Free Fluke by James Herbert

dogs.'
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    I didn't need to be told that, but his praise pleased me all the same. Nevertheless, I growled at him. 'I could have been hurt there. I can't run as fast as you.'
    'A dog can always outrun a man. He'd never have caught you.'
    'He did, though,' I retorted, wriggling my rump to make sure nothing had been seriously damaged.
    Rumbo grinned, 'You'll learn to take more than that in this life, pup. Men are funny creatures.' He turned his attention to the meat lying between his front paws, nudging it with his nose then licking the juices on it.
    'Come on, come and get your share.'
    I rose to my feet and gave my body a shake. 'I've got some unfinished business first,' I said huffily, and slunk off further into the bushes. When I returned only a few moments later, Rumbo was well into the raw steak, chomping and sucking in a disgusting manner. I hurried forward lest he swallowed the lot and launched myself into the meat in an equally disgusting manner. It was a fine meal, the finest I'd had since being a dog. Perhaps the excitement of the chase, the tension of the robbery, had increased my appetite, for even Bella's sausages hadn't tasted as good.
    We lay among the bushes smacking our lips with satisfaction, our mouths still full of the steak's juicy blood flavours. After a while, I turned to my new companion and asked him if he often stole food in that way.
    'Steal? What's steal? A dog has to eat to live, so you take food where you find it. You can't rely on what man gives you - you'd starve if you did - so you're on the lookout all the time, ready to grab anything that comes your way.'
    'Yes, but we actually went into that butcher's and stole that meat,' I insisted.
    'There's no such thing as steal for us. We're only animals, you know.' He looked at me meaningfully.
    I shrugged my shoulders, unwilling or too content for the moment to pursue the matter further. But all the same I wondered just how aware Rumbo was.
    He suddenly jumped to his feet. 'Come on, pup, let's play!' he shouted, and was gone, streaking through the bushes out on to the open grassland. A burst of energy swept through me as though a switch had been turned on somewhere inside, and I dashed after the older dog, yapping joyfully, tail erect, eyes gleaming. We chased, we rolled, we wrestled, Rumbo teasing me mercilessly, showing off his skills of speed, manoeuvrability and strength, submitting to my wilder onslaughts and tossing me aside with the slightest shrug just when I began to feel his equal. I loved it.
    The grass was wonderful to wallow in, to rub our backs against, to breathe in its heady fumes. I'd have been happy to have stayed there all day, but after ten minutes or so a surly park-keeper came and chased us away. We mocked him at first, taunting him by coming within easy reach then dodging just as he took a swipe at us. Rumbo was the more daring, actually leaping up and giving the man a gentle push in the back when his attention was on me. The park-keeper's angry curses made us roar with laughter, but Rumbo soon tired of the game and was off through the gates without a word, leaving me to chase after him.
    'Wait for me, Rumbo!' I called out, and he slowed his pace to a trot, allowing me to draw alongside.
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    'Where are we going now? I asked.
    'We're going to have our breakfast now,' he replied.
    Rumbo led me through a confusing number of side-streets until we reached an enormous corrugated-iron wall running the length of the pavement. We reached a break in it and Rumbo trotted through, his nose twitching for some familiar scent.
    'Good,' he said to me. 'He's in his office. Now listen to me, pup: stay good and quiet. The Guvnor doesn't have much patience with dogs, so don't be a nuisance. If he talks to you, just wag your tail and play dumb. Don't get frisky. If he's in a bad mood - I'll give you the nod if he is - make yourself scarce.
    We can try again later. O.K.?'
    I nodded, beginning to feel apprehensive about meeting this