The Big Chihuahua (10 page)

“You must be the famous Wolf Whisperer,” said Star, turning her attention to Felix. I didn’t like the way she looked at him, like she was hungry and he was good to eat. But he did look good. He was wearing a pair of slightly worn black jeans that fit really well, a black T-shirt, and a pair of well-worn cowboy boots. “How did you earn that title?”

Felix looked at me. I think he was asking for help. All I could do was shrug my shoulders.

“I grew up in
L.A.
My parents worked in the film industry and so do my siblings. I was always the one bringing home stray animals, and so it seemed logical for me to get involved in training animal actors. I’ve worked with wolves, big cats, and even”—he looked at Pepe—“Chihuahuas. I have to say that Chihuahuas are the most difficult animal to train of any I have yet encountered.”

“That is because we are smarter than humans,” said Pepe.

Star laughed. She had a girlish laugh, soft and light. “More difficult than wolves?”

Felix nodded. “Right now I’m working on a film being shot here in the Northwest that features wolves. However, we are still looking for the right animals.”

“I understand you’re interested in my wolf-dogs?” She said that in a soft and seductive voice.

“I am,” said Felix. “How did you acquire them?”

“They were a gift,” said Star, holding out her hand so Felix could help her to her feet, “from an admirer.” She laughed again. “Would you like to see them?”

“Of course,” said Felix.

“Are they still talking about wolves?” Pepe asked.

 

 

As we proceeded down the path through the woods to the pen, Star kept Felix beside her. But Pepe and I stayed close enough behind them to hear Star explaining how the principles the Dogawandans learned from dog behavior created success and harmony for humans. Felix nodded now and then and politely uttered, “Oh, I see” and “That’s interesting” and “Yes, dogs do have much to teach us.”

“I have been telling you that for a long time, Geri,” said Pepe.

“Yes, I know,” I told him. (And it was true—I had learned a lot from my dog. I just didn’t want it to go to his head.)

When we arrived outside the pen, the wolf-dogs were pacing back and forth.

“I think they heard us coming,” said Pepe.

“They can sense us coming,” Felix told Star. “They use all of their senses, not just hearing, but also scent.”

“And what do
you
sense?” Star asked Felix.

He answered by giving me a sly wink, then opened the gate and calmly walked inside the enclosure with the two wolf-dogs.

Star gasped.

I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, Felix was still alive and in one piece. In fact, the wolf-dogs were circling his legs. I held my breath, afraid to say a word for fear that it might cause the wolf-dogs to attack. A wolf could crush the bones of an elk in one mighty bite. Star was of the same mind, I think, because she was so frozen in place and ashen-faced that she could have been mistaken for a statue.

Pepe, on the other hand, muttered, “Show-off.”

“Good wolves,” said Felix, his tone low and even. “You are beautiful, lovely creatures.”

“They are primitive beasts,” said Pepe, “although they are my distant cousins.”

“I’m just here to visit with you,” Felix told the wolf-dogs, his tone reassuring. Then he did the inexplicable: He slowly sank into a squat, looking at each wolf-dog in turn. I had heard that you were never supposed to stare directly at a dog, particularly one that looked ready to attack. What was he thinking?

My heart was doing jumping jacks in my chest. Then one wolf-dog began to lick Felix’s hand, the way Pepe sometimes licks me. The other wolf-dog lay down in front of Felix, forepaws extended, and gazed up at him, almost worshipfully.

Star gasped again. Then a smile spread slowly across her face.

Felix slowly stood up.

So did the wolf-dogs.

“Sit!” he said. There was a moment of hesitation, and then the giant beasts slowly lowered their rumps to the ground.

“They behave better than you,” I said to Pepe.

“Sitting on command is just a parlor trick,” said Pepe.

“Lie down,” commanded Felix, putting out his hand, palm forward and lowering it toward the ground. The wolf-dogs bent their paws and lowered their heads and were soon stretched out in front of him.

“Nice work!” Felix said, giving each of them a quick rubdown, a scratch around the ears, a knuckle working down their backs. One of the animals rolled over and presented her snowy belly. I considered trying the same move myself once Felix left the pen.

Which he did, a few minutes later.

I let out a huge sigh of relief.

Star’s smile grew even wider. “Remarkable,” she said. “That was utterly amazing,” she told him. “You are truly dominant, Wolf Whisperer.”

“I can work with these hybrids,” said Felix. “It’s obvious someone put some effort into training them. Do you know much about their background?”

Star shook her head.

“I could question them,” Pepe said. He seemed a little put out that we were paying more attention to the wolf-dogs than to him. “Their language skills are basic compared to mine, but I should be able to translate.”

“You really don’t have the proper setup for them,” Felix said. “They need exercise and training every day. And the pen is far too small. They require an area at least five times this size, especially if they are going to be cooped up for most of the day.”

“We’ll see what we can do,” said Star. We began walking back toward the lodge. “When do you need them?”

“The sooner the better,” said Felix. “We are looking for a new location for the outdoor scenes. Our film crew is in Seattle just waiting for the go-ahead.”

“I can act,” said Pepe. “I was once a stunt double for the most famous Chihuahua to ever appear in a Hollywood movie.”

“What type of location are you looking for?” Star asked.

“An open meadow that is framed by big trees.” Felix waved his hand at the pines and cedars that surrounded us. “We had a permit to shoot in a Seattle park, but it didn’t work out.”

“Because they banned the wolves?”

“No, it was just a schedule conflict. We started shooting too late and another group was planning an event at the same park.”

“You can film in the meadow at the other end of the property,” said Star. “You’d have a clear space for the wolves to run and a backdrop of trees.” We had reached the edge of the woods, and Star paused, her hand on Felix’s arm, pointing to the expanse of meadow behind the yurt.

“I also filled in for the most celebrated Chihuahua to ever advertise Mexican food,” said Pepe.

“That would be ideal,” Felix answered. “Especially the eastern exposure. We’re hoping to shoot under the full moon on Monday night. But I would be concerned about working with these animals in an area that is so exposed. They will be under my control, but . . .”

“Don’t worry!” said Star. “The property is completely fenced. And our fences are topped with razor wire.”

“That’s quite impressive,” Felix said. “What are you trying to keep in?”

“Not in, but out,” Star laughed. “You wouldn’t believe how many people have tried to sneak into our grounds. Reporters hoping to get an inside scoop. Deprogrammers plotting to kidnap one of our devoted followers. Private investigators trying to get a message through to someone who has chosen to break off contact with their old pack.”

Was it just my guilty conscience or was Star looking straight at me when she said that? I tried to distract her by stepping forward and giving Felix a big hug.

“I’m just so glad you’re safe,” I said. “I was worried about you when you stepped inside that pen with the wolves.”

“I’m worried about you, too,” he whispered in my ear. “I wish I could be sure that you were safe.” Out loud he said, “Don’t worry about me. I’m a professional.”

“So are we,” said Pepe.

“When do you want to begin?” Star asked as we headed up the steps toward the lodge.

“I’d like to spend the day with them tomorrow,” Felix said. “Just to be sure they’ll respond to my commands. If everything goes well, we could begin filming on Monday afternoon.”

“Will you give our wolves credit in your film?” Star asked.

“Of course. However you like.”

“Just a mention that they came from the Dogawanda Center for Enlightenment,” said Star.

“Sure. It never hurts to advertise.”

Star smiled. “There are many ways to spread the Word of Dogawanda.” She paused as we approached the front steps of the lodge. “In fact, I hope you will join us for the final session of our introductory seminar, which will begin in about an hour. You will be able to see our training principles in action.”

“Well . . . ,” Felix said.

I tried to jump in to help him out. “Perhaps Felix has to get back to—”

Star cut me off. “Your friend, Geri, or rather I should say her talented dog, Towering Cedar, will be the focal point of this ceremony.”

“It is
bueno
to be recognized,” said Pepe. “But I wonder what I am being recognized for?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I will be channeling this new spirit who comes through him,” she said. “It seems to be a feminine spirit. I wonder what we should call her?”

“Perhaps Wanda the Dog!” said Pepe.

“Perhaps Wanda,” said Star dreamily as she drifted up the steps. “Excuse me, I must prepare myself.”

 

 

“What is going on?” I said to my dog as Star left.

“What do you mean?” said Felix. “It seems pretty clear. The woman is loco.”

“You didn’t seem to think that when she was talking to you earlier,” I said.

“Geri, I was being polite,” Felix said. “Besides, I wanted to understand better what you are dealing with here. She definitely has some weird notions about dogs and their behavior.”

“All of her ideas come from Dogawanda,” I said.

“Come on, Geri,” Felix said. “There is no Dogawanda. She’s just making this stuff up.”

“I don’t know about that,” I protested. “She seems to hear something.” It seemed to be my dog. “And look at all these people.” I waved my hand at the green-clad Dogawandans. Every one of them was smiling. “Would they be here if they weren’t happy?”

“I wonder about that,” said Felix. “Perhaps the fence is to keep people in, not to keep people out.”

I pondered that. “I don’t think so. The Dogawandans seemed able to get down to town when the sheriff wanted to talk to them.”

Felix shrugged. “There are other ways to keep people confined,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“Psychological control. Suggesting that everything that happens outside is dangerous. She seems to rule by fear more than by positive reinforcement.”

“You keep confusing having a relationship with a person with training a dog,” I said. “They’re totally different!”

“I certainly don’t think I’m training you very well,” said Felix. “If I were, we wouldn’t be here right now. We’d be in bed and you would be training me in how to give you pleasure.” He drew me into his arms and started to whisper into my ear suggestions about what I might like him to do to me.

“Geri!” said Pepe.

“Just a minute,” I said to him. I wanted to hear more of Felix’s ideas about how he would train me.

“Geri!” said Pepe again.

“Can’t you see I’m busy?” I snapped.

“That’s obvious,” said a deep, sexy voice. I recognized that voice. It was the voice of Fox Black.

I pushed Felix away, a bit embarrassed, as if we had been caught doing the things Felix was suggesting. I could feel my face flush with warmth.

Fox Black was standing a few feet away, his head cocked to one side. He wore ripped black jeans and a tight black tank top. “Who’s your new friend?” he asked.

“No friend of yours,” said Pepe.

“Hey!” I chided him, then realized Fox probably thought I was talking to him.

“This is Felix,” I said sternly. “He’s a Wolf Whisperer.”

Felix looked mortified.

“What’s a Wolf Whisperer?” Fox asked in a tone that was full of derision. Was he feeling some animosity toward Felix?

“I work with wild animals,” said Felix. “I tame them.” His dark eyes seemed especially piercing. His head was thrust out a little.

“I recognize the posture of male animals vying for dominance,” said Pepe.

“Why, Pepe!” I said. “You have an excellent grasp of body language. I do believe you could train humans.”

“Of course,” said Pepe. “All dogs train humans.”

“Of course,” said Felix. “It’s part of my training.”

“Of course,” said Fox. “It’s part of the training program.”

Apparently, Fox thought I meant him and Felix thought I was referring to him. They continued to face each other, fists clenched, bodies leaning forward.

I wanted to break up the tension. “At what level do you learn that?” I asked.

Fox broke off his gaze with Felix. I saw Felix toss his head back a little, as if to announce his victory in the eye-staring contest.

“Humans are so obvious,” said Pepe.

Fox turned to me. “At the beta level, we study body language extensively. I understand that you’re moving up to that level.”

“Yes, I am,” I said, casting a sideways glance at Felix, who crossed his arms.

“Star asked me to take you to the office so you could register. After the graduation ceremony, you’ll be moving to the beta den,” he said. “You and your little dog.”

“Tell him I’m not a little dog!” said Pepe.

“He’s not a little dog,” I said. “His name is Towering Cedar.”

“Well, then you and Towering Cedar.” He held out his elbow and I looked back at Felix.

“However, the beta pack headquarters is off-limits to anyone who has not completed the introductory training,” said Fox, looking at Felix.

“It’s OK,” I told Felix. “It will only take me a few minutes to register. Will you meet me in the dining room? It would be great if you could stay for the evening session.”

Felix merely shrugged.