116 Acting Up by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: hbfiles
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The boar stopped less than ten feet from Ka-mala, pawing the ground and swinging its huge shovel-shaped head from side to side. Kamala started to back up, then she screamed, and the boar charged, grunting and frothing at the mouth, its bristly hair standing on end.

As he rushed from his spot across the clearing, Joe glimpsed a metallic flash, then heard a high-pitched squeal. The boar fell to the ground, tumbling to a stop at Kamala’s feet, where it twitched for a few seconds, stiffened, and went still.

When Joe reached Kamala, she collapsed in his arms. “Are you all right?” he asked.

She took a deep breath, paused dramatically, and said, “I could have been killed. Who’s in charge of controlling these beasts?”

“The gamekeeper, if there is one,” Joe mumbled, helping steady Kamala on her feet. He bent to examine the dead beast as the others crowded around. When he saw the jewel-encrusted gold handle of the dagger sticking out of the boar’s thick neck, he looked up at his brother with a big grin and said, “Nice throw, Frank.”

“Thanks, Joe,” Frank said with a wink. “Just a lucky shot.”

Moments later the gamekeeper, dressed in full safari outfit, finally showed up. He had the compact body of a gymnast and gestured wildly, waving his hands over his head when he saw the dead boar. “Who’s responsible for this? We have laws about killing wildlife,” he cried.

“If it hadn’t been for our American friends, this animal could easily have killed Kamala while the rest of these fools stood around and gaped,” Rajiv said. “You told me it would be safe to film here.”

The gamekeeper started to reply, but Rajiv held up his hand, silencing him, and turned back to Frank. “By the way, where did you get this dagger? It belongs to the maharaja and should stay in the palace.”

“Tell that to Mahesh,” Joe said. “I saw it in his desk yesterday, and then whoever it was we chased last night after they broke your window almost sht Frank’s throat with it.”

“Is this true?” Rajiv raised his bushy eyebrows and turned to Mahesh.

Mahesh was startled. “I had no idea the dagger was in my desk,” he said. “Someone must have planted it there.” He seemed to be fumbling for excuses. “Or maybe they hoped the guard would find it in my possession. I don’t know anything about that knife.”

“Where were you at around eleven o’clock last night?” Frank asked.

“Out dancing with my cousin, as I said,” Mahesh retorted, regaining his composure. “And I can prove it. There were many witnesses.”

“You can bet someone will check up on that,” Joe said.

“Mahesh,” Rajiv said, his teeth clenched, “I would fire you right now except I know that’s exactly what you want me to do. You’ll see this project through to its finish. And you will not cause any more confusion.”

After this exchange, everyone dispersed to give the gamekeeper room to back his truck in and remove the boar. It took four strong crew members, each grasping one leg, to load the carcass.

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