Chapter 11 - The story of the young penguin

"New relations"

 Soon the dinner time appeared in the Zoo. Kowalski had a lot of work in his secret lab, but he didn't wanted anyone to help him, even Rico, who was always assisting him in his strange experiments. Raymond knew that already, because Private secretly whispered to him about that, noticing that the new guest kinda didn’t know how to behave in this new unique group. When Raymond took his cap off to rub his glasses by using it, Skipper came down to tell others that it's about time to go up and make a "show" to impress the humans and earn some fish. He noticed that the new penguin looked kinda similar to Kowalski without his accessories.

- Lets see if you can be useful. The humans always expect to see four penguins and if Kowalski can't go with us now, you will replace him for a short time - ordered the boss penguin.

     Raymond could be useful in this case only on one condition. He had to take off his clothes to get rid of potential suspicions. He wasn't happy about that. His clothes reminded him his mother, but he did it anyway, leaving only the glasses, even if Skipper wanted him to take them off too. The young penguin didn't have time to take a look on the penguins zoo habitat through the hatch and even time to think about this little mission, because Rico grabbed his wing pushing him out. Many humans in all ages came to see the penguins. Some had small buckets with fish. All of them had curious looks and cheerful faces, but their eyes concentrated only on one thing were a bit freighting for Raymond, who just stood and looked instead of doing something. Meanwhile the other penguins started their performance. Private posed for those, who wanted a picture with the penguins. He was very good at that, cute and so natural at the same time. He bowed every time when someone thrown him a fish. He was like a well known young star beloved by the crowd. Rico started to fool around and in the exact sense of that word. He jumped high several times, flapping his wings and pretending that he want to fly. Then he suddenly jumped to the pool making kids laugh. He was so laid back and so cheerful all the time. It looked like he was really enjoying all this. Private acted very similar and that behavior was very impressive for Raymond. He admired their courage, wanting to observe them instead of fooling around. 

In this moment the moomin melody say about the time when the penguins are playing, trying to impress the humans and it shows how it looks in Raymond's eyes:


 Meanwhile Skipper waved to the visitors a bit. Soon then he laid on his back pretending, that he is playing with his feet like a little cat. That made warm expressions on human faces, but in Raymond's eyes his behavior looked too stupid and too non serious, even if the sun gave Skipper a stronger beam, like the light on a big stage. Shortly after that one girl shouted:

- Look, the zookeepers gave glasses to one of them! It’s so cute! 
                               
More humans started to pay attention to Raymond, especially that he didn't behave like others. He looked on Skipper like he would want to ask "what now", but the boss penguin just gave him a short look without saying anything and he jumped to the water. Raymond noticed some colorful souvenirs. For example penguin plush toys and even T-shirts with the zoo penguins. On one of them Private was smiling and waving with Kowalski, so Raymond decided that he also will wave. First he used one wing, which gave a good result, because it drawn honest happy smiles on several faces. Then he used both of the wings, like Kowalski on the T-shirt. Thanks to that Raymond got three fish for himself.

     When the visitors went to see the other animals in the Zoo, the penguin group decided to count the food and check who gave the best performance. Private was the cutest, so he had the most fish, seven exactly. Rico and Skipper had six and five. They had to save some for Kowalski, remembering that some times he is so involved in his work that he forgets to eat. Skipper managed to take one fish from Rico before his soldier ate everything at once, two from Private, and two from Raymond, eating all of his own.
- Hey! Others had more than me. Why did you took half of my portion? - asked Raymond. 
- Because you did almost nothing to earn them - the boss penguin said without looking on him.
- It was my first time. I tried my best.
- You have to do better than that - Skipper said eating one of Raymond's fish.
- You didn't do much yourself., and you ate all of yours - Raymond said sowing with the tone of his voice, that he is becoming upset.
- The leader don't have to do all the work. He has his soldiers to help him. Besides has the privilege to eat good - Skipper said feeling very proud of himself as always.
- Yeah, right - Raymond snorted, saying more quietly to himself - What a loving father.
 Skipper pretended that he didn't hear anything, going towards the entrance to the base.
- Oh, come on. Don't give me that sad face. Here, I can give you one or two fish - private proposed.
Rico tried to vomit one fish for the new friend but it was too late.
- Heheh. Sorry - He said.
- Skipper is not so bad. He likes to show his position against his soldiers - Private explained giving Raymond a fish.
- But I should be someone else for him…
- Eat now - smiling Rico patted Raymond's back so strongly, that the young penguin's face touched the fish, that he had in his flippers.
Raymond's face and glasses were so filthy at the moment.
- Look what you done! - Raymond yelled and in the first moment he didn't seen, that this was just a stupid joke.
 Rico started to laugh and Private too. Raymond jumped on Rico and he tried to push him to the water, but Rico dodged, laughing even more, when his opponent fell in to the water.

     ”So you want to play like this ey?” - Raymond said in his mind, discovering that the water in the penguins pool is warmer and nicer than the water in Antarctica.

- Ah! My foot! I feel a pain in it! - Raymond lied, ordering - Rico, help me.
- No - Rico shook his head.
   Raymond pretended that he has a problem with keeping up on the surface of the water.
- It’s not funny! Give me your wing!
- Eee... OK! - Rico decided, giving a flipper to Raymond.
   Then the young penguin suddenly pulled him into water. 
- And how do you feel now? Did you like that? - upset Raymond asked.
- Ehe - Rico nodded starting to splash the water on the young penguin.

(Scene made by leilush12.deviantart.com/ )

     His positive reaction quickly changed the mood of surprised Raymond, who was expecting an argue and instead of that he accidentally started a game. He also splashed the water, doing something, that he didn’t do for a some time now. He laughed. But it wasn’t an ordinary laugh, no, it was a laugh filled with joy, that was almost so big like in the time, when Raymond spent a nice time with Hans. Unfortunately only Private was sensitive enough to see the magic of the laugh, covering is face with his flippers, when Raymond dived, immersing in to the warm color of the pool filled with the sunlight. That invited Rico to chase him. They made several circles around the base, swimming as fast as they could and making thousand little bubbles around them. Every time when Raymond took some air, Rico tried to catch him by jumping on him, but his victim was faster than he thought. Suddenly Raymond noticed a strange light on one of the underwater windows. He stopped, trying to see what is on the other side. He didn’t have a chance to take a closer look, because Rico used the moment of his inattention to finally catch him, squeezing his belly and causing, that he opened his beak and lost the rest of the air. Before going back to the base, he pointed the place, where the window with the light was, asking what was there. Private said that it’s only Kowalski’s lab, seeing nothing incredible about it. That information was more interesting than he thought and from that time Raymond started to think about the mystic lab, wondering if he could find there something, that might help solve the mystery of his life.
   The working day for the zoo animals was coming to the end. The evening was approaching very slowly, but fast enough to not notice that. According to Kowalski and his binoculars it was the time, when they supposed to eat supper. He was right, because soon one of the well known zookeepers named Alice, appeared with a bucket. Raymond wanted to take a closer look on her, forgetting, that all of the humans supposed to see only four penguins at the Zoo. Skipper yelled that Raymond must immediately go back to the base. Rico covered him, when the young penguin uncovered the hatch. Before reaching the floor, he thought, that he want to see the zoo-keeper anyway. When Alice thrown the fish, Raymond carefully opened the hatch. The woman was hunched a bit, which looked kinda funny, because her pose reminded Rico. After the penguins collected all the fish, they thrown them down. Nobody saw, that Raymond was still there an a bunch of fish pushed him from the ladder. That made the boys laugh, especially Skipper, who teased with a smile:

- I told you to go down Ray.

     Raymond didn't treat that as an advice massaging his back. He gave a short unfriendly look to the boss penguin, wondering what they will do with all those fish if they aren't eating them. The answer came sooner than the young penguin though. Rico vomited two big silver knifes and in that moment Private and Kowalski tossed the fish and a pack of rice. Then Rico made something incredible for Raymond's eyes. He made many ninja movements cutting the food in the air. Everything landed on the table. But it wasn't a mess. It was like a perfect maid dish. Raymond smiled warmly, when he saw, that there was also a portion for him. Before he thank him, Skipper interrupted him:

- There is no sentiments in my team - he said eating.
  This time Raymond didn't wanted to sit quietly, answering quickly:
- I don't care. I will treat others like they deserve to.
   He tried to act so self-confident like Kowalski, but it did not make any impression on the boss.

  After eating whole his portion, Private asked if they can play cards while resting after supper. It was quite warm this evening, so Private wanted to play in the light of the sunset. The leader agreed, and that was the first moment when Raymond saw a little sparkle of goodness in him. Too bad that the sparkle vanished so quickly as it appeared, because Skipper ordered, that Raymond must clean the base. Indeed, small leftovers of fish and rise laid everywhere, but for Raymond it wasn’t so important like learning a game with his new friends. Unfortunately Skipper didn’t wanted to change his mind, so the only thing that Raymond could do, was to take a big brush vomited by Rico and get to work. He felt abandoned hearing the conversation of cheerful Private and the rest. He sigh sweeping for some time and then he suddenly reminded himself about Kowalski’s lab. He thrown the brush on the ground coming closer to the metal door. It had a specific smell. Something like cement mixed with old fish smell and something chemical. The last fragrance was worrying Raymond a bit, but after a short moment he took a deeper breath and he went inside.
   Many strange shapes were hidden in darkness successfully attracting Raymond’s attention. Some colorful test-tubes were glowing, pretending that their weak light wants to show more. The bubbles from liquids, which were going through little glass pipes, thrown funny little shades on the wall next to Raymond’s long shade. That gave an effect like his shade was under water. It took a short time after Raymond found the light switch, and everything that his imagination could revive, vanished. The lamp gave a cold white light, but it was strong enough to uncover the unique character of this room. Raymond went closer, stopping next to the desk. He found something, which reminded a small screen. When he took it, his flippers made an impact on the black device. It shown a clip made by Kowalski. He was standing in the lab and talking to the screen with a very serious face, even more serious that it was usually. His expression showed sadness, or even pain. He was making a poem for someone, that was very important for him, but the name Doris didn’t have a closer meaning for Raymond. He tried not to listen all those warm words filled with longing. After saying how he truly loves, Kowalski wiped a tear from his face. Then another one. Next he described how he would show feelings to his chosen one, if they would be alone in a swimming pool at night. Raymond felt embarrassed, trying to turn off that strange screen.

- What are you doing here?!

  Raymond was so frightened, that he nearly dropped the device. He looked on the entrance to the lab. It was Kowalski, who didn't look happy seeing the new penguin here.

- What's the meaning of this?

  "If others will hear us, Skipper will think that I'm a spy or something" - Raymond thought, feeling a faster beat of his heart and he shut the door immediately.

- What are you doing with my tablet?! I have personal things on it!
- I’m sorry, I didn't wanted to turn it on - Raymond explained.
- You turned it on?! I have very personal things on it! give it back! - embraced Kowalski ordered acting so tough like Skipper.
    Raymond decided that he won't give back the tablet yet, trying to change the topic and cool down the situation.
- I heard that this is your lab. I just wanted to see all those things that you have here.
- Really? Other penguins usually aren't interested in this place and even in my work - Kowalski said becoming a bit more calm.
- Well I never saw so many unique things before. You made them all by yourself?

  That gave Kowalski a chance to show how talented and intelligent he is. He crossed his wings looking very proud now.
                   
- Of course! It took an incredibly long time. I'm doing here so many incredible things, that no one in the universe could count them! - Kowalski said lifting up his flippers with a smile.
- Amazing! It's hard to believe what are you saying, but I believe you - Raymond said kindly.
- Thank you. And indeed science is amazing, it can solve all the problems of this world. It's so powerful that it can do absolutely everything.
- Everything... - Raymond repeated, thinking so strongly, that even Kowalski noticed a sparkle in his eyes - Could science help determine who is the father, if someone would have two candidates for him and if he wouldn't be sure which one is the real one?
- Certainly! The genetic test by using the DNA of potential parents and the child would give the most credible result - Kowalski explained, feeling even more proud, that he has such a big knowledge.
- What’s DNA? - Raymond was so curious about that magic word.
- DNA, the deoxyribonucleic acid, it determinates all of the features that we have. Even such details like color of the eyes. 
- WOW, so awesome! Are you absolutely sure about that?! - Raymond asked feeling so exited.
- I'm always sure, when I talk about things connected with science - Kowalski changed the tone of his voice from nice to serious - But you need to go now. You don't have the permission to be in my lab.
- I came to New York to find my real father. If science can give you a chance to help me, pleas do it - Raymond asked.
- The machine which can analyze and compare the DNA is broken - Kowalski answered being cold again - Besides I don't have time to take care of something, that I have invented so long ago. I need to take care of my new ideas.
- Oh yea? If you won't help me... - Raymond thought for a short moment and then he took the tablet from the desk - I will show your intimate poem to others!
- You won't dare - Kowalski tried to be so self-confident like in the morning.
- Want a bet? - Raymond made an angry look, but this time there was something different in it.
   It was anger mixed with self-confidence, which reminded Kowalski someone, who he knew for a long time now and that was weird for him.
- What do you propose? - Kowalski asked.
- You will repair your machine. Then you will make that DNA test. After you do that, I’ll give you back your tablet and I will never tell anyone about your intimate things.
   Kowalski rubbed his neck with a blush on his face.
- It looks like I have no choice. So… O.K then.
- You won’t regret, if you help me for real. I insure you - Raymond promised, feeling a relief that Kowalski, who in the beginning was so cold and distant like Skipper, really wasn’t like that.
- Kowalski! How long can you sit in the toilet?! We supposed to finish our game here! - Skipper yelled coming down.
- I’m sorry Skipper! - Kowalski apologized opening the door from the lab.
- Your experiments are more interesting than spending time with your team? Again?! - asked upset Skipper.
- Don’t yell at him - Raymond ordered - I just wanted to see his lab and know something about science.
- Great. I see that now you want to have a student, Kowalski - Skipper said in a ironic way.
- Tanks to science we will know if I’m your son! Isn’t that super?! - Raymond said happily, thinking that this information will interest the boss penguin.
- I don’t like Kowalski’s experiments - Skipper said going towards the toilet.
- We will make the DNA test, it will say everything! - Raymond said still trying to invite Skipper to the conversation.

     But the manly boss penguin just took the newspaper with a surly expression and he shut the door in front of Raymond and Kowalski. The young penguin didn’t knew that Rico and Private heard everything looking through the opened hatch.

Link to chapter 10:

Chapter 10 - The story of the young penguin

Link to chapter 12:

Chapter 12 - The story of the young penguin


(Madagascar characters belong to DremWorks), Raymond belongs to Me