I read the book years ago and I think I have to re-read it, but I found it quite forgettable and I don't recall it being as "action" focused as the movie's trailer suggested. In fact, If I'm remembering correctly, it was largely just two characters and dog and it ends when he flies off...
Did I just randomly forget the rest of it, or are the rest of the characters an attempt to pad out the ending to show what happens after that?