"The district commissioner, Alistair Woking," Pendergast whispered to his wife.
"I'd never have guessed."
"And the fellow with him in the Australian cowboy hat is Gordon Wisley, the camp concessionaire."
"Come inside," said the district commissioner, shaking their hands. "We can talk more comfortably in the hut."
"Heavens, no!" said Helen. "We've been cooped up in a car all day--let's have a drink at the bar."
"Well...," the commissioner said dubiously.
"If the lion comes into camp, so much the better. Then we won't have the bother of stalking him in the bush. Right, Aloysius?"
"Flawlessly argued."
She lifted the soft-canvas bag that held her gun out of the back of the Land Rover. Pendergast did the same, hefting a heavy metal canister of ammunition over his shoulder.
"Gentlemen?" he said. "To the bar?"
"Very well." The DC eyed their heavy-bore safari guns with a certain look of reassurance. "Misumu!"
An African in a felt fez and red sash ducked his head out a door of the staff camp.
"We'd like a drink at the bar," said Woking. "If you don't mind."
They retired to the thatched bar, the barman taking his place behind the polished wood counter. He was sweating, and not because of the heat.
"Maker's Mark," said Helen. "On the rocks."
"Two," said her husband. "And muddle in some mint, if you have it."
"Make it the same all 'round," said the DC. "Is that all right with you, Wisley?"
"Just so long as it's strong," said Wisley with a nervous laugh. "What a day."
The barman poured the drinks, and Pendergast washed the dust from his throat with a good slug. "Tell us what happened, Mr. Wisley."
Wisley was a tall redhead with a New Zealand accent. "It was after lunch," he began. "We had twelve guests in camp--a full house."
As he spoke, Pendergast unzipped the canvas carrying case and removed his gun, a Holland & Holland .465 "Royal" double rifle. He broke the action and began cleaning the weapon, wiping off dust from the long drive. "What was lunch?"
"Sandwiches. Roast kudu, ham, turkey, cucumber. Iced tea. We always serve a light lunch during the heat of the day."
Pendergast nodded, polishing the walnut stock.
"A lion had been roaring most of the night off in the bush, but during the day it settled down. We often hear roaring lions--it's one of the attractions of the camp, actually."
"Charming."
"But they've never bothered us before. I just can't understand it."
Pendergast glanced at him, then returned his attention to the gun. "This lion, I take it, was not local?"
"No. We have several prides here--I know every individual by sight. This was a rogue male."
"Large?"
"Large as hell."
"Big enough to make the book?"
Wisley grimaced. "Bigger than anything in the book."
"I see."
"The German, a fellow named Hassler, and his wife were the first to leave the table. I think it was around two. They were heading back to their rondevaal when--according to the wife--the lion leapt from the cover along the riverbank, knocked her husband down, and sank his teeth into the poor man's neck. The wife started screaming bloody murder, and of course the poor bloke was screaming, too. We all came running, but the lion had dragged him off into the bush and vanished. I can't tell you how terrible it was--we could hear him scream, again and again. Then all went quiet except for the sounds of..." He stopped abruptly.
"Good God," said Helen. "Didn't anyone fetch a rifle?"
"I did," said Wisley. "I'm not much of a shot, but as you know we're required to carry rifles during outings with tourists. I didn't dare follow him into the long grass--I don't hunt, Mr. Pendergast--but I fired several times at the sounds and it seemed to drive the lion deeper into the bush. Perhaps I wounded him."
"That would be unfortunate," said Pendergast dryly. "No doubt he dragged the body with him. Did you preserve the spoor at the scene of the attack?"
"Yes, we did. Of course, there was some initial disturbance during the panic, but then I blocked off the area."
"Excellent. And no one went into the bush after him?"
"No. Everyone was simply hysterical--we haven't had a lion killing in decades. We evacuated all but essential staff."
Pendergast nodded, then glanced at his wife. She, too, had cleaned her rifle--a Krieghoff .500/.416 "Big Five"--and was listening intently.
"Have you heard the lion since then?"
"No. It was bloody silent all last night and today. Perhaps he's gone off."
"Not likely, until he's finished his kill," said Pendergast. "A lion won't drag a kill more than a mile. You can be sure he's still around.