night zookeeper book 1 - Writing Ninjas

CHAPTER 1THE SPYING GIRAFFES

Hello! A very good evening to you. I’m the Night Zookeeper and you must be mynew recruit.Welcome to my zoo. To be honest it’s not really my zoo, but at night, wheneverybody is asleep and it’s just me and the animals, I like to believe that it’s mine.You see, at night when the Day Zookeepers leave the zoo, they turn the care ofthe animals over to the moonlight and to me.What the Day Zookeepers don’t know, is that at night, magic transforms this zoo.The walls of animal enclosures melt away and the animals live in a place whereanything is possible.1

Would you like to come with me on my nightly rounds? We will travel deep intothe heart of the Night Zoo and you will see the magic for yourself. However,you will have to be as quiet as a field mouse and as brave as a lion. Then, if youprove yourself, you can become a Night Zookeeper like me and together we willmeet more magical animals than you can shake a golden torch at.BANG! BANG! ALARM!! ALARM!!.... Oh don't worry, you can ignore that. I’msure it's fine. I have only worked here as a Night Zookeeper for a few weeksbut I have heard the alarm sound occasionally in that time. I’m still not sure whyit goes off, but I suspect the first animals on my nightly round might know.These are very tricky creatures, in fact they are some of the most difficult tolook after, because I keep on losing them!Come with me and, if you’re very quiet, I willintroduce you to the Spying Giraffes. “Whatare Spying Giraffes?” you ask. Well I may be theonly zookeeper in the world who can tell you.2

The Spying Giraffes are spies that keep watchful eyes over all of the nocturnalhappenings in the zoo and know all of the zoo’s secrets. (Of which, there are agreat many!)These giraffes can hide anywhere because they’re the best spies in the wholeworld. But they only spy at night. During the day they are like any other giraffes,so the Day Zookeeper’s never understand how I manage to lose them! But theDay Zookeepers don’t see what happens when night falls. They don't see howthe Spying Giraffes transform and become nearly invisible, disappearing ascompletely as food from a hippo’s plate and escaping the zoo to spy on people!At least, that’s what I think they do beyond the zoos walls. I imagine them hidingin car parks, bowling alleys and school playgrounds. Spying on people who can’tsee them because of their power of invisibility.Listen! Can you hear it? There is a faintmurmuring coming from deep within theirenclosure. Right at the back, where night is atits darkest, I can hear the hush of softly spokenwhispers, like they're sharing a secret.3

I’m standing next to a tree with my binoculars pressed close to my eyes, scanningthe shifting shadows in the enclosure and hoping to spot a Spying Giraffe so that Ican ask him about the alarms that sound at night. After a while, I grow tired so Iput out my hand to lean on a tree beside me. Imagine my surprise when the treespeaks to me!“Hello Night Zookeeper” says the tree. Now, there are many strange things inthe Night Zoo but I must admit I have never met a speaking tree before. I lookup and discover that it isn’t a tree at all, but rather, a Spying Giraffe!"I'm Sam," says Sam the Spying Giraffe. Sam isso tall that he does actually look quite a lotlike a tree. However he speaks in a very kindand friendly voice so I smile back up at him.4

"Good to meet you Sam." I say, then remembering my question I ask him: "Can youtell me why the alarm keeps sounding?" Sam looks down at me and his smiledisappears."Didn't anyone tell you?!" He asks, clearly shocked at my ignorance. I shake myhead. "Well, I don't think I'm the best animal to explain it to you I'm afraid. You willhave to ask the Time Travelling Elephant.""The Time Travelling Elephant?!" I exclaim, amazed by such a magical soundingcreature. "Where can I find him?""The Time Travelling Elephant is actually a she, and she lives in the very centreof the zoo, in a huge temple so I'm sure you will find her." says Sam patientlyindicating the direction I need to walk with his long neck. "If you get lost, Iwouldn’t worry, she is sure to find you at some point in time.""Thanks!" I say, but Sam the Spying Giraffe hasmysteriously vanished. Spying Giraffes are knownto do that I'm afraid. I pick up my pencil and drawa quick picture of Sam so that I will be able tospot him better in the future. It might be a goodidea for you to do the same at some point5

FACT FILENAME: SPYING GIRAFFESLIVES: BOWLING ALLEYS,TUBE STATIONS AND THEAFRICAN PLAINSLIKES: SPYING, HIDINGAND DETECTIVE STORIESDISLIKES: STAIRS, LYING,HAWKS AND WINTERSPECIAL BECAUSE: THEYARE THE BEST HIDERS INTHE WORLD

Just as I finish my drawing Sam reappears, however this time he isn’t alone.Stepping out of the shadows around me is a whole troop of Spying Giraffes.There are tall ones, small ones, fat ones and thin ones and they all havedifferent coloured night vision visors which are shining as brightly as stars.Sam, his orange visor shining brightest of all, steps forward and says; “Thetroop have decided that I should come with you tonight and help you in anyway I can. I will stay in the shadows and watch over you…just… in case.” Ilook at Sam quizzically, feeling a little afraid, before he quickly continues in ahappy tone,“So, where to next?”6

CHAPTER 2THE AQUATIC ZONE

With Sam as my shadow, I journey on across the zoo. As I get closerto the next stop on my rounds, the night seems to become darker andstiller. The chatter of the zoo suddenly fades, it feels as if I have pulledmy bed sheets up over my head and cut myself off from the rest of theworld.In this part of the zoo all is peaceful and quiet. I have entered Zone 2,which I learn from a sign post I pass, is known to visitors as theAquatic Zone. This zone consists of many underground tunnels withenormous fish tanks. The tanks hold fish from every river, stream, seaand ocean on earth and at night, a light, cast by the moon, illuminates awatery blue world all around me.7

When I arrive, I’m drawn to one particular fish tank first. That’sbecause this tank holds a species of exotic fish that can sing! Now Ican’t actually hear them singing, as they sing at a pitch too high for anyhuman ear to hear. I can see their mouths moving though and as theysing they give off a faint, golden glow. They’re happy, peaceful creatureswho fill me with relaxed and contented feelings.I have stood, watching these fish for a long time to try and discoverwhat it is that they’re singing about. It may sound crazy, but they are allsinging about becoming Underwater Spacemen. “What’s anUnderwater Spaceman?” you ask. Well I may be the only zookeeper inthe world who can tell you. An Underwater Spaceman is anadventurer of the Aquatic World. Just as astronauts boldly go whereno one has been before, the Underwater Spacemen travel to anequally mysterious world, known to them as the ‘Greatest Place’.8

The 'Greatest Place' sounds very mysterious indeed and I have made anote on my map to remind myself to return to the UnderwaterSpacemen and try and learn more about it from these beautifulcreatures. However now I must travel onwards because there is still somuch more to do and I want to learn the secret of this alarm.I work in the zoo from sunset to sunrise and during the past twoweeks I still have only met a handful of the animals that I’m supposed tocare for. On my first night at the zoo I found a Day Zookeeper’s map bythe gates and I use this as my guide. It must be a very old map thoughbecause it’s falling apart and has lots of holes. It’s also missing so manyof the animals that I’ve discovered whilst working here!9

I emerge from the underground tunnels and turn around lookingfor Sam. As suddenly and unexpectedly as school bell he appearsbeside me.“Am I still heading in the direction of the Time Travelling ElephantSam?” I ask feeling a little glum because the next animal on myround can be the toughest of all to look after.“Oh yes!” Sam replies happily. “It’s this way; north past the EndlessOcean and then east towards the Mountain in the Sky.”“Is it a long way?”“Oh yes!” Sam replies happily again. “You know, the last NightZookeeper had a Teleporting Torch. You really should ask the TimeTravelling Elephant for one when you meet her.”“I will!” I say very enthusiastically, although I have no idea what aTeleporting Torch is!10

FACT FILENAME: UNDERWATERSPACEMENLIVES: IN BEAUTIFUL BLUEFISH TANKSLIKES: SINNING,DREAMING ANDADVENTURESDISLIKES: NOISE, SADNESSAND THE CIRCUSSPECIAL BECAUSE: THEYARE ADVENTURERS THATSING OF THE ‘GREATESTPLACE’1

Sam and I are heading north towards the Endless Oceanso come with me and, if you’re very serious, I willintroduce you to the Old Sea Lion General. “Who is theOld Sea Lion General?” you ask. Well I may be the onlyzookeeper in the world who can tell you.The Old Sea Lion General is the bravest of the Sea Lionsin the zoo, and the former commander of the Navy Sealsand every time I meet him, he talks in endless riddlesabout a Great War he once fought in but no one elseseems to mention.I first discovered the Sea Lion enclosure just over a weekago. It’s a twinkling galaxy of bright blue water stretchingas far as the eye can see and when I found it the Old SeaLion General was waiting for me. He was incrediblyserious and seemed to think that I wasn’t needed orwanted at the zoo. I remember that he said to me, “Inwar, to not be serious is to miss the point! And youwouldn’t want to be hit with a point. It can be sharp!”11

“What point Sea Lion General?” I had replied.“Exactly!” He had said, “A wisdom she knows verywell.”Well such confusion had never rattled my headbefore I can tell you, but now thinking back, I believehe was simply poking fun at me. Tricky to look afterOld Sea Lion Generals!Perhaps with Sam here he will be nicer I think, as theocean opens up on the horizon before me. TheEndless Ocean looks darker than normal as weapproach. Huge rain clouds have gathered above itand jagged lines of bright light are striking the waterin the distance.The Old Sea Lion General appears on a rock lookingout across the ocean and welcomes me in histypically mysterious style; "The sky always look darkthrough tinted windows."12

"Another riddle?" I ask. He laughs, obviously in a goodmood for once. "I'm sorry but you are going to have toexplain this one to me as well." I say feeling foolish."My dear fellow, you really are a strange man. Must Iexplain the moon to the stars?""The moon to the stars?!" I say."Never-mind,” he says chuckling. “And who is this??”(Not to alarm you but he is looking directly at you.)“This is my new recruit!” I say, happy to change thesubject.“So you want to be a Night Zookeeper hey?!” Teases theold sea lion. “Perhaps you are better at riddles than thisone. Give this a go; what has four legs and sings? ...I willleave you to think about it, but next time we meet I shallwant an answer!”13

“The clouds are gathering.” I say pointing out at theocean, which looks very menacing.“Yes, trouble is coming tonight Night Zookeeper,” saysthe Old Sea Lion General almost sounding excited. “Ihope even you can work out what that means.”I stare at him blankly and then suddenly remember myquestion and decide not to wait until I reach the TimeTravelling Elephant but to ask him first. “Why does thealarm sound occasionally at night?”“Well…” begins the Old Sea Lion General, but beforehe can go any further, Sam steps out of the shadowsand interrupts him.“We thought that the Time Travelling Elephant wouldknow” says Sam, raising his eyebrows and looking verypointedly at the Old Sea Lion General.14

“Well… yes of course she would” he replies, “Shesounds the alarms! Luckily for you Night Zookeeper, Ihappen to be close personal friends with the TimeTravelling Elephant” as he says this he swells with pride.“She lives in a temple in Zone 2, right in the middle ofthe zoo. Simply walk in the direction of the Mountain inthe Sky, there above the horizon to the east.” I look upand am amazed to spot a mountain that is higher thanthe clouds and taller than 3,982 giraffes standing oneach other’s shoulders.“How did I miss that?!” I exclaim.“In the Night Zoo, you only see what you expect to see,and sometimes not even that.” The Old Sea LionGeneral says, laughing gruffly and shuffling his way backinto the Endless Ocean.15

FACT FILENAME: OLD SEA LIONGENERALLIVES: IN AN ENDLESSOCEANLIKES: RIDDLES, HISTORYAND THE TIME TRAVELLINGELEPHANTDISLIKES: THE NIGHTZOOKEEPER, WAR ANDFIZZY DRINKSSPECIAL BECAUSE: HE CANSOLVE THE TRICKIEST OFRIDDLES

Have you ever noticed the different faces of the Moon?As nights pass, the Moon changes in the sky. Sometimes it’s full and roundlike a hippos belly and other times it is hooked like a parrot’s beak or amonkey's banana. Do you know why this is? It’s because, as the Earth spinsand night falls, the Sun still shines on. It simply starts a new day, on theother side of the world. It is the light of this new day that reaches thesurface of the Moon and lights it up.You see, although it can appear as radiant as a light bulb, the Moon is morelike a mirror, reflecting the light of the hidden Sun back down upon us. Thisgentle silver light serves us during our times of rest.16

It’s the perfect light for Night Zookeepers like us to perform our duties under.You should never stare at the Sun because it can damage your eyes, but Iencourage you to stare at the Moon. It is very magical and I often find myselfmarvelling at it. Sadly, there is no time for that now.Using the mountain as our guide, we turn our backs on the ocean and, as itwaves us goodbye, we head off in search of the Time Travelling Elephant.17

CHAPTER 3NIGHT BUTTERFLIES

I arrive into a strange garden, a maze of flower patches and fruit treescovered in a thick fog.The torch in my hand feels like a sword made of light and I shine it at everyflower patch and into the branches of every tree around me to see if I canspot a Night Butterfly. What is a Night Butterfly you ask? Well I may be theonly zookeeper in the world who can tell you.These butterflies can only be seen at night! They have amazing 'glow in thedark' patterns on their wings and it is rumoured that spotting one can havea small but dramatic effect on your life. One of the day time zookeepers’once showed me his collection of dead butterflies. The butterflies were in aglass display box, pinned to small pieces of cork and gently attached to whitecard. It made me sad to look at the dead butterflies and I was very glad hehadn't managed to collect a Night Butterfly. Whenever I imagine the effect ofa Night Butterfly ending up in the day time zookeepers' collection, it sends ashiver down my spine.18

Suddenly a shooting star flies over my head. The Old Sea Lion General's warstories must be getting to me as seeing this innocent comet burning through thecold night sky, causes me to panic. Believing it is enemy fire I drop to my knees andsubsequently drop my torch.I watch as my torch rolls into a bush. Brushing aside a leaf it reveals somethingmagical. A Night Butterfly, its wings as delicate as flowers petals and covered influorescent patterns of great beauty. Watching its small wings fluttering I wonderwhat effect this tiny creature could ever have on me and my zoo.I'm very happy to have spotted a Night Butterfly, a creature that is, they say, as hardto find as a Spying Giraffe! I'm also happy that this is one butterfly the day timezookeeper will never add to his collection, as she is definitely a creature of thenight.I pull out my pencil and start to sketch the Night Butterfly whilst it gently fluttersabove a flower. The patterns on it’s wings are very intricate and I really enjoy tryingto draw their complex splendor.19

FACT FILENAME: NIGHT BUTTERFLIESLIVES: EVERYWHERE BUTONLY AT NIGHTLIKES: THE MOON,PAINTING AND CHOASTHEORYDISLIKES: DAYLIGHT,DAYTIME ZOOKEEPERSAND INERTIASPECIAL BECAUSE: THEYGLOW IN THE DARK ANDWHEN THEY FLAP THEIRWINGS THEY CHANGE THEFUTURE

The clouds that had formed above the Endless Ocean seem to be followingme and precipitously it starts to rain. I’m wearing my heavy navy suit with myblue Night Zookeeper’s hat. It’s a very smart uniform and surprisinglyresilient to the weather. However, to keep myself dry I use an umbrella todefend against the raindrops that fall with such aplomb from the cloudsabove.The fog clears and the flowers around me suddenly start growing at anincredible speed. They rush towards the sky like snakes from a basket andthen begin to stretch towards me.An alarm begins to sound nearby and I realise with horror that thesedelicate flowers have turned into strange creatures and are attacking me!A ramble of Night Butterflies arrive and try to protect me. They flutteraround me in a great luminous swarm, trying to hold back the flower’s petals,which are dripping in a dark liquid.20

One particularly large purple flower is now nearly as tall as me. Itspetals are covered with cactus like spikes and it is doused in the blackrain. It beats aside the constellation of Night Butterflies and sways on itstem, towards my head. In the nick of time, Sam canters up and shouts;“Quick climb on my back!” I don’t hesitate, leaping as high as I can ontoSam’s bent neck, before sliding down onto his back and being carriedaway from the purple flower. Sam is erect and running as quickly as hecan through the garden maze. Flowers are shooting up everywhere andeven the fruit trees seem to have come alive and are throwing theirfruits, covered in this strange dark liquid, straight at us.Sam swerves this way and that. Thanks to his long neck he can still see away out of the maze, but all I can see is flower stems, bushes and fruittrees, all seemingly bent on our destruction!21

“Hold on!” Sam shouts down to me. I clench my hands firmly around Sam’sneck before it miraculously disappears. I’ve heard that Spying Giraffe’s cando that, but I never thought it would happen whilst I was riding on one! Ican still feel his long neck in my arms but it, and his entire body, hasvanished completely.“You have disappeared as well” Sam calls down to me from where his headshould be. “It makes it harder for them to catch us!” I look around and cansee that the flowers have indeed become confused. They are stretching inall different directions now and becoming tangled. The fruit trees have givenup entirely, letting the last of their fruits drop to the ground around themin frustration.We turn a corner and I spot moonlight ahead through a gap leading out ofthe garden maze. Sam sees it too and speeds up. As we approach the exitsome trailing creepers attempt to block our path but Sam bursts throughthem with his strong neck and we finally escape the strange garden.22

We come to a stop and Sam reappears and bends his neck so I can slideoff and back onto my own two feet. My legs are a little wobbly but apartfrom that I feel fine.“Will the Night Butterflies be ok?” I ask Sam.“TTThey will beee fineeee, nothing they haaaven’t seen before!” say Sam,still wrestling to get his breath back.“What about you?” I ask, feeling concerned for my friend.“Ooohh don’t worrrry about me Night Zookeeper.”I pat him on the back and look around. In the distance to the east I can seetwo tusk shaped Towers shining white under the stars. Surely they mustbelong to…“The Elephant Temple” Sam says, looking in the same direction. “Home tothe Time Travelling Elepant.We will be there soon.”23

CHAPTER 4THE WONKY STAR

Before we go any further I would like to tell you a story. This story isn’tabout my zoo at all. It’s about what is above it; the sky.The sky at night is the most wonderous wilderness. The lights that hangthere, which from below look incredibly small; are actually bigger thanelephant ears.They’re giant golden torches that illuminate the worlds.There are millions of stars in the sky and I can only see a few of them frommy zoo. However I did get to know one of them very well.Look up into the sky and, if you’re very well behaved, I will introduce you tothe Wonky Star. “What is the Wonky Star?” you ask. Well I may be the onlyzookeeper in the world who can tell you.24

The Wonky Star is a shooting star that at night travels the Universe, lookingfor friends. The Wonky Star’s points are all different. One point is short andchunky, another long and thin.The Wonky Star finds it hard being different and so it moves from galaxy togalaxy hoping to meet other imperfect stars. For centuries and centuries theWonky Star looked for other unsymmetrical stars until one night, when hewas tired from flying through the sky, he stopped by our moon for a rest. Asyou know, I often stare in wonder at the majesty of the sky. However it was acoincidence that on the very night the Wonky Star came to rest above ourzoo, I looked up and said “My, what a beautiful starry night.” Imagine mysurprise when the star talked back to me!“Do I spoil it? Should I move on?” said theWonky Star, in a small, sad voice.“Of course you don’t spoil it. You’re beautiful,just like all the other stars.” I replied.“But look at my strange points” the star sighed.25

“Do you really look different from the other stars?” I asked. The Wonky Starlooked around at the other stars in the sky. “There.” I said. “Look at that oneclose to you, to your right, shining in the distance about 30 million light yearsaway. I think he has a long point too. Besides you both look radiant from myperspective!”“You are right!” The Wonky Star exclaimed excitedly. “I think I have found myhome. Do I really look beautiful from down there?”“You all do. Stars aren’t created with a ruler. They all have their long points andshort points and the light of every star is precious.Sometimes we can be too close to ourselves tobe a good judge of who we really are. If you everlose faith in your own beauty all you need to dois ask someone who can look at you fromanother view, just like I’m looking at you now.”Upon hearing this, the star smiled, it twinkled inthe sky and looked more beautiful than ever.26

END OF BOOK 1BOOK 2: THE TIME TRAVELLING ELEPHANTGet the next book in the series, The Time Travelling Elephant to discover thesecret of the mysterious alarm!