One hundred metres of chain, connected on one end to a large tree and the other shackled to the ankle of Phu Noy, was all that stopped him escaping into the surrounding unruly Lao jungle, and despite his best efforts, this morning was no different to any other. He had dragged the chain to its tension point and tangled it around wet greenery and small trees, perhaps in the search of different food, perhaps to try to become more comfortable, or perhaps his simple primitive drive to be free of the life he has now. After instructing Gus to "Stop Here", the Mahout jumped into the dense patch of green, in which the elephant could not be seen but whose movement could be clearly heard. After twenty minutes of similar crashing sounds, harsh commands in loud
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