CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Lucy, you said that we were getting tiger cubs, a giraffe, a baby elephant, and two bison," said Gaspar. "Now, I'm seeing the bison, Buddy and Bob, and they're fucking huge. I can't help but see the damn giraffe, Jura, although she sure is pretty. The elephant, Kala, is a sweet little thing. All five hundred pounds of her. And Tabby and Taboo, your little tiger cubs are growing fast. But now, now, you tell me we've got a lion as well."

"Gaspar, please just let us introduce you to him," said Claire. "He's beautiful, and he's older, but he needed a place to heal."

"Heal?" frowned Gaspar, staring at their wild animal expert. "You brought an injured lion to this property?"

"He was abused," said Dex, walking up with Sniff and Striker. "He was in a wildlife park, and I use that term loosely, but they weren't feeding him properly, nor giving him the right diet, and his enclosure wasn't well maintained. His paws are cut."

"He's going to eat all of you," said Gaspar, shaking his head.

"Dad, please. Just come and see. His name is Hekima. It means wise." Lucy pulled on her father's hand, leading him toward the enclosure. Sure enough, lying on a massive rock, sunning himself, was the lion. As she opened the enclosure door, Gaspar followed, only to be sure his daughter wasn't eaten alive.

"Hekima! Come, Hekima," she said, patting her thighs.

"He's not a fucking kitten!"

"Dad, please. Just relax, you're scaring him."

"I'm scaring him. Right." To his surprise, the old cat stood and slowly sauntered toward them. When he was beside Lucy, he rubbed his head on her hip, and she began scratching between his ears.

"Pet him," she smiled. "He's very sweet."

"He's looking at me like I'm dinner, Lucy. I'm a big, juicy steak for him."

"That's what we're trying to tell you, Gaspar," said Striker. "The park removed his teeth and his claws. This old guy has no defenses at all."

Gaspar frowned, looking down at the majestic beast. He ran his hand over the velvety soft fur, then through his thick mane.

"We've washed him, treated him for a few things, and now he's getting the proper diet to maintain good health and live long. His claws will grow back, but unfortunately, his teeth will not."

"And when the claws come out again?" frowned Gaspar.

"He's docile, Dad. You can see it. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. He's getting along beautifully with the other animals, and they're enjoying his company."

"Alright, he's docile and beautiful and majestic and wonderful. But where does this end? At what point are we just going to admit that we have a wildlife park of our own?"

"Actually, we don't want to tell anyone about it," said Dex. "We want to provide a safe haven for these creatures, and your father has ensured that there is enough land to do that. If they can be reintroduced to their natural habitat, we'll do that. If not, they'll remain here."

Gaspar still had his hand in the mane of Hekima, rubbing it gently. He felt the big purr beneath his palm and realized the power the animal possessed, even without teeth and claws. He could, in theory, still maul him or bite down, crushing a bone with his force. But he wasn't. He was gentle and sweet, just as the others said.

"Alright. We have ourselves a lion."