EYE IN THE CITY

Jeremy, who is blind, has persuaded his cousin, Peter, to allow him to take the dog, Trombone, for an evening walk.

‘Quiet Trom,’ Peter whispered as he attached the lead to the dog’s collar. ‘Better not let Mum know you’re going out on your own,’ he said to Jeremy. She’d make me go with you.’

Outside, Jeremy closed the door quietly behind him and stood for a minute breathing deeply, cane in one hand, dog lead in the other. It was a beautiful night, rich with the fragrance of summer blossom.

As he stepped onto the grass, Trombone leapt from behind him and made a dash for the side path leading down to the harbour. The lead coiled around Jeremy’s leg and he pitched headfirst into a small gardenia bush, his cane flying out of his hand.

Trombone gave a sharp yelp of shock as the lead checked him and he fell back on top of Jeremy. The dog thought it was a great game and they rolled about together, Jeremy trying to disengage himself from the gardenia bush without damaging it.

Jeremy was unhurt, but as he managed to get to his knees, Trombone planted both front paws on his chest and wiped a large wet tongue up the side of his face. Jeremy fell backwards onto the lawn, giggling uncontrollably.

‘Ssssh. Stop it, Trom. You’ll get us into trouble.’ The dog continued to whine excitedly. Any minute now he’d let out a full-throated bark. ‘I said stop it, you stupid dork dog.’

Jeremy was laughing so much he didn’t hear the car quietly pull up in the driveway. It was only when he heard the soft, hurried footsteps on the grass that he stopped laughing and, in the same instant, Trom stopped whining. There was a fractional pause before the dog growled threateningly. Then Jeremy heard a dull thump, a shrill yelp, and felt the animal slump to the ground beside him.

Before he could yell out, a strong hand grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked him viciously towards the car. The pain and the shock were so sudden that he couldn’t call out. He was bundled headfirst into the back seat by his captor, who then walked around to the driver’s side while a second man climbed in beside Jeremy.

A second later Jeremy felt a sharp jab of pain in his thigh. He let out a strangled moan as his thigh muscle spasmed, but a hand pushed his head into the seat of the car. He heard the car engine start, he smelt the leather upholstery, then nothing.