by David Kersey
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
John ran straightaway to where Dorcas lay kicking and screaming. He hated to do it but he had no choice after seeing at least three ants attacking her. There may have been more under her feathers. He sprayed her from the neck down to include her entire body except for her head. The ants immediately jumped off and began to twirl in the loose soil. John and Mort both stomped the life out of the wounded bulldogs. The ants had seemed to congregate around Dorcas and Mort, so he sprayed the ground in that vicinity, then left to join the circle of animals that were still engaged in battle.
He began spraying the ground underfoot of the hysterical animals as well as their legs. He sprayed around the complete circle, then moved inside the perimeter and sprayed the ground surrounding not only me, but a rabbit hidden partially under my belly. The rabbit looked up at John with wide eyes and attempted to scramble out from underneath me, but my weight was too much. John lifted me just enough for the rabbit to scurry out from underneath. A mouse ran out from under my body as well.
John didn't see any live ants near or on me, nor under me when he lifted me up in his arms. He did notice that I was bleeding on the right side of his head. John laid me back down to the side and sprayed the depression I had dug to shelter the smaller animals. He appraised the situation and saw that the circle of heavy animals had quit their prancing and were now turned to make him the center of their attention.
John clicked on his walkie-talkie and asked how much boric acid insecticide was left. He said bring the all-terrain and boom to the pasture and use what spray was left. He surveyed the battlefield and was satisfied the animals had finished off the invaders at least in this area of the battle. He picked me up and started for the house. Mort grabbed Dorcas by the neck with his bucks and followed, as did the rest of the livestock.
Once in the car park, John counted four pigs, one of which was his own Penelope, three cows, a horse, Mort with the duck in his mouth, the rabbit, and the mouse. John thought there had been more to migrate to the pasture but couldn't remember how many had started out. He knew of the one pig that ran, there must have been more. He again used the walkie-talkie and instructed the operator to round up any animals that he found that were either alive, injured, or dead. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed an owl that had landed on top of the garage. He whispered in my ear, "So you had an air force too, huh, old boy?"
John laid me on the drawing room floor and was joined by Cassie who busied herself licking my head. "Sylvester, I need latex gloves, a bowl of lukewarm water, a couple rags, and some Neosporin." Once the items arrived, he shed his work gloves, snapped on the rubber gloves and began to examine my coat and skin from head to foot. He saw no obvious signs of a sting but still wasn't ruling that out. He then cleaned the bloodied area around my ear and applied the ointment. Once finished, John took a few moments to process his thoughts. "Old boy, I think you've got a concussion and that's all." He then looked at Cassie. "Stay with him, I think he'll wake up in his own good time." He left to attend to the next round of spraying, which was the miticide.
Cassie stayed at my side and was relieved to see me breathing and with no apparent muscle spasms. She was still unsteady on her feet so she snuggled up to my belly and attempted again to sleep.
Sylvester yelled for Mozetta to come join him in the drawing room. "Would you look at that? Go get the camera, I want a picture of that. Maybe you and I could do that someday."
A huge belly laugh followed by "Lawd have mercy," as Mozetta turned to fetch the camera. "You'll not catch me laying anywhere close to you honey child. We be as different as that cat and dog. Go make yourself busy before I whack ya with my rollin’ pin.”