Chapter 106: Jaume's New Project

In the club, the business manager introduced the hunting guide, Baker, who boasts over a decade of experience hunting kangaroos, bison, and crocodiles, to the four Martins. He was a man in his thirties with a receding hairline, but his confidence radiated. Baker politely shook hands with each of the Martins, and Martin couldn't help but notice the calluses on his hands.

Molly, Baker's sister, with more than five years of hunting experience, was introduced to them as well. She was less than thirty years old, had short hair, and sported tattoos of two hounds on her strong arm, possibly hinting at her hunting prowess.

The business manager arranged two pickup trucks to transport the group to the club's private hunting grounds, a journey taking more than three hours from Brisbane's northern suburbs. Australia's vast landscape and sparse population were discussed during the trip. The private hunting ground, spanning nearly 100,000 acres, was situated not far from the sea. Like many areas in Australia, it struggled with an overpopulation of wild animals, with occasional crocodile appearances in its ponds and waterways.

Upon reaching the ranch, the large wooden houses accommodated not only the four Martins but also more than a dozen tourists from various countries. After a simple dinner, the business manager guided the Martins in selecting their hunting weapons.

Martin opted for a Winchester M70, a bolt-action shotgun, as he was familiar with it from his previous range experience. Temporary licenses restricted them from using semi-automatic weapons.

Mene expressed his desire to use a gun as well, but due to a lack of prior documentation, he was left with the options of a crossbow or pulley bow.

Bruce chose a Remington 700, and Jaume selected a lighter Weatherby shotgun. Each of the four was equipped with a short hunting knife.

Back at their individual wooden house, Molly provided a brief rundown of hunting guidelines through video footage. She explained the targets – wild boars, hares, wild deer, wild dogs, bison, and red kangaroos, emphasizing not to hunt pregnant mothers. Molly displayed images of several protected animals, warning them not to harm them, and cautioned, "If you're unsure, don't use your gun."

Preparations for the next day's hunt were made, and early morning saw the group setting off in two large pickup trucks with guardrails.

The vast pasture was filled with hills, ponds, small rivers, and predominantly consisted of grasslands, shrubs, and dwarf woods. Bruce consulted Martin and Jaume's preferences, and they decided to go after big game.

Mene, on the other hand, sat alone in Molly's vehicle.

One of the pickup trucks was driven by Baker, and Martin asked him, "When are we going to hunt crocodiles?"

Baker responded, "In the afternoon, when the light is good, the crocodiles will come out to bask in the sun."

Molly, leading the way, parked at the edge of the bush in the vast park. She released her hound and rushed into the bushes, and Mene, clutching his crossbow, followed suit. When he reached the vehicle, he exclaimed, "I'd rather sit in the trunk here than over there. Those dogs are too scary!"

Martin teased him, "Seems like they really like you."

Baker squatted by the bush to examine animal feces, picking up a pile to inspect. He explained, "There are wild boars nearby. Molly, let's drive them out." Addressing the Martins, he cautioned, "Stay in the vehicle, prepare your firearms, and don't exit casually. Wild boars can be very dangerous."

Molly unleashed the hound, and the three dogs darted into the bushes. As they did, Mene, brandishing his crossbow, suddenly turned around and jumped away from the vehicle. A large red kangaroo appeared.

Mene shouted at it, "Red-skinned one! Come here, your black-skinned grandpa is here!" He prepared to take a shot with his crossbow.

Suddenly, the dogs began to bark, and a large black mass emerged from the bushes, charging towards Mene. In a state of panic, he hastily fired an arrow and quickly climbed back into the vehicle.

Martin reached out to pull him back, saying, "What are you afraid of?"

Mene looked at the looming wild boar, joking, "It's even darker than me, so my usual tricks won't work!"

Martin assured him, "No worries, if it charges at you, you can charge right back."

Bruce, knowing that Martin was here not just for relaxation but also for socializing, provided the director, Jaume, with the opportunity to take the first shot. Jaume aimed his gun through the scope and fired the first shot, targeting a wild boar. The creature was hit in the chest and abdomen, taking a few steps forward before collapsing.

Simultaneously, Martin and Bruce fired, each successfully bringing down an adult wild deer.

Simultaneously, a carbon crossbow clanged as it struck a short tree. The rest of the wild deer panicked and fled, leaving Mene with no opportunity for a second shot. Martin and the others were solely focused on shooting.

The hunt was skillfully guided by two professionals, Baker and Molly. Martin inquired, "Who didn't hit any prey just now?"

Mene, who had already boasted quite a bit earlier, reluctantly admitted, "Let's go find the kangaroo."

Later, during a break when Baker and Molly were handling the prey, they came across a suitable kangaroo. This one stood at a mere 1.4 meters, not particularly strong. However, even a small kangaroo was much larger and more powerful than Mene. A kick from it could be disastrous.

Undaunted, Mene jumped out of the car and approached, taunting the kangaroo, "Red-skinned big tail, I won't pay you if you fight dirty. Come here! Why don't you have black hair? Kangaroos are all racists!"

Bruce, unable to contain himself, chastised, "Why do you always insult everyone, you dimwit?"

Martin simply stared at Bruce, causing him to realize his own folly. "I'm such an idiot," Bruce admitted.

Big kangaroos could be quite aggressive during their mating season, and this one rushed forward, engaging in a fight with Mene. Baker and Molly followed closely, concerned about any potential accidents.

Mene, determined not to back down, proclaimed, "No one messes with Uncle Mene without paying for it, not even animals!" Using his height and strength to his advantage, Mene fought off the kangaroo until it retreated in embarrassment.

Ten minutes later, Mene returned to the car, holding a handful of kangaroo fur, triumphantly declaring, "This is payment for his brother's debt!"

After lunch at the ranch, the group prepared for their afternoon crocodile hunt. Faced with saltwater crocodiles, even Bruce was cautious. Martin and his companions opted to stay safely within the vehicle.

Baker and Molly soon discovered traces of a crocodile. The group approached a pond, climbing to higher ground for a better vantage point. From there, they observed a large crocodile, over four meters long, basking in the sun on the pond's edge, some dozens of meters away.

Facing humans armed with shotguns, the crocodile's size was irrelevant. Baker ensured his customers were ready, instructing, "Aim at the target. When I say 'fire,' shoot together. Each of you will fire three rounds."

Martin, Bruce, and Zomi loaded their guns, while Mene shouldered his crossbow. "Get ready!" Baker called out, and as the moment approached, he shouted, "Fire!"

Martin pulled the trigger, observing the crocodile's neck explode through the scope. He cycled the bolt and fired again. Three bullets were discharged before he stopped.

The large crocodile, riddled with bullets, succumbed without even glimpsing its assailants. The prey was collected, and the club offered to process the crocodile's teeth into souvenirs like pendants and keychains.

The massive crocodile, over four meters long, yielded enough meat to feed four people, with most going to Martin and Jaume. Bruce and Mene had their separate preferences.

In the evening, the club hosted a game barbecue party at the manor for all the guests. After enjoying some roasted venison, Martin spotted Jaume sitting alone in a quiet area and asked, "Is the noise bothering you?"

Jaume gestured around him, saying, "When I'm idle, my thoughts never stop."

Martin inquired, "Thinking about post-production?"

Jaume replied, "I'm just a tool in post-production. I'm contemplating a new story." Martin playfully suggested, "How about a sudden appearance of a beast or a pervert in the hunting ground, hunting us all down?"

Jaume tossed a bottle of beer to Martin. They clinked their bottles, each taking a sip before Jaume continued, "Before joining this crew, my friend David Johnson and I studied film and worked as assistants for Director Darabont. David was better at screenwriting, but he wasn't as fortunate as me; it's tough to make it as a screenwriter." Returning to the topic, Jamue added, "David and I traveled to Canada, where we heard a local story about a woman with dwarfism who posed as a girl and killed her adoptive parents. It's a true incident."