In Captivity by Doug Klein Part 1
Part I:
Media Day
Allison Whitmore had lied. She had come to Marine Kingdom, an ocean park and aquarium that was world renowned for its numerous aquatic species and thrilling orca shows, the day before its new orca show launched. It was a special media preview of the show that had been talked about and advertised as the best orca performance one would ever see. Allison was an animal rights activist and was not on the invite list, but her alias of Vanessa Brown, correspondent from News 13, would work. She had a few friends at the station that had helped her make a counterfeit badge. A quick phone call to the HR department of Marine Kingdom, and some sweet talking, got Vanessa on the list. And now she stood amidst a few other local reporters, and a few national ones, being led around the empty park towards the orca amphitheater.
The tour was being led by the owner of Marine Kingdom himself, Shea Bradley. Bradley was a slightly overweight man in his late fifties, and he had built Marine Kingdom from a small aquarium and tide pool into the top ocean park around. From '89 to '92, they had won the award as "Best Aquatic Theme Park", and he was sure '93 would be no different. At least that was what his tour speech implied. He had been speaking of new additions, expansion projects, and spewing numbers at all the reporters as they strolled through the park, and had spoken over any questions ventured his way. The group was led into the amphitheater as the trainers were working a rehearsal of their big new show.
"Now this here, this is what is gonna set us apart, ladies and gentlemen. This show, called Orca Odyssey, will be the biggest and best show anyone will ever see. You see our trainers has some coordinated maneuvers with our big bull orca, Kallik, that will be unbelievable." Bradley spoke and gestured to the pool as he escorted the reporters into some vacant seats. He then turned to the trainers and pointed to some structures surrounding the pool.
"Eric, let's give these people a little show here. Extend the platform." Bradley smiled and placed his hands on his hips. Eric, one of the trainers working around the pool, waved back and went to a small box just off stage. Flipping a few switches, the structures then began to move and extend over the water. Bradley's smile grew as he turned back to the engrossed reporters.
"You see, our grand finale will feature Kallik breaching the water in an upright position, and taking some fish treats from our trainers on that platform." Bradley pointed as he spoke. Eric, with two other trainers, were on the platform. Eric called out a signal, and Kallik, dove down into the pool. Eric took a fish and held it in his hand, extended over the water. Kallik jutted out, his mouth agape. The orca's mouth seemed to hover just inches from Eric's hand, and he dropped the fish in. The reporters all gasped and clapped their hands, and in that brief moment a reporter from a national news station managed to sneak in a quick question.
"Is it safe, with them up there?" Bradley's smile fell from his face. Irritation rose briefly, but he regained a polite demeanor.
"The structure itself is solid and has railings so the trainers do not fall if the orca happens to bump the platform. It is securely rigged and can withstand quite a bump. All is safe for our trainers here." Bradley responded.
"What about the whale?" Dammit. Allison, or Vanessa for this matter, was trying to keep a low profile, but she had to open her mouth. She didn't let her guard down, however. Her eyes locked with Bradley's, and he now wore an apparent frown.
"The whale won't be harmed either. The team you see here has worked this routine for three months without a single issue. We are prepared through and through, uh, miss...?" Bradley moved his hand in a slight circle, as if beckoning her name. He had either caught her in the act, or was just being an asshole. Allison didn't relent.
"Vanessa Brown, News 7." She said and tilted her head, sending back the slight frustration. Bradley raised his eyebrows and nodded.
“Ah. News 7. I haven't caught any of your pieces yet, Ms. Brown, but I'm sure you've just been waiting for a break like this." Again, Allison was unsure of Bradley's intent with that statement, but played it safe and stayed quiet.
"Now if you'd like, you can interview the trainers, take a look around, we have a few of our hospitality staff here to answer any other questions you might have. I will be handing you over to our lovely Odyssey guides here who will give you a good feel of how the show will go once it opens tomorrow. Thank you for your time." Bradley turned on his heels and headed up the stairs of the amphitheater. A few reporters’ arms raised and murmurs of prepared questions rattled about, but Bradley pushed past two Odyssey Guides who stepped down the amphitheater's stairs and began answering questions. Allison found her way down to the pool level, and found Eric near the box, retracting the platform.
"Impressive performance." Allison said. Eric smiled and ran his fingers through his wet black hair. He walked towards her and smiled.
"Thank you. It's really going to be something else tomorrow." Eric said and he turned back to Kallik, who was circling in the pool still. He turned back to Allison and reached out his hand.
"I'm Eric Renault, by the way." Allison grabbed his hand and shook it firmly.
"Vanessa Brown. I'm with News 7." She said. She then pulled a notepad and pen from her bag. clicking the pen, she looked at Eric once more.
"Do you feel safe working with Kallik, despite him having a track record of trainer injuries, along with the documented three deaths of trainers." Her eyes became ice, and Eric took a step back, and let out a quiet chuckle.
"I see. You’re one of those kind of reporters. Shea isn’t gonna like you at all." He folded his arms and wore a smirk as Allison continued.
"One of those? Maybe I am. But you haven't answered my question. Kallik is famous for his shows, and infamous for his body count. How does it feel to work with a creature that should really be out in the ocean, and away from people?" Allison's voice had begun to raise just a notch. Eric put his hands up in a defensive manner.
"Listen. Let me show you something. Ok?" Eric turned back to the pool and whistled. Kallik surfaced, his eyes peering out from the water. Eric gave a hand signal and shouted a command, and Kallik sunk back into the water. He remained under for just a brief moment, and then began swimming along the outer wall of the pool. Kallik broke the surface and turned to one side, his fin out of the water, moving back and forth. He continued it around the whole pool before circling back to Eric. Eric walked over to a bucket and grabbed two fish. Kallik saw his reward, and opened his mouth. Eric tossed the fish in and patted Kallik on the nose. Kallik blew air out of his blowhole and then went back to swimming. Eric walked back to Allison, smacking his hands together to knock the fish remnants off.
"You see that. That's the Wave. Simple name, I know. But that's something I taught him. I've worked with him for over a year, and he's never shown me any aggression. He seems content, and his performances prove it. He will always be a wild animal, and we know that. If you look into all of his incidents, they have been trainer error." Allison put up her hand and stopped Eric.
"I know of his incidents, but you can't think that he is content. He was caught off of the Alaskan shore over five years ago. Those types of animals are not meant to be in small pools and put under the light and forced to dance to a tune to get a snack. You..." Allison was unable to finish as a large hand firmly grabbed her forearm. She turned to see two bulky security guards standing behind her. The one with the iron grip spoke.
"Mr. Bradley wants to talk." Allison turned to Eric and he just shrugged and walked away. The security guards escorted Allison into the offices in the back of the amphitheater, and up a few stairs. One of the guards knocked on the door of Bradley's office. A muffled voice came from within, and the guard nodded. They opened the door and brought Allison in. Bradley sat at his desk; his hands folded over each other.
"You can leave her boys, but stay close." Bradley spoke and nodded, and the guards walked out of the room and closed the door.
"Vanessa Brown. That's a shitty name. You're a writer, come up with something better next time." Bradley leaned back in his chair as he spoke.
"I know all about you, Ms. Whitmore. That is your actual name, is it not? You're the young lass that ruined that traveling circus with your article on their elephant show." Bradley was not as dumb as he looked. He had pinned her and let her think she was getting away with it. She folded her arms and leaned back in her chair.
"Well now what?" She asked. Bradley cackled and stood up and looked out of the window of his office over the pool of the amphitheater.
"You came here to ask questions, so ask." Bradley kept looking out over the pool as the trainers were talking with the actual reporters, and others were getting the whole nine yards from his guides. Allison was startled for a moment, but then sat forward and tried to gather her thoughts quickly.
"Do you think it’s wise to have a show with such complex routines and this whale, that is known to have killed before?" Bradley quickly turned and walked around his desk and was now looming over Allison.
"Do you even do research darling? All of the incidents, every single one was..."
"Yeah, yeah, trainer error. I know. And yeah, they all stem from a trainer making a mistake, or falling into the pool, or some shit like that. But how they died, how Kallik killed them, those deaths are borderline sadistic." Allison had stood from her chair and was now face to face with Shea Bradley.
"Emma Carrick was dragged in the water for an hour, being dunked and tossed around until her body gave way. Mike Ramsey had his legs broken and drowned before rescuers could get to him. Albert Goldman was crushed against the pool wall. This was not a predator eating a meal, these were done with intent to kill." Allison had begun to shout, and Bradley raised one hand.
"Stop! Now! You listen to me. It is an orca. A killer whale. They are apex predators. When things go bad, they go bad. It is the risk every trainer takes. And you can write your story but I will not be run out of town by your little article, Ms. Whitmore." Bradley walked back to the seat at his desk and sat down.
"Now, Ms. Whitmore. I am not a bad man. I am a business man. Let me have you come and watch the show tomorrow. You see it first-hand. You see the performance, you see the crowd go crazy, you see the look on the children's faces. Then you write whatever you want. But I'll tell you now, it won't do much." Bradley had now put his feet up on his desk and cross his legs. Allison looked at him and felt disgust at his brash confidence. But she would take any opportunity.
"I'll be here." She said and walked to the door. She opened it and both guards turned and blocked her way.
"Take her to the gates boys. Find out what hotel she's at. She will be our guest tomorrow for the show, so treat her nice, if you don't mind." Bradley had a wicked smile on his face and Allison sneered at him. She was escorted off the premises, and headed back to her hotel. It had been a long day, but she would not sleep much. She had work to do.
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