Speaker 1: Yea, hello. My name's Josephine and this is the Animal
Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.
There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,
with a third premium only story every Friday. To learn
more about Animal Tales, please visit our new website at
Animaltales dot uk, where you can now find stories more
easily by animal type. Joe is from London in England
and he would like a story with a water buffalo,
a camel and a snake. You can learn more about
these creatures in the animal facts after the story. Okay,
are you ready? That's good, then I'll begin. Lost in Cairo,
Joe lay on the ground panting. It was a hot,
sunny day in Egypt, and despite the heat, he was
loving it. Behind him, Joe's family were getting ready for
a long day of sight seeing. They were visiting Cairo
for the week, and even though Joe was a dog,
had brought him along too. All right, everyone said, Dad,
we've got a long day ahead of us. A boat
ride down the Nile, a tour around the Great Pyramid
of Gezer, then back into Cairo for the Hanging Church.
This afternoon, make sure you have everything you need and
remember to stay close. Joe wagged his tail happily as
the family left their hotel, shutting the red door behind
them straightway. There was so much to sniff and see,
so many people, so much noise, and strange new buildings everywhere.
Joe kept getting distracted as they weaved their way through
the streets, with Dad pointing out landmarks such as the
Abdeen Palace Museum. They arrived at the dock where they'd
be taking their boat trip along the Nile. The smells
of Egypt filled Joe's nose, such as new foods, interesting fabrics,
and animals that were completely new to the dog. While
the family waited patiently for the boat, something particularly delicious
smelling got Joe's full attention. He fidgeted and pulled and
twisted as the waiting crowd began to board, and such
was the hustle and bustle that Mum didn't notice that Joe,
in his excitement, had slipped his collar. He dashed through
the legs of the dockside crowd, weaving through people, bikes,
and carts to the source of the exciting smell, A
delicious kebab. Some one must have dropped it, but Joe
wasn't going to let it go to waste. He wolfed
it down, then trotted back to his family, But his
family weren't there. The boat was gone. Skidding to a
halt at the dock's edge, he caught sight of the
boat sailing away, already far too far away to jump
or swim too, but he could run. Joe sprinted along
the river side, trying to keep a watchful eye on
his family's boat. But the nile was a busy place,
and it wasn't long before he lost sight of it
amongst the mass of other river vessels. What do I do,
he whined, I've lost my family, and in a city
he didn't know. What made it worse was that he
knew that they'd be worried about him. He slumped down
on the river bank, dropping his head onto his paws,
feeling very, very sorry for himself. What's up, pup, asked
a small yellow and brown sand snake, emerging from a
gap beneath a rock. I've lost my family, Joe sniffed.
They've sailed away and left me. Ah, that is a problem,
said the sand snake. Where were they sailing to? I
doubt you'd know, sighed Joe. Cairo is a big place.
How can any one know it all? Why don't you
try me and see, suggested the sand snake. Joe reluctantly agreed.
They are going to see something called a Gezer pyramid.
The dog recalled, whatever that is, I know what it is,
hissed the snake. You mean the great Pyramid of Gezer.
I know all the pyramids as well as that Pattern's
a on my back. I can take you there. Joe
couldn't believe his luck. Thank you so much, said Joe.
There's a chance I can still see my family again.
The sand snake introduced herself as Livia as she guided
Joe up river. Upon reaching a bridge, they crossed the
waterway before following the path of a long straight road.
The sand snake kept well out of the way of
the thumping feet and heavy tires, and Joe trotted along
happily behind her. Tell me, Livia said, Joe. What does
this great pyramid look like? Is it easy to spot? You?
Tell me, laughed the snake as the sand opened out
before them. Upon the sand, enormous stone structures with gigantic
triangular sides towered over the landscape. Are those pyramids, Joe asked.
They're huge, and we want the biggest of them all,
grinned the snake. The pyramids were just outside the city,
on the edge of the desert. They were older than
almost every other building on Earth, standing amongst ruins and
the great stone sphinx. Hopefully your humans are around here somewhere,
said Livia as they arrived at the Great Pyramid of Gezer.
But there's a lot of ground to cover and lots
of people. We'd best get looking. The dog and the
snake walked all the way around the base of the
Great Pyramid, getting a good close up view of the
old limestone blocks, but Joe's family were nowhere to be seen. Anything.
The sand snake asked nothing, Joe sighed, not a hint
of a smell either. That's disappointing, Livia said, I guess
there's a chance that we missed them. We did take
a long time to get here, Joe reasoned, and a
long time looking around. There's a chance they've moved on.
Can you recall where they plan to go next? The
snake asked, hum said the dog, thinking hard. A church.
I think there are lots of churches in cairo, said Livia.
Thousands even and thousands more mosques and other places of worship.
Can you remember any other details to help us narrow
it down? Yes, nodded Joe. It's a dangling church. It dangles.
Do you know where it is? The snake looked baffled
for a moment before a spark of an idea lit
up her eyes. Do you mean the hanging church? Yes,
that's it, said Joe, leaping for joy, not dangling hanging.
Then we'd best get moving, said Livia. We've got to
head back across the river. Let's go. The two animals
raced across the sand, leaving the pyramids behind them. They
passed several water buffalo being herded by two boys, before
arriving at an extremely busy road jam packed with cars
and people. We can't go through there, We'll get squished,
Livia said, in frustration. I'm never going to find my family.
Joe wailed. Oh how awful, said one of the water buffalo.
We're going your way, stick with us. The water buffalo
made their own path through the crowded roadway for no
other reason than people wanted to stay away from their
large horns. It allowed Joe and Livia to make good
progress back to the river. This is where we stop,
said the water buffalo. We're here to drink. That's okay,
smiled Joe. It's not so busy now, we'll be all
right from here. They parted happily, with the dog and
the snake retracing their path over the bridge. Livia took
the lead, allowing Joe to enjoy the beautiful scenery, such
as bustling markets, stunning churches, and enormous mosques. Livia was right,
there were so many. Then at last they reached the
Hanging Church. This is it, the sand snake, cried, one
of the oldest churches in Egypt. I just hope my
family are here, Joe said. The two animals sneaked into
the church, searching it from top to bottom. Joe thought
it was quite stunning, with its high windows and tall columns,
but sadly there was no sign of his family outside.
At the foot of the steps, Joe slumped to the ground,
hot and tired. They're not here, he sobbed. Perhaps they've
been here already, said the snake. Were they going anywhere else?
This was it? Joe sniffed, feeling defeated. We went to
all the places they said they would visit. Now I'll
never find them. I'll be lost in Cairo forever. He sniffled,
burying his muzzle under his paws. And nearby camel overheard
the dog's wines and took pity on him. What's wrong
with this dog, he asked the sand snake. He's lost
his family, Livia explained, can't you just go home and
find them there? The camel asked, That's what I would do,
But my home is a long way from Cairo, whimpered Joe.
But they must be sleeping somewhere while they're here, pointed
out the camel. Can't you look for them there? Joe's
head shot up. Of course, why didn't I think of that?
That's where all their things are. That's good, said the
relieved snake. So where exactly are you staying? Immediately Joe's
ears dropped. I don't know the name, he whined. That's
all right, said the camel. Can you remember anything else
about it? What does it look like? For example, the
hotel had a red door, Joe recalled. Oh, and it
was near a palace, the Abdeen Palace Museum, cheered Livia.
Well done, said the camel, dropping to his knees hop on.
I'll give you a lift. My name's Wilfrid, said the
camel as he started walking through the narrow streets. I've
lived in Cairo my entire life. We'll find that hotel
of yours, don't you worry. Wilfrid appeared to be sure
of the way, so for the first time that day,
Joe let himself relax. He had never been so high up.
He could see right over all the people's heads as
he perched upon the camel's hump. Wilfrid took every opportunity
to tell them a little about the shops, restaurants, and
museums that they passed. He was forever pointing out interesting
things and telling them facts. Joe drank it all in.
It was pretty cool to have a personal tall guide.
When they eventually reached the Abdeen Palace museum, Joe gave
a huge sigh of relief. They were close. Now, all
we need is to find a hotel with a red door,
grinned Livia. Wilfrid lumbered on, allowing himself to be guided
by Joe whenever he recognized a sight or smell, until
there it was the hotel Joe said, as they stood
before the bright red door. We found it. Wilfrid sank
down so Joe and Livia could climb off. Thank you
so much, Joe said, gratefully, that was a lot of fun.
You're most welcome. Wilfrid winked and thank you, Livia. If
I hadn't met you this morning, I don't know what
I would have done, Joe smiled. I'm just glad we
got you back. Livia replied, I hope your humans are
inside waiting for you. If either of you ever happened
to visit London, I'd be more than happy to show
you around, Joe said, as the red door opened to
let out a guest. This was his chance to slip inside. Goodbye,
he cried, and was in. He raced through the hotel,
dodging people and suitcases as he sniffed out the family's room.
But when he got there, the door was closed and
there was no scent of his loved ones within. All
he could do was curl up here and hope. Joe yelled,
the voices of the children jolting him. Alert, it's Joe,
It's Joe. They fell upon him, cuddling and stroking hi
his furry body. Why he's right here, said Mum in disbelief.
How did he find his way back here? Dad scratched
his head, looking puzzled. We've spent all day searching between
the docks and here, and he was in the hotel
the whole time, he chuckled. Joe gulped, feeling guilty. They
hadn't been on the boat trip at all. They must
have got off to look for him the moment they
knew he was missing. That's why they weren't at any
of the places they'd said they'd be, which meant that
only he had seen all of Cairo's wonderful sights. I'm
just glad we're all back together, said Mum, giving Joe
a pat on the head. We'll just have to do
our trip tomorrow instead again, thought Joe. Oh well, he
didn't really mind, as this time he'd be with his family.
Animal fat water buffalo were domesticated over six thousand years
ago in India, where they soon reached Egypt. They are
kept for use on small farms for transporting goods, as
well as for their milk and meat. Egyptian camels are
called dromedaries and have one hump made of fat. They
were first domesticated four thousand years ago, where they can
serve a similar purpose to the water buffalo. Unlike the
water buffalo, camels are great for riding on two Egyptian
Sandsnakes are noticeably fast snakes that can chase down their prey.
This tends to be other snakes and lizards, but can
include small mammals and frogs too. Thank you for your suggestions, Joe.
We hope you enjoyed the story, and thank you to
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