Kiwi's quest to save the world

Kiwi's quest to save the world.

Chapter One.

DEEP in the cool green forest, inside the old hollow tree trunk slept
the little brown Kiwi. It was daylight and the soft green light did not
penetrate the eyelids of the tired little Kiwi. He had walked along way
that night, digging in the soft soil, lifting the soft brown leaves off
the worms, grubs and juicy insects. His strong legs and clawed feet had
raked the forest floor under the trunk of a huge Totara tree that had
fallen in the last big storm. His long curved beak caught the worms
holding them firmly, tossing them high in the air with ease as they
fell down his hungry throat.
He stopped to scratch through his short brown feathers under his
useless stubby wings with his beak, finding a small flea that had
created the irritation. He caught the flea and with relish he gobbled
it up, looking for more invaders on his body. As the new day approached
he found a safe place to sleep, free from predators. He dreamed of
traveling across lands and oceans far away, always seeking knowledge
and wisdom from wiser creatures than him.
Kiwi had lived alone for a long time, after his mate had died from a
fatal attack by a feral cat. He had been very sad for a long time after
her death, as his two children had moved away to another valley to
begin their own lives and families.
Kiwis' have only one mate and if one dies they spend the rest of their
life alone seeking food and shelter on the forest floor.
The thrilling sound of a Bellbird soared high in the tops of the forest
giants, welcoming the day. In chorus the Tui's and Wood pigeons joined
in the haunting song, raising their voices to the forest gods and
welcomed another wonderful day in paradise. Kiwi would sleep for most
of the day and as evening drew on he would continue his journey, to
meet new friends. The trees whispered their secrets to each other and
swayed in the soft breeze as it soared through the forest. The
shimmering ferns shivered in delight, they could feel the forest gods
moving restlessly amongst them searching in silence.

Kiwi slowly uncurled himself, stretching his short stubby legs and
flexing all his muscles. He had slept well and looked forward to
seeking new experiences tonight. He scrambled from the cozy tree trunk,
fussing with his feathers until he was satisfied with his grooming and
ready to explore.
Above his head he heard a fluttering and swishing sound, followed by a
polite cough. He looked up to see Morepork owl peering down at him,
almost hidden in the high branches and leaves of the Kauri tree. The
Morepork mumbled softly to himself and flew closer to Kiwi landing on
the swinging curl of a King fern, as it moved in the soft breeze.
"Where are you traveling to Kiwi?" He hooted softly.
"I'm trying to find the solution to a big problem!" Kiwi said, as he
covered his eyes against the bright sunlight reflecting in the water
captured in a small hollow.
"Perhaps I can help you! I am considered to be well read and have a
great knowledge of the world." Said Morepork, tilting his head to one
side knowingly.
"I have become very concerned lately with the summers becoming hotter
than usual and the lack of rain for the farmers. The people in New
Zealand in the cities and towns are building further and further into
the wetlands. They are spoiling the natural forests and waterways,
leaving the birds and small animals with no homes." he sighed
sadly.
"I agree!" Said Morpork. "But the problem is far bigger and more
complex than I can solve. Perhaps if you traveled to the great Kauri
tree in the center of the forest in Rotorua and asked the wise King
Tui. He may know the answer!"
"Thank you for your kind and wise thoughts," Said Kiwi gratefully. I'll
continue to look further in the world to find the answer."

Chapter Two.

THAT night Kiwi trudged along the forest floor, across the high plateau
covered with heather, which smelled delightful in the cooler night air.
With his short, stout legs he strode across the landscape under the
silver moonlight, which lit up the night sky, reflecting the millions
of bright stars above. In the distance he could see the snow capped
mountains glowing against the dark landscape.
One mountain stood apart, majestic in its solitude with a curl of smoke
and hot steam rising from its crater-lake. This was a warning that it
was still volatile and could erupt in anger tossing huge rocks to the
heavens, spilling its molten lava down onto the helpless villages
below.
Throughout the North Island of New Zealand lay a belt of volcanic
activity, which could erupt into a fury of trapped energy with out
warning. Exploding into raw energy, the red-hot lava and boiling
mudflows destroyed all that stood in its way. The people and animals
had learnt to watch for signs of abnormal activity, moving quickly to
safe ground when threatened.
He walked all night along the tracks made by other larger animals
through the thick bush. He was careful to watch out for feral cats or
stoats, as they were too strong and quick for him. He had only his
quick wit and strong feet with sturdy claws to protect him from these
predators.

As the soft light of a new dawn was approaching he reached a beautiful
green lake. The birds were beginning to wake in the treetops, cooing
softly to each other. It was to be another wonderful day and all the
animals and birds rejoiced together with sweet songs of greeting. The
warmth of the sun filtered down through the soft green ferns, which
curled out quivering fronds to meet the new day.
Kiwi looked around at the beautiful scenery, admiring the serene green
lake, which stretched across to the distance limestone cliffs. He was
listening for the song of the King Tui, who lived high in the treetops.
Suddenly the forest reverberated with the thrilling warbling of King
Tui far above him.
Kiwi raised his beak and called loudly, "Hello and good morning to you
King Tui!" and he waited quietly for an answer.
Tui was so busy welcoming the new day he did not hear Kiwi far below
him and he continued to sing to the sun.
Kiwi climbed onto a small hillside and again raised his beak to the
sky.
"King Tui! King Tui! Please answer me!" He called as loudly as he
could.
King Tui paused to take a deep breath and heard far below him a small
voice calling his name.
"Who wants to speak to King Tui?" He growled when his morning call was
interrupted.
"My name is Kiwi! Please come down here, I have a very important
question to ask you." called Kiwi loudly as he balanced on a large
rock.
The Tui flew down to a branch nearby and carefully watched the small
brown bird. His black eyes glanced around quickly to make sure he was
safe from predators. He was a magnificent bird with glossy black
feathers, with a wattle of white feathers at his throat.
"What is your question?" He asked sternly.
"I am very concerned about the future of the world we live in!" cried
Kiwi.
"No one seems to care if the earth is warming, the oceans are rising
and the forests are being cleared to make room for cities and motor
ways." He said sadly.
"Do you know the answer King Tui?" Kiwi cried.
King Tui thought carefully for a long time. He realized that Kiwi was
asking about a serious problem, which would affect all new life in the
future.
"I have heard about a phenomena called 'El Nino' which is affecting the
world's climate, creating heat waves in many countries and terrible
flooding in others." King Tui gravely stated.
"I have great knowledge of many things, but I do not have the answers
you strive for. If you travel to the north, seek the ancient Tuatara
lizard. He is wiser than me and has lived for hundreds of years." King
Tui said.
"Thank you!" Sighed Kiwi. "But where would I find the wise
Tuatara?"
"I have heard that he lives in the far north of the Long Island,
amongst the sea breezes and the long white clouds. It's many days
walking from here and you will need help to travel there." KingTui
stated grandly.
"I will call the Hawk to carry you on his back. He is strong and will
enjoy the long journey." He said.
"Oh, thank you, for sharing your knowledge and kindness." cried Kiwi
and sat down to wait for Hawk to arrive.

Chapter Three

KIWI woke with a start, as he had felt a large shadow looming above
him. It was Hawk circling down through the trees and ferns watching him
with fierce brown eyes, his talons and large curved beak ready. Kiwi
trembling in fear; the hawk was a natural enemy of all small
creatures.
His sharp eyesight was renown in the animal kingdom and many animals
had felt the fatal stab of his sharp beak and the cruel talons fasten
on their bodies, prior to death.
Hawk landed on the lower branch of a nearby tree and stretched lazily
to his full size. He puffed out his large chest holding the pose of
strength and power over the smaller bird. His beautiful golden brown
and black tipped feathers gleamed with vitality, his magnificent head
was held high.
"King Tui called to me throughout the forest and spoke of your desire
to travel to the furthest reaches of our island. He stated that you
wanted to meet the famous Tuatara and wished to listen to his wisdom.
Is this you wish Kiwi?" Said Hawk, rumbling from within his broad
chest.
"Yes! This is my wish Hawk. I seek wisdom from the great Tuatara in the
far north." Cried Kiwi nervously.
"I wonder if you could carry me on your broad back. The journey north
is too far for a small Kiwi to travel by foot." Kiwi stated
solemnly.
Hawk leapt down beside the small bird, smiling slyly at him. He was
thinking what a juicy meal the fat little Kiwi would make. But he had
promised King Tui and it was not a good idea to go back on your word
with him. King Tui was renown for his long memory and held a great deal
of spiritual power over the land. The gods of the forest and plains had
appointed King Tui, to protect all creatures from harm. His authority
was not to be challenged, even by a Hawk.
"Climb onto my back!" Hawk cried loudly. "Hold firmly onto my neck
feathers and we shall seek Tuatara in the far north." He said.
"Oh! Thank you Hawk for your kindness! It really is important for me to
understand the secrets' of nature." Kiwi cried happily.
He climbed onto the Hawk's golden back and grasped the strong neck
feather in his claws. The hawk leapt onto a low branch, ready to launch
himself into the warm blue sky. A strong breeze lifted his wing
feathers and he glided up into the treetops, gaining height. The warm
air lifted him and his wings spread to their full extent, gliding
easily. He always enjoyed seeing new territory and the challenge of
such a long flight thrilled him.
At first Kiwi was too scared to open his eyes and clutched the neck
feathers, as though he might fall to the earth far below him. But the
sensation of moving through the rushing cool air relaxed him and he
opened his eyes. Far below, the trees looked very small and he could
see the tiny towns and farmlands scattered below.
It was really amazing; he was beginning to enjoy the sensation of
flying. He sat up and looked around him; the view was spectacular. The
sun shone on them warming their bodies and the fluffy white clouds
moved aside as they approached them.
"This is really amazing!" Cried Kiwi "I never realized that the world
was so beautiful."
Hawk smiled to himself. Even though he had flown many times, he still
marveled at the wonderful feeling it gave him. The view from above was
magic and made him appreciate the splendor of the world around him. He
lifted his wings, gliding on the warm air currents, which guided him
higher in the sky. He floated on the thermals, at ease with himself,
simply gliding along. Kiwi was tired after all the excitement today and
nodded off to sleep. He felt that he could trust Hawk to find the wise
Tuatara and he slept soundly.
Hawk felt the little bird relax and fall forward onto his neck and
smiled slyly to himself. He would love to taste Kiwi for his dinner.
But remembering King Tui words he sighed and thought about the
succulent taste of juicy rabbit. He continued to follow the thermal
waves for many hours, until he became hungry and landed in a forest of
Pine trees.
He tipped the little Kiwi off his back and soared aloft, his sharp eyes
looking for something juicy for his dinner. On spying a rabbit hopping
through the long grass he launch himself like a lethal arrow, catching
the rabbit at full run. He gorged himself until he was satisfied that
his hunger was sated. Hawk swooped back to where he had left Kiwi who
was now awake and looking for grubs and insects for his meal.
They decided to spend the night in the safety of the Pine forest. Hawk
flew to the top branches of a large Norfolk pine and settled down to
rest, with one eye open for his next meal. Kiwi hunted around the base
of the tree, until he found an old rotten tree stump. The rotten bark
was full of succulent insects for his night meal. He ate until he was
full and settled down to sleep.

The next day the Hawk and the Kiwi resumed their flight over mountains
and high plateaus covered with thick forest. They watched the coastline
change contours and they saw the ocean and the long white sandy
beaches. There were few farms and small towns below them as they
continued to venture further north.
The clouds were gathering for a storm and swirled around them, no
longer friendly and white, but black with rain. The wind grew stronger
and buffered the Hawk as he struggled to keep on track to their
destination.
Hawk called to Kiwi; "We may have to land for a while until the storm
has moved on. I'm worried that we may be blown out to sea and lose our
way!"
Hawk looked down and spied a tall Totara near the white beach and
decided to shelter there. He swooped down through the powerful storm
and landed safely as it began to rain heavily.
They huddled in the low undergrowth beneath the tree, trying to keep
warm and dry. The storm was fierce, blowing sand over them and into
their eyes. But just as quickly as it had started the storm blew inland
traveling across the mountains.
Kiwi awoke to find Hawk standing over him, impatiently poking him with
a sharp talon.
"Come sleepy head!" Hawk called roughly. "We have a long way to travel
and I want to reach our destination before night fall!"
Kiwi scrambled to his feet, dusted his feathers and proclaimed loudly,
'"Hawk! You frightened me! Do I have time for breakfast or must we
leave immediately!" He grumbled.
Kiwi was not a day bird; he found that waking in bright sunlight gave
him a headache. He usually awoke slowly at dusk and savored the quiet
time before making his first move in the cool of the evening.
"You have time to drink water from that stream and then we must leave
for the next stage of our journey." Hawk stated.
"We will stop for a mid day meal as we near our destination." He
said.
"All right." Said Kiwi, as his empty stomach rumbled loudly. He climbed
onto Hawk's warm, golden brown back and clutched his neck feathers in
his claws.
Hawk raised his head, sniffing the wind for signs of more bad weather.
Satisfied that the way was clear he leapt onto a large rock and with a
great leapt skyward he caught the spiraling up draught and continued
their journey.
High above the thermal currents Kiwi looked down and marveled at the
view below him. He could see the blue, green ocean and landward he saw
the sand dunes, the rough coastal bush and trees stretching far into
the distance. He thought about the meeting he would have with Tuatara
lizard and the questions he needed to ask. He was still sleepy and
nodded off again, rocked in the comfort of Hawks golden feathers.
Hawk continued to follow the coastline, watching carefully for signs of
further bad weather. His sharp eyes seeking the rocky mountain that was
Tuatara's home. By midday he had covered a great distance and decided
to stop for lunch. He glided down the thermal current landing smoothly
on a small hillside, inland from the coast.
Kiwi woke with a start to find that they were on firm ground again. He
climbed off and arranged with Hawk to meet in one hour, to resume their
flight.
Hawk promptly flew into the next valley, looking for field mice,
rabbits or some tender morsel for his lunch.
Kiwi stumbled around the undergrowth, digging up the roots of small
ferns, which covered the valley floor. In the distance he could hear
'Captain Cook' pigs rooting around, seeking their midday meal. These
were not the sorts of animal Kiwi wanted to meet. They enjoyed eating
meat occasionally and he did not want to be their lunch.
Instead he turned in the other direction, seeking the small brown grubs
he knew lived in the rotten wood of old tree stumps. He waddled down to
the small stream at the bottom of the valley, soaking his feet and
washing the dust from his brown feathers. He dipped his long beak into
the cool water, drinking greedily. He watched the small brown and
yellow fish and the fresh water crayfish move around the smooth white
stones in the clear water. He wished he could stay longer in the cool
green depths of the valley, surrounded by the soft green ferns and the
special silence he enjoyed.
But he knew that Hawk would be waiting and he climbed out of the water,
up the slippery muddy bank and made his way through the forest to the
spot where they had landed.
Hawk was waiting, impatient to finish his long journey and return home.
"I would have given you a few more minutes, then I would have return to
my home." He cried in an angry manner.
"Sorry! I forgot the time. It was very pleasant on the valley floor,"
mumbled Kiwi.
Hawk fussed around on the small hillside until he found the right angle
for lift off, leaping high into the spiraling thermal up drafts. He
circled to find his bearings and flew soundlessly off towards the far
rocky mountain, where Tuatara lived. They traveled for another two
hours, gliding on the warm air currents; to give Hawks' tired wings a
rest. Finally they could see the rocky, dry foothills of the large
mountain. They were relieved they had finally reached their
destination.
Kiwi decided that as nightfall was approaching they would rest for the
night and begin their quest for knowledge in the morning. They both
slept soundly that night. Hawk was exhausted and lay against the trunk
of a large Pine tree, massaging his tired wings. Kiwi stumbled around
until he found a rotten tree and fell instantly asleep, forgetting to
eat an evening meal.

Chapter Four

THE next morning they awoke feeling refreshed, breakfasted on their
favorite food and discussed their plans for the day. Kiwi had thought
that Hawk would want to return to his home in the south. But Hawk had
decided to stay and meet the famous Tuatara for himself.
They set off together, winding through the sky above the rocky
countryside, searching for signs of the famous lizard. By mid day they
were frustrated and stopped to eat and rest.
"Perhaps he lives on the other side of the mountain facing the ocean,"
cried Hawk. "I am tired of searching! We must find him soon, or I will
return to my home." He stated.
Kiwi was losing hope of ever finding Tuatara and agreed with Hawk to
make this their last search for him. They flew to the other side of the
craggy mountain and saw a rocky outcrop with a cave entrance. They
landed on the narrow ledge and look around. From the depths of the dark
cave they could hear rustling sounds and smelt the musty odor of bats.
The bats hung upside down far above their heads, twittering quietly in
their sleep. But they could also hear another sound, the swishing of a
leathery tail. They crept further into the dark and to their delight;
there was the ancient Tuatara muttering loudly to himself.
"Wise Tuatara!" Called Kiwi. "We have searched for many day to speak to
you."
"Yes! We have traveled many miles over this island, to hear the truth
from the great Tuatara." cried Hawk.
Tuatara raised his reptile head, shaking it from side to side. "I have
a terrible headache! Please speak softly to me." he whispered.
"Come closer and speak in my right ear, as I am almost deaf in the
other." He grumbled.
Kiwi moved quietly until he was sitting next to Tuatara's right side
and looked at the great lizard. He was a huge prehistoric creature who
ancestors had survived through the ice age and had changed little over
the centuries.
His heavy mail coat protected him against the temperature changes of
the millenniums. Tuatara's had survived against great upheavals in the
world's history, but modern day changes threatened their very
existence. Today their numbers are few and man was finally recognizing
the importance of preserving and learning from the ones that still
remained.
"Oh! Great Tuatara!" Cried Kiwi. "I'm very worried about the state of
our world. The ocean levels are rising and the temperature is
increasing. Man is claiming more and more land for their use and the
animals of the forests and water lands are losing their homes. The
earth is changing rapidly and many animals are becoming extinct. Rare
animal numbers have decreased to such an extent they will soon
disappear completely. Please tell us if you know what can be done to
save the world?" He cried sadly.
Tuatara mumbled to himself, flicking his large tail to chase away the
flies. He closed his eyes, thinking carefully about his answer. He
thought for so long Hawk and Kiwi looked at each other and decided he
had gone to sleep. They began to move away when he suddenly opened his
eyes, flicking his long tongue out to catch a moth. They both jumped
backwards away from that frightening, long tongue. They did not want to
become his next meal.
Tuatara watched with amusement, chuckling in a gravely manner. He was
starting to enjoy himself, as he did not receive many visitors these
days.
"I have given some thought to the problems of the world." He rumbled
deep in his Armour-plated chest.
"I've been watching for some time the changes to the earth. The
temperatures have been rising over the last century and the oceans have
risen higher and higher. Not only are the land creatures threatened,
but the keepers of our oceans are also in danger." The great Tuatara
stated.
"Other wise creatures have informed me that the Ozone layer above the
Antarctic and the pacific area has developed a large hole. It has been
told that the Polar caps are gradually melting, causing the oceans to
rise and flood the low lying islands." The Tuatara said solemnly.
"I will need to study this phenomenon carefully and give serious
thought to all that I can learn about it. Come back another day and I
will know the answer to your question, Kiwi." He grumbled.
'Thank you for your time and the sharing of your knowledge.' Hawk said
quietly. ' Indeed I will return one day and seek the answer to this
serious problem.'
Kiwi thought about all that great Tuatara had said and decided to
continue his travels in search of the answer. He thanks the wise one
politely and then retreated to the entrance of the cave with
Hawk.
"Well, Hawk!" He cried softly. "I must thank you for your wonderful
assistance in finding the wise Tuatara, but I must move on. I still
have many questions to ask and have decided to travel to Australia and
talk to the creatures there."
"I have found this experience very enlightening! And hope that when you
have the answers to your questions, you will return to us and share
your knowledge." said Hawk kindly.
"I promise to return and share my experiences and knowledge with all my
friends." Kiwi cried.
"So we will say farewell and I wish you good luck on the next stage of
your journey." said Hawk quietly. And he rose up into the thermal s,
circling away and set his course to home.
Kiwi watched him leave with feeling of sadness. Then he remembered that
he still had the next stage of his journey to plan and he lifted his
beak to the warm sun. He fluffed his short brown feathers, held his
head high and descended the rocky mountain to the seashore.
The earth god moved restlessly, lifting the shaking ground under his
feet. He stirred again sending a strong ripple through the rocky
mountain, across the land and out into the sea. The waves parted
silently, then folded over their secret. This land of mystery and
myths, earthquakes and violent thermal upheaval, was restless once
again.

Kiwi climbed down the rocky mountain, through the rough bush and
coastal Pines, until he reached the seashore. He was very tired and his
feet hurt. Already he missed the company of Hawk and he was worried
about the next stage of his journey. He walked across the broad stretch
of white sand that still bore the heat of the sun, burning his feet.
The surf was loud in his ears and roared to meet him, cooling the
scorching sand. Kiwi stood for a moment looking out to sea, deciding if
it was safe to venture further as the small waves curled around his
feet. The sensation of the cool water was a delight on his tired feet
and he curled and uncurled his claws in satisfaction. He dipped his
head into the waves, shaking the refreshing water through his dusty
feathers. He was starting to feel more positive about life and decided
to begin the next stage of his journey the next day.
Kiwi waddled up the white sands into the sparse undergrowth, looking
for a place to find a meal and a safe bed for the night. He found a
log, which had been washed up high into the bush in the last big storm
and searched, for food. There were many insects under the log and he
dined royally that night.

The sunlight shone weakly through a thick sea mist, gradually clearing
as the heat of the sun warmed the land. He breakfasted on insects,
cleaned his feathers and strode to the edge of the waves. He had
decided to ask the sea creatures for help this time and rising on his
clawed feet, he called to the sea.
"Oh! Sea creatures! I need your help to solve the problems of the
world. Please answer me!" He called loudly.
In the depth of the ocean a Pilot Whale was searching for food, when he
heard the call for assistance. He rolled onto his back, and then
flipped over reaching for the surface of the ocean. The whale rose out
of the surf with a mighty surge, his blowhole throwing water high into
the air. He was a magnificent creature. His shiny skin was black and
white and his mouth was open wide displaying his beautiful white, razor
sharp teeth.
He swam closer to the shore, looking for the person who had called for
help. Whale peered closer and saw standing in the shallow waters a
small brown bird with a long beak.
Whale smiled to himself, deciding if he would get involved or eat the
small bird for his breakfast. But he was curious and decided to find
out what was the problem. Whale moved closer into the shallow water
raised his large head and called out in a rough, watery voice.
"Who call are the creatures of the deep for help!" He cried, foam
bubbling from his mouth.
"Oh! Thank you for coming so soon!" Kiwi called happily. "I must travel
to a far land called Australia. It is many miles across the Tasman Sea
and I can not swim." He said.
"Why do you need to seek so far? Surely the answer is here in this
land." gurgled the Whale.
"I have visited many wise creatures here, even the wise Tuatara. But
the questions are still unanswered!" Kiwi called. "Please! Will you
take me across the ocean to Australia? I must find the answer before it
is too late to save the world!" he cried anxiously.
The whale lay in the shallow water pondering the problem and finally
decided to agree to the long journey.
"The sea is a dangerous place for creatures who can not swim!" He
stated.
"But I will help you cross this ocean! Perhaps the answer can be found
in this foreign land, amongst the strange creatures that live there."
Whale replied. "Climb onto my broad back and we will set off to this
far land. For we must travel far through dangerous seas, where a storm
can blow up at anytime." Whale stated.
He turned around facing the open sea and the little Kiwi bravely
climbed onto his black shiny back. "Hold onto the barnacles on my
back!" Whale cried and with a great lashing of his tail, they began to
move out to sea.
As Kiwi was moved out to sea he thought he could hear a strange
singing, which sounded like a lament. The land gods were calling him
back home to safety, in the language of their ancestors.

Chapter Five.

FOR many hours Whale and Kiwi forged through gigantic waves, which
crashed over their bodies, weighing them down. Kiwi felt very scared
and clutched firmly to the barnacles on whales' back, even though they
cut his feet. The pain was easy to bear, as he reminded himself of the
possible answers that lay ahead in Australia.
Whale swam quickly through the aquamarine water. He was enjoying
himself. The lure of adventure was tantalizing, driving him forward
closer to the distant shore. They cruised past small islands lying low
in the ocean, covered with green palm trees and tropical fruit. These
islands had small populations and few wild animals, but were beautiful
in their solitude.
They were joined on their voyage by dolphins that swam beside them,
chattering away in their friendly language. They wanted to know why a
small brown Kiwi was traveling on the back of a Pilot Whale?
"Was he safe!" They knew that Pilot whales were renown for eating small
animals and other sea life.
Kiwi smiled bravely and assured them, he must reach Australia to find
the answer to a difficult question.
The Dolphins opened their mouths widely, shouting with the joy of the
chase and continued to frolic in the waves. Eventually they tired of
this game and turned away to find new diversions. They leapt high above
the waves, their skin shining iridescent in the sunlight, waving their
flippers in farewell. As suddenly as they had appeared, they vanished
below the waves, surging through the waters to a new destination.
Whale continued plodding through the frothy waves, watching carefully
for any signs of a storm at sea. This was something all sea creatures
dreaded, as the sea always claimed its victims. It would mean that he
would have to dive to the furthermost depth of the ocean to safety. But
he was concerned for Kiwi who was a land creature and could not hold
his breath for a long time, under water.

Whale swam steadily throughout the next two days, hardly stopping for
food. He was tiring, but the thrill of adventure was still strong in
his spirit. He forged through the large rolling waves, always watching
for a sign of sea birds grouped together. This he knew was a sign of
land nearby. The gulls gathered in they're thousands along the
coastline, nesting in the rooks and crannies in the steep cliffs.
Suddenly he spied in the far distance a small body of birds wheeling
high in the thermals, and then diving like arrows into the sea. He
charged ahead with renewed energy, the waves parting to make way for
his stream lined body. Yes! He was right, many more gulls were
gathering in front of him and in the distance he could see a long
smudge on the horizon. He had found land! It was the Australian
coastline dead ahead.
"Kiwi! Kiwi!" He called in his bubbly voice. "We have done it! Land
lies straight ahead. Yippee for the adventurers!" Whale cried
loudly.
Kiwi roused himself from the stupor he had lapsed into over the last
day and peered ahead. His spirits lifted with joy as he also spied the
smudge of land. Indeed, he could now see the coastline quite clearly
and the raw, red colors blazed before him.
"I never thought we would make it!" Kiwi cried with tears streaming
from his small brown eyes. "I am so happy we met whale. And I must
thank you for your strength and determination to never give up the
quest for truth." Kiwi said tearfully.
Whale was a little embarrassed by all the tears and thanks and merely
grunted uneasily. He was very pleased with himself for being able to
safely navigate the Tasman Ocean. He was proud that despite the
hazards, storms and large shipping vessels, he had found the coastline
of Australia. Ahead stretched a large continent, a land of mystery and
unknown perils, waiting for his small Kiwi friend.
"I'll cross the reef ahead into the shallow waters and get as close to
the shore as possible for you Kiwi!" Whale rumbled.
Kiwi watched the white sandy coastline rapidly approaching and with
some fear of the unknown, he shuddered. "Thank you Whale for all your
kindness! I will never forget you." He said quietly.
When Whale stopped in the shallow water, Kiwi climbed shakily from his
rough, yet safe, barnacle covered back.
He turned to say a final good by, but Whale had already moved into
deeper waters, turning towards the open sea. Kiwi raised his small wing
in salute, and then he turned towards the limestone cliffs and began
the next stage of his venture for truth.

Chapter Six.

KIWI slowly climbed up Limestone cliffs, watching for signs of life
ahead. The sun was very hot on his head and back and he could feel the
energy draining out of his small body.
'I must find food and drink water very soon, before I perish.' He
whispered through his dry beak. His tongue stuck to the roof of his
mouth; it felt as if it had swollen to twice its normal size.
'I will have to remember to carry both food and water in this
inhospitable climate.' He panted, as he pulled himself up over the last
rock and balanced on the edge to catch his breath.
Before him was an amazing sight. As far as he could see lay a red
dessert, scorching hot in the mid day sun. He felt faint from the lack
of food and water and looked around for some shelter from the burning
sun.
Under a large overhang of red rock he found amazing drawings, by the
prehistoric people who had once lived there. He traced with his beak,
sketches of wild animals and colorful people of a bygone era. This had
been the 'Dreaming time' for the Aboriginal people. A record of their
history was portraying their dreams and customs over many
centuries.
'Oh! People of the dessert!' He called softly.
'I need a place to rest for a while. I will not disturb your treasures
or destroy your history. Instead I will learn from them with respect
and remember to relate all I have experienced in this country to my
friends in New Zealand.' Kiwi said as he quietly moved to respectful
distance near the entrance.
He sat down heavily; massaging his tired feet and promptly fell
asleep.
Kiwi woke in the dusk of evening to hear the strangest sound. It was a
chattering, clicking noise, followed by a loud thumping sound. He
walked outside into the glowing dusk. The sky was nearly black and the
last rays of the molten sun glowed a golden red color, as the earth
turned towards evening.
In front of Kiwi stood an odd-looking animal. It stood very tall with
short front legs held high and huge back legs that it stood on with
large sharp claws. It tail was long and was whipping the ground
fiercely strange clicking sounds were coming from the strange animals
mouth.
'Oh! I am sorry to disturb you,' said Kiwi.
'But you seem to be in some pain. Can I be of help!' He cried softly.
Trying not to panic the unfortunate animal.
Kangaroo look up from scratching the ticks in her soft fur and saw a
small brown bird with stocky legs and a long thin beak staring politely
at her.
'Phew mate!' said Kangaroo.
'You gave me quite a fright! And who are you my little friend.' She
said.
'I'm a Kiwi from New Zealand!' said Kiwi grandly.
'I have traveled many miles by land and sea to find the answer to the
problems of the world we live in. I am searching for wise animals here,
which may know the answer to my questions. He stated gravely.
'Well, don't look at me to help you mate. I have enough problems of my
own. But I may know some animals much more clever than I, that could
help you.' Kangaroo stated seriously.
'Thank you,' said Kiwi.
'But first I must find food and water and rest for the night. Could you
suggest a safe place for me to sleep in? ' He said quietly.
Kangaroo or 'Roo' as she was called proved to be a good friend and she
took the little bird into her care. She found him a safe bed for the
night and showed him where to find both grubs and water. She told him
it was very important to learn where to seek clean water in the dessert
and showed him how to dig in the soft mud in secret places. In wonder
Kiwi watched as the water slowly bubbled to the surface and he
thirstily drank his fill that night.

They traveled together in the cool of the mornings an after the heat of
the day left the land. The midday sun was too hot and many a creature
had perished in the cruel, relentless heat beating off the red rocks
and sand.
Kiwi's legs were too short to keep up with Roo, so he traveled in the
soft, furry pouch that Kangaroos carry their young in. He could see for
many miles from this elevated vantage point, with his head sticking out
and his long beak sniffing the hot breeze. Roo traveled over large
areas of dessert, hopping in long strides on her strong back legs. She
could use her long tail to ease her over the stony ground or to rest
against when tired.
As they were moving around a large red rock rising out of the flat
valley floor, a strange hissing sound frightened both of them. Roo
leapt many feet into the air, as she thought it was a poisonous snake.
Behind them was a small frilled lizard, scampering sideways, hissing
loudly in protest as they advanced towards him The lizard held an
aggressive stance with it orange mouth open, displaying sharp teeth.
The frill on its neck was standing erect, defying them to attack.
'Lizard!' cried Roo.
'You gave me such a fright.' She said.
'Why must you sneak up like that! It's not very polite and may cause an
accident.' Roo stated solemnly.
Kiwi could not believe his eyes, when he saw the lizard. What an
aggressive animal he thought. But perhaps he can help me and decided to
ask his question.
'Oh! Lizard! 'Said Kiwi.
'I have a problem to solve and you may know the answer. Will you help
me?' He asked shyly.
'What is your question?' Lizard said hissing and flicking his tongue,
tasting the strange smell of the small brown bird.
'I have traveled through New Zealand, over the great Tasman ocean,
trying to find a solution to the world's problem of global warming. I
have spoken to the wise Tuatara who has lived for hundreds of years and
even he did not have an answer to my question.
'He spoke of the melting of the Polar caps, which have created flooding
of low lying islands in the Pacific and other parts of the world.' Kiwi
said very seriously.
Frilled Lizard thought carefully. He had heard of the wise Tuatara and
did not wish to sound foolish when he spoke of what he had
observed.
'Here in Australia, our biggest problem is the overheating of the land.
A drought can last for many months, or even years in some parts of our
country. The animals die from lack of water, when the rivers and
streams dry up.' Lizard hissed solemnly.
'The farmer's crops burn in the pitiless sun and destroy our food
sources. Many animals travel across the desserts in search of fresh
water and food only to perish, their bones a reminder to others who
travel that way.' He said sadly, flicking his tongue at a passing fly,
drawing it into his mouth.
'For many years the people have built new lakes, irrigation ditches and
canals around their lands. But even these will dry up eventually if we
have no rain for many months.' said Roo.
'Well, thank you for your answers to my question.' But I must continue
my search until I am sure I know the whole truth.' signed Kiwi
quietly.
Roo helped the little brown bird back into her pouch and hopped away
across the burning sands to the far mountains.

Chapter Seven.

AS they approached the mountainous terrain they could smell the arid
smoke curling high above the forest trees. Both animals recognized the
signs of danger, as they could see the tongues of the flames lapping at
the base of the tall trees. Without any warning the fire exploded,
leaping high into the treetops. The gas from the Eucalyptus leaves
feeding the fire new energy and it roared its approval. The fireballs
leapt from tree to tree, incinerating all in its path. No animal could
survive that inferno. The cost to wild life and the bush would be
great.
But the trees in Australia have a unique way of reproducing themselves.
The fire would encourage the dormant seeds spent by the tree that lay
on the forest floor; to burst forth from their protective cases and
replace the ones destroyed in the latest fire.
Roo and Kiwi saw the men from the nearby farms beating the bush with
wet sacks. The fire engine arrived and the men desperately ran through
the dry bush with their hoses raining water into the heat of the fire.
The weary fire fighters worked for many days, desperate to control the
fire from spreading and destroying homes and their livelihood.
If the fires reached the fertile valleys, small towns would be lost and
this seasons crops destroyed. A whole year work lost forever. The
people of the outback were used to a hard life. They had experienced
drought, fire and insect plagues, many times over the years. But to
recover again took determination and for many the costs were too great,
they left the land forever.
In great sadness Roo and Kiwi had watched the inferno and had to turn
away. They realized that many animals would lose their lives in the
fire and they felt a painful sorrow as they departed. They hoped that
man would find some of the injured animals and tend to their wounds, or
put them out of their misery.
Roo shook herself and then raising her head to the north. She sniffed
the hot air and continued they're journeying towards the North. Through
the night she leapt across the dessert into the lush valleys and down
to the rivers. They swam across many large rivers that night, crossing
rugged mountain ranges, traveling until she could not move any
further.
'Kiwi! I am exhausted.' she cried and stumbled and fell to the hard
ground. She almost squashed the little Kiwi in her pouch. Kiwi
struggled from underneath the silent Roo and stood besides her, patting
her head.
'There, there Roo.' Kiwi said quietly.
'I know it has been a terrible day for all the animals in the fire. Now
perhaps you understand the importance of my quest. These fires must be
stopped somehow, the cost to mankind and the animals is too great!' He
stated sadly.
Roo lay where she had fallen, too sad and tired to move, she groaned
sadly to herself. Kiwi left her and went in search for food and water
for his friend. He dug under a special rock for the hidden water and
carried it to Roo in a large leaf. Roo lifted her weary head and drank
the water gratefully. Her large brown eyes glistened with tears of pain
and sorrow. But she knew to not move was dangerous and she crawled into
a sitting position, thinking quietly. Then when Roo felt stronger she
stood up and smiled wearily down on her small friend, thanking him for
his caring patience.
'Roo, You are a special friend to me!' cried Kiwi.
'We are sharing as friends, both the good and bad times together. Let
us rest for the night and talk of our special mission for the good of
all animals in the world.' He said quietly.
They both were very hungry and searched for food and drank their fill
of the pure water that Kiwi had found. They curled up together that
night, with Kiwi snuggled against Roo's chest for warmth.

Kiwi and Roo woke late the next morning. They moved around quietly
preparing their breakfast, both deep in thought. The experience of the
previous day had left it mark on both of them, a time to reflect and
grieve for the lost lives.
Kiwi shook himself and began to plan ahead for the new day. Above his
head in a lonely Eucalyptus tree he could hear an odd sound. It was a
colony of small green tree frogs. They were arguing amongst themselves,
over black ants they had found living in the hole in the tree. The
largest frog croaked his angry, claiming he had found them first. They
were his ants to eat at his leisure.
One small frog tired of the argument decided to climb down from the
tree, seeking a friendlier neighborhood. Spreading his suckered feet
wide, he moved carefully down the smooth white bark of the tall tree.
The little green frog sprung into the hot air, sailing down to land on
the brown feathered back of Kiwi.
Kiwi yelled in surprised, turning his head to see what had landed on
his back.
'Roo, look what has jumped onto my back!' He cried in fright.
'Don't panic mate!' Roo said laughing at the expression on Kiwis'
face.
'He can't hurt you! He is just a small tree frog.' She laughed and
laughed, rolling her head from side to side. Tears sprang from her eyes
as she laughed a release from the pain she had been suffering.
'Don't hurt me,' cried Frog whose name was Freddie.
'I didn't mean to frighten you. I was leaving my family to escaping to
a quieter place.' he said.
Kiwi held the small frog in his wing and looked hard at him. Freddie
had a light green, shiny skin with darker rings of olive green. His
eyes stood out from his head and could move independently of each
other. His skin felt cool and smooth to Kiwi's touch and he felt a
certain fondness for the small frog.
'I am searching for the answer to many questions, important to the
world.' he stated.
'If you are looking for adventure, you could travel with Roo and me to
the furthermost reaches of this huge continent.' Kiwi told frog
seriously.
'I have never left this place before and to travel with two experienced
explorers would be wonderful!' Frog cried.
In the mean time Roo was preparing the next stage of their journey,
packing clean water into her pouch. She looked down at the kiwi and
frog and called
'Time's up! Your carriage awaits you. Climb aboard!' She cried.
Kiwi and Freddie frog climbed into Roo's soft pouch and settled down
for the long journey through the dense bush in the long valleys.
The direction Roo had decided to travel was leading them further north,
through a rugged terrain of thick bush and steep valleys running
northwest. The scenery was changing all the time, as they sprang across
the landscape. The rain forests were filled with birds of many
wonderful colors and sounds. This land was not quiet; the air resounded
with many different calls from the colorful birds.
Kiwi heard the strangest sound coming from high in a ghost tree, a huge
white Eucalyptus. An odd looking bird with a large beak was sitting
there, laughing himself silly. His call was matched or copied by other
birds and the sound was magnified throughout the forest.
Roo stopped jumping and looked up into the trees calling loudly.
'Kookaburra! Kookaburra! Where are you! Kookaburra! Kookaburra, tell
the truth!' She cried laughingly.
The Kookaburra sullenly flew lower in the tree and with its head on one
side, watched the intruders. He did not like to be teased and mumbled
loudly to himself. His dark eyes watching for any sign of danger.
'What a strange laugh that bird has!' cried Kiwi. 'You would think that
he could share his joke with others.' He said.
Roo and Freddie laughed together. They knew that Kookaburra had no new
joke to share. He always sounded like that! Sometimes that laugh
spooked the animals of the forest into thinking that strange beings
lived in the furthermost reaches of the trees. They would glance over
their shoulders and hurriedly move on to safety.
As evening approached the animals found they were traveling over open
ground and decided to stop for the night. The silver moon was high in
the dark sky; many bright stars reflected their light onto the earth
below. In the dark shadows the animals searched for food and lodgings,
settling down to sleep.
Kiwi awoke in terrible fear for his life. His heart was pumping loudly
in great fear and he lay very still. He felt that the devil gods
surrounded him, as the weird chanting and stomping continued. He woke
Roo and Freddie, placing his wing against their mouths for silence. Roo
moved the frightened little bird's wing from his face.
'Kiwi, don't panic. It's the Aboriginal people dancing and worshipping
their 'Dream time.' He said softly.
'Come with me and I will show you. If we keep out of sight, we will be
quite safe.' Roo stated quietly.
He led the frightened bird and small frog to the edge of a cliff and
they looked down on an amazing sight.
Below them was a large group of native people dancing, stomping, and
singing their stories. Their naked bodies were painting with the colors
of the earth. Red, white and yellow swirling patterns decorated their
dark skins. They told their tribal stories and the history of the
'Dream time'. Theirs was a verbal language and the stories must be past
on to the younger generation, or lost forever. Their cave drawings
depicted the history of each tribe, a memorial to times past.
For sometime Roo, Kiwi and Freddie watched from the cliff top. They
were aware that many other animals had joined them. The Dingo, the
Snake, the Lizard and the many species of kangaroos that lived in the
bush and forest nearby and watching with great interest. The chanting
and the telling of their story had called them together, by the ancient
people dancing below.
Silently, Roo, Kiwi and Freddie return to their bed and their sleep was
colored by swirling, ochre painted bodies and ancient chants, calling
the secret gods of the land.
These ancient people had once traveled widely over this huge continent,
but with the coming of the white settlers now live in small communities
in remote areas. They could not adapt to city life and preferred to
work on the large cattle stations, some living in the small towns far
away from the influence of modern progress.

Chapter Eight.

THE soft light of the day welcomed them; the air vibrated with song
from the brightly colored birds as they welcomed a new beginning. Roo,
Kiwi and Freddie foraged for food and water, collecting enough to last
until the next day. This next stage of their journey was through
wetlands and mangrove swamps. Dangerous territory for animals not
experienced to the denizens of this tropical north.
Roo struggled through the mangrove swamps; the dark water hid many
obstacles and traps for the unwary traveler. Hidden in the depths of
the mangroves were brightly colored poisonous snakes, leeches, large
lizards and spiders.
But the most dangerous of all was the crocodile. He lay in wait for
helpless animals, attacking with ferocious speed. He could out run most
animals easily, lunging at them with his mouth held wide. He would
catch them in a death grip in his wicked teeth, dragging them beneath
the water, taking them to a hidden place to drown and rot. He preferred
his food to ferment for a while and when he was hungry, dragged it onto
the nearby bank tearing at the rancid carcass.
No one challenged this denizen of the mangroves. He was master of his
domain and no one questioned his authority and survived.
Crocodile swam inland from the depths of the ocean. It was not commonly
known that he could travel over vast area of the ocean, into the
shipping lanes, while seeking food. He often lay on the hot white sand
of a deserted beach, waiting for an un-suspecting person or animal to
come his way.
The legend of the speed he could attack with was true and many foolish
creatures had perished, at his leisure.
This was the creature that Kiwi and Roo were desperately searching for.
This aged reptile deep in the mangroves may know the answer to Kiwi's
questions.
Roo was tiring quickly in the quagmire of the swamp. His feet were not
designed to travel through the marshy ground and fetid water. The mud
sucked at his feet and the leeches bled his legs of energy.
'Kiwi!' He called tiredly.
'If we don't find this ancient crocodile soon, we may perish in this
swamp.' Roo said sagging to her knees.
'Don't give up now!' cried Kiwi in alarm.
'We have traveled so far! Lets look for higher ground and rest for the
night.' He encouraged Roo desperately.
With her last reserves of strength Roo clambered up the bank away from
the foul smelling water and found higher ground to rest. Kiwi and
Freddie searched for clean water and food for the night.
Roo was too tired to move and lay sleeping with her tired legs covered
in thick mud and fat leeches. Freddie frog knew how to remove leeches,
by carefully lifting them up and squirted frog venom on the wounds to
heal. They took good care of their friend Roo that night, watching over
her and bathing her wounds as she slept.
Later they would sleep, taking turns to watch out for dangerous snakes
and crocodiles.
The dawn rose high in the sky that morning, the heat and humidity
returning. But the three animals slept quietly under the trees, for the
moment they were safe.

The roaring started at daybreak, echoing through the mangrove swamps
and all animals within proximity of the fearful sound trembled and
stayed silent. It was the Crocodile venting his rage and all sensible
creatures were in fear of his wrath. It would be deadly for anyone who
came in his direction today.
Roo awoke to the roaring and trembled. She was afraid of Crocodile, but
knew that they're journey lead them to speak with this deadly reptile.
She woke Kiwi and Freddie, warning them to make no sound that would
attract investigation by the irate Crocodile.
They breakfasted in silence, preparing their plans to seek out the
angry reptile, during the afternoon. The mangrove swamp was eerie with
the silence that hung over it; all creatures remained silent.
Roo gathered her friends placing them into her safe, furry pocket.
Keeping to higher ground she carefully made her way through the swamp.
She stopped to listen for any unusual sound, dreading the rush of the
crocodile and certain death for all.
The roaring had diminished to angry groans and mighty swishes of his
giant tail. The crocodile climbed down the bank skidding on the
mudslide, slipping into the brown water. Even the small fish and fresh
water Cray's move out of harm's way, findings solace under the
overhanging riverbank. They huddled together silently, keeping their
movement to the minimum.
Crocodile swam along the bottom of the river trying to remember where
he had hidden another carcass. '
That's right.' he thought! His ancient brain springing into action. He
searched beneath the far bank under a hollow log and found his next
meal. He dragged the fetid carcass to the riverbank, climbing the
slippery mud to the drier ground. He looked at this portion of a
carcass and recognized the remains of a water buffalo that had strayed
into his territory. He opened his mouth wide and with yellow flashing
teeth, he ripped and torn huge chunks from the body. Swallowing in
noisy gulps and grinding his teeth on the bones. Crocodile ate
steadily, until he felt satisfied. Then he moved under the mangoes dull
green shade and prepared to sleep off his meal.
Roo had made steady time traveling and was very near to where Crocodile
lay. She could smell the rancid breath of crocodile and the fetid
remains of his recent meal. She quietly talked of her plans to her
small friends, moving closer to the sleeping reptile.
Kiwi and Freddie moved to their planned positions in the mangroves.
Freddie climbed into the top branches of a tree and Kiwi was hidden in
a hollow log further up the bank. Roo had placed herself with great
effort in the lower fork of a large mangrove tree. She was hidden by
the tangle of the many hanging roots, twisting downwards to the
river.
'Oh! Honorable Crocodile.' Roo called from her vantage point.
'We need you wise experience of life, to help us solve a world wide
puzzle!' She stated with respect.
The Crocodile stirred in his sleep, irritated by the intruding voice.
He moved restlessly and continued sleeping.
Kiwi called from his hollow log.
'Please, Oh please! Wise Crocodile. The world needs your assistance to
solve the problem of floods, drought and global warming.' He called in
a serious manner.
The crocodile lashed his tail in anger, turning around swiftly looking
for a sign of his tormentors. The warm furry odor of Kangaroo and
another strange smell he could not identify, bothered him and he
rumbled loudly to himself.
From the safety of his high perch Freddie prepared to launch his
message of support.
'Crocodile! Your wisdom precedes you and we seek help on a serious
matter for all animals in the world.' He cried in a Froggy voice.
'Who calls me?' cried Crocodile loudly.
'I have no answer for anyone who does not show their face to me.' He
rumbled deep in his chest.
Roo and Kiwi move slowly down from their vantage points, bravely
showing themselves to Crocodile. They stood together, watching the huge
crocodile very carefully for sudden movement.
'Many things have been changing over the last one hundred years.'
Crocodile stated seriously.
'I have observed the climate has become hotter and the Ozone layer does
not protect us from the burning rays of the sun, any longer. The fires
destroy our forests and kill many of the small animals. Many animals
must cover their skins with cooling mud or stay in the shade of the
mangroves and forests.
Great droughts lasting for many years have dried up huge rivers and
lakes, causing death and hardships for many of the animals. It has
caused a shortage of food for some animals and their numbers are
falling, soon to be extinct.' crocodile replied importantly.
'I know that many changes must take place very soon to save this planet
earth, from extinction. Man must also take responsibility for the
damage he has caused, by polluting our waterways, destroying rain
forests. The building of more cities will harm this country, creating
an imbalance against nature.' Crocodile warned seriously.
This was a very long conversation for him and he stopped speaking. He
rumbled quietly to himself, in silent reflection.
Roo and Kiwi realized that they would not learn any more information
from him and quietly moved away from the ancient reptile. From a safe
vantage point they discussed their next move and decided to travel to
the far north coastline.
Kiwi had decided to continue alone across the ocean to a far legend of
land, called Vietnam. Steeped in ancient mythology, with dragons,
ancient gods and the mystery surrounding the famous 'Ho Hoan Kiem'
lake, in Hanoi. He had heard the tale of the famous 'Tortoise and the
magic sword.' Surely the answers lay in this magical land, hidden in
the archives of history.
Kiwi reached the coastline and bid his Australian friends, fare well.
Both Roo and Freddie cried when he shook the soft, furry paw of Roo and
small green hand of his frog mate. Together they would return to their
own lives, perhaps wiser after the experiences they had shared with
their Kiwi friend. They wished him well and turned inland to begin
their journey home.
Kiwi sat down to wait for inspiration, on the next stage of his
journey. He had learnt many new things lately and needed time to
reflect on them seriously. He was by far an emotionally stronger bird,
than when he had left New Zealand. He had met many wonderful creatures
and shared amazing experiences throughout his travels.
He was ready for the next stage of his journey and searched the horizon
for signs of a way to reach the fabled land of Vietnam.

Chapter Nine.

KIWI smiled as he sat on the shoreline with his small wing raised,
shading his eyes against the bright glaring sunlight. He felt rested
after good nights sleep and was ready for the next stage of his
adventure. The small wavelets played with his clawed feet, cooling
them, creating interesting patterns in the white sand. He searched the
horizon for a ship or even another whale to take him through the
turbulent oceans to Vietnam.
After a few hours he grew tired and retreated to the shade of the
spindly coastal trees, to reconsider his plans. As he lay there he saw
a pod of whales moving across the horizon, followed by a large school
of Dolphins. They leapt free from the sea in huge arches of flashing
spray. Their wet skin was colored in iridescent hues of green and steel
blue.
The dolphins suddenly turned away from the pod, swimming swiftly
towards the coastline, nearer to Kiwi. He leapt to his feet in joy and
ran into the shallow waters, waiting for them. The large male dolphin
raised his head above the rolling surf and called out to Kiwi.
'Are you the bird who traveled by whale from New Zealand?' He called in
a watery voice.
'Yes!' Called the Kiwi.
'I traveled across an inhospitable ocean to find the answer to my
questions in Australia. But alas, the answer was not to be found. The
world is in grave peril! Can you please help me travel to the land of
Vietnam.' He called loudly.
The Dolphin considered his answer. He spoke quietly in a chattering
manner with the other dolphins, which were crowding around him.
He raised his beautiful gray head above the waves and called to the
small brown bird.
'All right! I will take you the rest of your journey by sea. But be
prepared for bad weather through the gulf of Tonkin and the south China
seas. There is a cyclone called 'Tina', which has caused many deaths
already and is moving in this direction.
Kiwi prayed for strength and safety from the gods of the 'land of the
long white cloud' New Zealand. Then thanking the dolphin for his
assistance, he climbed onto his back. He gripped the slippery neck with
his claws. He was prepared to withstand the might of the sea, to find
the answer to his questions.

The dolphin had spoken the truth about the approaching storm. The sea
rapidly swelled with waves reaching heights of ten to fifteen meters'.
The storm howled around them, darkening the sky and lashing them with
furious winds.
The dolphin struggled to remain on the surface of the boiling ocean.
Usually when a storm approached he would dive to the safety of the
depths, out of the dangerous path of the cyclone. But he was unable of
diving with his small passenger. This bird could not hold his breath
for long periods of time under water.
Kiwi suffered a great deal with the violent lashing of the huge waves.
At times he felt as though he was upside down and seasickness was his
enemy. He clung onto the dolphins' back with all his diminishing
strength. He must survive. His quest was too important to give up. Kiwi
could not give into defeat and just slip beneath the angry
waters.
Dolphin swam to the edge of the storm and slowly made his way from
island to island, always staying on the leeward side of the storm. When
exhausted he risked crossing the reefs to the safety of the small bays,
sheltering in the calmer waters.
In one small island he stayed sheltered there for two days. The storm
raged over them, destroying all in its path. The trees were toppled;
small villages were swamped with water at high tide. Devastation was
everywhere.
Kiwi trembled with fear in the shelter of a small cave above the high
water mark. He prayed for help from all the gods that night. His
resolve was seriously dented by the ferocity of the storm that whipped
the world around him.
One day the sea mist slowly cleared and Kiwi realized that all was
quiet again. The storm had moved on, diminishing in velocity as it
went. A thin watery sunlight showed the devastation created by cyclone
'Tina'. The small island had lost most of its vegetation and clean
drinking water. The lack of food supplies and habitation would be a
problem for animals and local natives for some time to come. Sadly Kiwi
looked around and gathered what food and clean water he could. He
wandered slowly along the shoreline, trying to decide what he should
next.
He was pondering on unhappy thoughts about completing his journey, when
dolphin lifted his handsome head calling loudly, 'Kiwi! The storm is
over. Let's continue our journey to the coast of Vietnam.'
Kiwi suddenly felt more confident again and replied in a happier mood,
'All right Dolphin!' and climbed onto the slippery warm back of his
friend.
'Let's go.' Kiwi cried fearfully, trying desperately to find the
courage needed to complete this terrible voyage.
The dolphin plunged through the warmer currents leading towards the
South China Sea. Dolphin watched out for large ships on the ocean
surface; he was wary of collision with these monster vessels. He was
particularly careful of fishermen and their treacherous nets, as many
members of his family had perished, unable to escape the vicious
nets.

Chapter Ten.

THE shoreline of the Me Kong delta rose slowly out of the swirling sea
mist. It re-appeared hazily then vanished again, as they swam into the
river channel called Cira Dinh An, in the Me Kong delta. They kept to
the deeper water, gliding silently past small low-lying islands in the
central channel. Dolphin swam carefully watching for signs of sharks
and other predators.
Flotsam from the small villages cluttered the waterways as it drifted
out to sea. Dolphin swam to a nearby shoreline and they said their
farewells to each other.
"Thank you Dolphin!" Cried Kiwi. "Without your help I would not have
found Vietnam. But now I must continue my journey to find the answers
to my questions. It's time to venture forth through this foreign land
to complete my search for the truth." Said Kiwi.
Dolphin rolled onto his side and raised a flipper in a silent salute
and vanished from sight.
Kiwi looked around him and marveled at the sights and smells of this
magical land. He slowly walked up the riverbank and vanished into the
thick undergrowth. He walked for hours in the humid heat, looking for
food and water on the way. The jungle closed around him in a green
silence broken only by the calls of strange animals, he was afraid.
Colorful parrots made loud calls and strange rustling sounds were of
creatures moving away from him. After walking for several hours, the
dense bush cleared and he moved to higher ground.
He stopped to rest at midday under red flowering trees. The air was
full of busy insects and butterflies of many colorful hues. He was
surrounded by beautiful flowering plants; their sweet perfume
overwhelmed him. Above him monkeys chattered and brilliant orchids
clung to the bark of the trees. He watched with awe as iridescent
dragonflies, much larger than in his own country, landed on the
flowering plants before him.
The sky was a clear azure blue and the heat radiating from the sun that
sat high at midday. He was amazed to hear the beautiful, but strangely
sad songs from the birds as they moved through the trees, far above
him. He felt a touch of homesickness for New Zealand, for familiar
smells and creatures he understood. But his resolve was still strong
and he shook himself sternly and moved forward in his search.
As he climbed high into the mountains the air became cooler. He felt
better in this climate and moved quickly through the primal forest. As
he walked many creatures could be seen watching him from the treetops.
They had never seen such a strange looking, brown bird with a long thin
beak and thick short legs. Even though he was small in stature, he
commanded such a sense of purpose that they kept out of his way. None
could imagine the thoughts that raced through Kiwi's head, as he
marched along. He was determined to survive and find the solution to
the world problems.
Kiwi finally reached the top of the mountain and sitting down he
surveyed the rocky, jungle landscape, far below. With his wing shading
his eyes he could see mountains ranges far in the distance.
He was very tired - His feet were bruised from the rocks and his body
bloodied from the many thorns of strange plants. They had reached out,
grabbing at his brown feathers and wings, stinging his sturdy legs. He
needed a friend to help him he thought, as he slipped into oblivion and
slept.
The large, gray elephant was moving purposefully through the jungle, he
was foraging for the tender tips of his favorite food. With his trunk
he pulled the slender branches down to his mouth, eating steadily. He
continued moving slowly, silently through the forest, watching for
enemies. The large cats were the only animals he was concerned about.
The tiger's attack would be swift and brutal, causing painful injures
or death.
He stopped for a moment rubbing his side against a tree trunk,
relieving the irritation of the ticks buried deep in his thick hide.
Elephant stopped moving and stood very still; he could hear soft
snoring from the ground beneath his feet. He looked down and beheld a
small brown bird curled in sleep, with no one watching for his
safety.
Elephant bent his front legs and fanned the warm air through his trunk,
blowing softly on the strange bird. Kiwi opened his eyes and stared in
awe at the huge creature looming above him. His heart almost stopped
with fright and was thumping painfully in his small chest.
"Who and what are you?" He cried breathlessly.
"Why, I'm an Elephant!" The large animal stated.
"I have heard tales of animals like you," said Kiwi "But I thought that
your kind live in Circus's and Zoo's?" He said softly, still very
afraid.
"Yes! I have also heard this about elephants. But I live free in the
jungles of Vietnam, my homeland." Elephant said solemnly.
Kiwi rose to his feet and looking up at the huge creature said. "My
quest is to find an answer to saving the world from destruction by man
and climate." He stated seriously. "I would be very gratefully if you
could take me part of the way. My destination is in the far north at a
sacred lake called Ho Hoan Kiem."
"Well! We are near Dalat." called a Tonkin monkey He sat high in the
trees, surrounded by his family.
"Yes!" hissed the Cobra, as it danced on its tail, swaying hypnotically
from side to side. Its mate suddenly appeared on the opposite side of
the jungle path, near to Kiwi. Kiwi recoiled in fright upon the sight
of two reptiles swaying in before of him. The elephant lowered his
trunk and plucked the rigid bird to the safety of his back.
"Move away!" He commanded the cobras. "This small bird is a friend not
an enemy! I will take him on his search for the good of all creatures."
Elephant announced sternly, watching the two cobras carefully.
With an angry hiss the two snakes retired to the undergrowth, moving
away as commanded by elephant. As the cobras moved out of sight, the
monkeys resumed their chattering and sailed down through the trees,
swinging by their long arms from branch to branch.
The largest male took up a position near to elephant and said, "Our
homes are in danger every day, as man fells the rain forest for land to
plant his crops. Many times we have watched as the burning off of scrub
has got out of control and precious trees are lost forever."
"Our homes are no longer safe and we must move further into the jungle
to find food and safety. Our numbers are few now and we face
extinction. We wish you well in you search and may the gods of the
forest protect you," said the golden monkey.
Elephant nodded his huge gray head in response to the monkey's
statement and agreed that this truth applied to many animals in the
jungle. The Saola, (a type of antelope) was also under threat and as
well as the Kouprey (a species of forest oxen) and the Javan Rhinoceros
who lived in the river lands.
Soberly elephant and kiwi moved through the jungle, their thoughts
keeping them silent.

For many days the trusty elephant moved steadily through rugged jungle
and across the harsh, barren plains and swamps. His courage was
immense, as at times their journey took them near to man. He knew that
man prized the elephant for his strength as a working animal and also
for his large tusks. The ivory tusks were a symbol of power to man and
great wealth. He especially avoided the villages and small cities; to
be seen by man was risking certain death for both of them.
But he had made a promise to the small kiwi, to keep him safe and to
complete his quest. He pushed forward through the countryside, far from
his homeland and family.
One evening they arrived in a strange, misty land near to limestone
caves and winding canals. This land was known for its ancient stories
of dragons and long ago cities. The kingdom of Hoa Lu kept its secrets
safe in the murky dusk and the tired elephant and kiwi fell silent in
the uneasy atmosphere. They ate quietly that night, finding solace in a
warm cave carved into the side of a limestone mountain.
The mountains seem to move in the pale moonlight and the river mist
swirled and darkened in silence. Elephant and Kiwi did not sleep well
this night. Their dreams were touched by dark shadows, dragons' rose
before them, breathing fire. The night was uneasy, even the nocturnal
animals moved carefully in the whispering silence.
The temple lights shone faintly in the cool mist, lighting the symbols
along the ridge of the roofline. The old priest dressed in rough, a
brown robe was aware of the foreboding of evil. He bent his tired old
legs and knelt on the cold marble floor of the inner temple and prayed.
The temple idols and Buddha moved uneasily in their place of worship.
Something evil was moving closer to the sanctuary of peace and
serenity.
The cool breeze sighed to its self and moved restlessly across the
waters of the small lake. The surface of the lake moved, swelling and
rippling with an un-natural energy. An evil roaring, shattered the
silent night and steam vented high into the night sky. The lake moved
angrily again, the turbulent water lashing the small village. The
timbers of the old wharf groaned their displeasure as something moved
beneath them. It rose again violently lashing them with its spiked
tail, and then moved off to the hidden depths. The small lake smoothed
and settled again in silence, preserving its secrets.
All was silent that night. The inhabitants trembled in their beds and
the gods awaited the evil that was soon to come.

The morning was slow to clear of river mist that day and the
inhabitants moved uneasily around, slow in their work. By late morning
elephant and kiwi had eaten their fill and drank clean water from a
nearby canal. They decided to rest today, as they were both tired from
the constant traveling.
The elephant stood in the cool waters, cleaning his weary body with
jets of refreshing water from his trunk. He held his head high pouring
the water over his head and flanks then sank into the canal wallowing
in the healing mud. This long journey had taken its toll on both of
them; they must both rest today.
Kiwi wandered along the canal watching the multi colored ducks as they
dived for their food, bottoms raised to the heavens. They seemed
content as they played and fed on the riverweeds, their small minder
watching them from the other bank.
The small peasant boy was responsible for the ducks and he cared from
them every day. Each evening he drove them home to a safe pen near his
small house. They provided his family with a small income when they
were sold at market, along with the embroidered cloths his mother and
grandmother made. His was a poor family and they survived as best they
could in these uncertain times. He watched the strange bird carefully,
deciding that it was no threat to his beautiful ducks and shutting his
eyes he slept.
Kiwi explored along the lake's edge and watched the busy scene of men
and women ferrying goods to far off places in their small cane boats.
He listened to the strange language they spoke and saw the women spite
betel nut juice in a warm red stain onto the ground. The people were
very poor in this village and worked hard to survive. But their spirit
was strong and they labored every day in the field to grow their rice,
vegetables and fished from the silent lake.
Kiwi observed their quiet strength and followed them to the small
temple, creeping inside. The most wonderful feeling of calm overwhelmed
him as he sat out of sight, near one of the lesser gods. He could see
that the people felt the same sense of serenity, as their worn faces
smoothed, relaxing. They prayed ardently to the wonderful, colorful
Buddha who smiled serenely on all his creatures. Here all were safe
from the evil waiting nearby.
The surface of the lake moved and swelled, creating a small whirlpool
near the far bull rushes. Then it fell silent again, waiting for the
right time to strike.

Chapter Eleven.

THAT night a terrible electrical storm crashed down on the small
village of Hoa Lu. The night sky was alive with huge bellows of thunder
and the lighting struck out violently against the trees. Its spiteful
tongue rent the trees, leaving them blackened and burnt. The people of
the village hid in their small homes, they knew that this was to be a
night to remember.
The old priest was praying to Buddha, asking for protection of his
people. His old, creaky knees felt the pain of arthritis on the cold
stone floor. But he continued to pray, asking forgiveness for this
night's evil deed. Then he climbed slowly to his feet and serenely
walked out into the storm.
Kiwi and Elephant watched the storm from the safety of their cave
entrance. Both of them knew that something terrible would happen this
night and they shivered in terror.
The waves on the lake were being driven by the storm and crashed on the
shore and against the old wharf. The mist swirled angrily, the lake
began to swell and steam rose from its surface. Kiwi and Elephant
walked out into the storm; the night was brilliant with lightning. The
thunder crashed deafeningly overhead and they cowed from the forces
above them, but continued walking towards the lake. They could see
before them a small figure in brown robes kneeling by the wharf in
pray. The old priest was praying for all his people and the creatures
that depended on the protection of Buddha.
Elephant and Kiwi stood either side of the old man, quietly waiting for
him to lift his head. He stopped his pray and looked up at the brave
animals and smiled sadly.
"I'm honored by your presence here tonight." He said quietly. "This
night will tell of many things from our past. The ancient dragon of our
mythology is stirring after hundreds of years. You must help me quell
its anger first and then ask your questions." The priest said solemnly
with rain coursing down his lined face.
A ferocious and terrible roar rent the night. A jet of steam writhed
upwards and the thunder crashed around them. Suddenly flames and steam
rose high into the darkness lighting the night sky. High above them
writhed the serpentine shape of a dragon, breathing fire and brimstone.
His eyes were terrible to behold, as he swayed in the smoke and flames
above the lake.
Finally he spoke out in a thunderous voice. But the words were
deafening to their ears and they cowered before him. Only Kiwi remained
on his feet. Even though he was in mortal fear, his resolve to find the
answers to his questions made him strong. Kiwi's friends gave him
courage and the dragon saw this and lay quietly, swishing his tail and
breathed smoke from his nostrils.
"What do you want from the protector of this ancient lake?" He bellowed
deafeningly. "Beware! I don't tolerate fools!" He said loudly, spitting
fire from his mouth. "Make you questions known and I will consider if I
will answer them!"
Kiwi took a deep breath and standing tall he asked his question. "I am
concerned about the danger the world is in today, from the effects of
global warming. The clearing of our Rain forests in Borneo, Indonesia
and South America and the devastating fires. The pollution man has
created using chemicals on the land that are poisoning our waterways
and oceans. The world needs help now, so that it can be safe for future
generations." He said with conviction.
The dragon swayed above the flames and plumes of smoke, ignoring the
storm. He reflected on the wise words spoken by this brave creature
before him. He respected courage in all creatures and remembered past
heroes, brave warriors and wise kings. This small brown bird from a
faraway land had asked for his help.
The dragon thought for some time and answered him this way. "Small
bird! It is not often that I meet such courage and wisdom from one such
as yourself. I have given thought to your questions and know that the
answers lie with the ancient Tortoise of 'Ho Hoan Kiem' lake. His gift
of knowledge is renown! His powers in this land are magical! Seek him
out and you shall have your questions answered."
The dragon lashed the storm with his forked tail, fire breathed from
his nostrils and mouth and he vanished into the stormy night. The lake
stirred wildly and the water lashed the shore then swirled away into
the distance and was calm again.
Kiwi stood quietly thinking about this amazing experience. He sighed in
relief and turned to his friend elephant and the old priest.
"My journey continues! I will leave at first light and travel to the
magic lake and the tortoise of all knowledge." He said solemnly.
The priest placed his hand on the Kiwi's head and said, "Tonight! You
showed great courage and we thank you for that. You will find the
answers to your questions and the world will be richer from your
efforts." He slowly walked away along the muddy path that led to his
temple.
The valley relaxed, it had witnessed an amazing incident in its long
history of conflict. Peace reined once again.

A new day dawned brilliantly in warm sunshine and renewed hope. The
people moved about in their fields and fished on the calm lake. They
bent their backs to the task of survival and prepared the soil for a
new crop of rice and vegetables. The drama of the night remained in
their minds, but their acceptance of their culture satisfied them and
they bowed to their work.
They were simple people and preferred to believe that the storm had
created an illusion of power and evil. They shook themselves and
continued to toil at their tasks. They would visit the ancient temple
later that day, offering ardent prayers of gratitude to their gods.
Buddha would protect all his creatures from harm, they thought to
themselves.
Kiwi and Elephant talked about the final stage of they're
journey.
"Elephant! I know that you are far from your home and miss you family.
If you wish to return to them, I will understand!" Kiwi said.
Elephant had been thinking of this matter during the night. "Yes! He
did miss his family." But the thought of abandoning his small friend
now made him feel very sad.
"Dear Kiwi! I thought seriously about the safety of my family, last
night. But I would like to accompany you to the end of your quest.
These problems affect the world I live in and I would like to hear what
the Tortoise has to say." Elephant stated in his rumbly voice.
"Oh! Thank you elephant." Cried the grateful bird and he hugged
elephant's sturdy trunk and climbed aboard his friends' broad
back.
The final leg of their journey was through arable farmland. On this
flat plain the river spread its waters in times of flood, bearing the
rich minerals and topsoil's from the highlands.
By traveling at night by the light of the silver moon, elephant and
kiwi covered large tracts of land. They moved silently pass the paddy
fields and vegetable plots, wary of the peoples' hunger. They didn't
want to attract the attention of the villagers; this could bring
certain death to both of them.
By day they sheltered deep in the jungle, feeding in silence and
watchful of danger. Their journey was almost complete. Hanoi lay to the
north in a river basin and the lake was surrounded by the ancient city.
On their last night of safety, kiwi and elephant made their plans to
enter the city, seeking the tortoise and his wisdom.
"Elephant!" Said Kiwi. "I will understand if you don't want to risk
freedom by entering this city!"
"I have thought a great deal about this problem, but I wish to share
with you the honor of meeting the famous tortoise and hearing his words
of wisdom. I have a talisman from the old priest, that will keep us
safe." Said elephant and he showed a wonderful, glowing disc on a
leather thong around his sturdy neck.
"But what is this?" Kiwi cried softly. "I have never seen such a
wonderful thing!" Kiwi said in amazement. "Will this talisman keep us
safe from mans' evil actions!"
"Yes! I believe so! The old priest is very wise and he respects your
courage. If you believe in the power of the talisman, we will be safe
from harm and your questions will be answered." Elephant stated
solemnly.

Chapter Twelve.

THEY waited until the moon was high in the night sky, before they made
their final journey through the sleeping city to Ho Hoan Kiem
Lake.
The night was filled with the sounds of animals and man, stirring in
their sleep. The elephant trod on velvet feet through the empty
streets, keeping to the deep shadows. Kiwi was wide eyed with the
excitement of the moment. He was here in Hanoi; his moment of truth was
close at hand. They traveled through the narrow streets of the old
city, careful not to disturb the sleeping occupants, by making any
sudden sound.
A strange light illuminated the mist floating above the lake and the
temple of the famous tortoise. The only sound they could hear was the
lapping of the small waves against the shoreline.
Elephant and Kiwi stood silently in awe, at the sight of this fabled
lake. They were quietly discussed how they could attract the tortoise's
attention, when suddenly the disc around kiwi's neck began to glow
brightly.
From the glowing disc emanated a strange throbbing sound that echoed
across the lake's surface. The water began to stir and the thick mist
swirled around them and the moon vanished behind cloud. The darkness
silently surrounded them and they were afraid. Elephant and Kiwi stood
close together united by courage and the disc hummed and glowed more
brightly.
Suddenly at their feet the black water parted and beholds the ancient
tortoise rose before them. His coat was encrusted with precious jewels
and on his head he wore a golden circle. In his flippers, he held a
wonderful golden sword, which dazzled their eyes.
"Who seeks knowledge from this ancient one?" Tortoise stated in a
musical voice. "I see that you carry the golden disc of protection! You
must have impressed the old priest and the fabled dragon with your
courage and honesty." He said.
He continued to watch them with his ancient, reptile eyes, which glowed
with knowledge of past and present events in time.
Kiwi put his small wing on elephants' trunk, seeking security from his
friend. Now that the moment he had longed for was here, he became
afraid. What if this wise one did not know the answers to the world's
problems? He drew himself up tall and taking a deep breath he spoke to
the protector of the lake and fabled sword.
"Oh! Wise and ancient tortoise! I thank you, for your compliment on our
courage. We seek your wisdom, to solve a problem that affect the whole
world." He stopped and waited for a response from the ancient
one.
The tortoise waved the beautiful sword above them, indicating that Kiwi
should continue speaking.
"The world is suffering from dramatic changes to its atmosphere by
global warming. Mankind has neglected to take heed of the signals from
nature, showing the pollution of our rivers, wetlands and the air we
breathe." Kiwi stated seriously. He took a deep breath and waited for a
reply from the ancient one.
Tortoise closed weary eyes, which had seen many wonderful events in the
history of the world. He slowly moved around his magic lake, deep in
thought. The golden lake carp rose suddenly to the surface. They knew
that a special moment in time that was about to begin. Quietly they
swam beneath the willow trees that lined the banks of the lake.
As the tortoise returned to kiwi and the elephant, he was surrounding
by wonderful, golden lights. The fireflies glowed and danced in the
warm air, creating a brilliant halo around the protector of their lake.
He moved slowly in front of them and with great ceremony began to
speak.
"All these things you mention are true! Many sears that lived before me
have been concerned for the future of our world. We know that many
animals have become extinct, or are facing extinction through man's
thoughtless action. Toxic waste and gasses have destroyed their natural
habitat. The peasants slash and burn the rain forests, taking the land
for the growing of crops. The devastation of the rain forest's of the
world, which produces vital oxygen for all gods' creatures. The
pollution of chemicals in our waterways, lakes and oceans, is
destroying our river life and affects the ecology of the oceans.
This destruction must stop! Mankind must accept responsibility for his
lust for power and wealth and make amends for the rape of the world
natural resources!" He paused and rested quietly. "All animals of the
world must unite and spread the truth to man before the world is lost
for future generations. If this devastation continues the world as we
know it will die, destroyed for all time!" The ancient one stated with
tears in his weary eyes.
Kiwi and Elephant bowed their heads before his wise words and pondered
on his words. They waited silently for his final speech, as he closed
his ancient eyes, as if in great pain.
The ancient tortoise opened his eyes wide and they began to glow with a
brilliant light. Kiwi and the elephant hid their eyes fearfully and
knelt before him.
"My task for you and all creatures of the world is to go forth and
deliver my words. Mankind must be made to make amends for his greed and
foolishness. They must be advised of the peril of not heeding my words
and begin his task of saving what is left of this precious planet,
Earth! If the world is not made a safer place for all god's creatures,
then the wroth of the ancient gods will befall man and he will be
banished from this planet, for all time." Tortoise raised the magic
sword high above his head.
"My task for you, good Kiwi and Elephant is to go forth into the world
and spread my message to all creatures. With this magic sword, I
guarantee your safety from the danger's ahead. Carry it with pride, for
it once belonged to a king of great renown and courage. It will keep
you safe from harm! When you have completed your journey, return the
sword to the protector of the lake. It must be kept safe for future
kings to take into battle, against our enemies!" He saluted the two
animals and slide beneath the surface of the lake, returning to his
secret place in mythical times.
Kiwi and Elephant looked at the glowing disc around kiwi's neck and the
golden sword in elephant's trunk. They realized the enormity of the
task ahead of them. But they felt confident of the trust bequeathed in
them and raising the sword together, above their heads. They saluted
the ancient tortoise, thanking him for his wisdom.
Their task would take them to all corners of the world and their
message would offer hope to mankind in repairing some of the damage
done to our world. Mankind would learn to make amends to the desperate
creatures facing extinction. After all, mankind was at risk of
extinction by his own hand, if our environment could not be saved for
future generations.

Copyright by Leonie Campbell
www.bookworm.au.com