The Boy and the Poacher's Moon. Pamela Newham

must be interesting living there.”

      Vusi said, “Well, I’m at boarding school most of the time, but I get to spend holidays at the reserve.”

      Billy envied him. It must be great even if you only saw your father during school holidays. Billy had only the faintest memories of his pa.

      “So when you’re there for holidays, do you go out with your dad tracking animals?” he asked.

      “Yep,” said Vusi. “He’s one of their best trackers, and he’s taught me a lot. I think that’s how I managed to get so far in the quiz. I’m not someone who spends my life with my nose in books like some people I could mention.” He tipped his head in Jabu’s direction. She ignored him.

      Billy looked up at a lilac-breasted roller sitting on a branch. Its turquoise head, lilac breast and blue wings shone in the late-afternoon sun. He smiled to himself. He’d seen photographs before, but it was great seeing this beautiful bird live for the first time.

      “And you, Surina?” asked Thandi. “Why did you enter the competition?”

      Surina flicked a strand of her long dark hair over her shoulder and shrugged. “I don’t know. My biology teacher, Mrs Singh, chose me because I usually get the highest marks.”

      “And that’s the only reason?” said Vusi.

      Surina shrugged. Vusi, Jabu and Billy glanced at each other. Jabu shook her head in amazement.

      “Duck!” yelled Thandi as she drove under a thorn tree, its branches hanging low over the road.

      “Duck? I don’t see a duck,” Vusi said, and Billy laughed.

      Surina turned around and gave them a look that said she thought they were imbeciles.

      “Oops, Miss Bollywood didn’t find that amusing,” said Vusi.

      Surina spun around again. “Just how old are you?”

      Vusi just laughed. He glanced at Billy.

      “I’m sixteen. But I don’t know about my buddy here. The one who looks a bit like Johnny Depp,” he said, nudging Billy in the ribs.

      Before Billy could make a comment, Thandi said, “Okay, let’s keep it down. If you want to see any animals, that is.”

      Billy sat up straight. Time to concentrate. He stared into the long yellow grass.

      Vusi asked Thandi, “Do you get elephant in this area?”

      “Yes, we do,” said Thandi. “Although you’re more likely to see them further north. On the other hand, you never know … Oh, there’s something interesting,” she said, stopping the Land Rover.

      “I don’t see anything,” said Jabu, peering into the bush.

      “Look at that tree,” Thandi pointed. “Do you see the web?”

      “Sjoe! That’s one mother of a spider,” said Vusi.

      Billy shuddered. It was about the size of a man’s hand.