The snow leopard froze in that position, the muzzle aimed at the crocodile’s forehead.
His finger froze on the trigger, barely squeezing it.
“What is it,” Mr.
Erhordona responded softly, “my boy?” “Please, father, let him die with dignity,” Vayner pleaded.
“Dear grandson,” Mr.
Erhordona continued, “don’t feel sorry for him.
He is our enemy.” “Grandfather is right, he is our enemy,” the boy’s father, Eko, confirmed.
“Enemies of the Lemur Bank are unworthy of life.” Vayner lowered his head.
He regretted interfering in his father’s affairs.
Now they would see him as a weak leader.
He was so afraid of ruining everything that his emotions had gotten the better of him.
He listened carefully to his father’s words.
And then he decided he wouldn’t allow himself to do this again.
He had to be worthy of his father.
In that moment, Vayner decided to cast aside useless pity and become tougher.
He clenched his little fists in anger at himself, but then Maina interjected into the conversation: “Forgive me, Mr.
Erhordona.
I believe we have acted unfairly towards Vayner.
If he is soon to become a member of the club and join the council of the Lemur Bank, then he must defend his opinion, arguing his point.
In this case, we did not give him a chance to state his arguments.
I think this lesson will be good for him, as he will face many debates in the council in the future, where he will need to prove he is right.” Eko and Mr.
Erhordona listened attentively to Maina.
“Very well, Miss Maina, I think there is a kernel of wisdom in your words,” Mr.
Erhordona agreed.
“Go on, grandson, be braver, justify it.
Why do you want to let him die with dignity?” “Well,” Vayner began hesitantly, “I think, since we have completely defeated him—him and his entire family—then doesn’t it matter how he dies?
I mean, why not show a little mercy, just a little?
I think he behaved with dignity, not giving away the plan or whatever you and father were demanding from him.
I think that counts for something.” Vayner trailed off at the end of his speech and, fidgeting with his fingers in fear and uncertainty, fell silent.
“Well, if there’s no difference,” his father Eko replied quickly, “then what difference does it make how he dies?
And he didn’t know anything about the documents anyway.
That was just a formality—to ask him.
All he knew how to do was drink and go to various places of entertainment.
There’s no honor or courage in him.
Only stupidity and arrogance.
He is pathetic.” Eko looked at his son.
Vayner lowered his eyes and stared at the floor of the limousine, not daring to object.
His father just let out a tired sigh.
Eko dropped his stern expression and smiled warmly.
He jumped down from his seat and walked over to Vayner.
“But I’m glad you argued with me, trying to prove you were right,” he hugged his son tightly.
“And you know, I think I’ll concede this argument to you, as a sign of trust in you.
Don’t let me down.” Vayner smiled in return and, nodding his head proudly, replied: “I won’t.” “Come on, come here,” Eko said softly, helping his son climb back into his seat.
He stood behind him, remaining in the shadows.
Now two snouts appeared in the open window of the limousine—Vayner’s and his father Eko’s.
Vayner was overjoyed that he had been given a second chance.
“Mr.
Eisi,” Eko said proudly, looking at the snow leopard, who still stood there, pressing the pistol’s muzzle to Harry’s forehead, “obey Mr.
Vayner.” “Yes, sir.” The young lemur took a step forward, looking out of the limousine window.
“Lift him up,” he ordered in a modest but authoritative voice.
The bulls obeyed, and Harry’s body finally rose into the air.
The crocodile lowered his head; he had accepted his fate.
But he was happy to die standing on his feet.
The photograph of his family surfaced in his mind once more.
“Now, son, give the order,” his father whispered from behind, “for Eisi to kill him.” “What?” Vayner was frightened.
“But I…
I can’t.
I thought…” “Son,” his father interrupted, “this is your decision, and you have to carry it out.
You must do it.
Otherwise, your argument is meaningless.
You must be strict and merciless with your enemies.
Those are the laws.
Don’t think of them as animals; they are just biowaste.
They are unworthy of existence.
There is a kind of ‘canon’—an unchangeable set of laws not subject to revision.
Those like them are outside the ‘canon’; they have no future in Zootopia.
They are weak.
You must adhere to the canon, as a rule.
Only when everything is right, only then does everything work as it should.
Imagine that he is just a character.
A character in a small story.
He doesn’t exist.
He is a fiction.
He is an illusion.
He is not alive.
Kill him!
It’s so easy, so simple.” Vayner swallowed the lump in his throat.
He hadn’t known he would have to pass the sentence.
He looked at Maina for advice.
The graceful silhouette of the puma was clearly outlined in the dark cabin of the limousine.
Two green feline eyes watched him intently.
She spoke calmly and softly: “Your father is right, sir.
Just order Mr.
Eisi to shoot the crocodile in the head.
Do it.
It’s easy and not scary at all.” Maina smiled softly as she said these words, as if talking about something mundane.
And Vayner nodded his head in approval.
He tried to give his actions an air of confidence.
His paws were trembling.
Trying to remain calm, he looked out the window and, quickly, firmly, with a strain in his voice, said: “Mr.
Eisi, fi…” Vayner froze.
He tried to force the words out.
Hating himself for his indecision, he shuddered, straining.
But after a few moments, he still couldn’t force a single word out.
“I’ll help you,” his father whispered in his ear.
“Repeat after me.
Mr.
Seng Eisi…” “Mr.
Seng Eisi,” Vayner said, his voice trembling.
“Shoot Harry Drago…” his father whispered in his ear.
“Shoot Harry Drago…” Vayner repeated after his father, as if enchanted.
“In the head!” “In the hea…,” The young lemur strained with all his might, but couldn’t say the words.
He burst into tears and, lowering his head, whispered: “Forgive me, forgive me!…
I…
I can’t.” Vayner jumped down from the soft chair and stepped aside.
“It’s alright, son,” his father consoled him.
“Your whole life is ahead of you.
It’s not scary.
Everyone makes mistakes.” Vayner jumped back into his seat and pressed against the puma Maina.
She gently hugged him and said: “It’s alright, sir.
It’s alright.” Meanwhile, Eko quickly looked out of the limousine window.
“On your knees,” he said quickly.
Harry fell to his knees in the mud again, in front of Seng Eisi.
Before he could even process what was happening…
“Eisi, take care of him,” Eko said and closed the limousine window.
The snow leopard’s finger pressed the trigger.
A small, sharp needle flew out of the muzzle and instantly pierced the crocodile’s skull.
It went straight through, shattering the cranium on its way out, and embedded itself deep into the ground.
Harry Drago’s body swayed and fell dead.
Drops of rain mingled with tears streamed down his snout.
A flash.
A charred photograph of his family lies on the floor.
Around it is much soot and dust.
A pair of fallen leaves lie nearby.
Small splinters of old boards also form the background.
It smells of autumn, cold, and dampness.
In the photograph, his father is embracing his family, standing in the background.
On a chair, next to his father, sits his mother, gently hugging her husband.
On the left are his two brothers—they are embracing and looking cheerfully into the camera lens.
His uncle stands to the side in an old jacket, a rifle hanging behind his back.
His little sister, with the cute bow on her tail, is hugging Harry around the waist and waving her paw happily, also looking into the camera lens.
In the background, a safe is visible.
If you look closely, you can make out a seven-digit code and the manufacturer’s sealing mark—”Granit.” At the bottom of the photograph is the inscription “The Drago Family.”