David Palmer - Emergence

Odds practically nil for compatible meeting, mating, species’ perpetuation before all dead of cold, old age, hunting accidents. Even given warmer climes to south, threat exists few years at most.

Warm-blooded predators, however, constitute distinctly separate problem: General rule suggests anything furry capable of producing winter coat. Know for fact, tigers found from rain forests to well above Himalayan snow line. One kitty actually named “Snow Leopard.” Lions roamed portions of Europe mere centuries ago; disappeared from Turkish mountains since Ottoman collapse.

Besides, most zoos housed relatively large big-cat populations; and are gregarious, particularly lions: Band together in prides, breed like rabbits. Perpetuation assured.

But pussycats not only problem: Grizzlies, wolves, cougars all native North Americans; absent Man, make selves at home anywhere.

And what about Kodiak bears? Comforting notion: 1,800 pounds of appetite. And polar bears — 11 feet long (not true bears at all; mink family — dispositions to match). Both regarded among deadliest carnivores on planet.

Vegetarians potential problem, too: Hannibal brought elephants across Alps; mammoths here before people. Doubt will enjoy winters, but most probably survive, multiply. Rhinos, too. Neither overtly aggressive; not truly dangerous per se (barring stupidity — not ideal subjects for teasing), but undesirable neighbors: To farmer visits equate with earthquake, flood, drought, locusts. Hope attentions dissuadable without bloodshed.

Sundry antelope types probably manage winters well as local ruminants — undoubtedly fare better in relations with new predator mix.

All of which certainly complicates outlook. Careful thought required for future. Must assemble projection of potential competition; learn strengths, weaknesses, formulate plans to cope.

During interim, M-16 probably adequate coper if cornered: Unlikely anything still standing after fully automatic setting empties 50-shot clip (expanding slugs) into ticklish spots. Other advantages: lightweight, accurate, reliable; spares, ammunition endlessly available; familiar now with teardown, maintenance drill.

Plus final advantage: Doesn’t knock me down (petty detail, but personally satisfying). Basic physics, of course: Violence going that way usefully limited (given 70-pound shooter) by violence coming this way. Equation rules out .457 Weatherby Magnum Double, African guide’s favorite equalizer.

“And if all else fails,” offered Adam, when I paused for breath, “we can try a stern expression and an assertive tone of voice: ‘Shoo!’ ”

Didn’t dignify by responding. Said, “We need to tighten up our travel habits.”

“Oh, yes, we’re guilty of the French traveler’s mistake.”

“I think we should start wearing sidearms from now on, and keep the M-16s close at hand — what ?”

Adam smiled. “You’re right; we do need to tighten our travel security habits. We’ve committed the classical French traveler’s error. You know: Too loose la trek…”

Favored him with glare. “No more solitary wandering,” I continued firmly. “We go everywhere together…”

“ Every where?”

“…and we go armed.”

“Oh. Pity.”

“Be serious !” Adam’s lack of concern more worrisome than newly discovered neighbors. How could be so casual, surrounded by slavering man-eaters…?

“I am.” Smiled again. Watched me, waiting expectantly.

Open mouth for scathing retort; then hesitated, closed again. Performed quick review of events since rhino hove into view — especially own conduct. Cringed at conclusion: Not once assembled, processed facts with brain switched on. Typical “fluttering, fragile ingénue” of worst gothic romance would be embarrassed to take credit for my performance past couple hours.

Ground teeth. Adam right. Again. Easily his most offensive habit.

Except for zoos’ immediate areas, chances of adversary encounter with escapee compares favorably with odds on lightning strike. Possible, yes. But for first few years — until get spread out, established, build up populations, risk factor simply doesn’t justify going to lots of extra trouble.

Yes, probably should carry M-16s whenever poking around inside strange buildings; yes, probably should cut out solitary explorations, period; yes, probably should take extra pains not to throw away food scraps close to campsite where smell might attract predators. Yes, should take commonsense precautions, in other words, practiced by any intelligent camper; but not lose head…

Initial reaction doubtless based on too many Class-D movies — plus absence of rational thought. Product of small-town living: Every Saturday evening throughout summers, Town Fathers stretched sheet across one end of grassy natural amphitheater in park; ran free show for migrant workers’ children: endless succession of marvelously bad old movies, always preceded by cartoons, oft-spliced old science-fiction/ horror serials. Probably have seen every Johnny Weismuller Tarzan movie ever made; along with Bomba, the Jungle Boy; Sheena, Queen of the Jungle; Tim Tyler’s Luck; Osa, Martin Johnson’s pseudodocumentaries about exploring “darkest Africa”; (plus Zombies of the Stratosphere; Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers), etc., etc. And everyone (free show attendees, anyway) knows jungle predators all live only to sink fangs into trembling flesh of heroine (nice girl, usually, most of whose problems brought on by disregarding instructions, behaving stupidly).

Almost as stupidly as self.

Spending night in outer suburbs. Judged proximity to zoo increases risk to point where additional security advisable. Adam concurred. Pulled whole rig into commercial garage; closed doors, windows. Verified (together, armed) nothing large enough to pose threat lurked in darkened corners.

Spending night with trailer door, windows closed, air-conditioning on. Structure probably sufficiently porous to eliminate CO threat, but Adam slipped hose over alternator exhaust, let out roof vent anyway.

This morning Adam checked Yellow Pages, located nearby burglar-bar service. Drove us over after breakfast. Dug through inventory, selected assortment of wrought-iron grilles, installed over van’s, trailer’s windows. Even windshield.

Over yesterday’s jitters (all right, hysteria) and agree with Adam: Bars silly overkill precaution.

On other hand, intangibles difficult to evaluate. Bars’ sturdy appearance reassuring when contemplating future possibility of looking out at something hungry looking in. Improved sleep quality, duration, might prove critical during future nonanimal-related crisis.

(Evaluation particularly difficult when consists largely of rationalizing decisions already made based on gut feeling rather than logic.)

Oh, Posterity, please be patient. Probably most difficult entry have ever faced. Emotional control fragile as crystal, unstable as if balanced on pinpoint. Forgive rambling if occurs. Will do best, but subconscious probably try to steer me away from subject.

Now camped on grounds of Mount Palomar observatory, southern California. Haven’t kept up journal since leaving St. Louis, ten days ago. Inexcusable conduct for histographer, true. But couldn’t write about what happened that day so soon after — and been unable to think about anything else.

First thing after bar installation, Adam identified rail line going proper direction. Soon on our way again, speeding cross-country, insulated from deteriorating road conditions, clutter. Interesting how rail system seems to have fared better than roads following Man’s End. Perhaps essentially flexible nature of steel mounted on wood, laid on equally flexible fist-sized rock roadbed…