Poacher Peril by J. Burchett Page A

shouts and circling lights. The next moment Catur had vanished into the forest.
    Zoe reached a hand out to Ben, tears streaming down her face.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” he gasped, as he clambered out of the trap, blinded by the strong flashlights. He tore off his goggles.
    Zoe flung her arms round him.“I’m so glad you’re OK!” she sobbed. Then she dropped to her knees and stroked Tora’s lifeless body. “But we couldn’t save this beautiful creature.”

    A woman ran up to them. She had an Australian accent and wore a green uniform with an elephant logo. “Whatever are you kids doing here?”
    Zoe looked at the woman, speechless. Ben squeezed his sister’s hand.
    â€œWe met a shopkeeper in Aman Tempat who had some illegally poached stuff,” he explained. “He said his name was Catur. We overheard him talking about killing a tiger, so we followed him. We would’ve told our aunt who’s staying with us, but there was no time and we didn’t know who else to trust. We managed to keep the tiger away from his trap…”
    â€œâ€¦but we were too late to save her,” Zoe sniffed.
    â€œToo late?” said the woman. “What are you talking about? You can give yourselves a pat on the back. It wasn’t too smart putting yourselves in danger, but it looks like you’ve saved this tiger’s life.”
    Zoe gawped at her. “But the man shot her. She’s dead.”
    â€œShe’s not dead!” The woman smiled. “That fool of a poacher never even fired his gun. Feel her chest. She’s breathing.”
    â€œHow come?” Ben was stupefied. “We heard a gun and she fell to the ground.”
    â€œThat was me,” said the woman. “I fired a tranquillising dart at her.” She held out a hand. “My name’s Barbara. I’m with the Kinaree Sanctuary. We got an anonymous message saying there was a mother tiger and cubs in danger. And they weren’t the only ones. I didn’t expect to find a couple of kids under fire as well!”
    Zoe and Ben stroked Tora’s magnificent fur. Now they were calmer they could feel her shallow breathing.
    â€œLook at her noble face,” said Zoe. “Her markings are so beautiful, the white around her muzzle and over her eyes.”
    â€œI don’t get it,” said Barbara, shaking her head. “We had no idea about this tiger and her cubs until we got the phone call. She must have kept herself well hidden.”
    â€œWhere are the cubs?” said Ben suddenly.
    â€œBarbara!” Someone called to the Australian. Ben and Zoe were astonished to see Wicaksono, the gambler from the village, carrying one of the cubs. Another man came behind with the second and a third led the goat along on a length of rope.
    â€œWe’re lucky to have Wicaksono here,” Barbara said. “He’s the best animal trapper I know.”
    Ben and Zoe looked at each other guiltily.
    â€œYou come see,” Wicaksono said in broken English, beckoning to them.
    Zoe and Ben didn’t need to be told twice. The cubs mewed and licked their hands as they stroked their beautiful white bellies. Wicaksono handed one of them to Zoe.
    â€œYou hold,” he said.
    Zoe wiped her eyes on her sleeves and took the tiger cub like a baby in her arms. It was surprisingly heavy. “You’re going to be all right,” she whispered as its big round eyes gazed solemnly at her.

    Four men came forward with a wooden cage pulled on a cart. The sleeping Tora was lifted very carefully and placed inside.
    â€œBack to the village,” said Barbara.
    â€œWe’ll come back for that horrible metal contraption later.”
    â€œWhat about this?” called a man, holding up the tiger skin in disgust.
    â€œBring that. We’ll need it for evidence.”
    They all followed the cart. Wicaksono walked with Barbara, and they heard him asking questions about