56
Teetiri is almost given away
Teetiri is almost given away
Yes, yes, yes, Billi said to himself,
happily, this was certainly a nesting lapwing. He was in for a good meal. He
went forward, deciding to plan the attack path by going up the incline in a
crouch, along the marsh water stream that flowed by. The sound of the marsh waters, a very low
gurgling sort of sound, would hide any sounds that he may make by accident. He
did not want to alert the lapwing. Billi looked back once again, to try and
spot the three black drongos. Yes, they continued to be at the babool trees,
chattering away. The mynas and the sparrows continued to be where they were.
It was Darzi who almost gave away the
plan at that moment. He spotted Teetiri when she raised her head to look
around. Getting excited at spotting her, Darzi left her guard duty over Bulbul
and flew to a higher branch to be able to see properly. Realising that Darzi
had seen something that he had not seen, Bulbul shifted his perch to a higher
one. Almost immediately, Bulbul spotted Teetiri at the edge of the ridge. She
seemed to be sitting down, hiding, and raising her head now and then to look
around. What was she doing there, all alone? Bulbul whispered to Darzi, who
continued to keep silent. Bulbul looked around very fast, trying to see if he
could understand this part of the plan.
The three drongos were at their
previous spots, while the sparrows and mynas were still moving around. Billi
and Teetiri seemed to be the only two living beings that he could see in the
marsh near the high ridge. So who was out there to warn Teetiri? Bulbul
wondered. Billi, in the meantime, kept crawling up the very gentle slope,
through the grasses, keeping a bunch of rocks between him and Teetiri. He was
now within two feet of Teetiri, keeping himself hidden behind a small pile of
rocks. He stayed very still, and looked around very carefully. He could not see
anybody, but could hear the three drongos chattering, the mynas and sparrows
gossiping. He was convinced that Bulbul was not dangerous. He went in a very
silent crouch, pushing aside the grasses very quietly, waiting, crouching,
waiting and crouching. He did not want to do the same mistake that he had done
with Bater and Chimini.
