Unleashed! Read Free Page B

studying karate and kendo, the art of swordsmanship, had paid off. She stared down her opponent.
    Defeated, Clem went back to the window. Her voice was deep, like a growl, as she warned, ‘Next time, Mio, you won’t stop me.’
    The man stepped backwards. He ordered the dog to ‘Come!’ Instead of following its owner the dog bounded away. At a safe distance it started running in circles.
    ‘Clever dog,’ said Clem with a laugh, then she added, ’Beagles are very intelligent, you know. Their problem-solving skills are legendary. I read it in my Dog Breeds Around the World book.’ She watched as the dog scampered to a plastic play tunnel and disappeared.
    The man gave chase. But by the time he reached the tunnel the dog was no longer there. ‘Come back!’ called the man as he ran from frame to tunnel to slide. ‘Come back, you lazy mongrel.’ He hurled the lead at the dog, missing by a centimetre.
    Clem couldn’t help herself. She strode out of The Van and moved to the wire fence surrounding the park.
    ‘Clem!’ called Darcy but she ignored him.
    ‘Come back!’
    Clem ignored Mio, too. Living with five brothers, she’d learnt the art of selective deafness.
    ‘Oi!’ the man called to Clem. ‘You seen my dog?’
    ‘What’s it look like?’ asked Clem, stalling for time and hoping the dog was long gone.
    ‘A no-good, lazy beagle.’ The man scooped up the lead and wrapped it around his hand, saying, ‘I’m tryin’ to train the mutt.’
    Before Clem answered, a bark could be heard. The dog had wriggled through a hole in the fence and was behind The Van.
    ‘Get ’er!’ yelled the man as he charged towards the fence.
    Clem lunged, but as she went one way the dog went the other.
    The man slammed the lead on the fence, yelling, ‘Dumb dog!’ But the dog wasn’t dumb. It dashed into The Van, stole the bag of leftover bread, then bounded outside carrying it like a trophy.
    The man scaled the fence and leapt onto the footpath beside Clem.
    Darcy, Mio and Bryce froze, hoping the man didn’t look in. They heard little yip-yapping sounds as the dog tried to rip the plastic to get to the bread. The man grabbed for it, but missed, and the dog took off, dropping the bag and scattering the bread, before heading down the alley.
    The man swore then gave chase. His body lurched as he ran. His face was a purply-red. ‘Come back, or you’ll be minced meat.’
    Clem watched the dog, praying for it to escape. The man tried to run down the alley but he lost his breath and had to walk. Mio, Darcy and Bryce joined Clem at the fence. They watched and waited. But neither the dog nor the trainer returned.
    Clem crumpled against the fence, saying, ‘It’s such a cutie and he’s so horrible. It deserves better.’
    ‘I hate to think what he’ll do to it when he finds it.’ Lost in thought Darcy sucked at the scrape inhis hand. It had stopped bleeding but still smarted.
    ‘D’you think he’d really turn it into minced meat?’ asked Clem, her voice crackly as she fought off tears.
    ‘Course not.’ But the smile had left Darcy’s face.
    The kids retrieved the half-empty bag then went back to The Van. Their mood was glum. In the distance they heard a mother scolding a child and the sound of traffic snuffling past.
    Clem flopped against the door, saying, ‘I can’t stomach food.’ But as she was about to offer her slice to Darcy it was snatched out of her hand. ‘Hey!’ She whirled around. The beagle stood at a safe distance, gulping Clem’s bread.
    ‘It’s picked up the scent,’ said Clem. ‘See? How smart is that.’ She crouched down and held out her hand, but as she reached for a pat the dog leapt, snatched Mio’s bread too, and gobbled it down.
    ‘Oy,’ gasped Mio. Her mouth hung open, doing a pretty good stunned fish impersonation.
    ‘Bread napper,’ called Bryce. ‘A fellow crim. I’m impressed.’
    ‘You’re not a crim, Bryce,’ said Clem. ‘Just an over-enthusiastic artist.’
    Bryce