V. Rajasigamany
James and Dick, who live in London, suddenly find
themselves back and forth another dimension, a black and white world, where animals communicate with them. This
happens when they fall asleep. Naturally, their first assumption is they are
dreaming. But when they get up, there are physical clues to whatever happens
during the dream. The same scenario is also happening to a child, Mary, who
doesn’t worry much like the grown ups, as she thinks she was in fact talking to
animals.
Then an animal sanctuary worker Emily, flies to England
from Brazil in pursue of a wolfdog that was brought by a mystery person and
asks James and Dick to help her foil an illegal trade that is taking place
between the two countries.
James, Dick and Mary,
jumping in and out of this bewildering dimension, a wolfdog that makes
bad jokes, the silent Saint Bernard , a mischievous fox and Emily; together
they have to outwit this dreadful business which proves to be very difficult
with many twists and turns.
As a wild life enthusiast, V. Rajasigamany (known as Raj
by many) is one who would never miss a TV documentary or movie regarding animals.
Whether it is a programme about Serengeti National Park by Sir David
Attenborough or Tom & Jerry by MGM cartoons, he is the one who gets the
front seat. He also has a considerable collection of wildlife books, referring
to a wide range of animals and plants from around the world.
According to Raj, a single Herring in a school of fish
has its own mind, just as a wandering lone Polar Bear. Therefore, they should
both be treated with same respect. And the outcome of this attitude, is his
first novel; The Curse of the Last Wolf.
The James Bond fan is a civil servant working for ‘Department
for Work & Pensions’ in Tooting, London, England, where his hobbies include reading,
writing and playing chess.
Raj’s intention is to continue writing, with his
ever-growing passion for animals.
‘You simply don’t know how much you are annoying me do you?’ James frowned.
‘Sorry, I forgot you are not a humorous person. Anyway …’
Once again the howling interrupted them.
Wolf thought for a moment, and asked, ‘I hate to ask you this James, but what were you doing just before coming here?’
James thought for a moment and said, ‘well, I went to my flat, took my shoes off, sat on the sofa, put the TV on and…’ paused for another few moments, ‘and then I thought of calling Emily, but couldn’t find her number. So came here straight.’
‘You said you put the TV on, what was on it?’
‘Oh nothing interesting, I tried all the channels and just let it run on something.’
‘Did you leave the TV on when you came here?’
‘Yes, because I didn’t know I am going to be delayed by a pompous old jabbering canine. Otherwise I would have been back home within ten minutes.’
‘You know you shouldn’t leave electric appliances on when you are not home.’
‘Wolf…!’ James frowned.
‘Hey, wait. I am not joking this time. Tell me what was on TV when you left your flat.’
James had to think again, ‘now, there was a movie, I didn’t like it so I checked the other channels, still nothing… I think I left it on the movie.’
‘Do you know the name of the movie?’ Wolf started to show a little anxiousness.
‘Yes, the one with Sherlock Holmes and the vicious dogs.’
‘Hound of the Baskervilles?!’ Wolf yelled
‘Wow look who is talking, you watch movies too?’
‘Listen James, are you sure you left the TV on?’ Wolf suddenly became concerned.
‘Yes, I am sure of that.’ James was positive.
‘Then run home. Now! No time to waste.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘I said no time to waste, I mean it James, now. Run! Run!’ Wolf became restless and started running up and down the cage, ‘quick, now.’
‘Ok, ok, I am going.’ James didn’t know what was going on, but listened to Wolf. He got up and rushed.
‘Oh, and I got a birthmark on my right hand.’
‘What?’ he stopped.
‘Doesn’t matter, run.’ Wolf screamed.
James didn’t waste anymore time, rushed out.
***
The late night double-bill continued with the second movie, Taste the Blood of Dracula. James wasn’t interested in it at all, didn’t even bother to put the volume up. However, though his mind was thinking about what happened tonight, his eyes were on the TV screen.
Suddenly something clicked to his mind, when he saw Christopher Lee appeared with red blood pouring out of his eyes, ‘that’s it, the colour.’ he in fact screamed without even realising the time of the night. His eyes opened wide with a bright smile on the face. He got up, stood in the middle of the hall and looked all around him. A colour movie on TV, the colourful poster of a pair of macaws flying over the Amazonian jungle, on his wall; everything was in colour. With a sigh, James sat back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
‘Phew, at least now I am in real world.’
He knew, although a controversial issue, by popularity it was known that one dreams in black and white.
Though he didn’t think about it at the time, now he could recall that he couldn’t remember seeing anything colour within the time he was in the dogs’ home including the colourful vending machine in their canteen. Now, he could conclude that the conversation with Wolf was taking place in a black and white environment. That means he was in fact dreaming.
Or was he?
After a minute or so, he got up to get changed, when the phone rang.
Thinking who could it be at this time of the night, he sat back on the sofa and picked up the phone, ‘hello.’
‘Hey it’s me. I couldn’t finish what I was about to say, when that dog started howling. Have you got a minute? I want to tell you about...’ The voice on the other side went on.
‘Hold on.’ James interrupted, ‘who is this?’
‘It’s I, Wolf.’ The voice said.
‘Here we go again.’ With a sigh, James leant back on the sofa but didn’t listen to a word Wolf said. He was simply staring at the TV screen in front of him.
Taste the Blood of Dracula was still going on, only in black and white.
