Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 391: The Desert Sprinters

Another camel crowded in. "That is right! We will use the gold to pay for our treatment. You fixed the thorn in my hoof earlier. You are a great vet!"

Nancy’s heart melted at the sight of these innocent, enthusiastic giants. She patted each of them on the nose. "Thank you all! But we aren't going for the gold. We are going to catch someone who did something very bad."

After Nancy and Simon met up with the Raventown police, Simon clearly laid out the case for the lead officer. "We believe the suspect, Rino, discovered a gold vein along with the three victims. They had been mining it illegally for at least two weeks. When it came time to split the loot, Rino decided to keep it all for himself and murdered his partners."

"A gold mine?" A young officer gasped. "No wonder people died. Faced with that kind of wealth, human nature rarely stands a chance. We need to move fast before he disappears with the gold."

Nancy patted the sturdy neck of the camel beside her. "Don't worry. Even if he hides in the heart of the desert, he won't be able to stay hidden with all these scouts helping us."

According to the camels, the mining site was extremely remote. They needed to drive to the edge of the desert and then switch to camels to go deeper. If they moved with a massive group of officers and a large herd, they would be too slow.

After a quick strategy session, the Raventown police formed a small strike team. Nancy and Simon would lead, supported by two local officers who knew the terrain. They took four lead camels and traveled light to maximize their speed.

The team drove for three hours in a specialized camel transport truck borrowed from a local. When they reached the end of the road, they saddled up. The camels immediately set off with steady, confident strides, moving as if they were following an invisible track in the sand.

One of the young officers looked back at the highway, which had long since vanished from view. "My god. We must be a few miles in by now. They haven't hesitated once!"

Nancy smiled. "A camel can remember the location of a water source from hundreds of kilometers away. Even months later, they can find their way back without missing a step."

"That is more reliable than GPS," the officer muttered, looking at the identical sand dunes surrounding them. "How do they even tell the difference out here?"

Nancy leaned forward to brush some sand away from her camel's eyes. "Their memory is a survival tool. In the desert, food and water are scarce and miles apart. Getting lost means death from dehydration or heat. They survived this terrain by burning every water hole and safe haven into their brains. They are incredibly smart and resilient."

Nancy was riding a tall Bactrian camel named Fighter. Hearing the praise, Fighter’s long lashes fluttered like tiny fans, and he blinked shyly. He was a quiet, introverted camel, but the rest of the herd said his memory was the best, like he had a live map installed in his head.

The camels led the four of them to a hidden sandy valley. Simon and the officers went ahead to scout and found fresh tool marks on the rock walls and scattered mineral scraps.

Suddenly, Fighter perked up, his nostrils flared. "I smell my friends!" He stomped his hooves in excitement. "The three camels that were sold! They are nearby!"

"Great! Lead the way!" As soon as Nancy spoke, Fighter bolted like an arrow from a bow.

The sudden burst of speed nearly threw Nancy off. She hugged the camel's hump tight as the wind began to howl past her ears.

My god, she thought. She had almost forgotten that while camels looked slow and steady, they were sprinters hidden behind a marathon runner's reputation. These giants could maintain a steady pace all day, but they could also hit forty kilometers per hour in a heartbeat.

Fighter’s hooves kicked up a golden cloud of dust as he wove through the dunes. Simon, who had been kneeling to check the dig site, only saw a tan blur streak past.

"Nancy!" Simon’s heart hammered in his chest. He leaped onto his own camel. "Fast! Follow them!"

His camel began to trot, grumbling under its breath. "Oh boy, Fighter is the fastest runner we have. There is no way I'm catching him..."