CHAPTER FIVE: Nashami

A large group of kids from California was planning to pay them a visit next day. Skipper had no choice but to scramble out of his bed and join his team on the platform. His ankle hurt like mad and was getting more and more swollen. Each step would cause him unbearable pain.

A young, slim, Japanese girl aged around twenty was making her way through the habitat. She was dressed pretty much like Alice, and she was wearing a green cap on her head and a violet blouse with: "Watashi wa Dobutsu ga daisuki desu " had nice, soft, dark hair tied up in a slightly messy bun. She also had an identity card attached to her blouse, with big, blue letters: NASHAMI written on it.

She spotted Skipper limping helplessly across the platform and let out a concerned cry.

"Oh my God! What happened to your leg?"

Kowalski, Rico and Private goggled their eyes out and exchanged puzzled looks. The girl threw a wooden desk and walked over it to get to the platform. She took Skipper in her arms and examined his foot.

"It's definitely sprained" she stated, anxiety and concern written all over her face. "Oh you poor little baby, I have to take you to the doctor, right away! But don't you worry! No one is going to hurt you!" she snuggled Skipper against her breast and made her way back towards the pavement.

Skipper's heart sank. It was quite a long time since somebody had spoken to him in such warm terms. He wrapped his flippers around Nashami's neck and snuggled to her, like a frightened little baby.

The animals would watch over them in silence as they made their way towards the hospital, cynics and mocking written all over their faces.

"There, there, sweetie. Everything will be just fine" murmured Nashami, as she rocked the poor Penguin in her arms.

"She must be Alice's new assistant" stated Skipper as they finally reached the hospital room.

Nashami carefully placed him on the table and called on the doctor. They started to wrap Skipper's injured ankle with bandages, carefully tough, not to cause him pain. When the wound was dressed, Nashami took Skipper to the private cabin and lied him down on the bed.

"You see, honey? It's already over." She smiled. "I guess it's the highest time to give you something to eat and drink. Something delicate…" she swept her eyes over the white cupboards and pulled out a small bottle of milk. She then walked up towards the penguin, and carefully lifted his head.

"Here, drink this, sweetheart" she whispered. Skipper took the outlet in his beak and started to suck. The milk was very tasty indeed. It soothed his pain and helped him regain some energy. After he was done with food, Nashami covered him with bedsheets, leaned over him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Sweet dreams, my little penguin. I will check on you tomorrow morning" she said. "Odaijini!" she added joyfully before leaving the room.

Scarcely had the door closed behind her, Skipper curled up in his bed sheets, pressed his flippers to his eyes and burst out crying. He couldn't hold back his emotions anymore. He would recall Nashami's black, slanting eyes, her warm, serene smile, her soft voice and touch. The way he spoke to him, and soothed him.. Several years ago, his colleague from the army would teach him several sentences in Japanese.. He could still remember some words and sentences.. he closed his eyes and everything faded in to black. He saw Mark, in his army coat, staring somewhere far in the distance. He could hear his dreamy whisper:

"Kanojo wa.. nihon no tenshi desu"..

Exactly. She was a Japanese Angel sent from Heaven. She saved his skin from the other animal's wrath and took care of his wound…

Meanwhile Nashami left the hospital zone . She craned her neck up and swept her eyes over the sky. She shivered at the sight of those ominous, dark, grey clouds invading the firmament. She could feel violent shivers marching down her spine. There was that evil atmosphere floating up in the air.

Nashami rubbed her freezing arms and quickly withdrew towards Alice's office.