III



Kitty and Ignotso followed the river to the stone temple where the ancient furs of the white lions stayed safe. "Thanks for helping save my life yesterday, Kitty," said Ignotso.

"It was nothing," Kitty smiled. "I've been chased by those trouble makers before; I know what it's like."

"Still, I'm indebted to you," said Ignotso. "I was lucky that you and Kimba were close by."

"Yes, it was lucky. I don't usually stay in Kimba's jungle. Ever since my parents were killed by hunters I've usually lived with my Uncle Specklerex in the mountains. My uncle is glad I'm friends with Kimba." Kitty looked a little sad. "But sometimes I wonder if Kimba and I will never be anything but friends."

Ignotso smiled. "Don't worry, Kitty. I'm sure Kimba likes you a lot. I can tell. Did you see the way he looked at you this morning when..."

Kitty interrupted. "Ignotso, why did all the birds suddenly stop singing right now?"

Ignotso listened. "You're right, it is strangely quite. Maybe they see something that we don't."

Kitty sniffed the air, then the ground. "Wait right here," she whispered. "I think there are other humans near by."

"If so," said Ignotso, "they're here without permission."

Kitty trotted forward quietly. The scent was getting weaker, so she doubled back, making a wide semi-circle. She knew she was getting closer. Then she heard a twig crack. She dropped close to the ground and crept along, trying to position herself behind whatever had made the noise. She lifted her head above a shrub, and there she saw two men in safari gear ... with guns ... pointed straight at Ignotso!

"rrRRRaaal!" Kitty roared and charged at the assailants. Just as they looked at her, Kitty hit one, then the other in a domino effect. Both guns fired wild shots. Kitty pounced, then pounced again, taking one gun then the other in her teeth, throwing them against a tree, causing them to discharge their ammunition. Ignotso, frightened by the sound of guns, ran along the riverbank, yelling for help. Kitty fled the men she had just attacked and sprinted after Ignotso. After running for a couple of minutes, they sat down to catch their breath.

"What was that all about?" asked Ignotso.

"I don't know," said Kitty. "All I know is that there were two men and they were pointing their guns at you."

"At me?" cried Ignotso. "But why?" He panted while he thought. "They must have guessed that I was from the Interior Department. I know poachers come here occasionally, but I've never heard of them shooting at forest rangers before."

"What do you think we should do?" said Kitty, looking worried.

"We can't go back the way we came," said Ignotso. "Those men are probably still there.
Let's continue up the river."

"Yes," agreed Kitty. "We're very close to the stone temple now. Leona should be there and maybe she can help us."

"Good. Let's hurry."

* * *

At a clearing in the jungle, Kimba addressed a collection of concerned looking animals. He walked back and forth in front of them as he made his speech. "As you've heard, a large pack of hyenas is invading our home, and we don't have much time to stop them. I'm not sure why this is happening now, but I'm pretty sure Claw is behind it. The hyenas outnumber us, but they aren't very skillful fighters. I want all of you with sharp claws and fangs to follow me, and we'll try to beat them. I want all the bigger animals - elephants and rhinoceroses - to follow behind us. The rest of you head for the sulfur springs. You should be safe there until the fighting is over. Let's go everyone!"

Kimba led a pack of natural carnivores - cheetahs, lions, and wild cats - on a headlong charge against the rampaging hyenas. They were soon upon each other, and the clash began. Kimba bit one hyena, knocked another over the brow, threw another over his back, and rammed another with his head. Even the younger animals had initial success fighting the invaders. But the hyenas kept coming, and after the first six or so, Kimba was beginning to tire.

"There are just ... (pant) ... too many of them, just ... (pant, pant) ... too many..." An aggressor bit Kimba on the leg, causing him to yell in pain. Another charged into him causing him to fall down sideways. Looking around, he saw his friends were fairing even worse than he was. "There's only one thing left to do," he said to himself. "Retreat, everyone!" he called out. "Run for safety!" Kimba's brave fighters all turned tail and ran for their lives. The pachyderms were able to slow the hyena pack long enough to cover their escape, but not without being badly hurt themselves.

Claw watched from a hill and laughed himself silly. "At last!" he roared. "At LAST!"

* * *

Evening approached. At the stone shrine, Ignotso quickly snapped 35mm pictures of the ancient, snow colored lion furs. They hung in neat rows and were unbelievably well preserved. The natives, thought Ignotso, must have known ways to keep pelts from decaying that even modern man doesn't understand yet.

Kitty and Leona conversed in one of the rear corners while Ignotso worked. "Yes, Kitty," said Leona, "I did see two men here a few days ago, and they looked very much like the humans you describe seeing on the way here. They brought large carrying cases with them. It looked as if they expected to just take all these precious hides for themselves without any problem! I chased them away, of course." She looked indignant. "They seemed thoroughly surprised that someone was actually guarding the treasure."

"If they really are the same men," said Kitty, "they're back and they brought guns this time. Leona, wouldn't that mean they're coming here to take the furs by force?"

Kitty's question was answered immediately. "You there! Put you're hands up!" The two men appeared at the stone archway, and their guns were trained on Ignotso again. Ignotso whirled around and flashed another picture quite by accident. He held his palms forward with his camera still dangling around his neck. Leona and Kitty carefully melted into the shadows and watched.

"What do you want?" said Ignotso. "Don't shoot!"

"Then stay out of our way while we pack up these furs. Move aside!"

Ignotso stood still. "You'll be imprisoned for this! I work for the Interior Department and I know you're here against the law."

"Don't make us laugh, WE work for the Interior Department." Both of the strangers reached into their pockets and displayed their identification badges.

"That can't be!" Ignotso protested. "The Director sent me here to find the white lion shrine and take pictures of it so it could be protected."

"Then you must be Ignotso Snobbish, the brand new forest ranger. If you really believe that's why you were sent here, then you're pretty stupid, even for a Harvard man."

"How do you know about me, and what do you mean? I demand an explanation!"

"I wouldn't say you're in a very good position to make demands," growled the larger of the two thieves. "The Director sent us here to collect the hides. They're worth millions of dollars. The director sent you here to LOOK for the shrine and fail in your search. That would show the historians, and anyone else who might care, that no such shrine ever existed. Then it would be safe to sell the hides on the black market. We were supposed to be done with the job by the time you arrived in the jungle, but a pesky lion got in our way and we had to go back for fire power."

The two men seemed to relax a little. "So ... now that you know the truth," said the shorter one, "are you going to cooperate? It's what the Interior Director wants. If so, we'll put the guns away and start loading the hides."

"Never, you scoundrels!" said Ignotso.

"Then we'll have to tie you up and take you away. Get down on the ground!"

Kitty and Leona roared and jumped out of their hiding place. They knocked the two men to the floor and fought like dragons. Ignotso stood frozen in fear. A shot when off and Kitty lay still. Leona had one of the men by the neck, but his partner came to his aid and landed a devastating blow on the lioness with the handle of his gun. Leona sprawled on the floor, stunned.

"You shot her!" cried Ignotso. "You killed Kitty! You murderer!"

"So she has a name, does she? She must be your pet. You had her attack us by the river today. We're taking you and your animal to headquarters. You'll pay dearly for this."

"You killed Kitty! Isn't that enough for you?!"

"Relax, the guns only have tranquilizing darts. You don't really think we came here armed to kill, do you?"

"We'll see who gets into trouble," Ignotso threatened. "I know the law is on my side!"

"The law here," said the larger of the two men, "is whatever the Interior Department Director says it is. Come on!"

Leona was badly hurt, but she heard everything that was said. "Take Kitty ... Ignotso ... away? No!" With all the energy she could muster she stood up and ran to the thieves, trying to attack. The shorter one sneered and batted her across the room with the stalk of his gun like a baseball.

"Leave that one alone," said the larger of the two men. "We'll take care of these two first." They lead Ignotso and carried the limp Kitty to a hidden vehicle and locked them in a flatbed cab. The wheels spun dirt, and the truck rumbled away.

When Leona woke up, it was dark outside. "Ignotso? Kitty? ... No!" She pulled herself to her feet, and limped outside. They were gone.

"They captured them! I wasn't strong enough to save them. Those men and their guns! Help!" she cried. "Someone help me! Help me save my friends! Kimba! Brother, where are you? I need you right now! Kimba!" She roared at the full moon in the crystal black sky. "Kimbaaaaa ...!!!"


Chapter IV