The Sleeping Army Awakes

Part 73 Explosive Situations

Samuel stood waiting for the wolves to return, at the entrance to the mine. He looked very smart but also tired and stressed in his new uniform. Katka seemed content to be sitting on a chair that they had found and she was taking in the seams of a summer dress that Camp David had provided her with. Samuel watched the two wolves bring in the bloodstained canvas bag and lay it on the ground.

"We have something for you Wuhuku!" Adolphus said, emboldened to go closer to this human than ever before. Samuel resisted the urge to stroke or pat him out of respect.

"I take it that the owner no longer needs the bag or its contents!" Samuel said dryly, observing the bloodstains that pretty much covered the outside of the bag. He peered in and saw the fuses, the wire and the Dudat but was mostly interested in the Dudat.

"That human no longer needs anything else that the world can provide." Adolphus said. "He simply no longer exists."

"And is your blood lust satisfied?" Samuel asked, perturbed by the implications of the last statement.

"For now!" Adolphus said.

Samuel got the impression that Adolphus thought that this depended on what further stunts were perpetrated on the pack's hunting grounds.

"And is our agreement still in force?" Samuel asked.

"You told us how to find the snakes and pull them out... so we have no quarrel with you. So we have an agreement." Adolphus said. "I feel that you respect the hunting grounds and wolf kind."

"I have respect for every living creature and everything in our world!" Samuel said. He knew that it would be unwise to actively criticise the wolves for acting within their natures when they had killed the count. But he did feel that it was important to state his own case and be honest with the wolf.

"Interesting!" Adolphus said, weighing the mixed feelings contained in the thought that Samuel had unconsciously projected. First, despite his attempts to conceal it, there was Samuel's unmistakeable disapproval in his thoughts but countering this there was Samuel's recognition that their actions had simply been necessary. It was clear that Samuel knew that other cultures have their own way of solving things. "Killing the human would not have been your solution, but you respect the fact that we are wolves, and therefore we handled the situation as our forefathers would have demanded. You have wisdom that others of your species could seek to emulate."

"You were right to bring me the bag!" Samuel projected, "What it contains can be used for good or for evil and I will ensure that it is used only for good. These are the fuses that cause the explosion although he seems to have used all the actual explosive."

Adolphus snorted and would have smiled ironically at Samuel's last statement, if the anatomy of his snout could have allowed it. Adolphus failed to see any possible benefit that the explosives could bring but for some reason he found it difficult to distrust this strange man.

"Do you need food?" Samuel asked.

"No we have just eaten!" Adolphus replied matter of factly, as if he and the other wolves had just finished off a few sandwiches at a picnic. "Count Mikula tasted of chicken!"

"Oh!" Samuel thought, though the concept of someone being torn apart by wolves offended his love of peace, "I should thank you and your brothers for removing this man!"

"We kill when we have to!" Adolphus observed philosophically, "But then we kill only what we need to eat or what we must destroy to protect our hunting grounds, no more... You humans kill prey that you don't eat and that don't represent any threat to your pack."

Samuel recognised the gravity of Adolphus' thoughts. "Adolphus, please do not judge all human kind by the desultory actions of individual humans. There are good humans and bad ones. It is well that you can tell them apart. Humans have become too powerful and that is plain to see. But I will use my power and resources to ensure your pack's survival."