Zoo II Read Online Free PDF

I’ve exchanged only a handshake with.
    Actually, “rooms” is an understatement. They’re more like personal luxury villas, designed in the style of traditional Balinese wooden huts. Built on stilts, they’re perched directly above the sparkling water. Absolutely gorgeous.
    Which could describe the entire hotel. Definitely not the kind of lodging that stingy old Uncle Sam would normally spring for. But thanks to the worldwide economic slump and the island’s drastic drop in tourism, Freitas was able to score these stunning accommodations for his team for pennies on the dollar.
    They’re also in a prime location, on the beach and also near the jungles where we’ll be doing the bulk of our testing. Our goal is simple: figure out why animals are running amok around the rest of the world but here in Bali are living with humans in harmony.
    I take a quick break and shake out the front of my t-shirt. It’s already damp with sweat and clinging to my chest. Not that I’m complaining or anything, but after all those months in the frigid Arctic, I can’t remember the last time I was this hot and sticky.
    Feeling thirsty, I look around for something to drink. There’s a tiki bar on the other end of the open-air hotel lobby, but it looks empty and closed. Maybe there’s a water fountain nearby. Or, heck—the sea looks so clear, maybe I’ll just drink that.
    “Indonesian iced tea, sir?”
    A trim young Balinese man in a crisp white uniform is suddenly by my side. He’s holding a silver platter on which sits a tall glass of amber liquid with a twist of lemon.
    I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more tempting beverage in all my life.
    “Wow, yes, thank you. You guys are mind readers!”
    I gulp down the sweet, refreshing tea so fast, rivulets of it trickle down my chin.
    “Not mind readers, sir. We are simply very good at treating our guests well. And so is our wildlife, as you can see.”
    I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, my top lip cold against my warm skin.
    “I sure can,” I say, intrigued by the hotel attendant’s words. Perhaps he knows something that will point us in the right direction. “Any idea why that might be?”
    The man thinks for a moment, furrowing his brow.
    “Well, most Balinese are Hindu. And most Hindus are vegetarian. We believe in practicing nonviolence against all life forms. Perhaps our animals feel the same way.”
    I stifle a laugh—at least I try to—which I hope doesn’t offend this friendly hotel employee bearing the divine iced tea. He can’t be serious, can he? I’m no world religion scholar, but I’m pretty sure there are plenty of Hindus and vegetarians alike in places like India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia. And those countries are reeling from some of the worst animal attacks on the planet.
    “Interesting theory” is all I say, placing the empty glass back on the tray and extending my other hand to shake. “I’m Oz, by the way. Thanks again.”
    “My name is Putu. Welcome to Bali. I hope you find what you are looking for.”
    That makes two of us.
    The porters are wheeling the last of our gear to our villas. I know Freitas will want us to head out as soon as possible to begin running tests. So first, I take out my new international satellite phone, issued to all team members so we can stay in constant touch no matter where in the world we go. Thrilled to see I have a few bars of reception, I scroll down my very short list of contacts until I find the one I so desperately want to call: “ Chloe ~ Paris .”
    “Did he tell you what time the bar opens?”
    I look up. Sarah has walked over to me. She’s carrying an industrial metal laptop case and wheeling a crate of empty test tubes and plastic specimen bags.
    She’s also stripped down to cargo shorts and a tight gray tank top. Like me, her skin is glistening with sweat. But unlike me, on her it actually looks pretty sexy.
    “Sorry. I didn’t ask. And with so few guests, I bet they don’t even open it at