Waggit Again (12 page)

“Yeeeach,” screeched Alicia, “that's disgusting. I
mean, I'm as loyal as the next dog, but ain't no one gonna take a piece out of my ear.”

“Did the loner know where they live?” asked Waggit.

“Not exactly,” said Tazar. “She knew they were still on the Goldenside, and she thought nearer to the Deepwoods, but she'd never seen their camp herself.”

“Why, then, would they attack Uprights in this part of the park?” asked Magica.

“That's easy,” said Tazar. “Somebody's told them this is our new realm, and they're trying to get the Ruzelas up this way so we'll either get captured or have to move. What they didn't think of, because Tashi's too dumb, is that any attack on an Upright is bad news for all the free dogs, not just us.”

Felicia had a look of deep concern on her face.

“How will you handle this?” she asked Tazar.

“We'll have to lie low for a few days. The Ruzelas will soon lose interest, providing there are no more attacks. As for Tashi,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone, “we're going to have to tussle. I should've done it many risings ago, but it never happened. Remember, Waggit, when we set it up and there was nobody
home, because they'd all been captured?”

Waggit nodded.

“Well, this time,” said Tazar, “he won't slip away. This time it'll be a fight to the death.”

T
azar's prediction that all would be well if there were no more attacks and they laid low proved to be correct. In fact where the Tazarians lived there was no increase in human activity whatsoever. Felicia brought back daily reports from the section of the park south of the Deepwoods, which Waggit realized no longer played a part in their lives. It was almost as if a pact had been made whereby the Ruzelas stayed in their area and the dogs never left the safety of the woods. The only contact they had with that world was through Felicia.

“They're doing sweeps along the Goldenside, but as I understand it not far enough up to get Tashi,” she reported one afternoon. “At least nobody's been captured yet.”

“That makes sense,” Tazar remarked, “because that's where the worst attack was. Any idea if they're planning to come to our neck of the woods?”

“None that I've heard,” Felicia replied.

“They'll never come up this way,” sneered Olang. “They're too scared. One thing about attacking Uprights, it certainly keeps them away.”

“Attacking Uprights is dumb,” said Tazar. “It always was dumb and it always will be dumb.”

“But, Pa,” whined Olang, “you taught us that Uprights are our enemy, and if that's true then we have to fight them.”

“No!” growled Tazar sharply. “We do not. I also taught you never to fight unless you've got at least a chance of winning—with Uprights that will never happen. If anyone on this team is caught attacking Uprights they will be banished immediately, whoever they are. If you want to fight, fight Tashi.”

“Sounds like a coward's way out to me,” Olang muttered under his breath.

“What was that?” snarled Tazar.

“Nothing, Father. Nothing.”

Waggit was shocked by this exchange. He had never heard Tazar speak to his son in such a stern manner. From the stunned silence that followed he assumed that none of the other team members had either. After the gathering broke up, Waggit and Lowdown went back to Lowdown's tree. The old dog liked to rest before the evening meal, and often he and Waggit would spend the time talking about this and that. The first topic that afternoon was Tazar scolding Olang.

“I've never heard him be that sharp with Olang before,” Waggit remarked. “I've never heard him give Olang anything but praise.”

“Lately I've noticed a slight change in his attitude toward his son,” said Lowdown. “Sometimes—not often—he gets irritated with him. It's probably your fault, you know.”

“My fault?” exclaimed Waggit. “How can it possibly be my fault?”

“You're right,” agreed Lowdown. “Fault's the wrong word. But you're the reason he's looking at Olang in a different light. Now that you're back Tazar's got
someone to compare him to, and next to you he don't look too good.”

“You really think so?” Waggit was incredulous.

“I really do,” said Lowdown, “and I'll tell you something else. Olang may not be the sharpest tooth in the mouth, but he knows it too, and don't think he ain't gonna try and get back at you for it. He knows you're a threat to him, not just for his father's affections, but also for the leadership of the team.”

“The leadership?” Waggit spluttered. “I'm not going to be the leader. Whatever put that in your head?”

“You're a natural leader,” Lowdown assured him. “I know it, the team knows it, and Olang knows it too.”

Waggit was dumbfounded.

“I just hope for once in your life you're wrong, Lowdown,” he said.

“It wouldn't be the first time.” The old dog chuckled. “But in this case I don't think so.”

Over the next few days Olang behaved as Lowdown predicted. Everything came to a head one afternoon when, once again, Felicia was the bearer of bad news.

“I'm sorry to have to tell you, but there's been another attack in this area,” she told the assembled team.

“Another half-roller?” asked Tazar.

“Indeed,” she confirmed.

“And do they have a description of the dog who did it?” asked Olang.

“Well—yes—actually I believe they do,” said Felicia uncomfortably.

“Will you share it with us?” persisted Olang.

“I believe, from what I've heard, that the dog—well, it seems that the dog involved in the attack was white,” Felicia went on, as if every word she uttered gave her pain.

“How interesting,” said Olang as he turned toward Waggit.

The other dogs followed his lead until all eyes were staring in disbelief at the white dog. Tazar stood to his full imposing height and walked over to Waggit.

“Tell me it's not true,” he said quietly, and with sadness in his voice.

“It's not true,” Waggit replied calmly, and with as much composure as possible.

“Well,” Olang said with a sigh, “I don't see any other white dogs around here, do you?”

Indeed nobody knew of another white dog or could ever remember there being one among the free dogs. There were plenty of pets with that coloring, but it
was unlikely that they would be attacking cyclists in the Deepwoods.

“You are somewhat distinctive,” said Tazar. “If it wasn't you, then who was it?”

“I don't know, but ask yourself this, Tazar. Why would I attack Uprights?” said Waggit. “You think I have too soft a spot for them anyway.”

“Maybe,” Olang speculated, “in some twisted way Waggit thought he was proving his loyalty to the team, that he could be trusted, that he wasn't a spy for the Uprights. He may have done it even though, Father, you yourself said any dog caught attacking an Upright would be exiled.”

Waggit began to panic.

“It's not true, it really isn't. I didn't do anything. Felicia, why did you tell them that? Why couldn't you have kept it to yourself?”

“Waggit, the team would have found out anyway,” she said with regret in her voice. Waggit looked wildly around at the staring eyes. He knew that going to pieces wouldn't help him, but he couldn't control his fear and anger.

“It wasn't me, I swear it. Please believe me, I didn't do it. I didn't do it.”

He stopped, his body shaking with terror. He knew that if Tazar didn't believe that he was innocent the black dog had the power to send him away from his friends, from his home, from everything for which he had journeyed back to the park. However much the other dogs liked him, none of them would disobey the leader. That was the law by which they lived.

“I didn't do it,” he cried, “and you can't prove that I did.”

“No,” said Tazar. “You're right; we cannot prove it. But if you are innocent you have nothing to be scared of, and yet you are scared. What, then, is making you so fearful?”

“Because I know you don't believe me,” Waggit replied, “and because I know that Olang is trying…”

He got no further, but was interrupted by a roar from Tazar.

“Enough about Olang,” he bellowed. “Everything bad that happens cannot be blamed on Olang, and I will not tolerate you sowing the seeds of dissension among us. I am not only beginning to doubt your honesty but your motives as well. Olang
will
be the leader of this team, and if you cannot live with that you cannot live with us. Give me one good reason
why I should not banish you now.”

A gasp of shock ran through the dogs, and silence fell upon the scene. Then, from the edge of the woods, came a soft but clear voice.

“Tazar, I think I can give you that reason.” It was Alona, and behind her stood one of her loner friends, keeping in the shadows, nervous and apprehensive.

“Come forward, Alona,” said Tazar. “Tell us your reason.”

“This is one of the loners what lives at the far end of the Deepwoods.” She indicated the animal accompanying her. He looked backward and forward at everyone, the whites of his eyes showing and his ears flat to his head.

“I brought him here because he told me something that at first I didn't understand, but it makes perfect sense now.”

“And that is?” asked Tazar.

“He witnessed the attack on the Upright, the one on the half-roller.” A murmur passed through the team.

“According to him,” Alona continued, “it
was
a white dog what done the attack—but it weren't Waggit.”

“Then who?” asked Tazar.

“One of Tashi's new team. He got to the park only
a few risings ago. He's an evil piece of work by all accounts, and he's pure white,” she replied.

“Are you sure of this?” Tazar asked the loner.

“Oh yes, sir, absolutely sure, your honor,” he replied, quivering the whole time.

“But that's not the most interesting part,” continued Alona. “The bit what I find strange is that just before the attack he saw another dog urging the white dog on.”

“Do you know the other dog?” asked Tazar.

“Yes, your highness, I'm afraid I do,” the loner answered.

“Then tell us who it was,” demanded Tazar.

“It was your son, sir. It was Olang.”

There was a bellow from Olang, who sprang forward, his fangs bared, causing Alona to scuttle back into the shadows next to her informant.

“That's a lie,” snarled Olang. “That's a dirty, stinking lie!”

“If I find out that it's true,” warned Tazar, “I will banish you, even though you are my flesh and blood. If you've been conspiring with Tashi or one of his dogs, you cannot be trusted to live among us.”

“I just told you it's not true,” insisted Olang. “Why would you believe a loner over me?”

“In all the years I've been in this park,” replied his father, “I have never known a loner to lie. They have no need to. They gain nothing from untruths.”

“Well, you just met the first one that lies,” growled Olang, his eyes narrowed and foam forming at the corners of his mouth. “Go to Silver Tree Bend and see if you can find one paw mark that looks like mine, just one. I challenge you.”

Tazar looked at his son, and the dogs could see the hurt in his eyes.

“Olang, if you weren't there, how do you know the attack took place at Silver Tree Bend?”

“She said that's where it was.” Olang nodded toward Felicia. “That Upright hag said so.”

“No, Olang,” said Felicia. “I never mentioned it.”

“Well, it must've been that loner deadbeat you took in, that Alona.” For the first time Olang was beginning to look scared rather than outraged.

“Nobody but you mentioned Silver Tree Bend,” said Tazar. “Nobody but you knew.”

Olang looked around at the dogs who surrounded him. His aggressive stance changed as he saw their hostility toward him, and he tried to act unconcerned.

“Okay, so maybe I did have a little chat with Tashi.
Is that a crime?” he asked. “He's not such a bad fellow. I think if you got to know him better, Pa, you'd find you have many things in common.”

“I have known Tashi longer than you've been alive,” growled Tazar, “and I know that he's pure evil and that he turns everything he touches and everyone he knows into evil.”

“Well, one thing you don't have in common is that, evil or not, he's prepared to take the fight to the Uprights. He knows you have to fight for what's rightfully yours.
He's
not afraid of them.”

Tazar ignored the implications of this last remark.

“What worries me most,” he said with a sigh, “is not that you have been consorting with our bitter enemy, but that you have tried to turn us from your brother here with your scheming, and you would have caused me to make a terrible mistake had it not been for sister Alona.”

“You can't blame me for trying to get rid of him.” Olang scowled. “Ever since he came back it's been Waggit this and Waggit that. Waggit's such a good hunter. Waggit has such good ideas. Waggit's a natural leader. I'm sick of hearing about Waggit. I'm your son, Pa, your own kin, and yet you seem to care more about
him than me. I'm going to be leader of this team, not him. You promised me.”

“Not only will you not be leader of this team,” said Tazar solemnly, “you will not even be a member of it. From now on I banish you from our realm. You will live the life of a loner until you see the error of your ways. If you truly repent, then we will consider having you back, but that will be many risings from now.”

“You cannot banish me,” roared Olang. “It is I that banish you and your pathetic group of losers. From now on you have no son, unless of course,” he sneered, “you adopt the saintly Waggit.”

He glared at his father with anger in his eyes, turned his back on him, and walked away. As he got to the others he snarled at them with contempt. They parted to let him through and he disappeared into the woods.