Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“Twenty Miles to McNair” by Mekyro
4th May 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:27:56

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Shownotes

Those who venture to the poles often tell tales of strange happenings under the aurora's light.

Today’s story is “Twenty Miles to McNair” by Mekyro, who is submitting their first short story. You can find more from him at Furaffinity.

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/twenty-miles-to-mcnair-by-mekyro

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Twenty

Speaker:

Miles

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

McNair”

Speaker:

by Mekyro,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

submitting

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

short

Speaker:

story.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Furaffinity.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Twenty

Speaker:

Miles

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

McNair”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Mekyro



Twenty

Speaker:

miles

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

research

Speaker:

base,

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and

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thousands

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beyond

Speaker:

that to

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civilization,

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a

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

July

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

settle

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

windows.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

parents

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

named

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

Remmy,

Speaker:

fearing

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

pick

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

name, Renny,

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

Renard,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

boring

Speaker:

life.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

needn’t

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have

Speaker:

bothered,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox’s

Speaker:

nonhereditary

Speaker:

passion

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

climatology

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

driven

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

here,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

boring

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

possible.
They

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

have,

Speaker:

then,

Speaker:

named

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

Renard,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

known that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

volunteer

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stay

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

remote

Speaker:

weather

Speaker:

station

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

coworker

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

taken

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

helicopter

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

broken

Speaker:

leg,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

month

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

team

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

arrive

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

relieve

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Remmy,

Speaker:

however,

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

isolation.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

enjoyed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

silence,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

watching

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

pile

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

windows

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

zen

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

felt.
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

pressed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

nose

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

window

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

breath,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

silhouette

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Mt.

Speaker:

Ross

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

distance

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fluttering

Speaker:

aurora

Speaker:

australis.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

slow

Speaker:

exhale

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

traced

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

grinning

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fog

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

squeaking

Speaker:

finger.

Speaker:

Nearly

Speaker:

midnight,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

view

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

snack

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

bed.
His

Speaker:

bunkmate

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dozen

Speaker:

jars

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

handmade

Speaker:

salsa

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

chilled.

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

teased

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

expense

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

inconvenience

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

shipping

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

delicate

Speaker:

glass

Speaker:

jars to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ends

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

earth,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

starting

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

appeal

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tangy,

Speaker:

spicy

Speaker:

sensation

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tongue.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

crunch

Speaker:

of the

Speaker:

stale

Speaker:

chips,

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

provided

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

welcome

Speaker:

contrast

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

wet,

Speaker:

boil-in-bag

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

meals

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

past

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

weeks.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

finished

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

entire

Speaker:

jar

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

flicking

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

kitchen

Speaker:

lights.
On

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

bed,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

twisted

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

thermostat

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

degrees,

Speaker:

lifting

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

diesel

Speaker:

generator

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floorboards

Speaker:

start to

Speaker:

thrum.

Speaker:

Satisfied

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

well-spent,

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

coat

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

climbed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

bunk.



The

Speaker:

smell

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

smoke

Speaker:

woke

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

alarm

Speaker:

clock,

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

snapped

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

brain

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

register

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

urgent

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

awake.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

swung

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of the

Speaker:

bed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

stumbled

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet,

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

around in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

darkness for the

Speaker:

lightswitch. His paw flicked

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

frantically

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

housing

Speaker:

module

Speaker:

remained

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

ever.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

nervous

Speaker:

whine

Speaker:

rose

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

throat

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

fumbled

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

underbed

Speaker:

drawer.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flashlight

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

later,

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beam

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

swinging

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the prefabricated

Speaker:

cabin.
Smoke

Speaker:

swirled

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room,

Speaker:

pouring

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

heating

Speaker:

vents

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

pooling

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corrugated

Speaker:

ceiling.
“Oh,

Speaker:

no.

Speaker:

No-no-no.”
Remmy

Speaker:

snatched

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

parka

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rack

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

stormed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

snow had

Speaker:

developed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

blizzard, and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

whipping

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

snatched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

slam

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

steel

Speaker:

wall.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

beat

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rickety

Speaker:

metal

Speaker:

stairs

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground,

Speaker:

barely

Speaker:

registering

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bitter

Speaker:

sting

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his exposed

Speaker:

paws,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flapping

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears.
The

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

level of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab

Speaker:

housed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

diesel

Speaker:

generator,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

reservoir

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

radiators,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

tanks.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

sheet

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

frost

Speaker:

coated

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

underhab,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

handle

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

touch

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wrapped

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

it.
Heat

Speaker:

washed

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

open.

Speaker:

Inside,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

generator

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

fuel

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

bathed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

flame.

Speaker:

Fresh

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

blew

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

from the

Speaker:

outside,

Speaker:

stoking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flames

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

they licked

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

blackened

Speaker:

ceiling.
Remmy

Speaker:

fought

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wind to

Speaker:

drag

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

shut

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

again

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

skittering

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

icy

Speaker:

stairs to

Speaker:

retrieve

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

extinguisher

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

kitchen-

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flames

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

too tall

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

risk

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

underhab.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

grown

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

minute it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

taken

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

flames

Speaker:

clung

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ceiling

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

climbed

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

walls

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

kudzu

Speaker:

vines.

Speaker:

The fox

Speaker:

pulled the pin

Speaker:

on the

Speaker:

extinguisher

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sweep

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flames.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

withered

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stream

Speaker:

blew

Speaker:

past,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

regain

Speaker:

control.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

short lived;

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

extinguisher

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

dry

Speaker:

less

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

minute

Speaker:

later

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

hardly

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dent

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

fire.
He

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

doorway,

Speaker:

paralyzed

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

fear

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

chill wind behind him

Speaker:

reminded

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

remain

Speaker:

hot

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

long.
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

returned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

main

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

squinting

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

teary

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

coughing

Speaker:

as the

Speaker:

smoke

Speaker:

filled

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

lungs.

Speaker:

Fearing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deadly

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

outside,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

snatched

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

goosedown

Speaker:

overpants

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

match

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

parka, his

Speaker:

polarized

Speaker:

goggles,

Speaker:

boots,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

an ushanka

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

pinned

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

thin

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head.
Remmy

Speaker:

stumbled

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stairs

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flames

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

seep

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

baseboard.

Speaker:

Even

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

glacial

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

burning

Speaker:

hab

Speaker:

provided

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

tug

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

pants

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fasten

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

coat

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hat

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

keeping

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

worst of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cold as he

Speaker:

gawked

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tragedy

Speaker:

unfolding

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

him.
When

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shock started

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

wear

Speaker:

off,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

severity

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

situation

Speaker:

dawned

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Too

Speaker:

late,

Speaker:

he had

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

radios

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

drawer

Speaker:

and the

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

handset he’d

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

table.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab,

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

properly

Speaker:

engulfed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

pillars

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

flame that

Speaker:

stretched

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky,

Speaker:

illuminating

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

snow globe.
Someone

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base

Speaker:

would see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

thought,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rescue

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

short

Speaker:

half-hour

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

snow mobile.

Speaker:

Soon

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

rescued.

Speaker:

Soon,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

drinking

Speaker:

hot

Speaker:

chocolate

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

peers

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

toasting

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

vigilance.
The

Speaker:

hours

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab

Speaker:

burned.

Speaker:

Corrugated

Speaker:

sheeting

Speaker:

warped and

Speaker:

flexed,

Speaker:

exposing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

insulation

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wooden

Speaker:

supports

Speaker:

inside.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

retardant

Speaker:

insulation

Speaker:

burned

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

melting

Speaker:

film,

Speaker:

dissipating

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

haphazard

Speaker:

gobs

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

filling

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

acrid

Speaker:

smoke

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

stung

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

sensitive

Speaker:

nose.

Speaker:

Slowly

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

crept

Speaker:

forward,

Speaker:

squeezing

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

tighter

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

as the

Speaker:

flames

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

dissipate,

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

spikes

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

charred

Speaker:

wood

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

misshapen

Speaker:

metal

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

place.
Remmy

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

often

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

radios

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

seep

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

coat,

Speaker:

slowing

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

numbing his

Speaker:

fingers

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

kneeled

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

embers of the

Speaker:

fire,

Speaker:

shielding

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

from the

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

back.
Above

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

cracks

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

storm

Speaker:

revealed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dancing

Speaker:

blues

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

greens

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aurora

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Shivering

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

alone,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

laid

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

warm embers

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

catch

Speaker:

rare

Speaker:

glimpses

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beauty

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

storm.
As

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fade

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

nothing,

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

resigned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

growing

Speaker:

cold,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

silhouette

Speaker:

emerged

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

emberlight.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

figure

Speaker:

lumbered

Speaker:

obstinately

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

dragging

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

sled

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

hip.
Remmy

Speaker:

bolted

Speaker:

upright,

Speaker:

pushing

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ashes. “You

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

it!”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

exclaimed,

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

burst

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

joy

Speaker:

powerful

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

to set

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

numb

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

wagging. “I knew I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

rescued.”
“Rescued?”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

replied,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

up at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

southern

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

them. “You were

Speaker:

expecting

Speaker:

someone?”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

hopefully,

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

woolen

Speaker:

gaiter

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reveal

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

angular,

Speaker:

dour

Speaker:

snout

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

german

Speaker:

shepherd.
Remmy’s

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

flickered

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

as he

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger.

Speaker:

Rather

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

orange

Speaker:

uniforms

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

expedition,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

wore

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

creased

Speaker:

sealskin

Speaker:

coat,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

appeared

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

wide

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he did

Speaker:

tall.

Speaker:

Slitted

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

goggles

Speaker:

hid

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

increasingly

Speaker:

concerned

Speaker:

fox.
“You’re

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base,”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

quavered.
The

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

surveyed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ruins

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab,

Speaker:

kicking it

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

leather

Speaker:

boot.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

lips

Speaker:

curled

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

scowl. “No.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

boat

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

aground

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

storm.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire.”
Remmy

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

studied

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

towering

Speaker:

stranger. It made sense

Speaker:

now. A

Speaker:

coastal

Speaker:

poacher

Speaker:

hunting

Speaker:

feral

Speaker:

seals

Speaker:

amid

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shifting

Speaker:

ice

Speaker:

flows.

Speaker:

He’d

Speaker:

probably

Speaker:

headed

Speaker:

inland

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

search

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

beacon.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

bothered

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

desperate

Speaker:

times

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

point

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

lecturing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cruel

Speaker:

career.
“You’ve

Speaker:

gone

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wrong

Speaker:

way!

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

weather

Speaker:

station.

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

there!”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

hollers

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sudden

Speaker:

gust

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

wind,

Speaker:

pointing to a

Speaker:

faint

Speaker:

glow

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

horizon. “I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

we’re

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to f–f-freeze

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

death,”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wilted.
“So

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

coming?”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

lifting

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

goggles

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

survey

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wreckage.
“I

Speaker:

guess

Speaker:

not,”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

shivered.
“So

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

plan,

Speaker:

then?

Speaker:

Give

Speaker:

up?”
“Well

Speaker:

I-”
“You

Speaker:

came

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pole

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

mettle

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that?”

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

shepherd

Speaker:

scoffed,

Speaker:

apparently

Speaker:

enraged

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lack

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

impending

Speaker:

rescue. “Don’t

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

teach

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

survive?

Speaker:

There’s

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

something,” he demanded.
It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

true,

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

course.

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

taken

Speaker:

survival

Speaker:

courses.

Speaker:

He’d

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

allowed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

board

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

plane

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

mumble ‘Don’t

Speaker:

die.

Speaker:

Shelter,

Speaker:

signal,

Speaker:

fire,

Speaker:

water,

Speaker:

food’

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

sleep.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

instructor

Speaker:

making the

Speaker:

class

Speaker:

full

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

researchers

Speaker:

chant

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

school-children.
Remmy

Speaker:

exhales. “Shelter’s

Speaker:

first,”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

asserting

Speaker:

himself.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

trained

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

this.

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

this.
“Well.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

shelter’s

Speaker:

gone

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

flames,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

nearest

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

bed

Speaker:

is-”
“-Twenty

Speaker:

miles

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

way,”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

squinted

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

distant

Speaker:

light. “My radios

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

inside,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

I’ve

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

signal

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

was.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

they’d

Speaker:

seen

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

now,”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

hummed,

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

darkness.
The

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

rubbed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

chin. “Make

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

break

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

it?

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

beats

Speaker:

freezing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

death,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it’s

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go…”
“We

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

shelter

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wind.

Speaker:

Fire

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

melt

Speaker:

water.

Speaker:

Something

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

eat

Speaker:

to keep

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

Wait

Speaker:

here,”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

barks, turning to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wreckage

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab.
Most

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

thoroughly

Speaker:

torched.

Speaker:

Wide

Speaker:

holes

Speaker:

smouldered

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floorboard,

Speaker:

exposing

Speaker:

blackened

Speaker:

joists.

Speaker:

Corrugated

Speaker:

steel

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shape

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hab

Speaker:

together,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ashes

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

kitchen

Speaker:

knife,

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

cool

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

touch

Speaker:

despite

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

warped

Speaker:

plastic

Speaker:

handle,

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

jars

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

salsa

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

hadn’t

Speaker:

shattered

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

heat,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

insulated

Speaker:

steel

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

bottle. A

Speaker:

snack

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

help,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he’d need

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

journey.
Remmy

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

diesel

Speaker:

shed.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

aid

Speaker:

kit

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

handwarmers

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

road

Speaker:

flares,

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

handy

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ice

Speaker:

sheet.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

open, and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

sank

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

rack

Speaker:

inside.
He

Speaker:

remembered

Speaker:

now.

Speaker:

They’d

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

aid

Speaker:

kit

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

splint

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

partner’s

Speaker:

broken

Speaker:

leg,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rescue

Speaker:

team

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

carried

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

kit

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

helicopter.
Panic

Speaker:

rose at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

throat,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

forced

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

down.
“Don’t

Speaker:

die,

Speaker:

shelter,

Speaker:

signal then

Speaker:

fire.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

fire,”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

surveying

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shed

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

usable

Speaker:

tools.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

plenty

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

diesel

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tanks.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

heater

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

died

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

generator,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

residual

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fuel

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

freezing

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

far,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

he poured

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

he could into

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

bottle.

Speaker:

He had

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

knife and

Speaker:

jars, he

Speaker:

reasoned

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

tarp

Speaker:

tucked

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shed

Speaker:

reminded

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger’s

Speaker:

sled,

Speaker:

and Remmy

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hopes

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

use

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tent,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

failing

Speaker:

that,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sack.
The

Speaker:

task

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

focus

Speaker:

on,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

rescue, his

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

wholly

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

rescuing

Speaker:

himself.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

determination

Speaker:

steeled

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

nerves

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

provided

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

frozen

Speaker:

paws,

Speaker:

lightening

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

weight

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

boots with

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

step. The

Speaker:

enthusiasm

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

infectious,

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

returned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

grinning

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

snout.
“Think

Speaker:

there’s

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

chance?”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

tightening

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strap

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

waist

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

tugging

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

sled.
“Damned

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

isn’t,

Speaker:

but I’m

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

going to

Speaker:

die

Speaker:

here,

Speaker:

let’s

Speaker:

go!”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

hollers,

Speaker:

pocketing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jars

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

slinging

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

supplies

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tarp and

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

back.
Together

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night,

Speaker:

trudging

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

distant

Speaker:

light.

Speaker:

Lifting

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

boots

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

soft

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

effort,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

panting

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

core

Speaker:

despite

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cold. The

Speaker:

shepherd

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

less

Speaker:

bookish

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

athletic,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

hardly

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

struggle

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

did,

Speaker:

despite

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

burden

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

dragged

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

him.
“What’s

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sled?”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

shouting

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crunch

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

boots.
“Jerky.

Speaker:

Firestarters.

Speaker:

Enough

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

short

Speaker:

trip,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pace

Speaker:

up.”
The

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

stayed

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

slowing

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

did,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

speeding

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

whenever

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

burst

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

energy.
“Pace

Speaker:

yourself.

Speaker:

There’s

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

miles

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cover,

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cover

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

leg,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

warned.
His

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

rang

Speaker:

true.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

they’d

Speaker:

gone

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

Remmy’s

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

wane.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

it in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

boots

Speaker:

first,

Speaker:

heavy-laden

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

snow.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

reaching

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

step.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

ached,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

numb.
The

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

grown

Speaker:

too.

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

pick

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

individual

Speaker:

buildings

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fog

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

returned

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

force.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

lean

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

whole

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

progress,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bitter

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

clean

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

parka

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

wearing

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

all.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

fearsome

Speaker:

gust

Speaker:

sapped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sent

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

tumbling

Speaker:

forward

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

himself,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

push

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

and get

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

collapsed.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

breath

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

throat,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

tears

Speaker:

welled

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

freezing

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

goggles as

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

settled

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

fur.
He

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherds

Speaker:

boot

Speaker:

tapping

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulder,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mittened

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

face.
“Not

Speaker:

tonight,

Speaker:

Remmy!

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

tonight!”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

bellowed,

Speaker:

loud

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

clear. “The

Speaker:

plan!

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

plan?”

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

barked

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wind,

Speaker:

hauling

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shuddering

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet.
“D-don’t

Speaker:

die.

Speaker:

Shelter,

Speaker:

signal,

Speaker:

f-fire,

Speaker:

water,

Speaker:

f-food,”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

shivered,

Speaker:

kicking

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

unsteady

Speaker:

boot. “Shelter,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

shelter,”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

mumbled,

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

quiet

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

With

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

energy,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

hollowed

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

circle

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

jammed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tarp

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

kicking

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

bootheel

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

taut

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

surface

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

drum.
Shuddering,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

crawled

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

makeshift

Speaker:

shelter.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

shepherd

Speaker:

follows

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

crouched

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

low.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

thumped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tarp

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

shelter

Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

worst

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

windchill,

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

bay.
Remmy

Speaker:

spent

Speaker:

several

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

curled

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

ball

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

recovered

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strength to

Speaker:

unfurl.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

drank

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

body-temperature

Speaker:

salsa,

Speaker:

sighing

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

tingle

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tongue,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

pouring

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

out onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

flashlight.

Speaker:

Next,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

uncapped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bottle

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

diesel

Speaker:

fuel,

Speaker:

shaky

Speaker:

paws sloshing

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

shelter

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

poured

Speaker:

it into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mason

Speaker:

jar.
The

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

lifted

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

goggles

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

with storied

Speaker:

brown

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

content to

Speaker:

silently

Speaker:

watch the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

work.
Remmy

Speaker:

unbuttoned

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

puffer-parka,

Speaker:

slicing

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thin

Speaker:

strip

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

undershirt

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

knife

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

buttoning

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

chill

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

through to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

fur.
“Not

Speaker:

tonight,

Speaker:

right?”

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

muttered,

Speaker:

jamming

Speaker:

the knife

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jar

Speaker:

lid

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

create

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

slit.
“There’s

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

polar

Speaker:

grit,

Speaker:

Remmy,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

grinned,

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thin

Speaker:

strip

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

jerky

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

chewing

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

with a

Speaker:

slow,

Speaker:

delicate

Speaker:

pace.
Remmy

Speaker:

tugged

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cloth

Speaker:

strip

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

slot

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jar and into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

diesel

Speaker:

below.

Speaker:

After

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

touched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lighter

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cloth, the

Speaker:

makeshift

Speaker:

lamp

Speaker:

filled

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

cave

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

light.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

diesel

Speaker:

burned

Speaker:

with a

Speaker:

foul

Speaker:

smell,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shelter feel

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

degrees

Speaker:

warmer,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

seconds

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wouldn’t

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

traded

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

anything.
The

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

wrestled

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

ornate

Speaker:

flask

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his pocket

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

warming

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lamp,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cupfull

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same.
“You

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

seem

Speaker:

worried.”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

choked

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

hot

Speaker:

cups

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

water.
“You

Speaker:

seem

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

doing,”

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

German

Speaker:

shepherd

Speaker:

replied, “So

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

be?”
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

flicker

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

snug

Speaker:

hat.

Speaker:

Before

Speaker:

they’d

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

he had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

giving

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

Even

Speaker:

now,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

picture

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

setting

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

blinding

Speaker:

snowstorm,

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

idea

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

further

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

ached.

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rest,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

bit…
When

Speaker:

Remmy doesn’t

Speaker:

reply,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd lifts a

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hood,

Speaker:

roughly

Speaker:

where his ears

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

be. “Hear

Speaker:

that?

Speaker:

Wind

Speaker:

stopped.

Speaker:

Break

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

storm.

Speaker:

Might

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

yet.”
Remmy

Speaker:

cocked

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

listen.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a lull

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

storm.

Speaker:

Hardly

Speaker:

placid,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

seemed almost

Speaker:

doable.

Speaker:

Leaving

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

warmth

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lamp and

Speaker:

crawling

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

howling

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

again

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

soon?

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

unthinkable.
The

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

stirred,

Speaker:

crawling

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hole

Speaker:

and forcing

Speaker:

Remmy’s

Speaker:

paw.
“No!

Speaker:

Wait!”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

cried.
“Follow

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

Remmy!

Speaker:

We’re

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

yet!” The

Speaker:

dog

Speaker:

bellowed

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulder.
Remmy

Speaker:

scrambled

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hole

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

slipping

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

view

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

McNair. “Wait!

Speaker:

Slow

Speaker:

down!” The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

hollered,

Speaker:

chill

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

stinging

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

lungs

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

pants,

Speaker:

lunging

Speaker:

forward

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dog.
He

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

steps at

Speaker:

first,

Speaker:

swinging

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

flashlight

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

stomped

Speaker:

along,

Speaker:

trudging

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow.

Speaker:

Sometimes

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

clamber

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

times

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

sank

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hips.

Speaker:

Often,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

ahead

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

stopping

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

beckon

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

matter

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

pleaded,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

stop.
The

Speaker:

storm

Speaker:

again

Speaker:

thickened,

Speaker:

cutting

Speaker:

visibility

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

blocking

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

totally

Speaker:

blind

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

directionless

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

darkness.
“Please!

Speaker:

Come

Speaker:

back!”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

howled,

Speaker:

shuddering

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow.
“Come

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

fox!”

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

howled

Speaker:

back, “You’re

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

done

Speaker:

yet!”
One

Speaker:

leg

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

struggled

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stranger’s

Speaker:

voice.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

longer

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

distance,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

voice.

Speaker:

Sometimes

Speaker:

close-

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

often

Speaker:

far ahead, and he’d have to strain his ears forward and cock his head

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

out.

Speaker:

Every

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

stumbled

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fell,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

called

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

and he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

struggle

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet.
Remmy

Speaker:

stumbled

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

featureless

Speaker:

snow,

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

fixated

Speaker:

downward

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

swung

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

around,

Speaker:

desperately

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd’s

Speaker:

boot

Speaker:

prints

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow. When

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

break

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

storm,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

glowing

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

placed

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

McNair.

Speaker:

Hundreds

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

prefabs

Speaker:

arranged

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

neat

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

rows,

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

groups

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

orange

Speaker:

parkas

Speaker:

crunching

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

them.
“We’re

Speaker:

here!”

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

calls, turning around

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stare into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

blizzard. “McNair!”
He

Speaker:

scanned

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

horizon

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

friend,

Speaker:

yowling at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

lungs as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

stumbled

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gate.

Speaker:

Someone

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base

Speaker:

pointed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

direction,

Speaker:

and he

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

shouting

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

distance.
It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

quivering

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

himself

Speaker:

collapse

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow.



Remmy

Speaker:

woke

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dimly-lit

Speaker:

dorm

Speaker:

room,

Speaker:

coccooned

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dense

Speaker:

layer

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

blankets.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

layer

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

dust

Speaker:

covered

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

furniture,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

tickled

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

nose

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

rose

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

bed.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

distant

Speaker:

conversation

Speaker:

drew

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door.
Outside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

narrow

Speaker:

dorm, a

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

leopard

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

civet

Speaker:

carried

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

quiet

Speaker:

conversation

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

narrow

Speaker:

hallway.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

feline's

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

brightened

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

settled

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fox.
“Our

Speaker:

mystery

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

lives!

Speaker:

Look

Speaker:

who’s

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

awake,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

beamed,

Speaker:

waving

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

civet

Speaker:

off. “One

Speaker:

moment,

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

settle

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

guest

Speaker:

in.”
Remmy

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

exhausted

Speaker:

yawn

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

padded

Speaker:

over. “How

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

out?”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

asked.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

stress

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ordeal

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

tugged

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

whiskers.
The

Speaker:

feline

Speaker:

extended

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

shake. “Eighteen

Speaker:

hours,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

about.

Speaker:

Nice

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

meet

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way,

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

Dr.

Speaker:

Audrey,

Speaker:

field

Speaker:

safety

Speaker:

coordinator.”
He

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

shake. “Remmy.

Speaker:

Climatologist,

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

weather

Speaker:

station

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

south

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

here.”
Dr.

Speaker:

Audrey

Speaker:

drew

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

lips tight

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

nodded. “We

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

patch

Speaker:

on your

Speaker:

parka

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sent

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

snowmobile

Speaker:

team

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

check

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

hab.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

believe

Speaker:

you’d

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gutted hab.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

happened?”
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

winced

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

recalled

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

journey.

Speaker:

He’d

Speaker:

scarcely

Speaker:

believe

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

himself. “Generator

Speaker:

fire.

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

started,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

sleeping

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

time.”
“Some wakeup

Speaker:

call,”

Speaker:

the feline sighed.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulder

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

conciliatory

Speaker:

squeeze

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

motioning

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

follow

Speaker:

her. “You’re

Speaker:

lucky

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

alive,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

added,

Speaker:

glancing

Speaker:

over her

Speaker:

shoulder

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

study

Speaker:

him. “We

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

compass

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

No

Speaker:

radio,

Speaker:

phone,

Speaker:

GPS.

Speaker:

Not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

single

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

pockets.

Speaker:

Blind

Speaker:

luck,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

ended

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

direction.”
Remmy padded

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head. “Not

Speaker:

luck,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

lights glowing

Speaker:

on the

Speaker:

horizon

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way.

Speaker:

Even

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn’t,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

poacher

Speaker:

could.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

eyesight;

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last few

Speaker:

miles.”
Dr.

Speaker:

Audrey

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

abruptly,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Remmy’s

Speaker:

snout

Speaker:

bounced

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

back as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

around. “The

Speaker:

poacher?”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

eyebrow

Speaker:

raised.
“Big

Speaker:

fellow.

Speaker:

German

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sealskin

Speaker:

jacket

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

round

Speaker:

goggles.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

aground and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trip

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

gotten

Speaker:

here just

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

did,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it.”
The

Speaker:

feline

Speaker:

furrowed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brow.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

spotted

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

snapped

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

her as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

regarded

Speaker:

him. “Remmy,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

placing

Speaker:

a paw on his

Speaker:

shoulder, “We

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

strange

Speaker:

characters

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

you.”
Remmy

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

end

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

bristle. “Are

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

sure?

Speaker:

Maybe

Speaker:

someone

Speaker:

else

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

in?

Speaker:

Or

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

he’s

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

there!

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to-”
She

Speaker:

lifted

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

off. “I

Speaker:

understand.

Speaker:

We’ve

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

searched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

snow

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

weather

Speaker:

station,

Speaker:

but I’m

Speaker:

happy

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

send

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

search if it

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

better.”
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

inside

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cheek

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

nodded.
“Remmy,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

gently. “People

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

known

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

experience

Speaker:

hallucinations

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

times

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

distress,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it’s

Speaker:

easy

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

run

Speaker:

wild

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

senses

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

deprived in a

Speaker:

white out.”
Remmy

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

reluctant

Speaker:

hum.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Shepherd had

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

plenty

Speaker:

real

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

time.
“Do

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

likely

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

running

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

himself?

Speaker:

Or

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

chose

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

radioing

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

help?”
He

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sigh

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head. “I

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

checked,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

point.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

cold,

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

cold.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to-”
She

Speaker:

squeezed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

shoulder

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hallway. “It’s

Speaker:

okay.

Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

safe

Speaker:

here,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

assured

Speaker:

him. “You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

use

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dorms

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

building.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

stay empty

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

winter, so

Speaker:

you can

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

run

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

place.

Speaker:

Have

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

before?”
He

Speaker:

explained

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

not,

Speaker:

aside

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

brief

Speaker:

hours

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he’d

Speaker:

arrived

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pole

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

they’d

Speaker:

taken

Speaker:

him to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

weather

Speaker:

station.
She

Speaker:

guided

Speaker:

him through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

building,

Speaker:

pointing

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mess

Speaker:

hall

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

use

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

facilities.

Speaker:

After

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

brief

Speaker:

tour,

Speaker:

Dr.

Speaker:

Audrey

Speaker:

waved him

Speaker:

goodbye

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

encouraged

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

join

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

team

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

breakfast

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

hours.
He

Speaker:

paced

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

dorm

Speaker:

building

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

hour,

Speaker:

occasionally

Speaker:

catching

Speaker:

glimpses

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aurora

Speaker:

australis

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

window.

Speaker:

Nervous

Speaker:

energy

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

dangerous

Speaker:

trek

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

driving

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

crazy

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cramped

Speaker:

space,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wonder

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

polar

Speaker:

sky

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

calling.
He

Speaker:

grabbed

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

parkas

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rack and

Speaker:

buttoned

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

tight

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

stepping

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

air.
The

Speaker:

sky

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

cleared

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

stopped,

Speaker:

lending

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dark,

Speaker:

sparkling

Speaker:

landscape a

Speaker:

deceptively

Speaker:

tranquil

Speaker:

quality.

Speaker:

Rocks

Speaker:

crunched

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

boots

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wandered

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

well-lit

Speaker:

streets

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

isolated

Speaker:

city

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

earth.

Speaker:

Light

Speaker:

pollution

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

aurora

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

less

Speaker:

impressive

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Remmy

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

mind.
He

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edge

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

McNair

Speaker:

base,

Speaker:

scanning

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

horizon

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

signs

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd.

Speaker:

After

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

while,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

sighed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

third

Speaker:

shift

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

quiet,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

suspected

Speaker:

that there’d

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

breakfast

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

hours

Speaker:

away.
Unwilling

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

bed,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

meandered

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

base

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

keep him

Speaker:

busy

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

then.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

sign

Speaker:

promising

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

museum

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

runway, and

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

steel

Speaker:

doors

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

unlocked.
The

Speaker:

museum

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

small-

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

large

Speaker:

room

Speaker:

filled

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

glass

Speaker:

cases,

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

overstuffed

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

curios

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

forgotten

Speaker:

eras.

Speaker:

Remmy’s

Speaker:

muzzle

Speaker:

curled

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Shepherd

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

corner

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room.
“I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

you’d

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

it!”

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

laughed,

Speaker:

bounding

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stoic

Speaker:

canine. His

Speaker:

steps

Speaker:

begin

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

slow

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

gets

Speaker:

closer,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

friend

Speaker:

doesn’t

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

turn

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Closing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

distance,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

plane

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

nose

Speaker:

picks

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

scent

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

wax.
The

Speaker:

fox

Speaker:

furrowed

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

brow

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

circled

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wax

Speaker:

figure,

Speaker:

studying

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

details

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

creased

Speaker:

sealskin

Speaker:

coat

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

determined

Speaker:

expression that

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

sculpted

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

face.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

details

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

uncanny,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

doubt

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

that this

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

likeness

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shepherd

Speaker:

he had

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wastes.
Baffled,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

examined

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

exhibit.

Speaker:

Most

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

clothing,

Speaker:

snow-goggles

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a single

Speaker:

slit

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

horizon,

Speaker:

boots,

Speaker:

buttons,

Speaker:

letters,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

intricately

Speaker:

detailed

Speaker:

model

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sailing

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

fitted

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

icebreaker

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

prow.

Speaker:

Remmy’s

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

bristled

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

didactic

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

foot

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

exhibit.
Captain

Speaker:

Johan

Speaker:

Becker

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

Marten

Speaker:

Bay in spring of 1845. His expedition attempted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reach

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

south

Speaker:

pole

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

driven

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bay

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

pack

Speaker:

ice.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Palinurus

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

aground

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

Seal

Speaker:

point,

Speaker:

stranding

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

overwinter.

Speaker:

Becker

Speaker:

sent

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Mercator

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

search

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

help,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

continuing

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

quest

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pole

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

foot.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

now-beached

Speaker:

Palinurus

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

rescued

Speaker:

later

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

year,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Becker

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

several of his

Speaker:

officers

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

returned.
We

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Giants.




This

Speaker:

was “Twenty

Speaker:

Miles

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

McNair”

Speaker:

by Mekyro, read for you by

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

Werewolf

Speaker:

Hitchhiker.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web

Speaker:

at thevoice.dog,

Speaker:

or 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

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of Dog.

Submissions to The Voice of

Dog should:


be less than ~5000 words per episode (thus less than ~10,000 words total for a two-part submission.)
be about, by, relevant to, and/or containing furry or anthropomorphic characters, issues, etc.
not advocate or praise hateful or bigoted views, groups, or ideologies
not be “A Bummer,” ie, while dark, sad, or grim stories are welcomed, they should contain elements of hope, should “end looking up” so to speak. Specific application of this guideline is up to the interpretation of the Voice of Dog,

Dog should:

and is open for discussion with an interested author regarding a specific work.

Chapters

Video

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