The Way of the Ram Read online

  “Dreamer didn’t tell you about… the project?”

  “No.”

  “Well, Chugg built a trap and the other pigs are springing it. They’ve staged an attack on Fleece City and they’re using it as a pretext to bring all the sheep into the Megatropolis. They have cloning machines there. They want to use us as an unlimited source of livestock to feed Toxid with.”

  “You figured all this out when you went chasing that Render into the pig city?”

  “More or less. Dreamer and I thought we’d stopped it when we threw Chugg out of his tower. The last thing he said to us was that killing him wouldn’t change anything. Guess he wasn’t lying. But with no Hogdogger…” Healer trailed off. “I want to know how they’re doing this.”

  “One thing at a time. We can figure this out once we know Dreamer is safe.”

  “Right.”

  They ran in silence until they drew near Fleece City. The square was wreathed in fire, but this close Healer could see that most of the businesses were still intact. A garrison of dogs stood at each entry gate.

  “OK,” Healer said. “The last thing I want is to get caught by those dogs. I say we keep our distance and run hard for University under cover of darkness. It’ll take longer than cutting close to the city, though. What do you say?”

  Healer waited for an answer. “Shiver?”

  He turned. The older ram was staring into the flickering red inferno that engulfed most of Fleece City.

  “Out of nowhere…” Shiver mumbled. “Pow, pow, pow. We never saw anything like that before. Guys I knew for years, blown to bits right in front of me. So much fire.”

  Healer approached. “Shiver, are you with me?” He waved a hoof in front of the black ram’s eyes, eliciting no response. “Damn it, we don’t have time for this.”

  Taking a deep breath, Healer reared up and grabbed Shiver’s shoulders with his front hooves. “Shiver! This is your chance to make it right! Your daughter needs you!” He jerked Shiver’s upper body with all his strength.

  The black ram was startled into swinging his head, but Healer was prepared for that. He jumped back and parried the oncoming horn with his own. Shiver blinked and shook his head.

  “Wow…” he muttered. “That hasn’t happened in a long time.”

  “Are you here, Shiver?”

  After several shallow breaths, the other ram nodded. “Yeah. I went away there for a minute.”

  “Don’t look at the fire. Focus on something else.”

  Shiver turned his eyes from the tower of flames. “Hey. The dogs are still taking orders from the pigs, huh?”

  “Yeah. Looks like Pincher is still loyal to the Chugg Corporation, even without their figurehead. Come on, we’re going the long way.”

  The two rams veered north and went wide around the sheep city. When they came around to the city’s far side, Healer slowed and stopped. Dogs stood at regular intervals along the road, and hundreds of sheep were walking, frantic but cooperative, in a constant flow from Fleece City to the Megatropolis. The gate to the pig city stood wide open, welcoming them.

  “My home!” someone in the crowd shouted. “My home!”

  “Did you see the size of that creature?”

  “It was eating people! I saw it snap someone up in one bite!”

  “Thank Arghast for the pigs. If it weren’t for them, we’d all be lost.”

  “Look at that,” Healer said. “It hasn’t occurred to anyone that this is all a trap, that the pigs are behind whatever monster is loose in there. Everything the pigs have done, all the disappearances and blood sacrifices, and they still trust the pigs enough to go walking into their city. You were right.”

  “Of course I was,” Shiver answered. “I know these people. I told you, they won’t stand up for themselves. They might think this all seems odd, but they won’t speak up. They’re ruled by fear and passivity.”

  Healer hung his head. “I didn’t want to believe you.”

  “Well, sorry.”

  “Anyway, let’s get to University. Maybe the students haven’t been rounded up yet.”

  “If they have, we’re going straight into that pig city to get her.”

  “Agreed.”

  Chapter 77

  “Absolutely not!” Caper roared, his eyes glimmering with wrath. “My students will remain right here in my custody. My facilities are more than capable of keeping them safe.”

  “Wrong answer, old man,” said the sneering foxhound flanked by two hulking ridgebacks. “I’m going to give you one more chance to open this gate. We are under orders from General Pincher to escort these sheep to the designated shelter in the Megatropolis. Let us in.”

  “There is only one way your thugs are going to lay a paw on a single one of my students, and that is over my corpse.”

  “Have it your way, owl. You heard him, guys. Break it down.”

  Caper took a step back as the two large dogs prepared to ram the flimsily repaired iron gate that stood between them and the school courtyard. The ridgebacks surged forward, each preparing to slam a shoulder into one side of the gate.

  They never made it. In a coordinated strike, the two rams dashed in from either side, striking the dogs in a pincer movement and smashing them into one another. The foxhound yelped and ran off into the night.

  Shiver and Healer stepped past the incapacitated dogs and up to the gate.

  “I appreciate the assistance, gentlemen.” Caper smiled. “I assume you are here for Dreamer. She is safe. These slavering canines have not yet set foot on University grounds.”

  “Good,” Shiver snapped. “Let us in.”

  Caper complied, throwing the crossbar aside and pulling the gate open for them. The frightened students were gathered in the courtyard. Hearing her father’s voice, Dreamer came to the front and reunited with him and Healer. The four Flaxers rode on her back.

  “What’s the plan, Professor?” Dreamer called out.

  “I think it’s time we made use of the secret tunnel,” the old owl replied. “Durdge and his clones discovered it, but there may be a chance that Pincher’s dogs don’t know about it yet.”

  “That’s as good a plan as any,” Healer agreed. “Let’s get all these students down there.”

  Caper, Dreamer and Healer led the students into the main lecture building and down the service stairwell to the false maintenance closet. Caper threw the switch and opened the fake wall, waving students past him. “Go, go! There’s room for everyone!”

  After about half the sheep had gotten into the tunnel, the screaming started. Panicked students at the front started pushing back, trying to get the others to turn around. “Look out!” the sheep in the tunnel yelled. “There are dogs in here too!”

  Caper fixed Healer and Shiver with a sharp look. “Protect my students.”

  Chapter 78

  The two rams pushed their way into the tunnel, weaving through the terrified sheep trying to shove their way out. Mrs. Flaxer followed them. When they got to the front of the crowd, they faced the two dogs they found.

  “It’s just Boxer and Ledger!” Healer shouted. “They’re not a threat to you!” But the bleating screams drowned him out.

  Shiver gave a whistle that rebounded through the enclosed space and stopped everyone in their tracks. Healer repeated his words, more calmly. Mrs. Flaxer left Healer’s shoulder to report back to Caper. A minute later, the owl appeared at the front of the crowd, along with Dreamer and Swifter.

  “What’s happening?” Caper demanded. “What are the dogs doing?”

  Boxer shook his head. “Pincher declared an emergency situation. Four-alarm fire, he said. Huge disaster with an active attacker in Fleece City. All of my other students were called up for duty with the rest of the dogs. Ledger here snuck off to tell me what was happening. We came to hide here while we figured out a plan.”

  “Is that all Pincher said?” Caper got close to Ledger in order to whisper. “Nothing about a sheep blood farm, or the Hogdogger?”

 
; “No. As far as my fellow dogs know, they are protecting the sheep. But this is obviously what Pincher meant when he said it would be ‘too late.’ He has lied to his own people.”

  Chapter 79

  “You didn’t see what I saw,” Healer said. “Shiver was right about everything. Our people are just walking off into the Megatropolis, no questions asked. No one even tried to run off into the fields except for your dad. More and more, Mauler’s offer is sounding good. We could get away from this.”

  Dreamer lowered her head. “I know. I understand. It’s just…” She turned to her assembled classmates, whose terrified faces looked to everyone who had assumed control during this emergency: Caper, Boxer, Shiver, Healer, and Dreamer herself.

  “Can you leave them, Healer?” she finally said.

  He took a long look at the students. Even Swifter looked scared and helpless, his face as white as his wool. Dreamer saw Healer’s eyes mist over.

  “No. I really can’t,” he said. “They don’t have the tools to protect themselves. They’ve been conditioned their entire lives to look to others for guidance. My father was right. My burden as a ram is to shed blood so that they may live.”

  “I think you’re right, Healer. We’ve got to see them through this.”

  Healer kissed her and the two of them rejoined Boxer and Caper.

  “OK, this is what we’ve got to work with for now,” Healer said. “You two, myself, Dreamer, Shiver, and Ledger. A good group if I’ve ever seen one, but we need more help if we’re going to get all those sheep out of the Megatropolis and Fleece City. Something really is attacking us.”

  “What about Ponder and Mauler?” Caper asked.

  “They’re adamant that they’re finished with us, which is fine. They’ve done enough. I have a better idea. I’m going to bargain with Karkus and Optera.”

  Boxer blinked. “What?”

  Healer paused. “Look, the endgame of Chugg and Toxid was to get their hands on an infinite supply of cloned sheep blood, right? They wanted to do that so they could exterminate dogs and birds, rendering Karkus and Optera incapable of challenging them again. So, it sounds to me like those gods have a powerful motive to throw in on our side of the conflict here.”

  Caper scratched his chin. “You’re not wrong. What do you need us to do?”

  “Someone needs to go up the mountain to the shrine and talk to Optera.”

  “I’ll do that,” Dreamer cut in.

  “I will take her,” Caper said.

  “How are we going to get to Karkus’s shrine in time?” Ledger interjected. “You may not know this, but security has been improved because of our break-in.”

  “We’re not going to Karkus’s shrine,” Healer answered. “I’m going to get his attention the same way Mauler did—beating Pincher.”

  Boxer grinned. “Count me in.”

  Healer turned and reached for Mrs. Flaxer, who fluttered onto his hoof. “What can we do to help?” the little canary asked.

  “I need you to fly to the quarry for me. Find Ponder and Mauler. They’ve changed, but you’ll still recognize them. They’re working on a boat on the cliff at the shore. Just tell them to leave without us. They’ll understand.”

  Mrs. Flaxer fluttered into the air to give Healer an affectionate peck on the cheek. “Anything for you. Best of luck, dear.”

  Shiver stepped into the middle of the group, shaking his head and holding up a hoof. “You’re all nuts. This is foolishness. These sheep can’t be helped. I told you, Healer, they don’t want to be helped. You saw it for yourself.”

  “Dad,” Dreamer snapped. “Come over here. I want to talk to you for a minute.”

  Exasperated, the black ram joined his daughter off to one side, allowing Healer and the others to continue planning.

  Chapter 80

  Dreamer braced herself for the conversation she should have had with her father a long time ago.

  “Why are you sticking your neck out again, Dreamer? It’s time to face facts. These people can’t do anything for you.” Shiver’s cold eyes scanned the assembly and locked with Swifter’s. Face drawn out with shame, the big white sheep looked away.

  “Each time you try to save these sheep,” Shiver continued, “you get closer to getting yourself killed. It’s never going to end. Even if these pigs go away for good, sheep will end up with another master. They’ll let it happen. I tried to explain this to Healer. I had him convinced too, until you got to him. How do I get through to you?”

  Dreamer grasped her father’s foreleg. “Remember the day I spoke up for Old-Timer, and you got so upset with me and told him to stay away? What were you afraid of?”

  “What do you think, Dreamer? My fear was absolutely justified. Scurvert attacked you for it.”

  “Why was that? What made my action such a threat to him that he had to silence me?”

  “He couldn’t have the quarry listening to old Trampler.”

  “Why do you think that is? Who do you think these people look to?” She tapped his horn with her hoof. “We have a chance here, Dad. You think they’ll just accept any leader that rolls in? Why not be that leader? If you think sheep need to be better, just show them how.”

  Shiver turned away, gently pulling his leg out of her grip. “Not happening.”

  Undeterred, Dreamer moved around in front of him. “You know, Dad, ever since we got Ponder and Mauler back, I’ve been struggling with something. I discovered that Arghast, the supposed god of all sheep, was manipulating me. He pushed me to get back with Healer so that he could use our powers to make sure that Chugg got taken out. Once I figured that out, I wasn’t sure if it should continue. I felt like I wasn’t in control of my own feelings, my own choices. But something happened. See, recently I’ve been going into people’s minds a lot. Just like I did with you. That stuff was helping you with your war nightmares and flashbacks, right?”

  “Yeah. Mostly.”

  “Well, a lot of times I’ve been taking Healer with me so he can work his magic in the mind the way he normally does on the body. And sometimes… just by accident, on the way in, I see a little bit into his mind too.”

  “So?”

  “I came to understand the way he sees the situation. There might be outside factors at work, someone may be trying to play us and keep us down, but ultimately we still have the power to make the best choices we can. The odds might be against you, you might be likely to fail, but you can still choose to lead and be an example. Healer doesn’t care that Arghast used us. He made the choice to fight, but he also made the choice to seek a peaceful life afterward—and he offered to include me in it.”

  Shiver peered at her. “And that’s what you want?”

  “Yes, Dad. I can’t ever have that if I have to live with the knowledge that I abandoned these people when they needed me. My conscience would never be clear. All you wanted for me was a safe and prosperous life. Help us get through this, and I can finally start working on that. We all can. You, me, and Healer. A family.”

  Chapter 81

  “This is it.” Healer gave Dreamer a long kiss, then stepped back and looked up at the owl. “Don’t come back without her.”

  Caper nodded to him before lifting Dreamer and bearing her up and away from the courtyard toward Ptera Peak. Healer waved to the four Flaxers as they took off to deliver his message.

  “Alright,” Healer said as he passed through the school’s front gate. “Where would Pincher be?”

  “He likes to be wherever he can observe what’s going on,” Boxer replied. “So he’s going to be out in the open somewhere.”

  “When we were being called up for duty,” Ledger added, “he said the majority of us would be deployed to the gates of the sheep city.” He pointed to the burning town. “They’ll be blocking the far-side gate and keeping order at the nearest one here to herd all the sheep into the Megatropolis. If you ask me, I’d say he’s at this gate supervising everyone getting the panicking sheep under control.”

  “Yeah. I
agree with that,” said Boxer. The three of them began moving in that direction.

  “Healer, wait.”

  The ram turned. Swifter was jogging to catch up to them.

  “What are you doing?” Healer said. “Caper asked all the students to wait this out in the tunnel.”

  “I know, but… all I’ve done in the face of these pigs is hide. I hate it. I want to do what you’re doing. Let me help.”

  Healer glanced at Boxer. The old dog shook his head. “You’ll get killed, son. This isn’t a ball game and it’s not a sparring match. These guys will pin you down and rip your throat out.”

  Swifter frowned, then offered a resigned nod.

  “Boxer’s right about this part,” Healer added. “We’re going to be fighting dogs. The best thing you can do is blend in with the rest of the sheep when we get there. For now. I’m going to need your help after the dogs are dealt with.”

  “I can do that, man.”

  “Alright. Let’s go.”

  It was a short walk from University to Fleece City; the same walk, in fact, that Healer and Dreamer had taken on their first date. They passed the throng of sheep streaming out of the city and toward the Megatropolis. As Ledger had guessed, the biggest concentration of dogs was at the gate facing the Megatropolis.

  Boxer grabbed the old Dane’s shoulder. “OK, my friend, we part ways here. You have your instructions.”

  “See you soon, boss.” Ledger shook Boxer’s paw and then broke off to look for his compatriots. Swifter darted away and vanished into the crowd of sheep.

  Boxer and Healer headed for the dogs at the gate.

  Chapter 82

  “We have two options,” Boxer began, staring at the burning city. “I want to try to reason with Pincher first. He was a good friend of mine once, after all. He has let pig money rule his thoughts, but I have to believe he is not lost. If we can get him to call this off and let those people escape from the city… would you be satisfied?”