Sheriff Davis was one of her favorite people. He was fair and ethical but had a sense of humor and could bend the rules a bit here and there when he thought it made sense. She owed him for hiring her as a fresh graduate of the New Damarkal College two year police science program and giving her a chance to stay in her hometown and make good. Devora didn’t want to be a cop herself necessarily but she loved being part of the police family and a team member.
She’d done a bit of shopping after the class ended and watched holos in her hotel room and splurged on room service in the evening rather than go out by herself. Usually a whole group of women from the class would get together but many hadn’t attended at all this time and others left for home right away and the fun had gone out of it.
The next morning she decided to treat herself to a day at the New Damarkal Zoo, which boasted a large collection of interstellar animals as well as curating displays of local creatures. There was also a botanical garden associated with the zoo and the city was working hard to make it a major tourist attraction on Randal Four. Devora loved the place, which held many happy memories for her of trips she and her late parents had made here when she was a kid. Her folks would make a big deal out of going to the city once a year and the zoo was always on the list of fun activities.
The weather was pleasant and she wandered the extensive grounds of the zoo for quite a while. There were no crowds, not even at the most popular exhibits, which she attributed to it being a weekday. Devora appreciated being able to get close to all the animals and took quite a few holos to share on her social media later. The animals’ behavior was strange today though. She’d never seen anything like it. Some were hiding in their burrows and others were poised at the highest spot in their habitats as if on guard. A few of the big predators were prowling back and forth restlessly.
She was having a good time and the animal-shaped fries from the food kiosk were as tasty as ever. Devora customarily made the big pond her last stop before leaving the zoo. It was a beautiful spot, curated with all kinds of exotic plants and flowers and there were turtles and colorful fish you could feed by hand with special treats bought from a vending machine. Long legged birds in a variety of vibrant colors waded in the shallows while others strutted the perimeter of the pond like kings, big tail feathers spread for an over the top display. She liked to sit on one of the graceful benches and rest before making the long hike back to the entrance. It was a place of peace for her and she was eagerly anticipating reaching the attraction.
As she walked along the enclosures on the way, she was startled to see the entire troop of Aldebaran primates hanging from treetops and perches in their area, screaming and baring their impressive fangs. Glancing around, she observed how the Antarean marmokats were huddling together in a massive pile of fur, right up against the door to their night quarters inside. A few were scratching at the portal and the whole group was keening. A few of the biggest animals stood guard on the perimeter of their fellows, eyes darting here and there frantically, tails twitching.
From another part of the zoo she heard tantoreans trumpeting and the whole effect was unsettling. Devora paused, unsure what she wanted to do, continue or give up seeing the pond today. The park com blared a musical note and an announcement came on. “The Zoo is closing early today. All guests are requested to head to the main gate immediately.”
What are they going to do, come out here and collect me if I go to the pond? She thought defiantly.
Decision made, she continued with the plan to finish her walk to the pond but after a few steps she halted. There was a large figure shambling in her direction. Another couple was between her and the newcomer and she expected him to beg for credits but instead as she stared the disheveled man pounced on the woman and began biting her as she shrieked and her companion punched and kicked the attacker. Devora took three steps to go help and blinked as suddenly there were five more people in torn and bloody clothing lurching toward her. The Aldebaran primates behind her raised the volume of their cries and hurled fruit at the oncoming figures.
She retreated one step, then two, turned and fled in the direction of the main zoo. Behind her she heard the pounding of feet and when she risked a glance over her shoulder, nearly falling in the process, she found she was being chased by a group of the strange people.
“Lady, over here!” came a shout and Devora saw a park worker gesturing frantically to her from a partially open door. “Run for your life, lady.”
She did, running faster than she’d ever moved before and as she got close to the doorway the worker grabbed her arm, yanked her inside, where she fell in a heap and slammed the door behind her, locking it. Devora heard the slam of heavy bodies against the panel and a horrible smell of decay seeped in through the vents on the top third of the door. “What is going on—” she said, getting to her feet and leaning on the wall.
“Sssh,” he said urgently, finger to his lips. “Sound attracts them.”
There was a bucket of tools on the floor next to his feet and the man reached to pluck out a stick with a sharp metal spike on the end. “For picking up trash,” he said in a whisper so faint Devora could hardly hear him. “Take it. Gotta get them in the head.”
She clasped her fingers around the rough wood of the handle. “What are those things?” she whispered as the thumps against the door continued unabated.
“You heard about the flu?” he asked, hefting a bigger version of the weapon she now held.
“The flu doesn’t transform people into monsters.”
“This flu does. Second incursion we’ve had this week. Big apartment complex right outside the zoo fences, some politician’s dream a few years ago to solve the housing crisis. Packed people in there like sardines. Get one case of the flu in there, the whole place gets sick. And then the victims search for more people to infect.” He leaned on the wall next to her but his focus never wavered from the door.
“Will it hold?” she asked.
“Maybe,” was his less than reassuring reply. ”Management needs to close the goddamn zoo is what they need to do. I shouldn’t be risking my life to pick up trash and clean toilets. But I got bills to pay, you know?”
Devora wasn’t sure she was safer with him than she would have been outside but at least he wasn’t a snarling monster with fangs. “Can we call for help? That poor couple who got attacked first needs paramedics.”
“They’re dead,” he said. “I did call for help,” and he showed her a com clipped to his waistband. “Don’t know if it went through or not. Coms have been unreliable lately.”
“You saw this happen before?”
“Nah, one of my buddies told me all about it. Authorities hushed it up of course, like they’ll do with this. Call it a tragic accident at the zoo or some bullshit.” He rose suddenly and tiptoed to the door, peering carefully out through the ventilation slats. Devora realized the thumping noises had stopped. “They’re standing around waiting for more victims to stroll by,” the man reported. “Too many for us to take though.”
Devora joined hm at the door and was able to see seven or eight of the strangely acting people doing as her companion said, standing stock-still. Even when one was hit in the shoulder by a well aimed piece of fruit from the primates he didn’t budge. Didn’t even flinch. “They don’t go after the animals?” she asked.
“They seem to know it won’t do them any good to infect a bunch of nonhumans in cages. Animals hate them though.”
“Yeah, I gathered that.” Devora wondered how long she’d have to stay cooped up in this tiny janitor’s cubbyhole. She fumbled for her handheld but when she raised it to eye level and tried to use the com to call emergency services, there was nothing but static.
She heard the sound of a siren, which acted like an alarm clock on the individuals lurking outside, who began growling and coalesced into a bigger group as they headed past the spot where Devora and her rescuer were hiding. The siren got much louder and then Devora heard the sound of multiple blasters being fired, accompanied by unearthly sounds which made her retreat to the wall, cover her ears and slide to the floor in a panic. The janitor stayed at his post by the door.
“The cavalry has arrived,” he said with relief, opening the portal before she could protest. He stepped outside. “Hey, over here, got a park guest who needs to be evacuated.”
The janitor disappeared from sight. Devora stayed where she was, paralyzed with fear until a soldier with his weapon at the ready stepped inside.
