I am VERY sorry, that it took this long to update the story. I was very busy those last two months and I can't promise that I'm writing any faster now, although very very soon the chapters I was looking forward to since I started this story are going to be written. I hope you have patience *serves tea for everyone*.
But for now something awesome: Soon after I posted chapter 8 'Feather of Maat' it had gained it's 1000th hit! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I was a little sad that there isn't a lot of reply, but then I checked the hits and was happy again. Now it's already much more, so I'm relieved that people DO read the story. So thanks to all the readers for coming back and continuing reading! I really appreciate it. ^.^
Now have fun reading chapter 9! Finally!
Yours Oxymora
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Chapter 9: Secrecy
A few minutes and a lot of struggling through the crowd later the group finally found a quiet place at the entrance hall of the building.
"That was close!" Mathis, who stayed sitting on Rico's head hanging onto his Mohawk-feathers, glanced at all the other animals which were chattering about the hearing. "We should be out of earshot now. Luckily no one is eyeing us."
"We are lucky that they believed your little story, Mathis." Maurice looked at Marlene. "That was really risky."
"I was shocked hearing about Skipper being engaged to such a beautiful lady," she explained herself. "Are you sure about it?" She turned towards the lemur.
"I just heard that rumour." Mathis shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know whether it's true or not."
"You are very interested in this topic, aren't you, Marlene?" Kowalski asked with a certain undertone.
The others supported him with a: "Ehe!"
"No, it's not what you think. He's just a friend. Honestly. But look at him, that crazy, paranoid, overacting him and then Freija… she is so beautiful. She could be a royal."
"Marlene is right," Julien agreed and stroke a pose. "I would be a much more suitable fiancé for her."
Maurice watched him with a doubtful expression on his face.
"Could we please return to a more serious discussion?" Private remembered.
Kowalski nodded. "You're right. Mathis, I would like to ask you a question."
"A bird and a mammal… that could be a little difficult but…" he smiled wicked at the scientist.
"I haven't thought you could have humour," he replied. "What I actually wanted to ask you was from where you got your information? Although you're no penguin… obviously… you know a lot."
"Oops… I've talked too much, haven't I?" His eyes widened and he covered his mouth with his paw. Then his pupils concentrated on an invisible point on the floor and he relaxed again. "Okay, I tell you because I know I can trust you. You trust me and I trust you! I was in love with a penguin - a female penguin of course. She had the most amazing feed I've ever seen before," Mathis gazed into the air as if he saw them again. "Black such as ebon. Well the story of our first encounter is very long and I don't want to bore you…"
"You don't bore us. I'm interested in that kind of stories." Private's eyes started to glitter of anticipation. He was brought back down to earth when Kowalski slapped him. "You're watching far too many daily soaps."
Disappointed and sadly looking he robbed his aching cheek.
Mathis stared at the scientist with a dismayed face expression. "I never thought you really slap each other."
"Yehes… they're a little crazy," Julien commented.
"Doesn't that hurt?"
Kowalski shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, but that aids to focus again."
"Focus!" Rico shrieked.
"Well…," the mouse lemur jumped of Rico's head and landed on Marlene's. "Just to be sure. So… where was I. Because the high-ups 'don't like' to see a relationship between a bird and a mammal – just because mammal eat penguins it doesn't mean all mammals are cruel killers – we hid our love. She gave me some inside information so that I won't be caught by any other cadets. Sadly, after she finished her training at the academy, she was sent out into the world and we were forced to separate." Mathis sniffed and then moved in a dramatic position. "It was short, but our love was as intensive as it was forbidden."
There were several sniffs coming from Private and Julien. "How sahahahad!" his kingliness cried. Kowalski's thoughts turned and went to his own love problems. Since more than a month he knew that Doris was married to another dolphin, though he had no idea who it was.
"Stop it. Stop, thinking about that!" Kowalski hit himself.
"Is everything fine with you?" Marlene looked at him questioning.
"Yes… everything is fine… again." He looked at Mathis. "So in fact she broke a lot of rules," he remarked.
"And I won't name her; even if you torture me to death!"
Private patted the mouse lemur on his back. "Don't worry. We won't do that."
"No, because this is our luck!" affirmed Kowalski, even Rico made a face that should probably look like a smile. "So do you know where to find Skipper? I'm sure he isn't staying in the court room, is he?"
"No. Probably they're bringing him back to his jail cell. And you're indeed lucky. My girlfriend and I met in the catacombs once. Follow me."
"How romantic," was Marlene's final comment.
"Shhht! We are not allowed to be here," Mathis whispered, trying to remind them that they had to be extremely quiet. Though the only one who needed this advice was Julien.
"Isn't there any other way? All this dirt and dust… my feet aren't made for these environments" Julien continued moaning. "Maurice… carry mfff…"
Kowalski shut the lemur king up. He had heard a sound and obviously so had Rico and Private too. The new penguin in command pointed in the direction they already had been heading and the other two nodded in agreement, while his royalty was still busy eyeing the flipper that had closed his mouth.
Tiptoeing the three penguins continued the path until they had reached a branch. Kowalski stretched out his flipper and Rico regurgitated a periscope. Cautious he peeped around the corner. He needed some minutes before he gave the device with a stern face expression back and the three returned to the group, that they had left behind.
"What did you see?" Marlene whispered.
"There are two guards and they'll notice us when we continue moving. Even if we don't use that branch."
"The problem is they could have hide Skipper anywhere" Mathis remarked. "How do you want to find them?"
"I'm sure he is well guarded. We won't miss that place" Private suggested.
"So what is your plan? How do you want to free him from a well guarded prison?"
They fell silent. Then Kowalski answered: "I haven't thought about that yet. But I'm sure when I see that place I'll come up with some opt… wait a second."
He turned in the direction they had come from…
…and looked right into the face of Manfredi. Seeing his reaction the others followed his gaze.
"We're trapped" the scientist reported with a look over his shoulder. From the other direction Johnson was already approaching. The three penguins jumped into fighting position.
"What now?" Marlene asked?
"Yeah… this would also be a good moment for one or two options, Kowalski" Julien pled.
Manfredi smiled. "Don't worry. At ease. We don't want to hurt you." He waited until they followed. "I hoped you wouldn't come here but it seems that you're as stubborn as your teacher. Let me give you an advice: Leave! This doesn't concern you."
"Or course it does! Skipper is our friend!" Marlene shrieked.
Only one second later the guard appeared at the entrance to the other branch. "Who is there?"
"It's just us" Johnson replied. "Dismiss."
"Yes, Sir!" The guard saluted and returned to his sentry.
"A friend… he?" Manfredi smirked, though Marlene thought to have seen a slight flashing of disappointment. "Once we also believed he was our friend. But we were taught a lesson."
"You must have misunderstood something. Skipper always cares about his friends!"
The rest agreed Private's support. Kowalski thought of his error considering Jiggles. Rico recalled his causing mayhem. Private himself remembered how downhearted Skipper had been when all of them had believed their little private had been being killed by the Skorca. Julien thought of their shared adventure with Dr. Blowhole. Maurice remembered how Skipper and the others had brought him back to the zoo – though those weren't the best memories he had – and Mort thought of Skipper's helpfulness considering the admiration of a certain someone's feet. He glanced at his passion next to himself – their help had been for nothing. Marlene was in thoughts too. She couldn't remember their rescue operation when she had gone wild but Skipper's help to gain more body control.
"Do you know anything he did in his past?" Johnson asked. "Anything?"
"Or course!" Private responded in rage. But when Manfredi gave him a questioning glance he noticed that he did not. Neither did the others.
"I tell you something." The Humboldt penguin fell into a conversation tone. "I DID see Skipper leave that room. I saw the blood. I saw the corpse. Skipper disappeared in that night and we never heard anything about him until the day we had found him. Tell me: Do you think an innocent person would flee? And hide?"
The group didn't reply.
"And now you should really leave. Leave this city. Leave this country, before they also start to hunt you. They could think you're his complices, but I know you're not. So forget about this incident and especially forget Skipper." Manfredi nodded in Mathis' direction. "You can find the exit without our help."
Johnson passed the group and accompanied his friend. Both of them turned and wanted to head back into the court room. But Marlene held them up with a last question: "Can we talk with Skipper?"
"You really don't understand it, do you?" Manfredi glanced at her grimly.
"I would like to make my own decision, if you don't mind."
Both South American penguins changed glances then the Humboldt penguin answered: "Well okay. You and Kowalski are permitted to talk to him." He gave them a signal to follow him. "The rest returns to the entrance hall and don't even think of entering the court room again."
Only a few minutes later three penguins and an otter stood in front of a metal door. Only a single guard stood at the wall, greeting the approaching with a nod with the head.
Kowalski would have bet that there was a lot of high tech and codes to be bear down. The truth was that the prison didn't even have a keyhole.
"You look puzzled, Kowalski." Manfredi smiled. "Did you expect something else?"
"Errr… yes."
"Well… have patience." Johnson opened the door and waited until the others had entered the room before he followed.
Kowalski and Marlene froze. The view that had awaited them was unanticipated. Skipper was strapped at a metal chair not being able to move a single feather. This seating was the centre of a blue gleaming weight detector circle that was additionally surrounded by web of red motion detectors. On the wall were cameras – positively there were also some non visible too – that captured all actions in the room. The New Yorkers eyed their friend who looked as if he was asleep.
"You have guests. Probably your last" Johnson informed his former captain.
The eyes opened. Although he looked very tired his ice-blue eyes was lively as ever. "Visitors aren't allowed I thought."
"She was very…" He was cut off by Marlene who approached and yelled at the prisoner: "Open your mouth. What happened? You didn't kill them right? So what else happened in there! You have to talk otherwise… otherwise…."
"It's not your business, Marlene."
"Not my business? You're my friend. Our friend."
"Marlene is right. You know the penguin's rule: Never swim alone."
"This is different."
"NO IT IS NOT!" Marlene ranted and made another step in Skipper's direction. Before she could move again Manfredi grabbed her. "You aren't allowed to approach any further" he explained. She broke free, glaring at the penguin lividly, and looked at her friend again.
"It's not different."
"Yes it is. There are things that are more important."
"What could be…"
"Kowalski. I order you to leave Denmark immediately. And I also order you to take Marlene… and all the others that might have come… with you!"
"I cannot."
"THIS IS AN ORDER!" Skipper's eyes were filled with anger.
The lieutenant placed a flipper on Marlene's shoulder – he had noticed that she wanted to yell at the stubborn captain again.
"I cannot take any orders from you, because as a prisoner you can't give orders anymore." Kowalski turned and left the room. With a last glance at Skipper Marlene followed.
"You have… had a team of brave men there, Skipper" Manfredi remarked. "But that's past. Let's look into your short future: Are you ready for your last interrogation?"
