The policeman watching a monitor said, “Look at this.” The others gathered around.

A drone was crisscrossing a square mile of desert, and a large RV was visible in the southeast quadrant. They zoomed in on it. “Could it be the meth lab we’ve been searching for?”

“Don’t think so. There’s a word on the RV roof. Looks like VETERAN.”

“Who’s wants t’go’ for a ride?”

***

The police approached slowly. A dog ferociously announced their arrival. A man appeared with his hands outstretched. “Just me and my dog, existing. Don’t like people, guns, or drugs. Welcome to look around.”

Written in response to Charli Mills April 3, 2023, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a dog in the desert. Why is the dog there? Who else is involved? Is there a deeper metaphor you can make for the desert? Go where the prompt leads!