The Pursuit of the Ivory Poachers (9 page)

“I see,” said Jasper. He didn't seem convinced by Jack's excuse. “Why don't I take you there?” he said, leading Jack by the arm. “Shall I call Trevor and tell him that you'll be ready . . . a bit earlier than expected?”

“That would be nice,” said Jack.

They soon reached the main building and Jasper phoned Trevor. It wasn't long before he arrived. He pulled up in the darkened car park. After all, it was only 6:00
AM
.

“Morning,” Trevor said. “I was thinking I'd take you on a safari drive. It's too early to see the old man anyway,” he said, meaning Chief Abasi. “He's probably still asleep. But the animals, on the other hand, are just starting to wake up.”

Jack thought that was a great idea. Any opportunity to learn about the animals, especially the elephants, could only help with the investigation. He also wanted to search for clues that would tie Jasper Kendall to the crime.

“Excellent idea,” said Jack as he climbed into the front seat. Jack was impressed by Trevor's new Land Rover. He'd ridden in the same kind of vehicle once with his dad at a local motor show. “Nice car,” Jack said.

“Thanks,” said Trevor. “I got it in Mombasa.”

Jack turned in his seat and looked at Mr K, who was waiting at the edge of the car park. He waved goodbye and gave Jack one of his cheesy grins.
I'll get you
, thought Jack as he waved back.
It's just a matter of time.

They'd driven for half an hour in darkness when Trevor piped up. “There's a place nearby where you can see the sunrise and watch the animals,” he said.

“Sounds great,” said Jack, who was looking forward to a break. After all, he'd had a stressful morning.

After a few minutes, Trevor shifted the car down a gear. “This is the place I told you about,” he said as the Land Rover began to climb a steep hill. The car
rocked back and forth as it made its way over some jagged rocks. “You'll love the view from up here.” He sounded very excited.

When the car heaved over the ridge, Trevor drove onto a flatter piece of land. With the sun beginning to rise, Jack could make out some trees lining the top of the hill. Dotting the ground were what looked like small- to medium-sized rocks. Trevor put the car into neutral.

As Jack looked around, he noticed something odd. There weren't any animals here. What was Trevor thinking? Jack said to himself. Then he heard what sounded like a lion's yawn.

Squinting, Jack could just make out some larger shapes underneath the trees. As the sun's light grew brighter by the second, things became clearer. There were six adult lions lying down on their
bellies. Four of them were female; two of them were male. Jack knew this because two had magnificent manes of hair. Jack wouldn't have been so worried if it weren't for the fact that the Land Rover didn't have any doors on its sides.

“Trevor,” said Jack, not wanting to sound scared, “isn't this a bit risky? I'd like to see some wild animals,” he added, “but maybe not lions that are this close.”

Trevor turned to Jack. “Get out,” he said. But he didn't say it kindly; he said it with a sinister snarl.

“What?” said Jack, who wasn't sure he'd heard Trevor correctly.

Trevor opened the glove box in front of Jack. He reached in and pulled out a knife in a brown leather sheath. As Trevor slid the cover off with his other hand, he glared at Jack.

“You heard me,” he growled. “Get out! And if you don't,” he added, “I'll have to use this.” Trevor waved the knife in Jack's face so he could see its razor-sharp edge.

Jack was stunned. What was going on? Where was the friendly Trevor he knew? And why was he holding a knife in Jack's face?

“I've been collecting these tusks for weeks,” Trevor explained. “And then Chief Abasi had to go and find them on one of his little “walks.” Now, I have to find more ivory,” he explained. “My Far Eastern buyers are desperate for their goods, and I don't need the likes of you getting in the way.”

Jack almost couldn't talk from surprise. “But I thought—” said Jack, thinking about Jasper Kendall and the bootprints he'd found at the shed.

“What, that Jasper Kendall had something to do with it?” he snarled. “That guy couldn't pick his nose if it weren't for me! I knew a little busybody like you would come sniffing around the
shed if it was ever found,” he explained, “so I put Jasper's boots on and made some nice tracks. Looks like it worked. Otherwise you wouldn't be here with me.”

Jack thought back to when he first met Trevor. Trevor made it seem like he was a bit of a clown . . . the floppy hat, his wacky way of piloting the balloon, the way he talked. That was all just a trick to make Jack think he was a nice guy, not a cold-hearted ivory poacher!

“I tried to get rid of you last night,” Trevor went on, “but somehow you managed to escape. This time,” he added, with a snigger, “I think the lions will do a better job.”

Of course, Jack thought. Trevor must have snuck back into the camp and put the snake in his tent. It would have been very easy for him to do. After all, they were used to seeing him around Mr K's.

Jack didn't have much time. He pulled his thoughts together. “But how can you kill innocent animals?” he said, trying to distract Trevor. As he spoke, he took what looked like a coin out of his pocket and let it drop to the floor of the Land Rover.

“There's only one simple answer to that question,” said Trevor. “Money . . . Now get out!”

Jack thought about his options. Unfortunately for him there wasn't a
gadget that could get him out of a situation involving a knife. There was only one thing to do, and that was to climb out of the car and take his chances with the lions.

With the sun nearly awake, Jack could see finally what he was up against. The lions were now standing on all fours. They were watching Jack as he got out of the car.

“Trevor,” said Jack as he stepped out and onto the dirt. “I'm warning you. Don't do this. African elephants are already endangered. Killing more will just make matters worse.”

Trevor laughed one last dramatic laugh – he didn't care at all. He revved the engine
and slipped it back into gear, then peeled away from the spot and left Jack without any protection.

“ROOOOAAARR!”

Quickly, Jack turned around to see one of the male lions licking his chops. The females were gathering together. Jack knew that lions hunted in the morning hours, which meant that they were probably looking at Jack as easy food. He didn't have much time to act. He was going to have to get out of there before they attacked.

Taking off his Book Bag, Jack crouched on the ground. The female lions were beginning to surround him, since they did all of the hunting. With animals on all sides, there was only one gadget that could help Jack.

The GPF's Power Pogo was a pogo stick like no other. With one bounce,
it could catapult you up to fifteen feet high.

Jack grabbed the life-saving gadget, strapped his Book Bag back on, and placed his hands and one foot on the Power Pogo. He looked at the lions. The female lions were inching closer while the male lions were waiting patiently under the trees.

“ROOOOAAARR!

Like lightning, the lionesses sprang into action, pushing with their strong hind legs to leap forward. They were charging at top speed in an attempt to bring Jack down! Quickly, Jack lifted his other foot and jumped onto the pogo stick for its first bounce. When it hit the ground, it flew up into the air.

BOING!

One of the lion's paws just missed Jack's feet as he rocketed into the sky, then came crashing back to the ground. Luckily for Jack, he landed just to the right of the pride of lions, who were scrambling to reach him.