Stowaway Slaves by David Grimstone Page B

attack.
    Then the situation in the tunnel exploded into chaos.
    At first, Olu thought the guards had both made a desperate lunge for him. It was only when they crashed into the water that he saw the dogs. They leaped upon the back of each guard, their drooling jaws working madly as they bit into every exposed piece of flesh they could find.
    Olu leaped back and, turning on his heels, splashed through the tunnel toward Decimus and the remaining guard. Locking his hands together, he swung around with his elbow and glanced a well aimed blow at the side of the guard’s head. The big man, who had managed to overpower Decimus and was attempting to choke the young slave into unconsciousness, yelped as the blow sent a sharp pain through his neck . . . and released his grip. Decimus used the momentary advantage to draw his legs back. Then, with every ounce of strength he could muster, he drove both feet squarely into the chest of the guard. The heavy brute flew backward, just as a third rabid dog rounded the bend in the tunnel. Olu flung himself flat, plunging into the water as the monstrous animal leaped over him and landed, in a hail of spittle and filth, on the guard’s shoulders.

    â€œGo!” Decimus screamed at the top of his voice, snatching up the big man’s sword. “Go! Go! Now!”
    He and Olu thundered along the tunnel, taking every new passage they could find and trying to put as much distance between them and the hunting party as they could. Every few seconds they would splash to an abrupt halt as one of the savage dogs tore across a passage in front of them. Neither Olu nor Decimus had any doubt that the dogs would tear them limb from limb if their paths crossed.
    They ran on, left, right, ahead, right again. “Rats!” Olu cried, pointing to an army of giant vermin that spilled out from a junction up ahead. “Look at the size of them!” He collapsed against the wall and, fighting to catch his breath, he whispered, “Which way should we go?”

    â€œThey’re both dark and they both stink to the heavens,” said Decimus. “Which way did those rats come from?”

    â€œThe passage on the left. Why?”
    â€œRats go to the surface for food.
    We were always seeing them around the entrance, don’t you remember?”
    Olu nodded. “Left it is, then.”
    The two slaves peered into the new passage, and then began to crawl into the gloom. They hadn’t taken more than a few steps, however, when a pair of bright, demented eyes flashed in front of them. Pawing slowly out of the shadows, the dog snarled deeply, a low and guttural rasp that grew in pitch as it emerged into the meager light of the junction.
    Decimus raised the sword and, to Olu’s astonishment, started to growl back. He also, very carefully, turned the sword around so that the blade was facing down, toward his feet and away from the animal.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” said the stunned slave, taking several steps toward the junction. “Have you gone mad? What—”
    Decimus curled his lips so that his teeth and gums were bared. Then he drew in a deep breath and blew a powerful burst of air through his teeth, spraying saliva over the animal as the noise intensified.

    â€œThat will make it madder, you idiot!”
    â€œGrrrrraaaaaaargh,” Decimus continued. “Grraaargghhh!”
    Olu knew the dog was going to leap before it happened, but it soon became apparent that Decimus knew it, too. Instead of diving aside or attempting to dodge the enraged animal, the slave stood his ground and only made his move at the moment when Olu was sure he was doomed.
    Gripping the sword tightly in both hands, Decimus brought the pommel up with such ferocity that Olu heard the sickening crack inside his head seconds before he actually heard it in reality.
    The pommel slammed into the drooling animal’s jaw and it dropped to the ground, hitting the water with a loud