Chapter 8.

  Not going home - Max

  "That is amazing." Link said again. "The creator must be protecting you. I don't think this is an accident."

  Max looked at Link and said, "How's that?”

  You being here, right now, it has to be something special.” Link said,

  And what are you doing here?" Max asked.

  It was then that the bird flying overhead dived and landed on top of Max’s head. Max could feel its large talons, but due to his thick skin, it didn't bother him. The bird perched on top of Max's head as if it belonged there. However, though it wasn't talking, Max understood that this bird was working with Link. If Max hadn't known the bird had been with Link, he would have immediately reached up with his trunk and knocked it off.

  Link looked up and stared at the bird, then said, "That bird thinks it's in charge."

  Max couldn't see it, but he assumed that the bird made itself upright. And in fact, the bird had. The bird stood more upright, like it was the leader of an army or the teacher in the class, ready to give instructions, but it didn't say anything.

  Max asked, "So, what do you mean this may not be an accident?"

  Link changed the subject by asking, "So, what are you doing now?"

  "I was looking for my adopted family to let them know I'm alive. But I'm not finding any elephants anywhere. It's really strange."

  Link nodded and said, "Yeah, we've known."

  Before he could say another word, the bird on the back of Max let out a loud, “Cheereek.”

  The noise was so loud and so close to Max's ear that it caused pain. And Max shook his head to knock the bird loose, causing the bird to launch itself into the air, much to Max's relief.

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  "Ow! That was loud," Max complained.

  Link stood there, shook his head, and humped, then staring after the bird said, “Remember, elephants have sensitive ears, be kind.”

  Max couldn't understand the relationship between this bird and Link, but clearly, there was some strange relationship.

  Whatever Max thought, Lind didn’t seem willing to explain. Link, however, was going to change the subject again.

  "You do want to go home, don't you, Max?" Link asked

  Max nodded. “Of course.”

  "Well, if you head back that direction,” Link pointed,” straight west from here, you will eventually be able to see the Bridge of Hope. And you can go up and once you get to the top, someone will help you find your way back to your family."

  Max shook his head. "I can't do that.”

  “Why do you want to go home?" Link’s head tilted to the right, “Correct?"

  Max nodded. "Yes, but the herd protected me. They adopted me. They took care of me for several seasons. And I can't just leave and let them think that I'm dead.”

  “So you want to go home?"

  "Yes," Max said, "I want to see my mom and dad. But I need to let the herd know I'm alive. It's only the right thing to do."

  Link stepped forward. And before he said something, the bird once again let out a shriek from the sky. Max was glad this time it did so from high above. Max guessed that the bird could hear everything they were saying and was complaining.

  Link took a step back. "Well, in that case. Can we join you?"

  Max was confused. "What? Join me?"

  "Yes. It's the least I can do for an old friend. We can go together and help find this family of yours."

  "Do you know where they've gone?"

  Link shook his head.

  "No, but I know they crossed the river just upstream a little bit.

  Max knew the place. If the herd crossed both the stream and the river, that would be the place. The herd had crossed it only one time in Max's memory. Though there was some fruit on the other side, that land beyond quickly became drier. And Max guessed that it led into desert.

  It was confusing to Max. There was no reason for the herd to go in that direction. There was nothing there. Max wasn't certain, but he was pretty sure that the trees in that area of the savannah weren't producing fruit. The grasses weren't nearly as good as they were on this side of the river. It didn't make sense to Max. But if Link said that was the way they went, then Max was going to go that direction.

  Max looked down at Link more carefully. Link now seemed excited to be able to join with Max, which made Max happy, but also had him wondering, what is going on? Why is Max so intent on helping me?"

  But for now, Max was glad that Link was joining him, and it seemed so might the bird. He wasn’t along and he had help finding his family.

  "Yes. I would love your help," Max said.

  "Good. Then let's start," Link said, and he turned north. They both started walking side by side, following what Max could see were the tracks of a lot of elephants, more than what were in his herd.