I pressed the duke and duchess to move toward the Great Hall quickly, though they had both been badly shaken. “C—cc—cuh—cu—come on!” I scolded them, and for once they did not smirk at my stutter.
I had to find my father. The fires were getting worse, and the animals still in their cages were terrified. There was no choice now but to let them all out, but he had the keys.
We reached the Great Hall and found the enormous double door barricaded, but not locked, which gave me a sick feeling. It meant no one inside had a key to the door, so my father was not there. I banged on the door and heard screams from within, but it didn’t open. The duke strode up beside and called, “It is I, the Duke of Bradshire and my family.” He gave me a quick look. “And Marlin Rackham!” he added.
We heard what sounded like the movement of heavy furniture, and the portal opened. The Great Hall was a mess. Chairs and tables had been turned over and piled by all the doors and windows. A shocked-looking young man greeted us.
“Hello, my lord,” he said. “Please come in quickly!”
I surveyed the gathering of terrified guests and confirmed that my father was not among them. Nor were there any workers; they must have all abandoned the zoo that morning. It was a sad-looking lot. Families were huddled together and fearful. The lady in the red hat was there with her husband. “Close the door!” she demanded.
The young man who had opened it for us swung it shut and moved to push a broken table in front of it again. I touched his arm to stop him.
“Marlin, what are you doing?” Olivia asked me, but I sensed she already knew.
“The bub—bb-b-b-boat . . . ,” I said to her, drawing her close to me.
“Yes, your father said it would come soon,” she agreed. “But you need to wait here with us.”
I shook my head. “I mm-mm-must f-find him.”
“You don’t even know where to look! He could be anywhere. Just stay until the boat comes.”
“Kenji,” I called to the little monkey. “Come on!” She hopped onto my shoulder.
Olivia grabbed my torn shirt sleeve. “Does anyone know where Captain Rackham is?” she called to the group.
“I saw him,” said the young man who had let us in through the door.
“Wuh—WH-ww-where?” I spit out.
“He found me in a patch of brush along the path,” the man said. “He told me I needed to follow him. We ran to a shed he said had guns in it. But before we got to the door, a group of chimps attacked. They threw me down.” The man showed me a gash on his forehead. “When I came to, they were far away, dragging him up the steps.”
I locked eyes with Olivia.
“Up?” she said.
I threw a broken table out of the way and marched out the door.
“Marlin, wait!” she cried, and followed me onto the path. “You can’t go up there.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me back toward the door. I tried to shake her loose, but she dug in her heels and held firm.
“B—buh—buh-bar the dd—d—door.”
“No!” She shook her head and said, “Stay here.”
She pulled me off-balance and I fell into her arms. She clung to me.
“There’s something wonderful about you,” she said. “I knew it when we first met.” She gripped me tightly. “You must promise me you’ll be all right.”
“Ah-a—aa—I will,” I managed, pushing away from her.
She grabbed my collar and drew me close again. Our noses touched and her breath was warm on my face. When she closed her eyes, tears streamed out and she kissed me.
I stood there motionless and heat spread across my cheeks. The little hairs stood up on the back of my head.
“Wow!” Kenji gasped. She was still on my shoulder, her face inches from ours.
“Kenji!” Olivia laughed and covered her mouth with her hand. I laughed too.
“I will see you soon,” she said determinedly.
I nodded.
“Be safe, Marlin.”
I reassured her with one last glance, and she retreated back into the Great Hall, closing the door. I heard furniture screeching along the floor to bar it.
Kenji and I left for the Golden Path. I knew where to find Father and the Jaguar.
I was still a Rackham.
Even if I didn’t know what that meant anymore.