January 2000

We'd become accustomed to the canine warfare. Our adversary's brown dogs would routinely encircle our small rank, leaping and barking, lethal beasts. But our own black dogs, stout and with snub snouts, were easily their match. As the first wave of the day's brown dogs approached we set our own after them. The brown dogs were dispatched with brutal efficiency, as our pack tore out their throats. I stood and watched this idly. Finally peace was restored, and I stroked one of our dogs, now docile, as he sat by me. My nerves were on edge though, and with good cause: The commotion of another marauding pack soon issued from the distance. I saw the familiar group of brown creatures approaching quickly now. We were surprised that our adversary had managed to regroup so quickly, but we set our pack out to meet them as quickly. There weren't so many though, and it didn't take long for our dogs to neutralize the threat. But the agitation somehow began to escalate again, and I noticed among our dogs a new threat. They were smaller than the brown dogs that preceded them, but our dogs seemed to be having a tougher time with them. Our dogs were certainly stronger, but these new gray dogs were somehow more resistant to their attacks, and more lithe. Eventually our dogs defeated the last of their number. But a third wave of attacking dogs now caught us breathlessly off guard. They were small and white, and there was something about them that frightened me. When our dogs bit into their necks, it seemed to do them no harm. In fact, these new creatures looked like scarred patchwork animals, sloppily stitched together like rag dolls with thick white thread. Yet these were quick and efficient. And then, in the midst of the melee, our adversary appeared - an evil scientist. He explained us, the triumph in his voice clear, what he'd managed to do. Among other modifications to their bodies, he'd made their necks impervious to the jaws of our dogs. These animals were monstrosities. Before me, around me, I saw extended metallic jaws lined with needle teeth, rimmed with pink and black lips stretched into vulgar grins. One of the white dogs' heads had been reattached upside down, its grossly enhanced jaw now on the top. The scientist continued, and spoke of extendible necks that allowed his dogs' heads to swivel back around, even as their necks were being bitten. Indeed, even as he spoke of it I witnessed one of our own dogs being turned on in this impossible manner. I regarded the white dogs and knew that we were doomed.