The waterfall now looked so calm that no one would even say it was once the place where a man had died. It was that peaceful. The four of them held on to the creepers near the waterfall and climbed down. Because of that, when they reached the bottom, their bodies were not wet. They slowly placed each step forward. Daniel was the one walking in front. Suddenly, he stopped after seeing something.
What he saw was nothing else but Harry's clothes, torn apart and lying on the ground.
"What is it, Daniel?" Francis asked.
Daniel did not say a word. Instead, he showed what he had seen to the others who were walking behind him.
For a brief moment, they all looked at the clothes with sadness.
"Poor boy… how much pain Harry must have suffered. We must do something about that filthy wolf. Otherwise, it will lead us into great danger." David spoke with anger toward the beast.
"But the problem is not that alone. None of us know how heavy that wolf's body is, or how strong it really is. Only Harry knows everything. He experienced it all directly. Now his life is no longer in our hands. That means, at present, we know nothing about that beast. Because of that, we cannot attack it or subdue it right now. So we must do something wisely," Daniel told the others.
The rest of them agreed to this. Then they climbed back up through the same path they had taken to the waterfall. As soon as they reached the top, Francis was trying to do something. The others watched him.
"What are you trying to do?" Daryl asked Francis.
But Francis did not reply. Instead, he picked up a stick that was lying under a tree. Then he walked to one side and stopped. He began to measure something with the stick. After that, he stood for a moment, looking up at the tree. Then he came back near Daniel.
"We did not get even a single clue about that creature from here. But I have an idea in my mind to kill it. Right now, I cannot explain it. Because I also need Edward's help. Later, I will explain it to everyone together. Staying here will only bring us danger," Francis said in a lowered voice.
What Francis said was true. Staying there would only bring danger to all of them.
"I am eager to know your idea. Let us return to the shore as quickly as possible. After that, explain it to me," Daniel said.
They walked back to the shore.
Time – 7:30 PM
Since they were unable to hunt anything in the morning, on their way back from the forest they had plucked some fruits from the trees. That became their dinner. After everyone had finished eating, Francis stood up opposite to them, preparing to share his idea. Joseph was sitting there, staring directly at Francis. They had not told the others anything about what had happened between them in the morning. Francis then began to share his idea with everyone.
"It is clear to everyone that none of us here can kill it easily. So, we must subdue that beast by staying hidden. I have an idea in my mind to trap it. I will explain it to all of you clearly. What I mean is, we will put it into a trap. A trap from which that wolf can never escape. Today, I examined the surroundings of the waterfall. It is exactly the right place for my trap," Francis said.
After saying this, Francis took out a paper and began writing something on it. For a couple of minutes, he drew something roughly on the paper. Then he lifted the paper high so that everyone could see it. On that paper were several numbers and equations. None of them could understand anything by looking at it.
"I know very well that you did not understand anything from just seeing this. Let me explain what I intended," Francis began to explain his plan step by step.
"We will first place a bait at one spot to attract it. I have already marked the place where the bait will be kept. Around that spot, I am going to prepare the trap," Francis said.
At that moment, Peter, one among them, raised his hand to ask a doubt.
"I know you will have questions until I finish explaining this. After I explain my plan, you may ask me whatever doubts you have. Until then, none of you should ask me anything," Francis said, looking at Peter.
Hearing this, Peter kept his doubt in his mind, deciding to ask it at the end. Francis then continued his explanation.
"Around the spot where the bait is placed, we must tie four knives tightly. It must be in a triangular shape. When the wolf comes to attack the bait, its leg will strike against the creepers tied with the knives at a 32-degree angle. At that very moment, the knife will pierce into the body of the wolf. The other three knives, connected together with it, will also do the same duty well.
If you ask for my rough calculation, assume the wolf's body weight is about 500 kilograms. The reason I came to this assumption is because of my meeting with Edward. He had seen the wolf clearly. With that body weight, when the man-wolf runs at a speed of 7.5 meters per second, the energy it releases is:
KE = 0.5 × m × v²
m = 500 kg
v = 7.5 m/s
KE = 0.5 × 500 × (7.5)²
= 0.5 × 500 × 56.25
= 250 × 56.25
= 14,062.5 J (joules)"
"It is based on these calculations that I tied the knives. After these four knives pierce into its body, the next stage begins. Because these four knives alone are not enough to kill it. Within 0.6 seconds after the first stage, a wooden log weighing about 40 kilos will fall from above and strike the beast. That is the second stage. Its calculation is as follows:
Height : 1.6 meter – potential energy
PE = m × g × h m = mass
= 40 × 9.8 × 1.6 g = gravity
= 627.2 J (joules) h = height
(g refers to the gravitational acceleration of the Earth)
When that log falls downward, it will create kinetic energy.
p = m × v ≈ 40 × 2.5 = 100 kg·m/s
p – momentum (product of motion)
The motion force of an object.
m – mass (weight)
The weight of the object.
Here: 40 kg
v – velocity (speed)
The moving speed of the object.
Here: 2.5 m/s
"This wolf, when struck by the log, will be thrown away and crash onto the nearby tree. When the wolf hits the tree, its leg will strike against the vine below, and the hidden sharpened spear underneath will pierce through its chest and pin it against the tree. The human-wolf, falling down due to the impact (around 0.6 meter fall), will then get its chest shattered by that sharpened spear and be nailed to the tree. This happens due to clean gravity penetration."
F = m × g ≈ 500 × 9.8 = 4900 N
F = force – unit – Newton (N)
"Here, there is one final mass correction. The last stage must be carried out by me. Finally, I must shoot it from a distance of one meter. If you calculate, a bullet from a 9mm pistol striking its brain is as follows:
Bullet mass = 7.5 g
Velocity = 380 m/s
E = 0.5 × m × v²
= 0.5 × 0.0075 × (380)² ≈ 541 J
E = energy
'If you ask why one meter distance, the reason is nothing else—
The skull of that human-wolf is at least twice as thick as that of a normal human skull. Therefore, only if I shoot from one meter away will the bullet be able to crush through its skull.'"
Total time
The time taken for the blade to pierce into his chest: 0.3 seconds.
The time for the log to fall down: 0.6 seconds.
The time for the log's impact to strike and throw him against the tree: 0.9 seconds.
The time for the sharpened stake placed beneath the tree to pierce through his chest: 1.4 seconds.
The time I take to load my pistol and shoot him: 4.8 seconds.
I have prepared this trap based on calculations of time itself. That means, within five seconds, we will destroy that human-wolf so completely that neither his soul nor his body can be recognized.
This is my plan.
France stopped speaking after revealing his plan.
At this moment, Robert, the ship's cook, raised a doubt.
"The knife used in the trap is with me. But in the final stage of your plan, how will it work? We don't even have a gun."
Hearing this, Francis stood silent before them for a while. Then, lifting his shirt, he pulled out a pistol he had kept tucked inside his pants and held it out in front of them.
"Now the doubts are gone, aren't they?" Francis said, answering the others. The rest just stared at the pistol Francis displayed, astonished.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier that you had a pistol? Wouldn't that have been useful to us?" Daniel asked, his tone heavy with seriousness.
"That question has no relevance here and now," Francis replied curtly, then continued:
"What I just said is the only way to kill it. That wolf is probably waiting with some kind of trap—a pit, or something else. But mark my words, "But killing that filthy wolf is my calculation."
Daniel patted Francis on the shoulder in appreciation.
"Francis, you truly are intelligent. But tell me, where did you learn all this? I'm only asking out of curiosity."
In reply, Francis did not repeat his usual dialogue. He only twisted his hands and gave a silent gesture.
It was then that Peter voiced the doubt he had been holding from the beginning.
"What will we use as bait?"
"We cannot attract it with the carcass of a rabbit or a pig. To lure it, the bait must be something living."
"Then what shall we do for bait?" Peter asked.
Francis's expression slowly changed. Raising both hands upward, he addressed the others:
"I will be the bait — nothing else. The only thing that carries the scent of life is me."
When Francis said this, everyone was struck with shock at the same moment, and their bodies trembled with fear.
To be continued....