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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to into the night. I'm Narri your guide on

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<v Speaker 1>today's excursion down a twisted path. Be careful not to

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<v Speaker 1>get lost. Be it dark or light, It's easy to

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<v Speaker 1>lose your way. Are you ready, then let's begin? Full

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<v Speaker 1>moon overcutthroat draw, dust sprang into the air with every

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<v Speaker 1>footstep made by the large bay stallion. The fine sand

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<v Speaker 1>filled its rider's nostrils as it mingled with creosote and

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<v Speaker 1>bloomy Mesquite his destination lurked just beyond the horizon, near

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<v Speaker 1>the Santa Rita Mountains and Birch. Hamlin knew his journey

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<v Speaker 1>needed to be finished quickly. He'd suffered under the midsummer

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<v Speaker 1>sun for more years than he cared to remember, and

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<v Speaker 1>this year he didn't want to repeat the misery. But

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<v Speaker 1>there he was raised in the high country, he never

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<v Speaker 1>developed a fondness for the stark desert. In his mind,

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<v Speaker 1>the worst the nature should throw at a person was

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<v Speaker 1>a foot of snow, or maybe an avalanche or bear attack.

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<v Speaker 1>Not this damn sand pit filled with vipers and stinging insects.

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<v Speaker 1>Not to mention the cactus patches. I come from God's country,

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<v Speaker 1>This place Satan's doing. He paused and reconsidered. No, it's not.

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<v Speaker 1>This place means a lot to my best friend. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>just hot and tired as spoones. I really shouldn't complain

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<v Speaker 1>about this. Oscar needs my help, and I'm not going

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<v Speaker 1>to let him down, not now, after we've spent a

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<v Speaker 1>lifetime as friends. He adjusted his hat and squinted at

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<v Speaker 1>the land. A lizard scampered in front of him to

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<v Speaker 1>find shade in a thick shaala. Not much would go

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<v Speaker 1>after you there. Those thorns would ruin the day of

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<v Speaker 1>anything that tried. Damn, I'm lonely here I am talking

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<v Speaker 1>to myself about a lizard. Come on, Comanche, let's put

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<v Speaker 1>some distance between us and here. He clucked at his

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<v Speaker 1>horse and gently nudged at sides with his knees. I

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<v Speaker 1>wouldn't even be doing this if it wasn't for Oscar

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<v Speaker 1>Forsyth being in such a bad way right now. I

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<v Speaker 1>thought I'd be relaxing at my cabin north of Bayfield,

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<v Speaker 1>maybe catching a nap. But I have more important things

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<v Speaker 1>to do than sleep, and time is running out. His

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<v Speaker 1>friendship with Oscar demanded he help him out. Not because

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<v Speaker 1>Oscar pressured him either. The simple value of a lifelong

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<v Speaker 1>friendship made it impossible for Birch to ignore his friend's request.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm the only one he can trust to do this.

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<v Speaker 1>Outsiders may have wondered how the two men became friends

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<v Speaker 1>in the first place. Oscar had a quick wit and

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<v Speaker 1>could make almost any situation more enjoyable with his sense

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<v Speaker 1>of humor. Yes, he laughed a little too loudly, and

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<v Speaker 1>he was known to give advice at times when it

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<v Speaker 1>wasn't asked for, but he had as true a heart

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<v Speaker 1>as anyone Birch had ever met. Birch Hamlin, on the

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<v Speaker 1>other hand, was quiet but drawn and not a people person.

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<v Speaker 1>Content to spend time on his own, he marveled at

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<v Speaker 1>his best friend's garrulous nature. The two shared a strong

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<v Speaker 1>bond since childhood, however, and Oscar trusted no one more

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<v Speaker 1>than Birch. I need you to do this for me.

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<v Speaker 1>I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. I know that, Oscar.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't you worry. I'll take care of this. This is

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<v Speaker 1>something you shared with me when we were no more

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<v Speaker 1>than nine or ten, and we knew this day would

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<v Speaker 1>come sometime. I'll take care of it. So in the

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<v Speaker 1>July heat here, Birch found himself on a trip he

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<v Speaker 1>dreaded yet was committed to making. Heat waves shimmered over

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<v Speaker 1>the land, and he stopped briefly to take a drink

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<v Speaker 1>from his canteen. The water was warm and stale, but

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<v Speaker 1>it quenched his dry throat. Don't worry, boy, we'll be

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<v Speaker 1>there before too long. There's always water where we're going.

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<v Speaker 1>I haven't forgotten about you. Comanche reared his head and

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<v Speaker 1>neighed in what Birch hoped was understanding. Birch was true

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<v Speaker 1>to his word. Within two miles they came to their destination,

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<v Speaker 1>a cutthroat draw. Carefully making the descent down the slope

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<v Speaker 1>to the small creek bed below, he chose a spot

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<v Speaker 1>to set up camp. Birch unsaddled Comanche and led him

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<v Speaker 1>to the clear water running through the sandy bottom of

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<v Speaker 1>the arroyo. Green Grass grew along the creek bank, complements

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<v Speaker 1>of an artesian well that kept water flowing continuously, and

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<v Speaker 1>soon Comanche grazed in the shade cast by the sides

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<v Speaker 1>of the draw. For all of his complaining along the way,

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<v Speaker 1>Birch shook his head as he looked down along the

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<v Speaker 1>water lined by green grass. Yes, I have to admit,

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<v Speaker 1>this place is beautiful, and I see what Oscar loves

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<v Speaker 1>about it. Comanche gave a whinny as he happily grazed

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<v Speaker 1>his tail flicked back and forth. A slight breeze ruffled

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<v Speaker 1>his mane. Comanche seemed content, and Birch busied himself by

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<v Speaker 1>starting a fire and cooking a small meal. It's nothing fancy,

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<v Speaker 1>but it's all I need. Shadows grew long in the

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<v Speaker 1>draw as the sun hung in the western sky. Desert animals,

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<v Speaker 1>the ones that preferred the night to day, stirred farther

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<v Speaker 1>down the arroyo. Birch spotted a coyote, warily staring at

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<v Speaker 1>him as he braved Birch's presence and took a drink

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<v Speaker 1>of the cold water. Don't worry, I'm not here to

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<v Speaker 1>pester you. This ain't no cattle drive. I'm on After dinner,

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<v Speaker 1>he settled down on his bedroll and stared up at

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<v Speaker 1>the sky. Light finally gave way to darkness and stars

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<v Speaker 1>dotted the sky. Birch hummed a tune he learned long ago.

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<v Speaker 1>Knowing his reason for making the trip was close at hand,

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<v Speaker 1>he wouldn't fall asleep. He simply laid on his bed

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<v Speaker 1>and watched as constellations came into sharp view. While the

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<v Speaker 1>next few hours passed, the night sky moved ever so slowly,

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<v Speaker 1>slightly changing the positions of the stars he viewed. Comanche

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<v Speaker 1>snorted and paced nervously where he was tied to a

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<v Speaker 1>cottonwood tree. I know, boy, it's ok. You don't have

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<v Speaker 1>to be afraid. Oscar would have come himself if he could.

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<v Speaker 1>But that's why I'm here. He needs us, and I'm

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<v Speaker 1>not going to let my best friend down. Soon Burch

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<v Speaker 1>saw what most would consider a falling star. He made

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<v Speaker 1>the journey in time, standing. He watched as the soft

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<v Speaker 1>glow slowed down and hovered, before silently landing on the

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<v Speaker 1>grass next to his camp. He reached in his saddle

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<v Speaker 1>bag and removed a pouch containing precious cargo. Birch, still

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<v Speaker 1>in awe, walked slowly toward the glowing vehicle. A door

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<v Speaker 1>opened and a woman slowly emerged from the light. She

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<v Speaker 1>grasped Birch's hands. Thank you, thank you for coming so

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<v Speaker 1>far to save my son. You've always been such a

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<v Speaker 1>good boy, Birch. The man blushed under her praise. Don't

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<v Speaker 1>be embarrassed, be proud. Not everyone has a friend as

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<v Speaker 1>true as you. When Lona died, Oscar almost gave up

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<v Speaker 1>on living. You are the reason we didn't lose him.

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<v Speaker 1>That's what friends do, and you are a true friend.

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<v Speaker 1>We must hurry, however, She held out a glowing bluestone

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<v Speaker 1>in her right hand. As Birch opened his pouch and

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<v Speaker 1>removed a dim bluestone, he handed it to her and

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<v Speaker 1>she placed the pulsating bluestone into the pouch. This new

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<v Speaker 1>life for will ast him for many years to come.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll leave right away. Oscar wanted to come here himself,

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<v Speaker 1>but he's just so weak. I know, Birch. Time is

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<v Speaker 1>running out. Birch turned to go. She reached out and

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<v Speaker 1>gently grabbed his arm. Wait, ma'am, She extended her left hand.

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<v Speaker 1>In it, she held a glowing greenstone and placed it

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<v Speaker 1>in Birch's hand. The green light flashed and glowed even

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<v Speaker 1>more brightly once he held it, and he felt a

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<v Speaker 1>surge of well being. This is for you, Birch. We

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<v Speaker 1>love you, and this is our way of thanking you

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<v Speaker 1>for saving Oscar. It wouldn't be right for him to

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<v Speaker 1>lose his best friend, and now he won't. Now I

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<v Speaker 1>must go, and so must you. She entered the craft,

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<v Speaker 1>which shot into the sky. Birch saddled, come in, Come

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<v Speaker 1>on boy, Oscar needs to be restored. I promise I'll

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<v Speaker 1>share my good fortune with you too. You and Oscar

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<v Speaker 1>are all I have and I'm not losing either one

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<v Speaker 1>of you. With that, Birch and Comanche made their way

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<v Speaker 1>by moonlight, and a piece settled into both of their hearts.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for joining me for this episode of the

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<v Speaker 1>Into the Night Anthology podcast. Written by Caroline Giamanco, narrated

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<v Speaker 1>by Nari Quack. Theme music by Nico Rodriguez. All other

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<v Speaker 1>original music, sound design and editing by Omenhawk Studios. You

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<v Speaker 1>can find our links in the show notes. Into the

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<v Speaker 1>Night is on your favorite podcatcher, so make sure to like,

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<v Speaker 1>subscribe and leave a five star review to help other

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<v Speaker 1>excursionists to join us. I'll see you next time, and remember,

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<v Speaker 1>whether in the shadows or in the daylight, all twisted

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<v Speaker 1>paths lead you into the night. Into the Night Anthology

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<v Speaker 1>is a creative typo entertainment production high Excursionists. It's me Narri.

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<v Speaker 1>I wanted to take a minute to let you know

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<v Speaker 1>that I'm going to be launching my own website. This

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<v Speaker 1>will be a place for all of my excursionists to

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<v Speaker 1>keep up with my current and future projects. The site

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<v Speaker 1>is going live and there is a place to sign

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<v Speaker 1>up to become a story in my library. Library members

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<v Speaker 1>will receive special perks that will be announced later. I

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<v Speaker 1>look forward to seeing each and every one of you

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<v Speaker 1>over at Nary narrates dot com so that you can

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<v Speaker 1>join me on all of my upcoming adventures.