1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Cool Zone Media book Club, book Club, book Club, boo Club. 2 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: I've never gotten to do this booooky thing before. That's 3 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 1: not true. I've probably done it every October, but I 4 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: don't remember it, because why would I remember doing something cringey? Although, 5 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: as they say, only the cringe are free, that shouldn't 6 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: be our tagline here at Kolzon Media book Club, but 7 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: it kind of could be, except actually I would say 8 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: that this week's story isn't cringeing at all. It's just good. 9 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: I'm the one who's cringey. I'm your host, Margaret Kiljoy. 10 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: This is the only book club where you don't have 11 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: to do the reading because I do it for you. 12 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: There might be other book clubs where you don't have 13 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: to do the reading because someone else does it for you, 14 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: but it's not this one. Also, sometimes I resent my 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: own choice in using that tagline, because while having a 16 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: story read to you is different than reading, it's like, 17 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: not so fundamentally different than reading. I listen to a 18 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: lot of audiobooks, and I tell people I read those 19 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: books because, you know what, every single word of them 20 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 1: went into my brain. And what is reading besides having 21 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: words go into your brain? Anyway? We're going to do 22 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: some horror stories this month and this is one of them. 23 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 1: oOoOO okay one more time. Woo. That's how you're supposed 24 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: to do spooky Okay. First up this week, we have 25 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: a story called Kushduka and it's by Matilda Zeller and 26 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: it first appeared in the twenty twenty three collection Never 27 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: Whistle at Night in Indigenous dark fiction anthology. It is 28 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: a creature and a slasher centering around a figure, the Kushduka, 29 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: which is common in the folklore of people native to 30 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: so called Alaska. And as for what the creature is, 31 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: I will let Matilda explain that to you in a 32 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 1: second in the story. And it is a spooky story, 33 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: and heads up that not everyone's going to make it out. 34 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: You could probably guess that there's a little bit of gore, 35 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: mostly off camera. I'll probably be doing more content warnings 36 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: than usual for Spooky Month, because I don't know whatever. 37 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: People of different ages and different desires of listening to 38 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: things listen to things. I'm squeamish and this one was 39 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: all right for me. As you listen, you should keep 40 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: an ear out for what Matilda is doing with perspective. 41 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: And now Kushduka by Matilda Zeller. You don't have to 42 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: love him, just make his baby, Mama said, hanging the 43 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: fleshy swath of salmon to dry. It might have colored eyes, 44 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 1: you know, maybe blue eyes. He'll pay you to keep 45 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: quiet about it. Mama had always been Machavelian, but this 46 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: was next level. Not even the old ladies who gossiped 47 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: about her would have guessed she'd tried to pull something 48 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: like this. I shuddered and slid my knife up the 49 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: side of another salmon, severing a long filet of red 50 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: flesh and silver scales. The cold, wet flesh reminded me 51 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 1: of Hank Ferryman's lips, which he constantly licked while talking 52 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: to us village girls. His hands were wide and stubby, 53 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: his cheeks were poked and ruddy, and his breath smelled 54 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: like a caribou carcass that had been left out in 55 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: the sun for a week. He's rich, Mama reminded me, unnecessarily, 56 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: and I'm sure he wouldn't be wanting his wife back 57 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: in Kansas, knowing he's got a kid up here. The 58 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: money could really help, you know, He's probably got kids 59 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: all over the Kobuk valley, I muttered, and I don't 60 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: want to make anyone's baby, except maybe Paana's. But even then, 61 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: that's not happening until after I finished college, which costs 62 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: money that we don't have, which is why this conversation 63 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: is happening in the first place. I brought down my 64 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: knife too quickly through the filet and caught the side 65 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: of my thumb. Blood blossomed along the cut, and I 66 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: brought it reflexively to my mouth, the taste of my 67 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: blood mingling with the fishes. Mama sucked her teeth. Stupid girl, 68 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: go inside and clean that up. You're getting blood everywhere. 69 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: The cut stung, but it was a way out of 70 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: this conversation and away from Mama. I jogged back to 71 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: the house, pressing my jacket sleeve around the cut, which 72 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: extended from the tip of my thumb down the side 73 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: of my palm. Not wanting to take the pressure off it, 74 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: I kicked the door with my toe. It was Pana, 75 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,359 Speaker 1: not my Auna, who opened it. My heart fluttered a little, 76 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: despite having known him my whole life. What do you 77 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: do here? He grinned that perfect grin, complete with deep 78 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: set dimples and one eye tooth missing, having tea with 79 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: your Ana. Why not that I minded, But he was 80 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: supposed to be on shift in the mines. There was 81 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: an accident down at the mines. Frankie an o'clock, and 82 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: a couple of the white guys too, you know the 83 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: ones visiting from Kansas. Which white guys. Maybe one was 84 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: Hank Ferryman. Maybe Mama would leave me alone. Then Jim 85 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: and Bob. They all survived, but they're in really rough shape. 86 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: Had to be flown to Fairbanks. Oh my heart sank 87 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: a little. How did they get hurt? Pana's face darkened? 88 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: Maybe you should come inside. Anna waited on the overstuffed 89 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: chintz sofa, her dark eyes smiling at me from their 90 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: nests of deep wrinkles. She was aged but ageless. I 91 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: swear she hasn't changed since I was four years old. 92 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: It was Sedna, Anna said, by way of greeting, she's 93 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: the mistress of the underworld and they're mining into her domain. 94 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: Hana shook his head. The foreman said it was a 95 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: bear or maybe some wolves. A bear and maybe some wolves. 96 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: Honor repeated cackling. He didn't even see what happened. He 97 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: is throwing guesses into the dark. I sat down next 98 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: to Pawna Sedna's mythology. Anna, Sedna is angry, Anna interrupted, 99 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,559 Speaker 1: they're coming uninvited and taking what's ours. They don't belong 100 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: here in our land, in our beds. She clutched her 101 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: draw tight, swallowing hard. But Sedna is gracious enough to 102 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: give warning. She only tore their guts out. A wolf, 103 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 1: for bear would have stayed to eat the guts. They 104 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: wouldn't be alive in the hospital right now if it 105 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: weren't for her grace. I turned to Pona my own innards, tightening. 106 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: Their guts were torn out. Panna nodded, torn up across 107 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 1: the abdomen, torn up everywhere. In fact, I raised a 108 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: skeptical highbrow. And they're saying it was wolf wolves. Hanna 109 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: shifted defensively. If they weren't sane, it was wolves, you 110 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 1: know who, they'd be accusing us, all of us. I 111 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: nodded my head. What did you do to your hand, 112 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: Anna said, reaching for me with one hand and smacking 113 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: Paana's knee with the other. Panna, why didn't you see 114 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: she's hurt? Go get the bandages. Pauna jumped up to 115 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: get them. He didn't need to ask where he knew 116 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: my house as well as I did. As soon as 117 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: he was out of the room, Anna leaned towards me. 118 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: He wants to marry you, you know, I sighed, I know. 119 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: Paanna had been saved last year by a visiting preacher 120 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: and was now determined to marry me before I moved in. 121 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: Common law marriage was what basically everyone else did, but 122 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: not Pauna. No, he wanted to go to a little 123 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: white chapel and promise God he'd love me first. Your 124 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: grandfather married me first, Anna reminded me, smiling. I know, 125 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: I repeated. I'd heard the story a million times, how 126 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: he'd waited and saved until he could take Grandma and Eddie, 127 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: her baby from a visiting school teacher all the way 128 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: out to Fairbanks for a marriage and adoption. He'd wanted 129 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: to do it properly, he said. She thought it was 130 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: stupid at the time, but it had grown to be 131 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: a major point of pride with her. I wasn't sure 132 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: I saw the point. It was a lot of money, 133 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: but Pana cared about doing it that way, and I 134 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: cared about him. Pana returned with the first aid kits 135 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: and pulled my hand into his lap. Gingerly unwrapping it 136 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: from the jacket sleeve. I'm taking Hank Ferryman's boy hunting 137 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 1: this weekend, he said, pouring some iodine onto a bit 138 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,839 Speaker 1: of gauze. Hank says he wants him toughened up out 139 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: there on the tundra. I rolled my eyes. Panna and 140 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: his crew would do no such thing, not if they 141 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: wanted repeat business. They would take the kid out there, 142 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: make him feel like a big tough hunter while doing 143 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: all the actual work of packing things, unpacking things, and 144 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: hauling things, and he would have stories to take back 145 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 1: to his buddies in Kansas. It was about the kid's 146 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: ego and the dad's too. I'm sure he'll shoot the 147 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: biggest caribou known to man, I said, with razor sharp teeth. 148 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: Pana grinned. By the time he gets back to Kansas 149 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: will have turned into a polar bear that he killed 150 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: with his own bare hands, added Anna, her face splitting 151 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: into a wide grin, revealing teeth worn down by years 152 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: of leather. Working like this, her hands made violent strangling motions. 153 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: Pana and I melted into a fit of giggles, as 154 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: if we were both ten instead of nearly twenty. Panna 155 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: finished my hand and I stood reluctantly here with him, 156 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: with my ana. This was my heart's home. Outside that 157 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: door lay wolves and bears and Hank Ferrymen and Mama. 158 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: When I returned to Mama, she was smiling. You have 159 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: a job this weekend, a job with Hank Ferryman. He's 160 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: having a party at his lodge. He needs hired help, 161 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, cooking, cleaning. A curdling feeling gathered around my ears. 162 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: Why don't you go work for him? It was a 163 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: stupid question that we both knew the answer to. Mamma 164 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 1: rolled her eyes. I already told him you'd go, You're going. No, No. 165 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: Mamma's hand tightened on the knife she was holding. I 166 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: did my best not to look down at it. My 167 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: heart trilled like it was trying to beat for three people. 168 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: I don't want to. To my surprise, Mamma's grip loosened 169 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: on the knife and she shrugged. Maybe I'll send esther. 170 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: Then my mouth went dry. Esther was my fifteen year 171 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: old sister, my sweet compliant sister. Mamma wouldn't She couldn't 172 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: as I stared at her, though I knew she would. 173 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: I'll go. I picked up my ulu and rocked it 174 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: across the salmon, chopping its head. That's what I thought, 175 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: Mama replied. Some days I hate her. But do you 176 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: know what we don't hate. You're a cool Zone Media 177 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: book club. We don't hate all of our advertisers. That's right, 178 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: not all of them. In fact, you can play a 179 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: game called listen to these ads and decide which ones 180 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: you hate, or you could skip them. I don't actually care. 181 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: And we're back the land of the midnight Sun, bellowed 182 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,439 Speaker 1: Hank Ferryman, punching my shoulder playfully, more like the land 183 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: of six PM bedtime. Was he always this loud? Or 184 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: was the closeness of the truck amplifying his voice? He 185 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: chortled at his own joke. Topisa, Hey Tappy, I cringed 186 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: at the improvised nickname. Tell me a native story, I 187 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 1: shook my head. That's a bad idea. The sun had 188 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: set an hour ago, and we were bumping over the 189 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: half frozen ground in the dark, with nothing but the 190 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: truck's headlights standing between us and the darkness. Snow had 191 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: begun to fall, thick and fast. Alone with someone like 192 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: him in the darkness like this, seemed the worst possible 193 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: place to bring up the stories that could catch the 194 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: attention of a spirit. It's a swell idea, Hank Ferryman 195 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: doesn't make bad ideas. Don't forget I hired you for 196 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: the evening. The last sentence felt like lead between us. 197 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: He had hired me to cook and clean for his party, 198 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: not tell him stories. I wasn't hired to do whatever 199 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: he felt like doing. My hands curled into fists. Still, 200 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: maybe you would shut him up. Fine, fine, I racked 201 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: my brain, But in the dark darkness I could think 202 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: of nothing bright and benign. There once was a girl 203 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: named Sedna. Her father threw her over the edge of 204 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: his fishing boat. She tried to save herself by catching 205 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: onto the ledge of the boat, but he brought a 206 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: knife down onto her fingers and cut them all off. 207 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: They became the first seals, walruses whales. She became the 208 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 1: goddess of the underworld. Hank waved his hand impatiently. I 209 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: already know about Sedna. I got your buddy Pana to 210 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 1: tell me about her. Tell me something new. I pulled 211 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: my coat tighter around me. There are kushduka. They appear 212 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: to us taking on the appearances of those we love. 213 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: They try to get us to go with them, to 214 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: go with them where I pulled my coat even tighter, 215 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: suddenly feeling cold. I don't know. Hank was quiet for 216 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: a blessed minute. Then he let out a guttural snort 217 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: that blossomed into full blown laughter. Oh you call that 218 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,679 Speaker 1: a ghost, missy. Your ghost stories are as bad as 219 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: your watermelons up here. We don't have watermelons up here, 220 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: Damn straight, you don't. I can tell you some ghost 221 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: stories from Kansas that put hair on your chest. In fact, 222 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: my head slammed into a dashboard as Hank floored the brake, 223 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: sending us into a fishtail. When the car finally stopped, 224 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: he sat, his chest heaving as he stared out at 225 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: the road ahead of us. A figure stood before us 226 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: in the headlights, cloaked in heavy furs, black hair tumbled 227 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: down in wild rivulets to her elbows. She pushed back 228 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: the rough of her parka. She was me, or would 229 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: have been, were it not for the pupils that covered 230 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: the whole of her eyes and the hideous, obscenely wide 231 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: grin that distorted the lower half of her face. Hank 232 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: let out a small scream as he floored the gas 233 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 1: ramming straight into her. A thunder roll of sickening thuds 234 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: juttered through me. She tumbled up and over the hood 235 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: of the truck. I looked behind us, but saw nothing 236 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: in the tail lights. As Hank continued to pick up speed, 237 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: his breathing ragged and shallow. He muttered to himself thickly 238 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: for a moment, before looking over at me with a 239 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: little nervous laugh. Some deer you got out here? Huh? 240 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: I stared. That wasn't a deer. Don't be stupid, Hank coughed. 241 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: I saw my own two eyes. You saw it with yours. 242 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: It was a deer playing as the nose on your face. 243 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: A gentle tapping noise sounded on the glass behind me. 244 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: I shuddered, unable to turn around. I think there's something 245 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: in the bed of the truck. Hank's hands tightened on 246 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: the steering wheel. No, there isn't. Do you hear that. 247 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: I felt those eyes on the back of my head. 248 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: Those eyes all see black pupil, wide and hungry. All 249 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: I hear is you try to amp me up. Wasn't 250 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: enough to tell me your ghost stories? You want to 251 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: spook me now. His body stiffened at the noise. Stop 252 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: it to Pisa, it's not funny at all. It's not me. 253 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: Surely he could see both my hands silent in my lap. 254 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: He huffed impatiently, but didn't say anything else. The tapping stopped, 255 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: He relaxed. He laughed a little. You really had me 256 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: going for a minute there. I didn't reply. There was 257 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: no point. By the time we reached his lodge in 258 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: oversized monstrosity on the edge of the lake, he was 259 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: back to cracking bad jokes and resting his hand on 260 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: my knee, removing it when I batted him off, only 261 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: to drop it there again a second later. You'll love 262 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: this place. I can't believe I've been taking you out 263 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: here yet. I had everything flown in from anchorage. It's 264 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: all custom, top of the line. He was grinning like 265 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: a kid. I hated his familiarity, as if I were 266 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: a friend who hadn't gotten around a visiting instead of 267 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 1: a village girl whose mother he'd leveraged to drag me 268 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: out here. He slipped out his side of the truck, 269 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: swinging back his keys and whistling. I sat on the 270 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 1: passenger side, my dread growing in the stillness. I turned 271 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,719 Speaker 1: this time and saw her. She was me, this cushduka 272 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: with inky black eyes and black hair, billowing and wild. 273 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 1: When her eyes met her face split again into that 274 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: freakishly wide grin that nearly reached her ears and revealed 275 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 1: pointed molars, meat eating molars, flesh ripping molars. Hank's voice 276 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: registered from somewhere in front of the truck. Aren't you 277 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: coming to Pisa? I opened my mouth and closed it again, 278 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: unable to bring myself to make a sound. The kushduka 279 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 1: tapped the back window of the truck once more with 280 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: a long black fingernail and disappeared. I tore my eyes 281 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: from the back window to see him trundling over to 282 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 1: the door. You're one of those fussy, old fashioned girls, 283 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: aren't you. You want a big strong man to open 284 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 1: the door for you. Is that it? He chuckled to 285 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: himself and opened my door. I climbed out, scared to 286 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: take my eyes off the truck bed, as if doing 287 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 1: so would make the kushduka materialize again and leap on us, 288 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: ripping at us with those pointed teeth. The lodge was massive, 289 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: with vaulted ceilings and mounted animal heads everywhere. Above the 290 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: fireplace hung two spears crossed over each other, like they 291 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:41,400 Speaker 1: were European swords or something. But they weren't European. They 292 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,919 Speaker 1: were into it. I recognized the carvings on them, the 293 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 1: worn leather bindings that secured the pointed stone ends. Those spears. Artifacts. 294 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: They're incredible, aren't they genuine? Ancient artifacts? You know they're 295 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: my grandfathers. Hank Ferryman smile stayed frozen on his face. 296 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,959 Speaker 1: After a pregnant pause, he laughed, you're mistaken. There are 297 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: so many spears out there like these. I recognize the carving. 298 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,959 Speaker 1: They're nothing indigenous motifs that have been carved a thousand 299 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: times over the back of My neck felt tight beyond cringing. 300 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: If they're not his, Where did you get them? Hank shrugged, 301 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: as if I'd asked a stupid question. My secretary found 302 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: them for me, found them, stole them, more likely from 303 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: my widow to Anna found them, bought them. It doesn't matter. 304 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: You're here to work. There's the kitchen, He pointed to 305 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: a corner of the lodge sectioned off by granite countertops. 306 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: My secretary was here earlier. They've dropped off recipes and 307 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: groceries for tonight's dinner. I stalked over the kitchen and 308 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: grabbed the ulu that was sitting on the wood holder 309 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: on the counter. Hank bounded over and snatched out from 310 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: my hands. That's an artifact, it's for decoration. I looked 311 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: down at the ullu in his hands. It was newly sharpened. 312 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: The balan handle was worn, polished to a bright shine 313 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: from all the times it had been gripped. I wonder 314 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: who's anna he stole this from. It's a tool for cutting. 315 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: Hank rolled his eyes. You are basically white. Your dad's 316 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: dad was white, your mother is white. You should be 317 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: able to understand that modern knives are better. He pointed 318 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 1: to the block of knives on the counter, carbon steel, 319 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: flown in from Japan, top of the line. Try them, honey, 320 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: I promise you'll never go back to an ulu. If 321 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: he saw I was shaking with rage, he didn't show it. 322 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: I strode to the knife block and drew out the 323 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,919 Speaker 1: largest one, grabbing a cutting board and a bag of potatoes. 324 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: Before I could give in to my urge to run 325 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: him through with it. See now, isn't that fabulous? Hank 326 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: Ferryman pumped a fist, as if he had just taught 327 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: me to fish and I'd caught one. He didn't wait 328 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,679 Speaker 1: for a reply before continuing, I'll go to take a piss. 329 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: Make sure the champagne is in the fridge, will you. 330 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: No one likes it warm. And you know here at 331 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 1: cool Zone Media, we serve all of our products and 332 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: services freshly chilled, just how everyone likes them. And we're back. 333 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: I made dinner. Other men showed up and ate, made 334 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: passes at me, laughed and talked to Hank. I passed 335 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: the hours in a deep, fuzzy rage, forcing myself with 336 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: the motions of arranging canopies on a plate, pulling a 337 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: roast from the oven, slicing it up on a serving tray. 338 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: I couldn't bring myself to fake smile at them. There 339 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 1: was something outside the house that was clearly murderous and 340 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 1: looked just like me. There was something inside of me 341 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: that was clearly murderous and felt nothing like me. Someone 342 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: popped the cork off the champagne bottle and I jumped, 343 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: letting out a small scream. The room exploded with laughter, 344 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: and Hank grinned at me, pushing a champagne glass over 345 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: the counter. Towards me. You clearly need to loosen up. 346 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 1: I pushed it back towards him and left for the bathroom. 347 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: I needed to be somewhere, anywhere, away from these people. 348 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: I locked the bathroom door and pulled myself onto the counter, 349 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: leaning my head back against the mirror. It was colder here, 350 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: a welcome relief from the heat in the main area. 351 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: I breathed deep, sizing up my options, wondering if I 352 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,880 Speaker 1: could get the police to look into how Hank got 353 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: my grandfather's spears, if they would actually care at all. 354 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: Probably not. Heavy dragging sound slid across the hall outside 355 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: the bathroom, I looked down, watching a shadow pass along 356 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: the crack under the door. The air filled with a 357 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: thick smell of old fish. The shadow paused. I pressed 358 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: my lips together, hardly daring to breathe. After an eternity, 359 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,360 Speaker 1: the shadow continued on past the bathroom door and down 360 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: the hall. I slipped off the counter and stood in 361 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: front of the door. The murmur of laughter and conversation 362 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: went silent. Hank Ferryman's voice broke the silence to pisa, 363 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: I told you to leave the artifacts alone. His voice 364 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: should have sounded plaintive, but it didn't. It trembled. A 365 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: scream tore through the air, followed by a trampoline of feet, 366 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: breaking of glasses, more screams. I sat on the counter, 367 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: my mouth growing dry. Someone was running up the hall 368 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: towards me. The handle to the bathroom door rattled, followed 369 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 1: by pounding that made the door vibrate. Let me in. 370 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: The heavy crack of a skull on the floor proceeded 371 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: a wet, tearing sound. Something dark seeped under the bathroom door, 372 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: and it wasn't until the smell hit me that I 373 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: fully registered what it was. Blood. Primal growls turned into 374 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: satisfied chewing and smacking noises. I pressed my back against 375 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: the bathroom mirror, drawing my knees to my chest. My 376 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: heart thudded in my ears, and my breathing sounded too loud. 377 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: It that Kushduka would hear me, It that creature would 378 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: find me. My blood would join with the blood on 379 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: the floor. After what felt like an eternity, a rustling 380 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 1: of furs and patting of feet told me it was leaving. 381 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 1: I heard the front door banging open, the sound of 382 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: feet on gravel walking away. I couldn't stay here. It 383 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: could come back, it would back. I needed to get 384 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: home to my auna and her shotgun. Would a shotgun 385 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 1: work against a kushtuca? Surely it would. If it weren't 386 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: flesh and blood itself, it wouldn't be able to do 387 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: whatever it just did. I dropped to the floor as 388 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: silently as I could, holding my breath while I turned 389 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:22,199 Speaker 1: the doorknob. I had seen a lot of blood in 390 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: my life. I had gutted fish and caribou, slaughtered ducks, 391 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 1: and sliced up eels. But that was orderly, deliberate, purposeful. 392 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: This this was not that. Bloody footprints covered the floor, 393 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: blood spatters and smears graced the walls. There weren't men here. 394 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 1: There were pieces of men and trails of men. I 395 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: took a step forward and my foot grazed something wet. 396 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: I looked down. It was an eye, blood shot across 397 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: the silera. It rolled, revealing a blue iris as blue 398 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 1: as hanks. I fell into a squat, hugging my knees, 399 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: pressing my toes down to stop myself from falling into 400 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 1: the mess. I didn't want to touch the ground. I 401 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: didn't want to touch anything. I pressed my shoulders between 402 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:17,680 Speaker 1: my knees and vomited. Outside Hank's sled dogs started barking. 403 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: Working up into a panic, I looked around. I had 404 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: to get out of here. Hank's keys had been in 405 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: his pocket, but now I could barely bring myself to 406 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: cast my eyes around the room again. This was a search. 407 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:34,439 Speaker 1: I couldn't undertake the dogs. The dogs would take me 408 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 1: home and away from that thing, whatever that thing was. 409 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: I grabbed my grandfather's spear off the wall, the ulu 410 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,360 Speaker 1: off the counter, and stepped lightly out onto the gravel. 411 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,879 Speaker 1: New snow was starting to fall, dusting the gravel and 412 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: recoding the already fallen snow in the yard. I pressed 413 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: my back into the log exterior and side stepped towards 414 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: the barn where the huskies were. Their barking had died down, 415 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: and now they were all panting and whimpering anxiously. I 416 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: stepped into the shadowy barn, straining my eyes against the darkness. 417 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: If she was in here, they'd know, wouldn't they. If 418 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: she was still there, they'd still be barking. But they weren't. 419 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: They were just whimpering and staring at me. Still. My 420 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: scalp prickled. She'd be coming back. Something deep inside me 421 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: knew it. I grabbed their harness and began hooking them 422 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: up as quickly as I could, praying that the snow 423 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: is deep enough that the dogs would nowhere to go, 424 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,199 Speaker 1: that I wouldn't fall off. I'd driven a sledge a 425 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: few times before, but I wasn't good at it, not 426 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: by a long shot. Something shuffled in the dark. The 427 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:48,119 Speaker 1: dogs whining intensified. My hand shook as they buckled the 428 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: last clasp, and I jumped onto the runners. Something shuffled again, 429 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: and the rancid fish smell filled the air. She was here, go, 430 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,880 Speaker 1: I hissed to the dogs. Mush sh The dogs whimpered, 431 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: looking around anxiously. I tried to whistle at them, but 432 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 1: my mouth was too dry. Something bit into my arm, 433 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 1: sharp and cold. I screamed, and the dogs took off 434 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: like a shot. I snatched the handle with one hand 435 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,400 Speaker 1: and slapped the kushduka with the other. Her nails dug 436 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: into my flesh, and searing cold shot through me. I 437 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 1: raised the arm she was gripping and bit down hard 438 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: on her hand. A scream echoed across the tundra as 439 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,360 Speaker 1: she fell back and weak gained speed. I looked over 440 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,359 Speaker 1: my shoulder and saw her in the moonlight, a dark, 441 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: spidery figure loping towards us across the white snow. I 442 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: shook the reins, urging the dogs to go faster. The 443 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: sound of her awkward lope and heavy breathing grew louder. 444 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: We swerved through scrub brush. She bounded over it. She 445 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 1: was gaining on us. Blam. A shot rang out across 446 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: the hill. Blam. It was a shotgun. Who on Earth 447 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: was shooting their gun at this time of night? Blam. 448 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: I prayed the bullet would miss us, that it would 449 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: find my kush Duca. We had come into the river, 450 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: and the dog swerved to run parallel to it. The 451 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: kushduka cut the corner, closing the distance between us. I 452 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 1: could feel her breath on the back of my hand. 453 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 1: Smell the blood and fetid flesh. Blam. The smell subsided. 454 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 1: I looked back behind me and she was on the ground, inert. 455 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: The dog slowed to a walk, and my knees buckled 456 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: with relief. Blam. Why were they still shooting? The kushduca 457 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: was dead. Someone grabbed me, throwing a hand over my 458 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: mouth and another around my waist, tackling me to the ground. 459 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: Don't say a word. It was Pana. Buck Hanks, boy 460 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: has absolutely lost his mind. I nodded. We crawled behind 461 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: a rock and sat stock still fleeing our breathing with 462 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: our coat sleeves. Footsteps grated across the stones on the 463 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 1: river bank. I got one, two, three, little Indians all 464 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 1: for me, Buck sang. I ignored Pana's whispered protests and 465 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: peeked around the boulder to see Hank Ferryman's son nudge 466 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: the inert Kushduca with the barrel of his rifle. You're 467 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: an ugly one, aren't you, he muttered. The kushduca shifted. 468 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: Buck nudged the Kashduca with the butt of his rifle. 469 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: Are you dead? Or do I need to blast you again? 470 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 1: He spoke as if he were offering a complimentary turn 471 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: down service at a fancy hotel, rather than threatening mortal violence. 472 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 1: The Kushduca made a quiet whimpering sound. Or better yet, 473 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: perhaps with my own hands. He dropped to his knees 474 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: and put his hands around the Koshduca's throat. It made 475 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 1: a strangled sound, writhing against his tightening grip. A knot 476 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 1: twisted in my stomach. I should have been relieved to 477 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: see the Kushduca go, But in that moment, she looked 478 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: at me. She looked like me. Somehow, she was me. 479 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: Buck squeezed harder, and she kicked and flailed her foot, 480 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 1: connecting with the butt of the gun, sending it skittering 481 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: towards me across the snow. Ignoring Pana's protests, I lunged forward, 482 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 1: grabbing it and bringing it level, jamming the butt into 483 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 1: my shoulder. Stop. My voice didn't sound like mine. It 484 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 1: sounded desperate, primeval, superhuman. My finger went to the trigger. 485 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: My voice trembled when I spoke, you're killing her. Stop. 486 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: I fired a warning shot above his head, and he 487 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: froze and slowly stood, hands above his head, turning to 488 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: fix me with a grin as ugly and unsettling as 489 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: the kushdukas. Those devil natives thought they could abandon me, 490 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 1: he said through his manic grin. They were wrong. They 491 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: were all wrong. I showed them. Pana stood up now, 492 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: turning a fl flashlight on Buck, his blonde hair and 493 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:06,479 Speaker 1: pale face, his expensive thermal coat and snow pants. They 494 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: were all spattered in blood. My finger went back to 495 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: the trigger. He wouldn't be missed. His father was already dead. 496 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: If he lived, he'd kill and kill again. He'd kill 497 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 1: my people, he'd kill Pana. I leveled the gun at 498 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: him and took aim. Warm gentle hands covered my hands, 499 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: and I heard Pana's voice in my ear. Please don't. 500 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,880 Speaker 1: He isn't worth what we'll pay for this. The tightness 501 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:35,440 Speaker 1: welling up in my chest broke into a sob. I 502 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 1: lowered the gun. This was it, how we all ended, 503 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: defeated by their brutality in a world that would choose 504 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:47,160 Speaker 1: them and forget about us. Buck screamed, there was a 505 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,959 Speaker 1: spear in him. The Kushduka on the ground held the spear, 506 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:56,120 Speaker 1: grinning widely. I was on the ground holding the spear. 507 00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:59,240 Speaker 1: I was holding it with my own hands. As Buck's 508 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: blood trickled down and warmed them, I let it go, 509 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:07,000 Speaker 1: scrambling to my feet as he fell. There were bruises 510 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: around my neck. My throat hurt when I breathed. Where 511 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: was the Kushduca? Where was Pawna. Buck fell onto his back, 512 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: the spear sticking straight up out of him. Pana lowered 513 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:23,680 Speaker 1: the rifle, tears streaming down his face. I thought he 514 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: was going to kill you. The Kushtuca Buck went on 515 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: a rampage. Both elders who came with us hunting are dead. 516 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: There was a Kushduca. The Kushduca killed him. She was 517 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:39,280 Speaker 1: right here. She looked just like me. Pana opened his 518 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: mouth the protests that looked down at Buck. He took 519 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 1: a deep breath. You know what, to Pisa, I think 520 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: you were right. I think there was a Cushduca. I 521 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 1: pulled my hands into the thick furs I was wearing. 522 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 1: They were beautifully made. The trim was black, with little 523 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:59,560 Speaker 1: red flowers and green leaves trailing along the edge. They 524 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:04,960 Speaker 1: were hand made artifacts. Even I thought I saw that 525 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:08,799 Speaker 1: hanging in Hank Ferryman's lodge. Pana said, it looks like 526 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:12,479 Speaker 1: the one my ana made. Once I walked to the sled, 527 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:16,080 Speaker 1: my legs shaking. Let's take it back to her then, okay, 528 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:20,479 Speaker 1: Pana nodded, tossing one last glance over her shoulder at Buck. 529 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 1: His freshly dead body smelled good, so good. I was 530 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 1: sure the wolves would find him soon. I swallowed the 531 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 1: saliva gathering in my mouth. Come on, Pana, I think 532 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: I have your Hona's ulu on that dog Sled should 533 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:41,839 Speaker 1: be wanting it back. Pana paused, then nodded, taking my arm. 534 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:46,799 Speaker 1: Thanks to Pisa, I smiled, you, my dear, are most 535 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 1: certainly welcome the end. I like that story a lot. 536 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:56,400 Speaker 1: I I don't know, I don't have a ton to 537 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: say about it. I like when stories have kind of 538 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,799 Speaker 1: like clear metaphors but not quite like beating you over 539 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:08,200 Speaker 1: the head metaphors, and how you can interpret this like 540 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:11,839 Speaker 1: a little bit more or less literally depending on how 541 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,080 Speaker 1: you want to, and neither way feels false. Like sometimes 542 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:19,800 Speaker 1: when things are sort of uncertain, you're like, it feels lazy, 543 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 1: and this happens actually, especially in movies for me, But 544 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:24,799 Speaker 1: I don't feel that way at all about this one. 545 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:28,600 Speaker 1: I just like this idea that inside of us is 546 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 1: this certain capacity, and that capacity can kind of be 547 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:38,759 Speaker 1: understood as something external to us as well. That goes 548 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:43,880 Speaker 1: along well with my sort of metaphysical views of the 549 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: world or whatever. Anyway, Hazel, who helps me pick out 550 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: the stories, really loves how Matilda the author builds tensions 551 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:57,160 Speaker 1: so seamlessly in this story, weaving routine horrors like extractive 552 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,800 Speaker 1: energy and racialized sexual violence in with the supernaw natural stuff. 553 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:05,000 Speaker 1: It sort of unnormalizes that stuff and brings the horror 554 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: that underpins much of our current systems into focus. It's 555 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 1: one of the things that makes horror so fun, using fear, disgust, 556 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: and intensity to investigate underlying truth. So, yeah, it's Spooky 557 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:27,279 Speaker 1: Month where the real monster was colonialism all along. Y'all 558 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 1: probably could have seen that coming because it's Cools on 559 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:32,840 Speaker 1: Media book Club and we all know that colonialism was 560 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:36,319 Speaker 1: the real monster all along. We'll be back next week 561 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,760 Speaker 1: with another horror treat for your ears. In the meantime, 562 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,760 Speaker 1: you can keep up with Matilda Zeller online at Matilda 563 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,200 Speaker 1: Zeller dot WordPress dot com. How do you spell Matilda Zeller, 564 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 1: you might ask, Well, I'm going to tell you. You spell 565 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:53,799 Speaker 1: Matilda M A T H I L d A and 566 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 1: you spell Zeller z E L l E R. So 567 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 1: that's Matilda Zeller dot org, WordPress dot com. And I'm 568 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,640 Speaker 1: Margaret Kiljoy and you can follow me wherever you want. 569 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:08,359 Speaker 1: I don't know, I okay, Well, whatever, it's spooky month. 570 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:11,560 Speaker 1: My last book is spooky. It's called The Immortal Choir 571 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,759 Speaker 1: Holds Every Voice and it's three story set in the 572 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:16,120 Speaker 1: Daniel Kine Universe. It's the third book of the Daniel 573 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: Kaine series, which you can listen to the first two 574 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: on this very podcast, and you can go and listen 575 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 1: to the third one without having well, yeah, read the 576 00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: third one that I haven't done in the audiobook yet 577 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: because I would record the audiobook, but for some reason, 578 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:33,080 Speaker 1: I'm recording this every week whatever. I like my job. 579 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 1: It's called the Immortal Choir Holds every Voice, and you 580 00:37:35,719 --> 00:37:38,480 Speaker 1: can read it. It's out from Strangers in the Tangled Wilderness, 581 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 1: which is a anarchist collective and support worker owned businesses 582 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:48,120 Speaker 1: and take care of each other and decolonize Turtle Island 583 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 1: and stop the genocide and take care of each other. 584 00:37:53,239 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: And it'd be good to each other because we're all 585 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:05,759 Speaker 1: we've got. Oh no, I went earn it spooky. It 586 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 1: could Happen here as a production of cool Zone Media. 587 00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:10,920 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from cool Zone Media, visit our website 588 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 1: coolzonemedia dot com or check us out on the iHeartRadio app, 589 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can 590 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 1: find sources for It Could Happen Here, updated monthly at 591 00:38:20,239 --> 00:38:23,480 Speaker 1: Coolzonmedia dot com slash sources. Thanks for listening,