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ept the consequences。
Except…he found it increasingly difficult to believe something strange had actually been stalking him out there。 He wondered if he had misinterpreted the dog's behavior and had imagined the movement in the brush merely to give himself an excuse to turn his mind away from self…pity。
He got out of the truck and stepped back to the side of it； where he came face…to…face with the retriever； which stood in the cargo bed。 It shoved its burly head toward him and licked his neck； his chin。 Though it had snapped and barked earlier； it was an affectionate dog； and for the first time its bedraggled condition struck him as having a ical aspect。 He tried to hold the dog back。 But it strained forward； nearly clambering over the side of the cargo hold in its eagerness to lick his face。 He laughed and ruffled its tangled coat。
The retriever's friskiness and the frenzied wagging of its tail had an unexpected effect on Travis。 For a long time his mind had been a dark place； filled with thoughts of death； culminating in today's journey。 But this animal's unadulterated joy in being alive was like a spotlight that pierced Travis's inner gloom and reminded him that life had a brighter side from which he had long ago turned away。
〃What was that all about back there？〃 he wondered aloud。
The dog stopped licking him； stopped wagging its matted tail。 It regarded him solemnly； and he was suddenly transfixed by the animal's gentle； warm brown eyes。 Something in them was unusual； pelling。 Travis was half…mesmerized； and the dog seemed equally captivated。 As a mild spring breeze rose from the south； Travis searched the dog's eyes for a clue to their special Power and appeal； but he saw nothing extraordinary about them。 Except。 。 。 well； they seemed somehow more expressive than a dog's eyes usually were； more intelligent and aware。 Given the short attention span of any dog； the retriever's unwavering stare was damned unusual。 As the seconds ticked past and as neither Travis nor the dog broke the encounter； he felt
increasingly peculiar。 A shiver rippled through him； occasioned not by fear but by a sense that something uncanny was happening； that he was teetering on the threshold of an awesome revelation。
Then the dog shook its head and licked Travis's hand； and the spell was broken。
〃Where'd you e from； boy？〃
The dog cocked its head to the left。
〃Who's your owner？〃
The dog cocked its head to the right。
〃What should I do with you？〃
As if in answer； the dog jumped over the truck's tailgate； ran past Travis to the driver's door； and climbed into the pickup's cab。
When Travis peered inside； the retriever was in the passenger's seat； looking straight ahead through the windshield。 It turned to him and issued a soft woof； as if impatient with his dawdling。
He got in behind the wheel； tucked the revolver under his seat。 〃Don't believe I can take care of you。 Too much responsibility； fella。 Doesn't fit in with my plans。 Sorry about that。〃
The dog regarded him beseechingly。
〃You look hungry； boy。〃
It woofed once； softly。
〃Okay； maybe I can help you that much。 I think there's a Hershey's bar in the glove partment 。 。 。 and there's a McDonald's not far from here； where they've probably got a couple hamburgers with your name on them。 But after that 。 。 。 well； I'll either have to let you loose again or take you to the pound。〃
Even as Travis was speaking； the dog raised one foreleg and hit the glove…partment release button with a paw。 The lid fell open。
〃What the hell…〃
The dog leaned forward； put its snout into the open box； and withdrew the candy in its teeth； holding the bar so lightly that the wrapping was not punctured。
Travis blinked in surprise。
The retriever held forth the Hershey's bar； as if requesting that Travis unwrap the treat。
Startled； he took the candy and peeled off the paper。
The retriever watched； licking its lips。
Breaking the bar into pieces； Travis paid out the chocolate in morsels。 The dog took them gratefully and ate almost daintily。
Travis watched in confusion； not certain if what had happened was truly extraordinary or had a reasonable explanation。 Had the dog actually understood him when he had said there was candy in the glove box？ Or had it detected the scent of chocolate？ Surely the latter。
To the dog； he said； 〃But how did you know to press the button to pop the lid open？〃
It stared； licked its chops； and accepted another bit of candy。
He said； 〃Okay； okay； so maybe that's a trick you've been taught。 Though it's not the sort of thing anyone would ordinarily train a dog to do； is it？ Roll over； play dead； sing for your supper； even walk on your hind feet a little ways 。 。 。 yeah； those're things that dogs are trained to do 。 。 。 but they're not trained to open locks and latches。
The retriever gazed longingly at the last morsel of chocolate； but Travis withheld the goody for a moment。
The timing； for God's sake； had been uncanny。 Two seconds after Travis had referred to the chocolate； the dog had gone for it。
〃Did you understand what I said？〃 Travis asked； feeling foolish for suspecting a dog of possessing language skills。 Nevertheless； he repeated the question： 〃Did you？ Did you understand？〃
Reluctantly； the retriever raised its gaze from the last of the candy。 Their eyes met。 Again Travis sensed that something uncanny was happening； he shivered not unpleasantly； as before。
He hesitated； cleared his throat。 〃Uh 。 。 。 would it be all right with you if I had the last piece of chocolate？〃
The dog turned its eyes to the two small squares of the Hershey's bar still in Travis's hand。 It chuffed once； as if with regret； then looked through the windshield。。
〃I'll be damned；〃 Travis said。
The dog yawned。
Being careful not to move his hand； not holding the chocolate out； not calling attention to the chocolate in any manner except with words； he addressed the big tattered dog again： 〃Well； maybe you need it more than I do； boy。 If you want it； the last bit's yours。〃
The retriever looked at him。
Still not moving his hand； keeping it close to his own body in a way that implied he was withholding the chocolate； he said； 〃If you want it； take it。 Otherwise； I'll just throw it away。〃
The retriever shifted on the seat； leaned close to him； and gently snatched the chocolate off his palm。
〃I'll be double…damned；〃 he said。
The dog rose onto all fours； standing on the seat； which brought its head almost to the ceiling。 It looked through the back window of the cab and growled softly。
Travis glanced at the rearview mirror； then at the side…mounted mirror； but he saw nothing unusual behind them。 Just the two…lane blacktop； the narrow berm； the weed…covered hillside sloping down on their right side。 〃You think we should get moving？ Is that it？〃
The dog looked at him； peered out the rear window； then turned and sat with its hind legs tucked to one side； facing forward again。
Travis started the engine； put the truck in gear； pulled onto Santiago Canyon Road； and headed north。 Glancing at his panion； he said； 〃Are you really more than you appear to be 。 。 。 or am I just cracking up？ And if you are more than yo