pool was in full operation, with huge mercury-vapor lamps illuminating
the entire staging area. The motor pool’s night shift was larger than
either the day or evening shifts since that’s when truck traffic between
the Zone and Bata was at its peak.
Melanie zipped past a number of tractor trailers until the turnoff to
Bata fell behind. From that point, all the way to the animal center,
they didn’t see another vehicle.
The animal center worked three shifts just like the motor pool did,
although in the animal center the night shift was the smallest. The
majority of the night staff worked in the veterinary hospital. Melanie
took advantage of this fact by pulling Kevin’s Toyota up to one of the
animal-hospital doors. There the car had lots of company.
Melanie turned off the ignition and gazed at the animal-center entrance
that led directly into the veterinary hospital. She drummed her fingers
on the steering wheel.
‘Well?’ Kevin said. ‘We’re here, what’s the plan?’
‘I’m thinking,’ Melanie said. ‘I can’t decide what’s best: whether you
guys wait here or come with me.’
‘This place is huge,’ Candace said. She’d leaned forward and was gazing
at the building in front of them. It ran from the street all the way
back to where it disappeared into the jungle foliage. ‘For as many times
as I’ve been to Cogo, I’ve never been out here at the animal center. I
didn’t have any idea it was so large. Is this part we’re facing the
hospital?’
‘Yup,’ Melanie said. ‘This whole wing.’
‘I’d be interested to see it,’ Candace said. ‘I’ve never been in a
veterinary hospital let alone one that’s so palatial.’
‘It’s state-of-the-art,’ Melanie said. ‘You should see the ORs.’
‘Oh my God,’ Kevin sighed. He rolled his eyes. ‘I’ve been ensnared by
the insane. We’ve just had the most harrowing experience in our lives,
and you’re talking about taking a tour.’
‘It’s not going to be a tour,’ Melanie said as she alighted from the
car. ‘Come on, Candace. I’m sure I can use your help. Kevin, you can
wait here if you’d like.’
‘Fine by me,’ Kevin said. But it only took him a few moments of watching
the women trudge toward the entrance before he, too, climbed out of the
car. He decided that the anxiety of waiting would be worse than the
stress of going.
‘Wait up,’ Kevin called out. He had to run a few steps until he’d caught
up with the others.
‘I don’t want to hear any complaining,’ Melanie told Kevin.
‘Don’t worry,’ Kevin said. He felt like a teenager being chastised by
his mother.
‘I don’t anticipate any problems,’ Melanie said. ‘Bertram Edwards’s
office is in the administration part of the building, which at this time
will be deserted. But just to be sure we don’t arouse any suspicion,
once we’re inside, we’ll head down to the locker room. I want you guys
in animal center coveralls. Okay? I mean it’s not really the time anyone
would expect to encounter visitors.’
‘Sounds like a good idea to me,’ Candace said.
‘All right,’ Bertram said into the phone. His eye caught the luminous
dial of his bedside clock. It was quarter past midnight. ‘I’ll meet you
at your office in five minutes.’
Bertram swung his legs over the edge of the bed and parted the mosquito
netting.
‘Trouble?’ Trish, his wife, asked. She’d pushed herself up on one elbow.
‘Just a nuisance,’ Bertram said. ‘Go back to sleep! I’ll be back in a
half hour or so.’
Bertram closed the door to the bedroom before turning on the
dressing-room light. He dressed quickly. Although he’d downplayed the
situation to Trish, Bertram was anxious. He had no idea what was going
on, but it had to be trouble. Siegfried had never called him in the
middle of the night with a request to come to his office.
Outside, it was as bright as daytime with a nearly full moon having
risen in the east. The sky was filled with silvery-purple cumulus
clouds. The night air was heavy and humid and perfectly still. The
sounds of the jungle were an almost constant cacophony of buzzes,
chirps, and squawks interrupted with occasional short screams. It was a