full

[18+] “A Stop For Recaulking” by Rob MacWolf (part 1 of 2)

[18+] If Shen had wings, like Noah’s dove, he wouldn’t be stuck recaulking the hull of the Irene’s Goodnight.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “A Stop For Recaulking” by Rob MacWolf, who apparently couldn’t get these characters out of his head. You can get his book You Look Lost, Pup from Bewere Books, and you can find more of his stories on itchio.

Read by the Author.

CW: Sexual Content

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https://thevoice.dog/episode/18-a-stop-for-recaulking-by-rob-macwolf-part-1-of-2

Transcript
Speaker:

Voice

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of

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Dog.

Speaker:

Today’s

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story

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is

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the

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first of

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two

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parts

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of “A

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Stop

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For Recaulking”

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by

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Rob

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MacWolf,

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who

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apparently

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couldn’t

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get

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these

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characters

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out

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of

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his

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head.

Speaker:

You can

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get

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his

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book

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You

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Look

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Lost,

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Pup

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from

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Bewere

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Books,

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and

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you

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can

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find

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more

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of

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his

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stories

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on on

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itchio.

Musical

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Production

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by

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Cross,

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a Composed

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Hyena,

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and

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Pascal

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Farful.

Read

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by

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the

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Author.

Please

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enjoy


“A

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Stop For

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Recaulking”

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by

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Rob

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MacWolf, Part 1

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of 2

The

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damn

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song

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had

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been

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stuck

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in

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Shen’s

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head

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all

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day.
If

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I

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had

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wings

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like

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Noah’s

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dove
I’d

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fly

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up the

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river to

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the

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one

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I

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love.
I’d

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fly

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up

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the

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river.

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Wouldn’t

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stay around
Where

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I

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got

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troubles

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to

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hold me down.
I’d say farewell, all my troubles,
Fare thee well.
He kept

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catching

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himself

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doing

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everything,

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from

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rewrapping

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one

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of

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the

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fenders

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to

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leaning

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on

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the

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tiller,

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to

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a

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rhythm

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that

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reappeared

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every

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time

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his

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attention

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fixed

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on

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anything

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except

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trying

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not

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to

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think

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of

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the

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song.

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He

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would

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hear

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it,

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suddenly

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aware

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it’d

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been

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going

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on

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for

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a

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while

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now,

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hummed

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low

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and

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slow,

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and

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only

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then

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realize

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he

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was

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doing

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it

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himself.
I

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got

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no

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money

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for

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to

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buy

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my

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meal.
Oh

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my

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honey, I

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know

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just

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how

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you feel.
Oh poor honey, don’t you wait for me.
You

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fly

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the river, where you’re gonna be free.
And say farewell, poor honey,
Fare thee well.
The worst was

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that

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it

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made

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recaulking

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the

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inner

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hull

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take

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longer.

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The

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Irene’s

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Goodnight

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had

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been

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bumped

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by

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a

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steamship

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three

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days

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ago,

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after

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they

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loaded

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up

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in

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Minneapolis,

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and

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hell

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if

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the

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captain

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hadn’t

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cussed

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eighty

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shades

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of

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blue

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hell at

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the

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pilot,

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the

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captain,

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the

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crew,

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and

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any

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of

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the

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rich

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and

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fancy

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passengers

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foolish

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enough

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to

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step

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above

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decks

Speaker:

and

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see

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what

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the

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commotion

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was.

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While she

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hadn’t

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broken—she

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was

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too

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tough

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a

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lady

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for

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that—a

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plank

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or

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two

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had

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been

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knocked

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enough

Speaker:

that

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river

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water

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was

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slowly

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seeping

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into

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the

Speaker:

very

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bottom

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of

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the

Speaker:

hold.

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Nobody

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was

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entirely

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sure

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where.

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Captain

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Fitzulmo

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said

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it’d

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be

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somewhere

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around

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where

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they’d

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been

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hit.

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Cairo

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thought

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it

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was

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further

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forward

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and

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lower

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down.

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Early,

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the

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cook,

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for

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some

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blasted

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reason

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nobody

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but

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the

Speaker:

killdeer

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himself

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could

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hope

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to

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understand,

Speaker:

insisted

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it

Speaker:

would

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be

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on

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the

Speaker:

opposite

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side

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of

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the

Speaker:

hull

Speaker:

from

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that.
But,

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Aitkin

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had

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pointed

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out, the

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Irene’s

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Goodnight

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was

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nearly

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due

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for

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recaulking

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anyway.

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If

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they

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started

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with

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where

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they’d

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been

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bumped,

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and then

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worked

Speaker:

their way round

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the

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inside,

Speaker:

they’d have

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to

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find the

Speaker:

leak

Speaker:

eventually.
Shen

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would

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never

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deny

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he

Speaker:

loved

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the

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big

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lug of a

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beaver

Speaker:

who

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shared

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hammock,

Speaker:

but

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of

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

times

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to

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start

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talking

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good

Speaker:

sense

Speaker:

had he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pick

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that

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one? And

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the

Speaker:

captain

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really

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had

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to

Speaker:

agree?

Speaker:

Because

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now

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

flecks

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of

Speaker:

sap

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ferret’s

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fur,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

paws

Speaker:

were

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covered

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in

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pine

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tar,

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and

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his

Speaker:

trousers

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were

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probably

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ruined.
Aitkin

Speaker:

and

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the

Speaker:

captain

Speaker:

had

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both

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told

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him

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

ought to have

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taken

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them

Speaker:

off

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before he

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started,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Shen

Speaker:

had

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seen

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the

Speaker:

split-second

Speaker:

glance

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beaver

Speaker:

and otter

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shared

Speaker:

when

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they’d

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offered

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

little

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nugget

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

advice,

Speaker:

so

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he’d

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rolled

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were.
I

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got

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no

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money,

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couldn’t

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get

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no sleep.
Can’t get no water for to wash my feet.
Can’t get

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no

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water,

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for

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my

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throat

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so

Speaker:

dry.
Ain’t

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no

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more

Speaker:

river

Speaker:

for me

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to fly.
Sing farewell, my honey
Fare thee well.
In just

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

taken

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

pants,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

brush

Speaker:

in Shen’s

Speaker:

paw

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

slipped

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lazy,

Speaker:

back-and-forth,

Speaker:

tidelike

Speaker:

tune

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

poor

Speaker:

folks

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

river

Speaker:

somewhere.
Which

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sort

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of

Speaker:

song

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

riverman

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

Shen

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

picked

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

sure,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can’t

Speaker:

expect

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

near-sick

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

frustration

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

smell

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

pine

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

turpentine

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

admit

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that.
“Still

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

lad?”

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

low

Speaker:

voiced otter

Speaker:

descending

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cargo

Speaker:

ramp.
“Aye,

Speaker:

Captain.”

Speaker:

Shen

Speaker:

answered. “She

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

seem

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

takin’

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

more,

Speaker:

though.”
“Well that’s somethin’” Fitzulmo rapped his knuckles

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hull. “I’ve a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sue

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pants

Speaker:

off that mother-lovin

Speaker:

bastard as couldn’t keep his

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

river.

Speaker:

Man

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

business

Speaker:

callin’ hisself

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

riverman.

Speaker:

Though…

Speaker:

speakin’

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

pants.”
Shen

Speaker:

grimaced.

Speaker:

Soft

Speaker:

cotton

Speaker:

trousers

Speaker:

weren’t

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

by,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

ones

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

unlikely

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

future

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

rags

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

deck-swabbing.
“I don’t

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

so,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

otter

Speaker:

ruffled

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fur

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

Shen’s

Speaker:

ears,

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pawful of

Speaker:

sticky

Speaker:

sap

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

trouble, “‘Cept maybe

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

sayin’

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Early.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

did,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

recall,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

fact

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

so.”
Shen

Speaker:

sighed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

allowed

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

yes,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

indeed

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

that.
“I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

bringin’ ya this fresh pot of tar,” Fitzulmo

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

down the

Speaker:

cast

Speaker:

iron

Speaker:

kettle

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pooled

Speaker:

water,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

sizzled

Speaker:

gently

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

busy

Speaker:

keeping

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

metal

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

scorching

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wood. “But

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

wore

Speaker:

out.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

turn,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

guess.”
“I’m

Speaker:

alright,

Speaker:

Captain-”

Speaker:

Shen

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

protest,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

otter

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

folding

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

coat

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

trousers

Speaker:

atop

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

barrel

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

corner

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hold.
“You

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

soap

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

kitchen

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wash

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

gunk outa yer

Speaker:

fur,

Speaker:

you hear

Speaker:

lad?”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain

Speaker:

jerked

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ramp. “And

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

order.”
No

Speaker:

point

Speaker:

arguing

Speaker:

then.

Speaker:

The tar

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pads

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

feet,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

squelched

Speaker:

toward

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ramp, plucked

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

soles

Speaker:

with a

Speaker:

near-crackling

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

took,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

slow

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

down.
The

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

slow

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

getting a

Speaker:

real

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

captain,

Speaker:

bent

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

waterline

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

planks:

planks:

solid

planks:

flanks,

planks:

short

planks:

powerful

planks:

legs,

planks:

thick

planks:

tail,

planks:

soft-furred

planks:

sack,

planks:

heavy

planks:

balls

planks:

within.
Not

planks:

that Shen

planks:

hadn’t

planks:

taken

planks:

the

planks:

opportunity

planks:

or

planks:

two

planks:

for

planks:

much

planks:

closer

planks:

inspections

planks:

than

planks:

this.
Rivermen

planks:

had

planks:

a

planks:

certain

planks:

reputation,

planks:

you

planks:

see.
“You

planks:

know,”

planks:

Fitzulmo

planks:

grinned,

planks:

without

planks:

turning

planks:

to

planks:

look, “some

planks:

captains’d

planks:

punish

planks:

a lad for bein’

planks:

so

planks:

slow

planks:

about

planks:

obeyin’

planks:

orders.”
Shen

planks:

gulped

planks:

an

planks:

apology

planks:

and

planks:

scrambled

planks:

out.
He

planks:

tossed

planks:

the

planks:

tarry mess

planks:

that

planks:

had

planks:

used

planks:

to

planks:

be

planks:

his

planks:

trousers

planks:

on

planks:

the

planks:

ragpile

planks:

as he went, and then realized what he’d begun walking in time

planks:

to.

planks:

And

planks:

humming.
If

planks:

I had wings I’d rise above.
Instead I sit here longing for

planks:

the

planks:

one

planks:

I love
Sit

planks:

here

planks:

longing,

planks:

try

planks:

my

planks:

best

planks:

to

planks:

sing.
But

planks:

I’d

planks:

trade my song in for a pair of wings.
And say farewell, my longing
Fare thee well.

—⚶—

“Oh what’s that yer

planks:

hummin’ there?” Aitkin

planks:

splashed

planks:

into

planks:

the

planks:

water

planks:

beside

planks:

Shen

planks:

the

planks:

same

planks:

way

planks:

the

planks:

beaver

planks:

did

everything:

everything:

all

everything:

at

everything:

once,

everything:

without

everything:

much

everything:

forethought,

everything:

and

everything:

very

everything:

contentedly. “It’s

everything:

right

everything:

pretty!”
“I

everything:

got no idea,”

everything:

Shen admitted

everything:

once

everything:

he’d

everything:

shaken

everything:

the

everything:

splash

everything:

remnants

everything:

out

everything:

of

everything:

his

everything:

face,

everything:

which

everything:

was

everything:

something

everything:

you

everything:

just

everything:

got

everything:

used

everything:

to

everything:

doing

everything:

if

everything:

you

everything:

shared

everything:

a

everything:

hammock

everything:

with

everything:

Aitkin.
Before

everything:

he’d

everything:

taken

everything:

to

everything:

the

everything:

water,

everything:

he’d

everything:

asked

everything:

around

everything:

the

everything:

deck.

everything:

Cairo,

everything:

the

everything:

green heron

everything:

on

everything:

the

everything:

tiller,

everything:

hadn’t

everything:

recognized

everything:

the

everything:

song.

everything:

Weiser,

everything:

the

everything:

muskrat,

everything:

had

everything:

ignored

everything:

him.

everything:

Sven

everything:

and

everything:

Rufus,

everything:

the

everything:

otters

everything:

who

everything:

whatever

everything:

they

everything:

claimed

everything:

were

everything:

clearly

everything:

not

everything:

brothers,

everything:

had

everything:

been

everything:

nowhere

everything:

to

everything:

be

everything:

found,

everything:

which

everything:

probably

everything:

meant

everything:

they

everything:

were

everything:

below

everything:

in

everything:

their

everything:

shared

everything:

hammock.
He’d

everything:

tried

everything:

humming

everything:

a

everything:

few

everything:

bars

everything:

to

everything:

Early

everything:

in

everything:

the

cookshack:


I

cookshack:

remember one evening in the pouring rain.
And in my heart, nothing much but pain.
And in my heart was a

cookshack:

crying

cookshack:

shame,
Ain't got nobody but my heart to blame.
Say farewell, my heartache,
Fare thee well.
“Listen here, you,” the

cookshack:

killdeer had grumbled, “If my sainted Ma’d tol

cookshack:

me, ‘Early Fennimore, one day you’se gon’ hafta find a way

cookshack:

t’cook

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

meal

cookshack:

fer

cookshack:

eight

cookshack:

no-good

cookshack:

scoundrels,

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

same

cookshack:

time

cookshack:

as

cookshack:

kettles-a tar are

cookshack:

stinkin’

cookshack:

up

cookshack:

yer

cookshack:

kitchen

cookshack:

to

cookshack:

glory-in-the-highest, but

cookshack:

watch

cookshack:

out

cookshack:

fer

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

naked,

cookshack:

wet,

cookshack:

dirty

cookshack:

ferret

cookshack:

as is gon’ bust in the door like a goddamn jack in

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

box

cookshack:

and

cookshack:

try

cookshack:

makin’

cookshack:

you

cookshack:

t’be

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

musical

cookshack:

perfessor

cookshack:

as

cookshack:

well!’

cookshack:

I woulda

cookshack:

called

cookshack:

her

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

liar!

cookshack:

My

cookshack:

own

cookshack:

mother!”

cookshack:

He

cookshack:

pointed

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

vibrantly

cookshack:

orange

cookshack:

claw

cookshack:

at Shen’s

cookshack:

face

cookshack:

like a lance. “Is that what you wanna make-a

cookshack:

me?

cookshack:

A

cookshack:

man

cookshack:

who’d

cookshack:

call

cookshack:

hissown

cookshack:

mother

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

liar?!”
“You

cookshack:

coulda

cookshack:

just

cookshack:

said

cookshack:

you don’t

cookshack:

know!”

cookshack:

Shen

cookshack:

had

cookshack:

grabbed

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

chunk

cookshack:

of

cookshack:

soap

cookshack:

he’d

cookshack:

supposedly

cookshack:

come

cookshack:

for

cookshack:

and

cookshack:

turned

cookshack:

to

cookshack:

leave.
“I

cookshack:

didn’t

cookshack:

say

cookshack:

that!”

cookshack:

Early

cookshack:

had

cookshack:

shouted

cookshack:

after

cookshack:

him.
I

cookshack:

remember

cookshack:

one

cookshack:

evening

cookshack:

it

cookshack:

was

cookshack:

pouring

cookshack:

rain
Now

cookshack:

it

cookshack:

ain’t

cookshack:

never

cookshack:

gonna

cookshack:

rain

cookshack:

again.
Now it ain't never getting off my chest.
Got no place for laying all my grief to rest.
Say farewell, my grieving,
Say farewell.
“Huh!”

cookshack:

The beaver cocked

cookshack:

his

cookshack:

head

cookshack:

and flicked

cookshack:

his

cookshack:

ear, “well, it

cookshack:

do

cookshack:

sound

cookshack:

more’n

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

bit

cookshack:

familiar,

cookshack:

there.

cookshack:

But

cookshack:

I

cookshack:

couldn’t’ve

cookshack:

put

cookshack:

mah

cookshack:

paw

cookshack:

on

cookshack:

it

cookshack:

if

cookshack:

ya

cookshack:

asked.”
The

cookshack:

Irene’s

cookshack:

Goodnight

cookshack:

had poled

cookshack:

her

cookshack:

way

cookshack:

out

cookshack:

of

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

main stream

cookshack:

and

cookshack:

anchored

cookshack:

behind

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

first

cookshack:

usable

cookshack:

sandbar

cookshack:

Cairo

cookshack:

could

cookshack:

sight,

cookshack:

in

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

slow

cookshack:

outer

cookshack:

reaches

cookshack:

of

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

wide

cookshack:

meander

cookshack:

whose

cookshack:

retirement

cookshack:

into

cookshack:

an

cookshack:

oxbow

cookshack:

was

cookshack:

only

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

matter

cookshack:

of

cookshack:

waiting

cookshack:

for

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

next

cookshack:

spring

cookshack:

flood.

cookshack:

If worst had

cookshack:

come

cookshack:

to

cookshack:

worst,

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

most

cookshack:

she

cookshack:

could

cookshack:

possibly

cookshack:

have

cookshack:

sunk

cookshack:

here

cookshack:

was

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

foot or

cookshack:

two.

cookshack:

And

cookshack:

she’d

cookshack:

be

cookshack:

out

cookshack:

of

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

way

cookshack:

of

cookshack:

any

cookshack:

other

cookshack:

traffic,

cookshack:

since

cookshack:

that

cookshack:

had

cookshack:

been

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

problem

cookshack:

in

cookshack:

the

cookshack:

first

cookshack:

place,

cookshack:

while

cookshack:

they

cookshack:

finished

cookshack:

repairs.
Aitkin

cookshack:

was

cookshack:

a

cookshack:

devoted

cookshack:

and

cookshack:

inexhaustible

shipmate:

shipmate:

gentle,

shipmate:

comfortable,

shipmate:

better

shipmate:

than

shipmate:

a

shipmate:

quilt

shipmate:

on

shipmate:

a

shipmate:

cold

shipmate:

night.

shipmate:

Tended

shipmate:

to

shipmate:

forget

shipmate:

to

shipmate:

put

shipmate:

on

shipmate:

clothes

shipmate:

at

shipmate:

all,

shipmate:

working

shipmate:

or

shipmate:

swimming,

shipmate:

had

shipmate:

to

shipmate:

be

shipmate:

reminded

shipmate:

when

shipmate:

they

shipmate:

had

shipmate:

a

shipmate:

passenger or

shipmate:

put

shipmate:

into

port:

port:

the

port:

record,

port:

as

port:

far

port:

Shen had

port:

kept

port:

track, was

port:

a

port:

week

port:

and

port:

a

port:

half

port:

the

port:

beaver

port:

had

port:

spent

port:

naked

port:

as

port:

the

port:

day

port:

he

port:

was

port:

born.

port:

As

port:

lovers

port:

went,

port:

well,

port:

Shen

port:

didn’t

port:

have

port:

much

port:

in

port:

the

port:

way

port:

of

port:

basis

port:

for

port:

comparison,

port:

but

port:

he’d

port:

have

port:

taken

port:

any bet

port:

that

port:

Aitkin

port:

was

port:

still

port:

the

port:

best

port:

riverman

port:

to

port:

share

port:

a

port:

hammock

port:

with

port:

anywhere

port:

on

port:

the

port:

Ohio,

port:

Mississippi,

port:

and

port:

Missouri

port:

put

port:

together.

port:

Presumably

port:

Captain

port:

Fitzulmo

port:

would

port:

back

port:

him

port:

up,

port:

which

port:

was

port:

always

port:

encouraging.

port:

Aitkin

port:

had

port:

been

port:

his

port:

once,

port:

Shen

port:

knew,

port:

before

port:

he

port:

arrived.

port:

Shen

port:

might

port:

not

port:

know

port:

all

port:

the

port:

details,

port:

but

port:

he

port:

knew

port:

he

port:

wasn’t

port:

the

port:

only

port:

one

port:

who

port:

still

port:

took

port:

the

port:

occasional

port:

opportunity

port:

to

port:

get

port:

close

port:

to

port:

the

port:

captain.
“I’m

port:

just

port:

tired

port:

of havin’ it

port:

sung

port:

over

port:

and

port:

over

port:

in

port:

my

port:

head,”

port:

the

port:

ferret

port:

returned

port:

to

port:

his

port:

diligent

port:

scrubbing.

port:

At

port:

this

port:

rate,

port:

he’d

port:

be

port:

happy

port:

to

port:

report,

port:

they

port:

could

port:

anticipate

port:

the

port:

total

port:

eradication

port:

of

port:

pine

port:

tar,

port:

creosote,

port:

sap,

port:

and

port:

all

port:

manner

port:

of

port:

resins

port:

from

port:

his

port:

fur

port:

by

port:

Christmas,

port:

provided

port:

the

port:

line

port:

of

port:

offense

port:

held

port:

firm.
Rolling

port:

river is muddy and

port:

wide
Can’t hope to cross him, less I hitch a ride.
Can’t get across him, gonna have to stay
And wait till my troubles get washed away.
Say farewell, my troubles
Fare thee well.
Shen stood

port:

chest-deep

port:

in

port:

cool

port:

waters,

port:

under

port:

warm

port:

summer

port:

sun

port:

as

port:

it

port:

clambered

port:

across

port:

himalaya-sized

port:

cumulonimbus

port:

whose

port:

shadows

port:

moved slowly

port:

over

port:

the

port:

grasslands

port:

like

port:

the

port:

ghosts of

port:

some unthinkably

port:

huge

port:

herd

port:

animal

port:

from

port:

the

port:

distant

port:

past.

port:

To

port:

his

port:

back

port:

lay

port:

the

port:

Irene’s

port:

Goodnight,

port:

shielding

port:

him

port:

from

port:

view

port:

on

port:

this bank.

port:

Before

port:

him

port:

was

port:

a

port:

bar

port:

of

port:

fine

port:

white

port:

sand,

port:

carefully

port:

smoothed

port:

into

port:

ripples

port:

by

port:

receding

port:

currents,

port:

as

port:

if

port:

they

port:

had

port:

been

port:

set

port:

a

port:

meditation

port:

exercise.

port:

Across

port:

that, a

port:

good

port:

couple

port:

furlongs-width

port:

of

river:

glorious,

river:

sparkling,

river:

dangerous,

river:

joyous,

river:

alive.

river:

Rivermen

river:

had

river:

a

river:

certain

river:

reputation,

river:

sure,

river:

but

river:

the

river:

river

river:

didn’t

river:

disapprove.

river:

He

river:

didn’t

river:

mind

river:

seeing

river:

a

river:

man

river:

with

river:

his

river:

clothes

river:

off.

river:

He

river:

never

river:

had

river:

any

river:

call

river:

to

river:

wear

river:

the

river:

things

river:

himself.

river:

Beyond

river:

that

river:

was

river:

the

river:

opposite

river:

shore.

river:

Missouri,

river:

maybe,

river:

or

river:

Iowa.

river:

Fields

river:

of

river:

corn,

river:

fields

river:

of

river:

wheat,

river:

fields

river:

of

river:

nothing

river:

but

river:

field,

river:

outlined

river:

by

river:

fresh-faced,

river:

new

river:

planted

river:

osage

river:

orange

river:

seedlings with

river:

big

river:

ambitions of

river:

becoming

river:

hedges

river:

and

river:

windbreaks.

river:

Nothing

river:

to

river:

stop

river:

folks

river:

seeing him from there,

river:

of

river:

course,

river:

but

river:

so

river:

what

river:

if

river:

they

river:

did?

river:

Nearest

river:

bridge

river:

had been a

river:

half-day

river:

upriver.

river:

What were

river:

they

river:

gonna

river:

do

river:

about

river:

it

river:

from

river:

there?
A

river:

warm,

river:

steady

river:

southwest

river:

wind

river:

ruffled

river:

the

river:

river’s

river:

surface

river:

and

river:

brought

river:

Shen

river:

the

river:

scent

river:

of

river:

sweet

river:

grass

river:

and

river:

wildflowers.
What

river:

millionaires,

river:

what

river:

presidents,

river:

what

river:

emperors

river:

had

river:

ever

river:

had

river:

a

river:

finer

river:

bath

river:

than

river:

this?
“I

river:

said,”

river:

Aitkin

river:

repeated,

river:

and

river:

Shen

river:

jumped, “lemme

river:

scrub

river:

yer

river:

back

river:

there.”
“Oh,

river:

sure,

river:

thanks.”

river:

Not

river:

like

river:

there

river:

was

river:

anything

river:

debaucherous

river:

about

river:

a

river:

fellow

river:

helping

river:

another

river:

wash,

river:

anyway.
In

river:

addition

river:

to

river:

the

river:

strong

river:

claws

river:

teasing

river:

blobs

river:

of

river:

pine

river:

tar

river:

from

river:

between

river:

his

river:

shoulder

river:

blades,

river:

Shen

river:

suddenly

river:

felt

river:

a

river:

wide

river:

muzzle

river:

kiss

river:

the

river:

back

river:

of

river:

his

river:

neck.
Well,

river:

admittedly

river:

in

river:

the

river:

case of

river:

these

river:

two

river:

fellows,

river:

they had

river:

spent

river:

every

river:

night

river:

for

river:

the

river:

last

river:

few

river:

years

river:

in

river:

one

river:

another’s

river:

arms.

river:

That

river:

was

river:

maybe

river:

a

river:

factor.
“I

river:

kinda

river:

like

river:

the

river:

smell-a

river:

pine

river:

tar

river:

on

river:

ya, ya know?”

river:

Aitkin rested his chin atop Shen’s head, “Goes

river:

well

river:

with

river:

the

river:

smell-a

river:

water,

river:

and

river:

the

river:

way

river:

ya

river:

just

river:

smell

river:

anyway

river:

after a

river:

good

river:

day’s

river:

work.”
“All

river:

that

river:

adds

river:

up to

river:

somethin’

river:

you

river:

like?”

river:

Shen

river:

asked,

river:

unnecessarily.

river:

The

river:

ferret

river:

could

river:

feel

river:

the

river:

beaver’s

river:

answer

river:

pressing

river:

against

river:

his

river:

tail.

river:

It

river:

felt

river:

pretty

river:

unequivocal.

river:

Perhaps

river:

there

river:

was,

river:

it

river:

had

river:

to

river:

be

river:

admitted,

river:

a

river:

certain

river:

amount

river:

of

river:

fairness

river:

to

river:

that

river:

certain

river:

reputation

river:

rivermen

river:

had.
Shen

river:

couldn’t

river:

resist

river:

a

river:

quick

river:

glance

river:

around,

river:

in

river:

case

river:

there

river:

were

river:

any

river:

shorebound

river:

folks

river:

here

river:

to

river:

be

river:

shocked

river:

and

river:

appalled.

river:

It

river:

wasn’t

river:

so

river:

very

river:

long

river:

ago,

river:

as

river:

shorebound

river:

folk

river:

reckoned

river:

time

river:

at

river:

least,

river:

that

river:

the

river:

man

river:

Shen

river:

had

river:

once

river:

been—boy

river:

if

river:

he

river:

was

river:

honest—would

river:

have

river:

been

river:

just

river:

as

river:

shocked.

river:

Just

river:

as

river:

appalled.

river:

But

river:

then,

river:

Shen

river:

wasn’t

river:

shorebound

river:

folk,

river:

not anymore,

river:

and

river:

as

river:

rivermen

river:

like

river:

him

river:

reckoned

river:

time

river:

that

river:

might

river:

as

river:

well

river:

have

river:

another

river:

eon.

river:

He

river:

paid

river:

no

river:

more

river:

mind

river:

to

river:

the

river:

way

river:

poor

river:

shorebound

river:

folk

river:

reckoned

river:

time

river:

than

river:

to

river:

whether

river:

he

river:

was

river:

like

river:

to

river:

shock

river:

or

river:

appall

river:

any

river:

one

river:

of

river:

them.
If

river:

they

river:

didn’t

river:

want

river:

to

river:

get

river:

so

river:

shocking

river:

appalled

river:

then what

river:

were

river:

they

river:

looking

river:

at

river:

him

river:

for?
Shen

river:

lifted

river:

his

river:

feet

river:

a

river:

little,

river:

let

river:

the

river:

river

river:

take

river:

the

river:

weight

river:

of

river:

his

river:

legs,

river:

let Aitkin

river:

take

river:

the

river:

weight

river:

of

river:

his

river:

chest,

river:

and

river:

pulled

river:

the beavers arms

river:

around

river:

himself.

river:

He

river:

leaned

river:

over

river:

his

river:

shoulder

river:

to

river:

bury

river:

his

river:

face

river:

in

river:

Aitkin’s

river:

soft

river:

neck

river:

fur-
-and

river:

froze,

river:

because

river:

his

river:

mind had

river:

just

river:

shouted

river:

at

him:


If

him:

I

him:

had

him:

wings,

him:

like some kinda dove
I’d be reunited with the one I love.
I’d be reunited, I’d fly away
Into

him:

the evening and the cool of day
And say farewell, to this prison,
Fare thee well.
“Gawtdamn, I can’t

him:

manage

him:

nothin’

him:

today

him:

with

him:

this

him:

song

him:

in

him:

my

him:

head!”
Aitkin

him:

laughed

him:

and

him:

held

him:

him

him:

tighter.
Shen

him:

slumped

him:

forward. “I’m glad

him:

one

him:

of

him:

us

him:

thinks

him:

it’s

him:

funny.”
But

him:

Aitkin

him:

didn’t

him:

let

him:

him

him:

pull

him:

away.

him:

The

him:

beaver

him:

leaned

him:

forward

him:

too,

him:

till

him:

he

him:

loomed

him:

over

him:

and

him:

almost

him:

began

him:

to

him:

curl

him:

up

him:

around

him:

the

him:

ferret. “Ya

him:

know,”

him:

his

him:

shipmate

him:

plucked a

him:

tiny

him:

nodule of

him:

tar

him:

from the

him:

light

him:

fur

him:

that

him:

stuck

him:

out

him:

the

him:

edge

him:

of

him:

Shen’s

him:

ear, “this

him:

stuff’s

him:

a

him:

bugger’n

him:

a

him:

half

him:

to

him:

get

him:

rid

him:

of.”
Shen’s

him:

snout

him:

wrinkled. “You

him:

don’t

him:

say.”
Aitkin

him:

laughed

him:

again. “See,

him:

that’s

him:

where ya

him:

always get inta trouble, Shen. Yer jes too smart. Ya get a

him:

problem,

him:

an’ ya

him:

can tell

him:

ya gotta

him:

get

him:

to

him:

t’other

him:

side

him:

of

him:

it,

him:

so

him:

ya

him:

do

him:

what’s smart: ya

him:

try’n

him:

go

him:

though!”
There

him:

had

him:

been

him:

a

him:

time

him:

when

him:

this

him:

would

him:

have

him:

frustrated

him:

and confused

him:

the

him:

ferret.

him:

But

him:

by

him:

now

him:

he

him:

reckoned

him:

he

him:

knew

him:

the

him:

man

him:

well

him:

enough

him:

to

him:

guess

him:

this

him:

was

him:

supposed

him:

to

him:

be

him:

going

him:

somewhere.
“Now

him:

me,

him:

I

him:

don’t

him:

care

him:

to

him:

tax

him:

my

him:

head

him:

over

him:

what

him:

I

him:

can’t

him:

do

him:

nothin’

about:

about:

it’s a mess-a

about:

trouble to no purpose. And when ya jus take

about:

it

about:

fer

about:

granted

about:

ya’ll

about:

find

about:

a

about:

way

about:

around

about:

problems

about:

eventually,

about:

then

about:

turns

about:

out

about:

there’s

about:

uses to em, ya know?

about:

That’s how the river does

about:

things,

about:

after

about:

all.”
Shen

about:

ducked

about:

under

about:

the

about:

water,

about:

swam

about:

between

about:

Aitkin’s

about:

legs

about:

and

about:

emerged

about:

behind

about:

him “Are

about:

you

about:

tryin’

about:

to

about:

tell

about:

me

about:

to

about:

go

about:

around

about:

the

about:

pine

about:

tar?”
“Well, kinda,” it only took Aitkin a quick moment

about:

to

about:

backstroke

about:

around

about:

behind

about:

Shen

about:

again, but

about:

then

about:

the

about:

beaver

about:

had

about:

been

about:

swimming

about:

since

about:

the

about:

day

about:

he’d

about:

been

about:

born,

about:

and

about:

Shen

about:

had

about:

only

about:

learned to

about:

swim

about:

when

about:

he’d joined the

about:

crew. “The

about:

whole point-a

about:

pine

about:

tar is that

about:

the

about:

river

about:

don’t

about:

go

about:

through

about:

it,

about:

it

about:

goes

about:

around

about:

it.

about:

That’s

about:

why

about:

ya

about:

put

about:

it

about:

on

about:

the

about:

boat,

about:

isn’t it?”
“That

about:

don’t

about:

help

about:

get it

about:

outa my

about:

fur.”
“Yer not

about:

wrong,

about:

but

about:

that

about:

ain’t

about:

the

about:

point.”

about:

Aitkin

about:

resumed

about:

scrubbing

about:

the

about:

ferret’s

about:

back

about:

in

about:

earnest. “It’s

about:

a

about:

bugger’n

about:

a

about:

half

about:

to

about:

get

about:

rid

about:

of,

about:

but

about:

that’s

about:

the

about:

thing

about:

that

about:

means

about:

ya

about:

can

about:

use

about:

it.”
“But

about:

that

about:

ain’t

about:

the

about:

point

about:

either,

about:

though?”

about:

Shen

about:

frowned. “We already

about:

used

about:

it!

about:

That’s

about:

how

about:

it’s

about:

got

about:

into

about:

my

about:

fur

about:

in

about:

the

about:

first

about:

place!”
“Ya

about:

know what,

about:

I

about:

dunno why I’m-a tryin’-a

about:

explain,”

about:

Aitkin

about:

pointed

about:

a

about:

thumb

about:

at

about:

the

about:

sandbar. “I

about:

aint

about:

never

about:

been

about:

good

about:

at

about:

explainin’, ya know that. C’mon, I’ll

about:

show

about:

ya.”



This

about:

was

about:

the

about:

first

about:

of

about:

two

about:

parts

about:

of “A

about:

Stop

about:

For Recaulking” by Rob MacWolf,

about:

read

about:

by

about:

the

about:

Author. Musical

about:

production

about:

by

about:

Cross, a

about:

Composed

about:

Hyena,

about:

and

about:

Pascal

about:

Farful.

about:

Tune

about:

in

about:

next

about:

time

about:

to

about:

find

about:

out

about:

what

about:

Aitkin

about:

is

about:

talking

about:

about,

about:

and

about:

if

about:

it

about:

can

about:

get

about:

the

about:

song

about:

out

about:

of

about:

Shen’s

about:

head.

As

about:

always,

about:

you

about:

can

about:

find

about:

more

about:

stories

about:

on

about:

the

about:

web

about:

at

about:

thevoice.dog,

about:

or

about:

find

about:

the

about:

show

about:

wherever

about:

you

about:

get

about:

your

about:

podcasts.

about:

Thank

about:

you

about:

for

about:

listening

about:

to

about:

The

about:

Voice

about:

of

about:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

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The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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