Since it was a beautiful, sunny day, grandfather decided to walk along the Motsukisamu River, which was near the condominium where he and grandmother lived.

As he was leaving, grandmother said: “Now, you be careful of those dogs that run around there, because they bark, and they've been known to bite, especially one of them. That little monster is a vicious little gray devil with very sharp teeth, who has bitten several people lately.”

“Oh, thank you, grandmother,” grandfather replied. “I will watch out for him. What does he look like again?”

“He is small, gray, with short hair and a short tail. About this high, I would say,” bending down and placing her hand about twelve inches from the floor. “His small size gives him an advantage, because no one thinks he could harm them. But several of the neighbors have come home from their walks with nasty bites on their ankles.”

“Well, what about his owner?” Grandfather stroked his chin and looked at his wife. “Hasn't anyone complained to the dog's owner?”

“It never does any good,” she replied. “The owner says that his dog is friendly unless people antagonize him. But from what I've heard from the neighbors, just seeing someone is enough to set this little monster to snarling and gnashing his teeth.”

“Then I will surely keep my eyes open,” grandfather said, hoping that Sir Raven was available and willing to accompany him on his walk.

He was only about a block away from the condominium when the big bird appeared, landing on a nearby fence and greeting grandfather with a loud “Kaaaaaa” of greeting.

“Good morning!” grandfather said, giving the raven a smile. “I am glad to see you this morning. I'm going for a walk along the river, and I was hoping you might be available to go with me.”

“Kaaaaa,” said the raven, nodding his head. “Thank you for asking, grandfather; I am happy to go with you.”

“And I you,” said grandfather, smiling. “Grandmother tells me that there is a small, vicious dog that sometimes is in that area, and warned me to keep an eye out for him. He's bitten several of our neighbors, and she doesn't want that happening to me.”

Sir Raven nodded his head. “I'm acquainted with that particular dog, grandfather. He's a bad one.”

“I'm surprised his owner lets him run free.”

“Oh,” the raven replied, shaking his head, “he doesn't let the dog run free. That dog knows how to free himself, and he runs where he wishes, and returns home when he wishes. His owner just sighs, and ties him up again.”

“Oh,” grandfather replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “He must not have a very good rope to tie him with, then.”

“He needs something like a chain,” the raven replied. “Anything else, that dog chews through in a minute.”

“Yet his owner still ties him to a rope.”

“The dog tried to bite him the one time he tried chaining him.”

“I would get rid of a dog like that,” grandfather replied, shaking his head. “A dog like that is too much trouble.” He looked over at the bird who was by now riding along on grandfather's left shoulder. “You know quite a lot about this dog, Sir Raven.”

“Oh,” Sir Raven replied, shrugging his shoulders, “I know my territory pretty well.”

 

☼

 

Grandfather and Sir Raven were about halfway down the walkway that followed the river from one main thoroughfare to the next about a mile away, when they saw a small gray dog hurtling towards them, loudly barking and snarling as he rushed along.

“That's the dog,” Sir Raven said, standing up and ruffling his wings. “If he gets too close, I'll chase him away.”

But the dog, his small golden eyes set firmly on grandfather's ankles, kept coming, snarling ferociously through a double row of bared, razor-sharp teeth.

“Stop!” ordered grandfather, standing stock still and speaking in a loud, strong voice. “Stop!”

But the dog kept hurtling towards him like an angry gray cloud of bees.

“Well,” said grandfather, half to himself and half to Sir Raven, “I expect that I am going to be badly bitten by that little monstrosity. I can't run fast enough to get away from him, that's for certain.”

“Don't worry about a thing,” Sir Raven replied, lifting into the air. “I know how to take care of him.”

And he did. As the little dog sped forward, the big raven rose into the air, and suddenly swooped downward, with a hard peck on the top of the dog's head with his long and very powerful beak, sending the little dog tumbling over and over, yelping with pain.

When the little dog got to his feet and looked around to see where the attack had come from, the big raven swooped down again and gave him a sharp peck just above his tail.

At this, the dog yelped and ran away just as rapidly as he had come, his tail tucked between his legs. He had never experienced such sharp blows before, or such pain. Once home, he hatched a plot in his head about how to avenge himself on the old man and what he took to be his magical powers,  having been so intent on grandfather's ankles that he hadn't seen the raven at all.

 

☼

 

 It was the next morning that grandfather decided to again walk down along the river, feeling that it would be safe after Sir Raven chased the bad dog away with two sharp blows.

But grandmother wasn't quite so sure. “You be careful, grandfather,” she said, wagging an affectionate finger under his nose. “Don't let your confidence override your judgment. Your friend may have chased him off for one day, but I'm not so sure that little dog gives up that easily.”

“You are probably right,” grandfather replied, thinking about what Sir Raven had told him about the little dog's allergy to chains. “I will keep my eyes peeled.”

“And it wouldn't hurt if you took your friend along,” grandmother went on. “Just don't let him ride on your shoulder. Remember, birds often have lice, and we don't want lice in this house.”

“You are right,” replied grandfather, “we certainly don't. And I have already spoken with Sir Raven about that.”

“Good,” grandmother replied, “I am glad of that.” But, knowing her husband as well as she did, she didn't allow herself to feel too glad of it. “Men,” she said to herself, “are frequently more confident than they are wise.”

 

☼

 

 The minute grandfather stepped outside, Sir Raven was waiting for him.

“Well, said grandfather, not too surprised; “Good morning.”

“And good morning to you, grandfather,” the big bird replied, sounding to grandfather's neighbors like he was saying ‘K-k-k-k-k-k-k, k-k-k-k, k’. “Where are we walking this morning.”

“Well,” replied grandfather, “I thought I would walk down along the river. It should be safe now, don't you think?”

The big bird cocked his head to one side.

“Well,” he replied, “I'm not so sure I agree with you. If I know that dog, he has probably been busy plotting his revenge for what happened yesterday. So, I'm glad I'm here to tag along.”

“I will enjoy your companionship,” grandfather replied, smiling. “Why don't you ride up here,” tapping his left shoulder.

“I think I'll fly on ahead,” he replied, and reconnoiter the area.”

Grandfather nodded. “A good point,” he said, watching as Sir Raven lifted off from his perch on the fence and flew down to the end of the block, where he alighted on a bright yellow fire hydrant. “It is good to have such a wise friend,” he said to himself as he set off toward the river at a good pace, looking forward to having a leisurely walk along the river's edge.

 

Dog's Plan of Revenge

 

After his run-in with Sir Raven, the dog, whose name was Jiro, spent the rest of the day and all that night thinking about ways to avenge his humiliating defeat at the hands of the old man. By morning, he had his plan well developed, and he couldn't wait to put it into operation. He was so confident that it would work that he chewed through the rope that tied him to the stake next to his dog house, jumped the fence and ran off to meet with his friends, Koji, Packet, Genki, Rufus and Kenji. Together they would attack the old man, and injure him just as badly as Jiro felt his dignity had been injured, which was pretty bad.

 

☼

 

 Never before in his life had Jiro been bested by anyone, man, dog or bird, so he did not like yesterday's experience at all. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he brooded and sulked and the more obsessed he became with avenging his hurt. What he missed altogether was the fact that his injuries had been caused by himself. The old man was just protecting himself; but in Jiro's mind, his injuries were the old man's fault, not his. And he was bent on meting out a heavy tribute of vengeance.

Since each of his friends happened to be at home, soon Jiro, Koji, Packet, Genki, Rufus and Kenji were gathered at their favorite spot in a small park near Genki's house. When they heard Jiro's plan, they got excited about it. It sounded like fun, and it would avenge their friend's injured pride and keep him in a friendly disposition toward them. The only one to have misgivings was Genki, a medium-sized golden retriever mix known for his friendly nature and positive outlook on life. Jiro included him in the plot because of his size, thinking that he could be intimidated into going along, which is how he happened to be there. Around someone like Jiro, Genki was pretty easily intimidated.

Soon the six of them, Genki bringing up the rear, were running down the river walk toward where grandfather was walking, Sir Raven riding along on his shoulder.

“With all of us,” Jiro said to his friends, seeing the raven for the first time, “that old man and the raven he's brought along don't stand a chance. We outnumber them five to one. All any of us has to do is grab one of that crow's legs or a wing, and he's done for!”.

His chest swelled up with the thought of it.

That was Jiro's first mistake; Sir Raven was smarter, way smarter, than he thought.

Jiro's second mistake was ignoring the raven's loud “Kaaaa-kaaaa-kaaaa” as five of the dogs charged the old man, who stopped in his tracks and waited.

Jiro's third mistake was thinking that the old man had stopped in fear. The truth was that he stopped because that was what Sir Raven wanted him to do.

And Jiro's fourth mistake was not noticing that up in some nearby trees were six big ravens who took off the minute Sir Raven issued his alarm call.

No sooner had the sound of the raven's alarm call died away than there was a loud whooshing sound of wings as Sir Raven and the others swooped down and attacked the charging dogs, sending them yelping and tumbling head over heels.

Jiro, furious at having his plan of revenge so easily knocked on its ear, looked up, jaws snapping, just as Sir Raven gave a hard downward rap with his beak, pecking out Jiro's right eye. Blinded and in excruciating pain, Jiro went yelping away as fast as he could go towards home, tail tucked between his legs. The other dogs also ran off, chased by the ravens all the way back to the other side of the river. The only dog not chased was Genki, who knew what was going to happen the minute he saw the six ravens sitting up in the nearby trees, and turned away and went back home.

“With a friend like Jiro,” he said to himself, “I am better off staying at home.”


The Police Arrive

 

Somewhat later, as grandfather and Sir Raven were walking slowly along the river's edge, talking and taking in the scenery, they heard some commotion coming toward them. Looking up, they saw a man running toward them, clutching a small gray dog in his arms. Following after him were four other men, each dragging a reluctant dog along after him. The only one not there was Genki and his owner, who were enjoying the afternoon having a gambol in a nearby park.

“Hmmm,” said grandfather; “looks like we've got company.”

“K-k-k-k-k-k” Sir Raven replied, agreeing; “Looks like we have. Do you want me to leave?”

Grandfather shook his head. “No,” he replied, “just stay where you are, unless you feel you'd be better off up in a tree.”

Sir Raven shook his head. “Your shoulder is just fine.”

“Good,” grandfather replied. “I feel the same way.”

“I see you've got one of those *!!&%@#!*! ravens riding on your shoulder!” Jiro's owner growled, coming to a stop about five feet away. “Is that the one that blinded my Jiro?”

He stuck out his chin in a threatening manner and pointed at the big bird who rested calmly on grandfather's shoulder.

Not waiting for grandfather to reply, he went on with his angry tirade. “I've called the police, and they are on their away! And my friends,” pointing to the four men arrayed around him with their dogs who looked nervously up into the nearby trees, “also have complaints about your raven and his friends. You're in a lot of trouble, old man!” And he shook his fist at grandfather and the raven.

Just at that moment, a small black and white police car came up with its red roof lights flashing, and stopped next to where grandfather was standing, Sir Raven perched on his shoulder.

“Here he is, Officer, with that raven of his!” Jiro's owner raged. “Arrest him! He sicced his raven on my dog and blinded him!”

“And there were at least a dozen other ravens involved.” Rufus's owner put in. “They attacked our dogs! This kind of thing has to be stopped. Our dogs were out for a walk along the river, when all of a sudden, like a swarm of bees, these huge crows attacked them!”

The police officer, Hirofumi Suzuki, looked at grandfather and the raven, looked at the five men and their dogs, looked at grandfather and the raven again, and took out a note pad and pen.

“Well,” he began, “why don't we begin at the beginning?” And everyone but grandfather, Sir Raven and Officer Suzuki began talking at once.

“You wouldn't believe it...”

“He ought to be arrested for siccing that bird on my dog and blinding him..!”

“He...!”

“You...!”    

After listening patiently for a few minutes, Officer Suzuki put his note pad and pen back in his pocket, cleared his throat and held up a hand. “One at a time,” he said in a loud voice, “beginning with grandfather,” which brought a strong reaction from Jiro's owner.

“His b-b-bird blinded my dog, and you're letting him speak up first? Th-th-this is un-unfair!” He was so outraged that his eyes bugged out and he stamped his feet. “I-I-I...” he stammered, before being told by Officer Suzuki to wait his turn.

“I will let you talk when I am ready to,” Officer Suzuki said, looking the angry man in the eye. “And if you don't be quiet, you will wait until last. Now,” he continued, turning to grandfather, “what do you have to say for yourself and your raven.”

Grandfather began by telling about his encounter with Jiro the morning before when he and Sir Raven were out for a walk. “That dog was going for my ankles, and if it hadn't been for my friend here,” turning to Sir Raven, “I would have received some nasty bites.”

“I thought so!” Jiro's owner put in. “Yesterday….” and Officer Suzuki told him to be quiet.

Muttering under his breath, the man looked at the other dog owners gathered around him, then glared at grandfather, the raven and Officer Suzuki.

“You were saying,” Officer Suzuki said to grandfather.

“Yes,” grandfather replied; “Well, when his dog ran at me yesterday, it was my friend who drove him away...”

“And gave him a nasty peck right on his tail bone,” Jiro's owner said, shutting up when Officer Suzuki turned and glared at him.

“And pecked him on his coccyx,” grandfather said, smiling at the memory. “But his dog has apparently been brooding about the incident, because this morning he and five of his friends met us on the same walkway and ran toward us, barking and growling.”

“But there are only five dogs and their owners here,” Officer Suzuki stated, looking puzzled.

“Because Genki has no guts and ran away,” Jiro growled.

“Genki had more sense,” Sir Raven replied in perfectly understandable Japanese.

“What did he say?” Officer Suzuki asked, looking at grandfather.

“He said that the sixth dog, Genki, had more sense than the others,” grandfather replied. “I saw the sixth dog, a golden retriever, who apparently saw Sir Raven's brothers up in the trees...”

The officer raised an eyebrow: “Sir Raven's brothers?”

“Yes, officer, Sir Raven,” Grandfather replied, nodding toward the big bird, “had more or less expected...”

“More,” Sir Raven corrected, which sounded to everyone but grandfather like a soft “k-k-k-k-”.

“...that Jiro would come back and try again, and bring along some reinforcements, which is what he did. And when the dogs came along, Sir Raven's brothers were waiting for them. Genki saw them and stopped, turned around and went back from where they had come. I assume he went home.”

Officer Suzuki thanked grandfather and turned to the others, ignoring Jiro's owner. One by one, he asked them if they allowed their dogs to run loose, and if so, why, since it was against the law.

Getting no response other than guilty looks, he turned to Jiro's owner, and got out his note pad and pen. Opening his pad, he poised his pen over the paper and said: “And what have you to say for yourself and your dog, Mr. Sekiwara? What about you? Do you allow your dog to run loose? He seems to do a lot of that, isn't that so?”

Making a sour face, Mr. Sekiwara said: “It's impossible to keep him tied up, Officer. He just chews through the rope and runs off. I can't do a thing.”

“Oh,” Officer Suzuki replied, making a note, “there is nothing you can do, is that right?”

“Absolutely nothing,” Mr. Sekiwara replied, feeling somewhat mollified that the police officer understood his position.

“Why don't you chain him up?”

“I've tried it, and he absolutely will not abide a chain. Every time he sees one, he growls and barks and threatens to bite me.”

“Muzzle?” Officer Suzuki went on, continuing to make notations in his note pad.

“Doesn't work. He went berserk the only time I showed him one.”

“Well, Mr. Sekiwara,” Officer Suzuki said, looking up from his note pad, “I would say that you either control him, or we will impound him and,” looking Jiro straight in the eye, “euthanize him. This is not the first time we have spoken to you about your dog. But it will,” emphasizing each syllable, “be the last.”

“That I...” Mr. Sekiwara started to say something, thought better of it, and shut his mouth. Then he looked Jiro in the eye, shook him, and said: “Did you hear what he said, Jiro? It's either a chain, or death. No choice you little *&@#$!!! If you don't behave from now on, it's the end of the road for you!”

And with that, he turned on his heel and stalked back in the direction from which he had come, followed by the others.

 

☼

 

“Well,” said Officer Suzuki as he, grandfather and the raven watched them go, “I hope that is the last any of us see or hear about either Mr. Sekiwara or his dog.”

Putting his note pad and pen back into his shirt pocket, he looked at the raven standing on grandfather's shoulder, and said “That's quite a bird, grandfather. When I have the time, I'd like to hear how the two of you met and,” looking Sir Raven in the eye, “how he learned to speak in Japanese.”

“From listening to people,” Sir Raven replied, lifting off grandfather's shoulder and flying away, his huge beak pointed toward the top of a nearby pine tree.

Shaking his head, Hirofumi Suzuki climbed behind the wheel of his car, waved, and drove away, turning left on Atsubetsu Street. When grandfather got home, he had quite a tale to tell grandmother, a tale of adventure and intrigue and dogs.

“I'm glad we don't own one,” grandmother said as her husband finished his tale.

“One what?” grandfather replied, looking puzzled.

“A dog.”

“Oh,” said grandfather, smiling. “I'm glad you didn't say bird.”

“We don't own one of those, either,” she replied. “He owns you.”

Looking at his wife, grandfather let out a chuckle and smiled.