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“Aces High” by J. Daniel Phillips (read by Carrizo, part 1 of 2)
10th November 2025 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:35:43

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A murdered bank robber is revived to enact otherworldly justice on his former companions. Tracking his first target, he heads into the Rockies…

Today’s story is the first of two parts of an excerpt from “Aces High” by J. Daniel Phillips, runner-up for the Coyotl Award for best novel in 2021. The full book is available from Amazon, or (preferably) from Fenris Publishing if you’re interested in learning how the rest of the story develops, and you can find more of his stories on FurAffinity and Amazon.

Read by Carrizo, your Coyote in the Court.

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/aces-high-by-j-daniel-phillips-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

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You’re

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listening

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to

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The

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Voice

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of

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Dog.

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This

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is

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Rob

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MacWolf,

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your

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Fellow

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Traveller,

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and

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Today’s

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story

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is

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the

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first of

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two

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parts

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of

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an

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excerpt

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from “Aces

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High”

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by

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J.

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Daniel

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Phillips,

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runner-up

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for

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the

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Coyotl

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Award

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for

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best novel in 2021. The full book

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is

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available

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from

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Amazon,

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or (preferably)

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from

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Fenris

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Publishing

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if

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you’re

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interested

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in

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learning

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how

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the

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rest

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of

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the

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story

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develops,

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and

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you

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can

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find

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more

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of

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his

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stories

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on

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FurAffinity

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and

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Amazon.

Read

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by

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Carrizo,

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your

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Coyote

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in Court.

Please

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enjoy


“Aces

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High”

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by

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J.

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Daniel

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Phillips,

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Part 1

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of 2

- Prologue -
Winter, 1898

     I feel as if I’m flying, soaring, falling. Wind rushes past my ears as

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I

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plummet

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through

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the

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inky

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blackness,

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my arms and

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legs

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ignoring my commands to reach

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out to

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grab

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something –

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anything –

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to

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arrest this

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freefall.

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The

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way

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that

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wind

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roars

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past,

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like a locomotive chugging and spitting, thundering

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along

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ancient tracks. And

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just

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when

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I

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see a

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pinhole

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of pure

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white

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light

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that

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pierces through

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the

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emptiness, I hear

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that engine roar. The light closes in on me, swiftly growing from a pinhole to a keyhole, a keyhole to a lantern and a lantern to—
     Eeeeeeee!
The steam

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whistle blares

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like a

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shrieking

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banshee,

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drowning

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out

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the

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buffeting

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wind and

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thrusting

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a

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cold,

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hard

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blade

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through

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my

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throbbing

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skull.

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Then,

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with

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a

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thud,

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everything

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vanishes

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as

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I

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cascade

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through

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a

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crevice

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out

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of

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that

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terrible

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void.

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The snowy

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ground

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rushes

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up

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to

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greet

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me

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as

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my

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stomach

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climbs into

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my

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jaw

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before

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finally

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settling

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into

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my

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gut

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with

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a nauseating thud.
My eyelids part and I find

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myself

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staring

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up

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at

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a

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simple,

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wooden

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roof.
Everything

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is

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quiet,

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peaceful. The

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crackle

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of

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an

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open

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fire

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betrays

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what

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may lie

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just

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out of

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sight. I’m

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so

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weak that

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my

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arms

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refuse

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to

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obey

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me.

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So, I

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part

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my

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lips,

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which

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are

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so

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dry

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and

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numb

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that

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it

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feels

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like

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I’m

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prying

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open

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a

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spring

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trap.

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Then,

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I

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lift

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my

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cold,

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heavy

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head.
I

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scan

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this

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room,

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simple,

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cramped

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and

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unadorned,

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finding

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only

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scant

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furniture

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and

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no

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decorations.

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In

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all,

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there is

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just

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a

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table, a

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chair, a

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small

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shelf of

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books,

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and

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a bed. A bed I lie in. A bed soaked

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with

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already

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coagulating

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blood.
As

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my

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gaze

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settles

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down

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across

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my

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own

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chest,

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I

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realize, it’s my blood. Blood

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which

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bubbles

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from

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a

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wound

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just

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under

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my

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heart.

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Filled

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with

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new

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terror,

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I

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try

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to

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lift

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my

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arm

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to

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tear

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off

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the

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blanket

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which

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covers

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me –

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ruined

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now beyond

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repair – but my

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fingers

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barely

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budge.

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My

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right

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hand

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hangs

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limp and

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uselessly

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over

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the

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side.

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Nothing

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works,

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and

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I

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feel

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so,

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so

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cold.

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Tears

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of

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confusion

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and

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fear

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rush

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to

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my

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eyes,

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yet

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they

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never

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fall.
A

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loud

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creak

Speaker:

attracts my

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attention

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I peer

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expectantly

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

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door

Speaker:

directly

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opposite

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

foot

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of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bed.
From

Speaker:

within

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a

Speaker:

shadow

Speaker:

cast

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

doorframe, a

Speaker:

figure

emerges:

a

emerges:

wolf.

emerges:

Tall

emerges:

and thin, his

emerges:

fur

emerges:

is

emerges:

mostly

emerges:

a

emerges:

mottled

emerges:

black-and-gray

emerges:

pattern

emerges:

splotched

emerges:

with

emerges:

white

emerges:

under

emerges:

his

emerges:

chin.

emerges:

Over

emerges:

his

emerges:

wide

emerges:

shoulders,

emerges:

knotted

emerges:

over

emerges:

his

emerges:

right shoulder and hanging

emerges:

over

emerges:

his

emerges:

left,

emerges:

is a

emerges:

woven

emerges:

brown

emerges:

poncho,

emerges:

stitched

emerges:

chaotically

emerges:

with

emerges:

symbols

emerges:

and

emerges:

stars,

emerges:

reminiscent

emerges:

of

emerges:

Plains

emerges:

Tribes.

emerges:

Yet

emerges:

denim

emerges:

trousers

emerges:

and

emerges:

a

emerges:

simple

emerges:

collared

emerges:

shirt

emerges:

covered

emerges:

with

emerges:

vest and

emerges:

jacket

emerges:

comprise

emerges:

the

emerges:

rest

emerges:

of

emerges:

his

emerges:

outfit,

emerges:

like a

emerges:

settler.

emerges:

What

emerges:

speaks

emerges:

loudest,

emerges:

however, are

emerges:

what

emerges:

are slung lazily

emerges:

around

emerges:

his

emerges:

hips,

emerges:

crossing

emerges:

low

emerges:

under

emerges:

a

emerges:

golden

emerges:

belt

emerges:

buckle.

emerges:

Two milled

emerges:

leather

emerges:

gun

emerges:

belts

emerges:

the

emerges:

color

emerges:

of

emerges:

fresh

emerges:

coal

emerges:

and

emerges:

in

emerges:

their

emerges:

holsters, a

emerges:

set

emerges:

of

emerges:

matching

emerges:

blued

emerges:

Colt

emerges:

Single

emerges:

Actions,

emerges:

their

emerges:

handles

emerges:

carved

emerges:

from

emerges:

dark

emerges:

cherry wood.
I

emerges:

glance

emerges:

up

emerges:

at

emerges:

his

emerges:

face, but

emerges:

find

emerges:

it

emerges:

concealed

emerges:

behind

emerges:

a

emerges:

black,

emerges:

wide-brimmed cattle hat.

emerges:

The

emerges:

crown

emerges:

is

emerges:

lined

emerges:

with

emerges:

stitched wool

emerges:

pictographs

emerges:

of Mayan

emerges:

origin.

emerges:

Yet

emerges:

his

emerges:

belt

emerges:

buckle

emerges:

appears

emerges:

to

emerges:

feature

emerges:

a ram

emerges:

blowing

emerges:

a

emerges:

horn

emerges:

in a

emerges:

style

emerges:

evocative

emerges:

of

emerges:

scenes

emerges:

from

emerges:

a

emerges:

cathedral’s stained-glass

emerges:

window.

emerges:

Smoke

emerges:

twists

emerges:

up

emerges:

from

emerges:

a

emerges:

crooked

emerges:

dogend

emerges:

clamped

emerges:

in

emerges:

his

emerges:

long

emerges:

muzzle,

emerges:

one

emerges:

dotted

emerges:

with

emerges:

a

emerges:

black

emerges:

nose.

emerges:

Even

emerges:

with

emerges:

his

emerges:

face

emerges:

obscured,

emerges:

I

emerges:

know

emerges:

he

emerges:

grins,

emerges:

wide and

emerges:

toothy.
This

emerges:

distresses

emerges:

me

emerges:

most

emerges:

of

emerges:

all and

emerges:

I

emerges:

can’t

emerges:

help

emerges:

myself

emerges:

but

emerges:

demand, “Wh-who

emerges:

are

emerges:

you?”
The

emerges:

wolf’s

emerges:

chin

emerges:

perks

emerges:

slightly,

emerges:

enough

emerges:

that

emerges:

I

emerges:

can

emerges:

see

emerges:

the

emerges:

pendant

emerges:

which

emerges:

swings

emerges:

from

emerges:

his

emerges:

neck – a

emerges:

short-handled,

emerges:

double-sided

emerges:

war hammer

emerges:

wrought

emerges:

of

emerges:

iron,

emerges:

its pommel

emerges:

attached

emerges:

to

emerges:

a

emerges:

silver

emerges:

chain.

emerges:

Now

emerges:

I

emerges:

see

emerges:

it,

emerges:

that

emerges:

grin

emerges:

in his

emerges:

obscured

emerges:

face.

emerges:

It

emerges:

is

emerges:

thin,

emerges:

mocking,

emerges:

sadistic.

emerges:

Yet his

emerges:

stance

emerges:

is

emerges:

open,

emerges:

his

emerges:

hands

emerges:

perched

emerges:

on

emerges:

his

emerges:

belt,

emerges:

his

emerges:

tail

emerges:

still.

emerges:

Something

emerges:

blue

emerges:

and

emerges:

warm

emerges:

surrounds

emerges:

him, a

emerges:

warmth I can

emerges:

sense.

emerges:

Who

emerges:

is

emerges:

he?
“What…

emerges:

what

emerges:

happened?”

emerges:

I

emerges:

try again,

emerges:

barely

emerges:

above

emerges:

a

emerges:

whisper.
The

emerges:

wolf

emerges:

lifts

emerges:

his

emerges:

hand

emerges:

and

emerges:

gestures –

emerges:

palm

emerges:

open

emerges:

and

emerges:

down –

emerges:

at

emerges:

my chest. He holds it there until I look,

emerges:

until I see –

emerges:

see

emerges:

that my chest

emerges:

doesn’t

emerges:

rise

emerges:

and

emerges:

fall.

emerges:

I

emerges:

take

emerges:

no

emerges:

breath

emerges:

yet

emerges:

feel

emerges:

no

emerges:

need.

emerges:

Something

emerges:

falls

emerges:

into

emerges:

place

emerges:

and

emerges:

a

emerges:

deep

emerges:

melancholy

emerges:

washes

emerges:

over

emerges:

me,

emerges:

yet

emerges:

tears

emerges:

again

emerges:

refuse

emerges:

to obey

emerges:

my

emerges:

call.

emerges:

I

emerges:

clench

emerges:

my

emerges:

jaw and

emerges:

swallow

emerges:

the

emerges:

lump

emerges:

in

emerges:

my

emerges:

throat.
     Eyes

emerges:

open, I meekly ask, “Please, I ask again: who

emerges:

are

emerges:

you?”

emerges:

When

emerges:

the

emerges:

wolf’s

emerges:

arm

emerges:

settles

emerges:

at his side

emerges:

and his

emerges:

smile

emerges:

broadens

emerges:

to

emerges:

show

emerges:

every

emerges:

tooth

emerges:

in

emerges:

his

emerges:

mouth,

emerges:

that

emerges:

smoldering dogend

emerges:

pinched

emerges:

between

emerges:

them,

emerges:

I

emerges:

know

emerges:

no

emerges:

answers shall

emerges:

be

emerges:

forthcoming.

emerges:

He

emerges:

needn’t

emerges:

answer,

emerges:

though,

emerges:

because

emerges:

I

emerges:

know.

emerges:

The unthinkable

emerges:

has

emerges:

happened.

emerges:

I

emerges:

don’t

emerges:

recall

emerges:

how,

emerges:

but

emerges:

it

emerges:

has.

emerges:

The

emerges:

sorrow

emerges:

fades

emerges:

and

emerges:

what

emerges:

supplants

emerges:

it

emerges:

is

emerges:

silent,

emerges:

dark

emerges:

acceptance.
“Are,” I

emerges:

query

emerges:

while

emerges:

looking

emerges:

to

emerges:

my

emerges:

Chiron, “are

emerges:

you

emerges:

here to—to…take

emerges:

me onwards?”
     The

emerges:

grin

emerges:

fades

emerges:

slightly. “No,”

emerges:

he

emerges:

finally

emerges:

barks,

emerges:

his

emerges:

voice

emerges:

like

emerges:

a

emerges:

handful

emerges:

of

emerges:

gravel, “I’m

emerges:

here

emerges:

to

emerges:

give

emerges:

you

emerges:

back.”

emerges:

His

emerges:

hand

emerges:

snatches

emerges:

up

emerges:

the

emerges:

blanket

emerges:

and he

emerges:

tears

emerges:

it

emerges:

from

emerges:

the bed, sending it scattering onto the floor and revealing

emerges:

the

emerges:

gaping,

emerges:

welling

emerges:

puncture

emerges:

wound.

emerges:

I

emerges:

find

emerges:

looking

emerges:

painful

emerges:

yet

emerges:

cannot

emerges:

tear

emerges:

my

emerges:

eyes

emerges:

away.

emerges:

The wound isn’t festering. It’s too cold for

emerges:

that. “Look at

emerges:

me—look

emerges:

at

emerges:

me.”
     My

emerges:

gaze

emerges:

snaps up in innate obedience to the wolf, his

emerges:

voice –

emerges:

even

emerges:

when

emerges:

not

emerges:

raised –

emerges:

is

emerges:

a

emerges:

shout.
“When

emerges:

the

emerges:

roses

emerges:

blossom,”

emerges:

he

emerges:

declares, “you

emerges:

shall

emerges:

find

emerges:

life anew.

emerges:

Until

emerges:

then,

emerges:

you

emerges:

must

emerges:

tend

emerges:

to

emerges:

their

emerges:

branches

emerges:

as

emerges:

you

emerges:

refused

emerges:

to

emerges:

do

emerges:

the

emerges:

garden that

emerges:

was

emerges:

your

emerges:

life.

emerges:

Only

emerges:

when

emerges:

your

emerges:

scales

emerges:

balance

emerges:

will

emerges:

you

emerges:

find

emerges:

your way home. But, don’t tarry, and don’t stray from your path.

emerges:

I’ll

emerges:

be

emerges:

watching.”
     The

emerges:

wolf

emerges:

wrenches

emerges:

his

emerges:

right

emerges:

hand

emerges:

upwards

emerges:

and

emerges:

twists it

emerges:

into a

emerges:

fist.
     

emerges:

Air

emerges:

thuds

emerges:

against

emerges:

my

emerges:

ears

emerges:

and

emerges:

my

emerges:

body

emerges:

lifts

emerges:

up

emerges:

from

emerges:

this

emerges:

soiled

emerges:

mattress,

emerges:

bellybutton

emerges:

first.

emerges:

A

emerges:

horrid,

emerges:

retching, searing pain pervades my dimming soul and I rack

emerges:

back

emerges:

my

emerges:

head

emerges:

and

emerges:

let

emerges:

out

emerges:

a

emerges:

howl

emerges:

loud

emerges:

enough

emerges:

to

emerges:

curdle blood,

emerges:

yowling and hissing

emerges:

and

emerges:

begging

emerges:

for

emerges:

mercy.

emerges:

Yet

emerges:

something

emerges:

grasps me,

emerges:

compels

emerges:

me to

emerges:

look,

emerges:

to

emerges:

watch.
     Metal

emerges:

splinters

emerges:

draw

emerges:

from

emerges:

within

emerges:

the

emerges:

cavernous

emerges:

wound, piece-by-piece,

emerges:

shard-by-shard.

emerges:

Scream

emerges:

pocked

emerges:

only

emerges:

by

emerges:

brief

emerges:

moments

emerges:

of

emerges:

respite, I

emerges:

only

emerges:

stop

emerges:

when a

emerges:

gleaming,

emerges:

deformed

emerges:

slug

emerges:

slides

emerges:

from

emerges:

within.

emerges:

The

emerges:

wound

emerges:

inexplicably

emerges:

stitches

emerges:

over,

emerges:

white

emerges:

fur

emerges:

growing where

emerges:

once

emerges:

was naught

emerges:

but

emerges:

viscera.

emerges:

When

emerges:

it

emerges:

sutures

emerges:

closed, feeling –

emerges:

warm,

emerges:

blessed sensation –

emerges:

washes

emerges:

over

emerges:

my

emerges:

extremities.

emerges:

Claws

emerges:

flex from

emerges:

my

emerges:

fingertips,

emerges:

my

emerges:

paws

emerges:

grasp

emerges:

and

emerges:

open,

emerges:

my tail

emerges:

curls.
     Delicately, I

emerges:

float

emerges:

back

emerges:

to

emerges:

the

emerges:

bed.

emerges:

And

emerges:

just

emerges:

as

emerges:

my

emerges:

head

emerges:

touches

emerges:

pillow,

emerges:

a

emerges:

new

emerges:

sensation

begins:

begins:

a

begins:

burning,

begins:

razor

begins:

sharp,

begins:

cutting ache.

begins:

It

begins:

emanates

begins:

from

begins:

where

begins:

that

begins:

bullet

begins:

separated

begins:

me

begins:

from

begins:

life

begins:

and I

begins:

watch

begins:

as

begins:

black

begins:

ink

begins:

soaks

begins:

my

begins:

skin

begins:

and

begins:

fur. It

begins:

doesn’t

begins:

appear

begins:

from

begins:

anywhere; it

begins:

just

begins:

is

begins:

where

begins:

it

begins:

once

begins:

wasn’t.

begins:

Then

begins:

it

begins:

spreads,

begins:

slowly,

begins:

deliberately,

begins:

away

begins:

from

begins:

its

begins:

source.

begins:

Like

begins:

railways

begins:

drawn

begins:

on

begins:

a

begins:

map, it

begins:

stretches

begins:

from

begins:

the

begins:

wound

begins:

just

begins:

below

begins:

my

begins:

heart

begins:

across

begins:

my

begins:

chest,

begins:

torso,

begins:

shoulders,

begins:

arms,

begins:

waist,

begins:

and

begins:

eventually

begins:

legs.
     Then,

begins:

from

begins:

these

begins:

twisting,

begins:

wicked

begins:

brambles

begins:

soon

begins:

spring

begins:

spikes

begins:

of

begins:

obsidian

begins:

ink – thorns. It

begins:

only

begins:

stops when

begins:

the

begins:

thorns

begins:

wrap

begins:

around

begins:

each

begins:

branch,

begins:

finishing

begins:

with

begins:

the

begins:

one

begins:

that

begins:

envelops

begins:

my

begins:

neck

begins:

and

begins:

throat.

begins:

But

begins:

this

begins:

act

begins:

isn’t

begins:

complete. In

begins:

four

begins:

different

begins:

places,

begins:

four

begins:

brands

begins:

appear.

begins:

Below

begins:

my

begins:

liver,

begins:

a

begins:

black

begins:

spade;

begins:

above

begins:

my

begins:

right

begins:

pectoral,

begins:

a

begins:

red

begins:

diamond;

begins:

nearer

begins:

my

begins:

left

begins:

arm beside

begins:

my

begins:

navel,

begins:

a set of

begins:

black

begins:

clubs;

begins:

and

begins:

above

begins:

my

begins:

heart, a

begins:

red,

begins:

gleaming

begins:

heart.

begins:

Finally,

begins:

the

begins:

pain

begins:

abates.
     I peer

begins:

at

begins:

the

begins:

wolf,

begins:

his

begins:

fingers

begins:

spread

begins:

but

begins:

hand

begins:

still

begins:

flexed.

begins:

The

begins:

bullet

begins:

and

begins:

fragments

begins:

float beside

begins:

the

begins:

bed

begins:

at

begins:

chest-height,

begins:

held

begins:

aloft

begins:

by nothing

begins:

but

begins:

prayer.

begins:

Gasping –

begins:

gasping! –

begins:

for

begins:

air,

begins:

I

begins:

study

begins:

him

begins:

with

begins:

two

begins:

parts

begins:

terror,

begins:

one -part

begins:

intrigue, and

begins:

one-part

begins:

confusion.

begins:

A loud

begins:

bump

begins:

comes

begins:

from

begins:

behind

begins:

and

begins:

the

begins:

wolf

begins:

grins,

begins:

anticipating

begins:

that

begins:

I

begins:

ask, “Who

begins:

are

begins:

you?”
     Silence.

begins:

At

begins:

least

begins:

from

begins:

the

begins:

wolf.

begins:

The

begins:

door

begins:

behind

begins:

him

begins:

thrusts

begins:

open

begins:

and

begins:

a ram

begins:

rushes

begins:

in.

begins:

Dressed

begins:

all

begins:

in

begins:

black

begins:

with

begins:

a white, bib-like collar about

begins:

his throat, he

begins:

desperately

begins:

searches

begins:

the

begins:

room,

begins:

but

begins:

there’s

begins:

nothing

begins:

to

begins:

be

begins:

found.

begins:

The

begins:

Wolf

begins:

with

begins:

No

begins:

Name is as

begins:

gone

begins:

as

begins:

the

begins:

wind.

begins:

A clatter

begins:

fills

begins:

the

begins:

room as

begins:

the

begins:

bullet

begins:

fragments

begins:

suddenly

begins:

litter

begins:

the

begins:

floor,

begins:

shocking

begins:

the

begins:

ram

begins:

and

begins:

his

begins:

plain-clothed

begins:

wife

begins:

standing

begins:

just

begins:

over

begins:

his

begins:

shoulder.
     Finally,

begins:

confused,

begins:

fright-filled

begins:

eyes

begins:

meet

begins:

mine. “You?”

begins:

he

begins:

demands,

begins:

equally

begins:

upset as

begins:

relieved. “You

begins:

died,

begins:

last

begins:

night,

begins:

a ball of fur and

begins:

tears! I-I gave

begins:

you

begins:

sacrament

begins:

and comfort and-and

begins:

was

begins:

preparing to

begins:

have you…

begins:

How are you—we heard

begins:

voices! Who

begins:

were

begins:

you talking

begins:

to!?”
     Judging by his

begins:

clothes,

begins:

the ram is

begins:

not

begins:

some

begins:

sharecropper

begins:

or

begins:

settler.

begins:

He’s

begins:

a

begins:

beast

begins:

of

begins:

the

begins:

cloth,

begins:

but

begins:

not

begins:

Catholic.

begins:

Catholic

begins:

priests

begins:

can’t

begins:

marry.

begins:

No,

begins:

he’s a

begins:

Methodist. I

begins:

want badly to relay

begins:

what

begins:

I’ve just

begins:

experienced,

begins:

but

begins:

who

begins:

would

begins:

believe

begins:

that?

begins:

Not

begins:

a

begins:

beast

begins:

of

begins:

his

begins:

God.

begins:

I touch

begins:

the

begins:

brand-new

begins:

tattoos

begins:

and

begins:

fur

begins:

coloring

begins:

and

begins:

find

begins:

they

begins:

feel

begins:

as

begins:

if

begins:

they were

begins:

always

begins:

there,

begins:

dry

begins:

and old.

begins:

My mind chugs

begins:

like a steam

begins:

engine

begins:

and

begins:

finally,

begins:

out

begins:

of

begins:

breath, I

begins:

cross

begins:

my

begins:

arms

begins:

as

begins:

if

begins:

providing

begins:

self-comfort.
     “Gabriel,”

begins:

I

begins:

breathlessly

begins:

claim. “The

begins:

Archangel

begins:

Gabriel,

begins:

in

begins:

all

begins:

His

begins:

glory...”
     Disbelief

begins:

fills

begins:

the

begins:

ram’s

begins:

eyes, but

begins:

then

begins:

he is

begins:

overcome

begins:

by

begins:

faith,

begins:

for

begins:

a ‘miracle’

begins:

has

begins:

occurred.

begins:

He

begins:

drops

begins:

to

begins:

his

begins:

knees

begins:

in

begins:

feverish

begins:

supplication,

begins:

his

begins:

wife

begins:

joining

begins:

him

begins:

moments

begins:

later.

begins:

I peer

begins:

fitfully

begins:

out

begins:

the

begins:

narrow

begins:

window

begins:

beside

begins:

me

begins:

and

begins:

think,

begins:

ponder.

begins:

I

begins:

was

begins:

dead.

begins:

As

begins:

in ‘as

begins:

a

begins:

doornail.’

begins:

And now I’m

begins:

not.

begins:

Not

begins:

anymore.

begins:

I

begins:

touch

begins:

the

begins:

ink. ‘I

begins:

must

begins:

tend

begins:

to the

begins:

garden

begins:

of

begins:

my

begins:

life,’

begins:

he

begins:

said. The

begins:

symbols,

begins:

too.

begins:

No,

begins:

this

begins:

is

begins:

commandment

begins:

enough.

begins:

I’m

begins:

not

begins:

sure

begins:

why

begins:

I

begins:

was

begins:

brought

begins:

back,

begins:

but

begins:

I

begins:

know

begins:

for

begins:

what

begins:

purpose.
     “And

begins:

I

begins:

know

begins:

who

begins:

to

begins:

start

begins:

with,”

begins:

I

begins:

think

begins:

as

begins:

I

begins:

touch

begins:

the black spade. “Eddie Boggart, I’m coming for you first…”







-

begins:

Part I -
The

begins:

Ace of Spades
Winter, 1899

I
     I’m jolted awake by

begins:

a

begins:

loud

begins:

burst

begins:

of the

begins:

steam

begins:

whistle,

begins:

drawn

begins:

from

begins:

a

begins:

bad

begins:

dream about

begins:

ages

begins:

past.
     A

begins:

crick

begins:

in

begins:

my

begins:

neck

begins:

reminds

begins:

me

begins:

of

begins:

how

begins:

long

begins:

I have

begins:

been

begins:

riding

begins:

on

begins:

this

begins:

wooden-benched

begins:

steel

begins:

horse

begins:

and

begins:

I

begins:

do

begins:

my

begins:

best to

begins:

massage

begins:

it

begins:

out

begins:

with

begins:

deft

begins:

feline

begins:

fingers.

begins:

Through

begins:

the

begins:

window,

begins:

the

begins:

station

begins:

appears

begins:

engulfed in a gust

begins:

of

begins:

hot

begins:

steam,

begins:

licking

begins:

at

begins:

the

begins:

foot-deep

begins:

snowdrift

begins:

piled atop

begins:

everything.

begins:

A

begins:

thin

begins:

frost

begins:

hangs in

begins:

the

begins:

air as

begins:

fresh

begins:

flakes

begins:

flurry

begins:

about

begins:

in

begins:

the

begins:

wind.
     The

begins:

locomotive

begins:

blasts its

begins:

whistle

begins:

twice

begins:

more

begins:

just

begins:

before

begins:

the

begins:

brakes

begins:

are

begins:

thrown.

begins:

With a

begins:

metallic

begins:

cry, it

begins:

grumbles

begins:

to

begins:

a hissing

begins:

halt

begins:

beside

begins:

a

begins:

wall-less

begins:

pavilion

begins:

serving as

begins:

station

begins:

platform.

begins:

The only

begins:

shelter

begins:

from

begins:

the

begins:

storm is

begins:

the

begins:

ticket

begins:

booth. Groaning,

begins:

I

begins:

stand and rearrange the matching pair of Schofields slung uncomfortably about my

begins:

hips,

begins:

Then I

begins:

count

begins:

my

begins:

throwing

begins:

knives

begins:

to

begins:

make

begins:

certain

begins:

they

begins:

equal

begins:

twelve. The

begins:

last

begins:

thing

begins:

I

begins:

need is

begins:

sticky

begins:

fingers

begins:

having

begins:

a

begins:

rummage

begins:

through

begins:

my

begins:

possessions

begins:

while

begins:

I

begins:

was

begins:

off in dreamland.
     No such luck. I’m the sole soul

begins:

in

begins:

this

begins:

carriage,

begins:

the

begins:

only

begins:

fool

begins:

willing

begins:

to

begins:

ride

begins:

this

begins:

far

begins:

into

begins:

a

begins:

blizzard

begins:

freshly

begins:

wrung

begins:

of

begins:

its

begins:

payload.

begins:

Bracing

begins:

my

begins:

long

begins:

coat

begins:

around

begins:

my

begins:

frame

begins:

and

begins:

seating

begins:

my

begins:

hat

begins:

down

begins:

firmly

begins:

onto

begins:

my

begins:

head,

begins:

despite

begins:

the

begins:

ache

begins:

it

begins:

puts

begins:

in

begins:

my

begins:

ears,

begins:

I

begins:

exit. A

begins:

good

begins:

choice,

begins:

it

begins:

turns

begins:

out.

begins:

The cold

begins:

outside

begins:

hits

begins:

me

begins:

like

begins:

a

begins:

ton

begins:

of

begins:

bricks

begins:

and I

begins:

twist

begins:

my

begins:

claws

begins:

in

begins:

my

begins:

uncomfortable

begins:

boots

begins:

momentarily

begins:

before

begins:

dropping

begins:

down

begins:

onto

begins:

the

begins:

platform. I

begins:

never

begins:

liked

begins:

footwear, it

begins:

feels

begins:

weird and

begins:

restricts

begins:

my

begins:

movement.
     Casting my

begins:

eyes

begins:

up,

begins:

I

begins:

study

begins:

a sign

begins:

carved into a

begins:

wide,

begins:

arching board

begins:

reading ‘White

begins:

Point.’

begins:

Well,

begins:

I’m

begins:

in

begins:

the

begins:

right

begins:

place,

begins:

assuming those

begins:

gamblers

begins:

in Cheyenne

begins:

didn’t

begins:

steer

begins:

me wrong because

begins:

they didn’t like

begins:

a freakishly inked,

begins:

muscle-bound puma

begins:

threatening

begins:

them.

begins:

And

begins:

that

begins:

Mama’s

begins:

cards

begins:

weren’t

begins:

confused

begins:

when

begins:

I

begins:

laid

begins:

out

begins:

my

begins:

reading.
     Doubtful.

begins:

Cruel

begins:

and

begins:

damning

begins:

may

begins:

they

begins:

be,

begins:

but

begins:

rarely

begins:

incorrect.
     Without

begins:

a

begins:

second

begins:

thought,

begins:

I

begins:

cross

begins:

the

begins:

platform and

begins:

drop

begins:

down into

begins:

a

begins:

poorly

begins:

plowed

begins:

street. A

begins:

sparse

begins:

set

begins:

of

begins:

bodies

begins:

hustle

begins:

across

begins:

the

begins:

wooden

begins:

walkways

begins:

at

begins:

ankle

begins:

height

begins:

above

begins:

what

begins:

serves

begins:

as

begins:

this

begins:

town’s

begins:

market

begins:

street,

begins:

braced

begins:

against

begins:

the

begins:

darkness

begins:

and

begins:

chill

begins:

while

begins:

briskly

begins:

making

begins:

for

begins:

shelter

begins:

indoors.

begins:

I

begins:

find

begins:

I must

begins:

do

begins:

the

begins:

same.

begins:

It

begins:

is

begins:

far,

begins:

far

begins:

too

begins:

late

begins:

to

begins:

accomplish

begins:

much

begins:

more.

begins:

I

begins:

need

begins:

to

begins:

find

begins:

a

begins:

place

begins:

to

begins:

stay.

begins:

Preferably

begins:

one

begins:

acquired

begins:

with

begins:

gold and

begins:

not

begins:

lead.
     On

begins:

this

begins:

street,

begins:

alongside

begins:

a

begins:

dry

begins:

goods

begins:

store,

begins:

grocer,

begins:

carpenter,

begins:

gunsmith,

begins:

and

begins:

a

begins:

meagre

begins:

bank

begins:

is

begins:

also

begins:

a

begins:

sizeable

begins:

hotel and

begins:

saloon. ‘Large’

begins:

here

begins:

meaning

begins:

three

begins:

stories

begins:

and

begins:

constructed

begins:

partly

begins:

of

begins:

brick.

begins:

Swaying

begins:

in

begins:

the

begins:

wind,

begins:

its

begins:

sign

begins:

reads ‘The

begins:

Red

begins:

Oak’

begins:

and

begins:

features

begins:

a

begins:

roughly

begins:

carved

begins:

tree

begins:

below

begins:

it in

begins:

full

begins:

bloom.

begins:

Well, it is

begins:

as

begins:

good a

begins:

place

begins:

as

begins:

any.
     The

begins:

batwings

begins:

swing

begins:

open

begins:

just

begins:

as

begins:

I

begins:

near

begins:

the

begins:

warm,

begins:

yellow

begins:

light

begins:

that

begins:

spills

begins:

from

begins:

within.

begins:

A

begins:

drunkard,

begins:

hardly

begins:

dressed

begins:

for

begins:

the

begins:

elements,

begins:

stumbles

begins:

out.

begins:

At

begins:

the

begins:

base

begins:

of

begins:

a

begins:

long,

begins:

equine

begins:

snout,

begins:

brown

begins:

eyes

begins:

obliquely

begins:

study

begins:

me

begins:

before

begins:

their

begins:

owner

begins:

struggles

begins:

to

begins:

keep

begins:

his

begins:

booze

begins:

down

begins:

and

begins:

tips

begins:

into

begins:

the

begins:

snowy

begins:

street

begins:

like

begins:

a

begins:

felled

begins:

tree, his

begins:

tail

begins:

and

begins:

dislodged

begins:

hat

begins:

trailing

begins:

after

begins:

moments

begins:

later.

begins:

Charming.
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begins:

door

begins:

caught

begins:

on its

begins:

arc

begins:

out,

begins:

I

begins:

duck

begins:

inside

begins:

to

begins:

the

begins:

inviting

begins:

warmth

begins:

of a

begins:

roaring

begins:

fire.

begins:

And,

begins:

as

begins:

I

begins:

swiftly

begins:

discover,

begins:

the

begins:

chilling

begins:

stares of

begins:

almost

begins:

every

begins:

single

begins:

patron.

begins:

From

begins:

every

begins:

round

begins:

table

begins:

scattered

begins:

through

begins:

the

begins:

cavernous

begins:

tavern

begins:

between

begins:

the

begins:

doors

begins:

and

begins:

the

begins:

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begins:

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begins:

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begins:

from

begins:

the

begins:

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begins:

lined

begins:

up

begins:

against

begins:

the

begins:

bar

begins:

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begins:

like

begins:

soldiers

begins:

in formation,

begins:

from

begins:

even

begins:

the

begins:

booths

begins:

adjacent

begins:

the

begins:

left

begins:

wall at

begins:

the

begins:

foot

begins:

of

begins:

the

begins:

stairs

begins:

leading

begins:

up

begins:

to

begins:

the

begins:

catwalk

begins:

above

begins:

and

begins:

a

begins:

card

begins:

table

begins:

hidden

begins:

just

begins:

out

begins:

of

begins:

sight

begins:

to

begins:

my

begins:

right

begins:

comes searing,

begins:

hate-filled

begins:

scorn.
     I

begins:

make

begins:

no

begins:

intention

begins:

of

begins:

retreat

begins:

as

begins:

the

begins:

batwings

begins:

swing

begins:

shut

begins:

behind

begins:

me for

begins:

this

begins:

is

begins:

not

begins:

the

begins:

first

begins:

time

begins:

that

begins:

I’ve

begins:

faced

begins:

such

begins:

a

begins:

greeting,

begins:

and

begins:

it

begins:

will

begins:

not

begins:

be

begins:

the

begins:

last. And

begins:

if

begins:

I

begins:

could

begins:

suffer

begins:

it in

begins:

such

begins:

places as

begins:

Louisiana,

begins:

then

begins:

the

begins:

coal-smeared

begins:

grimaces

begins:

of

begins:

drunken

begins:

miners

begins:

and

begins:

unkempt

begins:

porters

begins:

will

begins:

hold

begins:

no

begins:

threat

begins:

to

begins:

me,

begins:

even

begins:

when

begins:

bile pours from each chomper-hating glare. I answer

begins:

when

begins:

I

begins:

part

begins:

my

begins:

long

begins:

coat

begins:

with

begins:

my

begins:

thumbs

begins:

to

begins:

display

begins:

the

begins:

beast-stoppers

begins:

at

begins:

my

begins:

waist

begins:

and

begins:

the

begins:

throwing

begins:

knives

begins:

lining

begins:

my

begins:

torso.
     Said

begins:

eyes

begins:

suddenly

begins:

find

begins:

something

begins:

far

begins:

better to

begins:

look

begins:

at and

begins:

the

begins:

chatter

begins:

which

begins:

permeated

begins:

the

begins:

building

begins:

returns

begins:

in

begins:

spades.

begins:

Satisfied, I

begins:

sniffle and cross

begins:

to

begins:

the

begins:

bar,

begins:

sidling

begins:

up

begins:

beside

begins:

a

begins:

coachbeast

begins:

dressed

begins:

all

begins:

in

begins:

black

begins:

who, upon

begins:

my

begins:

setting

begins:

my

begins:

arm

begins:

upon

begins:

the

begins:

countertop,

begins:

takes

begins:

his

begins:

pint and

begins:

slides

begins:

down

begins:

a

begins:

good

begins:

six

begins:

feet. Yes, I wouldn’t

begins:

want

begins:

to smell like cougar

begins:

when

begins:

you

begins:

stumble

begins:

back

begins:

to

begins:

your

begins:

homely wife.
     The

begins:

bartender,

begins:

a thin

begins:

steer

begins:

unoffended

begins:

by

begins:

my

begins:

business,

begins:

moseys

begins:

down

begins:

to

begins:

me.

begins:

He sets

begins:

an

begins:

empty

begins:

glass

begins:

before

begins:

me

begins:

and

begins:

spreads

begins:

his

begins:

fingers

begins:

upon

begins:

the

begins:

countertop.
     “What

begins:

brings

begins:

a

begins:

fella

begins:

like

begins:

you

begins:

to

begins:

a

begins:

town

begins:

like

begins:

this?”

begins:

he

begins:

asks,

begins:

rolling

begins:

his

begins:

lips. “Cuz I

begins:

assume

begins:

it weren’t

begins:

the

begins:

beer.”
     Eyes

begins:

cast

begins:

over

begins:

my

begins:

shoulder,

begins:

I study the clientele he’s solicited

begins:

before

begins:

turning

begins:

back. “I

begins:

heard

begins:

a

begins:

rumor,

begins:

out

begins:

Cheyenne-way,

begins:

that

begins:

a

begins:

little

begins:

gang’s

begins:

taken

begins:

up

begins:

residence

begins:

hereabouts.

begins:

Led

begins:

by a

begins:

fellow

begins:

that

begins:

sticks

begins:

out

begins:

like

begins:

a

begins:

sore

begins:

thumb

begins:

in

begins:

a

begins:

place

begins:

like

begins:

this.”
     The

begins:

steer

begins:

harrumphs and

begins:

stands tall, crossing

begins:

his

begins:

arms,

begins:

unimpressed.

begins:

When

begins:

it’s

begins:

obvious

begins:

his

begins:

memory

begins:

needs

begins:

a

begins:

bit

begins:

of

begins:

a

begins:

jogging,

begins:

I

begins:

reach into

begins:

my

begins:

coat and

begins:

withdraw

begins:

a

begins:

flyer,

begins:

cracked and

begins:

worn

begins:

with

begins:

age.

begins:

Unfurling

begins:

it,

begins:

I

begins:

show to

begins:

him

begins:

a

begins:

wanted

begins:

poster

begins:

with

begins:

a

begins:

face, a

begins:

name, a

begins:

price,

begins:

and a

begins:

list of crimes emblazoned upon its obverse: $5,000 for train robbery,

begins:

stage

begins:

robbery,

begins:

bank

begins:

robbery,

begins:

assault,

begins:

rape,

begins:

arson,

begins:

and

begins:

murder.
     The

begins:

picture

begins:

shows

begins:

him

begins:

smiling,

begins:

one

begins:

front

begins:

tooth

begins:

always

begins:

shorter than

begins:

the

begins:

other,

begins:

ear

begins:

flopped

begins:

over

begins:

since

begins:

half

begins:

the

begins:

cartilage

begins:

was

begins:

blown

begins:

out

begins:

of

begins:

it,

begins:

face

begins:

scarred

begins:

and

begins:

nicked.

begins:

Eddie

begins:

was

begins:

never

begins:

a

begins:

pretty

begins:

rabbit and

begins:

never

begins:

exactly

begins:

vain.

begins:

But

begins:

he

begins:

was

begins:

fast

begins:

and

begins:

mean

begins:

as

begins:

he

begins:

was

begins:

hard

begins:

to

begins:

catch

begins:

which

begins:

earned

begins:

him

begins:

the ‘White

begins:

Rabbit'

begins:

moniker

begins:

in

begins:

bygone

begins:

years.

begins:

For

begins:

the

begins:

character

begins:

as

begins:

much

begins:

as

begins:

the

begins:

fact his

begins:

fur

begins:

is

begins:

as

begins:

white

begins:

as

begins:

snow.

begins:

If

begins:

he’s

begins:

washed

begins:

recently,

begins:

that

begins:

is.
     “Eddie.

begins:

Boggart.”

begins:

I

begins:

enunciate

begins:

each

begins:

word

begins:

thoroughly

begins:

before

begins:

cocking

begins:

my

begins:

head. “Used

begins:

to

begins:

run

begins:

with the

begins:

Four

begins:

Aces

begins:

Gang. I

begins:

heard

begins:

from a

begins:

reliable

begins:

source

begins:

he’s

begins:

here

begins:

recruiting

begins:

a

begins:

new

begins:

gang

begins:

intent on

begins:

resuming

begins:

his

begins:

old

begins:

ways.

begins:

Unless…”
     “You

begins:

get

begins:

there

begins:

first,”

begins:

he

begins:

concludes

begins:

without

begins:

prompting.
     I give

begins:

a

begins:

quick

begins:

nod

begins:

and

begins:

roll

begins:

the

begins:

parchment

begins:

up

begins:

before

begins:

tucking it

begins:

away.

begins:

I draw my

begins:

hat

begins:

from

begins:

my

begins:

head—sandy

begins:

brown

begins:

like

begins:

most

begins:

of

begins:

my

begins:

fur

begins:

with

begins:

a

begins:

flat-topped

begins:

crown—and

begins:

set it

begins:

upon

begins:

the

begins:

bar

begins:

while

begins:

running

begins:

cold

begins:

fingers

begins:

through

begins:

my

begins:

fur,

begins:

rustling

begins:

my

begins:

ears

begins:

with

begins:

a bit of

begins:

relief.

begins:

Almost a

begins:

full

begins:

day

begins:

on

begins:

the

begins:

rails

begins:

can

begins:

make

begins:

a

begins:

beast

begins:

pray

begins:

for

begins:

the

begins:

comfort

begins:

of

begins:

a

begins:

sedentary

begins:

chair.
     The

begins:

steer

begins:

chews

begins:

at

begins:

his

begins:

lip

begins:

a

begins:

moment and

begins:

then

begins:

reaches

begins:

down

begins:

under

begins:

the

begins:

counter,

begins:

returning

begins:

with

begins:

an

begins:

unopened

begins:

ale. He fills the

begins:

glass

begins:

before him

begins:

with

begins:

a

begins:

well-poured

begins:

draught

begins:

and

begins:

slides

begins:

it

begins:

across

begins:

to

begins:

me.

begins:

When

begins:

I

begins:

wrap

begins:

my

begins:

fingers

begins:

around

begins:

it,

begins:

he

begins:

puts

begins:

his

begins:

over

begins:

mine

begins:

and

begins:

it

begins:

takes

begins:

all

begins:

the restraint

begins:

within

begins:

me

begins:

not

begins:

to

begins:

draw

begins:

my

begins:

pistol.

begins:

I’m glad I don’t.
     Leaning forward,

begins:

he

begins:

secrets, “Look,

begins:

you

begins:

ain’t

begins:

heard

begins:

nothin’ from me,

begins:

not from an upstanding

begins:

herbivore to

begins:

no

begins:

goddamn dirty fucking

begins:

meat-eating chomper, eh?”

begins:

He

begins:

glances

begins:

around

begins:

to

begins:

make

begins:

sure

begins:

no

begins:

one’s

begins:

watching. “Yeah,

begins:

he

begins:

arrived

begins:

couple

begins:

months

begins:

back.

begins:

And

begins:

there’s

begins:

been

begins:

this

begins:

steady

begins:

stream

begins:

of

begins:

young

begins:

pricks

begins:

moseying

begins:

through

begins:

ever

begins:

since,

begins:

askin’

begins:

questions ‘bout

begins:

him, ‘cept

begins:

they

begins:

ain’t got no warrant. But what they

begins:

do

begins:

got

begins:

is

begins:

money,

begins:

see? And

begins:

they

begins:

likes

begins:

to

begins:

spend

begins:

it.

begins:

Especially

begins:

on

begins:

things

begins:

like

begins:

booze…and

begins:

playin’

begins:

cards.

begins:

Especially

begins:

the

begins:

fawn,

begins:

mouthy

begins:

prick.”
     He

begins:

dips

begins:

back

begins:

and

begins:

releases

begins:

my

begins:

hand.
     Clearing

begins:

his

begins:

throat,

begins:

he

begins:

announces

begins:

for all to hear, “You start sumthin’ and I’ll hide you soon as

begins:

look

begins:

you!

begins:

I’m

begins:

watching

begins:

you,

begins:

cat!”
     A

begins:

rag

begins:

thrown

begins:

over

begins:

his

begins:

plaid-shirted

begins:

shoulder,

begins:

he

begins:

glances

begins:

briefly

begins:

to

begins:

my

begins:

right

begins:

and then

begins:

departs

begins:

the

begins:

opposite

begins:

way.

begins:

I cast my eyes

begins:

surreptitiously

begins:

in

begins:

that

begins:

direction. At

begins:

the

begins:

round table

begins:

inside

begins:

the

begins:

nook

begins:

beside

begins:

the

begins:

front

begins:

door sit

begins:

three

beasts:

beasts:

a

beasts:

mouse,

beasts:

a

beasts:

possum,

beasts:

and

beasts:

a

beasts:

young

beasts:

buck

beasts:

with a

beasts:

six-point

beasts:

rack

beasts:

above

beasts:

his

beasts:

ears.

beasts:

The

beasts:

buck’s

beasts:

mouth

beasts:

is

beasts:

going

beasts:

a

beasts:

mile

beasts:

a

beasts:

minute

beasts:

and

beasts:

it

beasts:

takes

beasts:

a

beasts:

moment

beasts:

for

beasts:

me

beasts:

to

beasts:

tune

beasts:

in to

beasts:

his

beasts:

chatter

beasts:

over

beasts:

the

beasts:

din.
     “—a

beasts:

chance

beasts:

to

beasts:

earn

beasts:

it

beasts:

back,

beasts:

you

beasts:

know that,”

beasts:

he

beasts:

says

beasts:

before

beasts:

hawing. “Hey,

beasts:

hey,

beasts:

I didn’t know Wyomin’ folk were such sore losers! It

beasts:

weren’t

beasts:

like

beasts:

you

beasts:

were

beasts:

using

beasts:

the

beasts:

watch

beasts:

anyways.

beasts:

Come

beasts:

on

beasts:

now,

beasts:

just another

beasts:

hand?”
     “Fuck

beasts:

your

beasts:

hands,

beasts:

you

beasts:

cheatin’ sumbitch!”

beasts:

the

beasts:

possum

beasts:

calls,

beasts:

standing

beasts:

up

beasts:

abruptly

beasts:

and sending

beasts:

the

beasts:

chair

beasts:

skidding

beasts:

backwards.

beasts:

He

beasts:

thrusts

beasts:

an

beasts:

angry

beasts:

finger

beasts:

across

beasts:

the

beasts:

table

beasts:

at

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck,

beasts:

who

beasts:

just

beasts:

beams

beasts:

this

beasts:

cocky

beasts:

smile. “You

beasts:

sit

beasts:

there

beasts:

and

beasts:

act

beasts:

like

beasts:

I

beasts:

can’t

beasts:

see you

beasts:

pulling

beasts:

fuckin’ aces out yer goddamn trousers, you swindling

beasts:

snake!”

beasts:

He

beasts:

then

beasts:

thrusts a

beasts:

finger

beasts:

at the mouse

beasts:

sitting beside

beasts:

him. “And

beasts:

if

beasts:

you

beasts:

open

beasts:

your

beasts:

mouth,

beasts:

you

beasts:

won’t

beasts:

get

beasts:

your

beasts:

tongue

beasts:

back,

beasts:

Horace,

beasts:

I

beasts:

swear

beasts:

to

beasts:

Jesus!”
     The

beasts:

mouse

beasts:

throws

beasts:

up

beasts:

his

beasts:

hands

beasts:

defensively. “No, no, I was just—just calm down, Paul. I’ve lost a

beasts:

bit

beasts:

too,

beasts:

but

beasts:

I’ve

beasts:

won

beasts:

some.

beasts:

It’s

beasts:

only

beasts:

been

beasts:

a

beasts:

few hands

beasts:

and—”
     “Oh, piss off with that ‘it’s just

beasts:

a

beasts:

few hands’ nonsense! This ain’t no penny game!” the possum kvetches.

beasts:

Then he

beasts:

leans

beasts:

over

beasts:

the

beasts:

table

beasts:

and

beasts:

jabs

beasts:

his

beasts:

finger

beasts:

up

beasts:

under

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck’s snout. “And I’ll

beasts:

only

beasts:

play

beasts:

if

beasts:

you

beasts:

roll

beasts:

your

beasts:

sleeves

beasts:

up

beasts:

and

beasts:

shake

beasts:

out

beasts:

your

beasts:

shirt,

beasts:

play

beasts:

like

beasts:

an

beasts:

honest

beasts:

alpha!”
     “Fine,

beasts:

fine, I

beasts:

will!”

beasts:

The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

drops

beasts:

his

beasts:

cards

beasts:

and

beasts:

stands

beasts:

magnanimously.

beasts:

He

beasts:

shakes

beasts:

out

beasts:

his

beasts:

shirt and

beasts:

sleeves

beasts:

and,

beasts:

to

beasts:

their

beasts:

surprise,

beasts:

nothing

beasts:

falls

beasts:

out. “See? Nothing up this sleeve. Nothing up this

beasts:

one neither!

beasts:

Satisfied?”
     Obviously

beasts:

not,

beasts:

yet

beasts:

the

beasts:

possum

beasts:

grits

beasts:

his

beasts:

teeth

beasts:

and

beasts:

plops

beasts:

back

beasts:

into

beasts:

his

beasts:

seat.

beasts:

The

beasts:

mouse

beasts:

attempts

beasts:

to

beasts:

console

beasts:

him,

beasts:

except

beasts:

he

beasts:

doesn’t

beasts:

commit.

beasts:

Both

beasts:

look

beasts:

poor

beasts:

homesteaders

beasts:

or

beasts:

miners, the

beasts:

like. Instead, he

beasts:

downs

beasts:

another

beasts:

shot and

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

seats

beasts:

himself,

beasts:

grabbing

beasts:

the

beasts:

cards

beasts:

for

beasts:

a

beasts:

fresh

beasts:

shuffle.

beasts:

Seeing

beasts:

this

beasts:

as

beasts:

a

beasts:

prime

beasts:

opportunity,

beasts:

I

beasts:

replace

beasts:

my

beasts:

cap

beasts:

and

beasts:

mosey

beasts:

across

beasts:

to

beasts:

join

beasts:

them.
     Only

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

sees

beasts:

me

beasts:

before

beasts:

I

beasts:

sit

beasts:

down

beasts:

beside

beasts:

the brooding

beasts:

possum.

beasts:

Those

beasts:

two only

beasts:

notice

beasts:

when

beasts:

the

beasts:

pint

beasts:

clunks

beasts:

onto

beasts:

the

beasts:

table. The

beasts:

chair

beasts:

creaks

beasts:

as

beasts:

I

beasts:

settle

beasts:

into

beasts:

it

beasts:

and

beasts:

meet

beasts:

all

beasts:

three

beasts:

gazes.

beasts:

While

beasts:

the

beasts:

mouse

beasts:

seems

beasts:

shocked

beasts:

and

beasts:

the

beasts:

possum

beasts:

positively

beasts:

disgusted,

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

is

beasts:

visibly

beasts:

delighted,

beasts:

leaning

beasts:

forward,

beasts:

happy to

beasts:

have

beasts:

another

beasts:

sucker.

beasts:

Even

beasts:

I

beasts:

can

beasts:

see

beasts:

that

beasts:

he’s

beasts:

a

beasts:

certified

beasts:

shark.
     “Well,

beasts:

well,

beasts:

it

beasts:

looks

beasts:

like

beasts:

newcomers

beasts:

ain’t

beasts:

being

beasts:

turned

beasts:

away,

beasts:

eh, fellers?”

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

announces

beasts:

cheerfully. “See,

beasts:

now

beasts:

your

beasts:

odds

beasts:

are

beasts:

even

beasts:

better.

beasts:

Come

beasts:

on

beasts:

and let’s

beasts:

play, eh?”
     The

beasts:

mouse

beasts:

seems

beasts:

fine

beasts:

with

beasts:

this,

beasts:

but

beasts:

the

beasts:

possum

beasts:

sneers at me with

beasts:

contempt – although he

beasts:

may

beasts:

just

beasts:

be

beasts:

pissed

beasts:

yet

beasts:

about

beasts:

losing. He

beasts:

snatches

beasts:

up

beasts:

what

beasts:

little

beasts:

he

beasts:

has

beasts:

left,

beasts:

inhales

beasts:

a

beasts:

shot

beasts:

of

beasts:

whiskey

beasts:

and

beasts:

stands

beasts:

up.
     “It’s bad

beasts:

enough

beasts:

I

beasts:

gotta

beasts:

play

beasts:

with

beasts:

some

beasts:

fucking

beasts:

sneakthief

beasts:

like

beasts:

you, I ain’t

beasts:

playing with no

beasts:

dirty

beasts:

fuckin’ chomper,”

beasts:

he

beasts:

declares,

beasts:

not

beasts:

daring

beasts:

to

beasts:

meet

beasts:

my

beasts:

gaze, before marching off in a huff.
     “Paul! Paul, come

beasts:

on,

beasts:

I

beasts:

can’t

beasts:

play

beasts:

with…”

beasts:

the

beasts:

mouse

beasts:

begs,

beasts:

following

beasts:

his

beasts:

friend,

beasts:

twisting

beasts:

as

beasts:

the

beasts:

possum

beasts:

marches

beasts:

past.

beasts:

He

beasts:

sighs

beasts:

when

beasts:

it’s

beasts:

obvious

beasts:

his

beasts:

friend

beasts:

is

beasts:

gone. “Oh,

beasts:

goddamnit,

beasts:

Paul.”

beasts:

He,

beasts:

too,

beasts:

stands

beasts:

and

beasts:

collects his

beasts:

things.

beasts:

He wearily

beasts:

addresses

beasts:

me

beasts:

while

beasts:

filling

beasts:

his

beasts:

pockets, “Sorry,

beasts:

fella.”

beasts:

Then

beasts:

he’s

beasts:

gone,

beasts:

too,

beasts:

leaving

beasts:

just

beasts:

me and

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck.
     The buck

beasts:

is

beasts:

crestfallen

beasts:

by

beasts:

the

beasts:

loss

beasts:

of

beasts:

two

beasts:

marks

beasts:

and

beasts:

his

beasts:

shoulders

beasts:

slump.

beasts:

But

beasts:

after

beasts:

biting

beasts:

his

beasts:

bottom

beasts:

lip

beasts:

a

beasts:

bit,

beasts:

he

beasts:

shrugs

beasts:

and

beasts:

begins

beasts:

shuffling

beasts:

the

beasts:

cards.
     “What’re

beasts:

you

beasts:

playing?”

beasts:

I

beasts:

ask

beasts:

plainly.
     “Well, we

beasts:

was

beasts:

playin’

beasts:

poker,”

beasts:

he

beasts:

says. “Aces high, a’course.

beasts:

But

beasts:

can’t

beasts:

really

beasts:

play

beasts:

poker

beasts:

without a third, eh?”
     No, no you really can’t. Christ, this

beasts:

kid’s,

beasts:

well,

beasts:

a

beasts:

kid.

beasts:

Can’t

beasts:

be

beasts:

older

beasts:

than

beasts:

eighteen,

beasts:

not

beasts:

even

beasts:

enough

beasts:

to

beasts:

vote.

beasts:

What

beasts:

mother

beasts:

would

beasts:

let

beasts:

a

beasts:

fawn

beasts:

like

beasts:

this

beasts:

out

beasts:

of her

beasts:

sight

beasts:

long

beasts:

enough

beasts:

for

beasts:

him

beasts:

to

beasts:

escape

beasts:

west?

beasts:

Well, he

beasts:

seems

beasts:

slippery, if

beasts:

not

beasts:

bright.

beasts:

If

beasts:

he’s

beasts:

indeed

beasts:

running

beasts:

with

beasts:

the

beasts:

White

beasts:

Rabbit,

beasts:

he’s stupid

beasts:

indeed.

beasts:

Let’s

beasts:

see

beasts:

how

beasts:

good

beasts:

he

beasts:

is.
     “Well,

beasts:

how ‘bout this?”

beasts:

I ask. “I

beasts:

ain’t

beasts:

got

beasts:

much

beasts:

time

beasts:

here,

beasts:

I’m

beasts:

just

beasts:

floating

beasts:

through.” I eye

beasts:

the

beasts:

pile

beasts:

of

beasts:

loot

beasts:

in

beasts:

front

beasts:

of

beasts:

him.

beasts:

Coins aplenty, a

beasts:

watch, a

beasts:

ring, a

beasts:

cigarette

beasts:

case,

beasts:

even a

beasts:

little

beasts:

bit

beasts:

of

beasts:

unprocessed gold. A hundred or two, easy. “And I see you’ve amassed

beasts:

quite

beasts:

a…ah,

beasts:

fortune

beasts:

there.

beasts:

Haven’t

beasts:

you?”
     “Oh,

beasts:

yeah,”

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

says,

beasts:

proudly

beasts:

beaming. “I’ve

beasts:

always

beasts:

been

beasts:

good

beasts:

at

beasts:

cards.

beasts:

Anything

beasts:

involving

beasts:

chance, really.

beasts:

Some

beasts:

folk

beasts:

just

beasts:

can’t

beasts:

handle

beasts:

losin’

beasts:

to

beasts:

someone

beasts:

like

beasts:

me,

beasts:

eh? Too

beasts:

alpha

beasts:

for ‘em.”
     ‘Too alpha

beasts:

for them’? Jesus. “Right,

beasts:

so

beasts:

then

beasts:

you

beasts:

wouldn’t

beasts:

mind

beasts:

wagering

beasts:

that

beasts:

there

beasts:

pile

beasts:

against

beasts:

something

beasts:

I

beasts:

got

beasts:

that’s

beasts:

much

beasts:

more

beasts:

valuable,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

offer.

beasts:

Instantly,

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

ceases

beasts:

shuffling

beasts:

that

beasts:

deck

beasts:

of

beasts:

cards

beasts:

and

beasts:

turns

beasts:

intrigued,

beasts:

green

beasts:

eyes

beasts:

up

beasts:

to

beasts:

me.

beasts:

I

beasts:

smirk

beasts:

and

beasts:

delve

beasts:

my

beasts:

hands

beasts:

into

beasts:

my

beasts:

jacket,

beasts:

searching

beasts:

for

beasts:

the

beasts:

right

beasts:

lure

beasts:

again. “I

beasts:

got it

beasts:

on

beasts:

good

beasts:

knowledge

beasts:

that

beasts:

there’s

beasts:

a

beasts:

train

beasts:

comin’

beasts:

through

beasts:

in

beasts:

about

beasts:

a

beasts:

week,

beasts:

headin’

beasts:

west-like,

beasts:

down

beasts:

the

beasts:

line

beasts:

closer

beasts:

to

beasts:

the

beasts:

Colorado

beasts:

border.

beasts:

One laden

beasts:

down

beasts:

with fresh

beasts:

bills

beasts:

outta

beasts:

New

beasts:

Orleans,

beasts:

bound

beasts:

for a

beasts:

depository in

beasts:

San

beasts:

Francisco.

beasts:

I

beasts:

could

beasts:

tell

beasts:

you

beasts:

when,

beasts:

how

beasts:

many

beasts:

on

beasts:

it,

beasts:

other

beasts:

goodies,

beasts:

eh?”
     “Ho-lee

beasts:

shit,”

beasts:

the

beasts:

bucks

beasts:

mutters

beasts:

before

beasts:

screwing

beasts:

up

beasts:

his eyes. “Hey,

beasts:

how do

beasts:

I know

beasts:

you

beasts:

ain’t

beasts:

full

beasts:

of

beasts:

it?”
     I

beasts:

smirk

beasts:

even

beasts:

bigger and

beasts:

withdraw

beasts:

the

beasts:

wanted

beasts:

poster,

beasts:

rolled

beasts:

up

beasts:

so Eddie’s

beasts:

face

beasts:

is

beasts:

hidden

beasts:

on

beasts:

the

beasts:

inside.

beasts:

I

beasts:

put

beasts:

it

beasts:

down

beasts:

on

beasts:

the

beasts:

table,

beasts:

right

beasts:

beside his

beasts:

ill-gotten

beasts:

pot.

beasts:

Then

beasts:

I

beasts:

hold

beasts:

my

beasts:

hand

beasts:

there as

beasts:

I

beasts:

lean

beasts:

forward.
     “All

beasts:

written

beasts:

down

beasts:

here,”

beasts:

I lie. “Got a

beasts:

buddy

beasts:

workin’ as

beasts:

a

beasts:

dispatcher

beasts:

in

beasts:

St.

beasts:

Louis

beasts:

that

beasts:

telegraphs me

beasts:

info

beasts:

every

beasts:

now

beasts:

and

beasts:

again.

beasts:

For

beasts:

a

beasts:

fee,

beasts:

of course.”
     The buck nods, paying only my hand and

beasts:

that

beasts:

lure

beasts:

attention. “Of

beasts:

course,

beasts:

of

beasts:

course.”
     I

beasts:

sit

beasts:

back,

beasts:

but

beasts:

keep

beasts:

my

beasts:

hand

beasts:

on

beasts:

the

beasts:

parchment.
     “So,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

purr,

beasts:

scratching

beasts:

my

beasts:

exposed

beasts:

neck, “this

beasts:

is

beasts:

valuable, eh?”

beasts:

A

beasts:

nod

beasts:

of

beasts:

agreement. “Then

beasts:

I

beasts:

want

beasts:

something

beasts:

of

beasts:

equal

beasts:

value

beasts:

levied, ‘cause

beasts:

that pile of gold sure ain’t cutting it. But you might know something,

beasts:

too,

beasts:

of

beasts:

good

beasts:

value

beasts:

to

beasts:

me.”

beasts:

The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

reluctantly

beasts:

tears

beasts:

his

beasts:

gaze

beasts:

away

beasts:

from

beasts:

the

beasts:

parchment

beasts:

to

beasts:

stare at

beasts:

me,

beasts:

confused.

beasts:

The

beasts:

smirk

beasts:

vanishes. “If

beasts:

you

beasts:

lose,

beasts:

you

beasts:

tell

beasts:

me

beasts:

where

beasts:

to

beasts:

find

beasts:

Eddie Boggart.”
     The buck winces, though I’m unsure he notices. “Wha- you wanna find ol’ Eddie? Why you wanna do

beasts:

that?”

beasts:

he

beasts:

warbles, his cockiness dispelled. “You ain’t hunting him, are ya, fella?”
     I cock my head. “I

beasts:

know

beasts:

him,” I purr

beasts:

again. “We

beasts:

used

beasts:

to

beasts:

run

beasts:

in

beasts:

the

beasts:

Four

beasts:

Aces

beasts:

Gang

beasts:

and

beasts:

he

beasts:

still

beasts:

owes

beasts:

me.

beasts:

Big.

beasts:

And I intend

beasts:

to

beasts:

collect

beasts:

before

beasts:

I

beasts:

continue

beasts:

on

beasts:

west.”

beasts:

The

beasts:

buck’s

beasts:

mouth

beasts:

shuts and he swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing. I lick lips

beasts:

before

beasts:

concluding, “So,

beasts:

we

beasts:

have

beasts:

a

beasts:

bet?”
     The buck

beasts:

blinks

beasts:

and

beasts:

grins,

beasts:

arrogant

beasts:

once

beasts:

more. The

beasts:

deal

beasts:

sealed,

beasts:

if

beasts:

wordlessly,

beasts:

I

beasts:

withdraw

beasts:

my

beasts:

hand

beasts:

and

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

returns

beasts:

to

beasts:

shuffling.
     “Oh,

beasts:

fella,

beasts:

you

beasts:

don’t

beasts:

know me

beasts:

from Adam, eh?” he says. “I’ve been running with ol’ Eddie fer a couple’a

beasts:

months.

beasts:

Made

beasts:

some

beasts:

good

beasts:

gold, I’d

beasts:

understand

beasts:

why

beasts:

you

beasts:

wanna

beasts:

hook

beasts:

back

beasts:

up

beasts:

with

beasts:

him.

beasts:

Although,

beasts:

not

beasts:

as

beasts:

much

beasts:

as

beasts:

at

beasts:

the

beasts:

card

beasts:

table.

beasts:

Hoo

beasts:

boy,

beasts:

I’m

beasts:

gonna

beasts:

clean

beasts:

you

beasts:

out!

beasts:

But

beasts:

I’ll

beasts:

try

beasts:

to make

beasts:

it

beasts:

fun, eh? Haha!”
     He shuffles

beasts:

the

beasts:

cards

beasts:

enthusiastically,

beasts:

holding

beasts:

them

beasts:

out

beasts:

in

beasts:

front

beasts:

of

beasts:

the

beasts:

blue

beasts:

coat

beasts:

that

beasts:

frames his

beasts:

shoulders,

beasts:

flashing

beasts:

them

beasts:

over

beasts:

his

beasts:

stained

beasts:

blue-and-white

beasts:

shirt

beasts:

held

beasts:

up

beasts:

by

beasts:

suspenders. Of

beasts:

course,

beasts:

I

beasts:

don’t

beasts:

spread

beasts:

my

beasts:

coat

beasts:

just

beasts:

yet.

beasts:

Let

beasts:

him

beasts:

have

beasts:

his

beasts:

fun.

beasts:

And

beasts:

let

beasts:

me

beasts:

figure

beasts:

out

beasts:

how

beasts:

he

beasts:

cheats,

beasts:

for

beasts:

I

beasts:

know

beasts:

he

beasts:

does.

beasts:

I can read

beasts:

that

beasts:

in his

beasts:

eyes.

beasts:

He

beasts:

may

beasts:

juggle

beasts:

the

beasts:

cards,

beasts:

but

beasts:

he

beasts:

stares

beasts:

at

beasts:

me. It

beasts:

must

beasts:

be

beasts:

fear,

beasts:

fear

beasts:

that

beasts:

a

beasts:

predator

beasts:

will

beasts:

see

beasts:

what

beasts:

prey

beasts:

cannot.
     The

beasts:

cards

beasts:

are

beasts:

dealt,

beasts:

just

beasts:

two. Sliding

beasts:

them

beasts:

to

beasts:

the

beasts:

end

beasts:

of

beasts:

the

beasts:

table,

beasts:

I

beasts:

check

beasts:

the

beasts:

corners.

beasts:

Hearts,

beasts:

both, 10

beasts:

and

beasts:

Queen.

beasts:

The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

deals

beasts:

himself

beasts:

and

beasts:

places

beasts:

the

beasts:

cards

beasts:

aside.

beasts:

Bold

beasts:

as

beasts:

brass, he

beasts:

lifts

beasts:

his

beasts:

cards

beasts:

and

beasts:

holds

beasts:

them

beasts:

in

beasts:

front

beasts:

of

beasts:

him, his

beasts:

expression

beasts:

unchanging.

beasts:

The

beasts:

wooden

beasts:

chair

beasts:

holding

beasts:

his

beasts:

lithe

beasts:

form

beasts:

up

beasts:

creaks

beasts:

as

beasts:

he

beasts:

rocks

beasts:

back

beasts:

and

beasts:

almost

beasts:

touches

beasts:

the

beasts:

wall

beasts:

behind

beasts:

him

beasts:

with

beasts:

the

beasts:

points

beasts:

of

beasts:

his

beasts:

antlers.
     “Haha, here we go eh, fella?” he says. “You

beasts:

sure

beasts:

you

beasts:

know

beasts:

how to

beasts:

play?”
     I

beasts:

grumble. “I’ve

beasts:

played

beasts:

most

beasts:

games

beasts:

invented

beasts:

in

beasts:

English

beasts:

and

beasts:

French

beasts:

both.

beasts:

Poker

beasts:

is

beasts:

among

beasts:

the

beasts:

simplest.

beasts:

Mostly ‘cause it

beasts:

doesn’t

beasts:

involve

beasts:

fire

beasts:

and

beasts:

oil,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

grumble.
     This

beasts:

delights

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck,

beasts:

and

beasts:

he

beasts:

haws. “Oh,

beasts:

I

beasts:

like

beasts:

you!

beasts:

Yer

beasts:

funny!”

beasts:

The

beasts:

chair

beasts:

slams

beasts:

down

beasts:

and

beasts:

he

beasts:

pushes

beasts:

his

beasts:

pot

beasts:

in

beasts:

all,

beasts:

next

beasts:

to

beasts:

my

beasts:

bet.

beasts:

Then

beasts:

he

beasts:

reaches

beasts:

into

beasts:

his

beasts:

pocket

beasts:

and

beasts:

draws

beasts:

a

beasts:

pocket watch

beasts:

of his

beasts:

own. “I’ll raise.”

beasts:

It clinks onto

beasts:

the

beasts:

pile,

beasts:

ticking

beasts:

away

beasts:

madly.
     I

beasts:

grunt

beasts:

and

beasts:

reach

beasts:

into

beasts:

my

beasts:

pocket. A

beasts:

handful

beasts:

of

beasts:

coins

beasts:

pull

beasts:

loose

beasts:

and

beasts:

I

beasts:

add

beasts:

them

beasts:

to

beasts:

the

beasts:

pile. “Match,” I hum.
     The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

grins

beasts:

and

beasts:

taps

beasts:

his hoof

beasts:

under

beasts:

the

beasts:

table.

beasts:

He

beasts:

puts

beasts:

his

beasts:

cards

beasts:

down and

beasts:

shuffles

beasts:

three

beasts:

out

beasts:

into

beasts:

the

beasts:

center and

beasts:

turns them

beasts:

face

beasts:

up.

beasts:

Jack

beasts:

of

beasts:

hearts,

beasts:

king

beasts:

of hearts,

beasts:

and

beasts:

the

beasts:

Ace

beasts:

of

beasts:

Diamonds,

beasts:

too.

beasts:

My

beasts:

face

beasts:

twitches

beasts:

as I

beasts:

study

beasts:

the

beasts:

community

beasts:

cards.

beasts:

Even

beasts:

my

beasts:

tail

beasts:

twitches

beasts:

in

beasts:

confusion.

beasts:

But

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

just

beasts:

beams

beasts:

and

beasts:

drops a

beasts:

bit

beasts:

of

beasts:

his

beasts:

own

beasts:

money

beasts:

into

beasts:

the

beasts:

pot

beasts:

from

beasts:

a

beasts:

pocket

beasts:

under

beasts:

the

beasts:

table.

beasts:

I

beasts:

grumble

beasts:

and

beasts:

do

beasts:

the

beasts:

same,

beasts:

using

beasts:

up

beasts:

the

beasts:

rest

beasts:

of

beasts:

my

beasts:

traveling

beasts:

money.
     “So,

beasts:

where

beasts:

you

beasts:

hail

beasts:

from?”

beasts:

he

beasts:

suddenly

beasts:

asks

beasts:

as

beasts:

he

beasts:

draws

beasts:

the

beasts:

turn

beasts:

and

beasts:

places

beasts:

it

beasts:

down. “You

beasts:

look

beasts:

Indian,

beasts:

but

beasts:

I

beasts:

hear

beasts:

no

beasts:

accent. In

beasts:

fact,

beasts:

it almost

beasts:

sounds—”
     “Louisiana,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

interject

beasts:

just

beasts:

to

beasts:

get

beasts:

him

beasts:

to

beasts:

stop

beasts:

talking. “Spent

beasts:

most

beasts:

of

beasts:

my

beasts:

life

beasts:

moving,

beasts:

though.”
     “Ah,”

beasts:

he chirps, knowingly. “I’ve done a lot of

beasts:

that,

beasts:

too.

beasts:

But

beasts:

I

beasts:

spent

beasts:

most of

beasts:

my

beasts:

time

beasts:

in

beasts:

Texas.”

beasts:

That’s

beasts:

not

beasts:

a

beasts:

Texan

beasts:

accent

beasts:

if I’ve

beasts:

ever

beasts:

heard

beasts:

one. “They

beasts:

got

beasts:

all

beasts:

these

beasts:

rigs

beasts:

down

beasts:

there

beasts:

now,

beasts:

pumping up

beasts:

oil

beasts:

and

beasts:

all

beasts:

this

beasts:

shit.

beasts:

What

beasts:

it’s for, I

beasts:

dunno.”

beasts:

The

beasts:

card

beasts:

is

beasts:

finally

beasts:

turned.

beasts:

The

beasts:

Ace

beasts:

of

beasts:

Hearts. I

beasts:

snort,

beasts:

feeling

beasts:

a

beasts:

hand

beasts:

touch

beasts:

the

beasts:

back

beasts:

of

beasts:

my

beasts:

neck,

beasts:

and

beasts:

cast

beasts:

my

beasts:

eyes

beasts:

towards

beasts:

the

beasts:

windows

beasts:

peering

beasts:

out

beasts:

onto

beasts:

the

beasts:

snowdrift-bound

beasts:

streets.

beasts:

No

beasts:

movement,

beasts:

nothing.

beasts:

Fuck. “The

beasts:

only

beasts:

thing

beasts:

I

beasts:

miss

beasts:

about

beasts:

the

beasts:

place is

beasts:

the

beasts:

heat. A

beasts:

guy

beasts:

might

beasts:

lose

beasts:

his

beasts:

tail

beasts:

up here

beasts:

in

beasts:

the

beasts:

mountains.

beasts:

But

beasts:

I

beasts:

guess

beasts:

that

beasts:

just

beasts:

means

beasts:

we don’t

beasts:

gotta

beasts:

worry

beasts:

about

beasts:

no

beasts:

sheriffs and

beasts:

marshals

beasts:

sniffing

beasts:

around.”
     He

beasts:

waves

beasts:

his

beasts:

hand,

beasts:

checking and

beasts:

waiting

beasts:

for

beasts:

me.

beasts:

Finally,

beasts:

I

beasts:

part

beasts:

my

beasts:

coat

beasts:

enough

beasts:

to

beasts:

delve

beasts:

my

beasts:

hand

beasts:

in. I’ve

beasts:

been

beasts:

keeping

beasts:

an eye

beasts:

on

beasts:

his

beasts:

hands so far and, well, they haven’t done anything

beasts:

funny and

beasts:

the

beasts:

one’s

beasts:

only

beasts:

been

beasts:

out

beasts:

of

beasts:

sight

beasts:

to

beasts:

get

beasts:

money.

beasts:

If he’s

beasts:

cheating, I’ve

beasts:

no

beasts:

idea

beasts:

how.

beasts:

No

beasts:

sleeve-bound

beasts:

cards,

beasts:

the ones

beasts:

here and

beasts:

in

beasts:

the

beasts:

pile

beasts:

haven’t

beasts:

been

beasts:

marked,

beasts:

dirtied,

beasts:

or

beasts:

otherwise

beasts:

rigged.

beasts:

Damnit. Well,

beasts:

at

beasts:

least

beasts:

I

beasts:

always

beasts:

have

beasts:

a

beasts:

contingency.
     “I’ll raise,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

say. I

beasts:

draw

beasts:

one of

beasts:

my

beasts:

Schofields

beasts:

from

beasts:

my

beasts:

holster

beasts:

and

beasts:

place it

beasts:

down

beasts:

onto

beasts:

the

beasts:

table,

beasts:

barrel

beasts:

pointing across to my opposite. The buck looks to it, shocked first, then

beasts:

relieved.

beasts:

That’s

beasts:

an

beasts:

odd

beasts:

reaction.

beasts:

Maybe he

beasts:

expected

beasts:

me

beasts:

to

beasts:

give

beasts:

him

beasts:

a

beasts:

new

beasts:

chest

beasts:

orifice.

beasts:

Uneasily,

beasts:

he

beasts:

chuckles.
     “Well, all

beasts:

right

beasts:

then,

beasts:

let’s cross the river,

beasts:

shall we?” he crows,

beasts:

his

beasts:

boisterousness

beasts:

returned.
     He

beasts:

draws

beasts:

the

beasts:

card

beasts:

atop

beasts:

the

beasts:

pile and

beasts:

slaps it

beasts:

down

beasts:

and,

beasts:

as

beasts:

if

beasts:

savoring

beasts:

the

beasts:

moment,

beasts:

flips

beasts:

it.

beasts:

What greets us

beasts:

on

beasts:

the

beasts:

other

beasts:

side

beasts:

is

beasts:

the

beasts:

Joker.

beasts:

The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

appears

beasts:

momentarily

beasts:

shocked, his jaw

beasts:

going

beasts:

lax.

beasts:

Then

beasts:

his eyes

beasts:

peer

beasts:

across

beasts:

to

beasts:

me.

beasts:

He

beasts:

made

beasts:

no

beasts:

mention

beasts:

of

beasts:

the

beasts:

Joker

beasts:

being

beasts:

included,

beasts:

but

beasts:

I

beasts:

won’t

beasts:

complain.

beasts:

I

beasts:

flip

beasts:

my

beasts:

cards

beasts:

and

beasts:

cast

beasts:

them

beasts:

towards

beasts:

the

beasts:

community.
     “Straight

beasts:

flush,” I

beasts:

flatly

beasts:

say.
     The

beasts:

buck,

beasts:

however,

beasts:

doesn’t

beasts:

react.

beasts:

Then

beasts:

he

beasts:

lays

beasts:

his

beasts:

own

beasts:

cards

beasts:

down,

beasts:

revealing

beasts:

the

beasts:

Aces

beasts:

of

beasts:

Spades

beasts:

and

beasts:

Clubs. A dumb, childish

beasts:

smile

beasts:

spreads across

beasts:

his

beasts:

mug

beasts:

and

beasts:

he

beasts:

rocks

beasts:

back

beasts:

in

beasts:

sudden,

beasts:

relieved

beasts:

laughter.

beasts:

A cold

beasts:

chill runs

beasts:

down

beasts:

my

beasts:

spine and,

beasts:

upon

beasts:

inspecting

beasts:

the

beasts:

inside

beasts:

of

beasts:

the

beasts:

tavern,

beasts:

discover it

beasts:

to

beasts:

be

beasts:

mostly

beasts:

empty.

beasts:

Those who

beasts:

remain

beasts:

peer

beasts:

worriedly

beasts:

in

beasts:

our

beasts:

direction.

beasts:

They

beasts:

know

beasts:

something’s

beasts:

up.

beasts:

And

beasts:

they

beasts:

know

beasts:

I’ll uncover it.
     “Five

beasts:

of a kind,

beasts:

my

beasts:

cougar

beasts:

friend!”

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck

beasts:

declares. “And

beasts:

that

beasts:

telegram

beasts:

is

beasts:

mine

beasts:

oh

beasts:

mine! Oh,

beasts:

damn,

beasts:

is

beasts:

he

beasts:

gonna

beasts:

be

beasts:

so

beasts:

proud of

beasts:

me!

beasts:

Finally,

beasts:

it ain’t

beasts:

that

beasts:

shit

beasts:

Bertie

beasts:

finding

beasts:

us

beasts:

a

beasts:

good

beasts:

lead,

beasts:

no,

beasts:

no,

beasts:

this

beasts:

time

beasts:

it’s

beasts:

me!”
     The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

stands

beasts:

and casts a

beasts:

hand

beasts:

out

beasts:

across

beasts:

the

beasts:

pot

beasts:

and

beasts:

drags

beasts:

it

beasts:

towards

beasts:

them.

beasts:

While corralling

beasts:

it, he

beasts:

stretches

beasts:

out

beasts:

the

beasts:

opposite

beasts:

hand

beasts:

to

beasts:

seize his

beasts:

prize,

beasts:

the

beasts:

biggest,

beasts:

most

beasts:

unbearable

beasts:

shit-eating

beasts:

smile

beasts:

painted

beasts:

on

beasts:

his

beasts:

mug.

beasts:

Oh,

beasts:

you

beasts:

little

beasts:

bastard,

beasts:

I

beasts:

don’t

beasts:

know

beasts:

how you did

beasts:

it,

beasts:

but

beasts:

you

beasts:

did.

beasts:

One

beasts:

of

beasts:

the

beasts:

knives

beasts:

slips

beasts:

free

beasts:

from

beasts:

its

beasts:

restraint and

beasts:

as

beasts:

soon

beasts:

as

beasts:

his

beasts:

palm

beasts:

touches

beasts:

parchment,

beasts:

my

beasts:

arm

beasts:

is

beasts:

already

beasts:

arching

beasts:

back.
     Just

beasts:

as

beasts:

quickly,

beasts:

it

beasts:

strikes

beasts:

home.

beasts:

Soundlessly,

beasts:

it

beasts:

parts

beasts:

flesh

beasts:

and

beasts:

embeds

beasts:

itself

beasts:

into

beasts:

the

beasts:

table.

beasts:

Before

beasts:

the

beasts:

buck can even

beasts:

scream,

beasts:

I

beasts:

lift

beasts:

the

beasts:

pistol

beasts:

and

beasts:

seize

beasts:

the

beasts:

scruff

beasts:

of

beasts:

his

beasts:

neck,

beasts:

finding

beasts:

its

beasts:

spout

beasts:

a

beasts:

nice,

beasts:

warm,

beasts:

comfy

beasts:

home

beasts:

up

beasts:

under

beasts:

his

beasts:

neck. “Ahhhhhhhh! Jesus

beasts:

Christ,

beasts:

what

beasts:

are

beasts:

you—!?”
     “You

beasts:

can shut your

beasts:

fucking mouth,

beasts:

you

beasts:

little

beasts:

tripe,” I order

beasts:

through

beasts:

clenched

beasts:

teeth

beasts:

before

beasts:

hissing

beasts:

into

beasts:

his

beasts:

face. “I

beasts:

don’t

beasts:

know

beasts:

how

beasts:

you

beasts:

did it, but them two were right. But I don’t care, I didn’t come here to be foiled by some

beasts:

sprout

beasts:

in

beasts:

the

beasts:

March

beasts:

of

beasts:

his life!”
     The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

twists

beasts:

his

beasts:

face

beasts:

away

beasts:

and

beasts:

tries

beasts:

not

beasts:

to

beasts:

yank

beasts:

at

beasts:

his

beasts:

hand

beasts:

for

beasts:

fear of

beasts:

parting

beasts:

fingers

beasts:

from

beasts:

it.

beasts:

Tears

beasts:

well

beasts:

up

beasts:

in

beasts:

his

beasts:

eyes and

beasts:

begin

beasts:

to

beasts:

roll

beasts:

down

beasts:

his

beasts:

fur

beasts:

as

beasts:

he

beasts:

whines and begins stuttering, “All right, all right mister, please, p-pu-please, just don’t hurt me no more. Look, look, I’ll let you have it. Just don’t k-k-kill me!”
     “I ain’t gonna kill a pup, you idiot,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

hiss

beasts:

and yank him

beasts:

towards

beasts:

me. “Not

beasts:

unless

beasts:

you

beasts:

refuse to tell me where that white shit Eddie Boggart is. Tell me. Now!”
     The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

throws

beasts:

his

beasts:

other

beasts:

hand

beasts:

up

beasts:

and

beasts:

cowers. “Sure, sure! He-he’s—

beasts:

we’re holed up at this

beasts:

farm

beasts:

southeast

beasts:

of here,

beasts:

the

beasts:

one with the unpainted barn and the collapsed silo.

beasts:

He

beasts:

likes

beasts:

sleeping

beasts:

on

beasts:

the

beasts:

second

beasts:

floor!

beasts:

All right?”

beasts:

I

beasts:

don’t

beasts:

answer, instead

beasts:

peering

beasts:

into

beasts:

his

beasts:

eyes

beasts:

and seeing only

beasts:

fear

beasts:

and

beasts:

desperation “Please,

beasts:

what

beasts:

more

beasts:

do

beasts:

you

beasts:

want?”
     A tad of

beasts:

pity

beasts:

seeping

beasts:

into

beasts:

my

beasts:

heart,

beasts:

I

beasts:

holster

beasts:

my

beasts:

gun. With

beasts:

that

beasts:

hand

beasts:

free,

beasts:

I pry the

beasts:

knife

beasts:

out

beasts:

of

beasts:

the

beasts:

table

beasts:

and

beasts:

the

beasts:

bloody

beasts:

pool

beasts:

spreading atop it before

beasts:

pushing

beasts:

him away

beasts:

from

beasts:

me.

beasts:

Droplets

beasts:

of

beasts:

crimson

beasts:

life

beasts:

skitter

beasts:

across

beasts:

the

beasts:

table

beasts:

and

beasts:

drip

beasts:

onto

beasts:

the

beasts:

floor

beasts:

as

beasts:

the buck

beasts:

cradles

beasts:

his

beasts:

wounded

beasts:

hand

beasts:

to

beasts:

his

beasts:

chest,

beasts:

blood

beasts:

soaking

beasts:

into

beasts:

his

beasts:

ruddy

beasts:

fur,

beasts:

and

beasts:

thumps

beasts:

against

beasts:

the

beasts:

wall

beasts:

behind

beasts:

him.

beasts:

His

beasts:

eyes

beasts:

turn

beasts:

up

beasts:

to

beasts:

me

beasts:

and

beasts:

I

beasts:

reset

beasts:

the

beasts:

knife.
     “Take

beasts:

what’s

beasts:

yours

beasts:

and

beasts:

go,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

command.
     The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

reaches

beasts:

out

beasts:

and

beasts:

takes

beasts:

his

beasts:

watch,

beasts:

his

beasts:

money,

beasts:

and

beasts:

a

beasts:

bit

beasts:

more

beasts:

from

beasts:

the

beasts:

pile as

beasts:

well,

beasts:

but leaves

beasts:

everything

beasts:

I

beasts:

put

beasts:

in, and

beasts:

everything

beasts:

I

beasts:

didn’t.

beasts:

I

beasts:

lift

beasts:

the

beasts:

parchment,

beasts:

beginning

beasts:

to

beasts:

stain

beasts:

with

beasts:

blood,

beasts:

and

beasts:

offer

beasts:

it to me.
     “Here,”

beasts:

I

beasts:

say. “With

beasts:

my

beasts:

compliments.”

beasts:

He

beasts:

gingerly

beasts:

takes

beasts:

it,

beasts:

his eyes sparkling

beasts:

with

beasts:

hope. “You

beasts:

tell

beasts:

him

beasts:

John

beasts:

Blackfoot is

beasts:

coming

beasts:

for him. And

beasts:

you

beasts:

tell

beasts:

him

beasts:

he

beasts:

won’t

beasts:

get

beasts:

a

beasts:

second

beasts:

chance

beasts:

to

beasts:

shoot

beasts:

me

beasts:

through

beasts:

the

beasts:

back.

beasts:

Savvy!?”
     The

beasts:

buck

beasts:

nods and then

beasts:

rushes

beasts:

for

beasts:

the

beasts:

door

beasts:

when

beasts:

I

beasts:

gesture

beasts:

for

beasts:

him

beasts:

to

beasts:

leave.

beasts:

The

beasts:

batwings

beasts:

clatter

beasts:

back

beasts:

and

beasts:

forth

beasts:

and,

beasts:

licking

beasts:

my

beasts:

lips,

beasts:

I

beasts:

trail

beasts:

after

beasts:

leisurely.

beasts:

Beside

beasts:

the

beasts:

door,

beasts:

I

beasts:

stand

beasts:

and

beasts:

wait, the whole establishment peering at me, projecting both terror

beasts:

and

beasts:

begrudging

beasts:

respect. I

beasts:

eye the

beasts:

unguarded

beasts:

winnings

beasts:

and

beasts:

click

beasts:

my

beasts:

tongue.
     “Those

beasts:

poor

beasts:

fellows

beasts:

get

beasts:

their

beasts:

money

beasts:

back,

beasts:

understood?”
     I

beasts:

don’t

beasts:

wait

beasts:

for a

beasts:

response.

beasts:

After

beasts:

counting to

beasts:

twenty,

beasts:

I

beasts:

exit in

beasts:

pursuit,

beasts:

crimson

beasts:

droplets

beasts:

leading

beasts:

the

beasts:

way.




This

beasts:

was

beasts:

the

beasts:

first

beasts:

of

beasts:

two

beasts:

parts

beasts:

of “Aces

beasts:

High”

beasts:

by

beasts:

J.

beasts:

Daniel

beasts:

Phillips,

beasts:

read

beasts:

for you by

beasts:

Carrizo,

beasts:

your

beasts:

Coyote

beasts:

in

beasts:

Court.

beasts:

Tune

beasts:

in

beasts:

next

beasts:

time

beasts:

to

beasts:

find

beasts:

out

beasts:

how

beasts:

John

beasts:

confronts

beasts:

Eddie

beasts:

and

beasts:

changes

beasts:

Robin’s

beasts:

future

beasts:

like

beasts:

he

beasts:

did

beasts:

his

beasts:

own.

As

beasts:

always,

beasts:

you

beasts:

can

beasts:

find

beasts:

more

beasts:

stories

beasts:

on

beasts:

the

beasts:

web at

beasts:

thevoice.dog,

beasts:

or find

beasts:

the

beasts:

show

beasts:

wherever

beasts:

you

beasts:

get

beasts:

your

beasts:

podcasts.

beasts:

Thank

beasts:

you

beasts:

for

beasts:

listening

beasts:

to

beasts:

The

beasts:

Voice

beasts:

of

beasts:

Dog.

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