When Rabbit Howls

by Truddi Chase

This person who is speaking, said Twelve with great politeness, is he the head of our Troop Formation? Some say that it is so. There was a smile beneath the brogue. But there be no competition here. T’a man, we are equal as individuals. No one o’ us could stand without the others; and even i’ we could, we would n’ want to. Something awful occurred to Twelve. She had to ask because what she was receiving from this person who had replaced the Outrider was so peculiar, so all encompassing, so terribly without end, without beginning. Are you what they call god? No, darlin’. The brogue was rich and the smile had widened to its fullest point. Believe as y’ will, but god, if he be a’tal, is not a single, far-off entity teachin’ through fear those less than he be. There is nothin’ t’ teach. The knowledge is already inside each man on earth, merely waitin’ t’ be tapped. Are you that knowledge? Aye. Some say that it is so. My god, said Twelve. What an enormous ego you have. Aye. This is true. But I am no more than every man himself possesses. Therefore, I do not strut my ego. I merely use it.