Previous Story: 52. Animal Rescue

Lady Rose was counting piles of cash with Little Jenny when H3x knocked on the door and entered.

‘What is it?’

‘Some news about Xi.’ 

Lady Rose stood up from the desk and hurried over to her tech expert. She had been deeply upset at the theft of her beloved pet Komodo dragon. 

H3x continued: ‘I picked up some coms chatter between employees of Cynfo Tech. Sounds like they were behind the theft.’ 

Rose turned to Jenny. ‘Get a team together. Plenty of firepower.’ 

‘Lady Rose, Cynfo don’t have her anymore. Remember this talk about some animals gaining intelligence due to the virus? It sounds like Xi was “rescued” by them. Apparently, they’re based at SL Zoo – the group includes a bear, a wolf and an elephant!’ H3x shrugged, as if denying responsibility for disclosing this incredible development. 

‘I don’t care if there’s a herd of buffalo,’ said Lady Rose, clenching a fist. ‘Xi belongs to me and I’m getting her back.’

——-

Xi was confused. First of all, something had changed within her. She felt different: very different, as if the world made more sense. But then she’d been taken by those strange people who chained her up in a cold room with food she didn’t like. And not long after that, she’d been rescued by this group of animals. And she could communicate with them! She still wasn’t sure she liked it but at least she was free. But the last time she’d been free, Xi had been with her parents and in her natural home. Now she was in what they called the city, this big place with no sand or sea and only a few plants and almost no wild creatures.

Xi had only been with the Animals for a few days. She didn’t always understand what they were saying and didn’t often reply. She guessed they wanted the best for her – they had rescued her, after all – but part of her wanted her old life back. The small woman had been kind to her; given her a warm den and fresh, raw food, sometimes even live prey!

Today, Xi was walking with the wolf, Howl, and the chimpanzee, Walter. Walter talked a lot.

We take it in turns to check the area around the zoo, Xi. Athena is the best lookout but she can’t stay up in the air all the time. We have to watch for threats. The strange humans are especially dangerous.

They’re all dangerous, added Howl. 

The three of them were on the wide path that surrounded the zoo. Even though her new friends had found her some meat earlier in the day, Xi was hungry.

Suddenly, one of the human vehicles came speeding along the path and stopped just in front of them. Walter made an anxious noise but Howl looked ready to fight. Xi thought she should fight too, until she saw the humans get out of the car.

One was the big woman with black lines all over her arms, who had sometimes fed Xi back in her old den. One was the tall, strong man who she’d seen many times. They were both holding the dangerous metal objects that Walter called guns. And then there was the small woman, whose eyes sparkled when she saw Xi. With the other two either side of her, the small woman walked slowly forward.

‘My Xi! My beautiful girl. Mama’s here. Mama is here to take you home.’

When she heard her voice, Xi remembered her den. She had felt safe there. There were never any surprises. Every day was the same and she went to sleep with a full belly.

The small woman had a bag over her shoulder. She reached in and pulled out one of Xi’s favorite foods – a dead rat.

‘Look what I’ve got for you, Xi. You can have this and as many more as you want if you come with us.’

Don’t listen to her, said Walter. Don’t fall for their human tricks. They just want to control you, Xi. We animals have a better life now. A free life.

You can’t trust them, added Howl.

Xi didn’t know what to do. But when Howl growled at the humans, the big man aimed his weapon at him. Howl bared his teeth. The weapon boomed and something hit the ground close to the wolf’s paw.

Xi realized then that she didn’t want to fight and she didn’t want to see her new friends hurt. She missed the small woman and her old, safe life but she had been born free and she wanted that freedom again.

Let’s go!

Good idea, said Howl, following Xi as she turned and ran. The big man used his weapon again and Xi heard something whistle past.

‘Don’t you dare fire that gun, Rhino!’ shouted the small woman.

Xi swiftly led her new friends off the path into a nearby patch of undergrowth, knowing the humans couldn’t follow at their speed. Soon they were some distance away.

We’re safe now, said Walter. And it’s nice to hear you communicating, Xi.

‘Come back!’ shouted the small woman, now far behind them. ‘Xi, my darling, please come back! Xi!’ 

Next Story: 54. Squared Away