Sweat drenched the safari-style clothes of the hunter, but he approached with an energetic stride. The distinguished pith helmet shaded his facial expression.
"Hello, chaps! Did you see it?" A new excitement fueled the hunter's voice.
"See what?" asked Eric.
"The most magnificent lion just bounded into that thicket. You really didn't see it?"
"No, Conrad. I didn't see anything," said James.
"I'm inclined to kill that lion. He'll make a fine trophy I tell you. Big black mane. A fine one," said Conrad.
Eric pointed toward a heavy grassy area. "Looks like the blood trail leads in there."
"That's not a place you want to track a man-eater. He'd be on top of you before you said 'Jack Robinson'," said Conrad. "Better to face him in the open."
"What do you suggest?" asked Eric.
"Asking me for advice now are we? I'm flattered."
"Just answer the question. You are the professional hunter," said Eric.
"Well, let me see. We could wait and see what happens with this other lion. He may be going to rob the kill away, and then we'll have pinpointed their location. And he'll be distracted."
"Any other ideas?" asked James.
"Set the grass on fire and drive him out. We could form a line over there. He's bound to go that direction. And surely he will pick one of us to be his next meal." He finished that last sentence with a snicker, but he was serious.
Bomani looked at Eric. "We are very close to the Mombali village."
Eric nodded. "Yes, they might not appreciate us setting this place on fire."
"Shhhh...." Conrad pressed his index finger to his lips and held up his hand. "Look there in the brush. Something is moving our way."
Just then an earth-shattering roar hit their ears; the vibration shook them to the core. A tawny figure exited the thicket, approaching them, tail flickering, ears laid back, fangs glistening. Behind the great cat, now in plain view lay the half-eaten corpse, a frightening, sickening sight.
The man-eater's appearance struck them as both terrifying and odd. It wasn't their first encounter with the great cat, but presently he was granting them sufficient time to study his features. The disfigured head lacked an ear, the right fang clearly broken in half. He stood nearly four feet at the shoulders, the overall length close to ten feet. With each forward step, the lion's battle scars became more apparent. Even with the limp, the dangerous cat moved confidently toward the group, staring back and forth, from face to face as if trying to decide who he'd devour next. He kept glancing back toward the corpse, the tail dancing ceremoniously, the eyes burning with a red glow. The unsettling snarls were enough to drive a man insane. But oh, that God-awful roar.
The finely-tuned killing machine crouched lower to the ground. The fiery eyes locked on to the frozen Bomani as the creature's talon-like claws gripped the African soil. Every muscle fiber precisely geared and tightly wound for the impending spring.
"Steady. Hold your ground," said Conrad in a low, slow tone.
"Take him, Eric," said James with a whisper.
Painstakingly, the young minister pulled up the large-bore rifle and slowly released the safety. The long steel barrel shook violently at first, but he soon steadied the sight about the lion's chest. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, fell across his eye and continued down the cheek. "Oh, dear God, please be with me," he prayed silently.
Conrad looked at Bomani and carefully released his safety. Out of nowhere and from behind the man-eater, a second lion pounced. The mystery lion sank his fangs deep into the man-eater's neck and a death roll ensued. Observing the new circumstances, Eric lowered his gun, but not all the way. Cautiously, the men moved back as quickly as possible, giving the battling cats sufficient ground to maneuver.
What a magnificent clash between nature's greatest beasts. They circled one another, rushing in at intervals to inflict deep wounds, to ruin their opponent. Clouds of dust enshrouded them as the collision of flesh and the jarring leaps continued. Each claw and fang worked its purpose and duty throughout the conflict. Their roaring created a quivering sensation within each man's heart, a proclamation which said: fear me.
It soon became clear what was happening. The new, stronger lion fought for dominance. This would be his territory now and his pride must not be far away. The man-eater was obviously weak, on his way out and a potential threat. God's natural order was working its magic. The mystery lion clearly dominated the brawl, muscles rippling and sinews straining as it brought the man-killer down. Evil never releases its grip quickly, and never without a good fight. Within minutes, his suffocating clamp around the man-eater's windpipe brought an end to the matter.
Conrad pulled his rifle up and fired directly at the victorious lion. But James had grabbed the gun in time, deflecting the shot away from the cat.
"What are you doing?" yelled Conrad.
"Enough killing for one day! We must keep in good stead with the Mombali people," said James as he released the rifle. As quickly as it had arrived, the great cat had vanished.
*****
As the men journeyed back to camp, they found the way blocked by a band of warriors. The group of twelve had rushed to the scene to investigate the unusual sound of gunfire. Each of the muscular, half-naked men donned an interesting headdress, an impressive fringe of long dark hair, a lion's mane. Around their necks, each wore a necklace, stringed with shiny, white fangs. The Mombali welcomed the hunting party with a row of spears. Sunlight glistened off the metal tips as the natives stared dully into the eyes of the strange intruders.
Conrad broke the silence. "Okay, Preacher. This is your department. What now?"
"Lower your guns to the ground," said Eric. The Mombali moved their spears forward a couple of inches.
James looked at the missionary. "Did you think it over, Eric? Now would be good time to hear your idea."
Eric felt for the Bible now lying in his side pocket. He gazed up toward the sky, the breeze animated a few branches and leaves. The sun was beginning its downward journey.
"Don't you see it my friend? The message was played out in front of us just minutes ago. I will tell them about another Lion, the Lion who rules over us all, the Lion who overcomes."
The End
Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. ..."
Revelation 5:5
About the Author
Scott grew up in a community called Upatoi, just east of Columbus, Georgia. Living in the country, he learned to appreciate the outdoors and God's handiwork. An engineer by trade, he currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, son and daughter. Through his writing, Scott seeks to entertain and encourage others to grow in their faith and in their love for each other.
Scott enjoys most anything related to outdoor pursuits: hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking, etc. He shares many of these experiences through his blog: Trails of Life.
If you’ve enjoyed “Two Lions," Scott invites you to check out his debut novel, “The Guide.” To learn more about his novel and read excerpts, please visit his website:
https://sscottjohnson.wordpress.com/
Connect with Scott On-Line
Wordpress Blog: https://sscottjohnson.wordpress.com/
Email:
[email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Guide-by-Scott-Johnson/139821849395358
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends