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“Switch Hitter” by J.S. Hawthorne (part 1 of 2)
5th October 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:30:59

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David Steward is New York’s premier supernatural detective, but fifty years before he protected Manhattan, his grandmother, Helen Steward, was tasked with that same job. In the fall of 1957, Helen finds herself working to prevent a grave threat to very fabric of America itself: an attack on the institution of baseball.

Tonight’s story is the first of two parts of “Switch Hitter” by J.S. Hawthorne, a proud member of the Furry Historical Fiction Society and casual L.A. Dodgers fan. You can find her most recent story, The Cusp Of All Broken Things, in The Wideness of the World by Transcendent Fiction Publishing, as well as the other Furry Historical Fiction Society anthologies.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/switch-hitter-by-j-s-hawthorne-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Ghost

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

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traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Tonight’s story is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

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two

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parts

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of “Switch

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Hitter”

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by

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J.S.

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Hawthorne,

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a

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proud

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member

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of

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the

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Furry

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Historical

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Fiction

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Society

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and

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casual

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L.A.

Speaker:

Dodgers

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fan.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

recent

Speaker:

story,

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The

Speaker:

Cusp

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Of

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

Broken

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Things,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Wideness

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of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

World

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Transcendent

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Fiction

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Publishing,

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as

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well

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as

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the

Speaker:

other

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Furry

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Historical

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Fiction

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Society

Speaker:

anthologies.

The soul of

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America

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is

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not

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to

Speaker:

be

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found

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in

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any

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heartland or hometown, in

Speaker:

atom

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bomb

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or

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apple

Speaker:

pie,

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in

Speaker:

Duluth

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or

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Disneyland

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or the Devil’s Garden. It does not labor in a breast

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arrogant

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with

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jingoism,

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nor

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under a

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conscience

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guilty

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with

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slavery

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and

Speaker:

settler

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genocide.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

neither

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Summer

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Love

Speaker:

nor

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Twilight

Speaker:

Zone.

Speaker:

And you can’t

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find it along Route 66.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

would

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be

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premature,

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

this

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juncture,

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to

Speaker:

reveal

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just

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where

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the

Speaker:

soul

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

America

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

found,

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

America,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

hidden from

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

percent

Speaker:

who

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think

Speaker:

they

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already

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own it.

But

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

clue

in:




“Switch

in:

Hitter”

in:

by

in:

J.S. Hawthorne, Part 1 of 2

David

in:

Steward’s

in:

condo

in:

was

in:

full

in:

of

in:

vampires.

in:

This

in:

was

in:

by

in:

itself

in:

not

in:

unusual.

in:

David’s

in:

undead

in:

boyfriend,

in:

Theo,

in:

had

in:

moved

in:

in

in:

with

in:

him

in:

about

in:

six

in:

months

in:

earlier, and

in:

was

in:

to

in:

be

in:

expected.

in:

Similarly

in:

approximating

in:

a

in:

permanent

in:

fixture

in:

of

in:

the

in:

condo

in:

was

in:

Theo’s

in:

sire

in:

and

in:

adoptive

in:

mother,

in:

Maria.

in:

The

in:

two

in:

were

in:

as

in:

different

in:

as

possible:

possible:

Theo

possible:

a

possible:

dour,

possible:

scrawny

possible:

skunk

possible:

who

possible:

tended

possible:

to

possible:

fade

possible:

into

possible:

the

possible:

background

possible:

and

possible:

Maria a

possible:

fox the

possible:

color

possible:

and

possible:

intensity

possible:

of an inferno and as subtle as a volcano.
Steward was

possible:

bigger

possible:

and

possible:

broader

possible:

than

possible:

the

possible:

two

possible:

of

possible:

them

possible:

put

possible:

together,

possible:

a

possible:

grey

possible:

wolf

possible:

steadily

possible:

turning

possible:

greyer,

possible:

but

possible:

they

possible:

both

possible:

made

possible:

him

possible:

feel

possible:

as

possible:

small

possible:

and

possible:

helpless

possible:

as

possible:

a

possible:

chicken

possible:

nugget.

possible:

But,

possible:

still,

possible:

not

possible:

an

possible:

unusual

possible:

day

possible:

in

possible:

the

possible:

Steward

possible:

home.
What

possible:

was

possible:

unusual

possible:

was

possible:

the

possible:

third

possible:

individual,

possible:

lounging

possible:

in

possible:

Steward’s

possible:

favorite

possible:

armchair

possible:

like

possible:

a

possible:

throne.

possible:

He

possible:

was

possible:

tall

possible:

and

possible:

narrow,

possible:

a

possible:

horse

possible:

the

possible:

color

possible:

and

possible:

menace

possible:

of

possible:

smoke,

possible:

with

possible:

the

possible:

tell-tale

possible:

luminescence

possible:

in

possible:

his

possible:

steel-colored

possible:

eyes

possible:

of a

possible:

vampire.
“Are

possible:

we

possible:

throwing

possible:

a

possible:

party?”

possible:

Steward

possible:

asked

possible:

as

possible:

he

possible:

drew up

possible:

short

possible:

in

possible:

his

possible:

overcrowded

possible:

living

possible:

room.
“David,”

possible:

said

possible:

Theo.

possible:

He

possible:

did

possible:

not

possible:

smile

possible:

at

possible:

Steward,

possible:

but

possible:

he

possible:

never

possible:

did

possible:

in

possible:

public. “This

possible:

is

possible:

Etienne, Maria’s sire.”
“Enchanté,

possible:

monsieur,”

possible:

said

possible:

the

possible:

horse

possible:

with

possible:

an

possible:

ironic,

possible:

sitting

possible:

bow.
“Pleased

possible:

to

possible:

meet

possible:

you,”

possible:

Steward

possible:

said,

possible:

in

possible:

as

possible:

carefully

possible:

a

possible:

neutral

possible:

tone

possible:

as

possible:

he

possible:

could

possible:

manage. “What

possible:

brings

possible:

you

possible:

to

possible:

town?

possible:

I

possible:

don’t

possible:

suppose

possible:

you’re

possible:

here

possible:

for

possible:

the

possible:

postseason.”
“Don’t be absurd,

possible:

David,”

possible:

said

possible:

Maria with a

possible:

little

possible:

sniff. “You

possible:

know

possible:

we

possible:

don’t

possible:

watch

possible:

baseball.

possible:

Not

possible:

since

possible:

the

possible:

Incident.”
Steward

possible:

suppressed

possible:

a

possible:

snort. “Calling

possible:

something ‘The

possible:

Incident’ and

possible:

never

possible:

explaining

possible:

what

possible:

that

possible:

means

possible:

is

possible:

just

possible:

drama

possible:

for

possible:

the

possible:

sake

possible:

of

possible:

drama.”
“What

possible:

is

possible:

this?”

possible:

Etienne

possible:

asked,

possible:

straightening in

possible:

his

possible:

chair

possible:

and

possible:

looking,

possible:

with

possible:

apparent

possible:

shock,

possible:

at

possible:

Maria. “You’ve

possible:

never

possible:

told

possible:

him

possible:

about

possible:

the

possible:

Incident?

possible:

Even

possible:

though

possible:

it concerns his

possible:

family?”
“I’m

possible:

sorry,

possible:

what?”

possible:

Steward

possible:

asked,

possible:

at

possible:

the

possible:

same

possible:

time

possible:

that

possible:

Maria

possible:

clapped

possible:

a

possible:

hand

possible:

to

possible:

her

possible:

muzzle.
“He’s

possible:

not,”

possible:

Maria

possible:

whispered,

possible:

her

possible:

glowing

possible:

red

possible:

eyes

possible:

darting

possible:

over

possible:

to

possible:

Steward. “You

possible:

don’t

possible:

mean that

possible:

she

possible:

was?”
Etienne

possible:

nodded

possible:

solemnly,

possible:

then

possible:

turned

possible:

back

possible:

to

possible:

Steward. “This

possible:

story

possible:

involves

possible:

your grandmother,

possible:

Helen Steward.”
* * *
It

possible:

was the end of September, 1957. The Dodgers and

possible:

Giants

possible:

had

possible:

played

possible:

their

possible:

final

possible:

games in

possible:

New

possible:

York

possible:

and

possible:

were

possible:

preparing

possible:

to

possible:

move

possible:

to

possible:

California,

possible:

ending

possible:

the

possible:

golden

possible:

era

possible:

of

possible:

the

possible:

subway

possible:

series. It

possible:

seemed

possible:

the

possible:

end

possible:

of

possible:

a

possible:

golden

possible:

era

possible:

of

possible:

baseball.

possible:

Joe

possible:

DiMaggio

possible:

had

possible:

hung

possible:

up

possible:

his

possible:

jersey

possible:

six

possible:

years

possible:

ago.

possible:

Jackie

possible:

Robinson

possible:

had

possible:

quit

possible:

the

possible:

year

possible:

before

possible:

to run a

possible:

coffee

possible:

company.

possible:

It

possible:

wasn’t

possible:

all

possible:

bad

possible:

news,

possible:

though.

possible:

In

possible:

a

possible:

few

possible:

days,

possible:

Milwaukee’s

possible:

Hank

possible:

Aaron

possible:

and

possible:

the

possible:

Yankee’s

possible:

Mickey

possible:

Mantle

possible:

would

possible:

face

possible:

each

possible:

other

possible:

in

possible:

what

possible:

promised

possible:

to

possible:

be

possible:

the

possible:

greatest

possible:

World

possible:

Series

possible:

of

possible:

all

possible:

time.
Helen

possible:

Steward, who already had tickets to

possible:

the

possible:

first

possible:

game,

possible:

already

possible:

prepared

possible:

to

possible:

make

possible:

the

possible:

holy

possible:

pilgrimage

possible:

to

possible:

the

possible:

Cathedral

possible:

of

possible:

Baseball.

possible:

She

possible:

was

possible:

sad,

possible:

of

possible:

course, to

possible:

say

possible:

goodbye

possible:

to

possible:

her

possible:

beloved

possible:

Dodgers,

possible:

but

possible:

baseball

possible:

was

possible:

more

possible:

important

possible:

to

possible:

her

possible:

than

possible:

anything

possible:

other

possible:

than

possible:

her

possible:

young

possible:

son,

possible:

John.

possible:

She

possible:

was

possible:

looking

possible:

forward

possible:

to

possible:

what

possible:

promised

possible:

to

possible:

an

possible:

exciting

possible:

series,

possible:

even

possible:

if

possible:

it

possible:

meant

possible:

cheering

possible:

for

possible:

the

possible:

Yankees.
But

possible:

before

possible:

she

possible:

could

possible:

enjoy

possible:

that

possible:

spectacle,

possible:

she

possible:

had

possible:

to

possible:

survive

possible:

two

possible:

more

possible:

days

possible:

in

possible:

the

possible:

office.

possible:

Steward’s

possible:

job

possible:

was

possible:

unusual,

possible:

to say the

possible:

least.

possible:

She

possible:

might

possible:

have

possible:

called

possible:

it

possible:

unique.

possible:

On

possible:

paper,

possible:

she

possible:

was a

possible:

secretary

possible:

for

possible:

a

possible:

tiny

possible:

law

possible:

firm

possible:

on

possible:

the

possible:

forty-third

possible:

floor

possible:

of

possible:

the

possible:

Empire

possible:

State

possible:

Building.

possible:

After

possible:

she

possible:

had

possible:

passed

possible:

the

possible:

bar,

possible:

it

possible:

had

possible:

been

possible:

the

possible:

only

possible:

job

possible:

willing

possible:

to

possible:

hire

possible:

her.

possible:

But

possible:

from

possible:

there,

possible:

she

possible:

had

possible:

managed

possible:

to

possible:

get

possible:

an

possible:

interview,

possible:

and

possible:

then

possible:

a

possible:

clandestine

possible:

job,

possible:

with

possible:

the

possible:

Smith

possible:

Agency.
And

possible:

so

possible:

it

possible:

was, on

possible:

a

possible:

cool,

possible:

cloudy

possible:

day

possible:

at

possible:

the

possible:

end

possible:

of

possible:

September,

possible:

Helen

possible:

Steward

possible:

left

possible:

the

possible:

elevator

possible:

on

possible:

the

possible:

forty-third

possible:

floor,

possible:

walked

possible:

past the

possible:

law

possible:

firm

possible:

that

possible:

had

possible:

refused

possible:

to

possible:

hire

possible:

her

possible:

as a

possible:

lawyer,

possible:

and

possible:

slipped

possible:

through

possible:

a

possible:

door

possible:

so

possible:

unassuming that

possible:

it

possible:

might

possible:

have

possible:

been a

possible:

part

possible:

of

possible:

the

possible:

wall.

possible:

Beyond

possible:

was

possible:

a

possible:

walnut

possible:

paneled

possible:

room

possible:

filled

possible:

with

possible:

desks.

possible:

There were

possible:

no

possible:

name

possible:

plates,

possible:

no

possible:

placards

possible:

to

possible:

name

possible:

either

possible:

the

possible:

agency

possible:

or

possible:

its

possible:

agents,

possible:

and

possible:

few

possible:

effects

possible:

to demark

possible:

the

possible:

individuals

possible:

working

possible:

there.

possible:

Steward’s

possible:

desk

possible:

had

possible:

nothing

possible:

but a

possible:

half-filled

possible:

coffee

possible:

cup,

possible:

a

possible:

half-dead

possible:

snake

possible:

plant

possible:

and

possible:

a

possible:

picture

possible:

of

possible:

her

possible:

son

possible:

in

possible:

a

possible:

pale

possible:

wooden

possible:

frame.

possible:

She

possible:

emptied

possible:

the

possible:

remnants

possible:

of

possible:

last

possible:

Friday’s

possible:

coffee

possible:

into

possible:

the

possible:

plant,

possible:

then

possible:

stalked to

possible:

the

possible:

coffee

possible:

pot,

possible:

itself

possible:

stained

possible:

with the

possible:

a

possible:

thousand

possible:

late

possible:

nights

possible:

collecting

possible:

and

possible:

collating

possible:

information

possible:

on

possible:

Manhattan’s

possible:

numerous

possible:

supernatural

possible:

threats.
She had

possible:

just

possible:

flicked

possible:

the

possible:

on-switch on

possible:

the

possible:

coffeemaker

possible:

when

possible:

her

possible:

boss,

possible:

a

possible:

surly-looking,

possible:

brown-furred

possible:

rabbit

possible:

every

possible:

bit

possible:

as

possible:

irritable

possible:

as his

possible:

expression

possible:

would

possible:

suggest,

possible:

stomped

possible:

in.

possible:

He

possible:

glared

possible:

around

possible:

the

possible:

office,

possible:

then

possible:

snorted.
“Steward,

possible:

my

possible:

office,”

possible:

he

possible:

barked

possible:

at

possible:

her,

possible:

then

possible:

stormed

possible:

into

possible:

the

possible:

only

possible:

other

possible:

room.
Steward

possible:

eyed

possible:

the

possible:

coffee

possible:

sadly,

possible:

retrieved a

possible:

notebook

possible:

and

possible:

pencil

possible:

from

possible:

her

possible:

desk,

possible:

and then

possible:

followed

possible:

warily.

possible:

She ran a

possible:

claw

possible:

over

possible:

the

possible:

iron

possible:

nail

possible:

embedded

possible:

in

possible:

the

possible:

notebook’s

possible:

cover

possible:

in

possible:

a

possible:

kind

possible:

of

possible:

good-luck

possible:

ritual.
Her

possible:

boss

possible:

was

possible:

already

possible:

slouched

possible:

in

possible:

his

possible:

chair,

possible:

chewing

possible:

on

possible:

an

possible:

unlit

possible:

cigar,

possible:

and

possible:

staring

possible:

daggers at

possible:

the

possible:

sun

possible:

just

possible:

peeking

possible:

over

possible:

distant

possible:

Queens.

possible:

He

possible:

grunted

possible:

at

possible:

her,

possible:

which

possible:

she

possible:

took

possible:

as

possible:

a

possible:

signal

possible:

to

possible:

sit

possible:

in

possible:

one

possible:

of

possible:

the

possible:

hard-backed

possible:

seats

possible:

in

possible:

front

possible:

of

possible:

his

possible:

desk.

possible:

The

possible:

office

possible:

rumor

possible:

was

possible:

that

possible:

the

possible:

seats

possible:

were

possible:

ensorcelled

possible:

to

possible:

be

possible:

extra

possible:

uncomfortable.
“Steward,”

possible:

the

possible:

hare

possible:

growled

possible:

around

possible:

a

possible:

mouthful

possible:

of

possible:

tobacco, “What

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

than

possible:

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boss,”

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she

possible:

admitted. “I’ve

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

experience.”
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possible:

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possible:

the

possible:

boss

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

his

possible:

head. “This

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

related.”
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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

desk. “Someone’s

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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than

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

said

possible:

Steward. “And

possible:

Cuba.”
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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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Steward, and

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

her, “We’ve

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possible:

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her. “You’ll

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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eyes.
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possible:

She

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possible:

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She

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She

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She

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The

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possible:

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possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Instead,

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back.
After

possible:

ten

possible:

minutes

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

silence,

possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

her

possible:

throat.
“Are

possible:

you

possible:

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for

possible:

me?”

possible:

she

possible:

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possible:

The

possible:

fox

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

nod. “Are

possible:

you

possible:

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possible:

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talk?”
The

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Before

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possible:

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possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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age.
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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

The

possible:

fox

possible:

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possible:

her

possible:

head.

possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

down

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

her

possible:

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possible:

terms.
“We

possible:

must

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

him,”

possible:

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possible:

all

possible:

she

possible:

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possible:

say.
“Alright.”

possible:

Steward

possible:

suppressed a

possible:

sigh. “My

possible:

boss

possible:

tells

possible:

me

possible:

you

possible:

can

possible:

help

possible:

me.

possible:

Where

possible:

shall

possible:

we

possible:

start?”

possible:

Again

possible:

the

possible:

fox

possible:

was

possible:

silent,

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

and

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

off

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

gloom

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

evening. “Could

possible:

you

possible:

at

possible:

least

possible:

tell

possible:

me

possible:

your

possible:

name?”

possible:

Steward

possible:

pressed,

possible:

desperate

possible:

to

possible:

get

possible:

anything

possible:

out

possible:

of

possible:

the

possible:

girl.
“Mi...

possible:

Maria,”

possible:

the

possible:

fox

possible:

replied,

possible:

absently. “Maria

possible:

Strauss.”

possible:

Another

possible:

pause,

possible:

and

possible:

then the

possible:

girl

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

coin, which

possible:

she

possible:

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possible:

across

possible:

the

possible:

table. “My

possible:

token.”
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possible:

Maria,”

possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

She

possible:

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possible:

the

possible:

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possible:

into

possible:

her

possible:

purse,

possible:

then eyed the fox for a moment. “Let’s go.”
The fox’s head snapped up in shock and

possible:

alarm.
“Go where?”
Steward,

possible:

already

possible:

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possible:

towards

possible:

the

possible:

door,

possible:

simply

possible:

shrugged. “You

possible:

tell

possible:

me.”
* * *
They

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

few

possible:

minutes

possible:

before

possible:

Strauss

possible:

finally

possible:

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possible:

charge and

possible:

led Steward

possible:

a subway

possible:

station.

possible:

They

possible:

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possible:

the

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Battery

possible:

Park

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

The

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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She

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Her

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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She

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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Clinton.
She

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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Steward

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Terminal.

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

the

possible:

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possible:

She

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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Steward

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

the

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

and

possible:

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possible:

and concrete.
“C’est chic, hein?” came a dry voice. Steward nearly

possible:

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possible:

She

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Cause.
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possible:

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possible:

Steward

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than

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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madame,”

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possible:

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possible:

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ward?

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She was meant to see to your

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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her shoulder.
“Don’t count Maria out so

possible:

quickly,” he

possible:

said, and

possible:

his

possible:

voice

possible:

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possible:

gentle.

possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

herself

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

hope,

possible:

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possible:

she

possible:

couldn’t

possible:

see

possible:

how

possible:

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possible:

fox had survived. “We’re made of heartier stuff than you might think.” She looked

possible:

up to

possible:

see

possible:

his

possible:

wink.
“Should

possible:

we

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

for

possible:

her?” Steward asked, uncertainly.
De Ludre removed

possible:

his

possible:

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possible:

as

possible:

he

possible:

shook he head. “She’ll find us. Might I have the coin she

possible:

gave

possible:

to

possible:

you?”
“How

possible:

did

possible:

you

possible:

know?”

possible:

Steward

possible:

asked,

possible:

but

possible:

she

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

it

possible:

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possible:

of

possible:

her

possible:

purse.
“It’s

possible:

how

possible:

I

possible:

found

possible:

you, and how she’ll find us,” de Ludre said. “I trust your excursion

possible:

was

possible:

fruitful?”
Steward

possible:

was

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

conversation.

possible:

And

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

herself

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

to show him

possible:

the

possible:

sigils.
“It’s

possible:

clearly

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

and was

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Staten

possible:

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possible:

hide

possible:

until

possible:

the

possible:

morning.”
“A

possible:

good plan,” said

possible:

de

possible:

Ludra,

possible:

and

possible:

Steward

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

odd

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sense

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possible:

up

possible:

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her. “But

possible:

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possible:

unnecessary.

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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the

possible:

final

possible:

instruction,

possible:

yes? Your

possible:

chief,

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

about

possible:

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possible:

baseball

possible:

connection?”
De Ludre

possible:

was

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

entrance.
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possible:

said

possible:

Steward,

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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stride. “But

possible:

he

possible:

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possible:

wait...”

possible:

Steward

possible:

lapsed

possible:

into

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

her

possible:

brain

possible:

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furiously.

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

just

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

of

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

eye.
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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

train

possible:

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possible:

she

possible:

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possible:

her

possible:

mouth

possible:

again.
“It’s

possible:

decay,”

possible:

she

possible:

said.

possible:

They

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

its

possible:

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possible:

eastward. “Sympathetic

possible:

magic,

possible:

right?

possible:

You

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

to

possible:

places

possible:

that

possible:

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possible:

meaningful,

possible:

but

possible:

now

possible:

are

possible:

neglected.”
De Ludre

possible:

nodded.
Steward

possible:

continued,

possible:

paying the

possible:

horse

possible:

little

possible:

attention. “The

possible:

Harbor

possible:

Hill

possible:

ley-line

possible:

runs

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

Field.

possible:

The

possible:

damage this curse

possible:

could

possible:

cause...”
De

possible:

Ludre

possible:

nodded

possible:

again. “It

possible:

strikes

possible:

at

possible:

the

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

and

possible:

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possible:

pieces

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

eater

possible:

picks

possible:

at a

possible:

skeleton.”
“Would it

possible:

work,

possible:

though?

possible:

I’d like to

possible:

think

possible:

we’re

possible:

pretty resilient.”
“Qui sait?” de Ludre shrugged. “It

possible:

would,

possible:

at

possible:

the

possible:

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possible:

least,

possible:

do

possible:

tremendous harm.

possible:

America

possible:

is...

possible:

She

possible:

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possible:

a hope, a

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

chance. ‘Not

possible:

like

possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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possible:

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by J.S. Hawthorne, read for you by Rob MacWolf, Werewolf Hitchhiker.

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Chapters

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