,:ITE ,FANG

    ,,"P ,I

    ,,*APT] ,I -- ,,! ,,TRAIL ,,( ,,!
    ,,M1T
  ,D>K SPRUCE =E/ FR[N$ ON EI SIDE !
FROZ5 WAT]WAY4 ,! TREES _H BE5 /RIPP$ 0A
REC5T W9D ( _! :ITE COV]+ ( FRO/1 & !Y
SEEM$ 6L1N T[>DS EA* O!R1 BLACK & OM9\S1
9 ! FAD+ LI<T4 ,A VA/ SIL;E REIGN$ OV] !
L&4 ,! L& XF 0 A DESOL,N1 LIFE.S1 )\T
MOVE;T1 S L"O & COLD T ! _S ( X 0 N EV5
T ( SAD;S4 ,"! 0 A H9T 9 X ( LAU<T]1 B
(A LAU<T] M T]RI# ?AN ANY SAD;S -- A
LAU<T] T 0 MIR?.S Z ! SMILE (! SPH9X1 A
LAU<T] COLD Z ! FRO/ & P>TAK+ (! GRIM;S
( 9FALLIBIL;Y4 ,X 0 ! MA/];L &
9COMMUNICA# WISDOM ( ET]N;Y LAU<+ AT !
FUTIL;Y ( LIFE &! EF=T ( LIFE4 ,X 0 !
,WILD1 ! SAVAGE1 FROZ5-HE>T$ ,NOR?L&
,WILD4
  ,B "! ,,0 LIFE1 ABROAD 9 ! L& &
DEFIANT4 ,D[N ! FROZ5 WAT]WAY TOIL$ A
/R+ ( WOLFI% DOGS4 ,_! BRI/LY FUR 0 RIM$
) FRO/4 ,_! BR1? FROZE 9 ! AIR Z X LEFT
_! M\?S1 SP\T+ =? 9 SPUMES ( VAP\R T
SETTL$ ^U ! HAIR ( _! BODIES & =M$
96CRY/ALS ( FRO/4 ,L1!R H>;S 0 ON !
DOGS1 & L1!R TRACES ATTA*$ !M 6A SL$ :
DRA7$ AL;G 2H4 ,! SL$ 0 )\T RUNN]S4 ,X 0
MADE ( /\T BIR*-B>K1 & XS FULL SURFACE
RE/$ ON ! SN[4 ,! FRONT 5D (! SL$ 0
TURN$ UP1 L A SCROLL1 9 ORD] 6=CE D[N &
"U ! BORE ( S(T SN[ T SURG$ L A WAVE 2F
X4 ,ON ! SL$1 SECURELY LA%$1 0 A L;G &
N>R[ OBL;G BOX4 ,"! 7 O!R ?+S ON ! SL$
-- BLANKETS1 AN AXE1 &A C(FEE-POT &
FRY+-PAN2 B PROM95T1 O3UPY+ MO/ (!
SPACE1 0 ! L;G & N>R[ OBL;G BOX4
  ,9 ADV.E (! DOGS1 ON WIDE SN[%OES1
TOIL$ A MAN4 ,AT ! RE> (! SL$ TOIL$ A
SECOND MAN4 ,ON ! SL$1 9 ! BOX1 LAY A
?IRD MAN ^: TOIL 0 OV]1 -- A MAN :OM !
,WILD _H 3QU]$ & B1T5 D[N UNTIL HE WD
N"E MOVE NOR /RU7LE AG4 ,X IS N ! WAY (!
,WILD 6L MOVE;T4 ,LIFE IS AN (F;E 6X1 =
LIFE IS MOVE;T2 &! ,WILD AIMS ALW
6DE/ROY MOVE;T4 ,X FREEZES ! WAT]
6PREV5T X RUNN+ 6! SEA2 X DRIVES ! SAP \
(! TREES TILL !Y >E FROZ5 6_! MI<TY
HE>TS2 & MO/ F]OCI\SLY & T]RIBLY ( ALL
DOES ! ,WILD H>RY & CRU% 96SUBMIS.N MAN
-- MAN :O IS ! MO/ RE/.S ( LIFE1 "E 9
REVOLT AG/ ! DICTUM T ALL MOVE;T M/ 9 !
5D -E 6! CESS,N ( MOVE;T4
  ,B AT FRONT & RE>1 UNAW$ & 9DOMITA#1
TOIL$ ! TWO M5 :O 7 N YET D1D4 ,_!
BODIES 7 COV]$ ) FUR & S(T-TANN$ L1!R4
,EYELA%ES & *EEKS & LIPS 7 S COAT$ )!
CRY/ALS F _! FROZ5 BR1? T _! FACES 7 N
4C]NI#4 ,? GAVE !M ! SEEM+ ( <O/LY
MASQUES1 "UTAK]S 9 A SPECTRAL _W AT !
FUN]AL ( "S <O/4 ,B "U X ALL !Y 7 M51
P5ETRAT+ ! L& ( DESOL,N & MOCK]Y &
SIL;E1 PUNY ADV5TUR]S B5T ON COLOSSAL
ADV5TURE1 PITT+ !MVS AG/ ! MI<T (A _W Z
REMOTE & ALI5 & PULSE.S Z ! ABYSSES (
SPACE4
  ,!Y TRAVELL$ ON )\T SPEE*1 SAV+ _!
BR1? =! "W ( _! BODIES4 ,ON E SIDE 0 !
SIL;E1 PRESS+ ^U !M )A TANGI# PRES;E4 ,X
A6ECT$ _! M9DS Z ! _M ATMOSPH]ES ( DEEP
WAT] A6ECT ! BODY (! DIV]4 ,X CRU%$ !M
)! WEI<T ( UN5D+ VA/;S & UNALT]A#
DECREE4 ,X CRU%$ !M 96! REMOTE/ RECESSES
( _! [N M9DS1 PRESS+ \ ( !M1 L JUICES F
! GRAPE1 ALL ! FALSE >D\RS & EXALT,NS &
UNDUE SELF-VALUES (! HUMAN S\L1 UNTIL !Y
P]CVD !MVS F9ITE & SMALL1 SPECKS &
MOTES1 MOV+ ) W1K CUNN+ & LL WISDOM
AMID/ ! PLAY & 9T]-PLAY (! GRT BL ELE;TS
& =CES4
  ,AN H\R W5T BY1 &A SECOND H\R4 ,! PALE
LI<T (! %ORT SUN.S "D 0 2G9N+ 6FADE1 :5
A FA9T F> CRY >OSE ON ! / AIR4 ,X SO>$
UPW>D )A SWIFT RU%1 TILL X R1*$ XS
TOPMO/ NOTE1 ": X P]SI/$1 PALPITANT &
T5SE1 & !N SL[LY DI$ AWAY4 ,X MI<T H BE5
A LO/ S\L WAIL+1 _H X N BE5 9VE/$ )A
C]TA9 SAD FI]CE;S & HUNGRY EAG];S4 ,!
FRONT MAN TURN$ 8 H1D UNTIL 8 EYES MET !
EYES (! MAN 2H4 ,& !N1 ACR ! N>R[ OBL;G
BOX1 EA* NO4$ 6! O!R4
  ,A SECOND CRY >OSE1 PI]C+ ! SIL;E )
NE$LE-L %RILL;S4 ,BO? M5 LOCAT$ ! S.D4
,X 0 6! RE>1 "S": 9 ! SN[ EXPANSE !Y _H
J TRAV]S$4 ,A ?IRD & ANSW]+ CRY >OSE1 AL
6! RE> & 6! LEFT (! SECOND CRY4
  8,!Y'RE AF U1 ,BILL10 SD ! MAN AT !
FRONT4
  ,8 VOICE S.D$ HO>SE & UNR1L1 & HE _H
SPOK5 ) APP>5T EF=T4
  8,M1T IS SC>CE10 ANSW]$ 8 -RADE4 8,I
A9'T SE5 A RA2IT SIGN = "DS40
  ,"!AF !Y SPOKE NO M1 ?\< _! E>S 7 KE5
=! HUNT+-CRIES T 3T9U$ 6RISE 2H !M4
  ,AT ! FALL ( D>K;S !Y SWUNG ! DOGS 96A
CLU/] ( SPRUCE TREES ON ! $GE (! WAT]WAY
& MADE A CAMP4 ,! C(F91 AT ! SIDE (!
FIRE1 S]V$ = S1T & TA#4 ,! WOLF-DOGS1
CLU/]$ ON ! F> SIDE (! FIRE1 SN>L$ &
BICK]$ AM;G !MVS1 B EV9C$ NO 9CL9,N
6/RAY (F 96! D>K;S4
  8,SEEMS 6ME1 ,H5RY1 !Y'RE /AY9'
REM>KA# CLOSE 6CAMP10 ,BILL -;T$4
  ,H5RY1 SQUATT+ OV] ! FIRE & SETTL+ !
POT ( C(FEE )A PIECE ( ICE1 NO4$4 ,NOR
DID HE SP1K TILL HE _H TAK5 8 S1T ON !
C(F9 & 2GUN 6EAT4
  8,!Y "K ": _! HIDES IS SAFE10 HE SD4
8,!Y'D SOON] EAT GRUB ?AN 2 GRUB4 ,!Y'RE
PRETTY WISE1 !M DOGS40
  ,BILL %OOK 8 H1D4 8,OH1 ,I DON'T "K40
  ,8 -RADE LOOK$ AT HM CURI\SLY4 8,F/ "T
,I "E HE>D Y SAY ANY?+ AB _! N 2IN'
WISE40
  8,H5RY10 SD ! O!R1 MUN*+ ) DELIB],N !
B1NS HE 0 EAT+1 8DID Y HAPP5 6NOTICE !
WAY !M DOGS KICK$ UP :5 ,I 0 A-FE$9'
'EM80
  8,!Y DID CUT UP MORE'N USUAL10 ,H5RY
AC"KL$G$4
  8,H[ _M DOGS 'VE WE GOT1 ,H5RY80
  8,SIX40
  8,WELL1 ,H5RY 4 4 4 0 ,BILL /OPP$ =A
MO;T1 9 ORD] T 8 ^WS MI<T GA9 GRT]
SIGNIFIC.E4 8,Z ,I 0 SAY9'1 ,H5RY1 WE'VE
GOT SIX DOGS4 ,I TOOK SIX FI% \ (! BAG4
,I GAVE "O FI% 6EA* DOG1 AN'1 ,H5RY1 ,I
0 "O FI% %ORT40
  8,Y C.T$ WR;G40
  8,WE'VE GOT SIX DOGS10 ! O!R REIT]AT$
4PAS.NATELY4 8,I TOOK \ SIX FI%4 ,"O ,E>
DIDN'T GET NO FI%4 ,I CAME BACK 6! BAG
AFW AN' GOT 'M 8 FI%40
  8,WE'VE ONLY GOT SIX DOGS10 ,H5RY SD4
  8,H5RY10 ,BILL W5T ON4 8,I WON'T SAY
!Y 0 ALL DOGS1 B "! 0 SEV5 ( 'M T GOT
FI%40
  ,H5RY /OPP$ EAT+ 6GL.E ACR ! FIRE &
C.T ! DOGS4
  8,"!'S ONLY SIX N[10 HE SD4
  8,I SAW ! O!R "O RUN (F ACR ! SN[10
,BILL ANN\NC$ ) COOL POSITIVE;S4 8,I SAW
SEV540
  ,H5RY LOOK$ AT HM -MIS]AT+LY1 & SD1
8,I'LL 2 ALMI<TY GLAD :5 ? TRIP'S OV]40
  8,:AT D'YE M1N 0T80 ,BILL DEM&$4
  8,I M1N T ? LOAD ( \RN IS GETT9' ON YR
N]VES1 AN' T Y'RE 2G9N9' 6SEE ?+S40
  8,I ?"\ ( T10 ,BILL ANSW]$ GRAVELY4
8,AN' S1 :5 ,I SAW X RUN (F ACR ! SN[1
,I LOOK$ 9 ! SN[ AN' SAW XS TRACKS4 ,!N
,I C.T$ ! DOGS AN' "! 0 / SIX ( 'EM4 ,!
TRACKS IS "! 9 ! SN[ N[4 ,D'YE WANT
6LOOK AT 'EM8 ,I'LL %[ 'EM 6Y40
  ,H5RY DID N REPLY1 B MUN*$ ON 9 SIL;E1
UNTIL1 ! M1L F9I%$1 HE TOPP$ X )A F9AL
CUP A ( C(FEE4 ,HE WIP$ 8 M\? )! BACK (
8 H& & SD3
  8,!N Y'RE ?9K9' Z X 0 -- 0
  ,A L;G WAIL+ CRY1 FI]CELY SAD1 F "S":
9 ! D>K;S1 _H 9T]RUPT$ HM4 ,HE /OPP$
6LI/5 6X1 !N HE F9I%$ 8 S5T;E )A WAVE (
8 H& T[>D ! S.D (! CRY1 0 -- "O ( !M80
  ,BILL NO4$4 8,I'D A BLAME SI<T SOON]
?9K T ?AN ANY?+ ELSE4 ,Y NOTIC$ YRF ! R[
! DOGS MADE40
  ,CRY AF CRY1 & ANSW]+ CRIES1 7 TURN+ !
SIL;E 96A B$LAM4 ,F E SIDE ! CRIES >OSE1
&! DOGS 2TRAY$ _! FE> 0HU4L+ TGR & S
CLOSE 6! FIRE T _! HAIR 0 SCOR*$ 0! H1T4
,BILL ?REW ON M WOOD1 2F LI<T+ 8 PIPE4
  8,I'M ?9K+ Y'RE D[N 9 ! M\? "S10 ,H5RY
SD4
  8,H5RY 4 4 4 0 ,HE SUCK$ M$ITATIVELY
AT 8 PIPE = "S "T 2F HE W5T ON4 8,H5RY1
,I 0 A-?9K9' :AT A BLAME SI<T
LUCKI] HE IS ?AN Y AN' ME'LL "E BE40
  ,HE 9DICAT$ ! ?IRD P]SON 0A D[NW>D
?RU/ (! ?UMB 6! BOX ON : !Y SAT4
  8,Y AN' ME1 ,H5RY1 :5 WE DIE1 WE'LL 2
LUCKY IF WE GET 5 /"OS OV] \R C>CASES
6KEEP ! DOGS (F ( U40
  8,B WE A9'T GOT P AN' M"OY AN' ALL !
RE/1 L HM10 ,H5RY REJO9$4 8,L;G-4T.E
FUN]ALS IS "S?9' Y AN' ME C'T EXACTLY
AF=D40
  8,:AT GETS ME1 ,H5RY1 IS :AT A *AP L
?1 T'S A "L OR "S?+ 9 8 [N C.TRY1 & T'S
N"E _H 6BO!R AB GRUB NOR BLANKETS2 :Y HE
-ES A-BUTT9' R.D ! ,GOD=SAK5 5DS (! E>?
-- T'S :AT ,I C'T EXACTLY SEE40
  8,HE MI<T H LIV$ 6A RIPE OLD AGE IF
HE'D /AY$ AT HOME10 ,H5RY AGRE$4
  ,BILL OP5$ 8 M\? 6SP1K1 B *ANG$ 8 M9D4
,9/1D1 HE PO9T$ T[>DS ! WALL ( D>K;S T
PRESS$ AB !M F E SIDE4 ,"! 0 NO SU7ES;N
( =M 9 ! UTT] BLACK;S2 ONLY CD 2 SE5 A
PAIR ( EYES GL1M+ L LIVE COALS4 ,H5RY
9DICAT$ ) 8 H1D A SECOND PAIR1 &A ?IRD4
,A CIRCLE (! GL1M+ EYES _H DRAWN AB _!
CAMP4 ,N[ & AG A PAIR ( EYES MOV$1 OR
4APPE>$ 6APPE> AG A MO;T LAT]4
  ,! UNRE/ (! DOGS _H BE5 9CR1S+1 & !Y
/AMP$$1 9 A SURGE ( SU45 FE>1 6! NE>
SIDE (! FIRE1 CR++ & CRAWL+ AB ! LEGS (!
M54 ,9 ! SCRAM# "O (! DOGS _H BE5
OV]TURN$ ON ! $GE (! FIRE1 & X _H YELP$
) PA9 & F"R Z ! SMELL ( XS S+$ COAT
POSSESS$ ! AIR4 ,! -MO;N CAUS$ ! CIRCLE
( EYES 6%IFT RE/.SLY =A MO;T & EV5
6)DRAW A BIT1 B X SETTL$ D[N AG Z ! DOGS
2CAME QUIET4
  8,H5RY1 X'S A BLAME MIS=TUNE 6BE \ (
AMMUNI;N40
  ,BILL _H F9I%$ 8 PIPE & 0 HELP+ 8
-PANION 6SPR1D ! B$ ( FUR & BLANKET ^U !
SPRUCE B\<S : HE _H LAID OV] ! SN[ 2F
SUPP]4 ,H5RY GRUNT$1 & 2GAN UNLAC+ 8
MOCASS9S4
  8,H[ _M C>TRIDGES DID Y SAY Y _H
LEFT80 HE ASK$4
  8,?REE10 CAME ! ANSW]4 8,AN' ,I WI%T
'TWAS ?REE HUNDR$4 ,!N ,I'D %[ 'EM :AT
=1 DAMN 'EM60
  ,HE %OOK 8 FI/ ANGRILY AT ! GL1M+
EYES1 & 2GAN SECURELY 6PROP 8 MO3AS9S 2F
! FIRE4
  8,AN' ,I WI%T ? COLD SNAP'D BR1K10 HE
W5T ON4 8,X'S B5 FIFTY 2L = TWO WEEKS
N[4 ,AN' ,I WI%T ,I'D N"E />T$ ON ?
TRIP1 ,H5RY4 ,I DON'T L ! LOOKS ( X4 ,I
DON'T FEEL "R1 "SH[4 ,AN' :ILE ,I'M
WI%9'1 ,I WI%T ! TRIP 0 OV] AN' D"O )1
AN' Y AN' ME A-SITT9' 0! FIRE 9 ,=T
,MC,GURRY J AB N[ AN' PLAY+ CRI2AGE --
T'S :AT ,I WI%T40
  ,H5RY GRUNT$ & CRAWL$ 96B$4 ,Z HE DOZ$
(F HE 0 >\S$ 0HIS -RADE'S VOICE4
  8,SAY1 ,H5RY1 T O!R "O T -E 9 AN' GOT
A FI% -- :Y DIDN'T ! DOGS PIT* 96X8 ,T'S
:AT'S BO!R9' ME40
  8,Y'RE BO!R9' TOO M*1 ,BILL10 CAME !
SLEEPY RESPONSE4 8,Y 0 N"E L ? 2F4 ,Y
JES' %UT UP N[1 AN' G 6SLEEP1 AN' Y'LL 2
ALL HUNKYDORY 9 ! MORN9'4 ,YR /OMA*'S
S\R1 T'S :AT'S BO!R9' Y40
  ,! M5 SLEPT1 BR1?+ H1VILY1 SIDE 0SIDE1
"U ! "O COV]+4 ,! FIRE DI$ D[N1 &! GL1M+
EYES DREW CLOS] ! CIRCLE !Y _H FLUNG AB
! CAMP4 ,! DOGS CLU/]$ TGR 9 FE>1 N[ &
AG SN>L+ M5AC+LY Z A PAIR ( EYES DREW
CLOSE4 ,ONCE _! UPRO> 2CAME S L\D T
,BILL WOKE UP4 ,HE GOT \ ( B$ C>E;LLY1 S
Z N 64TURB ! SLEEP ( 8 -RADE1 & ?REW M
WOOD ON ! FIRE4 ,Z X 2GAN 6FLAME UP1 !
CIRCLE ( EYES DREW F>!R BACK4 ,HE GL.ED
CASU,Y AT ! HU4L+ DOGS4 ,HE RU2$ 8 EYES
& LOOK$ AT !M M %>PLY4 ,!N HE CRAWL$
BACK 96! BLANKETS4
  8,H5RY10 HE SD4 8,OH1 ,H5RY40
  ,H5RY GROAN$ Z HE PASS$ F SLEEP 6WAK+1
& DEM&$1 8,:AT'S WR;G N[80
  8,NO?9'10 CAME ! ANSW]2 8ONLY "!'S
SEV5 ( 'EM AG4 ,I J C.T$40
  ,H5RY AC"KL$G$ RECEIPT (! 9=M,N )A
GRUNT T SLID 96A SNORE Z HE DRIFT$ BACK
96SLEEP4
  ,9 ! MORN+ X 0 ,H5RY :O AWOKE F/ &
R\T$ 8 -PANION \ ( B$4 ,"DLI<T 0 YET
?REE H\RS AWAY1 ?\< X 0 ALR SIX O'C2 & 9
! D>K;S ,H5RY W5T AB PREP>+ BR1KFA/1
:ILE ,BILL ROLL$ ! BLANKETS & MADE ! SL$
R1DY = LA%+4
  8,SAY1 ,H5RY10 HE ASK$ SU45LY1 8H[ _M
DOGS DID Y SAY WE
_H80
  8,SIX40
  8,WR;G10 ,BILL PROCLAIM$ TRIUMPHANTLY4
  8,SEV5 AG80 ,H5RY QU]I$4
  8,NO1 FIVE2 "O'S G"O40
  8,! HELL60 ,H5RY CRI$ 9 WRA?1 L1V+ !
COOK+ 6-E & C.T ! DOGS4
  8,Y'RE "R1 ,BILL10 HE 3CLUD$4
8,FATTY'S G"O40
  8,AN' HE W5T L GR1S$ LI<TN9' ONCE HE
GOT />T$4 ,CDN'T 'VE SE5 'M = SMOKE40
  8,NO *.E AT ALL10 ,H5RY 3CLUD$4 8,!Y
JES' SWALL[$ ,8;M ALIVE4 ,I BET HE 0
YELP90' Z HE W5T D[N _! ?ROATS1 DAMN
'EM60
  8,HE ALW 0 A FOOL DOG10 SD ,BILL4
  8,B NO FOOL DOG "\ 6BE FOOL 5 6G (F
AN' -MIT SUICIDE T WAY40 ,HE LOOK$ OV] !
REMA9D] (! T1M )A SPECULATIVE EYE T
SUMM$ UP 9/ANTLY ! SALI5T TRAITS ( EA*
ANIMAL4 8,I BET N"O (! O!RS WD D X40
  8,CDN'T DRIVE ,8EM AWAY F ! FIRE )A
CLUB10 ,BILL AGRE$4 8,I ALW DID ?9K "! 0
"S?90' WR;G ) ,FATTY ANYWAY40
  ,& ? 0 ! EPITAPH (A D1D DOG ON !
,NOR?L& TRAIL -LESS SCANT ?AN ! EPITAPH
( _M ANO!R DOG1 ( _M A MAN4