The Kuk-kuks learned very quickly that it was not safe to enter through my gates, as my catapult lay on the ready just inside my front door, and I was becoming most proficient in shooting with it. The red chickens were not such a bother, as their feet were a lot daintier than that of the Kuk-kuks, and they were not such vigorous worm hunters, and had a lot more respect for other people's property!

There was two Kuk-kuks that were I think banned from the tribe, and at first they tried to befriend the reds, but were thoroughly and quickly shown that they also were not welcome there, so the poor things started roaming outside the confines of Jan's property, as the other groups, both the reds and the Kuk-kuks just did not want them. I was quite aghast at the viciousness of the chickens, and just looked on with sympathy, when the lot grew into puberty and then into grown-ups, as the strongest cocks started harassing the more timid ones whenever they went near the hens.There were a few hens amongst the reds, and with all the males around, the children's yard became a war zone, with fights breaking out all the time, sometimes ending in bloodcovered and bedraggled looking chickens.Jan then decided to keep the diffirent clans in seperate coops, but had to let the two outcasts out after a few minutes only!
The two males that were banned from the flock became quite close, and were rummaging further and further away from the homestead, and always together. At night the pair would fly onto the outside fence and sat sleeping there, close together, clucking nervously.It was heartbreaking to watch them as they had developed a kind of cautious way to move around, stretching their necks to look around every corner or obstacle to suss out the lay of things, eyes always on the coops where the others were NOT always living in peace.
In the meantime the two swallows that survived the cats, dogs and other predators had grown into beautifully sleek youngsters, and Irma let them loose in the house more and more so that they could learn to fly. She put the box on the cupboard so that they could practice jumping out, like they would do in the wilds. While the door was locked to keep the animals out, Hendrix would just take it in his stride, as he had no wish to have a taste of the babies, but the ugly Tembi would sit on the stoep licking her lips, black eyes fixed on the door in the hope that she would get a chance for a lovely titbit.
Then disaster struck, and that was almost the end of Tembi!
Irma had to go to George as Tembi had to go to the vet, and she had also to deliver some paintings to the decorators, and she could not leave the birds alone at home, as they still needed constant feeding. So the whole lot was loaded into the Vitara, the box with the swallows securely closed on the back seat, and Tembi on her pillow behind the seat where she would be away from the young birds.
All went according to plan until Irma had to deliver the paintings. She was away for longer than she wanted, as she got some more work to do, and when she got back, the first thing she saw was Tembi's head, and something about the dog's face looked very strange, so she hurried to the car, a horrible suspicion in her mind!
The car was covered in feathers, and on the back seat was Tembi, one of the babies hanging from her mouth, and when she saw Irma, she tried to hide beneath the seat, but Irma grabbed her and shook her until the bird fell from her jaws! Of the other little Swallow there was nothing left but a few feathers, and Irma swore to kill the dog when they got home! It was so sad, as we all had helped to feed the birds when they were only tiny and helpless, and for them to die in such a way was just too terrible!