CHAPTER 10
THE FOULS
Location: Underground
Date: 6JUL20
Time: 2300 hours
We make our way down the ladders and into the sludgy, murky water. I’m about paw-deep in the water, but I look back at Sawyer and Smithers and they are each up to their chin in sewage.
Gross!
I thought the smell in the pound was bad, but this is far worse. And it’s even darker down here. I can barely see a foot in front of my face. But we’re on a mission and I can’t let that stop us. We’ve got to keep moving and get to Mr. Mocoso’s mansion so we can find the will.
I look back to check on Chaps and can see he is walking slower than usual.
“Are you doing okay?” I ask him.
“I’m doing just fine,” he says, but I know he’s not. This has been a long mission and it’s definitely wearing on him.
“You don’t have to lie to me, Chaps. I can see you’re hurting.”
He brushes me off and says, “I’m just an old dog with old dog problems. Focus on the rest of the Pawtriots, Sergeant.”
“Roger that,” I tell him. That’s Army-talk for “I get it.”
“Oh, and Rico,” Chaps says as he looks me dead in the eyes, “if we see that Beast, you better get this unit moving on the double.”
I nod.
“I mean it. Y’all better haul some serious you know what.”
“I’m tracking, Chaps.” That’s more Army-talk for “I’m following.”
I speed up my pace a bit and call out to the others, “Pawtriots, let’s keep it tight and let’s keep it moving.”
Time: 2330 hours
We’re making some good progress and have yet to come across any rats or bats. Then Penny stops and calls me over. She found something.
“What is it?” I ask her.
“Looks like a switch of sorts.”
I lean in close to get a better look. I can feel all the other Pawtriots right behind me trying to get a look, too. I blow some dust off the top of the switch and begin wiping it down, revealing the word ON.
Penny puts her paw on the switch and says, “Should I?”
“Maybe it’s upside down and actually reads ‘NO,’” Brick says.
“There’s only one way to find out,” I say.
I bring my paw to the switch and say, “On my count . . .”
“One . . .”
“two . . .”
“three!”
Suddenly, there is light and a legion of rats lining the walls! I see hundreds. Their fur bristles and their beady red eyes lock onto us.
“Pawtriots, RUN!” I say.
We begin barreling down the tunnels, sloshing through the sludge as the rats surround us on all sides.
“Which way?” Franny shouts out.
“Tunnel on the left!” Chaps directs.
We race through the tunnel as the rodent horde scurries down the pipes behind us. Penny looks on with horror at the disgusting infestation that’s closing in.
“Brick, go faster!” Penny says.
“Oi! This is top speed!” he says.
We keep pushing our way through the tunnel and suddenly a deafening roar breaks the chaos of the chase.
I stop running and watch as the rats above me freeze in their tracks, too.
The ground shakes and the water ripples as a massive reptile, the size of a crocodile, covered in scars and sludge stomps his way toward us.
“It’s the Beast! There’s a ladder up ahead,” Chaps yells out. “That fairy tale is our worst nightmare! Run!”
“Come on, Pawtriots! Double time!” I howl.
Franny leads the way and we begin booking it to what looks like an opening at the end of the tunnel. I’m hobbling as fast as I can, but then suddenly Franny shouts out, “STOP!” and we all pile up behind her, almost knocking her down.
“This is a dead end,” she says, pointing out below her. I look down to where she is pointing and see a great big waterfall of sludge leading down to a pool of murky water almost fifty feet below.
“We’re trapped,” she says.
Chaps brings up the rear and looks down. “I’m sorry, y’all. I don’t remember this,” he says, his voice shaky. This is the first time I’ve seen him look concerned. He turns to me and says, “Just get them to that ladder.” I look across to the ladder—it’s at least a ten-foot jump to the other side and below us is a fifty-foot drop.
“But—” I begin to say.
“No buts. You have your orders, Sergeant,” Chaps says. Then I watch as he turns back around and heads right toward the Beast.
“Where are you going?” I shout.
“I’ve got a bone to pick with him!” says Chaps as he barrels toward the Beast.
Time: 2345 hours
I turn back to the group.
“I’ll go first,” Franny says without hesitation. She sprints, leaps, and crash-lands on the other side safely. I watch as Sawyer, Smithers, and Morgan do the same—all without hesitation. Then Penny and Brick jump to safety.
It’s just me and Chaps. But Chaps is nowhere to be found. I look down at my missing leg and know this isn’t going to end well.
“I’m going to go find Chaps!” I tell Penny.
But before I can take off, Penny shouts out, “Rico!” and points behind me. I turn around and see Chaps: he’s exhausted, struggling to catch his breath, and has cuts all over his snout.
“Are you ready?” I ask him.
“Negative. I’m gonna see this one through,” he says.
“What do you mean? We have to go, NOW!”
“I told you, I’m staying. I’ve got a bone to pick with this ugly reptile,” Chaps says.
“Then I’ll help you face him,” I say.
Chaps gives me a big grin and shakes his head. “You can barely walk, let alone get enough speed to make that jump.” Then he unbuckles his wheel leg and removes it.
“What are you doing?” I ask. “You won’t make that jump without it.”
“Neither will you,” he says.
“Chaps, it doesn’t have to end like this.”
“Take the wheel, Rico. I’m passing it on to you so you can get across. It’s time for you to lead them.”
“You can’t leave us—”
“No time for arguing. Just get the mission done,” Chaps says as he puts the wheel leg on me.
“Find the will and save the Sanctuary. Now go!”
I take a few steps back to build up speed and begin running. The wheel is loose, but I feel alive again. The terrain is bumpy, but I don’t let it faze me. I just keep running and running. I think about Kris and all the times we ran in and out of danger together. And I think about the Sanctuary and everyone who is counting on me as I’m about to jump and I hear a loud CRASH.
I land on the other side, my wheel still intact. I look behind me to see the Beast, that huge crocodile, smashing through the wall. The pipes burst, water rushes in, and debris flies everywhere. The pool of sludge rises below us, and across the way is Chaps.
He gives me a soldier’s salute and turns to face the Beast. We all watch as he charges right at the massive reptile and lets out the loudest howl I’ve ever heard: “PAWTRIOTS!”
I knew that was the last time any of us would ever see Chaps. But he went out like a true soldier and put the mission first.