Page 40 of A Mate For Matrix
They had been pushing their luck—first the spectacle at the clothing store, then with the meltdown at the market. If this kept up, they’d have the human military establishment knocking on the transport’s door before sundown.
We should have left right after we confirmed the Crawler had been destroyed, he thought.
He turned and followed the building to the back door. Jana had left it unlocked, allowing him to slip inside. The hallway smelled faintly of antiseptic, animal dander, and old coffee. He moved silently past the kennel and crossed into the surgical prep room.
Beyond the half-open door at the front, a bell jingled. Whoever had arrived was entering through the front door.
Matrix’s hearing keyed in on the heavy thump-drag of boots—odd gait, older male. He didn’t sense any animals.
As if this day hasn’t been chaotic enough, he thought with frustration.
He stepped through the shadowed hall and paused just behind the swinging door to the front reception area.
Jana was still out of sight—probably at the desk, scribbling that note she’d mentioned.
Matrix’s fingers twitched, itching for the comfort of a weapon he wasn’t carrying.
Please let this be someone who isn’t a threat. Please?—
A voice spoke from the front room.
“Hello? Jana? Are you here?”
“Doc? What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving to go up to your lake house for vacation,” Jana replied.
“I am. I am. I forgot my favorite rod in my office. I was working on it. Where’s your car? I saw the lights on, but didn’t see anyone.”
“I… it sort of… blew up,” Jana replied.
Matrix closed his eyes briefly.
“That old clunker was past retirement. Take the van if you need wheels.”
“Um, there is actually something I needed to tell you,” Jana said.
Matrix, look out!
Matrix froze when K-Nine’s sharp warning hit him. He crouched and swiveled, his eyes scanning for danger. Before he could assess what was wrong, three streaks flashed by him followed by the massive wolfhound.
What the?—?
A chorus of meows, followed by sharp nails against tile were the only warning he got before K-Nine slid as if he were on ice and slammed into him. His arms wound around K-Nine’s body as his back hit the wall.
“What the heck?” the man said.
“It’s alright! I’ve got it,” Jana frantically said.
Matrix groaned under K-Nine’s weight. In seconds, three more bodies were crawling all over him and his partner. He slowly looked up from where he sat under a pile of fur into the amused face of an older man dressed as if he hadn’t bought any new clothes in the past century.
“Uh, Doc Wilson, this is… my boyfriend, Matrix, and his friend—dog—K-Nine,” Jana introduced awkwardly.
“Boyfriend?” Doc repeated, squinting like he’d misheard her. He scratched his chin. “You wanna tell me why your boyfriend and his unusual wolf have glowing eyes?”
The kittens escaped.
I noticed, he muttered silently as Biscuit turned and planted his fuzzy backside an inch from his face.
We’re never going to make it off this rock.
