The Dog Read Online Free PDF

building.
    “There's a load of gas right beneath our feet,” he continues, “and I'm sure I'm smart enough to figure out a way to get some of it. Or maybe they even have some pre-filled gas cans kicking around somewhere. Don't worry, I'll figure something out.”
    With that, he turns and makes his way toward the building.
    I bark a couple of times, warning him to stay close.
    “I'll be fine,” he calls back to me. “Seriously, Harry, just stay calm. We need a little more gas before we set off again. So just don't go anywhere, okay? Stay, boy. Stay!”
    That's one of the words I know, and it means he wants me to not move from where I am. Still, I can't help taking a few steps after him, hoping to follow him back into the building so I can make absolutely certain that he's safe.
    “No, stay!” he says firmly, turning back to me. He holds a finger up, which is his way of reinforcing the order. “Harry, stay!”
    I let out a faint whimper, hoping he'll realize that this is a mistake.
    “Harry, sit!”
    I sit, but at the same time I whimper again.
    “Harry, stay!”
    He stares at me for a moment longer, as if he's waiting to make sure that I obey.
    “Okay, good,” he adds, turning and heading over to the door. He takes out the black rectangle and taps at the front again, and he's muttering something under his breath.
    I whimper once more, but I'm powerless to stop Jon as he goes inside.
    Now that I can't see him, I'm filled with panic. The blood scent is still inside, and it's clear that something really bad happened here at some point in the past few days. Jon's smart, and I know he's in charge, but at the same time I think he really doesn't understand all the warning signs. Finally, after a couple of minutes have passed, I start wondering whether it's okay to stand up again. I almost lift my butt, before figuring I should stay a little longer. The last thing I want is for Jon to come out and see me disobeying his orders.
    After a few more minutes, however, I get to my feet and take a few cautious steps toward the building while letting out a series of low grumbles. I desperately want to bark, to get his attention and draw him out, but I doubt he'd be very happy about that.
    Suddenly I hear a cracking sound nearby, and I turn to look over at the trees.
    The wind keeps changing direction, so it's difficult to be certain, but I think there's still someone out there. I picked up their scent earlier, when they were further away, but – whoever they are – they're getting much closer now. I raise my nose slightly, hoping to get a better idea of the scent, and after a moment I realize that something definitely doesn't seem right.
    I glance at the building again, hoping against hope that Jon is on his way out. There's no sign of him, however, so I turn and make my way cautiously past the car and over to the edge of the forest.
    Stopping, I stare ahead at the trees.
    The scent is stronger now, and easier to make out.
    It's a human.
    Sweaty and unwashed, but there's something else, something that's making the fur on the back of my neck stand up.
    Death.
    I lick my nose, hoping that a little extra moisture might help me to get a clearer idea of the scent.
    I definitely smell death, but at the same time it seems different this time. The death scent seems somehow mixed with the human's sweat. I've picked up on the scent of death before, of course, but only when I've come across dead birds or rabbits in the forest. One thing I know for certain is that any creature that smells of death should actually be dead. In fact, it seems completely impossible that someone could smell this way and yet keep coming closer.
    Nevertheless, the scent of death is coming closer. It's moving toward us through the forest.
    Glancing over my shoulder, I see that Jon still isn't out of the building. I let out another whimper as I turn and look back toward the forest. I can't let it show, but I'm scared now.
    I watch the gaps between the trees for a few