53
Chimini and the sparrows are in danger
He had now crossed the narrow stream
and stayed low, keeping one thick clump of grass between him and the sparrows.
He kept looking around to see if the black drongo or Phoolchuki had returned.
Bulbul continued to perch where he was. It seemed amazing to Bulbul that Billi
had actually come to within three feet away from the sparrows. Chimini and her
relatives seemed to be in actual danger. Who would warn the sparrows now?
Bulbul wondered, for Kotwal and Phoolchuki were not to be seen. Darzi was
sitting alongside him, but seemed to be only looking at Bulbul. Wonder what was
that all about? Bulbul thought.
Suddenly, Bulbul saw Kotwal, perched
just behind Billi, at a very low branch. He seemed to have positioned himself
at a spot where Billi could not turn around to look without exposing himself to
the sparrows. Chimini and her relatives could see Kotwal perched on a low
perch, accompanied by Phoolchuki at another low perch about six feet away to
the left. So, between the two of them, Phoolchuki and Kotwal, Bulbul realised,
both of them could keep a watch on Billi. Wonder what was to happen now, Bulbul
thought, and wished that he could discuss all these secret strategies with
someone. He turned to see if he could discuss it with Darzi, but gave up the
thought on looking at the alert gleam in the tailorbird’s eye.
Billi came up to within two feet of
the sparrows. They seemed to continue to be ignorant of Billi’s presence. This
was the right time, Billi thought, and jumped the remaining two feet at the
sparrows. There it was again, Billi realised, the harsh warning call of the
black drongo at the very moment that he jumped. The sparrows on hearing the
call seemed to lift off, just a microsecond before Billi completed his attack. Billi
landed with a very harsh and painful thud. The foolish sparrows had actually
been playing and sandbathing on very sharp rocks. Billi could feel each rock
throughout his body. Again, he had not managed to catch any bird.
This was getting to be a bad day,
Billi thought. He would now stop attacking. He would have to develop a new
strategy. He could not keep attacking and hurting himself. Already the
leg-injury inflicted by the village dogs was very painful and now these sharp
rocks. He would now wait for these stupid birds to come to him. Chimini and her
family had flown to some low banyan branches and were now laughing at Billi. They
seemed to be laughing and laughing and laughing and laughing. This was becoming
very humiliating. He needed to prove himself, soon. He had to prove himself not
merely for the sake of understanding if he could hunt properly, but also for
satisfying his very hungry stomach.
