Read Online Anton and Cecil, Book 2 by Lisa Martin - Free Book Online

time. No human wants them around. In fact they chase them away. I always hide when I see one. It must be a very different sort of life they lead. They eat whatever they can catch!”
    Cecil smiled. “They’re hunters. I think I like these dogs.”
    Willy snuffed and bugged out his eyes. “They’re
not
dogs, that’s the point. Humans call them coyotes.”
    â€œCoyotes!” Anton and Cecil exclaimed.
    â€œHave you met any?”
    â€œNo,” Anton said. “But we’re looking for one. We’re trying to find a friend and he lives between a coyote and a whale.”
    â€œWell, there are a lot of coyotes,” said Willy. “I don’t know how you’ll find the right one.”
    â€œNo,” Anton agreed, looking at Cecil, who grunted and shook his head. The whistle shrieked and the train seemed to shudder as it slowed down to travel around a bend.
    Willy walked over to the door and stuck his head out. “We’re coming into a little town.”
    â€œDo you get off here?” asked Cecil.
    â€œOh no,” said Willy. “I’ll be with you all day and all night. We’ll get to my stop tomorrow morning. I’m not sure where the train goes after that, but I know it’s not the end of the line.”
    â€œThe end of the line,” Anton repeated.
    â€œI once traveled with a very superior dog who was going all the way. He told me there was a city and a lot of water at the end. Which is why it’s the end. After that you have to take a ship. I don’t think I’d like that.”
    â€œNo, you wouldn’t,” said Anton.
    â€œYes, you would,” said Cecil.
    â€œDon’t tell me you cats have been on a ship?” Willy exclaimed.
    â€œWe have,” Anton said.
    â€œWell, we’ve got all day and all night,” Willy said. He trotted to the back of the carriage and curled up on some of the hay. “I love a good story. Tell me all about it.”
    And so they did, while the small towns and forests and fields drifted by. Willy listened, snuffling now and then, or asking a question, and the brothers described their separate adventures and eventual reunion. “That is one great story,” Willy said, as shadows crept across the floor and the sun began to set. They agreed to finish their meals and then dog and cats settled down for a long sleep. In the morning, after much whistling and shouting and screeching of brakes, the train pulled into a building with a long platform and a great many passengers began to disembark. Willy made a dash for the crate and got inside.
    Soon the man with the duck-bill cap appeared and leaped up into the carriage, intent on Willy’s crate. When he saw the door standing open he gave a soft humph of surprise.
    â€œHow did this get opened?” he said. He turned, resting his hands on his hips, and addressed Anton and Cecil. “I don’t suppose you two know anything about this.” Cecil was very busy washing his face and Anton pretended great interest in the wooden ceiling of the carriage. The man looked back at Willy, who was sitting quietly before his empty bowls, his tongue hanging out, panting woefully. “Well, no harm done,” the man said, closing the grate and dropping the latch. “Your lady is waiting.”
    When he bent to pick up the crate, Willy rushed to the front, barking in the high-pitched voice Anton and Cecil now knew to be the height of theatrics. “NO, NO, NO,” he barked. “Get back. Get away from this box. NO, NO. This is an outrage.”
    As man and dog disappeared out the door, Cecil stopped pawing over his face and turned to Anton. “Dogs are so weird,” he said.

    The train clattered over the wide, serene plains with a great arc of steam trailing behind. As it rumbled solemnly along its route, Anton noticed that creatures of all sizes turned to take a look. The animals seemed wary of it. Thin, springy deer