Shownotes
After an unprecedented wait, Captain Howard's cargo ship finally gets the go-ahead to enter Chitterspace, with a warning that the things that lurk inside this dark stretch seem more agitated than usual.
Tonight’s story is “Where The Stars Gnash Their Teeth” by Corran Orreaux, who is a deer known to haunt local forests, terrorizing the commonfolk and writing between raids, and you can find more of his stories on Fur Affinity and Sofurry.
Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/where-the-stars-gnash-their-teeth-by-corran-orreaux
Transcripts
You’re
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and Tonight’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “Where
Speaker:The
Speaker:Stars
Speaker:Gnash
Speaker:Their
Speaker:Teeth”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Corran Orreaux,
Speaker:who
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:deer
Speaker:known
Speaker:to
Speaker:haunt
Speaker:local
Speaker:forests,
Speaker:terrorizing
Speaker:the
Speaker:commonfolk
Speaker:and
Speaker:writing
Speaker:between
Speaker:raids, and
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:Fur
Speaker:Affinity
Speaker:and
Speaker:Sofurry.
Captain
Howard,
Speaker:a fox with a simple
Speaker:job.
Speaker:But
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:it
Speaker:he
Speaker:must
Speaker:take
Speaker:his
Speaker:crew
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:unthinkable
Speaker:depths
Speaker:of
Speaker:space,
Speaker:through
Speaker:an
Speaker:outer
Speaker:darkness,
Speaker:with
Speaker:only
Speaker:bureaucratic
Speaker:delay
Speaker:and
Speaker:corporate-issued
Speaker:personal
Speaker:protective
Speaker:equipment
Speaker:between
Speaker:his
Speaker:crew
Speaker:and
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:might
Speaker:dwell
Speaker:there.
Speaker:Presented
Speaker:with a
Speaker:proverbial
Speaker:aside
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:unreliability
Speaker:of
Speaker:bureaucracy,
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:one
Speaker:on
Speaker:what
Speaker:else
Speaker:is
Speaker:said
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:found
Speaker:in
Speaker:Outer
Speaker:Darkness…
Please
enjoy
“Where
The
Speaker:Stars
Speaker:Gnash
Speaker:Their Teeth”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Corran
Speaker:Orreaux
"How are things
looking, Captain?”
Alex
slid
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:chair
Speaker:opposite
Speaker:his
Speaker:commanding
Speaker:officer,
Speaker:a
Speaker:cup
Speaker:in
Speaker:each
Speaker:paw.
Speaker:Captain
Speaker:Howard,
Speaker:a
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:fox,
Speaker:took
Speaker:one
Speaker:without
Speaker:looking.
"All
systems
Speaker:operating
Speaker:within
Speaker:expectations.”
"Ah,
good,"
Speaker:said
Speaker:Alex,
Speaker:cradling
Speaker:his
Speaker:cup.
Speaker:He
Speaker:brought
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:maw,
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:sip,
Speaker:then
Speaker:grimaced.
Speaker:Deciding
Speaker:caffeine
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:worth
Speaker:the
Speaker:taste,
Speaker:he
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:the
Speaker:cup
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:holder
Speaker:near
Speaker:his
Speaker:seat.
Speaker:His
Speaker:boss
Speaker:downed
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:without
Speaker:complaint.
"So,
any
Speaker:good
Speaker:news?"
"Not
yet,"
Speaker:Howard
Speaker:sighed
Speaker:and
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. "We
Speaker:were
Speaker:already
Speaker:behind.
Speaker:Bastards
Speaker:are
Speaker:gonna
Speaker:get
Speaker:me
Speaker:screamed
Speaker:at."
"Well, it
isn't
Speaker:your
Speaker:fault,
Speaker:sir!"
"Tell
corporate
Speaker:that."
They
sat in
Speaker:silence
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:tense
Speaker:moment.
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:tried
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:conversation
Speaker:piece,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:cockpit
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:blank
Speaker:walls
Speaker:would
Speaker:give
Speaker:him any
Speaker:inspiration.
Speaker:The
Speaker:coffee?
Speaker:He
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:as
Speaker:good
Speaker:as
Speaker:anything.
“What
do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:coff—”
The
flight
Speaker:console’s
Speaker:built-in
Speaker:commline
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:blared
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:awful
Speaker:ring
Speaker:that
Speaker:made
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:wince.
“It’s
terrible,”
Speaker:replied
Speaker:Howard,
Speaker:tapping
Speaker:a
Speaker:finger
Speaker:against
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:console’s
Speaker:touchscreens.
"Captain?"
The
Speaker:familiar
Speaker:voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Maurice
Speaker:Walker
Speaker:chimed
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:comm.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:their
Speaker:usual
Speaker:go-between
Speaker:local
Speaker:government
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:system.
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:never
Speaker:met
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:person
Speaker:and
Speaker:didn't
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:like,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:always
Speaker:envisioned
Speaker:some
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:dog
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:fancy
Speaker:suit.
Speaker:Three-piece,
Speaker:dress
Speaker:shoes,
Speaker:the
Speaker:whole
Speaker:deal.
Speaker:Government
Speaker:types
Speaker:always
Speaker:wore
Speaker:suits.
"Reporting,"
Howard
Speaker:straightened
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:seat
Speaker:and
Speaker:smoothed
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:wrinkles
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:crisp
Speaker:white
Speaker:uniform.
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:was
Speaker:flat,
Speaker:cold,
Speaker:but
Speaker:professional.
Speaker:A
Speaker:perfect
Speaker:tone
Speaker:cultivated
Speaker:over
Speaker:years
Speaker:of
Speaker:dealings
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:local
Speaker:level.
"Your
request
Speaker:was
Speaker:approved.
Speaker:Sorry
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:delay."
"No
hard
Speaker:feelings,
Speaker:Walker,
Speaker:I
Speaker:understand."
Walker
paused.
"The
council
Speaker:was…they
Speaker:were
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:reluctant
Speaker:to
Speaker:approve
Speaker:this
Speaker:one,
Speaker:Howard."
"I
noticed."
"Seems
like
Speaker:the
Speaker:Chittering's
Speaker:been
Speaker:very
Speaker:active."
"They're
always
Speaker:active,"
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox
Speaker:said,
Speaker:resisting
Speaker:the
Speaker:urge
Speaker:to
Speaker:roll
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes.
"Not
like
Speaker:this."
Howard
sighed.
Speaker:Delay
Speaker:after
Speaker:delay
Speaker:stacked
Speaker:on
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:each
Speaker:other,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:the
Speaker:heat
Speaker:over
Speaker:it.
Speaker:The
Speaker:company
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:care
Speaker:if
Speaker:the
Speaker:Chitter
Speaker:were
Speaker:singing
Speaker:show
Speaker:tunes.
Speaker:They
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:dock
Speaker:their
Speaker:pay.
Speaker:Howard’s,
Speaker:however...
"Listen,
I
Speaker:appreciate
Speaker:it,
Speaker:Walker,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:really
Speaker:gotta
Speaker:get
Speaker:this
Speaker:to
Speaker:Broadway."
"Gotcha—just
be
Speaker:careful.
Speaker:Walker
Speaker:out."
Walker's
ID
Speaker:and
Speaker:voice
Speaker:blinked
Speaker:out
Speaker:along
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:call
Speaker:screen.
Speaker:Howard
Speaker:keyed
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:intercom
Speaker:while
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:began
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:the
Speaker:ship’s
Speaker:systems
Speaker:off
Speaker:standby.
"This
is
Speaker:your
Speaker:captain
Speaker:speaking.
Speaker:We
Speaker:got
Speaker:the
Speaker:nod.
Speaker:Prepare
Speaker:for
Speaker:travel
Speaker:and
Speaker:have
Speaker:your
Speaker:Earsets
Speaker:ready."
Cheers
rang
Speaker:out
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:ship
Speaker:like
Speaker:turbulence.
Speaker:Howard
Speaker:pretended
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:hear
Speaker:the
Speaker:breaches
Speaker:in
Speaker:professionalism
Speaker:as
Speaker:crew
Speaker:members
Speaker:let
Speaker:their
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:slip
Speaker:about
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for
Speaker:so
Speaker:long.
"Everything's
warm
Speaker:and
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:move,
Speaker:sir!"
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:said,
Speaker:paws
Speaker:working
Speaker:over
Speaker:complex
Speaker:panels
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:ease
Speaker:that
Speaker:impressed
Speaker:even
Speaker:Howard
Speaker:sometimes.
Speaker:He
Speaker:nodded.
The
ship
Speaker:rumbled
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:move
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:in
Speaker:days. The
Speaker:engines
Speaker:shuddered,
Speaker:groaning
Speaker:like
Speaker:an
Speaker:old
Speaker:man
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:pleasant
Speaker:nap.
Speaker:Alex’s
Speaker:chest
Speaker:tightened
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:ship
Speaker:lurched
Speaker:forward.
Speaker:He
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:dashboard
Speaker:to
Speaker:steady
Speaker:himself.
Look
up.
He
bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:spread
Speaker:of
Speaker:electronic
Speaker:and
Speaker:mechanical
Speaker:instruments
Speaker:before
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Touchpads,
Speaker:panels,
Speaker:keys,
Speaker:levers,
Speaker:buttons,
Speaker:and
Speaker:blinking
Speaker:lights, a
Speaker:mix
Speaker:of
Speaker:modern
Speaker:and
Speaker:vintage
Speaker:parts
Speaker:replaced
Speaker:as
Speaker:necessary
Speaker:and
Speaker:only
Speaker:with
Speaker:great
Speaker:reluctance
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:company.
Speaker:The
Speaker:young
Speaker:pilot
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:how
Speaker:long
Speaker:before
Speaker:this
Speaker:cargo
Speaker:freighter
Speaker:transformed
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:ship
Speaker:of
Speaker:Theseus—little
Speaker:bits
Speaker:replaced
Speaker:here
Speaker:and
Speaker:there
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:entire
Speaker:thing
Speaker:comprised
Speaker:different
Speaker:parts.
Come
on!
Speaker:You a kit
Speaker:or
Speaker:something?!
Speaker:Just
Speaker:look
Speaker:up
Speaker:for a second!
He took a deep breath and looked.
An
infinite
Speaker:black
Speaker:met
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Empty
Speaker:and
Speaker:indifferent
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:of
Speaker:life
Speaker:in
Speaker:its
Speaker:midst.
Speaker:No
Speaker:stars
Speaker:burned
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:distance.
Speaker:No
Speaker:natural
Speaker:light
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:spotted
Speaker:either
Speaker:by
Speaker:eye
Speaker:or
Speaker:long-range
Speaker:scanner.
Speaker:There
Speaker:might
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:planets
Speaker:out
Speaker:there
Speaker:somewhere
Speaker:like
Speaker:coins
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:ocean,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:couldn't
Speaker:see
Speaker:them.
Speaker:He
Speaker:stared
Speaker:out
Speaker:at
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:with
Speaker:wide
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:stared
Speaker:back.
"Kid."
Howard's
voice
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:the
Speaker:younger
Speaker:fox
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:mental
Speaker:block.
Speaker:The
Speaker:captain
Speaker:stared out of
Speaker:the
Speaker:viewscreen.
Speaker:His
Speaker:ears
Speaker:twitched.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:black
Speaker:with
Speaker:small
Speaker:patches
Speaker:of
Speaker:gray
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:edges.
Speaker:His
Speaker:paws
Speaker:trembled
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:gripped
Speaker:the
Speaker:control
Speaker:yoke.
"Don't
let
Speaker:it
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:you."
He
drove
Speaker:the
Speaker:yoke
Speaker:forward,
Speaker:boosting
Speaker:power
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:engines.
Speaker:The
Speaker:ship's
Speaker:rumbling
Speaker:smoothed
Speaker:out
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:gained
Speaker:speed.
Speaker:The
Speaker:old
Speaker:man
Speaker:complaining
Speaker:about
Speaker:his
Speaker:nap
Speaker:broke
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:stupor.
Speaker:Captain
Speaker:Howard
Speaker:motioned
Speaker:towards
Speaker:a
Speaker:compartment
Speaker:near
Speaker:Alex.
Speaker:The
Speaker:younger
Speaker:fox
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:it
Speaker:open
Speaker:and
Speaker:retrieved
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:pairs
Speaker:of
Speaker:Earsets.
"Crew,
we're
Speaker:approaching
Speaker:the
Speaker:line;
Speaker:put
Speaker:on
Speaker:your
Speaker:ears
Speaker:and
Speaker:keep
Speaker:them
Speaker:on!"
Sitting
back
Speaker:down,
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:clutched
Speaker:two
Speaker:sets
Speaker:of
Speaker:metallic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:ears.
Speaker:Custom
Speaker:built
Speaker:and
Speaker:much
Speaker:more
Speaker:expensive
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:odd
Speaker:button
Speaker:or
Speaker:lever
Speaker:replacement
Speaker:the company
Speaker:always
Speaker:resisted
Speaker:shelling
Speaker:out
Speaker:for.
Speaker:He
Speaker:slipped
Speaker:his
Speaker:on
Speaker:first.
Speaker:They
Speaker:fit
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:perfectly.
Speaker:He
Speaker:then
Speaker:clicked
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:button
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:each,
Speaker:sealing
Speaker:them
Speaker:one
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:time
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:hiss.
Speaker:With
Speaker:his
Speaker:on,
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:hurried
Speaker:to
Speaker:secure
Speaker:Howard’s
Speaker:while
Speaker:his
Speaker:superior
Speaker:focused
Speaker:on
Speaker:flying
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:invisible
Speaker:line
Speaker:between
Speaker:Common
Speaker:and
Speaker:Chitterspace.
"Crew
report
Speaker:in,"
Speaker:ordered
Speaker:Howard
Speaker:as
Speaker:soon
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:were set.
Responses
came
Speaker:in
Speaker:through
Speaker:their
Speaker:headsets.
Speaker:Each
Speaker:waited
Speaker:their
Speaker:turn
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak,
Speaker:following
Speaker:an
Speaker:unspoken
Speaker:queue. The
Speaker:officers
Speaker:first,
Speaker:then
Speaker:security,
Speaker:engineers,
Speaker:etc.
Speaker:Alex
Speaker:mentally
Speaker:ticked
Speaker:off
Speaker:each
Speaker:name.
Speaker:Regulations
Speaker:demanded
Speaker:both
Speaker:pilots
Speaker:hear
Speaker:every
Speaker:member
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:crew
Speaker:report
Speaker:before
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:allowed
Speaker:to
Speaker:enter
Speaker:Chitterspace,
Speaker:a necessary
Speaker:if
Speaker:tedious
Speaker:rule.
Speaker:When
Speaker:they
Speaker:finally
Speaker:hit
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:man,
Speaker:Howard
Speaker:closed with
Speaker:his
Speaker:usual
speech:
"Do
your
speech:jobs
speech:well,
speech:and
speech:we'll
speech:be
speech:through
speech:this
speech:fucker
speech:in
speech:under
speech:a
speech:day. Oh,
speech:do
speech:remember
speech:all
speech:speech
speech:through
speech:your
speech:headsets
speech:is
speech:recorded
speech:and
speech:reviewed
speech:by
speech:the
speech:company, so don't
speech:swear
speech:too
speech:much."
The
two
speech:foxes
speech:smirked
speech:at
speech:each
speech:other
speech:as
speech:a
speech:hail
speech:of
speech:curses
speech:rippled
speech:through
speech:the
speech:comm.
----
The
first
speech:few
speech:hours
speech:were
speech:uneventful.
speech:Officers
speech:called
speech:in
speech:for
speech:the
speech:odd
speech:report,
speech:but "All
speech:clear!"
speech:seemed
speech:the
speech:order of
speech:the
speech:day.
speech:Alex
speech:busied
speech:himself
speech:with
speech:checking
speech:and
speech:rechecking
speech:systems
speech:while
speech:the
speech:Captain
speech:stared
speech:out
speech:into
speech:the
speech:absolute
speech:nothing
speech:of
speech:Chitterspace
speech:through
speech:the
speech:viewport.
"How
you
speech:holding
speech:up?"
Howard's
voice
speech:rang
speech:in
speech:Alex's
speech:ears
speech:with
speech:a
speech:soft
speech:buzz. The
speech:younger
speech:fox
speech:glanced
speech:over
speech:at
speech:his
speech:superior
speech:in
speech:both
speech:rank
speech:and
speech:age
speech:and
speech:held
speech:up
speech:a
speech:thumb.
“I
wanna
speech:hear
speech:you
speech:say
speech:it.”
Mouthing
a
speech:quick “Sorry!”
speech:Alex
speech:switched
speech:to
speech:the
speech:private
speech:line
speech:with a
speech:mental
speech:command.
speech:The
speech:Captain
speech:could
speech:set
speech:up
speech:and
speech:kill
speech:private
speech:lines
speech:at
speech:will
speech:with
speech:any
speech:member
speech:of
speech:the
speech:crew
speech:provided
speech:their
speech:ears
speech:were
speech:on.
"I'm
good!"
speech:he
speech:said
speech:with
speech:a
speech:smile.
It
always
speech:took
speech:a
speech:bit
speech:to
speech:get
speech:used
speech:to.
speech:The
speech:Earset
speech:maintained
speech:an
speech:airtight
speech:seal,
speech:cutting
speech:you
speech:off
speech:completely
speech:from
speech:sound
speech:around
speech:you.
speech:You
speech:could
speech:share
speech:a
speech:room
speech:with
speech:someone,
speech:talk
speech:to
speech:them,
speech:see
speech:their
speech:lips
speech:move,
speech:yet
speech:you
speech:couldn't
speech:hear
speech:anything
speech:but
speech:their
speech:voice.
speech:Howard
speech:grabbed
speech:his
speech:coffee
speech:out
speech:of
speech:the
speech:cup holder
speech:without
speech:a
speech:sound.
speech:Alex
speech:heard
speech:a
speech:slurp,
speech:saw
speech:it,
speech:but
speech:the
speech:world
speech:beyond
speech:that
speech:was
speech:silent.
speech:No
speech:jostling
speech:cup,
speech:no
speech:rustling.
speech:Nothing.
"Just
let
speech:me
speech:know if
speech:things
speech:get
speech:to
speech:you
speech:again."
Alex
frowned.
“Sir,
last
speech:time
speech:wasn’t—”
"I
mean
speech:it,
speech:kid;
speech:that's
speech:an
speech:order."
"Yes,
sir."
They
fell
speech:back
speech:into
speech:silence.
----
"Captain?
Survey
speech:Officer
speech:Clark,
speech:speaking."
A
new
speech:voice
speech:buzzed
speech:in
speech:Howard’s
speech:ear,
speech:prompting
speech:him
speech:to
speech:switch
speech:to
speech:another
speech:private
speech:line.
"Report's a
little
speech:early,
speech:Clark."
"It
isn't
speech:that
speech:sir.
speech:Scanners
speech:picked
speech:up
speech:a
speech:distortion
speech:near
speech:the
speech:starboard
speech:wing."
Howard
glanced
speech:over
speech:at
speech:his
speech:co-pilot.
speech:Alex
speech:seemed
speech:immersed
speech:in
speech:his flight
speech:console.
"Do
you
speech:have
speech:lights
speech:on
speech:it?"
speech:he
speech:asked.
"Not
yet.”
"Get
a
speech:visual.
speech:Until
speech:someone
speech:sees
speech:one
speech:of
speech:those
speech:things,
speech:I
speech:don't
speech:want
speech:to
speech:assume
speech:anything."
"Yes,
sir."
----
Alex
glanced
speech:at
speech:Howard.
speech:The
speech:older
speech:fox
speech:clutched his
speech:controls
speech:tight,
speech:eyes
speech:focused.
speech:His
speech:lips
speech:moved,
speech:but
speech:no
speech:sound
speech:came
speech:out
speech:of
speech:them.
speech:Nothing
speech:he
speech:could
speech:hear,
speech:at
speech:least.
speech:Alex
speech:looked
speech:at
speech:the
speech:viewscreen.
speech:Nothing—It
speech:was
speech:clear
speech:something
speech:was
speech:up,
speech:though.
speech:The
speech:junior
speech:pilot
speech:was
speech:about
speech:to
speech:ask
speech:his
speech:superior
speech:what
speech:was
speech:happening
speech:when
speech:he
speech:heard
it:
Click...click...click….
It
was
it:distant.
it:Hard
it:to
it:notice
it:in
it:normal
it:circumstances.
it:It
it:wouldn't
it:be
it:of
it:any
it:concern
it:had
it:it
it:not
it:come
it:from
it:outside
it:the
it:Earset.
"Captain?!"
Howard
froze.
it:His
it:maw
it:hung
it:open,
it:lips
it:paused
it:in
it:the
it:middle
it:of
it:a
it:wordless
it:sentence.
it:At
it:the
it:same
it:time,
it:The
it:commonline
it:buzzed
it:with
it:chatter
it:between
it:various
it:crew
it:members.
it:All
it:were
it:uncertain,
it:hoping
it:it
it:wasn’t
it:what
it:they
it:all
it:knew
it:it
it:was;
it:as
it:if
it:acknowledging
it:the
it:devil
it:would
it:get
it:him
it:to
it:look
it:at
it:you.
"Uhh,
you
it:guys
it:hear
it:that?"
"Who's
making
it:that
it:noise?"
"That’s some
audio
it:glitch…
it:right?"
Howard’s
lip
it:trembled.
it:They
it:shouldn’t
it:be
it:able
it:to
it:hear
it:the
it:clicking
it:at
it:all!
it:Had
it:the
it:Chitter
it:managed
it:to
it:get
it:around
it:the
it:Earsets?
it:Break
it:them?!
it:The
it:fox
it:spoke
it:and
it:felt
it:his
it:throat
it:rumble
it:in
it:response,
it:but
it:didn’t
it:hear
it:his
it:own
it:voice.
it:The
it:device
it:wasn’t
it:broken.
it:Howard
it:considered
it:turning
it:the
it:ship
it:around,
it:but
it:he
it:knew that was
it:too
it:risky.
it:Long
it:range
it:scanners
it:wouldn't
it:work
it:inside
it:or
it:out
it:of
it:this
it:void.
it:If
it:you
it:fell
it:off
it:the
it:charted
it:path
it:in
it:Chitterspace,
it:you
it:weren’t
it:ever
it:finding
it:your
it:way
it:back
it:out.
it:No.
it:They
it:had
it:to
it:stay
it:the
it:course.
"Attention
Crew!"
Howard
poured
it:as
it:much
it:authority
it:into
it:his
it:voice
it:as
it:he
it:could
it:manage,
it:forcing
it:down
it:his
it:own
it:sense
it:of
it:dread.
it:He
it:cut
it:through
it:the
it:general
it:chatter
it:like
it:an
it:ice
it:pick
it:through
it:jelly,
it:prompting
it:the
it:crew
it:to
it:silence.
"A
Chitter
it:is
it:in
it:the
it:area!
it:I
it:remind
it:everyone
it:to
it:remain
it:calm
it:and
it:keep
it:your
it:ears
it:on!"
Murmurs
rippled
it:through
it:the
it:commonline.
it:Dozens
it:of
it:conversations
it:filtered
it:through
it:at
it:once,
it:a
it:few
it:panicked.
it:Officers
it:quickly
it:cut
it:in to
it:offer
it:orders
it:and
it:reassurances.
it:Alex
it:felt
it:his
it:chest
it:tighten.
it:Fear
it:coiled
it:around
it:him
it:like
it:a
it:snake
it:slipping
it:around
it:prey.
"Alex?"
Alex
felt
it:the
it:Captain's
it:paw on his
it:shoulder.
it:Their
it:eyes
it:met,
it:emeralds
it:to
it:emeralds.
"I'm
fine,"
it:he
it:replied.
it:Howard
it:stared
it:at
it:him
it:like
it:he
it:didn't
it:believe
it:it,
it:then
it:nodded.
"Okay."
The
pair
it:returned
it:to
it:their
it:respective
it:duties.
----
Click.
Click.
it:Click.
It
was
it:loud
it:now.
it:Faster
it:too.
it:From
it:light
it:tapping
it:at
it:the
it:edge
it:of
it:hearing
it:to
it:claws
it:stabbing
it:the
it:walls
it:around
it:him.
it:It
it:hadn't
it:been
it:that
it:long,
it:perhaps
it:another
it:hour,
it:but
it:the
it:constant
it:noise
it:jammed
it:into
it:Howard's
it:patience
it:like
it:a
it:finger
it:in
it:the
it:back.
it:He
it:couldn't
it:even
it:get
it:used
it:to
it:it.
it:His
it:mind
it:seemed
it:incapable
it:of
it:adjusting
it:to the
it:rhythmic
it:clicking.
The
crew
it:didn't
it:fare
it:much
it:better.
it:Every
it:once
it:in
it:a
it:while,
it:someone
it:would
it:curse
it:over
it:the
it:commonline.
it:First,
it:it
it:was
it:humorous,
it:joking,
it:but
it:as
it:the
it:chittering
it:went
it:on
it:with
it:no
it:end
it:in
it:sight,
it:it
it:turned
it:into
it:genuine
it:frustration.
it:Some
it:complained
it:under
it:their
it:breath,
it:Howard
it:could
it:ignore
it:that.
it:Others
it:erupted
it:into
it:ranting
it:and
it:raving.
it:Officers
it:were
it:quick
it:to
it:put
it:any
it:in
it:line
it:who
it:went
it:that
it:far.
it:Discipline
it:was
it:maintained.
it:Barely.
"Sir?"
Officer
Clark's
it:voice
it:came
it:in
it:through
it:the
it:fox's
it:headset.
"Report,
Clark?"
"We
have
it:visual."
Howard's
eyes
it:grew
it:wide.
it:He
it:clicked
it:a
it:few
it:keys
it:on
it:a
it:panel
it:to
it:his
it:left,
it:leaning
it:over
it:to
it:block
it:the
it:screen
it:from
it:Alex's
it:view.
"Fuck!"
The
word
it:slipped
it:out
it:of
it:his
it:maw
it:like
it:a
it:glass
it:coated
it:in
it:butter.
it:Floodlights
it:beamed
it:out
it:into
it:the
it:inky
it:dark
it:of Chitterspace,
it:illuminating
it:almost
it:nothing.
it:It
it:was
it:enough,
it:though.
it:Perhaps
it:they
it:were
it:allowed
it:just
it:enough.
it:The
it:floodlight
it:revealed
it:a
it:massive
it:set
it:of
it:teeth.
----
Every
click
it:sent
it:a
it:shudder
it:through
it:Alex’s
it:body,
it:There
it:was
it:a
it:rumble
it:in
it:his
it:throat.
it:Whimpering,
it:or
it:screaming,
it:he
it:couldn’t
it:tell
it:which.
it:He
it:clamped
it:a
it:paw
it:over
it:his
it:maw,
it:not
it:that
it:anyone
it:could
it:have
it:heard
it:it.
Look
up.
He
shook
it:his
it:head.
it:Fuck
it:that.
it:Alex
it:kept
it:his
it:eyes
it:on
it:the
it:console.
it:He
it:checked
it:systems,
it:read
it:all-
it:clears,
it:checked
it:the
it:scanners--
The
radar
it:displayed
it:several
it:blips
it:dead
it:ahead
it:and
it:close.
Look
up.
The fox
screamed
it:in
it:absolute
it:silence.
Five
Chitter
it:clicked
it:in
it:a
it:chorus
it:of
it:bruxing
it:teeth.
it:Floodlights
it:shone
it:on
it:bloody,
it:weeping
it:gums.
it:Teeth
it:snapped
it:so
it:hard
it:against
it:each
it:other
it:that
it:some
it:cracked
it:and
it:fragmented,
it:sending
it:bits
it:of
it:yellowish-red
it:enamel
it:off
it:into
it:the
it:void.
it:There
it:was
it:nothing
it:to
it:see
it:beyond
it:them.
it:No
it:lips,
it:no
it:bodies
it:if
it:they
it:had
it:any.
it:At
it:the
it:very
it:edges
it:of
it:each,
it:Alex
it:eyed
it:tiny,
it:trailing
it:distortions.
it:An
it:unsettling
it:sight
it:he
it:could
it:only
it:describe
it:as
it:a
it:fishing
it:lure
it:pulled
it:through
it:water.
it:They
it:were
it:moving
it:with
it:the
it:ship.
"AGHHHHHH!"
The
commonline
it:exploded
it:with
it:screams.
it:Dozens
it:all
it:at
it:once.
it:Howard
it:jumped
it:out
it:of
it:his
it:seat
it:with a
it:silent
it:yelp
it:of
it:his
it:own.
"OFFICERS!?"
Switching
it:lines,
it:Howard
it:shouted,
it:but
it:his
it:voice
it:couldn't
it:get
it:through. The
it:ice
it:pick
it:that
it:once
it:jammed
it:through
it:jelly
it:now
it:hit
it:rock.
it:Crew
it:members
it:howled
it:in
it:agony.
it:In
it:undulating,
it:frantic
it:tones
it:that
it:rose
it:and
it:fell
it:in
it:pitch
it:almost at
it:random.
it:Alex
it:gripped
it:his
it:ears.
it:Ripped
it:at
it:them
it:like
it:a
it:wild
it:animal
it:tearing
it:at
it:a
it:muzzle.
it:Howard
it:shouted "NO!"
it:and
it:wrestled
it:the
it:other
it:man’s
it:paws
it:away.
it:Alex
it:fought
it:him,
it:eyes
it:wide
it:with
it:panic.
it:The
it:officers
it:were
it:screaming
it:too,
it:the
it:older
it:fox
it:realized.
it:He
it:flipped
it:through
it:private
it:channels
it:and
it:found
it:nothing
it:but
it:different
it:bricks
it:in
it:a
it:wall
it:of
it:noise.
it:His
it:ears
it:hurt
it:underneath
it:his
it:headset.
it:They
it:might
it:even
it:have
it:bled.
it:He
it:ran
it:a
it:single
it:mental
it:command
it:to
it:his
it:device.
Terminate
all
it:channels.
Silence.
Almost.
Click.
The
older
it:fox
it:pulled
it:the
it:younger
it:into
it:a
it:tight
it:hug,
it:squeezing
it:him
it:in
it:hopes that
it:it
it:would
it:be
it:a
it:momentary
it:distraction
it:from
it:the
it:ceaseless
it:bruxing
it:of
it:the
it:Chitter,
it:even
it:as
it:the
it:sound
it:beat
it:into
it:their
it:heads
it:like
it:light
it:hammer
it:blows
it:against
it:a
it:very
it:long
it:nail.
it:Howard
it:felt
it:Alex’s
it:chest
it:rise
it:and
it:fall
it:rapidly;
it:a
it:step
it:away
it:from
it:a
it:full-blown
it:panic
it:attack.
it:He
it:opened
it:up
it:a
it:new
it:channel
it:between
it:them.
The
only
it:channel.
Before
speaking,
it:Howard
it:thought
it:about
it:the
it:rest
it:of
it:his
it:crew
it:beyond
it:the
it:cockpit.
it:He
it:imagined
it:them
it:writhing
it:in
it:agony,
it:screaming,
it:crying,
it:yet
it:none able
it:to
it:hear
it:each
it:other.
it:Howard
it:wiped
it:away his
it:tears.
"Kid?"
Alex
didn’t
it:respond.
"Kid,
you're
it:okay!"
That
was
it:a
it:lie,
it:and
it:both
it:knew
it:it.
it:He
it:wasn't, and
it:neither
it:was
it:Howard,
it:but
it:he
it:said as
it:much
it:anyway.
it:Repeated
it:it.
it:If
it:you
it:told
it:a
it:lie
it:enough
it:times,
it:you'd
it:believe
it:it
it:at
it:some
it:point.
it:The
it:younger
it:fox
it:buried
it:his
it:face
it:into
it:his
it:superior's
it:chest
it:and
it:wept.
Howard
glanced
it:at
it:the
it:viewscreen.
it:He
it:could
it:only see
it:teeth.
This
was “Where
it:The
it:Stars
it:Gnash
it:Their
it:Teeth”
it:by
it:Corran
it:Orreaux,
it:read
it:for you
it:by
it:Rob
it:MacWolf,
it:Werewolf
it:Hitchhiker.
it:You
it:can
it:find
it:more
it:stories
it:on
it:the
it:web
it:at
it:thevoice.dog,
it:or
it:find
it:the
it:show
it:wherever
it:you
it:get
it:your
it:podcasts.
it:Thank
it:you
it:for
it:listening
it:to
it:The
it:Voice
it:of
it:Dog.