‘Look at that puppy!’ The little girl on her way to Santa’s Grotto couldn’t believe her eyes. ‘It looks sooo real!’
Of course I’m real! thought Spud indignantly from his hiding place behind a large display of scooters. But then he realized, Oh no! I’m in a toy department. She thinks I’m a toy!
‘It is real. It must be lost!’ The girl’s brother had seen Spud now. ‘Come here, pup, it’s OK, we won’t hurt you.’
They seemed like nice children and Spud was tempted to make friends with them but the word ‘lost’ struck terror into his heart. What if they take me to a dogs’ home? I might never see my family again! He started to back away and bumped into a scooter, which toppled into another scooter, which fell on to a bike. In seconds there was a chaotic tangle of handlebars and wheels.
Hmm, not a good move. I couldn’t have drawn more attention to myself if I’d tried.
Spud headed for what he thought was a funny metal staircase. He’d never seen an escalator before. He started to run down it before he realized it was moving up.
I’ll just have to run faster and … phew … faster! puffed Spud.
Eventually, he reached the bottom. Luckily, the next escalator was going downwards. Spud realized he could simply sit on the step and be taken to the lower floor without moving a muscle.
This is amazing! We should have one of these at home.
By the time he’d got to the ground floor Spud was quite enjoying himself. The shop was full of exciting sights and interesting smells. It was warm and bright and there was cheerful Christmassy music playing. Better still, on the ground floor there was a huge food department.
Mmmm, I can smell fresh bread and chocolate, thought Spud. His tummy began to rumble. I wonder if …?
‘Who let that dog in here?’ The store manager had seen him. He didn’t look pleased.
Uh-oh. I don’t think I’m welcome! Spud slipped out of the open shop doors into the cold air of the busy street.
The pavement was thronging with people. Furry boots, stiletto heels, grubby trainers, shiny lace-ups – Spud had never seen so many feet so close together – and all moving so fast! He dodged his way through the forest of legs but when he reached the kerb, his path was blocked by a big red London bus, then a taxi, then another bus. The traffic was nose to tail. It was noisy and smelly too.
Then, from a side street, Spud heard the clip-clopping of horses’ hooves. It was a sound he knew well from the village at home. Two handsome chestnut police horses were proudly carrying their riders side by side.
Police officers! I could tell them about Strange and his plan, thought Spud. But how? The policemen were so high off the ground they didn’t even notice the small black pup looking up at them from the pavement.
The horses saw him. One of them dipped her head and snorted in a friendly way but Spud couldn’t understand. If only I’d learned more horse language, thought Spud despairingly as the pair passed by.
‘Hello there, young’un,’ growled a gentle voice behind him. Spud turned and saw a golden Labrador wearing a bright fluorescent jacket.
Oh, thank goodness, another dog!
‘Can you help me, please?’ said Spud. ‘I’ve got to rescue my sister who’s locked in a room at the top of a shop with an unconscious man who may need medical attention, but there’s a dangerous villain up there, dressed as Father Christmas, he’s got the key you see, and he’s going to commit a huge robbery really soon – at twelve o’clock I think – and it’s my mission to stop him and –’
‘Really?’ the Labrador smiled indulgently. ‘I think you might have been watching too many films, young fellow-me-lad. Now hop it, there’s a good boy. I’m working.’
At that moment, Spud realized three things. The first was that the Labrador didn’t believe a word he’d said, and Spud had to admit his garbled story did sound rather far-fetched; the second was that the Labrador was a guide dog for the blind and was too busy helping his owner to have time for a small black pup from a village far away; and the third and final thing Spud realized was that he was a very small dog in a very big city. Despite all the people around him, he was totally and completely alone.
