Wolves

He walked quickly through the dark alley. The solid click of his heels echoed through the pefect silence. the street sank deeper into darkness as the final fiery rays of sunlight slipped behind the ancient buildings. He walked faster. Hi finers tightened around the briefcase he held' his eyes nervously scanning the street. He walked faster. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the alley; Tap, tap, Tap, tap. He silently cursed the broken down car that had stranded him here alone. He walked faster. Sweat beaded on his forehead. The sound of his footsteps overpowered the almost silent sound of his follower. He was almost at the end of the alley. He began to run. His footsteps competing now with the sound of his labored breathing. Then he heard it, it penetrated the sounds he was making and burned into his brain. It was faint, but carried the menace of a full-throated cry. He ran faster, now, his lungs gasping for air as he strove for the end of the alley. He was not fast enough. He felt it leap on the back of his neck. His head throbbed. He felt unconsciousnedd beginning to graps him. He heard it snarl, a low, menacing sound that seemed, somehow, like a laugh. As blackness rushed towards him, he felt it raise it's head,a nd heard it howl, like a wolf, howling at the moon . . .

Robert glared balefully at the cage ahead. He hated feeding the wolves. They were strange, with those fearsome green eyes and hypnotic gaze. They had just been imported from Russia. They were the royalty of the wolf family, descended from the huge pets of the Russian czars, some ancient family named Romanov. They were much to valuable to be integrated with the other wolves. Instead the lived in a huge cage by themselves, watching their cousins beside them with the disdain of aristocrats watching their peasant subjects. If it were up to Robert, he would ship them right back to Russia, where they came from. As he prepared their food, he wondered what it was bout the animals that so frightened him. He glanced at them. They sat staring back at him, showing none of the eager excitement the other animals did at feeding time. Instead they stared at hime with an eerie, inhuman intelligence, their expressions almost mocking; as if he were the beast, and they his masters. They looked as if they knew some secret that was beyond him, their languid movements hiding their impatience to attack, and be free. He hated them. He carried their food to their cage, ignoring the snarls that rose from their throats. He checked to be sure the door to the feeding stall was closed, and then entered. He searched the cage to see where they were, hoping they were no where near him. They lunged at the other end of the cage, staring expectantly at him. He bent and quickly emptied their food into the trough. He stepped out of the stall, pushing the button to open the stall doors as he pulled the heavy gate shut. The doors opened. He fumbled to secure the latch when suddenly the huge male streaked across the cage. He moved with unnatural speed, his movements blurred with incredible quickness. He flung his massive body at the gate, just as Robert secured the lock. His heart punded with fear as he flung himself away from the jaws that snapped at him through the heavy mesh. The two wolves yipped excitedly, howling every now and then, as if they were laughing at him. Robert frowned angrily and backed further away as the animals settled down and began to feed. Greg and natasha they were caleld, but Robert had several, infinitely more appropriate names for them. He studied the huge male, Greg. The wolf's speed had astounded him. Robert had worked with animals all his life, and he had never seen one move like that. He studied Greg, wincing as he thought of how close those powerful jasw had come to his arm.

Robert was about to leave when he noticed the stains. Greg's sleek coat was coated with dark stains. Robert stepped cautiously forward, and studied the stains. they looked like blood. The wolf had not fed since last night,a dn he had not been dirty last night, Robert himself had checked him. He leaned further forward and looked for any possibel injuries on the two wolves. Natasha looked at him and growled. She seemed to be warning him, or ordering him, to go.

Robert made a mental note to have the vet check both wolves from injuries, even though he hoped they both bled to death. he walked away, unconsciously rubbing his arm. "Hey Robie! ARe you almost done? The boss called a meeting for all the employees. YOu know, about that murder last night. He wants everyone in the lobby in ten minutes. The cops are gonna be here, and everything."

Robert looked at Teddy. His friend's blonde hair hung loosely about his boyish face. He was grinning from ear to ear, elated by the idea of some excitement, around there. "What murder?" He asked. He glanced back at the wolves. They had stopped eating and were watching them. their green eyes glowed and their mouths were twisted in a canine smile. He shivered and turned his attention back to Teddy.

"You didn't hear about it? It was freaky! This guy's car broke down, right? And he went looking for a pay phone, at like, 8:30 last night. He was just walking down the street and something jumped him from behind. Some animal, the cops think. The thing tore him apart. People around there say they heard something howl, like a dog, or wolf or something. The coroner says it looks like a wolf, or dog too. That's why the cops are starting here." Teddy sobered a little, and looked at the wolves. They sat, staring back. "I almost wish it was them, then at least we would have a reason to get rid of them. They scare me. It's like they understand us, or something. Like their laughing at us." Teddy looked away from their eyes, uneasy under the intensity of their gaze. he looked back at Robert, "So, you coming now or what?" He asked, obviously eager to leave.

"Yeah. In a minute, okay? You go ahead, I'll meet you there." Robert watched Teddy go, and then looked back toward the wolves' cage. He walked toward the door. Silently, he examined it, looking for any way the wolves might have gotten out. Robert stared at the latch, knowing it was impossible. He looked up, and met Natasha's eyes. he looked away, at Greg at stared at the stains. The wolf looked back at him, he green gaze burning into Robert's. "You couldnt' have done it, could you?" He whispered. The wolf stood up. His eyes never left Robert's. His hackles slowly rose, and a soft growl escaped his muzzle. "You couldn't have," Robert repeated. "But you would have liked to, wouldn't you?" It wasn't a question, and the wolf knew it. His eyes seemed to hold a promise, of what, Rober did not want to know. The wolf lowered his hackles and sat. He began to yip again. Natasha and the wolves in the nearby cages took up the whining cry. Robert hurried away, listening to the wolves. He knew they were laughing at him. He was amost inside the lovvy when the distant laughter stopped. The sudden silence was pierced by the sound of two wolves howling. Robert shuddered and hurried inside to tell the poice that there was no way one of his wolves had been out last night. He only wished that he believed that . . . .

Robert knew there was something wrong. He had known it the moment he left the zoo. His house was too quiet. His five cats were completely silent, if they were in the house at all. The only sound was the gentle whir of the air conditioning. He tunred on every light in the house, suddenly fearing the well-known shadows of his own, tiny house. He called his cats, wishing that his wife was not out of town. He lay down on his bed. he kept hearing those wolves, howling behind him. He heard something in the hall. He say up, his heart pounding. He stared at the doorway, knowing what was waiting for him. He shrank further back on the bed, a sob rising in his throat as they entered. he screamed once, and then there was no noise. The silence of the house was broken only by the howling . . .

A cold morning's rain still fell outside the tiny house. The soft pitter-patter of rain was drowned out by the sound of screaming sirens and shouting men. A young man stood befor ethe doorway, his face frozen in a look of utter horror. A hand fell on his shoulder, shaking him gently. He looked up. A uniformed policeman stood before him, an expression of suspicion, warring with sympathy on his face. "What happened son?" He asked, his voice rough.

Teddy sank to the ground, hugging his kneed and rocking back and forth, childlike. "I just came over to pick him up for work. His wife is out of town. And I saw him. He was . . . . there was . . . Oh God!" Teddy began to sob as images of a bloody corpse, and a blood splattered hous came leaping back to him. Slowly, he began to tell the officer of the wolves. The wolves who had plotted the crime, then returned to their cages in utter secrecy . . . .

The officer looked knowinly at his partner. As Teddy rambled on about demons in canine form, his partned softly called for back up, and then approached with handcuffs . . . .

A little girl leaned on the rail in front of the wolves cages. She stood next to her mohter watching the two, beautiful wolves. Suddenly she squealed, "Mommy! Look! Look at them! They're cleaning their feet! How cute! My puppy does that!"

Her mother frowned as she watched them douse their feet in reddish colored water and rub them vigorously against the bottom of the trough. "They should clean those poor animal's water more often! Look at it! It's all dirt! Let's go look at the elephants, Nancy. We've been here long enough." As they walked away the wolves turned to watch. They began to yip excitedly.

Nancy smiled and tugged at her mother's arm. "Listen Mommy! They're laughing! They're happy! I wonder what they think is so funny "