Taming The Tiger Man - Genma Series #1

Should I use a blowgun now? Angelina squatted, facing the cage while searching for the best position to shoot a tranquilizer dart into her patient’s shoulder.

However, Ramaik stared at her with a murderous look, making her gulp. Cold sweat ran down her back. Even though the woman had handled various wild animals, trepidation still dominated her feelings.

“Don’t be afraid,” Fonda said with sparkling eyes as if amused by Angelina’s behavior. “He’s never hurt a female.”

Angelina looked at the tiger man with skepticism. Although he seemed harmless and injured, Ramaik was indeed a strange figure.

Fonda, who had been standing on the side of the wall near the grate door, put her thumb on a small machine that resembled a light switch. The sound of metal clashed as the red glow of the mini lamp on the handle of the metal door changed green.

Angelina’s brow furrowed in confusion. Will we take Ramaik to the operating table? But where was the wheelchair? Wouldn’t it be more effective if Nixon helped us? After all, that man was much stronger than the power of two women.

“Get in,” Fonda ordered her partner.

“What?” Angelina’s eyes widened in shock. Did that crazy woman want to lock her in there? With that strange creature?

“Get in, or I’ll shoot you.”

Angelina gasped when she saw a small gun pointed at her stomach. “W-what does that mean?”

Fonda jerked her head towards the open bars. “This method is more effective. I won’t lock you in there if that’s what you’re worried about. However, I will shoot if you haven’t come in within ten seconds.”

Angelina screeched in terror and darted into the cage, carrying all the medical supplies right when the mentally ill woman shot a bullet that dashed inches away from her left arm.

Angelina inhaled the scent of gunpowder mixed with faint blood. Her eyes tried to find where the bullet had lodged when the sound of metal closing startled her.

“Why did you close it? Open it!” exclaimed her in terror. Angelina put the items in her hands onto the floor and tried to push the barred door with all her might. She hadn’t even drugged the creature yet!

The image of Bowo beating his partner in the cage flashed through Angelina’s mind as her heart raced fast. I’m going to be dead in a matter of seconds. “Open this door!”

“Stop making noise!” scolded Fonda with a glare of annoyance. “This is just standard procedure, so the beast doesn’t take the opportunity to escape.”

Fonda inserted her gun in her pocket. She walked to the closet to grab a file before sitting on a plastic chair with her legs crossed. “Hurry up and finish your work.”

“B—but I haven’t drugged him yet!” Angelina squealed in frustration. She turned her head towards Ramaik. That creature was still watching her with his stomach pressed against the floor.

Angelina got goosebumps. She looked back at Fonda and continued her speech in a smaller volume. “This is not the proper procedure for conducting an examination.”

“So, it would be better for you to sedate him instead of screaming like a madwoman, wouldn’t it?” Fonda’s mockery put Angelina’s common sense back to work.

Angelina remembered if she had put the blowpipe containing the anesthetic needle in the medicine box she was carrying.

Therefore, she used her left foot at ease to move the object closer before kneeling.

Nonetheless, she did not dare to break eye contact with her patient, although he idled from his position.

Angelina’s fingers ruffled the inside of the box for a few moments until she got the object she needed. She swallowed her saliva.

Her current position was not strategic. For the patient’s safety, veterinarians were only allowed to shoot injections in certain parts, such as the shoulders, forelegs, or hands.

I need to get closer. Angelina observed around for the best location before her eyes widened.

The giant cage was similar to a room for humans. Angelina found a door on the wall, not far from Ramaik, and another door on the right side of the cage.

“Stop daydreaming and hurry up! I have a movie to see,” Fonda grumbled.

If she hadn’t been thinking about Paul’s safety, Angelina would be more willing to blow the contents of the blowpipe at her heartless coworker than at her patient, who was in excruciating pain.

Angelina took another glimpse around and got a conclusion. The only way to sedate the creature was to kneel before him.

Ramaik is in a weakened state. He won’t be able to hurt me. Angelina tried to strengthen her own heart.

She pressed the tip of the blowpipe to her lips. Angelina ducked down to retrieve her medical kit before crouching near the creature.

She was ready. Ramaik’s shoulders were visible. She almost blew the anesthetic needle before a sudden realization hit her.

Shouldn’t I ask permission first? After all, he is human.

She removed the blowpipe from her lips. Despite her trepidation, the woman tried to speak nicely to her patient, who was barely blinking. “I—I have to check your wound. D—do you mind?”

Surprisingly, Ramaik responded by closing his eyes. The Inyiak—tiger man—slowly breathed while another weak roar escaped his lips.

Compassion filled Angelina’s heart. He is indeed a human being!

With that belief, Angelina decided to postpone drugging her patient, although her lips clamped the blowpipe just in case. She inched forward without realizing that her left lap touched Ramaik’s left arm when she inspected the injured area.

Angelina turned on the flashlight, illuminating the part of Ramaik’s back.

It looks like the stitches are neat. There is no infection, but I have to check more.

“L-listen. I have to check your wound,” Angelina stammered. She removed the blowpipe from her lips to ask Ramaik for permission. “T-that’s why I have to inject the anesthetic. You don’t mind, do you?”

The Inyiak just gave a weak roar without any aggressive tone in it. Angelina waited a few seconds with bated breath before she took the sound she heard just now as consent.

“I—if then I—I begin.” Angelina narrowed their distance even more. The effect of anesthesia was more effective if the patient relaxed and did not resist.

Maybe next time, I will only use an injection. Angelina concluded. The woman felt Ramaik’s shoulder to determine the injection point. She ducked and blew the blowpipe.

Ramaik roared in pain before his head drooped. Angelina observed the regular breathing movements of the Inyiak for a few moments. She had to admit that Fonda’s words were correct.

This tiger-man is not a threat.

The trembling in Angelina’s body decreased to a complete stop. She turned to Fonda and said, “I should wash my hands before I start checking.”

“You can go to the door in the middle. That’s the bathroom,” Fonda explained in a casual tone. “There’s also a metal basin if you need it.”

Angelina rose from knelt. She walked as instructed and opened the door.

*****

Angelina observed the two-by-two-meter bathroom interior while washing her hands. Other evidence if Ramaik was more human than an animal. The creature could use the shower also toilet seat and even could brush his teeth in front of the sink.

However, she did not want to waste her time looking around. She dried her hands with a small towel in the bathroom, then walked out.

*****

Angelina knelt next to the sedated Ramaik. She put on gloves, took a swab, and turned on the flashlight before removing the anesthetic needle that pierced her patient’s shoulder and cleaning a speck of blood.

After placing the used needle, swab, and gloves in a medical waste box, Angelina began to observe and trace the area around the wound on her patient’s back with her index, middle, and ring fingers, looking for signs of possible infection.

The stitches were dry, with no swelling, redness, tenderness, or suppuration.

“Dr. Fonda, I need Ramaik’s temperature, breathing rate, and heart rate record,” Angelina said during her examination.

“Thirty-eight to thirty-nine degrees Celsius, at rest, breathing range 10 per minute, and heart rate 40 per minute. Blood pressure is higher in the right arm, averaging 120/80 mm Hg. He has received the tetanus vaccine and complete immunization.” Fonda replied as she opened Ramaik’s file and read her handwriting. She grabbed a pen from her chest pocket and asked with a demanding tone. “I am waiting for your report.”

Angelina pouted. She tucked Ramaik’s long hair behind his ear, then picked up the flashlight that was still on from the floor.

However, her breath caught. As it turned out, the back of Ramaik’s ears was like a tiger’s, covered in black fur with a white spot in the center.

Soft, like a cat’s ear, Angelina thought as she touched the creature’s ear.

“Doctor Angelina, please stop harassing the patient and focus on your duties.”

Fonda’s sarcasm made Angelina’s cheeks burn. She took a digital thermometer and applied it to Ramaik’s ear.

“38.5.”

Angelina pulled up her left coat sleeve to reveal a watch on the wrist and set it in stopwatch mode. She rotated Ramaik’s left palm facing upwards.

She pressed the tips of her index and middle fingers against the base of her patient’s thumb, then began counting for a full minute. “Peripheral pulse 42 per minute.”

Angelina counted the number of breaths exhaled by her sleeping patient. “Ten breaths per minute, regular.”

She then took out a digital tensimeter before placing the cuff on her patient’s right arm. She then pressed the button until the cuff balloon expanded before shrinking automatically. The numbers on the screen moved until they made a ‘beep’ sound.

“Blood pressure 100/60, rather low, most likely due to the anesthesia.”

Angelina removed the cuff from her patient’s arm before organizing the equipment into the treatment box. However, her instinct felt that someone was watching her. She looked at her patient and gasped.

A pair of amber eyes with flattened black pupils had now reopened and were observing her. “N—no way. You-you should still be—”

“Finished?” Fonda’s saturated voice made Angelina flinch. She turned her head and saw her co-worker standing by the door. “Come here. I’ll open the door.”

Angelina’s gaze collided with Ramaik’s for a few seconds. However, she broke eye contact by standing up and walking in haste toward the open door.

A low roar made Angelina turn her head for a moment. However, something surprising made her blink. Was he smiling?

“Doctor, do you want to stay there?” Fonda’s sarcastic question succeeded in removing Angelina’s stupor. She stepped out of the cage before her co-worker locked the door.