Down the Hatch!

*Calm down, Jon* Karyn said, while she looked around the back of the dogcatcher's truck. *If you're worried about the stone, don't be. I grabbed it up as soon as I realized you'd drop it.* Jon gave the equivalent of a releaved sigh. *There is one problem, though,* Karyn continued. Jon's head snapped up. *Now, don't panic,* Karyn cautioned her. *It's just that when that guy threw that loop around my neck, it caught me off guard. It's was reflex, really.* Jon whined impatiently. Karyn sighed before answering. *I swallowed it, Jon. The stone is inside me.*