WakeNCAgent
Pre-takeoff checklist
The Great Gorilla Hunter
An American hunting enthusiast travels to Africa to learn from a tribal elder the art of capturing a Gorilla. The night before the hunt, the elder summons the American to his hut to discuss the following day's plan.
"Early tomorrow, we will meet here and head off into the forest," starts the elder. "We cannot speak while on the hunt, so you must pay careful attention to what I say now."
"I understand," says the American, grateful to have this amazing opportunity.
The elder hands the American an impressive rifle, with hand carved ivory stock. "The sights have been carefully set. You must practice tonight to ensure your aim is straight and true at 100 paces.
"I'll practice, and I won't stop until my aim is true." The American then sets the rifle carefully aside, cautious not to disturb the sights.
The elder next hands him a heavy net of tightly knit twine forming a giant circle. "You must practice casting this net, and be able to throw it over that bush from a distance of five paces," continues the elder.
"Understood," says the American.
The elder next grabs a heavy rope approximately 20 feet in length and hands it to the American. "You must practice your knots for this will ensure that the struggling gorilla will not free itself and harm us."
The American grabs the rope and acknowledges with a nod.
The elder then whistles and a ferocious looking dog resembling a rabid wolf races up from behind the hut. The elder reaches for a canvas bag filled with beans, with a smaller pouch stitched to its edge, and tosses it across the open area in front of them. As soon as the bag hits the ground, the dog pounces on it and instinctively clamps down on the smaller pouch. To demonstrate his tenacity, the elder grabs a stick a beats the dog across the snout several times. The dog never flinches and maintains his clenched teeth on the small pouch.
"This is Titu. He has been trained carefully since birth and will serve us well."
"Let us now discuss how we will capture the mighty gorilla. At dawn, we will set out into forest. I will lead with Titu, and you will follow. When we come across the wild beast, I will motion to Titu and he give chase to the gorilla. We will follow until the gorilla finds refuge in a tree."
"I understand," says the American. "Will I then shoot him?"
"No," says the elder. "Once the animal is up the tree, I will climb up the tree and wrestle with the animal, knocking him off his branch."
"Will I shoot him, then?" asks the American.
"No. When the gorilla hits the ground, Titu will immediately bite down on his privates and thereby disable him.
"Will I shoot him, then?"
No. It is then that you will rush up and ensnare the gorilla in the net. You must act quickly and secure him with the rope."
"I understand," says the American, somewhat puzzled. "But what about the rifle? Why are you having me practice with it and carrying it on our hunt?"
"Because," says the elder, "in the event the gorilla should knock me from the tree...you must shoot the dog. Immediately."
An American hunting enthusiast travels to Africa to learn from a tribal elder the art of capturing a Gorilla. The night before the hunt, the elder summons the American to his hut to discuss the following day's plan.
"Early tomorrow, we will meet here and head off into the forest," starts the elder. "We cannot speak while on the hunt, so you must pay careful attention to what I say now."
"I understand," says the American, grateful to have this amazing opportunity.
The elder hands the American an impressive rifle, with hand carved ivory stock. "The sights have been carefully set. You must practice tonight to ensure your aim is straight and true at 100 paces.
"I'll practice, and I won't stop until my aim is true." The American then sets the rifle carefully aside, cautious not to disturb the sights.
The elder next hands him a heavy net of tightly knit twine forming a giant circle. "You must practice casting this net, and be able to throw it over that bush from a distance of five paces," continues the elder.
"Understood," says the American.
The elder next grabs a heavy rope approximately 20 feet in length and hands it to the American. "You must practice your knots for this will ensure that the struggling gorilla will not free itself and harm us."
The American grabs the rope and acknowledges with a nod.
The elder then whistles and a ferocious looking dog resembling a rabid wolf races up from behind the hut. The elder reaches for a canvas bag filled with beans, with a smaller pouch stitched to its edge, and tosses it across the open area in front of them. As soon as the bag hits the ground, the dog pounces on it and instinctively clamps down on the smaller pouch. To demonstrate his tenacity, the elder grabs a stick a beats the dog across the snout several times. The dog never flinches and maintains his clenched teeth on the small pouch.
"This is Titu. He has been trained carefully since birth and will serve us well."
"Let us now discuss how we will capture the mighty gorilla. At dawn, we will set out into forest. I will lead with Titu, and you will follow. When we come across the wild beast, I will motion to Titu and he give chase to the gorilla. We will follow until the gorilla finds refuge in a tree."
"I understand," says the American. "Will I then shoot him?"
"No," says the elder. "Once the animal is up the tree, I will climb up the tree and wrestle with the animal, knocking him off his branch."
"Will I shoot him, then?" asks the American.
"No. When the gorilla hits the ground, Titu will immediately bite down on his privates and thereby disable him.
"Will I shoot him, then?"
No. It is then that you will rush up and ensnare the gorilla in the net. You must act quickly and secure him with the rope."
"I understand," says the American, somewhat puzzled. "But what about the rifle? Why are you having me practice with it and carrying it on our hunt?"
"Because," says the elder, "in the event the gorilla should knock me from the tree...you must shoot the dog. Immediately."
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