Poacher Peril (7 page)

Zoe swung her backpack off her shoulder and found the medical kit. She splashed water on his grazes and began to cover them with dressings.

“Better get back to the village,” said Ben. “I think we should…
ouch
!…make sure that the poachers…
yow, Zoe, that stings
…aren't on Tora's trail yet.”

It was late morning by the time Ben and Zoe reached the village. It had stopped raining and everywhere was steaming in the sun.

“At least the rain's washed the tiger wee off,” said Zoe. “Now to work.”

“Can't we get something to eat?” moaned Ben. “If anyone hears my stomach rumbling, they'll think the tiger's arrived in town.”

“As soon as we've checked out the poachers,” Zoe insisted. She took out her BUG and tapped some keys. A green light flashed. “That Wicaksono's still at home and we might be able to get close enough to hear something if we hang around.”

They made for his house. There was no sign of anyone, but there was a row of men's shoes by the door. They could hear a voice coming from inside.

“Deal again. I'm feeling lucky. Get your money ready.”

“Sounds like cards,” said Zoe.

“Risky,” said Ben. “The programme I saw said that gambling is forbidden in Sumatra.”

A woman was walking briskly towards the house. Zoe and Ben quickly sat down and pretended to be playing games on their BUGs. They made sure their translators were on and their earpieces in. The woman didn't seem to see them. She marched straight up the steps.

“Sapto!” she called in an angry voice. “I know you're in there!” She thumped on the wooden door. “I'm staying here until you come out.”

There was a shuffling from inside. The woman bashed on the door again. At last it opened. Wicaksono stood there.

“Ah… Hello, Ratu…” he said. “Your husband isn't here. I haven't seen him…”

“Out of my way!” Without another word, the woman pushed past and went inside the house. Ben and Zoe could hear yelling and the sound of things being knocked over. Then the woman reappeared, dragging a man along by his ear!

“Some husband you are!” she yelled, as she pulled him down the steps, sweeping up his shoes as she went. “You promise to stop gambling and what do I find…”

“I'm sorry, Ratu my love,” the man was whimpering, as they went out of sight. “I was just about to win – I had the best cards ever. You could have had everything you wanted…
ow
!”

Two other men came to the door of the hut. They pulled on their shoes and scurried off sheepishly.

Ben looked at Zoe. “If they're dangerous poachers, I'm an aardvark!” he said. “It was just a secret gambling game. ‘Making a killing' was a phrase, not what they were setting out to do. We're back to square one.”

CHAPTER
EIGHT

“What do we do now?” said Zoe.

“Angkasa knew about the poachers,” answered Ben. “Maybe we can ask her a few more questions without frightening her off.”

They set off through the village, but there was no sign of the fruit stall today.

“What have you done to yourself?” said a voice. It was Catur. He came out of his shop and took Ben's hands. He looked concerned.

“I…slipped over,” said Ben.

“I can sell you something to make it heal.” Catur gestured towards his shop. “Come inside.”

Ben and Zoe followed him in. Beads and brooches and carved wooden animals were displayed on a long table, next to a row of bottles containing richly coloured powders and pills. There were some pretty rings displayed on the back wall, beside a curtained opening. Zoe went over to have a look. She knew Gran would like them.

Catur picked up a small pot of bright red ointment. “This is a salve made from the lipstick tree. It helps to keep wounds clean.” He opened the lid and let Ben sniff at it.

As Zoe examined the rings she had a sudden thought. Catur might know something about the man that Angkasa had mentioned. But how could she bring up the subject of poaching without explaining why they wanted to know?

“This ointment is very good,” Catur was saying. “But if you are willing to pay a bit more I have something…special… in my storeroom.” He gestured towards the curtain. “Guaranteed to heal those wounds quickly. I don't tell everyone about it, but I like you two.”

Suddenly alarm bells started ringing in Zoe's head. There was a sly sound to Catur's voice. And what did he mean by “special”? She exchanged a quick glance with Ben. She could see he had the same suspicion as her. Was Catur the “bad man” Angkasa had told them about? Was he dealing in animal parts and making ointments out of tiger bones?

“We haven't got much money on us at the moment,” she said. “So we'll stick with the salve.”

“Of course,” said Catur smoothly. “But do come back if you need anything…else.”

As soon as they'd left the shop, Ben pulled Zoe into the gap between two of the wooden houses.

“We'll certainly be back,” he muttered. “And sooner than he thinks.”

“You've got that look again,” said Zoe.

“What are you planning?”

“It sounds as if Catur could be linked to the poachers,” Ben told her. “But we must make sure we've got the right man this time.”

“And how do you plan to do that?” demanded Zoe. “We can't ask him.”

“I'm going to get a look inside that storeroom,” said Ben. “Let's see if there's another way in.”

They crept along past compost heaps and chicken runs until they came to the back of Catur's shop.

“There's a door,” said Ben. “Now here's your part in the plan. Keep him busy while I search.”

“OK,” said Zoe. “But be careful. Remember what Uncle Stephen said. The poachers are dangerous.” She grinned. “I forgot to get a ring for Gran!” she said brightly. “See you in a minute.” She darted off.

Ben waited until he heard Zoe's voice ringing out. “I can't decide,” she was saying loudly. “Could you take them out the front so I can get a better look in the light?”

Ben gingerly opened the back door of the shop and crept in. The storeroom was hot and gloomy, lit only by a small, dirty window. There were shelves piled high with tins and packets. Ben inspected them. This was the ordinary stock for the shop. He pulled out some cans of baked beans to see if there was anything hidden behind, but he found only a few dead flies.

“The green one is nice…” He could hear Zoe chattering on.

He noticed a shabby chest of drawers in the corner. He pulled open the top drawer, wincing as it squeaked. It was full of jars and boxes. Ben picked up a small glass bottle, containing what looked like strands of wire. Then he opened a box and nearly dropped it in shock. It was full of dried eyeballs!

Gross
! he thought.
And that wasn't wire.
It was whiskers.

He opened the second drawer. There was something rolled up in brown paper, like a small rug. He uncurled an edge and found himself staring at a beautiful orange and black striped pelt.

Then he heard a muttered voice from the shop.

“I want to talk to you, Catur! Come with me.”

The translated words rang in his ear. That wasn't Zoe. It was a man and footsteps were approaching! They were heading across the wooden floor of the shop – straight towards the storeroom. There was no time to get out. Ben squeezed into the tiny gap between the chest of drawers and the wall as the curtain was flung aside. Too late he realised he'd left the drawer open.

“You shouldn't be seen here,” he heard Catur snap.

“I wouldn't be here if you'd told me what's happening.” It was the other man again. “When we didn't hear from you we started to think you were planning to do the job yourself and take all the money.” He gave a cold laugh. “Then we'd have had to…see to you as well as the tiger.”

Ben listened intently.

“You're crazy.” Catur laughed coldly. “How could I cheat you, my friend? We're all in this together…we're like brothers. Meet me at the usual place at nightfall and I'll tell you the plan. Now go.”

And we're going to be there to hear it, too
, thought Ben.

He heard the stranger barge his way out of the back door. Then with horror he realised that Catur was coming over to where he was hiding. He tried to edge further back, but there was nowhere to go. He was going to be caught.
Thump!
Catur slammed the drawer shut then stomped back into his shop. Ben sagged with relief. He eased himself out of his hiding place, peered round the door to make sure the coast was clear, and slipped outside.

He sauntered round to the front of the shop. “Hurry up, Zoe,” he called, pretending to be annoyed.

Zoe bounded out to join him. “Is he a poacher?” she whispered.

Ben nodded. “And we're going to follow him tonight and find out his plans.”

“Stake-out time.” Zoe grinned. “That mango tree looks shady. We could spend the afternoon there.”

“Mango,” said Ben. “Delicious. Lead me to it!”

The sun was low over the trees when Catur locked up his shop. He hurried along a path towards the forest. Zoe quickly aimed the tracker, but Ben put his hand on her arm. “Too risky,” he said. “We can't do anything that might alert him. He's sharp, this one.”

Keeping to the shadows, they set off in pursuit, following the poacher's bobbing flashlight. It was dark by the time he came to a rough hut, half-covered in vines. Ben and Zoe crouched down behind a pitcher plant, its large, cup-like leaves heavy with water. They slipped on their night goggles and put in their earphones so that they could hear the conversation translated. Two men were waiting for Catur on the veranda.

“That tall one with the big nose was the man in the shop,” whispered Zoe. “He looks mean.”

“And the short one's not much better,” Ben replied. “We've got to be ultra careful.”

As soon as the men had gone inside the hut, Ben and Zoe crept up and hid under a window.