The Haunted Traveler December 2017 Edition

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76 across their fur and between their pink noses like bolts of sparkling magic light. “We love you,” Tiger said, “but Fluffers says we’ve got to make things even. If they aren’t even, then you will just keep doing this horrible thing to other kitties you bring here. We have to stop you from doing this to others.” Fluffers sighed. “It will hurt, but in the end we will be equal.” Her arms stretched out, fingers frozen and ready. Ready for removal. “Wait!” Dee said, mind racing ahead. “How will I open the tuna tins? How will I pet you without fingers?” Fluffers flicked his long yellow tail, impatiently as the baby kitties watched from their post on her chest. “I suppose you are right. We’ll either have to leave you with fingers and kill you as an example, so you never harm another baby, or we’ll have to find a way to compromise and stay with you.” Shadow nodded sagely. “She buys us good treats.” Tiger growled and held up a paw he’d been licking, wiry stitches visibly chewed. “How will I climb the tower or keep from falling or protect myself from the dog-things if they invade?” Dee listened to their grievances, listed for her to finally understand. “Boys, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was such a big deal, I mean— Fluffers hissed and swatted her face, a strike that felt soft as a ball of cotton without the blades he’d been born with. “How am I to discipline you or my pack? You’ve hobbled me, human. Because I love you, I forgave you this one horror done to me. But then you did it to my kitten boys— babies! You mutilate babies like it is nothing. Your pets and tuna and protection do not outweigh the horror of that!” Dee flinched at his tirade. She’d never considered it before, since Fluffers hadn’t mentioned how it affected him. Big, brave cat. She knew that she’d never allow someone to cut fingers off a child to keep them from tearing up their books or dirtying the house. Damn, why hadn’t she thought about it before? Tears came and Dee said, “I’m really so sorry, boys. I’ve failed you as a cat mom. I am so, so sorry.” The cats watched her cry and finally all three nodded, eyes closing in slow, loving blinks. “We believe you,” Tiger said, purring even as his little bloody paws drew up under his body for warmth and safety. Dee sighed in relief. “I cannot take away your fingers, human. Not when you care for us well. I’ve been on the street. I’ve struggled and you did serve me well by bringing me here. But on the street, an insult or hurt cannot go unchecked. I must mark you somehow or you might do this again.” Fluffers stretched and moved to her fingers, rubbing against them with his furry cheeks.
“I wouldn’t. I’ve learned.” Dee nodded earnestly. “So you have,” Fluffers said. “But I must mark you anyway, for other humans to know the wrath of the cats.” With that, he started chewing. Dee screamed and gasped as the kittens held her down, but soon it was over. Just the pinkies. Just a warning from the pack. And when people asked what happened, she’d hang her head and tell them, “I’m an accidental cat mutilator.” The other humans didn’t understand. They tended to stay away from her and her marks. But the kitties were forgiving and every night, after the tuna and the pets and the cleaning of the litter, big cat Fluffers and his kittens licked her stumps to calm the ache and purred her right to sleep. 77
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The Haunted Traveler December2017 E
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Table of Contents Highland Fling Ma
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The Haunted Traveler A Roaming Anth
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8
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10
Page 14 and 15:
12 The Gas Station Jenna Heller “
Page 16 and 17:
14 “It just amazes me that we’r
Page 18 and 19:
16 At the top of the short staircas
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18 up her face and then lowered it
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20 There was a list of prohibited i
Page 24 and 25:
22 “The girls are here, too,” M
Page 26 and 27:
24 THE BONES Stephanie Bucklin “T
Page 28 and 29: 26 “Then?” “Survival.” The
Page 30 and 31: 28 “Lady Mordemag—” Darya sta
Page 32 and 33: 30 could hear Lady Mordemag’s oil
Page 34 and 35: 32 he had to curb his normal method
Page 36 and 37: 34 paused again, listening and wait
Page 38 and 39: 36 complete as it had at the top of
Page 40 and 41: 38 It Is the Ache that Dwells Withi
Page 42 and 43: 40 “Mary? Come on, please open th
Page 44 and 45: 42 Leah Oates A BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Page 46 and 47: 44 there people were always around
Page 48 and 49: 46 before the storm hits. Once you
Page 50 and 51: 48 “Car spell nargelette,” Ben
Page 52 and 53: 50 It’s poison, the witch said. B
Page 54 and 55: 52 “Sir, if you don’t come peac
Page 56 and 57: 54 was all he had seen on the day
Page 58 and 59: 56 “So…Ax, is it?” Scott aske
Page 60 and 61: 58 you came all the way from out of
Page 62 and 63: 60 of thought; a bright flash, foll
Page 64 and 65: 62 It took a few minutes of brisk w
Page 66 and 67: 64 games.” James punched the wall
Page 68 and 69: 66 conjured of kicking it in the fa
Page 70 and 71: 68 mom, but she wouldn’t answer.
Page 72 and 73: 70 with a dull thump-thump-thump. J
Page 74 and 75: 72 Jim Zola The Blind Piano Player
Page 76 and 77: 74 Jim Zola
Page 80 and 81: 78 Cadie’s Missing Mike Oberly Th
Page 82 and 83: 80 “Rascal is as rascal is,” th
Page 84 and 85: 82 The Flood Anna Kaye-Rogers The r
Page 86 and 87: 84 the girls. “She’s your dog,
Page 88 and 89: 86 Rainy days are the worst. As she
Page 90 and 91: 88 Jubydream turtle: falls in love,
Page 92 and 93: 90 The Moon Alexandria Cope Margare
Page 94 and 95: 92 early. She packed her things in
Page 96 and 97: 94 some ninja turtle action. Noah s
Page 98 and 99: 96 That’s why even though she was
Page 100 and 101: 98 Belinda slipped off the wet coat
Page 102 and 103: 100 “I liked Pretty Pretty Prince
Page 104 and 105: 102 The black-eyed doll approached
Page 106 and 107: 104 STALKED ON A WINTER’S NIGHT B
Page 108 and 109: 106 is, the playground is dangerous
Page 110 and 111: 108 exposed and the floors were lin
Page 112 and 113: 110 Jason and his fling heard the d
Page 114 and 115: 112 was divided into fifteen minute
Page 116 and 117: 114 Essentially, her home in Belle
Page 118 and 119: 116 Samantha had inherited the chai
Page 120 and 121: 118 For Death’s Amusement Rollin
Page 122 and 123: 120 wore white gloves on its enormo
Page 124 and 125: 122 process of extracting another f
Page 126 and 127: 124 Running Amber Cook They were fo
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126 Witchery Kerry E.B. Black Tia i
Page 130 and 131:
128 Scream Megan Whiting It was a s
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130 terrifying ease, then vanished
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132 Send that thought packing, too.
Page 136 and 137:
134 Tyler switched on the radio. An
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136 veins. Then it stopped. She was
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138 “She showed up at that church
Page 142 and 143:
140 Bear Trap Feivel Wolff He saw t
Page 144 and 145:
142 “I made you dinner, did I not
Page 146 and 147:
144 the windshield. A bit longer an
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146 Now he could make out the tune.
Page 150 and 151:
148 “Tell your momma! Tell her I
Page 152 and 153:
150 Black Swan On the Water Side Co
Page 154 and 155:
152 They looked like Latinas, but I
Page 156 and 157:
154 BROTHERLY LOVE Diane Arrelle Na
Page 158 and 159:
156 Terror carrying her beyond hyst
Page 160 and 161:
158 wonder you’re imagining thing
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160 Listening Neal Steichen Oh, Chr
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162 I drop the mostly empty glass o
Page 166 and 167:
164 Brenda, I swear to God, one of
Page 168 and 169:
166 Brbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrrrr… Yup. M
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168 or two of dust, out of the door
Page 172 and 173:
170 Biographies T. Thomas Abernathy
Page 174 and 175:
172 Brett Grinnell lives and works
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174 Real Art Ways, Tomasulo Gallery
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