Fifteen Dogs

The gods are compelled by rhythm – as is the universe, as are all the creatures in it.

This laughter was strange, however. It was not provoked by his senses but by something almost as powerful: his intellect.

notion of what an ideal or pure dog might be: a creature without the flaws of thought. As time went on, he attributed to this pure being all the qualities he believed to be noble: sharp senses, absolute authority, unparalleled prowess at hunting, irresistible strength.

the moon fell out of its pocket of clouds from time to time.

the others needed him, weak and lowly though he was, to maintain their echelon. This thought, which he shared with no one, instilled in him a sense of his own power. He, Benjy, was in his way as necessary as the leader, for if there is a top there must necessarily be a bottom.

Benjy and Dougie were dogs forced to perform a version of dogness convincing enough to please other dogs who had, to an extent, forgotten what dogness was.

Hearing other languages was like hearing new rhythms, melodies and reasons.

Human intelligence is not a gift. It’s an occasionally useful plague.

Here was a form of