The rogue elephant

In a smoky room at the New York Explorers’ Club, a celebrated German taxidermist proposes a bold venture: travel to East Africa and procure a whole family of elephants for the world’s finest museums. He recruits Louis Schoverling, a restless wanderer known for his daring exploits, promising a journey far from comforts and far beyond ordinary hunting grounds. Their agreement is simple—von Hofe will direct the expedition, while Schoverling will guide and provide the muscle. The partnership is rooted in mutual respect for the untamed and a shared hunger for adventure.

Setting out with a modest crew, they soon find the African savanna more unforgiving than any map can convey. Dense thickets, scorching heat, and the constant thrum of unseen wildlife test their resolve, while rumors of a lone, unusually cunning elephant begin to surface. As they close in on the herd, the creature’s uncanny intelligence turns a routine hunt into a chase filled with tension and unexpected twists. The first leg of their quest hints at larger mysteries hidden in the continent’s heart, promising danger and discovery in equal measure.