The Macomber Affair Page #3

You heard him,

didn't you?

I did.

But you'd like

to hear it again?

Does it matter?

No.

That doesn't matter.

What does matter

is us.

Yes.

Everything's

working out well.

Do you remember what the papers

said about us in New York?

How's that?

"The romantic Macombers

are going adventuring

Into darkest Africa."

I liked that.

You did?

When that gossiping old monkey

had us on the verge...

that was different.

But that's all past.

We'll never quarrel again,

Margaret.

I don't know how to tell you

what a different man I am...

What a different man

I'll be.

You know, Margo...

it's almost as though

we two just met.

Almost.

This may be silly, but...

I believe I'm...

I'm in love with you

again.

You're so lovely.

Somehow I can never

quite reach you.

Margaret.

Margo?

Margo.

Margo.

Sounds like

an old-Timer.

Listen to him cough.

Is he very close?

A mile or so upstream.

Does roaring

carry that far?

Sounds as though

he were right in camp.

Oh, it carries

a devil of a ways.

Hope he's

a shootable cat.

If I get a shot,

Where should I hit him

to stop him?

In the shoulders,

neck if you can...

Shoot for bone.

Break him down.

I hope I can place it

properly.

You shoot very well.

Take your time,

make sure.

It's the first one in

that counts.

What range will it be?

Um, can't tell...

The lion has something

to say about that.

Don't shoot unless it's close

enough so you can make sure.

At under 100 yards?

Hundred's about right...

Might have to take him

a bit under.

Shouldn't chance the shot

at much more than that.

Hundred's

a decent range.

You'll hit him

wherever you like at that.

Well, here comes

the memsahib.

Good morning.

We going after that lion?

Just as soon as you deal

with your breakfast.

Ndiyo, bwana.

How are you feeling?

Marvelous.

I'm very excited.

Well...

I'll just go out and see

that everything's ready.

He's a noisy beggar.

We'll have to put

a stop to that.

What's the matter,

Francis?

Nothing.

Tell me.

Don't you feel well?

It's that darn roaring.

It's been going on

all night, you know?

Well, why didn't you

wake me?

You slept very soundly.

Oh, I'd love

to have heard it.

I've got

to kill the thing.

Well, that's what

we're here for, isn't it?

Sure, but hearing the thing roar

gets on my nerves.

Well, then, as Wilson said,

there's one way to stop him...

Kill him

and stop his roaring.

Yes, darling,

it sounds easy, doesn't it?

You're not afraid,

are you?

Of course not.

You'll kill him marvelously.

I know you will.

I'm anxious to see it.

Finish your breakfast,

and we'll be moving.

It's not light yet.

It's a ridiculous hour.

He sounds almost here.

I hate that noise.

It's very impressive.

Impressive?

It's frightful.

Let's go.

The gunbearer has your

Springfield and your mauser.

Have your solids?

Yes.

I'm ready.

Let's make him

stop that racket.

Let's make him stop it

right away.

See the birds?

It means the old boy

has left us a kill.

There's a waterhole

up ahead.

Chances are he'll come to drink

before he lays up.

Keep an eye out.

There he is.

To the left.

Get out and take him.

He's a marvelous lion.

How far is he?

About 75 yards.

Get out

and take him!

Hurry, Francis!

Why don't I shoot him

from where I am?

You don't shoot them

from cars.

Get out!

He won't stay there all day!

Won't the lion

see him?

No, poor sight...

He thinks the car is a rhino.

Wind's in our favor, too.

We're lucky.

Your safety's on.

I hit him.

I hit him twice.

You gutshot him.

You shot him

somewhere forward.

You may have

killed him.

Have to wait awhile before

we can go in and find out.

What do you mean?

Before we follow him.

Oh.

One fine lion...

heading into a bad place,

though.

Why is it bad?

Well, you can't see him

till you're on him.

Oh.

Memsahib had better

stay in the car.

We'll go and take a look

at the blood spoor.

Yes, you stay here,

Margo.

Why?

'Cause Wilson says to!

Yes, you stay.

We'll go along.

Abdulla.

There's the spoor.

This is where

you first hit him.

What do we do?

We'll let him

think it over a bit.

Then we'll go in

and have a look for him.

Set fire

to the brush?

It's too green.

We can send in beaters.

Suppose we can,

But it'd be

just a touch murderous.

Kongoni.

You see, we know

the lion's wounded.

You can drive

an unwounded lion.

He'll move

ahead of the noise.

But the wounded lion's

gonna charge.

Can't see him

until you're on him.

He'll make himself

perfectly flat

In cover you wouldn't think

would hide a hare.

Can't very well send boys in

in a show like that.

Somebody

is bound to get mauled.

What about the gunbearers?

Oh, they'll go with us.

It's their shauri.

You see,

they signed on for it.

They don't look too happy

about it, though, do they?

I don't want to go in there.

Well, neither do I.

There's really no choice,

though.

Well, you don't have to go,

of course.

That's what I'm hired for,

you know?

That's why

I'm so expensive.

You mean,

you'd go in by yourself?

Why not

just leave him there?

What do you mean?

Well, why not

just leave him?

You mean pretend to ourselves

that he wasn't hit?

No.

Just drop it.

It isn't done.

Why?

Well, for one thing,

he's certain to be suffering.

For another,

someone else might run onto him. I see.

But you don't have to have

anything to do with it.

I'd like to.

I'm just s-Scared,

you know?

Well, I'll go ahead when we

go in, kongoni tracking.

You stay behind

and to one side.

Chances are

we'll hear him growl.

If we see him,

we'll both shoot.

Nothing to worry about...

I'll keep you backed up.

As matter of fact, it might be

better if you didn't.

Might be much better.

Why don't you join

the memsahib

And I'll just

get it over with?

No, I want to go.

All right.

Don't go

if you don't want to.

It's my shauri now.

I want to go.

Like to go back

and speak to the memsahib

While we're waiting?

No.

I'll just step back and tell

her to be patient. All right.

Kongoni.

Comfortable? Not especially.

It's getting hot.

Hot out there, too.

How's Francis?

He's a little jumpy.

Don't send him in

after that lion.

I'm not sending him.

I'm taking him.

Don't take him, then.

Well, that's up to him,

isn't it?

It shouldn't be.

If I'd noticed earlier,

I'd have sent him back.

Now he's stubborn.

Whatever he is,

don't let him go in.

There's not a thing I know about

wet-Nursing, Mrs. Macomber.

We shouldn't be

very long now.

Here's your big gun.

We've given him

enough time now, I think.

Stay behind me

about five yards to the right

And do exactly

as I say.

Let's go.

Could I have

a drink of water?

Kongoni.

Care to take

some pictures?

No.

Well, that's about

all there is to it, then.

It's a fine lion.

Boys will skin him out.

Ndiyo, bwana.

We can go back to the car

and wait in the shade.

Oh, I say.

Mr. Robert Wilson...

The beautiful red-Faced

Mr. Robert Wilson.

Simba!

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