Francis Bacon part 4

Francis Bacon was looking intently at his pet. He could not quite put his finger on it, but there was something different about his dog. Itwasn't his eyes. They perpetually glowed as if radiating small amounts of energy. It certainly wasn't his tail. It constantly wagged. The way he was opening his mouth, it almost seemed to the lawyer, that Buddy was going to speak. Then, to the absolute astonishment of said lawyer, the golden retriever cleared his throat and began to talk.

"I like bones master!"

Quite understandably, Francis let out a shrill scream.

"I like bones master! I like them very much."

"Buddy how are you talking! This is amazing."

"I like bones master! I like them very much!"

"Is that all you can say? What am I saying, all?"

"I like bones master! I like them very much. I also like to dig. I like to dig for bones."

Usually, when Francis Bacon woke up on monday mornings, a set routine would follow. He would get up and sleepily proceed to the washroom where he would shave and shower. Then, he would get dressed in his monday best and eat breakfast while reading the daily newspaper. This was followed by a return visit to the washroom where he would brush his teeth. Finally he would let Buddy out for a few minutes, get dressed for the outdoors, if need be, and take off for work after letting his dog back in and filling his bowl with water from the tap and his second bowl from the bag hidden in the pantry. On this particular monday morning however, the lawyer was unable to do any of these things on account of he was in jail. Instead, this is what happenned. He woke up startled by a strange dream. He then successfully tried to remember the dream. Afterwords, he pondered what Buddy's words could have meant.

By midday, it was deemed unreasonable to consider Francis as a murder suspect on the grounds that there was no evidence linking him to the body other than location and that no murderer would have knowingly walked an officer right to the corpse. Overjoyed to once again be a free man, he decided to take an afternoon off for the first time in a long time. After collecting his previously confiscated belongings, he returned home carrying his upper body on his legs and a secret on his mind. What thedreammeanthad become clear to him.

Usually, when Buddy woke up in the morning, a set routine would follow. He would yawn a few times, stretch his body out and shake. He would then trot into his owner's room and leap onto the bed. When the alarm clock would go off, he would roll around and make noise in a disruptive manner until his master woke up. After this, he would go into the kitchen in hopes of finding a bite to eat that had been left on the table the night before and lie down by the heater. On this particular monday morning however,he didnotdo these things. Instead,this is what happenned. Buddy woke up and immediatly remembered that his master was not there. The thought depressed him considerablyand he decided to go back to sleep in hopes waking up and discovering it had all been a hellish dream. Upon waking up a second time, he could no longer deny the truth. He yawned a few times, streched his body and shook. He then went immediatly to the kitchen and went to the pantry where he knew his dog food was kept. He pulled the bag out into the kitchen, tore it wide open and began eating his troubles away.

There was no greater joy felt all weekend and monday by master or pet than when Francis Bacon walked in. As soon as he heard the key enter the lock of the back door, Buddy's head shot up and he ran towards the door to express his excitement. Francis could not show his excitement. Firstly, because the first thing he saw coming home was Buddy through the back window lying in a pile of food. Secondly, because he was still upset with Buddy for having framed him.

The pair spent the afternoon in the living room despite the superb weather. Buddy was watching monday mass on a religious chanel and Francis was thinking. He was trying to decide whether he should investigate the conundrum of the corpse. It was not necessary. He had been cleared of all charges, but he had a hunch that the matter was not over. There was no doubt that the fact the body had not ben in a coffin meant there was some funny business going. Dark humor kind of funny though.

After mass and after supper, Francis waited impatiently for the sun to go down. As soon as it did, he fetched Buddy's leash and brought the dog out for a walk. He would no be going through the park though. The lawyer was heading straight for the cemetery. It did not taking him long at a brisk pace to reach his destination. The gates were closed, but fortunately, as a teenager, Francis had learned to pick locks one summer from an estranged uncle who'd come to vist. Strangely, the doors were unlocked and in no time at all, Francis and Buddy were in the burial grounds and set out to find unmarked graves.

Frustratingly, it was not as obvious a task as Francis had hoped. The cemetery was very large and the different sections were could barely be told apart. After close to an hour of snooping, Francis was about ready to go home for the night before he saw something he did not expect to see. In fact, it was about the last thing he could have imagined.

"Hello," said a soft voice.