CHAPTER 8

It was early morning when the boat finally arrived at port on the Pacific America coast. There was a dense fog blanketing the area, giving everything a surreal feel. Sounds were muffled, which was good to cover the illicit dealings happening on the docks. Workers swarmed around the ships, unloading cargo and putting crates on trucks, bound for destinations deep within the heartland. Haste and efficiency was the order of the day, best to get everything gone before port authority came to conduct their inspections.

The man leading the operation had already disembarked, and was standing on the dock consulting with two others. He was huddled in a warm fleece overcoat that went down past his knees, and the other two, clearly of foreign descent, spoke in hushed, hurried tones.

"I've got two rare tiger specimens from Asia," the man said, looking past the two men at a pair of cages being ferried to a truck on forklifts. "Are your buyers lined up for the auction?"

One of the men responded in a thick German accent, "Ja, they are indeed, Mr. Johannsen. Everything vill be ready by dis afternoon." He turned at looked at the other man. "Jurgen has arranged for our clients to be gathered at the warehouse on time."

The man nodded his approval, "See that they will. I expect my trophies to fetch a grand price." He turned to follow his precious cargo onto the truck, clambering up into the bed beneath the canvas covers. He took a seat on a bench latched onto the side, looking down at his captured loot with glee. The two tigers looked up at him with anger and fear in their faces. They had come to recognize this man as one of their captors, and were trying to find some way to escape. Their frames were slightly droopy from lack of proper food and exercise, not to mention being cooped up in a tight steel cage for 2 months for the trip back to America. One of the tigers, the female from the look of it, roared at him as he sat, to which he responded by viciously kicking the cage. "Sit down, beast! You'll be out soon enough." He spat into the cage, hitting the tiger on the snout, causing her to flinch and shake her head. The tiger moved back and sat down on her hunches, simply glaring at him. She lifted a paw, licking it and using it to wipe her face clean. The other tiger, across the truck from the man, helplessly sat and was unable to do anything. He murred sadly, disparing the situation.

Then they briefly lost their balance as the truck shook to life and started moving. The man clutched onto the bench to keep from falling over, knowing if he fell too close to the cage, the tigers would be able to reach through with a clawed paw and get him, and probably kill him if they had the chance. He made a mental note to make sure they were properly sedated once they got to the auction house. He looked out the back of the truck as it roared away, down the docks and into the city. The fog quickly obscured the view of the port.

((Yes so I like short quick chapters. :) ))