Waggit's Tale (9 page)

“But let's not think of defeat,” Tazar said. “The dogs who win are the ones who never think of losing. By
tomorrow most of our troubles will be over, and we will live with less fear than today. Let us rest now and prepare our minds for tonight.”

“What about food?” said Gordo. “I just thought I should mention it.”

“No food today,” said Tazar. “You fight better on empty stomachs. Tomorrow we shall feast, I promise you.”

“Oh,” said Gordo. “Oh well, you're probably right.” But you could tell that he was unconvinced.

A
s night fell the dogs gathered themselves together in the tunnel. You could feel the tension as each animal thought about his or her role in the upcoming action. Dense clouds raced across the sky, causing the moon to go in and out, plunging the landscape into moments of deep darkness. The cold air made the dogs' breath steamlike, and their hurried panting betrayed their nervousness. They were eager to leave and yet unwilling to go to what could easily become a disaster.

“Okay now,” said Tazar, “we all know what we have
to do. Stick to the plan as far as possible, but be prepared for the unexpected. Good luck to us all. In a few hours we will be leading a safer and freer life, and that's worth whatever sacrifice the evening demands.”

They moved out in silence. At that hour of the night and time of year there were hardly any people around, and so they were safely able to make swift use of open ground. Tashi's team lived in what looked like a large clump of bushes at the bottom of a hollow in the ground. If you inspected the shrubs more closely, however, you would see that at the back of the thicket, where the undergrowth grew against a rock face, there was a passageway that led to a cave formed out of the vegetation. It was neither as secure nor as cozy as the Tazarians' tunnel, since both wind and rain could pass through, especially in the winter, when there were no leaves to protect it. Its chief advantage was its nearness to the park restaurant that was the team's chief source of food.

Because it was in a bowl the camp was also easy to defend. The top of the rock that enclosed one end was where the Tashinis placed their sentry, and the only access to this position was up the slopes on either side that formed the walls of the hollow. This was the route
that Cal, Raz, and Waggit had to take in order to neutralize the sentry on duty that night.

Once everyone else was in position the three dogs silently made their way up, crawling on their stomachs, using whatever cover there was, and moving rapidly during the periods of darkness when the moon disappeared behind clouds. Inch by inch, foot by foot, they gradually ascended. They finally made it to where they had a clear view of the watchdog in his position, or would have if there had been one. The top of the rock was empty.

“What do we do now?” whispered Raz.

“Waggit, go quietly down and tell Tazar that there's no eyes and ears here tonight,” said Cal.

“Okay,” said Waggit, relieved that the possibility of a fight had been postponed. On his way down he passed Gordo, who was carefully and quietly pushing a large trash can into position. When Waggit got to Tazar and informed him of the situation, the leader looked puzzled.

“Tashi may be careless about some things,” he whispered to the younger dog, “but not about security. This is very strange.”

Suddenly from the side of the bowl that Waggit had
just run down came a cry of “Ooooohhhhhhh!!!!” and a crashing and clanging as both Gordo and his trash can tumbled down the hill.

“Oh-oh, that's blown it,” said Tazar, no longer bothering to whisper. “Get ready, everyone!”

Waggit stood paralyzed with fear, his eyes wide open, because he realized he was standing next to the first target that the Tashinis would attack: his leader, Tazar. He waited for the enemy to come running out of their camp, but none did. Everyone stood for a moment in complete silence.

“Tashi, you coward,” yelled Tazar, “show us you're not the miserable scurry the whole park thinks you are. Come out and fight like a dog!”

Everyone waited, tensed and ready to fight, but there was no response.

“If you don't show yourself now, my team will take over the feeder. It will be ours,” challenged Tazar, but there was still no response.

By now Lowdown had left his position on the adjoining hill and was standing by Tazar's side.

“It could be a trap, boss,” he said. “Why don't you let me go and take a look? I've got the best chance of getting close without being seen.”

“No, Lowdown,” said Tazar. “It's too dangerous, and you're not quick enough to make an escape if you have to.”

“If I have to make an escape, then at least we've flushed them out, and I'll rely on you all to rescue me,” he replied.

“Hmm,” said Tazar. “I suppose you've got a point. Okay then, but be careful.”

“It's my second name,” chuckled Lowdown as he started out toward the bushes.

Even for a dog as small and close to the ground as Lowdown, there was not much cover to help him to approach the camp undetected, but the little dog did the best he could. Everyone held their breath until he got to the bushes. Then he disappeared. A couple of minutes later, there was a cry from the center of the thicket.

“It's empty,” came Lowdown's voice. “There's no one here.” There was a pause. “And it's disgusting!”

The rest of the dogs ran into the bushes, eager to see the enemy's camp. It was, as Lowdown said, pretty awful. Tazar was a stickler for keeping the tunnel clean and neat, but this clearly was not a concern of the Tashinis, for the place was scattered with bones and
bits of partially eaten food, along with old pizza boxes and other containers, as well as items of old human clothing, including a shoe.

“Where could they all be?” wondered Cal.

“You don't think,” offered Magica hesitantly, “that they could be doing exactly what we're doing and that they're at our place right now?”

“Dear Vinda, you may be right,” said Tazar in alarm.

“Alicia!” gasped Raz.

“Let's go,” snapped Tazar, and the team started as one to run back to the Risingside, heedless of the dangers of passing cars or Uprights. As they rounded the bend that led to the tunnel they pulled up short at the sight of Lady Alicia lying in front of the entrance, licking her paws without a care in the world. She looked up.

“Didja get 'im?” she casually inquired. “Is he dead?”

“Not only did we not get him,” said Tazar, “we didn't even find him. No one was home.”

“Well, where else could they be?” asked Alicia. “They'd never leave that place without someone to look after it.”

“That's true,” said Tazar. “Even if they had been intent on raiding our place, they would have left
someone on guard back there. Let's think what this could mean.”

The dogs fell silent as each one grappled with this strange situation. It was a mystery, and mysteries were always unnerving.

“I don't think well on an empty stomach,” said Gordo. Bits of garbage were still sticking to his coat where he had collided with the trash container.

“You don't think well on any kind of stomach,” said Cal, accurately if somewhat unkindly.

“I think worse on an empty one,” insisted Gordo.

“Let's sleep on it,” said Tazar, “but tonight I want two on eyes and ears. Cal and Raz, you take it and stay alert. This could be some kind of trick.”

When dawn broke a few hours later most of them were still sleeping. Cal and Raz, who had spent a tiring night on duty, came down to the tunnel exhausted.

“Waggit, take over, will you?” pleaded Cal.

“Sure thing,” Waggit said, and scrambled up the slope. He liked sentry duty, especially during the daylight hours. He felt safe in the undergrowth on top of the tunnel, and it was interesting to see the life of the park unfolding before his eyes.

Waggit scanned the view from side to side as he had
been taught, noting anything unusual. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he thought he could see a shape moving, dark against the whiteness of the snow. He looked again. Yes, there was definitely something there—some kind of animal moving in the woods close to the tunnel. He didn't want to use the alarm system because the tumbling cans would alert whatever was out there as well as the sleeping dogs below, so he crept very quietly down to the interior. His white coat made him almost invisible against the snow, and the intruder clearly didn't notice his movements.

As he reached Tazar's sleeping form, the black dog opened one eye.

“What is it?” he said.

“There's something out there. I'm not sure what, but some kind of animal, and it's checking out the tunnel,” said Waggit.

“Okay, let me take a look,” said Tazar. He climbed up the slope and then stopped, his head tilted to one side inquisitively, but without fear. When Waggit scrambled to his side he saw that a nervous brown female dog was facing him, ears down, quivering and crouching close to the ground. Her whole body language was submissive, and as she crept forward the
snow piled up in front of her chest.

“A good morning to you, sister. Why the pleasure of your company so early this day?” asked Tazar.

The brown dog looked up at him with frightened eyes. She went to speak, but no sound came out.

“Don't be frightened, sister. We're not going to eat you,” said Tazar in his most reassuring voice.

“Please, sir,” she finally whispered, “I want to join your team.”

“I've seen you before,” said Tazar. “You're one of the loners that lives on the Goldenside, near the Deepwoods End.”

“I used to,” she said, “but I can't live there no more. That's why I need to join you.”

“Something bad must have happened if a loner wants to be part of a team,” said Tazar.

“Very bad, sir,” agreed the female. “Very bad indeed. It's the Ruzelas; they hit the Goldenside hard. They got many loners and took all of Tashi's team. They got them with those big nets as they tried to escape. I saw them being loaded into a roller. It was horrible to see, sir.”

“You say they got
all
of Tashi's team?” asked Tazar incredulously.

“All the ones I know,” the female replied.

“Well, that would explain a lot,” said Tazar. “But you are welcome. Come, come with us, and meet your new brothers and sisters.”

Tazar, Waggit, and the female entered the tunnel. The rest of the team looked curiously at the stranger, who was so uncomfortable that she seemed to be praying for a hole in the earth to appear and swallow her up.

“Dogs, listen up,” said Tazar commandingly. “This is a sister who has asked if she can join our group. She has lived in the park for many risings as a loner, but now she wishes to be a team member, even though it's against her nature. She realizes now that the power of the team is the only way to survive the threat of the Ruzelas. Tell me, sister,” the leader continued, “what's your name? How shall we call you?”

The female muttered something beneath her breath.

“Speak louder. You are among friends, among your family,” said Tazar.

“Please, sir, I have no name. Loners don't need names.”

“Well, we must give you one,” said Tazar, “for you are alone no longer.”

“Once a loner, always a loner,” said Gordo in a surprisingly philosophical frame of mind.

“Gordo, my friend,” cried Tazar with delight, “you have become mighty skilled in the naming of names.”

“I have?” said Gordo with surprise.

“Indeed you have. You gave us Waggit's name, and now you've named our sister here.”

“I did?” Gordo was now completely mystified.

“I thought I heard you say she would always be Alona, and so she shall be. May I present to you the Lady Alona,” said Tazar with a flourish.

There was a chorus of yips and howls, and cries of “Lady Alona,” and “Good name,” and “Welcome to the family.” The reception was so warm, it was impossible for even a dog as shy as Alona not to relax a little and begin to feel safe. Even Alicia, seeing no competition in the plain, shy little thing, was hospitable in a condescending sort of way.

Meanwhile Gordo was sitting with a frown on his face, scratching his ear in confusion, and still trying to work out his part in the naming ceremony.

“Lowdown…” he said as the short dog walked by.

“Don't worry about it,” Lowdown said without stopping.

“One more thing.” Tazar interrupted the celebrations. “Our new sister told me something that I should pass on to you. While on the Goldenside, on her last day as a loner, she saw something that, if it's true, is of interest to us all.”

“It is true.” Alona spoke more firmly than at any time since her arrival. “I only speak the truth. I saw it, sir,” she insisted. “I saw it as clear as I see you now.”

“What?” said Lowdown. “What did she see? What did you see?”

“What she saw,” said Tazar, “was all of Tashi's team being captured by the Ruzelas and taken away in rollers.
All
of them, she says.”

“Including Tashi himself?” asked Cal.

“That I don't know,” admitted Alona. “I didn't actually see them put him in the rollers, but there was no one left. They must've got him.”

“Whad'ya think, boss?” said Lowdown.

“Well,” said Tazar, “it would explain why the camp was empty when we got there, but on the other hand, it hasn't been my experience that problems solve themselves as easily as that, so I'll just let this sit for a while.”

“My feelings exactly,” agreed Lowdown. “If it seems
to be too good to be true it probably ain't. Not, of course,” he added hurriedly, “that there's anything good about dogs being captured by the Ruzelas, even Tashi's gang of delinquents.”

Tazar and Lowdown walked away from the main group. Waggit had noticed how much the leader depended upon the wisdom of the smaller dog in times of uncertainty, and not knowing where the enemy was or what he was doing made Tazar anxious.

“So you don't think she's telling the truth?” he asked Lowdown.

“I dunno, boss. Like you said, if it
is
true it could explain a lot, but I would hate for us to relax and let our guard down, which may be exactly what Tashi wants us to do. As for Alona, she's a strange one all right, but then, so am I, and if we said ‘No strange ones' we'd have to disband the team altogether.”