Dark Waters by Christopher Holt

Author:Christopher Holt [HOLT, CHRISTOPHER]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction / Animals - Dogs, Juvenile Fiction / Dystopian, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure - Survival Stories, Juvenile Fiction / Social Issues - Friendship
ISBN: 9780316231954
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2013-06-11T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY

“Wait!” Max barked. Shaking off his shock, he raced after the rampaging elephant. “Please come back! We didn’t mean to upset you!”

He didn’t get more than a few steps before Boss barked at him, “Let the elephant go!”

Max skidded to a halt near the wreck of the ticket booth, listening as the Mountain’s thunderous footsteps faded away. The shaking of the ground gradually lessened.

“Oh!” Gizmo cried, racing over to Max. “What are we going to do? You said we need to go to the lab to find our people, but he’s going to destroy it.” She looked at the mess of broken boards that had been the ticket booth. “Just like he destroyed that.”

“I don’t know,” Max admitted. “But we have to get to the labs before the Mountain does. That place holds the key to finding out why the people left. That’s why Madame sent us here.”

“Are you kidding?” Rocky yelped, waddling up behind them. “You heard the elephant—that place is dangerous and full of viruses and mutations! Boss said the same thing.” He peered back over his shoulder. “Didn’t you, Boss?”

The old Shepherd nodded as he trotted up. “I never knew the whole story until this evening, but I sure remember the Mountain going on and on about why we all needed to stay far away from those three rings. My pack leaders seemed scared of them, too, even though they drove right toward where everything began.”

“That’s why we have to go there,” Max said. “It all began there. So whatever it will take to end it must be there, too. At least, that’s what Madame must have thought.”

Max’s mind raced. Maybe the long run to the laboratory would calm the elephant. Maybe the Mountain wouldn’t even be able to get in to destroy anything—a wooden booth was a lot more fragile than a building made of stone. Or maybe—

“Hey!” a distant voice called.

Max almost didn’t pay attention. In the wake of the Mountain’s tantrum, other animals throughout the park had all started making noise. Not too far away he could hear the deep, throaty yowls of some very large cats and the trills of exotic birds, mixed with distant braying and manic screeching.

Then the voice called out again.

“Hey, you dogs! Aren’t you supposed to have good hearing? Get your furry butts over here!”

Max’s floppy ears perked up. “Shh,” he whispered to Rocky and Gizmo. “Someone is calling us.” The voice was coming from his right, past the game booths and from the direction where he’d smelled farm animals earlier.

At Max’s side, Boss growled. “I hear her, too. It’s coming from the petting zoo. That’s where little ones went to touch friendly animals. That area is just past the carnival rides.”

“Maybe it’s Barbs?” Rocky asked. “I could go for some more hot dogs right about now.”

“I hope it’s not those red pandas again,” Gizmo said. “I really didn’t like them. And I like everybody.”

“Stop your yapping and get over here, already!” It was a deep voice, but it definitely belonged to a girl.

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