Dadu switches on his torch. The flash of
light sweeps the green canopy, illuminating
enormous spider webs stretched between tree
branches like silken nets.
“I keep thinking of snakes,” Aslam mut-
ters, batting a sticky piece of web from his
face. “Or tigers. What if there is one waiting
behind that grove of trees?”
“There are no tigers here. Not usually,
anyway,” I can’t help adding.
“What about that?” Aslam’s voice squeaks
hysterically as Dadu’s torch lights up an enor-
mous orb spider inches from our faces.
“Just a banana spider. Harmless.”
Aslam runs his hand through his wavy
black hair. “I’m not like you, Rahim. Like
last week at school when you saved that snake
those boys were about to kill—”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” My stomach
churns. I know what the traders will do with
the pangolin if we find one. I wish... but
Dadu is holding up his hand.
“A den is near, so you both stay here
and watch. I’m going further on to another
den.” Dadu hands Aslam an old cardboard
box. “Remember, the traders won’t pay for
an empty box. They want big pangolins with
many scales. The better the scales, the better
the money. I’m counting on you, boys. Maybe
we’ll catch two pangolins tonight!”
We listen to twigs and leaves crackling as
Dadu walks away.
“This gives me the shivers,” Aslam says, as
we sit against a tree trunk. “Spiders, snakes,
ghosts maybe. And if we get caught out here
hunting for a pangolin, we could go to prison,
right? It’s a good thing my ma doesn’t know
I’m here.”
Moonlight filters through the thick tree
canopy and dapples the forest floor. The
leaves rustle with unseen creatures.
Aslam hands me a mango. I bite into the
taut red skin. Sweet juice slides down my
face.
“Why do people pay so much for pango-
lins anyway?” Aslam asks.
“A lot of people think they are magical.
They think pangolin scales cure all kinds of
diseases.”
Aslam yawns. “You know, when I am a
famous movie star, all our money worries will
be over, Rahim.” He lets his head drop ontoA TORCH IS ALSO KNOWN
AS A FLASHLIGHT.
13