writing from
Scars Publications

Audio/Video chapbooks cc&d magazine Down in the Dirt magazine books

 


This appears in a pre-2010 issue
of cc&d magazine.
Saddle-stitched issues are no longer
printed, but you can requesting it
“re-released” through amazon sale
as a 6" x 9" ISBN# book!
Email us for re-release to order.

cc&d v201

get this writing in the collection book weathered
Download (PDF file of the full book, in color): $4.95
paperback (5.5" x 8.5") w/ b&w interior pages: $18.95
hardcover (6" x 9") w/ b&w interior pages: $29.95
paperback (6" x 9" perfect-bound book) w/ color interior pages, for 89.95
hardcover (6" x 9") w/ color interior pages, for $74.95
 Weathered
Facing A Wild Lion

Raghbir Dhillon

    On November 10, 2007, I was visiting my daughter in Phoenix, Arizona. In the evening, my grandson, Sammy, and I were taking our stroll around the man-made lake in the development. Suddenly, the conversation turned to wild animals.
    “Grandpa, have you ever seen a wild lion in a jungle?”
    “Yes, I saw it twice,” I said.
    “I’d love to hear that.”
    “All right, let’s sit on that bench, and I’ll narrate my experiences.”
    We sat on the wooden bench and admired the reflection of the setting sun in the lake. The whole place was covered with golden dust, and the distant tall cactus were wearing golden necklaces. I took a deep breath, released it through my pursed lips and said, “Sammy, my first encounter took place, while I was working as District Engineer with the Indian railways. I had to take care of the railway track which traveled through thick jungles.”
    “Grandpa, how many miles of the tracks did you inspect?”
    “Three hundred miles. I was provided with a gasoline powered motor trolley. And I’ve to check every foot of the rails once a month and have to inspect all the culverts, tunnels, and bridges once in a year. I saw the first wild lion, while I was checking a culvert.”
    “How did it happen?”
    “I stopped my trolley, and the trolley-men removed it from the tracks. At this location the drainage culvert was fifty feet below the tracks. I took my torch, the testing hammer, the measuring tape, and the note book, and one trolley-man followed me.
    “‘Sir, be careful in entering the dark tunnel,’ the trolley- man warned me.
    “‘Why should I be cautious?’
    “‘Sir, in the hot weather, this cool tunnel provides a nice resting place for the lions. We might face the king of the jungle.’
    “‘Ramu, I have no other choice but to go in, since I have to check the masonry for the cracks.’
    “‘Sir, the previous engineers never went inside it.’
    “‘Look, I can’t cheat the records, and we’ll be careful.’
    “Ramu touched his sacred thread and chanted a mantra. Slowly we moved down the embankment, and in twenty minute, I faced the barrel of the drainage culvert which was more than three hundred feet long. As I stood near the opening and flashed my torch, I saw two blazing fiery eyes and heard a thunderous roar. I shut off the torch, twisted my tail, and sprinted out. Ramu was far ahead of me, and I noticed his dripping pants; the poor fellow had lost control of his bladder. Ramu shouted to his men to put the trolley back on the tracks and start the engine. We jumped on the trolley and flew out of the area.”
    “What about your inspection?”
    “Sammy, like my predecessors, I fudged the figures. Luckily, I was transferred to another place and had not to inspect that spot again.”
    “Grandpa, when was your second encounter?”
    “It happened six years later at another place. I was posted in the Central India in Baikunthpur State to link the capital of that state with the railway line. The maharajah of this state opposed all efforts to bring the railway line to his town, since he was proud of the jungles in his state, and he was worshiped by his people as the champion hunter in the world. However, after Indian Independence, his state was annexed by India, and he couldn’t stop the railway connection. After setting up my camps, I went to pay my respects to the old ruler of the state. The secretary conducted me to the living room, where I saw a huge muscular old man seated on a throne-shaped chair.
    “‘Your Highness, I’ve come to pay my respects to you,” I said with folded hands.
    “‘Engineer, come on and sit on that chair,’ he said. “I hate the destruction of my jungles, but can’t do anything.’
    “‘Your Highness, we’ll be careful and avoid unneeded damage to the jungles.’
    “‘Good, look, I’ve the largest number of lions in my state and have been taking good care of them.’
    “‘Your Highness, I see many stuffed lions in the palace,’ I said. ‘Why did you kill them?’
    “‘They turned man-eaters, and I had to shoot them.’
    “‘Your highness, how a lion turns into a man-eater?’
    “‘Engineer, lions are not man-eaters, and the foolish hunters make them eat humans.’
    “‘Your Highness, how can a hunter do this?’
    “‘The dumb hunter fires at a lion. The lion gets hurt. The hunter forgets the fundamental rule of hunting: if you injure a lion, never leave the jungle without killing it. The injured lion can’t run fast and catch the animals, and it prays on the easiest pray, the humans. Moreover, when the lioness feeds the human flesh to its cubs, they grow up as man-eaters,’ he said. ‘Can you hunt?’
    “I shook my head.
    “‘Engineer, then be careful. If you see a lion, don’t disturb it; it is the ruler of the jungle.’
    “Your Highness, I’ll be careful. Thanks for the advice.’
    “I paid my respects to the maharajah and returned to my camps. We started building the earthen embankment for laying the tracks. One day, my assistant engineer reported to me that he faces a lion, while he goes to a certain construction site. I thought the lions would never come close to the heavy earthmoving machines, and he was making up a story to avoid the night shift. I told him, ‘All right, Diljit, I’ll take care of your night shift.’ He was delighted. After three nights, as I was driving my jeep, I saw a huge lion right in the middle of the road. To avoid mosquitos and flies, it had dragged its kill on the road and was enjoying its dinner. I stopped my jeep, but kept the engine running. The majestic lion was nearly twenty feet long, and acted like a ruler. The traffic froze from both directions. After one hour, the lion finished its food, gave a loud roar, and vanished into the jungle.”
    “Grandpa, were you scared?”
    “Certainly, I was. But, if the lion ever made any move toward us, I was prepared to shoot out the jeep,” I said. “Sammy, let’s head home. We are getting late for dinner.



Scars Publications


Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.




Problems with this page? Then deal with it...