Mortal Enemies
Just as Id lain down for a quick afternoon nap, a wild bark thundered through my open window, jolting me up. Max, my dog, is usually the quiet type, but not today; hed been raising hell since dawn, barking as if possessed. Not the usual protective noise, but a frenzied outburst that rattled the garden.
Id already dashed outside a couple of times, but never saw anything suspicious. Maybe the neighbours dogs again, I thought. Max doesnt tolerate others anywhere near “his” patch. No surprise then, when I checked, whoever was causing the fuss had already scarpered. With a bark that fierce, anyone or any dog would leg it.
Max, or Beast, as I sometimes call him, sat penned in his run; kept there during the day for peace and quiet, set loose only as dusk fell. Thats when the stakes were realI always warned intruders, “You come after dark, its your own fault!”
Once, three hapless thieves from the next village tried their luck. Long story short: one left his trousers hooked on the spiked gate, another, a trainer caught under the fence, and the third climbed a tree all the way to the top. The police even had to summon the fire brigade to rescue him, he was so petrified. Max taught them a lesson theyll never forget.
The thing was, Max never barked without reason. Yet today, he was off his rocker.
“Come on, Max, pack it in!” I shouted, dragging myself from the warmth of my bed and stomping to the window.
He fell silent for all of ten seconds before the barking resumed, more ferocious than ever.
I had no choice but to head out and get to the bottom of what had rattled my enormous English Mastiff.
Predictably, the garden was deserted. With a sheepish glance, Max settled down as soon as I approached the run.
“Whats all this about, eh?” I grinned, ambling up to him.
With a guilty wag of his hefty tail, Max locked eyes with me, sorry for disturbing my rest but that, as always, there was a reason.
Again, Max turned his head towards the gate and gave a furious round of barking.
I turned just in time to see a streak of grey flash away at lightning pace. Running to the gate, I burst onto the street and there he was a run-of-the-mill street cat.
But not just any catthis one stared right back with brazen, cocksure eyes.
“And what do you think youre doing, mate?” I snorted. “Take it from me, best not to hang around. My Max can’t abide cats. If he catches you…”
The cat scrunched his nose in open disdain, and for a moment I couldve sworn he smirked.
His look said, Catch me? He wouldnt be out that run before Im over the fence. You need to lay off his dinners, mate.
I felt a small pang of embarrassmentthis scruffy moggy had put my dog in his place without a single word.
Off you go then! I waved the cat away, before heading back and latching the gate.
Did the cat listen? Not a chance. If anything, Grey (I started calling him that) became a regular feature.
Hed stroll boldly about the garden, park himself right by Maxs run like he owned the place, and Max, in return, could do nothing but bark. At first, Id chase Grey off myself, but as soon as I stepped inside, hed be back, almost daring me to try again.
I couldnt win. Grey, basking in small victories, acted as if crowned king of the patch.
One afternoon, he even swiped a slab of meat from Maxs bowl which, mind you, was inside the run. Max lay in the corner, exhausted from barking, so Grey sauntered in and pinched the lot. The cheek! He then had the nerve to munch it right in Maxs line of sight.
That scene, I watched happen. Fury bubbled up inside me.
“Thats it then…” I muttered. Youll regret crossing my mutt.
I hatched a plan: Id leave the run door just barely ajar, the latch off, so Max could push his way out if need be. Let him sort it!
Yet the day Max and I waited, Grey never showed. Sensed the trap, maybe, or karma finally caught up. In fact, he vanished for days.
Max gazed at me with confusion, and all I could do was shrug.
“Maybe its for the best, Max, eh? Its quiet now, peaceful,” I said, attempting a small smile.
Truthfully? I missed the furry menace. Mad, but there it was. Max seemed lost, unused to such tranquility, his days suddenly dull.
After a few days, Max started gazing at me with questioning eyes as if asking for a search party.
“Think somethings happened to our Grey?” I wondered out loud. With that attitude of his, I wouldnt be surprised. But, for peace of mind, I agreed: “Lets go have a look down the road.”
We wandered past hedges white with hawthorn, Max sniffing the air for a whiff of Greys unique scent not easy, competing with the lingering pong from Mr. Jenkins manure heap next door.
We reached the end and turned back. Just as I latched the gate, a racket exploded down the waycat yowls and frantic dog barks. Then, the grey flash tore down the lane, clearly limping, a patch of fur stained brown. Hot on his tail, a city-bred Dobermann, pedigree and all, gave chase.
I recognised the dog instantly; the family from London brought him down every summer. Grey must’ve gotten cocky, trying his games on a townieonly to receive a bite for his trouble.
While I gawped at the oncoming drama, I forgot about Max. Acting wholly on impulse, Max charged; no commands, no hesitation.
“Max! Stop!” I shouted, picturing carnageGrey had already been battered by Dobermann, now my own brute would finish the job.
Ignoring me, Max barrelled straight for the confrontation. Grey, petrified, froze in the road. He mustve realised how close he was to his ninth life.
But Max just sniffed him, then, with a growl deep enough to make your bones shake, hurled himself at the Dobermann, chasing him all the way out the lane. The city dog was fast, thank heavens, and skulked away with his tail between his legs once Max roared.
Grey vanished the moment the coast was clear. Only when evening fell, as I stepped outside with Maxs dinner, did I spot himalive, well (mostly) and with gratitude in his eyes. He pressed his head to Maxs flank and purred, as if to say thanks.
Max glanced up at me, tail thumping. “Sorry, mate, but I saved himnow Im responsible,” his look seemed to say. And he meant it.
From then on, Max treated Grey as his ward, even allowing him dinner from his own bowl an unthinkable act for my usually gruff hound. Somehow, the ice had melted. They werent enemies any longer, but friends.
Youd think that was the end, but not quite.
Concerned about Greys leg, I bundled us both into the car for a trip to the vet in Norwich. The wound was serious, so stitches were needed. After that, there was no questionGrey would stay until he healed, and perhaps beyond. Max kept watch, and I did too; quite a turn from days past, where murder seemed more likely than mercy.
A week or so later, a stunning young woman came to the gate. Max barked, but just a couple of times, not wanting to frighten her. I came out.
“Er, hello,” she stammered. “I wonder you havent seen a grey cat about, have you? My Percys gone missing. Hes got a habit of running offI moved here to care for Mum after her stroke. Percys used to the flat in London, but here, I suppose, the countrys gotten to his head.”
I think I might know where your Percys gotten to, I smiled. Come on in. Dont mind Maxhe wont bite. See for yourself.
She hesitated. But, judging me trustworthy enough, stepped through to the garden. The sight of Percybandaged up and curled next to Maxmade her gasp.
“Percy! What have you been up to?” Panic laced her voice as she saw his leg.
“My dog didn’t hurt him, if thats what youre thinking,” I said quickly. “Seems we ended up rescuing him instead.”
She wanted the full story. And so, as we chatted, I found out her nameEmilyand watched as she dissolved into laughter hearing about Percys capers.
“Unbelievable,” she giggled. “My Percy tormented you for weeks, and you save him anyway!”
Thats Max and mebig-hearted softies, really, I replied. But you see, now Percys on the mend. Hes grown quite loveable. And even Max agrees.
Country air mustve got to him, Emily mused. And I suppose Ive been too busy with Mum. Cares slow-going, but were getting there.
“You’re always welcome for tea,” I offered, sheepishly. Bring Percy along.
I just might, she said, smiling.
Six months later, the entire village turned out for our wedding. Emily and mePercy and Max sharing the limelight, naturally. Even the Dobermann camewith his family, glancing sideways at Percy but thinking better of tangling with our pair. And that, as they say, is that.
