An Australian Love || A Robert Irwin Story

E I G H T

RECAP

ROBERT

They're having a good time. I didn't know that a simple scene could make me so happy.

I look up at the ceiling and smile. Dad would've loved them. I laugh at the scene unfolding in front of me, and take a step closer.

"I thought you were deathly afraid of snakes Mari" I quip. They look over at me, pure elation on their face. Pippa's tail is wrapped around their belt loop and the majority of her is around Mari's neck and shoulders.

"Am I dead?" They retort, lifting an eyebrow and tilting their head towards me. I can only laugh and shake my head, happy that they're overcoming their fears on day one.

END RECAP

ROBERT

Mari has been at the zoo for three weeks now, and in that time, we've done all we can to keep them out of shot of the cameras, filming for our show, but over time, it's gotten harder to keep them off. A lot of great footage has had to be archived, but it's footage that I believe should be shown. Mari has really taken on their role as a keeper, and has shown stellar growth in terms of overcoming their fears of some of the animals. She's really taken a liking to Pippa, but also to the dingos and Cocoa, our magpie goose. 

Walking around the zoo, I can't find them anywhere.

I've already looked in the aviary, the snake habitat, and the dingo dens, but she's not anywhere. 

The camera people are tailing me, as always, but this time, the cameras aren't rolling. I've asked them not to, in case we find Mari and they're not okay. 

I look at my phone for what feels like the twentieth time in the last twelve minutes, and still no response. I didn't want it to come to this point, but oh well. I grab my walkie talkie, taking a deep breath before pressing down on the button and speaking into it.

"Mari, do you copy," I let go of the button, hearing static. I wait a moment before asking again, "Mari, do you copy?" I pause in the middle of the path, my breathing becoming shallow slowly.

I take another deep breath before speaking in the walkie again, "Has anyone seen Mari recently?" It takes a few seconds before responses start flooding in, all of them saying the same thing. 

No. 

Where could they be? It's only four forty three, their phone can't be dead. It's literally brand new.

"If you're not busy with an animal, or a presentation of some sort, I need all eyes out for Mari." I'm beginning to panic slightly, they would never intentionally disregard a text, nevertheless a double text. They cause too much anxiety to consume Mari.

I can hear the voices of people calling out Mari's name, and it only pushes me, fear and bile rising at the back of my throat. 

It's been thirty minutes, and still no word on where Mari is. 

Mari, please be okay, wherever you are. I've never been much of a believer in religion, but God I am praying that wherever Mari is or whatever they are doing, please keep them safe. In these last weeks, we've become the best of friends, and they are one person I don't want to lose. Please, God. I am begging you, I would do anything to know they're safe.

My thoughts are running wild with only one topic connecting them all, Mari. At this point, I'm looking everywhere, losing my cool with each minute that passes. I've met up with about a dozen other keepers, Chandler, Bindi, and Mum, and they're all standing around while I struggle to gather my thoughts.