If not for his scene earlier with the large man, Oreo might not be here at all. His cage had been relocated to this smaller room. Along one side stood a small operating table, prepared with various surgical instruments. The goat planned on giving the doctor no satisfaction, no matter what the man threatened.
“You know, I spent a long time trying to figure out why my compound didn’t work. It was over a year of constant study,” the doctor started pacing around the cage. Oreo didn’t move.
“I was finally sent into retirement, labeled as a failure,” the man tapped the cage as he circled it. The goat still didn’t stir.
“I think it was not so much that I hadn’t figured out why the chemical compound was not accelerating the growth of the animals I injected it into, it was the fact that I dissected every single one of them,” he stopped and turned, looking directly at the goat.
“Every, single, one.”
Oreo kept his eyes open, staring bravely at the table.
“I was prepared though, it never got to me thinking about tearing those families apart, one member at a time. It must have been terrible. Looking back, I wonder if some of them had responded to the treatment. Maybe they were crying inside.”
Dr. Fudge continued walking.
“What if every single one of the animals that I hacked to bits had realized that it was going to happen to them? Would they have tried harder to speak? Would they have fought back? Would they have done anything to protect their companions? Their loved ones?”
The man came around to the front of the cage, waving his hand in front of the goat. Oreo refused to budge. “It was only science to me then. Now I’ve had such a long time to think about it.” He placed his hands squarely on the cage. “I am much more excited about pulling you apart.”
The doctor screamed at the goat. “Why won’t you talk to me?" He shook the cage, kicking at it with his feet. "Why won’t you answer my questions?”
He stepped back and brushed his ruffled hair down. The doctor turned to a small monitor and a video player that had been brought in. He played the footage for the goat. It showed him earlier in the main room when they were being sorted. He was bashing at his cage screaming. Oreo could faintly hear his own voice.
The doctor paused the player; the goat’s forelimbs were frozen against the cage. Oreo still would not move.
“I wish there was another way. I truly do.”
The goat’s legs were weakening. He had done his best to keep himself standing, but the aching in his knees was growing more rapidly. He redoubled himself; not allowing his captor to see any ounce of weakness. He had resolved to delay him as long as possible, even if for no other reason than to extend his family’s life.
“You know I am going to take you apart. Regardless of if you talk to me,” the doctor bent over the TV a moment and pressed another button. The screen changed showing the warehouse that housed his family.
“But if you help me, it might save some of them.”
Oreo's knees were tearing at his will far more than the doctor’s droning. The goat felt his body start to tremble. Days of malnutrition and little water, virtually no sleep. It was outside of his control. Oreo laid his weary body down on the cage floor.
“Taking this in stride I see,” the doctor turned to the table behind him and seized an injection gun. It had already been loaded. He checked the gauge. It read ten cc.
“Well, it’s fine. I’ll take you each one by one, and get what I need. You are just a small part of the process. It will be a shame to know that the first generation of genetically altered super animals that I constructed will have no quotes in the history books.”
Oreo tucked his head down onto his leg and didn’t give the man any more of his attention. He was delighted that in his last moments he was causing this horrid man grief. He only wished that he had been able to break free, to liberate the others.
He thought back to the farm, to Sparky. He hoped that at least he would survive. One of them could find some happiness outside of confinement. One of their herd would not be condemned to die in a lab. If there was any chance that his old friend was out there, he prayed that he would find them, and free them, if nothing else, that Sparky would stay free.
“Do you have anything you would like to say before I end this?” The doctor leaned in with the needle. Oreo raised his head.
In the monitor the goat caught sight of Princess. He couldn’t see Blossom, but he wished that he could one last time. The camera didn’t move; the image stayed static. Oreo looked directly at the doctor for the first time.
Dr. Fudge was so excited that he was starting to respond. There with the needle in hand the goat would have no choice but to speak, the animal must be terrified. Any sentient creature would defend itself to the last. He waited patiently while the goat stared directly into his eyes.
“Final words?” Dr. Fudge threatened with the device again.
Oreo didn’t have an ounce of fear. “Mahh.”
Chapter 80
“She is the most beautiful lady in the whole wide world. Everything is perfect. The way the sun flecks off the gentle white fur above her brow. She moves with grace and poise, the way she walks, the way her lips move. Oh, I can see her now. And she is an excellent mother, always fawning over the kids, even when they are being little trouble makers.”
Basil’s food growled from within the confines of his stomach, taunting him. The highway was all but empty in the early morning hours.
“You are talking about a goat?” It sounded like a missing episode of My Little Pony.
“Yes, I am. And let me remind you not just any goat, the best of the best of the best,” Sparky caught sight of Frank in the rear view mirror. He was sitting straight up in the back seat and staring at the new passenger.
“Hey Frank, glad you could join us,” Sparky said.
Basil turned around to check on the dog from the passenger seat. Frank sprang on him. Basil let loose a shrill cry. Frank went for the weak spots, slapping Basil in the face and biting at his neck. Basil forced Frank back with all his might, safeguarding his jugular. Sparky tried to pull Frank away, but the canine knew no surrender.
“Frank, Frank!” Sparky's shouting did nothing to deter the dog.
Basil became a wild flurry of arms. “Get the hell off my face!”
Sparky veered the car off the highway forcing it to a stop. He seized Frank in his hooves, while the dog struggled for an opening to wound the intruder.
Basil backed against the passenger door, wide eyed and huffing. He touched a hand to his tender face.
“I’m bleeding! You bit me, you bastard!”
Basil lurched over, wrapping his hands around the dog’s neck. Sparky lost his hold. Frank shook loose of Basil’s grip. The angry dog dove into Basil's lap, biting.
Basil’s scream vibrated the car.
Sparky clutched at Frank’s front legs and held him at bay. Basil was doubled over in pain.
“Frank, let him be, it’s okay.”
“What, what?” Frank said between his pants.
Sparky tugged harder as the dog squirmed. “I made a deal with him. He’s going to help us.”
“He shoots me and you make a deal with him? I didn’t make a deal.” Frank growled.
Basil yelped and clawed at the window. Frank’s face went blank. Sparky eased his grip and set the mutt down. As soon as the dog hit the seat, he exploded in laughter. Basil narrowed his eyes at the dog, aching to avenge the damage done.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“Sorry, it’s just the smell of urine. Always makes me laugh.”
Basil moved his legs toward the door trying to hide his wet pants. His glare narrowed even more at the laughing dog.
“He’s going to help us get my family. He’s not going to hurt us," Sparky said.
Frank kept his cold stare on the detective. “You trust him?”
“Yes, I do.” Sparky still had one hoof on the dog's neck.
?
??Well damn, don’t ruffle the feathers.” Frank shook himself off as if he had been doused with water.
“So you’re going to help us? How much did you offer him, two hundred bucks?” Frank asked.
Sparky revisited the agreement in his mind. “Something like that.”
“Crooked cop. I get it. Don’t think I don’t have my eye on you though.” Frank extended his right paw at Basil to emphasize his point.
The dog sat on the front seat between the man and the goat, looking back and forth between the two of them for a few moments. Frank wasn’t sure he was willing to ride along with Basil. He felt very uncomfortable traveling a long distance with a man who had shot him. It gave him a strong itching, burning feeling deep down under his left hind leg.
As he thought about it, Frank realized that the itching and burning was more familiar than hatred. It was much darker than mistrust. It was much more evil than any man could ever be. “Damned fleas!”
“I thought we used that medicine stuff?”
“Sometimes need, a little, more.” Frank was jabbing at himself with his snout.
“You can’t be serious,” Basil said.
Both Frank and Sparky turned their eyes to him. Neither spoke. From the expression they were jointly giving him, the man knew it was better to leave it alone. He had never owned a pet that carried fleas, nor had they ever accosted him personally. Basil would give them the benefit of the doubt, for now.
“Okay, so can we get going?” Basil wiped at his fur sprinkled pants.
“Not until you’re gone.” Frank's tone was adamant.
Basil crossed his arms. “I have a deal with your goat here. I’m not leaving.”
Sparky put his hoof back on the dog’s neck. “If we boot him, he’ll expose us. Both of us.”
“Blackmail, eh?” Frank squinted at the detective. “Sounds like a reason to kill a man, what do you say goat?”
“I’m not having it on my conscience that I killed a reasonably innocent man. Besides Frank, it might be handy to have a real human along.”
Frank sunk in his chair. “Wait, we’re a team! You’re 'The Goat'! I’m your canine companion! What does this human bring to the team?”
Sparky sighed. “I think you’re blowing this out of proportion.”
“So all the superhero stuff... was fake?” Frank looked up with swollen puppy eyes. “I, I-”
Sparky was lost for words.
"And the other animals we saved? Were they not important either?” Frank continued.
“Well, that’s-”
Frank's emotion was completely genuine. Sparky knew it was something that wasn’t common in him.
“Your mutt is crazy,” Basil rolled his eyes.
Sparky looked down at the doe-eyed animal and sighed. He looked at Basil. “So, what do you bring to the team?”
Chapter 81
With his passengers finally asleep, Sparky had a few moments of quiet time. Frank’s yapping and Basil’s complaining had been very detrimental to his stress level. Despite Sparky's kinship with the dog and his deal with the man, it was simply due to the fact that he lacked a killer instinct that both of them were still in good health.
Basil had stretched out in the back seat after losing the argument that his being human was its own benefit to the team. Frank wouldn’t hear it. He had insisted that as the new guy, Basil would have to surrender the front seat. Although Basil resisted, Sparky refused to continue until Basil agreed.
The goat looked down and studied the clock. The sun would be up soon. It should be his last day on the road. There was still some time left to drive to reach Montreal, however, and given the problems involved so far, he made himself no guarantee that vindication would be received this day.
But if it could, he would take it fiercely.
Sparky reviewed roadside billboards as he journeyed. Most were of food. Sparky tried to remember when he had last eaten anything but coffee. Sherry’s. The delicious waffles she had made him. He hoped she was home by now, safe and sound. He smiled thinking of her. It had been nice to have a lady around, even a human one.
Despite her kindness, it had only made him miss his Princess more. He loved her so deeply, it was an ache in his bones. She was still so far away. And his children were sitting in the back of that terrible truck, or worse.
Sparky shook his head free of the thought. He wouldn’t have it. He would hold on to his hope. Hope was something that all creatures should have, and he wished that across the distance his family felt hope, too.
Another billboard. A marketplace. It advertised some of the local goods and a livestock sale on the weekends. Sparky scoffed. Basil turned at the sound, his eyes half shut.
“You coughing up a hairball?”
“No. Hey, Basil. Is it the weekend?”
“Yeah, Saturday, yeah,” he smacked his lips together and rolled back over to sleep.
Sparky slowed a little, reading the next sign.
Premier Market Livestock. His eyes narrowed as his thoughts moved over the idea of making a mockery of the animal sale. Families destroyed in the name of good business, it sickened him. He knew he should go on; he should keep to the course.
The car dinged. It was requesting gas.
The next billboard was much simpler. Steak garnished with a delectable green leaf of parsley. Underneath, it indicated the directions to the market. It was across from the Big Tex Gas Station. Sparky looked down at the console and back to the sign.
He yielded to the demands of his machine and turned off toward the Big Tex.
He slid the car along the pump, but the lights were not on. He looked up and down the road. There wasn’t another station. The clock informed him of the time: five fifteen. There was a sign on the station door; it wouldn’t be open for another forty-five minutes.
He could have driven further down the highway to another gas station. Surely it wasn’t too far. But Sparky didn’t feel the desire to move. Across the road his eyes had already settled on the large barn with the giant sign reading Premier Market.
Sparky stepped from the car and eased the door quietly so as not to wake the others. He took a few steps around the pump, toward the market. Already he could hear the cries of the animals. He took another step, remembering his last encounter. It had been a tough fight in the end. If not for Frank it could have been his death. Sparky had to consider his own family. He turned around to walk away. Again he saw the sign showing the gas station’s hours. He swung back toward the market and slumped.
The car door creaked open, but he didn’t turn. Basil would be reasonable. He would talk him away from the livestock. “Sparky, we have to hurry, because I need my money,” he would say, and Sparky would listen.
“Sparky,” it wasn’t Basil, it was Frank. “Why are you still standing here?”
“I was hoping someone would come and stop me. Just tell me it’s not worth it, Frank, and I’ll be done with it.”
“It’s not worth it, goat. It’s not worth it at all.”
“You don’t sound convincing.”
The dog’s eyes were affixed on the structure across the way.
“I haven’t had anything to do with myself for some time. I didn’t stand up for the others when I had the chance, and I’ve been on the run ever since. I’ve just wandered around, Sparks. But you’re not like me, you’re not like him.” He nodded toward the sleeping man in the car. “You’re different.”
“I’m a goat.”
“No Sparky, you are the Goat. And that’s what the world needs you to be.”
Sparky shrugged. “I wanted you to talk me out of this.”
Frank chuckled. “I don’t get sidekick benefits if my superhero quits, now do I?”
Chapter 82
Both animals crouched just shy of the fence outside the market. The animals they heard were inside the building. It sounded like cattle, but Sparky couldn’t see them. He could see a handful men standing around smoking. A few other guys were unloading some items f
rom a pick-up truck. So far Sparky counted eight.
“Okay, so what’s the plan?” Frank’s tongue dragged over his drooping lips.
“What plan?” Sparky asked. His adrenaline was quickly spilling in to anxiety.
“You’ve done this more than I have. You come up with the plans, right?” Frank was eagerly waiting for a cue from his companion; ignoring the rest of the scene.
“I don’t really know Frank, I just made it up as I went before.”
“I’m losing faith goat, you’re supposed to be the mastermind of these operations. Hey, you could use that Goat-Fu stuff like last time, really worked well. We’ll sneak up and... bam!”
“Frank, I didn’t want to hurt those men. I just defended myself when they attacked me,” Sparky wanted to preserve some level of innocence. He had truly tried not to hurt anyone. Hadn’t he?
“Whatever, it’s very effective. And if you don’t have a plan...”
Sparky watched the men working at the pick-up, unloading the supplies. It was cold and they were all bundled in coats, just like his. Maybe they wouldn’t notice the extra man? He could get a closer look.
“Stay here.”
Sparky flipped up his collar and tightened his hat.
“Hey, Pete!” one of the men called. He waved at Sparky and then returned to smoking his cigarette and conversing with his coworkers.
Sparky nodded and walked to the truck. It was piled with lumber. Mimicking the other workers he grabbed a few pieces and carried it into the building. Three men inside were leaning over the fence that kept in the livestock. It was mostly cattle as Sparky as expected. There were also a number of fat rabbits in a cage near the back wall. Sparky kept his head low and continued to survey the situation.
“Pete? I thought you were home sick, man. Glad you could make it in.”
The man spoke from directly behind him.
Sparky faked a cough. “Still not feeling so good.”
“Man, you do sound terrible. I thought you had a stomach virus?”
Sparky remembered back to his reading of the old man’s medical journals. He couldn’t place the symptoms of a stomach virus completely, but he knew coughing wasn’t one of them. “I think I’ve got a touch of the flu.”
“Oh man, you should really be home then. You’ll get us all sick!”
The man walked away without any more questions. Sparky turned slowly to confirm he was no longer standing nearby. The other three men still stood at the fence, leaning on the gate for the cow pen. He would need a distraction to get them clear of it.