Read Online The Pack by Tom Pow - Free Book Online

world that must have been,” Bradley had said to her.
    â€œWell, it’s long gone and it’s never coming back. You remember that, if you want to survive this one.” Her fists had clenched, as if she were wringing something that would never quite dry out.
    Still, no matter where they had come from, Red Dog was proud of all his medals. He thrust out his chest and shook it, making the medals jangle.
    â€œSee what kind of a dog you took on when you took on Red Dog, Dog Boy. ”
    Bradley breathed out, “Where are they?” But the words only came as three short breaths.
    â€œSorry, didn’t catch that, Dog Boy. Could you speak up a little please? Pretty please.”
    â€œWhere are they?”
    â€œAnd who-oo-to-whit-to-woo would they be?” He turned his grinning face from one side of the hall to the other. Each side of soldier boys tried to out-clap the other.
    â€œFloris and…” Bradley said.
    â€œFloris,” said Red Dog. “ Flor-is. Mmm. Now, would that be a lovely little girl with sparkly eyes?”
    â€œWhere is she?”
    â€œOh, not here, Dog Boy, not here.” Red Dog put his hands out, palms outwards, and called for a response.
    â€œNot here, Dog Boy, not here,” the children echoed.
    â€œI tell you, if you’ve—”
    There was a kick in Bradley’s back and his face hit the floor.
    â€œNaughty. Not to threaten Red Dog.” It was the weasel’s voice.
    â€œThank you, Laugh-tenant,” said Red Dog. “ Laugh- tenant. Ooh, isn’t that good? Don’t you think so? I like names. What’s your name, Dog Boy? ”
    My name is my story, Bradley thought. The name the Old Woman gave to him. His name was precious, secret, like Mrs. Bridget Newton’s was to her. Nor was he unhappy with Dog Boy, much though Red Dog sneered at it. It was dogs he lived amongst, after all, one of whom lay dead under rubble for caring for someone he as pack leader should have protected. Another lay behind him, cords cutting into his flesh—a dog that was like a brother to him. He had no shame in the name Dog Boy.
    â€œDog Boy,” Bradley answered. “I have no other.”
    Red Dog smiled, his helmet brow lifting back. “Ah, Red Dog; Dog Boy.” He nodded. “The Dead Time gave birth to many new names, did it not? Fair enough, Dog Boy, your Floris is not here.”
    â€œThen, where…?”
    â€œWe have shipped her on, shipped her out, have we not, my lovelies?”
    The children cheered.
    â€œWhere? You’d better—”
    Another foot to the back.
    â€œCareful, now,” said the weasel.
    â€œOh, you are full of questions, aren’t you?” said Red Dog, as Bradley pushed himself back onto his knees. “All right, I’ll tell you. She’s gone to the Invisible City. There was a vacancy, you see.”
    The children clapped delightedly.
    â€œSomeone had to go, didn’t they, my lovelies?”
    Red Dog’s helmet came down and he circled the room with his eyes; first one way, then the other—then back, as if he were looking for one child in particular. The children were unnerved by this. They tried to avoid Red Dog’s gaze by looking at the floor or to their sides.
    â€œOh, but next month”—he spoke slowly—“next month … Oh, who’s it going to be? I wonder. Oh, who-oo-to-whit-to-woo might hesitate, when Red Dog says, “Jump”? Who might say, ‘Oh, Red Dog, Red Dog, don’t make me do that’? Oh, who-oo-to-wit-to-woo might it be who would draw Red Dog’s attention to them? Could it be you, Blade?”
    â€œNo, Red Dog, never!”
    â€œYou, Skewer?”
    â€œNo, Red Dog, never!”
    â€œIt must be you then, Poker.”
    â€œNo, Red Dog, never!”
    â€œBut it has to be someone,” wheedled Red Dog. “You can’t all have Futures Guaranteed. Not in this cruel, cruel world. Oh, my