Project Hannibal by Kathryn Hoff (books suggested by elon musk .txt) 📕

leaned forward, burrowing her hands into the shag on either side of the mammoth’s neck.

“A mammoth!” Sera gasped. “I’m sitting on a mammoth!”

Cortez was already atop one of the others. “Stay on Topaz,” he called. “Whatever happens, don’t fall off!”

CHAPTER 38

Attack and defend

Luis’s perch on Ruby’s back lent him enough height to see the movement in the long grass. Four, five . . . at least a dozen wolves lurked around the herd. A wolfpack was no match for a grown mammoth, but the newborn and maybe even yearling Jet could be vulnerable if the wolves managed to separate them from the protection of the herd.

His first inkling of trouble had come from Turquoise. The young bull had been at the edge of the herd, keeping a very interested eye on Diamond’s courtship of Pearl.

When Turq snorted and stamped, Luis had at first thought he might be challenging Diamond again. But then other curious trunks had risen to sniff for danger, and Luis had glimpsed gray forms slinking through the grass.

The two women were safe enough, as long as they stayed atop Topaz. His deepest concern was for baby Jade.

The herd clumped together, encircling Opal and her infant and pushing young Jet to the center of the group where he’d be protected. Diamond abandoned his courtship and restlessly patrolled the herd perimeter, Turq in his wake.

Luis was thrilled. Whether by his training or purely by instinct, the mammoths were responding perfectly. They’d noticed the wolves before he had, identified them as a threat, and taken protective actions. They might still have a lot to learn about living in the wild, but their response bolstered his confidence that the herd could manage on its own.

A wolf dashed out of the grass. The mammoths shifted nervously, emitting alarm squeals. A second wolf darted in from the left.

The wolves could never have encountered mammoths before, but they had a strategy that worked reliably against elk and caribou: create a panic, scatter the herd, and attack the weakest.

But for the mammoths, this was something new—and potentially deadly.

Another darting feint from the lead wolf.

Diamond, his testosterone already in overdrive during musth, fell for it. As one wolf after another dashed toward him only to scramble away at the last moment, he charged, turned, and charged again. Each decoy feint drew him farther from the females, allowing other pack members to slink closer to the tiny newborn.

Turq was even worse, screaming and charging any wolf in sight with no regard for the risk that he might be leaving the herd unprotected.

“Cortez!” It was the doctor, clinging to Topaz—barely. As wolves crept closer, the core of protective females twisted, trying to keep the multiple threats in sight. Crushing against one another in their panic, rubbing up against the women’s dangling legs. The girl Sera, clutching her aunt, gave Emerald a hearty kick to push her away.

“You’re doing fine,” Luis called. If one of them fell, she might well be trampled.

The infant cried as shifting mammoth legs came between Jade and her mother. Panicky distress calls came from yearling Jet.

On the periphery, Pearl squealed—she was on the verge of bolting.

Luis keyed his tablet to play an elephant’s screaming protect call. It wasn’t loud—just loud enough for his mount Ruby to hear. EeeAAAAhhhaaa!

The matriarch took up the call. Eee-AAAAhhhaaa! Eeyaahh Eeyaahh!

As if a drill sergeant had called the troops to attention, the phalanx of mammoths solidified, a menacing row of tusks facing the attackers.

A yelp came from halfway up the hill. Kanut was striding toward the battle armed with—what? Something in a spray can. A wolf near him frantically rubbed its face on the grass.

Luis laughed. Bear spray! The trooper had come to battle armed with the pepper spray used to deter bears. He hoped Kanut would remember that mammoth noses were just as sensitive.

Closer to hand, an overly bold wolf charged in. Pivoting, Turq caught it on his tusks. There was a howling shriek as Turq, with a flick of his head, tossed the wolf a dozen feet into the air.

Luis pumped his fist. Way to go, Turq!

Another wolf darted toward the herd. Diamond swung his trunk like he was teeing off at the first hole, and the wolf yelped in surprise and pain. Two more snarling attackers yipped and cavorted just out of trunk range. Diamond stamped and shook his tusks but refused to be drawn away. On the other side, another wolf tried the feint, but this time, not even Turq left his post.

After that, the wolves lost heart. More than one was limping and the most badly injured one was barely walking. Another few fruitless feints, and as quietly as they had come, the wolf pack faded into the brush.

Luis grinned. Tell your friends. Tell them to think twice before taking on my mammoths.

Sera threw up her arms. “They did it! Mammoths one, wolves zero!”

Luis lavished pats and praise on his mammoth family. “Good girl, Ruby. You really took charge. Opal, great job, keep that baby safe. Em, Pearl, you had me worried for a minute. Follow Ruby’s lead and you’ll be fine. Topaz, my steady girl.” They responded with trunk touches and snorts and rumbles, the mammoths’ vocabulary of reassurance that all was well with the herd.

“Turq, that was brilliant, the way you tossed that wolf. Diamond”—Luis eyed the big bull—“well done. Control that temper, buddy, and the girls will be all yours—at least until Turq grows up a little.” Little Jet was cowed, staying close to his aunties, as he should. Jade was suckling again—good for her. Young mammoths needed a lot of fuel.

Slipping to the ground, he helped the teen and the doctor dismount. Both were shaking, laughing and hugging one another. Reassuring themselves with touch, just like the mammoths.