Chapter 27

David woke up to the sound of a diesel engine starting. He looked at his watch, it was 8:30, and the date, was Tuesday, 21st of December. The inside windows had condensation trickling down from their breathing and the cold. He was hoping to have been on the road by six. Lady and Shadow stirred, stretching their bodies, yawning, then shaking. He welcomed their good morning kisses.

He opened the door to take the dogs out for a pee, but Lady jumped out, moved two feet, and squatted. Shadow did the same, then they jumped onto the floor of the passenger side, then onto the back area.

“That’s a good boy and girl. At least you didn’t pee in the car,” he praised, patting their heads.

He gave them food and water, patting their backs as they ate. Shadow gave a slight growl. “I don’t want your food. How can you eat the same thing every day?” He patted him again and let out another growl.

“That’s enough. Lady is letting me pat her, see?” He placed his hand on his back as he patted Lady and he remained silent. “Good boy!”

“Now that you’ve eaten, I’m hungry to get to Hungary,” he joked. “Be right back.” He locked the car, and two pairs of brown eyes watched him leave.

David used the washroom and smeared his face with cool water. He looked at the breakfast menus and ordered four eggs done over, four slices of cooked ham and home fries, and hot coffee to wash it down.

He knew Lady and Shadow would want their treats and hurried back to them. They were all over him, trying to get at his food. “Okay, you two have got to learn some manners.”

He pressed lightly on their hind quarters, motioning them to sit. “Now stay and wait your turn. You know you’ll get some.”

Lady and Shadow sat, their heads moving with every bite he took from the plate to his mouth. Each was rewarded with a small bite of egg or ham.

His breakfast finished, he patted the dogs, then scratched them under the chin. “Tell me, what dog doesn’t like to be scratched under the chin?” He rubbed Lady’s back, and she stood there, enjoying the connection. His other hand did the same to Shadow, and soon he had massaged them to their shoulders. Shadow nudged his hand, and he massaged him some more.

“You two sure are getting me trained fast. It’s supposed to be the other way around,” he laughed lightly.

He refueled the GTI, and they headed for the Hungarian border.

David waited in the line of traffic at the Tisza River bridge crossing, near the town of Zahony, Hungary. He noticed a large sign saying Hungarian, Ukrainian, Russian, English, and French were spoken. He put on a mask.

He was ushered to an inspection kiosk, where a guard in a dark blue uniform and black furry hat asked for his passport in several languages. He was wearing a mask, no doubt due to the ongoing COVID outbreak. Lady and Shadow walked onto his lap to inspect the man at the window.

“It’s okay,” David said, as Shadow gave him a cautionary growl and patted his head.

“What is the purpose of your visit to Hungary?” The guard asked, inspecting his passport and international driver’s license.

“I’m travelling through Hungary on the way home to Sicily.”

“Health certificates for your dogs, please, and proof of COVID vaccination.”

David took them from the armrest, handing them to him. Shadow gave another growl.

“You have a little protector,” he said, eyeing the dogs.

“The health certificate says you’re David Wells, yet your passport, driver’s license, and COVID certificate state David Webb.”

He had to think fast, not wanting to raise suspicion about a simple error. “I noticed it too after I had left Kyiv, but I’d travelled too far to go back to the veterinarian to change the typing error.

Lady placed her paws on the window sill, wagging her furry tail. “It won’t bite, will it?”

“No, she won’t,” David hoped. He placed his hand on the back of her neck as the guard patted Lady, then a cautious Shadow.

“Very nice dogs. Enjoy your drive to Sicily. A snowstorm of twenty-five centimeters is forecasted, but you should be ahead of it.”

“Thank you; I will be cautious.”

He had crossed the Tiza River and was now in Hungary.

He looked in the rearview mirror as the border crossing faded. “I’m glad I didn’t have to explain why my car has Parisian license plates.”