Poacher Peril (3 page)

“They're awesome,” said Ben, looking round the bustling room. “How deep underground are we?”

“A few hundred metres,” Uncle Stephen replied. “It keeps us away from prying eyes. You'd be surprised how much space we have down here. Apart from this control room there are offices, living quarters, labs, a games room and even a swimming pool.”

“I can't imagine you organising all this!” Zoe grinned cheekily.

“You've got a point, Zoe,” Uncle Stephen chuckled. “But thanks to Erika, Wild runs like clockwork. She's my second-incommand and keeps everything moving along smoothly. I just do a bit of tinkering here and there.”

“I think you're being modest,” said Erika. “After all, you are the driving force behind the entire operation and it's you who does all the planning of our missions.”

“Well, I suppose there is that,” admitted Uncle Stephen.

“And you invent all the gadgets and equipment Wild uses,” Erika went on.

“All environmentally friendly, of course,” put in Uncle Stephen.

“Like the chicken poo fuel,” said Zoe. “What do you use the eggs for? Something really ingenious?”

“Breakfast.” Their godfather grinned. “I like them boiled, with soldiers.”

“There's one thing I don't understand,” said Ben thoughtfully. “Why does Wild have to be secret? Couldn't you get more help if the organisation was known?”

“We could,” said Uncle Stephen. “But we'd get a lot more enemies, too. If nobody knows we exist we can operate in our own way.”

“There are people out there who'd want to stop us helping endangered animals,” explained Erika. “Poachers, collectors, those who have their own plans for the animals' habitats. So we must remain completely hidden from the world.”

“As you can see, working for Wild can be dangerous at times,” added Uncle Stephen, “but it's always very rewarding. Now are you ready to take on your first mission?”

“Mission?” Ben's eyes lit up. “Are we off somewhere else?”

“Of course,” said Uncle Stephen. “Wild has a very important project and who better than my wonderful godchildren to undertake it!” He rubbed his hands eagerly. “One of Wild's planes will be ready first thing tomorrow. Erika will be your pilot again.” He saw the stunned amazement on the children's faces. “You look like a couple of Kootenai sturgeon gawping at me like that.” He chuckled.

Erika cleared her throat. “You haven't told them where they're going.”

“Haven't I?” Uncle Stephen went over to a control panel and touched it. On the largest screen a world map appeared. He navigated it to the Indian Ocean and zoomed in on a long, thin island. “Sumatra,” he said.

“Wicked!” exclaimed Zoe. “We've never been to that part of Asia.”

“Your mission is to save a tiger,” said Uncle Stephen. “We've named her Tora.”

“Sumatran tigers are critically endangered,” Ben piped up. “There's only a few hundred left living freely – mainly because of poaching. Body parts are used in traditional medicine and that's illegal.”

“We know,” hissed Zoe. “Stop showing off.”

“Ben's right,” said Uncle Stephen. He waved a hand towards a young man who was bent over a keyboard. “James over there is part of our team who intercept internet information about poaching.”

James smiled and gave them a quick nod.

“He found out that poachers are active around Aman Tempat, a village in the south-west,” Uncle Stephen continued. “Last month they killed a male tiger, probably Tora's mate. Now Tora is being targeted by a rich collector, a woman who'll pay these poachers handsomely for her capture – and for her two newborn cubs. But we've got a bit of time. According to the information we've gathered, they're waiting for the cubs to be old enough to come out of their den.”

“When will that be?” asked Ben.

“Good question,” said Uncle Stephen. “At a rough guess – with the information we've gathered about Tora – we think she had the cubs about six weeks ago…”

“Bet they're gorgeous!” Zoe sighed.

Her godfather nodded. “Indeedy, Zoe. Tiger cubs don't emerge from their den until they're two months old. And we don't want to interfere with this natural course of events if we can help it. Your mission is to monitor the den and alert us as soon as they do. Then we can rescue them before the poachers get hold of them.”

“When the cubs are out, you'll make contact and we'll tell the nearby Kinaree Sanctuary,” Erika added. “Anonymously, of course.”

“And in the meantime, we'll try to find out more about this woman,” said Uncle Stephen, looking stern for once. “She must be stopped.”

“There's something I don't understand,” said Ben. “Why are the poachers waiting for the cubs to come out of their den? Why don't they just get them now?”

“The poachers have a very special commission,” said Dr Fisher solemnly. “The private collector wants the cubs to be a certain size. She's going to have Tora and her cubs killed – and stuffed.”

“NOOO!” yelled Ben and Zoe.

“So you see how urgent this is. But keep well clear of those poachers. They're dangerous! Men like that will stop at nothing if they're paid well enough. Now, Erika, have I forgotten anything?”

“BUGs, Dr Fisher?”

The children exchanged puzzled looks.

“Of course!” said Uncle Stephen. “Silly me, you'll need your Brilliant Undercover Gizmos.”

He flung open a drawer and began to hunt through it, pulling out pencil sharpeners, bits of old headphones and a half-eaten sandwich. “Got them!” he said, his face lighting up with excitement as he pulled out what looked like a couple of handheld game consoles. “My latest invention. Wonderful things. Solar rechargeable. Never let you down. They've got nearly everything you'll need in one neat gadget – communicators, translator, tracking devices. And they flick back to an innocent game if anyone comes along.” He handed them to Ben and Zoe.

“Cool.” Ben grinned, turning his BUG over in his hand. It was made of hard shiny black plastic with a small screen and lots of buttons.

“We must also visit the storeroom,” said Erika with a smile. “We have specially designed lightweight backpacks that we can fill with everything you need. Your gran said you're up to date with your travel jabs.”

Ben nodded, but Zoe looked thoughtful.

“Let me get this right, Uncle Stephen,” she said. “You want me and Ben to go to the other side of the world to save a tiger and her cubs from highly dangerous poachers.”

“Got it in one!” declared their godfather. “You're perfect for the job. Who would suspect a couple of kids who appear to be on holiday? I knew you two were the ones I wanted because you're brave and clever and you know more about animals than anyone else I can think of. But most importantly, I can trust you.” Then he frowned and looked at them earnestly.

“Er…I suppose I should ask – will you do it?”

“YES!” shouted Ben and Zoe together.

CHAPTER
FOUR

Zoe woke with a start. For a moment she couldn't think where she was. Then she remembered. Was it only two days ago they'd agreed to undertake the biggest adventure of their lives? And now here they were on the other side of the world – in a little wooden hut in the hot, steamy Sumatran rainforest. The excitement made her stomach flutter.

She flung her sheet off and swung her legs over the edge of the camp bed, tangling herself in the mosquito net that hung around it. At last she emerged, touslehaired, and stared at the bed next to hers. Ben was fast asleep.

“Wake up!” she said, shaking him through his netting.

Ben muttered and turned over.

Zoe sighed. Ben always suffered worse jet lag than her whenever they travelled great distances. It had been dark when they'd arrived at the hut last night with Erika after a long plane ride and then a bumpy journey in a jeep. The hurricane lamp hadn't given off much light, but now bright sunshine was streaming in through the blinds. Zoe padded round the room, feeling the rough matting under her bare feet. The place was simple – a single room with a cupboard, a one-ring stove and a stone bowl in the corner.

Erika had left bottles of water and some fruit on a little table. She'd told them to tell anyone who asked that they'd come with their Aunt Erika, who liked to go off sightseeing on her own. Erika had certainly “gone off ”, but not sightseeing. By now she'd be in Jakarta, following a lead on the rich collector.

Zoe took a drink, pulled her crumpled clothes out of her backpack and got dressed. Grabbing a banana, she took her BUG outside. The hut was in a clearing a little way from the village of Aman Tempat. It was surrounded by lush green trees, and the air was full of birdsong and the scent of flowers. A blue-winged butterfly landed on the log next to her. Zoe noted that the sun was directly overhead. It was midday. They must have slept for hours.

“What did Erika say about using the BUGs?” She scrolled down the menu. “Translator. How does that work?” There was a small button on the side. It was made of a soft, squishy plastic and came away in her hand. “Earpiece!” she exclaimed, sticking it in her ear. It was so comfortable she couldn't even feel it.

Inside the hut, Ben opened his eyes. He could hear Zoe muttering outside. “Communicator…satellite tracker…”

Good
, he thought, scrambling out of bed.
Zoe's finding out about the BUGs
. Ben loved gadgets, but he was too impatient to learn how to use them. Zoe was doing all the investigating and that suited him.

“Morning!” He popped his head round the curtain.