Invasion

"I already told you: just a drive," Beau said. "What's the big deal?"

"You've never gone for a drive in the middle of the night," Cassy said. "Why didn't you wake me and tell me you were going?"

"You were sleeping too soundly," Beau said. "I didn't want to disturb you."

"Didn't you think about me waking up and worrying about you?" Cassy asked.

"I'm sorry," Beau said. He reached over and patted her arm. "I guess I should have awakened you. At the time it seemed better to let you sleep."

"You'll wake me if it ever happens again?" Cassy asked.

"I promise," Beau said. "Jeez, you're making such a big deal out of this."

"It scared me," Cassy said. "I even called the hospital to make sure you weren't there. And the police station too, just to make sure there wasn't an accident."

"All right already," Beau said. "You made your point."

Cassy got out of the van, then leaned back through the window. "But why a drive at two o'clock in the morning? Why not a walk, or if you couldn't sleep, why not watch a little TV? Or better yet, read."

"We're not going over this again," Beau said with conviction but not anger. "Okay?"

"Okay," Cassy said reluctantly. At least she'd gotten an apology and Beau seemed reasonably remorseful.

"See you at three," Beau said.

They waved as Beau pulled away from the curb. When he got to the corner, he didn't look back. If he had he would have seen that Cassy had not moved from the spot where she'd gotten out of the car. She watched him turn the corner, heading away from the university. She shook her head. Beau's strange behavior had not improved.

Beau was whistling softly to himself, blithely unaware of Cassy's concerns as he drove through the downtown. He had a mission and was preoccupied, but not too preoccupied to appreciate how many pedestrians and other drivers were coughing and sneezing, particularly when he stopped for traffic lights. In the very center of town it was as if almost every other person were suffering symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. On top of that many of them were pale and perspiring.

Reaching the outskirts of the city on the side of town opposite the university, Beau turned off Main Street onto Goodwin Place. On his right was the animal shelter, and he pulled through the open chain-link gate. He parked next to the administration building. It was constructed of painted cement block with aluminum jalousie windows.

From behind the building Beau could hear continuous barking. Inside Beau confronted a secretary, told her what he wanted, and was asked to sit in a small waiting area. Beau could have read while he waited, but instead he listened intently to the barking, even the intermittent meow of some cats. He thought it was a strange way to communicate.

"My name is Tad Secolow," a man said, interrupting Beau's thoughts. "I understand you are looking for a dog."

"That's right," Beau said, getting to his feet.

"You've come to the right place," Tad said. "We've got just about any breed you might be looking for. The fact that you are willing to give a home to a full-grown dog gives you a larger selection than if you were intent on a puppy. Do you have an idea of the breed?"

"Nope," Beau said. "But I'll know what I want when I see it."

"Excuse me?" Tad said.

"I said I'll recognize which animal I want when I spot it," Beau repeated.

"Do you want to look at photos first?" Tad asked. "We have pictures of all the dogs that are available."

"I'd prefer to see the animals themselves," Beau said.

"Okay," Tad said agreeably. He escorted Beau past the secretary and through the rear of the building that was filled with animal cages. It had a mild barnyard smell that competed with a cloying odor of deodorant. Tad explained that the dogs housed inside were being treated by the vet who came every other day. Most of these dogs weren't barking. Some looked ill.

The back yard of the shelter had rows of chain-link cages. Down the center were two long runs enclosed with chain-link fences. The floor of the whole complex was concrete. Coils of hose were stacked against the back of the building.

Tad led Beau down the first aisle. The dogs barked wildly at the sight of them. Tad maintained a running commentary on the pluses of each breed they passed. He paused longest at a cage that housed a standard poodle. It was a silver-gray color with dark, pleading eyes. It seemed to understand the urgency of its plight.

Beau shook his head, and they moved on.

While Tad was discussing the good qualities of a black Lab, Beau stopped and gazed in at a large, powerful, fawn-colored dog who returned his stare with mild curiosity.

"How about this one?" Beau asked.

Tad raised his eyebrows when he saw which dog Beau was referring to. "That's a beautiful animal," he said. "But he's big and very strong. Are you interested in a dog that large?"

"What's the breed?" Beau asked.