The picture prompt for the Six Minute story today is a herd of deer, of some sort, in the mist.
The photo is by Siddy Lam on Flickr. It is taken in India, not Africa.
I had just read a short story about Africa, so I had Africa on my mind. The story is just a beginning really. I couldn’t get my brain in gear quickly enough to work out a good ending.
Lost in Africa
Mist and fog everywhere.
It had started off as a beautiful African day. 30 degree heat and so they only wore shorts and t-shirts and packed a few sandwiches. No point taking unnecessary baggage, they told themselves. This is an impromptu safari. Let’s be adventurous.
Then the fog came down. They weren’t expecting this. And the track just sort of faded out. Bumping over grass in the battered 4×4, they could see no familiar landmarks, nothing to lead them back to the road.
They were cheerful and amused at first. Lost in Africa! How foolish. What a great story. Then they ran out of petrol.
Shhh. They wind down the window, hoping to hear the noise of traffic.
There is only silence.
Then the deer arrived, silent and elegant. Not much help though. Deer can’t give directions. Deer can’t call for help.
Their mobile phones are dead. How we take technology for granted; until it stops working.
They eat the last of the sandwiches, saving their water carefully, and huddle together for warmth. It is getting dark. In the distance, they hear the roaring of a lion.
Ruth Livingstone 