I turn on my side and kick downward, striking the police dog squarely on its snout. Rusty whimpers and releases my ankle. Extracting my body from the foundation, I spring to my feet and take off, limping across the lawn with no policeman blocking my way. I snatch a quick glance over my right shoulder to see Rusty’s massive head wedged within the slit, barking at me like a werewolf.
I continue limping along. Reaching the tree line, I duck and dodge my way past the raven wood and come bursting onto a secluded beach, where I dive into a rushing flow tide. Swimming the channel, I pass into the bay where time feels like it’s standing still. Floating into Round Cove, I switch over to a backstroke and have quite forgotten my turmoil as I maneuver through the tidal passage and step out of the mar
