Cryptid Kingdom (Cryptid Zoo Book 6) by Gerry Griffiths

Author:Gerry Griffiths [Griffiths, Gerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severed Press
Published: 2020-09-06T22:00:00+00:00

28

LAUGHING FRUIT

Song drove the utility cart while Mason rode up front, shouting to the people blocking their path to move out of their way, though they had no idea what he was saying as they didn’t understand English.

“You must learn to be patient,” Song said.

Mason quickly caught on and stopped ranting like a loon. “Wish I had a copy of Chinese for Dummies. Sure would make my life a lot easier,” Mason said, though he was doubtful a tutorial would help him better understand the fast-speaking language.

Song drove off the main walkway to avoid the park visitors and turned down a narrow lane that took them to the service entrance of Yeren Temple cordoned off by six-foot tall chain-link fencing with slats. Mason climbed off the cart and followed Song to the back door where she swiped her keycard down the reader. The deadbolt latch disengaged and the heavy metal door opened onto a narrow corridor that ran behind the main exhibits.

They went down the hall to a short flight of stairs that took them up to a landing where they could look through a window undetected and see inside the observation area.

Mason could hear the park visitors packed shoulder-to-shoulder, clamoring on the other side of the glass, everyone moving in a painfully slow procession to get a decent look at the majestic Yeren in its museum-like habitat and the rambunctious Xing-Xings running wild inside their glass-faced enclosure.

The Yibimins were in separate exhibits so that the lefties and the righties could be segregated and wouldn’t try killing each other, which would have been a gory sight to behold and might have made a popular attraction, watching two one-armed apes beating each other to death.

Mason gazed down and spotted Lennie hunkered in the back of his exhibit. It was difficult to tell if the giant Chinese ape-man was afraid of all the people pressing up against the glass—especially those pounding rudely to get his attention—or if he was in a deep depression from being confined and put on display. If Mason had his way, he would have liked nothing better than to go down and free the big brute but that wasn’t his call.

“We can come back later?” Song said. She gave Mason an empathetic look, as she shared the same sentiment with many of the creatures she cared for.

“Sure, let’s go.” Mason went with Song back down the stairs and outside to the utility cart. They drove off and soon found themselves caught in a slow-moving tide of park visitors. A large congregation was gathered around the colossal Jinmenju tree.

Mason could hear ruckus laughter. “What’s everyone laughing at?”

“It’s not the people. It is from the tree.”

“You’re telling me the tree’s making that noise?”

“Actually, it is the fruit hanging from the branches.”

“Pull up closer and stop,” Mason said. When they were close enough, Mason stood on the passenger seat so he could see over everyone’s heads and get a good view of the tree. He gazed at the hanging fruit on the branches expecting to see something that resembled mangos or coconuts.

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