The Tiger

Lam loaded his rifle and lay in wait for the Malayan Tiger. He saw it once as a child in the jungle and since then, longed to find it again.

This time, he would hunt it and take the beautiful pelt to the village as his trophy. Never again will people look down on him.

Lam had started hunting the tiger for the past months and was getting closer. He was an expert in tracking and hunting now.

He found a comfortable position up on a Bunyan tree to wait. It could be hours of sweat and mosquito bites.

Lam slapped himself to stay alert. Then a few hours later, he sensed movement in the darkness. It was evening and the sun was going to set soon.

Out from a bush nearby, a huge sleek Malayan Tiger emerged prowling the jungle for food. Lam was so nervous that he almost dropped his rifle.

The tiger was in clear view and Lam pressed the rifle butt into his shoulder. He aimed at the tiger’s head.

It was a really splendid specimen with its green eyes shining like sapphires. Lam licked his lips with anticipation. He aimed carefully and planned to kill it with one shot between its eyes.

But something inside him softened when he saw a tiger cub emerging from the bushes behind. It was small and cute.

So this was the parent and child. Lam thought of shooting them both but knew he wouldn’t be fast enough. Once he shot one, the other would run. He had to choose one. 

He aimed at the bigger tiger and again, these majestic creatures provoked a sense of awe within him.

Then the tiger spotted him on the tree. It bared its fangs at him. He knew tigers could leap up trees and fear gripped him. He fired wildly and missed.

The tiger dashed towards the tree he was perched on and pounced up in a great leap. It swiped its claws at him and it missed him by a few inches.

Lam quickly cocked the rifle and sighted the rifle. He held his breath as he squeezed the trigger. This time he didn’t miss.

The bullet slammed into the tiger’s head and it sank to the ground dead.

The cub whimpered and ran over to the dead parent. Lam cocked his rifle again but it was jammed. He cursed at his bad luck.

The cub took one last look at Lam and the dead tiger before running off into the darkness.

It was pitch black by the time Lam loaded the dead tiger on a cart and brought it back to his village. He was hailed a hero and given large sums of money for selling the beautiful tiger pelt.

But within months, Lam became back to normal. People didn’t treat him with respect that he deserved. He knew he had to hunt more. He needed to hunt the tiger cub too and finish the job. It wasn't about money but pride.

So he bought a brand new rifle and hunting equipment and went to live in the jungle by himself. People said he was mad but he didn’t care. He found a nice hut to stay in and every day he would go out to hunt for the tiger cub. It must have grown by now but he never saw it again.

One day, as he went out for another unsuccessful hunt, he became exhausted and thirsty. He located a nearby stream to rest and quench his thirst.

When he reached the stream and found the most beautiful lady he had ever seen bathing there, he was stunned to the core. Who could this be this deep into the jungle? 

He felt embarrassed to disturb her and waited till she had finished and wore back her clothes.

She was young and pretty with a shapely body. Her clothes were knitted dried leaves and plants that clung tightly to her body. 

Lam stepped in front, hoping not to scare her. She gasped at him.

“I don't mean to scare you,” Lam said with his hands up. “It’s just that I don’t meet many people in the jungle.”

“I don’t too,” she replied softly. Her voice was like a gentle wind whistling on a leaf.

“What is your name? I’m Lam.”

“I’m Shue.” She blushed nervously, looking away from him. “What are you doing here?”

“I am hunting for a special animal that lives in this jungle.”

“Not for me I hope” she said with a cheeky smile. She gathered up her stuff into a small bag and tied it around her waist. 

“I’m hunting for a tiger,” Lam said proudly. “I killed one some time ago.” He thought it would impress her but she looked more agitated now. In fact, she clenched her fists till her knuckles were bone-white. He regretted saying that.

“I’m sorry Shue. I didn’t know you loved tigers. Where do you live? Let me walk you back.”

“I stay over the hills by myself.”

“By yourself? Isn’t it dangerous?”

“My mother died and I’m not used to living with others in the villages. I love the wildlife here. It’s my home.”

She smiled as they trekked through the jungle. Lam was instantly attracted to her even though she seemed much too young for him.

“How did your mother die?” Lam asked.

“A cruel man killed her,” she replied, fighting back her tears. “With that.” She pointed to the rifle slung across his shoulders.

“I’m sorry. Where is this man?” Lam said angrily. “I’ll take revenge for you.”

She shrugged. “Besides, you’re here to protect me now isn't’ it?” Shue said though her eyes were filled with pain. 

“I’ll protect you, I promise.” Lam felt his loins stirring as he studied her. Je had been so lonely these past few months without a prostitute beside him. Now he longed for a human body and what more, a gorgeous girl like Shue.

He grabbed her hand and she was startled at the suddenness. “Why not stay with me? We’ll bring your things over to my hut.” 

Shue pursed her lips in deep thought for a moment then nodded. Lam laughed in delight and packed all her belongings.

She had extremely few things in her possessions. How could someone live such a simple minimalist life? 

“Will you promise me you won’t go hunting for tigers anymore?” Shue asked halfway on the journey to his hut.

“I must hunt it! It is my goal in life,” Lam said with conviction.

Shue’s face fell. “Then I cannot go with you because I cannot bear to see tigers killed.”

Lam sighed and struggled whether to give up Shue for the sake of killing a tiger that had long disappeared. It seemed ridiculously just thinking about it. Having Shue was the only thing on his mind right now. A myriad of sexual fantasies called out to him.

“Okay.” He raised his hand. “I promise not to hunt tigers anymore for your sake.”

“Promise?” Shue looked suspicious as if he said it just to please her. 

“Yes.”

Shue hugged him and happily went back to Lam’s hut. They had a wonderful life together and Lam enjoyed having a young girl to be his companion day and night. Shue would bring him on long walks in the jungle and point out all the different plant and animal species. She really loved nature and animals and Lam was beginning to appreciate it too. 

Shue was really kind, obedient and an excellent lover. He couldn't ask for more. Soon, she became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Mai. 

Lam however, became more bored. He missed the thrill of the hunt. His once shiny rifle was nothing more than a monument collecting dust and dirt. He longed to hunt that last tiger cub or he would never be satisfied.

Shue sensed that Lam was getting moodier and depressed with each passing day. 

“What’s wrong?” Shue asked as she held baby Mai at her breast. “Am I not a good wife to you?”

“No you’re wonderful,” Lam reassured. “It’s the tiger. I got to hunt it!” 

“But...you promised me,” Shue retorted in anger and the baby started crying. “Look at what you’ve done.” She stormed away to the bedroom. 

Lam took down the rifle and began leaning and oiling it. He won’t tell Shue what he was about to do. He could just hunt the tiger outside and she won’t know about it. He hid the rifle in the overgrowth outside his hut so he could use it next time.

He turned to the house and found Mai lying on the bed alone. Next to her was a note from Shue which read: “Lam, you’re no longer the man I once knew. I’ve decided to leave you. Take care of Mai.”

The note was stained with tears and hastily written.

Lam crushed the note in anger and disbelief. How could Shue just abandon them like this? She was a terrible wife! A terrible mother! 

He made sure Mai was asleep before heading out into the jungle. He found his rifle and loaded it with bullets. He would take his frustration out on any animal he saw and hopefully the tiger would appear that night. He climbed a Bunyan tree and waited. His mind was whirling non-stop with Shue’s abandonment. He felt so betrayed like a stab in the heart. He wiped his tears of frustration away and focused on his surroundings.

The twigs cracked in the bush nearby and his muscle galvanised into action. He cocked his rifle and cradled it with his arms. 

To his amazement, it was a tiger, beautiful and sleek. Finally! He would redeem himself. It must have been the cub that he saw all those years ago. His rifle would not jam this time.

The tiger looked unaware of his presence. It aced below the tree in full view. Lam grinned in excitement at the thought of killing it so easily.

But something gnawed at Lam. It didn’t seem right. The tiger seemed so familiar to him. The way it walked, its mannerisms. The tiger looked up and spotted Lam. Its eyes were filled with sadness and pain.

Lam toppled off the tree in shock. His spine hit the ground hard and he winced in pain. The tiger would be upon him at any second.

He scanned for his rifle but saw it was broken into pieces. He reached for his knife at his belt feverishly. 

The tiger approached him, growling with its razor sharp fangs bared. But it didn’t attack. What was it waiting for?

Lam got up and readied his knife. Man versus beast. But this tiger seemed so strange, as if it didn’t want to kill him. Was it scared of him?

The tiger swiped its clawed paw at him but missed narrowly. This was his chance. Lam swung his knife in an arc at the tiger when the blade was almost going to pierce the tiger’s eye, he froze.

The eyes, the gait of this tiger...it can’t be! 

“Shue?” Lam’s voice trembled on the edge of panic. “Is that you?” 

He dropped the knife to the ground. 

The tiger looked at him and right before his eyes it transformed into Shue. She was stark naked and sobbing uncontrollably. “Why didn’t you kill me?”

“You’ve been so foolish,” Lam cried out, wrapping his arms around Shue’s shivering body. “Why did you plan this suicide?”

“I tried to make you love nature but it didn’t work. And I thought you’d never be happy if you didn’t hunt the tiger,” Shue sobbed. “So I wanted you to be happy.”

“The bigger fool is me. Will you forgive me?” Lam was overcome with emotions. “I’ve been so obsessed with this tiger that I neglected you and Mai. I don’t deserve a good wife like you.”

Shue forced a smile. “I forgive you. Do you promise never to hunt tigers again?” 

Lam stared at the broken rifle. “Never again.”

“Let’s go home. Mai needs us.” 

Lam wrapped Shue’s body with a cloth and carried her in his arms back to the hut.

END