Chapter 1 – The Promised Land
Early in March, Amur the large Siberian Tiger ambled elegantly to his favourite spot on the river bank. The spot had a name amongst the animals in the area. “Where the boat arrives first” Nestled next to a perfectly formed water hole in which running water trickled from a gentle cascading waterfall was a verdant paradise with pillowy green leaves and fluorescent fragrant flowers. Moreover the view over the valley was breathtaking. 180-degree views over the valley from east to west. The tiger was content as it perused over its domain.
Chapter 2 – The Others
Amur had dominion over this spot for the last four years and in his mind, this would be the case for many years. Others had tried to wrestle this spot but succumbed or ran away when the tiger approached. Nevertheless they had tried many strategies often hissed by a slithering malodorous electric eel called ‘Shocking’ partly because of the current it possessed but also due to its strange visage.
Chapter 3 – The Plan
Early in March all the other animals grumbled about the situation. How do we get access to Where The Boat Arrives First? From the water slithered Shocking. Alone we are weak but together we are strong. But we have tried together chimed the Cheshire Cat. That was half hearted intoned the Eel. At that time a number of animals appeared from the scrub. Animals not even from those lands like Pandas, Echidnas, Sloths, Meercats, Polo ponies and even the birds of the sky like the eagle, swan and albatross who usually flew above the fray and had little interest in the special spot. Even the green owls who prided themselves on their impartiality were in attendance. The plan was hatched. The tiger would be disoriented. What it believed it knew before would be challenged. Its paths of ingress and egress would be blocked so the Tiger would need to seek alternatives routes down to and out of the water. Traps would be set in and on the ground and missiles would descend from the trees. The water would have fluoride added and the surrounding greenery would be laced with Catnip. Finally the animals agreed that they must continue to act together but in order to fool the tiger keep the appearance of separateness and business as usual.
Chapter 4 – The Changing Seasons
Even in March the air smelled different to Amur. The tiger know that things change but was quite confident that he possessed all the weapons to cope and succeed. Nevertheless the mosquitoes and insects were more bothersome than usual and although swatted away caused significantly more irritation and inconvenience than before. Then in April to his and the animals surprise the Swans swooped down while the tiger was inattentive and snapped at his heel. It induced a limp and some consternation. It recovered to some extent over the following week but a surge by the neighbouring fauna again caused a brief pain and induced a hesitancy in the great beast. Something was not right. However the magnificent beast was master of the Domain for a reason. He knew he was a little older, a little slower but his belief was still there. He was still fast and strong and cunning enough to find a way. He sought to regain his equanimity ruthlessly repelling an attack from a pack of wild dogs. Slowly though the attacks started to take their toll. Sometimes the Tiger prevailed and sometimes he faltered. Amur’s ankles appeared to be the most susceptible and even his knees started to buckle. Amur was uneasy. The water tasted funny. The grass caused itches and a strange brain fogged complacency. The attacks hurt the tiger and in his confusion he took missteps. He sought alternative paths of egress to withdraw and recharge. Many were dead ends. Even when some paths looked promising the tiger baulked at shadows fearing dangers that may not even been there. His belief was challenged. Still the tiger tried to march on. A concerted and aggressive attack by a convocation of eagles seemed to have been repelled when the Tiger looked it’s opponent in the eyes and instead of savouring the kill it blinked. It faltered. It felt real doubt and fear for the first time in a long time. Instead of pouncing and roaring it shuffled backwards, it’s shoulders rising and tail lowered. It’s still flung out its powerful paws and flashed its teeth but the Eagles appeared unafraid.
Chapter 5 – the Requiem
The tiger who had been on a long journey across all the land to combat his opponents went home to lick his wounds and heal his sore joints and muscles. It contemplated the course of action ahead. In the next attacks on the Tiger, he roared and snarled but the opponents did not flinch. Instead they inflicted more injury and pain on this magnificent feline. The Crows squawked, the kookaburras and galahs screeched and even the hyena laughed at Amur proclaiming the Tiger’s premier spot is no longer his property and that he is too feeble to reclaim it.
Chapter 6 – The Reckoning
The tiger now stands in that water hole looking out over the land. It is bleeding. It is in pain. Looking behind him he sees the hordes gathering. He knows they will keep coming. Quietly a confederation of magpies, lions and Cheshire cats babble and conspire. They conclude that the tiger is weak, but he is not dead. They conclude the tiger must be killed. While they appear confident there is still the fear and scars of so many previous battles when the tiger looked down and out but then recovered and prevailed. There sense of expectation is tempered by the fact that the tiger is still standing albeit shaken. They sense that the Tiger must be killed in the next three weeks. This is their time.
The tiger turns to face the enemy. He dips his heads into the pool and then throws it back the water spaying behind him. He then rises to his full height, scans left, scans right and then fixes his steely gaze on his adversaries and snorts an affirmation of the battle ahead.
They are coming and he knows it. He knows that they may succeed but he also knows that if they miss this opportunity the trepidation will return. At that time there will be a reckoning. There will be no mercy or compassion. Retribution will be exacted. Dues will be paid, Hell hath no fury like a tiger tormented, tainted and scorned but still on his feet.
Beware the Wounded Tiger!!
Early in March, Amur the large Siberian Tiger ambled elegantly to his favourite spot on the river bank. The spot had a name amongst the animals in the area. “Where the boat arrives first” Nestled next to a perfectly formed water hole in which running water trickled from a gentle cascading waterfall was a verdant paradise with pillowy green leaves and fluorescent fragrant flowers. Moreover the view over the valley was breathtaking. 180-degree views over the valley from east to west. The tiger was content as it perused over its domain.
Chapter 2 – The Others
Amur had dominion over this spot for the last four years and in his mind, this would be the case for many years. Others had tried to wrestle this spot but succumbed or ran away when the tiger approached. Nevertheless they had tried many strategies often hissed by a slithering malodorous electric eel called ‘Shocking’ partly because of the current it possessed but also due to its strange visage.
Chapter 3 – The Plan
Early in March all the other animals grumbled about the situation. How do we get access to Where The Boat Arrives First? From the water slithered Shocking. Alone we are weak but together we are strong. But we have tried together chimed the Cheshire Cat. That was half hearted intoned the Eel. At that time a number of animals appeared from the scrub. Animals not even from those lands like Pandas, Echidnas, Sloths, Meercats, Polo ponies and even the birds of the sky like the eagle, swan and albatross who usually flew above the fray and had little interest in the special spot. Even the green owls who prided themselves on their impartiality were in attendance. The plan was hatched. The tiger would be disoriented. What it believed it knew before would be challenged. Its paths of ingress and egress would be blocked so the Tiger would need to seek alternatives routes down to and out of the water. Traps would be set in and on the ground and missiles would descend from the trees. The water would have fluoride added and the surrounding greenery would be laced with Catnip. Finally the animals agreed that they must continue to act together but in order to fool the tiger keep the appearance of separateness and business as usual.
Chapter 4 – The Changing Seasons
Even in March the air smelled different to Amur. The tiger know that things change but was quite confident that he possessed all the weapons to cope and succeed. Nevertheless the mosquitoes and insects were more bothersome than usual and although swatted away caused significantly more irritation and inconvenience than before. Then in April to his and the animals surprise the Swans swooped down while the tiger was inattentive and snapped at his heel. It induced a limp and some consternation. It recovered to some extent over the following week but a surge by the neighbouring fauna again caused a brief pain and induced a hesitancy in the great beast. Something was not right. However the magnificent beast was master of the Domain for a reason. He knew he was a little older, a little slower but his belief was still there. He was still fast and strong and cunning enough to find a way. He sought to regain his equanimity ruthlessly repelling an attack from a pack of wild dogs. Slowly though the attacks started to take their toll. Sometimes the Tiger prevailed and sometimes he faltered. Amur’s ankles appeared to be the most susceptible and even his knees started to buckle. Amur was uneasy. The water tasted funny. The grass caused itches and a strange brain fogged complacency. The attacks hurt the tiger and in his confusion he took missteps. He sought alternative paths of egress to withdraw and recharge. Many were dead ends. Even when some paths looked promising the tiger baulked at shadows fearing dangers that may not even been there. His belief was challenged. Still the tiger tried to march on. A concerted and aggressive attack by a convocation of eagles seemed to have been repelled when the Tiger looked it’s opponent in the eyes and instead of savouring the kill it blinked. It faltered. It felt real doubt and fear for the first time in a long time. Instead of pouncing and roaring it shuffled backwards, it’s shoulders rising and tail lowered. It’s still flung out its powerful paws and flashed its teeth but the Eagles appeared unafraid.
Chapter 5 – the Requiem
The tiger who had been on a long journey across all the land to combat his opponents went home to lick his wounds and heal his sore joints and muscles. It contemplated the course of action ahead. In the next attacks on the Tiger, he roared and snarled but the opponents did not flinch. Instead they inflicted more injury and pain on this magnificent feline. The Crows squawked, the kookaburras and galahs screeched and even the hyena laughed at Amur proclaiming the Tiger’s premier spot is no longer his property and that he is too feeble to reclaim it.
Chapter 6 – The Reckoning
The tiger now stands in that water hole looking out over the land. It is bleeding. It is in pain. Looking behind him he sees the hordes gathering. He knows they will keep coming. Quietly a confederation of magpies, lions and Cheshire cats babble and conspire. They conclude that the tiger is weak, but he is not dead. They conclude the tiger must be killed. While they appear confident there is still the fear and scars of so many previous battles when the tiger looked down and out but then recovered and prevailed. There sense of expectation is tempered by the fact that the tiger is still standing albeit shaken. They sense that the Tiger must be killed in the next three weeks. This is their time.
The tiger turns to face the enemy. He dips his heads into the pool and then throws it back the water spaying behind him. He then rises to his full height, scans left, scans right and then fixes his steely gaze on his adversaries and snorts an affirmation of the battle ahead.
They are coming and he knows it. He knows that they may succeed but he also knows that if they miss this opportunity the trepidation will return. At that time there will be a reckoning. There will be no mercy or compassion. Retribution will be exacted. Dues will be paid, Hell hath no fury like a tiger tormented, tainted and scorned but still on his feet.
Beware the Wounded Tiger!!
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