Sally Dropped us off across the river and a few blocks away from Ivan and Yakob's shop. As she drove away I felt a bit like I was watching the last transport leaving a warzone. I waved goodbye, unsure why I was doing so but it felt right.

Gershwin seemed pleased as punch, seemingly oblivious to our impending doom. He breathed in deep through his nose, ignoring the slight pattering of rain that fell down on us. "Can you smell that?" He asked.

I rubbed the side of my muzzle in annoyance. "No, not really." I replied.

He looked back with concern. "What? Why not." Apparently the minor inconvenience of my loss of smell was a greater worry than what was waiting for us across the river.

"It's nothing." I said. "Just some damage from the explosion, I think it's a clot or something."

Gershwin shook his head. "No, that's not nothing. A Hund without a nose is like a Human without eyes. Have you run a diagnostic?"

I shook my head and contemplated arguing that there was no point, but the look of concern on my father's face stopped me before I could speak. "Give me a moment, I'll do it now." I said as I reached for my tags. I held my thumb against the rough gray metal and mentally requested a full checkup.

"Thank you, my son." Gershwin said gratefully. "I worry about you, you know."

"I know." I replied as the warm sensation of a million nanomachines going to work spread through my body. It was like slipping into a B.A.T.H. but much less unpleasant. I felt a loud popping sound echo through my skull and there was a feeling like a great amount of pressure had been suddenly vented.

I exhaled hard as I could through my nose sending a foul black slug of coagulated blood onto the pavement. "Fuck, that's so much better." I exclaimed as I was finally able to breathe freely.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

I drank in the scents of the city through my nose and felt my stomach churn with hunger as I smelled what Gershwin was talking about. There was a Katzen food cart somewhere down the street serving ham and cheese tostadas made with real butter.

Gershwin beckoned me to follow him towards the rich aroma of ethnic food done right. The proprietor of the cart was a short squat orange furred Katzen that seemed to recognize Gershwin, or at least his body.

"Hola Umberto!" Called out Gershwin as he approached. "Yo quisiera dos tostadas de jamón y queso con paprika y dos cervezas, por favor."

The vendor cracked a wide smile and began to slather the grill with butter. Eventually he produced two perfectly golden grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. They smelled divine and I happily paid the plump Katzen as he handed over the food and beers.

Ruhern could wait, I was going to take my time enjoying these magnificent greasy delicacies. I knew from the first bite that I was in for a treat and the more I ate, the better they got.

"Prost!" My father and I said in unison as we clinked our bottles of beer together.

"See?" Pressed Gershwin. "We have managed to steal one more perfect moment before we go slay the dragon." He pulled a small pouch out of his coat and began to roll a joint. "Now we will have a little smoke as we walk and all will be right in the world."

We passed the joint back and forth as we walked, taking care to talk about anything besides our impending doom. Eventually the topic of conversation turned to the fairer sex.

"Whatever happened to that little fräulein you used to run with when you were young?" Gershwin asked. "What was her name?"

"Frau Pfannkuchen?" I asked, racking my brain as I tried to remember. "I think she got married and opened a hotel in Shiel. She had something like six litters of pups and got incredibly fat."

"Good for her." Gershwin said as he took back the joint.

I stopped, we were close to the bridge now and I could see cars parked and waiting for us on the other side. They weren't even bothering to hide their presence.

Gershwin noticed my hesitation. "Sure they might kill us." He mused. "But everything has its season."

I nodded. "Everything has its season." I repeated back as I began the long walk across the stone bridge that would bring me to my destiny, my father at my side for one last time.