I sit chained, both literally and figuratively, a cage and my own reluctance restraining me.
The square-jawed thug leans forward, menacing me with his wrinkled suit and five o’clock shadow.
“Look, we knows ya got an in to da PD. All ya gotta do is feed dem a little…” he slows for effect, “misinformation, shall we say.” A smile twists his face into a leer while his angular associate snickers.
“No, I am a law-abiding pachyderm,” I huff back. “And I will not be associated with your criminal endeavor.” I lift my trunk away from the offensive stench of their scheme. Are all men but circus masters?
Square-jaw senses my anxiety and smirks.
“Geez, Mista Big Words, huh? What, dey teach youse that size is everythin’?”
I want to retort, but they did manage to tranquilize and kidnap me, no mean feat. My mouth opens anyway, but the sharp-angled man preempts me.
“I’ll tell ya what yer gonna do, ya giant gray martyr,” he aims a stiletto finger my way. “Yer gonna do what yer told. Or we’re gonna ship dem pearly whites a yers ta China.” Clearly but badly, he pantomimes removing my tusks with a hand saw. My eyes roll at his ignorance.
“Actually,” I reply, “China and Hong Kong have recently imposed bans on the import and sale of ivory that—”
“We’ll find somewheres ta sell ’em!” Sharp-angles froths as he grabs the cage bars.
Memories surface of rejected boys with peanuts, trainers goading me to perform for the customers. I flinch.
Seeing vulnerability, Square-jaw doubles down on the threat.
“Ya heard my associate,” he points toward his frothing companion. “Ya gonna play nice, or are we gettin’ out da saw fer yer tusks?”
No, I have worked so hard to rise above this, the red claws of human nature.
“Savages!” I cry. “I implore you to rethink this rash plan of action before you proceed with an unforgivable offense!”
Square-jaw stares darkly at me. His lion eyes say everything. Sharp-angles pulls back, in control once more.
“Hey, if yer so attached to what’s in yer mouth,” he cackles, “we can always visit yer mama.”
No. No, they cannot. Some beast already ripped mother’s ivory away, long before this, long before the circus claimed me. I rumble. One set of chains falls off. I stand.
“Gentlemen, I think you have been misinformed about a couple of points.” I flex, snapping the physical chains like cheap rubber bands. “First, do not take my pacific manner for weakness.” Before they can reach for the tranquilizers, I kick down the wall of the cage. “And second, elephants never abet.”
I trumpet, and show them what size can do.