Brink © Oonah V Joslin
The bio-domes were an oasis amid bare rock, glinting from far off like jewels, strange and intriguing. Worlds away from reality they seemed. The youngsters were excited before they even got there. Inside they began running round in circles, chasing each other through the unaccustomed expanses of the entrance hall. “Gemini, Castor, if you two can't behave we're not going in,” warned Mother. “Castor, you stay close by your father and Gemini, you're with me.” Castor grumped. What was the point of telling them off before they'd even done anything? His dad handed him the glossy booklet full of information, pictures and puzzles.
Access and safety were so well catered to that the adults had time to look around without worrying about their off-spring, but Castor always found ways of attracting attention. “I'm hungry Mummy,” he whined. Delicious aromas wafted from all around. “You're always hungry,” taunted Gemini, “that's why you're so…” “That's enough Gemini!” warned her mum. “You're not having anything yet, Castor. We'll have a snack later.” Castor moaned again and Gemini made a face at him.
They stepped into the elevator and emerged onto a slowly moving walkway high above what seemed like a different world. The views from the transparent aerial tunnels were stunning and environmental barriers ensured comfort and safety for all. Outside the tunnel in the dome, orangutans swung and scratched in high branches, eating exotic looking fruit and staring at the spectators staring back; each with curious eyes. Castor tried to look as much like an orangutan as possible. “Don't be a baby!” teased Gemini. “Daddy, tell him to stop, it's embarrassing,” she appealed. More visitors were looking at Castor than at the apes. “It's only fun,” said Father, finding his son's gyrations quite amusing.
“Look Gemini. Isn't that pretty?” said Mother. Rainbows were forming in the canopy as sprinklers scattered water, and sunlight flooded through the transparent enclosure, diamonding the air. Many aligned their visit to just that event. “Sensaaaatious!” cooed Gemini. It was her new word. Castor shot her an exasperated look and mimicked her.
The walkway transported them gradually down to the forest floor. Castor watched the Great Silver Back – the alpha male, leading his troupe away from their ground nests and into the forest. “What is it Daddy?” he asked. “Why don't you look in the book, son?” “It says it's a griller, Daddy.” Nearly right, well done! A gor ill a,” he corrected pointing to the sounds. He read on, “All the animals here were saved from the brink of extinction.” “What's stinckshun, Daddy?” “It means they all nearly died.” “All of them? Every one ?” Castor's eyes were wide with wonder. “Imagine being the very last one, Daddy.” “The domes were home to the last five pandas anywhere. Now there are hundreds and Panda products bring in more revenue than any other items on sale.” The breeding program here was the most successful ever to be introduced. Gemini definitely wanted a Panda. The last three rhinos had ranged free here and the last two snow leopards. Now all their futures were secure.
In the Sea Dome, gigantic tanks provided a permanent residence for marine species. “Can they breathe in the water, Mummy?” asked Gemini. “Some of them can and some can't.” From an island bubble that rose like a mammary in the centre of the vast expanse of water, Humpback Whales could be viewed at their best. “It says here that these aren't fish. They're mammals and they're intelligent so they don't force them to do these tricks. They do it for fun.” Gemini was entranced as they blew cascades of spray high in the air and then dived deep under the water.
“I'm really hungry now,” Castor complained. The smell of fish from a nearby eatery was irresistible, so they stopped for lunch. Castor insisted on the ‘Big Mackerel' Feast of the Day and wolfed it.
Inside the final dome was what most visitors came to see. “I can't see any of them, Mummy, can you?” “Just be patient dear and keep very quiet. If they think there's anybody watching they won't come out.” At last one appeared. They were little bi-peds, tiny even by the standard of the others mammals. The tunnels here had been specially constructed for one-way viewing. “Ugh,” said Gemini, “Not very cute are they?” “No indeed,” said her father, “and they're extremely dangerous too according to this. If you put too many of them together they fight.” “Fight each other , Daddy?” “ Kill each other, even.” Castor and Gemini watched fascinated as more of them emerged from their habitats, waiting to see if they'd start killing each other. “And they're quite organized too. But don't worry children, they can't escape from here and they wouldn't last very long if they did.”
That the human creatures were capable of this level of violence towards their own species had shed some doubt on their intelligence. It was not to be wondered at that they had been found on the verge of extinction. Having destroyed most of their own kind and an entire ecology, there had been some debate as to whether it was safe to allow them to breed at all. However, they brought in almost as many Zlovzaya as panda meat and so they were encouraged to breed but their interactions were strictly supervised.
At the end of this walkway an overhead sign flashed: ‘End of Earth Zone. Sponsored by Manschkins A healthy human snack.
Reptiles only beyond this point.'
They were back to the familiar atmosphere of their own desert planet with its lizards and insects. “Mummy, I'm hungry. Can I have a packet of Manschkins?” “And me Mummy?” said Gemini. Their mother smiled proudly at her little family. “Why don't we all have a packet,” said Father.
|