The Curse of the Eberbachs

The big Doberman lay in a corner of his kennel, head on his forepaws, eyes closed to slits, apparently dozing, actually thinking.

Maybe it wasn't that good an idea. I could have humoured him a bit. Maybe it would have done no harm to wag that stubby excuse for a tail a little? Hmpf.

But now I have him pissed off for good, I think ... Ah, shit. Damn it to hell and back! I actually miss that fop! But he can't help me anyway. I was mistaken. I have to do it on my own ... Must think ...

The German Shepherd taunted him from a safe distance. Silently, the Major lifted his head and bared his fangs. The German Shepherd gave another puppy yelp and went a few steps back, starting to bark hysterically.

Idiot. – Can't be bothered with stupid games. Must think of getting out of here. I think a good chance will be when someone comes to feed us tomorrow. Must watch how the daily routine is here. But better get a few hours of sleep now.

The Major had trained himself to be able to sleep at will. He had found out that it was more difficult in dog form, though. All the scents of his fellow inmates, their stupid territory and dominance games (which looked at from another level, didn't seem that stupid anymore), and the whole unparalleled situation made it almost impossible to get some sleep.

Remember your imprisonment training, von dem Eberbach. How to keep calm in this situation. Wouldn't have thought, though, I would need it in a dog kennel!

Only when the sun began to set and, one by one, the other dogs quieted down and settled for the night, the Major drifted off into a restless sleep.

He did not know how long he had slept, when he heard a very faint sound he could not place, though it was familiar somehow. There was no time, however, to think about what it might be, because some of the other dogs began to bark again.

"Intruuuuuuuuuuuuuder!" the German Shepherd howled. "Huuuuuuuuuman intruuuuuuder!"

And then, fast as a cat on the prowl, Dorian stood in the corridor between the kennels. He wore a black catsuit. The kennel door took the experienced thief about twenty seconds; then with the speed of lightning, both man and dog were out of the building, through the gate of the property, in a car and speeding away from the animal shelter.

"Now, what was that for?" the Doberman asked from the back seat. "First abandoning me in the shelter, because I won't do the 'Nice doggy' stunt, then breaking me out at night? What idiot, stupid game is this?!"

Dorian turned around, his azure eyes sparkling with joy and excitement. He was racing the car at full speed on the narrow, unlit country road. He still wore his hood. A few strands of his hair had come free, and the human part of the Major's mind had to admit that the Earl looked definitely ravishing.

"Romantic?!" the Major raged on. "Very romantic, yes. While you were planning on being romantic, I nearly had an affair with a German Shepherd!"

"He violated the borders of my kennel, and I showed him his limits," the Major growled. "But if you ever say such stupid shit again, like 'my dog would wag its tail, my dog would do somersaults and whatnot', I'll take off your head! Either you take me with you, or you leave me the hell alone!"

"My poor dear! Did you actually think I would have left you there at the shelter for good?"

Of course I've been worried, you stupid git. I have even missed you. And I know quite well that I got me into trouble myself by running away in the first place.