Chapter 3 – ONE MORE MEETING WITH THE GHOSTLY BOY
#4 of To Protect life
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Chapter 3 â€" ONE MORE MEETING WITH THE GHOSTLY BOY
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Leave has ended and I am with my family once again, I feel good for the first time in days even when the stitches never actually hurt.
The fire truck's siren announces our passage as it runs fast across the streets.
"It seems that was just yesterday that it happened" said Alexander, the hyena having to shout to be heard over the sound of the truck. "I bet that the week passed fast."
"Yeah, of course. Living with Mick is a party everyday" the lion on my side punches my arm teasingly. "One day we went till three AM watching cartoons."
He growled as I had offended him, but the smile of his lips was still there.
"Hey, that was a marathon of The Fantastic Four, that are classic."
Porkchop, that was having a talk with Good Tony, a grumpy Husky, raised his head and said:
"Not everyone like super heroes as you do, Mick. Give us a break, would you?"
"Hehh... what do you mean, giving you guys a break? Are you telling me that you wouldn't like to be a super hero if you could?"
"HEh, Mick, I am a Superhero, I am a New York Fireman."
... yeah.... We are heroes, the type that doesn't use a cap or a multicolor uniform, or fly... we are not the type of hero that make people dream, still we save lives.
Also, another point that seems to be relevant... a lot of people criticize us all that because we say fireman, just the masculine, as we were, somehow, trying to be machos or that we are politically incorrect. But we are, believe me. The majority of us is, yes, male, but all that really matter to us is the fire.
The fire is a very well know company to us all. We see it today as the truck stops. It is chaos out there, actually... it is always chaos, nevertheless, we do our jobs.
Porkchop is the first to get out of the truck and don't need more than a half of a second to see the police car parked just in front of the hydrant, blocking us. Alexander, goes right away talk to the officer.
There is a house on fire in front of us. Two furs, a velociraptor and a t-rex are outside it, having a huge fight, exchanging punches and bites. I hate dinos, always fighting, never really stop to argue. Three other dinos are near the cops, they do nothing just point and laugh. The officer don't get near the two wrestlers.
Well, we have seen the fire, that is enough. We don't need to say a lot of words, we know our jobs, each task is decided as the shift starts, hose, enforcement, driver... and I am keeping what some call "trip list."
I go to the rear of the truck and take the one inch and a half hose. Berelli and Porkchop are already inside the hose, taking the hose with them; they knew someone would connect it to the hydrant. That is how we work, as one.
The officer take his car out of there and Alexader waves to me. The old hyena just actually talks when we are in the truck or on duty, he helps me to plug the hose and it is ready if the guys need it.
One of the dinos, the rex, sees Bad Tony going into the house and holds the Doberman by his forearm.
"Nu man. let thaut burn duwn"
We don't care with the yelling, criminal or frightened neighbors, we have our tasks and being a cop is not one of them. Bad Tony tries to brake free but the dino don't let him go in the house, saying that we couldn't do that, that we should let the house burn. Tony asks help to the nearest officer, but this one does nothing, just stays at his place.
In New York we have a politic that is called "Inner aggressive attack" - Bad Tony knocks down the t-rex almost 2 feet taller than him with a punch to his face. â€" means that we, whatever it is happening, must get into the building and extinguish the fire.
It is not like television, where you see a bunch of men in uniform with hoses throwing water throughout an open window, is in there that the true work is in.
I am there, just standing, coordinating the crew with the radio in my paws; that was Alexander's idea, he thought I could use some time with no action in my first day after the leave. Hell I don't like this.
I hear Porkchop swearing in the radio and a huge blast makes the street silent.
"Berelli, Porkchop, are you guys good in there?" I ask using the radio, being out there is just a huge piece of shit.
The answer come quickly.
"Yeah" it is the Dalmatian speaking "But there is some hole in the ground, my feet is stuck in one of them."
"Everything good with me too" said Bad tony in the radio.
I didn't paid much of attention... I am looking at the velociraptor that is now being transported to a police car, hands to his back, cuffed.
"Is this your house I ask him?"
"Yeah, so what?"
"Is it a crack lab?" I ask him directly, which makes the cop stops and growls, this one is a panther.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"I am talking about hole in the ground. I am talking to traps, guns, and pit bulls without vocal cords to make police, addicts and fireman stay away."
"Man I am just a citizen." He says, but with a smile that says "yeah, dumbass, what are you going to do?"
As the dino is taken away, I talk to the guys and update them about where they are. Berelli had fall in one of the traps this guys do.
"We kinda know that already, the main part of the fire is in the lab, that is why they want this thing to burn down so badly, they want the fire to consume with the evidence." Said Porkchop.
"It is right in front of us and it is not getting any less savage, there might be some sort of fuel inside." This was Berelli.
"Ok, I am going to ask help to another unity and say that we got something here"
As I place my radio back to the belt I wave to Good Tony and Riahd, this one was a Husky as good Tony.
"Riah, you and Good Tony grab a two and a half inches hose and try to find another spot in the fire that does not goes toward Porkchop or Berelli, Bad Tony is on the second floor of the house."
I didn't need to tell Alexander that I was calling another truck, While I was doing that I just made a paw gesture and then pointed to a police car. The hyena understood and went to the officer responsible for it, to ask him to move the vehicle for other truck would be arriving soon.
My eyes go wide open as I turn around and see a young boy, maybe a teenager, going towards the hydrant. This boy is a triceratops, and is holding an axe. Damn, I barely have time to give two steps towards him and it is already too late. With just one swing of the blade, then boy cut the hose.
Water splashes to everywhere and the street soon disappear beneath the stream of liquid.
"Hey, we lost our juice in here" came Porkchop's voice trough the radio."
"The hose was cut, get the hell out of there boys"
"We can't, Berelli is still stuck in this damn hole."
Always that you arrives at a place on fire, people are screaming and shouting.... But not like that...
"LET IT BURN, LET IT BURN." They repeated over and over
Usually people are frightened, you move quickly... you are trained to do so... but they know someone into the building that is burning, for them you are taking too long.
I don't take long to be ready and run into the building, Alexander comes just right behind me. The hyena was old but never failed.
We know how they feel, we always know someone into those buildings... everyday... everywhere... our comrades.
... But today is not like the other days.
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Porkchop has his paw on Berelli armpits, trying to pull his friend from the hole he is stuck into. They stop as the fire condensates in spot three meters before them, as it weakens there is a small boy with pink fur there.
"Are you seeing this" the boar asks.
"Yes... the fire is not touching him" Berelli replied.
"Great, I am not crazy."
"I didn't say that. Maybe we both are."
Pork chop leaves Berelli just for a second and stretches his paw to the pink wolf in front of him.
"Come here sweetie, Give me your hand."
The boy don't make any movement, he just stands there, staring at the boar with his deep green eyes.
"Daddy told me that I must tell someone using uniform, a fireman or a officer would be good. There is a war coming" The fire encircles the boy which makes Porkchop lurches forward, trying to rescue him before it is too late, yet the boy doesn't scream or changes his voice tone, he just keeps talking. "Everyone is going to die, like it happened in the big towers.
As the fire ceases, there is a figure behind it, for a moment Porkchop thinks it is still that strange boy and offers his hand again. But it wasn't the boy.
One feral pit bull growl and bite the fireman in his arm. The animal hadn't be heard, those drug dealer remove their vocal cord, so no one will ever think they keep those bests locked at home.
Burned, hurt and confused, the pit bull is chewing Porkchop's arm, and doesn't give any sign that it is going to release.
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We find Porkchop and Berelli, and .. Oh my God, there is a dog Biting the Boar's arm. I do love animals, that is why that I just smack him with the dull side of the axe... it is a mistake. In the other second the animal is attacking Alexander. The hyena fall as the dog landed over his chest...
I do love animals... that is why I hate myself as I raise the axe and bring it down, my mask gets stained with blood and Alexander stands up. No one say anything, but Berelli do produce a loud moan as we help him to take his leg out of the hole.
Later we were getting out of the house and the crowd was still shouting to us let it burn down by itself. The officer with the drug dealer velociraptor notices that something was wrong with me, that is why he asks:
"What the shit has happened to you?"
"A dog, a fucking dog, that is what happened to me."
The velociraptor hisses in pleasure and smiles at me.
"There was a dog inside? Gee, that is weird, he didn't hear anything.
That was enough.
He probably is going to sue me later, but at that moment all that kept my focus were my punches to his face. He probably is going to win, but I just can't hold this. I am a Scottish and Irish descendent, with also a little bit of German, with just a little more of Italian and I would enter in instantaneous combustion.
I do love animals...
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Josh is kneeled down, examining Berelli's leg, the Dalmatian had broke its ankle. The ambulance that brought Josh had arrived just a few minutes ago. While medicating the pain in that area the otter started to cheap talking.
"Are you ok? You seem a bit too shocked."
Berelli winced a bit before the analgesic started to work.
"Yes, I am shocked. But that is not because my feet, I've had hole in my body and still am alive. What disturbed me was that little boy in there." Josh moved his ear. "In a moment he was there and in the other one... puf.. he was gone, not to mention that Porkchop was playing Dog's chewing gum."
Josh looked right at the Dalmatian eyes.
"Are you talking about a little boy, a wolf with pink fur and a black shirt?"
"Yeah... how did you know that, have you seen him before? I am starting to believe he was a ghost or something like that."
"I... don't know anything about him"
The Dalmatian looks at the otter for a few moments and then opens a large smile.
"Well... do you have a boyfriend or something like that?"
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"No the hose is ours, don't give it to them, we brought it. If they get it they are going to throw the fire over our guys." I am trying to coordinate the two teams of firemen there, ours and the one that came to help us.
"Lieutenant" I hear a familiar voice, still I can't talk.
"No! No! I never said that. Say to him that he is a liar and if he comes this way I am going to beat him, are we clear" I sigh and place the radio in of my pockets and turn around to face the otter in paramedic suit. "I am sorry, Josh, I just had a little misunderstanding with the other team. So, what can I do for you, cute?"
He seemed to not know where to start, so he preferred talking about work.
"Your guys are already medicated and we are going to take them back to the hospital... they seen ok and I thought you would like to know."
It couldn't be just that...
"Ok, I am appreciated"
"I... Want you phone number..." he said and I could notice the blush beneath his cheeks' fur as he offered me a piece of paper and a pen.
"Are u less mated today than you were last time." I teased him as I wrote the number
He shook his head in a tremendous no... that is really better than cold water if you got what I mean.
"It is not like that... I just want to know... I am curious about... Your guys appear to have seen that little boy again."
Strange moment, we didn't say anything.. or move for that matter... he was there facing down and I was facing him... jaw dropped open.
"Really?"
"yeah... well I just wanted to be able to talk to you later, maybe try to figure out something about this ... you know after I am gone.
I nodded and handled him the paper.
"Here is my cell phone, you can call me anytime."
"Thank you" and he was walking away....
"Hey!" too loud...
"Yes?" he asked, stopping and looking back at me.
"hum... call me ok? I am not going to ahmmm... hit on you, I promise"
Josh smiled and walked away."
"I will call you"
Porkchop was sitting on the truck, arm bandaged, the ambulance was taking another guys to the hospital, he would have to wait.
"So... didn't you want to have super powers now?" I teased him, remembering about the super hero thing."
The boar just gave me a serious look and laughed.
"Hell yeah... I would like to have a giant iron foot to kick your nuts."
The screams are still the same: "let it burn" over and over.
Alexander is near the hydrant, now with a new hose. The hyena is quiet as usual and looking at the fire that seem to be reducing slowly.
"Most of the furs here are yelling to we don't extinguish the fire. These people are becoming insane!" Said the hyena as I stood next to him.
"I wonder why, the drug dealer want to get rid once for all of the evidences and the neighbors want this illegal factory shut for once."
"I heard about a dog, are the guys ok?" He asked but them he had to yell with some of the guys from the other unity, I waited till he was done to answer.
"Yeah, they are going to be ok. But Porkchop is going to have to take medicines for the rest of his life, that dog might have rage. But he seems ok, he just asked to we take the dog with us.... Looks like wants to eat it later... That guys would eat anything that had blood.
"Weird man."
"Good man nevertheless."
Something passes flying over our heads, something that make us whine in silence: Molotov, a bottle filled with fuel and with a with fire on its tip. Damn we were managing to control the fire.
Alexander grabs his halligan and goes with the officers to arrest the guys doing that, but not before that they could threw two more bottles with flammable liquids to the fire.
"Good tony are u copying?" I ask in the radio. " You and the other are going to get the hell out of there, there is a fire in the room in front of you guys. "
"Gee, lieutenant, I am trying to help these guys from the other unity, no one here knows anything."
"This is serious your crazy husky, get out of there. Go to the room in your left! Your left." As I talk to him I am circulating the house, trying to find a better exit, something quick. Damn, part of the first floor is made with walls of bricks, is not as easy to put those down.
My heart appear to stop beating as the fire explodes as a bomb and some flames came out by the only window, and that window is like the one of a prison cell, bars are sealing it.
I know it is useless, but I try even so. I try to pulls the bars out of there as I see Good Tony appearing at the window, he is screaming and he is on fire. The fur from half of his face is on fire and the same to his whole uniform.
The minutes seem to get longer and the screams louder. He can't throw himself in floor and roll, the floor is also on fire. When everything seems lost, he is losing conscious.. I am pushed away by a jet of water.
Amen, the guys managed to get into the room by the inside and that jet was coming from behind Tony he was safe. The water also pushed the bars out of place and I manage to pick up Tony and pull him out.
I don't know Good tony that much, he just appeared here five months ago. Jew, born in the Brooklyn, he has a fiancé called Desdemona, a catholic cheetah from South Africa, the parents don't approve but are getting use to it. I can only think in something... how is going to look like in the weeding picture?"
Good old Mick soon is there with me. Tony's heart is still beating, the breath is slow. We aren't the medical team, the is not much that we can actually do, just wait, wait the other ambulance that hadn't come yet.
Five long minute. You can't put oil or any sort of cream to make him feel less pain, the doctors would have to clean it at the hospital which would just be worse. But you can't do anything without a medical unity, the wait can kill. Then you try to find anything else to do... anything...
An officer runs at José, the Iguana was holding an axe and walking towards the fur that threw the first Molotov bottle. Luckily nothing happened, but it was something that we all wanted to see or do.
Good Tony is there, unconscious, half of his face burned, fur wouldn't grow up there anymore.
Some hour had passed... three injured, no one want to talk about, no one is interested... we make joke but nothing is funny... Porkchop and Berelli are going to be ok... God Tony was taken by helicopter to the hospital of burned... we still don't have any news... we are not going to have one till tomorrow... till there everything is potentially well... there is still hope.
I am tired so I walk to the bunker at the second floor and lay on a bed, glancing at the ceiling out of my reach... nothing is going on into my mind... The cell phone rings... I don't recognize the number.
"Hey there, it is josh here." That surprised me a bit. "have you heard any good story of ghost lately?"
"No, not even from Casper." What to talk about?
"Is everything ok? You seem upset..." he said after I sighed
"Oh... we had an injured man after you had to go."
"Too serious?"
"Pretty much. We haven't had new from the hospital yet."
"Have you seen it happening?"
"Sort of.. I was trying to take him out of there. But I couldn't in time.
"Don't blame yourself."
"Why not? That is good."
I smile because I am talking to Josh I hear people down there yelling and clapping "IIHAAA UUUUHHHH HE IS OK, GOOD TONY IS OK" they shout from the first floor. Josh listend to it too. We talked just a few more minutes about random stuff, then he said by. As I was saving his phone number, he texted me, giving me the number of that officer, the badger that had seen the Ghost boy too; I laughed a bit because the message was something like....
Odre's number is 98692341
Now we are officially the ghost hunters from New York.
Do you think we can get a payment for this?
I was tired, that is why I slept shortly after.