A Giant Rescue Read Online Free Page B

person would shoot an elephant?’
    â€˜He’s my oldest friend,’ replied Tri. ‘When we were younger, it was Kret who was closer to the elephants than I was. Kret’s father died and now he has a great responsibility to look after his brothers and sisters. It has changed him.’
    Bindi and Robert walked on in silence. They were both thinking about the arrogant Kret they hadmet and imagining a younger, happier version.
    â€˜I’m sorry for Kret,’ said Bindi, ‘but that’s no excuse for hurting an innocent animal. We’ve got to find him before he does something terrible.’
    â€˜Hey, did you hear that?’ asked Bindi.
    â€˜Hear what?’ answered Robert.
    â€˜I thought I heard someone calling out!’
    They all stood still and listened. There were echoes of a voice calling out but it seemed like it was coming from a long way away.
    â€˜There it is again!’
    â€˜Ssh.’ Tri held his fingers to hislips as he listened. ‘It sounds like someone’s in trouble!’
    They found Kret’s dirt bike parked just off the trail. As it was green it blended in, but the large exhaust gave it away. The calls for help had stopped.
    Tri called out, ‘Kret? Where are you?’
    â€˜Tri?’ came a muffled reply.
    The three friends followed the call to a large hole. Kret had fallen into an almost hidden, disused mine shaft. You would hardly have noticed it was even there as it was covered over by vines and leaves.
    This vertical shaft looked to be several metres deep. When Tri,Robert and Bindi looked down, they couldn’t even see Kret, let alone the bottom. But his forlorn voice cemented the fact that he was down there.
    â€˜Are you okay?’ asked Bindi.
    â€˜No. I think my leg’s broken,’ Kret gave a muffled reply. ‘And my ribs don’t feel so good either.’
    Tri and Robert looked around for some rope with which to pull Kret out.
    â€˜It’s no good,’ said Bindi. ‘Even if we find some rope, we’re not strong enough to pull him out and then carry him back through the jungle.’
    Tri looked up at the sky. ‘And it will be dark soon.’
    They stared at each other, completely stumped. Suddenly Bindi had an idea.
    â€˜I’m not sure if it will work but we have to try. It will take a leap of faith on Kret’s part.’ She leaned in closer to Tri and Robert and whispered, ‘Here’s the plan …’

    It took a while to make their way back to the elephant enclosure and find Chenda. She seemed to sense their urgency and briskly followed them through the jungle as theyled her back towards the mine. Bindi couldn’t help but admire the elephant’s sheer size as she watched Tri attach the harness, used to pull the plough, to Chenda’s chest. Tri and Bindi then attached a long rope to the harness.
    â€˜Here goes,’ said Robert as he threw the length of rope down into the mine shaft.
    There was silence as they listened for the sound of the rope hitting the bottom of the shaft. They waited for Kret to grab the rope. The three friends peered down anxiously into the hole.
    â€˜Kret? Can you reach the rope?’ called Bindi.
    â€˜I think so.’ There was the faint sound of scuffling and then, ‘Got it.’
    â€˜Okay.’ Bindi motioned for Tri to take Chenda by the harness and lead her away from the hole. ‘We’re going to pull you up now, Kret. You’re going to have to hold on really tightly.’
    â€˜Ready?’ asked Tri.
    â€˜Ready!’ called Kret.
    â€˜Go!’ Bindi called. She and Robert monitored the rope and crouched by the hole, ready to grab Kret. Chenda took a few steps and slowly the rope began to move.
    â€˜Go, Chenda, you can do it!’ encouraged Robert.
    Chenda braced herself againstthe strain and continued to walk away. The rope inched further and further until Bindi could see the top of Kret’s