The View from the Hill

"The View from the Hill" is the twelvth Beasts of Burden story.

Story
Most of the gang is gathered together, watching a newcomer herd of sheep. They approach and a guard dog appears to bark and growl at them. One of the sheep tells the dog, Ben, that it's okay, and Ben leaves to scout ahead. As the gang talk with the sheep, Jack gets a vision and faints. The sheep reveals that Jack saw their true nature – they and Ben are dead, perished in a barn fire. Whitey questions why they don't move on. The sheep explains that they do not wish to be parted from their friend in the afterlife; Ben has told them about the Great Dog and his heaven, but never mentioned any animals there aside from dogs.

The sheep depart, and later that night, the Orphan checks on Jack, who is seemingly asleep. It shows what he saw earlier when he looked at the sheep – they appear dead, their bodies burned by fire.

Characters

 * Whitey
 * The Orphan
 * Pugsley
 * Jack
 * Ace
 * Ben
 * sheep
 * The Great Dog