Chapter 1 THEY HAVE COME

                                                1. THEY HAVE COME

After a long wait at the bus stop they turned up. It was Sameer in khaki top to bottom. They were in the 12’0 clock bus. The bus station was highly vacant and wind blew across the area. It made them feel great. It’s not a friendly place to live in. But Sameer had always wished to be a Survivalist working on Bio-Amplification. It took certain time in the beginning. Ten years of work in a top IT firm settled the deposit for the work. Who wants to marry a man who likes to roam around the forests? “How are you bro?” was the call in the air. It waked the doze of him. It was all seven calling at once made the sound high.

“Fine Man” was the answer

It was long time they met since they were out of the college. It was a glance at each for him. But he could clearly get a picture of them.  They were as keen as in their in grad days. “Now where do we go?” was the call from the fun loving guy Pavan Thanuj. Sameer pointed to a Jeep with the color of green moss and said “to my camp”.

All seven were seated in comfort with a slight adjustment

“How far is it from here?” inquired Amar

“Two miles straight and three from there to the north” Was the answer

“How long will it take?” This time the question was from Khader

“5 hours if the vehicle does not ask for any repair”

“How does the camp look like?” asked Nethrika

“It is built with wood, Nice teak wood “

“It has 4 rooms and a store room”

“No bath room?” squealed Roopesh

“Yeah, the store room would do well for girls if all those dry sticks are emptied from there.  I think guys should bath outdoors”

“Can I get hot water there?” asked the meek Raja

“Yes you can. But you have to help yourself for a bucket of water from the nearby river”

“Do you cook for yourself?” asked Sameera

“Very rarely. My old native lady cook does it mostly unless she has a client who is bitten by a snake or Scorpion. She treats them using local leaves of which she is expert of and those old charms occasionally.”

“Old charms?” asked Khader

“The natives believe that these traditional charms have healing powers”

“Interesting “said Khader

The jeep took a turn; all seven moved slightly the other way

Another three hours filled with similar kind of chit chat they were slightly away from the camp

“Happy Holiday to all the guys and girls” wished Sameer

“Heavenly place with no disturbance nearby “yelled Thanuj

“Heavenly bushes and shrubs; I like them” said Nethrika

“Only until you meet a Cobra or Scorpion hidden in those I suppose,” said Sameer

“Beware of those even when you are in the camp.”

“I smell trouble “said Roopesh

“I smell adventure” Said Amar

“I smell we should get down” said Khader

“Can you help me with this bag Sameer?” asked Sameera

“Sure after I helped my Sisters’” he said in reply and took the bag from Nethrika

Though they were not bonded by birth, Sameer is fond of calling her so and the other liked it too

They have put their baggage in; Raja and Roopesh went to the river to fetch some water, Sameera laid down, Thanuj unpacking his belongings, Amar and Khader were busy in some argument and Nethrika went exploring around the rooms. Sameer was busy moving those dry sticks out in the dim light of 6’O clock sun supported by a lantern

“It’s great to see the photo of Sherlock Holmes on the desk next to your work.” Said Nethrika to Sameer

Sameer answered with a wide spread smile on his face in return

“Ohooo, here is a visitor” said Sameer

“Who is that?” inquired Nethrika

“It is the rat eater, Indian Rat Snake. Don’t worry.”

“Can you fetch me the snake holding stick that lies in my working room?”

“In seconds” said Nethrika

She returned in a jiffy

“Is it venomous?”

“No, But its bite might be infectious if not treated properly”

“Okay, now what are doing with it?”

“Just observe it for a few seconds and then leave it”

“Can you get me the tape that lies on the same table you have seen?”

“Of course”

By the time she returned Sameer caught hold of it along the ground with its mouth under the clips of the holder

“Please hold this stick as tight as possible while I take some measurements”

“Sure”

She held the stick and handed over the tape

“It’s one and half foot in length a new born I suppose.”

“Now give me the stick”

He took the snake a fair distance and let it go

Nethrika said “I have got one question you as far as I know are fascinated in two matters Detection and wild life protection. If you were given both the jobs and asked to choose one which does you choose?”

“Wild life protection as straight and simple as that”

“Why is it not detection?”

“There are many detectives on the earth who are concerned with that field who can draw better inferences than me. Not that there are not many in this field of wild life protection it gives me satisfaction. Sometimes I feel I am born for this but yes I do love giving the other a hand too if the situation demands”

“Bless you so.”

“Accepted and thank you”