Zoobreak by Gordon Korman

Author:Gordon Korman [Korman, Gordon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-545-45737-8
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2009-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

19

OPERATION HOUSEGUEST

The GUEST LIST:

> Kellerman Underground Wetlands — beaver, frogs, salamanders, turtles

> Dukakis Split-Level Prairie — hen, piglet, prairie dog

> Benson Temperate Forest — garter snakes, chipmunks, squirrels

> Drysdale Custom Habitat — capuchin monkey, rabbits, white rats, duck, loon

> Slovak Suburban Desert — chuckwalla, ferret

> Bing Rodent House — hamsters, gerbils, mice, meerkat

“Meerkats are not rodents,” Savannah lectured at the emergency meeting. “They’re actually related to the mongoose family.”

“Yeah, well, now we know who to call if there’s a cobra infestation,” Ben lamented. “I can’t believe there’s another operation. It isn’t even a whole day since the last operation. I went from zoobreaker to zookeeper in just a few hours.”

The team was gathered in Savannah’s yard after school that day for the beginning of Operation Houseguest. Melissa had the wagon she used to deliver the weekly Pennysaver. This would serve as transport to distribute the fugitive animals to their temporary safe houses. Luckily, it had been raining off and on all day, so no one in Cedarville would question Melissa’s use of the cart’s waterproof covering.

“It’s only for a couple of weeks,” Griffin told the grumbling team. “It’ll fly by.”

“Yeah, like the Cretaceous period,” Ben muttered.

“I know it’s a lot to ask,” Savannah admitted, “but look at the results of what we’ve done already.” She indicated her huge dog, Luthor, who was carrying Cleopatra on the back of his neck again. If a pair of animals ever looked drenched in joy and contentment, it was those two.

Ben was nervous. “Aren’t you afraid that your folks will get suspicious about Cleopatra turning up today of all days?”

Savannah shook her head. “It makes perfect sense. Cleo got loose in the breakout and made her way home. Most animals have an excellent homing instinct.”

Pitch ran onto the scene. “Sorry I’m late, you guys. I was glued to the TV. All Aboard Animals made CNN.”

“But they still think the crooks went to Connecticut, right?” Griffin asked breathlessly.

She nodded. “That’s the good news. The bad news is the cops have figured out the zoobreak was done by kids.”

“How could they know that?” Savannah demanded.

“Klaus told them,” Pitch replied. “They had to free him from the ceiling with the Jaws of Life, that thing they use to cut people out of car wrecks. They’ve even got a prime suspect — Ferris Atwater, Jr.”

Logan was disgusted. “Wouldn’t you know it! I’ve spent my whole life trying to get on TV, and now I am, but nobody knows it’s me! How can I put something like this in a press packet?”

“Maybe they’ll print up wanted posters,” Ben suggested sarcastically.

“Exactly how much trouble are we in?” asked Melissa, the practical one.

“Absolutely none,” Griffin assured her, “so long as we don’t get caught.”

“And if we do?” asked Logan.

“Use your imagination,” Pitch suggested sourly. “The cattle rustlers stole animals, too, and they got strung up from the nearest tree.”

There was a sober silence as this sunk in. Savannah ended it by opening the door of the shed with a metallic click.

A furry blur jumped from the webbing of a lacrosse stick.

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