by Chris Ryan
'Just put it in there and we can unclip the envelope,' said Gaston. He went into the garage and came out with a roll of orange material in the same fabric as the balloon. He unrolled it on the ground like a sleeping bag, grinning at the assembled crowd.
'You're going to tell us all that material has to go into that little bag, aren't you?' said Amber. 'I knew there would be a downside to ballooning.'
Paulo was beside Li. 'You'd love the balloon, Li,' he said quietly. 'It's totally silent when the burner is off, like being a cloud. I can take you up if you like. It's not too hard to pilot if you've flown or sailed before.'
'Maybe, if we get time,' Li said, then changed the subject, her face serious. 'Joe's got an announcement to make.'
It was one of those moments when a quiet comment intended to be heard by just one person somehow caught everyone's attention. Alex, Hex, Gaston, Patrick, Amber, Paulo and Joe all looked at Li. Then everyone looked at Joe.
'It's Moya,' he said simply. 'Patrick and I had to put her down this afternoon.'
20
BORROWED TIME
Hex called everyone into the staff room. The radio tags were in a on the tabs. Joe, Gaston, Patrick and the other members of Alpha Force gathered around to watch him demonstrate.
Hex picked up one of the lags. 'The poachers have found the frequency of the tags we're using on the elephants, right? Now we can fight back.' He picked up the spare detector. 'I've modified this so we can change the frequency of all the tags in the elephants and then the poachers can't find them.'
'That's brilliant, Hex,' said Joe, 'but what's to stop them finding the new frequency?'
'I thought of that. Fortunately your predecessor bought some rather sophisticated tags, and we've got quite a few frequencies to choose from. If you change them regularly, you should keep one step ahead. Like changing your password on the computer,' he added. 'You do change your password on your computer regularly, don't you?'
'I haven't a clue,' said Joe. 'Gaston, do we?'
Gaston shrugged. 'What password?'
'How long will it take to change the tags?' said Patrick.
'We could probably do them all in half a day,' said Hex. 'We'll handle it if you like – you've probably got more than enough to do. We can set off at first light tomorrow.'
'Sounds good to me,' said Joe.
The next morning Alpha Force were up and having breakfast before dawn. They would take the Jeep – and the tranquillizer gun, which Gaston had insisted on giving them in case they ran into any trouble.
As they made their way outside, Alex asked Hex, 'Can we change some of the tags and not the others? It might be useful to have a few different ones around.'
Absolutely,' said Hex. 'I rigged it up so you set the range you want to transmit to. To change all of them, you set it to maximum range – then every tag within twenty kilometres will change. But if you need to change just one, you set the range to just two metres or whatever.'
Alex smiled slowly.
'You've got an idea, haven't you?' said Amber. 'Spit it out.'
'Can you set one back to the original frequency the poachers were tracking?' said Alex. 'I think we should give them something interesting to find.'
'Stop here,' said Li. They were on the edge of a plain. In front of them was a grove of combretum bushes six metres high. 'This bush will make a perfect hide. Paulo, do you think you can get the Jeep in there for a bit of camouflage?'
'No problem,' said Paulo. He drove the Jeep into the thick foliage and cut the engine.
They were out on patrol to change the tags in the elephants. Paulo was at the wheel; Li had the modified detector. Alex carried the tranquillizer gun, loaded but with the safety catch on, and Amber had the antidote, ready to use at a moment's notice. But there was something else they had to do as well.
Hex had run a wire out of the Jeep's sound system. He connected it to his palmtop. 'Is everybody ready?' he said.
'Hit PLAY,' said Li.
Hex touched a key on his palmtop. The Jeep's speakers blared into life: the sound of lions roaring.
'Now we wait,' said Li softly. 'This is what my parents did on their lion study. They played sounds of lions feeding, mating and challenging each other. Other lions in the neighbourhood should come along pretty soon and see what's going on.'
'Is this the tape they used, then?' said Alex.
It was Hex who replied. 'It's not a tape, it's a download from a site.'
'Are you sure it's lions?' asked Amber. 'We might be playing leopards or cheetahs for all we know. Or some animal impressionist.'
'It's lions,' said Hex. 'I hacked into the computer at the Lion Study Center in Minnesota, where Li's parents worked.'
'In that case,' said Alex, 'they're probably saying in lion: "Don't come near, you'll get a dart in the bum."'
After about ten minutes Paulo pointed straight ahead and said softly, 'There's a lion.'
A large male with a huge mane stood less than sixty metres away. His chin was raised; he moved his head from side to side, searching for the intruder who had challenged his territory.
The recording roared again. The lion looked straight at the Jeep and trotted forwards.
'Ready with the flare pistol, Paulo,' said Amber, 'in case it jumps onto the Jeep.'
The lion slowed to a saunter, his amber eyes wide and his tail flicking. His shoulders hunched as he searched for the source of the noise.
Alex took aim, but the lion was coming head on. The only possible target was his forehead, but if he shot it there the dart might bounce off, or injure the lion's eye. Alex breathed steadily and waited for a better angle.
The lion trotted all the way up to the Jeep. The occupants froze. Li had assured them that the smell of the vehicle would cover their own odour, but would it work if the lion was this close? Paulo was ready to fire the flare pistol.
The lion sniffed loudly, taking in the strange smells of the Jeep. He was two metres long from head to haunch, his muscles rippling under the sandy coat. He moved round all the tyres in turn. Alex waited, ready to fire. Still the lion was too close. If Alex shot now he could wound one of his friends. He had to be patient.
The lion turned and walked away. Alex lifted the rifle and sent a dart into the animal's rump. The lion whirled and stared at the Jeep. Paulo's fingers inched closer to the trigger of the flare pistol. This was the most dangerous moment: if the lion associated them with the sting in his rump, he could attack.
The lion spat once, but turned and trotted away.
Paulo relaxed his grip. There was a sigh as five people let out their breaths. Paulo released the handbrake and inched the Jeep very slowly after the lion.
Five minutes later the lion sank to the ground. He sat on his haunches and put his chin on his paws.
'Paulo, take the Jeep closer,' said Li. 'If he's not startled by that, he's under.'
Paulo manoeuvred the vehicle up to the lion. The animal didn't move. As an extra precaution, Paulo revved the engine. 'He's out for the count,' he said, and turned the engine off.
Li, Alex, Amber and Hex jumped out. 'Keep that flare pistol handy in case his friends come looking for him,' Li told Paulo.
While Alex and Amber stood by with extra tranquillizer and the antidote, Li loaded a tag into the piercing gun. She grasped a fold of skin on the lion's shoulder and shot it in.
Hex checked the tag on the detector, then nodded. 'It's transmitting on the old frequency, so if the poachers go looking for our elephants they'll get a surprise.'
Alex clapped him on the back. 'Great stuff. Let's go before this chap's hangover kicks in. Where's the next elephant?'
'Quite close,' said Hex. 'A few kilometres that way.'
Paulo spun the wheel and put his foot down. It felt good to be driving again.
'You're enjoying this, aren't you?' said Li.
Paulo grinned. 'This isn't exactly a Ferrari, but it'll do.'
They had changed the frequency on quite a number of tags by the afternoon
, and were beginning to make their way back to the lodge. Hex was still looking at the needle on the detector. 'There's another elephant over there.'
'There it is,' said Li. 'Uh-oh.'
Ahead was a fenced-off area, with a tangle of wire netting a metre and a half high nailed to stout posts. One of the posts had been trampled into the ground and the wire fence was bent down like a toy.
'Looks like it's another ellie who's gone where he shouldn't,' said Li.
'I hope that's not somebody's crops,' said Paulo.
'It's not,' said Alex. 'Look at the red tags. It's one of those areas where there are mines.'
The mood in the Jeep changed as though the temperature had plummeted.
The golden grass inside the enclosure had grown taller because no animals had been able to graze there. The elephant who was in there now was making the most of the feast. He wrapped his trunk around the base of some grass and pulled up a large clump, then swung it high over his head. Every time it thumped down on his back, dirt flew off the roots. He put the clean grass in his mouth and munched.
'We've got to get him out,' said Paulo.
'How?' said Amber. 'We can't go in there.'
'They're usually quite scared of people, aren't they?' said Alex. 'Every time we've been near them out on the reserve they've sniffed us out and run away.'
'But that's always been when there are poachers around,' said Li. 'Maybe it's something about them that they smell.'
'This elephant definitely knows we're here,' said Paulo. 'You can see by the way his trunk is twitching. But he's having too good a time to care.'
The elephant swished his ears and took a step forwards, reaching with his trunk. As one, the occupants of the Jeep tensed, expecting an explosion. Nothing happened. The elephant carried on feeding peacefully.
Hex picked up the mobile and dialled. 'Hi, Joe? The new tags are working but there's an elephant in a minefield. What do you normally do in this situation?' He listened, then hung up.
'What did he say?' said Alex.
Hex looked shocked. 'He said there's nothing we can do. It's too dangerous to go in there.'
'We've got company,' said Amber.
They heard foliage cracking about twenty metres away. Three large heads appeared, ears swinging, trunks probing the air. One of the elephants had two holes in its ear.
'Thunderbird with Brains and Penelope,' said Li.
The three elephants walked towards them with a purposeful stride.
Paulo jumped out of the Jeep. 'They're heading for the minefield. We've got to stop them or they'll get blown up too.'
21
TRUST
'Try the flare pistol,' said Alex. 'That might make them turn away.'
The three elephants strode out confidently, unaware of the danger ahead.
'No good,' said Li. 'That might scare the one in there into stampeding. We've got to concentrate on Thunderbird – she's the boss. Paulo, do you think we can get her to turn back?'
'I'll try,' said Paulo. 'She came with me before.'
He approached the elephant. He was far from certain of her reaction. She might decide he was a threat. But she seemed happy to see him – her ears were forward and her eyes soft. Perhaps she remembered the milk he had given her.
She was now quite close. Would she let him touch her? He spoke to her softly in Spanish, soothing words he used when training the horses on his ranch in Argentina. 'Brava . . .'
Thunderbird's trunk curled towards Paulo. She seemed to be inviting him to touch her. He reached out and put his hand on the base of her trunk. The corrugations in the wrinkled grey skin were rough ridges under his hand. The trunk fidgeted, probing him gently. 'I'm sorry,' he said, 'I haven't got any milk for you today.'
A loud trumpeting from the elephant in the minefield shattered the moment. Thunderbird marched confidently forwards, answering the call. Paulo ran after her. He got slightly ahead of her and looked her in the eye. She stopped, puzzled. Brains and Penelope, close behind, bumped into her rump and stopped.
Paulo put his hand out and stroked the ridged trunk again, speaking in Spanish. Thunderbird let him rub her face and stroke the ends of her ears. Could he guide her away? She seemed to respond to him. But last time he'd had the milk to use as a lure. What could he do now?
Then a crazy idea began to form in his head. Could he climb up on her?
He grasped Thunderbird's ear. 'Brava . . . brava,' he whispered. She didn't seem worried. With a mighty heave, he launched himself up her foreleg and shoulder, holding onto her ear and walking up her dusty wrinkled flesh as though it was a mountain. He swung his leg over and settled behind her head, his knees tucked behind her ears.
'I don't believe it,' said Amber softly.
'If he sees an animal, he has to put his backside on it,' said Alex.
The elephant in the minefield gave another hurry-up call, and Thunderbird set off. Paulo was caught unawares. He lurched from side to side; Thunderbird's neck seemed to pitch and roll in all directions at once. He was glad he hadn't eaten recently: it was like being on a ship in a very rough sea. He grabbed Thunderbird's left ear to keep his balance. She turned left.
He tried pulling the right ear. The elephant turned right.
'She's letting me steer her,' he called.
'Look, the others are following,' said Hex. Brains and Penelope fell in behind Thunderbird. Paulo decided to test how much they would follow her. He steered her first one way, then the other. Brains and Penelope followed.
'Just like horses,' said Amber. 'They follow the herd leader.'
'I might be able to use Thunderbird to persuade the other elephant out – what do you think?'
'You don't mean you're going to ride her in there?' called Alex.
'No, but if I take her close and turn her away, the other elephant might follow her out.'
'Why will he follow Thunderbird?' asked Alex. 'He's only interested in food.'
Li answered for Paulo. 'Elephants follow dominant females. She seems to be able to make the others do things.'
'What's to stop Paulo ending up in the minefield instead?' said Hex.
'Nothing.' Li called to Paulo, 'Be careful. If you lose control, save yourself first.'
'I think she trusts me to guide her,' said Paulo. He gave Thunderbird a reassuring stroke on top of her head, then steered her towards the hole in the fence.
The elephant in the minefield continued to eat, but was watching Thunderbird's every move. That was good, thought Paulo. If the elephant had ignored Thunderbird, there wouldn't be any chance he would follow. What he'd do was take Thunderbird up near the broken fence and then turn her away. He hoped that the grazing elephant would follow. And that there wouldn't be any mines in the way.
The elephant in the minefield gave a low trumpet and moved closer to the fence. Paulo's heart leaped: it was a good sign, but each time the elephant put a foot down, he might find a mine.
Hex, Amber, Li and Alex watched in agonized silence. The elephant walked towards Thunderbird. The ploy was working, but every step the elephant took towards safety seemed to take an eternity. And every move he made might be his last.
Paulo took deep breaths. He was as nervous as the others but he couldn't let it show. Thunderbird was a wild animal and would pick up his tension in an instant; if she sensed he was worried or stressed she might panic and stop trusting him.
Some sixth sense gave Li the sudden urge to encourage him. 'It's working, Paulo,' she said. 'Keep it up.'
Her comment came right when he needed it most. Inwardly he thanked her.
Amber picked up her cue. 'He got into the minefield safely, Paulo, so he can get out safely. You're doing brilliantly.'
And it was working. The elephant in the minefield was still walking towards Thunderbird.
Paulo got as close as he dared, then turned Thunderbird away. He talked to her all the time to encourage her, to tell her she was doing well. His heart swelled with pride at the trust she was putting in him.
> 'That elephant is coming, Paulo,' said Alex. 'It's working like a charm.'
Paulo looked round. The elephant stepped through the hole he had made in the fence, twirling a clump of grass in his trunk, oblivious to the worried people all around him. Paulo took Thunderbird well away from the minefield.
'He's done it,' said Amber. 'Who'd have thought it?'
'We'd better help him down,' said Li.
But Paulo dismounted without any trouble. He rubbed the ridges at the top of Thunderbird's trunk, talking to her, letting her know how well she'd done. 'What a pity I haven't got anything I can give her,' he said. 'She deserves a treat.'
Alex, Li, Hex and Amber arrived beside him, watching Paulo praise Thunderbird. The elephant stood with her eyes half closed.
'She seems to be enjoying that at any rate,' said Alex. 'Do you treat all your women that way?'
'Look, here comes the other elephant,' said Amber.
The elephant was making his way towards them when something stirred in the bushes near the Jeep. The elephant whirled round in fright and went back the way he had come.
'No!' cried Hex. But it was too late. The elephant crashed back into the minefield.
There was a deafening explosion. Brains, Thunderbird and Penelope let out ear-splitting blasts of fright. Paulo dived out of the way as they stampeded. Clods of earth rained down from the explosion. The elephants disappeared in a blur of sand.
When the dust cleared, the five members of Alpha Force got to their feet.
'Is anybody hurt?' said Alex.
'Look at the elephant,' said Li.
He was still standing, but one leg was ruined. The mine had reduced it to a mass of meat. A large chunk of it was missing, as though a bite had been taken out of it. White bone gleamed through the glistening red. Blood from an artery formed a spreading lake on the sandy ground. The elephant tried to move. The top of his leg came clean away from the mass of disintegrated flesh. He crashed to the ground, blocking the gap in the fence.
'Call Joe again,' said Li in a stunned voice.
'The mine was right in the entrance,' said Amber softly. 'He must have stepped over it every time.'