Chapter 15

  Caught - Max

  Max felt shame that he did not warn his friend, but only bellowed out like any member of the herd. Everyone, except the lion, stopped and looked toward him. Even Jezreel and Link stopped and looked in his direction, but the grasses that Jezreel had put them in were too high for them to see any danger.

  And then several things happened at one moment. Jezreel leaped into the air, and all but one of the gorillas that were surrounding the pair launched into a full run towards the only one left on the ground. Conquest threw a bola, two round stones connected by a rope, into the air, and it hit Jezreel in the side. The final thing that happened was that the lion closed in on Max. The Lion leaped, and Max flinched, knowing teeth were going to dive into his neck.

  Max and the gorillas who weren’t focused on Link were shocked when they saw a lion jump away and run off into the distance.

  Max was so spooked by the lion that he just stood there, speechless, wondering what just happened.

  Jezreel flew a moment longer and then fell to the ground, far away.

  "I got him," yelled Conquest, seeing the bird fall.

  Link didn’t know what was happening, but when he saw the bola hit Jezreel, he knew that he was surrounded. When the first two gorillas jumped in front of him, he held out his hands in surrender. The gorillas, instead of just grabbing him, tackled him and piled on top.

  "We got the other one!" the gorilla on top of the pile yelled.

  Still confused, Max didn’t see that one of the gorillas had reached out his hand toward Max. And for a moment, Max smelled something, and then he felt relaxed. Max heard words.

  "It's okay, little elephant. It's okay. I'm Bond. I will protect you,” said the gorilla that was reaching out to Max. The gorilla moved in and stood before him, and began rubbing his trunk with a fragrant ointment

  This gorilla, standing right in front of Max and stroking his trunk, was so tender. A strange fog started to fill his mind, and Max wanted to obey.

  Max bit his tongue to clear his mind. Max understood what had happened, and with that came a revelation. He understood how the gorillas were able to capture the elephants. Whatever was on this gorilla’s hand, whatever that substance was, that was now being rubbed into his trunk, caused elephants to be docile and obedient. It brought a fog to Max's mind, and he guessed that if he hadn't been a talking elephant, it might have made him passive and obedient. Now knowing what it was made him angry. That anger cleared the fog away quickly.

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  "Yes, little slave," said another calm but sinister voice. "We will take care of you."

  Bond gave the second gorilla a look of disgust, keeping his tone the same. "Storm, you are as tactless as ever.”

  “Bond, it doesn't even know what I'm saying.” Storm smirked, “Besides, before this is over, it might wish it was dead."

  Max did not like the look of Storm, and what he said made his resolve to resist stronger, but he stayed quiet.

  Max had already figured out that at this point, his only hope was to make them think he was nothing more than a non-talking elephant. He knew even if he did manage to overpower these two and get away, Link would certainly be killed. And Max wasn't going to allow that to happen.

  A new thought came to his mind. Perhaps they will take us to where we want to go, so Max was determined to keep quiet.

  “Wasn't that the strangest thing you ever saw a lion do?" Bond said, looking off now in the direction the lion had gone.

  "Whatever," Storm replied.

  And Max stood there as they put a rope around his neck to lead him. By this time, the larger of the gorillas was walking his way. By the look on his face and the way the others looked to him, Max knew immediately this had to be Conquest.

  "Well, look at what we have here," Conquest said triumphally, as he held the securely tied Link by his neck.

  "Let me go!" Link yelled.

  Conquest laughed. "Oh, don't you worry, little spy. I'm not going let you go, but I won’t kill you, either, unless you try to escape."

  Storm said, "Yeah, but you might wish you were dead before this was over."

  Conquest reached out with one hand and smacked the gorilla on the side of the head. "Be quiet, Storm. I’ve had enough of your mouth on this trip."

  Bond was still rubbing Max's trunk and said in a calm but sharp tone, "You need to keep down. This only works if we can keep them calm."

  Max could see what was happening. Bond was trying to calm him so he could be led while trying to warn the others not to get him riled up.

  Ignoring Bond, Conquest threw Link down in front of him and growled, "So tell me, where did you think your friend went?”

  “Yes,” Storm echoed, “Where'd the other spy go?"

  Link looked up and said, "She got away. You'll never find her. The forest of animals will know everything.”

  Conquest laughed. "Good try. But I already know the truth. And you confirmed it. She was working with you. She didn't make it back. No bird survives when I attack with my bola." Conquest lifted another of the weapons from his side.

  "Now it's just you. You and our newest slave. Gather up, do you have a name?" Conquest sneered.

  “Link,” the otter responded.

  Conquest pointed at Link, Gather up that thing, and let's move."

  With that, they moved back in the direction Max and Link were traveling, east, out of the last of the grasses, away from the last of the scrub trees, and into the desert proper.