PKDkd33

Monthly Donor
Franzi the Hero Chapter 1

Franzi sat as high as he could on his “tree” and watched the proceedings. Of course it wasn’t real tree, there wasn’t room for that, but you had to make do.


It hadn’t been a good summer. The weather wasn’t quite right and there seemed to be something wrong with the people.


For one thing there were those horrible ululating sirens which seemed to panic everyone and send them running. He wasn’t quite sure where to, but they came back when the sirens sounded again, this time with a steady tone. Sometimes after the first siren men in uniform ran about with football rattles. That seemed to panic people even more. They fumbled at the boxes they were all carrying and pulled out strange masks which they fitted over their heads.


No-one seemed to pay attention to Franzi, well not after he’d ignored all attempts to get him inside.


No it was very odd. The number of school children he saw declined over the months until one day there were no children or adults only staff.


He’d slept well and expected to go out as usual. He was hungry and he liked eating out rather than staying in.


This morning though he couldn’t go outside as the door was shut and locked.


What on earth was going on. He had a major scratch and waited for Bert. He’d tell him what was up.
 
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PKDkd33

Monthly Donor
The wheel squeak on Bert’s small cart alerted Franzi that he was on his way. He stopped outside the door and banged on it with his broom.


Franzi ambled across to the door and banged back.


A hatch opened.


“Now then Franzi, special day today mate. Off on a trip you are” said Bert.


Franzi whistled in reply.


“I’m not coming with you, but I’ll send along some notes to tell ‘em how to take care of you and give you the treats you like”


Franzi wasn’t convinced and blew a raspberry.


“It’ll be alright lad – you see. Now here’s some grub” said Bert pushing a large tray through another hatch at the bottom of the door.


Franzi reached out a hand to Bert and “rumbled”.


“You know I shouldn’t. They don’t like it but since it’s the last time I’ll see you for a while” said Bert. He stood back from the door and lit up a cigarette. “There ya go”, he passed it through the hatch.


Franzi took it, sat down and had a long drag. It was alright but not as good as those clove cigarettes he’d smoked out in Java before coming to London.


Just one of the “bad habits” that he’d picked up as a youngster living with District Officer Whyte in Borneo, strong tea and whisky being the other main ones.
 

PKDkd33

Monthly Donor
“Well then, I’ll be back in a little while and we’ll sort you out to travel. You’ve not been on a train before, have ya?”


Franzi stared back and said nothing.


“It’s a fine way to travel. Not a long journey, normally. Not sure now with the War on. I’ll put plenty of your treats in with you” and with that Bert closed the hatch and wandered off with his squeaking trolley.


Franzi finished the cigarette and crushed it out before eating the dog end.


He sighed. This wasn’t fun at all. He wanted to be outside seeing what was going on. May as well eat then.


-----


Sometime later as Franzi was getting bored in his room he heard voices outside and something large being wheeled up.


Bert was speaking “Well he’s not going to like that. It needs larger holes.”


“Bigger holes mean he can get his arms through” said another voice, John Tanner, the “Gaffer”.


“Well” said Bert “He won’t do any harm. You know how calm he is.”


“Normally” said John “But you’re not going to be with him, I am. And he gets mischievous around me”


“That’s cos you won’t give him a fag” replied Bert.


“You know they’re bad for him” said John


“Well that’s why he tries to mug you to get at your packet” laughed Bert.


“I suppose I’ll let him have one if it keeps him calm on the journey. We should have had more notice of this though.”


“He’ll be fine. He loves travelling. He only slept in his crate on the ship over from Borneo if you remember.”


“Yes, he spent a lot of time sitting up the radio mast” chuckled John.


“Come on then” said Bert, and the door opened revealing the two keepers, big trolley and the crate on top.


“Now then Franzi look at this” said Bert, showing him the open crate. “You fancy getting inside?”


Franzi ambled across to the crate and eyed it suspiciously. It looked much smaller than when he’d travelled in it from Borneo eight years back. Of course he’d grown and was now a handsome looking chap with red hair, moustache and beard. His wide cheeks flanges marked him out as a mature male.
 
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PKDkd33

Monthly Donor
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PKDkd33

Monthly Donor
He’d even started to find Mary “interesting" in some ways.


Bert had put some fruit inside as well as greens and there was a pile of straw. He’d also put in an old tyre and a couple of branches to keep Franzi amused.


Sighing Franzi walked over to Bert and hugged him, until Bert shouted “Not so bloody tight, Franzi!”.


Franzi let him go and went into the crate, picking up a piece of fruit before turning around to the door and sitting down with a thump.


Bert and the Gaffer closed the door and bolted it shut, adding a padlock to keep the bolt secure.


Franzi was sure he could get out of the crate anytime he wanted. They’d forgotten how powerful he was now. Not that he wanted to at the minute. This was an adventure! Much better than being shut in his room or even the enclosure.


The two men took up the trolley handle and pulled him along. His 80 kg not causing them too much of a problem as they made their way towards the Main Entrance where a truck was waiting.


The driver and his mate helped Bert and the Gaffer to push the trolley up onto the flat bed and made it fast with ropes.


“Just have to wait for the boss to come and see us off” said John.


“You got everything I put together for Franzi” asked Bert?


“All safe and sound. I’ll make sure he’s settled in right before I come back. There’s talk of a female keeper up there.”


“Oh he’ll like that. He’s started to get an eye for the ladies” laughed Bert.
 
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Hmm...Paul if this is going where I think it's going (and I don't mean Whipsnade Zoo): you really need to ask the mods to move this thread to ASB. Hint, hint.
 
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