Ship-Trap Island

I washed my knife in the kitchen sink. How easy it seemed to kill something and watch the blood rush down the drain. It was a nice head and I believed it complemented my collection quite nicely. I had just came back from the hunt. For a moment, I thought he would get away from me. A wonderful hunt, but I still won the game. 1

I sighed. Another game ended. But there was plenty more to choose from. I went upstairs and dressed into my evening wear, a little sad that the game had to end so quickly. Ivan was cooking dinner. I could smell the borsch from the kitchen.2

Suddenly, I heard an knock on the door. We lived on an island and visitors were very rare. Ivan cocked his revolver, just like he was trained to. My ears were highly sensitive to that kind of thing. I started to head down the stairs, wondering who it could be.3

"Don't be alarmed," I heard a voice say from behind Ivan's huge frame. "I'm no robber. I fell off a yacht. My name is Sanger Rainsford of New York City."4

I hurried down the stairs. If I didn't Ivan would kill him. And that wouldn't be very sporting.5

"I'm Sanger Rainsford of New York," Rainsford repeated, "I fell off a yacht. I am hungry."6

Ivan heard my foot pattern for he saluted, clicked his heels together and stood at attention.7

Rainsford was younger from what I expected. He seemed dressed for a safari. Maybe he was going to hunt jaguars up the Amazon. He had a full head of hair and had the muscles of an American solider. He was wet from swimming and probably swam miles to get to the island.8

"It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home."9

Rainsford gripped my hand.10

"I've read your book about hunting snow leopards in Tibet, you see," I told him, "I am General Zaroff."11

I then turned to Ivan, gave him a sign and Ivan put away the pistol, saluted and went back to the kitchen.12

Ivan is an incredibly strong fellow," I explained to Rainsford, "but he had the misfortune to be deaf and dumb. A simple fellow, but, I'm afraid, like all his race, a bit of a savage."13

"Is he Russian?" Rainsford asked, distrust in his voice. I smiled. An intelligent one, this American.14

"He is a Cossack," I answered with a smile, "So am I. Come, we shouldn't be chatting here. We can talk later. Now you want clothes, food, rest. You shall have them. This is a most rest spot."15

Ivan reappeared and I mouthed to him to show Rainsford the bedroom and give him a spare set of my evening wear. I also wanted an extra plate for dinner.16

"Follow Ivan, if you please, Mr. Rainsford. I was about to have my dinner when you came. I'll wait for you. You'll find that my clothes will fit you, I think."17

I waited on him in the dining room. When Rainsford came in, his eyes became round as quarters as he gawked at my collection of heads. I do have to admit. My collection is pretty astounding. They were probably the best specimens Rainsford had ever seen. But I didn't give him a chance to look. I wanted to know more about him and see if he will join me on a hunt.18

"You'll have a cocktail, Mr. Rainsford." After he had finished his first glass I started conversation.19

"We do our best to preserve the amenities of civilization here. Please forgive any lapses. We are well off the beaten track, you know. Do you think the champagne has suffered from its long ocean trip?"20

"Not in the least," Rainsford replied. He lowered his head to take a sip from his borsch. I studied him. He has experience in hunting. He knows what to look for and what to avoid. I wondered who would win in a battle of wits.21

He caught me studying him when he looked up from the borsch. He politely wiped his mouth and glared at me.22

"Perhaps," I said to distract him, "you were surprised that I recognized your name. You see, I read all your books on hunting published in English, French and Russian. I have but one passion in my life, Mr Rainsford, and it is the hunt.23

"You have some wonderful heads here," he said as he cut into his filet mignon. "That Cape buffalo is the largest I ever saw."24

"Oh, that fellow," I looked at it with pride, "Yes, he was a monster.25

"Did he charge you?"26

"Hurled me against a tree. Fractured my skull. But I got the brute."27

"I always thought that the Cape buffalo is the most dangerous of all big game."28

I smiled at the young American. Despite what he thought, I've hunted worse.29

"No. You are wrong, sir. The Cape buffalo is not the most dangerous big game. Here in my preserve on this island I hunt more dangerous game.30

Rainsford seemed surprised. "Is there big game on this island?"31

"The biggest," I said with a nod.32

"Really?"33

"Oh, it isn't here naturally, of course. I have to stock the island."34

"What have you imported, general?" Rainsford asked, his food no longer holding his attention. "Tigers?"35

"No. Hunting tigers ceased to interest me some years ago. I excused their possibilities, you see. No thrill left in tigers, no real danger. I live for danger, Mr. Rainsford."36

I took out my gold cigarette case. Inside were my favorite cigarettes that smelled like incense. I offered one to my guest who politely took one.37

"We will have capital hunting you and I. I shall be most glad to have your society."38

"But what kind of game--"39

"I'll tell you. You will be amused, I know. I think I may say, in all modesty, that I have done a rare thing. I have invented a new sensation."40

I studied Rainsford's face, gauging his reaction. So far I saw interest in his eyes.41

"May I pour you another glass of port, Mr. Rainsford?"42

"Thank you, general."43

I filled both glasses.44

"God makes some men poets. Some He makes kings, some beggars. Me He made a hunter. My hand was made for the trigger, my father said. He was a very rich man with a quarter of a million acres in the Crimea, and he was an ardent sportsman. When I was only five years old he gave me a little gun, specially made in Moscow for me, to shoot sparrows with. When I shot some of his prize turkeys with it, he did not punish me; he complimented my marksmanship. I killed my first bear in the Caucasus when I was ten. My whole life has been one prolonged hunt. I went into the army-- it was expected of noblemen's sons-- and for a time commanded a division of Cossack cavalry, but my real interest was always the hunt. I have hunted every kind of game in every land. It would be impossible for me to tell you how many animals I have killed."45

I took a pause to draw from my cigarette. The incense wafted to my nose.46

"After the debacle in Russia I left the country, for it was imprudent for an officer of the Czar to stay there. Many noble Russians lost everything. I, luckily, had invested heavily in American securities, so I shall never have to open a tea room in Monte Carlo or drive a taxi in Paris. Naturally, I continued to hunt-- grizzlies in your Rockies, crocodiles in the Ganges, rhinoceroses in East Africa. It was in Africa that the Cape buffalo hit me and laid me up for six months. As soon as I recovered I started up the for the Amazon to hunt jaguars, for I heard they were unusually cunning. They weren't."47

I sighed remembering the disappointment.48

"They were no match at all for a hunter with his wits about him, and a high powered rifle. I was bitterly disappointed. I was lying in my tent with a splitting headache one night when a terrible thought pushed its way into my mind. Hunting was beginning to bore me! And hunting, remember, had been my life. I have heard that in America business men often go to pieces when they give up the business that has been their life."49

"Yes, that's so." Rainsford agreed.50

"I had no wish to go to pieces. I must do something. Now, mine is an analytical mind, Mr. Rainsford. Doubtless that is why I enjoy the problems of the chase."51

"No doubt, General Zaroff."52

"So I asked myself why the hunt no longer fascinated me. You are much younger than I am, Mr. Rainsford and have not hunted as much, but you perhaps can guess the answer."53

"What was that?"54

"Simply this: hunting had ceased to be what you call 'a sporting proposition.' It had become to easy. I always got my quarry. Always. There is no greater bore than perfection."55

By now I had finished my cigarette and lit a fresh one.56

"No animal had a chance with me any more. That is no boast; it is a mathematical certainty. The animal had nothing but his legs and his instinct. Instinct is no match for reason. When I thought of this it was a tragic moment for me, I can tell you."57

Rainsford leaned across the table, absorbing ever word I said. His borsch58

"It came to me as an inspiration what I must do."59

"And that was?" I smiled at Rainsford. I had him interested. 60

"I had to invent a new animal to hunt."61

"A new animal? You're joking."62

"Not at all. I never joke about hunting. I needed a new animal. i found one. So I bought this island, built this house, and here I do my hunting. The island is perfect for my purposes-- there are jungles with a maze of trails in them, hill, swamps--"63

Rainsford became impatient with me. Americans. They have no manners at all.64

"But the animal, General Zaroff?"65

"Oh, it supplies me with the most exciting hunting in the world. No other hunting compares with it for an instant. Every day I hunt and I never grow bored now, for I have a quarry with which I can match my wits."66

Rainsford seemed bewildered, unable to figure out what animal I meant. What did I have to do? Draw him a picture?67

"I wanted the ideal animal to hunt. So I said: 'What are the attributes of an ideal quarry?' And the answer was, of course: 'it must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.'"68

"But no animal can reason."69

"My dear fellow, there is one who can."70

"But you can't mean--" gasped Rainsford finally putting two and two together.71

"And why not?"72

"I can't believe you are serious, General Zaroff. This is a grisly joke."73

"Why should I not be serious? I am speaking of hunting."74

"Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder!"75

~76

Murder! I laughed at Rainsford wholeheartedly. Murder, what a ridicules idea. Silly Americans and their morals.77

"I refuse to believe that so and civilized a young man as you seems to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war--"78

"Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder." Rainsford finished very tensely. He looked very much like a rooster to me.79

"How extraordinarily droll you are!" I told him through my laughter, "One does not expect nowadays to find a young man of the educated class, even in America, with such a naive, and, if I may say so, mid-Victorian point of view. It's like finding a snuff box in a limousine. Ah, well, doubtless you had Puritan ancestors. So many Americans appear to have had. I'll wager you'll forget your notions when you go hunting with me. You've a genuine new thrill in store for you, Mr. Rainsford."80

"Thank you, I'm a hunter, not a murderer."81

There was the word again. Murder! So ugly of a word82

"Dear me, again with that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded."83

"Yes?" asked Rainsford, unconvinced that I could.84

"Life is is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if need be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth--sailors from tramp ships--lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels--a thoroughbred horse or a hound is worth more than a score of them."85

"But they are men," Rainsford said angrily.86

"Precisely," I said, not quite getting why he was so worked up. They are just men. They were expendable. As long as their kind breed there will always be more. "That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure. They can reason, after a fashion. So they are dangerous." 87

Rainsford walked to the window and looked out toward the sea. He looked a little sick. I decided to show him my invention that I used to get more sport. 88

"Watch! Out there!" I said excitedly and I pressed the button that turned on the lights that indicated a channel. Rainsford squinted because of the brightness.89

"They indicate a channel," I explained, "where there's none: giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws." I picked up a walnut "They can crush a ship as easily as I crush this nut." I threw the nut down on the floor and crushed it with my heel. Rainsford looked horrified. "Oh, yes. I have electricity. We try to be civilized here."