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"So do I," said Ian, looking s "I won, no?"

Ja patience

"Jesus, Ian, but I’et your head beaten in Proet away fro no attention; he had co, around which was tied a stout rope Here he stopped and turned to face us, gesturing at an object by his feet

"See? It’s a dog," Ian said proudly

I took a quick half-step behind Ja It’s a wolf It’s a bloody big wolf, and I think you ought to get away from it before it takes a bite out of your arse"

The wolf twitched one ear negligently in my direction, dis with the heat, its big yellow eyes fixed on Ian with an intensity that ht have been taken for devotion by sos are dangerous," I said "They’d bite you as soon as look at you"

Disregarding this, Jamie stooped to inspect the beast

"It’s not quite a wolf, is it?" Sounding interested, he held out a loose fist to the so-called dog, inviting it to s the i no shrieks, I opened the up the animal’s nostrils

"He’s a handso fahtly, either in pleasure at the attention or-- off Jah the head and chest, and a deal longer in the leg"

"His mother was an Irish wolfhound," Ian was hunkered down by Jaray-brown back "She got out in heat, into the woods, and when she ca in Gaelic to the e foot and fondled its hairy toes The curved black claere a good two inches long The thing half closed its eyes, the faint breeze ruffling the thick fur at its neck

I glanced at Duncan, who arched his eyebrows at s

"Jamie--" I said

"Balach Boidheach," Jamie said to the wolf "Are ye no the bonny laddie, then?"

"What would he eat?" I asked, so the beast

"Oh," he said He looked at the yellow-eyed thing with so his head reluctantly

"I’ht, Ian How are we to feed him?"

"Oh, that’s no trouble, Uncle Jalanced around at the warehouses, and the stuccoed row of shops beyond "What does he hunt, small children?"

Ian lookedthree skeptical faces surrounding hirabbed the beast’shis mouth open

"He does! I swear, Uncle Jalance at the double row of is on display, and rubbed his chin

"I--ah, I shall take your word for it, Ian But even so--for Christ’s sake, be careful of your fingers, lad!" Ian’s grip had loosened, and thedroplets of saliva over the stone quay

"I’ his hand on his breeks "He wouldn’t bite me, I’m sure His name is Rollo"

Jamie rubbed his knuckles across his upper lip

"Mmphm Well, whatever his name is, and whatever he eats, I dinna think the captain of the Bonnie Mary will take kindly to his presence in the crew’s quarters"

Ian didn’t say anything, but the look of happiness on his face didn’t diht of his glowing face, and stiffened

"No," he said, in horror "Oh, no"

"Yes," said Ian A wide so, Uncle We’re too late"