by Bindi Irwin
Tri noticed Bindi looking at the mine with interest. ‘There are plenty of these in the area. Some are old and abandoned but some are working. They mine gold, gems and bauxite here.’
Chenda gave a loud trumpet.
Bindi laughed. ‘It doesn’t sound like she likes the mines.’
‘No, neither do I,’ said Tri, patting Chena’s flank.
The elephant led the way along a well-worn jungle path. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of rainforest. They walked in single file, enjoying an easy silence.
Bindi and Robert heard the unmistakable roar of rushing water before the falls came into view. The water tumbled over a cliff and cascaded over rocks before flowing into a crystal-clear pool at the bottom. The path through the jungle ended beside this pool, at a shallow beach. Chenda waded straight in and took a long drink.
Tri raised his eyebrows at his new friends and offered a challenge. ‘Last one in is a –’ Before he could finish, Bindi and Robert were already running towards the pool. To cries of ‘Geeee-ronimo’, they dive-bombed into the deeper water from a rock shelf beside the waterfall.
Chenda sucked up a trunkful of water from the pool and took aim at Bindi and Robert, spurting the water out like a fire hose, drenching them both.
Bindi spluttered, ‘That elephant is far too clever!’
‘Chenda’s the ultimate super soaker!’ called out Robert, impressed.
Something caught Chenda’s attention as she looked back towards the way they had come. Bindi followed her gaze, and there on the bank was the same young man who they’d seen earlier tearing around on his dirt bike.
He called out a greeting to Tri who waved back half-heartedly. ‘Hi Kret.’
Tri walked over to Kret and began talking. Bindi noticed Kret pointing to what looked like new sneakers and pulling out a top-of-the-range mobile phone from his cargo pants.
‘More showing-off,’ muttered Bindi.
Tri was now shaking his head emphatically at whatever Kret was saying. Their voices became louder and more strained. Kret waved a hand towards Chenda and said something to Tri, while poking him in the chest. Tri shook his head; he didn’t seem at all interested in what Kret was offering.
Kret shook his own head back and Tri turned away. Kret scooped up a flat river stone from the bank and drew his arm back. Bindi realised he was aiming to throw the stone at Chenda.
Bindi gasped. Just as she was wondering how to protect the huge elephant, Tri caught Kret by the arm and wrestled the stone from his grasp. Kret just laughed and sauntered off down the jungle path calling something Bindi couldn’t make out over his shoulder as he went.
Tri looked over at Bindi. He seemed quite upset.
‘Are you okay, Tri?’ she asked.
Tri gave a sad smile but said nothing, and patted Chenda’s side.
I have a bad feeling about Tri’s friend, Bindi thought as she got dunked by another wall of water from Chenda, although she no longer felt like playing.
When Terri, Kate and the children arrived in the fields the next morning, they found the farmers and Din already huddled in a group. The farmers were having a very serious discussion. They looked far from happy.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Kate as they joined the group. Din pointed to the far corner of plantation. Bindi and Robert realised with dismay that some crops had been trampled and eaten during the night.
‘Oh no, not again!’ groaned Robert. ‘We didn’t get time to finish the fence yesterday.’
Din turned to Kate and the Irwins. ‘The farmers are not sure now if it’s worth putting all this effort into stopping the elephants. They worked so hard yesterday and now look at what has happened. This elephant is only going to keep coming back for more.’
Bindi answered. ‘But once the fence is finished, the elephant won’t be able to get in.’
One farmer shouted out angrily in Bunong. Kate grimaced and explained to the Irwins. ‘They want to “fix” the problem now, if you get my meaning.’
Bindi was not pleased. ‘But elephants help them out in so many ways.’ Tri had explained that Chenda and other domesticated elephants cleared the land in the first place so the crops could be planted. ‘The farmers need to be patient,’ she said. ‘We’ll help.’
Din shrugged. ‘This elephant has been attacking their crops for over a week now. They are rice and corn crops that can no longer feed the village.’
Terri stepped up. ‘I know Kate has brought seed packets with her so the farmers can start growing different crops, such as eggplant, which Asian elephants don’t eat. Changes like this make the land more productive and will give you more variety from your crop yield.’
Din looked concerned. ‘You’re suggesting they change the way they farm too?’ He shook his head. ‘They won’t like it.’
‘You can’t ignore the success we’ve had in the Cardamom Mountains,’ said Kate. ‘Not only are elephants not trampling crops, but farmers are making a profit out of the range of crops they grow.’
‘The spirit of the Bunong and the elephant is the same,’ said Bindi. ‘The elephant, like you, is losing its land. These creatures are your brothers, not your enemy.’
Once Din had translated, the farmers nodded and headed into the field to work. ‘Nice work, B. Message received loud and clear,’ said Robert, giving his sister a light punch on the arm.
Bindi nodded. ‘For now, at least,’ she said, knowing there was still more to do.
‘What a day!’ exclaimed Terri as she sank back onto her pillow, lying on the soft grass outside her tent in the dim evening light. ‘I haven’t worked this hard since … forever! And I know a thing or two about hard work!’
‘I know you do!’ agreed Kate as she slumped against her sleeping bag. ‘It’s not exactly a relaxing family holiday …’
Terri sat up as she protested, ‘Hey, I’m not complaining!’ She grimaced as she rubbed at her sore muscles. ‘Well, maybe I am a little bit, but it’s worth it. I can’t believe how much we’ve done in just two days!’ Terri sank back down again. The effort of sitting up was too much.
‘Check out my blisters!’ said Robert as he and Bindi collapsed in a heap beside their mum. Robert held up his palms to show his field workers’ hands.
‘Impressive,’ noted Bindi.
Terri smiled. ‘My children, out working in the fields all day long. I’m proud of you, guys, but let’s hit the hay. I’m bushed and we have to do it all over again tomorrow.’
There was a collective groan as everyone crawled into their tents. The nocturnal jungle around them was just starting to come alive. Bindi fell into a deep sleep, listening to the sounds of the gibbons calling out to each other.
Bindi was woken by Robert from a dream involving a chilli-eating competition with an elephant. She was winning, but only just. Steam was coming out of both their ears …
‘Psst. Bindi, wake up!’
Bindi desperately tried to pull herself up from the depths of tiredness. ‘Hmmm, what? I can’t eat another chilli,’ she groaned.
‘What?’ asked Robert, confused. He was hovering over her with a worried look on his face. ‘It’s the middle of the night and someone’s hanging around outside our tent!’
Bindi rolled over and tried to will herself back to sleep. ‘It’s probably nothing, just your –’ Suddenly there was the muffled sound of footsteps and a low voice outside their tent. Bindi sat up with a start. She was now wide awake.
‘Were you about to say “imagination”?’ asked Robert.
‘Shh! That sounds like Tri’s voice. Come on, let’s check it out!’
Bindi and Robert stumbled out of the tent to find Tri waiting for them. ‘I’m sorry about waking you. I just didn’t know who else I could talk to.’
Bindi felt bad for her new friend. He looked upset. ‘It’s no biggie. What’s wrong, Tri?’ she asked as she plonked herself on the grass next to him. Robert squeezed in between the two of them.
‘It’s about Kret, the guy who came to the w
aterhole. He’s an old friend. We used to do everything together. I met up with him today to try to convince him it’s not too late to turn back.’
Tri looked down at the ground. There was a pause before he continued. Robert and Bindi exchanged a look but both knew better than to rush him. He obviously needed to talk.
‘Kret has fallen in with a bad crowd. He’s started turning up with money, lots of money. I feel sick when I try to work out where this money has come from. It’s something bad, I know.’ His voice faltered as he spoke. ‘I can’t tell anyone in the village because I don’t want to get him into trouble, but I have a feeling he’s –’
Bindi smiled encouragingly at Tri. ‘It’s okay. You can tell us.’
Tri took a deep breath and continued. ‘I think that Kret is involved with trophy hunters.’
Robert and Bindi looked at each other, frowning. ‘Do you think he plans to hurt an elephant?’ asked Bindi.
Tri looked ill. ‘Maybe.’
Bindi’s eyes fired up. ‘Well then, let’s make sure he doesn’t!’
‘Kret is meeting with the trophy hunters tonight. I think I know where they will meet.’
Bindi looked at Robert. Here they were in the middle of the jungle in Cambodia and their mum was fast asleep in a tent two metres away. Sneaking out didn’t seem like the wisest plan. But what else could they do? The elephants needed their help.
‘Just give us a second to get dressed,’ said Bindi, and the Irwin children disappeared into their tent.
In no time at all the three friends were headed out into the jungle with only the moon to light their way. The thick foliage was shrouded in a heavy mist. The blanket of mist camouflaged the usual sounds and movements of the jungle. It seemed eerily quiet as the small group made their way deeper and deeper into the wild.
Bindi and Robert picked their way slowly by moonlight, trusting Tri to guide them safely through the forest.
‘Not the best night for playing I-spy,’ joked Robert. It was very dark out and the moonlight only served to create shadows through the filters of thick tree trunks and broad leaves that made up the jungle. Bindi could tell Robert felt a little scared. She tried to convince herself that everything would be fine as she was feeling nervous herself.
Bindi stubbed her toe on a tree root, tripping over in the process. Tri half-caught her fall and he and Robert asked, ‘Are you okay?’ at the same time.
‘I’m fine,’ Bindi answered. However, she was beginning to have doubts about her decision to come out at night into an unknown jungle. She knew tigers as well as elephants lived in this forest and she didn’t like the idea that they might disturb any wild animals in their own habitat. Why hadn’t they brought a torch?
‘How much further?’ she whispered to Tri.
‘We’re nearly there,’ said Tri. ‘There is a good rocky area ahead where we can climb up to get a view of the meeting place. Then it’s just a question of waiting.’
They clambered up the rocky outcrop and found a comfortable place to sit while they waited to see if Kret would show. Robert snuggled up close to his sister, his head resting on Bindi’s shoulder. She felt reassured by his presence and tried to calm her nerves. Tri remained wide awake, aware of every sound the jungle was making.
Just then the moon was blanketed by clouds and what little light they had to see by was gone. In the pitch blackness they all heard the throaty exhaust noise of a dirt bike approaching fast.
‘That’s Kret! Stay out of sight!’ Tri flattened himself on the rock and crawled up towards the edge so that he could peep over. Bindi and Robert did the same.
The cloud cover dispersed and the moonlight shone through the dense foliage. Bindi was almost certain nobody had been there before but now, just below them, stood two Chinese men. One of the men spat onto the ground. Bindi felt pretty sure that whatever these men were up to spelled bad news for Kret.
Bindi’s breathing sounded too loud. She pressed herself and Robert flat against the rock, trying not to breathe. Had the men seen them?
The dirt bike pulled up with a flourish into the clearing and Kret dismounted. He looked so much older than his seventeen years in his designer clothes and he had a tough attitude to match.
‘I’ve found it. Let’s get going before he moves off.’
One of the men shook his head. ‘We’ve got better things to do, big guy. You need to deal with this on your own.’
For a moment Kret’s confidence seemed to wane. ‘You’re kidding? I can’t do it by myself.’
The other man pulled a rifle from his bag and threw it to Kret. Kret fumbled with it in the dim light. One of the men sniggered. ‘Yes, you can. And be careful with that. It’s pretty powerful. Powerful enough to take care of an elephant!’ They both laughed.
Bindi was so horrified she almost choked. Tri put a hand to her mouth to stop her from making any noise.
Kret held the gun out in front of him as if he didn’t quite know what to do with it. ‘I-I can’t –’
One of the men stepped forward and pushed Kret in the chest. ‘Delivery by noon tomorrow. No excuses.’ Kret stumbled as he stepped back and fell onto the ground, almost colliding with the dirt bike. When he looked up again, the men had gone.
Bindi, Tri and Robert looked at each other in horror. Tri leapt down from the rocks and landed next to Kret.
‘You’ve got to stop this now, Kret, before it’s too late.’
Kret was shocked to see Tri and more than a little embarrassed his friend had witnessed the scene. But he was even more surprised to see Bindi and Robert make their way down to join Tri. He jumped to his feet and held onto the rifle. His big-man attitude was back.
‘This is a good thing, Tri. In case you hadn’t noticed there’s a rogue elephant trampling everyone’s crops. I’m taking action and doing what the farmers are thinking of doing themselves. I get rid of it and make some money in the process. It’s win–win.’
Robert was outraged. ‘Killing an elephant is wrong! You need to learn to work out how you and the elephants can live in harmony together.’
Kret turned on Robert. ‘This is none of your business, little boy.’
Bindi stepped up to Kret. ‘Don’t talk to my brother like that. He’s right, and you know it!’ Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was trying hard to stop her hands from shaking.
Kret ignored Bindi, mounted his bike and turned on the engine. The high-pitched revs broke through the peace of the jungle. ‘Keep your new friends out of it, Tri. Those men aren’t playing around. They want an elephant and I have to get one for them.’
Tri spoke firmly, ‘Remember what I said yesterday. You don’t have to do this, Kret.’
Kret tossed his head. ‘Then you’ll remember my answer, Tri, which was, I do! So stay out of it!’ He took off on the bike, weaving and tearing his way through the foliage and into the darkness.
Tri was devastated. ‘I have to stop him but I can’t tell anyone. What are we going to do?’
Bindi and Robert dragged themselves out of their sleeping bags to help out in the fields the next morning. They were both exhausted. Although they had snuck back into their tents well before sunrise, neither of them had really slept. They were too worried about what Kret might do to the elephant. They had agreed that there was nothing else they could do at night and Tri hoped Kret might have come to his senses by morning.
Terri noticed the dark shadows under her children’s eyes. ‘I’m worried you two are working too hard. Why don’t you take things a bit easy today?’
Bindi shrugged. ‘That’s okay, Mum. We want to help.’
Terri affectionately ruffled her daughter’s hair. ‘You’re good kids.’
It was midmorning and they were taking a refreshments break. Bindi was impressed with the work that had been completed so far. The wooden elephant-viewing tower was nearly finished, existing crop areas were dotted with fences, chilli plants, scarecrows and other deterrents. Further away, on a vacant patch of land, the more complicated
task of planting new crops was coming along.
Bindi noticed Tri and Chenda taking a break from their farming work in the shade of a large palm tree. It was hot work for Chenda to pull a plough and she needed regular breaks in the shade as well as lots of water to drink. Bindi and Robert made their way over to join them.
‘Any sign of Kret?’ asked Bindi as they approached.
Tri shook his head, nervously looking around as he spoke. ‘I stopped by to see his family this morning. He never came home last night.’
Bindi pulled a face. ‘His parents must be worried.’
Tri nodded. ‘It’s just his mum now, and yes, she is.’
A cloud of dust in the distance was accompanied by the sound of an engine. They all turned around, hoping it was Kret and that he had come to tell them he’d changed his mind. As the dust cleared, their hopes were dashed. It was the two men from the previous night. They were in an expensive-looking off-road vehicle.
‘Here’s trouble,’ Tri muttered.
The SUV pulled to a halt next to the kids. Chenda took a few steps back. The car definitely made her nervous. Bindi held her breath. Had the men come to threaten them too? She looked around for Terri or Kate or Din but the other workers had all wandered back to work. They were on their own.
A tinted car window rolled down and a Chinese man with black sunglasses stuck his head out. ‘Seen Kret around?’
Tri, Bindi and Robert all shook their heads in unison.
Bindi’s throat was dry. She wasn’t sure any words would come out but she managed to croak, ‘Why are you looking for him?’
The man pulled off his glasses and peered suspiciously at Bindi before turning his attention to Chenda. ‘That your elephant?’
Tri took a step forward. ‘She’s mine.’