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APPE>+ E MO;T & JO9+ 9 ! *ASE4 ,! %E-
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  8,": >E Y GO9'80 ,H5RY SU45LY DEM&$1
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  ,BILL %OOK X (F4 8,I WON'T /& X10 HE
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NO?+ ELSE = HM 6D4 ,BILL _H ALR G"O F
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2 SE5 ,"O ,E>4 ,H5RY JUDG$ 8 CASE 6BE
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SI<T 0TREES & ?ICKETS1 ,H5RY KNEW T !
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EXPECT$1 X HAPP5$4 ,HE HE>D A %OT1 !N
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,BILL'S AMMUNI;N 0 G"O4 ,!N HE HE>D A
GRT \TCRY ( SN>LS & YELPS4 ,HE RECOGNIS$
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A WOLF-CRY T 2SPOKE A /RICK5 ANIMAL4 ,&
T 0 ALL4 ,! SN>LS C1S$4 ,! YELP+ DI$
AWAY4 ,SIL;E SETTL$ D[N AG OV] ! L"OLY
L&4
  ,HE SAT =A L;G :ILE ^U ! SL$4 ,"! 0 NO
NE$ = HM 6G & SEE :AT _H HAPP5$4 ,HE
KNEW X Z ?\< X _H TAK5
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  ,AT LA/ HE >OSE 9 A WE>Y MANN]1 Z ?\<
ALL ! RESILI;E _H G"O \ ( 8 BODY1 &
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T HE _H A G5]\S SUPPLY ( FIREWOOD4 ,HE
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B$ CLOSE 6! FIRE4
  ,B HE 0 N DE/9$ 65JOY T B$4 ,2F 8 EYES
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VI.N 6SEE !M4 ,!Y 7 ALL AB HM &! FIRE1 9
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FIRELI<T LY+ D[N1 SITT+ UP1 CRAWL+ =W>D
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D5I$ HMF4
  ,HE KEPT ! FIRE B"RLY BLAZ+1 = HE KNEW
T X AL"O 9T]V5$ 2T ! FLE% ( 8 BODY & _!
HUNGRY FANGS4 ,8 TWO DOGS /AY$ CLOSE
0HM1 "O ON EI SIDE1 L1N+ AG/ HM =
PROTEC;N1 CRY+ & :IMP]+1 & AT "TS SN>L+
DESP]ATELY :5 A WOLF APPROA*$ A LL CLOS]
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ALM )9 SPR++ 4T.E4 ,!N HE WD SEIZE BR&S
F ! FIRE & HURL !M 96! PACK4 ,A HA/Y
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/RUCK & SCOR*$ A TOO D>+ ANIMAL4
  ,MORN+ F.D ! MAN HA7>D & WORN1 WIDE-
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! D>K;S1 & AT N9E O'C1 :51 )! -+ (
"DLI<T1 ! WOLF-PACK DREW BACK1 HE SET AB
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  8,!Y GOT ,BILL1 AN' !Y MAY GET ME1 B
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SAFETY LAY OP5 9 ! GA9+ ( ,=T ,MC,GURRY4
,! WOLVES 7 N[ M OP5 9 _! PURSUIT1
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SIDE1 _! R$ T;GUES LOLL+ \1 _!-L1N SIDES
%[+ ! UDULAT+ RIBS ) E MOVE;T4 ,!Y 7 V
L1N1 M]E SK9-BAGS /RET*$ OV] BONY
FRAMES1 ) /R+S = MUSCLES -- S L1N T
,H5RY F.D X 9 8 M9D 6M>VEL T !Y / KEPT
_! FEET & DID N COLLAPSE =?"R 9 ! SN[4
  ,HE DID N D>E TRAVEL UNTIL D>K4 ,AT
MID"D1 N ONLY DID ! SUN W>M ! S\!RN
HORIZON1 B X EV5 ?RU/ XS UPP] RIM1 PALE
& GOLD51 ABV ! SKY-L9E4 ,HE RCVD X Z A
SIGN4 ,! "DS 7 GR[+ L;G]4 ,! SUN 0
RETURN+4 ,B SC>CELY _H ! *E] ( XS LI<T
DE"P$1 ?AN HE W5T 96CAMP4 ,"! 7 / S"EAL
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( FIRE-WOOD4
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TELL+ ^U ,H5RY4 ,HE DOZ$ DESPITE HMF1
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AXE 2T 8 KNEES1 & ON EI SIDE A DOG
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CALMLY SLEEP+ 9 ! SN[4 ,!Y REM9D$ HM (
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  ,Z HE PIL$ WOOD ON ! FIRE HE 4COV]$ AN
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9 ! CUNN+ ME*ANISM ( 8 F+]S4 ,0! LI<T (!
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WIDE OR MAK+ QK GRIPP+ MOVE;TS4 ,HE
/UDI$ ! NAIL-=M,N1 & PRO4$ ! F+]-TIPS1
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T "W$ S B1UTI;LLY & SMOO?LY &
DELICATELY4 ,!N HE WD CA/ A GL.E ( FE>
AT ! WOLF-CIRCLE DRAWN EXPECTANTLY AB
HM1 &
L A BL[ ! R1LIS,N WD /RIKE HM T ?
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?AN S M* M1T1 A QUE/ ( RAV5\S ANIMALS1
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SU/5.E 6HM4
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?AN HALF A DOZ5 FEET AWAY SITT+ 9 ! SN[
& WI/;LLY REG>D+ HM4 ,! TWO DOGS 7
:IMP]+ & SN>L+ AT 8 FEET1 B %E TOOK NO
NOTICE ( !M4 ,%E 0 LOOK+ AT ! MAN1 &= "S
"T HE RETURN$ H] LOOK4 ,"! 0 NO?+ ?R1T5+
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HM EXCIT$ 9 H] ! GU/ATORY S5S,NS4 ,H]
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%E SPRANG BACK 96SAFETY2 & HE KNEW T %E
0 US$ 6HAV+ ?+S ?R[N AT H]4 ,%E _H SN>L$
Z %E SPRANG AWAY1 B>+ H] :ITE FANGS 6_!
ROOTS1 ALL H] WI/;L;S VANI%+1 2+ REPLAC$
0A C>NIVOR\S MALIGN;Y T MADE HM %U4]4
,HE GL.ED AT ! H& T HELD ! BR&1 NOTIC+ !
CUNN+ DELICACY (! F+]S T GRIPP$ X1 H[ !Y
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SURFACE1 CURL+ OV] & "U & AB ! R\< WOOD1
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BR&1 S5SITIVELY & AUTOMATIC,Y WRI?+ BACK
F ! HURT;L H1T 6A COOL] GRIPP+-PLACE2 &
9 ! SAME 9/ANT HE SEEM$ 6SEE A VI.N ( ^?
SAME S5SITIVE & DELICATE F+]S 2+ CRU%$ &
TORN 0! :ITE TEE? (! %E-WOLF4 ,N"E _H HE
BE5 S FOND ( ? BODY ( 8 Z N[ :5 8 T5URE
( X 0 S PREC>I\S4
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:IMP]+ & SN>L+ (! DOGS >\S$ HM4 ,MORN+
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6SCATT] ! WOLVES4 ,! MAN WAIT$ 9 VA9 =
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FIRE1 4PLAY+ AN >ROG.E ( POSSES.N T %OOK
8 C\RAGE BORN (! MORN+ LI<T4
  ,HE MADE "O DESP]ATE ATTEMPT 6PULL \
ON ! TRAIL4 ,B ! MO;T HE LEFT ! PROTEC;N
(! FIRE1 ! BOLDE/ WOLF L1P$ = HM1 B L1P$
%ORT4 ,HE SAV$ HMF 0SPR++ BACK1 ! JAWS
SNAPP+ TGR A SCANT SIX 9*ES F 8 ?I<4 ,!
RE/ (! PACK 0 N[ UP & SURG+ ^U HM1 &A
?R[+ ( FIREBR&S "R & LEFT 0 NEC 6DRIVE
!M BACK 6A RESPECT;L 4T.E4
  ,EV5 9 ! "DLI<T HE DID N D>E L1VE !
FIRE 6*OP FRE% WOOD4 ,TW5TY FEET AWAY
T[]$ A HUGE D1D SPRUCE4 ,HE SP5T HALF !
"D EXT5D+ 8 CAMPFIRE 6! TREE1 AT ANY
MO;T A HALF DOZ5 BURN+ FA7OTS R1DY AT H&
6FL+ AT 8 5EMIES4 ,ONCE AT ! TREE1 HE
/UDI$ ! SURR.D+ =E/ 9 ORD] 6FELL ! TREE
9 ! DIREC;N (! MO/ FIREWOOD4
  ,! NI<T 0 A REPETI;N (! NI<T 2F1 SAVE
T ! NE$ = SLEEP 0 2COM+ OV]P[]+4 ,!
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!Y 7 SN>L+ ALL ! "T1 & 8 2NUMB$ & DR[SY
S5SES NO L;G] TOOK NOTE ( *ANG+ PIT* &
9T5S;Y4 ,HE AWOKE )A />T4 ,! %E-WOLF 0
LESS ?AN A Y>D F HM4 ,ME*ANIC,Y1 AT %ORT
RANGE1 )\T LETT+ G ( X1 HE ?RU/ A BR&
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9 ! SMELL ( BURN+ FLE% & HAIR1 HE WAT*$
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( FEET AWAY4
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AWAK5$ HM4 ,= S"EAL H\RS HE ADH]$ 6?
PROGRAMME4 ,E "T HE 0 ?US AWAK5$ HE
DROVE BACK ! WOLVES ) FLY+ BR&S1
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ON 8 H&4 ,ALL "W$ WELL1 B "! CAME A "T
:5 HE FA/5$ ! P9E-KNOT 9SECURELY4 ,Z 8
EYES CLOS$ X FELL AWAY F 8 H&4
  ,HE DR1M$4 ,X SEEM$ 6HM T HE 0 9 ,=T
,MC,GURRY4 ,X 0 W>M & -=TA#1 & HE 0
PLAY+ CRI2AGE )! ,FACTOR4 ,AL1 X SEEM$
6HM T ! =T 0 2SIEG$ 0WOLVES4 ,!Y 7 H[L+
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OP54 ,HE CD SEE ! WOLVES FLOOD+ 96! BIG
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NOISE ( _! H[L+ _H 9CR1S$ TREM5D\SLY4 ,?
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ELSE -- HE KNEW N :AT2 B "? X ALL1
FOLL[+ HM1 P]SI/$ ! H[L+4
  ,& !N HE AWOKE 6F9D ! H[L+ R1L4 ,"! 0
A GRT SN>L+ & YELP+4 ,! WOLVES 7 RU%+
HM4 ,!Y 7 ALL AB HM & ^U HM4 ,! TEE? (
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96! FIRE1 & Z HE L1P$1 HE FELT ! %>P
SLA% ( TEE? T TORE "? ! FLE% ( 8 LEG4
,!N 2GAN A FIRE FI<T4 ,8 /\T MITT5S
TEMPOR>ILY PROTECT$ 8 H&S1 & HE SCOOP$
LIVE COALS 96! AIR 9 ALL DIREC;NS1 UNTIL
! CAMPFIRE TOOK ON ! SEMBL.E (A VOLCANO4
,B X CD N LA/ L;G4 ,8 FACE 0 BLI/]+ 9 !
H1T1 8 EYEBR[S & LA%ES 7 S+$ (F1 &! H1T
0 2COM+ UNBE>A# 6HIS FEET4 ,)A FLAM+ BR&
9 EA* H&1 HE SPRANG 6! $GE (! FIRE4 ,!
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:]"E ! LIVE COALS _H FALL51 ! SN[ 0
SIZZL+1 & E LL :ILE A RETIR+ WOLF1 )
WILD L1P & SNORT & SN>L1 ANN\NC$ T "O S*
LIVE COAL _H BE5 /EPP$ ^U4
  ,FL++ 8 BR&S AT ! NE>E/ ( 8 5EMIES1 !
MAN ?RU/ 8 SM\LD]+ MITT5S 96! SN[ &
/AMP$ AB 6COOL 8 FEET4 ,8 TWO DOGS 7
MISS+1 & HE WELL KNEW T !Y _H S]V$ Z A
C\RSE 9 ! PROTRACT$ M1L : _H 2GUN "DS 2F
) ,FATTY1 ! LA/ C\RSE ( : WD LIKELY 2
HMF 9 ! "DS 6FOLL[4
  8,Y A9'T GOT ME YET60 HE CRI$1
SAVAGELY %AK+ 8 FI/ AT ! HUNGRY B1/S2 &
AT ! S.D ( 8 VOICE ! :OLE CIRCLE 0
AGITAT$1 "! 0 A G5]AL SN>L1 &! %E-WOLF
SLID UP CLOSE 6HM ACR ! SN[ & WAT*$ HM )
HUNGRY WI/;L;S4
  ,HE SET 6"W 6C>RY \ A NEW IDEA T _H -E
6HM4 ,HE EXT5D$ ! FIRE 96A L>GE CIRCLE4
,9SIDE ? CIRCLE HE CR\*$1 8 SLEEP+ \TFIT
"U HM Z A PROTEC;N AG/ ! MELT+ SN[4 ,:5
HE _H ?US 4APPE>$ )9 8 %ELT] ( FLAME1 !
:OLE PACK CAME CURI\SLY 6! RIM (! FIRE
6SEE :AT _H 2COME ( HM4 ,HI!RTO !Y _H
BE5 D5I$ A3ESS 6! FIRE1 & !Y N[ SETTL$
D[N 9 A CLOSE-DRAWN CIRCLE1 L S _M DOGS1
BL9K+ & YAWN+ & /RET*+ _! L1N BODIES 9 !
UNA3U/OM$ W>M?4 ,!N ! %E-WOLF SAT D[N1
PO9T$ H] NOSE AT A />1 & 2GAN 6H[L4 ,"O
0"O ! WOLVES JO9$ H]1 TILL ! :OLE PACK1
ON HAUN*ES1 ) NOSES PO9T$ SKYW>D1 0 H[L+
XS HUNG] CRY4
  ,DAWN CAME1 & "DLI<T4 ,! FIRE 0 BURN+
L[4 ,! FUEL _H RUN \1 & "! 0 NE$ 6GET M4
,! MAN ATTEMPT$ 6/EP \ ( 8 CIRCLE (
FLAME1 B ! WOLVES SURG$ 6MEET HM4 ,BURN+
BR&S MADE !M SPR+ ASIDE1 B !Y NO L;G]
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