outed,"Run!"

    Teethsnapping,thepairsplittochaseusinameleeofbarksandgrowls.Thebiggerdog,amuscularshepherd,wentafterLuchógashespriowardtown.SpedIracedbacktothewoods,ahoundyelpinginpursuit.Whenwereachedthetrees,sheyankedmefor,sothatIwassixfeetoffthegroundbeforerealizingIwasclimbingasycamore.Speckturnedandfacedthedog,whichleaptforher,butshesteppedtotheside,grabbedthebeastbythescruffofthenedflungitintothebushes.Thedogcriedintheair,snappedbrancheswhenitlanded,andscrambledtoitsfeetipainandfusion.Lookingbackoveritsshoulderatthisgirl,hetuckedhistailbetweenhislegsandslunkaway.

    ingdowntheroadfromtheotherdire,theGermanshepherdtrottedalongsideLuchógasifhewerealongtimepet.Theystoppedasoneinfrontofus,andthedogwaggeditstailandlickedLuchógsfingers."Doyourememberthelastgeling,Speck?TheGermanboy?"

    "Yourenotsupposedtomention—"

    "Hecameinhandywiththisbloodye.IwasrunningformylifewhenIsuddenlyrememberedthatoldlullabyourmaosing."

    "GutenAbend?"

    Hesang,"GutenAbend,gutNacht,mitRosenbedacht,"andthedogwhimpered.Luchógstrokedtheshepherdbetweentheears."Turnsoutmusicdothsoothethesavagebeast."

    "Breast,"shesaid."Thequoteis:Musichathcharmstosoothethesavagebreast."

    "Donttellhim,"Luchógburstout."AufWiedersehen,Schatzi.Goonhome."Thedogtrottedoff.

    "Thatwasscary,"Isaid.

    Feigningnonchalance,Luchógrolledacigarette."Couldhavebee