THE WINNER

Sci-fi mini story

Lenard stopped thoughtfully at the entrance to the travel agency “Ecstasy”. On the one hand, he had a perfect idea of where to invest income from stock exchange operations with maximum benefit for himself. On the other hand, these incomes allowed him to spend a lot of money on an unusual trip. After all, what is the point of money if not in exchange for pleasure?

After reflection, he came to the conclusion that money and pleasure are two sides of a person’s successful existence, which constantly flow into one another, supporting his existence. After which he resolutely pushed the heavy, expensive door of the agency and went up to the second floor.

The department of tourism to exotic places was located here. Len chose the Bengal jungle. Since childhood, he imagined himself as a threat of forest predators, making his way with a weapon in his hands through thickets of thorny vines.

“Do you want a safari with a photo gun or big-game hunting with carbine?”

“The second choice, please.”

“Cost is ten thousand credits or two bitcoins.”

“Five times more expensive than a photo hunt?”

“Yes of course. You will need beaters, rangers, shooters, and your trip will be individual, and not group, as in a peaceful safari. Will you take out insurance?”

“What does your insurance cover and how much does it cost?”

“Oh, a lot! It guarantees you victory in the fight, regardless of its conditions. Former hunters and military prefer to shoot themselves, relying on their experience and wanting to tickle their nerves without insurance. Businessmen pay and have the full support of our agency. According to a typical contract, the client faces no risk of death or injury and is guaranteed 100% victory no matter which animal he chooses. The cost of hunting an herbivore with insurance doubles, and for a predator it triples. The most dangerous is the king of the jungle – the Bengal tiger. If you choose to hunt him, the cost of hunting with insurance will quadruple.

“Tiger! I choose a tiger,” Len wheezed in some kind of fanatical frenzy.

To hell with the money! He will pay a lot of credits, but he will get maximum pleasure. He couldn’t wait to sign an insurance contract, get lessons in finding and shooting a tiger, and go to distant places for victory and the emotions of pristine life.

* * *

Lenard was taken from Calcutta to the Sundarbans Nature Reserve, located in the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, by a travel agency helicopter. Len has already met the support group. Four strong men, including the driver, who spoke fluent English and shot accurately with large-caliber carbines, formed his entourage.

“There’s nothing scary around with people like that,” Lenard thought, but a chill of anxiety ran along his spine every now and then.

“What if they don’t make it in time, what if they miss, and what if there are several tigers?”

But the huntsmen were skilled hunters and marksmen. A day later, the group walked along paths barely noticeable in the forest and entered a damp, swampy part of the forest.

“No self-directed actions!” the senior hunter warned Lenard, “The tiger is already close.”

Unexpectedly for Len, the group came to the tiger’s lair. The dogs tucked their tails and stayed close to the people. Two of the beaters moved into the thicket, and the other two remained with Len, but kept slightly to the side, to the right and left. Suddenly the dog that Len was leading whined and, breaking the leash, rushed back towards their jeep. He was left alone with the unknown, and then a tiger appeared, which angrily growled at the person who had invaded its habitat.

“Nothing, nothing. Everything is as they taught. Aim and shoot as if at a target, without waiting for the slightest movement of the animal.”

Lenard aimed his gun. If his bullet does not kill the tiger, then the hunters’ safety shots will finish him off, so I shouldn’t sweat so much. But the sight of a predator with droplets of saliva on its raised fur, its sharp animal smell, fascinated and aroused primitive instincts.

“Kill him!” said the inner voice to both man and beast.

“What am I waiting for?” Len thought and pulled the trigger. The shot sounded at the height of the predator’s jump.

Suddenly Len felt a sharp pain in the muscles torn by the claws of the predator and in the spine crushed under the weight of the beast.

“What is this?” Len was shocked, because according to the contract he must win. Indeed, the pain in the shoulders and spine subsided, but another pain appeared under the rib. Dull, as if he had been hit with a rod on the striped fur on his side.

“Damn it! This is the bullet of the man I’m going to eat,” Len thought, “The wound is superficial and will heal soon. I have won!”