full
“A Fox Walks Into A Bar” by Spottystuff (read by Solomon Harries, part 1 of 2)
Kieran is on the hunt again, but he’s met with difficulties. He needs a lead, and he finds more than he bargained for in the local inn.
Today’s story is the first of two parts of “A Fox Walks Into A Bar” by Spottystuff, an artist who every year qualifies to continue calling himself an author as well, by a vanishingly slim margin. You can find more of his work on SoFurry or BlueSky.
Read by Solomon Harries, Cuddly Badger Dad.
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/a-fox-walks-into-a-bar-by-spottystuff-part-1-of-2
Transcript
You’re
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
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of “A
Speaker:Fox
Speaker:Walks
Speaker:Into
Speaker:A
Speaker:Bar”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Spottystuff,
Speaker:an
Speaker:artist
Speaker:who
Speaker:every
Speaker:year
Speaker:qualifies
Speaker:to
Speaker:continue
Speaker:calling
Speaker:himself
Speaker:an
Speaker:author
Speaker:as
Speaker:well,
Speaker:by a
Speaker:vanishingly
Speaker:slim
Speaker:margin.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:work
Speaker:on
Speaker:SoFurry
Speaker:or
Speaker:BlueSky.
Read
by
Speaker:Solomon
Speaker:Harries,
Speaker:Cuddly
Speaker:Badger
Speaker:Dad.
Please
enjoy
“A
Fox
Speaker:Walks
Speaker:Into
Speaker:A
Speaker:Bar”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Spottystuff, Part 1
Speaker:of 2
A
chill
Speaker:gust
Speaker:of
Speaker:wind
Speaker:ruffles
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:pull
Speaker:my
Speaker:hood
Speaker:down
Speaker:closer.
Speaker:My
Speaker:black
Speaker:coat
Speaker:soon
Speaker:fills
Speaker:with
Speaker:salty-smelling
Speaker:rainwater,
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:squall
Speaker:breaks
Speaker:up
Speaker:the misty
Speaker:preamble;
Speaker:a
Speaker:blanket
Speaker:of
Speaker:noise
Speaker:to
Speaker:cover
Speaker:my
Speaker:steps.
Speaker:I
Speaker:feel
Speaker:very
Speaker:alone
Speaker:here,
Speaker:far
Speaker:from
Speaker:home,
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:island
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:middle
Speaker:of
Speaker:the medimare.
Speaker:I
Speaker:pull
Speaker:my
Speaker:cloak
Speaker:tighter
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:grip
Speaker:my
Speaker:sword
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:to
Speaker:prevent
Speaker:it
Speaker:from
Speaker:rattling,
Speaker:and
Speaker:pick
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:feet.
Speaker:Campagnia’s
Speaker:wooden
Speaker:walkways
Speaker:spanning
Speaker:the
Speaker:gaps
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:pole
Speaker:houses
Speaker:are
Speaker:slick
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:begin
Speaker:with
Speaker:but
Speaker:become
Speaker:near
Speaker:impossible
Speaker:to
Speaker:traverse
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain
Speaker:starts
Speaker:to
Speaker:flow.
Speaker:Thankfully,
Speaker:the
Speaker:houses
Speaker:are
Speaker:built
Speaker:tight
Speaker:together,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I'm
Speaker:afforded
Speaker:respite
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:worst
Speaker:winds.
Speaker:With
Speaker:care,
Speaker:I
Speaker:dart
Speaker:from
Speaker:one
Speaker:walkway
Speaker:to
Speaker:another,
Speaker:until
Speaker:I
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:covered
Speaker:alley,
Speaker:across
Speaker:which
Speaker:an
Speaker:enterprising
Speaker:soul
Speaker:has
Speaker:decided
Speaker:to
Speaker:squeeze
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:house
Speaker:on
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:others,
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:to
Speaker:find my
Speaker:bearings.
Campagnia
isn’t
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:an island as
Speaker:it
Speaker:is
Speaker:a rock, onto
Speaker:which
Speaker:a
Speaker:ramshackle
Speaker:town
Speaker:has
Speaker:attached
Speaker:itself
Speaker:like
Speaker:limpets.
Speaker:It
Speaker:stretches
Speaker:out
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:the
Speaker:island
Speaker:in
Speaker:all
Speaker:directions,
Speaker:perched
Speaker:on
Speaker:poles
Speaker:driven
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:sand banks
Speaker:below.
Speaker:The
Speaker:high
Speaker:tides
Speaker:look
Speaker:imposing
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:drown
Speaker:a
Speaker:giant,
Speaker:but
Speaker:in
Speaker:truth
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:scarce
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:five
Speaker:feet
Speaker:of
Speaker:water.
Speaker:In
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark,
Speaker:it
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:thousand
Speaker:feet
Speaker:deep
Speaker:for
Speaker:all
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:tell,
Speaker:with
Speaker:waves
Speaker:like
Speaker:tendrils
Speaker:of
Speaker:a kraken,
Speaker:lapping
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:ankles
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:shake
Speaker:the
Speaker:pillars
Speaker:below.
Speaker:Who
Speaker:would
Speaker:live
Speaker:here
Speaker:willingly?
Campagnia’s
Speaker:history
Speaker:is
Speaker:as
Speaker:young
Speaker:and
Speaker:urgent
Speaker:as
Speaker:most
Speaker:its
Speaker:inhabitants.
Speaker:Hopeful
Speaker:wealth
Speaker:seekers
Speaker:flocked
Speaker:here
Speaker:when
Speaker:someone
Speaker:discovered
Speaker:some rare
Speaker:cockles
Speaker:which
Speaker:usually
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:dredged
Speaker:for
Speaker:in
Speaker:other
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dalmatia.
Speaker:The
Speaker:island
Speaker:was
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:overcrowded,
Speaker:but
Speaker:they
Speaker:just
Speaker:kept
Speaker:coming.
Speaker:I'm
Speaker:told
Speaker:those
Speaker:shells
Speaker:are
Speaker:worth
Speaker:a
Speaker:fortune,
Speaker:if
Speaker:you can find them. But that’s
Speaker:as
Speaker:much
Speaker:as
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:from
Speaker:these
Speaker:taciturn
Speaker:people
Speaker:so
Speaker:far.
Speaker:And
Speaker:crawling
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:sands
Speaker:for
Speaker:some
Speaker:shells
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:further
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind
Speaker:right
Speaker:now.
A
short
Speaker:dash
Speaker:later,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:at
Speaker:what
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:charitably
Speaker:described
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:mainland.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:waves
Speaker:washing
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:rocks
Speaker:never
Speaker:leaves
Speaker:this
Speaker:town
Speaker:but
Speaker:diminishes
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:climb
Speaker:the
Speaker:slippery
Speaker:steps
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:island’s
Speaker:keep.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:here
Speaker:on
Speaker:this
Speaker:veritable
Speaker:cliffside,
Speaker:the
Speaker:houses
Speaker:are
Speaker:clustered
Speaker:tightly
Speaker:all
Speaker:around.
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:no
Speaker:nuance
Speaker:to
Speaker:them.
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:no
Speaker:gradual
Speaker:climb
Speaker:from
Speaker:destitute
Speaker:to
Speaker:affluent.
Speaker:No
Speaker:visible
Speaker:adornment.
Speaker:From
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:settlement,
Speaker:and
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:up
Speaker:here,
Speaker:the
Speaker:houses
Speaker:all
Speaker:look
Speaker:the
Speaker:same.
Speaker:Sea
Speaker:washed
Speaker:wood,
Speaker:salt
Speaker:spray
Speaker:everywhere
Speaker:I
Speaker:look.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:a
Speaker:lick
Speaker:of
Speaker:paint.
Speaker:No
Speaker:trees,
Speaker:no
Speaker:bushes,
Speaker:no
Speaker:flowers.
Speaker:No
Speaker:squares,
Speaker:no
Speaker:churches,
Speaker:no
Speaker:marble
Speaker:nor
Speaker:gold.
After
a
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:exhausting
Speaker:climb,
Speaker:I’m at
Speaker:the
Speaker:keep’s
Speaker:modest
Speaker:gate,
Speaker:wet
Speaker:and
Speaker:cold.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:well
Speaker:above
Speaker:the
Speaker:tallest
Speaker:roof top
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:town
Speaker:below,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a false
Speaker:step
Speaker:backwards,
Speaker:say
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:carelessly
Speaker:opened
Speaker:door,
Speaker:will
Speaker:send
Speaker:me
Speaker:tumbling
Speaker:down.
Speaker:I
Speaker:knock,
Speaker:and
Speaker:wait
Speaker:for a
Speaker:response
Then
I
Speaker:knock
Speaker:again.
Speaker:But
Speaker:the
Speaker:response
Speaker:never
Speaker:comes.
I
try
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it is
Speaker:barred
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:inside.
Speaker:I
Speaker:convince
Speaker:myself
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:guardsman
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:asleep
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:post.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:only
Speaker:been
Speaker:here
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:hours,
Speaker:so
Speaker:the
Speaker:chances
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:motives
Speaker:having
Speaker:been
Speaker:discovered
Speaker:are
Speaker:slim.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:unlikely,
Speaker:though,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:lower
Speaker:my
Speaker:guard.
Speaker:The
Speaker:keep
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:large,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:walls
Speaker:are
Speaker:not
Speaker:as
Speaker:scalable
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:first
Speaker:hoped.
Speaker:Sheer
Speaker:logs
Speaker:driven
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:earth,
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:and
Speaker:slick
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:wooden
Speaker:walkways.
Speaker:Given
Speaker:a
Speaker:rope
Speaker:and
Speaker:some
Speaker:spikes,
Speaker:I
Speaker:might
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:chance
Speaker:but
Speaker:trying
Speaker:that
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:rainstorm
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:foolish
Speaker:proposition.
Speaker:After
Speaker:a
Speaker:lap
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:modest
Speaker:structure,
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:see
Speaker:no
Speaker:easy
Speaker:way
Speaker:in.
Speaker:I
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:anticipated
Speaker:this.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:under
Speaker:every
Speaker:impression
Speaker:that
Speaker:my
Speaker:charge
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:caught
Speaker:unawares,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:seems
Speaker:someone
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:informed
Speaker:them
Speaker:about
Speaker:my
Speaker:arrival
Speaker:earlier.
Speaker:Defeated,
Speaker:I
Speaker:try the door
Speaker:again,
Speaker:shouting
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:bang
Speaker:on
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:hilt
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:sword.
Speaker:But
Speaker:no
Speaker:reply
Speaker:comes.
Blast it
all
Speaker:to
Speaker:hell.
I
slink
Speaker:back
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:island,
Speaker:then
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:outermost
Speaker:promontory
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:island’s south
Speaker:side,
Speaker:where I
Speaker:landed
Speaker:this
Speaker:afternoon.
Speaker:Here,
Speaker:I
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:manage
Speaker:to
Speaker:work
Speaker:my
Speaker:way
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:labyrinthine “streets”,
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:inn.
It’s
not
Speaker:the
Speaker:finest
Speaker:inn I’ve
Speaker:stayed
Speaker:at
Speaker:truth
Speaker:be
Speaker:told.
Speaker:Barely
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:common
Speaker:house,
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:flimsy
Speaker:construct
Speaker:as
Speaker:everything
Speaker:else
Speaker:here.
Speaker:They have
Speaker:crammed
Speaker:every
Speaker:table,
Speaker:chair,
Speaker:stool
Speaker:and
Speaker:upturned
Speaker:barrel
Speaker:for
Speaker:miles
Speaker:around
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:open
Speaker:front
Speaker:room,
Speaker:which
Speaker:is
Speaker:barely
Speaker:larger
Speaker:than
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:bedchambers
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:Castle
Speaker:Dalmatia.
Speaker:Below
Speaker:us,
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:glimpse
Speaker:the
Speaker:sea
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:uneven
Speaker:plank
Speaker:floor.
Speaker:At
Speaker:one
Speaker:corner
Speaker:stands
Speaker:a
Speaker:beer
Speaker:tun,
Speaker:all
Speaker:black
Speaker:and
Speaker:mouldy,
Speaker:and
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:corner,
Speaker:a
Speaker:squat
Speaker:iron
Speaker:stove,
Speaker:shaped
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:barrel,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:pot
Speaker:of
Speaker:bubbling
Speaker:water
Speaker:on
Speaker:top.
Speaker:The
Speaker:few
Speaker:cloudy
Speaker:lanterns
Speaker:lend
Speaker:a
Speaker:faint
Speaker:flicker
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:air in
Speaker:here is
Speaker:hazy
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:steam
Speaker:and
Speaker:thick
Speaker:with
Speaker:smells
Speaker:of the
Speaker:customers.
Speaker:About
Speaker:a
Speaker:dozen
Speaker:places
Speaker:are
Speaker:occupied,
Speaker:but
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:thick
Speaker:atmosphere,
Speaker:the
Speaker:place
Speaker:feels
Speaker:overcrowded.
Everyone in
here
Speaker:is
Speaker:some
Speaker:manner
Speaker:of
Speaker:sailor
Speaker:or
Speaker:seaman,
Speaker:I
Speaker:presume.
Speaker:Initially,
Speaker:I have
Speaker:trouble
Speaker:separating
Speaker:them
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:sea,
Speaker:but
Speaker:in
Speaker:time
Speaker:my
Speaker:nose
Speaker:adjusts,
Speaker:like
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:flickering
Speaker:lanterns
Speaker:scattered around.
Speaker:They
Speaker:all
Speaker:reek,
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:much.
Speaker:As
Speaker:much
Speaker:care
Speaker:has
Speaker:gone
Speaker:into
Speaker:their
Speaker:toilette as
Speaker:with
Speaker:everything
Speaker:else,
Speaker:it
Speaker:seems.
Speaker:I
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:spot
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:stove
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:least
Speaker:populous
Speaker:half
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:room,
Speaker:crammed
Speaker:between
Speaker:a
Speaker:table
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:supporting
Speaker:beam.
Speaker:The
Speaker:landlord,
Speaker:a
Speaker:calico
Speaker:with
Speaker:half
Speaker:his
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:missing,
Speaker:smacks a tin
Speaker:pitcher
Speaker:down on my
Speaker:table
Speaker:and
Speaker:I toss
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:coins down.
Speaker:Nobody
Speaker:says
Speaker:anything.
Campagnians
aren’t
Speaker:a
Speaker:talkative bunch
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:of
Speaker:times,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:chatter
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:approached.
Speaker:The
Speaker:moment
Speaker:I
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:inside,
Speaker:that
Speaker:chatter
Speaker:died
Speaker:down,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:permanent
Speaker:thing.
Speaker:Most
Speaker:nights,
Speaker:I
Speaker:prefer
Speaker:a
Speaker:quiet,
Speaker:contemplative
Speaker:silence.
Speaker:But
Speaker:when
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:poor
Speaker:mood
Speaker:and
Speaker:things
Speaker:aren’t
Speaker:going
Speaker:my
Speaker:way,
Speaker:being
Speaker:alone
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:is
Speaker:not
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:want.
Speaker:I
Speaker:remove
Speaker:my
Speaker:cloak,
Speaker:shrug
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:coat,
Speaker:kick
Speaker:my
Speaker:spats
Speaker:off,
Speaker:and
Speaker:hang
Speaker:it
Speaker:all
Speaker:to
Speaker:dry.
Speaker:Then I
Speaker:finish
Speaker:my
Speaker:beer,
Speaker:preening
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:scout
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:for
Speaker:someone
Speaker:to
Speaker:chat
Speaker:with.
For
the
Speaker:most
Speaker:part,
Speaker:most
Speaker:seem
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:who
Speaker:steal
Speaker:looks
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Presumably
Speaker:because
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:a
Speaker:stranger
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:clothes
Speaker:aren’t
Speaker:ragged
Speaker:and
Speaker:weathered.
Speaker:But
Speaker:none
Speaker:are
Speaker:willing
Speaker:to
Speaker:move
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:the
Speaker:glance.
Speaker:I
Speaker:even
Speaker:sense
Speaker:that
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:being
Speaker:looked
Speaker:upon
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:different
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:interest.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:clear
Speaker:instinct,
Speaker:more
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:familiar
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:sometimes
Speaker:get
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:dawn
Speaker:hours,
Speaker:when
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:bed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:lover
Speaker:Kit
Speaker:is
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:wake
Speaker:for
Speaker:work.
Speaker:Which
Speaker:gets
Speaker:me
Speaker:thinking.
Speaker:Curious
Speaker:about
Speaker:this
Speaker:place,
Speaker:as
Speaker:opposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:every
Speaker:other
Speaker:Dalmatian
Speaker:city
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:to,
Speaker:I
Speaker:never
Speaker:saw
Speaker:any
Speaker:red
Speaker:lanterns
Speaker:anywhere.
Speaker:Nor
Speaker:did
Speaker:I
Speaker:see
Speaker:any
Speaker:prospective
Speaker:girls
Speaker:meeting
Speaker:the
Speaker:arrivals
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:pier,
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:do
Speaker:in
Speaker:other
Speaker:cities.
Speaker:And
Speaker:considering
Speaker:the
Speaker:island’s
Speaker:heritage,
Speaker:its
Speaker:economy
Speaker:and
Speaker:its
Speaker:main
Speaker:inhabitants,
Speaker:I
Speaker:find
Speaker:that
Speaker:curious.
“Isn’t
there
Speaker:anywhere
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:jump
Speaker:on
Speaker:this
Speaker:rock?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask,
Speaker:bolstered
Speaker:by
Speaker:strong
Speaker:ale
Speaker:on
Speaker:an
Speaker:empty
Speaker:stomach.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:loudly,
Speaker:but
Speaker:loud
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:see
Speaker:a
Speaker:dozen
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:ears
Speaker:perk
Speaker:and
Speaker:turn
Speaker:my
Speaker:way. “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:got to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:fine
Speaker:establishment
Speaker:here
Speaker:somewhere.”
The
silence
Speaker:which
Speaker:follows
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:mixed
Speaker:bag,
Speaker:both
Speaker:pregnant
Speaker:with
Speaker:tension
Speaker:and
Speaker:hesitation.
“I
just
Speaker:need
Speaker:something
Speaker:warm
Speaker:to
Speaker:tuck
Speaker:into,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:continue. “It’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:bitch
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:night
Speaker:out
Speaker:there.”
“Ain’t
none
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:here
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:likes of
Speaker:you,
Speaker:stranger,”
Speaker:a
Speaker:voice
Speaker:ventures.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:catch
Speaker:where
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:coming
Speaker:from.
Speaker:As
Speaker:I
Speaker:look
Speaker:around,
Speaker:I
Speaker:catch
Speaker:the
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:doe.
Speaker:No,
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:deer,
Speaker:but
Speaker:his
Speaker:antlers
Speaker:have
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:recently,
Speaker:it
Speaker:seems.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looks
Speaker:remarkably
Speaker:clean, and
Speaker:not
Speaker:at
Speaker:all
Speaker:uncomely,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:broad
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:hint
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:formidable
Speaker:body
Speaker:underneath
Speaker:that
Speaker:pale
Speaker:shirt.
Speaker:He
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:looks
Speaker:away,
Speaker:burying
Speaker:his
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:tankard.
“Ah,
that’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:shame,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:mumble. “Must
Speaker:get
Speaker:awfully
Speaker:dull
Speaker:here
Speaker:for
Speaker:all
Speaker:your
Speaker:visitors,
Speaker:then.”
I
get
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:feet,
Speaker:stretch
Speaker:my
Speaker:arms
Speaker:and
Speaker:back,
Speaker:and
Speaker:amble
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:deer.
“What should us
strangers
Speaker:get
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:when
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:to
Speaker:do?”
The
deer
Speaker:looks
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:then
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:cup,
Speaker:then
Speaker:shrugs.
“I
suppose
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:as
Speaker:good
Speaker:as
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:failing
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:lay,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:conclude,
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:down
Speaker:beside
Speaker:him
Speaker:while
Speaker:I
Speaker:signal
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:landlord to
Speaker:furnish us
Speaker:with
Speaker:another
Speaker:drink.
My
odd
Speaker:comment
Speaker:earlier
Speaker:has
Speaker:done
Speaker:exactly
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:hoped
Speaker:it
Speaker:would.
Speaker:A
Speaker:hum
Speaker:of
Speaker:background
Speaker:whispers has
Speaker:developed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:soon,
Speaker:the
Speaker:silence
Speaker:deteriorates
Speaker:completely.
Speaker:The deer has
Speaker:not
Speaker:shifted,
Speaker:nor
Speaker:has
Speaker:he
Speaker:indicated
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave
Speaker:his
Speaker:table.
Speaker:In
Speaker:fact,
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:take in
Speaker:his
Speaker:silver
Speaker:ring
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:right
Speaker:hand,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:diamond
Speaker:stud
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:ear,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:shirt,
Speaker:unbuttoned
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:neck,
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:working
Speaker:with.
“There
are
Speaker:no
Speaker:warships
Speaker:at
Speaker:dock,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:mumble
Speaker:quietly. “So,
Speaker:what
Speaker:brings
Speaker:someone
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:this
Speaker:shanty town?”
He
looks
Speaker:across
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:again,
Speaker:suspiciously.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:his
Speaker:curiosity
Speaker:gets
Speaker:the
Speaker:better
Speaker:of
Speaker:him.
“I’m
just
Speaker:a
Speaker:fisherman.”
“And
I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:that
Speaker:mark
Speaker:on
Speaker:your
Speaker:chest
Speaker:is
Speaker:just
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:regular
Speaker:fish,
Speaker:then?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:say,
Speaker:indicating
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:open
Speaker:shirt,
Speaker:where
Speaker:his
Speaker:natural
Speaker:fur
Speaker:colour
Speaker:gives
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:black
Speaker:shape.
Speaker:A
Speaker:finely
Speaker:drawn
Speaker:swordfish.
Speaker:I
Speaker:carefully
Speaker:edge at
Speaker:his
Speaker:collar
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:claw
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:notices,
Speaker:allowing
Speaker:me
Speaker:just
Speaker:enough
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:glimpse,
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:brushes
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:away.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:angrily.
Speaker:But
Speaker:demurely,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:worried
Speaker:others
Speaker:might
Speaker:see
Speaker:me
Speaker:touching
Speaker:him.
“A
fisherman
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:past.
Speaker:You
Speaker:sailed with Abruzzi.”
“I
may have,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:straightens
Speaker:his
Speaker:back
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:name. “Years
Speaker:ago.”
I
notice
Speaker:a
Speaker:sore
Speaker:spot
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice.
“I’ve
sailed with her too.” I raise my cup.
Speaker:He
Speaker:raises
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyebrow.
Speaker:With
Speaker:a
Speaker:cheeky
Speaker:smile,
Speaker:I
Speaker:add. “Well,
Speaker:they
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:very
Speaker:well
Speaker:dye
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:any
Speaker:blacker.”
He
smiles
Speaker:at
Speaker:that. “True
Speaker:that,
Speaker:fox.”
“My
name
Speaker:is
Speaker:Kieran.”
“Kieran
then.”
He
raises his
Speaker:cup
Speaker:to
Speaker:mine
Speaker:and clinks
Speaker:it.
Speaker:All
Speaker:the
Speaker:while,
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:fixed
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:ring.
Speaker:He
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:volunteer
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:name.
“The
chase
Speaker:of
Speaker:The
Speaker:Lion.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:say,
Speaker:as
Speaker:casually
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:manage. “And
Speaker:Imperator.”
He
nods.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:around
Speaker:five
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago,
Speaker:but
Speaker:judging
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:silence,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:there
Speaker:too.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:there
Speaker:when
Speaker:we
Speaker:ran
Speaker:down
Speaker:two
Speaker:Castellanian
Speaker:privateers
Speaker:and
Speaker:killed
Speaker:everyone
Speaker:aboard.
Speaker:He’s served
Speaker:his
Speaker:time.
Speaker:He
Speaker:knows
Speaker:who
Speaker:I
Speaker:am.
“What
do
Speaker:you
Speaker:fish
Speaker:here,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask
Speaker:him.
“I’ve…”
he
Speaker:hesitates,
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:anticipating
Speaker:a
Speaker:different
Speaker:question.
Speaker:I
Speaker:like
Speaker:throwing
Speaker:these
Speaker:right angle
Speaker:questions
Speaker:into
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:conversations.
Speaker:People
Speaker:forget
Speaker:themselves;
Speaker:they
Speaker:throw
Speaker:up
Speaker:walls
Speaker:against
Speaker:one
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:inquiry,
Speaker:only
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:dealt
Speaker:another.
Speaker:The
Speaker:walls
Speaker:crumble...
Speaker:or
Speaker:the
Speaker:lie
Speaker:does.
Speaker:The
Speaker:question
Speaker:asked
Speaker:gets
Speaker:answered,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:question
Speaker:finds
Speaker:its
Speaker:target
Speaker:with
Speaker:more ease.
“Are
you
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:sea-shells
Speaker:too?
Speaker:Those
Speaker:dye-shells
Speaker:I
Speaker:keep
Speaker:hearing
Speaker:about?”
“You
cannot
Speaker:fish
Speaker:for
Speaker:shells,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:grumbles. “I
Speaker:fish
Speaker:for
Speaker:crabs,
Speaker:mostly.
Speaker:And
Speaker:lobster
Speaker:and
Speaker:prawn.”
“People
eat
Speaker:those?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muse. “I
Speaker:found
Speaker:them
Speaker:horrid.”
He
shrugs. “I don’t care; All I know is that
Speaker:when
Speaker:I take my catch to port in Dalmatia, in Sar Ilir, in Ravena, they
Speaker:come
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:give
Speaker:me
Speaker:money.”
“And
you
Speaker:take
Speaker:that
Speaker:money
Speaker:back
Speaker:here.
Speaker:Why
Speaker:is
Speaker:that?”
He
shrugs.
“I
live
Speaker:here.”
I
smile
“That,
you
Speaker:do
Speaker:not.”
He
looks
Speaker:at
Speaker:me,
Speaker:attempting
Speaker:to
Speaker:put
Speaker:on
Speaker:an
Speaker:insulted
Speaker:expression,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:the
Speaker:cut
Speaker:of
Speaker:him.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:sit
Speaker:this
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:fox
Speaker:without
Speaker:imparting
Speaker:something
Speaker:of
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
Speaker:A canine
Speaker:would
Speaker:know
Speaker:to exercise
Speaker:more
Speaker:caution,
Speaker:but he’s
Speaker:no
Speaker:hound
Speaker:in
Speaker:any
Speaker:sense
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:word.
Speaker:Nor
Speaker:is
Speaker:he
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:clever
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:lies.
Speaker:Any
Speaker:fool
Speaker:knows
Speaker:you
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:find
Speaker:any
Speaker:lobsters
Speaker:in
Speaker:these
Speaker:waters.
“Then
where,
Speaker:pray,
Speaker:do
Speaker:I
Speaker:hail
Speaker:from,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:may
Speaker:ask?”
Speaker:the deer
Speaker:asks,
Speaker:testily.
“That,
I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:say,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:smirk
Speaker:at
Speaker:him. “But
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:lacking
Speaker:a
Speaker:certain
Speaker:something.
Speaker:If
Speaker:you
Speaker:do
Speaker:indeed
Speaker:live
Speaker:here,
Speaker:you
Speaker:live
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:most.
Speaker:Is
Speaker:that
Speaker:not
Speaker:so?”
“I’m
well
Speaker:taken
Speaker:care
Speaker:of.”
There’s
something
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:he
Speaker:said
Speaker:that,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:mean
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:those
Speaker:exact
Speaker:words.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:tell
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:expression
Speaker:too,
Speaker:the
Speaker:little
Speaker:twitch
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:lips,
Speaker:the
Speaker:unspoken
Speaker:curse.
“The
keep?”
Speaker:I venture.
The
merest
Speaker:twitch
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:ringed ear
Speaker:is
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:reply
Speaker:I
Speaker:need.
“Better
you
Speaker:than
Speaker:me,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:continue.
Speaker:I
Speaker:call
Speaker:for
Speaker:another
Speaker:beer
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:landlord
Speaker:pass
Speaker:by,
Speaker:flicking
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:silver
Speaker:coin,
Speaker:which
Speaker:should
Speaker:ensure
Speaker:a
Speaker:free
Speaker:flow
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:night. “The castle I
Speaker:live
Speaker:in
Speaker:is
Speaker:always
Speaker:cold
Speaker:and
Speaker:drafty.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:mimick
Speaker:huddling
Speaker:and
Speaker:shivering,
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:lean
Speaker:in
Speaker:conspiratorially,
Speaker:winking
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Speaker:I
Speaker:make
Speaker:no
Speaker:secret
Speaker:of
Speaker:who
Speaker:I
Speaker:am,
Speaker:because
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:no
Speaker:use.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:recognized,
Speaker:if
Speaker:not
Speaker:by
Speaker:name,
Speaker:by
Speaker:sight
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:I
Speaker:go.
Speaker:Where
Speaker:else
Speaker:does
Speaker:one
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:black
Speaker:fox,
Speaker:with
Speaker:half
Speaker:an
Speaker:ear
Speaker:missing,
Speaker:a
Speaker:scar
Speaker:across
Speaker:his
Speaker:neck,
Speaker:and
Speaker:two
Speaker:gold
Speaker:teeth? “Mine’s a bit
Speaker:bigger
Speaker:though.”
“What
if
Speaker:I
Speaker:do?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asks,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:away. “So
Speaker:what,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:there,
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:here.
Speaker:What
Speaker:difference
Speaker:does
Speaker:it
Speaker:make?”
“Oh,
none
Speaker:at
Speaker:all,
Speaker:none
Speaker:at
Speaker:all.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:lean
Speaker:back,
Speaker:letting
Speaker:him
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:degree
Speaker:of
Speaker:space
Speaker:while
Speaker:I
Speaker:sample
Speaker:my
Speaker:beer.
Speaker:After
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:sips,
Speaker:I
Speaker:lean
Speaker:in. “It’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:fine
Speaker:place
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay,
Speaker:I
Speaker:imagine,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:for a
Speaker:fisherman.”
He
grumbles,
Speaker:but
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:refuse
Speaker:the
Speaker:beer
Speaker:placed
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:him.
“Figure
you
Speaker:can
Speaker:tell
Speaker:me
Speaker:then-“
Speaker:I
Speaker:put
Speaker:an
Speaker:arm
Speaker:boldly
Speaker:across
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders,
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:in
Speaker:as if
Speaker:I’m inebriated. “-why
Speaker:the
Speaker:gates
Speaker:are
Speaker:closed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:barred
Speaker:and
Speaker:why
Speaker:nobody
Speaker:answers
Speaker:the
Speaker:door?”
“It’s
late
Speaker:at
Speaker:night.”
“Do
the
Speaker:guards
Speaker:usually
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:through
Speaker:their
Speaker:shifts?”
“It’s
not
Speaker:unheard
Speaker:of.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:deer
Speaker:shrugs. “What
Speaker:is
Speaker:there
Speaker:to
Speaker:guard
Speaker:against?”
I
give
Speaker:him
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:more
Speaker:vicious
Speaker:smiles. “Oh,
Speaker:I
Speaker:see.
Speaker:And
Speaker:what
Speaker:does
Speaker:the
Speaker:keep
Speaker:commander
Speaker:think
Speaker:of
Speaker:that?”
“Why
should
Speaker:I
Speaker:know?”
I
lean
Speaker:back,
Speaker:drawing
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:scent
Speaker:one
Speaker:last
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Yep.
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:an
Speaker:undertone
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:particular
Speaker:type
Speaker:of
Speaker:hound
Speaker:which
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:well.
Speaker:I can’t
Speaker:say
Speaker:I
Speaker:recognize
Speaker:this
Speaker:particular
Speaker:scent,
Speaker:but
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:far
Speaker:more
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:on
Speaker:than
Speaker:I
Speaker:started
Speaker:out
Speaker:with.
Speaker:This
Speaker:deer
Speaker:lives
Speaker:more
Speaker:comfortably
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:affluent
Speaker:fisherman,
Speaker:and
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:no
Speaker:callouses
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:or
Speaker:salt
Speaker:sores
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:coat.
Speaker:And
Speaker:if
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:wine
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:breath,
Speaker:then I’m
Speaker:no
Speaker:fox.
“Landlord?”
I
Speaker:call
Speaker:over
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder. “May
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:some
Speaker:red.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:sniff
Speaker:out,
Speaker:theatrically. “Northern, I think. Piedmonte… no, Etrusca.”
The barman looks
at
Speaker:me
Speaker:sourly
Speaker:and
Speaker:shakes
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “Beer.
Speaker:Or
Speaker:nothing.”
“I’ll
have
Speaker:another
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:then,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:go.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:tell
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:I
Speaker:turn
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:new
Speaker:friend
Speaker:and
Speaker:give him
Speaker:a
Speaker:foxy
Speaker:grin. “Ah,
Speaker:these
Speaker:barbarians
Speaker:have
Speaker:no
Speaker:taste
Speaker:like
Speaker:us,
Speaker:do
Speaker:they?”
With
a
Speaker:distinctly
Speaker:unsubtle
Speaker:movement,
Speaker:the deer
Speaker:brings
Speaker:his
Speaker:now
Speaker:empty
Speaker:tankard
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle,
Speaker:breathing
Speaker:into
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:smell
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:breath.
Speaker:He
Speaker:splays
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears in annoyance.
“Yes, I’ve had some
wine,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:mutters. “Wouldn’t
Speaker:you,
Speaker:when
Speaker:offered?”
“I
wasn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:let
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:helpfully
Speaker:remind
Speaker:him. “But
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:dearly
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:taste.”
“What
business
Speaker:have
Speaker:you at
Speaker:the
Speaker:keep?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asks,
Speaker:his
Speaker:tone
Speaker:more
Speaker:austere,
Speaker:his
Speaker:back
Speaker:defiantly
Speaker:straight.
Speaker:Seems
Speaker:my
Speaker:games
Speaker:are
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:patience. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:mean
Speaker:to
Speaker:only
Speaker:have
Speaker:wine.”
“Oh,
just
Speaker:a
Speaker:formal
Speaker:visit,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:say
Speaker:innocently. “But
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:see
Speaker:why
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:terribly
Speaker:concerned
Speaker:with
Speaker:that,
Speaker:my
Speaker:fisherman
Speaker:friend.”
He
shakes
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “I’m
Speaker:concerned
Speaker:with
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:chose.
Speaker:I
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:you,
Speaker:of
Speaker:all
Speaker:people,
Speaker:are
Speaker:visiting
Speaker:on
Speaker:formal
Speaker:grounds.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:reputation
Speaker:precedes
Speaker:you.”
“Why,
whatever
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:mean
Speaker:by
Speaker:that?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask, “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:humble
Speaker:servant
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:crown,
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:ask
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:pressing
Speaker:questions
Speaker:on
Speaker:behalf
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:liege.”
A
shadow
Speaker:descends
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:brow
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:dear
Speaker:friend,
Speaker:whose
Speaker:patience
Speaker:I'm
Speaker:sure
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:testing.
“The
commander
Speaker:wishes
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:disturbed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:that.
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:best
Speaker:you
Speaker:run
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:master
Speaker:and
Speaker:inform
Speaker:him.”
“Aha,”
I
Speaker:smack
Speaker:my
Speaker:fist
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:table. “I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:the
Speaker:keep
Speaker:commander
Speaker:wishes
Speaker:to
Speaker:travel
Speaker:abroad
Speaker:very
Speaker:soon,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sure
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:busy
Speaker:in
Speaker:preparing.
Speaker:I’ll only
Speaker:occupy
Speaker:him
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:he
Speaker:can
Speaker:go
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:headed.
Speaker:At what hour do
Speaker:you
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:he will
Speaker:set
Speaker:off?
Speaker:I will
Speaker:be
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:first
Speaker:light
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:him.”
I
already
Speaker:know
Speaker:the
Speaker:deer’s
Speaker:reply
Speaker:before
Speaker:it
Speaker:comes.
Speaker:As
Speaker:I
Speaker:get
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:chair
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:hear
Speaker:him
Speaker:preparing
Speaker:it.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:aching
Speaker:to
Speaker:deliver
Speaker:his
Speaker:retort,
Speaker:ever
Speaker:since
Speaker:he
Speaker:laid
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:on
Speaker:me.
I
have
Speaker:that
Speaker:effect
Speaker:on
Speaker:people.
As
quick
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:I
Speaker:grab
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:knife,
Speaker:twist
Speaker:around
Speaker:and
Speaker:lunge.
Speaker:It
Speaker:finds
Speaker:its
Speaker:target.
Speaker:The
Speaker:point
Speaker:sinks
Speaker:in.
Speaker:The deer’s
Speaker:hand,
Speaker:which
Speaker:had
Speaker:come
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:grab at
Speaker:my
Speaker:scruff
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:my
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:takes
Speaker:the
Speaker:full
Speaker:force
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:blow.
Speaker:A
Speaker:clean
Speaker:hit,
Speaker:straight
Speaker:through
Speaker:his
Speaker:open
Speaker:palm,
Speaker:and
Speaker:onwards
Speaker:into
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:support
Speaker:beams,
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:knife
Speaker:hits
Speaker:home
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:thunk.
“I
figured
Speaker:as
Speaker:much,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:tell
Speaker:him,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:him
Speaker:another
Speaker:wink
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:shock
Speaker:bleeds
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:surprised
Speaker:yell.
Speaker:The
Speaker:landlord
Speaker:comes
Speaker:running
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:but
Speaker:stops
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:sight.
Speaker:The
Speaker:whole
Speaker:clientele
Speaker:hesitates.
Speaker:They
Speaker:all
Speaker:pause.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:damn
Speaker:right
Speaker:my
Speaker:reputation
Speaker:precedes
Speaker:me.
“Sh-Shit,”
the
Speaker:deer
Speaker:squeaks
Speaker:out,
Speaker:clutching
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:wrist
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:good
Speaker:hand,
Speaker:while
Speaker:blood
Speaker:flows
Speaker:from
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:knife.
“I’ll
give
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:end
Speaker:of this
Speaker:tankard,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:tell
Speaker:him,
Speaker:raising
Speaker:my
Speaker:beer
Speaker:and
Speaker:taking
Speaker:a
Speaker:sip, “And
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:a
Speaker:fast
Speaker:drinker…
Speaker:You’re a
Speaker:navy
Speaker:man.
Speaker:Well
Speaker:taught.
Speaker:And
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:liar.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:accent
Speaker:is
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:cities,
Speaker:as
Speaker:is
Speaker:your
Speaker:manerisms.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:man
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:crown.
Speaker:So
Speaker:you
Speaker:best
Speaker:do
Speaker:your
Speaker:duty,
Speaker:and
Speaker:tell
Speaker:me
Speaker:what
Speaker:you
Speaker:know.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:sip
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:beer. “Try
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:move
Speaker:your
Speaker:hand
Speaker:around
Speaker:too
Speaker:much,
Speaker:it’ll
Speaker:slow
Speaker:the
Speaker:bleeding.”
He
groans,
Speaker:but
Speaker:now
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:his
Speaker:attention.
“What
exactly
Speaker:are
Speaker:your
Speaker:orders
Speaker:concerning
Speaker:me?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:demand,
Speaker:taking
Speaker:inspiration
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:dozen
Speaker:or
Speaker:so
Speaker:captains
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:met. “Be
Speaker:quick
Speaker:about
Speaker:it,
Speaker:Sir!”
“The
Keep
Speaker:commander…
Speaker:Constantino,”
Speaker:He
Speaker:spits
Speaker:out
Speaker:between
Speaker:his
Speaker:clenched
Speaker:teeth,
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:grasps
Speaker:his
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:writst. “H-He is
Speaker:expecting
Speaker:you.”
“I
see.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:why
Speaker:nobody
Speaker:felt
Speaker:inclined
Speaker:to
Speaker:let
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:curious
Speaker:why
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:bullet
Speaker:through
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:for
Speaker:that
Speaker:though.”
“You
would
Speaker:have-”
“I
suppose
Speaker:I
Speaker:probably
Speaker:would,
Speaker:yes.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:cut
Speaker:him
Speaker:off,
Speaker:amicably. “I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:surprised,
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:truthful.
Speaker:Better
Speaker:make
Speaker:it
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:an
Speaker:accident…
Speaker:and
Speaker:get
Speaker:it
Speaker:done
Speaker:out of sight
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:town…
Speaker:The
Speaker:boatman?”
“The
boatman.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:deer
Speaker:groans
Speaker:out.
“May
I
Speaker:have
Speaker:your
Speaker:name
Speaker:too,
Speaker:dear?”
“Vincente,”
he
Speaker:moans, “Please
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:kill
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:served
Speaker:my
Speaker:country
Speaker:since
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:boy,
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:done
Speaker:my
Speaker:duty.”
I
indicate
Speaker:the
Speaker:knife
Speaker:driven
Speaker:through
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand. “And
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:just
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:mine.
Speaker:For
Speaker:which,
Speaker:you
Speaker:would
Speaker:see
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:die.
Speaker:So,
Speaker:what
Speaker:is
Speaker:duty
Speaker:worth
Speaker:on
Speaker:its
Speaker:own?
Speaker:Don’t
Speaker:answer
Speaker:that,
Speaker:actually.
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:just
Speaker:get
Speaker:depressed.”
I
sit
Speaker:down
Speaker:opposite
Speaker:of
Speaker:him,
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:chair
Speaker:and
Speaker:stretching
Speaker:out.
Speaker:As
Speaker:I
Speaker:do,
Speaker:I
Speaker:grab
Speaker:the
Speaker:sheath
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:sword,
Speaker:and
Speaker:unhook it
Speaker:from
Speaker:its
Speaker:perch.
Speaker:I
Speaker:casually
Speaker:draw
Speaker:the
Speaker:blade
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:perfectly
Speaker:legal
Speaker:to
Speaker:carry
Speaker:around
Speaker:everywhere,
Speaker:and
Speaker:lay
Speaker:it
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:me.
Speaker:The
Speaker:confidence
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:trick,
Speaker:a
Speaker:stage
Speaker:act
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:play
Speaker:thanks
Speaker:to
Speaker:experience.
Speaker:My
Speaker:heart
Speaker:is
Speaker:still
Speaker:racing
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:jolt
Speaker:of
Speaker:excitement,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:blood.
Speaker:A
Speaker:sick
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:me
Speaker:craves
Speaker:for
Speaker:more.
Speaker:The
Speaker:more
Speaker:blood
Speaker:I
Speaker:spill,
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:bad
Speaker:people
Speaker:die.
Speaker:Sooner
Speaker:or
Speaker:later,
Speaker:the
Speaker:rot
Speaker:in
Speaker:this
Speaker:world
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:completely
Speaker:cut
Speaker:out.
Speaker:There
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:an
Speaker:end
Speaker:to
Speaker:it
Speaker:all,
Speaker:but
Speaker:that
Speaker:is
Speaker:reserved
Speaker:for
Speaker:those
Speaker:who
Speaker:move
Speaker:towards
Speaker:it.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:let
Speaker:these
Speaker:people
Speaker:live,
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:so
Speaker:many
Speaker:more
Speaker:to
Speaker:kill.
“Don...
Constantino,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:chew
Speaker:the
Speaker:name
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:spit
Speaker:it
Speaker:out,
Speaker:letting
Speaker:it
Speaker:linger
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:between
Speaker:us
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment. “You have a
Speaker:good
Speaker:reason
Speaker:why
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:so
Speaker:affectionately
Speaker:addressing
Speaker:him
Speaker:by
Speaker:given
Speaker:name.
Speaker:My
Speaker:oh
Speaker:my...
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:becoming
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:navy
Speaker:man,
Speaker:is
Speaker:it?
Speaker:But
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:okay
Speaker:with
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:let
Speaker:him
Speaker:take
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:whole
Speaker:meaning
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:statement, “We
Speaker:all
Speaker:have
Speaker:our
Speaker:weaknesses,
Speaker:Vincente.
Speaker:So
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:coy
Speaker:with
Speaker:me.
Speaker:You
Speaker:have
Speaker:heard
Speaker:enough
Speaker:about
Speaker:me.
Speaker:You
Speaker:know
Speaker:who
Speaker:I
Speaker:am,
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:who
Speaker:I
Speaker:bed.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:ashamed.”
I
run a
Speaker:claw down the
Speaker:hilt
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:sword,
Speaker:as I
Speaker:study
Speaker:the
Speaker:deer.
Speaker:He
Speaker:refuses
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes.
“And
when
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:done,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:satisfied
Speaker:that
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:heard
Speaker:a
Speaker:true
Speaker:tale,
Speaker:then
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:remove
Speaker:the
Speaker:knife
Speaker:and
Speaker:bind
Speaker:your
Speaker:wound,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:chance
Speaker:to
Speaker:explain
Speaker:yourself.
Speaker:Does
Speaker:that
Speaker:sound
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:plan
Speaker:to
Speaker:you?”
Vincente
chokes
Speaker:down
Speaker:what
Speaker:looks
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:bilious
Speaker:comment
Speaker:and
Speaker:nods.
“Landlord,
you
Speaker:have
Speaker:anything
Speaker:stronger
Speaker:than
Speaker:beer?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask.
Speaker:But
Speaker:of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:he
Speaker:hasn’t.
Speaker:So,
Speaker:instead,
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:put
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:tankards
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:table,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:instruct
Speaker:Vincente
Speaker:to
Speaker:drink
Speaker:them
Speaker:all.
“He’s…
He
Speaker:knows…
Speaker:He
Speaker:knows
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:in trouble,” Vincente chokes
Speaker:out, between
Speaker:gulps
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:beer.
Speaker:He
Speaker:breathes
Speaker:out,
Speaker:coughs,
Speaker:then
Speaker:starts
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:second
Speaker:cup.
“In
your
Speaker:own
Speaker:time,
Speaker:my
Speaker:dear.”
“He’s
suspected
Speaker:that
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:being
Speaker:watched
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while
Speaker:now.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:asked
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:keep
Speaker:an
Speaker:eye
Speaker:on
Speaker:any
Speaker:new
Speaker:arrivals
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:island,
Speaker:in
Speaker:case
Speaker:some
Speaker:were
Speaker:here to-
Speaker:to
Speaker:interfere.”
“And
what
Speaker:does
Speaker:he
Speaker:trade?”
“Y-you
know...”
“I
do.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you?”
“He’s trading slaves.” Vincente breathes out
as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:just
Speaker:confessed
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:crime
Speaker:himself. “He
Speaker:gets
Speaker:them
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:Golden
Speaker:Continent,
Speaker:from
Speaker:prisons
Speaker:and
Speaker:war-ships,
Speaker:and
Speaker:sells
Speaker:them
Speaker:to
Speaker:Castellanian
Speaker:merchants.”
“Excellent.
Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:your
Speaker:confession,
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:take
Speaker:that
Speaker:knife
Speaker:now.”
“I’m innocent!”
he
Speaker:cries. “I
Speaker:merely…”
“You
merely
Speaker:stood
Speaker:by
Speaker:and
Speaker:let
Speaker:him
Speaker:carry
Speaker:on,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:respond
Speaker:sharply. “You
Speaker:knew
Speaker:where
Speaker:he
Speaker:made
Speaker:his
Speaker:money,
Speaker:but
Speaker:you
Speaker:drank
Speaker:his
Speaker:wine,
Speaker:shared
Speaker:his
Speaker:company
Speaker:and
Speaker:slept
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:bed.
Speaker:Is
Speaker:there
Speaker:anything
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:left
Speaker:out, Vincente? Do you want me to also mention
Speaker:how
Speaker:you
Speaker:assaulted
Speaker:an
Speaker:agent
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:crown
Speaker:and
Speaker:conspired
Speaker:to
Speaker:kill
Speaker:him?
Speaker:Would
Speaker:that
Speaker:help
Speaker:your
Speaker:case?”
Tears
start
Speaker:beading
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:deer’s
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:as
Speaker:shame
Speaker:and
Speaker:pain
Speaker:compete
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice.
“I
never
Speaker:wanted…
Speaker:I
Speaker:never
Speaker:meant
Speaker:for
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:this!”
“You
need
Speaker:not
Speaker:have
Speaker:meant
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:happen.
Speaker:But
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:court,
Speaker:you are
Speaker:heading
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:same noose.” I
Speaker:let
Speaker:the statement
Speaker:hang
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:chokes
Speaker:out
Speaker:wordless
Speaker:sobs.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I see how
Speaker:young
Speaker:he
Speaker:is.
Speaker:Barely
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:twenty five.
I
remember
Speaker:how
Speaker:easy
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:believe
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:young,
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:in
Speaker:charge
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:idea.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:after
Speaker:years
Speaker:of
Speaker:slavery,
Speaker:I
Speaker:still
Speaker:thought
Speaker:that
Speaker:somehow,
Speaker:this
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:work.
Speaker:I
Speaker:remember
Speaker:how
Speaker:painful
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:the
Speaker:truths
Speaker:which
Speaker:makes a cub
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:fox.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:fifteen
Speaker:years
Speaker:his
Speaker:junior
Speaker:when
Speaker:that
Speaker:hard
Speaker:lesson
Speaker:was
Speaker:driven
Speaker:home.
Speaker:But
Speaker:we
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:choose
Speaker:when
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:our
Speaker:most
Speaker:important
Speaker:lessons. “Hear
Speaker:me
Speaker:out,
Speaker:Vincente.
Speaker:Say,
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:felt
Speaker:such
Speaker:great
Speaker:regret,
Speaker:shed
Speaker:all
Speaker:allegiances
Speaker:and
Speaker:aided
Speaker:this
Speaker:agent
Speaker:with
Speaker:closing
Speaker:the
Speaker:case,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sure
Speaker:we
Speaker:could
Speaker:reach
Speaker:some
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:understanding,
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:think?
Speaker:You're
Speaker:far
Speaker:too
Speaker:good
Speaker:for
Speaker:this
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:life.”
“I
never…
Speaker:We
Speaker:were...”
“I
don’t
Speaker:believe
Speaker:the
Speaker:courts
Speaker:will
Speaker:compel
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:bear
Speaker:witness
Speaker:against
Speaker:a
Speaker:lover,
Speaker:anyways,
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:rather
Speaker:chance
Speaker:it
Speaker:on
Speaker:your
Speaker:own-”
“I
don’t
Speaker:love
Speaker:him!”
Speaker:he
Speaker:spits
Speaker:out,
Speaker:ears
Speaker:flat,
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:fierce.
Speaker:There
Speaker:follows
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:pause,
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:those
Speaker:words
Speaker:really
Speaker:sink
Speaker:in.
Speaker:He
Speaker:fumbles
Speaker:for
Speaker:words. “I…
Speaker:That
Speaker:is
Speaker:to
Speaker:say…
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:once
Speaker:was.
Speaker:He
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:the
Speaker:man
Speaker:who
Speaker:won
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart.
Speaker:After…
Speaker:after
Speaker:we
Speaker:served
Speaker:together.
Speaker:And
Speaker:he
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:destruction
Speaker:we
Speaker:wrought
Speaker:on
Speaker:those
Speaker:ships.
Speaker:The
Speaker:Lion and
Speaker:the
Speaker:Imperator-”
“I
saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:destruction
Speaker:too!”
Speaker:I
Speaker:retort,
Speaker:sternly. “I
Speaker:raided
Speaker:alongside
Speaker:the
Speaker:royal
Speaker:guard.
Speaker:You
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:believe
Speaker:the
Speaker:things
Speaker:they
Speaker:can
Speaker:do
Speaker:when
Speaker:let
Speaker:off
Speaker:their
Speaker:leash.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:no
Speaker:more
Speaker:evil
Speaker:for
Speaker:it,
Speaker:Vincente.
Speaker:We
Speaker:do
Speaker:what
Speaker:we
Speaker:must,
Speaker:because
Speaker:we
Speaker:believe
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:cause.
Speaker:Don
Speaker:Constantino
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:become
Speaker:cruel
Speaker:from
Speaker:some
Speaker:outside
Speaker:force.
Speaker:No
Speaker:man
Speaker:is
Speaker:ever
Speaker:forced
Speaker:into becoming cruel. You succumb to it
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:weakness,
Speaker:Vincente.”
“Oh,
God,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:moans,
Speaker:clutching
Speaker:uselessly
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:hand. “Just
Speaker:leave
Speaker:me
Speaker:be!
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:like
Speaker:him.”
“What
makes
Speaker:you
Speaker:different
Speaker:from
Speaker:him?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:growl.
“I’m
nothing
Speaker:like
Speaker:him.
Speaker:I
Speaker:hate
Speaker:what
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:become,
Speaker:I
Speaker:hate
Speaker:what
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:made
Speaker:me...
Speaker:I
Speaker:hate it
Speaker:all.”
Dark
thoughts
Speaker:swim
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface.
Speaker:Give
Speaker:him
Speaker:an
Speaker:inch, and he’ll
Speaker:take
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:trade
Speaker:where
Speaker:Don
Speaker:Constantino
Speaker:leaves
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:grief
Speaker:he
Speaker:feels
Speaker:now,
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:sorrow,
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:loss,
Speaker:will
Speaker:become
Speaker:anger
Speaker:at
Speaker:me,
Speaker:at
Speaker:Dalmatia, at
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:he
Speaker:feels
Speaker:like,
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:turns
Speaker:a
Speaker:blind
Speaker:eye
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:suffering
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:world.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:pain
Speaker:he
Speaker:feels,
Speaker:it
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:measure
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:tenth
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:those
Speaker:innocent
Speaker:people
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:felt,
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt,
Speaker:when
Speaker:my
Speaker:former
Speaker:owner
Speaker:ripped
Speaker:me
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:home.
But
his
Speaker:pain
Speaker:is
Speaker:not
Speaker:the
Speaker:antidote
Speaker:to
Speaker:mine. His
Speaker:grief
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:still
Speaker:my
Speaker:sorrow.
Speaker:I
Speaker:close
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:breathe.
Speaker:I
Speaker:shut
Speaker:the
Speaker:blood
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:nose,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:cries
Speaker:of
Speaker:pain
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears.
Speaker:I drown
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:memories
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:hundreds
Speaker:of
Speaker:men
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:seen
Speaker:pleading
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:lives,
Speaker:again
Speaker:and
Speaker:again.
Speaker:Men
Speaker:who
Speaker:chose
Speaker:cruelty.
Speaker:Who
Speaker:chose
Speaker:it
Speaker:again
Speaker:and
Speaker:again,
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:moment
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:regretted
Speaker:it
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:too
Speaker:late.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:breathe.
Speaker:The
Speaker:path
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:end has
Speaker:many
Speaker:branches,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:I
Speaker:go
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:one,
Speaker:at
Speaker:every
Speaker:turn,
Speaker:or
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:lost.
“I’m
not
Speaker:done
Speaker:with
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Vincente,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:tell
Speaker:him
Speaker:steadily
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:walk
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:but
Speaker:at
Speaker:this
Speaker:point,
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:inconsolable.
With
a
Speaker:swift
Speaker:movement,
Speaker:I
Speaker:yank
Speaker:the
Speaker:blade
Speaker:out
Speaker:of his
Speaker:hand.
Speaker:Then I rip a
Speaker:rag
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:old
Speaker:cloak,
Speaker:and
Speaker:bid
Speaker:him
Speaker:hold
Speaker:it
Speaker:against
Speaker:his
Speaker:open,
Speaker:pulsing
Speaker:wound.
Speaker:Shakily,
Speaker:he
Speaker:clutches
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:sobbing.
Speaker:I
Speaker:take
Speaker:another
Speaker:rag
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:cloak
Speaker:and
Speaker:dip
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:boiling
Speaker:water
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:pot
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:barrel
Speaker:stove.
Speaker:Fishing
Speaker:it
Speaker:out
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:knife,
Speaker:I
Speaker:hand
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:deer.
For
a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time,
Speaker:I
Speaker:keep
Speaker:an
Speaker:eye
Speaker:on
Speaker:him.
Speaker:The
Speaker:insides
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:have paled,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:for
Speaker:lack
Speaker:of
Speaker:shame.
Speaker:A
Speaker:sizable
Speaker:puddle
Speaker:of
Speaker:blood
Speaker:rests
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:base
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:support,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:once
Speaker:pristine
Speaker:sleeves are
Speaker:red,
Speaker:too.
“Does
Don
Speaker:Constantino
Speaker:love you?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:ask
Speaker:him,
Speaker:once he’s quieted down.
Vincente nods.
“He… He says he
worships
Speaker:me,
Speaker:but...
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know...
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:too
Speaker:much
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:greed
Speaker:in
Speaker:those
Speaker:words.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:always
Speaker:been
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:one.
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:way
Speaker:at
Speaker:first.
Speaker:It
Speaker:got
Speaker:harder
Speaker:and
Speaker:harder.
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:distracting
Speaker:myself
Speaker:with
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:I
Speaker:could…
Speaker:I
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:the
Speaker:heart
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:him.
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:too
Speaker:many
Speaker:fond
Speaker:memories...
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:not…
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:easy
Speaker:to
Speaker:let
Speaker:go of
Speaker:those.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:sniffles
Speaker:and
Speaker:empties
Speaker:his
Speaker:tankard,
Speaker:emotions
Speaker:flowing
Speaker:more
Speaker:freely
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:beer-soaked
Speaker:tongue. “I’m
Speaker:no
Speaker:cruel man, Kieran. I’m
Speaker:not,
Speaker:I swear.
Speaker:But
Speaker:when
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:turned
Speaker:over
Speaker:for
Speaker:promotion
Speaker:one
Speaker:too
Speaker:many
Speaker:times.
Speaker:When
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:overlooked
Speaker:and
Speaker:trodden
Speaker:upon
Speaker:by
Speaker:your
Speaker:betters.
Speaker:When
Speaker:you
Speaker:do
Speaker:your
Speaker:best,
Speaker:and
Speaker:believe
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:cause,
Speaker:but
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of you,
Speaker:some
Speaker:half-corrupt...
Speaker:b-bastard
Speaker:gets
Speaker:the
Speaker:promotion...
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:easy
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:the
Speaker:sense
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:owes
Speaker:you
Speaker:something
Speaker:in
Speaker:return.”
“And
so
Speaker:you
Speaker:chose
Speaker:to
Speaker:give
Speaker:him
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:wanted,
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:hopes
Speaker:that
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:hand
Speaker:you
Speaker:those
Speaker:promotions?”
Vincente
stares
Speaker:down
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:weave
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:bandage,
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:large
Speaker:red
Speaker:blotch
Speaker:forms.
“The
world
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:kind
Speaker:to
Speaker:you
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:somebody.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:relations
Speaker:are
Speaker:more
Speaker:important
Speaker:than
Speaker:your
Speaker:efforts,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:mumbles. “I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:that
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:attach
Speaker:myself
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:ascend.
Speaker:And
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while,
Speaker:we
Speaker:did.
Speaker:He
Speaker:rose
Speaker:from
Speaker:gunnery
Speaker:sergeant
Speaker:to
Speaker:master,
Speaker:to
Speaker:first
Speaker:mate,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:took
Speaker:the
Speaker:captaincy.
Speaker:All
Speaker:undeserved.
Speaker:All
Speaker:because
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:bloody
Speaker:spots.
Speaker:And
Speaker:then
Speaker:he
Speaker:accepted
Speaker:this
Speaker:command,
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:came
Speaker:ashore.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:things
Speaker:really
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:fall
Speaker:apart.”
“That
is
Speaker:how
Speaker:this
Speaker:world
Speaker:works,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:shrug. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:like
Speaker:it
Speaker:either.
Speaker:And
Speaker:yet,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:a
Speaker:formerly
Speaker:honest
Speaker:merchant
Speaker:was
Speaker:peddling
Speaker:stolen
Speaker:goods,
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:simply
Speaker:stop
Speaker:buying
Speaker:his
Speaker:wares
Speaker:and
Speaker:feel
Speaker:no
Speaker:remorse.”
“You
wound
Speaker:me.
Speaker:What
Speaker:I shared
Speaker:with him
Speaker:meant
Speaker:something…
Speaker:Once.
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:all
Speaker:his
Speaker:old
Speaker:positions
Speaker:like
Speaker:worn
Speaker:boots.
Speaker:It
Speaker:worked
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:shameful.
Speaker:The
Speaker:higher
Speaker:I rose,
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:I
Speaker:resented
Speaker:my
Speaker:station,
Speaker:my
Speaker:men...
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:life.
Speaker:After
Speaker:a
Speaker:while,
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:face
Speaker:the
Speaker:day,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:resigned.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:resented
Speaker:that
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:all.”
“Resent
becomes
Speaker:a
Speaker:habit,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:confirm. “Then
Speaker:it
Speaker:spreads
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:disease
Speaker:to
Speaker:every
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:you.”
Vincente
nods. “Even
Speaker:the
Speaker:slightest
Speaker:morsel
Speaker:I
Speaker:got
Speaker:was
Speaker:layered
Speaker:with
Speaker:judgement,
Speaker:with
Speaker:bitter
Speaker:aftertaste.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:good
Speaker:befell
Speaker:me,
Speaker:he
Speaker:made
Speaker:sure
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:it
Speaker:known
Speaker:that
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:his
Speaker:doing.
Speaker:And
Speaker:every
Speaker:choice
Speaker:I
Speaker:now
Speaker:regret,
Speaker:he
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:plain,
Speaker:was
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:doing.
Speaker:In
Speaker:a
Speaker:way,
Speaker:I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:my
Speaker:confession.
Speaker:I
Speaker:live
Speaker:on
Speaker:treats
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:horse...
Speaker:I...
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:he
Speaker:enjoys
Speaker:that.”
“Oh,
he
Speaker:knows,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:confirm. “Men
Speaker:like
Speaker:him
Speaker:like
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:power
Speaker:they
Speaker:gain
Speaker:over
Speaker:others.
Speaker:What
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:through
Speaker:is
Speaker:not
Speaker:far
Speaker:removed
Speaker:from
Speaker:how
Speaker:people
Speaker:fall
Speaker:to
Speaker:slavery
Speaker:to
Speaker:begin
Speaker:with.
Speaker:These
Speaker:men,
Speaker:they
Speaker:know
Speaker:exactly
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:win
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:side,
Speaker:and
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:haven’t
Speaker:the
Speaker:faculties
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:it
Speaker:for
Speaker:what
Speaker:it
Speaker:is,
Speaker:it
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:very
Speaker:hard
Speaker:to
Speaker:break
Speaker:the
Speaker:illusion.
Speaker:Impossible
Speaker:for
Speaker:some.
Speaker:In
Speaker:truth,
Speaker:they
Speaker:can
Speaker:make
Speaker:people
Speaker:enslave
Speaker:themselves
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:dream
Speaker:or
Speaker:an
Speaker:idea.”
Vincente
remains
Speaker:silent
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time. “I
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:of
Speaker:it...
Speaker:You
Speaker:speak
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:him.”
“I
don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:know
Speaker:him,
Speaker:to
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:his
Speaker:methods
Speaker:work.
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:seen
Speaker:it
Speaker:half
Speaker:a
Speaker:hundred
Speaker:times.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:smashed
Speaker:that
Speaker:illusion
Speaker:for
Speaker:myself.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:as
Speaker:painful
Speaker:a
Speaker:medicine
Speaker:as
Speaker:that
Speaker:wound
Speaker:of
Speaker:yours.”
He
looks
Speaker:up,
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:meeting
Speaker:mine.
Speaker:Pleadingly.
Speaker:Desperately. “Kieran… I never meant
Speaker:for
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:so
Speaker:far.
Speaker:I
Speaker:let
Speaker:myself
Speaker:stoop
Speaker:this
Speaker:low,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:person.
Speaker:I
Speaker:beg
Speaker:you,
Speaker:spare
Speaker:my
Speaker:life,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I will
Speaker:do
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:you
Speaker:want of me.
Speaker:Please.”
“Vincente, you’ve
been
Speaker:a
Speaker:fool.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:feel
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:give
Speaker:you
Speaker:a
Speaker:chance.
Speaker:You
Speaker:just
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:cut
Speaker:out
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:rot
Speaker:that
Speaker:threatens
Speaker:to
Speaker:stain
Speaker:you.”
“Give
me the knife,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:cut it right
Speaker:out.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:deer laughs
Speaker:darkly,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:pleading
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:too. It’s
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:slurred.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:only
Speaker:the
Speaker:beer,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:loss
Speaker:of
Speaker:blood
Speaker:is
Speaker:starting
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:its
Speaker:effect. “I’ll
Speaker:set
Speaker:things
Speaker:right,
Speaker:as
Speaker:best as
Speaker:I
Speaker:can.
Speaker:God
Speaker:grant
Speaker:me
Speaker:strength.”
“Do
I
Speaker:have
Speaker:your
Speaker:word
Speaker:that
Speaker:you
Speaker:will
Speaker:put
Speaker:this
Speaker:life
Speaker:behind
Speaker:you?”
“I
give
Speaker:you
Speaker:my
Speaker:word,”
Speaker:He
Speaker:says. “I
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:navy.
Speaker:Life
Speaker:was
Speaker:simpler…
Speaker:It
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:clean
Speaker:or
Speaker:pretty,
Speaker:but
Speaker:by
Speaker:God
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:thing
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:deer
Speaker:looks
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:shimmering
Speaker:eyes. “I’ve
Speaker:tasted
Speaker:a
Speaker:life
Speaker:of
Speaker:wine
Speaker:and
Speaker:silk,
Speaker:but
Speaker:without
Speaker:love,
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:just
Speaker:vinegar
Speaker:and
Speaker:rags.”
I
put
Speaker:a paw on his
Speaker:shoulder. “Then
Speaker:let
Speaker:that
Speaker:be
Speaker:your
Speaker:reward,
Speaker:and
Speaker:let
Speaker:that
Speaker:reward
Speaker:be
Speaker:good
Speaker:enough
Speaker:for
Speaker:you.”
He
nods
Speaker:one
Speaker:final
Speaker:time,
Speaker:seeming
Speaker:to
Speaker:lower
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:at last. Then he
Speaker:sinks
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:chair. …
This
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of “A
Speaker:Fox
Speaker:Walks
Speaker:Into
Speaker:A
Speaker:Bar”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Spottystuff,
Speaker:read
Speaker:for you
Speaker:by
Speaker:Solomon
Speaker:Harries,
Speaker:Cuddly
Speaker:Badger
Speaker:Dad.
Speaker:Tune
Speaker:in
Speaker:next
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:out
Speaker:if
Speaker:Kieran
Speaker:and
Speaker:Vincente
Speaker:get
Speaker:their
Speaker:man.
As
always,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.