,BOOK #b1 ,*APT] #f 
,M5TAL ,FI<TS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,M,5,T,A,L ,F,I,<,T,S 

,SCRAMBL+ UP \T ( ! CROOK-DOOR AFT] ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]1 ALL ! R++ UPRO> ( ! ,WORKS - ITS SCALE & COLOR & ESPECIALLY ! NIFF ( ,PHYLLIS'S PUTRESC5T SC>F - HIT ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 SQU>ELY 9 ! MU%4 ,! FACTORY FLOOR ?AT ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG HAD EM]G$ ONTO1 BIG AS AN AIRDROME & FLOOD$ ) A PE>LY LI<T FROM ITS IMPROBABLY HI< W9D[S1 HUMM$ ) PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY4 ,BUILD]S W]E EV]Y:]E1 ON LADD]S & ON GANTRIES1 /RID+ BACK & =? ) SCROLLS & %EAVES ( DOCUM5TS1 CALL+ 9/RUCTIONS TO EA* O!R 9 A LANGUAGE :]E EA* SYLLABLE FL[]$ TO AN 9TRICATE & LYRIC G>D54 

,CLAD 9 WOOD5 S&ALS1 WE>+ PLA9 ROBES ( S(T PIGEON-GRAY ?AT HAD A H9T ( GRE5 OR PURPLE 9 ! FOLDS & %AD[S1 !SE SEEM$ TO BE BUILD]S ( A DIFF]5T RANK TO ! :ITE-HAIR$ ONE ,MI*AEL HAD GLIMPS$ E>LI]1 ) HIS B>E FEET & ICY1 %9+ G[N4 ,:]EAS HE'D HAD ! BE>+ ( AN >TISAN1 ! SEV]AL DOZ5 9DIVIDUALS 9DU/RI\SLY EMPLOY$ AB\T ! VA/ 5CLOSURE HAD ! LOOK ( LABOR]S1 ALBEIT LABOR]S :O C>RI$ !MSELVES ) MORE GRACE & DIGNITY ?AN ANY EMP]OR ?AT ,MI*AEL HAD SE5 PICTURES (1 OR EV] HE>D AB\T4 

,ONE ( ! BUILD]S1 A LEAN1 PI\S TYPE ) SLI<TLY ELONGAT$ FEATURES & TI<T A%5 CURLS AT HIS REC$$ HAIRL9E1 PASS$ ! RA!R C[$ GANG ( <O/-*ILDR5 AS HE M>*$ ACROSS HIS :ISP]+ CA!DRAL ( A WORKPLACE4 ,HAV+ JU/ COME FROM ! <O/-SEAM1 ,MI*AEL F\ND IT ODD AT FIR/ ?AT !RE W]E NO EVAPORAT+ DUPLICATES TRAIL+ BEH9D ?IS PURPOSEFUL EMPLOYEE AS HE WALK$1 BUT !N REMEMB]$ HE WAS SOME:]E DIFF]5T N[4 ,! LONG-FAC$ WORK] PAUS$ 9 HIS TRAV]SAL ( ! L>GE & 9TRICATELY DECORAT$ FLAG/ONE TILES TO SCRUT9IZE ! GAGGLE ( DEAD UR*9S ) EYES ?AT W]E 5DLESS & ( BRILLIANT EM]ALD4 

0,WVYEO GAURL ?IK COMNSD6 ,PLEOG *RAUWVY 9D TSEF60 

,!SE WORDS 7IF ?AT WAS :AT !Y W]E71 DELIV]$ 9 A VOICE NEUTRAL AS BREEZE & FRILL$ ) E*O1 SEEM$ TO PUT D[N HEAVY1 LUMPY SUITCASES 9 ,MI*AEL ,W>R5'S M9D :I* !N PROCE$$ TO UNPACK !MSELVES 9TO PROGRESSIVELY MORE COMPACT & +5I\S P>CELS ( SIGNIFICANCE4 

0,WE GOLD5 ONES1 WE TOIL]S 9 ?IS VEIL$ VALE1 WE :O TREAD ! V9TAGE 9 !SE GLORI\S V9EY>DS ( UNDY+ WISDOM1 WE GRAY GU>DIANS ( ! 5DEAVOR WELCOME !E1 WELCOME !E TO \R WOND]1 TO \R WORLD1 \R WEAL?1 \R W>D1 :]E >E \R ,WORKS MADE6 ,= LO1 IT DO? PLEASE US1 IF IT %\LD PLEASE Y\1 H]E TO PRES5T A PLAN & A PROSPECTUS ( \R PA/URE AS IT WAS 9 AGES PA/ & SO %ALL 5DURE UNTO ! F> 5D+ ( ET]NITY1 SO ?AT IT %ALL S]VE AS ?Y GU>D1 ?Y GUIDE & GREAT DELIV]ANCE )9 !SE WALLS1 !SE HALLS1 !SE HALL[$ H\SES ( ! 5DLESS S\L & SELF60 

,AS ,MI*AEL UND]/OOD IT1 ?IS BOIL$ D[N TO 0,WELCOME TO ! ,WORKS4 ,PLEASE HAVE A GUIDE40 ,! LABOR] EXTRACT$ HALF-A-DOZ5 LEAFLETS ) A S+LE FOLD FROM ! UNTIDY /ACK ( PAP]S ?AT HE C>RI$ UND] ONE >M1 H&+ COPIES ( ! SL5D] BOOKLET TO EA* ( ! SIX DECEAS$ KIDS BE=E NODD+ CURTLY & CONT9U+ ACROSS ! BUSY FLOOR T[>DS A B\ND>Y WALL ?AT WAS TOO F> AWAY TO CLE>LY SEE1 HIS RA9CL\D-COLOR$ ROBE GL9T+ ) P9KS & MAUVES AS IT SWUNG NE> HIS ANKLES4 

,MI*AEL LOOK$ D[N1 AS DID HIS COMPANIONS1 AT ! PAMPHLETS !Y'D BE5 GIV54 ,PR9T$ 9 GOLD 9K ON ?ICK CREAM PAP]1 ALL F\R PAGES ( ! FOLD$ %EETS W]E COV]$ 9 D5SE TEXT ?AT WAS APP>5TLY COMPOS$ ( SMALL & WRIGGLY SYMBOLS FROM A =EIGN ALPHABET4 ,AT ?REE YE>S OLD & HAV+ B>ELY LE>N$ TO RECOGNIZE MORE ?AN A WORD OR TWO ( WRITT5 ,5GLI%1 ,MI*AEL WAS CONV9C$ ?AT HE'D HAVE TO GET SOMEONE TO EXPLA9 IT TO HIM1 BUT ?IS TURN$ \T NOT TO BE ! CASE4 ,UPON CLOS] 9SPECTION ALL ! T9Y1 UNFAMILI> *>ACT]S SEEM$ TO IMP>T !IR MEAN+ 9 IDEAS & WORDS ?AT HE C\LD UND]/& - OR AT LEA/1 CONCEPTS HE C\LD UND]/& N[1 9 HIS PRES5T /ATE4 ,HE'D NOTIC$ HE WAS GETT+ CLEV]] S9CE HE'D BE5 DEAD1 AS IF ! S\L CONT9U$ TO DEVELOP TO ITS PROP] LEVEL EV5 :5 ! M9D & BODY W]E BO? GONE4 ,HE GAZ$ D[N AT ! TE5SY1 CRAWL+ LETT]S ) HIS IMPROV$ <O/LY EYES & HE BEGAN TO READ4 

,! ,W,O,R,K,S 

,! ,WORKS IS F\ND$ 9 ! L[] WORLD DUR+ ! YE> #ddd ,A,D1 :]E ! ,FIR/ ,BOR\< IS E/ABLI%$4 ,ITS MAT]IAL MANIFE/ATION IS ORIG9ALLY A M>K]-/ONE SET AT ! TOP 5D ( A FOOTPA? LEAD+ TO ! SC>LET DY]S' WELL4 ,H[EV]1 9 ! ,SECOND ,BOR\< ! F\R ,MA/] ,ANGLES DO CONTRIVE TO SKILLFULLY UNFOLD ! S+LE1 R\<HEWN GRANITE BLOCK UNTO A MI<TY =TRESS = ! PURPOSE ( !IR WONDR\S MANUFACTURE4 ,= ITS SIGNBO>D & ITS SEAL1 SO ALL MI<T KN[ ?AT ,JU/ICE ,BE ,ABOVE ! ,/REET1 ?IS BE+ ! *IEF SLOGAN ( ! 5T]PRISE1 IT IS M>K$ ?US3 

,ITS SITUATION IS AB\T ! C5TRAL PO9T ( ! ,FIR/ ,BOR\<1 ?\< (FSET A LITTLE TO ! ,EA/ ?AT IT %\LD ?US MORE ACCURATELY REPRES5T ! CROSSWAYS ( ?OSE L9ES DESCRIB$ DIAGONALLY ON ! DI/RICT1 SO AS TO CONNECT ITS CORN]S4 ,!SE F\R CORN]S >E ! T]M9I ( ! >RANGEM5T1 *ANNEL+ ITS F\R DISP>ATE 5]GIES1 ) EA* DI/+UI%$ BY ITS EMBLEM4 ,9 ?IS WAY1 ! S\!A/ CORN] IS EMBLAZON$ ) ! ,CROSS1 BE+ ! FI]Y QU>T] ( ! SPIRIT1 :ILE ! S\?WE/ CORN] BE>S ! IMAGE ( A ,CA/LE AS ! AIRY QUADRANT GOV]N+ MAT]IAL MAJE/Y4 ,! NOR?WE/ CORN] IS ADORN$ BY A CRUDE ,PHALLUS ?\< IT IS A WAT]Y & FEMALE QU>T]1 = ?IS IS ! SITE ( P5ETRATION & 9VASION4 ,F9ALLY ! NOR!A/ CORN] %[S A ,DEA?'S-HEAD1 = ?IS IS ! E>?Y P>T ( ! DESIGN & TO IT IS ATTRIBUT$ DEMISE4 ,! SYMBOLS >E 9ITIALLY SCRAT*$ ON ! GRANITE KEY/ONE1 ONE 9SCRIB$ BY EA* ( ! F\R ,MA/] ,ANGLES 9 ACCORDANCE ) !IR SIGNAL TEMP]AM5TS & HUMORS4 ,) !SE GLYPHS %ALL !IR DOMA9S BE KN[N3 

,!SE PREMISES >E PRES5TLY 5GAG$ 9 ! CON/RUCTION ( A ,POR?IMO?1 OR 0,WOR?Y PO9T OR PORTAL1 PROP]LY PROPORTION+ ! HEM OR TRIM ( ! IMMORTAL PSY*E1 ) ?IS ,>T \R !ME1 \R PA?1 \R P]MIT01 COMMONLY DESCRIB$ AS A F\R-FOLD$ CAP/ONE TO BE SET UPON ! SUMMIT ( A GREAT] *RONOLOGIC /RUCTURE1 ?US TO TIE TOGE!R ALL ! MORAL L9ES & RAFT]S ( EV5T COMPRIS+ ?AT IMM5SE ,TIME->*ITECTURE4 ,:ILE ?IS WORK IS UND]WAY1 ! ,MANAGEM5T REGRETS ?AT BUILD]S WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO ESCORT VISITORS ON T\RS ( ! E/ABLI%M5T1 RESPECTFULLY SUGGE/+ ?AT ?IS GUIDE BE KEPT AB\T ! P]SON AT ALL TIMES AS A CONV5I5T S\RCE ( REF]5CE4 

,ON ! GR\ND FLOOR IS ! MA9 5TRANCE1 OP5+ ONTO ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA? ABOVE ! PRES5T ,MAYORHOLD4 ,TWO QUADRIVIAL-H+$ +RESS-PO9TS OR 'CROOK-DOORS' PLAC$ AT EI!R 5D ( ! #e? C5TURY WELL-PA? ALSO (F] ACCESS TO ?IS L[E/ /ORY1 :]E SPECIFIC P>TS ( ! 5DEAVOR >E ASSEMBL$ & :]E LABORS >E ALLOTT$ & COORD9AT$4 ,VISITORS MAY NOTICE ?AT ! FLOOR IS MADE FROM TWO-&-SEV5TY GREAT SLABS1 EA* ONE A HUNDR$ PACES LONG OR WIDE & SET 9TO A N9E-BY-EI<T >RANGEM5T4 ,!SE L>GE TILES1 UPON 9SPECTION1 HAVE A TESSELLATE DESIGN TO !IR ADORNM5TS1 ?IS PECULI>ITY OCCASION$ BY ! 444 

,MI*AEL LOOK$ UP 9 SURPRISE FROM ! 5GROSS+ BOOKLET TO DISCOV] ?AT HIS FIVE <O/-COMRADES W]E />T+ TO W&] (F 5 MASSE 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! NE>E/ WALL1 :I* WAS P]HAPS A QU>T] ( A MILE AWAY T[>DS ! EA/4 ,ROLL+ ! HELPFUL LEAFLET UP 9TO A TUBE & ?RU/+ IT 9TO ONE T>TAN POCKET ( HIS DRESS+ G[N HE HURRI$ AFT] !M AS QUICKLY AS HIS FLAPP+ SLIPP]S W\LD P]MIT4 ,HE'D SC>$ HIMSELF :5 HE'D RUN (F & LEFT !M AT ! FOOT ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 & HE DIDN'T WANT TO BECOME SEP>AT$ FROM !M ANYMORE4 

,?AT1 ,MI*AEL ?\<T1 HAD BE5 A /UPID ?+ TO DO4 ,IT HAD JU/ BE5 ! %OCK ( SUDD5LY SEE+ ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD LIKE ?AT3 AN UNUS$ GRASS V]GE :]E HIS T]RACE US$ TO BE4 ,IT LOOK$ SO WRONG4 ,WORSE1 IT HAD SEEM$ TO SAY ?AT NO?+ W\LD TURN \T ! WAY ?AT ANYBODY HOP$ IT W\LD2 ?AT ALL HIS MOM'S & DAD'S DREAMS 5D$ UP 9 TREES & TURF & WIRE C>TS ON :EELS4 ,HE HADN'T WANT$ TO ACCEPT ?AT1 & /ILL DIDN'T4 ,HE'D NOT WANT$ TO BE LOOK+ AT ?AT FLAT GR\ND1 ) ITS FLAT PRO(1 SO HE'D RUN AWAY 9TO A MIDNI<T NEI<BORHOOD ?AT HE NO LONG] RECOGNIZ$4 

,:ILE ALL ! O!R *ILDR5 HAD BE5 LOOK+ AT ! WEEP+ <O/ 9 ! *ECK SUIT AS HE'D W&]$ T[>DS ?AT AWFUL1 SOLIT>Y H\SE ?AT /OOD UPON ! CORN]1 ,MI*AEL HAD BE5 OV]:ELM$ BY ALL ! /RANG5ESS & ! DESOLATION ( HIS CIRCUM/ANCES1 UNABLE TO COPE A MOM5T LONG] ) ?IS E]IE & UPSETT+ AFT]LIFE1 ?IS DREADFUL & DEMOLI%$ FUTURE4 ,HE'D SLIPP$ SIL5TLY AWAY & DUCK$ 9TO ! REASSUR+LY FAMILI> FOLDS ( ,GREYFRI>S FLATS1 & ?\< ! BLACK IRON GATE ACROSS ! N>R[ 5TRANCE GAVE HIM PAUSE = ?\<T - :Y HAD ! =M] UN(FICIAL *ILDR5'S PLAYGR\ND ?AT WAS ,GREYFRI>S C\RTY>D BE5 B>R$ (F LIKE ?IS8 ,IT HADN'T /OPP$ HIM SLID+ ?R\< ! B>S LIKE KETTLE-/EAM1 9TO ! HU%$ & %AD[Y 5CLOSURE4 

,GREYFRI>S' 9N] Y>D HAD BE5 ALMO/ ! SAME AS HE'D REMEMB]$ IT FROM PRAM-B\ND %ORTCUTS 9 ! #a#i#eS1 AL?\< OBVI\SLY HE'D NEV] SE5 H[ IT LOOK$ 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T BE=E4 ,! ONLY NOTICEABLE DIFF]5CE1 O!R ?AN ! GATES1 HAD BE5 A SORT ( TIR$NESS & UNTID9ESS1 AS IF ! PLACE HAD GIV5 UP4 ,HE'D PASS$ ALONG ! PA?WAY AT ! BOTTOM ( ! C\RTY>D'S L[] LEVEL1 DRIFT+ ?R\< ANO!R LOCK$ GATE AT ! F> 5D & \T 9TO ,BA? ,/REET4 ,ONLY !N HAD IT OCCURR$ TO HIM ?AT HE'D GOT NO IDEA :]E HE WAS4 

,! SOMEH[ %ELT]+ 9CL9E ( R$ BRICK H\SES ON ! /REET'S F> SIDE1 9CLUD+ ,MRS4 ,COLEMAN'S SWEET%OP & ITS SUG>-DU/Y J>S1 HAD BE5 TAK5 AWAY4 ,REPLAC+ ?IS ACCU/OM$ VIEW W]E UGLY FLATS ) RU/-RAIL$ CONCRETE /EPS1 RECTANGUL> BLACK W9D[S />+ COLDLY FROM PREFABRICAT$ WALLS ?AT HAD AT SOME TIME 9 ! PA/ BE5 PA9T$ :ITE1 TO BE/ %[ (F ! ,BOR\<S GRIME4 

,MI*AEL HAD CREPT DISCONSOLATELY UP ! HILL ) HIS EQUALLY-/EAL?Y DUPLICATES 9 ,9DIAN FILE BEH9D HIM4 ,ONLY :5 HE'D GOT AS F> AS ,LITTLE ,CROSS ,/REET1 :]E ! R[ ( HOMES ?AT US$ TO PROP EA* O!R UP LIKE PUN*-DRUNK FI<T]S HAD ALSO BE5 DONE AWAY ) BY ! :ITE-WALL$ MOD]N BUILD+S1 HAD HE HAPP5$ ON A PLACE HE KNEW 9 ! SURPRIS+LY CONSOL+ BULK ( ,BA? ,/REET FLATS 

,UPON CLOS] 9SPECTION1 EV5 !SE HAD TURN$ \T TO BE NOT ALL ?AT !Y'D ONCE BE54 ,R\< & MOTTL$ L5G?S ( *EAP BO>D HAD BE5 US$ TO PAT* ! D\BLE DOORS B5EA? !IR C9EMA-LIKE PORTICO :]E SOMEONE HAD KICK$ 9 ! GLASS4 ,HE'D CR\*$ BESIDE ONE ( ! L[ BRICK WALLS $G+ ! PA? ?AT RAN FROM ! DILAPIDAT$ DOORWAY1 HAD A LITTLE WEEP & TRI$ TO ?9K :AT HE %\LD DO4 ,?AT HAD BE5 :5 HE'D SPOTT$ ,BILL & ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 AMBL+ UP ! T>MAC SLOPE :]E ,FITZROY ,/REET ONCE WAS1 & %ORTLY AFT] ?AT1 !Y'D SPOTT$ HIM4 

,IF !Y'D NOT %\T$ & COME SCUTTL+ ACROSS ! ROAD AT HIM LIKE ?AT1 ) ALL !IR EXTRA EYES & >MS & LEGS1 HE MI<T HAVE JU/ /AY$ :]E HE SAT & LET !M CAT* HIM4 ,AS IT WAS ?\<1 HE HAD TAK5 FLI<T & RUN (F ?R\< ! P>TLY-BO>D$ DOOR 9TO ! FLATS !MSELVES4 ,?AT HAD BE5 FRI<T5+1 ALL ( ?OSE FUNNY-LOOK+ ROOMS ) HORRID PEOPLE DO+ ?+S HE DIDN'T UND]/&4 ,:5 HE'D BUR/ \T ONTO ! OP5 C5TRAL WALKWAY ) ! /EPS IT HAD BE5 AN IMM5SE RELIEF1 DESPITE ! /RANGE LI<TS FLOAT+ EV]Y:]E4 

,?IS TIME1 :5 ,BILL & ,REGGIE SEEP$ \T ?R\< ! DRAB R$ BRICKWORK & APPROA*$ HIM HE HAD MORE ?AN HAD 5\<1 WAS EV5 PLEAS$ TO SEE !M4 ,*A/5$ BY HIS UNSUCCESSFUL /AB AT <O/LY 9DEP5D5CE1 HE'D ALL[$ ! OLD] BOYS TO TAKE HIS H&S & LEAD HIM PA/ ! T]RIFY+ SPECTRAL HOLE 9 UPP] ,BA? ,/REET1 OV] TO ! GR\NDS ( ?OSE TWO /UPEFY+ T[]S1 :]E !Y'D BE5 REUNIT$ ) ,JOHN1 ,M>JORIE & ,PHYLLIS4 ,EV5 ?\< ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG'S GIRL BOSS HAD TOLD HIM (F = HIS DES]TION1 ,MI*AEL WAS BEG9N+ TO KN[ ,PHYLLIS WELL 5\< TO UND]/& JU/ H[ RELIEV$ %E'D BE5 TO F9D HIM & TO SEE HE WAS ALL RI<T4 ,HE WOND]$ IF %E WAS P]HAPS DEVELOP+ A SECRET CRU% ON HIM1 ! WAY ?AT HE SUSPECT$ HE WAS />T+ TO DEVELOP ONE ON H]4 ,:E!R OR NOT ?IS WAS ! CASE1 HE DIDN'T WANT TO LET H] OR ! GANG \T ( HIS SI<T AGA91 & SCAMP]$ HURRI$LY BEH9D !M N[ ACROSS ! BUSY WORK-SPACE1 TRY+ TO CAT* UP4 

,AS HE DREW LEVEL ) ! KNOT ( UR*9S1 BIG & FRI5DLY ,JOHN LOOK$ R\ND & GR9N$ AT HIM4 

0,>E Y\ /ILL ) US1 TIT*8 ,WE ?\<T WE'D LO/ Y\ = A M9UTE !RE4 ,H]E1 :AT AB\T ALL ?IS1 EH8 ,IT'S A PICTURE1 WIZN'T IT80 

,! TALL LAD GE/UR$ TO ! BU/LE & COMMOTION GO+ ON >\ND !M1 ! 9CESSANT TO & FRO ( ! GRAVE BUILD]S 9 !IR %IMM]+ GRAY ROBES1 WAV+ JU/ ONE SLIM >M :]E ,MI*AEL WAS /ILL HALF-EXPECT+ !RE TO BE A DOZ54 ,! 9T]IOR ( ! ,WORKS WAS1 TO BE SURE1 A PICTURE4 ,OV] GIANT FLAG/ONES1 ) COMPLEX & COLORFUL DESIGNS ?AT SEEM$ TO CRAWL & FLICK] 9 ! CORN]S ( ! VISION1 MOV$ ! SOLEMN BUILD]S AT !IR DIV]SE TASKS1 :ILE HI< ABOVE ! MULTITUDE1 ON A HUGE BOSS RAIS$ FROM ! WALL ?AT !Y W]E NE>+1 WAS ! QUE] DESIGN ?AT ,MI*AEL HAD SE5 9 ! PAMPHLET3 A FLAT SCROLL OR RIBBON ?AT SEEM$ TO UNROLL AWAY T[>DS ! RI<T1 & OV] ?AT TWO TRIANGLES JO9$ BY A D\BLE L9E4 ,R\< & UNPRACTIC$1 IT LOOK$ MORE LIKE SOME?+ ?AT A ?REE-YE>-OLD LIKE HIM MI<T SCRIBBLE RA!R ?AN ! WORK ( ! MY/]I\S ',MA/] ,ANGLES'4 ,TROTT+ !RE ALONGSIDE ,JOHN1 ,MI*AEL BL9K$ UP AT HIM4 

0,WIZ ?AT BIG M>K UP !RE AN ADV]TIS+ SIGN80 

,JOHN *UCKL$4 

0,WELL1 YES1 ,I SUPPOSE IT WIZ4 ,IT MEANS ',JU/ICE ,ABOVE ! ,/REET' :I* WIZ A SORT ( MOTTO H]E1 MU* LIKE ',\T ( ! /RONG %ALL COME =? SWEETNESS' ON ! TREACLE T94 ,IT TELLS Y\ ALL AB\T IT 9 ?IS GUIDE ! BUILD] GAVE US JU/ N[4 ,HAVE Y\ READ IT80 

,MI*AEL SAID HE'D READ A BIT ( IT BE=E HE'D /UFF$ IT 9 ! POCKET ( HIS DRESS+ G[N = FE> ( BE+ LEFT BEH9D4 ,JOHN SMIL$ & %OOK HIS HEAD4 

0,NOBODY'S GO+ TO LEAVE Y\ ANY:]E1 NOT AFT] H[ FRIT ,PHYLLIS WIZ :5 Y\ RAN (F4 ,Y\ \<T TO TAKE ANO!R DECKO AT ?AT PAMPHLET4 ,IT'LL TELL Y\ LOADS ( ?+S1 LIKE AB\T ALL ! DIFF]5T DEVILS ?AT !Y'VE GOT TRAPP$ 9 !SE FLOOR-TILES40 

,MI*AEL /OPP$ DEAD 9 HIS TRACKS AT ?AT & />$ D[N AT ! HUNDR$-Y>D-LONG SLAB !Y W]E !N PASS+ OV]4 ,:5 Y\ PAUS$ TO PROP]LY EXAM9E ITS 9VOLV$ DESIGN IT REALLY WAS AN EYEFUL4 ,! ELABORATE PATT]N WAS +5I\SLY COMPOS$ ( TWO REPEAT$ %APES ?AT HAD BE5 >TFULLY CONTRIV$ TO 9T]LOCK1 ONE ( ! =MS >RANG$ TO FIT 9TO ! EMPTY GAPS BETWE5 ! C>EFULLY-SPAC$ \TL9ES ( ! O!R4 ,BO? ( ! TWO DIFF]5T FIGURES MAK+ UP ?IS WALLPAP]-EFFECT W]E QUITE UNPLEASANT1 ) ONE HAV+ ! APPE>ANCE ( A WOLF ?AT HAD A SLIMY SNAKE-TAIL :]E ITS [N %\LD BE :ILE G\TS ( CRIMSON FLAME BEL*$ FROM BETWE5 ITS SN>L+ JAWS4 ,! SECOND %APE WAS ?AT ( A DI/URB+LY FAT RAV51 ITS BEAK OP5 TO DISPLAY ! FANGS ( A BIG HUNT+ DOG4 

,! MEANS BY :I* ! CONT\RS ( ! TWO DISSIMIL> MON/ROSITIES FITT$ TOGE!R WAS A M>VEL ( DEL9EATION1 AID$ BY ! FLAMES ]UPT+ FROM ! WOLF-SNAKE'S MAW TO WRAP ITS LUP9E BODY 9 AN AURA ( R$ FIRE1 ! SCALLOP$ $GE ( !SE FITT+ EXACTLY ) ! BLACK S]RATIONS 9 ! W+S ( ! DOG-RAV5 ?AT WAS SET TO FACE ! O!R WAY4 ,HYPNOTICALLY1 ! RAGG$ L9ES :]E ! TWO DIFF]5T PICTURES 9T]SECT$ SEEM$ TO BE P]PETUALLY MOV+1 AS IF EI!R ! FLAME-HALOS >\ND ! WOLF-SNAKES LICK$ & LEAP$ OR ELSE ! DOG-RAV5S W]E RUFFL+ !IR FEA!RS ANGRILY4 ,RETRIEV+ ! GUIDE-PAMPHLET FROM HIS POCKET1 ,MI*AEL RESUM$ READ+ AT ! PO9T :]E HE'D LEFT (F 9 HOPE ( LE>N+ :AT ?IS CONVOLUT$ P>QUET FLOOR+ WAS 9 AID (4 

,VISITORS MAY NOTICE ?AT ! FLOOR IS MADE FROM TWO-&-SEV5TY GREAT SLABS1 EA* ONE A HUNDR$ PACES LONG & WIDE1 & SET 9TO A N9E-BY-EI<T >RANGEM5T4 ,!SE L>GE TILES1 UPON 9SPECTION1 HAVE A TESSELLATE DESIGN TO !IR ADORNM5TS1 ?IS PECULI>ITY OCCASION$ BY ! COMPREH5SIVE CATALOG ( =M] EMPLOYES ?AT >E BO? FLATT5$ & COMPACT$ 9 !IR MANUFACTURE4 

,!SE EX-BUILD]S1 COMMONLY CALL$ DEVILS1 >E COMPRESS$ 9TO A TWO-DIM5SIONAL PLANE ( EXI/5CE BY ! ,MA/] ,ANGLES & !IR >MIES DUR+ ! F\NDATION ( ! MORTAL & MAT]IAL REALM4 ,ONCE SUBJUGAT$1 !SE >E GOV]N$ BY A GOLD5 TORUS WORN UPON ONE F+] ( ! ,MA/] ,ANGLE ,MIKAEL AS A CONTROLL+ R+ ( HOLY DOM9ANCE4 ,9 ! SYMBOLIC /RATA OV]LOOK+ ! SUB/ANTIAL WORLD1 ! ,MA/] ,ANGLE ,MIKAEL !N GIVES ?IS TOK5 TO ,K+ ,SOLOMON ?AT HE MI<T LIKEWISE TRIUMPH OV] ! SAME DEMONS1 SETT+ !M TO BUILD HIS TEMPLE AT ,J]USALEM4 ,?IS /RUCTURE IS REPRIZ$ 9 ! ,FIR/ ,BOR\< AS ! R\ND *UR* ( ! ,HOLY ,SEPUL*]1 JU/ AS ! ,MA/] ,ANGLE ,MIKAEL HIMSELF1 CONFLAT$ ) ,SA9T ,MI*AEL ( R5[N1 PRESIDES OV] ! E>?LY T[N%IP FROM HIS VANTAGE AT ! GREAT ,GILHALDA ( ,SA9T ,GILES4 

,! FULL SIX DOZ5 FI5DS 9C>C]AT$ 9 ! TILES1 COMM5C+ FROM ! S\!A/ CORN] >E 9 !IR DEPICTIONS & !IR NAMES AS FOLL[S3 

,! FIR/ ,SPIRIT IS A ,K+ ?AT RIDE? 9 ! ,EA/ CALL$ ,B,E,L4 ,HE MAKES M5 TO GO 9VISIBLE4 ,HE RULE? OV] SIX-&-SIXTY ,LEGIONS ( 9F]IOR SPIRITS4 ,HE APPE>E? 9 DIV]S %APES1 SOMETIMES LIKE A CAT1 SOMETIMES A DOG & SOMETIMES LIKE A MAN1 OR SOMETIMES 9 ALL ( !SE =MS AT ! ONE TIME 444 

,!RE !N FOLL[$ A LONG LI/ ( !SE APPALL+ CREATURES & !IR ATTRIBUTES1 MO/ ( :I* S\ND$ HORRIBLE4 ,REALIZ+ ?AT ! S\!A/ CORN] ( ! CAV]N\S 5CLOSURE WAS ! ONE AHEAD ( !M & TO !IR LEFT1 ,MI*AEL C\LD C\NT ALONG ! MASSIVE FLAG/ONES TO ! ONE ?AT HIM & ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG W]E N[ /&+ ON1 :I* WAS ! SEV5? FROM ! 5D4 ,MOV+ HIS F+] D[N ! COLUMN ( DEMONIC DUKES & PR9CES UNTIL HE'D REA*$ ! APPROPRIATE SPOT1 HE !N BEGAN TO READ4 

,! ,SEV5? ,SPIRIT IS CALL$ ,A,M,O,N4 ,HE IS A ,M>QUIS1 GREAT 9 P[] & MO/ /RONG4 ,HE APPE>E? LIKE A WOLF ?AT HA? A S]P5T'S TAIL1 VOMIT+ \T ( HIS M\? FLAMES ( FIRE1 YET SOMETIMES HE APPE>E? LIKE A ,RAV5 ?AT HAS DOG'S TEE? 9 HIS HEAD4 ,HE TELLE? ALL ?+S PA/ & PRES5T & TO COME2 PROCURE? LOVE2 & RECONCILE? ALL CONTROV]SIES TWIXT FRI5DS @& FOES4 ,HE GOV]NE? FULL =TY ,LEGIONS ( 9F]IOR SPIRITS4 

,?AT SEEM$ TO BE IT = DOG-TOO!D1 S]P5T-TAIL$ WOLF-RAV5 ,AMON1 AS ! MO/LY R$ & BLACK & GRAY MOV+ DESIGN B5EA? ,MI*AEL'S PLAID SLIPP]S WAS APP>5TLY ADDRESS$4 ,MI*AEL GAZ$ D[N AT ! DEPICT$ CREATURES' TWO VISIBLE EYES3 ONE ?AT ( ! 9-PR(ILE RAV5 & ! O!R ?AT BELONG+ TO ! SIMIL>LY SIDE-ON WOLF4 ,N[ ?AT HE KNEW MORE ( H[ TIMELESS ,MANS\L FUNCTION$1 ! ABILITY TO 0TELLE? ALL ?+S PA/ & PRES5T & TO COME0 QUITE FRANKLY DIDN'T SEEM MU* ( A TRICK1 ?\< HE SUPPOS$ A TAL5T = ACQUIR+ LOVE MI<T BE SE5 AS IMPRESSIVE IF HE W]E A LITTLE OLD]4 ,M9D Y\1 S9CE HE FELT A GREAT DEAL OLD] AS IT WAS1 HE ?\<T IT S\ND$ QUITE GOOD EV5 AT ! MOM5T4 ,ROLL+ UP ! LEAFLET ONCE AGA9 & PUTT+ IT BACK 9 HIS POCKET1 ,MI*AEL FR[N$ 5QUIR+LY AT ,JOHN4 

0,:AT WIZ IT MAKES ! PICTURES MOVE80 

,JOHN (F]$ HIM A SYMPA!TIC LOOK4 

0,!SE :AT WE'RE WALK+ ON A9'T PICTURES1 TIT*4 ,!SE >E ! G5TLEM5 !MSELVES4 ,Y\ %\LD BE GRATEFUL !Y CAN ONLY MOVE ! LITTLE ?AT !Y CAN40 

,MI*AEL LOOK$ BACK D[N AT ! SLAB ?AT !Y W]E /&+ ON1 ) ITS WRI?+ EMBELLI%M5TS4 ,HE GAVE A LITTLE SQUAWK & !N P]=M$ A COMPLICAT$ DANCE 9 :I* HE SEEM$ TO BE ATTEMPT+ TO LIFT BO? HIS SLIPP]-CLAD FEET FROM ! TILE AT ONCE1 AS IF AFRAID ( 9F]NAL CONTAM9ATION4 ,9 ! 5D HE /OOD ON TIPTOE1 :I* WAS EVID5TLY ! BE/ COMPROMISE ?AT HE C\LD MANAGE4 ,JOHN WAS TRY+ NOT TO LAU<1 CAPP+ ! S\ND (F 9 A MUFFL$ DETONATION ( AMUSEM5T SOME:]E UP HIS NOSE4 

0,DON'T WORRY1 !Y CAN'T HURT Y\4 ,:5 !Y'RE FLAT LIKE ?IS !Y'RE NO MORE DANG]\S ?AN ,KEYHOLE ,KATE OR SOMEONE ELSE \T ( A COMIC4 ,ANYWAY1 WE'RE NE>LY AT ! FLOOR'S $GE AS IT WIZ4 ,WE'LL SOON BE ON ! /AIRS1 :]E !RE'S NO DEVILS40 

,JU/ AS ,JOHN HAD SAID1 ! VA/ WALL ROSE IMM$IATELY AHEAD ( !M & RUNN+ UP ACROSS IT 9 DIAGONALS !RE WAS A WOOD5 /AIRCASE1 ITS GREAT ZIGZAG L5G? CONNECT+ F\R /RATA ( BALCONY1 ! HI<E/ ALMO/ LEVEL ) ! POORLY-DRAWN SEAL ( ! ,WORKS ON ITS 5ORM\S PLAQUE4 ,! /EPS !MSELVES W]E BROAD & /URDY & LOOK$ RELATIVELY NORMAL 9 !IR RATIO ( TREAD TO RIS]1 UNLIKE ?OSE ?AT ,MI*AEL HAD EXP]I5C$ A MOM5T BACK :ILE CLAMB]+ UP ! ,JACOB ,FLI<T \T ( ! <O/-SEAM4 ,ANXI\S TO BE (F ?IS SQUIRM+ C>PET+ ( 9T]LOCK+ HORRORS1 ,MI*AEL DIDN'T RISK ANY MORE DAWDL+ UNTIL HE & ! GANG HAD SAFELY REA*$ ! POSSESS$ FACTORY FLOOR'S NE> SIDE4 

,SE5 FROM CLOSE UP ! /AIRS W]E SEV]AL Y>DS 9 WID?1 B\ND$ ON ONE SIDE BY ! %E] & SO>+ WALL & ON ! O!R BY A MA/]FULLY-WR\<T & POLI%$ BANI/] ( :AT WAS MORE ?AN LIKELY OAK4 ,EA* /EP WAS CUT FROM SOME UNKN[N V>IETY ( M>BLE1 A PR(\ND & RI* D>K BLUE ) MICA TW9KLES SEEM+LY SUSP5D$ 9SIDE ! TRANSLUC5T /ONE AT DIFF]+ DEP?S1 RA!R ?AN SIMPLY GL9T+ UNI=MLY FROM ITS SURFACE4 ,EV]Y ONE WAS LIKE A SOLID BLOCK HEWN FROM ! NI<T SKY1 & AMONG ! SP>K+ FLAKES ( MICA H]E & !RE1 ,MI*AEL DISCOV]$1 !RE W]E CURDL$ NEBULAE & COMET SME>S4 ,IT WAS A FIRE ESCAPE MADE \T ( UNIV]SE1 ?\< HE SUPPOS$ !Y ALL W]E REALLY1 :5 Y\ /OPP$ TO ?9K4 

,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG BEGAN TO CLIMB ! /AIRWAY FROM ! DOVE-LIKE MURMUR ( ! WORKPLACE1 ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T] 9 ! LEAD & /RID+ UP AHEAD ( EV]YBODY ELSE4 ,AS HE ASC5D$1 SOME:]E NE> ! GR\P'S RE> ) BIG ,JOHN1 ,MI*AEL LOOK$ D[N ACROSS ! OAK5 BALU/RADE T[>DS ! TIL$ FLOOR DW9DL+ B5EA? !M4 ,FROM ?IS RAIS$ P]SPECTIVE HE C\LD ALMO/ SEE A UNIFY+ PATT]N TO ! MOVEM5T ( ! BUILD]S AS !Y HURRI$ BACK & =? ON !IR 9SCRUTABLE TRAJECTORIES1 AS IF EA* WORK] W]E AN IRON FIL+ CAU<T UP 9 ! LOOPS & :ORLS ?AT RADIAT$ UNSE5 FROM A MAGNET4 

,HE C\LD ALSO N[ SEE CLE>LY1 ?ANKS TO HIS <O/-VISION1 ALL SIX DOZ5 ( ! GIANT DEMON-HAUNT$ FLAG/ONES ?AT COMPRIS$ ! FLOOR1 SET \T LIKE AN >RAY ( NI<TM>E PLAY+ C>DS4 ,HE ?\<T HE C\LD REMEMB] ! DEA?MONG]1 ,MRS4 ,GIBBS1 SAY+ ?AT \T ( ALL ! DEVILS ?AT !RE W]E1 ! ONE :O HAD ABDUCT$ ,MI*AEL1 SNEAKY ,SAM ,O',DAY1 WAS NUMB] ?IRTY-TWO4 ,IF ?AT WAS RI<T !N HIS SPECIFIC SLAB %\LD BE AGA9/ ! LEFT-SIDE WALL1 F\R R[S AWAY4 ,HE /OOD !RE GAZ+ \T OV] ! WOOD5 BANI/]1 MOV+ HIS LIPS & JABB+ AT ! AIR ) ONE P9K 9DEX F+] AS HE C\NT$ TO MAKE SURE4 ,! /ONE 9 QUE/ION1 ONCE HE'D F\ND IT1 WAS QUITE UNMI/AKABLE4 

,= ONE ?+1 IT WAS ONE ( ONLY ?REE OR F\R FLAG/ONES 9 ! >RANGEM5T ?AT ALL ( ! BUILD]S SEEM$ TO MANAGE TO AVOID AS !Y TRAV]S$ !IR BUSY PLACE ( LABOR4 ,= ANO!R1 UNLIKE HIS CONF$]ATE ,AMON1 ,SAM ,O',DAY WAS ONLY %[N 9 ONE =M ON ! TILE1 ?IS BE+ ! ?REE-HEAD$ ?+ A/RIDE A DRAGON ?AT HAD RAG$ ABOVE !M 9 ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?1 :AT SEEM$ A DAY OR SO AGO4 ,?IS COMPLICAT$ SEMBLANCE WAS REPEAT$ SOME?+ LIKE A HUNDR$ TIMES ACROSS ! >EA ( ! SLAB1 ITS CONT\RS 5G9E]$ PRECISELY SO ?AT ALL ( ! ID5TICALLY IRREGUL> %APES FITT$ P]FECTLY TOGE!R ) AN 9TRICACY ?AT WAS G5U9ELY 9F]NAL4 ,EMPTY SPACES 9 BETWE5 ! CREATURE'S MANY HEADS1 AS AN EXAMPLE1 W]E PLAC$ TO ACCOMMODATE ! F\R LEGS ( ! DRAGON-/E$ BELONG+ TO ! DUPLICATE IMM$IATELY ABOVE !M 9 ! PATT]N1 :ILE ! TAP]+ TAIL ( EA* SU* M\NT WAS TAILOR$ TO FIT NEATLY 9 ! OP5 JAWS ( AN ID5TICAL H]ALDIC DRAGON WADDL+ BEH9D IT4 ,TAK+ \T HIS GUIDE & SCANN+ D[N ! L5G?Y ROLL ( HELLI% EM95CES UNTIL HE'D REA*$ NUMB] ?IRTY-TWO1 HE TRI$ TO F9D \T MORE AB\T ! FI5D :O HAD BO? LIT]ALLY & FIGURATIVELY TAK5 ,MI*AEL = A RIDE4 

,! TWO & ?IRTIE? ,SPIRIT IS CALL$ ,ASMODAY4 ,HE IS A GREAT ,K+1 /RONG & P[]FUL4 ,HE COME? ) ?REE HEADS1 :]E( ! FIR/ IS LIKE A BULL1 ! SECOND IS LIKE TO A MAN & ! ?IRD LIKE UNTO A RAM4 ,HE HA? A S]P5T'S TAIL & BEL*ES NOXI\S GAS4 ,HIS FOOT IS WEBB$ LIKE TO A GOOSE4 ,HE SITTE? UPON AN 9F]NAL DRAGON1 C>RY+ A ,LANCE & ,/&>D 9 HIS H&1 :]EON HIS 5SIGN IS DISPLAY$ AS SO3 

,HE GIVE? ( ! R+ ( ,VIRTUES1 & TEA*E? ! >TS ( ,>I?METIC1 ,GEOMETRY1 ,A/RONOMY & H&ICRAFT4 ,HE GIVE? ( FULL & TRUE ANSW]S TO ALL QUE/IONS & CAN MAKE? M5 9VISIBLE4 ,HE %[E? PLACES :]E IS TREASURE HIDD5 & HE GOV]NE? A FULL SIX DOZ5 ,LEGIONS ( 9F]IOR SPIRITS4 ,IF REQUE/$ HE MAY LIFT ! CONJUR] 9TO A HI<] PLACE :]E !Y MAY LOOKE? D[N UPON !IR NEI<BORS' HOMES & SEE !IR FELL[S AT !IR BUS9ESS AS ?\< IT W]E ?AT ! RO( HAD BE5 REMOV$4 

,( ALL ! EM95CES H]E B\ND & CONTA9$1 MO/ SPECIAL CAUTION IS ADVIS$ 9 ALL TRANSACTIONS ) ?IS ,SPIRIT4 ,( ! DEVILS CAPTUR$ BY ,K+ ,SOLOMON ON ! SYMBOLIC PLANE1 ! FI]CE/ & MO/ DIFFICULT TO SUBJUGATE IS ,ASMODAY4 ,9DE$1 9 ! RABB9ICAL TRADITION IT IS SAID ?AT ,ASMODAY ALONE IS PRO( AGA9/ ! MAGIC R+ ( ,MIKAEL ?AT HE HA? GIFT$ TO ,K+ ,SOLOMON4 ,9 !IR 5C\NT]1 IT IS ,ASMODAY :O TRIUMPHS1 HURL+ ! DEFEAT$ ,K+ SO F> 9TO ! SKY ?AT :5 HE IS RETURN$ TO ,E>? HE HAS =GOTT5 QUITE ?AT HE IS ,SOLOMON4 ,UN*ALL5G$1 ,ASMODAY ASSUMES ! =M ( ,SOLOMON & GOE? ON 9 ?IS IMP]SONATION TO COMPLETE ! BUILD+ ( ,SOLOMON'S TEMPLE AT ,J]USALEM & NEXT TAKE MANY WIVES1 & TO RAISE O!R1 LESS] TEMPLES TO ! =EIGN GODS ?AT !SE WIVES WOR%IP4 

,HE IS HUSB& TO ! MON/] ,LILI?1 ,QUE5 ( ,NI<T & ,MO!R ( ,ABOM9ATIONS4 ,:ILE BESOTT$ ) A PR9CESS 9 ! L& ( ,P]SIA1 ,ASMODAY DOES SLAY AS MANY ( H] RIVAL SUITORS AS !RE >E DAYS 9 ! WEEK1 = :I* CRIMES IS HE DRIV5 \T BY EXORCISM 9TO ANTIQUE ,EGYPT1 SPITEFULLY REMOV+ ALL HIS MA!MATIC 9SI<TS FROM ONE K+DOM TO ! O!R 9 ATTRITION4 

,ASMODAY1 9 ! >RANGEM5T ( T5 R+S OR TORI BY :I* ,HELL & ,HEAV5 >E COMPOS$1 IS ! DEMONIC RUL] ( ! ,FIF? PLANE & IS ?US ASSOCIAT$ PR9CIPALLY ) ,WRA?4 ,! FL[] ( ?IS P>TICUL> DOMA9 IS ! FIVE-PETAL ROSE1 ?IS BE+ EMBLEM TO ! MORTAL T[N%IP1 MAK+ IT CONDUCIVE TO ! FI5D4 ,SIMIL>LY1 ! REPRODUCTION ( ,SOLOMON'S ,TEMPLE RAIS$ 9 ! ,FIR/ ,BOR\< IS BELIEV$ TO /R5G!N ! AFF9ITY FELT BY ?IS ,SPIRIT = ! E>?LY DI/RICT4 ,HE IS ! MO/ T]RIBLE ( ALL ! DEVILS H]E CONF9$1 & 9 HIS WRA? HE IS IMPLACABLE4 ,ASMODAY'S COLORS1 BY :I* HE IS KN[N1 >E R$ & GRE51 :I* SIGNIFY BO? HIS SEV]ITY & ! EMOTIVE NATURE ( 444 

,MI*AEL GLANC$ UP FROM HIS GUIDE-BOOKLET1 COLOR DRA9+ FROM HIS FACE UNTIL HE LOOK$ ALMO/ EXACTLY AS HE HAD DONE 9 ! BLACK & :ITE EXPANSES ( ! <O/-SEAM4 ,SIZZL+ ,SAM ,O',DAY1 IT SEEM$1 WAS NOT JU/ ANY COMMON DEVIL4 ,HE HAD BEAT5 UP ,K+ ,SOLOMON DESPITE ! ,K+'S ALMI<TY MAGIC R+ :I* HE'D BE5 GIV5 BY A ,MA/] ,ANGLE4 ,HE WAS 0! MO/ T]RIBLE ( ALL ! DEVILS04 ,9 HIS WRA? HE WAS 0IMPLACABLE01 :I* ,MI*AEL ?\<T MEANT SOME?+ LIKE 0WILL GET Y\ 9 ! 5D04 ,! SMALL BOY SQU9T$ H>D AT ! 5D SLAB 9 ! F\R? R[ UNTIL HE REALIZ$ ?AT ! RAM'S EYES1 BULL'S EYES1 DRAGON'S EYES & MAN'S EYES 9 EA* PICTURE1 MULTIPLI$ A HUNDR$ TIMES ACROSS ! WRI?+ SURFACE ( ! /ONE1 W]E ALL />+ DIRECTLY AT HIM4 ,IT WAS NOT A LOV+ LOOK4 

,NOT )\T DIFFICULTY1 ,MI*AEL TORE HIS GAZE FROM ! 5TRANC+ SC9TILLATIONS ( ! ?IRTY-SECOND ,SPIRIT & FELL 9 ) ,PHYLLIS & ! O!RS AS !Y /RUGGL$ UP ! CON/ELLAT$ /AIRS TO ! FIR/ L&+ :]E1 IF HE HAD UND]/OOD !IR PLAN CORRECTLY1 !Y 9T5D$ TO S]VE AS SPECTATORS 9 A DREADFUL & UNPREC$5T$ FI<T BETWE5 ! ,MA/] ,BUILD]S4 ,AS ,MI*AEL HIMSELF WAS SEEM+LY ! CAUSE ( ?IS AFFRAY HE WOND]$ IF ATT5D+ IT 9 P]SON WAS ! SAFE/ ?+ TO DO1 ! D\BTS HE'D HAD ON ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET'S CORN] AB\T H[ WELL ,PHYLLIS & ! GANG W]E LOOK+ AFT] HIM RESURFAC+1 IF ONLY = A MOM5T4 ,! FIVE ,DEAD ,DEAD *ILDR5 W]E ! ONLY REAL FRI5DS ?AT HE'D GOT R\ND H]E4 ,/ICK+ ! LEAFLET BACK 9TO HIS POCKET1 ,MI*AEL SCURRI$ UP/AIRS AFT] !M4 

,A PAIR ( BUILD]S PASS+ D[N ! WIDE & SWEEP+ /AIRCASE 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION SEEM$ TO PAY P>TICUL> ATT5TION TO ! GANG ( <O/-KIDS1 & SPECIFICALLY TO ,MI*AEL ,W>R54 ,ONE 9CL9$ HIS HEAD T[>DS ! *ILD1 AT :I* ! O!R NODD$ SAGELY4 ,BO? ( !M !N SMIL$ AT ,MI*AEL BE=E WALK+ ON D[N ! />-SPATT]$ /EPS1 9 !IR LONG TRAIL+ G[NS ( GRAY ) PEACOCK COLORS %IMM]+ AT ! HEM4 ,MI*AEL WAS FA9TLY />TL$1 HAV+ NOT SE5 ?IS EXPRESSION ON ! FACES ( ! O!R BUILD]S LABOR+ BEL[4 ,:ILE !Y'D SEEM$ FOND OR EV5 PR\D ( HIM1 :I* MADE HIM FEEL W>M & IMPORTANT1 JU/ ! SIMPLE FACT ?AT !Y'D APPE>$ TO KN[ HIM WAS A BIT UNN]V+ & RAIS$ FRE% CONC]NS REG>D+ ! ADVISABILITY ( TURN+ UP TO WAT* ! ANGLE-FI<T4 

,BY N[ ! SIX ( !M HAD REA*$ ! FIR/ ( ! ?REE L&+S JUTT+ \T FROM ! EA/ WALL4 ,A HEAVY SW+ DOOR ) A /A9$-GLASS PANEL & BRASS PU%-PLATE1 LIKE ! ONES ?AT HE HAD SE5 9 PUBS1 L$ FROM ! /ELL> M>BLE ( ! PLAT=M \T ONTO ! FLOORBO>DS ( A LONG & RELATIVELY CR[D$ BALCONY ) A BLACK RAIL+ ( PIT*-TREAT$ WOOD4 ,IT LOOK$ A LOT LIKE ! RAIS$ WALKWAY UP ABOVE ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA? :]E ! TODDL] HAD MET ) %IFTY ,SAM ,O',DAY1 & AS BIG ,JOHN HELD ! DOOR OP5 = !M :ILE !Y FIL$ \T 9TO CRY/AL-P]FECT DAYLI<T1 ,MI*AEL BRIEFLY ?\<T ?AT IT MI<T BE ! SAME PLACE BUT !N REALIZ$ SWIFTLY ?AT IT WASN'T4 

,! MO/ OBVI\S & IMM$IATE DIFF]5CE WAS ! %E] AM\NT ( PEOPLE MILL+ BACK & =? ALONG ! 5DLESS GALL]Y1 OR LEAN+ ON ITS RAIL & *ATT]+ EXCIT$LY LIKE PATRONS 9 ! GODS1 ! UPP] CIRCLE AT A !AT]4 ,BY ,MI*AEL'S FLAIL+ E/IMATE1 ALONG ! REA* ( ! V]&A = AS F> AS HE C\LD SEE1 !RE MU/ HAVE BE5 P]HAPS TWO OR ?REE HUNDR$ <O/S4 ,HE WOND]$ IF !RE WAS A SPECIAL WORD LIKE 0PRIDE0 OR 0FLOCK0 OR 0H]D0 ?AT Y\ %\LD EMPLOY :5 DISCUSS+ SU* 5ORM\S QUANTITIES ( PHANTOMS1 & ASK$ HIS FIVE <O/-PALS IF !Y'D HE>D ( ONE4 ,PHYLLIS 9SI/$ ) AN AIR ( GREAT AU?ORITY ?AT ! APPROPRIATE T]M WAS 0A P]SI/5CE01 :ILE ,BILL V5TUR$ 0AN EMB>RASSM5T0 AS HIS ALT]NATIVE4 ,!N ,JOHN 5D$ ! SPECULATION BY SUGGE/+ ?AT ! BE/ EXPRESSION = A SPECTRAL MULTITUDE W\LD BE 0A ,NASEBY01 :I* HE !N HAD TO EXPLA9 TO ,MI*AEL1 AL?\< EV]YBODY ELSE WAS NODD+ GRAVELY 9 AGREEM5T4 

0,NASEBY WIZ ! VILLAGE JU/ \TSIDE ,NOR?AMPTON :]E !Y HAD ! F9AL BATTLE ( ! ,5GLI% ,CIVIL ,W>4 ,K+ ,*>LES WIZ CAPTUR$ & ! FIELD RAN R$1 ) BODIES PIL$ UP 9 ITS DIT*ES4 ,NEV] VISIT ,NASEBY :ILE Y\'RE 9 ! <O/-SEAM1 NIPP]4 ,!RE'S DEAD CAVALI]S & ,R\NDHEADS /&+ ?ICK AS R[S ( CORN1 *APS ) GREAT PIKE-HOLES ?R\< !IR JACKETS1 ALL BLOOD-BLACK & BONE-:ITE & BRA9-GRAY1 DRAGG+ MAIM$ PHOTO-TRAILS BEH9D 'EM ?R\< ! MUD4 ,Y\'VE NEV] SE5 SO MANY ANGRY DEAD M54 ,NO1 'A ,NASEBY ( <O/S'3 ?AT'S ! ONLY WAY TO PUT IT :5 Y\'VE GOT A CR[D LIKE ?IS ONE H]E40 

,! <O/S SURR\ND+ ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG ON ! BALCONY W]E C]TA9LY DIV]SE1 CONTA9+ REPRES5TATIVES FROM MO/ ( ! TW5TY OR ?IRTY C5TURIES ?AT !RE'D BE5 PEOPLE LIV+ 9 ! PRES5T T[N'S VIC9ITY4 ,AS HE & HIS COMPANIONS PASS$ ALONG ! BO>DWALK1 DODG+ 9 & \T AMONG ! SW>M ( WRAI?S1 ,MI*AEL SAW WOM5 CLAD 9 MAMMO? FUR & *ILDR5 NAK$ SAVE = !IR DEEP BLUE TATTOOS4 ,HOMESICK ,DANES ) LONG GOLD5 PLAITS RUBB$ %\LD]S ) JOCUL> 9FANTRYM5 :O'D BE5 CASUALTIES ( ,WORLD ,W> ,ONE4 ,A HAU<TY-LOOK+ MAN ) NO *9 & A BLACK %IRT LEAN$ AGA9/ ! BALU/RADE SMOK+ A COLOR$ COCKTAIL CIG>ETTE1 GLUMLY DISCUSS+ ,JEWS ) :AT APPE>$ TO BE AN EQUALLY DISGRUNTL$ L[]-RANK+ ,ROMAN SOLDI]4 ,!RE W]E EV5 ONE OR TWO ( ! <O/ ROYALI/S & ,R\NDHEADS ,JOHN HAD M5TION$1 :I* SUGGE/$ ?AT !Y HADN'T ALL REMA9$ D[N 9 ! <O/-SEAM \T AT ,NASEBY1 WALL[+ 9 ! BLACK MUD !Y'D DI$ 94 ,/RANGELY1 ONE MAN 9 A PLUM$ HAT :O WAS ! MO/ OBVI\S CAVALI] 9 ! ASSEMBLY /OOD !RE AT ! RAIL 9 AMIABLE CONV]SATION ) A HULK+1 GRAY-G>B$ MAN :O HAD A CROPP$ HEAD &1 EV5 ) NO DI/9CTIVE PEAK$ IRON HELMET TO CONFIRM ! FACT1 LOOK$ V]Y MU* LIKE SOMEONE :O'D F\<T ON ! O!R SIDE BACK 9 ! #a#fS4 ,PUZZL$1 ,MI*AEL PO9T$ \T ! PAIR TO ,JOHN1 :O MADE A S\ND ( M+L$ ADMIRATION & SURPRISE ON RECOGNIZ+ AT LEA/ ONE ( !M4 

0,BLIMEY6 ,WELL1 ,I DON'T KN[ :O ! LONG-HAIR$ FELL[ WIZ1 BUT ,I EXPECT Y\'RE RI<T & HE F\<T = ,K+ ,*>LEY4 ,N[1 ! BIG BLOKE ) ! %AV$ BONCE1 HE'S A DIFF]5T MATT]4 ,?AT'S ,?OMPSON ! ,LEVEL] &1 YES1 HE WIZ ON ,CROMWELL'S SIDE AT FIR/1 BUT IT WIZ ,CROMWELL 9 ! 5D :O LAID HIM L[1 AS SURELY AS HE DID ?AT CAVALI] :AT ,?OMPSON'S TALK+ TO4 ,OLD ,CROMWELL1 :5 HE NE$$ EV]YBODY HE C\LD GET = TAK+ ON ! ,K+1 HE PROMIS$ ! IDEALI/S & ! REVOLUTION>IES LIKE ! ,LEVEL]S ?AT IF !Y HELP$ HIM !Y C\LD MAKE ,5GL& ! PLACE !Y'D DREAM$ AB\T1 :]E EV]YONE WIZ EQUAL4 ,ONCE ! ,CIVIL ,W> WIZ WON1 ( C\RSE1 IT WIZ A DIFF]5T /ORY4 ,CROMWELL HAD ! ,LEVEL]S DONE AWAY )1 SO !Y W\LDN'T CAUSE HIM ANY TR\BLE :5 HE BACK$ D[N ON ! PROMISES HE'D MADE 'EM4 ,?OMPSON - Y\ CAN Y\RSELF SEE :AT A FI]CE-LOOK+ SOD HE WIZ - HE MADE HIS LA/ /& 9 ,NOR?AMPTON1 & IT LOOKS AS ?\< HE'S HUNG >\ND H]E EV] S9CE4 ,NO1 HIM & ! OLD LAU<+ CAVALI] !RE1 !Y'VE BO? GOT A LOT 9 COMMON1 ,I EXPECT4 ,Y\ V]Y SELDOM SEE HIM AS HI< UP AS ?IS1 OLD ,?OMPSON4 ,IT LOOKS LIKE ?IS FI<T BETWE5 ! BUILD]S HAS PULL$ 9 A CR[D FROM UP & D[N ! L+] ( ! ,SECOND ,BOR\<40 

,IT WAS TRUE4 ,AS ! <O/-*ILDR5 PASS$ ON D[N ! L5G? ( ! V]&A1 ! ?ICK CR[D P>T+ BE=E !M :5 !Y CAU<T ! SC5T ( ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]'S RANCID NECKLACE WAS LIKE A PECULI> HI/ORICAL P>ADE OR PAGEANT1 ONLY ONE :]E NO ONE LOOK$ AS IF !Y KNEW !Y W]E 9 FANCY DRESS4 ,( C\RSE1 MO/ ( !M W]5'T4 ,A L>GE MAJORITY ( ! GOOD-NATUR$ JO/L+ MOB W]E ORD9>Y ,BOR\<S RESID5TS ( ! N9ETE5? & TW5TIE? C5TURIES1 !IR CLO?+ H>DLY DIFF]5T TO ! TOGS ?AT ,MI*AEL & ! O!RS HAD GOT ON4 ,! SI<TSE]S :O'D TURN$ UP FROM O!R ]AS W]5'T ?AT DIFFICULT TO SPOT1 & MO/ ( !M W]E EASY TO ID5TIFY3 A SACK-CLAD ,SAXON DROV] ) A MODE/ H]D ( HALF-A-DOZ5 <O/-%EEP BLEAT+ ALL >\ND HIM AS !Y CLATT]$ D[N ! TIMELESS BO>DS2 9NUM]ABLE MONKS ( DIFF]5T DATES & DIFF]5T ORD]S1 ALL ) V]Y LITTLE TO DEBATE EXCEPT H[ WRONG !Y'D GOT ! AFT]LIFE2 ANXI\S & FL9*+ ,NORMAN LADIES2 ANGRY-LOOK+ ,ANCI5T ,BRITON PRO/ITUTES :O'D BE5 SEQUE/]$ TO A ,ROMAN LEGION4 

,!RE W]E ALSO O!R FIGURES ?AT W]E H>D TO PUT A NAME OR TIME TO4 ,SOME?+ V]Y TALL WAS COM+ D[N ! BALCONY T[>DS !M FROM ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION1 LOOM+ UP A GOOD TWO OR ?REE FEET ABOVE ! HEADS & %\LD]S ( ! MILL+ HORDE >\ND IT4 ,IT LOOK$ LIKE A K9D ( WIGWAM MADE ( RU%ES1 ) A HOLL[ WOOD5 TUBE PROTRUD+ FROM ITS UPP] REA*ES ?AT LOOK$ SOME?+ LIKE A BEAK & GAVE ! :OLE ?+ ! APPE>ANCE ( A HUGE GRE5 WAD+ BIRD4 ,AS !Y PASS$ IT1 ,MI*AEL NOTIC$ ?AT IT WALK$ ON /ILTS ?AT POK$ \T PA/ ! 9T]WOV5 RE$S >\ND ! HEM ( ITS /RANGE G[N4 ,HE'D GOT NO IDEA :AT IT WAS1 NOR :AT UNHE>D-( P]IOD IT HAD ORIG9AT$ FROM4 ,HE WAT*$ IT /ALK AWAY D[N ! LONG L&+1 MELT+ 9TO ! DELIRI\S MASSES ?AT W]E GA!R$ !RE1 & WAS AB\T TO ASK ,JOHN = AN EXPLANATION :5 HIS EYE WAS CAU<T BY SOME?+ ?AT1 TO ,MI*AEL1 APPE>$ EV]Y BIT AS CURI\S4 

,IT WAS A C[BOY - A REAL C[BOY 9 DU/-COLOR$ CLO!S & A S(T HAT ?AT HAD BE5 BATT]$ %APELESS1 OLD BOOTS ) A SECOND SOLE ( DRY BLOND MUD & AT LEA/ SEV5 GUNS ( DIFF]5T TYPES & SIZES1 %OV$ 9 EV]Y:]E !Y'D FIT4 ,TWO W]E 9 SPLITT+ LEA!R HOL/]S HUNG FROM A CRACK$ BELT ) ?REE MORE JAMM$ 9TO ! FELL['S WAI/B&4 ,ONE WAS /UFF$ D[N ONE SIDE ( A BOOT1 ANO!R JUTT+ FROM A TR\S] POCKET4 ,ALL ( !M LOOK$ ANCI5T & AS DANG]\S ACCID5TALLY AS BY 9T5T4 ,! MAN /OOD LEAN+ ON ! RAIL1 GAZ+ ACROSS IT ) A PRAIRIE />E1 & HIS SMOO?1 FLAWLESS SK9 WAS BLACK] ?AN ! PIT* ) :I* ! BALU/RADE WAS PA9T$4 ,SL\*+ !RE AT RE/ HE HAD ! LI! L9ES ( A JAGU>1 ! C>V$ & /YLIZ$ HEAD ( AN ,EGYPTIAN IDOL 9 OBSIDIAN4 ,HE WAS QUITE SIMPLY ! MO/ BEAUTIFUL & P]FECT HUMAN BE+ - MAN OR WOMAN - ?AT ! *ILD HAD EV] SE54 ,! IDEA ( A C[BOY BE+ BLACK1 ?\<1 SEEM$ IMPROBABLE1 AS DID HIS PRES5CE H]E AMONG ! TEEM+1 PHANTOM FL[ ( =M] ,BOR\<S RESID5TS4 ,?IS TIME1 ,JOHN NOTIC$ ,MI*AEL GAWK+ & WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSI/ANCE )\T BE+ ASK$4 

0,?AT ONE1 ! BLACK *AP !RE1 HE'S NOT A <O/4 ,HE'S SOMEONE'S DREAM4 ,SOMEBODY FROM ! ,BOR\<S DREAM$ AB\T ?IS BLOKE 5\< = HIM TO HAVE ACCUMULAT$ A FAIR BIT ( PRES5CE UP H]E40 

,BILL1 :O HAD BE5 LI/5+ 9 ON :AT ,JOHN SAID TO ,MI*AEL AS ! DEAD GANG WALK$ ALONG1 PUT 9 HIS [N TWO P5N'OR?4 

0,YEAH4 ,I SAW ! ,BEATLES A FEW M9UTES BACK1 DRESS$ 9 ALL ?AT ',I AM ! ,WALRUS' KIT !Y WORE4 ,SOMEBODY MU/ HAVE DREAM$ !M ']E AS WELL40 

,!RE !N 5SU$ AN UNPRODUCTIVE SEV]AL MOM5TS 9 :I* ,BILL ATTEMPT$ TO EXPLA9 ALL AB\T BEETLES DRESS$ AS WALRUSES BE=E HE REALIZ$ HE WAS TALK+ AB\T ?+S ?AT HADN'T HAPP5$ DUR+ ,JOHN'S OR ,MI*AEL'S LIFETIMES4 ,?IS ITSELF SEEM$ TO PROVOKE FRE% QUE/IONS FROM ! DRESS+ G[N-CLAD TODDL]4 

0,SO H[ WIZ !RE DREAMS UP H]E ?AT PEOPLE HAV5'T HAD YET8 ,DO DREAMS JU/ QUEUE UP R\ND H]E WAIT+ TO BE DREAM$80 

,JOHN SEEM$ QUITE TAK5 ) ! ?\<T1 BUT %OOK HIS HEAD4 

0,IT'S NOT LIKE ?AT1 OR ,I DON'T ?9K IT WIZ1 AT ANY RATE4 ,IT'S MORE TO DO ) H[ TIME WORKS A DIFF]5T WAY :5 WE'RE ,UP/AIRS4 ,I MEAN1 ! FUTURE H]E1 IT'S ONLY A FEW MILES D[N ?AT WAY40 

,H]E HE GE/UR$ TO ! WE/1 SOME:]E BEH9D ! <O/-GANG AS !Y MADE !IR WAY ALONG ! 5DLESS BO>DWALK1 BE=E HE CONT9U$4 

0,DREAMS CAN WALK H]E FROM ! TIMES TO COME AS EASILY AS !Y CAN FROM ! PA/4 ,! SAME ?+'S TRUE ) ALL ! <O/S4 ,Y\ MU/ HAVE NOTIC$ SOME ( ! DAFT CLO!S !SE SILLY BEGG>S HAVE GOT ON1 ! PUFFY COATS & ?+S LIKE ?AT GIRL !RE40 

,JOHN NODD$ TO ! PHANTOM =M ( A Y\NG WOMAN !Y W]E JU/ !N PASS+1 :O HAD TR\S]S ON ?AT W]E EI!R TOO SMALL = H] OR ELSE W]E FALL+ D[N SO Y\ C\LD SEE H] BUM-CRACK1 :I* HAD SOME K9D ( ELA/ICAT$ /R+ CAU<T UP IT4 ,N[ ?AT ,MI*AEL LOOK$ >\ND HE NOTIC$ A FEW MORE \TL&I%LY-G>B$ 9DIVIDUALS :O1 FOLL[+ ,JOHN'S EXPLANATION1 N[ LOOK$ LIKELY TO BE SPIRITS FROM ! FUTURE ( ! ,BOR\<S1 PEOPLE :O BY #aiei HAD C]TA9LY NOT DI$ YET & 9 MANY CASES HAD /ILL TO BE BORN4 ,MI*AEL WAS LOOK+ \T = O!R LADIES ) !IR BUMS HALF %[+ S9CE !SE W]E A FASC9AT+ NOVELTY HE HADN'T SE5 BE=E1 :5 ! :OLE GR\P ( *ILDR5 SUDD5LY /OPP$ DEAD4 ,PUTT+ ASIDE HIS SE>* = HALF-MA/ TR\S]S1 ,MI*AEL HIMSELF %UFFL$ TO A HALT1 WOND]+ :AT WAS UP4 

0,OH1 ,*RI/10 SAID ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]4 0,EV]YBODY GET OV] ONE SIDE1 AGA9/ ! RAIL40 

,! O!R <O/-KIDS DID AS !Y W]E TOLD IMM$IATELY1 TO F9D ?AT ALMO/ ALL ! O!R PHANTOMS ON ! BALCONY W]E TRY+ TO ACCOMPLI% ! EXACT SAME ?+1 CR[D+ AGA9/ ! RAIL+ 9 A MUTT]+ & FLUORESC5T CRU% LIKE />TL$ P>ROTS 9 AN AVI>Y4 ,ATTEMPT+ TO SEE PA/ ! HUMAN BILL[S & LE>N :AT WAS PROMPT+ ?IS UNUSUAL ACTIVITY1 ,MI*AEL C\LD HE> ,JOHN SAY+1 0,:AT ! BLOODY HELL WIZ ?AT80 & ,REGGIE ,B[L] GASP+4 ,LITTLE TUBBY ,M>JORIE SAID1 0,OH MY ,LORD4 ,?AT POOR MAN10 TO :I* ,BILL REPLI$1 0,POOR MAN MY ASS4 ,?AT CUNT'S DONE IT 'IMSELF40 ,= ONCE1 ,BILL'S OLD] SI/] DIDN'T REPRIM& HIM = HIS SWE>+4 ,PHYLLIS JU/ GRAVELY 9TON$1 0,?AT'S RI<T4 ,?AT'S RI<T1 'E HAS4 ',E'S 4440 

,! REMA9D] ( :ATEV] %E'D BE5 GO+ TO IMP>T WAS DR[N$ B5EA? A GR[+ ?UND]-ROLL :I* ,MI*AEL REALIZ$ HAD BE5 BUILD+ UP = SOME FEW MOM5TS1 EV5 ?\< HE HADN'T REALLY BE5 AW>E ?AT HE WAS HE>+ IT4 ,HE CRAN$ HIS <O/LY NECK1 TRY+ TO SEE4 

,PROCE$+ SL[LY D[N ! BALCONY T[>DS !M1 TAK+ SMALL & HALT+ /EPS LIKE A PALL-BE>]1 CAME A WALK+ FL[] ( NOISE & FIRE4 ,IT SEEM$ TO BE A MAN FROM ! WAI/ D[N1 & YET ITS UPP] HALF WAS A GREAT BALL ( LI<T 9 :I* SMALL SPECKS ( D>KNESS W]E SUSP5D$1 MOTIONLESS4 ,! RUMBL+ NOISE SEEM$ TO BE WRAPP$ >\ND ! FIGURE 9 SOME WAY1 CIRCL+ R\ND ! BL9D+ FL>E ?AT WAS HIS BODY & 9CREAS+ TO A DEAF5+ RO> AS HE APPROA*$4 ,:5 HE DREW LEVEL ) ! FRI<T5$ *ILDR51 FLATT5$ UP AGA9/ ! BALU/RADE TO LET HIM PASS ALONG ) ALL ! O!R <O/S1 ,MI*AEL C\LD MAKE \T MORE ( HIS APPE>ANCE1 SQU9T+ ?R\< ! GL>E SURR\ND+ ! APPALL+ SPECTACLE4 

,IT WAS A =EIGN P]SON1 ,MI*AEL WASN'T SURE :AT SORT1 DRESS$ 9 A QUILT$ JACKET & A LITTLE R\ND :ITE PILLBOX HAT OR SKULLCAP ( SOME K9D4 ,HIS Y\NGI% FACE WAS TURN$ T[>DS ! SKY1 HIS BE>D$ *9 TIPP$ BACK1 A SMILE HELD WILLFULLY UPON HIS LIPS DESPITE ! FAT TE>DROP EVAPORAT+ ON ONE FLOODLIT *EEK1 & EYES FILL$ ) A LOOK ?AT MI<T HAVE BE5 SALVATION BUT C\LD JU/ AS WELL HAVE BE5 EXCRUCIAT+ %OCK OR AGONY4 ,! PADD$ JACKET SEEM$ TO HAVE BE5 CAPTUR$ 9 ! MOM5T IT WAS TORN TO %R$S1 D>K RIBBONS ( MAT]IAL TWI/+ UPW>DS 9TO RAGG$ & FANTA/IC %APES AS IF ATTEMPT+ TO ESCAPE ! DAZZL+ :IT5ESS FLOOD+ FROM B5EA? IT1 :]E ITS [N]'S BREA/ HAD EVID5TLY OP5$ 9 A SPRAY ( PHOSPHOR\S4 ,MI*AEL C\LD SEE N[ ?AT ! D>K BLOTS HANG+ !RE UNMOV+ 9 ! BRILLIANCE W]E SOME SEV]AL DOZ5 SCREWS & NAILS1 AN A/]OID BELT ( D>K SPECKS ET]NALLY CAU<T 9 !IR RU% AWAY FROM ! EXPLOD+ HE>T ( LI<T & HEAT BEH9D !M4 ,DEAF5+ NOISE WAS CRAWL+ ALL >\ND ! FIGURE N[1 UN*ANG+ 9 ITS PIT* AS ?\< IT WAS ! S\ND ( ONE BRIEF1 DEVA/AT+ 9/ANT ?AT HAD BE5 PROTRACT$ 9F9ITELY1 SL[$ D[N FROM ! TUMULT ( A SECOND TO ! DRUM-ROLL ( A ?\S& BURN+ YE>S4 ,! HYBRID CREATURE1 HALF MAN1 HALF ,/4 ,ELMO'S ,FIRE1 CONT9U$ =W>D 9 SMALL PA9FUL /EPS ALONG ! L&+1 H&S RAIS$ SLI<TLY FROM HIS SIDES ) PALMS TURN$ \TW>DS1 FEATURES /ILL CONTORT$ 9TO ?AT AMBIGU\S1 UNC]TA9 SMILE4 ,A WALK+ CATACLYSM IT MOV$ PA/ ! GAP+ *ILDR51 HEAD+ ON D[N ! V]&A ) ITS BALL ( FROZ5 FLA% & CLAMOR1 ) ITS %RAPNEL HALO ( HOT BOLTS & RIVETS4 ,9 ITS WAKE1 ! TRANSFIX$ PHANTOM CR[D BACK$ UP AGA9/ ! WOOD5 RAIL BEGAN ONCE MORE TO MOVE & MUTT]1 W&]+ (F TO OCCUPY ! RE/ ( ! BROAD WALKWAY ?AT !Y'D CLE>$ TO LET ! BLAZ+ ?+ GO BY4 

,MI*AEL />$ UP AT ,JOHN4 

0,:AT WIZ IT80 

,JOHN'S D>K EYES1 MAT9EE-IDOL SMUDGES 9 REPOSE1 W]E N[ AS BIG & AS BEWILD]$ AS ! TODDL]'S [N4 ,SPEE*LESS1 ! OLD] BOY JU/ %OOK HIS HEAD4 ,= ALL ( ,JOHN'S EXP]I5CE1 HE'D CLE>LY NO MORE UND]/&+ ( ! SPECTACLE ?AT !Y'D JU/ WITNESS$ ?AN ,MI*AEL HIMSELF HAD4 ,M>JORIE & ,REGGIE W]E LIKEWISE UNCOMPREH5D+1 MUTE & QUIETLY HORRIFI$1 & IT WAS LEFT = ,BILL & ,PHYLLIS TO %$ LI<T UPON ! />TL+ 9CID5T4 ,! GIRL LEAD] ( ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG SEEM$ %AK5 AS %E TRI$ TO TAKE *>GE ( ! SITUATION4 

0 ',E WIZ :AT !Y CALL A T]RORI/4 ,SUICIDE BOMB]1 W]5'T IT1 ,BILL8 ,I NEV] LIK$ TO READ ABAYT 'EM 9 ! PAP]S :ILE ,I WIZ ALIVE4 ,GI' ME ! WILLIES1 ALL ?AT BUS9ESS DID4 ,BILL ']E KN[S MORE ABAYT ALL ?AT ?AN ,I DO40 

,BILL1 AS IT TURN$ \T1 HAD READ ! PAP]S & KNEW QUITE A BIT AB\T ! ALMO/ MY/ICAL 9C5DI>Y VISION ?AT HAD JU/ PASS$ CLOSE 5\< = !M TO FEEL ITS HEAT1 ?\< EV5 ! RES\RCEFUL R$-HAIR$ UR*9 SEEM$ UNC]TA9 & P]PLEX$4 

0,PHYLL'S RI<T4 ,SUICIDE BOMB]S />T$ CROPP+ UP 9 ,5GL& >\ND NO?+-FIVE1 ALL ,MOSLEMS ) A /ROP ON BECAUSE US & ! ,AM]ICANS HAD FUCK$ ,IRAQ UP PA/ ALL RECOGNITION1 & 'CAUSE WE WIZ CRACK9' D[N ON RAG 'EADS G5]ALLY4 ,IT WIZ A BIT LIKE ) ! ,I,R,A & ?AT LOT3 Y\ C\LD SEE !Y'D GOT A FAIR PO9T TO />T (F )1 !N !Y W5T & FUCK$ IT UP BY BL[+ KIDS TO BITS & ACT9' LIKE A LOAD O' TWATS4 ,SUICIDE BOMB]S1 :AT !Y'D DO1 !Y'D 'AVE ?IS ?+ !Y CALL$ A M>TYR VE/1 PACK$ FULL ( SOME HOME-MADE EXPLOSIVE1 F]TILIZ] OR *APATTI FL\R1 SOME?+ LIKE ?AT4 ,!Y'D GET ON BUSSES OR ON TUBE TRA9S & JU/ BL[ !MSELVES UP1 TRY9' TO TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE ) !M AS !Y C\LD40 

,JOHN LOOK$ A<A/4 

0,:AT1 JU/ BL[+ UP CIVILIANS1 LIKE8 ,! DIRTY SODS4 ,! DIRTY1 EVIL BUGG]S40 

,BILL JU/ %RUGG$1 ?\< NOT UNSYMPA!TICALLY4 

0,IT'S JU/ :AT 'APP5S1 5NIT8 ,I DON'T S'POSE Y\ W]E >\ND TO SEE :AT \R LOT DID TO ,DRESD51 OR ! ,YANKS DID TO ! ,JAPS4 ,!SE DAYS1 ,JOHN1 ME OLD MUCK]1 IT'S NOT LIKE IT WIZ 9 Y\R DAY4 ,!RE'S NO C\NTRY :AT CAN /ICK ITS '& UP AN' SAY ',NO1 NOT US1 MATE4 ,WE'RE NOT LIKE ?AT4' ,?OSE TIMES >E LONG GONE1 ALL ?AT ,GOD1 ,K+ & ,C\NTRY BOLLIX4 ,WE KN[ BETT] N[4 

0,AS = OLD MATEY-BOY :O JU/ W5T SIZZL9' PA/1 ,I RECKON AS 'E LOOK$ ! WAY 'E DID = ! SAME REASON ,PHYLLIS /ILL 'AS ALL '] FUCK9' /9K9' RABBITS40 ,BILL DUCK$ NIMBLY AS HE DODG$ A SWIPE FROM HIS BIG SI/] BE=E HE W5T ON4 

0,I'M ONLY SAY9' ?AT IT MU/ BE '[ IT WIZ = ALL ( US3 WE LOOK ! WAY WE BE/ REMEMB] \RSELVES BE+ :5 WE WIZ ALIVE4 ,= BOMB-BOY :AT WE JU/ SAW1 ?AT MU/ BE ! WAY ?AT HE PREF]S TO SEE 'IMSELF1 RI<T AT ?AT MOM5T :5 HE PULL$ ! /R+ OR :ATEV] !Y DO & TOOK \T 'ALF O' ,/R+FELL]'S OR ,TIG] ,TIG]4 ,FROM 'IS EYES & FROM ! WAY ?AT 'E WIZ WALK9'1 IT LOOK$ LIKE HE'D %AT 'IMSELF1 BUT ,I SUPPOSE IT'S ALL P>T O' ! M>TYRDOM1 AYE8 

0,:AT ,I CAN'T GET ME 'EAD R\ND WIZ :AT 'E WIZ DO9' UP ']E 9 ,MANS\L4 ,AT A R\< GUESS1 ,I'D SAY IT MU/ BE BECAUSE 'E GREW UP >\ND ! ,BOR\<S1 OR BECAUSE 'E DI$ ']E4 ,GREW UP1 OR ELSE BLEW UP4 ,BUT ,I DON'T REMEMB] ANYBODY LIKE ?AT FROM MY LIFETIME4 ',E MU/ BE FROM FUR!R UP ! L9E ?AN ME AN' ,PHYLL40 

,EV]YONE ?\<T AB\T ?AT = A :ILE1 ! IDEA ?AT ! ,BOR\<S W\LD AT SOME PO9T 9 ITS FUTURE EI!R SUFF] ! ATT5TIONS ( A SUICIDAL BOMB]1 OR PRODUCE ONE4 

,MI*AEL TURN$ T[>DS ! PIT*-/A9$ BALU/RADE ?AT HE & ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG HAD NOT MOV$ FROM S9CE ! PASS+ ( ! SMIL+1 %UFFL+ EXPLOSION4 ,IT APPE>$ ?AT ! UPSETT+ VISITATION HAD PRODUC$ AT LEA/ ONE HELPFUL SIDE EFFECT1 9 ?AT ! SIX <O/-*ILDR5 N[ HAD !IR [N /RIP ( RAIL1 OV] OR ?R\< :I* !Y C\LD LOOK AT ! IMP5D+ FI<T BETWE5 ! BUILD]S )\T HAV+ LOTS ( GR[N-UP <O/S 9 FRONT ( !M4 ,HE ALSO REALIZ$ ?AT ! REASON :Y ! OLD] PHANTOMS HADN'T CR[D$ /RAI<T BACK 9 & JO/L$ ! WRAI?-KIDS \T ( ! WAY WAS MORE ?AN LIKELY ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]'S RABBIT SC>F1 :I* OBVI\SLY HAD ITS USES4 

,HE SUPPOS$ IT WAS A BIT LIKE ! ONE TIME HIS MOM & DAD HAD TAK5 HIM & ,ALMA UP TO SEE ! ,BICYCLE ,P>ADE 9 ,%EEP ,/REET AT ! TOP ( ,BULL-,HEAD ,LANE4 ,MI*AEL HAD TRAVEL$ UP !RE 9 HIS PRAM1 BUT HAD BE5 UN/RAPP$ ON >RIVAL TO /& BY HIS MOM1 ,DORE51 HOLD+ H] H&4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 HE'D BE5 SO EXCIT$ ?AT HE'D BE5 SICK OV] TWO :OLE PAV+ /ONES :]E !Y W]E /&+4 ,?IS HAD 5SUR$ ?AT HE & HIS FAMILY W]E GIV5 LOTS ( ROOM 9 :I* !Y C\LD 5JOY ! SIMULTANE\SLY ?RILL+ & DI/URB+ CAVALCADE ( M>*+ B&S1 PR9CESSES1 CL[NS ON BICYCLES & HORRORS ) GREAT PEEL+ HEADS ( PAPI]-MA*E1 ,MI*AEL'S VOMIT HAV+ MU* ! SAME EFFECT ?AT ,PHYLLIS'S PUTRESC5T /OLE WAS HAV+ N[4 

,NOT BE+ TALL 5\< TO SEE OV] ! RAIL1 HE LOOK$ BETWE5 ! WOOD5 B>S LIKE A SURPRIS+LY Y\NG JAILBIRD1 \T ACROSS ! MESM]IZ+ VIEW AVAILABLE FROM ?IS FIR/-/ORY BALCONY ?AT JUTT$ FROM ! ,WORKS4 

,HIS FIR/ IMPRESSION WAS ?AT HE WAS LOOK+ D[N UPON ! ,MAYORHOLD1 OR ON SOME?+ ?AT ! ,MAYORHOLD MI<T HAVE BE5 A ,MAT*BOX TOY-SCALE REPRODUCTION (1 ALMO/ AS IF ! MODE/ MORTAL SQU>E W]E A PAGE \T ( A CLOS$ POP-UP BOOK ?AT HAD BE5 OP5$ & UNFOLD$ H]E UPON ?IS HI<] PLANE4 ,SE5 FROM ?IS ELEVAT$ ANGLE IT WAS V]Y MU* LIKE BE+ 9 SOME GIANT AMPHI!AT]1 PE]+ D[N 9TO A WELL ?AT WAS A MILE OR SO ACROSS & SEEM+LY DESC5D$ ?R\< SOME SEV]AL LAY]S ( REALITY4 ,! DIFF]5T WORLDS 9 SL[LY UNDULAT+ B&S /ACK$ ONE UPON ! O!R1 LIKE TRICK DR9KS HE'D SE5 ON TELLY1 9 A TALL GLASS ) ! DIFF]5T BOOZE 9 DIFF]5T-COLOR$ /RIPES4 

,! HI<E/ LEVEL WAS P]HAPS ON ONE ( ! TWO FLOORS ABOVE HIM1 ) !IR BALCONIES PROTRUD+ FROM ! FRONT WALL ( ! ,WORKS DIRECTLY OV]HEAD1 OR POSSIBLY ! VA/ EXPANSE ( ,MANS\L SKY ?AT DOM9AT$ ! 5CLOSURE1 :]E ! FUNNY GEOMETRIC CL\DS UNFOLD$ !MSELVES 9 PROGRESSIVELY MORE COMPLICAT$ %APES1 PALE L9ES AGA9/ A S++ & CELE/IAL BLUE4 ,H[EV] Y\ DIVID$ IT1 ! ,SECOND ,BOR\< WAS ON TOP ( ! >RANGEM5T1 ) ! BUILD+S R++ ?IS EXP&$ ,MAYORHOLD BE+ ( ! SAME DREAMY IMM5SITY ?AT SEEM$ TO BE A FEATURE ( ! >*ITECTURE H]E ,UP/AIRS4 

,MI*AEL ALL[$ HIS GAZE TO SLIDE D[N ! /EEP L9ES ( ! HUGE /RUCTURES OPPOSITE HIM1 ON ! F> SIDE ( ! =M] T[N SQU>E4 ,!SE APPE>$ TO BE 9FLAT$ & FLAMBOYANT V]SIONS ( ! HUMBLE 5T]PRISES ?AT1 D[N 9 ! LIV+ WORLD1 LOOK$ \T UPON ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,/RAI<T ACROSS FROM HIM !RE WAS A SORT ( LAY]$ PYRAMID COMPOS$ FROM TWO V>IETIES ( M>BLE1 ONE :ITE & ! O!R GRE51 >RANG$ 9 ALT]NAT+ GIANT BLOCKS4 ,TALL W9D[S 9T]RUPT$ ! FACADE1 & R\ND ! CURVE ( A HI< DECORATIVE >* ?AT CR[N$ ! BUILD+1 PICK$ \T 9 MOSAIC LETT]S1 WAS ! LEG5D ',BRAN* #a#i'4 ,HE REALIZ$ HE WAS LOOK+ AT A HI<] V]SION ( ! ,CO-OP1 ! SAME PLACE !Y'D GLIMPS$ A LITTLE :ILE AGO :5 !Y W]E 9 ! FAD$ DUPLICATE ( #aiei ?AT WAS ! <O/-SEAM4 ,HAV+ RECOGNIZ$ ?IS L&M>K1 HE WAS ABLE TO D$UCE ?AT ! AU/]E GRAY T[] JU/ S\? ( ! /RET*$-\T ,CO-OP1 :I* HE'D TAK5 = A SOB]-LOOK+ *UR* OR TEMPLE ( SOME K9D1 WAS ACTUALLY A ,MANS\L-/YLE EXAGG]ATION ( ! PUBLIC TOILETS AT ! FOOT ( ,SILV] ,/REET4 

,AS HE CONT9U$ TO 9SPECT ! EV]-L[] REA*ES ( ! PREMISES ON ! ,MAYORHOLD'S F> SIDE1 HE REA*$ ! SECOND TREMBL+ & VAPOR\S /RATA ( ! PIL$ REALITIES4 ,H]E1 FOLL[+ A PIT*-RAIL$ WOOD5 WALKWAY RUNN+ R\ND ! BOTTOM ( ! HI<] $IFICES1 ! GREAT SWOOP+ CONT\RS ( ! ,MANS\L-MADE CON/RUCTIONS W]E CONT9U$ D[N 9TO ! HUE-=SAK5 SMOLD] ( ! <O/-SEAM1 !IR L9ES N>R[+ 9 /EEP P]SPECTIVE = ! NECESS>Y FIT ) ! MU* SMALL]1 MORE REALI/ICALLY-SCAL$ HALF-WORLD4 ,AS SE5 FROM ! VANTAGE ( ,UP/AIRS1 ?IS FOGGY BLACK & :ITE REALM ( SELF-D5IGRAT+ WRAI?S APPE>$ TO BE TRANSLUC5T1 LIKE A %EET ( COLORLESS GRAY JELLY ( ! TYPE F\ND 9 PORK PIES4 ,BURR[+ ?R\< ?IS VISC\S M$IUM HUNDR$S ( FEET BEL[1 ) /REAMS ( T9Y AFT]-PICTURES DISSIPAT+ 9 !IR WAKES1 W]E SEV]AL ( ! >EA'S R\< SLEEP]S1 AL?\< NONE ?AT ,MI*AEL RECOGNIZ$4 

,HE F\ND ?AT IF HE FOCUS$ ) HIS <O/-EYES1 HE C\LD SEE D[N ?R\< ! LEVEL :]E ! SORRY APP>ITIONS W5T AB\T !IR BUS9ESS1 & SEE D[N 9TO ! PLATEAU UND]NEA?4 ,?IS WAS A PLANE ( WRI?+1 9T]WOV5 CRY/AL GR[?S 9 :I* MOV$ V>I\SLY COLOR$ LI<TS1 & HE ASSUM$ ?AT ?IS MU/ BE ! MORTAL ,MAYORHOLD AS SE5 FROM ! ,SECOND ,BOR\<1 JU/ AS HE'D LOOK$ D[N UPON ! JEWELRY SNAK+ ?R\< HIS HUMAN LIV+ ROOM :5 HE'D FIR/ SURFAC$ 9 ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?4 ,! TANGL$ 9TE/9AL L5G?S ( HEMATITE & OPAL W]E1 HE KNEW1 ! ORD9>Y LIV+ PEOPLE ( ! DI/RICT1 VIEW$ AS ?\< !Y W]E EXT5D$ ?R\< TIME 9TO GORGE\S & UNMOV+ CORAL MILLIP$ES4 ,!SE KNOTT$ 9TO AN ELABORATE C>PET+ ( VIVID GEM-/R&S & APP>5TLY PROVID$ A GR\ND FLOOR UPON :I* ! SUP]IOR TI]S W]E /&+4 ,MI*AEL />$ 5TRANC$ BETWE5 ! PIT*-/A9$ B>S1 D[N ?R\< ! ONION LAY]S ( ! WORLD4 

,AS ) ! NORMAL E>?LY ,MAYORHOLD1 ITS EXPLOD$ ,MANS\L C\NT]P>T WAS SITUAT$ :]E EI<T MI<TY AV5UES CONV]G$1 !SE BE+ GLORI\SLY UNRE/RICT$ COMPLEM5TS TO ,BROAD ,/REET1 ,BA? ,/REET1 ,BE>W>D ,/REET1 ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET1 ,HORSEM>KET1 ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 ,BULL-,HEAD ,LANE & ,SILV] ,/REET4 ,!SE ?OR\<F>ES L$ (F FROM ! 5CLOSURE LIKE ! PLA/IC LEGS PLUGG$ 9TO ! MA9 BODY = A GAME ( BEETLE-DRIVE1 EI<T SP9DLY TRIBUT>IES RUNN+ TO A MASSIVE C5TRAL RES]VOIR4 ,! SO>+ SUP]-BUILD+S CIRCL+ ?IS HUGE EXPANSE W]E LIKE GREAT CLIFF-FACES ) W9D[S & V]&AS1 & PRESS$ UP AGA9/ EA* PANE OR P]*$ ON EV]Y L$GE & BALCONY !RE W]E ! C\NTLESS ?READB>E SPECT]S ( ! ,BOR\<S1 9 C5TURIONS' CLOAKS OR F+]LESS WOOL MITT5S1 H]E TO WAT* ! ,MA/] ,BUILD]S COME TO BL[S4 ,! RU/LE ( A ?\S& <O/LY CONV]SATIONS :ISP]$ R\ND ! AUDITORIUM LIKE EBB-TIDE HISS+ OV] %+LE4 ,MI*AEL ?\<T IT WAS A BIT LIKE BE+ AT ! PICTURES 9 ! BIT BE=E ! LI<TS DIM ALMO/ IMP]CEPTIBLY & EV]YONE GOES QUIET4 

,! *ILDR5 L\NG$ AGA9/ ! BALU/RADE1 WAIT+ = ! MA9 FEATURE TO COMM5CE4 ,REGGIE & ,JOHN W]E TALL 5\< TO LEAN UPON ! RAIL ITSELF1 *9S 9 !IR H&S1 :ILE ALL ! O!RS HAD TO BE CONT5T TO CR\* ) ,MI*AEL1 PE]+ ?R\< ! UPRI<T B>S LIKE F\R AFT]LIFE MONKEYS4 ,BILL WAS HOLD+ =? AB\T ! HUMAN FIREWORK ?AT !Y'D JU/ BE5 WITNESS TO1 ,JOHN HAV+ ASK$ HIM :Y !SE PEOPLE W]E PREP>$ TO KILL !MSELVES = !IR BELIEFS4 

0,IT'S ! BELIEFS :AT >E ! TR\BLE4 ,F> AS ,I CAN MAKE \T1 ALL !SE NUTT]S RECKON ?AT !Y'RE GUNNA BE BL[N UP 9TO ! SKY & L& 9 P>ADISE1 :]E !RE'LL BE ALL !SE F\RTE5-YE>-OLD VIRG9S TO ATT5D !IR EV]Y :IM4 ,FUCK9' GOOD LUCK1 MATE1 ?AT'S ALL ,I CAN SAY4 ,I MEAN1 IT'S A BIT FUCK9' WEIRD1 'AV9' IDEAS LIKE ?AT TO />T )1 :]E Y\ BL[ UP A FEW DOZ5 BLAMELESS 9DIVIDUALS & ?AT GETS Y\ PA/ ! B\NC]S 9 NONCE 'EAV54 ,?AT BLOKE WE JU/ SAW MU/ WOND] :]E ! FUCK 'E WIZ4 ,NOT ONLY ?AT1 BUT :]E ! FUCK'S 'E GUNNA F9D A F\RTE5-YE>-OLD VIRG9 9 ! ,BOR\<S80 

,BILL W5T ON TO TALK AB\T ! FI<T+ 9 A C\NTRY CALL$ ,IRAQ1 :I* ,JOHN HAD NEV] HE>D (1 AT :I* ,BILL EXPLA9$ ?AT IT %>$ BORD]S ) ,IRAN1 :I* ,JOHN HAD NEV] HE>D ( EI!R4 

0,LOOK1 IT'S NOT ?AT F> AWAY FROM ,ISRAEL 4440 

0,ISRAEL80 

,!Y APPE>$ TO BE DISCUSS+ TWO COMPLETELY DIFF]5T PLANETS1 AB\T NEI!R ( :I* ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 HAD ! FA9TE/ CLUE4 ,HE GAZ$ DI/RACT$LY BETWE5 ! BLACK5$ B>S & PUZZL$ OV] O!R MATT]S1 SU* AS H[ IT WAS ?AT ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T] C\LD REMEMB] SO F> BACK 9TO ! #a#i#bS & >\ND !N1 BE=E ,MI*AEL HAD BE5 BORN1 & YET APPE>$ TO HAVE SURVIV$ TO A MU* LAT] DATE ?AN ANY ( H] FELL[ ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG/]S1 ,BILL EXCEPT$4 ,MI*AEL WAS DELIB]AT+ ON ?IS ?ORNY ISSUE :5 HE NOTIC$ ?AT ! BACKGR\ND D[NP\R ( EXCIT$ ,BOR\<S' VOICES HAD ?9N$ TO A DRIZZLE & !N /OPP$4 ,ONLY AN ANXI\S-S\ND+ :ISP] CAME FROM ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 B>ELY PUNCTUR+ ! NEWLY-IMPOS$ SIL5CE4 

0 ',]E !Y COME40 

,ALL ( ! FACES CR[D+ ON ! BALCONIES & AT ! W9D[S W]E N[ TURN+ TO PE] 9 ! SAME DIRECTION1 TO ! S\!RN 5D ( ?IS PROJECT$ ,MAYORHOLD1 :]E ! WIDE UNFOLD$ CANYON ?AT WAS ! ,MANS\L EQUIVAL5T ( ,HORSEM>KET SURG$ UP ! HILL FROM ,HORSE%OE ,/REET & ,M>EFAIR4 ,%IFT+ R\ND & ANGL+ HIS HEAD TO GET A BETT] VIEW \T ?R\< ! RAIL+S1 ,MI*AEL'S 5HANC$ <O/-SI<T MADE IT POSSIBLE = HIM TO TAKE A LOOK AT :AT WAS HAPP5+ D[N AT ! FOOT ( ,HORSEM>KET'S /EEP GRADI5T4 

,A DU/ ( LI<T WAS BE+ KICK$ UP TO OBSCURE ! S\? 5D ( ,MANS\L3 A DES]T HURRICANE ) SP>KS 9/EAD ( S& ?AT HUNG A BOREALIS CURTA9 OV] ,GOLD ,/REET4 ,AT ! C5T] ( ?IS LUM9\S & ROIL+ CUMULUS W]E TWO DOTS ( :ITE BRILLIANCE1 SO 9T5SE ?AT !Y LEFT COLOR$ %APES ( SPLATT]$ ,PLA/IC5E 9SIDE Y\R EYELIDS IF Y\ />$ AT !M1 LIKE :5 Y\ ACCID5TALLY LOOK$ AT A LI<T-BULB FILAM5T1 OR AT ! SUN4 ,! DOTS1 ,MI*AEL C\LD SEE BY SQU9T+ ?R\< HIS LA%ES1 W]E TWO M5 9 G[NS ( BL9D+ :ITE1 BO? C>RY+ SL5D] /AFFS ( SOME DESCRIPTION AS !Y WALK$ ) AN IMPATI5T1 ANGRY GAIT UPHILL T[>DS ! ,MAYORHOLD4 

,A SMALL VOICE PIP$ UP :I* TURN$ \T TO BE ,M>JORIE'S1 :O NEV] SAID A LOT & ?US TOOK ,MI*AEL A FEW 9/ANTS TO ID5TIFY4 

0,I NEV] KNEW !Y DID ?AT4 ,LOOK1 !Y'RE GETT+ BIGG] AS !Y COME T[>DS US60 

,AT FIR/1 ,MI*AEL ?\<T ?AT POOR ,DR[N$ ,M>JORIE MU/ HAVE HAD TIME = V]Y LITTLE $UCATION BE=E JUMP+ 9 ! ,N5E TO SAVE H] DOG AT ,PADDY'S ,MEAD[4 ,EV5 HE KNEW EV]Y?+ GOT BIGG] AS IT CAME T[>DS Y\4 ,!N HE TOOK A CLOS] LOOK & UND]/OOD :AT ,M>JORIE HAD MEANT4 

,! FIGURES /ALK+ UP ,HORSEM>KET W]5'T JU/ SEEM+ TO GET BIGG] AS !Y NE>$ ! ]/:ILE T[N SQU>E4 ,!Y W]E G5U9ELY GETT+ BIGG]4 ,:AT HAD />T$ AT ! BOTTOM ( ! HILL AS M5 ( R\<LY NORMAL HEI<T1 BY HALFWAY-UP HAD BE5 TRANS=M$ TO TWO COLOSSI1 TW5TY FEET OR MORE 9 /ATURE & CONT9U+ TO GR[ AS !Y CAME CLOS]4 ,BY ! TIME !Y /RODE \T 9TO ! IMM5SE >5A ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 !Y W]E EA* AT LEA/ AS L>GE AS ! TWELVE-/ORY ,N,E,W,L,I,F,E FLATS ?AT ,MI*AEL HAD BE5 SO IMPRESS$ BY :5 HE & ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG HAD MADE !IR E]IE DET\R ?R\< ! <O/-SEAM 9TO NO?+-FIVE OR NO?+-SIX4 ,9 ,MI*AEL'S JUDGM5T1 /&+ ON ! BALCONY ) ALL ! O!R GAWP+ <O/S1 HE WAS APPROXIMATELY LEVEL ) ! T[]+ BUILD]S' ABDOM5S & HAD TO CRANE HIS NECK BACK & LOOK UP TO SEE !IR SPH9X-SIZ$ FACES4 

,ONE ( !M WAS ! SAME ,MA/] ,BUILD] ?AT HE'D SE5 TALK+ TO %UFFL+ ,SAM ,O',DAY ABOVE ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?1 ! ONE ) :ITE HAIR1 :I*1 ON ?IS SCAL$-UP REPRES5TATION LOOK$ QUITE LIKE ! :IT5ESS ( A M\NTA9 PEAK ABOVE ! SN[L9E4 ,! WIDE OCEAN-L9] PLANES ( ! UNE>?LY SCULPT$ FACE ROSE UP AWAY FROM ,MI*AEL1 :O F\ND HIMSELF FASC9AT$ BY ! RIPPL+ PLAY ( ! REFLECT$ LI<T TRAPP$ 9 ! %AD[S ( ! *9'S VA/ UND]SIDE4 ,! :ITE-HAIR$ BUILD] PAC$ >\ND ! SPACI\S CONF9ES ( ! UNPACK$ ,MAYORHOLD ) HIS BLUE-TIPP$ ROD GRIPP$ 9 ONE MON/R\S M>BLE FI/1 BIG AS A BUNGAL[4 ,HIS NAK$ FEET1 A DIZZY+ DI/ANCE D[N B5EA? ! *ILDR5'S FIR/ FLOOR BALCONY1 APPE>$ TO WALK UPON ! WRI?+ CORAL C>PET ?AT WAS :AT ! MORTAL WORLD LOOK$ LIKE SE5 FROM ,UP/AIRS4 ,! ANGLE WAD$ ?R\< ! <O/-SEAM1 ) ITS DIRTY GRAY TIDEL9E SEEM+ TO LAP AB\T HIS R$WOOD ?I<S1 & RE>$ UP TO ! FLOAT+ MA!MATICS ( ! SAPPHIRE FIRMAM5T ABOVE1 SPANN+ ?REE REALMS ( BE+ AS HE CIRCL$ ! 5ORM\S HU%$ 5CLOSURE1 FUZE-FIRE CRAWL+ 9 HIS PALE1 MILL:EEL-SIZ$ EYES4 

,! O!R BUILD] WAS A DIFF]5T MATT]4 ,NOT ?AT HE WAS ANY ! LESS AWESOME OR IMPOS+1 SIMPLY ?AT HE HAD A V]Y DIFF]5T ATMOSPH]E ATTA*+ TO HIS MONUM5TAL SEMBLANCE4 ,! EYE-WAT]+ GL>E ( HIS APP>EL SEEM$ TO ONLY RE9=CE ! AIR ( D>K !RE WAS AB\T HIM1 FROM HIS CLOSE-CROPP$ HAIR - JET BLACK :]E HIS OPPON5TS WAS BO? LONG & FAIR - TO HIS GRE5 EYES SET DEEP )9 !IR SOOTY SOCKETS4 ,HI< ABOVE ! BALCONY HE TURN$ ! %AD[Y CA!DRAL MASS ?AT WAS HIS HEAD & CURL$ LIPS LONG AS B>GES 9TO A BLOOD-CURDL+ SN>L ( FURY & RES5TM5T1 B>+ TEE? LIKE CITY GATES ( POLI%$ IVORY1 GL[]+ POISON\SLY AT ! O!R :ITE LEVIA?AN1 %IFT+ HIS GRIP UPON ! SLIM & /REET-L5G? WOOD5 W& HE HELD 9 H&S ?AT C\LD HAVE CUPP$ A VILLAGE4 ,/AMP+ R\ND ! YAWN+ /AGE ?AT WAS AN UTT] REALIZATION ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 EV]Y FOOTFALL S5D+ %UDD]S ?R\< ! NE>BY ,MANS\L RESID5CES ?AT ! RAGG$ <O/S ASSEMBL$ ON !IR BALCONIES C\LD FEEL1 TWO ( ! F\R GREAT PIVOTS ( ! COSMOS SPIRAL$ FATEFULLY T[>DS EA* O!R1 AS UNHURRI$ & 9EVITABLE AS COLLID+ GLACI]S4 

,! T5SION 9 ! /ADIUM-LIKE CORRAL WAS LIKE TIPTOE+ OV] CREAK+ GLASS3 A DREADFUL APPREH5SIVE HU% AS SEV]AL HUNDR$ NUM9\S SPECTATORS ON ! BALCONIES HELD BREA? ?AT !Y NO LONG] TRULY HAD4 ,EV5 A DEA?LY SIL5CE1 ,MI*AEL NOTIC$1 HAD AN E*O 9 ! \TL&I% AC\/ICS ( ! ,SECOND ,BOR\<1 :]E EV5 A PURELY N]V\S PRESSURE WAS 5\< TO MAKE Y\R E>S POP4 ,TOES CURL$ UP & <O/-TEE? GR9D+ ANXI\SLY1 ! TODDL] WAS JU/ WOND]+ IF FA9T+ MI<T BE A WAY \T ( ?IS UNBE>ABLY FRAU<T SITUATION :5 ! DAM BROKE1 & ALL ( ! WITNESSES LIKE ,MI*AEL :O'D BE5 HOP+ ONLY MOM5TS E>LI] ?AT IT W\LD DO JU/ ?AT F\ND !MSELVES DESP]ATELY WI%+ ?AT IT HADN'T4 

,! D>K ,MA/] ,BUILD] SUDD5LY BROKE FROM HIS W>Y CIRCL+ TO RU% ACROSS ! ?REE-TI]$ BATTLEGR\ND1 ! TWI/+ CRY/ALS ( ! MORTAL B$ROCK %IV]+ B5EA? HIS TREAD & ! GRAY BLANKET ( ! <O/-SEAM W>P+ & DI/ORT+ LIKE A MURKY FLUID >\ND ! G>GANTUAN =M SPLA%+ ?R\< IT4 ,MI*AEL C\LD SEE COLORLESS <O/-BUSSES B5D+ 9 ! MIDDLE & ! HAPLESS SPECT]S /ILL D[N 9 ! HALF-WORLD WA%$ AGA9/ ! PHANTOM ,MAYORHOLD'S WALLS 9 BA?-SCUM RIPPLES BY ! *URN+ PASSAGE ( ! ANGRY CRAFTSMAN4 ,FROM A ?ROAT DEEP AS A RAILWAY TUNNEL CAME A V5GEFUL H[L ?AT S\ND$ LIKE W9D KE5+ ?R\< DEAD CITIES4 ,FURNACE DOORS SWUNG OP5 9 ! CREW-CUT GIANT'S EYES AS HE BR\<T UP HIS /AFF ) BO? H&S CLASP$ >\ND ITS BASE1 MOV+ ! PALLID %AFT SO QUICKLY ?AT ITS :IT5ESS BROKE AP>T 9TO COMPON5T COLORS & AN >C+ RA9B[ SME> WAS LEFT BEH9D AS IT SLIC$ ?R\< ! T+L+ AIR4 

,HIS :ITE-HAIR$ ADV]S>Y1 JU/ 9 TIME1 BR\<T UP HIS [N AZURE-TIPP$ W& TO BLOCK ! LE?AL BL[1 HELD ) A H& T[>DS EA* 5D AS AN UNYIELD+ B>4 

,! TWO RODS SMA%$ TOGE!R ) ! S\ND ( A :OLE CONT95T SNAPP+ 9 TWO1 & 9 ?AT MOM5T ! BLUE *9A B[L ( ,MANS\L'S SKY TURN$ AN IMP5ETRABLE BLACK FROM RIM TO RIM4 ,\T FROM ! PO9T ( IMPACT1 JAGG$ ?READS ( LI<TN+ CRAZ$ ! HEAV5S ) A SPID]-WEB ( TRICKL+ FIRE1 CRACK+ ! SUDD5 D>KNESS TO A MILLION SPIKY FRAGM5TS4 ,! REPORT ( ! EXPLOSION RUMBL$ (F 9TO ! OV]-WORLD'S UNFA?OMABLE DI/ANCES & IT BEGAN TO P\R ) SOME?+ ?AT APPE>$ TO BE A V]Y COMPLICAT$ =M ( RA94 ,EA* DROPLET WAS A GEOMETRIC LATTICE1 LIKE A SN[FLAKE1 BUT 9 ?REE DIM5SIONS SO ?AT !Y RESEMBL$ SILV] BALLS ) 9TRICATELY C>V5 FILIGREE ?AT Y\ C\LD PE] ?R\< TO ! EMPTY SPACE 9SIDE2 !SE T9Y /RUCTURES SOMEH[ BUILT FROM LIQUID WAT] RA!R ?AN FROM ICE4 ,AS EA* BEAD SPLA%$ AGA9/ ! RAIL OR BO>DWALK IT BROKE 9TO HALF A DOZ5 EV5 SMALL] P]FECT COPIES ( ITSELF1 REB\ND+ UP 9TO ! SUDD5LY D>K AIR4 ,MI*AEL F\ND HIMSELF WOND]+ BRIEFLY IF ?IS WAS :AT WAT] REALLY LOOK$ LIKE1 ) ! TYPE HE WAS FAMILI> ) FROM ,D[N/AIRS 9 ! MORTAL REALM BE+ AN 9COMPLETE P]CEPTION ( AN ACTUALLY F\R-SID$ SUB/ANCE4 ,!N ! %E] =CE ( ! FRI<T5+ D[NP\R DROVE ALL SU* CONSID]ATIONS FROM HIS M9D AS1 ) ! DI/RICT'S O!R PHANTOM RESID5TS1 HE 9*$ BACK FROM ! RAIL+1 TRY+ TO GET B5EA? ! MEAG] %ELT] (F]$ BY ! BALCONIES ABOVE4 

,AGA9/ A NEW BLACK SKY1 ! W>R+ ,MA/] ,BUILD]S BLAZ$ LIKE TWO ,>MADA BEACONS4 ,! :ITE-HAIR$ ONE1 HAV+ DROPP$ TO ONE KNEE :ILE HE /AV$ (F HIS OPPON5T'S BL[1 N[ SPRANG UP ) A SPE$ BORNE ( HIS GREAT] LEV]AGE &1 ) HIS /AFF HELD ONLY 9 ONE H& N[1 DROVE ! O!R FI/ UP FROM BEL[ 9TO ! D>K] ANGLE'S FACE4 ,!RE WAS A BUBBL+ SPRAY ( :AT %\LD HAVE BE5 BLOOD BUT 9 ! CURR5T CIRCUM/ANCES TURN$ \T TO BE MOLT5 GOLD1 ! CO/LY GORE /EAM+ & HISS+1 TEMP]$ BY ! P\ND+ WOND]-RA9 TO RATTLE D[N UPON ! L[] LEVELS ( REALITY AS SMOK+ +OTS1 PRECI\S MIS%APES4 

,AN 5TIRE EX*EQU] DRIPP+ FROM HIS RU9$ NOSE1 ! 9JUR$ ,MA/] ,BUILD] REEL$ BACK SWE>+ 9 HIS [N UNRAVEL$ LANGUAGE4 ,MI*AEL SOMEH[ KNEW ?AT ) EA* CURSE1 SOME:]E ACROSS ! WORLD A V9EY>D FAIL$1 A S*OOL WAS CLOS$1 A /RUGGL+ >TI/ GAVE UP 9 DESPAIR4 ,) AN AFRAID1 SICK FEEL+ M\NT+ 9 ! MEMORY ( HIS HE>T1 HE KNEW ?IS WASN'T JU/ A FI<T4 ,?IS WAS ALL ?AT WAS RI<T OR TRUE AB\T ! UNIV]SE1 ATTEMPT+ TO DE/ROY ITSELF4 

,! %AV5-HEAD$ BUILD] LA%$ \T BL9DLY ) HIS ROD 9 A ONE-H&$ SCY?+ SWEEP :I*1 BY %E] LUCK1 HIT HIS OPPON5T 9 ! M\?4 ,LIP CUT & GU%+ BULLION1 HIS :ITE-HAIR$ ANTAGONI/ GAVE AN E>-SPLITT+ BELL[1 %ATT]+ EV]Y W9D[ 9 ! HI<] T[N SQU>E4 ,LI<TN+ =K$ AGA9 ACROSS ! BLACK DOME UP ABOVE !M1 & ! MONSOON ( UNFOLD$ RA9 R$\BL$ 9 ITS ONSLAU<T4 ,BO? ! GIANTS W]E BLE$+ TREASURE N[1 />T+ TO MISS !IR FOOT+ ON ! CRY/ALL9E 5TANGLEM5TS ( ! MAT]IAL WORLD B5EA? !M1 :]E ! JEWEL-WEB & ITS CRAWL+ COLOR$ LI<TS W]E LO/ B5EA? A SLICK ( PELT+ HYP]-WAT]4 

,MI*AEL REALIZ$ ) A />T ?AT :5 HE'D SE5 ! :ITE-HAIR$ BUILD] E>LI]1 UP 9 ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?1 ! ,MA/] ,ANGLE HAD BE5 NURS+ W\NDS & ON HIS WAY BACK FROM ! FI<T ?AT ,MI*AEL & ! O!R MEMB]S ( ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG W]E WAT*+ N[4 ,S9CE ON ?AT FIR/ OCCASION ,MI*AEL HAD ONLY JU/ DI$1 DID ?AT MEAN ?AT RI<T N[ D[N 9 ! MORTAL WORLD HIS MOM ,DORE5 WAS C>EFULLY UNWRAPP+ ! R$ *]RY-M5?OL C\<-SWEET FROM ITS SMALL WAX$-PAP] SQU>E ) 0,TUNES ,TUNES ,TUNES0 ALL OV] IT8 ,AS ! SN[-PEAK$ COLOSSUS CA/ HIS TURQUOISE-PO9T$ W& ASIDE & ?REW HIMSELF ACROSS ! SIZZL+ RA9-DR5*$ ,MAYORHOLD AT HIS 5EMY1 WAS ! P9K LOZ5GE AT ?AT V]Y MOM5T SLID+ 9TO ,MI*AEL'S DANG]\SLY RE/RICT$ MORTAL W9DPIPE 9 ! SUNNY Y>D ( #a#g1 ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 D[N !RE 9 ! ,FIR/ ,BOR\<8 ,WORSE /ILL1 SOME:]E 9 HIMSELF ! 9FANT KNEW ?AT ?IS DIV9E AFFRAY & HIS [N DEADLY *OK+ FIT1 BO? T]RIBLE EV5TS 9 !IR [N WAY1 W]E 9TIMATELY L9K$ & W]E 9 SOME UNFA?OMABLE FA%ION CAUS+ ONE ANO!R TO OCCUR4 

,OV] ON ! SUP]NAL T[N SQU>E'S F> SIDE N[1 A MILE OR TWO AWAY1 ! PAL] ( ! COMBATANTS CRA%$ 9TO HIS MORE SATURN9E FOE & ! PAIR ( !M W5T OV] LIKE COLLAPS+ SKYSCRAP]S4 ,! PHOSPHORESC5T ROBES BILL[+ ALL AB\T !M AS !Y FELL MU/ HAVE GLANC$ UP AGA9/ ! BALCONIES ( ! 5NOBL$ ,CO-OP ,BRAN* #ai EXACTLY OPPOSITE1 S9CE ITS WOOD RAIL+S BUR/ IMM$IATELY 9TO FLAMES1 !SE LUCKILY BE+ EXT+UI%$ BY ! CONVOLUT$ & TORR5TIAL RA9 ALMO/ IMM$IATELY4 

,IT SEEM$ TO ,MI*AEL1 WAT*+ FROM BETWE5 HIS P>T$ F+]S1 ?AT ! BLOODY GOLD5 FREE-=-ALL OCCURR+ UP H]E 9 ! HEI<TS ( ,MANS\L MU/ BE HAV+ REP]CUSSIVE E*OES 9 ! /ACK$-UP PLANES BEL[4 ,9DE$1 D[N 9 ! PE>LY FILM ( GELAT9 ?AT WAS ! <O/-SEAM HE C\LD SEE FI<TS BREAK+ \T 9 SYMPA?Y AMONG ! SURLY WRAI?S :O W]E ! HALF-WORLD'S OCCUPANTS4 ,COMP>ATIVELY M9USCULE1 !IR MONO*ROME =MS PAIR$ UP 9TO T9Y CLOTS ( VIGOR\S ANIMOSITY >\ND ! MASSIVE W>R+ PLANETOIDS ?AT W]E ! ,MA/] ,BUILD]S1 9T]TW9$ & PUMMEL+ EA* O!R AT ! ,MAYORHOLD'S C5T]1 ROLL+ BLOOD-/A9$ 9 ! HOPP+1 SPITT+ PUDDLES WIDE AS BOAT+ LAKES4 ,HE SAW TWO LADY APP>ITIONS LAY+ 9TO ONE ANO!R \TSIDE ! GRAY <O/ ( ! ,GRE5 ,DRAGON AT ! FOOT ( ,BE>W>D ,/REET1 OP5+ BRUTAL FANS ( AFT]-IMAGE LIMBS ) EV]Y SW++ PUN* OR KICK4 ,ONE ( ! BRAWL]S WAS A SQUAT TANK ( A WOMAN ) AN EYELID HANG+ (F1 ! O!R SMALL] & ALREADY BLE$+ WORRY+LY FROM ONE E> YET >M$ ) A PHANTASMAL BROK5 BOTTLE ?AT %E WIELD$ ) BO? RELI% & EFFICI5CY4 ,!IR MULTIPLE >MS :IRL+ LIKE TWO MURD]\S W9DMILLS1 ! <O/-WOM5 TILT$ AT EA* O!R AS ?\< !Y W]E RE5ACT+ SOME UNSETTL$ FEUD FROM :5 ! PAIR ( !M W]E LIV+1 BL[ = VICI\S BL[4 ,ELSE:]E 9 ! SMOKY DOMA9 ( ! R\< SLEEP]S1 \TSIDE ! OLD PUBLIC TOILETS AT ! BOTTOM 5D ( ,SILV] ,/REET1 ! SPIRITS ( TWO ,ROMANY OR ,JEWI% M>KET TRAD]S W]E 5GAG$ 9 GLEEFULLY KICK+ ! /UFF+ FROM ! MAN 9 A BLACK %IRT ?AT !Y'D GOT ON ! FLOOR BETWE5 !M4 ,EV]Y:]E AB\T ! A%5 %ADE ( ! 5CLOSURE1 ABJECT DISEMBODI$ S\LS US$ /RANGLEHOLDS & TRI$ TO G\GE EA* O!R'S EYES1 JOY\SLY JO9+ 9 ) ! E!REAL HO/ILITY ( ! TITANIC ,MA/] ,ANGLES AS !Y WRE/L$ !RE AMID ! <O/-SPITE & ! HAMM]+ DELUGE4 

,IF ,MI*AEL FOCUS$ ON ! LAY] UND]NEA? ! <O/-SEAM1 :]E ! TW9+ SP>K-LIT FRONDS ( CORAL ?AT W]E LIV+ PEOPLE KNITT$ TO A GLITT]+ F\NDATION = ! T]RACES ABOVE1 !N EV5 H]E ! HEAV5LY AGGRESSION ?AT CASCAD$ D[N FROM ! SUP]IOR WORLDS WAS HAV+ ITS EFFECT4 ,HE FANCI$ ?AT 9 SOME ( ! LIVELI] >EAS ( ! HUMAN PATT]N1 HE WAS LOOK+ AT ! /ATION>Y VECTORS ( A MORTAL PUN*-UP :]E ! GRE5 & BLUE & R$ GLASS MILLIP$ES SEEM$ MORE ?AN USUALLY CONTORT$ & W\ND 9TO KNOTS ?AT W]E FANTA/IC & 9TRACTABLE4 ,ONE SU* >RANGEM5T1 A CONFUS$ & LOOP+ MESS ( COLOR$ FILAM5TS1 PUT HIM 9 M9D ( ! ?REE LIV+ S*OOLBOYS ?AT !Y'D SE5 \TSIDE ! SWEET%OP NEXT TO ,TRASL]'S NEWSAG5T'S 9 ! <O/-SEAM4 ,MI*AEL WOND]$ IF ! LADS HAD SOMEH[ MANAG$ TO FALL \T OV] DIVID+ UP !IR GOB/OPP]S & HAD N[ COME TO BL[S D[N 9 ! MORTAL %OPP+-SQU>E1 UNCONSCI\SLY RESPOND+ TO ! UNSE5 SKIRMI% GO+ ON ABOVE !M4 ,/>+ 9 MUTE DREAD AT ! 5ORM\S BUILD]S AS !Y ROLL$ TOGE!R 9 ! RA91 5GROSS$ 9 !IR EXP5SIVE BLOOD%$1 ,MI*AEL DIDN'T D\BT ?AT !RE W]E ANTS & MICROBES BATTL+ AT ! MORTAL S*OOL-KIDS' FEET1 NOR ?AT 9 ! 9COMPREH5SIBLE GEOMETRIES ?AT DRIFT$ F> ABOVE ,MANS\L !RE MI<T BE AB/RACT =MULAS AT W>1 FRACTI\SLY TRY+ TO DISPROVE EA* O!R4 ,IT WAS LIKE A T[] ( WRA? & VIOL5CE ) ! RAG+ BUILD]S AT ITS C5T]1 REA*+ FROM ! V]Y BOTTOM ( EXI/5CE TO ! UNIMAG9ABLE TOP1 & IT WAS ALL BECAUSE ( HIM4 ,HE WAS ! REASON ?IS WAS HAPP5+1 HIM & HIS C\<-SWEET4 

,AS IF UND]SCOR+ ?IS UNN]V+ FACT1 ! :ITE-HAIR$ BUILD] WAS N[ TRY+ TO REGA9 HIS FEET1 CR\*$ OV] 9 ! UNREL5T+ D[NP\R CLOSE TO ! WE/ WALL ( ! 5CLOSURE1 :]E ! ,WORKS WAS SITUAT$4 ,AS ! ,MA/] ,ANGLE /RIV$ TO PULL HIMSELF UP FROM ! MUCK & WET !RE CAME A T]RIFY+ 9/ANT :5 ONE ( HIS HUGE H&S SETTL$ ON ! WOOD5 BALU/RADE1 F\R M>BLE F+]S ?ICK AS ,DORIC COLUMNS CL5*+ SUDD5LY ON ! PIT*-PA9T$ RAIL+ SO ?AT ALL ! <O/-SPECTATORS GA!R$ !RE JUMP$ BACK & SCREAM$1 ! ADULT SPECT]S JU/ AS L\DLY AS ! PHANTOM KIDS4 ,! MOTLEY AUDI5CE %RANK AGA9/ ! BALCONY'S RE> WALL & TREMBL$ AS ! GIANT FIGURE1 PA9FULLY & SL[LY1 HAUL$ ITSELF ]ECT4 ,AS ?\< A MON/R\S C&LE HAD BE5 SNUFF$1 A GASP ?AT SPLIT 9TO A ?\S& SKITT]+ E*OES W5T UP FROM ! C[]+ MOB AS FIR/ A =E/ ( :ITE CURLS & !N ! /UNN+ FACE1 WIDE AS A CIRCUS T5T1 W]E DRAGG$ UP 9TO VIEW OV] ! H&RAIL LIKE A PALE & ANGRY SUN 9*+ ABOVE A FLAT & BLACK HORIZON4 ,AS ! ,CYCLOPEAN VISAGE DREW LEVEL ) ! CR[D$ L&+1 ! F]OCI\S BATT]+ ?AT IT HAD TAK5 WAS HORRIFICALLY APP>5T4 ,! C>V$ %IP'S-PR[ ( HIS *9 WAS GILD$ ) ! ANGLE'S PRICELESS BLOOD1 SPILL$ FROM A SPLIT LIP ?AT HAD N[ SCABB$ OV] ) D\BLOONS & DUCATS4 ,ONE ( ! VA/ EYES WAS SWOLL5 %UT ) A BRUISE-%E5 ( %IMM]+ OPAL PIGM5TS />T+ TO ]UPT 9 ! ABRAD$ ALABA/] FLE%4 ,! O!R1 FULL ( WE>9ESS & URG5T IMPORT1 FIX$ ITS 5DLESS />E = SEV]AL P>ALYZ+ SECONDS UPON ,MI*AEL ,W>R54 ,NO?+ WAS CONVEY$ BY ?AT LONG GLANCE SAVE P[]FUL RECOGNITION1 BUT IF ,MI*AEL HAD /ILL HAD A BLADD] HE W\LD HAVE RELEAS$ IT !RE & !N4 ,I KN[ AB\T Y\1 ,MI*AEL ,W>R54 ,I KN[ ALL AB\T Y\ & Y\R *]RY-M5?OL ,TUNE4 

,BREAK+ ! GAZE & /RAI<T5+ UP SO ?AT HIS HEAD & %\LD]S W]E ONCE MORE HI< OV]HEAD ABOVE ! P>APET1 ! ,MA/] ,BUILD] :EEL$ R\ND 9 A %[]+ SWI% ( SOAK$ & HEAVY ROBES1 /RID+ AS IF ) R5EW$ PURPOSE TO ! F> SIDE ( ! ,MAYORHOLD :]E HIS CROP-SKULL$ FELL[ COMBATANT WAS ON HIS KNEES 9 ! CONGEAL$ >T]IAL GOLD1 PUN*-DRUNK & /ILL ATTEMPT+ TO /& UP4 ,! %9+ OGRE LEAN$ UPON HIS POLI%$ /AFF1 ONE HUGE PAW FUMBL+ = PUR*ASE ON ! CREAM & EM]ALD L$GES ( ,CO-OP ,BRAN* #a#i1 :]E ! <O/LY ONLOOK]S SCATT]$ 9 SQUEAL+ T]ROR4 

,RU%+ UPON HIS DAZ$1 D[N$ ADV]S>Y FROM BEH9D1 ! :ITE-CR[N$ BUILD] VOIC$ A T]RIBLE WORLD-5D+ RO> & SEIZ$ HIS GROGGY =M] COMRADE BY ! G[N'S DAMP %\LD]S4 ,9 A PETRIFY+ %[ ( /R5G? ?AT SEEM$ TO VIOLATE EV]Y LAW ( MASS & MOTION ?AT EXI/$1 ! D>K BUILD] WAS :IPP$ UP 9TO ! AIR AS WEI<TLESS AS A SC>ECR[4 ,HIS LIMP =M DESCRIB$ A RAPID1 BLURR+ SEMI-CIRCUL> TRAJECTORY BE=E HE WAS SLAMM$ D[N AGONIZ+LY ONTO HIS BACK1 ! IMPACT JUDD]+ ?R\< ! F\NDATIONS ( ,MANS\L4 ,SO SWIFTLY HAD ! MOVE BE5 EXECUT$ ?AT ITS DRAFT C\LD BE FELT ON ! BALCONY \TSIDE ! ,WORKS1 :]E MANGY SPIRITS :O HAD SIDL$ BACK T[>DS ! BALU/RADE ONCE ! PALE ,MA/] ,BUILD] HAD REMOV$ HIS H& W]E N[ BL[N BACK AGA9/ ! L&+'S RE> WALL1 !IR R$ ,ROMAN CLOAKS & ,SAXON FURS & %9Y-KNE$ DE-MOB SUITS FLAPP+ FRANTICALLY4 ,PHYLL ,PA9T] LOOK$ R\ND AT ! O!R *ILDR51 %\T+ TO BE HE>D ABOVE ! MOAN+ ( ! UNEXPECT$ W9D4 

0,AYE UP6 ,?IS WIZ ?AT <O/-/ORM GETT9' GOO9'1 SO WE'D BE/ BE AYT ( ']E BE=E IT KICKS ORF PROP]4 ,:Y DON'T WE GOO E>LI]1 DAYN ! BILLI>D 'ALL1 !N WE CAN SEE '[ ALL ?IS />T$60 

,?IS AT LEA/ S\ND$ TO ,MI*AEL LIKE SOME SORT ( PLAN1 ?\< ! DETAILS ( ITS ACCOMPLI%M5T SEEM$ VAGUE4 ,AS ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG BEGAN HEAD+ BACK ! WAY !Y'D COME ALONG ! WALKWAY1 %OV+ ?R\< ! GA!R$ HORDE1 ,MI*AEL TOOK ONE LA/ LOOK AT ! DISMAY+ & YET ?RILL+ SPECTACLE ?AT !Y W]E QUITT+4 ,! :ITE-HAIR$ IMM5SITY1 ) EF=T1 LIFT$ UP HIS BY N[ ONLY SEMI-CONSCI\S FOE ABOVE HIS HEAD1 NO D\BT PREP>+ = ANO!R PULV]IZ+ ?R[4 ,! R+SIDE MOB OBS]V+ EAG]LY FROM !IR HI< WALKWAYS N[ COMM5C$ TO *ANT !IR FAVORITE'S NAME 9 GUTTURAL 5C\RAGEM5T1 !IR MASS VOICE ?UND]+ 9 ! AC\/IC LABYR9? ( MAGNIFI$ & MURMUR+ ,MANS\L4 

0,M,I,<-,T,Y6 ,M,I,<-,T,Y6 ,M,I,<-,T,Y60 

,AS ,MI*AEL HURRI$ AFT] HIS DEP>T+ COLLEAGUES1 DUCK+ BETWE5 ADULT LEGS ALONG ! BUSY BALCONY1 !RE CAME ANO!R DULL1 E>?-%ATT]+ BOOM ?AT %OOK ! TIMB]S UND]NEA? HIS PLAID-CLAD FEET & :I* HE ?\<T WAS PROBABLY ! CREW-CUT BUILD] BE+ DA%$ TO ! WET1 /REAM+ SQUIGGLES ( ! HI<] ,MAYORHOLD'S FLOOR AGA94 ,?IS SQUEEZ$ FRE% LI<TN+ FROM ! CRACKL+ JET SKY ABOVE & WRUNG NEW *E]S FROM ! EXCIT$ AUDI5CE ( %ABBY AFT]LIF]S4 

0,M,I,<,T-,T,Y6 ,M,I,<-,T,Y6 ,M,I,<,T-,T,Y60 

,FOLL[+ 9 ,PHYLLIS'S MALODOR\S & !RE=E RELATIVELY CR[D-FREE WAKE1 ! PHANTOM KIDS RETRAC$ !IR /EPS1 BACK ?R\< ! SW+ DOORS TO ! ,WORKS' 9T]IOR !N D[N ! />RY MIDNI<T /AIRS & G+]LY ACROSS ! WRIGGL+ EXPANSE ( ! DEMONICALLY-TIL$ WORKPLACE TO ! CROOK-DOOR 9 ONE CORN]4 ,FROM H]E1 BACK+ ONE BY ONE PREC>I\SLY D[N ! ,JACOB ,FLI<T ) ITS RIDICUL\SLY N>R[ TREADS1 !Y RE-SUBM]G$ !MSELVES )9 ! COLORLESS & MUFFL$ FA?OMS ( ! <O/-SEAM1 :]E Y\ ALMO/ MISS$ ! REEK ( ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]'S RABBIT WRAP & :]E Y\ F\ND Y\RSELF EXAM9+ ! RE> ( Y\R [N HEAD AS Y\ CLIMB$ BACKW>DS D[N ! CREAK+ RUNGS ) GRAY1 PROLIF]AT+ AFT]-IMAGES TRAIL+ 9 FRONT ( Y\4 

,DESC5D+1 LI<T AS SCRUFFY ?I/L$[N1 !Y MADE !IR WAY D[N ?R\< ! RU9$ & SOGGY /ORIES ( ! BUILD+ ?AT HAD C5TURIES AGO BE5 ! T[N HALL1 DRIFT+ ACROSS ! GAPS 9 ! COLLAPS+ /AIRWAY TO ! GR\ND FLOOR1 PASS+ \T ?R\< ! W>P$ BO>DS ?AT HAD BE5 NAIL$ ACROSS A ONCE-GR& DOOR 9TO ! FAD$ MEMORY ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 DRA9$ ( ALL ITS PA9T & LIFE & P]FUME4 

,AS !Y /EPP$ 9TO ! HALF-WORLD'S OP5 AIR ,MI*AEL DISCOV]$ ?AT IT WAS /ILL RA9+ H>D D[N 9 ! <O/-SEAM1 AL?\< JUDG+ FROM ! DRY CLO!S & UNHURRI$ GAIT ( ! 5CLOSURE'S LIV+ OCCUPANTS ALONG ) ! %>P-$G$ BLACK %AD[S ?AT !Y CA/1 ! MORTAL ,MAYORHOLD /ILL LUXURIAT$ 9 A SUNNY ,SUMM]'S LUN*TIME1 UNAW>E ( ! BAD WEA!R PUNI%+ ITS HI<] REA*ES4 ,ON ! SQU>E'S F> SIDE1 MU* CLOS] ?AN IT HAD APPE>$ TO BE UP 9 ,MANS\L1 ! TWO WRAI?-WOM5 W]E /ILL PUMMEL+ EA* O!R1 SPATT]+ ! PAVEM5T \TSIDE ! ,GRE5 ,DRAGON ) BLACK <O/-BLOOD4 ,NOTIC+ ?AT ,MI*AEL HAD HIS EYE UPON ! PAIR ( H>RIDANS1 :OSE SPATT]+ 9K & MULTIPLY-EXPOS$ LIMBS MADE !M LOOK LIKE BRAWL+ SQUIDS1 ,JOHN /OOP$ TO MUTT] AN ASIDE TO HIM AS ! DEAD *ILDR5 MADE !IR WAY ALONG ! ,MAYORHOLD'S WE/]N $GE T[>DS ,HORSEM>KET4 

0,?AT'S ! LEZZIES1 SETTL+ SCORES OV] :O P9*$ :OSE GIRLFRI5D4 ,?AT ONE ) ! BROK5 BOTTLE !RE1 ! LITTLE NIPPY ONE1 ?AT'S ,LIZZIE ,FAWKES4 ,! O!R ONE1 ! MON/] ) A TORN EYE1 ?AT ONE'S ,M>Y ,JANE4 ,%E GAVE ME ?AT BAD BRUISE ,I %[$ Y\ E>LI]1 :]E %E'D KICK$ ME 9 ! RIBS4 ,?IS :AT WE'RE SEE+ N['S A FAM\S FI<T !Y HAD :5 !Y WIZ LIV+4 ,NE>LY KILL$ EA* O!R1 SO ,I HE>D1 BUT ,I SUPPOSE !Y MU/ HAVE BO? 5JOY$ IT OR !Y W\LDN'T BE D[N H]E REPLAY+ IT ALL1 TIME & TIME AGA940 

,! ,MAYORHOLD'S O!R SPECT]-FI<TS W]E ALL /ILL GO+ ON ACROSS ! BREAD? ( ! 5CLOSURE4 ,! TWO HOOK-NOS$ M>KET TRAD]S BY ! PUBLIC LAVATORIES W]E DRAGG+ ! BLACK-%IRT$ MAN 9SIDE1 ACROSS PISS-GLI/5+ TILES1 TO METE \T FUR!R PUNI%M5T4 ,MI*AEL C\LD ALSO SEE ?AT !RE W]E TEMP]S FL>+ UP AMONG ! >EA'S LIVE 9HABITANTS4 ,! %OPP]S :O'D BE5 *ATT+ AMIABLY TOGE!R 9 ! DOORWAY ( ! ,CO-OP W]E N[ HISS+ ACCUSATIONS1 BO? ) >MS FOLD$ AGGRESSIVELY & HEADS BOBB+ FROM SIDE TO SIDE LIKE WOBBLY TOYS4 ,HE SAW TOO ?AT HIS 9TUITION ) REG>D TO ! ?REE MORTAL S*OOL-KIDS HAD BE5 ACCURATE3 JU/ \TSIDE ,BOTT]ILL'S1 ! SQU>E'S O!R NEWSAG5T1 TWO ( ! BOYS W]E GANG+ UP ON ! REMA9+ LAD1 :O HELD ! BAG ( SWEETS !Y'D PUR*AS$ E>LI]4 ,A NA/Y ATMOSPH]E HAD SETTL$ ON ! =M]LY AGREEABLE 5CLOSURE1 BUT ( ! CELE/IAL PRES5CES ?AT ,MI*AEL KNEW TO BE ! CAUSE ( ?IS UNPLEASANTNESS !RE WAS NO SIGN AT ALL4 ,HE REALIZ$ ?AT NEI!R ! MASSIVE ,MA/] ,BUILD]S NOR ! SO>+ P9NACLES ( ,MANS\L ?AT SURR\ND$ !M W]E VISIBLE FROM D[N H]E 9 ! <O/-SEAM1 OR AT LEA/ !Y W]5'T UNLESS Y\ KNEW :AT Y\ W]E LOOK+ =4 

,AFT] A MOM5T OR TWO'S PE]+ ?R\< ! CURTA9 ( UNFOLD$ RA91 ,MI*AEL /ILL C\LDN'T SEE ! FEUD+ BUILD]S1 BUT HE C\LD MAKE \T ! >EAS :]E !Y W]5'T4 ,ONE ( ! MOTOR-COA*ES P>K$ D[N AT ! ,MAYORHOLD'S L[] 5D SEEM$ SUDD5LY TO SWELL UP LIKE A BUBBLE UNTIL ONE HALF ( ITS CAB WAS T5 TIMES BIGG] ?AN ! O!R HALF1 DEFLAT+ BACK TO NORMAL ALMO/ 9/ANTLY AS ! /RANGE PAT* ( VISUAL DI/ORTION MOV$ ON TO 9FLATE ! FRONT ( ! ,OLD ,JOLLY ,SMOK]S1 B5D+ BO? ! <O/S & LIV+ PEOPLE :O W]E LOIT]+ \TSIDE ! TAV]N 9TO B[$ & ELONGAT$ SME>S4 ,IT WAS AS IF SOME?+ W]E MOV+ A GREAT MAGNIFY+ L5S AB\T ! SQU>E1 OR AS ?\< AN IMM5SE GLASS M>BLE ( FLAWLESS TRANSP>5CY TRUNDL$ 9VISIBLY >\ND ! ,MAYORHOLD1 CURV+ ALL ITS LI<T 9TO 5ORM\S FI%EYE BULGES4 ,?IS PH5OM5ON1 HE REASON$1 MU/ BE TRACK+ ! UNSE5 MOVES ( ! ,MA/] ,ANGLES AS !Y SMA%$ ! GOLD \T ( EA* O!R 9 ! HI<] REALMS ABOVE4 

,! T>TAN TODDL] ALSO BECAME ANXI\SLY AW>E ( ! ABRUPT & />TL+ GU/S ( W9D ?AT W]E ]UPT+ \T ( NO:]E TO CAUSE SUDD5 $DIES 9 ! <O/-DU/ OR TO S5D ! FLAT CLO? CAPS ( LOCAL PHANTOMS B[L+ (F D[N ,BROAD ,/REET ) !IR AFT]-IMAGES & [N]S 9 =LORN PURSUIT4 ,?IS WAS QUITE OBVI\SLY1 AS ,PHYLLIS HAD REM>K$1 ! ONSET ( ! H[L+ <O/-SQUALL ?AT HAD ALMO/ BL[N !M ALL AWAY D[N AT ! FOOT ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET4 ,S9CE ON ?AT OCCASION !Y'D NOT SE5 !IR [N =MS SAIL+ OV]HEAD T[>DS ,VICTORIA ,P>K !N HE SUPPOS$ ?IS MEANT ?AT !Y W]E GO+ TO ESCAPE ! RIS+ /ORM 9 SOME WAY1 AL?\< ,MI*AEL /ILL KEPT %OOT+ WORRI$ GLANCES AT HIS FELL[ DEAD KIDS1 WAIT+ = SOMEBODY TO SUGGE/ SOME?+4 

,PR$ICTABLY1 ,PHYLLIS ALREADY HAD A PLAN4 ,AS ! F]OCITY ( ! <O/-BREEZE BEGAN TO M\NT %E L$ H] M9IATURE COMM&O TROOP ACROSS ! TOP ( ,BA? ,/REET :]E IT JO9$ ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,SQU9T+ D[N ! SLOP+ LANE ,MI*AEL C\LD JU/ AB\T P]CEIVE A SL[ BLACK SWIRL+ 9 ! GRAY AIR \TSIDE ,BA? ,/REET FLATS1 BUT IF ?IS WAS ! GR9D+ :EEL ( ! ,DE/RUCTOR IT WAS CLE>LY NO:]E NE> ! SCALE IT W\LD A*IEVE BY NO?+-FIVE OR NO?+-SIX4 ,ROTAT+ DOLEFULLY ABOVE ! EMPTY ROAD IT DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO POSE AN ACTUAL ?REAT AS SU*1 & ,MI*AEL WOND]$ IF HE'D MADE TOO MU* ( IT BY COM+ ON ! TWIRL+ BURN-HOLE SUDD5LY BY NI<T :5 HE'D BE5 UPSET ANYWAY4 

,ONCE OV] ,BA? ,/REET1 ! GANG CONGREGAT$ BY ONE ( ! WAI/-HI< H$GES B\ND+ ! TOP LAWN ( ! DI/9CTLY #a#i#cS FLATS4 ,! W9D WAS REALLY GETT+ UP N[1 LA%+ ! *&ELI]-CRY/AL DROPLETS ( ! SUP]-RA9 ACROSS ! PAV+ SLABS 9 FRILL$ & SPRAY+ %EETS ( FLUID GLASS4 ,AS ! DROPS %ATT]$ 9TO EV5 MORE EXQUISITE COPIES ( !MSELVES AGA9/ ! TOES ( ! TOT'S SLIPP]S1 EA* WET BEAD TRAIL+ AN AFT]-IMAGE NECKLACE ?R\< ! <O/-SEAM GLAZE BEH9D IT1 IT OCCURR$ TO ,MI*AEL ?AT ?\< HE C\LD FEEL ! COMPLICAT$ SPLA%ES HITT+ HIM1 HE WASN'T GETT+ WET4 ,! GEMS ( LIQUID SEEM$ TO KEEP !IR RUBB]Y SURFACE T5SION EV5 AFT] BE+ SUBDIVID$ 9TO 9TRICATELY-/RUCTUR$ DOTS NO BIGG] ?AN A P9-HEAD1 ROLL+ FROM HIS /RIP$ PAJAMA CUFFS :ILE LEAV+ NO?+ ( !MSELVES BEH9D4 ,HIS DRESS+ G[N PULL$ UP 9TO A C[L TO %IELD HIS HEAD :ILE LEAV+ BO? HIS LEGS & BUM EXPOS$1 HE RAN B5T D\BLE ?R\< ! RA9 T[>DS ! D\BTFUL %ELT] ( ! H$G+ :]E HIS <O/LY PALS W]E GA!R$1 DOPPELGANG]S SCURRY+ BEH9D HIM LIKE A PYGMY HUNT+ P>TY4 

,CR\*+ BY ! H$GE1 ,PHYLLIS WAS MAK+ ! BY-N[ FAMILI> PAW+ MOTIONS ) H] H&S AS %E BEGAN TO TUNNEL 9TO TIME1 AL?\< ! WAV]+ 9T]F]5CE-PATT]N B&S ( BLACK & :ITE >\ND ! WID5+ PORTAL W]E ON ?IS OCCASION ABS5T4 ,!RE WAS A PALE1 S+LE /RIPE ( LUM9OSITY >\ND ! HOLE'S $GE1 & IT CAME TO ,MI*AEL ?AT IF ,PHYLLIS W]E JU/ TRY+ TO DIG AN H\R OR TWO 9TO ! PA/ OR FUTURE !N !RE'D BE NO BLACK /RIPES REPRES5T+ NI<T-TIMES SQUEEZ$ 9TO ! OP5+'S FLICK]+ P]IMET]4 

,AS IT TURN$ \T1 ?IS WAS 9DE$ ! CASE4 ,DIGG+ ! %ALL[ HOLE UNAID$ 9 LESS ?AN A M9UTE1 ,PHYLLIS WRIGGL$ ?R\< IT & DID NOT APPE> ABOVE ! H$GE ON ! F> SIDE1 AN OBVI\S 9VITATION = ! O!R MEMB]S ( ! GANG TO FOLL[ H]4 ,JOHN 9DICAT$ ) A NOD ?AT ,MI*AEL %\LD GO NEXT1 AT :I* ! 9FANT GOT D[N ON HIS H&S & KNEES1 RA9 DRUMM+ ON HIS NECK & <O/-W9D :I/L+ >\ND HIS E>S1 TO FOLL[ ! GANG'S LEAD] ?R\< ! LI<T-RIMM$ AP]TURE4 

,:5 ,MI*AEL CRAWL$ \T ON ! O!R SIDE HE F\ND ?AT1 UNSURPRIS+LY1 HE WAS /ILL ON ! H$GE-FR+$ UPP] LAWN ( ,BA? ,/REET FLATS ?AT RAN D[N BY ,HORSEM>KET1 ) ,PHYLL ,PA9T] /&+ SOME FEW FEET AWAY1 TAPP+ H] TOE IMPATI5TLY4 ,HE /OOD UP & LOOK$ BACK ACROSS ! TOP ( ! L[ PRIVET WALL1 NOTIC+ ) AL>M ?AT ,BILL1 ,JOHN1 ,M>JORIE & ,REGGIE W]E NO LONG] ANY:]E 9 SI<T4 ,AN 9/ANT AFT] ?AT HE REALIZ$ ?AT !RE WAS NO W9D1 & ?AT IT HAD /OPP$ RA9+4 ,HE REM>K$ AS MU* TO ,PHYLLIS1 BUT %E SMIRK$ & %OOK H] HEAD 9TO A MOM5T>Y ROSEBU% ( BLOND1 GR9N+ BLOOMS4 

0,NAH1 TIT*1 IT'S NOT /OPP$ RA99'4 ,IT JU/ 'ASN'T />T$ YET40 

,MEAN:ILE1 ! O!R MEMB]S ( ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG EM]G$ ON ALL F\RS ?R\< ! TIME-GAP 9 ! BOX-CUT FOLIAGE4 ,:5 ! SIX PHANTOM KIDS /OOD ONCE MORE REUNIT$ ON ?IS MU* MORE CLEM5T & LESS W9DSWEPT SIDE ( ! TRIMM$ BU%1 ,MI*AEL GAZ$ BACK ACROSS ! TOP ( ,BA? ,/REET TO ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,! 5CLOSURE WAS BO? DRY & SUNNY1 ALBEIT ONLY ) ! WAN GRAY SUNLI<T ( ! <O/-SEAM4 ,!RE W]E NO R\< SLEEP]S FI<T+ ON ! CORN] NEXT TO ! ,GRE5 ,DRAGON1 NOR \TSIDE ! PUBLIC TOILETS AT ! FOOT ( ,SILV] ,/REET4 ,! TRIO ( LIVE BOYS :O'D COME TO BL[S OV] !IR BAG ( SWEETS W]E NO:]E TO BE SE54 ,PHYLLIS EXPLA9$4 

0,I'VE DUG US BACK ABAYT ?REE-QU>T]S ( AN '\R1 AYT O' ! W9D & RA94 ,N[ WE CAN ALL GOO DAYN ! BILLI>D-'ALL & SEE '[ ! SCRAP />T$40 

,) ?AT1 DRIFT+ ?R\< ! H$GE ONTO ! PAVEM5T BORD]+ ,HORSEM>KET1 ! GANG />T$ TO MOVE D[N ! HILL T[>DS ,M>EFAIR & ,GOLD ,/REET1 EA* ONE ) A DISSIPAT+ /REAM ( GRUBBY COPYCATS BEH9D !M4 ,IT OCCURR$ TO ,MI*AEL ?AT IF ?IS WAS HALF AN H\R OR SO BE=E ! ANGLES HAD !IR FI<T1 !N IT MU/ ALSO BE BE=E HE'D *OK$ TO DEA? 9 ! BACK Y>D D[N ON ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,WAS ,DORE5 AT ?IS MOM5T TAK+ \T H] /RAI<T-BACK$ WOOD5 *AIR TO SET D[N 9 ! TOP HALF ( ! Y>D BESIDE ! DRA9-TRAP1 TELL+ ,MI*AEL ?AT FRE% AIR W\LD DO HIM GOOD8 ,WAS ,MI*AEL'S SI/] ,ALMA GETT+ BOR$ ALREADY1 />T+ TO *>GE R\ND ! CLOSE BRICK CONF9ES ( ! CRAMP$ APOLOGY = A BACK G>D58 ,FRETT+ OV] !SE CONC]NS HE HURRI$ TO CAT* UP ) ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]1 TUGG+ AT H] FOGGY WOOL5 SLEEVE UNTIL %E TURN$ & ASK$ HIM :AT HE WANT$4 

0,IF ?IS WIZ BE=E ! SWEET-C\< CROAK$ ME1 WE C\LD GL[ DR[N ,&REW'S ,WOAD & SWAP ?IS FROM UNHAPPYN+60 

,PHYLLIS WAS FIRM1 BUT NOT UNSYMPA!TIC4 

0,NO WE C\LDN'T4 ,= ONE ?+1 IT'S ALL ALREADY 'APP5$1 & WILL NEV] 'APP5 ANY DIFF]5T4 ,= ANO!R1 IF WE DID GOO DAYN TO ,&REW'S ,ROAD !N ,I'D 'AVE SE5 US :5 ,I 'AUL$ Y\ UP 9TO ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?4 ,I'VE COME TO ! CONCLUSION ?AT IF ?IS WIZ 'APP59' !N IT'S 'APP59' = A REASON1 & IT'S UP TO US TO SEE IT ?R\< & MAKE S5SE ( IT ALL4 ,IF ,I W]E Y\1 ,I W\LDN'T WA/E TIME TRY9' TO *ANGE ! PA/4 ,9 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG1 :AT WE'VE F\ND WIZ ?AT IT'S ALWAYS BE/ TO JU/ GET ON ) ! ADV5TURE & F9D \T '[ EV]Y?9' 5DS UP4 ,COME ON1 LET'S PAY A VISIT TO ! SNOOK] 'ALL & SEE :AT GOT !M BUILD]S 9TO SU* A LA!R40 

,) ?AT1 ,PHYLLIS TOOK HIS H& & !Y SPONTANE\SLY BEGAN TO SKIP TOGE!R D[N ,HORSEM>KET'S 9CL9E1 EV]Y B\NC+ /EP TAK+ !M BO? HI<] & FUR!R4 ,MI*AEL WAS SO ?RILL$ TO FEEL ! T\* ( H] COOL F+]S TW9$ ) HIS ?AT HE BEGAN TO GIGGLE ) DELI<T & !N !Y W]E BO? LAU<+1 B\ND+ D[N ! HILL TOGE!R LEAV+ >CS ( AFT]-IMAGES BEH9D !M ?AT LOOK$ LIKE BUN*$ ,*RI/MAS DECORATIONS1 ONLY NO:]E NE> AS COLORFUL4 ,!Y ONLY PAUS$ :5 !Y W]E ALMO/ AT ! BOTTOM & ABRUPTLY REALIZ$ ?AT !Y'D RAC$ TOO F> AHEAD ( !IR COMPANIONS1 :O W]E DAWDL+ HALFWAY UP ! SLOPE :ILE !Y WAT*$ ,BILL & ,REGGIE ?R[ !MSELVES 9 FRONT ( HURTL+ C>S4 ,?IS LOOK$ TO BE A LE?AL PA/IME1 AL?\< OBVI\SLY ! MOD]N TRAFFIC PASS$ H>MLESSLY ?R\< ! SPECTRAL R\<NECKS1 & BESIDES1 ,REGGIE & ,BILL W]E BO? ALREADY DEAD4 ,MI*AEL ASSUM$ ?AT1 VIEW$ FROM !IR P]SPECTIVE1 DY+ HAD JU/ MEANT !Y C\LD RELAX & BE A BIT MORE RECKLESS 9 !IR PLAY1 HURL !MSELVES UND] TRA9S OR (F T5-/ORY BUILD+S ) APLOMB & ?+S LIKE ?AT4 ,= ,BOR\<S KIDS1 IT SEEM$1 DEA? WAS A M>VEL\S AMUSEM5T P>K )\T ! QUEUES OR IRRITAT+ SAFETY REGULATIONS4 ,PHYLLIS WAT*$ :AT ,MI*AEL N[ BELIEV$ WAS ALMO/ C]TA9LY H] Y\NG] BRO!R1 %AK+ H] HEAD RUEFULLY BUT SMIL+ FONDLY AS %E DID IT4 

0 ',E'S A SILLY LITTLE BLE$]4 ',IM & ,REGGIE1 !Y BO? DO ?AT ALL ! TIME1 JUMP9' 9 FRONT O' C>S LIKE ?AT4 ',E SAYS Y\ GET TO SEE ALL O' ! COMPLICATIONS ( ! 5G9E 9 :AT'S LIKE A /ACK ( DIAGRAM-SLICES AS Y\ ROCKET ?R\< 'EM1 BUT ,I'LL TAKE !IR WORD = IT4 ,I NEV] 'AD MU* TIME = C>S1 MESELF40 

,PHYLLIS & ,MI*AEL WAIT$ D[N T[>DS ! ,HORSE%OE ,/REET & ,GOLD ,/REET CROSSROADS = ! /RAGGL]S TO CAT* UP4 ,!Y FLOAT$ UP TO SIT ON A HI< W9D[ L$GE TOGE!R :ILE !Y WAIT$ SO ?AT ALL ! LIV+ PEOPLE ?AT !RE W]E AB\T ! 9T]SECTION W\LDN'T KEEP ON B>G+ ?R\< !M ALL ! TIME4 ,:ILE ,MI*AEL KNEW !Y W]5'T AW>E ?AT !Y W]E DO+ IT1 HE DIDN'T WANT A LOT ( BLI!LY UNSELFCONSCI\S /RANG]S %[+ HIM !IR B[ELS )\T A BY Y\R LEAVE4 ,ALSO1 IT FELT NICE TO BE SITT+ !RE UNSE5 UPON ! L$GE ) ,PHYLLIS 9 ! SILV]Y MID-DAY SUN4 ,IT FELT AS IF !Y W]E 9VISIBLE TREE-PIXIES1 CR\*$ !RE BEAM+ ON !IR KNOTT$ B\< 9 AN OLD GRAY 5GRAV+ :ILE WOODSM5 & PEASANTS PASS$ BY UNAW>E B5EA? !M4 

,:5 ! O!R F\R AT LA/ >RIV$1 ,MI*AEL & ,PHYLLIS JUMP$ D[N HOLD+ H&S 9 A SL[ WAT]FALL ( AFT]-IMAGES1 & ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG C>RI$ ON T[>DS ! BOTTOM ( ,HORSEM>KET4 ,HEAD+ D[N ! HILL1 !Y PASS$ OV] ! EA/-WE/ AXIS ( ! CROSSROADS & CONT9U$ 9TO ! /EEP TILT ( ,HORSE%OE ,/REET1 FLOAT+ ACROSS IT TO ! ,GOLD ,/REET SIDE ?AT HAD ,BELL'S GAS-FIRE %[ROOM ON ! CORN]4 

,HALFWAY D[N WAS A FLAT-TOPP$1 ?REE-/ORY BUILD+ ?AT APPE>$ TO BE ( #a#i#eS V9TAGE & ?US PUT UP ONLY REC5TLY1 A DRILL-HALL OR A SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB ( SOME SORT4 ,SLIPP+ ?R\< ! CLOS$ FRONT DOORS1 ! <O/-TYKES F\ND !MSELVES )9 A %AD[Y 9T]IOR :]E PAT*ES ( MOSAIC LI<T FELL ?R\< WIRE-RE9=C$ GLASS FROM ! HI<-PLAC$ W9D[S4 ,!RE WAS H>DLY ANYONE AB\T AT ?IS TIME ( ! MORN+ SAVE = SEV]AL [N]S OR EMPLOYES :O W]E TIDY+ UP & C\LDN'T SEE ! PHANTOM *ILDR51 & A M>BLE-COLOR$ TABBY ?AT QUITE EVID5TLY C\LD4 ,A GRAY & FURRY FIREBALL IT /REAK$ Y[L+ (F D[N A RE> CORRIDOR1 LEAV+ ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG TO FOLL[ ,PHYLLIS1 WAFT+ LI<TLY UP A :ITE-WALL$ /AIRWAY TO ! UPP] FLOORS4 

,!SE HI<] LEVELS W]E1 AS F> AS !Y C\LD TELL1 DES]T$4 ,AT ! V]Y TOP1 HIDD5 AWAY 9 A SP>E ROOM :]E !RE W]E /ACKS ( *AIRS & C>DBO>D BOXES FULL ( DOCUM5TS1 !RE WAS A CROOK-DOOR & A ,JACOB ,FLI<T4 ,UNLIKE ! PREVI\S EXAMPLES ,MI*AEL HAD EXP]I5C$1 D[N AT ! FOOT ( ,SC>LETWELL 9 NO?+-FIVE OR NO?+-SIX & UND]NEA? ! ,WORKS JU/ A %ORT TIME AGO1 NO RIBBON-LI<TS UNRAVEL$ FROM ?IS OP5+ 9 PALE FRUIT-CORDIAL COLORS1 NOR W]E !RE ANY RIPPL+ ,MANS\L S\NDS ?AT FILT]$ FROM ! BAFFL+ SPACES UP ABOVE4 ,!SE /AIRS1 APP>5TLY1 DID NOT GO ALL ! WAY UP TO ! ,SECOND ,BOR\<4 ,EI!R ?AT OR IT WAS A GOOD FEW FLI<TS FUR!R UP4 

,! *ILDR5 SCAL$ ! AWKW>D RUNG-LIKE /EPS ONE AT A TIME1 AGA9 ) ,PHYLLIS 9 ! LEAD & ,MI*AEL FOLL[+ BEH9D H]4 ,PASS+ ?R\< ! CEIL+ ( ! DU/Y LUMB]-ROOM1 ! ,JACOB ,FLI<T CONT9U$ AS A /EEPLY-ANGL$ *UTE 5CLOS$ BY FLAK+ PLA/] WALLS4 ,! TWO-FOOT RIS]S & ! ?REE-9* TREADS B5EA? !M AS !Y CLIMB$ LABORI\SLY UPW>DS HAD A COV]+ ( DI/RESS$ BR[N C>PET ) AN UGLY CREEP]-PATT]N1 HELD 9 PLACE BY SCUFF$ BRASS /AIR-RODS4 ,AS HE CLAMB]$ ON ) ,PHYLLIS /RUGGL+ 9 FRONT ( HIM HE TRI$ HIS BE/ NOT TO LOOK AT H] KNICK]S1 BUT IT WASN'T EASY ) ! /REAM ( AFT]-PICTURES PEEL+ FROM H] BACK TO BREAK LIKE PHOTO-BUBBLES 9 HIS FACE4 ,AT LA/ ! GANG EM]G$ ?R\< A TRAPDOOR 9TO :AT SEEM$ TO BE A SMALL BACK (FICE-ROOM ) KIPP]$ WALLPAP]1 A POLI%$ DESK & FANCY ?RONE-LIKE *AIR1 !SE LA/ TWO MADE ( SC>R$ & ANCI5T WOOD ?AT MI<T HAVE COME FROM ,NOAH'S ,>K4 ,ACROSS ! D>K & V>NI%$ FLOORBO>DS !RE WAS A F9E DU/+ ( :AT SEEM$ TO BE A QUE]LY LUM9\S :ITE TALCUM ) A HO/ ( WORN-D[N %OE & BOOT PR9TS LEAD+ ?R\< IT1 FROM ! TRAPDOOR TO ! (FICE 5TRANCE4 

,TIPTOE+ ACROSS ! ROOM1 ! FLOOR & FURNITURE ( :I* FELT SOLID TO ! *ILDR5 BE+ MADE ( <O/-WOOD1 !Y W5T ?R\< ! CREAK+ (FICE DOOR ! NORMAL WAY1 BY OP5+ IT FIR/4 ,?IS L$ !M \T 9TO A CAV]N\S & %ADY GAM+-ROOM ?AT SEEM$ TO TAKE UP :AT WAS LEFT ( ! ?REE-/ORY BUILD+'S UNSUSPECT$ F\R? FLOOR4 ,?IS HUGE >EA WAS W9D[LESS1 ILLUM9AT$ ONLY BY ! *ISEL$ PILL> ( :ITE LI<T ?AT CRA%$ D[N ON ! S+LE MON/R\S BILLI>D-TABLE 9 ! C5T] ( ! BLACK EXPANSE4 

,CR[D+ ! %AD[S AT ! *AMB]'S $GES W]E A HORDE ( FIDGET+ R\< SLEEP]S1 ABJECT <O/-SEAM RESID5TS FROM DIFF]5T P]IODS - AL?\< IT SEEM$ TO ,MI*AEL ?AT !RE WASN'T SU* A WIDE V>IETY ( C5TURIES H]E REPRES5T$ AS !RE HAD BE5 ON ! BALCONIES \TSIDE ! ,WORKS4 ,DESPITE ! PRES5CE ( A FEW HI/ORIC-LOOK+ MONKS1 ! PHANTOM MOB APPE>$ TO BE MO/LY COMPOS$ ( 9DIVIDUALS FROM ! LATE N9ETE5? OR E>LY TW5TIE? C5TURIES4 ,SOME HAD GAB]D9E MACS ON1 SOME WORE BRACES1 ALL ( !M W]E WE>+ HATS & ALMO/ ALL ( !M W]E M54 ,!Y /OOD !RE %UFFL+ 9 ! RE/LESS GLOOM1 !IR DEAD EYES GLU$ UPON ! FLOODLIT TABLE 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! YAWN+ HALL1 & ON ! DAZZL+ QU>TET ( %APES ?AT MOV$ >\ND IT4 

,BRI<T AS SUNLI<T FLA%+ ,MORSE-CODE DOTS & DA%ES FROM A POND1 !SE W]E ALMO/ TOO FI]CE TO LOOK AT PROP]LY1 AL?\< ,MI*AEL P]SI/$4 ,ONCE HIS EYES HAD GOT US$ TO ! GL>E HE REALIZ$ ?AT TWO ( ! FIGURES /RID+ R\ND ! $GES ( ! TABLE W]E ! ,MA/] ,BUILD]S ?AT HE'D JU/ SE5 FI<T+ 9 ! ,MAYORHOLD1 ONLY %RUNK5 TO A SLI<TLY MORE REALI/IC SIZE4 ,! :ITE-HAIR$ ANGLE SEEM$ TO CONC5TRATE HIS GAME UPON ! GIANT TABLE'S S\!A/ POCKET :I* WAS ONE ( ONLY F\R1 ?\< ,MI*AEL ?\<T ?AT HE REMEMB]$ NORMAL SNOOK] TABLES HAV+ MORE ?AN ?AT4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! %AV5-HEAD$ BUILD] ) D>K EYES APPE>$ TO BE MORE FOCUS$ ON ! NOR!A/ CORN] ( ! GRAY BAIZE1 SI<T+ D[N HIS LONG SMOO? BILLI>D CUE - !SE W]E ! W&S ! ANGLES HAD BE5 WIELD+1 ,MI*AEL REALIZ$ BELAT$LY - T[>DS ! COLORLESS1 UNDIFF]5TIAT$ MULTITUDE ( BALLS SPREAD \T ACROSS ! \TSIZ$ FIELD ( PLAY4 ,HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ! O!R TWO CONTE/ANTS1 SITUAT$ TO ! S\?WE/ & S\!A/1 BUT ?\<T ?AT !Y W]E PROBABLY ( EQUAL RANK4 ,!IR ROBES1 AT ANY RATE1 W]E JU/ AS BL9D+4 ,SOMEONE'S MOM US$ ,P]SIL4 

,NOTIC+ ?AT !RE W]E SYMBOLS SCRAT*$ 9 GOLD 9TO ! WOOD5 DISCS AFFIX$ TO ! F\R CORN]S ( ! TABLE1 ,MI*AEL C\LD RECALL READ+ AB\T !M 9 ! GUIDE-BOOK HE'D BE5 GIV5 AT ! ,WORKS1 :I* HE REMEMB]$ WAS /ILL /UFF$ 9TO ! POCKET ( HIS DRESS+ G[N4 ,RETRIEV+ IT1 HE SCANN$ ITS SOMEH[ LEGIBLE-?\<-WRI?+ PAGES1 F9D+ ?AT HIS <O/LY NI<T-SI<T MADE IT READABLE DESPITE ! D>KNESS4 ,MI*AEL ?\<T ?AT IT MU/ BE LIKE ,ALMA READ+ UND]NEA? ! B$CLO!S BUT )\T ! LEAK+ %AFTS ( TOR*LI<T ?AT W\LD USUALLY GIVE H] AWAY4 ,HE RE-READ ! BIT AB\T ! F\R POORLY-DRAWN SYMBOLS1 !N SKIPP$ ?R\< ! L5G?Y LI/ ( SEV5TY-TWO DEVILS1 ,?IS WAS FOLL[$ BY A REGI/] ( SEV5TY-TWO CORRESPOND+ BUILD]S1 :I* HE ALSO SKIPP$1 & !N BY SOME MAT]IAL AB\T ! BILLI>D HALL1 :I* WAS :AT HE'D BE5 LOOK+ =4 ,PE]+ 9T5TLY AT ! SQUIRM+ SILV] ?+S ?AT W]5'T EXACTLY LETT]S AS !Y TW9KL$ ON ! D>K PAGE1 HE BEGAN TO READ4 

,AT ! S\?-EA/]N CORN] ( ! PHYSICAL DOMA91 NE> TO ! ,C5T] ( ! ,L&1 IS TO BE F\ND A GAM+ HALL :]E9 ! ,MA/] ,ANGLES PLAY AT ,TRILLI>DS1 ?IS BE+ :AT !IR ,AWE-FULL GAME IS RI<TLY CALL$4 ,! 9TRICACIES ( !IR PLAY DET]M9E ! TRAJECTORIES ( LIVES 9 ! ,FIR/ ,BOR\<1 SU* LIVES BE+ SUBJECT TO ! F\R ET]NAL =CES ?AT ! ,ANGLES REPRES5T4 ,!SE >E ,AU?ORITY1 ,SEV]ITY1 ,M]CY & ,NOVELTY1 AS SYMBOLIZ$ RESPECTIVELY BY ,CA/LE1 ,DEA?'S-HEAD1 ,CROSS & ,PHALLUS4 ,! ,>*-,BUILD] ,GABRIEL GOV]NS ! ,CA/LE POCKET1 ,URIEL ! ,DEA?'S-HEAD1 ,MIKAEL ! ,CROSS & ,RAPHAEL ! ,PHALLUS4 

0,DUE TO ! MULTIPLICITY ( !IR ESS5TIAL NATURES1 CAPABLE ( MANIFOLD EXPRESSIONS1 ! F\R ,MA/] ,BUILD]S NEV] CEASE !IR GAME ( ,TRILLI>DS1 EV5 ?\< !Y SIMULTANE\SLY MAY BE REQUIR$ & 9DE$ PRES5T ELSE:]E4 ,! S+LE EXCEPTION TO ?IS O!RWISE UNV>Y+ RULE IS ! EV5T ( #a#i#e#i1 :5 TWO ( ! F\R ,MA/] ,ANGLES LEAVE ! ,TRILLI>D TABLE TO PURSUE AN ALT]CATION ABOVE ! T]RE/RIAL ,MAYORHOLD1 !IR QU>REL PRECIPITAT$ BY :AT IS CLAIM$ TO BE AN 9FR+EM5T ( ! RULES REG>D+ A DISPUT$ ,S\L NAM$ ,MI*AEL ,W>R54 ,HE 444 

,HURL+ ! PAMPHLET TO ! BILLI>D-HALL FLOOR AS IF IT W]E A POISON\S C5TIP$E1 ,MI*AEL LET \T A YELP ( MORTAL T]ROR4 ,HE WAS A 0DISPUT$ ,S\L01 ! ONLY ONE !RE'D EV] BE5 IF :AT ! GUIDE-BOOK SAID WAS TRUE1 & ,MI*AEL DIDN'T = A MOM5T D\BT IT WAS1 9 EV]Y LA/ ET]NAL DETAIL4 ,IT WAS ONLY :5 HE LOOK$ UP FROM ! SUDD5LY DISQUIET+ LEAFLET ON ! FLOOR ?AT ,MI*AEL REALIZ$ EV]YBODY ELSE WAS LOOK+ AT HIM1 HIS ABRUPT %RIEK HAV+ EVID5TLY DRAWN ATT5TION 9 ! O!RWISE T5SE HU% ?AT HUNG ABOVE ! CONTE/4 ,PHYLLIS & ! O!R MEMB]S ( ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG W]E %U%+ HIM & TELL+ HIM SPECTATORS W]5'T ALL[$ TO 9T]RUPT ! GAME1 :ILE ! R\< SLEEP]S LURK+ BY ! WALLS W]E FR[N+ AT HIM ?R\< ! MURK & TRY+ TO WORK \T :O HE ?\<T HE WAS4 ,AMONG ! ,MA/] ,BUILD]S GR\P$ >\ND ! TABLE1 ?\<1 !RE WAS NO SU* UNC]TA9TY4 ,ALL F\R W]E LOOK+ AT HIM1 & ALL ( !M LOOK$ AS ?\< !Y KNEW HIM4 

,! D>K1 CREW-CUT BUILD] SEEM$ TO PAY ,MI*AEL ! LEA/ ATT5TION1 M]ELY GLANC+ UP TO REGI/] ! S\RCE ( ! %>P \TCRY & !N SMIL+ *ILL+LY ACROSS ! ROOM AT ! <O/-9FANT BE=E B5D+ ONCE MORE TO ! TABLE & HIS %OT4 ,! PAIR ( UNFAMILI> BUILD]S ON ! TABLE'S WE/]N SIDE />$ FIR/ AT ,MI*AEL1 !N EA* O!R1 !N ,MI*AEL AGA91 WE>+ ID5TICAL EXPRESSIONS ( />TL$ ANXIETY4 ,! MO/ SURPRIS$ TO SEE HIM \T ( ! F\R ,MA/] ,BUILD]S1 ?\<1 WAS ! :ITE-HAIR$ ONE4 

,/&+ BY HIS S\!A/ CORN] ( ! TABLE ) A GOLD CROSS G\G$ 9TO ITS M\NT$ WOOD5 DISC1 ! CURLY-HEAD$ ANGLE />$ AT ,MI*AEL ) A LOOK ( T]RIBLE BEWILD]M5T ?AT SEEM$ TO SAY1 0,:AT >E Y\ DO+ DEAD801 REM9D+ ,MI*AEL ?AT AL?\< ?IS WAS ! SECOND TIME HE'D SE5 ! BUILD] 9 ! LA/ HALF-H\R OR SO1 FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( ! BUILD] ?IS WAS ! FIR/ TIME !Y'D MET4 ,! SUDD5LY AL>M$ & PUZZL$-LOOK+ ANGLE LOOK$ LIKE HE WAS RUNN+ AT 5ORM\S SPE$ ?R\< A LONG LI/ ( CALCULATIONS 9 HIS HEAD1 TRY+ TO COME UP ) AN EXPLANATION = ! TODDL]'S PRES5CE H]E 9 ?IS WEIRD SNOOK]-P>LOR ( ! DEAD4 ,) WID5+ EYES AS IF HE'D JU/ CONSID]$ AN UNPLEASANT POSSIBILITY1 ! :ITE-HAIR$ BUILD] TURN$ BACK TO ! TABLE JU/ 9 TIME TO SEE ! D>K & %AV5 ANGLE TAKE HIS %OT4 

,ALONG ) EV]Y O!R SPECTRAL PRES5CE 9 ! ROOM1 9CLUD+ ! R\< SLEEP]S1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG & ! O!R ,MA/] ,BUILD]S1 ,MI*AEL LOOK$ T[>DS ! BILLI>D TABLE ) A HORRIBLE PRES5TIM5T ( :AT WAS JU/ AB\T TO HAPP54 

,! CROP-HAIR$ & SATURN9E CONTE/ANT HAD JU/ JABB$ HIS LAPIS-TIPP$ CUE ) CONSID]ABLE =CE 9TO ONE ( ! HUNDR$ BALLS 9 PLAY UPON ! TABLE1 EA* A SUBTLY DIFF]5T TONE ( GRAY4 ,! SPH]E ?AT HAD BE5 HIT /REAK$ (F ACROSS ! BAIZE ) A LONG1 BLURR+ /R+ ( AFT]-IMAGES PURSU+ IT4 ,SEV]AL %ADES D>K] ?AN A L>GE MAJORITY ( ! SURR\ND+ BALLS1 ,MI*AEL ?\<T ?AT IT MI<T BE A DEEP *]RY-R$ IF SE5 )\T ! COLOR-BL9DNESS ?AT WAS A CONDITION ( ! <O/-SEAM4 ,9 FACT1 ,MI*AEL ?\<T IT MI<T BE ! EXACT SAME COLOR AS ! /ICKY LOZ5GE HE HAD *OK$ UPON4 ,9 AN 9/9CTIVE FLA% ?AT SEEM$ TO COME FROM NO:]E1 ,MI*AEL KNEW ?AT ?IS BALL SOMEH[ /OOD = ,DR4 ,GRAY1 ! ,BOR\<S' DOCTOR UP 9 ,BROAD ,/REET :O'D TOLD ,DORE5 ?AT H] Y\NGE/ *ILD WAS SUFF]+ FROM NO MORE ?AN A SORE ?ROAT & %\LD BE GIV5 C\<-DROPS4 ,AS HE WAT*$ ! ,DR4 ,GRAY-BALL ROCKET UP ! L5G? ( ! HUGE TABLE1 ,MI*AEL FELT1 DEEP 9 HIS S9K+ /OMA*1 ?AT HE KNEW :]E ALL ( ?IS WAS LEAD+4 

,) A MI<TY CRACK ! HURTL+ BALL COLLID$ ) ANO!R1 A MU* PAL] ORB ?AT ,MI*AEL UND]/OOD ) A TRANSFIX+ CL>ITY WAS SOMEH[ MEANT TO /& = HIM4 ,?IS SECOND GRAY GLOBE SPUN (F FROM ! IMPACT TO REB\ND AGA9/ ! S\?-SIDE CU%ION & CANNON T[>DS ! TABLE'S NOR!A/ CORN]1 :]E ! RAIS$ DISC WAS EMBLAZON$ ) A *ILDI% GOLD5 SCRIBBLE ?AT WAS MEANT TO BE A SKULL4 ,! ,MI*AEL-BALL1 SL[$ TO A TRICKLE AFT] ITS COLLISION ) ! CU%ION1 RUMBL$ 9EXORABLY T[>DS ! DEA?'S-HEAD POCKET1 GRADUALLY LOS+ MOM5TUM 9 NAIL-BIT+LY SMALL 9CREM5TS TO F9ALLY /OP DEAD LESS ?AN A HAIR'S BREAD? FROM ! CORN]-HOLE'S D>K $GE4 ,MORE ?AN A ?IRD ( ITS DULL IVORY CURVATURE PROTRUD$ \T PREC>I\SLY OV] ! SKULL-M>K$ M9IATURE ABYSS LIKE A SWOLL5 BELLY1 LOOK+ AS ?\< ! SLI<TE/ VIBRATION 9 ! BILLI>D HALL'S FLOOR W\LD S5D IT TOPPL+ OV] ! RIM 9TO PIT* BLACK OBLIVION4 ,AL?\< HE KNEW NO?+ AB\T SNOOK]1 ,MI*AEL S5S$ ?AT ) ?IS %OT BO? HE & ! PALE ,MA/] ,BUILD] HAD BE5 PLAC$ 9 AN ALMO/ IMPOSSIBLE POSITION4 

,IT APPE>$ ?AT ! :ITE-HAIR$ CONTE/ANT HAD COME TO ! SAME REGRETTABLE CONCLUSION4 ,HE />$ AT ! TABLE SIL5T & A<A/ = SOME FEW SECONDS AS ?\< HE C\LD NOT BELIEVE ?AT ONE ( HIS ?REE BLAZ+ COLLEAGUES HAD SE5 FIT TO SN>E HIM 9 ?IS AWFUL & APP>5TLY 9SOLUBLE PR$ICAM5T4 

,HE LOOK$ UP FROM ! ?REAT5$ BILLI>D BALL T[>DS ! %AV5-HEAD$ ANGLE :O HAD L&$ IT 9 SU* APPALL+ JEOP>DY1 HIS EYES SO FILL$ ) FURY ?AT ! AUDI5CE ( DEADBEAT ,BOR\<S <O/S ALL %RANK BACK N]V\SLY 9TO ! %AD[S1 DEEP] ?AN !Y W]E ALREADY4 ,)\T BL9K+ & )\T A FLICK] ( EXPRESSION ON A FACE ?AT WAS N[ /ATUE-LIKE1 ! :ITE-HAIR$ BUILD] C>EFULLY PRON\NC$ ONE WORD 9 HIS F\RFOLD$ TONGUE4 

0,UORICYELNT40 

,EV]YONE GASP$1 EXCEPT = ONE OR TWO :O LAU<$ 9VOLUNT>ILY !N *OK$ IT (F 9TO A DREADFUL & EMB>RASS$ SIL5CE AS !Y REALIZ$ :AT ! ,MA/] ,BUILD] HAD JU/ SAID1 GIVE OR TAKE SEV]AL LAY]S ( SUBSIDI>Y NUANCES & MEAN+S4 

0,URIEL1 Y\ CUNT40 

,IT BR\<T ! H\SE D[N1 ALMO/ LIT]ALLY4 ,! %AV5-HEAD$ BUILD]'S FACE APPE>$ TO PASS ?R\< AN ECLIPSE1 :]E Y\ C\LD SEE ! SWA! ( %AD[Y EMOTION MOVE ACROSS HIS FEATURES FROM ! HAIRL9E'S /UBBLE D[N TO ! BONE BULW>K ( HIS JAW4 ,HE BR\<T ! H& ?AT HELD ! CUE R\ND 9 A SWIFT >C1 OV]>M ACROSS HIS %\LD] ) A SWEEP ( :ITE & MOLT5 AFT]-IMAGES BEH9D IT1 BURN+ P9IONS 9 A SAVAGE1 SLIC+ W+1 & HURL$ HIS CUE D[N ON ! SNOOK]-P>LOR FLOOR4 ,IT BOOM$1 ! V]Y CRACK ( DOOM1 SO ?AT ! 5TIRE BUILD+ LUR*$ & TILT$ ) A NUMB] ( R\< SLEEP]S /AGG]+ & TIPP+ OV]1 5D+ 9 A JUMBL$ HEAP ) !IR ASSOCIATES AGA9/ ! BILLI>D HALL'S RE> WALL4 ,MI*AEL WAS BO? RELIEV$ & MY/IFI$ TO NOTE ?AT ?R\<\T ALL ?IS %AK+1 %UDD]+ & FALL+ OV]1 NOT ONE ( ! BALLS ON ! GRAY TABLE EV5 TREMBL$4 

,DU/ RA9$ FROM ! CEIL+1 FLAKES ( PLA/] SETTL+ AS IF L[]$ ON ?READS ( MULTIPLE EXPOSURES4 ,EV5 9 ! FLAT AC\/ICS ( ! <O/-SEAM1 RUMBL+ REP]CUSSIONS FROM ! SLAMM$-D[N SNOOK] CUE /ILL *>G$ LIKE BULLS >\ND ! PREMISES1 :ILE ! ASSEMBL$ WRAI?S :O W]E /ILL ON !IR FEET /OOD ROOT$ TO ! SPOT 9 A RELIGI\S PANIC4 ,SURELY1 TIME W\LD 5D N[4 ,/>S W\LD BE TIDI$ AWAY1 PUT BACK 9SIDE 9 !IR JEWELRY CASKET1 & ! SUN W\LD POP4 

,AS ,MI*AEL /OOD !RE BOGGL+1 HE F\ND HIMSELF SEIZ$ BY HIS DRESS+ G[N'S FI5D-PHLEGM-FLECK$ COLL> FROM BEH9D & YANK$ 9TO ACTIVITY BY SOMEBODY :O TURN$ \T TO BE ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]4 

0,COME ON1 '=E ! %OCK WE>S ORF & EV]YBODY'S TRY9' TO GET AYT ( ']E AT ONCE60 

,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG MOV$ QUICKLY & EFFICI5TLY1 CLE>LY EXP]I5C$ 9 DUCK+ \T & SC>P]+ FROM ! MO/ UNEXPECT$ & APOCALYPTIC SITUATIONS4 ,/REAM+ ) !IR AFT]-IMAGES ACROSS ! BILLI>D HALL AS IF SOMEONE HAD JU/ TURN$ ON AN UR*9-TAP1 ! *ILDR5 SME>$ ACROSS ! SMALL BACK-(FICE1 TUMBL+ D[N ! ,JACOB ,FLI<T & !N CONT9U+ AT SPE$1 DESC5D+ ?R\< ! MORTAL BUILD+ TO ! BOTTOM FLOOR BY JUMP+ D[N ! /AIRS TWELVE AT A TIME1 SC>+ ! SAME GRAY-M>BL$ CAT ?AT !Y'D UPSET ON !IR WAY 94 

,!Y REA*$ ! LOBBY ( ! SPORTS & SOCIAL C5T]1 ) ! ?UND] ( ! N[-/AMP$+ PHANTOM SNOOK] CR[D PURSU+ !M D[N FROM ! HI<] /ORIES AS ! O!R <O/S BELAT$LY CAME TO !IR S5SES & MADE AN ATTEMPT TO CLE> ! ROOM4 ,MI*AEL & ALL ! O!RS W]E AB\T TO BOLT \T ?R\< ! D\BLE DOORS & 9TO ,HORSE%OE ,/REET :5 ,PHYLLIS YELL$ = !M TO /OP4 

0,DON'T GOO AYT !RE6 ,! 'OLE MOB'LL BE P\R+ ?R\< !M DOORS 9 'ALF A M9UTE6 ,I'VE A BETT] WAY60 

,) ?AT %E CLOS$ H] EYES & P9*$ H] NOSE BETWE5 H] ?UMB & =EF+] LIKE SOMEBODY PREP>+ TO JUMP FROM ! BAK+ CONCRETE POOL $GE 9TO ! OPAQUE GRE5 WAT]S ( ! LIDO AT ,MIDSUMM] ,MEAD[4 ,MAK+ A %ORT RABBIT-HOP 9TO ! AIR1 %E PLUNG$ D[N ?R\< ! FLOOR & DISAPPE>$ B5EA? ! LOBBY'S TILES1 LEAV+ ! JU/-MOPP$ SURFACE UNDI/URB$ BY SO MU* AS A RIPPLE4 ,LOOK+ AT EA* O!R D\BTFULLY !N GLANC+ UP AS ONE T[>DS ! CEIL+ :]E ! AVALAN*E-RO> ( ESCAP+ <O/S WAS GR[+ L\D] AS IT NE>$1 ! *ILDR5 FOLL[$ ,PHYLLIS'S EXAMPLE4 ,%UTT+ EYES & NO/RILS TI<T1 !Y DID !IR LITTLE JUMPS & F\ND ?AT !Y W]E FALL+ ?R\< A FOOT OR SO ( FLOOR+ 9TO DAMP & ALL-EMBRAC+ D>KNESS4 

,PICK+ HIMSELF UP FROM NOTICEABLY H>D & !RE=E V]Y LIKELY ANCI5T FLAG/ONES1 ,MI*AEL LOOK$ R\ND ) HIS T9SEL-TRIMM$ <O/-VISION AT ! SP>KL+ \TL9ES ( HIS FIVE *UMS1 :O W]E SIMIL>LY RIS+ TO !IR FEET & DU/+ !MSELVES D[N4 ,!Y SEEM$ TO BE 9 A BIG UNUS$ CELL> ) BRICK WALLS1 COBWEBB$ & BLACK ) AGE4 ,PHYLL ,PA9T]1 HAV+ BE5 ! FIR/ ONE BACK UP ON H] FEET1 WAS /&+ AT ! BASEM5T'S WE/]N 5D & SCRAP+ AT A PAT* ( BRICKWORK ?AT LOOK$ RELATIVELY MOD]N 9 COMP>ISON ) ITS SURR\ND+S1 POSSIBLY A =M] DOORWAY ?AT HAD BE5 SEAL$ UP4 ,AS H] COMPANIONS GRAVITAT$ TO H]1 GA!R+ 9 A LOOSE R+ AT H] BACK1 %E G5]\SLY %>$ ! S*EME :I*1 ( C\RSE1 !Y W]E BY !N ALREADY COMMITT$ TO4 

0,I RECKON ?AT WE'VE SE5 AS MU* O' :Y ! BUILD]S 'AD !IR B>NEY AS WE'RE GUNNA SEE4 ,I ?9K IT'S TIME WE W5T TO MEET ) ,MRS4 ,GIBBS AT ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*1 ! WAY ?AT WE AGRE$1 AN' SEE IF ANYBODY'S FAYND AYT ANY?9'40 

,JOHN1 LOOK+ BAFFL$1 9T]JECT$ H]E4 

0,BUT SURELY1 ,PHYLL1 ! QUICKE/ WAY TO ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* IS /RAI<T ALONG ,M>EFAIR TO ,DODDRIDGE ,/REET4 ,:Y >E Y\ DIGG+ ?R\< ! YE>S AGA980 

,AT ! GANG'S RE>1 ,MI*AEL /OOD ON HIS TOES TO SEE :AT ! TALL Y\NG/] WAS REF]R+ TO4 ,PHYLLIS WAS /&+ ) H] BACK T[>DS !M1 BURR[+ 9TO ! BRICK WALL LIKE ONE ( ! RABBITS ?AT HUNG DISMALLY >\ND H] NECK4 ,JU/ AS ! H\R-DEEP HOLE ?AT %E'D DUG 9 ! ,BA? ,/REET H$GE HAD HAD A RIM ( DAYLI<T ONLY1 SO ! ONE ?AT %E WAS HOLL[+ \T N[ WAS BORD]$ BY UN9T]RUPT$ D>KNESS4 ,HEAV5 ONLY KNEW H[ MANY LI<TLESS DAYS OR YE>S OR DECADES %E WAS FOLD+ BACK 9TO ITS BLACK P]IMET]4 

0,I'M TAK9' US ALONG ,M>EFAIR TO ,DODDRIDGE ,/REET1 Y] NIT4 ,!RE'S NO?9' SAYS WE 'AVE TO GOO ! BOR9' WAY4 ,!RE'S TUNNELS DAYN ?IS 5D O' TAYN :AT GOO BACK TO ANTIQUITY & L9K UP ALL ! OLDE/ *UR*ES AN' IMPORTANT BUILD+S4 ,?AT'S :]E ME & ,BILL FAYND ,REGGIE1 9 ! PASSAGEWAY :AT RUNS FROM ,PET]'S ,*UR* UP TO ! ',OLY ,SEPUL*]4 ,?IS CELL> :AT WE'RE 9 N[ US$ TO BE P>T ( ! UND]GR\ND R\TE FROM ,/4 ,PET]'S1 ?R\< ,/4 ,GREGORY'S & UP T[>DS ,ALL ,SA9TS1 :AT US$ TO BE ,ALL ',ALL[S :5 IT WIZ /ILL BUILT FROM WOOD4 ,D[N ']E IT DOESN'T TAKE MU* DIGG9' TILL Y] RI<T D[N 9 ! TWELVE- & ?IRTE5-'UNDR$S ) ! LAT] C5TURIES ALL OV] 'EAD SO ?AT Y] CAN DIG UP 9TO :ATEV] TIME Y] FANCY4 ,!RE4 ,I ?9K ?AT'S DONE IT40 

,PHYLLIS /EPP$ BACK SO ?AT EV]YONE C\LD SEE1 AL?\< 9 TRU? !RE WASN'T V]Y MU* TO LOOK AT4 ,%E HAD DRAGG$ ! MIDNI<T $GES ( ! TIME-GAP \T TO R\<LY ! DIM5SIONS ( A MOTOR-TIRE1 ) NO?+ VISIBLE UPON ! HOLE'S F> SIDE EXCEPT MORE BLACKNESS4 ,/ILL1 IF ,PHYLLIS SAID ?AT ?IS WAS ! EXCIT+ WAY TO TRAVEL ALONG ,M>EFAIR1 ,MI*AEL WAS PREP>$ TO TRU/ H]4 ,H] ANN\NCEM5T ?AT ! GANG W]E AT LA/ GO+ TO MEET ) ,MRS4 ,GIBBS HAD DONE MU* TO DISPEL HIS E>LI] WORRIES ?AT %E MI<T BE RECKLESSLY EXPOS+ HIM TO TR\BLE1 & AS %E HIT*$ UP H] SKIRT TO CLAMB] ?R\< ! SPACE %E'D MADE HE JO/L$ =W>D PA/ ! O!R MEMB]S ( ! CREW TO BE ! FIR/ ONE AFT] H]4 

,ONLY ! TUNNEL'S R\< & GLI/5+ LIME/ONE WALLS BETRAY$ ! FACT ?AT !Y W]E N[ 9 M$IEVAL TIMES1 ) TOTAL D>KNESS BE+ MU* ! SAME 9 ANY C5TURY4 ,! GLITT]+ EMBROID]Y ( ,MI*AEL'S NI<T-SI<T PICK$ \T FRAGM5TS ( >*AIC DEBRIS LITT]$ H]E & !RE - P>T ( AN OLD /ONE BOTTLE ) A WIRE-&-M>BLE /OPP]1 LUMPS ( DOG-MESS ?AT LOOK$ FOSSILIZ$ & HALF A HOBBY-HORSE ) WOOD5 SP9E SNAPP$ JU/ BEL[ ! HEAD - BUT NO?+ ?AT SEEM$ V]Y 9T]E/+4 ,) ! REMA9D] ( ! GANG & !IR ATT5DANT IMAGES 9 T[1 ,MI*AEL & ,PHYLLIS BEGAN WALK+ 9TO ! IMP5ETRABLE BLACK\T1 HEAD+ R\<LY WE/4 

,!Y HADN'T TRAVEL$ V]Y F>1 AB\T ! WID? ( ,HORSE%OE ,/REET AS F> AS ,MI*AEL C\LD MAKE \T1 BE=E ! TUNNEL WID5$ 9TO :AT HE ?\<T WAS AN AB&ON$ VAULT ( SOME K9D1 ) A FLAGG$ FLOOR ON :I* JIGSAW *UNKS ( BROK5 /ONE W]E /REWN1 P]HAPS ! %ATT]$ LID ( A S>COPHAGUS4 ,PHYLLIS CONFIRM$ ! TOT'S SUSPICIONS4 

0,YISS1 ?IS WIZ :AT'S UND]NEA? ,/4 ,GREGORY'S ,*UR*1 OR UND] :]E IT US$ TO BE1 AT ANY RATE4 ,?IS WIZ ! V]Y SPOT :]E ONE ( ! F\R ,MA/] ,BUILD]S TOLD A MONK TO COME1 'UNDR$S ( YE>S AGO4 ,?IS BUILD]1 IT WIZ PROBABLY Y\R MATE ! CURLY *AP1 'E MADE ! MONK BR+ A /ONE CROSS ']E1 ALL ! WAY ACROSS ! DES]TS & ! OCEANS FROM ,J]USALEM1 TO M>K ! C5T] ( 'IS L&1 SLAP 9 ! MIDDLE O' ! C\NTRY4 ,?AT OLD CROSS - ! ,ROOD1 !Y US$ TO CALL IT - WIZ ! ?+ :AT MAKES ! ,BOR\<S SO IMPORTANT4 ,UP/AIRS1 IT'S ! HUB ( ,5GL&'S /RUCTURE SO IT'S BE>9' ALL ! WEI<T4 ,?AT'S :Y ! NA/Y BURN-'OLE :AT Y\ SAW 9 ,BA? ,/REET E>LI] IS GUNNA 5D UP AS A FLIPP9' GRET DISA/] IF SOMEONE 5T C>EFUL40 

,MI*AEL *OSE NOT TO ASK ,PHYLLIS :AT %E MEANT AS HE DID NOT P>TICUL>LY WANT TO ?9K AB\T ! NA/Y BURN-HOLE ?AT !Y'D SE5 9 ,BA? ,/REET4 ,! SIX JUNIOR WRAI?S ME&]$ ON ALONG ! SUBT]RANEAN PASSAGEWAY1 LEAV+ ! RU9$ VAULT ( ,/4 ,GREGORY'S BEH9D AS !Y PROGRESS$ 9TO ! ANTIQUE D>KNESS UND] ,M>EFAIR4 

,AFT] ANO!R FIFTY OR SO PACES1 ,PHYLLIS CALL$ ! COMPANY TO A HALT & PO9T$ TO ! BURR['S MOI/ & DRIPP+ RO(1 M]E FEET ABOVE !M4 

0,?IS IS :]E ,I RECKON WE %\LD DIG UP TO ! SURFACE4 ,IT'LL BR+ US AYT JU/ OPPOSITE ! M\? O' ,DODDRIDGE ,/REET 9 ,M>EFAIR4 ,GIVE US A LEG UP1 ,JOHN1 W\LD Y]80 

,! BE/-LOOK+ MEMB] ( ! <O/-GANG DID AS HE WAS TOLD1 CUPP+ HIS H&S 9TO A /IRRUP SO ?AT ! NE>-WEI<TLESS ,PHYLLIS C\LD /& ON !M & COMM5CE H] PAW+ AT ! TUNNEL'S CEIL+4 ,?IS TIME !RE W]E %IFT+ B&WID?S ( BO? BLACK & :ITE >\ND ! FR+ES ( ! EXCAVATION1 :I* SUGGE/$ ?AT ! SPACE ABOVE !M WAS AT LEA/ FAMILI> ) ! ORD9>Y PROCESSION ( SUCCESSIVE DAYS & NI<TS4 

,TO ,MI*AEL'S EYE ,PHYLLIS WAS BE+ MU* MORE C>EFUL 9 H] DIGG+1 WIP+ PATI5TLY AWAY AT ! ACCUMULAT$ AGES LIKE A CAUTI\S >*AEOLOGI/ RA!R ?AN SCRABBL+ FRANTICALLY1 :I* WAS ! ONLY TE*NIQUE ?AT HE'D SE5 H] USE BE=E4 ,IT LOOK$ AS IF %E W]E ATTEMPT+ TO BORE ?R\< TO A SPECIFIC YE> OR EV5 A SPECIFIC MORN+1 SO PRECISE & DELICATE W]E ! PROGRESSIONS ( H] <O/LY MULTIPLICITY ( F+]S1 SCRAT*+ 9 ! D>K4 

,AT LA/ %E SEEM$ TO HAVE A*IEV$ EXACTLY ! DEGREE ( P5ETRATION %E WAS SEEK+1 ) A SIZABLE BREA* 9 ! FABRIC ( ! TUNNEL ?AT AF=D$ A RE/RICT$ VIEW UP 9TO :AT APPE>$ TO BE ! %AD[Y & LAU<ABLY L[-CEIL+$ ROOM ABOVE4 ,) A DELI<T$ & TRIUMPHANT *ORTLE1 ,PHYLLIS SCRAMBL$ UP & ?R\< ! OP5+ %E'D FA%ION$1 REAPPE>+ MOM5TS LAT] CR\*$ BESIDE ! TIME-HOLE'S RIM & GR9N+ D[N T[>DS !M FROM ABOVE4 ,%E CALL$ TO ,MI*AEL1 HOLD+ \T H] H& & TELL+ HIM ?AT HE %\LD COME UP NEXT4 ,OB$I5TLY1 ! TODDL] HOPP$ UP 9TO ,JOHN'S L9K$ H&S & ALL[$ ,PHYLLIS TO MANH&LE HIM UP ?R\< ! R5D 9 ! /ONE RO(1 9TO ! DUSKY *AMB] OV]HEAD4 

,HE F\ND HIMSELF NOT 9 A CRAWLSPACE ) ITS WOOD5 CEIL+ ONLY ?REE FEET OV]HEAD1 AS HE'D BELIEV$ HE W\LD1 BUT UND]NEA? A TABLE4 ,AS HE KNEEL$ ) ,PHYLLIS BY ! AP]TURE1 HELP+ FIR/ ,M>JORIE !N ,BILL TO /RUGGLE UP BESIDE !M1 ,MI*AEL NOTIC$ ?AT B5EA? ! NE> SIDE ( ! TABLETOP ! L[] REA*ES ( A SEAT$ MAN W]E VISIBLE4 ,P]*$ ON A /ATELY H>DWOOD *AIR1 HIS MO/ PROM95T FEATURE WAS ! PAIR ( HI<1 S(T BOOTS ) DULL IRON BUCKLES JU/ BEL[ ! ANKLE & A FLAP ( LEA!R RIS+ TO OBSCURE EA* KNEE4 ,! MAN WAS OBVI\SLY ALIVE1 S9CE :5 HE MOV$ ONE FOOT IT LEFT NO AFT]-IMAGES BEH9D IT1 :I* MEANT ?AT PROBABLY HE C\LDN'T HE> !M4 ,ALL ! SAME1 ,MI*AEL TRI$ NOT TO MAKE A NOISE AS ,REGGIE & !N ,JOHN W]E HAUL$ UP ?R\< ! TIME-TRAPDOOR1 :]EUPON ! 5TIRE GANG CRAWL$ LIKE BE>-CUBS \T BETWE5 ! TABLE-LEGS 9TO A L>GE & QUIET ROOM ) LONG SLANT$ RAYS ( AFT]NOON LI<T FALL+ ?R\< ITS CRISS-CROSS LEAD$ W9D[S4 

,/&+ !RE TO ONE SIDE ( ! HI<-RO($ QU>T]S ) HIS SPECTRAL PLAYMATES1 ,MI*AEL GAZ$ ACROSS ! POLI%$ OAK5 TABLETOP T[>DS ! TOP HALF ( ! MAN :OSE HI< BOOTS HE'D ALREADY SE51 SITT+ AT ! F> 5D & WRIT+ ) A QUILL P5 9 SOME SORT ( LOG OR L$G]4 

,D>K HAIR1 LANK & GREASY-LOOK+1 HUNG D[N TO ! DU/Y MANTLE ( ! MAN'S OLD-FA%ION$ TUNIC1 & HIS B[$ HEAD1 B5T ABOVE HIS WRIT+S1 HAD A POORLY-CONCEAL$ BALD SPOT4 ,IT WAS H>D TO JUDGE HIS /ATURE1 SEAT$ AS HE WAS1 AL?\< HE DIDN'T LOOK TO BE UNDULY TALL4 ,DESPITE ?IS1 HIS BROAD *E/ & %\LD]S FO/]$ AN IMPRESSION ( SOLIDITY & BULK4 ,SK9 GRAY 9 ! DRA9$ RADIANCE ( ! <O/-SEAM1 ! MAN LOOK$ LIKE A LEAD SOLDI] SCAL$ UP = ! PLAY ( GIANTS4 

,COM+ TO ! 5D ( A LONG P>AGRAPH ! FELL[ SAT BACK 9 HIS *AIR TO READ :AT HE HAD WRITT51 SO ?AT ! <O/-*ILDR5 C\LD MORE CLE>LY SEE HIS FACE4 ,TO ,MI*AEL1 ! GRAVE C\NT5ANCE LOOK$ ALMO/ ?UGGI%1 EV5 ?\< ! G5]AL BE>+ ( MAN SUGGE/$ RANK & PROM95CE4 ,HIS FEATURES W]E LIKE ?ICK-CUT BACON1 BROAD & FLE%Y & POSSESS$ ( :AT MI<T ALMO/ BE AN E>?Y S5SUALITY IF NOT = ! EXPRESSIONLESS GRAY EYES LIKE FLATT5$ MUSKET BALLS ?AT DOM9AT$ ! >RANGEM5T1 />+ D[N UNBL9K+ AT ! PAGE ( CRAMP$ BUT ORNATE SCRIPT ?AT HE'D JU/ AU?OR$4 ,A FAT W>T JEWEL$ ! DEPRESSION BETWE5 L[] LIP & *91 ) A MU* SMALL] GR[? JU/ OV] HIS RI<T EYEBR[4 ,!RE WAS A N]VE-WRACK+ /ILLNESS TO HIM ?AT ,MI*AEL IMAG9$ TO BE LIKE ! /ILLNESS ( A BOMB ! MOM5T AFT] IT'S /OPP$ TICK+4 

,/&+ 9 ! SIL5T ROOM BESIDE HIM1 ,PHYLLIS NUDG$ HIM G5TLY 9 HIS PHANTOM RIBS4 ,%E LOOK$ PLEAS$ ) H]SELF4 

0,!RE4 ,SEE 'IM8 ,?AT'S ! ,LORD ,PROTECTOR1 ?AT WIZ4 

0,?AT'S ,OLIV] ,CROMWELL40 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#d1 #bba 3 ,BOOK #b1 ,*APT] #f -- ,ADD$4 

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