Curse of the Devil Dogs: A Sequel of the Devil Dogs

By Alfonso Moret

A scientist and a veterinarian are bitten by infected wolves and will become werewolves if you dont find the antidote flower by the full moon. While the associates seek the remedy plant, the wolf-men transform. Death and chaos disrupt the process to attain the cure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543426694

Alfonso Moret

Alfonso was born and raised in East Los Angeles. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for wounds and service in Vietnam. He earned a counseling degree at Pacific Oaks College and was a director of a drug-treatment program in El Sereno, California. He is currently semiretired with grandfather and great-grandfather obligations and continues to write.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

A FTER LAST YEAR’S incident that involved the high school kids in East Los Angeles and the alleged wolf-man killing by a Montebello police detective, the following has occurred: these wild Himalayan wolves (devil dogs) that had been held for viewing at the Los Angeles City Zoo (this should be noted that some individuals believe that in some way the wolves were involved in the whole tragic event) have been transferred from their zoo enclosure so they could be inspected and studied. They are now in the hands of the US Air Force Space Command authorities at the El Segundo (California) base for examination and analysis by government scientists. This command force facility site is only about fifteen miles from the LA City Zoo, and the animals will be returned to the zoo after they are studied. The police report that the clinician personnel at the facility received was a rather modest and vague account and without any concluding summary or assessment. Authorities have canceled any further comments in this matter at this time. The following memorandum was dispatched to the scientists at the facility:

Case #CD031177 contains the following points of interest: the incidents involving a seventeen-year-old male student from Garfield High, known as Lugo Hirsch, who was killed on May 25th by a Lieutenant Walsh of the Montebello Police Department are as such: third party sources state that this Lugo Hirsch was bitten by one of the Himalayan wolves (devil dogs) while visiting the LA Zoo some weeks earlier. This was confirmed by school authorities. Sometime after Mr. Hirsch was bitten by one of these wolves, he experienced hostile psychotic episodes with bizarre aggressive conduct and behavior. These symptoms were accompanied by extreme forceful and emotional outburst accompanied by violent animalistic behavior. The hearsay infected subject went on rampages and finally had to be killed due to his lethal threatening behavior and unwilling submission. It should be noted that Mr. Hirsch’s death was undertaken by a Lieutenant Walsh of the Montebello Police Department. It’s also noted that he used unofficial ammunition he obtained by his own accord; he has since then been transferred to Snow Valley Police Station in Big Bear. It should also be noted that assisting the officer in the slaying of the psychotic teenager, Mr. Hirsch, are two of his classmates—a Johnny Robles, who is now on scholarship program at the USC campus, and his girlfriend, a Lisa Cabrera, who is also on scholarship status also at USC. It seems that standard police ammunition was incapable of impairing, stopping, or having any effect on Mr. Hirsch while he was in his psychotic condition when the police confronted him and made attempts of subduing the wild man earlier that evening. The two teenagers mentioned above felt that their special component was the only way to stop or fatally wound the psychotic Mr. Hirsch and advised the lieutenant to use it—at which time, he did.

For further information in this matter, Lieutenant Walsh, Johnny Robles, and Lisa Cabrera should be contacted.

CHAPTER 1

I T WAS NOW June 1—one week after the wild dogs had been transferred to the El Segundo facility. There were two appointed scientists who were assigned to do the research and testing on the devil dogs there at the government facility. The scientists were somewhat surprised by their new assignment—the odd circumstance was that it was already now a Thursday; assignments were usually given on Mondays. Also they felt that the examining and testing of these animals and then reporting their findings was somewhat of a downgraded project since they were NASA trained scientists. It was now close to four in the afternoon as the two scientists walked down the long brightly lit hallway. The female doctor was the attractive Delores Martin, a plasma specialist, who had been at the site for a while now and was used to doing specialized scientific assignments. The male doctor was Robert Bain; he was one of the more recently hired staff and recently certified biological experts. So Robert being arrogant and self-centered as he was, he felt he needed to complain to his now-associate about being given this kind of assignment. He had been trying to break this cold-shoulder attitude she had maintained with him.

Looking over to the side as they walked together, Robert blurted out, Hell, I’m a doctor, a scientist, not a lab technician. I’m here a month, and now I have to be a dogcatcher. This is ridiculous, really ridiculous. It was obvious Robert was a frustrated and upset individual.

Delores Martin, his assistant and senior, clenched her lips together, rolled her eyes, and then she responded to her coworker’s gripes, Bob, you know, it’s all in the attitude and work habits around here. With proper and positive results, well, this can and will get you the better assignments around here. I, too, would prefer to be working on some space project, a rocket to Mars, a trip to other universes, but it’s all about doing precise and worthy projects with positive results here in our labs that will get the attention of the higher-ups. I’ve been here nine months now and am still waiting patiently, Dr. Bain. She looked at him with her eyebrows raised and jerked her head at the door as she waited for him to open it for her.

Dr. Bain reached for the door handle as his head turned so he could observe the appealing coworker when she went into the lab room. He nodded, turned the doorknob, opened the door, allowed Dr. Martin to enter the lab, and then followed reluctantly.

Hey, you guys have finally arrived, exclaimed Vernon Murray, the facility animal specialist and veterinarian. He continued, The wolves were sedated prior to transferring them from their kennel to here and have remained sedated so they can be examined. Now the sedation is low enough for them to eat and relieve themselves but leaves them drowsy or sleeping. They’ve been moping around in their cage now for an hour now. Funny, I hear from the night watch that they are much more active at night—you know like howling at the moon, wrestling with each other, and pacing their surroundings—sometimes on their medication. That’s odd, so let’s be careful. They are not domesticated.

Both Robert and Delores looked at one another. Delores responded, Well, that’s very informative and interesting and something we will have to check into and of course be wary of.

Awe, came from Robert, I assume that a night shift session will have to be scheduled?

Delores rolled her eyes again and loosened her taut smile while looking at Vernon as she set her briefcase on a countertop, it was scattered with lab paraphernalia, vials in metal stands, three microscopes of various sizes, and large glass wares—some half-filled with odd, dark, and neon-looking liquids. They both looked around the room with its white walls and shiny metal counters and tables. Some tables had drawers. On the tables, there were large and small metal and glass containers, various sized thongs, and boxes of sterilized gloves. A steel mesh net hung from a hook near the animal shelter. On the walls were corkboards with clipboards and notices. There was a clock showing military time and a few cabinets with glass doors with wooden frames. The shelves had labels, and lab paraphernalia filled the shelves.

The vet slightly smiled and responded, "I’m Vernon, by the way, Vernon Murray. So when you need handling of the wolves, reports, chemicals, equipment, and mostly whatever—I’m your guy. I’ll get you what you need. I’d like to stick around, I don’t get much company, and the animals are not much conversationalist."

Delores broke a wide smile at this good-looking blond man with an unpretentious attitude and said as she put out her hand, Hi there. I’m Dr. Delores Martin, and this is Dr. Robert Bain, and thank you. Their eyes met briefly. Something inside her briefly stirred and she thought, That’s funny. I’ve never been attractive to blond men before, but he’s very appealing. I’m sure, together, we can accomplish the task at hand.

As their warm hands grasped, a joyful jolt went through them. Vernon’s eyes widened as his eyebrows slightly arced. He smiled broadly and managed to state, Glad to meet you, Delores. Delores swallowed as she involuntarily fluttered her eyes. He continued to smile broadly, showing straight large white teeth. His smile faded as he glanced over to Robert and said, Robert, are first name status okay with you guys since we’ll be working together?

Nodding his head, Robert just placed his large carryall bag on the floor under the counter and remarked, That’ll be fine. Can we have a look or see at these beasts now?

Delores shook her head slightly as she composed herself and remarked, Yes, let’s end the day with at least an observation.

Vernon walked over to another door that had a wire-meshed glass window. The wall to the small kennel was four feet high, and the rest was also wire-mesh glass. He unlocked it, went inside, and closed the door. Vernon now pulled the blanket the wolves slept on in their small kennel cage. They continued sleeping.

He tapped on the window at the scientist and remarked, They are not moving much right now.

Delores got on one side and Robert on the other as they all looked at the dozing wolves as they were sleeping on a thick army blanket. Even in their harmless slumber, the animals still looked intimidating. In separate cages, they both had their dozing heads facing toward the Peeping Toms. They were almost identical in size—one a little larger. The bigger one had a rough black coat with some white around its paws and snout. The other wolf wore a gray heavy coat that covered its huge body without wrinkles; it also had white paws and spotted white around its muzzle. Their tails lay motionless in a right question mark angle. Their huge heads lay on their large front paws. They were breathing normally. On the intake, their upper lips would curl back and reveal an array of carnivorous oversized white and faded yellow teeth. The smaller one was gray with white around its eyes and snout.

Vernon cut the silence. The male wolf can get up to normally a hundred and seventy-five pounds. He shook his head slowly. He continued, But this baby weighs a hundred and ninety-five pounds, and it’s not fat. It’ll take the three of us to get them on a gurney or table for you to do your, er, whatever you’re going to do. Vernon stepped back and leaned his butt on the counter while he folded his arms across his chest, allowing the scientists to get a better view.

Both Delores and Robert leaned in and peeked through the glass partition. After a moment, the scientists relaxed. Robert asked, Can we get one of the babies on an exam table?

Vernon leaned forward, nodded, and said, Wait a minute. He walked to the storeroom.

Delores leaned on the counter with her arms folded and remarked, What are you planning on doing Robert?

Robert responded smartly, Well, since we’re here, I’d like to get some blood and saliva samples drawn. The quicker we get things done, the quicker we’re out of here. He winked at her and smiled.

Delores clenched her lips and then smiled as she slightly nodded. Robert started opening drawers looking for hypodermics, vials, and swabs. Delores adjusted her hair, looking at a reflection on a closed window that had its blinds drawn and closed allowing for a reflection.

The storeroom door opened wide. Vernon came out and set a doorstop, keeping the doorway open. He maneuvered a gurney through and moved it down away from the sleeping wolves. He stepped back and closed the door to the storeroom. The scientists watched him as he prepared for their request.

Okay, you want the male or female, Vernon blurted out.

How about we try the male wolf first, Vernon? Females are always more complicated. He grinned as he stole a look at Delores.

You better believe it, you two! Delores answered smiling, one eyebrow arched.

Vernon responded, Yes, but always in a good mysterious way. He grinned.

Are they still medicated pretty good, Vernon? Robert asked, disrupting the vibes that seem to be budding in the room.

Should be. I hit them fifteen minutes before you arrived, answered Vernon. They should be out until six or seven tonight then they’ll relieve themselves and sleep until morning.

They all looked at the wall clock as the black second hand went from digit to digit. The clock read four twenty five.

Robert clapped his hands and said, Okay, let’s do it.

Vernon opened the kennel door, and the scientists went in. Robert pushed a metal cage along the floor out of the way. The squeaky hard sound made the wolves jerk in their sleep. Vernon opened the kennel door widely and pushed the gurney against a wall a few feet from the sleeping animals. The female was now on her side, her chest expanding broadly as she dozed; the male snuggled next to her.

We’ll use the blanket, Vernon nodded. I’ll grab the blanket end here. You two grab a corner on his head side.

They all shuffled around to their perspective positions and grabbed a good handful of the blanket the male wolf was lying on, they were ready to move in unison. Robert’s feet were about two feet from the sleeping male wolf’s head.

Okay, on three, we’ll gently lift up. And as I back up, you guys come forward, and we’ll lay him on the gurney.

The scientists nodded in agreement.

Vernon counted, Okay, one, two—

Just then, the male wolf woke up and sluggishly got to his feet. He was about three feet high. As he shook his head awake and focused his eyes, he yelped softly, broke wind into the air, and then lied down again and went to sleep. Robert reacted and leaned back quickly, took an extended step backward that jerked the trio’s maneuver, and then stepped on the female wolf’s paw. This woke up the female wolf in a painful start. She automatically snapped at Robert’s foot, nipping him in his ankle.

Robert hopped forward, yelling, Ouch, it bit me. It bit me. Damn!

This sudden thrust yanked Delores forward thus pushing the male wolf onto Vernon’s body, waking the animal up some more. The animal’s instinct forced it to snap out and bit Vernon on the wrist. He yelped but hung on to the blanket, and they all managed to land the wolf on the gurney. The male still seemed sedated, but he tried lifting his head again and blinked, snarled, and fell asleep again. The female had backed away and was now snarling in a pounce position. Vernon pushed the doctors out the door as he crowded behind them, and then he slammed it shut. The male now growled and fell asleep again.

Robert was on the floor as he took off his shoe and sock, looking at the four small wounds on his upper ankle. Each wound had a dribble of blood seeping out. His mouth agape, he rocked back and forth on his haunches and held his foot. Vernon leaned on the counter. He placed a hand on his wounds while Delores leaned on him, trying to take his hands away so she could place a towel on the bleeding wound.

CHAPTER 2

W HILE THE FEMALE wolf paced a little then lied down and fell asleep again, Delores pushed the gurney back into the room and went back to administering pressure on Vernon’s wound while she asked Dr. Bain, Robert, how bad is your bite? Need any help?

Grimacing as he rocked on the floor, he looked at his wound and remarked, Oh it’s bleeding a little. Can you get me a bandage?

Sure. First, put some mercurochrome on it. Here, she handed him a small