The story so far:
Ranger Rom and Romiko were enjoying their first night in the African wilds, sitting around the campfire toasting marshmallows. Then, who should turn up but Lisha Leopard, hungry for human and tortoise snacks! However, with some quick thinking and a bit of flattery from her intended victims, she’s now a buddy. A new member of the gang, in fact - with a taste for marshmallows! Now, read on …
Next morning, Ranger Rom, Romiko and Lisha Leopard are trekking across the savanna on safari. Ranger Rom is hitching a ride in Romiko’s backpack.
Hey Lisha - why are you lagging behind? Keep up why don’t you!
Yaawn! Just cos you’ve managed to hitch a ride, you old plodder! I’m normally nocturnal - a creature of the night!
(She looks around) Now, a friendly tree branch would do just nicely for a nap …
(pointing) Hey, look, a waterhole - up ahead!
Oh yes, with an island in the middle …
(Smiles to herself) What, are they blind or something? That ain’t no island …
(They get closer to the waterhole)
Listen - what’s that?
What?
(They listen intently)
Sounds like some kind of rattle!
That aint no rattle!
Look - it’s coming from those birds … hopping around that island!
(smiling) They really wouldn’t have a clue! Those birds are oxpeckers, and they’re warning the “island” of our approach, must be a big animal there -
Hey - the island’s grunting!
And moving - up out of the mud!
It’s a rhino, you dumbos! A southern white rhino, by the look of him.
(She strolls over to him). Hey Rhino, what’s happenin’ dude?
Oh, hey Leopard.
(He shakes his head and snorts - two of the birds fly out of his big ears)
That’s enough now guys - thanks for the cleaning job!
Mr Ollie: You’re welcome big fella - but we’re not going very far!
Mrs Roxy: We haven’t even started on your ticks yet! They look particularly juicy today!
(modestly) Those birds just love my ticks! And they especially like my earwax! Tastiest earwax around, they reckon …
Eww - disgusting! They better not come near me, or they’ll be lunch!
(Romiko and Ranger Rom venture closer)
Hey Lisha - are you gonna introduce us?
Oh yeah. Rhino - these are a couple of dudes I’ve taken under my paw - Ranger Rom and Romiko.
And I’m Rhino Reth. Snort!
How doody, Reth!
Hurrumph! Rhino Reth is actually my full title! ‘Reth’ means king - and that’s what I am around here. King of the Waterhole!
(quietly) King of the Mud Puddle, more like it! (Loudly) So, Rhino
Reth, why is a King of the Waterhole wearing that silly hat?
(Starting to blush) Ermm … well …
(Mr Ollie and Mrs Roxy the oxpeckers swoop past, chortling)
Mrs Roxy: He may look as though he has the hide of a rhinoceros, but he’s actually very sensitive, poor baby! He likes to hide his horn -
That’s enough, O … !
Mr Ollie: And he gets plagued by insect bites!
(Roars) Quiet, O … ! (to the others) Harrumph!! Don’t believe a chirrup of it! Darn pesky birds …
(smiling sweetly) That’s why you’re so-called King of the Waterhole! You get protection from us and the insects from wallowing in that puutrid mud!
Hmph! Darn fine mud! Top of the range, A-grade, glorious mud!
Mud fit for a king, in fact!
Darn right! (He pauses, listening) Hey - what’s that noise?
RR: What noise?
(They all listen)
I can’t hear anything …
Well, I have got exceptional hearing -
(quietly) Lucky, cos you’re as blind as a bat!
Can’t you hear it? That thumping noise … (He points with his horn) Look!
(The others swing around)
Grrowl!! What on earrrth is it? Some giant hopping thing …
I can’t believe it! Its -
A kangaroo!
But -
what in heck is a kangaroo doing - on the African veldt!?
To find out just what a kangaroo is doing on the African veldt, watch out for the next installment of Ranger Rom’s African Safari Adventures!