Circus Jack - Chapter 14. The Chicken Crate

News of Pepe's extraordinary talents spreads quickly, catching the attention of the infamous Violet Python, a rival circus owner. Driven by envy and disdain for Spectavelli, she hires a dog-napper to steal Pepe once again, setting the stage for a dramatic turn of events.

In Chapter 14, "The Chicken Crate," Peppy wakes up feeling nauseous and disoriented, surrounded by the musty smells of wood and chicken. As he realizes he's been stolen, his heart races with fear. However, a compassionate woman with piercing blue eyes and a gentle voice appears, offering him a glimmer of hope.

Despite the dog-napper's protests and a wounded arm, the woman stands firm in her resolve to protect Peppy, setting the stage for a tense and thrilling journey back north. Will Peppy find his way back to Sweetie and the beloved Spectavelli Circus?

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Music.

(00:10):
Let's just do a brief recap on the preceding chapters.
News of Pepe's extraordinary talents spreads quickly, catching the attention
of a rival circus owned by the infamous and heartless Violet Python.
Her intense envy and disdain for Spectavelli knows no bounds,

(00:30):
driving her to pay the same man who first stole Pepe from his humble beginnings
on a farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
and is now tasked to snatch him once more for Python's selfish desires. tires.
The morning after Peppy is stolen from Spectavelli Circus, the staff ran around

(00:51):
the circus grounds, frantically searching for Peppy and other dogs.
Chapter 14. The Chicken Crate.
As mind dull, Peppy slowly woke, feeling nauseous and thirsty.
Nebulous shapes could be seen coming through the near blackness, everywhere he looked.
The musty smell of wood and dirt mixed with the suffocating odor of chicken,

(01:16):
Kurt's sudden jolts, and the creak of rusty springs caused by holes,
ruts and rocks in the road, snagging wooden wheels suggested a recent situation.
He whined at the thought of being stolen again, this time from Sweetie and his beloved circus.
The wagon stopped its jostling as Peppy's heart raced with fear at the dog-napper

(01:39):
approaching the crate and lifting the burlap blanket.
Well, hello, handsome, a woman said, peering down at him.
Instead of the dog-napper's cruel, gaunt face, Peppy's eyes met with a woman
whose blonde hair hung in loose waves around her shoulders,
framing piercing blue eyes, bright red lips, and an expression of compassion

(02:01):
as she peered into the crate.
Peppy whined with relief, wagging a limp tail, as her face turned from concern to a smile.
He sensed she wouldn't hurt him. him don't
be afraid little one i'm here to help you
the woman spoke to him softly her voice
gentle and soothing he allowed the woman

(02:22):
to lift him out of the crate and into her arms on the wagon seat or he nuzzled
his face against her warm chest to he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope
don't get too attached to that dog sweetheart he's just a transaction the man beside them said,
wincing in pain as the wagon lurched from a route across the road.

(02:45):
Peppy smelled the rusty odor of blood that soaked the man's arm and detected
an infection had taken root from dog saliva.
His nasty dog friend took part of my arm, the man said. No favors for this dog, you understand?
He's just a sweet little dog, the woman said with a smile and patted his arm

(03:07):
causing the man to howl in pain.
He's done nothing to you, and you'll do nothing to him, or that arm will be
the least of your troubles. Do you understand?
He nodded and returned his gaze to the road leading back north,
giving the horses a flick of the reins with his one good arm.
Let's get this trip done, he muttered.