| Chapter Twenty-seven |
Shakaza seemed very cranky indeed as she woke up, thought Hope. She couldn’t help but snicker when Tezaka talked
baby-talk to her and when she responded really annoyed. The others in the cage still seemed too scared of Zak’s ability
to set himself on fire, but Hope had recovered from that fairly quickly. After all, she was betrothed to a cub who was about
as different as one could be. After her initial shock she had shared a look with Jozay. He looked surprised but not scared.
They had each just shrugged.
Hope’s laughter, while a positive force to everyone present, was especially intoxicating to Tezaka. Unfortunately,
something happened that made them all fall silent and pay strict attention to the activities of the humans for a moment.
Two human beings entered the rear area of the plane. Zak and Kaza alone could understand their language. Their crate
was suspended from tracks and machinery on the ceiling of the large plane. There were two more crates on the track,
both closer to the plane’s tail. The humans called out a warning to everyone else in the plane as they held on tight to
handholds by the rear machinery. They worked controls to open the rear hatch of the plane, kicking up a terrible wind.
Shakaza had the best view of what they did next. The first crate, closest to the open hatch, slid along the track and out of
the plane completely. The door closed and one of the humans reported loudly, “First crate of medical supplies away!
Parachute successfully deployed!”
The other human added, “We’ll be in position for the second drop by 0400. Position for the ‘special’ drop at 0630!”
The humans left for the moment. The cubs in the cage were now more concerned with what they had just seen than of
Tezaka. Shadow broke the silence first. “Is that what they’re going to do with our box? Just throw us out?”
“That’s a pretty sick way to off a guy if you ask me!” added Zipper.
Babylon spoke as well, “Although it is perhaps a more interesting way to die. As opposed to starvation or sickness, I
mean to say.”
Shadow looked at him in shock. “Was that supposed to be a cheerful thought?”
Now it was Sapphire’s turn. “It doesn’t make sense that they would go through the trouble of capturing us all alive and
then throw us out into the sky.”
Jozay seemed to grab onto that phrase. He quietly said to himself, “The sky? Oh, Sozo, if only…”
Hope ran back over to the door of the cage. “Jozay? What is it? Did you hear? We’re up in the sky! Jozay… can you help
us? You’re like… connected to Sozo now that you’ve got your mark, right?”
Zak looked at her. “What difference…”
Hope was excited now. “Believe me, it makes a big difference! Jozay!” Here she pronounced it Jo-zi, and he finally looked
her in the eye. “Please, Jozay. Try to help us. You’re the only one who can.”
Jozay looked very defeated. “Hope, I’m sorry. I’m tied up and strapped to the wall. I can’t move at all. I… I couldn’t help
you back on the ground… and I can’t help you now.” Jozay hung his head. “I’m so sorry…” his voice trailed off and it
sounded like he was suppressing a sob.
Shakaza came around to the front of the cage and sat down facing her brother. Though she addressed Tezaka, she did
speak out loud so the others could hear her. “Well, Zak, as everyone else present is either stupid, crazy or already given
up, it’s up to us.”
“Be fair, Kaza. We’re the only ones who understand a parachute drop.”
“Whatever. You think this will do?” She held up a thick staple that had been protruding out of the crate. Zak cocked his
head to one side and looked at it.
“Maybe. It depends on the complexity of the lock. Do we have clearance for echolocation scanning?” His sister looked
around, and seeing no humans, nodded. Good. You take the treble, I’ll take bass.
Who are you trying to kid? You’re larynx isn’t developed enough for that range yet. Stick to tenor. I’ll just match you at
higher octaves.
Fine.
And the two began to hum. With two perfectly harmonizing voices and their finely tuned hearing, their echo-mapping
neural programs focused on the intricacies of the lock around Shakaza’s neck. It would take some time, but they would
eventually be able to ‘see’ with their hearing the exact structure of the lock. They could then shape the staple and pick
the lock.
And then the real challenge could begin.
baby-talk to her and when she responded really annoyed. The others in the cage still seemed too scared of Zak’s ability
to set himself on fire, but Hope had recovered from that fairly quickly. After all, she was betrothed to a cub who was about
as different as one could be. After her initial shock she had shared a look with Jozay. He looked surprised but not scared.
They had each just shrugged.
Hope’s laughter, while a positive force to everyone present, was especially intoxicating to Tezaka. Unfortunately,
something happened that made them all fall silent and pay strict attention to the activities of the humans for a moment.
Two human beings entered the rear area of the plane. Zak and Kaza alone could understand their language. Their crate
was suspended from tracks and machinery on the ceiling of the large plane. There were two more crates on the track,
both closer to the plane’s tail. The humans called out a warning to everyone else in the plane as they held on tight to
handholds by the rear machinery. They worked controls to open the rear hatch of the plane, kicking up a terrible wind.
Shakaza had the best view of what they did next. The first crate, closest to the open hatch, slid along the track and out of
the plane completely. The door closed and one of the humans reported loudly, “First crate of medical supplies away!
Parachute successfully deployed!”
The other human added, “We’ll be in position for the second drop by 0400. Position for the ‘special’ drop at 0630!”
The humans left for the moment. The cubs in the cage were now more concerned with what they had just seen than of
Tezaka. Shadow broke the silence first. “Is that what they’re going to do with our box? Just throw us out?”
“That’s a pretty sick way to off a guy if you ask me!” added Zipper.
Babylon spoke as well, “Although it is perhaps a more interesting way to die. As opposed to starvation or sickness, I
mean to say.”
Shadow looked at him in shock. “Was that supposed to be a cheerful thought?”
Now it was Sapphire’s turn. “It doesn’t make sense that they would go through the trouble of capturing us all alive and
then throw us out into the sky.”
Jozay seemed to grab onto that phrase. He quietly said to himself, “The sky? Oh, Sozo, if only…”
Hope ran back over to the door of the cage. “Jozay? What is it? Did you hear? We’re up in the sky! Jozay… can you help
us? You’re like… connected to Sozo now that you’ve got your mark, right?”
Zak looked at her. “What difference…”
Hope was excited now. “Believe me, it makes a big difference! Jozay!” Here she pronounced it Jo-zi, and he finally looked
her in the eye. “Please, Jozay. Try to help us. You’re the only one who can.”
Jozay looked very defeated. “Hope, I’m sorry. I’m tied up and strapped to the wall. I can’t move at all. I… I couldn’t help
you back on the ground… and I can’t help you now.” Jozay hung his head. “I’m so sorry…” his voice trailed off and it
sounded like he was suppressing a sob.
Shakaza came around to the front of the cage and sat down facing her brother. Though she addressed Tezaka, she did
speak out loud so the others could hear her. “Well, Zak, as everyone else present is either stupid, crazy or already given
up, it’s up to us.”
“Be fair, Kaza. We’re the only ones who understand a parachute drop.”
“Whatever. You think this will do?” She held up a thick staple that had been protruding out of the crate. Zak cocked his
head to one side and looked at it.
“Maybe. It depends on the complexity of the lock. Do we have clearance for echolocation scanning?” His sister looked
around, and seeing no humans, nodded. Good. You take the treble, I’ll take bass.
Who are you trying to kid? You’re larynx isn’t developed enough for that range yet. Stick to tenor. I’ll just match you at
higher octaves.
Fine.
And the two began to hum. With two perfectly harmonizing voices and their finely tuned hearing, their echo-mapping
neural programs focused on the intricacies of the lock around Shakaza’s neck. It would take some time, but they would
eventually be able to ‘see’ with their hearing the exact structure of the lock. They could then shape the staple and pick
the lock.
And then the real challenge could begin.
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