«I believe that could be arranged.»
«Are you the ones who were by here last month?»
«No, that was the competition. We were shopping elsewhere.»
«They didn't have a watchdog.»
«Bad planning. What did you do?»
«Barked a lot. They got nervous and left.»
«Good. Then we're still probably ahead.»
«Been with your person long?»
«Ages. How long've you been a graveyard dog?»
«All my life.»
«Like it?»
«It's a living,» he said.
Jack needed lots of ingredients for his work, as there was a big bit of business due soon. Perhaps it were best to take it day by day.
October 1
Made the circuits. The thing in the Circle changed shapes, finally making itself look like a lady dog of attractive person and very friendly disposition. But I was not fooled into breaking the Circle. It didn't have the smell part down yet.
«Nice try,» I told it.
«You'll get yours, mutt,» it said.
I walked past the various mirrors. The Things locked in them gibbered and writhed. I showed them my teeth and they writhed away.
The Thing in the Steamer Trunk pounded on the sides and hissed and sputtered when it became aware of my sniffing about. I snarled. It hissed again. I growled. It shut up.
I made my way to the attic then and checked out the Thing in the Wardrobe. It was scratching on the sides when I entered but grew still as I approached.
«How's everything inside?» I asked.
«Be a lot better if someone could be persuaded to turn the key with his paws.»
«Better for you maybe.»
«I could find you lots of great bones, big ones, fresh, juicy, lots of meat on them.»
«I just ate, thanks.»
«What do you want?»
«Nothing special just now.»