Sparky shook off the tenderness in his face. He stood and mimicked the doctor’s hands to guard himself.
Frank bore his teeth. “Let’s get this guy, Goat.”
The goat threw a wide left punch. Frank charged. Doctor Kline slapped Sparky’s arm to the side and countered with a knife hand to the face, followed by a jab to the chest. He kicked at Frank and hit the dog squarely in the jaw with his shoe. Frank yelped; Sparky stepped back, both of them dazed.
“Last chance, on the table. Next time I am breaking something.” Dr. Kline’s eyes flashed and his nostrils flared.
The goat looked back over his shoulder at the table he had come from then back at Dr. Kline and the bloody table beyond. Frank cowered beside him.
“I knew I shouldn’t have come back goat. I’m going to get cut up now for sure,” The dog retreated back against the table. “Hey I give up, man. You win, just don’t cut me.”
“What are you doing Frank?” Sparky asked.
“He’s making a wise choice.” Dr. Kline repositioned his arms in a high block, turning his attention only to Sparky. “What about you, had enough?”
Frank jumped up on the table behind Sparky and started fiddling with the cut straps. “Give me a second, I’ll get these on, just please don’t hurt me.”
“Frank!”
“Sorry Sparky, I can’t do this.”
Sparky was all alone. The goat stood at a similar stature to the doctor. The man’s keen fighting skills were well above any of Sparky’s previous opponents. Sparky could almost feel his family on the other side of one of the four walls of the room, but he might as well have been back on the farm. His upper lip dragged across his lower teeth. He couldn’t give up.
The goat bent back his knees and sprang headfirst at the doctor. The doctor sidestepped, and thrust a spear hand into the goat’ throat as he passed. Sparky collapsed on the ground, his windpipe ached. He drew in a breath and choked. He put his hooves down and tried to climb back up, but lost his footing and was flat on the ground.
“Stupid goat.”
Sparky turned his head back from the floor. Dr. Kline pulled back his leg. The foot came straight at his field of vision. Dr. Kline fell back and screamed.
Sparky saw a silver handle extended from the doctor's leg just above the knee. Frank stood on the ground right next to it. The Belgian Groenendael leapt up with his mouth wide and caught the flesh around the doctor’s neck. The two fell to the ground, Frank on top.
“I can lie just as good as you humans.” Frank barked in the doctor’s face and snapped his teeth inches from the man’s nose.
The doctor reached down to his leg but couldn’t reach the blade.
Sparky came to his feet and stepped up to the man. “Where is my family?”
Dr. Kline sobbed. “He stabbed me.” His tiny voice pleaded with the goat.
Sparky had no time to negotiate. “Get on the table, now.”
~~~~~~
The two crept free from the lab room having secured the doctor to the bloody table. They felt it was a fitting place for him to wait until they could rescue the others. The hall outside was empty. Frank led the way right then left at the end of the hall. A lab technician stood just beyond the corner staring at a vending machine.
Frank and Sparky ducked back behind the wall.
“We can take this guy, Frank. Together.”
“I’m not Frank anymore, goat. Call me Man’s Worst Nightmare.” Frank whispered.
“Okay, Man’s Worst Nightmare, let’s go!”
They bolted around the corner. Screaming and barking they charged the man. The modest technician on spotting the ambush, chose to run away rather than fight. He escaped down the hallway and passed through a set of double doors twenty yards ahead.
Sparky and Frank stopped by the vending machine.
“That was odd.” Sparky said.
Frank chuckled, wearing his pride on his sleeve. “I am totally scarier than I thought.”
Following Dr. Kline’s instructions, they galloped down the hallway opposite from where the man had escaped. The hallway turned left. There it branched out three ways. Frank sniffed at each path before sticking his nose straight ahead. The two charged on.
A set of double doors with windows marked the end of the hall. Sparky hopped up, looking out through one of the cloudy glass pains. The warehouse on the other side crowded full of men and goats. The animals were being wrangled into small cages then dragged out of the room on carts.
Sparky's heart jumped. “They’re moving goats.”
“Your family?” Frank asked.
“I don’t see them, these are strangers.”
“What do we do?”
“There are a lot of men, Frank. A lot.”
Reilly emerged from a set of doors on the far side of the room. Sparky caught sight of him across the warehouse. “Reilly.”
“What, that big guy?”
“He must know where they are.”
“Are we just going to bust in there?”
“I don’t see another way.”
Sparky hopped down from the door, back on all fours. In this position Sparky stood just above Frank’s head, the two eye to eye.
“You look so...goat-like.”
“Well that’s what I am, Frank, er, Man’s Worst Nightmare.”
“You always have the ugly coat on, and you walk upright all the time. It’s hard to think you’re not a man sometimes.”
“I’m just a goat.”
“You’re not just a goat.”
“Yeah,” Sparky stood back up and put his front hooves together. "The Goat.”
Chapter 107
“Move those damn things, it’s not like they can argue! These are just the regular, extra stupid type.” Reilly barked orders from the side of the large pen. The workers bumbled around just as much as the first time they had sorted a herd. Dr. Fudge was nearby in the other room keeping watch over Basil. Reilly hoped that the doctor would be kept busy long enough with that shrimp from the CBI he could get this done.
“Hey, Reilly!”
He didn’t recognize the call. Reilly looked over his shoulder, Sparky stood with his hooves out. Reilly couldn’t help but laugh.
“We’ve got an escapee guys, get him!”
Many men flooded out from the pen, spilling onto the floor. They surrounded Sparky and Frank. Sparky looked at the group, unable to count their numbers, he could only guess fifteen to twenty. They held their spots in the circle, keeping Sparky and Frank trapped inside.
“What are you waiting for?” Reilly called from the back. “Get 'em!”
~~~~~~
Two of Dr. Fudge’s assistants kept a firm grip on Basil’s arms while the doctor juggled the gun. Basil’s face stung, he could feel his eye swelling.
“I’ve got nothing else to say to you Fudge. Let these goats go, or-“
“Or what? You think I haven’t paid off the CBI before? One little pesky agent is easily disposed of. Honestly, I could feed you to the goats since you're so worried about their health.”
“You think I came alone? I’ve got back up, plus a hundred more agents on their way.”
“A hundred is it? Why not a hundred and fifty, or two hundred? Really, Basil,” Doctor Fudge laughed, thinking it over. “Your office wouldn’t send one man here, let alone one hundred. I bet you're on your own, got some wild hair that you could bring me down. But I’m curious as to why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you here for me?” Fudge passed the fun into his left hand and pointed it at Basil.
“You can’t be any cleaner than that behemoth I chased down.”
“Reilly, yes, now I see the connection.”
“Doctor, we’ve had an escape!” One of the men burst in from the main warehouse.
Dr. Fudge glared at Basil. “You didn’t come alone, did you?”
“I told you Fudge, it’s over.”
“It’s one of the goats, doct
or! He’s fighting like nothing we’ve ever seen.”
“Sparky,” Basil’s voice was almost a whisper, but the sharp ears of Mudbubble didn’t miss it.
“Did you say, Sparky?” Mudbubble jumped to his feet. The room sprang to life with buzz. Sparky’s name erupted from every goat in every cage.
“Sparky’s here?”
“He made it!”
“We’re saved!”
“Quiet! All of you!” Dr. Fudge threw up his arms.
He fired the gun at the ceiling. Basil shook himself from the guards’ grasps and sacked the doctor. The two men fell to the floor in a struggle, the gun caught in both their hands. Basil threw his elbow at the man, but the doctor rolled away and Basil’s arm hit the floor. Basil turned, recovered and thrust the man’s arm to the ground. The gun flew into the air. The weapon crashed down on top of a metal cage, and slipped down through the bars.
The doctor’s team jumped in and restrained Basil, lifting him up before the doctor.
Fudge’s rage distracted him from anything but thoughts of vengeance. “The nerve of you! I want him dead!”
~~~~~~
“Watch out, Frank!” Sparky bounced up and head-butted another man. The body fell to the floor and slid. Frank jumped clear, biting at a passing leg. A scream erupted.
Another hand hit the goat. Sparky reeled from the punch.
“Watch it, Sparks!”
Sparky jumped left, trying to dodge the other men, but lost his footing. He collapsed to the ground. Seven men piled up on him, crushing him under their weight.
“Sparky!”
The men seized Frank by his front paws. Two more held the dog’s legs. Struggling with all of his might, Frank couldn’t shake free. “Sparky!”
The goat didn’t make a sound from beneath the human mound. The men peeled off one at a time. The last three restrained the winded Sparky and forced him to his feet. His head dangled on his shoulders.
Reilly walked up to Sparky. “Why did you come here, goat?”
Sparky lifted his head, his strength depleted. His gaze went to Frank, captured and struggling, before shifting to Reilly. The man’s smile sickened him. He tried to shake his arms, but was too weak and the men too strong.
“Why, goat?”
“I’m here for my family.”
“Ha, you came from that little farm, didn’t you?” Reilly’s face lit up. “What was that old man’s name?”
“Oliver.”
“That’s right, poor old fool. Looks like you found your family. I’ll get you a nice cage right alongside them.”
“Sparky, fight!” Frank shook his head, snapping at his captors.
Reilly grabbed the mutt by the chops. “And what about you? Where did you come from? The family pet?”
“No, I’m Man's Worst Nightmare, fat pie. I’m his sidekick!”
“Ha! Sidekick, we’ll get you the cage right next to his. I’m sure the doctor’s going to love the added research material. Get them into cages!”
Chapter 108
“Not so fast!” Basil stepped into the room, gun pointed at Reilly. The door sealed behind him.
Reilly stroked his chin then let his arm fall at his side.
“Let them go!” Basil motioned toward Sparky and Frank with his gun.
“Hold them tight.” Reilly countered. The other men did as they were told. “Where’s the doctor?”
“He’s tied up.” Basil said. ”It’s over Reilly. I’m taking you down this time for sure.”
“Oh, are you then?”
“Shoot him, Basil!” Frank shouted.
“Yeah Basil, shoot me,” Reilly took a step forward.
Basil pulled back the hammer. “I said let them go!”
“No.” Reilly took another step.
Sparky watched Basil hold his ground, waiting for the man to fire.
“Shoot!” Frank bounced in the grip of his captors.
Reilly stepped closer to Basil. His eyes narrowed. The two men were square, but still a few paces apart. Reilly feigned forward quickly. Basil kept the gun aimed. Reilly inched closer.
“I’ll shoot!”
“No, you won’t”
“Take him Basil!”
The hammer dropped. Click.
“Nothing! A bluff? Ha!” Reilly bridged the distance to Basil. He extended his hand and Basil surrendered the gun.
“What? No bullets? What the hell are you thinking? I’m getting chopped up because you forgot the bullets?” Frank seethed.
Sparky took in his first full breath. He twisted his torso hard, but with no success at getting free. “I’ll take you, Reilly. Give me one chance and I’ll-”
“You’ll do nothing!” Reilly grabbed Basil by the collar and threw him towards the other men. Three grunts seized Basil by the shoulders. The Special Agent gave no resistance. The men lined up each of the prisoners.
“I win, you lose.” Reilly spun the gun around his finger.
He tried to hold back a smile but couldn’t. It was too great, spoiling the rogue goat’s plan, dropping the agent who couldn’t bring him down before. And the dog? Just an added bonus.
“Let’s see, Goat Man and the Dog Wonder get a cage. Our guest from the CBI, take him and lock him up until I can dispose of him. Then let’s get back to work, we’ve got lots of goats to sort.”
“What happened, Basil? Was that the best you got?” The gun had one fatality even without firing a shot: Sparky’s hope.
“Sorry, Goat. He called my bluff on the gun. He got us.”
Sparky kicked and bucked. The hands of the men held tight. It was a fight he could not win.
Reilly’s pride only grew watching the goat resist in vain. “Really pathetic if you ask me. Although I admit, you did get one up on the doctor. Better go let him out now, I’m sure he’ll want to watch you die.” Reilly let loose a deep cackle. He marched to the warehouse door, holding his chest high. “Seriously, you guys must hate yourselves!”
Reilly pushed the door wide.
“Remember me?” Oreo didn’t hesitate to engage Reilly. His first swing came right to the man’s chin. Reilly’s head flopped back. The second jab contacted just above the left cheekbone. The large man put up his hands to block his face. Oreo lowered down and leapt off all fours. He locked his neck and rammed his horns into the man’s solar plexus. Reilly smashed to the ground. The man’s head struck the concrete floor.
Behind Oreo stood the herd, released, weak, but many in number.
Sparky smiled, recognizing the closest familiar face. “Oreo!”
“Sparky!”
Oreo stood, his swollen face bruised and blood stained. “You came.”
The other goats flowed out of the open door.
Samantha saw her father, still restrained by the men. “Dad?”
“Sam?”
“Sparky!” Princess called out as she rushed to him.
“Princess?”
Sparky shook free of his captors. Tears streamed down his fur. The men backed up as more goats filled the room. Basil and Frank were let loose.
The back door to the warehouse exploded open. The goats dropped down on all fours. A horde of men in black and green vests filed into the chamber. The unarmed grunts working for doctor fudge surrendered without protest. They were quickly secured against the wall by the army of CBI agents.
A man in a silver suit entered behind the team. He surveyed the mix of half-panicked goats and men.
He walked straight to the plainclothes special agent standing by a panting Groenendael. “Basil Lain?”
“That’s me. Who are you?” Basil gave the dog a good rub on his head scratching Frank behind the ears.
“Carmine Tillworth, C.E.O. Planet Global, Inc. Is that wacko Fudge still here?”
“Yeah, he’s here. He’s tied up in the other room.”
“What are all these goats doing here?” Carmine kept a fair distance from the creatures.
“Fudge was performing experiments on th
em.”
“Any idea why?” Carmine asked.
“I take it you didn’t have a lot of oversight on this one.” Basil shook his head. “Not a clue, I was more interested in that one over there.” Basil pointed to Reilly, now handcuffed, but still on the floor.
“Who is he?”
“A murderer under the paid contract of your corporation.”
“Never in my life.” Carmine’s face turned white. “I assure you Special Agent, we run an ethical business. Only tonight had any of the details of Fudge’s operation come to me. I am here personally to ensure full cooperation with your office.”
“I see.” Basil looked over at Sparky. The goat nestled together with his kids and Princess.
A young woman in a green and black vest approached Basil, “Special Agent! Phone call for you, it’s the captain.”
Basil clutched the phone in his hand. “I need to take this.” Basil stepped past Carmine.
Carmine looked over the goats who seemed as bewildered by his presence as they were by his. “What am I supposed to do with all these goats?’
Basil looked at Sparky. The goat had nestled in with his children. “They belong to a farmer in Saskatchewan. His name is Oliver Simms. Fudge had them taken illegally, seems the proper thing to do would be to get them back home.”
Chapter 109
The grass never smelled so good, even for early November. Planet Global spared no expense in delivering the goats back home to their owner, and added a small cash incentive to quell Oliver’s desire to sue.
Oliver spent the money buying treats of alfalfa and fresh hay bales. Together, the goats and their owner celebrated the event to its fullest. They didn’t let the man in on their secret, and Oliver continued his swearing. Everything was back to normal.
Exactly one week after the great showdown, a familiar beaten Escort pulled into Oliver’s driveway.
Oliver had been tired out running after the little ones on the hillside earlier that day and was taking a nap. Basil hadn’t come to see him. The special agent strolled up to the fence and leaned over on the railing. He watched the animals play quietly from his vantage.
Sparky had noticed him right away, but was busy playing. He waved his hello before finishing up playing soccer with Mythias. He had Mudbubble break away from snuggling with Snowball and step in for him. Mythias fired the first shot directly past the replacement goat, Mudbubble cursed about it under his breath. Snowball laughed. He turned and smiled at her, hoping that it wouldn’t be long before they had their own kids to play soccer with.