How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith

Author:Alexander McCall Smith [McCall Smith, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408712801
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2020-09-02T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

MMA RAMOTSWE HAS FEW FAULTS

THEY RETURNED TO THE OFFICE, where Mma Ramotswe called what she termed an “extraordinary general meeting.” This was a rare occurrence, justified only in the most pressing or extreme circumstances, and involving the attendance of everybody present in the office and the garage. On this occasion, that meant Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi, Fanwell and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, the last two participants being dragged away somewhat reluctantly from a particularly interesting gearbox issue in an old Ford.

Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni was not one to grumble, but he did so now—in his very mild way—pointing out to Mma Ramotswe that you did not normally call a surgeon out from theatre when he was engaged in a delicate surgical procedure. “It’s the same with gearboxes,” he said. “If you take them to pieces and then walk away, you can end up in a terrible mess.”

“The boss is right,” said Fanwell, nodding sagely. “A terrible mess.”

Mma Ramotswe explained that a co-ordinated plan of action needed to be decided then and there.

“We can’t let this matter ride,” she said. “That young elephant could cause serious harm. Children are likely to find out about his presence, and you know what they are like. Somebody could get hurt.”

They sat in the office while Mma Ramotswe told the two mechanics about their conversation with Mma Potokwane. “She was very helpful,” she said. “We did not have to spend a long time persuading her.”

“We did not have to spend any time at all,” said Mma Makutsi. “She made her offer very quickly.”

“They have an old cattle stockade,” said Mma Ramotswe. “They haven’t used it for years…”

Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni nodded his head. “Yes, I know where that is. At the end of the vegetable gardens. They used it in the old days when the Orphan Farm had a small herd. The children loved having the cattle but they stopped keeping them when one of them was hit by a truck. The children were so upset by this that Mma Potokwane—or her predecessor, perhaps—said that it was better not to have cattle if that sort of thing was going to happen.”

“It’s good for children to be brought up with cattle,” said Mma Makutsi. “Then they understand. Phuti says that he had his first cattle when he was three.”

Mma Ramotswe frowned. “That’s a bit young, surely. You cannot look after cattle when you’re that young.”

Mma Makutsi pursed her lips. “Phuti was very advanced, Mma. He has always been advanced.”

Mma Ramotswe did not argue. Mma Makutsi was fiercely loyal to her husband. “The point is,” she continued, “that Mma Potokwane has offered to take this elephant while arrangements are being made to get it back up north. Apparently, there is a place up there that will look after elephants who have lost their mothers. But it might take a little while to arrange. It will be safe at the Orphan Farm, in that old stockade.”

“Then that is what Charlie must do,” said Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. “We must tell him.

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