Children of the Wolf

by Rodman Philbrick

  A howling!

  “Aaaaaaooooooooooooo …”

  Chapter 26

  I peeled myself away from the tree as the mournful howl died away in a series of rough barks.

  I sighed with relief. It was only a dog. A big powerful dog, from the sound of it, but still only a dog.

  So Mr. Clawson had a dog after all, I thought. Miss Possum was wrong about him—Mr. Clawson did like animals. And I must be wrong about him, too.

  I wanted to see the dog with my own eyes but I hesitated. It sounded mean and dangerous. What if it attacked me? What if Mr. Clawson found me here, messing with his dog?

  I knew I should go home but I just couldn’t. Now that I was here I was determined to scope out that dog. There was an oak tree at the edge of Mr. Clawson’s yard and the animal’s howl came from that direction. Hunching low, I scurried along the front of the house to the shadow of the oak tree. If the dog ran at me I could always climb the tree to safety. Probably even Mr. Clawson wouldn’t think to look up into the branches of a tree.

  I peered into the moonlit shadows behind Mr. Clawson’s house. A black shape moved. A chain rattled. I breathed a sigh of relief. The dog was chained. Boldly. I moved a little closer, out from under the safety of the tree.

  Then I stopped, cold bumps raising on my arms and legs. The dog was chained in the yard of the house next door. It wasn’t Mr. Clawson’s dog after all!

  Before I could dart away, back to the deep shadows under the oak tree, the big dog whined in fear. I froze. A large twisted shape crept out of the dark, toward the cowering dog. It snarled, softly and viciously.

  The dog yelped and threw itself into the air, away from the menacing figure. The chain clanged as it stretched to its full length and yanked the dog backward. The dog fell heavily to the ground, yelping and whining madly.

  The menacing shape threw back its head and laughed gleefully.

  My blood ran icy in my veins. I felt paralyzed. I knew that sound. Then the creature turned its head and I saw the glow of its fiery red eyes. It was a werewolf!

  I didn’t even dare breathe. Cold shivers ran down my back all the way to my toes. I felt moonlight pricking at the hair on my head. All the creature had to do was look my way and it would see me for sure.

  The dog heaved itself up and ran again until again the chain jerked it back, almost choking it. The poor animal was crazed with fear.

  Luckily for me the werewolf was so involved in teasing the dog it didn’t seem to know I was there. I forced myself to move, inching back into the shadows as the monster flicked its tongue and swiped its claws at the frenzied dog.

  Slowly I moved, trying to make myself invisible as I crept back under the oak tree. When I felt its trunk against my back I grabbed hold of it and swung myself up into its lower branches.

  Just in time. In the street another pair of red eyes glowed like wildfire. The second werewolf swiftly crossed the lawn toward the first. And then I saw another, its eyes burning holes in the night.

  And then came another. And another.

  They met in the moonlight, hissing and spitting at each other.

  There were werewolves everywhere.

  Then one of them lifted its snout and sniffed the air suspiciously. Its scraggly fur bristled. Baring its long yellow teeth in a snarl it began to turn toward the oak tree I was hiding in.

  The werewolf had scented me!

  Chapter 27

  I clung to the trunk of the tree with all my might. My insides were quivering.

  Sniffing, the werewolf took a step in my direction.

  I looked up into the tree, wondering if I could escape by climbing higher. The branches were thick and close together and the leaves would hide me. The creature might scent me but it wouldn’t be able to see where I was.

  Carefully inching my way up the trunk I reached for the next branch. But as I started to pull myself up there was a sudden outbreak of noise on the ground. My heart lurched sideways in my chest. Were they all after me now?

  Flattening myself against the tree trunk, I peered through the leaves. The werewolves were prancing and jumping excitedly. The creature that had been sniffing around my tree had gone back to join the others. All of them were staring at something on the ground, their red eyes glowing so hot they seemed to spark in the cool air.

  I gasped as a human head slowly appeared, coming up out of the ground. A man’s shoulders followed. The werewolves fell silent, except for an occasional hiss of excitement—or was it fear? The air around me crackled with electricity.

  As the man rose out of the earth, he raised his head. Moonlight fell on his face, and I saw it was Mr. Clawson! I clenched my teeth to keep from crying out.

  Then Mr. Clawson stepped up onto the lawn and I saw it was only his cellar he’d come out of, not the ground itself. So there was still a chance he was only human. I realized my fingers were numb and loosened my grip on the tree. My muscles ached from tension but I didn’t dare move.

  The werewolves gathered around him, circling and murmuring. Mr. Clawson snapped his fingers at them and they spat and cringed away. Ignoring the werewolves, Mr. Clawson lifted his hands toward the moon.

  His whole body shuddered. He seemed to swell with strength.

  The monsters snarled and hissed as if they’d like to tear him to pieces—if they weren’t so scared of him.

  But they were scared. Even the evil werewolves shrank in fear from him. Then Mr. Clawson threw back his head and a great roar issued from his thickening throat.

  I stared in horror as I recognized what he had become!

  Chapter 28

  The grass burned where Mr. Clawson’s long yellow fangs dripped saliva onto the ground. He dropped to all fours as muscles rippled along his back and legs. Thick gray hairs sprouted all over his body as his clothing burst at the seams and fell away.

  Mr. Clawson, our school principal, was the biggest, most dangerous of the monsters who had chased me through the swamp. He was Ripper, the leader of the werewolves, the one who had found me the night of my first wereing. It was Ripper who tried to make me kill. Once I tasted blood I would be like them—like him—forever. I had escaped him once but could I do it again?

  Watching him change, I trembled with fright. He was so strong and I was so small and weak. How could I ever stop him?

  Once the Change was complete Ripper sucked in a huge lungful of air and rose up on his hind legs. The other werewolves gathered around him, cringing from the reach of his long curved claws. They waited for his command.

  Ripper’s burning eyes stared them down. When all the werewolves were still as death, Ripper opened his great jaw, showing rows of glistening razor-sharp teeth.

  His words echoed inside my head.

  “My brothers, the time is soon. On the first night of the full moon we will take the children of Fox Hollow. Our bite will free them. Their blood will be our blood. There can be no escape.”

  As these terrible words burned into my brain, a silent cheer went up from the listening werewolves and pounded in my head.

  “We must be ready,” thundered Ripper, although the sleeping people of Fox Hollow would hear no sound. “Each of you knows what to do.”

  “YESSSS!” screamed the werewolves inside my head. They began dancing with glee around their leader but stopped the instant he raised one claw-tipped hand.

  “Go!” Ripper commanded. He took a step forward. The werewolves scattered out of his path, leaped into the air, and disappeared into the night.

  The great werewolf Ripper stood motionless, the moon spilling cold light over his shaggy head and muscled shoulders.

  I held my breath. What was he doing?

  Ripper raised his head and shot one burning glance into my tree. I pressed myself against the rough bark, faint with terror. He knew I was here! He took a step toward the tree.

  His voice boomed in my head. “There will be no escape!”

  He lifted his hand and slashed at the tree. Tiny bits of shredded leaves rained dow
n onto the ground.

  In another moment he would rip me out of the tree.

  Chapter 29

  Then Ripper suddenly turned on his heel and strode away from me and the tree. His evil laughter trailed out behind him, fouling the air.

  He disappeared down into Mr. Clawson’s cellar and the night was still again.

  My knees were knocking so hard I couldn’t immediately climb down from the tree. I don’t remember how I got home or up to my bed. But I know I didn’t sleep.

  Tomorrow is the first night of the full moon, I kept thinking, numbly. Tomorrow. When the moon rose, I, too, would become a monster but I could no longer run off to the swamp and leave my new friends in Fox Hollow. There was too much danger.

  “We will take the children of Fox Hollow,” Ripper had promised. But he hadn’t said how. And I was the only one who could try to stop it from happening.

  The next morning, first thing when I got to school, I went to Miss Possum. She took one look at the dark swollen circles under my eyes and bent her head with concern.

  “What is it, Gruff?” she asked. “Is something wrong?”

  “Terrible things,” I said in a rush, encouraged by the sympathy in her kind face. “Werewolves. Coming. Tonight. You must believe. Must help.” I struggled with the effort to find the right words. Even though I could understand almost everything and could even read some now, it was still hard for me to sort my thoughts into words. “They come at full moon. Children in danger. Please. We must stop them.”

  Miss Possum’s soft brown eyes widened. She looked very alarmed. I felt a surge of hope. “Dear me, Gruff,” she said. “I know it’s been rough for you being thrust into civilization so suddenly. And I’ve been very impressed with your progress. Very impressed. But it’s only natural the strain should take its toll. You’re anxious about fitting in, Gruff, and it’s made you imagine these terrible things.”

  Miss Possum patted my head reassuringly. “You must try not to worry so much. You’ll get used to us humans,” she said. “And, Gruff? One thing I can tell you for a fact. There’s no such thing as monsters.”

  It was no use, she’d never believe me.

  I chewed my nails until gym class and then I tried Mr. Grunter. I had become one of his favorite students since it turned out I was good at almost all gym things. This time I tried a slightly different tack.

  “Remember last full moon, Mr. Grunter? Wolves blamed for bad trouble?”

  He nodded, looking at me curiously. “Sure, Gruff. Be pretty hard to forget that.”

  “Not wolves. Werewolves,” I said, shaking my head for emphasis. “Werewolves coming tonight. Coming for children.”

  Mr. Grunter scratched his head thoughtfully. But just then Mr. Clawson appeared at the door of the gym. “You ready, Grunter?” asked the principal. “We’re about set to go.”

  Mr. Grunter waved, calling back, “Sure thing.” Then he turned to me. “What you say is interesting, Gruff. I must admit, I always wondered why a wolf would come through a window after a child. But we don’t have time to discuss it now. Come see me after the field trip, and we’ll discuss your concerns.”

  “Field trip?” My voice squeaked. The hairs on my neck began to rise.

  “Sure, isn’t it great? The principal organized a surprise field trip for the whole class. Quite a treat.” Mr. Grunter grinned and hoisted a backpack onto his shoulder. “We’re leaving as soon as the bell rings.”

  “But no!” I cried. “Mr. Clawson is werewolf. Mr. Clawson is leader!”

  But my words were drowned out by the loud clanging of the bell.

  Chapter 30

  Kids were pouring onto a waiting school bus as I ran outside. Kim and Paul waved at me as they climbed aboard. “Come on, Gruff,” they called, faces flushed with excitement.

  “No! Don’t go!” I screamed, running alongside the bus. “It’s a trap! They’ll get you! Monsters will get you!”

  Kids looked at each other in surprise and then began to laugh. “Good one,” someone yelled. “Monster stuff!”

  “No,” I yelled. “Really! It’s true. Werewolves coming. Horrible danger!”

  But the kids laughed louder. “Werewolves!” I heard them hooting. “It’s broad daylight, we’re getting to go on a field trip instead of spending the day in school, and Gruff is talking about werewolves! What a funny kid.”

  My heart thudded in my chest. I felt so helpless.

  A heavy hand came down on my shoulder. My heart leaped into my throat. I whipped around, knowing who I would see.

  “I guess this means you don’t want to come with us on this field trip,” said Mr. Clawson, his eyes blazing into mine, his fingers digging into my shoulder like he was itching to rip me apart right there. “Well, that’s fine,” he snapped. “You can stay right here. In the basement, perhaps.” He paused to consider it. “Yes, I think so. Your own special detention room in the basement.”

  I jerked away from him, my breath coming in little gasps. I turned and ran. As fast as I could go, I ran after the bus.

  “Wait! Wait for me!” I couldn’t let them face the monsters alone.

  The bus puffed black smoke as it pulled away from the curb. It was leaving without me. “Wait,” I screamed. “Wait.”

  But the bus kept going.

  Chapter 31

  I raced after the bus, waving my arms and shouting. I saw kids waving back at me and laughing. Slowly, with a grinding of gears, the bus ground to a halt. Mr. Grunter, who was driving, opened the door.

  “Decided to come with us, did you?” he said, grinning at me. “You won’t regret it, Gruff.”

  I dropped into the seat behind Kim and Paul. They twisted around, still laughing.

  “We thought you weren’t coming,” said Kim.

  “I know you want to stay in school and learn all the stuff you’ve missed, Gruff,” said Paul, his blue eyes twinkling. “But werewolves—that’s going too far even for you.”

  My stomach lurched as Big Rick dropped into the seat beside me. He was grinning. “Hey, geek-face, that monster stuff was pretty cool,” he said, jabbing an elbow in my ribs. “Did you see Clawson’s face? He looked like he had a mouthful of old roadkill.”

  “He is roadkill,” chimed in another kid.

  “Come on, you guys, he’s the one who organized this field trip,” Kim protested. “Give him a break. Mr. Clawson got us out of school for the whole afternoon. He can’t be all bad.”

  “Oh, yeah? The monster stuff may be weirdsville but wolf-boy’s right about one thing,” said Rick. “Clawson never did anything because it was going to be fun for us kids. He’s got something up his sleeve. For instance, why won’t he tell us where we’re going?”

  “He wants it to be a surprise,” said Kim.

  “That’s what worries me,” said Rick. He stood up and pointed out the front of the bus, at a large black car with heavily tinted windows that was leading the way. “Clawson won’t even ride on the bus with us. He can’t stand kids. His idea of a surprise is not going to be our idea of fun.”

  “He’s probably taking us to the state prison to show us what happens to bad kids who don’t follow all his rules,” chimed in Paul, looking worried.

  “What spoilsports you guys are,” said Kim, tossing her head and making her hair swing over her shoulders. “I’m not going to listen to this anymore.” And with that she started singing at the top of her lungs:

  “A hundred bottles of puke on the wall, a hundred bottles of puke. One of the bottles of puke fell off, ninety-nine bottles of puke on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of puke …”

  It was a funny song and educational, too, with all the counting. I wanted to join in but I felt like something furry with teeth was gnawing on the inside of my stomach.

  It was two o’clock in the afternoon. In five hours the full moon would rise. The wereing would begin.

  Mr. Clawson would become Ripper, leader of the werewolves. He would have the children of Fox Hollow right where he wanted them—trapped f
ar from the safety of Fox Hollow and their parents.

  We drove for a long time. Big Rick amused himself by singing loudly in my ear and leaning heavily against me every time we went around a curve. I gritted my teeth and ignored him. I had bigger things to worry about.

  Finally the kids on the bus got tired of the puke song and began to guess at our destination. “The state park!” “The wax museum!” “The beach!”

  Suddenly the bus lurched. Kids were thrown against the sides. The bus jolted and wobbled. Something scraped the roof.

  I jumped up to see what was happening. The principal’s black car had turned onto a narrow dirt road enclosed on both sides by thick trees and brambles. The road looked like it hadn’t been used in a long time.

  The bus was turning into the woods, following the black car.

  “Don’t!” I shouted. “Don’t follow. We’ll never leave! Don’t follow, he’ll get us!”

  Chapter 32

  Mr. Grunter looked at me in his rearview mirror and laughed. “Of course we’ll follow Mr. Clawson,” he said. “He’s the principal. We have to do what he wants. Now sit down and be quiet, Gruff. Everything’s going to be fine. Don’t worry.”

  Don’t worry!? The trees closed in around us, so thick and dense they turned day into night. Branches scraped the windows and snapped under the wheels of the bus. Leaves hid the rest of the woods from view. This wasn’t a place I had ever been before.

  “Well we’re not going to the beach,” muttered Rick, slumped in his seat. “Or the state park or the wax museum.”

  “Or the prison,” snapped Kim, turning around to scowl at Rick. But her eyes widened as she looked at me. “Gruff! What’s the matter? You look so gloomy.”

  I could only shake my head. I felt so totally helpless and lost. We were heading into a nightmare and nobody would believe me.

  “It’s only a field trip, Gruff,” said Kim reassuringly. “We’ll go for a walk in the woods and identify some trees and some birds maybe. You’ll be right at home here. You’ll know twice as much as the rest of us,” she said, trying to cheer me up.