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The Jungle book

The red flower

"What is the Law of the Jungle? You must hit first and you can make a noise about what you have done afterwards. You do not worry about this because you are a man. But be clever. Soon Akela will not be able to hunt properly. Every time he hunts it is harder for him to kill something. When he is not able to hunt and kill, then the wolves will be his enemies - and your enemies. They will meet at the Rock, and then - and then ... Wait, I have an idea" said Bagheera. He jumped up.

"Go down quickly to the valley where the men live. You must take some of the Red Flower which they grow. When you have the Red Flower you will have a strong friend. It will be even stronger than I am, or Baloo or those wolves in the Pack that love you. Get the Red Flower." 'Red Flower' is what Bagheera called fire. No animal in the jungle will say fire's real name. They are all very afraid of fire, and they are too scared to say its name.

"The Red Flower?" said Mowgli. "The Red Flower grows outside their huts at night. I will get some."

"You are a man. Only men are so brave," said Bagheera proudly. "Remember that the Red Flower grows in little pots. Get it quickly, and keep it near you, because you will need it soon."

"Good!" said Mowgli. "I will get it". Mowgli put his arm around Bagheera's beautiful neck and looked into his big eyes - "But Bagheera -are you sure that Shere Khan is really making all these plans to kill me?"

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