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Afreezingdownpourwashedtheblackasphalt1streetinfrontofthesmall-town

bar.Isatgazingintothewaterydarkness,aloneasusual.Acrosstherain-drenched2

roadwaywasthetownpark:fiveacresofgrass,giantelmtreesand,tonight,anankle-

deepcoveringofcoldwater.

Ihadbeeninthatbattered3oldpubforhalfanhour,quietlynursing4adrink,

whenmythoughtfulstarefinallyfocusedonamedium-sizedlump5inagrassy

puddle6ahundredfeetaway.Foranothertenminutes,Ilookedoutthroughthetear-

streaked7windowpanetryingtodecideifthelumpwasananimalorjustawetand

inanimate8something.

Thenightbefore,aGermanshepherd

lookingmongrel9hadcomeintothebarbeggingforpotatochips.Hewas

mangy10andstarvingandjustthesizeofthelumpinquestion.Whywouldadoglie

inacoldpuddleinthefreezingrain?Iaskedmyself.Theanswerwassimple:Eitherit

wasntadog,orifitwas,hewastooweaktogetup.

Theshrapnel11woundinmyrightshoulderachedallthewaydowntomyfingers.

Ididntwanttogooutinthatstorm.Hey,itwasntmydog;itwasntanybodysdog.It

wasjustastrayonacoldnightintherain,alonelydrifter12.SoamI,Ithought,asI

tosseddown13whatwasleftofmydrinkandheadedoutthedoor.

Hewaslyinginthreeinchesofwater.WhenItouchedhim,hedidntmove.I

thoughthewasdead.Iputmyhandsaroundhischestandhoisted14himtohisfeet.He

stoodunsteadilyinthepuddle,hisheadhunglikeaweightattheendofhisneck.

Halfhisbodywascoveredwithmange.Hisfloppy15earswerejusthairlesspiecesof

fleshdottedwithopensores.

“Comeon,”Isaid,hopingIwouldnthavetocarryhisinfectedcarcass16to

shelter.Histailwaggedonceandheplodded17weaklyafterme.Iledhimtoan

alcove18nexttothebar,wherehelayonthecoldcementandclosedhiseyes.

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