Even in the wavering beam of light the little females markings stood out, she was beautiful.
Heavy gloves on, and watching were they put their feet Van Piet whispered "I'm ready, keep the beam on her" Carefully lifting the gun to his shoulder, he sighted the cub, and slowly advanced nearer. He had just inched to the right spot to fire the tranquiliser dart, when suddenly the other cub leaped up and shot past him.
Taken aback, he swung the gun round and accidentally fired, the dart hissed out and hit the rock. He quickly reloaded and aimed at the cowering cub "Shush my little beauty, I won't hurt you, "
Patel moaned and rubbed his shoulder where he had knocked it when he had stumbled as the cub raced passed and knocked him off balance.
Within minutes the cub was dopey enough to be gently lifted up, and with a call to the boys outside to bring the cage, she was quickly put into it, and then they carried it out to the waiting truck which Samson had brought as near as he could to them.
They would just have to make do with the one thought Van Piet. No chance of finding the male cub, he would have hidden away. Hopefully the mother would find him when she came back. It was the female cub that the Arab wanted. He might just up the money a bit for all this hassle.
As the two men carried the cub in the cage to the outside, they were met with a snarling and a bad tempered cub caught up in a net.
Samson's quick thinking had, maybe from previous captures or poaching he might have been on, had quickly laid a net which he had brought with him partially across the opening.
Standing to one side they had waved branches and frightened the already scared cub to veer into the net.
Samson with a huge grin on his face "Look Bwana, I, Samson caught this one, maybe you pay me more. I very good to catch this little one"
"We'll see about that later, first we get him into the cage and quickly loaded onto the truck. Patel, will you see to that, I must let them know we are still on plan" said Van Piet, checking both cubs were ok. "The darkness in the back of the truck will calm them down, make sure the tarpaulin is secured."
The cages were safely loaded and the snarling quietened down. The men started to climb aboard, but Samson hung back. Piet looked up from where he was checking the other cub who had now starting waking up.
"You pay me now, I good driver and I myself caught that boy one. Other hunters will want me now. I am big game catcher. Why you not appreciate me?"
Samson grinned showing his stained broken teeth, sweat dripped down off from his sparsely black curls. He took a step forwards towards Van Piet.
Van Piet turned, a deadly smile on his face.
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When I look at the picture I wonder where I have been working, it still seems to look the same, but yes, I have filled in and darkened around in the stripes, slowly making my way across and down.
Do join me again for the next episode, and also to see how the tiger is coming on.
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