Today was the most festive day this zoo had seen in a long time.
It wasn’t just the chat that was buzzing; the whole park was. Every enclosure was getting a deep clean, and the mountains of old dung were finally being shoveled away.
On top of that, the meals had become incredibly lavish. Vegetables, fruits, meat–everything was available. They even got vitamin supplements. Every animal was in disbelief.
And SkyScreecher, the parrot, brought the latest news.
I just saw the director. He told his crony that it was Kate’s idea to treat us well. Because of the festival, he said, the animals should have a good holiday too. Oh, and Kate is Berry, by the way.]
wow, it
it was Berry again!]
The animals were moved beyond words.
I chuckled to myself, but a sense of unease lingered. The animals were eating well now, but what about after the festival? Once the visitors were gone, the park wou- Id surely go back to the way it was, and the animals would be starving again.
[Heh, I told you you were fools. This little bit of kindness is just to make us more appealing to the visitors. After all, humans don’t like to look at a bunch of sick, leth- argic animals.]
The Tiger King threw a bucket of cold water on their parade, and then made a chilling prediction: [After the humans‘ festival is over, we won’t even get a single piece of fresh meat.]
His words sent a wave of panic through the animals. Most of them weren’t very smart, but they all trusted the Tiger King.
Chapter
SweetTrunk didn’t believe it. She asked the Elephant King. [Daddy, is what the Tiger King said true?]
The Elephant King didn’t answer.
The Tiger King called him out: [Old Elephant, stick to the plan. On the day of the festival, the elephant herd must create a diversion, charge the enclosure, and draw
attention.)
[The rest of the enclosures must act too. The monkeys can throw rocks, the hippos can charge the fences, the crocodiles can come ashore. You don’t have to succe ed, you just have to cause chaos.]
[I will break out of my cage and attack any human I see. I will show them the terror of the king of the forest!]
The Tiger King’s rage was palpable.
The other animals remained silent.
The Monkey King asked, [After you get your revenge on the humans, what then? You’ll be killed.]
[Heh.]
The Tiger King didn’t explain. He addressed the Elephant King again: [Old Elephant, don’t back down. This is our only chance.]
It was a long time before the Elephant King replied: [That keeper is different. Maybe-]
I’m only asking you one thing are you in or are you out?] the Tiger King interrupted.
Another long silence from the Elephant King, and then, finally, he nodded: [Alright.]
