Silas has worked for Death in Nevada for 150 years. He gets Christmas and Christmas Eve off. Only this year, his substitute finds him in a Las Vegas casino. His substitute, who is little more than a boy, a boy whose task terrifies him.

If the boy finishes the task, he’ll have a permanent job. If he doesn’t, a dozen kids will live in agony.

Silas hates the choice. He wants to tell the boy, That’s the job. Get used to it. But he can’t abandon the poor boy on Christmas…

Chosen as one of the best short mystery stories of 2007.

“Substitutions,” by New York Times bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch, is free on this website for one week only. The story’s also available as an ebook through various online retailers here. And if you want to get in on the excitement of the WMG Holiday Spectacular 2019, which brings a new holiday story to your inbox every day through to New Year’s Day, click here.

Substitutions

Kristine Kathryn Rusch

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