Quester was complaining again, as usual. He said, “I hate going back over my own steps when I am going somewhere. It feels like I am wasting my time.”

One of the other youngsters said, “Me too.”

Malebo pretended not to hear. She knew they would have to travel up river or down river to find another crossing. They walked back in the direction they came and a little away from the river. The big elephant stomped her way through the dry bush, now and again clearing away a branch so others could follow.

The day had been longer than planned and Quester began to complain. When Malebo said: “Let’s make camp here,” it seemed like everyone was happy. At least they would not have to listen to Big Mouth Quester. They all settled in, the youngsters kept closer to their mothers and the elders formed a circle around them.

Much later that night, Malebo felt someone tugging her trunk, urging her to wake up. It was Quester. “Quick, quick, a fire. It’s still far away. But the wind is blowing it this way.” Malebo opened her eyes and raised her head. As she could also smell smoke from the fire.

Malebo gave two or three trumpet sounds, waking everyone up. “Keep calm everyone,” she said. “There’s a big fire. And it may be coming this way in an hour or two.” She turned to Quester. “Thank you Quester, for spotting it first.” The elephants rose and started milling around. Parents looked for their little ones. Here and there, ears were flapping and tails were up. Now and again the wind sent waves of warmer air from the fire their way. “There’s no need to panic. But we need to move now,” Malebo told the herd.

Elephants don’t like travelling at night. But everyone walked carefully. Malebo walked in the front to find the best way to get to the river bed and cross over. A big moon shone bright over the land, casting light for a clearer path. It helped Malebo find her way. She asked Quester to go to the back of the line with the rest of the elephants. He had to make sure no one was left behind. “Yes boss”, said Quester, nodding. Malebo didn’t like the word boss, she was leader because the herd believed in her. But she was too busy to bother about it; she planned on talking to Quester about it later. At the same time, she also wondered: maybe Quester wasn’t trying to tease her by calling her boss  maybe he was trying to show that he was taking his task seriously.

***

Tell us: Is Quester really taking his job seriously or do you think he’s fooling around once again?