Einstein Dog (29 page)

“Fine then, let's go straight to the police.”

“They can't do anything, Airee. They already know about Libra's murder and the attack at Ponderosa Point; they couldn't do a thing about it. Hindquist would laugh in their faces. He'd tell them we're kids with overactive imaginations.”

“We
are
kids!” she objected as she blazed a trail through the tall marsh grass, angrily knocking aside the troublesome stalks.

Again, Bertrand breathed deeply, calming himself. “They've struck twice already, Ariel,” he reminded her. “Do you think they aren't getting ready to strike again?”

“Why should they?” she turned on him, her green eyes flashing. “Hindquist doesn't have any reason to attack us. It's the dogs he's after. It would be best for all of us to lay low, not plan an attack on AMOS.”

“Even if Hindquist doesn't already know we've been in contact with Einstein and the others, he's sure to suspect it.”

Bertrand groaned, losing patience. “AMOS is huge, Airee. Hindquist wouldn't hesitate for a second if he thought getting rid of a couple of nosy children and four troublesome dogs would make his operations more secure, and sooner or later he's going to come to that conclusion.”

“Maybe that's why we shouldn't
be
so nosy!”

They stopped and faced each other. The conversation had taken a wrong turn.

“Sure,” he said angrily, “we could shut up and keep our noses out of it. Hindquist might even leave
us
alone, if he figures we're no threat. But what about Einstein? Cap? Breeze? And Blizzard? He'll kill them for sure.”

Ariel lowered her eyes, then looked away, as if she expected to see something off on the other side of Little Dipper. Without another word, she turned and they set off again, Bertrand wishing the swamp mud would suck him under.

Einstein and Cap greeted them with tense nods as they climbed the Fort Nicomekl ladder. Obviously the dogs were on edge, too, which only heightened the sense of danger. Einstein did step forward and touch noses with both the children.

Ahem!
Cap interrupted.
As soon as this little love fest is over with, we do have important business to conduct. The longer we're here, the greater the danger to us all. So, someone please tell me quickly how a piddling force like ours is going to defeat the armed might of AMOS?

Well,
Einstein coughed.
I have given the matter some thought. We have to expose Hindquist's operation . . .

Brilliant!
Cap exploded.
But how?

Well, you and I are going to infiltrate the AMOS facility, film it, and deliver the evidence to the authorities,
Einstein announced.

Cap stared in disbelief.
Oh!
he mocked.
I'm thrilled you've picked me for this little adventure. I would have been heartbroken if you'd left me out!

I knew you'd be excited, Cap,
Einstein jabbed.

And tell me, how are we going to get ourselves inside AMOS?

Have you ever heard the story of the Trojan Horse? Well, we're going to do a modern variation on the theme: we're going to be delivered to AMOS by AMOS.

You mean we're going to sneak onto one of the trucks headed from the waterfront warehouse back to the main factory?

Exactly!
Einstein grinned.

And how are we going to avoid being spotted once we arrive? They aren't going to consider two SMART dogs part of their regular shipment, are they?

We're going to package ourselves, Cap. We'll be boxed up like the rest of the cargo, so they won't notice us on the other side. Bertrand, you're going to build our container . . .

Our coffin, more likely,
Cap grumbled.

And during the mission you, Breeze and Blizzard will be posted outside AMOS. Your job will be to create a diversion at the right moment so Cap and I can get out.

Bertrand nodded.

They were about to turn back to their planning, when Ariel interrupted. “What about me?” she demanded.

For a second it didn't register with the others that she had joined the conversation. Bertrand hadn't translated for her. Then Bertrand grinned. “Airee!” he whooped. “You understand what we've been saying?”

“I guess.” she grinned.

“Since when?”

“I've been picking up snippets for a while,” she said. “I guess I wanted to know so badly what was going on today that I sort of forgot I couldn't understand.”

Suddenly they were all chattering and clamouring for her attention. She couldn't transmit yet, so she acknowledged their compliments out loud.

In time you'll be able to send talkies, too,
Einstein assured her.

“Then watch out!” Bertrand joked, earning a hard punch on the shoulder. “Ow!” he complained happily.

Cap coughed, reminding them they had plans that needed making.

“What about me?” Ariel repeated, now that the excitement had died down.

Einstein yawned and stretched, a sure sign he was uneasy.

Look,
he began at last, glancing first at Bertrand then at Ariel.
Everyone has to play their part in this operation. There's no room for heroes. Ariel, you'll be mission backup. We need someone with a human voice for that.

“Mission backup? I feel like the last kid picked for the team.”

Not true,
Einstein said.
If things go wrong, we need someone to contact the police. You will remain off-site, out of Hindquist's reach. At an appointed time, or if you sense we're in trouble, your job is to dial 911.

“I see.”

“He's right,” Bertrand consoled. “We all have to do what's best for the team.”

“Why don't you be mission backup, then?” Ariel said. He shrugged. “Because I have a different job to do. I have to go into the AMOS facility with Einstein.”

No!
Einstein corrected.
You've got it wrong Bertrand. You're in charge of the diversion, remember?

“But you said we all have to do what's best for the mission.”

You're not going in!
Cap growled.
You wouldn't stand a chance.

“Unless you choose me, the mission can't succeed,” Bertrand insisted.

What are you talking about kid?

“Well, tell me Cap, how are you going to operate a video camera to record what's happening inside AMOS?”

We could rig the thing so it could be operated by a dog. Doctor Molar did it for Genie with guns and all kinds of things.

“Doctor Molar is a scientist, in a laboratory, with access to specialized equipment and help. There's no way I can rig a video camera so you can run it.”

You're lying!
Cap grumbled.

“I'm not!”

We can't send a kid in to do this job, Einstein!
Cap pleaded.

Einstein looked back and forth between the two of them, an expression of deep concern creasing his brow. With a long, weary sigh, he faced his brother.
He's right, Cap. Neither of us can operate the camera.

Cap looked away stubbornly.

And unless we expose AMOS, Hindquist will only get stronger.

Still Cap refused to concede the point.

Do you see any choice but to send the boy?

What about the three of us going in?

Einstein shook his head sadly.
No point,
he concluded.
We'd only increase the risk. Besides, we need as many people as possible outside to carry out the diversion.

Einstein turned to Bertrand.
Are you sure you want to do this?
he asked.
Hindquist might not harm you or Ariel if you don't show yourselves as a threat.

Bertrand found himself transfixed by Einstein's gaze. He didn't want to volunteer. He knew the fear that already gripped him would intensify, squeezing tighter and tighter as zero hour approached. But he also knew that he would not be able to look in the mirror if he shirked this destiny.

“I'm sure,” he answered.

And you Ariel?

“I'm ready, too,” she said.

Einstein nodded grimly.
So be it.

You humans!
Cap scowled.
Just when a dog thinks he's got you figured for a tribe of worthless, self-centered, conniving jerks that the planet would be better off without, along comes someone to make you doubt the facts.

They all laughed, because they knew that was about as close to a compliment as Cap was likely to get.

The days following their conference in Fort Nicomekl were crammed with activity. Bertrand and Ariel pondered how best to build a container for a dog and a human. How big did it have to be? How strong? What materials would work best?

Einstein and Cap ran through mission scenarios again and again, looking for flaws, sharpening the timing, accounting for every conceivable detail. They pulled the team together every day for dry runs, practicing the operation until every choreographed move had become a habit.

We're ready,
they announced at a final meeting.
We move tonight.

And so, Ariel found herself stuffing clothes under her blankets and arranging a soccer ball on her pillow, making it look as if she were asleep facing the wall with the covers pulled over her head. Then she snuck down the staircase and out the patio door, sliding it quietly shut behind her. As she wheeled her bike out the back gate Cap, Breeze, and Blizzard greeted her with wagging tails and encouraging nuzzles.

Time to move,
Cap ordered.
Breeze, you take the lead. Blizzard, you follow. I'll stick with Ariel.

She knew Bertrand and Einstein were also on the move, and wished she could have said one last goodbye to both of them. But they had farther to go and had left earlier. If things were going according to plan, they were already well on their way to the AMOS warehouse in Vancouver.

They'll be okay,
Cap said.
They haven't entered the danger zone yet.

Do you think this is going to work, Cap?
she asked, transmitting her question in a talkie, a skill she'd picked up quickly after her breakthrough in Fort Nicomekl.

We'll make it work, little sister,
Cap vowed.

“Little sister?” Ariel asked, smiling.

Welcome to the pack, Airee,
he confirmed solemnly
. I think you've had your initiation over the last week or so, don't you?

She wheeled along proudly, heartened by the sound of his paws drumming against the pavement.

Welcome,
Breeze and Blizzard chimed in from their stations in front and behind.

Einstein squirmed inside his harness, a contraption Bertrand had fashioned out of belts, sticks and wires. As long as nobody examined it too closely, it would pass for the rig of a seeing-eye dog. Bertrand sat on the bench seat facing the driver.

They wanted to be inconspicuous. Things had not gone according to plan. Because his dark glasses made it hard to see, Bertrand had walked smack into a post near their stop, eliciting a loud cry and string of curses. Then he'd scraped his shin and fallen with a clatter into the bus' stairwell.