The Extinct by Victor Methos Read Free Book Online Page A

out and Eric shook it again. “It was nice to meet James’ son. I had an image of you in my head but you don’t resemble it,” he said with a smile.
    Eric watched him leave. Thomas walked without any pretense, like he didn’t realize or care that others could be watching him. He didn’t look back and didn’t say good bye to anybody. Eric turned away and faced his father’s grave. Tomorrow, it would just be a slab of marble sticking out of the ground. There were people around the cemetery placing flowers on headstones and speaking to them, keeping them clean with small dusters and rags, but he couldn’t imagine doing that. That type of hanging on could drive you crazy. Besides, maybe his father was now at one giant party? Who knows? “Bye Pop,” he said, and left.

 
     
    CHAPTER
    10
     
     
    The bar was dirty and cluttered with posters, sports memorabilia and neon signs proclaiming what type of beer was preferred. There were three pool tables taking up what little free space there was and it stunk of spills that hadn’t been cleaned. It wasn’t crowed since the night had just begun, but with few other bars nearby it would be filled with people in less than a couple hours.
    Eric sat at the bar sipping a Long Island iced tea and smoking clove cigarettes. He had an amazing fake ID made almost three years ago. A friend of his had his own machinery and printed off ID’s for all their friends.
    But Eric had been drinking long before the ID; usually with his dad and always in foreign countries that didn’t care who they served.
    Thomas walked in and stood by the door, scanning faces in booths and tables before spotting Eric. He sat down next to him and ordered a scotch and water. “May I have one of those?” he said, motioning to the package of clove cigarettes. Eric gave him one and lit it with a lighter. Thomas took a long pull, letting the smoke whirl around him before he spoke. “Do you know how your father died?”
“A lion.”
“Tiger, actually. At least they tell me it was a tiger. Regardless, he died saving my life. I wanted you to know that.”
“That doesn’t make me feel much better.”
    Thomas nodded. “I’m a guide,” he said, as if he hadn’t heard him. “Primarily just Andhra Pradesh but occasionally I’ll go farther south if there’s work, a wealthy client or whatnot. I had your father and one of his friends from London with me then. They wanted to hunt bull elephants for awhile, which is illegal, but a special license can be granted if you have the money. I suppose there’s licenses for any manner of things if you have the money.” He stopped and took a drink; chasing it with water. “You know, tribes in Kenya think the big cats are spirits of their ancestors. There to protect the land from invaders.”
    “And you believe that?”
    “No. We’re easy prey. Somewhere down the road the one that killed your father got a liking for us.” Thomas finished off his scotch and ordered another. He drank what remained of the water, wiping his lips with a napkin. “But I’ve never seen one like this before,” he said. He looked into Eric’s eyes. “I’m going back near the coast around Kavali with another group. I thought perhaps you would want to go.”
    Eric finished his cigarette and took out another one but didn’t light it. “Why would I want to go?”
    “I suppose it helps. To see where your father was and what happened. I lost my father when I was young too. He was a Captain in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy and died in South Africa. When I was old enough, I moved there . . . and, anyway, it helped.” Thomas finished his second scotch and pulled a business card out of his wallet. He put it on the bar next to the lighter and threw some cash for the drink. “Call me if you like; there’ll be little expense for you.” He patted Eric’s shoulder and gave a soft, almost melancholy, grin. “I am truly sorry about your father.”
    Thomas turned and left without looking back.
    Eric