Читать книгу Thomas and Rose - John Aitkenhead - Страница 10

Chapter Five

From the corner of my eye, I saw movement: a hare running across the paddock. It stopped and looked at us with no sign of fear. Then Skipper spotted it, and he was off after it. They both ran furiously, and the hare got through the top fence. I was momentarily relieved until Skipped somehow managed to get through the fence himself, and they were gone.

By now, my dad was beside me telling me the Earnslaw was about to leave.

I screamed.

‘But we can’t leave Skipper.’

He held my left harm firmly and said, ‘We are going. The people here will look after Skipper until we can return and pick him up.’

I was almost paralysed with fear, half walking and half being dragged by my dad. We went aboard the ship and departed.

The trip home was the worst time of my life, and my concern for Skipper overwhelming; so much that I actually went to the side of the ship and threw up. Would he think I had abandoned him? Would he go looking for me and get lost in the mountains. Or would he just go back to the homestead and become one of the working dogs. Would he try to walk home; what would he eat; could he survive? At least, it was springtime with summer ahead. Perhaps he would stray onto various farms on the way and get fed. Or would he attack sheep or lambs out of starvation and get shot by a farmer.

My dad explained that the homestead had a telephone and that the following day he would go to the Queenstown Post Office and phone them to check on Skipper. I was slightly relieved but still very concerned.

When we arrived home, my mum and Rachel were sympathetic and made soothing comments about Skipper remaining at the homestead until we had a chance to go and collect him. My dad was outside until quite late dealing with his Ram and having it acquainted with our flock.

That night, I couldn’t sleep for worrying about Skipper, and just thinking about dogs and animals generally. How nature can be kind and rewarding but also so cruel. But cruelty among animals was based on instinct and survival, whereas cruelty of humans could result from resentment, hatred, jealousy and greed. Animals do not display those emotions, and a dog’s concern for its human pack leaders is without conditions or expectations. Their loyalty can be so strong, and all they request in return is food and a sheltered, bed; but also caring, even love. Such a beautiful and powerful message to us humans.

The following day was Sunday, so we couldn’t phone the homestead. We all went off to church to sing hymns and listen to the minister tell us how to live our lives. My dad said I should pray for Skipper, but quietly I felt a phone call to the homestead was preferable to a prayer to God.

On Monday morning, Mrs Baxter insisted I keep my promise to give a class talk on Saturday’s trip up the lake. I had my notes and talked about the events of Saturday until I got to the part about Skipper and the Hare. I simply froze and tears welled in my eyes. Jimmy Peters started laughing as did one or two other boys, but the girls looked quite sympathetic. Mrs Baxter asked if I felt unwell, and I fainted, perhaps from lack of sleep but also from a terrible sadness. I was taken to the sickroom, where I had a sleep before going back to my class.

I felt much stronger, and I asked Mrs Baxter if I could finish my talk. She was in the middle of a geometry lesson but agreed that I should finish. I was able to talk about losing Skipper and said I was very concerned about him. When I had finished, Jimmy Peters, Helen Strong and Penny Jacobs each came up and gave me a hug. Mrs Baxter sent us all back to our seats and continued the geometry lesson. I felt a lot better. At lunchtime, my dad came to school to tell me he had phoned the homestead and been told that Skipper had returned on Saturday night. They had fed him, but the next morning he had gone, and they hadn’t seen him since. I don’t remember anything about the rest of that Monday.