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Explorer
971 Posts |
 Posted - August 02 2006 : 10:33:16 PM
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Howard told Caroline that he wanted two sets of the books by Baroness Challenger and two by (then) Major Corbett.
"I'll keep one set of each here, and ship the other home, just in case any of my baggage gets lost when I leave India." Then, he remembered that he carried little personal cash. He pulled out one of the gold coins that he had been issued for bribing natives if he was shot down and offered it, receiving change in rupees and a few British pound notes. He'd have to replace the coin, but had the money, back on base.
Caroline was called over by the Maharajah after she had sold several other books, and was shown a .275 Rigby rifle that her mother had used in 1939, on a visit to this very host. She shouldered it with relish, finding it a perfect fit. "Mum and I have arms about the same length, and we're both five feet, seven inches tall, so I expect it isn't surprising that we can so often use the same guns and rifles and even share many clothes."
"Good thing, too," rejoined her brother. "I'm certainly not sharing any of my clothes with you!" That brought the expected laugh, and Caroline handed the rifle to Howard, and drew Arthur in and hugged him. The Group Captain, embraced by his lovely sister in front of his immediate superior and a senior officer from New Delhi, blushed, but hugged her back and pecked her on the cheek.
"That's all the kiss you're getting from me, Love. You want any more, you'll have to try your luck with one of these other gentlemen. Major Howard, I'd think twice about kissing those lips, were I you. I've heard some awful words come out of them, over the years!" More chuckles.
Caroline selected the .275 and a .375 H&H Magnum for her rifles. The .275 would be used to shoot chital and smaller deer, and the heavier rifle was for tiger. The hunt would hopefully produce a mixed bag, as the elephants "beat" a stretch of jungle and brush a few miles from the palace. She also chose a Purdey 20 bore shotgun for fowl. The Maharajah asked whether Finn still had her Mannlicher-Schonauer that he remembered, and Caroline said that it was still among her mother's favorites, and that she, Caroline, also had one and liked it very well.
Howard was shown several guns, including a Winchester M-70 .30/06 and the same in a larger .375 Magnum chambering. Both rifles were beautiful, with selected walnut stocks tipped in ebony, and "Super Grade" discreetly marked on the magazine floorplates. He also chose a Winchester M-12 shotgun in 12 gauge, with Pigeon Grade wood and a ventilated rib atop the barrel to aid aiming and dissipate heat waves as the barrel heated in prolonged firing. It was a 12 gauge, his favorite for all-round shotgunning, especially as he had been told that the party might put up pheasant and even peafowl. These larger birds took more killing than would quail.
When all those invited to hunt had chosen their arms and been passed boxes of British Kynoch and Winchester ammunition, the Maharajah closed the gun room door and locked it, leading the way back to the table for a final round of drinks and conversation about the impending hunt. Tom Howard felt eyes on him, an instinct that had served him well as both a hunter and a fighter pilot. He turned his head slightly, and saw Lady Diana looking at him speculatively. He felt a stir of interest, for Diana Hamilton was an extremely attractive woman. Technically, she was probably slightly better looking than Caroline Challenger, and a bit taller. She carried herself well, with just enough of a feminine sway to her hips to tug at a man's eyes while not causing public comment by the more virtuous members of polite society. Nonetheless, Howard suspected that some women had seen that walk, and later taken their men aside to hear some pungent words for watching it!
He smiled, then realized that Lady Diana was coming his way. He stepped aside to let her pass, but she took his hand and led him to the table, where she sat to his right. The Air Commodore was on his left, effectively precluding Caroline from sitting there, had she been so inclined. He looked around for her, as he answered Diana's question about whether he had been afraid, diving at 350 miles an hour into a large formation of Japanese planes.
She raised a hand to her mouth, making a sound to indicate that she was impressed by his gallantry. "Major, you must be incredibly brave!," she ventured.
"Oh, I am, "he conceded. "I was the first boy in my class to ask a girl to dance in junior high school. That was a terrifying experience, but when I survived and she said 'yes', the other fellows stepped up to the plate, too, and the girls all got to dance. The lucky ones didn't even get their toes stepped on." Laughter, for others had heard the exchange, and Howard felt Challenger watching him, wondering how he would respond to that question by an admiring female. Challenger's eyes twinkled, and he half smiled, before turning to hear something the Maharajah was saying.
Lady Diana asked other things, about his life as a combat pilot and his university years, and how many enemy planes he had downed. He answered as modestly as he could, looking around when it wasn't rude to do so, trying to find Caroline. Suddenly, he saw her, seated between the Air Vice Marshal's aide and an Indian woman whom he hadn't met. Their eyes locked as he recognized her and she held the look as he answered the next question. Caroline began to blush, but didn't look away, and Howard realized that he was probably looking a little flushed, himself. Finally, Diana tapped him on the shoulder, breaking his concentration. He turned to her and asked her to repeat her question, and recognized the pique in her gaze. Hmmm...perhaps it would be best to divide his attention more equably between the ladies. It would seem more polite, and he could perhaps play one off against the other, making them compete for his attention, if he got that lucky. But he knew that he was kidding himself if he didn't admit that every time he looked at Caroline Challenger, something inside him twanged like a guitar string, and when she had taken his hand earlier, he had felt a tangible jolt. Probably just static electricity in the carpet, he told himself. But he knew it wasn't, and he suddenly realized that he was smiling at nothing. Too late, he composed his face, but Diana and Sir John's aide had both noticed the smile, and Diana pointedly asked what was so amusing.
"Oh," he said hastily, "I was just thinking how glad I am to be alive tonight. For awhile this afternoon, I wasn't sure that I'd be around for dinner, let alone one so good as we had, in such wonderful company. What was it we were discussing?"
He noticed Diana's expression as she began her answer, then became aware that Lady Caroline was coughing, as if she might be trying to hide a laugh. Damn, Howard thought. I really need to learn to be more subtle. And I used to think that I could handle women as well as I could fly a plane...
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
Edited by - Explorer on August 03 2006 5:48:40 PM |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 04 2006 : 5:47:16 PM
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When the others said goodnight and adjourned to their rooms, Howard noticed that Challenger and Astrid van Rijn lingered, talking in a corner of the room. They seemed to know one another rather well, and at one point, she touched Arthur's elbow and also brushed a bit of lint off the front of his uniform. Howard made note of this, and decided to watch both carefully in future, at least until he knew who stood where with whom. If Challenger and Astrid were involved, more power to them, he thought. They did look like a nice couple, the tall British pilot and the lovely Dutch girl, whose English was good, if not perfect. Certainly, they seemed able to communicate very well on one level, as Astrid also improved her language skills on another.
Howard found Lady Diana at his side, and she suggested that they take a moonlight stroll around the palace grounds.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 05 2006 : 12:33:02 AM
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Howard was fumbling for an answer, looking around for Caroline, when she disengaged from the Air Vice Marshal's aide and strode briskly over.
"Oh, there you are, Tom! Will you help me get those books back into the room the Maharajah gave me for stashing them? I don't want anyone nicking some of them while we sleep."
Diana shot her an angry look. "Miss Challenger, Tom was just about to let me show him the grounds. Do you mind?"
Howard saw his chance and said, "I'm sorry, Diana, but I promised Caroline earlier that I'd help her. I just didn't know she was ready now. May I take a rain check on that walk?"
Diana sputtered, then stalked off, a woman scorned, Howard feared, and dangerous. Hell hath no fury like...
Caroline looked at him, amused. He liked her smile, warm, yet wry. She chuckled and said, "My memory must be failing me in old age, Major. I don't recall having asked you for help earlier. But that was very neatly done. I can use your strength. I trust that I haven't ruined your chances of romance with that lady. She seemed disappointed."
"You probably did cause me to have a major setback," he admitted, "so you owe me, lady. If I help you move the books, will YOU take me for a moonlight walk of the grounds? I want the walk. I'm just selective about who I take it with." He looked directly into her eyes, studying her face. It was a pretty nice face, he decided. Went well with the rest of her...
"Tom," she countered, "do you really think I'd take a moonlight walk with a man I've just met? Whatever might you think of me?" But she was blushing hotly and her eyes were bright. She ran her tongue over her lips, wanting to be with him, but wondering what he would think if she agreed to escort him into the darkness. Would she seem "easy"?
"Caroline, I think a lot of you from what I've seen already, and this war isn't going to allow us a lot of time to get gradually acquainted. It compels people to compress their time together and move on with things if they expect to get to know one another. I could have died today. I may die tomorow or the next day. That's the risk in what I do. I don't want to die without spending some time with you, and I hope you feel the same way. Let's go move those books, and get better acquainted while we do. I think I want to spend time with you, even if it's just shuffling books. I'd rather do that with you than stroll in the moonlight with Diana. I think she knows that, and isn't too happy about it."
Caroline was touched, and it showed before she arrranged her expression. "Book shuffling it is, then." She laughed. "I must say, you are the very first man I've met who'd rather move books than spend time with a girl who looks like that."
With the aid of several Indian servants, they soon had the books stored in a lockable room. Howard found the four that he'd bought earlier, and asked Caroline to autograph them. "I want to remember you and this night in Oriental splendor for the rest of my life," he admitted.
She colored, and took out her fountain pen and signed the books on behalf of her mother. Then she looked at him carefully and said, "I want to thank you for saving my brother's life today, Tom. He can be a pill at times, but I love him dearly. Our parents would have been crushed to lose him. He's a good brother and a better son. From all the Challenger clan, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. "
He noticed tears forming at the corners of her eyes, and took her hand. "Caroline, I was just glad to have been able to be of assistance. I like your brother. I hope we can beome friends. Let's go out and talk about him and your family and other things. And if that's all you feel that you want to do, it's enough. I'm not expecting any more from you. If I was interested in that, I know where I could get it tonight, and I'm fairly sure about that. What I want instead is to get to know you. Tell me what to expect on tomorrow's hunt. Okay?"
She looked around, and not seeing Arthur or a senior official, told him yes; she would walk with him. In fact, she had been hoping to, if it could be arranged without looking too "forward" on her part.
They moved out onto the patio, then found solace in the shadows beyond the light from the door.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
Edited by - Explorer on August 05 2006 6:26:00 PM |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 07 2006 : 10:07:08 PM
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Howard and Caroline Challenger stood talking beyond the door, but when they saw servants still moving in the room beyond, they edged further into the dark.
After talking for a few moments, he took her hand and led her to a stone bench decorated with the ruler's tiger symbols. They looked carefully for any snakes or scorpions, then sat. He told her that he was impressed that she had looked automatically even as he explained the need for caution, for India has many dangerous creatures that strike incautious humans in the dark.
Caroline laughed. "Really, Tom! I grew up spending time in India, Africa, and South America. I know to look for snakes. It's so ingrained in me that I'd probably look if I was in Ireland, which does have vipers in spite of the legend that St. Patrick drove them all out. He must have missed a few, although bites are rare, and not as serious usually as the bites that one gets from the tropical snakes. India may lose as many as 40,000 people a year due to snakebite, with cobras, kraits, and the Russell's and Saw-Scaled vipers being the worst offenders. And some scorpions are quite nasty, too, as in Africa and the Middle East. Some are as virulent as cobras! Do you have scorpions and snakes in Texas? I think I've seen them in Western movies?"
He admitted that there were both, and told her which species and how to deal with them, especially in West Texas, where scorpions were much more common than in the eastern part of the huge state.
The talk turned to various animals, hunts they had enjoyed, and their families. Eventually, they could trip around the issue no longer, and they began to talk of themselves and their hopes and dreams for the future. Each was pleased that the other wanted just two children, but did want those.
"Do your eyes ever get you in trouble with the police?" Tom asked, taking her face in one hand and turning it so he could see her better in the moonlight.
"No; why should they? I don't use them for peeping into mens' windows, although I've been tempted a few times!"
"Well, they're these deep pools that a man could drown in, and you don't have any warning signs posted. I think there are local ordinances about that!", he joked.
She laughed, and told him that she had heard far worse "lines" from other men. "Anyway, if what you say is true, how is it that my eyes haven't enchanted you into kissing me? We haven't got all night, in case you want to see what you missed when I interrupted your session with Diana. Will I do? I'm told that I kiss fairly well."
"Why rely on reports? Lets' see how you kiss, first hand." And he took her face, pulled her close, and they kissed. After a time, they began exploratory tongue work, and his hand slipped around behind her and began caressing her back through the thin satin-like party gown that she wore, white, like the lunar light that illuiminated them softly on this stone bench in the garden of desire...
He began to play with her golden tresses, then ran his fingers, the backs of them, gently along her neck and lightly felt her ears. From there, he disengaged his lips and moved them to her neck. A hand slid down carefully down her front confirmed the erect nipple on her right breast, felt easily though the bra-less party dress, which featured as much decollete as was fashionable in that day. He kissed around the base of an ear for awhile before sliding his fingertips down her neckline, touching the nipple and kneadng it gently, briefly, before tugging it lightly. Caroline groaned, and pulled him toward her, resuming the kiss, running her hands over his hair and down his face.
"Oh, Tom," she sighed. "Wherever did you learn to do this? Never mind; I don't want to know. But if you can do this to a woman, why aren't you already married?" She snickered softly in the darkness, then settled her lips on his before he had to think of a suitable answer.
Howard kissed skillfully, using all the talent that he had amassed from junior high school dates through some hot and heavy encounters with girls in Britain who had eliminated his concern about being killed while yet a virgin. Several of those ladies had taught him well...
He slid a hand up her skirt, teasing her lips and neck and hair to distract her from where the hand wandered. It had reached halfway up her thigh on the inside, where he began sroking it until she realized what he was doing and pulled his arm from beneath her dress.
"Not just yet, Fast Worker, " she breathed. "I am really a much more virtuous girl than it seems at the moment."
"I have no problem with you at the moment, " he replied. "I'd rather kiss you than screw Diana, to put it bluntly. And I don't want us to do anything that will make you feel bad about yourself in the morning. I want you beside me on that hunt, where I can stare at you all day. You'll have to spot the game for us; I'll have eyes only for you. Caroline, I'm only half joking: you hit me tonight like a bolt of lightning, and I don't want to scare you off by getting too greedy before you decide that you want me even a third as much as I want you. You're one heck of a honey, and I'm thrilled to have finally met you. Where can I send your parents a thank-you card for creating someone as wonderful as you?"
She laughed, shaken a little, because she sensed that this was more than another "line" from a man in the throes of passion. "Just don't get more than a few inches above my knees with your wandering mitts, and we'll see what happens, " she whispered. "Now, where were we when you tried to see how my knickers might feel?" And she pulled him back into her.
"If your knickers feel half as smooth as you do, lady, I'm a goner. Can we 'neck' and still talk about the hunt? I really do want to know what to expect. I bet we can do two things at once. I'm a Gemini, if you've ever read any astrology." He carefully omitted that his own tutelage in this area had come from a ravishing brunette in London who was interested in occult and such otherworldly matters, but who was also very "worldly" in another sense of the word.
"I'm a Gemini, too, " she answered. "My 'aunt' Marguerite, who is really my godmother, and a couple of her friends taught me about that sort of thing. I only half believe in it, but have seen some interesting coincidences, if there's nothing to it. Anyway, about the hunt, keep kissing me and I'll get in some words edgewise."
And she did, between gasps and sighs, and Howard even felt a prickle of goosebumps before she pulled his hand from under her dress again. But he was listening, too, and the details of a royal "shikar" or Indian hunt from elephantback thrilled him almost as much as the desirable woman in his arms.
Suddenly, they heard someone coming and they disengaged and hid behind a wide granite column supporting the tall roof of the palace. Howard shifted his .45 around where he could reach it quickly if the intruders were dacoits, bandits.
They saw Diana Hamilton and Squadron Leader Wilson, the Air Attache's aide, stumble past the frame of light from the door and heard someone else demand, "Who's there? I'm armed. Stop and identify yourselves!" Challenger! Howard knew the voice...He and Caroline looked at one another, half in amusement and half in alarm.
"Oh, do shut up, Arthur! It's Diana, and Johnny Wilson. We're not Jap paratroops. What an imagination you must have! Anyway, what the hell are you doing out here at this hour?"
"Ah. Diana! I was more concerned about Indian nationalists and assassins than Japs. As for what I'm doing out here, it's Astrid, not that we'd gotten so far as to say, 'doing", if you follow that train of thought. But we have passed some very pleasant time in the moonlight, and I daresay that you have, as well. Eh?" They heard him chuckle.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
Edited by - Explorer on August 08 2006 12:06:29 AM |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 07 2006 : 11:12:33 PM
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A thought struck him. "I say! Have you seen my sister?"
"Not lately, " she replied. "But earlier, she and Major Howard were looking at one another like cats in heat and I fancy that they found something to do after he helped her to load those books of your mother's into the storage room. Why don't you knock on Tom Howard's door and see whether she might be in there?"
"Tom Howard and my sister! Are you sure, Diana? He seems a pukka sahib, a proper gentleman, and my sister, is, well, my sister. Mum and Father didn't raise a whore, if that's what you're implying. How dare you? Anyway, are you sure?" He realized that Caroline was nineteen now, and he hadn't seen much of her for the past two years. Could she really be so 'loose' as to dally with the Texan? Or other men? Of course, all girls grew up and one had to watch them, lest they succumb to their lusts and embarrass their families. If anything, wartime had accelerated the ease with which the right man might arouse a girl into doing things that her brother didn't like to think of her doing. Although, to be sure, he might himself be trying to coax someone else's sister into trying the precise same activities as he denied his distaff sibling!
The couples talked a little longer, then went in, Challenger vowing to find Caroline and be sure that she was all right.
Tom turned to his date and said that they had better be getting in. She agreed, the tinkle of her laughter abating his fear that she might be scandalized by the prospect of their being detected. They agreed to sit together at breakfast, and kissed good night before they slipped into the palace and quickly went separate ways to their rooms.
When he approached his room, Howard saw Challenger at the door, rapping on it. "Tom! Dammit! Wake Up! Have you seen my sister? She's missing."
Howard called out and walked up to the RAF ace, telling him that he had just come in from a walk around the grounds, but was sure that Caroline was well. "What could she get into here? She told me about tomorrow's hunt after we moved the books and I think she went off to bed. Have you tried her room?"
Challenger loked suspiciously at Howard's cheek. "What is that red smudge on your face, Howard? Lipstick, rouge? Are you certain that you haven't seen Caroline?"
Howard blushed, and wiped his face with his handkerchief. "Sir, I think the world of your sister, and I have only honorable interest in her. I feel sure that she would do nothing wrong. Again, have you checked her room?"
"No, I'm on my way there now. Howard, if you stain our family honor..."
"That is the last thing that I'd do, Arthur. If I ever do anything like you're implying with Caroline, it will be with longterm interest in her. She impresses me deeply, and I simply don't see her as a recreational dalliance, if that's what's worrying you. Now, I'm going in to bed. We have a strenuous hunt tomorrow. Call me if she isn't in her room, and I'll help you look. Good night." And he went into his room and shut the door.
Challenger stood, vexed, about to demand a better answer, then decided that he perhaps didn't want it. And he sort of believed Howard when he said that he wouldn't 'dally' with his sister.
He stomped off down the hall and on to the next floor, where the night maid showed him to Caroline's room. He pounded on the door. "Caroline! Open up! Are you in there?"
Caroline had just slipped past the maid and was washing her face. She stripped off her dress, donning a lilac silk robe as she went to the door, mussing her hair as if she had been sleeping.
Opening the door, she mumbled, "Arthur! What's wrong? Is there a fire? Shouldn't you be in bed?"
He fumbled for words, then said, "I just wanted to be sure that you were safe before turning in. Were you in bed?"
She looked at him with concern and said, "Yes, in bed. What's wrong, Pill? You look flushed. Where would I be at this hour but in bed?"
"Pill", calmed by her use of the pet name for him, mumbled something about being concerned about nationalists and snakes and hugged her good night.
"Take care, Pest. I'll see you at breakfast. Oh, you've met Tom Howard. What do you think of him?"
"He seems very nice, " she responded. "He saved your life. He must be a very good fighter pilot. He isn't boastful like some Texans. He's good looking. I want to hunt near him tomorrow. I like him. Why?"
Challenger said that he was just wondering, that someone had said that she had seen the two of them together, and that they might be attracted to one another. "I have to look out for my little sister, you know, Pest."
She stuck out her tongue and pushed him out the door. "Arthur, really. You're as bad as Father. Go to bed. I'll try to talk to Tom more and let you know what I think, but he seems very kind so far, and I quite like him. I'm sure that he's a nice fellow, and that you need have no worries about my chastity, if that's what's bothering you. Men!" She laughed, and closed the door.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
Edited by - Explorer on August 08 2006 12:13:43 AM |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 07 2006 : 11:23:01 PM
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Challenger frowned, then decided to call it a night and stalked off toward his own room. On the way, he met Astrid van Rijn, who had been looking for him.
"Oh, Arthur! There you are! Have you found her? Is she all right?"
"Yes, she's in her room, and is fine. But Howard had a smudge of lipstick or something on his cheek and gave me an evasive answer about exploring the grounds. I'm not certain that that was all that he was exploring."
"You're sweet, Love, but you must allow Caroline to grow up. I feel sure that Maj. Howard won't get any further with her than she wants. She seems very able to look after herself, and he seems a very decent chap. They did seem attracted to one another, but I doubt that it's anything to worry about. She'll soon be going home, anyway.
Kiss me goodnight, Darling; I have to get some sleep before tomorrow's shikar. I don't want to drift off and fall from the howdah. A tiger might eat me."
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
Edited by - Explorer on August 08 2006 12:15:36 AM |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 07 2006 : 11:51:38 PM
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Caroline finished cleaning up and changed knickers to lacy black ones that she loved feeling against her skin. She reflected that Tom would call knickers "panties". What was it that Churchill had quipped? That the British and the Americans were two peoples divided by a common language? She laughed, very pleased with the way this night had gone.
The light now out, she squirmed and adjusted her position in bed. She tried to sleep, but thoughts of her and Tom in the garden kept intruding. Finally, she lay on her back, her knee -length black gown rucked up high, her hands moving over her breasts, tweaking the erect, hard nipples. She felt moisture between her thighs and slipped off the knickers, tossing them on the nightstand. They would only hinder what was coming.
She slipped her right hand onto her mons veneris, and massaged her sex, moaning softly, then harder, as her fingers slipped into the entrance to her joy, gradually playing there and with her breasts and along her thighs where his hand had been an hour before.
"Oh, Tom! TOM!, "she heard herself moaning, and her loins thrashed as she applied the final pressure and manipulation that brought her to climax. After, she wiped her hand on the pillow case and tried again to sleep. But he kept returning to her drowsy mind, compelling her to repeat her masturbation. This time, she felt sated, and slumbered as if in a coma. Then dreams pricked her body, and she rolled, clutching her pillow. Not even awake, she muttered, "Tommm..." and finally slept the rest of the weary.
In the distance, a tigress called, roaring for a mate.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
Edited by - Explorer on August 08 2006 10:20:57 AM |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 09 2006 : 8:42:13 PM
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The next morning, some were more groggy than others, but all were eager for the hunt.
Caroline sat with Tom at breakfast and many noticed that their conversation seemed to be shy, with many looks at one another, but animated. Eyebrows were raised. Smiles were smiled. But several of the others were themselves involved with one another, and politeness restrained the rest from asking how Tom and Caroline had seemingly become so well acquainted on such short notice. Arthur Challenger felt sure that he knew the answer, but had decided that his sister probably knew what she was doing. In any event, long experience with "Pest" as they grew up had taught him that if he pressed the matter, she would only become more stubborn. He would watch, but hold his tongue for the moment.
When they went out to mount the elephants, Howard was a rank amateur, having never seen any pachyderms outside of a zoo. He was concerned about riding one of the huge beasts, tending to think of them mainly as dangerous game in Africa, if he ever got to hunt there.
Both of the Challengers and Squadron Leader Smythe helped him grasp what to do and helped him to mount, handing up his rifles and lunch, water, tea, and a first aid packet.
The mahout, who spoke some English, told him that this elephant was "a good girl" gentle to ride and an experienced veteran of several hunts. "She stand firm if Shere come, Sahib," he promised. Howard knew that "Shere Khan" was a tiger. Just the name sent shivers down his spine!
The ten elephants moved forward and the shikar master dressed the line and ensured that all were ready. Seeing that the time was at hand, he signalled the advance.
After going down the nearby plain for about a mile, the hunt moved into thin, then thicker, brush. It became jungle, and it was harder to keep the line dressed.
Several pheasant flushed, and shots rang out. A few birds fell, and the line paused while the natives along for the purpose slid off the elephants and recovered the game for the "guns" who had shot it.
Arthur Challenger rode over and told Howard that they would probably flush some smaller game first, before moving on to where a tiger was likely to emerge from the jungle.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 10 2006 : 1:21:04 PM
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Howard saw the way of things, and loaded his 12 gauge, shoving the red shells up under the gun, into the tubular magazine. He also loaded the magazines of the two rifles, but closed the bolts on empty chambers, for safety's sake. He held the Model 12 ready, hoping that birds would flush in the line of fire allocated to his elephant.
When they came, it was with a burst of feathers that shocked him as the pair of kaleege pheasant thundered aloft. It was like having a covey of quail expode into action before one's face, but here, the "bird dog" was an elephant! He mounted the gun and fired twice, feeling the smoothness of his swing, tracking the birds well, as if he had been at home, where he owned a shotgun just like this one. Both birds dropped, but one attempted to scurry off with a broken wing. He had already cycled the slide, pumping a new shell into the chamber, and fired. As he felt the recoil slam his shoulder, he registered another shot. Looking to his right, he saw that Wilson had his double-barrelled Holland and Holland 12 bore up.
Wilson looked cooly over at him and explained, "Had to make sure of that wounded bird, Howard. Sloppy shooting results in wounded game, and that's frowned on here. Can't let them escape to suffer, you know. Absolutely just not done, old man." He seemed rather smug, and Howard's temper flared. He really didn't like Wilson much, he found. Good match for Diana. Both of them were pretty impressed with themselves...
"Thank you, Mr. Wilson," he replied politely. "I certainly wouldn't want to do something that's 'not done'". He heard Caroline laugh. So did Wilson, who glared at both of them.
Sensing the tension, the Maharajah, who was an astute, worldly man and who correctly identified the source of the tiff as being a woman, called across in Hindi to Howard's mahout. The man answered, and told Howard to watch as the elephant retrieved the dead pheasants.
"Hey, wait a minute," exclaimed the Texan. "I want to eat one of those birds! They'll be crushed!"
"Oh,no, Sahib," answered the elephant handler. "I promise totally that they will not be being smushed and crushed. The elephant's trunk is being oh, so sensitive. You will see: the birds will not be compressed much at all, just a little of the feathers! I, Ahmal, swear this on the souls of my ancestors!" He grinned, proud of the elephant and of this opportunity to impress the sahib from America.
Sure enough, the pheasants were in good condition. Ahmal "drew" them, threw the intestines off the howdah, where they would no doubt be consumed by vultures, which were circling at a distance. They knew that death was in the air, and hoped for morsels to come their way...He put the dead birds into a wicker basket, and the line advanced.
"What if one of the birds hadn't been quite dead?" asked Howard. "If it fluttered around, would that scare the elephant?"
"Oh, ha, ha! Howard Sahib makes a good question. I have been hoping not to have to find this thing out. So far, all birds we collect this way have been dead. But once, my cousin, a very splendid mahout, had his elephant panic when a bird flew as the trunk went to grasp it. There was a great confusion in the howdah, and the sahib almost fell out of the basket. But that is rare. I will try to be sure that your birds are all dead." He winked conspiratorially. "We would not wish to upset Wilson Sahib, eh?" Howard laughed outright, delighting Ahmal, and earning another glare from Wilson, who had not heard the barb, but sensed that he might be the butt of some joke.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 11 2006 : 10:56:20 AM
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The line of elephants paused, and half halted, as the other five mounts moved through a new piece of forest. Ten elephants would be too hard to control and keep the line dressed, and the cover was simply too heavy.
The Maharajah faced the remaining five hunters to the left, and they "beat" a different patch of forest. Howard noted that the direction they traveled did not conflict with the forward progress of the first group, so that neither line of guns would fire toward the other.
He soon heard a shot, then someone called out that Smythe had bagged a chital, the spotted Axis deer, and that the antlers were exceptional, even for that well-antlered species.
They moved toward a river, where game drank, and could be found coming from or to the water along well beaten jungle trails. Howard would have preferred to still hunt this area on foot, delighting in the sounds and smells of true jungle interspersed with more open glades.
Or, he would set up an ambush along a game trail, and collect his venison that way. But this was an exotic way of hunting, and he knew that he would cherish having done it unto his dying day.
Caroline called across that the area contained sambar deer, related to the European Red Deer amd to the American elk or wapiti. They were a favorite quarry of tigers, and Shere Khan might appear at any moment, although a separate "beat" for tigers had been arranged for after lunch. Tom set the Model 12 aside and cycled a cartridge into the chamber of his borrowed .375 Magnum. He wouldn't need that much power for sambar, but if the elephants roused a tiger, it was best to be ready.
Alas, they flushed only one sambar, which escaped after Wilson tried for it. His bullet struck a branch and ricocheted as the big deer sprang over a bush and vanished into heavier cover. Tom tried not to rejoice in Wilson's embarrassment, but he was glad that if someone had to miss, it had been his smug rival.
In time, the two lines of elephants rejoined and beat another patch of jungle and mixed scrub, this time again for birds and hares. Everyone got in some shooting, and Howard was impressed with the way that Caroline Challenger handled her Purdey. The 20 gauge pointed well for her, and she was obviously a skilled wingshot, as are so many upper-class Britishers. He shot another brace of pheasant and two hares, which reminded him of a cross between a jackrabbit and a big cottontail. Diana swung up her Mannlicher and killed a running jackal in an exceptional display of marksmanship. Markswomanship, he corrected himself, with a smile. Diana could be prissy and probably had sex more casually than he was comfortble with in a woman whom he might marry, but she was a fine shot, and he had learned to admire her wit. She had some good jokes, which she told with droll relish, and this, combined with her exceptional beauty, had most of the men firmly among her admirers.
Caroline saw him looking at Diana, who was being congratulated on her fine shot, and she gave him an aloof look and turned away. Howard asked the mahout to pull up aside her howdah, and he called over to her. "That was well done of her! Diana led that jackal just right, and I'm impressed. But don't look so peeved. I've been watching you a lot more than her. I meant what I said about the two of you last night. Take that to heart, but don't let it go to your head!" He grinned to show that he was teasing, but he looked right into her eyes and winked, and Caroline laughed, unable to harbor a grudge in view of his sincerity and his comment.
"Oh, Mr. Howard, you are very good at charming the ladies! Look at all, yet defuse the one who gets jealous. Just try not to stare at her."
"Caroline, I'm male: it's written in my genes that I have to stare at her, at least some. But I just completely gawk in wide-eyed wonder at you! If anyone has cause for jealousy, it's her."
"So, you think I'm jealous, eh? You think pretty highly of yourself for a man I barely know. Look at Diana all you want; I'm sure that all you men will. She basks in it. In case you haven't noticed, she's an exhibitionist. That dress she wore last night and the way she walks are disgusting. She craves male adoration, and she gets it."
"Meow," smiled the Texan. "Caroline, I repeat: Diana Hamilton is a gorgeous woman, and she knows just how to 'work' men, but you have no reason to resent her. Your own brand of witty, feminine charm and sportiness just eclipses even her, as far as I'm concerned. Besides, I prefer blondes. And you're a terrific fit in my arms!"
She looked at him, then the mahout, in horror. The mahout steadfastly looked away as if he hadn't heard, which was probably best for all. She colored and asked if he meant the world to hear what they had been doing by night.
"Sorry," he apolgized. "I just got carried away, concentrating on you. Look, can you speak any other languages than English? I can do French and pretty fair German and Spanish. We could talk in one of those if you can. Privacy, you see."
She snorted. "Not bloody likely, Tom! Half of those here manage French or German fairly well, and you wouldn't know any of the other languages I speak, like Zanga or Afrikaans. I told you, I've been around as I grew up. Don't take that the wrong way and make a joke of it, either. I've gotten to know your ways, Mister! You're worse at making puns and the like than Arthur is."
"You remembered! How sweet!"
She laughed in spite of her pique. "Oh, Tom! You really are irrepressible. Whatever shall I do with you? And don't make any lewd suggestions, either!"
"Hallo over there," called the Air Vice Marshal. "Is everything all right? Any problems with your howdah, Maj. Howard?"
"We're fine, Sir. Miss Challenger and I were just discussing Diana's fine shot. She certainly knew how to lead that running jackal!"
"Ah. I see. Well, look, you two, we're going to beat one more lot of jungle, then pause for lunch. Anyone hungry?"
A chorus of "yesses" rang out and the group rallied for a last pass through some likely looking country. Wilson shot a sambar stag that flushed from cover ahead of his elephant, and they paused to collect, admire, and clean it. That done, the party moved to open ground and dismounted and lunch was laid out.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 15 2006 : 11:12:38 AM
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Tom and Caroline ate with Arthur and Astrid in a foursome, and they found each other to be both funny and compatible. Howard saw from the edge of his vision that Wilson, a few yards away, was giving him hard looks. Obviously, he was unhappy about the Texan's progress with Lady Caroline, on whom he had evidently set his own sights.
Caroline became aware that she, in turn, was getting spiteful glances from Diana Hamilton. After the third such glance, she waited until the other couple was watching, then slid over close to Tom and held his hand. Arthur's eyebrows shot up like a Spitfire climbing full out, but he held his tongue. He did shoot a questioning, rather critical, glance his sister's way.
She was expecting it, and winked at him, letting him know that more was going on than it seemed, and that she would tell him about it later. "Pest" had used that signal since they were children, and he decided to respect her wishes, for the present, anyway. He risked a look toward the Maharajah and the senior officers, and realized that they were in such an animated discussion about something that none was paying attention to his foursome. Good Lord, he realized, Pest could have kissed Howard and they'd not have noticed. That was unpleasant territory, for it reminded him that she probably HAD kissed the straw-haired American! He swallowed a bite of peafowl sandwich with a bigger gulp than usual. He reached for a glass of lemonade. It's a good thing that we're at lunch, if Sis is going to drive me to drink, he reasoned. Lemonade is better for me than what I'll be drinking later in the day...
Then, he too, noticed a sidelong glance from Diana and John Wilson. A light went on in his mind and he saw with sudden clarity that his impression of the night before was correct: Diana had indeed had predatory intent toward Howard, and was jealous that Tom had wound up with Caroline. And Wilson was probably attracted to his sister, too. Well, at least, Wilson was a brother RAF officer, and British. But there was something about him that Challenger instinctively didn't like, and Tom, for all of his concern, came across as a good man who liked him and seemed to genuinely care for Caroline. Good gosh! Now Tom was handing Caroline pieces of apple that he'd peeled, and something about the way that the fruit was offered and accepted alarmed him. Maybe it was the way they stared into one anothers' eyes and the way their arms brushed as they reached out to one another. With a shock, he saw Caroline buttering a slice of bread that she had just cut and passing it to Tom. Now, this was really too much! He had seen THAT gesture before...when his mother did it for his father. It was one of the endearing little things that she did for the Baron, and their arms often touched just like Tom's and Caroline's were. He remembered that as being one of his parents' rituals since he was old enough to recall things. And his godparents, Lord and Lady Roxton, did that. It was something that one couple had done on that Plateau and the other had adopted the practice. I think that Mum told me that she was doing that for Father, and 'Aunt' Marguerite saw and started doing it for 'Uncle' John, he mused. They used to tease Mum for starting it...I remember now. Caroline, you...PEST! Tom will think that you're falling for him, or something, and make a pass at you and this whole thing will get messy and this man has twice saved my life and is a nice bloke and I don't like where this is headed! Gad! Sisters!
He looked away, to the left, and it was then that he saw the snake. A king cobra, at least ten or eleven feet long.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 17 2006 : 06:53:30 AM
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Ophiophagus hannah, the king cobra, was not just a big Monocellate or Indian cobra. It was a separate species altogether, with a narrower hood, and was the largest known venomous snake, with the record standing at some 18 feet. It could bite an elephant between the toenails and the amount of virulent venom injected could kill the huge pachyderm. This was known mainly because it had actually happened. No one was sure just how many men the venom in a single hamadryad, as the snake was also known, could kill. It was certainly five or more.
This flashed through Arthur Challenger's mind as he registered the basic olive green of the upper surfaces, with the light chevron markings. He sat very still until the snake had glided further along, then quietly informed the others what had just passed and was yet near. He set his sandwich down and drew his service revolver. Caroline looked, saw the snake, and also drew. Tom registered that they both had Smith & Wesson .38's that were essentially smaller versions of his .45, and drew his own gun. He looked at the snake from his peripheral vision, not wanting to turn his head fully, lest the movement arouse a strike. He had been briefed about the hymadryad, and he knew that when angry, the forest spirit could move fast, and showed great ferocity. It could, like the African Black Mamba, rise up and stare a man in the face, then kill him with a savage bite that lasted seconds, but ended years. In the king cobra, Mother Nature personified her darker side, filling the role of the Greek goddess who snipped the thread of life for men. What was her name; Atropos?
The cobra glided toward the open forest at the left of the camp, few having yet seen it. Howard hoped that it would go on its lethal way, not stopping to inject horror into this splendid day.
Then, all hell broke loose. Ahmal and another mahout, Govindra, came around a thick tree and were suddenly face-to-face with the snake. Govindra cried out and raised a hand to ward off the strike of this formidable beast and the snake instantly inflated its hood and rose up to the height of the Indian's chest. It began to growl, a noise so like that of a dog that Howard almost looked around for one.
Behind him, he heard F/Lt. Marais, a South African, exclaim, "Magtig! Slang! I'm sorry, Sir, I mean 'snake', and a bloody big one, too! Is that a hymadryad?" The Afrikaans accent was very noticeable, but no one had any trouble understanding his English. He had just vocalized the danger to which vision had already attested. His words spurred Challenger to action.
"Right, Pest, and you too, Tom. Sit still and pray that this thing glides off. If it moves a whit toward the mahouts, we have to chance shooting. Tom, I hope that you shoot like the movie Texans? Caroline is probably rusty."
"Actually, I'm still oiled and shiny, Arthur. I practice shooting a time or two a month at home when I've the ammunition, but I don't fancy having to hit that thing before it hits us. Has anyone at all got a shotgun handy?" Her voice was steady, but Howard noted the tremor beneath the words.
"I'm bloody getting mine," ejaculated Diana and rose to do so. The Merkel 16 gauge that she had borrowed was on the ground near her howdah basket, removed from her elephant during the midday rest.
The hymadryad saw her move, whipped around, and slithered toward her like the Sardis in flood, rushing to meet the confluence of rivers that became the Ganges. It left the two Indians standing in shock.
"Hell, shoot!, exclaimed Challenger, and the trio raised their guns and fired at the onrushing snake.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 19 2006 : 5:59:33 PM
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Tom and his sister stood, rapidly firing with their arms outstretched, in a classic target shooter's stance. Howard knelt, holding his .45 in both hands, tracking the king cobra as it came, his left elbow braced against his knee for steadiness of aim. He fired, and the snake winced violently, stopping its forward motion, thrashing its coils in fury. The big bullet had probably broken the spine, about a foot below the head.
Caroline and Arthur stepped forward, and Tom held fire and rose. They were in his line of fire, and he had to move forward with them. Caroline stepped off to the right as the hymadryad dragged itself toward her, and fired a coup de grace shot into its green, scaled head. Simultaneously, her brother fired, his bullet striking the neck.
A Ghurka havildar (sergeant) ran up, khukri drawn, said, "Excuse please, memshahib", and eased past Caroline. His heavy blade descended, and the snake's head fipped off its trunk, which was still wildly thrashing in its death throes.
"Not touch head. Snake is dead, but will yet bite," warned the Nepalese sergeant.
The Europeans lowered their guns, the trio who had fired reloading before they holstered their Smith & Wessons. Tom just extracted the three-shot "half moon" clip from which he had discharged two shots, and dropped in a new one. Later, he would pry the two fired .45 automatic cartridge cases loose from the clip and replace the rimless rounds with fresh ones. The little flat piece of metal called a clip held three automatic cartridges and allowed the revolver's extractor to eject the fired rounds, which had no rim for the extractor to catch. Had he not used the little thin clips, he would have had to use a pen or something to punch out each fired case. The system was a nuisance, and at home, he used commercial .45 Auto Rim cartridges, which had a thick rim to allow normal revolver function. Here, using government supplies, he at least had access to ample ammunition. Also, using a pair of three- shot clips let him reload all six chambers faster than if he had to use individual cartridges.
He looked back to see how the others were, and saw the Maharajah and the senior officers staring and talking earnestly. Then, he saw Wilson, holding a dead tree branch which he had seized from the ground. He was standing in front of Diana Hamilton, who had just registered that he had stood before her and raised the branch to protect them. She blanched as the realization of the close call impacted her, along with Wilson's gallant gesture, placing himself in harm's way to preserve her.
"I think you can put the branch down now, Wilson," joked Smyth, who had seen the jealous looks this twosome had sent the way of the American and Arthur's sister. Smyth had seen that couple interacting as they put away books the night before, and had seen Diana stalk off as Howard rejected her for Caroline. This had amused him, for Diana had snubbed him on previous occasions.
Wilson shot Smyth a nasty look, then dropped the branch. "I knew that I should have worn my revolver, but it just seemed a nuisance that wouldn't be needed," he mumbled.
Then, Diana was in his arms, thanking him for saving her, although it had actually been the Challengers and Tom Howard who had done the work in that regard.
That threesome looked self conciously at one another, and Arthur thanked Tom for his help. "Sis would have probably missed, " he ventured. "You know that girls can't shoot worth a damn."
Howard smiled slightly and said something about Annie Oakley and his own sister being pretty fair markswomen. "Anyway, I saw two of her bullets hit the cobra; they just didn't break any bone. Caroline, I think you really killed it, with that last shot, before the Ghurka took off its head."
"Thank you, Tom. My perishing BROTHER knows quite well that I can shoot. I've managed to beat him most times when we have a contest. He's just razzing me. Who is this Oakley woman? Have you dated her?"
Howard laughed. "No, she was before my time, and she was married, too. But she was a famous trick shot, who gave demonstrations in circuses and the like. She was with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and I think she shot for Queen Victoria in London. But Caroline, that was nice shooting, at a fast snake. I'm just glad that we're alright. Thank you, too, Havildar Thapa."
Thapa beamed. "Huzoor, Howard Sahib. I will now bury this evil head, that no one be injured." And he did.
They measured the stretched body of the hamadryad at 12 feet; the head would have added several inches. Suitable Ooohs's and Aahh's were said, and the party finished eating, those who had the fortitude for that in the aftermath of the incident. Howard noted that both Challengers joined him in finishing lunch. Arthur also seemed cheerier, less reserved, than before.
Soon, the Maharajah rose, clapped his hands, and announced that the snake's appearance need cause no apprehension. "It has been feared that this snake's interruption may be an bad omen," he proclaimed, "but in fact, I feel sure that it is the sign of our overcoming evil. Many in India think that killing a snake before a hunt insures success in seeking game. I am among these, and I feel sure that our afternoon will go well. Please, finish dining, and we will again mount the elephants and go in search of a tiger before the sun gets much lower. We do not wish to risk having to follow any wounded tigers at dusk, after all, ha, ha! Even I am not so valiant as to seek that sort of adventure!"
Everyone laughed dutifully, and began to pack up the remains of their repast. Howard looked at Caroline and said, "Hey, Miss Sureshot. I want you on my left as we hunt. Okay? Will you save me if a tiger charges?"
Caroline blushed, and told Tom that she would be pleased to be at his side in any sort of endeavor. Arthur rolled his eyes, a gesture that the couple didn't miss, and Caroline jabbed her brother with an elbow and stuck out her tongue at him. Tom laughed, and said, "I like you two. You're nice people."
Arthur made a show of coughing and shrugged, offering Tom his hand. "Thanks, old man. You seem a solid sort, yourself. If a fellow has to insinuate himself into being with my sister, I suspect that I could do worse."
"Arthur..." warned Caroline, whose face was now deep pink. Then, Tom had taken her in his arms, not caring who saw. She sighed, and leaned into him, her arms around him, their lips meeting until Sir John coughed loudly, and they broke apart, Tom now blushing as much as Caroline.
"Well, someone has certainly found something that they were hunting for, today," muttered Diana Hamilton. Wilson grinned, and took her hand.
The mahouts loaded the howdahs and the party formed, the line of ten elephants moving off to the northwest, toward country known to contain a large tiger. Howard and Caroline looked across at one another from their adjacent elephants, and Howard wondered if his cheeks were glowing like hers. Nothing like being obvious about one's feelings, he thought. I think this broad is really getting to me.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 20 2006 : 7:58:05 PM
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As the elephants moved off, two miles ahead, a large male tiger sat in a clump of bamboo, eating the remains of a sambar deer that he had killed the day before.
Now, sated, he left the shelter of the bamboo to lie beneath a tree, his stripes hiding him in the long tan grass.
None of the advancing humans knew that he was there, much closer to the hunters than expected, a different, new, tiger, not the one they sought, and who would soon be driven toward them by a line of "beaters".
Too soon, the hunters would encounter him, but for now, Shere Khan dozed, at peace in the afternoon sun.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 23 2006 : 05:44:40 AM
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As the elephants advanced, the ground caused some to have slightly easier passage than others, and when Tom's mount had pulled a few paces ahead of her own, Caroline Challenger took the opportunity to look him over without him seeing.
She liked what she saw: a lean, tanned man, just over six feet, with dark blond hair cropped in a military cut. His broad shoulders excited her, and she remembered what it was like to be held in those powerful arms. He wasn't bulky, but did have a good physique, and she knew now that his mind was also well above average. She had heard his jokes and subtle teasing, and knew that he was a "punny" man. Arthur liked puns, too, and she found it a familiar form of humor. For all of their sibling rivalry, Caroline had almost worshipped her older brother as they grew up, and the bond was still strong, if more mature. She was also in awe of her father, the great scientist and inventor, and she knew that her mother was only half teasing when she called him, "Genius" as a pet name. Mum loved Father, but she, too, was aware that he was an icon, a legend. He transcended most men and was a giant to his children, if one who held them close and taught them how the world worked and the natural order of things.
Caroline realized that she had been seeking a man who could stand with Father and Arthur as a man among, even above, other men. One who made her heart beat faster when she was near him, one who caused her most private place to grow moist when he looked at her a certain way and reached for her. One who made her take off her knickers and play with herself at night, wanting him with her, kissing her neck as Tom had, playing with her nipples as he reached down her dress before she registered that he had taken that liberty, her then not wishing his fingers to leave. One who she knew made her blush and want him, even as he embraced her in front of superior officers and a native ruler and all their entourage! She flushed, hoping that no one could read her mind. I'm so ashamed, she thought. What if Tom or Arthur knew what I'm thinking? Or, worse, Mum and Father?! Well, Mum might understand. From some things that had been said between them over the years, and some snippets that she had heard pass between her parents and between Mum and 'Aunt' Marguerite, she knew that Mum was herself a vital, lusty woman who had probably had thoughts very like her own, when she and Father were younger. Even now, they had an easy familiarity and tender gestures that made it clear to a careful observer that these two had known love as physical as it was spiritual, and so intense that most couples barely even dreamed of what Caroline's parents had done together. She dreamed of such a union for herself, but most of the men she knew were too conventional or too timid or too concerned with their images and their fortunes to be as free of spirit as she was and wanted her man to be. She sensed that in Tom Howard she had found such a man, one to share her interests and her dreams and to ignite a fire in her loins such as no one had done before. That dinosaur on his ranch should be fun to excavate, and she wanted very much to be asked to join him in that and in his other interests. He was American, but they would be able to visit her family a time or three a year, and that might assuage her parents' and her brother's natural reservations about her living abroad. But what about when Mum died, as she must, someday? Caroline wanted to be the next Baroness Challenger... Maybe it was more important to be Mrs. Thomas Howard and the mother of his children. The next Baroness would be Arthur's wife, anyway, she remembered, not herself.
"Memsahib is well?, " queried her mahout. "Memsahib looks flushed. Is the day being too hot? It is being most important to not be suffering the heat stroke."
Caroline smiled back at the man. "I am well, Mahendra. I was just thinking about something."
"Ah", he ventured. "Thinking of the American gentleman, perhaps? The two of you make a very fine twosome. But remember to concentrate soon on the hunt. When Shere Khan comes, he will come fast and furious, and one must be alert. Memsahib Caroline is a good shot, and I wish you good fortune. This is grand shikar and maybe it will be you who slays the striped devil. See? I have my fortunate rabbit's foot that protects me and this elephant and brings us and our hunters much luck." And he brandished his talisman, never reflecting that having it had not brought the bunny who once wore it much luck. Caroline smiled at the irony.
Just then, Tom Howard glanced back and caught her staring at him. He locked eyes with her and winked. Then, he blew her a kiss that made her turn scarlet and smile like a girl who had just been given all her wishes by both Father Christmas and three fairies all at once.
Her brother saw, and hoped that either this was a passing fancy, or that Tom was all the man that Caroline seemed to think he was. I do not want my sister hurt, and I will have a little talk with Maj. Howard and see just what he intends. And, this time, I will insist on some answers. What would Father do? Sometimes, I wish I had his wisdom, and Mum's compassion and perception.
Ahead, a whistle sounded and the maharajah stopped the elephants and dressed the line again, that no one wander too far ahead and be shot by another member of the party.
Now, one could hear the clatter of pans banging and all sorts of noisemakers in action as a line of "beaters" advanced to drive the tiger that lived here ahead of them, to the "guns" who waited atop their elephants. The maharajah waved his arm, and the line moved forward.
Two hundred yards ahead, the large tiger that had just arrived here and had yet to challenge the resident male for the territory, also heard the drums and cymbals in the distance. He stood and saw the advancing elephants. His eyes narrowed, and he drew back his lips, exposing the long canine teeth that could kill a water buffalo or a sambar deer. If he reached a human when angry, his claws and those fearsome teeth could flay flesh from bone in an instant.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 24 2006 : 7:53:03 PM
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Two miles back, another tiger heard the drums, pots and pans, and cymbals. He rose, stretched, and also drew back his lips, exposing the killing fangs that had ended so many lives of the jungle folk.
This was an old tiger, and he had been caught in previous "beats", evading those pressing him toward a line of elephants, with men waiting to shoot him as he emerged from cover.
He waited a little longer, until certain that the noise was approaching him, and that he was again being pressured to move off. He grumbled, a low growl that would have terrified any close enough to hear it, for his mood was now foul, and he was being driven off the remains of the Axis deer on which he had been feeding. A tiger does not give up a kill easily.
He loped off, trying to estimate where the ends of the line of beaters were, that he might outflank them, and escape. Alas, one end was curving in toward him, and he could not scale the sheer cliff on the other. This time, the men had chosen their ground well, and he would be trapped if he didn't flee. He increased his pace, looking for any small nullah in which he might hide until the din had passed.
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In the distance, the humans moved on, their elephants maintaining a steady walk, the hunters with rifles close at hand. They were guided only by the noise from the beaters, knowing that the tiger would move ahead. Only guesswork could tell when he would break from cover, and the maharajah especially wanted this tiger killed. It was not only big, a fine trophy, but was past its prime, and was taking goats and cattle from villagers as often as it killed game. Soon, it might kill a herdsboy, taste human flesh, and realize how easily it could be obtained. Then, it would become a full fledged man-eater.
Howard opened the bolt to his rifle, and checked that the Model 70 .375 was loaded with softpoint ammunition. Winchester Silvertip bullets, 300 grain. The factory rear sight had been replaced with a British style sight, with a wide "v" notch for rapid target acquisition. A fold-up leaf had a finer vee, for longer range work, but Howard thought it best to be prepared for a close shot. The cover here was heavy in most places, and the shot would probably come within 60 yards. There might not be time for a second shot, and lives might depend on his marksmanship. He tried to breath easily, but the stress was there, as it must be in such an enterprise.
He wiped sweaty palms on his trousers, checked that his Smith & Wesson was fully loaded, and returned the .45 to its holster. If the cat got onto the elephant, he might be able to shoot it in the head with the handgun, if his rifle malfunctioned. Not that a Model 70 Winchester was likely to malfunction... Howard was among those who thought that it was the best mass production hunting rifle yet made. In the optional Super Grade, which he had, it was also especially nice looking. Howard liked his guns to be like his women: easy on the eye.
Caroline Challenger noticed that he drew his knife and tested the edge, nodded to himself, and sheathed the blade. Good Lord, what drama, she thought. The Americans must believe what they see in jungle movies. She personally doubted that Tarzan would fare too well against a lion or tiger, armed with his trusty knife...although she had read about a South African game ranger named Harry Wolhuter, who had in fact stabbed a lion in the heart and saved himself, as he was being dragged off to be the lion's dinner. Exceptional things happen, but she hoped that they would have no need to stab any tigers, on this particular day. Being clawed by one would totally ruin her complexion, she thought, and laughed to herself. Still, Tom looked so fine and so male and so adventurous, checking his weapons...
To her left, Diana Hamilton and John Wilson also saw Howard manipulating his arms, and looked at one another and laughed.
"Americans!", snorted Wilson. "They do love their guns, and it seems, their knives. I wonder if our Texan has scalped any of those Comanches they have."
"I think it's the Comanches who did the scalping, for the most part," she replied, grinning. "But those Texans have survived the Indians and the Mexicans, and cattle rustlers. I suppose that this one will manage a tiger. He seems to have done well enough against the Japanese, and their fighters are very formidable. I've heard you chaps say so!" She looked humourously at Wilson, enjoying his discomfort and jealousy.
"Oh, come on, Johnny!", she teased. "Do let it go. We've lost. He wants her and she wants him, almost as if they were waving banners saying, 'We want to fuck like the proverbial minks'! I think it may even be true love, whatever that really is. Lets' make up for it by 'doing' one another tonight. You weren't half bad in that garden last night, and I can slip you into my room when everyone else has retired this evening. You may find that I'm just as much fun as that blonde adventuress. Want to get half looped at dinner and see where it leads?" She slid her tongue around her lips lasciviously, and Wilson felt his heart accelerate and something stirred lower down on his body.
"Suits," he admitted, looking at the brunette aristocrat. "You are actually at least as presentable as Caroline, and you're probably more fun, too. Certainly less stuck up, and more accessible. You're even fun to talk to, Diana. Don't worry: you won't even have to get me drunk. Your splendid body is all the intoxication that I need, my beauty. In fact, I quite look forward to ravishing you! This day has just improved beyond what I thought it could!" He laughed.
"Oh, Johnny!," she gushed, "You say the sweetest things! I'm so bloody excited to think that you consider me as 'presentable' as Miss Challenger, Her Blondeness! Don't worry: brunettes truly deliver what blondes just give up in fantasy visions."
"I do like you, Diana", Wilson said, more seriously. He was glad that they shared this howdah. "You've grown on me, I must say. It won't be all lust when I screw your brains out tonight. I may even linger and talk to you. That's rather fun, actually." And he took her hand in his, and they looked at each other and glowed.
Arthur Challenger noticed, and smiled to himself. Well, that was one less problem he had. Now, his sister was down to one local suitor, and he might really be serious about the lady. He wondered what Tom and Caroline's children might look like, and whether he could have them visit him in England, and play the uncle role with them...I mean for them to know what is is to be the descendants of George, Baron Challenger, and of our illustrious history, not just the spawn of Yankee revolutionaries. They need to be taught the elements of class and what it means to be half Challenger. Then, it struck him that he might be worrying about something that might never happen. That was odd, for he realized next that he rather looked forward to being an uncle, and Tom did seem suitable brother-in-law material. I owe that man my life, he mused. I suppose that Sis might be a reasonable payback. He laughed. Caroline would kill me for that thought...
Then, all started, and reached for their guns. The senior mahout had howled, "Bagh!" This was the Hindi word for "big cat", not Kipling's Shere Khan of the Mowgli stories, but the sound of it chilled the blood. The sight of the big cat coming toward them at a purposeful walk almost froze that body fluid!
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - August 29 2006 : 11:16:24 AM
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The big male tiger walked a little stiffly, with evident purpose. He sent an unmistakable message: I am here, I am unhappy, and anyone who doesn't want to die today had better get out of the way and let me pass!
Howard felt his chest lock in a cold vise. He had felt fear before, and this was it, again. Fear as bad as he'd experienced when that Focke-Wulf -190 had shot the bejabbers out of his Thunderbolt over Alsace, and as bad as what he'd recently known when he'd had to bail out of his stricken plane over the Burmese jungle.
But he had dealt with fear; he had always conquered it. He would now. He lifted the Winchester and pushed the safety lever forward, to "off" and balanced the big .375 Magnum between his hands, ready to bring it up for an instinctive shot, if need be.
He flicked a glance to his left, to the next elephant. Caroline was shaking, but she had her rifle up, ready to shoulder it as the tiger came on. She looked directly into his eyes, and Tom smiled back encouragingly. She colored, then mouthed a kiss his way.
Tom grinned and turned back to the approaching cat.
"This tiger is not the one we expected," exclaimed the Maharajah. "This one is bigger, a true trophy, and vigorous. Howard Sahib, you saved my son's life. Do you wish the honor of taking this tiger? It will also be your first. Shoot when he is within about one hundred yards, in the lower chest. Place your shot well, that no one need die this day."
"Highness, I thank you for this honor, " Tom said, "But shouldn't Sir John shoot first? He is the senior officer present."
"The devil with that, Major! Your tiger, lad. I've shot a dozen, and you have earned this chance that may be your only one to shoot Old Stripes. Have a go at him!" The Air Vice Marshal was generous and gentlemanly, and he genuinely admired Howard's courage in the air.
"Caroline, back me up. If I don't kill cleanly , put in a shot!" Howard called to the Challenger beauty.
"Yes, Tom, but hurry: he's getting too close. We shall have him on an elephant if you don't fire!, " she replied, raising her .275 Rigby.
Tom lifted the butt of the .375 into his shoulder socket, and began tracking the cat through the sights. He was on the verge of firing when the animal stopped and gave vent to his displeasure.
"AAAROUGHHHH!" roared Shere Khan, and the air shook with the terrible sound. Tom was momentarily rattled, then steadied and squeezed the trigger on the Model 70 as the ground quailed to a second roar.
"BLAM!" The rifle drove into his shoulder, and Howard rode the recoil, quickly lifting the bolt handle and cycling the action, feeding in another long cartridge. He strived to see the tiger again in his sights. If he had missed or wounded...
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - September 01 2006 : 11:59:47 PM
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The tiger flinched and rolled, but was up again at once, and charging now. A second "BLAM!" resounded over the jungle, as Wilson's .450/.400 double rifle fired. The tiger was jarred by the 400 grain bullet's impact, but came on, and Wilson's second shot missed. Howard saw it throw up a cloud of dust to the animal's left.
The big cat was within 30 yards as Tom got a second cartridge chambered, and fired. As he pressed the trigger, he heard Caroline and Arthur shoot together, and the tiger, slammed by all three bullets, flipped and lay still.
Tom quickly worked the bolt, watching the fallen animal, and saw the Challengers also reloading. One didn't take chances with a wounded tiger, and they were unsure whether this one was spent, or just wounded and stunned.
After a moment, the elephants eased closer, and mahouts threw stones at the beast, receiving no reaction. Finally, Tom and Arthur, with Piet Marais, got down and approached the tiger, rifles at the ready.
Assured that it was dead, they put their rifles on safety, and posed with the fallen cat. Tom insisted that Caroline join him in a photo, and she did, blushing amid teasing from those who had earlier enjoyed the sight of her and the American pilot embracing and kissing in public. She looked at the cameras, and saw Diana make an obscene gesture toward her, smiling as she did so. Caroline managed to keep a straight face, but resolved to think of something to avenge this insult from her sarcastic, elitist rival. Caroline knew perfectly well that Diana's gesture was one of jealousy at both Caroline's having drawn Tom's affection and at seeing her posing with a tiger that Diana wished that she and John Wilson could claim.
It was decided that the fatal shots were probably fired by Tom Howard (low in the chest, taking out the heart) and by the Challenger siblings having hit almost atop Tom's bullets and with one breaking the animals' right shoulder. Wilson's bullet was probably one that broke a forearm, tumbling the cat, but letting it come on in rage. Wilson was in a bit of a rage, himself, angry at missing. He just managed to control his temper as he joined the others in congratulating Howard and the Challengers on a fine kill. But Tom and Arthur didn't miss the strained look on his face as he forced himself to be gracious. Tom knew that he had made an enemy, and he would need to keep an eye on Wilson, if he drank much later that day.
Finally, photos taken and rifles unloaded, the group turned to hoisting the tiger onto an elephant trained to tolerate carrying a dead cat. Most elephants shied from this, regarding tigers as a natural enemy not to be allowed to reach their backs.
Tom was helping Caroline up onto her elephant when he heard a shout that he wouild remember for the rest of his life.
"Shere, Sahibs! Shere! A tiger comes!" This from the senior mahout, who had looked up just in time to see a second tiger bolt from cover and charge directly at the hunters. As he came, the tiger roared his fury, and the sight of him coming, ears laid back and mouth open, showing the big teeth, was enough to unnerve anyone.
Tom seized his rifle from a servant, but even as he clawed desperately for ammunition in his pocket, he knew that this tiger would reach them before he could load the .375 Magnum. Someone was going to get hurt today, badly!
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - September 03 2006 : 7:43:14 PM
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As he fumbled three catridges from his pocket and began ramming them into the Winchester's magazine, Howard saw the tiger catch a fleeing mahout. It mauled him briefly, then with one awful bite, snapped off the unfortunate man's head, swatting it aside as the body jerked spasmodically. Then, the big cat was onto a running man, a servant of the Maharajah. The tiger struck him down and began savaging him. Caroline lifted her .275 Rigby, and put a bullet into the cat's right shoulder, causing it to collapse momentarily. Diana fired, her shotgun's pellets, meant for birds, not penetrating enough to do any damage, save that one eye was blinded, making the wounded beast even more enraged.
Instantly, it rose and Wilson missed it twice with his double .450/.400 and then it was onto his elephant. It struck off the terrified mahout with one bat of a paw, and was onto Wilson, who was trying to reload. Diana vaulted out of the howdah, scrabbling at the rearing elephant's rough hide for a hand grasp as she fell to the ground. Mercifully, the rearing elephant's posture and her momentary clutch at it's hide saved her from any real damage in the short fall. Phillip Smyth ran over, grabbed her, and pulled her clear of the action.
Wilson's screams were pitiful to hear as the tiger tore into him.
Howard was at too low an angle to shoot, and yelled for Caroline to fire.
Caroline was afraid of hitting Wilson if she shot at the beast's head, so aimed for its spine. The bullet went low, but did cause the tiger to collapse for an instant. Piet Marais called across for her to cease fire, and extended his right arm, the hand holding a Luger. As the tiger's head appeared above the howdah, Marais fired two quick shots into its head, one entering via the nose and smashing the cerebral cortex. The huge, snarling head dropped at once, an outflung paw scratching Marais's arm as the tiger died.
Arthur Challenger rode over and poked the tiger with the muzzle of his .318, confirming that it was indeed dead.
Ropes were laboriously gotten under the tiger, lifting it enough to extract Wilson's torn body, and he was lowered to the ground and placed on a blanket.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
971 Posts |
Posted - September 03 2006 : 8:05:16 PM
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Wilson and the injured royal servant were laid out, side-by-side, poor Indian and well born Englishman. Their clothes were cut off, and water was rapidly boiled to wash their wounds. The Maharajah's doctor attended the men, Caroline telling him that he should wash out the wounds with red wine when they returned to the palace. "My parents found it very effective in treating injuries they encountered in wild areas, " she explained. "A Roman physician named Galan wrote that wine killed infection and saved gladiators whom he treated in the arenas. Please try that."
The doctor, preoccupied, nodded and tried to stop the bleeding.
Diana Hamilton came over and knelt by Wilson. She took his hand, and squeezed it briefly, glad to find that he returned the pressure. Howard took his pulse from the other wrist, and noted that it was thready, Wilson having lost much blood.
Diana looked up at Caroline and said, "Miss Challenger, I owe you an apology for a sign that I made earlier today. It was very unladylike of me; please forgive me. You were a real heroine just now, and may have saved Johnny. How is he? Will he live?"
Howard told her that he had seen men injured worse in combat survive, and pointed out that his base had a supply of penicillin, which could be flown over, if the runways were repaired by now. Wounds from big cat bites and clawings were notorious for becoming infected, from the rotting meat of their prey on the teeth and under the claws.
"Thank you, Major, you have been very decent about the way that Johnny and I have snubbed you and Miss Challenger. I am so sorry. I've been an absolute bitch." She sniffled, and wiped away tears.
Smyth patted her on the shoulder and led her away a few feet to give the doctor and a medical orderly room to work on Wilson and the mauled servant. Marais sat nearby, his shirt off, a second medical orderly cleaning his arm. The Challengers and Howard congratulated the South African on his cool courage and his marksmanship with the German pistol, then withdrew and talked quietly until the senior officers and the Maharajah approached.
In the background, they heard Diana telling Wilson that she did love him, and to please not die. Her sobs caught Howard's chest and he tried to maintain a brave front. He noticed that the Challengers felt the same way, and Caroline reached out and took her brother by one hand and held Tom's hand in her other.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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"Thunderbolt Over Burma!"
