resolved, and with no third parties attempting to conceal evidence. In
human terms, Khomenko’s death was a third-degree murder: a spur-of-
the moment defensive reaction in which death was incidental rather than
intended. By contrast, the attack on Markov was far more sinister. It
resembled something closer to a first-degree murder: premeditated, with
malice aforethought, and a clear intent to kill. However, at this early
stage of the investigation, neither Trush nor anyone else had fully grasped
the threat this tiger posed to the general public. Trush was hoping that
Markov, like Khomenko, would be a one-off and, now that the score was
settled, the tiger would return to its usual prey. But it was too late for that
now; this tiger was beyond recall.
Trush’s last interview that day was with Pyotr Zhorkin, and Trush
certainly didn’t endear himself to the man when he confiscated the
bullets for his unregistered gun. Zhorkin, in return, issued a warning that
Trush transcribed word for word: “I can tell you one thing,” he said, “if a
tiger decides to hunt somebody, you’re not going to stop her.” Zhorkin
was a man who held his own opinions in high regard, regardless of their
grounding, but in this case he was prophetic. By the time Trush got back
to Luchegorsk and typed up his notes on Sunday afternoon, the tiger was
hunting again.
ron
(Ron)
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