3

Tommy stood still. His heart was thumping so loud he could hear it. He thought it would burst through his chest. He squinted into the trees, trying to see clearly in the darkness.

Dargust watched him. His mind was already reaching out to digest Tomy’s thought patterns. In seconds, the alien knew almost everything about the earth boy. Quickly he transformed. It took longer than he thought, even though his injury was slight. Now he whined.

Tommy looked in the direction of the sound. The dark outline of a bush to his right, moved. The bush shook again, this time more violently.

Dargust whined again.

Though he was frightened, Tommy edged towards the bush.

As he did, Dargust crawled out of the bush towards him. Now Tommy could see it was an animal. Suddenly, as if by magic, the moon appeared again lighting up the whole area.

“A dog!” exclaimed Tommy, hurrying to Dargust. “Oh, and you’re hurt.”

Dargust had changed to look like a German Schnauzer... not unlike Tommy's next door neighbor's dog, only bigger.

Dargust’s tongue glistened with saliva as he held out his injured paw to Tommy. He whined again.

Tommy bent closer, careful not to step on the animal. He quickly examined Dargust’s injury. He could see the matted blood on the lower part of the alien’s leg.

“Easy there, fella,” he whispered. “Easy. What have you done to yourself, eh? Are you lost? Ah, you must be. Here fella, let me see. Easy now.”

Dargust stretched his paw towards him. The alien knew he had nothing to fear from Tommy. With a whine it attempted to stand.

“No, fella!” said Tommy sharply, startling Dargust. “You’ll only make it worse. Here let me see.” Tommy took a closer look at Dargust’s injury. He could see it wasn’t serious. The alien whined again, his clear eyes studying the small earth boy.

Further back in the trees, Dargust’s craft had almost disintegrated. The light from the disintegration was dulling quickly.

Tommy stood up. He knew he couldn’t leave the injured dog where it was. It might be attacked by Badgers, he thought, or worse. I’ll have to carry it home. He bent closer to Dargust. “I’ll have to carry you home, fella,” he said quietly. “I wonder what your name is? I’ll call you... Fella. That’s a good name isn’t it, eh?” He smiled. “I hope you’re not heavy.”

Dargust trembled as Tommy bent to lift him into his arms. Tommy was surprised to find the big dog was lighter than he thought it would be. It mustn’t have had anything to eat for a long time, he thought. Dargust whined softly as Tommy began to carry him along the path towards the edge of the wood.

****

Soon they were leaving the trees. As they headed down, the alien twisted in Tommy’s arms and looked back.

Tommy stopped. “What is it Fella? There’s nothing to be afraid of now. I’ll look after you. When I get you home I’ll ...” He looked down at Dargust. His mother hated dogs. When she had been young she had been bitten by one. She still had the teeth marks on her right leg. “Mummy will never let me keep you,” he whispered.

Dargust whined again. It was already digesting what Tommy was thinking. He whined louder.

“But I’ll have to take you home. I’ll slip you into my bedroom. But you’ll have to be very quiet.”

Dargus panted happily, his tongue dripping with saliva through his long sharp teeth.

****

They reached Tommy’s house ten minutes later. Tommy stared up at his bedroom window. How on earth am I going to get Fella up to my bedroom? He knew he could easily make the climb, but not carrying the dog. Gently he put the dog down on the grass. He stared up at his bedroom window again. “I’ll need a rope or ... my rucksack,” he exclaimed aloud, remembering that his rucksack lay at the back of his wardrobe. He could put Fella into it and carry him. It would be a hard climb, but he felt he could do it. His legs were strong enough. He knelt beside Fella. “I’ll have to climb up and get my rucksack,” he whispered. “I won’t be long.” He smiled as he patted Fella on his head. The alien read his thoughts again. He whined as he watched Tommy climb the trellis. In a few seconds Tommy was climbing through his window and hurrying to his wardrobe. As he bent to pick up his rucksack from the bottom of his wardrobe, he heard a noise behind him. He turned. Slowly, his eyes widening with astonishment, he stood up. He gaped. Fella was sitting in the middle of his bed.