In the Shadow of Satellites by Amanda Dick Page A

doesn’t move. It’s very clear that he’s not intending on going anywhere anytime soon. It’s an unexpected pleasure, having company that will keep my secrets.
    I sink down into the armchair across from him and take a sip of water.
    “Does Luke know you’re here?”
    He raises his head to look at me, his tail wagging slowly. I take that as a no.
    “So you snuck out, then? I don’t mind, as long as he doesn’t.”
    He gets up and comes to sit at my feet, and I sink my hand into his long, soft fur.
    “I don’t mean to make you feel awkward,” I say. “But Luke says you have a crush on me. I just want you to know that I think that’s really sweet. And as long as you’re not planning on eating me, I think we can probably work with that.”
    He turns to lick my hand in reply. I’m not sure if that’s meant to warn me that he’s thinking about it, or reassure me that he’s not. Taking a punt, I decide that it’s a reassuring gesture, because he seems very relaxed in my presence.
    He stays by my side until lunchtime, watching as I check my meagre-looking pantry for something to eat. I toss him a couple of leftover pieces of ham that Ana brought with her on the weekend, and he catches them, inhaling them in seconds.
    “Hungry?” I say. “Yeah, me too.”
    There is no milk, eggs or cheese left, and precious little in the way of snacks. I really need to get my supplies from the store or it’s going to be a really long couple of days. I have meat in the freezer and cans in the pantry, but I need the basics.
    “What do you say – time you went home for some real food?”
    He sits and stares at me, not blinking. It looks like he’s waiting for something. I walk over to the French doors and point over in the direction of Luke’s.
    “Come on boy, off you go. I have stuff I need to do.”
    He doesn’t budge. I really don’t want to, but I can see that I’ll have to take him back over to Luke’s.
    “Alright,” I say. “Let’s get you home.”
    He hesitates for a moment, and it flashes through my mind that I might be stuck with him. But then he gets up and pads towards me.
    “Come on,” I say, patting my leg. “Let’s go.”
    He trots along beside me as we take the steps down off the deck and over the lawn to Luke’s.
    ***
    As Geezer and I make our way through the trees to Luke’s place, we’re greeted by a torrent of verbal abuse. I pause for a moment, although Geezer doesn’t seem concerned, trotting on ahead. I can’t see Luke, but I can sure as hell hear him. He’s swearing like a sailor.
    “Hello?” I call, pretty sure I’m the last person he wants to see right now.
    “Sian?”
    “Hi. Is this a bad time?”
    There’s a momentary hesitation, before he appears around the side of the cottage, holding his shoulder. His face is red and he looks as pissed off as he sounds.
    “No, no,” he says quickly, then pauses. “I suppose you heard that?”
    I nod, holding my ground.
    “Sorry,” he sighs. “Stupid… the perils of demolition.”
    “What happened?”
    I’m not moving any closer just yet. He still looks pretty pissed off.
    “I wrenched my shoulder. It was either cuss a little or launch the crowbar into the lake.”
    He makes an effort to shrug, but it clearly hurts.
    “A little?”
    That makes him smile.
    “Compared to what was going through my head, that was a little, believe me.”
    “Are you okay?”
    I venture closer, while Geezer lies down beside the tent, watching us.
    “Yeah, I think so. It’s just gonna slow me down a little, which is kinda frustrating.”
    He smirks at that, and I find myself feeling relieved that he hasn’t hurt himself seriously.
    “I bet.”
    He tries to roll his shoulder, flattening the palm of his hand against it, wincing.
    “What brings you over here?”
    I glance over at Geezer, who doesn’t seem upset at either the fact that his master is hurt, or the fact that he was just screaming bloody murder moments ago.
    “Geezer came for a visit