Oh, what the hell. He'd worry about being thrown in the local hoosegow if it happened. After all, he'd brought Ned here to put a stop to the depression he'd noticed in him for the last few weeks, and he'd stay the course. The dog's depression used to be present only after he'd gone to a site and found nothing but the dead, but lately he always seemed to be waiting for any opportunity to make the attempt at rescue.

Ned had stopped at a heap of timber and turned his head to stare at him with pleading dark eyes.

"Okay, I'll take a look." He began to pull aside the debris. "But don't get your hopes up, buddy." He worked for fifteen minutes, and all the while Ned just sat gazing anxiously at him. "I told you. You know how many times it turns out that-" He stopped. "Shit."

Ned was whimpering, pressing close to his knees.

"Dead." The villager he'd uncovered was lying crumpled, his skull crushed. Poor bastard. "I told you. Now let's go to the other side of the mountain where we have a chance of finding-"

Ned lifted his head and howled.

"No." Marrok fell to his knees and put his arms around the Lab. "Shhh, I know it hurts. Me, too. But you have to be quiet, Ned. We're not supposed to be here." Ned was whimpering again, but at least he wasn't howling any longer. He buried his nose against Marrok's chest. "We'll keep looking. You'll find someone alive. I promise." He hoped he was telling the truth. It was breaking his heart to see Ned grieving. He stroked the dog's head. "Come on. We'll go and join the rescue teams on the other side of the mountain. You can show those other dogs how smart you are."

And Marrok would be walking a tightrope and have to lie himself blue in the face if he was challenged by anyone. Well, it wasn't as if that would be unfamiliar territory. He had become an expert at both over the years. Ned was worth any amount of trouble he had to face. He got to his feet. "Let's go," he said gently. "No reason for staying here. We can't help him." He put a marker on the spot for body retrieval. "It will be better if we-"