Tiger Tiger, Burning Bright
Tuesday, 29 March 1870
Kongo Delta, Subsaharan Africa
Morning
The hunting party was quiet, only the sound of the horse's hooves thumping gently on the ground. His hands bound, Ezekiel watched the terrain pass by, the thick foliage and greenery like nothing that England had to offer. But he mostly kept his eyes on the man who was his captor, his torturer, and most importantly, the reason that the Lord had brought him here.
Ahead, Vars rode in front, his rifle broken over his lap, easily balanced as he picked his way through down the hill through the lush growth. They had rode up the mountain through a hidden pass and were now picking their way carefully down the other side. The sounds of the nearby animals and the distant calls of others surrounded them, but so far, nothing had made the blond man take the rifle from his lap. Shells were chambered; he had sat and loaded his gun as Ezekiel was washed and dressed, following as he was handcuffed and then put on his horse.
Ezekiel took the quiet moment to ask the question that had been floating in his head since the ride had started. "How do you plan to test God today, Vars?"
Vars looked down, gathering his face into a smile before twisting to look at his prisoner. "I merely mean to damage one of his more beautiful creatures. Wound it, capture it to bring home to torment. No test for Him. Other humans do it all the time and He doesn't seem to mind."
Ezekiel recognized the simplicity of Vars' argument. It was the kind of argument a rank beginner in philosophy would make. Assuming a good God must protect every creature equally. Every creature had a purpose and God loved every single one of them. But that didn't mean living lives with no challenges or difficulties. But he kept the thought to himself. No point in taunting the beast more than necessary.
"I find that says more about the people performing the torment than it does about God." Ezekiel returned the smile with a cold smile of his own.
"No doubt. But you already know that I am not a good man. You wear the mantle of your God and now his symbol on your back. I wear only my intentions." He reined in his mount, pausing to look around, his eyes narrowing. "We move slowly now. Our prey is near."
Ezekiel kept pushing the fear and nervousness deep down. But alongside that fear was curiosity, Ezekiel discovered. While not the situation he had envisioned, he was in an exotic land about to see a wild creature that he had never seen before. What would it look like? Did lions roam in this area? Ezekiel couldn't remember for sure, but he did seem to remember that lions roamed in groups. He didn't think that even Vars was confident enough to take on several lions.
They rode for a bit in silence and then Vars held up his hand. Reaching down, he lifted his rifle off his lap, snapped it gently closed after checking that it was loaded. He gestured for Ezekiel to be led so that their horses were side by side. "Did you know," Vars asked softly, "that a mother tigress is one of the best mothers in animal kingdom? That she will fight other tigers to keep her cubs safe? Lead other animals away from the den no matter the cost to herself? Beautiful creature. Deadly, motherly." He looked at Ezekiel, his jade eyes boring into his captive's face.
"I am sure I am about to bear witness to that fact." Vars' comments about mothers made Ezekiel think about Katherine and the twins. He wanted to picture her at home, taking care of the little ones...but he knew his wife too well. Take care of yourself, my love. A search for me leads straight into danger unlike any we have experienced.
The Dutchman laughed softly, stopping both horses and raising his hand to pause the party. Staring intently into the lush greenery, he raised his rifle. "Tiger, tiger burning bright, in the forests of the night. . ." He ended his verse with two quick shots, the noise deafening as it echoed through the trees. Dismounting, he waved for Ezekiel to be brought down to the ground to join him.
"Shall we see what specimen I took down?" he asked gesturing forward.
Ezekiel judged the man to be an excellent shot, but he was not surprised by that fact. "Lead on, sir," Ezekiel said, as if he wasn't a handcuffed prisoner. It did feel good to be on his feet again, even if he was still somewhat weak from lack of food over the past few days. "I am anxious to see the animal that impresses the man who would be God."
It only took a bit of walking before they came upon the scene, the chestnut animal sprawled and dead from a shot to the head. Vars sighed heavily, walking around to the other side. "I forgot Ezekiel. I seemed to have made an error. Tigers are in India, really." He nudged the still figure partially under the horse with a booted toe and then leaned over to pull back the hood. Vars smiled as he straightened, shrugging carelessly. "You are right, old man. God does work in mysterious ways." He stepped back, gesturing to the figure at his feet, her face almost obscured by the fiery wave of hair covering it.
"Your wife, I believe?" he asked softly.
Ezekiel was briefly surprised by the sight, before a whole rush of emotions overwhelmed him. Fear for her, anger at Vars, but mostly love. He had known she would not be able to stay home.
He rushed forward and squatted down beside her, unable in handcuffs to give Katherine the hug he wanted to. Ezekiel whispered to her ear, knowing that she would hear him, even if she wasn't awake. "I love you. Now and for always, my Katherine."
It took all of Ezekiel's considerable will not to let the anger and fear show on his face as he rose to his feet in one smooth motion to face his captor. "She made excellent time, it seems," he said, a blasé look on his face.
"I'm glad she impresses you." Vars gestured and Ezekiel's cuffs fell to the ground. Vars waved to Katherine. "You may carry her. I don't fear you running now. The wound in her shoulder will need to be tended to so she won't bleed out. Idir can help you get her on your horse." With that he began to pick his way back to his mount.
As Ezekiel carefully lifted his unconscious wife into his arms, he spoke just loud enough that he knew Vars would hear him, but softly enough that Vars could ignore him if he chose. "You never had to fear me running. All this pain, suffering and death you've caused and you're not any closer to understanding me than when you first started." Then he kissed Katherine on the forehead as Idir helped the two of them onto the horse for their ride back to captivity.
Return to The Story Thus Far
Return to Gathering Storms Main Page
Return to Victoriana Campaign Index
Return to Dr. Penguin's Iceberg
