Precious and the Mystery of Meercat Hill Read Online Free PDF

then, after he had finished and had moved his chair back to its usual place, they talked among themselves.

    There was much to talk about. They remembered all about following the cow’s hoof-prints and Pontsho thought that he would try his skill at tracking other animals in future, now that
Precious had shown him how to do it. Teb thought this was a good idea, and said that she would practise looking for clues, just as Precious had done. “You never know what you might
find,” she remarked. “There are all sorts of mysteries once you start to look for them.”
    Precious agreed. She had only been a detective for a short time, but she had already solved two important mysteries – one in which monkeys played a part, and this one involving a meerkat
and a cow. There were bound to be others, she thought.
    “You’re very lucky to be such a good detective,” said Pontsho.
    Precious smiled modestly. She never boasted, but she was glad that she had discovered the thing that she seemed to be really good at. Most people can do at least one thing rather well, but
sometimes it takes a bit of time to find out what that thing is. She had found it, and now that she had done so, she would be able to use that talent well. Many years later, she would become a
famous detective – the first lady detective in Botswana – but that, of course, is a story that we shall hear about much later on.

    Although they had very much enjoyed the fat cakes, there was still enough room for their normal dinner, although nobody needed very large helpings that night. Then, after the
meal, it was time for them to go to bed. Pontsho went off to his shelter at the back of the house, and Precious and Teb each laid out a sleeping mat in the corner of the kitchen where Teb normally
slept. Teb’s mother lent Precious a spare blanket so that she could wrap herself up and keep warm for the night. Although Botswana is a hot country, the nights themselves can be cold, as they
often are in deserts and other warm places.
    As she lay there in the darkness, thinking of the events of the day, Precious felt happy that everything had worked out so well. The cow was safely back and in due course she would have her
calf. In fact, although nobody knew it at the time, the cow was due to have twins. That was very welcome news for the family, as it meant that they would have two calves to sell rather than one.
And it meant, too, that they would be able to buy shoes for Teb and Pontsho, which was a very good thing.
    Teb must have been very tired, as she dropped off to sleep almost straightaway. Precious, though, remained awake a bit longer, and she was still awake when a small furry creature crept through
the door and made his way to where she was lying. The first thing she knew of him was the feel of his tiny moist nose sniffing at her cheek.

    She did not say anything to Kosi, as she did not want to wake Teb. So she simply stroked the tiny meerkat gently and allowed him to cuddle up to her. He was tired too, and after a few minutes
she felt his breathing change and she knew he was asleep. In nature, meerkats sleep together in a burrow they make underground. They lie with their tiny arms about one another – a whole
family of meerkats – safe and sound in their underground house. Above them, in the moonlight, there are all sorts of dangers – owls and snakes and other enemies – but they are
safe down below, huddled together for warmth.

    Precious drifted off to sleep eventually. She dreamed that night of cows and meerkats and tracks in the sand. She dreamed, too, of fat cakes and happy people and of her friends and of how good
it felt to have been able to help them. Because helping other people is a good thing, whether or not you are a detective.
    And in the morning, do you know, Kosi was still there, his paws under his chin, his bright black eyes closed. But the sun came up, floating slowly up into the sky, and all three of them awoke at
much the same time