Tiger by the Tail by Eric Walters

his orders. As they left, Nick reappeared and came to our side.
    “Well?” he asked.
    “It worked,” Mr. McCurdy answered. He looked at his watch. “All right, we’ve waited long enough. Captain, open the door. Nick and Sarah, bring the lines and chain and wait at the entrance.”
    The captain moved to the door and opened it. Mr. McCurdy handed Nick the gun and took the loop of rope from him and entered the barn. Nick tried to follow him in, but I grabbed him by the arm and held him in place. Calvin squatted on the ground beside us and we all peered into the dark barn.
    At first I couldn’t see Buddha. I watched Mr. McCurdy move into the far corner and then caught sight of a tail. It was twitching, lashing back and forth. Mr. McCurdy talked quietly, but I couldn’t make out any of the words. He moved up close to the stall where Buddha was hiding and then disappeared behind some boards. As I watched, the tail disappeared from view.
    “Nick, maybe we should …”
    I stopped mid-sentence as Mr. McCurdy came backinto view. In his one hand was a rope, which trailed out behind him as he walked. My relief at seeing him was short-lived as I caught sight of the tiger. I had to fight the urge to run.
    “Wow!” Nick exclaimed.
    As they continued to move toward us I saw the hypodermic needle sticking in Buddha’s side. He moved calmly beside Mr. McCurdy. There was no strain in the rope, which hung down, almost scraping the ground. Mr. McCurdy wasn’t pulling the tiger, just walking beside it.
    “Nicholas, bring me the chain.”
    My brother started forward but I grabbed his arm again. He looked at me like I was crazy. “Don’t worry, sis, it’s drugged. Buddha’s as gentle as a kitten.” I released my grip and he strolled forward. I wasn’t sure if he was really brave or just too dumb to be scared. He handed Mr. McCurdy the heavy chain.
    “Here, hold this,” Mr. McCurdy said, passing the rope to my brother.
    Nick turned around and made a funny face. He didn’t say a word but I was sure I knew what he was thinking:
Look at me, I’m holding a tiger in one hand and a gun in the other!
I was thinking that Mom would have a heart attack if she was here to see this.
    Mr. McCurdy fashioned a noose with the chain. He reached underneath Buddha’s neck and hooked it overhis head. Buddha shook and made a soft growling noise. Nick backed off and the rope became taut. Mr. McCurdy dropped the end of the chain to the ground and started fumbling in his pockets. He pulled his hands out and stood holding his car keys.
    “Here, Sarah, catch,” he said as he lobbed them in my direction.
    I grabbed for them but they bounced off my fingertips and dropped to the ground. I bent down and picked them up.
    “Give them to one of the officers and ask him to open up my trunk.”
    “Here, give them to me,” the captain said as he moved forward.
    “And, Captain,” Mr. McCurdy called out. “Make sure everybody moves out of our way.”
    The captain nodded in agreement and then disappeared out of the barn.
    “Let’s get moving, Nicholas. Come on, Buddha,” Mr. McCurdy announced.
    They started walking, the tiger in the middle, my brother holding onto the rope on one side and Mr. McCurdy holding the chain on the other. They were closing in on where Calvin and I stood.
    “Should we move?” I asked nervously as I realized they had to practically walk through me to get to the door.
    “You better. Sarah, come over and take a hold of the line your brother’s holding.”
    “Are you sure it’s safe?” I asked.
    “It’s just like walking a dog,” Nick answered. “Come on, Sarah, don’t be afraid.”
    I inched forward. Buddha seemed to be looking at me as I walked, his head slowly tilting to follow me as I moved. I tried not to look at him. Instead, I locked my eyes on Nick. I put him between Buddha and me, pushing him over slightly so that I could take the still coiled end. I played out a little more rope to give myself more