I watched in frozen shock as a wolf rounded the corner but not a wolf in that it stood 2 and a half meters high as it walked on its hind legs.

Its massive head shot left then right as it smelled the air. On the busy street others began to stop and stare at the astonishing sight.

It stepped absently in my direction carried by whatever scent it followed. It continued and nearly stepped passed me but stopped even with me.

Its head whipped in my direction, its moist doglike nose but 3 inches from my face. Frozen in fear I closed my eyes accepting my time had come.

"Pardon meh, lass" I felt breath wash over my face.

Confused my one eye opened involuntrily to see the beast looking straight at me with a wolfish grin and its tongue hanging to the side.

It confirmed it had been the one who spoke by asking, "McGurk?"

My voice reduced to a squeek all I could manage was a "Wha?" to demonstrate I didnt understand.

"Bloody hell lass I said have you seen, McGurk?" It responded in what had to be one of the heaviest Irish accents I had ever heard.

Before I could respond it moved down the street randomly shouting "McGURK!" Now and again it would stop by someone, getting uncomfortably close then shouting "McGURK!" before moving on again.

Toward the end of the block it dropped to all fours and loped faster then a horseman could ride. Two blocks down it rounded anouther corning and disappeared from sight leaving a crowd of puzzled onlookers wondering if they had seen what they had just seen.

Not knowing what else to do, I went on autopilot and resumed my walk home. Just as the thought that it must have been an hullucination crossed my mind a sound echoed in the canyon of tall buildings. It could only be described as a howl and hysterical laughter that somehow carried a Celtic bravado.