| Chapter Fourteen |
Evening was not far away. The sun was beginning to change hues, throwing off its first multi-colored flames. It had been
a good day after all. They had a panther, born in India, raised in Africa by a lioness. They had found a cheetah cub that
could outrun most of their vehicles. And wonder of wonders, they had found their liger. The only one born in the wild,
period, and it was going to be fine, thanks to Doc Collins. That young man had a way with animals that was almost
supernatural. They didn’t yet have quite the numbers they wanted, but a few days yet remained.
Wolf was in foliage himself at the moment, hunting solo just for the relaxation. He had about ten minutes before Penny
was supposed to find him and his jeep. She said she had finally found a specimen for her breeding research project.
Lately the lion species, Leo Panthera, had begun to show signs of increased sub-species breeding, like common house
cats or dogs. Two breeds under particular study had been nicknamed “Granite” and “Termite”. They had been neighbors
for decades with no interbreeding observed. Apparently Penny had found an exception.
That brought the feline count up to four. At the very least, Wolf was fully entitled to his hyena puppy now.
Suddenly Wolf stopped moving, even breathing. This was a reflex of his by now, he would freeze and become absolutely
silent without even knowing why. Having reacted, he now waited for his senses to tell him why. It was a small fire in the
distance. This was bad for several reasons. If it was local law-keepers, national rangers or Green Peace, their operation
was in immediate danger. If it was natives, then he could be intruding on the land of the only more effective and
dangerous hunters than him in the world. It could just be kids out for an impromptu safari, but that would still mean they
were closer to civilization than they wanted to be.
Wolf reached for his enhanced binoculars. He raised them to his eyes and lowered them, not believing for an instant
what he saw. He looked again. He checked his lenses.
He thought he had lost his mind.
Then it clicked. He slowly reached for his phone and dialed the boss.
a good day after all. They had a panther, born in India, raised in Africa by a lioness. They had found a cheetah cub that
could outrun most of their vehicles. And wonder of wonders, they had found their liger. The only one born in the wild,
period, and it was going to be fine, thanks to Doc Collins. That young man had a way with animals that was almost
supernatural. They didn’t yet have quite the numbers they wanted, but a few days yet remained.
Wolf was in foliage himself at the moment, hunting solo just for the relaxation. He had about ten minutes before Penny
was supposed to find him and his jeep. She said she had finally found a specimen for her breeding research project.
Lately the lion species, Leo Panthera, had begun to show signs of increased sub-species breeding, like common house
cats or dogs. Two breeds under particular study had been nicknamed “Granite” and “Termite”. They had been neighbors
for decades with no interbreeding observed. Apparently Penny had found an exception.
That brought the feline count up to four. At the very least, Wolf was fully entitled to his hyena puppy now.
Suddenly Wolf stopped moving, even breathing. This was a reflex of his by now, he would freeze and become absolutely
silent without even knowing why. Having reacted, he now waited for his senses to tell him why. It was a small fire in the
distance. This was bad for several reasons. If it was local law-keepers, national rangers or Green Peace, their operation
was in immediate danger. If it was natives, then he could be intruding on the land of the only more effective and
dangerous hunters than him in the world. It could just be kids out for an impromptu safari, but that would still mean they
were closer to civilization than they wanted to be.
Wolf reached for his enhanced binoculars. He raised them to his eyes and lowered them, not believing for an instant
what he saw. He looked again. He checked his lenses.
He thought he had lost his mind.
Then it clicked. He slowly reached for his phone and dialed the boss.
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