Genevieve and the Two Scotties by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Chapter 6

Genevieve and Pablo entered bordering Bunny Park. It seemed empty just prior to daybreak, but that would also have made it a very good hiding place for two black Scottish terriers who wanted not to be found. They went through an opening in the densely packed trees and down a gradually dropping fifty foot hill. They came upon open land with a smattering of mature trees; winter or late autumnal in appearance. They were completely devoid of branch leaves. There was no longer any meaningful dissimilarity between the substantially dry and still clinging hopefuls with the faint and dying juveniles showing remnants of red, gold, or purple. They all congregated in undistinguished clusters on the ground which continued to lead bit by bit, gently down.

Genevieve and Pablo followed the downward slope into the unfenced field with increasing ease as the sun appeared behind them and started to illuminate the area. The half-moon remained visible in the sky in a showing that could fairly be characterized to a westerner as a generally un-noticed eastern mysticism or esotericism; through simultaneously being both the expected original and the unexpected, magical invention.

At some point their trek slowed, as it was underwritten by the brittle, bothersome, tan blades they had to tolerate

Genevieve and the Two Scotties Page 42

underfoot and sometimes overhead. In season, the natural beauty of the common grass was not ever mowed. Off season, some of it now extended two feet skyward; making their walk both plodding and short sighted, if not blinding.

Then they saw it. This had to be the unmistakable “one story ranch” they had heard of. Then, plop, plop, and a rude bottom bonk. Genevieve and Pablo no longer saw the ranch, as they had fallen through some sort of grassy covering over a well disguised excavation in the earth. Both on their feet and unharmed by the tumble; Genevieve said; “The rabbits are getting bigger and more considerate these days.”

Pablo said; “We can hop back out easily.”

Genevieve said; “Why not try this a while. It looks like a good hiding spot.”

Pablo nodded and they walked. The light was filtered, but sufficiently floodlit as if the underground shelter had been fitted with watermarked skylights. They interspersed their concerns for sound footing with a curiosity about what might be splitting the darkness over their heads. Neither saw anything but dirt, apparently illuminated from some source undetectable to them.

In looking up they caught each other’s eye, and Pablo shrugged.

Genevieve and the Two Scotties

Page 43

Genevieve shrugged too, but added; “Glad it’s there; whatever it is.”

They turned a sharp bend and heard; “I do that all the time.” In a dark spot, they saw a dog sitting at a series of wheels. As he turned the crank the wheels went around, producing paper money. Near him was a gigantic stack of hundred dollar bills.

Dog on wheels; property of the author.

The wheel-dog called out; “Come on over here. I’ll show you something much more interesting than any immaterial mystery.”

Genevieve and Pablo walked over to the elderly, well-groomed caller.

Pablo said; “You’re right. I’ve never seen such a big pile of that green stuff.”

Genevieve and the Two Scotties Page 44

Genevieve said; “I may be being overly picky here; but I wouldn’t use the word interesting. It seems more like an

........ like a ....... peculiar aberration. Please pardon my lack of precise eloquence.”

The wheel-dog indicated no interest in addressing Genevieve’s attempt at fine tuning. With an air of boredom mixed with confidence, he looked directly into her eyes and said; “I’m Mark and I can give you all you can carry out.”

Genevieve was confused, but wanted to remain polite. She said; “That’s very tempting, but I’m not trying to get out of here. Tell me, have you seen two black Scotties?”

Mark said; “Wow. That doesn’t happen often. Black Scotties?

Sure. Many. Many. Brown boxers. Black Rotts. White Pugs. You name it. ....... All shapes and sizes.“ He slyly chuckled as if he had just heard a candidate for the dumbest of all possible questions, and at the same time wanted to stifle that possible interpretation, in a business-like recognition that some pooches require some sort of indirect justification for their actions.

Mark continued; “Be assured that it is quite the socially acceptable rage. Always was and always will be. It has withstood the test of time, as it never goes out of style. Do you have any idea of how much you can carry out of here? You could fill your pockets, hands and mouths.” Mark gestured toward Pablo with his head and said; “Him too.”

Genevieve and the Two Scotties Page 45

Pablo said; “I don’t have pockets or hands.”

Genevieve added; “And I don’t want to risk choking. The two Scotties I was talking about go by the names of Billy and Jack; and they’re something like cops.”

Mark said; “I never catch any names; and hey, I’m protected here. Cops can’t touch me.”

Pablo asked; “How long have you been down here?”

Mark said; “Since Alexander Hamilton was president. Great man. Don’t make them like that anymore.”

Genevieve said; “That’s for sure. Now they’re the equivalent of a card game joker. ....... After all this time, can’t you just take the money and leave?”

Mark said; “Sure, I could. I think. But I want more. Guys like you keep coming through here and taking piles of it.”

Genevieve said; “Then why do you give the ‘piles’ to them?”

Incredulous, Mark said; “It’s my job,” as if it should have been understood without asking.

Genevieve and Pablo looked at each other. Each interpreted the other’s facial expression perfectly. They simultaneously said; “Thank you,” and walked on.

Mark shrugged and once again got the wheels moving. He said; “You’ll be back.”

Genevieve and Pablo were getting in deeper. The ground underpaws became increasingly moist, making slides common. They

Genevieve and the Two Scotties

Page 46

actually enjoyed it. Since there was little or no risk of falling with four paws of stability, they began to play. They’d get a running start and then slide; often coming to a stop after a complete 180 left them facing where they had come from.

A fork in the path demanded their attention. To their left it looked it would be more of the same. But, to their right was something quite different. It was gated and visibly contained other creatures. Pablo tried the gate and it opened easily. He shut it back tight when he saw five black, growling and salivating Dobermans, each with lots of big teeth, start toward Genevieve and him; sufficiently impeded only by the lack of traction their paws could find on a muddy surface.

Toothesome dobermans; property of the author.

Genevieve said; “I think left might be a better choice.”

Genevieve and the Two Scotties

Page 47

Pablo said; “You’ve convinced me. Would you look at that?”

Genevieve said; “Keep looking. It gets worse.”

Three two foot long, black and white hawks circled the air in an unsettled, agitated way, confined and hungry. The edges of their beaks flashed intermittent, lurid replicas of what there was of light in their area of confinement, as those beaks were made of sharpened razors.

Three hawks; property of the author.

The two lions scared Pablo the most. Their faces showed no emotion whatsoever. They were merely ready to do business; the business of killing. Their roars came from elsewhere and their manes were tinted with the pink of fading blood.

Genevieve and the Two Scotties

Page 48

Lions; property of the author.

Genevieve and Pablo were compelled to take another look into the area. She said; “It’s weird how we find this horror fascinating?”

Pablo said; “Not to me. If it wasn’t it wouldn’t be all over movies and books.”

Genevieve said; “This isn’t a movie or a book. ..... Not yet anyway.”

They looked and saw about a hundred inch long black and red ants on the floor. Some were fighting, and some were already dead from it. Toward the back was a three-headed, four-legged creature devoid of color. It looked something like a dog born both albino and freakishly deformed. It must have also been devoid of blood, as its veins were rather obvious on the surface, yet they must have been ornamentally devised, as they were monochromatically uniform. The awkward being stood atop a black pedestal, which coincided with a wall, and contained gold

Genevieve and the Two Scotties

Page 49

letters saying “Cerberus.” It was clear that this beast was the one in charge, as it did nothing, but make an easily detectable charade of being fierce, while barking out contradictory commands which confounded those condemned to listen to them; much like any senior politician.

Cerberus; property of the author.

Head one said; “Take positions at the back door.”

Head two said; “Go to the front door and take them as soon as they come in.”

Head three said; “Lions to the front; Dobermans to the back; everyone else in the center.”

The beasts were confused, no longer paid any attention to Genevieve and Pablo, stopped in their tracks and looked at Cerberus for clarification.

Genevieve and the Two Scotties Page 50

It was now or never. Pablo let go of the gate, and ushered Genevieve to the left fork. He looked around, wary of having to encounter an escaped nemesis.

“Whooooooo,” she declared in a surprised, but not disparaging voice.

“Sorry,” he said. I thought it was best to get out of there before they regrouped and got their act together.”

Genevieve said; “I’m sure that you were right. Now, we’ll see what’s on this side.”

They walked for a bit, in time completely forgetting about Cerberus, the lions, the vicious dogs, and the whole caged scenario. They resumed their play, sliding in the mud underfoot; this time bumping into each other and laughing as they fell down in the mud. Their white coats became mostly brown, despite the shake-offs which always sprayed their uncomplaining companion.

Their coats remained largely as the mud had left them as much of his shake off landed on her; and much of her shake off landed on him.

After a slight bend in their leftward path, they saw something which wasn’t as initially disturbing as the gated slaughterers and their incomprehensible and confusing, sham master.

Genevieve and the Two Scotties

Page 51