Read or die! | Africa | Wildlife | Poaching |
The Last Rhino Pt. 19
This is Part Nineteen
Refresher from part 18
“I’m going to set us down, Rebecca. When I leave, keep the door closed and don’t touch anything; I’m leaving the rotors in neutral, but they will turn. Do you understand?”
“I’m a grown woman, Fletch. Not an excited teenager,” she said.
With the chopper on the ground, Fletch jumped out, took his rifle, and walked toward the muddy swamp, keeping alert. Rebecca watched intently.
Part 19
At the High Court, Mahoney sits across from Judge Percival Manyathi, who is discussing offering a guilty plea for the boys’ crime.
“Judge, if we can agree on a fine for the boys, the Nhdlovu brothers will take them to work on the ranch. They will be kept there, given food and work, and help feed the animals during the day. If we jail them, they will sit in a cell for two years at the government’s cost.”
An hour later, after paying two hundred dollars, Mahoney walks the boys out of the court. Under Mahoney’s guidance, the translator explains that the judge wants to give them ten years. They must agree to come to the Nhdlovu Ranch to avoid a prison sentence. Nhdlovu will shelter them and make them work for two years.
The Judge sits back in his chair.
As Fletch followed the scuff marks to the edge of the shallow water hole, his eyes transfixed on a pair of nostrils jutting out from the swampiness, behind which is a half-submerged scaly body. The water could not be more than two feet deep. In a slow rising motion, two eyes appear from the muddy water. The croc has Fletch in his sight.
Back in the helicopter’s cockpit, Rebecca now sees what Fletch sees and instinctively holds her breath. She hasn’t a clue what he’s doing or why.
Very slowly, Fletch squats, not taking his eyes off the croc, and picks up a half submerged boot. It’s heavy and soggy, but heavier than that, part of a ranger’s uniform; the leather boot is one that is government-supplied to Rangers. Holding the boot, Fletcher glances inside; a foot is still in it. Slowly he backs up with the boot but is startled when suddenly there’s a rustle from the bush, Fletch drops the boot, turns, lifts his rifle, and targets in one movement, only to breathe a sigh of relief as two monkeys give him a wide berth, screaming their annoyance.
His heart rate slowing, he collects the boot and backs up toward the helicopter. Opening the door, he throws the boot behind his seat. “Don’t touch, and don’t Look,” he tells Rebecca, shutting the door and following the muddy scuff marks back to where they originated in the bush. He finds the torso of a body, a Rangers shirt shredded, head missing. Alongside the torso, a pair of trousers, filled with a man’s legs and both feet attached, still wearing boots.
In the helicopter, Fletch calls base with the coordinates to the water hole.
Gabriel comes on. “Fletch, you’ve found the Rangers? Over.”
“Their bodies, Gabriel, what’s left anyway. I’m sorry. You have the coordinates. Get the police out here. I’m going to head back with Rebecca. Over”
“How is she?” Gabriel asks. Rebecca rolls her eyes.
“Rebecca is Good. We’ll see you later. Out.”
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