Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“Switch Hitter” by J.S. Hawthorne (part 2 of 2)
7th October 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:31:11

Share Episode

Shownotes

David Steward is New York’s premier supernatural detective, but he’s learned that he’s not the first Steward to protect Gotham from all the things that go bump in the night. Fifty years ago, his grandmother, Helen Steward, once saved not just the Big Apple, but America’s Pastime itself from the sinister forces of evil. This is that story.

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

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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

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

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the Ghost

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Tonight’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

final

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of “Switch

Speaker:

Hitter”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

J.S. Hawthorne,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

proud

Speaker:

member

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Furry

Speaker:

Historical

Speaker:

Fiction

Speaker:

Society

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

casual

Speaker:

L.A.

Speaker:

Dodgers

Speaker:

fan.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

recent

Speaker:

story,

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Cusp

Speaker:

Of

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

Broken

Speaker:

Things,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Wideness

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

World

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Transcendent

Speaker:

Fiction

Speaker:

Publishing,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

as the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

Furry

Speaker:

Historical

Speaker:

Fiction

Speaker:

Society

Speaker:

anthologies.

Last time, Helen Steward, a member of the mysterious Smith

Speaker:

Agency,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

tasked to stop

Speaker:

sinister,

Speaker:

unknown

Speaker:

forces

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

attacking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

foundations

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

America

Speaker:

itself

Speaker:

through its

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

sacred

tradition:

tradition:

Baseball.

tradition:

Steward and her

tradition:

contact,

tradition:

a

tradition:

French

tradition:

spy

tradition:

named

tradition:

Etienne

tradition:

de Ludre, were

tradition:

on

tradition:

their

tradition:

way

tradition:

to the former

tradition:

home of the Dodgers to stop a magical catastrophe when their subway train was hijacked.

Please

tradition:

enjoy


“Switch Hitter” by J.S.

tradition:

Hawthorne, Part 2 of 2

The

tradition:

train

tradition:

screeched

tradition:

to

tradition:

a

tradition:

sudden,

tradition:

unexpected

tradition:

stop,

tradition:

and

tradition:

Steward

tradition:

and

tradition:

de Ludre

tradition:

lurched

tradition:

to

tradition:

the

tradition:

floor.
“What

tradition:

the

tradition:

hell?”

tradition:

Steward

tradition:

growled as

tradition:

she

tradition:

clawed

tradition:

herself

tradition:

to

tradition:

a

tradition:

standing

tradition:

position.

tradition:

De

tradition:

Ludre was

tradition:

far

tradition:

more

tradition:

graceful,

tradition:

standing

tradition:

as

tradition:

though

tradition:

he were rising

tradition:

from a

tradition:

pleasant

tradition:

picnic

tradition:

and

tradition:

casually

tradition:

brushing

tradition:

dirt

tradition:

from

tradition:

his

tradition:

jacket.
“I

tradition:

suspect we have

tradition:

been

tradition:

found

tradition:

out,”

tradition:

he

tradition:

said. “If

tradition:

I

tradition:

were

tradition:

an evil

tradition:

cult

tradition:

bent

tradition:

on

tradition:

destroying

tradition:

what hope a

tradition:

country

tradition:

may

tradition:

have

tradition:

in a better

tradition:

tomorrow,

tradition:

I

tradition:

would

tradition:

probably

tradition:

split

tradition:

into

tradition:

two

tradition:

groups

tradition:

and

tradition:

search

tradition:

the

tradition:

train car by car

tradition:

from

tradition:

both

tradition:

ends.”
“Are

tradition:

you

tradition:

going

tradition:

to

tradition:

suggest

tradition:

we

tradition:

not

tradition:

be

tradition:

here

tradition:

when

tradition:

they

tradition:

get

tradition:

to

tradition:

this

tradition:

car?”
“Certainly

tradition:

not,”

tradition:

said

tradition:

de

tradition:

Ludre in

tradition:

tones

tradition:

of

tradition:

outrage. “I would

tradition:

never

tradition:

say

tradition:

anything

tradition:

so cliché.

tradition:

However,

tradition:

it

tradition:

is

tradition:

an

tradition:

excellent

tradition:

suggestion.”

tradition:

Rolling

tradition:

her

tradition:

eyes,

tradition:

Steward led

tradition:

the

tradition:

way

tradition:

to

tradition:

the

tradition:

compartment

tradition:

door

tradition:

and

tradition:

then

tradition:

down

tradition:

to where

tradition:

the

tradition:

tracks

tradition:

lay.

tradition:

In

tradition:

the

tradition:

darkness,

tradition:

broken

tradition:

only

tradition:

by

tradition:

the

tradition:

soft,

tradition:

ambient

tradition:

glow

tradition:

emerging

tradition:

from

tradition:

the

tradition:

train’s internal

tradition:

lights.

tradition:

The

tradition:

rattle

tradition:

of

tradition:

hopefully

tradition:

distant

tradition:

subways

tradition:

echoed

tradition:

through

tradition:

the

tradition:

tunnels.
De Ludre’s

tradition:

cold,

tradition:

calloused

tradition:

hand

tradition:

grabbed

tradition:

hers

tradition:

and

tradition:

yanked

tradition:

her

tradition:

away

tradition:

from

tradition:

the

tradition:

train

tradition:

and

tradition:

into the

tradition:

deeper

tradition:

darkness.

tradition:

The

tradition:

horse

tradition:

was

tradition:

nearly

tradition:

invisible,

tradition:

his

tradition:

jeans

tradition:

and

tradition:

jacket

tradition:

blending

tradition:

into

tradition:

nothing,

tradition:

leaving

tradition:

just

tradition:

his gray

tradition:

fur

tradition:

to

tradition:

glow,

tradition:

ghostlike,

tradition:

in

tradition:

her

tradition:

vision. He

tradition:

gave

tradition:

a

tradition:

warning

tradition:

when

tradition:

to

tradition:

step

tradition:

over

tradition:

the

tradition:

third

tradition:

rails,

tradition:

and

tradition:

led

tradition:

her

tradition:

safely

tradition:

to

tradition:

the

tradition:

far

tradition:

wall.

tradition:

They

tradition:

had

tradition:

just

tradition:

climbed

tradition:

up

tradition:

onto

tradition:

a

tradition:

short

tradition:

stone

tradition:

ledge

tradition:

when

tradition:

figures

tradition:

appeared

tradition:

in

tradition:

the

tradition:

car

tradition:

they had

tradition:

just

tradition:

vacated.
They

tradition:

looked

tradition:

like

tradition:

normal

tradition:

people,

tradition:

as

tradition:

far

tradition:

as

tradition:

Steward

tradition:

could

tradition:

tell.

tradition:

They

tradition:

were

tradition:

a wide

tradition:

variety

tradition:

of

tradition:

species,

tradition:

dressed in

tradition:

an

tradition:

equally

tradition:

wide

tradition:

variety

tradition:

of

tradition:

clothes.

tradition:

The

tradition:

only

tradition:

thing

tradition:

they

tradition:

had in

tradition:

common

tradition:

was

tradition:

the

tradition:

long,

tradition:

slate-colored

tradition:

knives

tradition:

they

tradition:

each

tradition:

carried.

tradition:

Steward

tradition:

couldn’t

tradition:

hear

tradition:

what

tradition:

they

tradition:

were

tradition:

saying,

tradition:

but

tradition:

she

tradition:

could

tradition:

see

tradition:

the

tradition:

cruel

tradition:

smiles

tradition:

on

tradition:

their

tradition:

muzzles

tradition:

as

tradition:

they

tradition:

talked.
“This way,” de Ludre hissed in her ear, and she

tradition:

let

tradition:

him

tradition:

tug

tradition:

her

tradition:

along.

tradition:

They

tradition:

kept

tradition:

to the

tradition:

deep

tradition:

shadows

tradition:

as

tradition:

they

tradition:

crept

tradition:

along

tradition:

the

tradition:

narrow

tradition:

walkway.

tradition:

In

tradition:

each

tradition:

car

tradition:

of

tradition:

the

tradition:

train

tradition:

there

tradition:

were

tradition:

two

tradition:

or

tradition:

three

tradition:

individuals

tradition:

standing,

tradition:

knives

tradition:

drawn,

tradition:

looking

tradition:

bored

tradition:

as

tradition:

they

tradition:

stood

tradition:

guard.
They

tradition:

had

tradition:

just

tradition:

reached

tradition:

the

tradition:

head

tradition:

of

tradition:

the

tradition:

train

tradition:

when

tradition:

de Ludre

tradition:

stopped

tradition:

suddenly.

tradition:

Squinting

tradition:

over

tradition:

his

tradition:

shoulder,

tradition:

Steward

tradition:

saw another

tradition:

cultist

tradition:

standing

tradition:

over

tradition:

three

tradition:

men

tradition:

in

tradition:

BMT

tradition:

engineer

tradition:

uniforms

tradition:

forced to

tradition:

kneel,

tradition:

their

tradition:

fingers

tradition:

interlaced

tradition:

behind

tradition:

their

tradition:

heads,

tradition:

in

tradition:

the

tradition:

headlight

tradition:

beam

tradition:

of

tradition:

the

tradition:

train.
“What

tradition:

do

tradition:

we

tradition:

do?”

tradition:

Steward

tradition:

whispered.

tradition:

The

tradition:

horse’s

tradition:

ear

tradition:

twitched

tradition:

to

tradition:

show

tradition:

that

tradition:

he

tradition:

heard

tradition:

her,

tradition:

but

tradition:

he

tradition:

said

tradition:

nothing. He

tradition:

seemed

tradition:

content

tradition:

to

tradition:

wait,

tradition:

perhaps

tradition:

to

tradition:

give

tradition:

the

tradition:

cultists

tradition:

time

tradition:

to

tradition:

decide

tradition:

that

tradition:

the

tradition:

two

tradition:

of

tradition:

them

tradition:

weren’t

tradition:

on

tradition:

this

tradition:

train.
Steward

tradition:

was

tradition:

not

tradition:

nearly

tradition:

so

tradition:

patient.

tradition:

As

tradition:

quietly

tradition:

as

tradition:

she

tradition:

could,

tradition:

she

tradition:

pulled

tradition:

out

tradition:

her

tradition:

notebook

tradition:

and,

tradition:

on

tradition:

a

tradition:

blank

tradition:

page,

tradition:

duplicated the

tradition:

curse

tradition:

sigil as

tradition:

best as

tradition:

she

tradition:

could.

tradition:

She

tradition:

added

tradition:

a

tradition:

few

embellishments:

embellishments:

symbols

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

knives,

embellishments:

destruction, and

embellishments:

rapid

embellishments:

expansion.

embellishments:

Then

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

ripped

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

paper

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

notebook.
She

embellishments:

became

embellishments:

aware

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

de Ludre

embellishments:

watching

embellishments:

her.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

expression,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

imagined

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

polite

embellishments:

quizzicality.
“It

embellishments:

needs

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

power

embellishments:

source,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

told her.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

bit

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

finger,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

swiped

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bleeding

embellishments:

digit

embellishments:

across

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

symbols

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

energy.

embellishments:

Trying

embellishments:

hard

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

think

embellishments:

about

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

horse

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

done,

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

folded

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

paper

embellishments:

into a

embellishments:

crude

embellishments:

airplane

embellishments:

and then

embellishments:

launched it

embellishments:

towards

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

cultists.
“When

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

activates,”

embellishments:

de

embellishments:

Ludre

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

airplane

embellishments:

glided

embellishments:

serenely

embellishments:

through

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

subway

embellishments:

tunnel, “I’ll take care of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

man,

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

engineers

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

safety.”
“We’ll

embellishments:

follow

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

tunnel

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

out at

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

station,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

whispered

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

him.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

paper

embellishments:

airplane

embellishments:

thudded

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

railing

embellishments:

less

embellishments:

than

embellishments:

three

embellishments:

feet

embellishments:

away

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

cultist. “But

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

won’t

embellishments:

wait.”
De

embellishments:

Ludre

embellishments:

nodded. “I will

embellishments:

meet

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

Ebbets

embellishments:

Field.”

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

cultist

embellishments:

picked

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

paper

embellishments:

curiously,

embellishments:

shouting

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

friend

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

he had

embellishments:

found

embellishments:

something.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

unfolding

embellishments:

it,

embellishments:

reaching

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

touch

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

paper

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

clawtip, when

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

second

embellishments:

cultist

embellishments:

emerged

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

train.
The

embellishments:

paper

embellishments:

ignited in

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

instant,

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

ball

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

fire

embellishments:

that cast the

embellishments:

entire

embellishments:

tunnel

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

brilliant

embellishments:

red

embellishments:

light

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

space

embellishments:

of a

embellishments:

heartbeat.

embellishments:

Before

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

ashes

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

tumble

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

ground

embellishments:

there

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

crackle

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

thunder

embellishments:

and a

embellishments:

bolt of

embellishments:

blue-green

embellishments:

lightning

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

exploded

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

blade

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

cultist’s

embellishments:

knife

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

inside.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

lightning

embellishments:

traced

embellishments:

lines

embellishments:

in the sky as it

embellishments:

sought,

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

intelligent,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

second

embellishments:

man’s

embellishments:

knife.

embellishments:

It,

embellishments:

too,

embellishments:

exploded,

embellishments:

gray

embellishments:

shrapnel

embellishments:

raining

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

five

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

figures. The

embellishments:

lightning

embellishments:

again

embellishments:

arched away,

embellishments:

passing

embellishments:

through

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

windshield

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

train

embellishments:

car

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

didn’t

embellishments:

exist.
Steward

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

time

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

leap

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

from the

embellishments:

ledge

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

jump

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

train

embellishments:

track

embellishments:

before

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

paper

embellishments:

ignited.

embellishments:

De Ludre was

embellishments:

even

embellishments:

faster,

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

smokey

embellishments:

blur

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

Steward’s

embellishments:

vision.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

man

embellishments:

went

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

so

embellishments:

swiftly

embellishments:

that Steward

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

clearly

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

happened.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

second

embellishments:

man

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

dragged

embellishments:

off

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

train,

embellishments:

screaming.
Steward

embellishments:

reached

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

engineers

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

screaming

embellishments:

cut

embellishments:

off

embellishments:

with a

embellishments:

terrible

embellishments:

finality.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

tried

embellishments:

very

embellishments:

hard

embellishments:

not to

embellishments:

consider

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

happened to

embellishments:

him,

embellishments:

and to

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

look at the

embellishments:

sad,

embellishments:

still

embellishments:

body

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

man.
“Come

embellishments:

on,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

hissed at

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

engineers,

embellishments:

chivvying them

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

their

embellishments:

feet. “We’ve

embellishments:

got

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

moving.

embellishments:

There’s

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

lot

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

them.”
“Who

embellishments:

are

embellishments:

you?

embellishments:

What

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

that?”

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

engineers

embellishments:

asked.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

tall

embellishments:

weasel,

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

mussed

embellishments:

fur

embellishments:

along

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

side

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

head

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

neck.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

looked

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

though

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

been

embellishments:

too

embellishments:

kind

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

removing

embellishments:

him

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

train.
“A

embellishments:

friend,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward. “Probably.

embellishments:

A

embellishments:

distraction, at the

embellishments:

least.

embellishments:

He’s

embellishments:

buying

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

time,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

think

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

take on

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

himself.”

embellishments:

Privately,

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

so

embellishments:

sure,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

felt it

embellishments:

better

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

share

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

scared

embellishments:

engineers.
“I

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

know

embellishments:

about

embellishments:

you,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

second

embellishments:

engineer, a

embellishments:

zebra,

embellishments:

already

embellishments:

standing, “but

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

really

embellishments:

want

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

stick

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

find

embellishments:

out.

embellishments:

Will

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

okay

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

head

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

tunnel?”
“Only

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

way

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

find

embellishments:

out,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward,

embellishments:

trying

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

project

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

sunnier

embellishments:

outlook

embellishments:

than

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

felt. “Follow

embellishments:

me,

embellishments:

guys.”
Steward

embellishments:

set

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

blistering

embellishments:

pace,

embellishments:

and they

embellishments:

jogged

embellishments:

along

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

relative

embellishments:

silence

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

fifteen

embellishments:

minutes

embellishments:

or

embellishments:

so

embellishments:

before

embellishments:

stress

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

fatigue

embellishments:

forced

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

slow.

embellishments:

As

embellishments:

soon

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

let

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

stride

embellishments:

slacken,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

zebra

embellishments:

trotted

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

her.
“Listen,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said, “There’s

embellishments:

some

embellishments:

freaky

embellishments:

stuff

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

on,

embellishments:

right?

embellishments:

Like

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

guy

embellishments:

who

embellishments:

hit

embellishments:

those

embellishments:

robbers,

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

wasn’t

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

normal

embellishments:

man,

embellishments:

yeah?”
“He’s

embellishments:

French,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward, “but beyond

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

I’m

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

authorized

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

say

embellishments:

anything.”
“Are

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

cop

embellishments:

or

embellishments:

something?”
Steward

embellishments:

fished in her

embellishments:

bag

embellishments:

and then

embellishments:

pulled

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

badge,

embellishments:

flashing it

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

zebra,

embellishments:

faster than he

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

read

embellishments:

it. “Something

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

that.”
“Oh,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said,

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

tone

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

clearly

embellishments:

indicated

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

both

embellishments:

thought

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

was a

embellishments:

Fed

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

accordingly

embellishments:

impressed. “Cool.

embellishments:

So

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

have

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

plan or

embellishments:

something,

embellishments:

right?

embellishments:

Like

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

bunch of

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

are waiting

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

platform?”
“Unfortunately

embellishments:

not,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

told

embellishments:

him. “This

embellishments:

was...

embellishments:

unanticipated.

embellishments:

I’m

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

need

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

report

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

immediately.

embellishments:

One

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

will

embellishments:

have

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

call

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

police.”

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

slid

embellishments:

him

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

card.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

did

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

say

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

agency

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

worked

embellishments:

for. “Tell

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

they

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

contact

embellishments:

me

embellishments:

during

embellishments:

business

embellishments:

hours.”
“Wow.”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

stared

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

card

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

it had

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

president’s

embellishments:

personal

embellishments:

number

embellishments:

on it. “But,

embellishments:

uh,

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

wanted to

embellishments:

say

embellishments:

was,

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

guy,

embellishments:

when

embellishments:

he was

embellishments:

holding

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

there,

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

something

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

might

embellishments:

be,

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

know,

embellishments:

helpful.”
“I’m

embellishments:

listening.”
“He

embellishments:

told

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

worry.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

said, ‘we

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

need

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

hold

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

train

embellishments:

long

embellishments:

enough

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

we’ll

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

here.

embellishments:

You

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

mess

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

and you’ll

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

home

embellishments:

safe.’

embellishments:

Does that

embellishments:

mean

embellishments:

anything

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

you?”
“Maybe,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward,

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

brain

embellishments:

working

embellishments:

furiously.
“They’re

embellishments:

bad

embellishments:

guys,

embellishments:

right?”
Steward

embellishments:

skidded

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

halt

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

turned

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

face the

embellishments:

zebra. “What’s

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

name?”
“Jeff,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

other

embellishments:

two

embellishments:

drew

embellishments:

close. “This

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

Mike,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

skunk

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

Wormy.”
What

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

say

embellishments:

fell

embellishments:

clean

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

head. “Wormy?”
“’S

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

nickname,”

embellishments:

Wormy

embellishments:

said,

embellishments:

folding

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

ears

embellishments:

back.
Steward

embellishments:

shook

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

head. “Alright.

embellishments:

You

embellishments:

guys

embellishments:

aren’t

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

believe

embellishments:

me,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

I’m

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

level

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

you.

embellishments:

Those

embellishments:

weren’t

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

ordinary

embellishments:

robbers.

embellishments:

They’re

embellishments:

part

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

group

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

want

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

destroy

embellishments:

America,

embellishments:

starting

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

baseball.”
The three

embellishments:

men

embellishments:

stared

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

slackjawed.
“I’m

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

stop

embellishments:

them,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

promised

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

engineers, “But

embellishments:

I have to

embellishments:

hurry.

embellishments:

How

embellishments:

long

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

station?”
“About

embellishments:

twenty

embellishments:

minutes,

embellishments:

if we

embellishments:

jog

embellishments:

again,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Mike. “But

embellishments:

those

embellishments:

robbers,

embellishments:

or

embellishments:

whatever

embellishments:

they

embellishments:

were,

embellishments:

they

embellishments:

were

embellishments:

waiting

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

tracks.

embellishments:

They

embellishments:

might have

embellishments:

come

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

station.”
Before

embellishments:

Steward could

embellishments:

react,

embellishments:

Wormy

embellishments:

said, “But

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

passed

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

emergency

embellishments:

exist

embellishments:

five

embellishments:

minutes

embellishments:

ago.

embellishments:

That will

embellishments:

let

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

Montague

embellishments:

Street.”
“Why

embellishments:

didn’t

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

tell

embellishments:

me

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

when

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

passed

embellishments:

it?”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

asked.
“We

embellishments:

thought

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

wanted

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

go

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

train

embellishments:

station,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Mike. “You

embellishments:

were

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

set

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

it.”
With

embellishments:

some

embellishments:

difficulty, Steward

embellishments:

swallowed

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

anger. “When’s

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

next

embellishments:

exit?”
“Another

embellishments:

five

embellishments:

minutes,

embellishments:

maybe.

embellishments:

We’re

embellishments:

right

embellishments:

between

embellishments:

two

embellishments:

of them.”
“Okay,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

resisted

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

urge

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

ask

embellishments:

how

embellishments:

many

embellishments:

emergency

embellishments:

exits

embellishments:

they

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

passed

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

their

embellishments:

hike. “Wormy,

embellishments:

you’re

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

me,

embellishments:

we’re

embellishments:

going to

embellishments:

backtrack

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

last

embellishments:

one.

embellishments:

You two,

embellishments:

head to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

next

embellishments:

one.

embellishments:

As

embellishments:

soon

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

you’re

embellishments:

out,

embellishments:

call

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

police and

embellishments:

tell

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

everything.”
“Even the

embellishments:

baseball

embellishments:

thing?”

embellishments:

asked

embellishments:

Jeff.

embellishments:

But

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

already

embellishments:

jogging

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

direction

embellishments:

they

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

come.
With

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

skunk’s

embellishments:

assistance,

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

climbed

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

tunnel

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

crisp

embellishments:

Brooklyn

embellishments:

air.

embellishments:

She had

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

realized

embellishments:

how

embellishments:

fetid and cloying

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

atmosphere

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

been

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

tunnels,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

took

embellishments:

several

embellishments:

deep,

embellishments:

salt-tinged

embellishments:

breaths.

embellishments:

They

embellishments:

found

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

payphone

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

corner,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

called

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

cab

embellishments:

before

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

let

embellishments:

Wormy

embellishments:

call

embellishments:

the police.
“You gonna

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

okay?” he

embellishments:

asked

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

yellow

embellishments:

cab

embellishments:

pulled

embellishments:

up.
She

embellishments:

gave

embellishments:

him

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

grim

embellishments:

smile. “Better

embellishments:

than

embellishments:

they

embellishments:

will

embellishments:

be,

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

promise.”

* * *
The

embellishments:

taxi

embellishments:

driver,

embellishments:

after

embellishments:

several

embellishments:

moments

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

arguing

embellishments:

whether

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

was,

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

fact,

embellishments:

safe

embellishments:

for a

embellishments:

girl

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

herself

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

late

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

night,

embellishments:

let

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

off

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

Sullivan

embellishments:

Place.

embellishments:

Ebbets

embellishments:

Field,

embellishments:

former

embellishments:

home

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

Dodgers,

embellishments:

loomed

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

her.

embellishments:

She had

embellishments:

seen

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

baseball

embellishments:

game

embellishments:

here,

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

father.

embellishments:

Her

embellishments:

son

embellishments:

John

embellishments:

would

embellishments:

never

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

opportunity.

embellishments:

His

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

game

embellishments:

would

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

later

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

week,

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

much

embellishments:

larger,

embellishments:

much

embellishments:

less

embellishments:

intimate

embellishments:

Yankee

embellishments:

Stadium.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

wondered

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

death

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

Ebbets

embellishments:

Field—and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

Polo

embellishments:

Grounds,

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

Washington

embellishments:

Heights and

embellishments:

now,

embellishments:

too,

embellishments:

deserted

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

its teams—meant

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

no

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

would

embellishments:

ever

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

park like

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

again.

embellishments:

Would

embellishments:

these

embellishments:

titans

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

concrete,

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

living,

embellishments:

vibrant

embellishments:

part

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

city

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

which

embellishments:

they

embellishments:

dwelt,

embellishments:

die

embellishments:

off

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

favor

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

soulless,

embellishments:

cookie-cutter

embellishments:

imitations?

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

understood,

embellishments:

then,

embellishments:

staring

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

park

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

loved,

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

these

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

wanted.
She wouldn’t

embellishments:

pretend

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

America

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

perfect,

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

excuse

embellishments:

its

embellishments:

faults.

embellishments:

But

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

recognized

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

potential

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

become

embellishments:

great.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

wouldn’t

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

easy

embellishments:

path,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

reached

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

pretending

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

no

embellishments:

sins

embellishments:

haunted

embellishments:

America’s

embellishments:

past,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

possible.

embellishments:

Baseball

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

game,

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

course,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

also

embellishments:

a symbol,

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

Lady

embellishments:

Liberty

embellishments:

was,

embellishments:

or

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

curse-sigil’s

embellishments:

components.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

worst

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

America,

embellishments:

certainly

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

its

embellishments:

own

embellishments:

history

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

hatred

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

oppression,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

also

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

best.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

history

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

baseball was one

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

fighting against

embellishments:

tyranny,

embellishments:

fighting

embellishments:

against

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

rich

embellishments:

stepping

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

poor,

embellishments:

fighting

embellishments:

against

embellishments:

prejudice,

embellishments:

fighting

embellishments:

against

embellishments:

those

embellishments:

who

embellishments:

wanted

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

dictate

embellishments:

who

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

play

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

who

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

enjoy

embellishments:

it.
Steward

embellishments:

understood, and

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

understanding

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

suit

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

armor

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

psyche,

embellishments:

steeling

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

confrontation ahead.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

stepped

embellishments:

forward

embellishments:

and was

embellishments:

unsurprised

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

find

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

entrance

embellishments:

unlocked.
Her footsteps

embellishments:

echoed

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

concrete,

embellishments:

weird

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

silence.

embellishments:

She had

embellishments:

never

embellishments:

been

embellishments:

inside

embellishments:

when

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

had been

embellishments:

empty. She was not meant to be inside it when it was empty,

embellishments:

no

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

was.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

unnatural,

embellishments:

almost

embellishments:

indecent,

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

walking

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

friend

embellishments:

naked.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

faint

embellishments:

ghosts

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

past

embellishments:

games

embellishments:

tugged

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

senses,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

frail

embellishments:

scent

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

old

embellishments:

popcorn and

embellishments:

long-eaten

embellishments:

hot

embellishments:

dogs, the

embellishments:

lingering

embellishments:

hint

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

cheers

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

boos,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

electric

embellishments:

feel

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

excitement

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

settled

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

concrete

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

way

embellishments:

snow

embellishments:

settles

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

mountain

embellishments:

top.

embellishments:

Calm

embellishments:

until

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

turned

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

avalanche.
And

embellishments:

something

embellishments:

else,

embellishments:

too,

embellishments:

something

embellishments:

strange.

embellishments:

A

embellishments:

sickness,

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

touch

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

plague

embellishments:

running

embellishments:

underneath

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

all.

embellishments:

All

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

America’s

embellishments:

old

embellishments:

sins,

embellishments:

ignored

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

gone,

embellishments:

waiting

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

release.
No,

embellishments:

release

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

wrong

embellishments:

word.

embellishments:

Release

embellishments:

meant

embellishments:

confrontation, a

embellishments:

reckoning

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

past,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

catharsis.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

waiting

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

permission,

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

excuse,

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

someone

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

say, ‘these

embellishments:

are

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

sins

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

virtues.’
Steward

embellishments:

walked

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

way

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

field without

embellishments:

interruption.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

feel

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

sigil

embellishments:

waiting

embellishments:

for her

embellishments:

before

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

saw

embellishments:

it,

embellishments:

pressure

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

magical

embellishments:

veins

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

New

embellishments:

York.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

air

embellishments:

grew

embellishments:

dense,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

force

embellishments:

her way

embellishments:

forward,

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

wading

embellishments:

through

embellishments:

icy

embellishments:

water.
The

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

were

embellishments:

waiting

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

her,

embellishments:

arranged

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

two

embellishments:

neat

embellishments:

rows

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

four

embellishments:

along

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

foul

embellishments:

lines.

embellishments:

Standing

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

pitcher’s

embellishments:

mound was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

dark

embellishments:

suit

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

red

embellishments:

tie.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

particularly

embellishments:

striking,

embellishments:

neither

embellishments:

short

embellishments:

nor

embellishments:

tall,

embellishments:

perhaps

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

little

embellishments:

round

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

middle.

embellishments:

If

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

passed

embellishments:

him

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

street,

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

sure

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

would ever

embellishments:

have

embellishments:

noticed

embellishments:

him.
“So

embellishments:

good

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

join

embellishments:

us!”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

called

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

came

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

stop

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

home

embellishments:

plate.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

seemed

embellishments:

right.
“I’m

embellishments:

here

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

stop

embellishments:

you,”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

called

embellishments:

back.
“Is

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

right?”

embellishments:

asked

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare. “Sure

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

want

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

you’re

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

against

embellishments:

first?”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

raised

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

hand

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

stadium

embellishments:

lights

embellishments:

snapped

embellishments:

on,

embellishments:

flooding

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

field.

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

handful

embellishments:

more

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

sitting

embellishments:

or

embellishments:

standing in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bleachers,

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

staring

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

her.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

grinning

embellishments:

madly, his

embellishments:

arms

embellishments:

spread

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

demonstrate

embellishments:

the futility

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

fighting

embellishments:

him.
The

embellishments:

sigil

embellishments:

took

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

whole

embellishments:

infield,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

extending

embellishments:

lightning

embellishments:

bolts

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

power

embellishments:

reaching

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

touch

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

baselines.

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

tell that

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

more

embellishments:

complicated

embellishments:

than the

embellishments:

one in

embellishments:

Castle

embellishments:

Clinton,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

make

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

details.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

clearly

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

catastrophic

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

she had

embellishments:

worried,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

more

embellishments:

ominous

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

faint

embellishments:

green

embellishments:

glow

embellishments:

emanating

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

lines

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

swirls of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

sigil.
“Still

embellishments:

gonna

embellishments:

stop

embellishments:

you,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward.
“You

embellishments:

literally

embellishments:

can’t.”
Steward

embellishments:

took

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

step

embellishments:

forward.
“Wait!”

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

said. “Let’s

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

hasty.

embellishments:

We’re

embellishments:

doing

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

good

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

America.”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

cocked

embellishments:

her head

embellishments:

ever

embellishments:

so

embellishments:

slightly

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

side

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

show

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

listening.
“We’ve

embellishments:

degenerated.

embellishments:

We

embellishments:

lost

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

means

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

America,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

started

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

clearly

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

well-rehearsed

embellishments:

speech. “You

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

everywhere

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

look.

embellishments:

Filth

embellishments:

pervades

embellishments:

our media,

embellishments:

criminals

embellishments:

go

embellishments:

unpunished,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

now

embellishments:

good,

embellishments:

God-fearing

embellishments:

people

embellishments:

can’t

embellishments:

even

embellishments:

depend

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

their

embellishments:

government

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

protect

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

foreign

embellishments:

threats,

embellishments:

thanks

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

Supreme

embellishments:

Court.

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

mean,

embellishments:

look

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

New

embellishments:

York.

embellishments:

This

embellishments:

cesspool

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

filled

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

rotten,

embellishments:

diseased

embellishments:

husks.”
“Like

embellishments:

Castle

embellishments:

Clinton?”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

inched

embellishments:

forward.
“And

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

place!

embellishments:

And

embellishments:

even

embellishments:

its

embellishments:

people

embellishments:

are

embellishments:

filthy,

embellishments:

they’re scum,

embellishments:

twisted

embellishments:

mockeries of

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

means

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

human.

embellishments:

But

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

fight

embellishments:

back.

embellishments:

We

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

turn

embellishments:

these,”

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

indicated

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

ballpark

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

them, “into

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

engine

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

will

embellishments:

wipe

embellishments:

away

embellishments:

our

embellishments:

mistakes!

embellishments:

We

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

go

embellishments:

back,

embellishments:

turn

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

clock

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

when

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

were

embellishments:

pure

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

safe.”
Steward

embellishments:

took

embellishments:

another

embellishments:

slow

embellishments:

step,

embellishments:

trying

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

keep

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

body as

embellishments:

straight

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

even

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

could.
The

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

continued, “We

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

used

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

be!

embellishments:

We

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

perfect

embellishments:

again!”

embellishments:

A

embellishments:

great

embellishments:

cheer

embellishments:

rose

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

cultists.
“To

embellishments:

when?”
“Excuse

embellishments:

me?”
“You

embellishments:

want

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

turn

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

clock

embellishments:

back.

embellishments:

You

embellishments:

want

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

undo

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

progress

embellishments:

we’ve

embellishments:

achieved

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

bring

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

what,

embellishments:

exactly?

embellishments:

What’s

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

trade-off

embellishments:

here?”
“Back

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

when

embellishments:

people

embellishments:

knew

embellishments:

their

embellishments:

places,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare. “When

embellishments:

wealth

embellishments:

meant

embellishments:

something.

embellishments:

We’re

embellishments:

tired

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

being

embellishments:

downtrodden

embellishments:

because

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

our

embellishments:

prosperity.

embellishments:

We

embellishments:

worked

embellishments:

hard

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

have,

embellishments:

only

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

told

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

support

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

weak

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

lazy!

embellishments:

Well,

embellishments:

no

embellishments:

more!”
“Worked

embellishments:

hard

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

what?”
“What?”
Steward’s

embellishments:

toe

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

nearly

embellishments:

touching

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

containment

embellishments:

circle

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

sigil.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

wasn’t

embellishments:

sure

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

would

embellishments:

happen

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

released

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

of that

embellishments:

energy

embellishments:

pulsing

embellishments:

through

embellishments:

it,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

hoped

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

wouldn’t

embellishments:

destroy

embellishments:

more

embellishments:

than

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

city

embellishments:

block.
“How

embellishments:

did

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

make

embellishments:

these

embellishments:

riches that

embellishments:

those

embellishments:

evil

embellishments:

less

embellishments:

fortunate

embellishments:

people

embellishments:

are

embellishments:

trying

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

take

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

you?”
“Well,

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

real

embellishments:

estate,

embellishments:

obviously.”
“Obviously,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward,

embellishments:

doing

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

best

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

scratch a

embellishments:

directional

embellishments:

sigil

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

dirt

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

toe.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

messy,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

wasn’t

embellishments:

sure

embellishments:

if it was

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

work. “You

embellishments:

saved

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

pennies

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

bike

embellishments:

route

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

bought

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

vacant

embellishments:

lot,

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

that?”
There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

flash

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

red

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

stands,

embellishments:

near

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

top,

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

corner

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

Steward’s

embellishments:

peripheral

embellishments:

vision,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

focused

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare,

embellishments:

hoping

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

doing.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

other

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

were

embellishments:

also

embellishments:

listening

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

rapt

embellishments:

attention.
“Well,

embellishments:

no,

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

inherited...”
“Oh

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

stop,”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

cut

embellishments:

him

embellishments:

off, “You’re

embellishments:

all

embellishments:

alike.

embellishments:

You

embellishments:

didn’t

embellishments:

work

embellishments:

hard

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

riches,

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

handed

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

silver

embellishments:

platter. The

embellishments:

better

embellishments:

world you’re prattling

embellishments:

on about isn’t

embellishments:

better

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

me,

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

isn’t

embellishments:

better

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

most

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

us.

embellishments:

It’s

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

excuse

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

assholes

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

avoid

embellishments:

paying

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

fair

embellishments:

share.

embellishments:

You’re

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

comic book villain,

embellishments:

stealing

embellishments:

pies

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

orphanage

embellishments:

because

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

think

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

away

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

it.”
The

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

let

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

hands

embellishments:

drop. “Well,

embellishments:

yeah.”

embellishments:

Steward stopped

embellishments:

short,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

rest of her

embellishments:

lecture

embellishments:

dying

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

tongue.
“I

embellishments:

know

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

world

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

want

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

better

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

me,”

embellishments:

the hare

embellishments:

continued,

embellishments:

shrugging

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

didn’t

embellishments:

matter. “My

embellishments:

numbers

embellishments:

guy

embellishments:

says

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

spell

embellishments:

will

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

me

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

solid

embellishments:

million

embellishments:

next

embellishments:

year.”
“You

embellishments:

can’t

embellishments:

possibly have

embellishments:

thought

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

convince

embellishments:

me,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward.
“Of

embellishments:

course

embellishments:

not.”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

laughed. “Hell,

embellishments:

my

embellishments:

America

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

be

embellishments:

way

embellishments:

worse

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

than

embellishments:

this.

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

wanted

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

slow

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

while

embellishments:

my

embellishments:

sniper

embellishments:

got

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

position.”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

pointed

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

head

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

shouted

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

top

embellishments:

stands, “Now,

embellishments:

Jenkins!”
Steward

embellishments:

flung

embellishments:

herself

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

side,

embellishments:

arms

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

head,

embellishments:

waiting

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

report

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

rifle

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

then the

embellishments:

dark

embellishments:

oblivion

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

failure.
The

embellishments:

park

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

silent.
Steward

embellishments:

peeked

embellishments:

up.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

waving

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

hands

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

head.
“Jenkins!

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

said,

embellishments:

Jenkins!

embellishments:

Now!”
Steward

embellishments:

uncurled

embellishments:

slightly

embellishments:

and,

embellishments:

while

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the cultists

embellishments:

were

embellishments:

focused

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

where

embellishments:

Jenkins

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

apparently

embellishments:

supposed

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

be,

embellishments:

drew

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

line

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

connected

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

directional

embellishments:

symbol,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

containment

embellishments:

circle,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

home base.

embellishments:

Then

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

stood.
“Problems?”
“Dammit,

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

knew

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

should’ve

embellishments:

gotten

embellishments:

Rogers

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

there,”

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

growled. “No

embellishments:

matter.”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

reached

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

jacket,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

there

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

shout

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

a snarl

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

drew

embellishments:

everyone’s

embellishments:

attention

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

high

embellishments:

stands

embellishments:

behind

embellishments:

home

embellishments:

plate.

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

hardly

embellishments:

believe

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

eyes.

embellishments:

There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

Strauss,

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

struggling

embellishments:

cultist

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

hand,

embellishments:

a long

embellishments:

rifle

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

other.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

couldn’t

embellishments:

make

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

fox’s

embellishments:

expression

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

ground,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

imagined

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

sneer

embellishments:

across

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

elegant

embellishments:

red

embellishments:

muzzle.

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

jammed

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

barrel of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

rifle

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

stands

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

twisted.

embellishments:

There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

ear-piercing

embellishments:

screech

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

protesting

embellishments:

metal,

embellishments:

and then

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

flung

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

now-bent

embellishments:

rifle

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

space.

embellishments:

It

embellishments:

whirled

embellishments:

through

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

air

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

crashed

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

between

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare.
“Oh,

embellishments:

shit,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare,

embellishments:

loud

embellishments:

enough

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

hear.
There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

vague

embellishments:

blur,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

suddenly

embellishments:

de Ludre,

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

baseball

embellishments:

bat

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

each

embellishments:

hand,

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

grinning

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

her.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

tried

embellishments:

hard

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

ignore

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

dark

embellishments:

stains

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

fur

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

mouth.
“My Maria

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

very

embellishments:

good

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

distractions,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said, “Very

embellishments:

theatrical.

embellishments:

Would

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

hand?”
“Forget

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hand, I’ll

embellishments:

take a

embellishments:

bat.”
With a wicked grin, he tossed

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

them,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

turned

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

dove

embellishments:

towards

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

base,

embellishments:

scattering

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

before

embellishments:

him.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

entire

embellishments:

stadium

embellishments:

erupted

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

chaos.

embellishments:

Above,

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

leaping

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

cultist

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

next

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

fire

embellishments:

leaps

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

tinder

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

tree,

embellishments:

while

embellishments:

de Ludre

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

smoke

embellishments:

blinding

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

confounding,

embellishments:

bounding

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

forth

embellishments:

between

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

third

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

easily

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

child

embellishments:

playing

embellishments:

hopscotch.
The

embellishments:

hare,

embellishments:

hate

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

anger

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

eyes,

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

striding

embellishments:

forward

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

pitcher’s

embellishments:

mound.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

drew

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

long,

embellishments:

stone-colored

embellishments:

dagger

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

suit

embellishments:

jacket

embellishments:

as he

embellishments:

approached,

embellishments:

shouting

embellishments:

something

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

lost

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

great

embellishments:

din.

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

too

embellishments:

busy

embellishments:

fending

embellishments:

off

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bat

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

focus

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

him.

embellishments:

One

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

assailants

embellishments:

got

embellishments:

too

embellishments:

close

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

forced

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

crack

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

skull,

embellishments:

which

embellishments:

made

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

other

embellishments:

three

embellishments:

hang

embellishments:

back,

embellishments:

wary.
She

embellishments:

looked

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

see

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare,

embellishments:

fifteen

embellishments:

feet

embellishments:

away,

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

mix

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

terror

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

rage

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

face.

embellishments:

Without

embellishments:

breaking

embellishments:

eye

embellishments:

contact,

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

swung

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bat

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

shattered

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

containment

embellishments:

circle

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

great

embellishments:

sigil.

embellishments:

His

embellishments:

scream

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

cut

embellishments:

short

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

muffled

embellishments:

thud

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

knocked

embellishments:

everyone

embellishments:

off of

embellishments:

their

embellishments:

feet.
Steward

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

picking

embellishments:

herself

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

when the

embellishments:

second

embellishments:

thud,

embellishments:

deeper

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

more

embellishments:

primal

embellishments:

than

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

first,

embellishments:

reverberated

embellishments:

through

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

park.

embellishments:

There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

crack

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

steel

embellishments:

girders

embellishments:

supporting

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

upper

embellishments:

risers

embellishments:

snapped

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

whole

embellishments:

tier

embellishments:

listed

embellishments:

forward.

embellishments:

Strauss,

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

bright

embellishments:

flame

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

fur,

embellishments:

glowing

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

stadium

embellishments:

lights,

embellishments:

grabbed

embellishments:

onto

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

railings

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

pull

embellishments:

herself

embellishments:

up.

embellishments:

A

embellishments:

cultist,

embellishments:

seemingly

embellishments:

materializing

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

thin

embellishments:

air,

embellishments:

slammed

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

shoulder

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

fox.

embellishments:

There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

hideous

embellishments:

creaking

embellishments:

sound

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

concrete

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

railing

embellishments:

crumbled

embellishments:

away,

embellishments:

sending

embellishments:

both

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

tumbling

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

air.
“Maria!”

embellishments:

de Ludre

embellishments:

screamed.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

tried

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

rush

embellishments:

forward

embellishments:

and was

embellishments:

tackled

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

two

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

cultists.

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

hit

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

ground

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

thud,

embellishments:

followed

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

assailant

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

far

embellishments:

more

embellishments:

final

embellishments:

sound.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

fox

embellishments:

lifted

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

head

embellishments:

up,

embellishments:

moving

embellishments:

slowly

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

awkwardly.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

man

embellishments:

lay

embellishments:

still.
Forgetting

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

instant

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

goal,

embellishments:

Steward ran to

embellishments:

Strauss.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

fox

embellishments:

looked

embellishments:

groggy

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

pain,

embellishments:

but,

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

Steward’s

embellishments:

help,

embellishments:

managed to

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

feet.
“Nothing

embellishments:

broken,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

muttered

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

Steward. “Forget

embellishments:

me.”
“You

embellishments:

know

embellishments:

that’s

embellishments:

impossible,”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

told

embellishments:

her,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

gave

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

shaky

embellishments:

kind

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

grin.
The

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

reached

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

break

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

made and

embellishments:

knelt

embellishments:

down,

embellishments:

muttering to

embellishments:

himself

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

scratched

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

dirt

embellishments:

near

embellishments:

Steward’s

embellishments:

directional

embellishments:

symbols.

embellishments:

Steward,

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

still

embellishments:

leaning

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

her,

embellishments:

returned

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

home

embellishments:

plate.
“Told

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

I’d

embellishments:

stop

embellishments:

you,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

said.
“You

embellishments:

haven’t

embellishments:

stopped

embellishments:

anything,”

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

dismissively.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

bit

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

thumb

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

mixed some

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

own

embellishments:

blood into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

dirt,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

strange

embellishments:

green

embellishments:

energy

embellishments:

flooded

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

home

embellishments:

base

embellishments:

and then

embellishments:

started

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

race

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

baselines. “You

embellishments:

slowed

embellishments:

me

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

maybe

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

hour.

embellishments:

And

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

still

embellishments:

have

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

outnumbered.”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

snapped

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

finger

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

starting

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

stand

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

up. “Smith,

embellishments:

Cooper,

embellishments:

take

embellishments:

care

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

these

embellishments:

girls

embellishments:

while

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

fix

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

mess.”
The

embellishments:

two looked at each

embellishments:

other,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

Steward.
“What’s

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

problem?”

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare snapped at

embellishments:

them. “Let’s

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

with.”
“Well,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

one, “it’s

embellishments:

just,

embellishments:

she’s

embellishments:

got

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

bat,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

only

embellishments:

gave

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

these

embellishments:

knives.

embellishments:

That

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

seem

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

much

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

fair

embellishments:

fight.”
“And

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

fox,

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

fell

embellishments:

like,

embellishments:

twenty

embellishments:

feet

embellishments:

without

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

scratch

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

her.

embellishments:

That

embellishments:

ain’t

embellishments:

natural,

embellishments:

boss.”
“Who

embellishments:

cares if it’s natural,” the hare snarled, “she’s

embellishments:

just a little

embellishments:

girl!

embellishments:

Get

embellishments:

them.”
“I

embellishments:

mean,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

first

embellishments:

cultist, “I

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

just...

embellishments:

me

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

Cooper,

embellishments:

we’re

embellishments:

just,

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

know,

embellishments:

guys.

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

know,

embellishments:

like,

embellishments:

blood oaths

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

stuff, but

embellishments:

we

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

think

embellishments:

it’s

embellishments:

worth

embellishments:

getting

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

bat

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

head.”
“What?”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

stood

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

glared

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

at the two

embellishments:

henchmen, “What

embellishments:

about

embellishments:

making

embellishments:

America

embellishments:

pure

embellishments:

again?

embellishments:

We’re

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

make

embellishments:

America a

embellishments:

paradise!”
“Yeah,

embellishments:

it’s

embellishments:

just,

embellishments:

paradise

embellishments:

doesn’t

embellishments:

seem

embellishments:

so

embellishments:

good

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

gotta

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

hit

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

bat

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

it,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Smith.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

two

embellishments:

men looked at each

embellishments:

other,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

to the hare.
“We’re, uh, we’re gonna get going,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Cooper. “Good, um,

embellishments:

good

embellishments:

luck

embellishments:

with all that purity and stuff.”

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

watched,

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

mouth

embellishments:

working

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

tried,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

failed,

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

find

embellishments:

some

embellishments:

argument

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

bring

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

bear,

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

two

embellishments:

cultists

embellishments:

headed

embellishments:

towards

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

door.
Steward

embellishments:

let go of

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

raised

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bat.
“You

embellishments:

could

embellishments:

give

embellishments:

up,”

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

told

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

closed

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

mouth,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

stood,

embellishments:

standing

embellishments:

straightbacked and

embellishments:

tall.
“I

embellishments:

could,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said.

embellishments:

There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

beat, then

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said, “But

embellishments:

I’m

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to.”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

flung

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

handful

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

dirt

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

Steward,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

dove

embellishments:

towards

embellishments:

Strauss,

embellishments:

wrapping

embellishments:

one

embellishments:

arm

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

neck

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

pressing

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

point

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

knife

embellishments:

against

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

stomach.

embellishments:

There

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

soft

embellishments:

sizzling

embellishments:

sound

embellishments:

where the

embellishments:

blade

embellishments:

made

embellishments:

contact,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

stiffened

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

pain.
“Whatever

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

is,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

told

embellishments:

Steward, “this

embellishments:

dagger will

embellishments:

kill

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

as surely as it’ll

embellishments:

kill

embellishments:

you.

embellishments:

So

embellishments:

if

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

don’t

embellishments:

want

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

die,

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

you’re

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

do.

embellishments:

First,

embellishments:

drop

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bat.”
Steward

embellishments:

glanced

embellishments:

around, but

embellishments:

de

embellishments:

Ludre

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

still

embellishments:

being

embellishments:

swarmed

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

cultists.

embellishments:

There

embellishments:

were

embellishments:

precious

embellishments:

few

embellishments:

left, and

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

looked

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

taking

embellishments:

all of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

remaining

embellishments:

ones to

embellishments:

keep

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

horse

embellishments:

from

embellishments:

escaping.

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

swallowed

embellishments:

hard,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

tossed

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bat

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

side.
“Good

embellishments:

girl.

embellishments:

Now

embellishments:

kneel

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

near

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

base

embellishments:

line

embellishments:

and draw a circle

embellishments:

at least

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

foot

embellishments:

wide

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

dirt

embellishments:

outside of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

line and

embellishments:

without

embellishments:

touching

embellishments:

it.”
“I’m

embellishments:

sorry,

embellishments:

Maria,”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

knelt

embellishments:

down.

embellishments:

With

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

right

embellishments:

hand,

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

slowly

embellishments:

drew

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

circle

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

ordered,

embellishments:

followed

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

number

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

complicated

embellishments:

symbols

embellishments:

in a

embellishments:

precise

embellishments:

geometry.

embellishments:

With

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

left

embellishments:

hand,

embellishments:

hidden

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

own

embellishments:

shadow,

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

sketched

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

directional lines

embellishments:

once

embellishments:

more.
“Good

embellishments:

girl,”

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

when

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

finished. “Now

embellishments:

stand

embellishments:

up.

embellishments:

You’re

embellishments:

going

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

bite

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

finger

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

drip

embellishments:

blood

embellishments:

onto

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

circle.”
Instead,

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

kicked a

embellishments:

divot

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

dirt

embellishments:

between

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

directional

embellishments:

symbols

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

baseline,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

dove

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

cover.

embellishments:

Energy

embellishments:

flooded

embellishments:

out,

embellishments:

shaped

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

clumsy

embellishments:

symbols,

embellishments:

and then

embellishments:

arced

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

grass

embellishments:

before

embellishments:

smacking

embellishments:

into

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

Strauss,

embellishments:

sending

embellishments:

them

embellishments:

both

embellishments:

flying.

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

snatched

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

bat

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

while

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

still

embellishments:

falling.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

scrabbling

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

knees

embellishments:

when

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

cracked

embellishments:

him

embellishments:

over

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

head

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

neck,

embellishments:

lifting

embellishments:

him a

embellishments:

clear

embellishments:

foot

embellishments:

off

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

ground.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

landed

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

thud

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

a groan

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

then lay

embellishments:

still.
“Steward,”

embellishments:

Strauss

embellishments:

hissed,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

turned

embellishments:

towards

embellishments:

her.

embellishments:

She

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

smoking

embellishments:

faintly,

embellishments:

greatly

embellishments:

increasing

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

resemblance

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

young

embellishments:

bonfire,

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

there

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

long,

embellishments:

thin

embellishments:

cut

embellishments:

along

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

stomach,

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

fur

embellishments:

blackened

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

curled,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

otherwise

embellishments:

seemed

embellishments:

none

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

worse

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

wear.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

fox

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

pointing

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

home

embellishments:

plate.
Green

embellishments:

energy

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

leaking

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

break

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

baseline,

embellishments:

crackling

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

hissing

embellishments:

as

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

spread

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

oil

embellishments:

slick

embellishments:

outwards.

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

two

embellishments:

women

embellishments:

quickly

embellishments:

took

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

few

embellishments:

steps

embellishments:

back.
“I

embellishments:

can...

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

repair

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

circle?”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

said,

embellishments:

dubiously.
“Too

embellishments:

unstable,”

embellishments:

said Strauss. “Etienne, viens!”
De Ludre, covered in a

embellishments:

half-dozen

embellishments:

cuts

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

some

embellishments:

substance

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

chose

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

consider,

embellishments:

came

embellishments:

trotting

embellishments:

over.

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

glanced

embellishments:

around

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

aftermath

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

critical

embellishments:

eye,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

pointed at

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

circle

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare had

embellishments:

made

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

draw.
“It’s a

embellishments:

transference sigil,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

told

embellishments:

her. “He

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

trying

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

connect

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

energy

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

different

embellishments:

place.”
“Probably

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

Polo

embellishments:

Grounds,”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

mused.
“Maybe.

embellishments:

Can

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

draw it

embellishments:

again?”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

considered,

embellishments:

then

embellishments:

nodded. “Good.

embellishments:

Draw it

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

me.”
“Quoi?” Strauss shouted. “C’est impossible! C’est... c’est le chose le mieux idiot que...”
“Silence, s’il te plaît,” de Ludre cut her off. “Nous n’avons pas les temps to

embellishments:

argue. You’ll have

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

change

embellishments:

some of the

embellishments:

runes,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

it will

embellishments:

keep

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

curse contained

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

me

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

length

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

my

embellishments:

life.”
“You’re

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

ninety

embellishments:

years

embellishments:

old,”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

said, “how much

embellishments:

longer is

embellishments:

your life

embellishments:

going to last?”
“I’m a

embellishments:

hundred

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

twenty-six,” said Etienne casually, “and

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

three

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

us,

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

most

embellishments:

proven

embellishments:

ability

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

die.

embellishments:

So,

embellishments:

please,

embellishments:

madame,

embellishments:

before

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

explodes

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

kills

embellishments:

us

embellishments:

along

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

most

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

Flatbush?”
* * *
“There’s

embellishments:

no

embellishments:

way

embellishments:

that’s

embellishments:

true,”

embellishments:

David

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

said,

embellishments:

engrossed

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

spite

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

himself.
With

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

grim

embellishments:

smile,

embellishments:

Etienne

embellishments:

tugged

embellishments:

the collar

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

shirt

embellishments:

down

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

reveal

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

edge

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

glowing

embellishments:

green

embellishments:

sigil.
Steward

embellishments:

turned

embellishments:

towards

embellishments:

Maria,

embellishments:

who

embellishments:

rolled

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

eyes,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

lifted

embellishments:

up

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

edge

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

shirt

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

show

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

scar

embellishments:

along

embellishments:

her

embellishments:

stomach.
“So

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

can’t

embellishments:

watch

embellishments:

baseball

embellishments:

because

embellishments:

it

embellishments:

might

embellishments:

activate

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

curse?”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

asked.
Etienne

embellishments:

nodded. “Indeed.

embellishments:

My

embellishments:

concern

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

this

embellishments:

land

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

so

embellishments:

great

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

will

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

even

embellishments:

watch

embellishments:

it on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

television.”

embellishments:

He

embellishments:

leaned

embellishments:

back

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

Steward’s

embellishments:

chair. “I

embellishments:

just

embellishments:

read

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

box scores.”
“Huh.”

embellishments:

Steward lapsed into

embellishments:

silence as he digested the horse’s

embellishments:

tale.
“I

embellishments:

have

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

question,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Theo. “I

embellishments:

understand

embellishments:

why

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

can’t

embellishments:

watch

embellishments:

baseball, but

embellishments:

why

embellishments:

can’t

embellishments:

you,

embellishments:

Maria?”
“I

embellishments:

remain

embellishments:

in

embellishments:

solidarity

embellishments:

with

embellishments:

my

embellishments:

sire,

embellishments:

an

embellishments:

example

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

should

embellishments:

have

embellishments:

hoped you would have taken

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

heart.”
Etienne

embellishments:

snorted. “She

embellishments:

refuses

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

watch

embellishments:

because

embellishments:

she’s still mad that

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

Dodgers

embellishments:

moved

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

Los

embellishments:

Angeles.”
Steward

embellishments:

covered

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

laugh

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

pretending

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

cough,

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

Maria’s

embellishments:

glare

embellishments:

let

embellishments:

him

embellishments:

know

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

unsuccessful.
“Ahem,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said. “What

embellishments:

about

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

hare,

embellishments:

did

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

ever

embellishments:

find

embellishments:

out

embellishments:

who

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

was?

embellishments:

If

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

so

embellishments:

rich, it

embellishments:

must

embellishments:

have

embellishments:

been

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

huge

embellishments:

scandal.”
“Not

embellishments:

really,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Etienne. “After

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

grandmother

embellishments:

left

embellishments:

I

embellishments:

finished

embellishments:

what she started, and no one really misses a parasite like that.”
“What

embellishments:

does ‘finish

embellishments:

what

embellishments:

she

embellishments:

started’

embellishments:

meant?”

embellishments:

Steward

embellishments:

asked at

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

same

embellishments:

time

embellishments:

that

embellishments:

Theo

embellishments:

asked, “How

embellishments:

did he

embellishments:

taste?”
Steward

embellishments:

shot

embellishments:

his

embellishments:

boyfriend a

embellishments:

disgusted

embellishments:

look.

embellishments:

Theo

embellishments:

had

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

decency

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

look

embellishments:

slightly

embellishments:

embarrassed.
“Real estate moguls

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

finance guys

embellishments:

are

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

fast

embellishments:

food

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

us,”

embellishments:

he

embellishments:

said,

embellishments:

not

embellishments:

meeting

embellishments:

Steward’s

embellishments:

eyes, “They

embellishments:

aren’t

embellishments:

healthy

embellishments:

but

embellishments:

they’re

embellishments:

like

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

good,

embellishments:

salty

embellishments:

snack.”
“Ugh,”

embellishments:

said

embellishments:

Steward. “Okay,

embellishments:

last

embellishments:

question.

embellishments:

What’s

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

Smith

embellishments:

Agency?”
“Ah,”

embellishments:

Etienne

embellishments:

said,

embellishments:

smiling, “That

embellishments:

is

embellishments:

a

embellishments:

story for

embellishments:

another

embellishments:

day.”



This

embellishments:

was

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

second

embellishments:

and

embellishments:

final

embellishments:

part

embellishments:

of “Switch Hitter”

embellishments:

by

embellishments:

J.S.

embellishments:

Hawthorne,

embellishments:

read for you by Rob MacWolf, Werewolf Hitchhiker.

As always,

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

can

embellishments:

find

embellishments:

more

embellishments:

stories

embellishments:

on

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

web

embellishments:

at

embellishments:

thevoice.dog,

embellishments:

or

embellishments:

find

embellishments:

the

embellishments:

show

embellishments:

wherever

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

get

embellishments:

your

embellishments:

podcasts.

embellishments:

Thank

embellishments:

you

embellishments:

for

embellishments:

listening

embellishments:

to

embellishments:

The

embellishments:

Ghost

embellishments:

of

embellishments:

Dog.

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube