Vinnie was so scared he couldn't move.
Suddenly he felt a strong wind by his ear.
An arrow flew by.
One of the hyenas let out a cry, and the animals ran away.
"Vinnie!" Mandy ran to her brother.
"I'm okay," said Vinnie. "But who . . . ?"
He stopped and stared at a young man holding a bow and arrow.
He also wore an animal skin tied at his waist.
He had six scars on his chest on his right side.
The man stared at the children for a long time.
Then he said, "Where do you come from?"
"Our home is far away," replied Mandy.
"We're on a journey."
The man stared a bit longer.
He seemed curious.
"How long will your journey be?" he asked.
Vinnie and Mandy looked at each other.
"We don't know," they answered.
The man motioned to them.
"Let us go to the village," he said.
"You will be safe there."
He walked away.
Mandy looked at her brother.
"What do we do?" she said.
"Let's follow him," replied Vinnie.
"I don't think he'll hurt us.
After all, he saved me from those scary wolves."
"They were hyenas," said Mandy.
The children ran after the man.
"Excuse me," said Vinnie, "where are we?"
"This is the Kalahari Desert, home of my people," he replied.
"Who are your people?" asked Mandy.
"We are the Ju/'hoansi," he said.
"I am Kashe. What are your names?"
The children introduced themselves.
Kashe stopped in front of an open area.
"Welcome to our village,"
he said, pointing to ten small huts.
The huts were made out of sticks and grass.
"Kashe!" a woman called out.
"You went hunting for food, but you bring us children."
The villagers all stopped what they were doing.
They surrounded the children.
The men were dressed like Kashe.
The women also wore animal skins.
Most of them had jewelry around their necks.
Some wore brightly colored bands around their heads.
Kashe introduced the children to everyone.
Then the crowd wandered away.
But one curious young girl remained.
"Twi!" a woman called to the girl.
"We have work to do."
"Yes, Mama," Twi called back.
Then she turned to Mandy.
"Will you come with us?" she asked.
"Where?" said Mandy.
"To gather mongongo nuts," said Twi.
She looked up at the bright sun.
"We should have left a while ago.
I can tell it will be hot today."
"But it's hot already!" cried Mandy.
Twi laughed. "This is not hot.
It is still early in the day."
Mandy wiped her forehead.
"It's going to get hotter?" she thought.
"Come with me, Vinnie," Kashe said.
"Where are we going?" asked Vinnie.
Kashe gave Vinnie a bow.
"We must return to the hunt," he replied.
"Cool!" yelled Vinnie.