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When the big truck rumbled down the road toward the barn, Shadow followed Steven and hid with his-boy behind a stand of scrubby trees until it passed. He poked his long, black nose out to scent-test the wind. The engine sounded familiar and made Shadow's hackles rise, but he didn't know why.
Shadow wanted to race back to the barn. September waited for him there. She'd be worried, and he grew more anxious the longer they stayed apart.
The water had carried them a long way. They'd only walked back a short distance because Steven couldn't run as fast as dogs. Boys don't have as many paws. But September wouldn't want him to leave Steven, and above all, Shadow wanted to please her.
Steven found a big rock and sat on it, shivering in his wet clothes while he stared and poked at the shiny Frisbee-tablet. Shadow whined, wanting to follow the truck. Maybe the driver would find September and the other kids. That would be a good thing. Still, the wet fur on the back of his neck itched and quivered, increasing his unease.
He put a paw on Steven's knee, but the boy nudged it aside. Shadow whined again, and then woofed sharply.
"Shhh." Steven made the hush-sound again.
Yawning with nervous frustration, Shadow peered from Steven to the distant barn. September waited for them. Why was his-boy sitting there, shivering? Going back to the barn meant finding September. She always knew what to do. His tummy grew warm when he thought of her, even though his wet fur chilled him in the wind. With exasperation, Shadow nose-poked Steven, using his muzzle to lever his-boy's hands away from the device. September always laughed when he did that. It was his job to tell her when she needed a break.
"No-no-no! Like I say, go away." Steven clutched the tablet before it fell. "Ready to yell for show and tell. Go away, right now, today." He slapped Shadow's nose.
Shadow squeezed shut his eyes. The slap didn't hurt. But it reminded him of Steven in the long ago time, when his-boy got so angry Shadow had to lie down and hold him and never flinch away from his fists. September taught him what to do. Now when September cried out and flailed at invisible threats, Shadow did the same to keep her safe.
He debated what to do. His-boy was safe, out of the water. And Steven said go away. It was a good-dog's job to do what people said. He still didn't feel right about leaving.
In the distance, the truck door slammed and a woman cursed. That decided Shadow, and raced to reach the big truck.
It sat at the edge of the broken car path, a short distance from where water cut the road in half. The driver stood in the brightness of the truck's eyelights, talking into her phone. Her voice sounded familiar, but only when the wind shifted and he caught her scent did Shadow recognize the woman. She'd visited that morning, smelling of gunpowder and death.
