Python Adventure

by Anthony McGowan

  The shot, in the confines of the lab, was deafening, and Amazon couldn’t help but cringe down in fear. Luckily the bullet lodged itself in the wall behind Drexler, rather than ricocheting round the room.

  The gun was still smoking in Frazer’s hands.

  What nobody else knew was that it was an accident – Frazer hadn’t meant to pull the trigger. But now that he’d done it, and seen the effect it had had, he was happy to use it to his advantage.

  ‘You’re a liar. It’s what you are, and all you do is lie. You’ve betrayed us all just to cook up some nutty scheme. Mad scientists are meant to be interesting. But you, you’re boring. I don’t believe there’s no way to get a message out. And, I’ll tell you what, I’m not going to start shooting you or your friend Igor here, I’m going to start shooting up these wacky experiments.’

  Then Frazer aimed the assault rifle at one of the pieces of equipment – the plastic box with the clear lid. The effect on the usually icy Drexler was instantaneous. With a cry of agony, he hurled himself in between Frazer and the equipment.

  ‘Noooooo!’ he screamed. ‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’

  ‘Now thaaaaaaat’s a bit more like it,’ said Frazer, smiling coldly at Drexler’s reaction. ‘A slice of authentic fruitcake from the mad prof.’

  Amazon was less amused and more intrigued.

  ‘OK, Drexler,’ she said, keeping her voice calm. ‘Why don’t you tell us exactly what this is all about, before my hot-headed cousin accidentally turns everything in here into a hi-tech colander.’

  Drexler licked his dry lips with a thin tongue.

  ‘I … I tried to explain a little of this to you before. You know, I suppose, about the research that has been undertaken with animal cloning?’

  Even Frazer was getting interested now. ‘Er, you mean when they make, like, a sheep from another sheep, and they’re identical?’

  ‘Yes, that’s one thing they can do. But perhaps you also saw that movie about the possibility of cloning dinosaurs.’

  ‘Yeah, that was pretty cool!’

  ‘And impossible! To clone an animal, you need to get all or most of the DNA from the cell nucleus. It’s our DNA, as you know, that makes us what we are. It’s the blueprint from which we are created. And each tiny cell nucleus contains about two metres of it – if it were untangled and stretched out. It’s incredibly fragile and delicate. Fossilization completely destroys DNA. But, if an animal were frozen, even for thousands of years … well then, that’s a different matter.’

  Amazon and Frazer looked at each other, both trying to take in what Drexler was saying. Then an idea began to form in Amazon’s mind. She remembered Drexler’s slightly odd behaviour in the Russian Far East when they’d been there. There was talk of him having undertaken some mission further north. She scanned her memories for news stories that she had heard or seen. And the image of something very large loomed up in her mind. But Drexler was still speaking.

  ‘The problem was always that, when a cell freezes, ice crystals form inside its structures, and these tear the cell apart and rupture the nucleus. And it’s the devil’s own work to get two metres of genetic material back into the nucleus. It would be like trying to fit, say, a giant reticulated python into your pocket, young man.’

  Drexler emitted one of his dry, humourless laughs, the sound echoing round the room.

  ‘But then we found that brain cells survive the freezing process a little better than other cells. They have a higher content of glucose, which seems to afford them some protection. Nevertheless, the path was long and arduous. The nucleus had to be extracted from the rest of the brain cell. Then we had to find a donor egg, in which we could implant the brain nucleus. Nothing seemed to work. The obvious donor species – a very close relative of the original, extinct animal – proved to be just a little too different, and each of the attempts failed.

  ‘Then we were lucky. We found a frozen specimen with intact eggs in her ovaries. The DNA in the egg nucleus was not well preserved, but we had the brain nucleus from another animal. So we simply implanted it into an egg of the same extinct species. Such a breakthrough! This new egg could then be persuaded to begin the process of cell division that leads, ultimately, to a baby, a new creature, not seen on earth for ten thousand years.’

  As Drexler was speaking, Frazer was aware that his assistant was inching towards him. It was obvious what he was about to do and, when he made his move, Frazer was ready for him.

  It wasn’t, despite the difference in their ages, a fair fight. The scientist, although a much older man, was used to wielding nothing more than a pipette and a Bunsen burner, whereas Frazer had spent his whole life being active in the great outdoors, not to mention being a black belt in tae kwon do. Plus, he had an AK-47 assault rifle in his hands, which he used to clout the man on the side of the head, sending him spinning to the ground.

  ‘Oh, Samit,’ said Drexler to the dazed and uncomprehending scientist, ‘there was really no need for that. I want to show these young people what we’ve achieved. I think they’ll understand the importance of our work, see that it has to go on …’

  And then Drexler moved to the second door in the lab – the one that led to the rest of the complex. As he opened it, two things flowed in: the sound and the smell. Amazon and Frazer followed him out, and found themselves in yet another corridor. There were doors to the left and right, but Drexler hurried along on his thin legs, so that Frazer and Amazon had to jog to keep up.

  ‘Slow down, Drexler,’ said Frazer, but the man ignored him, and Frazer realized his only options were to follow along or shoot him in the back.

  All the time the smell – rich, heavy, stifling – and the sounds – snorts, snuffles, occasional wilder noises, almost like the sound of screeching tyres on a car taking a corner too fast – grew.

  And then Drexler burst through a door at the far end of the corridor, just as Frazer caught up with him, and the three of them – Samit, still lying on the floor, stunned, had not followed – were in a huge cavernous space, divided by a narrow metal walkway, that was the continuation of the corridor. They moved forward a little distance along the walkway. Ten metres below them was a sight to fill any human heart with delight, amazement and wonder.

  ‘MAMMOTHS!’ said Amazon, her mouth, her eyes, her whole mind wide with astonishment.

  And there they were below them, twelve woolly mammoths. There were mothers with tiny calves, one big bull, its horns curving like immense scythes, and a smattering of adolescents, looking bored and irritable. All had the characteristic high-domed heads and small ears that Amazon had seen in illustrations. They were covered in coarse hair, most a rich ruddy-brown, but some a lovely pale honey colour, and others were almost black.

  As well as the mammoths, there was one elderly female Asian elephant. As soon as the old elephant saw Drexler up on the walkway, she became agitated and trumpeted several times. She paced about below them, reaching up with her trunk.

  ‘That’s old Ellie,’ said Drexler, an odd smile on his face. ‘She was the original surrogate mother, fifteen years ago. Without her parenting skills, none of this would have been possible. But I’m sad to say that she resents me somewhat. I had to take away a few of her babies for further experimentation and study. I dread to think what would happen if she managed to get that trunk round me …’

  Drexler turned to face Frazer and Amazon. There was a pleading look in his eyes all of a sudden, an expression Amazon would never have expected from the scientist. ‘So, now you see why I had to do what I did. Your father, Frazer, forbade research of this nature. His opinion was that all of the resources of TRACKS should go into protecting living species. He didn’t have the imagination to see what could be done, the intelligence to understand the implications.’

  ‘Well, what the heck are you going to do with them? Release them into the wild? Sell them to zoos?’ asked Frazer, still gawping at the mammoths.

  ‘My goal is to one day repopulate the Siberian
steppe with these great creatures. But yes, our research must still be funded, so we have to examine all possibilities for raising finance …’

  And then Amazon understood. ‘That man … Kaggs … he’s going to sell the right to shoot these creatures, isn’t he?’

  Drexler jutted out his chin. ‘Not for many years. This breeding herd is far too valuable for that. Millions of dollars have been invested, tens of millions. They must be preserved at all costs. Mr Kaggs and the Maharaja both know that. Perhaps, at some stage, superfluous animals, excess bulls that would otherwise fight among themselves … well, they might be, ah, disposed of … One cannot be sentimental about these things when the greater good is at stake. Our eyes must be on the ultimate prize; we –’

  ‘Oh, shut up, you bozo,’ said Frazer, his voice dripping with scorn and disgust. ‘I always thought you were a creep. Bringing these magnificent creatures back from the dead just to kill them again … you’re nuts, and we’re going to stop you. I’m gonna personally –’

  Amazon interrupted him. ‘Fraze, what’s that other guy doing, Samit …?’

  ‘Well, I gave him a good old whack on the head …’ But then Frazer remembered the phone with its link back to the lodge. He also remembered that there was a gang of proven killers on their trail.

  ‘Hold this,’ he said, giving the gun to Amazon. ‘You’re a better shot than I am. Blast his toes off if he gives you any trouble.’

  Amazon didn’t want to take the gun, but she couldn’t see what the alternative was. Frazer disappeared back through the door towards the lab. Then Drexler spoke to her.

  ‘You’re not going to shoot me, are you, Amazon? Apart from anything else, a bullet from an AK-47 at this distance would pass straight through my body and could easily go on to kill one of those baby mammoths down there. You wouldn’t want that, would you?’

  And, without another word, Drexler turned and fled along the walkway. He was absolutely right: Amazon could never hurt a living creature, even one as despicable as Drexler. She considered firing into the air, but didn’t want to frighten the mammoths.

  So she let him go.

  At the far end there was a metal stairway, down which Drexler half ran, half fell. He was among the mammoths for no more than a couple of seconds, but it was long enough for old Ellie to come charging towards him, trumpeting her rage. For a moment Amazon thought that the elephant was going to catch Drexler, but then he opened a narrow door, set into a much bigger set of doors at the back of the mammoth enclosure, and was out into the daylight. Ellie crashed against the door just as it slammed shut.

  Amazon ran back to the lab. She found Frazer using the telephone cord – ripped from the wall – to tie Samit to a chair.

  ‘It really wasn’t a fair fight,’ he said, smiling. ‘But he’d already got a call in to the lodge. Where’s Drexler …?’

  ‘He ran. I couldn’t …’

  Frazer nodded. ‘Of course not. Nor could I. Anyway, we’ve got bigger problems than that scumbag. Take a look at this.’

  He pointed to one of the laptops. It had been set up as a monitor for CCTV pictures from the outside. There were two different views on the screen. One showed the back of the complex, from which direction they’d come. It was a chilling sight.

  There were at least a dozen armed guards in khaki uniforms there. The other view was of the front of the place – Amazon realized it must be the way out that Drexler had taken. That is where the hunters were gathered, along with the Maharaja and Kaggs.

  One thing that Amazon did notice was that not all the hunters were present. She couldn’t see the German, Herr Frapp, or the fat Texan, Laramie. As well as being reduced in number, they also looked ragged and worn, as if they’d endured a lot.

  But now they were here. And they were armed. They looked like they were going to war. Each was draped in weapons – rifles, pistols, machine guns. Big Zee, the gangster, had what looked an awful lot like a bazooka.

  ‘This is it, isn’t it?’ said Amazon, half to Frazer, half to herself.

  Frazer’s face was set hard.

  ‘Maybe. Maybe not. But, whatever happens, I’m taking some of those killers down with me. It’s blaze of glory time, Zonnie.’

  Then, as they watched, Kaggs came forward. He was carrying a megaphone. He started to speak. The CCTV camera must have had a microphone, because the voice came through on the laptop’s little speaker.

  ‘We know you’re in there, Roger old friend. And your lovely, lovely wife. And those two nice little kids. You’ve done well. Provided good sport. In fact, such good sport that we’re prepared to call it a day. The boys here think they’ve got value for money. We can kiss and make up. What do you say?’

  There was a pause, and Amazon saw Kaggs joke with the hunters. Then he turned back to face them again, his face cracking up with laughter.

  ‘No, no, of course you don’t believe me. We know each other too well. You’re going to die. And that witch of a wife of yours too. But here’s the deal, and you have my word, and the word of the Maharaja here, who’s a decent sort of a chap, as you know. Come out and we’ll spare the children. They’ll be kept here safe on the estate. We can’t allow them ever to be set free, of course, but the Maharaja will make sure that they’re looked after as well as any English country gent might care for his guests.

  ‘There you go. That’s the deal. You’ve got ten minutes to decide. Then we come in and massacre you all. And it won’t be quick, I promise you. Ten minutes. Then we’re coming.’

  Frazer picked up the laptop and threw it against the wall, quite close to the cringing Samit.

  ‘They still think my mum and dad are with us,’ said Amazon. ‘That’s something. They probably think we’ve got more guns than we have. They’re scared to come in. Maybe we can hold out until help arrives?’

  ‘I’ve got a better idea,’ said Frazer. ‘You, Samit, those big doors at the front – how do they open? Lie to me and I’ll feed you to the mammoths.’

  ‘They’re opened electrically, from a console on the wall.’

  Then Frazer grinned and said to Amazon, ‘Ever take a ride on an elephant?’

  The mighty doors of the mammoth enclosure began to slide open.

  Kaggs was not expecting this.

  The whole manhunt business had proved to be something of a disaster. Luckily the dead men had paid him well in advance, but he doubted that the survivors would go back home praising the fun adventure holiday they’d enjoyed. And word of mouth was so important in enterprises of this kind.

  Back to the original plan – big-game hunting, rare animals and then, the cherry on the cake, mammoths! Who could resist the idea of putting a large-calibre bullet in the brain of a creature like that! Not yet, though. Like that bore Drexler kept saying, they had to build up the herd. Just a little further down the line they’d be a cash crop.

  But now those big doors were easing open. He’d thought that either there would be no reply from the wretched Hunt family, which would mean they’d have to go in there and work through the place, room by room. Or perhaps that old fool would really send the kids out. Well, Merlin Kaggs wasn’t known as the sort of idiot who left witnesses to his crimes, no sir.

  ‘OK, boys,’ he said to the remaining killers. He studied them closely. Leconte, the Frenchman, looked like the sort that would have pulled the wings off butterflies for fun, as a kid; Big Zee, the absurd gangster with his gold teeth and gold chains and gold-plated bazooka. That buffoon, Smethwyck, who expected someone to put the toothpaste on his toothbrush every morning. But McKlintock, the Australian media baron, he was a steely one. Ice water in his veins. The Maharaja looked nervous. It was probably time to get rid of him, maybe install some other puppet in his place.

  And then there was Drexler. The most boring man he’d ever met. He’d run out of the lab building, blabbing like a madman, and Kaggs had had him dragged back out of the way. Didn’t want a jabbering fool like that messing up the last stages of the hunt. But then, without his
mega-brain, they’d never have got the mammoths. And, without his treachery, they’d never have got some of those other animals too. So he was a necessary evil. For now.

  Last of all there was that African. Hardly said a word, but looked as if he could crush your skull like an eggshell. Corrupt as hell, of course, but Kaggs liked a man who could be bought.

  ‘Get ready. They might go for glory and try to rush us.’

  There was the sound of guns being cocked. They were ready to unleash a hail of lead that would take out an army.

  Amazon’s answer to Frazer’s question about ever having ridden on an elephant was, of course, no, and now she wasn’t sure that she’d ever want to do it again. She held tightly on to Frazer, who seemed as happy up there as if he were sitting on a sofa, watching the TV.

  It had been surprisingly easy to get on the elephant’s back. Clearly the old girl had spent a long time as a tame elephant, probably working timber camps in India. So, with a few gentle words from Frazer, she’d knelt before them, providing a handy knee for them to clamber up. And the gentleness of old Ellie seemed to permeate the whole small herd, even the rambunctious juvenile bulls. Ellie held them all in complete sway. Even though some of the others towered over her, she was still the matriarch of the herd, the leader, the guide.

  The mammoths clustered round her, their trunks reaching up to touch and sniff at Amazon and Frazer. It was like something from a dream. It should have been a nightmare – they were surrounded by giant shaggy monsters – but their gentleness and curiosity swept away Amazon’s fears.

  ‘Are we really going to do this?’ she asked Frazer.

  ‘We are, cuz. It’s death or glory. And me, I prefer glory, so those guys out there had better watch out.’

  The dilemma for Frazer had been how to get the mammoths to charge. He was gambling on two things – the first was that they’d follow old Ellie. The second … well, the second he was about to find out.