The adventure: An unfortunate case of poor instincts ends with a heroic rescue
The time: November 1957
The place(s): Table Mountain, South Africa; New York
View original tweet (warning, contains nostalgia)
ZEBRA’s sister authority, OKAPI, is delighted to announce the safe rescue of Agent Nelson (first name, Delta) from the top of Table Mountain.
The brave OKAPI team received a tip-off from their ambassador in New York that Nelson mistakenly believed Russian space dog, Laika, was alive and in orbit above South Africa.
It seems he then commissioned renowned French pilot, Monsieur Jack Auriol, to fly him to Johannesburg – although the flight stopped short, due to a lack of fuel.
Little is known of Agent Nelson’s experiences over the next 24 hours. However, when found by the expedition team, he was clearly dehydrated and delirious.
He described having escaped from a lion via an underground tunnel, under the guidance of a “glitching porcupine”. He was still in possession of his pager, but had not attempted to use it to call for help, mistakenly believing it to be a “Laika tracker”.
One member of the rescue party reported that, on seeing them approach, the Agent dropped a “small, buzzing box” into an impenetrable hole in the mountain. However, other colleagues believe he was attempting to dispose of notebooks belonging to his former mentor, a disgraced ZEBRA Professor.
One such notebook, partially erased, was found in Nelson’s possession. It was immediately quarantined and will be destroyed. Meanwhile, having been treated for heatstroke, the Agent has been returned to New York and discharged into the secure care of the highly respected Nurse Sparrow.
We would like to thank OKAPI for their swift actions in this case, and remind all Agents that they are required to immediately report any sightings of Nelson’s former supervisor, Professor Hope. She has not been seen since abandoning her post several months ago, and we have significant concerns for her safety.