Monk's Pet Pig
"Habeas Corpus"
An ear-splitting howl came from below decks! There were loud smacks, the frantic clatter of feet. An instant later, Monk shot up out of the deck hatch like something furry errupted from a noisy volcano. Under one arm, Monk carried a pig. The shoat was fully as homely a specimen of the porker species as Monk was of the human race. It was a razor-back with legs as long as those of a dog, and ears so big they resembled wings. Ham came close on Monk's heels, belaboring with his sheathed sword cane. He was in a dancing rage. "You hairy missing link", he howled. "I'll skin you alive! I'll hollow you out until that pig can use you for a garage! I'll -".

"What's the trouble?" Doc questioned. An innocent look on his homely face, Monk scratched the enormous ears of his pig. "The shyster don't seem to like Habeas Corpus, here! Ham shrieked: "You dressed up the pig with my best necktie!" "Habeas Corpus likes corn," Monk smirked. "The necktie was corny yellow, and Habeas was a bit seasick, so the tie made him work up an apetite -" "I'll work you up!" Ham gritted. Renny emitted a thundering laugh. "Where'd you get that missin' link of the pig race, Monk?" "In Bustan," grinned Monk. "he's got the makin's of a great hog, Habeas Corpus has. I found 'im chasin' a dog big enough to fight a lion." "And you probably stole him!" Ham sneered. "Nix! I paid his Arab owner one qirsh for 'im! That's about four cents, American money. This Arab said Habeas Corpus had taken to going out in the desert and catchin' hyenas." Monk gave Ham a meaning look. "He kept so many dead hyenas dragged up to the Arab's house that it was a nuisance, and so the Arab had to get rid -" "Are there hyenas in the desert?" Renny queried. "I forgot to ask the Arab," Monk grinned.

Ham touchy on the subject of pigs since the wartime incident which had given him his name, was in for a tough session. Monk would probably make a trained pet of this ridiculous looking porker, just to torment Ham.

(from Doc Savage, The Phantom City by Kenneth Robeson)

Monk takes Habeas Corpus home and sets him up in style in his apartment near Wall Street. This is no ordinary hog, as Monk would tell you. And such an extrodinary hog deserves the world's most expensive pigpen.  Habeas's room consists of mahogony doors and marble floors covered with mats. At one side of the room sits a trough of chromium, at the other a sack of clean straw. Various chromium self-feeders hold viands dear to the porker family.  In the middle of the room is a wallowing box perhaps ten feet square. The mud in this wallow is perfumed. Out of the mud stick two ears of enormous size. "Habeas!" Monk called. The ears twitched. "Get outa there or I'll kick your ribs in!"


Monk spends most of his spare time training Habeas. It is time well spent, as Habeas would prove time and time again. The most humorous trick is Monk and Habeas's talking pig routine. At Monks request, Doc has taught him how to throw his voice. After literally hundreds of hours practicing ventriloquism with Habeas he has it perfected. Monk uses it to catch villains off-guard, and also as terriffic ice-breaker with the women. Habeas simply walks in, sits down in front of the girl and says, "Gee Monk, I think she's a pip. Don't you agree?" After a momentary shock the girl realizes it is Monk's doing the talking, and things usually go pretty smooth from there.

Habeas is also taught how to shoot a gun. Monk places a revolver on the floor and Habeas steps on the gun with one foot and inserts his hoof in the trigger guard and the gun goes off with an ear-splitting roar!


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