Style, you
either have it or you
don't. And if you have it, you have it
all the time.The Rogue Goes to the Dogs
by Tux Toledo
Page 14
Nick
was shattered. The judges, who had also followed on
horseback, shook their heads. Nick remounted and started
back. Concorde trotted triumphantly ahead of him.
The poor dog didn't realize he had failed. I climbed down
from the transporter and waited for Nick's return. James soon
joined me.
"Sad, isn't it?" I said to him.
"Yes, sir."
"Did you see anything suspicious?"
"I can't say for sure. I did find this in a
clearing." He held out an aspirin-size bottle, empty except
for several drops of clear liquid clinging to its sides.
"What does it mean?"
"Perhaps nothing. But it wasn't there the first time I had
passed through the clearing." He put the bottle into his
pocket.
"Has anyone seen Al?" Nick asked, bringing his horse to a halt behind
the transporter.
"No," I said.
James shook his head. Then Al rode up and quickly
dismounted. His horse had been ridden hard. He must
have been following along with the spectators.
"Bad luck," he said to Nick.
Nick glared at him. "Luck had nothing to do with it!" he
yelled at Al. Then he looked at me. "Well, did you
see anything unusual?"
"No. I didn't notice any difference between you and the other
contestants."
"The other contestants found birds," Nick growled and turned away.
James helped Al remove the saddles from the horses.
"Don't give up yet," I said to Nick.
"I won't. I'm not a quitter." He stormed off and we
didn't see him again until it was time to leave.
© 2008 David Biagini