Nancy is your average widowed vixen. She pays taxes, enjoys her retirement as a former librarian, & rebels against an authoritarian regime.
Today’s story is “Subversive Materials” by Domus Vocis, who spends his free time reading escapist fiction & working the graveyard shift while writing furry fiction. He also recently published a historical romance novella titled “Two Souls of Fangcrest Manor” alongside his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find more stories by Domus Vocis on his Patreon.
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/subversive-materials-by-domus-vocis
You’re
Speaker: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, your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “Subversive
Speaker:Materials”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Domus
Speaker:Vocis,
Speaker:who
Speaker:spends
Speaker:his
Speaker:free
Speaker:time
Speaker:reading
Speaker:escapist
Speaker:fiction &
Speaker:working
Speaker:the
Speaker:graveyard shift
Speaker:while
Speaker:writing
Speaker:furry
Speaker:fiction.
Speaker:He
Speaker:also
Speaker:recently
Speaker:published
Speaker:a
Speaker:historical
Speaker:romance
Speaker:novella
Speaker:titled “Two
Speaker:Souls
Speaker:of
Speaker:Fangcrest
Speaker:Manor”
Speaker:alongside
Speaker:his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find more stories
Speaker:by Domus Vocis
Speaker:on
Speaker:his Patreon.
If
you
Speaker:are
Speaker:the
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:listener
Speaker:who
Speaker:tunes
Speaker:in
Speaker:to
Speaker:something
Speaker:called
Speaker:Pride Month
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:year
Speaker:two
Speaker:thousand
Speaker:and
Speaker:twenty
Speaker:six,
Speaker:then
Speaker:you
Speaker:need
Speaker:no
Speaker:introduction
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:concept
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:American
Speaker:fascist
Speaker:dystopia.
Speaker:Let
Speaker:us
Speaker:then,
Speaker:introduce
Speaker:you
Speaker:to a
Speaker:more
Speaker:pleasant
idea:idea:
small
idea:acts
idea:of
idea:resistance,
idea:carried
idea:out
idea:by
idea:everyday
idea:people,
idea:most
idea:notably
idea:the
idea:sharing
idea:and
idea:dissemination
idea:of
idea:queer
idea:stories,
idea:which
idea:such a
idea:regime
idea:has
idea:always
idea:been
idea:and
idea:will
idea:always
idea:be
idea:powerless
idea:to
idea:kill
idea:in
idea:any
idea:way
idea:that
idea:matters.
idea:And
idea:that,
idea:as
idea:a
idea:book
idea:that
idea:such a
idea:regime
idea:would
idea:ban
idea:says,
idea:is
idea:an
idea:encouraging
idea:thought.
Please
enjoy
“Subversive
Materials”
idea:by
idea:Domus Vocis
Being
a
idea:former
idea:librarian
idea:came
idea:with
idea:some
benefits:benefits:
a
benefits:pension,
benefits:free
benefits:time,
benefits:and
benefits:the
benefits:knowledge
benefits:of
benefits:where
benefits:best
benefits:to
benefits:hide
benefits:subversive
benefits:materials
benefits:in
benefits:the
benefits:local
benefits:library.
The
two-storied,
benefits:brick-and-stone
benefits:building
benefits:had
benefits:hardly
benefits:changed
benefits:since
benefits:my
benefits:retirement
benefits:several
benefits:years
benefits:prior,
benefits:the
benefits:beautiful
benefits:neoclassical
benefits:structure
benefits:standing
benefits:out
benefits:against
benefits:the
benefits:modern
benefits:office
benefits:buildings
benefits:and
benefits:refurbished
benefits:storefronts
benefits:along
benefits:Main
benefits:Street.
benefits:With
benefits:two
benefits:library
benefits:books
benefits:in
benefits:my
benefits:left
benefits:paw and my
benefits:purse
benefits:slung
benefits:over
benefits:my
benefits:other
benefits:shoulder,
benefits:I
benefits:stepped
benefits:out
benefits:of
benefits:my
benefits:car
benefits:and
benefits:strolled
benefits:across
benefits:the
benefits:packed
benefits:parking
benefits:lot.
benefits:The
benefits:number
benefits:of
benefits:vehicles
benefits:made
benefits:it
benefits:clear
benefits:that
benefits:everyone
benefits:was
benefits:taking
benefits:advantage
benefits:of
benefits:it
benefits:being
benefits:Saturday, and
benefits:I
benefits:began
benefits:to
benefits:silently
benefits:wonder
benefits:if
benefits:it would
benefits:be
benefits:a
benefits:better
benefits:idea
benefits:to
benefits:wait
benefits:until
benefits:Monday.
Calm
down,
benefits:Nancy,
benefits:I
benefits:mentally
benefits:said
benefits:to
benefits:myself.
benefits:You’re a
benefits:brave
benefits:fox.
benefits:You
benefits:do
benefits:this
benefits:all
benefits:the
benefits:time.
benefits:You
benefits:can
benefits:do
benefits:it
benefits:again.
My
eyes
benefits:narrowed
benefits:on
benefits:the
benefits:entrance
benefits:steps.
benefits:It
benefits:seemed
benefits:like
benefits:Mayor
benefits:Gregory
benefits:had
benefits:gotten
benefits:the
benefits:funds
benefits:to
benefits:fix
benefits:those
benefits:wobbly
benefits:stones
benefits:since
benefits:my
benefits:previous
benefits:visit.
benefits:With
benefits:each
benefits:upward
benefits:step,
benefits:my
benefits:wagging
benefits:tail went
benefits:still as
benefits:I
benefits:passed
benefits:through
benefits:the
benefits:foyer and
benefits:caught
benefits:sight
benefits:of
benefits:one
benefits:other
benefits:change,
benefits:only
benefits:this
benefits:one
benefits:fouled
benefits:my
benefits:mood. It
benefits:stood
benefits:out
benefits:like
benefits:a
benefits:sore
benefits:thumb
benefits:on
benefits:the
benefits:community
benefits:bulletin
benefits:board
benefits:to
benefits:my
benefits:left,
benefits:just
benefits:below
benefits:one of
benefits:the
benefits:newer
benefits:cameras
benefits:facing
benefits:the
benefits:doors.
The
poster
benefits:read, “A
benefits:reminder
benefits:from
benefits:the
government:government:
Beware
government:the
government:Devil’s
government:advocates!
government:If
government:you
government:suspect
government:a
government:family
government:member,
government:friend,
government:or
government:neighbor
government:harbors
government:sympathetic
government:beliefs
government:towards
government:the
government:nation’s
government:enemies—both
government:within
government:and
government:without—please
government:inform
government:the
government:authorities.”
government:The
government:image
government:below
government:the
government:text
government:and
government:an
government:emergency
government:hotline
government:number
government:displayed
government:a
government:red,
government:white,
government:and
government:blue
government:canine
government:with
government:harsh,
government:judgmental
government:eyes
government:and
government:a
government:permanent
government:frown.
I
managed
government:to
government:quickly
government:hide
government:my
government:own
government:frown
government:from
government:the
government:Labrador
government:security
government:guard
government:standing
government:adjacent
government:to
government:the
government:entrance.
government:I
government:didn’t
government:bother
government:saying
government:hello
government:or
government:greeting
government:him,
government:knowing
government:he
government:wouldn’t
government:reply
government:or
government:smile
government:back.
government:So,
government:I
government:went
government:straight
government:for
government:the
government:front
government:desk
government:and
government:its
government:receptionist,
government:a
government:bespectacled she-badger
government:too
government:busy
government:typing
government:on
government:her
government:computer
government:to notice. It
government:appeared
government:new
government:as
government:well.
government:The
government:dread
government:in
government:my
government:stomach
government:continued
government:to
government:drip
government:like
government:a
government:leaky
government:faucet.
“Lorraine,
sweetie!” I
government:greeted
government:her,
government:hiding
government:my
government:nervous
government:constitution
government:behind
government:a vulpine
government:smile. “I
government:hope
government:you
government:aren’t
government:working
government:yourself
government:too
government:hard?
government:Is
government:Peter
government:treating
government:you
government:well?”
Lorraine
glanced
government:up
government:from her
government:flat screen and
government:smiled back. “Mrs.
government:O’Neal.
government:Good
government:morning
government:to
government:you
government:too,”
government:she
government:said. “I’m
government:not
government:doing
government:too
government:bad.
government:And
government:Peter’s
government:not
government:working
government:me
government:too
government:hard.
government:How
government:have
government:you
government:been?”
“Oh,
you
government:know,
government:the
government:usual.”
government:I
government:shrugged,
government:then
government:stepped
government:over
government:to
government:place
government:the
government:two
government:books
government:onto
government:the
government:counter. “I
government:thought
government:I’d
government:return
government:these
government:before
government:going
government:to
government:check
government:out a
government:few
government:more.
government:Can
government:you
government:be
government:a
government:dear
government:and
government:scan
government:these
government:back in
government:for
government:me
government:while
government:I
government:have
government:a
government:look
government:around?”
Lorraine
graciously
government:took
government:them. “Of
government:course,
government:ma’am.
government:I’ll
government:do
government:it
government:right
government:away.”
I
nodded
government:and
government:let
government:my
government:fox
government:tail
government:wag. “Oh,
government:thank
government:you.
government:See
government:you
government:soon!”
Being
old
government:had
government:its
government:advantages.
government:It
government:made
government:others
government:think
government:I
government:immediately
government:agreed
government:with
government:the
government:regime,
government:for
government:one.
government:It
government:also
government:allowed
government:me
government:to
government:easily
government:blend
government:in
government:with
government:the
government:usual
government:library
government:visitors,
government:which
government:had
government:been
government:swelling
government:lately.
government:Nobody
government:suspected
government:a
government:thing
government:when
government:widowed
government:vixen
government:Nancy
government:O’Neal
government:roamed
government:the
government:upper
government:and
government:lower
government:floors,
government:browsing
government:and
government:idly
government:flipping
government:through
government:books
government:before
government:putting
government:them
government:back
government:in
government:their
government:proper
government:places,
government:whereas
government:a
government:young
government:hoodlum
government:in
government:baggy
government:clothing
government:would
government:stand
government:out
government:like
government:graffiti
government:on
government:a
government:brick
government:wall.
government:The
government:only
government:thing
government:I
government:struggled
government:with
government:during
government:my
government:biweekly
government:visits
government:was
government:resisting
government:the
government:urge
government:to
government:scowl
government:at
government:the
government:large
government:flags
government:draped
government:on
government:the
government:walls,
government:each
government:one
government:a
government:mockery
government:of
government:liberty.
Thankfully,
decades
government:of
government:customer
government:service
government:allowed
government:me
government:to
government:mask
government:my
government:traitorous
government:thoughts.
government:I
government:easily
government:went
government:pretending
government:the
government:old
government:flag
government:still
government:existed,
government:the
government:posters
government:taped
government:at
government:the
government:ends of every
government:bookshelf
government:encouraged
government:reading
government:and
government:writing,
government:and
government:the
government:interior
government:walls
government:where
government:resident
government:artists
government:had
government:drawn
government:illustrated
government:cubs
government:reading
government:challenged
government:classics
government:were
government:not
government:white
government:voids.
government:I
government:imagined
government:myself
government:easily
government:finding
government:masterworks
government:like
government:The
government:Outsiders,
government:Fahrenheit 451,
government:Howl
government:and
government:Other
government:Poems,
government:and
government:didn’t
government:need
government:to
government:keep
government:copies
government:of
government:illegal
government:books
government:hidden
government:in
government:my
government:basement.
The
mammals
government:not
government:working at
government:computers
government:or
government:quietly
government:reading at
government:tables
government:ignored
government:me.
government:They
government:didn’t
government:notice
government:when
government:I
government:strolled
government:through
government:the
government:teen
government:section
government:to
government:pick
government:up
government:Pride
government:and
government:Prejudice
government:and
government:To
government:Become
government:a
government:Goodwife,
government:the
government:latter
government:an
government:average
government:small-town
government:romance
government:somehow
government:lauded
government:as
government:the ‘ideal
government:novel
government:for
government:teenaged
government:readers’
government:by
government:the
government:Moral
government:Committee.
government:When
government:I
government:felt
government:for
government:certain
government:nobody
government:would
government:pass
government:by,
government:and
government:with
government:the
government:assurance
government:that
government:I’d
government:memorized
government:each
government:blind
government:spot
government:of
government:the
government:security
government:cameras,
government:such
government:as
government:the
government:very
government:narrow
government:corridor
government:I
government:stood
government:in,
government:I
government:went
government:to
government:work.
My
right
government:paw
government:reached
government:into
government:my
government:purse
government:and
government:retrieved
government:a
government:small
government:pamphlet
government:informing
government:the
government:reader
government:about
government:women’s
government:rights
government:in
government:Canada
government:as
government:well
government:as
government:Europe.
government:I
government:slipped it
government:deep
government:within
government:To
government:Become
government:a
government:Goodwife
government:before
government:placing
government:it
government:back
government:on
government:the
government:shelf,
government:then
government:did
government:the
government:same
government:for
government:copies
government:of
government:the
government:equally
government:saccharine
government:On
government:the
government:Heartland
government:Farm
government:book
government:series.
Next,
I
government:ventured
government:over
government:to
government:the
government:history
government:section and
government:surveyed two
government:state-approved
government:textbooks
government:ranging
government:from
government:pre-regime
government:history
government:to
government:world
government:history,
government:placing
government:tiny
government:pamphlets
government:containing
government:leaked
government:government
government:information
government:inside
government:the
government:former
government:and
government:small
government:how-to
government:leaflets
government:inside
government:the latter.
government:The
government:leaflets
government:explained
government:different
government:ways
government:to
government:learn
government:about
government:undiscussed
government:current
government:events
government:beyond
government:the
government:state-approved
government:news
government:network,
government:and
government:what
government:was
government:covered
government:up
government:on
government:a
government:regular
government:basis.
government:I
government:never
government:knew
government:whether
government:or
government:not
government:to
government:be
government:elated
government:that
government:I
government:often
government:replaced
government:the taken
government:pamphlets
government:and
government:leaflets with
government:new
government:ones,
government:actively
government:wondering
government:between
government:visits
government:when
government:someone
government:would
government:knock
government:on
government:my
government:door.
Or,
more
government:likely,
government:burst
government:through it
government:with
government:handguns
government:drawn.
I
almost
government:affirmed
government:this
government:belief
government:when
government:someone
government:approached
government:the
government:corridor.
government:Frightened
government:but
government:not
government:revealing
government:it,
government:I
government:pretended
government:to
government:browse
government:downward
government:to
government:the
government:shelf
government:containing
government:ancient
government:history.
government:I
government:idly
government:examined
government:books
government:about
government:the
government:Roman
government:Empire
government:while
government:making
government:subtle
government:peeks,
government:trying
government:not
government:to
government:make myself
government:obvious.
government:A
government:leopardess
government:in
government:her
government:early
government:thirties—clearly
government:pregnant—checked
government:out
government:a
government:pre-regime
government:textbook
government:containing
government:leaflets
government:about
government:current
government:events.
government:She
government:skimmed
government:it,
government:stopped
government:at
government:one
government:page,
government:and then
government:took
government:out
government:a
government:notepad.
government:She
government:wrote
government:down
government:something
government:in
government:it
government:and then
government:on
government:the
government:page
government:of
government:the
government:textbook
government:before
government:swiftly
government:placing
government:the
government:hardcover
government:back
government:in
government:its
government:place,
government:pocketing
government:the
government:notebook
government:in
government:her
government:purse.
The leopardess
wordlessly
government:retreated,
government:but
government:not
government:before
government:detecting
government:me
government:and
government:offering a
government:hesitant
government:nod
government:in
government:my
government:direction.
government:As
government:soon
government:as
government:I
government:felt certain
government:nobody
government:would
government:notice,
government:curiosity
government:compelled
government:me.
government:I
government:went
government:for
government:the
government:same
government:textbook
government:and
government:discovered
government:a
government:pencil-written
government:note
government:scrawled
government:on
government:the
government:back
government:of
government:a
government:left-behind
government:leaflet,
government:which
government:read ‘thank
government:you’.
Reading
it
government:over
government:and
government:over
government:again
government:alleviated
government:my
government:worries.
government:So,
government:I
government:wasn’t
government:just
government:doing all of
government:this
government:for
government:naught.
government:I
government:wasn’t
government:the
government:only
government:traitor
government:living
government:within
government:town.
government:Others
government:like
government:me
government:and
government:Robert
government:still
government:existed.
Deep
within
government:a
government:narrow
government:corridor
government:of
government:the
government:reference
government:section,
government:my tail
government:wagged as
government:I
government:continued
government:to
government:circulate
government:the
government:illicit
government:material
government:hidden in
government:my
government:purse.
government:Within
government:a
government:thesaurus,
government:I
government:placed
government:drawings
government:and
government:photographs
government:given
government:to
government:me
government:in
government:secret
government:by
government:my
government:resistance
government:contacts;
government:they
government:depicted
government:various
government:ways
government:to
government:make
government:love.
government:I
government:wasn’t
government:sure
government:why
government:they
government:wished to
government:disperse
government:them
government:compared
government:to the
government:other
government:information,
government:but
government:I
government:wasn’t
government:one
government:to
government:complain.
government:I
government:distributed
government:them
government:anyway.
government:There
government:were
government:the
government:photos
government:depicting
government:love
government:between
government:men
government:and
government:women,
government:but
government:also
government:others
government:between
government:two
government:women
government:and
government:two
government:men.
government:One
government:of
government:the
government:printed
government:photos
government:in
government:particular
government:depicted
government:a
government:pair
government:of
government:homosexual
government:male
government:foxes
government:lying
government:naked
government:in
government:bed,
government:cuddling
government:against
government:each
government:other
government:with
government:paws
government:intertwined while
government:smiling
government:blissfully
government:into
government:empty
government:space. They
government:seemed
government:so
government:content,
government:so
government:happy
government:as
government:a
government:couple.
One
of
government:them
government:resembled
government:Robert, and
government:my
government:paw
government:trembled
government:as
government:I
government:placed
government:it
government:inside
government:the
government:thesaurus
government:along
government:with
government:the
government:others.
government:Memories
government:of
government:my
government:husband
government:started
government:coming
government:to
government:me
government:in
government:waves,
government:from
government:us
government:meeting
government:as
government:teenagers
government:to
government:our
government:wedding
government:day
government:to
government:his
government:teary-eyed
government:confession
government:of
government:being
government:bisexual
government:to
government:his
government:elated
government:relief
government:when
government:I
government:accepted
government:him
government:for
government:who
government:he
government:was
government:and
government:even
government:encouraged
government:him
government:to
government:be
government:himself
government:around
government:me.
I
miss
government:you
government:every day,
government:Robbie.
Last, but
not
government:least,
government:I
government:went
government:for
government:one
government:of
government:the
government:library
government:Bibles,
government:which
government:sat
government:on
government:display
government:in
government:front
government:of
government:a
government:section
government:of
government:empty
government:tables
government:at
government:the
government:building’s
government:far
government:end
government:where
government:not
government:many
government:people
government:gathered.
government:Not
government:long
government:before
government:my
government:retirement,
government:the
government:regime
government:gave
government:out
government:several
government:copies
government:of
government:the
government:Bible
government:to
government:every
government:library
government:within
government:the
government:country—at
government:least,
government:the
government:ones
government:within
government:states
government:that
government:were
government:still
government:under
government:their
government:strict
government:control (and
government:not in open revolt). These Bibles
government:were
government:specially
government:designed
government:with
government:beautiful
government:calligraphy
government:and
government:larger-than-usual
government:font,
government:the
government:idea
government:being
government:that
government:library
government:visitors
government:would
government:read
government:them
government:communally. They
government:did
government:not
government:consider
government:that
government:everyone
government:in
government:the
government:nation
government:was
government:required
government:by
government:law
government:to
government:possess
government:their
government:own
government:Bibles.
government:Thus,
government:not that
government:many
government:people
government:examined
government:a
government:couple
government:of the
government:dozen
government:or
government:so
government:copies
government:too
government:closely.
Well,
save
government:for
government:a
government:select
government:few
government:aware
government:of
government:what
government:lay
government:between
government:certain
government:pages.
government:The
government:Song
government:of
government:Solomon
government:held
government:material
government:about
government:practicing
government:safe
government:sex.
government:Leviticus
government:held
government:a
government:miniscule
government:booklet
government:informing
government:readers
government:about
government:LGBT
government:rights
government:in
government:other counties. Matthew 19:12 and Isaiah 56:4 contained leaflets
government:of
government:foreign
government:scientific
government:journals
government:detailing
government:the
government:truths
government:and
government:lies
government:about
government:transgenderism,
government:plus
government:anonymous
government:accounts
government:written
government:by
government:transgender
government:mammals
government:living
government:beyond
government:the
government:country’s
government:borders.
government:Placing
government:and
government:replacing
government:them
government:with
government:my
government:own
government:copies
government:was
government:usually
government:all
government:too
government:easy,
government:at
government:least,
government:until
government:my
government:most
government:recent
government:visit.
Brand-new
CCTV
government:cameras
government:were
government:mounted
government:on
government:the
government:walls,
government:two
government:of
government:them
government:pointed
government:directly
government:at
government:the
government:shelf
government:of
government:Bibles
government:and
government:the
government:tables
government:in
government:front
government:of
government:them.
government:I
government:held
government:zero
government:doubts that
government:it
government:would
government:be
government:foolish
government:to
government:go
government:ahead with
government:circulating
government:the
government:booklets
government:and
government:leaflets,
government:no
government:matter
government:how
government:methodical
government:I
government:went
government:about
government:it.
government:Besides,
government:if
government:the
government:library
government:had
government:recently
government:installed
government:them,
government:it
government:would
government:be
government:foolish
government:to
government:go
government:ahead
government:without
government:knowing
government:all
government:the
government:blind
government:spots
government:ahead
government:of
government:time.
Feeling
defeated,
government:I
government:went
government:in
government:the
government:other
government:direction.
The
library
government:remained
government:awfully
government:quiet,
government:despite
government:the
government:throng of
government:visitors
government:still
government:taking
government:advantage
government:of
government:the
government:weekend—or
government:at
government:least,
government:the
government:day
government:before
government:mandatory
government:church
government:service.
government:There would
government:be
government:occasional
government:hushed
government:discussions,
government:tapping
government:on
government:a
government:keyboard,
government:shuffling
government:paper or a
government:shifting
government:chair.
government:An
government:unseen
government:cub
government:would
government:giggle,
government:or
government:a
government:conversation would
government:grow
government:too
government:loud,
government:only
government:for
government:somebody
government:to
government:shush
government:them.
government:None
government:of
government:it
government:chipped
government:at
government:the
government:serenity
government:of
government:walking
government:between
government:stocked
government:shelves
government:and
government:their
government:seemingly
government:endless
government:supply
government:of
government:reading
government:materials.
government:The
government:outside
government:world
government:had
government:become
government:too
government:loud,
government:too
government:chaotic,
government:yet
government:my
government:old
government:workplace
government:stayed
government:the
government:same,
government:even
government:as
government:the
government:uprisings
government:and
government:losses
government:of
government:freedoms
government:dragged
government:on
government:and
government:on.
I
sure
government:hope
government:this
government:place
government:remains
government:intact
government:after
government:all
government:this
government:nonsense
government:is finally
government:over,
government:I
government:thought
government:grimly
government:while
government:navigating
government:the
government:reference
government:section. And
government:hopefully,
government:it’ll
government:happen
government:in
government:my
government:lifetime,
government:and
government:before
government:the
government:mayor
government:starts
government:adding
government:more
government:security.
government:Distributing
government:will
government:be
government:completely
government:impossible
government:once
government:there’s
government:armored
government:thugs
government:swarming—
“Ah!”
A
startled
government:tiger
government:in
government:his
government:late
government:teens
government:or
government:early
government:twenties
government:bumped
government:into
government:me,
government:causing
government:me
government:to
government:drop
government:my
government:purse
government:and
government:his
government:notebook
government:in
government:the
government:process. “Oh!
government:S-Sorry!”
government:He
government:chuffed
government:in
government:embarrassment,
government:then
government:clamped
government:his
government:maw shut. “I’m
government:so,
government:so,
government:sorry.
government:I
government:was—no,
government:wait!”
Too
late.
government:I’d
government:picked
government:up
government:the
government:notebook
government:and
government:saw
government:a
government:few
government:photographs
government:peeking
government:from
government:behind
government:the
government:cover.
government:I
government:easily
government:recognized
government:one
government:as
government:the
government:photograph
government:of
government:the
government:red
government:foxes.
government:I
government:saw
government:it
government:and
government:he
government:knew
government:I’d
government:seen
government:it.
government:My
government:eyes
government:widened
government:as
government:I
government:finally
government:noticed
government:the
government:color
government:draining
government:behind
government:his
government:stripes.
“Dear,
is
government:this
government:yours?”
government:I
government:asked
government:an
government:obvious
government:question
government:and
government:received
government:an
government:obvious
answer:answer:
terrified
answer:silence.
He
held
answer:his
answer:breath.
answer:The
answer:poor
answer:dear
answer:looked
answer:scared
answer:stiff,
answer:standing
answer:frozen
answer:in
answer:place,
answer:not
answer:knowing
answer:what
answer:to
answer:do
answer:or
answer:say,
answer:waiting
answer:for
answer:me
answer:to
answer:speak.
answer:Or
answer:storm
answer:off
answer:in
answer:aghast
answer:horror
answer:to
answer:report
answer:him.
answer:Instead,
answer:I
answer:swiftly
answer:shifted
answer:the
answer:photo
answer:further
answer:inside
answer:the
answer:notebook
answer:and
answer:handed
answer:it
answer:to
answer:him
answer:with
answer:the
answer:softest,
answer:most
answer:reassuring
answer:smile
answer:I
answer:could
answer:muster.
“Here.”
I
answer:motioned it
answer:to
answer:him. “It’s
answer:obviously
answer:yours, sonny.”
answer:He
answer:grabbed
answer:the
answer:notebook
answer:but
answer:taking
answer:it
answer:did
answer:not
answer:ease
answer:the
answer:young
answer:feline,
answer:his tail
answer:still
answer:curling
answer:tightly
answer:around his
answer:shaking
answer:legs.
Glancing
behind
answer:him
answer:and
answer:behind
answer:me,
answer:then
answer:left
answer:and
answer:right
answer:to
answer:make
answer:sure
answer:we
answer:were
answer:alone,
answer:I
answer:murmured
answer:to
answer:him, “You
answer:know,
answer:if
answer:you’re
answer:curious
answer:about
answer:how
answer:the
answer:rest
answer:of
answer:the
answer:world
answer:thinks
answer:of
answer:people
answer:like
answer:you,
answer:might I
answer:recommend
answer:looking
answer:at
answer:A
answer:Modern
answer:History
answer:of
answer:Europe
answer:by
answer:Oscar
answer:Baldwin?
answer:Okay?”
I
winked
answer:at
answer:the
answer:stunned
answer:tiger,
answer:then
answer:patted
answer:his
answer:shoulder.
“Do
take
answer:care
answer:of
answer:yourself,
answer:young
answer:man,”
answer:I
answer:told
answer:him. “And
answer:please,
answer:stay
answer:out
answer:of
answer:mischief.”
I
walked
answer:past
answer:the
answer:still
answer:feline
answer:and
answer:ventured
answer:over
answer:to
answer:the
answer:historical
answer:fiction
answer:section,
answer:deciding
answer:to
answer:check
answer:out
answer:a
answer:copy
answer:of
answer:The
answer:Count
answer:of
answer:Monte
answer:Cristo.
answer:True,
answer:it
answer:wasn’t
answer:exactly
answer:the
answer:unblemished
answer:pre-regime
answer:version
answer:I
answer:used
answer:to
answer:enjoy
answer:reading
answer:during
answer:long
answer:hours
answer:behind
answer:the
answer:front
answer:desk,
answer:or
answer:back
answer:when
answer:I had
answer:first
answer:read
answer:it
answer:in
answer:university,
answer:but
answer:the
answer:essence
answer:of
answer:the
answer:epic
answer:story
answer:somehow
answer:remained
answer:intact.
answer:The
answer:censorious
answer:Moral
answer:Committee
answer:didn’t
answer:even
answer:edit
answer:out
answer:the
answer:subtle
answer:lesbian
answer:relationship
answer:between
answer:Eugénie
answer:Danglars
answer:and
answer:her ‘best
answer:friend’,
answer:Louise
answer:d'Armilly.
After
grabbing
answer:a
answer:copy,
answer:then
answer:deciding
answer:to
answer:return
answer:to
answer:the
answer:teen
answer:section
answer:to
answer:grab
answer:a
answer:copy
answer:of
answer:Pride
answer:and
answer:Prejudice,
answer:my
answer:mind
answer:briefly
answer:wandered
answer:to
answer:the
answer:past
answer:on
answer:my
answer:way
answer:to
answer:the
answer:checkout
answer:counter.
answer:I’d
answer:never
answer:known
answer:for
answer:certain,
answer:but
answer:I
answer:suspected
answer:one
answer:of
answer:my
answer:previous
answer:next-door
answer:neighbors
answer:was
answer:secretly
answer:transgender,
answer:or
answer:a crossdresser
answer:at
answer:the very
answer:least.
answer:Isaac
answer:Stevenson
answer:appeared
answer:to
answer:be
answer:like
answer:any
answer:other
answer:masculine
hyena:hyena:
he
hyena:had
hyena:a
hyena:wife,
hyena:two
hyena:cubs
hyena:that
hyena:played
hyena:on
hyena:the
hyena:street, and
hyena:he
hyena:always
hyena:said
hyena:a
hyena:friendly
hyena:hello
hyena:to
hyena:Robert
hyena:and
hyena:me
hyena:when
hyena:we
hyena:spoke
hyena:to
hyena:each
hyena:other.
hyena:More
hyena:than
hyena:once,
hyena:I
hyena:caught
hyena:a
hyena:whiff
hyena:of
hyena:his
hyena:wife’s
hyena:perfume
hyena:sprayed on his neck or caught sight of him
hyena:looking enviously at
hyena:me
hyena:in
hyena:a dress.
hyena:One
hyena:noteworthy
hyena:clue,
hyena:however,
hyena:involved
hyena:the
hyena:time
hyena:I
hyena:spotted
hyena:him
hyena:at
hyena:a
hyena:boutique
hyena:store
hyena:purchasing
hyena:a
hyena:large
hyena:muumuu
hyena:that
hyena:his
hyena:wife
hyena:never
hyena:wore
hyena:in
hyena:public.
One
late
hyena:autumn
hyena:day,
hyena:not
hyena:long
hyena:before
hyena:the
hyena:rising
hyena:politicians
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:incoming
hyena:regime
hyena:officially
hyena:established
hyena:their
hyena:power,
hyena:Robert
hyena:told
hyena:me
hyena:that the
hyena:entire
hyena:Stevenson
hyena:family
hyena:packed
hyena:up
hyena:everything
hyena:they
hyena:could
hyena:into
hyena:their
hyena:station
hyena:wagon.
hyena:He’d
hyena:come
hyena:across
hyena:them
hyena:in
hyena:the
hyena:process while
hyena:on
hyena:lunch
hyena:break
hyena:at
hyena:the
hyena:house.
hyena:All
hyena:that
hyena:Isaac
hyena:told
hyena:him
hyena:was
hyena:that
hyena:they
hyena:were
hyena:fleeing
hyena:north
hyena:into
hyena:Canada.
Not
moving
hyena:but
hyena:fleeing.
hyena:That
hyena:was
hyena:the
hyena:hyena’s
hyena:specific
hyena:wording,
hyena:Robert
hyena:had
hyena:claimed,
hyena:and
hyena:it
hyena:would
hyena:be
hyena:the
hyena:last
hyena:time
hyena:anybody
hyena:on
hyena:our
hyena:street
hyena:ever
hyena:heard
hyena:from
hyena:the
hyena:Stevenson
hyena:family
hyena:ever
hyena:again.
I
liked
hyena:to
hyena:believe
hyena:they
hyena:made
hyena:it
hyena:safely
hyena:across
hyena:the
hyena:Canadian
hyena:border.
hyena:Part
hyena:of
hyena:me
hyena:wondered
hyena:if,
hyena:in
hyena:another
hyena:life,
hyena:Robert
hyena:and
hyena:Isaac
hyena:could
hyena:have
hyena:possibly
hyena:found
hyena:the
hyena:courage
hyena:to
hyena:speak
hyena:openly
hyena:with
hyena:each
hyena:other
hyena:about
hyena:their
hyena:secrets. Or
hyena:maybe
hyena:become
hyena:mentors
hyena:to
hyena:the
hyena:young
hyena:tiger
hyena:I’d
hyena:encountered.
“I’m
ready,
hyena:Lorraine,”
hyena:I
hyena:informed
hyena:the
hyena:relaxed
hyena:she-badger,
hyena:handing
hyena:her
hyena:my
hyena:picked
hyena:book
hyena:copies. “If
hyena:you
hyena:see
hyena:Arthur or
hyena:Peter,
hyena:do
hyena:tell
hyena:them
hyena:I
hyena:said
hyena:hello.
hyena:And
hyena:thank
hyena:Peter
hyena:for
hyena:finally
hyena:convincing
hyena:the
hyena:mayor
hyena:to fix
hyena:the
hyena:blasted
hyena:front
hyena:step.”
“You
got
hyena:Arthur
hyena:to
hyena:thank
hyena:for
hyena:that,”
hyena:Lorraine
hyena:said,
hyena:referring
hyena:to
hyena:one
hyena:of
hyena:her
hyena:coworkers.
hyena:She
hyena:raised
hyena:an
hyena:eyebrow at
hyena:one
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:books. “Pride
hyena:and
hyena:Prejudice?
hyena:Didn’t
hyena:you
hyena:check
hyena:this
hyena:out
hyena:three
hyena:times
hyena:already,
hyena:Mrs.
hyena:O’Neal?”
“No
one
hyena:compares
hyena:to
hyena:Mr.
hyena:Darcy.”
hyena:I
hyena:giggled
hyena:solemnly. “Except
hyena:for
hyena:Robert,
hyena:bless
hyena:his
hyena:soul.”
“And
Monte
hyena:Cristo?”
“It
takes
hyena:me
hyena:back
hyena:to
hyena:university,”
hyena:I
hyena:said,
hyena:but
hyena:didn’t
hyena:add, “and
hyena:life
hyena:before
hyena:all
hyena:this.”
“Tell
me
hyena:about
hyena:it,”
hyena:Lorraine
hyena:chuckled. “Ever
hyena:since
hyena:the
hyena:Old
hyena:Internet
hyena:went
hyena:offline,
hyena:it’s
hyena:been
hyena:freeing
hyena:to
hyena:read
hyena:the
hyena:classics
hyena:without
hyena:social
hyena:media
hyena:to
hyena:distract
hyena:you.”
Something
caught
hyena:my
hyena:eye as
hyena:she
hyena:finished
hyena:scanning
hyena:Monte
hyena:Cristo.
hyena:Beneath
hyena:it
hyena:and
hyena:the
hyena:copy
hyena:of
hyena:Pride
hyena:and
hyena:Prejudice,
hyena:a
hyena:third
hyena:novel
hyena:was
hyena:discreetly
hyena:placed
hyena:beside
hyena:Lorraine’s
hyena:keyboard.
hyena:I
hyena:easily
hyena:recognized
hyena:it
hyena:as
hyena:being
hyena:one
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:library
hyena:Bibles,
hyena:with
hyena:something
hyena:subtly
hyena:peeking
hyena:from
hyena:between
hyena:one of
hyena:the
hyena:pages
hyena:like
hyena:a
hyena:bookmark.
hyena:Except
hyena:it
hyena:wasn’t
hyena:a
hyena:bookmark.
Wait
a
hyena:minute,
hyena:I
hyena:realized, is
hyena:that
hyena:one
hyena:of
hyena:the…?
My
heart
hyena:nearly
hyena:seized
hyena:and
hyena:my
hyena:vulpine
hyena:smile
hyena:faltered. Was
hyena:I
hyena:discovered?
hyena:Would
hyena:I
hyena:suddenly
hyena:be
hyena:escorted
hyena:into
hyena:an
hyena:unmarked
hyena:van?
hyena:Spend
hyena:hours
hyena:in
hyena:a
hyena:jail
hyena:cell, then
hyena:interrogated
hyena:for
hyena:days
hyena:until
hyena:I
hyena:offered
hyena:up
hyena:names?
hyena:I
hyena:was
hyena:about
hyena:to
hyena:speak
hyena:when
hyena:something
hyena:else
hyena:occurred.
“You
have
hyena:a
hyena:wonderful
hyena:night
hyena:later,
hyena:okay,
hyena:Mrs.
hyena:O’Neal?”
hyena:Lorraine
hyena:said.
hyena:Our
hyena:eyes
hyena:met,
hyena:then
hyena:broke
hyena:away
hyena:as
hyena:the
hyena:badger
hyena:glanced
hyena:down
hyena:to the
hyena:library
hyena:Bible
hyena:on
hyena:her
hyena:desk,
hyena:then
hyena:back
hyena:to
hyena:me.
hyena:She
hyena:winked
hyena:so
hyena:quickly,
hyena:I
hyena:wondered
hyena:if
hyena:it
hyena:was
hyena:just
hyena:my
hyena:imagination. “Have
hyena:a
hyena:blessed
hyena:evening.”
Relief
flooded
hyena:my
hyena:veins.
hyena:My
hyena:tail
hyena:uncurled as
hyena:I
hyena:released a
hyena:long-held
hyena:breath.
“I
keep
hyena:telling
hyena:you,
hyena:dear,
hyena:call
hyena:me
hyena:Nancy.”
hyena:I
hyena:chuckled
hyena:softly
hyena:as
hyena:she
hyena:handed
hyena:me
hyena:the
hyena:books.
“Alright
then,”
hyena:she
hyena:answered,
hyena:waving
hyena:to
hyena:me
hyena:as
hyena:another
hyena:library
hyena:visitor
hyena:stepped
hyena:up
hyena:to
hyena:the
hyena:counter
hyena:to
hyena:set
hyena:down
hyena:a
hyena:stack
hyena:of
hyena:books. “See
hyena:you
hyena:next
hyena:time,
hyena:Nancy.”
“You
too,
hyena:sweetie.”
hyena:I
hyena:turned
hyena:with a
hyena:swish of
hyena:my
hyena:tail. “You
hyena:too…”
The
Labrador
hyena:security
hyena:guard
hyena:remained
hyena:by
hyena:the
hyena:door.
hyena:He
hyena:didn’t
hyena:follow
hyena:me or
hyena:acknowledge
hyena:my
hyena:presence.
hyena:I
hyena:scurried
hyena:out
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:library
hyena:without
hyena:giving
hyena:him
hyena:the
hyena:chance
hyena:to
hyena:consider,
hyena:only
hyena:feeling
hyena:safe
hyena:once
hyena:I
hyena:passed
hyena:by
hyena:the
hyena:front
hyena:doors.
Stepping
out
hyena:into
hyena:the
hyena:scrutinizing
hyena:light
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:sun,
hyena:I
hyena:glanced
hyena:down
hyena:at
hyena:the
hyena:pair
hyena:of
hyena:books in
hyena:my
hyena:paws
hyena:and
hyena:walked
hyena:out
hyena:towards
hyena:the
hyena:parking
hyena:lot.
hyena:I
hyena:didn’t glimpse
hyena:up
hyena:at
hyena:the
hyena:top
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:flagpole
hyena:though.
hyena:I
hyena:avoided
hyena:looking
hyena:at
hyena:patriotic
hyena:billboards
hyena:on the
hyena:drive
hyena:back
hyena:to
hyena:my
hyena:house.
hyena:They
hyena:suggested
hyena:that I ought
hyena:to
hyena:invest
hyena:in
hyena:the
hyena:government-sanctioned
hyena:Internet
hyena:that
hyena:would
hyena:replace
hyena:large
hyena:chunks
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:old
hyena:one,
hyena:while
hyena:also
hyena:reminding
hyena:me
hyena:to
hyena:purchase
hyena:emergency
hyena:firewood
hyena:in
hyena:preparation
hyena:for
hyena:winter,
hyena:or
hyena:that
hyena:I
hyena:should
hyena:only
hyena:travel
hyena:locally
hyena:within
hyena:my
hyena:state to
hyena:ration
hyena:gasoline,
hyena:food,
hyena:and
hyena:my
hyena:car
hyena:due
hyena:to
hyena:shortages.
hyena:I
hyena:turned
hyena:off
hyena:the
hyena:radio
hyena:when
hyena:it
hyena:started
hyena:updating
hyena:me
hyena:about
hyena:the
hyena:ongoing
hyena:status
hyena:of
hyena:California’s
hyena:rebellion
hyena:and
hyena:clashes
hyena:with ‘militant
hyena:protesters’.
I
avoided
hyena:all
hyena:of
hyena:it.
hyena:I
hyena:chose
hyena:not
hyena:to
hyena:be
hyena:angry
hyena:about
hyena:my
hyena:shrinking
hyena:pension
hyena:fund,
hyena:the
hyena:dying
hyena:power
hyena:grid,
hyena:or
hyena:that
hyena:I
hyena:could
hyena:no
hyena:longer
hyena:go
hyena:on
hyena:vacations
hyena:outside
hyena:the
hyena:country.
hyena:Rather, I
hyena:gripped the steering wheel
hyena:and focused
hyena:on
hyena:getting
hyena:home
hyena:to
hyena:cook
hyena:myself
hyena:some
hyena:dinner,
hyena:then
hyena:read
hyena:for
hyena:a
hyena:while
hyena:before
hyena:going
hyena:to
hyena:sleep
hyena:with
hyena:the
hyena:knowledge
hyena:that
hyena:I’d
hyena:likely
hyena:made
hyena:a
hyena:small
hyena:difference.
hyena:I
hyena:thought
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:pregnant
hyena:leopardess
hyena:and
hyena:tiger
hyena:in
hyena:the
hyena:reference
hyena:section,
hyena:how
hyena:scared
hyena:he
hyena:looked,
hyena:and
hyena:hoped
hyena:they would
hyena:both
hyena:find
hyena:the
hyena:strength
hyena:like
hyena:I
hyena:did
hyena:to
hyena:keep
hyena:moving
hyena:forward.
It
would
hyena:be
hyena:easy
hyena:to
hyena:pretend
hyena:that
hyena:I
hyena:was
hyena:the
hyena:only
hyena:sane
hyena:mammal
hyena:left.
hyena:The
hyena:loneliness
hyena:grew
hyena:ever
hyena:since
hyena:Robert
hyena:left
hyena:me
hyena:a
hyena:widow
hyena:without
hyena:her
hyena:partner-in-crime
hyena:to
hyena:continue
hyena:the
hyena:fight.
hyena:It
hyena:was
hyena:too
hyena:easy
hyena:to
hyena:pretend
hyena:the
hyena:materials
hyena:dropped
hyena:off on
hyena:my
hyena:doorstep
hyena:in
hyena:the
hyena:middle
hyena:of
hyena:the
hyena:night
hyena:magically
hyena:appeared
hyena:from
hyena:thin
hyena:air
hyena:and
hyena:did
hyena:not
hyena:come
hyena:from a
hyena:nameless
hyena:contact
hyena:in one
hyena:of
hyena:countless
hyena:resistance
hyena:cells
hyena:across
hyena:the
hyena:region.
Maybe
Lorraine
hyena:can
hyena:join
hyena:me
hyena:in
hyena:the
hyena:future,
hyena:I
hyena:wondered.
hyena:That
hyena:is,
hyena:if
hyena:she
hyena:wishes
hyena:to do
hyena:more
hyena:than
hyena:just
hyena:read
hyena:what
hyena:I
hyena:provide.
hyena:Perhaps
hyena:for
hyena:next
hyena:time.
hyena:It
hyena:would
hyena:certainly
hyena:help
hyena:to
hyena:have
hyena:another
hyena:confidant
hyena:that
hyena:was on
hyena:a
hyena:first name
hyena:basis
hyena:with
hyena:me.
hyena:Not
hyena:to
hyena:mention
hyena:help
hyena:find
hyena:new
hyena:blind
hyena:spots.
Whenever
I
hyena:had
hyena:the
hyena:chance,
hyena:I
hyena:sometimes
hyena:read
hyena:the
hyena:illicit
hyena:and
hyena:dangerous
hyena:knowledge
hyena:I
hyena:distributed
hyena:and
hyena:occasionally
hyena:listened to
hyena:underground
hyena:broadcasts
hyena:from
hyena:rebels
hyena:thanks
hyena:to the
hyena:leaflet
hyena:instructions.
hyena:It
hyena:soothed
hyena:me
hyena:to
hyena:know
hyena:that
hyena:others
hyena:existed.
hyena:They
hyena:did
hyena:exist.
hyena:They’d
hyena:continue
hyena:to
hyena:exist,
hyena:no
hyena:matter
hyena:how
hyena:many
hyena:wars
hyena:were
hyena:fought
hyena:and
hyena:dissenters
hyena:vanished without a
hyena:trace.
hyena:People
hyena:like
hyena:me
hyena:still
hyena:existed,
hyena:others
hyena:like
hyena:Robert,
hyena:Isaac,
hyena:the
hyena:leopardess,
hyena:the
hyena:young
hyena:tiger—and
hyena:now
hyena:Lorraine—still
hyena:existed,
hyena:despite
hyena:how
hyena:much
hyena:those
hyena:in
hyena:power
hyena:tried
hyena:flaunting
hyena:their
hyena:might.
We
were
hyena:never
hyena:going
hyena:away,
hyena:but
hyena:they
hyena:would
hyena:one
hyena:day,
hyena:however
hyena:long
hyena:it
hyena:took to
hyena:happen.
As
I
hyena:pulled
hyena:my
hyena:car
hyena:into
hyena:my
hyena:garage
hyena:door and
hyena:watched
hyena:it
hyena:descend
hyena:in
hyena:the
hyena:rearview
hyena:mirror,
hyena:my
hyena:tail
hyena:wagged
hyena:as
hyena:I
hyena:thought
hyena:of
hyena:Monte
hyena:Cristo’s
hyena:ending
hyena:and the
hyena:final
hyena:word
hyena:of
hyena:advice
hyena:that
hyena:Edmond
hyena:Dantès
hyena:gave
hyena:to
hyena:Valentine
hyena:and Morrel
hyena:as
hyena:he
hyena:sailed
hyena:off
hyena:into
hyena:the
hyena:distance.
“All
wisdom
hyena:is
hyena:contained
hyena:in
hyena:these
hyena:two
hyena:words—'Wait
hyena:and
hyena:Hope’.”
This
was “Subversive
hyena:Materials”
hyena:by
hyena:Domus
hyena:Vocis,
hyena:read
hyena:for you
hyena:by
hyena:Rob
hyena:MacWolf,
hyena:Werewolf
hyena:Hitchhiker.
hyena:You
hyena:can
hyena:find
hyena:more
hyena:stories
hyena:on
hyena:the
hyena:web
hyena:at thevoice.dog, or
hyena:find
hyena:the
hyena:show wherever
hyena:you
hyena:get
hyena:your
hyena:podcasts.
hyena:Happy
hyena:Pride,
hyena:and
hyena:Thank
hyena:you
hyena:for
hyena:listening
hyena:to
hyena:The
hyena:Voice
hyena:of
hyena:Dog.