Danger on the Platypus Archipelago, part 2
(told by SZ correspondent Dr. Parker)
With the hull of their boat once again torn, Stuffed Zoo acquisitioners Karl and V survived their first night shipwrecked on Avocado Island, where they’ve been haunted by a palindrome-speaking stuffed monkey, Grunty.
“I wonder what happened to Grunty,” V said. “And I wonder if there are others like him on the island.”
“Well, I hope they didn’t scare off the Pinstripe Penguin migration!” Karl replied.
“How can you still be thinking about those silly penguins, when we’re TRAPPED here, and Grunty needs our help!?”
“You just don’t understand. The Pinstripe Penguins, there. . . They mean a lot to me. But you’re right. We need to find out what happened to Grunty, and if there are other stuffed animals astray here.”
The two went to shore to check on their boat, and got their stuffocating gear.
“Well, at least this stuff is okay,” Karl said. “It will be easy to get any animals back to the zoo with our stuffocators – but how will we get back?”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky again, and find someone who can weld.”
“Yes, but, we’d also have to be lucky enough to find some tools. I don’t see a hardware store anywhere around.”
The two looked over the island they were stuck on. It was nothing but a small strip of black sand before them, then a seemingly endless, thick jungle, and in the center, a tall butte covered in trees.
“Let’s see if we can head for that butte,” V said. “It will give us a view of the rest of Platypus Archipelago. Maybe there are boats nearby, or a village.”
“Are you sure you’re ready to go through all that jungle?” Karl said.
“C’mon, Karl – be brave for once. Remember: you’re a Stuffed Zoo acquisitioner – one of the boldest, most daring jobs on the planet!”
“You’re right,” said Karl. “Let’s go!”
The two pushed their way through the thick ferns, vines and trees, everywhere surrounded by the faint sounds of palindromes coming from the canopy above. It was clear to them that there must be at least a few – if not many – animals with the same condition as Grunty. Unfortunately, the animals were crafty, and evaded their sight at every attempt.
And, after two hours of upward, intense hiking, they reached the summit. Needless to say, they weren’t prepared for what they found there. Hundreds of stuffed animals – everything from snakes to badgers to parrots – were dragging cut stones together, building what what looked it was going to be an enormous statue of . . .
Find out next time in part three!
