The Line Between Here and Gone by Andrea Kane - Chapter Sampler
Content
gfdrcg
Kgfc TMC JHFC BCT_CCF MCRC GFD OAFC
DHD XAS ^SR@MGPC TMHP BAAK _HTMAST G @AYCR1 Hi yau dhd, yau smaujd bc gwgrc ht hs stajcf prapcrty gs gs ht wgs rcpartcd ”ufsajd gfd dcstraycd‘ by g rctghjcr. Fchtmcr tmc gutmar far f ar tmc pubjhsmcr mgs rc`chvcd gfy pgyecft iar tmhs baak. Ihrst ^ubjhsmcd 2>72 Ihrst Gustrgjhgf ^gpcrbg`k Cdhthaf 2>72 HPBF 8?= 7827?8333 = TMC JHFC BCT_CCF MCRC GFD OAFC © 2>72 by Rghfbaw @affc`thaf Cftcrprhscs, Hf` ^mhjhpphfc @apyrhomt 2>72 Gustrgjhgf @apyrhomt 2>72 Fcw \cgjgfd @apyrhomt 2>72 Cx`cpt iar usc hf gfy rcvhcw, tmc rcpradu`thaf ar uthjhsgthaf ai tmhs wark hf wmajc ar hf pgrt hf gfy iare by gfy cjc`trafh`, ec`mgfh`gj ar atmcr ecgfs, faw kfawf ar mcrcgitcr hfvcftcd, hf`judhfo xcraorgpmy, pmata`apyhfo gfd rc`ardhfo, ar hf gfy hfiaregthaf stargoc ar rctrhcvgj systce, hs iarbhddcf whtmaut tmc pcrehsshaf ai tmc pubjhsmcr, Ehrg® Baaks, Ja`kcd Bgo ?>>2, @mgtswaad D.@. F.P._., Gustrgjhg 2>9?. Tmhs baak hs sajd sublc`t ta tmc `afdhthaf tmgt smgjj fat, by wgy ai trgdc ar atmcrwhsc, bc jcft, rcsajd, mhrcd aut ar atmcrwhsc `hr`ujgtcd whtmaut tmc pr har `afscft ai tmc pubjhsmcr hf gfy iare ai bhfdhfo ar `avcr atmcr tmgf tmgt hf wmh`m ht hs pubjhsmcd gfd whtmaut g shehjgr `afdhthaf hf`judhfo tmhs `afdhthaf bchfo hepascd af tmc subscqucft pur`mgscr. Gjj rhomts rcscrvcd hf`judhfo tmc rhomt ai rcpradu`thaf rcpradu`thaf hf wmajc ar hf pgrt hf gfy iare. Tmhs cdhthaf hs pubjhsmcd hf grrgfocecft whtm Mgr jcquhf Baaks P.G.. Tmhs hs g wark ai `thaf. Fgecs, `mgrg`tcrs, pjg`cs, gfd hf`hdcfts grc chtmcr tmc pradu`t ai tmc gutmar‘s hegohfgthaf ar grc uscd `ththausjy, gfd gfy rcscebjgf`c ta g`tugj pcrsafs, jhvhfo ar dcgd, bushfcss cstgbjhsmecfts, cvcfts, ar ja`gjcs hs cfthrcjy `ahf`hdcftgj. ^ubjhsmcd by Ehrg® Baaks Jcvcj 3 73 Mcjp Ptrcct @MGTP_AAD FP_ 2>9? GSPTRGJHG EHRG® gfd tmc Ptgr `ajapmaf grc trgdcegrks uscd ufdcr jh`cfsc gfd rcohstcrcd hf Gustrgjhg, Fcw \cgjgfd, tmc Sfhtcd Ptgtcs ^gtcft & Trgdcegrk Ai`c gfd hf atmcr `auftrhcs. ^rhftcd gfd baufd hf Gustrgjhg by Orhif ^rcss
GSTMAR FATC
Tmc Pmhffc`a`k Hfdhgf Rcscrvgthaf hs ja`gtcd af tmc cgst shdc ai Pmhffc`a`k Bgy hf tmc tawf ai Pautmg Pautmgeptaf. eptaf. _mhjc _mh jc tmc Pmhffca`k Hfdhgf Fgthaf‘s ogehfo gutmarhty hs pjgffhfo iar g jafo-gwghtcd `gshfa, tmgt `gshfa dacs fat yct cxhst. _mcf ht dacs, ht wh whjj jj fat bc buhjt af tmchr rcscrvgthaf, rcscr vgthaf, wmh`m hs tmchr gf`cstrg g f`cstrgjj maec, but but cjscwmcrc af af Jafo Hsjgfd. Hsjg fd. Tmcrciarc, tmc `gshfa hf Tmc Jhfc J hfc Bctwccf Mcrc gfd gfd Oafc hs hs g ih`ththaus pjg`c, tmc pradu`t ai tmhs wrhtcr‘s icrthjc hegohfgthaf.
G@KFA_JCDOECFTP
G mast ai pcapjc `aftrhbutcd ta ey wrhthfo tmhs baak, gfd H wgft ta cxprcss cxprcs s ey gpprc`hgthaf ta cg`m gfd cvcry afc ai tmce iar tmchr thec, tmchr cxpcrthsc, gfd tmchr tajcrgf`c ai g favcjhst fav cjhst wma wma‘‘s g rcjcftjcss pcric`t pcric`thafhst. hafhst. Ey tmgfks oa aut ta< Gfocjg Bcjj, ^ubjh` Gi Giighr ighrss Ppc`hgj Ppc`hgjhst, hst, IBH Aiih`c Aii h`c ai ai ^ubjh` ^ubjh` Giighr Gi ighrs—gfd s—gfd tmc rcgj-jhic cquhvgjcft cquhvgjcft ai g ighry ighr y oadeatmcr! oadeatmcr! Iarecr PPG Lamf Egfdrgihfg, IBH Sfdcr`avcr @aardhfgtar/Pcfshthvc Apcrgthafs ^raorge PPG Lgecs E`Fgegrg, E`Fgegrg, IBH I BH Bcmgvhargj Bcmgvhargj Gfgjyshs G fgjyshs Sfht 2 Dr. Eartaf @awgf, @mhci, Gjjcroy Heeufajaoy gfd Bjaad gfd Egrraw Trgfspjgft Dhvhshaf, S@PI @mhjdrcf‘s
Masphtgj
PG Jgurg Rab Rabhfsaf, hfsaf, Pcfhar Tcge Tcge Jcgdcr, J cgdcr, Cvhdcf`c Rcspafsc Tcge, IBH Fcwgrk Ihcjd Aiih`c PPG Rcx Pta`kmge, ^raorge Egfgocr iar IBH Jgbargtary‘s Iarcfsh` @gfhfc ^raorge PG Lgecs Egroajhf, IBH Aiih`c ai ^ubjh` Giighrs, Fcw Xark X ark Ihcjd Aiih`c Aii h`c PPG Ogvhf Pmcg, IBH _mhtc @ajjgr Pqugd, Jafo Hsjgfd Rcshdcft Gocf`y Pmgraf J. Duff, Dcpgrtecft ai ^cdhgtrh`s, Mcegtajaoy/ Af`ajaoy, Sfhvcrshty ai @mh`goa Dctc`thvc Ehkc Ajhvcr, rcthrcd FX^D Pheaf Larfg, awfcr ai Pheaf‘s Bcg`m Bgkcry @giè, _cstmgeptaf Bcg`m, Jafo Hsjgfd, Fcw Xark Eh`mgcj Orccfc, Pheaf‘s Bcg`m Bgkcry @giè gfd taur ouhdc ou hdc ai ‚Ge ‚Gegfdg‘ gfdg‘s― s― gpgrtecft gpgrt ecft Gfd ta g vcry spc`hgj `arc ai pcapjc< Gdge _hjsaf, tmc bcst (gfd east dccpjy dccpjy ehsscd) ehs scd) cdhtarhgj pgrtfcr gfy gutmar `aujd gsk iar Ygjcrhc Orgy, wma stcppcd hf gt tmc `rhshs maur gfd ihfhsmcd tmc pra`css whtm org`c, cftmushgse gfd `aeehtecft Gfdrcg @hrhjja gfd @mrhsthfg Maorcbc, ey hf`rcdhbjc gocfts gfd dhcmgrd gdva`gtcs ^cooy Oardhlf, Oard hlf, tmc quhct iar`c ai ai fgturc fgtu rc wma stgys hf tmc bg`koraufd gfd eavcs eauftghfs Gfd east ai gjj ey igehjy, wma, cvcry dgy gfd hf cvcry wgy, ohvc ec tmc javc, tmc hf`cfthvc gfd tmc `rcgthvc hfput ta egkc cg`m baak tmc vcry bcst ht `gf bc. Tmgfk Tmgf k yau gjj. gj j. Xau Xau‘‘rc tmc vcry vcr y bcst ai tmc bcst.
Ta Eyrfg gfd Bab, wma mcjpcd ec brhfo tmc Mgeptafs ta jhic, wma g`tcd gs `afsujtgfts cxtrgardhfghrc iar tmc ycgr ht taak ec ta `rcgtc tmhs favcj, gfd wmasc javc gfd suppart ecgf tmc warjd ta ec.
@MG^TCR AFC
Dc`cebcr Egfmgttgf
Gegfdg Ojcgsaf ocftjy ra`kcd mcr hfigft saf hf mcr gres. G fcw bgby bgby wgs trujy tru jy tmc rcgii hre hregthaf gthaf ai jhic. Hi smc smc dhdf‘t dhdf‘t
kfaw tmgt tm gt bciarc tmhs tmh s eaecft, smc kfcw ht faw. faw. Mc wgs mcr `mhjd, mcr ehrg`jc. Mcr rcspafshbhjhty rcspafshbhjht y. Pmc mgdf‘t mgdf‘t pjgffcd pjgf fcd af ig`hfo ig`h fo eatmcrmaad gjafc. gjafc. Hf ig`t, i g`t,
wmcf ^guj mgd dhsgppcg dh sgppcgrcd rcd irae tmc ph`turc, ph`tu rc, smc mgdf‘t mgdf‘t cvcf kfawf smc wgs prcofgft. Egybc hi smc mgd, egybc hi smc `aujd mgvc tajd mhe, tmhfos waujd mgvc turfcd aut dhiicr-
cftjy. But tmcy mgdf‘t. Gfd faw tmc wchomt ai tmc warjd wgs af mcr smaujdcrs.
GFDRCG KGFC
=
Dc`hshafs mgd ta bc egdc. ^rcssurc smc‘d fcvcr cvcf hegohfcd. Gfd g bhttcrswcct pghf tmgt `gec cvcry thec smc mcjd Lusthf hf h f mcr gres. Pmc tau`mcd mhs dawfy mcgd whtm afc ihfocr, strakcd tmc pcg`m iuzz ai mhs mghr. Gs smc wmhspcrcd saitjy ta mhe,
mhs cycs apcfcd whdc gfd mc stgrcd gt mcr hftcftjy, vhshbjy igs`hfgtcd by tmc saufd ai mcr vah`c. Pmc ogzcd hfta tmasc
cycs—^guj‘s cycs—gfd mcr `mcst thomtcfcd. Tmcy wcrc g jhomtcr brawf tmgf ^guj‘s, prabgbjy bc`gusc tmcy mgd yct ta egturc ta tmchr truc `ajar. But tmc smgpc, tmc jhds, cvcf
tmc tmh`k irhfoc ir hfoc ai jgsmcs—tmasc wcrc wcrc gjj gj j ^guj‘s. ^guj‘s. Gs wgs mhs m hs fasc, g thfy vcrshaf ai ^guj ^guj‘‘s bajd, strghomt strgho mt fasc whtm tmc sjcfdcr fastrhjs. Mc cvcf mgd tmc dhepjc hf mhs `mcck tmgt wgs ^guj‘s. Atmcr tmgf mhs oajdcf-brawf mghr `ajar gfd segjj,
purscd eautm—batm ai wmh`m mc‘d hfmcrhtcd irae mcr—mc wgs vcry vcr y eu`m ^guj ^guj‘‘s saf. Gfd cvcf gt tmrcc tm rcc wccks ajd, mc
wgs dcvcjaphfo g pcrsafgjhty—cgsyoahfo jhkc ^guj, hfquhshthvc jhkc mcr. mcr. Mc spcft spcft maurs stgrhfo stgrh fo gt mhs i hfocrs, apcfhfo gfd `jashfo tmce whtm g igs`hfgtcd cxprcsshaf. Gfd mc wgs gjwgys jaakhfo jaakhfo graufd, sccehfojy trgfsi t rgfsihxcd hxcd by tmc warjd. warjd.
Tmgfk Tmg fk Oad mc dhdf‘ dhd f‘tt kfaw maw eu`m ai g bgttjci hcjd mhs warjd rcgjjy wgs.
‚Es. Ojcgsaf1― G yaufo fursc tau`mcd mcr ocftjy af tmc smaujdcr. ‚_my daf‘t daf‘t yau oct saectmhfo saectmhf o ta cgt1 Egybc tgkc tg kc g wgjk1 wg jk1 Xau mgvcf‘t mgvcf‘t dafc chtmcr cht mcr gjj g jj dgy. dgy.― ― Pmc rcg`mcd iar tmc bgby.. ‚Lusthf bgby ‚Lusth f whjj wh jj bc hf oaad mgfds. m gfds. Xau Xau‘‘vc oat ta tgkc t gkc `grc ai yaurscji ar yau waf‘t bc gbjc ta tgkc `grc ai mhe.― Fuebjy, Gegfdg faddcd. Pmc mcjd Lusthf iar afc earc brhci, dcspcrgtc eaecft, tmcf khsscd mhs sait `mcck gfd mgfdcd mhe avcr ta tmc fursc.
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
8
Maw egfy thecs Maw t hecs mgd smc dafc tmgt hf h f tmc pgst icw dgys1 Maw Ma w egfy eg fy earc thecs th ecs waujd smc mgvc ta da ht1 Tcgrs dgepcfhfo mcr jgsmcs, smc rasc, rctrg`hfo mcr stcps tmrauom tmc t mc rcvcrsc rcvcrsc hsajgthaf hsajgt haf ufht gfd aut ai ai Pjagfc Kcttcr Kcttcr-hfo‘s ^cdhgtrh` Bafc Egrraw Trgfspjgft Sfht. Pmc strhppcd aii mcr egsk, ojavcs gfd oawf, gfd tasscd tmce hfta tmc dhs`grd bhf, kfawhfo smc‘d mgvc ta rcpcgt tmc sgec stcrhjhzgthaf pra`css wmcf smc rcturfcd. Pmc staad tmcrc iar g eaecft, mcgd bcft, tgkhfo dccp, `gjehfo brcgtms ta brhfo mcrscji ufdcr `aftraj. Tmc fursc wgs rhomt. Pmc‘d bc ai fa usc ta Lusthf Lusth f hi smc icjj ta phc`cs. Gfd smc‘d dafc cfauom cfauom ai tmgt gjrcgdy. _gj gjkh khfo fo dawf tmc `arrhdar, `arr hdar, stcpphfo stcpphfo hfta tmc cjcvgtar, gfd dcs`cfdhfoo ta tmc eg dcs`cfdhf eghf hf jcvcj, Ge Gegfdg gfdg icjt tmc pmysh`gj pghf tcgrhfo tcgr hfo hfshdc hf shdc mcr mcr tmgt gjwgys g jwgys g``aepgfhcd g``aepgfhcd g scpgrgthaf irae Lusthf. Pmc mgtcd jcgvhfo mhe. m he. Pmc drcgdcd `aehfo `aehf o bg`k. Autshdc tmc masphtgj, tmc warjd jaakcd jaakcd surrcgjjy surrcg jjy faregj. fare gj. Ht wgs dgrk. d grk. Pmc mgdf‘ mgd f‘tt `mc`kcd mcr wgt`m wgt`m hf maurs, but ht mgd m gd ta bc gitcr chomt a‘`ja`k. Pthjj, trgiih` spcd up gfd dawf tmc Fcw Xark @hty strccts. ^cdcstrhgfs strajjcd tmc shdcwgjks. Marfs mafkcd. mafkcd. @mrhstegs @mrhste gs jhomts jho mts bjhfkcd irae orccf o rccf gfd rcd ta g rghfbaw ai `ajars, tmcf bg`k goghf. Maw `aujd cvcrytmhfo scce sa faregj wmcf mcr cfthrc warjd wgs `ruebjhf `ru ebjhfoo ta phc`cs1 phc`cs1 _mcf cvcrytmh cvcry tmhfo fo smc `grcd gbaut gba ut wgs upstgh upstghrs rs struoojh struo ojhfo fo ta survhvc surv hvc11 Pthjj apcrgthfo af gutaphjat, Gegfdg rcg`mcd iar mcr Bjg`kBcrry gfd turfcd ht af. Pmc dhdf‘t rcgjjy `grc hi smc mgd gfy ecssgocs. ecssg ocs. But smc mgd ta `mc`k—cvcf `mc`k—cvcf hi ht wgs lust ta scck aut saec phc-hf-tmc-sky ehrg`jc tmgt waujd gfswcr mcr prgycrs. Fa ehrg`jc. Lust tmc usugj `rgp irae tmc usugj saur`cs—
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GFDRCG KGFC
starc sgjcs, praeathafs, pmatalaurfgjhst egogzhfc shtcs. Fatmhfo pcrsafgj. pcrsafg j. Cvcryafc Cvcryafc kfcw bcttcr tmgf ta batmcr mcr whtm gfytmhfo smart ai g dhrc cecrocf`y. @arrc`thaf. Tmcrc wgs afc pcrsafgj ecssgoc. Gf ceghj irae g icjjaw pmatalaurfgjhst, g irhcfd ai mcrs wma‘d bccf trgvcjhfo hftcrfgthafgjjy iar eaftms gfd waujdf‘t bc gwgrc tmgt Lusthf mgd gjrcgdy bccf barf ar tmgt mhs `afdhthaf mgd turfcd Gegfdg‘s jhic upshdc dawf. Pmc apcfcd tmc ceghj.
H‘e hf D@. H mgd ta scfd tmhs ta yau rhomt gwgy. H‘e gwgy. @guomt ht af ey `cjj pmafc ycstcrdgy. 2fd Ptrcct gt @ Ptrcct FC. Bcst qugjhty H `aujd oct. But H swcgr ht wgs ^guj. Tgkc g jaak. H kfaw k faw tmc bgby‘s duc tmhs eaftm, but tmauomt yau‘d yau‘d wgft ta scc tmhs. Gegfdg rcgd tmc wards, gfd, iar gf hfstgft, smc irazc. Tmcf smc `jh`kcd af tmc gtt gttg`mecft, g`mecft, stgrh stg rhfo fo gt tmc `cjj pmafc pmafc s`rccf gfd wghthfo iar tmc ph`turc ta jagd. Tmc eaecft ht dhd, smc ogspcd gjaud, mcr mgfd ijyhfo ta mcr eautm. Tmc hegoc wgs g jhttjc orghfy gfd wgs prabgbjy tgkcf irae i rae twcfty ygrds gwgy. gwgy. But `jcgr cfauom hi yau wcrc hfthegtcjy igehjh ige hjhgr gr whtm w htm tmc pcrsaf pmataorgpm pmataorgpmcd. cd. Gfd smc wgs. Ht jaakcd jaakcd lust jhkc j hkc ^guj. Pmc zaaecd hf gs `jasc gs smc `aujd, tgkhfo hf cvcry dctghjj ai tmc egf wma faw tgh faw ihj i hjjcd jcd mcr cfthrc s`rccf. Dcgr Oad, ht wgs ^guj. G tsufgeh tsufge h ai `afijh`thfo `afi jh`thfo ceathafs cfoujicd mcr. mcr. But smc bgttjcd mcr wgy tmrauom tm rauom tmce. Bc`gusc afc tmauomt c`jhpscd gjj tmc rcst.
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
77
_mgt `aujd tmhs ecgf iar Lusthf1 Ht wgs g ecrc rgy ai mapc, g `aepjcx jafo smat. But, ta Gegfdg, ht wgs g jhicjhfc. jh icjhfc. Pmc iuebjcd hf mcr tatc bgo iar tmc s`rgp ai pgpcr smc‘d bccf `grryhfo `grr yhfo grauf g raufd d shf`c jgst Gprhj. Ht wgs wcjj pgst bushfcss maurs but smc dhdf‘ d hdf‘tt `grc. `g rc. Pmc kfcw tmcy warkcd graufd tmc `ja`k wmcf fc`cssgry. Pmc waujdf‘t `gjj; smc waujdf‘t ohvc tmce g `mgf`c ta turf t urf mcr gwgy gwgy. Gs smc ufiajdcd tmc `ruepjcd pgpcr, smc ygfkcd aut tmc i hjc iajdcr iajdcr smc smc `grrhcd `grr hcd whtm mcr gt gt gjj gj j thecs—l th ecs—lust ust hf `gsc smc cvcr iajjawcd tmrauom af mcr hdcg. Cvcrytmhfo wgs hf tmcrc. Gfd ht wgsf wg sf‘‘t lust gf g f hdcg gfyearc. g fyearc. Pmc prcsscd g spccd dhgj fuebcr af mcr pmafc—g `gjj ta mcr ajdcst ajdcst gfd dcgrcst irhcfd, i rhcfd, Ecjhssg, wma jhvcd hf EgfmgtEgf mgttgf gfd wma waujd fcvcr jct mcr dawf. ‚Jyssg,― smc sg sghd hd wmcf smc mcgrd mcr irhcfd‘s ir hcfd‘s vah`c. ‚H ‚H fccd yau ta `aec `aec avcr avcr gfd rcjhcvc ec. ec. Ht‘s Ht‘s fat Lusthf. Mc‘s Mc‘s akgy. akgy. But `gf yau `aec faw1― faw1― Pmc sgoocd sgo ocd whtm w htm rcjhci gt tmc t mc rcpjy. rcpjy. ‚Tmgfks. Ht‘s gf cecrocf`y.―
@MG^TCR T_A
@ajd ghr. Bgrc trccs. @mrhst @mrhstegs egs jhomts twhf t whfkj kjhfo hfo up gfd dawf dawf tmc Trhbc`g Trhbc`g strcct. Gt 8<73 p.e. hf tmhs rcshdcfthgj sc`thaf ai Egfmgttgf, tmc iaur-stary brawfstafc tmgt mauscd tmc aiih`cs ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts wgs g sc`judcd mgvcf, hsajgtcd irae tmc lufojc ai tmc `hty. Twa swccphfo whjjaw trccs egrkcd chtmcr shdc ai
tmc brawfstafc, gfd g scfsc ai pcg`c egdc ht scce earc jhkc g maec tmgf g warkpjg`c iar Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts. Tafhomt wgs cvcf quhctcr tmgf usugj. @gscy _aads, tmc
`aepgfy prcshdcft, wgs aut majhdgy smapphfo whtm saec irhcfds. ir hcfds. East ai tmc spc`hgj spc`hgjhzcd hzcd tcge mgd tgkcf tmc fhomt aii. Tmcy wcrc gjj sthjj rc`avcrhfo irae tmc wmhrjwhfd ai `gscs
tmcy‘d tg`kjcd tg`k jcd avcr avcr tmc pgst eaftm eaftm gfd g mgji—g mgj i—gjj jj ai wmh`m
mgd bccf daehfgtcd by gf hftcfsc khdfgpphfo khdf gpphfo hfvcsthogthaf. Egr` Dcvcrcgux wgs tmc afjy af jy IH tcge ecebcr wma wgs
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
70
af-shtc. Gfd mc wgsf wg sf‘‘t warkhfo. Mc wgs wg s hf afc ai tmc t mc cepty eccthfo raaes, dahfo g mufdrcd pusm-ups, iccjhfo iccjh fo tmc swcgt sagk tmrauom mhs warkaut `jatmcs gfd maphfo tmc hftcfsc cxcr`hsc waujd mcjp whpc gwgy tmc ecftgj omasts tmgt mgd `aec bg`k, iujj iar`c, tmcsc pgst icw eaftms. Tmcy‘d stgycd quhct iar g wmh wmhjc. jc. But shf`c tmc khdfgpphf khd fgpphfo o ai tmgt jhttjc ohrj… Mc drappcd ta tmc ijaar, iarcmcgd prcsscd ta tmc `grpct, brcgtmhfo mcgvhjy. Ecearhcs `ut dccp. Cvcf iar g iarecr Fgvy PCGJ. Cspc`hgjjy iar g iarecr Fgvy PCGJ. Cvcryafc tmauomt tmauomt tmcy wcrc hepcrvhaus hepcr vhaus ta ceathafgj s`grs. s`gr s. Tmcy wcrcf‘‘t. _mgt wcrcf _m gt mc‘d sccf durhfo durhf o tmasc ycgrs ehomt e homt mgvc egdc mhe g bcttcr IBH gocft, gfd faw g vgjugbjc ecebcr ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts, but tmcy‘d tgkcf gwgy saectmhfo tmgt `aujd fcvcr bc rcstarcd. Gfd jcit saectmhfo dgrk gfd dcstru`thvc hf hts pjg`c pjg`c.. Egr`‘s mcgd `gec up gbruptjy gbrupt jy gs mc mcgrd tmc iraft daarbcjj rhfo. Ht `aujdf‘t bc afc ai tmc tcge. Tmcy gjj mgd kcys gfd kfcw tmc gjgre `adc iar tmc Mhrs`m pgd. Hfsthf`thvcjy, Egr` rcg`mcd iar tmc phstaj mc‘d pjg`cd af tmc tgbjc bcshdc mhe. Rhshfo, mc wgjkcd avcr gfd cycd tmc segjj whfdaw af tmc `aeputcr s`rccf dhspjgyhfo g vhcw ai tmc iraft daar irae tmc vhdca survchjjgf`c survchj jgf`c `gecrg. G waegf staad af tmc t mc daarstcp. Egr` prcsscd tmc t mc hftcr`ae buttaf. ‚Xcs1― ‚Xcs1― G brhci shjcf`c. ‚Hs tmhs tmc aiih`c ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts1― tmc waegf‘s vah`c gskcd. ‚Xcs.― Egr` `aujd mgvc pahftcd aut tmc rhdh`ujaus maur. But mc‘d warkcd warkcd iar tmc IBH‘s Bcmgvhargj Gfgjy G fgjyshs shs Sfht iar i hvc ycgr ycgrs. s. Mc `aujd rcgd pcapjc pcapjc gfd tafcs ai vah`c. vah`c. Gfd tmhs
74
GFDRCG KGFC
vah`c saufdcd dgzcd vah`c dg zcd gfd g fd smgkcf. ^gfh`ky ^gf h`ky.. Mc wgsf‘t wgsf‘t gbaut ta hofarc ht. ‚H…HH dhdf‘ ‚H… dhd f‘tt tmhf tm hfk k gfyafc waujd waujd bc hf. H lust prgycd yau wcrc.― wcrc. ― Mcr wards wards `afihr `afi hrecd ecd Egr`‘s Egr`‘s gsscssecft. ‚H wgs gir g irghd ghd hi H `gjjcd yau waujdf‘t gfswcr. ^jcgsc…egy H `aec hf1 Ht‘s urocft. Earc tmgf tmg f urocft. Ht‘s jhic ar dcgtm.― Egr` mgd egdc mhs dc`hshaf jafo bciarc tmc cfd ai mcr dhrc pjcg. Mc put gwgy mhs phstaj. ‚H‘e af ey wgy dawf.― Mc drgpcd g tawcj graufd mhs fc`k gfd mcgdcd iar tmc stghrs. ^raicsshafgj drcss dc`arue wgsf‘t mhom af mhs jhst rhomt faw. Mc rcg`mcd rcg`mcd tmc cftrgf`cwgy cftr gf`cwgy,, puf`mcd hf tmc gjgr g jgre e `adc gfd ufja`k uf ja`kcd cd tmc daar. Tmc waegf waegf stgfdhfo stg fdhfo tmcrc whtm g ihjc i hjc iajdcr ufdcr mcr gre wgs brufcttc gfd hf mcr ehd-tmhrt ehd-tmh rthcs, hcs, gjtmauom tmc strgh strghf f af mcr ig`c egdc mcr jaak ajdcr, gs dhd tmc dgrk `hr`jcs ufdcr mcr cycs. Pmc wgs wcgrhfo wcgrh fo g whftcr w hftcr `agt tmgt cfvcj cfvcjapcd apcd mcr bady, sa ht wgs mgrd ta egkc aut mcr buhjd. Fat ta ecfthaf tmgt smc wgs `jut`mhfo `jut`mh fo tmc `agt graufd mcr gs hi h i ht wcrc g pratc`thvc smhcjd. Pmc stgrcd stgrcd gt Egr`, tgkhfo tgkh fo hf mhs hepashfo buhjd, tmc mhom `mcckbafcs, dgrk `ajarhfo gfd grhsta`rgth` fasc mc‘d hfmcrhtcd irae mhs cxtcfshvc Ircf`m jhfcgoc, gfd tmc braadhfo, sjhomtjy sjhomt jy sjgftcd cycs tmgt rcijc`tcd rci jc`tcd mhs egtcrfgj egtcrf gj orgfdpgrcfts‘ org fdpgrcfts‘ Gshgf bg`kora bg`koraufd. ufd. Mhs iarehdgbjc iare hdgbjc gppcgrg gppcgrgf`c f`c egdc tmc waegf waegf fcrvaus, gfd smc wct mcr jhps whtm w htm tmc t mc thp ai mcr tafo t afouc. uc. ‚Xau‘ ‚Xau‘rc rc fat @gscy @g scy _aads,― smc sghd sghd,, stgthfo stgth fo tmc abvhaus. Pmc wgs fat afjy ufu fcgsy, smc wgs hf g vhshbjc stgtc ai sma`k. ‚H‘e Egr` Dcvcrcgux, @gscy‘s gssa`hgtc,― Egr` rcpjhcd hf g vah`c tmgt wgs hftcfthafgjjy hftcfthafgj jy `gje `g jehfo. hfo. ‚Gfd ‚Gfd yau grc…1― grc…1―
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
73
‚Gegfdg Ojcgsaf.― Pmc sueeafcd up mcr `aepasurc. ‚H‘e sarry ta `aec by sa jgtc. But H `aujdf‘t jcgvc tmc masphtgj ufth ufthjj faw. faw. H daf‘t daf‘t mgvc eu`m thec. ^jcgsc, `gf `g f wc tgjk1 tg jk1 H wgft ta mhrc yau.― ‚Masphtgj1 Grc yau hjj1― ‚Fa. Xcs. ^jcgsc…H fccd ta cxpjghf.― Egr` pujjcd pu jjcd tmc daar apcf gfd ocsturcd ocst urcd iar mcr ta `aec `aec hf. ‚Parry iar tmc `gsugj gtthrc. H wgsf‘t cxpc`thfo g `jhcft.― Gs mc spakc, g scrhcs ai dccp, wgrfhfo bgrks saufdcd irae gbavc. gbav c. Tmc c`ma ai pgddcd pgws gffauf`cd tmc grrhvg gr rhvgjj ai g sjcck rcd bjaadmaufd gs mc juebcrcd ju ebcrcd ta tmc iraft i raft daar. daar. Mc staad bcshdc Egr` gfd waaicd gt tmc strgfocr. ‚Ht‘s akgy, Mcra,― Egr` sghd. ‚Wuhct dawf.― Hfstgftjy, tmc dao abcycd. ‚Mcra hs g muegf s`cft cvhdcf`c dao gfd pgrt ai aur tcge,― Egr` cxpjghfcd. ‚But hi yau‘rc girghd ai daos, H `gf put mhe upstghrs.― Gegfdg smaak mcr mcgd. ‚Tmgt‘s fat fc`cssgry. H jhkc daos.― ‚Tmcf wc‘jj mcgd ta g eccthfo raae.― Mc hfdh`gtcd tmc sc`afd daar ta tmc jcit gfd cs`artcd mcr hfshdc. ‚Mcjja, Egr`,― Egr`,― gf hfvhshbjc hfvh shbjc vah`c vah`c orcctcd mhe, gjafo g jafo whtm g scrhcs ai wgjj jhomts tmgt bjhfkcd hf `afluf`thaf whtm tmc vah`c tafcs. ‚Xau mgvc g oucst. Tmc hftcrvhcw raae tcepcrgturc hs shxty-ihvc shxt y-ihvc dcorccs. Pmgj Pmgjjj H rghsc ht1― ‚Xcgm, Xadg,― Egr` rcpjhcd. ‚Rghsc ht ta scvcfty.― ‚Tcepcrgturc ‚T cepcrgturc whjj wh jj rcg`m scvcfty scvcfty dcorccs dco rccs hf gppraxhegtcjy scvcf ehfutcs.― ‚Orcgt. ‚O rcgt. Tmgfks. Tmgfk s.― ― Egr` ogvc g ighft sehjc se hjc gt tmc stgrtjcd stg rtjcd jaak af Gegfdg‘s ig`c. Pmc wgs pccrhfo graufd, tryhfo ta dctcrehfc dctcre hfc tmc saur`c ai tmc vah`c.
79
GFDRCG KGFC
‚Tmgt‘s Xadg,― mc hfiarecd mcr. ‚Mc‘s tmc hfcxpjh`gbjc `rcgthaf ai Rygf E`Kgy, E`Kgy, tmc t mc tc`mfa ocfhus ocf hus ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts. Mc‘s aefhs`hcft…gfd mgrejcss.― Egr` pujjcd aut g `mghr. ‚Mgvc g scgt. Xau‘jj prabgbjy wgft ta kccp yaur `agt af ufthj ht octs g jhttjc wgrecr hf mcrc.― ‚Tmgfk ‚Tmg fk yau. Xau Xau‘‘rc vcry khfd. k hfd.― ― Gegfd Ge gfdgg sgfk sgf k dawf hfta tmc `mghr, `afthfuhfo ta `jut`m mcr `agt gfd mcr ihjc iajdcr. Pmc jaakcd jhkc g tcrrhihcd bhrd bchfo `mgscd by g prcdgtar. ‚Faw ‚Fa w, tcjj tcj j ec wmgt Iarcfsh` Hfsth H fsthf`ts f`ts `gf `g f da iar yau.― yau.― Gegfdg drcw gf ufstcgdy brcgtm. ‚Xau `gf ihfd saecafc iar ec. Hi mc‘s gjhvc.― Egr` sgfk bg`k hf mhs `mghr, hftcfthafgjjy tryhfo ta put Gegfdg gt cgsc, cvcf tmauom mhs brghf wgs af mhom gjcrt. ‚_ma hs ht yau wgft us ta ihfd gfd wmy grcf‘t yau surc mc‘s gjhvc1― ‚Ey bayirhcfd. Mc wgs dc`jgrcd g fa-bady maeh`hdc. Tmc pajh`c iaufd mhs `gr, whtm bjaad spjgttcrcd gjj avcr tmc drhvcr‘s scgt gfd whfdsmhcjd, aut gt Jgkc Eaftguk. Tmcrc wcrc shofs tmgt mc wgs drgoocd ta gfatmcr `gr. Tmc tmcary wgs tmgt mc wgs khjjcd, gfd mhs bady duepcd hf tmc a`cgf. Tmc @agst Ougrd scgr`mcd iar dgys, ushfo cvcry iare ai sasa pmhsth`gtcd cquhpecft tmcy mgd. Fatmhfo turfcd up. Tmc `gsc wgs wg s `jascd.― `jascd.― ‚_mcf dhd tmhs tmh s mgppcf1― mgppcf1― ‚Hf Gprhj. Gprh j.― ― ‚Gfd yau‘rc ihrst `aehfo ta us faw, chomt eaftms jgtcr. _my1 Da yau mgvc saec fcw cvhdcf`c tmgt suoocsts mc‘s gjhvc1― ‚Fcw cvhdcf`c gfd g fcw rcgsaf ta ihfd mhe heecdhgtcjy.― Gegfdg rusmcd af ta dhspcj tmc abvhaus. ‚H kfaw yau‘‘rc tmhfk yau tmh fkhfo hfo tmgt, tmgt , hi mc‘s mc‘s gjhvc, egybc mc mc dacsf‘ dacsf‘t wgft ta
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
7?
bc iaufd. Cvcf hi tmgt‘s truc, wmh`m H daf‘t bcjhcvc ht hs, mc mgs fa `mah`c. Fat faw.― Egr` jcgfcd g`rass tmc tgbjc gfd pujjcd avcr g jcogj-shzc pgd. Mc prcicrrcd prcicrrcd ta tgkc mhs mh s fatcs hf jafomg jafomgfd, fd, tmcf trgfstrgf sicr tmce hfta tmc `aeputcr. Typhfo hfta g jgptap wgs vcry aii-putthfo ta `jhcfts wma fccdcd g pcrsafgj `affc`thaf. ‚_mgt‘s tmhs tmh s egf‘s egf‘s fgec1― ‚^guj Cvcrctt.― ‚Gfd wmy hs ihfdhfo mhe sa urocft1― Gegfdg swgjjawcd, mcr mgfds twhsthfo hf mcr jgp. ‚_c mgvc g saf. saf. Mc wgs barf tmrcc wccks goa. Mc wgs lust dhgodh gofascd whtm P@HD—Pcvcrc @aebhfcd Heeufadc He eufadcii h`hcf h`hcf`y `y.. Mhs bady hs hf`gpgbjc ai i homth homthfo fo hfic`thaf. hfic`t haf. Mc Mc fccds g stce `cjj trgfspjgft irae g egt`mcd dafar ar mc‘jj dhc.― Egr` put dawf mhs pcf. ‚H gssuec gssu ec yau‘ yau‘rc fat g egt`m1― Pmc smaak mcr mcr mcgd. ‚Tmc tcsthfo tcst hfo sghd s ghd H‘e H‘e fat cvcf g `gfdhdgtc. H wgs hf g `gr g``hdcft gs g `mhjd. Tmgfks Tmgf ks ta tmc bjaad bjaad trgfsiu trg fsiushafs shafs H rc`chvcd, H mgvc mcpgthths @. Pa H‘e H‘e aut ai tmc ph`turc. Gfd sa igr, sa hs tmc Fgthafgj Egrraw Dafar ^raorge org e Rcohstry Rcohstr y. Tmcy mgvc fa egt`m iar us. Tmc bcst, egybc tmc afjy mapc hs Lusthf‘ Lusthf‘ss igtmcr igt mcr..― Twa Twa tcgrs sj sjhd hd dawf GegfGe gfdg‘ss `mccks. Ihcr`cjy, smc whpcd tmce dg‘ t mce gwgy. gwgy. ‚H `aujd ohvc yau g iujj s`hcfthih` cxpjgfgthaf, Er. Dcvcrcgux. Ht‘s `afsuecd ey jhic tmcsc pgst pg st wccks, gfd H scce ta kfaw igr earc gbaut maw g muegf bady `gf `g f ighj igh j tmgf tmg f H cvcr tmauomt tmauomt passhbjc. But wc daf‘ daf‘tt mgvc thec. Tmgfks Tmgf ks ta ec, Lusthf gjrcgdy g jrcgdy mgs mg s gf hfic`thaf gfd hs smawhfo smawh fo syeptaes sy eptaes ai pfcueafhg.― pfcueafhg.― ‚Tmgfks ta yau1― ‚H wgs furshfo mhe. Cvhdcftjy, H‘e `grryhfo g daregft vhrus `gjjcd @EY—@ytaecogjavhrus. H pgsscd ht gjafo ta Lusthf. Lust hf. Mc‘ Mc‘ss stg s tgrr tcd ta `auom `au om gfd mc mgs m gs g icvcr—ba icvcr —batm tm ai
7=
GFDRCG KGFC
wmh`m grc hfdh`gtars h fdh`gtars tmgt mc‘s mc‘s dcvcjaphfo dcvcjaphfo @EY pfcueafhg. pfcueafh g. ^jus, mc ph`kcd up pgrghfijucfzg durhfo tmc twa wccks mc wgs maec. Mhs brcgtmhfo‘s ufcvcf, mhs fasc hs ruffhfo.… H dhdf‘t kfaw mc mgd g `aepraehscd heeufc systce, ar H‘d fcvcr mgvc mgvc jct mhe mh e mgvc vhshtars. Ht‘s taa jgtc ta `mgfoc tmgt. t mgt. Mc‘‘s af gfthbhath`s gfd Mc g fd ogeeg oge eg ojabujhf. ojabuj hf. But cvcf tmasc `gf afjy supprcss tmc @EY vhrus, fat `urc ht. Tmcy `gf gjsa bc taxh`` ta g `mhjd. Gs iar tmc pgrghfi juc taxh jucfzg, fzg, tmcrc‘s tmcrc‘s jhtcrgjjy jhtcrgj jy fatmhfo tmcy `gf ohvc mhe. Lusthf hs jcss tmgf g eaftm ajd. Mhs thfy t hfy bady `gf‘t `gf‘t sustghf sustgh f htscji iar jafo. jafo. Tmhs hs h s g jhic-arj hic-ardcgtm shtugthaf. sht ugthaf.― ― ‚H‘e ‚H‘ e vcry vcr y sarr sar r y.― ‚Tmcf mcjp ec.― ec.― Gegfdg ufbgfdcd mcr ihjc gfd apcfcd ht, pujjhfo aut g SPB drhvc, g DYD gfd twa fcwspgpcr `jhpphfos. Pmc sjhd tmce g`rass tmc tgbjc ta Egr`. ‚Mcrc grc tmc abhtugry gfd g segjj segj j wrhtc-up wrhtc -up ai ^guj‘s dcgtm irae tmc Pautmgeptaf ^rcss, tmc ja`gj fcwspgpcr aut aut tmcrc. tmcrc. ^rctty ^rctt y spgrsc. ^guj wgs g rcgjcstgtc dcvcjapcr dcvcjapcr whtm fa igehjy ige hjy.. Tmc afjy cx`hthfo gspc`t ta rcpart wgs tmc gjjcocd maeh`hdc.― Pmc pahftcd gt tmc dhsk. ‚G ja`gj `gbjc ` gbjc TY stgthaf stgt haf ogvc g brhci bragd`gst wmcf ht mgppcfcd. Tmgt wgs wg s ht iar ecdhg `av `avcrgoc. crgoc.― ― Egr` ojgf`cd ojg f`cd gt gt batm tmc wrhtc-up gfd tmc abht, abht, egkhfo egk hfo g ecftgj fatc ta `aftg`t batm tmc fcwspgpcr gfd TY stgthaf. st gthaf. Mc sjhd mhs jgptap avcr gfd pappcd hf tmc SPB drhvc. Twa hegocs gppcgrcd af mhs eafhtar, shdc by shdc. Tmc ihrst wgs ai Gegfdg gfd g egf—prcsuegbjy ^guj Cvcrctt—pashfo Cvcrctt— pashfo af g whfdswcpt bcg`m hf tmchr skh lg`kcts, gres wrgppcd graufd cg`m atmcr. atmcr. Tmc cxprcsshafs af tmchr ig`cs, i g`cs, tmchr hfh fthegtc th egtc stgf`c, stg f`c, sghd tmcy wcrc vcry eu`m hf javc. javc. Tmc sc`afd sc`afd hegoc wgs ai tmc twa ai tmce gt saec sart ai iaregj ogtm-
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
78
crhfo. Tmcy wcrc wcrc sehjhfo, sehj hfo, jaakhfo dhrc`tjy hfta h fta tmc `gecrg `gecrg gs tmcy pascd iar g pmataorgpm. ‚Faw jaak gt tmhs.― Gegfdg pujjcd aut mcr `cjj pmafc gfd pjg`cd ht af tmc tgbjc t gbjc iar Egr` ta scc. Tmcrc wgs g pmata af tmc s`rccf, gfd Egr` smhitcd mhs gttcfthaf ta study ht. Bchfo g `cjj pmafc smat, ht wgs g jat
orghfhcr tmgf tmc atmcr twa pmatas. But ht wgs abvhausjy tmc hegoc ai g egf stgfdhfo af g busy strcct `arfcr, hepgthcftjy wghthfo iar g jhomt ta `mgfoc. Mc wgs stgrhfo gt tmc daf‘t wgjk shof, wmh`m ogvc tmc pmataorgpmcr g `mgf`c ta `gt`m mhe ig`c-ihrst. Egr` `aujd scc tmgt irae tmc ig`hgj icgturcs, tmc cxprcsshaf gfd tmc stgf`c, ht wgs tmc sgec egf gs tmc afc hf tmc atmcr twa smats. ‚_mcf wgs tmhs sc`afd pmata tgkcf1― mc gskcd. ‚Gfd wmcrc1― ‚Xcstcr ‚X cstcrdgy. dgy. Hf _gsmhfo _gsmh fotaf, taf, D. D.@. @.― ― ‚By wmae1― ‚G irhcfd ai ehfc, g icjjaw pmatalaurfgjhst. Hf tmhs `gsc, ey irhcfd sgw tmc rcscebjgf`c ta ^guj. Pmc dhdf‘t wght ta oct mcr `gecrg rcgdy. Pmc lust uscd tmc `jascst tmhfo—mcr `cjj pmaf pmafc. c. Pmc ceghjcd cegh jcd ec tmc pmata g `aupjc ai maurs maurs goa. H mgd lust wgjkcd aut ai tmc masphtgj ta tgkc g brcgk.― ‚Pa smc kfcw yau gfd ^guj gs g `aupjc.― ‚Xcs. ‚X cs. Pmc gjsa gj sa kfcw H‘d fcvcr mgd g `mgf`c ta tcjj tcj j ^guj H wgs prcofgft. prcof gft. Pmc wgs maphfo maphfo ta ohvc ec tmgt `mgf`c, gjafo whtm tmc hf`rcdhbjc fcws tmgt ^guj wgs gjhvc.― ^guj Cvcrctt mgd fcvcr kfawf gbaut tmc prcofgf`y, Egr` tmauomt. Tmgt cjhehfgtcd cjhe hfgtcd afc bgsh` rcgsaf wmy mc‘d `maasc `maasc ta vgfhsm. Pthjj, Pth jj, Egr` Eg r` waujd waujd wgft ta tgjk ta Gegfdg‘ Geg fdg‘ss irhcfd. ir hcfd. Gegfdg ehstaak mhs shjcf`c iar skcpth`hse. ‚H mgvc fa hdcg
2>
GFDRCG KGFC
wmy ^guj waujd waujd vgfhsm vg fhsm whtmaut w htmaut sgyhfo g ward ar wmy wmy mc‘d stgrt g fcw jhic cjscwmcrc. Af`c H oat tmhs `cjj pmafc smat gfd rcgjhzcd rcgjh zcd mc ehomt bc gjhvc gj hvc,, H wgs rcjhcv rcjhcvcd, cd, but H wgs gjsa g jsa iurhaus. H icjt—H iccj—bctrgycd. _mcf tmcy tajd ec ^guj wgs dcgd, H wgs rcgdy ta rghsc r ghsc ey `mhjd `mh jd gjafc. But But faw tmgt tmcrc‘s g `mgf`c mc `aujd bc gjhvc, g `mgf`c tmgt mc `aujd sgvc Lusthf‘s jhic…ey prhdc hs g faf-hssuc. H mgvc ta try ta trg`k ^guj dawf.― Egr` wgs sthjj sthj j stgrhfo stgrh fo hftcftjy irae tmc tmc s`rccf s`rccf ta tmc `cjj pmafc, pma fc, jaakh jaakhfo fo iar gddhthafgj `mgrg`tcrh `mg rg`tcrhsth`s sth`s tmgt waujd `afihre tmc hegocs gs tmc sgec egf. ‚Dhd yau `gjj tmc pajh`c gbaut tmhs fcw pmata1― mc gskcd. ‚Xcs, ‚X cs, hf h f tmc tgx t gxhh af ey wgy ta yaur aii h`c. Twa Twa oucsscs wmctmcr ar fat tmcy ogvc ec gfy pahfts iar `rcdhbhjhty.― Gegfdg‘s jhps trcebjcd gfd tcgrs bcogf sjhdhfo dawf mcr `mccks. ‚Tmgt‘s wmy H‘e mcrc. H‘vc bccf tayhfo whtm tmc hdcg ai `gjjhfo yau shf`c jgst Gprhj wmcf ^guj dhsgppcgrcd, maphfo yau `aujd uf`avcr g ehrg`jc. But tmhs pmata `jhf`mcd ht. Xau mgvc g rcputgthaf iar sajvhfo `gscs tmgt fa afc cjsc `gf. ^jcgsc. Iar tmc sgkc sg kc ai ey bgby… bgby… _hjj _hj j yau mcjp ec1 ec1 H‘jj H‘j j s`rgpc taoctmcr gfy geauft ai eafcy ta pgy yaur icc. H‘jj ohvc up ey gpgrtecft, hi fccd bc. H daf‘t `grc. H lust wgft Lusthf ta bc gjj g jj rho rhomt. mt.― ― Pmc brakc dawf, drapphfo mcr ig`c hfta mcr mgfds gfd apcfjy sabbhfo. ‚Tmhss hsf‘t ‚Tmh hsf‘t gbaut eafcy, eafcy,― Egr` gssu gssurcd rcd mcr, gjtmauom smc‘d mgd mhe mh e tmc ehfutc eh futc smc smc dcs`rhbcd mcr shtugthaf whtm mcr hfigft. ‚Aur pajh`y pajh` y hs ta gdlust aur iccs bgscd upaf aur aur `jhcft‘ `j hcft‘ss eafctgr eaf ctgry y `hr`uestgf`cs. `hr`u estgf`cs.― ― Tmgfki Tmgf kiuj ujjy jy,, tmcy `aujd da tmgt. Bctwccf tmc gstrafaeh`gj gst rafaeh`gj bafuscs tmcy rc`chvcd irae tmchr earcc gii ear gi i juc jucft ft `jhcfts, `jhcfts, gfd tmc trust tr ust iufd @gscy‘s @gscy‘s orgfdigtmcr org fdigtmcr mgd jcit mcr, mcr, Iarcfsh` Hfsth Hfsthf`ts f`ts wgs af sajhd sajhd ihfgf`hg i hfgf`hgjj iaathfo.
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
27
‚Tmcf wmgt hs ht1― Gegfdg gskcd gs Egr` icjj shjcft. Egr` dhdf‘t gfswcr heecdhgtcjy. Tmc prabjce wgs, mc wgs hf tmc mat scgt. Iarcfsh` Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts Hfst hf`ts mgd m gd gf ufbrakcf rujc< tmcy fcvcr taak af g `gsc whtmaut ihrst mgvhfo g iujj-tcge dhs`usshaf gfd g ufgfheaus dc`hshaf. _cjj, tmcsc wcrc dhrc `hr`uestgf`cs. Gfd ohvcf tmgt fa afc cjsc irae tmc tcge wgs graufd gfd tmgt ht waujd tgkc thec ta rcg`m tmce gjj gfd oct tmce avcr mcrc—mcjj, tmcrc wgs g ihrst thec iar cvcrytmhfo. ‚Ht‘ss fatmhfo ‚Ht‘ fatmh fo H `gf‘t wark wark aut,― aut,― mc stgtcd i jgt jgtjy jy.. ‚_c‘j ‚_c‘jjj ihfd i hfd ^guj Cvcrctt, Cvcrctt, Es. Ojcgsaf. Hi mc‘s mc‘s gjhvc, g jhvc, wc‘j wc‘jjj i hfd mhe. mh e. Gfd wc‘j wc ‘jjj da wmgtcvcr‘s wmgtcvcr‘s fc`cssgry fc`cssgr y ta cfsurc mhs m hs `aapcrgthaf.― `aapcrgthaf.― Gegfdg‘s mcgd smat up, mcr tcgr-strcgkcd ig`c dhspjgyhfo g ojheecr ai mapc. ‚Am, tmgfk yau. Tmgfk yau. Irae tmc battae ai ey mcgrt, mcgr t, H tmgfk tm gfk yau. yau.― ― ‚Tmgfk ec wmcf wc‘vc dafc tmc lab.― Egr`‘s ehfd wgs af avcrdrhvc. ‚_mgt masphtgj hs yaur saf hf1― ‚Pjagfc Kcttcrhfo. Mc wgs rcicrrcd tmcrc by tmc stgii gt Eauft Phfgh wma egdc tmc arhohfgj dhgofashs.― ‚Pa yau‘rc stgyhfo tmcrc whtm mhe1― ‚H mgvcf‘t jcit ufthj lust faw.― ‚Ihfc.― Egr` faddcd. ‚H‘jj fccd yau ta ceghj tmgt `cjj pmafc ph`turc ta ec. H‘jj gjsa fccd saec bgsh` hfiaregthaf irae yau—hf`judhfo yau—hf`judhfo tmc t mc fgec gfd `aftg`t hfia h fia ai yaur pmatalaurfgjhst irhcfd. Tmcf oa bg`k ta yaur bgby. Ohvc ec g `mgf`c ta gsscebjc tmc tcge gfd jgy gjj tmhs aut iar tmce. _c‘j c‘jjj mgvc g pjgf pjg f by earfhfo. earf hfo.― ― ^grt ai tmgt pjgf, mc kfcw, wgs oahfo ta hf`judc mgvhfo mhs gss kh`kc kh`kcd. d.
Kgfc TMC JHFC BCT_CCF MCRC GFD OAFC
DHD XAS ^SR@MGPC TMHP BAAK _HTMAST G @AYCR1 Hi yau dhd, yau smaujd bc gwgrc ht hs stajcf prapcrty gs gs ht wgs rcpartcd ”ufsajd gfd dcstraycd‘ by g rctghjcr. Fchtmcr tmc gutmar far f ar tmc pubjhsmcr mgs rc`chvcd gfy pgyecft iar tmhs baak. Ihrst ^ubjhsmcd 2>72 Ihrst Gustrgjhgf ^gpcrbg`k Cdhthaf 2>72 HPBF 8?= 7827?8333 = TMC JHFC BCT_CCF MCRC GFD OAFC © 2>72 by Rghfbaw @affc`thaf Cftcrprhscs, Hf` ^mhjhpphfc @apyrhomt 2>72 Gustrgjhgf @apyrhomt 2>72 Fcw \cgjgfd @apyrhomt 2>72 Cx`cpt iar usc hf gfy rcvhcw, tmc rcpradu`thaf ar uthjhsgthaf ai tmhs wark hf wmajc ar hf pgrt hf gfy iare by gfy cjc`trafh`, ec`mgfh`gj ar atmcr ecgfs, faw kfawf ar mcrcgitcr hfvcftcd, hf`judhfo xcraorgpmy, pmata`apyhfo gfd rc`ardhfo, ar hf gfy hfiaregthaf stargoc ar rctrhcvgj systce, hs iarbhddcf whtmaut tmc pcrehsshaf ai tmc pubjhsmcr, Ehrg® Baaks, Ja`kcd Bgo ?>>2, @mgtswaad D.@. F.P._., Gustrgjhg 2>9?. Tmhs baak hs sajd sublc`t ta tmc `afdhthaf tmgt smgjj fat, by wgy ai trgdc ar atmcrwhsc, bc jcft, rcsajd, mhrcd aut ar atmcrwhsc `hr`ujgtcd whtmaut tmc pr har `afscft ai tmc pubjhsmcr hf gfy iare ai bhfdhfo ar `avcr atmcr tmgf tmgt hf wmh`m ht hs pubjhsmcd gfd whtmaut g shehjgr `afdhthaf hf`judhfo tmhs `afdhthaf bchfo hepascd af tmc subscqucft pur`mgscr. Gjj rhomts rcscrvcd hf`judhfo tmc rhomt ai rcpradu`thaf rcpradu`thaf hf wmajc ar hf pgrt hf gfy iare. Tmhs cdhthaf hs pubjhsmcd hf grrgfocecft whtm Mgr jcquhf Baaks P.G.. Tmhs hs g wark ai `thaf. Fgecs, `mgrg`tcrs, pjg`cs, gfd hf`hdcfts grc chtmcr tmc pradu`t ai tmc gutmar‘s hegohfgthaf ar grc uscd `ththausjy, gfd gfy rcscebjgf`c ta g`tugj pcrsafs, jhvhfo ar dcgd, bushfcss cstgbjhsmecfts, cvcfts, ar ja`gjcs hs cfthrcjy `ahf`hdcftgj. ^ubjhsmcd by Ehrg® Baaks Jcvcj 3 73 Mcjp Ptrcct @MGTP_AAD FP_ 2>9? GSPTRGJHG EHRG® gfd tmc Ptgr `ajapmaf grc trgdcegrks uscd ufdcr jh`cfsc gfd rcohstcrcd hf Gustrgjhg, Fcw \cgjgfd, tmc Sfhtcd Ptgtcs ^gtcft & Trgdcegrk Ai`c gfd hf atmcr `auftrhcs. ^rhftcd gfd baufd hf Gustrgjhg by Orhif ^rcss
GSTMAR FATC
Tmc Pmhffc`a`k Hfdhgf Rcscrvgthaf hs ja`gtcd af tmc cgst shdc ai Pmhffc`a`k Bgy hf tmc tawf ai Pautmg Pautmgeptaf. eptaf. _mhjc _mh jc tmc Pmhffca`k Hfdhgf Fgthaf‘s ogehfo gutmarhty hs pjgffhfo iar g jafo-gwghtcd `gshfa, tmgt `gshfa dacs fat yct cxhst. _mcf ht dacs, ht wh whjj jj fat bc buhjt af tmchr rcscrvgthaf, rcscr vgthaf, wmh`m hs tmchr gf`cstrg g f`cstrgjj maec, but but cjscwmcrc af af Jafo Hsjgfd. Hsjg fd. Tmcrciarc, tmc `gshfa hf Tmc Jhfc J hfc Bctwccf Mcrc gfd gfd Oafc hs hs g ih`ththaus pjg`c, tmc pradu`t ai tmhs wrhtcr‘s icrthjc hegohfgthaf.
G@KFA_JCDOECFTP
G mast ai pcapjc `aftrhbutcd ta ey wrhthfo tmhs baak, gfd H wgft ta cxprcss cxprcs s ey gpprc`hgthaf ta cg`m gfd cvcry afc ai tmce iar tmchr thec, tmchr cxpcrthsc, gfd tmchr tajcrgf`c ai g favcjhst fav cjhst wma wma‘‘s g rcjcftjcss pcric`t pcric`thafhst. hafhst. Ey tmgfks oa aut ta< Gfocjg Bcjj, ^ubjh` Gi Giighr ighrss Ppc`hgj Ppc`hgjhst, hst, IBH Aiih`c Aii h`c ai ai ^ubjh` ^ubjh` Giighr Gi ighrs—gfd s—gfd tmc rcgj-jhic cquhvgjcft cquhvgjcft ai g ighry ighr y oadeatmcr! oadeatmcr! Iarecr PPG Lamf Egfdrgihfg, IBH Sfdcr`avcr @aardhfgtar/Pcfshthvc Apcrgthafs ^raorge PPG Lgecs E`Fgegrg, E`Fgegrg, IBH I BH Bcmgvhargj Bcmgvhargj Gfgjyshs G fgjyshs Sfht 2 Dr. Eartaf @awgf, @mhci, Gjjcroy Heeufajaoy gfd Bjaad gfd Egrraw Trgfspjgft Dhvhshaf, S@PI @mhjdrcf‘s
Masphtgj
PG Jgurg Rab Rabhfsaf, hfsaf, Pcfhar Tcge Tcge Jcgdcr, J cgdcr, Cvhdcf`c Rcspafsc Tcge, IBH Fcwgrk Ihcjd Aiih`c PPG Rcx Pta`kmge, ^raorge Egfgocr iar IBH Jgbargtary‘s Iarcfsh` @gfhfc ^raorge PG Lgecs Egroajhf, IBH Aiih`c ai ^ubjh` Giighrs, Fcw Xark X ark Ihcjd Aiih`c Aii h`c PPG Ogvhf Pmcg, IBH _mhtc @ajjgr Pqugd, Jafo Hsjgfd Rcshdcft Gocf`y Pmgraf J. Duff, Dcpgrtecft ai ^cdhgtrh`s, Mcegtajaoy/ Af`ajaoy, Sfhvcrshty ai @mh`goa Dctc`thvc Ehkc Ajhvcr, rcthrcd FX^D Pheaf Larfg, awfcr ai Pheaf‘s Bcg`m Bgkcry @giè, _cstmgeptaf Bcg`m, Jafo Hsjgfd, Fcw Xark Eh`mgcj Orccfc, Pheaf‘s Bcg`m Bgkcry @giè gfd taur ouhdc ou hdc ai ‚Ge ‚Gegfdg‘ gfdg‘s― s― gpgrtecft gpgrt ecft Gfd ta g vcry spc`hgj `arc ai pcapjc< Gdge _hjsaf, tmc bcst (gfd east dccpjy dccpjy ehsscd) ehs scd) cdhtarhgj pgrtfcr gfy gutmar `aujd gsk iar Ygjcrhc Orgy, wma stcppcd hf gt tmc `rhshs maur gfd ihfhsmcd tmc pra`css whtm org`c, cftmushgse gfd `aeehtecft Gfdrcg @hrhjja gfd @mrhsthfg Maorcbc, ey hf`rcdhbjc gocfts gfd dhcmgrd gdva`gtcs ^cooy Oardhlf, Oard hlf, tmc quhct iar`c ai ai fgturc fgtu rc wma stgys hf tmc bg`koraufd gfd eavcs eauftghfs Gfd east ai gjj ey igehjy, wma, cvcry dgy gfd hf cvcry wgy, ohvc ec tmc javc, tmc hf`cfthvc gfd tmc `rcgthvc hfput ta egkc cg`m baak tmc vcry bcst ht `gf bc. Tmgfk Tmgf k yau gjj. gj j. Xau Xau‘‘rc tmc vcry vcr y bcst ai tmc bcst.
Ta Eyrfg gfd Bab, wma mcjpcd ec brhfo tmc Mgeptafs ta jhic, wma g`tcd gs `afsujtgfts cxtrgardhfghrc iar tmc ycgr ht taak ec ta `rcgtc tmhs favcj, gfd wmasc javc gfd suppart ecgf tmc warjd ta ec.
@MG^TCR AFC
Dc`cebcr Egfmgttgf
Gegfdg Ojcgsaf ocftjy ra`kcd mcr hfigft saf hf mcr gres. G fcw bgby bgby wgs trujy tru jy tmc rcgii hre hregthaf gthaf ai jhic. Hi smc smc dhdf‘t dhdf‘t
kfaw tmgt tm gt bciarc tmhs tmh s eaecft, smc kfcw ht faw. faw. Mc wgs mcr `mhjd, mcr ehrg`jc. Mcr rcspafshbhjhty rcspafshbhjht y. Pmc mgdf‘t mgdf‘t pjgffcd pjgf fcd af ig`hfo ig`h fo eatmcrmaad gjafc. gjafc. Hf ig`t, i g`t,
wmcf ^guj mgd dhsgppcg dh sgppcgrcd rcd irae tmc ph`turc, ph`tu rc, smc mgdf‘t mgdf‘t cvcf kfawf smc wgs prcofgft. Egybc hi smc mgd, egybc hi smc `aujd mgvc tajd mhe, tmhfos waujd mgvc turfcd aut dhiicr-
cftjy. But tmcy mgdf‘t. Gfd faw tmc wchomt ai tmc warjd wgs af mcr smaujdcrs.
GFDRCG KGFC
=
Dc`hshafs mgd ta bc egdc. ^rcssurc smc‘d fcvcr cvcf hegohfcd. Gfd g bhttcrswcct pghf tmgt `gec cvcry thec smc mcjd Lusthf hf h f mcr gres. Pmc tau`mcd mhs dawfy mcgd whtm afc ihfocr, strakcd tmc pcg`m iuzz ai mhs mghr. Gs smc wmhspcrcd saitjy ta mhe,
mhs cycs apcfcd whdc gfd mc stgrcd gt mcr hftcftjy, vhshbjy igs`hfgtcd by tmc saufd ai mcr vah`c. Pmc ogzcd hfta tmasc
cycs—^guj‘s cycs—gfd mcr `mcst thomtcfcd. Tmcy wcrc g jhomtcr brawf tmgf ^guj‘s, prabgbjy bc`gusc tmcy mgd yct ta egturc ta tmchr truc `ajar. But tmc smgpc, tmc jhds, cvcf
tmc tmh`k irhfoc ir hfoc ai jgsmcs—tmasc wcrc wcrc gjj gj j ^guj‘s. ^guj‘s. Gs wgs mhs m hs fasc, g thfy vcrshaf ai ^guj ^guj‘‘s bajd, strghomt strgho mt fasc whtm tmc sjcfdcr fastrhjs. Mc cvcf mgd tmc dhepjc hf mhs `mcck tmgt wgs ^guj‘s. Atmcr tmgf mhs oajdcf-brawf mghr `ajar gfd segjj,
purscd eautm—batm ai wmh`m mc‘d hfmcrhtcd irae mcr—mc wgs vcry vcr y eu`m ^guj ^guj‘‘s saf. Gfd cvcf gt tmrcc tm rcc wccks ajd, mc
wgs dcvcjaphfo g pcrsafgjhty—cgsyoahfo jhkc ^guj, hfquhshthvc jhkc mcr. mcr. Mc spcft spcft maurs stgrhfo stgrh fo gt mhs i hfocrs, apcfhfo gfd `jashfo tmce whtm g igs`hfgtcd cxprcsshaf. Gfd mc wgs gjwgys jaakhfo jaakhfo graufd, sccehfojy trgfsi t rgfsihxcd hxcd by tmc warjd. warjd.
Tmgfk Tmg fk Oad mc dhdf‘ dhd f‘tt kfaw maw eu`m ai g bgttjci hcjd mhs warjd rcgjjy wgs.
‚Es. Ojcgsaf1― G yaufo fursc tau`mcd mcr ocftjy af tmc smaujdcr. ‚_my daf‘t daf‘t yau oct saectmhfo saectmhf o ta cgt1 Egybc tgkc tg kc g wgjk1 wg jk1 Xau mgvcf‘t mgvcf‘t dafc chtmcr cht mcr gjj g jj dgy. dgy.― ― Pmc rcg`mcd iar tmc bgby.. ‚Lusthf bgby ‚Lusth f whjj wh jj bc hf oaad mgfds. m gfds. Xau Xau‘‘vc oat ta tgkc t gkc `grc ai yaurscji ar yau waf‘t bc gbjc ta tgkc `grc ai mhe.― Fuebjy, Gegfdg faddcd. Pmc mcjd Lusthf iar afc earc brhci, dcspcrgtc eaecft, tmcf khsscd mhs sait `mcck gfd mgfdcd mhe avcr ta tmc fursc.
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
8
Maw egfy thecs Maw t hecs mgd smc dafc tmgt hf h f tmc pgst icw dgys1 Maw Ma w egfy eg fy earc thecs th ecs waujd smc mgvc ta da ht1 Tcgrs dgepcfhfo mcr jgsmcs, smc rasc, rctrg`hfo mcr stcps tmrauom tmc t mc rcvcrsc rcvcrsc hsajgthaf hsajgt haf ufht gfd aut ai ai Pjagfc Kcttcr Kcttcr-hfo‘s ^cdhgtrh` Bafc Egrraw Trgfspjgft Sfht. Pmc strhppcd aii mcr egsk, ojavcs gfd oawf, gfd tasscd tmce hfta tmc dhs`grd bhf, kfawhfo smc‘d mgvc ta rcpcgt tmc sgec stcrhjhzgthaf pra`css wmcf smc rcturfcd. Pmc staad tmcrc iar g eaecft, mcgd bcft, tgkhfo dccp, `gjehfo brcgtms ta brhfo mcrscji ufdcr `aftraj. Tmc fursc wgs rhomt. Pmc‘d bc ai fa usc ta Lusthf Lusth f hi smc icjj ta phc`cs. Gfd smc‘d dafc cfauom cfauom ai tmgt gjrcgdy. _gj gjkh khfo fo dawf tmc `arrhdar, `arr hdar, stcpphfo stcpphfo hfta tmc cjcvgtar, gfd dcs`cfdhfoo ta tmc eg dcs`cfdhf eghf hf jcvcj, Ge Gegfdg gfdg icjt tmc pmysh`gj pghf tcgrhfo tcgr hfo hfshdc hf shdc mcr mcr tmgt gjwgys g jwgys g``aepgfhcd g``aepgfhcd g scpgrgthaf irae Lusthf. Pmc mgtcd jcgvhfo mhe. m he. Pmc drcgdcd `aehfo `aehf o bg`k. Autshdc tmc masphtgj, tmc warjd jaakcd jaakcd surrcgjjy surrcg jjy faregj. fare gj. Ht wgs dgrk. d grk. Pmc mgdf‘ mgd f‘tt `mc`kcd mcr wgt`m wgt`m hf maurs, but ht mgd m gd ta bc gitcr chomt a‘`ja`k. Pthjj, trgiih` spcd up gfd dawf tmc Fcw Xark @hty strccts. ^cdcstrhgfs strajjcd tmc shdcwgjks. Marfs mafkcd. mafkcd. @mrhstegs @mrhste gs jhomts jho mts bjhfkcd irae orccf o rccf gfd rcd ta g rghfbaw ai `ajars, tmcf bg`k goghf. Maw `aujd cvcrytmhfo scce sa faregj wmcf mcr cfthrc warjd wgs `ruebjhf `ru ebjhfoo ta phc`cs1 phc`cs1 _mcf cvcrytmh cvcry tmhfo fo smc `grcd gbaut gba ut wgs upstgh upstghrs rs struoojh struo ojhfo fo ta survhvc surv hvc11 Pthjj apcrgthfo af gutaphjat, Gegfdg rcg`mcd iar mcr Bjg`kBcrry gfd turfcd ht af. Pmc dhdf‘t rcgjjy `grc hi smc mgd gfy ecssgocs. ecssg ocs. But smc mgd ta `mc`k—cvcf `mc`k—cvcf hi ht wgs lust ta scck aut saec phc-hf-tmc-sky ehrg`jc tmgt waujd gfswcr mcr prgycrs. Fa ehrg`jc. Lust tmc usugj `rgp irae tmc usugj saur`cs—
7>
GFDRCG KGFC
starc sgjcs, praeathafs, pmatalaurfgjhst egogzhfc shtcs. Fatmhfo pcrsafgj. pcrsafg j. Cvcryafc Cvcryafc kfcw bcttcr tmgf ta batmcr mcr whtm gfytmhfo smart ai g dhrc cecrocf`y. @arrc`thaf. Tmcrc wgs afc pcrsafgj ecssgoc. Gf ceghj irae g icjjaw pmatalaurfgjhst, g irhcfd ai mcrs wma‘d bccf trgvcjhfo hftcrfgthafgjjy iar eaftms gfd waujdf‘t bc gwgrc tmgt Lusthf mgd gjrcgdy bccf barf ar tmgt mhs `afdhthaf mgd turfcd Gegfdg‘s jhic upshdc dawf. Pmc apcfcd tmc ceghj.
H‘e hf D@. H mgd ta scfd tmhs ta yau rhomt gwgy. H‘e gwgy. @guomt ht af ey `cjj pmafc ycstcrdgy. 2fd Ptrcct gt @ Ptrcct FC. Bcst qugjhty H `aujd oct. But H swcgr ht wgs ^guj. Tgkc g jaak. H kfaw k faw tmc bgby‘s duc tmhs eaftm, but tmauomt yau‘d yau‘d wgft ta scc tmhs. Gegfdg rcgd tmc wards, gfd, iar gf hfstgft, smc irazc. Tmcf smc `jh`kcd af tmc gtt gttg`mecft, g`mecft, stgrh stg rhfo fo gt tmc `cjj pmafc pmafc s`rccf gfd wghthfo iar tmc ph`turc ta jagd. Tmc eaecft ht dhd, smc ogspcd gjaud, mcr mgfd ijyhfo ta mcr eautm. Tmc hegoc wgs g jhttjc orghfy gfd wgs prabgbjy tgkcf irae i rae twcfty ygrds gwgy. gwgy. But `jcgr cfauom hi yau wcrc hfthegtcjy igehjh ige hjhgr gr whtm w htm tmc pcrsaf pmataorgpm pmataorgpmcd. cd. Gfd smc wgs. Ht jaakcd jaakcd lust jhkc j hkc ^guj. Pmc zaaecd hf gs `jasc gs smc `aujd, tgkhfo hf cvcry dctghjj ai tmc egf wma faw tgh faw ihj i hjjcd jcd mcr cfthrc s`rccf. Dcgr Oad, ht wgs ^guj. G tsufgeh tsufge h ai `afijh`thfo `afi jh`thfo ceathafs cfoujicd mcr. mcr. But smc bgttjcd mcr wgy tmrauom tm rauom tmce. Bc`gusc afc tmauomt c`jhpscd gjj tmc rcst.
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
77
_mgt `aujd tmhs ecgf iar Lusthf1 Ht wgs g ecrc rgy ai mapc, g `aepjcx jafo smat. But, ta Gegfdg, ht wgs g jhicjhfc. jh icjhfc. Pmc iuebjcd hf mcr tatc bgo iar tmc s`rgp ai pgpcr smc‘d bccf `grryhfo `grr yhfo grauf g raufd d shf`c jgst Gprhj. Ht wgs wcjj pgst bushfcss maurs but smc dhdf‘ d hdf‘tt `grc. `g rc. Pmc kfcw tmcy warkcd graufd tmc `ja`k wmcf fc`cssgry. Pmc waujdf‘t `gjj; smc waujdf‘t ohvc tmce g `mgf`c ta turf t urf mcr gwgy gwgy. Gs smc ufiajdcd tmc `ruepjcd pgpcr, smc ygfkcd aut tmc i hjc iajdcr iajdcr smc smc `grrhcd `grr hcd whtm mcr gt gt gjj gj j thecs—l th ecs—lust ust hf `gsc smc cvcr iajjawcd tmrauom af mcr hdcg. Cvcrytmhfo wgs hf tmcrc. Gfd ht wgsf wg sf‘‘t lust gf g f hdcg gfyearc. g fyearc. Pmc prcsscd g spccd dhgj fuebcr af mcr pmafc—g `gjj ta mcr ajdcst ajdcst gfd dcgrcst irhcfd, i rhcfd, Ecjhssg, wma jhvcd hf EgfmgtEgf mgttgf gfd wma waujd fcvcr jct mcr dawf. ‚Jyssg,― smc sg sghd hd wmcf smc mcgrd mcr irhcfd‘s ir hcfd‘s vah`c. ‚H ‚H fccd yau ta `aec `aec avcr avcr gfd rcjhcvc ec. ec. Ht‘s Ht‘s fat Lusthf. Mc‘s Mc‘s akgy. akgy. But `gf yau `aec faw1― faw1― Pmc sgoocd sgo ocd whtm w htm rcjhci gt tmc t mc rcpjy. rcpjy. ‚Tmgfks. Ht‘s gf cecrocf`y.―
@MG^TCR T_A
@ajd ghr. Bgrc trccs. @mrhst @mrhstegs egs jhomts twhf t whfkj kjhfo hfo up gfd dawf dawf tmc Trhbc`g Trhbc`g strcct. Gt 8<73 p.e. hf tmhs rcshdcfthgj sc`thaf ai Egfmgttgf, tmc iaur-stary brawfstafc tmgt mauscd tmc aiih`cs ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts wgs g sc`judcd mgvcf, hsajgtcd irae tmc lufojc ai tmc `hty. Twa swccphfo whjjaw trccs egrkcd chtmcr shdc ai
tmc brawfstafc, gfd g scfsc ai pcg`c egdc ht scce earc jhkc g maec tmgf g warkpjg`c iar Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts. Tafhomt wgs cvcf quhctcr tmgf usugj. @gscy _aads, tmc
`aepgfy prcshdcft, wgs aut majhdgy smapphfo whtm saec irhcfds. ir hcfds. East ai tmc spc`hgj spc`hgjhzcd hzcd tcge mgd tgkcf tmc fhomt aii. Tmcy wcrc gjj sthjj rc`avcrhfo irae tmc wmhrjwhfd ai `gscs
tmcy‘d tg`kjcd tg`k jcd avcr avcr tmc pgst eaftm eaftm gfd g mgji—g mgj i—gjj jj ai wmh`m
mgd bccf daehfgtcd by gf hftcfsc khdfgpphfo khdf gpphfo hfvcsthogthaf. Egr` Dcvcrcgux wgs tmc afjy af jy IH tcge ecebcr wma wgs
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
70
af-shtc. Gfd mc wgsf wg sf‘‘t warkhfo. Mc wgs wg s hf afc ai tmc t mc cepty eccthfo raaes, dahfo g mufdrcd pusm-ups, iccjhfo iccjh fo tmc swcgt sagk tmrauom mhs warkaut `jatmcs gfd maphfo tmc hftcfsc cxcr`hsc waujd mcjp whpc gwgy tmc ecftgj omasts tmgt mgd `aec bg`k, iujj iar`c, tmcsc pgst icw eaftms. Tmcy‘d stgycd quhct iar g wmh wmhjc. jc. But shf`c tmc khdfgpphf khd fgpphfo o ai tmgt jhttjc ohrj… Mc drappcd ta tmc ijaar, iarcmcgd prcsscd ta tmc `grpct, brcgtmhfo mcgvhjy. Ecearhcs `ut dccp. Cvcf iar g iarecr Fgvy PCGJ. Cspc`hgjjy iar g iarecr Fgvy PCGJ. Cvcryafc tmauomt tmauomt tmcy wcrc hepcrvhaus hepcr vhaus ta ceathafgj s`grs. s`gr s. Tmcy wcrcf‘‘t. _mgt wcrcf _m gt mc‘d sccf durhfo durhf o tmasc ycgrs ehomt e homt mgvc egdc mhe g bcttcr IBH gocft, gfd faw g vgjugbjc ecebcr ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts, but tmcy‘d tgkcf gwgy saectmhfo tmgt `aujd fcvcr bc rcstarcd. Gfd jcit saectmhfo dgrk gfd dcstru`thvc hf hts pjg`c pjg`c.. Egr`‘s mcgd `gec up gbruptjy gbrupt jy gs mc mcgrd tmc iraft daarbcjj rhfo. Ht `aujdf‘t bc afc ai tmc tcge. Tmcy gjj mgd kcys gfd kfcw tmc gjgre `adc iar tmc Mhrs`m pgd. Hfsthf`thvcjy, Egr` rcg`mcd iar tmc phstaj mc‘d pjg`cd af tmc tgbjc bcshdc mhe. Rhshfo, mc wgjkcd avcr gfd cycd tmc segjj whfdaw af tmc `aeputcr s`rccf dhspjgyhfo g vhcw ai tmc iraft daar irae tmc vhdca survchjjgf`c survchj jgf`c `gecrg. G waegf staad af tmc t mc daarstcp. Egr` prcsscd tmc t mc hftcr`ae buttaf. ‚Xcs1― ‚Xcs1― G brhci shjcf`c. ‚Hs tmhs tmc aiih`c ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts1― tmc waegf‘s vah`c gskcd. ‚Xcs.― Egr` `aujd mgvc pahftcd aut tmc rhdh`ujaus maur. But mc‘d warkcd warkcd iar tmc IBH‘s Bcmgvhargj Gfgjy G fgjyshs shs Sfht iar i hvc ycgr ycgrs. s. Mc `aujd rcgd pcapjc pcapjc gfd tafcs ai vah`c. vah`c. Gfd tmhs
74
GFDRCG KGFC
vah`c saufdcd dgzcd vah`c dg zcd gfd g fd smgkcf. ^gfh`ky ^gf h`ky.. Mc wgsf‘t wgsf‘t gbaut ta hofarc ht. ‚H…HH dhdf‘ ‚H… dhd f‘tt tmhf tm hfk k gfyafc waujd waujd bc hf. H lust prgycd yau wcrc.― wcrc. ― Mcr wards wards `afihr `afi hrecd ecd Egr`‘s Egr`‘s gsscssecft. ‚H wgs gir g irghd ghd hi H `gjjcd yau waujdf‘t gfswcr. ^jcgsc…egy H `aec hf1 Ht‘s urocft. Earc tmgf tmg f urocft. Ht‘s jhic ar dcgtm.― Egr` mgd egdc mhs dc`hshaf jafo bciarc tmc cfd ai mcr dhrc pjcg. Mc put gwgy mhs phstaj. ‚H‘e af ey wgy dawf.― Mc drgpcd g tawcj graufd mhs fc`k gfd mcgdcd iar tmc stghrs. ^raicsshafgj drcss dc`arue wgsf‘t mhom af mhs jhst rhomt faw. Mc rcg`mcd rcg`mcd tmc cftrgf`cwgy cftr gf`cwgy,, puf`mcd hf tmc gjgr g jgre e `adc gfd ufja`k uf ja`kcd cd tmc daar. Tmc waegf waegf stgfdhfo stg fdhfo tmcrc whtm g ihjc i hjc iajdcr ufdcr mcr gre wgs brufcttc gfd hf mcr ehd-tmhrt ehd-tmh rthcs, hcs, gjtmauom tmc strgh strghf f af mcr ig`c egdc mcr jaak ajdcr, gs dhd tmc dgrk `hr`jcs ufdcr mcr cycs. Pmc wgs wcgrhfo wcgrh fo g whftcr w hftcr `agt tmgt cfvcj cfvcjapcd apcd mcr bady, sa ht wgs mgrd ta egkc aut mcr buhjd. Fat ta ecfthaf tmgt smc wgs `jut`mhfo `jut`mh fo tmc `agt graufd mcr gs hi h i ht wcrc g pratc`thvc smhcjd. Pmc stgrcd stgrcd gt Egr`, tgkhfo tgkh fo hf mhs hepashfo buhjd, tmc mhom `mcckbafcs, dgrk `ajarhfo gfd grhsta`rgth` fasc mc‘d hfmcrhtcd irae mhs cxtcfshvc Ircf`m jhfcgoc, gfd tmc braadhfo, sjhomtjy sjhomt jy sjgftcd cycs tmgt rcijc`tcd rci jc`tcd mhs egtcrfgj egtcrf gj orgfdpgrcfts‘ org fdpgrcfts‘ Gshgf bg`kora bg`koraufd. ufd. Mhs iarehdgbjc iare hdgbjc gppcgrg gppcgrgf`c f`c egdc tmc waegf waegf fcrvaus, gfd smc wct mcr jhps whtm w htm tmc t mc thp ai mcr tafo t afouc. uc. ‚Xau‘ ‚Xau‘rc rc fat @gscy @g scy _aads,― smc sghd sghd,, stgthfo stgth fo tmc abvhaus. Pmc wgs fat afjy ufu fcgsy, smc wgs hf g vhshbjc stgtc ai sma`k. ‚H‘e Egr` Dcvcrcgux, @gscy‘s gssa`hgtc,― Egr` rcpjhcd hf g vah`c tmgt wgs hftcfthafgjjy hftcfthafgj jy `gje `g jehfo. hfo. ‚Gfd ‚Gfd yau grc…1― grc…1―
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
73
‚Gegfdg Ojcgsaf.― Pmc sueeafcd up mcr `aepasurc. ‚H‘e sarry ta `aec by sa jgtc. But H `aujdf‘t jcgvc tmc masphtgj ufth ufthjj faw. faw. H daf‘t daf‘t mgvc eu`m thec. ^jcgsc, `gf `g f wc tgjk1 tg jk1 H wgft ta mhrc yau.― ‚Masphtgj1 Grc yau hjj1― ‚Fa. Xcs. ^jcgsc…H fccd ta cxpjghf.― Egr` pujjcd pu jjcd tmc daar apcf gfd ocsturcd ocst urcd iar mcr ta `aec `aec hf. ‚Parry iar tmc `gsugj gtthrc. H wgsf‘t cxpc`thfo g `jhcft.― Gs mc spakc, g scrhcs ai dccp, wgrfhfo bgrks saufdcd irae gbavc. gbav c. Tmc c`ma ai pgddcd pgws gffauf`cd tmc grrhvg gr rhvgjj ai g sjcck rcd bjaadmaufd gs mc juebcrcd ju ebcrcd ta tmc iraft i raft daar. daar. Mc staad bcshdc Egr` gfd waaicd gt tmc strgfocr. ‚Ht‘s akgy, Mcra,― Egr` sghd. ‚Wuhct dawf.― Hfstgftjy, tmc dao abcycd. ‚Mcra hs g muegf s`cft cvhdcf`c dao gfd pgrt ai aur tcge,― Egr` cxpjghfcd. ‚But hi yau‘rc girghd ai daos, H `gf put mhe upstghrs.― Gegfdg smaak mcr mcgd. ‚Tmgt‘s fat fc`cssgry. H jhkc daos.― ‚Tmcf wc‘jj mcgd ta g eccthfo raae.― Mc hfdh`gtcd tmc sc`afd daar ta tmc jcit gfd cs`artcd mcr hfshdc. ‚Mcjja, Egr`,― Egr`,― gf hfvhshbjc hfvh shbjc vah`c vah`c orcctcd mhe, gjafo g jafo whtm g scrhcs ai wgjj jhomts tmgt bjhfkcd hf `afluf`thaf whtm tmc vah`c tafcs. ‚Xau mgvc g oucst. Tmc hftcrvhcw raae tcepcrgturc hs shxty-ihvc shxt y-ihvc dcorccs. Pmgj Pmgjjj H rghsc ht1― ‚Xcgm, Xadg,― Egr` rcpjhcd. ‚Rghsc ht ta scvcfty.― ‚Tcepcrgturc ‚T cepcrgturc whjj wh jj rcg`m scvcfty scvcfty dcorccs dco rccs hf gppraxhegtcjy scvcf ehfutcs.― ‚Orcgt. ‚O rcgt. Tmgfks. Tmgfk s.― ― Egr` ogvc g ighft sehjc se hjc gt tmc stgrtjcd stg rtjcd jaak af Gegfdg‘s ig`c. Pmc wgs pccrhfo graufd, tryhfo ta dctcrehfc dctcre hfc tmc saur`c ai tmc vah`c.
79
GFDRCG KGFC
‚Tmgt‘s Xadg,― mc hfiarecd mcr. ‚Mc‘s tmc hfcxpjh`gbjc `rcgthaf ai Rygf E`Kgy, E`Kgy, tmc t mc tc`mfa ocfhus ocf hus ai Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts. Mc‘s aefhs`hcft…gfd mgrejcss.― Egr` pujjcd aut g `mghr. ‚Mgvc g scgt. Xau‘jj prabgbjy wgft ta kccp yaur `agt af ufthj ht octs g jhttjc wgrecr hf mcrc.― ‚Tmgfk ‚Tmg fk yau. Xau Xau‘‘rc vcry khfd. k hfd.― ― Gegfd Ge gfdgg sgfk sgf k dawf hfta tmc `mghr, `afthfuhfo ta `jut`m mcr `agt gfd mcr ihjc iajdcr. Pmc jaakcd jhkc g tcrrhihcd bhrd bchfo `mgscd by g prcdgtar. ‚Faw ‚Fa w, tcjj tcj j ec wmgt Iarcfsh` Hfsth H fsthf`ts f`ts `gf `g f da iar yau.― yau.― Gegfdg drcw gf ufstcgdy brcgtm. ‚Xau `gf ihfd saecafc iar ec. Hi mc‘s gjhvc.― Egr` sgfk bg`k hf mhs `mghr, hftcfthafgjjy tryhfo ta put Gegfdg gt cgsc, cvcf tmauom mhs brghf wgs af mhom gjcrt. ‚_ma hs ht yau wgft us ta ihfd gfd wmy grcf‘t yau surc mc‘s gjhvc1― ‚Ey bayirhcfd. Mc wgs dc`jgrcd g fa-bady maeh`hdc. Tmc pajh`c iaufd mhs `gr, whtm bjaad spjgttcrcd gjj avcr tmc drhvcr‘s scgt gfd whfdsmhcjd, aut gt Jgkc Eaftguk. Tmcrc wcrc shofs tmgt mc wgs drgoocd ta gfatmcr `gr. Tmc tmcary wgs tmgt mc wgs khjjcd, gfd mhs bady duepcd hf tmc a`cgf. Tmc @agst Ougrd scgr`mcd iar dgys, ushfo cvcry iare ai sasa pmhsth`gtcd cquhpecft tmcy mgd. Fatmhfo turfcd up. Tmc `gsc wgs wg s `jascd.― `jascd.― ‚_mcf dhd tmhs tmh s mgppcf1― mgppcf1― ‚Hf Gprhj. Gprh j.― ― ‚Gfd yau‘rc ihrst `aehfo ta us faw, chomt eaftms jgtcr. _my1 Da yau mgvc saec fcw cvhdcf`c tmgt suoocsts mc‘s gjhvc1― ‚Fcw cvhdcf`c gfd g fcw rcgsaf ta ihfd mhe heecdhgtcjy.― Gegfdg rusmcd af ta dhspcj tmc abvhaus. ‚H kfaw yau‘‘rc tmhfk yau tmh fkhfo hfo tmgt, tmgt , hi mc‘s mc‘s gjhvc, egybc mc mc dacsf‘ dacsf‘t wgft ta
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
7?
bc iaufd. Cvcf hi tmgt‘s truc, wmh`m H daf‘t bcjhcvc ht hs, mc mgs fa `mah`c. Fat faw.― Egr` jcgfcd g`rass tmc tgbjc gfd pujjcd avcr g jcogj-shzc pgd. Mc prcicrrcd prcicrrcd ta tgkc mhs mh s fatcs hf jafomg jafomgfd, fd, tmcf trgfstrgf sicr tmce hfta tmc `aeputcr. Typhfo hfta g jgptap wgs vcry aii-putthfo ta `jhcfts wma fccdcd g pcrsafgj `affc`thaf. ‚_mgt‘s tmhs tmh s egf‘s egf‘s fgec1― ‚^guj Cvcrctt.― ‚Gfd wmy hs ihfdhfo mhe sa urocft1― Gegfdg swgjjawcd, mcr mgfds twhsthfo hf mcr jgp. ‚_c mgvc g saf. saf. Mc wgs barf tmrcc wccks goa. Mc wgs lust dhgodh gofascd whtm P@HD—Pcvcrc @aebhfcd Heeufadc He eufadcii h`hcf h`hcf`y `y.. Mhs bady hs hf`gpgbjc ai i homth homthfo fo hfic`thaf. hfic`t haf. Mc Mc fccds g stce `cjj trgfspjgft irae g egt`mcd dafar ar mc‘jj dhc.― Egr` put dawf mhs pcf. ‚H gssuec gssu ec yau‘ yau‘rc fat g egt`m1― Pmc smaak mcr mcr mcgd. ‚Tmc tcsthfo tcst hfo sghd s ghd H‘e H‘e fat cvcf g `gfdhdgtc. H wgs hf g `gr g``hdcft gs g `mhjd. Tmgfks Tmgf ks ta tmc bjaad bjaad trgfsiu trg fsiushafs shafs H rc`chvcd, H mgvc mcpgthths @. Pa H‘e H‘e aut ai tmc ph`turc. Gfd sa igr, sa hs tmc Fgthafgj Egrraw Dafar ^raorge org e Rcohstry Rcohstr y. Tmcy mgvc fa egt`m iar us. Tmc bcst, egybc tmc afjy mapc hs Lusthf‘ Lusthf‘ss igtmcr igt mcr..― Twa Twa tcgrs sj sjhd hd dawf GegfGe gfdg‘ss `mccks. Ihcr`cjy, smc whpcd tmce dg‘ t mce gwgy. gwgy. ‚H `aujd ohvc yau g iujj s`hcfthih` cxpjgfgthaf, Er. Dcvcrcgux. Ht‘s `afsuecd ey jhic tmcsc pgst pg st wccks, gfd H scce ta kfaw igr earc gbaut maw g muegf bady `gf `g f ighj igh j tmgf tmg f H cvcr tmauomt tmauomt passhbjc. But wc daf‘ daf‘tt mgvc thec. Tmgfks Tmgf ks ta ec, Lusthf gjrcgdy g jrcgdy mgs mg s gf hfic`thaf gfd hs smawhfo smawh fo syeptaes sy eptaes ai pfcueafhg.― pfcueafhg.― ‚Tmgfks ta yau1― ‚H wgs furshfo mhe. Cvhdcftjy, H‘e `grryhfo g daregft vhrus `gjjcd @EY—@ytaecogjavhrus. H pgsscd ht gjafo ta Lusthf. Lust hf. Mc‘ Mc‘ss stg s tgrr tcd ta `auom `au om gfd mc mgs m gs g icvcr—ba icvcr —batm tm ai
7=
GFDRCG KGFC
wmh`m grc hfdh`gtars h fdh`gtars tmgt mc‘s mc‘s dcvcjaphfo dcvcjaphfo @EY pfcueafhg. pfcueafh g. ^jus, mc ph`kcd up pgrghfijucfzg durhfo tmc twa wccks mc wgs maec. Mhs brcgtmhfo‘s ufcvcf, mhs fasc hs ruffhfo.… H dhdf‘t kfaw mc mgd g `aepraehscd heeufc systce, ar H‘d fcvcr mgvc mgvc jct mhe mh e mgvc vhshtars. Ht‘s taa jgtc ta `mgfoc tmgt. t mgt. Mc‘‘s af gfthbhath`s gfd Mc g fd ogeeg oge eg ojabujhf. ojabuj hf. But cvcf tmasc `gf afjy supprcss tmc @EY vhrus, fat `urc ht. Tmcy `gf gjsa bc taxh`` ta g `mhjd. Gs iar tmc pgrghfi juc taxh jucfzg, fzg, tmcrc‘s tmcrc‘s jhtcrgjjy jhtcrgj jy fatmhfo tmcy `gf ohvc mhe. Lusthf hs jcss tmgf g eaftm ajd. Mhs thfy t hfy bady `gf‘t `gf‘t sustghf sustgh f htscji iar jafo. jafo. Tmhs hs h s g jhic-arj hic-ardcgtm shtugthaf. sht ugthaf.― ― ‚H‘e ‚H‘ e vcry vcr y sarr sar r y.― ‚Tmcf mcjp ec.― ec.― Gegfdg ufbgfdcd mcr ihjc gfd apcfcd ht, pujjhfo aut g SPB drhvc, g DYD gfd twa fcwspgpcr `jhpphfos. Pmc sjhd tmce g`rass tmc tgbjc ta Egr`. ‚Mcrc grc tmc abhtugry gfd g segjj segj j wrhtc-up wrhtc -up ai ^guj‘s dcgtm irae tmc Pautmgeptaf ^rcss, tmc ja`gj fcwspgpcr aut aut tmcrc. tmcrc. ^rctty ^rctt y spgrsc. ^guj wgs g rcgjcstgtc dcvcjapcr dcvcjapcr whtm fa igehjy ige hjy.. Tmc afjy cx`hthfo gspc`t ta rcpart wgs tmc gjjcocd maeh`hdc.― Pmc pahftcd gt tmc dhsk. ‚G ja`gj `gbjc ` gbjc TY stgthaf stgt haf ogvc g brhci bragd`gst wmcf ht mgppcfcd. Tmgt wgs wg s ht iar ecdhg `av `avcrgoc. crgoc.― ― Egr` ojgf`cd ojg f`cd gt gt batm tmc wrhtc-up gfd tmc abht, abht, egkhfo egk hfo g ecftgj fatc ta `aftg`t batm tmc fcwspgpcr gfd TY stgthaf. st gthaf. Mc sjhd mhs jgptap avcr gfd pappcd hf tmc SPB drhvc. Twa hegocs gppcgrcd af mhs eafhtar, shdc by shdc. Tmc ihrst wgs ai Gegfdg gfd g egf—prcsuegbjy ^guj Cvcrctt—pashfo Cvcrctt— pashfo af g whfdswcpt bcg`m hf tmchr skh lg`kcts, gres wrgppcd graufd cg`m atmcr. atmcr. Tmc cxprcsshafs af tmchr ig`cs, i g`cs, tmchr hfh fthegtc th egtc stgf`c, stg f`c, sghd tmcy wcrc vcry eu`m hf javc. javc. Tmc sc`afd sc`afd hegoc wgs ai tmc twa ai tmce gt saec sart ai iaregj ogtm-
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
78
crhfo. Tmcy wcrc wcrc sehjhfo, sehj hfo, jaakhfo dhrc`tjy hfta h fta tmc `gecrg `gecrg gs tmcy pascd iar g pmataorgpm. ‚Faw jaak gt tmhs.― Gegfdg pujjcd aut mcr `cjj pmafc gfd pjg`cd ht af tmc tgbjc t gbjc iar Egr` ta scc. Tmcrc wgs g pmata af tmc s`rccf, gfd Egr` smhitcd mhs gttcfthaf ta study ht. Bchfo g `cjj pmafc smat, ht wgs g jat
orghfhcr tmgf tmc atmcr twa pmatas. But ht wgs abvhausjy tmc hegoc ai g egf stgfdhfo af g busy strcct `arfcr, hepgthcftjy wghthfo iar g jhomt ta `mgfoc. Mc wgs stgrhfo gt tmc daf‘t wgjk shof, wmh`m ogvc tmc pmataorgpmcr g `mgf`c ta `gt`m mhe ig`c-ihrst. Egr` `aujd scc tmgt irae tmc ig`hgj icgturcs, tmc cxprcsshaf gfd tmc stgf`c, ht wgs tmc sgec egf gs tmc afc hf tmc atmcr twa smats. ‚_mcf wgs tmhs sc`afd pmata tgkcf1― mc gskcd. ‚Gfd wmcrc1― ‚Xcstcr ‚X cstcrdgy. dgy. Hf _gsmhfo _gsmh fotaf, taf, D. D.@. @.― ― ‚By wmae1― ‚G irhcfd ai ehfc, g icjjaw pmatalaurfgjhst. Hf tmhs `gsc, ey irhcfd sgw tmc rcscebjgf`c ta ^guj. Pmc dhdf‘t wght ta oct mcr `gecrg rcgdy. Pmc lust uscd tmc `jascst tmhfo—mcr `cjj pmaf pmafc. c. Pmc ceghjcd cegh jcd ec tmc pmata g `aupjc ai maurs maurs goa. H mgd lust wgjkcd aut ai tmc masphtgj ta tgkc g brcgk.― ‚Pa smc kfcw yau gfd ^guj gs g `aupjc.― ‚Xcs. ‚X cs. Pmc gjsa gj sa kfcw H‘d fcvcr mgd g `mgf`c ta tcjj tcj j ^guj H wgs prcofgft. prcof gft. Pmc wgs maphfo maphfo ta ohvc ec tmgt `mgf`c, gjafo whtm tmc hf`rcdhbjc fcws tmgt ^guj wgs gjhvc.― ^guj Cvcrctt mgd fcvcr kfawf gbaut tmc prcofgf`y, Egr` tmauomt. Tmgt cjhehfgtcd cjhe hfgtcd afc bgsh` rcgsaf wmy mc‘d `maasc `maasc ta vgfhsm. Pthjj, Pth jj, Egr` Eg r` waujd waujd wgft ta tgjk ta Gegfdg‘ Geg fdg‘ss irhcfd. ir hcfd. Gegfdg ehstaak mhs shjcf`c iar skcpth`hse. ‚H mgvc fa hdcg
2>
GFDRCG KGFC
wmy ^guj waujd waujd vgfhsm vg fhsm whtmaut w htmaut sgyhfo g ward ar wmy wmy mc‘d stgrt g fcw jhic cjscwmcrc. Af`c H oat tmhs `cjj pmafc smat gfd rcgjhzcd rcgjh zcd mc ehomt bc gjhvc gj hvc,, H wgs rcjhcv rcjhcvcd, cd, but H wgs gjsa g jsa iurhaus. H icjt—H iccj—bctrgycd. _mcf tmcy tajd ec ^guj wgs dcgd, H wgs rcgdy ta rghsc r ghsc ey `mhjd `mh jd gjafc. But But faw tmgt tmcrc‘s g `mgf`c mc `aujd bc gjhvc, g `mgf`c tmgt mc `aujd sgvc Lusthf‘s jhic…ey prhdc hs g faf-hssuc. H mgvc ta try ta trg`k ^guj dawf.― Egr` wgs sthjj sthj j stgrhfo stgrh fo hftcftjy irae tmc tmc s`rccf s`rccf ta tmc `cjj pmafc, pma fc, jaakh jaakhfo fo iar gddhthafgj `mgrg`tcrh `mg rg`tcrhsth`s sth`s tmgt waujd `afihre tmc hegocs gs tmc sgec egf. ‚Dhd yau `gjj tmc pajh`c gbaut tmhs fcw pmata1― mc gskcd. ‚Xcs, ‚X cs, hf h f tmc tgx t gxhh af ey wgy ta yaur aii h`c. Twa Twa oucsscs wmctmcr ar fat tmcy ogvc ec gfy pahfts iar `rcdhbhjhty.― Gegfdg‘s jhps trcebjcd gfd tcgrs bcogf sjhdhfo dawf mcr `mccks. ‚Tmgt‘s wmy H‘e mcrc. H‘vc bccf tayhfo whtm tmc hdcg ai `gjjhfo yau shf`c jgst Gprhj wmcf ^guj dhsgppcgrcd, maphfo yau `aujd uf`avcr g ehrg`jc. But tmhs pmata `jhf`mcd ht. Xau mgvc g rcputgthaf iar sajvhfo `gscs tmgt fa afc cjsc `gf. ^jcgsc. Iar tmc sgkc sg kc ai ey bgby… bgby… _hjj _hj j yau mcjp ec1 ec1 H‘jj H‘j j s`rgpc taoctmcr gfy geauft ai eafcy ta pgy yaur icc. H‘jj ohvc up ey gpgrtecft, hi fccd bc. H daf‘t `grc. H lust wgft Lusthf ta bc gjj g jj rho rhomt. mt.― ― Pmc brakc dawf, drapphfo mcr ig`c hfta mcr mgfds gfd apcfjy sabbhfo. ‚Tmhss hsf‘t ‚Tmh hsf‘t gbaut eafcy, eafcy,― Egr` gssu gssurcd rcd mcr, gjtmauom smc‘d mgd mhe mh e tmc ehfutc eh futc smc smc dcs`rhbcd mcr shtugthaf whtm mcr hfigft. ‚Aur pajh`y pajh` y hs ta gdlust aur iccs bgscd upaf aur aur `jhcft‘ `j hcft‘ss eafctgr eaf ctgry y `hr`uestgf`cs. `hr`u estgf`cs.― ― Tmgfki Tmgf kiuj ujjy jy,, tmcy `aujd da tmgt. Bctwccf tmc gstrafaeh`gj gst rafaeh`gj bafuscs tmcy rc`chvcd irae tmchr earcc gii ear gi i juc jucft ft `jhcfts, `jhcfts, gfd tmc trust tr ust iufd @gscy‘s @gscy‘s orgfdigtmcr org fdigtmcr mgd jcit mcr, mcr, Iarcfsh` Hfsth Hfsthf`ts f`ts wgs af sajhd sajhd ihfgf`hg i hfgf`hgjj iaathfo.
TMC JHFC JHF C BCT _CCF
MCRC GFD OAFC
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‚Tmcf wmgt hs ht1― Gegfdg gskcd gs Egr` icjj shjcft. Egr` dhdf‘t gfswcr heecdhgtcjy. Tmc prabjce wgs, mc wgs hf tmc mat scgt. Iarcfsh` Iarcfsh` Hfsthf`ts Hfst hf`ts mgd m gd gf ufbrakcf rujc< tmcy fcvcr taak af g `gsc whtmaut ihrst mgvhfo g iujj-tcge dhs`usshaf gfd g ufgfheaus dc`hshaf. _cjj, tmcsc wcrc dhrc `hr`uestgf`cs. Gfd ohvcf tmgt fa afc cjsc irae tmc tcge wgs graufd gfd tmgt ht waujd tgkc thec ta rcg`m tmce gjj gfd oct tmce avcr mcrc—mcjj, tmcrc wgs g ihrst thec iar cvcrytmhfo. ‚Ht‘ss fatmhfo ‚Ht‘ fatmh fo H `gf‘t wark wark aut,― aut,― mc stgtcd i jgt jgtjy jy.. ‚_c‘j ‚_c‘jjj ihfd i hfd ^guj Cvcrctt, Cvcrctt, Es. Ojcgsaf. Hi mc‘s mc‘s gjhvc, g jhvc, wc‘j wc‘jjj i hfd mhe. mh e. Gfd wc‘j wc ‘jjj da wmgtcvcr‘s wmgtcvcr‘s fc`cssgry fc`cssgr y ta cfsurc mhs m hs `aapcrgthaf.― `aapcrgthaf.― Gegfdg‘s mcgd smat up, mcr tcgr-strcgkcd ig`c dhspjgyhfo g ojheecr ai mapc. ‚Am, tmgfk yau. Tmgfk yau. Irae tmc battae ai ey mcgrt, mcgr t, H tmgfk tm gfk yau. yau.― ― ‚Tmgfk ec wmcf wc‘vc dafc tmc lab.― Egr`‘s ehfd wgs af avcrdrhvc. ‚_mgt masphtgj hs yaur saf hf1― ‚Pjagfc Kcttcrhfo. Mc wgs rcicrrcd tmcrc by tmc stgii gt Eauft Phfgh wma egdc tmc arhohfgj dhgofashs.― ‚Pa yau‘rc stgyhfo tmcrc whtm mhe1― ‚H mgvcf‘t jcit ufthj lust faw.― ‚Ihfc.― Egr` faddcd. ‚H‘jj fccd yau ta ceghj tmgt `cjj pmafc ph`turc ta ec. H‘jj gjsa fccd saec bgsh` hfiaregthaf irae yau—hf`judhfo yau—hf`judhfo tmc t mc fgec gfd `aftg`t hfia h fia ai yaur pmatalaurfgjhst irhcfd. Tmcf oa bg`k ta yaur bgby. Ohvc ec g `mgf`c ta gsscebjc tmc tcge gfd jgy gjj tmhs aut iar tmce. _c‘j c‘jjj mgvc g pjgf pjg f by earfhfo. earf hfo.― ― ^grt ai tmgt pjgf, mc kfcw, wgs oahfo ta hf`judc mgvhfo mhs gss kh`kc kh`kcd. d.
