The Mind of a Dog. A new Old Sergeant story

Dog had been with the outfit for some time now and even though they had figured out his name, he was still just “dog.” To the enemy, he was their worst nightmare. Dog actually liked the taste of human blood and on more than one occasion had actually taken a bite out of a terrorist. And swallowed it. He was the most feared animal in all of Iraq.

The Mind of a Dog

Dogs were considered unclean to Muslims and to be actually eaten by one was apparently not a good way to get to “paradise.” Dog seemed to understand this because he took every opportunity to prove to the enemy that if they wanted to get to paradise while he was around, it would be through his digestive tract.

Even to the members of the old sergeant’s platoon he was feared and respected, much like the old sergeant himself. They described him as the biggest, meanest killing machine they had ever seen.

The only real “friend” that dog had was the old sergeant himself. And friend was not the right word. Dog respected him because to dog, the old sergeant was the alpha male. He was the only one that dog regularly allowed to touch him and even though he would sometimes obey others in the platoon during a fire fight or in a hazardous situation, there was no doubt who his master was. To dog, the sergeant was the undisputed head of the family. The rest of the platoon was park of his pack.

Dog understood the sergeant was the alpha male simply by smell. The sergeant never smelled of fear and always took the lead. But in the pack this dominance was never a forever thing. Dog understood that pappy was getting older and his instincts told him it was time for a ritual fight for control of the pack.

Dog did not look forward to this fight but fight he would. He had been the leader of many packs in his life and it was in his nature to fight for dominance. The call of the wild made his blood run hot.

Dog began the challenge respectfully but firmly. He “marked” the territory in front of the old sergeant’s office. A direct challenge to the mans territory. Dog was surprised by the lack of response. The old sergeant had simply made sounds in a louder voice than usual and he smelled of anger. But no physical response took place.

So as the sergeant was walking across the compound, dog took up a position directly in front of him and barred his teeth. Then he let loose with a low rumbling growl.

“Dog, what in the blue blazes do you think you’re doing? First you piss on my office door and now you’re blocking my path. And if you growl at me again it will the last sound you will ever make.”

As the sergeant tried to walk around him dog made his move. He jumped straight for the sergeant’s throat. As fast as he was the man was faster. Before his teeth could grasp the flesh dog felt a powerful blow to his stomach. The man had ducked and come up under him knocking the breath out of him.

The pack had started to gather around them now and as dog tried to get his breath back he smelled fear and anger from them. He had to attack and soon. This was a formidable opponent.

“Pappy? What’s wrong with dog? He sure doesn’t look like he’s playing around.” One solder asked.

“Yeah,” said another. “Pappy I think he’s gone rabid. Someone get a gun.”

Pappy stood where he was unmoving staring at dog. “No one move. Dog is fine. I think he is just challenging me for leadership. Just like a young army recruit who thinks he can take the drill instructor. I will just have to prove him wrong.”

“But pappy, he will take your head clean off. You can’t beat dog in a fair fight and without weapons.”

Dog had gotten his breath back and started toward the man. But the man did not move. Dog decided to go low and grabbed hold of a leg with all his might, hoping to bring the man down to get at his throat.

But it was the wrong move to make. The man could not be moved and he reached down and clamped his hands around dog’s throat with a pressure he had never known before. The man’s hands were like a vise and all dog could do was release him and fight for air. But he had drawn first blood.

As dog released his hold on his leg the old sergeant spun around and threw the dog as far as he could. He heard a yelp as dog landed. “Ok my friend. You are making me angry. If you want to fight like an animal let’s get it on.”

Dog was already charging the man at full speed. But to the dog’s amazement the man did not run. Instead he starts to run toward dog. They met with a bone on bone clap that sounded like thunder. The struggle was a mighty one as dog tried to find the mans throat and at the same time rake him with his back claws.

But all his teeth found was air. The man had a bear hug on dog and as they twisted around the mans muscular arm went across the throat. As they fell to the ground with the man on top all the air rushed out of dogs lungs. And the pressure on his throat just kept increasing. Finally, mercifully, dog felt fangs at his throat. It was over. Dog lay still and bared his throat to the alpha male.

The old sergeant slowly got up spitting fur out of his mouth. He calmly unzipped his pants and urinated beside the dog. He then walked over to the fence and sat down opening up a water bottle as he did so.

One of the platoon whispered to another, “Man I have never seen anything like that. Pappy could have bitten dogs throat out.”

Dog slowly got up and went to the man who had bested him. It had been a glorious fight but dog now knew he would never be this mans leader. And he accepted that.

But what happened next changed dog forever. The man lay down and bared his throat! Dog was at a loss. He finally walked over and gently placed his teeth around the mans neck. Then he moved and placed his head in the mans lap. He relished the mans touch as his head was rubbed.

A light finally dawned on the dog. This must be what friendship is. He decided would never leave the man again.

And he didn’t.

The Old Sergeant Series is fictional

Steve Newton

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