That Animal Will Kill You

Harriet looked around for a place to hide, but what good would that do? She could hear the panting of the dog now and the pounding of its paws on the grassy path behind them.

It was within a hundred yards and closing fast.

“You all run,” said Robert. “I’ll stay and fight it off.”

“You crazy!” said Henry. “That animal will kill you!”

“Get outta here!” Robert yelled.

Harriet began pushing everyone else to run. “Let’s go!” she said. Her voice held with conviction, but her heart was aching at the thought of Robert’s sacrifice.

          Zammie took two steps when something caught his eye in the moonlight.

          “Where you going, Zammie?” asked Kyla.

          Zammie picked up a large branch that had fallen from a tree. He ran it back to Robert and held it up to him.

          “My uncle used a broom handle to beat down a Doberman once when it was attacking my cousin,” said Zammie. “Maybe you can use this on this dog.”

          Robert took the tree branch and held it like an axe. It was a little shorter than a broom handle but it was thick like the fat end of a baseball bat and just as firm.

          “You get goin’, boy,” said Robert. “I don’ want you ‘round if I miss.”

          “Then don’t miss,” said Zammie.

          “Come on, Zammie!” said Kyla.

          Zammie began running with Kyla back up the trail towards Harriet, but his curiosity got the better of him. He stopped and turned back to see the black and brown Bloodhound charging down on Robert.

          “Come on, Zam . . .mie . . .” Kyla’s voice trailed off when she saw the snarling animal jump towards Robert.

          In the limited moonlight being filtered in through the leafless branches it was difficult for the children to make out exactly what happened next.

          But the noise that was heard left little to the imagination.

          Robert stood his ground as the hound bore down on him. He imagined he had a brand new rail-splitting mallet in his hands, and all he was going to do was crack a perfect line straight down this monstrous stump.

          He showed no fear to the animal as he wound back his arms, but the awful, guttural barking of the dog was making his heart pound with adrenaline.

          Once it was within six feet the ninety-pound Bloodhound leapt from the ground and headed straight for Robert’s exposed neck.

          For a split-second Robert lost sight of the dog as it flew through a shadow, but then he could see it clearly again as a pastel moonbeam reflected off its eyes.

          Robert swung the branch with purpose and meaning. He had so much angst built up that he began humming a high tone involuntarily for a second as he swung the piece of lumber. He unleashed a lifetime’s worth of stored up pain, misery, and humiliation; over thirty years of being locked down by his master while believing he was capable of something more in this life. 

-- "That Animal Will Kill You"

from Time Trip #2:
A Ride on the Underground Railroad

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 4

KILLING FOR COUNTRY  

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 1

THE JOURNEY TO ANCIENT GREECE 

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 2

A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 3

WITNESS TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 

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