How i became a dog calle.., p.1
How I Became a Dog Called Midnight, page 1
For Ruby and Angus
CHAPTER ONE
‘George? I’ve got a surprise for you.’
It was his mum’s voice, soft and low. George looked up to see her and his dad, bathed in light.
‘Close your eyes and hold out your hands.’
Doing as he was told, he felt the prick of tiny paws and the heat of an animal’s body.
‘You can look now.’
A puppy! A miniature, pink-nosed puppy with pink ears, white fur and huge blue eyes!
‘She’s an albino chihuahua’, said his dad. ‘Twelve weeks old and she’s looking for a new home.’
George blinked in disbelief. He’d wanted a puppy for ever! For a moment he was so excited he forgot to breathe.
‘Can we keep her?’ he asked.
‘She’s yours, George.’ His mum smiled. ‘What are you going to call her?’
‘Snowball,’ he said instantly.
Taking care not to drop her, George raised one thumb and stroked the back of the puppy’s tiny head. She seemed to like it. ‘Hello, Snowball,’ he whispered.
Snowball licked his thumbnail.
As the three of them watched, teeny-tiny Snowball sat up tall, closed her eyes, tipped back her head and let out an ENORMOUS, quite definitely terrifying HOWL!
George woke with a start and sat upright in bed, heart thumping.
CHAPTER TWO
George had dreamed about the puppy again; the one his mum had given him just before she died. It was a dream that started with him feeling happy and secure, and ended with him feeling sad and alone, because his mum wasn’t here any more.
The fact that he and his dad had to give Snowball away soon afterwards made him even sadder.
The howl, though. That was a new twist. George took a deep breath, plumped his pillow, and tried to settle back down. Which was when he heard it again.
A BONE-CHILLING, FULL-THROATED HOWL, echoing off into the night!
Something was out there, in the woods that surrounded the cottage. But what was it?
Eyes wide, George slid off the bed, crept to the window, and pulled back the curtain. A large moon hung beyond the whispering trees. He checked the time on his bedside clock. It was almost midnight!
It had sounded like a wolf. But there were no wolves in England, were there?
His dad would know what to do. George slipped on his dressing gown and opened his bedroom door.
The lights were on – his father was still up!
‘Dad?’
The long-legged figure by the wood burner didn’t move. George tiptoed closer. His dad was fast asleep in his favourite armchair, an old book in his lap, head tipped back and snoring. He was still in his work clothes; his short dark hair was tousled and a half-eaten cheese toastie sat beside him.
Outside in the woods, the creature howled again!
Gabe snuffled but didn’t wake. That made George’s mind up: he would go and investigate himself. Sliding into his big coat, he twisted his bare feet into his wellies. With one last glance at his sleeping father, he was outside.
His eyes took a few seconds to adjust to the darkness as he made a few clumsy steps off the stony path into the trees. Then he froze. Somewhere up ahead, something was moving.
It was big and blundering, crashing through shrubs and ripping brambles. A deer, maybe, or a badger? George felt his chest tighten. No wild animal moved like that, not normally. Not unless it was injured. And injured animals could be dangerous…
The noises stopped. The creature had sensed him. For a heart-stopping moment, their two spirits locked together in the stillness of the woods.
Then it burst out of the bushes, lurching towards him!
George took flight, racing for the lights of the cottage, but the creature was fast – much too fast. He took a few more steps before a heavy weight struck him between his shoulder blades, knocking him face down into the mud!
What was coming next? Teeth? Claws? George rolled into a ball, shielding his head with his hands. But all that came was a nose. A huge, wet nose, sniffing his neck, his armpits, and under his jumper. Then a tongue. A colossal, slobbering tongue, wiping him down like a flannel.
‘Oi!’ yelled George, half delighted, half terrified. ‘Get off!’
It was a dog. A huge, black shaggy dog with hair on its forehead so long and curly, its eyes were almost invisible. It bowed down in front of George, tail wagging, flashing its giant teeth and enormous pink tongue.
George pushed himself up from the floor. The dog seemed to take this as a cue for a play-fight, whirling around in circles to show how fast he could pounce and strike. It was funny and scary and impressive all at the same time; a show of strength and power without ever being properly threatening.
Where had it come from? Lady Jane and Koko weren’t due back at Hill House until tomorrow, and there were no fishermen at the lake this weekend. The only people on the entire estate were him and his dad…
‘Midnight! Where are you?’
A man’s voice rang out in the darkness.
The dog pricked up its ears, let out a rumbling bark, and bounded off!
Someone was up at Hill House!
CHAPTER THREE
Who could it be, this late at night? Burglars?
George needed to find out. That was one of the things he and his dad were here for: to look after everything until Lady Jane and Koko got back from their trip around the world. George was so jealous of Koko – being home-schooled on a cruise ship was way more exciting than reading at his poky kitchen table.
He picked his way through the brambles, heading back to the path, then jogged up through the trees to where it met the gravel drive.
A strange man was standing beside the fountain! He was bathed in moonlight, and wearing an open white-collared shirt, a shiny dark burgundy waistcoat, and a wide-brimmed leather hat.
As George watched, the dog ran up to greet him.
‘Midnight! There you are! Where did you run off to?’ The man’s voice was high and had a London accent.
George gulped: he needed to tell his dad. He was about to run back to the cottage when the lights came on in the hall, and two familiar figures appeared in the doorway: a mother with wavy blonde hair and a daughter with a chestnut ponytail. It was Lady Jane and Koko!
They must have come back early!
‘Hi!’ shouted George, so delighted to see them that he forgot how late it was, and that no one could see him in the dark.
The dog called Midnight began to bark.
‘Who goes there?’ called the man.
‘It’s me!’ announced George, stepping into the light. ‘George!’
Lady Jane recognized him immediately. ‘You’ve grown so tall! Koko, look, it’s George!’
‘Hi, George,’ said Koko, grinning. ‘It’s great to see you!’
‘Come here right now,’ said Lady Jane. ‘And give me a big hug!’
George rushed over, beaming, and wrapped his arms tight around Lady Jane.
‘George’s father is the estate manager,’ explained Lady Jane, turning to the man with the leather hat. ‘He and Koko are like brother and sister. George, meet Clive, my new husband.’
‘Very pleased to meet you, George,’ said Clive, with a little bow.
‘Husband?’ George was confused. The last he knew, Lady Jane was divorced. Wasn’t that why she had gone on the cruise – because she’d split up with Koko’s dad and she and Koko needed cheering up?
‘Yes, husband.’ Clive grinned, checking his watch. ‘As of approximately fourteen days, seven hours, and thirty-six minutes ago. Not that I’m counting every wonderful second.’
Clive kissed Lady Jane’s hand, and she blushed. George looked at Koko; she was smiling politely, but something in her eyes seemed unsure.
‘I hope Midnight didn’t wake you with all that howling,’ said Clive to George.
The dog’s ears pricked at the sound of its name, and it came trotting over.
‘Of course not,’ said George, to be polite. ‘What breed is he?’
‘A Pony-Poo. Giant poodle crossed with Shetland pony.’
George laughed politely.
‘I’m joking of course,’ said Clive. ‘No idea, to be honest. Had him since he was a puppy. Some Irish wolfhound in there somewhere, I think. Maybe a pinch of Labrador.’
‘He looks like a teddy bear.’
‘Tickle him behind his ears,’ urged Clive. ‘He likes that.’
Midnight let George tickle him, then shook his head free of George’s hand, trotted over to the fountain, and began to drink with enormous, human-sounding slurps.
‘Can he understand what we’re saying?’
‘I doubt it,’ snorted Clive. ‘Just about capable of standing upright, if you ask me.’
‘George, I’m sorry we disturbed you this late,’ said Lady Jane, opening the boot of the car. ‘We were going to come back tomorrow, but Clive just couldn’t wait.’
‘Midsummer’s Night!’ exclaimed Clive, rushing to help with the suitcases. ‘I said, “Jane, we have to arrive on Midsummer’s Night. It’s auspicious.” Do you know what auspicious means, George?’
George shook his head.
‘It means lucky,’ said Clive, dragging a large case on to the drive. ‘From Midsummer’s Night to full moon is a magical time. Now, tell me. Are you wearing a watch?’
George shook his head.
‘Not to worry – here’s one I prepared earlier!’ said Clive, snapping h
‘You’re going to love Clive’s tricks,’ Lady Jane said, beaming. ‘They’re so clever.’
‘Now, sir,’ said Clive, as if he was performing onstage. ‘Would you be so kind as to place the watch in this bag?’
Clive produced a purple velvet bag from his trouser pocket and held it open invitingly. George looked at Lady Jane.
‘Clive’s a magician,’ she said proudly. ‘That’s how we met: he was working on the cruise ship.’
‘Now, now,’ said Clive to Lady Jane. ‘Don’t give away all my secrets.’ He shook the bag, encouraging George to play along. George didn’t want to hurt Clive’s feelings, so he placed the watch inside.
‘Thank you,’ said Clive, brandishing a velvet-handled hammer. ‘Now WATCH carefully. Pun intended.’
Before George could stop him, Clive placed the bag on the stone base of the fountain and smashed it three times with the hammer!
George’s mouth fell open in surprise.
‘Then we say the magic words, Tempus Fugit!’
Clive gave the bag a little shake.
‘Now please,’ said Clive smugly. ‘Remove the timepiece.’
George did as he was asked, but all he could feel was broken watch parts. He pulled something out: one half of the brown leather strap.
There was a pause.
‘That’s very strange,’ said Clive thoughtfully, peering into the bag. ‘Very strange indeed…’
‘Is there a problem?’ asked Lady Jane.
‘No,’ said Clive, shaking his head. ‘No problem. Err… There’s just going to be an interval, that’s all. In the trick. Let’s get the stuff in, and I’ll do the second part later. Maybe tomorrow, actually, as it’s getting a little late.’
‘It’s gone wrong again,’ said Koko, sighing.
‘Round of applause for George!’ declared Clive quickly.
Lady Jane applauded awkwardly.
George frowned. Could this peculiar man really be Lady Jane’s new husband? What was kind, down-to-earth Lady Jane doing with a slimy magician like Clive?
‘Come on then!’ called Clive hurriedly. ‘These bags aren’t going to carry themselves!’
CHAPTER FOUR
Gogmagog the giant carp lurched awake, his barbels twitching.
Something was up.
He’d spent the afternoon hoovering up larvae from the mud at the very deepest part of the lake, and for the last hour or so had been resting in the clear water under the willow tree, watching absent-mindedly as the moon climbed higher and higher in the starlit sky.
He rippled his dorsal fin, and began to paddle, flushing tiny currents over his body. The water had a strange taste. It was a taste he recognized – one that spelled danger. But where was it coming from?
With a beat of his tail, Gogmagog powered forward and patrolled the lake. He shimmied through the bulrushes, dived under the fallen tree trunk, then surfaced by the inlet of the stream, flushing its oxygen-rich water over his gills.
This was the source of the scent, no question, and it was definitely familiar. He hovered there, pushing against the incoming current, letting the water soak against him, and suddenly, he knew the answer. A dog was drinking from the fountain.
Dogs meant fishermen. And fishermen meant…
Gogmagog shuddered. It was best not to think about it.
He pulsed his tail and retreated to the safest place in the lake: the silky black mud, deep below the branches of the fallen tree.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘A dog called Midnight?’
George was back at the cottage, having sprinted home to tell his father about the return of Lady Jane and Koko.
‘He belongs to Clive. Lady Jane’s new husband.’
‘Ah yes,’ said Gabe, brushing the crumbs from his lap. ‘She mentioned him on the phone. I was pretty surprised about that, to tell you the truth. I hope she knows what she’s doing, marrying someone she’s only just met. What’s he like?’
‘He’s a magician.’
‘A magician?’ Gabe raised his eyebrows. ‘Lady Jane has married a magician?’
George nodded. ‘There’s something strange about him, if you ask me.’
‘Now, George,’ said his father sternly. ‘Let’s not be mean.’
‘Why don’t you come and say hello? They’ve got loads of suitcases and stuff. You could help them unpack?’
Gabe scratched the stubble on his chin, as if he was thinking it over. Then he pushed himself up out of his armchair, drew the curtain back from the window and peered up towards the house.
He stood there for a few seconds, then turned, a happy smile playing on his lips.
‘Good to have them back, eh?’
‘You’ve missed her, haven’t you?’ asked George. ‘Lady Jane, I mean.’
Gabe’s smile vanished, as if he was worried he had given too much away.
‘There’s a lot that needs sorting,’ he said gruffly, clearing his throat. ‘The roof needs fixing, for a start. The lake’s going to need dredging at some point and that fountain’s been making some strange gurgling noises. Bit of focus from the lady of the house wouldn’t go amiss. And I know you’ll be glad to have Koko back to keep you company.’
‘Go and talk to her,’ urged George. ‘She’s right there!’
Gabe hesitated for a brief moment, glancing back out of the window.
‘It’s really late, George. We’ll go tomorrow,’ he said firmly. ‘Once they’ve had a chance to settle in. Besides, you’ve got school in the morning.’
‘I could take the day off?’ suggested George. ‘That’s the great thing about home-schooling, Dad. We call the shots.’
His dad smiled. ‘I call the shots, son. And I’m telling you to go to bed.’
* * *
No sooner was George tucked up under the covers, than he heard a strange scratching sound at the window.
He slid out of bed, tiptoed across the rug, pulled back the curtain and jumped!
Midnight was outside, standing with his paws on the sill, his human-like eyes staring directly into George’s.
‘Midnight!’ he exclaimed. ‘You scared me!’
A giant paw scratched at the glass.
‘Stop it!’ scolded George. ‘You’ll break it!’
The paw swiped again. Gingerly opening the window, George placed a hand on Midnight’s curly-haired chest and gave him a gentle push.
‘Down, boy,’ he whispered. ‘Get down!’
Midnight dropped from the sill and turned in a circle. Then he sat upright, panting, clearly wanting something.
‘What’s the matter? Are you lost?’
Midnight began to whine.
‘All right, all right,’ whispered George. ‘I’ll take you home. Then I’m coming straight back, okay? Otherwise I’ll get into trouble.’
As quickly and quietly as he could, George struggled back into his dressing gown, shuffled into his slippers, and climbed out of the window into the moonlight.
‘Come on,’ he whispered to Midnight. ‘This way.’
There’s something very special about being followed by a dog, and George felt a surge of joy as he and Midnight trotted through the woods towards the gravel drive of the house. For a moment he let himself imagine that Midnight was his very own dog, and that the two of them were going on a Brand-New Adventure. The crunching gravel reminded him of a beach he had once been to, where there were stones instead of sand. Suddenly he and Midnight were a famous pirate and his trusty hunting dog, returning to their ship after an extremely successful night of pirating.
He was about to herd his imaginary flock of stolen sheep across the lawn and up the gangplank, when a door opened in the ship, and it became Hill House again. George froze.
GONG! GONG! GONG!
Clive’s silhouette appeared in the doorway, just as the grandfather clock in the hall began to strike midnight. Clive seemed to be acting very suspiciously; looking around him as if he wanted to make sure he wasn’t being watched. Even more curiously, he was carrying two animals in cages.
George felt his breathing quicken as Clive, sensing he wasn’t alone, peered out into the darkness.
‘Who’s there?’ he whispered sharply.
Before George could stop him, Midnight bounded across the grass, jumped the hedge, and went crashing across the gravel to the bottom of the steps, wagging his tail madly.
