"It's a Remington," he said flatly. "I've heard that sound too many times to make a mistake. Now get that bullet out of him."

"Stop giving me orders." She tried to keep the edge from her voice. She wheeled the portable X-ray unit toward the table. "I'm tired, and I'm giving up my few hours of sleep before I have to be up and starting the search again. This is our last day here, and we don't have much time left. They don't think we have a chance of finding anyone else, and we have orders to fly out this evening." She covered the dog with the protector cover. He seemed fully aware, but he still didn't move. Amazing. "I'm doing this willingly because most dogs are worth more than their masters. You included." She pressed the button. "So sit down and shut up."

He stared at her for a moment. "Sorry." He took a step closer to the table. "I won't give you orders, but you may need me to help with Ned. No one knows him better than I do. He'll do what I tell him."

"His name is Ned?" She pushed the X-ray machine out of the way and moved to the examining table. She gently stroked the Lab's black head. "Hello, Ned," she said softly. "I'm Devon, and I'm going to help you. I'll try not to hurt you, but if I do, I'll take it away as quick as I can."

The Lab made a sound deep in his throat and pushed his head against her hand. His brown eyes gazed up at her with trust and a sort of fearless understanding. Surprise rippled through her. She wasn't sure she'd ever seen a dog with an expression quite that… knowing.

"What a good boy." She felt a sudden surge of anger. And some idiot villager had tried to kill this animal, who'd only tried to help. What kind of world was this? "Don't worry, the soldiers will find out who shot him. Most of the time the villagers are grateful. I don't know why one of them went crazy."

"It wasn't a local." Marrok was watching her expression. "But you look like you'd like to go hunting for the bastard who shot Ned."