CHAPTER 9

Blackmail

In the hospital ward the spare reindeer lay in beds. With thermometers
in their mouths were Speedy, Jingles, Flash, Igloo, Spinner, Rascal,
Bingo, and Pokey.

Dr. Winters took out the thermometers and read them.

"Hmmm," he said. "I can't see anything the matter with any of you."
He looked at his watch. "It's Christmas Eve with forty-three minutes
'til take-off. What if Santa needs some of you? Then what?"

"Then that'll be too bad," Pokey stated. "We're not going back to that gloomy old stable."

"Not until somebody paints it," said Flash.

"Hah! So that's it," Dr. Winters said. "Blackmail!"

"That's a mean thing to say," said Bingo. "But we're not going back to
that stable. So there!"

"Get up! Get up!" Dr. Winters yelled. "Where's your pride? Where's your courage? Where's your loyalty? Get up! Immediately! This is nonsense!
This is uh --- please. With jam on it. Well?"

But the reindeer just snuggled in their beds and answered with snores.

They weren't going anywhere.

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