"Faster! Faster!" cried the lion. "I must run even faster! Those wild dogs are right behind me."
The dogs chased the lion throughout the long, long day. Over rocks, through streams, into the bush, and along the trails. The poor lion had no chance to rest. It seemed that at every turn he made, another one of those wild dogs waited for him.
Finally, he made a small break from the dogs. And, just at that moment, he saw a man sitting under a large tree.
"Please, sir, can you help me?" begged the terrified lion. "I've been chased by these wild dogs all day long. I'm so tired I can hardly take another step."
"Quickly, get behind the tree," instructed the man. "I'll send the dogs off in another direction. Hurry now, I can hear them approaching!"
Just as the lion settled himself behind the tree, the pack of wild dogs dashed out of the bush. One of the dogs asked the man, "Have you seen a lion pass by here?"
"Yes!" cried the man. "He ran off towards the hill over there. I'm sure you can get him if you hurry. He looked very tired."
"Thank you," howled the dogs as they dashed off towards the hill.
"My pleasure to help you," chuckled the man to himself."
With the pack of dogs off his trail, the lion's courage was renewed. He sprang from behind the tree and grabbed the man in his huge paws.
"What are you doing?" cried the man.
"It should be obvious," replied the lion. "I'm going to eat you."
"But I just saved your life!" protested the man.
"Yes, and I appreciate it," answered the lion. "But, I'm very hungry. I'm much too tired to hunt for food elsewhere when you are right here and in my grasp."
"You can't do this!" insisted the man.
"Oh, but I can! And, I will," snarled the lion.
At that moment, Hare came down the trail. He looked at the two arguing and asked, "What seems to be the problem?"
As fast as possible, the man explained the situation to the hare.
Hare smiled and said, "I know how to solve this matter if you will trust me. Man, I need a stick from the Gone-Forever-Tree. Will you please go get one for me?"
The man went into the bush for the stick. But, he'd never heard of that particular tree before. So, he returned with a stick from the mophane tree.
"No, no, no, Man, this is not what I want at all," the hare cried. "I meant it when I said I want a stick from the Gone-Forever-Tree."
Once again the man set off into the bush to find the stick for Hare. But, he still never heard of the tree that Hare talked about. So, he returned with a stick from the mokgalo tree.
"You aren't listening to me, Man. I need a stick from the Gone-Forever-Tree. If you can't find that one, then a stick from the Never-Come-Back Tree will do," instructed Hare.
One more time the man set off into the bush looking for the stick that Hare wanted. However, he'd never heard of either of those trees. So, he returned with a stick from the moana tree."
Hare sighed, "Lion, this silly human doesn't know how to follow simple instructions like you and I can. I'm going to have to go show him where the Gone-Forever-Tree is located. Do you mind?"
"It's not a problem," assured Lion. "I'd go with you but I'm just too tired."
So, Hare went off into the bush to show the man where he could find the Gone-Forever-Tree.
Lion waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. He waited but the two never returned.
They had gone forever!
Phillip Martin