“You find out who’s responsible, you bring them to me!” Father commanded no one in particular. “Someone set fire to that tent.”
The heads of all the work groups were in his office. Tim and I stood shoulder to shoulder with the thirteen crew captains. Everyone was solemn. I tried to keep from shaking.
Father was standing hunched over his desk, hair in his face, mustache beaded with sweat. I glanced at Tim, who stared straight ahead, hard faced. Zargo was to my left, strong and calm, but the ragged breaths around me betrayed the other men’s fear. I felt it overwhelming me. My right hand burned with fire, and I had to clench it in a tight fist to keep from screaming.
“Sabotage, yeah?” His voice was a torn whisper. “We had a traitor here last week, Nathtam Leent.” Father referred to the man who had led the strike and was killed by the Jaguar. “Luck doesn’t favor traitors.”
A snort sounded to the left of me. It was Leedo Flute.
“Something funny?” Father asked, deadly serious.
Leedo quickly swallowed whatever had been on the tip of his tongue and said, “No, sir.”
“Are you laughing at me?” Father raised up to his full height. The air seemed to leave the room. “Do you wish I weren’t here, Leedo, bothering you with this . . . petty concern?” Father took one step toward him. That was all it took.
“No, sir—no, not at all.” Leedo bowed his head. “I’ve respect for you, sir, utmost respect. I’m so very sorry.”
“He’s lying,” Tim said, stepping forward.
“What?” Leedo asked, sweating. “No.”
“I heard him the other day, taunting Marlin,” Tim continued. “He told him he hoped that you didn’t return from your hunt. That the jaguar would kill you.”
“I did not!” Leedo shouted, but Father was already on him. He grabbed Leedo by the shirt and rammed him against the wall.
“Want me dead, huh?” He rocked him against the wood beams. “Want to burn down my zoo?”
Leedo hadn’t done anything. I deserved the punishment. Part of me wanted to be in my father’s grip, for him to shake and strike me for what I’d done and all the people I’d endangered. But another part wanted to strike him back, to stand over him and shout that he was a bully and a blowhard and that he’d gone back on his word. These animals were ours to protect, he always said so, not to turn on each other for entertainment.
I felt the words boiling up in my throat. My palm ached, and the pain propelled me forward. But I was caught at the back of my collar by a big, strong hand. Zargo pulled me back and wrapped another arm around my chest. “Leave it,” he whispered to me.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Father bellowed.
“It was the jaguar!” Leedo’s lips pulled back as he pronounced each word, and flecks of spit sprayed my father’s face. “It is a curse he laid on us for bringing him here. What we did was wrong, and this is punishment.”
Father pulled back slightly, unnerved by Leedo’s words. Zargo Hunt stepped in front of me and echoed him. “It’s true. The jaguar laid a curse.”
Father released Leedo and stared blankly. “You’re saying a jaguar set the fire?” His eye rolled around the room. “An animal?”
“Animal has power,” said one of the men.
“A curse,” said another.
One by one all the men were casting blame. “The jaguar!” they shouted. “We must kill it!”
Father turned away from the crush of men. “I won’t have you giving me orders.”
“Mr. Rackham,” Zargo spoke up. “How can you deny—”
“I deny what I wish!” Father bellowed. “I will not harbor superstition. And I will not be governed by fear. I’ll throw you all in a cage.” He pounded his fist on his desk. “Then you will tell me what happened to my circus!”
The room went quiet. The men feared the jaguar, but Father was the more present threat.
“That cat will not turn my zoo into a jungle. We are civilized here!” He stamped his foot. “Tim, Marlin, come here.”
We broke ranks with the workers and went to our father’s side. He put one massive hand on each of our shoulders.
“My boys will be guarding the jaguar’s den from now on. None of you goes near it until I find out who burned my circus.”
“I volunteer for first watch, Father!” Tim barked in a soldier’s voice. Father considered him.
“Marlin will watch the den tonight,” he said, squeezing my shoulder.
“But I’m the oldest,” Tim protested. “That’s not right!”
“Who holds the Paw?” Father said. “We run this zoo on merit. You want fairness? Become a lawyer.”
Father turned to me. “You can do it, Son,” he whispered.
Behind him, Tim burned with rage.
But I still nodded.
“I know you can.” Father winked and dismissed the men. They crept out of the small office, sullen and shaken, muttering to themselves. Tim glared at me. I half suspected he knew what I’d done. But that was impossible. He was only jealous.
No one knew the truth. Father smiled at me. My right palm was seared with burning fire.
I smiled back.