The Dog Read Online Free PDF Page B

more minutes, with the scent getting closer and closer, and finally I spot a hint of movement in the distance. It's not much, but I'm more and more certain that someone is coming this way. I let out a low snarl, and a moment later I hear a couple more cracking sounds, as if the person is stepping on old twigs. I can see the figure a little more clearly now, and from the scent I can tell it's a man. He's coming closer with each passing second, but he's not walking very fast. In fact, he seems to be stumbling slightly.
    And his blood...
    I can smell his blood, and it's the same as the blood in the gas station's back room.
    I snarl again.
    He doesn't stop.
    I look back toward the building again, but there's still no sign of Jon. Feeling as if I need to get him out here, I bark a couple of times and then I wait, but it's almost as if he's completely disappeared. I turn back and look into the forest, and now the staggering figure is even closer. He's coming straight toward me, and above the sound of his feet stomping through the undergrowth I can also hear a persistent, faint gurgling sound coming from his mouth. Humans don't usually growl, not like this, but something seems to be wrong with this man and finally I take a few steps back, keen to make sure I can get away if he comes too close.
    I bark a couple of times, hoping to make him stop.
    He doesn't even slow his pace. Instead he keeps stumbling this way, while steadying himself against the trees. Now I can see that he's hurt, with torn and bloodied clothes, and it's hard to believe that someone could still be walking when they're clearly so badly injured. Taking another cautious step back, I see something dark glistening around the man's stomach area, and I realize that there's a fresh scent in the air. I take a couple of deep sniffs, and it's almost as if part of the man's gut has burst through and is hanging outside, although I know that's not possible. Blood and meat and bone seem all mixed together, and I can even see a faint gap in the center of his chest, as if something blasted straight through.
    And his unblinking eyes are fixed on me.
    I hold my ground as he gets closer, and I start growling. The man stumbles a little, almost falling, but so far he's showing no sign of fear at all. He's still letting out that faint gurgle, and now he's close enough for me to see that his flesh seems much paler than it should, almost gray. I'd usually not be scared at all, not facing a human, but the stench of death and dried blood is almost overwhelming, and nothing seems to be slowing him down. I can't run, though. Even those this man's scent is terrifying, I refuse to show weakness. I have to make him fear me.
    I bark as he reaches the edge of the parking lot, but he simply reaches out toward me.
    I bark again and again, but he -
    “Harry! Get out of the way!”
    Turning, I see Jon running from the main building.
    “Harry! Move!”
    I turn back to the strange man and see that he's about to grab my collar. I don't want him to touch me, but at the same time I can't let him think that I'm weak, so I bark louder than ever, warning him away. He doesn't flinch, doesn't even seem to notice, so I bare my teeth, preparing to bite as he leans down. Scraps of loose, rotten flesh and meat are hanging down from his bones, fluttering in the breeze.
    Suddenly a hand grabs my collar from behind and pulls me back.
    “Get away from him!” Jon says firmly, leading me back toward the car.
    I turn and look toward the man, and I start barking again.
    “What the fuck is that thing?” Jon stammers, his voice filled with fear.
    I bark again, but the man doesn't seem scared of anything. He's just lumbering slowly toward us and, as I continue to bark, I realize I'm not sensing any fear coming from him at all. It's almost as if he's somehow empty, as if he has no reaction to anything. I can even sense his heart beating in his chest.
    “Stay back!” Jon shouts. “Don't come any closer!”
    The man's