Episode 2 - One More Hunt
It was a sunny and tranquil day in Mombasa. Two veteran hunters named Roland Tembo and AJ Samedi sat in a bar. The two were old friends and hunting partners. AJ knew his friend for long enough to tell that he's depressed, and not just bored like he said to strangers, so he picked his words carefully.
AJ: "That was one thrilling hunt, ain't it? The old elephant is ours and the rest of the herd will live and reproduce another day".
Roland: "That's the problem, old pal. It was a thrilling hunt. Now what? We've already hunted for any big game there is. There are only so much animals we can hunt before we turn from hunters to murderers".
AJ: "What would you say if i told you that i was contacted by someone who can give up one final hunt before we quit? Something that we can kill without endangering any species. It could be a chance of a lifetime to hunt something beyond our wildest dreams".
Roland: "Like what? A dinosaur?".
AJ: "Exactly. Do you know John Hammond and Jurassic Park?".
Roland: "I'm listening to this Dr. Seuss lunacy only because it's you. What about it?".
AJ: "Hammond has a sororal niece named Heather Ludlow. She wants a knowledgeable hunter to keep her people in line. She offered a lot of money, and you would be great for this job. I know you would".
Tembo was about to answer, but was interrupted by the sound of an irritating customer harassing a middle-aged blonde waitress. The poor woman ignored him the best she could, but the customer kept talking and implying all sorts of below the belt insults. When Tembo realized the woman can't push away the harasser on her own, he decided that an action must be taken.
Roland: "AJ, hold my hat. I've got some words for a certain chauvinist".
AJ held Roland's hat, and Roland himself got off the table and approached the irritating customer.
Roland: "Listen, old chum, i heard how you talk to women, and i strongly suggest you'll take a u turn".
The customer: "Otherwise what?".
Tembo answered with a cold-blooded punch to the customer's face. The surprised customer fell backward. The bully got up quicker than Tembo intended and raised a chair. AJ got up and came to help his friend, but was ordered to stop.
Tembo: "AJ, stand down! I've got this".
The customer tried to smash Tembo with a chair, but failed miserably when the waitress took a bottle and smashed it on his head. After the customer fell to the ground, the bar owner came to the situation. He was angry and ordered everyone who was involved in the scuffle out of his bar.
The owner: "Big guy, get out! Lindsay, you come to my office after i'll cool down. As soon as the drunk idiot gets up, i'll kick his posterior out of here forever. Now go!".
AJ joined Roland and Lindsay on their way out. Lindsay was happy like she hasn't been for a while. Tembo was proud of himself for helping a lady, even if the lady helped him as much as he helped her. AJ was confused by the whole situation, but was glad that at least everyone got out of it in one piece.
AJ: "Bloody hell! That was intense. I'm glad you're ok, Roland. Hey, Lindsay. I heard the boss shouting your name. I hope you'll keep the job after that".
Lindsay: "I wanted to quit anyway. Your friend here just gave me the courage to do it. What's your name by the way?".
Roland: "I'm Roland Tembo, and my friend here is Amir Jamal Samedi, or AJ for short. Always glad to lend a hand. I know a petite brickhouse like you can handle yourself, but i'm still glad i could help".
Lindsay: "A girl my size has to know how to protect herself. By the way, i'm Lindsay Shepherd. If you'll ever need an extra hand against lowlives like this guy, i'm at your service".
AJ: "Speaking of service, we didn't finish our conversation yet. Lindsay darling, i need to tell Roland something. In private".
Lindsay: "That's ok, AJ. I'm more involved in this whole thing that you can even imagine".
AJ: "How come?".
Lindsay: "We talked on the phone a couple of days ago. You never saw my face, or else you would've known why i was more irritated than afraid".
Roland: "So you're actually Heather Ludlow?".
Heather: "Yes. I thought you would be more suspicious about the fact that a petite blonde in her fifties works as a waitress, but i guess you were too much of a gentleman for that. It was a test, and you and your friend here passed it with flying colors. The harassment wasn't part of the test, but it helped".
Roland: "If you wanted to convince me to go with you to an island full of dinosaurs with no fences, lying to me and my friend isn't a good start for you. At least your uncle had the courtesy to put fences. If you're going to go on a safari trip hunting animals that don't exist, You're going to need a lot of help. But personally i don't think it's a good idea. I'm not even talking about the obvious fact that hunting something that doesn't exist is still hunting, and i'm getting tired of hunting. There's only so much thrill you can find in killing animals. I'm talking about the fact that i wasted my life. I chased tigers instead of loving my parents".
Heather: "I share your tragedy. Family is complicated. Especially when you have prostate cancer. Don't ask me how i know. AJ didn't tell me, but i have my sources. I don't have a prostate, but i know what cancer is. It can't be easy. What i'm saying here is that life is short, and the best time to go on adventures is now. If you'll hunt for me, you can get the ultimate reward and make your old parents proud. In that way, you can hunt dinosaurs and make your parents proud at the same time. What do you say?".
Roland: "You convinced me. But i have some conditions. First of all, i'm only doing it if AJ comes with me. I don't hunt anything without him".
AJ: "You and me are like scotch and ice. Your hunt is my hunt".
Roland: "second condition…".
Heather: "Sorry for interrupting, but we need to get going. We'll talk about everything on the way home. You can go visit your parents, but then we really have to go".