Camouflage (2 page)

Dr. Timothy turned to his guests. “Ah, I'm afraid I didn't get a chance to warn you about Mrs. Yeoh,” he said sheepishly. His mobile phone rang. “Excuse me, I need to get this.” He moved away from the others and started speaking quickly in Mandarin.

Terri tried to be tactful. “Well, I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like her before.”

“Me neither,” piped up Bindi.

“I hope I don't ever meet anyone like her again,” added Robert.

“Robert, that's rude,” scolded Terri.

“No it's not, Mum, it's truthful,” replied Bindi on Robert's behalf. “She was wearing a snakeskin suit!”

Terri shuddered at the memory. “Yes, it was horrible. But don't say anything to Timothy about her. Anyway, it sounds like we'll be having dinner at her place tomorrow night.”

“Do we have to?” Bindi asked.

“Yes, for Timothy. We're here to support him, and that dinner is obviously important.”

Robert was shuffling his feet in the dirt. “When can we see the reptiles, Mum?”

“Look, why don't you and Bindi have a look around. I'll wait here for Timothy to finish his call and follow you.”

“Okay, Mum.”

The siblings looked at each other excitedly and raced off down the path.

“Let's go visit Dr. Timothy's favorite reptile,” Bindi suggested.

They wandered down a dirt path toward a large enclosure, passing along the way a pair of Philippine sailfin lizards and a beautiful Fijian crested iguana. Next up was a large enclosure, where a regal-looking Komodo dragon was sunning herself on a large rock.

“There she is. That must be Saffron. Isn't she fantastic?!”

The kids knew that Dr. Timothy had been very lucky to get Saffron. Komodo dragons came from Komodo Island, in nearby Indonesia, but they were critically endangered. Dr. Timothy had plans to start a breeding program within the reptile park, and he hoped that in years to come, Saffron would produce offspring to help increase Komodo dragon numbers worldwide. So not only was she gorgeous, she was also vitally important to the success of Dr. Timothy's long-term plans for the reptile park.

Bindi looked admiringly at Saffron, who remained oblivious to the attention and raised her neck farther toward the sun. “I don't think I've seen a Komodo who's come straight from the wild before,” she said. “She's definitely bigger than any female Komodo that I've seen before, don't you think?”

“Definitely. Nice long toes too,” added Robert.

“She's drop-dead gorgeous,” said Bindi.

Robert frowned. “I hope you don't mean her,” he said, pointing farther along the path to where Mrs. Yeoh was having an animated conversation with a construction worker.

“Hmm, that's strange, isn't it?” said Bindi. “Wasn't she ordering someone around, telling them she needed to get back to the mainland ‘pronto'?”

Just then, both adults glanced over in the kids' direction. Mrs. Yeoh looked annoyed to see them there and guided the worker away from the kids and out of sight.

Robert shrugged. “Maybe the boat wasn't clean enough and she's organizing a jumbo jet to pick her up instead.”

Right on cue, a large aircraft flew overhead. He yelled over the engine noise, “See, told ya,” but Bindi wasn't paying attention. She was frowning, staring after the departed adults. There was definitely something slippery about Mrs. Cynthia Yeoh.

The Irwins woke early the next morning, very happy to have spent a relaxing night in a hotel bed. The kids were busy consulting the room service menu.

“Okay, so you can choose from fresh fruit salad and yogurt, bacon and eggs—either poached, boiled, fried, or scrambled—or a basket of pastries with fresh juice…” Bindi looked up from the menu to see Robert frowning in concentration. “Or you can have—”

Robert's tummy growled. “What? There's more? But there are already too many choices. I want them all, and I'm so hungry I'm gonna have to eat the pillow if Mum doesn't come out of the bathroom soon!”

Bindi laughed. “Mmm, I don't think I feel like pillow this morning. I think I'm more in the mood for—”

The phone rang, interrupting her. She jumped on the bed to reach it. “Hello?” she answered. “Oh hi, Dr. Timothy. Yes, thanks. How are—oh, okay.”

She frowned and went to the bathroom door. “Mu-um, Dr. Timothy's on the phone.”

Terri came out a moment later, her hair wrapped in a towel.

Bindi covered the mouthpiece and whispered, “Dr. Timothy seems really upset about something.”

Terri frowned and picked up the phone. “G'day, Timothy.” The kids watched Terri's face go from relaxed to alarmed to incredulous. “But I can't believe it. Yes…safe and sound there yesterday. I know, the kids mentioned—” She nodded. “Yes, of course I understand.” She shook her head. “I know, it's terrible, and only one day from opening.” She paused a moment while Dr. Timothy continued. “Yes, we'll be there as soon as we can.”

Terri hung up the phone, pulling the towel from her head distractedly.

“What's wrong, Mum?” asked Bindi.

“There's been an incident at the reptile park. We have to head out there now.”

Both kids looked longingly at the breakfast menu.

“But, Mum?” Robert pleaded. “We've got time for breakfast first, don't we?” His tummy growled again, punctuating his request.

“Let's get something quick downstairs then,” replied Terri. “Saffron the Komodo dragon's gone missing from her enclosure.”

Bindi exclaimed, “Sheesh, that's no good. They're carnivorous and have poisonous saliva. You don't want them roaming free around the island.”

Terri nodded. “Exactly. That's why we're going to help search for her.” She grabbed her bag and hotel key card.

“Okay, Irwins. Moving out. We've got a Komodo to find!”

The Irwins headed for the ferry wharf by taxi, where poor Dr. Timothy, who looked like he'd aged ten years in one night, was waiting for them.

Terri and the kids gave him a hug.

“Don't worry, Dr. Timothy,” assured Bindi. “We'll help you find Saffron.”

“Well, this isn't quite what I'd had planned for your visit, but I'm really pleased you're all here.”

Terri and Robert had just jumped aboard the bumboat when a TV cameraman and journalist hurried over to Dr. Timothy, who was still with Bindi on the jetty.

“Oh no,” Timothy muttered to himself. “Just what we don't need. Bad publicity.”

The journalist stuck her microphone in Dr. Chan's face. “Dr. Chan, is it true? Even before the controversial Pulau Ubin Reptile Park has opened, you have a dangerous creature running wild?”

Bindi realized Dr. Timothy needed her help. She moved over to the journalist and gave her a sweet smile. “G'day, that's a pretty necklace you're wearing.”

The journalist touched her throat, pleased with the compliment. “Thank you. And you are—?” She stopped, taking a closer look at Bindi, before adding, “Are you Bindi Irwin, from Australia? The Crocodile Hunter's daughter?”

Bindi flashed the journalist another smile. “That's right. And my family and I are here in Singapore because we're just so excited about the opening of Dr. Timothy Chan's awesome reptile park.”

The journalist turned to the cameraman. “Did you get that, Tan?”

The cameraman gave the okay signal and continued to focus his camera on Bindi. “So, Bindi Irwin, what do you think about reports of an escaped reptile?”

Bindi looked toward the camera. “Dr. Timothy is a complete professional, and there are always last minute things that need fixing before something as amazing as a new reptile park opens. Don't worry, Singapore. When you turn up for the opening of the Pulau Ubin Reptile Park tomorrow, you'll be in for a bonza day, guaranteed. See you there.” She gave the camera the thumbs up and then turned to the journalist. “Sorry, but we need to get moving. Lots to do today. See ya.”

Bindi and Dr. Timothy climbed onto the boat, and moments later, the ferry was steaming toward the island.

Dr. Timothy turned to Bindi, impressed. “Bindi Irwin, you were amazing! Thank you.”

Bindi giggled. “No worries. It was fun!”

Robert came over and handed her an apricot danish he'd dug out of his pocket. “I was gonna keep this for later, but you deserve it after that performance.”

Bindi didn't hesitate. “Yum, thanks,” she said as she bit into the danish with relish. With her mouth full, she added, “Now we just have to find Saffron.”

Unfortunately for everyone, as they arrived on the island, Mrs. Cynthia Yeoh was already there with her claws out.

“This is a total disaster, Timothy, and I hold you completely responsible,” she screeched.

Dr. Timothy sighed. “Good morning, Cynthia. Do you know why there was a TV camera waiting for us at the Changi terminal?”

Cynthia's hand immediately went to her perfectly coiffed hair. “Really, TV cameras? I may have mentioned I'd do a press conference—”

Dr. Timothy's forced patience was disappearing by the minute. “Cynthia, I don't think that's a good idea at all. Firstly, I am the director of the park, and if anyone's going to make a statement, it should be me, and secondly—”

“Well, frankly, I'm amazed you're trying to throw your weight around when you can't even look after a few cold-blooded creatures. The large lizard's disappearance is a disaster, and I'm sure it's been caused by that last-minute construction work you insisted happen in the python enclosure!”

“That reinforced fencing was necessary for safety reasons!” Dr. Timothy said exasperated.

Cynthia was now shouting. “The fact is, our star attraction is missing and you better comb every inch of this island and find it fast before our sponsors take their money and disappear too!”

Dr. Timothy looked defeated. “Yes, of course.”

Mrs. Yeoh looked momentarily triumphant and then turned to the Irwins, who'd been watching the whole encounter.

She smiled sweetly at them. “I'm so looking forward to seeing you at the gala dinner this evening. I doubt that Timothy”—she gestured dismissively in his direction—“will be able to come now, but don't worry, I'll make sure you're looked after. See you there at seven.”

She tapped Robert on the nose and patted Bindi on the head and tottered off on her ridiculously high heels. If the whole thing hadn't been so awful, Terri might have laughed. Her children looked like they were going to explode!

Five hours later, the Irwins and Dr. Timothy met up outside Saffron's empty enclosure. “We've looked everywhere, Dr. Timothy. Saffron just seems to have disappeared,” Bindi said, wiping sweat from her brow. Singapore was even more humid than Queensland!

Robert was extremely disappointed. “I can always find reptiles, Dr. Timothy. I know where a croc will be hiding out in a river, or where a blue tongue will be hiding in the garden. I was sure I'd find a lizard the size of Saffron on an island!” He shook his head, worried. “Maybe I've lost my touch.”

Dr. Timothy patted him on the back. “I doubt it, Robert. I agree with you. It's like Saffron's just vanished into thin air. I could've sworn there was no way she could get out of her enclosure. Komodo dragons are arboreal when they're young. That means—”

“We know,” piped up Bindi. “They live in trees, but once they're older they're mainly terrestrial, which means—”

“—they live on the land,” finished Robert.

Terri smiled proudly at the kids.

“I think I might hire your kids as guides, Terri. They know more about reptiles than most adults, that's for sure!” He glanced at his watch. “You guys need to head back to your hotel and get ready for the gala dinner,” he said.

Bindi and Robert turned to Terri, looking hopeful. “Shouldn't we stay here and help, Mum?”

Dr. Timothy answered. “I'll need you to be at the dinner on my behalf. Especially if Bindi can distract the media as well as she did this morning.”

Bindi voiced the question they were all reluctant to ask. “What will happen if Saffron doesn't turn up before the opening, Dr. Timothy?”

He sighed a large, exhausted sigh. “I don't know. I don't think we can open without Saffron, and although she has the sweetest nature, who knows what might happen if someone who doesn't know about Komodos runs into her?”

Terri tried to reassure him. “It won't come to that, Timothy. She'll turn up. I know it.”

“Keep those positive thoughts coming. And enjoy the dinner. I'll stay here and keep searching.”

Robert said under his breath to Bindi, “I'd rather run into a hungry Komodo than Mrs. Yeoh any day.”

“Me too. Much less chance of getting attacked,” added Bindi dryly.