3 Heads & a Tail

by Vickie Johnstone

  “How so?” asked Josie.

  “Not sure,” Ben answered, as Jeremy returned with a map.

  At that moment, a bus drew up at the stop, crammed full of people who spilled out of the doors in a rush.

  “Wow,” said Jeremy. “No one ever visits here.”

  Kay grinned. “Maybe you should make some sarnies.”

  “Let's go,” said Ben, and the group crossed the road.

  Jeremy turned to say something else, but they were gone. He had meant to warn them, but it was too late. Shrugging, he went back into his shop.

  “Hey! Wait!”

  Ben and Josie turned to see David, looking hot and ruffled.

  “Wait for me,” he said, running across the road towards them.

  Ben was amazed. He'd never seen David run for anything and he really didn't want to deal with him now. Ignoring him, he turned and carried on walking.

  In the distance the camera crew was approaching. The press and TV people followed behind. In his shop, Jeremy was busy making tea for the most customers he'd ever had in his life.

  Glen

  We've been running for about half an hour and Mimi looks weary, but I'm guessing she doesn't want to be any trouble so she's pretending she's okay. Luckily, it's cooler here under the trees. We're so far into the woods that the light is dim. Flecks of sun glimmer down. I could do with a drink, but I can't hear any running water.

  “I think we can stop now,” I say. “You should say when you're tired. I don't mind stopping.”

  “But they might catch us,” she says, frowning. She's panting heavily.

  “If they do, they do.”

  She sits down. “But then we won't be able to see each other anymore.”

  “Let's not think about that. We're free now. Let's just be happy about that,” I say, nuzzling her nose. Her eyes light up. My heart is racing and my brain is buzzing. I'm wondering how much longer we have. Dogs on the run we are, running free, but not for much longer, I fear.

  “Get up!”

  I spin round in shock. The gruff shout comes from a tall man in a dark hat and dark clothes. Where did he come from? He's angry and carrying a rifle. It's aimed at us!

  “Get up! I'm not going to say it again!” he shouts, pointing the barrel at Mimi.

  She stands, wobbling on her four paws, her eyes fixed on the ground. I know what she's doing. She's pretending he doesn't exist in the hope that he'll just go away. I know that he won't. She whimpers.

  “You're a pretty dog, aren't ya'.” growls the man. “Bet I could get a few bob for you.”

  Mimi whines, so low that a human could barely hear it, but to me it's loud. My heart is in my throat. I'm ready to spring if he tries anything. Behind him in the distance, I can see some kind of hut, small and wooden. He must live there. So that's where he came from.

  The man walks closer to Mimi and tilts her head up with the bottom of his boot. I want to leap at his throat, but the rifle keeps me back. It dawns on me that I can't do anything to stop him. If I leap at him he's going to shoot me. There's only one thing I can do.

  “Trust me,” I voof at Mimi. “I'll be back!”

  “Shut up, dog!” the man shouts, but he's still looking at Mimi, even though he has the rifle aimed at me. I know I'm quicker than his eyes. Mimi voofs back and moves slightly to the side. I take my chance while he's distracted and run as fast as my paws can go.

  “Hey!” he shouts, but he can't shoot me and stop Mimi running at the same time. In his head, she's his main prize out of the two of us. “Come here, girl,” I hear him command as I run.

  I race as fast as possible back the way we came, trying to follow the exact same path. I have to get back to the shop where all the people were. It doesn't matter if they take us home and we never see each other again. The most important thing is to save Mimi. I have to get back before he takes her away. Faster, faster, I have to run faster.

  Soon I'm racing like the wind, zigzagging between the trees, snorting to fight back my thirst. The day is cooling down, thankfully, but it's still warm. The ground feels a little cold, and now and then some twig or something snaps, making me more alert. I keep on running. My mind is full of images. They streak across my thoughts, casting up memories like photos. Me and Mimi in the park, by the lake, catching a bus, crossing the road to the woods, the men with cameras, our faces in the newspaper, stealing food from fast food joints. And then an image of Ben flashes through my mind. I wonder where he is. I wonder if he hates me for running away.

  I toss the thoughts aside and charge on. I'm huffing and puffing, but I keep running. I really need water, but I think of Mimi and she keeps me going. Thankfully, I haven't heard any gun shots in the distance. I know she's smart. She won't do anything to make him angry. She'll be calm and obedient, and stay safe. I keep running.

  Chapter 38

  “According to the map, we go straight,” said Kay, looking up.

  “No, you've got it upside down again,” said David. “It's that way.”

  Kay stuffed the map into David's hands. “You're such a know-it-all! It isn't my fault we've been walking around in circles.”

  “He's right,” said Ben, glancing at the map over David's. “We need to go that way instead.”

  Josie tapped Kay on the arm, and they followed the guys. Ms Hill walked a little way behind them. The forest was beautiful. Birdsong filtered down from the tops of the trees and the air was nicely warm. Everything smelt green, thought Josie. The trees seemed to come alive and wave their fingers in the breeze.

  Ben walked ahead with purpose. There was only had one thing on his mind – finding his dog. He knew it had to be today. Through the forest they strode, as fast as they could, hoping they were heading in the right direction.

  “Look!” shouted Josie, breaking the silence.

  Straight ahead, a yellowish blur appeared in the distance between the trees. It was moving fast and heading their way. A shiver charged up Ben's spine. “Glen!” he shouted, and started running towards the shape that was coming into focus. Glen's head was bouncing towards him.

  Ben bent down just as the big dog landed in his lap, almost knocking him over. Ben was so happy he thought his chest might explode. Glen barked and wagged his tail, dipping his body. Ben struggled to keep his balance and fell backwards, with the dog licking his face and barking some more.

  “Glen! Hey, boy!” shouted Josie, patting his back and hugging his face. She got a lick in return.

  Kay dove in, stroking the Labrador and ruffling his ears. David stood back, aware that he wasn't exactly Mr Popular right now.

  “But where's Mimi?” asked Ms Hill.

  The others turned round. She was standing still, with her hand over her mouth.

  Ben ruffled Glen's head, and stood up. “We'll find her.”

  Ms Hill looked as if she was about to burst into tears. Josie gave her a hug and a few hopeful words.

  Glen began to act strangely. He started barking at Ben. Then he ran off a small distance and returned, and then he was off and back again. He kept barking.

  “Calm down boy,” said Ben, confused.

  Glen ran a short distance and stopped. He barked again, followed by a whine.

  “I think he wants us to follow him,” said Josie.

  Ben scratched his head. “Of course!”

  Josie glanced round. “I can hear voices behind us – must be the news and TV people.”

  Ben strode over to Glen. “Alright boy, lead the way.”

  The dog wagged his tail and ran off.

  “But not quite so fast!”

  Ben started chasing Glen's tail, and the others started running too. Ms Hill did her best to keep up. They ran through the forest, without rationalising what they were doing. Every now and then Glen stopped and waited, for he was much the faster runner. After a while he stopped running altogether and sat down. Everyone caught their breath.

  “What now?” asked Josie.

  “Not sure,” said Ben. “Let's be quiet. I hav
e a strange feeling.”

  Everyone stood silently, unsure what to do. The dog's ears pricked up as if he was listening for something.

  “What is it boy?” asked Ben, softly.

  Glen turned and walked with his body slumping, his tail drooping between his legs; sort of skulking, as if he was trying to be very, very quiet. He had his nose to the ground sniffing. Then he stopped and glanced back at them.

  “He's acting weird,” whispered Josie.

  “I think he wants us to follow again, but quietly,” said Ben. “I've never seen him acting like this. Does anyone want to wait here?”

  “I'll wait,” whispered Ms Hill. “Just in case.”

  “Me too,” said Kay, nervously. “In case.”

  Ben, Josie and David crept quietly behind Glen, who skulked to the ground. They ducked their heads and checked carefully where they stepped. In the distance, a small, wooden hut rose from the ground. Glen stopped, looked at Ben, then the hut, and back at Ben again. He whined softly.

  “Whatever it is, it's in there,” whispered Ben.

  Chapter 39

  “A house here, in the middle of the woods? Now that's spooky,” remarked David.

  “Let's go,” whispered Ben.

  The three figures and the dog crept up to the hut. Ben stopped them just at the side of the building and walked silently to the nearest window to take a peek. It was dark inside, and sparsely furnished with a couple of chairs, a cooker and a sofa. On the floor, tied by a rope to a table, was Mimi. She looked asleep. It was too dark to see much more. Ben pressed his nose against the windowpane to get a better look inside. His breath steamed the glass. A face stared back at him!

  Ben jumped. He stepped back from the hut, and turned towards David and Josie. “Run!” he yelled, but he didn't say it fast enough.

  “Stop! Trespassers!” screamed the man, charging out of the hut, gripping a rifle.

  “Shit! He's got a gun!” yelled David, almost tripping over his own feet.

  Josie screamed.

  Ben froze.

  The old man looked angry. He was wearing a dark hat, dark clothes and big boots, which looked steel capped. He swung the rifle and aimed it right at them. “Wha' were ya' doin', spyin' in my 'ouse?”

  Josie glanced back. She couldn't see Kay or Ms Hill – they must have seen the man and hidden out of sight. That was good. If anything happened, they would run and get help. She bit her tongue and tried not to scream again.

  “Wha' ya' lookin' at, girl?” growled the man. “Is someone else wid ya?” He eyes darted around wildly, but he kept the rifle targeted on them.

  Josie shook her head. The man looked paranoid and scared her.

  “Wha' ya' doin' in my forest?”

  “Your forest?” asked David, flicking his hair.

  Casting his angry eyes on the younger man, the stranger screwed up his face and spat on the ground. “I ain't talkin' ta you, boy!” he growled.

  “I was looking for my dog,” said Ben.

  “Looks to me like ya' got ya' dog wid ya,” growled the man, pointing at Glen. “So why don't ya' jus' go back ta where ya' came from, and git out 'a ma forest!”

  Josie nodded. It sounded like a good plan. She wondered if Kay had run for help. She hoped so. Ben edged towards her.

  David stared at the grizzly old man, who had a wild look in his eye. He had the feeling that the man didn't care about anything, which made him capable of anything. David glanced at Ben, but he didn't look back at him. Ben was also staring at the man. Glen looked as if he was preparing to pounce; his ears were pricked and his eyes were locked on their adversary. Josie trembled.

  “So what's it gonna be?” yelled the old man, pointing his rifle closer. “I fink ya' should all git goin' now.”

  Ben nodded. “We'll go...”

  Before he could finish his sentence, Glen leapt towards the old man. Ben caught the movement like a flash. It was so fast. The rifle went off, the noise filling the air like a crack of thunder. Josie screamed and bumped against Ben, who grabbed her to stop her falling.

  Looking down, Ben was surprised and glad to see that Glen was alright. But the old man was staggering. Somehow David had charged at him at the same time as Glen jumped. He'd stopped him shooting the dog, but now they grappled with one another, each trying to grab the rifle. Ben didn't know what to do. Glen barked and growled as the two men battled.

  Glen inched closer, but he had to dodge the kicks that came in his direction as the old man swerved. Ben ran forward just as David swung and tried to punch the crazy man. But, the old guy was too fast and kicked him in the shin. David gasped from the impact of the steel-capped boots and staggered backwards – just as the old man regained a firm grip on the rifle and shot again. This time it skimmed the edge of David's thigh and he shuddered to the ground.

  Josie screamed. Ben froze. Glen stopped barking.

  “Don't any of ya' move or I'm gonna shoot ya' all where ya' stand! Ya' git me?”

  “Drop your gun!”

  Everyone turned to see two police officers and an entire film crew, along with Jeremy the shopkeeper, Kay, Muriel and Ms Hill. The photographers started snapping and one of the cameramen began rolling.

  “Jim, drop your gun,” shouted Jeremy. “You've gone too far this time.”

  The old man sank to his knees and flung his rifle out to the side. “They trespass in ma forest,” he growled. “They be trespassers!”

  The two police officers rushed forward. One placed handcuffs around Jim's wrists while the other picked up the rifle.

  Josie breathed a sigh of relief and Ben patted Glen. “Good boy,” he said.

  Kay ran forward and hugged them all.

  “What about me?” David winced in pain.

  “Oh god,” said Josie. She ran forward and wrapped her jacket around his leg. “This will help stop the blood. Does it hurt?”

  “Yes!” said David, raising his eyebrows. “Of course it hurts. I got shot!”

  “Thanks, David,” said Ben, squatting down. “You saved Glen's life, and I think you saved ours too.”

  “I owed you one.”

  Josie ruffled his hair. “You're not so bad,” she said, grinning.

  David managed a tiny smile in return. His leg pounded.

  One of the police officers, now holding the rifle, bent down to speak to the injured man. “An ambulance is on its way, but if it's alright with you, Jeremy and my partner will carry you so that we can get you there as fast as possible,” she suggested.

  David's eyes perked up. “That's fine with me, love,” he said. She was pretty for a police officer; actually, very pretty for any female. He didn't have the energy to flick his hair back, so he gave her a big smile instead. “As long as you are with me, I'm sure I'll be fine.”

  The police officer giggled slightly, before going to speak to her partner.

  David inwardly flicked his hair. He hadn't lost his touch, even when shot in the leg. Then he felt woozy, like he was about to faint.

  “Still wowing the ladies, I see,” said Ben. “Even a bloody shot in the leg doesn't stop you!”

  “You can't keep a good Romeo down,” said David. Who was he kidding? His leg killed!

  “Can I take your picture?” asked a woman coming forward with a camera. “You're the hero of the hour.”

  “Of course, love,” said David, trying to perfect a smile while grimacing in pain.

  As if on cue, some of the other press people ran up and started snapping their cameras.

  The male policeman waved them away. “Come on, son, let's get you to a hospital. Thanks for the tourniquet,” he added to Josie.

  Jeremy and the policeman linked hands to form a seat for David, and whisked him off through the forest. The policewoman marched behind with the handcuffed Jim.

  Chapter 40

  “I almost forgot, what with everything else going on!” Ben looked round for Glen. The dog was waiting patiently outside the hut.

  “Where's Mimi?” asked Josie. “Wh
ere's Ms Hill?”

  “Good question,” said Ben, realising he hadn't had the chance to tell anyone that the dog was in the hut.

  Josie turned round and spotted Mimi's owner, chatting with Muriel, her magazine editor. “Ms Hill!” she called.

  Ben walked over to Glen, who started wagging his tail and jumping around. Thinking it best that Ms Hill didn't see Mimi tied up, Ben headed into the hut alone with his dog. As soon as they entered, Mimi jumped up, her tail wagging and her bright brown eyes gleaming. Glen ran over and licked her face. She gave a little “voof” and wagged her tail even more.

  Ben grinned and quickly took a photo of them on his mobile. He couldn't resist. But this was their private moment – none of the press would see this. He shoved the phone into his pocket and untied Mimi. She licked his hand and looked up at him in gratitude. Then the two dogs ran around each other, barking loudly. Ben could only guess what they were saying.

  Looking out the window, he could see everyone waiting. Josie was holding Ms Hill's hand, and a wall of photographers and reporters stood behind them.

  “Okay, you two,” he said, bending down. “Now, you have no idea, but you are the most famous golden Labradors in the country! Everyone is waiting to take your picture outside! Be good!”

  Ben stood up and the two dogs ran around him excitedly, making it difficult to get to the door. As soon as they appeared outside, Ms Hill flung her arms in the air and ran towards Mimi, who ran towards her. They met in a jumbled heap somewhere in the middle, setting off all of the cameras. Josie crossed her arms and glanced around, a big smile on her face. For the next ten minutes, Ms Hill and Ben posed with the two dogs, before they got bored and started playing with one another.

  Chapter 41

  Josie, Ben, Kay and Ms Hill drove back home with the two dogs squeezed on the back seat. Now and then, Glen poked his head out of the window to let the wind whistle past his ears, but most of the time his gaze was firmly on Mimi.

  “They're inseparable,” said Josie, stroking their heads.