"Kit Reed - What Wolves Know" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Kit)

by half-remembered smellsтАФhot food, the scent of bulky, not-wolf
bodiesтАФand sounds: music and forks clattering, the buddabuddabudda of
low, not-wolf voices. Circling, Happy yearned for something he missed
terribly. As for what ... he was not certain.

Alone, Happy howled to the heavens. He wanted to bring out Timbo,
even though he knew Timbo would kill him. Ah-whooooo. If they fought to
the death, one way or the other it would end his confusion. HappyтАЩs howling
filled the woods but not one wolf howled in reply. Ah-whooooooo!

The loneliness was intense.

This is why Happy did what wolves never do. For the second time, he
left the woods. For a long time, he circled the police station. Then he
dropped to his haunches on the front walk and howled to heaven. He
howled for all he was worth. Unless he was howling for everything he was
losing.

Now look.

****

The needle Brent used to get him out of the airport left Happy inert,
but aware. They are riding along, he and Brent and this Susan, he can smell
her. The car is much smaller than the van that took him to the hospital after
the fight at the police station. They sewed him up and Brent came. Happy
did not know him, but he knew him. He rolled off the bed and fell into a
crouch, ready to lunge. Guards came. He struggled but the doctors gave
him to Brent anyway. They said he was next of kin. Family.

...Brent?

It was on the dogtag. ThatтАЩs BrentтАЩs word for it. But why was BrentтАЩs
name on the dogtag? Am I his pet? Happy wonders. Do I belong to him?
He is no dog. He runs with wolves.

He does not like Brent. Keep your eyes shut, Happy. Keep them
closed and he wonтАЩt know youтАЩre in here.
 He is riding along between them. The nice soft woman is soft, but not
as nice as he thought. She says over HappyтАЩs head, тАЬWhy in hell didnтАЩt you
hose him down before we got in the car?тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs not my fault he stinks.тАЭ

тАЬYou could have put him in the trunk!тАЭ

Smelly breath mists HappyтАЩs face as Brent peers at him, but he keeps
his eyes clenched. тАЬLie down with wolves and you smell like one. You
hear?тАЭ