"And not adapting to the habitat. It's too early to tell what the problem is. I'd like to do a blood workup, toxicology tests, but of immediate concern is to move Punkin-"
"What happened to Old Jack?"
"Punkin is a more customer-friendly name," the CEO murmured.
King shut up again. The woman was smooth. She had them eating out of her hand. His eyes went around the room, wondering which one of them she was sleeping with.
"As I was saying," Nancy resumed, "Punkin must be moved as soon as possible. To a more suitable environment. Also, a more secret one since the press has been flooding the switchboard with inquiries."
"Now whose fault is that?" King snapped.
The CEO stood up abruptly. "King, help Dr. Derringer with all the arrangements."
"Yes, sir," King said unhappily.
On their way out, the board of directors stopped to give Nancy their compliments. King was ignored. That hurt most of all.
After the board had gone home, King stood up stiffly. "I guess I'll have to make the best of this. Where are we moving him?"
"That's classified," Nancy snapped, gathering up her files.
"Not from me."
"Especially from you."
"Then how can I help if I don't know where we're taking Old Jack?"
"Because B'wana is going home for the evening."
"You can't order me home."
"Would you rather I ask the board to do that?"
"You play a hard game of ball for a girl without any. "
"Try not to slam the door on your way out," Nancy said. "It's made of glass. Like your ego."
After King had left, Nancy went to her new office. Skip King's name was still on the door. By morning, that would be changed. At her new desk, she dialed her home number.
"Remo? Nancy. It's all set. We're moving Punkin tonight."
"Need any help? Chiun should be here in an hour or two."
"No. No time. Better wait for him. And stick by the phone. I'll call if I need you."
"Let's hope not. I'm in no mood to stand between Chiun and the wishbone of his choice all freaking night."
Chapter 21
Burger Triumph World Headquarters was a forty-story office tower surrounded by low satellite buildings. A golden crown surmounted the tower, making the lower buildings seem like kneeling subjects before a monolithic emperor. The park was accessible by a single service road and surrounded by a security fence.
The press was kept outside the fence. The security guard at the gate was under explicit instructions. If questioned about a dinosaur, laugh in their faces.
He did. And as the night wore on and the phone calls to the corporate building went unreturned, the press gave it up.
By three o'clock in the morning, the coast was clear.
Nancy Derringer was giving the Apatosaur's a last once-over. It regarded her with sleepy eyes. It had shifted position since she had last been here. It was a good sign. It should be strong enough for the transfer.
She lifted the walkie-talkie in her hand and said, "Open the gate."
At the opposite end of the sunken habitat a steel door lifted like a guillotine blade being raised into cutting position. A dim tunnel was exposed.
From within, a fan began blowing, carrying a fruity scent to the Apatosaur nostrils. It stirred, craning its long neck around.
"There you go, Punkin. Food."
The reptile sniffed audibly.
"You can do it," Nancy encouraged. "You're hungry, aren't you?"
The creature found its feet with ponderous dignity. It backed up, turned, and sent its long drooping neck into the tunnel.
Nancy had her fingers crossed. "Keep going."
The shoulder disappeared as the creature followed its nose. When the sound of noisy eating came, only the tail was visible.
This went on for twenty some minutes and tailed off. Then it stopped all together.
A voice crackled from the walkie-talkie. "He's gulped down every last avocado, Dr. Derringer."
"I'm on my way," Nancy said. "It shouldn't be long now. "
The great basement gave a long shudder and there was silence except for the slow slapping of the reptile's tail against the ground.
Nancy climbed down and slipped into the tunnel.
Captain Relish met her in the narrow square tunnel. The dinosaur hauler had been backed into the sloping tunnel, so that its bed lay flush with the floor.
The Apatosaur had collapsed peacefully in the confined space, ready for transport.
"The sedatives worked perfectly, Dr. Derringer," said Relish. "Care to do the honors?"
Reluctantly, Nancy tranked the creature herself, hating every pull of the rifle trigger. Only a half dozen shots were required to insure an extended sleep.
Nancy handed the rifle back to Relish. "All right, secure him and we'll be going."