CHAPTER 17 - OLDENBURG, GERMANY—DECEMBER 8, 1916
Anna, hoping to catch a glimpse of Max, peeked through the partially opened barn door.
On the snow-covered obstacle course, each of the trainers were paired with a veteran and a shepherd, while Fleck supervised the instruction.
Max, who was being guided over a log barrier by a shepherd, was partnered with Waldemar.
Anna sighed. “I wish he was paired with someone else,” she whispered to herself.
Nia, sitting near Anna, perked her ears.
After a week of training, each of the blind veterans—except for Max—had been permanently assigned a guide dog.
It wasn’t due a lack of effort on Max’s part, Anna believed, given that he’d practiced before and after school with Nia, which helped him improve his dog handling skills.
However, Fleck was not yet convinced that Max and a shepherd had formed a bond.
To Fleck, it was crucial for both the handler and dog to develop mutual trust, the foundation for their life together after leaving Oldenburg.
Therefore, Fleck rotated Max with dogs and trainers in a quest to find the right match.
But three days ago, the number of viable guide dogs was significantly reduced due to an outbreak of kennel cough, a canine infectious tracheobronchitis.
Every dog that was housed at night in the barn had become infected, and they were immediately quarantined at a shelter with the Ambulance Dogs Association.
Fortunately, the ill dogs would likely make a full recovery, and none of the shepherds that stayed with trainers were sick.
However, it left only two viable dogs for Max—Gunda, who was under the care of Waldemar, and Elfriede, who housed with Fleck.
For the past few days, Fleck had frequently blown a whistle that he’d begun carrying in his pocket to signal for Anna to rotate dogs for Max.
And as of this morning, Fleck had yet to decide which dog was best suited for him.
“Anna!” Emmi called from the back of the barn. “I need help.”
Anna turned and ran to the rear door, where Emmi was kneeling beside Elfriede, a black and silver German shepherd lying on her side. Blood covered her left hind paw. “Oh, my,” she gasped.
Nia cantered to them.
Emmi lifted Elfriede’s paw, revealing a badly torn toenail. “I was bringing her inside and somehow her toenail got stuck between planks of wood.”
Anna glanced to the open doorway, where trainers had placed boards, due to heavy snow accumulation, to create a path inside the building. “I’ll get the medical supplies.” She darted away and returned with bandages, antiseptic, and a bowl of water.
Emmi dipped the dog’s paw into the bowl. Blood swirled in the water.
“How bad is it?” Anna asked, kneeling.
“The toenail has been ripped off,” Emmi said, examining a bloody stump of tissue.
The dog trembled.
“You’ll be okay, girl,” Anna said, stroking the dog’s head.
Emmi gently cleaned the dog’s paw and applied pressure with a cloth. Once the bleeding slowed, Anna applied antiseptic to the wound.
The dog flinched and whimpered.
Nia inched close and licked the shepherd’s face, like a mother caring for her puppy.
Elfriede relaxed and brushed her tail over the ground.
“You’re a good nurse, Nia,” Anna said.
Nia opened her mouth and panted, creating the appearance of a smile.
Emmi bandaged the paw and helped the dog to stand. It hobbled on three legs, unable to place weight on her hind leg, and then flopped on her side.
“She’ll be okay in a few days,” Anna said.
“Ja,” Emmi said. “But Fleck will be angry with me.”
“It was an accident,” Anna said. “Besides, Fleck is always upset about something. It’s his nature.”
“But Fleck cares for Elfriede in his home. He’s become quite protective of her.” She glanced to the dog. “He might discharge me.”
“He’ll do no such thing,” Anna said. “You’re an incredible caregiver for the shepherds, and you’re as smart as any veterinarian.
If it wasn’t for your insistence that each of the trainers take a guide dog home in the evening, rather than have the dogs sleep in communal pens in the barn, it’s quite possible that all of the dogs would have contracted tracheobronchitis. ”
“Danke,” Emmi said. “But it doesn’t change the fact that Gunda is the only healthy dog left for Max.”
Waldemar works with Gunda, so Max will be stuck with Waldemar for the duration of training. Anna rubbed her neck. “It’ll work out.”
Emmi nodded.
Fleck’s whistle sounded.
Anna’s skin prickled.
“I’ll tell him,” Emmi said.
“Nein.” Anna retrieved a harness from a hook on the wall. “I have to go out there anyway. I’ll tell him that we were both walking Elfriede when she injured her foot. He can’t afford to discharge both of us.”
Emmi’s eyes widened. “I thought you said that I have nothing to worry about.”
“You don’t,” Anna said, hoping she was right. She approached Elfriede and stroked her side. “Do you think you can walk outside so we can show Herr Fleck your paw?”
Elfriede struggled to stand. She whined and settled on her belly.
“That’s okay, girl,” Anna said.
Nia padded to Elfriede, and then looked at Anna. She tilted her head, holding eye contact.
Anna’s mind raced.
The shrill of Fleck’s whistle pierced the air. “Fr?ulein Zeller!”
Anna’s heart rate spiked. Harbor your heart, her vater’s words echoed in her head. Before she changed her mind, she slid the harness on Nia.
“What are you doing?” Emmi asked.
Anna buckled the harness. “Fleck needs another dog, so I’m giving him one.”
“But he doesn’t think Nia is physically ready for training.”
“The worst thing that can happen is that he sends Nia back to the barn,” Anna said, hoping to hide her uneasiness.
Emmi took a deep breath. “All right, but I’m not letting you go out there by yourself.”
“Okay.” Anna slipped on her gloves and patted Nia. “Ready, girl?”
Nia wagged her tail.
As they left the barn, cold air stung Anna’s face. She squeezed the harness handle, attempting to suppress the trepidation building in her chest. As she approached Fleck and Waldemar—their backs to Anna—she overheard their vigorous conversation.
“Gunda doesn’t care much for Max,” Waldemar said.
Fleck crossed his arms. “Why is that?”
“With all due respect, sir, I don’t think Max is capable of bonding with a shepherd.”
Anna’s blood pressure rose. She slowed her pace and glanced to Max, who was taking a break with the other veterans and trainers who were huddled near a grouping of birch trees.
Fleck stroked his mustache. “What is your recommendation?”
Waldemar glanced to Max and lowered his voice. “Send him home. There are blind veterans who are more deserving of a guide dog.”
Oh, no. Anna’s mouth turned dry.
Fleck paused, grinding the heel of a boot into the snow. “Let’s give him one more chance with Elfriede.”
“Herr Fleck,” Anna said, interrupting.
Fleck turned and frowned. “Where’s Elfriede?”
“Her toenail got stuck between the boards leading to the back door of the barn,” Anna said.
“She lost an entire toenail, sir,” Emmi said, stepping forward. “Exposed nerves are quite painful. It’ll be several days before she can train in the ice and snow.”
“Damn it,” Fleck grumbled. He looked at Nia. “Why did you bring her?”
Anna swallowed. “I thought that you’d need another dog.”
Fleck lit a cigarette. He took a drag and blew smoke through his nostrils.
Anna, attempting to maintain her confidence, stroked Nia. Through the corner of her eyes, she saw Max leave the group and walk, tapping his cane, toward them.
“All right,” Fleck said.
Anna’s heart leaped.
Waldemar furrowed his brow. “But Nia is lame. She’ll be limping within an hour of training.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Max said, shuffling toward their voices. “I’ve been practicing with Nia in the evenings, and I’d like to give her a try on the obstacle course.”
Waldemar glared at him.
Max stopped near Fleck. “Nia’s limp doesn’t bother me. I’m a bit slow myself; I sometimes get winded.” He tapped his cane to his chest. “Gas, you know.”
“Ja,” Fleck said. He puffed his cigarette and looked at Waldemar. “Give Nia a go.”
“Sir,” Waldemar said. “I, as well as the other trainers, have spent little time with Nia. She has not been properly instructed. It’d be better to try again with Gunda.”
“But you just told me that Gunda wasn’t working out,” Fleck said, his voice impatient.
Waldemar’s face turned red.
“Herr Fleck,” Max said. “Anna has been instructing me and Nia on the same techniques used by the trainers. With your permission, I would like to work with Anna on the course.”
Anna’s eyes widened.
Fleck looked at her. “Is this true?”
“Ja,” Anna said. “While doing my duties, I often get a chance to observe the trainers. I merely modeled your techniques with Max and—”
“No wonder he performed poorly,” Waldemar interrupted. “She’s not a trainer, she is an inferior nurse who couldn’t hold her position at the hospital.”
Anna’s skin turned hot. She struggled to hold her tongue.
Fleck flicked ash from his cigarette. “Anna, take Max and Nia onto the course.”
A jolt shot up her spine.
“Sir,” Waldemar said.
Fleck looked at Waldemar. “Rotate in with the other trainers to give them breaks.”
“But—”
“That’s an order,” Fleck said.
Waldemar stuffed his hands into his coat pockets and walked away.
Anna took a deep breath. “Danke.”
“Save your gratitude, Fr?ulein Zeller,” Fleck said, firmly. “This is temporary, until Elfriede or one of the other shepherds recovers. If you fail to perform to my expectations, I will not hesitate to remove you from the grounds. Do you understand?”
“Of course, sir,” Anna said.
Fleck tossed his cigarette and made his way onto the course.
“What are you waiting for,” Emmi whispered, her eyes beaming. “Get out there.”
Max extended his arm. “Shall we?”
Nia wagged her tail.