Just Joshua by Jan Michael

there, watching them with narrowed eyes as she drank her coffee. After half an hour she paid them off with a small melon each and a quarter of the price knocked off the vegetables Robert had been sent to buy.
    They headed for their usual stretch of wall. Joshua spotted a sharp flat stone near his feet and picked it up. He wiped it on his shorts and dug into his melon, using it as a knife.
    ‘What are you doing?’
    ‘You’ll see.’ He cut away some melon. ‘Here, want this?’
    Robert put it in his mouth.
    Joshua began whittling at the melon with the stone, but it didn’t seem to be working. Pummel came up to them, sniffed at their ankles and barked.
    ‘Here, Pummel, fetch!’ Joshua threw the stone for the dog. It looked reproachfully at him and stayed put. Robert found a piece of wood and threw that instead.
    Pummel ran, and reached his target just as Swabber came lumbering round the corner towards them.
    ‘Oh-oh.’ Joshua put down the melon.
    Pummel growled. His legs and back stiffened and he strutted up to Swabber, the piece of wood forgotten. The dogs were sworn enemies. Pummel slowly workedhis way around Swabber, sniffing aggressively. Swabber , the older and larger of the dogs, froze, ears flattened against his head. Only his eyeballs moved, rolling back in his head. Pummel nipped him experimentally on his hind leg.
    That was enough. Swabber leaped round on all fours to face Pummel, snarling, lips drawn high over his gums.
    A couple of men had gathered. Now more sauntered over as the dogs began to circle each other. Pummel pounced and drew blood. Swabber’s hackles rose. Still he snarled.
    ‘Two korias on Swabber!’ a man yelled. There was mocking laughter from the onlookers.
    ‘Make it five for Pummel!’ called out another.
    Joshua and Robert went over and joined the men who were forming a rough circle around the dogs.
    The stakes climbed to eight korias. Swabber and Pummel, sensing the atmosphere, flew at each other in earnest. Pummel was smaller and sharper. When Swabber pinned him down and lowered his head to bite, he wriggled free, and raced around the older dog.
    There was ragged cheering from the crowd.
    Swabber turned, trying to keep pace with Pummel, trying to make sure he was always facing him. Pummel launched himself at the side Swabber least expected, bit, drew blood and darted away again before Swabberwas able to retaliate. He came in again. This time Swabber managed to graze him with his teeth, but not before Pummel had sunk his deep into Swabber’s leg. Swabber let out a howl.
    The men surrounding them grew silent, intent on the fighting. Not even the man who had placed a bet on Swabber was egging him on now.
    Joshua’s heart thudded. He tried to swallow but his mouth was dry. Dogfights were common in the village, but he didn’t really want to watch this. He was sure that Swabber was going to be slaughtered.
    Pummel threw himself at Swabber’s head. He seized an ear in his sharp teeth and tugged hard. Swabber howled again.
    Suddenly a hand grabbed the back of Joshua’s shirt and jerked him to his feet. His father broke through the circle of men and threw the sack he’d been carrying over Pummel’s head.
    At once the snarling turned to a whine. Mutters rose from the spectators. Joshua’s father ignored them.
    ‘Go!’ he ordered Swabber.
    Swabber didn’t move. He seemed stunned.
    ‘Go!’ He pushed the dog with his foot. Swabber shook himself and slunk off, limping.
    ‘Who asked you to interfere? Get out of here! Meatseller !’ a man hurled the curse at Joshua’s father.
    ‘He’s not!’ Joshua shouted.
    But his father didn’t answer. He took the sack off Pummel’s head. ‘Joshua! Robert!’ he called.
    The boys went over, trying not to look at the men. Pummel barked and wagged his tail, transformed in a second from a vicious fighting dog to the playful mongrel they knew. Joshua bent down to pat him. He couldn’t help himself.
    When he straightened up, Simon was standing