Shownotes
After a storm, a strange thing out in the barn captivates a farmer and his husband with promises of what they could never have.
Tonight’s story is “Barometz” by Roscoe G. Beetle, a kobold, because he’s always a little horny. Author of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, including the erotic sci-fi romance Thorns and the upcoming horror-romance Fangs of the Bayou at Bewere books, the sci-fi Mecha novel Helkite at Doppelfox Publishing, as well as short stories in many different anthologies, both horny and not. For a list of all of his major projects, you can check out his website here.
Read by Cider, Library Marten.
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/barometz-by-roscoe-g-beetle-read-by-cider
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
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Tonight’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “Barometz”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Roscoe
Speaker:G.
Speaker:Beetle,
Speaker:a
Speaker:kobold,
Speaker:because
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:always
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:horny.
Speaker:Author
Speaker:of
Speaker:sci-fi,
Speaker:fantasy,
Speaker:and
Speaker:horror,
Speaker:including
Speaker:the
Speaker:erotic
Speaker:sci-fi
Speaker:romance
Speaker:Thorns
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:upcoming
Speaker:horror-romance
Speaker:Fangs
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Bayou
Speaker:at
Speaker:Bewere
Speaker:books,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sci-fi Mecha
Speaker:novel
Speaker:Helkite at Doppelfox
Speaker:Publishing,
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:short
Speaker:stories
Speaker:in
Speaker:many
Speaker:different
Speaker:anthologies,
Speaker:both
Speaker:horny
Speaker:and
Speaker:not. For a
Speaker:list
Speaker:of
Speaker:all of
Speaker:his
Speaker:major
Speaker:projects,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:check
Speaker:out
Speaker:his
Speaker:website.
Found
family.
Speaker:Non-biological
Speaker:kinship
Speaker:bonds
Speaker:that
Speaker:are
Speaker:intentionally
Speaker:formed,
Speaker:regardless
Speaker:of
Speaker:legal
Speaker:recognition.
Speaker:A
Speaker:concept
Speaker:that
Speaker:needs
Speaker:little
Speaker:introduction
Speaker:to
Speaker:our
Speaker:listenership,
Speaker:who
Speaker:are
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:idea
Speaker:of
Speaker:building
Speaker:a
Speaker:family
Speaker:from
Speaker:whoever,
Speaker:or
Speaker:whatever,
Speaker:happens
Speaker:to
Speaker:be there, and know what it is to do what others
Speaker:would
Speaker:call
Speaker:unnatural.
Speaker:But
Speaker:it
Speaker:does
Speaker:not
Speaker:follow
Speaker:that
Speaker:all
Speaker:things
Speaker:that
Speaker:are
Speaker:found
Speaker:should
Speaker:be kept.
Read
by
Speaker:Cider,
Speaker:Library Marten.
Please enjoy
“Barometz” by Roscoe G. Beetle
The
lantern
Speaker:swung
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:forth,
Speaker:casting
Speaker:its
Speaker:light
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:delicate,
Speaker:white
Speaker:flesh
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod,
Speaker:seeming
Speaker:almost
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:giant
Speaker:puffball
Speaker:mushrooms
Speaker:that
Speaker:erupted
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:yard
Speaker:after
Speaker:a
Speaker:hard,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:rain.
Speaker:I
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:down,
Speaker:snout
Speaker:almost
Speaker:touching
Speaker:the
Speaker:dirt,
Speaker:and
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:light
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:glowed
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:flesh,
Speaker:revealing
Speaker:the
Speaker:contents
Speaker:within.
Speaker:Like
Speaker:candling
Speaker:an
Speaker:egg,
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:a
Speaker:faint
Speaker:outline—a head,
Speaker:a
Speaker:body,
Speaker:arms,
Speaker:legs,
Speaker:and
Speaker:red,
Speaker:angry
Speaker:veins
Speaker:that
Speaker:ran
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:shape
Speaker:out
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:outer
Speaker:flesh.
Speaker:My
Speaker:brow
Speaker:furrowed.
Speaker:The
Speaker:lantern’s
Speaker:light
Speaker:swung
Speaker:to
Speaker:and
Speaker:fro,
Speaker:revealing
Speaker:it
Speaker:from
Speaker:different
Speaker:angles,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:recognized
Speaker:that
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:creature
Speaker:in
Speaker:there
Speaker:suspended
Speaker:in
Speaker:fetal
Speaker:position,
Speaker:the
Speaker:unmistakable
Speaker:form
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:fetal
Speaker:lamb,
Speaker:half-formed
Speaker:and
Speaker:waiting.
Speaker:For
Speaker:what,
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:yet
Speaker:know.
Eyes
wild,
Speaker:William
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:hold
Speaker:the
Speaker:lantern
Speaker:still,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:ram’s gaunt snout
Speaker:and
Speaker:thin arms
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:betray
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:the
Speaker:lantern
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:so
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:might
Speaker:drop
Speaker:it.
Speaker:His
Speaker:legs
Speaker:shook.
Speaker:It
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:shook
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:recently,
Speaker:ever
Speaker:since
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:started
Speaker:going
Speaker:out
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn
Speaker:to
Speaker:work
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:project—ever
Speaker:since
Speaker:he
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:take
Speaker:care
Speaker:of
Speaker:this.
“What…?”
I
Speaker:whispered,
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:blinking
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:thing
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod, “What
Speaker:is
Speaker:it?”
“You
mean
Speaker:you
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:recognize
Speaker:it?
Speaker:I…
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:amazed
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:first
Speaker:saw,”
Speaker:William
Speaker:muttered,
Speaker:half-mad.
Speaker:Finally
Speaker:he
Speaker:fell
Speaker:back
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:pile
Speaker:of
Speaker:clean
Speaker:hay
Speaker:nearby,
Speaker:resting
Speaker:the
Speaker:lantern
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground, “It’s
Speaker:our
Speaker:prayer,
Speaker:Lukas.
Speaker:It
Speaker:answered
Speaker:our
Speaker:prayers.”
I
stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:instinctively
Speaker:drawing
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:husband.
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew.
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:meant.
Speaker:The
Speaker:set
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:snout
Speaker:was
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:hard
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:widened.
Speaker:I
Speaker:shook
Speaker:my
Speaker:head,
Speaker:reaching
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:press
Speaker:a
Speaker:hoof to
Speaker:my
Speaker:face
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:run
Speaker:them
Speaker:over
Speaker:my
Speaker:curled
Speaker:ram
Speaker:horns
Speaker:in
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:habit.
Speaker:Prayer.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:prayer.
Speaker:The
Speaker:one
Speaker:thing
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:never
Speaker:give
Speaker:him.
“Bill,”
I
Speaker:whispered, “Let’s
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:inside.”
“You
saw
Speaker:it!”
Speaker:he
Speaker:bleated
Speaker:out,
Speaker:before
Speaker:slamming
Speaker:a
Speaker:hoof
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor, “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:you
Speaker:did.
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:your
Speaker:face.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:in
Speaker:there,
Speaker:just
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:told
Speaker:you.”
“I…
I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:it
Speaker:is.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:trick
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:light.
Speaker:It’s like
Speaker:a
Speaker:mushroom
Speaker:growing
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn.”
“Like
what?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:sass
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:my
Speaker:husband
Speaker:for
Speaker:peeking
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:desperation
Speaker:and
Speaker:barely
Speaker:concealed
Speaker:exhaustion, “It’s
Speaker:like
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:ever
Speaker:seen.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:an
Speaker:egg,
Speaker:or
Speaker:a
Speaker:womb.”
“We
should…
Speaker:should
Speaker:clean
Speaker:it
Speaker:up.
Speaker:Throw
Speaker:it
Speaker:away.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:probably
Speaker:not
Speaker:good
Speaker:for…”
“No!”
the
Speaker:sheep
Speaker:screeched,
Speaker:leaping
Speaker:up
Speaker:once
Speaker:again,
Speaker:legs
Speaker:wobbling.
Speaker:Careful
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:touch
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod,
Speaker:I
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:forward
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:him
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:fall,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:fell
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:embrace,
Speaker:even
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:continued
Speaker:to
Speaker:scream, “No!
Speaker:Don’t!
Speaker:Please!”
“Damn it,
William,
Speaker:calm
Speaker:down!
Speaker:What
Speaker:are
Speaker:you
Speaker:doing?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:demanded, “Is…
Speaker:is
Speaker:this
Speaker:thing
Speaker:what
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:obsessing
Speaker:over
Speaker:lately?
Speaker:Is
Speaker:it
Speaker:really…”
“Yes!
It
Speaker:needs
Speaker:me.
Speaker:She
Speaker:needs
Speaker:me.”
“She…?”
“A
little
Speaker:girl,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:whispered,
Speaker:laying
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest, “Our
Speaker:little
Speaker:girl.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:why
Speaker:I
Speaker:brought
Speaker:you
Speaker:out
Speaker:here.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t…
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:keep
Speaker:doing
Speaker:it
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:own.
Speaker:I
Speaker:need…
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:you.
Speaker:She
Speaker:needs
Speaker:both
Speaker:of
Speaker:us.”
#
William
had
Speaker:been
Speaker:acting
Speaker:strange
Speaker:for
Speaker:weeks
Speaker:now,
Speaker:ever
Speaker:since
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:storm.
Speaker:It
Speaker:knocked
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:power,
Speaker:was
Speaker:strong
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:blow
Speaker:a
Speaker:hole
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn,
Speaker:and
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:took
Speaker:out
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:crops,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:survived.
Speaker:We
Speaker:always
Speaker:survived.
Speaker:He
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:married
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:decade,
Speaker:and
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:that
Speaker:could
Speaker:tear
Speaker:us
Speaker:apart.
Speaker:Nothing,
Speaker:that
Speaker:is,
Speaker:except
Speaker:for
Speaker:this
Speaker:new
Speaker:obsession.
It
began
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:days
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:storm,
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:came
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:from
Speaker:cleaning
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn
Speaker:looking
Speaker:astonished,
Speaker:and
Speaker:stunned
Speaker:in
Speaker:silence.
Speaker:He
Speaker:told
Speaker:me
Speaker:then
Speaker:that
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:animal
Speaker:out
Speaker:there
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:inside
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:safety,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:of
Speaker:it
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:better
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:hooves,
Speaker:so
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:built
Speaker:things
Speaker:and
Speaker:put
Speaker:them
Speaker:together.
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:no
Speaker:help
Speaker:at
Speaker:all,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:stayed
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn
Speaker:until
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:finished.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:what
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:patch
Speaker:job
Speaker:turned
Speaker:into
Speaker:bigger
Speaker:repair
Speaker:work,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:William
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:disappear
Speaker:for
Speaker:hours
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:day,
Speaker:and
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:came
Speaker:back
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:now.
Speaker:Weak.
Speaker:Drained.
Speaker:Exhausted.
Speaker:A
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:anemia
Speaker:which
Speaker:I
Speaker:insisted
Speaker:he
Speaker:see
Speaker:a
Speaker:doctor
Speaker:for,
Speaker:but
Speaker:which
Speaker:he
Speaker:insisted
Speaker:right
Speaker:back
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing.
#
I
wish that
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:insisted
Speaker:sooner.
Speaker:As
Speaker:I
Speaker:held
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:arms,
Speaker:he
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:weighed
Speaker:nothing.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:shorter
Speaker:than
Speaker:me,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:by
Speaker:much,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:weighed
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:this.
Speaker:Underneath
Speaker:all
Speaker:that
Speaker:wool,
Speaker:I
Speaker:realized
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:wasting
Speaker:away,
Speaker:and
Speaker:this
Speaker:close
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:pale,
Speaker:bloodless
Speaker:pallor
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:skin
Speaker:just
Speaker:under
Speaker:his
Speaker:facial
Speaker:fur.
Speaker:Squeezing
Speaker:his
Speaker:wrist,
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:through the
Speaker:layer
Speaker:of
Speaker:wool
Speaker:the
Speaker:thinness
Speaker:of
Speaker:it.
“William,
what’s
Speaker:going
Speaker:on?”
“She
needs
Speaker:us…”
Speaker:he
Speaker:whispered,
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest.
“She…?”
I
Speaker:muttered,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:laugh, “There
Speaker:is
Speaker:no ‘she’
Speaker:Bill.
Speaker:What…
Speaker:what
Speaker:have you
Speaker:been
Speaker:doing
Speaker:out
Speaker:here?”
“You’re
wrong,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:answered
Speaker:back,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:pull
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:me,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:too
Speaker:weak
Speaker:to
Speaker:resist
Speaker:my
Speaker:embrace, “She
Speaker:needs
Speaker:us.
Speaker:That’s…
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:why
Speaker:I
Speaker:brought
Speaker:you
Speaker:here.
Speaker:She
Speaker:needs…
Speaker:needs…”
William
was
Speaker:fading
Speaker:fast.
Speaker:I
Speaker:recognized
Speaker:it.
Speaker:His
Speaker:legs
Speaker:were
Speaker:weak,
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:my
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:half-help-half-drag
Speaker:him
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:hay
Speaker:bale
Speaker:nearby,
Speaker:pushing
Speaker:him
Speaker:down
Speaker:onto
Speaker:it.
Speaker:There,
Speaker:he
Speaker:sighed,
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:open
Speaker:and
Speaker:moving,
Speaker:but
Speaker:too
Speaker:bleary
Speaker:to
Speaker:really
Speaker:take
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:surroundings.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:hungry.
Speaker:We
Speaker:ate
Speaker:dinner
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:join
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn.
Speaker:No,
Speaker:this
Speaker:was
Speaker:different.
Speaker:Something
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:handling
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while.
Speaker:It…
Speaker:that
Speaker:thing…
Speaker:was
Speaker:doing
Speaker:something
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
My
eyes
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:mushroom-like
Speaker:pod.
Speaker:They
Speaker:narrowed,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:daggers
Speaker:into
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:it
Speaker:really
Speaker:was,
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:hurting
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Hurting
Speaker:my
Speaker:Bill.
Speaker:I
Speaker:considered
Speaker:stomping
Speaker:it
Speaker:right
Speaker:then
Speaker:and
Speaker:there,
Speaker:destroying
Speaker:it,
Speaker:and
Speaker:letting
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:horrid
Speaker:thing
Speaker:was
Speaker:growing
Speaker:inside
Speaker:splatter
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:dirt
Speaker:floor.
However,
before
Speaker:I
Speaker:straightened
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:it,
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:and
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:William.
Speaker:My
Speaker:jaw
Speaker:clenched
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:grinded
Speaker:my
Speaker:flat
Speaker:teeth.
Speaker:His
Speaker:dizzy
Speaker:spell
Speaker:had
Speaker:passed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:staring
Speaker:right
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.
“Don’t…”
he
Speaker:whispered,
Speaker:pleading
Speaker:with
Speaker:me,
Speaker:tears
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes.
I
knelt
Speaker:down
Speaker:again,
Speaker:slowly,
Speaker:hating
Speaker:myself
Speaker:for
Speaker:not
Speaker:ending
Speaker:it
Speaker:right
Speaker:then
Speaker:and
Speaker:there,
Speaker:but
Speaker:instead,
Speaker:I
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:run
Speaker:my
Speaker:hooves
Speaker:over
Speaker:William’s
Speaker:body.
Speaker:I
Speaker:suspected
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:something
Speaker:he
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:telling
Speaker:me.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:something
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:done
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:led
Speaker:to
Speaker:this
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:weakness.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:normally
Speaker:so
Speaker:strong,
Speaker:and
Speaker:now…
I
found
Speaker:it
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:later
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:ran
Speaker:a
Speaker:hoof
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:sleeve.
Speaker:There
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:a
Speaker:gap
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:wool.
Speaker:A
Speaker:shaved
Speaker:spot,
Speaker:kept
Speaker:shorn
Speaker:for
Speaker:some
Speaker:reason.
Speaker:Roughly,
Speaker:no
Speaker:longer
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:mood
Speaker:to
Speaker:argue,
Speaker:I
Speaker:forced
Speaker:his
Speaker:sleeve
Speaker:up
Speaker:past
Speaker:his
Speaker:wool
Speaker:and
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:bare
Speaker:patch,
Speaker:and
Speaker:there,
Speaker:finally
Speaker:saw
Speaker:what
Speaker:was
Speaker:happening.
In
the
Speaker:crook
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:love’s
Speaker:elbow,
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:patch
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:short,
Speaker:a
Speaker:bandage
Speaker:sat,
Speaker:covering
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:wound,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:been
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:doctor
Speaker:recently.
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:he
Speaker:hadn’t.
Speaker:He
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:left
Speaker:the
Speaker:farm
Speaker:for
Speaker:weeks,
Speaker:busy
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:repairing
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn
Speaker:and
Speaker:doing
Speaker:whatever it was
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:doing.
Speaker:Quickly,
Speaker:I
Speaker:peeled
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:bandage
Speaker:and
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:shock
Speaker:of
Speaker:dark
Speaker:red
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:still-healing
Speaker:but
Speaker:relatively
Speaker:fresh
Speaker:wound
Speaker:where
Speaker:something
Speaker:thicker
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:needle
Speaker:had
Speaker:pierced
Speaker:his
Speaker:flesh.
“Bill…”
I
Speaker:whispered, “What
Speaker:did
Speaker:it
Speaker:do
Speaker:to
Speaker:you?”
“I
did
Speaker:it
Speaker:myself,
Speaker:Lukas,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:answered,
Speaker:too
Speaker:exhausted
Speaker:to
Speaker:lie
Speaker:anymore, “She
Speaker:needs
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:fed.”
“F-fed…?”
“Nothing
else
Speaker:works,”
Speaker:explained
Speaker:my
Speaker:husband, “Water
Speaker:makes
Speaker:her
Speaker:shrivel.
Speaker:Fertilizer
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:enough.
Speaker:She
Speaker:needs
Speaker:us.
Speaker:Our…”
“Blood…?
You’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:feeding
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:to
Speaker:some…
Speaker:some
Speaker:alien…”
“We
can
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:child,
Speaker:Lukas,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:hissed,
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:widening,
Speaker:desperation
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Speaker:He
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:my
Speaker:arm,
Speaker:but
Speaker:his
Speaker:grip
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:weak. “A
Speaker:little
Speaker:girl.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:little
Speaker:girl.
Speaker:Look
Speaker:again.
Speaker:She’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:sheep.
Speaker:Like
Speaker:me.
Speaker:She
Speaker:took
Speaker:my
Speaker:blood
Speaker:and
Speaker:now
Speaker:she’s…”
I
glanced
Speaker:behind,
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:thing.
Speaker:The
Speaker:light
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:through
Speaker:it
Speaker:but
Speaker:even
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:almost
Speaker:make
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:faint
Speaker:shade
Speaker:within.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:hard
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:this
Speaker:early,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:could
Speaker:have
Speaker:been…
“That’s
insane,
Speaker:Bill.
Speaker:You’re… you’re
Speaker:delirious.
Speaker:Let
Speaker:me
Speaker:take
Speaker:you
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:house.
Speaker:We’ll
Speaker:get
Speaker:something
Speaker:in
Speaker:you.
Speaker:Call
Speaker:the
Speaker:doctor.
Speaker:You’ve
Speaker:lost
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:blood.”
“She’s
my
Speaker:daughter,
Speaker:Lukas,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:carried
Speaker:on,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:raise
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice,
Speaker:but
Speaker:too
Speaker:weak
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak
Speaker:much
Speaker:higher
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:whisper, “Just
Speaker:like
Speaker:we
Speaker:planned.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:like
Speaker:we
Speaker:dreamed.
Speaker:Like…
Speaker:they
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:let
Speaker:us…”
My
jaw
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:stare
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Speaker:Memories
Speaker:ran
Speaker:through
Speaker:my
Speaker:head,
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:excitement
Speaker:in
Speaker:starting
Speaker:this
Speaker:farm
Speaker:and
Speaker:starting
Speaker:a
Speaker:family.
Speaker:The
Speaker:plan
Speaker:to
Speaker:adopt,
Speaker:or
Speaker:foster,
Speaker:or to
Speaker:even
Speaker:try
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:friend
Speaker:who
Speaker:could
Speaker:surrogate
Speaker:for
Speaker:us.
Speaker:A
Speaker:ewe
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:sacrifice
Speaker:for
Speaker:us
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:let
Speaker:us
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:lamb.
Speaker:Nothing
Speaker:ever
Speaker:came
Speaker:of
Speaker:it. The
Speaker:state
Speaker:never
Speaker:approved
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:never
Speaker:found
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:do
Speaker:something
Speaker:so
Speaker:big
Speaker:for
Speaker:us
Speaker:without
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:money
Speaker:we
Speaker:had
Speaker:set
Speaker:by.
Speaker:We
Speaker:made
Speaker:lists
Speaker:of
Speaker:names.
Speaker:We
Speaker:set
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:room
Speaker:for
Speaker:her.
Speaker:We
Speaker:wished
Speaker:so
Speaker:long
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:hard
Speaker:for
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:happen.
Speaker:For
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:appear
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:lives.
Speaker:For
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:true.
But
it
Speaker:never
Speaker:did,
Speaker:and
Speaker:now
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:madness
Speaker:in
Speaker:Bill’s
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:what was
Speaker:going
Speaker:on.
Speaker:It
Speaker:came.
Speaker:Something
Speaker:mysterious,
Speaker:from
Speaker:outer
Speaker:space
Speaker:or
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:depths
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Earth,
Speaker:or
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:just
Speaker:brought
Speaker:into
Speaker:existence
Speaker:and
Speaker:born
Speaker:from
Speaker:our
Speaker:wish,
Speaker:that
Speaker:pod,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:lamb
Speaker:floating
Speaker:within,
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:draining
Speaker:my
Speaker:husband
Speaker:dry.
“Its
going
Speaker:to
Speaker:kill
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Bill,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:explain,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:full
Speaker:weight
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:on
Speaker:was
Speaker:weighing
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:me
Speaker:as
Speaker:well.
Speaker:My
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:turned,
Speaker:glancing
Speaker:past
Speaker:William’s
Speaker:face,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:off
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:middle distance.
Speaker:A
Speaker:lamb.
Speaker:A
Speaker:girl
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:own.
“That’s
why…
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:you.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:give
Speaker:any
Speaker:more,”
Speaker:William
Speaker:explained,
Speaker:tears
Speaker:beginning
Speaker:to
Speaker:stream
Speaker:down
Speaker:his
Speaker:face, “It’s
Speaker:my
Speaker:daughter
Speaker:right
Speaker:now
Speaker:but…
Speaker:it… it
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:ours.”
“O-ours…?”
“She
stopped
Speaker:developing
Speaker:about
Speaker:a
Speaker:week
Speaker:ago,”
Speaker:William
Speaker:muttered,
Speaker:voice
Speaker:calm
Speaker:despite
Speaker:the
Speaker:insanity
Speaker:in
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes, “Stopped
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:tracks.
Speaker:Months
Speaker:of
Speaker:development
Speaker:in
Speaker:days,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:nothing.
Speaker:My…
Speaker:my
Speaker:blood
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:good
Speaker:enough.
Speaker:She
Speaker:needs
Speaker:more.
Speaker:She
Speaker:needs
Speaker:another.
Speaker:Someone
Speaker:else.
Speaker:Someone
Speaker:else
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:her
Speaker:father.
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:her
Speaker:father
Speaker:too.
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:ours.”
Slowly,
William
Speaker:closed
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:even
Speaker:more
Speaker:exhausted
Speaker:after
Speaker:saying
Speaker:his
Speaker:piece.
Speaker:I
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:jaw
Speaker:clenched.
Speaker:He
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:so
Speaker:serene,
Speaker:beautiful,
Speaker:a
Speaker:pure
Speaker:white
Speaker:angel
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:rest.
Speaker:Happy.
Speaker:Happy for the first time
Speaker:since
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:damaged.
Speaker:Possibly
Speaker:happy
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:since
Speaker:we
Speaker:got
Speaker:the
Speaker:quote
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:surrogate
Speaker:and
Speaker:found
Speaker:we
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:afford
Speaker:to
Speaker:pay
Speaker:what
Speaker:she
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:needed.
I
glanced
Speaker:once
Speaker:again
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod.
Speaker:My
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:wide
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:it,
Speaker:hope
Speaker:and
Speaker:fear
Speaker:mingling
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:throat,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:vomit.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:a
Speaker:sheep
Speaker:in there.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:it
Speaker:was,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:eating
Speaker:my
Speaker:love
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:inside
Speaker:out—drinking
Speaker:his
Speaker:blood
Speaker:and
Speaker:taking
Speaker:root
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:heart
Speaker:like
Speaker:some
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:horrific
Speaker:cuckoo
Speaker:bird.
I
stood
Speaker:and,
Speaker:step
Speaker:by
Speaker:step,
Speaker:I
Speaker:approached
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod.
Speaker:It
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:so
Speaker:small,
Speaker:and
Speaker:yet
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:was
Speaker:inside.
Speaker:Still,
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:it
Speaker:again.
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:lantern,
Speaker:brightening
Speaker:it,
Speaker:before
Speaker:setting
Speaker:it
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:far
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod
Speaker:and
Speaker:once
Speaker:again
Speaker:staring
Speaker:through
Speaker:it.
Unlike
before,
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:thing
Speaker:was
Speaker:peacefully
Speaker:floating
Speaker:within
Speaker:indistinguishable
Speaker:from
Speaker:an
Speaker:underdeveloped
Speaker:fetus,
Speaker:now,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:it
Speaker:pressing
Speaker:its
Speaker:face
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:its
Speaker:pod.
Speaker:I
Speaker:drew
Speaker:back,
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:wide,
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:thing
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:it,
Speaker:sensing
Speaker:my
Speaker:proximity.
Speaker:It
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:me,
Speaker:or
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:or
Speaker:other
Speaker:sensed
Speaker:my
Speaker:approach,
Speaker:and
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:William,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:begging
Speaker:for
Speaker:food.
Once
again,
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:urge.
Speaker:Kill
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Stop
Speaker:it
Speaker:from
Speaker:manipulating
Speaker:Bill.
Speaker:End
Speaker:this
Speaker:whole
Speaker:horrific
Speaker:mystery
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:stomp
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:hooves.
Speaker:Bill
Speaker:would
Speaker:never
Speaker:forgive
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Perhaps
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:never
Speaker:forgive
Speaker:myself.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:smart
Speaker:thing
Speaker:to
Speaker:do.
Speaker:End
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Stop
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Kill
Speaker:it.
Instead,
I
Speaker:continued
Speaker:to
Speaker:stare,
Speaker:really
Speaker:taking
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:shape
Speaker:of
Speaker:it—her.
Speaker:Bill
Speaker:was
Speaker:right.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:indistinguishable
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:sight
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:unborn
Speaker:lamb
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:ultrasound.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:an
Speaker:expert,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:months
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:birth,
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:normal
Speaker:pregnancy.
Speaker:Bill
Speaker:had
Speaker:said
Speaker:it
Speaker:developed
Speaker:fast.
Speaker:All
Speaker:it
Speaker:needed
Speaker:was
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:fed.
Speaker:Bill’s
Speaker:blood
Speaker:had
Speaker:turned
Speaker:it
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:shape
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:lamb,
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:by
Speaker:eating
Speaker:his
Speaker:DNA,
Speaker:or
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:as
Speaker:some
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:trick
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:him
Speaker:love
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:her,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:almost
Speaker:make
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:resemblance.
Speaker:The
Speaker:shape
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:face,
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:like
Speaker:Bill’s.
Speaker:If
Speaker:I
Speaker:fed
Speaker:her,
Speaker:would
Speaker:she
Speaker:take
Speaker:on
Speaker:features
Speaker:like
Speaker:mine?
Speaker:Could
Speaker:she
Speaker:really
Speaker:be
Speaker:my
Speaker:daughter
Speaker:too?
Out
in
Speaker:the
Speaker:barn
Speaker:is
Speaker:where
Speaker:we
Speaker:kept
Speaker:our
Speaker:shears.
Speaker:Better
Speaker:to
Speaker:shear
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:out
Speaker:here
Speaker:than
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:house
Speaker:where
Speaker:loose wool and
Speaker:dander
Speaker:could
Speaker:get
Speaker:everywhere.
Speaker:Before
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:doing,
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:taken
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:shears,
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:sleeve
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:cut
Speaker:away
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:wool
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:elbow,
Speaker:where
Speaker:Bill
Speaker:had
Speaker:pierced
Speaker:himself.
Speaker:I
Speaker:returned
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod,
Speaker:skin
Speaker:exposed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:how
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:work.
She
stared
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:face
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:developed
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:smile,
Speaker:but
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:down
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod
Speaker:she
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:glare
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:excitement.
Speaker:Slowly,
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:very
Speaker:tip
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:shears,
Speaker:I
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:the
Speaker:blade
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:skin,
Speaker:just
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:draw
Speaker:blood,
Speaker:and
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:frenzy
Speaker:of
Speaker:movement
Speaker:within
Speaker:the
Speaker:pod.
Speaker:To
Speaker:save
Speaker:William,
Speaker:and
Speaker:to
Speaker:save
Speaker:our
Speaker:dream
Speaker:both in
Speaker:one
Speaker:stroke,
Speaker:I
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:the
Speaker:pit
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:elbow
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:pale
Speaker:membrane
Speaker:between
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:her,
Speaker:and
Speaker:closed
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:sudden,
Speaker:piercing
Speaker:pain.
Our
daughter
Speaker:will
Speaker:grow
Speaker:up
Speaker:strong,
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:ours.
This
was “Barometz”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Roscoe
Speaker:G. Beetle, read
Speaker:for
Speaker:you by Cider,
Speaker:Library
Speaker:Marten.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to The
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.