Carl started toward the nearest gate, a walk-through—the only one in a rather out of the way corner. Although not sure why, he felt it safest to slip out as unobtrusively as they could. Zyl fell into step with him at once. The strange man moved with a smooth gliding step, light-footed and supple in his movements. He was one unusual guy, for sure. For now Carl did not quite know what to make of him, yet he found himself drawn with much more power than he was to most strangers. He tended to be shy and reticent, taking his time before he accepted anyone as a friend, even just a casual one.
Once outside, Zyl assumed the lead, walking so fast Carl almost had to trot to keep up with him. The bar they went to was only a few blocks from the zoo, a bit off the beaten path and not one of the city’s
