[Gpdd] [Virtual] Fair Winds and Following Seas. Chapter 7. The Taronga Zoo

[Sandra Oliver-Poore]

In the early morning, 4 bells, Shipwreck Sam and all the other piggies woke in a pile of other boars on the main deck of the Black Pearl, the sows were near-by in a big pile of cuddle cups and young-uns.  It was one of those perfect crisp mornings that make one wish they were all that way. The Black Pearl was moving the 2KM to the Taronga Zoo at Athol Port on Sydney Harbor.  Since the evenings libations had been light after the still somewhat unbelievable actions of the previous days tumultuous events everyone was clear headed and conversation quickly picked up where it had left off.  Did we really sink terrorist bombs they mused, rhetorical as they knew they had indeed diffused and sunk 3 boats full of explosives! 



Bosworth and Rafferty seemed a bit taller today, Annie and Alexandra a bit more spry, Anita peeked around her mom Adrianna admiring Bosworth’s confidence. She hadn’t told her mum but the pair had sneaked of to watch the fireworks last night from the poop deck, and really enjoyed each others company.  AR seemed the same but his little chorus of lady mice was even more adoring.  Merlin preened from the top of the main mast, the small army of pelicans was returning after their day off. Everyone felt like they had done their part and everyone had jumped right in and done their assigned jobs perfectly, no screw ups and the crew was justifiably proud of themselves. So everyone pitched in to mornings chores and the Pearl was soon moving slowly up the harbor in order to fit in with all the traffic left over from the previous evening.  



At 6 bells Sam was joined by Velvet, Onyx, Friday, Mimi, Ethan, Hector, Pandora, Spooky, Garnet and Ned who each reported on their area of responsibility. After reports Sammy announced the Pearl would put in at Athol Port after patrolling the entire area from the tip of Ashton Park all the way up to Little Sinus Cove looking for suspicious craft. After a two hour patrol with secret agents deployed in their zodiacs met back with the senior crew and all agreed the Zoo appeared to be entirely safe.  The piggies divided into teams of 6 and were given from lunch time to mid evening to tour the Zoo itself both for fun and to gather as much intelligence as possible both about any suspected threats and conditions for the trip north to Lizard Island and the interim stops near Brisbane and Cairns. They planned to inspect storm damage especially at nature and wildlife preserves along the way. Australia was new to most piggies. Velvet, Onyx, and Friday were assigned as the team leaders to plan the northward journey as they are natives or frequent visitors to OZ.  The weather would be increasingly warm as they went north, with pockets of turbulence and occasional thunderstorms and summer showers. Mild winds with occasional high gusts were expected. Normal for this time of year, but it would require watchfulness on the journey as sailing vessels are very vulnerable to changing conditions. 



As the sets of six piggies departed it was beginning to be clear that piggies were pairing.  Sammy helped Puff onto the beach followed by Ringer holding paws with the lovely Gingerpuff.  Anita and Bosworth. Was that Pandora Piggyfriend with Ned? Rafferty had attracted a pair of young black Abby sows who were accompanied by their identical mom and all three wore matching shorts and tees with the logo “The Beautifuls” on their chests.  AR was off with a whole pile of Misfits as they had so much to catch up on since their reunion on the Pearl.  The Pelicans set off to visit the zoo pelicans, much intelligence expected there, and the mice scampered off to the rodent house. Merlin would visit every kind of parakeet, cockatoo and cockatiel and Oz has so many. Only one piggy set off alone; the ever mysterious Chip with his heavy cloak, where did he go at every port? Why so mysterious? Who is he? A few Misfits remained to guard the ship; it was to be a fine afternoon!