1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: Cool Zone Media. It's the Cool Zone Media book Club. Hello, 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: I'm welcome to Cool Zone Media book Club. I'm your host, 3 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: Margaret Kiljoy and this is the book club where you 4 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: don't have to do the reading because I do it 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: for you. And we are on chapter eight of my book, 6 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: The Barrel Will Send what it may. I'm enjoying reading 7 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: this to you, but I'm also enjoyed about the stuff 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: that we're going to do after this. And this is 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: the second book in the Danielle Kaine series. The first 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: one you can hear me read it to Robert Evans 11 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: at the very beginning of this book club a couple 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: of years ago. And the third book is called The 13 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: Immortal Choir Holds Every Voice and it's available for pre 14 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: order now. You pre order like really soon. You can 15 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: still get a signed book plate if you order it 16 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: from Firestorm Books, which is you know, it's a nashvillehere. 17 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: You can also buy it through them online and then 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: it'll get sent to you through the mail and it 19 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: comes out in June. And so I was like, well, 20 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: I should read you the first two books so that 21 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: you're all caught up, and so that's what I'm doing. 22 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: This is chapter eight, like I already said, and I 23 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: actually think this is chapter eight and nine. I think 24 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: this is going to be me reading you the rest 25 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: of the book. We're going to back up a little 26 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: bit and read you a couple paragraphs from the end 27 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: of the last chapter. I wonder what they'll do. I 28 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: was back upstairs, back on the panic couch. It didn't 29 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: hit me so bad this time, maybe because whether or 30 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: not it was me doing something, I knew that someone 31 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: was doing something. I knew that the current situation would 32 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: not continue indefinitely, even without physically moving. Every passing minute 33 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: got me closer to nod in the library as surely 34 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: as if I was walking towards the exit. Fuck off 35 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: and leave us here, Liscilla said, that's my guess. Thursday 36 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: and Doomsday sat on the love seat quietly whispering. Vulture 37 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: was asleep in a Sola's bed. Brynn paced her boots 38 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: a rhythmic clump clump on the floor. Every time her 39 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: circuit took her past the window. She peered out for 40 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: a second. Hey, she said. On one of her rounds, 41 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: she motioned us over. Check this out. In the distance 42 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: from the west edge of town, a thin trickle of 43 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: smoke turned into a billowing cloud erupting up towards heaven. 44 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: A Sola's house was on fire. Dun, dundun. That would 45 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: have been a cliffhanger if you weren't listening to the 46 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: next chapter right now, chapter eight. They're leaving, Brynn said, 47 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: all of them. Thursday asked, yeah, wait, no, almost everyone. 48 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: Mister Miller's still there, plus some other guy. Vascillis went 49 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: down to the window and looked out. Arthur Dawson, he said, runs. 50 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: Dawson's probably Miller's best friend in town. He armed. I asked, Oh, yeah, 51 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: what now, I asked, take to the roof. Thursday suggested, wait, 52 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: what the fuck is that? Brynn asked. The rest of 53 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: us stacked up by the window to peer out through 54 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 1: the crack to see what she was talking about. Sebastian 55 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: stood on the street, his face shaded by a baseball cap. 56 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: In front of him, a tall, thin man in blue 57 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: jeans held a pistol in his hand and had another 58 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: holstered at his hip. Sebastian's rifle, though, was leaning against 59 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: a parked car, and Sebastian had some stubby black device 60 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: in his hand. Sebastian stepped up to his friend and 61 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: jabbed him in the side while simultaneously muffling him with 62 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: an elbow around the face. Arthur went down thrashing. What 63 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: the fuck is he doing, Brynn asked Taser. Vulture said, 64 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: whatever it is, I said, heading for the stairs. We're 65 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: going to stop him. Informal decision making is great when 66 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: there's time, you bicker about what to do. When there isn't, 67 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: you just go for it. My friends were right behind me. 68 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: The ground floor of the library was empty, had been 69 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: empty for days. It already looked abandoned. Rats gathered on 70 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: the checkout counter. Sunlight cut thin swaths across the floor 71 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: from where it broke through the edges of the barricade shutters. 72 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 1: I reached the front door and carelessly through the bar 73 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: to the side. My motives here weren't entirely altruistic. I 74 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: wanted out. The door swung outward, and the day poured in, 75 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: blinding me for a second. As my eyes adjusted. A 76 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: rat ran out the door. Well, it tried to run 77 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: out the door. No sooner had it crossed the threshold 78 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: than green fire burst from its body and it collapsed 79 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: lifeless on the stoop outside. Everyone saw, I think, because 80 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: I threw out my arm to block the way, but 81 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: no one tried to leave the window, Brinn said. I 82 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: tossed back the shutter from the nearest window and opened 83 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: the pane. I couldn't see anything, but that meant nothing. 84 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: I edged my soulless hand out through the window, and 85 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: sure enough it tingled and glowed pale green on the 86 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: street outside. Mister Dawson lay motionless on the street. Sebastian 87 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: knelt over him with a hunting knife and an ice 88 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: pick grip, stabbing the corpse of his friend over and over. 89 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: It must take a massive amount of pain to raise 90 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: the barrier. Sebastian saw me looking and raised his head 91 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: to meet my eyes. I can't believe you killed him, 92 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: he shouted in a sarcastic tone. Then he switched to menacing. 93 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: You'll wait in there until everyone comes back from whatever 94 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: chaos you tricked my wife into causing. I'll let down 95 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 1: the barrier and you'll see how the town of Pendleton, 96 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: Montana deals with a bunch of freak murderers like you. Crack, 97 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: I jumped to the sound of gunfire. I'd never been 98 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: a particularly jumpy person before all of this adrenaline kicked in. 99 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: Turns out bullets don't have souls. Thursday shouted from the door. 100 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 1: More gunfire. He and Doomsday we're both shooting. And you 101 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: know what else doesn't have a soul? Corporations. It's not 102 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: even me trying to make a slight at corporations. They 103 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: just don't. And some of them advertise on our show. Also, 104 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: there's some stuff that isn't advertisements. No, they're all advertisements 105 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 1: that isn't corporations. Y'all ever do that thing where you 106 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: just start switching nouns around in sentences like a totally 107 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: normal person whose brain is working properly. Me too, well, 108 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: don't switch around the various nouns in these ads, because 109 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: then you wouldn't be able to take advantage of the eels. 110 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: Here they are and we're back. Sebastian reeled, maybe hit, 111 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: He spun a little and dashed behind the hood of 112 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: the nearest car. Bullets wouldn't get through the engine block, sadly, 113 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: or the days might have still had a chance. If 114 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: they brought him down, the barrier would drop with him. 115 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: They stopped firing. What now, Thursday asked, told you we 116 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: need a drone, Vulture said, not helping vulture. Doomsday said, 117 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: I'll check all the windows. I said, I was the 118 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: only one who could do it safely. I thought doing 119 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: the rounds would give the adrenaline a chance to clear 120 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: my system. But I was just too jacked up and 121 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: nervous for my body to consider calming down. Each time 122 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: I put my hand through the barrier at a different window, 123 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: A inched closer and closer to overwhelming nausea. It needed doing. 124 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: Though the last window, the fifteenth one, was in the 125 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: living room upstairs. I put my hand through, felt that green, 126 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: fire and dry, wretched. I couldn't remember the last time 127 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: I ate something. There was no way out. The townspeople 128 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: would come back and see Arthur Dawson stabbed to death 129 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: on the asphalt. Sebastian would drop the barrier, and dozens 130 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: of angry, armed, innocent townspeople would storm this place, and 131 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: what citizens arrest us lynch us. I could only come 132 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: up with two sources of hope. The days might kill Sebastian. 133 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: Maybe he was already bleeding out, or maybe he'd stick 134 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: his head up at just the wrong second. Or maybe 135 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: a Sola or Gertrude would find their way back, and 136 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: I guess kill him themselves. Slim hope either way, Maybe 137 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: one of us could rush the barrier. The witch's fire 138 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: took a while to kill Heather. Maybe one of us 139 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: could rush the barrier and kill Sebastian and the rest 140 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: of us could make a break for it. I sat 141 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: down on that same fucking chair I'd spent way too 142 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: much of the past couple days sitting on, and dropped 143 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: my head into my hands as my brain and stomach raised. 144 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: It should be Vacillis, I mean, mostly because he was 145 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: the odd man out. I'd rather lose him than any 146 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: one else. It should be Vassillis because he was the 147 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: one who didn't do anything for months when he knew 148 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: there was something evil going on. He was the one 149 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: who didn't step up. Hell, he was the one who 150 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: was too afraid to let Heather heal on her own 151 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: time and rush the ritual and got her killed. Cold 152 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: logic became a sort of hate as it coursed through 153 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 1: my brain. Vacilis deserved to die, and noble sacrifice was 154 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 1: about the best he could do. I could talk him 155 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: into rushing Sebastian. No, the fuck I couldn't. That snapped 156 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: me out of it. There's only so far our thoughts 157 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: can wander outside our ethics before something kicks in and 158 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: brings us back. If vacilis deserved anything, it was to 159 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: run a library and drink tea and study magic and 160 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: maybe fall in love again one day. To get over Heather, Shit, Heather. 161 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: I looked over. She was still on the table where 162 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: she died. Atop her, the book of Barrow sat where 163 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: Doomsday had set it down. She could get through the barrier. Hey, 164 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: I shouted down the stairs. Hey guys, I would like 165 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: the record to state my objection to this plan, Thursday said, 166 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: so that when it goes horribly wrong, I won't even 167 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: have to say I told you so. I would like 168 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: the record to state I think this is metal as fuck, said, 169 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: so that no matter how it goes, I'll be right boys. 170 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: Doomsday said, If this works, Fascilla said, she will be alive. 171 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: So long as Doomsday and I hold the ritual space, 172 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: our own life energy will hold open the gate. Unless 173 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: we condemn another soul to death and send it back 174 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: to Barrow in her place, she will die again. As 175 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 1: soon as we drop the ritual. We might be able 176 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: to hold it for an hour without risking our own lives. 177 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: Once it's over. Once Heather has passed through the gate 178 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: that second time, there's no bringing her back, not even temporarily. 179 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: Barrow won't be happy with any of us when he 180 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: doesn't get his due. He probably won't seek revenge, but 181 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: he probably won't heed our call ever again either. We 182 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: nodded solemn. I was beyond fear, firmly in the realm 183 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: of all We called them endless spirits or or sometimes demons. 184 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:00,959 Speaker 1: But as I thought about what we were going to do, 185 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: I realized what they were gods. We were about to 186 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: risk pissing off a non abstract, non bearded dude in 187 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: the sky. God. I wasn't in awe of Barrow. I 188 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: was in awe of Doomsday of Vacillis for that level 189 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: of courage. Fortunately, none of the rest of us had 190 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: to participate in the actual spell casting. We stood in 191 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: a semicircle several steps away, outside the line of salt 192 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: that encircled the table. Vasillis spoke in Greek, then put 193 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: his hands on one of Heather's shoulders. Doomsday said her part, 194 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: we ask you Barrow to animate this vessel. She put 195 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: her hands on Heather's other shoulder. We opened this space 196 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: as ritual space, Vacillis said in English, this time, and 197 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: hold it so until such time as we close it. 198 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: Green fire erupted from the salt and encircled our friends. 199 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: When I was younger, I used to spread that conventional 200 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: wisdom that magic, real magic was subtle, not something you 201 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: could see. Nope, turns out that magic, real magic ain't subtle. 202 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: For shit, We ask you Barrow to animate this vessel. 203 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: Doomsday's voice filled every corner of the room, then faded 204 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: to nothing. Vasillis released his hands from Heather's shoulder. Then 205 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: Doomsday did the same. Then Heather screamed. Then she sat up. 206 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 1: Doomsday and Vasillis stood statue still. They had no energy 207 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: to spare on speaking or moving by their expressions. They 208 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: were in pain. Brin's turn, Heather, She said, as loudly 209 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: as she could, while still trying to calm someone down. 210 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: It's okay, Heather. Heather's scream subsided, and she jumped off 211 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: the table to her feet. She stumbled for a moment, 212 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: then caught her balance. She was still inside the circle 213 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: of flames. Is it safe, she asked? You can pass through? Yes, 214 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: Brynn said Heather came through the oar Boris tattoo still 215 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: looked fresh on her arm. It still looked like it 216 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: was healing. What happened, she asked, You died? Brynn said, 217 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: I remember that. Listen, Brynn said, taking in a deep breath. 218 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: This was hard on her. You're not back for good. 219 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: How long do I have? Maybe an hour? Brynn said, 220 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: She choked up, was barely able to get the words out. 221 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: As long as they can withstand the pain, basically okay? 222 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: Heather said, it clearly wasn't okay, and tears were forming 223 00:14:55,880 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: in Heather's eyes. Sebastian Miller did this, He did all 224 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: of this. He killed Damien and Loki and Asola and 225 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: now Arthur Dawson and who knows who else, And we're 226 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: trapped inside right now until he drops a barrier of 227 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: witches fire by choice or by lack of consciousness, and 228 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: that barrier only the dead can pass. Vulture stepped forward 229 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: and gave her a ratty black hoodie. She pulled it 230 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: over her naked body and it was long enough to 231 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: serve as a dress. Thursday stepped forward and gave her 232 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: a gun. She took it in her hand. Carefully and 233 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: dropped the magazine to count bullets before seating it back in. 234 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: Brynn had given her knowledge Doomsday and Vasilius had given 235 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: her this brief respite from death Thursday in Vulture had 236 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: both offered her gifts. I had nothing that felt wrong. Somehow, 237 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 1: the whole scene was so goddamned biblical that it felt 238 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: like I probably should have something to give her. I've 239 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: got nothing to give you, I said, feeling a bit 240 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: silly as I did. I'm dead and nothing's going to 241 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: stop that. So basically, anything I say right now I 242 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: can't really be held responsible for. She asked. I nodded. 243 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: Bryn is a big old fat crush on you, she said, 244 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: and then laughed. She's falling in love with you, she 245 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: told me herself. Heather Brynn said, it turns out Bryn 246 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: is capable of blushing. Okay, I'm gonna go kill this 247 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: fucking guy for you losers. She ran out the front door, 248 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 1: gun blazing. I mean I couldn't see the actual muzzle 249 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: blasts or whatever in the daylight, but she just ran 250 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: straight for that sedan with the pistol firing over and over. 251 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: She wasn't saving Ammo that wasn't good. It flushed him out, 252 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: though he must have seen her coming, and he ran. 253 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: Thursday took a shot from the door and hit him 254 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: in the leg. He dropped like he was a bike 255 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: with a stick in his spokes, and face planted. Heather 256 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: had a wild smile in her face, dropped the gun 257 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: and leaped onto his chest. She'd never meant to shoot him. 258 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: Her hands went over his throat, choking off his screams. 259 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: I put my hand into the barrier over the door, 260 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: watching the green light flicker over the gray mottled wound, 261 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: and I tried my hardest to disassociate from the nausea 262 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: that rose again in the pit of my stomach. After 263 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: a short moment, the green light disappeared. I reached farther, cautiously, 264 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 1: letting my wrist pass through the threshold. Nothing, my whole arm, 265 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 1: Nothing go, I said, and we ran out the door. 266 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: The plan was to get Heather inside for a final 267 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: goodbye while we packed up the bookmobile for as quick 268 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: an exit as we could manage. As soon as I 269 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: got near Heather, she stood up. Sebastian rolled over and 270 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: threw up. He wasn't dead, He'd just been unconscious. Why 271 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: isn't he dead, I asked, I've got a better idea, 272 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: Heather said, what's that? We make him fucking confess to 273 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: the whole goddamn town, bring everyone back to his place, 274 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: let them see his basement. Then he doesn't die, I said, 275 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: surprising myself, I didn't realize just how deeply invested in 276 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: the death of that man I'd become. He'll just go 277 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: to jail. Death's not a punishment, she said, so don't 278 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: seek it as one. You don't argue what death is 279 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: like with a dead woman. Brynn pinned Sebastian and Vulture, 280 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: picking up on what was going on, ran inside and 281 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: came back with duct tape. We hogtied the man there 282 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: in the street. Brynn searched him for weapons and found 283 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: a stun grenade. It wasn't magic he'd used to get 284 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: away from us behind the graveyard, just a damn flash bang. 285 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: Thursday grabbed the rifle, but left mister Dawson's guns on 286 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: his body. Brynn threw the man over her shoulder, crouching 287 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: a little with the weight, and jogged east toward the 288 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: gift shop. That woman she knew how to get things done. 289 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: Fuck just having a crush on brit I really was 290 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: in love. Gertrude was shaking, holding herself up against the tyrannosaur. 291 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: I ran ahead to greet her. She opened her arms 292 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: and I let her fall against me. She held me tight. 293 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: I saw the basement, she said, Oh God, I saw 294 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 1: what he's done. We're going to make him confess. No 295 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: one will believe you about the magic, not really. They 296 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: stare at me because I think I came back from 297 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: the dead, but they don't really believe it. I think 298 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: they actually stare at me because they don't approve of 299 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,880 Speaker 1: me leaving my husband after a near death experience. When 300 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: they see the basement, though, I said, I'll go to 301 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: prison for a long long time and you kids will 302 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: be off the hook. She sighed, then pulled a phone 303 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: out of her purse and dialed a number. It rang 304 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: for a long time, then someone, Hey, she said, it's 305 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: miss Miller. Yeah, yeah, I'm okay, No, listen, No, you've 306 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: got it backwards. I wouldn't have believed it either. The 307 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: library people, Yeah, it was my husband all along. A 308 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: little pause. Look, just come to the shop and don't 309 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: threaten anyone until you've looked in the basement. Come see 310 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: for yourself. Everyone else trudged inside. I wanted to go 311 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: with them, because, as terrible as I assumed it would be, 312 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,440 Speaker 1: I really wanted to know what was in that basement. 313 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: Someone needed to stay with Gertrude, though, and for some 314 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: unknowable reason, she'd taken a liking to me, so I 315 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: was standing with her when the posse what else could 316 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: I call it, rolled up? Two dozen men, all armed. 317 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: No one leveled a weapon at me, but neither did 318 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: anyone give me any impression that I was in any 319 00:20:55,560 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: way free to go. Well, one man said, stepping forward 320 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: and lifting his baseball cap. He was the spitting image 321 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: of that corpse we left in the street, and he 322 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 1: had an assault rifle with a hunting scope. My father's dead, 323 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: and the only reason I'm not shooting this stranger right 324 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 1: here and now is because she's a woman. Fuck you 325 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: shoot me, I said it without thinking there were at 326 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: least three reasons why that was the wrong thing to say. 327 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,919 Speaker 1: But fuck, I hate that shit so much. What I 328 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 1: didn't kill your father? I saw Sebastian Miller do it. Bullshit, 329 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: Come inside, Trent, Gertrude said, shaking her head, tears in 330 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 1: her eyes. We went inside. Whatever blood there had been 331 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: at any point was washed off the furniture and the 332 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:50,199 Speaker 1: cement floor. There were three large dog cages reinforced with 333 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: welded rebar. There was a shell filled with glass jars 334 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:58,199 Speaker 1: of salts and herbs. The tranquilizer gun sat on a 335 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: work bench with darts and vials of tocsin next to it. 336 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 1: Most damning of all, a third of the floor had 337 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: been ripped up to reveal three grave length mounds of 338 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 1: dirt in parallel lines. Next to them two empty graves. 339 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: Besides that, a pickaxe, shovel, and the hill of exhumed 340 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: dirt and rubble. A dentist's chair stood in the center 341 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: of the room. There were no restraints, cobbled on, nothing 342 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:32,120 Speaker 1: like that. The chair alone was terrifying enough. Thursday, Vulture, 343 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 1: Brin and Heather stood over Sebastian, who was still gagged 344 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: and bound with tape. Trent Dawson took off his ball 345 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: cap and held it over his chest. I would never 346 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: not in a million years, he said, before trailing off. 347 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 1: A few of the others came down with him, and 348 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:56,159 Speaker 1: one ran back upstairs immediately, presumably to tell everyone what 349 00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 1: was down there. Trent strode over to mister Miller and 350 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: ripped the tape off his mouth. Say something, Trent said. 351 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: There was gravel in his voice, barely concealing rage. I 352 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: stared at our captive, trying to guess what lies he 353 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: would tell and how he might have to counter them. 354 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: Sebastian staggered up to his knees. No, he said, simply, 355 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 1: I said say something. Trent roared, No, you killed my father, 356 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: you son of a bitch. I would like to speak 357 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: to a lawyer. I ain't the cops. I would like 358 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: to speak to a lawyer. Trent raised the barrel of 359 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: his gun level with our prisoner's face. No one moved 360 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: to stop him. The vulture got out of the way 361 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: in case the bullet kept going ricochet. One of the 362 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: townspeople mentioned that was apparently the only objection to putting 363 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: Sebastian down right then and there. To hell with you, 364 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,880 Speaker 1: Sebastian Miller. Trent spit. He said, hell like he believed 365 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: in the place, which is frankly a different kind of 366 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: curse than when I use it. Gertrude, In respect for you, 367 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: for everything you've been through, I'm going to walk away. 368 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: You come and find me let me know whether or 369 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,120 Speaker 1: not you need me to call the cops or fill 370 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 1: in one of those graves. They left us, simple as that. 371 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: Trumping heavily back up the stairs. Well, I asked Gertrude, 372 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: Gerty Miller said, I did it for you. Gerty gag him. 373 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: Gertrude said, Brynne obliged. Anyone know how this thing works? 374 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: Gertrude lifted up the dark gun. Sebastian whimpered. Vulcher stepped over. 375 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 1: You have to know your target's weight in order to 376 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: use it safely, he said. It's probably loaded for you 377 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: or a sola, so probably not strong enough to guarantee 378 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 1: it'll knock him out. Two shots a most certainly would, 379 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 1: but there's a chance it'll kill him. She turned, aimed 380 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 1: and f The dart went into his lower ribs. He 381 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: looked up more surprised than afraid. Lord, forgive me, she said, 382 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: but I cannot let this man walk upon your earth 383 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 1: another day. She fired again. The second dart pierced his belly. 384 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: Either the toxins were fast or he fainted. Hey, Vulture said, 385 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:26,360 Speaker 1: we've got kind of a choice right now. We've got 386 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,239 Speaker 1: a guy who's about to be dead soon. Anyway, in 387 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: case we wanted to. You know, it's never too late 388 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: to start over, Brenn said, looking at Heather. Heather shook 389 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: her head. I've been dead before. I'm not afraid to 390 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: be dead again. Fuck that, I said. Heather turned to me, surprised. 391 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: It's up to you. I get that, but really and truly, 392 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: this man is about to die. Let him not have 393 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: killed you too, The Apocalypse Thursday said, Remember how every 394 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: resurrected person brings us one step closer to the apocalypse. 395 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: A million to one Vulture said, a million to one 396 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 1: odds in our favor that we don't destroy the gates 397 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: between Heaven and Earth. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I added, okay, 398 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 1: father said, Hope broke across her face like dawn, brightening 399 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: faster and faster. I can't fucking believe, Thursday said, Gertrude, 400 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: you've got to be against this, right. I don't want 401 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: another living soul on this earth to have to go 402 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,360 Speaker 1: through what I went through. Gertrude said, knowing that an 403 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: innocent person died so that you might live. But he's 404 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 1: dying anyway. Apocalypse Thursday shouted. If he there's the second coming, 405 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: then she's the second coming, Gertrude said, and that's God's will. 406 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: I can't, I don't. Thursday took a deep breath and 407 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 1: calmed down. Heather, you okay with this? Okay? She said. 408 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: She had tears in her eyes and a smile quivered 409 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:05,159 Speaker 1: on her lips, coming in and out of existence. Then 410 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:07,679 Speaker 1: we better hurry, I said. A bullet hole in his 411 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: leg and two doses of God knows what those day 412 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,199 Speaker 1: threw Sebastian over his shoulders and walked sideways up the 413 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: steps like he was moving an awkward piece of furniture. 414 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: Trent and his friend stared at us as we troop 415 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: passed them through the gift shop. Gertrude put two of 416 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 1: those darts into him before having a change of heart, 417 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: I explained, we're getting them into the library. Bacillias knows 418 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: about this stuff. I have a feeling, though, that we'll 419 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: be right back here to bury him. None of it 420 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: was technically a lie, even Trent nodded. On the way 421 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 1: out the door. I swiped Pendleton shot glass, Dun, dunt, dun. 422 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: This is where there would be a cliffhanger, but instead 423 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: it's not because I'm just going to read you the 424 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:52,880 Speaker 1: sort of epilogue, which is chapter nine. But you know what, 425 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:55,639 Speaker 1: before I read you the epilogue, which is chapter nine, 426 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna subject you to I mean, give you the 427 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 1: opportunity to peruse some of the finest goods and services 428 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 1: available to anyone, which are available to you. And here 429 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: they are, and we're back chapter nine. There aren't so 430 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: many glaciers in Glacier National Park anymore, but the vistas 431 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: are still something special. Clouds sat heavy on the horizon, 432 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: threatening rain, with the lake below us shone a heavenly blue. 433 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: And earlier that day I'd seen a mountain goat and 434 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: its kid. My left arm was in a sling. I'd 435 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: ripped a stitch, after all, and while Vulture had been 436 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: happy enough to sew me back up, he insisted that 437 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: I try harder not to mess up his handiwork this time. 438 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: Brin lay on her stomach next to me, stick and poke, 439 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: tattooing my the ora boris. It's never too late to 440 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 1: start again. The bookmobile was parked nearby Vasillis, and Heather 441 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 1: had given it to us, and I have to admit 442 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 1: it's a step up from the Honda Civic, at least 443 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 1: for traveling with five people. The ritual had gone without 444 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: a hitch, and Heather got to stay living again. Despite 445 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: what Vasillis had figured, she decided to stick around Pendleton. 446 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: She told us that new beginnings don't have to involve 447 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: new places or even new people, which is obviously wrong. 448 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,760 Speaker 1: New places are the only thing worth living for. But 449 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: I suppose not everyone is a traveler demon crewe, Vulture said, 450 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: sitting in the open door of the van. No, Thursday 451 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 1: said an ARCO team. No, you're not even trying anymore. 452 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: The children of the Road. Now, you're just saying random things. 453 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: These two had been added all afternoon. Brynn had mentioned 454 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: us needing a crew ne and Vulture couldn't seem to 455 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: get the idea out of his head. The A team. 456 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: Vulture said, that's taken. Thursday said twice over, I changed 457 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 1: my mind. Brynce said, I don't think we need a name. 458 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: Is that actually true? Or do you just want me 459 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: to stop brainstorming? Vulture asked, I honestly don't know the 460 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: answer to that. Brynn said, her voice low enough that 461 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 1: only I could hear her. Caine's children, Vulture said, No. 462 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: Thursday said, wait, I don't know. That's pretty metal. No, 463 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: I shouted, grumble, grumble, grumble. Vulture said, like he actually 464 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 1: said the word grumble three times. I thought you all 465 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: were going down to the lake. Brynce said to leave 466 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 1: us alone. We were, Thursday said, But then Vulture and 467 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: I agreed it was more fun to argue where we 468 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,240 Speaker 1: had a peanut gallery. I looked around for something to 469 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: throw and saw an empty soda can left by some 470 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 1: other picnicker before us. It didn't fly well, but it 471 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: made my point. They left. Should we do this? Then? 472 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 1: I asked, while they're gone, totally, you're sure you're not 473 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: worried they might come back and catch us at it? Absolutely. 474 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: I reached into the top pouch of my travel pack 475 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: for the book i'd hidden there, A Lustful Bride for 476 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: the Horseman Prince. I read chapter one. Brynn smiled. I 477 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 1: first came to these lands in search of fame and 478 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: glory because I believed those things mattered. Instead, I found her. 479 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: Brynn giggled as she stabbed my leg repeatedly with an 480 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 1: inked needle, and I read to her. I didn't tell 481 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: her anything about love, not yet. There would be time 482 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 1: enough for that. Hey, guys, time to go. We gotta go. 483 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: Let's go now, Vulture was out of breath. I woke up, 484 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: my head curled in the nook of Brynn's arm. The 485 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: book lay across my hip, folded open on its spine, 486 00:31:57,640 --> 00:31:59,959 Speaker 1: which is a terrible thing to do to a library book. 487 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 1: What I was groggy and mostly thinking about the book 488 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 1: and whether or not Vulture had noticed it and read 489 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: the title Magic Fed's gotta go, Magic Feds more this time, 490 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: go go go. I staggered to my feet, and Vulture 491 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: handed me a pair of binoculars. There on the road, 492 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 1: a string of three identical black SUVs threw up dust. 493 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: Those could be any three identical black SUVs with tinted windows, 494 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 1: I argued, but I handed Brynn the binoculars and grabbed 495 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: my pack. Thursday had the engine running by the time 496 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,560 Speaker 1: we climbed into the back of the bookmobile. Brynn slammed 497 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: the door shut and we were off. No specific destination, 498 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 1: not yet, but I had a feeling one would find 499 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 1: us soon enough. Dunt dunt dum. And that's the rude cliffhanger. 500 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: I left everyone on for like seven years. I don't 501 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 1: know whatever how long it took between that book and 502 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 1: the next book. But the next book is coming. It's 503 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:00,080 Speaker 1: coming so soon. It's called The Immortal Choir Hold Every Voice, 504 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 1: and I don't really have any specific notes or thoughts 505 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 1: here at the end of the book, I hope you 506 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 1: liked it. I'm proud of it, and we'll be back 507 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 1: next week with more Cool Zone Media Book Club. It 508 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: Could Happen here as a production of cool Zone Media. 509 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,800 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from cool Zone Media, visit our website 510 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:24,440 Speaker 1: coolzonemedia dot com, or check us out on the Iheard 511 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 512 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 1: You can find sources for It Could Happen Here, updated 513 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 1: monthly at coolzonemedia dot com slash sources. Thanks for listening.