Michael Malone - Weebly

they could still shoot. They don't need a reason. This
government's so paranoid, they have to make a big deal
out of everything to puff themselves up."
"Oh, you got all that from Ms. Rideout in history."
She led him in a low crouch, stalking along the
perimeter of the compound. She stopped, stood,
pointed at a gray mound in the packed dirt clearing. A
large German shepherd lay stiffly among spears of tree
clubs. With the binoculars she could see that the dog's
eyes were open and the tongue was swollen and
bloody. Flies crawled on it. She felt fear like a rush of
heat.
"Look at that window in the big building! It looks
like it's all smashed to bits."
"This is crazy. I don't like it. They must have closed
down."
"And just left all those new supplies sitting there in
the dirt to rot? No way. Jesus, look. Look over there,
no, by the door. It's another dog."
Polly took the binoculars. "Oh, jeez. It's dead too,
isn't it?"
If Ramona Dingley had given the two young people