The Wereing

by Rodman Philbrick

  But it was hard getting through the crowd. People seemed to knot around me wherever I moved. Big men knocked me off course then grinned into my face, their eyes flecked with red. Sharp-clawed fingers plucked at my clothes, slowing me down. The more I struggled, the more people pushed me backward.

  “All right, everybody, get ready,” someone shouted from the stage. “It’s just about time for the fireworks.”

  Fireworks! I stared in dismay at the sky. The sun was sinking. The full moon was about to rise!

  Chapter 40

  It was too late to convince people. I’d have to shout a warning and hope I could scare people into running away.

  I took a deep breath. It would have to be the best shout ever. I opened my mouth—and my jaw locked. The only sound that came out of me was an eery mournful howl.

  The wereing! The Change was starting. I was about to become a werewolf!

  Crouching, I fell back and slipped through the crowd. My arms and legs were tingling with the power of the wereing. I loped for the rec building—already I was faster than the human Gruff. Behind the building, in the quiet darkness, I felt my muscles ripple and grow.

  I opened my mouth and sharp fangs shot from my gums while my snout lengthened and filled with all the wonderful smells of the night—denied to me as a human. My eyes glowed and night became bright as day to my sharp eyes.

  Dropping to all fours I stretched my powerful back.

  RIIIIIP!

  My clothing tore at the seams and fell away from my sleek, muscled limbs. More muscles rippled under the skin as the power of the moon flowed into my legs and arms. My smooth claws shone in the moonlight. Swept up in the thrill of the wereing, I lifted my magnificent head and howled.

  “AHHHHOOOOOOO!”

  I was Gruff! The beautiful and strong!

  As my howl died away I dropped back onto my haunches. I could hear every sound of the crowd—a crying child, laughter, confusion. And under all that the growling of werewolves, getting ready to work their evil.

  Instantly I knew myself for what I really was—not beautiful and strong but a hideous and unnatural monster!

  Then my keen ears picked up an ominous sound.

  CLICK!

  The werewolves had locked the front gate. So that’s why they’d put up the fence. It was the only exit! The townspeople were trapped.

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  BOOOM! CRACK! BOOM!

  Everybody was looking up into the sky as colorful fireworks burst overhead.

  “Oooooooooh,” they cried joyfully. “Ahhhhhhh.”

  They were so intent on the show they didn’t see the werewolves creeping in from the edges of the crowd, red eyes flickering hungrily under the rainbow colors of the fireworks.

  A little girl screamed. “Mommy! Look! Monsters!”

  The mother looked around, laughing. Then she caught sight of me.

  Soon other people were screaming as they glimpsed the glowing eyes and gleaming fangs of the monsters surrounding them. But the explosions of fireworks drowned out their cries.

  BOOM! BOOM!

  People were running and shoving in panic. They would trample each other once they realized the gate was locked. Already people were falling to the ground and screaming in terror.

  I could save them if they’d only listen. I knew what to do. I streaked around the crowd and then leaped into the air, sailing over their heads.

  I landed smack in the center of the stage, scattering terrified musicians.

  I grabbed the microphone. I can save you, I wanted to tell them. If you’ll only listen to me.

  I opened my jaws to shout but all that came out was a howl, tremendously magnified by the loudspeakers.

  “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

  Chapter 42

  I gnashed my teeth in frustration. People ran screaming. A werewolf lashed out with its claws and pounced on a fleeing man. There was something oddly familiar about the werewolf.

  As the man struggled wildly, the drooling monster sank its teeth into his arm. With a pain like a knife in my heart, I recognized the werewolf. It was Mr. Parker. He lifted his head, fangs dripping, and laughed.

  “HEEEEEHAHAHAHHEEE!”

  The man dropped to the ground, writhing. Instantly bristly hair began to sprout and the man’s clothes ripped at the seams and fell away from his bulging new werewolf body. The man leaped up and began to race after the humans, fangs gleaming wetly.

  They were going to do it, I thought. The werewolves were going to take over the town. I saw two of them stir up the fire on the barbecue grills, their eyes glowing hotter than the coals.

  Then I caught sight of Paul and Kim. They were running toward the rec building, urging others to follow. My heart gave a leap of hope. That’s right, I shouted inside my head, go to the rec building. It’s your only chance!

  I jumped off the stage and began hissing and growling, driving the terrified people toward the building.

  Werewolves howled in frustration but I lashed at their faces and drove them back. One of the werewolves leaped in the air in front of me. With a little shiver, I recognized Big Rick, the bully from school.

  “You can’t stop us,” he taunted inside my head. “We’re on to your tricks!”

  With a cackle of werewolf laughter he leaped again and opened his paw. From one claw dangled the key to the rec building.

  “We’ll lock ’em in,” he crowed, “and pick them off one at a time. They’ll all join us—whether they want to or not!”

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  The Rick werewolf danced away from me, swinging the key, howling with glee.

  Suddenly a pigeon, flushed from its hiding place in the rain gutter of the rec building, burst into flight over Rick’s head. The blood urge blazing in his eyes, Rick swiped at the bird and captured it easily.

  “No!” I screamed, launching myself into the air.

  I crashed into Rick, knocking him to the ground.

  “Ugh!” With the wind temporarily knocked out of him, his paw opened and the bird flew off. Rick let out a bellow of anger.

  “Don’t make your first kill,” I growled. “Or you’ll be one of Them forever.”

  “Good!” shrieked Rick, struggling. “I like being a werewolf. What’s so bad about it, sissy-monster? I’m strong and powerful, not like those weak humans. Werewolves can do anything!”

  “Werewolves KILL people,” I hissed into his ear.

  For an instant he went slack. “No, we just make them werewolves like us,” he muttered. But the red glow dimmed uncertainly in his eyes. I hauled him up and dragged him to a toolshed next to the rec building. Yanking open the door, I tossed him inside. “If you know what’s good for you,” I snarled. “You’ll stay here until dawn.”

  I slammed the door and snapped the shed padlock shut. It wouldn’t keep him in if he really wanted to get out. I looked at the key I’d taken from him. He could break down the door. And the werewolves could break down the locked rec building door. But if I locked the rec building door it would give the humans a few more minutes.

  I ran to the spot where I’d undergone the wereing. Precious seconds ticked by while I searched for my werewolf book. Finally I spied it half buried under a pile of leaves and grabbed it up.

  Kim was frantically beckoning stragglers into the building. She didn’t see the huge monster coming at her from behind. Ripper, the leader of them all! With a flick of his hairy paw he knocked a burly man head over heels.

  “Out of my way,” he snarled, although the humans couldn’t understand him. “The girl is mine!”

  I leaped over the heads of a woman and two children running in panic. But Ripper was faster than me. “Kim,” I screamed. “Look out! Run into the building!”

  But of course she didn’t understand. All she heard was the bloodcurling shriek of a monster. Startled, she looked my way. And froze in terror at the sight of a horrible red-eyed monster bearing down on her with what looked like murder in its eyes. Rigidly still at the sight of
me, she was a perfect target for Ripper.

  With a silent howl of triumph, Ripper sprang, straight at Kim. He grinned at me, fangs dripping, eyes blazing with anticipation. I was too far away to save her.

  But out of the dark another werewolf leaped on Ripper. It was Mr. Parker! My heart skipped with joy. He would save Kim!

  But Ripper batted the Parker werewolf away with one hand, tumbling him head over heels. Instantly three other werewolves appeared, pinned the Parker werewolf’s arms, and dragged him away.

  Kim was doomed. Ripper’s teeth were set to sink into her shoulder. She was about to become one of Them! With all my strength I leaped, clearing a whole crowd of panicked humans. But Ripper was too close and I was too far away.

  Ripper landed on Kim’s back, knocking her to the ground. People shrieked and scattered, leaving her to him. Kim’s voice was cut off in mid-scream.

  RIIIIIP!

  My keen ears winced at the sound of her T-shirt tearing as the werewolf sunk his claws into her back.

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  Laughing, the werewolf lifted Kim high into the air, his claws curving around her thin arms, his eyes casting a fiery glow on her terrified face. Kim’s small fists beat at his hairy face and her sneakered feet kicked as hard as they could.

  “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

  Ripper laughed, toying with her. His fangs dripped, boiling the dirt under his feet. “She’s mine,” he gloated as I rushed at him.

  Another werewolf leaped out of the shadows and slammed into me, knocking me to the ground.

  “Heeeelp!” screamed Kim, kicking with all her might.

  Ripper opened his huge jaws, fixing his eyes on Kim. I slashed at the werewolf who had attacked me. It screamed in pain and rage and I kicked it aside. I was too late to save Kim from being bitten but I had to try and get her away from Ripper.

  Another werewolf leaped at me. I rolled on the ground and caught the monster on my feet, letting its forward motion help me to throw it into the air. The werewolf crashed into the fence and I bounced to my feet, running.

  Just as I ducked to fend off a third werewolf attack, I glimpsed a small dark shape come hurtling out of the rec building doorway, aimed straight for Ripper’s head. Ripper was just about to sink his fangs into Kim.

  The werewolf’s foot connected with my head and for a second I was blind as it wrestled me to the ground and I sunk my teeth deep into its arm. The werewolf screamed and I flung it aside, lunging once again for Ripper.

  Ripper’s slobbering mouth was wide. He was bellowing with rage and gnashing his huge teeth. The small figure I’d seen was Paul. He had his legs wrapped around the werewolf’s massive arm and was poking a stick into the monster’s snarling face. Trying to hold a kicking, yelling Kim in his other arm, Ripper couldn’t push Paul away.

  But I knew it would only be a second before the much bigger, stronger werewolf had the situation under control, with both my friends in his clutches.

  I flung another attacking werewolf out of my way and sprang at Ripper.

  “YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIII!” I screamed as I landed perfectly, coming down, clawed feet first, on Ripper’s head. I sunk my fangs into the arm holding Kim. Ripper’s paw spasmed and Kim fell to the ground.

  But instead of running she began to pound her little fists against the arm that clutched Paul. “Let go, you horrible monster,” she yelled. “Let go of my brother!”

  Ripper snarled and struck like a snake to close his fangs on my neck.

  At that moment Paul poked his stick right into one of the werewolf’s glowing eyes.

  “UUURRRRGGGH!” Ripper screamed and tossed Paul away as if he were a rag doll.

  Kim ran to her dazed brother and I slammed both feet into Ripper’s chest, knocking him backward. It was just enough to let me get away. I scooped up Paul and Kim and pushed them—gently—into the recreation building. Quickly I locked the door.

  Inside the rec building people fled shrieking at the sight of me. Paul, his eyes wide with terror and rage, rushed at me to save his sister. I grabbed him easily and pulled him aside, wishing desperately that I could talk to humans. But I couldn’t.

  Throwing down the book, I opened it to the “Rules of The Wereing.” Paul stared at me, rigid with fear. Kim pounded on my back, screaming. I snarled and banged my fist on the book. But Paul was afraid to take his eyes off me. I grabbed his head and forced him to look.

  With one curved claw, I jabbed at the line I wanted him to read. Paul gasped with understanding. Then he looked at me with questions in his eyes. Did he recognize me? I thought he did.

  But there was no time. Already the werewolves were thudding against the rec building door.

  CRACK!

  The door bulged and began to splinter.

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  I gave Paul a gentle shove. He started and tore his eyes away from me.

  “Everybody,” Paul yelled. “Into the pool. Now!”

  CRASH!

  A werewolf paw punched through the rec building door and the howling outside built to a frenzy. People whimpered and clutched at one another.

  “Come on!” Paul shouted urgently, his voice cracking with strain. “The monsters can’t get us in the water. Hurry!”

  He started pushing people into the pool with Kim’s help. I stayed behind him, waving my long furry arms and growling. A few people got the message and jumped into the pool. Others, trying to escape me, fell in.

  “Werewolves hate water!” Paul cried, shoving more people ahead of him. “It burns them. We’ll be safe in the water.”

  Hurrying to get everybody into the water, I stumbled over the thick fire hose that was filling the pool and fell in a slick puddle of water. I skidded toward the pool on my back. Piercing screams hurt my ears as people rushed deeper into the water, thinking I was going to slide right in on top of them.

  But I managed to stop myself, just short of the edge. I scrambled to my feet, surprised the water hadn’t burned me. But I’d been in water before without being hurt. It must be that my human half protected me.

  The door splintered into pieces. Werewolves came pouring in. The air filled with the sound of screams and splashes as the last of the townspeople rushed toward the pool, diving, jumping, and falling into the water.

  A window shattered as more werewolves forced their way inside, howling for blood. Then the noise of the monsters changed.

  “ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHH!”

  They bellowed in fury, catching sight of all the people huddled in the big swimming pool. Raging, they stomped around the pool, snarling and hissing in frustration.

  All at once they fell silent and turned in a mass to face me. The silence was scarier than their horrible screams. They bared their fangs and fixed their glowing red eyes on me as if their glare would burn right through me.

  “Come on,” I screamed at them inside my head, too shaky to think straight. “Come and get me you miserable monsters!”

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  “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGG!”

  With an ear-splitting howl, the monsters rushed to attack, claws slashing the air.

  Rooted to the spot, I dug my toe claws into the floor.

  “Run, Gruff,” I heard Paul cry.

  But I couldn’t. The red eyes crackled with fire as the whole pack crouched to spring. I forced myself to wait, not moving a muscle.

  And the instant Ripper gave the signal to pounce, I snatched the fire hose out of the pool and reached behind me to turn it up full blast. Then I pointed it at the airborne werewolves.

  Steam hissed and sizzled as the heavy stream of water crashed into the monsters. They shrieked and howled in pain and fear, falling on each other in their rush to get away.

  The ones farthest away from me threw themselves through the windows and dived out the door, racing to escape. Clouds of steam billowed into the air, filling the rec building with fog so thick I could hardly see to aim my hose.

  “AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!,” screamed the monst
ers. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIII!”

  They slipped in the puddles of water and fought each other in their scramble to escape the hose.

  “Let us go!” they cried into my head. “We won’t come back!”

  “You bet you won’t,” I snarled and moved toward them with the hose.

  Werewolves gibbered and whimpered, climbing on top of their fallen friends to reach high windows and leap out. They jammed the narrow doorway lashing at each other to make space for themselves.

  The ones that got out quickly leaped the fence and melted away into the woods.

  Then I heard a noise that made my heart swell with wonder.

  “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

  Not a werewolf howl but Wolfmother! I heard an answering howl. Thornclaw, my wolffather! And then another came from my wolfbrother Sharpfang! My wolf family, the pack that had raised me lovingly from a baby, had come to help me again!

  My wolf family’s attack howls were quickly joined by a hundred more wolves. They’d all come back to chase off the escaping werewolves.

  I was so thrilled I forgot the hose. In a mad dash, the last of the werewolves in the rec building scrambled for the door. As they pushed each other aside in their hurry to get out, I recognized Mr. Parker.

  My heart skipped. I couldn’t let him run off with the other werewolves. Quickly I brought the hose up again and aimed it at him. The stream of water fell short. I was too far away.

  I ran forward and almost fell as the hose snagged on something. Another werewolf leaped over one of its injured friends and out the door. Mr. Parker was almost there. I tugged hard on the hose, grunting. It wouldn’t budge. Another few seconds and Mr. Parker would be gone—he’d be a monster forever and never come back to his family.

  I looked to see what was tangling the hose. It was stuck on a pipe next to the pool. I grunted in frustration. Mr. Parker had his paw on the doorjamb. There was no time to free the hose.