The Jungle Warrior Read Online Free PDF Page A

told him that his stepfather had survived his impulsive attack, he had briefly felt elated. To learn he was not a murderer lightened the weight of guilt that had been smothering him since he fled home. The euphoria lasted for several days before reality sank in that he would still be wanted for attempted murder—then the dark moods that descended upon him were worse than ever.
    Attempted . That was the word that burned in his mind. The man who had slowly killed his sister with his callous brutality, the man who hadn’t peeled himself off the sofa while Sophie was dying in the next room, was still alive. Not only alive—he had now turned Robbie into the bad guy.
    How is that fair? he ranted to himself. His brief time in the jungle had shown him the harsh balance of nature. Only the strongest and smartest survived—yet in the so-called civilized world, awful people like his stepfather still lived in peace.
    â€œLook out!”
    Robbie was so wrapped up in his thoughts he only just had time to leap out of the way as a flash of yellow and a blood-curdling roar bolted from the trees and slammed into his companion.
    It happened so fast; Clark was still reaching for the rifle slung over his shoulder when the leopard crashed into his backpack. Its talons ripped the bag open, spilling the contents. As the fabric tore, the leopard slipped and razor-sharp claws slashed across Clark’s thigh, drawing blood. He screamed in pain and collapsed, which caused the leopard to lose its balance and roll away, splashing through a puddle.
    Robbie stood frozen to the spot. He hadn’t expected the attack. Gathering his wits, his hand went for the machete hanging from his belt.
    Clark was already pale through loss of blood. He tried to slide the rifle off, but the strap was caught in the tatters of his backpack.
    Powerful muscles rippled under the cat’s golden fur as it clambered back up on all fours and, driven by the scent of blood pumping from Clark’s leg, it rounded on its prey.
    Robbie raised the machete as the leopard coiled to spring. No matter how sharp it was, the long blade didn’t offer much of a defense against the beast’s teeth and claws.
    Then a chilling bellow echoed across the jungle—the sound of a savage battle cry. The leopard reacted instantly, its ears falling flat in terror as it tried to pinpoint the source of the noise.
    Hope surged through Robbie as he recognized the call. His gaze still fixed on the leopard when he caught a movement in the trees. Out of the darkness, Tarzan dropped onto a nearby branch and yelled his challenge once more.
    It was a perfect distraction. The leopard didn’t see the dark shape bolt from the jungle behind it. A black panther sank its claws into the leopard and both animals splashed through the mud, locked in a ferocious tussle.
    â€œSheeta?” Robbie said incredulously, recognizing the sleek black panther as Tarzan’s feline companion, who often fought by his side.
    The clamor from the dueling animals was deafening as they rolled on the ground. Sheeta was not only more powerful—he was also a superior hunter. He dug his teeth into the back of the leopard’s neck. The bite was not intended to kill, but served as a sign of dominance that the other cat understood. With a yelp, it sprang from Sheeta’s jaws and fled into the jungle. The panther roared triumphantly; there was no need to follow.
    Tarzan leaped from the tree. It was a twenty-foot drop, but he landed gracefully and ran his hand over Sheeta’s head, scratching him between the ears while mumbling soothing words.
    Robbie realized he was still frozen to the spot with the machete. He pulled himself together. “Thanks,” he said earnestly, but Tarzan didn’t appear to be listening. Robbie stabbed his blade into the ground and ran over to Clark. The wound in Clark’s thigh was so deep, Robbie felt sick just looking at the blood soaking through his