“Let’s get away from here!” Bambi called. “Now, let’s get away!”
“Come away!” Faline implored them. And Marena, who by now was barely able to speak, whispered, “Please Gobo, I beg of you, come away with us ... I beg of you ...”
But Gobo remained calm. “Run away then, run away as far as you can?” he said, “I’m not stopping you am I. If He’s there I’ll go over and say hello.”
There was nothing that could have held Gobo back.
They stayed where they were and watched him as he went out onto the meadow. They stayed behind because his immense confidence had a kind of power over them and at the same time held their terror for Him in its place. They were unable to move from the spot.
Gobo stood out in the open on the meadow and looked around to find the alder. Now he seemed to have found it, now he seemed to have glimpsed Him. Then the thunder-crack sounded.
The sound threw Gobo into the air, he suddenly turned round and, leaping as fast as he could, flew back into the thicket.
When he arrived they were still standing there, unable to move because of their horror. They heard the whistling of his breath, he did not stop but hurled himself forward in unthinking leaps. They turned to him, surrounded him, and gave themselves up to full flight.
But very soon Gobo collapsed.
Marena immediately stood still, close beside him. Bambi and Faline were a little further away, ready to flee at any time.