Chapter 10: The File (Part 2)

Nick sat with his bad arm rested on top of his good arm as he waited for the lights to dim and the film to turn on. His lids began to slide down as sleep started to overtake him. The red, plush chairs where comfortable, Mr. Big was making sure the film was placed in correctly and Judy and Adelaide were popping popcorn in the mini concessions stand outside the theater. Only Honey was next to him who was wrapped up in her own thoughts.

"This is it," a soft voice said next to him.

Nick's lids slid open to glance at Honey who was sitting on his right.

"So it is," Nick muttered.

Honey looked at him with confusion. "I thought you were starting to care about this."

"I'm not." Nick readjusted and closed his eyes.

Suddenly he felt a sharp jab to his arm. "Hey! What was that for?"

"You need to get your thoughts strait, Nick," Honey glared at him with impatience. "You keep switching back and forth between a revolutionary and a cynic. So do everyone a favor, including Judy, and pick a side."

"What does Judy have to do with any of this?" Nick snarled back.

"Enough," Honey's face flickered a look of hesitation. "She knows where William White is and she will need your help."

Nick slumped on his seat. He didn't really know what he thought. On the one hand he didn't want to have to do more work than he had to. There had been to many times in his life where he'd done all the work and ended with nothing to show for it. His getting fired from the Wooly Dusters Co. was only the latest. He didn't want this to be another dead end.

Nick heard giggles coming up the aisle. He turned to see Judy coming over to them with a tray carrying bags of popcorn. The slender gray bunny smiled over at Nick warmly. Nick found himself smiling back before her gaze turned back to Adelaide who was sitting on the tray between the golden yellow bags. He reached his hand up to scratch his neck. When his hand brushed against his tame collar his smile faltered. Continuing to stare at Judy his eyes travelled down to her neck which had no collar at all. Something in his stomach dropped. He immediately turned back around and sat in his seat. Shutting down a thought in his head Nick focused his eyes on the top of the seat in front of him.

His deliberate attempt to stop was thwarted when Judy handed him a bag of popcorn and plopped down beside him. Adelaide was in her other side sitting on the arm rest.

"Ready to find out the truth?" Judy's nose quivered with excitement.

"Yes." Nick stared forward at the screen. "It means I can go home."

"Go home?" Judy's ears drooped as her eyes became big with disappointment. "Don't you want to see this through to the end?"

"this is the end." Nick tried his best to ignore the knot in his stomach at the sight of her sad eyes. "Once they watch this video they'll have what they need and I'll be satisfied

with my part in this."

"But it doesn't end here." Judy placed a paw pleadingly on Nick's arm. "I need your help to find Will. He's connected to this somehow."

"Why me?" Nick asked.

"Because, we both want to prove we can be more than we appear to be," Judy replied.

"What makes you think I want to prove anything?"

Before Judy could answer Mr. Big came down the aisle on a polar bear's shoulder. "The film is ready."

The theater darkened and a light came from the projection room as the polar bear and Mr. Big sat down. The grainy looking film came on the screen showing a much younger governor Sanza. Behind him stood several other animals, mostly prey. "In the event that this film should fall into the wrong hands we have encoded it's message. This is the final amendment to the Taming Act of 1969."

As Sanza walked off screen a little white ferret came to take his place. The ferret gave a nod then began a series of small movements. He flicked his ears, twitched his whiskers, shuffled his hands, and pawed his nose in what seemed to be a nonsensical series of movements a wild animal would make, but as the video continued there seemed to be a pattern, a sense of order and intention. Finally the ferret put his hands down at his sides and stood still. He turned and walked off screen.

Sanza stepped back into the picture. "That is the end of the message."

The screen went dark.

"What!" Nick bolted up right. "What the heck was that?"

"It was a white ferret," Judy said softly.

A thought occurred to Nick. He looked at Judy who returned his gaze. That same thought was clear in her face. They both turned to Mr. Big.

"That was William White Sr.," he said solemnly. "The one of the few voices for predators at that time. He was murdered. I had believed it to be because of his influence. Now I know there was another reason. He would still be alive to interpret the video."

"William White Jr. Must be able to interpret the video as well," Judy exclaimed. "What exactly did we see?"

"When animals were first learning to speak but had no voices they developed different forms of sign languages," Mr. Big began. "Over time these fell out of use as animals began to form the the universal language we have today. Very few animals actually know their species' sign language."

"William must know it," Honey said turning in her seat to face Mr. Big. "That's why he was kidnapped."

"Someone doesn't want us to know the final amendment." Mr. Big tapped his chin with his finger methodically.

"Daddy," Adelaide piped up. She had been silent for a long time. "Aren't we having that party tonight with our 'investors'?" She said the last word with a hint of humor.

"Very good thinking, Adelaide," Mr. Big smiled at his daughter. "For several months I have been acting as a double agent. I work with several animals who are determined to keep predators down and all of whom are responsible for the riots-"

"You know who's responsible for the riots?" Nick look of surprise turned to fury. "Why haven't you ratted them out?"

"First of all, Nicky, don't interrupt," Mr. Big scolded. "Secondly, if I did it would do no good. Their associates I don't know about would retaliate and I would be revealed to be working with the Freedom Hunters. Everything would fall apart, more animals would get hurt. No, things have to go on the way they are until we have the proper weapon." He paused for a moment. "Now, one of them must have been involved in taking William White. Tonight might be the night to find out. Judy, if you're willing I'd like you to be undercover. Work around the party, find out what you can. You're an attractive bunny I'm sure you can coerce some info out of some of those windbags." Judy nodded. "Alright, sounds like we have the beginnings of a plan."

everyone stood up and began to leave.

Nick turned to Honey. "Where are you off to?"

"Back to the diner," she replied. "What about you? Where are you going now?"

Nick shrugged. "I don't know."

Honey shook her head and walked up the aisle of the theater. Nick heard steps behind him. He turned to see Judy. "So I guess this is goodbye?"

Nick stared down at the bunny trying to hide the frown creeping into his face. "I guess."

Judy smiled softly. "Well, good luck." She held out her paw.

The fox took it in his own noting its small size. "You too."

Letting go Judy walked past him and up the aisle. Nick turned to watch her go.

"You know, you have have a strong sense of justice for someone who is only working for a payment," Mr. Big said. Nick just continued to stare up the aisle.