Tiger Town by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

the truck. Besides, it was just going to be for a while until they could build something larger.
    I was amazed at how fast they were working. They’d already put up three sides and were starting on the fourth. Vladimir was like a machine. I got the feeling he really didn’t need that big sledgehammer — he could have used his hands to drive the poles into the ground.
    The place they’d selected was partially shaded by trees. I noticed they’d strung the fence out so that some of the trees formed posts. That was smart in more ways than one. They didn’t have to drive in as many poles, and it also gave the animals some shade. I wiped my brow with the back of my hand. It was awfully hot in the full summer sun. I wondered how Mr. McCurdy was doing. I changed directions and headed toward them.
    Mr. McCurdy was crouched down, holding one of the poles while Vladimir hammered it into the ground. There hadn’t been much rain this summer, and I knew the ground must be pretty hard. Each time Vladimir raised the gigantic hammer over his head, ready to swing, I cringed. If he ever missed, he’d drive Mr. McCurdy into the ground. I came up quietly from behind and watched silently as they finished. Mr. McCurdy slowly got to his feet. He looked tired.
    “How’s it going, Sarah?”
    “Good. One trailer’s completely fed and watered, and Nick and I are more than halfway finished the second one.” I paused. “How’s it going for you two?”
    “Much work. Much to do,” Vladimir said. “But we’re nearly finished on this pen. What do you think?”
    “It looks good. Do you want something to drink? Or maybe a lunch break?” I asked.
    “Water might be good, but there’s no time to eat until the animals are taken care of,” Mr. McCurdy said.
    “But wouldn’t it be better if we took a short break?” I asked.
    “There’ll be plenty of time for resting tonight,” he said. “You tired, Sarah?”
    I was tired, but it wasn’t me who I thought should take a break. “A little. I just thought that it would be best for all of us to eat and then —”
    “Couldn’t rest till I know those animals are doing better. The cats and the bear are okay for a while, but the others — the deer and buffalo especially — need to get out. They’re too cramped and crowded. Can you really take a break knowing those little deer of yours aren’t doing well?” he asked.
    “No, I guess not,” I admitted. “Is there anything I can do here to make things happen faster?”
    “I don’t see you being much use driving poles or stringing fence, but there is one thing that could help.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Go back to the house and get every last piece of my clothing. Everything.”
    “Your clothes?” I asked in confusion.
    “Yeah. Every single sock and shirt and pair of underwear. Understand?”
    I shrugged. “I guess so.”
    “And you know the clothesline out the back of the house?”
    “You want me to wash your clothes?” I asked in disbelief.
    “Not wash ’em. Bring ’em here. And the clothesline. Cut it down and bring it to me.”
    This was making less and less sense to me by the second. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut and continued to give the animals water.
    “So, you going to do it, or just stand there staring at me?” Mr. McCurdy asked.
    “Um … sure.”
    I stumbled toward the house. I had no idea whatsoever what he had in mind, but I knew whatever it was, it would work.
    •
    Mr. McCurdy and Vladimir were finishing up the last side of the temporary pen. I’d been instructed to cut the clothesline into two pieces. I’d strung them both up, one line attached to the side of the trailer door and leading all the way — about twenty-five metres — to the small opening they’d left in the pen. The second line was hung from the other side of the trailer door to the other side of the fence opening so that the two lines created a corridor from the trailer to the pen. I finished pinning up the last of Mr.