. . .

The puppy whimpers, then it hangs its head.

It lets Saul approach.

It snaps up the steak. It chews on it between two of its heads and it lets Saul pet the runt.

Saul has a hammer now. He has palmed it when the puppy wasn’t looking. He hammers the puppy free of the stone.

It falls to the ground with a clunk.

“There now,” Saul says. He ruffles its heads. It finishes the steak. It looks at him.

It loves him, utterly and totally, from that moment on.

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