“You appear healthy, although I am curious as to your origin. You’re definitely not from here,” she stated. Unlike Malaysian tigers, he had wide stripes.
The beast cocked its head and uttered a chuffing sound before pawing at the floor. Trying to communicate?
“You must be hungry. I’ll fetch you some food. I shouldn’t be too long.”
Nadirah honesty meant to return within the hour, only the moment she emerged from the building, she found herself bombarded. It began with Ahmad, the zoo’s director. He texted as she exited and indicated the authorities were in his office and wanted to speak to her about the tiger. Nadirah didn’t have much to tell them, not yet at least. Upon finishing with that meeting, she then had to deal with another feline who’d somehow managed to get its head stuck in a bucket. Then, on her way back to the tiger she’d recovered, with a bowl of ground beef, she was waylaid by a reporter and her cameraman.
A microphone got thrust into Nadirah’s face matched with a rapid-fire question. “You are the one taking care of the tiger retrieved earlier today from the freighter?”
Nadirah recoiled. “Yes.”
“What can you tell us about it?”
“Not much, I’m afraid, other than it appears in good health.”
“Where did it come from?”
“I don’t know. You’d have to speak to the authorities investigating.”
“Was it stolen from the Royal Reserve?”
“Doubtful. Its patterns don’t match those currently in custody, nor did I find a tag.”
“Can we see it?”
“Not today, I’m afraid. We’re currently getting him settled.” Flies discovered the container of raw meat and began buzzing, making Nadirah grimace.
“So you will be showing him to the public?”
Nadirah hesitated. “I’m unable to say what the plan is yet.” Although, given the interest, the zoo director would most likely approve it for public showing until they figured out where it belonged.
“Why would someone be smuggling a tigerintothe country? That seems odd,” the reported stated.
“It is strange,” Nadirah agreed.
“Why do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Surely you have a theory?”
“I’ve barely had time to think about it,” she admitted.
Apparently, the reporter didn’t like Nadirah’s answers because she huffed. “This wasn’t very helpful.”
“Sorry,” Nadirah said with a shrug. Apparently, the truth lacked excitement.
“Let’s go see if the director will talk to us,” the female reporter stated before strutting off with her videographer in tow.
A bemused Nadirah watched her go. Her first interview and she doubted it would air, given she’d been unable to answer anything.
She hurried inside the building and noticed the tiger lay seemingly asleep.
“I’m back,” Nadirah chirped as she set the container of meat on the floor by the cage. She unlocked a hatch and slid the food bowl inside. “Here’s some dinner.”
The tiger rose to its feet and wandered over for a sniff—and gagged.
She blinked. She’d never heard that sound before from a giant cat. “Is something wrong?”
