Supping With Panthers Read Online Free Page B

the way carefully along the track towards the line of trees where the jungle began. They were over here, sir,’ said one of the sentries, pointing towards a pool of thick shadow. I made my way through the undergrowth; there was no sign of anyone. I pulled away the creepers and stared around. The jungle was as silent and still as before. I took a step forward … and then suddenly I felt fingers gripping my leg.
    As though in slow motion, I looked down and fired. I remember seeing a pale face, its mouth wide open but its eyes cold and dead. Then the bullet smashed into its skull – I saw it disintegrate, and a shower of blood and bone was blasted into my face. Unpleasant – but the strange thing was, I stayed deadly calm. I wiped the stuff away from my eyes, then stared down at the corpse by my feet. There was the beastliest mess everywhere. As I bent down by the body, I could see a round bullet-hole in the back; my soldier had caught him bang in the spine. ‘He should have been dead long before you got him, sir,’ the sentry said, staring down at the bullet-hole. I ignored him and I rolled the corpse over. He was dressed in native garb, but when I felt in his pockets I found a tattered rouble note.
    I rose to my feet and peered into the darkness of the creepers and trees. ‘Damn it, but they are up there,’ I thought. Rawlinson’s intelligence had been correct – the Russians were indeed in Kalikshutra. My blood fairly boiled at the very thought. God knew what devilry they might be brewing against us! God knew what devilry against the whole British Raj! I glanced down at the corpse by my feet. ‘Bury it,’ I said, tapping at its side with my boot. ‘Then, when you’re replaced, get a good few hours’ sleep. We have a long day ahead of us – we depart tomorrow at the first light of dawn.’
    Letter, Dr John Eliot to Professor Huree Jyoti Navalkar.
    6 June 1887.
    Dear Huree,
    I am leaving tomorrow with Moorfield and his men. One of the sentries shot a Russian soldier tonight, and Moorfield wishes to ascertain the full extent of the enemy presence here. I will accompany him as far as the Kalibari Pass.
    I leave you this note because it is possible that I shall accompany him even further than that If I do so, then it is equally possible I shall never return. For two years now I have lived amongst the people of the foothills, almost as one of their own. In all that time, I have kept my promise and never attempted to penetrate beyond the Pass to Kalikshutra itself. If I feel I can, I will keep to that promise now, for I would not willingly betray those who have been so welcoming and generous to me. But what the tribesmen most dreaded has already begun to happen: Chaos is indeed descending from beyond the Pass. Huree – the Russian who was killed tonight – I conducted the autopsy. There can be no doubt at all – his white cells were diseased.
    I am very much afraid, then, that the sickness is starting to spread. It is too early yet to talk of an epidemic; but certainly the presence of Russian soldiers in Kalikshutra makes the prohibition on travelling beyond the Kalibari Pass seem futile. If we find further evidence of the disease below the Pass, then I shall feel that it is my duty as a doctor to investigate its nature more closely. The tribesmen will forgive me, I hope, if I can only find a cure. Goat’s blood and gold, I think, may soon prove an inadequate defence.
    I cannot deny that I feel a certain excitement at the thought of penetrating Kalikshutra at last. The disease that is surely raging there seems an extraordinary one. If I can identify it, then the whole programme of my research may well be resolved. Your own theory too, Huree – that the sickness explains the vampire myth -may also be proved.
    Let us hope we shall have the chance to discuss all these matters.
    Until then, though, my best wishes,
    JACK.
    Extract, With Rifles in the Raj, (continued).

    INTO KALIKSHUTRA

    A jungle expedition -first