Chapter 151: I'll give you the world (148)
Bert brought Zane a change of clothes and some documents to go over. While Zane showered can changed Bert visited with Bella.
"How are you feeling?"
"Everyone keeps asking me that. I am fine."
"That's good. So Dad tells me you seen mom when you died." he said.
"Yah, she talked me out of staying with her." Bella said.
"I'm glad she did." Bert squeezed Bella hand, "I don't know what we would do with out you."
"Mom told me to tell you the little red will be a handful but a blessing but she did not mean the child." Bella said.
"She is talking about Lily. She is a handful glad mom likes her." Bert laughed.
Bert did not stay long he needed to get the documents back to the office and he needed to complete what Zane needed done.
Betty was the last one to visit that Bella needed to see.
"I won't ask how your doing I hate when people ask me that." Betty said.
"Well I'm fine now really. I have a message for you from mom."
"What is it? Is she disappointed in me?" Betty asked.
"She said and I quote, 'Tell Betty I am proud of her for taking on special kids that will change the world."
"Really she is proud and she likes my kids. Do you really think they will change the world."
"Mom is always right." Bella said.
After everyone was gone Zane pulled up a chair next to Bella and continued her story.
◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ THE LAUGHING HIPPOPOTAMUS cont.
The hippopotamuses were afraid to look upon it, and bowed their heads between their legs.
"We come, O Glinkomok, to implore your mercy and friendly assistance!" began Uncle Nep; and then he told the story of Keo's capture, and how he had promised to return to the black man.
"He must keep his promise," said the creature, in a voice that sounded like a sigh.
The mother hippopotamus groaned aloud.
"But I will prepare him to overcome the black man, and to regain his liberty," continued Glinkomok.
Keo laughed.
"Lift your right paw," commanded Glinkomok.
Keo obeyed, and the creature touched it with its long, hairy tongue. Then it held four skinny hands over Keo's bowed head and mumbled some words in a language unknown to man or beast or fowl or fish.
After this it spoke again in hippopotamese: "Your skin has now become so tough that no man can hurt you. Your strength is greater than that of ten elephants. Your foot is so swift that you can distance the wind. Your wit is sharper than the bulthorn. Let the man fear, but drive fear from your own breast forever; for of all your race you are the mightiest!"
Then the terrible Glinkomok leaned over, and Keo felt its fiery breath scorch him as it whispered some further instructions in his ear.
The next moment it glided back into its cave, followed by the loud thanks of the three hippopotamuses, who slid into the water and immediately began their journey home.
The mother's heart was full of joy; Uncle Nep shivered once or twice as he remembered a glimpse he had caught of Glinkomok; but Keo was as jolly as possible, and, not content to swim with his dignified elders, he dived under their bodies, raced all around them and laughed merrily every inch of the way home.
Then all the tribe held high jinks and praised the mighty Glinkomok for befriending their queen's son. And when the day came for the Jolly One to give himself up to the black man they all kissed him good-by without a single fear for his safety.
Keo went away in good spirits, and they could hear his laughing "guk-uk-uk-uk!" long after he was lost in sight in the jungle.
Gouie had counted the days and knew when to expect Keo; but he was astonished at the monstrous size to which his captive had grown, and congratulated himself on the wise bargain he had made. And Keo was so fat that Gouie determined to eat him—that is, all of him he possibly could, and the remainder of the carcass he would trade off to his fellow villagers.
So he took a knife and tried to stick it into the hippopotamus, but the skin was so tough the knife was blunted against it.
Then he tried other means; but Keo remained unhurt. And now indeed the Jolly One laughed his most gleeful laugh, till all the forest echoed the "guk-uk-uk-uk-uk!"
And Gouie decided not to kill him, since that was impossible, but to use him for a beast of burden.
He mounted upon Keo's back and commanded him to march. So Keo trotted briskly through the village, his little eyes twinkling with merriment.
The other blacks were delighted with Gouie's captive, and begged permission to ride upon the Jolly One's back.
So Gouie bargained with them for bracelets and shell necklaces and little gold ornaments, until he had acquired quite a heap of trinkets.
Then a dozen black men climbed upon Keo's back to enjoy a ride, and the one nearest his nose cried out: "Run, Mud-dog—run!" And Keo ran.
Swift as the wind he strode, away from the village, through the forest and straight up the river bank.
The black men howled with fear; the Jolly One roared with laughter; and on, on, on they rushed!
Then before them, on the opposite side of the river, appeared the black mouth of Glinkomok's cave.
◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇
Bella had fallen asleep so Zane put down the book. He walked over to the mirror and looked in. He was not the same man he use to be.
Just s few month ago he was happy with his life as The Beast of Business. Then this little kitten came into his life and turned it upside down and he never wanted to go back to his old life again.
She was everything but he still did know how to protect her.
First a chandler falls on her, then she is attacked, locked in a basement, beaten up, and now shot, all because of him.
She was carrying his child and was willing to raise his other child. How did he really get lucky to have her by his side.
A tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped it away. "Bella, I promise as long as you are by my side you will have the world."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
IleneMae
IleneMae American Fairy Tales : THE LAUGHING HIPPOPOTAMUS
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