‘Excuse me for coming up to you like this. My name is Holger Diekamp. But the dog you have on your lap behaved quite strangely here yesterday, and I’m afraid he has some kind of dread disease. Frankly, I think it may even be rabies, although the police didn’t think so yesterday.’

‘The police?’ Caroline and Daniel echo in chorus.

‘Yes, of course I alerted the police right away. But before they could get here, the dog had disappeared, along with the fat cat that was there the whole time. But I was alarmed, and I took it upon myself to be on the lookout for the dog. After all, rabies is a deadly disease. I know that might sound somewhat excessive on my part, but the dog went into convulsions and was foaming at the mouth. He also struck me as clingy in the extreme – all the classic signs. Any chance that you took him to North Africa recently?’

I feel myself going rigid with fear. What happens if I have to go to the police, and they really want to put me to sleep? Oh no – all this is happening just because I came up with an idiotic plan! I try to make myself as small as possible and squeeze myself really tight between Daniel and Caroline. Clinging to Daniel’s trouser leg, I notice he’s starting to tremble. How awful! He’s obviously really scared of me. My fate is sealed; the two of them are sure to hand me over to the police. I lower my muzzle and start to howl.

‘Rabies!’ Daniel exclaims in a choked voice, and trembles even more. ‘That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard!’

Well, what do you know! Daniel isn’t trembling with fear – he’s shaking with laughter! I jump spontaneously onto his lap in relief and lick his face.

‘Whoops, Hercules! As you can see, Mr Diekamp, this little fellow is quite chipper. Whatever was going on with him yesterday was certainly not rabies. Maybe you’ve mixed him up with another dog.’

Diekamp glares at me.

‘No, this was no mix-up. But if you want to put your own health in jeopardy by not following this up, be my guest!’ Diekamp snorts indignantly one more time, then turns on his heel and heads out of the park.

Daniel shakes his head. ‘There are certainly some real wackos out there. Rabies – what nonsense.’

‘Hmm, I’m starting to get a little worried now.’

‘Worried? Why? Hercules is as fit as a fiddle. Just take a look at him. There’s nothing wrong with him.’

‘Yes, but do you remember last week? The hobo? He also said that Hercules was acting strangely. Maybe he is sick.’

Caroline’s voice sounds quite upset. Damn – what have I done!