There is a tiger in the village picking off the residents one by one. She took a baby a few mornings ago. My husband was badly wounded trying to save the infant, but he is alive. Last night the tiger took my friend. We no longer gather at the fountain in the evenings, the children no longer play in the street after school. The tiger is bold. She used to attack only at night, now she attacks any time she wants to. The villagers are praying that God will kill the tiger. I am praying but I am also hunting.
I follow the tiger’s tracks, not along our path, I follow along a rugged tiger’s path. The tracks tell me there is more than one tiger. Her mate joins her. The tracks lead to the water’s edge. I look closely across the river and see movement in the jungle. Are my eyes deceived? There are four tigers, two are young. They are hidden in the plants and grasses yet I can see their eyes watching me. They wonder if they have time to cross the river and take me. They might have time. The jungle is thick on my side of the river. I am far from our path. The rest of the villagers are in their homes, praying. My husband has the fever of infection from being wounded, he cannot join me. I am alone.
Time stands still. I hear the beat of my heart and I am grateful. I am still alive. Right now, right this very moment, everything is okay. One by one the tigers head into the river. The male is strong and he swims upstream. The female is coming towards me. The cubs are heading down the river. They will make a half circle around me. The other half of the circle is the jungle that I must traverse to reach the village. I back up, watching them.
My spear is steady. I am prepared. I am focused. I continue to back up. I smell the rotting jungle floor. I am afraid. I have one spear for four tigers, four tigers who are closing in. I hear the hiss of a snake behind me, it is poised to strike. Without hesitation, I kill the snake with my spear. The tigers gain an advantage, I wasted time. I grab my spear and turn to run but the jungle is thick, I push through as fast as I can. I can smell the tigers behind me.
My death is quick and almost painless. My last thought is of my husband. Who will tend to his wounds? Our child has grown and left the village, he needs me. The cubs have learned their lessons on easy prey, on humans. The family of tigers moves on. There are other animals to feast upon now. Over the next few weeks the villagers return to the fountain, the children return to the streets, and my husband’s fever allows him to join me. Prayers are answered. The tiger is gone.