Shownotes
Set during early Imperial Germany, a noble fox & blacksmith mouse forge a romantic relationship that transcends class, species, and gender.
Today’s story is the second and final part of “Dandelion Fox” by Domus Vocis, who spends his nights working the graveyard shift while writing/reading furry fiction. Besides writing “The Adventures of Peter Gray”, which “Dandelion Fox” serves as a standalone prequel to, he also recently published a historical romance novella titled “Two Souls of Fangcrest Manor” alongside his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find more stories by Domus Vocis on his Patreon.
Last time, Hansel has reciprocated his feelings to Eduard, and together, they maintain a secret relationship that threatens to put them in danger. Not only with the law, but their own families too.
Read by Apollo Brightflank, who Still Returns to the Prairie.
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https://thevoice.dog/episode/dandelion-fox-by-domus-vocis-part-2-of-2
Transcripts
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “Dandelion
Speaker:Fox”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Domus
Speaker:Vocis,
Speaker:who
Speaker:spends
Speaker:his
Speaker:nights
Speaker:working
Speaker:the
Speaker:graveyard
Speaker:shift
Speaker:while
Speaker:writing/reading
Speaker:furry
Speaker:fiction.
Speaker:Besides
Speaker:writing “The
Speaker:Adventures
Speaker:of
Speaker:Peter
Speaker:Gray”,
Speaker:which “Dandelion
Speaker:Fox”
Speaker:serves
Speaker:as a
Speaker:standalone
Speaker:prequel
Speaker:to,
Speaker:he
Speaker:also
Speaker:recently
Speaker:published
Speaker:a
Speaker:historical
Speaker:romance
Speaker:novella
Speaker:titled “Two
Speaker:Souls
Speaker:of
Speaker:Fangcrest
Speaker:Manor”
Speaker:alongside
Speaker:his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find more stories
Speaker:by Domus Vocis on
Speaker:his Patreon.
Last
time,
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:has
Speaker:reciprocated
Speaker:his
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:to
Speaker:Eduard,
Speaker:and
Speaker:together,
Speaker:they
Speaker:maintain
Speaker:a
Speaker:secret
Speaker:relationship
Speaker:that
Speaker:threatens
Speaker:to
Speaker:put
Speaker:them
Speaker:in
Speaker:danger.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:only
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:law,
Speaker:but
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:families
Speaker:too.
Read
by
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:Brightflank,
Speaker:who
Speaker:Still
Speaker:Returns
Speaker:to the
Speaker:Prairie.
Please
enjoy
“Dandelion
Fox” by Domus Vocis, Part 2 of 2
Months passed,
and
Speaker:our
Speaker:romantic
Speaker:encounters
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:cease.
Speaker:We
Speaker:left
Speaker:letters
Speaker:when
Speaker:circumstance
Speaker:required
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:respective
Speaker:worlds,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:nights
Speaker:we
Speaker:could
Speaker:meet
Speaker:were
Speaker:the
Speaker:ones
Speaker:to
Speaker:never
Speaker:regret.
Speaker:We
Speaker:talked,
Speaker:journeyed
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:neighboring
Speaker:forest,
Speaker:sometimes
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:corners
Speaker:of
Speaker:town
Speaker:when
Speaker:there
Speaker:were
Speaker:no
Speaker:pedestrians
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:my
Speaker:face,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:offered
Speaker:me
Speaker:dandelions
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:warmer
Speaker:nights
Speaker:to
Speaker:ourselves.
On
a
Speaker:few
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:nights
Speaker:together,
Speaker:I even
Speaker:lessoned Hansel on
Speaker:the Vienna
Speaker:Waltz.
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:tenderly
Speaker:hold
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:misstep
Speaker:the
Speaker:directions
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Lord
Speaker:knows
Speaker:we
Speaker:tumbled
Speaker:more
Speaker:often
Speaker:than
Speaker:not
Speaker:into
Speaker:each
Speaker:other’s
Speaker:arms.
Speaker:We
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:music
Speaker:to
Speaker:properly
Speaker:dance
Speaker:to,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:managed
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:teacher
Speaker:for
Speaker:him.
Then
came
Speaker:the
Speaker:eve
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:eighteenth
Speaker:birthday.
Speaker:Nearly
Speaker:three
Speaker:years
Speaker:passed
Speaker:since
Speaker:the
Speaker:day
Speaker:we
Speaker:began
Speaker:exchanging
Speaker:letters.
Speaker:Together
Speaker:we
Speaker:sat
Speaker:against
Speaker:a
Speaker:tree
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:forest
Speaker:clearing
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:estate.
“Your
eyes,”
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:commented
Speaker:as
Speaker:we
Speaker:watched
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
Speaker:sky.
I
glanced
Speaker:back,
Speaker:and
Speaker:gently
Speaker:held
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw. “My
Speaker:eyes?”
He
lowered
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass
Speaker:below
Speaker:us,
Speaker:then
Speaker:to
Speaker:me.
“They’re
yellow,”
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:explained. “They’re
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:color as
Speaker:these.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:to
Speaker:show
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:many
Speaker:bouquets
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:golden
Speaker:flowers
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:made
Speaker:after
Speaker:all
Speaker:our
Speaker:months
Speaker:together. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:God
Speaker:decided
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:your
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:that
Speaker:way,
Speaker:because
Speaker:He
Speaker:meant
Speaker:for
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:believe
Speaker:even
Speaker:He
Speaker:can
Speaker:see
Speaker:how
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:they
Speaker:are, how
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:you
Speaker:are.”
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:then
Speaker:turned
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:me, and
Speaker:squeaked
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:chuckle. “My
Speaker:dandelion
Speaker:fox.”
My
ears
Speaker:turned
Speaker:crimson,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:stop
Speaker:wagging
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail
Speaker:underneath
Speaker:me.
“Dandelion…”
I
Speaker:murmured,
Speaker:turning
Speaker:to
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:the
Speaker:mouse’s
Speaker:shorter
Speaker:muzzle.
After
we
Speaker:spent
Speaker:uncountable
Speaker:minutes
Speaker:nuzzling
Speaker:into
Speaker:each
Speaker:other’s
Speaker:necks,
Speaker:we
Speaker:turned
Speaker:our
Speaker:gazes
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:stars.
“Mmm…H-Hansel?”
“Yes,
Eduard?”
“Do
you…do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:willed
Speaker:myself
Speaker:to
Speaker:say,
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:gently
Speaker:caressing
Speaker:his
Speaker:in
Speaker:mutual
Speaker:comfort, “God
Speaker:hates us?
Speaker:Are we…sinners?”
Hansel’s
breathing
Speaker:hitched
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:coiled
Speaker:tail
Speaker:curled
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:mine.
“I
don’t
Speaker:care
Speaker:if
Speaker:He
Speaker:does,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:growled,
Speaker:gripping
Speaker:my
Speaker:nightgown. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:hate
Speaker:you.”
“Many
will
Speaker:disagree…”
Speaker:I
Speaker:murmured. “There
Speaker:will
Speaker:always
Speaker:be
Speaker:others
Speaker:out
Speaker:there,
Speaker:who
Speaker:see
Speaker:us
Speaker:as…as…abominations.
Speaker:What
Speaker:they
Speaker:say
Speaker:is
Speaker:wrong…only
Speaker:feels
Speaker:right.”
“That
doesn’t
Speaker:mean
Speaker:we
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:still
Speaker:live
Speaker:how
Speaker:we
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:live,”
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:protested,
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:himself
Speaker:closer
Speaker:to
Speaker:me. “There
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:for Furren
Speaker:like
Speaker:us.”
“Somewhere,
sometime,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:asked
Speaker:between
Speaker:deep yawns, “where
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:pretend
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:who
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not…and
Speaker:you
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:sneak
Speaker:in
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:me…”
Hansel
giggled.
“Yeah…”
He
Speaker:nodded,
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:his
Speaker:nose
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:neck. “I
Speaker:love
Speaker:you,
Speaker:either
Speaker:way.”
“I
love
Speaker:you
Speaker:too.”
In
this
Speaker:position,
Speaker:Hansel’s
Speaker:chest
Speaker:lay
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:mine,
Speaker:and
Speaker:our
Speaker:hearts
Speaker:beat
Speaker:together
Speaker:while
Speaker:the
Speaker:crickets
Speaker:chirped.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:his
Speaker:breathing
Speaker:hitch
Speaker:and
Speaker:relax
Speaker:as
Speaker:we
Speaker:lay
Speaker:under
Speaker:a
Speaker:canopy
Speaker:of
Speaker:leaves
Speaker:and
Speaker:twinkling
Speaker:stars.
Speaker:My
Speaker:fur
Speaker:pringled
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:held
Speaker:the
Speaker:shorter
Speaker:form
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:mouse
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:arms,
Speaker:our
Speaker:tails
Speaker:entwined
Speaker:together
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:sewn
Speaker:stitch.
Speaker:We
Speaker:were
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:own
Speaker:version
Speaker:of
Speaker:Heaven,
Speaker:and I
Speaker:never
Speaker:felt
Speaker:happier
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:moment.
The
next
Speaker:morning
Speaker:though,
Speaker:we
Speaker:awoke to Hell.
“Eduard Günther von Kauffmann!”
I
jolted
Speaker:awake
Speaker:to
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:finding
Speaker:me,
Speaker:her
Speaker:son,
Speaker:nuzzling in
Speaker:the
Speaker:sleeping
Speaker:arms
Speaker:of
Speaker:another
Speaker:male
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:middle
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:forest.
Speaker:Hansel awoke
Speaker:startled
Speaker:and
Speaker:as
Speaker:terrified
Speaker:as
Speaker:me,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:when
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:began
Speaker:screaming
Speaker:at
Speaker:us
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:rabid
Speaker:animal.
Not
only
Speaker:had
Speaker:she
Speaker:found
Speaker:me
Speaker:embracing
Speaker:Hansel,
Speaker:and
Speaker:not
Speaker:only
Speaker:had
Speaker:I
Speaker:snuck
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:house
Speaker:grounds
Speaker:to ‘commit
Speaker:these
Speaker:perversions’,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Father
Speaker:found
Speaker:our
Speaker:letters
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:desk
Speaker:drawer
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:searched
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning.
Speaker:They
Speaker:knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:done,
Speaker:all
Speaker:these
Speaker:years.
Mother’s
guard,
Speaker:a
Speaker:nameless
Speaker:brute
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:taller
Speaker:and
Speaker:stronger
Speaker:than
Speaker:any
Speaker:other,
Speaker:appeared
Speaker:behind
Speaker:her.
Speaker:In
Speaker:a flash he gripped Hansel’s arm and
Speaker:roughly
Speaker:threw
Speaker:him
Speaker:onto
Speaker:his
Speaker:knees.
I
tried
Speaker:protesting. “Mother—”
“You
will
Speaker:not
Speaker:speak
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:word,
Speaker:Eduard!”
Speaker:She
Speaker:bared
Speaker:her
Speaker:fangs
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.
Speaker:The
Speaker:expression
Speaker:of
Speaker:absolute
Speaker:disgust
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:voice
Speaker:could
Speaker:never
Speaker:be
Speaker:clearer. “Guard,
Speaker:dispose of him to
Speaker:the
Speaker:nearest
Speaker:constable.
Speaker:Tell him
Speaker:you
Speaker:found
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:perversion
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:nameless
Speaker:male
Speaker:Furren,
Speaker:but
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:else!
Speaker:The
Speaker:scandal
Speaker:of
Speaker:this
Speaker:revolting
Speaker:disgrace
Speaker:would
Speaker:destroy
Speaker:our
Speaker:family
Speaker:name,
Speaker:and
Speaker:we’ll
Speaker:be
Speaker:back where we
Speaker:started
Speaker:after
Speaker:all
Speaker:these
Speaker:years.”
“Let
go
Speaker:of
Speaker:me!”
Speaker:he
Speaker:tried
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf,
Speaker:only
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:dragged
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground. “Let
Speaker:go!
Speaker:Eduard,
Speaker:help!”
“Quiet!”
The
Speaker:wolf yanked Hansel onto his
Speaker:footpaws.
He
then
Speaker:slapped
Speaker:him.
I
gasped
Speaker:in
Speaker:terror. “Hansel!
Speaker:Mother,
Speaker:y-you don’t—”
“I
must!”
Speaker:she
Speaker:growled
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:mad
Speaker:woman. “This
Speaker:act
Speaker:is
Speaker:unholy,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:cannot
Speaker:let
Speaker:this
Speaker:go!
Speaker:My
Speaker:son,
Speaker:with
Speaker:another
Speaker:boy!
Speaker:If
Speaker:word
Speaker:gets
Speaker:out,
Speaker:we
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:mockery
Speaker:of
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:German
Speaker:Empire!”
“Mother,
you—”
“Silence!”
she
Speaker:barked,
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:level. “You
Speaker:will
Speaker:not
Speaker:speak
Speaker:unless—”
I
had
Speaker:to,
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:meant
Speaker:saving
Speaker:him.
“I
will
Speaker:marry
Speaker:Katharine
Speaker:Fromm!
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:marry
Speaker:Katharine
Speaker:Fromm!”
The
forest
Speaker:grew
Speaker:silent
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:graveyard.
Speaker:The
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:guard
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:escorting
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:away,
Speaker:pausing
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:Mother.
Speaker:Meanwhile,
Speaker:she
Speaker:glared
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:mixture
Speaker:of
Speaker:confusion
Speaker:and
Speaker:interest.
“What?”
she
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:her
Speaker:ears
Speaker:perked high
Speaker:and
Speaker:tail
Speaker:swishing
Speaker:with
Speaker:intrigue
Speaker:behind
Speaker:her
Speaker:morning
Speaker:dress. “Repeat
Speaker:what
Speaker:you
Speaker:said,
Speaker:Eduard.”
Gulping
and
Speaker:gritting
Speaker:my
Speaker:teeth,
Speaker:I
Speaker:almost
Speaker:recanted.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:it.
“L-Let
Hansel
Speaker:go…”
Speaker:I
Speaker:begged
Speaker:her. “Forget
Speaker:this
Speaker:ever
Speaker:happened…a-and
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:marry
Speaker:whomever
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:me
Speaker:to.
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:care,
Speaker:just
Speaker:let
Speaker:him
Speaker:be…”
Mother’s
glaring
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:studied
Speaker:me,
Speaker:until
Speaker:moments
Speaker:later
Speaker:she
Speaker:ordered, “You
Speaker:will
Speaker:never
Speaker:see
Speaker:that
Speaker:mouse
Speaker:again,
Speaker:under
Speaker:any
Speaker:circumstance, Eduard.
Speaker:Understood?”
“…yes.”
Frau
von
Speaker:Kauffmann
Speaker:frowned.
“…yes,
Mother.”
In
a
Speaker:short
Speaker:matter
Speaker:of
Speaker:seconds,
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:was
Speaker:released
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:guard’s
Speaker:grasp,
Speaker:and
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:walked
Speaker:by
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:silence.
Speaker:Despite
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:stood
Speaker:within
Speaker:ear’s
Speaker:distance,
Speaker:I
Speaker:dared
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:him.
Speaker:If
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:even
Speaker:stolen
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:glance
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:wanting
Speaker:to
Speaker:know
Speaker:he
Speaker:understood
Speaker:why
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:it, I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:follow
Speaker:through
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:promise.
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:crumble
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:pressure,
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:stone
Speaker:statue
Speaker:amid
Speaker:a
Speaker:mighty
Speaker:earthquake.
Speaker:Weak,
Speaker:yielding,
Speaker:undone.
We
would
Speaker:be
Speaker:back where it
Speaker:all
Speaker:began,
Speaker:except
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:imprisoned.
Speaker:For
Speaker:what?
Speaker:For
Speaker:loving
Speaker:me,
Speaker:another
Speaker:male?
Speaker:How
Speaker:could
Speaker:something
Speaker:that
Speaker:feels
Speaker:so
Speaker:good
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:sin
Speaker:against
Speaker:God?
***
Mother
did
Speaker:not
Speaker:waste
Speaker:time
Speaker:arranging
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:marry
Speaker:Katharine
Speaker:Fromm,
Speaker:after
Speaker:discussing
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:Father
Speaker:and
Speaker:Lord
Speaker:Fromm
Speaker:himself.
Speaker:When
Speaker:I
Speaker:met
Speaker:the
Speaker:noblefox
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:for
Speaker:tea,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:overly
Speaker:large,
Speaker:albeit
Speaker:jolly
Speaker:man
Speaker:smoking
Speaker:a
Speaker:cigar.
Speaker:He
Speaker:too
Speaker:was
Speaker:eager
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:son-in-law,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:happened
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:son
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:emerging
Speaker:family
Speaker:such
Speaker:as
Speaker:mine.
Hansel
kept
Speaker:his
Speaker:distance
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:manor
Speaker:after
Speaker:that
Speaker:morning.
Speaker:Before
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:more
Speaker:open.
Speaker:I
Speaker:talked
Speaker:more
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:staff
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:family,
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:each
Speaker:night
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:my
Speaker:hour
Speaker:or
Speaker:two
Speaker:of
Speaker:freedom.
Speaker:That
Speaker:day
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:caught,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:days
Speaker:after,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:numb.
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:once
Speaker:a
Speaker:simple
Speaker:trek
Speaker:to
Speaker:endure,
Speaker:now
Speaker:became
Speaker:a
Speaker:mountain
Speaker:range.
Speaker:I
Speaker:cried
Speaker:myself
Speaker:to
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:every
Speaker:evening,
Speaker:woke
Speaker:up
Speaker:melancholy
Speaker:every
Speaker:morning,
Speaker:on
Speaker:and
Speaker:on
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:spindle
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:spinning
Speaker:wheel.
As
promised,
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:object. I
Speaker:let
Speaker:everything
Speaker:happen
Speaker:around
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Invitations
Speaker:were
Speaker:delivered
Speaker:to
Speaker:friends
Speaker:and
Speaker:relatives,
Speaker:while
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:ordered
Speaker:the
Speaker:finest
Speaker:porcelain
Speaker:plates
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:wedding
Speaker:party.
When
Father
Speaker:returned
Speaker:from
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:international
Speaker:trips,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:surprised
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:his
Speaker:eldest
Speaker:son
Speaker:had
Speaker:become
Speaker:engaged.
Speaker:After
Speaker:enduring
Speaker:another
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:Mother’s
Speaker:arguments,
Speaker:Father
Speaker:reluctantly
Speaker:bought
Speaker:every
Speaker:best
Speaker:article
Speaker:of
Speaker:clothing
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:try on.
Speaker:He
Speaker:never
Speaker:said
Speaker:a
Speaker:word
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:regarding
Speaker:the
Speaker:circumstances
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:son
Speaker:getting
Speaker:married,
Speaker:and
Speaker:neither
Speaker:did
Speaker:Margarethe.
Speaker:My
Speaker:sister
Speaker:only
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:and
Speaker:congratulated
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:wife-to-be.
A
week
Speaker:before
Speaker:my
Speaker:public
Speaker:wedding
Speaker:rehearsal,
Speaker:word
Speaker:spread
Speaker:of
Speaker:Herr
Speaker:Beltz
Speaker:passing
Speaker:away
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:sleep.
Speaker:When
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:and
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:ask
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:permission,
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:refused
Speaker:to
Speaker:even
Speaker:consider
Speaker:allowing
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:attend
Speaker:the
Speaker:funeral
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:day.
Speaker:I begged, I
Speaker:pleaded
Speaker:for
Speaker:leniency
Speaker:in
Speaker:letting
Speaker:me
Speaker:comfort
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:important
Speaker:Furren
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:life,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:falter.
When
I
Speaker:asked
Speaker:why,
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:coldly
Speaker:spoke, “That
Speaker:boy
Speaker:is
Speaker:an
Speaker:unhealthy
Speaker:poison
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:soul,
Speaker:Eduard.
Speaker:If
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:correct,
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:cured
Speaker:of
Speaker:poison
Speaker:is
Speaker:to
Speaker:remove
Speaker:it.”
I
received
Speaker:one
Speaker:more
Speaker:letter
Speaker:two
Speaker:days
Speaker:later.
Speaker:After
Speaker:I
Speaker:walked
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:room
Speaker:to
Speaker:escape
Speaker:another
Speaker:hour
Speaker:of
Speaker:dressing
Speaker:in
Speaker:suits,
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:expect
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:gripping
Speaker:the
Speaker:windowsill as
Speaker:he
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a
Speaker:slip
Speaker:of
Speaker:paper
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:panes.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:connected
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:second,
Speaker:making
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart
Speaker:and
Speaker:breathing
Speaker:hitch
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:mere
Speaker:sight
Speaker:of
Speaker:him,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:climbing
Speaker:back
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:slipping
Speaker:back
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest
Speaker:once
Speaker:more.
As
much
Speaker:as
Speaker:my
Speaker:conscious
Speaker:told
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:toss
Speaker:the
Speaker:note
Speaker:away,
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:the
Speaker:consequences
Speaker:if
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:found
Speaker:me
Speaker:holding
Speaker:it,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart
Speaker:that
Speaker:won
Speaker:the
Speaker:battle.
Speaker:Whimpering to
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:smell
Speaker:a
Speaker:trace
Speaker:of
Speaker:Hansel’s scent,
Speaker:I
Speaker:carefully
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:the
Speaker:letter
Speaker:and
Speaker:read
Speaker:it.
[i]Dear
Eduard,
This
will
Speaker:be
Speaker:my
Speaker:final
Speaker:letter
Speaker:to
Speaker:you.
Speaker:There is
Speaker:no
Speaker:reason
Speaker:for
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:guilty
Speaker:about
Speaker:what
Speaker:we
Speaker:have
Speaker:done
Speaker:together,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:hope
Speaker:you
Speaker:will
Speaker:still
Speaker:read
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:this
Speaker:letter.
Speaker:I
Speaker:miss
Speaker:you
Speaker:so
Speaker:much,
Speaker:it
Speaker:hurts.
Speaker:Every
Speaker:day
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:you
Speaker:feels
Speaker:worse
Speaker:than
Speaker:placing
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:on
Speaker:hot
Speaker:metal
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:forge.
I
assume
Speaker:you
Speaker:heard
Speaker:about
Speaker:my
Speaker:dad’s
Speaker:passing?
Speaker:I
Speaker:miss
Speaker:him
Speaker:terribly.
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:my
Speaker:father
Speaker:is in
Speaker:a
Speaker:peaceful,
Speaker:quiet
Speaker:place.
Speaker:He
Speaker:treasured
Speaker:me
Speaker:so
Speaker:and
Speaker:is
Speaker:probably
Speaker:now
Speaker:aware
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:love
Speaker:for
Speaker:you.
I
am
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:Hannover
Speaker:and
Speaker:moving to
Speaker:America
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
Speaker:before
Speaker:your
Speaker:marriage
Speaker:to
Speaker:Fräulein
Speaker:Fromm.
Speaker:The
Speaker:reason
Speaker:I am
Speaker:telling
Speaker:you
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:implore
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:accompany
Speaker:me.
Speaker:You
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:sacrifice
Speaker:your
Speaker:happiness
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:safety.
Speaker:When
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:little
Speaker:cubs,
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:society
Speaker:and
Speaker:God
Speaker:viewed
Speaker:my
Speaker:attractions
Speaker:for
Speaker:you
Speaker:as
Speaker:wrong,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:care.
Speaker:I
Speaker:hid
Speaker:my
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:away,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:care.
Speaker:You
Speaker:were
Speaker:the
Speaker:eldest
Speaker:male
Speaker:heir
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:von
Speaker:Kauffmann
Speaker:family,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:care.
Speaker:You
Speaker:are
Speaker:simply
Speaker:Eduard,
Speaker:the
Speaker:man
Speaker:I
Speaker:love.
I
do
Speaker:not
Speaker:have
Speaker:money
Speaker:on
Speaker:me
Speaker:other
Speaker:than
Speaker:what
Speaker:Dad’s
Speaker:will
Speaker:has
Speaker:granted
Speaker:me,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:promise
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:you
Speaker:happy.
Speaker:Whether
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:in
Speaker:America
Speaker:or
Speaker:the
Speaker:ends
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Earth,
Speaker:you
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:pretend
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:someone
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:when
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:alone
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:room.
Speaker:There
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:where
Speaker:that
Speaker:is
Speaker:possible
Speaker:for
Speaker:us.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:America,
Speaker:and
Speaker:together
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:free.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:happy
Speaker:together.
At
around
Speaker:midnight, a
Speaker:flatboat
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:floating
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:town
Speaker:bridge
Speaker:overlooking
Speaker:the
Speaker:river.
Speaker:The
Speaker:boat
Speaker:belongs
Speaker:to
Speaker:four
Speaker:humans
Speaker:I
Speaker:met in
Speaker:the
Speaker:marketplace,
Speaker:who have
Speaker:agreed
Speaker:to
Speaker:accompany
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:Bremen
Speaker:before
Speaker:they
Speaker:find
Speaker:another
Speaker:boat
Speaker:to
Speaker:England
Speaker:for
Speaker:themselves.
Speaker:If
Speaker:you
Speaker:feel
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:feel,
Speaker:and
Speaker:yearn
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:again,
Speaker:come
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:that
Speaker:night.
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:the spouse you
Speaker:always
Speaker:wanted,
Speaker:and
Speaker:more.
Speaker:I
Speaker:promise
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:with
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:better
Speaker:or
Speaker:for
Speaker:worse,
Speaker:for
Speaker:richer
Speaker:or
Speaker:for
Speaker:poorer,
Speaker:in
Speaker:sickness
Speaker:and
Speaker:in
Speaker:health
Speaker:until
Speaker:death
Speaker:do
Speaker:us
Speaker:part.
Speaker:Forever.
I
love
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Eduard.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:your
Speaker:decision
Speaker:is,
Speaker:I
Speaker:always
Speaker:will.
~Hansel[/i]
After
reading
Speaker:the
Speaker:letter
Speaker:over
Speaker:and
Speaker:over
Speaker:until
Speaker:once
Speaker:again
Speaker:I
Speaker:fully
Speaker:memorized
Speaker:it,
Speaker:imagining
Speaker:Hansel’s
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:voice
Speaker:whispering
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:twitching
Speaker:ears,
Speaker:I
Speaker:burned
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:nearby
Speaker:candle.
Speaker:A
Speaker:tear
Speaker:crawled
Speaker:down
Speaker:my
Speaker:cheek,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:ignored
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Keeping
Speaker:my
Speaker:promise
Speaker:to
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:meant
Speaker:his
Speaker:safety.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sacrifice
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:happiness
Speaker:together
Speaker:would
Speaker:mean
Speaker:the
Speaker:preservation
Speaker:of
Speaker:his,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:enough
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.
The
words
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:letter
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind,
Speaker:even
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:wedding
Speaker:rehearsal.
Speaker:Katharine
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:were
Speaker:quiet
Speaker:together,
Speaker:said
Speaker:our
Speaker:scripted
Speaker:vows,
Speaker:and
Speaker:endured
Speaker:the
Speaker:words
Speaker:said
Speaker:by
Speaker:our
Speaker:soon-to-be
Speaker:in-laws.
Speaker:When
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:finished,
Speaker:Katharine
Speaker:retreated
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:room
Speaker:without
Speaker:even
Speaker:giving
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:acknowledgment.
Speaker:Was
Speaker:she
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:situation
Speaker:as
Speaker:well,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:female
Speaker:vixen?
Speaker:Or
Speaker:another
Speaker:female
Speaker:Furren
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:different
Speaker:species?
That
afternoon,
Speaker:I
Speaker:sat
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:room
Speaker:contemplating
Speaker:when
Speaker:someone
Speaker:knocked
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:door.
“Who…Who is it?”
“It’s Margarethe.”
I
blinked. What
Speaker:did
Speaker:she
Speaker:want?
“Come
in."
Margarethe
entered.
Speaker:To
Speaker:my
Speaker:surprise
Speaker:though,
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:locked
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:by
Speaker:my
Speaker:bed.
“I
know
Speaker:about
Speaker:that
Speaker:mouse,
Speaker:and
Speaker:your
Speaker:true
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:toward
Speaker:Fräulein
Speaker:Fromm,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:spoke
Speaker:in
Speaker:quick
Speaker:succession. “Can
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask
Speaker:you
Speaker:something?”
I
was
Speaker:initially
Speaker:taken
Speaker:aback
Speaker:at
Speaker:first
Speaker:but
Speaker:nodded.
“What
was
Speaker:it
Speaker:like
Speaker:to
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:her
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:rehearsal,
Speaker:Eduard?”
Speaker:Margarethe
Speaker:inquired. “Did
Speaker:you
Speaker:enjoy
Speaker:being
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:presence,
Speaker:and
Speaker:find
Speaker:her
Speaker:attractive?”
“Of
course
Speaker:I
Speaker:find
Speaker:her
Speaker:attractive.
Speaker:She
Speaker:is
Speaker:attractive,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:answered. “But…But…”
Margarethe
glanced
Speaker:to
Speaker:me. “But
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:you,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:finished
Speaker:my
Speaker:sentence. “And
Speaker:the
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:during
Speaker:rehearsal?
Speaker:Was
Speaker:it
Speaker:as
Speaker:wonderful
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:say
Speaker:it
Speaker:is?”
“It…It
was
Speaker:not
Speaker:bad…”
Speaker:I
Speaker:mumbled,
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:raising
Speaker:my
Speaker:voice
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:hear
Speaker:correctly. “But
Speaker:it
Speaker:was …she…she
Speaker:is
Speaker:not…”
Margarethe
sat
Speaker:beside
Speaker:me
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed and
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a
Speaker:heartening
Speaker:paw
Speaker:on
Speaker:mine.
“She is
not
Speaker:like
Speaker:your
Speaker:mouse
Speaker:though?”
Margarethe
read
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind.
Speaker:In
Speaker:truth,
Speaker:the
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:with
Speaker:Katharine
Speaker:was
Speaker:chaste,
Speaker:unemotional.
Speaker:It
Speaker:never
Speaker:had
Speaker:that
Speaker:spark
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:kissed.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:warm,
Speaker:inviting,
Speaker:sensual
Speaker:or
Speaker:the
Speaker:very
Speaker:least
Speaker:sweet.
Speaker:It
Speaker:felt…hollow.
“Eduard,”
she
Speaker:told
Speaker:me, “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:never
Speaker:seen
Speaker:you
Speaker:as
Speaker:happy
Speaker:as
Speaker:these
Speaker:past
Speaker:few
Speaker:years.
Speaker:You
Speaker:were
Speaker:always
Speaker:quiet
Speaker:like
Speaker:me,
Speaker:then
Speaker:you
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak
Speaker:more.
Speaker:You
Speaker:talked
Speaker:more
Speaker:openly
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:help,
Speaker:then
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:Father
Speaker:and
Speaker:Mother.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:nights
Speaker:with
Speaker:this
Speaker:boy…they
Speaker:made
Speaker:you
Speaker:more
Speaker:content
Speaker:than
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:ever
Speaker:seen
Speaker:you
Speaker:be.”
Widening
my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:at
Speaker:Margarethe,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:stop
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail
Speaker:from
Speaker:batting
Speaker:her
Speaker:leg
Speaker:affectionately.
Speaker:She
Speaker:had
Speaker:grown
Speaker:in
Speaker:three
Speaker:years,
Speaker:but
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:eldest
Speaker:cub
Speaker:my
Speaker:paws
Speaker:still
Speaker:enveloped
Speaker:hers
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:grasped
Speaker:them.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:as
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:speaking
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:sister
Speaker:freely,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:felt
Speaker:liberating
Speaker:nonetheless.
“Thank
you…”
Speaker:I
Speaker:spoke
Speaker:to
Speaker:her. “Thank
Speaker:you.”
“There
is
Speaker:something
Speaker:I
Speaker:must
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Eduard,”
Speaker:Margarethe
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:me. “I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:Father
Speaker:speaking
Speaker:with
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:study
Speaker:earlier,
Speaker:after
Speaker:this
Speaker:morning’s
Speaker:breakfast.
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:anything
Speaker:until
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:certain
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:rehearsal,
Speaker:but…”
The
younger
Speaker:fox
Speaker:clenched
Speaker:her
Speaker:claws
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:forearms
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:suit,
Speaker:making
Speaker:me
Speaker:wince.
“W-What
is
Speaker:it, Margarethe?” I questioned.
Margarethe
growled. “After
Speaker:your
Speaker:marriage
Speaker:to
Speaker:Katharine
Speaker:tomorrow,
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:and
Speaker:Father
Speaker:will
Speaker:have
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:arrested
Speaker:for
Speaker:gross
Speaker:indecency.”
My
heart
Speaker:dropped.
“What…?”
I
Speaker:growled,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:anger
Speaker:spike
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:spine. “Mother
Speaker:promised
Speaker:he—”
“—she
told
Speaker:Father
Speaker:they
Speaker:would ‘make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:Eduard
Speaker:would
Speaker:never
Speaker:see
Speaker:that
Speaker:boy
Speaker:again’,”
Speaker:Margarethe
Speaker:gripped
Speaker:my
Speaker:arm. “Those
Speaker:were
Speaker:her
Speaker:exact
Speaker:words,
Speaker:brother.”
This
was
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Either
Speaker:way,
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:and
Speaker:Father
Speaker:were
Speaker:making
Speaker:sure
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:back
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:promise,
Speaker:even
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:meant
Speaker:breaking
Speaker:their
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bargain.
Speaker:The
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:conniving
Speaker:behind
Speaker:my
Speaker:back
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail
Speaker:bristle,
Speaker:and
Speaker:claws
Speaker:sharply
Speaker:extend
Speaker:onto
Speaker:my
Speaker:trousers.
“Eduard.”
The
sudden
Speaker:anger
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:dissipated
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:glimpsed
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:sister
Speaker:beside
Speaker:me
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed.
Speaker:In
Speaker:her
Speaker:right
Speaker:paw
Speaker:rested
Speaker:a
Speaker:red
Speaker:pouch.
Speaker:Grabbing
Speaker:and
Speaker:inspecting
Speaker:it
Speaker:contents,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:shocked
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:what
Speaker:looked
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:twenty
Speaker:or
Speaker:thirty
Speaker:silver
Speaker:coins.
“Take
these,”
Speaker:Margarethe
Speaker:implored
Speaker:with
Speaker:folded
Speaker:ears. “I
Speaker:was…saving
Speaker:them
Speaker:for
Speaker:my…eventual
Speaker:trip
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:away,
Speaker:but
Speaker:you
Speaker:need
Speaker:it
Speaker:more.
Speaker:Take
Speaker:that
Speaker:mouse,
Speaker:go
Speaker:to
Speaker:England,
Speaker:Ireland,
Speaker:Amsterdam,
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:go.
Speaker:I…I
Speaker:cannot
Speaker:pretend
Speaker:I
Speaker:understand
Speaker:why
Speaker:you
Speaker:prefer
Speaker:him
Speaker:over
Speaker:another
Speaker:woman,
Speaker:but
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:feel
Speaker:happier
Speaker:with
Speaker:him…then
Speaker:be
Speaker:with
Speaker:him.”
I
could
Speaker:not
Speaker:process
Speaker:the
Speaker:weight
Speaker:of
Speaker:everything
Speaker:she
Speaker:said,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:between
Speaker:her,
Speaker:the
Speaker:pouch
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:paws
Speaker:and
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:little
Speaker:sister
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed.
“What…”
I
Speaker:struggled
Speaker:to
Speaker:build
Speaker:the
Speaker:words.
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:because
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:emotions
Speaker:swelling
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:or
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:thing
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:for
Speaker:this
Speaker:kind
Speaker:act,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:settled
Speaker:on, “What
Speaker:about
Speaker:you?
Speaker:The
Speaker:role
Speaker:of
Speaker:heir
Speaker:will
Speaker:fall
Speaker:to
Speaker:you,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:here
Speaker:forever.”
“Margarethe!”
Mother
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:called
Speaker:from
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:hall. “Just
Speaker:because
Speaker:your
Speaker:brother is
Speaker:being
Speaker:married
Speaker:tomorrow,
Speaker:does
Speaker:not
Speaker:mean
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:neglect
Speaker:your
Speaker:singing
Speaker:lessons!”
We
looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:hall
Speaker:and
Speaker:relaxed
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment.
Speaker:Shuddering
Speaker:and
Speaker:hugging
Speaker:me
Speaker:close,
Speaker:Margarethe
Speaker:stifled
Speaker:a
Speaker:whimper
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:throat
Speaker:before
Speaker:standing.
Speaker:She
Speaker:wiped
Speaker:her
Speaker:tears
Speaker:away
Speaker:as
Speaker:mine
Speaker:fell
Speaker:and
Speaker:made
Speaker:her
Speaker:appearance
Speaker:presentable
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:walked
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
Speaker:Before
Speaker:she
Speaker:waltzed
Speaker:back
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:hall,
Speaker:Margarethe
Speaker:looked
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:greatest
Speaker:smile
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:ever
Speaker:seen
Speaker:her
Speaker:wear.
Speaker:Genuine,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:and
Speaker:content.
“Think
about
Speaker:your
Speaker:happiness
Speaker:for
Speaker:now,
Speaker:please.
Speaker:Be
Speaker:with
Speaker:Hansel.
Speaker:Be
Speaker:happy.”
That
is
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:planned
Speaker:to
Speaker:do.
By
the
Speaker:time
Speaker:night
Speaker:fell,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:noise
Speaker:that
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:heard
Speaker:were
Speaker:the
Speaker:manor’s
Speaker:sleeping
Speaker:occupants,
Speaker:I
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:everything
Speaker:needed.
Speaker:I dressed
Speaker:myself
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:inexpensive
Speaker:clothes
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:wardrobe,
Speaker:along
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:brown
Speaker:raincoat.
Speaker:Each
Speaker:step
Speaker:I
Speaker:made
Speaker:tiptoeing
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:quiet
Speaker:hallways
Speaker:reignited
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:old
Speaker:memories.
Speaker:I
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:running
Speaker:down
Speaker:one
Speaker:hall
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:sister
Speaker:one
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:morning,
Speaker:and
Speaker:another
Speaker:led
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ballroom
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:first
Speaker:learned
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:perform
Speaker:the
Speaker:Vienna
Speaker:Waltz.
Speaker:No longer.
I
had
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:grand
Speaker:entrance
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:knew
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:being
Speaker:watched.
“If
you
Speaker:leave
Speaker:now,
Speaker:Son,
Speaker:you
Speaker:will
Speaker:most
Speaker:likely
Speaker:meet
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:fate
Speaker:as
Speaker:that
Speaker:boy
Speaker:your
Speaker:Mother
Speaker:told
Speaker:me
Speaker:about.”
Slowly
I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:an
Speaker:older
Speaker:red
Speaker:fox
Speaker:standing
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:nightgown. In
Speaker:the
Speaker:dim
Speaker:candlelight
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:dresser,
Speaker:Father’s
Speaker:greying fur
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:viewed
Speaker:from
Speaker:afar.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:shone
Speaker:piercing
Speaker:yellow
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:darkness,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:directly
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.
“Eduard,”
he
Speaker:sighed,
Speaker:walking
Speaker:towards
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:folded
Speaker:ears
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:saddened
Speaker:expression
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle, “do
Speaker:you
Speaker:realize
Speaker:the
Speaker:moment
Speaker:you
Speaker:walk
Speaker:out
Speaker:those
Speaker:doors,
Speaker:there
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:to
Speaker:prevent
Speaker:you
Speaker:from
Speaker:being
Speaker:arrested.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:already
Speaker:told
Speaker:the
Speaker:constable,
Speaker:and
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:sees
Speaker:you
Speaker:while
Speaker:arresting
Speaker:that
Speaker:boy,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you
Speaker:resist,
Speaker:you
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:tried
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:crimes.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:I
Speaker:cannot
Speaker:save
Speaker:you.”
We
stood
Speaker:quiet
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:something
Speaker:glinted
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:elder
Speaker:canine’s
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:concern
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:parent,
Speaker:or
Speaker:the
Speaker:desperation
Speaker:of
Speaker:honor
Speaker:more
Speaker:commonly
Speaker:seen
Speaker:in
Speaker:Mother.
Speaker:No,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:confusion.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:really
Speaker:know
Speaker:why.
I
desperately
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:Father
Speaker:how
Speaker:much
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:the
Speaker:risks.
Speaker:Being
Speaker:labeled
Speaker:a
Speaker:deviant
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:courts
Speaker:meant
Speaker:losing
Speaker:everything,
Speaker:your
Speaker:reputation,
Speaker:your
Speaker:home
Speaker:and
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:friends
Speaker:you
Speaker:had
Speaker:treasured.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:at
Speaker:that
Speaker:single
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:else
Speaker:held
Speaker:larger
Speaker:value
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:To
Speaker:me,
Speaker:losing
Speaker:Hansel meant
Speaker:forever
Speaker:losing
Speaker:an
Speaker:ingrained
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:soul.
However,
he
Speaker:could
Speaker:never
Speaker:understand.
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:though.
“Father,”
I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:spoke, “do
Speaker:you
Speaker:love
Speaker:Mother?”
“Eduard,”
Father
Speaker:replied
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:firmly, “do
Speaker:not
Speaker:ask
Speaker:trivial
Speaker:concerns.
Speaker:Of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:I
Speaker:do.
Speaker:I
Speaker:loved
Speaker:her
Speaker:the
Speaker:moment
Speaker:I
Speaker:first
Speaker:laid
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:upon
Speaker:her.
Speaker:She
Speaker:does
Speaker:too.”
“Then…”
I
Speaker:exhaled
Speaker:and flicked
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor, “she
Speaker:knew
Speaker:too.”
“Please
answer
Speaker:me
Speaker:the
Speaker:question,
Speaker:Eduard.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:lowly
Speaker:growled. “What
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:mean ‘she
Speaker:knew’?”
I
softly
Speaker:smiled. “There’s
Speaker:more
Speaker:to
Speaker:life
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:name.”
I
stood
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:greying
Speaker:noblefox
Speaker:and
Speaker:hugged
Speaker:him
Speaker:one
Speaker:final
Speaker:time.
Speaker:He
Speaker:reciprocated,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:took
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:tugs
Speaker:to
Speaker:pull
Speaker:away
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:walked
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:doors.
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:to
Speaker:him
Speaker:again,
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:break
Speaker:down
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:did.
Speaker:Opening
Speaker:them
Speaker:a
Speaker:crack,
Speaker:I
Speaker:ignored
Speaker:the
Speaker:pitter-patter
Speaker:of
Speaker:more
Speaker:footpaws
Speaker:coming
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:stairs
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me.
Speaker:It was
Speaker:Mother,
Speaker:indeed.
“Good-bye,
Mother.
Speaker:Good-bye,
Speaker:Father.
Speaker:I…I
Speaker:love
Speaker:you
Speaker:both.”
Mother
tried
Speaker:speaking, “Eduard—”
Without
another
Speaker:word,
Speaker:I
Speaker:dashed
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:and
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:look back.
“Eduard! Come back this
instant! Eduard!”
Speaker:I
Speaker:tumbled
Speaker:past
Speaker:the
Speaker:gates,
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:road
Speaker:and
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:shouts
Speaker:pleading
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t.
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t.
Speaker:At
Speaker:long
Speaker:last,
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:crossed
Speaker:the
Speaker:point
Speaker:of
Speaker:no
Speaker:return,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:felt
Speaker:liberating.
***
The
midnight
Speaker:bell
Speaker:tolled
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:distant
Speaker:church,
Speaker:its
Speaker:echo
Speaker:bringing
Speaker:me
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:present
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge.
Speaker:Raising
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:to
Speaker:cover
Speaker:my
Speaker:yawning
Speaker:muzzle,
Speaker:I
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:froze.
Echoing
down
Speaker:the
Speaker:street
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:right,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear (and
Speaker:smell)
Speaker:three
Speaker:Furren
Speaker:coming
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:footsteps
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:erratic
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:appear
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:corner,
Speaker:a
Speaker:constable’s
Speaker:uniform
Speaker:visible
Speaker:under
Speaker:a
Speaker:streetlamp.
Speaker:Panic
Speaker:swept
Speaker:over
Speaker:me
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:gust
Speaker:of
Speaker:wind,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:run
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:end
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge
Speaker:and
Speaker:hide
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:wall
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:alleyway.
Speaker:They
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:me
Speaker:run
Speaker:off.
Peering
through
Speaker:the
Speaker:near-darkness,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:two
Speaker:canines
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:feline
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:constable’s
Speaker:uniform.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:Dietrich
Speaker:Schneider,
Speaker:a
Speaker:low-ranking
Speaker:officer
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:law
Speaker:who
Speaker:grew
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:Father
Speaker:as
Speaker:cubs.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:recall
Speaker:the
Speaker:names
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:Furren
Speaker:wolves—one
Speaker:grey
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:several
Speaker:years
Speaker:older
Speaker:than
Speaker:I,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:painted
Speaker:in
Speaker:darker
Speaker:fur—accompanying
Speaker:him,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:also
Speaker:knew
Speaker:they
Speaker:would
Speaker:sometimes
Speaker:visit
Speaker:the
Speaker:von
Speaker:Kauffmann
Speaker:estate.
However,
my
Speaker:mind
Speaker:became
Speaker:blank
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:a
Speaker:fourth
Speaker:Furren
Speaker:with
Speaker:them.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:handsome
Speaker:mouse
Speaker:with
Speaker:bright
Speaker:grey
Speaker:fur
Speaker:and
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:obsidian
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:shining
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:moonlight,
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:which
Speaker:looked
Speaker:swollen
Speaker:and
Speaker:bruised.
Speaker:Seeing
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:state
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:bristle
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:low
Speaker:growl
Speaker:catch
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:throat.
“What
were
Speaker:you
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:with
Speaker:this
Speaker:rope
Speaker:over
Speaker:here,
Speaker:boy?”
Speaker:Schneider
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:a
Speaker:roll
Speaker:of
Speaker:said
Speaker:rope
Speaker:to the Hansel’s
Speaker:muzzle. “Answer
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:neighbors
Speaker:mentioned
Speaker:you
Speaker:saying
Speaker:something
Speaker:about
Speaker:this
Speaker:bridge,
Speaker:so
Speaker:tell
Speaker:us
Speaker:now.”
He
silently
Speaker:hung
Speaker:his
Speaker:head in silence,
Speaker:but
Speaker:then
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:raised
Speaker:it,
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:started
Speaker:searching
Speaker:for
Speaker:something.
Speaker:Or
Speaker:someone.
During
this,
Speaker:I
Speaker:partly
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:an
Speaker:object
Speaker:coming
Speaker:from
Speaker:further
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:moonlit
Speaker:river,
Speaker:only
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:realize
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:wooden
Speaker:flatboat.
Speaker:Four
Speaker:figures
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:seen
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:wooden
Speaker:neck,
Speaker:none
Speaker:of
Speaker:whom
Speaker:looked
Speaker:or
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:Furren.
It
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:human
Speaker:boat
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:mentioned,
Speaker:coming
Speaker:down
Speaker:this
Speaker:way
Speaker:fast!
“Hmmm,”
the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:mused.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge’s
Speaker:railing
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:waters
Speaker:below,
Speaker:then to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rope
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:nasty,
Speaker:visible
Speaker:grin
Speaker:formed
Speaker:across
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle. “Hey
Speaker:Markus,
Speaker:Henry!
Speaker:What
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:say
Speaker:we
Speaker:drown
Speaker:this
Speaker:rat?”
My
nostrils
Speaker:flared.
“What
about
Speaker:Frau von
Speaker:Kauffmann’s
Speaker:instructions?”
I
wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:tear
Speaker:them
Speaker:apart
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:claws.
“What
of
Speaker:it?”
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:constable
Speaker:scoffed. “She’s
Speaker:paying
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:deal
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:pervert,
Speaker:so
Speaker:we’ll
Speaker:deal
Speaker:with
Speaker:perverts
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:way
Speaker:they
Speaker:deal
Speaker:with
Speaker:them
Speaker:in
Speaker:Berlin.”
My
tail
Speaker:arched
Speaker:into
Speaker:attack
Speaker:mode
Speaker:while
Speaker:I
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:my
Speaker:robe
Speaker:and
Speaker:tossed
Speaker:the
Speaker:pouch
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:pocket.
Speaker:As
Speaker:Constable
Speaker:Schneider
Speaker:began untying
Speaker:the
Speaker:rope,
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:only
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:matter
Speaker:of
Speaker:time
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:flatboat
Speaker:passed
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge.
“W-Wait,
please
Speaker:don’t!”
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:quavered. “I-I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:die…!”
Constable
Schneider
Speaker:backhanded
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:without
Speaker:warning
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind
Speaker:became
Speaker:burning
Speaker:white.
“Quiet,
you deviant so—Oof!”
In several
quick
Speaker:strides,
Speaker:my
Speaker:fist
Speaker:connected
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger’s
Speaker:cheek.
Speaker:The
Speaker:two
Speaker:wolves
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:anticipate
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:were
Speaker:taken
Speaker:by
Speaker:surprise.
Speaker:Snarling
Speaker:and
Speaker:blind by
Speaker:primal
Speaker:rage,
Speaker:I
Speaker:remember
Speaker:jumping
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:red-furred
Speaker:wolf.
Speaker:We
Speaker:fumbled
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:biting
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:tear
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat
Speaker:out
Speaker:for
Speaker:what
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:do!
“What
the
Speaker:hell?!”
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:gasped
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me. “Get
Speaker:off
Speaker:of
Speaker:him!”
A
pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:paws
Speaker:tried
Speaker:yanking
Speaker:me
Speaker:away,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:wolf—Markus,
Speaker:I
Speaker:think—time
Speaker:to
Speaker:claw
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:shirt.
Speaker:I
Speaker:yelped,
Speaker:as
Speaker:did Alois
Speaker:when
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:pulled him
Speaker:away
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail.
Speaker:Together,
Speaker:we
Speaker:bit,
Speaker:snarled,
Speaker:claws
Speaker:and
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:our
Speaker:teeth at
Speaker:them
Speaker:like
Speaker:feral
Speaker:animals.
At
last,
Speaker:the
Speaker:boat
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:seen
Speaker:gently
Speaker:floating
Speaker:towards
Speaker:us.
Speaker:One
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:humans
Speaker:waved
Speaker:their
Speaker:hands
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air,
Speaker:which
Speaker:caught
Speaker:Hansel’s
Speaker:attention.
Speaker:Finally
Speaker:managing
Speaker:to
Speaker:knock Alois
Speaker:unconscious
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground,
Speaker:he
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:to the flatboat.
“Hurry, Ed!”
he cried. “Don’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:about
Speaker:it!”
In
a
Speaker:flash,
Speaker:Hansel
Speaker:rushed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:and
Speaker:punched
Speaker:him
Speaker:unconscious
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:as
Speaker:well.
Speaker:Without
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:further,
Speaker:the
Speaker:stocky
Speaker:Furren
Speaker:leapt
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge’s
Speaker:ledge,
Speaker:then
Speaker:jumped.
Speaker:My
Speaker:fur
Speaker:shot
Speaker:up in fear.
“Hansel!”
I
Speaker:gasped
Speaker:while
Speaker:rushing
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge.
Hansel
had
Speaker:leapt
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:flatboat’s
Speaker:cabin,
Speaker:while
Speaker:a
Speaker:human
Speaker:hurriedly
Speaker:climbed
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:assist
Speaker:him.
“Eduard!”
he
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:back
Speaker:while
Speaker:reaching up
Speaker:for me “Hurry,
Speaker:Eduard!
Speaker:Come
Speaker:down!”
Fully
relieved,
Speaker:I
Speaker:moved
Speaker:only
Speaker:a
Speaker:centimeter
Speaker:when
Speaker:two
Speaker:strong
Speaker:paws
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:me
Speaker:back
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge.
“Oh
no
Speaker:you
Speaker:don’t!”
Speaker:the
Speaker:constable
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:angrily. “Forget
Speaker:the
Speaker:money,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:going to
Speaker:burn
Speaker:you
Speaker:heathens
Speaker:myself!”
We
were
Speaker:so
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:freedom;
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:it
Speaker:drift underneath me.
“Eduard!” Hansel yelled at us. “Let him
go!
Speaker:Eduard!”
“Hansel!”
I
Speaker:shouted,
Speaker:only
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:to
Speaker:clamp
Speaker:a paw on
Speaker:my
Speaker:muzzle.
“Silence!”
he
Speaker:growled
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:ear. “Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:the
Speaker:penalty
Speaker:is
Speaker:for
Speaker:attacking
Speaker:a
Speaker:constable,
Speaker:fox?
Speaker:Stop
Speaker:struggling
Speaker:or
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:be
Speaker:sure
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:your
Speaker:execution
Speaker:painful! The
Speaker:same
Speaker:goes
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:mouse
Speaker:and
Speaker:those
Speaker:humans!”
I
helplessly
Speaker:whimpered
Speaker:and
Speaker:barked
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:flatboat
Speaker:drifted
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:side.
Speaker:The
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:turned
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:watch
Speaker:the
Speaker:boat
Speaker:reappear
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge
Speaker:but
Speaker:began
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:me
Speaker:away
Speaker:towards
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:streets,
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:beloved.
Speaker:I
Speaker:flailed
Speaker:more,
Speaker:struggled
Speaker:and
Speaker:tried
Speaker:breaking
Speaker:free.
Speaker:I
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:free!
Speaker:Before
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:okay
Speaker:with
Speaker:being
Speaker:chained,
Speaker:but
Speaker:no
Speaker:longer!
As
God
Speaker:as
Speaker:my
Speaker:witness,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:live
Speaker:my
Speaker:life
Speaker:with
Speaker:Hansel!
Using
as
Speaker:much
Speaker:force as
Speaker:I
Speaker:could,
Speaker:I
Speaker:bit
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger’s
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:until
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:taste
Speaker:blood.
Speaker:The
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:bellowed
Speaker:in
Speaker:pain,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:elbowed
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:ribs
Speaker:before
Speaker:shoving
Speaker:myself
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:iron
Speaker:hold.
“Ow!
You
Speaker:little—”
“Hansel!”
I
Speaker:cried. “Hansel,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:coming!”
It
was
Speaker:entirely
Speaker:instinct.
Speaker:Lifting
Speaker:my
Speaker:knees
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:bridge’s
Speaker:railing,
Speaker:I
Speaker:desperately
Speaker:swung
Speaker:my
Speaker:footpaws
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:and
Speaker:plummeted
Speaker:over.
Speaker:A
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:strong
Speaker:paws
Speaker:caught
Speaker:me
Speaker:mid-air,
Speaker:but
Speaker:then
Speaker:we
Speaker:fell
Speaker:on
Speaker:our
Speaker:sides
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:timber
Speaker:roof.
Stars
danced
Speaker:across
Speaker:my
Speaker:vision
Speaker:as
Speaker:nearby
Speaker:shouts
Speaker:echoed
Speaker:around,
Speaker:followed
Speaker:by
Speaker:an
Speaker:aching
Speaker:bruise
Speaker:along
Speaker:my
Speaker:hip.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:it
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:matter.
Speaker:Blinking
Speaker:away
Speaker:the
Speaker:stars
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:my
Speaker:arms
Speaker:desperately
Speaker:clung
Speaker:to
Speaker:Hansel.
“You
damned
Speaker:humans,
Speaker:getting
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:way!”
Speaker:the
Speaker:constable
Speaker:roared. “Give
Speaker:us
Speaker:the
Speaker:deviants
Speaker:and
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:where
Speaker:you
Speaker:came
Speaker:from!
Speaker:They
Speaker:must
Speaker:burn
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:sins.
A
human
Speaker:male
Speaker:beside
Speaker:us
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:something
Speaker:in
Speaker:Russian,
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:adjusted
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:man
Speaker:twice
Speaker:our
Speaker:age,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:a
Speaker:rifle
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands.
Speaker:So
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:three
Speaker:or
Speaker:four
Speaker:other
Speaker:humans
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:wooden deck.
“Constable,”
he
Speaker:shakily
Speaker:spoke
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:language,
Speaker:glaring
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:elevated
Speaker:riverfront. “My
Speaker:comrades
Speaker:and
Speaker:family
Speaker:are
Speaker:refugees.
Speaker:We
Speaker:no
Speaker:longer
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:to
Speaker:call
Speaker:our
Speaker:home,
Speaker:and
Speaker:neither
Speaker:do
Speaker:they.
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask
Speaker:that
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:human
Speaker:born
Speaker:in
Speaker:God’s
Speaker:grace,
Speaker:I
Speaker:pray
Speaker:you
Speaker:allow
Speaker:them
Speaker:mercy.
Speaker:From
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:told
Speaker:me,
Speaker:they
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:do
Speaker:anything
Speaker:against
Speaker:anyone.
Speaker:They
Speaker:are
Speaker:being
Speaker:driven
Speaker:away
Speaker:for
Speaker:only
Speaker:existing.”
Schneider
cackled. “That
Speaker:is
rich:a
rich:human
rich:asking
rich:me
rich:for
rich:mercy!”
“Constable,”
he
rich:commanded
rich:without
rich:faltering. “Give
rich:them
rich:mercy
rich:if
rich:you
rich:wish
rich:to
rich:not
rich:die
rich:today.
rich:Otherwise,
rich:I
rich:will
rich:not
rich:hesitate
rich:to
rich:defend
rich:us.”
Without
any
rich:care,
rich:the
rich:tiger
rich:sprinted
rich:off
rich:the
rich:bridge
rich:to
rich:our
rich:right,
rich:and
rich:began
rich:following
rich:us
rich:toward
rich:the
rich:boat
rich:as
rich:it
rich:floated
rich:along
rich:the
rich:river.
“I
repeat
rich:myself,
constable:”
constable:the
constable:human
constable:shouted
constable:once
constable:more,
constable:raising
constable:his
constable:rifle
constable:up. “We
constable:have
constable:already
constable:seen
constable:enough
constable:bloodshed
constable:at
constable:the
constable:hands
constable:of
constable:the
constable:Cossacks
constable:and
constable:our
constable:Tsar’s
constable:ignorance.
constable:Leave
constable:us
constable:be
constable:or
constable:die.”
The
tiger
constable:shot
constable:a
constable:deathly
constable:glare
constable:towards
constable:us,
constable:causing
constable:me
constable:to
constable:instinctively
constable:growl
constable:back
constable:at
constable:him.
When
he
constable:still
constable:didn’t
constable:stop
constable:following,
constable:another
constable:human
constable:our
constable:age
constable:with
constable:darker
constable:hair
constable:helped
constable:guide
constable:me
constable:and Hansel
constable:into
constable:the
constable:boat’s
constable:interior
constable:cabin.
“Go
on,”
constable:he
constable:told
constable:us
constable:in
constable:German. “For
constable:now,
constable:ignore
constable:the
constable:fat
constable:cat.
constable:If
constable:he
constable:tries
constable:anything,
constable:we will
constable:protect
constable:you.”
“T-Thank
you,”
constable:I
constable:told
constable:the
constable:human. “Y-Your
constable:kindness
constable:means…everything.”
He
simply
constable:nodded,
constable:then joined
constable:the
constable:other
constable:humans
constable:with
constable:the
constable:rifles.
Inside
the
constable:cabin
constable:sat
constable:probably
constable:a
constable:dozen
constable:other
constable:humans,
constable:all
constable:of
constable:them
constable:ranging
constable:between
constable:old,
constable:young,
constable:white-skinned,
constable:dark-skinned,
constable:clothed
constable:or
constable:barely
constable:at
constable:all.
constable:However,
constable:all
constable:of
constable:them
constable:were
constable:clearly
constable:malnourished
constable:and
constable:recently
constable:awakened,
constable:but
constable:did
constable:not
constable:pay
constable:us
constable:any
constable:mind.
constable:In
constable:fact,
constable:one
constable:mother
constable:of
constable:two
constable:human
constable:cubs—or
constable:was
constable:it
constable:kids—scooted
constable:aside
constable:to give us
constable:room
constable:along
constable:the
constable:wooden
constable:wall.
“You
humans
constable:and
constable:Jews
constable:and
constable:deviants
constable:will
constable:burn
constable:in
constable:Hell!
constable:You
constable:will
constable:burn!”
“I
am
constable:warning
constable:you,
constable:constable—”
“You
hear
constable:me,
constable:boys?!
constable:Me
constable:and
constable:the
constable:townsfolk
constable:will
constable:know
constable:what
constable:you
constable:two
constable:are!
constable:If
constable:you
constable:ever
constable:return
constable:back,
constable:we’ll
constable:parade
constable:your
constable:severed
constable:tails
constable:through
constable:the
constable:streets!”
constable:Suddenly,
constable:he
constable:began
constable:roaring. “Furren of Hannover!
constable:Wake
constable:from
constable:your
constable:beds!”
Seconds
later,
constable:we
constable:heard
constable:gunshots,
constable:but
constable:no
constable:one
constable:flinched.
Moments
later,
constable:the
constable:mouse
constable:sitting
constable:by
constable:my
constable:side
constable:broke
constable:down
constable:first.
“I
knew
constable:you
constable:would
constable:come…”
constable:Hansel
constable:sniffled
constable:into
constable:my
constable:shoulder. “I
constable:only
constable:knew.”
I
choked
constable:away
constable:sobs
constable:and
constable:sat
constable:up
constable:to
constable:properly
constable:hold
constable:onto
constable:him.
constable:For
constable:three
constable:weeks
constable:of
constable:not
constable:being
constable:able
constable:to
constable:hold
constable:him,
constable:now
constable:we
constable:had
constable:all
constable:the
constable:time
constable:in
constable:the
constable:world.
constable:Together.
“Me
too…”
constable:I
constable:whispered,
constable:nuzzling
constable:into
constable:Hansel’s
constable:tear-stained
constable:cheeks. “I
constable:love
constable:you.”
To
my
constable:surprise,
constable:the
constable:humans
constable:on
constable:the
constable:boat
constable:did
constable:not
constable:sneer
constable:or
constable:give
constable:us
constable:any
constable:disgust.
constable:Instead,
constable:the
constable:others
constable:inside
constable:remained
constable:patiently
constable:sitting
constable:while
constable:humans
constable:on
constable:deck
constable:continued
constable:steering
constable:the
constable:boat
constable:by
constable:their
constable:long
constable:oars.
constable:One
constable:of
constable:them,
constable:speaking
constable:half-Ukrainian
constable:and
constable:half-German,
constable:even
constable:offered
constable:us
constable:a
constable:salvaged
constable:blanket.
constable:Either
constable:we
constable:were
constable:a
constable:common
constable:occurrence
constable:in
constable:their
constable:species, or
constable:these
constable:particular
constable:humans
constable:had
constable:seen
constable:enough
constable:prejudice
constable:and
constable:pain
constable:to
constable:know
constable:of
constable:its
constable:fickle
constable:obscurity.
Either
way,
constable:it
constable:did
constable:not
constable:prevent
constable:Hansel
constable:from
constable:gently
constable:kissing
constable:my
constable:lips
constable:in
constable:return.
“I
love
constable:you
constable:too,”
constable:he
constable:beamed,
constable:reaching
constable:into
constable:his
constable:to
constable:present
constable:a
constable:familiar
constable:flower
constable:to
constable:me.
Licking
my
constable:lips,
constable:I
constable:leaned
constable:forward
constable:to
constable:sniff
constable:its
constable:sweet
constable:aroma.
“My
dandelion
constable:fox.”
We
hugged
constable:each
constable:other
constable:and
constable:slowly
constable:drifted
constable:to
constable:sleep
constable:in
constable:each
constable:other’s
constable:arms.
constable:As
constable:Hannover’s
constable:looming
constable:vision
constable:slowly
constable:disappeared
constable:behind
constable:us,
constable:and
constable:all
constable:that
constable:lay
constable:before
constable:us
constable:was
constable:an
constable:endless
constable:river
constable:twisting
constable:and
constable:turning
constable:through
constable:trees,
constable:I
constable:could
constable:not
constable:have
constable:felt
constable:happier
constable:in
constable:those
constable:moment.
***
After
the
constable:news
constable:of
constable:two
constable:deviants
constable:killing
constable:a
constable:constable
constable:slowly
constable:faded
constable:like
constable:ocean
constable:waves,
constable:Hansel
constable:and
constable:I
constable:bought
constable:ourselves
constable:a
constable:ticket
constable:to
constable:New
constable:York.
constable:We
constable:parted
constable:ways
constable:with
constable:the
constable:traveling
constable:band
constable:of
constable:humans,
constable:but
constable:not
constable:without
constable:thanking
constable:them
constable:for
constable:their
constable:hospitality.
constable:As
constable:we
constable:walked
constable:up
constable:the
constable:ship’s
constable:wooden
constable:plank
constable:and
constable:waved
constable:to
constable:them
constable:from
constable:the
constable:deck,
constable:it’d
constable:be
constable:the
constable:last
constable:time
constable:either
constable:of
constable:us
constable:would
constable:see
constable:them.
Months
later,
constable:after
constable:enduring
constable:claustrophobia
constable:and
constable:agony
constable:of
constable:not
constable:being
constable:able
constable:to
constable:kiss
constable:or
constable:hold
constable:or
constable:hug
constable:my
constable:mouse
constable:for
constable:fear
constable:of
constable:reprisal,
constable:we
constable:came
constable:to
constable:Ellis
constable:Island.
constable:Instead
constable:of
constable:Eduard
constable:von
constable:Kauffmann,
constable:the
constable:eldest
constable:son
constable:of
constable:a (probably)
constable:shamed
constable:family
constable:of
constable:German
constable:noblefoxes,
constable:I
constable:was
constable:given
constable:a
constable:new
constable:name
constable:by
America:America:
Edward
America:Kaufman.
America:I
America:liked
America:it,
America:as
America:did
America:Hansel,
America:who
America:managed
America:to
America:retain
America:his
America:name.
Weeks
later,
America:we
America:moved
America:into
America:a
America:small
America:town
America:along
America:the
America:New
America:Jersey
America:coast,
America:where
America:the
America:tress
America:grew
America:tall
America:and
America:the
America:hills
America:lay
America:more
America:open
America:than
America:any
America:field
America:I
America:ever
America:saw.
America:Working
America:odd
America:jobs
America:whenever
America:we
America:could,
America:Hansel
America:and
America:I
America:lived
America:in
America:a
America:single
America:apartment
America:we
America:shared
America:together
America:with
America:a
America:Swedish
America:family.
America:They
America:were
America:nice
America:to
America:us,
America:but
America:neither
America:I
America:nor
America:my
America:mouse
America:planned
America:to
America:permanently
America:live
America:there.
America:Hansel
America:hoped
America:to
America:save
America:enough
America:money
America:and
America:find
America:us
America:a
America:better
America:home
America:in
America:Manhattan,
America:but
America:it
America:didn’t
America:matter
America:to
America:me.
As
I
America:woke
America:up
America:one
America:winter
America:morning
America:and
America:began
America:walking
America:past
America:the
America:local
America:orphanage,
America:I
America:breathed
America:warm
America:optimism
America:in
America:my
America:lungs.
America:Wherever
America:Hansel
America:went,
America:I
America:would
America:follow
America:beside
America:him.
America:Sure,
America:he
America:and
America:I
America:couldn’t
America:express
America:ourselves
America:in
America:the
America:open,
America:but
America:I
America:never
America:felt
America:freer.
America:Between
America:small
America:snowfall
America:in
America:the
America:air
America:and
America:walking
America:to
America:my
America:next odd
America:job
America:another
America:town
America:away,
America:I
America:prayed
America:we
America:would
America:discover
America:happiness
America:in
America:the
America:lives
America:we
America:had
America:chosen.
No,
not
America:chosen.
America:Found.
This
was
America:the
America:second
America:and
America:final
America:part
America:of “Dandelion
America:Fox”
America:by
America:Domus
America:Vocis,
America:read
America:for
America:you
America:by
America:Apollo
America:Brightflank,
America:who
America:Still
America:Returns
America:to
America:the
America:Prairie.
As
always,
America:you
America:can
America:find
America:more
America:stories
America:on
America:the
America:web
America:at
America:thevoice.dog,
America:or find the
America:show
America:wherever
America:you
America:get
America:your
America:podcasts.
America:Come
America:back
America:later
America:this
America:week
America:for
America:the
America:start
America:of
America:Poetry Month,
America:when
America:all
America:April,
America:every
America:Monday,
America:Wednesday,
America:and
America:Friday,
America:we’ll
America:read
America:for
America:you
America:poems
America:from
America:and
America:for
America:the
America:furry
America:community.
America:Thank
America:you
America:for
America:listening
America:to
America:The
America:Voice
America:of
America:Dog.