Author’s Note: This novella was inspired by the animals mankind has used in warfare since the dawn of civilization. None of them knew what they were doing, but some of them surely wanted to help. I take you now to one special litter, born in a place not yet swallowed by the first world war.
Birth
Gal rested on her bed of dry straw and whimpered. One of her ears flopped over her eye; she didn’t bother to move it. The freshly-washed hands hovering over her thought this odd, so they moved in and pushed the ear back. Gal loved the light, loved chasing the setting sun to the marshy edge of the island, so there was no reason for her to not see the light in her litter’s eyes. They were due any minute now. One of the hands rested on her swollen belly, both petting and feeling for the position of the puppies. She couldn’t tell the difference. Continue reading →