40 WHY HYENA LIMPS AS TOLD BY LINDA RODE One day Hyena and Jackal were lying in the shade of a camel thorn. Hyena’s heavy head and strong jaws were resting on his forepaws. Jackal’s pointed snout lay on his forepaws too. A flock of swifts swooped past, and Jackal looked up into the sky. “Hyena,” he said, “see that big fluffy cloud? Did you know that it’s actually made of lumps of mouthwatering mutton fat? I’ll bring you back a piece.” And step by step Jackal climbed up into the sky and reached the white cloud, for in those days animals could do marvellous things. Jackal ate his fill. He ate until his whiskers glistened with grease, his entire snout glistened and fat was dripping down his neck. But now he had to get back down. This was a bit more difficult than going up. “Hey there, Hyena,” Jackal called. “Stand ready to catch me if I fall. I’ll bring you a big chunk of fat for your trouble!” Hyena dutifully got up and stood ready to catch Jackal. Whop! Hyena’s big frame broke Jackal’s fall, preventing Jackal from knocking himself out. But where was the promised chunk of fat? Tafelberg_Hasie_Textpages_72final.indd 40 2019/11/11 10:38 PM