20
scrambled to my feet. I couldn’t see the Tiger King anymore. The park was filled with terrified people. I even saw a group of camels; I had no idea where they had
come from.
My mind raced. I sprinted towards the director’s office.
I had been in his office five times. The first four times, I had snuck in and found nothing useful. But the fifth time, when I went to make my suggestion, I had noticed his laptop. He only ever brought it with him when he came to work.
There had to be something important on that laptop.
I ran without stopping and burst into Mr. Green’s office. It was empty, the whole park was in chaos. The laptop was sitting on his desk.
I was overjoyed. I grabbed it and ran.
As I ran out, I came face to face with Mr. Green and Rick. They were holding stun guns and rushing back.
Our eyes met. I panicked and turned to run in the other direction.
“It’s Kate!” Mr. Green yelled. “Get her! Don’t let her get away with the computer!”
“Damn it, that bitch dared to come back!” Rick shouted, chasing after me.
I ran with all my might and dove into a nearby bamboo grove. There were many paths and trails, which would make it easier to hide. But Mr. Green and Rick knew this area well, and they were closing in fast.
You bitch, I’m going to rape you and then kill you!” Rick yelled as he caught up to me and kicked me to the ground.
You
I clutched the laptop as I slammed into a row of bamboo trees. My head throbbed, and I felt weak all over.
Mr. Green caught up, snatched the laptop back, and wrapped his hands around my neck, squeezing tight. “Kate, didn’t I warn you? You still dared to come back? The whole zoo is in chaos. I could kill you and throw you to the crocodiles, and no one would ever know.”
“Uncle, what are you wasting your breath on her for? There’s no one around. Let me handle this. I need to blow off some steam first,” Rick said with a sinister laugh, starting to unbuckle his belt.
Suddenly, a bamboo stalk next to him bent, and a round, furry creature dropped down, landing right on his head.
Rick screamed in pain. His spine almost snapped.
Mr. Green jumped back, terrified. “A panda!” he gasped.
A giant panda, munching on a bamboo shoot, was sitting on Rick, looking at me.
A new message appeared in the chat.
PandaPower: [Berry is safe. The bad human has been taken down.]
Sweet Trunk: [That’s great! It’s the kung fu panda! We’re saved!]
OldTusks: [Xiaxia, can you bring Berry to the elephant enclosure?]
PandaPower: [OK!]
The panda, Xiaxia, stopped eating his bamboo. He extended a short, stubby arm and beckoned to the stunned Mr. Green with his claws. Mr. Green didn’t understand. Xiaxia slapped him across the face, snatched the laptop back, and shoved it into my arms.
Mr. Green fell to the ground, dazed and unable to get up.
Xiaxia lay down and nudged his back, indicating for me to get on.
I was dumbfounded. What kind of person was I, that I could ride a panda? But I was in so much pain, I had no choice.
Once I was on, Xiaxia shook his head and started to run towards the elephant enclosure. After a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Mr. Green and Rick.
I looked back too, and saw a dark shadow emerge from the bamboo grove. It walked down the path, its breath low and heavy, slowly approaching the two men.
As its fur caught the light, I finally saw it clearly.
The Tiger King.
“AHHHH!” Mr. Green screamed, scrambling away like an insect, terrified. The Tiger King bit down on his leg and dragged him back.
Rick, clutching his neck, turned his head and came face to face with the tiger. In an instant, he screamed in terror, wetting his pants, his whole body shaking.
The Tiger King bit down hard, almost tearing off Rick’s arm.
My mouth fell open. “Tiger! Wait!”
The Tiger King looked up, his eyes meeting mine from across the grove. Under his paws, Mr. Green and Rick were screaming in agony.
“I have the evidence now! We can use the human’s laws to punish them! You don’t have to kill them! That way, you won’t have to die either!” I shouted, my voice des-
perate.
If an animal killed a human, it would be put down. That was the rule in the human world. I tried to explain it to him.
T
W
The Tiger King couldn’t understand my words, but he seemed to guess what I was saying.
A message from him appeared in the chat.
[Human, don’t you understand yet? I have to take back my dignity.]
With that, he bit down on Rick’s neck and tore viciously, ripping him in two. Then, with a swipe of his paw, he blinded Mr. Green and began to feed.
I quickly turned away, unable to watch. A sour feeling rose in my throat, and tears welled up in my eyes.
You foolish tiger, I thought. I understand.
