Father Eclipse of the Moon, by Clark Brockman (ePub/pdf)

In the teak forests of northern Siam, a company manager discovers that his prized tusker has killed a royal elephant and carried away a newborn white calf—an omen tied to the new king’s legitimacy. The villagers see divine intervention; the manager sees a dangerous animal that must be captured before it destroys lives and property.

As mahouts, trackers, spirit healers, and Buddhist villagers clash over what the beast represents, pursuit stretches through bamboo trails, rice fields, and remote settlements. Each attempt to corner the elephant reveals the uneasy divide between colonial authority and local belief. The tusker’s extraordinary strength, intelligence, and unpredictable loyalties turn a practical problem into a test of courage, judgment, and respect.

With rival plots circling the camp, one final maneuver offers a chance to end the crisis without destroying the animal. But success will cost more than either side expects, and the meaning of the white elephant’s arrival remains entangled with local power, faith, and the future of the new kingdom.