[Spring recess has arrived, and with it, the trip Ryan has been dreading for weeks. Of course, he hasn't warned anyone how much he dreads it. You aren't supposed to refuse something as special as a trip to China. You aren't supposed to refuse the opportunity to see your father for the first time in two years]
[It is two o'clock in the morning, and the flight is less than a dozen hours aside. Ryan lays in his bed wide awake in his dark bedroom with a flashlight in his hands. The beam of light is aimed at the ceiling, which his father has long ago painted dark blue. Over the blue, he's painted all the major constellations of stars in yellow. Then that lying in bed is sort of like camping out and staring up at the stars]
[Ryan looks up at them, feeling a mixture of fear and despair. So long, Gemini, he thinks. Farewell, Orion, and thank riddance. Toodle-oo, Big Dipper, don't spill anything while I'm gone. See you soon, Ursa Minor....Little Bear...] [Ryan yawns and flicks off the flashlight. It is much no use and he has to get some sleep. Tomorrow, he will begin a trip that will take more than twenty-four hours to finish] [Halfway around the world, deep in the panda reserve, Ryan's father, Dr. Michael Tyler, creeps through the underbrush of vines and bamboo shoots, following a fifteen-year-old Chinese girl named Ling]
Well?
Close, I think.
You think?
Many go their entire life without seeing a panda in the wild.
Well, if we don't see one soon, it's going to be too late.
Shush! [She holds a finger to her lips and points ahead. Michael crawls up behind her and squints. Through a thick patch of bamboo, he can see a clearing] Listen.
[Michael holds his breath and hears a faint crunching sound. A chill runs through him. He's heard the sound before in zoos and in the enclosures back at the reserve headquarters. It is the sound of a panda grinding mature bamboo in its powerful jaws. Few creatures in the world has jaws powerful enough, or a stomach hard enough, to consume almost rock-hard bamboo] [Ling starts to crawl forward and Michael follows. Despite being more than twice her age, he trusts her immediately. At fifteen, Ling knows the forest better than he will ever know it] [Once again, Ling stops in her tracks. This time she reaches for a long narrow tube she carried in her day pack. Michael knows at once what that means. He stops and waits while Ling presses one end of the tube to her lips and aims] [The sound of her exhaling breaks the silence. It is followed by an alarmed yelp and a soft scraping sound, as if something are trying to drag itself across the ground. Eventually, Michael hears a thud] [Ling turns toward him and nods in agreement. Then she swiftly stands and goes forward through the undergrowth. Dr. Tyler stands up and follows. Ahead, he catches a glimpse of something black and white lying on the ground. They've gotten one] [She is a completely grown female, probably close to three hundred pounds, lying on her stomach with her legs splayed out like a huge stuffed bear. Michael swiftly pulls off his pack and takes out a camera as well as a chart and tape measure. He photographs and measures her, but checks her ears and eyes. Meanwhile, Ling strokes her gently on the head]
She is so beautiful.
[Michael takes a white leather collar out of the bag. Attached to it is a transmitter about the size of a pack of cigarettes]
Now we'll be able to keep track of her. [A small red light on the collar blinks on and off]
[Michael looks down and sees a thin stream of translucent white liquid]
Either she's pregnant or she's just had a cub. [As his eyes sweep around, they catch Ling staring at him, her face filled with emotion]
Do you know what this means?
[Michael nods slowly, trying not to reveal the emotion he also feels]
Only if it's real and we can prove it. Only then do we have a chance to keep this reserve open!
