*** 20 ***
It had been dawn not long ago. Kowalski had just told his teammates what Blowhole had told him. They all looked at him worried and not knowing what to say.
"That lunatic would kill you if he could... thinking about that makes me sick." He felt a pat on his back.
"That's not new. He's a villain," Skipper reminded him.
"Yes, but... a villain would kill us all. I don't want to work with a lunatic or to be the only survivor."
"Yesterday he said that not everyone would go there," Blake commented. "Do you think that... he wants to get rid of some of us before we go to look for him?"
Some heads nodded. Nobody dared say it. Blake closed her eyes. The situation was really dangerous.
"We must be totally alert," Skipper said finally. "We don't know when or how, or if he has decided who. We must protect each other in every moment, now more than ever."
Kowalski looked at the others and noticed Private's bandage. He went towards him.
"Rico, first-aid kit... thank you. I'm not centered, I haven't slept well. Sorry, Private."
"It's okay," Private replied. "Blowhole is playing exhaustion, but we will be stronger."
Kowalski removed the bandage from the flipper, examined it and put that ointment again on it. All the process was very painful for Private, but he endured it stoically.
Blake read the label. "Silver nitrate?"
"Yes," Kowalski answered, not looking while he was dressing the flipper again. "It's a second-degree burn... not a simple thing. It may need until three weeks to heal and it's very painful. Good news is that he'll recover his plumage... but it'll be after some months. Rico..."
Rico painted another bandage in black, as he had done some weeks before, but this time in an even black. Blake already knew that words weren't needed with him, but she was still amazed by his ability to understand what the team needed before someone told him. She smiled unconscioulsy... and Rico smiled at her. Private saw it and winked at Rico.
"I'm lucky it's the left one," he commented.
"I love your ability to see the positive side in all situations, young Private... but this demented wants to maim us all," Skipper commented. "And the worst is that he has done it to you for no reason... who knows what he'll do if someone says something he doesn't like." He looked at Johnson. "This goes for you. We'll be together, as one, so he can't harm us."
"And what will we do when he asks us to be alone in the garage?" Blake asked, worried because she knew that she could be next.
"Speak as little as possible. And, if you see yourself in danger, shout... we'll be right at the other side of the door," he answered. "But don't worry... something tells me that he won't detonate any of those cameras on you. He wants you intact."
Blake shivered.
"Okay!" Skipper addressed them all clapping. "That's what we'll do! If Blowhole claims for someone, the rest will stay guarding. That bastard won't get us! We'll show him who the penguins are! Operation Shush is a go!"
They all went up to the concrete island. Rico carried Private despite his insistence on being able to climb up by himself. They looked around... the zoo was peaceful, but it was Saturday. There would be many visits. Concentration should be maximum.
.
During their show, the penguins paid attention to all the details they could. To the other zoosters, to the visitors... but they didn't see anything special. It was true that Blowhole's minion had caught them with their guard lowered and that it was a problem not to know what species they and Blowhole belonged to, but that shouldn't demoralize them. They commented in a low voice all that they saw. Although they knew that humans couldn't understand them, what they were eager to see might hear them.
"Keep your eyes wide open," Skipper said. "The one who put the cameras could still be here."
"Blowhole said yesterday that he should send him here again," Kowalski commented.
"And do you believe him? I think it's a bluff: whoever it is, is still here."
"It may be, Skipper."
In front of the habitat, at that moment, Alice appeared driving the zoo car. Kowalski was nudged by Johnson.
"We have a car, Kowalski!"
"Do you want to swap engines?"
Skipper cleared his throat. Both turned around.
"You cannot swap engines. Blowhole would discover it. And anything that means for him breaking his stupid rules may cost us dearly. I won't allow any of my soldiers to lose a flipper or something worse."
"Come on, what does it matter as long as we go where he guides us..." Johnson said.
"Maybe, but we don't know when we'll have to go. If at least he informed us in advance... but he won't do it. And we cannot trust Alice with the engine. Last month she crashed the zoo car."
Johnson scratched the back of his neck. Skipper was right.
Seven pairs of eyes went on analyzing all that they saw during the visiting time. It was unsuccessful.
The seven penguins decided to stay watching on the concrete island. They'd remain as sentinels for an indefinite period of time, until they saw something. And not much before dusk they saw something. A lorry had parked next to an empty habitat. Kowalski was looking at there with the binoculars.
"We have new zoosters in the old chimp habitat, Skipper."
"Let me see."
Two crates had just been left in the habitat. Skipper made a sign and the other penguins followed him. Jumping, the seven penguins entered the habitat and adopted a defensive stance in front of the two crates. They saw several fingers sticking out an air hole.
"Phil, don't be coarse. I don't like how that individual drives either, but I keep my comments for myself. As soon as you leave that crate I'm going to wash your hands with soap."
That couldn't be...
Skipper ordered the others with signs to lower their flippers. The occupants inside the crates went out.
"Seven penguins... if I couldn't count, I'd say that I see double."
"Mason, Phil... I introduce you to our new teammates," Skipper said solemnly. "Take you three a step forward."
Blake had no idea about who they were, but apparently Manfredi and Johnson didn't know them either. Skipper named them and they, one by one, got a bit closer. Manfredi did it with insolence, Johnson with arrogance and Blake with the same caution as when she had greeted the other zoosters when they had been introduced. She didn't care a lot, as her interactions with them had been scarce.
However, she saw soon that those two chimps were something more than their neighbours. Despite the urgency to watch and locate possible intruders, Skipper didn't order to leave.
"Any news from the circus?" he asked them.
The circus? Did it exist?
"Not many," Mason started to say. "When last year's tour ended, we renewed for two more years. At the moment, everything is controlled... but we'll continue managing it from here."
"Have you come for managing it?" Kowalski asked.
"We needed to computerize it... and there it's more complicated. This is why we've come, to borrow Alice's computer when we need it."
"Alice is a polygon of virtues," Manfredi joked.
"It's said paragon," Kowalski corrected. "I give you Manfredi for the circus."
The others laughed loud.
"Now seriously..." he continued, "I think Blake could help you... if one day she finally believes the circus exists. She can read."
"She would be a great help. Phil can, too, but he only speaks through signs and I translate," Mason explained. "And lately I don't trust what he says he has read."
Phil complained using signs.
"Soap, right now! I'm not going to tolerate your insolence and your language!"
Skipper ordered to leave. He didn't want to meddle in that type of arguments. They all waved with their flippers and left the chimp habitat. Skipper waddled next to Blake.
"Well, you've seen it... it's true. The circus, Madagascar... all the things you don't believe that we have done are true. Except those two," he said pointing to Manfredi and Johnson.
"Hey! We don't invent things!" Manfredi complained.
"Well, if you say so..." Skipper looked at the clock at the entrance. "We're on time... let's go to the garage. I hope today nothing happens."
.
Soon after closing the garage door, instrumental music started to sound. The penguins interpreted it as a bad omen: Blowhole was going to tell them something. He didn't take long to become noticeable.
"Pen-gu-ins! I'm happy to see you! And you?"
"What do you think, you maniac?" Kowalski answered. "Yesterday you almost fried poor Private's flipper."
"Collateral damage... such is the business of being a little soldier. By the way... today I have nothing to tell you all, but I want to talk alone with two of you. Private, stay for a moment."
"Over my dead body I'd let you be alone with him!" Skipper shouted.
"Then I can detonate the camera nearest you... and goodbye Skipper. Without you... what will the others do? They will fall too. And I haven't said I'm going to do him something wrong."
Private stood in front of Skipper with determination.
"This is disrespect, Private. You and I will talk about this," Skipper protested.
"They're leaving," Private said. "What do you want?"
Blowhole waited to hear the door closing before starting to speak.
"I'm sorry about yesterday, sorry..." he started. "I exceeded with its power, I only wanted to startle you."
"I've almost lost my flipper," Private said severely.
"Does it hurt?"
"What do you think?! I have second-degree burns! I can stand it because Kowalski pigs me out with medication to bear it!"
"Is it for long?"
"Maybe three weeks."
"Damn... I had thought about seeing you before three weeks. It would be a pity for you not to be at your 100%. Maybe you should stay at home..."
Private said nothing. The four-seater car, his injury and the suggestion. Blowhole didn't want to face the seven penguins, but four at most.
"I have another proposal, you'll like it more," Blowhole said, interrupting his thoughts. "I have a machine I can use for healing your flipper and finishing your pain off in two hours. But it's too big and I cannot move it outside my lair. What if I give you my address and you come?"
"No way."
"Well, think about it and tell me tomorrow. Tell Blake to come in."
Private left the garage and closed the door.
"Blake... he's calling you."
Blake went into the garage and closed the door. Her world fell apart.
.
Blake expected Blowhole to speak. She knew that he was making her wait to get her nervous. After some minutes which were eternal for her, Blowhole spoke.
"Little pen-gu-in... I felt like talking to you."
Blake remained silent. She was determined not to exchange words with that demented.
"Damn... yesterday Kowalski didn't want to talk and today you don't want. It's a pity... because I have to tell you something very important."
Blake went on silent.
"I have important intel about Bronx Zoo." He paused, he had managed to grab her attention. "There was a zookeeper called Nell... right?"
Blake was frightened.
"What do you mean by was?! What have you done to her?!"
"Nothing... she's okay. I just wanted to tell you that she's leaving, changing her job. Today has been her last day. An informant commented to me that her farewell with the vet... you know him, right? Well, her farewell has been very heartfelt."
"Where is she going?" Blake asked anxious.
"I cannot tell you."
"Do you know it?"
"Yes, but... I cannot tell you. I don't give things for free. I'll ask you something in return for that intel... maybe later I'll tell you if you agree to do what I say. But now it doesn't matter, you wouldn't have time to go after her. Anyway, I keep this card for when I can play it better."
Blake said nothing.
"I see you didn't expect the news... then you don't know either that her intention is to take you where she's going."
Blake knew it, but she hoped Nell had changed her mind.
"When?"
"As soon as she can."
Blake analyzed the situation. She should be careful with what she said, as she was sure that she wanted to stay. She breathed deeply. Not to speak still was the best option. She closed her eyes.
"I see you're not very talkative, which is a pity because I felt like chatting a bit and knowing you better. We'll have time when you come, I have something special for you."
"I want nothing from you," she replied curtly.
"It's up to you. You can leave."
Blake went to the door.
"Ah..." he said. "Don't do a stupid thing."
.
Blake couldn't sleep. She was turning and turning over in her bunk.
"I don't want to leave..." she thought. "Why now that I'm starting to -" One moment... was she happy? She didn't even know that. She looked at the opposite bunks. "Not now that I am at ease with him..."
She took the letter that she had written for Nell and that had been under the pillow for days. Now it was useless, Nell was leaving. She didn't know where or when, so she couldn't leave with her. Was that what Blowhole was referring to with the stupid thing?
But... what if that was a lie? Why should she trust the words said by an unpredictable demented? But it coincided with what Nell had told her some weeks before, there couldn't be so many coincidences. That must be true.
"How much time do I have?" she wondered. As if she had urgent things to do.
She had them. Skipper had warned her, but if her luck was decided that didn't matter. She would go to Bronx Zoo. She would stand in front of those three cruel penguins and she'd take revenge. For such a long time of harassment, for branding for life her personality since the day she started to live with them. For the sadness, the fear, for all the scars in her soul.
The bunks were in the dark. She went blindly where she calculated that Rico was sleeping. They had been asleep for a while... nobody would notice. She fumbled, she had found a penguin's head. She thought it was him. Yes, that was a mohawk and he wasn't Johnson, he was on the other side. She moved her flipper looking for his stomach, very carefully, not to tickle him. That was unfair, she had just discovered it.
"Forgive me, Rico," she said in a very low voice. And she nudged him with all her strength.
Rico opened his beak asleep, instinctively, and something fell to the floor. Blake touched it, if seemed a weapon. Too big to carry it. It wasn't what she needed. She hit Rico's stomach again and got a chewing gum box. No. Again. An iron crowbar which sounded when it fell. No! False alarm, nobody woke up. Again... a pair of compasses. A thermometer. A ballet shoe. A... what was that? It wasn't big and it had a button, she pressed it and... cling! It stung and maybe it cut... it could be useful, but it wasn't what she was looking for. Something made with paper... it could be. It was folded in two, then in three. She took both things. She wrapped the object with the button in the paper, put it in her beak and fumbled until she found the ladder. She climbed up carefully and went out to the concrete surface.
In the light of the streetlights at the zoo she could check her loot: she had got right, the paper was a New York map. Perfect. The other thing looked like a knife. The blade moved, so she deduced it was a switchblade. She hid it, pressed the button and it appeared again. She hid the blade again. She'd take it.
Sliding on the ground, from shadow to shadow, she left the zoo. In the park she'd decide her itinerary.