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“Dicking Around” by Dirt Coyote

Garret and Barry should be manning the pizza restaurant they work at, but they can’t go five minutes without getting lost in pirates, spies, medieval wars, and space adventures.

Today’s story is “Dicking Around” by Dirt Coyote, whom it’ll take more than that to stop. You can find updates on his furaffinity and sofurry accounts.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/dicking-around-by-dirt-coyote

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Dicking

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Around”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Dirt

Speaker:

Coyote,

Speaker:

whom

Speaker:

it’ll

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stop.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

updates

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

furaffinity

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sofurry

Speaker:

accounts.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Dicking

Speaker:

Around”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Dirt

Speaker:

Coyote

Sir

Speaker:

Galahad

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Westershire

Speaker:

cradled

Speaker:

Sir

Speaker:

Bartholomew

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Laddlesburg,

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox's

Speaker:

entrails

Speaker:

poured

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

battleground.

Speaker:

Swords

Speaker:

clashed

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

shields,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

arrows

Speaker:

whistled

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air,

Speaker:

landing

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

meaty

Speaker:

thumps.

Speaker:

Cries

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

screams

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

them.
"Galahad,

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

faithful

Speaker:

companion.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

shant

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

summer

Speaker:

fog

Speaker:

roll

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

season,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

joked

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

coughs.
The

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tear

Speaker:

rolling

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle. "Don't

Speaker:

speak

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

nonsense,

Speaker:

Bartholomew.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

merely

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

scratch,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

denied.
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

blood

Speaker:

gushing

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

wound.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Galahad's

Speaker:

chainmail,

Speaker:

shaking

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

dying

Speaker:

clutch. "Tell

Speaker:

fare

Speaker:

Maiden

Speaker:

Blysmoth

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

mean

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

bring

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

rose

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

for.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mother

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

dawn

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

Finally,

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

father—"

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

teeth

Speaker:

grit

Speaker:

tight "—

Speaker:

Tell

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

House

Speaker:

Laddlesburg

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

repays in equal!"
Bartholomew's

Speaker:

eyes went dark,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

lulled

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

best

Speaker:

friend

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

gone.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

lifted

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head and

Speaker:

cried, "House

Speaker:

Peneraton

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

pay

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

blood!"
Just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corner

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

figure approach. Zackton of Peneraton, a massive

Speaker:

bear,

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dagger

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

paw,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shield

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

wicked

Speaker:

frown

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

disgust

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

raised

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

knife's

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

pointed

Speaker:

tip

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

said, "Will

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

stop

Speaker:

dicking

Speaker:

around?"
Bartholomew,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

Barry

Speaker:

rather,

Speaker:

blinked

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

folded

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

feline

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

back, "But

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

sooooooo

Speaker:

boring."
Garret,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

held,

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

squirting

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

stream

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

buffalo

Speaker:

sauce

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor. "We're

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

having

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

fun,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle.
Zack

Speaker:

assessed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scene.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground,

Speaker:

buffalo

Speaker:

everywhere

Speaker:

including

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox's

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

uniform.

Speaker:

They both

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

up spatulas they used as swords,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pot lids

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

shields.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

teenagers,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

playing

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that.
The bear

Speaker:

tapped

Speaker:

his pen against his clipboard

Speaker:

and sighed. "First,

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

clean

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

mess,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

started,

Speaker:

waving

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sauce

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor. "Then,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can both

Speaker:

wipe

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

counter

Speaker:

legs,

Speaker:

clean

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

refrigerator

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

brush

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

maketables,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

line

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

completely

Speaker:

filled.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

restaurant.

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

a—"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

paused

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

circle

Speaker:

a paw

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

two, "whatever

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

is."
Barry

Speaker:

stood,

Speaker:

helping

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

him. "Jeez,

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

dead

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

day.

Speaker:

Why're

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mood?"
Zack

Speaker:

couldn't

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

smile,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shade

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

red. "I'm

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mood.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

done

Speaker:

before—"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

himself,

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

reason

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

change

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

subject.
Both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

circled

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

once,

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

either

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear's

Speaker:

side. "Oooooo,

Speaker:

someone

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

date?"

Speaker:

Garret

Speaker:

asked, the

Speaker:

sly

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

poking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear's side.
The

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

fluttered

Speaker:

his eyes at the ursine before

Speaker:

teasing, "Did you

Speaker:

ask

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

out?

Speaker:

Did

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

yes?'
Zack's

Speaker:

fur

Speaker:

bushed

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

hot

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

probably

Speaker:

cook

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

egg

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

snout. "If

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

know,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

pause

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

brush

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

fur. "Danny

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

yes."
Both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

slapped the bear on the back, giving him

Speaker:

cheers

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

encouragement.

Speaker:

They'd

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

seen

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

that the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

pined

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ferret

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

school.

Speaker:

Once,

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

wall

Speaker:

watching him

Speaker:

play

Speaker:

soccer

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

buddies.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

total

Speaker:

mess.
"Alright,

Speaker:

alright.

Speaker:

Settle

Speaker:

down.

Speaker:

Can

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

normal

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

you two

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

distracted?"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

pointing again

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

buffalo

Speaker:

sauce

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor.
Garret

Speaker:

puckered

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

lips,

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

kissing

Speaker:

sounds

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

saying, "Anything

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

say,

Speaker:

boss

Speaker:

man."
Zack

Speaker:

furrowed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

brow. "Stop

Speaker:

calling

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

that.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

share

Speaker:

AP

Speaker:

bio

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

heaven's

Speaker:

sake."
Barry

Speaker:

snorted

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

waved a paw. "Alright,

Speaker:

boss

Speaker:

boy.

Speaker:

Is that

Speaker:

better?"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

laughed.
It

Speaker:

wasn't.
But

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

shrugged

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

anyways.

Speaker:

It was his

Speaker:

dad that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

boss, and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

manager

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

charge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

shop.

Speaker:

Thankfully,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

father

Speaker:

agreed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

come in

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

cover

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

end

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shift

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

date tonight.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

was,

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

course,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

supposed

Speaker:

to.
*****
"Psst,"

Speaker:

the fox

Speaker:

whispered,

Speaker:

while they wiped

Speaker:

down the refrigerator doors together.
Barry's ears went

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

grin. "Yeah?"
Garret

Speaker:

puffed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wiped

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

large

Speaker:

circles

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fridge.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

spoke,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

funny

Speaker:

pirate

Speaker:

accent, "Avast,

Speaker:

ye

Speaker:

matey!

Speaker:

Isn't

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bore

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

wiping

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

brig?"
The jaguar giggled,

Speaker:

flapping

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

towel

Speaker:

at him. "Garret,

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

trouble."

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear.

Speaker:

He had

Speaker:

gone

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

office

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

probably to

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

order

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

inventory.
"Garret?

Speaker:

Who

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

Garret

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

mention? No, I'm—"

Speaker:

he stalled,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

restaurant

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

continuing

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

awkward

Speaker:

accent, "I'm

Speaker:

Pepperbeard

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Knife

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

mate,

Speaker:

um,

Speaker:

Castiron

Speaker:

Johnny."
Barry

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

restaurant,

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

anyone

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

inside.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

dead. "Ahoy,

Speaker:

that's

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

Pepperbeard!

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

this our

Speaker:

pirate

Speaker:

ship,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sturdy

Speaker:

Onionboard.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

waves

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

eerie

Speaker:

calm

Speaker:

today.

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

this."
Pepperbeard

Speaker:

flung

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cape

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

himself,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

tall

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

captain's

Speaker:

uniform. Johnny tied his bandana over his

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

role.

Speaker:

The captain waved his sword with one paw and brought a brass

Speaker:

telescope

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eye. "Aye,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

Something

Speaker:

doesn't

Speaker:

feel—

Speaker:

Alas!

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

royal

Speaker:

fleet

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

heads!"
The

Speaker:

jaguar

Speaker:

spun

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

circle

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

pointing

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

looking.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

shouted, "Man

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

stations,

Speaker:

boys!

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

ain't

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

prisoners,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

ain't

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

either,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

drawing

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

own blade.
Whistles erupted as pirates swung from ropes all about the deck of the

Speaker:

ship. Furs of all species ran

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cannons

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sides,

Speaker:

preparing

Speaker:

for battle.

Speaker:

Pepperbeard

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Johnny

Speaker:

worked

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

team to

Speaker:

load

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cannons

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

navy

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

approached.
"Steady

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

aim

Speaker:

boys!

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

ain't

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

patrol

Speaker:

coming,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

dawning

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

telescope

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

royal

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

raise

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

flag,

Speaker:

spotting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain

Speaker:

eyeing him

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

scope.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

recognize

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

ugly

Speaker:

mug

Speaker:

anywhere. "Aye,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pearl

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

royal

Speaker:

navy itself, the Flying Dough—ton?"
Barry gave

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

puzzled

Speaker:

glance

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Garret,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

shrugged

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulders. "It's

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

names,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

breaking

Speaker:

character

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

returning to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

accent. "And

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

devil

Speaker:

himself,

Speaker:

Admiral

Speaker:

Mozzarello,

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

leading

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

charge."
A

Speaker:

tall

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

equally

Speaker:

tall

Speaker:

admiral

Speaker:

hat

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bridge.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

warship

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

massive

Speaker:

in length,

Speaker:

five

Speaker:

towering

Speaker:

masts

Speaker:

hovering

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

clouds

Speaker:

overhead.

Speaker:

It was

Speaker:

quick

Speaker:

cutting

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

waves,

Speaker:

dipping

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rising as it

Speaker:

chased

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

bells

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

cries

Speaker:

as the

Speaker:

combatants

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

readied

Speaker:

themselves

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

battle

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

well.
Everyone

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

breath,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

winds

Speaker:

picking

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as the

Speaker:

ships

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

range.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

ocean

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

roar,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wooden

Speaker:

boards

Speaker:

cried

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

waves.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

cries

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

chatter,

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

woman

Speaker:

giving a final

Speaker:

prayer

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their minds.

Speaker:

Just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the two

Speaker:

vessels

Speaker:

lined

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

Captain

Speaker:

Pepperbeard

Speaker:

shouted, "Fire!"
Everything

Speaker:

lit

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

once.

Speaker:

Cannons

Speaker:

erupted

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

right,

Speaker:

shrapnel

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

cannonballs

Speaker:

screaming

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

sailed

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air.

Speaker:

Wood

Speaker:

exploded

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

over,

Speaker:

sailers

Speaker:

dropping

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

either

Speaker:

side.

Speaker:

Some

Speaker:

shielded

Speaker:

themselves

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

bellies

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deck

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

head.

Speaker:

Some

Speaker:

lay

Speaker:

limp

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground.
Captain

Speaker:

Pepperbeard

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

flinch

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

muscle,

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

tall

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

proud

Speaker:

with a

Speaker:

footpaw on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cannon.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

down at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jaguar,

Speaker:

who was

Speaker:

kneeled

Speaker:

clutching

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears. "Rise,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

cowards!

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

isn't

Speaker:

over,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said, patting a

Speaker:

paw to Johnny's shoulder.
Sure enough,

Speaker:

as he

Speaker:

looked at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scene,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

massive

Speaker:

Doughton

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

volley.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

jumped

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet,

Speaker:

giving

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

whistle, "You

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain.

Speaker:

Portside!

Speaker:

We're

Speaker:

turning 'er

Speaker:

around,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

cried

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

waving his blade at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crew.
About

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

rose

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

immediately

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

boat

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

action.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

remained

Speaker:

still.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

mourn

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

fallen

Speaker:

companions.

Speaker:

Only

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

Johnny

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain,

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

notice

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paw to his

Speaker:

stomach. "You're

Speaker:

injured!

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

you inside,"

Speaker:

he hissed, racing to Pepperbeard.
The fox

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

waved

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paw,

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wooden

Speaker:

shrapnel

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

embedded

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

him. "They'll

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pin

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pike

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bed 'fore I sit this one

Speaker:

out," he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

teeth

Speaker:

grit

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile.
They

Speaker:

hobbled

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

to the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Onionboard,

Speaker:

finding

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cannon to

Speaker:

man.

Speaker:

Again,

Speaker:

Captain

Speaker:

Pepperbeard

Speaker:

raised

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

ships had

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

one another.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

Mozzarello,

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

broad shouldered

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

glowering.
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

smiled,

Speaker:

knowing

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

barrel

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cannon.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Johnny,

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

final

Speaker:

nod

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

confirmation,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jaguar

Speaker:

lit

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fuse.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

flared

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second,

Speaker:

spitting

Speaker:

sparks

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deck,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

powder

Speaker:

ignited,

Speaker:

cannonball

Speaker:

bursting

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

muzzle.
"Hey!"

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

shouted,

Speaker:

deflecting

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

paper

Speaker:

towel

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

thrown

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

him. "Stop

Speaker:

that!"
Both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

froze,

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

realizing

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

game.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

spun

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

wide at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mess

Speaker:

they'd

Speaker:

made.

Speaker:

Papertowel

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dough

Speaker:

wads

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

thrown

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

place.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

towels

Speaker:

wrapped

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

heads

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

spoons

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

paws.
"What

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

here?"

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

needing

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

answer.
Garrets

Speaker:

spoke

Speaker:

anyways,

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

pirate

Speaker:

accent, "Alas,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

seems

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

imagination

Speaker:

carry

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

away."
Barry nudged

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

hard,

Speaker:

knowing

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

certainly

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

joke. "Um,

Speaker:

we'll

Speaker:

clean

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

up,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jaguar

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

towel

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears.
The

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

stomped

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

large

Speaker:

foot

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground,

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

jump

Speaker:

up. "Right

Speaker:

freakin'

Speaker:

now!

Speaker:

Dad'll

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he'll

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

ballistic

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

sees

Speaker:

this."
Before

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

continue

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

yell

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bell

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

rang.

Speaker:

Everyone

Speaker:

froze

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

fear,

Speaker:

worried

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

older

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

walking

Speaker:

in.

Speaker:

Instead,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

gazelle,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

studied the

Speaker:

menu.

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

final

Speaker:

death

Speaker:

glare

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

saying, "And

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

use

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

towels

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

head.

Speaker:

Absolutely

Speaker:

bonkers,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

muttered

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

customer.
Barry and

Speaker:

Garret

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

immediately,

Speaker:

throwing

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

towels

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dirty

Speaker:

bin

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

picking

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

mess.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

remained

Speaker:

quiet

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ticket

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

customer

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

through.

Speaker:

Despite

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

playfulness,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

managed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

order

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

quick.
Another

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

hour passed

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

practically

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

customers

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

in.

Speaker:

Only

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

couple

Speaker:

kids

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

by,

Speaker:

asking

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

use

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

restroom

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

skittering

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

paying

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

anything.

Speaker:

Zackary

Speaker:

huddled

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

office

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

finished

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

dad

Speaker:

would arrive.
Just as Garret came up to the jaguar's side, the other boy held up a paw to him. "Oh no, you're gonna get us in

Speaker:

anymore

Speaker:

trouble,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

recognizing

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

sly

Speaker:

grin

Speaker:

foxes

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

well.
Garret

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paw up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chin,

Speaker:

scratching

Speaker:

it in

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

went bright.

Speaker:

Both

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

rose

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

clasped

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

together. "Can

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

trouble

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

caught."
Barry

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

office,

Speaker:

pretty

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

stuck

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

scheduling

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

thirty

Speaker:

minutes.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

and then

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wrist.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

pressed

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wall,

Speaker:

and the

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

to his

Speaker:

side,

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

scoop

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

gun.
"That

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

one,

Speaker:

agent

Speaker:

Red. We

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

spotted

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

guards,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

cautiously.
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

scoop,

Speaker:

putting

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chest. "Thanks,

Speaker:

Agent

Speaker:

Spots.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

caught, we'd never

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

retrieve

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

secret

Speaker:

documents

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

government

Speaker:

sent

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

retrieve."
Barry made

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

said, "Exposition

Speaker:

much?"
Garret

Speaker:

furrowed his

Speaker:

brow and

Speaker:

replied

Speaker:

quickly, "Much

Speaker:

much?"
The

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

stuck

Speaker:

tongues

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

scene.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

kitchen

Speaker:

morphed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

corridor

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

steel

Speaker:

lined

Speaker:

walls.

Speaker:

Their

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

uniforms

Speaker:

changed into

Speaker:

slick

Speaker:

black

Speaker:

cat

Speaker:

suits

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

aprons

Speaker:

became their

Speaker:

utility

Speaker:

belts.

Speaker:

Agent Red's ears

Speaker:

perked

Speaker:

and he hissed out, "Company. Coming from our

Speaker:

right."
The

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

fast,

Speaker:

stealthily

Speaker:

moving

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

some containers on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

waited

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

crouched in

Speaker:

cover as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

footsteps

Speaker:

approached.

Speaker:

Red

Speaker:

poked

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

cautiously out

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cover,

Speaker:

ducking

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

millisecond

Speaker:

later.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

fingers,

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

men

Speaker:

approaching,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

five

Speaker:

fingers,

Speaker:

four,

Speaker:

three,

Speaker:

two—
Both

Speaker:

agents

Speaker:

leapt

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

cover,

Speaker:

grappling

Speaker:

a man

Speaker:

each.

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

alligator

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

chokehold

Speaker:

easily.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gator

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

claw at the

Speaker:

leopard's

Speaker:

arm,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

release

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

grip.

Speaker:

Slowly

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

surely,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

blacking

Speaker:

out.
Red

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

having

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

easy

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

man.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

floundered

Speaker:

about on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

wolf's

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

arm around

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

neck,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

tossed

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

forth,

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

slamming

Speaker:

against a

Speaker:

wall

Speaker:

hard.

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

worried

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second,

Speaker:

thinking

Speaker:

he should

Speaker:

release

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

henchman

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

lock

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

him.
The

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

buckled

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

letting

Speaker:

Red

Speaker:

catch

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

footing.

Speaker:

With

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

oxygen,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

henchman

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

well.

Speaker:

Both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

whispered

Speaker:

soft

Speaker:

shushes as

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

foes

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

knees

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

they were

Speaker:

passed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

backs

Speaker:

on the floor.
Red let out a sigh of relief, turning to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

companion. "That

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

call.

Speaker:

Excellent

Speaker:

maneuvering

Speaker:

Agent

Speaker:

Spots,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

complimented.
Spots

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

soft

Speaker:

chuckle. "Wish

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could've said

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

Next

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

care

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

if you

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to."
"He's

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

me,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

sly

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle. "I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

handle

Speaker:

myself.

Speaker:

Let's

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

worry

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mission."
They

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

unison,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corridor. Red

Speaker:

opened

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as the

Speaker:

feline

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

walk

Speaker:

in,

Speaker:

he put

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chest. "Wait,

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

room

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

cold,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sniff

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air.
He

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

utility belt,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sprayed

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

vapor

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air.

Speaker:

Just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

suspected,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

up with

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

rays zig-zagging

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

direction. "Motion

Speaker:

sensors

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

over.

Speaker:

Heat

Speaker:

detectors

Speaker:

too.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

can't

Speaker:

stay

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

long.

Speaker:

We'll have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

maze

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

quickly

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

possible."
Spots

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

down.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

agile

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

two,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

agreed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

first,

Speaker:

hoping

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

switch

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

security

Speaker:

system

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side. The

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fresh

Speaker:

breath

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

air,

Speaker:

clasping

Speaker:

paws one

Speaker:

final

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

with his

Speaker:

companion,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

stepping

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room.
He

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

canister,

Speaker:

spraying

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

inside.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

particles

Speaker:

dissipated

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

clearly

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lines

Speaker:

running

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

place.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

normal

Speaker:

circumstance, he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

carefully

Speaker:

navigate

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

system.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

ordinary

Speaker:

situation,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he'd

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

act

Speaker:

fast.
Agent

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

lunged

Speaker:

forward

Speaker:

for a

Speaker:

perfect

Speaker:

summersault

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the—

Speaker:

Garret

Speaker:

landed

Speaker:

belly

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

walk-in

Speaker:

floor.

Speaker:

Barry

Speaker:

snorted

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

laughed

Speaker:

loudly

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

shouting, "Oof,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

non-agentlike

Speaker:

of you."
Garret

Speaker:

scrambled

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet,

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

walk-in

Speaker:

refrigerator

Speaker:

door. "The

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

slippery,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox's

Speaker:

snickers. "Just

Speaker:

pretend

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

happen,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

mention

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

anyone.

Speaker:

ANYONE,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

punctuated.
Agent

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

position,

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

firmly

Speaker:

planted

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

performing

Speaker:

a (mostly)

Speaker:

perfect

Speaker:

summersault

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

motion

Speaker:

sensors. He

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

careful

Speaker:

swoops with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

legs.

Speaker:

His tail

Speaker:

moved

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

straight arcs, cutting just above the lines until he was safely to the other

Speaker:

side.
"I

Speaker:

can't

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shutdown

Speaker:

switch,

Speaker:

you'll

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

own,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jaguar

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

ushering

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

forward.
Agent

Speaker:

Red

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

carefully

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lines,

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

gulp

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

nervously

Speaker:

squeaking, "Go

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

ahead.

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

you."
Spots

Speaker:

did as he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

told,

Speaker:

stepping

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

end.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Red,

Speaker:

giving

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

nod

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

encouragement.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

did a cartwheel

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sensors

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

backflip.

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

breath as he

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

land on the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side,

Speaker:

smug

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle.
"See,

Speaker:

easy,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

forward.

Speaker:

However,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

flicked

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

tripping

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

alarm.
Sirens

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

off from

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

close. "Run!"

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

shouted,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mad

Speaker:

dash

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door.
He

Speaker:

lept

Speaker:

forward,

Speaker:

snatching

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

just before the door could close on it. Red let out a sigh

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

relief,

Speaker:

putting

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

against it.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

quick

Speaker:

decision. "The

Speaker:

guards

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

soon.

Speaker:

Go

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

ahead

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

anyone

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

comes."
"No,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

won't

Speaker:

leave

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

behind," the

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

pleaded,

Speaker:

grabbing

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Red's suit

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

ahead.
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

pushing

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws. "The

Speaker:

mission

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

important.

Speaker:

Go,

Speaker:

now."
Spots

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

lip,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

wanting

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

leave

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

remembering

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

oath.

Speaker:

Red

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

leopard,

Speaker:

patting him

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shoulder. "We'll

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

this,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

remember

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

Paris."
"We will

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

Paris," the

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

solemnly

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

proceeding

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corridor.
There

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

turns,

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

praying

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

remembered

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

briefing

Speaker:

correctly.

Speaker:

One

Speaker:

misstep and he

Speaker:

could be at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

deadend,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

worse,

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

trap.

Speaker:

Thankfully,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

criminal

Speaker:

mastermind,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

traitorous

Speaker:

Agent

Speaker:

Black,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

stationed.
He

Speaker:

raised

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

gun

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chest,

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

end

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear's

Speaker:

treachery.

Speaker:

Spots

Speaker:

placed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paw to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

opening it

Speaker:

quietly.

Speaker:

With

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

pistol

Speaker:

drawn,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

peaked

Speaker:

inside.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

desk,

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ear.

Speaker:

No

Speaker:

doubt,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

talking

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

henchmen,

Speaker:

plotting

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

unspeakable

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

evil

Speaker:

deed.
"Dad,

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

please.

Speaker:

That's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

fair,"

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

pleaded

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone.
Barry

Speaker:

snuck

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

guilty.

Speaker:

He had

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

imagination,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

realized

Speaker:

he had

Speaker:

stumbled

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

private

Speaker:

conversation.

Speaker:

Even

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

shouldn't

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

prying,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

couldn't

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

listen

Speaker:

in.
Zack

Speaker:

pounded

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fist

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

table. "You

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

cover

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

date

Speaker:

tonight,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

whined,

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

sounding

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

tears. "Yes,

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

important

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me…

Speaker:

No,

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

course

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

important

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

store…

Speaker:

I—

Speaker:

No,

Speaker:

sir.

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

sorry.

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

stay."
Barry

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

phone

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

holster,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dipped

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

office.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

slumped

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

store,

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

folded

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

time Zack's dad had shafted

Speaker:

his son. It was

Speaker:

certainly

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

worst

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

knowing

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

Danny.
"Agent

Speaker:

Spots.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

narrowly

Speaker:

escaped with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

life,"

Speaker:

Garret

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

pretending

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

buffalo

Speaker:

stain

Speaker:

was. He was

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

milage

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

that. "Did

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

manage

Speaker:

to...recover...the,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

trailed

Speaker:

off,

Speaker:

reading the

Speaker:

leopard's

Speaker:

muzzle.
"Zack's

Speaker:

dad—"
"—

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

didn't?"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

softly.
Barry gave him

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

nod,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

awful.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

courage

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

ask

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

Danny,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

Especially

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

canceling

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

date.

Speaker:

With

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

heads

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

they got

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

cleaning

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

restaurant.
There

Speaker:

weren't

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

distractions,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

abnormally

Speaker:

dead.

Speaker:

Though

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

dick

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cross

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

mood.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bad

Speaker:

mood.

Speaker:

No, when

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

office,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

slumped

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pitifully.
Zack

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

a rag

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

a rack, and

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

mindlessly

Speaker:

wipe

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

counter.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

circles

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

soft

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wide,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

blankly

Speaker:

ahead.

Speaker:

Both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

breaking

Speaker:

down.

Speaker:

Berry

Speaker:

couldn't

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

that.
"Captain

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

Rodgers,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

front!

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

aliens

Speaker:

are—"
Zack

Speaker:

sighed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rolled

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

to the

Speaker:

fox at his

Speaker:

side. "Please,

Speaker:

Garret,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

now."
The

Speaker:

jaguar

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

friend

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

help. "But

Speaker:

Captain, without

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

help,

Speaker:

we won't

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stop

Speaker:

the,

Speaker:

uhm,

Speaker:

tomatotrons

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

invading."
Reluctant,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

budge.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

boys to

Speaker:

grab

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

counter.

Speaker:

They led

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

stacked

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

boxes,

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

ducking

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

shrugged

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulders. "Alright,

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

aliens?"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

boxes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

room.
"Here,

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

this."

Speaker:

Barry

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second,

Speaker:

grabbing

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

tin

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

passing

Speaker:

it to him. "They're

Speaker:

technoculurs

Speaker:

that'll

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hills,"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

matter-of-factly.
Zack

Speaker:

shrugged

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulders,

Speaker:

bringing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

can to

Speaker:

his eye

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

inside.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

was the

Speaker:

bottom

Speaker:

covered

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

tomato

Speaker:

paste at first.

Speaker:

But,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

wanting

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sourpuss,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

half-played

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

gasped, "You're

Speaker:

right.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

dozen

Speaker:

tomatotrons

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

wicked

Speaker:

war

Speaker:

machines

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

position."
Saying

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

can to

Speaker:

life.

Speaker:

Slowly,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

imagined

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

transforming

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

visor.

Speaker:

Graphs

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

numbers

Speaker:

lit

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sides,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

auto

Speaker:

adjustment

Speaker:

zooming

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

screen

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

monster

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tomato

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a head

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

them.
He

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

squirt

Speaker:

bottle, his

Speaker:

trusty

Speaker:

dusty

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

blaster

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

aimed

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

barricade.

Speaker:

Each

Speaker:

boy

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

readied

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

weapons.

Speaker:

Barry

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

stool

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

gattling

Speaker:

gun,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

solider

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

metal

Speaker:

armor.

Speaker:

Garret

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

whisk

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

rifle,

Speaker:

dawned

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

recon

Speaker:

suit.
"Steady

Speaker:

boys.

Speaker:

Their

Speaker:

armor

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

strong,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

heads

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

soft

Speaker:

and'll

Speaker:

pop

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

cherry,"

Speaker:

Captain Zack Rodgers

Speaker:

warned,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sight

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

pistol.
They

Speaker:

waited,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aliens

Speaker:

charging

Speaker:

forward,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

range,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

fired

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

shot.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

green

Speaker:

bolt

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

energy

Speaker:

flew

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air,

Speaker:

whizzing

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

planet's dirt.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

hummed

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

whistle

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

ending

Speaker:

right in the center of a tomatotron's forehead. And sure

Speaker:

enough,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

alien's head

Speaker:

popped

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

spray

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

juices.
GLACK! GLACK!

Speaker:

GLACK!

Speaker:

GLACK!

Speaker:

GLACK! GLACK! GLACK!
The

Speaker:

leopard's

Speaker:

massive

Speaker:

gun

Speaker:

exploded

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

barrel,

Speaker:

spraying

Speaker:

huge

Speaker:

tungsten

Speaker:

rounds

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

enemy

Speaker:

combatants. Garret was more careful with his shots, aiming his

Speaker:

large

Speaker:

rifle

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

out tomatotrons

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

one.

Speaker:

Both

Speaker:

men

Speaker:

lurched

Speaker:

back behind

Speaker:

cover as the tomatotrons

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

use

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

weapons.
"Duck!"

Speaker:

Barry

Speaker:

shouted,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle.
Bullets

Speaker:

sang

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

barricade

Speaker:

rang

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

quick

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

thuds.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

gunfire

Speaker:

stopped,

Speaker:

guessing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aliens

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

reloading

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

weapons.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

opened

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

spotted

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dents

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

metal

Speaker:

barrier.

Speaker:

Just

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

inch

Speaker:

over his

Speaker:

muzzle was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hole where

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bullets

Speaker:

pierced

Speaker:

through.
His

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

immediately

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

advantage

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

situation.

Speaker:

While

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tomatotrons

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

busy reloading,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

boy’s

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

aim,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

unloading.

Speaker:

Most

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

collapsed,

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

tomato

Speaker:

heads

Speaker:

now a

Speaker:

spray

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tomato

Speaker:

juice

Speaker:

floating

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

atmosphere.

Speaker:

One

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aliens

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mad

Speaker:

dash

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain,

Speaker:

dodging

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

weaving

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

gunfire.
“GAH!”

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

Rodgers

Speaker:

screamed

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beast

Speaker:

tackled

Speaker:

him.
His

Speaker:

gun

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

knocked

Speaker:

out of his paw, and he was brought to

Speaker:

the ground,

Speaker:

tomatotron

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

other two

Speaker:

soldiers

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

busy

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hoard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

attend

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

fine

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

famous

Speaker:

Captain

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

Rodgers, an

Speaker:

expert

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

combat.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

lunged

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

snapping

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

needle like

Speaker:

teeth

Speaker:

towards his

Speaker:

muzzle.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

narrowly

Speaker:

dodging

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

awful

Speaker:

bite.
With

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

strength,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

alien’s body,

Speaker:

twisting

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

pinning

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

clasped

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

pistol, the

Speaker:

creature

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to snap

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

jaws

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Captian’s

Speaker:

throat,

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

receive

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mouthful

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

barrel

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

gun. “Hasta

Speaker:

la

Speaker:

salsa,

Speaker:

baby,"

Speaker:

Zack snapped, before

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

the trigger.
A

Speaker:

bolt

Speaker:

burst out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

creature’s

Speaker:

head.

Speaker:

Its

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

slack,

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

dropping

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor. Captain Zack

Speaker:

Rodgers turned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

crew,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

dealt

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aliens

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

own.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

lifted

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

gave them

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thumbs

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

Just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

though,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

grenade

Speaker:

landed

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

all.
“Toss

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

back!”

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

shouted,

Speaker:

getting

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fetal

Speaker:

position.
“Too

Speaker:

late!”

Speaker:

Garret

Speaker:

shouted,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

landed

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

explosive.

Speaker:

Almost

Speaker:

immediately,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

grenade

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

flopped

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

down in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sickening

Speaker:

thud.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

lay

Speaker:

limp

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground.
Captain Zack rushed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

side,

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

done.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

tongue hung

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

maw

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

tight

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

embrace.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

proximity

Speaker:

alarm

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

off,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

coming.
"For

Speaker:

Lieutenant

Speaker:

Garret!"

Speaker:

Zack,

Speaker:

shouted

Speaker:

waving

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

blaster

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head.
Barry

Speaker:

raised

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

gatling

Speaker:

gun

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

readying

Speaker:

himself. "For

Speaker:

Garret!"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

chimed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cry.
"Uhm,

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

interrupting

Speaker:

something?"
Zack

Speaker:

spun

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

and ears

Speaker:

hotter

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

he'd

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

in his

Speaker:

life.

Speaker:

Danny,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ferret

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

register. A

Speaker:

confused

Speaker:

awkward

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

hung

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle,

Speaker:

brow

Speaker:

cocked

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

bewilderment.
The

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

himself,

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

realizing

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

desert

Speaker:

planet

Speaker:

fighting

Speaker:

tomatotrons.

Speaker:

No,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

manager

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

freaking

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

restaurant

Speaker:

acting

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

total

Speaker:

goof.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

Garret,

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

best

Speaker:

impression

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

dead.

Speaker:

Barry

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

frozen,

Speaker:

stool

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

box

Speaker:

armor

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

broom

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

thrown

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor,

Speaker:

bursted

Speaker:

tomato

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

dribbling

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

it.
"Uh,

Speaker:

no?"

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

tossing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tin

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

recyclables

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

putting

Speaker:

the spray bottle

Speaker:

down. "They

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

dicking

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bit."
"Us?!?!"

Speaker:

Both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

cry

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

laugh.
Garret

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

helped

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Barry. The

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

chuckled

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

said, "Okay,

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

dicking

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

too."
Danny

Speaker:

worked

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

front,

Speaker:

wry

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle. "Is that what

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

guys

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

here?

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

application."
Zack's

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

grew

Speaker:

hot

Speaker:

as he

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the other

Speaker:

boy

Speaker:

approach him.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

lips

Speaker:

quivered

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said, "Oh

Speaker:

no.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then."
Garret ribbed at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bears

Speaker:

side. "Something

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do?"

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

with a

Speaker:

sly

Speaker:

grin.
Barry

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Danny

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile.

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

muzzle,

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cover

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

shame. "He's

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

mister

Speaker:

boss man.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

goofy

Speaker:

playing

Speaker:

make believe

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

Captain

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

Rodgers—"
"Guys,

Speaker:

please,"

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

pleaded

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

boys

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

the ferret and

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

clean

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

mess.
Danny

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

laugh

Speaker:

and got

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bear. "Sorry

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cancel,"

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

apologized.
The

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

teen

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

said, "It's

Speaker:

fine.

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

finish though?"
Zack

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

friends

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

nodding

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

heads

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

giving

Speaker:

him a

Speaker:

thumbs

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

clock,

Speaker:

seeing

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

hour

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

shift.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

shrugged

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

called

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

them. "If

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

guys

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

clean

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

fifteen

Speaker:

minutes,

Speaker:

we're

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

home

Speaker:

early!"
It

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

ten

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

Zack

Speaker:

locked

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

parking

Speaker:

lot

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ferret

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

side.
\



This

Speaker:

was “Dicking

Speaker:

Around”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Dirt

Speaker:

Coyote,

Speaker:

read for you

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

Werewolf

Speaker:

Hitchhiker.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

thevoice.dog,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

wherever

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

podcasts.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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Khaki