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“I suppose they will need that second cave lion soon,” Steph said.

“Not too soon. She’s still a bit young to be out here.”

“Yes, but it will mean having to do without a cave lion here for a while and then reintroducing one which will upset the balance again… not that anything actually is balanced.”

Steph could see Daniel opening and closing his mouth in tiny movements, his eyes skittered around the road in front of him as if he were considering many different lines of conversation at once. In the end, he settled on one.

“Why would we be without one?”

“Because I assume the other will have to be put down; it has killed someone!” Steph shrugged, holding the gun up, pointing it at a tree and then trying to keep the trunk at the end of the sight as the buggy drove past.

“I think you might underestimate the sway Martina might have over that decision,” Daniel replied.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it took her a while to get to where she is with her genetic experiments – as that’s what they are to her – so I’m not sure she will want to take backward steps.”

“But the police will demand that it’s destroyed!” Steph said, bringing the tranquillizer rifle back in.

“They might, but don’t be too surprised if money finds its way into pockets and there is not a genetic sleight of hand… or some sleight of hand anyway.”

“But it will likely kill again!”

“It will try, I’m sure. We just need to take steps to prevent it having the opportunity. That is how Martina will lay it out to Kelvin… has laid it out to Kelvin. She has a lot of sway there.”

Daniel risked looking away from the path to give Steph a knowing look. She acknowledged there was a whole line of questioning there, but for now she was focused on one thing only.

“You cannot control nature!” she said, shaking her head. “We can take steps to direct it somewhat, but never control it. It is not how things work. People know that. All scientists know that! Like you said that lion will find a way to kill again. Especially if it thinks it has found a prey animal there is little competition for, namely, us.”

“So you’re saying we should kill it because it has killed someone?”

“Yes! To prevent further death!”

“Does your logic apply to people?” Daniel asked.

“What?”

“Should a person be killed if they have killed once before? What about a person who kills animals? They usually kill again – hunters and such.”

“What’s your point? People and animals are completely different!”

“Seems like an odd thing for a biologist to say,” Daniel shrugged; he was staying irritatingly calm.

Steph tried to say something but could only make a growling sound. Did he have a point? Was it odd that she had, as a default, elevated human life above animal life?

“But do you think it is right to risk the danger?” Steph asked, trying to calm her voice.

“I dunno,” Daniel replied quite honestly. “I don’t pretend to know either. I think this whole thing raises all sorts of philosophical questions. Most people will pretend they know the answer and that their view is completely right. But I personally don’t know. In fact, I think nobody really knows because it isn’t black and white. As such, I just try and enjoy the opportunity that I have been given to be part of it. That is not to say that I want anyone harmed, only that things happen in life and, asyousaid, we cannot control everything.”

Steph wanted to reply, to say something insightful and highlight an angle that had been invisible to Daniel. She didn’t have one. She stayed quiet and pondered. She started trying to add a few more pieces to the puzzle in her head, building the picture of the place. However, she still had no idea what she thought about the little boy and his death. Was that where she drew the line? Was it the death of children because they hadn’t had a chance to make any decisions? Was the line children?

TWENTY

Steph and Daniel pulled up to Fergus’s cabin. For a moment they stayed in the buggy surveying the nearby area. Satisfied it was safe enough, they disembarked.

Once inside, Steph was again greeted by the carnal mess that littered the floor. It wasn’t so bad this time. She was more ready for it, even the smell. Unfortunately for Daniel, he had no prior experience with the mess and was, or so it looked to Steph, working hard to hold down what was in his throat.

“So what are your thoughts?” Daniel asked. “Surely you have come across animal attacks in your line of work before?”