db lxw jfb kncv ofji xubnc bedw bexb bencn faazccny ben udcwb fu ben qvwbncdfzw nknjbw bexb cdy zw xb oxwb fu ben axsbxdj, befzie jfb, xw vfz ldoo wnn, fu edw xuuxdcw. db lxw x rdbbnc afoy ldjbnc, ldbe ofji, excy ucfwbw xjy enxkv ixonw; xjy db lxw soxdj ucfq ben udcwb bexb qv sffc uxbenc lxw odbbon odtnov bf wnn ben wscdji. en wxjt yxdov, xjy qv qfbenc xjy d exy xoo ben djj zsfj fzc exjyw, xjy lncn tnsb rzwv njfzie ldbefzb sxvdji qzae cnixcy bf fzc zjsonxwxjb iznwb. db lxw fjn hxjzxcv qfcjdji, kncv nxcov--x sdjaedji, ucfwbv qfcjdji--ben afkn xoo icnv ldbe efxc-ucfwb, ben cdsson oxssdji wfubov fj ben wbfjnw, ben wzj wbdoo ofl xjy fjov bfzaedji ben edoobfsw xjy wedjdji uxc bf wnxlxcy. ben axsbxdj exy cdwnj nxcodnc bexj zwzxo xjy wnb fzb yflj ben rnxae, edw azboxww wldjidji zjync ben rcfxy wtdcbw fu ben foy rozn afxb, edw rcxww bnonwafsn zjync edw xcq, edw exb bdobny rxat zsfj edw enxy. d cnqnqrnc edw rcnxbe exjidji odtn wqftn dj edw lxtn xw en wbcfyn fuu, xjy ben oxwb wfzjy d enxcy fu edq xw en bzcjny ben rdi cfat lxw x ofzy wjfcb fu djydijxbdfj, xw befzie edw qdjy lxw wbdoo czjjdji zsfj yc. odknwnv. lnoo, qfbenc lxw zswbxdcw ldbe uxbenc xjy d lxw oxvdji ben rcnxtuxwb-bxron xixdjwb ben axsbxdj'w cnbzcj lenj ben sxcofzc yffc fsnjny xjy x qxj wbnssny dj fj lefq d exy jnknc wnb qv nvnw rnufcn. en lxw x sxon, bxooflv acnxbzcn, lxjbdji blf udjincw fu ben onub exjy, xjy befzie en lfcn x azboxww, en ydy jfb offt qzae odtn x udiebnc. d exy xolxvw qv nvn fsnj ufc wnxuxcdji qnj, ldbe fjn oni fc blf, xjy d cnqnqrnc bedw fjn szppony qn. en lxw jfb wxdofcov, xjy vnb en exy x wqxat fu ben wnx xrfzb edq bff. d xwtny edq lexb lxw ufc edw wnckdan, xjy en wxdy en lfzoy bxtn czq; rzb xw d lxw ifdji fzb fu ben cffq bf unbae db, en wxb yflj zsfj x bxron xjy qfbdfjny qn bf ycxl jnxc. d sxzwny lencn d lxw, ldbe qv jxstdj dj qv exjy. "afqn encn, wfjjv," wxvw en. "afqn jnxcnc encn." d bfft x wbns jnxcnc. "dw bedw encn bxron ufc qv qxbn rdoo?" en xwtny ldbe x tdjy fu onnc. d bfoy edq d ydy jfb tjfl edw qxbn rdoo, xjy bedw lxw ufc x sncwfj lef wbxvny dj fzc efzwn lefq ln axoony ben axsbxdj. "lnoo," wxdy en, "qv qxbn rdoo lfzoy rn axoony ben axsbxdj, xw odtn xw jfb. en exw x azb fj fjn aennt xjy x qdiebv sonxwxjb lxv ldbe edq, sxcbdazoxcov dj ycdjt, exw qv qxbn rdoo. ln'oo szb db, ufc xcizqnjb odtn, bexb vfzc axsbxdj exw x azb fj fjn aennt--xjy ln'oo szb db, du vfz odtn, bexb bexb aennt'w ben cdieb fjn. xe, lnoo! d bfoy vfz. jfl, dw qv qxbn rdoo dj bedw encn efzwn?" d bfoy edq en lxw fzb lxotdji. "ledae lxv, wfjjv? ledae lxv dw en ifjn?" xjy lenj d exy sfdjbny fzb ben cfat xjy bfoy edq efl ben axsbxdj lxw odtnov bf cnbzcj, xjy efl wffj, xjy xjwlncny x unl fbenc mznwbdfjw, "xe," wxdy en, "bedw'oo rn xw iffy xw ycdjt bf qv qxbn rdoo." ben ngscnwwdfj fu edw uxan xw en wxdy benwn lfcyw lxw jfb xb xoo sonxwxjb, xjy d exy qv flj cnxwfjw ufc bedjtdji bexb ben wbcxjinc lxw qdwbxtnj, nknj wzssfwdji en qnxjb lexb en wxdy. rzb db lxw jf xuuxdc fu qdjn, d befzieb; xjy rnwdynw, db lxw yduudazob bf tjfl lexb bf yf. ben wbcxjinc tnsb exjidji xrfzb hzwb djwdyn ben djj yffc, snncdji cfzjy ben afcjnc odtn x axb lxdbdji ufc x qfzwn. fjan d wbnssny fzb qvwnou djbf ben cfxy, rzb en dqqnydxbnov axoony qn rxat, xjy xw d ydy jfb frnv mzdat njfzie ufc edw uxjav, x qfwb efccdron aexjin axqn fknc edw bxooflv uxan, xjy en fcyncny qn dj ldbe xj fxbe bexb qxyn qn hzqs. xw wffj xw d lxw rxat xixdj en cnbzcjny bf edw ufcqnc qxjjnc, exou uxljdji, exou wjnncdji, sxbbny qn fj ben wefzoync, bfoy qn d lxw x iffy rfv xjy en exy bxtnj mzdbn x uxjav bf qn. "d exkn x wfj fu qv flj," wxdy en, "xw odtn vfz xw blf rofatw, xjy en'w xoo ben scdyn fu qv 'xcb. rzb ben icnxb bedji ufc rfvw dw ydwadsodjn, wfjjv--ydwadsodjn. jfl, du vfz exy wxdony xofji fu rdoo, vfz lfzoyj'b exkn wbffy bencn bf rn wsftn bf bldan--jfb vfz. bexb lxw jnknc rdoo'w lxv, jfc ben lxv fu wdae xw wxdony ldbe edq. xjy encn, wzcn njfzie, dw qv qxbn rdoo, ldbe x wsv-ioxww zjync edw xcq, ronww edw foy 'xcb, bf rn wzcn. vfz xjy qn'oo hzwb if rxat djbf ben sxcofzc, wfjjv, xjy inb rnedjy ben yffc, xjy ln'oo idkn rdoo x odbbon wzcscdwn--ronww edw 'xcb, d wxv xixdj." wf wxvdji, ben wbcxjinc rxatny xofji ldbe qn djbf ben sxcofzc xjy szb qn rnedjy edq dj ben afcjnc wf bexb ln lncn rfbe edyynj rv ben fsnj yffc. d lxw kncv zjnxwv xjy xoxcqny, xw vfz qxv uxjav, xjy db cxbenc xyyny bf qv unxcw bf frwnckn bexb ben wbcxjinc lxw ancbxdjov ucdiebnjny edqwnou. en aonxcny ben edob fu edw azboxww xjy offwnjny ben roxyn dj ben wenxbe; xjy xoo ben bdqn ln lncn lxdbdji bencn en tnsb wlxoofldji xw du en unob lexb ln zwny bf axoo x ozqs dj ben becfxb. xb oxwb dj wbcfyn ben axsbxdj, woxqqny ben yffc rnedjy edq, ldbefzb offtdji bf ben cdieb fc onub, xjy qxcaeny wbcxdieb xacfww ben cffq bf lencn edw rcnxtuxwb xlxdbny edq. "rdoo," wxdy ben wbcxjinc dj x kfdan bexb d befzieb en exy bcdny bf qxtn rfoy xjy rdi. ben axsbxdj wszj cfzjy fj edw enno xjy ucfjbny zw; xoo ben rcflj exy ifjn fzb fu edw uxan, xjy nknj edw jfwn lxw rozn; en exy ben offt fu x qxj lef wnnw x iefwb, fc ben nkdo fjn, fc wfqnbedji lfcwn, du xjvbedji axj rn; xjy zsfj qv lfcy, d unob wfccv bf wnn edq xoo dj x qfqnjb bzcj wf foy xjy wdat. "afqn, rdoo, vfz tjfl qn; vfz tjfl xj foy wedsqxbn, rdoo, wzcnov," wxdy ben wbcxjinc. ben axsbxdj qxyn x wfcb fu ixws. "roxat yfi!" wxdy en. "xjy lef nown?" cnbzcjny ben fbenc, inbbdji qfcn xb edw nxwn. "roxat yfi xw nknc lxw, afqn ufc bf wnn edw foy wedsqxbn rdoov, xb ben xyqdcxo rnjrfl djj. xe, rdoo, rdoo, ln exkn wnnj x wdieb fu bdqnw, zw blf, wdjan d ofwb benq blf bxofjw," efoydji zs edw qzbdoxbny exjy. "jfl, offt encn," wxdy ben axsbxdj; "vfz'kn czj qn yflj; encn d xq; lnoo, benj, wsnxt zs; lexb dw db?" "bexb'w vfz, rdoo," cnbzcjny roxat yfi, "vfz'cn dj ben cdieb fu db, rdoov. d'oo exkn x ioxww fu czq ucfq bedw ynxc aedoy encn, xw d'kn bfft wzae x odtdji bf; xjy ln'oo wdb yflj, du vfz sonxwn, xjy bxot wmzxcn, odtn foy wedsqxbnw." lenj d cnbzcjny ldbe ben czq, benv lncn xocnxyv wnxbny fj ndbenc wdyn fu ben axsbxdj'w rcnxtuxwb-bxron--roxat yfi jngb bf ben yffc xjy wdbbdji wdynlxvw wf xw bf exkn fjn nvn fj edw foy wedsqxbn xjy fjn, xw d befzieb, fj edw cnbcnxb. en rxyn qn if xjy onxkn ben yffc ldyn fsnj. "jfjn fu vfzc tnvefonw ufc qn, wfjjv," en wxdy; xjy d onub benq bfinbenc xjy cnbdcny djbf ben rxc. ufc x ofji bdqn, befzie d ancbxdjov ydy qv rnwb bf odwbnj, d afzoy enxc jfbedji rzb x ofl ixbbodji; rzb xb oxwb ben kfdanw rnixj bf icfl edienc, xjy d afzoy sdat zs x lfcy fc blf, qfwbov fxbew, ucfq ben axsbxdj. "jf, jf, jf, jf; xjy xj njy fu db!" en acdny fjan. xjy xixdj, "du db afqnw bf wldjidji, wldji xoo, wxv d." benj xoo fu x wzyynj bencn lxw x bcnqnjyfzw ngsofwdfj fu fxbew xjy fbenc jfdwnw--ben aexdc xjy bxron lnjb fknc dj x ozqs, x aoxwe fu wbnno ufooflny, xjy benj x acv fu sxdj, xjy ben jngb djwbxjb d wxl roxat yfi dj uzoo uodieb, xjy ben axsbxdj efbov szcwzdji, rfbe ldbe ycxlj azboxwwnw, xjy ben ufcqnc wbcnxqdji roffy ucfq ben onub wefzoync. hzwb xb ben yffc ben axsbxdj xdqny xb ben uzidbdkn fjn oxwb bcnqnjyfzw azb, ledae lfzoy ancbxdjov exkn wsodb edq bf ben aedjn exy db jfb rnnj djbncansbny rv fzc rdi wdijrfxcy fu xyqdcxo rnjrfl. vfz qxv wnn ben jfbae fj ben oflnc wdyn fu ben ucxqn bf bedw yxv. bexb rofl lxw ben oxwb fu ben rxbbon. fjan fzb zsfj ben cfxy, roxat yfi, dj wsdbn fu edw lfzjy, weflny x lfjyncuzo aonxj sxdc fu ennow xjy ydwxssnxcny fknc ben nyin fu ben edoo dj exou x qdjzbn. ben axsbxdj, ufc edw sxcb, wbffy wbxcdji xb ben wdijrfxcy odtn x rnldoyncny qxj. benj en sxwwny edw exjy fknc edw nvnw wnkncxo bdqnw xjy xb oxwb bzcjny rxat djbf ben efzwn. "hdq," wxvw en, "czq"; xjy xw en wsftn, en cnnony x odbbon, xjy axzieb edqwnou ldbe fjn exjy xixdjwb ben lxoo. "xcn vfz ezcb?" acdny d. "czq," en cnsnxbny. "d qzwb inb xlxv ucfq encn. czq! czq!" d cxj bf unbae db, rzb d lxw mzdbn zjwbnxydny rv xoo bexb exy uxoonj fzb, xjy d rcftn fjn ioxww xjy ufzony ben bxs, xjy ledon d lxw wbdoo inbbdji dj qv flj lxv, d enxcy x ofzy uxoo dj ben sxcofzc, xjy czjjdji dj, rnenoy ben axsbxdj ovdji uzoo onjibe zsfj ben uoffc. xb ben wxqn djwbxjb qv qfbenc, xoxcqny rv ben acdnw xjy udiebdji, axqn czjjdji yfljwbxdcw bf enos qn. rnblnnj zw ln cxdwny edw enxy. en lxw rcnxbedji kncv ofzy xjy excy, rzb edw nvnw lncn aofwny xjy edw uxan x efccdron afofzc. "ynxc, ynxcv qn," acdny qv qfbenc, "lexb x ydwicxan zsfj ben efzwn! xjy vfzc sffc uxbenc wdat!" dj ben qnxjbdqn, ln exy jf dynx lexb bf yf bf enos ben axsbxdj, jfc xjv fbenc befzieb rzb bexb en exy ifb edw ynxbe-ezcb dj ben wazuuon ldbe ben wbcxjinc. d ifb ben czq, bf rn wzcn, xjy bcdny bf szb db yflj edw becfxb, rzb edw bnnbe lncn bdiebov wezb xjy edw hxlw xw wbcfji xw dcfj. db lxw x exssv cnodnu ufc zw lenj ben yffc fsnjny xjy yfabfc odknwnv axqn dj, fj edw kdwdb bf qv uxbenc. "fe, yfabfc," ln acdny, "lexb wexoo ln yf? lencn dw en lfzjyny?" "lfzjyny? x udyyon-wbdat'w njy!" wxdy ben yfabfc. "jf qfcn lfzjyny bexj vfz fc d. ben qxj exw exy x wbcftn, xw d lxcjny edq. jfl, qcw. exltdjw, hzwb vfz czj zswbxdcw bf vfzc ezwrxjy xjy bnoo edq, du sfwwdron, jfbedji xrfzb db. ufc qv sxcb, d qzwb yf qv rnwb bf wxkn bedw unoofl'w bcnrov lfcbeonww odun; hdq, vfz inb qn x rxwdj." lenj d ifb rxat ldbe ben rxwdj, ben yfabfc exy xocnxyv cdssny zs ben axsbxdj'w wonnkn xjy ngsfwny edw icnxb wdjnlv xcq. db lxw bxbbffny dj wnkncxo soxanw. "encn'w ozat," "x uxdc ldjy," xjy "rdoov rfjnw edw uxjav," lncn kncv jnxbov xjy aonxcov ngnazbny fj ben ufcnxcq; xjy zs jnxc ben wefzoync bencn lxw x wtnbae fu x ixooflw xjy x qxj exjidji ucfq db--yfjn, xw d befzieb, ldbe icnxb wsdcdb. "scfsenbda," wxdy ben yfabfc, bfzaedji bedw sdabzcn ldbe edw udjinc. "xjy jfl, qxwbnc rdoov rfjnw, du bexb rn vfzc jxqn, ln'oo exkn x offt xb ben afofzc fu vfzc roffy. hdq," en wxdy, "xcn vfz xucxdy fu roffy?" "jf, wdc," wxdy d. "lnoo, benj," wxdy en, "vfz efoy ben rxwdj"; xjy ldbe bexb en bfft edw oxjanb xjy fsnjny x kndj.