Catastrophe by Deirdre O'Dare Read Free Book Online Page A

shock of their lives. When every member of the Were-kind cell in the city joined those living here, Zyl felt sure they could prevent much damage from being done. He just hoped the zoo employees didn't get in the way and that none of them were hurt, especially one who had suddenly become real and significant to him.

 

Chapter 6
     
    Carl overslept half an hour. He had to rush to get himself ready for work. He barely had time to think about the events of the past night. When he did, he needed to pinch himself. Could it all have been real or was it just a crazy dream? He'd had a few drinks--he was pretty sure that going to the bar with Zyl was real. After that, he could not be sure. Maybe he'd been stupid drunk enough to hallucinate.
    For a moment, he was tempted to try to shift into the ocelot form, but there was no time. If he got stuck and could not reverse it, he'd be in a world of hurt. Nope, maybe later. Instead, he hurried down to the vet clinic to clock in and then began his usual rounds. Much to his relief, all the cats seemed healthy and calm.
    When the visitors began to trickle in, they, too, seemed boringly normal. A field trip group or two from a school or child care center, a few moms who perhaps home-schooled with their children in tow, some older folks--a very typical day.
    All of them seemed quiet, peaceful and as non-threatening as they could be. Perhaps the whole animal rights issue was a false alarm. He hoped so. Violent confrontations had never been something he enjoyed. In fact, he'd do almost anything to avoid a fight, although if he had his back to the wall or anyone threatened the safety of his beloved charges, they'd find they'd awakened a tiger. Nobody would hurt one of his cats!
    Two days passed in a similar manner. Zyl came by to visit him briefly both nights, but did not hang around long or show any intention of initiating another sexual encounter or even practicing shifting. He only stayed a short while and pleaded tasks assigned by the Were-kind leaders, which he had to make his first priority.
    Carl fought against feeling hurt, even rejected. For a few hours that one night, he'd felt like he belonged, like he'd had found a place where he fit. Now he wasn't so sure. Although he sensed Zyl was worried, the other man did not confide in him or offer any insights. Maybe he'd been wrong to hint that his first loyalty still lay with his employer and the animals in his charge, the regular animals, not Were-kind.
    Yet another day began, apparently a carbon copy of the previous ones. Until about ten o'clock, that is. Carl's watch said 10:12 when the first bus appeared, followed by several more. They were all older yellow busses with the names of various schools in black letters on their sides. Not uncommon in late spring as classes often took field trips to the zoo.
    Normally, though, visitors parked in one of several large lots outside the zoo fences. Why these loaded busses were allowed past the main gate, Carl had no idea. Outwardly, they appeared innocuous, but once they had parked in a much smaller lot outside the main building housing offices, the theater and some interpretive displays, passengers began to unload.
    Not yet sure why he'd been lingering near the front gate, a fair distance from his normal patrols of the feline exhibits, Carl watched, anxiety rapidly tightening his gut. These were not school kids or, if students, they had to be college age. Most carried backpacks and bundles under their arms, which might contain weapons, protest signs or even burglary tools such as pry bars and bolt cutters. A sensation like an ice cube sliding under his shirt descended his spine.
    Once all seven busses had discharged their passengers, well over a hundred visitors gathered in a knot. Soon a couple who looked older and were clearly some kind of leaders began to talk in low but urgent tones, grouping their charges and waving in various directions, as if telling them what were to be their duty stations