Anna & the
Junuer Dog
A n e x t r a c t f r o m t h e n e w b o o k b y G e o f f c ox
i l lu s t r at e d b y r o h a n da n i e l e a s o n
Illustrations by Rohan Daniel Eason www.illustrationweb.com/rohaneason
Wrapped in a cormorant feather coat, Anna followed the Captain’s
lantern. The sea roared loud in her ears, and salt pray sung her
face. Across the saggng bridge they went, as lamprey and hagfish,
lungfish and dog fish, sang from the wreckage-choked waters
below, the aching, arching waves of their voices lamenting in the
black-pearled air.
And now Anna sood before the catarac, and is waters rushed
down and leapt up from the maelstrom, cascading. Through
the churning foam, a Goat Stork emerged, and sood where the
Captain had been, its tangled wings sark agains ice-white water,
is curved horns gleaming, and beckoned her up, up, up through
mis mouth and droplet veil, up until, at the top, before her rose
the Junuer Dog.
Anna stared at its vast red haunch, the straining boughs of is legs,
the ravenous, dagger-toothed pli of its muzzle. Anna Stood and
the Juniper Dog saw and tore its clawed feet loose from the soil.
As i crouched before and over her, is growl the world’s thunder,
her heart full of terror, her heart full of joy, Anna threw her arms
around is neck . . .
Extract published by kind permission of Geoff Cox and Black Maps Press
Limited edition copies for sale from http://blackmaps.org/#/art/16
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