To which Spike responded with an angry bark and then went to gather those who were supposed to go hunting with him. Nay decided to ask the boy:
– Do you know any places where we can snatch a couple of pieces of meat?
– Quite a few! – licking his lips, Boll added to Nay’s words.
– There’s one place a few blocks away in that direction! – pointing to his right, Alex said.
– Great! – Nay declared. – While we’re getting ready and planning, Boll, go find Max!
– Okay! – said Boll and quickly ran off.
– Well, are you ready, little human? – Nay asked.
To which Alex, once again, nodded without hesitation.
After some time, Alex, Nay, Boll, Max, and several other dogs gathered near a solitary meat shop located on the ground floor of a four-story building.
«Well… As we agreed… We go in through the service entrance, and you and Max teach these simpletons lessons in acting!» Nay said.
After that, Alex and Nay headed towards an alley between two buildings, while the rest of the dogs went towards the main entrance. Meanwhile, one of the dogs stood guard, and another, holding a broken piece of a mop, ran around the smoking employee in the alley.
«What about him?» Nay asked the dog on guard.
«He’s almost finished smoking,» the dog replied.
«He’s leaving, he’s leaving!» Alex suddenly said.
At the same time, the dog next to the smoking employee leisurely followed him with the stick in its mouth.
«Oh no! No! Yuck! You can’t!» the man said to the dog, thinking it wanted to enter the shop with him. As the service entrance door usually closed by itself, he didn’t manually close it, allowing the dog to cleverly wedge the stick into the gap between the door frame and the door itself, preventing it from fully closing.
«Well done, Tucker!» the dog on guard muttered to himself, standing next to Alex and Nay.
«Excellent, forward!» Nay commanded.
After this command, Nay went towards Max, and then Nay and Alex approached the service entrance.
When they reached the dog named Tucker, Alex immediately grabbed the door and opened it so that he and Nay could enter smoothly.
«Good job, Tucker!» Nay praised the agile dog, to which Tucker nodded as if acknowledging the leader’s words.
«No one’s here!» Alex declared, peeking into the service area of the shop.
After that, Alex and Nay went inside.
«Watch the door!» Nay told Tucker after they entered.
Meanwhile, a real circus was happening at the main entrance. Max, being a rather affable dog, pretended to be the victim of a gang of evil stray dogs, which were cornered. Well, not exactly cornered… Max himself rushed inside the shop, and the other dogs began to bark furiously at him through the shop window. One of the shop employees immediately closed the door, thinking that by doing so, he prevented other dogs from entering the shop after their prey, Max. Soon, the entire shop staff gathered to witness this show.
«Poor little dog,» said one of the workers, stroking Max behind the ear.
«They cornered the poor thing,» remarked another.
The rest watched the hostile pack of dogs on the other side of the window. Someone even called the police. Meanwhile, Alex, in the office, struggled to open the refrigerator door, pulling on its handle without success.
«It seems you lack the strength!» Nei teased him.
«I know!» Alex replied, frustrated.
«We need to hurry! Max won’t last long!»
After a few futile attempts, Alex reluctantly accepted that he, being like he is, lacked the strength. After a brief moment of thought, he remembered something Remi once told him.
«A lever!» Alex exclaimed. «Fetch that stick!»
Nei brought the broken piece of a mop in his teeth, and Alex used it as a lever on the handle. With a little pressure, the door finally opened. Within seconds, a real treasure appeared before Alex and Nei, judging by their expressions.
«Look how big it is!» Nei exclaimed, seeing a massive piece of ham right in the middle of the refrigerated room.
Saying this, Nei immediately rushed towards the ham, biting onto the huge salty pork leg and pulling it out of the fridge. Meanwhile, Alex had the idea to roll a metal cart to the heavy piece of meat.
«Yes, you’re right! This will work better,» Nei said, surprised to see Alex with the cart.
«I knew you’d like it!» Alex replied.
After managing to load the meat onto the cart, they swiftly rolled it out of the office.
«Are you serious?» Tucker asked, seeing this.
«Inform the others quickly!» Nei told Tucker.
«Well, as you say!» Tucker said and ran to the main entrance of the store.
«Can you handle this cart?» Nei asked Alex.
As usual, Alex remained unperturbed and replied, «Of course!»
«Then let’s go!» Nei added. «We’ll amuse them a bit more here and catch up with you later!»
Alex naively nodded his head, grabbing the cart with both hands and ran away from the store, rolling the cart in front of him. Nei headed towards his companions.
Alex’s joy knew no bounds. Although Remi taught him that stealing is wrong, he managed to complete an extremely challenging task and even helped others like him – the homeless dogs. To his surprise, it warmed his heart. So, he joyfully rolled the cart with ham through the street, surprising passersby. Soon, his furry friends caught up with him.
«You did great!» Boll said, running up to the boy.
«What a huge piece…» Max commented. «And this little guy is not bad at all!»
«That’s true!» Nei added.
«Have you started drooling, Max?» Boll teased. «I remember you’ve already had your meal, so don’t think you’ll get an extra portion for your special talents.»
«Has Max had lunch?» Alex asked.
«Yeah!» Boll confirmed.
«Anyway, if we cook this together with porridge, it’ll be enough for all of us,» Alex suggested. «Let’s celebrate our victory today and feast to our heart’s content.»
«Well, okay…» Boll agreed. «Your plan is not bad either!»
«What’s your name, little guy?» Nei asked.
«Grandpa Remi named me Alex!»
«Alex!» one of the dogs said.
«Alex!» another one repeated.
«Alex, Alex, Alex…» echoed every dog around him.
«What’s going on with them?» the boy asked.
«Initiation into our pack…» Nei replied. «Now you’re a member!»
«And are you my leader?» Alex asked with a grin.
«Exactly!» replied Nei.
After that, Alex burst into laughter. The sight of a boy rolling a cart with a massive piece of ham through the streets of a poor, crime-ridden neighborhood surrounded by a pack of stray dogs was quite an amusing