Chapter 3, Fire Summary and Analysis

By July, Mark and Delia have made the Kalahari their home for three months. Although it is 70 degrees during the day, the nights fall into temperatures in the teens. Along with having to cope with the frigid temperatures at night, a part of the Kalahari is on fire and is threatening them. For weeks the Owenses watch as the fire edges toward them. The vast fire is 50 miles across. Bergie stops by and tells them they have about two weeks before they have to worry. Bergie will stop back by before that.

One night Mark had immobilized a jackal so they could tag it. As it started to stir, Mark suddenly sees seven lions standing by the jackal. Delia is asleep in the tent nearby. To save the jackal, Mark slowly drives between it and the lions. He is...