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0:44

Pod. Episode 926. Felix and the Flamingo.

0:46

By David Hankins. Hello

1:25

and welcome to Escape Pod, your

1:27

weekly science fiction podcast. I'm

1:30

Valerie Valdez, your host for this episode. Our

1:34

story this week is Felix and the

1:36

Flamingo by David Hankins. His

1:38

story originally appeared in January 2023

1:40

in Murderbirds, an

1:42

avian anthology, Unhelpful

1:45

Encyclopedia, Volume 1. David

1:48

Hankins is the award-winning author of Death

1:50

and the Tax Man. He

1:52

writes from the thriving cornfields of Iowa

1:54

where he lives with his wife, daughter,

1:56

and two dragons disguised as cats. His

1:59

short stories of graced potatoes of Riders

2:01

of the Future Vol. 39, amazing stories,

2:04

Dream Forge magazine,

2:07

unidentified funny objects 9,

2:09

third Flatiron anthologies, and

2:11

others. He would

2:13

devote his time to his passions of

2:15

writing, traveling, and finding new ways

2:18

to pay his mortgage. You can find him

2:20

at davidhankins.com. Our

2:24

narrator, Eric Valdez, is a sound mixer,

2:26

performer, and creative human. Thank you.

2:29

He has spent the past two decades specializing

2:31

in audio for visual media, and

2:34

was nominated for a daytime Emmy Award

2:36

for Outstanding Sound Mixings in his recording

2:38

room. Eric adores theatrical

2:40

improvisation, but has also lent his

2:42

face and voice to films, commercials,

2:45

songs, and pays, and then actually

2:47

have been written before him. Eric

2:50

journeys to life with his

2:52

Author-Wise Valerie Valdez, their two

2:54

frighteningly high-energy offspring, and their

2:56

two thankfully low-energy cats. Catch

2:58

him making up silly songs

3:00

on Saturdays on twitch.tv slash the

3:02

kids are asleep. Fair and

3:05

wonder while he anxiously avoids posting on

3:07

Twitter and Instagram at intenselyerik.

3:11

Now, get ready for animals to take over

3:13

the world, more or less, because

3:16

it's storytime. Felix

3:24

and the Flamingo by

3:27

David Hankins read

3:29

by Eric Valdez. Felix

3:34

ruffled his red tail feathers and irritation

3:36

of all the birds

3:38

to get quarantined with. Why a

3:41

Flamingo? Flamingos were

3:43

idiots, and they stank too.

3:46

The Candace Lyle avian quarantine center

3:48

was supposedly the pride of Lincoln

3:50

Park Zoo, but to

3:52

Felix it was nothing more than a musty

3:54

cement room lined with cages. Only

3:57

the two largest were occupied. Felix

4:01

glared across the room at Mateo, who

4:03

stood in his own cage, on

4:05

one leg, with the satisfied

4:08

calm of domestication. Felix

4:11

would never accept captivity. He

4:14

itched with the need to soar, to

4:17

hunt with his mate. The

4:20

gaping void in his belly gurgled.

4:24

Four days since the humans disappeared, he

4:26

was hungry. Felix

4:30

activated his neural link and tried

4:32

explaining their situation. Again.

4:36

Look you dumb flamingo. The humans

4:38

it's Mateo, please.

4:42

The flamingos chip transmission registered as

4:44

a rich baritone with a pretentious

4:46

accent. Honor

4:48

my Chilean heritage. Just

4:51

because you're a wild raptor,

4:54

red-tailed hawk, your lack of

4:56

culturio gives you no right

4:58

to demean the ancient heritage

5:00

of the magnifica gilean flamingo.

5:04

Get over yourself. I've

5:06

heard real Spanish and yours sucks. You

5:09

were bred in captivity and hatched right here

5:11

in Chicago. You've never tasted

5:14

free skies. A

5:16

deep longing for home, for

5:18

freedom, nearly overwhelmed Felix. He

5:21

snapped his beak, chirped irritably, and

5:23

started again. Mateo,

5:27

the humans aren't coming back. Humans

5:30

would never abandon us. They

5:32

love us and give us food. They

5:35

microchipped our brains, didn't

5:37

like the results, and abandoned us to

5:39

die. We're being

5:42

reintegrated into- No! Hunger

5:45

made Felix snappish. He

5:47

could eat a terrier right now. Or

5:49

a flamingo. It's

5:52

been four days. At

5:54

least they left you a bowl of dried shrimp. Did

5:57

I get any extra rats? No! The

5:59

humans don't- care about us. We're on

6:01

our own. Now I

6:03

can't reach the latch on my cage,

6:05

but you can reach yours so stop

6:08

arguing and get us out of here."

6:11

Mateo honked and waggled his

6:13

beak from side to side, as if attempting

6:16

to jog two brain cells together, then

6:18

said, very well, if

6:21

it'll stop your belly aching. What

6:24

did you want me to do again? Felix's

6:27

belly had never ached like it right

6:29

now, nor had his

6:31

head. He tried

6:33

to sound calm. Stick

6:37

your long neck through

6:39

that gap under your

6:41

gate. Then reach up and

6:44

pull the lever on your

6:46

cage door. It's

6:48

a simple deadbolt. Mateo

6:52

just blinked at him, head

6:54

cocked. An entire week

6:57

of this. He'd

6:59

been trying to convince Mateo to escape since the

7:01

day they were dumped at the zoo. Then

7:04

four days ago the humans didn't

7:06

return, and Felix's pleas turned desperate.

7:09

At least in the lab he hadn't been dependent

7:11

on this imbecile. He'd had humans

7:13

to help. No. No,

7:16

those were the thoughts

7:18

of domestication. Mateo's

7:20

two brain cells must have finally found each

7:22

other. He settled onto the straw-covered

7:24

floor and squeezed his head under the gate.

7:28

It caught for a moment. He honked an,

7:30

ai, mama, mi. And then

7:32

he was through. That's it, Felix

7:34

said. The deadbolt's right for oi.

7:37

A rough British accent interrupted his chip

7:39

transmission. Sounds like

7:42

a jailbreak. Need

7:44

a hand, mate? Felix's

7:46

head snapped up. He'd

7:48

never heard another voice in his head besides Mateo's,

7:51

transmitted through his microchip. They'd

7:53

been the only birds in the lab. He

7:56

craned his head in quick jerky movements, looking out

7:58

the windows. No. Bird

8:00

looking in. Yes, Help

8:03

us. Cry on where

8:05

you at. The. Lincoln Park

8:07

Zoo. The. Loyal Quarantine Center.

8:10

School boards you're doing that

8:12

vast know Masts home away

8:14

from the case with area.

8:17

Felix. Screeched for joy

8:19

Help was coming and

8:21

they sounded competence. On

8:24

like my tail. A

8:26

quick and a metallic creek from across the

8:28

room snapped his attention back to the Flamingo.

8:31

The. Bone had had done it. Mateo

8:34

strode from his cage with a jaunty little

8:37

dance. Now me let me

8:39

ask. Felix. Hop from his

8:41

perch and slept his wings bouncing around is

8:43

t distraught covered floor. Mateo.

8:46

Marched across the bear cement and looked

8:48

down upon Felix. His. Head

8:50

cocked once again in that infuriating

8:52

non expression. So. Deadbolt

8:55

Pulled a deadbolt. Mateo.

8:58

Bob's his head from side to side, his

9:00

way of saying no. I

9:02

suppose I shouldn't expect menace from

9:05

a wild bird. What?

9:08

Menace. Good to see. Who's.

9:12

Always you bastard me. But

9:14

never once did you say.

9:17

Both. Stumbled. Through.

9:21

His. You've waited all

9:23

week since. Who

9:25

is. Unbelievable.

9:29

Feel. It's greed. Step a nitwit outside

9:31

his cage. Finds. Please

9:34

please let me. It's.

9:38

Retail. Chortled and pulled the deadbolt with

9:40

his beak, Felix threw himself at the

9:42

gates. It popped open and he flopped

9:44

into the room. Three.

9:47

He was free. Felix.

9:50

Couldn't fly properly. The scientists said clip

9:52

their wings so his flight turn into

9:54

a happy hop across the cement. the

9:57

entry dot tick lincoln and baserunners jumping

10:01

A brown rat the size of a terrier

10:03

sauntered in, bulging with muscles and

10:05

walking on his hind legs like a human.

10:09

A leather satchel swung by his side. Hunger

10:12

burned every thought from Felix's head. He

10:14

was a starving predator and dinner had

10:16

just waltzed in. Dinner

10:20

stared at him wide-eyed and mumbled

10:22

aloud, "'Bloody ale!'" Felix's

10:26

hunting shriek bounced off the walls and he shot

10:28

across the room. The rat

10:30

dodged and Felix's talons snagged the satchel's

10:32

strap. He swung onto the

10:34

rat's back and pecked at its spine. The

10:37

first peck missed and the second pierced

10:39

the swinging satchel. The rat

10:41

twisted and squirmed. "'Get off,

10:43

you bloody bird! Get off of me!'" Felix

10:47

lost his balance, fell to the cement, and

10:50

yanked at the satchel in his beak. Something

10:53

inside tore and the taste of cold

10:55

fish flooded Felix's senses. Food!

10:59

He yanked chunks of fish from a foil pouch. He'd

11:02

never tasted anything so good. The

11:05

rat shook loose of the satchel and more pouches spilled

11:07

onto the floor. It

11:09

scrambled back and pointed an accusing claw at

11:11

him. "'Fats my dinner! Give

11:14

it back!'" "'Mine!' Felix

11:16

screeched again and spread his wings, protecting his

11:19

kill. The rat's paws went

11:21

up, held out like a placating human.

11:24

"'Okay, okay! Bloody law's a

11:26

jungle outside the lab!'" "'I

11:29

was looking forward to that tuna fish!'" He

11:32

huffed and eyed Mateo, who was running in

11:34

circles and honking. "'Don't

11:37

take too long, mate. It's getting dark.

11:40

You're not the only predator in this zoo, and

11:43

the humans left most of the cages open.'" Felix

11:48

was finishing off the third tuna fish pouch

11:50

when Mateo finally calmed down. The

11:53

flamingo's mood shift wasn't gradual, more

11:56

like flipping a switch from panicked to pretentious.

11:59

He Waddled to the red and crane his

12:01

neck downward. Do

12:03

you know where the humans went?

12:06

Rattle? The

12:08

rest muddle split in a furry grin that

12:10

revealed sharp teeth. They. Ran

12:12

away, Law rapport post

12:14

amount of Chicago as. He

12:17

spread his paws. This

12:19

is our land now. Welcome

12:22

to. Read so

12:24

by yeah. Rat.

12:27

A tapia. Year old

12:29

was rattled, your implants, got organized,

12:32

escaped and started a war. does

12:34

humanity is Beady eyes sparkled and

12:36

were winning, But.

12:39

Humans are our friends. Materials.

12:41

Phony Spanish accent slipped. And

12:44

he shifted from foot to foot, looking

12:46

distressed. Felix. Got to

12:48

the last of the tuna and ruffled his feathers.

12:51

Get. It through your thick skull mateo. No.

12:54

More humans were on our own. I

12:57

did so be might. The. Rat

12:59

exuded self satisfaction. On.

13:01

Bruiser go over from Mccartney. lives

13:03

in London for the Chip in

13:05

experiments states with a long. He

13:08

chuckles. What's your story? Given

13:11

an opportunity to talk about himself. but

13:13

there was mood brightened. I

13:16

am Mateo. See. Lesion:

13:18

Flamingo of impeccably

13:20

breeding. The

13:23

savage who assaulted you is

13:25

Felix. Felix.

13:27

Prodded at the posts, digging out

13:29

scraps, We're. Neurally

13:32

implanted to. But. For some

13:34

reason the humans deemed our experiments a

13:36

failure and think this here for a

13:38

reintegration. Speaking. Of which.

13:41

Hunger muted, Felix. Turned and hopped

13:43

through the open door. Fresh,

13:46

Air that smelled of new spring growth and

13:48

freedom washed over him. Despite the

13:50

sense than closures and low buildings. A

13:53

shiver sook Felix and he gazed up

13:55

at puffy pink clouds in a deep

13:57

blue sky. Sunset.

14:01

A predators favorite time. Starling.

14:05

Saucer rated overhead, sending a pang of

14:07

longing to his chest. He

14:10

missed. sorry. He missed.

14:13

So. Many things. It.

14:16

Had been over a year since the humans had taken him.

14:19

His mate probably thought him dead. He.

14:22

Still dreamed of her. Though

14:25

his dreams and changed since he'd been shipped.

14:28

Things had name's now. Birds.

14:30

Shouldn't assigned names to things. Especially

14:33

not human name's. Things.

14:36

That sense. Sounds.

14:39

Textures. That.

14:42

Was how he remembered her. Golden.

14:45

Eyes and a piercing cry overlaid

14:47

with the wild smell of sunshine

14:49

on her feathers. Some.

14:52

Day he'd sore again. He

14:54

would find her. But

14:58

he'll push through the door. Breaking Felix is

15:00

reverie. The Flamingo honked

15:02

excitedly than bolted down the sidewalk. Spindly,

15:06

Legs made his pink body waddle like

15:08

a goose while his head stayed perfectly

15:10

level. Where. Are

15:12

you going? Felix asked. Family

15:16

isomers: Flamingos.

15:19

Through. Shut out of the Lyle Quarantine

15:21

Center after my tail. Oh, lawn might not

15:24

that way You try to get a. Bruiser.

15:27

Bounded after the flamingo and yelled

15:29

over his shoulder, it's release. Felix.

15:32

Ignored the rat and leapt into the air. He's.

15:35

A fly ash to return home.

15:38

He pumped his wings struggles

15:41

but clipped feathers refuse to

15:43

gain list. He

15:45

hit the ground hard and screeched at

15:47

the top of his lungs. He

15:51

was grounded. The. Feathers

15:53

would grow back eventually. But.

15:55

Until then. a terrified home

15:57

from a tail and a cast warbling snow

16:00

Marl snapped Felix's gaze to the now empty

16:02

sidewalk. A shiver crawled

16:04

down his spine. Mateo

16:06

wouldn't last one day in the wild. Felix

16:10

bounded down the sidewalk with an awkward

16:12

hopping, flapping motion. He

16:15

rounded a corner and froze. A

16:17

gray lynx crouched on the trail. It's back

16:20

to Felix. It had

16:22

thick paws, black tufted ears, and a

16:24

twitching tail. Mateo

16:26

and Bruiser stood frozen before it, backed

16:29

against one of those small flatbed carts that

16:31

humans drove around parks. The

16:34

lynx stalked forward. Felix

16:37

gave his hunting screech, and the lynx's head

16:39

snapped around. He flapped as

16:41

hard as possible and arced over the cat's head.

16:44

It swatted at him but didn't leap. He

16:46

landed between it and the others, spread his

16:49

wings, and screeched again. Mine!

16:52

The lynx growled, ears back,

16:55

hackles rising. There

16:57

were scrambling sounds behind Felix. Into

17:00

the driver's seat, stretch! I'm staring!

17:03

Felix half turned his head, keeping one eye on

17:06

the lynx, which lashed its bushy tail. Bruiser

17:09

and Mateo were in the cart. The

17:11

flamingo looked uncomfortable in the driver's seat,

17:13

sitting sideways to let one spindly leg

17:15

dangle under the dash. Bruiser

17:18

stood by the pedals, placing Mateo's foot. Push,

17:21

ear to go, ear to stop. Oh man,

17:23

I've always wanted to drive one of these!

17:26

Mateo craned his head upside down to look at Bruiser.

17:29

I don't understand. Neither

17:32

did Felix, but he had bigger problems. The

17:36

lynx stalked forward, each step a precise

17:38

announcement of inevitable death. Felix

17:41

screeched again, wingspan blocking the sidewalk,

17:43

and refused to step back. The

17:46

cat would leap the second he showed fear or weakness.

17:50

Where's the- Aha! There was

17:52

a click, and then the cart leapt forward. Bruiser

17:55

jumped to the steering wheel and yelled, Come on,

17:57

Felix! Let's ride! That

18:00

away, Felix leapt into the sky and the

18:02

cat launched for him. It missed

18:04

and he slept furiously. After the weaving cart,

18:07

His. Wings burned with effort and he

18:09

tumbled downward. To get the

18:12

flat bed with a thump. Talon scrambling for

18:14

traction. The caught and attached to

18:16

metal ring, he flaps its wings for balance.

18:18

Bruiser. Cheered and the part swerved

18:21

violently forward. Felix. Looked back.

18:23

The. Links bounded after them. Bastards

18:26

dating. Felix. His breath came

18:28

fast, his heart beating like it would burst out

18:30

of his test. More. Go Pedals

18:33

Threats. Bruiser. Clung to the wheel

18:35

with all four paws, sifting his weight left and right

18:37

to steer. It's Monday off.

18:39

The. Flamingo gave an indignant talk and the

18:42

car skidded to a stop. The

18:44

links bounced off the rear bumper and tumble decide.

18:47

Wrong. Title. Bruiser. Slept at

18:49

materials neck. But. Flamingo dogs and pets.

18:51

The rest head. O. The.

18:54

Cat surged to his feet, shook his head

18:56

and snarled. It's warbling hunting cry

18:58

filled Felix with adrenaline. He.

19:00

Needed to fly t V he

19:03

screamed wings flapping useless we as

19:05

he clutched the metal ring. Apart

19:08

jumped forwards and skidded around a corner and

19:10

bumped into the grass. Felix. Held

19:12

on but slammed on to his side. Stars.

19:15

Danced and his vision and he gasps for

19:17

breath. Where'd. You learn to drive

19:19

you maniac. Bruiser. Through a

19:21

furry grin over his shoulder. Lean. Left,

19:23

move them to a flower bed and

19:25

back onto the sidewalk. To be

19:27

a reruns on Bravery Say. Settled.

19:30

In the Mail. It is Mateo

19:32

Honked. They passed through the

19:34

zoo's Northgate linked, sloping right behind them. It.

19:37

Left with a snarl and slammed into Felix.

19:40

Discrete squats and packed with all

19:42

his might. They. Rolled into

19:44

my tail seat in a snarling tangle of

19:46

claws and talons. Felix. Bit in

19:48

here tor clean through it and the

19:50

cat caught his wing and powerful jaws.

19:54

Oh on.

19:56

The cart hit a bump into the

19:58

air since repeat from under them. The.

20:01

Links shrieked, releasing Felix and a

20:03

tumble downward. A

20:06

splash of Felix completely by surprise.

20:08

Murky water enveloped him. dark and heavy.

20:11

His talents caught something soft and he latched

20:13

onto it. For. The.

20:17

Body beneath him. jerk the side. Too

20:19

powerful for Bruiser. The. Links.

20:22

Felix thrust his head forward, bit

20:24

deep and tore. Again,

20:27

And again he savaged flush with

20:30

his talents. Blood spilled the

20:32

water before he broke the surface and like

20:34

go. Felix. Gasped for air.

20:36

B. Open wide, How

20:39

did ducks do this? He

20:41

started to sink again and spread his wings across

20:43

the water. The. Links surfaced several

20:45

yards away and swam for the source. Material.

20:49

Floated serenely beside Felix had

20:51

high. Bruiser. Paddled

20:54

in a circle and yelled at the links. That's

20:57

right. yeah, be erroneous, grown cat.

21:00

Bruiser. Stop swimming long enough to seek assist.

21:03

The. Links limped from the water, blood streaming

21:05

down his right shoulder. It.

21:07

I'd them in new old before padding back to

21:09

the zoo. Felix

21:13

paddled with a new appreciation for

21:15

waterfowl. My. Tail drifted

21:17

past, handcuffed to the side. Do

21:20

you need help? Felix. Husks,

21:23

Almost said no. But. Swallowed

21:25

his pride. Tee. Card gently.

21:29

Yes, Fourth, Of or. My.

21:33

Tales heads bobbed in a pleased manner. Grab

21:36

my tail feathers and they'll drag you to

21:39

the flock. Flock. Bruiser.

21:42

Yell busy paddled furiously toward the far

21:44

shore. Or yeah, blinds, the

21:47

almost beyond little a pig bothers.

21:50

Felix. Blinked and looked around. Indeed,

21:53

Near the ponds far and was a flock of

21:55

flamingos. Bright. pink models with

21:57

white against the source cascade of green

22:00

He bit gently onto Mateo's tail feathers and

22:03

allowed himself to be dragged across the pond.

22:07

They soon reached the flock, who honked and

22:09

clucked like geese. Heads

22:11

twitched from side to side in unison. How

22:14

did they do that? These

22:16

birds weren't microchipped, so Felix couldn't speak to them

22:18

mind to mind, but he understood

22:20

their body language. Cautious of

22:22

him, but welcoming of Mateo. Bruiser

22:26

was another matter. He climbed

22:28

onto the muddy nesting ground and the nearest flamingos

22:31

hissed at him. The

22:33

drenched rat held up both hands. Not

22:35

looking for a fight, Pinkie. Just

22:38

wanted distance from that soggy morgy trying to eat

22:40

us. Felix pulled

22:43

himself onto the mud and shook his wings. Water

22:45

flew. Thank

22:48

you, Bruiser. You saved us with that cart.

22:51

What? Saved myself. You

22:54

was just an added bonus. His

22:57

tone was light, joking. I'm

23:00

sorry I tried to eat you. No

23:03

worries, mate. Loreleh jungle. Speaking

23:06

of which, I gotta run. There's

23:09

a war on and I don't want to miss

23:11

it. The rat plodded through the

23:13

flamingos who split to give him a wide berth. Felix

23:17

shook himself again. He was soaked

23:19

and Mateo honked at him, all pretense

23:21

of a Spanish accent gone from his chip transmission.

23:25

You placed yourself in danger. For me. Why?

23:31

Felix looked for somewhere dry to stand. He

23:33

failed and ruffled his feathers. Couldn't

23:36

let you die in your first five minutes of freedom. Yes.

23:40

Well. Ooh. Flamingos

23:43

are not without gratitude.

23:46

You are one of us now. Welcome

23:48

to the family, miermano. He

23:51

honked and the flock joined in, bobbing

23:53

their heads excitedly. Wait,

23:55

what? You are an honorary

23:57

flamingo, Felix. Please. During

24:00

office. Felix

24:02

almost said no. Red.

24:05

Tailed hawks were solitary creatures. They.

24:07

Made for life. but the idea of of

24:09

block was anathema. Yet.

24:12

But they was offered touch them. It

24:14

rang of. Friendship.

24:19

Okay, But. Only until

24:21

my Father's Grow Back. And don't

24:23

expect me to strut around or pretentious like. Hostile

24:26

Strip. Who

24:28

says he. Spied an

24:31

oak tree on the shore and plotted through the mud. He

24:33

walked as tall as possible, trying to keep his

24:36

feathers clean. It was Neft,

24:38

a strict, nearly practical,

24:41

The. Sky darkened and the Flamingo settled in

24:43

for the night, standing one legged with their

24:46

beeks tucked under a wing. Felix

24:48

perched on a high oak branch and gazed

24:51

northward. A hawks piercing cry

24:53

echoed through the night. It.

24:55

Wasn't her. But. It's third,

24:57

the longing and Felix is so. He

25:00

gave a soft chirp and reply. He

25:04

would find her again. In

25:06

time. But

25:09

for now he had a family. A

25:12

crazy family to be sure. That

25:14

accepted him. This

25:16

was a safe place. Among friends.

25:19

Where he could rest and recover. And

25:22

thin he would soar.

25:45

Once again, that was Felix and the

25:47

Flamingo. The David and. i

25:51

didn't invested in intelligent lab animal stories

25:53

since the old think in the brain

25:55

cartoons and this story continues in that

25:58

grand tradition in the best way While

26:01

we glimpse the ripples of an apocalypse at

26:03

the edges of Felix's frustrating situation,

26:06

we stay tightly focused on his

26:08

particular problems, and how he and

26:10

his irritating Flamingo companion navigate their

26:13

brave new world. Most

26:15

importantly, I like how in the end

26:18

the solution was not for Felix to fly off on

26:20

his own, but to join forces

26:22

with other affected animals. We're

26:24

all stronger when we work together, and

26:26

in the wake of apocalypse, it's the only

26:28

way we're going to survive. Sometimes

26:31

it takes seeing such truths through unexpected

26:33

eyes to really bring them home, wherever

26:36

home may end up being, whether

26:38

an actual place or a found

26:40

family happy to add you to their flock.

26:45

Escape Pod is part of the Escape Artist

26:47

Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit. In

26:49

this episode, it's distributed under

26:52

the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial

26:54

No Derivatives 4.0 International

26:56

License. Don't change it. Don't

26:59

sell it. Please do share it. If

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you'd like to support Escape Pod, please

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rate or review us on Spotify, Apple

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Podcasts, or your favorite app. We

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on your donations to keep the lights on

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You can also use PayPal through our website,

27:29

escapepod.org. Patreon subscribers

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have access to exclusive merchandise and can be

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automatically added to our Discord, where they can

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chat with other fans as well as our

27:38

staff members. Our

27:40

opening and closing music is by Daikaiju

27:42

at daikaiju.org. And

27:45

our closing quotation this week is from Terry

27:47

Pratchett, who said, Cats

27:49

will amusingly tolerate humans only until

27:51

someone comes up with a tin opener

27:53

that can be operated with a

27:55

paw. Thanks

27:58

for joining us, and may your escape be with

28:00

us. before we start those stories.