Chapter 5 Fifth

The group of travelers drove on and the baboon chasing them disappeared behind them. Eventually they stopped for lunch. The day was sunny and warm. They rested for two hours and started driving again. About an hour after lunch they came upon a small stream and a big tree in the middle of it. " " Hey where are the tigers and all " Lenny remarked. " We still have a, full day ahead of us to see them and all " Mia, said. " They will definitely show themselves " David added. And so the afternoon went well.

They had just reached the last place. It was a huge area called the Great Basin. They stopped at the top of the hill. Mr and Mrs Parttersman got out to take photos. David and Lenny were looking over the map and planning how to navigate. David was explaining the rules of the route and such. Lenny was listening intently. His eyes sparkling and shining like a starlight in the moonlight. David noticed that Lenny was very interested in photography and so he began to explain it to him. He was surprised how much interest Lenny had in photography and photography of animals. After a while, he had given Lenny a copy of all the maps which they had made the previous day. Lenny was sitting under one of the trees looking over the maps, holding a pencil between his fingers and occasionally writing something down.

He was so engrossed into the map that he did not notice when the others arrived. They all stood beside him.

David looked at the map. " This is the Great Basin. It is a vast open space covered with water on one side. It goes for many miles from left to right, and its covered by mountains on the other side. This is also called the Big Island or the Island of Animals. It is a part of nature that is not usually disturbed." David finished speaking and looked at Lenny, whose expression was completely changed. He had been staring at one spot on the map. He was staring at the mountain in the far distance. When David spoke about those mountains, Lenny was not paying attention anymore. He was still looking at the mountain in the horizon. Lenny was still mesmerized by that sight. Mia knew exactly what was going on in Lenny's mind. She wanted to see the same thing he was seeing in his head. Mia walked towards Lenny. "What are you thinking about?" she whispered in Lenny' eardrum. He jumped. " Oh nothing, just wondering what's going to happen " Lenny said. Mia smiled and sat beside him " And I guess its my imagination. I cant help it " he said. " You can stop thinking of that right now " she said. " Why? " Lenny asked, puzzled. " Because its not good. It will affect your thinking if you continue thinking that way. So please try to concentrate on the present. Think about me rather than whatever is bothering you " she said. " Mr Patterman said " guys what are you mulling about. "