The Empty City Read Free Page A

the Trap House, too?” Sweet asked.
    â€œMe?” said Lucky lightly, trying to cheer her up. “No thanks. I’m a Lone Dog.”
    Sweet gave him an odd glance. “There’s no such thing. Every dog needs a Pack!”
    â€œNot me. I like being on my own. I mean, I’m sure a Pack’s best for some dogs,” he added hurriedly to spare her feelings, “but I’ve walked alone since I left my Pup Pack.” He couldn’t repress the proud lift of his head. “I can look after myself. There’s no better place for a dog than the city. I’ll show you! There’s food for the finding, and warm crannies to sleep in, and shelter from the rain—”
    But is that still true?
    For a moment he hesitated, letting his eyes rove over the smashed streets, the shattered walls and broken clear-stones, the tilting roads and abandoned loudcages. This isn’t safe , Lucky thought. We need to get out of here as soon as we can .
    Not that he was going to share that fear with Sweet; she was already so anxious. If only there were some distraction—
    There!
    Lucky gave a high bark of excitement. They’d turned a corner, and right in the road was another wreck. Lucky scented— food !
    He broke into a run, leaping in delight onto the side of the huge overturned metal box. He’d seen longpaws throwing things they didn’t want into these, locking them afterward so that Lucky was never able to feast on the unwanted food. But now the box was on its side, the half-rotten contents spilled out across the ground. Black crows were hopping and jabbing around the piles. Lucky held his head high and barked as loud as he could. The crows cawed, alarmed, as they half fluttered away.
    â€œCome on!” he yelled, springing into the stinking pile. Sweet followed, barking happily.
    As Lucky nosed his way through the mound of scraps, he heard the dull fluttering of wings as the crows descended again. He leaped and snapped his jaws at an indignant bird and it darted into the air, its wings beating strongly.
    Lucky sent a final snarl after the departing crow as he landed back on the ground, his paws skidding in the dirt. Immediately his wounded pad howled with pain. It was like the fangs of the most vicious dog, biting all the way up his leg. He couldn’t hold back his whimper of distress.
    As Sweet dashed through the cloud of crows, chasing them clear, Lucky sat down and licked the hurt away. He eagerly sniffed the air, enjoying the scent coming off the piles of discarded items that had spilled out across the ground. Contentment began to settle over him again, and he was distracted from his pain.
    For a while the happy mood lingered as Lucky and Sweet snuffed out the delicacies the crows had left. Sweet pulled chicken bones from a cardboard bucket, and Lucky found a crust of bread, but the pickings were poor, especially after they’d worked up such an appetite.
    â€œWe’re going to starve in this city.” Sweet whined, licking an empty box that had once held some food. She pinned it down with one paw as she poked her nose inside.
    â€œI promise we won’t. It’s not all scavenging.” Lucky’s mind was flooded with an image of a place he used to visit. He nudged Sweet’s flank affectionately. “I’ll take you somewhere where we’ll eat like Leashed Dogs.”
    Sweet’s ears pricked up. “Really?”
    â€œReally. This place will change your mind about cities.”
    Lucky trotted confidently down the road, his mouth already watering at the prospect of food. Sweet was right behind him. It was strange how happy he was with her company, how much he liked being able to help her. Usually by now, he’d be itching for solitude, but … he wasn’t.
    Maybe the Big Growl had changed more than just the city.

CHAPTER TWO
    Sweet pressed close to Lucky’s side as they walked through the deserted streets.
    He had expected to