Forest Fire Read Online Free

friendly. They even sat with us and tried out our tools when we were building the walkways.” He stopped and looked around. The children could see the concern on his face.
    â€œCome to think of it, it’s been quieter than usual today. We’ve been through several territories and only seen Lola and Kiki.” He led them round a platform, down a ladder and on to a lower walkway. “We’re just coming into Kawan’s old patch now.”
    Ben gave Zoe a thumbs up. Maybe they’d learn something useful here.
    The walkway took them alongside a wide, muddy coloured river.
    â€œThis is the Munia River,” Mat told them.
    â€œThose are oil palms growing on the other side, aren’t they?” asked Zoe, recognising the straight rows of low-growing trees. They looked very different from the natural tangle of the high rainforest.
    â€œThat’s Mr Ostrander’s land,” said Mat. “We’re right in the south-eastern corner of the reservation now.”
    He led them on to a wide platform hung from a thick-trunked tree. A metal sign reading “Platform Twenty-two” was fixed to the trunk above a map of the walkways. The children looked at the view. The river wound its way into the distance, separating the palm trees from a wide swathe of flat land, where small plants in metal drums were growing at regular intervals.
    â€œNew oil palms,” Mat explained. “That’s where Daud spotted Kawan. I’ve tried calling him from here, but I’m not sure the sound travels that far.”

“I hope he comes back soon,” said Zoe.
    â€œI’d love you to meet Kawan,” said Mat. “He’s such a character, and a great imitator. He used to fill up pans with rice and beans and stir them with a spoon. Copying Yasmin cooking, you see. It might be no use, but I have to try calling him again.”
    He pursed his lips together and made the call the children had heard on the film.
    Ben and Zoe walked round to the opposite side of the platform. From here they could see a bald area of tree stumps. It looked like an ugly gash in the middle of the dense rainforest.
    â€œThose evil loggers,” said Zoe, looking at the devastation. “I’m glad they were chased off before they did any more damage. Poor Kawan, he must have been so frightened by them.”
    â€œI wish I could play my recording,” whispered Ben. “At full volume it would reach those oil palms and beyond. If Kawan is there, he’ll hear it.”
    Mat stopped calling for Kawan and came to join them.
    â€œNo luck, I’m afraid,” he said. He pointed to the damaged area. “Kawan always nests – or rather, nested – around there. Don’t worry, he doesn’t think he’s a bird!” Mat grinned. “Orang-utans make themselves a different bed every night up in the tree canopy. They even use big leaves as duvets!”
    Ben nodded. “I’ve read about that,” he said.
    â€œSometimes they hold them as sunshades,” Mat went on, “and –” He was interrupted by a shrill beeping from his shirt pocket. “Sorry about this,” he said, pulling out a walkie-talkie. “It must be Yasmin back at the centre.”
    He turned away from the children, speaking rapidly in Malay.
    â€œSomething’s wrong…” They heard Yasmin’s reply translated through their earpieces. “…more cancellations. The Coopers.”
    â€œThey were due next week, weren’t they?” said Mat.
    His walkie-talkie buzzed and Yasmin spoke again. “…lucky they emailed to find out when they could rebook… don’t understand…cancellations have been sent out to our guests…How could that happen?”
    â€œI’ll come straight back,” said Mat into the walkie-talkie. “We’ll phone everyone and reinstate their bookings. Then we’ll look into it. Probably something to do with that