The forest was full of shadows as Sylvie hurried through it one summer evening in Dune. The child hurried the cow through the dark forest to her grandmother's home.
Suddenly the air was cut by a sharp whistle not far away. Sylvie knew it wasn't a friendly bird's whistle. She hid in some bushes. But she was too late.
"Hello, little girl," a young man called out cheerfully. "I've lost my way. Can I spend the night at your house?" he asked.
Sylvie didn't answer. The stranger began walking with Sylvie as she followed her cow through the forest. She was glad when she could see her grandmother standing near the farm house. The stranger explained his problem to Sylvie's grandmother.
"Of course you can stay with us." she said. The young man explained he was a scientist, who collected birds.
"Do you put them in a cage?" Sylvie asked.
"No," he answered slowly, "I shoot them and preserve them with special chemicals."
"I've been looking for a white heron (苍鹭),"he said, "It's a very rare white bird."
But Sylvie's heart began to beat fast. She knew that strange white bird! Early the next morning, she quietly hurried through the forest. She finally reached a huge pine tree, and climbed to the top. Sylvie's bare feet and tiny fingers grabbed the tree's rough trunk. Sharp dry branches scratched her like cat's claws.
Suddenly, a bird with broad white wings landed on a pine branch next to her. The white heron smoothed its feathers and called to its mate. She knew the wild bird's secret now.
Were the birds better friends than their hunters? Who can know?
