LITMIR.BIZ

      Then another.

      Something hit the ground near him – something small and hard and dangerous. A small cloud puffed up where the thing had struck the dusty earth. The cows were mooing in panic now.

      Rascal looked around in alarm. There, a long way across the field, was a man. He was standing behind the open door of a truck and holding a long stick-thing to his shoulder. He was pointing it right at Rascal.

      The noise was loud even though the man was so far away. Again something small and fast zipped past him.

      With a start, Rascal realised that he had to get away from here fast.

      People were strange. Some of them – the good sort – didn’t want to do anything but pat you on the head and give you bits of food. But others were dangerous. There was no time to wonder why this man was trying to hurt him. He could do only one thing – run!

      But where? These fields offered no cover. Just moments earlier he had loved the feeling of being out in the open, but now he felt terribly exposed under the bright blue sky. The sun held him in its spotlight. Here he is! Right here! it seemed to cry.

      Rascal turned and began to dash back towards the woods. In the distance behind him he heard a door slam and an engine rumble. The man had jumped into his pick-up truck. He was driving across the field. He was coming after Rascal!

      Fear gave the dog extra speed. He put his head down and pelted for the woods. He forced himself not to look back at the truck, but he couldn’t help hearing its rumble getting louder and louder. It was drawing closer.

      But then suddenly Rascal became aware of another noise. This was the sound of an engine too, but it was different. This one sounded somehow bigger and more threatening than the truck.