Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“C’mon! No One’s Lookin’!” by Tiberius Rings & Edouard (part 1 of 2)
1st June 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:23:52

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A stranger’s hand. A hidden door. A life long buried begins to stir. Some worlds only exist if you’re brave enough to enter.

It is with great pleasure, and indeed Pride, that we welcome you, friends of every shape, ability, gender, and species, once again to Pride Month.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “C’mon! No Ones’ Lookin’!”, by TiberiusRings and Edouard! You can find more of their individual works on BlueSky and Tiberius’ Writings on SoFurry.com.

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/cmon-no-ones-lookin-by-tiberius-rings-edouard-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of Dog.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

pleasure,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

indeed

Speaker:

Pride,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

welcome

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

friends

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

shape,

Speaker:

ability,

Speaker:

gender,

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and

Speaker:

species,

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

again

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to

Speaker:

Pride

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Month.

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This

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is

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Rob

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MacWolf,

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your

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fellow

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traveler,

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and

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Today’s

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story

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is

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the

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first

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of

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two

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parts

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of “C’mon!

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No

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Ones’ Lookin’!”, by

Speaker:

TiberiusRings

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Edouard!

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You

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can

Speaker:

find

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more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

individual

Speaker:

works

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

BlueSky

Speaker:

and Tiberius’ Writings on SoFurry.com.

The

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perfect

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beginning

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Pride

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Month

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is

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of

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course

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impossible

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to

quantify:

quantify:

there

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could

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be

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no

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single

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perfect

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story,

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for

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all

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of

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us,

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because

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all

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of

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us

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are

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unique.

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But

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it

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is

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perhaps

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possible

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to

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speculate

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what

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kind

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of

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story

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the

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impossible

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perfect

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beginning

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be:

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it

be:

should

be:

be

be:

in

be:

our

be:

history,

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to

be:

remind

be:

all

be:

that

be:

we

be:

have

be:

always

be:

been

be:

here.

be:

It

be:

should

be:

use

be:

the

be:

classic

be:

tropes

be:

and

symbols:

symbols:

a

symbols:

bar

symbols:

in

symbols:

San

symbols:

Francisco,

symbols:

for

symbols:

example,

symbols:

or

symbols:

a

symbols:

rainbow.

symbols:

It

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should

symbols:

be

symbols:

accessible,

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so

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that

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all

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may

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listen

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to

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it,

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but

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it

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should

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not

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be

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without

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desire

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and

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passion.

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And

symbols:

it

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should

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be

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about

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someone’s

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first

symbols:

moment of

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self knowledge,

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their

symbols:

coming

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out

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if

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only

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to

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themselves.

Please

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enjoy


“C’mon!

symbols:

No

symbols:

Ones

symbols:

Lookin’!” by

symbols:

TiberiusRings & Edouard, Part 1 of 2

I

symbols:

couldn’t

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remember

symbols:

the

symbols:

last

symbols:

time

symbols:

I

symbols:

was

symbols:

in

symbols:

a

symbols:

big

symbols:

city

symbols:

like

symbols:

this

symbols:

one. The

symbols:

sound

symbols:

of

symbols:

people,

symbols:

animals,

symbols:

shops,

symbols:

everything alike

symbols:

with

symbols:

brightly colored

symbols:

signs

symbols:

and

symbols:

stands

symbols:

selling

symbols:

this

symbols:

or

symbols:

that,

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the

symbols:

crystalline

symbols:

blue

symbols:

water

symbols:

on

symbols:

the

symbols:

horizon

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with

symbols:

ships

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from all

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over

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the world moored on

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its docks. It was

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as

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if

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my

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senses

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were

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all

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at

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once

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existence.

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around

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so

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people

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in

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forever.

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was

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into

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pair

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of

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trousers

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that

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you’ve

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just

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barely

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grown

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out

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of.

symbols:

You

symbols:

fit

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in ‘em

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just

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fine

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but

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when

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your

symbols:

legs

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are

symbols:

in

symbols:

and

symbols:

the steams

symbols:

stressed a little

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too

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much

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it

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doesn’t

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feel

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quite

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right.
Still.

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learn

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to

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break

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them

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in

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if

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they’re

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still

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pretty

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good

symbols:

trousers.
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okay

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there,

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Rocks?”

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the

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coyote

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next

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to

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me

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said.

symbols:

He

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was

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age, with a

symbols:

fur

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coat

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that is

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a

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of

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brown

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and

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gold

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like the

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field

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at

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sunset

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and

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a

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wide

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grin

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that

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his

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species a

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of

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devious.

symbols:

Not

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that

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a

symbols:

red

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fox

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is one

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to

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talk

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things.
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said and

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looked

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around

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the

symbols:

city

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once

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again. “Just

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taking

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it

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all

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in

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is

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all.”
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coyote

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leaned

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forward

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in

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and

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over

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at

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be

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anything

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too

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impressive

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what

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you

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seen.”
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out at

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the

symbols:

Ranch

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for

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so

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long.

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Forgot

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what

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symbols:

city

symbols:

is

symbols:

like.”

symbols:

I

symbols:

grinned

symbols:

back

symbols:

at

symbols:

my

symbols:

coworker.

symbols:

I

symbols:

was

symbols:

reluctant

symbols:

to

symbols:

actually

symbols:

call

symbols:

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symbols:

a

symbols:

friend—I

symbols:

didn’t

symbols:

make

symbols:

friends

symbols:

too

symbols:

easily,

symbols:

and

symbols:

we

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worked

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together.

symbols:

I

symbols:

learned

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a

symbols:

long

symbols:

time

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ago

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that

symbols:

you

symbols:

needed

symbols:

to

symbols:

be

symbols:

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with

symbols:

people

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you

symbols:

worked

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with.

symbols:

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symbols:

we had

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been

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out

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here

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on

symbols:

a

symbols:

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symbols:

from the

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boss

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for

symbols:

almost

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two

symbols:

weeks

symbols:

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the

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coyote

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said

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as

symbols:

he

symbols:

rubbed

symbols:

the

symbols:

back

symbols:

of

symbols:

his

symbols:

head and

symbols:

looked

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away

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from

symbols:

me. “I

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know

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we

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got

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stuff

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to

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do here ‘n all, and we should probably

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be

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in

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the

symbols:

same

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place

symbols:

to

symbols:

sleep

symbols:

but…”
“You

symbols:

wanna

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bed

symbols:

down

symbols:

with

symbols:

some

symbols:

company,

symbols:

right?”

symbols:

I

symbols:

said in

symbols:

my

symbols:

most

symbols:

dead pan,

symbols:

flat

symbols:

voice

symbols:

I

symbols:

could

symbols:

muster.
The coyote,

symbols:

Sammy,

symbols:

grinned

symbols:

sheepishly

symbols:

at

symbols:

me

symbols:

and

symbols:

winked. “You

symbols:

know

symbols:

me

symbols:

too

symbols:

well,

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Rocks.”
I

symbols:

let

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the

symbols:

silence

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drag

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on

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between

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us

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for

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just

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a

symbols:

little

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while

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longer,

symbols:

my

symbols:

expression

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unmoving.

symbols:

Then,

symbols:

I

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smirked

symbols:

and

symbols:

shrugged

symbols:

my

symbols:

shoulders,

symbols:

letting

symbols:

the

symbols:

stone

symbols:

cold

symbols:

feeling

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wash

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away

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and

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show

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I

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was

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relaxed. “Yeah,

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yeah.

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and

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do

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what

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you

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gotta

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do.

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make

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ready

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to

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out

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supplies

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and

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finalize

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those

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contracts

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for

symbols:

Mr.

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Wilkins.”
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gave me

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a

symbols:

thumbs-up. “Don’t worry

symbols:

about

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Sammy,

symbols:

I’ll

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be

symbols:

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promptly.

symbols:

You

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know

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where

symbols:

you’re

symbols:

gonna

symbols:

stay?”
I

symbols:

shook

symbols:

my

symbols:

head.

symbols:

I

symbols:

had

symbols:

the

symbols:

name

symbols:

of a

symbols:

regular old

symbols:

hotel

symbols:

on

symbols:

a

symbols:

piece

symbols:

of

symbols:

paper

symbols:

in

symbols:

my

symbols:

pocket,

symbols:

but

symbols:

if

symbols:

Sammy

symbols:

wasn’t

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going

symbols:

to

symbols:

stay

symbols:

there

symbols:

with

symbols:

me,

symbols:

I

symbols:

had

symbols:

a

symbols:

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symbols:

more

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choices

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suddenly

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available.
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could

symbols:

always

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come

symbols:

and—”
“No

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thanks,”

symbols:

I

symbols:

said

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quickly. “Not

symbols:

really

symbols:

my

symbols:

cup

symbols:

of

symbols:

tea.”
“Cup

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of

symbols:

tea?”

symbols:

The

symbols:

coyote

symbols:

quirked

symbols:

a brow

symbols:

at

symbols:

me.

symbols:

I

symbols:

blushed

symbols:

and

symbols:

cleared

symbols:

my

symbols:

throat.
“I

symbols:

mean,

symbols:

just

symbols:

not

symbols:

something

symbols:

I

symbols:

wanna

symbols:

focus

symbols:

on

symbols:

when

symbols:

we

symbols:

got

symbols:

this

symbols:

job.

symbols:

One

symbols:

of

symbols:

us

symbols:

shouldn’t

symbols:

be

symbols:

hungover

symbols:

when

symbols:

we

symbols:

get to work

symbols:

is all.”
“...Uh huh,” the coyote said and sat

symbols:

up. “Well,

symbols:

you

symbols:

do

symbols:

you,

symbols:

Rocks.

symbols:

See

symbols:

ya

symbols:

tomorrow?”
“Get

symbols:

outta

symbols:

here,

symbols:

but

symbols:

if

symbols:

you

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get

symbols:

arrested—”
“Yeah, yeah. As

symbols:

I

symbols:

said,

symbols:

you

symbols:

don’t

symbols:

worry

symbols:

about

symbols:

Sammy.

symbols:

Go

symbols:

find

symbols:

yourself

symbols:

some

symbols:

tea

symbols:

you

symbols:

do

symbols:

like,

symbols:

eh?”

symbols:

The

symbols:

coyote

symbols:

smirked

symbols:

and

symbols:

hitched

symbols:

his

symbols:

horse,

symbols:

riding

symbols:

down

symbols:

the

symbols:

road

symbols:

at

symbols:

a

symbols:

trot,

symbols:

leaving

symbols:

me

symbols:

alone

symbols:

in

symbols:

a

symbols:

big

symbols:

city

symbols:

for

symbols:

the

symbols:

first

symbols:

time

symbols:

in

symbols:

so

symbols:

long.
What

symbols:

was

symbols:

a

symbols:

red

symbols:

fox

symbols:

to

symbols:

do?
___________
“Phil

symbols:

Dev…Dev…er…Rocks?”

symbols:

The

symbols:

host

symbols:

behind

symbols:

the

symbols:

counter

symbols:

squinted

symbols:

down at

symbols:

my

symbols:

signature

symbols:

in

symbols:

the

symbols:

guest

symbols:

logbook. “Fancy

symbols:

name.”
“Yup.

symbols:

That’s

symbols:

me,”

symbols:

I

symbols:

said

symbols:

without

symbols:

correcting

symbols:

him.

symbols:

No

symbols:

point.

symbols:

I

symbols:

didn’t

symbols:

want to

symbols:

stand

symbols:

out

symbols:

more

symbols:

than I

symbols:

already

symbols:

did

symbols:

with

symbols:

a

symbols:

name

symbols:

like

symbols:

mine

symbols:

in

symbols:

this

symbols:

country.

symbols:

Not

symbols:

that

symbols:

it

symbols:

was

symbols:

a

symbols:

bad

symbols:

name,

symbols:

but

symbols:

I

symbols:

didn’t

symbols:

like

symbols:

drawing

symbols:

attention

symbols:

to

symbols:

myself.
“Welcome

symbols:

to

symbols:

the

symbols:

Bastion,

symbols:

Mr.

symbols:

Dev—I

symbols:

mean,

symbols:

sir.”

symbols:

The

symbols:

host,

symbols:

a

symbols:

skinny-looking

symbols:

bobcat,

symbols:

handed

symbols:

me

symbols:

a

symbols:

key

symbols:

with

symbols:

a

symbols:

wooden

symbols:

tag

symbols:

attached

symbols:

to it. Room 305. “Will you

symbols:

be

symbols:

needing

symbols:

anything

symbols:

to

symbols:

make

symbols:

your

symbols:

stay

symbols:

more

symbols:

comfortable?”
“No

symbols:

thank

symbols:

you,”

symbols:

I

symbols:

said

symbols:

without

symbols:

thinking.

symbols:

The

symbols:

bobcat

symbols:

quirked

symbols:

one

symbols:

of

symbols:

his

symbols:

eyeridges

symbols:

at

symbols:

me

symbols:

and

symbols:

I

symbols:

smiled. “I

symbols:

mean,”

symbols:

my

symbols:

well

symbols:

honed

symbols:

drawl

symbols:

slipped

symbols:

out. “Na’

symbols:

thank

symbols:

you

symbols:

kindly.

symbols:

Just

symbols:

a

symbols:

nice

symbols:

bed

symbols:

to

symbols:

rest

symbols:

my

symbols:

head

symbols:

and

symbols:

a

symbols:

good

symbols:

bath

symbols:

are

symbols:

all

symbols:

I

symbols:

need.”
“...Right,” the

symbols:

bobcat

symbols:

said

symbols:

with

symbols:

a

symbols:

look

symbols:

of

symbols:

me

symbols:

up

symbols:

and

symbols:

down. “Maybe

symbols:

someone

symbols:

to

symbols:

wash

symbols:

your

symbols:

things

symbols:

for

symbols:

you?”
“That would

symbols:

be

symbols:

swell.”

symbols:

I

symbols:

reached

symbols:

into

symbols:

my

symbols:

pocket

symbols:

and

symbols:

pulled

symbols:

out

symbols:

some

symbols:

coins,

symbols:

putting

symbols:

them

symbols:

down

symbols:

on

symbols:

the

symbols:

desk.
The

symbols:

coins

symbols:

vanished,

symbols:

plus

symbols:

a

symbols:

little

symbols:

bit

symbols:

extra

symbols:

as

symbols:

a

symbols:

tip. “Just

symbols:

put your

symbols:

things

symbols:

in

symbols:

the

symbols:

basket

symbols:

of

symbols:

your

symbols:

room

symbols:

and

symbols:

we’ll

symbols:

get

symbols:

to

symbols:

them

symbols:

right

symbols:

away.”
I

symbols:

nodded,

symbols:

put

symbols:

my

symbols:

hat

symbols:

back

symbols:

on,

symbols:

and

symbols:

headed

symbols:

upstairs

symbols:

with

symbols:

my

symbols:

bag

symbols:

slung

symbols:

over

symbols:

my

symbols:

shoulder.

symbols:

I

symbols:

know

symbols:

this

symbols:

was

symbols:

a

symbols:

bit

symbols:

fancier

symbols:

than

symbols:

what

symbols:

a

symbols:

man

symbols:

like

symbols:

me

symbols:

would

symbols:

stay

symbols:

in,

symbols:

but

symbols:

I

symbols:

figured

symbols:

I

symbols:

wouldn’t

symbols:

be

symbols:

in

symbols:

a

symbols:

big

symbols:

city

symbols:

like

symbols:

this

symbols:

for

symbols:

awhile,

symbols:

may as well

symbols:

treat

symbols:

myself.

symbols:

A

symbols:

nice

symbols:

bed

symbols:

was

symbols:

a

symbols:

luxury and I had just

symbols:

ridden

symbols:

into town

symbols:

for

symbols:

nearly two weeks

symbols:

and

symbols:

camping

symbols:

had

symbols:

given

symbols:

my

symbols:

back

symbols:

a minefield of

symbols:

aches

symbols:

and

symbols:

pains.
On

symbols:

my

symbols:

way

symbols:

up,

symbols:

I

symbols:

watched

symbols:

as a

symbols:

gray

symbols:

wolf

symbols:

came

symbols:

down.

symbols:

Clean cut

symbols:

but

symbols:

also

symbols:

broad in

symbols:

shoulders,

symbols:

wearing

symbols:

a

symbols:

nice

symbols:

pair

symbols:

of

symbols:

jeans,

symbols:

shirt,

symbols:

vest, and

symbols:

hat, he was

symbols:

clearly

symbols:

someone

symbols:

who

symbols:

worked

symbols:

for

symbols:

a

symbols:

living

symbols:

just

symbols:

by

symbols:

the

symbols:

way

symbols:

the

symbols:

leather

symbols:

on

symbols:

his

symbols:

clothing

symbols:

looked…but

symbols:

he

symbols:

carried

symbols:

himself with a

symbols:

kind of

symbols:

confidence

symbols:

and

symbols:

air.

symbols:

He

symbols:

also

symbols:

had

symbols:

the

symbols:

brightest

symbols:

orange

symbols:

eyes

symbols:

I’ve

symbols:

ever

symbols:

seen.

symbols:

He

symbols:

saw

symbols:

me,

symbols:

smiled,

symbols:

and

symbols:

tipped

symbols:

his

symbols:

hat

symbols:

as

symbols:

we

symbols:

passed

symbols:

on

symbols:

the

symbols:

stairs.
I

symbols:

managed

symbols:

to

symbols:

hold

symbols:

it

symbols:

together

symbols:

all

symbols:

the

symbols:

way

symbols:

into

symbols:

my

symbols:

room

symbols:

and

symbols:

closed

symbols:

the

symbols:

door

symbols:

behind

symbols:

me

symbols:

when

symbols:

I

symbols:

let

symbols:

out

symbols:

a

symbols:

shuddered

symbols:

breath.

symbols:

The

symbols:

wolf

symbols:

had

symbols:

been…remarkably

symbols:

handsome.

symbols:

I

symbols:

felt

symbols:

like the

symbols:

look

symbols:

from

symbols:

those

symbols:

eyes

symbols:

had

symbols:

undressed

symbols:

me

symbols:

and

symbols:

he

symbols:

could

symbols:

see

symbols:

right

symbols:

through

symbols:

me.

symbols:

I hadn’t

symbols:

felt a draw like that in quite some time,

symbols:

not

symbols:

since

symbols:

Lyon…but

symbols:

now…
“Get

symbols:

a grip,

symbols:

Phil,”

symbols:

I

symbols:

muttered to

symbols:

no

symbols:

one but

symbols:

myself.

symbols:

This

symbols:

was

symbols:

not

symbols:

a

symbols:

time

symbols:

to

symbols:

let

symbols:

my guard down. If I wanted to stay here I

symbols:

had

symbols:

to

symbols:

keep

symbols:

myself

symbols:

under

symbols:

control.
___________
What’s

symbols:

that

symbols:

American

symbols:

saying? “All

symbols:

gussied

symbols:

up and

symbols:

nowhere

symbols:

to

symbols:

go?”

symbols:

Yeah,

symbols:

that

symbols:

was

symbols:

me

symbols:

tonight.
After

symbols:

a

symbols:

nice

symbols:

long

symbols:

bath

symbols:

with

symbols:

hot

symbols:

water (yes,

symbols:

hot

symbols:

water!)

symbols:

I

symbols:

changed

symbols:

into

symbols:

some of my

symbols:

nicer

symbols:

clothes

symbols:

I’d brought

symbols:

with

symbols:

me

symbols:

while

symbols:

the

symbols:

rest

symbols:

had gone in

symbols:

the

symbols:

basket

symbols:

to

symbols:

be

symbols:

washed.

symbols:

While I didn’t

symbols:

pack

symbols:

a

symbols:

nice

symbols:

suit

symbols:

or

symbols:

anything,

symbols:

I did

symbols:

have

symbols:

some

symbols:

comfortable

symbols:

slacks

symbols:

and

symbols:

a

symbols:

new

symbols:

shirt I

symbols:

got on

symbols:

my

symbols:

way

symbols:

into

symbols:

town. I

symbols:

put

symbols:

on

symbols:

my

symbols:

long

symbols:

coat

symbols:

and

symbols:

hat

symbols:

and went out

symbols:

to

symbols:

see

symbols:

what

symbols:

the

symbols:

city

symbols:

had

symbols:

to

symbols:

offer.
Only to

symbols:

discover

symbols:

that

symbols:

it

symbols:

was

symbols:

raining.
It

symbols:

was

symbols:

not

symbols:

raining

symbols:

hard.

symbols:

It

symbols:

was

symbols:

the

symbols:

kind

symbols:

of

symbols:

rain

symbols:

that

symbols:

came

symbols:

down

symbols:

slowly,

symbols:

just

symbols:

heavy

symbols:

enough

symbols:

to

symbols:

be

symbols:

an

symbols:

annoyance

symbols:

but

symbols:

not

symbols:

light

symbols:

enough

symbols:

that

symbols:

you

symbols:

can

symbols:

merely

symbols:

ignore

symbols:

it. It

symbols:

made

symbols:

the

symbols:

streets,

symbols:

both

symbols:

paved

symbols:

and

symbols:

unpaved,

symbols:

shimmer

symbols:

and the

symbols:

lights

symbols:

from

symbols:

the

symbols:

buildings

symbols:

bloom

symbols:

with

symbols:

radiant

symbols:

halos.

symbols:

But

symbols:

it

symbols:

also

symbols:

made

symbols:

the

symbols:

city

symbols:

feel

symbols:

far

symbols:

more

symbols:

empty

symbols:

than

symbols:

it

symbols:

had

symbols:

been

symbols:

when

symbols:

I

symbols:

arrived

symbols:

earlier.
People

symbols:

were

symbols:

out

symbols:

and

symbols:

about,

symbols:

but

symbols:

they

symbols:

were

symbols:

in

symbols:

a

symbols:

hurry,

symbols:

moving

symbols:

from

symbols:

doorway

symbols:

to

symbols:

doorway,

symbols:

or

symbols:

rushing

symbols:

into

symbols:

buildings to

symbols:

stay

symbols:

out

symbols:

of

symbols:

the

symbols:

rain.

symbols:

Some

symbols:

couples

symbols:

were

symbols:

moving

symbols:

so

symbols:

quickly

symbols:

such

symbols:

that

symbols:

the

symbols:

ladies

symbols:

almost

symbols:

tripped

symbols:

into

symbols:

deep

symbols:

holes

symbols:

of

symbols:

water

symbols:

while

symbols:

their

symbols:

gentlemanly

symbols:

escorts

symbols:

seemingly

symbols:

forgot

symbols:

the

symbols:

act

symbols:

of

symbols:

chivalry.
I,

symbols:

however,

symbols:

refused

symbols:

to

symbols:

let

symbols:

mother

symbols:

nature,

symbols:

ever

symbols:

the

symbols:

fickle

symbols:

mistress,

symbols:

ruin

symbols:

my

symbols:

evening. I

symbols:

found

symbols:

a

symbols:

nice

symbols:

stage

symbols:

show

symbols:

to

symbols:

watch,

symbols:

slipping

symbols:

in at

symbols:

the

symbols:

last

symbols:

minute

symbols:

and

symbols:

finding

symbols:

a

symbols:

seat

symbols:

tucked

symbols:

very

symbols:

well

symbols:

into

symbols:

the

symbols:

back seats

symbols:

on

symbols:

the

symbols:

upper

symbols:

level.

symbols:

The

symbols:

show,

symbols:

while

symbols:

entertaining,

symbols:

proved

symbols:

to

symbols:

be

symbols:

one that

symbols:

I

symbols:

had

symbols:

seen

symbols:

a

symbols:

long

symbols:

time

symbols:

ago

symbols:

in

symbols:

another

symbols:

life.

symbols:

As

symbols:

such,

symbols:

I

symbols:

found

symbols:

myself

symbols:

wandering

symbols:

mentally

symbols:

from

symbols:

time

symbols:

to

symbols:

time.

symbols:

I

symbols:

left

symbols:

feeling that

symbols:

even

symbols:

though

symbols:

I

symbols:

didn’t

symbols:

waste

symbols:

my

symbols:

money,

symbols:

there

symbols:

may

symbols:

have

symbols:

been

symbols:

better

symbols:

options

symbols:

further

symbols:

into

symbols:

the

symbols:

city

symbols:

had I

symbols:

decided

symbols:

to

symbols:

brave

symbols:

more of

symbols:

the

symbols:

rain.
It

symbols:

seemed

symbols:

to

symbols:

be

symbols:

in

symbols:

theme

symbols:

with

symbols:

some

symbols:

of

symbols:

the

symbols:

other

symbols:

patrons,

symbols:

because

symbols:

I

symbols:

could

symbols:

hear

symbols:

two

symbols:

of

symbols:

them

symbols:

talking

symbols:

in

symbols:

hushed

symbols:

whispers

symbols:

a

symbols:

few

symbols:

seats

symbols:

in

symbols:

front

symbols:

of

symbols:

me. A

symbols:

pair of

symbols:

coyotes

symbols:

by the

symbols:

look

symbols:

of

symbols:

things, and

symbols:

both

symbols:

men.

symbols:

Since

symbols:

I

symbols:

was

symbols:

canting

symbols:

my

symbols:

ears

symbols:

forward,

symbols:

it

symbols:

didn’t

symbols:

take

symbols:

much

symbols:

effort

symbols:

to

symbols:

make

symbols:

out

symbols:

what

symbols:

they

symbols:

were

symbols:

saying

symbols:

over

symbols:

the

symbols:

voices of

symbols:

the

symbols:

performers.
“You

symbols:

think

symbols:

it’ll

symbols:

be

symbols:

fun

symbols:

tonight?”

symbols:

one of

symbols:

the

symbols:

duo

symbols:

asked.
“Maybe,”

symbols:

the

symbols:

other

symbols:

man

symbols:

said,

symbols:

not

symbols:

taking

symbols:

his

symbols:

eyes

symbols:

off

symbols:

the

symbols:

performers. “Could

symbols:

be

symbols:

a

symbols:

dud.

symbols:

Rain

symbols:

makes

symbols:

things

symbols:

weird.”
“Yeah,

symbols:

but

symbols:

we

symbols:

finally

symbols:

have

symbols:

a night off and

symbols:

Porter

symbols:

Street

symbols:

isn’t too far

symbols:

away.”
“Don’t

symbols:

worry. We’ll go to the Arc-en-ciel,

symbols:

even if it’s a

symbols:

dud.”
“Good.

symbols:

It’s

symbols:

been

symbols:

too

symbols:

long

symbols:

and

symbols:

I’m

symbols:

tired

symbols:

of

symbols:

being

symbols:

sneaky.”
After

symbols:

a

symbols:

nice

symbols:

but

symbols:

simple

symbols:

meal, I

symbols:

wandered through

symbols:

the

symbols:

streets

symbols:

with

symbols:

my

symbols:

hat

symbols:

on and

symbols:

jacket

symbols:

collar

symbols:

pulled

symbols:

up,

symbols:

keeping

symbols:

myself

symbols:

relatively

symbols:

dry.

symbols:

I

symbols:

could

symbols:

probably

symbols:

force

symbols:

myself

symbols:

to

symbols:

sleep,

symbols:

but

symbols:

I didn’t want

symbols:

to;

symbols:

it was

symbols:

still

symbols:

early.

symbols:

After

symbols:

all,

symbols:

who

symbols:

knew

symbols:

when

symbols:

I

symbols:

could

symbols:

be

symbols:

in

symbols:

a

symbols:

city

symbols:

next

symbols:

time?
I

symbols:

kept

symbols:

coming

symbols:

back

symbols:

to

symbols:

that

word:

word:

arc-en-ciel. It meant “rainbow”

word:

in

word:

French.

word:

I

word:

wondered

word:

what

word:

kind

word:

of

word:

establishment

word:

a

word:

place

word:

with

word:

that

word:

kind

word:

of

word:

title

word:

would

word:

have.

word:

Giving in to

word:

my

word:

curiosity,

word:

I

word:

decided

word:

to

word:

head

word:

for

word:

Porter

word:

Street

word:

and

word:

walked

word:

away

word:

from

word:

where

word:

the

word:

theatre

word:

had

word:

been,

word:

slowly

word:

watching

word:

people

word:

as

word:

I

word:

kept

word:

my

word:

head

word:

low

word:

so

word:

my

word:

fur

word:

wouldn’t

word:

get

word:

too

word:

wet.
After

word:

walking

word:

up

word:

and

word:

down

word:

the

word:

street,

word:

I

word:

wondered

word:

if

word:

I

word:

misheard

word:

the

word:

two

word:

men

word:

in

word:

the

word:

theatre.

word:

The

word:

street

word:

was

word:

dark,

word:

with

word:

few

word:

windows

word:

lit

word:

up

word:

and

word:

all

word:

the

word:

shops

word:

closed up for

word:

the

word:

evening. What

word:

further

word:

complicated

word:

matters

word:

was

word:

the

word:

sidestreets

word:

went

word:

down

word:

into

word:

equally

word:

dark

word:

roads

word:

that

word:

looked

word:

residential

word:

in

word:

nature.

word:

It

word:

wasn’t

word:

until

word:

I

word:

passed

word:

by

word:

an

word:

intersection

word:

and

word:

looked

word:

up

word:

that

word:

I

word:

saw

word:

a

word:

window,

word:

glowing

word:

from

word:

candlelights

word:

behind

word:

it,

word:

revealing

word:

a

word:

stained

word:

glass.
A

word:

stained

word:

glass

word:

shaped

word:

like

word:

a

word:

rainbow,

word:

an

word:

arc-en-ciel.
My

word:

eyes

word:

went

word:

down

word:

to

word:

a

word:

darkened

word:

doorway

word:

at

word:

the

word:

front

word:

of

word:

the

word:

building.

word:

As

word:

I

word:

watched

word:

out,

word:

a

word:

weasel

word:

walked

word:

down

word:

the

word:

road

word:

and

word:

vanished

word:

into

word:

the

word:

darkened

word:

porch.

word:

A

word:

gentle

word:

knock and the

word:

door

word:

opened. The

word:

weasel

word:

slinked

word:

inside

word:

and

word:

the

word:

door

word:

closed

word:

all in the

word:

span of

word:

a

word:

few

word:

seconds.
Settling

word:

in

word:

against

word:

a

word:

horse hitch

word:

in

word:

the

word:

darkened

word:

corner

word:

across

word:

the

word:

street,

word:

I

word:

continued

word:

watching

word:

the

word:

front

word:

door.

word:

Numerous

word:

men

word:

wandered

word:

down

word:

the

word:

street

word:

looking

word:

as

word:

inconspicuous

word:

as

word:

possible,

word:

and

word:

then

word:

slipped

word:

into

word:

the

word:

building.

word:

Now

word:

and

word:

then,

word:

the

word:

door

word:

would

word:

open,

word:

and

word:

others

word:

would

word:

leave,

word:

usually in

word:

pairs

word:

of

word:

men,

word:

other

word:

times

word:

single.

word:

Once,

word:

I

word:

caught

word:

four

word:

leaving

word:

together

word:

with

word:

one

word:

stumbling.

word:

Drunk?

word:

People

word:

who

word:

left

word:

seemed

word:

to

word:

be

word:

wobbling

word:

a

word:

bit

word:

more

word:

than

word:

those

word:

who

word:

entered.

word:

They

word:

must

word:

be

word:

serving

word:

alcohol

word:

inside.
My

word:

breath

word:

hitched

word:

in

word:

my

word:

throat

word:

when

word:

I

word:

saw

word:

two

word:

men

word:

leave

word:

the

word:

building,

word:

stop

word:

in

word:

the

word:

shadows

word:

and

word:

look

word:

around…and

word:

kiss.

word:

And

word:

not

word:

in

word:

the

word:

way

word:

you

word:

would

word:

kiss

word:

someone

word:

on

word:

the

word:

cheek.

word:

No,

word:

you

word:

could

word:

see

word:

the

word:

spark

word:

between

word:

them ignite

word:

when

word:

their lips

word:

touched

word:

together

word:

and

word:

their

word:

embrace

word:

grew

word:

tighter.
All

word:

at

word:

once

word:

my

word:

face

word:

felt

word:

hot

word:

as

word:

freshly

word:

smelted

word:

iron,

word:

and

word:

I

word:

looked

word:

away out of

word:

politeness.

word:

They were

word:

kissing!

word:

Men!

word:

It

word:

was

word:

a

word:

place

word:

where…the

word:

company

word:

of

word:

men

word:

was

word:

accepted?
I

word:

hadn’t

word:

expected

word:

to

word:

find

word:

such a

word:

place and

word:

the

word:

very

word:

notion

word:

of

word:

it

word:

thrilled

word:

me,

word:

terrified

word:

me.

word:

I

word:

swallowed

word:

and

word:

just

word:

kept

word:

watching

word:

until

word:

a

word:

heavy

word:

presence

word:

made

word:

itself

word:

known

word:

to

word:

my

word:

left.
“You

word:

know,

word:

they

word:

don’t

word:

have

word:

a

word:

door

word:

charge or

word:

nothin’,

word:

friend.” The

word:

voice

word:

was

word:

warm

word:

and

word:

smooth

word:

and

word:

friendly.

word:

When

word:

I

word:

glanced

word:

over

word:

at

word:

the

word:

owner

word:

of

word:

said

word:

voice,

word:

I

word:

was

word:

taken

word:

aback

word:

briefly.

word:

It

word:

was

word:

a

word:

handsome

word:

wolf—his

word:

fur

word:

a

word:

shimmering

word:

greyish

word:

silver

word:

with

word:

perked

word:

ears

word:

and

word:

eyes

word:

so

word:

orange

word:

they

word:

almost

word:

glowed

word:

like

word:

the

word:

sunset.

word:

He

word:

was

word:

broad

word:

in

word:

shoulder and

word:

wore

word:

a

word:

coat

word:

over

word:

his

word:

buttoned-up

word:

shirt

word:

and

word:

jeans.

word:

On

word:

his

word:

head

word:

was

word:

a

word:

stetson

word:

that

word:

dripped a

word:

few

word:

droplets

word:

of

word:

water

word:

from

word:

the

word:

rain.

word:

His

word:

hands

word:

were

word:

buried

word:

in

word:

his

word:

jacket

word:

pockets,

word:

and he had

word:

a

word:

charming

word:

smile

word:

on

word:

his

word:

face.
“W–what?”

word:

I

word:

managed

word:

to

word:

stammer

word:

out,

word:

standing

word:

up

word:

straighter

word:

and

word:

turning

word:

more

word:

toward

word:

the

word:

wolf

word:

who

word:

had

word:

somehow

word:

managed

word:

to

word:

pop

word:

into

word:

existence

word:

near

word:

me. “I

word:

don’t…”
“The

word:

Arc,”

word:

the wolf

word:

said

word:

with a tip of

word:

his

word:

muzzle. “They don’t

word:

charge or

word:

nothin’

word:

for

word:

entry.

word:

Drinks

word:

are

word:

a

word:

little

word:

more

word:

pricey

word:

than

word:

a

word:

regular

word:

old

word:

bar

word:

but

word:

the

word:

company

word:

kept

word:

is

word:

worth

word:

the

word:

extra

word:

cents,

word:

at

word:

least

word:

to

word:

me.” The

word:

wolf

word:

held

word:

out

word:

his

word:

hand

word:

and

word:

smiled

word:

warmly

word:

at

word:

me. “I’m

word:

Jack.”
I

word:

took

word:

his

word:

hand

word:

reflexively

word:

and shook.

word:

Strong

word:

grip,

word:

firm,

word:

but

word:

not

word:

painful.

word:

His

word:

paw

word:

pads

word:

were

word:

rough. He

word:

was a

word:

working

word:

wolf

word:

for

word:

sure. “Phil

word:

Deveraux.”
The

word:

wolf’s

word:

ears

word:

perked

word:

but

word:

his

word:

grin

word:

never

word:

left

word:

his

word:

face. “Fancy

word:

last

word:

name

word:

there, but

word:

not

word:

too

word:

surprisin’.”
“What’s

word:

that

word:

suppose’ta

word:

mean?”

word:

I

word:

found

word:

myself

word:

slipping

word:

into

word:

more

word:

local

word:

affectations

word:

naturally.

word:

It

word:

happened

word:

when

word:

I

word:

spoke

word:

to

word:

someone

word:

with

word:

an

word:

accent

word:

like

word:

Jack’s.

word:

It

word:

helped

word:

me

word:

blend

word:

in

word:

a

word:

little

word:

more.
“You bein’ French ‘n all, you’d

word:

have

word:

a

word:

unique

word:

last

word:

name.”
Surprise.

word:

My

word:

eyes

word:

widened

word:

briefly

word:

but I

word:

quickly

word:

controlled

word:

my

word:

expression. “What

word:

makes

word:

you

word:

think

word:

I’m

word:

French?”
Jack

word:

put

word:

his

word:

arm

word:

around

word:

my

word:

shoulders. “That

word:

reaction

word:

you

word:

just

word:

had

word:

sorta

word:

clinched

word:

it.

word:

Was

word:

a

word:

shot

word:

in

word:

the

word:

dark

word:

but…you

word:

just

word:

speak

word:

too

word:

clean ‘n

word:

neat to

word:

not

word:

be

word:

from

word:

somewhere

word:

else.

word:

If

word:

you

word:

listen

word:

real

word:

good

word:

you

word:

can

word:

hear

word:

the touch of

word:

your

word:

accent.

word:

But

word:

you have to be

word:

listenin’

word:

to

word:

it.

word:

You

word:

covered

word:

it

word:

up

word:

well.”
“Does

word:

that

word:

bother

word:

you?”

word:

I

word:

said while feeling mildly

word:

defensive.

word:

For

word:

some

word:

reason,

word:

the

word:

idea

word:

that

word:

someone

word:

had

word:

seen

word:

through

word:

my

word:

little

word:

persona

word:

so

word:

easily

word:

ruffled

word:

my

word:

fur.
“Should

word:

it?”

word:

Jack said,

word:

quirking

word:

a

word:

brow. “Look,

word:

I

word:

ain’t

word:

here

word:

to

word:

ever

word:

judge

word:

a

word:

man on

word:

the

word:

life

word:

he

word:

leads

word:

or

word:

the

word:

secrets he

word:

keeps.

word:

You

word:

got

word:

your

word:

reasons

word:

and

word:

that’s

word:

fine

word:

with

word:

me.

word:

I

word:

guess

word:

I

word:

even

word:

told

word:

you

word:

I

word:

could

word:

tell ‘cause

word:

you

word:

looked

word:

like

word:

someone

word:

who

word:

could

word:

stand

word:

to

word:

let

word:

his

word:

tail

word:

hang

word:

a

word:

little

word:

more

word:

limp

word:

sometimes.”
“What’s

word:

that

word:

mean?”
“You’re

word:

wound

word:

up

word:

tighter

word:

than a

word:

long tailed

word:

cat

word:

in

word:

a

word:

room

word:

full

word:

of

word:

rockin’

word:

chairs,

word:

Philly,”

word:

the

word:

wolf

word:

said

word:

with

word:

a

word:

wink.

word:

He had

word:

let

word:

my

word:

shoulders

word:

go

word:

but

word:

his

word:

warm,

word:

earthy

word:

scent

word:

lingered

word:

around

word:

me.

word:

I

word:

found

word:

myself

word:

wanting

word:

to

word:

step

word:

closer

word:

but

word:

held

word:

my

word:

ground.

word:

When

word:

I

word:

heard

word:

the

word:

metaphor,

word:

I

word:

snorted.
“You

word:

don’t

word:

usually

word:

use

word:

those sayings, do

word:

you?”
“Nawh,” the wolf

word:

smirked

word:

and

word:

showed

word:

his

word:

sharp

word:

canines. “But

word:

it

word:

helps

word:

sell

word:

the

word:

idea.

word:

Plus it

word:

was

word:

fun

word:

to

word:

see

word:

you

word:

process

word:

it.”

word:

The

word:

wolf

word:

cleared

word:

his

word:

throat. “So

word:

what

word:

do

word:

you

word:

say,

word:

you wanna head

word:

inside

word:

and

word:

have

word:

a

word:

drink?”
“You

word:

asking

word:

me

word:

to

word:

have

word:

a

word:

drink

word:

with

word:

you?”

word:

I

word:

looked

word:

around

word:

quickly

word:

and

word:

then

word:

back

word:

at

word:

Jack,

word:

worried

word:

someone

word:

may

word:

have

word:

overheard

word:

us…or

word:

heard

word:

Jack’s

word:

proposition.
The

word:

wolf

word:

put

word:

his

word:

hand

word:

on the small of

word:

my back and

word:

herded

word:

me

word:

toward

word:

the

word:

darkened

word:

doorway.

word:

I

word:

laughed

word:

a

word:

little

word:

bit.
“Wait, I

word:

didn’t

word:

say

word:

yes!”

word:

I

word:

said

word:

in

word:

protest.
“You

word:

didn’t

word:

say

word:

no,

word:

either,”

word:

he

word:

returned, “so

word:

let’s

word:

go and

word:

get

word:

out

word:

of

word:

the

word:

cold.”
Jack

word:

kept

word:

his

word:

hand

word:

firm

word:

on the small of

word:

my back as

word:

he

word:

guided

word:

me

word:

up onto

word:

the

word:

shadowed

word:

porch.

word:

Rain

word:

pattered

word:

on

word:

the

word:

overhang

word:

above

word:

us,

word:

soft

word:

and

word:

steady,

word:

just

word:

loud

word:

enough

word:

to

word:

make

word:

the

word:

rest

word:

of

word:

the

word:

street

word:

feel

word:

quiet.

word:

The

word:

doorway

word:

in

word:

front

word:

of

word:

us

word:

looked

word:

like

word:

nothing

word:

special,

word:

just

word:

another

word:

building

word:

shut tight

word:

for

word:

the

word:

night,

word:

but

word:

my

word:

heart

word:

thudded

word:

like

word:

it

word:

knew

word:

better.
Jack

word:

knocked.

word:

Two

word:

quick

word:

taps,

word:

a

word:

little

word:

pause,

word:

then

word:

one

word:

more.

word:

It

word:

sounded

word:

casual,

word:

but

word:

the

word:

pattern

word:

was

word:

too

word:

neat

word:

to

word:

be

word:

an

word:

accident.
A

word:

small

word:

panel

word:

slid

word:

open.

word:

Warm

word:

lamplight

word:

cut

word:

through

word:

the

word:

dark,

word:

and a

word:

single

word:

eye

word:

stared

word:

out

word:

at

word:

us.
“What

word:

color’s

word:

the

word:

sky tonight?”

word:

the

word:

doorkeeper

word:

asked,

word:

voice

word:

dull as

word:

dishwater.
“Same

word:

as

word:

always,”

word:

Jack

word:

answered

word:

in

word:

that

word:

easy

word:

drawl

word:

of

word:

his. “Gray

word:

up

word:

top,

word:

rainbow

word:

underneath.”
The

word:

peephole

word:

snapped

word:

shut.

word:

A

word:

bolt

word:

slid

word:

back.

word:

The

word:

door

word:

opened

word:

just

word:

enough

word:

for

word:

us

word:

to

word:

slip

word:

inside.
Warm

word:

air

word:

hit

word:

me

word:

first,

word:

thick

word:

with

word:

tobacco,

word:

perfume,

word:

and

word:

something

word:

sweet

word:

I

word:

could

word:

not

word:

place.

word:

A

word:

stocky

word:

badger

word:

in a vest

word:

stepped

word:

aside

word:

and

word:

nodded

word:

at

word:

Jack.
“Evenin’,

word:

Jack.”
“Evenin’,”

word:

Jack

word:

replied,

word:

then

word:

tipped

word:

his

word:

chin

word:

toward

word:

me. “Got a

word:

newcomer

word:

tonight.”
The

word:

badger

word:

gave

word:

me

word:

a

word:

once

word:

over,

word:

nothing

word:

rude,

word:

just

word:

taking

word:

stock. “Long

word:

as

word:

he

word:

behaves.”
I

word:

swallowed

word:

and

word:

managed

word:

a

word:

stiff

word:

nod.

word:

Jack

word:

chuckled

word:

under

word:

his

word:

breath

word:

and

word:

nudged

word:

me

word:

forward.
The

word:

front

word:

foyer

word:

looked

word:

like

word:

a

word:

small

word:

hotel

word:

lobby

word:

that

word:

someone

word:

had

word:

forgotten

word:

to

word:

close

word:

properly. A

word:

long

word:

desk

word:

with a

word:

ledger

word:

and a

word:

half-melted

word:

candle

word:

sat

word:

against

word:

one

word:

wall. A

word:

handful

word:

of

word:

velvet

word:

chairs

word:

waited

word:

near

word:

a

word:

cold

word:

fireplace.

word:

Everything

word:

was

word:

dim

word:

and

word:

quiet, the

word:

kind

word:

of

word:

place

word:

where

word:

anyone

word:

passing

word:

by

word:

would

word:

think

word:

the

word:

building

word:

was

word:

empty.
“Arc

word:

keeps

word:

the

word:

fancy

word:

up front,”

word:

Jack

word:

murmured

word:

as

word:

we

word:

crossed

word:

the

word:

room. “Keeps

word:

folks

word:

from

word:

asking

word:

questions.

word:

Most

word:

folks

word:

walk

word:

right

word:

past and

word:

never

word:

look

word:

twice.”
“Hard

word:

to

word:

imagine,”

word:

I

word:

whispered

word:

back.

word:

My

word:

voice

word:

felt

word:

tight in

word:

my

word:

throat.
“You’ll

word:

get

word:

used

word:

to

word:

it,” he said with a grin.
He led me

word:

to

word:

a

word:

plain

word:

door

word:

that

word:

looked

word:

like

word:

it

word:

should

word:

hold

word:

linens

word:

and

word:

cleaning brushes.

word:

Instead,

word:

he

word:

opened

word:

it

word:

to

word:

reveal

word:

a

word:

narrow

word:

stairwell

word:

falling

word:

into

word:

amber

word:

light.
My

word:

stomach

word:

fluttered. “Jack,

word:

are

word:

you

word:

sure…”
“Quit

word:

worryin’.”

word:

He

word:

lowered

word:

his

word:

voice,

word:

softer

word:

now. “Ain’t

word:

nothin

word:

down

word:

there

word:

gonna

word:

bite

word:

ya. Well…

word:

unless

word:

you

word:

ask

word:

polite.”

word:

He

word:

winked.
My

word:

face

word:

went

word:

hot

word:

in a way

word:

I

word:

did

word:

not

word:

know

word:

how

word:

to

word:

hide.

word:

Jack

word:

laughed and

word:

started

word:

down

word:

the

word:

steps.

word:

I

word:

followed.
The

word:

basement

word:

opened into

word:

a

word:

wide

word:

room

word:

lit

word:

by

word:

warm

word:

lamps.

word:

A

word:

piano

word:

rested

word:

in

word:

the

word:

corner,

word:

played by a slim deer

word:

in a vest

word:

whose

word:

fingers

word:

danced

word:

over

word:

the

word:

keys

word:

like

word:

he had

word:

been

word:

born

word:

at

word:

that

word:

stool.

word:

Men

word:

filled

word:

the

word:

room.

word:

Some

word:

sat

word:

close

word:

at

word:

tables

word:

with

word:

drinks

word:

between

word:

them.

word:

Some

word:

leaned

word:

shoulder

word:

to

word:

shoulder.

word:

Some

word:

laughed

word:

quietly,

word:

bodies

word:

angled

word:

together

word:

in

word:

ways

word:

that

word:

looked

word:

too

word:

familiar

word:

for

word:

the

word:

outside

word:

world.
I

word:

froze at

word:

the

word:

bottom

word:

step.
Jack

word:

turned

word:

and

word:

saw

word:

my

word:

face.

word:

His

word:

grin

word:

softened. “Feels

word:

strange

word:

at

word:

first,

word:

huh?”
I

word:

tried

word:

to

word:

speak,

word:

but

word:

my

word:

chest

word:

felt

word:

tight

word:

and

word:

light

word:

at

word:

the

word:

same

word:

time. “I

word:

did

word:

not

word:

think

word:

places

word:

like

word:

this

word:

still

word:

existed.”
“They

word:

exist

word:

where

word:

folks

word:

make ’em

word:

exist,”

word:

Jack

word:

said. “Ain’t

word:

no

word:

law

word:

yet

word:

that

word:

says

word:

a

word:

man

word:

cannot

word:

sit

word:

where

word:

he

word:

feels

word:

safe.”

word:

He

word:

came

word:

up

word:

beside

word:

me,

word:

leaning

word:

in

word:

close. “You’re

word:

all

word:

right

word:

here,

word:

Phil.

word:

You

word:

ain’t

word:

gotta

word:

pretend

word:

nothin’.”
Something

word:

in

word:

me

word:

jumped

word:

at

word:

that.

word:

Excitement.

word:

Fear.

word:

Both

word:

at

word:

once,

word:

tangled

word:

tight.
“This

word:

is

word:

the

word:

quiet

word:

floor,”

word:

Jack

word:

explained. “Men

word:

drink.

word:

Talk.

word:

Listen

word:

to

word:

music.

word:

No

word:

one

word:

bothers

word:

nobody

word:

unless

word:

they’re

word:

asked

word:

to.”
“Quiet,”

word:

I

word:

repeated,

word:

though

word:

my

word:

ears were

word:

already

word:

turned

word:

toward

word:

something

word:

else.
A

word:

deeper

word:

sound

word:

pulsed

word:

under

word:

the

word:

floor.

word:

A

word:

steady

word:

beat,

word:

almost

word:

like

word:

footsteps

word:

but

word:

too

word:

even,

word:

too

word:

rhythmic.

word:

Music,

word:

but

word:

louder.

word:

Alive.

word:

I

word:

felt

word:

it in

word:

my

word:

ribs, a

word:

low

word:

vibration

word:

that

word:

pulled

word:

at

word:

me.
Jack

word:

smiled

word:

when

word:

he

word:

noticed where

word:

I

word:

was

word:

looking. “That’d

word:

be

word:

downstairs.”
“Downstairs?”
He

word:

nodded

word:

toward

word:

a

word:

thick

word:

curtain

word:

at

word:

the

word:

far

word:

end

word:

of

word:

the

word:

room. “Sub

word:

basement.

word:

Got

word:

a

word:

band

word:

tonight.

word:

Fiddle,

word:

drum,

word:

the

word:

whole

word:

lot.

word:

Folks’ll

word:

be

word:

dancin’

word:

by

word:

now.”
My

word:

breath

word:

caught. “Dancing?”
“Sure,”

word:

Jack

word:

said with a

word:

shrug. “Nothin

word:

wrong with a

word:

little

word:

fun when no

word:

one’s

word:

lookin’.”
My palms

word:

felt

word:

damp.

word:

My

word:

chest

word:

fluttered.

word:

I

word:

looked

word:

at

word:

the

word:

curtain

word:

again,

word:

the

word:

music

word:

calling

word:

up

word:

from

word:

beneath it

word:

like

word:

a

word:

heartbeat.
Jack leaned

word:

close

word:

enough

word:

for his

word:

shoulder

word:

to

word:

brush

word:

mine. “You

word:

wanna

word:

see

word:

it,

word:

Phil?”
I

word:

could

word:

barely

word:

speak. “Yes.”

word:

Then,

word:

quieter. “I

word:

think

word:

I

word:

do.”
Jack

word:

nodded

word:

slowly, the

word:

smile

word:

on

word:

his

word:

face

word:

turning

word:

warm

word:

in

word:

a

word:

way

word:

that

word:

made

word:

my

word:

knees

word:

threaten

word:

to

word:

give

word:

out. “All right

word:

then.

word:

Right

word:

this

word:

way.”



This

word:

was

word:

the

word:

first

word:

of

word:

two

word:

parts

word:

of “C’mon!

word:

No ones Lookin’!”” by TiberiusRings and Edouard, read for you by Rob MacWolf, Werewolf

word:

Hitchhiker.

word:

Tune

word:

in

word:

next

word:

time

word:

to

word:

see

word:

what

word:

happens

word:

when

word:

Phil

word:

steps

word:

into

word:

things

word:

unknown,

word:

and

word:

all

word:

the

word:

rest

word:

of

word:

the

word:

month

word:

for

word:

more

word:

Pride

word:

stories.

As

word:

always,

word:

you

word:

can

word:

find

word:

more

word:

stories

word:

on

word:

the

word:

web

word:

at

word:

thevoice.dog,

word:

or

word:

find

word:

the

word:

show

word:

wherever

word:

you

word:

get

word:

your

word:

podcasts.

word:

Happy

word:

Pride,

word:

and

word:

Thank

word:

you

word:

for

word:

listening

word:

to

word:

The

word:

Voice

word:

of

word:

Dog.

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