way across the first patch of field.
Meanwhile, in another open field a few miles ahead, Benjamin wasn’t having too well a time himself. Having abandoned his only companion to follow the prodigious stranger caused him to panic. After all, anything could happen to him now, and Benjamin’s imagination usually thought the worst. His sudden anxiety exhausted his body, and the blistering cold had made his feet twice as heavy. He couldn’t go on. Feeling sick, chilly and downright miserable, Benjamin’s body finally gave up.
The rabbit hunter immediately took off his large animal coat made out of wolf’s skin and wrapped it around the fainting boy. Lifting Benjamin in one arm over his free shoulder, O’Malley started to slog through the rest of the field while he listened to the sounds from the forest.
The cold was like nothing Tommy had ever felt. His mind couldn’t concentrate on anything. He lost all sense of hope and briefly forgot about Benjamin and Peter. He even forgot about Gatesville and how he came to be in this serious situation.
The only thing he had the strength to think about now was a warm bed. Thoughts of comfort became more vivid the icier the weather became. He longed for rest.
After he reached a patch of forest, his hazel green right eye detected a small light in the distance. A torch? A flashlight?
The moonlight danced off a pearly set of teeth that shone back at him through the shadows. Bright snow under its body reflected a fierce glow in its piercing eyes as the boy moved inches away from the beautiful face of a lethal wolf.
Unwittingly, the boy’s eyes locked onto the beast’s dazzling electric ice blues and caused him to faint with fear.
Tommy could sense another light behind his closed eyelids but was too weak to show any sign that he was still semi-conscious. The light exposed an unusual sight of wolves still lingering near the seemingly dead boy. The ravenous wolf pack stood still, curiously watching the man rescue what was supposed to be their long-deserved meal.
O’Malley shouted at the wolves that stood several yards away from the boy while he covered Tommy in more wolf skin. The wolves stood as still as stone statues, beautifully silhouetted by the light. None howled nor made a sound. Tommy slipped into a comfortable deep sleep when the heavy fur shawl coated his upper body.
Heavy snow swept across the open field. With the aid of one large stick and a newly lit beacon in the other hand, O’Malley continued his heroic journey toward the sanctuary of his house, carrying the unconscious boy the rest of the way he had carried Benjamin.
9
The Unforeseen Visitor
Rain pelted down over Gatesville that night. There was a new wrath to be endured for the children, especially the captured runaways. No one had seen hide nor hair of George Johnston since he was ushered back to the dreaded borstal, and even Jimmy Donald had begun to think the worst. Double shifts and extra duties for failing to capture Benjamin Brannon was just the start of a year-long punishment set in motion by the prideful principal of Gatesville.
It was past midnight when a noisy car pulled up to the front gates. Nearly every boy from the east side of the building block took to their bedroom windows for a careful glimpse at the unforeseen visitor. Two policemen and a peculiar, overly dressed man entered through the main gates. The rain and wind became so severe it almost blew all three hats off of the figures, causing the boys in the east block to laugh aloud before they hushed each other. A man in a trench coat followed Mr. Porter after greeting him, and within minutes the police were escorted into Gatesville’s main corridor.
“We’ve come a long way Mr. Jennings. You said this was urgent?” The tall, rugged man asked, making himself comfortable as he sat in the principal’s guest chair in his office.
“You don’t think stolen police property is an urgent matter, Inspector?” Mr.
Meanwhile, in another open field a few miles ahead, Benjamin wasn’t having too well a time himself. Having abandoned his only companion to follow the prodigious stranger caused him to panic. After all, anything could happen to him now, and Benjamin’s imagination usually thought the worst. His sudden anxiety exhausted his body, and the blistering cold had made his feet twice as heavy. He couldn’t go on. Feeling sick, chilly and downright miserable, Benjamin’s body finally gave up.
The rabbit hunter immediately took off his large animal coat made out of wolf’s skin and wrapped it around the fainting boy. Lifting Benjamin in one arm over his free shoulder, O’Malley started to slog through the rest of the field while he listened to the sounds from the forest.
The cold was like nothing Tommy had ever felt. His mind couldn’t concentrate on anything. He lost all sense of hope and briefly forgot about Benjamin and Peter. He even forgot about Gatesville and how he came to be in this serious situation.
The only thing he had the strength to think about now was a warm bed. Thoughts of comfort became more vivid the icier the weather became. He longed for rest.
After he reached a patch of forest, his hazel green right eye detected a small light in the distance. A torch? A flashlight?
The moonlight danced off a pearly set of teeth that shone back at him through the shadows. Bright snow under its body reflected a fierce glow in its piercing eyes as the boy moved inches away from the beautiful face of a lethal wolf.
Unwittingly, the boy’s eyes locked onto the beast’s dazzling electric ice blues and caused him to faint with fear.
Tommy could sense another light behind his closed eyelids but was too weak to show any sign that he was still semi-conscious. The light exposed an unusual sight of wolves still lingering near the seemingly dead boy. The ravenous wolf pack stood still, curiously watching the man rescue what was supposed to be their long-deserved meal.
O’Malley shouted at the wolves that stood several yards away from the boy while he covered Tommy in more wolf skin. The wolves stood as still as stone statues, beautifully silhouetted by the light. None howled nor made a sound. Tommy slipped into a comfortable deep sleep when the heavy fur shawl coated his upper body.
Heavy snow swept across the open field. With the aid of one large stick and a newly lit beacon in the other hand, O’Malley continued his heroic journey toward the sanctuary of his house, carrying the unconscious boy the rest of the way he had carried Benjamin.
9
The Unforeseen Visitor
Rain pelted down over Gatesville that night. There was a new wrath to be endured for the children, especially the captured runaways. No one had seen hide nor hair of George Johnston since he was ushered back to the dreaded borstal, and even Jimmy Donald had begun to think the worst. Double shifts and extra duties for failing to capture Benjamin Brannon was just the start of a year-long punishment set in motion by the prideful principal of Gatesville.
It was past midnight when a noisy car pulled up to the front gates. Nearly every boy from the east side of the building block took to their bedroom windows for a careful glimpse at the unforeseen visitor. Two policemen and a peculiar, overly dressed man entered through the main gates. The rain and wind became so severe it almost blew all three hats off of the figures, causing the boys in the east block to laugh aloud before they hushed each other. A man in a trench coat followed Mr. Porter after greeting him, and within minutes the police were escorted into Gatesville’s main corridor.
“We’ve come a long way Mr. Jennings. You said this was urgent?” The tall, rugged man asked, making himself comfortable as he sat in the principal’s guest chair in his office.
“You don’t think stolen police property is an urgent matter, Inspector?” Mr.
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