In Oz, Sadie had wandered off. Vic stayed at the stump while Matt went in search of the dog—no use in all of them getting lost. “I’ll wait here,” Vic assured him, lining up a row of apples across the stump so he could chop them in half with the axe.
Matt headed back to the yellow brick road. “Sadie!” he called out, then, “Here, girl! Sadie!” He whistled and slapped his leg to attract her attention, to no avail. He walked a little ways down the road—the trees began to grow denser, no longer only fruit trees but oaks and pines, as well. Lions and tigers and bears, Matt thought, calling his dog. An edge of panic crept into his voice.
Somewhere up ahead, he heard barking. He hurried off the road, pushing through bushes and trees. “Sadie! Come here, girl! Come on!”
More barking, getting clos
