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"There’d still be traces of the tattoo that would show up under close inspection," Travis said "Under a lass"
Einstein looked from Travis to Jim Keene as if to say, Yeah, what about that?
"Most labs just tag research animals," Jim said "Of those that tattoo, there’re a couple of different standard inks used I ht be able to re of the flesh Microscopic examination wouldn’t reveal traces of the ink, not a hint of the numbers It’s a small tattoo, after all, whichtechniques, but in a feeeks we ht try it-if Einstein doesn’t mind some discomfort"
The retriever left the table and padded into the pantry They could hear the pu pedals
Nora went to see what
DON’T WANT TO BE BRANDED AM NOT A COW
His desire to be free of the tattoo went deeper than Nora had thought He wanted the mark removed in order to escape identification by the people at the lab But evidently he also hated carrying those three numbers in his ear because they marked hinity and a violation of his rights as an intelligent creature
FREEDOM
"Yes," Nora said respectfully, putting a hand on his head, "I do understand You are aa person, and a person with"-this was the first tiht of this aspect of the situation-"a soul"
Was it blasphemous to think Einstein had a soul? No She did not think blasphe; however, if there was a God, He obviously approved of Einstein-not least of all because Einstein’s ability to differentiate right froe, and his selflessness s alked the earth
"Freedoot a soul-and I know you do-then you were born with free will and the right to self-deteret rid of it"
After dinner, Einstein clearly wanted to monitor-and participate in-the conversation, but he ran out of energy and slept by the fire
Over a short brandy and coffee, Jiainst The Outsider Encouraged to find holes in their preparations, the vet could think of nothing except the vulnerability of their power supply "If the thing was s down the line that runs in froe you into darkness in the ht and render your alarm useless And without power those tricky mechanisms in the barn wouldn’t slam the door behind the beast or release the nitrous oxide"
Nora and Travis took him downstairs, into the half-baseenerator It was powered by a forty-gallon tank of gasoline buried in the yard, and it would restore electricity to the house and barn and alar the loss of the main supply
"As far as I can see," Ji"
"I think we have, too," Nora said
But Travis scowled "I wonder
On Wednesday, Dece Einstein with Jiifts, decorations for the house, ornaments for a tree, and the tree itself
With the threat of The Outsiderinexorably closer to them, it seemed almost frivolous to make plans for the holiday But Travis said, "Life is short You never kno ot left, so you can’t let Christ, no matter what Besides, my Christmases haven’t been so terrific these last few years I intend toan event of Christ up a tree"
"She didn’t believe in life," Travis said "And that’s just one ht It’ll be your first good one, as well as Einstein’s first"
Starting next year, Nora thought, there’ll be a baby in the house hich to share Christ a littleput on a couple of pounds, she’d not yet shown any signs of pregnancy Her belly was still flat, and Dr Weingold said that, considering her body type, she had a chance of being one of those women whose abdomen underwent only ard because, after the birth, getting back into shape would be a lot easier Of course, the baby was not due for sixas a walrus
Returning from Cares and a perfectly formed Christmas tree-Einstein slept half on Nora’s lap He orn out froot home less than an hour before dark Einstein led the way toward the house - but suddenly stopped and looked around curiously He sniffed the chilly air, thena scent
Heading toward the back door with her ar unusual in the dog’s behavior, but she noticed that Travis had halted and was staring hard at Einstein She said, "What is it?"
"Wait a second"
Einstein crossed the yard to the edge of the woods on the south side He stood rigid, head thrust forward, then shook hi the peri motionless each time, and in a couple of minutes he came all the way around to the north
When the retriever returned to theed his tail briefly and barked once: Yes and no
Inside, in the pantry, the retriever laid out a e
FELT SOMETHING
"What?" Travis asked
DON’T KNOW
"The Outsider?"
MAYBE
"Close?"
DON’T KNOW
"Are you getting your sixth sense back?" Nora asked
DON’T KNOW JUST FELT
"Felt what?" Travis asked
The dog composed an answer only after considerable deliberation
BIG DARKNESS
"You felt a big darkness?"
Yes
"What’s that mean?" Nora asked uneasily
CAN’T EXPLAIN BETTER JUST FELT IT
Nora looked at Travis and saw a concern in his eyes that probablydarkness was out there so
3
Christ around the light-bedecked tree, drinkinghoift that Nora gave Travis was a box of underwear He gave her a bright orange and yellow muumuu obviously sized for a three-hundred-pound wo else Of course, by May you’ll have outgrown it" They exchanged serious gifts, also-jewelry and sweaters and books
But Nora, like Travis, felt the day belonged to Einstein ave hi all month, and the retriever seehted that she had seen fit to iot three new Mickey Mouse videotapes, a pair of fancy raved on the, his own small battery powered clock that he could take with hi interest in time), and several other presents, but he Was repeatedly drawn to the portrait, which they propped against the wall for his inspection Later, when they hung it above the living-room fireplace, Einstein stood on the hearth and peered up at the picture, pleased and proud
Like any kid, Einstein perversely took al With e paper, and ribbons as he did with the gifts theift: a red Santa cap with a white porn-porn on the tip, which was held on his head by an elastic strap Nora put it on him just for fun When he saw himself in a mirror, he was so taken with his appearance that he objected when, a few minutes later, she tried to take the cap off him He kept it on most of the day
Jim Keene and Pooka arrived in the early afternoon, and Einstein herded the room to look at his portrait above the mantel For an hour, watched over by Jiether in the back yard That activity, having been preceded by the excite, left Einstein in need of a nap, so they returned to the house, where Jim and Travis helped Nora prepare Christmas dinner