by Ruby Loren
I was going to place the photos next to every enclosure and include some information about what had gone wrong and what was being done to put it right. Only time would tell if people would read the signs and come to understand how much work was going in to improving these animals’ lives, but I was hoping it would make a big difference.
“Things are going pretty well,” I told Lyra, nodding my head at the new information plaque I’d mounted outside of the orang-utan enclosure.
These gentle creatures were some of the worst afflicted by their past treatment. So far, their enclosure had undergone a serious overhaul and I was also working on testing them with sensory toys to encourage them to use their brilliant intellects. Getting them to trust humans again was another matter. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a job for me. I’d spoken to the primate and ape specialist at the zoo and had discussed a few thoughts with them, but I knew they would have a far better idea than I did of how to personally engage with the animals and build a trusting relationship. It would just take a long time.
“They look a lot better! I had no idea they were so bad before. It’s only been a few weeks!” Lyra said, looking like the most emotive zombie in the world.
“I’m really glad you said that,” I admitted. Lyra’s reaction was everything I'd hoped it would be. If all of the visitors to the zoo thought the same, Pendalay may just stand a chance.
"What are the plans for this evening?” I asked.
I’d actually been out of the loop for a while. Zara hadn’t insisted that I attend meetings since Tom’s body had been found outside his house. I also hadn’t failed to notice that no one was talking about Tom’s other career. I suspected that the only person to truly lament the end of Andy Shaw’s exposés was his literary agent.
Not having to hang around the PR team had meant I'd got a lot of work done and was feeling pretty good about visitors coming in tonight. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t curious about what they were putting on.
“It’s going to be great! We’re going to scare so many people…” Lyra launched into a detailed description of the finished maze and then described all of the spooky events that were taking place at the zoo, both during the day and in the evening.
It was the evening event that they were really hoping would be a success. They were appealing to an older crowd and had even got a licence to sell alcohol for one night only. My only comment had been that I hoped someone would be keeping an eye on any revellers getting a little too merry. Lyra had reassured me that most of the evening stuff would be taking place around the wasteland area where the maze was set up. There’d be music, but it was far enough away to not disturb the animals. The PR company had also hired security to make sure everyone stayed calm and safe, especially around the zoo animals. In my experience at least, alcohol and wild animals did not mix well.
“You’re still okay to do the tours, right?” Lyra said and I nodded.
Shortly after the last meeting with Zara, where I'd refused to join in the PR side of things, she’d asked if I would consider a more educational role. One of the mini-events going on today was tours around the zoo, focusing on animals and their role in superstition and folklore. I was actually really looking forward to it.
“It sounds like it’s going to be a great event. I’m just glad I can help out,” I told Lyra.
“Great!” She looked me up and down. “Nice costume by the way.”
“You don't know what it is, do you?” I said with a smile.
She shook her head, guiltily.
“I’m Sekhmet, the Egyptian warrior goddess. My tour covers a lot of mythology, so I thought it would be appropriate to dress as one of the ancient gods. Did you know that Christianity lists Sekhmet as a demon? It’s one way to stamp out the competition,” I said with a grin.
“Okaaay,” Lyra said, taking a step back. “You’re definitely enjoying this too much.”
“You know, zombies tie in with another religion that has a close relationship with animals. Although… I wouldn’t say it was a healthy one,” I said, thinking of what I'd read on Voodoo when I'd been looking for good animal-themed spooky stories to tell.
“I don’t want to know! This is just a supermarket costume,” Lyra protested with a grin.
I held my hands up in mock defence. “I just hope some of the people coming here are a little more interested in hearing the real spooky stories of Halloween.”
“I wouldn't count on it,” Lyra said.
I sighed dramatically. “I know. That's why I have bribes and a competition quiz,” I said, holding up a giant bag of sweets and several plastic trophies that I’d bought at the pound shop the other day.
“That should do it,” Lyra said with a smirk.
Running Halloween tours may not have been my idea of animal preservation, but the day actually flew by and it wasn't nearly as bad as I’d feared. The visitors had enjoyed my attempts to tell them terrifying animal stories from the distant past and the quiz had been a success too. What had pleased me most of all was the attention people had paid to the new information plaques and their reactions. One woman had told me she found the photos distressing and thought it might upset kids, but she’d followed that up by saying how important it was that these stories were shared. They might be upsetting, but the important part was what was being done to prevent it from happening again and make better what had been done. I could appreciate that.
When nightfall came, my tours came to an end and a different crowd of people entered the zoo. I didn't have a role to play in the evening’s events but I thought I'd still hang around. I told myself it was to make sure security did a good job of keeping the revellers and animals separate, but really I knew it was just another way of avoiding talking to Lowell. I wondered if he was even home tonight and realised I’d never asked.
“It’s not as if he'd tell the truth," I muttered and knew I was still hurting from the lies he’d told. I still wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to trust him again.
I walked towards the sound of the crowd and music and promised myself I would forget about it. I’d grab something to eat, soak up the atmosphere for a bit, and maybe then I’d feel up to facing the music back home.
“I hope they have toffee apples,” I said to myself and set off in the direction of the promised food tents.
The wasteland had been transformed. What had started out as a few derelict sheds now looked like a scary funfair, complete with rides and food stands. I smelt popcorn and was reminded of the cheeky squirrel monkeys I’d met at the last zoo I'd worked for. If they were here, they’d have raided all of the food trucks. I smiled to myself. Health and safety laws in the UK were a little more strict than they were in France. The idea of a bunch of squirrel monkeys running rampant here was probably national newspaper worthy!
The star attraction of the night’s events was the horror maze. I waved to Lyra, who was standing by the entrance in full zombie regalia. She moaned back at me, staying in character. Judging by the screams coming from inside of the attraction, it was a big success.
I spotted Zara and Darren, also dressed up as the living dead, in conversation with the Johnsons. I was amused to see that they'd come dressed as Tarzan and Jane. Their PA Jules wiggled her fingers at me and raised her devil’s pitchfork.
“You're going to die…” someone hissed in my ear.
I spun round in shock, ready to fight.
Two clowns grinned back at me, their makeup running and terrifying. One had dark red hair while the other was wearing a bald skullcap.
I relaxed my shoulders and grinned at them. “You wouldn't speak to me like that if you knew my reputation. Don’t you know how many men I murdered in ancient Egypt? The gods had to trick me into getting drunk enough to forget my lust for blood, but who knows when it will come back?” I narrowed my eyes at the clowns, who looked a little disconcerted.
“We need to get better jobs,” I heard one of them say to the other when they’d backed away a safe distance.
I turned
my attention back to the crowd, checking on the job the security team were doing. So far, no one looked drunk enough to cause any trouble. I’d better do a round of the zoo, I thought to myself. Security would be there too, but I liked to see for myself, and it was always interesting to watch the animals at night. I was hoping I may even see a thing or two that would help with the review. There was aways something new to learn in my job.
I walked around the zoo, enjoying the quiet of it. Visitors were permitted to wander, but few had chosen to, so security had stayed near the entrance. I didn't mind that at all. Today had gone brilliantly and it was nice to have some quiet time to reflect.
It actually turned out to be very fortunate indeed that the zoo was unpopular.
It meant that no one died.
I walked around the corner of the pigs’ enclosure and suddenly realised I could hear the herd of cows mooing inside their barn. They sounded like they were in distress. Fearing that some of the visitors had already imbibed a little too much alcohol, I quickened my pace.
That was how I nearly bumped into the lion.
I instinctively flung myself back around the corner of the sheltered area I’d just walked out from.
I blinked several times and then poked my head back out.
It was definitely a lion.
But what was it doing wandering around the zoo? More worryingly, where were the rest of the pride?
I tiptoed back towards the pigs, keeping my eyes open for anymore lions, or signs that the one I’d nearly walked straight into was following me.
I knew it was risky, but I had to do something to make sure no one else got caught up in what could be a deadly Halloween trick.
I was relieved when Zara answered the phone after the first ring.
“The lions have escaped. You have to keep everyone down at the funfair. Don't let anyone leave. I need to figure out how many have escaped and where they are. Until then, there’s safety in numbers,” I said.
I heard her sharp intake of breath. “How did it happen?” I didn’t miss her accusatory tone.
“I assume someone let them out,” I said. Lions weren’t exactly known for busting out of places, unless the door was left wide open. A little over a week ago, these lions had barely moved from their patch of grass. Now they were experiencing a taste of freedom.
“Not quite the rehabilitation I had in mind,” I muttered after I’d hung up on Zara. I was going to have to trust that she’d do the right thing.
Unfortunately, the right thing would likely involve calling the police who would in turn call the people with guns. If I wanted to preserve the lives of the pride, I was going to have to think of something fast.
The problem was, I also wanted to hang on to my own life.
I took a deep breath and walked back over to the place where I’d last seen the lion. It had been one of the males. I peered around the corner, ready to turn and run, or freeze at a moment’s notice. I was banking on the lions not being as naturally aggressive or athletic as most of their captive compadres, but I still wasn’t about to underestimate them. These big cats had natural instincts I’d been working hard to reawaken. I hoped that my maiming and death wouldn’t be the catalyst for their return.
The lion was still there. He could hear the cows and was looking towards the barn with interest. I risked sticking my head out and saw a couple of other tawny shadows, sniffing around the goat enclosure. The goats themselves were huddled beneath their shelter, trembling with fear.
“This is bad,” I said to myself. Then I got to work thinking about what I could do to fix it.
The answer I came up with wasn’t very appealing. It also wasn’t sensible. Any other time, I wouldn’t even contemplate it, but at any other zoo, something like this would never happen. There'd be tranquilliser guns on hand and safety measures that had been drilled in to all staff. Pendalay was still trying to find its feet. The Johnsons were still learning about running a zoo. They hadn't had time to do any of the necessary health and safety stuff that would actually come in handy in situations like this one.
That was why I needed to think outside the box.
"Here goes everything,” I said, pulling back from looking at the lions and trotting off to put my plan into action.
Four minutes later, I was standing just around the corner from where I’d last seen the lions. I had a rope tied around my waist and several kilograms of raw meat tied to the other end.
The first thing I’d done was to check the enclosure. Just as I’d suspected, the lions hadn’t got out on their own. Someone had accessed the keeper only area and had opened the double gates that led into the enclosure. The traces of blood and entrails on the floor that led out of the enclosure also hinted that they'd done all they could to ensure the lions came out to play. I’d bitten my lip over that before hastily throwing together a plan of action.
After setting up what I hoped would be my escape route, I visited the food store to grab the meat, and then the caretakers’ store, where I’d found a good length of rope and a sharpened machete.
Now I was stalking an entire pride of lions with a weapon in one hand and a chunk of meat in the other. I hoped the police didn’t arrive too soon, or they’d probably shoot me before the lions.
“Okay,” I said. “Here we go.” I steeled myself and walked around the corner of the farmyard area.
Three tawny heads turned my way. I could tell they were curious. They also looked incredibly alert with their ears twitching in all directions and their eyes bright and focused. If it were any other time, I’d have been celebrating. Right now, I was just doubting the wisdom of getting this close.
No time to think about that! I thought, and threw down the chunk of meat attached to the rope. “Here kitty kitty?” I said, wiggling the meat hopefully, as you would when you were playing with a pet cat.
The male lion flicked his ears towards me and trotted forwards. I held my nerve and jerked the meat away from his questing paw at the last second. Something wild must have awoken in him at that moment because he gave a roar - an actual roar- and threw himself forwards.
I was already running back the way I’d came.
The chunk of meat skittered along the ground behind me and I both prayed that it wouldn’t come untied, and that it would come untied. I wasn’t sure which would be the more disastrous event right now.
When I made it onto the long straight next to the smaller wild cats’ enclosures, I looked back over my shoulder. I thought I could see six or seven tawny shapes galloping after me.
They were too close.
I swore under my breath and took a sharp right, altering my route from the one I’d planned in my head. I tore past the tamarins who all started to screech a few seconds later. I took that to mean the lions were still on my tail. By the time I passed the tiger enclosure, I was regretting every single piece of comfort food I’d eaten earlier in the evening.
I risked another look back. They were close again and this time I didn’t have a back up plan. All I could do was run faster and hope I made it.
I overshot the open gate and crashed into the side of the fence. A moment later, I recovered, but not before I felt the fence flex and wobble as one of the lions made the same mistake I had. I felt like screaming as I ran across the grass of the enclosure.
The moment I’d been dreading finally happened.
The rope stretched taut as one of the pride finally landed on the meat. I swung my machete behind me, praying that it would make contact with the right thing.
Beginner's luck must have been on my side because the rope parted and suddenly I was away free, running across the enclosure towards the second exit. Now I was really in the lion’s den! I didn’t risk looking over my shoulder. There'd be no second chances in here. I had to hope that all or most of the pride were back inside and get out of here while I still could.
My right leg wobbled dangerously when I reached the far gate that I'd pre-opened. I practically collapsed through it and then spu
n to slam it shut.
But I couldn’t close it.
I was still being stalked.
Time stood still as I looked into the golden eyes of the smallest lioness. I wondered how it must look. Me dressed as a lioness goddess, facing down the real deal. I only wished I had the Egyptian goddess’ gift of communicating with her wild kin.
All I had to rely upon was my knowledge of animal psychology… and luck.
There was one other thing I could use to my advantage. I was sorry for it, but it might just save my life.
“Hey! HEY! Get out of here! Shoo! Get going!” I shouted, clapping my hands and stamping my feet. I even lifted the machete and raised my hand like I was going to use it.
The lioness’ ears flattened against her skull and she shrank back on her paws before lurching away and running into the enclosure. I shut the gate and exhaled with a heavy sigh.
In a wild situation, there was every chance my little show of bravery would have done nothing at all to dissuade attack. But these lions had been subjected to horrible abuse - abuse that had instilled a fear of humans in them that occasionally overrode their natural instincts. I wasn’t proud that I'd just scared one of the animals I was trying to help, but it might just have saved both of our lives.
Although my legs were trying to tell me I couldn’t do any more running, I ignored their cries for mercy. Sweat dripped from my forehead when I reached the still-open gates that I’d led the pride through on our way into the enclosure. I shut them both and then held my breath while I did a head count.
My shoulders slumped in relief. I’d got them all.
“PLEASE PROCEED TOWARDS THE EXIT IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. KEEP INSIDE THE DESIGNATED PATHWAY.”
The sound of a loudspeaker-amplified voice rang out across the zoo. I leant back against the chain link fence and called Zara again.
