You're aching all over. Its almost 6PM and you've been sitting as still as you can for 3 hours. The book you thought to stick in your pack has been read and now the sheer boredom of the quiet is starting to set in. A hour ago you had to sneeze. Try as you could you couldn't stop it and tried to muffle it into your shirt, but your PH turned and glared at you anyway. All you have to see the world through is the small peekhole that your rifle barrel is sticking through. The peekhole doesn't let you see what is making the soft padding sound just outside the blind. You poke the PH to make sure he is hearing that sound, but all he does is glare at you and wave you back. How could this guy be so nice all the time, and now treat you like you're a child. He must hear it you decide.
As the sound moves away you chance a look through the hole. Moving toward the bait is a honey badger. The little black and white follow sort of wiggles as he walks. Just a honey badger, you were hoping it was the big male, but the excitement of hearing the badger just outside the blind makes conscious of another feeling. That big drink of water you had before you went into the blind it working its was through. Mind over matter, you convince yourself.
Its getting darker outside now. The hothouse you're sitting is is finally cooling off, but the comfort level is truning from hot to cold quickly. Your back hurts, your knees are stiff, you have a charleyhorse in the left one, but you still don't move. Mind over matter you remind yourself.
All of a sudden you don't hear the birds, They're become instantly quiet. Your PH stiffens his position. The small covey of francolins that were picking around by the trees flush with no apparent reason. Something in your being says he there, somewhere out there close by. All the aches are forgotten. Fred is slowly lifting his binoculars. The gods of darkness are evertaking those of the light rapidly now. You are sitting straight up in the chair now trying to see, trying to hear, all your senses are alive. You feel more alive now then you have felt in a long time. Then you hear the crunch.
Fred is starting out his peekhole intently. Crunch, crunch crunch. You are waiting for Fred to touch you leg with a double tap. The signal that you are ready to shoot. The old model 70 is in the rest, safe off, pointed at the bait. All you have to do is to put your shoulder on the butt, look through the scope and shoot. You wait, wait, wait.
Then Fred shrugs back and lowers the binoculars, he leans over and quietly whispers in you ear. Its a small female. You saw a set of small tracks with the big ones, but ignored them. Now it is flooding back into you mind. 2 leopards, not 1, 2 not 1. Where is the big old male. He's got to be around here somewhere. He's fed here, eaten a whole impala, and now the second one. He's just got to be here. Wait, wait. It's pitch black outside now, its 9PM and he hasn't come. The cold is settling into your bones. Your PH moves out of his chair. We'll freshen the bait tomorrow he whispers. Shes gone now, lets leave and come back tomorrow. Don't worry we'll get him, we'll get him.

Keep them comming.

Nice work again.

Butchloc;

You really captured the experience accurately!! I could really identify.

Can't wait to hear "the rest" of the story. Hope you end up getting him!!!!

Regards, D. Nelson