Project Renovatio Read Online Free

Nothing. Strange, considering the vast majority of people had at least something about them on the internet. He searched for information on the genetically modified tomato and found only generic facts.
    Leaning back in the chair, he put his hands over his face and groaned. “Well, I’m stumped. Let’s go to the zoo. Seems we’ve got nothing better to do. Maybe we’ll think of something while we’re out.”
    Dayla leapt off the bed. “Yay!”
    ****
    Dayla skipped ahead of Rana as they walked towards the entrance, rattling off the information she had absorbed from her books since they left home. “Did you know the Nile Crocodile can weigh 11,000 pounds? And you can hear a lion’s roar from five miles away? I read today that a red panda is solitary. I like it because I like to be alone too…” She tended to become a resident expert on any exhibits their mother took them to, which over the years had grown into a significant number.
    “That’s great, hon. Which animal do you want to see now?” Rana became overwhelmed at the mass of information Dayla threw at her and needed a distraction. She handed Dayla the map. Levin seemed content to stare into the crowd through his sunglasses.
    Dayla pointed to the map. “Let’s see the orangutan. Do you know most people say it wrong? It’s orangu-tan, not orangu-tang. I feel bad for it because no one can say its name. Like you, Rana. It’s Ray-na, not Rah-na. Do you think it knows no one can say its name? I think it does. Hey! The orangutan is a loner too. Just like the red panda…”
    Rana semi-quit listening as Dayla skipped along, happy to be a living library of zoo facts. She pitied any docent who presented incorrect information in front of the child.
    They spent the following hours visiting the exhibits Dayla chose. She spouted off information at each one and even drew a little crowd.
    Rana put her hand on her sister’s shoulder and bent down to meet her eyes. “Look, it’s great you know so much, but tell us your two or three favorite facts for each animal so we don’t attract attention.”
    “Okay, I guess.” Dayla sulked and glanced at the sign near the elephant exhibit. “Hey, that’s not right.”
    Levin stepped next to her. “What?”
    “This map on the sign says African elephants live in northwest Africa. That’s wrong. They live in central and southern Africa. Geez, that’s so easy to learn. Should I tell someone?”
    “No, stay here. I’ll mention it on the way out.” Levin leaned towards the sign and picked at it.
    “What are you doing?” Rana asked.
    “The corner doesn’t line up. Something’s under it.” He continued to pick and tug at it.
    Rana moved next to Levin, hoping to block him from anyone else’s view. Dayla wouldn’t appreciate their zoo trip ending with employees kicking them out for vandalizing their sign. Fortunately, no one else seemed interested.
    “There.” Levin lifted the sign, revealing another sign with a map showing the correct distribution of African elephants. He examined the fake sign.
    “Someone left a note on the back.” He read it and groaned.
    “Can I see it?” Rana asked, and Levin handed it to her. She read:
     
    Congratulations on finding a well-buried clue. Perhaps you’d like to search for me again? Meet me at the burger place on the corner of Columbia and Grape Street in thirty minutes.
    Patrice Jevon Root
     
    She lowered the sign. Levin was walking towards the fence separating the zoo from the outside world.
    She caught up to him. “Do you want to go?”
    “No, I want to see who’s watching us. Someone must be close enough to tell whoever left the message that we found it.” He took off his sunglasses and squinted as he studied the landscape.
    Rana tried to think of a plan. “Let’s just go to the restaurant. You can find out who left it when we get there.”
    He glared at her. “Doesn’t this seem weird to you? Who’s interested enough in our lives to lead us around? Someone’s