Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Barking Boogie (9 page)

Cheryl stood, miserable, in the lane. She bent down and picked up the tattered red rosette from the ground and held it to her heart.

“What now, Badger? Do you have any special magic to bring him back?” she whimpered.

Just then, Anton Du Bark shouted to them both.

“Where's Dodgy Dave gone in such a hurry? I ran after him, but I couldn't catch him,” he said breathlessly.

“Why? What's the matter?” asked Badger.

“I want to speak to our fabulous winners together. I've checked with Cheryl's Big Folk and got their permission. I have a marvellous proposal to put to both Cheryl and Dodgy Dave,” he beamed.

Cheryl perked up and said, “Well, you can speak to me now and I can discuss with Dodgy Dave later.”

“Well,” said Anton, “the fact is that I want you both to be the stars of my new touring show. Cheryl, I want to work on your very own
chi-wah-wah
dance, and I've booked us in to Rio, Vegas and Blackpool for starters.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Cheryl.

“And furthermore,” he continued, “
Buddy Bites
are the sponsors of the
Hotpaws Barking Boogie
, and they want you and Dodgy Dave to be the faces of their new
Doggy Delights
poster campaign.”

“Oh!” squealed Cheryl.

“That's the first time I've ever heard you lost for words, Cheryl,” winked Badger.

“It's razzmatazz all the way. You'll never look back, but you'll be on the road for a long time together. I take it you both get on?”

“But of course. Dodgy Dave is my hero.”

“You better find him then and tell him the good news. We leave tomorrow, at dusk.” Anton Du Bark turned on his heels and flounced off in a flurry.

Cheryl looked worriedly at Badger. “Tomorrow? At dusk? We have to find Dodgy Dave as soon as possible. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we cannot miss it. I'll be sorry to leave my Big Folk, but if I can dance every day with Dodgy Dave, then my wish from the Wishing Lake in the Sky really will come true.”

Badger smiled and said. “We'd better start looking for him then. Jump on my back, wee one.”

In a street far from the lane, Dodgy Dave was weary from running for so long. He stopped by a street light and tapped his paws on the ground.

“No more cha-cha-chas for me,” he sighed. “My only dancing will be solo from now on.” He looked up at the yellow lamp and, out of the corner of his eye, spied a sign on a rickety garage door, which read:

“Mighty Motors. Security Dog Required. Immediate Start. Apply Within.”

Back in the lane, Badger and Cheryl scoured every nook and cranny: in the wheelie bins; in garden sheds; under grass cuttings; and the old worn out tyres. But Dodgy Dave was nowhere to be found.

Badger's tummy rumbled and he stopped to scratch his head.

“Why are you stopping, Badger? We have to search through the night. We
need
to find him,” said Cheryl, getting more and more flustered.

“I think I need some toast,” said Badger.

“What? Toast? How can you think of food at a time like this?” she screeched.

“Trust me, Cheryl. Follow me.”

When Badger reached his garden, Cheryl hopped off his back angrily.

“You and your toast! We have no time for this now, Badger.”

“Ssssssh,” whispered Badger.

Sparkles of light twinkled around Badger as he closed his eyes and concentrated hard.

Suddenly, a large slice of slightly burnt toast floated in front of his nose. He caught it in his big paws and held it up close to his eyes.

Cheryl's eyes widened.

“Now, let me see,” said Badger, peering at the slice of toast.

Slowly, an image appeared in the middle of the toast: a garage door with a sign saying
Mighty Motors
.

“Come on, Cheryl. I know where that is. That's where Dodgy Dave is. The toast never lies.”

Cheryl jumped on Badger's back and they set off up the lane and beyond. When they reached
Mighty Motors
, they saw Dodgy Dave barking ferociously.

“There he is,” shouted Cheryl in joy.

Dodgy Dave looked up from his barking, and wagged his tail weakly at them. He hauled himself to his paws and tried shakily to stand, but fell on his side.

Badger and Cheryl looked in horror at the chains and the iron cuff clamped around his ankle.

“Don't move, Dodgy Dave,” shouted Badger, as he tapped his neckerchief and uttered the words:

“Show Koo Ray, Show Koo Ray
,

Find the key to take chains away.”

Badger's neckerchief unfurled from his neck and flew towards the garage door. It slithered underneath and returned quickly with a ring of keys.

Cheryl and Badger rushed to Dodgy Dave and tried each key until they found the one that fitted.

“There,” said Badger proudly. “You're free!”

Dodgy Dave tried to stand again, but with no luck.

“What is it, Dodgy Dave. Why can't you stand?” asked Cheryl anxiously.

“It's my back leg, Cheryl. I can't feel it at all.”

Badger put his paw on Dodgy Dave's leg. It was wet and sticky.

“I can't see in the dark, but it doesn't look too good. I think we need to get you back to the lane to have a proper look,” said Badger.

“I can't go back there,” said Dodgy Dave. “The Dog Catcher was chasing me when I left.”

“That wasn't the Dog Catcher, Dodgy Dave,” said Cheryl smiling. “That was Anton Du Bark, and he has a marvellous offer for us both. It's all going to be fine. You and I will be able to dance together forever.”

Just then Dodgy Dave slumped. Cheryl flung her arms across his broad back in anguish.

“Come on, Cheryl. Can you help me lift him? We need to examine that leg in the light. Let's get him back to my garden.”

Badger hoisted one of Dodgy Dave's arms around his shoulder, taking most of his weight, and Cheryl grabbed his other side. His legs dragged heavily along the ground.

When, finally, they arrived back in the garden, Badger lay Dodgy Dave gently down on the grass, where the street lamps from the lane shone their light on his injured leg.

“It's worse than we thought, Cheryl,” said Badger grimacing.

Dodgy Dave had a huge gash on his leg. The iron cuff had cut it to the bone. Red patches of blood had crusted around the wound, but it was still bleeding.

“Oh no!” cried Cheryl. “He's never going to dance again.”

Dodgy Dave closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

A while later, he awoke with a groan. His leg hurt badly and his head was fuzzy. He opened his eyes to see Badger and Cheryl looking down at him with concern.

“Your leg has completely swollen up,” said Cheryl. “It looks really sore.”

Dodgy Dave caught sight of his injury and breathed out noisily. “That's worse than I realised. I don't think I'll be dancing again, Cheryl.”

She turned anxiously to Badger and pleaded with all her heart. “Is there any magic you can do to help?”

“Let me think,” said Badger softly. “Maybe 'Chief can help us.”

He tapped his red-spotted neckerchief. It untied and floated flatly over Dodgy Dave's leg.

Badger knelt on the grass, placed his paw gently on Dodgy Dave, then uttered the magic words:

“Show Koo Ray, Show Koo Ray
,

Use your healing magic to take the pain away.”

Dodgy Dave was silent. Cheryl watched in awe as sparkles of light twinkled around the puffy leg. A few moments passed then Badger stood up and said:

“Try and move your leg now, Dodgy Dave … but easy does it.”

Badger's neckerchief floated slowly away from Dodgy Dave's leg and wrapped itself back around Badger's neck.

“Thanks, 'Chief,” said Badger, tapping it gratefully. “Let's hope you've worked your magic again.”

Dodgy Dave flinched in pain as he tried to stand, but he couldn't.

“Thanks for trying to help, Badger, but I'm still in agony. My leg is no better. I can't move it at all.”

Badger sighed heavily and looked at Cheryl sadly.

“I think we found our friend too late. The iron cuff has slashed his leg too deeply for even my trusty ‘Chief to help.”

Cheryl leaned over Dodgy Dave and patted his fur fondly.

“Never mind about the
Barking Boogie
, I just want you to get better.”

Dodgy Dave tried to smile, then laid his head on the grass.

“Perhaps a good night's sleep will help,” said Badger hopefully. “Things always look brighter in the morning.”

As Dodgy Dave's breathing became heavier and deeper, Cheryl and Badger laid down beside their friend, hoping that sunrise would bring good news.

But they were worrying more that it wouldn't.