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careful,” warned Zoe. “I don’t want you falling on top of me.”
    As Ben climbed, the forest suddenly darkened and huge drops of water began to splatter down through the trees. Soon every other jungle sound was blotted out by the beat of the water on the canopy above.
    Ben could feel the tree swaying under his weight as he gripped with one hand and fumbled for his BUG with the other.
    Rainwater was streaming down the trunk, making it hard to hold on. Hope this thing’s waterproof , he thought to himself as he struggled with the slippery buttons. At last he accessed the communicator, tapped in Erika’s hot key and held the BUG to his ear. It rang and rang. He pressed 1 to get through to Wild headquarters instead. “Hello?” he shouted as he heard a faint voice. The signal seemed to be coming and going. “Uncle Stephen?”
    No answer. Still holding the device to his ear, he tried to scramble higher, pushing on the spindly branches with his feet.
    â€œTora’s cubs are out of the den,” he shouted. “And the poachers are in the village – at least we think so. Can you contact the sanctuary for us?”
    â€œHello, Ben!” He could just hear his godfather’s cheerful voice. “Bad signal. Say again?”
    Ben heaved himself up as high as he could. “Sanctuary needs to come now!” he said. “The cubs are –”
    CRACK! The branch under his foot snapped and he fell.
    He grabbed wildly at the trunk as he went. Wet twigs slapped in his face and he felt the skin being scraped from his palms, but he couldn’t get a handhold.
    Then, with a jerk, the BUG strap around his wrist caught on a branch and he found himself swinging ten metres above the ground. His arm felt as if it was going to be pulled out of its socket. But at least he’d stopped falling.

    The BUG suddenly vibrated. “Ben?” It was Uncle Stephen’s voice. He could hardly hear it over the thunderous sound of the rain. “Are you there? How’s it going?”
    Typical , thought Ben. I’m hanging from a tree in a tropical rainstorm and now I get perfect reception!
    â€œUrgent message!” he shouted up to the BUG. “Tora’s cubs are out of the den.” He twisted about, legs flailing, desperately trying to find something to hold on to.
    â€œAlready!” he heard Uncle Stephen exclaim. “Tell me all about them. Have they got…?”
    The BUG bleeped and went silent.
    Ben managed to get hold of a creeper and hauled himself on to a branch. He unhooked the BUG and climbed down the tree as quickly as his bleeding hands would allow. Zoe had found a huge leaf to shelter under. Ben joined her, nursing his wounds.
    â€œAre you OK?” she yelled over the sound of the pounding rain. “I heard some noises and I called up, but I don’t think you heard me.”
    â€œI slipped a little.” Ben grinned, showing her his palms.
    â€œNasty.” She grimaced. “Did you speak to Uncle Stephen?”
    â€œBriefly,” Ben yelled back. “I just hope he got my message OK, and that the sanctuary will be on their way to get Tora before the poachers do.”
    Zoe swung her backpack off her shoulder and found the medical kit. She splashed water on his grazes and began to cover them with dressings.
    â€œBetter get back to the village,” said Ben. “I think we should… ouch !…make sure that the poachers… yow, Zoe, that stings …aren’t on Tora’s trail yet.”
    It was late morning by the time Ben and Zoe reached the village. It had stopped raining and everywhere was steaming in the sun.
    â€œAt least the rain’s washed the tiger wee off,” said Zoe. “Now to work.”
    â€œCan’t we get something to eat?” moaned Ben. “If anyone hears my stomach rumbling, they’ll think the tiger’s arrived in town.”
    â€œAs soon as we’ve checked out the