Limited Edition by Prakash Dighé

Author:Prakash Dighé
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, LLC
Published: 2017-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Thursday Morning

A light, wintry mist hung over the lodge as Nick Cunningham and Peter Otieno climbed into the Land Rover. A somber expression on the detective’s face left his companion with no doubt that a day of serious business lay ahead.

A wildlife game park does not offer an appropriate business setting—certainly not the Maasai Mara. It teems with wildlife at all times and it was difficult for a first-time visitor like Nick not to get distracted whenever he sighted a new animal species. His companion continued with his protracted comments. Nick attempted to maintain his composure, but when Peter rambled about the mating habits of guinea fowls, he snapped, “Peter, for God’s sake, let’s get on with our business—can’t we talk about this later?”

Peter looked hurt and remained silent. As they drove on, Nick regretted having lost his cool, but he had to get on with the job—he couldn’t fill his daily reports with his discussions with Peter on wildlife.

They’d driven in silence for barely ten minutes when Peter pointed out to his right and said in a hushed tone, “Mr. Nick, look—two cheetahs!”

Nick glanced in that direction and, without realizing it, asked the driver to slow down.

“I think they’re getting ready for a kill,” said Peter.

Nick peered through his field glasses: a herd of Thompson gazelles grazed in the open savannah, while two cheetahs stealthily approached them. One of the predators started to skirt around the herd, moving farther away from his mate. A few gazelles looked up, sensing danger, but the rest continued to graze. The wily cheetahs remained downwind while stalking their prey, thus minimizing the chances of their scent being picked up.

“The cheetahs are clever,” whispered Peter. “Look at the way they’re walking; the poor gazelles would assume the two are taking a walk in the park.” Even the dour Nick could not suppress a smile.

As the cheetahs kept moving away from each other while encircling the herd, the gazelles started to disperse in different directions.

“See the way they are cornering the gazelles from opposite ends?” asked the insuppressible Peter. “Perfect teamwork—how often do you see two humans work that way?”

Without realizing, Nick found himself nodding in agreement as he continued to watch with anticipation at the unfolding of what he hoped would be an unforgettable experience. One of the cheetahs started to gallop toward the gazelles, which ran in different directions, while it zigzagged to drive them to a chosen corner. The gazelles sprinted in the direction of the second cheetah, that waited hidden behind a shrub, his dark spots providing a perfect camouflage.

“They are falling into the trap, Mr. Nick,” Peter kept up his commentary in a hushed tone. “Now watch closely for some real action.”

And sure enough, there was plenty of it: the second cheetah sprang from behind the shrub, catching the gazelles by surprise. They now started to sprint away from him, but with an astonishing burst of speed, the cheetah leaped forward and focused on chasing one of the gazelles.

“That must be the weakest one of the herd,” Peter explained.

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