Krakens and Lies by Tui T. Sutherland

all up in arms about the experiments we should be doing to see if your animals have any magical healing properties.”
    â€œThere’s a branch of SNAPA for that,” Zoe said. “Strictly overseen to make sure the animals are always treated humanely, and that they have chosen to give their consent.”
    â€œOh,” Jasmin said, imitating her mother’s voice, “what a waste of time, asking a dragon its opinion about anything. Let’s just chop off its claws and see if they’re useful.”
    Zoe shuddered and wrapped her arms around her knees.
    â€œSorry, Zo,” Jasmin said. She slid off the bed and put one arm around Zoe. “I was just kidding. I bet it feels awful. Listen, I promise we can stop them, okay? I don’t know what we can do, but if I can help, I’m in. I don’t want my dad selling tickets to ride this guy any more than you do.” Jasmin thumped the Captain’s side and he waved his trunk amiably at her.
    â€œReally?” Zoe said. “You would do that? Help us to stop your own parents?”
    â€œYou know my parents,” Jasmin said. “I like them some of the time, but they’re all work work work and anytime I disagree with them, they just talk right over me like I’m not there. My dad’s so wrapped up in his campaign he hasn’t come to any of my dance recitals this year. If I were old enough tovote, I wouldn’t even vote for him on Tuesday.”
    She stopped suddenly and her eyes got huge. “Oh no,” she whispered.
    â€œWhat?” Zoe whispered back.
    â€œYou might have a problem,” Jasmin said. She stood up, tightened her ponytail, and cracked her knuckles nervously.
    â€œDon’t torture me,” Zoe said.
    â€œOkay.” Jasmin started pacing in the narrow space around Fuzzbutt and the beds. “Well, my mom and dad have been talking in cryptic circles about something for months. When will everything be ready, what’s the best strategy, this has to be done carefully, all that boring stuff I never listen to, right? So, last week I was doing my homework in the den and I heard Mom say to Dad something like ‘We’re all set for Election Day.’ And he said, ‘Cameras from every network, right?’ And she said, ‘Of course. All trained on you. You bring it out, and the entire country will have to believe you. There’ll be no covering this up.’ And he said, ‘Win or lose? They’ll still come for the speech?’ and she said, ‘Yes, but you’re going to win. And even if you don’t . . . we win anyway.’ And then they got all mushy about how great they each are, so I put in my headphones and turned up the sound.”
    Zoe stared up at her.
    â€œThis is what they were talking about!” Jasmin said, throwing her hands out. “The Menagerie! Zoe, they’re going to expose it on Election Day. Do you know when that is?You live under a rock, so maybe not. It’s this Tuesday . Do you know what today is? Saturday . You have three days to do something, or it’s hello, mermaids, you’re on camera, say hi to the world.”
    Zoe made a strangled sound and dropped her head into her hands. “I have to tell my parents,” she said. Maybe they really had to give kraken ink to the Sterlings, whether or not they knew something about Logan’s mom.
    â€œWhat do you think they have?” Jasmin asked.
    â€œWhat?” Zoe said.
    â€œMom mentioned bringing something out at the election-night party—at the Buffalo Bill Diner, I assume, where the cameras will be. Is there any chance they have one of your creatures? Or any way they might get one?”
    Zoe felt her stomach drop even further. The Chinese dragon , she thought. If they did have Abigail, that meant they must have the Chinese dragon, too.
    So they couldn’t give them kraken ink, or else what would happen to Abigail and the dragon?
    But if they