Shaw opened the glass doors of an immaculate mahogany cabinet. He reached in and retrieved a large elephant gun and loaded it with two massive shell casings. He took the gun and walked to the opposite side of his office. He put his hand on the scanner and waited for the door of the safe to open. He reached in and retrieved the beautifully adorned golden saber, taking care to gently wrap the jewel-encrusted treasure in a blanket.
Shaw knew that the show producers were quickly moving into real-time production mode. The animals were all in their proper positions, some on the show floor and some in cages below. By now, the last of the spectators would be taking their seats. All the producers would need was his approval, and the show would begin.
He exited his office and walked down a dark hallway. He could feel the entire structure vibrate as the capacity crowd of five hundred thousand spectators lightly tapped their feet in anticipation of the show. Shaw approached a guard standing next to the main show floor entrance and handed him the gun and the sword.
“The gun is mine, keep it safe,” Shaw said. “Old Jack will be by to pick up the sword.”
Vixen watched with Gill from behind a curtain as Shaw handed the gun and something wrapped in a blanket to the guard.
“Why does Shaw need a gun?” Vixen asked Gill.
“I’m not sure, honey, but guns and people are never a good match.” She watched as Shaw entered a special elevator; the sign on top read: Sky Suites Only.
She looked across the way, down a darkened hall, something deep down in her instincts telling her danger was approaching. Then, as if trapped in the midst of a real-life nightmare, she watched as his shadow appeared on the far wall. It was the unmistakable outline of a fedora hat, and Old Jack’s long, thin body. She quickly pulled the curtain back and raised her finger to her lips to let Gill know to keep still and to keep quiet.
She watched as he appeared from the backlit hallway. He was dressed in his customary attire of a suit and fedora hat. He approached the guard, who handed him the blanket that Shaw had left only minutes before. Old Jack unwrapped the blanket and held up the golden saber, the same one he stole from Vixen and Shark in Fiji. She watched as he admired its beauty, running his long, bony fingers down its sharp, golden blade and smiling at his own reflection in its mirror-like shine.
Old Jack checked his reflection in the saber’s blade. He suddenly raised his head and looked around. I He had an acute sense of smell and knew that Vixen was near. He let out a large, ugly grin as he sensed that she was probably watching him. He took a few steps toward a curtain, still smelling the air. He raised the sword into a striking position and thought about pushing it through the fabric to test its sharpness. He gently rubbed the tip of the blade on the cloth, making a little circular pattern that caused some of the stitching to come undone. He knew she was there; he could feel the vibration of her fast-beating heart. Old Jack slowly turned and walked back past the guard. No matter, he thought, after I kill Shark, I will come back and recapture her, and this time, whether she wants to or not, she will be my girl. Old Jack walked up the ramp as the house lights started to dim.
CHAPTER 27
Predators and Prey – The Show Begins
It was just before 8:00 p.m. Shaw took his seat in his personal sky suite and watched as the last of the five hundred thousand spectators worked their way to their seats inside the Serengeti’s massive theater. He sensed that the crowd was waiting with electrified anticipation for the start of the show they had heard so much about, all excited that the opening was only moments away.
He watched as spectators adjusted their infrared binocular headsets. He felt sure they would all be amazed by the new technology. He placed his own headset on and smiled at what he saw. As he looked across the Serengeti floor, the headset automatically zoomed in on the herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and gazelle that were grazing on the open grasslands of the complex’s southwest corner. He looked down at the roaring river which separated the herds from the main stretch of prairie. As he followed the river toward its mouth at the northwest corner he could see the large group of elephants roaming freely through a thick grove of trees, their appearance adding a realistic touch and authentic allure to the Serengeti safari scene, just as he had planned. His eyes followed the show floor east. There they are, he thought. He looked at hundreds of lionesses lined up behind the half-mile-long thicket of thorn and brush, waiting for their chance to pounce and feed on their prey.
Shaw’s suite was the only one not covered in a dark film. He liked to be seen. He wanted people to know that he was the man who created the show. He looked across at the show producer in the control booth two hundred feet above the arena floor; he watched and listened as the producer double-checked his communication headset. Shaw heard his voice crack through the radio. “Check one, check two, all systems are a go and all animals are in place.” He noticed the producer looking right at him with his thumbs in the air. Shaw raised his thumbs, giving the producer the approval to start his masterpiece.
“We have authorization.” Shaw heard the producer’s announcement through the radio. “Dim the lights and initiate Serengeti skies intro.”
Shaw was on the edge of his seat, adrenaline pumping through his veins. This is it, he thought, the show I have worked so hard to make happen is about to begin.
He heard the massive crowd grow silent as the lights of the arena dimmed. The ceiling screens that hung from the structure’s massive roof lit up with the fast-moving images of clouds set against the beautiful red and orange colors of a perfect African sky at sunset. The treat for the eyes was perfectly choreographed to the pounding sounds of African chant music coming out of the arena’s massive speakers. Shaw could tell, from the screams, whistles, claps, and foot stomping, that the entire crowd was getting pumped into a heart-throbbing frenzy. The stunning mix of visuals and music was designed to intoxicate the crowd’s senses, and it was working.
The images on the ceiling changed from clouds to scenes of the Serengeti. The head of a large lion appeared, which was followed by pictures of elephants, zebra, wildebeest and gazelle—all animals scheduled to perform in his show. The screen and the entire complex went dark for a split second as a small, undecipherable image appeared on the screen.
“Bring it forward slowly,” Shaw heard the producer order.
Shaw watched the image grow in size. He felt a low rumble coming from the audience and heard them go wild as they were able to recognize the massive head of a great white shark. The entire crowd of five hundred thousand spectators began chanting, “Shark! Shark! Shark!” The sound was so loud that Shaw thought it must be reverberating through the arena’s walls, traveling on the desert winds into far and distant canyons.
The ceiling screens went dark as a spotlight appeared on the center of the show floor. The focused beam of light showed his announcer, dressed in a black tuxedo, holding a cordless microphone in his hand. He stood ready to address the energized crowd.
“Welcome, welcome, welcome, to the opening of the Serengeti Casino’s new amphitheater.” His clear and powerful voice boomed through the state-of-the-art sound system. “The largest indoor arena ever constructed by man and now host to the greatest show in the universe.”
Shaw could not hold back a large smile as the animated crowd cheered loudly and banged their feet on the floor, making the enormous structure shake.
“Tonight, we are pleased to bring you one of the most talked-about shows of the new millennium; tonight we are pleased to take you on a journey direct to the African plains; tonight we bring the safari to you; tonight we bring you, Predators and Prey.”
The wound-up crowd again erupted into wild screams and again chanted for their new predator king, “Shark! Shark! Shark!”
The announcer paused. Shaw was hoping that he would take a moment to let the crowd celebrate; that he would play to their cheers. Shaw watched as the announcer raised his arms in the air and made a few long drawn-out chopping motions, the sight of which made the crow
d scream even louder. Perfect, Shaw thought. Simply perfect. Shaw knew that the crowd’s anticipation of seeing the great white shark was immense, that the shark had obtained rock star status, and that the announcer could use the crowd’s own heightened emotions to further pump up their adrenaline and get the show kicked off in proper wild style. He had trained the announcer well.
“Tonight you will bear witness to the spectacle of nature called natural selection,” the announcer continued. “Tonight you will revel in awe at the power of the predator.”
Whistles, screams, grunts, and roars echoed throughout the vast complex.
“Ready your senses, my fellow safarians, and join us now on an adventure. Join us, my friends, as we travel halfway around the world to the Serengeti plains of East Africa.”
The crowd gave a giant burst of applause, then grew silent as the entire interior of the colossal structure went dark. Shaw sensed the crowd was on the edge of their seats as they eagerly waited for something to happen.
The ceiling screens slowly lit up with a perfect planetarium picture of evening stars, giving spectators a beautiful view of the sparkling universe as rock music began to boom from the complex’s gigantic speakers, its thumping pulse and anticipation making Shaw’s heart beat a little faster. He thought it must be having the same effect on the rest of the crowd. He sat back and smiled; the entire scene was a magnificent feast for the senses.
As he looked down, the infrared lenses on his binocular headsets cast an eerie view of the dark show floor as the producers inserted the sound of blowing wind. Shaw’s eyes were drawn to movement on the plains. As the headset focused, he could see the horse-drawn chariot racing through the high grass of the Serengeti, ridden by one of his Masai warriors, who had one hand on the reins and one hand on a long spear. The binocular headset made it feel as if he was in the chariot with the warrior and along for the ride; the only thing missing was the feeling of wind through his hair.
The warrior hit the horse with the dull end of his spear and forced it into a full gallop. The crowd went wild. Shaw watched as the warrior slowly brought the chariot to a stop and jumped down to the show floor. The warrior walked up to the rear of the horse and jabbed the sharp edge of his spear into its hind quarters. The horse reared its legs up into the air with a loud, screeching cry, then brought them down to the ground and took off into a full gallop toward the far corner wall and out of view.
The Masai slowly turned, looking in all directions, searching for his prey. Shaw heard the loud sound of whining belts from a large elevator, the floor split open, and the giant cage emerged from the belly of the artificial earth. Shaw watched as a large Siberian tiger stepped out of the cage and looked directly at what it perceived to be its prey.
The tiger let out an ear-piercing roar at the sight of the Masai and began to pace back and forth in the dirt. The warrior held his spear out in front of his body as he stared down the dangerous beast.
The crowd went wild as the warrior approached the tiger, making it again roar as it swept its massive claws at the unfamiliar adversary. The beautiful tiger bent his head and growled, showing his sharp, dark, yellow fangs.
The Masai stood motionless as he stared down the tiger, looking directly into the large predator’s eyes, forcing the giant cat into a trance, as—so Shaw thought—he communicated directly with its soul.
Shaw looked out over the crowd. They watched in amazement as the warrior approached the tiger as it calmed. The Masai touched the tiger’s head, then in one gigantic leap, jumped onto the tiger’s muscular back. The tiger took off running through the high grass. The warrior rode the stealthy beast as if it were a wild horse. The crowd let out a crazy roar at the spectacle and cheered for the fine showmanship and bravery of the warrior.
The crowd seemed mesmerized as the tiger slowed and the warrior jumped off its back. The tiger raised its nose to the air, then took off again running across the grassy plains. Shaw knew the big cat had not been fed in over a week; its ribs were showing, and its sense of smell and instincts would let it know that its next meal was close.
Shaw moved his focus to the lone blue wildebeest. It had been raised moments earlier by a small, silent elevator and left to graze on a tiny patch of grass on the artificial savanna. Shaw watched the wildebeest raise its head as it sensed danger. It began to move uneasily, in circles. It tried to pick a direction to run in the unfamiliar environment but by the time it decided to start running it was too late. The tiger roared and dug its enormous claws into the prey’s hind quarters and dragged the struggling and screaming creature to the ground. Shaw watched as the tiger sank its massive fangs into the wounded animal’s neck, and he listened to the crowd cheering wildly as their close-up binoculars, like his, showed the brown dirt changing to blood red.
Shaw sat in the comfort of his Sky Suite and smiled as he watched the tiger feed on its prey. The show was already a smash hit and it had only just begun. He reveled in the applause, chants, and screams of the entertained crowd. And this is only the opening scene, he thought. By the time the night is over the audience will have witnessed a show unlike anything the world has ever seen, and I will go down in history as the world’s greatest showman, and—his thoughts shifted to Shark—as the world’s greatest hunter:
Shaw looked across the way to the control room at his producer and gave him a quick roll of his right hand.
The producer gave Shaw a positive nod as he again orchestrated Shaw’s dream. “Release the lionesses and lower the river,” the producer ordered.
Shaw watched as the large steel gate in front of the predators’ encampment began to lower into the arena floor, allowing hundreds of hungry lionesses to be set free into the killing zone. He watched as the predators raced in the direction of the roaring river and the massive herds of innocent prey.
Shaw watched the herds of wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, and zebra as they grazed under the artificial African sky inside the protected prey enclosure of his arena, each one oblivious to the slowing river water, their small brains unable to comprehend the lifesaving protection it granted.
The lionesses were on the other side of the river, camouflaged within the high grass, watching and waiting for the opportunity to strike and feast. Their mouths and their stomachs would both be filled with low growls, Shaw thought, as a week forced to go without food made them extremely hungry and dangerous.
The silence within the feeding herds was shattered by the barking of dogs. The Australian sheep dogs had been trained to force the herds across the river, across the muddy banks, and into the waiting jaws on the open plateau.
The herds moved in unison, picking up speed as they left the river. They moved up onto the cold dirt of the plains and across the large game trail in the safety of a stampede. Shaw knew that nature had evolved most animals with some sort of protection from those higher on the food chain, and for the wild herds on the plains of the Serengeti, a stampede was as safe as you could get. As long as you could run and as long as there were sufficient numbers of other prey, your chances of survival were good. If you were small or weak or slow, the predators’ instincts would seek you out for their kill. It was survival of the fittest at its finest.
Shaw watched through his binocular headset as the lionesses chased the stampeding herds from behind. The special helmet made it feel like he was on the arena floor and part of the hunt. He watched as the first lioness dug her long claws into the hindquarters of a small gazelle that had made the fatal mistake of cutting a solo path through the trail, separating itself from the protection of the stampeding masses. Once on the ground the bite to the neck and the kill came quickly. The lioness raised her bloody mouth into the air and roared as a second lioness approached her kill. Shaw knew she would share her meat but only after her own appetite was satisfied.
The kills continued. One by one the lionesses attacked, and one by one the weak fell and the lionesses fed. Each time, the crowd’s cheers and luster for death grew louder.
A large smile fo
rmed on Shaw’s face as he watched the predators kill and feed with abandon on the show floor below. As he listened to the roar of the crowd, he knew instantly that his business instincts were correct. He had a hit on his hands, and he and his show would be famous.
Stripes was there. The small zebra felt his heart pounding as he ran for his life. He remembered the words of his friend Shark. “Just run, Stripes, just run and keep running. Don’t let them catch you.”
Stripes liked the plan and would not let Shark down by being eaten. Stripes looked from side to side as he ran. He turned his head slightly to the rear and could see the lionesses in full pursuit, their yellow fangs looking dangerous and sharp. Stripes looked to the left and saw the large lioness attacking from the side; he ducked, causing the hungry predator to miss him. Stripes continued to run with the stampede, not wanting to disappoint his friend Shark by being caught.
Shark listened from the cold vault beneath the vibrating show floor. He could feel the roof above him shake from the massive stampede and could hear the immense roar of the crowd. He also listened to the cries of the other animals that surrounded him. Cries of fear—fear of going topside to face their fate. He felt helpless for the innocent animals and wished that he could somehow help them but realized there was nothing he could do. He was under contract with Shaw, and if he broke his agreement he would put the lives of all of friends in jeopardy. Shark refocused on the moment, on his task at hand. A small smile appeared on his face as he thought about having his day with the hyena known as Old Jack, which would be his opportunity to avenge the death of his best friend, Dog Z Boy. Old Jack would pay, dearly.
Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey Page 20
