38
Kotwal and his family assure Bater’s safety
I have to go up to the marsh to meet
Teetiri? Bater asked. Why can’t Teetiri come here? How would I go all the way
to the marsh? How can I leave my family behind in this corner of the grassland?
With the racket that the mynas are creating and disturbing the grassland, my
family can get exposed to predators without my presence. Hearing all these
doubts and questions after questions, Kotwal’s father interrupted Bater and
said, do not worry, my old friend, I will ensure that you reach the marsh
safely. All my sons, daughters, brothers, nephews and nieces, all the drongos
from the grassland, river banks, fruit orchards and the village, are here
today. We will cover all the high branches along the way and keep a watch out.
You can safely take your entire family with you.
Kotwal never had felt prouder of his
father than at that moment. Trust his father to ramble along and hit it right
each time. He chased after the grasshopper and found Bater. He got tired of
Bater’s questions and found out a method to end the spate of questions. He went
up to his father to consult him about moving all the drongos along the path to
the marsh. Kotwal’s father chose the tallest tree for himself and refused to
discuss the strategy with Kotwal. Bater is a courageous and timid bird, and he
only needs to be encouraged that he would not be in danger. Let us all make a
show of spreading around the grassland and end this torture of unending
questions from that tiny tiresome character, Kotwal’s father said.
Kotwal smiled to himself. His father
would never change, he thought. He called out to his brothers, sisters and
cousins to spread out on to the highest branches of the trees in the grassland
to keep watch for predators. For all his courage mixed with secretive
behaviour, Bater really knew how to assert himself when the need arose, Kotwal
thought. The drongos moved away from the rocky patch and grass clumps and took
their guardposts. Kotwal informed Bater about the movement and the well-spread
air cover that the drongos would provide across the grassland. Now Bater could
move straight across the grassland to the marsh where Teetiri would be waiting.
Bater could also take his family with him without fear. Normally that was a
distance that Bater would take about two days to cover slowly, foraging here
and there. But today, Bater could take his family along an open track, without
stops and reach the marsh without fear.
Bater hesitated. He was as yet unsure
if he could take the risk of moving out in the open, with his family, and run
straight across the open grassland. Kotwal felt very tired, having had to keep
answering Bater and negotiate with the other drongos, positioning them all
across the grassland. After all this, Bater was still unsure and afraid.
Salonki came to the rescue, having felt that Kotwal may give up at this moment.
She informed Bater that the mynas would also begin to move back to the marsh
and will keep flying above the grassland. All that movement would confuse any
predator, and Bater would not have to worry.
