Chapter 14

  Surrounded - Max

  Max was a long way off from where Jezreel had unceremoniously dropped Link. Max was surprised and, in some sense, not surprised, that Jezreel grabbed Link. Max knew from what Link had said, Jezreel wouldn’t be happy if she knew Link was speaking to him like he was. Max was relieved to see the way she was holding him when they moved away because it didn’t look like she was hurting, and she easily could have. Max, not seeing any blood, told him that the bird wasn’t going to hurt him, at least that is what he hoped. She could have easily injured or even killed him without even removing the otter from his back.

  Mac moved quickly toward them; he could hear arguing. Max knew what the argument was about, and he wanted to stop it.

  Knowing what Link had said, Max shook his head. He just, he was, Link was right. He needed to help, both to help his adopted family, if he could, and to help Jezreel and Link because it was the right thing to do. Jezreel needed to understand this.

  Max moved closer, where Jezreel and Link were arguing. For someone who was supposed to be quiet, Max realized that Jezreel was being very, very loud. He cringed at the way the voices echoed across the last of the grasses that were in this dry place.

  Max looked around the area they were in. The savanna was holding on here, but only barely. The grasses were thinning out, and there were only a few trees around, and that's when Max saw it. The spattering of trees and grasses around couldn't hide that something was moving.

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  Max looked closer. He was sure he saw something jump out of a tree. And though he wouldn't swear by it, he thought it looked like a gorilla. Focusing in that direction, he was certain. Gorillas were moving to intercept Jezreel and Link as they sat amongst the last of the tall grasses, having their argument.

  At least eight gorillas were heading their way. The gorillas were moving quickly and quietly. Jezreel might have thought that the grass would give them cover, but all it did was keep them from seeing the danger that was coming.

  Max counted again. No, there were ten gorillas. Eight were moving quickly towards Jezrael and Link, and two of them were moving toward him.

  Max stopped for a moment, wondering what he should do. If he yelled, then the gorillas would know he wasn't just a young elephant. He was a talking elephant. This would mark him as an enemy. And if what Link had told him was true, it would put his life in jeopardy.

  Max knew he might not be able to outrun the gorillas, at least not for long. If he just stood here and did nothing, it wouldn't help either. Jezreel and Link would get caught. However, if he yelled, Jezreel might be able to carry Link away. Yes, the gorillas would come after him, but they were coming anyway.

  Max looked around one more time, hoping to find an ally. He saw something he had not seen before, a lion. It was a large lion. Larger than he had ever seen. Max was going to ignore it and yell out anyway to warn Jezreel and Link that the gorillas were coming. But fear overtook him as he noticed the lion doing something that they never do. It was charging an elephant, and he was the elephant.

  Max knew he needed to respond, but for that moment, fear overtook him. And Max didn't move. Then Max yelled, not like a talking elephant, but he bellowed out a warning like any non-speaking elephant. He'd been around for seasons, and now he responded just like they did.