impossible.
Komali/Malika (Nearly crying in fear): Dad! Simba! Don't leave us! Help us!
At that moment the car pulled away taking the cubs with them.
Kovu (Closing his eyes in anger): NOOO!!!
Then something rushed past him quickly with determination powering its limbs. All of a sudden it leaped and latched onto the bars of the cage.
Komali (Eyes lighting up): Chester!!!
Sure enough it was Chester. He was pulling himself up with some difficultly as his feet were being dragged along as the 4x4 gained speed.
Chester (Climbing up): Hi!
With this, he started edging along the perimeter of the cage almost like a ninja. He had a plan but it was very rushed so he wasn't 100% sure it would work. After a couple of seconds he reached his destination. The hitch. Chester knelt down and began to loosen the ball hoping it would work. It was stiff but it was giving away.
J's Dad: Hey, what was that noise?
Chester flinched.
Jimmy: Sorry, that was me.
He looks at his son.
J's Dad (Looking at him in disgust): You li'l stinker!
Jimmy smirks and Chester was relieved so he continued to loosen it. He was sure it was nearly done when-
J's Dad: Now THAT, I definitely heard! What IS that? (Jimmy quickly points at himself) Nice try! The last one didn't even smell!
Jimmy: It doesn't have to! Maybe it was them?
J's Dad looks at the cubs who wander aimlessly around the cage, feinting carelessness to lull him with.
J's Dad: Nah! It was probably nothing.
He watches the road or plains as the case may be while Chester loosens the last part of it and releases it with J's Dad oblivious to what has happened. The connection broke so suddenly Chester was thrown forward and landed on his back as the cage flew over him slowing down. He raised his feet slightly so he could hook it, slowing it quicker. It worked until he felt his skin burn off from being dragged. The cage eventually slowed and halted. He laid back, closing his eyes in relief and then a shadow came over him. Chester looked up and saw Kovu and Kiara towering over him, smiling.