Read Online Waggit Forever by Peter Howe - Free Book Online Page B

“Yip.” They turned around but couldn’t see where the voice was coming from. Then they noticed that one corner of the fence had been bent back, and through it they could barely make out the figure of a dog on the other side.
    â€œHey, you!” he cried.
    â€œUs?” asked Waggit.
    â€œYeah, you,” said the dog. “Are you Wiggy and Liedown?”
    â€œClose enough”—Lowdown chuckled—“don’t you think, Wiggy?”
    But “Wiggy” was being serious.
    â€œWho wants to know?” he asked.
    â€œS’okay,” said the other dog, “I’m your receptor. They told me to look out for you.”
    â€œYou’re our what?” asked Waggit.
    â€œYour receptor,” said the dog. “I’m in charge here.”
    â€œIn charge of what?” Waggit was still confused.
    â€œThe haven. You’ve arrived. Come and join the others.”
    The dog used his stocky body to push the fence aside, and Lowdown and Waggit cautiously went through the gap he made. Waggit was worried that this might be a trap. Lowdown was too tired and in too much pain to worry about anything. Once they were on the other side of the fence, they looked around and were depressed by what they saw. The area was strewn with trash and large boxes that had once contained appliances. Weeds grew everywhere, and the whole place smelled of decay. For two dogs used to the fresh smells of the park, this was the city at its worst.
    â€œ This is it ?” asked Waggit in disgust. “ This is the haven?”
    â€œYup,” said the receptor proudly. “Neat, ain’t it? You’d never know it was here, would you?”
    â€œBut nothing’s here,” said Waggit. “Just a load of old boxes.”
    â€œAh, that’s the point,” said the receptor. “Come on in.”
    He then led them to the far corner of the lot, where the walls of two adjacent buildings came together. Apile of the boxes lay against them, and the receptor disappeared through the open end of one. Waggit and Lowdown followed. What they saw next was a surprise, to say the least. From the outside what looked like many cartons was in fact one large space when you went in. They had been artfully positioned together, with pieces chewed out of their sides to create an area just large enough to hide five Tazarians and two Ductors, all of whom were sleeping.

9
Lowdown’s Limo
    M agica was the first to wake up.
    â€œWaggit. Thank Vinda you’re both safe!”
    â€œIs everyone else okay?” Waggit inquired.
    â€œOh yes,” she replied, “we’re all fine, especially now you two are back. It’s not great here, but it will do for now.”
    â€œNot great” was Magica’s way of dealing with a situation that was close to intolerable. The dogs lay packed together in the tight space, where the heat was stifling and the smell overpowering.
    â€œHow’s Lowdown?” she whispered.
    â€œNot in good shape,” Waggit replied. “He’s in a lot of pain, and I don’t think he’ll make it all the way unless we do something.”
    â€œWhat can we do?” she asked.
    â€œI haven’t a clue at the moment,” Waggit said.
    Gordo rolled over, causing Little Two to growl as the large dog’s body squashed him. Gordo opened one bleary eye.
    â€œWaggit! Hi!” he said. “Where’s Lowdown?”
    â€œRight next to you, and already in the land of dreams.”
    Exhausted by the journey and his discomfort, the old dog had curled up in what little space was left and fallen asleep instantly. Waggit decided to join him, even though his own rear end was sticking partway out of the box. The receptor, whose name nobody seemed to know, kept watch outside.
    Waggit woke up several hours later, cramped and hot. Apparently he wasn’t the only dog feeling that way—the sound of panting tongues was almost deafening. It