Episode 13 - The Hot Spring

Summary

Hymns for the Road: Episode 13 - "The Hot Spring"

Release Date: November 30, 2024
Host/Author: Hodgepodge Audio

---

Overview

In Episode 13 of Hymns for the Road, titled "The Hot Spring," listeners embark on a tense and evocative journey with the quartet of survivors navigating the perilous and enchanting remnants of a post-apocalyptic America. This episode delves deep into themes of survival, trust, and the haunting allure of places that blend beauty with danger. Set against dreamlike landscapes and fraught with encounters with otherworldly beings, the episode masterfully balances suspense with moments of introspection.

---

Setting the Scene

The episode opens amidst the desolate yet mesmerizing "pines," a location where sunlight is perpetually obscured, casting everything in a cold, shadowed hue. The survivors—Copper, Silver, Glass, and Amber—are in the midst of preparing their campsite, implementing protection wards and sigils to safeguard their belongings.

• Copper: "Put up the stationary ward to keep your stuff from getting stolen."
• Silver: "Put down the protection sigil, as always."
  (02:16)

This meticulous preparation underscores the ever-present threats in their environment, blending practical survival tactics with mystical defenses.

---

The Allure of the Hot Spring

Seeking respite, the group decides to utilize a nearby hot spring, hopeful that its warmth offers a momentary escape from the relentless cold and danger of their world.

• Copper: "Get in the hot spring. Glass, you reek."
  (03:20)

However, their attempt at relaxation is quickly disrupted as the hot spring behaves unpredictably, freezing over and transforming into a treacherous landscape. The water turns icy, and the environment shifts from warmth to an unforgiving freeze, signaling that safety is an illusion in this warped reality.

• Silver: "The hot spring was gone. I surfaced out of a puddle, I guess a pit full of water. Filthy and dented into a pile of trash."
  (07:07)

---

Encounter with the Mysterious Folk

As the group navigates the frozen landscape, they encounter mysterious entities referred to as the "folk." These beings exhibit an eerie blend of beauty and menace, challenging the survivors both physically and psychologically.

• Silver: "They were tall and beautiful. They've all got this smell that kind of pulls you in. It's like flowers, but different somehow. Sweeter."
  (06:14)

The folk's interactions are cryptic, often taunting the survivors and hinting at deeper, possibly malevolent intentions. Their presence raises questions about the true nature of the apocalypse and the forces that now govern the remnants of society.

• Ivy: "Tell us your name. Poor thing."
  (11:26)

---

The Deal with Trash Hunter

Silver finds themselves ensnared in a mountain of garbage, where an enigmatic figure known as Trash Hunter offers assistance in exchange for a favor—locating a sink amidst the landfill chaos.

• Silver: "If Copper helps Trash Hunter find a sink, will Trash Hunter help Copper get back to their friends?"
  (14:23)

This pact introduces a moral dilemma, forcing the characters to weigh the costs of their survival against the unknown intentions of Trash Hunter. The interaction emphasizes the precarious balance between necessity and integrity in their quest to endure.

• Silver: "Copper will help find whatever is next."
  (14:08)

---

Amber's Frigid Confrontation

Amber's narrative takes a harrowing turn as she becomes trapped on a frozen lake, witnessing frozen townspeople seemingly caught in eternal moments. Her struggle to escape the icy grip of the environment serves as a metaphor for the inescapable challenges the group faces.

• Amber: "It was pressing down on me from every direction."
  (29:52)

The vivid descriptions of the frozen town and the lifeless, smiling faces of its inhabitants deepen the episode's atmosphere of desolation and the haunting permanence of the apocalypse.

---

Tensions and Trust Issues

Internal tensions surface as the group grapples with the realities of their situation. Copper's frustration with incomplete sigils and the perceived lack of progress strains relationships and highlights the mental toll of their journey.

• Copper: "There's a break. You didn't finish the sigil, Silver. It's not closed all the way. And now you're all dead. Maybe."
  (19:10)

Additionally, the introduction of Glass as a new ally brings about skepticism and rivalry, particularly with Sad Chris and Ivy, who question Glass's intentions and trustworthiness.

• Ivy: "We like them better than you, Sad Chris."
  (20:34)

---

The Enigmatic House of Spring and Winter

Glass provides insights into the mystical elements governing their world, specifically referencing the Houses of Spring and Winter. These entities embody artistic expression and death, respectively, enforcing rules that manipulate the survivors' emotions and choices.

• Glass: "The House of Spring. They like art and they like emotions. Don't ask them questions or they'll give you an answer."
  (21:03)

The Houses serve as symbolic representations of the duality between creation and destruction, beauty and peril, further enriching the episode's thematic depth.

---

Climactic Struggles and Resolutions

As the episode progresses toward its climax, the survivors face increasingly dire circumstances. Copper discovers a flaw in their protective sigils, leading to deadly consequences and pushing them to seek alternative solutions.

• Copper: "It didn't work. They left me out again. Guys. Nothing I can do."
  (19:06)

The group's resilience is tested as they confront both external threats and internal conflicts, ultimately reinforcing their commitment to each other despite the overwhelming odds.

---

Conclusion and Reflections

"The Hot Spring" culminates in a poignant reflection on loss, transformation, and the enduring hope that binds the survivors. The episode leaves listeners contemplating the cost of survival and the thin line between safety and peril in a world transformed by magic and catastrophe.

• Copper: "Nobody ever remembers summer. Do you remember summer?"
  (17:58)

This introspective moment encapsulates the bittersweet nature of their journey, where memories of the past clash with the harsh realities of the present.

---

Notable Quotes

• Copper: "Nobody ever remembers summer. Do you remember summer?" (17:58)
• Silver: "The hot spring was gone. I surfaced out of a puddle, I guess a pit full of water. Filthy and dented into a pile of trash." (07:07)
• Amber: "It looks like a person just standing on the bottom. Frozen in a position. Like they're running." (24:19)
• Glass: "The House of Spring. They like art and they like emotions. Don't ask them questions or they'll give you an answer." (21:03)

---

Final Thoughts

Episode 13 of Hymns for the Road intricately weaves a narrative that is both enchanting and harrowing. Through its rich character interactions and vividly constructed world, it captures the essence of survival amidst chaos and the fragile hope that sustains the human spirit. "The Hot Spring" stands as a testament to the podcast's ability to blend fantasy with profound emotional depth, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the survivors' odyssey.

Transcript

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[Copper]

Okay, tell me what happened.

[Silver]

In the pines in the pines where.

[Copper]

The sun never shines. You'll shiver in the cold wind.

[Silver]

I'm all stone.

[Glass]

It started off normal. There's a grave in the pines where the sun never shines. There's a grave dashing where the pines. Copper, put up the stationary ward to keep your stuff from getting stolen. And Silver, put down the protection sigil, as always.

[Amber]

All done over here.

[Silver]

Salt, pine needles, glass shards, pigeon feather, green wax.

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We used to sit and tell love.

[Copper]

Our love in the pines where the sun never shines.

[Glass]

And we were singing, too, so I figured it was safe.

[Amber]

Safety is always a bad thing to figure.

[Copper]

You didn't sing with us, Copper.

[Silver]

I was finishing the ward. I did my part.

[Amber]

Yes, you did. You're a big help, darling.

[Glass]

We started getting into the water.

[Copper]

Get in the hot spring. Glass, you reek.

[Glass]

I only stink because I've been sitting next to you all day.

[Copper]

Hey.

[Amber]

This is very nice.

[Silver]

Aren't you worried?

[Amber]

Not any more than usual.

[Silver]

Not about the folk.

[Amber]

Then what?

[Silver]

What if it's full of, I don't know, deer pee? What?

[Copper]

Oh, it's probably full of deer pee. Copper, all the deer in this area are pissing in this hot spot.

[Silver]

I don't know. It could be gross.

[Glass]

Oh, well. Can't be any grosser than we are.

[Silver]

Good point.

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Yeah.

[Copper]

Cop, wash your greasy hair.

[Silver]

I'll dunk if you will.

[Glass]

Oh, we all counted down.

[Ryan]

Three, two, one.

[Copper]

Water's great. Guys? Hello?

[Silver]

Seriously?

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Again?

[Copper]

If this is supposed to be a joke, it isn't funny. Hey, you again. Are you going to help me find them? Are you going to reveal that you've been a talking cat the whole time and you have magic powers that can get them all back? I didn't think so.

[Amber]

3, 2, 1.

[Glass]

Jeez, it's freezing. When I came up, I wasn't in the hot springs anymore. I was in a river. It was crystal clear and frigid, right? And all around were trees and bushes. And I could see mountains farther away. Much farther away. And it wasn't winter there. The trees and all the plants, they had buds and flowers all over them.

[Ivy]

Ooh, look at that.

[Sad Chris]

Looks to me like a human.

[Glass]

Oh, hell. Good afternoon.

[Sad Chris]

It is a human.

[Ivy]

Come over here, human.

[Sad Chris]

Let us get a closer look at you.

[Glass]

They were tall and beautiful. They've all got this smell that kind of pulls you in. It's like flowers, but different somehow. Sweeter. Maybe I wasn't here a moment ago. I'm hoping.

[Ivy]

Oh, yes, we can tell.

[Sad Chris]

We saw you come up out of the water.

[Glass]

I'm hoping you could.

[Sad Chris]

You look a bit of a mess. Now. Please. Poor thing.

[Ivy]

Speak up, poor thing. Tell us what you want.

[Glass]

Well, I'm hoping you could tell.

[Ivy]

Go on.

[Glass]

I'd like to, but you won't let me.

[Silver]

Speak up.

[Sad Chris]

Poor thing. Oh, Tom looks so sour.

[Ivy]

Oh, we were only playing.

[Amber]

3, 2, 1.

[Silver]

The next thing I knew, the smell was in my nose. It was in my mouth. It felt like it was seeping in through my skin. Gross.

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Silver.

[Silver]

I told you. Silver. The hot spring was gone. I surfaced out of a puddle, I guess a pit full of water. Filthy and dented into a pile of trash. A mountain of trash. As I looked around, at first it looked like it went on forever. But I could see mountains far away. Too far to walk. Hours to drive.

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Silver.

[Silver]

Glass.

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Amber.

[Silver]

The air stunk and it was cold. Not too cold, but just biting. Enough to be uncomfortable. My ankles sunk into the garbage. This wasn't a good place to be with bare feet. Guys. My ankles sunk into the garbage. Faster. Silver would have told me. I shouldn't yell. You should never Yell. Someone might hear you.

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Someone help.

[Silver]

Someone did hear me. Someone who reached one long arm out of the pile, grabbed my wrist and pulled.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

What's the matter with this kid? If they're trying to get to the air, they're going the wrong way. Kids welcome for catching them. By the way, they can pay Trash Hunter back for helping them unsync while helping Trash Hunter find one.

[Silver]

Find what?

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A sink.

[Amber]

I'm past ready for some hot water. Don't care much what's in it. 3, 2, 1. Suddenly the surface is gone. They're not gone, but I can't reach it. In between me in the air is a sheet of ice, and the water's freezing. I'm not in that hot spring no more. It was so cold, I wasn't certain how I was still alive. Should have bound my limbs up. If it was ordinary cold, ain't no way this was ordinary cold. I was gonna die if I didn't get warm. That was the first thought in my head. The second was how I was gonna get off this frozen lake. It looked miles across. Went on forever. Behind me, I saw the shore. On the other side, black pine trees. There was only one way to get there. And I saw them behind me. A hulking, hunched figure. I didn't look right at it. I knew better than to look at. I kept walking.

[Ivy]

You are being a bit of a buzz kill. Poor thing.

[Sad Chris]

Don't be such a buzz kill.

[Glass]

I didn't mean to. I'm not actually supposed to be here. As lovely as here is Ivy.

[Ivy]

They think it's lovely here.

[Sad Chris]

Aw, it is. It's so lovely.

[Glass]

I don't know what I.

[Ivy]

Tell us your name. Poor thing.

[Sad Chris]

Yes, tell us your name.

[Glass]

I can't tell you my name, but you can call me Glass.

[Sad Chris]

I told you they were a buzz kill.

[Ivy]

You're no fun, Glass.

[Glass]

Yeah, sorry about that. The House of Spring. They like art and they like emotions. Don't ask them questions or they'll give you an answer. Don't answer their questions or you could lose your ability to choose anything. Out of all the houses, they're usually the most benevolent. I'm just trying to get back to my friends.

[Ivy]

Don't you want to stay a little longer?

[Glass]

But not always.

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A sink. The Trash Hunter and the little human in a sink.

[Silver]

Uh, Copper doesn't know what you're talking about.

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You know a sink? You wash your hands. Maybe you feel it sometimes. A sink?

[Silver]

I. Copper has never been peed in a sink.

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Copper should try it sometime.

[Silver]

The House of Fall. You could Say the House of Autumn, but nobody really calls it that. They like stuff, objects. They only refer to themselves in the third person and they demand you do the same. If they don't like what you've given them, they'll take your senses. Every last one. But there's more of a chance that they'll be all right with you.

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Copper is pretty small for a human. What are they made out of?

[Silver]

Meat? Bones.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Hunter. Forgot about that. Still got bones in here somewhere.

[Silver]

I didn't get a good look at them when they pulled me out of the pile. All I could see was a lot of limbs. Maybe a face. They pulled me up onto an old refrigerator overturned in the garbage. And I finally got a good look at them. Filthy, covered in trash. I think some of their limbs were trash. Fused to their long body in an assemblage of extra arms with long spider like fingers. And they were furrier than I would have expected.

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Sinks.

[Silver]

Sink.

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Sink. Sink. Sink. Sink.

[Sad Chris]

Sink. Sink.

[Silver]

Why are Copper and Trash Hunter looking for a sink?

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Because Trash Hunter needs one.

[Silver]

Is Trash Hunter building a house?

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No, no, no. Trash Hunter doesn't use things. Trash Hunter just finds them.

[Silver]

What happens when they find them?

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Trash Hunter stopped sinking for a moment.

[Silver]

As we were speaking. I could feel the refrigerator lurching underneath me. It was sinking slowly, dipping into the garbage with both of us on top of it. Copper wants to make a trade.

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Does Copper have stuff? Does Copper have trash? Or Trash Hunter?

[Silver]

If Copper helps Trash Hunter find a sink, will Trash Hunter help Copper get back to to their friends?

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Helping Trash Hunter find a sink is repayment for pulling Copper out of that puddle back there.

[Silver]

Okay, then. Something else. Copper will help find whatever is next.

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Trash Hunter doesn't know what Trash Hunter's gonna find next.

[Silver]

Then how did they know they needed to find a sink?

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Trash Hunter doesn't know. It just popped into their head. Started when Trash Hunter took the job.

[Silver]

The job of finding things in a landfill.

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Better than getting eaten or kept as a pet. Oh, much better.

[Silver]

Trash Hunter used to be human.

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As human as Copper, but maybe a little bigger.

[Amber]

It barely seemed to move, just lurching along behind me. They were following me. I could feel their footsteps through the ice. I watched my feet underneath me. They were going numb already. There were hairline cracks in the surface, but it was something underneath that caught my eye. Person. A human under the eyes. Black ice. The type that was so clear I could see all the way to the bottom of the lake. They weren't just floating in water. They don't look like a Corpse. They look like a person just standing on the bottom. Frozen in a position. Like they're running. There's a smile on their face. The House of Winter. Patrons of death and blood. Can't talk right to them. Can't look dem in the eye. Most houses would jump at the chance to do something terrible to you. If you break their rules, they'll take years from your life. They'll turn you into something awful. They'll make you lose your mind. The House of Winter will kill you. Plain and simple. There are more people on the ice. The farther I walk, the clearer they get. It should have been dark under there. But it wasn't. Somehow they were walking the same way I was. But I couldn't see where they were going towards. They were all frozen. But each and every one of them looked happy. There were children holding their parents hands. People helping old folks move with the crowd. None of them moving. Frozen that way forever.

[Copper]

I'm officially treating this as not a joke. You all better be in real danger. Sucks. Cuz the water is really nice. Not that you'd like it. This is probably the first time I've had a real bath since summer.

[Silver]

Probably.

[Copper]

I don't remember summer. Nobody ever remembers summer. Do you remember summer?

[Silver]

All right.

[Copper]

I gotta check some stuff. You know, at least I've got company. What should I do first? You show up in the weirdest places. You know that? Want to check Copper spell for me? Make sure it looks all right. I don't know what to look for either. It's probably fine. Glass. You're surprised you didn't bring these in the water with you. They really seem to be your favorite thing. Huh. Somehow I thought I'd be able to see something. Can you see anything? Oh, I'll take that as a yes. Probably not a good yes. Sucks that they didn't see mass disappearance in our future. Right? Silver? Should have used paint for the sigil instead of just carving it into the dirt.

[Amber]

Bingo.

[Copper]

There's a break. You didn't finish the sigil, Silver. It's not closed all the way. And now you're all dead. Maybe. I don't know. I'll finish it. It didn't work. They left me out again. Guys. Nothing I can do. Sorry. Maybe the cat has something more to offer.

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Hmm.

[Sad Chris]

They're smart Oak.

[Ivy]

Don't be stupid, Ivy. Every human thinks they're smart.

[Sad Chris]

I know someone who used to think they were smart.

[Ivy]

Speaking of, they were supposed to be back by now.

[Sad Chris]

Hey, Sad Chris.

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Oh, yes, yes, I'm here. Oh, sorry.

[Glass]

I Took so long I couldn't find an orange rabbit.

[Ivy]

That's because there are no orange rabbits.

[Sad Chris]

We just wanted you to go away because you're annoying.

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I'm sorry, my darlings. Tell me if there's anything more I can do for you. I'm at your every beck and call.

[Silver]

Oh, we know.

[Ivy]

Sad Chris. This is our new friend, Glass.

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Hello, Glass.

[Glass]

Hi.

[Sad Chris]

We like them better than you, Sad Chris.

[Silver]

Yes.

[Ivy]

You might be getting replaced.

[Sad Chris]

They did even give us their names.

[Ivy]

You volunteered yours?

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Of course. You were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

[Ivy]

I know.

[Sad Chris]

Put your head in the water, Sun Chris.

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Okay.

[Ivy]

And stay under there.

[Glass]

What the.

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They.

[Glass]

They can't stay under there. They'll drown.

[Sad Chris]

Oh, sure, but we can keep them alive through it.

[Ivy]

Now, don't you worry about Sad Chris. They'll be fine.

[Sad Chris]

Well, no, they won't.

[Ivy]

They won't. But it's fine. We're really more interested in you.

[Sad Chris]

Like who you're getting that lovely magic from.

[Ivy]

We can smell it all over you.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Sink ahoy. It's over there. It's over there. It's over there. It's over there.

[Silver]

Slow down.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Too excited. Get it?

[Silver]

They smacked one of their hands down on the cracked porcelain of a yellowing sink basin. And where'd it go?

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Trash Tender doesn't know. Somewhere. Oh, does Copper feel that? Does Copper feel that rush that Santa's friend?

[Silver]

I. Copper doesn't think they do.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Oh, that's a shame. Copper's got to become a Trash Hunter. They love it. Trash Hunter loves it.

[Silver]

Copper. We'll be honest. Copper doesn't think Copper can imagine wanting not to be human anymore.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

It's not that bad. It's just a different kind of being alive. A better kind of being alive for folks at Trash Hunter.

[Silver]

Silver did say some people chose the apocalypse.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Trash Hunter does not know who that is, But.

[Silver]

But really, Trash Hunter wants to be Trash Hunter. Just running around a garbage dump forever.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Don't judge Trash Hunter. Everybody Butter's different.

[Amber]

What?

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Bren.

[Silver]

Huh?

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Speaking of. Brad, time to find some.

[Silver]

Wait, wait. Copper.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Can't go that fast.

[Amber]

Couldn't feel my hands. Couldn't feel my feet. They were getting closer. I could hear it in their song. Under the ice. The town square. Frozen. People dancing, laughing. Saw something on the ground. Huge circles painted in white sigils, like the ones I use. But I suppose these ones didn't save them. Maybe they weren't supposed to. Maybe they were something else. Something the whole town was celebrating. Smiles on their faces. Warm light coming from the windows. Some kind of magic cast all over the town. If I didn't know any better, I might have thought it looked safe down there.

[Glass]

That's enough. You're gonna kill them. Are you okay?

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Get. Get. Get off me.

[Glass]

I. I was just trying to help you.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

I don't need any help. I'll drown all day if they ask me to.

[Glass]

Oh, gee, Sad Chris. They really did a number on you.

[Sad Chris]

See? They're fine. They said so themselves. Didn't you suck, Chris?

[Glass]

Yes, my love?

[Sad Chris]

Okay, great. Shut up.

[Ivy]

It would be very rude if you didn't tell us about your friend Glass.

[Glass]

I'm. I'm getting divination from someone in your house.

[Ivy]

Oh? Who? It was worth a try.

[Sad Chris]

I would never trade magic to a human. How embarrassing.

[Ivy]

Why would you give anything to a human when you could simply trick them and take it? Most of you are so stupid, after all.

[Sad Chris]

Don't worry, Glass. Poor thing. We're not talking about you.

[Ivy]

Not while you're still being held on to by one of our.

[Sad Chris]

But you can always come back when you're not longer spoken for.

[Glass]

Not. Not really spoken for.

[Ivy]

Oh, Ivy, look at their face.

[Sad Chris]

You poor thing.

[Ivy]

I'll bet you love using that magic.

[Sad Chris]

It's a valuable gift after all.

[Glass]

I don't know what you mean.

[Ivy]

Of course you do.

[Sad Chris]

It's written all over you.

[Glass]

It's not. Not like that.

[Ivy]

Are you scared how magic does things to a person?

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They might change you, but we could never change you.

[Glass]

No, they're not.

[Sad Chris]

You'd get to stay the same forever.

[Ivy]

Just like Sad Chris. Doesn't that sound better? I think Glass needs to clear their head a second.

[Sad Chris]

Sad Chris. Hold them under the water.

[Glass]

Sorry about this.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

No.

[Silver]

Wait, wait.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Can't haul Copper around all day. Got to get that bread.

[Silver]

What? Copper.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Sinking. Huh? What are they thinking about?

[Silver]

Copper. Serious.

[Chumba Casino Announcer]

Better find that bread, then.

[Silver]

Bread? How hard could it be to find bread in a landfill? Lots of people. People used to eat bread. There's got to be a loaf somewhere. I was almost up to my waist. It stunk so much, it was hard to keep my eyes open. Why anybody would choose to be stuck here forever is something I'll never understand. But there they were, diving in and out of the garbage. That's what I was thinking when my ankle got caught on something. I pull up as hard as I can, trying to grab hold of anything solid. It felt like a net or a bundle of strings. At least. It was cutting into me. I could feel it. Copper. Can't find it. Copper. Can't find the thing.

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The trash Hunter hooks are good at holding their breath.

[Amber]

Almost there. Felt like there wasn't nothing between my bones and the ice. I didn't look behind me. Ain't that stupid. But I could hear something tapping on the ice. Something like a walking stick. Crook maybe. I thought maybe I could use a sigil. Maybe I could find my way back. I just needed to get off this lake. I needed to get away from this sunken town. All frozen like they knew it was coming. Frozen like they wanted this. The winter behind me stopped singing. And it wasn't till it stopped that I realized it never should have been singing in the first place. Humans sing. Folk don't. I turned around. I know it wasn't smart. I don't know what came over me. It smells like frostbite and melted tallow at the same time. And from the long shadow it cast on the ice is carrying a shepherd's crook. That's all I have time to see before the water is clear all the way to the bottom. I sank toward a barn. I could see a little farmhouse far off. There was a kid wearing a hand knit wool sweater. Stopped waving an unlit sparkler over their head. And another kid, older, sitting at the edge of another chalked sigil circled near the barn. An outline in the middle of the circle. A burn on the ground in the shape of a person. Somebody holding a shepherd's crook. And I remember thinking took me by surprise.

[Glass]

I couldn't fight them off.

[Silver]

It was pressing down on me from every direction.

[Amber]

The water shouldn't have been warm.

[Glass]

I'm alive.

[Sad Chris]

Help.

[Copper]

So you just came back?

[Silver]

Think I might have died.

[Amber]

You didn't die, darling.

[Glass]

It sure felt like it for a second.

[Amber]

We don't even know if those places are real.

[Copper]

Sure seemed real when you stopped existing for a second.

[Silver]

Silver.

[Amber]

What is it, sweetheart?

[Silver]

How many people chose to.

[Amber]

How many people gave up?

[Silver]

Yeah.

[Amber]

I don't know, Copper. I don't understand it.

[Glass]

A lot of people didn't give up on purpose.

[Copper]

Like your guy. Sad. Chris.

[Glass]

They actually seemed like they might have done it on purpose.

[Amber]

Why anybody would let themselves get all mixed up like that is beyond me.

[Silver]

Maybe they did it so they'd fit into the world better.

[Glass]

It doesn't freak you out, little hopper? I mean, that trash when you met. If their past human self saw them now, would they even recognize themselves?

[Copper]

But do you think you from 10 years ago would recognize you now?

[Glass]

Physically? Yeah.

[Amber]

I don't know if this is a world I want to fit into better.

[Copper]

Maybe getting sucked into it all isn't so bad if you do it on your own terms.

[Amber]

Dangerous talk, Amber.

[Glass]

I'll take your word for it. I'm happy staying the way I am.

[Copper]

That's a shame. You should think about transforming into a glass. That's actually funny.

[Glass]

I'm hilarious. And you're wrong.

[Silver]

I hope all those people got what they wanted, Copper.

[Amber]

Nobody gets what they want. We just get what we get.

[Silver]

Then I hope they can be happy with what they got.

[Copper]

Speaking of what we've got, I'm going to look through our food for something to cook. Maybe I can do one thing for the group today.

[Glass]

Get me a can of peaches.

[Copper]

Got it.

[Amber]

Copper, hand me another log, will you?

[Silver]

Yeah, I've got another small one.

[Podcast Host]

Hymns for the Road is a podcast written and Produced by Anna McGuire. Starring Maurice Thomas as Silver Pau Pan and Nibon as Glass, Grizz Sibonek as Amber, Tabitha Bardal as Copper, and featuring Tariq Esau as Oak, Majin Brzezinski as Ivy, Vincent Holmes as trash hunter, Ray O'Hare as Sad Chris and Anna McGuire as the Shepherd Winter Original music by Joshua David Mitchell this episode's hymn is Grave in the Pines by by Clayton McMicken Sign up for our newsletter at hodgepodgeaudio.com or support our work on Patreon.com hodgepodgeaudio Thank you for listening.

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