by Ranjit Lal
The Gigglers had indeed at last arrived, midst much nervous giggling. They knew a major killing was to take place and they wanted to be at hand. After dining on poor Raat-ki-Rani they had developed a taste for tiger meat. In spite of his bitten-off tail, Dum-kutta believed that ever since that memorable meal, he’d become a more macho hyena, one with the heart of a tiger. But the hyenas were wary of eating carrion in Taboo Valley and wished ASKAA and the other tigers would get on with the job of killing the fugitive family .
‘What’s with them—behaving like bureaucrats?’ Dum-kutta muttered.
‘They have a problem, sir. They’re scared of the tiger.’
‘Maybe they should join forces…’ Dum-kutta muttered thoughtfully. ‘I have an idea. I think I need to have another meeting with that ghastly Khujlimal. Arrange it, boy!’
‘So here’s the thing,’ Dum-kutta told Col. Khujlimal a while later. ‘Here’s what you need to do…’
The Colonel heard him out, his single bloodshot eye widening. ‘Do you seriously think this will work? The tigers may not be agreeable…’
‘They will be!’ Dum-kutta giggled. ‘They want that tiger and his cubs dead more than anything, but they’re scared. With this plan it will look as if you’ll be taking the major risk. They’ll only have to attack when he’s already down and out… Once the cubs are dead, the fellow will just capitulate without a fight. Even I could kill him then!’
‘Maybe you should then,’ the porcupine said sourly.
‘But don’t you see—the risk for yourself and ASKAA is also minimal.’
Col. Khujlimal thought for a bit. ‘Very well, now how do we make contact with the tigers without freaking them out? Such a deal has never been done before!’
‘No problem. We’ll broker that deal. We’ll fix up the meeting for you. ’
‘What’s your price?’
‘Feeding rights to the cub kills! All four of them…’
‘Agreed!’ Col. Khujlimal eyed the hyena with disgust. ‘You should try going vegetarian you know, it might improve your personality.’
‘Hahaha for LOL!’
And so a historic meeting was held between Col. Khujlimal and Thug, with Dum-kutta acting as mediator and outlining his diabolical plan.
‘You see your lordship, neither you nor the other noble tigers of the park will be at the slightest risk,’ Dum-kutta gushed. ‘No one need get the slightest scratch! Once ASKAA—that magnificent fighting force—takes out the cubs, the father will capitulate. Then you attack him, with ASKAA providing backup if necessary. Honour will be restored.’
‘And what does ASKAA get out of this deal?’
Col. Khujlimal rattled his quills. ‘The pleasure of killing those cubs slowly and painfully! They dared desecrate my hideout in the park by jumping—jumping mind you—on its roof while I was meditating and doing yoga and then attacking me like I was some sort of darpoke hyena—no offence to you, of course!’
‘Haha, none taken,’ said Dum-kutta, baring his teeth in a grin.
‘Besides, their father has hunted and martyred several of ASKAA’s fighters, including three just recently! Their deaths have to be avenged!’
‘Certainly!’
‘We will need details of layout, access, possible killing angles, risk of collateral damage…’
‘Don’t worry,’ Dum-kutta said. ‘I’ll have all the info for you.’
Thug came away from the meeting quite pleased with himself. He sprayed the news of the meeting and the developments on the rocks—there was going to be a joint operation with ASKAA to eliminate Rana Shaan-Bahadur and his family. The details of the plan would be revealed on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
The replies were encouraging. Caligua and Taimur were enthusiastic, as was Resham. Only Lolita was privately anguished and opted out. Surprisingly, there was no response from Razia. The tigers were not unduly worried.
‘She was very near her time,’ Resham sprayed. ‘She’s probably found a cave and will have her cubs there.’
‘Best stay away, then,’ Thug responded. ‘I don’t want her disturbed at such a time.’
‘You’ll get your head bitten off if you do!’ Resham responded tartly.
And poor Lolita could only nurse her aching heart…
Col. Khujlimal too was quite satisfied. Once Rana Shaan-Bahadur was neutralized, the other tigers would relax and lower their guard… They would want to ce lebrate their triumph. That’s when…
His brother, Lieutenant. Col. Kebab-me-Haddi was delighted with the plan. ‘Can I lead one of the raiding teams?’ he begged. ‘I have to avenge Major Khujahomujhe’s martyrdom!’
‘You will be leading one of the teams. And I’ll be leading the other!’
‘When do we attack?’
‘On the night of the next full moon,’ Col. Khujlimal decided. ‘That stupid jackal that hangs around with the tigers will probably spend the night howling at the moon and won’t warn them…’
‘Perfect! Oh Cuddles, I’m so excited!’
‘Don’t call me Cuddles, okay?’
‘Sorry, Snuggles… Hee-hee…’
‘And stay away from those wretched hyenas or you’ll turn into one!’
High up in the sky, the Diclo-Fenac squadron watched over Taboo Valley and brought news to the Gigglers (they were promised exclusive leftover rights to the cubs by the Gigglers). They had been recruited by the hyenas to spy on the tiger family and report details of where they hung out and the hours they kept. One morning, not much later, they landed on some of the great rocks that formed part of the ridges of Taboo Valley, close to where the Gigglers were camping.
‘We have news!’ Diclo said laconically. ‘The tiger family has moved.’
‘Moved? What do you mean?’
‘They’ve upgraded,’ Fenac added.
‘But moved where?’ Dum-kutta was concerned.
‘They’ve moved to the headman’s house. You know, the one that is directly opposite the village temple on that small hillock?’
‘Will it be easy to attack?’
‘Depends…the house is built around a courtyard. There’s one entrance. The doorways to the rooms on three sides also open into the courtyard. A mud wall separates the house from the streets outside. The cubs vanish into the rooms to rest and play in the courtyard with their father. They even dragged a kill through the doorway once and ate it there. They sleep in the rooms too. Their father prefers remaining in the courtyard. The jackal sleeps at the entrance.’
‘How could an animal get inside without attracting the attention of the tiger or jackal?’
‘There are two ways—either via the roof of the house, or tunneling under the wall and thereby getting directly into the rooms. I would recommend the latter, the roof is partly thatched and partially tiled, and doesn’t seem too secure.’
‘That’s okay!’ Dum-kutta was relieved. The ASKAA hit team would have no problem tunneling beneath the boundary wall and straight into the rooms. It would be rather like a prison escape, though in the opposite direction. He lurched off to update Col. Khujlimal of the latest developments.
Indeed, Shaan-Bahadur and the cubs had moved. After the first abortive attack, Shaan-Bahadur decided they needed a somewhat safer residence. The village ex-headman’s house was a much better bet. For one, the doorway was open, so you could immediately spot anyone outside in the street. Secondly, there was the courtyard, which gave one some fighting space in case there was an attack. Thirdly, the headman had left behind a number of sagging charpoys and gaddas, which the cubs loved lounging on. Directly opposite the house, across the mud-tamped street, on a small hillock was a neat little temple (once blinding white), in a small courtyard. Huge peepul trees grew on either side and were now beginning to spread their roots over the temple building itself.
Shaan-Bahadur was relaxing in the courtyard one sunny afternoon, thinking about the night’s hunting (wild boar or chital?) when Naradmunni came running up in a lather of excitement.
‘Huzoor…huzo
or…’
‘Munni’s got another flea in his bottom!’ Hasti sang as Masti joined in. Phasti just raised her eyebrows. Would her sisters just never grow up? Zafraan of course just sneered. His sisters were beyond help.
‘What is it?’
‘Huzoor, you remember that beautiful photographer with the long black tresses from the National Geographic ? The one that made you world famous? The dhimchack chick?’
‘What about her?’ Guiltily, Shaan-Bahadur also remembered that he’d been jealous when the girl had gone and made Raat-ki-Rani and the cubs famous too.
‘She’s templing in the putting up door next!’ Poor Naradmunni had tangled himself up like noodles on a fork again. ‘I mean, she’s putting up in the temple next door!’
‘I see…’
‘We’re going to be world famous again. She has all her cameras and things; so wonderful, no, huzoor?’ He swallowed. ‘Such a pity begumji is not here…’
Shaan-Bahadur sighed. ‘That can’t be helped, I suppose.’
He got to his feet. ‘How long has she been there? I didn’t smell anyone there when I went for my morning stalk.’
‘I think she just got here. She was settling down.’
‘Papa, are we going to be famous?’
‘Will we be going viral?’
Zafraan lay down and crossed his paws, clearly posing. Hasti and Masti pounced on him at once. Little Phasti shook her head in exasperation and went and lay down between her father’s shaggy paws, her forehead rubbing against his furry chin.
And up in the temple tower, Ayesha of the long black tresses, crouched down behind her cameras, her face ecstatic, tears running down her fair cheeks.
There was no doubt in her mind. These were the cubs whose mother had been so cruelly shot by poachers. And now, now the little darlings were being looked after by their father—that very same magnificent tiger she had first photographed at the waterhole (with the poachers) and later, posing like some playboy dude on the ramparts of the Sher-kila. What a story this would make! It was too touching for words. It would be worth the trouble she had been put through in the last several days when she had searched for the tigers in Taboo Valley.
Firstly, for a photographer, the valley had been grossly distracting with its scenic vistas and teeming wildlife. She had at last come across pugmarks along the stream and then, tired of sleeping rough in some of the caves in the cliff faces (which could be very dangerous if a bear or leopard turned up), had moved into the village. She had been lucky that Shaan-Bahadur and his family had not got wind of her arrival because she moved as quietly as a tigress herself, and had been downwind of the tigers when she had arrived at the village. She’d decided to set up camp in the temple and then, to her total disbelief had discovered that her nearest neighbours were the very same tigers she had been seeking out so desperately.
But alas, she had not been the only human being to have entered Taboo Valley…
Scratched, bruised and bloody, Khoon-Pyaasa too had scaled the massive cliffs guarding Taboo Valley and looked down into the valley. He caught a glimpse or two of the tigers Thug and Caligua as they moved around the ridges and knew that this could be a happy hunting ground for him. And then, he had spotted the photographer girl. She was picking her way along the bottom of the valley beside a stream. He scrabbled down as quietly as he could and tracked and stalked her. He watched her as she camped out in caves and then followed her as she finally made her way to the village. He nodded, perfectly satisfied. Now he had her trapped. Then, just outside the village, he spotted the pugmarks of Shaan-Bahadur and the cubs in the dusty street that led into the village.
It was only a matter of time before he discovered the tigers’ hideout. He eyed the roof of the headman’s house and reckoned it was high enough to be safe from a leaping tiger. Best of all, he could sprawl on the roof like a proper assassin, look down into the courtyard, take his shots at the tigers, and then simply raise his gun and kill the girl too as she stared at the carnage in shock from across the road. A few minutes of good—and enjoyable—shooting is all it would take. But first, he would have to get on to the roof without being detected by the tigers…
‘C ome on kids, we’re going hunting!’
‘Yay!’
‘Papa, may Hasti and I stay behind? We’re tired. You can take Zafraan and Phasti.’
‘Actually, I’d like to finish my book,’ Zafraan said. ‘This guy Kenneth Anderson is such a scream!’
‘Move it! Hasti and Masti, this is going to be your hunt. You fail, we all starve tonight.’
‘Papa, don’t be so mean.’
‘This is emotional blackmail!’
‘Move your little butts before I smack them!’
‘Okay, okay, only kidding,’ Hasti giggled, enjoying her father’s irritation. ‘Chill, man!’
‘Babies, there are some juicy tender chital on the other side of the lake. They look really inexperienced and stupid.’ Naradmunni ran up and down excitedly wagging his tail. ‘Should be easy for you girls!’
‘Thanks, Munni! ’
‘Papa, when can we hunt porcupine again?’ Phasti asked. ‘They were absolutely delicious!’ Her sisters made a face.
‘Look who’s showing off again!’
‘Little Prissy Missy wants porcupine!’
‘By and by, baby—those fellows I killed must have friends nearby. We’ll get them at some point.’
‘Great, Papa. Yes, one of them ran away!’
They entered the grassy meadow, crouching low and blending perfectly with the golden grass. ‘Okay Phasti, you direct them!’
‘Sure, Papa. Right, Masti and Hasti, it’s going to be separate targets for you. See that one near that crooked tree—he’s yours, Masti. Hasti, you take that fellow near the water. He’s going to drink soon…’
‘But he’s got horns!’
‘Of course he has. He’s a stag.’
Zafraan shook his head. ‘This is not going to work…’
‘Shut up, Zafraan. Okay, now you two, crawl as close to them as you can without being seen. You’ll have to be on red alert. Hasti, if you spring first, Masti’s kill will bolt, so she must be ready for that. The same holds true the other way round. It’s rather like what Mamma taught us, remember? One, two, three, four…ten!’
‘Very clever!’
‘Stop fussing and go!’
Rana Shaan-Bahadur just lay down and watched. Zafraan sat beside him, his usual snooty expression on his face. Naradmunni came trotting up.
‘Huzoor, that dhimchak chick from NG has followed us. I think she wants to photograph the hunt.’
‘Stop calling her a dhimchak chick—that’s disrespectful. Let her take her pictures. I just hope the girls don’t make fools of themselves. If they do, we’ll have to eat her and her camera!’
‘They’ll be fine, huzoor.’
‘Hah, I’m going to enjoy this!’
Hasti and Masti set forth after the targets chosen for them. Keeping low in the golden grass, they stalked their prey, checking the wind direction every now and then. To their immense surprise, both of them suddenly found that they were actually enjoying themselves. Suddenly all of little Phasti’s constant haranguing began making perfect sense. Hasti crept up towards the edge of the lake. She had worked out her strategy. The stag was standing foolishly at the end of a spit of mud, looking about and lowering his head for a drink every now and then. The breeze was blowing directly from him to her. But behind him, in the grass, she could see Masti, using the cover of the crooked tree to approach her target. She, too, was downwind of her target but she was directly upwind of Hasti’s stag. The moment he smelt her he would bolt and Hasti had anticipated in which direction he would take off. Belly to the ground, she wriggled her way out onto an adjoining spit of mud and ducked behind the feathery reeds, watching and waiting.
The young stag was either supremely stupid or nasally challenged. Perhaps he never smelt Masti at all (even Hasti could smell her now) or didn’t link her s
mell to danger. At any rate he only bolted when Masti sprang and brought down her kill. He turned and fled, straight towards Hasti, crouched in the reeds. The young tigress sprang and the stag stood no chance. He floundered in the water and went down.
Some distance away, Zafraan watched his sisters bring down the kills.
‘Dear God, they’ve both scored hits. We’re never going to hear the end of this!’
Little Phasti was dancing around in excitement. ‘You did it, you did it, you did it, I love you, I love you, I love you!’
‘Well done, girls!’ Shaan-Bahadur licked his two thrilled elder daughters. ‘That was poetry in motion!’
‘And the dhimchack chick, sorry the girl with the silky tresses, photographed it all,’ Naradmunni sang gleefully. ‘You’re all going to be famous again!’
Back at the village, Khoon-Pyaasa had taken his chance. He’d seen the tigers leave and then Ayesha follow. The village was empty. From the opposite side he entered and soon climbed up onto the roof of the headman’s house. He lay flat half concealed by a chimney, looking directly down into the courtyard. Right in front of him, across the street was the temple with its little balcony where the girl usually set up her camera. He would hardly have to move to shoot both the tigers and girl. It was the perfect spot for an assassin… All he had to do was to wait.
It was a long wait, for out in the meadow, Shaan-Bahadur and his family feasted long and heavily on the double-kill. They could now relax for several days. Hasti and Masti of course, couldn’t stop glowing. They finished most of the kill and dragged the remains under the cover of trees after Naradmunni had had his fill. From the sky, the Diclo-Fenac squadron planed down and were driven away by the infuriated tigers when they landed. Dum-kutta and the Gigglers too had caught wind of the kill, but had kept their distance, knowing how dangerous these fierce little tigers could be. It didn’t really matter, in a matter of hours or so they would be dining on the fierce little tigers themselves…
The moon had risen, butter gold and large as a sovereign by the time the tiger family returned to the village. Her face glowing, Ayesha followed at a discreet distance and made her way up to the temple balcony. The full moon would provide enough light for some really unique night-time shots. Stiff and chilled, Khoon-Pyaasa waited and dozed on the rooftop. Then at last awoke… clutching his gun.