Crybaby - Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Five of the blockbuster new novel, Crybaby by best-selling, multi-award-winning author Mark Watson...
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CRYBABY
©Copyright 2024 by Mark Watson
CHAPTER 25
NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE
As the sun dipped below the canopy, painting the jungle in hues of orange and deep green, Ahanna called a halt to the day's march. The team had pushed hard, and the time had come for rest. The jungle, grew denser as darkness approached.
“This is as good a spot as any,” Ahanna said, her machete dangling loosely at her side. They had found a small clearing just large enough for the kumkis to settle and the team to set up camp. To one side, a narrow stream gurgled softly, providing a crucial water source, though its murky depths hinted at hidden dangers from mugger crocodiles and snakes.
The team moved quickly into their familiar routines. The mahouts were the first to act, guiding the kumkis to a flat patch of ground near the clearing’s edge. The elephants, sturdy and imposing, were tethered to nearby trees with thick ropes reinforced with metal chains. “Easy now,” Raj murmured, patting the flank of the larger kumki. Her massive trunk coiled around a branch, snapping it off with a sharp crack. The smaller kumki, was more restless, shifting nervously and flapping her ears.
The mahouts worked swiftly, laying out bundles of dried grass and sugarcane to feed the kumkis. They hesitated at first, sniffing the air suspiciously, but the larger kumki began eating immediately, her presence calming the younger elephant. “We’ll keep them close tonight,” one of the mahouts said. “If Crybaby comes, they’ll sense him before we do.”
Turning to the rest of the team, Ahanna ordered, “Tents up. Keep them close to the fire.” The rangers unrolled two canvas tents, moving with practiced efficiency. The smaller tent for the mahouts was placed closest to the kumkis, while the larger tent for the rangers and Ahanna was set up near the fire. Rahul muttered under his breath as he hammered a stake into the ground. “This isn’t exactly five-star luxury.”
“Neither is the jungle,” Ahanna replied, not looking up from her work as she adjusted a tent pole. The tents were basic but durable, built to withstand the unpredictable weather. Inside, sleeping bags were unfurled over thin mats to provide a semblance of comfort against the hard ground.
Raj took charge of setting up the perimeter, stringing nearly invisible tripwires between trees around the clearing. Attached to the wires were small bells, which would chime softly if anything large crossed into the camp. “Won’t stop Crybaby, but it’ll give us a warning,” Raj explained in a low voice as he worked. Ahanna, near the edge of the clearing, drove sharpened stakes into the ground at an angle, creating a crude barrier that might slow down any aggressive animal long enough for them to react.
The fire was the heart of the setup. Rahul and another ranger gathered dry wood and kindling, stacking it into a pyramid before striking a match. The flames crackled to life, casting long, flickering shadows across the clearing. “Keep it small,” Ahanna cautioned. “We need the light, not a signal for Crybaby to find us.”
The firelight reflected off their faces as the team gathered for a brief meal. Ration packs were opened, their unappetizing contents quickly consumed. There was little conversation—each person focused on the task at hand or lost in their own thoughts about the hunt ahead.
Afterward, Ahanna wiped her hands on her pants and stood. “We’ll take shifts tonight. Rahul, you’re first. Raj, you’re second. I’ll take the last.”
“Figures,” Rahul muttered, though he didn’t argue. He grabbed his rifle and settled onto a fallen log near the edge of the firelight, his eyes scanning the dark jungle.
“Stay alert,” Ahanna warned. “If you see anything wake the rest of us. No heroics.”
Rahul smirked. “Relax, boss. I’ve got this.”
Ahanna wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t press the issue. She turned to Raj, who was double-checking the tranquilizer darts. “Make sure everything’s ready. If Crybaby shows up, we won’t have time to fumble.”
Raj nodded grimly.
The kumkis, for now, were settling down, their massive forms blending into the shadows at the edge of the clearing. The smallest kumki lay on her side, her breathing slow and steady, while the larger of the two stood nearby, twitching her ears at the sounds of the night.
Ahanna did one final sweep of the camp, checking the tents, the fire, and the perimeter. Satisfied, she sat down by the fire, her machete resting against her knee. The jungle had grown quieter, but it was a deceptive quiet. Every rustle of leaves, every distant call of a nocturnal bird, was a reminder that they were deep in the heart of Crybaby’s territory.
As the first stars began to appear in the sliver of sky visible through the canopy, Ahanna allowed herself a brief moment of stillness. Tomorrow, the hunt would continue, but for now, all they could do was wait—and hope the night passed without incident. The fire crackled softly, its light flickering against the encroaching darkness that loomed beyond the clearing.
Ahanna crouched near the fire pit, striking flint against steel until a spark caught. The flames grew slowly, licking at the kindling before blossoming into a small but determined fire. Its warmth and light offered a fragile sense of security. Rahul dropped his pack with a thud and slumped against a tree, pulling out a tin of rations. "Another gourmet feast," he muttered, peeling back the lid. His tone was flippant, but his eyes darted to the shadows beyond the firelight, betraying his unease.
Raj, ever watchful, sat apart from the others, his tranquilizer gun resting across his knees. He sharpened a knife with slow, deliberate strokes, the rasping sound cutting through the hum of insects.
The group ate in relative silence, the occasional crack of a branch or rustle of leaves keeping them on edge. The jungle was alive with noise—chirping insects, the distant hoot of an owl, and the guttural calls of unseen creatures—but it was the unnatural silence they feared. Crybaby’s approach would be heralded by a lull in the natural symphony, a stillness that would prick at their instincts like an alarm.
As the fire settled into glowing embers, Ahanna rose and began checking the perimeter herself. She didn’t trust the sensors alone, not out here. The jungle had a way of testing your vigilance, punishing even the smallest lapse. She moved quietly, machete in hand, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. Behind her, the kumkis rumbled softly, their massive forms barely visible in the dim light. The mahouts stayed close to their animals, murmuring soothing words in low tones. These elephants were their lifeline, their strength and protection, but even they were not invincible. Crybaby had proven that time and again.
Ahanna walked out to where Rahul was taking first watch to find him fiddling with his rifle, his expression unusually focused. She watched him for a moment, unease settling in her chest. His eagerness to face Crybaby had been clear earlier, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that his motivations were dangerously personal.
"Rahul," she said, her voice cutting through the crackle of the fire. "Anything yet?"
He looked up, his trademark smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Guess I’m your favorite," he quipped, but there was an edge to his humor that didn’t sit right.
"Just stay sharp," she said, ignoring the jab. "Get Raj in two hours."
He gave a mock salute before settling into position near the edge of the clearing, rifle resting across his lap. Ahanna stood silently, her thoughts heavy. Rahul’s presence felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. She’d have to keep an eye on him, but for now, there was nothing to do but trust that he wouldn’t make any reckless moves.
When she finally broke the silence, her voice was sharp. "If you’re scared, say so."
Rahul smirked but his eyes held a flicker of something more dangerous. "Scared? Nah. Just... keyed up. Adrenaline’s a hell of a drug, boss."
"Is that what you call it?" Ahanna studied him closely. "Back there, when we ran into that bull, you were ready to pull the trigger without even thinking."
Rahul’s grin faltered for a fraction of a second, but he recovered quickly. "Heat of the moment. I thought it was Crybaby. Can’t afford to hesitate out here, right?"
Ahanna set her machete aside and leaned in, her gaze steady. "You thought it was Crybaby, or you wanted it to be?"
Rahul’s expression hardened. "What are you getting at?"
The silence between them stretched just long enough to be uncomfortable. Ahanna’s voice cut through the stillness. "I’ve seen that look before, Rahul. You weren’t just ready to shoot, you wanted to. And not just at that bull."
Rahul leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "And what if I do?" His voice was colder now. "Crybaby’s a killer, Ahanna. He’s destroyed half of my village, trampled people, left nothing but chaos behind. You really think this is about tranq guns and relocating him? You think he’ll stop if we just wave our magic conservation wand?"
"We’re not out here for vengeance," Ahanna shot back, her jaw tightening. "This isn’t about what you or I want. It’s about doing what’s necessary to protect the people and the wildlife."
"Protecting people is what I’m talking about," Rahul countered, his gaze intense. "You’ve seen what he can do. You think he’s just going to walk into some sanctuary, some zoo, some temple and play nice? He’s posessed, a demon."
Ahanna’s eyes darkened. "That’s not your call to make. We have a mission, and it doesn’t include playing executioner."
Rahul held her gaze for a long moment, then leaned back with a humorless chuckle. "You’re idealistic, Ahanna. I’ll give you that. But idealism doesn’t stop a rogue elephant from stomping through a village in the middle of the night."
"And recklessness doesn’t solve anything either," she countered. "Crybaby’s not just some mindless beast. He’s reacting to what humans have done to him. If we start treating him like a monster, we’re no better than the people who drove him to this."
Rahul shook his head, his smirk returning, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "You really believe that, don’t you?"
"I believe we can try," Ahanna said quietly. "And I believe that’s what separates us from the ones who only want to kill."
Rahul didn’t respond immediately. He stared into the fire, the flickering flames reflected in his eyes. "You’re not going to convince me, you know," he said eventually.
"I’m not trying to convince you," she replied. "I’m just telling you how it is. If you can’t follow the mission, maybe you shouldn’t be here."
Rahul’s lips twitched into something between a smirk and a sneer. "Careful, Ahanna. You might hurt my feelings."
She didn’t rise to the bait, picking up her machete again. "Just keep your eyes open, eh Rahul?."
Rahul lingered for a moment longer, considering whether to press the issue, but then he stood, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "Sweet dreams, boss."
As she walked away, Rahul watched her, his grip tightening on the rifle.
Raj caught her gaze as she returned to her place by the fire. She sat next to him and began sharpening her machete on a stone. "You’re worried about him," he said softly, nodding toward Rahul.
"I’d be a fool not to be."
She hadn’t missed the look in Rahul’s eyes earlier that day when he’d almost pulled the trigger on the bull elephant. That flash of pure, unfiltered rage. She’d seen it in people before; soldiers, rangers, even poachers. It was the kind of anger that blinded you, that made you forget what you were really fighting for.
“You okay?” Raj asked, his voice low.
Ahanna nodded, though her grip on the machete remained tight. “Rahul and I had a… conversation.”
Raj raised an eyebrow as he crouched beside the fire. “Let me guess. He still wants to kill Crybaby.”
She sighed, setting the blade and stone aside. “It’s more than that. He doesn’t just want to kill Crybaby, he needs to. It’s probably all he thinks about.”
Raj poked at the fire with a stick, sending up a flurry of sparks. “Can you blame him? Crybaby killed his brother, Ahanna. I watched it happen.”
“I know,” she said softly. “And I get it, I really do. But this isn’t about him—or me, or you. It’s about doing what’s right. And right now, that means stopping Crybaby without turning this into a bloodbath.”
Raj tilted his head, studying her. “You think Rahul’s going to follow that plan?”
Ahanna didn’t answer right away. Instead, she stared into the flames, her mind replaying the moment Rahul had raised his rifle at the bull elephant, the way his finger had hovered over the trigger, trembling not with fear but with raw, burning anger. “I don’t know,” she admitted finally. “But if he can’t keep it together, he’s going to get someone killed.”
Raj leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “He’s a good shot,” he said after a pause. “But this… this is personal for him. Things could get… messy.”
“Messy doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Ahanna muttered. She glanced toward the edge of camp, where Rahul was on watch. “I just hope when the time comes, we can bring him down to earth.”
Raj didn’t respond right away. Instead, he let the sounds of the jungle fill the silence between them: the distant calls of nocturnal creatures, the steady hum of insects, the occasional rustle of leaves that could have been anything—or nothing at all.
Finally, he said, “If it comes to it… if he steps out of line…”
“I’ll deal with it,” Ahanna said firmly, cutting him off. Her tone left no room for argument. “We can’t afford to lose focus, Raj. Not with Crybaby out there.”
Raj nodded, though his expression was heavy with doubt. “Just be careful, Ahanna. Anger like his doesn’t go away quietly. And out here, in this jungle, it’s not just Crybaby we need to watch out for.”
Ahanna didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. The fire crackled between them.
Ahanna took her leave and settled down to sleep in her tent. Raj sat just outside the campfire’s glow, the old tranquilizer rifle resting across his knees. The stock was well-worn, its smooth surface bearing the marks of years in the jungle. He absentmindedly ran a cloth along the barrel. The rhythmic motion helped him focus.
He heard the faint crunch of footsteps before he saw the figure emerge from the shadows. Raj’s hand stilled, his instincts prickling as Rahul stepped into the edge of the firelight, his movements as casual as a predator stalking prey.
“It’s time for you to take watch,” said Rahul. “Nice rifle you’ve got there.” Rahul nodded toward the rifle. His tone was light, conversational, but his eyes gleamed with something sharper. “Best marksman in the group, that’s what Ahanna keeps saying, isn’t it?”
Raj didn’t look up, continuing to clean the rifle with deliberate movements. “What do you want, Rahul?”
Rahul crouched down beside him, close enough that Raj could see the faint sheen of sweat on his forehead. “You know what I want. Crybaby’s out there, waiting to turn one of us into a stain on the jungle floor. We both know he’s a demon, not some harmless animal.”
Raj’s jaw tightened. “We’re not killing Crybaby. He’s dangerous, yeah, but that doesn’t mean we take him out.”
Rahul let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “See, that’s the thing about you, Raj. Always playing by the book. Always thinking there’s another way. But let me tell you something…” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “That elephant? He’s not the real problem here.”
Raj’s hands froze over the rifle. He looked up at Rahul, his expression guarded. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Rahul’s smirk twisted into something colder, darker. “You’ve got a good thing going, don’t you? A wife. A kid on the way. Back in the village, safe and sound. Must be nice, knowing they’re waiting for you.”
Raj’s stomach knotted. His grip on the rifle tightened, the words coming out slow and deliberate. “Don’t. Even. Think about it.”
Rahul’s smirk didn’t falter. He leaned back slightly, just enough to keep the tension simmering. “Relax, I’m not thinking about anything... yet. But here’s the thing. You remember that little bandit gang you and Ahanna tore through? The one that got wiped off the map?”
Raj didn’t answer, but his eyes stayed locked on Rahul, his mind racing.
“Let’s just say,” Rahul continued, his voice taking on an almost lazy drawl, “they weren’t wiped out completely. You aren’t stupid, you must have heard about me from my brother. The bandits were mine and there’s more than a few of them still alive. Loyal. And let’s just say I’ve still got enough reach to make things... interesting for a certain village.”
It hit Raj like a fist to the gut. He rose halfway to his feet, the rifle clutched tightly in his hands. “You’re saying you were the one running that gang?”
“Surprise,” Rahul said with a mocking grin. “Yeah, I was the big bad you thought you’d taken down. But you didn’t finish the job. And now I’ve got just enough left to make things messy for anyone who crosses me.”
Raj’s pulse thundered in his ears. “You’re bluffing.”
Rahul’s grin vanished, his voice turning ice-cold. “Try me. You think I don’t know where your wife lives? I’m the fucking Mayor remember? Do you know how easy it’d be for my men to pay her a visit? You want to see how far I’ll go?”
Raj stared at him, the weight of the rifle suddenly feeling crushing in his hands. Every instinct screamed at him to act, to shove the barrel against Rahul’s chest and pull the trigger. But he knew better. A tranquilizer dart wouldn’t stop someone like Rahul. Not for good.
“What do you want?” Raj asked finally, his voice low and trembling with barely restrained fury.
Rahul smiled again, satisfied. “What I want is simple. Stay out of my way when I kill Crybaby. Do that, and your family stays safe. Don’t…” He shrugged. “Well, let’s not think about what happens if you don’t.”
Raj’s mind spun. Every fiber of his being rebelled against the idea, but the thought of his wife—her gentle smile, the way she cradled her growing belly—was like a dagger in his chest.
“You’re worse than Crybaby. You’re the demon here,” he said through gritted teeth.
Rahul’s grin widened. “I’m practical. And you’re smart enough to know you don’t have a choice.”
Raj looked down at the rifle, his vision blurring with rage. “If I do this… you stay the hell away from my family.”
“Scout’s honor,” Rahul said with mock sincerity, raising a hand as if taking an oath. “Crybaby goes down, and we both walk away happy.”
Raj didn’t answer. He just sat back down, his hands trembling as he stared at the tranquilizer rifle in his lap. The jungle felt unbearably heavy around him, the distant hum of insects drowned out by the sound of his own racing heartbeat.
Rahul clapped him on the shoulder, the gesture infuriatingly familiar. “I knew you’d see reason.”
With that, Rahul melted back into the shadows, leaving Raj alone with his rifle, his fury, and the impossible decision hanging over his head.
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
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