Read Online The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland - Free Book Online Page B

whenever he’s upset about something.”
    â€œSo, like, three or four times a day, at least,” Zoe added.
    Logan felt his cheeks getting warm. No wonder nobody else had reacted. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
    â€œWell, you didn’t know,” Zoe’s dad said, helping him to his feet. “But it was brave of you to try to help. So . . . who are you?”
    Zoe and Matthew both started talking at once, and Squorp took the opportunity to wriggle out of Matthew’s arms and bound over to Logan. The warm griffin wings brushing his hands made Logan feel less self-conscious. He picked up Squorp and scratched under his chin the way Matthew had.
    â€œMork,” Squorp gurgled, nestling into Logan’s chest. His beak poked around Logan’s collar, and Logan felt a tug. He looked down in time to see one of his shirt buttons disappearing into the griffin cub’s mouth.
    â€œHey, quit that,” Logan said. “I need all the clothes I have left.”
    â€œIt’s really not my fault, Dad, I swear,” Zoe was saying. “I promise I didn’t tell him anything at school, and I definitely didn’t let him into the house. I don’t know how he got in. I’ve barely ever spoken to him.”
    â€œThese things happen,” Mr. Kahn said. “He’s not the first townie to accidentally get in here. We’ll deal with it the usual way. But then, I must say I’ve never heard of anyone talking to griffins at this age before.” He scratched his beard, looking at Logan as though he were able to whistle under­water. “What did you say your name was?”
    â€œLogan Wilde.”
    â€œI see. And what do your parents do?”
    â€œNothing important.” Logan didn’t want to admit that his dad was with the wildlife department in case that scared the Kahns. “It’s just me and my dad now.”
    Zoe’s dad shook his head, watching Squorp. “Most unusual, your connection with the griffin. What’s he saying now?”
    Logan glanced down at Squorp. “He’s kind of mumbling about delicious buttons. Don’t even think about it, cub.”
    â€œHey, little fellow,” Mr. Kahn said. He bent down to meet Squorp’s eyes. “What were you doing outside the walls?”
    Much delicious food outside walls! But not much treasure. Thought there’d be more. Clink PROMISED us treasure.
    At Logan’s smile, Mr. Kahn looked up. “What did he say?”
    â€œHe said he liked the food, but there wasn’t as much treasure as he’d thought there would be. He also says someone named Clink promised him treasure.”
    â€œInteresting. Who’s Clink, buddy?”
    Big furry bossy furry BOSSY. Escape her idea! And THEN outside, Clink all Okay BYE and leaves us! Probably found all the treasure and keeping it for herself. Bossy bossy.
    Logan relayed this to the Kahns, more or less. Zoe snapped her fingers. “The big black griffin cub,” she said. “I bet that’s who he means. She always pushes the others around and decides who eats when and what they’re going to play.”
    Bossy BOSSY, Squorp grumbled.
    â€œSo they’re out looking for treasure,” Mr. Kahn said. “That is useful to know.” He frowned. “Maybe you’re right, Zoe—maybe they’re all in town, not out in the wild where we’ve been looking.”
    â€œI think so, Dad,” she said. “I mean, we saw at least four different kinds of feathers between school and the library and the post office.”
    Her dad sighed. “That makes things a lot harder. Well, let’s get you back to your parents, at least,” he said to Squorp.
    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, Squorp wailed, burying his head in Logan’s neck. His beak jabbed uncomfortably into Logan’s collarbone, but Logan didn’t mind.
    â€œIt’ll be all right,” he said, stroking