Chapter 8 ATTACK OF THE WOLVES, The water brigade

Morning came earlier than expected, as the brides put on warm clothing and prepared to work in shifts, Biddie had the schedule made out and she was the first one up and getting tea and food ready for the ladies, Some of them would be in town with Lottie making food and taking care of essentials as needed. The first shift, would not start until 6 but they had to be ready to get in the wagons to head to the sites so, breakfast was eaten, and everyone was ready sooner than was possible. Or at least the men thought so. They were ready but the women came in wagons to the camp before they were scheduled to arrive. The men were still eating and drinking their coffee, some had to even get dressed! Even Jason was still in his long johns when they arrived. Corky was the only one dressed and he set the women over by the water. Drs. Johnson and Green had just gotten ready and saw that the women were the first ones.

"Well, Josiah, I don't think the men of our company could beat these ladies, they are up and dressed and ready to work before we even opened an eye!" Dr. Johnson said to his friend.

"Yes Sir, I do believe we will have to shame some of our company with this tale, although they might think it a 'TALL TALE'!" They both laughed and when they saw that the rest of the calvary had arrived, they set to giving everyone their duties. Those who were to take the shift with the women, as guards and fire starters were ordered to choose 5 women to be in their crew. These women would be the water brigade as well as any other duties as needed. Dr. Green took his group to the meadow. They were met with a quiet serene place. The ladies were lulled into a sense of peace and serenity. Biddie was about to make one of her comments when she heard a low growl. The guard next to her put his hand on her shoulder and finger up to his mouth. She kept silent and still as did the other ladies, one wolf came out, then another three more from across the field. They were trying to surround the company, but a shot rang out then two or three more and the feeding frenzy began. Once there were enough wolf bodies to gather into a pile the soldiers tasked with the job of taking the dead wolves to the center of the field did their jobs and soon fires were set.

More wolves moved in toward the fires, they were not afraid, they only smelled blood and looked for it. One wolf saw a soldier and was about to attack him when he was shot. Biddie had the girls ready and as soon as the fires were leaping high, they started to bring the water buckets and throw water on them. By noon, the wolf attack had stopped but the howling had not. The next shift of men and women came. Aaron was in this shift as was Jason. Joshua would be in the third shift when the day would become night. The soldiers had said that this might go on through the night. At least the fires and the shooting of the wolves.

Back at the caves, Dr. von Sydow was listening to the howling and smiling. He looked at Candy, she was terrified, she did not realize who she was she thought she was a wolf. He had carefully planted that idea in her mind. And although she still stood on two feet, by the end, she would be on all fours, and no one would recognize her even her fiancé! He had never done an experiment like this. He had wanted to see how far a human would go to kill another especially if they loved that person. With Jeremy Bolt and Candy Pruitt, he would have his research to prove that anyone could be turned and believe anything they were told!

"Aurora, is your subject ready?" he asked his daughter, She said yes. She had said to him they were going to rid Seattle of the wolf problem. There was this one wolf, a female wolf who had taken over the wolf pack and needed to be killed. She could be found in the woods protecting her offspring. He would have to kill them as well.

The doctor then took Candy gently leading her with a leash, she almost started to get down and walk on all fours or at least crawl but she had not developed that ability as yet. He took her out to a little cove in the forest, there were tow small wolf cubs, still small and babies. She sniffed them and had been given their scent, so she knew that they were hers. She sat with them and played with them. The doctor stayed to be sure that she would not run off, especially if she began to understand the language of the wolves and run off to join the pack. His experiment counted on Jeremy not recognizing her.

The fires and the howling went on through the day, into the night, more howling, more sounds of gunfire. Aurora and Jeremy were camping out. He wanted to kill those wolves that had been terrorizing his town. He said to 'Candy'

"I-I-I don't kno-know why you insisted on coming with me, You would have been much safer at home!"

"But Jeremy, my love, Don't you remember, you insisted I come with you! You said it would be safer for me to be with you?" She said as she stroked his cheek. He held onto her. He loved her smell, and the way she felt next to him. His only thought was of Candy, She was Candy, 'wasn't she?' something in his mind stuck, he wasn't sure, but he decided not to pay attention to that thought for the moment, he had to be on alert for the Wolf and her pups that he had to kill!

"Candy, did you say the wolf would have pups with her?" he asked as they walked toward a little grove of trees.

"Yes, yes I did, why?"

"I think I here some wolf pups right now! Over there behind that grove of trees!" He pointed and then slowly made his way to the trees; he spotted the pups and then saw the wolf. He took his shotgun and aimed it.

"I'm too far away, come on let's get closer!" He said grabbing her hand and slowly making his way towards the wolf and her cubs.

Jason and Aaron had done their best and were taking a break nearby. They heard some wolf cubs playing in the grove of trees nearby.

"I hear them, but I am exhausted. Why don't we wait, and we can shoot them in a while!" Aaron said. Jason looked at him taking a sip of his canteen. He listened for them, heard a wailing, that wasn't quite a wolf cry, but it wasn't quite human either. He wondered just what that was.