A LONG TIME COMING
Willie, Greg and Emil are friends, if I missed the shot the episode would be a waste and I’d be letting them down. If I missed I’d be letting myself down on my dream of a mature Rakaia bloodline stag. If I missed … I’d at least have a good excuse.
I was literally sitting in a tree. My feet were dangling in thin-air as I sat astride a bend in the trunk. One arm was wrapped around the most vertical bole of the tree to reach the forend with my fingertips, while the other braced against a branch and gripped the rifle. We’d searched around the monkey scrub looking for a better place but the old stag had chosen his fortress well. Surrounded by his harem and challengers it was nearly unassailable.
We made the perch as secure as we could, did some dry-fires, and all that remained was for me to do my bit. It was a struggle to still my nerves but once I looked through the scope and settled the crosshairs on the stag's shoulder the tension eased a bit. I had my focus back, I couldn’t see the camera, all I had to do was make sure I killed him cleanly. Regardless of anything else, that is our responsibility.
Three days ago we were bouncing our way up a Canterbury riverbed. As
