Poacher by Leon Mare Read Free Book Online Page A

slipped him an envelope containing a bundle of cash, and
the colonel was in an expansive mood. These two men were
supplementing this pay nicely, and the extra money was making
things available to him without which his stint in this godforsaken
bush would have been much worse.
    Joao was telling him about his intended
sortie into the rhino camp.
    ‘Comrade,’ Lysenski said, ‘do not
underestimate this Jenkins. He is a very dangerous man indeed. I
have heard much about him.’
    Clenching his jaw muscles, Joao leaned
forward; ‘I, too, am a very dangerous man, comrade. I know Jenkins
well, and I have also heard a lot about him, half of which is
bullshit. I think it would be interesting to meet him on equal
terms.’
    The colonel smiled and leaned against the
back of his chair. ‘It is good for a man to have fire in his soul,
Joao, but be careful you don’t scorch yourself. You know as well as
I do that you will never meet him on equal terms. Over there he has
got all the backing in the world, and you are on your own. I give
you AKs and ammunition, but that is as far as your backing
goes.’
    Joao was grinning inwardly as he left the
tent. This was one time he doubted if the colonel was going to get
his share. With some rhino horn, the tusks and his cache of arms,
he was seriously considering retirement. A man with enough money
could disappear in Maputo and never be bothered by anybody.
    On their way back to camp that morning they
had buried the arms safely. Only Rui and himself knew about the
haul, so it was as good as money in the bank.
    ‘Come, little brother,’ he said putting his
huge arm around Rui’s shoulder. ‘Let’s prepare ourselves to venture
forth and collect the balance of our fortune.’
    ‘As long as we don’t collect a bullet up the
backside. I still say you are now becoming reckless. Shouldn’t we
leave it for a while?’
    ‘And wait for life to pass us by? No way,
sonny. We are going in tomorrow just before first light. Tonight we
will sleep right next to the fence. Let us pack and go.’
     
    First light found them well into the Kruger
Park, heading towards a low ridge about a kilometre from Sam’s
house. Joao strolled along jauntily as if he was taking a walk on
his own farm.
    ‘Slow down, Joao,’ Rui cautioned. ‘Even if
you are not scared of the rangers you’re forgetting we are in lion
country.’
    Joao flashed a grin over his shoulder. ‘Maybe
I should have brought along the old mama that does the washing, to
help me carry your share.’
    These delusions of always being in control
were a common danger all rangers had to guard against constantly.
When a man spends the best part of his life in the bush amongst
dangerous animals without the occasional close shave, he tends to
start underestimating his environment. And Joao hadn’t had one for
too long.
    On reaching the ridge they climbed it
carefully. Lying flat on the summit, Joao peered over. In the
compound there was some smoke from a cooking fire, but in Sam’s
yard there was no sign of life.
    Sam’s house, being fairly close to the
border, was amply guarded by fences. The outermost fence was a
standard three-metre electrified game fence. Inside that was a
broad band of the poisonous sisal-like shrub as well as three rolls
of blade wire coils. The inner fence was diamond mesh topped with
an electrified strand. This could keep out anything except
elephant, which Sam kept out himself.
    Scanning the yard with his binoculars Joao
was pleased to note the absence of the Toyota. His spirits were
lifted further when he noticed three black rangers in the shade in
the compound. They had been instructed by Sam not to go out on
patrol, in case they scared off the poachers.
    Joao reckoned on the three black rangers out
at the moment, which meant about one man per 150 square kilometres.
This was going to be easier than he had anticipated. He slid back a
couple of yards and got up. ‘Let’s go get us a couple of horns,’ he
said and strolled