Nothing to say, yet
Transcription
A person witnesses a leopard being cornered and shot by hunters. The person is devastated and tries to capture evidence of the incident with a camera, accidentally using the flash. I shriek too. The leopard knows it's cornered and faces them snarling. Its body is low to the ground. Run! I whisper under my breath. Why don't you run? But then I notice one of its back paws is stained with blood. It can only limp. My heart leaps. It must be the same leopard I saw before. She growls, warning them not to come closer. It happens so fast. A click, and then the crack of their guns. No! I scream. My voice is lost beneath the sound of shooting, and it's too late. There's nothing I can do. The beautiful leopard thuds to the ground. I collapse against the tree, and the mountains roar with me. The leopard lies on its stomach, a sandy-colored coat covered in black rosettes. Its front legs are spread in front of it, with its long white tail curled round its side. The coat has a velvet sheen all over, except for the bullet wound in its side. The men tumble over it, clasping their rifles, stinging their nails, touching the leopard's fur. It's not a snow leopard. It has one beautiful coat. Says Garjan, admiringly. He removes his sunglasses and rests them on top of his head. Evidence. This leopard's death can't be in vain. With shaking hands, I grip the camera and switch it on. It whirs, and as the lens pushes up, I raise it up and focus through the leaves. Wait, Ruby! Whispers Tarvin behind me. Wait! I press the shutter. Click. The air around me is bathed in bright white light as the camera flashes. The men look out in our direction, dazed for a split second. I forgot about the flash.
