The Sultan's Tigers by Josh Lacey Read Free Book Online

because I don’t have any money, but I’ll pay you back as soon as I get my share.”
    My uncle hesitated for a moment and then nodded. He had nothing to lose. He held out his hand for the letters.
    As he raced through them, he kept glancing at me, his eyes gleaming, as if he really hadn’t expected to be having this much fun today.
    I paced restlessly up and down Grandpa’s bedroom. I could have gone through the letters myself, pointing out the juicy details to my uncle and filling in the gaps in the story, but he wanted to see it for himself. If he was going to join me in this escapade—if he was going to put up the cash for us to go to India and track down this tiger—then he had to be sure he wasn’t wasting his time and money.
    I couldn’t have gone there myself. I didn’t have a credit card. I knew nothing about India. But with my uncle’s help, I could get there and find the tiger.
    And earn a million dollars.
    I stared out of the window at the gray mountains and wondered why Grandpa hadn’t gone to India himself. Was he too old? Or didn’t he have enough money? Something must have stopped him. I would have loved to know what. I would have liked to know how he discovered the letters, too. Had he always owned them but never bothered reading them? Or had he suddenly uncovered them, searching through an old box of junk, and seen immediately what they were worth?
    Somehow he must have discovered the value of these letters and made contact with Marko and arranged to sell them. I wondered what price they had actually agreed on. Marko must have been lying about the two thousand euros. He would have thought he could cheat me. Grandpa wouldn’t have been so easy.
    A voice came from the other side of the room: “Tom, it’s time to go.” Dad was standing in the doorway, his arms folded.
    â€œGo where?” I asked.
    â€œThe hotel,” replied my father. “We’ll have supper there, then go to bed and carry on here in the morning. Harvey, where are you staying?”
    â€œI don’t know,” said my uncle.
    â€œI can ask at the hotel if they have another room.”
    â€œDon’t bother. I’ll be fine. I’ll just sleep here.”
    Dad shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever you like.” Then he turned to me. “Come on, Tom.”
    â€œI’d rather stay here too,” I said.
    â€œWe’re coming back in the morning,” said Dad. “You can chat with Harvey then.”
    â€œHe can stay if he wants to,” said Uncle Harvey.
    â€œThat’s sweet of you,” said my dad. “But we don’t want him running off to South America again.”
    â€œI promise you, Dad, I am not going to run off to South America.”
    â€œI know you’re not. But even so, you can come and have supper with your mother and me.”
    â€œWhy can’t I stay here? I don’t want to have to share a room with Jack and Grace. He snores and she’ll spend the whole night texting. They won’t want to share with me, either. It would be better for everyone if I stayed here.”
    â€œWhere would you sleep?”
    â€œOn the sofa downstairs.”
    â€œIt won’t be comfortable.”
    â€œI don’t mind. I can sleep anywhere.”
    â€œI don’t think it’s a very good idea.”
    By the way he said it, I knew he was wavering. With a bit more pressure, he might just crumble. He was probably still feeling guilty for banning me from Grandpa’s funeral lunch. With any luck, I could play on that guilt and get what I wanted. I put on my best wheedling tone of voice. “Oh, come on, Dad. You know it makes sense. Jack and Grace will sleep much better. The room in the hotel won’t be big enough for all three of us. Please, Dad.”
    Dad looked at his brother. “Will you look after him?”
    â€œHe’s much more mature than I am.”
    â€œSadly that’s