After lunch, all of the boys started yawning, and once one started, they all started non-stop. Even though it was still early afternoon Grandma Bella dispatched all the boys upstairs for a nap. Again, they could hardly believe their luck, beds – real beds with sheets, and pillows; and one bed for each of them! To Grandma Bella’s amusement, the pups who would normally object strenuously to taking an afternoon nap, all insisted that they wanted to take a nap too. Hamish snuggled in with Seb, Fergus with Charlie and Angus with Raven. Lewis of course had Dogger. Soon all the boys and hunde puppies were fast asleep, the boys feeling completely safe for the first time in a very, very long time.
Grandpa Jake went through to the pub office. On the desk there was a telephone – but not just any telephone, on this one in the middle of the dial was a single red button with a paw on it.
Grandpa Jake took up the receiver and pushed the red paw button.
At the other end an identical red phone rang and flashed insistently, a voice promptly answered.
Operator: Hundeerde Inter-planetary Security Agency – you are secure.
How may I direct your call?
Grandpa Jake: General Huxley – priority one. Authorization: K9-Delta-Oscar-Golf.
Operator: One moment please – putting you through now.
A few moments later a gruff voice came on the line.
General Huxley: Jake – you old rascal! Great to hear from you. How’s Earth?
Grandpa Jake: Great to hear you too Marvin, you sly old war dog!
Earth? Well, you know – not great, these days, the collapse has hit them hard and the Marauders are causing trouble for everyone. Fortunately for us, Hundes are immune to the virus.
We have a situation down here – we’re going to need an extraction.
Grandpa Jake went on to explain the boys’ situation, and that it would only be a matter of time before the Marauders learned of their whereabouts, putting both them and the Huskies in danger.
General Huxley: Marauders eh. Trading kids into slavery? Very bad form! Well, we can’t allow that. Even at hyper-speed in the solar currents, it will still take a week for our extraction team to get there. Can you and Bella keep the boys safe until then?
Grandpa Jake: We will – we have to.
General Huxley: Very well. I will advise you when our team is away.
The next few days were pure enjoyment and relaxation for the boys. Grandma Bella kept them well fed with hearty meals. They took proper hot baths. Their clothes were laundered and mended. They played with the puppies, who seemed to have boundless energy. They played cricket on the village green – interestingly, the puppies always wanted to field, to which they were surprisingly good, particularly catching a batter out on the full. Grandpa Jake had asked that the boys not wander any further than the village green.
One evening Grandpa Jake brought the boys together for a talk.
Grandpa Jake: The situation with the Marauders is not good. My city contacts advise me that they are furious that you were able to escape – they found your basement only about thirty minutes after you left.
Bottom line – it is not safe for any of us to stay here. We need to get you somewhere safe. Somewhere, where the Marauders can’t find you.
Samson: New Zealand? I hear that’s nice.
Grandpa Jake: Well yes, New Zealand is nice and it is pretty far away at the ass-end of the Earth, but no. We were thinking of somewhere off Earth.
How would you all like to go to Hundeerde? There we can guarantee your wellbeing and safety. You would be free to return to Earth later if you wish, once the situation here improved and it was safe again.
Lewis: Hundeerde? The dog planet?
Lewis hugged Dogger tightly.
I love dogs! I’ll go!
Grandpa Jake: Heh heh, well Lewis, we do prefer the word Hunde, but thank you – we love you too; but why don’t you boys discuss it among yourselves and you can tell me your decision in the morning at breakfast.
The next morning at breakfast Grandpa Jake spoke again with the boys.
Grandpa Jake: Good morning boys. Have you made a decision? Are you willing to go to Hundeerde?
Raven: We have talked about it among ourselves, and we have all decided that we want to stick together. We will all go to Hundeerde.
Grandpa Jake looked around the table at the other boys. Not that he distrusted Raven, but he did want to hear it from the others as well.
Grandpa Jake: So everyone is agreed?
Seb: Earth holds bad memories for all of us.
He added in a low voice:
Especially for me. I am more than willing to go.
Charlie: Me too! I’m in.
The other boys all around the table murmured, and nodded their assent.
Grandpa Jake: Very well then. My good friend, General Huxley has advised me that the Hundeerde ship will be here in twenty-four hours. We will also be coming along with you to escort the puppies safely back home.
Seb: Sorry we dragged you and Grandma Bella into all this mess. Will everything left here be OK if the Marauders find out you helped us?
A knowing smile and smirk crossed Grandpa Jake’s face.
Grandpa Jake: Oh, don’t worry about that – ‘this mess’ is way bigger than anything happening right here, right now.
This place will be fine. Let’s just say that we will be leaving adequate security arrangements in place.
The rest of the day was spent packing their few things together and enjoying Grandma Bella’s cooking for one last day. The Hundeerde ship was due first thing tomorrow morning.
Screw Pile Developments 