Read Online The End by Justin Chiang - Free Book Online

in to the Zoo.
    " Surprised my todger isn't chafed from all this walking.  Imagine that, come all this way and the last man on Earth is fucking Doctor Dolittle.  Ooh, cotton candy!" Finn said running towards the entrance.  He leapt over an overturned stroller then snatched a large tuft of pink cottony sugar on a stick from a vending cart.  Thinking better of it he snatched a blue one as well. They made their way up the main path marked by animal foot prints and fun facts here and there, "So what's the big plan?"
    "I guess we look around for some zookeeper’s clothes, see if there are any keys," Leo said already picking through a tan jumper with the Zoo's logo on it.  No luck.
    "Yeah I guess you're right.  It would be a, what'd you call it?  A dick move to just let the animals rot in here."
    "Exactly."
    "So what about them, huh?"
    Leo looked up to what Finn was pointing at.  It was the reptile house, "Yeah I suppose we break the glass and let them fend for themselves."
    "Bugger that, chief.  Count me out.  I'll go rescue me a giraffe.  I've always wanted to ride one of those."
    "You can't ride a giraffe."
    "Pish Posh.  Can't ride a giraffe, he says.  And why the hell not?"
    "I don't know... it's not like they're horses or something."
    "Well it's not a bloody elephant either and they ride those in India don't they?"
    Leo stopped engaging and began rifling through another jumper, "Jackpot."  He twirled the ring of keys around his finger then examined them more closely.
    "That them?" said Finn disinterestedly gnawing on the blue cotton candy, "Going to set good ole Jabari free then?"
    Jabari was a western lowland gorilla and he was staring intently at them at that very moment.  The zoo was eerily quiet.  Leo hadn't noticed when they'd first arrived but now that he thought about it, it seemed like there ought to be more noise in a place full of animals.  Especially if the world had just gone to shit.  Hell just at the end of the park a line of AMTRAK cars was burning where it had crashed into the Hyena and Camel habitats.  Leo wasn't quite sure how to approach his rescue attempt.  On one hand it should be as simple as unlocking a few gates and walking away.  On the other hand, if you unlock the gate on the lion’s cage, you've got a lion to worry about.
    "Well go on then," challenged Finn.  This seemed to trigger something in Leo and he did just that.  It took a few tries with a few keys but a moment later the gate on Jabari the gorilla's cage was unlocked.  The gorilla didn't burst through the cage and attack them.  In fact he looked just as disinterested in what they were doing as Finn did.  Leo decided not to force the issue and continued over to big cat falls.
    The lions were laying in the shade but when Leo inserted the keys they began showing more interest.  The rattling keys almost seemed to be exciting them.  Like a kitten with a ball of yarn only... bigger and maybe their intestines would make a nice yarn ball before becoming dinner. 
    "Here puss puss puss puss," Finn finished with some kissy noises.  The lion roared loudly and actually swiped a clawed fist against the gate.  Finn jumped back and fell on his ass.  Distracted by Finn, Leo didn't even notice the other lion as it slammed headfirst into the now unlocked gate.  In seconds both lions were out.  The first lion was already circling Finn.  It licked its chops and let out a low growl.  It did not attack.  Finn wet his pants.  The second lion sat in front of Leo, much like Jabari had and just stared at him.  It was as if he were waiting for an answer or even a command.
    "Relax," Leo said finally.
    "Relax, he says, this bloody lion's lookin at me todger like it's his last meal."
    "Her," said Leo flatly.
    "I don't much bloody care whether it has a vagina or not, Leo!"
    Leo returned his attention to his lion and he said it again, "Relax.  We're just trying to help."
    The lion, never taking his eyes off of Leo, gave a nod and a