Kyle Pekar

2nd Period

Prologue
Rainsford looked around the almost empty caf and pulled a solid
gold pocket watch from his expensive suit.
The letter said 1:00 p.m., he should be arriving soon, he thought.
Just then the door opened and a man walked in. The man scanned the
room, then smiled and walked over to Rainsford.
Are you Mr. Rainsford? the man asked.
Rainsford extended his hand and said, You must the one who sent
me the letter asking about my adventure that happened two years ago.
Yes, I read the story in the newspaper. I wanted to get more
details, so I found you.
Rainsford said, Ah, thats why you wanted to meet me, I assumed
as much, but that part of your letter was damaged in the mail so I had no
way to know for sure.
Im sorry, I thought you knew. Is it still okay to talk about it?
Its...fine.
The man smiled and said, Then shall we begin?
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Kyle Pekar
2nd Period

Rainsford then explained the events that occurred on Ship-Trap

island in 1922. Starting with his conversation with Whitney and ending
with the confrontation with General Zaroff in the bedroom.
And that was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in,
Rainsford finished. The man stopped writing on his pad and looked up.
And What happened to General Zaroff, What happened after
that, how did you make it off the island?
I dont think I am ready to share all of the story yet. Besides, it
probably wouldnt make a good story anyway.
The man thought about it then said, What if I promise not to
include that part in my material, off the record so-to speak.
Rainsford took a deep breath, then slowly replied, I suppose so.
With that, the man put down his pad and pen, settled back in his chair
and listened.
Well, Rainsford began...

Rainsfords Story

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2nd Period

The general made one of his deepest bows. "I see," he said.
"Splendid!
One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in
this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford."
Rainsford sprang at General Zaroff, but the general easily dodged.
As Rainsford turned around he saw a hand reach under the pillow on the
bed. Rainsford saw his chance and lunged for the Generals neck. He
hands began to squeeze the life out of the generals neck. The hand that
was under the pillow was instantly withdrawn. In it was clutched a 8in.
bladed hunting knife. The general slashed at Rainsfords arms and a
long streak of blood appeared.
Rainsford immediately let go and sprung back from the general. As the
general spun around, Rainsfords grabbed a table lamp. He threw it at
the general and ran from the room. The lamp was blocked and chase was
immediately given.
As Zaroff ran out into the hallway he saw a dark figure run into the
dining hall. As he stepped into the room he heard a snapping sound from

Kyle Pekar
2nd Period

above him, he immediately jumped forward into the room. The large
Black Rhinoceros head smashed into the ground behind him.
General Zaroff smiled and looked above where the statue had
fallen. There was a figure there, pressed up against the wall.
The general smiled again and thought, Very tricky Rainsford, I do
not know how you were able to get up there so quickly, but it does not
matter, you are now an easy target. The hunting knife was a split
second away from leaving Zaroffs hand and flying through the air with
deadly accuracy toward the figure when the blade suddenly
disintegrated. The bullet kept traveling and shattered the Rhino horn
before finally punching a half inch hole in the wall.
The general turned around, bewildered. Rainsford, holding a
massive elephant gun was staring right at him.
Rainsford, as Im sure you know, that particular gun is a singleshot. I would know, you took it from my collection. You only had one
shot. And you wasted it.

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2nd Period

True Zaroff, but you have other weapons on your wall. For
instance, this African sword. Rainsford quickly dropped the gun and
pulled a curved iron sword from a plaque on the wall.
That is one of my more finer swords, isnt it? Though I prefer this
one myself. Then the general grabbed a Indian scimitar with an emerald
pommel. En garde, Rainsford. They both leapt upon the dining table
and silently crept closer.
Then Zaroff said, I am impressed with how fast you were able to
move up to that ledge and back down. Would you be so kind in
informing me, so that after I kill you, I can use it myself.
Come on. Surely the great hunter General Zaroff knows that the
cheetah does not reveal how it runs to the antelope.
You know, like a cobra, you are relying on the speed of your
strike without first knowing how fast the mongoose truly is. The
general lunged forward with a downward slash of his sword. The tip of
the blade ran across Rainsfords cheek. Rainsford jumped back and
made a swipe at Zaroffs legs. The general jumped over the swing and
stabbed at Rainsford. Rainsford parried the blow with his own sword
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2nd Period

and then slashed upward, slicing through the general's thin nightgown
and drawing blood.
Rainsford attacked again and the general lifted up his sword to
block it. Their swords lock together. Each man pushes against the others
sword. After a couple seconds had passed, Rainsfords sword was ripped
out of his hands and thrown across the room, clattering against the wall.
Rainsford jumped down and ran from the room. Zaroff ran after
him and saw the door to the library close. The general ran to the door
and opened it but did not go inside, remembering the Rhino head.
Nothing crashed in the room, and he could barely make out a figure
hiding behind a bookshelf on the second floor of the library.
Ive got you now, the general thought. As he stepped into the
room, a bullet fired from behind a chair of the ground floor whizzed past
his face. As he looked towards the origin of the shot, another passed by
him, this one even closer.
The general stumbled backwards into the hallway, more confused
then when that grizzy had survived 6 shots to the heart and kept on
coming.
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Kyle Pekar
2nd Period

Those were just warning shots, said Rainsford. Who was

standing on the stairs that led to the roof. Rainsford then ran up the
stairs. Zaroff followed him cautiously up the stairs.
How in the world was he able to move that quickly?, the general
thought. No animal should be able to move that quickly. But it wouldnt
help in the end. He would catch his quarry. There would be no giving
up.
Rainsford reached the roof only a split second before Zaroff. He
sprinted across a narrow, 2ft. walkway. On either side was a 45 degree
angled roof, slick with moss. The path only went so far, and Zaroff knew
that Rainsford must either jump or face him.
Rainsford reached the end of the roof and skidded to a stop. He
turned around watched as Zaroff leisurely strolled toward him. Zaroff
still had his sword and he knew it would be easy to talk out Rainsford
with one good blow.
So Rainsford, I win after all. You have given me the hunt of my
life, and for that I thank you. However, you must die now. But before

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2nd Period

you die, please do tell me how you moved so quickly. I must know. It is
making me very curious.
Rainsford just stared at General Zaroff with a look of pure
determination. Then he began to smile.
General Zaroff, you want to know how I was able to move so
fast? I will tell you. But first, a question. Have you ever hunted a wolf?
General Zaroff looked quizzically at Rainsford.
No I have not. They do not present a challenge to me now and
they never have been a challenge.
May I ask why?
They rely on their pack for support. They do not think
individually and are weak. They do things for the good of the pack, not
for their own needs. This makes them to easy to hunt. Their pack is their
weakness. But I dont understand what that has to do with you being
able to move around so quickly.
Rainsford looked the Zaroff straight in the eye and said, General,
never underestimate a pack.

Kyle Pekar
2nd Period

The General stared at Rainsford and then realized what those

words meant. Then he heard the sound of a pistol cocking behind him.
He slowly turned around and saw what he already knew was there.
All of the sailors that he had trapped in the basement were behind
him, all brandishing weapons, his weapons. A twinge of defeat was felt
for the first time in the generals heart.
No, he thought, I will never be defeated. And the general lunged
with his sword and stabbed the man holding the pistol pointed at him.
He jumped over the sailors limp body and attacked the man behind him.
He slashed, stabbed, rammed and slammed his way through the
barricade of men blocking his way.
The sailors fought back and Zaroffs muscular body was
bombarded by multiple blades and bullets. He kept pushing, fighting.
And the general finally understood how all the animals and men he
had killed fought so hard. He finally understood what forces had driven
that grizzly bear when its heart no longer could, it was fear, pure terror.
Zaroff finally found respect for the animals he had hunted.

Kyle Pekar
2nd Period

But as his mind started to black-out from blood loss, he lost his
balance and slipped on the roof. His body started to slide toward the
edge. Although the general was almost completely unconscious, some
animal instinct from deep inside his body grabbed the gutter. He looked
up and could make out a dark shape carefully making its way down the
sloping tiles of the roof.
What fool would do that, Zaroff thought.
He started to black out when a strong, clear voice brought him
back. It was a voice he recognized.
Zaroff, Rainsford said, take my hand I promise I wont let you
fall. Even though you are an evil man and have killed many, many
people, I will not let you die without trying to help. I didnt miss the shot
with the elephant gun, I dont want to kill.
No, Zaroff said, the hunter will never accept help from the prey.
Never And General Zaroff, let go and fell 5 stories down to the dogs
below.

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Kyle Pekar
2nd Period

Epilogue
After sleeping through the rest of the night, the sailors and I took
the generals sloop to Rio and the American and Spanish Embassies
respectively. It turns out that the world did miss the people Zaroff
hunted. Some bright minded sailor was able to send a message in one of
the generals own wine bottles. But until we returned, they had no idea
where Zaroff was located. There was a large bounty on his head, some of
which was sent to the family members of the deceased the rest split
among the sailors and I. The rest you know.
Astounding!, the man said, and youre wrong, it would make a
brilliant story. But I will stay true my word.
Thank you so much, I think it was good of me to share that story
with you.
Nice talking with you, Mr. Rainsford.
And you, Mr. Connell.
Please, just Richard, the man said.
Goodbye.
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Kyle Pekar
2nd Period

Goodbye. And they both left the caf and walked their separate
ways.

The End

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