The Good Dog by Avi Read Free Book Online Page A

said, “Just because Dad taught you to open doors doesn’t mean you’re on your own. Come to school with me.”
    McKinley, head cocked, considered the boy. First he’s angry at me. Then he wants to play. Annoyed, McKinley went outside.
    â€œDon’t go far!” Jack shouted after him.
    The air was cooler and damper than before. Foggy in the mountains. McKinley understood what that meant: Snow would be coming soon.
    He lifted his nose and took in the smells. A whiff of cooking meat came from some houses. Cats were on their morning prowls. It was the day loud trucks came for the food people wished to share.
    McKinley padded to the end of the driveway to check if any messages had been left for him. Aspen, he noted, was out and long gone.
    With a sigh, McKinley trotted to the middle of the way and looked up and down. The neighborhood was as calm as usual. People were startingfrom their homes. A few pups were already heading for their daily gathering.
    McKinley peered back over his shoulder at Jack’s house. He knew the boy wanted him to come along. But it was Duchess who was mostly in McKinley’s mind. Human hunters were early risers. There was a good likelihood that the male Sullivan had already gone off, taking Redburn with him.
    Giving a low moan of impatience, McKinley took off with a quick bound. Jack would have to get to his gathering place without him. After all, he had called him dumb. He could almost hear what Lupin would make of that. Just thinking of it made McKinley tense.
    Halfway to Redburn’s house, McKinley heard a bark. He stopped and peered around. Tubbs, the basset hound, squirmed out from under some bushes, tail wagging.
    â€œMorning, McKinley!”
    He stood still while Tubbs trotted over. “Hey, McKinley, guess what?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThere’s this rumor going around town about a wolf coming down from the hills.”
    McKinley gazed at him. “No kidding?”
    â€œIt’s true. Ollie, from over on Garlic Smell Way, told me.”
    â€œDid Ollie see the wolf himself?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHey, Tubbs, don’t believe everything you hear.” With one wag of his tail, McKinley hurried away.
    The rumor worried him. News about Lupin would move fast. By dinnertime the whole dog pack would know about her. And they would turn to him to know what to do.
    But McKinley had no answers. Not about anything.
    He reached Redburn’s house the moment the front door opened and the setter loped into the yard. The male Sullivan followed. They were heading for a truck.
    Seeing McKinley, Redburn lifted a bristling tail and barked vigorously.
    McKinley ignored him, but he was thinking.Redburn could not track Duchess from a truck. He would have to start from Pycraft’s house. Yes, that was where they were probably going.
    With an impulsive, angry bark, McKinley wheeled about and galloped away toward Horse Smell Way. This was no time for questions that had no answers. The best, and easiest, thing to do was to get to Duchess first and help her get away.

11
    L ong and looping, Horse Smell Way led over a high ridge, sweeping in and around a part of town crowded with new houses. Usually the way provided a fine view of the mountains but the morning’s fog made it hard to see.
    Moving at a steady trot, McKinley kept to the side of the way, not wanting to be surprised by car, bicycle, or human runner.
    As he crested the top of the ridge, he heard barking. Pausing, he peered into the fog and sniffed. It was Nemo, a wiry spaniel whose house stood some distance from the others’. Nemo’shumans did not like him playing with the rest of the pack.
    Nemo stood in the middle of the way, holding to a respectful stance. McKinley, as head dog, paused, allowing himself to be sniffed.
    â€œHow come you’re up here?” Nemo wanted to know once formal greetings were complete.
    â€œHeading for Strawberry Park.”
    Nemo’s ears