Read Online Lion Called Christian by Anthony Bourke - Free Book Online
Authors: Anthony Bourke
Ads: Link
before, he was confused as to how to turn around and get down again. He just waited for us to help him. Bill thought that Christian would sleep under a shrub, but we suspected he would prefer to sleep in the caravan. We were to live in another caravan beside the compound. It was summer and the sun was shining, and it was so peaceful in comparison with London.
That first night we sold Christian. A contract had been drawn up between us and the film company making The Lion at World's End. The whole project would be an expensive one, and while it was unlikely we would not fully cooperate, we were required to relinquish to the company our ownership of Christian. We surrendered all legal control over Christian's future. We were paid five hundred pounds, and we tried to view the transaction as a necessary formality in his best interests. But we felt guilty, and preferred to think of Christian becoming a Kenyan citizen rather than the mere property of a film company.
Christian slept in the caravan, of course. He greeted us effusively the next morning, relieved that we had not abandoned him and returned to London during the night. He seemed untroubled by his change of surroundings and oblivious to the fact that we no longer technically owned him.
We expected to be at Leith Hill only a few weeks, but George was still having difficulty in finding an area that both he and the Kenyan government found suitable, as the two he had originally proposed had not been approved. We were anxious to get Christian to Kenya, but we dreaded to think how unattractive and desolate the district that finally met all the requirements might be. Always expecting to leave shortly, we waited while George continued searching, and the weeks passed. Fortunately it was summer and the weather was usually pleasant. We spent restful days reading, sunbathing, playing with Christian, and friends came down to visit. But as we were both basically city-oriented, one of us would occasionally go to London for a few days.
Unexpectedly, Leith Hill became an important phase in Christian's life. He had fewer restrictions, a less complicated life, and a more clearly defined territory to live in. For the first time, he experienced the natural cycle of a day. Sleeping in the caravan was a hangover from his life as a London lion. It was often hot, and he was lethargic during the day, but he became rather boisterous in the late afternoons and evenings. After living at Sophistocat with Christian for five months, and regularly putting him to bed at about 8:30 P.M., we now appreciated that lions are naturally nocturnal. We spent most of our time in the compound, as he would look discontented if we were not with him. Yet he often ignored us once we were inside, for even if he did not want to play with us, as part of his "pride," he just enjoyed the companionship. A double-gate system made entries and exits from the compound easy and safe.
Below: Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, Ace, and John in Christian's gypsy caravan at Leith Hill.
Above: Christian at Leith Hill, aged ten months. His mane had begun to grow.
Bottom: Christian playing wheelbarrows with his best friend, Unity Bevis-Jones.
Right: John playing with Christian at Leith Hill.
Below: John removing a twig from Christian's mouth at Leith Hill.
Bottom: John, Christian, and Ace relaxing at Leith Hill.
Left: Ace and John checking on Christian in his crate at Heathrow Airport.
Bottom: Loading Christian's crate onto the East African Airways flight to Nairobi.
George Adamson, Bill Travers, Ace, and John with Christian at Nairobi Airport.
Top: John, Ace, and Christian at Kora.
Bottom: Christian investigates the Tana River while John and Ace watch for crocodiles.
The first camp beside the Tana River.
Three-month-old Katania with Boy, who had starred in the film Born Free.
George Adamson and Christian at Kora.
Christian meets Katania for the first time.
Christian preferred to leap from rock to rock in
That first night we sold Christian. A contract had been drawn up between us and the film company making The Lion at World's End. The whole project would be an expensive one, and while it was unlikely we would not fully cooperate, we were required to relinquish to the company our ownership of Christian. We surrendered all legal control over Christian's future. We were paid five hundred pounds, and we tried to view the transaction as a necessary formality in his best interests. But we felt guilty, and preferred to think of Christian becoming a Kenyan citizen rather than the mere property of a film company.
Christian slept in the caravan, of course. He greeted us effusively the next morning, relieved that we had not abandoned him and returned to London during the night. He seemed untroubled by his change of surroundings and oblivious to the fact that we no longer technically owned him.
We expected to be at Leith Hill only a few weeks, but George was still having difficulty in finding an area that both he and the Kenyan government found suitable, as the two he had originally proposed had not been approved. We were anxious to get Christian to Kenya, but we dreaded to think how unattractive and desolate the district that finally met all the requirements might be. Always expecting to leave shortly, we waited while George continued searching, and the weeks passed. Fortunately it was summer and the weather was usually pleasant. We spent restful days reading, sunbathing, playing with Christian, and friends came down to visit. But as we were both basically city-oriented, one of us would occasionally go to London for a few days.
Unexpectedly, Leith Hill became an important phase in Christian's life. He had fewer restrictions, a less complicated life, and a more clearly defined territory to live in. For the first time, he experienced the natural cycle of a day. Sleeping in the caravan was a hangover from his life as a London lion. It was often hot, and he was lethargic during the day, but he became rather boisterous in the late afternoons and evenings. After living at Sophistocat with Christian for five months, and regularly putting him to bed at about 8:30 P.M., we now appreciated that lions are naturally nocturnal. We spent most of our time in the compound, as he would look discontented if we were not with him. Yet he often ignored us once we were inside, for even if he did not want to play with us, as part of his "pride," he just enjoyed the companionship. A double-gate system made entries and exits from the compound easy and safe.
Below: Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, Ace, and John in Christian's gypsy caravan at Leith Hill.
Above: Christian at Leith Hill, aged ten months. His mane had begun to grow.
Bottom: Christian playing wheelbarrows with his best friend, Unity Bevis-Jones.
Right: John playing with Christian at Leith Hill.
Below: John removing a twig from Christian's mouth at Leith Hill.
Bottom: John, Christian, and Ace relaxing at Leith Hill.
Left: Ace and John checking on Christian in his crate at Heathrow Airport.
Bottom: Loading Christian's crate onto the East African Airways flight to Nairobi.
George Adamson, Bill Travers, Ace, and John with Christian at Nairobi Airport.
Top: John, Ace, and Christian at Kora.
Bottom: Christian investigates the Tana River while John and Ace watch for crocodiles.
The first camp beside the Tana River.
Three-month-old Katania with Boy, who had starred in the film Born Free.
George Adamson and Christian at Kora.
Christian meets Katania for the first time.
Christian preferred to leap from rock to rock in
Similar Books
Hacking Politics: How Geeks, Progressives, the Tea Party, Gamers, Anarchists, and Suits Teamed Up to Defeat SOPA and Save the Internet
and David Moon Patrick Ruffini David Segal
