,BOOK #a1 ,*APT] #g 
,ATLANTIS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,A,T,L,A,N,T,I,S 

,F\L FAN?OMS FIVE HIS F>T] LIES1 & (FICE BONES >E COBBLES MADE4 ,AH HA HA HA4 ,OH1 BUGG]1 LET HIM /AY D[N H]E & UND]WAT] 9 ! W>M1 ! SWEATY L95 CURR5TS DREFT+ HIM AWAY1 AWEI< 9 AN*OR *A9S & SCRABBLE CRABS & M]MAIDS M]M]+ TO !IR SL[MILE PHONES1 !IR FI%BONE COMBS1 DON'T MAKE HIM SWIM UP TO ! LI<T JU/ YET1 NOT YET4 ,FIVE M9UTES1 JU/ FIVE M9UTES MORE BECAUSE D[N H]E IT ISN'T ANY TIME AT ALL1 IT C\LD BE N9ETE5 FIFTY-EI<T & HIM A FIVE-YE>-OLD ) ALL HIS LIFE UNCOIL$ UNSPOIL$ BE=E HIM1 D[N H]E 9 ! W>M & WE$S & W9KLES1 ) HIS ?\<TS BRI<T-COLOR$ TETRAS /REAM+ 9 AMONG ! TUMBL$ BU/S1 ! DEAD M5'S *E/S1 BUT IT'S TOO LATE1 ALREADY IT'S TOO LATE4 ,A MATTRESS-SPR+ IS POK+ ?R\< ! OCEAN B$-S&S1 UP 9TO HIS BACK1 & HE CAN FEEL HIS JELLYFI%-LIMP >MS & LEGS TRAIL+ >\ND HIM 9 A SALTY SPRAWL AS HE RELUCTANTLY FLOATS UP ?R\< DREAM-SILTS 9 SUSP5SION1 BACK T[>DS ! DAPPL$ DAZZLE ( ! SURFACE1 :]E HIS MO!R'S GOT ! WIRELESS ON D[N 9 ! KIT*54 ,BUGG]4 ,BUGG] IT4 

,B5$ICT ,P]RIT HALF-OP5$ HIS EYES 9TO !IR FIR/ W9CE ( ! DAY4 ,IT WASN'T #a#i#e#h4 ,HE WASN'T FIVE4 ,IT WAS ,MAY #b#f?1 #b#f4 ,HE WAS A C\<+1 F>T+ WRECK ( FIFTY-TWO1 A PIECE ( N9ETE5-HUNDR$S ROYALTY 9 EXILE1 TRAIPS+ BACK & =? ALONG ! %ORES ( AN UNFRI5DLY =EIGN C5TURY4 ,AH HA HA HA4 ,WRECK WAS A BIT /RONG1 ACTUALLY4 ,HE WAS 9 BETT] %APE ?AN MO/ HIS AGE1 TO LOOK AT4 ,IT WAS MORE ?AT HE'D JU/ WOK5 UP1 & HE'D BE5 ON ! ALE ! NI<T BE=E4 ,HE'D PICK UP LAT] ON1 HE KNEW1 BUT MORN+ ALWAYS CAME AS SOME?+ ( A %OCK TO ,B5$ICT4 ,Y\ HADN'T HAD A *ANCE YET TO GET Y\R DEF5SES UP1 ?IS TIME ( DAY4 ,! ?\<TS ?AT LAT] ON Y\ C\LD AVOID OR BRU% ASIDE1 !Y W]E ALL ON Y\ LIKE A PACK ( DOGS :5 Y\ W]E JU/ WOKE UP & HADN'T HAD Y\R BREAKFA/ YET4 ,! COLD UNV>NI%$ FACTS ( HIS [N LIFE1 BY MORN+'S LI<T1 W]E ALWAYS LIKE A /RAI<T PUN* 9 ! FACE3 HIS LOVELY SI/] ,ALISON WAS DEAD1 A BIKE SMA% MORE ?AN =TY YE>S AGO4 ,HIS DAD1 OLD ,JEM1 WAS DEAD4 ,!IR H\SE !Y'D LIV$ 91 !IR OLD /REET1 !IR NEI<BORHOOD1 ?OSE W]E ALL DEAD AS WELL4 ,! FAMILY HE'D />T$ = HIMSELF ) ,LILY & ! BOYS1 HE'D MESS$ ?AT UP1 ?AT WAS ALL F9I%$ N[4 ,HE WAS BACK LIV+ ) HIS MAM 9 ,T[] ,/REET1 :AT HAD BE5 ! TOP ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 UP BEH9D ! HI<-RISE BLOCKS4 ,HIS LIFE1 9 HIS OP9ION1 HADN'T REALLY WORK$ \T H[ HE MI<T HAVE HOP$1 & YET ! ?\<T ?AT 9 ANO!R ?IRTY YE>S IT W\LD BE OV] HORRIFI$ HIM4 ,OR AT LEA/ IT DID :5 HE'D JU/ WOK5 UP4 ,EV]Y?+ HORRIFI$ HIM :5 HE'D JU/ WOKE UP4 

,HE LET HIS DEMONS *EW ON HIM A M9UTE OR TWO MORE1 !N ?REW !M (F ALONG ) ! TOP %EET & BLANKETS1 SW++ D[N HIS KNOBBLY1 HAIRY LEGS ONTO ! B$SIDE FLOOR AS HE SAT UP4 ,HE RAN HIS H&S OV] ! M\NTA9\S RELIEF-MAP ( HIS FACE & BACK 9TO ! /ILL-BLACK TANGLES ( HIS HAIR4 ,HE C\<$ & F>T$1 FEEL+ VAGUELY DISRESPECTFUL TO BE DO+ SO :ILE 9 ! PRES5CE ( HIS BOOK%ELVES1 UP AGA9/ ! ROOM'S 5D WALL4 ,HE C\LD FEEL ,DYLAN ,?OMAS1 ,H4,E4 ,BATES1 ,JOHN ,CL>E & ,?OMAS ,H>DY />+ AT HIM PO9T$LY1 WAIT+ = HIM TO [N UP & APOLOGIZE4 ,HE MUMBL$ A 0BEG P>DON0 REA*+ = HIS DRESS+ G[N1 HUNG ON A *AIR BESIDE ! ANCI5T WRIT+ DESK1 !N /OOD & PADD$ B>EFOOT \T ONTO ! L&+1 F>T+ ONCE MORE TO ASS]T HIS 9DEP5D5CE JU/ BE=E HE CLOS$ ! B$ROOM DOOR & LEFT ! PA/ORAL POETS TO DISC]N ! ROMANCE 9 HIS FLATUL5CE4 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,ONCE 9 ! BA?ROOM HE TOOK C>E ( HIS EVACUATIONS1 :I*1 ?ANKS TO ! DR9K ! NI<T BE=E1 W]E WRET*$LY DI/RESS+ BUT CONCLUD$ FAIRLY QUICKLY4 ,NEXT HE TOOK HIS DRESS+ G[N (F :ILE HE HAD A WA% & %AVE1 /OOD AT ! S9K4 ,! C5TRAL HEAT+1 ?AT WAS ONE ?+ FROM ! MOD]N WORLD ?AT HE WAS GLAD (4 ,D[N 9 ,FREES*OOL ,/REET :]E HE'D GR[N UP IT HAD BE5 MU* TOO COLD TO WA% MORE ?AN Y\R FACE & H&S EA* DAY4 ,P]HAPS Y\'D HAVE A PROP] SCRUB 9 A Z9C BA? ON ,FRIDAY NI<TS IF Y\ W]E LUCKY4 

,B5$ICT RAN SOME HOT WAT] 9 ! BAS9 - HE W\LD GRUDG+LY ADMIT HOT WAT] C\LD BE SE5 AS AN IMPROVEM5T1 TOO - !N SPLA%$ HIMSELF ALL OV] BE=E LA!R+ UP ) HIS MOM'S ,CAMAY1 UTILIZ+ HIS ABUNDANT PUBIC HAIR AS AN IMPROMPTU SOAP-PAD4 ,= ! R9SE HE DRAGG$ A T[EL D[N FROM ! RAIL TO /& UPON1 SO ?AT HE W\LDN'T SOAK ! BA?ROOM C>PET1 LEAN+ =W>D SO HIS G5ITALS HUNG D[N 9TO ! :ITE 5AMEL BAS9 :ILE HE SCOOP$ ! WAT] UP & LET IT P\R ACROSS HIS *E/ & BELLY1 SLUIC+ (F ! SUDS4 ,HE US$ A SPONGE TO WA% AWAY ! FOAM B5EA? HIS >MS1 !N GAVE HIS LEGS & FEET A MO/LY-SOAPLESS RUBD[N BE=E DRY+ (F UPON ANO!R1 L>G] T[EL4 ,HE PUT HIS DRESS+ G[N BACK ON1 !N TOOK HIS DAD'S OLD %AV+ BRU% & /RAI<T-$GE RAZOR D[N \T ( ! BA?ROOM CAB9ET4 

,! BRI/LES - HOG OR BADG] HAIR1 HE'D NEV] KN[N = SURE - W]E S(T & SOO?+1 SLA!R+ ! :ITE FRO? ON HIS *EEK4 ,HE />$ 9TO ! BA?ROOM MIRROR1 MET HIS [N SAD GAZE1 !N DREW ! OP5 RAZOR 9 A L9E ACROSS ! ?ROAT ( HIS REFLECTION1 SOME TWO 9*ES FROM ! W9DPIPE1 GURGL+ MORTALLY1 ROLL+ HIS EYES & /ICK+ \T HIS LONG & ONLY SLI<TLY FURRY TONGUE4 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,HE %AV$1 WA%+ ! BLADE CLEAN UND]NEA? ! COLD TAP & DEPOSIT+ A SCUM ( T9Y HAIRS >\ND ! BAS9'S TIDE-L9E4 ,IT WAS LIKE A TEA-LEAF RESIDUE1 BUT SMALL]1 & HE WOND]$ IF ! FUTURE C\LD BE SE5 AMONG ! R&OM SPECKS4 ,!Y ALWAYS US$ TO SAY D[N 9 ! ,BOR\<S H[ IF1 = EXAMPLE1 Y\ HAD TEA-LEAVES ?AT LOOK$ LIKE A BOAT IT MEANT A SEA VOYAGE WAS 9 /ORE1 ONLY ( C\RSE IT NEV] WAS4 ,PUTT+ AWAY ! %AV+ KIT HE PATT$ DRY HIS FACE & RISK$ A PALM-FULL ( ,OLD ,SPICE4 ,HE'D ?\<T ! FRUITY SMELL WAS GIRLI% :5 HE'D SLAPP$ IT ON ! FIR/ TIME AS A TE5AG]1 BUT N[ADAYS HE LIK$ IT4 ,IT SMELL$ LIKE ! ',SIXTIES4 ,LOOK+ 9 ! GLASS AT HIS CLEAN-%AV5 FACE HE GAVE A SUAVE1 MAT9EE-IDOL SMILE & JIGGL$ HIS ?ICK EYEBR[S UP & D[N SUGGE/IVELY1 A SOZZL$ GIGOLO ATTEMPT+ TO S$UCE HIS [N REFLECTION4 ,GOD1 :O'D WANT TO WAKE UP NEXT TO ?AT1 NEXT TO ,B5 ,P]RIT & ,B5 ,P]RIT'S NOSE8 ,NOT HIM1 ?AT WAS = SURE4 ,IF ,B5$ICT HAD ONLY GOT HIS LOOKS TO GO ON1 HE PRESUM$ ?AT HE'D BE SUNK4 ,IT WAS A /ROKE ( LUCK1 !N1 ?AT HE WAS A PUBLI%$ POET TOO1 ON TOP ( ALL HIS O!R *>MS & VIRTUES4 

,HE W5T BACK 9TO HIS B$ROOM TO GET DRESS$1 ONLY REMEMB]+ ! F>T :5 IT WAS TOO LATE4 ,BUGG]4 ,HE PULL$ ON HIS %IRT & TR\S]S BREA?+ ?R\< HIS M\?1 !N GRABB$ HIS WAI/COAT & HIS %OES & BOLT$ = ! L&+1 F9I%+ ADJU/+ HIS APP>EL ONCE HE WAS \TSIDE ! ROOM & BACK 9 A T]RE/RIAL ATMOSPH]E4 ,HE WIP$ HIS WAT]+ EYES4 ,BY ,*RI/1 ?AT WAS ! K9D ?AT LET Y\ KN[ AS Y\ W]E /ILL ALIVE4 

,HE CLOPP$ D[N/AIRS4 ,HIS MAM1 ,EILE51 WAS 9 ! KIT*51 HOV]+ BY ! GAS-/OVE1 MAK+ SURE HIS BREAKFA/ DIDN'T BURN4 ,%E'D HAVE BEGUN IT1 SCRAMBL$ EGGS ON TOA/1 :5 %E'D FIR/ HE>D HIM /UMBL+ TO ! BA?ROOM OV]HEAD4 ,%E PULL$ ! GRILL-PAN \T AN 9* OR TWO TO *ECK ! TAN ON ! SLIC$ :ITE1 & POK$ AT ! YOLK-COLOR$ CUMULUS CONGEAL+ 9 ! SAUCEPAN ) H] WOOD5 SPOON4 ,%E GLANC$ UP AT H] SON ) OLD BR[N EYES ?AT W]E AS LOV+ AS !Y W]E REPROA*FUL1 TUCK+ 9 H] JUTT+ LITTLE *91 PURS+ H] LIPS & TUTT+ AS IF AFT] ALL !SE YE>S %E WAS NO WIS] :5 IT CAME TO ,B5$ICT1 OR :AT TO MAKE ( HIM4 

0,GOOD MORN+1 ,MO!R4 ,MAY ,I SAY ?AT Y\'RE P>TICUL>LY RADIANT ?IS MORN+8 ,!RE'S SOME SONS1 Y\ KN[1 :O W\LDN'T BE SO GALLANT4 ,AH HA HA40 

0,YISS1 & !RE'S SOME MO!RS AS DO 'AVE 'EM4 ',]E1 COME ON & 'AVE Y] BREAKFA/ '=E IT'S COLD40 ,EILE5 RETRIEV$ ! TOA/1 SKIMM$ IT ) M>GE & DUMP$ ! /EAM+1 SCRAMBL$ MASS UPON IT1 SEEM+LY 9 ONE CONT9U\S MOVEM5T4 ,%E PU%$ BACK A GRAY /R& ?AT HAD WORK$ LOOSE FROM H] BUN AS %E GAVE ,B5$ICT ! PLATE & CUTL]Y4 

0,!RE Y'>E4 ,DON'T GET IT DAYN Y] %IRT40 

0,MO!R1 BEHAVE6 ,AH HA HA HA40 

,HE SAT D[N AT ! KIT*5 TABLE & BEGAN TO WOLF HIS WAY 9TO :AT HE P]CEIV$ AS NECESS>Y /OMA*-L9+4 ,HE'D GOT NO IDEA :Y EV]Y?+ HE SAID CAME \T AS IF IT W]E A PUN*L9E OR A PREVI\SLY UNKN[N COMIC CAT*PHRASE4 ,HE'D BE5 ?AT WAY AS F> BACK AS ANYONE REMEMB]$4 ,P]HAPS IT WAS JU/ ?AT LIFE WAS EASI] TO GET ?R\< IF Y\ ?\<T ( IT AS AN UNUSUALLY LONG 9/ALLM5T ( ,! ,CLI!ROE ,KID4 

,HE F9I%$ BREAKFA/1 SWILL$ D[N ) ! CUP ( TEA HIS MAM HAD MEAN:ILE MADE = HIM4 ,HE GULP$ ! BREW 444 ,I CAN'T TALK N[1 ,I'M DR9K+ 444 KEEP+ ONE BRI<T1 H$GEHOG-BAK+ ,GYPSY EYE UPON ! COAT PEGS 9 ! PASSAGE :]E HIS HAT & NECK]*IEF W]E WAIT+1 :ILE HE SAT !RE PLOTT+ HIS ESCAPE4 ,ESCAPE1 ?\<1 EXCEPT 9TO POEMS OR FOND MEMORIES1 WAS ! ONE ?+ ?AT ,B5$ICT HAD NEV] BE5 SUCCESSFUL )4 ,BE=E HE'D SET HIS EMPTY TEACUP D[N 9TO ITS SAUC] & COMM5C$ HIS DA% = FRE$OM1 ,EILE5 %OT HIM D[N4 

0,%ALL Y] BE LOOK9' \T F] WORK TODAY1 !N80 

,?IS WAS YET ANO!R ASPECT ( ! MORN+S1 QUITE AP>T FROM ?9K+ AB\T DEA? ! MOM5T Y\ WOKE UP1 ?AT ,B5$ICT F\ND PROBLEMATIC4 ,IT WAS TWO ?+S1 ACTUALLY1 ?AT HE WAS L>GELY UNSUCCESSFUL )4 ,ESCAPE1 & F9D+ WORK4 ,( C\RSE1 ! BIGGE/ /UMBL+ BLOCK HE HAD ) F9D+ WORK WAS ?AT HE WASN'T LOOK+1 OR NOT V]Y H>D1 AT ANY RATE4 ,IT WASN'T ALL ! ACTUAL WORK ?AT PUT HIM (F1 IT WAS ! JOB3 ALL ! PROC$URES & ! PEOPLE :O CAME ) IT4 ,HE JU/ DIDN'T ?9K HE HAD ! HE>T TO 9TRODUCE HIMSELF TO A COLLECTION ( NEW FACES1 PEOPLE :O KNEW NO?+ AB\T POETRY OR ,FREES*OOL ,/REET & W\LDN'T HAVE A CLUE :AT ,B5$ICT WAS ALL AB\T4 ,HE C\LDN'T DO IT1 NOT AT HIS AGE1 NOT TO /RANG]S1 NOT EXPLA9 HIMSELF4 ,TO BE COMPLETELY FRANK1 HE NEV] HAD BE5 ABLE TO EXPLA9 HIMSELF AT ANY AGE1 TO ANYBODY1 OR AT LEA/ HE'D NEV] MANAG$ TO EXPLA9 TO ANYBODY'S SATISFACTION4 ,?REE ?+S1 !N4 ,ESCAPE1 & F9D+ WORK1 & !N EXPLA9+ HIMSELF ADEQUATELY4 ,IT WAS JU/ ?OSE >EAS HE HAD TR\BLE )4 ,EV]Y?+ ELSE1 HE WAS ALL RI<T AB\T4 

0,I'M ALWAYS LOOK+4 ,Y\ KN[ ME4 ,! EYES ?AT NEV] RE/4 ,AH HA HA HA40 

,HIS MO!R TIPP$ H] HEAD TO ONE SIDE :ILE REG>D+ HIM1 ) FONDNESS & BONE-TIR$ 9COMPREH5SION AT ! SAME TIME4 

0,AH1 WELL4 ,IT'S A PITY ?AT Y] EYES CAN'T PASS ! TRICK ON TO Y] ASS1 9 ?AT CASE4 ',]E4 ',]E'S SUMMAT F] Y] D9N]4 ,I EXPECT ,I'LL SEE Y] :5 Y] GET BACK 91 IF ,I'M /ILL UP40 

,EILE5 PRESS$ T5 ,B5SON @& ,H$GES & A T5-P\ND NOTE 9TO HIS H&4 ,HE BEAM$ AT H]1 AS IF IT DIDN'T HAPP5 EV]Y MORN+4 

0,WOMAN1 ,I C\LD KISS Y]40 

0,YISS1 WELL1 Y\ DO & Y\'LL GET ?IS40 ,?IS WAS HIS MAM'S FI/1 ?RU/ UPW>DS LIKE A HAUNT$ ,ABORIG9AL ROCK \TCROP4 ,B5 LAU<$1 POCKET+ ! T5N] & ! FAGS1 !N W5T 9TO ! HALL4 ,HE FA/5$ HIS BURNT-ORANGE NECK]*IEF ACROSS ! SWALL[$ ,C>LSB]G BOTTLE ( HIS ,ADAM'S APPLE1 SQU9T+ AT ! DAYLI<T FILT]$ ?R\< ! FRO/$ PANEL BY ! FRONT DOOR & DECID+ IT LOOK$ BRI<T 5\< TO LEAVE HIS COAT BEH9D1 ?\< NOT SO BRI<T ?AT HE NE$ BO!R TAK+ HIS /RAW HAT4 ,HIS WAI/COAT LOOK$ LIKE BRO!L CURTA9S AS IT WAS4 ,HE DIDN'T WANT TO OV]-DO IT4 

,HE TRANSF]R$ ! CIGGIES FROM HIS TR\S] POCKET TO HIS CANVAS SAT*EL1 :]E HE'D ALSO GOT SOME ,KLE5EX TISSUES & AN ORANGE1 ) A COPY ( ,A ,NOR?AMPTON%IRE ,G>L& $IT$ BY ,TREVOR ,HOLD & PUBLI%$ BY ,NOR?AMPTON ,LIBR>IES4 ,IT WAS JU/ SOME?+ HE WAS DIPP+ 9TO AT ! MOM5T1 JU/ TO KEEP HIS H& 94 ,BAG ACROSS ONE %\LD]1 ,B5$ICT CALL$ GOODBYE TO HIS MAM1 DREW 9 A =TIFY+ BREA? BE=E ! HALLWAY MIRROR & !N1 FL++ WIDE ! FRONT DOOR1 HE LAUN*$ HIMSELF VALIANTLY ONCE MORE 9TO ! FRAY1 & ! FRAY$ WORLD IT WAS CONDUCT$ 94 

,SPIT-COLOR$ CL\DS MOV$ OV] ,T[] ,/REET1 =M]LY ! UPP] 5D ( ,SC>LETWELL4 ,! /REET HAD BE5 R5AM$ AFT] ! HI<-RISE1 ,CL>EMONT ,C\RT1 ?AT BLOCK$ \T HALF ! WE/]N SKY UPON HIS RI<T1 ONE ( TWO BRICK /AKES HAMM]$ ?R\< ! DI/RICT'S UNDEAD HE>T4 ,ON REC5TLY REFURBI%$ CRAB-PA/E BRICKWORK W]E ! WORDS OR POSSIBLY ! S+LE WORD ,N,E,W,L,I,F,E1 A SIDEWAYS SILV] LOGO1 MORE A LABEL = A MOBILE PHONE OR = AN EV]LA/+ BATT]Y ?AN = A T[] BLOCK1 HE'D HAVE ?\<T4 ,B5$ICT W9C$1 ATTEMPT+ NOT TO LOOK AT IT4 ,= ! MO/ P>T1 HE F\ND IT COM=T+ TO /ILL RESIDE 9 ! BELOV$ NEI<BORHOOD1 EXCEPT = ?OSE OCCASIONS :5 Y\ NOTIC$ ?AT ! LOV$ ONE HAD BE5 DEAD = ?IRTY YE>S & WAS N[ DECOMPOS+4 ,!N Y\ FELT A BIT LIKE SOMEONE FROM AN ITEM \T ( ,=TEAN ,TIMES1 ONE ( ?OSE LOVELORN & DEM5T$ WID[]S /ILL PLUMP+ UP ! PILL[S = A BRIDE :O'S LONG S9CE MUMMIFI$4 ,NEWLIFE3 URBAN REG5]ATION ?AT !Y'D HAD TO LIT]ALLY SPELL \T BECAUSE ( ITS CONSPICU\S ABS5CE O!RWISE4 ,AS IF JU/ BOLT+ UP ! MIRROR-F9I% LETT]S MADE IT SO4 ,:AT HAD BE5 WRONG ) ALL ! OLD LIFE1 ANYWAY8 

,HE *ECK$ TO SEE ! DOOR HAD LOCK$ BEH9D HIM1 ) HIS MAM N[ BE+ ON H] [N 9 !RE1 & AS HE DID HE SAW ! BIG FAT DRUGGY ) ! BALD HEAD1 ,K5NY SOME?+1 LUMB]+ D[N ,SIMONS ,WALK ?AT RAN ALONG ! 5D ( ,T[] ,/REET1 AT ! BACK ( ,CL>EMONT ,C\RT4 ,HE HAD GRAY SLACKS & A GRAY SPORTS-TOP ON1 :I* FROM A DI/ANCE LOOK$ ALL ( A PIECE1 LIKE ONE BIG ROMP] SUIT1 AS IF ! DEAL] W]E AN \TSIZ$ BABY :O'D EXCE$$ ! SAFE DOSE ( ,CALPOL4 ,B5$ICT PRET5D$ HE'D NOT SE5 HIM1 TURN+ LEFT & WALK+ BRISKLY UP T[>DS ! /REET'S F> 5D1 A CONFLU5CE ( SUNK5 WALKWAYS TUCK$ AWAY BEH9D ! TRAFFIC VORTEX ( ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,H[ C\LD ANYBODY GET ?AT FAT ON DRUGS1 UNLESS !Y ATE !M 9 A FRI$ BREAD S&WI*8 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,YELL[ LEAVES W]E PLA/]$ 9 A P>TIAL L9O ON ! WET MACADAM AT HIS FEET AS HE PASS$ ! ,SALVATION ,>MY BUILD+1 A PREFABRICAT$ B>RACKS ?AT HE DIDN'T ?9K HE'D EV] BE5 9SIDE4 ,HE D\BT$ !Y W5T 9 = TAMB\R9ES !SE DAYS1 MU* LESS FREE CUPS ( TEA & BUNS4 ,! TW5TIE? C5TURY HAD BE5 A BETT] TIME TO BE A WA%\T4 ,BACK !N POV]TY HAD COME ) A BRASS B& ACCOMPANIM5T & A *EEK FULL ( SCONE DISSOLV+ 9 HOT ,BROOKE ,BOND2 K9DLY BOSOMS HEAV+ UND] NAVY BLUE S]GE & BIG GOLD5 BUTTONS4 ,N[ IT CAME ) FL9T-EY$ TE5AGE DEA?-CAMP SUP]VISORS 9 ! NO-HID+-PLACE GL>E ( ! ,JOB ,C5T]1 & :ATEV] S\NDTRACK HAPP5$ TO BE PLAY+ 9 ! %OPP+ PREC9CT \TSIDE1 USUALLY 0,I'M ,NOT ,9 ,LOVE04 ,! %ORT /REET 5D$ AS IT MET ! FOOTPA? TO ! UND]PASS1 :]E A HI< WALL RE>$ UP TO B\ND ! ROBOT %>K TANK ( ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,PATT]N$ ) A B>-CODE /RIPE ( O*]1 TANG]9E & UMB]1 IT WAS PROBABLY 9T5D$ TO PROVIDE A ,LAT9 ATMOSPH]E1 :]EAS 9/EAD IT LOOK$ LIKE AN ATTACK ( VOMIT+ RE/AG$ 9 ,LEGO4 ,B5$ICT /OPP$ WALK+ = A MOM5T SO ?AT HE C\LD TAKE IT 91 ! GR\ND :]E HE WAS /&+1 ) ITS FULL HI/ORICAL 5ORMITY4 

,= ONE ?+1 IT WAS NE> H]E ?AT ONE ( HIS FA!R'S FAVORITE PUBS HAD BE51 ! ,JOLLY ,SMOK]S1 AL?\< ?IS WAS BY NO MEANS ! FULL EXT5T ( ! LOCALE'S HI/ORIC P$IGREE4 ,?IS SPOT WAS :]E ,NOR?AMPTON'S FIR/ ',GILHALDA' OR ,T[N ,HALL HAD /OOD BACK 9 ! ?IRTE5? & ! F\RTE5? C5TURIES1 AT LEA/ ACCORD+ TO HI/ORIAN ,H5RY ,LEE4 ,RI*>D ! ,SECOND HAD DECL>$ IT 9 HIS *>T] AS ! PLACE :]E ALL ! BAILIFFS & ! MAYOR W]E SITUAT$4 ,BAILIFFS W]E /ILL SE5 D[N H]E FROM TIME TO TIME1 ?\< MAYORS LESS (T5 !SE DAYS4 ,LATE ON 9 ! ?IRTE5-HUNDR$S ALL ! WEAL? & P[] HAD %IFT$ TO ! EA/ SIDE ( ! T[N1 & A NEW ,GUILDHALL HAD BE5 RAIS$ D[N AT ! FOOT ( ,AB+TON ,/REET1 NE> :]E ,CAFFE ,N]O /OOD TODAY4 ,?AT WAS ! PO9T FROM :I* Y\ C\LD MO/ LIKELY DATE ! >EA'S DECL9E3 = MORE ?AN SEV5 HUNDR$ YE>S ! ,BOR\<S HAD BE5 GO+ /EADILY D[NHILL4 ,IT WAS A LONG HILL1 EVID5TLY1 ?\< AS HE /OOD !RE REG>D+ ! EMETIC TILE-WORK ,B5$ICT BELIEV$ ! BOTTOM WAS AT LA/ 9 SI<T4 

,AL?\< ! FIR/ ,T[N ,HALL HAD BE5 LOCAT$ H]E1 ?AT WASN'T :Y ! =M] T[N SQU>E HAD BE5 NAM$ ! ,MAYORHOLD1 OR NOT AS ,B5 UND]/OOD ?+S1 ANYWAY4 ,HIS !ORY WAS ?AT ?IS HAD HAPP5$ LAT]1 9 ! #a#d#iS1 AT A TIME :5 ,P>LIAM5T HAD PLAC$ ,NOR?AMPTON UND] ! CONTROL ( AN ALL-P[]FUL MAYOR & C\NCIL MADE UP ( F\R DOZ5 WEAL?Y BUGG]S1 SORRY MATRON1 WEAL?Y BUR<]S ?AT !Y CALL$ ! ,=TY-,EI<T4 ,B5$ICT ?\<T ?AT ?IS WAS :5 ! PEOPLE ( ! ,BOR\<S1 LIKE ! FOLK ( NE>BY ,LEICE/]1 HAD BEGUN !IR GR& TRADITION ( ELECT+ A JOKE MAYOR1 TO TAKE ! PISS \T ( ! PROCESSES ( GOV]NM5T FROM :I* !Y'D BE5 EXCLUD$4 ,!Y'D HOLD MOCK ELECTIONS 9 ! SQU>E H]E1 H5CE ! NAME1 & W\LD AW>D A LIT]AL T9-POT *A9 ( (FICE MADE FROM A POT LID TO :OEV] !Y'D R&OMLY APPO9T$1 (T5 SOMEBODY HALF CUT1 HALF %>P1 HALF MISS+ FROM A W> W\ND1 OR1 9 EXTREME CASES1 ALL ( ! ABOVE4 ,B5$ICT HAD A NOTION ?AT HIS [N PAT]NAL GR&FA!R1 ,BILL ,P]RIT1 HAD BE5 ONE SU* APPO9TEE1 BUT ?AT WAS BAS$ ON NO MORE ?AN ! OLD MAN'S NICKNAME1 :I* HAD BE5 0! ,%]IFF01 & ! FACT ?AT HE'D SIT !RE ALL DAY BL9D DRUNK \TSIDE ! ,MAYORHOLD ,MISSION 9 AN OLD :EELB>R[ ?AT HE TREAT$ LIKE A ?RONE4 ,B5$ICT WOND]$ BRIEFLY IF HE C\LD CLAIM (FICE BAS$ UPON BE+ DESC5D$ FROM ! ,%]IFF & ON LIV+ :]E ! FIR/ ,T[N ,HALL HAD /OOD8 ,HE FANCI$ HIMSELF AS A ,TIT*B\RNE ,CLAIMANT1 AS A ,GREAT ,PRET5D]1 ONE ( ?OSE :O'D PUT MORE =E?\<T 9TO GETT+ CR[NS ON HEADS ?AN KEEP+ HEADS ON %\LD]S4 ,LAMB]T ,SIMNEL1 ,P]K9 ,W>BECK & ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT4 ,NAMES TO CONJURE )4 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,HE TURN$ ALONG ! SUNK5 FOOTPA?1 ) AHEAD ( HIM ! /EPS ?AT L$ UP TO ! CORN] :]E ! UPP] 5D ( ,BA? ,/REET MET ! TOP ( ,HORSEM>KET4 ,EV5 FROM ?IS L[ VANTAGE HE C\LD SEE ! HI<] /ORIES ( BO? T[]-BLOCKS1 ,CL>EMONT ,C\RT & ,BEAUMONT ,C\RT1 :]E !Y POK$ UP ABOVE ! ,SPANI%-OMELET TIL+ ( ! DYKE WALL HULK+ ON HIS RI<T4 ,! T[]S1 = ,B5$ICT1 HAD ALWAYS M>K$ ! REAL 5D ( ! ,BOR\<S1 ?AT RI*1 ?\S&-YE>-LONG SAGA ?AT HAD BE5 CONCLUD$ ) !SE OV]LY-EMPHATIC D\BLE EXCLAMATION M>KS4 ,NEWLIFE4 ,IT MADE Y\ WANT TO SPEW4 ,TWO OR ?REE YE>S BACK !RE'D BE5 CALLS TO TE> ! B>ELY-HABITABLE MON/]S D[N1 ACKN[L$GM5TS ?AT !Y %\LD NEV] HAVE BE5 PUT UP 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,B5$ICT HAD BRIEFLY ?\<T HE MI<T \TLIVE ! BULLY+1 OPPRESSIVE OBLONGS1 BUT !N ,B$=D ,H\S+ HAD MADE SOME DEAL ) ! ,C\NCIL - /ILL F\R DOZ5 ( ! WEAL?Y BUGG]S1 /ILL ! ,=TY-,EI<T AFT] FIVE C5TURIES - & PUR*AS$ BO? BLOCKS = :AT WAS REPUT$LY A P5NY EA*4 ,! UR9E-SC5T$ UGLY SI/]S HAD BE5 T>T$ UP & !N TURN$ \T1 SUPPOS$LY1 AS FIT ACCOMMODATION = 0,KEY ,WORK]S0 ?AT IT SEEM$ ,NOR?AMPTON NE$$1 MO/LY SIR5-JOCKEYS3 NURSES1 FIREM51 POLICEM5 & ! LIKE4 ,NEWLIFE4 ,NEW LIFE ?AT HAD BE5 P>A*UT$ 91 9 ORD] TO CONTA9 ! PREVI\S 9HABITANTS :5 !Y GOT SICK OR /ABB$ OR SET !MSELVES ON FIRE4 ,AS ?+S WORK$ \T1 ?\<1 :AT ! T[] BLOCKS HAD BE5 FILL$ ) WAS A /REAM ( HUMAN LEFTOV]S 444 \TPATI5TS1 CRACK-HEADS1 REFUGEES 444 NOT OBVI\SLY DIFF]5T TO ! PEOPLE :O'D BE5 LIV+ !RE BE=E4 

,! LEFTY ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON FROM ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET HAD ONCE %[N HIM A LI/ ( ,B$=D ,H\S+'S BO>D1 :I* HAD 9CLUD$ =M] ,LABOR C\NCILOR ,JAMES ,COCKIE 9 ! RO/]4 ,?IS MI<T POSSIBLY EXPLA9 ! P5NY PRICE TAGS4 ,B5$ICT TURN$ LEFT BE=E HE REA*$ ! /EPS TO ,BA? ,/REET CORN]1 TAK+ ! P$E/RIAN TUNNEL UND] ,HORSEM>KET ?AT WAS SIGN-PO/$ = T[N C5T]4 ,H]E ! BILI\S ORANGE-BR[N MOSAIC WAS ALL R\ND HIM1 RIS+ TO ! >*$ RO( ( ! TUNNEL :]E DIM SODIUM LI<TS AT 9T]VALS EMITT$ !IR UNHELPFUL AMB] GL[4 

,B5'S GANGL+1 9SUFFICI5TLY-LIT %APE SLOP$ ?R\< ! QUEASY CATACOMB ?AT SEEM$ TO RU/LE ) ! <O/S ( FUTURE MURD]S4 ,AN AB&ON$ %OPP+ TROLLEY ROLL$ T[>DS HIM M5AC+LY = P]HAPS A FOOT1 BUT !N ?\<T BETT] ( IT1 CREAK+ TO A SULL5 /&/ILL4 ,ONLY :5 HE PASS$ B5EA? A CEIL+-LAMP DID HIS H]OICALLY-PROPORTION$ FEATURES OR HIS TIR$1 RESIGN$ SMILE FL>E 9TO EXI/5CE1 LIKE A HEAD-&-%\LD]S SKET* BY ,BOZ ?AT SOMEBODY HAD PUT A MAT* TO4 ,! UNWELCOME ?\<T ( ,C\NCILOR ,JIM ,COCKIE1 POSSIBLY 9 COMB9ATION ) !SE SUBT]RANEAN SURR\ND+S1 W\LD APPE> TO HAVE UNLOCK$ A PREVI\SLY =GOTT5 DREAM 9 :I* ! C\NCILOR HAD FEATUR$1 :I* ,B5 SUDD5LY REMEMB]$ FROM ! NI<T BE=E1 IF ONLY AS A FUZZY /R+ ( CRYPTIC FRAGM5TS4 

,HE'D BE5 W&]+ ?R\< ! G5]IC T]RACES ( ELD]LY R$ BRICK & RAILWAY->*-B\ND WA/EL&S ?AT APPE>$ TO BE ! DEFAULT SETT+ = HIS DREAMS4 ,SOME:]E )9 ?IS E]IE & FAMILI> L&SCAPE !RE HAD BE5 A H\SE1 A TEET]+ OLD ,BOR\<S H\SE ) /AIRS & PASSAGEWAYS ?AT NEV] QUITE MADE S5SE4 ,! /REETS W]E D>K4 ,IT WAS ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T4 ,HE'D KN[N ?AT FAMILY OR FRI5DS W]E WAIT+ = HIM 9 ! BUILD+'S CELL>1 BUT HE'D SUFF]$ ALL ! USUAL DREAM-FRU/RATIONS F9D+ HIS WAY 91 PICK+ HIS WAY APOLOGETICALLY ?R\< O!R PEOPLE'S FLATS & BA?ROOMS1 NAVIGAT+ LAUNDRY-*UTES ?AT W]E P>T-BLOCK$ BY ANTIQUE WOOD5 DESKS HE RECOGNIZ$ FROM ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL4 ,AT LA/ HE'D REA*$ A K9D ( BOIL]-ROOM OR BASEM5T ?AT HAD BLOOD & /RAW & SAWDU/ ON ! FLOOR1 AS IF ! SPACE HAD BE5 US$ AS A SLAU<T]H\SE JU/ REC5TLY4 ,!RE WAS AN ATMOSPH]E ( SQUALID HORROR1 YET ?IS WAS SOMEH[ CONNECT$ TO HIS *ILDHOOD & WAS ALMO/ COM=T+4 ,HE'D !N BECOME AW>E ?AT ,C\NCILOR ,JIM ,COCKIE1 SOMEONE ?AT HE B>ELY KNEW1 WAS /&+ 9 ! GORY CELL> NEXT TO HIM1 A CORPUL5T1 BESPECTACL$ & :ITE-HAIR$ =M DRESS$ ONLY 9 HIS UND]PANTS1 HIS FACE A MASK ( DREAD4 ,HE'D SAID 0,?IS PLACE IS ALL ,I DREAM AB\T4 ,DO Y\ KN[ ! WAY \T80 ,B5 HAD FELT DIS9CL9$ TO HELP ! FRI<T5$ MAN1 ONE ( ?AT ,=TY-,EI<T :O HAD HI/ORICALLY DE/ROY$ ! ,BOR\<S1 & HAD ANSW]$ ONLY 0,AH HA HA4 ,I'M TRY+ TO GET FUR!R 940 ,AT ?IS PO9T1 ,B5$ICT HAD WOK5 FROM :AT /ILL SEEM$ LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE'S NI<TM>E4 ,HE EM]G$ \T ( ! TUNNEL1 %AK+ (F ! BAD DREAMS ) ! D>KNESS ( ! UND]PASS1 & PUFF$ UP ! /EEP GRADI5T TO ,SILV] ,/REET4 

,ACROSS ! O!R SIDE ( ! DUAL C>RIAGEWAY ?AT ,SILV] ,/REET N[ WAS1 !RE ROSE ! FIVE-FLOOR MUNICIPAL C> P>K1 R$ & MU/>D YELL[ LIKE SPILL$ CONDIM5TS4 ,SOME:]E B5EA? ITS /ALE ,BATT5B]G MASS1 ,B5$ICT KNEW1 W]E ALL ! %OPS & Y>DS ?AT HAD ONCE BACK$ ONTO ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,!RE'D BE ,BOTT]ILL'S ! NEWSAG5T'S1 ! BUT*]'S1 ,PHYLLIS ,MAL9'S B>B]%OP1 ! GRE5 & :ITE FACADE ( ! ,COOP]ATIVE ,SOCIETY1 ,BUILT #a#i#a#i1 ,BRAN* ,NUMB] #a#a4 ,!RE'D BE ! GRIM PUBLIC TOILETS ON ! CORN] ?AT HIS MAM & DAD HAD = SOME REASON KN[N AS ,GEORGIE ,BUMBLE'S ,(FICE1 & !RE'D BE ! FI% & *IP %OP & ,ELECTRIC ,LI<T ,WORK+ ,M5'S ,CLUB 9 ,BE>W>D ,/REET & FIFTY O!R SITES ( 9T]E/ GR\ND TO AN UNDIFF]5TIAT$ DU/ B5EA? ! WEI<T ( F\R-BY-F\RS & ,*AV]CRAFTS N[ PIL$ ABOVE4 ,! BACKSIDE ( ! OLD ,FI% ,M>KET /OOD UPON HIS RI<T1 ITSELF ]ECT$ ON ! SYNAGOGUE ATT5D$ BY ! SILV]SMI?S :O'D L5T ! /REET ITS NAME4 ,HE ADD$ />S ( ,DAVID 9 A GLITT]+ FILIGREE TO ! IMAG9>Y L&FILL LANGUI%+ B5EA? ! MULTI-/ORY MOTOR %[4 ,=D ,TRANSIT ,GLORIA ,MUNDI4 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,GR[+ FROM ! BRICK WALL NE> ! ,*9ESE RE/AURANT :]E ,SILV] ,/REET JO9$ ,%EEP ,/REET WAS A SOLIT>Y WILDFL[]1 MAUVE & FLIMSY LIKE A MALL[ ?\< HE DIDN'T ?9K IT C\LD BE4 ,FROM ! PALLID 9/ITUTION GRE5 ( ITS LIMP /EM /OOD GOOSEB]RY HAIRS1 ALMO/ TOO F9E TO BE DI/+UI%$ BY ! ADULT EYE4 ,:ATEV] ITS V>IETY1 IT WAS ( HUMBLE1 PREHI/ORIC /OCK1 LIKE ,B5$ICT HIMSELF4 ,H[EV] DELICATE & DANGL+ IT SEEM$1 IT HAD PU%$ ?R\< ! MORT> ( ! MOD]N WORLD1 ASS]T$ ITSELF 9]ADICABLY 9 ! FACE ( A DEFL[]$ & DRAB ,MAC,C5TURY4 ,HE KNEW IT WASN'T MU* ( A POETIC 9SI<T1 NOT IF Y\ COMP>$ IT TO 0,! =CE ?AT ?R\< ! GRE5 FUZE DRIVES 44401 BUT !N !SE DAYS HE'D TAKE HIS 9SPIRATIONS :]E HE F\ND !M1 LIKE HIS WILDFL[]S4 ,TURN+ 9TO ,%EEP ,/REET HE MADE = ! ,BE>1 :]E HE 9T5D$ TO TAKE UP ONCE MORE ! BURD5 ( HIS DAILY *ALL5GE1 :I* WAS TRY+ TO GET HAMM]$ = A T5N]4 

,L\D DESPITE ! RELATIVELY SMALL NUMB] ( CU/OM]S ?AT TIME ( DAY1 ! ,BE> WAS SIMM]+ 9 S\ND FROM ITS [N FRUIT MA*9ES3 ELECTRIC FAIRY-W& GLISS&OS & ! SQUEL* ( CRAZY FROGS4 ,LUM9\S TESSELLATIONS RE>RANG$ !MSELVES 9 ! BLURR$ CORN]S ( HIS VISION1 GOLDS & R$S & PURPLES1 AN ,>ABIAN ,NI<TS PALETTE4 ,HE REMEMB]$ :5 A MORN+ B>-ROOM WAS A PLACE ( C>EFUL HU% & MILKY LI<T DECANT$ ?R\< NET CURTA9S1 NOT SO MU* AS A TRIUMPHAL CLICK \T ( ! DOM9OS4 

,! B>MAN WAS A Y\NG *AP HALF ,B5'S AGE1 A LAD HE VAGUELY RECOGNIZ$ BUT :OM HE NONE!LESS ADDRESS$ AS 0,AH HA HA4 ,HELLO1 ME OLD PAL1 ME OLD BEAUTY01 ?IS DELIV]$ 9 A FAIR APPROXIMATION ( ! VOICE ASSOCIAT$ ONCE ) N[-=GOTT5 ,>*]S MA9/AY ,WALT] ,GABRIEL1 NEATLY CAM\FLAG+1 AS HE ?\<T1 ! FACT ?AT HE'D =GOTT5 ! BLOKE'S NAME4 

0,HELLO !RE1 ,B5$ICT4 ,:AT CAN ,I GET Y\80 

,B5 LOOK$ R\ND APPRAIS+LY AT ! E/ABLI%M5T'S HALF-DOZ5 O!R CLI5TS1 MOTIONLESS UPON !IR /OOLS LIKE UGLY NOVELTY-SET *ESSM51 SIDEL9$ & MOROSE4 

,HE CLE>$ HIS ?ROAT !ATRICALLY BE=E HE SPOKE4 

0,:O'LL BUY A P9T ( BITT] = A PUBLI%$ POET & A NATIONAL TREASURE8 ,AH HA HA40 

,NOBODY LOOK$ UP4 ,ONE OR TWO HALF-SMIL$ BUT !Y W]E A DI/9CT M9ORITY4 ,OH WELL4 ,SOMETIMES IT WORK$1 IF !RE WAS SOMEONE 9 :O KNEW HIM1 SAY ,DAVE ,TURVEY HUN*$ UP G5TLEMANLY 9 ONE CORN] ) HIS FEA!R$ HAT ON1 LOOK+ LIKE AN AUTUMN DAY 9 ! BOHEMIAN QU>T] ( ,DODGE ,CITY1 SOMEBODY LIKE ?AT4 ,ON ?IS P>TICUL> ,BAD ,FRIDAY MORN+1 ?\<1 ,DAVE'S USUAL SEAT WAS EMPTY1 & ) GREAT RELUCTANCE ,B5 DR$G$ UP ! T5-P\ND NOTE \T ( HIS POCKET TO DEPOSIT ON ! B>1 AS A D[N PAYM5T ON ! P9T ( ,JOHN ,SMI?'S ?AT HE ONE DAY HOP$ TO CALL HIS [N4 ,F>EWELL1 !N1 SEPIA ,D>W94 ,F>EWELL GRE5 & CRIMSON #c,D HUMM+BIRD TRANSFIX$ BY SWIRL+ PATT]NS 9 ! ,HYPNOSCOPE4 ,F>EWELL1 MY CRUMPL$ LITTLE FRI5D ( ?IS HALF-H\R N[ GONE = GOOD4 ,I H>DLY KNEW YE4 ,AH HA HA4 

,ONCE S]V$1 HE LET HIMSELF BE DRAWN 9TO ! PLU% CURVE ( ! SIDE-SEATS1 TAK+ ) HIM 9 ONE H& HIS FILMY1 FRO/$ FI/FUL1 GETT+ ON EI<T QUID 9 *ANGE BALL$ 9 ! O!R4 ,HELLO TO SLATE-BLUE ,ELIZ?4 ,FRY & :AT LOOK$ LIKE A N9ETE5?-C5TURY BATT]$ WOMAN'S REFUGE EXCEPT = ! DISAPPROV+ SPECT] ( ,JOHN ,L5NON1 SNE]+ FROM ! LEFT ( FRAME4 ,?IS WAS QUITE POSSIBLY A FANCY-DRESS CAMPAIGN] REPRES5T+ ,DADS ,= ,JU/ICE4 ,) ! FIV] W]E TWO P\ND CO9S & SOME %RAPNEL4 ,GRIMAC+1 HE %OOK HIS HEAD4 ,IT WASN'T JU/ ?AT ,B5$ICT MISS$ ! OLD MONEY1 ALL ! F>?+S1 HALF-CR[NS1 FLOR9S1 TANN]S1 ?\< ( C\RSE HE DID4 ,BUT :AT HE MISS$ MORE1 ?\<1 WAS BE+ ABLE TO REF] TO PRE-DECIMAL CO9AGE )\T S\ND+ LIKE AN OLD DE> :O'D CONFUS$ H] BUS PASS ) H] KIDNEY DONOR C>D4 ,HE WAS SURPRIS+LY SELF-CONSCI\S ON ! SUBJECT ( SELF-P>ODY4 

,HE SWIGG$ ! FIR/ HALF ( HIS P9T1 PLUNG+ 9DULG5TLY 9 ! OLFACTORY SWIM ( MEMORY & ASSOCIATION1 *EESE & PICKL$ ONIONS1 ,P>K ,DRIVE PACKS ( FIVE P9K 9 A GRE5 PUB A%TRAY1 /&+ NEXT TO HIS OLD MAN AT ! ,BLACK ,LION'S DISEAS$ & POSSIBLY ,PRECAMBRIAN UR9AL TR\< ) A SIX-YE>-OLD'S S5SE ( PRIVILEGE4 ,! RAPIDLY SUCCESSIVE M\?FULS W]E DILUT$ GULPS ( VANI%$ FIELDS1 ! HI<-TE* RECREATION ( FONDLY IMAG9$ BUT EXT9CT RU/ICITY4 ,HE PUT D[N ! HALF-EMPTY GLASS1 TRY+ TO KID HIMSELF ?AT IT WAS /ILL HALF FULL1 & WIP$ ALMO/ F\R DECADES ( ORAL TRADITION FROM HIS SMACK+ LIPS ONTO HIS P9/RIPE CUFF4 

,HE LIFT$ UP ! CANVAS SAT*EL'S FLAP1 :]E IT WAS SET ON ! W>M CU%ION+ BESIDE HIM1 & PULL$ \T ,A ,NOR?AMPTON%IRE ,G>L& FROM )94 ,LACK+ ,DAVE ,TURVEY & A POETRY DISCUSSION ) ! LIV+1 ,B5$ICT ?\<T ?AT HE MI<T AS WELL /RIKE UP A CONV]SATION ) ! DEAD4 ,! *EAP & *UNKY H>DBACK CAME \T ( ! BAG ) ITS RE> COV] UPP]MO/4 ,9 AN ORNATE GOLD FRAME AGA9/ A DEEP R$ BACKGR\ND RUBB$ ) COBBL]S' WAX WAS ,?OMAS ,GRIM%AW'S #a#h#dS PORTRAIT ( ,JOHN ,CL>E4 ,! PICTURE NEV] LOOK$ QUITE RI<T TO ,B5$ICT1 ESPECIALLY ! \TSIZ$ MOONRISE ( ! BR[4 ,IF NOT = ! BR[N TOPI>Y ( HAIR & :ISK] FR++ ! GREAT OVAL1 IT MI<T BE A MAN'S FACE PA9T$ ON AN ,EA/] EGG4 ,A ,HUMPTY ,DUMPTY ) HIS MESS ( YOLK & %ELL SPREAD ON ! LAWNS ( ,&REW'S ,HOSPITAL1 & NO ONE !RE TO PUT HIM BACK TOGE!R4 

,CL>E /OOD POS$ UNCOM=TABLY BE=E A NONSPECIFIC RURAL BLUR1 A LEAFY LANE AT ,HELP/ON1 ,GL9TON1 ANY:]E1 JU/ AFT] SUNSET OR CONCEIVABLY JU/ PRIOR TO DAWN1 ONE ?UMB HOOK$ /ATESMANLIKE UPON HIS COAT'S LAPEL4 ,HE LOOK$ (F TO ! RI<T1 TURN+ T[>DS ! %AD[S ) A FA9TLY WORRI$ SMILE1 ! CORN]S ( ! M\? TWIT*$ UP 9 AN UNC]TA9 GREET+1 ) ! SLI<TE/ W9CE ( APPREH5SION ALREADY APP>5T 9 ?OSE DISAPPO9T$ EYES4 ,WAS ?AT1 ,B5$ICT WOND]$1 :]E HE'D GOT IT FROM1 HIS [N *>ACT]I/ICALLY AMUS$1 =LORN EXPRESSION8 ,!RE W]E SIMIL>ITIES1 HE FANCI$1 BETWE5 HIM & HIS 5DUR+ LIFELONG H]O4 ,JOHN ,CL>E HAD A FAIR OLD BEAK ON HIM1 NOT :OLLY DIFF]5T FROM ,B5'S [N1 AT LEA/ TO JUDGE FROM ,GRIM%AW'S PORTRAIT4 ,!RE W]E ! SAD EYES1 ! FALT]+ SMILE1 EV5 ! NECK]*IEF4 ,IF SOMEONE W]E ONLY TO %AVE ,B5'S HEAD & FE$ HIM UP A BIT1 HE C\LD BE /EPP+ \T ( ! DRY ICE FUMES ON ,/>S ,9 ,!IR ,EYES1 ONE ?UMB SNAGG$ 9 HIS JACKET1 MADH\SE BURRS CAU<T 9 HIS SIDEBURNS4 ,TONI<T1 ,MAT!W1 ,I WILL BE ! PEASANT POET4 ,AH HA HA4 

,B5EA? ! [LI% LIK5ESS 9 ! COV]'S L[] RI<T WAS PA/$ A DISCOLOR$ SLUG1 FIR$ FROM A PRICE-GUN FIFTE5 YE>S AGO3 ,V,O,L,U,M,E#a ,B,O,O,K,%,O,P,S1 ,G,B,P#f44 ,TO HIS CON/]NATION1 = A MOM5T ,B5$ICT C\LD NOT EV5 REMEMB] QUITE :]E ,V,O,L,U,M,E#a HAD BE5 LOCAT$4 ,HAD ?AT BE5 :]E ,WAT]/ONE'S WAS N[8 ,!RE'D BE5 ?AT MANY BOOK%OPS 9 ,NOR?AMPTON ONCE1 Y\'D BE H>D PRESS$ TO GET >\ND !M ALL )9 A S+LE DAY2 MO/LY BECOME E/ATE AG5TS & W9E-B>S4 ,9 ,B5'S Y\?1 EV5 BIG /ORES LIKE ,ADNITT'S HAD !IR BOOK DEP>TM5TS4 ,!RE'D BE5 TRAYS ( ONE-&-?RUP5NY PAP]BACKS 9 BO? ! UPP] & ! L[] BRAN* ( ,WOOLWOR?'S1 & !RE'D BE5 A RA% ( SECONDH& DIVES %AD+ 9TO JUNK%OPS ) 9V>IABLY CONSUMPTIVE ELD]LY PROPRIETORS1 ) YELL[-COV]$ #a#i#fS PORNOGRAPHIC CLASSICS GLIMPS$ ?R\< DU/Y GLASS 9 UNLIT W9D[S4 ,JAUNDIC$ ,AUBREY ,BE>DSLEY NUDES 5ROB$ ) ,TE*NICOLOR SLAPP$ ,HANK ,JANSON SLUTS1 A BIT ( SAUCE TO LIV5 UP ! CASS]OLE ( ,D5NIS ,:EATLEY1 ,SIM5ON & ,ALI/AIR ,MAC,LEAN4 ,?OSE GRUBBY1 SPITTLE-LACQU]$ >*IVES1 :]E HAD !Y ALL GONE8 

,HE RAIS$ HIS GLASS = A COMMEMORATIVE SIP1 A SIP BE+ APPROXIMATELY HALF A GILL ) EI<T SIPS TO ! P9T4 ,TAK+ ! PACK ( ,B5SONS & A /REET-B\<T ?REE-=-A-QUID LI<T] FROM HIS %\LD] BAG HE GRIPP$ ONE ( ! CIG>ETTES BETWE5 ET]NALLY-WRY LIPS1 LI<T+ IT ) ! /ICK ( LIQUID-C5T]$ AME?Y/4 ,B5 SQU9T$ ?R\< ! FIR/ BLUE PUFFS ( SMOKE ACROSS ! L\NGE B>4 ,?IS HAD FILL$ UP1 AL?\< NOT ) ANYONE HE RECOGNIZ$4 ,(F SOME:]E TO HIS LEFT1 A BURBL+ AUDIAL CASCADE ( VIRTUAL CO9S WAS PUNCTUAT$ ) /ABS FROM A SCI5CE-FICTION ZI!R4 ,SI<+ NONSPECIFICALLY1 HE OP5$ ! AN?OLOGY ( LOCAL POETS TO ITS ,JOHN ,CL>E SECTION1 :]E HE HOP$ ?AT 0,CLOCK-A-,CLAY01 WRITT5 FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( A LADYBIRD1 MI<T PROVE AN ANTIDOTE TO ! CONTEMPOR>Y FLA% & JANGLE ?AT HE FELT SO ALI5AT$ FROM4 ,! M9IATURI/ IMAG]Y WAS C]TA9LY TRANSPORT+1 ?\< DISA/R\SLY HE C\LDN'T HELP BUT READ ON TO ! POEM ?AT WAS REPRODUC$ IMM$IATELY AFT]1 :I* WAS ,CL>E'S ASYLUM-P5N$ 0,I ,AM04 

,9TO ! NO?+NESS ( SCORN & NOISE1 

,9TO ! LIV+ SEA ( WAK+ DREAMS1 

,:]E !RE IS NEI!R S5SE ( LIFE OR JOYS1 

,BUT ! VA/ %IPWRECK ( MY LIFE'S E/EEMS2 

,EV5 ! DE>E/ ?AT ,I LOV$ ! BE/ 

,>E /RANGE - NAY1 RA!R1 /RANG] ?AN ! RE/4 

,?AT WAS 5TIRELY TOO CLOSE TO ! N]VE1 9/ANTLY S9K+ ,B5$ICT'S HALF-DEC5T MOOD1 ALREADY HOL$ BEL[ ITS WAT]L9E4 ,HE %OV$ ! BOOK BACK 9 HIS SAT*EL1 D[N+ ! ?REE SIPS REMA9+ 9 HIS P9T & PUR*AS+ ANO!R ONE BE=E HE KNEW HE'D DONE IT4 ,?IS RELIEV$ HIM ( HIS SMALL-*ANGE BUFF] & EXPOS$ HIS QUE51 ,ELIZ?4 ,FRY1 PREC>I\SLY4 ,H] RA9Y TURQUOISE EYES />$ \T ( ! REMA9+ NOTE 9TO HIS [N1 ) SOME?+ ( HIS MO!R'S LOOK ( WORRI$ RESIGNATION :5 %E GAZ$ APPRAIS+LY ON ,B5 & ,B5'S UNJU/LY PUNI%$ LIV]4 

,! NEXT ?+ HE KNEW1 IT WAS MID-DAY4 ,HE WAS EM]G+ FROM ! N>R[ B>ROOM ( ! ,%IPMAN'S1 BASICALLY A PASSAGEWAY ?AT HAD A PUB :]E MO/ PEOPLE HAVE COATPEGS1 9TO ,DRUM ,LANE4 ,D[N ! ALLEY ON HIS RI<T HE C\LD SEE ,ALL ,SA9TS' ,*UR* ACROSS ! ROAD1 ) ON HIS LEFT ! WAN+ BU/LE ( ! ,M>KET ,SQU>E4 ,ELIZ?4 ,FRY1 APP>5TLY1 HAD LEFT HIM = ANO!R MAN1 MO/ PROBABLY A L&LORD4 ,HE LUGUBRI\SLY NOT$ ?AT HE /ILL HAD CU/ODY ( SEV]AL LITTLE ONES1 SILV] & COPP] ORPHANS TO ! SUM ( EI<TY-SEV5 P5CE4 ,A BUBBL+ PROTE/ FROM HIS LONG-DR[N$ 9/9CTS = SELF-PRES]VATION TOLD HIM HE %\LD PROBABLY 9VE/ ?IS 9 A PA/Y4 ,TURN+ RI<T HE MADE HIS WAY D[N ! P]PETUAL %AD[-*ANNEL ( ,DRUM ,LANE1 T[>DS ! BAK]Y OPPOSITE ,ALL ,SA9TS' 9 ,M]C]'S ,R[4 

,T5 M9UTES LAT] HE WAS SWALL[+ ! LA/ ( :AT HE ?\<T WAS MORE ?AN LIKELY LUN*1 TONGUE PROB+ OPTIMI/ICALLY 9 ! MY/]I\S DIT*ES ( HIS M\? = ANY L+]+ M9CE1 T5ACI\S PA/RY OR RECALCITRANT POTATO4 ,BLOTT+ HIS LIPS 9 :AT HE ?\<T MI<T WELL BE ! MANN] ( A N9ETE5?-C5TURY D&Y ON ! S]VIETTE ! SNACK HAD COME )1 ,B5$ICT SCREW$ UP ! TISSUE ) ITS GRAVY KISS-PR9T1 DROPP+ IT 9TO ONE ( ! LITT] B9S 9 ,AB+TON ,/REET1 :I* HE'D BY N[ REA*$ & WAS ASC5D+4 ,HE WAS R\<LY LEVEL ) ! PHOTOGRAPHIC %OP CLOSE TO ! M\? ( ! MO/ REC5T %OPP+ >CADE1 ,PEACOCK ,PLACE4 ,?IS CRY/AL PALACE HAD TAK5 ! PLACE ( ,PEACOCK ,WAY1 AN OP5 PREC9CT LEAD+ TO ! ,M>KET ?AT HAD CAKE-%OPS & CAFES :]E HE'D MUN* GLOOMILY ?R\< TE5AGE COM=T TEACAKES1 MOON+ OV] :I*EV] HE>T-/OPP+ ,NOT] ,DAME OR ,D]NGATE S*OOLGIRL HAD JU/ TOLD ,B5 ?AT %E LIK$ HIM AS A FRI5D4 ,ORIG9ALLY1 ?IS HAD BE5 ! ,PEACOCK ,HOTEL1 9N OR COA*-H\SE = FIVE HUNDR$ YE>S4 ,PEOPLE /ILL TALK$ AB\T ! LOVELY /A9$-GLASS PEACOCK1 ONE ( ! E/ABLI%M5T'S 9T]IOR DECORATIONS1 :I* HAD MORE ?AN LIKELY FALL5 PREY TO SALVAGE M5 DUR+ ! HOTEL'S S5SELESS DEMOLITION 9 ,NOVEMB] #a#i#e#i4 ,UP ON ! GLASSWORK ( ! >CADE'S 5TRANCE !SE DAYS WAS A PALLID /ICK-ON IMITATION1 /YLIZ$ CRAFT-KIT PRODUCT FROM AN OV]PAID DESIGN TEAM4 

,PASS+ ,JESSOP'S1 ! PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPM5T %OP1 HE WOND]$ IF !Y /ILL HAD ,PETE ,CORR'S PHOTOGRAPH ( ,B5$ICT1 FRAM$ & = SALE UP ON !IR WALL4 ,CORR WAS A LOCAL %UTT]BUG N[ M>RI$1 LIV+ SOME:]E \T 9 ,CANADA BY ALL ACC\NTS1 UND] ! MOCK-,DUT* MONIK] ( ,PIET DE ,SNAPP4 ,=M]LY JU/ PLA9 ,PETE ! ,SNAP1 HE'D SPECIALIZ$ 9 PORTRAITS ( ! T[N'S \TL&I% FAUNA3 ,B5'S OLD ,SPR+ ,LANE S*OOLMATE ,ALMA ,W>R51 POS+ MOODILY 9 SUNGLASSES & LEA!R JACKET1 MUTTON DRESS$ UP AS ,OLIVIA ,NEWTON-,JOHN2 ! ,JOVIAN MASS & GRAVITY ( MU*-MISS$ LOCAL M9/REL-GOD ,TOM ,HALL 9 CU/OM>Y DAYWE>1 9DIVIDUALLY-5G9E]$ PLAYS*OOL PAJAMAS & A TASSEL$ HAT SWIP$ FROM ! ,OTTOMANS2 ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT SAT 9 /ATE AMONG ! SNAK+ ROOTS ( ! EI<T-HUNDR$-YE>-OLD BEE* 9 ,%EEP ,/REET1 SMIL+ RUEFULLY4 ,AS IF !RE W]E ANO!R WAY TO SMILE4 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,HE C>RI$ ON ?R\< ,AB+TON ,/REET'S P9K1 P$E/RIANIZ$ ME&]4 ,)\T CURBS TO B\ND & %APE ALL ! FR5ETIC MOTION ?AT HAD P\R$ ALONG ?IS MA9 DRAG = AT LEA/ FIVE HUNDR$ YE>S1 IT SEEM$ AS IF !SE DAYS ! /REET MA9LY ATTRACT$ ?OSE :O W]E !MSELVES SIMIL>LY UNFOCUS$ & DIRECTIONLESS4 ,AS ,B5$ICT HIMSELF WAS1 COME TO ?9K ( IT4 ,HE'D NO IDEA :]E HE ?\<T HE WAS GO+1 NOT ) ONLY TW5TY-SEV5 P5CE REMA9+ 9 ! WAKE ( HIS IMPULSIVE PA/Y1 GONE N[ SAVE = ! OCCASIONAL FLAVOR-HAUNT$ BURP4 ,P]HAPS A LONG WALK UP ! ,WELL+BOR\< ,ROAD TO ,AB+TON W\LD DO HIM GOOD1 OR W\LD AT ANY RATE NOT CO/ HIM ANY?+4 

,CONT9U+ UPHILL1 PLEASANTLY NUMB$ AGA9/ EXI/5CE 9 A W>M COCOON+ FOG1 ! 5TRANCE TO ! ,GROSV5OR ,C5T] CRAWL$ PA/ ON HIS LEFT4 ,HE TRI$ TO CONJURE ! ?9 M\? ( ,WOOD ,/REET1 :I* HAD OCCUPI$ ! SPOT SOME ?IRTY YE>S BE=E1 BUT F\ND HIS P[]S ( EVOCATION BLUNT$ BY ! BE]4 ,! HALF-=GOTT5 T]RAC$ AP]TURE WAS TOO FEEBLE A SPECT] TO PREVAIL AGA9/ ! GLASS WALL ( SW+ DOORS1 ! SP>KL+ COV]$ B\LEV>D BEYOND :]E ! SOMNAMBULI/S SOMNAMBL$1 LIT LIKE ORNAM5TAL CRY/AL ANIMALS BY ! COMM]CIAL AURA-FIELDS !Y PASS$ ?R\<4 ,EV]YONE LOOK$ DECORATIVE 9 ! ALL-R\ND ILLUM9ATION4 ,EV]YONE LOOK$ BRITTLE4 

,TW5TY-SEV5 P5CE4 ,HE WASN'T EV5 SURE ?AT W\LD /ILL BUY A ,M>S ,B>1 ?\< HE C\LD /ILL SAVOR ! SELF-PITY4 ,B5$ICT PICK$ UP HIS PACE A LITTLE PASS+ BY TOP ,WOOLWOR?'S1 !SE DAYS MORE PRECISELY ONLY ,WOOLWOR?'S1 HOP+ ! 9CREAS$ VELOCITY W\LD /RAI<T5 \T HIS VE]4 ,HE GAVE ?IS UP = LACK ( A RESULT AFT] APPROXIMATELY ?IRTY SECONDS1 LAPS+ TO A MELAN*OLY TRUDGE4 ,:AT WAS ! PO9T 9 WALK+ FA/] :5 HE WASN'T GO+ ANY:]E8 ,MORE SPE$ W\LD ONLY BR+ HIM TO HIS PROBLEMS QUICK]1 & 9 HIS /ATE MI<T LEAD 9ADV]T5TLY TO CROSS+ ! BLURR$ L9E BETWE5 A DRUNK5 /UMBLE & A DRUNK5 RAMPAGE4 ,! UNBIDD5 VISION ( ,B5 GONE B]S]K 9 ,M>KS @& ,SP5C]'S1 RUNN+ NUDE & SCREAM+ ?R\< A HAIL ( MELT+-MIDDLE *OCOLATE PUDD+S1 %\LD HAVE BE5 A SOB]+ ONE BUT ONLY MADE HIM GIGGLE TO HIMSELF4 ,! GIGGL+ DIDN'T HELP1 HE REALIZ$1 ) HIS TACTIC ( NOT LOOK+ PISS$4 ,?IS /ILL MADE ONLY F\R ?+S HE WAS USELESS AT1 NAMELY ESCAPE1 F9D+ A JOB1 EXPLA9+ HIMSELF ADEQUATELY & NOT LOOK+ PISS$4 ,F\R TRIVIAL DEFICI5CIES1 ,B5 REASSUR$ HIMSELF1 & AS NAU<T 9 ! SWEEP ( A MAN'S LIFE4 

,HE TACK$ AGA9/ ! EA/ W9D1 *ORTL+ ONLY 9T]MITT5TLY AS HE TRAV]S$ ! WIDE-ANGLE ,>T ,DECO FRONT ( ! ,CO-OP ,>CADE1 AB&ON$ & DES]T$1 W9D[S EMPTI$ ( DISPLAYS ?AT />$ UNSEE+1 /ILL /UNN$ BY ! NEWS ( !IR R$UNDANCY4 ,! RETAIL P>KS \TSIDE ! T[N HAD DRA9$ ! COMM]CE FROM ,NOR?AMPTON'S C5T]1 :I* HAD BE5 AN 9CREAS+LY UGLY PROPOSITION = SOME YE>S N[1 ANYWAY4 ,RA!R ?AN TRY TO /OP ! ROT1 ! C\NCIL HAD ALL[$ ! T[N'S MA9 VE9S TO ATROPHY & WI!R4 ,SP9ADISC1 ! LONG-E/ABLI%$ 9DEP5D5T RECORD %OP ?AT ,B5$ICT WAS N[ APPROA*+ ON ! /REET'S F> SIDE1 HAD BE5 CLOS$ D[N TO MAKE WAY = A REHAB C5T]1 SOME?+ ( ?AT K9D4 ,PR$ICTABLY1 !RE W]E CONSID]ABLY LESS SUB/ANCE-US]S ON ! PREMISES N[ ?AT ! MUSIC & EPHEM]A W]E GONE4 

,>\ND ! PUBLIC SEAT+ \TSIDE ! DEAD JUKEBOX ( ! =M] POP EMPORIUM1 SMALL CR[DS ( BLACK-CLAD TE5AG]S /ILL CONGREGAT$ 9 S*OOL HOLIDAYS & AT WEEK5DS4 ,B5 ?\<T !Y MI<T BE SKATE-GO?S OR GANG/A-ROMANTICS4 ,HAPPY-/ABB]S OR :ATEV]4 ,HE HAD DIFFICULTY KEEP+ UP4 ,%IFT+ HIS DOLEFUL GAZE FROM ! MURD] ( HOODIES FLOCK$ ON ,AB+TON ,/REET'S FUR!R $GE1 HE LOOK$ BACK TO ! SIDE ALONG :I* HE WAS WALK+4 ,A VAGUE DRIFT ( PEOPLE FL[$ T[>DS HIM PA/ ! /ILL-MAGNIFIC5T FACADE ( ! T[N LIBR>Y1 & !RE CAME A SYNAPTIC JOLT1 A M9OR JUDD] & RESETTL+ ( REALITY AS ,B5$ICT REALIZ$ ?AT ONE ( !M WAS ,ALMA ,W>R54 ,AH HA HA4 

,ALMA4 ,%E ALWAYS TOOK HIM BACK1 A WALK+ MEMORY-PROMPT ( ALL ! YE>S !Y'D KN[N EA* O!R1 S9CE !Y'D BE5 TOGE!R 9 ,MISS ,CORRI]'S CLASS AT ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL :5 !Y W]E F\R4 ,EV5 BACK !N1 Y\'D NEV] HAVE CONFUS$ H] ) A GIRL4 ,OR ) A BOY1 = ?AT MATT]4 ,%E WAS TOO BIG1 TOO S+LE M9D$1 TOO AL>M+ TO BE ANY?+ BUT ,ALMA1 9 A G5D] ( H] [N4 ,BO? ( !M SIDE%[ NOVELTIES 9 !IR [N WAYS1 !Y'D BE5 9SEP>ABLE ?R\<\T LONG /RET*ES ( *ILDHOOD & ADOLESC5CE4 ,W9T] EV5+S %IV]+ 9 ! ATTIC UP ABOVE ! B>N 9 HIS DAD'S WOOD-Y>D D[N 9 ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 ,B5'S TELESCOPE POK+ 9TO ! />LI<T ?R\< AN ABS5T W9D[PANE :5 !Y W]E BO? ON FLY+ SAUC] WAT*4 ,! TRICKY PO/-PUB]TAL /RET* :5 HE BEGAN HIS POETRY & %E H] PA9T+1 & :5 ,ALMA W\LD GET FURI\SLY ANGRY & /OP SPEAK+ TO HIM EV]Y O!R =TNI<T1 OV] !IR >TI/IC DIFF]5CES AS %E 9SI/$1 BUT MO/ PROBABLY :5 %E'D JU/ FALL5 TO ! COMMUNI/S4 ,!Y'D BO? MADE IDIOTS ( !MSELVES 9 ! SAME PUBS1 9 ! SAME /5CIL-DUPLICAT$ >TS-GR\P MAGAZ9ES1 BUT !N %E'D SOMEH[ MANAG$ TO TALK UP H] MONOMANIA 9TO A PROSP]\S C>E] & REPUTATION1 :ILE ,B5 HADN'T4 ,N[ HE DIDN'T RUN 9TO H] MU*1 NOBODY DID1 EXCEPT UPON OCCASIONS SU* AS ?IS :5 %E CAME FL\NC+ 9TO T[N DRESS$ LIKE A BIK] OR1 IF %E W]E WE>+ H] PRET5TI\S CLOAK1 A FIFTE5?-C5TURY NUN :O'D BE5 DEFROCK$ = MA/URBATION1 MORE R+S UND]NEA? H] EYES ?AN ON H] O/5TATI\SLY EMBELLI%$ F+]S4 

,!SE W]E CURR5TLY RAIS$ UP 9 AN >T]IAL SPATT] ( NAIL GLOSS & GEM/ONES1 PULL+ ! DI/RESS$ FIRE-CURTA9 ( H] HAIR BACK FROM ! PANTOMIME ?AT WAS H] FACE4 ,H] KOHL-R+$ & APP>5TLY DISDA9FUL GAZE DESCRIB$ A MEASUR$ >C ACROSS ! PREC9CT AS IF ,ALMA W]E PRET5D+ TO BE A SURVEILLANCE CAM]A1 DR$G+ ,AB+TON ,/REET'S FA/-DET]IORAT+ /OCK ( IMAG]Y 9 SE>* ( 9SPIRATION = SOME FUTURE MON/]PIECE4 ,:5 ! SL[ SWIVEL ( H] SO-UNBL9K+-!Y-SEEM$-LIDLESS FOG LAMPS GOT TO ,B5$ICT1 !RE WAS AN AN?RACITE GL9T SUDD5LY ALI<T DEEP 9 ! MAKEUP-CRU/$ SOCKETS4 ,C>M9E LIPS DREW TAUT 9TO A SMILE MO/ PROBABLY 9T5D$ TO LOOK FOND RA!R ?AN PR$ATORY4 ,AH HA HA HA4 ,GOOD OLD ,ALMA4 

,B5$ICT W5T 9TO A R\T9E ! MOM5T ?AT !IR EYES MET1 FIR/ ADOPT+ AN EXPRESSION ( APPALL$ DISMAY !N TURN+ %>PLY 9 HIS TRACKS TO WALK AWAY D[N ,AB+TON ,/REET1 AS IF FRANTICALLY PRET5D+ ?AT HE HADN'T SE5 H]4 ,HE TURN$ ?IS 9TO A CIRCUL> TRAJECTORY ?AT TOOK HIM BACK T[>DS H]1 ?IS TIME D\BL+ UP ) SIL5T LAU<T] SO %E'D KN[ HIS T]RIFI$ ATTEMPT AT FLI<T HAD BE5 A GAG4 ,HE W\LDN'T WANT H] ?9K+ HE WAS REALLY TRY+ TO RUN AWAY1 NOT LEA/ 9 CASE %E W5T = HIM & BR\<T HIM D[N BE=E HE'D GOT FIVE PACES4 

,!IR PA?S MET \TSIDE ! LIBR>Y PORTICO4 ,HE /UCK HIS H& \T1 BUT ,ALMA SURPRIS$ HIM ) A SUDD5 LUNGE1 PLANT+ A BLOODY PUCK] ON HIS *EEK1 SPRA9+ HIS NECK ) H] BRIEF ONE->M$ HUG4 ,?IS WAS SOME AFFECTATION1 HE CONCLUD$1 ?AT %E'D PICK$ UP FROM ,AM]ICANS ) GALL]IES :O PUT ON EXHIBITIONS4 ,EXHIBITIONI/S4 ,%E HADN'T LE>N$ IT 9 ! ,BOR\<S1 ( ?AT ,B5$ICT WAS C]TA94 ,9 ! DI/RICT :]E !Y'D BO? GR[N UP1 AFFECTIONATE DISPLAYS W]E NEV] PHYSICAL4 ,OR V]BAL1 OR 9 ANY WAY APP>5T TO ! FIVE TRADITIONAL S5SES4 ,LOVE & FRI5D%IP 9 ! ,BOR\<S W]E SUBLIM9AL4 ,HE FL9*$ BACK FROM H]1 WIP+ AT HIS /A9$ *EEK ) ! BACK ( ONE LONG-F+]$ H& LIKE AN EMB>RASS$ CAT4 

0,GET (F6 ,AH HA HA HA HA HA60 

,ALMA GR9N$1 APP>5TLY PLEAS$ AT JU/ H[ EASILY %E HAD UNSETTL$ HIM4 ,%E DUCK$ H] HEAD & LEAN$ A LITTLE =W>D :5 %E SPOKE1 AS IF TO BE/ FACILITATE !IR CONV]SATION1 AL?\< REALLY %E WAS JU/ REM9D+ HIM H[ TALL %E WAS1 ! WAY %E DID ) EV]YONE4 ,IT WAS ONE ( :AT ONLY ,ALMA ?\<T ( AS H] RANGE ( SUBTLY 9TIMIDAT+ MANN]ISMS4 

0,B5$ICT1 Y\ SUAVE ,LO?>IO4 ,?IS IS AN UNEXPECT$ TREAT4 ,H['S ?+S8 ,>E Y\ /ILL WRIT+80 

,ALMA'S VOICE WASN'T JU/ DEEP BR[N1 IT WAS 9FRA-BR[N4 ,B5 LAU<$ AT H] QU]Y ON HIS \TPUT1 AT ! %E] PREPO/]\SNESS ( H] EV5 ASK+4 

0,ALWAYS1 ,ALMA4 ,Y\ KN[ ME4 ,AH HA HA4 ,ALWAYS SCRIBBL+ AWAY40 

,HE'D NOT WRITT5 A L9E 9 YE>S4 ,HE WAS A PUBLI%$ POET 9 ! TRANSITIVE & NOT ! CURR5T S5SE4 ,HE WASN'T SURE ?AT HE WAS ANY SORT ( POET 9 ! CURR5T S5SE1 ?AT WAS HIS SECRET DREAD4 ,ALMA WAS NODD+ AMIABLY N[1 PLEAS$ ) HIS ANSW]4 

0,GOOD4 ,?AT'S GOOD TO HE>4 ,I WAS JU/ READ+ ',CLE>ANCE ,>EA' ! O!R DAY & ?9K+ :AT A SMA%+ POEM IT WAS40 

,HUM4 0,CLE>ANCE ,>EA04 ,HE'D BE5 QUITE PLEAS$ ) ?AT HIMSELF4 0,:O CAN SAY N[_/ ,?AT ANY?+ WAS H]E_/ ,O!R ?AN OP5 L&_/ ,US$ ONLY BY /RAY DOGS_/ ,& *ILDR5 BREAK+ BOTTLES ON /ONES80 ,) A />T HE REALIZ$ ?AT HAD BE5 ALMO/ TWO DECADES BACK1 ?OSE WRIT+S4 0,WE$S1 /RAY DOGS & *ILDR5_/ ,WAIT$ PATI5TLY_/ ,= !M TO LEAVE4_/ ,! WE$ B5EA?2_/ ,! DOG & *ILD_/ ,UNBORN 9SIDE40 ,HE TIPP$ HIS HEAD BACK1 UNSURE H[ HE %\LD RECEIVE ! COMPLIM5T EXCEPT ) AN UNC]TA9 SMILE1 AS IF EXPECT+ H] AT ANY MOM5T TO RETRACT H] PRAISE1 EXPOSE IT = ! CRUEL PO/-MOD]N JOKE IT D\BTLESS WAS4 ,EV5TUALLY1 HE RISK$ A T5TATIVE RESPONSE4 

0,I W]5'T BAD1 WAS ,I8 ,AH HA HA40 

,HE'D MEANT TO SAY ,IT W]5'T BAD1 AS A REF]5CE TO ! POEM1 BUT IT HAD COME \T WRONG4 ,N[ IT S\ND$ AS ?\< ,B5$ICT ?\<T ( HIMSELF 9 ! PA/ T5SE1 :I* WASN'T :AT HE'D MEANT AT ALL4 ,AT LEA/1 HE DIDN'T ?9K ?AT IT WAS :AT HE'D MEANT4 ,ALMA WAS FR[N+ N[1 IT SEEM$ REPROA*FULLY4 

0,B51 Y\ W]E ALWAYS A CONSID]ABLE WAY BEYOND 'NOT BAD'4 ,Y\ KN[ Y\ W]E4 ,Y\'RE A GOOD WRIT]1 MATE4 ,I'M S]I\S40 

,?IS LA/ WAS (F]$ 9 REPLY TO ,B5$ICT'S PLA9LY EMB>RASS$ GIGGL+4 ,HE REALLY DIDN'T KN[ :AT HE %\LD SAY4 ,ALMA WAS AT LEA/ ,Z-LI/ FAM\S & SUCCESSFUL1 & ,B5 C\LDN'T HELP BUT FEEL AS ?\< 9 SOME WAY HE W]E BE+ PATRONIZ$4 ,IT WAS AS IF %E ?\<T ?AT A K9D WORD FROM H] C\LD M5D HIM1 C\LD 9SPIRE HIM1 RAISE HIM FROM ! DEAD & MAKE HIM :OLE ) JU/ ! LEA/ BRU% ( H] HEM4 ,%E ACT$ AS ?\< ALL HIS PROBLEMS C\LD BE SOLV$ IF HE W]E JU/ TO WRITE1 :I* ONLY %[$1 9 ,B5$ICT'S OP9ION1 JU/ H[ %ALL[ ,ALMA'S UND]/&+ ( HIS PROBLEMS REALLY WAS4 ,DID %E HAVE ANY IDEA1 /&+ !RE ) ALL H] MONEY & H] WRITE-UPS 9 ,! ,9DEP5D5T1 :AT IT WAS LIKE HAV+ ONLY TW5TY-SEV5 P5CE8 ,WELL1 ACTUALLY1 ( C\RSE %E DID4 ,%E'D COME FROM ! SAME BACKGR\ND HE HAD1 SO ?AT WASN'T FAIR1 BUT EV5 SO4 ,! TR\BL+ NOTION ( HIS PRES5T F9ANCES1 OR AT LEA/ RELATIVE TO ,ALMA'S1 HAD BOBB$ UP FROM ! BE] S$IM5TS CURR5TLY SETTL$ AT ! BOTTOM ( ,B5'S M9D1 & W\LDN'T BOB BACK D[N AGA94 ,BE=E HE EV5 KNEW ?AT HE WAS GO+ TO DO IT1 HE'D BROK5 ! HABIT ( A LIFETIME & TAPP$ ,ALMA UP = CA%4 

0 ',]E1 Y\ A9'T GOT A C\PLE O' QUID SP>E1 'AVE Y]80 

,IT FELT WRONG AS SOON AS ! WORDS LEFT HIS M\?1 A T]RIBLE TRANSGRESSION4 ,HE IMM$IATELY WI%$ ?AT HE C\LD TAKE IT BACK1 BUT IT WAS TOO LATE4 ,N[ IT WAS 9 ,ALMA'S H&S1 & %E W\LD ALMO/ C]TA9LY F9D SOME WAY %E C\LD MAKE IT WORSE4 ,SURPRIS$1 H] FLUE-BRU% LA%ES WID5$ ALMO/ IMP]CEPTIBLY1 BUT %E RECOV]$ ) A DEADPAN LOOK ( G5]ALIZ$ CONC]N4 

0,( C\RSE ,I HAVE4 ,I'M FUCK+ LOAD$4 ,H]E40 

,%E PULL$ A NOTE 444 A NOTE 444 \T ( H] DRA9PIPE JEANS &1 PO9T$LY NOT LOOK+ TO DET]M9E ITS D5OM9ATION1 PRESS$ IT H>D 9TO ,B5'S OP5 PALM4 ,SEE1 ?IS WAS :AT HE'D MEANT1 AB\T H[ ,ALMA ALWAYS MADE ?+S MORE UNCOM=TABLE1 BUT 9 A MANN] ?AT OBLIG$ Y\ TO BE GRATEFUL TO H]4 ,S9CE %E HADN'T LOOK$ TO SEE H[ MU* CA% %E WAS GIV+ HIM1 ,B5 FELT ?AT IT W\LD BE DECLASSE = HIM TO DO O!RWISE1 SLIPP+ ! CRUMPL$ NOTE )\T A GLANCE 9TO HIS TR\S] POCKET4 ,HE WAS FEEL+ G5U9ELY GUILTY N[4 ,! C5T]S ( HIS BEETL+ EYEBR[S HAD CREPT UP 9VOLUNT>ILY T[>DS HIS WID['S PEAK AS HE PROTE/$ H] UNDUE B5EFIC5CE4 

0,>E Y\ SURE1 ,ALMA8 ,>E Y\ SURE80 

,%E GR9N$1 DISMISS+ ! UNEASY MOM5T4 

0 ',C\RSE ,I'M SURE4 ,=GET IT4 ,H[ >E Y\1 MATE1 ANYWAY8 ,:AT >E Y\ DO+ !SE DAYS80 

,B5$ICT WAS GRATEFUL = ! *ANGE ( SUBJECT1 ?\< IT LEFT HIM GRASP+ HOPELESSLY = SOME?+ ?AT HE C\LD LEGITIMATELY CLAIM HE'D DONE4 

0,OH1 ?IS & ?AT4 ,W5T = AN 9T]VIEW ! O!R DAY40 

,ALMA LOOK$ 9T]E/$1 AL?\< ONLY POLITELY SO4 

0,OH YEAH8 ,H[ DID IT GO80 

0,I DON'T KN[4 ,I'VE NOT HE>D YET4 ,:5 !Y 9T]VIEW$ ME1 ,I KEPT WANT+ TO COME \T & TELL !M ',I'M A PUBLI%$ POET'1 BUT ,I HELD IT 940 

,ALMA WAS TRY+ TO NOD SAGELY1 BUT WAS ALSO CLE>LY TRY+ NOT TO LAU<1 ) ! RESULT ?AT NEI!R EF=T WAS :AT Y\'D CALL AN UNQUALIFI$ SUCCESS4 

0,Y\ DID ! RI<T ?+4 ,!RE'S A TIME & PLACE = EV]Y?+40 ,%E COCK$ H] HEAD ON ONE SIDE1 N>R[+ H] BLACK BIRD-EAT+ EYES AS IF %E'D JU/ REMEMB]$ SOME?+4 

0,LI/51 ,B51 ,I'VE JU/ ?\<T4 ,!RE'S !SE PA9T+S ,I'VE BE5 DO+1 ALL AB\T ! ,BOR\<S1 & ,I'M HAV+ A PRELIM9>Y VIEW+ ( !M D[N AT ,CA/LE ,HILL TOMORR[ LUN*TIME1 9 ! NURS]Y ?AT US$ TO BE ,PITT-,DRAFF5'S DANCE S*OOL4 ,:Y DON'T Y\ COME D[N8 ,IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE Y\40 

0,P]HAPS ,I WILL4 ,P]HAPS ,I WILL4 ,AH HA HA HA40 ,DEEP 9 HIS BITT]-SODD5 HE>T1 HE KNEW HE ALMO/ DEF9ITELY W\LDN'T4 ,TO BE HONE/ HE WAS B>ELY LI/5+ TO H]1 /ILL TRY+ TO ?9K ( ?+S HE'D DONE1 BESIDE ! 9T]VIEW1 ?AT HE C\LD M5TION4 ,SUDD5LY HE ?\<T AB\T HIS VISITS TO ! CYB] CAFE & P]K$ UP4 ,ALMA WAS WIDELY KN[N TO NEV] V5TURE NE> ! ,9T]NET1 :I* MEANT1 A/\ND+LY1 ?AT H]E WAS SOMEONE :O1 AT LEA/ 9 ?IS ONE >EA1 WAS LESS ADAPT$ TO ! PRES5T DAY ?AN ,B5$ICT4 ,HE BEAM$ AT H]1 TRIUMPHANTLY4 

0,DO Y\ KN[1 ,I'VE BE5 GO+ ON ! ,9T]NET80 ,HE RAN ONE PRE5+ H& BACK OV] HIS D>K CURLS1 :ILE ) ! O!R HE ADJU/$ AN IMAG9>Y B[ TIE4 

,ALMA WAS N[ LAU<+ OP5LY4 ,BY MUTUAL CONS5T !Y SEEM$ TO BO? BE DIS5GAG+ FROM ! CONV]SATION1 />T+ TO MOVE SL[LY (F1 HIM UPHILL1 ,ALMA D[N4 ,IT WAS AS IF !Y'D COME TO ! PR$E/9$ 5D ( !IR 5C\NT] & MU/ BO? N[ WALK AWAY1 :E!R !Y'D F9I%$ TALK+ YET OR NOT4 ,!Y HAD TO HURRY IF !Y WANT$ TO REMA9 ON S*$ULE1 OCCUPY+ ALL ! EMPTY SPACES 9 !IR FUTURES !Y HAD YET TO FILL1 ALL AT ! PROP] PR$ET]M9$ TIMES4 ,/ILL VISIBLY AMUS$1 %E CALL$ BACK TO HIM OV] ! 9CREAS+ GAP BETWE5 !M4 

0,Y\'RE A TW5TY-FIR/-C5TURY BOY1 ,B540 

,LAU<T] TIPP$ HIS HEAD BACK LIKE A WELL-SLAPP$ PUN*-BAG4 ,SEV]AL PACES (F1 HE WAS HALF TURN$ AWAY FROM H]1 T[>DS ! UPP] 5D ( ,AB+TON ,/REET4 

0,I'M A ,CYB]MAN4 ,AH HA HA HA40 

,!IR BRIEF KNOT ( HIL>ITY & MUTUAL 9COMPREH5SION WAS UNRAVEL$ 9TO TWO LOOSE1 SNICK]+ 5DS ?AT TRAIL$ AWAY 9 OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS4 ,B5$ICT HAD REA*$ ! PREC9CT'S TOPMO/ LIMIT & WAS CROSS+ ,YORK ,ROAD AT ! LI<TS BE=E HE ?\<T TO REA* 9TO HIS POCKET & RETRIEVE ! SCREW$-UP CURR5CY ?AT ,ALMA HAD BEQUEA!D HIM4 ,P9K & PLUM & VIOLET1 ! NOTE SPORT$ A BLUE ANGEL FROM :OSE TRUMPET FELL A RADIAT+ %[] ( NOTES4 ,WORCE/] ,CA!DRAL WAS BOMB>D$ BY !M 9 A JOY\S COSMIC RAY-/ORM1 ,/4 ,CECILIA RECL9+ 9 ! =EGR\ND AS %E SOAK$ UP ! ,U,V4 ,A TW5TY4 ,WELCOME TO MY HUMBLE PANTS1 ,SIR ,$W>D ,ELG>4 ,WE'VE BE5 ONLY FLEET+LY ACQUA9T$ PREVI\SLY1 & Y\ W\LDN'T REMEMB]1 BUT CAN ,I JU/ SAY ?AT ,! ,DREAM ( ,G]ONTIUS IS AN \T/&+ WORK ( PA/ORAL VISION8 ,AH HA HA4 

,?IS WAS A GIFT FROM ,GOD4 ,?ANKS1 ,GOD1 & DO PASS ON MY ?ANKS TO ,ALMA :O Y\'VE CLE>LY MADE Y\R REPRES5TATIVE ON ,E>?4 ,I HOPE TO ,GOD ?AT 444 WELL1 ,I HOPE TO ,Y\ ?AT Y\ KN[ :AT Y\'RE DO+ !RE ON ?AT ONE1 SO BE W>N$4 ,BUT /ILL1 ?IS WAS FANTA/IC4 ,HE RESOLV$ HE'D TAKE HIS HEAL?Y WALK UP ,WELL+BOR\< ,ROAD TO ,AB+TON ,P>K ANYWAY1 DESPITE ! FACT ?AT HE NO LONG] NE$$ TO1 HAV+ SUFFICI5T FUNDS TO DALLY :]E HE WANT$4 ,B5$ICT C\LD DALLY ) A V5GEANCE :5 ! MOOD WAS ON HIM1 BUT = N[ HE /UFF$ ! NOTE BACK 9 HIS POCKET & BEGAN TO :I/LE AS HE WALK$ T[>DS ,AB+TON ,SQU>E1 ONLY REL5T+ :5 HE REALIZ$ HE WAS GIV+ A R5DITION ( ! !ME MUSIC FROM ,EMM]DALE4 ,LUCKILY1 NOBODY SEEM$ TO HAVE NOTIC$4 

,?IS HAD ONCE BE5 ! EA/ GATE ( ! T[N1 ! /RIP ?AT ,B5$ICT WAS PAC+ N[1 :AT !Y'D CALL$ ,$MUND'S ,5D BACK 9 ! EI<TE5-HUNDR$S1 NAM$ AFT] ,/4 ,$MUND'S ,*UR*1 :I* HAD BE5 SLI<TLY FUR!R \T ALONG ! ,WELL+BOR\< ,ROAD UNTIL IT WAS PULL$ D[N A QU>T] C5TURY AGO4 ,B5 LIK$ ! BUILD+S H]E1 ON ! APPROA* TO ! MA9 SQU>E ITSELF1 IF ONE IGNOR$ ! TAWDRY TRANS=MATIONS ( !IR L[] /ORIES4 ,JU/ ACROSS ! ROAD !RE WAS ! GORGE\S #a#i#cS C9EMA1 AT DIFF]5T TIMES ! ,A,B,C OR ! ,SAVOY4 ,HE'D BE5 HIMSELF A DEAD %OT ) A FLICK$ ICE-LOLLY /ICK AT MAT9EES1 AL?\< HE'D NEV] ONCE HAD SOMEONE'S EYE \T DESPITE ALL ! W>N+S TO ! CONTR>Y4 ,!SE DAYS1 LIKE GETT+ ON A QU>T] OR A ?IRD ( ! T[N'S MAJOR PROP]TIES1 ! PLACE WAS [N$ BY A COMMUNE ( ,EVANGELICALS KN[N AS ! ,JESUS ,>MY1 :O HAD />T$ \T AS A SMALL NE/ ( RESCU$ D]ELICTS 9 NE>BY ,BUGBROOKE & !N SPREAD LIKE HAPPY CLAPPY B9DWE$1 UNTIL Y\ C\LD F9D !IR RA9B[-LIV]I$ BUSSES ORGANIZ+ TRAMP-GRABS ALMO/ ANY:]E 9 MIDDLE ,5GL&4 ,/ILL1 IT WASN'T LIKE ,NOR?AMPTON & RELIGI\S MANIA HAD BE5 /RANG]S TO EA* O!R 9 ! PA/4 ,B5$ICT SAUNT]$ ON T[>DS ,AB+TON ,SQU>E1 REFLECT+ ?AT ! LA/ TIME ?AT !SE P>TS HAD SE5 A ,JESUS ,>MY IT WAS ,CROMWELL'S1 & 9/EAD ( PAMPHLETS !Y'D BE5 WAV+ PIKES4 ,IT WAS A K9D ( PROGRESS1 ,B5 SUPPOS$4 

,! SQU>E LOOK$ ALMO/ H&SOME 9 ! LI<T ( E>LY AFT]NOON1 UNLESS Y\'D KN[N IT 9 ITS Y\? & C\LD MAKE ! PA9FUL COMP>ISON4 ,! SLIPP] FACTORY HAD GONE 9 FAVOR ( A ,JAGU> %[ROOM CALL$ ,GUY ,SALMON4 ,! OLD ,IRI% ,C5T] HAD BE5 TURN$ 9TO ! ,URBAN ,TIG]4 ,B5$ICT HAD NEV] BE5 9SIDE ! V5UE S9CE ! NAME *ANGE4 ,HE PICTUR$ ! CLI5TELE AS RANKS ( ANGRY ,TAMILS LE>N+ M>TIAL >TS4 

,*>LES ,BRADLAU< /OOD !RE DAZZL+ :ITE UPON HIS PL9?1 DIRECT+ TRAFFIC4 ,IT HAD NEV] LOOK$ TO ,B5$ICT AS ?\< ! GREAT TEETOTAL A!I/ & EQUAL RI<TS CAMPAIGN] WAS JU/ PO9T+ WE/W>DS1 MORE AS IF HE WAS 9 A SALOON B> TRY+ TO />T A FI<T4 ,YEAH1 ?AT'S RI<T4 ,Y\4 ,FUCK FEATURES4 ,:O'D Y\ ?9K ,I'M PO9T+ AT8 ,AH HA HA HA4 ,B5 PASS$ ! /ATUE ON HIS LEFT1 ) ON HIS RI<T AN UN9VIT+ NEW PUB NAM$ ! ,WORKH\SE4 ,B5 SAW :AT !Y'D DONE !RE3 FUR!R UP ! ,WELL+BOR\< ,ROAD1 ACROSS FROM ! WALL-B\ND$ SPACE :]E ,$MUND'S ,*UR* ONCE /OOD WAS :AT REMA9$ ( ,$MUND'S ,HOSPITAL1 :I* 9 ,VICTORIAN TIMES HAD BE5 ,NOR?AMPTON'S WORKH\SE4 ,IT WAS LIKE PUTT+ A !ME PUB CALL$ ! ,:IPP+ ,PO/ 9 A BLACK NEI<BORHOOD1 OR ,EI*MANN'S 9 A ,JEWI% ONE4 ,A T\* 9S5SITIVE4 

,B5 F\ND ?AT HE WAS TRAVEL+ AT QUITE A PACE1 EV5 AGA9/ ! WU!R+ HEADW9D4 ,9 :AT SEEM$ LIKE ONLY MOM5TS ! AB&ON$ HULK ( ,$MUND'S ,HOSPITAL ITSELF LOOM$ UP ON HIS LEFT SIDE1 A HAUNT$ PALACE SMO!R$ 9 A CREEP ( WE$S1 ITS SMA%$ EYES FILL$ ) <O/S4 ,<O/S1 & IF RUMORS W]E TO BE BELIEV$1 ) FAIL$ ASYLUM SEEK]S1 REFUGEES :O'D BE5 D5I$ ?AT /ATUS & HAD *OS5 TO CAMP \T 9 =M] T]M9AL W>DS RA!R ?AN RISK BE+ S5T HOME TO :ATEV] DESPOT OR ELECTRODE-HAPPY /RONGMAN !Y W]E FLEE+ 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,HOME IS :]E ! HURT IS1 ?AT WAS V]Y TRUE4 ,IT /RUCK HIM ?AT ! WORKH\SE1 ?\< DILAPIDAT$1 MU/ FEEL BLESS$ 9 ITS OLD AGE4 ,IT HAD ITS HUDDL$1 FRI<T5$ \TCA/S BACK1 C\LD TAKE A SECRET COM=T FROM !IR SECRET FIRES4 

,!RE ON ! O!R SIDE1 ACROSS ! WALL HE WAS N[ WALK+ PA/1 WAS ! PALPABLE ABS5CE ( ,/4 ,$MUND'S ,*UR*1 AN EMPTY YAWN ( GRE5 ) 9T]MITT5T TOMB/ONES JUTT+1 C>I\S1 DISCOLOR$1 SUFF]+ FROM BUILT-UP BIRD%IT PLAQUE1 ! GRE5 & GRASSY GUMS BEG9N+ TO REC$E4 ,UPON ! PLUS SIDE1 ,B5$ICT C\LD MAKE \T L>K SONG UND]NEA? ! GRUMBLE ( ! MA9 ROAD'S TRAFFIC1 BUBBL+ NOTES ]UPT+ 9 A BRILLIANT EFF]VESC5CE TO DI/RACT CATS FROM ! FL$GL+S HIDD5 L[ D[N 9 ! GRAVEY>D GRASS4 ,IT WAS A NICE DAY4 ,! ET]NAL WAS /ILL !RE1 A PROMIS+ SUGGE/IVE BULGE CONCEAL$ BEH9D ! PRES5T'S ?READB>E DRAPES4 

,HEAD+ ON EA/W>DS \T ( T[N ALONG ! /RIP ( PUBS & %OPS1 HE ?\<T ( ,ALMA4 ,AT ! AGE ( SEV5TE5 %E'D BE5 A GL>+ GIANT S*OOLGIRL UP AT ! ,GIRL'S ,GRAMM>1 GIV+ ! IMPRESSION H] RES5TM5T WAS OCCASION$ BY ! FACT ?AT %E WAS REALLY TW5TY-N9E & C\LDN'T F9D A UNI=M ?AT FIT H]4 ,%E'D BE5 9VOLV$ 9 AN >TY /UD5T MAGAZ9E CALL$ ,&ROGYNE1 PROVID+ WONKY /5CIL ILLU/RATIONS = A CURATE'S EGG ( FIF?-=M V]SES4 ,B5$ICT HAD BE5 AT ! ,BOY'S ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL BY ?AT TIME1 & DESPITE ! DI/ANCE ?AT !RE WAS BETWE5 ! TWO E/ABLI%M5TS1 FRAT]NIZATION DID OCCUR4 ,! TWO HAD SE5 EA* O!R N[ & !N1 & ,ALMA1 :O'D BE5 GO+ ?R\< A P]IOD ( L(TY FUTURI/ DISDA9 = ,B5'S ROMANTICISM1 HAD ASK$ GRUDG+LY IF HE MI<T SUBMIT SOME?+ TO !IR ALT]NATELY SIMP]+ & F\L-M\!D RAG4 

,5C\RAG$ BY ?IS HALF-HE>T$ SOLICITATION1 ,B5$ICT HAD WRITT5 SEV]AL MOVEM5TS ( :AT HAD TURN$ \T TO BE AN EPIC PIECE ( JUV5ILIA1 ONLY ! %ORTE/ P>TS ACCEPT$ BY A CLE>LY DISAPPO9T$ ,ALMA1 :O DISMISS$ ! RE/ AS BE+1 9 H] CRITICALLY MATURE OP9ION 0FUCK+ S5TIM5TAL GIRLY RUBBI%04 ,HE WAS MORTIFI$ TO ?9K ?AT HE C\LD /ILL REMEMB] ! REJECTION1 WORD = WORD1 SOME ?IRTY-FIVE YE>S LAT]4 ,AT ! TIME1 ) EV5 LESS S5SE ( PROPORTION ?AN HE CURR5TLY POSSESS$1 HE'D BE5 9C5S$ & HAD RESOLV$ TO PATI5TLY EXACT A T]RIBLE REV5GE4 ,HE'D TAKE ! (F-CUTS ,ALMA HAD DISC>D$ FROM HIS POEM CYCLE & HE'D BUILD !M 9TO A NEW $IFICE1 A WORK TO %UDD] ! F\NDATIONS ( ! AGES4 ,!N1 :5 HE WAS WELCOM$ UP TO LIT]>Y ,OLYMPUS1 HE'D REVEAL ?AT %E HAD LACK$ ! 9SI<T TO APPRECIATE HIS MAGNUM OPUS & H] REPUTATION W\LD BE %OT4 ,%E'D BE A LAU<+/OCK & A P>IAH4 ,?AT W\LD LE>N H]1 H] & ALL H] ,&Y ,W>HOL ,BRIDGET ,RILEY MIGRA9E >T4 ,?IS GR& 5DEAVOR W\LD BE A HE>TBROK5 HYMN TO CONJURE ! DEP>T$ WORLD1 ! RU/IC L&SCAPE ( ,JOHN ,CL>E1 ! GOLD5-LI<T$ LANES ?AT ,B5$ICT WAS BORN TOO LATE TO WALK \TSIDE ( REV]IE4 ,HE'D /RUNG IT \T ALMO/ TWO YE>S BE=E HE'D REALIZ$ IT WAS GO+ NO:]E & AB&ON$ IT4 ,IT HAD BE5 CALL$ 0,ATLANTIS04 

,B5$ICT GLANC$ UP TO F9D ?AT HE WAS SOME WAY \T ALONG ! ,WELL+BOR\< ,ROAD FROM ! LA/ PLACE HE'D NOTIC$1 :I* HAD BE5 ! PEEL+ %ELL ( ! ,SPREAD ,EAGLE1 ON ! CORN] PA/ ,/4 ,$MUND'S ,HOSPITAL4 ,N[ HE WAS GETT+ ON = ,/IMPSON ,AV5UE & ?AT 5D1 />T+ TO ?9K TWICE AB\T HIS PLANN$ WALK 9 ! P>K1 ALREADY FEEL+ FOOTSORE4 ,CL>E1 :O'D HOBBL$ EI<TY MILES FROM ,ESSEX BACK HOME TO ,NOR?AMPTON%IRE1 W\LD PROBABLY HAVE LAU<$ AT HIM4 ,!Y'D BUILT !IR LYRIC NUTT]S /URDI] 9 HIS DAY4 ,B5 ?\<T HE MI<T W&] R\ND ,AB+TON ,P>K SOME O!R TIME1 CONT5T+ HIMSELF = ! MOM5T ) A VISIT TO ! ,CR[N @& ,CU%ION1 A %ORT DI/ANCE FUR!R UP ! BUSY /REET4 ,HE'D ONLY TAK5 TO ! NOTION ( A LEAFY /ROLL :5 !RE WAS NO?+ ELSE TO DO1 BE=E HE'D MET ) ,ALMA1 BUT N[ ?+S W]E DIFF]5T4 ,N[ HE HAD A BUS9ESS PLAN4 

,HE'D NOT BE5 9 ! ,CR[N @& ,CU%ION = A :ILE1 AL?\< AT ONE TIME1 JU/ AFT] HE'D BROK5 UP ) ,LILY1 IT HAD BE5 HIS REGUL> DOVE4 ,HE SUPPOS$ ?AT HIS RELATION%IP ) ! PUB'S CLI5TELE WAS AT ITS BE/ AMBIVAL5T1 BUT !N ! PLACE ITSELF WAS SOME:]E HE FELT COM=TABLE4 ,L>GELY UN*ANG$1 ! HO/ELRY AT LEA/ /ILL TRAD$ UND] ITS HI/ORICALLY APPO9T$ NAME1 HADN'T BECOME ! ,JOLLY ,WANK] OR ! ,WORKH\SE OR ! ,VOLE @& ,A/ROLABE4 ,B5$ICT C\LD REMEMB]1 ) A TW+E ( MIX$ EMB>RASSM5T & PRIDE1 H[ HE'D ONCE /ORM$ 9TO ! B> DEM&+ SATISFACTION :5 HE'D FELT HIS FELL[ DR9K]S W]5'T TAK+ HIS CLAIM TO BE A PUBLI%$ POET S]I\SLY4 ,A POEM ( ,B5'S HAD JU/ BE5 PR9T$ 9 ! LOCAL ,*RONICLE @& ,E*O1 & :5 HE'D BUR/ ?R\< ! ,CR[N @& ,CU%ION'S SW+ DOOR LIKE A PIANO-/OPP+ GUNFI<T] HE'D ?R[N ! ?IRTY COPIES ( ! PAP] ?AT HE HAPP5$ TO BE C>RY+ 9TO ! AIR ) A VICTORI\S CRY ( 0,!RE6 ,AH HA HA HA60 ,!Y'D NATURALLY B>R$ HIM ON ! SPOT1 BUT ?AT WAS YE>S AGO1 & ) A BIT ( LUCK ?AT ]A'S /AFF & CU/OM]S W\LD ALL BE DEAD OR MEMORY-IMPAIR$ BY N[4 

,EV5 IF NOT1 TRADITIONALLY ! PUB HAD ALWAYS %[N TREM5D\S TOL]ANCE & EV5 FONDNESS = ! V>I\S ECC5TRICS PASS+ ?R\< ITS PORTALS4 ,?AT WAS ANO!R REASON :Y ,B5 LIK$ ! PLACE1 HE ?\<T AS HE PU%$ OP5 ITS L\NGE DOOR & /EPP$ 9TO ! WELCOME GLOOM FROM ! BRI<T1 SQU9T+ DAZZLE ( ! DAY \TSIDE4 ,!Y'D HAD F> WORSE ?AN HIM 9 H]E4 ,!RE WAS A /ORY FROM BACK 9 ! V]Y E>LY #a#i#hS :I* 9SI/$ ?AT ! GREAT ,SIR ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD1 TRUMPET] & OR*E/RAL >RANG] ( SU* HITS AS 0,COLONEL ,BOGEY01 HAD BE5 LIV+ 9 ! ROOM ABOVE ! ,CR[N @& ,CU%ION'S B>1 M5TALLY ILL & ALCOHOLIC1 GUE/ 9 SOME ACC\NTS1 VIRTUAL PRISON] 9 O!RS1 DRAGG$ D[N ALMO/ NI<TLY = ! 5T]TA9M5T ( A DRUNK5 & ABUSIVE CR[D4 ,?IS WAS ! MAN :O'D WRITT5 ,TAM ,O' ,%ANT]1 ?AT DELIRI\S ACCOMPANIM5T TO ,BURNS' 9EBRIAT$ NI<T-SWEAT1 ! C>\S+ HI<L& H]O *AS$ BY A ,WILD ,HUNT ( FAIRIES ?R\< ! BRASS & WOODW9D D>K4 ,?IS WAS ,SIR ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD1 :O ,B5 ?\<T HAD ONCE BE5 ! ,DIRECTOR ( ! ,QUE5'S ,MUSIC1 A MUSICAL EQUIVAL5T TO ,POET ,LAUREATE1 BANG+ \T TUNES ON ! JOANNA = A H]D ( BRAY+ & PUGNACI\S GOONS4 ,OLD & TORM5T$1 AMBISEXTR\S1 9 HIS E>LY SIXTIES !N1 :O KNEW :AT IMPS & DEMONS1 J9NI & TONICS1 MI<T HAVE BE5 /AMP$+ ?R\< HIS FEV]$ SKULL1 GLI/5+ ) P]SPIRATION & TIPP$ =W>D OV] P\ND+ YELL[ IVORIES8 

,B5$ICT /OOD !RE JU/ 9SIDE ! DOOR UNTIL HIS PUPILS HAD SUFFICI5TLY DILAT$ TO LOCATE ! B>4 ,! /AFF & DECOR1 HE OBS]V$1 W]E NEW S9CE HIS LA/ VISIT4 ,?IS WAS JU/ AS WELL1 ESPECIALLY AB\T ! B> /AFF1 S9CE AS F> AS ,B5 KNEW HE'D DONE NO?+ TO (F5D ! DECOR4 ,SOME1 ( C\RSE1 MI<T NOT AGREE4 ,AH HA HA HA4 ,B5$ICT /EPP$ UP TO ! RAIL & B\<T A P9T ( BITT]1 SLAPP+ D[N HIS TW5TY ON ! FRE%LY WIP$ & MOI/URE-BEAD$ B>-TOP ) A C]TA9 SWAGG]4 ,?IS WAS UND]CUT1 ?\<1 BY HIS DEEP REGRET AT HAV+ SAID GOODBYE TO ,ELG>4 ,SOME ( ?IS REGRET WAS PURELY ON ,B5'S [N ACC\NT1 BUT MIX$ ) ?IS !RE WAS A G5U9E CONC]N AB\T ,SIR ,$W>D1 AN UNEAS9ESS AT LEAV+ ! COMPOS] 9 ! ,CR[N @& ,CU%ION4 ,LOOK AT :AT !Y'D DONE TO ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD4 

,TAK+ HIS GLASS TO AN EMPTY TABLE1 ( :I* !RE W]E AN UNSEASONABLE NUMB]1 ,B5 FLEET+LY 5T]TA9$ A MORBID FANTASY 9 :I*1 AS PUNI%M5T = ! NEWSPAP] 9CID5T1 HE WAS 9C>C]AT$ H]E 9 ! SAME WAY ?AT ,>NOLD HAD REPUT$LY BE5 HELD4 ,EA* NI<T 9TOXICAT$ ?UGS W\LD BUR/ 9TO HIS ROOM & H]D HIM D[N TO ! SALOON1 :]E HE'D BE PLI$ ) SPIRITS & MADE TO RECITE HIS E>NE/ & WEPT-OV] SONNETS TO A ROOM ( JE]+ PHILI/9ES4 ,IT DIDN'T S\ND ?AT BAD1 IF HE WAS HONE/4 ,HE'D HAD ,FRIDAY NI<TS LIKE ?AT1 )\T EV5 ! B5EFIT ( BE+ PLI$ ) DR9K4 ,N[ ?AT HE CAME TO ?9K AB\T IT1 HE'D HAD 5TIRE YE>S LIKE ?AT4 ,! /RET* JU/ AFT] ,LILY TOLD HIM HE %\LD F9D ANO!R BILLET1 :5 HE'D LIV$ 9 A H\SE BROK5 9TO FLATS ALONG ,VICTORIA ,ROAD1 HAD BE5 LIKE ,TAM ,O' ,%ANT] PLAY+ ON A LOOP = MON?S4 ,>RIV+ HOME AT #c4AM )\T A KEY1 DEM&+ AS A PUBLI%$ POET ?AT HE BE LET 91 !N PLAY+ ,DYLAN ,?OMAS READ+ ,UND] ,MILKWOOD AT TOP VOLUME ON HIS ,DANSETTE UNTIL ALL ! O!R RESID5TS W]E ?REAT5+ TO KILL HIM4 ,:AT HAD ?AT BE5 ALL AB\T8 ,CREEP+ D[N/AIRS TO ! COMMUNAL KIT*5 ONE NI<T & DEV\R+ F\R :OLE *ICK5 D9N]S ?AT ! SURLY & ABUSIVE TATTOO$ C\PLE 9 ! FLAT ABOVE HAD MADE = ! NEXT DAY1 !N WAK+ UP ANO!R ( ! BUILD+'S T5ANTS SO ?AT HE C\LD TELL !M4 0,AH HA HA6 ,I'VE ATE ! BA/>DS' D9N]60 ,LOOK+ BACK1 ,B5 REALIZ$ HE WAS LUCKY TO HAVE COME ?R\< ?OSE DIRE DAYS UNLYN*$1 & NEV] M9D UNSCA!D4 

,HE SIPP$ HIS BITT] &1 TAK+ ADVANTAGE ( ! SUNLI<T FALL+ ?R\< ! W9D[ ?AT HE SAT B5EA?1 REMOV$ ,A ,NOR?AMPTON%IRE ,G>L& FROM HIS SAT*EL & BEGAN TO READ4 ,! FIR/ PIECE HIS EYES FELL ON WAS 0,! ,ANGL]'S ,SONG01 A WORK BY ,WILLIAM ,BASSE1 SEV5TE5?-C5TURY PA/ORAL POET ) DISPUT$ AL?\< LIKELY ORIG9S H]E 9 ! T[N4 

,AS 9W>D LOVE BRE$S \TW>D TALK1 

,! H\ND SOME PRAISE1 & SOME ! HAWK1 

,SOME1 BETT] PLEAS$ ) PRIVATE SPORT1 

,USE T5NIS1 SOME A MI/RESS C\RT3 

,BUT !SE DELI<TS ,I NEI!R WI%1 

,NOR 5VY1 :ILE ,I FREELY FI%4 

,B5 LIK$ ! POEM1 ?\< HE'D NEV] REALLY DONE MU* FI%+ S9CE HIS FIR/ Y\?FUL ATTEMPTS1 :I* HAD 9VOLV$ ! ACCID5TAL HOOK+ ( ANO!R *ILD DUR+ ! BACK-SW+ :5 HE'D CA/ (F4 ,HE RECALL$ ! BLOOD1 ! SCREAMS1 & WOR/ ( ALL HIS TOTAL 9ABILITY TO KEEP FROM GIGGL+ 9APPROPRIATELY ) %AME DUR+ ! SUBSEQU5T FIR/ AID4 ,?AT HAD BE5 IT = ,B5$ICT & FI%+1 PRETTY MU*1 ?\< HE APPROV$ ( IT AS AN IDEA4 ,ALONG ) FAUNS & %EPH]DESSES IT WAS P>T ( HIS ,>CADIAN MY?OLOGY1 ! ANGL] DR[S+ BY ! /REAM1 ! RIV]9E CRAWL ( ! AFT]NOON1 BUT LIKE ! %EPH]DESSES IT WAS SOME?+ HE'D HAD LITTLE PRACTICAL EXP]I5CE (4 

,ON REFLECTION1 ?AT WAS PROBABLY :Y ,B5 HAD LET 0,ATLANTIS0 GO UNF9I%$ ALL ?OSE YE>S AGO1 ! S5SE ?AT IT WAS 9AU!NTIC1 ?AT HE HAD BE5 B>K+ UP ! WRONG TREE4 ,:5 HE'D />T$ IT1 HE'D BE5 A S*OOLBOY FROM A D>K H\SE D[N 9 ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 DEPLOR+ ALL ! GRIMY FACTORY Y>DS ! WAY ?AT HE ?\<T ,JOHN ,CL>E W\LD HAVE DONE2 LAM5T+ ! BUCOLIC IDYLL ?AT1 9 HIS IMAG9ATION1 ! CONTEMPOR>Y MEAN /REETS ( ! ,BOR\<S HAD DISPLAC$4 ,ONLY :5 ?OSE SLATE RO(TOPS & TREE-PUNCTUR$ *IMNEY BREA/S HAD BE5 !MSELVES REMOV$ HAD COME BELAT$ RECOGNITION ?AT ! N>R[ LANES W]E ! 5DANG]$ HABITAT HE %\LD HAVE BE5 COMMEMORAT+4 ,BOTTLE-CAPS1 NOT BLUEBELLS4 ,HE'D ?R[N \T HIS C5TRAL METAPHOR1 ! DRON+1 DR[N+ H$G][S ( A CONT95T ?AT HE'D REPORT$ LO/ BUT 9 ALL TRU? HAD NEV] REALLY [N$1 & WRITT5 0,CLE>ANCE ,>EA0 9/EAD4 ,AFT] ! NEI<BORHOOD AS ,B5$ICT HAD KN[N IT WAS NO MORE1 AT LA/ HE'D F\ND A VOICE ?AT HAD BE5 G5U9E & ( ! ,BOR\<S4 ,LOOK+ BACK1 HE ?\<T ?AT LAT] POEM HAD BE5 MORE AB\T ! BULLDOZ$ FLATS ( HIS [N DISILLUSION ?AN ! DEMOLITION SITE HIS DI/RICT HAD BECOME1 AL?\< P]HAPS ! TWO W]E ULTIMATELY ! SAME ?+4 

,HE LIT A CIG>ETTE1 NOT+ ?AT ?IS LEFT SIX /ILL RATTL+ LOOSE 9 ! DEPLET$ PACK1 & FLIPP$ ON ?R\< ! ALPHABETICALLY >RANG$ COMP5DIUM1 SKIPP+ PA/ ,CL>E ?IS TIME TO LI<T ON ! 9>GUABLY AU!NTIC ,BOR\<S VOICE ( ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE4 ,?\< ! PIECE WAS CALL$ 0,*RI/'S ,MESSAGE0 & BAS$ ON A PASSAGE FROM ! ,BOOK ( ,LUKE IT WAS ESS5TIALLY ! TEXT ( ,DODDRIDGE'S MO/ CELEBRAT$ HYMN3 0,H>K ! GLAD S\ND6 ,! ,SAVIOR COMES6_/ ,! ,SAVIOR PROMIS$ LONG60 ,B5$ICT LIK$ ! EXCLAMATION M>KS1 :I* SEEM$ TO C\* ! SECOND COM+ AS A GRAVEL-?ROAT$ TRAIL] = A MOVIE SEQUEL4 ,9 HIS HE>T1 ,B5 C\LDN'T SAY ?AT HE WAS CONFID5T CONC]N+ ,*RI/IANITY 444 ! TON-UP ACCID5T ?AT TOOK HIS SI/] BACK :5 HE'D BE5 T5 PUT PAID TO ?AT 444 BUT HE C\LD /ILL HE> & RESPECT ! /RONG ,BOR\<S 9FLECTION 9 ,DODDRIDGE'S V]SES1 HIS CONC]N = ! IMPOV]I%$ & WRET*$ NO D\BT %>P5$ BY HIS TIME AT ,CA/LE ,HILL4 0,HE COMES ! BROK5 HE>T TO B9D1 ,! BLE$+ S\L TO CURE1_/ ,& ) ! TREASURES ( HIS GRACE ,T' 5RI* ! HUMBLE POOR40 

,HE'D DR9K TO ?AT4 ,LIFT+ HIS GLASS HE NOTIC$ ?AT ITS EBB+ TIDE-L9E FOAM WAS AT HALF-MA/4 ,JU/ F\R SIPS LEFT4 ,OH WELL4 ,?AT WAS 5\<4 ,HE'D MAKE IT LA/4 ,HE W\LDN'T HAVE ANO!R ONE 9 H]E1 DESPITE ! SEV5TE5-ODD P\NDS HE /ILL HAD LEFT4 ,HE ?UMB$ HIS WAY ON ?R\< ! BOOK UNTIL HE REA*$ ! ,FANES ( ,APE?ORPE3 ,MILDMAY ,FANE1 ! SECOND ,E>L ( ,WE/MORL&1 & HIS DESC5DANT ,JULIAN4 ,HE'D ONLY REALLY SETTL$ ON ! PAIR ?R\< BE+ TAK5 ) ! NAMES ',MILDMAY' & ',APE?ORPE'1 BUT SOON F\ND HIMSELF IMM]S$ 9 ,JULIAN'S DESCRIPTION ( ! FAMILY PILE1 AS ADMIR$ BY ,NOR?AMPTON FAN ,JOHN ,BETJEMAN4 0,! MOSS-GRAY MANSION ( MY FA!R /&S_/ ,P>K'D 9 AN ,5GLI% PA/URAGE AS FAIR_/ ,AS ANY ?AT ! GRASS-GRE5 ISLE CAN %[4_/ ,ABOVE IT RISE DEEP-WOOD$ LAWNS2 BEL[_/ ,A BROOK RUNS RIOT ?RO' ! PLEASANT L&S 4440 ,! BROOK W5T BABBL+ ON AS HE SIPP$ DRY HIS P9T & B\<T ANO!R )\T ?9K+4 

,SUDD5LY IT WAS T5 M9UTES AFT] ?REE & HE WAS HALF A MILE AWAY1 EM]G+ \T ( ,LUTT]WOR? ,ROAD ONTO ,BILL+ ,ROAD1 JU/ D[N FROM :AT HAD ONCE BE5 ! ,BOY'S ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL4 ,:AT WAS HE DO+ H]E8 ,HE HAD ! VAGUE/ MEMORY ( /&+ 9 ! TOILETS AT ! ,CR[N @& ,CU%ION1 ( A <O/LY MOM5T />+ AT HIS [N FACE 9 ! MIRROR BOLT$ UP ABOVE ! WA%BAS91 BUT = ! LIFE ( HIM C\LD NOT REMEMB] LEAV+ ! PUB PREMISES1 MU* LESS ! FAIRI% WALK HE'D EVID5TLY TAK5 D[N H]E FROM ! ,WELL+BOR\< ,ROAD4 ,P]HAPS HE'D WANT$ TO HEAD BACK TO ! T[N C5T] BUT HAD *OS5 ?IS ADMITT$LY MORE SC5IC R\TE8 ,*OS5 WAS PROBABLY TOO /RONG A WORD4 ,B5'S PA? ?R\< LIFE WAS GOV]N$ NOT SO MU* BY *OICE AS BY ! P[]FUL UND]T[ ( HIS [N :IMSY1 :I* W\LD ON OCCASION WA% HIM UP TO UNEXPECT$ BEA*HEADS LIKE ?IS PRES5T ONE4 

,ACROSS ! /REET & SOME WAY (F UPON HIS LEFT WAS ! R$ BRICK FRONT ( ! =M] GRAMM> S*OOL1 SET BACK FROM ! MA9 ROAD BY FLAT LAWNS & A GRAVEL =EC\RT :]E A NAK$ FLAGPOLE /OOD1 NO 5SIGN %[+ :I* SIDE ! E/ABLI%M5T WAS ON4 ,B5$ICT UND]/OOD ! RETIC5CE4 ,!SE DAYS1 T>GETS W]E :AT S*OOLS AIM$ AT1 NOT :AT !Y ASPIR$ TO BE4 ,/RET*+ AWAY BEH9D ! CALM FACADE & ! ALO( GAZE ( ! TALL :ITE W9D[S !RE W]E CLASSROOMS1 >T ROOMS1 PHYSICS BLOCKS & PLAY+ FIELDS1 A SP9NEY & A SWIMM+ POOL1 ALL TRY+ TO IGNORE ! GALL[S %AD[ ?AT LEAGUE TABLES CA/ ACROSS !M4 ,NOT ?AT !RE WAS ANY CAUSE H]E = IMM$IATE CONC]N4 ,?\< RELEGAT$ FROM A SNOOTY GRAMM> TO A R$-E>$ COMPREH5SIVE 9 ! MIDDLE #a#i#gS1 ! PLACE HAD US$ ITS DW9DL+ AURA & RESIDUAL REPUTATION AS BR& M>K]S 9 ! COMPETITION-FOCUS$ M>KETPLACE ?AT TEA*+ HAD BECOME4 ,9VOK+ ! S*OOL'S PREVI\S ELITI/ /ATUS & ! <O/ ( PO%NESS PA/ W\LD SEEM TO HAVE SUCCE$$1 MAK+ IT A BIG HIT ) ! *OICE-DAZ$ WELL-(F P>5T ( TODAY4 ,APP>5TLY1 FROM :AT ,B5 HE>D1 !Y EV5 MADE A SELL+ PO9T ( ! MONA/IC S+LE-SEX APPROA* TO $UCATION4 ,ANYONE APPLY+ = !IR SON TO BE ACCEPT$ HAD TO FIR/ COMPOSE A MODE/ ESSAY /AT+ :Y1 PRECISELY1 AT ! MO/ PR(\ND IDEOLOGICAL & MORAL LEVEL1 !Y BELIEV$ !IR *ILD W\LD B5EFIT FROM BE+ TUTOR$ 9 AN ATMOSPH]E ( /RICT G5D] AP>!ID4 ,:AT DID !Y EXPECT PEOPLE TO SAY8 ,?AT :AT !Y HOP$ = LITTLE ,GILES WAS ?AT AT BE/ HE'D GR[ 9TO SOMEBODY AWKW>D & UNCOMPREH5D+ 9 ALL HIS RELATION%IPS ) WOM51 :ILE AT WOR/ HE'D 5D UP A GAY S]IAL MURD]]8 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,B5$ICT CROSS$ ! ROAD & TURN$ RI<T1 HEAD+ 9TO T[N1 PUTT+ ! S*OOL BEH9D HIM4 ,HE'D ONCE BE5 A PUPIL !RE & HADN'T LIK$ IT MU*4 ,= ONE ?+1 HAV+ SQU&]$ HIS FIR/ DECADE ON ! PLANET 9 :AT HIS MAM CALL$ 0ACT+ ! GOAT01 HE'D NOT PASS$ HIS ELEV5-PLUS EXAMS ?AT FIR/ GO-R\ND4 ,:5 ALL ! CLEV] KIDS LIKE ,ALMA W5T (F TO !IR GRAMM>S1 ,B5$ICT ATT5D$ ,SP5C] ,S*OOL1 ON ! N[-FE>$ ,SP5C] E/ATE1 ) ALL ! DIVS & BRUIS]S4 ,HE'D BE5 EV]Y BIT AS SM>T AS ,ALMA & ! RE/1 JU/ NOT 9CL9$ TO TAKE ?+S LIKE EXAM9ATIONS S]I\SLY4 ,ONCE HE'D BE5 AT ,SP5C] = A YE> OR TWO1 H[EV]1 HIS 9TELLIG5CE BEGAN TO %9E FROM ! SURR\ND+ DROSS & ONLY !N HAD HE BE5 TRANSF]R$ TO ! GRAMM> S*OOL4 

,H]E HE'D FELT /IGMATIZ$1 EV5 AMONG ! VANI%+LY SMALL M9ORITY ( O!R WORK+-CLASS BOYS1 :O'D AT LEA/ BE5 BRI<T 5\< TO PUT ! TICKS 9 ! RI<T BOXES :5 !Y'D BE5 ELEV54 ,) ! MIDDLE-CLASS MAJORITY1 ESPECIALLY ! TEA*]S1 ,B5 HAD NEV] FELT HE /OOD A *ANCE4 ,! O!R BOYS HAD 9 ! MA9 BE5 NICE 5\<1 ACT+ & TALK+ MU* ! SAME AS HIM1 BUT !Y'D /ILL SNIGG] IF SOMEBODY /UCK !IR H& UP DUR+ CLASS TO ASK ! MA/] IF !Y C\LD GO TO ! LAV & NOT ! TOILET4 ,ON REFLECTION1 ,B5$ICT SUPPOS$1 SU* PREJUDICE AS HE'D EXP]I5C$ HAD BE5 RELATIVELY M9IMAL4 ,AT LEA/ HE'D NOT BE5 BLACK LIKE ,DAVID ,DANIELS 9 ! YE> ABOVE1 A S]5E & GOOD NATUR$ LAD ?AT ,B5 HAD MA9LY KN[N ?R\< ,ALMA1 :O'D %>$ ,DANIELS'S FONDNESS = ,AM]ICAN SCI5CE-FICTION PAP]BACKS & COMICS4 ,B5 RECALL$ ONE MA? TEA*] :O'D ALWAYS S5D ! ONLY NON:ITE AT ! S*OOL 9TO ! QUADRANGLE \TSIDE ! CLASSROOM W9D[1 SO ?AT 9 ! FULL VIEW ( HIS CLASSMATES HE C\LD CLEAN ! BO>D ]AS]S1 P\ND+ !M TOGE!R UNTIL HIS BLACK SK9 WAS PALE ) *ALK DU/4 ,IT WAS %AMEFUL4 

,HE REMEMB]$ H[ UNFAIRLY ! :OLE LE>N+ PROCESS HAD BE5 H&L$ !N1 ) KIDS' LIVES & C>E]S DECID$ BY AN EXAM ?AT !Y'D SAT AT AGE ELEV54 ,M9D Y\1 WASN'T IT JU/ ?IS LA/ YE> ?AT ,TONY ,BLAIR HAD SET \T HIS P]=MANCE T>GETS = ! UND]-FIVES8 ,!RE'D BE E/ABLI%$ FETAL /&>DS SOON1 SO ?AT Y\ C\LD FEEL PRESSURIZ$ & BACKW>DS IF Y\R F+]S HADN'T SEP>AT$ FULLY BY ! ?IRD TRIME/]4 ,ACADEMIC /RESS-RELAT$ PRE-BIR? SUICIDES W\LD BECOME COMMONPLACE1 ! DEPRESS$ EMBRYOS HANG+ !MSELVES ) !IR UMBILICAL CORDS1 F>EWELL NOTES SCRAT*$ ONTO ! PLAC5TA4 

,B5$ICT BECAME AW>E ( RAIL+S PASS+ 9 A /ROBE ON HIS LEFT SIDE TO VANI% AT HIS BACK1 D>K CONIF]S BEYOND !M1 & REMEMB]$ HE WAS WALK+ PA/ ,/4 ,&REW'S ,HOSPITAL4 ,C\LD ?AT HAVE BE5 ! REASON :Y HE'D TAK5 ?IS R\TE HOME1 AS AN IMPULSIVE PILGRIMAGE TO :]E !Y'D KEPT ,JOHN ,CL>E = MORE ?AN TW5TY YE>S8 ,P]HAPS HE'D MUDDILY IMAG9$ ?AT ! ?\<T ( ,CL>E1 HIS H]O1 HAV+ BE5 MORE ( A HOPELESS CIRCUS-TURN ?AN ,B5 HIMSELF1 W\LD SOMEH[ BE UPLIFT+8 

,9/EAD1 ! REV]SE WAS TRUE4 ,AS ) HIS E>LI] 5VY ( PUB-PRISON] ,SIR ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD - :O HAD ALSO BE5 A =M] GRAMM> S*OOL BOY & A =M] 9MATE ( ,/4 ,&REW'S1 N[ HE ?\<T AB\T IT - ,B5$ICT F\ND HIMSELF VISUALIZ+ ! EXT5SIVE 9/ITUTION GR\NDS BEYOND ! RAIL & 5VY+ ,JOHN ,CL>E4 ,ADMITT$LY1 ,/4 ,&REW'S HADN'T BE5 SO LU% BACK 9 ! #a#h#eS :5 IT WAS ,NOR?AMPTON ,G5]AL ,ASYLUM1 BUT IT HAD /ILL BE5 A G5TL] HAV51 9 ALL LIKELIHOOD1 = LO/ & BRUIS$ POETIC S\LS ?AN SOME:]E LIKE1 SAY1 ,T[] ,/REET4 ,:AT ,B5 W\LDN'T GIVE TO TRADE HIS CURR5T CIRCUM/ANCES = ?OSE ( A N9ETE5?-C5TURY MADH\SE4 ,IF SOMEBODY ASK$ :Y Y\ W]5'T SEEK+ WORK1 Y\ C\LD EXPLA9 ?AT Y\ W]E ALREADY EMPLOY$ AS AN >*AIC M5TAL4 ,Y\ C\LD W&] ALL DAY ?R\< ,ELYSIAN MEAD[S1 OR ELSE TAKE A /ROLL D[NT[N TO SIT B5EA? ! PORTICO ( ,ALL ,SA9TS' ,*UR*4 ,) Y\R EXP5SES PAID = BY A LIT]>Y B5EFACTOR1 Y\'D HAVE TIME TO WRITE AS MU* V]SE AS Y\ LIK$1 MU* ( IT ON H[ BADLY Y\ FELT Y\ W]E BE+ TREAT$4 ,& :5 EV5 ! EX]TION ( POETICS PROV$ TOO MU* 7= SURELY TIMES LIKE ?AT AFFLICT$ EV]YONE1 ,B5 ?\<T71 Y\ C\LD AB&ON Y\R EXHAU/+ P]SONALITY & BE SOMEBODY ELSE1 BE ,QUE5 ,VICTORIA'S DAD1 OR ,BYRON4 ,FRANKLY1 IF Y\'D LO/ Y\R M9D1 !RE W]E WORSE PLACES TO GO LOOK+ = IT ?AN B5EA? ! BU%ES AT ,/4 ,&REW'S4 

,CLE>LY1 ,B5 WAS NOT ALONE 9 ?IS OP9ION4 ,9 ! YE>S S9CE ,CL>E'S DAY1 ! ASYLUM'S TITT]+ & WEEP+ DAYROOM HAD BECOME A HALL ( DAMAG$ FAME4 ,MISOGYNI/ & POET ,J4,K4 ,/EPH54 ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD4 ,DU/Y ,SPR+FIELD4 ,LUCIA ,JOYCE1 A *ILD ( ! MORE FAM\S ,JAMES1 :OSE DELICATE PSY*OLOGY HAD FIR/ BECOME APP>5T :5 %E WORK$ AS *IEF ASSI/ANT ON H] FA!R'S UNREADABLE MA/]PIECE1 ,F9NEGANS ,WAKE1 !N TITL$ ,WORK 9 ,PROGRESS4 ,JOYCE'S DAU<T] HAD >RIV$ H]E AT ! PRICEY BUT QUITE JU/LY CELEBRAT$ ,BILL+ ,ROAD RETREAT 9 ! LATE #a#i#dS1 & HAD EVID5TLY LIK$ ! PLACE SO MU* %E'D /AY$ = OV] ?IRTY YE>S UNTIL H] DEA? 9 #a#i#h#b4 ,EV5 MORTALITY HAD NOT S\R$ ,LUCIA ON ,NOR?AMPTON4 ,%E'D REQUE/$ %E BE BURI$ H]E1 AT ,K+/HORPE ,CEMET]Y1 :]E %E WAS CURR5TLY AT RE/ A FEW FEET FROM ! GRAVE/ONE ( A ,MR4 ,F9NEGAN4 ,IT WAS /ILL /RANGE TO ?9K ?AT ,LUCIA ,JOYCE HAD BE5 H]E ALL ! TIME ,B5 WAS A PUPIL AT ! GRAMM> S*OOL NEXT DOOR4 ,HE WOND]$ IDLY IF %E'D EV] MET ) ,DU/Y OR ,SIR ,MALCOLM1 PICTUR+ ABRUPTLY ALL ?REE ON /AGE AS A TRIO1 POSSIBLY = !RAPEUTIC REASONS1 LOOK+ MELAN*OLIC1 BELT+ \T 0,I ,JU/ ,DON'T ,KN[ ,:AT ,TO ,DO ,) ,MYSELF04 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,B5$ICT HAD HE>D ?AT ,SAMUEL ,BECKETT WAS ONE ( ,LUCIA ,JOYCE'S VISITORS1 H]E AT ,/4 ,&REW'S & !N1 LAT]1 AT ! CEMET]Y 9 ,K+/HORPE4 ,P>T ( ,LUCIA'S MADNESS HAD BE5 ! BELIEF ?AT ,BECKETT1 :O'D REPLAC$ H] AS ASSI/ANT ON ! ,WORK 9 ,PROGRESS1 WAS 9 LOVE ) H]4 ,DISA/R\S AS ?IS MISUND]/&+ MU/ HAVE BE5 = ALL CONC]N$1 ! TWO HAD EVID5TLY REMA9$ FRI5DS1 AT LEA/ TO JUDGE FROM ALL ! VISITS4 ,B5'S GOOD *UM ,DAVE ,TURVEY1 CRICKET+ 5?USIA/ COMPANION TO ! LATE ,TOM ,HALL1 HAD 9=M$ ,B5$ICT ( ,BECKETT'S SOLE 5TRY 9 ,WISD5'S ,ALMANAC1 PLAY+ AGA9/ ,NOR?AMPTON AT ! ,C\NTY ,GR\ND4 ,AMONG ! VISIT+ TEAM1 ,BECKETT HAD DI/+UI%$ HIMSELF NOT SO MU* UPON ! PIT* AS 9 HIS *OICE ( 5T]TA9M5T AFT]W>DS4 ,HE'D SP5T ?AT EV5+ 9 A SOLIT>Y TRAWL >\ND ,NOR?AMPTON'S *UR*ES :ILE HIS COLLEAGUES HAD CONT5T$ !MSELVES ) ! O!R ?+S ! T[N WAS FAM\S =1 !SE BE+ PUBS & :ORES4 ,B5$ICT F\ND ?IS CONDUCT ADMIRABLE1 AT LEA/ 9 !ORY1 ?\< HE'D NEV] C>$ = ,BECKETT AS AN AU?OR MU*4 ,ALL ?OSE LONG SIL5CES & HAUNT$ MONOLOGUES4 ,IT WAS TOO MU* LIKE LIFE4 

,HE WAS BY N[ BEYOND ,/4 ,&REW'S1 CROSS+ OV] AT ! TOP ( ,CLIFTONVILLE AS HE CONT9U$ HIS FA/IDI\SLY MEASUR$ /UMBLE1 ONW>D D[N ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD TO T[N4 ,?IS WAS ! R\TE HE'D TAKE EA* WEEKNI<T AS A S*OOLBOY1 HOME TO ,FREES*OOL ,/REET A/RIDE HIS BIKE1 RID+ 9TO ! SUNSET AS IF EV]Y DAY HAD BE5 A FEATURE FILM1 :I*1 V]Y (T5 9 ,B5'S CASE1 IT HAD BE54 ,DUCK ,S\P1 USUALLY1 ) ,B5$ICT AS BO? ,ZEPPO & ,H>PO1 PLAY+ !M1 9NOVATIVELY1 AS TWO SIDES ( ! SAME TR\BL$ P]SONALITY4 ,A DRIFT ( G5]ALLY PLEASANT & ONLY OCCASIONALLY HORRIFY+ RECOLLECTION1 LIKE A FAIRGR\ND RIDE ?R\< ,TOYL& BUT ) HORSE 9TE/9ES DRAP$ AT 9T]VALS1 CONVEY$ HIM ON 9TO ! C5T]4 ,:]E ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD CONCLUD$ AT ! CROSSROADS ) ,*EYNE ,WALK & ,YORK ,ROAD1 NE> ! ,G5]AL ,HOSPITAL1 ,B5 WALTZ$ OV] ! ZEBRA CROSS+ & ALONG ,SP5C] ,P>ADE4 

,B\<S FROM ,/4 ,GILES *UR*Y>D OV]HUNG ! PAVEM5T1 (F-CUT SCRAPS ( LI<T & %AD[ RU/L+ ACROSS ! CRACK$ SLABS 9 A MOBILE /IPPLE4 ,PA/ ! L[ WALL ON ,B5'S RI<T WAS S(T GRASS & H>D M>BLE M>K]S1 PEEL+ B5*ES SCOR$ ) ! 9ITIALS ( A HUNDR$ BRIEF RELATION%IPS & !N ! C>AMEL /ONES ( ! *UR* ITSELF1 PROBABLY ONE ( ?OSE 9SPECT$ ON ,SAM ,BECKETT'S LONE NOCTURNAL T\R4 ,/4 ,GILES WAS OLD1 NOT ANCI5T LIKE ,/4 ,PET]'S OR ! ,HOLY ,SEPUL*]1 BUT OLD 5\<1 & H]E AS LONG AS ANYBODY C\LD REMEMB]4 ,IT WAS CLE>LY WELL-E/ABLI%$ BY ! TIME ?AT ,JOHN ,SPE$ DRAFT$ ! T[N MAP = #a#f#a1 :I* ,B5$ICT [N$ A FACSIMILE $ITION (1 ROLL$ UP SOME:]E BEH9D HIS BOOK%ELVES BACK 9 ,T[] ,/REET4 ,?\< /ATE-(-!->T TE*NICAL DRAW+ 9 ITS DAY1 TO MOD]N EYES ITS SLI<TLY WONKY ISOMORPHIC H\SE-R[S LOOK$ LIKE ! 5DEAVOR ( A TAL5T$ ?\< POSSIBLY AUTI/IC *ILD4 ,! IMAGE ( ,NOR?AMPTON POIS$ !RE AT ! />T ( ! SEV5TE5? C5TURY1 A CRUDELY DRAWN CROSS-SECTION ( A HE>T ) EXTRA V5TRICLES1 WAS NONE!LESS DELI<TFUL4 ,:5 ! MOD]N URBAN L&SCAPE WAS TOO MU* = ,B5$ICT TO BE>1 SAY ONE DAY \T ( EV]Y FIVE1 !N HE'D IMAG9E HE WAS WALK+ ?R\< ! SIMPLE & DEPOPULAT$ FLATL& ( ,SPE$'S DIAGRAM1 ! VANI%$ L&M>KS D>K ) QUILL P5 HAT*-WORK SCRIBBL+ !MSELVES 9TO EXI/5CE ALL >\ND HIM4 ,:ITE /REETS B\ND$ BY 9K CURBS1 DEVOID ( HUMAN COMPLICATION4 

,B5$ICT CONT9U$ D[N 9TO ,/4 ,GILES ,/REET1 PASS+ ! /ILL-OP5 L[] 5D ( ! HALF-DE/ITUTE1 HALF-EMPTY ,CO-OP ,>CADE1 ITS R$UNDANT UPP] REA*ES GAZ+ BLEAKLY ONTO ,AB+TON ,/REET :I* RAN P>ALLEL1 A %ORT WAY UP ! G5TLE SLOPE ( ! T[N'S S\!RN FLANK4 ,SOME DI/ANCE FUR!R ON1 PA/ ,FI% ,/REET'S GAP+ COD'S M\?1 WAS ! ,WIG @& ,P51 ! DIS9FECT$ & REBR&$ %ELL ( :AT HAD ONCE BE5 CALL$ ! NEW ,BLACK ,LION1 AS DI/9CT FROM ! MU* OLD] PUB ( ?AT NAME D[N ON ,CA/LE ,HILL4 ,BACK 9 ! #a#i#bS1 ! ,/4 ,GILES ,/REET ,BLACK ,LION HAD BE5 HAV5 = ! T[N'S BOHEMIANS1 A REPUTATION ?AT ! PLACE HAD SUFF]$ OR 5JOY$ TILL ! LATE ',EI<TIES :5 ! CURR5T R5OVATIONS W]E AFOOT4 ,ANO!R REPUTATION ?AT ! DOVE 5DUR$1 ACCORD+ TO AU?ORITIES 9CLUD+ ,ELLIOT ,O',DONNELL1 WAS AS ONE ( ! MO/ HAUNT$ SPOTS 9 ,5GL&4 ,:5 ,DAVE ,TURVEY HAD BE5 L&LORD H]E1 >\ND ! TIME :5 ,TOM ,HALL1 ,ALMA ,W>R5 & 9DE$ ! GREAT] P>T ( ,PIET DE ,SNAPP'S \TL&I% PORTRAIT GALL]Y HAD BE5 ! ,BLACK ,LION'S CU/OM]S1 !RE HAD BE5 FOOT/EPS ON ! /AIRS & ITEMS MOV$ OR RE>RANG$4 ,!RE HAD BE5 PRES5CES & SC>$ PETS ?R\<\T ,TURVEY'S T5URE1 JU/ AS !RE HAD BE5 ) ALL ! PREVI\S PROPRIETORS4 ,B5 WOND]$ IDLY IF ! APP>ITIONS HAD BE5 MADE TO UND]GO A MAKEOV]1 BE5 !M$ ALONG ) ! SURR\ND+ PUB SO ?AT IF RATTL+ *A9S OR M\RNFUL %RIEKS W]E HE>D ONE ( ! SPECT]S W\LD PUT D[N HIS PL[MAN'S LUN* & REA* 9SIDE HIS JACKET1 MUTT]+ 0,SORRY1 GUYS4 ,?AT'S M9E4 ,HELLO8 ,OH1 HI4 ,YEAH4 ,YEAH1 ,I'M ON ! A/RAL PLANE40 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,UPON ,B5'S RI<T N[1 BROAD IMP]IAL /EPS SWEPT UP T[>DS ! SO>+ CRY/AL PALACE ?AT RESEMBL$ A ,DAN ,D>E CA!DRAL BUT WAS :]E Y\ HAD TO GO TO PAY Y\R C\NCIL TAX4 ,BECAUSE ( ?IS1 ! PLACE W\LD ALWAYS HAVE ! FEEL+ ( A PLACE ( EXECUTION1 LIKE ! OLD ,LABOR ,EX*ANGE 9 ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 NO MATT] H[ REF9$ & /ATELY ITS DESIGN4 ,BILLS & ASSESSM5TS & ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES4 ,PLACES LIKE ?IS W]E FACES ( ! :ET/ONE ?AT GR\ND PEOPLE D[N1 ?AT %AV$ A :OLE DIM5SION (F ( !M4 ,B5$ICT MOV$ ON HURRI$LY1 PA/ ! ADJO9+ ,GUILDHALL :]E HE WASN'T C]TA9 IF ! BUILD+ HAD BE5 LATELY CLEAN$ OR IF ITS /ONES W]E SIMPLY BLEA*$ BY C\NTLESS FLA%GUN FUSILLADES FROM C\NTLESS CIVIC W$D+S4 ,GEOLOGIC /RATA ( CONFETTI1 MATRIMONIAL D&RUFF1 HAD ACCUMULAT$ 9 ! CORN]S ( ITS GR& /ONE /AIRS4 

,?IS WAS ! ?IRD & V]Y POSSIBLY ! F9AL PLACE ?AT ! T[N HALL W\LD F9D ITSELF LOCAT$1 AFT] ! =GOTT5 ,MAYORHOLD & ! 9T]M$I>Y POSITION AT ! FOOT ( ,AB+TON ,/REET4 ,B5 LOOK$ UP1 PA/ ALL ! SA9TS & REG5TS DECORAT+ ! ELABORATE FACADE1 TO :]E ON HIS HI< RIDGE BETWE5 TWO SPIRES /OOD ! T[N'S PATRON SA9T1 ROD 9 ONE H&1 %IELD 9 ! O!R1 W+S FOLD$ BEH9D HIM4 ,B5$ICT HAD NEV] BE5 5TIRELY SURE H[ ! ,>*ANGEL ,MI*AEL HAD BE5 MADE ONE ( ! SA9TS1 :O1 UNLESS ,B5 HAD GOT IT WRONG1 W]E HUMAN BE+S :O'D ASPIR$ TO SA9?OOD ?R\< H>D WORK & PIETY & PULL+ (F SOME TRICKY MIRACLES4 ,W\LDN'T AN >*ANGEL HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE1 :AT ) BE+ QUITE MIRACUL\S ALREADY8 ,ANYWAY1 >*ANGELS \TRANK$ SA9TS 9 ! CELE/IAL HI]>*Y1 AS ANY S*OOL*ILD KNEW4 ,H[ HAD ,NOR?AMPTON MANAG$ TO RECRUIT ONE ( ,GOD'S F\R LIEUT5ANTS AS ITS PATRON SA9T8 ,:AT POSSIBLE 9CITEM5TS C\LD ! T[N HAVE (F]$ TO P]K UP A PO/+ SO MU* L[] D[N ON ! CELE/IAL SCALE ( REIMBURSEM5T8 

,HE W5T ON ACROSS ,WOOD ,HILL & D[N ! NOR? SIDE ( ,ALL ,SA9TS1 :]E ,JOHN ,CL>E ONCE HABITUALLY SAT )9 A RECESS UND]NEA? ! PORTICO1 A ,DELPHIC ,ORACLE ON DAY RELEASE4 ,B5 CROSS$ BE=E ! *UR*1 CONT9U+ D[N ,GOLD ,/REET 9 A SO> ( %OP FRONTS AS IF HE W]E /ILL SIXTE5 & RID+ ON HIS BIKE4 ,D[N AT ! BOTTOM1 :ILE HE WAIT$ AT ! LI<TS TO CROSS ,HORSEM>KET1 HE GLANC$ TO HIS LEFT :]E ,HORSE%OE ,/REET RAN D[N T[>DS ,/4 ,PET]'S ,WAY & :AT HAD PREVI\SLY BE5 ! ,GAS ,BO>D Y>DS4 ,LOCAL MY?OLOGY SUGGE/$ ?AT IT WAS >\ND :]E ! OLD BILLI>D HALL /OOD1 A FEW Y>DS FROM ! CORN] ,B5$ICT N[ OCCUPI$1 ?AT SOME TIME PREVI\S TO ! ,NORMAN CONQUE/ !RE HAD COME A PILGRIM FROM ,GOLGO?A1 FROM ! GR\ND :]E ,*RI/ SUPPOS$LY WAS CRUCIFI$1 (F 9 ,J]USALEM4 ,APP>5TLY ! MONK HAD F\ND AN ANCI5T /ONE CROSS BURI$ AT ! CRUCIFIXION SITE1 :]EON A PASS+ ANGEL HAD 9/RUCT$ HIM TO TAKE ! RELIC 0TO ! C5T] ( HIS L&01 :I* HAD PRESUMABLY BE5 ,5GL&4 ,HALFWAY UP :AT WAS N[ ,HORSE%OE ,/REET1 ! ANGEL HAD TURN$ UP AGA91 CONFIRM+ TO ! TRAVEL] ?AT HE HAD 9DE$ LUCK$ ONTO ! RI<T PLACE4 ,! CROSS HE'D BORN SO F> WAS SET 9TO ! /ONEWORK ( ,/4 ,GREGORY'S ,*UR* :I* HAD BE5 JU/ ACROSS ! ROAD 9 ,SAXON TIMES1 ! MONK'S REMA9S 9T]R$ B5EA? IT1 TO BECOME ITSELF A SITE ( PILGRIMAGE4 ,!Y'D CALL$ IT ! ROOD 9 ! WALL4 ,H]E 9 ?IS GRIMY (F%OOT ( ! ,BOR\<S !RE RESID$ ,5GL&'S MY/IC C5T]1 & IT WASN'T ONLY ,B5$ICT :O ?\<T ?AT4 ,IT WAS ,GOD :O ?\<T ?AT TOO4 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,! LI<TS *ANG$1 ) ! LUM9\S GRE5 MAN N[ SIGNIFY+ IT WAS SAFE = WORK]S 9 ! NUCLE> 9DU/RY TO CROSS4 ,HE W&]$ OV] 9TO ,M>EFAIR1 HEAD+ D[N :AT HAD = ,B5$ICT ALWAYS BE5 ! T[N'S MA9 /REET1 WE/W>D 9 A BEE-L9E = ,/4 ,PET]'S ,*UR*4 ,HE WAS /ILL ?9K+ VAGUELY AB\T ANGELS1 AFT] ! >*ANGEL P]*$ UP ON ! ,GUILDHALL & ! ONE :O'D %[N ! MONK :]E HE %\LD PLANT HIS CROSS 9 ,HORSE%OE ,/REET1 & ,B5 RECALL$ AT LEA/ ONE O!R /ORY ( S]APHIC 9T]V5TION ?AT 9VOLV$ ! ?OR\<F>E ALONG :I* HE WAS WALK+4 ,AT ,/4 ,PET]'S ,*UR*1 JU/ UP AHEAD1 !RE'D BE5 A MIRACLE 9 ! ELEV5? C5TURY :5 ANGELS HAD DIRECT$ A Y\NG PEASANT LAD NAM$ ,IVALDE TO RETRIEVE ! LO/ BONES ( ,/4 ,RAG5]1 CONCEAL$ B5EA? ! FLAG/ONES 9 ! NAVE1 UNE>!D 9 BL9D+ LI<T TO AN ACCOMPANIM5T ( HOLY WAT] SPR9KL$ BY ! HOLY SPIRIT :O HAD MANIFE/$ AS A BIRD4 ,A CRIPPL$ BEGG> WOMAN WITNESS+ ! 9CID5T HAD RIS5 TO H] FEET & WALK$1 OR SO ! /ORY W5T4 ,IT ALL T5D$ TO FO/] ,B5'S DI/9CT IMPRESSION ?AT 9 ! ,D>K ,AGES ONE C\LD B>ELY MOVE = ANGELS TELL+ Y\ TO GO TO ,M>EFAIR4 

,B5$ICT HAD REA*$ ! TOP ( ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 RUNN+ (F ,M>EFAIR ON ! LEFT1 BE=E HE REALIZ$ :AT HE'D DONE4 ,IT HAD BE5 HIS EXCURSION TO ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD1 NO D\BT1 ?AT HAD 9CL9$ HIM TO TAKE HIS OLD CYCLE R\TE FROM S*OOL BACK TO A HOME H]E ?AT HAD BE5 DEMOLI%$ AGES S9CE4 ,BLI!LY PROPELL+ A LEAK-%OT CANOE ALONG HIS ALGAE-SMO!R$ /REAM ( CONSCI\SNESS1 HE'D SOMEH[ MANAG$ TO BLANK \T ! PREVI\S ?IRTY-SEV5 YE>S ( HIS EXI/5CE1 ADULT FEET REV]T+ EF=TLESSLY TO ! TRAILS WORN 9 ! PAVEM5T BY !IR =M]1 SMALL] SELVES4 ,:AT WAS HE LIKE8 ,AH HA HA HA4 ,NO1 S]I\SLY1 :AT WAS HE LIKE8 ,WAS ?IS ! ONSET ( DAMP PANTALOON$ S5ILITY & TRY+ TO RECALL :I* WAS HIS W>D8 ,FRANKLY1 = ALL ?AT IT WAS TAK+ PLACE UPON A SUNLIT AFT]NOON ?IS WAS QUITE FRI<T5+1 LIKE F9D+ ?AT Y\'D SLEEPWALK$ TO Y\R DAD'S GRAVE 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T4 

,HE /OOD !RE />+ AT ! N>R[ LANE1 ,M>EFAIR'S FOOT TRAFFIC BIFURCAT+ TO FL[ R\ND HIM LIKE A /REAM ) ,B5$ICT AS ITS AB&ON$ %OPP+ TROLLEY1 UTT]LY OBLIVI\S TO ALL ! BABBL+ MOVEM5T HE WAS 9 ! MID/ (4 ,FREES*OOL ,/REET WAS1 M]CIFULLY1 B>ELY RECOGNIZABLE4 ,ONLY ! T9Y SPL9T]S ?AT Y\ C\LD ID5TIFY /ILL SNAGG$ UPON ! HE>T4 ,! PAV+ /ONES ?AT HAD GONE UNREPLAC$1 !IR MOSS-FILL$ FRACTURES SUBDIVID+ TO AN A*+LY FAMILI> DELTA4 ,! SURVIV+ L[] REA*ES ( A FACTORY WALL ?AT DRIBBL$ D[N AS F> AS ,GREGORY ,/REET1 F]NS & Y\NG BRAN*ES %OV+ PA/ ! ROTT$ FRAMES ( :AT HAD ONCE BE5 W9D[S1 N[ NOT EV5 HOLES4 ,HE FELT A C]TA9 GRATITUDE = ! /REET'S B5D ?AT BLOCK$ HIS VIEW ( :]E ! ,P]RIT FAMILY ONCE LIV$1 ! COMPANY =EC\RT /RET*+ :]E !Y'D LAU<$ & >GU$ & PE$ 9 ! S9K IF IT WAS COLD \TSIDE1 TOGE!R 9 ?AT S+LE ROOM ) ! FRONT P>LOR US$ 5TIRELY AS A %[CASE = ! FAMILY'S MORE PRES5TABLE POSSESSIONS4 ,?IS1 HE ?\<T1 ?IS WAS ! REAL ,ATLANTIS4 

,TE5AG$ & PRET5TI\S1 HE'D BEMOAN$ ! LOSS ( BYRES & FURR[S ?AT HE'D NEV] KN[N1 ?AT W]E ,JOHN ,CL>E'S TO M\RN4 ,B5$ICT HAD COMPOS$ LAM5TS TO VANI%$ RURAL ,5GL& :ILE IGNOR+ ! FECUND BRICK WILD]NESS HE LIV$ 91 BUT AS ?+S TURN$ \T !RE WAS /ILL GRASS1 !RE W]E /ILL FL[]S & MEAD[S IF Y\ LOOK$ = !M4 ,! ,BOR\<S1 ON ! O!R H&1 A UNIQUE UND]GR[? ( PEOPLE'S LIVES1 Y\ C\LD SE>* = IT ALL Y\ WANT$1 BUT ?AT ONE P>TICUL> 5DANG]$ HABITAT WAS GONE = GOOD4 ,?AT HALF-A-SQU>E-MILE CONT95T HAD SUNK UND] A DELUGE ( BAD SOCIAL POLICY4 ,FIR/ !RE HAD BE5 A M\NT+ ,SANTOR9I RUMBLE ( AW>5ESS ?AT ! ,BOR\<S' L& W\LD BE MORE VALUABLE )\T ITS PEOPLE1 !N CAME BULLDOZ]S 9 A ,MC,ALP9E TIDAL WAVE4 ,A YELL[ FOAM ( H>D HATS SURG$ ACROSS ! NEI<BORHOOD TO BREAK AGA9/ ! %ORES ( ,JIMMY'S ,5D & ,SEMILONG1 ! HUMAN DEBRIS WA%$ UP 9 A SCUM-L9E ( OLD PEOPLE'S FLATS AT ,K+'S ,HEA? & AT ,AB+TON4 ,:5 ! CON/RUCTION TIDE REC$$ !RE'D BE5 ONLY HI<-RISE B>NACLES1 ! HULKS ( SUNK5 BUS9ESSES & ! OCCASIONAL BEA*$ =M] RESID5T1 FLOPP+ & GASP+ !RE 9 SOME RESURFAC$ UND]PASS4 ,B5$ICT1 AN ANT$ILUVIAN CA/AWAY1 BECAME ! DISAPPE>$ WORLD'S ,ANCI5T ,M>9]1 ITS ,I%MAEL & ITS ,PLATO1 CATALOG+ DE$S & CREATURES SO FANTA/IC AS TO BE IMPLAUSIBLE1 9CREAS+LY EV5 TO ,B5 HIMSELF4 ,! BRICK$ UP 5TRANCE TO ! M$IEVAL TUNNEL SY/EM 9 HIS CELL>1 C\LD ?AT TRULY HAVE BE5 !RE8 ,! HORSE ?AT BR\<T HIS DAD HOME EV]Y NI<T :5 ,JEM WAS PASS$ \T AT ! RE9S1 C\LD ?AT HAVE POSSIBLY EXI/$8 ,HAD !RE BE5 REAL DEA?MONG]S & C[S ON PEOPLE'S UP/AIRS L&+S & A FEV] C>T8 

,SOMEBODY N>R[LY AVOID$ BUMP+ 9TO ,B5$ICT1 APOLOGIZ+ EV5 ?\< IT WAS QUITE CLE>LY ,B5'S FAULT1 /OOD !RE />+ 9TO NO:]E & OB/RUCT+ HALF ! /REET4 

0,OOH1 SORRY1 MATE4 ,NOT LOOK+ :]E ,I'M GO+40 

,IT WAS A Y\NG HALF-CA/E GIRL1 :AT !Y CALL$ N[ADAYS MIX$ RACE1 A P9*$ BUT PRETTY ?+ :O LOOK$ TO BE 9 H] MID OR LATE TW5TIES4 ,9T]RUPT+ AS %E WAS ,B5'S DAYDREAM ( A SUBM]G$ ,$5 %E TOOK ON AN ,UND9E GLOSS1 AT LEA/ 9 HIS IMAG9ATION4 ,! FA9T PALLOR ?AT H] SK9 RETA9$ DESPITE H] P>5TAGE SEEM$ A DEEP-WAT] PHOSPHORESC5CE1 HAIR BRU%$ 9TO /RIPES ) TWIGS ( CORAL & ! WET %E5 ON H] PLA/IC COAT ALL ADD+ TO ! SUBM>9E ILLUSION4 ,FRAIL & EXOTIC AS A SEA HORSE1 ,B5 RECA/ H] 9 ! ROLE ( A ,LEMURIAN SULTANESS1 H] E>R+S DUBLOONS SPILL$ FROM F\ND]$ GALLEONS4 ,?AT ?IS ROCK-TANN$ SIR5 %\LD BE SAY+ SORRY TO ! WEA!R$1 UGLY REEF :]E %E'D FET*$ UP ?R\< NO FAULT ( H] [N MADE ,B5$ICT FEEL D\BLY GUILTY1 D\BLY EMB>RASS$4 ,HE REPLI$ ) A HI<1 /RANGL$ LAU<1 TO PUT H] AT H] EASE4 

0,AA1 ?AT'S ALL RI<T1 LOVE4 ,Y\'RE ALL RI<T4 ,AH HA HA HA40 

,H] EYES GREW SLI<TLY WID] & H] PA9T$ LIQUID LIPS1 LIKE TWO SUCK$ PE>-DROPS1 W5T ?R\< SOME SUPPRESS$ CONTORTIONS4 ,%E WAS />+ AT HIM QUIZZICALLY1 A RHYME S*EME & A MET] 9 H] LOOK ?AT ,B5 WAS UNFAMILI> )4 ,:AT DID %E WANT8 ,! FACT ?AT !IR *ANCE MEET+ WAS OCCURR+ ON ! /REET :]E ,B5 WAS BORN1 & :]E HE F\ND HIMSELF ?IS AFT]NOON ?R\< NO MORE ?AN A DRUNK5 ACCID5T1 BEGAN N[ TO SMACK DANG]\SLY ( KISMET4 ,C\LD IT BE 444 AH HA HA HA 444 C\LD IT BE ?AT %E RECOGNIZ$ HIM1 SAW BY SOME MEANS ALL ! POETRY ?AT HE HAD 9 HIM8 ,HAD %E GLIMPS$ HIS WISDOM UND]NEA? ! N]V\SNESS & BE] BREA?8 ,WAS ?IS ! PR$E/9$ MOM5T1 LOIT]+ ACROSS FROM ,M>EFAIR'S IBIS HOTEL1 CAU<T 9 %AFTS ( TIMELESS SUN%9E ) PALE />S ( GR\ND-9 BUBBLEGUM >\ND ! ,DR4 ,M>T5S1 :5 HE WAS TO MEET HIS ,%EBA8 ,T9Y MUSCLES AT ! CORN]S ( H] M\? W]E WORK+ N[ AS %E PREP>$ TO SPEAK1 TO SAY SOME?+1 TO ASK HIM IF HE WAS AN >TI/ OR MUSICIAN ( SOME K9D1 OR EV5 IF HE WAS ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT1 :OM %E'D HE>D SO MU* AB\T4 ,! GLI/5+ ,MAYBELL9E-DR5*$ PETALS F9ALLY UN/UCK !MSELVES1 PEEL+ AP>T4 

0,FANCY A BIT ( BUS9ESS80 

,OH4 

,BELAT$LY1 ,B5 UND]/OOD4 ,!Y W]5'T TWO K9DR$ SPIRITS PULL$ TOGE!R 9EXORABLY BY FATE4 ,%E WAS A PRO/ITUTE & HE WAS A DRUNK IDIOT1 SIMPLE AS ?AT4 ,N[ ?AT HE KNEW H] TRADE HE SAW ! DRAWN LOOK ?AT H] FACE HAD & ! D>K >\ND ! EYES1 ! MISS+ TOO?1 ! TWIT*Y DESP]ATION4 ,HE REVIS$ HIS E/IMATE FROM MID_/LATE TW5TIES D[N TO MID_/LATE TE5S4 ,POOR KID4 ,HE %\LD HAVE KN[N :5 %E FIR/ SPOKE TO HIM1 BUT ,B5 HAD GR[N UP 9 A ,BOR\<S ?AT WAS SOME?+ O!R ?AN ,NOR?AMPTON'S R$ LI<T DI/RICT2 HAD TO CONSCI\SLY REM9D HIMSELF ?AT ?IS WAS ITS MA9 FUNCTION N[4 ,HE'D NEV] US$ A PRO HIMSELF1 HAD NEV] EV5 ?\<T AB\T IT1 NOT ?R\< ANY NOTION ( SUP]IORITY BUT MORE BECAUSE HE'D ALWAYS ?\<T ( /REET GIRLS AS A MIDDLE-CLASS CONC]N1 PR$OM9ANTLY4 ,:Y W\LD A WORK+-CLASS MAN1 O!R ?AN ?R\< 9CAPACITY OR UNREL5T+ LONEL9ESS1 PAY TO HAVE SEX ) A WORK+-CLASS WOMAN ( ! K9D ?AT HE'D GR[N UP AMONG & HAD TO SOME DEGREE !RE=E BE5 DE-]OTICIZ$ T[>DS8 ,B5 ?\<T IT WAS MORE PROBABLY ! ,HU< ,GRANTS ( ?IS WORLD :O TREAT$ ADJECTIVES LIKE 0R\<0 OR 0DIRTY0 AS >\S+ CONCEPTS1 :]EAS HE'D GR[N UP 9 A COMMUNITY ?AT G5]ALLY RES]V$ SU* T]MS = NI<TM>E CLANS LIKE ! ,O',R\RKES OR ,PRESLEYS4 

,HE FELT AWKW>D1 HAV+ NEV] PREVI\SLY EXP]I5C$ ?IS SITUATION1 ) HIS AWKW>DNESS YET FUR!R COMPLICAT$ BY HIS L+]+ DISAPPO9TM5T4 ,= A MOM5T !RE HE'D BE5 UPON ! BR9K ( A ROMANCE1 ( AN EPIPHANY1 AN 9SPIRATION4 ,NO1 HE HADN'T REALLY ?\<T ?AT %E WAS A ,LEMURIAN SULTANESS1 BUT HE'D /ILL 5T]TA9$ ! NOTION ?AT %E MI<T BE SOMEONE S5SITIVE & SYMPA!TIC1 SOMEBODY :O'D GLIMPS$ ! B>D 9 HIM1 HAD SE5 ! VILLANELLES & ?R[AWAY SE/9AS 9 HIS BE>+4 ,BUT 9/EAD1 ! OPPOSITE WAS TRUE4 ,%E'S TAK5 HIM = JU/ ANO!R NE$Y PUNT] :OSE ROMANTIC YE>N+S /RET*$ NO FUR!R ?AN A QUICK ONE (F ! WRI/ 9 A BACK 5TRY4 ,H[ C\LD %E HAVE GOT HIM SO COMPLETELY WRONG8 ,HE FELT HE HAD TO LET H] KN[ H[ BADLY %E'D MISREAD HIM1 H[ ABSURD IT WAS = H] TO HAVE CONSID]$ HIM ( ALL PEOPLE AS A POT5TIAL CLI5T4 ,H[EV]1 S9CE HE /ILL FELT SORRY = ! GIRL & DIDN'T WANT H] ?9K+ HE WAS G5U9ELY (F5D$1 HE ELECT$ TO COMMUNICATE HIS FEEL+S 9 ! MANN] ( AN ,EAL+ COM$Y4 ,HE'D F\ND ?IS WAS ! BE/ APPROA* = ALMO/ ANY DELICATE OR /ICKY SOCIAL CIRCUM/ANCES4 

,B5$ICT CONTORT$ HIS SPONGE-RUBB] FEATURES 9TO AN EXPRESSION ( ,VICTORIAN MORAL %OCK1 LIKE ,MR4 ,PICKWICK />TL$ BY A MUDL>K SELL+ DILDOS1 !N AFFECT$ AN AFFRONT$ %UDD] SO VOCIF]\S ?AT HIS FILL+S RATTL$1 =C+ HIM TO /OP4 ,! GIRL BY ?IS PO9T WAS BEG9N+ TO LOOK SLI<TLY FRI<T5$1 SO ,B5 ?\<T HE'D BETT] UND]L9E ?AT HIS BEHAVIOR WAS 9T5D$ AS COMIC EXAGG]ATION4 ,SWIVEL+ HIS HEAD1 HE GLANC$ AWAY FROM H] TO :]E ! TELEVISION AUDI5CE W\LD BE IF LIFE W]E ACTUALLY ! HIDD5 CAM]A PRANK %[ HE'D OCCASIONALLY SUSPECT$1 & SUPPLI$ HIS [N CANN$ LAU<T]4 

0,AH HA HA HA4 ,NO1 NO1 Y\'RE ALL RI<T1 LOVE1 ?ANKS4 ,NO1 BLESS Y\R HE>T1 Y\'RE ALL RI<T4 ,I'M ALL RI<T4 ,AH HA HA HA40 

,IT SEEM$ ?AT HIS P]=MANCE HAD AT LEA/ REMOV$ H] C]TA9TY ?AT ,B5 WAS A POT5TIAL CU/OM]4 ,! GIRL WAS />+ AT HIM N[ AS IF %E G5U9ELY DIDN'T HAVE ! FIR/ IDEA :AT ,B5$ICT MI<T BE4 ,APP>5TLY DISORI5T$1 =EHEAD CORRUGAT$ 9TO AN UNCOMPREH5D+ FR[N1 %E TRI$ AGA9 TO GET HIS MEASURE4 

0,>E Y\ SURE80 

,:AT W\LD IT TAKE BE=E ?IS WOMAN GOT ! MESSAGE8 ,WAS HE GO+ TO HAVE A DO A FULL R\T9E ) PLANK1 PA/E-BUCKET & BANANA SK9 TO MAKE H] UND]/& ?AT HE WAS TOO POETIC TO WANT SEX BEH9D A RUBBI% SKIP8 ,ONE ?+ WAS C]TA93 SUBTLETY & UND]/ATEM5T HADN'T WORK$4 ,HE'D HAVE TO SPELL IT \T = H] ) BROAD] GE/URES4 

,HE TIPP$ BACK HIS HEAD 9 A D]ISIVE GUFFAW ?AT HE FANCI$ WAS 9 ! ,JOHN ,FAL/AFF MODE1 OR W\LD HAVE BE5 IF ,FAL/AFF HAD BE5 BE/ KN[N AS A GANGLY T5OR4 

0,AH HA HA HA4 ,NO1 LOVE1 ,I'M ALL RI<T1 TA4 ,Y\'RE ALL RI<T4 ,I'LL HAVE Y\ KN[ ?AT ,I'M A PUBLI%$ POET4 ,AH HA HA40 

,?AT DID ! TRICK4 ,FROM ! EXPRESSION ON H] FACE1 ! GIRL NO LONG] H>BOR$ ANY D\BTS CONC]N+ :AT ,B5 ,P]RIT WAS4 ,WE>+ A FIX$ GR9 %E BEGAN TO TAKE H] LEAVE1 KEEP+ H] W>Y EYES UPON HIM AS %E BACK$ AWAY D[N ,M>EFAIR1 CLE>LY SC>$ TO TURN H] BACK ON HIM UNTIL %E WAS SOME DI/ANCE (F1 9 CASE HE P\NC$4 ,%E TOTT]$ (F PA/ ,CROMWELL ,H\SE 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! RAILWAY /ATION1 PAUS+ :5 %E REA*$ ,/4 ,PET]'S ,*UR* TO RISK A GLANCE ACROSS H] %\LD] BACK AT ,B5$ICT4 ,%E EVID5TLY ?\<T HE WAS A PSY*OPA?1 SO HE LET \T A C>EFREE HI<-PIT*$ CACKLE TO ASSURE H] ?AT HE WASN'T1 :]EUPON %E TOOK (F PA/ ! *UR* FRONT1 DISAPPE>+ 9TO ! HOMECOM+ CR[DS ON ,BLACK ,LION ,HILL4 ,HIS MUSE1 HIS M]MAID1 VANI%$ 9 A TAIL-FLIP & A %IMM] ( VIRIDIAN SCALES4 

,FIVE ?+S1 !N4 ,JU/ FIVE ?+S ?AT ,B5 WAS UNSUCCESSFUL )4 ,ESCAPE1 F9D+ A JOB1 EXPLA9+ HIMSELF PROP]LY1 NOT LOOK+ PISS$1 & TALK+ TO A WOMAN IF Y\ DIDN'T C\NT HIS MOM OR ,ALMA4 ,LILY1 %E'D BE5 AN EXCEPTION1 BE5 ! ONE :O'D G5U9ELY SE5 HIS SPIRIT & HIS POETRY4 ,HE'D ALWAYS FELT ?AT HE C\LD TALK TO ,LILY1 AL?\< LOOK+ BACK IT PA9$ HIM TO ADMIT ?AT MO/ ( :AT HE'D TALK$ WAS DRUNK5 RUBBI%4 ,?AT WAS L>GELY :AT HAD F9I%$ IT BETWE5 ! TWO ( !M4 ,IT WAS ! DR9K &1 IF HE W]E 5TIRELY HONE/1 IT WAS ,B5'S 9SI/5CE ?AT ! RULES 9 HIS RELATION%IP ) ,LILY BE ?OSE ?AT HAD SUIT$ HIS [N P>5TS1 ,JEM & ,EILE51 ?IRTY YE>S BE=E1 P>TICUL>LY ?OSE ?AT SUIT$ ,JEM4 ,BACK !N ,B5 HADN'T REALLY TAK5 9 ?AT EV]Y?+ WAS *ANG+1 NOT JU/ /REETS & NEI<BORHOODS BUT PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES2 :AT PEOPLE W\LD PUT UP )4 ,HE'D ?\<T ?AT AT LEA/ 9 HIS [N HOME HE C\LD PRES]VE A FRAGM5T ( ! LIFE HE'D KN[N RI<T H]E 9 ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 :]E WIVES W\LD TOL]ATE CON/ANT 9EBRIATION 9 !IR HUSB&S & CONSID] !MSELVES BLESS$ IF !Y'D A MAN :O DIDN'T HIT !M4 ,HE'D PRET5D$ ?AT ! WORLD WAS /ILL ?AT WAY1 & HE'D BE5 /UNN$ RI<T TO ! CORE ( HIM :5 ,LILY TOOK ! KIDS & DEMON/RAT$ ?AT IT WASN'T4 

,B5'S UNCOM=TABLE MEET+ ) ! PRO/ITUTE HAD FAD$ N[ TO A FA9T1 WI/FUL PANG4 ,HIS GAZE HAD DRIFT$ BACK TO ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 HIS BOYHOOD P>ADISE DR[N+ 9 ITS [N FUTURE ) ! WAT] LEVEL RIS+ DAY BY DAY1 MOM5T BY MOM5T4 ,HE WI%$ HE C\LD DOVE 9TO ! CLADD+ ( ! MO/LY VACANT (FICE BUILD+S & AP>TM5TS1 R$ BRICK DROPLETS SPLA%+ UP FROM :]E HE'D PI]C$ ! SURFACE4 ,HE'D DOG-PADDLE D[N ?R\< =TY YE>S ON ONE LUNGFUL ( AIR4 ,HE'D SWIM ?R\< HIS DAD'S WOODY>D GA!R+ UP :ATEV] S\V5IRS HE C\LD RETRIEVE TO TAKE BACK TO ! SURFACE & ! PRES5T DAY4 ,HE'D TAP UPON ! W9D[ ( ! LIV+ ROOM & TELL HIS SI/] 0,DON'T GO \T TONI<T04 ,AT LA/ HE'D EM]GE GASP+1 UP FROM ! M5ISCUS ( CONTEMPOR>Y ,M>EFAIR1 HIS >MS FULL ( SUNK5 TREASURE1 />TL+ ! PASS]SBY & %AK+ BEADS ( HI/ORY FROM HIS SOPP+ HAIR4 

,HE WAS BEG9N+ TO FEEL DI/ANTLY 9 NE$ ( FOOD4 ,HE ?\<T HE MI<T WALK BACK UP ,HORSEM>KET TO HOME1 P]HAPS VISIT ! *IPPY 9 ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET4 ,HE SUDD5LY REMEMB]$ HE HAD SLI<TLY MORE ?AN FIFTE5 P\NDS LEFT1 ,D>W9 & ,ELIZ? ,FRY 5TANGL$ 9 A CRUMPL$ BALL ( PASSION SOME:]E 9 ! DEEP RECESSES ( HIS TR\S]S4 ,?AT W\LD BE 5\< TO GET SOME FI% & *IPS & ALSO GO \T = A DR9K TONI<T IF HE %\LD WANT TO1 ?\< HE DIDN'T ?9K HE W\LD4 ,! BE/ ?+ HE C\LD DO W\LD BE TO GET SOME FOOD & !N GO BACK TO ,T[] ,/REET = AN 9EXP5SIVE EV5+ 94 ,?AT WAY HE'D /ILL HAVE NE>LY ALL ! MONEY LEFT TOMORR[ & HE W\LDN'T HAVE TO GO ?R\< ! HUMILIAT+ PANTOMIME ( TAK+ *>ITY FROM ,EILE5 9 ! MORN+4 ,?AT WAS SETTL$1 !N4 ,?AT'S :AT HE'D DO4 ,PREP>+ TO VACATE ! SPOT & HEAD (F UP ,HORSEM>KET1 ,B5$ICT ATTEMPT$ TO RE9 9 HIS W&]+ ATT5TION1 :I* WAS (F SOME:]E AT PLAY AMONG ! GUTT$ RU9S ( ,GREGORY ,/REET4 ,/R&$ D&ELIONS W]E P]*$ ON ! REMA9S ( L$GES TW5TY-FIVE FEET UP1 HESITANT SUICIDES ) GOLD5 HAIR LIKE ,*ATT]TON 444 

,IT WAS ELEV5 ?IRTY-FIVE4 ,HE WAS EM]G+ FROM ! ,BIRD ,9 ,H& ON ,REG5T'S ,SQU>E 9TO ! GRUNT+1 %\T+ D>K ( ,FRIDAY NI<T4 ,>T]IAL SPILLS ( TRAFFIC LI<T REFLECT$ FROM ! PAV+ SLABS ( ,%EEP ,/REET1 :]E !RE HAD APP>5TLY AT SOME PO9T 9 ! EV5+ BE5 A %[] ( RA94 

,GIRLS 9 %ORT SKIRTS 9 GANGS ( F\R OR FIVE LEAN$ ON EA* O!R = SUPPORT1 A MULTITUDE ( #a#e-D5I] LEGS ALL HOLD+ UP ONE /RUCTURE1 TURN+ 9ADV]T5TLY 9TO COMPON5TS ( A S+LE GIANT GIGGL+ 9SECT OR A PIECE ( MOBILE FURNITURE AS BEAUTIFULLY UPHOL/]$ AS IT WAS IMPRACTICAL4 ,BOYS MOV$ LIKE *ESS KNI<TS ) CONCUSSION1 WALTZ+ MICE ) ,T\RETTE'S1 W&]+ CLU/]S ( !M SUDD5LY ]UPT+ 9TO MURD]\S BONHOMIE OR WELL-9T5TION$ BOTTL+S & IT WASN'T EV5 CLOS+ TIME4 ,!RE WAS NO CLOS+ TIME4 ,LIC5S+ H\RS HAD BE5 EXT5D$ TO 9F9ITY BY GOV]NM5T DECREE1 O/5SIBLY TO SOMEH[ CUT D[N ON B+E DR9K+ BUT 9 FACT SO ?AT DISORI5T$ VISIT+ ,AM]ICANS W\LD NOT BE 9CONV5I5C$ BY FUNNY ,5GLI% CU/OMS4 ,DRUNK5 B+ES HADN'T BE5 ]ADICAT$1 OBVI\SLY4 ,!Y'D SIMPLY HAD !IR LUCID 9T]VALS REMOV$4 

,B5 C\LD REMEMB] HAV+ PLAICE & *IPS A FEW H\RS E>LI] & A FEW DIMLY LI<T$ PUB 9T]IOR MOM5TS 9 BETWE5 - HAD HE BE5 TALK+ TO SOMEONE8 - BUT O!RWISE IT WAS AS IF HE HAD BE5 NEWLY BORN ?IS 9/ANT1 SQUATT$ \T ONTO ?IS W9DY /REET1 9TO !SE GUTT]S1 :OLLY IGNORANT ( H[ HE CAME TO BE H]E4 ,AT LEA/ ?IS TIME1 ,B5 OBS]V$ ) GRATITUDE1 HE WASN'T SOBB+ & HE WASN'T NAK$4 ,UND]DRESS$1 P]HAPS1 ) EV5+'S *ILL BEG9N+ N[ TO P]MEATE ! RIOT\S SUNSET ( HIS WAI/COAT1 /RIK+ ?R\< ! 9SULAT+ BE]Y NUMBNESS TO RAISE GOOSE-BUMPS1 BUT AT LEA/ NOT NUDE4 ,AH HA HA HA4 

,A RUBB]-F+]$ FUMBLE 9 HIS POCKET REASSUR$ HIM ?AT ! TREA*]\S :ORE ,ELIZ? ,FRY AT LEA/ ?IS TIME HAD NOT LEFT ,B5$ICT = SOME ILL-MANN]$ PUBLICAN :O'D SIMPLY USE H]1 W\LDN'T LOVE OR NE$ H] ! WAY ,B5 DID4 ,?AT SAID1 F9D+ H] IMM$IATELY RAIS$ ! TEMPT+ POSSIBILITY ( POPP+ BACK 9TO ! PUB TO GET A C>RY-\T1 A FEW CANS1 BUT NO4 ,NO1 HE MU/N'T4 ,GO HOME1 ,B5$ICT4 ,GO HOME1 SON1 IF Y\ KN[ :AT'S GOOD = Y\4 

,HE TURN$ RI<T1 %UFFL+ UP ,%EEP ,/REET TO ! LI<TS :]E IT MET ,REG5T ,SQU>E1 ! UGLY CROSS-HAT*+ ( C>RIAGEWAYS ?AT C5TURIES AGO HAD BE5 ! NOR? GATE ( ! T[N4 ,?IS WAS :]E TRAITORS' SKULLS W]E PLAC$ ON SPIKES LIKE TROLLS ON P5CILS1 AS A DECORATION4 ,?IS WAS :]E ! H]ETICS & WIT*ES HAD BE5 BURN$4 ,!SE DAYS ! JUNCTION AT ! 5D ( ,%EEP ,/REET WAS M>K$ ONLY BY A NI<TCLUB PA9T$ LURID LAV5D] FROM :5 IT HAD BE5 A GO? HANG\T CALL$ ,MACBE?'S A YE> OR TWO AGO1 ATTEMPT+ TO CREATE A GO?IC ATMOSPH]E UPON A CORN] DEEP 9 SEV]$ HEADS & %RIEK+ CRONES ALREADY4 ,COALS TO ,NEWCA/LE1 WOLFBANE TO ,TRANSYLVANIA4 ,B5 LUR*$ OV] ! V>I\S CROSS+S ?AT W]E NE$$ TO CONVEY HIM SAFELY TO ! TOP ( ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 :I* HE PROCE$$ TO DESC5D UN/EADILY4 ,A %ORT WAY FUR!R D[N BLUE LI<TS W]E CIRCL+1 SAPPHIRE FLA%ES BATT]+ LIKE MO?S ON ! SURR\ND+ BUILD+S1 BUT HE WAS TOO DULL$ BY DR9K TO L5D !M ANY GREAT SIGNIFICANCE4 

,HE GLANC$ UP TO ! HI<] REA*ES ( ! C> REPAIR PLACE JU/ ACROSS ! ROAD1 :]E Y\ C\LD SEE ! SOL> LOGO ( ! ,SUNLI<T ,LAUNDRY /ILL RAIS$ 9 RELIEF1 EV5 ?R\< ! PISS-YELL[ SODIUM LI<T ?AT EV]Y?+ WAS BA?+ 94 ,FIX$ 9 ITS PLACE1 IT %ONE D[N HAPPILY UPON A DAY ( #b#d-H\R DR9K+ F9ALLY >RIV$1 :5 IT NE$ NEV] S9K AGA9 BEL[ ! Y>D >M4 ,B5$ICT TURN$ HIS ATT5TION BACK TO ! UNEV5 PAV+ SLABS IMM$IATELY 9 FRONT ( HIM1 & FOCUS$ = ! FIR/ TIME ON ! LONE POLICE C> PULL$ UP ON ! CURB AHEAD1 ! S\RCE ( ALL ! DANC+ DISCO LI<TS4 ,!RE WAS A WRECK RECOV]Y GO+ ON1 ) A SMA%$ VEHICLE ( UNC]TA9 MAKE BE+ W9*$ UP ON ITS SURVIV+ RE> :EELS BY A T[ TRUCK4 ,GRIM M5 9 FLUORESC5T VE/S W]E SWEEP+ %ATT]$ W9DSCRE5 FRAGM5TS FROM ! BUSY ROAD1 ) ! POLICE C> EVID5TLY FLA%+ !RE BEH9D !M TO AL]T ! O!R MOTORI/S TO :AT WAS GO+ ON4 ,A BAFFL+ SPRAY ( R&OM ITEMS SU* AS *ILDR5'S TOYS & G>D5+ GLOVES W]E SPREAD ACROSS ! T>MAC :]E PRESUMABLY !Y HAD BE5 FLUNG FROM A BUR/-OP5 BOOT4 ,PLANT-MI/]S1 %[] CAPS & A S+LE FLIP-FLOP4 ,/&+ BY HIS C> & /ROBE-LIT BY ITS BEACON1 ! ATT5D+ (FIC] WAS />+ D[N MOROSELY AT A MELT$ TIRE-PR9T :]E ! N[-DIS9TEGRAT$ AUTOMOBILE HAD APP>5TLY SW]V$ UP ONTO ! PAVEM5T1 POSSIBLY AVOID+ SOME?+ 9 ITS PA?1 BE=E IT CRA%$ 9TO ! WALL OR LAMPPO/ OR :ATEV] IT HAD BE54 ,AT ,B5$ICT'S APPROA* ! PLUMP Y\NG COPP] LOOK$ UP FROM HIS CONTEMPLATION ( ! BURN$-9 TREAD M>K1 & TO ,B5'S SURPRISE HE REALIZ$ ?AT HE KNEW HIM FROM >\ND ! NEI<BORHOOD4 

0,HELLO1 ,B54 ,LOOK AT ALL ?IS FUCK+ MESS40 ,! (FIC]1 P9K *OIRBOY *EEKS N[ R$ ) AGGRAVATION1 GE/UR$ TO ! PULV]IZ$ GLASS & ASSORT$ ODDM5TS ?AT W]E C>PET+ ! /REET4 0,Y\ %\LD HAVE SE5 IT HALF AN H\R AGO1 BE=E ! M$ICS PULL$ ! POOR CUNT (F HIS /E]+ COLUMN4 ,WORSE ?+ IS1 IT'S NOT EV5 SUPPOS$ TO BE MY %IFT TONI<T40 

,B5$ICT SQU9T$ AT ! WORK]S SWEEP+ UP ! DEBRIS4 ,!RE WAS NO BLOOD HE C\LD SEE1 BUT !N P]HAPS ! GORE WAS ALL 9SIDE ! MANGL$ WRECK4 

0,I SEE4 ,A FATAL ACCID5T4 ,ASK NOT = :OM ! BELL TOLLS1 EH8 ,AH HA HA HA4 ,JOY RID]1 WAS IT80 ,BUGG]4 ,HE'D NOT MEANT TO LAU<1 NOT AT A TRAGIC DEA?1 NOR HAD HE MEANT TO ASK = :OM ! BELL TOLL$ RI<T AFT] DELIV]+ ,DONNE'S ADMONITION NOT TO4 ,LUCKILY1 ! COPP]'S M9D APPE>$ TO BE ON O!R ?+S1 OR ELSE HE WAS ACCU/OM$ TO & TOL]ANT ( ,B5'S ECC5TRIC MANN]4 ,9 A WAY HE'D HAVE TO BE1 ) HIS [N %]BET LEMON POLICE-ISSUE WAI/COAT MORE FLAMBOYANT ?AN ,B5'S [N4 

0,JOY RID]8 ,NO4 ,NO1 IT WAS JU/ SOME BLOKE 9 HIS LATE ?IRTIES4 ,HE WAS 9 HIS [N C>1 F> AS WE C\LD SEE4 ,A FAMILY C>40 ,HE NODD$ GLUMLY TO ! BRI<T1 TRANS-G5]ATIONAL LITT]1 /REWN ACROSS ! ROAD FROM ! SPRUNG-OP5 TRUNK4 

0,HE DIDN'T SMELL LIKE HE'D BE5 DR9K+ :5 !Y CUT HIM FREE4 ,HE MU/ HAVE SW]V$ TO MISS SOME?+ & GONE UP ON ! PA?40 ,! Y\NG POLICEMAN'S D[NCA/ AIR BRIEFLY APPE>$ TO LIFT A LITTLE4 0,LEA/ ,I WASN'T S5T TO TELL HIS MISSUS4 ,HONE/LY1 ,I FUCK+ HATE ?AT4 ,ALL ! SCREAM+ & ! BLUBB]+ & ?AT'S JU/ ME4 ,I'LL TELL Y\1 ! LA/ TIME ,I W5T TO ONE ( !M ,I NE>LY - HANG ON - 0 

,HE WAS 9T]RUPT$ BY A BUR/ ( /ATIC FROM HIS RADIO1 :I* HE UNCLIPP$ FROM HIS COAT TO ANSW]4 

0,YEAH8 ,YEAH1 ,I'M /ILL D[N ! TOP ( ,GRAFTON ,/REET4 ,!Y'RE F9I%+ ! CLEANUP N[1 SO ,I'LL BE DONE H]E 9 A M9UTE4 ,:Y80 ,!RE WAS A PAUSE DUR+ :I* ! *]UBIC (FIC] />$ 9TO SPACE EXPRESSIONLESSLY1 !N HE SAID 0,ALL RI<T4 ,I'LL BE !RE SOON AS ,I GET F9I%$ ) ! CRA%4 ,YEAH4 ,YEAH1 OKAY40 

,HE REATTA*$ HIS RADIO RECEIV]1 LOOK$ AT ,B5$ICT & PULL$ A FACE ?AT SIGNIFI$ RESIGN$ CONTEMPT = HIS [N WOEFUL LUCK4 

0,!RE'S BE5 ANO!R T>T DONE OV] D[N ON ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,SOMEBODY LIV+ D[N !RE'S TOOK H] 91 BUT !Y WANT ME TO GET A /ATEM5T FROM H] BE=E %E GETS TAK5 UP ! HOSPITAL4 ,:Y IS IT ALWAYS ME ?IS HAPP5S TO80 

,B5$ICT WAS GO+ TO ASK IF HE MEANT GETT+ RAP$ & BEAT5 UP1 BUT !N ?\<T BETT] ( IT4 ,LEAV+ ! EMBITT]$ CON/ABLE TO SUP]VISE ! TAIL-5D ( HIS CLEAN-UP DUTIES1 ,B5 CONT9U$ D[NHILL1 CURI\SLY SOB]$ BY ! :OLE (FH& EX*ANGE4 ,HE TURN$ ALONG ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET1 ?9K+ AB\T ! PRO/ITUTE :O'D BE5 ATTACK$1 AB\T ! MAN :O'D BE5 ALIVE & DRIV+ HOME TO SEE HIS FAMILY AN H\R AGO ) NO SUSPICION ( HIS IMM95T MORTALITY4 ,?AT WAS ! :OLE APPALL+ CRUX ( ?+S1 ,B5 ?\<T1 ?AT DEA? OR HORROR MI<T BE WAIT+ JU/ AHEAD & NOBODY HAD ANY WAY ( KN[+ UNTIL ?OSE LA/1 DREADFUL SECONDS4 ,HE BEGAN TO ?9K AB\T HIS SI/] ,ALISON1 ! MOTORCYCLE ACCID5T1 BUT ?AT WAS PA9FUL & SO ,B5 /E]$ HIS ATT5TIONS ELSE:]E4 ,DO+ SO1 HE 9ADV]T5TLY >RIV$ AT A BLURR$ MEMORY ( ! Y\NG WORK+ GIRL :O HAD APPROA*$ ,B5 E>LI]1 ! ONE :O'D HAD H] HAIR 9 R[S4 ,HE KNEW IT WASN'T H] SPECIFICALLY :O'D BE5 ! LATE/ GIRL TO BE ASSAULT$ AT ! FOOT ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 BUT HE ALSO KNEW ?AT 9 A S5SE IT MI<T AS WELL HAVE BE54 ,IT W\LD BE ONE JU/ LIKE H]4 

,H[ C\LD ?IS HAVE HAPP5$ TO ! ,BOR\<S8 ,H[ C\LD IT HAVE TURN$ 9TO A PLACE :]E SOMEBODY :O C\LD HAVE GR[N UP BEAUTIFUL1 :O C\LD HAVE GR[N TO BE A POET'S MUSE1 IS RAP$ & HALF-KILL$ EV]Y O!R WEEK8 ,! SPATE ( SEXUAL ABDUCTIONS & ATTACKS OV] A S+LE WEEK5D DUR+ ?AT LA/ ,AUGU/1 ! MAJORITY ( !M HAD HAPP5$ 9 ?IS DI/RICT4 ,AT ! TIME !Y'D ?\<T A S+LE 'RAPE GANG' WAS RESPONSIBLE = ALL ! CRIMES1 BUT OM9\SLY IT HAD TURN$ \T ?AT AT LEA/ ONE S]I\S ASSAULT WAS :OLLY UNCONNECT$ TO ! O!RS4 ,B5$ICT SUPPOS$ ?AT :5 EV5TS LIKE ?AT OCCURR$ ) ! AL>M+ FREQU5CY ?AT !Y APPE>$ TO DO R\ND H]E1 IT W\LD BE NATURAL TO ASSUME CONC]T$ ACTION BY SOME GANG OR SOME CONSPIRACY4 ,AL?\< A M5AC+ IDEA IT WAS MORE COM=T+ ?AN ! ALT]NATIVE1 :I* WAS ?AT SU* ?+S HAPP5$ R&OMLY & HAPP5$ (T54 

,/ILL DISCONSOLATELY DWELL+ ON ! PROBABLY DOOM$ GIRL HE'D MET 9 ,M>EFAIR & ! FATAL ACCID5T :OSE AFT]MA? HE'D WITNESS$ JU/ FIVE M9UTES BACK1 ,B5 TURN$ RI<T 9TO ,H]B]T ,/REET1 DES]T$ ON ! SLOPE ( MIDNI<T4 ,SILH\ETT$ ON ! ,LUCOZADE-TON$ D>KNESS ( ! SKY BEH9D !M1 ,CL>EMONT ,C\RT & ,BEAUMONT ,C\RT W]E BLACK AS ,/ANLEY ,KUBRICK MONOLI?S1 BEAM$ D[N BY AN UNFA?OMABLE ALI5 9TELLIG5CE TO SP>K IDEAS AMONG ! %AGGY1 L\SE-B\ND PRIMITIVES4 ,IDEAS LIKE 0,JUMP04 ,Y\ C\LDN'T EV5 SEE :AT LITTLE !RE WAS LEFT ( ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL FROM ?IS SPECIFIC VIEWPO9T H[ Y\ ONCE C\LD1 NOT = ALL ! ,N,E,W,L,I,F,E /&+ 9 ! WAY4 ,B5 %AMBL$ D[N AS F> AS ,SIMONS ,WALK B5EA? A NI<T MADE TANG]9E & />LESS4 ,TURN+ LEFT ALONG ! /RIP ( TURF-$G$ PAV+ ?AT W\LD LEAD HIM TO HIS MAM'S H\SE HE FELT IRRITAT$1 AS HE ALWAYS DID1 BY ,SIMONS ,WALK & ITS ABS5T APO/ROPHE4 ,UNLESS !RE WAS SOME B5EFACTOR TO ! >EA NAM$ ,SIMONS ?AT ,B5 HADN'T HE>D (1 HE ASSUM$ ! /REET'S NAME WAS A REF]5CE TO *UR*-&-CA/LE-BUILD+ ,NORMAN KNI<T ,SIMON DE ,S5LIS1 9 :I* CASE !RE %\LD BE A POSSESSIVE 444 OH1 :AT WAS ! PO9T8 ,NOBODY C>$4 ,NO?+ MEANT ANY?+ ?AT C\LDN'T BE TURN$ 9/ANTLY 9TO ITS OPPOSITE BY ANY COMPET5T SP9-DOCTOR OR SPOON-B5D]4 ,HI/ORY & LANGUAGE HAD BECOME SO FLEXIBLE1 WR5*$ BACK & =? TO SUIT EA* NEW AG5DA1 ?AT IT SEEM$ AS IF !Y MI<T JU/ SIMPLY SNAP 9 HALF & LEAVE US FL\ND]+ 9 A SEA ( MAD ,CREATIONI/ REVISIONS & GRE5GROC]S' PUNCTUATION4 

,/AGG]+ ALONG PA/ ,AL?ORPE ,/REET HE C\LD HE> SCREAMS ( LAU<T] & DISCORDANT WEIRDO MUSIC MADE /ILL MORE DI/ORT$ BY ITS VOLUME1 ISSU+ FROM SLAPHEAD ,K5NY ,SOME?+'S DRUG D5 D[N AT ! WALK'S 5D4 ,(F 9 ! O*] GLOOM C> 5G9ES V5T$ JUNGLE SN>LS ACROSS ! D>K5+ CEM5T ,SAVANNAH4 ,TURN+ 9TO ,T[] ,/REET HE WALK$ UP AS F> AS ,EILE5'S H\SE1 !N SP5T FIVE M9UTES GIGGL+ AT HIMSELF :ILE HE ATTEMPT$ TO UNLOCK ! FRONT DOOR )\T MAK+ ANY NOISE BY TRY+ TO FIT HIS KEY 9TO ! DOORBELL4 ,AH HA HA4 

,! H\SE WAS QUIET ) EV]Y?+ SWIT*$ (F1 HIS MAM HAV+ ALREADY GONE TO B$4 ,HE PASS$ BY ! CLOS$ DOOR TO ! FRONT ROOM1 /ILL FILL$ ) HEIRLOOMS & = %[ RA!R ?AN USE1 ! WAY ?+S US$ TO BE 9 ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 & W5T ?R\< TO ! KIT*5 = A GLASS ( MILK BE=E HE W5T UP/AIRS4 

,HIS ROOM1 ! ONE SPACE ON ! PLANET ?AT HE FELT WAS HIS1 AWAIT$ HIM =GIV+LY1 PREP>$ TO TAKE HIM 9 ONCE MORE = ALL ?AT HE'D NEGLECT$ IT4 ,!RE WAS HIS S+LE B$1 !RE WAS :AT HE /ILL LAU<+LY REF]R$ TO AS HIS WRIT+ DESK1 !RE W]E ! RANKS ( POETS ?AT HE'D E>LI] TRI$ TO GAS4 ,HE SAT D[N ON ! B$'S $GE TO UNTIE HIS %OES BUT LEFT ! ACTION UNCOMPLET$1 TRAIL+ (F ACROSS ! C>PET ) ! UNPICK$ LACES4 ,HE WAS ?9K+ ( ! ACCID5T 9 ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 :I* MEANT ?AT HE WAS ?9K+ AB\T ,ALISON1 H] TON-UP BOYFRI5D TRY+ TO OV]TAKE ?AT LORRY ?AT HAD NO WIDE-LOAD LI<TS4 ,HE WAS ?9K+ AB\T DY+1 H[ HE DID EA* MORN+ SOON AS HE WOKE UP1 BUT N[ !RE WAS NO HOPE ! MORBID ?\<TS W\LD VANI% ) ! DAY'S FIR/ DR9K1 NOT :5 ITS LA/ DR9K WAS JU/ !N EXPIR+ HORRIBLY B5EA? ,B5'S TONGUE4 ,HE WAS ALONE !RE 9 HIS ROOM ) DEA?1 HIS ROOM1 HIS DEA?1 ITS 9EVITABILITY1 & !RE WAS NO?+ TO DEF5D HIM4 

,ONE DAY SOON HE W\LD BE DEAD1 R$UC$ TO A%ES OR ELSE FE$+ WORMS4 ,HIS 5T]TA9+ FUNNY M9D1 HIS SELF1 ?AT W\LD JU/ SIMPLY /OP4 ,?AT W\LDN'T BE !RE ANYMORE4 ,LIFE W\LD BE GO+ ON1 ) ALL ITS ROMANCE & ITS ?RILLS1 BUT NOT = HIM4 ,HE W\LD KN[ NO?+ ( IT1 LIKE A SPL5DID P>TY AT :I* HE'D BE5 MADE TO FEEL HE WAS NO LONG] WELCOME4 ,HE'D HAVE BE5 CROSS$ (F ! GUE/ LI/1 HE'D HAVE BE5 ]AS$1 AS IF HE'D NEV] BE5 !RE4 ,ALL ?AT W\LD BE LEFT ( HIM W\LD BE A FEW EXAGG]AT$ ANECDOTES1 SOME MILDEW$ POEMS 9 SURVIV+ COPIES ( SMALL-CIRCULATION MAGAZ9ES1 & !N NOT EV5 ?AT4 ,IT W\LD HAVE ALL BE5 WA/$1 & 444 

,IT HIT HIM SUDD5LY1 ! BLEAK EPIPHANY1 & KNOCK$ ! W9D \T ( HIM3 ?9K+ AB\T DEA? WAS SOME?+ HE HABITUALLY DID AS AN ALT]NATIVE TO ?9K+ AB\T LIFE4 ,DEA? WASN'T :AT ! PROBLEM WAS4 ,DEA? WASN'T ASK+ ANY?+ ( ANYONE1 EXCEPT = EF=TLESS DECOMPOSITION4 ,DEA? WASN'T ! ?+ ) ALL ! EXPECTATIONS & ! DISAPPO9TM5TS & ! CON/ANT FE> ?AT ANY?+ C\LD HAPP54 ,?AT WAS LIFE4 ,DEA?1 FE>SOME FROM LIFE'S FRI<T5$ PO9T ( VIEW1 WAS ACTUALLY ITSELF BEYOND ALL FE> & HURT4 ,DEA?1 LIKE A K9DLY MO!R1 TOOK ! WORRISOME RESPONSIBILITIES & ! DECISIONS (F Y\R H&S1 KISS$ Y\ GOODNI<T & TUCK$ Y\ UND]NEA? ! W>M GRE5 C\NT]PANE4 ,LIFE WAS ! TRIAL1 ! TE/1 ! ?+ Y\ HAD TO FIGURE \T :AT Y\ %\LD DO ) BE=E IT WAS OV]4 

,BUT !N1 ,B5$ICT HAD DONE ?AT4 ,HE'D DECID$1 RA%LY1 BACK 9 HIS ROMANTIC Y\?1 ?AT HE'D BE NO?+ IF HE C\LDN'T BE A POET4 ,AT ! TIME1 HE HADN'T REALLY ?\<T AB\T ! LESS] ( ?OSE TWO ALT]NATIVES1 ! POSSIBILITY ?AT HE MI<T WELL 5D UP AS NO?+4 ,IT HAD NEV] HAPP5$ = HIM1 ! SUCCESS HE'D ?\<T HE MI<T A*IEVE :5 HE WAS Y\NG]1 & HE'D GRADUALLY LO/ HE>T4 ,HE'D PRETTY MU* AB&ON$ WRIT+1 BUT IT WAS SO MU* A P>T ( HIS ID5TITY ?AT HE C\LD NOT ADMIT1 NOT EV5 TO HIMSELF1 ?AT HE HAD GIV5 UP4 ,HE W\LD PRET5D HIS 9ACTIVITY WAS ONLY A SABBATICAL1 ?AT HE WAS LY+ FALL[1 GA!R+ MAT]IAL1 :5 HE KNEW DEEP 9SIDE ?AT HE WAS ONLY GA!R+ DU/4 

,HE SAW1 AS ?R\< A FOG1 ! GRAVE MI/AKE HE'D MADE4 ,HE'D BE5 SO ANXI\S = SUCCESS & VALIDATION ?AT HE'D COME TO ?9K Y\ W]5'T REALLY A WRIT] UNLESS Y\ W]E A SUCCESSFUL ONE4 ,HE KNEW1 9 ?IS UNPREC$5T$ PAT* ( CL>ITY1 ?AT ! IDEA WAS NONS5SE4 ,LOOK AT ,WILLIAM ,BLAKE1 IGNOR$ & )\T RECOGNITION UNTIL YE>S AFT] HIS DEA?1 REG>D$ AS A LUNATIC OR FOOL BY HIS CONTEMPOR>IES4 ,YET ,B5$ICT FELT SURE ?AT ,BLAKE1 9 HIS ?REE-SCORE-&-T51 HAD NEV] HAD A MOM5T'S D\BT ?AT HE WAS A TRUE >TI/4 ,B5'S [N PROBLEM1 LOOK$ AT 9 ?IS NEW & BRUTAL LI<T1 WAS SIMPLE FAILURE ( N]VE4 ,IF HE HAD SOMEH[ F\ND ! C\RAGE TO CONT9UE WRIT+1 EV5 IF EA* PAGE HAD BE5 REJECT$ BY EA* PUBLI%] IT WAS SUBMITT$ TO1 HE'D /ILL BE ABLE TO LOOK HIMSELF 9 ! EYE & KN[ HE WAS A POET4 ,!RE WAS NO?+ /OPP+ HIM FROM PICK+ UP HIS P5 AGA9 EXCEPT ,E>?'S EASILY-RESI/$ FIELD ( GRAVITY4 

,?IS C\LD BE ! NI<T ?AT ,B5 TURN$ IT ALL >\ND4 ,ALL ?AT HE HAD TO DO WAS WALK ACROSS & SIT D[N AT HIS WRIT+ DESK & ACTUALLY PRODUCE SOME?+4 ,:O KN[S8 ,IT MI<T TURN \T TO BE ! PIECE ?AT W\LD SECURE ,B5'S REPUTATION4 ,OR IF NOT1 IF HIS ABILITIES ) V]SE SEEM$ FLAT & CLUMSY ) DISUSE1 IT MI<T BE HIS FIR/ FALT]+ /EP BACK TO ! PA? HE'D W&]$ FROM1 9TO ?IS BITT]-SODD5 & IMMOBILIZ+ BOG4 ,TONI<T MI<T BE HIS *ANCE TO M5D HIMSELF4 ,! />K ?\<T /RUCK HIM ?AT TONI<T MI<T BE HIS LA/ *ANCE4 

,IF HE DIDN'T DO IT N[1 IF HE CAME UP ) SOME EXCUSE AB\T IT BE+ BETT] TO APPROA* IT 9 ! MORN+ :5 HIS HEAD WAS FRE%]1 !N IT SEEM$ QUITE LIKELY ?AT HE'D NEV] DO IT4 ,HE'D KEEP F9D+ REASONS TO PUT ALL HIS POETRY ASIDE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE & LIFE CALL$ TIME ON HIM1 UNTIL HE 5D$ UP AS A /ATI/IC AT ! TOP ( ,GRAFTON ,/REET ) AN 9DIFF]5T POLICE CON/ABLE COMPLA9+ ?AT ,B5'S DEA? HAD MESS$ UP HIS NI<T (F4 ,B5$ICT HAD TO DO IT RI<T N[1 RI<T ?IS MOM5T4 

,HE GOT UP & /UMBL$ OV] TO ! WRIT+ DESK1 TRIPP+ UPON HIS DANGL+ LACES ON ! WAY4 ,HE SAT D[N & PULL$ \T HIS NOTEBOOK FROM A RE> %ELF ( ! BUREAU1 PAUS+ TO A%AM$LY WIPE ?ICK DU/ FROM ! COV] ) HIS PALM BE=E HE OP5$ IT TO A CLEAN %EET4 ,HE PICK$ ! BALLPO9T P5 ?AT LOOK$ MO/ VIABLE \T ( ! JAM J> /&+ ON ! DESK'S TOP L$GE1 REMOV$ ITS CAP & POIS$ ! /ICKY1 FURRY BALL ( 9DIGO ABOVE ! NAK$ VELLUM4 ,HE SAT !RE LIKE ?AT A GOOD T5 M9UTES1 COM+ TO ! AGONIZ+ REALIZATION ?AT HE C\LDN'T ?9K ( ANY?+ TO SAY4 

,SIX ?+S1 !N1 ?AT ,B5 ,P]RIT WAS COMPLETELY USELESS AT3 ESCAPE1 F9D+ A JOB1 EXPLA9+ HIMSELF PROP]LY1 NOT LOOK+ PISS$1 TALK+ TO GIRLS & WRIT+ POETRY4 

,NO4 ,NO1 ?AT WASN'T TRUE4 ,?AT WAS JU/ GIV+ UP AGA91 MAYBE = GOOD4 ,HE WAS DET]M9$ TO WRITE SOME?+1 EV5 IF IT WAS A HAIKU1 EV5 IF IT WAS A L9E OR JU/ A PHRASE4 ,HE SE>*$ HIS CL\DY MEMORY ( ! UNEV5TFUL DAY ?AT HE'D JU/ HAD = 9SPIRATION & WAS />TL$ BY H[ MANY IMAGES & IDLE NOTIONS DRIFT$ BACK TO HIM4 ,! WORKH\SE1 ,CL>E'S ASYLUM1 ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD & ! M]MAID GIRL1 CLOV] MOTIFS WORK$ >TFULLY 9TO ! HEAD ( FOAM UPON ,B5'S D>K & SWIRL+ CONSCI\SNESS4 ,HE ?\<T AB\T ! A*+ CRACK ( ,FREES*OOL ,/REET & ! DR[N$ CONT95T1 ! L&SCAPE ?AT WAS GONE4 ,HE ?\<T AB\T JU/ PACK+ ALL ?IS DRUNK5 NONS5SE 9 & GETT+ 9TO B$4 

,(F 9 ! BLACKNESS !RE W]E SIR5S1 TE*NO ?UMPS1 BE>-BAIT+ *E]S4 ,HIS RI<T H& TREMBL$1 9*ES FROM ! SN[-BL9D1 EMPTY PAGE4 

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