Chapter 39
THE CROWD in Jack’s went as nuts over Cuddles as if a Hollywood blockbuster movie star had unexpectedly walked into the bar to pass out cigars and first class upgrades. A few people still sat working at their dinners, but even they kept an eye on the churning crowd surrounding Eric and the massive black-and-brown Rottie. This mob would test if the dog really was as good-tempered as she seemed.
Dogs had helped humanity claw civilization out of nature. They’d been our partners and friends for hundreds of thousands of years. I assumed that Absolute had taken dogs, and squirrels, and birds, and all the other animals like a xenocidal Noah—but as far as anyone knew he’d only resurrected humans, whitetail deer, a few pigs, and chickens. Cuddles’ sudden reappearance exposed yet anothe
