Read Online An Inconvenient Elephant by Judy Reene Singer - Free Book Online Page A

sight!”
    The woman kicked her horse on and trotted up to us.
    â€œDiamond-Rose!” she exclaimed when she reached the Rover. “Bravo! We never thought you’d pull it off! Tie up your cargo and follow us—we’ve mapped a route back to camp.”
    â€œIs road okay for Rover? This sexual of park?” Grisha asked.
    Charlotte Pope threw her head back and gave a deep, hearty laugh. “Grisha, if I didn’t know you better, I’d think that was a proposition. But yes, there is a road of sorts, and the Rovers fit. We take them through here for our safaris.”
    She leaned over from her horse to extend a hand to me. “And you must be Diamond’s friend.”
    â€œ Da .” Grisha introduced us. “This is Plain-Neelie.”
    â€œHello, Plain-Neelie,” Charlotte said. “Are either of you tired of sitting in the Rover? You can get on some horses. My men can switch with you.”
    â€œI’ll take a horse,” Diamond said, jumping down from our truck. I followed. She mounted a bay horse that one of Charlotte’s men handed to her, and I was given a brown-and-white pinto. The men who swapped with us climbed eagerly into the Rover and stretched their legs out with happy groans.
    â€œOh, how nice to get on a horse again,” I enthused, and turned to Charlotte. “And it’s plain Neelie.” Then I realized I had done it to myself again. “I mean, just call me Neelie. Neelie .”
    â€œWell, I’m glad to meet you, Neelie-Neelie,” Charlottereplied, then gestured toward our cargo of oranges. “I suggest you wrap the rest of those up really well,” she said. “I think Tusker will just follow out of habit. We don’t want to leave too much citrus around and risk bringing a herd.”
    â€œActually,” said Diamond, “we are bringing a herd. Tusker seems to be traveling with a young bull.”
    Charlotte stopped her horse, looking troubled. “Bollocks! That could be a problem if we have to separate them,” she said. “I don’t know the capacity of the cargo plane.”
    â€œWe can’t leave one behind,” Diamond said. “They’re family .”
    The men pulled the tarp around the remaining oranges, while Grisha made a sharp turn with the Rover to follow the path that Charlotte had pointed out.
    â€œWe threw some oranges to help lure him to our side,” Charlotte called out while we trotted along.
    There was a loud trumpeting from behind.
    â€œThat must be him,” she guessed. “Or his friend.”
    Grisha interrupted her thoughts. “Grisha makes heavy suggestament that we move quickly,” he called over.
    â€œHe’s right,” Charlotte agreed. “We’ll get them in position, and then we’ll dump all the citrus there and say a prayer.”
    â€œA prayer?” Diamond asked.
    Charlotte nodded. “I heard from Tom just before I left camp. He’s having a hell of a problem getting a plane in. He’ll tell you all about it when he comes tonight.” She sighed. “If he can get here.”
    â€œAnd if he can’t?” Diamond asked.
    Charlotte made a face. “We told him that his safety comes first. We don’t want anything to happen to him.” She glanced at Diamond. “Have you met him yet? He’s a terrific guy.”
    Diamond laughed and gestured to me. “I haven’t. But Neelie has. He might be very glad to see her .”
    â€œNyet ,” Grisha called over. “Mr. Thomas will not be filled with gladment to see Plain-Neelie.” He pulled a cigarette from the pack in his pocket while steering with his other hand, lit it with the smoldering tip of the one still in his mouth, and then gave me a smirky grin. “Grisha decides that he will not tell Mr. Thomas you are here. Mr. Thomas can discover himself after he makes arrivement.”
    â€œReally?” Charlotte looked at me with