Shownotes
When Joe’s father dies, he must face the world without him. But he soon discovers that strength comes from many places.
Today’s story is “Winterfall: Empty Places” by Lauren Rivers, Author of Blue Moon by Iridescence Studios, and you can find more of her stories on Furaffinity.
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/winterfall-empty-places-by-lauren-rivers
Transcripts
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “Winterfall:
Speaker:Empty
Speaker:Places”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Lauren
Speaker:Rivers,
Speaker:Author
Speaker:of
Speaker:Blue
Speaker:Moon
Speaker:by
Speaker:Iridescence
Speaker:Studios, and
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:Furaffinity.
Please
enjoy
“Winterfall:
Empty
Speaker:Places”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Lauren
Speaker:Rivers
“Come
on,
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:late,”
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:said
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:her
Speaker:coat
Speaker:and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:it
Speaker:around
Speaker:herself.
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:acknowledged
Speaker:her
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:nod,
Speaker:absentmindedly
Speaker:fiddling
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:zipper
Speaker:while
Speaker:he
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:empty
Speaker:chair
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:table.
Speaker:Following
Speaker:along
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:him
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:door
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold
Speaker:he
Speaker:stared
Speaker:upward
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:imposing
Speaker:sight
Speaker:of
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:destination
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:lifeblood
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:where
Speaker:his
Speaker:father
Speaker:had
Speaker:worked
Speaker:for
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:adult
Speaker:life.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:also
Speaker:where
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:died.
Belonging
to
Speaker:the
Speaker:burn
Speaker:team,
Speaker:his
Speaker:father
Speaker:had
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:dangerous
Speaker:jobs
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:city.
Speaker:Operating
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:clock
Speaker:they
Speaker:oversaw
Speaker:the
Speaker:constant
Speaker:feeding
Speaker:of
Speaker:coal
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:massive
Speaker:steam
Speaker:furnace
Speaker:that
Speaker:kept
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:alive.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:thankless
Speaker:task
Speaker:undertaken
Speaker:by
Speaker:those
Speaker:who
Speaker:were
Speaker:not
Speaker:fortunate
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:earn
Speaker:their
Speaker:way
Speaker:into
Speaker:more
Speaker:skilled
Speaker:professions
Speaker:such
Speaker:as
Speaker:administration,
Speaker:agriculture,
Speaker:or
Speaker:maintenance.
Speaker:Yet
Speaker:without
Speaker:them
Speaker:the
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:burn,
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:provide
Speaker:its
Speaker:life-giving
Speaker:energy
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city.
Speaker:One
Speaker:would
Speaker:expect that
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:fact
Speaker:would
Speaker:earn
Speaker:them
Speaker:some
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:recompense
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:efforts.
All
it
Speaker:got
Speaker:them
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:shack
Speaker:barely
Speaker:worth
Speaker:the
Speaker:name
Speaker:far
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:central
Speaker:heat
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city’s
Speaker:beating
Speaker:heart,
Speaker:and a
Speaker:short
Speaker:funeral.
Speaker:Trudging
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow,
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:stuffed
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:pockets.
Speaker:Unable
Speaker:to
Speaker:afford
Speaker:gloves
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:ration
Speaker:allowance,
Speaker:he
Speaker:felt
Speaker:a
Speaker:chill
Speaker:right
Speaker:through
Speaker:his
Speaker:fur
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:kids
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Central
Speaker:Nexus
Speaker:wore
Speaker:scarves.
Speaker:Walking
Speaker:past
Speaker:them
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:tell
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:had
Speaker:never
Speaker:seen
Speaker:the
Speaker:inside
Speaker:of
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle.
Speaker:Their fur
Speaker:was
Speaker:pristine,
Speaker:their
Speaker:coats
Speaker:lacking
Speaker:the
Speaker:tears
Speaker:and
Speaker:rips
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:displayed.
Avoiding
eye
Speaker:contact,
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:their
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:back,
Speaker:almost
Speaker:certain
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:something
Speaker:nasty.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:wanting
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:day,
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:followed
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:entryway.
Funerals
in
Speaker:Coldhaven
Speaker:were
Speaker:short,
Speaker:and
Speaker:generally
Speaker:only
Speaker:attended
Speaker:by
Speaker:immediate
Speaker:family
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:well-wishers.
Speaker:Due
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:status
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:burn
Speaker:team,
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:teammates
Speaker:had
Speaker:made
Speaker:a
Speaker:special
Speaker:effort
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:here.
Speaker:Dressed
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:work
Speaker:uniforms
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:only
Speaker:permitted
Speaker:a
Speaker:brief
Speaker:break
Speaker:from
Speaker:their
Speaker:duties
Speaker:to
Speaker:attend.
Speaker:Most
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:had
Speaker:coal
Speaker:dust
Speaker:covering
Speaker:their
Speaker:clothes
Speaker:and
Speaker:all of them
Speaker:had
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:some
Speaker:darkening
Speaker:their
Speaker:fur.
Speaker:Some
Speaker:would
Speaker:view
Speaker:it
Speaker:as
Speaker:dirty,
Speaker:but to
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:who
Speaker:worked
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:badges
Speaker:of
Speaker:honor.
As
they
Speaker:made
Speaker:their
Speaker:way
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowd,
Speaker:every
Speaker:person
Speaker:they
Speaker:passed
Speaker:offered
Speaker:their
Speaker:condolences
Speaker:and
Speaker:expressed
Speaker:their
Speaker:respect
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:father.
Speaker:His
Speaker:mother
Speaker:graciously
Speaker:thanked
Speaker:them,
Speaker:but
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:part
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:simply
Speaker:nodded.
Both
Joe
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:took
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:spot
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:center
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:row
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:reserved
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:family
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:deceased.
Speaker:Before
Speaker:them
Speaker:stood
Speaker:the
Speaker:administrator
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:conducting
Speaker:the
Speaker:service.
The
leopard
Speaker:seal
Speaker:stood
Speaker:before
Speaker:them
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:look
Speaker:of
Speaker:condolence upon
Speaker:his
Speaker:face. “Mrs.
Speaker:Kennedy.
Speaker:My
Speaker:sympathies
Speaker:for
Speaker:your
Speaker:loss.”
“Thank
you.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:my
Speaker:son,
Speaker:Joseph.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:her
Speaker:arm
Speaker:around
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:inched him
Speaker:forward.
“Joe,”
he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:preferring
Speaker:the
Speaker:shorter
Speaker:version
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:name.
“A
handsome
Speaker:young
Speaker:man,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:replied. “We’re
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:begin
Speaker:shortly.
Speaker:Would
Speaker:you
Speaker:prefer
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:here
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:incineration?”
“Yes,”
she
Speaker:replied. “I
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
Speaker:Joseph
Speaker:may
Speaker:stay
Speaker:or
Speaker:go,
Speaker:depending
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:preference.”
“As
you
Speaker:wish,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said.
Speaker:Moving
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:center
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:space,
Speaker:he
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:webbed
Speaker:paws. “All
Speaker:of
Speaker:you,
Speaker:please
Speaker:take
Speaker:your
Speaker:places.” He
Speaker:waited
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:moments
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:conversations
Speaker:to
Speaker:die
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:attendees
Speaker:to
Speaker:settle into
Speaker:nice,
Speaker:neat
Speaker:rows.
Speaker:Behind
Speaker:him,
Speaker:the
Speaker:shrouded
Speaker:figure
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:body
Speaker:lay
Speaker:resting
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:conveyor
Speaker:belt
Speaker:designated
Speaker:for
Speaker:this
Speaker:purpose.
Speaker:Wearing
Speaker:only
Speaker:his fur,
Speaker:his
Speaker:form
Speaker:was
Speaker:covered
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:sheet
Speaker:that
Speaker:concealed
Speaker:his
Speaker:features
Speaker:but
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:disguise
Speaker:his
Speaker:clear
Speaker:ursine
Speaker:shape
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:beige
Speaker:fabric.
Speaker:Tradition
Speaker:and
Speaker:practicality
Speaker:required
Speaker:that
Speaker:his
Speaker:clothes
Speaker:and
Speaker:other
Speaker:useful
Speaker:items
Speaker:were
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:distributed
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:population,
Speaker:but
Speaker:his
Speaker:widow
Speaker:was
Speaker:permitted
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:personal
Speaker:effects.
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:shuffled in
Speaker:place and
Speaker:lowered
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:administrator
Speaker:began
Speaker:the
Speaker:service. “Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:all
Speaker:for
Speaker:coming.
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:work
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:make
Speaker:this
Speaker:brief.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:paused
Speaker:and
Speaker:held
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:clasped
Speaker:in front of
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest. “Alexander
Speaker:Kennedy
Speaker:served
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:burn
Speaker:team
Speaker:for
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:career.
Speaker:He
Speaker:kept
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:burning
Speaker:with
Speaker:every
Speaker:piece
Speaker:of
Speaker:coal
Speaker:he
Speaker:placed
Speaker:within
Speaker:it.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:never
Speaker:thank
Speaker:him
Speaker:enough
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:work
Speaker:he
Speaker:did
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:running.”
Speaker:A
Speaker:moment
Speaker:of
Speaker:silence. “It
Speaker:is
Speaker:tradition
Speaker:when
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:dies
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:body
Speaker:to be placed
Speaker:into
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:final
Speaker:sacrifice
Speaker:shall provide
Speaker:those
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:left
Speaker:behind
Speaker:with
Speaker:their
Speaker:most
Speaker:precious
Speaker:gift.
Speaker:As
Speaker:their
Speaker:heat
Speaker:returns
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:city,
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:reminded
Speaker:of
Speaker:all
Speaker:it
Speaker:has
Speaker:done
Speaker:to
Speaker:shelter
Speaker:us.
Speaker:May its
Speaker:flame
Speaker:continue
Speaker:to
Speaker:burn
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:symbol
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:survival.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:sermon
Speaker:completed,
Speaker:he turned and
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:the
Speaker:button
Speaker:that
Speaker:began
Speaker:the
Speaker:slow
Speaker:journey
Speaker:to
Speaker:deliver
Speaker:the
Speaker:body
Speaker:to
Speaker:its
Speaker:final
Speaker:destination.
Joe’s paw
flew
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest as
Speaker:the
Speaker:shape
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:move.
Speaker:He
Speaker:struggled
Speaker:to
Speaker:breathe.
Speaker:Unable
Speaker:to
Speaker:stand
Speaker:it
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:longer,
Speaker:he hurried
Speaker:outside
Speaker:and
Speaker:fell onto
Speaker:his
Speaker:knees
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow.
Speaker:He
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:between
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws in
Speaker:an
Speaker:attempt
Speaker:to
Speaker:force
Speaker:his
Speaker:heart
Speaker:to
Speaker:slow.
Speaker:It
Speaker:beat
Speaker:powerfully
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:loud
Speaker:thunderous
Speaker:rhythm.
Speaker:It
Speaker:only
Speaker:broke
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of a
Speaker:voice
Speaker:reached
Speaker:him.
“What
are
Speaker:you
Speaker:doing
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground,
Speaker:Kennedy?”
Speaker:an
Speaker:older
Speaker:puffin
Speaker:boy
Speaker:asked
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:hint
Speaker:of
Speaker:derision.
“Leave him alone,
Colin,” his
Speaker:compatriot
Speaker:said. “We’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:more
Speaker:important
Speaker:things
Speaker:to
Speaker:do.”
Colin
waved
Speaker:him
Speaker:off
Speaker:and
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:forward
Speaker:placing
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:knees. “At least
Speaker:you know your place. What are you
Speaker:doing in the yard anyway?
Speaker:A
Speaker:kid
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:old
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:working
Speaker:in
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle.”
Another
boy,
Speaker:an
Speaker:arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:named
Speaker:Derek,
Speaker:made
Speaker:a
Speaker:dismissive
Speaker:gesture. “It’s
Speaker:just
Speaker:another
Speaker:Coalie
Speaker:funeral.”
Rage
swelled
Speaker:inside
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:clenched
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:into
Speaker:fists. Coalie
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:derogatory
Speaker:term
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:members
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:burn
Speaker:team.
Speaker:Thrown
Speaker:around
Speaker:by
Speaker:people
Speaker:who had
Speaker:never
Speaker:shoveled
Speaker:a
Speaker:lump
Speaker:of
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:lives,
Speaker:it was
Speaker:often
Speaker:said
Speaker:workers
Speaker:for
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:were as
Speaker:common
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:fuel
Speaker:itself.
Speaker:To
Speaker:the
Speaker:people that
Speaker:lived
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Central
Speaker:Nexus
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:just
Speaker:another
Speaker:renewable
Speaker:resource.
Speaker:Anyone
Speaker:that
Speaker:lived
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:residential
Speaker:ring
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:valuable
Speaker:as
Speaker:long
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:kept
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:burning. “You
Speaker:show
Speaker:some
Speaker:respect,”
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:said
Speaker:through
Speaker:clenched
Speaker:teeth.
“What
for?”
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox
Speaker:flattened
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears. “There’ll
Speaker:just
Speaker:be
Speaker:another
Speaker:one
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:weeks.”
His
paw
Speaker:searched
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:clasping
Speaker:around
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:lump
Speaker:of
Speaker:coal
Speaker:laying
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow.
Speaker:He
Speaker:stood
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:threw
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:all
Speaker:his
Speaker:might,
Speaker:smacking
Speaker:the
Speaker:arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:hard
Speaker:on the side
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:head
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:laughed
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:friends. “Shut
Speaker:the
Speaker:fuck
Speaker:up!”
Derek
fell over and
Speaker:clutched
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:in
Speaker:utter
Speaker:shock
Speaker:at
Speaker:what had
Speaker:just
Speaker:happened.
Speaker:Shaking
Speaker:the
Speaker:dizziness
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:vision
Speaker:he
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:away
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:it
Speaker:stained
Speaker:with
Speaker:blood
Speaker:and
Speaker:coal
Speaker:dust. “You
Speaker:Coalie
Speaker:shit! Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:who
Speaker:my
Speaker:father
Speaker:is?”
“Someone
who has
Speaker:an utter
Speaker:piece
Speaker:of
Speaker:scrap
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:son!”
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:shouted.
Derek
screamed
Speaker:and
Speaker:charged
Speaker:him,
Speaker:tackling
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:midsection
Speaker:and
Speaker:taking
Speaker:them
Speaker:both
Speaker:down into
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow.
Speaker:The
Speaker:arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:punched
Speaker:and
Speaker:clawed
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:as
Speaker:good
Speaker:as
Speaker:he got as
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:got in
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:good
Speaker:blows
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:and
Speaker:midsection
Speaker:before
Speaker:the
Speaker:adults
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:them
Speaker:apart.
“What
the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:is
Speaker:going
Speaker:on
Speaker:here?”
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:workers
Speaker:asked.
Speaker:Neither
Speaker:boy
Speaker:answered.
In
response
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ruckus
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:funeral,
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:settling
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:son. “Joseph?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:ran
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:grabbing
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:looking
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:cut
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:temple. “Have you
Speaker:been
Speaker:fighting?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:boy
Speaker:who
Speaker:merely
Speaker:stared.
“This
isn’t
Speaker:over,
Speaker:Coalie,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:before
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:free
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:adult
Speaker:who had
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:walking
Speaker:off
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:friends.
“What
was
Speaker:that
Speaker:about?”
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:asked.
“Nothing,”
Joe
Speaker:replied.
“I’d
hardly
Speaker:call
Speaker:that
Speaker:nothing,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said,
Speaker:pointing
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rows
Speaker:of
Speaker:claw
Speaker:marks
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:torn
Speaker:sleeve. She
Speaker:examined
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:disapproving
Speaker:stare. “I
Speaker:can
Speaker:probably
Speaker:mend
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it’ll
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:days.
Speaker:Let’s
Speaker:get
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:doctor,
Speaker:first.”
Joe
shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:need
Speaker:a
Speaker:doctor.”
“Humor
me.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:pushed
Speaker:him
Speaker:forward
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:paw. “It’s
Speaker:just
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:me
Speaker:now.
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:in
Speaker:one
Speaker:piece.”
Not
wanting
Speaker:to
Speaker:argue,
Speaker:he
Speaker:walked
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:nearest
Speaker:clinic.
Speaker:Medical
Speaker:care
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:residential ring usually
Speaker:consisted of a handful
Speaker:of overworked physicians and whatever supplies
Speaker:they
Speaker:could
Speaker:get
Speaker:their
Speaker:paws
Speaker:on.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:often
Speaker:hours
Speaker:before
Speaker:anyone could
Speaker:get
Speaker:in
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:seen
Speaker:barring
Speaker:an
Speaker:emergency.
Speaker:As
Speaker:much
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:insisted
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:what
Speaker:it
Speaker:was,
Speaker:they would have
Speaker:to
Speaker:wait
Speaker:their
Speaker:turn.
After
almost
Speaker:two
Speaker:hours
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:finally
Speaker:called into
Speaker:the
Speaker:back room
Speaker:where
Speaker:a
Speaker:kindly
Speaker:snow owl
Speaker:greeted
Speaker:them. “Hello,
Speaker:young
Speaker:man.
Speaker:Apologies
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:wait
Speaker:but
Speaker:you
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:believe
Speaker:the
Speaker:sorts
Speaker:of
Speaker:things that
Speaker:walk
Speaker:through
Speaker:that
Speaker:door.
Speaker:My
Speaker:name
Speaker:is
Speaker:Doctor
Speaker:Gregory.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:avian
Speaker:extended
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand.
He
shook it
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:neutral
Speaker:expression. “Joe.”
“Ah,
the
Speaker:Kennedy
Speaker:boy. I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:I
Speaker:recognized
Speaker:you.
Speaker:Let’s
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:peek
Speaker:at
Speaker:you,
Speaker:shall we?” He stepped in front
Speaker:of Joe and took a
Speaker:closer
Speaker:look. “Hm. A cut,
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:claw
Speaker:marks,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:bruise or two,
Speaker:but
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:serious.
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:clean
Speaker:it
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:get
Speaker:you
Speaker:a
Speaker:bandage.” He
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:bottle
Speaker:of
Speaker:disinfectant
Speaker:and soaked a rag
Speaker:with
Speaker:it
Speaker:before
Speaker:dabbing it
Speaker:against
Speaker:Joe’s
Speaker:injuries.
Speaker:The
Speaker:polar
Speaker:bear
Speaker:winced,
Speaker:showing
Speaker:his
Speaker:fangs. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:suppose if
Speaker:I
Speaker:asked
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:tell
Speaker:me
Speaker:how
Speaker:this
Speaker:happened.”
His
mother
Speaker:answered
Speaker:for
Speaker:him. “He
Speaker:was
Speaker:fighting
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:yard.”
“Fighting?”
He
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:at
Speaker:an
Speaker:unsettling
Speaker:angle. “Well,
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:hope
Speaker:you
Speaker:won.”
“Doctor!”
his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:chastised.
The
physician
Speaker:shrugged. “Trust
Speaker:me,
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:typical
Speaker:for boys his
Speaker:age.
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:surprised if
Speaker:he
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:fighting,
Speaker:at
Speaker:least a
Speaker:little.
Speaker:Face it,
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:outside
Speaker:world
Speaker:being
Speaker:all
Speaker:bleak
Speaker:and lifeless it’s a wonder we aren’t all a little mad sometimes.”
“You
aren’t
Speaker:helping,”
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:arms
Speaker:folded.
Holding
up
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:placating
Speaker:gesture
Speaker:he
Speaker:interlaced
Speaker:his
Speaker:talons. “Well,
Speaker:consider
Speaker:it
Speaker:a
Speaker:free
Speaker:perk as part
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:treatment.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:placed
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:lap. “You
Speaker:should
Speaker:be
Speaker:fine
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:day
Speaker:or
Speaker:two.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:keep
Speaker:the
Speaker:bandages
Speaker:clean
Speaker:and
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:get in
Speaker:any
Speaker:more
Speaker:fights.
Speaker:Medically
Speaker:speaking
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:about
Speaker:all
Speaker:I
Speaker:can do.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:snow owl hopped onto his
Speaker:feet
Speaker:and
Speaker:gave
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:a
Speaker:pat
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:back. “I
Speaker:imagine
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:probably
Speaker:end
Speaker:up
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:your
Speaker:opponent
Speaker:in
Speaker:here
Speaker:before
Speaker:long.”
“I
doubt
Speaker:it,”
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:said. “He’s
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:Central
Speaker:Nexus.”
“Really?”
the
Speaker:snow owl
Speaker:asked. “What
Speaker:does
Speaker:he
Speaker:look
Speaker:like?”
“He’s
an
Speaker:arctic
Speaker:fox,
Speaker:tall, with
Speaker:really
Speaker:finely
Speaker:trimmed
Speaker:claws
Speaker:and
Speaker:red
Speaker:hair.”
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:bandaged
Speaker:arm.
The
doctor
Speaker:chirped
Speaker:and
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:direction. “His
Speaker:name
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:Derek, would
Speaker:it?”
“How
did
Speaker:you
Speaker:know?”
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:suspected
Speaker:he
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:answer.
“He’s
Councilman
Speaker:Arrington’s son.
Speaker:He’s a
Speaker:little
Speaker:shit,
Speaker:but
Speaker:his
Speaker:father
Speaker:has
Speaker:connections.
Speaker:He
Speaker:probably
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:report
Speaker:you,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:careful
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while.
Speaker:Folks
Speaker:like
Speaker:him
Speaker:tend
Speaker:to
Speaker:hold
Speaker:grudges.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:chirped
Speaker:again and
Speaker:placed
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:pockets.
“Well,
thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:anyway,
Speaker:doctor.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:mother
Speaker:bowed
Speaker:and
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:for
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:to
Speaker:wait
Speaker:for her
Speaker:outside.
Snow
fell
Speaker:softly
Speaker:while
Speaker:he
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:father. A
Speaker:kind
Speaker:and
Speaker:hardworking
Speaker:bear, he had
Speaker:always
Speaker:done
Speaker:his
Speaker:best to
Speaker:provide
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:family.
Speaker:Though
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:never
Speaker:been
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:give
Speaker:them
Speaker:everything
Speaker:he
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:he
Speaker:made
Speaker:certain
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:resources
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:been
Speaker:given.
Speaker:Growing
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:Coldhaven
Speaker:one
Speaker:never
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:luxury
Speaker:of
Speaker:making
Speaker:plans.
Speaker:Every
Speaker:day
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:exercise
Speaker:in
Speaker:making
Speaker:do
Speaker:with
Speaker:limited
Speaker:resources.
Speaker:Hard
Speaker:choices
Speaker:were
Speaker:common,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:for
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:burn
Speaker:team.
Speaker:But
Speaker:no
Speaker:matter
Speaker:how
Speaker:hard
Speaker:life
Speaker:got,
Speaker:Alexander
Speaker:Kennedy
Speaker:never
Speaker:complained.
Speaker:He
Speaker:never
Speaker:blamed
Speaker:the
Speaker:precursors
Speaker:for
Speaker:turning
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:ball
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:nor
Speaker:the
Speaker:city’s
Speaker:strict
Speaker:regulations
Speaker:put
Speaker:in
Speaker:place
Speaker:to
Speaker:ensure
Speaker:their
Speaker:survival.
Speaker:He
Speaker:got
Speaker:up
Speaker:every
Speaker:day
Speaker:and
Speaker:shoveled
Speaker:coal
Speaker:into
Speaker:The
Speaker:Candle.
And for a
lifetime
Speaker:of
Speaker:loyal
Speaker:service,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:rewarded
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:short
Speaker:funeral
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:premium
Speaker:rations
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:family,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:that
Speaker:would
Speaker:make
Speaker:it
Speaker:all
Speaker:better.
Speaker:Feeling
Speaker:the
Speaker:tightness
Speaker:return
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:balled
Speaker:into
Speaker:fists
Speaker:once
Speaker:more.
His
mother
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:later.
Speaker:In truth he
Speaker:expected
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:admonished
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:actions
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:yard.
Speaker:But
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:surprise his mother simply
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a paw on
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:and
Speaker:gave
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:gentle
Speaker:squeeze. “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:to
Speaker:ask
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:But
Speaker:if
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:anything
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:do
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:it
Speaker:better,
Speaker:I
Speaker:hope
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:let
Speaker:me
Speaker:know.”
Joe
turned
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:her,
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:flattening
Speaker:slightly. “Dad
Speaker:deserved
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:this.”
“I
know,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:replied.
“He
gave
Speaker:everything
Speaker:he
Speaker:had to this
Speaker:city,
Speaker:for us. And
Speaker:now
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:gone,
Speaker:and it’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:fair.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:slammed
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:Doctor
Speaker:Gregory’s
Speaker:clinic.
His
mother
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:her
Speaker:arms
Speaker:around
Speaker:him. “I
Speaker:miss
Speaker:him
Speaker:too.”
“I
keep
Speaker:expecting
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:him
Speaker:at
Speaker:that
Speaker:table.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:never
Speaker:coming
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:angry
Speaker:at
Speaker:him
Speaker:for
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:us
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:it
Speaker:stop.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:free
Speaker:of
Speaker:her.
She
let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:reached
Speaker:for him
Speaker:but
Speaker:lowered her paw to her
Speaker:side. “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:it
Speaker:hurts,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:for
Speaker:a while.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:will
Speaker:get
Speaker:better.
Speaker:I
Speaker:promise.”
“When?”
he
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:not
Speaker:really
Speaker:expecting
Speaker:an
Speaker:answer. “Tell
Speaker:me
Speaker:when,
Speaker:because
Speaker:right
Speaker:now
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:see
Speaker:it.”
“I
don’t
Speaker:know.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:know
Speaker:that
Speaker:your
Speaker:father
Speaker:loved
Speaker:us
Speaker:very
Speaker:much,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:stand
Speaker:out
Speaker:here
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:placed
Speaker:her
Speaker:arm
Speaker:gently
Speaker:around
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder. “So
Speaker:how
Speaker:about
Speaker:we
Speaker:go
Speaker:home?”
Speaker:His
Speaker:mother
Speaker:gave
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:cheek. “It’s your birthday
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple of
Speaker:days.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:smiled. “Maybe
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:even
Speaker:get
Speaker:you
Speaker:a
Speaker:cupcake.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:saved
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:favors
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:people.
Speaker:Come
Speaker:on,
Speaker:let’s
Speaker:get
Speaker:someplace
Speaker:warm.”
Joe
simply
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:guided
Speaker:him
Speaker:home.
Speaker:He
Speaker:felt
Speaker:her
Speaker:pull
Speaker:his
Speaker:boots
Speaker:off of
Speaker:his
Speaker:feet
Speaker:paws
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:coat
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:torso,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:aware
Speaker:of
Speaker:much
Speaker:else
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:following
Speaker:morning
Speaker:when
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:opened
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:she had
Speaker:covered
Speaker:him
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:blanket.
Speaker:He
Speaker:sat
Speaker:up,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother. “How
Speaker:long
Speaker:was
Speaker:I
Speaker:asleep?”
“A
good
Speaker:seven
Speaker:hours.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:let
Speaker:you
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:longer
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:woken
Speaker:up.” She
Speaker:sat
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:chair
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:table. “If
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:home
Speaker:today,
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:mind.”
Joe
shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “I
Speaker:really
Speaker:think
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:rather
Speaker:be
Speaker:in
Speaker:class
Speaker:right
Speaker:now.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:empty
Speaker:chair. “I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:here
Speaker:without
Speaker:him.”
“Okay,”
she
Speaker:said. “Would
Speaker:you
Speaker:go
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:ration
Speaker:line
Speaker:and
Speaker:pick
Speaker:up
Speaker:your
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:funeral
Speaker:allowance?”
“All right,”
he
Speaker:replied,
Speaker:reaching
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:coat.
Speaker:A few
Speaker:moments
Speaker:passed
Speaker:as he gathered
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:books
Speaker:and
Speaker:headed
Speaker:out
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold.
Speaker:The
Speaker:ration
Speaker:distribution
Speaker:centers
Speaker:were
Speaker:often
Speaker:placed
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:main
Speaker:roads
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city,
Speaker:presumably
Speaker:for
Speaker:efficiency’s sake.
Speaker:The
Speaker:one
Speaker:his
Speaker:family
Speaker:usually
Speaker:visited
Speaker:was
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:school.
Speaker:Likely
Speaker:this
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:his
Speaker:final
Speaker:year, as
Speaker:once
Speaker:he
Speaker:reached
Speaker:thirteen,
Speaker:he would
Speaker:be
Speaker:assigned
Speaker:a
Speaker:job
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:earn
Speaker:an
Speaker:apprenticeship.
The
line
Speaker:was
Speaker:long,
Speaker:with
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:half
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:in
Speaker:this
Speaker:section
Speaker:having
Speaker:sent
Speaker:someone
Speaker:to
Speaker:pick
Speaker:up
Speaker:their
Speaker:family’s
Speaker:allotment.
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:shivered
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:chill
Speaker:breeze
Speaker:passed
Speaker:through
Speaker:his
Speaker:coat.
Speaker:He
Speaker:stood
Speaker:in
Speaker:line
Speaker:behind
Speaker:a
Speaker:young
Speaker:king
Speaker:penguin
Speaker:who
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:his
Speaker:webbed
Speaker:hands
Speaker:together
Speaker:for
Speaker:warmth. He
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:his
Speaker:age
Speaker:dressed
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:thick
Speaker:coat and a
Speaker:knit
Speaker:hat
Speaker:with a
Speaker:little
Speaker:red
Speaker:puffball on
Speaker:the
Speaker:top. “Picking
Speaker:up
Speaker:your
Speaker:family’s
Speaker:rations?”
Speaker:the
Speaker:bird
Speaker:asked.
“Yeah,”
Joe
Speaker:said. “It’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:favor
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:mom.”
The
penguin
Speaker:extended
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand. “Mike.”
“Joe.” They shook and moved to stand beside each other.
“I
think
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:seen
Speaker:you
Speaker:in
Speaker:school,
Speaker:haven’t
Speaker:I?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:squinted,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:envision
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:different
Speaker:angle.
He
stared at him
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:and then
Speaker:pointed with a claw. “You
Speaker:sit
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:front,
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:you?”
“Yeah!
I’m
Speaker:new to
Speaker:this
Speaker:section.
Speaker:We used to
Speaker:be
Speaker:in H-14,
Speaker:but
Speaker:they
Speaker:reassigned
Speaker:us
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:reevaluated
Speaker:the
Speaker:allocations
Speaker:for
Speaker:our
Speaker:family.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city. “He’s on
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:exploratory
Speaker:balloon
Speaker:teams.
Speaker:They
Speaker:go
Speaker:out
Speaker:every
Speaker:few
Speaker:weeks
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:map
Speaker:the
Speaker:area
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:city,
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:bit
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:time.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:navigator
Speaker:they’ve
Speaker:got.
Speaker:He
Speaker:shows
Speaker:me
Speaker:the
Speaker:maps
Speaker:he
Speaker:makes.”
Joe
looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:direction
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:hangar.
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:seen
Speaker:one
Speaker:fly out over
Speaker:the
Speaker:frozen
Speaker:wasteland
Speaker:every
Speaker:now
Speaker:and
Speaker:then.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:slow
Speaker:with subpar heating
Speaker:systems,
Speaker:but they were
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:way
Speaker:they
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:explore
Speaker:the
Speaker:area
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:city.
Speaker:Far
Speaker:from
Speaker:comfortable,
Speaker:they
Speaker:generally
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:crew
Speaker:of
Speaker:eight
Speaker:and would
Speaker:go
Speaker:out
Speaker:for
Speaker:weeks
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Upon
Speaker:their
Speaker:return
Speaker:their
Speaker:crews
Speaker:would
Speaker:provide
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:with
Speaker:information
Speaker:about
Speaker:what
Speaker:was within
Speaker:range.
Speaker:Future
Speaker:expeditions
Speaker:would
Speaker:follow
Speaker:up
Speaker:on
Speaker:the things
Speaker:they
Speaker:found.
Speaker:That
Speaker:is,
Speaker:provided
Speaker:they
Speaker:returned
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:place.
Several
expeditions
Speaker:had
Speaker:resulted
Speaker:in
Speaker:whole
Speaker:crews
Speaker:being
Speaker:lost,
Speaker:either
Speaker:to
Speaker:navigation
Speaker:errors
Speaker:or
Speaker:failures
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:heating
Speaker:systems.
Speaker:Unless
Speaker:the
Speaker:crew
Speaker:managed
Speaker:to
Speaker:radio
Speaker:back
Speaker:their
Speaker:status
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:rare
Speaker:that their
Speaker:fate
Speaker:would ever
Speaker:be known to those they left behind. Rescue missions were impractical with
Speaker:any
Speaker:such
Speaker:efforts
Speaker:more
Speaker:likely
Speaker:to
Speaker:result
Speaker:in
Speaker:losing
Speaker:a
Speaker:second balloon
Speaker:than
Speaker:being
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach
Speaker:the
Speaker:downed craft
Speaker:in
Speaker:time to do
Speaker:any
Speaker:good.
Speaker:The job
Speaker:paid
Speaker:well,
Speaker:but only provided the balloon
Speaker:returned
Speaker:safely.
While
they
Speaker:were
Speaker:gone,
Speaker:the
Speaker:crew
Speaker:members'
Speaker:family
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:do
Speaker:with
Speaker:reduced
Speaker:rations,
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:portion
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:share
Speaker:was
Speaker:allocated
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:storage
Speaker:requirements
Speaker:on
Speaker:board
Speaker:the
Speaker:balloon.
A
moment
Speaker:later
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:Mike’s turn
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:line.
Speaker:He
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:forward
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:large rhinoceros
Speaker:that
Speaker:sat
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:window. “Rush
Speaker:family
Speaker:allocation,
Speaker:please.”
The
rhino
Speaker:checked
Speaker:his
Speaker:clipboard
Speaker:and
Speaker:nodded,
Speaker:calling
Speaker:out
Speaker:something
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:in the cage
Speaker:with
Speaker:him.
Speaker:They
Speaker:placed
Speaker:the
Speaker:small
Speaker:box
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:webbed
Speaker:hands
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:his
Speaker:acceptance. “Next!”
Joe
swallowed.
Speaker:He
Speaker:and
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:exchanged
Speaker:glances as
Speaker:he
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:forward.
Speaker:Doing
Speaker:his
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:appear
Speaker:confident,
Speaker:he
Speaker:spoke. “Kennedy
Speaker:family
Speaker:allocation,
Speaker:please.”
Speaker:Once
Speaker:again,
Speaker:the
Speaker:attendant
Speaker:consulted
Speaker:his
Speaker:list
Speaker:and
Speaker:barked
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:command
Speaker:to
Speaker:someone
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:see.
Speaker:A
Speaker:much
Speaker:larger
Speaker:box
Speaker:appeared,
Speaker:large
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that
Speaker:it
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:fit
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:small
Speaker:opening
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:cage.
The
rhinoceros
Speaker:got
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:seat
Speaker:and
Speaker:carried
Speaker:it
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,
Speaker:motioning
Speaker:for
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:to
Speaker:follow.
Speaker:He
Speaker:did
Speaker:as
Speaker:he had
Speaker:been
Speaker:instructed
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:later
Speaker:found
Speaker:himself
Speaker:holding
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:brown
Speaker:box.
Speaker:Filled
Speaker:with
Speaker:food
Speaker:and
Speaker:supplies
Speaker:well in
Speaker:excess
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:standard
Speaker:allocation,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:compensation
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:death
Speaker:his
Speaker:family
Speaker:would
Speaker:receive.
Speaker:He
Speaker:shifted
Speaker:it in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:its
Speaker:weight
Speaker:and
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:bench.
He
held
Speaker:the
Speaker:precious
Speaker:package
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:its
Speaker:value.
Speaker:Portioned
Speaker:out
Speaker:properly
Speaker:it
Speaker:could
Speaker:sustain
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother
Speaker:for
Speaker:quite
Speaker:some
Speaker:time.
Speaker:With
Speaker:luck
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:soon
Speaker:choose
Speaker:an
Speaker:apprenticeship
Speaker:and
Speaker:earn
Speaker:a
Speaker:ration
Speaker:allowance
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:own.
Mike
sat
Speaker:beside
Speaker:him,
Speaker:his
Speaker:small
Speaker:box
Speaker:looking
Speaker:even
Speaker:tinier
Speaker:beside
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:held
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “Who
Speaker:did
Speaker:you
Speaker:lose?”
Joe
looked
Speaker:up,
Speaker:startled. “My dad. It’s his
Speaker:last
Speaker:allocation.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:it,
Speaker:tears
Speaker:staining
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:wooden
Speaker:box.
Speaker:More
Speaker:began to
Speaker:form as
Speaker:he
Speaker:fought
Speaker:back
Speaker:the
Speaker:memories
Speaker:that
Speaker:threatened
Speaker:to
Speaker:overwhelm
Speaker:him.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wiped
Speaker:them
Speaker:away
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw.
His
companion
Speaker:placed his
Speaker:webbed
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:and
Speaker:squeezed. “I’m
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry.”
“I
don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:how I’m
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:wake
Speaker:up
Speaker:every
Speaker:morning
Speaker:without
Speaker:him
Speaker:there
Speaker:to
Speaker:greet
Speaker:me,
Speaker:or
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:welcome
Speaker:him
Speaker:home from a
Speaker:long
Speaker:day
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Candle.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:held
Speaker:the
Speaker:box
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “They
Speaker:give
Speaker:us
Speaker:this
Speaker:and
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:expected
Speaker:to
Speaker:turn
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:things
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:never
Speaker:existed.”
“It
sucks.”
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:held
Speaker:his
Speaker:box
Speaker:between
Speaker:his
Speaker:talons. “It
Speaker:sucks
Speaker:that they
Speaker:expect
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:do
Speaker:with
Speaker:this
Speaker:just
Speaker:because
Speaker:my
Speaker:dad’s
Speaker:job
Speaker:is
Speaker:out
Speaker:there.”
Joe
suddenly
Speaker:felt
Speaker:self-conscious
Speaker:about the
Speaker:contents
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:box
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:enough?”
“What?” Mike
asked. “Oh,
Speaker:no.
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:mean
Speaker:to…”
“Please.
My
Speaker:mom
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:eat
Speaker:it
Speaker:all.
Speaker:Take
Speaker:something,
Speaker:just
Speaker:to
Speaker:hold
Speaker:your
Speaker:family
Speaker:over
Speaker:until
Speaker:your
Speaker:dad
Speaker:comes
Speaker:back.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:opened
Speaker:the
Speaker:lid
Speaker:and
Speaker:handed
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:neatly
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:parcel
Speaker:of
Speaker:meat.
He
held
Speaker:it in
Speaker:his
Speaker:right
Speaker:hand. “Don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:need
Speaker:this?”
“I’d
feel
Speaker:much
Speaker:better
Speaker:helping
Speaker:a
Speaker:friend.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:smiled. “I
Speaker:guess
Speaker:we’d
Speaker:better
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:class.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:stood
Speaker:up,
Speaker:carrying
Speaker:the
Speaker:box
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms.
“Thank
you,”
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:said.
“You’re
welcome,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:replied,
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:walked
Speaker:off
Speaker:together.
Class
that
Speaker:day
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:steam
Speaker:system
Speaker:that
Speaker:heated
Speaker:Coldhaven
Speaker:and
Speaker:provided
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:power.
Speaker:Describing
Speaker:how
Speaker:the
Speaker:massive
Speaker:reactor
Speaker:operated,
Speaker:the
Speaker:teacher
Speaker:explained
Speaker:how
Speaker:careful
Speaker:management
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:powerful
Speaker:forces
Speaker:within
Speaker:allowed
Speaker:them
Speaker:to
Speaker:lead
Speaker:relatively
Speaker:comfortable
Speaker:lives
Speaker:in
Speaker:spite
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:harsh
Speaker:environment
Speaker:outside
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city.
Speaker:Constant
Speaker:monitoring
Speaker:and
Speaker:adjustments
Speaker:were
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:everything
Speaker:operating
Speaker:at
Speaker:peak
Speaker:efficiency.
Speaker:This
Speaker:meant
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:always
Speaker:looking
Speaker:for
Speaker:people
Speaker:to
Speaker:join
Speaker:the
Speaker:maintenance
Speaker:team
Speaker:to
Speaker:ensure
Speaker:the
Speaker:hard
Speaker:work
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:the
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:burning
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:system.
Joe
momentarily
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:if
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:any
Speaker:purpose
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:classes
Speaker:other
Speaker:than
Speaker:to
Speaker:teach
Speaker:them
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:useful.
Speaker:Of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:he knew
Speaker:that the
Speaker:city
Speaker:was
Speaker:their
Speaker:home, and
Speaker:they
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:responsibility
Speaker:to
Speaker:contribute
Speaker:to
Speaker:its
Speaker:survival,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:more
Speaker:to
Speaker:it
Speaker:than
Speaker:simple
Speaker:lack
Speaker:of
Speaker:options.
Staring
out
Speaker:the
Speaker:window,
Speaker:he
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:what
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:life
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:like
Speaker:had
Speaker:he
Speaker:not
Speaker:been
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:to
Speaker:work
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:as
Speaker:so
Speaker:many
Speaker:people
Speaker:were
Speaker:when
Speaker:times
Speaker:were
Speaker:hard.
Speaker:He
Speaker:never
Speaker:complained and
Speaker:never
Speaker:once
Speaker:spoke
Speaker:about
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:done
Speaker:if
Speaker:given
Speaker:the
Speaker:option, at least not
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:family.
Speaker:But
Speaker:in
Speaker:Coldhaven
Speaker:your
Speaker:possibilities
Speaker:were
Speaker:limited
Speaker:and
Speaker:what
Speaker:choices
Speaker:you
Speaker:did
Speaker:have
Speaker:were
Speaker:meager
Speaker:at
Speaker:best.
Speaker:Although
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:knew
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:likely
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:assigned
Speaker:to
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:needed,
Speaker:his
Speaker:father
Speaker:had
Speaker:always
Speaker:told
Speaker:him
Speaker:all
Speaker:he
Speaker:wanted was
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:children
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:life
Speaker:than
Speaker:he
Speaker:had.
While most of
the
Speaker:students
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:uninterested
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:lesson,
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:found
Speaker:himself
Speaker:intrigued
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:inner
Speaker:workings
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:in
Speaker:which he
Speaker:lived.
Speaker:Seeing beneath the surface into
Speaker:the
Speaker:complex
Speaker:network
Speaker:of
Speaker:machinery
Speaker:that
Speaker:maintained
Speaker:everything
Speaker:almost
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:like
Speaker:being
Speaker:handed
Speaker:the
Speaker:keys
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:kingdom. The
Speaker:more
Speaker:he
Speaker:learned
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:it
Speaker:all
Speaker:worked
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:he
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:know.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:almost
Speaker:a
Speaker:disappointment
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:bell
Speaker:finally
Speaker:rang
Speaker:and
Speaker:most
Speaker:everyone
Speaker:filed
Speaker:out.
“Class is
over,
Speaker:Mister
Speaker:Kennedy,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:teacher
Speaker:said.
“Are
we
Speaker:going to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:more
Speaker:about
Speaker:it
Speaker:tomorrow?"
Speaker:He
Speaker:clutched his
Speaker:notes to his chest.
“Are
you
Speaker:interested?
Speaker:Most
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:classmates seemed
Speaker:more
Speaker:fascinated
Speaker:with
Speaker:their
Speaker:desks
Speaker:than in
Speaker:the
Speaker:internal
Speaker:structure of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:teacher
Speaker:shrugged,
Speaker:apparently
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:class
Speaker:full
Speaker:of
Speaker:bored students.
Joe
nodded vigorously. “Yes, sir. It’s
Speaker:fascinating.”
“You
know,
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:think
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:up
Speaker:for
Speaker:it,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:speak
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:Workshop foreman
Speaker:about
Speaker:giving
Speaker:you
Speaker:an
Speaker:apprenticeship.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:often
Speaker:people
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:choose
Speaker:their
Speaker:vocation,
Speaker:but
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:interested
Speaker:in
Speaker:it,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:do,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:replied. “They’re
Speaker:always
Speaker:looking
Speaker:for
Speaker:talented
Speaker:maintenance
Speaker:techs.”
“I’d
like
Speaker:that,
Speaker:sir.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:ears
Speaker:perked
Speaker:up.
From
the
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:classroom,
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:slapped
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:desk. “Count
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:too,
Speaker:that
Speaker:is,
Speaker:if
Speaker:they’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:another
Speaker:spot.”
“I’ll
find
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:let
Speaker:you
Speaker:know.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:teacher
Speaker:gathered
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:papers. “Now
Speaker:run
Speaker:along.
Speaker:Before
Speaker:your
Speaker:parents
Speaker:start
Speaker:looking
Speaker:for
Speaker:you.”
He
flashed
Speaker:the
Speaker:teacher
Speaker:a
Speaker:grateful
Speaker:smile
Speaker:and
Speaker:walked
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:with
Speaker:Mike, his
Speaker:family’s
Speaker:rations
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms. Although
Speaker:he had
Speaker:never
Speaker:considered
Speaker:working
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:machines that
Speaker:kept
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:running
Speaker:before
Speaker:he found
Speaker:himself
Speaker:entranced by
Speaker:the
Speaker:notion.
Speaker:So much
Speaker:so
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:not
Speaker:even
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:walked
Speaker:right
Speaker:into
Speaker:Derek,
Speaker:bouncing
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:and
Speaker:dropping the
Speaker:box
Speaker:of
Speaker:rations
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow.
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:knelt
Speaker:to
Speaker:pick them up
Speaker:only
Speaker:to
Speaker:be rewarded
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:spray
Speaker:of
Speaker:snow
Speaker:being
Speaker:kicked
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:taller
Speaker:fox.
“Watch where you’re
going,
Speaker:Coalie.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:sniffed
Speaker:derisively. “You
Speaker:should
Speaker:know
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:betters.
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:I
Speaker:already
Speaker:taught
Speaker:you
Speaker:that
Speaker:lesson.”
Speaker:Seeing
Speaker:what
Speaker:he had
Speaker:dropped,
Speaker:he
Speaker:scoffed. “Since
Speaker:when
Speaker:do
Speaker:they
Speaker:give
Speaker:you
Speaker:coal
Speaker:hurlers
Speaker:fancy
Speaker:things
Speaker:like
Speaker:that?”
“It’s
my
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:last
Speaker:rations,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said. “He
Speaker:earned
Speaker:it
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:people
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:warm.”
“It
almost
Speaker:seems
Speaker:a
Speaker:shame
Speaker:to
Speaker:waste
Speaker:it on
Speaker:someone
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:ring.
Speaker:I
Speaker:bet
Speaker:you
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:appreciate
Speaker:the
Speaker:good
Speaker:stuff
Speaker:even
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:it
Speaker:was.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:reached
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:it.
“Hey!”
Joe
Speaker:growled. “Give
Speaker:that
Speaker:back.”
“Make
me,
Speaker:Coalie.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:held
Speaker:his
Speaker:prize
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:while
Speaker:his
Speaker:friends
Speaker:formed
Speaker:up
Speaker:on
Speaker:either
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:him. “It’s
Speaker:six
Speaker:versus
Speaker:one.”
“I
thought
Speaker:they
Speaker:taught
Speaker:you
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:count
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Central
Speaker:Nexus.”
Speaker:Mike stepped
Speaker:up
Speaker:beside
Speaker:him. “Hand it
Speaker:over.”
Derek
passed it
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:companions
Speaker:and
Speaker:swung
Speaker:at
Speaker:Joe.
Speaker:The
Speaker:punch
Speaker:connected
Speaker:across
Speaker:his
Speaker:jaw,
Speaker:sending
Speaker:radiating
Speaker:pain
Speaker:through
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Speaker:He
Speaker:blocked
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:swing
Speaker:and
Speaker:returned
Speaker:the
Speaker:favor
Speaker:hard
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:send
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox stumbling.
Speaker:Most
Speaker:of
Speaker:Derek’s
Speaker:companions
Speaker:watched
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:sidelines,
Speaker:cheering
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:champion.
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:knew
Speaker:that
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:were
Speaker:cowards,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:also
Speaker:knew
Speaker:that they
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:hesitate
Speaker:to
Speaker:play
Speaker:dirty
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:suited
Speaker:them.
Speaker:He
Speaker:moved
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:way of
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:swing
Speaker:only
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:kick
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:chest
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:growling
Speaker:fox.
Joe
punched
Speaker:him
Speaker:twice.
Speaker:Each
Speaker:blow
Speaker:made
Speaker:him
Speaker:stumble
Speaker:as
Speaker:blood
Speaker:dripped
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth.
Speaker:The
Speaker:arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:spat,
Speaker:turning
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:crimson. “You’re
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:pay
Speaker:for
Speaker:that.”
“I
can’t
Speaker:wait.”
Speaker:Joe
Speaker:roared
Speaker:and
Speaker:tackled
Speaker:him
Speaker:to the
Speaker:ground.
Speaker:The
Speaker:two
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:around
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:slashed
Speaker:a
Speaker:set
Speaker:of
Speaker:claw
Speaker:marks
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox’s
Speaker:cheek.
Speaker:He
Speaker:grunted
Speaker:as
Speaker:Derek
Speaker:wrestled
Speaker:free.
The
arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:slashed
Speaker:deep
Speaker:red
Speaker:marks across
Speaker:Joe’s
Speaker:arm. The
Speaker:pain
Speaker:caused
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:wince
Speaker:as
Speaker:Derek
Speaker:licked
Speaker:the
Speaker:blood
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth. “Not
Speaker:so
Speaker:tough,
Speaker:are
Speaker:you?”
One
of
Speaker:Derek’s
Speaker:companions
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:pipe
Speaker:and
Speaker:approached
Speaker:the
Speaker:fight.
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:moved
Speaker:to
Speaker:block
Speaker:him,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:a
Speaker:webbed
Speaker:talon
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:face. “Trust
Speaker:me,
Speaker:you
Speaker:really
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:that.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:pine
Speaker:marten
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:Derek
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:at
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:and
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:the
Speaker:pipe. “Good
Speaker:decision.”
Another
punch to
Speaker:the
Speaker:chest
Speaker:stole
Speaker:Joe’s
Speaker:breath
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:fell
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked up
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:tormentor,
Speaker:who
Speaker:laughed at
Speaker:his
Speaker:presumed
Speaker:victory. “When are
Speaker:you
Speaker:Coalies
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn?
Speaker:You
Speaker:only
Speaker:exist
Speaker:because
Speaker:we
Speaker:let
Speaker:you.
Speaker:Without
Speaker:people
Speaker:like
Speaker:my
Speaker:father
Speaker:this
Speaker:city
Speaker:would
Speaker:fall
Speaker:apart.”
Joe
bared
Speaker:his
Speaker:fangs,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:arctic
Speaker:fox. “I
Speaker:think
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:that
Speaker:backwards.
Speaker:I
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:your
Speaker:dad
Speaker:could
Speaker:run
Speaker:this
Speaker:city
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:day
Speaker:without
Speaker:people
Speaker:like
Speaker:my
Speaker:father
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:the
Speaker:Candle
Speaker:burning.
Speaker:You
Speaker:like
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:important,
Speaker:that
Speaker:you
Speaker:matter,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:truth
Speaker:is
Speaker:you
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:survive
Speaker:without
Speaker:us.
Speaker:You
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:that
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:the
Speaker:power
Speaker:behind
Speaker:Coldhaven,
Speaker:go
Speaker:right
Speaker:ahead.
Speaker:But
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:ever
Speaker:forget
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:real
Speaker:power
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:behind
Speaker:you.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:stood. “And
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:yours
Speaker:just
Speaker:ran
Speaker:away.”
He
laughed
Speaker:only to
Speaker:realize
Speaker:that
Speaker:all
Speaker:his
Speaker:supporters
Speaker:had
Speaker:vanished.
Speaker:Derek
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:as
Speaker:Joe and
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:step
Speaker:closer. “Get
Speaker:back
Speaker:here
Speaker:you
Speaker:cowards!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Joe,
Speaker:enraged. “You
Speaker:filthy
Speaker:Coalies
Speaker:aren’t
Speaker:worth
Speaker:the—!”
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:was
Speaker:lost
Speaker:as
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:punched
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:face.
“What?”
He
Speaker:shrugged. “He
Speaker:had
Speaker:it
Speaker:coming.”
Joe
chuckled,
Speaker:picking
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:rations
Speaker:and
Speaker:heading
Speaker:home.
Speaker:Quietly
Speaker:he
Speaker:opened
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:and
Speaker:entered,
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:chair
Speaker:filled
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:small,
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:package. “Mom?”
She
smiled,
Speaker:turning
Speaker:to
Speaker:greet him. “You’re home late.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:did not
Speaker:ask
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:new
Speaker:injuries
Speaker:he
Speaker:had acquired
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:set
Speaker:the
Speaker:rations
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:table. “Well,
Speaker:dinner
Speaker:is
Speaker:almost
Speaker:ready.
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:your
Speaker:birthday
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:for
Speaker:another
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:days,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:you
Speaker:could
Speaker:use
Speaker:this.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:usual
Speaker:chair. “It’s
Speaker:from
Speaker:your
Speaker:father.
Speaker:Apparently
Speaker:he had
Speaker:bartered
Speaker:for
Speaker:it
Speaker:a
Speaker:while
Speaker:ago
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:only
Speaker:came
Speaker:in
Speaker:today.”
“What
is
Speaker:it?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:brightly colored
Speaker:box.
“Why don’t you
open
Speaker:it
Speaker:and
Speaker:find
Speaker:out?”
Speaker:she
Speaker:suggested.
He
took
Speaker:his
Speaker:usual
Speaker:seat
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:and
Speaker:held
Speaker:the
Speaker:box
Speaker:between
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. It
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:gift
Speaker:his
Speaker:father
Speaker:would
Speaker:ever
Speaker:give
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Gingerly,
Speaker:he
Speaker:opened
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:claw. As he
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:box,
Speaker:inside
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:wine-red
Speaker:scarf.
Speaker:He
Speaker:held
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws and
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:mother’s
Speaker:nodding
Speaker:approval,
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:it
Speaker:around
Speaker:his
Speaker:neck. “How
Speaker:do
Speaker:I
Speaker:look?”
“Very
handsome.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:father
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:proud
Speaker:of
Speaker:you.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:at
Speaker:him. “And
Speaker:so
Speaker:am
Speaker:I.”
Joe
looked
Speaker:at the
Speaker:now empty chair and
Speaker:for a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:warmth
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:love
Speaker:filling
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest.
Speaker:When
Speaker:the
Speaker:day
Speaker:began
Speaker:all
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:were
Speaker:empty
Speaker:places,
Speaker:but
Speaker:now
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:full
Speaker:of
Speaker:possibilities
Speaker:to
Speaker:explore.
This
was “Winterfall:
Speaker:Empty
Speaker:Places”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Lauren
Speaker:Rivers,
Speaker:read
Speaker:for
Speaker:you by Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:Werewolf
Speaker:Hitchhiker.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.