Free The Lion Killer (The Dark Continent Chronicles) by James S. Gardner

for his soul tonight. I wish he was a Christian. ‘The Lord instructed one prophet to say to another, strike me, but the man refused to strike the prophet. Then the prophet told him. Because you have not obeyed the Lord, a lion will kill you. He was attacked and killed by a lion.' Kings 20:35.' ”
    “You can take your religious hocus-pocus and stuff it,” Rigby said. “One of my men will drive you over the border. I'll refund your money, less our expenses. I've got one hell of a long drive ahead of me. Let's say goodbye, and leave it at that.”
    “I know you're mad, but there was nothing I could have done differently. It was a defective bullet. I don't care about the refund. As a matter of fact, I'd feel better if I could send some money to Sam's family,” said Max.
    “Max, I'm mad at the world. Sam Mabota was like a brother. If you could help his family, I know they could use it. I need to get on the road. Goodbye, Max.” He waited until the truck carrying Max was out of sight before turning to Dutchy, “It took a lot for me not to kill that son-of-a-bitch. Don't think for a minute, I didn't consider it.”
    Rigby stood next to Sam's body. “You didn't deserve to die like this. I should never have let you come on this cocked-up safari. This is as much my fault as Turner's. I wish it was me and not you.”
    Dutchy put his arm around Rigby and spoke. “Don't punish yourself. Sam knew the risks.” “Bullshit, Dutchy, Sam was too old to do this hunt.”
    “ Ja , but how many of our friends have been killed in this hunting business? We know the dangers, but we must feed our families.”
    Rigby turned and looked at Dutchy. “Let me have a look at you. I think a career in the movies is definitely out of the question. It doesn't look too bad, mostly blood, but nothing too deep. We'll get you to a doctor on the way out. You're in for a fair amount of stitching and antibiotics. I reckon a lion's claws are the filthiest things on God's earth.”
    “I don't trust quacks. You've got needle and string. You stitch me up. You need to get him in the ground. Sam was a goed one. I'll miss him.”
    “You won't miss him as much as I will. You there, bring me some whiskey,” Rigby yelled at one of his men. “The doctor needs to steady his sewing hand.”
    Dutchy didn't flinch as Rigby reattached his scalp. They consumed a liter of whiskey between them. As Rigby tied off the last suture, he thought about how much he hated Max Turner.
    After Rigby finished his doctoring; he drove out of camp with Sam Mabota's body in the back of his truck. A few minutes into the ride, he pulled a bottle of whiskey from under the seat and placed it between his legs.
    His first stop was at the baobab tree where his men buried the African woman and Jocko. He took a swig of whiskey before getting out of the truck. Turner said he ejected that defective cartridge near the graves. If I don't have a look, I'll never know, he thought.
    He stood over the graves and looked at a spot under the baobab tree. The brass bullet glistened in the sunshine. Before loading the round, he held it up. Just as I expected, the cap isn't dented. The gunshot echoed down the valley. Rigby stuck the spent shell in his pocket and walked back to the truck.
    As he drove, he thought about what he would say to Sam's wives. The thought depressed him. At the last second, he turned around and headed back to the place where they had encountered the bandits. God, I hope I find you, he said to himself. He opened the breach to make sure a round was engaged. He downshifted and started up a gentle rise. When he reached the top, he recognized the barricade. As soon as he stopped, they walked out of the underbrush. So, you haven't left, he thought.
    “ Hoe gaan dit met jou ?” the man missing a hand asked.
    “ Goed dankie ,” Rigby answered.
“How did you find the lion hunting?”
    “ Goed .”
    “Where's your friend, Dutchy? Haven't you heard, there are many bandits in