The Devil and the Dark Water

by Stuart Turton

but the curse of authority was that you could never admit to losing it.

“Questions are swords and answers are shields,” persisted Sammy, still staring at Sara. “I’m begging you, armor yourself.

Sammy smiled tightly. “It’s been a long time since anybody mistook me for stupid,

Superstition, he thought. It’s the only thing keeping us afloat.

“Anger makes good men stubborn and stubborn men petty. They won’t hear you.”

“Ghosts are God’s problem. The living must deal with me,”

“Strong is strong and weak is weak, and it doesn’t matter if you wear breeches or skirts if you’re the latter. Life will hammer you flat.”