“I’m coming with you,” insisted Girl.
“No, you’ll just hold me up. You haven’t got the strength yet.”
“But you’re frightened of the thunder and I’m not,” she replied.
They crouched in the kennel, arguing.
“Please, Girl,” said Max. “You’d be an extra worry. Anyway, what about your paw?”
“I’m much tougher than I look, and I’ve got used to getting around on three legs. It’s better if we go together.”
We’re wasting precious time, thought Max. I can’t make her stay in the kennel. And he knew he would feel braver with company.
“Why are you doing this?” asked Girl.
Max just wanted to get close enough to Gus to cheer him up. Maybe he could even help him to escape.
“But how can you have a conversation in this wind?” said Girl when he explained.
“I don’t know, but I’m going, I just have to,” he said. He crawled out of the kennel and the wind hit him as he struggled across to the hydrangea bushes. Girl was at his heels. He knew the prison was somewhere along the main road and that he had to turn right when he got to the end of the street. He hoped the barking would guide him to the prison.
The two dogs didn’t bother trying to hide – who was around to see them anyway? At least the wind was coming from behind once they were on the main road, but it drove them forward, the rain raked them and the thunder growled. They trotted side by side and encouraged one another, but it was bitterly cold. When they reached the first bus shelter, they huddled together out of the wind, fighting for breath.
“We’ll never make it,” gasped Girl.
“Then go back!” snapped Max.
Girl jerked her nose up. “No I won’t!” she said. “Let’s try to reach the next bus shelter.” She limped on.
Max kept his eyes fixed on the street lights with their misty haloes and gleaming needles of rain. They struggled on. A few cars passed, flinging muddy water at them. Max could just make out the traffic lights blinking. He tried to keep the pace up, and Girl stayed with him, but they were both walking more slowly, and Girl was limping heavily.
I won’t give up, thought Max. I’ll just get to the traffic lights.
A small truck slowed down at the lights, spitting water off its wheels. A wet, black and white dog looked down at them from the back.
“Hey, youse guys. Where y’goin’? Y’don’t look too flash. Wanna ride?”
The traffic lights blinked and the truck slowed almost to a stop.
“Dog prison!” shouted Max through the wind.
“Get in!” the dog shouted back. “We’re headin’ for the dump next door.”
Max turned to Girl. “Can you jump up there?”
“It’s too high, but you go. Quick – the truck won’t stay at the lights for long!”
“But what will you do?”
“I can look after myself,” shouted Girl. “Go on!”
“Thank you, Girl, thank you!” Max ran at the back of the truck and leapt up. He sprawled on the wet wood. The truck pulled away. Max watched Girl’s small, sodden figure disappear into the murk and wondered how she would ever get back to his kennel. She probably would make it, he thought – she had guts. She had given him the courage to set out.
“Whaddya want at the dog prison?” asked the other dog. “Good place to stay away from.”
Max told him. It sounded stupid: I’m going to the place where they shut away dogs off leashes – like me – to make contact with my friend inside, in a howling gale. He looked down.
“Hey, tails up!” exclaimed the black and white dog. “Like, that’s cool, mate. Whadda friends for? Good on yer!”
They lay on the greasy floor of the truck, sliding from side to side as they went round corners. It was too hard to talk any more until they stopped at the next traffic lights.
“Tell y’what, mate,” said the other dog, “best for you to hop off when we slow down to turn into the dump. And if y’go round the far side of the prison by the high wooden fence, you’ll be oudda the wind. Give y’ a better chance of talkin’ to y’ friend.”
So, as the truck slowed, Max jumped off the back. When he saw the squat, concrete building of the dog prison, his heart hurt with fear. The wind screamed around it and the rain dashed against it. Max could hardly stay upright. He lowered his head and forced himself forward, past the yard where the white van was parked, past a big sign which he guessed probably said DOG PRISON, past the front door and finally to the far corner of the prison. His heart hammered with the effort and the wind snatched his breath away, but around the corner, he was sheltered by a high fence, even though the rain still beat down.
He heard it immediately. It came from the windows high up along the wall, a chorus of despair. Dogs moaned, howled, whimpered, barked and whined. The cries were heart-breaking – and frightening.
“Why did you leave me behind?”
“When will you get me out of here?”
“I’ll kill you if you come anywhere near me!”
“I’m frightened.”
“Have you forgotten me?”
“Will I ever have a home again?”
“Let me out! Let me out!”
Max had never before heard such misery. It pushed everything else out of his head. He crouched against the sodden ground and closed his eyes.
Gradually other thoughts fluttered back.
I have to make contact with Gus.
I have to get away from here.
If I end up in there I’ll die.
He stood up, took a deep breath and shouted: “Gus! Gus! Gus, it’s Max!”
Did the chorus falter a little? “Gus, can you hear me! It’s Max!” But the howling wind whipped his voice away and sent his words tumbling up over the roof.
I’m too tired to try again, thought Max. His teeth chattered with cold and fear. One last time, he thought, and shouted again.
“Settle down!” roared a voice inside. The dogs fell silent. This was his chance. Straining every muscle to send his voice up to those windows, he shouted again. “Gus! Gus! It’s Max!”
And back came the reply. “Max, where are you?”
Tears started into Max’s eyes. “I’m outside the windows,” he called. “How can I get you out?”
Another shriek of wind prevented Max from hearing. All he caught was the word “impossible”.
The chorus started up again and Max knew he couldn’t keep up the shouting. Nor could he fight against the cold and exhaustion any more. And yet he had to get home, away from this hideous place. He dragged himself towards the road. As soon as he stuck his head out beyond the fence the wind slammed him back and knocked him to the ground. He lay motionless while the thunder grumbled and the rain beat down on him