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“Nil Inultum Remanebit” by Rob MacWolf
27th June 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:32:12

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A lost soul, a soul in paradise, and the god who finds he must settle some serious disagreements about which is which.

You’re listening to Pride Month on The Voice of Dog. Today’s story is “Nil Inultum Remanebit” by Rob MacWolf, who if nothing else is theologically consistent. You can get his books from Bewere Books, and you can find more of his stories right here on the Voice of Dog.

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https://thevoice.dog/episode/nil-inultum-remanebit-by-rob-macwolf

Transcripts

Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Pride

Speaker:

Month

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

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Dog.

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story is “Nil Inultum Remanebit” by Rob MacWolf, who if nothing

Speaker:

else

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

theologically

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consistent.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

books

Speaker:

from Bewere

Speaker:

Books, and

Speaker:

you can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Voice

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of

Speaker:

Dog.

Redemption

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means

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different

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things

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to

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different

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people.

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As

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does

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the

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wrath

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of

Speaker:

god.

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Some

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would

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expect

Speaker:

fire

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and

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brimstone,

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despair

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and

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damnation…

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but

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for

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some

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there

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is

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no

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more

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complete

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punishment,

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no

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vengeance

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more

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complete,

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than

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being

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proved

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wrong.

Read

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by

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the

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Author.

Please

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enjoy


“Nil Inultum Remanebit” by Rob MacWolf

“Your

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vicious

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things

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shall

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melt

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in

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air…
…But

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for

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the

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virtuous

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things

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you

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do,
The

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Righteous

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Work,

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the

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Public

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Care,
It

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shall

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not

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be

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forgiven

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you.”
- “Ballade

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D’Une

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Grande Dame,”

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G.K.

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Chesterton

In

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this

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place

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it

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was

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sunset.
Within

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a

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forest

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of

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cathedral-scale

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trees

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which for

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all

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anyone

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had

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discovered

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had

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no

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end

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was a

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comfortable,

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rambling

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cabin.

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On

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the

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porch,

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in

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a

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hammock

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hung

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between

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outer

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wall

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and

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railing

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corner

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post,

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sat

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a

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god.

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It

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wasn’t

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a

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grand

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palace,

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wasn’t

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a

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celestial

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mansion,

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it

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wasn’t

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a

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vista

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of

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unthinkable

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majesty,

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but

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then

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he

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didn’t

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have

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much

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interest

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in

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being

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a

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grand

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or

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unthinkable

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sorta

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god,

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thank

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you

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all

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the

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same.

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This

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place

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suited

him:

him:

square

him:

cut

him:

logs,

him:

mossy

him:

bricks,

him:

high

him:

windows

him:

in

him:

the

him:

peaks

him:

of

him:

the

him:

roof,

him:

to

him:

let

him:

in

him:

the

him:

everlasting

him:

sunset

him:

that

him:

poured

him:

through

him:

the

him:

collonade

him:

of

him:

trees.

him:

Boots

him:

stacked

him:

beside

him:

the

door:

door:

a

door:

pair,

door:

at

door:

least,

door:

for

door:

each

door:

of

door:

his

door:

sons.

door:

Woodsmoke

door:

drifting

door:

from

door:

the

door:

chimney,

door:

blending

door:

smoothly

door:

into

door:

all

door:

the

door:

other

smells:

smells:

rain,

smells:

trees,

smells:

moss,

smells:

and

smells:

of

smells:

course

smells:

wolf.
Speaking

smells:

of

smells:

wolf. “Dad,

smells:

something’s

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coming

smells:

down

smells:

the

smells:

highway!”

smells:

one

smells:

of

smells:

his

smells:

sons

smells:

trotted

smells:

up

smells:

the

smells:

porch

smells:

steps.
The,

smells:

well… “youngest”

smells:

wasn’t

smells:

the

smells:

right

smells:

word

smells:

in

smells:

a

smells:

place

smells:

where

smells:

nobody

smells:

aged

smells:

and

smells:

the

smells:

only

smells:

two

smells:

times

smells:

that

smells:

existed

smells:

were “sunset”

smells:

and “night,” “most

smells:

recent”

smells:

might

smells:

technically

smells:

be

smells:

more

smells:

accurate.

smells:

But

smells:

he

smells:

couldn’t

smells:

look

smells:

at

smells:

the

smells:

pup

smells:

beside

smells:

any

smells:

of

smells:

his

smells:

brothers—trekking

smells:

out

smells:

into

smells:

the

smells:

woods,

smells:

swimming

smells:

down

smells:

at

smells:

the

smells:

lake,

smells:

playing

smells:

fetch

smells:

in

smells:

the

smells:

snow

smells:

or

smells:

tug

smells:

of

smells:

war

smells:

with

smells:

a

smells:

rope

smells:

taut

smells:

in

smells:

their

smells:

grins,

smells:

or

smells:

just

smells:

curled

smells:

up

smells:

together

smells:

half-asleep

smells:

by

smells:

the

smells:

fire—without

smells:

thinking

smells:

of

smells:

him

smells:

as

smells:

the

smells:

younger

smells:

brother.
“Is

smells:

that

smells:

so?”

smells:

He

smells:

raised a

smells:

hand,

smells:

and his son

smells:

knelt,

smells:

tail

smells:

wagging,

smells:

to

smells:

rest

smells:

his

smells:

head

smells:

on

smells:

his

smells:

father’s

smells:

knee.

smells:

It

smells:

was

smells:

the

smells:

kind

smells:

of

smells:

image,

smells:

maybe,

smells:

that

smells:

some

smells:

archeologist

smells:

might

smells:

call “wolf-figure

smells:

enthroned

smells:

with

smells:

wolf-headed

smells:

petitioner,

smells:

possibly

smells:

household

smells:

or

smells:

fertility

smells:

deity,

smells:

associated

smells:

with

smells:

wolf

smells:

symbolism

smells:

or

smells:

wolf-cult”

smells:

but

smells:

who

smells:

cared

smells:

what

smells:

archeologists

smells:

thought?

smells:

He

smells:

stroked his son’s

smells:

fur,

smells:

behind

smells:

his

smells:

ears,

smells:

and

smells:

the

smells:

youngest’s

smells:

tail

smells:

wagged

smells:

faster. “Any

smells:

idea

smells:

what?”
“I dunno,

smells:

Dad, I

smells:

didn’t

smells:

see

smells:

it,”

smells:

the

smells:

pup

smells:

tilted

smells:

his

smells:

head,

smells:

to

smells:

press

smells:

his

smells:

cheek

smells:

into

smells:

his

smells:

father’s

smells:

dark-furred

smells:

paw, “just

smells:

smelled

smells:

it

smells:

a long

smells:

way

smells:

off.

smells:

The

smells:

rest

smells:

of

smells:

the

smells:

pack

smells:

went

smells:

on.”
The

smells:

god

smells:

lifted

smells:

his

smells:

nose

smells:

to the

smells:

cool

smells:

evening

smells:

breeze,

smells:

sniffed

smells:

experimentally.

smells:

Definitely

smells:

something,

smells:

wait

smells:

no,

smells:

someone,

smells:

coming

smells:

down

smells:

the

smells:

road. “Huh,

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sure

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enough.”

smells:

Alone.

smells:

Maybe

smells:

a

smells:

guest?

smells:

Been

smells:

a

smells:

while

smells:

since

smells:

they’d

smells:

played

smells:

host to

smells:

another

smells:

god,

smells:

or

smells:

to

smells:

any

smells:

wayfaring

smells:

psychopomp.

smells:

Or

smells:

maybe

smells:

his

smells:

family

smells:

was

smells:

about

smells:

to

smells:

grow

smells:

again.
There

smells:

was

smells:

something

smells:

familiar,

smells:

but

smells:

subtly

smells:

not

smells:

quite

smells:

familiar,

smells:

about

smells:

the

smells:

scent

smells:

though…
Oh.

smells:

Oh

smells:

hell.
“I

smells:

better

smells:

go

smells:

see who

smells:

it

smells:

is, I spose,”

smells:

the god rose from

smells:

the

smells:

hammock,

smells:

and

smells:

the

smells:

angle

smells:

of

smells:

the

smells:

sunset

smells:

through

smells:

the

smells:

trees

smells:

shifted,

smells:

just a

smells:

little,

smells:

as

smells:

he

smells:

moved.
“Want

smells:

me

smells:

to

smells:

come

smells:

with?”

smells:

His

smells:

beloved

smells:

son,

smells:

in

smells:

whom

smells:

he

smells:

was

smells:

well

smells:

pleased,

smells:

remained

smells:

on

smells:

his

smells:

knees,

smells:

like

smells:

dog

smells:

and

smells:

worshipper

smells:

both.
“Best

smells:

not,

smells:

I

smells:

guess,”

smells:

said

smells:

the

smells:

god. “You

smells:

head inside.

smells:

When

smells:

your

smells:

brothers

smells:

get

smells:

back,

smells:

tell them

smells:

I

smells:

said

smells:

you

smells:

get

smells:

to

smells:

pick

smells:

what’s

smells:

for

smells:

supper

smells:

tonight.”
“Really?” the

smells:

pup

smells:

wagged,

smells:

but

smells:

his

smells:

head

smells:

tilted, “Okay,

smells:

but

smells:

why?”
The

smells:

god

smells:

shrugged. “Why

smells:

not?”
The

smells:

pup

smells:

got

smells:

to

smells:

his

smells:

feet,

smells:

kissed

smells:

his

smells:

father

smells:

under

smells:

the

smells:

chin

smells:

as

smells:

wolves

smells:

do,

smells:

and

smells:

disappeared

smells:

through

smells:

the

smells:

cabin

smells:

door.
The

smells:

god sighed

smells:

and

smells:

set

smells:

off

smells:

through

smells:

the

smells:

woods.

smells:

Where

smells:

he

smells:

went,

smells:

it

smells:

was

smells:

sunset.
•
At

smells:

the

smells:

crossroads

smells:

it

smells:

wasn’t

smells:

sunset.

smells:

It

smells:

wasn’t

smells:

any

smells:

time

smells:

at

smells:

all.
The

smells:

roadway

smells:

was

smells:

dirt,

smells:

dusty,

smells:

level,

smells:

and

smells:

laser-pointer

smells:

straight

smells:

to

smells:

all

smells:

four

smells:

horizons. The

smells:

land

smells:

was

smells:

shades

smells:

of

smells:

brown

smells:

and

smells:

grey,

smells:

a

smells:

few

smells:

patches

smells:

of

smells:

scrub

smells:

plants,

smells:

mostly

smells:

brambles,

smells:

sprawled

smells:

wearily.

smells:

What

smells:

few

smells:

structures

smells:

were

smells:

visible,

smells:

a

smells:

long

smells:

way

smells:

off,

smells:

were

smells:

mere

smells:

ruins

smells:

of

ruins:

ruins:

crumbling

ruins:

pillars,

ruins:

arches

ruins:

standing

ruins:

in

ruins:

the

ruins:

open,

ruins:

bare

ruins:

cement

ruins:

rectangles

ruins:

of

ruins:

foundations.

ruins:

The

ruins:

sky

ruins:

was

ruins:

the

ruins:

color

ruins:

of

ruins:

cough

ruins:

syrup,

ruins:

though

ruins:

no

ruins:

sun

ruins:

was

ruins:

visible,

ruins:

with

ruins:

clouds

ruins:

black

ruins:

and

ruins:

boiling

ruins:

and

ruins:

blowing

ruins:

faster

ruins:

than

ruins:

clouds

should:

should:

they

should:

appeared,

should:

swelled,

should:

melted,

should:

and

should:

vanished within

should:

seconds

should:

and

should:

by

should:

the

should:

time

should:

they’d

should:

done

should:

it

should:

they’d

should:

crossed

should:

the entire

should:

sky.

should:

It

should:

looked

should:

like

should:

it

should:

should

should:

have

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made

should:

a

should:

sound,

should:

and

should:

not

should:

one

should:

that

should:

would

should:

have

should:

been

should:

pleasant

should:

to

should:

hear.
Only

should:

a

should:

single

should:

figure

should:

was

should:

present,

should:

trudging

should:

down

should:

toward

should:

the

should:

crossroad.
But

should:

when

should:

the

should:

god

should:

arrived

should:

it

should:

was

should:

sunset. “Looking

should:

for

should:

something,

should:

ma’am?”
The

should:

woman

should:

on

should:

the

should:

road

should:

was

should:

ageless,

should:

how

should:

could

should:

she

should:

be

should:

otherwise

should:

in

should:

this

should:

place

should:

where

should:

it

should:

was

should:

no

should:

time

should:

at

should:

all? “I

should:

am

should:

here

should:

for

should:

my

should:

son.”

should:

But

should:

there

should:

was,

should:

in

should:

the

should:

quality

should:

of

should:

her

should:

voice,

should:

her

should:

cadence,

should:

in

should:

the

should:

pace

should:

of

should:

the

should:

words,

should:

age,

should:

and

should:

the

should:

experience

should:

of

should:

wielding

should:

the

should:

authority

should:

that

should:

comes

should:

with

should:

it.

should:

She

should:

stared

should:

up

should:

at

should:

the

should:

god,

should:

at

should:

black

should:

fur,

should:

pointed

should:

ears

should:

and

should:

teeth,

should:

and

should:

blazing

should:

eyes,

should:

towering

should:

above

should:

her,

should:

and

should:

she

should:

was

should:

not

should:

afraid. “Are

should:

you…

should:

Anubis?”
“Afraid

should:

not, ma’am,

should:

just

should:

myself.

should:

And

should:

I’m

should:

afraid

should:

your

should:

son

should:

ain't

should:

here.”
“I’ve

should:

braved

should:

the

should:

moor

should:

of

should:

thorns,

should:

I’ve

should:

braved

should:

the

should:

bridge

should:

of

should:

dread,

should:

I

should:

pushed

should:

through

should:

the

should:

wall

should:

of

should:

fire.

should:

I was

should:

stalked

should:

by

should:

cynocephalic

should:

monsters,”

should:

she

should:

recited,

should:

like

should:

the

should:

heroine

should:

of

should:

a

should:

fantasy

should:

doorstopper, “I

should:

won’t

should:

be

should:

put

should:

off

should:

by

should:

you.”
“Well,

should:

first,”

should:

the

should:

god

should:

sighed, “those

should:

weren’t

should:

monsters.

should:

Those’re my boys,

should:

and

should:

they

should:

weren’t

should:

stalking

should:

you,

should:

cause

should:

if

should:

they

should:

had

should:

been

should:

you

should:

wouldn’t’ve

should:

seen

should:

them.

should:

Second,

should:

I’m

should:

sorry

should:

if

should:

you

should:

had

should:

a

should:

hard

should:

trip

should:

but

should:

that

should:

won’t

should:

change

should:

the

should:

fact

should:

your

should:

son

should:

ain't

should:

here.”
She

should:

stood

should:

her

should:

ground, “You’ll

should:

never

should:

make

should:

me

should:

believe

should:

that.”
“Ma’am,”

should:

the

should:

god

should:

said, “what

should:

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believe

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mine.”
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•
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night.
•
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like.”

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striking:

had

striking:

been

striking:

taller

striking:

than his sons the way

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striking:

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striking:

man

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striking:

than

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men,

striking:

now

striking:

he

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was

striking:

taller

striking:

than

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striking:

sons

striking:

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way

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striking:

moose,

striking:

or

striking:

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cave

striking:

bear,

striking:

or

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some

striking:

primeval

striking:

predator

striking:

too

striking:

antediluvian

striking:

to

striking:

have

striking:

ever

striking:

been

striking:

named

striking:

by

striking:

humankind,

striking:

is

striking:

taller

striking:

than

striking:

men.

striking:

But

striking:

in

striking:

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more

striking:

real

striking:

sense,

striking:

there

striking:

was

striking:

no

striking:

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striking:

at

striking:

all.
“Son?”

striking:

he

striking:

said,

striking:

when

striking:

he

striking:

emerged

striking:

at

striking:

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striking:

edge

striking:

of

striking:

the

striking:

glade, “I

striking:

have

striking:

some

striking:

things

striking:

I

striking:

need

striking:

to

striking:

ask

striking:

you.”
They

striking:

all

striking:

turned

striking:

to

striking:

look.

striking:

Though

striking:

he

striking:

called

striking:

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striking:

all “son,”

striking:

they

striking:

all

striking:

knew

striking:

which

striking:

of

striking:

them

striking:

he

striking:

meant.
“Is

striking:

something

striking:

wrong,

striking:

Dad?”

striking:

said

striking:

the

striking:

youngest.
“Nothing

striking:

that’s

striking:

your

striking:

fault,”

striking:

reassured

striking:

the

striking:

god. “You’ve

striking:

done

striking:

nothing

striking:

wrong.

striking:

There’s

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

could

striking:

do

striking:

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striking:

make

striking:

me

striking:

angry

striking:

at

striking:

you.”
“I…”

striking:

his

striking:

brothers scented

striking:

the

striking:

tension

striking:

and

striking:

withdrew

striking:

into

striking:

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striking:

trees,

striking:

with

striking:

perhaps a concerned pet or nuzzle as they passed. “I know

striking:

that,

striking:

Dad.

striking:

Why

striking:

the…

striking:

reassurance?”
The

striking:

god

striking:

sat

striking:

back

striking:

on

striking:

his

striking:

haunches.

striking:

Hell,

striking:

where

striking:

to

striking:

start? “We’ve

striking:

never

striking:

talked

striking:

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striking:

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things

striking:

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striking:

For

striking:

you,

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striking:

I

striking:

mean.

striking:

In

striking:

your

striking:

previous

striking:

life.”
The

striking:

youngest

striking:

son

striking:

shook

striking:

his

striking:

head,

striking:

cautiously.
“I

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striking:

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And

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hurts,

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guess,”

striking:

the

striking:

god

striking:

sighed, “but

striking:

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striking:

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can

striking:

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then

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answers

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striking:

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striking:

brought

striking:

up.”
•
The

striking:

woman

striking:

saw

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striking:

sky

striking:

change

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from

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

streaks

striking:

to

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crimson,

striking:

and

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knew

striking:

he

striking:

was

striking:

back.
“You

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disowned

striking:

him,”

striking:

was

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

thing the

striking:

god

striking:

said.

striking:

His

striking:

voice

striking:

was

striking:

hard

striking:

and

striking:

pitiless.
“I

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wouldn’t

striking:

have

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his

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sin

striking:

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striking:

my

striking:

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convince

striking:

him

striking:

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striking:

repent…”

striking:

she

striking:

protested. “He

striking:

was

striking:

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striking:

astray,

striking:

and

striking:

he

striking:

wouldn’t

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

him-”
“Make

striking:

him

striking:

live

striking:

on

striking:

the

striking:

street?”

striking:

the

striking:

god

striking:

paced,

striking:

circling the

striking:

crossroads

striking:

clockwise,

striking:

like

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

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find

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to

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

rabbit

striking:

bolt. “Make

striking:

him

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striking:

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striking:

wasn’t

striking:

capable

striking:

of

striking:

love?

striking:

Make

striking:

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despair?

striking:

Make

striking:

him

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convinced he’d

striking:

be

striking:

better

striking:

off

striking:

dead?”
“That’s

striking:

what

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sin

striking:

does

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striking:

you,”

striking:

she

striking:

said.
“No,”

striking:

the

striking:

god

striking:

insisted, “that’s

striking:

what

striking:

you

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

He

striking:

didn’t

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striking:

till

striking:

after

striking:

he’d

striking:

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striking:

driven

striking:

from

striking:

your

striking:

home.”
“He

striking:

was

striking:

already

striking:

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striking:

though!

striking:

And

striking:

when

striking:

I

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striking:

reason,

striking:

he

striking:

wouldn’t

striking:

talk

striking:

to

striking:

me!”
“Now

striking:

why

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on

striking:

earth

striking:

wouldn’t

striking:

he’ve

striking:

wanted

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striking:

talk

striking:

to

striking:

you!”
“I

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striking:

to

striking:

try

striking:

something!”
“And

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that

striking:

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striking:

be

striking:

a

striking:

fair

striking:

argument,”

striking:

snarled

striking:

the

striking:

god, “if

striking:

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striking:

first

striking:

thing

striking:

you

striking:

tried

striking:

hadn’t

striking:

been ‘disown

striking:

him.’”
“What

striking:

was

striking:

I

striking:

supposed

striking:

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striking:

do?”
“Love

striking:

him?”

striking:

the

striking:

god

striking:

roared,

striking:

incredulous, “support

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him?”

striking:

Furious. “Give

striking:

him

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help

striking:

when

striking:

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needed

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and

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advice

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striking:

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advice?”

striking:

Pitiless. “Be

striking:

nice

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striking:

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and

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striking:

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it

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get

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together

striking:

again!”

striking:

Outraged. “Send

striking:

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striking:

Christmas

striking:

cards

striking:

and

striking:

nag

striking:

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about

striking:

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striking:

often!”

striking:

Damning. “Be

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proud

striking:

of

striking:

him

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

basement when he

striking:

loses

striking:

those!”
“And

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

sins,”

striking:

she

striking:

scoffed, “and

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be

striking:

lost

striking:

forever?”
“If

striking:

that’s

striking:

what

striking:

it

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comes

striking:

to,

striking:

yeah!”

striking:

the

striking:

god

striking:

insisted. “They’re

striking:

his

striking:

sins,

striking:

ain’t

striking:

they?

striking:

Not

striking:

yours!

striking:

What

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right

striking:

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striking:

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striking:

them

striking:

from

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him?

striking:

It’s

striking:

his

striking:

choice,

striking:

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striking:

yours,

striking:

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cast

striking:

himself

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into

striking:

perdition

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striking:

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believes

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doing,

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striking:

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wants!

striking:

He

striking:

was

striking:

your

striking:

son,

striking:

not

striking:

your

striking:

property!”
“What

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would

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you

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know

striking:

about

striking:

it?”

striking:

she

striking:

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striking:

her

striking:

eyes,

striking:

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striking:

prayer.

striking:

If

striking:

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striking:

no

striking:

answer

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striking:

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striking:

prayers

striking:

came. “You’re

striking:

not

striking:

his

striking:

mother.”
“No,”

striking:

said

striking:

the

striking:

god, “but

striking:

neither’re

striking:

you.

striking:

Not any

striking:

more.”
Her eyes snapped

striking:

open, “How

striking:

dare

striking:

you-”
“Shut

striking:

up!”

striking:

howled

striking:

the

striking:

god,

striking:

and

striking:

the

striking:

sun

striking:

went

striking:

down

striking:

almost

striking:

completely.

striking:

For

striking:

the

striking:

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time

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in

striking:

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striking:

place,

striking:

it

striking:

was

striking:

night.

striking:

A

striking:

faint

striking:

purple

striking:

edge

striking:

was

striking:

visible

striking:

along

striking:

the

striking:

western

striking:

sky,

striking:

but

striking:

the

striking:

only

striking:

light

striking:

was

striking:

the

striking:

god’s

striking:

eyes,

striking:

the

striking:

color

striking:

of

striking:

total

striking:

eclipse,

striking:

too

striking:

bright

striking:

to

striking:

look

striking:

at. “I

striking:

asked

striking:

him.

striking:

Damn

striking:

near

striking:

broke

striking:

my

striking:

heart

striking:

to

striking:

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striking:

it,

striking:

but

striking:

he

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told

striking:

me

striking:

everything,

striking:

and

striking:

he

striking:

was

striking:

stronger’n

striking:

me

striking:

while

striking:

he

striking:

did.

striking:

He

striking:

told

striking:

me

striking:

how

striking:

many

striking:

years

striking:

he

striking:

spent

striking:

not

striking:

knowing

striking:

who

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or

striking:

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striking:

he

striking:

was,

striking:

cause

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forbid

striking:

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that’d

striking:

let

striking:

him

striking:

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striking:

out.

striking:

He

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told

striking:

me

striking:

how

striking:

long

striking:

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knew

striking:

who

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and

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what

striking:

he

striking:

was,

striking:

and

striking:

never

striking:

said

striking:

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striking:

wasted

striking:

years

striking:

he

striking:

could

striking:

never

striking:

get

striking:

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striking:

because

striking:

he

striking:

knew

striking:

what

striking:

would

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happen

striking:

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striking:

you

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striking:

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striking:

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striking:

was.

striking:

He

striking:

told

striking:

me

striking:

how

striking:

you

striking:

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striking:

every

striking:

last

striking:

one

striking:

of

striking:

his

striking:

fears

striking:

right.”
“So,”

striking:

she

striking:

strained

striking:

to

striking:

rally

striking:

her

striking:

courage

striking:

again, “he

striking:

is

striking:

here!”
“The

striking:

man

striking:

you’re

striking:

thinking

striking:

of

striking:

is

striking:

here,

striking:

yeah,”

striking:

the

striking:

god’s

striking:

voice

striking:

was

striking:

dark

striking:

as

striking:

midnight, “but

striking:

he

striking:

ain’t

striking:

your

striking:

son.

striking:

He’s

striking:

my

striking:

son

striking:

now.”
The

striking:

light

striking:

of

striking:

his

striking:

eyes

striking:

went

striking:

out,

striking:

and

striking:

the

striking:

god

striking:

couldn’t

striking:

be

striking:

seen

striking:

anywhere

striking:

at

striking:

the

striking:

crossroads.

striking:

The

striking:

woman

striking:

thought,

striking:

genuinely,

striking:

that

striking:

he’d

striking:

gone,

striking:

but

striking:

then

striking:

noticed

striking:

the

striking:

sky

striking:

was

lightening:

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a

lightening:

pale,

lightening:

thin

lightening:

brightness

lightening:

was

lightening:

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lightening:

back

lightening:

into

lightening:

the

lightening:

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lightening:

sky,

lightening:

a

lightening:

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lightening:

so

lightening:

sallow

lightening:

it

lightening:

was

lightening:

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lightening:

grey,

lightening:

and

lightening:

between

lightening:

her

lightening:

and

lightening:

it

lightening:

stood

lightening:

the

lightening:

god

lightening:

again.
“When

lightening:

you

lightening:

set

lightening:

out

lightening:

looking

lightening:

for

lightening:

him,”

lightening:

he

lightening:

said,

lightening:

voice

lightening:

still

lightening:

dark

lightening:

as

lightening:

ever, “you

lightening:

were

lightening:

at

lightening:

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lightening:

gates of

lightening:

your

lightening:

paradise,

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you

lightening:

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lightening:

You

lightening:

coulda

lightening:

gone

lightening:

in.

lightening:

You

lightening:

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lightening:

they

lightening:

begged

lightening:

you.

lightening:

But

lightening:

you

lightening:

didn’t,

lightening:

you

lightening:

came

lightening:

here

lightening:

to

lightening:

bother

lightening:

me.”
“I

lightening:

came,”

lightening:

she

lightening:

insisted, “to

lightening:

save

lightening:

my

lightening:

son.”
“Instead-a

lightening:

going

lightening:

to

lightening:

your

lightening:

paradise.”
“If

lightening:

I

lightening:

have

lightening:

to

lightening:

give

lightening:

up,

lightening:

a while, the beatific

lightening:

peace,” she

lightening:

seemed

lightening:

to

lightening:

think

lightening:

she’d

lightening:

impressed

lightening:

this

lightening:

demon

lightening:

with

lightening:

her

lightening:

devotion, “for

lightening:

the

lightening:

sake

lightening:

of

lightening:

saving

lightening:

another-”
“Now

lightening:

what

lightening:

was

lightening:

it,”

lightening:

the

lightening:

god

lightening:

interrupted, “that

lightening:

you

lightening:

said

lightening:

keeps

lightening:

people

lightening:

from

lightening:

getting

lightening:

through

lightening:

those

lightening:

gates?

lightening:

What

lightening:

was

lightening:

it

lightening:

stopped

lightening:

your

lightening:

son

lightening:

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lightening:

through,

lightening:

when

lightening:

he

lightening:

got

lightening:

there

lightening:

before

lightening:

you

lightening:

did?

lightening:

Never

lightening:

fucking

lightening:

mind

lightening:

why

lightening:

he

lightening:

got

lightening:

there

lightening:

first,

lightening:

we’re

lightening:

past

lightening:

that.”
“I

lightening:

told

lightening:

you,”

lightening:

she

lightening:

said, “his

lightening:

sins.”
“So

lightening:

sins

lightening:

mean

lightening:

you

lightening:

don’t

lightening:

go

lightening:

through,”

lightening:

the

lightening:

god

lightening:

was

lightening:

pacing

lightening:

a

lightening:

circle

lightening:

around

lightening:

her

lightening:

again, “and

lightening:

you

lightening:

didn’t

lightening:

go

lightening:

through,

lightening:

because

lightening:

you

lightening:

wanted

lightening:

to

lightening:

come

lightening:

drag

lightening:

him

lightening:

through?

lightening:

What’s

lightening:

that

lightening:

say,

lightening:

then,

lightening:

about

lightening:

what

lightening:

coming to

lightening:

look

lightening:

for

lightening:

him

lightening:

is?”
Her

lightening:

voice,

lightening:

when

lightening:

it

lightening:

came,

lightening:

was

lightening:

very

lightening:

quiet. “...you

lightening:

know

lightening:

nothing

lightening:

of

lightening:

my

lightening:

faith.”
“Damn

lightening:

right

lightening:

I

lightening:

don’t,”

lightening:

he

lightening:

said, “and

lightening:

glad

lightening:

of

lightening:

it.

lightening:

But

lightening:

like

lightening:

I

lightening:

said,

lightening:

I

lightening:

asked

lightening:

some

lightening:

questions, and

lightening:

I

lightening:

learned

lightening:

a

lightening:

couple

lightening:

things.

lightening:

You

lightening:

believed

lightening:

that

lightening:

death

lightening:

had

lightening:

only

lightening:

two

lightening:

places

lightening:

in

it:

it:

your

it:

paradise,

it:

and

it:

hell.

it:

Full

it:

nonsense,

it:

that,

it:

the living

it:

world’s

it:

got a

it:

hell

it:

of

it:

a

it:

lot

it:

more

it:

places

it:

than

it:

two,

it:

why

it:

should

it:

death

it:

be

it:

any

it:

different?

it:

But

it:

that’s

it:

why

it:

you

it:

think

it:

this

it:

is

it:

hell,

it:

that’s

it:

why

it:

you

it:

think

it:

the

it:

place

it:

he’s

it:

in—which

it:

ain’t

it:

this,

it:

I

it:

wouldn’t

it:

have

it:

my

it:

sons to

it:

live

it:

in

it:

a

it:

dump

it:

like

it:

this

it:

nowhere—is

it:

hell.

it:

That’s

it:

why

it:

you

it:

think

it:

I’m

it:

a

it:

demon.

it:

But

it:

your

it:

own

it:

holy

it:

book,

it:

if

it:

you

it:

bothered

it:

to

it:

read

it:

it,

it:

don’t

it:

say

it:

that

it:

even

it:

once.

it:

It

it:

just

it:

says

it:

there’s

it:

those

it:

of

it:

your

it:

faith

it:

as

it:

make

it:

it

it:

to

it:

your

it:

heaven,

it:

and

it:

those

it:

as don’t.

it:

Don’t

it:

say

it:

nothing

it:

about

it:

where

it:

those

it:

as

it:

don’t

it:

make

it:

it

it:

go,

it:

and

it:

even

it:

less

it:

about

it:

everyone

it:

else.”
“The

it:

outer

it:

darkness!”

it:

the

it:

woman

it:

insisted, “where

it:

there’s

it:

wailing

it:

and

it:

gnashing

it:

of

it:

teeth!”
“Well,

it:

I

it:

got

it:

no

it:

objection

it:

to

it:

darkness.

it:

It’s

it:

restful,

it:

darkness.

it:

And

it:

a

it:

good

it:

set

it:

of

it:

teeth’s

it:

always

it:

handy,”

it:

he

it:

bared

it:

his

it:

fangs. “I

it:

think

it:

you

it:

didn’t

it:

actually

it:

see

it:

your

it:

son

it:

doing

it:

anything

it:

wrong.

it:

You

it:

saw

it:

him

it:

turning

it:

out

it:

some

it:

way

it:

that

it:

you

it:

hadn’t

it:

planned

it:

for

it:

him,

it:

and

it:

decided

it:

that

it:

it

it:

must

it:

be

it:

a sin

it:

so you’d have an excuse to stop it. You saw he’d wound up some place that wasn’t where you were bound, and decided that he must be in hell so

it:

you’d

it:

have

it:

an

it:

excuse

it:

to

it:

demand him back. The only sin

it:

he

it:

ever

it:

committed

it:

was being someone, and something, that wasn’t what

it:

you

it:

wanted.

it:

Well,

it:

now

it:

he’s

it:

got

it:

a

it:

new

it:

god,

it:

a

it:

new

it:

father,

it:

one that’s

it:

made

it:

him

it:

who

it:

and

it:

what

it:

he

it:

wants

it:

to

it:

be-”
“His

it:

sin

it:

was being someone and something that wasn’t what

it:

God

it:

wanted!”

it:

she

it:

cried

it:

with

it:

all

it:

the

it:

defiance

it:

of

it:

a

it:

martyr.
“Ain’t

it:

it

it:

convenient

it:

for

it:

you,”

it:

answered

it:

the

it:

god, “that

it:

what ‘God’

it:

wanted

it:

was

it:

always

it:

the

it:

same

it:

thing

it:

as

it:

what

it:

you

it:

wanted?”
He

it:

left

it:

her

it:

alone

it:

under

it:

the

it:

nightmare

it:

sky.
•
It

it:

was

it:

a

it:

hard

it:

thing

it:

to

it:

admit.

it:

If

it:

it

it:

is

it:

a

it:

hard

it:

thing,

it:

for

it:

any

it:

man,

it:

to

it:

admit

it:

to

it:

not

it:

knowing

it:

what

it:

to

it:

do,

it:

how

it:

much

it:

harder

it:

must

it:

it

it:

be

it:

for

it:

a

it:

god? “I

it:

thought,”

it:

but

it:

he

it:

couldn’t

it:

be

it:

dishonest with

it:

one

it:

of

it:

his

it:

beloved

it:

sons,

it:

in

it:

whom

it:

he

it:

was

it:

well

it:

pleased, “I

it:

could

it:

just…

it:

shut

it:

her

it:

out

it:

till

it:

she

it:

gave

it:

up,

it:

and

it:

you’d

it:

never

it:

have

it:

to

it:

know

it:

she

it:

showed

it:

up,

it:

but-”
His

it:

youngest

it:

son

it:

laid

it:

a

it:

paw

it:

in

it:

his. “It’s

it:

okay,

it:

Dad.”
•
It’s

it:

possible

it:

she

it:

waited at

it:

the

it:

crossroad

it:

for

it:

forty

it:

days

it:

and

it:

forty

it:

nights.

it:

It’s

it:

possible

it:

she

it:

waited

it:

only

it:

three

it:

days,

it:

and

it:

on

it:

the

it:

third

it:

day

it:

rose

it:

again.

it:

It’s

it:

possible

it:

she

it:

waited

it:

mere

it:

minutes.
Without

it:

the

it:

sun,

it:

nor

it:

the

it:

moon,

it:

to

it:

shine

it:

upon

it:

it,

it:

then

it:

how

it:

could

it:

she

it:

say

it:

how

it:

much

it:

time

it:

had

it:

passed

it:

in

it:

that

it:

place?
But

it:

the

it:

wait

it:

passed as

it:

all

it:

things

it:

pass.

it:

It

it:

was

it:

sunset,

it:

for

it:

the

it:

god

it:

was

it:

there.
“Still

it:

here,

it:

huh?”

it:

he

it:

said.
“I’ll

it:

wait

it:

forever,

it:

if

it:

I

it:

have

it:

to,”

it:

she

it:

answered. “No

it:

suffering

it:

would

it:

be

it:

too

it:

much.”
“Now

it:

see,”

it:

the

it:

god

it:

sighed, “here

it:

I

it:

thought

it:

you

it:

people

it:

had

it:

a

it:

word

it:

for

it:

some

it:

place

it:

where

it:

the

it:

dead

it:

go

it:

through

it:

infinite

it:

suffering

it:

forever.

it:

Thought

it:

the

it:

whole

it:

point

it:

was to

it:

not

it:

be

it:

there.

it:

But

it:

here

it:

you

it:

are,

it:

determined

it:

to

it:

stay

it:

no

it:

matter

it:

how

it:

much

it:

I

it:

tell

it:

you to

it:

leave.”
“You

it:

won’t

it:

keep

it:

my

it:

son

it:

from

it:

me,”

it:

she

it:

growled.
“The

it:

only

it:

one

it:

who

it:

ever

it:

kept

it:

your

it:

son

it:

from

it:

you,”

it:

but

it:

he

it:

was

it:

better

it:

at

it:

growling, “was

it:

you.”
“It

it:

doesn’t

it:

matter

it:

what

it:

you

it:

say,”

it:

she

it:

insisted, “I’m

it:

not

it:

going

it:

anywhere.

it:

I’m

it:

not

it:

leaving

it:

without

it:

him.”
“And

it:

what

it:

if

it:

we

it:

leave?

it:

There’s

it:

other

it:

places.

it:

It’ll

it:

reek

it:

to

it:

the

it:

fucking

it:

moon

it:

to

it:

pull

it:

up

it:

roots

it:

and

it:

go,

it:

I

it:

don’t

it:

deny

it:

it,

it:

and it won’t

it:

be

it:

the

it:

first

it:

time

it:

you’ve

it:

taken

it:

a

it:

home

it:

from

it:

him,

it:

but

it:

wolves’re

it:

nomadic

it:

when

it:

we

it:

have

it:

to

it:

be.

it:

We’ll

it:

still

it:

have

it:

eachother,

it:

and

it:

all of

it:

eternity,

it:

to

it:

get

it:

settled

it:

someplace

it:

else.”

it:

The

it:

god’s

it:

ears

it:

were

it:

flat,

it:

his tail

it:

stiff. “You

it:

won’t

it:

find

it:

him

it:

again.”
“I

it:

found

it:

him

it:

this

it:

time,

it:

didn’t

it:

I?”
“You

it:

were

it:

told

it:

where

it:

to

it:

look.

it:

By

it:

your

it:

god’s

it:

angel,

it:

same

it:

one

it:

that

it:

told

it:

you

it:

not

it:

to

it:

look

it:

for

it:

him.”

it:

The

it:

god

it:

turned

it:

to

it:

walk

it:

away,

it:

and

it:

the

it:

sky

it:

began

it:

to

it:

darken. “Think

it:

that’ll

it:

happen

it:

a

it:

second

it:

time?

it:

I

it:

hear

it:

your

it:

god’s the

it:

tough

it:

love

it:

type.”
“You’re

it:

not

it:

the

it:

only

it:

one

it:

who’s

it:

got

it:

all

it:

of

it:

eternity,”

it:

she

it:

called

it:

after

it:

him,

it:

and

it:

the

it:

tears

it:

in

it:

her

it:

eyes

it:

were

it:

not

it:

entirely

it:

feigned, “I

it:

don’t

it:

care

it:

what

it:

I

it:

have

it:

to

it:

do,

it:

I’ll

it:

find

it:

him!

it:

I’ll

it:

save

it:

him

it:

from

it:

you!”
The

it:

god

it:

stopped.

it:

He

it:

didn’t

it:

turn, but

it:

his

it:

shoulders

it:

slumped.

it:

At

it:

length

it:

he

it:

said, “Alright,

it:

I

it:

guess

it:

you

it:

can

it:

try.”
Incredulous

it:

hope

it:

dragged

it:

her

it:

to

it:

her

it:

feet, “You

it:

mean

it:

I

it:

can-”
“I

it:

wasn’t,”

it:

the

it:

god

it:

cut

it:

her

it:

off, “talking

it:

to

it:

you.”
The

it:

sky

it:

blazed

it:

with

it:

golden

it:

light.
The

it:

woman

it:

covered

it:

her

it:

eyes,

it:

against

it:

the

it:

sun

it:

that

it:

now

it:

hung

it:

in

it:

the

it:

west,

it:

huge

it:

and

it:

saffron.

it:

The

it:

god

it:

was

it:

gone

it:

from

it:

the

it:

crossroads,

it:

but

it:

in

it:

front

it:

of

it:

the

it:

setting

it:

sun,

it:

standing

it:

just

it:

over

it:

the

it:

horizon

it:

where

it:

the

it:

solar

it:

disk

it:

formed

it:

a

it:

blazing

it:

halo

it:

around

it:

its

it:

silhouette

it:

was

it:

the

it:

shape

it:

of

it:

an

it:

unthinkably

it:

vast

it:

wolf.
Another

it:

man-wolf, or

it:

werewolf,

it:

or

it:

whatever

it:

these

it:

beings

it:

were,

it:

stood

it:

where

it:

the

it:

god

it:

had

it:

been.
“Woman,

it:

why

it:

are

it:

you

it:

weeping?”

it:

the

it:

voice

it:

with

it:

which

it:

the

it:

wolf-monster

it:

spoke

it:

was

it:

familiar. “Who

it:

are

it:

you

it:

looking

it:

for?”
“...Tommy?

it:

Is

it:

that

it:

you?”
“That’s

it:

not

it:

my

it:

name

it:

anymore,”

it:

the

it:

wolf-monster

it:

replied.
“Tommy, it’s

it:

not

it:

too

it:

late,”

it:

but

it:

she

it:

wasn’t

it:

listening, “hurry,

it:

come

it:

with

it:

me,

it:

I

it:

can

it:

still

it:

save

it:

you!”
“I

it:

don’t

it:

need

it:

saving,”

it:

the

it:

wolf

it:

said. “I’m

it:

already

it:

saved.

it:

You,

it:

maybe,

it:

can

it:

still

it:

be

it:

saved.

it:

I

it:

don’t

it:

know

it:

what

it:

happens

it:

if

it:

you

it:

give

it:

me

it:

up

it:

and

it:

go

it:

back,

it:

but

it:

maybe

it:

if

it:

you

it:

do

it:

they

it:

let

it:

you

it:

in.

it:

Maybe

it:

if

it:

you

it:

do,

it:

that

it:

makes

it:

this,

it:

for

it:

you,

it:

what

it:

you

it:

used

it:

to

it:

call

it:

purgatory.”
The

it:

shock

it:

on

it:

her

it:

face

it:

was

it:

beginning

it:

to

it:

ripen

it:

into

it:

anger. “You’re…

it:

you’ve

it:

been

it:

brainwashed,

it:

or indoctrinated,

it:

or…

it:

you’re

it:

too

it:

blinded

it:

by

it:

sin to

it:

know

it:

what

it:

you’re

it:

saying!”
“You

it:

were

it:

standing

it:

at

it:

the

it:

gates

it:

of

it:

heaven

it:

and

it:

refused

it:

to

it:

go

it:

in,”

it:

the

it:

wolf

it:

had

it:

a

it:

lifetime

it:

of

it:

weariness

it:

in

it:

his

it:

voice, “and

it:

I’m

it:

the

it:

one

it:

blinded

it:

by

it:

sin?

it:

Your

it:

god

it:

didn’t

it:

want

it:

me!

it:

So

it:

I

it:

found

it:

another

it:

god,

it:

one

it:

that

it:

was

it:

willing

it:

to

it:

take

it:

me

it:

as

it:

I

it:

was,

it:

love

it:

me

it:

for

it:

who

it:

I

it:

am,

it:

who

it:

made

it:

me

it:

his

it:

son

it:

without

it:

asking

it:

me

it:

to

it:

repent

it:

anything.

it:

And

it:

your

it:

god

it:

let

it:

it

it:

be!”

it:

And

it:

weariness

it:

can

it:

ripen

it:

into

it:

purer

it:

anger

it:

than

it:

can

it:

shock. “And

it:

now

it:

you’re

it:

here

it:

insisting…

it:

what?

it:

That

it:

you

it:

get

it:

to

it:

have

it:

higher

it:

standards

it:

than

it:

God?

it:

That

it:

you

it:

get

it:

to

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wolf. “Remember

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mine.”
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anymore,”

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room:

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room:

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room:

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room:

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room:

at

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abandoned

room:

crossroad.



This

room:

was “Nil

room:

Inultum Remanebit” by Rob MacWolf, read for you

room:

by

room:

the

room:

Author.

room:

You

room:

can

room:

find

room:

more

room:

stories

room:

on

room:

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room:

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room:

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room:

or

room:

find

room:

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room:

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room:

wherever

room:

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room:

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room:

your

room:

podcasts.

room:

Happy

room:

Pride,

room:

and

room:

Thank

room:

you

room:

for

room:

listening

room:

to

room:

The

room:

Voice

room:

of

room:

Dog.

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