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  Crash!

  Without warning the door flew open. The dogs barked and Cerberus growled. They all expected to see a frightened human pup emerge. But no!

  Flasheart Lupin, the great black wolf, leapt out with a terrifying snarl and Cerberus jumped back in shock. The dogs yapped and howled in fright and confusion. Even Hamish and Bruno, who had been told what to expect, could hardly believe it.

  'The ghost hound! The ghost hound!' was the howl from the crazed dogs.

  Cerberus knew better than that, of course – he knew of the wolf below. He soon recovered himself and the two huge beasts snarled and scowled at each other. Flasheart was the larger animal but Cerberus was heavy, well-fed, mean and strong. Freddy watched with a pounding heart from behind the half-closed door.

  'Be careful, Dad,' he whispered to himself.

  Cerberus flung himself at the wolf and the two animals rolled over in a dangerous and savage embrace. Freddy heard the police siren again, nearer this time. With no time to waste, he carefully inched past the fighting beasts and ran towards his old cell. He opened the door, and Hamish and Bruno ran out.

  Freddy turned back to see his father limping, blood running from a deep wound in his rear leg. Cerberus was tensed, ready for another attack.

  'Dad, lead him here,' he called. Flasheart turned around so that he was nearer to the cell. He began to walk backwards towards Freddy. Seeing his prey retreating, Cerberus flung himself at the wolf once again and the pair rolled over. Inch by inch Flasheart pushed the wolfhound towards the open door. When they were close enough, Freddy cried out:

  'Hey, Cerberus, bite this.' He waggled his bare backside at his enemy.

  The guard dog turned towards the boy in outrage and as he did, the wolf lunged and knocked him into the cell. Freddy slammed the door. In a fury Cerberus threw himself against the bars and Flasheart pushed back. Cerberus howled in outrage. Freddy struggled with the lock, but the door just wouldn't close. Bruno and Hamish flung themselves against the bars enthusiastically and finally the door snapped shut.

  'We've done it,' Freddy cried in triumph.

  Cerberus snarled and spat threats from behind the bars as Freddy flung his arms around the wounded wolf's neck. All the dogs erupted into barks and howls. Freddy didn't need to understand the woofs to know they were cheering. Cerberus was where he belonged at last.

  At that moment, Dr Cripp was crossing the bridge that led across the moat of Farfang Castle. He crept over, sweating with nerves. Quickly he scurried into the shadows of the high walls, then Cripp jumped back in fright as the heavy oak door creaked open.

  'Go on then, do it. You daren't!' a young boy's voice whispered.

  'Of course I dare, dunderbrain!' answered a girl.

  The next moment a plump, pink, red-headed girl ran out of the castle and onto the bridge. She had a bundle of clean laundry in her arms and she threw it with a cry of delight into the water of the moat below. The boy peeked his head out from the door and shrieked with delight as he saw several pairs of Mrs Mutton's enormous knickers floating away. They had just made a raid on the housekeeper's ironing pile. The twins roared with laughter at their joke, and then disappeared inside. The door, however, did not quite close behind them and, after a furtive glance, Dr Cripp opened it and stepped inside the castle. He took a coil of wire from his pocket. He planned on making some traps for these wolves.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Break Out

  While Cerberus snarled venomously from his cell, Freddy released all the other dogs. He then held up his two thumbs to Hamish and Bruno and winked, just as he'd promised. The terrier barked out instructions to the dogs around him. Quickly the noisy rabble organised into two columns of excited but quiet dogs. The oldest, smallest and slowest dogs stood behind Hamish. Bruno, looking proud and eager, marshalled the fastest, fittest animals. As they passed him, Cerberus flung himself against the bars, promising vengeance on Freddy. The boy just laughed at him and once again waggled his bare backside. Cerberus's reign was over at last.

  'Okay, Dad?' Freddy called.

  As Flasheart walked slowly up the corridor the dogs parted around him in awe. Hamish had explained by now that he wasn't a ghost hound but a wolf. Not just a wolf, but one twice the size of any normal wolf. Usually he would be an animal to be feared and hated, but he had overcome the dreaded Cerberus and helped them to escape. They were nervous but respectful of him.

  Freddy unbolted the outside door and as he did he saw the Commander's raincoat hanging nearby. It was pink.

  'Well, it is my colour,' he laughed as he slipped it on. It wouldn't do to be seen naked in Milford.

  'Okay, here we go,' he called nervously and flung open the door. The police were waiting. Their torches flooded the courtyard with light.

  The portcullis that guarded the entrance to Coldfax Fort was firmly shut.

  'Wait here, Dad, while I see how to open it. When I give the signal, charge as fast as you can.'

  Flasheart flapped his ears in reply. Bruno and Hamish kept their columns behind the wolf. Freddy ran towards a small door next to the portcullis.

  A policeman spotted him immediately. 'Oi, you there!'

  'Sorry, can't stop,' Freddy called gaily.

  'Sergeant Green here. Open this door. Immediately,' the policeman called.

  Ignoring him, Freddy ducked inside. It wasn't hard to see how to open the gate. A heavy chain was wrapped around a wheel and then disappeared up into the ceiling. It was connected to a motor with a red button and a green button.

  'So far, so easy-peasy,' he laughed.

  Freddy pushed the green button. The engine started to hum as it rattled into life and the chain went tight around the wheel. Freddy ran back outside to see if anything had happened.

  'Open this gate this instant!' the policeman was now roaring.

  'I'm trying to,' Freddy said. He stood in the centre of the courtyard with the lights trained upon him and watched the portcullis anxiously. If it didn't open they would never get away. With a huge creaking groan the chain began to winch the heavy iron grille up. Once under way, it began to rise rapidly.

  'Now, sonny. What are you doing in here?' the policeman asked as he waited for the gate to rise.

  'Breaking out,' Freddy smiled cheekily, his pink hair blowing in the wind.

  The policeman laughed.

  'I'm afraid I can't give you permission to do that, son.'

  'That's okay. I'm not asking for it,' Freddy replied. He was an outlaw to make Batty proud.

  'Now, Dad. Go! Go!' he called at the top of his voice.

  'Not one dog is leaving these premises ...' the sergeant said sternly. Then his face dropped in horrible surprise.

  Flying towards him across the courtyard was a huge and savage black wolf followed by an army of dogs, all barking and snarling like wild beasts.

  'Charge!' Freddy cried, running towards the opening gate.

  'Close the gate. Close the gate,' the other police called in panic.

  'Too late! Run away, run away.'

  The terrified policemen ran around trying to escape. Two tried to climb in through the same car door but only succeeded in colliding with each other and falling back onto the floor. Another two took off into the woods. Sergeant Green stood frozen with terror as the enormous wolf approached him. He gave a rising cry as the animal halted at his feet. The wolf gave a fiendish grin, its green eyes glinting, as Freddy jumped onto its back.

  'Not one dog is leaving, but a hundred are,' Freddy laughed. 'Ha-ha-hardy-ha!' The huge wolf howled at the moon. The poor sergeant had had enough – he turned tail and took off at full speed into the woods.

  'We did it! We did it!' Freddy roared in triumph. 'I am the Plan Master!'

  Some time later, the light of the moon shone down upon a pack of dogs streaming over fields and through woods. Freddy sat astride Flasheart, holding on for all he was worth as the huge animal leapt ditches and dykes, hardly slowed by his injured leg. The heat from the moonbeams was already healing the
wound on the great wolf's leg and his old strength was returning. The grey streaks in his fur were fading as his Fangen blood pulsed. Behind them, Bruno led his column of fighting-fit dogs through the night. They hurtled towards Farfang Castle, Sir Hotspur and Dr Cripp, towards danger and a friend in need.

  'We're coming, Batty,' Freddy called. 'We're coming at last!'

  The charge halted a few metres short of the castle gate. Freddy's tower was silhouetted against the moonlit sky. The dogs collapsed on the ground for a moment to recover their breath. Freddy jumped off his father's back and felt a rush of relief to be home again. The grounds of Farfang Castle were well secured to keep out nosy neighbours. The gate could be opened from the outside only by typing a code into the electronic keypad. However, a strange-looking device with flashing neon signals had been attached to the controls and they no longer worked. The gate was slightly ajar. Someone had broken in. Cripp! Urgently Freddy pushed the gate wide to let the dogs in.

  Flasheart raised his nose and sniffed the night air; he could smell his home for the first time in six years. He put back his ears and howled. Dark clouds were dragging across the three-quarter moon. The air was colder and the wind rising. The wolf's howls echoed eerily through the air. Bruno and the other dogs paused and looked at each other, then they raced forward and into grounds of the House of Howls.

  In his study, Sir Hotspur awoke with a start. His newspaper had fallen over his head.

  'Flasheart?' he croaked.

  There was no mistaking that howl. He jumped up quickly and glared out of the window.

  'I warned you never to return to Farfang Castle. Never never, sir!'

  He reached inside a desk drawer and took out a tiny gun.

  'Cripp isn't the only one with silver bullets.'

  'Bruno, here boy,' Freddy called.

  The boxer approached suspiciously. All the dogs were extremely nervous at being there, in the grounds of the Red Wolf. Batty was right, they all knew and feared this place.

  'Find Batty, find Batty,' Freddy hissed urgently, pointing his finger towards the woods. Bruno only looked at him in confusion. Freddy groaned and for once wished he was a dog again.

  'Batty! Batty! Find!' he repeated loudly.

  Just when there seemed no chance of getting through to the dim hound, the boxer's ears pinged high. In a second he had barked out instructions to his companions. The dogs immediately ran in all directions to search for Batty. With his nose on the ground, Bruno began to move slowly towards the castle. On the lawn, he picked up a trail and barked excitedly. Flasheart and Freddy followed him as he took off at top speed towards the woods. They ran into a clearing behind the castle, and Flasheart growled in fury.

  'Is she here, Dad?' Freddy whispered, his stomach aching with nerves. It was now hours since Cripp had taken Batty. Who knew what the evil coward might have done to her.

  Drops of heavy rain began to fall as Bruno appeared on the edge of the clearing and gave an urgent gruff. Freddy and his father followed as he jumped back into a dark thicket. There in the gloom, Freddy could make out a small body lying motionless on the ground. He crept forward, dreading the truth. Bruno was whimpering pathetically and pushing his nose against the body.

  'Batty?' Freddy called gently, but there was no response.

  As he drew nearer he was overpowered by the most repulsive stench. Flasheart stopped immediately and howled in pain. Several bundles of a green herb with dull yellow flowers were strewn around the still animal.

  'Wolf's bane!' Freddy cried. The stench was worse than a thousand rotten egg farts. The wolf wouldn't move a step nearer, for to his sensitive nose it was practically poisonous. Freddy held his breath and kicked the bundles as far away as he could.

  He then crept forward and knelt down next to Batty. The muzzle was still over her mouth and her lead was tied to a tree. She didn't seem to be breathing.

  'Oh, Batty!' Freddy cried, tears streaming down his face. 'I'm too late. I'm so sorry.'

  How could that hateful man have killed such a beautiful dog? Batty's long black-and-white hair had fallen over her eyes. Freddy pushed it away and hugged his best friend.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The Key

  A wet tongue reached out from the muzzle and licked Freddy's cheek.

  'Batty?' he cried in wonderment.

  The mongrel's pretty eyes opened briefly then closed again and she began to snore contentedly.

  Freddy hooted with relief. He spotted a tissue on the ground nearby and picked it up. There was some sort of chemical on it.

  'She's been drugged,' he cried in delight. 'She's only asleep, Dad. She's okay.' He hugged the dozing mongrel tightly once again.

  With a sudden growl, Flasheart turned around and stared intently into the gloom. Someone or something was coming. Bruno gave a bark and bravely jumped forward to investigate. He heard a sound and raced off into the woods in pursuit. Flasheart nudged his son in warning and Freddy shook Batty urgently. The tired mongrel woke up reluctantly and tried to bare her teeth, but the muzzle prevented it. She sniffed Freddy and looked at his pink hair, and her eyes suddenly flashed into life. She jumped up in delight and wagged her tail madly.

  'Yes, it's me!' Freddy laughed quickly, 'but shush, girl, someone's coming. Dad, is it Cripp?'

  Freddy untied Batty's muzzle and released her. The huge wolf turned to face Batty, who flinched in terror. Flasheart gently licked her forehead, while Batty stared in amazement. She looked at Freddy and realised that whoever the wolf was, he must be a friend. Nervously, she held out her paw as Freddy had taught her. Flasheart patted it with his and the two wagged their tails happily. She really was the bravest mongrel Freddy had ever known.

  The three companions ran quickly towards Farfang Castle. Flasheart kept looking behind him in concern, but they reached the door in safety. The rain was now falling heavily. The door was slightly open, as Dr Cripp had left it.

  'Let's get inside,' Freddy whispered. 'We can find something to get your chain off with.'

  The wolf and mongrel nipped inside. Freddy entered last and pushed the door closed with all his strength. It banged behind him with a horrible slam that echoed throughout Farfang Castle. Their arrival had been announced.

  Bruno's chase had been fruitless. He returned to the lawn in time to see Batty run inside and flopped onto the grass in relief. He barked out the news to the other dogs and they soon joined him. They would wait there in case Freddy needed them.

  Freddy led his father and friend up to the tower room and then sneaked downstairs towards the kitchen. He hunted about in the nearby workroom and then sprinted back up the spiral staircase.

  Ten minutes later, the wolf inspected his chain collar in the mirror. The Moonstone shone back at him mockingly. Freddy had tried bashing it with a hammer, picking it out with a nail file and sawing through the chain. All to no avail.

  'The key must be in Uncle Hotspur's study. He put the padlock on you, he must have the key. I'm going to look for it.'

  The wolf flicked his ears doubtfully.

  'Well, it's worth a try.' Freddy jumped up.

  The wolf frowned his disapproval; it was too dangerous. He rose to come too.

  'No, Dad. You have to stay here. I'll be okay. Uncle doesn't even know we're in the castle. If he catches me, you'll still be safe – he thinks you're in Coldfax. Promise to stay hidden.'

  The wolf reluctantly flicked his tail in agreement.

  Freddy scooted down the spiral stairs and paused at the bottom to listen carefully. The old stone passage leading to the main castle was silent. With a racing heart, he ran for it. He passed the kitchen and there, straight ahead of him, was the door that led to the famous pond. Freddy opened it and peeped out. The square courtyard was empty. Rain began to fall from the dark clouds above. It splashed into the ornamental pond. Above him a thunderclap boomed. Freddy sprinted out. By short-cutting across the courtyard to the far side of the castle, he could avoid walking past the Red Stairs. He was drenched when he reac
hed the opposite door, which squeaked horribly when Freddy opened it.

  'Great howls,' he muttered. 'Why does every door squeak when I need it to be quiet?'

  He was right outside the door to Uncle Hotspur's study. Freddy looked up and down the dark corridor. Everything was quiet.

  'Stinky feet! Here we go ...' Freddy ran towards the study door.

  'Arrghh!' He had tripped. He flew through the air and torpedoed headfirst through the door.

  'Ow!' he yelped.

  Freddy rolled into a small table. He knocked off a delicate vase which smashed nicely onto his head.

  'Ow!' he yelped again. If he had used a megaphone to announce his arrival back in the castle it would have made less noise. A tight string stretched across the doorway had tripped him.

  'A booby trap!' he whispered. But who had laid it? Dr Cripp? Uncle Hotspur? With a horrid creepy feeling that someone was watching him, Freddy jumped up and began to search through Uncle Hotspur's drawers. He wanted to find that key as quickly as possible and get away from whoever had set the trap.

  'Where is it?' he groaned in frustration.

  'Looking for this, sir?'

  Freddy yelped as his uncle's dreaded voice boomed out from the doorway behind him. He swung around to see Sir Hotspur holding up a small steel key, his eyes glinting furiously. He held the silver gun in his other hand. Freddy's face fell at the sight of it.

  'It wasn't me!' he croaked uselessly.

  'But it was you, sir. And this key stays with me. Flasheart will never be a man again. Not ever, sir!'

  'But that's so mean. You're so totally ... traitorous. You've broken the Golden Rule,' Freddy cried. 'All werefolk are supposed to protect their pack – not ... lock them up, not shoot them!'

  Sir Hotspur ignored him.

  'Why aren't you a poodle? I'll teach you, sir. I'll teach you not to be a poodle.'

  Sir Hotspur raised his gun and took aim. Freddy picked up a cushion and threw it at his uncle, but he flung it away with a snarl and stepped forward. With a roar of surprise he tripped over into the room.