Gabangani Guinea Fowl and Huzu the Bird Eating Spider

A treacherous tale of fear, friendship, bravery and courage that takes you into the tropical bush of Kwa Zulu Natal, where a traumatized miniature Guinea Fowl named, Gabangani is unable to fly - making him easy prey for Huzu, an abnormally large, detestable and poisonous spider who is feared by all the creatures.

Gabangani gets lost and encounters Huzu, he flees for his life deep into the bush and meets up with Khulekani, the Malachite Kingfisher who risks his own life and helps Gabangani knock out Huzu. When Khulekani leaves briefly to get Gabangani's mother, Thiba, they return to find Huzu gone and Gabangani seemingly dead.

Angry, Khulekani and Bhamuza, the Spider Wasp, plot revenge on Huzu, and Gabangani and the other creatures rally to create a battle plan. They capture and poison Huzu and leave him for dead, but the oversized Huzu eventually regains control of his limbs and attacks Gabangani and Thiba.

In a courageous attempt to save their lives Gabangani challenges Huzu. When Thiba sees this she becomes enraged and fearless, she slaps Huzu into the river and watches in triumph as he vanishes over the edge of the waterfall.

Author Thomas Vermeulen was a lecturer who is now retired from the academic world. He runs a small private Art School and also practices as a photographer, ceramicist and painter. His work has been exhibited nationally in top galleries. He lives in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.