Malcolm’s research on the book had led us to Zimbabwe where we spent a week with Buck DeVries, the man who had rescued Amy from a cull of her herd. Her mother and the rest of the family were slaughtered and Amy was saved by Buck and transported to America to be sold. There she met the person who was to change her life forever.
Bob Norris is a real American cowboy with an empathy for animals that overwhelms his other emotions. As handsome as a movie star, he was the Marlboro Man, with his face appearing on TV and on billboards around the world.
Bob adopted the baby orphan elephant-named Amy-and patiently set about helping her recover from the trauma of her ordeal. He had never seen a real African elephant up close, except in zoos. Bob gradually coaxed Amy into overcoming her mistrust of humans, and indeed, her fear of the world. The little elephant became a “hand” on Bob’s cattle ranch, tending to simple chores, riding the fences and shadowing Bob on his horse. But Bob knew almost from the start that the ultimate goal was for Amy to regain her confidence and her independence-even, if it were possible, to go back to the savannahs of Africa.
We had a private book publication party on Jimbaron Beach on Bali, with grilled lobsters brought to our table right on the sand. We raised a glass of Australian wine to the success of the book. Maybe all publishing business should be done from 10,000 miles. Only time will tell.
