«What is it, Queenie? Is our bench gone?» Carol heard the young man question when his animal-guide seemed reluctant to let him move toward the seat.

Carol spoke, then, «I think it's because we're here … my dog and I,» she said, hardly knowing how to put it.

«Oh … I'm sorry,» he said, turning toward her voice and smiling. «Usually it's empty this time of day. Excuse us …»

«There's plenty of room,» Carol quickly replied, «if you'd care to join us?»

«Thanks … we will,» he accepted, still smiling. With the limited hand movements of a man adjusted to his affliction, he confidently seated himself, his dog waiting and watching before lying down at his feet. «I couldn't understand it at first, Queenie's not wanting to lead me over here,» he said. «But when you mentioned your dog I knew. They're trained to avoid other animals.»

«I see,» Carol said. «Y-Your Queenie, she's a beautiful dog.»

«Yes … my eyes, companion, and protection,» he said, with a certain bitterness accenting the last word. «Afraid I'd be lost without her.»

«I believe I understand what you mean,» Carol replied. «I know I'd be lost without Sultan .»

«Sultan … that's an impressive name. What breed is he?»

«German shepherd, like Queenie … and about the same age, I'd say. He's three.»

«Well, you're a pretty fair judge of dogs, Miss …?»

«Dorsett … Carol Dorsett.»

«Mark Cannon,» he replied. «As I was saying, you seem to know dogs, Miss Dorsett. Queenie's almost three, but I've had her for only a year. They have to be fairly mature before they start training them, and that takes quite a while, as well as teaching the person they're going to be seeing for,» he smiled. «Do you live in this area?»

«A couple of blocks from here. We have a small apartment on Fellows Street,» she answered with a little smile of her own, the young man's warmth and good looks giving her a pleasant uplift. She wondered if he was married.