The Good Dog Read Online Free PDF

boy.”
    Glad to oblige, McKinley came back, sank down, and lowered his head to Jack’s leg. When the boy fondled his ears, he thumped the ground with his tail.
    â€œThis is pretty much a canyon, isn’t it?” Jack said, looking up and down the trail. “Perfect place for an ambush,” he added. “Wonder if in the old days it ever happened.”
    McKinley, not understanding any of these words, closed his eyes. The sky was darkening. They would have to be turning back soon. It was the perfect moment for the boy to give up.
    â€œTell you what,” the pup said. “If we don’t find that stupid Duchess soon, we’re heading home. Come back tomorrow. Earlier. Okay?”
    Hearing the word home, McKinley wagged his tail.
    Jack stood up. “Come on, big boy,” he said. “Alittle more. If I get that reward I’ll buy you a juicy hamburger all for yourself.”
    McKinley came to his feet slowly, then continued along the now-narrow trail. Suddenly, he halted and sniffed. A growl rose in his throat.
    â€œWhat’s up, McKinley?” Jack called. “Did you smell Duchess? Did you find her? Come on, keep going!”
    McKinley stared ahead. It was the wolf. Not only was she on the trail before them, she was coming in their direction.

7
    â€œM cKinley?” the boy asked, “is something the matter?”
    McKinley stood stiff-legged, body leaning forward, ears pricked up, nose wrinkled and lips pulled back to expose his teeth. His tail bristled and the black hair rose along the ridge on his back.
    With McKinley’s instincts urging him to flee, he darted a look back over his shoulder to see if a retreat was clear. It was. But the pup was behind him. And he knew he must protect Jack.
    As the wolf’s scent grew stronger, it took all of McKinley’s courage not to shrink away. He forcedhimself—body trembling—to move forward, shielding the boy from the approaching danger.
    From around the bend in the trail, Lupin limped into Jack’s view.
    â€œMcKinley!” the pup gasped. “It’s the wolf!”
    As big as McKinley was, Lupin was bigger. Broad shouldered with a massive head, she had bright, piercing eyes and powerful jaws. Her legs were strong, her paws huge, larger than McKinley’s.
    The wolf continued to approach until she was within an easy leap of McKinley. There she halted, her crooked foot raised, her head high, ears pointing almost straight up. Her glowing eyes were focused right on McKinley. From her throat emerged a low rumble: “They call me Lupin.”
    McKinley tried to return the wolf’s stare but was overwhelmed with a sense of his own weakness. Unable to hide his fear, he backed up a step and lowered his body. His ears flattened. His tail drooped. “I’m called McKinley,” he whimpered.
    â€œYou are a dog.”
    â€œI am . . . yes.”
    â€œDog,” the wolf growled, “you who live with humans, who take food from their hands and garbage piles, do you know who your ancestors were? Do you know your true family and what kind of blood runs even now through your veins?”
    â€œThe blood of . . . wolves,” McKinley whined softly.
    â€œYes, wolves. The free ones,” Lupin snapped. “Yet you choose to be no more than a groveling servant to humans.”
    McKinley tried to stand taller. “I am head dog.”
    â€œHead dog over whom?” Lupin barked. “Over a pack of weak-legged, tongue-lapping, tail-wagging slaves who take their food from bowls! Have you no honor, McKinley? No pride?
    â€œYou call yourself head dog,” Lupin growled, “but are you a true leader? Is not that feeble pup behind you your real master?” Lupin shook her head, causing her thick mane to ripple. “Look at you! Collar-wearer. Leash-licker. Shake your head and you will hear the tinkle of tags that say you belong to—that you are owned by—some