Chapter 3
The flight wasn't all that bad I guess. Aside from the fact that Dad had to go into this long speech about how cool it would be when he shot it. I only listened to his first three or four sentences before tuning him out and digging into a book I'd brought. Dad, of course, didn't notice and kept on talking.
We arrived there around midday. The sun was scorching and for the first time I realized there was one good thing about this stupid killing trip; at least I'd get a tan. Now you're probably thinking, "Innocent animals are at stake and all she can think about is a tan?" I cannot blame you, but it is wrong. I care, but what could I do? I was only around fourteen. (I think that's how old we said she was..) Back to reality.
My Dad met up with these rough looking African-Americans, or wait, weren't they just African's now that we were in Africa? OH who cares? Anyway, he met up with them and they drove us out to a place where they said there were many lions. They helped us set up our camp, and then drove off, saying they would be back later.
It was then that I realized another thing. Wasn't hunting lions illegal? For a moment I thought, my face shriveled up in disgust. My dad had become a poacher! I looked at him and then turned away and retreated to my tent. I said nothing to him until the men came back. "There is still lots of daylight left, you wish to go now?" one of the men asked. I knew these men were poachers too, and it only made me feel sick. My dad was one of them now.
Before it had been ok. Before he hunted during hunting season, but there was no hunting season for lions in Africa. I sighed as my dad replied that he would love to go right then. I peeked out of the tent and waved goodbye. I noticed there were cages in the back of the truck the men drove and a flicker of hope lighted in my chest. Perhaps Dad wouldn't kill them. Perhaps he would only cage them. My heart flew at the thought. A few thoughts of doubt crept in, but I quickly pushed them away. I was going to hope that the cages came back with a LIVE animal in them, or nothing at all.
Well, my wish came true. I had been sitting there reading when I heard the truck pull up. I said nothing, nor did I look up. "He's kinda scrawny. You sure he'll do?" One of the men asked. "He'll grow and we'll feed him like the dickens till he gets fat and his coat shines like the sun." I looked up just as the two men were lifting a cage from the back of the truck.
Since the front of the truck was facing me, I couldn't see what was in the cage. I shrugged, why did I care anyway? It was going to be killed in the long run. "How do you spose we wake him up?" "We'll offer him some food, most of em' wake up to the smell." I looked up and there in front of me, lying almost lifeless in the cage, was a beautiful, golden pelted lion cub...
That seemed like a good end to the chapter, leaves you all with a cliffy, hehe. Well hope you liked it, and plz leave a review! OH yeah, ten points to anyone who can guess the cub before reading the next chapter!
The flight wasn't all that bad I guess. Aside from the fact that Dad had to go into this long speech about how cool it would be when he shot it. I only listened to his first three or four sentences before tuning him out and digging into a book I'd brought. Dad, of course, didn't notice and kept on talking.
We arrived there around midday. The sun was scorching and for the first time I realized there was one good thing about this stupid killing trip; at least I'd get a tan. Now you're probably thinking, "Innocent animals are at stake and all she can think about is a tan?" I cannot blame you, but it is wrong. I care, but what could I do? I was only around fourteen. (I think that's how old we said she was..) Back to reality.
My Dad met up with these rough looking African-Americans, or wait, weren't they just African's now that we were in Africa? OH who cares? Anyway, he met up with them and they drove us out to a place where they said there were many lions. They helped us set up our camp, and then drove off, saying they would be back later.
It was then that I realized another thing. Wasn't hunting lions illegal? For a moment I thought, my face shriveled up in disgust. My dad had become a poacher! I looked at him and then turned away and retreated to my tent. I said nothing to him until the men came back. "There is still lots of daylight left, you wish to go now?" one of the men asked. I knew these men were poachers too, and it only made me feel sick. My dad was one of them now.
Before it had been ok. Before he hunted during hunting season, but there was no hunting season for lions in Africa. I sighed as my dad replied that he would love to go right then. I peeked out of the tent and waved goodbye. I noticed there were cages in the back of the truck the men drove and a flicker of hope lighted in my chest. Perhaps Dad wouldn't kill them. Perhaps he would only cage them. My heart flew at the thought. A few thoughts of doubt crept in, but I quickly pushed them away. I was going to hope that the cages came back with a LIVE animal in them, or nothing at all.
Well, my wish came true. I had been sitting there reading when I heard the truck pull up. I said nothing, nor did I look up. "He's kinda scrawny. You sure he'll do?" One of the men asked. "He'll grow and we'll feed him like the dickens till he gets fat and his coat shines like the sun." I looked up just as the two men were lifting a cage from the back of the truck.
Since the front of the truck was facing me, I couldn't see what was in the cage. I shrugged, why did I care anyway? It was going to be killed in the long run. "How do you spose we wake him up?" "We'll offer him some food, most of em' wake up to the smell." I looked up and there in front of me, lying almost lifeless in the cage, was a beautiful, golden pelted lion cub...
That seemed like a good end to the chapter, leaves you all with a cliffy, hehe. Well hope you liked it, and plz leave a review! OH yeah, ten points to anyone who can guess the cub before reading the next chapter!