Tank lifted his paws and tapped at him. He didn’t seem to have clue one what he was supposed to do.
Dakota had Tank stand while Dakota squatted and tried to stick his head under Tank’s belly, thinking he’d somehow maneuver from there.
And that was ridiculous.
Hawkeye and his K9 Cooper trotted up beside him. He put Cooper to his side, took a knee, then looked at Dakota. “The directive you’re looking for is ‘sur l'épaule.’” As soon as he said it, Cooper draped himself across Hawkeye’s shoulders, then Hawkeye pushed Cooper’s butt until he lay balanced and steady, and then Hawkeye stood.
“French, then. Not allyoop.”
“First time, right? Do you want me to lift Tank onto you?” Hawkeye asked.
“I’d like to see if we can master it before the mastiff catches up.”
“Yeah, well, Beowolf’s highest speed is lope.” Hawkeye grinned as he reached out to grab the rope. With Cooper draped over his shoulder, Hawkeye planted his foot and started to walk the wall. Dakota watched Hawkeye’s posture closely. He kept his cheek toward the wall, so his shoulders tipped slightly forward.
“Go ahead and try it out,” Hawkeye called down from the top. “I’ll check on you when I get down.”
After a reset and the correct command, things flowed with ease.
All right, not with ease.
Tank was monster-sized, and there was a lot of fur in Dakota’s face sticking to his grease paint. But Tank relaxed into the configuration, keeping his muzzle ahead of Dakota’s shoulder, which helped Dakota maintain his balance.
Still, it was tippy.
“One foot, then another. Here we go. Up the wall,” Dakota sang to Tank. At the top, Dakota threw his leg over and grabbed up the second line to descend. “The dogs were supposed to run around the wall, and the humans were to go over alone.” He took all the weight into his arms as he swung the second leg over and positioned his feet. “Why are we climbing the wall with our K9s on our shoulders? Oh-yeah, we’re big bad special forces types. Go big or go home, my man.”
Dakota walked the wall back down. This time, he pulled his arms to his sides to get his head closer to the wall because it felt like Tank might slip off.
He wouldn’t do this if he thought Tank could get injured. This wasn’t a mission where danger was inherent.
Dakota was glad that there were broad sand pits on either side; neither of them should get hurt if push came to shove. Came to thump.
“No jumping, buddy. Trust me. We’re relaxing together. Good times. We’re doing this for the kiddies.”
There were strategically placed knots all along the rope. Dakota wondered whether that was to help folks with the climb or to dissuade people from fast-roping down by locking their feet and sliding.
Down was down.
Dakota knelt to let Tank off his shoulders.
The wet dog muskiness that now enveloped them both would wash off in the shower.Just look at Tank’s face! Joy filled his eyes. Tank was in his element. He took a step and turned to glance back at Dakota.
“Yup, let’s get it.” He and Tank took off. A little less than a sprint this time since Dakota was dealing with the weight and rub of a pillow of grit in his shoes. But still a pretty good clip.
He could at least see the distant backs of the Cerberus team.
They hit the muddy log over the water that Reaper had mentioned.
Tank was standing there, tail wagging, waiting patiently for Dakota to show up.
Yeah, Dakota was willing to make a big splash of things if he was falling over. “Let’s leave it all on the field, right buddy?” But he thought with Tank’s aversion to those first moments of wet belly, it would be best if Tank wasn’t on his shoulders if they did take the plunge. Dakota prized his eyeballs, and he didn’t want to take a panicked clawing to his face. “Hugs,” Dakota said as he patted his chest.
Tank stood on his hind paws and stretched upward.
Dakota scooped under his bottom. This was a hold they’d done since he was a puppy. Tank didn’t need to know a magical command to get this one in place.
Dakota had to hold Tank in one arm to keep his other hand free to help hoist himself up. Tank was only ninety pounds, but the foot placement was a bit finicky when he couldn’t see over the fur ball draping across his chest.
