Just before dusk they reached the edge of the forest. They could see The Hills looming menacingly in the distance, a stretch of vacant, bare earth in front of them. It was very unnerving and Lorato didn\u2019t think he had seen anything like it before. It wasn\u2019t like a normal desert with sand dunes that altered their colour with the changing light. Nor was it like the Kalahari Desert with its drought resistant shrubs and bushes. This was a gray flat piece of earth with slithers of what looked like gray rock scattered all over its surface. Lorato didn\u2019t see how anything could survive in this wilderness and greatly doubted the Mokaedi\u2019s story of the Gorfs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will have to do this section tonight,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will never be able to stand the heat from these rocks in the day. The darkness will also hopefully afford us some protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kgatwe nodded. He was very tired but still feeling guilty about his earlier behaviour and not about to complain. Lesedi started to squirm on his back. He had awoken and was feeling much better, especially after he opened his eyes and discovered that he was bumping along on Kgatwe\u2019s back and not bobbing around in a pool of blood. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine now,\u201d he chirped. \u201cYou can let me down and Kgatwe can go back to normal size and ride in my pocket.\u201d Kgatwe felt greatly relieved at this. He really could do with a bit of a rest. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d said Lorato very definitely. \u201cI don\u2019t think that will be possible.\u201d He was loosening the twine tying Lesedi, enabling him to slide off Kgatwe\u2019s back. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d said the two in unison.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is nowhere to hide on that barren piece of land and Legodu could very easily pick us out with his sharp eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if Kgatwe stays big, Legodu will be even more likely to spot us,\u201d said Lesedi, not understanding his grandfather\u2019s logic.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he makes himself even larger than he is now we will be able to hide underneath him and he will look like a giant rock monitor from above.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I get even bigger then Legodu will definitely see me,\u201d said Kgatwe, not liking this idea at all. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but he will think you are one of Tsenwa\u2019s experiments and keep well clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d said Lesedi, feeling very nervous about this idea. The thought of slithering around on those rocks underneath Kgatwe\u2019s tummy was not very appealing. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, from what I\u2019ve heard the last time Legodu tackled one of Tsenwa\u2019s experiments it was an exploding polecat. Not only did it denude him of all his feathers, making him look like a plucked turkey, more the object of jokes than fear, but it also made him smell so bad no one would talk to him for weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
This made Lesedi and Kgatwe laugh. They were both rather scared of Legodu and the thought of him looking like a plucked turkey and smelling bad was very satisfying.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know if I can make myself any larger,\u201d said Kgatwe, his mood changing. \u201cIt\u2019s a long time since I\u2019ve done something like that, and I might make a mess of it.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lorato scratched around in his bag of herbs and roots and pulled out a yellow and black spotted object that looked surprisingly like a mushroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cEat this,\u201d he said, handing it to Kgatwe, who looked at it suspiciously.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose things make you sick,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey also make you think you are invincible, and once you\u2019re in that mood I am sure you will be able to do whatever is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking the unappetising mushroom Kgatwe swallowed it whole. He could feel it hit his stomach and he immediately felt violently ill. He looked around desperately for somewhere to throw up. Then as quickly as it had appeared, the feeling went away and he felt strong and powerful. <\/p>\n
\u201cWow,\u201d he said, suddenly full of confidence. \u201cI can rule the world!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can do that later.\u201d Lorato smiled. \u201cNow you just need to concentrate on making yourself bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kgatwe closed his eyes and concentrated hard on a bigger, better him and then there it was, this enormous gecko. Lesedi gasped.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d he said in a deep voice very unlike his own. \u201cLet\u2019s go get \u2019em!\u201d<\/p>\n