"Which shows how stupidhe is. He does not know an enemy when he sees one." Li Sung moved aroundthe fallen elephant. "The female is dead. Her eyes are open and—" Hestopped in midsentence.
"What is it?" Janecalled.
"A baby."
"What?"
"You heard me." LiSung took another step closer, his gaze on something obscured by the female'sbulk. "It's a baby elephant."
"Alive?" Ruel asked.
Li Sung nodded. "He'strying to nurse."
"How old?"
"How do I know?" LiSung asked testily. "A few days, I suppose."
"I want to see him,"Jane said.
"Of course you do.Another helpless creature for you to cosset," Li Sung said caustically."This is not a stray puppy, Jane."
"I want to see him,"Jane repeated. "Danor seems to accept you. Come back and take Ruel's andmy hands and lead us to the female."
"Then I could not holdthe rifle."
"You won't need therifle," Jane said in exasperation. "Look at him. It's enough to breakyour heart."
"I'll carry therifle," Ruel said. "You'd better do as she says, Li Sung. She's goingto go over there anyway."
Li Sung moved toward them."I know." He surrendered the rifle to Ruel, clasped both of theirhands, and led them toward the elephants. "Now he'll probably trample allof us into the rest of these bones."
"Hush, Li Sung."Jane tensed as Danor lifted his head and stared at the three of them. No anger,she saw only overwhelming sadness, resignation... and acceptance.
Then the elephant lowered hishead and resumed poking and prodding his fallen mate, urging her to rise to herfeet.
"I think it's going to beall right." Jane moved around the female's body.
The baby elephant was lyingwith his legs outspread, nuzzling his mother's teat.
Jane felt the tears sting hereyes. "Poor baby."
"No!" Li Sung saidsharply. "No, Jane."
"We can't let himdie."
"We can't save him. Heneeds milk to survive and his mother is dead. Who is going to nurse him?"Li Sung's gaze went to the bones of the graveyard. "One of those?"
"If we can get him backto the herd, maybe one of the females will adopt him."
"The herd could be ahundred miles to the east."
"Then we'd better startright away."
"And how are we going tofind the herd?"
Jane gestured to Danor.
"You think he's going tolead us to the herd like a horse going back to his stable?"
