AN - Please read
As I have said once before, the plot to this story has been fully drafted, complete with ending. In addition, I have also mentioned that I like to write in real time. This means that things don't happen quickly. By the end of the day in the previous chapter, our family had only been in Australia two days. Having been foiled in his first plan, it would take Eli time to organize something new. Things don't just happen, they take time and planning. That being said, to the readers who feel I have abandoned the Eli thread, the first part of this chapter should appease you. Secondly, please note that Senior is still out there, he is just quiet at the moment. In my universe he is a drunken con-man who waits for opportunities to come his way. And, believe me, they will. This story has two threads running parallel, the family on vacation and the enemies who are hunting them. The main focus however, will always be given to the Gibbs' family and their interactions with each other.
For this Chapter - please Google 'Ettamogah Pub, Albury' and 'Ettamogah Sanctuary, Albury' for images of where they are exploring. Sadly, these attractions are now closed, but in 2007, the area was a thriving tourist spot and a lot of fun!
Chapter 25 - Heading South
Eli David sat back in his leather recliner. Five days had passed since Rosen's body had been brought back to Tel Aviv. Five frustrating days. Despite numerous spies in various countries, he had not heard a single word on the whereabouts of Gibbs and, of course, Ziva.
Interlacing his fingers and placing them on his chin, Eli was beginning to realise this mission was becoming just as much about seeking revenge on Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs as it was about finding his daughter. If fact, if he were completely honest with himself, killing Gibbs had almost become an obsession. How dare that man even think he could outwit Eli David, Director of Mossad. Gibbs' arrogance in believing he was the better man, was gnawing away at Eli like a dog with an old bone.
Three days ago he thought he was gaining an upper hand. But no, it was yet another dead end. Not to mention the wasted resources in sending an Officer to Alaska.
Steeling himself against the rising temper he could feel within him, Eli closed his eyes and breathed deeply. This was not over by any means. With Officers working undercover in as many countries as he could afford, he would hear something soon.
The knock at the door startled him for a second but, he immediately composed himself and, picking up a pen to feign working on a report, called, "Enter!"
As the young officer entered, Eli looked up casually and waited patiently for the man to speak.
"Director, forgive me for the interruption. We have Officer Belzer on satellite. She had news concerning the American, Gibbs."
"Ah, good tidings you bring then Officer Metz," said Eli, sitting up and giving the young man a rare smile. "I shall be there immediately."
With a curt nod, Officer Aaron Metz stepped back and silently left the room.
Eli stood. His heart was racing, his breathing had quickened. He paced in front of his desk, willing his body to not betray his thoughts. Several deep breaths later and he was ready to face whatever Belzer had to say.
Standing in front of the large screen, he watched as Belzer came into view. She was a good Officer, not as good as Ziva of course, but then, no one ever had been able to equal Ziva.
"Director," Belzer began. "My undercover work with the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation has been fruitful and I have heard whispers concerning your Agent Gibbs."
"Go on," encouraged Eli. His casual stance and monotone voice was in stark contrast to the quickened thumping within his chest.
"A retired American NCIS Agent has been reportedly asking questions regarding the assassination of Anatoly Zukov in Paris in 1999. Zukov originally worked as a hitman for the KGB but later became an arms dealer and assassin for hire. The Russians have no proof, but suspect his assassination was the workings of undercover Agents from NCIS."
"The retired Agent's name Belzer?" asked Eli, although he already knew. Yes, he knew exactly where this was going.
"Riley McCallister" replied the Officer.
Eli used all his self control to appear unaffected by the name he knew from years ago. McCallister had orchestrated a hit on Zukov in the early 1990s but, right from the start, Eli could see that this mission was a farce. McCallister's true intent was to have new recruit, Leon Vance, killed. Stepping in, Eli had helped the young NCIS Agent, saving his life and thwarting McCallister's plans. What he hadn't known was the organizing of a second mission by NCIS to kill Zukov in 1999. While he had been informed of the Russian's death, he hadn't realized it was at the hands of NCIS.
"I managed to secure a meeting with him this morning," continued Belzer "It was very informative, especially once he realized that I was not only seeking the whereabouts of Agent Gibbs but Jenny Shepard as well. It would appear Agent McCallister has high aspirations. He believes he should be the Director of NCIS and not Jennifer Shepard. He told me he recently received intel that the 1999 Paris mission was not completed as reported. Three agents were sent undercover to kill not only Zukov but also his fiancée, Svetlana Chernitskaya. Those three agents, Director David, were William Decker, Jenny Shepard and Leroy Jethro Gibbs."
The room went silent. Eli's mind was a whirl of information as he tried to digest what he had just heard. Not wanting the silence to betray his thoughts, Eli spoke.
"Did he tell you anything about the intel he had received?"
"Yes," replied Belzer. "The three agents apparently reported that the Paris mission was successful and they had escaped without leaving any trails. Just recently, however, McCallister has been working on a fraud case concerning an import/export company run by a Russian woman called Natasha Lenkov. After several weeks of research and undercover digging into Lenkov's past, he has discovered that she is none other than Svetlana Chernitskaya. It would seem that, while Agent Gibbs was successful in assassinating Zukov, for some reason, Shepard did not manage to kill Chernitskaya."
"Interesting indeed," mused Eli, rubbing at his chin. So, Jenny Shepard had not only failed in her assignment but lied about it as well. He wondered if Gibbs was aware of this.
"McCallister is in Russia for the sole purpose of finding Chernitskaya and divulging who her lover's killers were," said Belzer. "Apparently she has vowed to avenge Zukov's death and, despite the fame and money she had earned with her business, she will not rest until his killers are found and have faced the same fate as her beloved Anatoly."
"And you plan to help him," concluded Eli.
"With your permission Director," replied Belzer, giving a slight bow of her head.
"Of course," permitted Eli. "I feel your services and expertise will be greatly appreciated. You are to let me know when you have found Chernitskaya. Report to me immediately."
"Yes Director," replied Belzer.
"I am very pleased with your work Office Belzer," praised Eli. "There will be benefits afforded to you when you return."
"Thank you, Director," said Belzer, nodding respectfully once again.
The screen went black. Turning to the small group assembled, Eli said, "Thank you gentlemen," and promptly left the room.
Back in his office, he slumped into his chair. A rueful grin spread across his face. The news was good, very good. He had no doubts that once Chernitskaya heard of her fiancée's killers, she would put out a hit on Decker, Gibbs and Shepard. His plan would be achieved without the added hassle of having to arrange the kill. Someone else would do his dirty work for him. And that's just how Eli liked it.
****NCIS****
Saturday morning saw the Gibbs' family packed and ready to leave the picturesque Blue Mountains. In keeping with their original plan, they would stay no longer than three or four days in one place. Their next destination, as organised by Abby, was to travel south to the coastal city of Geelong in Victoria. However, seeing as it was at least a ten hour trip, they had decided to break the journey with an overnight stay in Albury, a regional town situated on the border of New South Wales and Victoria.
"I think it will be easier to get a motel in Albury," suggested Gibbs as they pulled onto the Hume Hwy. "No point setting everything up for one night."
"I'll ring ahead and book something Boss," said Tim, picking up his phone.
"Why do you call Daddy Boss, Tim?" asked Ziva.
"I guess it's just a habit from when I worked with your Dad. He was my boss so that's what I called him. It kind of stuck," explained Tim.
Nodding her head in understanding, Ziva went back to colouring the picture she was working on at the table.
While Tim scrolled through a list of motels in Albury, Abby Googled things they could do once they arrived. Although only there for a couple of hours, she felt it would be nice to see what the town had to offer. And, seeing as Gibbs had managed to get them on the road by 7am, they would hopefully arrive in Albury around lunch time.
"Hey Gibbs," called Abby from the table. "There's this place just outside of Albury called Ettamogah and it has this amazing pub. It's built like a cartoon pub."
"A pub Abby?" questioned Gibbs. "Can we take the kids?"
"Yeah, it's a tourist place set up for families," explained Abby. "So long as you don't try and buy them a beer." She giggled to herself as she continued scrolling.
"Oh and there's a sanctuary park there as well that specializes in Australian Animals," she added.
"Can we go Dad?" asked Tony, looking up. "We could take our books you bought us and see how many of the animals they have there?"
"What are the opening hours Abbs?" asked Gibbs.
"Ten 'till five during the winter," she replied. "It's actually on our way in to Albury so might be best to stop there first. Hey, you can buy food there as well. They have a restaurant."
"Ok Abby. Next stop break, you'll need to set the GPS," said Gibbs.
As Tony and Ziva kept themselves busy working through a set of puzzle/colouring books they had been given, Tim and Abby were both fully immersed in their phones.
"How long do you think the quiet will last?" asked Jenny, reaching out her hand and placing it on Gibbs' thigh.
"Shh," said Gibbs gruffly. "Don't even think about it."
Smiling, Jenny lazily rubbed her hand up and down Gibbs' leg as the van continued the long stretch of highway. Reaching down, Gibbs placed his hand on hers and linked their fingers together.
"Love you," he said quietly, leaning over and kissing her lightly on the temple.
From the back, four people looked up and grinned silently at each other.
It was 1.20pm when Gibbs pulled the RV into the parking lot of the Ettamogah Pub. Everyone just stared. It truly was a sight to be seen. The oddly shaped wooden building with its red overhanging roof, defied architectural laws of gravity and propriety. The veranda poles were neither parallel nor straight, the exterior walls of the two story building sloped inwards, tapering towards the ground and, sitting atop the roof, was what could only be described as a small cattle truck.
"This place is so cool," exclaimed Tony, once everyone had exited the vehicle.
Walking up the concrete steps to the wooden veranda, Gibbs opened the large wooden door and stood aside as the family walked in. Following behind Tim, who was the last to enter, Gibbs stood in the doorway and stared around him. The place was truly amazing. Polished timber gleamed from every angle, from the wooden floor and the studded walls, to the heavy beams and slats of the roof. The bar, the staircase, even the table and chairs all sported the beautiful oak. Gibbs was in heaven.
"Wow Daddy!" exclaimed Ziva. "There's more wood here than what's in our basement. Imagine how many boats you could build with all this!"
Gibbs smiled down at her and placed his hand on her shoulder as he steered her towards the bar.
"G'day Mate," said a man behind the bar. He was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a red flannel shirt. His face was covered in a wild black beard and, on his head, he wore an akubra hat. Having heard the family speak, he knew they weren't from Australia.
"Me name's Matt," he said, holding out his hand to shake Gibbs'. "So, what part of the States are yous from then?"
"Washing D.C.," said Gibbs, shaking the hand that was offered. He like this Matt fellow.
"You talk funny Mister," said Ziva, climbing up onto the bar stool in front of her.
"Do I missy?" replied Matt good-naturedly. "Well, maybe you talk funny to me?" he added, giving her something to think about.
"Hey Dad," called Tony from the back of the room. "What does S'house mean?"
He was standing next to a door with a list of words on them including, Blokes, S'House, Can, Crapper, Thunderbox and Mens.
"Ah, I think it's another word for the men's bathroom," replied Gibbs, blushing slightly as he turned back to Matt.
Tony stood there for a moment, thinking carefully before exclaiming, "Oh I get it, the s stands for shit!"
"Tony!" admonished Jenny.
"But it's right here Mom," defended Tony. "Look!"
"Yes, I know," said Jenny dryly. "It doesn't mean you have to shout it out though."
Tony shrugged and continued exploring while Gibbs turned back to Matt.
"So can we order food here?" he asked, looking around for some kind of menu.
"Upstairs," replied Matt, pointing to the wooden staircase. "You can order drinks up there too. Saves ya carrying 'em up the stairs."
Within seconds, Ziva was off the bar stool and heading towards the staircase.
"Ziva!" Gibbs warned in a low growl. "Wait for us please!"
Rolling her eyes, Ziva planted herself on the second step, placed her elbows on her knees and rested her chin in her palms.
From across the room, they heard Tony laugh and then call out, "This must be the girl's bathroom."
Standing to the left so everyone could see, Tony read out the words listed.
"Sheilas, Outhouse, Dunny, Powdaroom, Ladies. Hey, you spelled Powder room wrong," he called out to Matt.
"Nah, meant ta be that way," replied Matt. "Helps you to say it right."
Matt pointed to a framed picture just to the left of the bar.
"If you look at this, you'll see the original cartoon by Ken Maynard that the building is based on," he said.
Looking at the picture, the family were amazed at how accurate the actual building was to the cartoon version.
"It's just amazing," said Jenny, taking in all the detail of the drawing.
"It was built in 1987," added Matt.
"How did they get the car on top?" asked Tony.
"Crane," replied Matt. "And a lot of superglue," he added, winking at Gibbs.
"Hey where's Ziva?" suddenly asked Tim.
"Everyone looked around. The little girl was no longer sitting on the step, nor was she anywhere in the room. Rushing to the staircase, Gibbs looked up and sighed with relief when he spotted her further up the stairs. The wall running alongside the stairwell had hidden her from view.
"Thought I told you not to go up the stairs?" he said sternly.
"I didn't go all the way up," Ziva replied. "I just climbed three more."
Shaking his head, Gibbs called for the rest of the family and the six of them headed to the first floor.
This level was also in-keeping with the timber theme and many set tables adorned the floor. Across the room, a closed door looked as if it would lead onto the rickety balcony as seen from outside.
It certainly didn't take Tony and Ziva long to spot the door. Running ahead, the door was flung open and both children were standing in the cold air before anyone else had even realized they'd moved.
"You two need to learn to stay with the rest of us," scolded Gibbs, when he stepped out onto the balcony. "Do not just run off like that. I know you're excited, but you need to stay with us. If either of you runs off again, you'll be holding someone's hand the next time we are exploring somewhere. Got it?"
When both children responded in the affirmative, the family spent some time looking over the landscape.
"That must be Albury over there," said Abby pointing to her left at the distant buildings. "Apparently it sits on the Murray River which is the border between New South Wales and Victoria. I read that the Murray River is the longest river in Australia. It starts at the mountains in the east and travels through three states before it empties into the sea in South Australia."
"Thank you, Miss Tour Guide," teased Gibbs, giving Abby a kiss on the cheek. "We owe all our knowledge to you."
Giving a small curtsy, Abby walked to the end of the balcony and leaned over the edge. "Hey, look over there!" she exclaimed pointed out to the side of the building.
Joining her, the group crowded together and tried to see what Abby was pointing to. In the end however, it wasn't a matter of seeing that had the group staring at what Abby was pointing to but rather, hearing was the sense that was used. On the ground was a large wire cage and, sitting atop a long branch, was a white bird with a bright yellow crest. A couple were standing in front of it and the bird, eager to get further attention, was bobbing up and down, screeching loudly. Then, to the couple's joy, the bird began to talk, saying things such as, "Pretty cocky," "Dance cocky," and, much to Tony and Ziva's delight, "Shut up, stupid."
Spotting the external staircase, Ziva said, "Let's go down and see it?"
"After lunch," said Gibbs, scooping the five year old into his arms. "Come on you lot, I'm starving."
"Hey, that's my line Dad," said Tony grinning.
While Tim and Gibbs were brave enough to try the kangaroo steak burgers, the rest of the family order the regular beef burgers with chips.
"How is it?" asked Jenny, watching curiously as Gibbs chewed his mouthful.
"Different," he said, his mouth still full of food. "Kind of gamey, but it's OK."
Cutting off a piece of the meat, he handed it to Jenny to try. Chewing it slowly, she swallowed and said, "Yeah, not my favorite. It's too strong tasting."
'I can't believe you're eating a cute kangaroo!" exclaimed a horrified Abby.
"Not cute anymore Abbs," replied Gibbs bluntly.
"Yeah, but it was. It might have had a baby in its pouch," she continued.
"Oh Abby," scoffed Gibbs. "I'm sure it didn't."
They heard a deep laugh as a familiar face walked up to their table.
"So, ya tried the local fare eh?" said Matt, pulling up a chair and sitting with them.
"Thought we'd give it a go," replied Gibbs. "Only Tim and I were game enough though," he added, smirking at Tim.
"So how many of your native animals do you eat?" asked Abby tentatively, still horrified at the thought.
"Mainly only kangaroo and emu," replied Matt. "Occasionally snake."
Suddenly Matt laughed. He pulled out his phone and pressed a few buttons before saying, "People say we must be mad as we like to eat the animals on our Coat of Arms."
Holding up his phone, he flashed a picture of the Australian Coat of Arms on which stood a kangaroo and an emu either side of a shield.
The family laughed as they looked at the picture.
"So you don't eat koala bears then?" asked Abby, looking at Matt suspiciously.
"Nope," replied Matt. "And they're just called Koalas. They aren't bears," he corrected.
"Hey you should head over to the sanctuary after lunch," suggested Matt, standing up and putting his chair back. "They have a great assortment of native animals."
"That's where we're going next," said Tony. "I want to see a Tasmanian Devil. Are they really as vicious as they say?"
"Well, I wouldn't suggest putting your finger in a devil's mouth," replied Matt. "You'll be one short!"
"Yeah, wasn't planning to," said Tony grinning.
Matt laughed. "Alright then, I'll leave yous to finish ya tucker. Have a great arvo."
"Tucker is food," explained Tim, seeing the blank looks on Tony and Ziva's faces as Matt walked away. "And I assume arvo means afternoon."
Both children nodded and went back to eating their lunch.
Before heading off to the Sanctuary, the Gibbs' family had a wander around the pub. There were many out buildings that could be explored and, written on many of them, were Australian slang terms for different places. Tony's favorite was a hollowed out gum tree with a metal door which could be opened allowing someone to step inside the tree and be locked in. A sign on top read 'Ettamogah Pub Lock Up' and, nearby, another sign read, 'Don't feed the prisoners, but grog's OK'. Abby made sure she had plenty of photos of Tony inside the makeshift jail and Tony was more than happy to oblige.
"Make sure you've got your books," reminded Jenny as everyone stepped out of the van at Ettamogah Sanctuary.
"Got 'em!" called Ziva and Tony together, with Tony holding his high in the air for added proof.
As Gibbs paid for the tickets for everyone to enter, Jenny took hold of Ziva's shoulders.
"Now listen carefully Honey," she said, looking into the little girl's brown eyes. "You can't run off in this place. Some of the animals are running free and while they're probably pretty tame, having a five year old tearing around may scare them. OK?"
"I won't," said Ziva.
"You too Tony," reminded Gibbs.
"Yes Dad," sighed Tony.
As they set off through the park, one of the first enclosures they came to was the koalas. Finding them in their books, the children looked between the picture and the actual animal for comparison.
"They're so cute," said Abby, looking up at one that was sat in the fork of a branch.
"Look!" called Tony excitedly. "Up there! There's a one with a baby on its back."
"I thought they carried them in their pouches?" asked Ziva.
"Only while they're really small," replied Tony. "Once they get too big, they ride piggyback style on their mother's back."
"I want to pat one," said Ziva. "They look really soft."
She suddenly eyed a section of the walled enclosure that looked possible to climb.
"Ziva," warned Gibbs, seeing exactly what she was thinking of doing.
"Rats," muttered Ziva under her breath.
The next enclosure housed the echidnas, a spiky ant eating mammal that looked a little like a hedgehog. After stopping to read some facts about the animal, the family moved on. It wasn't long before they came to an open picnic area where several kangaroos and wallabies lazed on the grass.
"They're huge!" gasped Tony as a grey kangaroo hopped towards him for a closer inspection.
Gibbs dug in his pocket and drew out bags of food he'd been given with which to feed the kangaroos. Hearing the familiar crinkle of the bags, many pairs of eyes turned towards them. The marsupials got to their feet with surprising grace and hopped slowly towards them. Handing out the bags, Gibbs showed the children how he had been instructed to feed the animals.
"You can either toss it onto the ground," he explained as he threw out the food like someone feeding chickens. "Or, if you hold your hand out very straight, they will apparently eat from your palm."
He handed each person a bag of food.
Never one to hesitate, Ziva tipped some of the food in her hand and waited until one of the kangaroos came close enough to begin eating.
She giggled. "It tickles," she said as the roo finished the last few pieces in her palm.
Filling her hand again, she allowed the kangaroo a second feed. Despite the animal being at least a foot taller than her, Ziva showed no fear. Gently reaching out her other hand, she ran it slowly over the animal's shoulders.
Not wanting Ziva to have all the fun, Tony swallowed his hesitation and moved closer. Copying Ziva's actions, it wasn't long before he had two kangaroos hopping towards him.
"There's two of them," he screeched, as both roos tried to nuzzle his hand.
"Well, put some food in the other hand," suggested Ziva.
"I can't! I'm holding the bag in that hand," replied Tony, somewhat overwhelmed.
Rescue came in the form of Tim and Jenny, who were able to distract the kangaroos by filling their own palms with food.
"Thanks," said Tony, sighing with relief.
Putting her arm around her son, Jenny squeezed him tight and, kissing him on the temple, said softly, "You're welcome Baby."
As the three of them kept the small group of kangaroos occupied, Jenny suddenly noticed a new set of visitors making their way across the grass.
"Ooh, looks like Ziva might be getting more company than she expected," said Jenny, watching carefully to ensure Ziva stayed safe.
Looking towards his little sister, Tony quickly noticed that her extra company was not in the form of more kangaroos but an unexpected visit from some nearby ducks. Waddling up to her, the half dozen or so ducks began to peck at the ground by her feet trying to find some leftover food.
"Hey!" called Ziva to one particular duck who was finding her boots more interesting than the food. "That's my shoe Mister, leave it alone!"
Apparently this duck, nor his companions, seemed to understand English and, before Gibbs or Jenny could reach her side, she was engulfed in a quacking frenzy as the birds tried desperately to get at the bag of food.
Lifting her high in the air, Gibbs set Ziva on his hip while she unceremoniously scolded the ducks.
"Naughty Ducks! That food is for the kangaroos, not you!" she yelled from the safety of her father's arms.
"Come on then," called Gibbs hoisting Ziva on his shoulders. "Let's keep going. I think the kangaroos and ducks have had enough attention."
They meandered their way through the various paths, stopping to look at the dingoes, emus and reptile section. However, it was the Tasmanian Devils that really peaked Tony's interest. On reaching the enclosure, they noticed one of the keepers was making her way towards them from the opposite direction. In her hand she carried a large white bucket.
"Just in time guys," she called out to the family. "You'll get a ring side view. It's pretty quiet in here this afternoon."
"What are you going to do?" asked Tony.
"It's feed time for the devils," she answered. Reaching the enclosure she put her bucket down by her feet. "Would you like to help me?"
"Would I ever!" exclaimed Tony.
The girl laughed.
"My name is Jessica," she introduced. "And you'd be?"
"Tony," replied Tony, blushing furiously.
"And is this your family Tony?" asked Jessica.
"Yep," said Tony. "This is my Dad and little sister, Ziva. This is my Mom and this is Abby and Tim." Tony pointed out each person as he called their name.
Stretching out his hand, Gibbs smiled when Jessica shook it, "Gibbs," he said quietly. When Jenny had performed the same action, also saying her name, Jessica smiled around at the group.
"So, what can you tell me about the Tasmanian Devil?" she asked.
"It spins around and runs really fast?" supplied Ziva.
"Ahh, you've been watching too many cartoons," laughed Jessica. "Hate to tell ya, but that's not what Tasmanian Devils are like."
Ziva looked slightly disappointed but was soon distracted when Tony said, "They're the biggest meat-eating marsupial in the world."
"Well done!" praised Jessica. "And you're exactly right. Once the Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger became extinct, the devil took over as the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world. Any thing else?" She looked expectantly at Tony.
"Um… they come from Tasmania?" he added, figuring there had to be some truth in there somewhere.
"Right again," said Jessica. "They are only found in the wild on the island of Tasmania.
"But where are they?" asked Ziva, looking closely into the enclosure.
"Devils are mostly nocturnal although, if it's a sunny day, they do like to rest in the sun," explained Jessica. "These guys will come out as soon as I throw in some food."
She bent down and lifted the lid from the bucket. Tony and Ziva immediately held their noses.
"Pew! That stinks," said Tony as the aroma of rotting meat hit his nostrils.
"That's nothing compared with the Devil," said Jessica. "They have a scent gland at the base of the tail which they use to mark their territory. Now that is a smell you don't soon forget!"
She pulled out of her jacket a pair of tongs and handed them to Tony.
"Now, if you would like to, grab a piece of meat with the tongs and then throw it into the enclosure, right over there." She pointed to a area that was clear of bushes and scrub.
Doing as she asked, Tony tossed the offending meat and watched as it landed just where Jessica had suggested.
They all watched expectantly while Jessica threw out a few more facts.
"Although the devil can hunt its own prey, it's predominately lazy and prefers to scavenge for food left by other animals. In Tasmania, you'll often see a devil feasting on fresh road kill."
"Ew!" exclaimed Abby.
"Oh wow!" exclaimed Tony. "They're smaller than I thought."
Everyone watched as two stocky black animals, with white patches on their chest and rump, scampered towards the piece of meat. Jessica quickly tossed in another couple of pieces to avoid the animals fighting.
"Their jaws are extraordinarily strong," commented Jessica as the group watched the animals tear at the pieces of flesh. "The pressure of their bite is four times stronger than most animals their size."
"Do they eat people?" asked Ziva, still staring at the feasting animals with an unnaturally fond fascination.
"No," replied Jessica. "They are generally scaredy cats when it comes to humans but, they will defend themselves if attacked. Just don't go sticking your finger near their mouths," she added with a grin.
"Would you like to throw some meat in there?" Jessica asked Ziva, when the devils had just about finished.
"Yes please," said Ziva gleefully.
Grabbing the tongs, she plucked out a piece of meat and threw it into the enclosure. It wasn't long before two more devils joined the pair already visible.
"We have six devils in total. They don't usually hunt in groups, preferring to be solitary, but in captivity things are a little different," said Jessica as she handed the tongs around to each person.
Once everyone had thrown in a piece of meat and Tony and Ziva had tossed in a couple more each, Jessica quickly threw in the rest of the meat and placed the lid on the bucket.
"Thanks Jessica," said Jenny, smiling warmly at the young girl. "We really enjoyed that."
"No worries," replied Jessica. "It was great meeting you all. Enjoy the rest of your day."
As Jessica headed back down the track towards the keeper's shed, Tony grinned up at Gibbs.
"That was the best, Dad!"
"I'm glad," said Gibbs. "We certainly caught a lucky break."
"Well, I think we've seen everything," said Abby, looking closely at the map. "Can we go back to the pub? I think I saw some cake and coffee being advertised at the café."
"You think Abbs?" asked Gibbs, raising his eyebrows.
"Well, actually I know," replied Abby beginning to bounce up and down. "I need coffee Gibbs! Come on!" she whined.
When Gibbs just grinned at her and didn't respond, Abby used the last tactic she had left; the children.
"I'm pretty sure I saw ice-cream there as well," she said looking directly at Tony.
"Ice-cream!" shouted Tony. "Let's go!"
"Yeah Daddy," added Ziva. "We want ice-cream!"
"Not fair Abby," growled Gibbs in her ear as he passed her. "I'll remember this."
"I'm sure you will," muttered Abby to herself. "But for now, I get my coffee!"