Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 298: The Goring

A guy in work clothes sneered at the cops. "The police are just scared. Those things weigh seven hundred pounds and have horns like knives. Going up there is a suicide mission."

As the crowd got louder, an old woman lowered her voice. "There have always been takins here, but they never used to kill people. This is wrong." She rubbed her hands together. "Someone must have cursed the mountain."

A few people muttered in agreement.

Nancy watched them. If the takins had only started attacking recently, something was driving them.

The two young officers in the middle of the mob were sweating. "We tried to go in yesterday with tranquilizers to move them to a sanctuary," one explained. "But they’re too aggressive. They nearly trampled us."

"We've called for backup," the other added. "The trails are closed to make sure…"

"Make sure what?" the burly man shouted. "Someone’s already dead!"

Just then, two more officers came down the trail carrying a stretcher. The sight of the black body bag shut everyone up instantly.

"He's really dead," someone whispered.

Panic took over. "You protect the animals while the people die! Give us an answer!" The burly man was shaking now. "Nobody leaves until we get the truth!"

The villagers blocked the road, refusing to let the police through.

"Is everyone here waiting for the takins to come down and finish the job?"

Nancy’s voice cut through the noise. The crowd turned. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means takins have incredible hearing," Nancy said. "You're standing at the base of the mountain screaming. To them, that’s a challenge. If they decide to charge, you’re the first things they’re going to hit."

The fear in her voice was enough. The villagers looked at the dark tree line and realized how exposed they were.

"Get inside! Lock your doors!"

The crowd broke and ran. In seconds, the road was empty.

The lead officer exhaled and looked at Nancy and Simon. "Who are you?"

They both pulled out their badges.

"Nancy Summers. Consultant for the Townsville PD."

"Simon Summers. Townsville PD."

"We're looking for a missing person named Ingrid," Simon said. "The department knows we're here."

"The Summers siblings?" one of the younger cops asked. He looked like he’d just seen a celebrity. "We’re in good hands now."

The lead officer stepped forward. He was about forty, with a face weathered by mountain sun. "I’m Jerome Grunt. Local commander."

Jerome looked like a weight had been lifted. "We thought about calling you yesterday. We knew we needed someone who understood animals, but we didn't think we could get the best out here to the middle of nowhere."

"A case is a case," Nancy said. "We're here to help."

"Jerome, who was the victim?" Simon asked.

"A local guy out gathering herbs," Jerome said.

It wasn't Ingrid, but it meant the mountain was officially a kill zone.