Avril Rowlands - All the Tales from the Ark

Text copyright 1993, 1995 and 1999 Avril Rowlands
Cover illustration copyright 1999 Rosslyn Moran
This edition copyright 2016 Lion Publishing

The right of Avril Rowlands to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Lion Childrens Books
an imprint of
Lion Hudson plc
Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road,
Oxford OX2 8DR, England
www.lionhudson.com/lionchildrens

ISBN 978 0 7459 7682 2
e-ISBN 978 0 7459 7683 9

First published as individual volumes:
Tales from the Ark (1993)
More Tales from the Ark (1995)
The Rainbows End & Other Tales from the Ark (1999)

First edition 2003
This edition 2016

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Mr Noah was six hundred years old when God had a serious talk with him.

It makes me very sad to have to say it, Mr Noah, but of all the people who live in this world I created, you are the only good one. I have been very patient, but there is so much wickedness and evil that I must do something about it. I shall make a fresh start.

Mr Noah was upset when he heard this, but he had to admit that God was right.

What are you going to do, God? he asked.

God sighed. I am afraid that I shall have to destroy every living creature, he said sadly. But I shall save you, Mr Noah, and your wife. I shall also save your three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth and their wives. And I shall save two of all the living creatures in the world for they are all important. I shall be relying on you, Mr Noah, to look after them for me and keep them alive. This is what I want you to do

Then God told Mr Noah how to build a wooden ark, which was like a large boat, so that when God sent a great flood to cover the earth, Mr Noah, his family and the animals could be saved.

Mr Noah was not much good at carpentry but his sons and daughters-in-law helped and the ark was built on time. They filled it with food of every kind and, on the great day, Mr Noah, a worried frown on his face and a long, long list in his hand, ticked off the animals as they entered the ark.

There were wild animals, tame animals, reptiles and insects, beasts and birds. There were large animals and small animals, ugly and good-looking ones. There were animals with nice natures and animals with nasty natures. Two of each kind went into the ark: not one more and not one less. There were, however, no fish, because fish do not need saving from a flood.

Once everyone was safely inside, God shut the door behind them.

Will the ark be watertight? asked Mr Noah anxiously.

Of course it will, said God. Now stop worrying, Noah, and look after everyone well, for in seven days I shall send the rain.

So Mr Noah went into the great hall inside the ark, and if he was worried before, now he was terrified.

For there were lions and tigers, llamas and giraffes, leopards and lizards, sheep and cows, horses and goats, donkeys, elephants, camels, monkeys, snakes, birds in fact every animal you can think of, plus all the ones you cannot think of. And not just one, but two of each, and they were all milling around the great hall, arguing, fighting, squawking, screeching and making the most terrible noise that had ever been heard.

Mrs Noah and her three daughters-in-law locked themselves in an empty cabin and Mr Noahs three sons cowered in a corner, trapped by two fierce-looking ant-eaters.

Mr Noah closed his eyes for a moment.

Why me, God? he asked. I dont even like animals!

But God was busy preparing for the mighty storm that he would send on the world and did not answer. Besides, he had every confidence in Mr Noah.

Mr Noah opened his eyes.

Silence! he cried in a loud voice, sounding much braver than he felt.

To his surprise, the animals quietened down.

Now then, said Mr Noah. Were stuck in here for at least forty days and forty nights for God said it would rain for all that time and we must live together in a friendly fashion, sharing our food, with give and take on all sides.

Yeah, muttered one of the ant-eaters. Give me some ants and Ill take them all right.

Now, said Mr Noah, ignoring this, I suggest the following rules

The larger of the two lions shook his magnificent mane and stepped forward.

Pardon me, he said, looking down his great nose. Pardon me, Mr Noah, but I am King of the Jungle, Lord of all Beasts, and if theres any rules to be made I make them.

One of the tigers stood up and stretched lazily. His great claws scraped along the floor of the ark.

Excuse me, said the tiger in a gentle voice. Excuse me, but we tigers have always considered ourselves to be the most important of the animals, and if theres any decision-making going on round here, we are going to do it!

Fight you for it! snapped the lion.

As you please, said the tiger sweetly.

Both animals bared their teeth and a minute later they would have been at each others throats if it had not been for Mr Noah.

Behave yourselves! he shouted.

Much to his surprise, the lion and tiger slunk away to opposite corners of the hall.