0:02

D.C. High Volume, Batman. The

0:04

Dark Knight's definitive D.C. comic

0:06

stories, adapted directly for audio,

0:08

for the very first time.

0:11

Fear. I have to make

0:13

them afraid. He's got a

0:15

motorcycle. Get after him, I'll

0:18

have you shot. You mean

0:20

blow up the building? From

0:22

this moment on. None of

0:25

yours, save. New episodes,

0:27

every Wednesday. Wherever you

0:29

get your podcasts.

0:33

peer pressure work? Should you ever

0:36

really trust your gut? These are just

0:38

a few of the topics we've

0:40

recently tackled on my podcast,

0:42

something you should know. It's

0:44

a podcast where leading experts

0:47

give you valuable Intel that

0:49

you can use in your

0:51

life today. I'm the

0:53

host, Mike Carothers,

0:55

and with over

0:57

1,000 episodes and

0:59

over 4,000, mostly

1:01

five-star reviews. I

1:03

invite you to

1:06

check

1:08

out something

1:12

you

1:15

should

1:18

know

1:20

wherever

1:23

you listen.

1:34

Two. The West German embassy didn't

1:36

know it, but they'd selected

1:38

an ideal venue for Ankaisies

1:41

when they arranged the conference

1:43

reception. The Lichtensteinzki Palace, a

1:45

stark Georgian block of stone and

1:48

plaster, mounted right along the western

1:50

bank of the Voltava. Gabe waited

1:53

patiently while the security

1:55

guards frisked him. Then Josh, and

1:57

then headed into the soft amber

1:59

glow. of the grand reception space.

2:02

Cherub smiled down on them

2:04

from the frescoed ceiling overhead

2:06

as Josh and Gabe snagged

2:08

appetizers off of the waiter's

2:10

trays. Stern oil paintings watched

2:12

them from the wall with

2:14

long suffering stairs. Gabe studied

2:17

the ceiling for a moment. At

2:19

least the party hadn't redrawn

2:21

the cherubs as Marx and Lenin.

2:23

Yet. Our friends are fashionably late.

2:26

Josh said, fidgeting with his

2:28

glass of club soda. No

2:30

whiskey tonight. Gabe shrugged. They run

2:32

on their own timetable. But his

2:34

mind was worrying over the potential

2:36

ways that they could be

2:38

getting screwed right now. The

2:41

Russian delegation's minders could have

2:43

decided that the dinner away from

2:45

the hotel presented too great a

2:47

security risk. They might have caught

2:49

another delegate prowling the

2:51

red light district without his

2:54

minders. and decided to punish the

2:56

whole team, or they could just be

2:58

postponing, laying the lectures on

3:00

thick about the danger of

3:03

speaking with Westerners, for instance.

3:05

Gabe and Josh had to be

3:07

prepared for the distinct possibility

3:09

that all their well-laid plans

3:11

for tonight had been for

3:13

naught. That at any moment, a

3:15

minder suspicions could be tripped, and

3:18

they'd blow their best chance

3:20

at napping Sokolov. Surely

3:22

Frank and Dominic couldn't fault

3:24

Gabe for it. These things

3:27

happened. Spooks got spooked.

3:29

But, God, it sure would

3:31

be nice to have something go

3:33

right just this once. Gabe's gaze

3:36

slid across the cloth-covered

3:38

tables toward the entrance

3:40

just in time to

3:42

catch sight of Tanya

3:44

Morotsova entering the reception.

3:48

It had been too much to

3:50

hope that he wouldn't cross paths

3:52

with her again until Sokolov was

3:55

safely in U.S. airspace. So much for

3:57

an easy night. Tanya

4:00

held a small clutch close to her chest

4:02

as she scanned the room. Her dark blonde

4:05

hair had been swept up and

4:07

fastened with some sort of elegant

4:09

jeweled device Gabe couldn't name, and

4:12

she wore a gauzy, shimmering gown that

4:14

surely came out of the KGB's costume

4:16

closet. It bared her sharp Slavic collarbones

4:19

and softened her hips and

4:21

brought out that glimmering something in

4:23

her expression that he'd only

4:25

seen in flashes before in

4:27

flashes before. She looked good,

4:30

fresh-faced, shy, hopeful.

4:32

It immediately set off

4:34

every alarm bell Gabe had.

4:37

Gabe turned back toward

4:39

Josh before Tanya could

4:41

catch sight of him and gripped

4:44

the edge of the standing

4:46

table. All right. So

4:48

that's how she wanted this

4:50

to play out. Tanya thought

4:52

she'd made a mark of him.

4:54

That had to be why she was

4:57

why she was here. They'd

4:59

had a moment in the hotel

5:01

basement. Their magic

5:03

working harmoniously to stop

5:06

the Gollam's rampage. And

5:08

in that moment, she must

5:10

have seen something in him.

5:12

An opportunity. A weakness

5:14

to exploit. An open door to

5:17

wedge her foot into. An unheeled

5:19

wound that she could dig at

5:21

with her wicked little nails.

5:24

Gape? Gave blinked and looked

5:26

up. Josh was frowning at

5:28

him. That damning mixture of

5:30

fear and concern from

5:32

before Gabe had managed to

5:35

get the hitchhiker under control.

5:38

What's the matter? Josh asked.

5:40

You looked angry all of

5:42

a sudden. Gabe exhaled, breath

5:44

whistling through his nose. More

5:47

eyes here than I'd

5:49

anticipated. Josh peered over

5:51

Gabe's shoulder, then nodded.

5:53

I see. Josh twisted his glass

5:55

in his hands, like he was screwing

5:57

up the courage to say something. No,

6:00

Gape thought, please, no. It's

6:02

what she wants, for you

6:04

to think that maybe there

6:07

could be something between me

6:09

and her. It's nothing like

6:11

that. It's so much worse.

6:13

Well, she shouldn't be a

6:15

problem. Josh forced a smile

6:17

and elbowed Gape. Should she?

6:20

Gave smiled back, hand slipping

6:22

into his pocket again. The

6:24

braided bits of copper and

6:26

tin soothed him. They sang

6:28

to the hitchhiker like a

6:30

lullaby. Not once the show

6:33

starts. A pinched-looking diplomat appeared

6:35

at the base of the

6:37

staircase and silenced the reception

6:39

with a spoon against his

6:41

glass. Attention? Might I please

6:43

have your attention? He introduced

6:46

himself as the special assistant

6:48

to the West German ambassador.

6:50

and launched into a lengthy

6:52

speech about his country's deep

6:54

and abiding interest in promoting

6:56

scientific progress and agricultural advancement.

6:59

After a morning full of

7:01

such talk, Gabe could feel

7:03

his eyelids starting to droop.

7:05

He'd already pledged to stick

7:07

to water and soda tonight.

7:09

This op was too important,

7:12

but he started scanning for

7:14

a waiter to bring him

7:16

coffee. Our friends from the

7:18

Russian delegation are already waiting

7:20

for us in the dining

7:22

hall, so please let us

7:25

join them. After we eat,

7:27

then we shall present the

7:29

awards." Josh and Gabe looked

7:31

at one another. The Russians

7:33

were already here. Their minders

7:35

must have brought them up

7:37

a rear staircase. The ice

7:40

in Gabe's glass rattled as

7:42

he took a slow sip

7:44

and followed Josh toward the

7:46

dining hall. Well, he said

7:48

quietly, they always know how

7:50

to keep it interesting. Dinner

7:53

was the usual rubbery chicken

7:55

Kiev and wilted sides of

7:57

cabbage and beets. Gabe and

7:59

Josh wound up at a

8:01

table with a couple of

8:03

agricultural scientists who spent the

8:06

entire award ceremony whispering their

8:08

disdain back and forth. in

8:10

rapid-fire French. Sokolov was stationed

8:12

at the far side of

8:14

the room, at one of

8:16

the tables closest to the

8:19

podium. He never looked toward

8:21

Gabe, but he did seem

8:23

unusually fascinated by the long

8:25

row of French windows along

8:27

the eastern wall of the

8:29

ballroom, which opened onto a

8:32

series of balconies. Beautiful night,

8:34

Gabe said to Josh. Want

8:36

to see if they'll let

8:38

us get some fresh air

8:40

once the dancing starts? Josh

8:42

smiled. I'll go have a

8:45

word with the hosts. The

8:47

Russians had moved en masse

8:49

to the bar, the handful

8:51

of scientists encircled by an

8:53

arc of minders as they

8:55

crowded the long wooden counter.

8:58

Gabe reached into his pocket

9:00

as he stood. Morotsova wasn't

9:02

with them. It looked like

9:04

she'd gotten trapped in conversation

9:06

with the insufferable Hungarian secretary

9:08

who'd become something of a

9:11

hazing ritual for the Western

9:13

officers. Gave smiled to himself

9:15

as Tanya squirmed, looking about

9:17

ready to gnaw her arm

9:19

off to escape whatever night

9:21

at the symphony the secretary

9:24

was recounting right then. The

9:26

hitchhiker shifted, stirring as Gave

9:28

closed his hands around the

9:30

first charm in his pocket

9:32

and approached the bar. Copper

9:34

and crushed Czech wildflowers, ashes

9:37

from a burnt birch tree

9:39

and a few dabs of

9:41

blood. Gave tasted it like

9:43

an early spring awakening, blossoming

9:45

on his tongue. This was

9:47

how he imagined magic should

9:50

feel. A current he could

9:52

harness, not a live wire

9:54

threatening to burn him to

9:56

a crisp. This was exactly

9:58

what he needed. Magic that

10:00

supplemented his work, not magic

10:03

that got in the way.

10:05

The hitchhiker approved. And from

10:07

the middle of the pack

10:09

of minders... He sensed the

10:11

elemental inside Sokolov awakening as

10:13

well. using thickly accent to

10:16

check instead of Russian as

10:18

he shouldered his way past

10:20

the goons up to the

10:22

bar. In his pocket, the

10:24

charm began to vibrate. The

10:26

monitor whose personal space Gabe

10:29

was currently invading curled his

10:31

lips back to reveal a

10:33

gummy sneer. I am not

10:35

Czech. Oh, my apologies. Gabe

10:37

jabbed out one hand. Gabriel,

10:39

and you are... I am

10:42

not interested in speaking with

10:44

you," the ape replied. A

10:46

second monitor peeled away from

10:48

the crowd and sauntered over

10:50

to them. Dima, who are

10:52

you talking to? American man,

10:54

sounds like he is lonely.

10:57

Dima narrowed his eyes agape.

10:59

He's trying to make Russian

11:01

friends, does not seem wise

11:03

for someone in his position.

11:05

As soon as the second

11:07

minder approached, Gabe activated the

11:10

second charm. Through the thicket

11:12

of Russian shoulders, Gabe noticed

11:14

Sokolov wince. He too felt

11:16

the power Gabe was drawing,

11:18

whether he understood it or

11:20

not. Is easy mistake, the

11:23

second minder said. Also easy

11:25

to fix. Gabe smirked. Oh,

11:27

and how's that? Come on.

11:29

Gape thought, one more. There

11:31

was just one last minder

11:33

who hadn't approached him yet.

11:36

You buy us round of

11:38

drinks, Dema said. Then, maybe

11:40

then, we forget to tell

11:42

people you talk to us,

11:44

yes? Could be most embarrassing

11:46

for you. The other minder

11:49

folded his arms. I am

11:51

sure your friends at the

11:53

embassy would not like to

11:55

hear the treasonous things. Mr.

11:57

Gabriel... Richard, Commerce Secretary for

11:59

the United States Embassy, said

12:02

to me, Gave smile widened.

12:04

He could always count on

12:06

the Russians to do their

12:08

homework. And he could always,

12:10

always count on them to

12:12

assume their boldness would give

12:15

them the upper hand. Very

12:17

well, he waved to the

12:19

bartender. A round of Goldvassa

12:21

for my friends, in honor

12:23

of our German hosts, yeah?

12:25

Dima and his beefy companion

12:28

nodded after a moment's beat.

12:30

Oh, but, uh, what about

12:32

your other friend? Gave gestured

12:34

toward the third monitor. Wouldn't

12:36

want him to feel left

12:38

out. The second nodded. Gostia!

12:41

Come, we have drinks! Gave

12:43

smiled, and as Kostia approached,

12:45

thumbed the third charm in

12:47

his pocket. The bartender poured

12:49

out four shots of gold

12:51

vassa, and Gave plucked his

12:54

up with a quick whisper

12:56

under his breath. The whisper

12:58

was only a single word.

13:00

Amharic, probably. Ancient, definitely. He'd

13:02

most likely botched the pronunciation.

13:04

But Jordan had drilled him

13:07

over it, again and again,

13:09

and he knew exactly how

13:11

it should feel, pouring out

13:13

of his mouth. Exactly the

13:15

golden rush that would cleanse

13:17

through his nostrils and wash

13:20

over his vision, if only

13:22

for a moment's time. The

13:24

energy arked through him. fed

13:26

by the elemental half-lodged in

13:28

his skull, and by the

13:30

not-too-distant lay lines that coursed

13:33

beneath Prague. Filtered through the

13:35

charm, the charge of his

13:37

spell dispersed over the shot-glasses

13:39

of gold vassa, and settled

13:41

into the liquid and flex

13:43

of gold. Gabe raised his

13:46

glass in toast. Zazadorovier! The

13:48

minders echoed, and tossed back

13:50

their shots. Everyone flipped their

13:52

shot glasses and dropped them

13:54

upside down on the bar.

13:56

In such a mess, it

13:58

was hard to notice that

14:01

an entire... shots worth of

14:03

liquid had failed to make

14:05

it into Gabe's mouth. Already

14:07

the Russians were calling for

14:09

vodka. Gabe took the opportunity

14:11

to step away from the

14:14

bar and let the spell

14:16

do its work. This was

14:18

almost too easy. A few

14:20

minutes' time to set up

14:22

something that might have taken

14:24

him hours and several rounds

14:27

of drinks to accomplish otherwise.

14:29

Maybe there really was something

14:31

to this whole spycraft via

14:33

magic business. Gabe reached into

14:35

his pocket once more to

14:37

rub the charms. For good

14:40

luck, he supposed. And for

14:42

a silent thanks that Tanya

14:44

Morotsova was keeping away. Then

14:46

a hand closed around his

14:48

wrist. Well, my dear fellow,

14:50

Alastair Winthrop said, looking up

14:53

at Gabe with one eyebrow

14:55

carefully raised, I'm rather certain

14:57

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14:59

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I don't have much time.

17:18

I am being transported by

17:20

the Ecclesiaad vessel Markava to

17:22

stand trial for heresy of

17:24

the highest order, but I

17:27

will not renounce my work.

17:29

And to my last breath

17:31

I will speak the truth

17:33

of this plague-ridden world, that

17:35

ours is not a loving

17:37

God, and we. are not

17:39

its favorite children. The heresies

17:41

of red-off band-line, chapter two,

17:43

coming away first. Nadia's boots

17:45

slid across stare miesta, the

17:47

cobblestones slick and gleaming from

17:49

centuries of footsteps. Something was

17:51

wrong. She sensed it in

17:53

the warp and weft of

17:55

the magic rising up from

17:57

the layline beneath her. Something

18:00

was terribly wrong. Whatever had

18:02

tripped her sensing charm was

18:04

pulling way too much power

18:06

off the line to be

18:08

some simple incantation. Ritual magic,

18:10

elemental magic, deep, powerful, and

18:12

if it wasn't being conducted

18:14

by the ice, quite possibly

18:16

dark. Her boxer's muscles carried

18:18

her quickly around the pedestrians,

18:20

outreveling in the precious extra

18:22

hours of sunlight they'd snatched

18:24

from winter's grasp. She bounced

18:26

on the balls of her

18:28

feet periodically to scan over

18:31

their heads and darted down

18:33

alleyways for a quick assessment.

18:35

What the hell was the

18:37

flame brewing this time? A

18:39

sudden horrific possibility flashed through

18:41

her. What if they'd found

18:43

another host? A dark rumor

18:45

had been winding its way

18:47

through the ice channels of

18:49

late, whispers and wonderings over

18:51

just what the flame intended

18:53

for the hosts they'd collected.

18:55

Blood sacrifices, elemental harvesting, all

18:57

sorts of gruesome possibilities that

18:59

Nadia didn't care to dwell

19:02

on for long. But if

19:04

the flame intended anything of

19:06

the sort, Nadia knew exactly

19:08

where they'd need to go

19:10

to accomplish it. She crashed

19:12

through the door of Barbodnar

19:14

shoulder first, a fistful of

19:16

ashes at the ready, and

19:18

an ancient Slavic curse heavy

19:20

on her tongue. The babble

19:22

of conversation stopped abruptly, as

19:24

all eyes turned toward Nadia.

19:26

Hedgewitches, in their darnals and

19:28

piles of crystal pendants, eyed

19:30

her over glasses of mold

19:33

wine. Tweety, shifty-eyed spies shrank

19:35

back into their corner booths.

19:37

A check worker drinking at

19:39

the bar tugged his cap

19:41

brim over his face and

19:43

curled his lip back. The

19:45

jukebox bleeded out a cheerful

19:47

chorus of sugar, oh, honey,

19:49

honey, honey, as Nadia scrutinized

19:51

everyone and they, in turn,

19:53

scrutinized her. Finally, Jordan Reims

19:55

broke the stalemate as she

19:57

swept out from behind the

19:59

bar. Her broom skirt twisted

20:01

around her ankles and spun

20:03

widely in rhythm with her

20:06

steps as she approached. Nadia

20:08

heard too, what Jordan didn't

20:10

say, because if there isn't,

20:12

but not enchanted, but the

20:14

skin around her eyes had

20:16

pulled tight. Hello, Miss Estrokina.

20:18

Jordan's voice was low, threaded

20:20

beneath the chipper jubox song.

20:22

Is there something I can

20:24

help you with? Nadia heard,

20:26

too, what Jordan didn't say,

20:28

because if there isn't, you'd

20:30

the best be on your

20:32

way. Nardia moved slowly, deliberately,

20:34

making her intentions known as

20:37

she tucked the handful of

20:39

char back into her jacket

20:41

pocket. Someone's pulling off the

20:43

lay lines, she whispered, purring

20:45

something beak. Huge. I was

20:47

worried. She swallowed past a

20:49

sudden tightness in her throat.

20:51

I thought they might be...

20:53

be using the confluence. She

20:56

broke off as Jordan's expression

20:58

changed. The woman's lips pressed

21:00

into a thin line, and

21:02

she reached for Nadia's arm.

21:04

Let's have a word, the

21:06

roundback. Nadia let herself be

21:08

steered into the Vodnar's storerooms.

21:10

They ducked around dangling bouquets

21:12

of dried and drying herbs,

21:15

and Nadia narrowly avoided knocking

21:17

a calcified lizard's skin off

21:19

a shelf. As soon as

21:21

they were fully inside the

21:23

back rooms, Jordan shut the

21:25

door. and uttered a few

21:27

words of warding as she

21:29

smeared a tincture from a

21:31

nearby jar around the door's

21:33

frame. Nadia tilted her head,

21:35

curiosity getting the better of

21:37

her. Reem's magic had always

21:39

seemed so wild to her,

21:42

so haphazard and imprecise. But

21:44

she saw now a certain

21:46

elegance in it, a simplicity

21:48

that the ice's work often

21:50

lacked. A couple of flame

21:52

scumbags came poking around a

21:54

few days ago. Jordan said.

21:56

Nadia folded her arms. One

21:58

of the rare times she

22:00

hated being right. wanted access

22:02

to the confluence? Try to

22:04

strung on me into giving

22:06

it up. Started with the

22:09

soft cell, and when that

22:11

didn't work, brought out a

22:13

few sick pieces of ritual

22:15

work. Ugly stuff. You should

22:17

have contacted us. Nadia said,

22:19

we could have helped you

22:21

take care of them. Jordan

22:23

shook her head, a loose

22:25

dark lock falling over one

22:27

eye. No need. They got

22:29

run off by one of

22:31

their own. One of their

22:33

own. Irritating. The way Jordan

22:36

always sidestepped the most valuable

22:38

bits of Intel. Nadia was

22:40

dying to know exactly who.

22:42

But she'd been around Reem's

22:44

too long to expect anything

22:46

more. Top-shelf bourbon and useful

22:48

bits of knowledge. You always

22:50

paid extra at Barbudnar. That

22:52

doesn't sound like flame. Nadia

22:54

said instead. The giving up

22:56

or the internal conflict. Both,

22:59

Nadi aside, believe me, I'd

23:01

love nothing more than for

23:04

the flame to tear themselves

23:06

apart from the inside. This

23:09

work for me. But this

23:11

pull of energy, it isn't

23:13

us. Jordan worried a strip

23:16

of dried reeds between her

23:18

fingers as she thought. Could

23:21

be that the flame in

23:23

charge didn't want to risk

23:26

revealing that they were conducting

23:28

something that powerful. If they

23:30

seized control of the Vodnar.

23:33

of the confluence, then people

23:35

would hear, and people would

23:38

realize that the flame was

23:40

working on something big. Nadia

23:43

nodded, ideas gathering speed. Right,

23:45

better to conduct it somewhere

23:47

safer, where they can control

23:50

who knows about it, even

23:52

if it means less energy

23:55

to fuel the ritual. Fortunately

23:57

for the flame, they don't

23:59

know about your sensors. Nadia

24:02

froze. Jordan was grinning at

24:04

her. white teeth gleaming in

24:07

the dim light. Slowly, Nadia

24:09

pulled her shoulders back. I

24:12

beg your pardon. Oh, you

24:14

know. Jordan gestured in the

24:16

air. Those charms you've hidden

24:19

all along the main path

24:21

of the southwest, northeast Leyline,

24:24

to see where power is

24:26

being drawn. A number of

24:28

choice-Russian phrases ran through Nadia's

24:31

mind. Spies aren't the only

24:33

observant people in this city,

24:36

Miss Ostrokina." Jordan smiled. "'Be

24:38

thee it, as it may,'

24:41

Nadia swallowed. A cold sweat

24:43

was encasing her like a

24:45

shroud. Rituals requiring utmost secrecy.

24:48

Flame goons trying to gain

24:50

access to the confluence. I

24:53

really don't like the way

24:55

this is a thing up."

24:57

Then I suggest you use

25:00

those censors to find what's

25:02

drawing the energy and put

25:05

the stop to it Jordan

25:07

turned toward one of her

25:10

shelves and dug around in

25:12

a small cigar box and

25:14

Here this might help Nadia

25:17

pocketed the thin sheet of

25:19

mica Jordan handed her its

25:22

edges wrapped in a slender

25:24

thread of silver Things she

25:26

muttered she had no doubt

25:29

that one way or another

25:31

Jordan would find a way

25:34

to make her pay for

25:36

it. Gabe pulled his wrist

25:39

away from Alastair and made

25:41

a nervous scan of the

25:43

ballroom. Look, Al, now is

25:46

really not a good time.

25:48

Nonsense! We're all friends here!

25:51

There was no mistaking the

25:53

sudden sharpness in Alastair's sunny

25:56

expression. The hard steel glint

25:58

of his eyes. For perhaps

26:00

the first time since they'd

26:03

met, Gabe felt that he

26:05

was finally seeing the slick

26:08

operator MI6 was known for

26:10

producing. That beneath the bespoke

26:12

suits, an eaten rhetoric, a

26:15

cold-blooded spy was at work.

26:17

Maybe he had been all

26:20

along. All right, Gabe said,

26:22

lowering his voice. He eased

26:25

back on his heels and

26:27

donned the best bored polite

26:29

party smile he could. It's

26:32

business, but I thought I

26:34

could... you know, practice. Alastir

26:37

snorted with something resembling a

26:39

laugh. Gave got the distinct

26:41

impression that Brent was enjoying

26:44

this way too much. I

26:46

don't know which disappoints me

26:49

more, that you haven't let

26:51

me in on the fun

26:54

of whatever you're hunting, or

26:56

that you didn't ask for

26:58

my help working those charms.

27:01

There nothing, really. An old

27:03

gift from Jordan. Gave lifted

27:06

his shoulders. Thought I should

27:08

get more comfortable working with

27:10

them. And the case? Alastair

27:13

asked. Gave sighed. You know

27:15

I can't talk to you

27:18

about that. Alastair cocked one

27:20

eyebrow. Now, now, what's the

27:23

harm in a little chat

27:25

among friends? That, Gave shook

27:27

his finger at Alastair. That's

27:30

exactly the problem. Especially when

27:32

you count people like her

27:35

among your friends, too. Everything,

27:37

okay? Sauntering up to them.

27:39

He kept an easy pace,

27:42

but his expression was strained.

27:44

Gabe, shouldn't we? Josh's gaze

27:47

flickered toward Alastair. Only for

27:49

a second, but it was

27:52

enough. Gabe suppressed a groan.

27:54

Al was friendly with Tanya,

27:56

and he was more than

27:59

a little friendly with Josh,

28:01

apparently. Alastair's loose lips might

28:04

sink all sorts of ships.

28:06

Alistair smiled dimmed as he

28:08

turned his attention back toward

28:11

Gabe. If you need my

28:13

help. He said, you need

28:16

only ask. Gabe shook his

28:18

head. I appreciate it, Al.

28:21

Really, I do. But honest,

28:23

I have everything under control.

28:25

At that moment, the shouting

28:28

began. The

28:42

Witch Who Came In from

28:44

the Cold is created by

28:46

Max Gladstone and written by

28:48

Max Gladstone, Lindsay Smith, Cassandra

28:50

Rose Clark, Ian Trigelis, and

28:53

Michael Swanwick. Performed by Christine

28:55

Laken and John Gluchovich. Directed

28:57

by Dennis Kayo. Produced by

28:59

Julian Yapp and Marco Palmieri.

29:01

Associate producers Corey Barton and

29:04

Devin Shepard. Executive produced by

29:06

Molly Barton. Audio production by

29:08

Litterati Audio. Audio editing by

29:10

Evan Arnett and Fred Koch.

29:12

Mixing and mastering by Jeremy

29:14

Wesley. Original music by Catherine

29:17

Anderson. Find more shows like

29:19

this on Apple, Spotify, or

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wherever you get your podcasts.

29:42

All right girls, this

29:45

is the place We'll

29:47

get everything loaded over

29:49

to the boat and

29:51

we'll lock up the

29:53

truck. Don't leave anything

29:55

behind Wait, is that

29:58

it? That's where we're

30:00

going? Yeah, that's it

30:02

seal skin Rock. Return

30:04

to the mysteries and

30:06

don't mind Sealskin Rock.

30:09

Subscribe now to catch

30:11

the premiere and we'll

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see you on the

30:15

rock. The

30:28

Warning Woods has haunting horror stories

30:30

that are sure to linger with

30:32

you long after listening. I'm Miles

30:34

Tridal, writer and narrator of The

30:36

Warning Woods. Each week I write

30:38

an original scary story and share

30:41

it with you on the Warning

30:43

Woods. I've written two novels and

30:45

nearly 200 short stories spanning the

30:47

horror genre. If you're into scary

30:49

stories, you need to check out

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the Warning Woods. Listen on Spotify,

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get

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your podcast. Just search for the

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warning woods and click play at

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your own risk. Everything feels too

31:01

loud to me these days. Everything

31:03

feels like too much, and I

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find myself in a body that

31:08

is both the one I have

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always lived in and one I

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no longer recognize. I am filled

31:14

with worry, doubt, but not fear,

31:16

because I know what's out there

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now. There are shadows around me,

31:20

around us all, that are darker

31:22

than I ever thought possible. There

31:24

are monsters just outside your door.

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The undead walk among us. They

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need help. And I am one

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of those who is tasked with

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helping them. Not because of any

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particular calling or destiny. It is

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my day job. Well, night job.

31:39

Now. My boss brought me into

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the other side of our world,

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one I never thought could ever

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be real. Because I died. and

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she brought me back from the

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darkness into a whole world of

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night. From the creators of Park

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Del Haunt comes... Woodbine,

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a podcast about

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monsters, mysteries, and

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new beginnings. beginnings. one

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now, distributed by

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Realm. by Realm.