“So…this is it?” ব্যক্ত Marlene, obviously under whelmed. She turned to Kowalski, who was standing পরবর্তি to her, surveying his lair proudly.
“What, আপনি don’t like it?” ব্যক্ত Kowalski sadly.
“No, no!” ব্যক্ত Marlene quickly, not wanting to hurt his feelings. “It’s just…it’s in the sewer…”
“After a bit, আপনি can’t really notice the smell,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, taking a deep breath to prove her wrong. An unbearable smell crashed into his nostrils and he groaned and put a flipper over his beak. “I stand corrected.”
“So, where is this organ?” she said, looking around. “Is that is over there?” She pointed towards a large block of wood standing in the corner.
“Yes, that would be it,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski. “I know it’s not much, but it I thought it was pretty good considering what I had to work with.”
“Mmm” ব্যক্ত Marlene, nodding without really paying attention. “So, does it work?”
“Yes, but I would appreciate if আপনি didn’t play it…it’s rather loud,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski.
“Oh, I get you!” ব্যক্ত Marlene. “This is আরো about your stupid fight with Skipper.”
“Yes, it is. Now please don’t ব্যাজার me, I would rather not discuss it,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski grumpily.
Marlene sighed; she hated being involved in other people’s conflicts. At least Kowalski wasn’t asking her to do anything against Skipper, but she was pretty upset that she couldn’t play the organ; she had always liked the way they sounded but obviously had never been allowed to mess with one before.
“Are আপনি sure আপনি don’t want to go to my habitat, Kowalski?” ব্যক্ত Marlene, wanting to leave. “I’ve got snacks!”
“Oh, that’s okay. I raided the zoo storage facility the other দিন and brought back two crates packed full of nice, fresh fish.” Kowalski licked the edges of his beak. “I put them behind the organ. Here, I’ll go get one…”
Marlene sighed. She did not at all want to stay in this smelly sewer, but also did not want to hurt Kowalski’s feelings. She walked over to a cinder block Kowalski used as a chair and sat down on it. It was very uncomfortable, but she did not say anything.
“Here we go!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, dragging a large box towards Marlene. “Dinner is served!”
“Dinner? It’s almost twelve o’clock at night!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, who was not one to stand for improper use of words.
“Well, midnight snack then, it doesn’t matter!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski bitterly, opening the box. He pulled out about a dozen মাছ and dumped them on the floor. “Eat up!”
“Kowalski, why are আপনি wearing that on your face?” ব্যক্ত Marlene suddenly. Kowalski froze just as he was about to গেলা a মাছ whole.
“Just noticed that did you?” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, putting the মাছ down with some reluctance.
“Not really…I noticed it ever since আপনি started giving your little monologue behind the warehouse. I know আপনি were impersonating the Phantom of the Opera, but seriously, can আপনি take it off now?”
“Um…no” ব্যক্ত Kowalski casually. “Now how about those গান গাওয়া tips so আপনি can go off to bed? It’s getting very late…”
“Kowalski, you’re really starting to bug me. You’re not the Phantom, okay. Take it off.”
“Alright” ব্যক্ত Kowalski. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Kowalski pulled the cloth off his face and dropped it on the floor. Marlene gasped.
“Oh Kowalski, what did আপনি do to your face?” ব্যক্ত Marlene sympathetically.
“Acid. Another long story, which I don’t have time to recount. Now eat something অথবা not, but I would like to get these গান গাওয়া tips over with.”
Marlene felt like running over to Kowalski and giving him a big hug. A wound that deep…that showed the অস্থি in the face…couldn’t have been painless. But Kowalski wasn’t complaining.
“Kowalski, I’m so sorry!” ব্যক্ত Marlene pitifully.
“For what? আপনি didn’t do anything,” মতামত প্রদত্ত Kowalski as he swallowed a fish. “Gonna eat any of these? No? Okay then!”
Kowalski kicked the বাক্স out of the way and walked over to Marlene.
“Okay. Now these tips aren’t to make আপনি sound better, they’re to cause less stress on your vocal cords and give আপনি a louder গান গাওয়া voice which আপনি will be able to wow the judges with. Of course, আপনি probably won’t even be able to see the effects of them, but they’re fun anyway.” Kowalski ব্যক্ত this all very quickly while tying the cloth back over his face.
“Huh?” ব্যক্ত Marlene.
“Now Marlene” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, “When আপনি are about to start গান গাওয়া stand erect, don’t slouch over, and keep your head tilted অগ্রবর্তী exactly 65.3 degrees, like this…”
Kowalski grabbed Marlene and manipulated her body into the proper position. “Standing like this and keeping your head in the exact proper position allows your voice to be projected আরো effectively and causes less stress on the larynx…”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The পরবর্তি morning, the chimps made an announcement.
“For all of আপনি people that were interesting in our ‘musical theater’ presentation, we are officially changing the performance,” ব্যক্ত Mason. “It was just too much of a hassle to inform everyone about what the Barber of Seville actually was, and since most of the lyrics aren’t even in English…”
Phil ব্যক্ত something in sign language. “No Phil, I’m pretty sure it was your idea to do this play. I wanted to see Macbeth, remember?”
“Anyway,” Mason continued, “We are changing the performance to a play that people will probably be much আরো familiar with, seeing as it is performed several times every night throughout New York. Yes, I am talking of the Phantom of the Opera!”
Phil ব্যক্ত something else in sign language. “I know Phil, that’s why I chose it,” ব্যক্ত Mason.
“So there আপনি have it, folks. The remaining auditions will be held tomorrow night at the plaza we did them in the first time. After those, we will contact the people who we think are deserving of roles in the performance, and rehearsal for the play will begin a few days later. Thank আপনি for your time.”
The group of জন্তু জানোয়ার began to disperse. “Is it just me, অথবা does anyone else think that ghosts and opera shouldn’t go together?” remarked Burt the elephant.
Marlene had been standing in the back of the group of জন্তু জানোয়ার and when everyone began to leave, she tried to get back to her habitat as quickly as possibly without looking conspicuous.
“Kowalski!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, sliding into the tunnel that served as the entrance to her den. “I’ve got news…”
“Careful!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, holding up his flipper as she neared the end of the tunnel. “I’m testing the infra-red security system, but there are still a few…bugs in the programming. Observe.”
Kowalski picked up a rock off the floor and carefully dropped it on শীর্ষ of one of the laser beams. For a second, nothing happened, but then the rock simply disintegrated into powder.
“What the heck was that?” ব্যক্ত Marlene. “Are আপনি saying that anyone coming through here is going to be turned into dust?”
“Well, the beams are supposed to increase body temperature so rapidly when triggered that the intruder will pass out within সেকেন্ড due to intensely high body temperature.”
“Isn’t that a little…I dunno…extreme?” ব্যক্ত Marlene, staring at one of the lasers.
“Possibly, but the only other thing I could think of off the শীর্ষ of my head was a শিরছেদনার্থ যন্ত্রবিশেষ, guillotine blade trap. Give me a little credit!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski.
“And no,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, as Marlene opened her mouth. “This will not cause any lasting damage to their brain অথবা vital organs. At least, I don’t think so.”
Marlene gasped. “I’m just playing with you,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski. “Just let me adjust the thermal factors on this control panel and then I’ll turn it off for আপনি to pass.”
Marlene simply stepped over the laser beams, none of which were above three inches off the ground, and watched Kowalski press buttons on the control panel.
“It would be much easier if I knew what all of these buttons did!” মতামত Kowalski in a frustrated tone. “What the heck, I’ll mess with these later. Now just let me turn this off for আপনি and…”
Marlene tapped Kowalski on the shoulder. He jumped slightly and turned around. “How did you…oh,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, looking sadly at the beams.
“Come on Kowalski, take a break. How long have আপনি been working on that again? Like five hours?”
“Actually I’ve only been working on this for fifteen minutes. I was working on that for the other four hours and forty-five minutes.
Kowalski pointed towards the manhole in the middle of the den. Marlene shrugged.
“It’s a manhole,” remarked Marlene.
“Yes, it is” agreed Kowalski. “One which I installed with over seventy-four different types of intruder-deterring features. For example, say someone tries to simply shove the manhole open like my ex-troop always seems to do. If the manhole is fully separated from its little hole in the ground here for আরো than one and a half seconds, sensors around the hole will be triggered and a spray of various fumes will issue out, none of which are lethal but they are potent enough that a miniscule amount would be enough to knock out a grown human for two hours and fifty three minutes.”
Marlene wasn’t sure she liked Kowalski visitor-proofing her habitat. She had invited Kowalski to spend some time at her habitat, feeling bad about leaving him in his miserable little lair in the sewer, and he had asked her permission to put up some ‘security features’ while she was away listening to the announcement. She had agreed very quickly without thinking, since Kowalski had been delaying her with several last-minute গান গাওয়া tips (even though she reminded him the auditions were not till tomorrow) and she was anxious that she would miss the announcement.
“Of course. Nothing with আপনি penguins is ever easy,” ব্যক্ত Marlene. She had been simply thinking it but somehow it had slipped out, one of her bad habits. Kowalski chuckled a little.
“What, দ্বারা security features আপনি thought I meant a little lock on the manhole and perhaps a door for the tunnel? No, no, no, no, no! A little lock and a door is not going to keep my old team out. When they want in, they get in, if there’s something in the way, they remove it. Rico would easily pick in a lock about a second, and there’s no way they would bother to knock on a door. These security features are very inconspicuous, Marlene. The manhole appears normal from both sides, as আপনি saw yourself, and the laser beams are so মিনিট that no one would be able to see them without careful inspection. Get it now?”
Marlene did not really approve of Kowalski’s methods, but she was getting tired of the penguins always popping in without warning. Still, there was one প্রশ্ন that had been bugging her since she had seen Kowalski last night…
“Kowalski,” ব্যক্ত Marlene, “Didn’t you…get sick of science অথবা something?”
“Good heavens no!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, as though Marlene had just uttered a disgusting curse word. “Are আপনি mad? I could never, ever tire of science. Science is…”
“Okay, okay, I don’t need to hear a speech. It’s just that, didn’t আপনি claim that আপনি were getting tired of science?”
“Well yes, I ব্যক্ত that, but I didn’t actually mean it. Yes, সঙ্গীত can be nice at times, but it pales in comparison to the greatness of science. Just understand, Marlene, that this whole plot is far to elaborate for আপনি to likely understand, and…”
“What plot?” ব্যক্ত Marlene, becoming stern. “You little liar!”
“Calm down, Marlene” ব্যক্ত Kowalski timidly as Marlene began to advance threateningly towards him. “And tell me, just what have I lied about?”
“Well I suppose আপনি never directly stated that আপনি weren’t plotting, but it was heavily implied during our conversation last night,” ব্যক্ত Marlene. “I have no idea what আপনি and Skipper got into such a big fight about, but I’m sure not going to let আপনি do anything to hurt him অথবা the others!”
“Wait! I haven’t told আপনি my plan! I certainly don’t mean to hurt anyone, especially Skipper and my old team!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, backing away from Marlene. Unfortunantly for him, Marlene wasn’t buying it.
“Come here you!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, darting towards Kowalski. Kowalski dodged and made a break for the tunnel.
“All I wanted was to help আপনি with your singing, Marlene…AARGH!”
Kowalski stopped in his tracks and slumped over onto the ground the moment he ran into the tunnel.
“Kowalski?” ব্যক্ত Marlene. She walked over and poked him. He lay completely still, his eyes closed and his face ফ্রোজেন into a pained expression.
“The security system!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, slapping herself. “Oh, Kowalski…”
Kowalski’s foot had indeed gently brushed a laser beam. “At least he didn’t turn into powder,” ব্যক্ত Marlene. She felt his forehead and sure enough, it was intensely hot to the touch.
“Well, I guess I’d better take আপনি to Skipper. He might be able to help, and most importantly, maybe আপনি two can settle this silly fight of yours when আপনি come round.”
She picked up Kowalski and, carefully stepping around the lasers, made her way out of her habitat.
“What, আপনি don’t like it?” ব্যক্ত Kowalski sadly.
“No, no!” ব্যক্ত Marlene quickly, not wanting to hurt his feelings. “It’s just…it’s in the sewer…”
“After a bit, আপনি can’t really notice the smell,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, taking a deep breath to prove her wrong. An unbearable smell crashed into his nostrils and he groaned and put a flipper over his beak. “I stand corrected.”
“So, where is this organ?” she said, looking around. “Is that is over there?” She pointed towards a large block of wood standing in the corner.
“Yes, that would be it,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski. “I know it’s not much, but it I thought it was pretty good considering what I had to work with.”
“Mmm” ব্যক্ত Marlene, nodding without really paying attention. “So, does it work?”
“Yes, but I would appreciate if আপনি didn’t play it…it’s rather loud,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski.
“Oh, I get you!” ব্যক্ত Marlene. “This is আরো about your stupid fight with Skipper.”
“Yes, it is. Now please don’t ব্যাজার me, I would rather not discuss it,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski grumpily.
Marlene sighed; she hated being involved in other people’s conflicts. At least Kowalski wasn’t asking her to do anything against Skipper, but she was pretty upset that she couldn’t play the organ; she had always liked the way they sounded but obviously had never been allowed to mess with one before.
“Are আপনি sure আপনি don’t want to go to my habitat, Kowalski?” ব্যক্ত Marlene, wanting to leave. “I’ve got snacks!”
“Oh, that’s okay. I raided the zoo storage facility the other দিন and brought back two crates packed full of nice, fresh fish.” Kowalski licked the edges of his beak. “I put them behind the organ. Here, I’ll go get one…”
Marlene sighed. She did not at all want to stay in this smelly sewer, but also did not want to hurt Kowalski’s feelings. She walked over to a cinder block Kowalski used as a chair and sat down on it. It was very uncomfortable, but she did not say anything.
“Here we go!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, dragging a large box towards Marlene. “Dinner is served!”
“Dinner? It’s almost twelve o’clock at night!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, who was not one to stand for improper use of words.
“Well, midnight snack then, it doesn’t matter!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski bitterly, opening the box. He pulled out about a dozen মাছ and dumped them on the floor. “Eat up!”
“Kowalski, why are আপনি wearing that on your face?” ব্যক্ত Marlene suddenly. Kowalski froze just as he was about to গেলা a মাছ whole.
“Just noticed that did you?” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, putting the মাছ down with some reluctance.
“Not really…I noticed it ever since আপনি started giving your little monologue behind the warehouse. I know আপনি were impersonating the Phantom of the Opera, but seriously, can আপনি take it off now?”
“Um…no” ব্যক্ত Kowalski casually. “Now how about those গান গাওয়া tips so আপনি can go off to bed? It’s getting very late…”
“Kowalski, you’re really starting to bug me. You’re not the Phantom, okay. Take it off.”
“Alright” ব্যক্ত Kowalski. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Kowalski pulled the cloth off his face and dropped it on the floor. Marlene gasped.
“Oh Kowalski, what did আপনি do to your face?” ব্যক্ত Marlene sympathetically.
“Acid. Another long story, which I don’t have time to recount. Now eat something অথবা not, but I would like to get these গান গাওয়া tips over with.”
Marlene felt like running over to Kowalski and giving him a big hug. A wound that deep…that showed the অস্থি in the face…couldn’t have been painless. But Kowalski wasn’t complaining.
“Kowalski, I’m so sorry!” ব্যক্ত Marlene pitifully.
“For what? আপনি didn’t do anything,” মতামত প্রদত্ত Kowalski as he swallowed a fish. “Gonna eat any of these? No? Okay then!”
Kowalski kicked the বাক্স out of the way and walked over to Marlene.
“Okay. Now these tips aren’t to make আপনি sound better, they’re to cause less stress on your vocal cords and give আপনি a louder গান গাওয়া voice which আপনি will be able to wow the judges with. Of course, আপনি probably won’t even be able to see the effects of them, but they’re fun anyway.” Kowalski ব্যক্ত this all very quickly while tying the cloth back over his face.
“Huh?” ব্যক্ত Marlene.
“Now Marlene” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, “When আপনি are about to start গান গাওয়া stand erect, don’t slouch over, and keep your head tilted অগ্রবর্তী exactly 65.3 degrees, like this…”
Kowalski grabbed Marlene and manipulated her body into the proper position. “Standing like this and keeping your head in the exact proper position allows your voice to be projected আরো effectively and causes less stress on the larynx…”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The পরবর্তি morning, the chimps made an announcement.
“For all of আপনি people that were interesting in our ‘musical theater’ presentation, we are officially changing the performance,” ব্যক্ত Mason. “It was just too much of a hassle to inform everyone about what the Barber of Seville actually was, and since most of the lyrics aren’t even in English…”
Phil ব্যক্ত something in sign language. “No Phil, I’m pretty sure it was your idea to do this play. I wanted to see Macbeth, remember?”
“Anyway,” Mason continued, “We are changing the performance to a play that people will probably be much আরো familiar with, seeing as it is performed several times every night throughout New York. Yes, I am talking of the Phantom of the Opera!”
Phil ব্যক্ত something else in sign language. “I know Phil, that’s why I chose it,” ব্যক্ত Mason.
“So there আপনি have it, folks. The remaining auditions will be held tomorrow night at the plaza we did them in the first time. After those, we will contact the people who we think are deserving of roles in the performance, and rehearsal for the play will begin a few days later. Thank আপনি for your time.”
The group of জন্তু জানোয়ার began to disperse. “Is it just me, অথবা does anyone else think that ghosts and opera shouldn’t go together?” remarked Burt the elephant.
Marlene had been standing in the back of the group of জন্তু জানোয়ার and when everyone began to leave, she tried to get back to her habitat as quickly as possibly without looking conspicuous.
“Kowalski!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, sliding into the tunnel that served as the entrance to her den. “I’ve got news…”
“Careful!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, holding up his flipper as she neared the end of the tunnel. “I’m testing the infra-red security system, but there are still a few…bugs in the programming. Observe.”
Kowalski picked up a rock off the floor and carefully dropped it on শীর্ষ of one of the laser beams. For a second, nothing happened, but then the rock simply disintegrated into powder.
“What the heck was that?” ব্যক্ত Marlene. “Are আপনি saying that anyone coming through here is going to be turned into dust?”
“Well, the beams are supposed to increase body temperature so rapidly when triggered that the intruder will pass out within সেকেন্ড due to intensely high body temperature.”
“Isn’t that a little…I dunno…extreme?” ব্যক্ত Marlene, staring at one of the lasers.
“Possibly, but the only other thing I could think of off the শীর্ষ of my head was a শিরছেদনার্থ যন্ত্রবিশেষ, guillotine blade trap. Give me a little credit!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski.
“And no,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, as Marlene opened her mouth. “This will not cause any lasting damage to their brain অথবা vital organs. At least, I don’t think so.”
Marlene gasped. “I’m just playing with you,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski. “Just let me adjust the thermal factors on this control panel and then I’ll turn it off for আপনি to pass.”
Marlene simply stepped over the laser beams, none of which were above three inches off the ground, and watched Kowalski press buttons on the control panel.
“It would be much easier if I knew what all of these buttons did!” মতামত Kowalski in a frustrated tone. “What the heck, I’ll mess with these later. Now just let me turn this off for আপনি and…”
Marlene tapped Kowalski on the shoulder. He jumped slightly and turned around. “How did you…oh,” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, looking sadly at the beams.
“Come on Kowalski, take a break. How long have আপনি been working on that again? Like five hours?”
“Actually I’ve only been working on this for fifteen minutes. I was working on that for the other four hours and forty-five minutes.
Kowalski pointed towards the manhole in the middle of the den. Marlene shrugged.
“It’s a manhole,” remarked Marlene.
“Yes, it is” agreed Kowalski. “One which I installed with over seventy-four different types of intruder-deterring features. For example, say someone tries to simply shove the manhole open like my ex-troop always seems to do. If the manhole is fully separated from its little hole in the ground here for আরো than one and a half seconds, sensors around the hole will be triggered and a spray of various fumes will issue out, none of which are lethal but they are potent enough that a miniscule amount would be enough to knock out a grown human for two hours and fifty three minutes.”
Marlene wasn’t sure she liked Kowalski visitor-proofing her habitat. She had invited Kowalski to spend some time at her habitat, feeling bad about leaving him in his miserable little lair in the sewer, and he had asked her permission to put up some ‘security features’ while she was away listening to the announcement. She had agreed very quickly without thinking, since Kowalski had been delaying her with several last-minute গান গাওয়া tips (even though she reminded him the auditions were not till tomorrow) and she was anxious that she would miss the announcement.
“Of course. Nothing with আপনি penguins is ever easy,” ব্যক্ত Marlene. She had been simply thinking it but somehow it had slipped out, one of her bad habits. Kowalski chuckled a little.
“What, দ্বারা security features আপনি thought I meant a little lock on the manhole and perhaps a door for the tunnel? No, no, no, no, no! A little lock and a door is not going to keep my old team out. When they want in, they get in, if there’s something in the way, they remove it. Rico would easily pick in a lock about a second, and there’s no way they would bother to knock on a door. These security features are very inconspicuous, Marlene. The manhole appears normal from both sides, as আপনি saw yourself, and the laser beams are so মিনিট that no one would be able to see them without careful inspection. Get it now?”
Marlene did not really approve of Kowalski’s methods, but she was getting tired of the penguins always popping in without warning. Still, there was one প্রশ্ন that had been bugging her since she had seen Kowalski last night…
“Kowalski,” ব্যক্ত Marlene, “Didn’t you…get sick of science অথবা something?”
“Good heavens no!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, as though Marlene had just uttered a disgusting curse word. “Are আপনি mad? I could never, ever tire of science. Science is…”
“Okay, okay, I don’t need to hear a speech. It’s just that, didn’t আপনি claim that আপনি were getting tired of science?”
“Well yes, I ব্যক্ত that, but I didn’t actually mean it. Yes, সঙ্গীত can be nice at times, but it pales in comparison to the greatness of science. Just understand, Marlene, that this whole plot is far to elaborate for আপনি to likely understand, and…”
“What plot?” ব্যক্ত Marlene, becoming stern. “You little liar!”
“Calm down, Marlene” ব্যক্ত Kowalski timidly as Marlene began to advance threateningly towards him. “And tell me, just what have I lied about?”
“Well I suppose আপনি never directly stated that আপনি weren’t plotting, but it was heavily implied during our conversation last night,” ব্যক্ত Marlene. “I have no idea what আপনি and Skipper got into such a big fight about, but I’m sure not going to let আপনি do anything to hurt him অথবা the others!”
“Wait! I haven’t told আপনি my plan! I certainly don’t mean to hurt anyone, especially Skipper and my old team!” ব্যক্ত Kowalski, backing away from Marlene. Unfortunantly for him, Marlene wasn’t buying it.
“Come here you!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, darting towards Kowalski. Kowalski dodged and made a break for the tunnel.
“All I wanted was to help আপনি with your singing, Marlene…AARGH!”
Kowalski stopped in his tracks and slumped over onto the ground the moment he ran into the tunnel.
“Kowalski?” ব্যক্ত Marlene. She walked over and poked him. He lay completely still, his eyes closed and his face ফ্রোজেন into a pained expression.
“The security system!” ব্যক্ত Marlene, slapping herself. “Oh, Kowalski…”
Kowalski’s foot had indeed gently brushed a laser beam. “At least he didn’t turn into powder,” ব্যক্ত Marlene. She felt his forehead and sure enough, it was intensely hot to the touch.
“Well, I guess I’d better take আপনি to Skipper. He might be able to help, and most importantly, maybe আপনি two can settle this silly fight of yours when আপনি come round.”
She picked up Kowalski and, carefully stepping around the lasers, made her way out of her habitat.
