Unleashed! Read Online Free PDF Page B

directed his question to the man.
    ‘What’s the problem?’
    Mio and Bryce stayed inside.
    Woof! It sounded close.
    ‘Bloody dog,’ said the man, whirling around. His face was brewing scarlet. A muscle in his jaw went twitchety-twitch as he paced in frustration, straining to locate the bark.
    Woof, woof
    The man slammed his hand against The Van. ‘Mongrel!’
    Clem scanned the alley as she asked, ‘Lost your dog? What sort is she?’ She was hoping that the beagle was getting away. But the next woof was still loud and Clem’s heart twanged with disappointment.
    ‘She’ll regret this.’ The man’s face had gone from red to pimple purple. ‘That dog’s a prize pain in the butt.’
    ‘Really?’ asked Clem, trying to distract him. ‘How come?’
    The man hitched up his pants which had slid below his belly. ‘I’m a dog trainer, see. I get the troublemakers, the ones failin’ at sniffer dog school.’
    ‘Sniffer dog school? You’re joking.’
    ‘No, I’m not.’ The man’s shirt parted, revealing a mound of flesh in a forest of hair.
    ‘Sniffer dog school. Is that like for airports ’n’ stuff?’ asked Clem as she tried not to look at his tummy.
    ‘Yup.’ The man swung the choker chain so it wrapped around his hand. ‘I’m the dogs’ last chance, see. Toe the line and they’re on the squad.’
    Clem spoke to the man but her eyes kept flitting down the alley. ‘And if they don’t?’
    The man grinned, exposing a row of yellowy-brown teeth. ‘Send ’em to the pound.’
    ‘The pound!’ The breath caught in Clem’s throat. Her eyes widened. ‘Why would you send them to the pound?’
    The man sniggered as he unwound the chain from his hand. ‘At the pound it’s all up to the dog, see. Act nice and they’re off to a good home. Act up and it’s the big kennel in the sky.’ His laugh made Clem shiver. ‘No great loss. They’re only rejects.’
    Clem put her hands on her hips, saying, ‘But that dog’s beautiful. You wouldn’t dump it at the pound.’
    ‘Yes, I would.’
    ‘Why don’t you give her to me, then? I’ll take her.’
    The man snapped, ‘’Cause I’m not done with her, that’s why.’
    Before Clem could reply there was another woof ! The man jiggled the choker chain, saying, ‘Wait till I get my hands on her.’
    Clem stepped forward. With as much control as she could muster she said, ‘Hurt that dog and I’ll report you.’
    The man’s lip curled. His chest heaved, his breath catching with raspy gasps. His eyes narrowed and almost disappeared. To Clem he looked like a rampaging bull and suddenly she realised that he was dangerous.
    ‘Threaten me, will ya?’ The man leaned down, going eyeball to eyeball, and Clem was hit by stale cigarette fumes and body odour. ‘Think you’re tough? I’ll show you tough.’ He slammed the lead against The Van.
    Darcy jabbed his finger at the man, saying, ‘Beat it, mister. You’re not welcome here.’
    Mio and Bryce stuck their heads out. Then they climbed out of The Van and stood beside the others.
    ‘No, you’re not.’
    ‘You should go.’
    The kids stood in a semicircle. The man huffed himself up and clenched his fists but then a woof came from the direction of the warehouse. With one last glare, the man took off, calling the beagle a ‘waste of bloody space’.
    ‘He’s going to kill her,’ said Clem, unable to keep the panic from her voice. ‘We’ve got to stop him.’ She ran after the man but after only a couple of steps she pulled up. A few paces away stood the beagle, wagging her tail with the full-bodied swing of a hula dancer. Her eyes were sparkling and the ears were slightly raised.
    Clem crouched on her haunches and held out her hand. ‘Here, girl!’ she crooned. Clem stayed still, not wanting to frighten the dog. The others stayed still, too. ‘Hey! Did that dog wink or is it my imagination?’ The dog winked again and Clem giggled. She winked back. Then with a gooey voice she scolded, ‘You’re