Bright rays of sunlight broke through the tree crowns.
The effect created patterns on the asphalt, forming cool shadows.
In this part of Zootopia, the weather was warm and sunny.
Not a cloud in the sky.
The bright sun had heated the streets, and even the trees planted along the sidewalks couldn’t save the situation.
The road ran past multi-story buildings of very whimsical shapes.
Brick walls of various paint jobs created a huge variety.
Some windows were open, some closed, and air conditioners hung beside them, emitting a quiet hum as they worked.
Cars of various sizes, matching the species of animals, drove along the road from time to time, while unhurried pedestrians strolled along the streets.
A huge elephant slowly and importantly went about his business.
Smaller animals tried to get out of his way in advance, respectfully giving him a wide berth.
In such a multi-species metropolis as Zootopia, the problem of animal relocation was a very acute issue.
And if a walk from home to work for an elephant or a rhino was an easy stroll, then for, say, a mouse or a hamster, it was quite the trial.
And how many tails and paws had been stepped on before the city authorities introduced a very interesting traffic system for animals of different sizes!
It was decided to build a system of tunnels for small animals right under the pedestrian paths, with a roof made of super-strong glass so the animals wouldn’t feel trapped in an underground and could enjoy the sky along with everyone else.
Several such tunnels were even built, but the project fizzled out.
Another solution took its place — relocating small animals to their own miniature settlement-districts.
It turned into a kind of town within a city, or even a city on a city square.
Like, for example, Little Rodentia.
Of course, the animals still had to venture out of their “metropolis” into the big city, but the great and constant danger of being squashed no longer threatened them.
And so, on this beautiful, bright day, among the entire flow of animals, a squirrel was rushing as if from a fire.
His name was Rhino, and he was in a great hurry.
This was noticeable not only from his fast, almost running walk, but also from his appearance.
His strict business suit looked terrible and was completely disheveled.
The edge of his white shirt had slipped out over his trousers, his tie knot was pulled down, freeing his neck, and it flapped insolently in the wind whenever Rhino switched from a brisk walk to a run.
In his paws was a small briefcase stuffed with some documents; they, like the edge of his shirt, were also sticking out from all sides.
Deftly maneuvering through the flow of animals, Rhino ran to the end of the street and obediently stopped with everyone else at the edge of the road, waiting for the red light to go out.
Out of breath, he was panting heavily and, out of habit, looked around.
Two zebras had stopped next to him, paying him no attention at all; on the other side, a pretty pig was glancing at him sideways, snorting slightly and looking him over with an appraising gaze from under her lashes.
The red light with the standing paw symbol, as if on purpose, refused to go out.
Rhino looked at the traffic light impatiently.
Another couple of cars sped along the streets, and finally the prohibitory traffic light sign changed from red to green, with the walking paw symbol.
Delighted, Rhino rushed forward across the road at full speed.
After crossing the road, Rhino found himself on a small round square, in the center of which stood a fountain.
Trees stood along the edges of the square, interspersed with beautiful, decorative flowers.
Comfortable benches placed around the square offered a tired inhabitant a chance to rest and enjoy the beautiful fountain, tiled like a mosaic from the tiniest shards of glass.
All this beauty was not only a gift to the residents of Zootopia but also a kind of calling card for one of the richest and most influential banks in Zootopia and beyond.
At the edge of the square, on the opposite side of the road, rose a huge building, showing its uniqueness, power, and noble roots with its entire appearance.
No, it wasn’t the tallest building in the city, but looking at it, you would feel respect for it.
The architect who built it once said, “My creation is easily recognizable at once, even if it’s a simple cube; you will feel its uniqueness and grandeur just as you feel the difference between food from a roadside diner and food from a restaurant.” Rhino had been there many times for work.
Reaching the marble staircase leading to the main entrance, he stopped, and despite the pressing time, took several deep breaths, put himself in order: adjusted his tie, tucked the edge of his shirt into his trousers.
Gathering his thoughts, like a seasoned actor stepping into a role, Rhino transformed from a worried squirrel into a calm, confident animal.
With a steady, quick step, he climbed the stairs and entered the building.
The large hall was bustling with work.
Many animals with their own business stood in lines at various windows, behind which sat bank employees.
Rhino nodded in greeting to two wolf guards and received a haughty look of indifference in return.
Feeling the wolves’ intent gazes on him, Rhino moved deeper into the hall.
He needed to get into the bank’s vault.
It operated during specific hours.
Passing several queues, he headed for a small corridor for clients who had safe-deposit boxes in the bank’s vault.
And although Rhino was not a personal owner of a box, he represented a very wealthy client, and the local guards and senior bank employees, though they disliked the squirrel lawyer, were forced to be courteous with him as much as their positions allowed.
Along the way, he received his badge from the administrator, with his photo and full name — Rhino Oreshkin.
Such were the bank’s rules.
A minor unpleasantness on the way in the form of a broken car, though it frayed the squirrel’s nerves, ended well for his main mission.
Rhino made it in time.
He sighed with relief — and completely in vain, because what happened next was like a real thriller.
Before reaching the coveted corridor, Rhino stopped, as a huge crocodile had appeared before him, as if from out of the ground.
He stood before him, wrapped in a huge coat.
His other clothes looked quite expensive but rumpled.
And most likely hadn’t been changed in a long time.
The crocodile’s eyes stared intently at the squirrel.
For a second, Rhino was taken aback, but returning to his thoughts, he intended to walk around the brute, and was immediately grabbed by the crocodile’s clawed paws by the lapels.
In the blink of an eye, Rhino found himself near a huge, toothy maw.
Not having time to really get scared, he instinctively shrank, pressing to himself the most valuable thing he had — the briefcase with documents.
In the crocodile’s eyes, Rhino saw his own reflection.
“You,” the crocodile said menacingly, glancing quickly at Rhino’s badge, “Rhino.
You think you can just come and take everything from me?
Some petty lawyer who’ll crumble to dust with just one sneeze from me!” By the end of this speech, when the crocodile had already raised his voice, the guards were approaching him, having noticed the commotion among the animals watching the scene, who were gradually backing away from the crocodile and his victim.
Rhino was scared but managed to force out: “Sir, you’ve mistaken me for someone else, I didn’t…” but he didn’t have time to finish before the guards burst through the crowd of onlookers, deftly drawing their stun pistols.
“Freeze!” one of the wolf guards shouted.
“Drop the rat!” “I’m a squirrel!” Rhino croaked indignantly in the crocodile’s tightening grip.
Pushing aside the onlookers, the wolves kept the crocodile in their sights.
“Put your paws up!” one of them ordered.
The crocodile let out a characteristic dissatisfied growl with a note of threat.
“And you go ahead, try and stop me!” he shouted, unbuttoning his coat and throwing it to the floor.
In one paw he held the poor squirrel, who was trying to break free from the death grip, and in the other — a metal cylinder with a red button, from which wires ran to his chest, where tightly packed sticks of dynamite were visible.
A siren began to wail, and the animals, who had been watching the scene with curiosity until that moment, scattered in all directions.
Pushing and falling, they created a huge commotion.
A huge amount of paper flew through the air, the service windows instantly slammed shut with grilles, and all the employees hurried out of the bank.
“Everyone out!” the crocodile shouted.
The wolves had no choice but to lower their pistols with surprise and fear and back away.
The wail of the siren grew louder and louder…