Great Animal Escapade

by Jane Kerr

  Danny let out a laugh but then his smile faded. He slumped down into the space next to Hetty and, almost without thinking, rubbed one finger along the tangle of scars on his wrist.

  ‘Mr Jameson wasn’t happy. He said . . .’ Danny stopped. Over the last few weeks, he’d discovered that talking was always more difficult when he was upset or angry. Instead, it was better to break his speech into small, slow pieces. ‘He said . . . he said I’d let him down.’

  ‘No, that’s not true!’ Furiously, Hetty twisted towards him. ‘You mustn’t think that, Danny! And I don’t imagine Mr Jameson really believes it either. The whole episode will blow over soon enough, you’ll see. And then he’ll see the funny side!’

  ‘I just wish the Jamesons didn’t . . . didn’t have to ask those men for money. I could have helped . . . if things had worked out differently.’

  The thought had been plaguing Danny for weeks. Just two months ago, he’d found a small fortune hidden away by Maharajah’s previous owner – and for a brief, glorious moment, the possibilities had been endless. But much of the money had gone to pay off old debts, and now a courtroom of lawyers were arguing over who should have the rest.

  ‘Listen, Danny. Mr Jameson knows what he’s doing. The show is certain to be a success. Why wouldn’t it be? There are fights. And fireworks. And explosions. Everything you could wish for! People will be desperate to come to see it and then Mr Jameson will be able to pay back all that he owes.’

  Hetty looked away and plucked at the folds of her dress. ‘Anyway, there’s something else I wanted to tell you . . .’ She lifted her chin. ‘I’ve decided I’m going to be in it. The show, I mean. I want to take part. To be a performer. Just like you. And Maharajah.’

  The snort of disbelief emerged before Danny could stop it. And Hetty scowled. ‘What is it? Don’t you think I can do it?’

  ‘Yes. I think you could do anything you want.’ Danny’s answer was instinctive, mostly because it was true. In the short time he’d known her, Hetty had never once turned down a chance for adventure. But what did surprise him is that her father had agreed. William Saddleworth was more than a little protective of his only child.

  ‘Have . . . have you asked your father?’

  ‘Of course! I spoke to him last night after supper. He said yes. Why wouldn’t he?’

  Danny raised his eyebrows. There was something she wasn’t telling him. For a moment, Hetty hesitated then she sighed.

  ‘Well, if you must know, Papa wasn’t happy. You know how careful he can be. He says I’m the only family he has left . . . since Mama died. And he’s made me promise to stay away from the fireworks. And I’m to keep in the background. And if there’s a problem, I won’t be allowed to carry on.’

  Danny felt a tug of sympathy at Hetty’s obvious frustration.

  ‘I know Papa worries about me, I just wish he wouldn’t. There’s really no need. Besides, I’m sure everything will be fine.’ A sudden smile lit her face. ‘Rehearsals start this week. And Mr Jameson says that he’s expecting twenty thousand visitors on show night. Twenty thousand, Danny! Just imagine it!’

  Danny pulled a loose straw from the hay bale and tried to ignore the sudden swoop of his stomach. Twenty thousand people. He remembered what Mr Snade had said. There could be no room for mistakes. Nothing could go wrong. There was simply too much money at stake. His throat dried.

  Perhaps Hetty sensed his mood because she stood abruptly and shook out her skirts. ‘So, are you finished in here? Papa said he was going to examine the new crocodile today. And I thought we could go and watch.’ She tilted her head. ‘Well? Do you want to come?’

  Danny twisted the straw between his fingers then threw it away. After this morning’s disaster, maybe he’d best stay out of Mr Jameson’s way for a while. He looked up and nodded.

  Hetty grinned. ‘Then let’s go!’

  ‘. . . so yesterday, Papa said Cleopatra attacked one of the keepers. Nearly bit his hand clean off! And then she tried to eat a baby lizard. But the poor thing managed to escape before she could do any harm.’

  Hetty paused for breath, just long enough for Danny to close the door of the elephant house, and click it shut. Cleopatra was the new Nile crocodile, and rumours about her were already circulating the park. Said to be longer than a man, she had teeth that could rip through wood, and a wide whip of a tail. For the last few days, Danny had been itching to see her for himself.

  ‘So now all the keepers are terrified. No one wants to get too close. And they’re having to feed her with fish on the end of a long pole. But Papa is going to try to get near enough to examine her. He wants to make sure she’s not been hurt during the journey to Manchester.’

  Together, Danny and Hetty walked around the curve of Belle Vue Lake and across the smooth, clipped lawns of the Italian gardens, and then alongside the bandstand with its ornate domed roof and metal arches.

  ‘And if there’s time, Papa said he’ll take a look at the snakes. Did you know some of them could kill you? He told me the name of one of them. It has a sort of hood, a bit of skin . . . around its neck, I think. But I can’t quite remember—’

  ‘The king cobra,’ Danny interrupted. He wasn’t sure where the name had come from, only that a vivid picture had appeared in his head. ‘It flares out its hood before attacking.’ He swallowed. ‘There’s enough poison in one bite to kill twenty people.’

  Hetty’s eyes widened. ‘Yes, that’s right! I remember now! And Papa said they have to be kept in cages, behind glass . . . just in case.’

  They’d reached the last grotto where they turned to zigzag through the aviary. Squawks greeted them as they passed the parrots, cockatoos and macaws. Alongside was a long, low shed that housed the birds of prey. Through the mesh window, Danny could just see one of the white-tailed eagles spread its wide wings then settle back to sleep. Moving on, they emerged on to a track next to the ostrich and emu enclosures.

  Hetty was still talking. ‘But can you imagine if one of the cobras did get free? Think of the panic! Why, it could very well . . .’

  Abruptly, Danny stopped. Turned. And went back. One of the pens was wide open, its gate bent and buckled, and the padlock hanging loosely from its hook. Inside, the small square plot looked empty.

  ‘Danny? What on earth are you doing? We’re going to be late.’ Hetty bounced impatiently on her heels. ‘Papa will have finished. He wanted to do all the examinations before lunch. And it’s nearly twelve o’clock now.’

  ‘Just wait. One moment!’

  Carefully, Danny slipped through the broken gate, and stood in the centre of the pen. He pivoted on his toes, then paced his way around the grass just to make sure. But there was no mistake. Whatever creature had been here before, was now long gone.

  ‘What is it?’ Hetty had moved to stand near the fence. Curiosity had replaced her impatience. But Danny scanned the enclosure again before he answered.

  ‘I think . . .’ He drew in a breath. ‘I think one of the animals has escaped.’

  Chapter Three

  They found Mr Saddleworth in the reptile house, inspecting a glass cabinet stuffed with brown-and-gold snakes. Their glossy skins matched the colours of the large python that hung around Mr Saddleworth’s neck. As they got closer, the python lifted its head and hissed sulkily. Lightly, Hetty’s father pushed it back down.

  ‘You’re late! I’m afraid I’ve already finished the examinations for this morning. You should have been here half an hour ago. I did tell you, Hetty!’

  ‘I’m sorry, Papa, but there was a reason.’ Hetty glared at Danny and jerked her chin. Hesitantly, Danny stepped forward. For some reason he felt nervous. As though discovering the empty cage had somehow made him responsible for the animal’s escape.

  ‘Sir . . .’ His throat clogged, and he had to stop to clear it. ‘Sir, one of the large birds is missing. The bird in the far pen.’

  ‘The last enclosure? Are you certain?’ Mr Saddleworth frowned. Fine lines fanned out from around eyes tha
t were the same keen, clear blue as his daughter’s. He’d never been a man who was easy to fool. ‘Perhaps one of the keepers has her?’

  Danny shook his head. ‘I don’t think so, sir. The gate’s broken. Looks like . . .’ He swallowed. ‘Looks like it’s been forced. And the pen’s empty.’

  Mr Saddleworth’s scowl deepened. Carefully, he unwound the snake from around his neck and lowered it into the cabinet. The python slithered across the tangle of brown-and-gold skins before curling into a corner. ‘Come on. Show me.’

  When Danny, Hetty and Mr Saddleworth arrived at the pen, the damaged gate was swinging, backwards and forwards, against the fence. Mr Saddleworth pushed it to one side and repeated the search that Danny had already carried out. The result was no different.

  ‘You’re right. She seems to have battered her way out.’

  ‘She?’ Hetty asked.

  ‘Emerald. The Tasmanian emu.’

  Emerald. Something about the name tugged at Danny’s memory. Something important. ‘Isn’t . . . isn’t she the only one left?’

  ‘Yes.’ Mr Saddleworth rubbed the back of his neck. ‘She’s thought to be the last of her kind alive in captivity. Possibly the last one in the entire world – thanks to trophy hunters and poachers.’ The muscles in his jaw tightened. ‘And now it looks like we’ve managed to lose her.’

  Danny stared at the empty enclosure. He tried to think of something reassuring to say. ‘At least she can’t fly.’

  ‘What do you mean? Of course she can fly.’ Hetty gestured towards the neighbouring cages. ‘She’s a bird, isn’t she? Like the others?’

  ‘Hetty, sometimes I wish you would listen more. And talk a little less.’ Mr Saddleworth’s tone was gentler than his words. He crouched to inspect the ground around the broken gate. ‘Not all birds are able to fly. You explain, Danny. You’ve worked in the aviary. Let’s see what you remember.’

  For a moment, Danny’s mind went blank. Compared to Mr Saddleworth, he knew nothing. And unlike Hetty, he’d never been to school. Until two months ago, he’d been a thief, pickpocketing on the streets of Edinburgh. He wasn’t educated. He could barely even read. The only lesson he’d ever learnt was how to steal. The idea that he could teach anyone anything was ridiculous.

  Then fragments began to filter through; pieces of knowledge that he didn’t even know he had, just like his memory of the king cobra.

  ‘Emus do have wings . . .’ Danny began slowly. ‘But underneath all those feathers they’re small. As small as crows’ wings, I think. So, they’re no good for flying. But their legs are powerful . . . and long. And their feet are strong.’

  Danny could feel his confidence growing. Kneeling beside Mr Saddleworth, he pointed at the dry earth. It was littered with footprints – animal and human – but the most obvious was a line of three-toed tracks. Emerald’s footmarks. Over his shoulder, Hetty peered closer.

  ‘Look. All her toes point forward. That helps her to build up speed. It means an emu can run as fast as a horse. Faster sometimes, I reckon. So even though Emerald can’t fly, she can run. And she’s quick. Very quick.’

  It was the most Danny had said in days. Maybe it was the most he’d ever said. He just hoped he’d remembered everything correctly.

  ‘Well done, Danny. You’re quite right.’ Mr Saddleworth pushed to his feet and brushed the dirt from his knees. ‘Unfortunately, that’s bad news for us. Judging by these tracks, Emerald was moving fast. And, if she’s managed to get out of Belle Vue, she could be anywhere in Manchester.’

  ‘I’ll have to organize a search party. This has all the makings of a catastrophe.’ Mr Saddleworth was striding ahead so quickly that Danny and Hetty had to run to catch up. They’d already passed the maze and the bear pit and he’d still not slowed down.

  ‘But it’s not your fault, Papa! The lock was broken. She must have forced her way out.’

  ‘All the animals at Belle Vue are my responsibility, Hetty.’ Mr Saddleworth stopped abruptly, his expression fierce. ‘There are too many people in this world willing to hunt down and harm creatures like Emerald, and I won’t fail any one of them. Which means we have to find her before she gets hurt.’

  He set off again. Danny and Hetty followed, veering around the edge of the lake where the penguins were already lined up in neat black-and-white rows. One by one, they shuffled into place before diving head first into the water. The gathering crowd cheered loudly, but today Danny didn’t stop to admire the show. ‘Sir? Last night . . . did anyone check on Emerald?’

  ‘I imagine someone must have. She’s a touchy creature, likes to sneak off whenever your back is turned. But none of the keepers reported any problems.’ Mr Saddleworth sighed. ‘Anyway, how she got out is not the issue. What I need to know is – where is she now?’

  It was an impossible question to answer. They’d already followed Emerald’s footprints out of the pen and through the aviary. But, once they’d reached the cinder paths crisscrossing Belle Vue, there had been too many other tracks to separate one group from another. The sharp outline of Emerald’s prints had softened and blurred before disappearing altogether.

  ‘Don’t worry, Papa.’ Hetty hooked her hand into Mr Saddleworth’s arm. ‘We’ll find her. I know we will.’

  Belle Vue’s keepers were based in a hut on the south side of the park, close to the giraffe house. Danny and Hetty waited impatiently while Mr Saddleworth gathered the men together and snapped out orders.

  ‘. . . I want the entire site searched. All one hundred acres. Divide into groups and check each area separately. Look inside pens. Open outhouses. Crawl into cages. Make sure every corner’s covered. And spread the word among the rest of the staff.’ He paused. ‘But be discreet. Mr Jameson’s had the men from the bank here this morning. And I don’t want to cause a panic.’

  The men left, filtering out through Belle Vue, until only one worker remained. Nelson Crimple, the head keeper. He was a great bear of a man, with a hard face and big fists. Danny had first met him in Edinburgh. Distrust still lingered on both sides.

  ‘Crimple, just the person!’ Mr Saddleworth beckoned him over. ‘Might I have a word?’

  ‘Gov?’

  ‘You’ve got your ear to the ground. Has anything odd been reported this morning? Anything from outside the park? Something that might be connected to Emerald?’

  Crimple shook his head. ‘Just the usual, Gov. Reverend Threlfall’s been complainin’ about the noise again. Says it’s gettin’ worse. And the landlord of the Frog and Bucket reckons he saw a panther in his yard. Turned out to be a cat.’ His brow wrinkled.

  ‘. . . and one of the omnibus drivers spotted somethin’ at Gorton Reservoir. Right over on the far bank. But when I asked him, he thought it was probably just shadows.’ A shrug. ‘That’s about it.’

  Mr Saddleworth frowned. ‘I suppose the reservoir might be worth a look. But it’s a good mile away, and we need to search Belle Vue first. That’ll take every man I’ve got.’

  ‘We could go, Papa. Couldn’t we?’ Hetty’s elbow dug into Danny’s side.

  ‘Yes, sir. We could.’ Danny released a breath. Maybe this was his chance to win back Mr Jameson’s trust. Finding Emerald would surely make up for humiliating Mr Snade and the other bankers. Without allowing himself more time to think, he spoke quickly. ‘And we can take the horse and cart. Mr Jameson says I can drive it.’ It was a lie. Danny was only allowed to hold the reins if Mr Jameson was sitting right beside him. But if he was going to risk another lecture, he might as well make it worthwhile.

  ‘Very well.’ Mr Saddleworth nodded. ‘It’s probably nothing. But if you do see Emerald, send word back here immediately. Don’t try to catch her on your own!’

  Chapter Four

  Even travelling by horse and cart, it took Danny and Hetty almost an hour to reach the narrow lane that led to the reservoir. They pulled to a stop on a ridge overlooking the water. Trees fringed the edges, casting shadows that danced across the surface. It was a pretty place, qu
iet and peaceful. And there was absolutely no sign of an emu.

  ‘She’s not here,’ Hetty announced. She’d clambered on to the box seat of the cart to get a better view.

  Disappointed, Danny tugged her back down, and grabbed the reins again. ‘We’ve come this far. Let’s look by the shore.’ With more luck than skill, he steered the horse and cart along the narrow track. They stopped at the water’s edge then scrambled out. The reservoir lay in front of them, still and silent.

  ‘Look!’ Hetty pointed suddenly. ‘Over there. What’s that?’

  A shadow flickered between the leaves of a heavy willow. Danny walked a little nearer until he could see through the branches. He stifled a laugh. It was – quite unmistakably – Emerald.

  No one would ever have described her as beautiful. A ragged curtain of dark feathers covered most of her body. But her head and neck were bare as though any suggestion of plumage had been rubbed away. Her long legs were muscular, with huge, gnarled knees and three-toed feet. And every so often a deep grunting noise emerged from her throat.

  But to Danny, the biggest surprise of all was that she appeared to be dancing. Although, it was nothing like the graceful twists and turns he’d seen in the grand ballroom at Belle Vue. Instead, Emerald’s dance was a curious mishmash of moves.

  At first, she skipped from side to side. Then with sudden bravery, she leapt into the water before making a swoop downwards and finally, a fast scuttle away like a fallen leaf buffeted by the wind.

  Fascinated, Danny watched while she did it again. And again. He stepped nearer. Now he could see what was holding her spellbound. A few feet away, a child’s red ball bobbed up and down in the shallows. Emerald was trying to catch it, but every time she got close, the water swept it back, just out of reach. It was a game she was never likely to win.

  Hetty peered over his shoulder. ‘So now that we’ve found her,’ she whispered softly. ‘What are we going to do with her?’