Buck Vs. the Bulldog Ants

by David Kersey

CHAPTER SEVEN

  Of course Ferdinand was half in, half out, does anything ever change?

  "G'day mate, and g'day to you Miss Cassandra." He saluted both of us.

  "G'day to you Ferd." I left out the gettin' any jab since there was mixed company, even though it was not meant to be in the blue area. Better left unsaid. "Anything new to report today?"

  "Same as was, mate. There's some new critters but they is tame enough, we gettin' along."

  "Ferd, do you move around in the pond and park yourself at other parts of the banks?"

  "Sure as shootin’, I know this pond like the back of my foot." I had to think about that.

  "Seen anything like a new arrival of ants?"

  "Naw, mate, nothin' new there, same as was."

  "Did Dorcas speak to you yesterday?"

  "Aye, she came down this way. That be one strange duck, if ya's askin'. Told me the same joke she did da day before. Then had me splash a tad of water on her. Mate, she be one strange duck. I told her same thing I told you yesterday, they's somethin' brewin' with all the new crits showin' up right here. Lotsa new frogs and snakes and turtles. No new fish I don't think, I keep my distance, ya know."

  "I'll keep coming down this way and keep asking if you don't mind. When you say something is in the air, I listen, Ferd."

  "You folks have a bloomin' g'day, mates." He became distracted by a dragonfly and I knew the conversation was over.

  Cassie and I kept walking. We approached the woodlands and kept on going through them toward the clearing, though slowly, for I would pause to carefully look at the leaves. They were not turned offering up their guests to the heavens. It would probably not rain today. I also looked for the parasite as shown last night. I really didn't know what to look for, so John was right, leave that up to him.

  There stood Mort, exactly in his circle place.

  "Mort, what are you doing here, we won't meet for hours?"

  "Nnnnoooottttt fffeeeeelllllinnnnn ssoo gggoooooddd."

  "My, oh my, Mort, what is wrong?"

  "GGooootttt bbbbiiiiitttt bbyyy aa wwwaaaasssspppp."

  "Wasps don't bite, Mort, are you sure it was a wasp?"

  "Hhheee gggoootttt mmmeeee ggggooodddd, bbbbiiittttt mmmmeeee onnnn mmyyy lllegggg."

  I looked at Mort's leg and saw muscles twitching rapidly under his coat. I looked at Cassie. I wondered if my face showed the same shock as hers. "Cassie, it might be that he was stung by the ant I told you about."

  "Mort, where did this happen, and when?"

  "Tttooooddaaayyyy, tthhe cccorrnnn fffiieelldd."

  "Cassie, you stay here with Mort, I'm going to go find John."

  I ran toward the house knowing we could be in huge trouble. What went by so fast on the way here now seemed to take forever yet I was at full speed. I couldn't take the time to speak to Ferd, oh my, this could be serious. Mort is, well, I love him.

  I started barking as loud as I could as I neared the house. When no one seemed to hear me, I howled as loud as I can. I scratched on the door, kept howling.

  "Lawd have mercy, Buck, whas dis commotion?"

  I kept howling. I decided to put some r's into it, rrruuurrruruuurruuurrr, that type of howl. At last John came to the door and replaced Mozetta.

  "Take me, Buck, I know what you're saying."

  With that I ran in reverse and lifted up my front legs. It's my way of saying "get your butt in gear."

  John quickly stuck his feet into his boots and came at me with more than a trot. We ran, only I toned it down to match his speed, and darn it, it wasn't quick enough for me. We ran past the meadow, past the pond, and through the trees, and finally reached the clearing.

  Mort was on his knees, something I had never ever seen him do. Cassie was at his side.

  I pointed to Mort's leg with my paw. John felt around on the leg, found a bump in the center of muscle spasms. Immediately he thought bulldog ant, I could tell by the look on his face. John then stuck his hand in Mort's mouth and rounded up a bunch of saliva that was dripping off his hand upon removal. He then reached into his overalls pocket and produced a cell phone. I heard him say, "I might have an ant incident. Collected saliva sample. Going to house to analyze."

  John then took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around his hand. He looked at me. I knew that he knew that I knew. I just wish I could send a clue...... the cornfield.

  John said, "He will be fine Buck, he's just not going to feel very good for a while," and then he disappeared quickly, running as fast as we had come.

  "Mort, can you walk?"

  "YYeeaaahhhh."

  I was torn, should I take him to the cornfield, or to the house? The cornfield might be dangerous to all three of us, so I decided to take him to the house.

  "Come with me Mort, we're going to the house."

  "IIImmmm nnnooottt aallllooowwweedddd."

  "No one will say a thing, Mort." I thought it best to have him front and center should John need more evidence, or perhaps one of those scientists may show up.

  It was slow going. Mort was in great pain, it was obvious. I talked to him all the way, remembering things, how we first met, the development of our language, the times we spent together. He struggled walking, and I wonder if his age had something to do with it. Is it just one sting, or is it more? I looked to the sky and asked for divine intervention. What else could I do?

  We halted at the edge of the car park, and sat, and waited. And waited.

  I thought I should go take a look at the cornfield. But should I go alone? I won't risk taking Cassie. I looked at Mort and Cassie, and a warmth seeped deep into my skin so that my body tingled from head to tail. I wondered if this was really my soul at work, a thing not tangible or touchable but nonetheless surfacing to remind me of the importance of true friendship. The thought of losing either of them was intolerable. The cornfield would have to wait.

  John told me he'll be fine, that's good. Still, I wanted to take my friend's pain away from him. I decided to stay with him. To heck with the ant, at least for the time being.

  John eventually stepped out from the doorway and noticed us. He came to us and said the test was negative, there was no parasite. "Buck, I'm going to put Mortimer in your kennel so I can keep an eye on him." John grabbed Mort by the mane and led him to the kennel. Cassie and I followed.

  I was thankful for that, but it meant Mort would probably miss the meeting. Still, his health was of much greater importance, and in what better hands could he be in than John's?

  I was in a quandary. Of utmost importance is that John know that Mort's bite occurred in the cornfield. Yet, there was less than two hours until the circle meeting. There was not enough time to lead John to the 40 acre cornfield, it was in an opposing corner of the estate from the clearing. What to do?

  John rescued the situation. "Buck, Mort was stung by a bulldog ant, and I think it occurred in the cornfield. When I put his saliva under the scope, it was clear that he had been eating corn, and recently. You go do your thing with the animals, and I will investigate the corn. Don't worry, there's some men on their way to help me, including one who will tend to Mort."

  "One more thing, Buck. These ants are not like the ants we studied before, you remember them? The bulldogs have good eyesight and once you get near one he'll attack you. And they have been known to jump too. Keep your distance. If you figure out a way to kill one, remember, do not split him in two. Wait for me at the house, I don't know how long I'll be gone but wait for me."