Yumi. Maybe, it’s just my ears playing tricks on me.

Again there was some noise there in the darkness. Yumi squats down.

Yumi. And what if it is a horrible beast? It is lying snug in the darkness and wants to devour me. I have to run.

Yumi runs towards the exit and then stops short.

Yumi. And what about Toy? I promised him to cover the rear. I have to warn him and my mom if there’s an emergency.

Yumi goes back.

Yumi. A friend in need is a friend indeed. I will not betray Toy and will save my mom. Hey, who’s hiding there in the darkness? Come on out! I am not afraid of you. Grrr…

There was someone’s distinct growl in reply, then Yumi heard some movement, as if a real monster was breaking free from a cage.

Yumi. Is it all you got, you scary monster? Grrr…

Yumi jumps off and falls upon the monster. The attack is successful. Yumi bumps up against a big cage. There is a girl sitting in the cage. Yumi spotted this girl as his new acquaintance, who treated him to biscuits, by her smell.

Yumi. It’s a small world. What are you doing here?

Nyuta looks at Yumi in silence.

Scene 9.

The same decoration.

Yumi stands in front of the cage where Nyuta is locked.

Yumi. Is this you?

Nyuta. Yes, it’s me.

Yumi. Why did you growl?

Nyuta. Best defence is offence. I wanted to scare you.

Yumi. Then you succeeded. How did you get here?

Nyuta. I must be hallucinating. Dogs can’t speak.

Yumi. What do you mean they can’t speak?

Nyuta. Right. I’m going mad.

Yumi. It’s me, Yumi. We played together in our yard this morning. You treated me to some goodie.

Nyuta. Those were crunchy biscuits. Go away, ghost. I have no intention to lose my mind. Dogs can only bark.

Yumi. Woof! Woof!

The outer door opens slightly, a big dog pokes his head through the door opening, and his breath meets the ears. Yumi hides himself. The door closes again.

Nyuta. Hush! You will wake the guards up this way.

Yumi. I’m sorry.

Nyuta. There is also some huge dog wandering about here. He is looking for somebody.

Yumi leaves his hideout.

Yumi. My name is Yumi.

Nyuta. I am Nyuta. Granting for a moment that dogs can really speak and I am not getting mad.

Yumi. All the animals can speak, it’s just that not all the people can understand our language. What are you doing here?

Nyuta. Some masked thugs kidnapped me, brought me here and caged me up.

Yumi. But why?

Nyuta. One of them is called Corkscrew. I heard this name when they were taking me here.

Yumi. Corkscrew? He is my bitter enemy!

Nyuta. Oh really?

Yumi. Corkscrew and Khorkov caught my mom today.

Nyuta. But why would they do this?

Yumi. This is an animal tormentor gang. They rounded up stray animals in order to put them down with some deadly liquid.

Nyuta. It’s terrible.

Yumi. It was the mayor’s order, to rid the streets of stray animals.

Nyuta. The mayor’s order? No, it can’t be true.

Yumi. Then tell me, why is my mom in the dog prison now?

Nyuta. My father could not do that. There must be some mistake.

Yumi. I came here with my friends to save my mom. But first I need to let you out.

Nyuta. The latch is closed outside the cage’s door, I can not reach it from here. Try to open the latch.

Yumi tries to open it but fails.

Nyuta. No, I can’t.

Yumi. Pull the door. Alright. Harder.

Nyuta pulls the cage door, Yumi pushes the latch, and finally the door opens.

Yumi. Yes!

Nyuta. Good job. Thank you.

Yumi. Now go. Hereto, upstairs. Go through the building and find the door with a «fire exit» sign. It opens to the outside. There is a hole in the fence to the left from the security booth. Get out and run to the police station, they will help you.