GOINGS AND COMINGS

By Neil Primus
ANDREW was 23, and worked in the ‘Gold Bush’. He decided to work independently as a porknocker. He learned his new trade quickly. His love for the interior was genuine; he became expert at locating gold. He also became an excellent hunter and tracker. Whenever his camp was low on meat, he went hunting. He always returned with game.
One afternoon he decided to go hunting; there was urgent need to replenish stocks. He headed into the thick bushes. As he moved, he stopped regularly to listen. Scanning the forest floor, he looked for familiar tracks. Suddenly, he spotted one; a deer was close by. He became quietly excited; he would be eating venison very soon.
Somewhere up ahead, something moved. He took aim and squeezed off a shot. The sound of the shot rang harshly through the forest. When he got to the spot, he found tracks going off in one direction. He followed, looking for traces of blood. He found none.
The tracks led him deeper into the forest and far away from his camp.
Suddenly, new tracks appeared; they had replaced those of the deer. The deer tracks had simply vanished.Full-moon-night
TOTALLY CONFUSED

Andrew was totally confused. He had never encountered anything of the sort before. But that was the least of his worries. The strange tracks had a shocking feature: The feet were pointing in opposite directions! He didn’t know what kind of animal this was, and whether it was going or coming.
Excited, but and slightly apprehensive, he followed continuously. The tracks led deeper into the jungle. Suddenly, he emerged onto a magnificent savannah. He could see clearly for miles around. He kept following the tracks, when reason defied him once again. The tracks suddenly stopped. Worse than that, it disappeared altogether! There was no way he could do any backtracking. He was well and truly lost.
That night he slept a restless sleep. The next morning, he scouted around, trying to pick up the tracks once again. There was nothing to follow. How would he make it back to his camp? he wondered.
Fruits and a ‘salipenter (large lizard)’ were what he used to help with his hunger. He used the leaves of certain trees that stored water to quench his thirst. He decided to walk towards the sun, and hope to run into someone. He did.
Suddenly, up ahead, something moved. He unslung his gun and took aim; but having thought better of it, he did not shoot. Slinging his rifle on his shoulder, he headed for the spot where he had noticed the movement.

STRANGE ENCOUNTER
The bush was getting thicker, but he managed to reach the area. Looking around, he saw a deer. It stood looking directly at him with gently pleading eyes. Something melted within Andrew, and, at that moment, he vowed never to hunt in the jungle again.
The deer turned and melted into the bushes. He went after it and saw clear tracks leading away. He followed willingly. In a few hours, he was back in familiar surroundings. The strange animal had led him back to his camp. Elated, he ran into his shelter and began eating like crazy.
A few days later he was chatting with a native man. He told him his strange story, and the man nodded in complete belief and understanding.
“You met the protector of the forest. You’re lucky you didn’t hit him, or you wouldn’t be here now.”
Andrew trembled at the thought. He would keep his promise; he would not hunt in the jungle. But he had an ace up his sleeve. Instead of hunting, he would begin to fish.
Now, he would go out at night to catch fish. Technically, he was not breaking his vow. Fish it would be. His Amerindian friends told him he would catch the best fish late at night, especially moonlight nights.
The next full moon night, he was ready. He borrowed a canoe, prepared his lines, hooks and bait. He was ready for his first catch. Rowing to the middle of the river, he tossed out his lines and sat patiently waiting on a bite.
Splash!
Something big was out there. Andrew smiled with excitement. There was another movement, and a flash of silver.
Splash!
A tail became visible for a split second, then vanished below the water’s surface. Something took hold of one of his lines. It was strong, but did not put up too much of a fight. Andrew began to haul in the line.
Splash!
This time he saw the tail, and a bit of the lower body. It was humongous. What a catch! He stood up in the rocking canoe and pulled with all his might.
As the fish came closer, he began to see it better. It was only when it reached the side of the boat that he knew he was in trouble. He found himself looking down into a pair of flashing gold eyes.
The face was beautiful, and the hair a shimmering mass, spread out on the surface of the water.
The magnificent creature smiled at the petrified youth, then grabbed the side of the canoe and pulled hard.

 

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