Snake stoked the fire under his dinner. He'd managed to steal a chicken and the thought of fresh meat caused his stomach to grumble. It had been weeks, months maybe since he had real meat that didn't come from a ration can. Plissken sat back against the tree watching the meat cook over the fire. The temptation to eat now was so strong that only the fear of getting violently ill prevented him from eating it half cooked.
Sighing heavily he leaned his head against the tree staring up at the sky. It was cloudless and perfectly blue in the darkening light. It wouldn't rain, not tonight and that was good. Plissken was too lazy to find shelter where he could cook over a fire. Snake's eyes closed and he drifted into a light sleep lulled by the smell of food, real food.
It was dark when rustling shocked Snake to fully awake in a matter of seconds. It was pitch black and the sounds continued beyond the ring of firelight. Plissken stoked the fire higher and whatever was in the dark moved farther off. He turned his attention back to the golden chicken on the spit. Nothing would dare interrupt his meal. If it did it would regret it for the rest of its short existence.
Snake gingerly pulled the leg from the chicken. His mouth watered followed by a grumble that tore through his stomach. He brought it to his lips savoring the smell but again the racket started moving around to the left. Snake turned to focus his right eye on the sound. It moved off again.
Snake finally got to taste the rewards of his good work for the day. The chicken was like heaven. It was perfect. He tossed the bone out into the darkness and went for the other leg. Instantly a clamor erupted from the direction the bone had been tossed. Snake froze in mid grab watching silently. He could see the grass dancing. Something was out there.
The noise died down and Snake returned to his meal. All the interruptions were starting to string him out. It seemed he couldn't even eat in peace. Snake tossed the next bone a little closer hoping to catch sight of the thing in the darkness. It still remained beyond his vision but he could clearly hear the bone snapping to bits. Plissken shivered reminded of the sounds of crazies eating. The stench was missing. Even in the burbs the crazies stunk to high holy hell for miles it seemed. No there was no stench accompanying this thing. Unless it was a new crazy, someone who had yet to realize they had lost their mind.
Snake slipped another piece of meat into his mouth staring where last he heard whatever was out there. His nerves were starting to fray around the edges as his mind raced through the possibilities. Maybe it was rats? That thought was almost as bad as the crazies or worse. At least a gas crazy was easy to shoot.
Silence followed for a long time and Snake assumed whatever was out there had moved on. Greedily he returned to his chicken stripping off every possible scrap of tender meat. He should have taken two. Once more he rested his head back against the tree. His full stomach made it impossible to keep his eye open. It was a rare feeling to be full of such good food and it brought waves of exhaustion and comfort until he drifted to sleep.
Snake slept deeply against the tree until he became aware of something touching his hand. It was wet and sort of sticky. Fear pushed Plissken to bolt awake. The gun was out before his eye opened and he turned to face the thing touching him. His heart pounding so hard in his chest it caused pain to shoot through his bad eye. His eye revealed empty space next to where he had been sitting. Beyond the grass swayed in the early morning breeze but his keen eye picked up on a patch that was moving out of rhythm. Something had been here. He knew something was here, still here.
It was time to go. The stress of this place had all but driven Plissken mad. He had to get away from this unseen tormentor. Standing he stretched before spreading the coals. The chicken carcass still hung on the spit and Snake tossed it a side briefly reliving the taste of perfectly cooked meat. No sooner had the bones hit the dirt then the rustling started again. Snake continued putting out the fire but his eye turned to watch the grass. The grass was splitting and whatever was out there was moving in his direction. His left hand eased back unsnapping his holster. Slowly, he started removing the gun. It was close, about to enter the clearing Plissken was kneeling in. Snake turned his eye away and listened. A footstep hit the dirt and Snake turned drawing his revolver and aiming.
Shock hit first just before the sliminess returned to touching his gun hand. It licked and Snake lowered the gun.
"You crazy bastard! I almost shot you." Snake smiled a little trying to calm his heart that threatened to tear through his chest for the sped and pounding.
"Come here." Snake motioned and the Shepherd stood wary. Snake held up the bones and wiggled them. "Come on. I won't shoot you."
Slowly the dog inched forward and snatched the bones dashing back into the weeds. Snake shook his head laughing. All this stress over what? A dog? Snake was amused by how wound his nerves had become but then he started to think what if he had been lax and something worse was waiting in the weeds.
Snake collected his few things and slung the small pack over his shoulder as he made his way back to the road. It was still a long walk to where he was going and he wanted to get there before dark. Snake hit the pavement and glared down the road. It went on forever rising to hills in the distance. Maybe arriving would have to wait for tomorrow. Taking a deep breath he turned to start walking only to bump into the dog sitting at his feet.
Snake shook his head and stepped around it. The dog bounded up and followed next to him glancing up at Plissken expectantly. Snake stopped and looked down at it. The dog sat staring back with a look Snake could only imagine was the "happy dog" look.
"What?" Snake asked the dog. Then he shook his head again. Why on earth was he talking to a dog? Plissken turned back to the hills and started down the road. Again the dog bounded up beside him.
Snake glanced over at it and stopped again. "Are you following me?"
The dog jumped up, tail wagging frantically. Snake wanted to be furious at the animal but somehow he couldn't. Ruffling the Shepherd's hair he smiled. Something about this dog reminded him of home, the military and he felt a bit of kinship with it.
For just a brief second Plissken cracked a real smile, no sarcasm or cynicism just a genuine smile. Snake scratched vigorously on the scruff of the neck before he stopped and pushed it down. "Come on. Just keep up."
The dog bolted down the road sniffed around and ran back to Snake as he walked. He had always liked dogs and suddenly he was glad to have the companionship of one again. He knew he didn't have to worry about this friendship going sour or turning on him. Dogs were always loyal, always there to protect their pack mates and Snake felt a kinship with that sense of unquestioned loyalty. Snake reached down running his fingers through the soft fur. For the moment, alone and on the road Snake was content to just walk along with his dog and not give a damn about what was waiting for him on the other side of the hills.