Shownotes
[18+] Return to a nostalgic synthwave daydream: At a large midwestern university a quiet fox and a restless heir realize that some bells can’t be un-rung and some echos never truly fade.
Today’s story is the second and final part of “Echo” by Shutaro Highwind, who recently returned to the craft of writing after a decade away from the keyboard and has other tales from the Greyhaven universe which will (hopefully) be appearing on FurAffinity and SoFurry in the very near future.
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/18-echo-by-shutaro-highwind-part-2-of-2
Transcripts
Today's
Speaker:story
Speaker:concerns
Speaker:adult
Speaker:subject
Speaker:matter
Speaker:for
Speaker:mature
Speaker:listeners.
Speaker:If
Speaker:that's
Speaker:not
Speaker:your
Speaker:cup
Speaker:of
Speaker:tea,
Speaker:or
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:youngsters
Speaker:listening,
Speaker:please
Speaker:skip
Speaker:this
Speaker:one
Speaker:and
Speaker:come
Speaker:back
Speaker:for
Speaker:another
Speaker:story
Speaker:another
Speaker:time.
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:Pride
Speaker:Month
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “Echo”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Shutaro
Speaker:Highwind, who
Speaker:recently
Speaker:returned
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:craft
Speaker:of
Speaker:writing
Speaker:after
Speaker:a
Speaker:decade
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:keyboard
Speaker:and has
Speaker:other
Speaker:tales
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:Greyhaven
Speaker:universe
Speaker:which
Speaker:will (hopefully)
Speaker:be
Speaker:appearing
Speaker:on
Speaker:FurAffinity
Speaker:and
Speaker:SoFurry
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:very
Speaker:near
Speaker:future.
Last
time,
Speaker:a
Speaker:stray
Speaker:memory
Speaker:sent
Speaker:us
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Northlake
Speaker:University.
Speaker:Shutaro,
Speaker:an
Speaker:awkward
Speaker:fox
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:seaside
Speaker:village,
Speaker:befriended
Speaker:Ellis,
Speaker:a
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:big
Speaker:city,
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:campus
Speaker:of
Speaker:Northlake
Speaker:university.
Speaker:They
Speaker:bonded
Speaker:over
Speaker:shared
Speaker:courses
Speaker:and
Speaker:something
Speaker:else
Speaker:that
Speaker:neither
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:can
Speaker:quite
Speaker:put
Speaker:their
Speaker:finger
Speaker:on
Speaker:just
Speaker:yet.
Speaker:A
Speaker:revealing
Speaker:dream,
Speaker:a
Speaker:hot
Speaker:breakfast,
Speaker:and
Speaker:an
Speaker:offer
Speaker:to
Speaker:help
Speaker:with
Speaker:homework
Speaker:draw
Speaker:them
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:that
Speaker:neither
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:will
Speaker:ever
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:truly
Speaker:escape.
Speaker:But
Speaker:what
Speaker:comes
Speaker:after?
Please
enjoy
“Echo”
by
Speaker:Shutaro
Speaker:Highwind,
Speaker:Part 2
Speaker:of 2
Over the course of
the
Speaker:semester
Speaker:Shutaro
Speaker:had
Speaker:expanded
Speaker:to
Speaker:fill
Speaker:the
Speaker:space
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:narrow
Speaker:dorm
Speaker:room.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:built
Speaker:for
Speaker:two,
Speaker:but
Speaker:his
Speaker:roommate
Speaker:was
Speaker:hardly
Speaker:ever
Speaker:there.
Speaker:One
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:beds
Speaker:sat
Speaker:neatly
Speaker:made
Speaker:and
Speaker:largely
Speaker:untouched.
Speaker:The
Speaker:other
Speaker:one,
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:window,
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:jumble
Speaker:of
Speaker:rumpled
Speaker:bed sheets,
Speaker:open
Speaker:books,
Speaker:and
Speaker:dog-eared
Speaker:notebooks.
That
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed
Speaker:that
Speaker:Shutaro
Speaker:had
Speaker:claimed.
It
stood
Speaker:in
Speaker:contrast
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:tidy
Speaker:wooden
Speaker:desk
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Books
Speaker:were
Speaker:stacked
Speaker:in
Speaker:neat
Speaker:piles,
Speaker:papers
Speaker:sorted
Speaker:in
Speaker:yellow
Speaker:folders
Speaker:that
Speaker:bore
Speaker:the
Speaker:school’s
Speaker:seal.
Speaker:Some
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:books
Speaker:came
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:various
Speaker:course
Speaker:syllabi;
Speaker:Collected
Speaker:Whitman,
Speaker:The
Speaker:Odyssey,
Speaker:a
Speaker:handful
Speaker:of
Speaker:poetry
Speaker:anthologies,
Speaker:a
Speaker:battered
Speaker:copy
Speaker:of
Speaker:Melville.
Speaker:Others
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:and
Speaker:were
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:extra
Speaker:reading.
Speaker:They had
Speaker:names
Speaker:on
Speaker:them
Speaker:like
Speaker:Kirkwood,
Speaker:Lakhoff,
Speaker:Johnson,
Speaker:McLuhan,
Speaker:Dunn,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Carroll.
Next
to
Speaker:the
Speaker:carefully
Speaker:organized
Speaker:stacks
Speaker:of
Speaker:papers
Speaker:and
Speaker:books
Speaker:stood
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:brass
Speaker:desk
Speaker:lamp
Speaker:that
Speaker:came
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:and
Speaker:an
Speaker:ancient
Speaker:second
Speaker:or
Speaker:third
Speaker:hand
Speaker:typewriter
Speaker:that
Speaker:barely
Speaker:worked
Speaker:half
Speaker:the
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Beside
Speaker:the
Speaker:typewriter
Speaker:rested
Speaker:a
Speaker:palm-sized
Speaker:stone,
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:and
Speaker:round,
Speaker:polished
Speaker:by
Speaker:sand
Speaker:and
Speaker:surf.
It
was
Speaker:evening
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:Ellis
Speaker:knocked at
Speaker:his
Speaker:door.
Speaker:The
Speaker:small
Speaker:brass
Speaker:lamp
Speaker:cast
Speaker:its
Speaker:warm
Speaker:light
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:collected
Speaker:books
Speaker:and
Speaker:papers.
Speaker:Shutaro had
Speaker:been
Speaker:re-reading
Speaker:a
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:interesting
Speaker:passage
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:knock
Speaker:came,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:the
Speaker:polished
Speaker:stone
Speaker:and
Speaker:rubbing
Speaker:it
Speaker:gently.
Speaker:Pressing
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:lips.
“You
live
Speaker:like
Speaker:this?”
Speaker:the
Speaker:Rabbit
Speaker:said
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:dumped
Speaker:his
Speaker:book
Speaker:bag
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:opposite
Speaker:bed.
“It’s
organized.”
“Fox,
there are
Speaker:papers
Speaker:on
Speaker:your
Speaker:pillow.”
Shutaro's
ears
Speaker:warmed as
Speaker:he
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:quietly
Speaker:collect
Speaker:them.
“I-… I
was
Speaker:reading,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:continued,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:put
Speaker:his
Speaker:notes
Speaker:and
Speaker:papers
Speaker:into
Speaker:some
Speaker:kind
Speaker:or
Speaker:order.
Ellis’
eyes
Speaker:went
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone
Speaker:in his
Speaker:paw, “What’s
Speaker:that?”
Shutaro
blinked, he’d
Speaker:forgotten
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:been
Speaker:holding
Speaker:it, “Oh?
Speaker:Oh!
Speaker:This?
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:beach.
Speaker:It’s…”
Speaker:he paused,
Speaker:searching
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:word, “Comforting.”
The
rabbit
Speaker:shrugged
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox
Speaker:returned
Speaker:the
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:pebble
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:desk.
Ellis
sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox’s
Speaker:bed,
Speaker:stretching
Speaker:his
Speaker:legs
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:him, “Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:ever
Speaker:sleep?”
“Sometimes,”
he
Speaker:almost
Speaker:muttered.
“This
is
Speaker:nice,
Speaker:though,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:said,
Speaker:finally, “Calm.”
He flopped back on Shutaro’s messy bed
like
Speaker:he
Speaker:owned
Speaker:the
Speaker:place.
“What’s
that
Speaker:smell?”
Fuck.
“Nothing!”
the
Speaker:fox
Speaker:snapped,
Speaker:laughing
Speaker:nervously
Speaker:at
Speaker:some
Speaker:profound
Speaker:joke
Speaker:nobody
Speaker:ever
Speaker:told.
“Oookay,”
Ellis
Speaker:continued,
Speaker:once
Speaker:he had
Speaker:finished
Speaker:making
Speaker:himself
Speaker:at
Speaker:home, “Explain
Speaker:this
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:like
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:five,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:thrusting
Speaker:a
Speaker:wrinkled
Speaker:sheet
Speaker:of
Speaker:paper
Speaker:at
Speaker:him
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:sprawled
Speaker:out
Speaker:arm.
Shutaro
bundled
Speaker:himself
Speaker:in
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:silence
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment.
He’s.
On.
Speaker:My.
Speaker:Bed.
The fox
perched
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed
Speaker:like
Speaker:Grandma
Speaker:Moses.
Speaker:He
Speaker:gently
Speaker:took
Speaker:the
Speaker:paper
Speaker:and
Speaker:carefully
Speaker:smoothed
Speaker:it. It
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:assignment
Speaker:for
Speaker:Professor
Speaker:Whitaker’s
Speaker:English
class:“Write
class:a
class:short
class:analysis
class:of
class:the
class:symbolism
class:of
class:the
class:sea
class:in
class:Walt
class:Whitman’s
class:poetry.”
Shutaro
read
class:it
class:aloud.
Ellis groaned.
“Why are
poets
class:always
class:writing
class:about
class:the
class:ocean?”
Shutaro
blinked, “Isn’t
class:that
class:the
class:point?”
Ellis
rolled
class:over,
class:propping
class:himself
class:up
class:on
class:his
class:elbows, “Funny,”
class:he
class:replied
class:with
class:a
class:slight
class:narrowing
class:of
class:his
class:eyes.
So
close.
“No,
seriously.
class:What
class:is
class:it
class:with
class:poets
class:and
class:water?
class:It’s
class:always
class:the
class:sea
class:or…
class:Something.”
“The
ocean
class:is…
class:Enormous,” the
class:fox
class:said,
class:carefully, ”Full
class:of
class:possibilities,
class:but
class:deep
class:and
class:intimidating.”
Ellis
watched
class:him.
class:Shutaro
class:spoke
class:almost
class:automatically.
“It’s
movement.
class:Breath.
class:Rhythm…
class:Something
class:bigger
class:than
class:a
class:person.”
Ellis
squinted.
“Breath?”
he
class:finally
class:said,
class:with
class:a knowing
class:weight
class:to
class:the
class:word.
“Y-…
Yeah…
class:Something
class:like
class:that…”
class:he
class:trailed
class:off,
class:the
class:familiar
class:heat
class:creeping
class:from
class:his
class:ears
class:to
class:his
class:muzzle.
Ellis
noticed
class:it
class:this
class:time.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re red.”
“I’m
not!”
“You
are.”
The
fox
class:stared
class:intently
class:at
class:the
class:paper.
Quick,
change
class:the
class:subject.
Shutaro
noticed
class:the
class:name
class:scrawled
class:on Ellis’
class:book
class:bag
class:in
class:black
class:permanent
class:marker.
“Carter…
Like,
class:the
class:building?
class:In
class:Ironbridge?”
class:he
class:said,
class:intending the
class:question
class:to
class:be
class:a
class:joke,
class:to
class:lighten
class:the
class:mood.
“Yeah,”
he
class:said
class:lightly, “Family
class:ego
class:project.”
Shutaro blinked.
Ellis
waved
class:it
class:off, “Relax,
class:it’s
class:not
class:like
class:I
class:own
class:the
class:thing.”
Nice
one.
“Grandfather
probably
class:thinks
class:he
class:does,”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:grinned,
class:a
class:little
class:too
class:quickly.
class:The
class:cheekiness
class:wasn’t
class:there
class:anymore.
Shutaro
flailed,
class:internally, “My…
class:D-dad
class:took
class:me
class:to
class:Ironbridge
class:once when I was
class:little.
class:I
class:remember…
class:it…
class:downtown…”
class:he
class:trailed
class:off.
class:The
class:words
class:sounded
class:so
class:feeble.
Ellis
leaned
class:back
class:against
class:the
class:bed
class:again, “My
class:great-grandfather
class:financed
class:half
class:the
class:railroads
class:west
class:of
class:Ironbridge,”
class:he
class:continued
class:casually, “Which
class:means
class:I
class:get
class:to
class:sit
class:behind
class:a
class:desk
class:and
class:pretend
class:like
class:I
class:care
class:about
class:derivatives
class:for
class:the
class:rest
class:of
class:my
class:life.”
He
said
class:it
class:like
class:a
class:joke,
class:but
class:Shutaro
class:registered
class:the
class:bitterness
class:there.
“You
don’t
class:sound
class:excited
class:about
class:that.”
“My
father’s
class:excited
class:enough
class:for the
class:both
class:of
class:us,”
class:Ellis
class:snorted.
It
was
class:Shutaro’s
class:turn
class:to
class:study
class:Ellis
class:now.
class:There
class:was
class:something
class:deep
class:inside
class:him
class:the fox that
class:wanted
class:to…
class:What,
class:exactly?
class:Reach
class:out
class:to
class:and
class:touch.
class:The
class:silence
class:stretched
class:out
class:as
class:Shutaro
class:searched
class:for
class:words,
class:but
class:they
class:never
class:came.
What
if…?
“Breathe,
Fox,” the
class:rabbit
class:said
class:almost
class:absently.
Shutaro’s
ears
class:twitched.
“Sorry.”
He
released.
“Relax,
I’ve
class:still
class:got,
class:what?
class:Three
class:years
class:before
class:I
class:get
class:dragged
class:into
class:the
class:family
class:crypt.”
Another
silence
class:stretched.
“Why
Northlake?”
“Running,”
it
class:was
class:Ellis’ turn
class:to
class:become interested
class:in
class:the
class:ceiling, “And…
class:Because…
class:It’s
class:big.
class:Big
class:enough
class:to
class:hide
class:in
class:plain
class:sight.”
He
glanced
class:at Shutaro.
“Until
now, I
class:suppose,” he finished.
“I-…
I didn’t-…”
“Relax, Fox,”
he
class:smiled,
class:not
class:the
class:bucktoothed
class:grin;
class:softer
class:and
class:more
class:sincere
class:this
class:time, “Just
class:don’t
class:start
class:calling
class:me
class:Mr.
class:Carter.”
-
The
brass
class:lamp
class:on
class:the
class:desk
class:threw a
class:warm
class:pool
class:of
class:light
class:across
class:a
class:floor
class:scattered
class:with
class:books
class:and
class:papers.
Ellis
sat
class:there,
class:among
class:them, with
class:his
class:back
class:against
class:the
class:bed
class:while
class:he
class:flipped
class:through
class:a
class:stack
class:of
class:pages.
As
the
class:semester
class:wore
class:on
class:the
class:study
class:sessions
class:had
class:become
class:longer.
class:More
class:intense.
class:Shutaro
class:had
class:less
class:time
class:to
class:tutor
class:the
class:other
class:students
class:on
class:his
class:floor.
They
noticed.
Shutaro
didn’t.
Finals
were
class:coming
class:up,
class:after
class:all.
class:Crunch
class:time.
“Fox,
you
class:write
class:like
class:a
class:Victorian
class:novelist,”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:said.
Shutaro
looked
class:up
class:from
class:his
class:notebook, “What’s
class:that
class:supposed
class:to
class:mean?”
“It
means,”
class:he
class:said,
class:punctuating
class:the
class:statement
class:by
class:striking
class:through
class:several
class:lines
class:on
class:a
class:page
class:in
class:front
class:of
class:him, “That
class:you
class:write
class:three
class:sentences
class:where
class:one
class:would
class:do.”
“It’s
clarity.”
“It’s
rambling.”
Shutaro
snorted
class:softly.
Ellis
smirked
class:around
class:the
class:wad
class:of
class:chewing
class:gum
class:in
class:his
class:cheek.
class:Every once
class:in a while
class:the
class:scent
class:wafted
class:through
class:the
class:air.
class:Sometimes it
class:lingered
class:even
class:after
class:he
class:had
class:left.
class:It
class:was
class:slowly
class:becoming
class:part
class:of
class:the
class:ambient
class:background
class:hum
class:of
class:his
class:reality,
class:even
class:though
class:he
class:tried
class:to
class:ignore
class:it.
"Okay,”
Ellis
class:said,
class:tapping
class:a
class:book
class:on
class:the
class:floor
class:in
class:front
class:of
class:him, “Explain
class:this
class:again.”
Shutaro
leaned
class:over
class:the
class:book, “It
class:means…”
class:he
class:drew
class:out
class:the
class:last
class:syllable
class:as he
class:read, “Here,
class:look
class:at
class:the
class:tone,”
class:he
class:said
class:underlining
class:a
class:passage
class:of
class:dialogue, “The
class:protagonist
class:speaks
class:with
class:complete
class:confidence
class:about
class:himself,”
class:he
class:circled
class:another
class:passage, “But
class:the
class:narrator’s
class:tone
class:contradicts
class:that.”
Ellis squinted at Shutaro’s markings.
“So… He’s…
Wrong
class:about
class:himself?”
“Yeah.”
Ellis
tilted
class:his
class:head
class:in
class:concertation,
class:reading
class:the
class:passage
class:again.
class:Leaning
class:forward
class:almost without
class:thinking.
class:For
class:a
class:moment
class:their
class:heads
class:were
class:almost
class:touching.
class:The
class:closeness
class:made
class:Shutaro’s
class:ears
class:twitch.
“That’s
another
class:thing
class:you
class:do,”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:noticed,
class:not
class:looking
class:up
class:from
class:the
class:text.
A
somewhat
class:resigned sigh, “What?”
“Your ears twitch when you’re concentrating.”
That’s not
it.
class:He
class:thought.
“They
do
class:not.”
Ellis
looked
class:up, “They
class:do.”
He
lifted
class:a
class:paw
class:to
class:demonstrate,
class:lightly
class:brushing
class:one
class:fingertip
class:near
class:the
class:edge
class:of
class:the fox’s
class:ear.
Shutaro
jerked
class:slightly, “Hey!”
Ellis
laughed.
The
door
class:burst
class:open
class:before
class:Shutaro
class:could
class:respond.
“Yo,
Ellis!”
The
voice
class:stopped.
They
froze.
They
looked
class:up.
They
were
class:both
class:doing
class:it
class:now.
A
tall
class:coyote
class:from
class:the
class:cross-country
class:team
class:stood
class:in
class:the
class:doorway.
class:Shutaro
class:completely
class:blanked
class:on
class:his
class:name.
class:Kyle,
class:something? It
class:took
class:several
class:moments
class:for him
class:to
class:realize
class:exactly
class:what
class:was
class:happening.
Too
much.
It slowly dawned on Shutaro. Sitting close, late
at
class:night. And
class:what
class:the
class:hell
class:was
class:he
class:doing
class:barging
class:in
class:like
class:this?
class:Ellis
class:seemed
class:to
class:know
class:before
class:he
class:did.
Kyle
chuckled, “Well,
class:well,
class:well…”
There
was
class:a
class:note
class:of…
class:Excitement?
class:But
class:not
class:the
class:fun
class:kind.
“Well,
what?”
class:Ellis
class:exhaled,
class:finally.
Shutaro
didn’t.
Kyle
leaned
class:against
class:the
class:door frame,
class:arms
class:crossed,
class:that
class:sing-song
class:I-know-you-have-a-secret
class:look
class:on
class:his
class:face.
“Coach
was
class:lookin’
class:for
class:you
class:earlier,”
class:his
class:eyes
class:flicked
class:between
class:them, “You
class:guys
class:studyin’
class:hard
class:in
class:here?”
Shutaro’s
ears
class:flattened, “Yes.”
“Relax,
fox,
class:I’m
class:just
class:asking,”
class:the coyote
class:smirked.
Ellis
stood, “What
class:do
class:you
class:want?”
“Nothing,” Kyle replied, feigning innocence, “Just came to see if
you
class:were
class:still
class:alive.
class:You
class:disappeared
class:after
class:practice.”
class:He
class:gestured at
class:the
class:papers, “Didn’t
class:realize
class:we
class:were
class:having
class:a
class:private
class:tutoring
class:session.”
“It’s
not
class:private,”
class:Ellis
class:explained,
class:a
class:little
class:too
class:forcefully.
“Door
was
class:closed.”
“I
don’t
class:know
class:if
class:you’ve
class:noticed,”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:replied
class:with
class:rising
class:irritation, “But
class:this
class:place
class:tends
class:to
class:get
class:loud.”
Kyle
glanced at Shutaro, “Well,
class:whatever
class:helps
class:our
class:new
class:rising
class:star
class:pass
class:English.”
The
fox
class:managed a
class:polite
class:but
class:meek
class:smile.
I
do
class:not
class:want
class:to
class:be
class:here.
Kyle
pushed
class:off
class:the
class:door frame, “Don’t
class:stay
class:up
class:late,
class:you
class:two,”
class:he
class:called
class:over
class:his
class:shoulder as
class:he
class:left,
class:his
class:tone
class:playful
class:and
class:biting
class:at
class:the
class:same
class:time.
Shutaro
flinched.
The
door
class:closed.
The
room
class:felt
class:stifling.
Shutaro
looked
class:down
class:at
class:the
class:papers,
class:feeling
class:exposed.
“Sorry
about
class:him.”
“It’s
fine,”
class:Shutaro
class:said quietly.
It’s
not.
“He’s
a
class:dick.”
“It’s
okay,”
class:Shutaro
class:said,
class:trying
class:to
class:smile
class:through
class:the
class:tightness
class:in
class:his
class:stomach.
It’s
not.
The
moment
class:was
class:gone
class:and
class:they
class:returned
class:to
class:the
class:assignment,
class:sitting
class:a
class:little
class:further
class:apart
class:now.
Outside,
in
class:the
class:hallway,
class:someone
class:laughed
class:loudly.
A
few
class:moments
class:later,
class:another
class:voice
class:called, “Hey Ellis,
class:your
class:study
class:date
class:still
class:going?”
It’s
not.
More
laughter.
Shutaro
heard
class:them
class:talking.
class:Not
class:out
class:loud.
class:Inside
class:his
class:head.
class:Not
class:what
class:they
class:did
class:say,
class:but
class:what
class:they
class:could
class:say.
class:What
class:he
class:knew,
class:deep
class:down,
class:they
class:would
class:say.
Ellis
groaned.
Shutaro
focused
class:on
class:the
class:words
class:in
class:front
class:of
class:him,
class:but
class:he
class:didn’t
class:read
class:any
class:of
class:them.
class:He
class:felt
class:hot,
class:but
class:it
class:was
class:a
class:different
class:kind
class:of
class:heat
class:now.
-
Shutaro
needed
class:to
class:get
class:out
class:of
class:there.
class:It
class:was
class:late,
class:it
class:was
class:cold.
class:He
class:didn’t
class:know
class:where
class:he
class:was
class:going,
class:but
class:he
class:needed
class:to…
Breathe.
Center.
Calm.
What
he
class:actually
class:did
class:was
class:walk like a
class:question mark.
class:Shoulders
class:hunched,
class:head
class:down.
The
subtle
class:warmth
class:of
class:September
class:was
class:gone;
class:he
class:was
class:beginning
class:to
class:feel
class:the
class:bite
class:of
class:December.
class:The
class:old
class:dark
class:blue
class:naval
class:officer’s
class:overcoat,
class:a relic
class:from
class:the
class:storage
class:space
class:above
class:the
class:shop
class:back
class:home,
class:made
class:him
class:look
class:like
class:a
class:storm
class:cloud.
class:A
class:storm
class:cloud
class:in
class:a
class:bright
class:blue
class:scarf
class:which, in a
class:calm
class:state
class:of
class:mind,
class:he
class:thought
class:beautifully
class:complemented
class:his
class:eyes
class:and
class:his
class:hair.
“Fox!”
a familiar
class:voice
class:from
class:far-off
class:called.
Not
now.
He
ignored
class:it,
class:continuing
class:to
class:the
class:path
class:that
class:followed
class:the
class:shore
class:of
class:the
class:lake.
The
rabbit
class:caught
class:up
class:to
class:him
class:easily.
Not
now.
He
wore
class:a
class:jacket
class:from a school Shutaro didn’t recognize and a
class:soft
class:light
class:grey
class:Northlake
class:hoodie
class:beneath
class:it.
class:Both
class:looked
class:like
class:the
class:bottom
class:of
class:a
class:laundry
class:pile.
Ellis fell in next
to
class:Shutaro, one’s easy strides echoed
class:the
class:other’s brooding
class:steps.
They
walked
class:in
class:silence
class:for
class:a
class:few
class:more
class:steps
class:before
class:Ellis
class:spoke.
“You
looked
class:like
class:you
class:were
class:going
class:to
class:faint.”
“I
wasn’t,”
class:Shutaro
class:muttered.
Ellis
grinned
class:that
class:grin
class:of
class:his, “Fox,
class:you
class:stopped
class:breathing.”
The fox’s
ear
class:twitched.
class:Annoyance
class:this
class:time.
“We
both
class:did.”
He
stopped
class:for
class:a
class:moment,
class:thinking
class:about
class:heading
class:back
class:to
class:the
class:dorm.
“Walk
with
class:me,”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:said,
class:easily, “If
class:we
class:stay in the dorm
class:people
class:will
class:just
class:talk.”
“You
think
class:they’re
class:NOT
class:going
class:to
class:talk
class:when
class:we
class:come
class:back
class:together?”
You
can’t
class:un-ring
class:this
class:bell.
The
rabbit’s
class:ears
class:drooped
class:slightly, “Let
class:me
class:handle
class:that,”
class:he
class:said,
class:clearly
class:mustering
class:his
class:confidence
class:for
class:the
class:fox’s
class:sake.
class:It
class:warmed
class:Shutaro’s
class:heart
class:a
class:little.
They
continued
class:walking
class:together
class:in
class:silence.
class:The
class:night
class:air
class:was
class:cold
class:and
class:quiet;
class:the
class:campus
class:was
class:mostly
class:empty.
“God,
my
class:legs
class:are
class:shot,”
class:Ellis
class:said,
class:breaking
class:the
class:silence
class:between
class:them.
Shutaro
glanced
class:over, “You
class:ran
class:today?”
“Intervals,”
Ellis
class:said
class:with
class:a
class:grimace, “Coach’s
class:favorite
class:torture.
class:Half mile
class:hard,
class:half mile
class:easy,
class:over
class:and
class:over
class:again.”
Shutaro
nodded
class:quietly.
class:He
class:recognized
class:a
class:few
class:of
class:those
class:words.
class:Others
class:were
class:a
class:mystery.
class:The
class:way
class:he
class:trained
class:reminded
class:the
class:fox
class:of one
class:of
class:those
class:martial
class:arts
class:films
class:they’d
class:show
class:at
class:the
class:theater
class:back
class:home.
"I
swear
class:he
class:enjoys
class:watching
class:people
class:suffer,”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:continued, “The
class:worst
class:part
class:is
class:the
class:breathing.
class:Coach
class:says
class:if
class:I
class:can
class:get
class:it
class:right
class:I
class:can
class:shave 30
class:seconds
class:off my
class:time,”
class:he
class:glanced
class:over
class:at
class:Shutaro
class:expectantly.
“I don’t really know
anything
class:about
class:that,” the
class:fox
class:replied
class:automatically,
class:somewhat
class:glumly.
Ellis
smirked, “Sure.
class:I’ve
class:seen
class:how
class:often
class:you’re
class:at
class:the
class:pool.”
You
saw
class:that?,
class:he
class:thought.
“It’s
not
class:like
class:that,”
class:he
class:said,
class:automatically.
Ellis
kicked
class:a
class:pebble.
“Still,
you
class:must
class:do
class:something
class:different.”
It
was
class:like
class:Shutaro’s
class:mind
class:was
class:in
class:two
class:places
class:at
class:once.
class:His
class:mouth
class:said
class:what he
class:knew,
class:what
class:he’d
class:experienced, but
class:his
class:mind
class:was
class:still
class:back
class:in
class:that
class:dorm
class:room.
He
lifted
class:a
class:paw
class:to
class:his
class:chest, “When
class:people
class:get
class:tired
class:they
class:start
class:breathing
class:up
class:here,”
class:he
class:lowered
class:his
class:paw, “Instead
class:of
class:down
class:here.”
Ellis
watched
class:him,
class:raising
class:an
class:eyebrow.
“It’s
like,”
class:Shutaro
class:said,
class:corralling
class:his
class:full
class:focus
class:to
class:the
class:present
class:so
class:that
class:he
class:could
class:explain
class:better, “They’re
class:pulling
class:on
class:something
class:that
class:doesn’t
class:want
class:to
class:move
class:rather
class:than
class:walking
class:up
class:to
class:it…
class:Or…
class:Asking
class:it
class:to
class:come
class:closer,”
class:he
class:gestured
class:vaguely,
class:the
class:words
class:not
class:coming
class:out right.
“You
talk
class:about
class:it
class:like
class:it’s
class:alive,”
class:Ellis
class:said,
class:paws
class:in
class:pockets,
class:eyes
class:on
class:the
class:sky
class:above
class:them.
Shutaro
blinked, “Isn’t
class:that
class:the
class:point?”
Silence,
while
class:they
class:both
class:considered
class:the
class:point.
“If… If
you
class:force
class:it,
class:it
class:never
class:really
class:fills.
class:You’re
class:just…
class:Moving
class:it
class:around,”
class:he
class:gestured
class:again, a bit
class:more
class:hastily
class:this
class:time, “But
class:if
class:you
class:slow
class:it
class:down…”
class:he
class:trails
class:off.
class:He
class:sounded
class:defeated.
“…it
drops
class:lower?”
class:Ellis
class:finished.
“Yeah,”
he
class:said
class:automatically,
class:with a note of
class:excitement.
class:His
class:mind
class:snapped
class:back
class:to
class:the
class:present.
Ellis
tried again,
class:what Shutaro showed him in
class:the
class:hall,
class:but
class:more
class:pensively
class:this
class:time.
In.
Out.
Shutaro’s
ears
class:warmed
class:slightly, “I-
class:It’s
class:easier
class:in
class:the
class:water,”
class:he
class:added, “If
class:you
class:don’t
class:do
class:it,
class:you
class:sink.”
Ellis
laughed
class:quietly, “Motivation.”
class:He
class:inhaled
class:again,
class:experimentally.
“Coach
tells
class:us
class:to
class:match
class:our
class:stride,”
class:the rabbit
class:exhaled, “Two
class:in,
class:two
class:out.
class:Or
class:three
class:and
class:three.”
Shutaro
nodded.
“But
when
class:you’re
class:in
class:the
class:middle
class:of
class:a
class:race,
class:it’s
class:easier
class:said
class:than
class:done.”
Shutaro
glanced
class:at
class:him, “Too
class:fast,”
class:he
class:observed.
Ellis
looked
class:over, “You
class:sound
class:pretty
class:confident
class:for
class:someone
class:who
class:insists that ‘it’s
class:not
class:like
class:that’,”
class:he
class:said,
class:that
class:familiar
class:teasing
class:note
class:in
class:his
class:voice.
class:Shutaro
class:could
class:hear
class:the
class:quotation
class:marks
class:in
class:the
class:air.
“The
Tao
class:that
class:can
class:be
class:told
class:is
class:not
class:the
class:eternal
class:Tao,”
class:the
class:fox
class:quoted
class:in
class:response.
Ellis
stopped, “Oh
class:you
class:did
class:not
class:just
class:quote
class:eastern
class:philosophy
class:at
class:me.”
Shutaro
shrugged,
class:carrying
class:on, “I
class:don’t
class:know
class:how
class:I
class:know.
class:I
class:just
class:observe what
class:my
class:body
class:does and
class:react.
class:Perhaps
class:that’s
class:the
class:trick.”
“It
really
class:is
class:philosophy,
class:isn’t
class:it?”
“It
is,” the
class:fox
class:replied,
class:quietly, “The
class:air
class:is
class:there.
class:You
class:just
class:have
class:to
class:give
class:yourself
class:time
class:to
class:take
class:it.”
“Fox
wisdom?”
The
fox
class:blushed
class:fully
class:this
class:time.
class:It
class:felt
class:nice
class:against
class:the
class:cool
class:air, “That’s
class:not
class:a
class:real
class:thing,”
class:he
class:said
class:finally.
Ellis
chuckled, “Well,
class:if
class:I
class:shave
class:thirty
class:seconds
class:off
class:my
class:time
class:I’m
class:giving
class:you
class:the
class:credit.”
Shutaro’s
ear
class:twitched.
Please
don’t,
class:he
class:thought.
They
walked
class:on
class:in
class:silence
class:for
class:a
class:few
class:moments
class:longer.
“Well,
you’re
class:not
class:doing
class:it,”
class:Ellis
class:observed.
“What?”
“You’ve
been
class:breathing
class:perfectly
class:this
class:whole
class:time.”
Shutaro
froze.
Ellis
stopped
class:and tilted
class:his
class:head, “You
class:were
class:holding
class:it
class:earlier,”
class:he
class:added.
Shutaro
blinked.
“I
was
class:not.”
Ellis
laughed.
class:The
class:warm one,
class:this
class:time.
“You were.”
Shutaro
let
class:out
class:a
class:small,
class:embarrassed
class:breath.
class:Ellis’s
class:grin
class:widened.
“See?”
Ellis
class:bumped
class:shoulders
class:with
class:him,
class:letting
class:his
class:paw
class:slip
class:from
class:his
class:pocket, “Fox
class:wisdom.”
Their
paws
class:brushed.
class:It was
class:casual,
class:incidental.
class:It
class:was
class:right
class:there.
class:He
class:desperately
class:wanted
class:to
class:take
class:it.
But
he
class:didn’t.
What
if…?
-
The
semester
class:turned,
class:the
class:holiday
class:break
class:came
class:and
class:went.
class:Winter
class:was
class:cold
class:and
class:dark,
class:but
class:soon
class:the
class:year
class:inhaled
class:with
class:the
class:promise
class:of
class:spring.
Shutaro’s
grades
class:were
class:excellent.
Ellis’
less
class:so,
class:but
class:good
class:enough
class:to
class:pass.
That
had
class:earned
class:the
class:fox a
class:reputation
class:with
class:the
class:cross-country
class:team.
class:His
class:writing
class:in
class:class
class:had
class:earned
class:him
class:an
class:offer of a
class:place at
class:the
class:school
class:paper
class:next
class:year,
class:if
class:he
class:wanted
class:it (he still
class:hadn’t
class:decided
class:if
class:journalism
class:was
class:for
class:him).
class:It
class:also
class:earned
class:him
class:a
class:spot
class:in
class:Whitaker’s
class:advanced
class:seminar.
He
still
class:read
class:Ellis’
class:essays and
class:offered
class:advice.
class:They
class:still
class:studied
class:together,
class:even
class:though
class:their
class:academic
class:careers
class:were
class:already
class:taking
class:them in
class:very
class:different
class:directions.
The
late
class:afternoon
class:light
class:stretched
class:long
class:through
class:the
class:tall
class:windows
class:of
class:the
class:seminar
class:room.
class:Shutaro
class:had
class:stayed
class:after
class:to
class:finish
class:copying the
class:last
class:few
class:lines
class:from
class:the
class:board.
class:Papers
class:rustled
class:as
class:Whitaker
class:gathered
class:them
class:up
class:and
class:placed them
class:in
class:his
class:satchel.
Shutaro
was
class:halfway
class:to
class:the
class:door
class:when
class:Whitaker’s
class:voice
class:caught
class:his
class:attention.
“Mr.
Highwind,”
class:he
class:drawled,
class:drawing
class:out
class:the
class:name
class:dramatically.
Shutaro
stopped
class:and
class:turned.
class:Whitaker
class:was
class:leaning
class:back
class:against
class:the
class:edge
class:of
class:the
class:desk,
class:a
class:thoughtful
class:expression
class:on
class:his
class:face
class:as
class:he
class:observed
class:the
class:young
class:fox.
“Question
for you,”
class:he
class:continued.
“Yes,
sir?”
He
tilted
class:his
class:head
class:slightly, “In
class:poetry,”
class:he
class:said
class:slowly, “what
class:happens
class:if
class:the
class:writer
class:holds the
class:line
class:for
class:too
class:long?”
Shutaro
blinked.
class:That
class:was
class:out
class:of
class:left
class:field.
class:He didn’t
class:know
class:how
class:to
class:answer.
class:He
class:searched
class:for the
class:words.
class:Again,
class:thinking
class:a
class:little
class:too
class:long.
Whitaker
gestured
class:lazily, “Y’know. Sentence climbs, tension
class:builds,
class:reader’s waitin’”,
class:he
class:gestured
class:higher, “And
class:then
class:poet
class:just…
class:Keeps
class:holdin’ it?”
Shutaro
considered
class:the
class:question.
“The…
Rhythm
class:breaks,”
class:he
class:answered
class:finally.
“Eeeex-actly.”
Whitaker
studied
class:the
class:fox
class:thoughtfully.
class:Knowingly?
“Every
poem’s
class:gotta
class:point
class:where the line has
class:t’
class:break.”
Shutaro’s
ear
class:twitched.
“Too
early,”
class:he
class:continued, “And
class:the
class:thought
class:falls
class:apart.
class:Too
class:late,”
class:he
class:shrugged, “…and
class:the
class:reader’s
class:already
class:walkin’
class:away.”
The
classroom
class:was
class:silent.
class:Shutaro
class:turned
class:the
class:words
class:over
class:in
class:his
class:head.
class:He
class:looked
class:down
class:at
class:the
class:notebook
class:in
class:his
class:paws,
class:wondering
class:if
class:he
class:should
class:consult
class:his
class:lecture
class:notes.
class:What
class:was
class:he
class:getting
class:at?
Whitaker
pushed
class:off
class:the
class:desk,
class:grabbing
class:his
class:satchel, “Most
class:writers
class:miss
class:the
class:moment,”
class:he
class:said
class:conversationally, “They
class:think
class:they’re
class:buildin’ tension,
class:but
class:really
class:they’re
class:just…”
class:he
class:gestured “…stallin’.”
Shutaro
considered
class:the
class:words.
class:They
class:rang
class:true,
class:but
class:not
class:in
class:the
class:way
class:he
class:expected. They were
class:strangely
class:gentle.
class:More
class:like
class:advice
class:than
class:instruction.
Whitaker
stopped
class:beside
class:him
class:on
class:the
class:way
class:to
class:the
class:door, “Truth
class:is,”
class:he
class:said
class:in
class:that
class:lazy
class:looping
class:way
class:he
class:had, “Best
class:lines
class:happen
class:when
class:th’ writer
class:finally
class:runs
class:outta
class:breath.”
Shutaro glanced up.
Oh God, am I doing it again?
Whitaker’s eyes were
kind, “You
class:seem
class:like
class:a
class:thoughtful
class:young
class:man,
class:Mr.
class:Highwind.
class:Thoughtful
class:people
class:have
class:a…
class:Bad
class:habit
class:a’
class:waitin’
class:for
class:perfect
class:timin’.”
He
opened
class:the
class:door.
“Perfect
timin’
class:rarely
class:shows
class:up,”
class:he
class:stepped
class:out
class:into
class:the
class:hallway, “When
class:the
class:moment
class:comes,
class:don’t
class:think
class:too
class:hard
class:about
class:it.”
With
that
class:the
class:coyote
class:rambled
class:on
class:down
class:the
class:hall
class:and
class:out
class:of
class:sight.
-
The
lamp
class:on
class:the
class:desk
class:threw
class:a
class:warm
class:pool
class:of
class:light
class:across
class:a
class:floor
class:scattered
class:with
class:books
class:and
class:papers.
class:It
class:was
class:late
class:and
class:the hall
class:was
class:quiet.
Ellis
sat
class:on
class:the
class:floor,
class:with
class:his
class:back
class:against
class:the
class:bed.
class:The
class:minty
class:smell
class:which
class:had
class:become
class:so
class:familiar
class:to
class:the
class:fox
class:lingered
class:in
class:the
class:air.
class:He
class:chewed
class:softly
class:as
class:he
class:read.
Shutaro
sat
class:next to
class:him.
class:He
class:was
class:reading,
class:pencil
class:in
class:hand,
class:but
class:he
class:couldn’t
class:focus.
class:He
class:could
class:feel
class:the
class:rabbit’s
class:warmth
class:next to
class:him.
class:These
class:incidental
class:moments
class:of
class:casual
class:closeness
class:had
class:become
class:more
class:common,
class:but
class:they
class:were
class:much
class:more
class:careful
class:about
class:them
class:now.
class:The
class:rumors
class:had
class:died
class:down,
class:but
class:it
class:wouldn’t
class:take
class:much…
I
mean,
class:it’s
class:not
class:like
class:we’re…
class:You
class:know,
class:the
class:fox
class:thought.
“So,
what’s
class:the
class:author
class:saying
class:here?”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:said,
class:tapping
class:the
class:page
class:in front
class:of
class:him, “Because
class:right
class:now
class:he
class:sounds
class:like
class:he’s
class:complaining
class:about
class:the
class:weather.”
Shutaro
glanced
class:up
class:from
class:his
class:reading, “It’s
class:not
class:about
class:weather.
class:It’s…
class:about…”
class:he
class:thought
class:for
class:a
class:moment, “…change.”
“I
don’t…”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:said
class:thoughtfully, “I’m
class:not
class:sure
class:that’s
class:right.”
“Here,
let
class:me
class:see,”
class:he
class:leaned
class:over
class:Ellis’s
class:book
class:to
class:get
class:a
class:better
class:look
class:at
class:the
class:passage.
class:It
class:was
class:a
class:casual
class:gesture
class:brought
class:on
class:by
class:the
class:intensity
class:of
class:the
class:work.
class:He
class:hadn’t
class:even
class:thought
class:about
class:it
class:until
class:he
class:heard
class:the
class:rabbit’s
class:voice
class:in
class:his
class:ear.
He
felt
class:his
class:breath
class:there.
“You’re
doing
class:it
class:again,”
class:he
class:said
class:softly.
“What?”
“Your
breathing.”
“I’m
thinking.”
“Relax,”
Ellis
class:said.
“I
am-…,”
class:he
class:turned
class:his
class:head.
Ellis
kissed
class:him.
…
Oh
no.
class:Oh
class:no.
class:Oh…
class:Yes.
It
only
class:lasted
class:a
class:moment.
God,
I
class:wish
class:it
class:lasted
class:longer.
It
was
class:mint
class:and
class:warmth
class:and
class:the
class:sound
class:of
class:Ellis’
class:breathing.
class:The
class:tickle
class:of
class:his
class:breath
class:against
class:the fox’s
class:whiskers.
Shutaro’s
ear
class:twitched.
Then
it
class:was
class:over.
class:They
class:pulled
class:apart.
Ellis
blinked.
Shutaro
stared
class:at
class:him,
class:stunned.
Ellis
looked
class:equally
class:stunned.
The fox
tried
class:to
class:come
class:up
class:with
class:something
class:to
class:say
class:in
class:the
class:moment,
class:but
class:it
class:was
class:like
class:his
class:brain
class:had
class:quietly
class:shut
class:down.
“Huh,”
was
class:all
class:he
class:could
class:manage.
“Yeah,”
Ellis
class:replied.
They
both
class:returned
class:to
class:their
class:books.
Neither
one
class:of
class:them
class:could
class:find
class:the
class:words.
What
if…?
-
They
never
class:really
class:spoke
class:about
class:it.
class:But
class:there
class:was
class:a
class:quiet
class:understanding
class:between
class:them.
class:They
class:still
class:studied
class:together,
class:finishing
class:out
class:the
class:term.
class:But
class:there
class:was
class:always
class:something
class:heavy
class:there,
class:watching
class:over
class:their
class:shoulder.
class:The
class:moments
class:of
class:casual
class:contact
class:were
class:still
class:there,
class:but
class:they
class:were
class:fewer
class:and
class:further
class:between.
class:When
class:they
class:did
class:happen
class:they
class:were
class:moments that
class:left
class:both of
class:them
class:lost
class:for
class:words.
Stunned.
But
Ellis
class:never
class:treated
class:it
class:like
class:a
class:mistake.
class:Even
class:decades
class:later
class:Shutaro
class:would
class:wonder
class:if
class:there
class:hadn’t
class:been
class:something
class:more
class:there.
Was
there…?
What
if…?
“So,”
Ellis
class:asked,
class:one
class:afternoon
class:during
class:finals
class:week, “What
class:are
class:your
class:plans
class:for
class:the
class:summer?”
“Back
to
class:the
class:coast,”
class:Shutaro
class:said
class:quietly, “To
class:work
class:in
class:the
class:shop,
class:probably.
class:Summer’s
class:always
class:busy,
class:with
class:all
class:the
class:tourists
class:and
class:the
class:festival.
class:They
class:need
class:the
class:extra
class:hands.”
“Hm,”
Ellis
class:grunted
class:quietly.
“You?”
Shutaro
class:asked.
“Dunno,” he
said,
class:reclining in
class:his
class:chair, “Probably
class:head
class:south.
class:Spend
class:time
class:on
class:the
class:beach,”
class:he
class:said,
class:chewing
class:on
class:the
class:end
class:of
class:his
class:pencil
class:absently, “There’s
class:really
class:nowhere
class:I
class:need
class:to
class:be…
class:And…
class:I…
class:Need
class:to
class:think.
class:I
class:need
class:some…”
“Room
to
class:breathe?”
“Yeah.”
A
long
class:pause.
“I’m
moving
class:off
class:campus
class:next
class:year.
class:Family
class:found
class:me
class:a
class:place
class:without
class:even
class:asking,”
class:he
class:chuckled
class:to
class:himself, “Guess
class:they’d
class:figured
class:I’ve been
class:slumming
class:it
class:up
class:for
class:long
class:enough.”
“Had…
Had
class:to
class:happen
class:eventually…
class:I
class:guess,”
class:Shutaro
class:said,
class:something
class:heavy
class:in
class:his
class:voice.
Ellis
smiled
class:that
class:warm
class:smile, “I’ll
class:still
class:be
class:around,
class:Fox,”
class:he
class:said,
class:trying
class:to
class:play
class:it
class:off
class:as
class:it
class:was
class:no
class:big
class:deal, “There
class:are
class:a
class:few
class:more
class:writing
class:classes
class:I’ll
class:need
class:to
class:take,
class:and…”
class:but
class:he
class:trailed
class:off
class:before he
class:finished the
class:thought.
“What
about
class:you?”
class:the
class:rabbit
class:said,
class:trying
class:to
class:change
class:the
class:subject.
Shutaro
shrugged, “S-…
class:Still
class:in
class:the
class:dorms…
class:They
class:need
class:advisors.
class:Working
class:at
class:the
class:paper
class:and
class:tutoring
class:can
class:only
class:go
class:so
class:far
class:when
class:it
class:comes
class:to,
class:you
class:know…”
He
left
class:it
class:hanging,
class:not
class:wanting
class:to
class:mention
class:money.
Ellis
stretched
class:and
class:gathered
class:his
class:things, “Well,
class:I
class:have
class:Wilson’s
class:econ
class:final
class:in
class:thirty…”
class:he
class:stood
class:to
class:go.
They
both
class:felt
class:the
class:moment
class:between
class:them.
Neither
one
class:of
class:them
class:wanted
class:to
class:drag
class:it
class:out.
Shutaro
waved,
class:a
class:gesture
class:of
class:parting.
“Well,”
Ellis
class:sighed,
class:finally, “It
class:was
class:fun.”
Shutaro
nodded.
“Yeah.”
“See
you
class:around,
class:fox.”
-
The
warm
class:summer
class:sunlight
class:streamed through
class:the
class:big
class:front
class:window
class:of “Highwind
class:Rare
class:Books”.
The
bell
class:over
class:the
class:door
class:chimed.
Shutaro
finished
class:the
class:line he
class:was
class:writing in
class:his
class:notebook
class:before
class:he
class:looked
class:up.
Finish
the
class:thought.
At
first
class:he
class:could
class:barely
class:make
class:out
class:the
class:shapes
class:in
class:the
class:door
class:against
class:the
class:golden
class:light.
class:He
class:had to
class:squint
class:a
class:bit.
Two
small
class:rabbits
class:burst in
class:first.
“Woah,
look
class:at
class:this
class:place!”
“Dad,
maps!”
They
rushed
class:to
class:the
class:big
class:table
class:near
class:the
class:front
class:of
class:the
class:shop,
class:where
class:several
class:antique
class:charts
class:were
class:displayed
class:beneath
class:glass.
Their
mother,
class:he
class:assumed,
class:followed
class:them in.
class:She
class:wore
class:a
class:light
class:summer
class:dress
class:and
class:a
class:patient
class:smile
class:that
class:could
class:only
class:come
class:from
class:a parent
class:observing
class:their
class:children
class:forget
class:themselves
class:in
class:a
class:moment
class:of
class:excitement.
Then
their
class:father.
class:Athletic,
class:easy
class:posture.
class:Thicker
class:than
class:Shutaro
class:remembered.
class:The
class:decade
class:had
class:hardened
class:him
class:in
class:a
class:way
class:that the
class:fox
class:hadn’t
class:expected,
class:but
class:not
class:a
class:bad
class:way.
class:The
class:boyish
class:heartthrob
class:good
class:looks
class:had
class:settled
class:into
class:something
class:more
class:adult.
class:Fatherly.
class:He
class:wore
class:it
class:well.
class:The
class:restless
class:energy had
class:resolved
class:into
class:something
class:quieter.
But
it
class:was
class:unmistakably
class:him.
Ellis.
He
hadn’t
class:noticed
class:Shutaro
class:yet.
class:He
class:was
class:looking
class:up
class:at
class:the
class:shelves,
class:impressed.
“See
anything
class:that
class:interests
class:you?”
class:the
class:fox
class:put
class:on
class:his
class:best
class:professional
class:smile,
class:hands
class:clasped
class:in
class:front
class:of
class:him. The
class:rabbit’s
class:ears
class:twitched
class:slightly,
class:as
class:he
class:turned. The
class:fox
class:could
class:almost
class:see
class:the
class:wheels
class:turning.
“…S-Shutaro?”
the
class:rabbit
class:said, looking
class:for a moment
class:like
class:he
class:did
class:on
class:that
class:night
class:a
class:decade
class:ago.
class:Stunned.
“Hello,
Ellis,”
class:the
class:fox
class:smiled.
The
rabbit
class:laughed
class:out
class:loud, “No
class:way!
class:This
class:is
class:your
class:family’s
class:place?”
“My
place,
class:now,”
class:he
class:said,
class:a
class:note
class:of
class:professional
class:pride
class:in
class:his
class:voice, “I
class:took
class:it
class:over
class:a
class:year
class:ago.
class:Dad
class:retired.”
Ellis
shook
class:his
class:head
class:in
class:disbelief, “I
class:didn’t
class:even
class:realize
class:we
class:were-…
class:We
class:just
class:pulled
class:off
class:the
class:highway
class:because
class:the
class:boys
class:saw ice cream. We’re on our way from Hartmere up to our estate in Greenridge.”
“That’s
some
class:beautiful
class:country
class:up
class:there.
class:I’m
class:so
class:happy
class:you
class:found
class:the
class:time
class:to
class:stop
class:in.”
Ellis’
wife
class:approached, “Oh!
class:Sorry,
class:this
class:is
class:my
class:wife,
class:Claire.”
She offered a
polite
class:smile.
“Charmed,” Shutaro
said
class:with
class:a
class:warm
class:smile.
“We
were
class:at
class:Northlake
class:together,”
class:Ellis
class:explained
class:to
class:her.
Behind
them
class:the
class:boys
class:had
class:already
class:started
class:to
class:get
class:rowdy.
“Mom,
look!”
“Is
that
class:a
class:treasure
class:map?!?”
She
drifted
class:back
class:to
class:corral
class:them.
class:Shutaro caught her eye and subtly
class:directed
class:her to
class:a
class:section of the
class:shop
class:where
class:he
class:knew
class:there
class:were
class:some
class:old
class:comic
class:books
class:and
class:books
class:about
class:dinosaurs.
“Be
gentle
class:with
class:the
class:glass,”
class:she
class:chided
class:them.
Ellis
watched
class:them
class:for
class:a
class:moment
class:before
class:turning
class:back
class:to
class:Shutaro.
The
rabbit
class:studied
class:him
class:openly
class:now.
“You
look
class:different.”
“Ten
years
class:will
class:do
class:that.”
The
fox
class:that stood
class:before
class:him was
class:composed;
class:practiced,
class:poised,
class:and
class:professional.
class:Curated.
class:His
class:blue-green
class:hair
class:was
class:neatly
class:trimmed,
class:except
class:for
class:his
class:bangs,
class:which he
class:left
class:a
class:little
class:long. His
class:clothes
class:were
class:simple
class:and
class:well-fitted
class:and,
class:while
class:still
class:tall
class:and
class:thin,
class:his
class:posture
class:carried
class:an
class:air
class:of
class:quiet
class:confidence.
“No,
I
class:mean,”
class:he
class:gestured
class:vaguely, “You- You
class:always
class:looked
class:like
class:you
class:hadn’t
class:slept
class:in
class:a
class:week.”
“I
probably
class:hadn’t,”
class:he
class:said
class:ruefully.
“You
cleaned
class:up
class:nice,”
class:Ellis
class:chuckled, “Is
class:there…?”
class:he
class:left
class:the
class:question
class:hanging.
Shutaro
shook
class:his
class:head, “No…
class:No,
class:not
class:yet.”
Ellis
leaned
class:casually
class:against
class:the
class:counter, “So…
class:What
class:did
class:you
class:do
class:after
class:school?”
Shutaro
leaned
class:forward
class:a
class:bit,
class:relaxing
class:into a
class:more
class:conversational
class:posture, “Ironbridge.
class:Spent
class:a
class:few
class:years
class:living
class:in
class:the
class:Foundry.”
“The
uh,”
class:a
class:throat
class:clear of
class:recognition, “Arts
class:neighborhood?”
“That
and
class:several
class:bars
class:that
class:probably
class:shouldn’t have
class:passed
class:inspection.”
Ellis
grinned.
“I,
uh,
class:went
class:down
class:there
class:once.
class:My…,”
class:another
class:throat
class:clear, ”Roommate
class:dragged
class:me.”
A
knowing
class:nod, “Then
class:you
class:probably
class:saw
class:the
class:quieter version.”
“I
don’t
class:know
class:if
class:I’d
class:call
class:it
class:that,”
class:Ellis
class:said
class:with
class:a
class:cryptic
class:smile.
There
was
class:an
class:understanding
class:there,
class:though
class:neither
class:of
class:them
class:spoke
class:it, “I
class:wrote
class:for
class:an
class:underground
class:paper,”
class:Shutaro
class:continued, ”and
class:did
class:some
class:freelance
class:work.
class:Traveled
class:a
class:bit. But
class:sooner
class:or
class:later
class:I
class:had
class:to
class:come
class:back
class:here.
class:Obligations,
class:you
class:know.”
Ellis knew.
“Dad,
Dinosaurs!”
“Inside
voices,”
class:Ellis
class:called
class:back,
class:automatically.
He
looked
class:back
class:at
class:Shutaro, “You
class:seem
class:good.”
“I
am.”
There
was
class:a
class:quiet
class:pause.
“You
still
class:swim?”
A
tingle
class:of
class:something
class:familiar.
“When
I
class:can.”
“You
used
class:to
class:go
class:every
class:evening.”
“Only
you
class:seemed
class:to
class:notice.”
“Yeah,”
Ellis
class:nodded,
class:thoughtfully.
“Dad!
Come
class:see
class:this!”
Ellis
pushed
class:off
class:the
class:counter, “Well,
class:duty
class:calls.”
“Oh,
before
class:you
class:go,”
class:Shutaro
class:caught
class:him,
class:professionally,
class:and
class:slipped
class:him
class:his
class:business
class:card, “My
class:card,
class:just
class:in
class:case
class:you
class:see
class:something
class:you
class:like…
class:Or
class:if
class:you
class:need
class:something
class:for
class:that
class:desk
class:of
class:yours,”
class:Shutaro
class:winked.
“Thanks,”
he
class:said,
class:slipping
class:the
class:card
class:into
class:his
class:shirt
class:pocket, “I’ll
class:keep
class:that
class:in
class:mind…
class:And…
class:It
class:was
class:good
class:seeing
class:you.”
“You
too.”
Shutaro
watched
class:them.
class:He
class:still
class:felt
class:something
class:in
class:his
class:chest,
class:but
class:he
class:couldn’t
class:quite
class:put
class:a
class:name
class:to
class:it.
class:It
class:wasn’t
class:the
class:sharp
class:feeling
class:he
class:would
class:have
class:felt
class:as
class:a
class:younger
class:fox.
class:It
class:was
class:more
class:a
class:pensive
class:dull
class:ache,
class:perhaps
class:the
class:burn
class:of
class:nostalgia.
class:Always the
class:lingering
class:question.
What
if…?
Shutaro
scribbled
class:a
class:few
class:more
class:lines
class:in
class:his
class:notebook
class:while
class:the
class:Carter
class:family
class:shopped.
This
was
class:the
class:second
class:and
class:final
class:part
class:of “Echo”
class:by
class:Shutaro
class:Highwind,
class:read for you by READER, with CALLSIGN.
As always, you can
find
class:more
class:stories
class:on
class:the
class:web
class:at
class:thevoice.dog,
class:or
class:find
class:the
class:show
class:wherever
class:you
class:get
class:your
class:podcasts.
class:Happy
class:Pride,
class:and
class:Thank
class:you
class:for
class:listening
class:to
class:The
class:Voice
class:of
class:Dog.