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Fall in love with low prices all in the Fred Meyer app. Buy two, get three free on delicious 12 packs of Coca Cola, Pepsi or 7Up, then find low prices on thousands of items like sparkling ice water, Kroger brand chips and more, all with your card. Shop these deals at your local Kroger today or click the screen now to download the Fred Meyer app to save big today. Fred Meyer Fresh for everyone. Prices and product availability subject to change restrictions apply. See site for details.
Podcast Announcer
Hymns for the Road is a fiction podcast that often takes place inside a moving vehicle. Listener discretion is advised while driving. General content warnings are listed in the show Notes.
Glass
You may run home for a long time Run home for a long time you may run home for a long time but let me tell you God Almighty's gonna cut you down Go tell that long tongue liar Go tell that.
Copper
Midnight rider Tell the gambler back but.
Glass
Tell them God Almighty's gonna cut him.
Amber
Down I gotta be soon yeah.
Glass
My God spoke He spoke so sweet I thought I heard the shuffle of angels.
Silver
Feet he put one head on my head Great God Almighty let me tell.
Copper
You Everybody keep your eyes peeled for dark walls.
Silver
I don't think we're gonna pass somewhere better, Copper.
Copper
I don't think there's any harm in looking for it.
Silver
Suppose not.
Glass
Even if we see dark walls, we'd have to go in to see if it's bright on the inside.
Copper
Not always amber. We've seen places with windows before.
Glass
Did any of them turn out to be the somewhere better?
Copper
No.
Amber
If we do see somewhere with any kind of walls, we should make a pit stop because I have to go to the bathroom.
Glass
Really cool that you guys didn't finish the song with me.
Silver
We're running low on gas.
Glass
Silver station up there. See the sign?
Silver
Wonderful.
Copper
We pulled off the highway onto an empty off ramp toward the sickly glow of a gas station sign. The words on the sign looked like words until you tried to read them. Nothing but a garbled imitation of language and a symbol for a brand that didn't exist but felt familiar somehow. Even from our distance, I could see the pale gray of the cinder blocks that built the outside covered windows.
Glass
Why do we even use the blinker? There aren't any other cars. It's polite, I guess.
Silver
Start making a list y'all. What do we need?
Glass
We're really low on gas.
Copper
I want more spell components.
Glass
I don't want anything, not even a divination thing to replace that dumb Magic 8 ball. Tough crowd today.
Silver
Whose turn is it if they ask for Blood.
Amber
Mine.
Glass
No, it's mine. I got it.
Silver
Thank you, Amber.
Copper
Everybody ready?
Amber
Yeah.
Glass
Always.
Silver
Trades first, then gas. I want us all staying together.
Amber
Yeah.
Silver
I got a bad feeling about this place.
Glass
Why? Gas station folk are always so friendly and accommodating.
Copper
I agree with what Silver had said. The outside had the same grading fluorescent and neon lights that every gas station had. The type that hardened the shadows on your face and grayed the color of your skin. The large, garish advertisements plastered over every window prevented any interior light from reaching us. It was hard to tell who they were advertising to. Nobody I knew would have been interested in buying extra tendons. Careful, Amber.
Glass
What? It's not like it's going to be any different in there than it usually is.
Copper
Whoa.
Glass
Oh, hell.
Amber
Still certain it's gonna be like all the others.
Glass
I didn't do this, did I?
Copper
The gas station was empty. The dirty linoleum floor sloped downward, every corner of the store's interior ramping toward a black door way farther away than the exterior of the station should have allowed. A single flickering bulb was set into the low ceiling right above it.
Amber
I don't like that we're out of gas, Silver. If I try to find another station, we might get stuck.
Copper
I don't want to go in there.
Glass
We should get a flashlight at least.
Silver
And maybe a couple spells.
Copper
I have supplies for fire and light with me.
Amber
Well, we need gas. And I need to go to the bathroom. So come with me. Or don't. I don't care either way.
Silver
Whatever we do, we gotta stay together.
Glass
I'm going with Glass.
Copper
I'm waiting out here.
Silver
Like hell you are, Copper. Come on. We'll just take a look. If it seems too bad, we can just leave.
Copper
Why does it go down so far?
Glass
Big door.
Silver
I don't think this is the kind of place we should be knocking at, y'all.
Copper
The door had a strange air about it, but it wasn't as large as it looked from the front of the station. Heavy and square. It had no handle or knob, just a surface carved into impossible shapes that made less sense the longer you looked at them.
Amber
It's either that or we run out of gas in the desert and die of dehydration.
Copper
I'm not knocking on that door.
Glass
I'll do it, you big baby. Holy.
Copper
It was bright on the inside. Bright in that impossible ambient way. As though everything in the space was giving off its own light. Like when the clouds cover up the sun and all the shadows disappear. The whole place was a maze. Rows and rows of vendor Stalls and tables, some stacked on top of one another, some in corridors rising vertically over and around. It was noisy and crowded, full of humans and folk alike, but somehow all only half there. Like we were seeing reflections of them in another place. A mirrored version of this place somewhere else in the world. I saw a semi transparent mirage of a person. A human, not much older than Amber, step through the door, behind and through me. They didn't even notice right away.
Glass
Ouch. Big magic in there.
Silver
You all right?
Glass
I'm fine.
Amber
Gas station counter over there.
Copper
Are you sure?
Amber
Yes.
Copper
Copper all the way over on the other side of the market.
Silver
Good eyeglass. We can make a beeline for that stall and be on our way soon as we can.
Glass
Okay. Wait a moment, though.
Silver
What?
Glass
Look at how much different stuff is here. We could trade for all kinds of things.
Amber
Can we just get our stuff and go?
Glass
Oh, hell. Is that a musical instrument stall?
Silver
Y'all, I don't think we should.
Glass
I'll be right back.
Silver
No, we're staying together. This place is huge. Ain't losing anybody in here.
Copper
Fine.
Glass
All right, fine.
Silver
If we see something on our way back, maybe we can look.
Copper
Then we probably shouldn't stay here longer than we have to.
Silver
I agree. Come on, y'all.
Copper
I watched Amber struggle not to run off as we made our way through the alleys. Everything seemed familiar at first glance, but at times I would see a shelf of what I thought were bolts of fabric, but upon closer inspection were actually parts of one enormous dead creature. And things looked out at us from behind tables and racks. Things with inhuman faces. Human faces. Or far too many human faces. The attendant at the gas station counter, like an island of normalcy in this other world, wore two faces at once.
Glass
Welcome to the regular gas station.
Narrator
Please let me know what I can get for you.
Amber
We'll have specifics for you soon.
Silver
Summer.
Amber
I'm thinking spring. I'm a try again to see if they rhyme. I'd like to know if you control the pump outside.
Copper
I sure do.
Glass
I'd be happy to get you gassed up.
Silver
We could pay with drawings or poetry.
Glass
Oh, I don't want drawings or poetry.
Copper
I want that.
Amber
I don't know what you.
Glass
That we can't see where you're pointing.
Amber
That you're talking about that kite at a different stall.
Copper
Yes.
Glass
Give me that and I'll get you some gas.
Copper
The spring attendant gestured across the market to a stall. We could only half see the kite they wanted. A large red Betta fish suspended in the air, was visible behind another display. It Took me a moment to realize it was a betta fish. At first glance, it looked like an open wound hovering over the market.
Silver
All right, we'll go get that kite for you.
Copper
Back in a sec.
Glass
Why do they want something from a vendor that's barely 50ft away?
Silver
I don't know, but there's definitely something to it.
Copper
Let's just hurry so we can get back on the road.
Glass
What's the hurry, cop? You got somewhere to be?
Copper
I. I've got somewhere better to be.
Glass
Good one.
Copper
There were too many smells in the air to even begin picking them out individually. I smelled meat, grass, something sour and bitter, something smoky.
Glass
It was this one they wanted, right?
Copper
The kite stall didn't have a single shelf. Every one of their pieces was suspended in the air somehow. It was deeply upsetting that in spite of the soft air currents inside the cave like maze, not a single one was moving. And the only thing that made it resemble a stall at all and not a cloud of kites flash frozen in time, was a small table upon which sat what I could only assume was the vendor, who was no more than 2ft tall, obscured in a robe that shadowed their face completely, but showed what looked like huge cat ears beneath the fabric.
Glass
Greetings. You're selling kites?
Tiny Vendor
Just tell me what the you want. Well, what kind of you want?
Copper
I won't answer any questions unless.
Tiny Vendor
Damn spring.
Glass
My apologies. I thought none of your kind ever swore.
Tiny Vendor
Yeah, well, this one does. You're going to stand there and waste my time or you're going to buy some and hand over the squishy toys.
Silver
The squishy toys?
Tiny Vendor
Listen, I only deal in squishy toys from the stand over there. See them cute little squishy things over there? You squish them in your hands, they get hair all over. You know what I'm talking about. Anyways, you bring me my shit, I'll give you your shit. Bada bing, bada boom.
Silver
Oh, just a minute, darling. Found a catch, y'all.
Copper
They're gonna make us run around this place all day, aren't they?
Silver
Seems that way. Yep.
Glass
Sweet. I love it here.
Copper
What do we do now?
Silver
There's only one thing we can do.
Amber
Follow the chain.
Silver
We're following the chain. Stay focused, y'all. I know everybody wants something out of this place, but we'll be here forever if we don't keep our heads on straight.
Copper
So we followed the chain first to a saccharine pastel toy stall being manned by someone who could be best described as surprising. They sent us to a Stall selling butter sculptures.
Podcast Announcer
And for our special customers who like to eat themselves.
Narrator
This one is a sculpture of you.
Glass
It does look like me. It's true.
Copper
Who sent us to? We have a truth open, Sandalman, and if you're interested.
Silver
No. No, thank you.
Copper
Who sent us to.
Silver
I. I don't know what to do about this one, y'all.
Glass
Are they selling the baby? Of course not, Copper. The baby's the vendor. Show some respect. Hey, Glass, Look. Divination stuff that stall over there. Hmm.
Amber
Oh, cool.
Glass
I wish you'd actually tell me what's going on. I know something's up.
Amber
There's nothing. I'll get over it.
Glass
If I were the one acting like this, you wouldn't let it go.
Amber
Yeah, but you will let it go. And I'd be happier if you did.
Glass
It isn't me, is it?
Amber
No, it's not you. It's my fault.
Glass
Fine.
Silver
Hell.
Glass
What? You talked to the baby?
Silver
The baby wants stuff we have. The baby ain't sending us off to hell knows where.
Copper
Amber, the backpack.
Glass
Yep. What do they need?
Silver
Two drawings in both the white cans.
Copper
Oh, I was going to use those.
Silver
We'll get some new ones somewhere cheaper.
Copper
You. Huh?
Glass
What?
Copper
Did you say something?
Glass
No.
Copper
Oh, I thought I heard.
Silver
All right, we got our. What are these?
Amber
Thumb screws.
Glass
What? No, they're not. Thumb screws are the big screws with the thing on the end so you can take them out with your hands.
Amber
Thumb screws. The torture device.
Silver
Oh, come on, y'all. You don't got all day.
Copper
Why was a baby selling a torture device?
Glass
A better question. Why was that baby willing to trade a whole torture device for two of Silver's drawings of trees?
Silver
My tree drawings are worth a hundred torture devices, thank you very much.
Mystery Vendor
Hey, I have what you're looking for.
Copper
I have everything I need, thank you.
Mystery Vendor
I have spell components. You need candles, right?
Copper
Silver.
Mystery Vendor
I have everything you need.
Copper
I don't know how I didn't notice it before. It must have been the largest booth in the entire labyrinth. Shelves upon shelves, layered miles back. But I knew that was impossible. I had been behind this exact stall in the alley on the other side. So I knew it didn't extend back into infinity. But there it was. And there it did. Are you. You seem very human.
Mystery Vendor
There are plenty of humans in here, just like you.
Copper
Okay.
Mystery Vendor
You said you. You said you need spell components. I have spell components. What do you need specifically? I have anything you need.
Copper
Besides the white candles. I guess I could use some more salt.
Mystery Vendor
Let me check. Here. I Have those. I have all of those. You're in luck. We have a lot of that in stock.
Copper
Great. But I. I need to find my party, and I don't want to get sent around all over again.
Mystery Vendor
Sit in my chair.
Copper
What?
Mystery Vendor
You can have whatever you want if you just sit in my chair for a couple of minutes. I'll throw in these along with your spell components.
Copper
I wasn't watching closely enough. It was like sleight of hand magic as they pulled a handful of objects off one of the shelves. Looking directly at the multitude of items stacked on every surface was overwhelming. But as I concentrated, I saw spell components. The exact ones I used the most. Art supplies, musical instruments, divination tools, maps. Are those. Those look like seashells.
Mystery Vendor
They are real ones. Right off the edge of the ocean.
Copper
I didn't know the ocean was still there.
Mystery Vendor
It's hard to reach. You may never see these again. You can make magic no human has seen since the rise.
Copper
Since the what?
Mystery Vendor
You know, since. Since the.
Glass
Oh, yeah.
Copper
I call it something different, I guess.
Mystery Vendor
Offer stands. Might be your last shot to ever lay your hands on one.
Copper
I don't want seashells.
Mystery Vendor
What do you want? I have everything you want.
Copper
I want to reach the somewhere better. I'm not sitting in your chair no matter what you have in stock.
Mystery Vendor
Only for a second. Only. Only for a second. Just a second. I've been here for so long. Please.
Copper
No. Thank you.
Mystery Vendor
No, no. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Please don't.
Copper
Thanks for your time.
Mystery Vendor
I have your memories. All of them. I could give them all back. Even the memories about the fifth one.
Copper
What fifth one?
Mystery Vendor
The other one in your party.
Copper
What do you. I don't know what you mean. That's.
Mystery Vendor
That's a photograph of you. All five of you.
Copper
There are only four of us.
Mystery Vendor
Look at the photograph. One, two, three. There's you.
Copper
Five. That person looks like me.
Mystery Vendor
But different and older.
Copper
Why do they look so much like me? Who is that?
Mystery Vendor
I could give it back.
Glass
What?
Mystery Vendor
Every memory that was taken away from you. I could put it all back. I could put it back right now. All you have to do is take my place.
Copper
No. I'm sorry, but there's somewhere I need to be.
Mystery Vendor
Wait, wait, wait. You need to know. You need to know what happened.
Silver
Please. Please don't leave me here.
Copper
I can't keep doing this.
Silver
I can't. Copper. There you are.
Amber
We've been looking for who? Squeaker.
Copper
I got distracted. Did we pay for the gas yet?
Glass
Are you good, Copper?
Copper
I'm fine. We should go.
Silver
You sure. You look a little shook up.
Copper
Yeah, Silver, I got separated from the group and it was a little upsetting, that's all.
Silver
All right.
Amber
Well, Copper, we're glad to have you back.
Glass
And, yeah, we paid for the gas and they're gonna let us fill up our water, too.
Copper
Good. Let's go.
Glass
You really should have grabbed something from that divination stand. What did Aster decide they like? Like the Magic 8 Ball now? You've been really quiet for a while.
Amber
I'm okay. Just. Just start.
Glass
Would you tell me if you weren't. Oh, Okay.
Copper
I don't understand. And you could seem so comfortable in a place like this.
Silver
Really? You don't feel like it's getting a little easier?
Copper
No, I don't, H. I think we're.
Silver
Getting used to it, that's all. Bound to happen over time.
Copper
We shouldn't be getting used to it. We should be looking for the somewhere better.
Silver
The somewhere better ain't going to fix all our problems. Car.
Copper
Did we used to have five people?
Silver
What?
Copper
Did we used to have five people in the car?
Silver
No, I don't think so. I think I'd remember a whole other person being with us.
Copper
Just like you think you'll remember summer every year and then we never do.
Silver
Summer's different, Copper. It's always been the four of us. Probably always will be, too.
Copper
You promise?
Silver
Of course I promise. No folks ever gonna take you away from me.
Glass
How do I get this dang door open?
Amber
You push on it. It bolts from the other side.
Glass
Okay. Sure. Thanks. Come on, guys. We're burning daylight.
Silver
We're coming. We're coming.
Podcast Announcer
Hymns for the Road is a podcast written and Produced by Anna McGuire, starring Maurice Thomas as Silver, Pao Pong and Iban as Glass. Grizz Sibonek as Amber, Tabitha Bardal as Copper, and featuring Autumn Toler as the spring attendant. Joe Walker as tiny vendor, Mason Brzezinski as mystery vendor, Anna McGuire as butter vendor, and Tom Schalk as unfortunate. Original music by Joshua David Mitchell. This episode's hymn is God's Gonna Cut yout Down by Odetta. Sign up for our newsletter@hodgepodgeaudio.com or support our work on Patreon.com Hodgepodgeaudio thank you for listening.
Narrator
Fall in love with low prices. All in the Fred Meyer app. Buy two, get three free on delicious 12 packs of Coca Cola, Pepsi or seven. Find low prices on thousands of items like sparkling ice water, Kroger brand chips and more, all with your card. Shop these deals at your local Kroger today or click the screen now to download the Fred Meyer app to save big today. Fred Meyer Fresh for everyone. Prices and product availability subject to change restrictions apply. See site for details.
Hymns for the Road - Episode 24: The Bazaar
Release Date: February 8, 2025
Host/Author: Hodgepodge Audio
Title: The Bazaar
Description: Four survivors of a magical apocalypse navigate a fantastical wasteland, encountering otherworldly creatures and surreal landscapes in their quest for safety and meaning.
In Episode 24, titled "The Bazaar," the survivors—Glass, Silver, Copper, and Amber—encounter a mysterious gas station that serves as an entry point to a sprawling, enigmatic marketplace known as The Bazaar. This episode delves deep into the dynamics of the group as they grapple with limited resources, internal tensions, and the lure of magical exchanges within The Bazaar.
As the group's vehicle runs critically low on fuel, they spot a glowing gas station up an empty off-ramp. Copper narrates the eerie ambiance:
Copper (02:23): "I want more spell components."
The gas station's exterior is described as vaguely familiar yet unsettling, with garbled signage and pale gray cinder block structures. The atmosphere is tense as Glass questions the necessity of using signals in an empty space, highlighting the group's desperation.
Opting to refuel, the group decides to enter the gas station despite mounting reservations, primarily voiced by Silver:
Silver (03:44): "I got a bad feeling about this place."
Upon entering, they are greeted by a bright yet disorienting interior filled with rows of vendor stalls. Copper describes the surreal environment:
Copper (05:39): "The interior was a maze... It was like a mirrored version of this place somewhere else in the world."
The group encounters half-present figures and a surreal marketplace that feels both vibrant and threatening.
The survivors split tasks to maximize efficiency:
The tension escalates when they interact with various vendors. Notably, the spring attendant requires creative exchanges:
Silver (08:52): "We could pay with drawings or poetry."
However, Glass resists unconventional trade methods, leading to friction within the group.
While attempting to trade for gas, the group meets a diminutive vendor whose aggressive demeanor complicates negotiations:
Tiny Vendor (11:16): "You're going to stand there and waste my time or you're going to buy some and hand over the squishy toys."
This exchange forces the group to undertake additional tasks, prolonging their stay in The Bazaar and heightening the stakes.
Copper discovers a massive spell components stall, hinting at deeper magic within The Bazaar:
Copper (15:34): "They said, 'You can make magic no human has seen since the rise.'"
This revelation suggests that The Bazaar holds powerful secrets and resources essential for their survival.
A pivotal moment occurs when Copper engages with a mysterious vendor offering to restore lost memories and reunite the group:
Mystery Vendor (16:57): "I could put back all your memories. All you have to do is take my place."
This supernatural proposition tests Copper's resolve and loyalty, leading to emotional turmoil within the group.
Faced with the offer, Copper vehemently declines, prioritizing the group's unity over personal gains:
Copper (17:42): "I want to reach the somewhere better. I'm not sitting in your chair no matter what you have in stock."
This decision reinforces the group's commitment to their journey despite the alluring dangers of The Bazaar.
Post-negotiation, underlying tensions surface. Copper questions the reality of their group size:
Copper (20:12): "Did we used to have five people in the car?"
Silver reassures him, highlighting the fragile trust among the survivors:
Silver (20:35): "Of course I promise. No folks ever gonna take you away from me."
These interactions deepen the characters' backstories and hint at unresolved mysteries within their past.
With the gas secured and resources obtained, the group prepares to leave The Bazaar. Glass expresses concern over missed opportunities:
Glass (20:52): "You really should have grabbed something from that divination stall."
However, the pressing need to continue their journey outweighs the temptation to explore further, setting the stage for future challenges.
Copper: Exhibits skepticism and a strong sense of responsibility, particularly when confronted with the Mystery Vendor's offer. His reluctance to trust easily underscores his protective nature towards the group.
Silver: Acts as the mediator, striving to maintain group cohesion amidst external pressures. Her interactions reveal a deep-seated desire to keep the group intact.
Glass: Demonstrates curiosity and a penchant for exploration, sometimes clashing with others' cautious approaches. His reflective nature is evident in his interactions with Amber.
Amber: Displays vulnerability, balancing the practical needs (like using the bathroom) with emotional support for the group. Her relationship with Glass hints at unresolved personal tensions.
Survival vs. Morality: The group's decisions reflect the constant tension between ensuring survival and maintaining ethical standards in a post-apocalyptic world.
Memory and Identity: The promise of restoring memories by the Mystery Vendor underscores the importance of the past in shaping their identities and decisions.
Trust and Unity: The interactions highlight the fragile trust within the group, essential for navigating the unpredictable dangers of The Bazaar.
Episode 24, "The Bazaar," intricately weaves together themes of trust, survival, and the allure of power within a fantastical setting. The survivors' experiences within The Bazaar not only test their unity but also set the groundwork for deeper explorations into their personal histories and the enigmatic world they inhabit. As the group moves forward, the choices they make here will undoubtedly influence their path toward the elusive "somewhere better."
Credits:
Featured Hymn: "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Odetta
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