Flush with success from having solved the case of the murdered Rabbit, crotchety detective Chief Badger and his impetuous young assistant, Badgercat, anticipate the return of peace and quiet to their community. But trouble recurs with a visit from Huntington Farm's bloodthirsty security team, who bring accusations of theft and harsh demands for justice. Guard dog Muxtar and hunting hound Polkan are searching for Chicken Four, a plucky little fowl who's just discovered what happens to her sister chickens when they disappear into Nina Palna's kitchen on Fridays. Now Badger and Badgercat have to persuade Palna to stop making chicken soup and to prevent Muxtar and Polkan from taking matters into their own paws (and jaws).   Filled with quirky illustrations and newly translated from the original Russian, this is the second of the Beastly Crimes Books to come from this imaginative mystery series geared toward middle-grade readers. It's the perfect read for young detectives ... and all who oppose fowl play. Anna Starobinets is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. Best known as a writer of dystopian and metaphysical stories, she is also a successful children's author. Her previous titles include Catlantis, translated from Russian into English by Jane Bugaeva, and praised by Kirkus Reviews as "a trippy, silly tale of cat magic, folklore, and love….Bugaeva's punny translation will make this a fine read-aloud. A must for those seeking culturally diverse literary experiences." A Predator's Rights A Beastly Crimes Book By Anna Starobinets, Jane Bugaeva, Marie Muravski Dover Publications, Inc. Copyright © 2016 Anna Starobinets All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-486-82951-7 Contents Chapter 1: In Which Everything Is Done to Save the Victim, 1, Chapter 2: In Which a Triumphant Anthem Is Sung, 9, Chapter 3: In Which There's a Hunting Hound, 17, Chapter 4: In Which Scars Decorate an Animal, 22, Chapter 5: In Which There's a Murder, 37, Chapter 6: In Which Everyone Feels Very Sorry for the Bird, 41, Chapter 7: In Which Undercover Work Becomes Dangerous, 47, Chapter 8: In Which a Hunt Is Declared on the Far Woods, 57, Chapter 9: In Which It's a Dog Eat Dog World, 63, Chapter 10: In Which There's a Runaround, 74, Chapter 11: In Which You Can't Trust a Soul, 78, Chapter 12: In Which Dreams Come True, 91, CHAPTER 1 IN WHICH EVERYTHING IS DONE TO SAVE THE VICTIM "She's not breathing," said Doc Hawk. "I'll try beak to beak resuscitation. It's a long shot, but I'll fight for her life with everything I've got." Doc Hawk turned away, spread his wings, inhaled deeply, and began fighting for her life. He pressed his curved, steel-gray beak against her pointed, yellow, lifeless one. For a few seconds the only sound was Hawk's rhythmic breathing — inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale ... The victim didn't move. She was lying on a soft, snow-white rug made of poplar fluff, her neck twisted at an unnatural angle. Her eyes were glazed over, staring blindly at the ceiling intricately lined with oblong black river stones and the red petals of wild roses. After another minute, when they'd all but lost hope, she suddenly stirred and they heard a hoarse, muffled clucking. "Who am I? Where am I?" whispered the chicken. "Is this a cloud? Is this heaven?" "She's alive," exhaled Chief Badger, relieved, having watched the whole ordeal. He turned to the chicken, "This isn't a cloud. This is Fox's den. I'm so happy you're alive." "Who am I? Where am I?" repeated the chicken, overtaken by a fit of coughing. "Chickens are very resilient," Badgercat spoke up. "And stupid. I heard you can bite their head off and they'll still run around for a while, because they don't understand that they don't have a head anymore ..." "I ought to bite your head off for such anecdotes," said Hawk. "Yours, too," he turned to Fox, "for almost killing her. Chickens are frail, vulnerable animals. Their lives are priceless! But so easy to take! In fact, the situation was quite hopeless —" "Where's my head?" The chicken rose and, swaying, took a couple of steps on the poplar fluff rug. "You shouldn't be up!" squawked Hawk. "You're still very weak. In fact, the situation was quite hopeless! I always fight to the end, always perform beak to beak —" "Thank you, Doctor," said Chief Badger. "This chicken is alive, thanks to you." "This chicken is alive, thanks to my weak jaw," protested Fox. "And it's weak because I only eat vegetables, even though I'm a predator ... Oh dear! She's ruining my rug!" "Predatory vegetables," trilled the chicken, her pace quickening. "Be careful — that's custom spun!" squealed Fox, but it was too late. The chicken had wobbled over to the window and rammed her beak into a superfine cobweb curtain, causing the silvery threads to strain and tear. The chicken, all wrapped up in the curtain and its alder catkin tassels, began flapping her wings wildly, knocking over a vase that held a bouquet of juni