The City Heroes (9 page)

As the night retired to its holy interior, the day began in earnest and Blaize wished his expectations had not been cut short. He'd had a good night; his speed and cunning had served his cause and his claws had done their work. He'd placed the rats on the threshold of the house then curled up in a corner, expecting Drood to present himself in the morning.

Early in the morning the boy opened his eyes to the light of the world. Without wasting time, he jumped out of bed, got dressed and made for the kennel to greet his pet, Thatcher. But just as he reached the threshold, he saw the dead rats. How they got there, he wondered? Then he raised his head and glanced about, and found the cat he'd rescued yesterday asleep in the corner. Drood smiled at the creature and said, “I guess you did this. Thank you!”

But there was no response from his new friend. The boy moved to the back yard and returned with a broom and shovel to clear the mess. Without wasting time, he gathered the rats into a dustbin, and then he dug a hole and buried the dead creatures. Relieved, Drood raised his head and wiped his face with the back of his hand. Now, Thatcher and the cat had moved nearer, but Drood turned a blind eye, for he was keen to return the shovel and broom to their place.

The boy returned to see the cat and the dog rolling happily on the floor as if they had been friends forever. Drood fed them both a befitting meal then disappeared into the house. Thatcher reminded Blaize of their agreement, but before the cat could snatch either a morsel of food or a breath from the wings of the morning, his meal was in the belly of the greedy dog.

It was a lazy morning, and Drood reached the factory without knowing that Thatcher and Blaize were following him. The dog was eager to know where his master worked, and when he found out, it was surely the best day of his life. Not to cause any disturbance, the creatures took cover near a building opposite the factory. As soon as they settled down, Thatcher turned to Blaize and said, “My master will be surprised to see us here.”

“I think so, and I doubt if he will be happy,” Blaize returned.

“Don't be so pessimistic, Blaize. My master is hardly offended. Do you know his name?” Thatcher threw out a question as they exchanged glance.

“No,” Blaize replied shortly and turned away.

Thatcher adjusted and said, “His name is Drood, but he told his people to call him the
Master of Enchantment
!”

Blaize chuckled and scratched his hindquarter. “Why did he choose such a whimsical nickname?”

“Drood has said he would like to be a magician in the future. I am sure that is why he chose that nickname.”

“Well, in an ever-changing world, it is best to allow people to follow the path they have chosen.”

“You are right, but his father is a professor and he does not believe in playing tricks to make a living. That is why he asked him to come to the factory, to learn how to use his hands. An honest vocation is never a bad idea.”

Blaize was impressed, and then he asked, “What vocation is he learning?”

Thatcher replied, “I don't know, but I think it has something to do with machines!”

As Blaize cleared his throat to talk, the sound of a vehicle pulling up in front of the factory drew their attention. Some armed men jumped out of the van and dashed into the factory. Not long after, the men came out of the factory with Drood and Mr. Standfield. They bundled them into the waiting van, and drove off. Thatcher jumped to his feet. “What is happening? That's my master! Where are they taking him?” Without wasting a moment, the friends hit the road and gave chase.

Blaize and Thatcher were tired by the time they got to the kidnappers' hide out. The men had dragged Mr. Standfield and Drood to the backyard of a building in the middle of an abandoned plantation, and tied them to a stake. The men telephoned Mr. Standfield's people, and it was obvious from their side of the conversation that what they wanted from the family was a ransom. Drood had apparently been mistaken for the Mr. Standfield's son.

Blaize whispered, “Thatcher, you must return to the house and try to get your master's father to come here.”

“NEVER!” the dog snarled. “Let's attack them here and now and teach them a lesson…”

“SSSH!” Blaize interjected. “I hear footsteps; keep your voice low.”

Thatcher shook his head angrily. “I can't sit here and watch my master die. We must act fast. Come up with an idea, Blaize!”

The cat inhaled sharply and suggested, “Let's get closer and see how they're tied.” Without wasting time, Blaize led the way, looking carefully to every side as they moved. By the time they were a stone's throw from where Drood and Mr. Standfield were tied, they realized that they were at a serious disadvantage. “This won't be an easy task,” Blaize relayed.

“What do you mean?” the dog asked, staring at his poor master tied to a stake.

“The rope! We need a rat to loosen it,” Blaize disclosed.

“Ah, you are right! What do we do now?”

As they pondering what to do next, Blaize cleared his throat and whispered, “I will be back in a flash!” Before Thatcher could blink, the cat disappeared into the bush.

Moments later, there was a big commotion. Thatcher realized it was Blaize, who emerged with a hare whining under his extended claws. Reaching the dog, now charged for battle, the cat spared the hare a breath and disclosed, “If I intended to eat you, I wouldn't have brought this far. But if you try to play pranks, then my claws will ruin your day!”

Quivering at the feet of the two immense creatures, the unfortunate hare mumbled, “Just tell me what you want me to do, and consider it done.”

Blaize took a deep breath as he looked straight into the eyes of the frightened creature. He grabbed the hare by the neck and pinned him to a tree. The hare was kicking at the air as the cat threatened, “Let me warn you one last time; if you disappoint me, then my face will be the last one that you will see on this earth!” Then he dragged the hare to where Drood and Mr. Standfield were tied. “I need you to untie our master!”

“Okay,” said the hare. “I was at the top of a tree, at the other side, when they were brought in. Which of them do you want me to untie?”

Thatcher cut in, “The fellow in the blue shirt. In fact, there is no need to worry about that. We shall lead you there.”

The men were playing cards when the creatures snuck in behind Drood. When he noticed his pets, he became excited, though he did not give them away to his captors. The hare was true to his word, and in a moment Drood was set free. As the boy breathed the air of freedom, he whispered to Mr. Standfield that he would come back for him. Before the dust could settle, Drood and his friends left the yard, unnoticed. The hare showed them the way out of the plantation and disappeared into the bush. After covering a long distance, Drood stopped at a police station to tell his story.

The policemen were surprised to see Drood. After listening to his long tale, they offered the boy and his pets a room to spend the night. They organized themselves then descended upon the hideout of the kidnappers. A few hours later the policemen arrested the kidnappers and freed Mr. Standfield. Then they contacted the boy's parents, who were glad to have their son returned to them. But, on that day, who was the real magician? Why, it was Blaize, of course! Thatcher howled his praise and approval, and Drood, ever grateful to the cat he'd once saved from drowning, bestowed an honorary nickname on his new beloved pet: Blaize, the
Master of Enchantment.