Hell0, this is my reading book for this week
I hope you enjoy!
Trouble at Kauri Zoo- Part 2
Tui’s stomach flipped. She stared at Hana, who avoided her eyes and fiddled with the muddy whistle.
“Taken?” whispered Hugo. “By who?” Before Hana could answer, a voice drifted from the shadows. Smooth. Cold. Certain.
“By me.”
The cousins spun around.
A tall woman stepped forward, dressed in a crimson jacket with one sleeve torn short. Her sharp black boots crunched on the gravel. She carried herself like she owned the zoo.
“Lacey,” Hana muttered, her voice tight. “That’s right,” said the woman. Her eyes gleamed as she looked at the children. “You’ve been very curious. Too curious.”
Ella swallowed. “Why would you steal giraffes?” Lacey smirked. “Because people will pay dearly for rare animals. Giraffes, lions, parrots—it doesn’t matter. Zoos are careless. I’m not.”
“That’s not true!” Tui burst out. “The zoo staff care about the animals!”
Lacey tilted her head. “Do they? Then why was it so easy to cut a lock and load up a truck?”
Hana shifted uneasily. “This isn’t what I—”
“Quiet,” Lacey snapped. Hana flinched.
The cousins traded glances. Hana had been involved—but maybe not willingly. Ashleigh leaned close. “She doesn’t want this.”
Before Tui could answer, Lacey’s walkie-talkie crackled.
“North road clear. Waiting for you.”
Lacey’s smile widened. She turned to Hana. “Guard them. I’ll fetch the truck.” She strode off, boots crunching on gravel.
What kind of person does Lacey seem like?
Do you think Hana is really helping her, or being forced to?
The cousins stood frozen. Hana’s hand hovered near her whistle. For a long moment she looked at the children, then whispered urgently, “Listen. I never wanted this. Lacey blackmailed me. She said if I didn’t help, she’d hurt the animals. But it’s gone too far. We have to stop her.”
Tui’s pulse hammered. “Then help us.”
Hana nodded. “The giraffes are in the truck at the north gate. If we can slow her down until security gets here, we can save them.”
“How?” asked Jackson. Hana’s eyes darted to the rhino paddock. “With a distraction.”
They moved quickly. Hana used her keys to open a side hatch near the rhino yard and tossed in an extra bale of hay. The rhinos surged forward, rumbling with excitement. The noise rolled across the zoo like thunder.
“Perfect,” Hana muttered. “That’ll draw attention.”
At the same time, Tui and her cousins raced ahead along the service path. The tyre tracks were easy to follow, leading straight to a clearing near the north gate.
There it was: a massive truck with a tall canvas cover. Inside, they heard shuffling, the soft thud of hooves.
“The giraffes,” whispered Ella.
Suddenly, Lacey appeared from the driver’s seat. Her eyes narrowed. “You again.” The cousins froze.
“You should have walked away,” she said, stepping toward them. “But since you’re here—” she pulled a long metal bar from the truck—“I’ll make sure you don’t cause more trouble.”
Before she could advance, a shrill blast split the air.
Hana’s whistle.
Lacey spun around. From the trees burst two zoo rangers in orange vests, drawn by the rhino commotion and Hana’s signal. They charged toward the truck.
“Stop right there!” one shouted.
For the first time, Lacey’s confidence cracked. She bolted for the driver’s seat, but Tui darted forward and yanked the dangling keys from the ignition.
“No!” Lacey roared, lunging—only to be tackled by the rangers. The metal bar clattered to the ground.
The cousins backed away, breathless.
(Question Time)
Within minutes, more staff arrived. Lacey was handcuffed and led away, glaring over her shoulder. “This isn’t over!” she hissed.
The giraffes were gently unloaded from the truck, guided back toward their paddock under Hana’s watchful eye. They stretched their long necks, nibbling at leaves as if nothing had happened.
Tui exhaled in relief. “They’re safe.”
Hana crouched to face the children. Her eyes were tired but kind. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I should have spoken up sooner. You were braver than I was.”
“You still helped us in the end,” Ashleigh said.
“And we couldn’t have done it without you,” Tui added.
From the main path came the sounds of life returning to normal—the monkeys chattering, the parrots squawking, even the lions roaring as if proud of the victory.
“Guess the zoo’s breathing again,” said Hugo with a grin.
The cousins walked back through the gates together, the sun dipping low over the enclosures. The adventure was over, but they knew one thing for sure: they’d never forget the day they saved the giraffes of Kauri Zoo.
(Question Time)
