Read Online The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Damien Lewis
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were all clear on the plan Robert turned back toward the house, Ant trotting happily beside him. As man and dog moved along the road, the redheaded Ludva—“Flame”—vaulted over the hedge so he could sneak into the grounds of the house, accompanied by Pierre’s friend Jacques. Both men could barely contain their anger at what they had seen of the partying collaborators, and they were a natural choice for what was coming.
Robert noticed his dog’s tongue flicking from side to side, as if in eager anticipation of what lay ahead. In some uncanny way he sensed that Ant knew they were embarked upon a vital, life-or-death mission. He felt sure his dog understood he had a crucial part to play in whatever drama might unfold.
Show me what to do and I’ll do it , Ant’s determined expression seemed to say. I won’t let you down.
Five
The final leg of Robert’s epic flight from France was via a convoy sailing from Gibraltar, although it required ingenious subterfuge to smuggle Ant aboard.
R obert and Ant pressed ahead, trying as best they could to give the impression of a man and dog out for a relaxed evening stroll. Robert threw a stick so Ant could chase after it. He pounced on the wooden snake, tail erect and flicking back and forth excitedly as he grasped it in his jaws. They kept the game going until the brightly lit house hove into view once more.
As they neared the gate the guard stationed there spotted them, but he didn’t appear to suspect a thing. Robert threw the stick so it landed near him. The guard picked it up and threw it back to Robertin an effort to tease the prancing dog. As Robert tossed the stick back to the guard, Ant found himself bounding back and forth playing monkey-in-the-middle.
“Evening!” the guard called over. “Nice dog you have there. A German shepherd if I’m not mistaken. That’s the kind of breed that will endear us to our new masters.” A pause. “Want me to find him a good home?”
“Well, it certainly looks as if you’ve found yourselves a good home,” Robert replied, feigning nonchalance. “Seems like the good old days, what with the music playing and the partying.”
The guard tapped his temple as if to say there’s a brain in here . “Ah, well, some of us have used our heads.” With a smug grin he pointed at Robert’s uniform. “Tell you one thing, pretty shortly you’ll be wishing you didn’t have that on.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Robert mused.
He whistled for Ant and scooped him up, stroking him thoughtfully as if he was seriously considering giving him up. Over the guard’s shoulder, he caught a glimpse of Ludva and Jacques creeping out of the bushes.
He held the dog out before him, as if showing him off to the guard. “Perhaps he might just be in need of a new home. What’ll you give me for him?”
The guard shrugged. “I was thinking less of a payment, more of me doing you and the dog a favor—”
His words were cut off as Ludva struck from behind, snaking his arm around the guard’s neck and pulling hard to choke any attempt to cry out, while his other hand smothered the mouth. Robert saw the guard’s eyes bulge in alarm as Ludva tightened his hold, and at the same time Jacques secured his revolver. It was all over in seconds. Bound and gagged, the guard was thrown into the back of one of the vehicles. Theirs had been a plan built on a deception and it was one in which Ant had played his part perfectly.
A soft whistle from Robert summoned the others. A whispered discussion ensued. Ludva wanted to take the sportiest car for the speediest escape. Cooler heads were drawn to the cart standing to one side of the courtyard: it could be removed with no noise and pulled off the road whenever the way ahead became congested. It would also help them blend in with the scores of rural refugees. There wasn’t time to steal the pony as well, but the trap was light and the men were strong. They could haul it themselves.
Dusk had turned to
Robert noticed his dog’s tongue flicking from side to side, as if in eager anticipation of what lay ahead. In some uncanny way he sensed that Ant knew they were embarked upon a vital, life-or-death mission. He felt sure his dog understood he had a crucial part to play in whatever drama might unfold.
Show me what to do and I’ll do it , Ant’s determined expression seemed to say. I won’t let you down.
Five
The final leg of Robert’s epic flight from France was via a convoy sailing from Gibraltar, although it required ingenious subterfuge to smuggle Ant aboard.
R obert and Ant pressed ahead, trying as best they could to give the impression of a man and dog out for a relaxed evening stroll. Robert threw a stick so Ant could chase after it. He pounced on the wooden snake, tail erect and flicking back and forth excitedly as he grasped it in his jaws. They kept the game going until the brightly lit house hove into view once more.
As they neared the gate the guard stationed there spotted them, but he didn’t appear to suspect a thing. Robert threw the stick so it landed near him. The guard picked it up and threw it back to Robertin an effort to tease the prancing dog. As Robert tossed the stick back to the guard, Ant found himself bounding back and forth playing monkey-in-the-middle.
“Evening!” the guard called over. “Nice dog you have there. A German shepherd if I’m not mistaken. That’s the kind of breed that will endear us to our new masters.” A pause. “Want me to find him a good home?”
“Well, it certainly looks as if you’ve found yourselves a good home,” Robert replied, feigning nonchalance. “Seems like the good old days, what with the music playing and the partying.”
The guard tapped his temple as if to say there’s a brain in here . “Ah, well, some of us have used our heads.” With a smug grin he pointed at Robert’s uniform. “Tell you one thing, pretty shortly you’ll be wishing you didn’t have that on.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Robert mused.
He whistled for Ant and scooped him up, stroking him thoughtfully as if he was seriously considering giving him up. Over the guard’s shoulder, he caught a glimpse of Ludva and Jacques creeping out of the bushes.
He held the dog out before him, as if showing him off to the guard. “Perhaps he might just be in need of a new home. What’ll you give me for him?”
The guard shrugged. “I was thinking less of a payment, more of me doing you and the dog a favor—”
His words were cut off as Ludva struck from behind, snaking his arm around the guard’s neck and pulling hard to choke any attempt to cry out, while his other hand smothered the mouth. Robert saw the guard’s eyes bulge in alarm as Ludva tightened his hold, and at the same time Jacques secured his revolver. It was all over in seconds. Bound and gagged, the guard was thrown into the back of one of the vehicles. Theirs had been a plan built on a deception and it was one in which Ant had played his part perfectly.
A soft whistle from Robert summoned the others. A whispered discussion ensued. Ludva wanted to take the sportiest car for the speediest escape. Cooler heads were drawn to the cart standing to one side of the courtyard: it could be removed with no noise and pulled off the road whenever the way ahead became congested. It would also help them blend in with the scores of rural refugees. There wasn’t time to steal the pony as well, but the trap was light and the men were strong. They could haul it themselves.
Dusk had turned to
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