{"product_id":"2940013748866","title":"King of Claw and Fang","description":"Abruptly the sun was blotted out and a sudden deluge descended from\u003cbr\u003ethe heavens. It fell steadily in a silver sheet for five minutes, then\u003cbr\u003eas abruptly stopped. It was the first rain, marking the beginning of\u003cbr\u003ethe rainy season.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe brassy sun showed its molten face again, hotter than before. From\u003cbr\u003ethe floor of the primeval jungle, a miasmic mist steamed slowly upward.\u003cbr\u003eThe air was sullen, brooding, oppressive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a thousand giant trees, matted and festooned with an impenetrable\u003cbr\u003etangle of vines, the lemurs scolded querulously at one another.\u003cbr\u003eVividly plumed birds screamed hoarsely as they flitted from tree to\u003cbr\u003etree. And the beasts of the earth snarled and spat at each other as\u003cbr\u003ethey wrangled over their kill.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDarkest Africa, where Nature had been prodigal and profligate. She had\u003cbr\u003epeopled this, her richest land, with a myriad of living things--plant,\u003cbr\u003ebeast, bird and fish. And then, as if regretting her generosity, she\u003cbr\u003ehad pitted the one against the other. Let the Law be that of Claw and\u003cbr\u003eFang; let the strong survive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuddenly, above the teeming noises of earth and air, a mighty roar\u003cbr\u003ereverberated between the trees. As if blasted by an evil curse, the\u003cbr\u003ejungle was hushed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen, a moment later, with a majestic stride a mighty lion pushed\u003cbr\u003ethrough the brush and stepped into a small, open clearing that\u003cbr\u003ebordered a lake of cerulean blue.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eZar the Mighty paused a moment on the edge of the clearing. Slowly,\u003cbr\u003edisdainfully he swung his massive head from side to side as he\u003cbr\u003esurveyed his domain. His tawny mane was ruffed; his tufted tail\u003cbr\u003eswitched nervously from side to side.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAgain he tilted back his head. Again the rumbling bass note of his\u003cbr\u003edefiance filled the clearing. But there was no one who dared answer\u003cbr\u003ehis challenge.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eZar snorted contemptuously, lashed his tail once more and proceeded\u003cbr\u003eslowly down to the water's edge. This respectful silence that greeted\u003cbr\u003ehis coming was fitting to his might and dignity. For wasn't he Zar the\u003cbr\u003eMighty--Lord of the Jungle?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe drank, long and deeply. But minutes before he had his fill his head\u003cbr\u003esnapped up. A snarl rumbled in his throat; his leather lungs expanded\u003cbr\u003eand the talons of his forepaws arched.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom high overhead came an angry, droning buzz that grew louder, more\u003cbr\u003einsistent with every moment's passing. Zar threw back his head and\u003cbr\u003elooked up between the trees. What fool of a bird was this who dared\u003cbr\u003echallenge the might of his claw and fang?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd then he saw it, first as a speck looming out of the south. It\u003cbr\u003eadvanced rapidly, with incredible speed, flying low; and the roar of\u003cbr\u003eits coming put even Zar's stentorian bellow to shame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis was not Pindar the eagle or Kru come to the vulture's feast. Zar\u003cbr\u003ehad never seen such a bird before--one with such an incredible spread\u003cbr\u003eof wing--one that screamed its defiance as it flew like an arrow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, he felt no fear in its presence. His muscles simply bulged in\u003cbr\u003eanger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom slitted, amber eyes he watched the strange bird as it soared\u003cbr\u003eabove the clearing. It cleared the far side, then suddenly, without\u003cbr\u003ewarning, a jet of black smoke belched forth from its side.","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47157034877168,"sku":"2940013748866","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013748866_p0.jpg?v=1763589746","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013748866","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}