Hunter's Moon Read Free Page B

college.’
    Neil frowned.
What was she saying?
    ‘You know,’ she went on. ‘The hunt saboteurs. We’re going to film the hunt and get proof that they kill foxes illegally. I agreed to get a bit of inside information by chatting up the kennel boy. He fell for my charms a real treat. I came today to get a few names and addresses of Hunt members. It was horrible to find him lying on the floor, but I still hate all he stands for.’
    Neil stared into the flames.
    ‘Then you must hate me too. I rear birds for people to kill. I bet you anti blood-sport people don’t like that, do you?’
    Tanya touched his knee. ‘That’s very different from ripping a fox apart. And besides, you’re really nice.’
    Neil watched the firelight dance in her deep brown eyes. He smiled. ‘I’m lost for words. So how about joining me here tonight to see what Joe was so worried about?’
    ‘Is that your normal chat-up line? I bet the girls always fall for that one!’
    Neil blushed. ‘Sorry. It’s just that …’
    ‘I’m only teasing.’ Tanya pushed him playfully. ‘I think you’re right. I think we should hide in this wood tonight and see just what this is all about. To find the truth once and for all.’

NINE
    Neil and Tanya sat in the pub next to a roaring log fire.
    ‘Make the most of this heat,’ Neil said. ‘It’ll be freezing out there tonight.’
    ‘I’ve got extra layers,’ Tanya smiled, ‘as well as a flask of coffee.’ She looked over her shoulder and whispered, ‘Don’t you think we should tell the police?’
    Neil sighed. ‘I reported the dead kite today, but they can’t seem to do much. And what do we tell them? “
We’re camping out in the wood tonight because we think something odd is going on. We’re after a big cat on the prowl
.” They’ll lock us up!’
    Tanya sipped her drink. ‘Joe’s mum phoned. He’s still very ill. They pumped out his stomach and he’s on a drip. They wouldn’t say any more. They do that to people who take an overdose. I’m sure Joe hasn’t taken drugs. I know he can be stupid but …’
    Neil didn’t say anything. He had other ideas. He pointed at her bag.
    ‘What’s that poking out with a dirty great bin liner over it?’
    Tanya touched her nose. ‘That’s a secret. I know it’s against my beliefs, but I’m not going into those woods without it. I took itfrom Joe’s kitchen. Just in case.’
    Neil didn’t have to ask. He knew it was a shotgun. He felt relieved they had it. If the big cat really was out there, they might need it.
    When they left the pub, the moon was already high in a starry sky. The whole village was bathed in its wash of silvery liquid light. A sharp frost crept over the trees and a thin crust of ice crawled across puddles on the track. Neil’s boots crunched the icy splinters as he entered the woods. Even inside, where the trees were thick and tall, milky light trickled down into shimmering pools of moonlight. But the shadows grew deeper, darker, denser … as the cloak of night pulled tighter around them. Tanya’s hand slipped into Neil’s.
    ‘Over there!’ Neil pointed with his torch beam, into a thick mass of bushes. ‘We canhide in there. We’ll be able to see the walnut trees.’
    Tanya squeezed his hand. ‘I’m really scared. I’ve got my phone at the ready. Just in case.’
    ‘Who will you call – Panthers-R-Us?’
    Neil looked down at the snaking roots of beech trees. His torch beam danced over the peaty moss.
    ‘What are you looking for? Tracks?’ Tanya asked. Neil didn’t reply. He was deep in thought.
    Soon they were lying on a plastic sheet, huddled under a sleeping bag. The gun pointed out through the twigs as their eyes scanned the ghostly woods. Their torches were off now. It was almost midnight and an icy silence hung in the smoky greyness.
    Enough moonlight seeped across the ground for them to see smudgy shapes. Butthey heard it first – long before the dark figure moved through the trees. A scraping