The bragging back at the corral, a few jugs of local beer, and the feeling of grandeur. Not everyone in the village could wave a wad of notes around, many only had a few cents to their name. No, he would have to do something about this. It could all backfire on him, and he had worked damned hard all his life, even before he had got into these few extra cash in hand jobs. He had been put down by lesser men. This was his time now. Hell, he did not want this, but he had no choice.
Slowly he withdrew from the drug box the revolver he kept there as an extra security. It was loaded and he released the safety catch while Samson was still spouting off. Tabu standing back from the truck looked nervously on, at least he wasn't shouting the odds yet Van Piet noticed.
"Pay me, pay me now, know you have money, white man always have plenty money. I tell police, they pay me".
Quickly before anyone could blink, the hand whipped up with the gun and the single shot hit it's mark.
Samson with a look of astonishment opened his mouth as if to call out, but nothing came except a gurgle.
He collapsed to the ground. Blood oozed out of the neat hole in his forehead and stained the earth. Within seconds it was only a dry dirty stain.
"Come on man, lets get going, before the bloody vultures start to hover here" Van Piet said looking at Patels hardened face, no emotion showing. He had killed himself many times before, Van Piet knew. Patel had been in special forces before he and Van Piet had joined forces to work together in the animal industry.
Tabu looked on, the whites of his eyes, huge, staring out from his ebony face. He whimpered and shook.
Tabu fled, he wasn't going to wait and be shot by this cold white man, although, as he ran, he expected to feel the thump of the bullet hitting him.
He heard the lorry rev and the gears clash as the vehicle lurched forward over the rutted ground behind him.
Patel leaned out of the cab window, gun aimed at the fleeing man, but he was darting in and out of the shrubs too quickly. "Leave it man, let's get out of here before trouble finds us. The plane will be here soon". Van Piet said whipping the steering wheel around to miss a tree stump.
Tabu ran quickly, darting in and out of the bushes. Never looking back and definitely not stopping.
A fleeing gazelle could not have beaten him.
His hardened feet flew over the stones and thorny ground which now started to bleed and crack on the rough ground, but even the pain of this did not stop him.
Slowing down, panting hard, he looked back, and checking he was not being followed, Tabu tried to get his bearings.
His lungs ached with the gasping to get the air back into his lungs after all the running. This was not a safe area to be hanging around. He did not want to end up as some animals meal.
Panting and getting his breath back, he looked around. This area was familiar. He had led poachers here a few months back, but a passing patrol had scared them off.
He knew he was quite a distance away from any local corral, and he should get a move on. Being out here on his own without any weapon was not safe.
Suddenly something rustled behind him. Looking around but seeing nothing he quickly made off again.
Quickening his pace he looked out for a tree he could climb if needed and look out for any passing vehicle.
Suddenly there was a loud snap and something sharp tore at his left leg. He let out an agonised screech. Looking down he saw bright red blood spurting out.
"Oh mama, help me", he moaned seeing the poachers snare clamped tight around his leg.
Slowly he sank to the ground, a weakness spreading through him
Snuffling and giggling the animal inched forward. Foul breath wafted over as it grew nearer.
Tabu wailed, struggling with his hands at the snare. The wet stickiness of the blood made his fingers slip.
The snare was old and rusty and he could not pry it open. "I'm sorry, I no kill, no more, please" he moaned.
The hyena was upon him. Saliva drooled from it's mouth. It seemed to laugh at him, lying there, unable to do anything. He felt the hot warmth of urine run down his legs. The hyena growled at another one edging in.
Thankfully he slipped into an unconscious state. He would never feel the ripping of his flesh and being pulled apart. Slippery guts sliding out in a pool of blood, the crunch of bones as the others joined in the feed, jostling each other for the fresh tasty morsel.
A passing tourist jeep stopped to watch the animals, not knowing what they were witnessing.
"Wow, they look well fed, "pointed an American. One of the hyena's looked up, blood dripping from it's face.
All that remained as they clicked with camera's was a strip of green cloth.
They drove away, chatting happily, to the sound of a hyena giggling.
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Hope you are enjoying the story and watching the tiger develop.
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