full

“Aces High” by J. Daniel Phillips (read by Carrizo, part 2 of 2)

Having intimidated the young Robin Valentine, John follows his bloody trail to where his first quarry - and his murderer - hides.

Today’s story is the second and final part of and excerpt from “Aces High” by J. Daniel Phillips, in 2021 the runner-up for a Coyotl Award for best novel. The full book is available from Amazon, or (preferably) from Fenris Publishing if you’re interested in learning how the story develops, and you can find more of his stories on FurAffinity and Amazon.

Read by Carrizo, your Coyote in the Court.

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/aces-high-by-j-daniel-phillips-part-2-of-2

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

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listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

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is

Speaker:

Rob

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MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

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Fellow

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Traveller,

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and

Speaker:

Today’s

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story

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is

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the

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second

Speaker:

and

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final

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part

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of

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and

Speaker:

excerpt

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from “Aces

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High”

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by

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J.

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Daniel Phillips, in 2021 the runner-up

Speaker:

for

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a Coyotl

Speaker:

Award

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for

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best

Speaker:

novel.

Speaker:

The

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full

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book

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is

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available

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from

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Amazon,

Speaker:

or (preferably)

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from

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Fenris

Speaker:

Publishing

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if

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you’re

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interested

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in

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learning

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how

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the

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story

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develops,

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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

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

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stories

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on

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FurAffinity

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and

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Amazon.

Last

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time,

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having

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been

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given

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a

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second

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chance

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at

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life

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by

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striking

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a

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deal

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with

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the

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mysterious

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Wolf

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With

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No

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Name,

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John

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Blackfoot,

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former

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train

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robber,

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tracked

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the

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first

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of

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five

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targets -

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Eddie

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Winter,

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the

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beast

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who

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murdered

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him -

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into

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the

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deep

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snow of

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the

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Rocky

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Mountains.

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Learning

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Eddie is

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cobbling

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together

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a

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new

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gang,

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he intimidated

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the

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young,

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inexperienced Robin Valentine at a saloon card table.

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Then he followed

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the

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trail

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of

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blood

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droplets

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the bleeding

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buck

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unwittingly

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provided.

Read

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by

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Carrizo,

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your

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Coyote

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in

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Court.

Please

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enjoy


“Aces

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High”

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by

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J.

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Daniel

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Phillips,

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Part 2

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of 2

     The

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trail of

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blood

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meanders

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through

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the

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snow,

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snaking

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out

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of

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town

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northeast

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and

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highlighting the

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stumbling,

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fumbling

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flight

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of

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a

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pupper who

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never

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thought

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he’d

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ever

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actually

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have

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to

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fight. I

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stop

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every

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so

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often

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to

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make

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

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get

Speaker:

too

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close

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to

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that

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fool, as

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sometimes

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I

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can

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hear

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him

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huffing and

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straining

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ahead

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of

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me. About an hour into the trek, I come upon a larger

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pool

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of

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blood.

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And

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the

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discarded

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remnants

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of

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the

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broadsheet

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bearing

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Eddie’s

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caricature,

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made

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easily

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visible

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by

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the

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coming

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dawn.
     That

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elicits

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a

Speaker:

smile.

Speaker:

Took him

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this

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long

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to

Speaker:

realize

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I

Speaker:

sent him

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back

Speaker:

with

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a

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bag

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full

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of

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rocks I

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told

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him

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was

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gold. And

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these

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are the hummingbirds that

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old

Speaker:

Eddie

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attracts. The

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rest

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of his ‘gang’

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must

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be

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just

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as

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bad,

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then.

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This

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should

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be

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quick.
     Another

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hour

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passes

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before

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I

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finally

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crest a

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hill, having tromped through knee-high snow for two

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hours,

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crossed

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two

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frozen

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streams,

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and

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passed

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through

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the

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remnants

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of

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at

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least

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one

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abandoned

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camp.

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Emerging

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from

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the

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tree

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line

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of

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primeval

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evergreens, I

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stand

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overlooking

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a

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homestead

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of

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some

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size.

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Two

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stories, wide with an attached coop long

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disused.

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But

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the

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fence

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demarcating

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its

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yard

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is mended, its

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shithouse

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shoveled, and

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smoke

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rises

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from

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its

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chimney

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above

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windows

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darkened

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by

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shutters.
     The

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buck’s

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trail

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leads

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right

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up

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to

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the

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door,

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too.

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Brilliant. I

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couldn’t

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have

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asked

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for

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anything

Speaker:

better.

Speaker:

Opening

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my

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coat

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and cycling a

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lungful of cold air,

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I subtly

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descend

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the

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slope.

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Halfway

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to

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the

Speaker:

fence,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

drop

Speaker:

into

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a

Speaker:

crouch

Speaker:

and

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plow

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through

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the

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snow,

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dead

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silent,

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before

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slipping

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through

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the

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fence

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rungs. It’s just then, as I’m crossing

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the

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open

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space

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to

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the

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outhouse,

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that

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lights

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spark

Speaker:

in

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the

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windows and

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cast

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a

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warm

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glow

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outside.
     Back

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thrown

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to

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the

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outhouse

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wall, I

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loose

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my

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gun. A loud

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click

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breaks

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the

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silence

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as

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the

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hammer

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is

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cocked.
     “Eddie!”

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I

Speaker:

scream

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at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

lungs,

Speaker:

pressing

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my

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hat

Speaker:

down

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further. “Eddie Boggart, you backstabbing sonofabitch!

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You

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

there!?”
I

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wait,

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body

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braced

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for

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swift,

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

retaliation,

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but

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none

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comes.

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I

Speaker:

glance

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

corner

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shitter

Speaker:

and

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study

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the

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homestead. A

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window is

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suddenly

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thrust

Speaker:

open

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and I

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retreat

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to

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safety.

Speaker:

Yet

Speaker:

no

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gunshots.

Speaker:

Peculiar.
Instead,

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what

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echoes

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is, “Is

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that actually you, John?”

Speaker:

Eddie. No

Speaker:

mistaking

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

high-pitched,

Speaker:

arrogant

Speaker:

squeal. “Naw,

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it can’t be. I put a bullet through your spine and left ya ta

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bleed

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out.

Speaker:

You’re

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nothing

Speaker:

but

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an

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imposter,

Speaker:

a

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ghost, a

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dead

Speaker:

beast.

Speaker:

Just like this hooved whelp is going to be for lying

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to

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me!”
The wind

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blows,

Speaker:

whistling through the trees. I

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growl, “You shoulda shot twice, you arrogant

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fuck.

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That

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was

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always

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your

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biggest

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sin –

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hubris.

Speaker:

Pride

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

comes

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fall.

Speaker:

So

Speaker:

unless

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

kill

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

gang

Speaker:

to a

Speaker:

beast,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

alpha!”
Silence.

Speaker:

Then,

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

sounds

Speaker:

like…clapping?

Speaker:

Eddie

Speaker:

begins

Speaker:

giggling,

Speaker:

giggling

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

becomes

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laughter,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

evolves

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into

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hawing, donkey-like braying.
“Hoo, boy, John, that is you! You always were an uppity little chomper, weren’tcha!? What with that book-learning

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fancy

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

far ‘bove

Speaker:

yer

Speaker:

station!”

Speaker:

he yells in

Speaker:

response, his

Speaker:

laughter

Speaker:

yet to

Speaker:

dissipate. “Yeah,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

voice is unmistakable. Injun and Creole and whatever the old hoss stilled into you for flavor

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

his college

Speaker:

education. Ha! Oh, how I’ve

Speaker:

missed

Speaker:

you!”

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

laughs before it

Speaker:

trails

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

theatrically. “But

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

time.

Speaker:

If you think I’m gonna deign to face you instead of letting

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

legion

Speaker:

tear

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

limb-from-limb,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

far stupider

Speaker:

than I ever suspected you of being. Do you think I’ve been

Speaker:

idle

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

here?

Speaker:

Fuck

Speaker:

no!

Speaker:

I’ve

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

busy

Speaker:

cobbling

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

million-beast army ol’ White Fur

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

coulda

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

did.

Speaker:

I’d

Speaker:

sooner

Speaker:

loose

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

dumb

Speaker:

ass,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

fucking

Speaker:

cat,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

waste

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bullet

Speaker:

myself.”
“You

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

did,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

mouthy

Speaker:

prick,” I

Speaker:

swiftly,

Speaker:

harshly

Speaker:

retort.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

hinges

Speaker:

creak, the

Speaker:

shifting of weight under perhaps a dozen paws. ‘Million-beast army’

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

ass. “I’ll

Speaker:

repeat

Speaker:

myself,

Speaker:

for I

Speaker:

fear

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

working

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

butte:

butte:

You

butte:

surrender

butte:

your

butte:

Ace

butte:

to

butte:

me,

butte:

Eddie,

butte:

and

butte:

I

butte:

promise

butte:

you

butte:

I

butte:

will

butte:

grant

butte:

you

butte:

the

butte:

swiftest,

butte:

most

butte:

painless

butte:

death

butte:

possible.

butte:

But

butte:

if

butte:

you

butte:

make

butte:

me

butte:

come

butte:

in

butte:

there,

butte:

I

butte:

will

butte:

tear

butte:

your

butte:

dick

butte:

from

butte:

your

butte:

torso and

butte:

make

butte:

you eat it, you

butte:

understand

butte:

me!?”
I

butte:

peek

butte:

around

butte:

the

butte:

corner

butte:

and

butte:

see

butte:

Eddie

butte:

hiding

butte:

in

butte:

one

butte:

of

butte:

the windows,

butte:

pistol in

butte:

hand,

butte:

waiting.

butte:

But

butte:

not

butte:

his

butte:

face,

butte:

no,

butte:

just a

butte:

silhouette, a

butte:

profile.

butte:

Show

butte:

yourself,

butte:

you

butte:

spineless

butte:

turd.
“I

butte:

shoulda

butte:

let

butte:

you

butte:

die

butte:

on that raid, Edward, when we leapt onto

butte:

the

butte:

Red

butte:

Rose

butte:

Flyer,”

butte:

I

butte:

howl. “I

butte:

should’ve

butte:

let

butte:

that

butte:

Pinkerton

butte:

bore

butte:

you.

butte:

If I

butte:

woulda,

butte:

we

butte:

wouldn’t

butte:

be

butte:

here.”
Suddenly

butte:

Eddie

butte:

steps

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

window

butte:

and

butte:

shouts, “I

butte:

shoulda

butte:

killed

butte:

you

butte:

in

butte:

your

butte:

sleep! When-when

butte:

I

butte:

had the chance,

butte:

you-you sniveling shit!

butte:

It’s

butte:

all your

butte:

fault!

butte:

You, you!

butte:

You turned all of them against me

butte:

one-by-one,

butte:

you

butte:

treacherous

butte:

devil,

butte:

you

butte:

and

butte:

your

butte:

forked tongue and your

butte:

black

butte:

magic!” Oh,

butte:

yeah,

butte:

that’s

butte:

Eddie.

butte:

And

butte:

he

butte:

looks

butte:

awful.

butte:

Fur’s disheveled,

butte:

teeth are

butte:

long,

butte:

his clothes are

butte:

wrinkled,

butte:

and he’s gaunter

butte:

than he

butte:

ever was. “If it weren’t

butte:

for

butte:

you,

butte:

we’d’a made

butte:

off

butte:

with

butte:

our

butte:

weight in gold that day at White Wind – we’d be richer than T.C. Abbott or-or the Vanderbilts themselves!”

butte:

I can see him seethe,

butte:

shoulders

butte:

heaving, the pistol

butte:

shaking

butte:

at

butte:

his

butte:

hip. “But,

butte:

no,

butte:

we

butte:

buried

butte:

Norman and

butte:

Verne

butte:

instead;

butte:

the whole

butte:

gang

butte:

broke

butte:

up!

butte:

We

butte:

lost

butte:

everything,

butte:

everything! I

butte:

still

butte:

have those scars

butte:

on

butte:

my

butte:

neck!”

butte:

His

butte:

voice

butte:

breaks

butte:

as he

butte:

yanks

butte:

down

butte:

the

butte:

collar

butte:

on his

butte:

wrinkled,

butte:

filthy

butte:

shirt,

butte:

revealing

butte:

the

butte:

oval

butte:

of

butte:

puncture

butte:

wounds

butte:

long-scarred

butte:

over.
“I

butte:

should’ve bitten

butte:

down harder!”
Silence but

butte:

for

butte:

the wind.

butte:

Then,

butte:

throwing

butte:

his

butte:

hand

butte:

down,

butte:

Eddie

butte:

chuckles. “Well,

butte:

that

butte:

wasn’t

butte:

in

butte:

your

butte:

cards,

butte:

now,

butte:

was

butte:

it?”
I

butte:

shake

butte:

my

butte:

head. “No,

butte:

it

butte:

wasn’t,”

butte:

I solemnly concede. “But

butte:

I don’t hold my

butte:

cards

butte:

anymore.

butte:

You were

butte:

right to

butte:

fear

butte:

me

butte:

all

butte:

them

butte:

years

butte:

you

butte:

accused me of

butte:

wanting

butte:

to

butte:

scalp

butte:

you

butte:

like

butte:

some

butte:

savage.

butte:

Because

butte:

now

butte:

I will. You shot me dead, Eddie, that day on the plains. Dead as dirt. But a

butte:

creature

butte:

such

butte:

as

butte:

me

butte:

is

butte:

hard

butte:

to inhume

butte:

without

butte:

a

butte:

struggle.”
Feeling

butte:

brave,

butte:

I

butte:

emerge

butte:

from

butte:

my hiding

butte:

spot

butte:

and

butte:

stand,

butte:

paws

butte:

wide

butte:

and

butte:

coat

butte:

spread.

butte:

For

butte:

the

butte:

first

butte:

time,

butte:

Eddie

butte:

and

butte:

I

butte:

lock

butte:

eyes

butte:

and

butte:

I

butte:

scowl.

butte:

Then

butte:

I

butte:

growl, “You

butte:

listen

butte:

up

butte:

and

butte:

you

butte:

listen

butte:

good –

butte:

I’m

butte:

here

butte:

and I’m

butte:

death

butte:

incarnate,

butte:

the

butte:

reaper

butte:

come

butte:

to

butte:

collect

butte:

what’s

butte:

due,

butte:

borne

butte:

on

butte:

black

butte:

wings

butte:

and

butte:

hot

butte:

brass.

butte:

And

butte:

you’d

butte:

make

butte:

that

butte:

difficult,

butte:

too, wouldn’t you?

butte:

You

butte:

always

butte:

were a petulant

butte:

coward,

butte:

skulking in

butte:

the

butte:

darkness,

butte:

hiding

butte:

in our

butte:

shadows – the

butte:

shadows

butte:

of

butte:

greater

butte:

beasts

butte:

than

butte:

you.”
“’Better than

butte:

me’? ‘Better

butte:

than

butte:

me’!? I’ll

butte:

show

butte:

you ‘better

butte:

than

butte:

me!’”

butte:

He

butte:

steps

butte:

back

butte:

out

butte:

of

butte:

the

butte:

light. “Fucking

butte:

kill

butte:

him!

butte:

Now,

butte:

now,

butte:

now!”
The

butte:

doorway

butte:

just

butte:

to his

butte:

left

butte:

bursts

butte:

open and a

butte:

steer emerges

butte:

with

butte:

a

butte:

shotgun

butte:

perched

butte:

against

butte:

his

butte:

shoulder.

butte:

It unloads

butte:

each

butte:

spout

butte:

in

butte:

quick

butte:

succession.

butte:

The

butte:

corner of

butte:

the

butte:

outhouse

butte:

tears

butte:

free

butte:

just

butte:

as

butte:

I

butte:

slip

butte:

behind

butte:

it.

butte:

A second voice joining the chorus, a rifle opens up

butte:

and

butte:

I

butte:

duck

butte:

down

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

snow

butte:

as

butte:

hole

butte:

after

butte:

hole

butte:

drills

butte:

through

butte:

just

butte:

above

butte:

my

butte:

head.

butte:

Weathering

butte:

it,

butte:

I

butte:

hold

butte:

skyward

butte:

but

butte:

one

butte:

of

butte:

my

butte:

pistols

butte:

and

butte:

wait

butte:

for

butte:

the

butte:

reload.
When

butte:

silence

butte:

falls,

butte:

I emerge,

butte:

rolling

butte:

around

butte:

the

butte:

recently

butte:

renovated

butte:

corner.

butte:

Like

butte:

a

butte:

beast

butte:

possessed,

butte:

I

butte:

walk

butte:

towards

butte:

the

butte:

pair

butte:

which

butte:

emerged

butte:

from

butte:

the

butte:

cabin,

butte:

the

butte:

pistol

butte:

extended at

butte:

hip-level.

butte:

My

butte:

other

butte:

hand

butte:

slips

butte:

over

butte:

and I

butte:

fan

butte:

the

butte:

hammer

butte:

only

butte:

twice,

butte:

for only

butte:

twice do

butte:

I need to shoot. The steer with the shotgun

butte:

slaps it

butte:

shut

butte:

just

butte:

to

butte:

be

butte:

shot

butte:

through

butte:

the

butte:

guts,

butte:

spewing

butte:

them

butte:

out

butte:

the

butte:

opposite

butte:

side. The

butte:

shotgun

butte:

discharges

butte:

both

butte:

spouts

butte:

harmlessly

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

air.
The

butte:

filthy

butte:

raccoon

butte:

with

butte:

the

butte:

rust-stained

butte:

Henry

butte:

has

butte:

his

butte:

chest

butte:

opened

butte:

and

butte:

pirouettes

butte:

in

butte:

the

butte:

snow

butte:

before

butte:

falling

butte:

stone-dead.

butte:

The rifle goes

butte:

sailing

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

snowbank,

butte:

vanishing

butte:

instantaneously.

butte:

I

butte:

lift

butte:

the

butte:

pistol

butte:

for

butte:

the

butte:

window

butte:

Eddie

butte:

was

butte:

once

butte:

in,

butte:

but

butte:

he’s

butte:

gone.

butte:

A

butte:

door

butte:

kicks

butte:

open

butte:

to the

butte:

left

butte:

and

butte:

I

butte:

slide

butte:

forward

butte:

to

butte:

a

butte:

three-foot-tall

butte:

pile

butte:

of

butte:

chopped

butte:

wood

butte:

just

butte:

as

butte:

a

butte:

new

butte:

beast

butte:

appears,

butte:

pistols

butte:

akimbo.
Splinters

butte:

of

butte:

wood

butte:

shower

butte:

my

butte:

coat

butte:

and

butte:

hat and

butte:

once, a

butte:

slug

butte:

penetrates

butte:

mere

butte:

inches

butte:

from

butte:

my

butte:

face

butte:

and I

butte:

exclaim

butte:

involuntarily, “Fuck!”
With

butte:

each

butte:

shot I

butte:

count.

butte:

Twelve, eight,

butte:

five,

butte:

three,

butte:

one…zero.

butte:

The

butte:

hammer

butte:

strikes and

butte:

no

butte:

bullet

butte:

fires

butte:

and

butte:

I

butte:

spring

butte:

up

butte:

to

butte:

retaliate.

butte:

The

butte:

dumb

butte:

donkey

butte:

looks

butte:

to

butte:

his

butte:

pistols as if

butte:

they’re

butte:

broken

butte:

and

butte:

projects

butte:

a

butte:

long-faced,

butte:

open-mouthed gawp

butte:

just

butte:

as

butte:

I

butte:

shoot

butte:

him

butte:

twice.

butte:

He

butte:

falls,

butte:

not

butte:

yet

butte:

dead,

butte:

but

butte:

moaning

butte:

like

butte:

a

butte:

beaten

butte:

child.
Again,

butte:

an

butte:

unsteady,

butte:

harrowing

butte:

stillness

butte:

consumes

butte:

the

butte:

clearing

butte:

occupied

butte:

by

butte:

this

butte:

homestead,

butte:

the

butte:

echo of

butte:

my

butte:

gunshots

butte:

retreating

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

distance.

butte:

Fresh

butte:

snow

butte:

whips

butte:

by as

butte:

the

butte:

nagging

butte:

wind

butte:

yanks

butte:

at

butte:

my

butte:

coat

butte:

and

butte:

hat.

butte:

But

butte:

I

butte:

needn’t

butte:

wait

butte:

long.

butte:

The

butte:

front

butte:

door is

butte:

thrust

butte:

open

butte:

again

butte:

and

butte:

my

butte:

pistol

butte:

swings

butte:

up

butte:

to

butte:

kill

butte:

what

butte:

emerges,

butte:

and

butte:

yet

butte:

I

butte:

falter.
The

butte:

buck

butte:

emerges

butte:

first,

butte:

his

butte:

gun in

butte:

his

butte:

hand, teeth bared and clothes sullied. Eddie follows

butte:

right

butte:

after,

butte:

a

butte:

pistol

butte:

produced

butte:

but

butte:

not

butte:

yet

butte:

leveled.

butte:

The

butte:

buck

butte:

is

butte:

eager

butte:

to aim his gun at

butte:

me, but

butte:

even

butte:

with it

butte:

extended and

butte:

without

butte:

any

butte:

resistance

butte:

offered,

butte:

he

butte:

doesn’t

butte:

immediately

butte:

fire. Instead, he

butte:

growls

butte:

and

butte:

squeezes his

butte:

freshly

butte:

wrapped

butte:

hand,

butte:

misty-eyed.
“That’s

butte:

him!”

butte:

he

butte:

calls. “He beat me senseless and opened my hand! I’ll kill you for that!”
Yet he

butte:

doesn’t

butte:

pull

butte:

the

butte:

trigger, instead

butte:

huffing

butte:

and

butte:

puffing,

butte:

like

butte:

all

butte:

he

butte:

wants

butte:

to

butte:

do

butte:

is

butte:

look

butte:

at

butte:

me,

butte:

like

butte:

he

butte:

can’t

butte:

get

butte:

enough.

butte:

His

butte:

hand

butte:

may

butte:

hurt

butte:

but

butte:

what

butte:

he’s

butte:

upset

butte:

about is

butte:

the

butte:

dent

butte:

I’ve

butte:

put

butte:

into

butte:

his

butte:

pride.

butte:

Eddie

butte:

sneers at

butte:

the

butte:

buck

butte:

for

butte:

not

butte:

murdering

butte:

me

butte:

where

butte:

I

butte:

stand,

butte:

but

butte:

bigger

butte:

fish,

butte:

as

butte:

they

butte:

say.
Unused

butte:

suspenders

butte:

swinging

butte:

around his waist,

butte:

Eddie finally

butte:

trains

butte:

his

butte:

pistol and immediately

butte:

commands, “Holster it! Holster it now!” When I don’t

butte:

immediately

butte:

comply

butte:

and

butte:

it’s

butte:

obvious

butte:

that

butte:

I’m

butte:

more

butte:

interested

butte:

in

butte:

the

butte:

buck

butte:

than

butte:

him,

butte:

he

butte:

sidles

butte:

over to the kid and snatches him. “I said holster it! Or the fucking fawn dies here,

butte:

too!”
Eddie’s

butte:

old

butte:

Single-Action

butte:

Army is

butte:

shoved

butte:

up

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

young

butte:

buck’s

butte:

throat, a

butte:

repeat

butte:

performance

butte:

from

butte:

earlier

butte:

tonight.

butte:

Shock

butte:

spreads

butte:

across

butte:

the

butte:

buck’s

butte:

face

butte:

and he

butte:

gasps,

butte:

trying

butte:

to

butte:

pull

butte:

away

butte:

from

butte:

the white rabbit who has now taken him hostage, but

butte:

finding

butte:

himself

butte:

kicked

butte:

for

butte:

his

butte:

trouble.
“Ow!” he screams. “Eddie, what’re you doing?”
“Shut the fuck up, idiot!”

butte:

Eddie

butte:

screams

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

buck’s

butte:

ears. “I

butte:

told

butte:

you

butte:

to

butte:

stop

butte:

going

butte:

to

butte:

town,

butte:

to

butte:

stop

butte:

gambling.

butte:

That shit’s only brought trouble and ruination upon us all. But, no, you had

butte:

to

butte:

go

butte:

play.

butte:

And

butte:

then

butte:

you

butte:

led

butte:

him

butte:

right

butte:

back

butte:

to our

butte:

hideout,

butte:

you

butte:

cowardly, useless piece of shit!”
“I’m

butte:

sorry!”

butte:

the

butte:

buck

butte:

offers,

butte:

thoroughly

butte:

scared. “I’m-I’m-I’m

butte:

sorry,

butte:

I

butte:

didn’t

butte:

mean—”
     “Oh,

butte:

stow it!”

butte:

Eddie

butte:

concludes.

butte:

When

butte:

his

butte:

eyes

butte:

return

butte:

to

butte:

me,

butte:

I

butte:

hold

butte:

my

butte:

yet-to-be-holstered

butte:

pistol

butte:

up,

butte:

ease

butte:

the

butte:

hammer

butte:

down,

butte:

and

butte:

then

butte:

holster

butte:

it. I

butte:

then

butte:

raise

butte:

my

butte:

hands

butte:

and

butte:

spread

butte:

my

butte:

fingers. “Very

butte:

good.

butte:

Now

butte:

I’m

butte:

just

butte:

gonna

butte:

walk

butte:

us

butte:

down

butte:

the

butte:

hill

butte:

over

butte:

yonder and

butte:

if

butte:

you

butte:

follow

butte:

me

butte:

I’ll

butte:

air

butte:

out

butte:

this dunderhead’s

butte:

brains.”
     “Eddie,

butte:

please—”
     “Shut

butte:

up!”

butte:

Eddie

butte:

screams,

butte:

choking

butte:

the

butte:

buck

butte:

further. “I

butte:

shoulda shot

butte:

you

butte:

when

butte:

you

butte:

came

butte:

in

butte:

the

butte:

door, you

butte:

walking

butte:

broken

butte:

mirror.

butte:

Maybe

butte:

I

butte:

still

butte:

will…”
     He

butte:

begins

butte:

to

butte:

sidle

butte:

the

butte:

buck

butte:

towards

butte:

me,

butte:

the

butte:

buck’s

butte:

emerald-green

butte:

eyes

butte:

glazed

butte:

with

butte:

worry

butte:

and

butte:

somehow

butte:

cast at

butte:

me

butte:

in

butte:

a

butte:

desperate

butte:

plea

butte:

for

butte:

help.

butte:

Oh, buck,

butte:

you

butte:

shoulda

butte:

made

butte:

better

butte:

choices

butte:

than

butte:

this.

butte:

You

butte:

won’t

butte:

find

butte:

no

butte:

help

butte:

from

butte:

me. I

butte:

step

butte:

back

butte:

twice

butte:

and

butte:

raise

butte:

my

butte:

hands

butte:

up

butte:

further,

butte:

spreading

butte:

my

butte:

coat

butte:

and

butte:

catching

butte:

the

butte:

sun

butte:

off

butte:

my

butte:

knives.
     Two

butte:

more

butte:

steps and

butte:

what

butte:

happens

butte:

I

butte:

cannot

butte:

believe.

butte:

The

butte:

buck’s eyes

butte:

train

butte:

on my

butte:

personal

butte:

armory

butte:

and

butte:

for

butte:

some

butte:

reason

butte:

he

butte:

decides

butte:

he’s

butte:

going

butte:

to

butte:

fight

butte:

and

butte:

die instead

butte:

of

butte:

submit

butte:

and

butte:

die.

butte:

He

butte:

knocks

butte:

Eddie

butte:

in

butte:

the

butte:

gut,

butte:

making

butte:

the

butte:

gun

butte:

aim

butte:

away

butte:

and

butte:

then

butte:

bites

butte:

down

butte:

on Eddie’s fingers.
     “Oooowwww!” Eddie wails, yanking his arm

butte:

back

butte:

and

butte:

letting

butte:

the

butte:

buck

butte:

fall

butte:

into the

butte:

snow in front of him. “You son of a whore!”
     And

butte:

as

butte:

Eddie

butte:

lifts

butte:

the

butte:

pistol

butte:

to

butte:

kill

butte:

the

butte:

buck,

butte:

I

butte:

make

butte:

an

butte:

equally

butte:

stupid

butte:

decision.

butte:

I

butte:

feel

butte:

my

butte:

body in

butte:

motion

butte:

long

butte:

before

butte:

my

butte:

brain

butte:

does,

butte:

fingers

butte:

dropping

butte:

and

butte:

slipping

butte:

through

butte:

a

butte:

loop. It

butte:

yanks

butte:

free

butte:

effortlessly

butte:

and –

butte:

coat tail

butte:

spraying

butte:

fresh

butte:

snow

butte:

up

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

air,

butte:

the

butte:

throwing knife

butte:

takes

butte:

flight. It

butte:

feels

butte:

like

butte:

things

butte:

are

butte:

moving

butte:

through

butte:

molasses,

butte:

slow and

butte:

deliberate-like.
     Eddie’s gun lifts and

butte:

his

butte:

thumb

butte:

cocks

butte:

the

butte:

hammer.

butte:

The

butte:

knife

butte:

slips

butte:

right

butte:

past

butte:

his

butte:

extended

butte:

arm,

butte:

cutting

butte:

open

butte:

his

butte:

cuff

butte:

and

butte:

drawing

butte:

blood,

butte:

then

butte:

plunges

butte:

into

butte:

his

butte:

side

butte:

at

butte:

navel-level.

butte:

The

butte:

force is

butte:

enough

butte:

to

butte:

frighten him and his eyes widen in

butte:

terror.

butte:

The

butte:

gun

butte:

drops

butte:

slightly,

butte:

but

butte:

the

butte:

hammer

butte:

drops

butte:

right

butte:

after.

butte:

A loud,

butte:

singular

butte:

gunshot.
     Then

butte:

it’s

butte:

the

butte:

buck’s

butte:

turn

butte:

to

butte:

bleat,

butte:

which

butte:

he

butte:

does

butte:

pitifully

butte:

as

butte:

the

butte:

bullet

butte:

enters

butte:

his

butte:

thigh

butte:

just

butte:

below

butte:

his

butte:

crotch.

butte:

Blood

butte:

sprays

butte:

and

butte:

white

butte:

snow

butte:

turns

butte:

crimson.

butte:

Eddie

butte:

stumbles

butte:

back,

butte:

black

butte:

boots

butte:

crunching

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

snow.

butte:

The

butte:

boy

butte:

forgotten,

butte:

he

butte:

pulls

butte:

the

butte:

knife

butte:

from

butte:

his

butte:

side

butte:

and

butte:

casts it

butte:

angrily

butte:

down

butte:

into

butte:

the

butte:

snowbank.
     The

butte:

rabbit returns

butte:

knives

butte:

of

butte:

his

butte:

own,

butte:

cast

butte:

from

butte:

his

butte:

eyes

butte:

as

butte:

he

butte:

pants,

butte:

looking

butte:

up

butte:

to

butte:

me

butte:

and

butte:

holding

butte:

his

butte:

now-bleeding

butte:

wound.

butte:

All

butte:

the

butte:

while,

butte:

I

butte:

lower

butte:

my

butte:

hands

butte:

to

butte:

my

butte:

side,

butte:

hovering

butte:

them

butte:

above

butte:

my

butte:

guns.

butte:

We’re only

butte:

thirty

butte:

feet

butte:

apart

butte:

and

butte:

he

butte:

could

butte:

try

butte:

to

butte:

shoot

butte:

at

butte:

any

butte:

time.

butte:

Even

butte:

with

butte:

his

butte:

gun in

butte:

his

butte:

hand,

butte:

is

butte:

he

butte:

faster

butte:

than

butte:

me?
     He

butte:

knows

butte:

the

butte:

answer.

butte:

With

butte:

gun

butte:

and

butte:

knife,

butte:

he

butte:

knows

butte:

the

butte:

answer

butte:

to

butte:

that

butte:

question.

butte:

The

butte:

buck’s wails

butte:

gradually

butte:

become

butte:

sobs

butte:

before

butte:

hushing

butte:

entirely

butte:

when

butte:

he

butte:

loses

butte:

consciousness,

butte:

returning

butte:

the

butte:

valley

butte:

to

butte:

peace.

butte:

Eddie

butte:

coughs,

butte:

knowing

butte:

everything

butte:

has

butte:

fallen

butte:

apart

butte:

around

butte:

him.

butte:

The

butte:

gun

butte:

rattles

butte:

in

butte:

his

butte:

hands

butte:

nervously,

butte:

angrily.

butte:

His

butte:

breath

butte:

shakes

butte:

and he

butte:

observes

butte:

the

butte:

wound

butte:

in his

butte:

side.

butte:

Blood

butte:

has

butte:

been

butte:

drawn.
     Just

butte:

then,

butte:

over

butte:

his

butte:

shoulder,

butte:

a

butte:

big

butte:

raven

butte:

lands

butte:

on

butte:

the

butte:

apex

butte:

of

butte:

the

butte:

roof

butte:

and caws down at us. At it

butte:

I

butte:

can

butte:

but

butte:

stare

butte:

for

butte:

a

butte:

long

butte:

time and

butte:

then

butte:

relax

butte:

my

butte:

hands.
     “Eddie,”

butte:

I

butte:

say. “When

butte:

the

butte:

bird

butte:

caws,

butte:

we

butte:

draw. And

butte:

the

butte:

best

butte:

beast

butte:

wins.”
     The

butte:

rabbit

butte:

looks

butte:

to

butte:

me

butte:

then to

butte:

the

butte:

bird

butte:

over

butte:

his

butte:

shoulder,

butte:

finally

butte:

to

butte:

me

butte:

once

butte:

more.

butte:

Shockingly,

butte:

he

butte:

nods

butte:

and

butte:

holsters

butte:

his

butte:

pistol.

butte:

One

butte:

act

butte:

of

butte:

chivalry

butte:

in

butte:

his

butte:

life?

butte:

Or

butte:

just

butte:

the

butte:

resignation

butte:

of

butte:

a

butte:

dying

butte:

beast?

butte:

Who

butte:

knows and

butte:

who

butte:

cares?

butte:

The

butte:

crow

butte:

puffs

butte:

up

butte:

and

butte:

I meet Eddie’s cold, angry gaze. I’ve

butte:

wanted

butte:

to

butte:

kill

butte:

him

butte:

since

butte:

not

butte:

long

butte:

after

butte:

the

butte:

day

butte:

I

butte:

met

butte:

him.

butte:

But

butte:

I

butte:

was

butte:

but

butte:

a

butte:

kitten

butte:

back

butte:

then. I

butte:

never

butte:

really

butte:

thought

butte:

I’d

butte:

have

butte:

the

butte:

chance.

butte:

Again,

butte:

at

butte:

least.

butte:

World’s

butte:

funny

butte:

that

butte:

way,

butte:

isn’t

butte:

it?
     The

butte:

wind

butte:

blows

butte:

hard,

butte:

nagging at

butte:

both

butte:

of

butte:

our

butte:

forms,

butte:

yet

butte:

we

butte:

stand

butte:

like

butte:

statues,

butte:

waiting.

butte:

Waiting

butte:

for

butte:

the

butte:

other

butte:

shoe

butte:

to

butte:

drop.

butte:

Every

butte:

sour

butte:

memory

butte:

of

butte:

him

butte:

bubbles

butte:

back.

butte:

All

butte:

the

butte:

names

butte:

he

butte:

called me,

butte:

the

butte:

beatings and

butte:

ribbings

butte:

he

butte:

doled

butte:

out,

butte:

every

butte:

nasty

butte:

stare

butte:

and

butte:

threat,

butte:

never

butte:

countered

butte:

by

butte:

any

butte:

of

butte:

the

butte:

other cud-chewers that

butte:

called me ‘brother,’

butte:

who

butte:

wouldn’t

butte:

have

butte:

mourned

butte:

me

butte:

had

butte:

Eddie

butte:

had

butte:

his

butte:

way.

butte:

My

butte:

lips

butte:

part

butte:

and

butte:

I

butte:

grind

butte:

them at him.

butte:

How

butte:

I’ve

butte:

wanted

butte:

to

butte:

stab

butte:

you

butte:

again

butte:

and

butte:

again

butte:

but

butte:

never

butte:

did

butte:

cause

butte:

if

butte:

I

butte:

did

butte:

Silas

butte:

and

butte:

Jesse

butte:

would

butte:

never

butte:

talk

butte:

to

butte:

me

butte:

ag—
     It

butte:

cries.
     With

butte:

desperate

butte:

speed,

butte:

Eddie

butte:

draws

butte:

the

butte:

pistol

butte:

from

butte:

his

butte:

worn

butte:

holster,

butte:

screaming

butte:

a

butte:

battle

butte:

cry,

butte:

eyes

butte:

wide

butte:

with

butte:

madness.

butte:

All

butte:

the

butte:

while,

butte:

a

butte:

second

butte:

knife

butte:

looses.

butte:

It

butte:

tumbles

butte:

end-over-end

butte:

from

butte:

my

butte:

chest,

butte:

cast

butte:

forth with

butte:

frightening

butte:

speed and

butte:

accuracy.

butte:

The

butte:

gun

butte:

barrel lifts,

butte:

lifts,

butte:

the

butte:

hammer

butte:

cocked

butte:

and

butte:

then,

butte:

raised,

butte:

fires.
     Into

butte:

the

butte:

air.
     I

butte:

couldn’t

butte:

hear

butte:

the

butte:

knife

butte:

enter his

butte:

chest

butte:

just

butte:

under

butte:

his

butte:

heart,

butte:

but

butte:

it

butte:

did.

butte:

Eddie

butte:

stands

butte:

stock

butte:

still,

butte:

holding

butte:

that

butte:

blackened

butte:

gun

butte:

like

butte:

a

butte:

toy.

butte:

Blood

butte:

steadily

butte:

stains

butte:

his

butte:

shirt

butte:

and

butte:

beads

butte:

down

butte:

it in

butte:

a

butte:

half-dozen

butte:

trickling

butte:

streams.

butte:

Then

butte:

his

butte:

mouth

butte:

parts

butte:

and

butte:

a

butte:

gurgling,

butte:

terrified

butte:

sound

butte:

pours

butte:

forth.

butte:

The

butte:

gun

butte:

hits

butte:

the

butte:

snow

butte:

and

butte:

Eddie

butte:

goes

butte:

limp,

butte:

falling

butte:

onto

butte:

his

butte:

knees.

butte:

Then

butte:

to

butte:

his

butte:

back.
     I

butte:

step

butte:

forward,

butte:

my

butte:

heart

butte:

thudding

butte:

in

butte:

my

butte:

ears

butte:

loud

butte:

enough

butte:

to

butte:

drown

butte:

out

butte:

every

butte:

other

butte:

sound.

butte:

With

butte:

how

butte:

fast

butte:

I

butte:

go

butte:

to

butte:

his

butte:

side,

butte:

it’s

butte:

almost

butte:

like

butte:

I’m

butte:

rushing. He

butte:

still

butte:

breaths

butte:

when

butte:

I

butte:

kneel

butte:

beside

butte:

him,

butte:

his

butte:

eyes

butte:

tracking

butte:

to

butte:

and

butte:

fro

butte:

before

butte:

settling

butte:

on

butte:

me.

butte:

Shockingly,

butte:

there’s

butte:

little

butte:

anger

butte:

there,

butte:

just

butte:

shock and

butte:

fear.

butte:

Then,

butte:

a

butte:

crooked,

butte:

bemused

butte:

smile.
     “The

butte:

card,

butte:

Eddie,”

butte:

I

butte:

remind

butte:

him.
     With

butte:

weak

butte:

fingers,

butte:

Eddie

butte:

slips

butte:

them

butte:

into

butte:

his

butte:

right

butte:

breast

butte:

pocket

butte:

and

butte:

produces

butte:

it,

butte:

the

butte:

object

butte:

of

butte:

my

desire:

desire:

a sole playing card. Without turning it

desire:

over,

desire:

he

desire:

hands

desire:

it

desire:

to

desire:

me

desire:

sans

desire:

struggle.

desire:

I

desire:

gently

desire:

take

desire:

it and

desire:

then

desire:

turn it

desire:

in

desire:

my

desire:

hands,

desire:

fearing

desire:

it

desire:

may

desire:

be a

desire:

fake.

desire:

But a

desire:

fake

desire:

it

desire:

is

desire:

not.

desire:

Worn,

desire:

but

desire:

not

desire:

faded,

desire:

the

desire:

obverse

desire:

of

desire:

the

desire:

card

desire:

greets

desire:

me

desire:

like

desire:

an

desire:

old

desire:

friend.
     Of

desire:

course, it

desire:

features

desire:

a

desire:

white

desire:

rabbit –

desire:

Eddie – in

desire:

black

desire:

ink,

desire:

holding a

desire:

pistol up

desire:

as if

desire:

ready

desire:

to

desire:

duel,

desire:

dressed in

desire:

beautiful

desire:

black

desire:

clothes

desire:

befitting

desire:

a

desire:

musketeer.

desire:

A hand

desire:

holds

desire:

a

desire:

second

desire:

pistol

desire:

behind

desire:

his

desire:

back,

desire:

ready

desire:

to

desire:

cheat

desire:

at

desire:

a

desire:

moment’s

desire:

notice.

desire:

It’s

desire:

split

desire:

at

desire:

the

desire:

waist,

desire:

mirrored in

desire:

reverse

desire:

below

desire:

with

desire:

the

desire:

same

desire:

custom-printed

desire:

image.

desire:

Pursing

desire:

my

desire:

lips,

desire:

I tuck the

desire:

card

desire:

away. When

desire:

I

desire:

do,

desire:

Eddie

desire:

begins

desire:

to

desire:

weakly

desire:

laugh.
     “This

desire:

proves

desire:

nothing,”

desire:

he

desire:

whimpers. “You’ve

desire:

killed a

desire:

broken beast,

desire:

that’s

desire:

all.

desire:

That’s

desire:

all. And

desire:

if

desire:

I

desire:

couldn’t

desire:

kill

desire:

you, then

desire:

the

desire:

Twins

desire:

will.

desire:

Or Silas,

desire:

that clever

desire:

old

desire:

fuck.

desire:

Or

desire:

the

desire:

Ace of

desire:

Hearts.

desire:

I

desire:

would

desire:

kill

desire:

a

desire:

hundred

desire:

more

desire:

just

desire:

to

desire:

see him

desire:

put

desire:

you

desire:

in

desire:

the

desire:

dirt,

desire:

you

desire:

miserable

desire:

fuck.

desire:

I hope he

desire:

makes

desire:

you

desire:

suffer,

desire:

too.

desire:

Oh,

desire:

God,

desire:

I

desire:

hope

desire:

you

desire:

scream.”
     “The

desire:

only

desire:

one

desire:

who

desire:

ever

desire:

made

desire:

me

desire:

suffer is

desire:

you.”

desire:

I don’t

desire:

even

desire:

blink. “Where’d

desire:

they

desire:

go

desire:

after

desire:

the

desire:

gang

desire:

split?”
     He

desire:

shakes

desire:

his

desire:

head. “No idea. Silas done left fer good, heading southwest into the

desire:

mountains. The

desire:

rest,

desire:

who knows? Dead

desire:

to

desire:

me

desire:

anyways.”
     “You’ve been dead to

desire:

the

desire:

world

desire:

for years,

desire:

Eddie Boggart,” I

desire:

remind

desire:

him.
     “And only

desire:

you

desire:

shoulda died in

desire:

those

desire:

hills,” he

desire:

hisses

desire:

at me, expending

desire:

what

desire:

strength

desire:

he

desire:

has

desire:

left.

desire:

Fresh

desire:

blood

desire:

courses

desire:

from

desire:

his

desire:

wound

desire:

as

desire:

he

desire:

clenches

desire:

his

desire:

abdomen

desire:

muscles

desire:

and

desire:

suppresses

desire:

a

desire:

scream. “Promised…

desire:

But,

desire:

no,

desire:

we

desire:

had to bury Norm and

desire:

Verne. It

desire:

was supposed to

desire:

be

desire:

you.”
     Eddie

desire:

rolls his

desire:

head

desire:

away

desire:

as

desire:

a

desire:

chill

desire:

runs

desire:

down

desire:

my

desire:

spine

desire:

from

desire:

ears

desire:

to

desire:

tail

desire:

tip.

desire:

Reaching

desire:

out,

desire:

I

desire:

seize

desire:

his

desire:

gaunt

desire:

face

desire:

and

desire:

wrench his

desire:

eyes

desire:

around to

desire:

look

desire:

at

desire:

me. “Did

desire:

you

desire:

tip

desire:

them

desire:

off,

desire:

you

desire:

smug,

desire:

evil,

desire:

backstabbing son

desire:

of

desire:

a

desire:

fucking

desire:

bitch!?”
     Blood

desire:

splatters

desire:

from

desire:

his

desire:

lips

desire:

when

desire:

he

desire:

coughs

desire:

on

desire:

me.

desire:

Then

desire:

he

desire:

wheezes, “Fuck

desire:

you.”

desire:

Smoke-like

desire:

steam

desire:

escapes

desire:

from

desire:

his

desire:

lips

desire:

and is

desire:

carried

desire:

away

desire:

on

desire:

the

desire:

wind.
     A

desire:

chilling

desire:

breeze

desire:

flows

desire:

through

desire:

my

desire:

heart and

desire:

I

desire:

look

desire:

down

desire:

to

desire:

find

desire:

Eddie has

desire:

passed

desire:

on.

desire:

I

desire:

push

desire:

his

desire:

face

desire:

away

desire:

and

desire:

stand

desire:

after

desire:

retrieving

desire:

my

desire:

knives

desire:

from

desire:

his

desire:

body

desire:

or

desire:

this

desire:

wretched

desire:

snow. I

desire:

brush

desire:

my

desire:

hands

desire:

off

desire:

and

desire:

wipe

desire:

down

desire:

my

desire:

muzzle

desire:

of

desire:

Eddie’s

desire:

various

desire:

fluids.

desire:

And

desire:

as

desire:

I

desire:

finish

desire:

up,

desire:

something

desire:

warm

desire:

touches

desire:

my

desire:

side.
     Warm

desire:

becomes

desire:

hot

desire:

before

desire:

it’s

desire:

blistering

desire:

and

desire:

painful,

desire:

summoning

desire:

the

desire:

thought

desire:

that

desire:

he

desire:

managed

desire:

to

desire:

shoot

desire:

me

desire:

in

desire:

the

desire:

chest

desire:

without

desire:

me

desire:

noticing. Frantic, I wrench down my shirt

desire:

collar

desire:

to

desire:

look

desire:

at

desire:

what

desire:

the

desire:

hell is branding

desire:

me.

desire:

When

desire:

my

desire:

loose

desire:

shirt

desire:

is

desire:

free,

desire:

I

desire:

see

desire:

that

desire:

one

desire:

of

desire:

the

desire:

tattoos,

desire:

the

desire:

one

desire:

on

desire:

my

desire:

lower

desire:

abdomen,

desire:

glows

desire:

fiery

desire:

red.

desire:

The

desire:

black

desire:

spade

desire:

which

desire:

was

desire:

once

desire:

there vanishes

desire:

and

desire:

the red

desire:

ball

desire:

which

desire:

had

desire:

replaced it

desire:

cools

desire:

and

desire:

then

desire:

parts.
     A

desire:

flower

desire:

blossoms

desire:

from

desire:

it,

desire:

spreading

desire:

delicate,

desire:

interlaced

desire:

petals

desire:

out

desire:

into

desire:

a

desire:

wonderfully

desire:

inked

desire:

rose.

desire:

Around

desire:

it,

desire:

the

desire:

branches

desire:

which

desire:

thrust

desire:

thorns into

desire:

my

desire:

fur fade away,

desire:

each

desire:

thorn sprouting

desire:

a small,

desire:

lovely

desire:

blossom

desire:

in its stead

desire:

from

desire:

bud

desire:

to tip,

desire:

spreading

desire:

down,

desire:

around

desire:

by

desire:

abdomen,

desire:

and

desire:

under

desire:

my

desire:

waistband.

desire:

If I were

desire:

pantsless, I could

desire:

watch

desire:

my

desire:

whole

desire:

right

desire:

leg

desire:

become

desire:

a

desire:

rosebush. But

desire:

for

desire:

now, I

desire:

must

desire:

use

desire:

my

desire:

imagination.
     As I’m buttoning up my shirt again, a weak

desire:

whine

desire:

touches

desire:

my

desire:

ears

desire:

and

desire:

I

desire:

glance around

desire:

to

desire:

see

desire:

the

desire:

buck

desire:

twitching

desire:

and

desire:

sobbing in

desire:

his

desire:

quasi-sleep.

desire:

I

desire:

forgot

desire:

he

desire:

was

desire:

still

desire:

counted

desire:

among

desire:

the

desire:

living.

desire:

The

desire:

revolver

desire:

slips

desire:

free

desire:

easily

desire:

enough

desire:

and

desire:

I

desire:

walk

desire:

over

desire:

while

desire:

drawing

desire:

back

desire:

the

desire:

hammer.

desire:

I don’t

desire:

want

desire:

to

desire:

leave

desire:

him out here to

desire:

suffer

desire:

and

desire:

he

desire:

won’t

desire:

make

desire:

it

desire:

back

desire:

to

desire:

town.
When

desire:

the

desire:

muzzle

desire:

steadies

desire:

but

desire:

inches

desire:

from

desire:

the

desire:

boy’s

desire:

chest,

desire:

a loud

desire:

cacophony of

desire:

crowing

desire:

and

desire:

screeching

desire:

breaks

desire:

the

desire:

stillness

desire:

of

desire:

this

desire:

snowy

desire:

landscape.

desire:

On

desire:

the

desire:

roof,

desire:

the

desire:

rook

desire:

has

desire:

gone

desire:

wild,

desire:

braying and howling and I peer down at the boy with

desire:

confusion.

desire:

I

desire:

wished

desire:

to

desire:

put

desire:

him

desire:

out

desire:

of

desire:

his

desire:

misery,

desire:

this

desire:

was

desire:

a

desire:

mercy!

desire:

Yet

desire:

the

desire:

bird’s

desire:

loud,

desire:

incessant

desire:

protestations

desire:

continue

desire:

unabated

desire:

until I

desire:

lower

desire:

the

desire:

pistol and

desire:

show it

desire:

to

desire:

the

desire:

creature.
“Why is

desire:

he

desire:

important!?”

desire:

I

desire:

demand.

desire:

The

desire:

bird

desire:

flattens its

desire:

feathers

desire:

and

desire:

gawks

desire:

at

desire:

me. “And

desire:

why

desire:

won’t

desire:

you

desire:

ever

desire:

answer

desire:

one

desire:

goddamn

desire:

question

desire:

I

desire:

give?

desire:

If

desire:

you’re

desire:

gonna

desire:

follow

desire:

me

desire:

around

desire:

like

desire:

a

desire:

lost

desire:

puppy,

desire:

the

desire:

least

desire:

you

desire:

can

desire:

do

desire:

is

desire:

talk

desire:

plain!’”
Despite

desire:

my

desire:

initial

desire:

anger

desire:

and

desire:

hatred,

desire:

when

desire:

I

desire:

glance

desire:

over

desire:

the

desire:

boy’s

desire:

pitiful

desire:

face,

desire:

plastered

desire:

with

desire:

pain and

desire:

fear,

desire:

my

desire:

ears

desire:

fold

desire:

back

desire:

and I

desire:

sigh,

desire:

allowing

desire:

my

desire:

shoulders

desire:

to

desire:

go

desire:

slack.

desire:

No,

desire:

I

desire:

can’t

desire:

kill

desire:

him.

desire:

Shit,

desire:

he’s

desire:

barely

desire:

old

desire:

enough

desire:

to

desire:

don

desire:

an Army

desire:

uniform. He’s

desire:

just

desire:

a

desire:

pup.
“Fine!”

desire:

I

desire:

concede,

desire:

kneeling

desire:

down. “I’ll save

desire:

this

desire:

one…”
The

desire:

buck

desire:

barely

desire:

weighs

desire:

anything,

desire:

gun and all.

desire:

Good. It’s going to

desire:

be

desire:

a

desire:

long

desire:

walk

desire:

back…



This

desire:

was

desire:

the

desire:

second

desire:

and

desire:

final

desire:

part

desire:

of “Aces

desire:

High”

desire:

by

desire:

J.

desire:

Daniel

desire:

Phillips,

desire:

read

desire:

by

desire:

Carrizo,

desire:

your

desire:

Coyote

desire:

in Court.

As

desire:

always,

desire:

you

desire:

can

desire:

find

desire:

more

desire:

stories

desire:

on

desire:

the

desire:

web

desire:

at

desire:

thevoice.dog,

desire:

or

desire:

find

desire:

the

desire:

show

desire:

wherever

desire:

you

desire:

get

desire:

your

desire:

podcasts.

desire:

Thank

desire:

you

desire:

for

desire:

listening

desire:

to

desire:

The

desire:

Voice of Dog.

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
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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Khaki