An African Story Learn English through story level 2

in east africa there was a young man who

was a hunter who loved the plains and

the valleys and the cool nights on the

slopes of mount kilimanjaro

in september 1939 war had begun in

europe and he had traveled over the

country to nairobi

and was training to be a pilot with the

raf

he was doing quite well

but after five weeks he got into trouble

because he took his plane up and flew

off in the direction of nakuru to look

at the wild animals when he should have

been practicing spins and turns

while he was flying there

he thought he saw some rare animals

became excited and flew down low to get

a better view of them

he flew too low and damaged the wing

but he managed to get back to the

airfield in nairobi

after six weeks he was allowed to make

his first cross-country flight on his

own

and he flew off from nairobi to a little

town called el doret two thousand meters

up in the highlands

but again he was unlucky

this time he had engine failure on the

way due to water in the fuel tanks

he kept calm and made a beautiful forced

landing without damaging his aircraft

not far from a little hut which stood

alone on the highland plain with no

other building in sight

that is lonely country up there

he walked over to the hut and there he

found an old man living alone with only

a small garden of sweet potatoes some

brown chickens and a black cow

the old man was kind to him

he gave him food and milk and a place to

sleep

and the pilot stayed with him for two

days and two nights

until a rescue plane from nairobi found

his aircraft landed beside it found out

what was wrong went away and came back

with clean petrol which enabled him to

take off and return

but during his stay the old man who was

lonely and had seen no one for many

months was glad of his company and of

the opportunity to talk

he talked a lot and the pilot listened

he talked of his lonely life

of the lions that came in the night

and of the elephant that lived over the

hill in the west

of the heat of the days and of the

silence that came with a cold at

midnight

on the second night he talked about

himself

he told a long strange story

and as he told it it seemed to the pilot

that the old man was lifting a great

weight off his shoulders by telling it

when he had finished he said that he had

never told that to anyone before and

that he would never tell it to anyone

again

but the story was so strange that the

pilot wrote it down as soon as he got

back to nairobi

he wrote it in his own words

although he had never written a story

before

of course he made mistakes because he

didn’t know any of the tricks that

writers use

but when he had finished writing he left

a rare and powerful story

we found the story in his suitcase two

weeks later when we were packing his

things after he had been killed in

training

the pilot seemed to have had no

relatives and because he was my friend i

took the story and looked after it for

him

this is what he wrote

the old man came out of the door into

the bright sunshine

and for a moment he leaned on his stick

and looked around him he stood with his

head on one side looking up listening

for the noise which he thought he had

heard

he was small and over 70 years old

although he looked nearer 85 because of

illness

his face was covered with gray hair and

when he moved his mouth he moved it only

on one side of his face

on his head indoors or outdoors he wore

a dirty white hat

he stood quite still in the bright

sunshine his eyes almost closed

listening for the noise

yes

there it was again

he looked towards the small wooden hut

which stood a hundred meters away in the

field

this time there was no doubt about it

the cry of a dog

the high sharp cry of pain which a dog

gives when he is in great danger

twice more it came

and this time the noise was more like a

scream

the note was higher and sharper

as if it were torn from some small place

inside the body

the old man turned and walked across the

grass towards the wooden hut where

judson lived pushed open the door and

went in

the small white dog was lying on the

floor

and judson was standing over it his legs

apart his black hair falling all over

his long red face

sweating through his dirty white shirt

his mouth hung open in a strange

lifeless way as if his jaw were too

heavy for him

and there was spit down the middle of

his chin

he stood there looking at the small

white dog which was lying on the floor

and with one hand he was slowly twisting

his left ear

in the other hand he held a heavy wooden

stick

the old man ignored judson and went down

on his knees beside his dog and gently

moved his thin hands over its body

the dog lay still

looking up at him with sad eyes

judson did not move

he was watching the dog and the man

slowly the old man got up

rising with difficulty holding the top

of his stick with both hands and pulling

himself to his feet

he looked around the room

there were dirty bed clothes lying on

the floor in the far corner

there was a wooden table made of old

boxes

and on it a blue pot

there were chicken feathers and mud on

the floor

the old man saw what he wanted

it was a heavy iron bar standing against

the wall near the bedding and he went

over to it thumping the hollow wooden

floorboards with his stick as he went

the eyes of the dog followed his

movements as he walked with difficulty

across the room the old man changed his

stick to his left hand

took the iron bar in his right

came back to the dog and without pausing

lifted the bar and brought it down hard

upon the animal’s head

he threw the bar to the ground and

looked up at judson who was standing

there with his legs apart

he went right up to him and began to

speak

he spoke very quietly and slowly with a

terrible anger

and as he spoke he moved only one side

of his mouth

you killed him

he said

you broke his back

then as the tide of anger rose and gave

him strength he found more words

he looked up and spat them into the face

of the tall judson who moved back

towards the wall

you

dirty cruel coward

that was my dog

what right have you got to beat my dog

tell me that

answer me you madman

answer me

judson was slowly rubbing his left hand

up and down the front of his shirt

and now the whole of his face began to

tremble

without looking up he said

he wouldn’t stop licking that place on

his leg

i couldn’t stand the noise it made

you know i can’t stand noises like that

licking licking licking

i told him to stop but he went on

licking

i couldn’t stand it any longer

so i beat him

the old man did not say anything

for a moment it looked as if he were

going to hit this creature

he half raised his arm dropped it again

spat on the floor

turned round

and went out of the door into the

sunshine

he went across the grass to where a

black cow was standing in the shade of a

small tree

the cow was eating moving its jaws

regularly mechanically as it watched him

walk across the grass from the hut

the old man came and stood beside it

stroking its neck

then he leaned against its shoulder and

scratched its back with the end of his

stick

he stood there for a long time leaning

against the cow

scratching it with his stick

and now and then he spoke to it

whispering quiet little words like one

person telling a secret to another

there was shade under the little tree

and the country around him looked rich

and pleasant after the long reigns

because the grass grows green up in the

highlands of kenya

and at this time of the year after the

rains it is as green and rich as any

grass in the world

in the distance stood mount kenya with

snow on its head with a thin stream of

what looked like white smoke coming from

the top where the cold winds made a

storm and blew the white powder from the

top of the mountain

down below on the slopes of that

mountain there were lions and elephants

and sometimes during the night one could

hear the roar of the lions as they

looked at the moon

the days passed and judson went on with

his work on the farm in a silent

mechanical way

taking in the corn digging the potatoes

and milking the black cow while the old

man stayed indoors away from the fierce

african sun

he only went out in the late afternoon

when the air began to get cool and sharp

and then he always went over to his

black cow

and spent an hour with it under the tree

one day when he came out he found judson

standing beside the cow looking at it

strangely

standing with one foot in front of the

other gently twisting his ear with his

right hand

what is it now

said the old man

the cow’s making that noise again

she’s just chewing the grass said the

old man leave her alone

judson said

it’s the noise

can’t you hear it

it sounds as if she’s chewing stones but

she isn’t

listen to her

the noise goes right into my head

get out said the old man get out of my

sight

at dawn the old man sat as he always did

looking out of his window watching

judson come across from his hut to milk

the cow

he saw him coming sleepily across the

field talking to himself as he walked

dragging his feet leaving long dark

green marks across the wet grass

and carrying the petrol can which he

used for the milk

the sun was coming up and making long

shadows behind the man the cow and the

small tree

the old man saw judson put the can down

and he saw him fetch a box from beside

the tree and settle himself on it ready

for the milking

he saw him suddenly kneeling down

feeling under the car with his hands

and at the same time the old man noticed

that the animal had no milk

he saw judson get up and come walking

fast towards the hut

he came and stood under the window where

the old man was sitting and looked up

the cows got no milk he said

the old man leaned through the open

window placing both his hands on the

sill

you dirty thief you’ve stolen it

i didn’t take it said judson i’ve been

asleep

you stole it

the old man was leaning further out of

the window speaking quietly with one

side of his mouth

i’ll beat you for this he said

judson said

someone stole it in the night

perhaps he was a native

or maybe the cow’s sick

it seemed to the old man that he was

telling the truth

we’ll see

he said if there’s any milk this evening

now

get out of my sight

by evening the car was full and the old

man watched judson take good thick milk

from her

the next morning she was empty

in the evening she was full

on the third morning she was empty again

on the third night the old man went to

watch

as soon as it began to get dark he

positioned himself at the open window

with an old gun lying on his lap

waiting for the thief who came and

milked his cow in the night

at first it was dark

and he could not even see the cow but

soon a three-quarter moon came over the

hills and it became light

almost as if it were daytime

but it was bitterly cold because the

highlands are two thousand meters up

and the old man pulled his brown blanket

closer around his shoulders

he could see the car well now

just as well as in daylight

and the little tree threw a shadow

across the grass since the moon was

behind it

all through the night the old man sat

there watching the cow

and except when he got up and went back

into the room to fetch another blanket

his eyes never left her

the cow stood calmly under the small

tree chewing and staring at the moon

an hour before dawn she was full the old

man could see it he had been watching it

the whole time

and although he had not seen the

movement of the swelling all the time he

had been conscious of the filling as the

milk came down

the moon was now low but the light had

not gone

he could see the cow and the little tree

and the greenness of the grass around

the cow

suddenly he moved his head quickly

he heard something

surely that was a noise he heard

yes there it was again right under the

window where he was sitting

quickly he pulled himself up and looked

over the sill to the ground

then he saw it

a large black snake a mamba

nearly three meters long and as thick as

a man’s arm was sliding towards the cow

its small head was raised slightly off

the ground and the movement of its body

against the wetness made a sound like

gas escaping from a jet

he raised his gun to shoot

almost at once he lowered it again he

didn’t know why

and he sat there not moving watching the

mamba as it approached the cow

listening to the noise it made as it

went

watching it come up close to the cow and

waiting for it to strike

but it did not strike

it lifted its head and for a moment let

it move gently from side to side

then it raised the front part of its

black body into the air under the cow

and began to drink from her

the cow did not move

there was no noise anywhere and the body

of the mamba curved gracefully up from

the ground and hung under the cow

the black snake and the black cow were

clearly visible out there in the

moonlight

for half an hour the old man watched the

mamba taking the milk of the cow

he saw the gentle movement of the

snake’s body as it sucked at the liquid

until at last there was no milk left

then the mamba lowered itself to the

ground and slid back through the grass

in the direction from which it had come

again it made a soft noise as it went

and again it passed underneath the

window where the old man was sitting

leaving a thin dark mark in the wet

grass where it had gone

then it disappeared behind the hut

slowly the moon went down behind the

mountain in the distance

almost at the same time the sun rose in

the east and judson came out of his hut

with the petrol can in his hand

walking sleepily towards the cow

dragging his feet in the wet grass as he

went

the old man watched him coming and

waited

judson bent down and felt the underneath

of the cow

and as he did so the old man shouted at

him

judson jumped at the sound of the old

man’s voice

it’s gone again

said the old man

judson said

yes the cow’s empty

i think

said the old man slowly

that it was a native boy

i was sleeping a bit

and only woke up as he was leaving i

couldn’t shoot because the cow was in

the way

i’ll wait for him tonight

i’ll get him tonight he added

judson did not answer

he picked up his can

and walked back to his hut

that night the old man sat up again by

the window watching the cow

for him there was this time a certain

pleasure in waiting for what he was

going to see

he knew that he would see the mamba

again but he wanted to be quite sure

and so when the great black snake slid

across the grass towards the car an hour

before sunrise

the old man leaned over the windowsill

and watched the movements of the mamba

as it approached the cow

he saw it wait for a moment under the

animal’s stomach letting its head move

slowly backwards and forwards half a

dozen times

before it finally raised its body from

the ground and started to drink the milk

he saw it drink for half an hour

until there was none left

and he saw it lower its body and slide

smoothly back behind the hut from where

it had come

and while he watched these things

the old man began laughing quietly

with one side of his mouth

then the sun rose up behind the hills

and judson came out of his hat with a

petrol can in his hand

but this time he went straight to the

window of the hut where the old man was

sitting wrapped up in his blankets

what happened said judson

the old man looked down at him from the

window

nothing he said

nothing happened

i fell asleep again and the native came

and took the milk

listen judson he added

we have to catch this boy

otherwise you won’t have enough milk

we’ve got to catch him

i can’t shoot because he’s too clever

but cow’s always in the way

you will have to get him

me get him

how

the old man spoke very slowly

i think he said i think you must hide

beside the cow

that is the only way you can catch him

judson was scratching his head with his

left hand

today you will dig a shallow hole beside

the cow

if you lie in it

and if i cover you over with cut grass

the thief won’t notice until he’s beside

you

he may have a knife judson said

no you won’t have a knife you take your

stick that’s all you’ll need

judson said

yes i’ll take my stick

when he comes i’ll jump up and beat him

with my stick

then suddenly he seemed to remember

something

what about the noise the cow makes when

she’s chewing he said i couldn’t stand

that noise all night

he began twisting at his left ear with

his hand

you’ll do as i tell you said the old man

that day judson dug his hole beside the

cow

the cow was tied to the tree so that she

could not wander around the field

then as evening came and he was

preparing to lie down in the hole for

the night

the old man came to the door of the

house and said don’t do anything until

early morning

he won’t come until the cow’s full

come in here and wait it’s warmer than

your dirty little hat

judson had never been invited into the

old man’s house before

he followed him in

happy that he would not have to lie all

night in the hole

there was a candle burning in the room

it was stuck in the neck of a beer

bottle and the bottle was on the

table make some tea

said the old man

judson did as he was told

the two of them sat down on a couple of

wooden boxes and began to drink

the old man drank his tea hot and made

loud sucking noises as he drank

judson kept blowing on his tea drinking

cautiously and watching the old man over

the top of his cup

the old man kept sucking at his tea

until suddenly judson said

stop

he said it quietly

and as he said it the corners of his

eyes and mouth began to tremble

what

said the old man

judson said

that noise

that sucking noise you’re making

the old man put down his cup and looked

at the other quietly for a few moments

then he said

how many dogs have you killed judson

there was no answer

i said how many

how many dogs judson

the old man shouted

then quietly and very slowly like

someone to a child he said

in all your life

how many dogs have you killed

judson said

why should i tell you

he did not look up

i want to know judson

the old man was speaking very gently

i’m getting interested in this too

let’s talk about it

and make some plans for more fun

judson looked up

a ball of spit rolled down his chin hung

for a moment in the air and fell to the

floor

i only kill them because of their noise

how often have you done it

i’d love to know how often

lots of times long ago

how

tell me how you used to do it

what way did you like best

no answer

tell me judson

i’d love to know

i don’t see why i should tell you it’s a

secret

i won’t tell

i swear i won’t tell

well

if you promise

judson shifted his seat closer and spoke

in a whisper

once

i waited till one was sleeping

then i got a big stone and dropped it on

his head

the old man got up and poured himself a

cup of tea

you didn’t kill mine like that

i didn’t have time

the noise of its tongue was so bad

the licking

i just had to do it quickly

it didn’t even kill him

i stopped the licking

the old man went over to the door and

looked out

it was dark

the moon had not yet risen but the night

was clear and cold with many stars

in the east there was a little paleness

in the sky

and as he watched the paleness grew and

it changed into brightness

slowly the moon rose over the hills

the old man turned and said you better

get ready

you never know he might come early

tonight

judson got up and the two of them went

outside

judson lay down in the shallow hole

beside the cow and the old man covered

him with grass so that only his hand

showed above the ground

i’ll be watching too he said from the

window

if i give a shout

jump up and catch him

he went back to the hut went upstairs

wrapped himself in blankets and took up

his position by the window

it was early still

the moon was nearly full and it was

rising

it shone on the snow on top of mount

kenya

after an hour the old man shouted out of

the window

are you still awake johnson

yes he answered i’m awake

don’t go to sleep said the old man

whatever you do don’t go to sleep

the cow’s making that noise all the time

said judson

good

and i’ll shoot you if you get up now

said the old man

you shoot me

i said i’ll shoot you if you get up now

a gentle noise came from where judson

lay

a strange sound as if a child were

trying not to cry

and in the middle of it judson’s voice

i’ve got to move

please let me move

this chewing

if you get up said the old man i’ll

shoot you in the stomach

for another hour or so the crying

continued

then

quite suddenly it stopped

just before four o’clock it began to get

very cold and the old man shouted

are you cold out there judson

are you cold

yes

came the answer

so cold

but i don’t mind because the cow’s not

chewing anymore she’s asleep

the old man said

what are you gonna do with the thief

when you catch him

i don’t know

will you kill him

a pause

i don’t know

i’ll just grab him i’ll watch

said the old man

it should be fun

he was leaning out of the window with

his arms resting on the sill

then he heard the soft noise under the

window

looked out and saw the black mamba

sliding through the grass towards the

cow

going fast and holding its head just a

little above the ground as it went

when the mambo was five meters away

the old man shouted here he comes

jackson here he comes

go and get him

judson lifted his head quickly and

looked up

as he did so he saw the member and the

member saw him

there was a second or perhaps two

when the snake stopped

pulled its head back and raised the

front part of its body in the air

then the stroke

just a flash of black and a slight thump

as it hit him in the chest

judson screamed

a long high scream which did not rise or

fall but remained constant until

gradually it faded into nothingness and

there was silence

now he was standing up tearing open his

shirt feeling for the place in his chest

crying quietly and breathing hard with

his mouth wide open

and the old man sat quietly at the open

window

leaning forward and never taking his

eyes away from the scene below

everything happens very quickly when one

is bitten by a snake by a black mamba

and almost at once the poison began to

work

he fell to the ground where he lay on

his back rolling around on the grass

he no longer made any noise

it was all very quiet

as if a man of great strength were

fighting with someone whom one could not

see and it was as if this invisible

person were twisting him and not letting

him get up stretching his arms through

the fork of his legs and pushing his

knees up under his chin

then he began pulling up the grass with

his hands and soon after that he lay on

his back kicking gently with his legs

but he didn’t last very long

he gave a quick shake

twisted his back

then lay on the ground quite still

lying on his stomach with his right knee

underneath his chest

and his hands stretched out above his

head

still the old man sat by the window

and even after it was all over he stayed

where he was and did not move

there was a movement in the shadow under

the little tree

and the mamba came forward slowly

towards the cow

it came forward a little

stopped

raised its head

waited

and slid forward again right under the

stomach of the cow

it raised itself into the air and began

to drink

the old man sat watching the mamba

taking the milk of the cow

and once again he saw the gentle

movement of its body as it sucked out

the liquid

while the snake was still drinking the

old man got up and moved away from the

window

you can have his share

he said quietly we don’t mind you having

his share

and as he spoke he glanced back and saw

again the black body of the member

curving upwards from the ground

joining the underneath of the cow

yes

he said again

we don’t mind you having his share

you