Hunted by Chris Ryan Read Free Book Online

move,' grinned Amber from the back seat.
A cluster of baboons skittered up a baobab tree. One sat in the branches with its long fingers in its mouth as though wondering what to do next.
'So what do you do at Teak Lodge?' Li asked Patrick.
'We're part of a network of game reserves. Our bit's about forty kilometres across. We run safaris and tours for small family groups, and sometimes we have gap year volunteers helping out for a few weeks, but our real work is protecting the elephants. At one time the poachers nearly wiped them out so we tag them with radio markers to track them. Then we know if the numbers are falling.'
'How much poaching is there now?' said Li.
'They used to set up snares all over the place. Now they can get machine guns and ammo on the black market.'
'And mines?' said Alex. 'We seem to be carrying some heavy armouring here.'
'No, the poachers don't set mines. There are grenades all over the place, dating back to the troubles.'
'The rebel insurgences in the seventies and eighties?' said Alex.
'Right.' Patrick nodded. 'Most of the park has been cleared but if you come across a fenced-off area with red tags, don't go in.' He checked the compass on the dashboard and made an adjustment to their course. 'It's mainly safe, though.'
'What about all these man-eating animals?' said Amber.
'They're generally frightened of people and keep their distance. Partly we have the poachers to thank for that. When clients want to see the animals we take them to hides high up in the trees - so they can get close to the animals in safety. But Tessa said you looked like you really know what you're doing with these animals. What's your background?'
It was Alex who replied. 'Oh, this and that. Li and Paulo grew up working with a wide variety of animals; my dad's in security and Hex and Amber are into communications.'
'While we're here we'd love to help out if we can,' said Amber. 'See how it all works; make ourselves useful.'
'Definitely,' said Li. 'We like active holidays.'
Patrick nodded, smiling to himself. 'That's just like Tessa. She's never happier than when she's getting her hands dirty or training for races. Her mother died in the election riots in the eighties so Tessa was kind of brought up by Joe and me and any other rangers who happened to be around. Right from when she was really small she's helped with the animals. Since Joe brought her home from hospital she's been going stir crazy because she can't do anything. We've just had a pool installed and she's really annoyed she can't use it.'
Patrick swerved around a deep rut in the ground, his hands gripping the kink in the steering wheel.
Amber pointed at it. 'What happened to that?' she asked.
'A matriarch elephant charged at Joe,' replied Patrick. 'He only just got away in time.'
Li whistled.
'Hey, you've got a flare pistol in the door,' said Amber. She recognized the telltale shape of the handle sticking out of the pocket. 'What's that for?'
'All sorts of things,' Patrick smiled. 'Scaring animals . . . but mainly it's in case someone gets stuck after dark. Both our vehicles carry them.'
A hundred metres ahead, the ground levelled out and a fence appeared. The Jeep headed along it until it reached the road, where there was a gateway. Two figures in dark green stepped out from behind the fence. Patrick slowed. One of the men carried an AK-47 in the crook of his arm. The other, a small wiry man with the build of a jockey, grinned at Patrick.
The five members of Alpha Force stiffened. 'Poachers?' said Alex quietly to Patrick.
'No, this is the checkpoint for entering the park,' he replied. 'That little guy there is Gaston - he's the other ranger at Teak Lodge.'
The warden waved them on as they drove through. Gaston smiled at them before climbing onto a quad bike parked on the other side of the checkpoint and roaring off into the dust.
'The guy at the checkpoint had a machine gun,' said Alex once they were clear of the gates. 'That's pretty serious protection. Are the