“What is it?” Richard asked.
“A pit viper,” Dr. Knapp said.
Richard looked up and saw a snake wrapped around a branch over head. The reptile hissed at Dr. Knapp>as he wielded his dagger. The predator drew back before striking. In an effort to fend off the viper, Dr. Knapp lost his balance and fell, hitting several branches before grabbing hold of one about ten meters off the ground.
“Are you all right?” Richard asked as he kept his eyes trained on the snake making his way around the branch overhead.
“I’ll be fine as long as I can hold on,” Dr. Knapp said.
Richard eased back toward the trunk, glancing down to see the tiger unfazed by the commotion as she looked up and circled Dr. Knapp’s position.
“If I fall, she’s going to devour me,” Dr. Knapp said.
“And what do you expect me to do now?”
“Take the damn shot and kill this animal before it eats me for dinner.”
Richard secured his rifle and scurried down a couple branches to put some distance between him and the viper. Then he assessed the situation below. With Dr. Knapp struggling to stay suspended, Richard needed to put the animal down—or at least scare it off.
“Remember what I taught you,” Dr. Knapp said, his voice quivering. “Deep breath, squeeze the trigger.”
“I got this,” Richard said.
He placed the butt of the rifle against his shoulder and steadied his weapon on an adjacent branch. After taking aim, Richard followed Dr. Knapp’s training. As Richard’s finger eased the trigger back, the crack of the gun almost took him by surprise. He teetered on the limb before regaining his balance. Once he did, he looked down to see the results of his shot.
Instead of seeing a dead tiger, Richard realized that he had hit the animal enough to make it mad but not enough to kill it.
“Try again,” Dr. Knapp said. “This time, your aim better be true.”
The tiger’s pace increased as she stared upward at Dr. Knapp. Without warning, Dr. Knapp’s hand slipped and he tumbled another five meters before grabbing ahold of another branch.
“Richard, hurry it up, will you? I can’t hold on much longer.”
Dr. Knapp’s feet dangled below without any nearby limb to gain solid footing, and the branch creaked and moaned as he attempted to still himself.
“Hold on,” Richard said. “Just a few more seconds.”
He chambered another round and was about to shoot when the viper hissed again. Richard abandoned his position, swinging over to another branch and then scurrying down another ten meters.
“It’s been more than a few seconds,” Dr. Knapp said.
“Almost there,” Richard said before hastily preparing to take a shot.
After lining up the tiger with the bead through the sight, Richard took a deep breath and fired another shot. This time, the bullet flew true, striking the beast in the center of his chest.
Richard winced as he watched the animal claw her way along the ground before stopping a few meters beyond the clearing.
Dr. Knapp let go of the branch and fell to the jungle floor, collapsing in a heap. Richard hustled down the tree and rushed over to check on his mentor.
“Are you okay?” Richard asked.
Dr. Knapp nodded as he rubbed his right arm. “I’ll live, thanks to you.”
Richard crept over toward the tiger to inspect what he’d done, though he could barely stand to look at her.
Joining Richard, Dr. Knapp threw his arm around his pupil. “I know that was hard for you, but it had to be done. That same tiger ravaged two small children and would’ve gladly done the same to me given the opportunity.”
“That still doesn’t make it any easier,” Richard said. “Just look at her. She’s a magnificent beast.”
“And sometimes great danger accompanies an animal like this. Don’t mistake beauty for safety. Such an assumption could end your life as an intelligence agent.”
“But did we have to kill her?” Richard asked, gesturing toward the animal.
“Yes,” Dr. Knapp said before pulling out his pistol and shooting the tiger in the head. “And the most humane thing we can do is end her suffering. Now, let’s get back to the compound and tell everyone the good news.”
Richard felt sick to his stomach over what he’d done as he trudged along. He wanted to experience the beauty of nature, not destroy it.
“You’re awfully quiet back there,” Dr. Knapp said. “Are you all right?”
Richard sighed. “I’ve been better.”
“Look, the charge of taking another person’s life is a grave matter, even if that person deserves it. But sometimes we must do things we find unsavory to protect the loss of even greater bloodshed, particularly to the innocent. That tiger was a perfect example. Now, I’m not going to tell you how to be an intelligence officer, because each person has to travel his own path. You do what works best for each situation—and you do it however you need to keep your conscience clear. Besides, the fact that you even have one is always a good sign. It’ll guide your steps and keep you moored on the side of doing what’s right when the best choice isn’t always so obvious.”
“I hope so,” Richard said. “If I lose my conscience, every good thing I’ve ever done on this earth will be overshadowed by the fact that I couldn’t maintain the bearing I needed to leave this world better than I found it.”
“If you’re even thinking about that now means that you have a good chance to navigate this position better than most.”
Once they reached the compound, they entered through the back gate, slipping inside without anyone noticing their weapons. Dr. Knapp unlocked his training room and replaced all the guns.
“Come with me,” Dr. Knapp said, gesturing for Richard to follow him.
Dr. Knapp strode to his main office and offered Richard a seat once they both got inside.
“What’s this all about?” Richard asked.
Dr. Knapp sat down across from Richard and leaned forward. “I wanted to let you know that I’m recommending your approval to proceed as a U.S. Army intelligence officer. You’re ready, Richard. And I don’t think I’ll ever see a finer man in my lifetime.
“Thank you, sir,” Richard said. “I appreciate your kind and encouraging words.”
“I can assure you that’s not the norm. I rarely approve agents so quickly. However, I always get them a gift.”
“A gift?”
Dr. Knapp nodded and reached inside his desk drawer, producing a small box. He placed it in front of Richard. “Go ahead. Open it.”
Richard lifted the lid and then reached inside, taking hold of a silver belt buckle. He maintained a straight face, trying not to give away his sense of bewilderment.
“Looks like a normal buckle, doesn’t it?” Dr. Knapp asked as he held his hand out. “But looks can be deceiving.”
Richard handed the metal object back to Dr. Knapp, who pulled down on the latch to reveal a small knife. “You never know when you might need this to get out of a jam.”
“Thank you,” Richard said. “I’m sure this might come in handy one day.”
“And on that note, I thought you might want to learn about your first assignment after you’ve gotten some training.”
Dr. Knapp pushed a sealed envelope toward Richard. He picked it up and opened it quickly. He scanned the page before re-reading it again very slowly.
Richard cocked his head to one side and scowled. “It says I’m going to have a partner for this trip and that he’ll meet me on the train in the morning at the Dhamtari depot.”
“What’s the assignment?” Dr. Knapp asked.
Richard furrowed his brow as he glanced at the paper again. “It doesn’t say.”
Chapter 5
WILHELM GLANCED AT HIS WATCH, unsure if Alex Fullerton would ever return with a suitable guide. With the way the British magistrate was acting, Wilhelm wondered if Fullerton had simply absconded with the money. Despite the dire warning, the Reichswehr leader wa
sn’t intimidated about what lurked in the Papikonda Hills. Guide or no guide, he was confident his elite team of soldiers could handle any attack by Thugs with primitive weapons.
“Do you want me to go after him?” Ludwig asked.
Wilhelm peered down the path and shook his head. “We’ll give him five more minutes.”
The rest of the Reichswehr troops were busy securing their supplies and gear for the next leg of their journey when Fullerton reappeared less than a minute later. He had a guide in tow who wore a wide grin on his face as he bounced along the trail.
“Everyone, this is Mahendra,” Fullerton announced. “He was born in these hills and knows them better than anyone. In fact, he used to be a part of the Thugs that roam these forests, so he knows better than anyone how to avoid them.”
Wilhelm eyed Fullerton closely. “I wasn’t sure you were coming back.”
“Whatever would give you that idea?” Fullerton asked.
“I don’t know, but you’re coming with us,” Wilhelm said.
Fullerton’s eyes widened. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. I have work to attend to here, and I can’t waste my time traipsing through the jungle with your team.”
Ludwig stepped in front of Fullerton. “It wasn’t a request.”
Fullerton sighed and shook his head. “Am I your insurance policy? You want me to make sure that this man is going to do what you’re paying him to do?”
“You talk too much,” Wilhelm said as he shoved Fullerton down the path.
Fullerton stopped and looked back at the elephants. “What are you going to do about those animals? You can’t just leave them here.”
“Consider it a bonus for when you return,” Wilhelm said. “I’m sure you’ll find some way to make a profit off them.”
Fullerton nodded. “Give me a minute.”
With Ludwig following closely behind, Fullerton hustled over toward one of the villagers and had a brief conversation before returning.
“Ready?” Wilhelm asked.
Fullerton nodded.
“Then let’s go,” Wilhelm said.
Mahendra was in the middle of introducing himself to each soldier and shaking their hands before Wilhelm interrupted with a more stern order to begin the journey. Fullerton explained that once they navigated through the Papikonda Hills, the soldiers would find much less dangerous terrain as well as a train depot that would allow them to go wherever they wanted far more efficiently. Without any animals to assist in their trip, he warned that the journey could be lengthy.
“How long are you talking about?” Wilhelm asked.
“Several days at least,” Fullerton answered.
“Tell Mahendra we need it completed in two.”
“We’ll never make it that quickly,” Fullerton protested.
“My men are highlytrained soldiers. The terrain is of little concern to them. They care only about the end goal. And if that is to emerge from the jungle in two days, they’ll do whatever it takes to do that. So, you better not slow us down.”
Fullerton swallowed hard and nodded.
* * *
THE CARAVAN PICKED its way through the vegetation behind Mahendra’s guidance. After an hour, the group took its first water break near a stream. Wilhelm announced it would last no more than two minutes before settling onto a rock next to Fullerton, who was lying on the ground.
“Still think we won’t be able to make it in two days?” Wilhelm asked.
“If your men can keep up this pace, perhaps it’s possible, but I’m not the one to be asking,” Fullerton said. “Mahendra is the man who knows these woods like the back of his hand.”
“And how long have you known our guide?”
“Long enough to know he’s one of the best in this region, not to mention that I trust him fully. He’s proven to be a valuable asset in our fight to curtail all the thievery in the area.”
“In that case, we’re lucky to have him,” Wilhlem said as he stood. “Let’s get going. Break’s over.”
The Reichswehr soldiers scrambled to get up and resume their journey along the path. However, they hadn’t been hiking for more than five minutes more before a young boy sprinted toward them. Hunched over with his hands on his knees, he tried to catch his breath. After a few seconds, he said something, though he struggled to get it out.
Mahendra and the young boy had an exchange in Hindi before the guide translated everything. Once the message was fully received, Mahendra looked up, wide-eyed.
“There are some Thugs around the next bend in the road,” Mahendra explained. “We need to take another route. Follow me. I know a way around them.”
All the soldiers glanced at Wilhelm, who wasn’t interested in instigating a conflict, though he wasn’t afraid of one either. He nodded, conveying assurance as he did.
“If that’s what we have to do, then follow him,” he said before glancing at Ludwig. When the pair made eye contact, Ludwig nodded.
Mahendra guided the group down a small hill near a stream. After walking parallel with it for a few minutes, they rounded a bend and came to a stop near the base of another hill. At first glance, there didn’t appear to be a way out.
“What’s this?” Wilhelm asked.
Before he could do anything, a dozen Thugs emerged from the surrounding trees. Most of the men were armed with swords and daggers, while the leader carried a pistol. The boy ran up to the leader.
“Good job, son,” the leader said, tousling the boy’s hair.
He looked up and smiled at the man.
“What is this?” Wilhelm demanded.
“You’re being robbed,” Mahendra said with a faint smile.
Wilhelm turned toward Fullerton. “You set us up.”
“I—I had no idea he was going to do this,” Fullerton said.
The bandits’ leader stepped forward, waving his gun toward the Reichswehr soldiers. “Place your weapons on the ground, and throw all your valuables over here.”
“Why would I do such a thing?” Wilhelm asked.
The man shrugged. “Maybe you would prefer that I take everything off your dead bodies. It makes no difference to me. You decide.”
Wilhelm glanced into the woods behind the thieves. “I suggest you put down your weapons and return to where you came from.”
The man laughed. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re surrounded,” Wilhelm said.
At that moment, Ludwig and several other soldiers stepped out of the forest with their guns trained on the Thugs.
The leader glared at Mahendra. “You set us up.”
Mahendra stared back, eyes wide and mouth agape. “I thought everyone was with me, and I—”
Swinging his gun in Mahendra’s direction, the leader narrowed his eyes. “It was a simple task, yet you failed me again.”
“Put the gun down now,” Wilhelm said. “I need our guide.”
The man laughed. “A guide? He can hardly find his way from one village to another. I don’t know where you’re expecting him to guide you to, but you should consider hiring someone else.”
“Like who? You?”
The leader nodded. “I’m far more capable of taking you through the Papikonda Hills than this man.”
“If you don’t lower your weapon right now, you won’t be leading anyone anywhere anymore,” Wilhelm said. “Is that clear?”
The leader made a quick move toward Wilhelm before he gunned the man the down. Two of the other Thugs appeared to be wheeling their weapons in Wilhelm’s direction but didn’t get far as Ludwig and another Reichswehr soldier shot both men.
“I’m not going to ask again,” Wilhelm said.
The rest of the bandits dropped their guns on the ground and raised their hands in the air. Ludwig directed his fellow agents as they tied the Thugs to nearby trees.
Mahendra glanced at Wilhelm. “Do you still need a guide?”
“Any more shenanigans and I won’t hesitate to shoot you. Understood?”
Mahe
ndra nodded. “Thank you, sir, for trusting me.”
“I don’t trust you, but I don’t have any other options at this point. You better make yourself indispensable.”
Wilhelm then turned his attention toward Fullerton.
“I’m terribly sorry about all this,” Fullerton said. “If I would’ve thought that this man would—”
“I’m not interested in listening to your excuses,” Wilhelm said. “The only thing keeping you alive right now is the fact that you might be able to help us if we ever get out of this godforsaken jungle. If it weren’t for that fact, you’d be joining these Thugs here.”
“I won’t let you down.”
“It’s too late for that,” Wilhelm said. “But there still might be a chance for you to redeem yourself.”
“What do you want me to do?” Fullerton asked.
“I want you to return to your village along with one of my men and spread the word that the Thugs’ actions will not be tolerated anymore, and that you intend to make an example out of them.”
“But I can’t do that. I’ll—”
“You can and you will,” Wilhelm said. “I’ll send one of my men to accompany you to ensure that this happens.”
Fullerton continued to protest, but Wilhelm ignored the pleas. A few minutes later, Ludwig reported that all the prisoners were secure.
“Time to move out,” Wilhelm said. “We have a treasure to hunt.”
Chapter 6
RICHARD THUMBED through a copy of The Times of India as he sat on the Dhamtari platform awaiting the train. When it finally arrived, he scanned the departing passengers, searching for someone who appeared to be looking for him. The quest proved fruitless when the conductor made the final call for boarding. Richard sighed as he stood, resigning himself to the fact that either something had gone wrong or he had misinterpreted the message.
He trudged onto the locomotive and found his seat in a carriage compartment that had only one other occupant, a man wearing a dark suit who appeared to be in his early thirties. Once the train lurched forward and started chugging down the tracks, he got up and locked the doors.
“Mr. Halliburton, I suspect we should get acquainted,” the man said.
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