The Bespectacled Bear and theAnaconda ( the Wasteland and the Forest ).

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The bespectacled bear was a mountain of bear; a veritable hill of fur and flesh. A curious and mysterious bear full of magic, a humble and docile being, representative of the wasteland; his house and home.

La anaconda was with his serpentine body, like an endless river representing the weaving flow of waters that formed part of his house and home both in the forest and the in the wasteland.

The markings on the face of the bespectacled bear resembled the flow of water and together with the markings of the anaconda they seemed to magically reinforce the image of mountain and river; the two great mysteries of the wasteland.

La anaconda, of course was oblivious to all of this as he attempted to avoid getting entangled in the branches of the mangroves that resembled the legs and arms of some pre-historic beast. His belly emitted rumblings and grumblings which the anaconda feared might alert the various residents that lurked in the trees and branches through which he was trying to slither.

And so it was; the bespectacled bear heard a noise that shook the very roots of his castle in the trees. Being a wise bear he was not alarmed, but curious and peering below he picked out the form of the hungry anaconda.

- Brother anaconda, he called quietly in a deep and sonorous voice, - don't make so much noise for the caimanes may awaken, and I don't intend to get involved in a discussion with them for I am reading the news that my colleague the macaw brought me at nine nineteen precisely.

- Once delivered the newspaper the macaw had remained in the vicinity to observe the exchange between the bespectacled bear and the anaconda.

-I imagine that you must be tremendously hungry to frequent these parts, the bespectacled bear continued, - can I be of assistance? Stay right where you are, I am coming down; I can take you to a magical place where we can eat without interference from the caimanes who become unbearable when they think they have breakfast within their grasp.

-Stay where you are and I shall come down. If you can provide the transport I can lead you to a magical place where we can both have breakfast without fear of caimanic interference.

The anaconda stayed stock still suddenly. Such was the shock of being spoken to that he froze as if in a portrait, moving not a scale . The bespectacled bear was down that tree in the flick of a lamb's tail whispering gently to the anaconda whilst traversing the snakes's immense length eventually arriving at the beast's head and where he jumped down. Placing himself daringly at eye level, he announced with majestic calm:

- Brother inhabitant of these river banks trees and plants, asI have already said, your lordship is putting in great danger the inhabitants of this enchanted place.

- I propose that your lordship give me a lift to the enchanted pond where I shall introduce you to my companions and friends and we shall have a marvellous picnic.

The macaw having observed and listened to the bespectacled bear's words to the anaconda proposed to the bespectacled bear and the anaconda that he serve as guide, owing to his being able to observe from a great height weaving through the branches of the trees the caimanes with their numerous gleaming teeth. So they set off, with a left here and a right there always on the look-out and eventually they arrived at the enchanted pond where so many of the forest species were reunited. Macaws were chattering to each other, sloths slept in their trees, jaguars yawned with early morning laziness, tortoises everywhere looked like stepping stones, brightly coloured Monarch butterflies their flight interrupted by flowers of every hue and species. There was however only one anaconda and one bespectacled bear.

The bespectacled bear merged with the wasteland, it was as if he was the wasteland and the wasteland was him. Strong and distinguished they represented each other. When he had seen the anaconda he quickly saw an alternative means of transport; easier than the scooter that was his regular form of transport requiring great effort and which ended up with a flat tyre every three days.

Would you like to know the best part of all? Not only did the anaconda return the bespectacled bear to his home and castle, but the anaconda stayed as honory guest and every day he goes to collect the bespectacled bear and takes him to the enchanted pond and the guacamayo serves as their guide once he has delivered his newspaper to the bespectacled bear at nine nineteen precisely.

By: Hephzibah Llewellyn Jones