Wolf Stalker Read Free Page B

it, Gary. I paid five hundred dollars for that dog when he was a pup. After I trained him to hunt, he was worth a whole lot more than that. Rex was the best hunting dog I ever owned. That wolf pack ran him down and ripped him up, and there was nothin’ I could do to save him. People better start being careful—before you know it, wolves’ll be snatching your dogs off your front porch and babies outta their—”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous!” Olivia was getting more upset. “Wolves don’t—”
    â€œTake it easy.” Steven reached out his hand to calm her, then turned the radio louder.
    â€œMr. Campbell, there’s been some question about Rex being found inside Yellowstone Park. Just so our listeners understand, dogs are allowed in Gallatin National Forest, where you said you were, but no dog is allowed to roam Yellowstone’s back country. Not even on a leash.”
    â€œYeah, but see, Gary, I wasn’t in the park until after the wolves chased Rex across the boundary. I mean, I was close to Yellowstone, you know? Maybe even real close. But it was the wolves’ fault Rex ran into the park. They chased him, and then they killed him.”
    Another click, and then the announcer said, “Okay, folks, that was last night. Now it’s Saturday afternoon, we’re on the air live, and all our lines are open. Just pick up your phones and punch in JJK-TALK. Remember, the JJ stands for Judge and Jury, and that means all of you great folks out there in our listening audience.”
    There was the sound of a ringing phone, followed by, “Here’s our first caller: Martha from Billings. This is JJK-Talk Radio, Martha. Go ahead.”
    â€œWell….” A woman’s voice crackled over the radio. “Uh—am I on the air, Gary?”
    â€œYou sure are, Martha. Go ahead.”
    â€œWell, I just want to say, those vicious wolves are the Adolf Hitler of the animal kingdom. I’m scared to let my kids stand on the corner to wait for the school bus anymore. Like Mr. Campbell said, what if a wolf or a whole pack of those killer wolves came running out of Yellowstone? No one is safe.”
    â€œAll right, thanks for calling in, Martha. Let’s get another opinion. This next caller is Larry from Pocatello. Larry’s with a group that is picketing at Yellowstone right now to protest the wolves. That’s pro- test , folks, not pro-tect! Go ahead, Larry. Tell us what you think.”
    In a deep, deliberate voice, the new caller declared, “When this country was founded, it was the people who decided what was done and what wasn’t. Now everything’s run by the government. A bunch of Washington suits sat down with some tree huggers and dictated that killer wolves should come back into our national park.”
    â€œSo what’s your point, Larry? Can you sum it up?” the announcer asked.
    â€œThe point is—the government’s cramming this wolf thing down the regular citizens’ throats. People, we don’t have to take it! We got to unite and rid Yellowstone Park of those bloodthirsty wolves before it’s too late!”
    More phones rang in the background as the announcer asked, “Just how do you suggest we do that, Larry?”
    â€œIf I could, I’d say, ‘Men, take up your rifles and go into Yellowstone and—’”
    â€œI can’t stand it!” Olivia cried, snapping off the radio. “How can people talk so crazy and get so worked up over this kind of hysterical propaganda?”
    In the backseat, Troy glanced from Olivia to Steven and back again. For once, he seemed interested in what was going on.
    â€œJust wait till we get to the site of the so-called wolf attack, Steven,” Olivia vowed. “I’m going to reconstruct what happened with that dog. I have a feeling there’s more to it than George Campbell is telling.”
    â€œYou’ll find out the truth,