,BOOK #b1 ,*APT] #i 
,! ,TREES ,DON'T ,NE$ TO ,KN[ 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,! ,T,R,E,E,S ,D,O,N',T ,N,E,$ ,T,O ,K,N,[ 

,M>JORIE ,MIR&A ,DRISCOLL WAS AMONG ! WELL-READ DEAD4 ,%E HADN'T BE5 MU* ( A READ] :5 %E'D FOLL[$ H] DOG ,9DIA 9TO ! D>K ,N5E D[N AT ,PADDY'S ,MEAD[1 BUT %E'D CAU<T UP 9 ! TIMELESS TIME S9CE !N4 ,%E'D LOIT]$1 LIM9AL1 9 LIBR>IES1 SKULK$ SPECTRALLY 9 SITT+ ROOMS & CREPT1 CREPUSCUL>1 ?R\< CLASSES4 ,! BESPECTACL$ GIRL'S TUBBY1 WEI<TLESS =M HAD BOBB$ UNSE5 AT S*OL>S' %\LD]S LIKE A GRAY1 TRANSLUC5T PILL[ AS %E'D FOLL[$ !M ?R\< ,*AUC]1 ,%AKESPE>E1 ,MILTON1 ,BLAKE & ,DICK5S1 9TO ! L+UI/IC H9T]L&S ( ,JOYCE & ,ELIOT ) QUITE A LOT ( ,M4,R4 ,JAMES & ,5ID ,BLYTON ON ! WAY4 ,%E'D 5JOY$ NE>LY ALL ( IT1 P>TICUL>LY ,DICK5S1 AL?\< %E'D REMA9$ 5TIRELY UNIMPRESS$ BY ! DEMISE ( ,LITTLE ,NELL1 :O ,M>JORIE CONSID]$ A !ATRICAL Y\NG MADAM4 ,IF %E'D WRITT5 IT1 SOMEBODY W\LD HAVE *UCK$ ! :9+ LITTLE BUGG] 9 ! ,?AMES2 SEE H[ %E H&L$ ?AT4 

,NOT ?AT ,M>JORIE C\LD HAVE WRITT5 ,! ,OLD ,CURIOSITY ,%OP1 IF ! TRU? BE TOLD4 ,%E KNEW1 DESPITE ! REC5T UNEXPECT$ FLATT]Y FROM ,MR4 ,AZIEL & ! ,DODDRIDGE FAMILY1 ?AT %E WAS NO:]E NE> AS GOOD AS ?AT4 ,IT WAS EXCIT+1 %E'D ADMIT1 TO ?9K ?AT SOME:]E FUR!R D[N ! L+] ( ET]NITY H] NOVEL WAS ALREADY F9I%$1 SOMEH[ PUBLI%$1 & APP>5TLY QUITE WELL RECEIV$4 ,H[EV]1 BE+ A REALI/IC SORT1 ,M>JORIE ?\<T H] FUTURE POPUL>ITY WAS PROBABLY MORE ON ACC\NT ( ,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG'S NOVELTY ?AN ANY SPECIAL LIT]>Y M]IT4 ,H>DLY ANYBODY WROTE BOOKS AFT] !Y W]E DEAD & EV5 FEW] SAW !IR EF=TS ?R\< TO <O/LY PUBLICATION1 & SO %E SUPPOS$ ?AT ANYONE :O DID WAS B\ND TO GET A FAIR BIT ( ATT5TION4 

,M>JORIE WAS A BEG9N]1 %E KNEW ?AT1 ) ONLY A BEG9N]'S S5SE ( H[ TO CRAFT A N>RATIVE OR %APE A /ORY4 ,%E'D WORK$ \T A FEW ?+S ON H] [N - A *APT] W\LD SEEM MORE COMPLETE UNTO ITSELF IF IT SET UP SOME M9OR QUE/ION 9 ! READ]'S M9D RI<T AT ! />T1 !N ANSW]$ IT1 P]HAPS 9 ! CONCLUD+ L9ES - BUT O!R ?AN A SMATT]+ ( SIMIL> DEVICES1 %E FELT HORRIBLY UND]-EQUIPP$ TO DEAL ) ! DEM&S ?AT WRIT+ A :OLE BOOK HAD PLAC$ UPON H]4 

,:AT WAS IRRITAT+ WAS ?AT NOBODY W\LD TELL H] H[ H] NOVEL 5D$ OR H[ %E WAS MEANT TO GET IT 9TO PR9T4 ,%E'D HE>D ?AT ,MR4 ,BLAKE /ILL PUBLI%$ FROM A GL[+ WORK%OP 9 ! HI<] T]RITORIES OV] ,LAMBE?1 BUT ?AT SEEM$ LIKE A LONG HIKE ALONG ! ,ULTRADUCT JU/ ON BEHALF ( ! ELEV5 SKET*Y & ME&]+ *APT]S %E'D COMPLET$ ?US F>4 ,/ILL1 JUDG+ FROM H] ADMIR]S )9 ,MANS\L'S UPP] E*ELONS1 ! /OIC LITTLE GIRL ACCEPT$ ?AT IT WAS A J\RNEY %E MI<T ONE DAY F9D H]SELF UPON4 ,!N %E W\LD HAVE A GRE5-&-GOLD B\ND COPY ( H] MEMOIR ?AT %E C\LD HIDE 9 A C5TURY-OLD FANTASY ( ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL = ,REGGIE ,B[L] TO F9D 9 A DREAM1 :I* WAS ! ?+ ?AT HAD 9SPIR$ ,M>JORIE'S NOVEL 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,:5 %E'D F\ND \T :]E ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG HAD GOT !IR NAME FROM1 %E'D DECID$ ?AT TO WRITE ! DREAM-BOOK :5CE ! NAME ORIG9AT$ W\LD BE A DEAD CLEV] WRIT]'S TRICK4 ,A F9E CONCEIT1 AS %E HAD LE>N$ SU* ?+S W]E CALL$ - NOT ?AT %E'D EV] SPEAK ! PHRASE 9 E>%OT ( H] R\<NECK PHANTOM COLLEAGUES1 :O W\LD ONLY TAKE ! MICKEY4 ,IT WAS FE> ( RIDICULE OR EV5 BE+ O/RACIZ$ ?AT HAD MADE ! O!RWISE FE>LESS *ILD FEEL DIS9CL9$ TO READ OR WRITE MU* :ILE %E'D BE5 ALIVE4 ,D[N 9 ! MORTAL ,BOR\<S - ! ,FIR/ ,BOR\< - ALL Y\ REALLY HAD WAS O!R PEOPLE1 ALL 9 ! SAME LEAKY BOAT ?AT Y\ W]E 94 ,/>T TALK+ PO% OR WALK+ R\ND ) ,PORTRAIT ( ! ,>TI/ AS A ,Y\NG ,MAN UND]NEA? Y\R >M & Y\ RISK$ EV]YBODY ?9K+ Y\ W]E TRY+ TO GET ABOVE Y\RSELF4 ,ABOVE !M4 ,PEOPLE MI<T JU/ LAU< & CALL Y\ ,BRA9S OR ,LADY ,MUCK AT FIR/1 BUT !N !Y'D BREAK Y\R GLASSES4 ,EV5 ?\< %E DIDN'T ?9K ?AT ANY ( H] CURR5T CR[D W\LD ACT LIKE ?AT1 %E'D /ILL ELECT$ TO PURSUE H] LIT]>Y $UCATION & COMM5CE WORK ON H] NOVEL UNANN\NC$1 SO ?AT %E W\LDN'T LOOK SO /UPID IF %E FAIL$4 

,AL?\< %E'D BE5 ) H] <O/-GANG ASSOCIATES = ALMO/ EV]Y MOM5T S9CE !Y'D SAV$ H] FROM ! ,N5E ,HAG1 ,M>JORIE HAD F\ND \T ?AT H] SECRET D\BLE LIFE AS S*OL> & ASPIR+ AU?OR WAS RIDICUL\SLY EASY TO KEEP UP1 ?ANKS TO ! <O/-SEAM'S SOLID NATURE4 ,9 ! <O/-SEAM1 TIME WAS SOME?+ Y\ C\LD DIG ?R\<4 ,Y\ C\LD LEAVE :ATEV] Y\ W]E DO+1 BURR[ (F TO SOME:]E DIFF]5T - SAY SIX MON?S HAUNT+ A PUBLIC READ+ ROOM - & !N DIG BACK TO HALF A SECOND AFT] Y\'D DEP>T$1 BE=E ANYONE HAD NOTIC$ Y\ W]E GONE4 ,M>JORIE HAD H] [N PRIVATE EXI/5CE \TSIDE ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG & ASSUM$ ! O!R MEMB]S MORE ?AN LIKELY DID AS WELL4 ,PHYLLIS HAD ONCE SAID SOME?+ ?AT L$ ,M>JORIE TO CONCLUDE ?AT %E HAD ANO!R GR[N-UP LIFE1 OR LIVES1 ELSE:]E )9 ! SIMULTANE\S REA*ES ( ! AFT]LIFE1 P]HAPS A HUSB& 9 ONE REGION & A BOYFRI5D 9 ANO!R4 ,NO?+ WRONG ) ?AT1 ( C\RSE4 ,PHYLL ,PA9T] HAD LIV$ TO A RIPE OLD AGE & IT WAS ONLY NATURAL ?AT !RE W]E DIFF]5T P]IODS 9 ?AT LIFE ?AT W\LD BE DE> TO H] 9 DIFF]5T WAYS4 ,M>JORIE HADN'T EV5 HAD ! TIME TO =M A CRU% ON ANYONE BE=E %E'D WAD$ AFT] ,9DIA 9TO ! NI<T *ILL ( ! RIV]1 SO %E DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY *OICES4 ,IT WAS ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG1 OR ! LIBR>Y1 OR NO?+4 

,?AT SAID1 ,M>JORIE HAD BE5 IMPRESS$ BY ,TETSY ,DODDRIDGE4 ,H]E WAS SOMEONE :O'D BE5 PLUCK$ FROM LIFE AT A MU* Y\NG] AGE ?AN ,M>JORIE1 YET :O HAD *OS5 TO GR[1 PO/HUM\SLY1 TO A VIBRANT & ATTRACTIVE WOMAN4 ,IT IMPLI$ ?AT ,M>JORIE C\LD HAVE ! SAME AFT]LIFE = H]SELF1 IF ?AT WAS :AT %E WANT$1 & IF ?AT WAS :AT %E D>$4 ,%E C\LD BE TALL]1 SLIMM]1 PRETTI]1 )\T ! ,NATIONAL ,HEAL? GLASSES ?AT %E ONLY WORE BECAUSE %E'D WORN A PAIR 9 LIFE4 ,%E W\LDN'T EV5 HAVE TO LET H] COMRADES KN[ ?AT %E WAS GALLIVANT+ R\ND ! DI/RICT'S SPECTRAL NI<TSPOTS AS A LOVELY DEBUTANTE1 S9CE :5 %E WAS ) !M %E'D MANIFE/ AS A F\R-EY$ & PODGY T5-YE>-OLD1 ! SAME AS ALWAYS4 ,M>JORIE IMAG9$ H]SELF 9 ! >MS ( SOME H&SOME Y\NG WRAI? OR O!R1 MAYBE ,REGGIE ,B[L] IF HE GREW A FOOT & SM>T5$ HIMSELF UP A BIT1 BO? TWIRL+ R\ND A <O/LY ,SALON ,BALLROOM4 ,WOND]+ MOM5T>ILY :AT SEX WAS LIKE1 %E FELT H]SELF BLU% A PR(\ND GRAY 9 ! COLORLESS CONT9UUM ( ! <O/-SEAM4 ,HOP+ NOBODY HAD NOTIC$1 ! Y\NG AU?OR FOCUS$ H]SELF ON H] CURR5T CIRCUM/ANCES TO DISPEL ! CL\DS ( HEAT$ SPECULATION ?AT HAD BO!R$ H] AT 9T]VALS S9CE %E'D BECOME A WRIT]4 

,M>JORIE WAS /&+ ON ! BRILLIANT BO>DWALK ( ! ,ULTRADUCT ) ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG & ! BUILD]1 ,MR4 ,AZIEL4 ,LOOK+ \T ACROSS ITS ALABA/] RAIL1 !Y WAT*$ AS ALL ! IDLE MOM5TS ( ! ,BOR\<S PIL$ !MSELVES UP 9TO DECADES3 C5TURIES ( COBBL]S & CRUSAD]S1 ) ! CA/LE BLOOM+ LIKE A HUGE & HEAVY GRANITE ROSE ONLY TO WI!R ) ITS PETAL BULW>KS PICK$ OR FALL51 ONE BY ONE4 ,TIME /EAM$1 & 9 ITS VAPOR-CURLS FUGITIVE IMAGES & 9/ANTS FL>$ & MELT$ AS ! PA/ & FUTURE *URN$ TOGE!R1 SIMULTANE\SLY & =EV]4 ,ONE ( ! RECYCL$ FLICK]+ VIGNETTES 9 P>TICUL> CAU<T ,M>JORIE'S ATT5TION1 BLAZ+ 9TO BE+ TO GO ?R\< ITS MOTIONS BE=E VANI%+1 ) ?IS CYCLE REPEAT+ EV]Y FEW SUBJECTIVE M9UTES3 ON A L[ /ONE WALL ?AT HAD SPRUNG UP >\ND ! S\!RLY FRONT SIDE ( ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* D[N TO H] LEFT1 %E SAW A PAIR ( OLDI%-LOOK+ M5 SITT+ !RE SIDE BY SIDE1 B5T OV] D\BLE & CONVULS$ ) LAU<T]4 ,ONE ( ! TWO BLOKES1 ! TALLE/ ONE1 LOOK$ LIKE HE MI<T BE QUE]1 DRESS$ 9 A FLUFFY1 GIRLI% SWEAT] ) HIS MESSY HAIR D[N TO HIS %\LD]S & :AT LOOK$ LIKE MAKE-UP ON HIS FACE4 ,! O!R ONE1 WEEP+ ) MIR? BESIDE HIS FREAKI% FRI5D1 WAS REALLY QUITE GOOD-LOOK+1 EV5 ?\< HE'D GONE A BIT BALD AT ! FRONT4 ,M>JORIE HAD ! FUZZY & UNC]TA9 S5SE ?AT %E MI<T KN[ ?IS SECOND MAN FROM SOME:]E2 ?AT %E MI<T HAVE RUN 9TO HIM ONCE BUT HAD =GOTT5 IT4 ,%E WAS JU/ PUZZL+ OV] ?IS :5 LANKY ,JOHN DI/RACT$ H] BY CALL+ \T FROM :]E HE /OOD BESIDE ! RAIL1 TWO DEAD KIDS & A BUILD] TO H] RI<T4 

0,WELL1 BL[ ME4 ,COME & LOOK :AT ,I'VE F\ND1 NIPP]4 ,PHYLLIS1 HOLD HIM UP SO HE CAN SEE :AT'S C>V$ ONTO ?IS RAIL+40 

,JOHN WAS TALK+ TO ! NEW BOY1 ,MI*AEL ,W>R54 ,EVID5TLY1 ! TALL LAD HAD F\ND SOME?+ ( NOTE 9SCRIB$ ON ! TRANSLUC5T BALU/RADE ?AT $G$ ! ,ULTRADUCT4 ,AS ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T] FOLL[$ ,JOHN'S 9/RUCTIONS1 LIFT+ UP ! DRESS+ G[N-CLAD TODDL] SO ?AT HE C\LD SEE1 ,M>JORIE & ! O!R PHANTOM *ILDR5 CR[D$ R\ND !M AS DID ,MR4 ,AZIEL1 ANXI\S = A PEEK AT ! DISCOV]Y4 ,M>JORIE1 AT ! GR\P'S RE> & H]SELF NOT ?AT MU* TALL] ?AN ! ,W>R5 KID1 HAD TO MAKE DO ) SECONDH& DESCRIPTIONS1 BE+ UNABLE TO LOOK AT ! GRAFFITI = H]SELF4 ,%E MADE SURE %E REMEMB]$ ALL ! DETAILS1 ?\<1 CONV9C$ ?AT %E W\LD NE$ !M :5 %E WROTE UP H] NEXT *APT]1 OR 0,! ,RIDDLE ( ! ,*OK+ ,*ILD0 AS %E'D BE5 REC5TLY 9=M$ ?AT %E WAS GO+ TO CALL IT4 ,JOHN WAS PO9T+ \T SOME?+ SCRAT*$ ON ! H&RAIL TO ! 9FANT4 

0,SEE8 ,!RE1 DUG 9TO ! M>BLE-WORK OR :ATEV] IT WIZ1 RI<T :]E ,I'M PO9T+4 ',SN[Y ,V]NALL SPR+S ET]NAL'4 ,?AT'S Y\R GR&DAD1 ?AT WIZ4 ,NO1 HANG ON4 ,IT'S Y\R GREAT-GR&DAD4 ,HE MU/ HAVE BE5 UP H]E ON ! ,ULTRADUCT AT SOME PO9T1 AL?\< ,LORD KN[S :AT HE US$ TO C>VE HIS NAME 9 ! /ONE RAIL LIKE ?AT 444 UNLESS HE'D P9*$ ONE ( ! ANGLES' *ISELS40 

,IT WAS AT ?IS PO9T ?AT ,MR4 ,AZIEL 9T]JECT$1 ! LUGUBRI\S >TISAN S\ND+ SOMEH[ ANNOY$1 SAD & RELUCTANTLY AMUS$ AT ! SAME TIME AS HE PRON\NC$ HIS BRIEF BUR/ ( CASCAD+ GIBB]I%4 

0,HEVDR9 FAWGS MOBZ CLUPTYX40 

,?IS UNFOLD$1 9 A P>T ( ,M>JORIE'S M9D ?AT SEEM+LY EXI/$ ONLY = ! PURPOSE ( DECIPH]+ BUILD]-TALK1 9TO A ROLL+ & FLUORESC5T SPEE* ?AT W\LD HAVE TAK5 A GOOD TW5TY M9UTES TO READ \T1 & !N COND5S$ AGA9 9TO ! NORMAL ,5GLI% ( ! *UBBY LITTLE GIRL'S [N SUMM>Y3 

0,HE DID 9DE$1 & IT WIZ MY [N *ISEL ?AT HE /OLE4 ,) HIS GR&*ILD1 BEAUTIFUL LITTLE ,MAY A/RIDE HIS %\LD]S1 HE HAS GONE EXPLOR+ TO ! FUR!/ REA*ES ( ! ,ULTRADUCT1 WALK+ & CLAMB]+ UNTO ! 5DS ( ,TIME ITSELF4 ,I HAVE MYSELF BE5 UP AS F> AS TW5TY C5TURIES H5CE & F\ND ?IS SAME 9SCRIPTION WAIT+ = ME1 ?\< ,I HAVE AS YET NOT F\ND MY *ISEL40 

,AFT] ?IS HAD SUNK5 91 ,JOHN V5T$ A L[ & ADMIR+ :I/LE4 

0,SO ?AT'S :Y ,I'VE NOT SE5 HIM OR LITTLE ,MAY S9CE ,I'VE BE5 UP H]E4 ,IT'S LIKE :5 HE US$ TO MAKE HIS LONG WALKS1 BACK & =? FROM H]E TO ,LAMBE?40 

,MR4 ,AZIEL NODD$4 

0,SOLFT M9* BW>Z KEPDUG40 

,AFT] PASS+ ?R\< ! FLORID1 EPIC /AGE ( ! V]BAL FILTRATION PROCESS1 ?IS EM]G$ AS SOME?+ M>G9ALLY MORE $IFY+4 

0,SO IT WIZ4 ,9 FACT1 HIS L5G?Y WALKS HELP$ =M ! CREASE ?R\< ,TIME ON :I* ! ,ULTRADUCT WIZ F\ND$ & CON/RUCT$40 

,M>JORIE WAS MEMORIZ+ ALL ( ?IS ) GLEE4 ,IT WAS SU* GREAT MAT]IAL1 NOT ONLY AS A BACKGR\ND DETAIL %E C\LD USE 9 ,*APT] ,TWELVE ( ,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG1 BUT AS A POT5TIAL SUBJECT = H] SECOND NOVEL1 IF %E EV] WROTE ONE4 ,%E C\LD SEE ! C5TRAL IMAGE 9 H] M9D'S EYE4 ,:ITE-HAIR$ & ECC5TRIC ,SN[Y ,V]NALL1 :OM %E'D HE>D ( - EV]YBODY 9 ,MANS\L HAD HE>D ( ,SN[Y ,V]NALL - TREKK+ ?R\< ! AGES 9TO ! F> FUTURE1 ) ! SUP]NATURALLY ATTRACTIVE BABY ,MAY SAT P]*$ UPON HIS %\LD]4 ,M>JORIE HAD HE>D AB\T ! LOVELY DECEAS$ 9FANT1 TOO1 AL?\< %E HADN'T REALIZ$ UNTIL ?IS MOM5T ?AT ! TRAGICALLY Y\NG BEAUTY WAS RELAT$ TO ! MAD & FE>LESS /EEPLEJACK ( LEG5D4 ,FROM :AT %E'D BE5 TOLD1 ! EI<TE5-MON?-OLD HAD ELECT$ TO REMA9 9 ! SAME GORGE\S BABY SEMBLANCE ?AT %E'D HAD BE=E %E'D BE5 SNAT*$ BY DIPH!RIA1 AL?\< H] M9D & H] VOCABUL>Y HAD MATUR$ 9TO ?OSE ( :AT WAS BY ALL ACC\NTS A WISE & ELOQU5T Y\NG LADY2 ,TETSY ,DODDRIDGE IF %E'D LEFT H] 9FANT SEMBLANCE JU/ AS IT WAS4 ,M>JORIE IMAG9$ ALL ! M>VEL\S EX*ANGES !Y C\LD HAVE1 ! DIALOGUES BETWE5 ! /RANGE OLD MAN & ! EXQUISITE BABY GIRL AS !Y PAUS$ ON !IR POSSIBLY UN5D+ QUE/ 9TO FUTURITY & OV]LOOK$ SOME UNIMAG9ABLE L&M>K1 P]HAPS 5TIRE CITIES SCULPT$ \T ( 9SULAT$ ICE UP 9 ! TW5TY-SECOND C5TURY OR T5T$ DES]T T[N%IPS 9 ! TW5TY-F\R?4 ,REALIZ+ ?AT H] WRIT]'S CL\D-COV] ( F]V5T SPECULATION HAD CREPT 9 ONCE MORE1 %E RETURN$ H] ATT5TION TO ! CONV]SATION ( H] FELL[ ,DEAD ,DEAD GANG/]S4 

,PHYLLIS1 :O'D SET ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 D[N ONTO ! ,ULTRADUCT AGA9 AFT] %E'D LIFT$ HIM UP SO ?AT HE C\LD SEE ! WORDS C>V$ ON ITS RAIL+1 WAS 9SI/+ L\DLY ?AT H] COLLEAGUES TAKE UP ! SUGGE/ION ?AT %E'D MADE :5 %E'D FIR/ /EPP$ BACK \T ONTO ! %9+ BRIDGE & ASK$ IF ANYBODY WAS /ILL HUNGRY4 

0,COME ON4 ,WE'VE ALL 'UNG ABAYT ']E LONG 5\<4 ,WE \<T TO BE (F SCRUMP9' = MAD APPLES AYT AT ! ASYLUMS1 LIKE ,I SAID4 ,:5 ,I FAYND TIT* ']E 9 ! ,ATTICS O' ! ,BREA?1 ,I WIZ JU/ ON ME WAY BACK FROM ! LOONY-B9S TO TELL Y\ LOT ?AT ALL ! ,PUCK'S ',ATS 'AD TURN$ RIPE = PICK9'4 ,:ILE WE'RE UP ']E ON ! ,ULTRADUCT WE MI<T AS WELL POP \T AS F> AS ,B]RY ,WOOD SO ?AT WE CAN COLLECT 'EM ALL4 ,BESIDES1 Y\ 'E>D :AT ,MR4 ,DODDRIDGE SAID4 ,IT'LL BE $UCATIONAL = LITTLE ,MI*AEL ']E40 

,NOBODY HAD AN >GUM5T ) ?AT1 & ,M>JORIE H]SELF ?\<T ?AT IT S\ND$ LIKE A GOOD IDEA4 ,%E HAD BE5 TANTALIZ$ RA!R ?AN SATISFI$ BY ! DELICI\S FAIRY-CAKES & ,PUCK'S ,HAT TEA ?AT ,MRS4 ,DODDRIDGE HAD S]V$ UP4 ,! PROSPECT1 !N1 ( RIPE1 MOI/ FAIRY-CLU/]S HANG+ FROM ! MADH\SE EAVES 9 BUCKET LOADS1 DRIPP+ ) JUICE1 WAS ONE %E F\ND RA!R APPEAL+4 ,%E'D DISCOV]$ ?AT %E ALWAYS HAD ! BE/ IDEAS = /ORIES :5 %E'D GORG$ H]SELF ON ,B$LAM ,J5NIES1 & BESIDES WAS ALWAYS 9T]E/$ 9 A MUSICAL & LIT]>Y FIELD-TRIP \T TO ! ASYLUMS4 ,M>JORIE HAD H]O9ES & H]OES !RE4 

,!Y ALL SAID !IR GOODBYES TO ,MR4 ,AZIEL1 :O %OOK EV]YBODY BY ! H& & %OOK ,M>JORIE'S TWICE1 BE=E !Y SET (F BOLDLY D[N ! ,ULTRADUCT AS IT CURV$ \T TO ! S\?WE/1 LEAV+ ! GLUM & BONY BUILD] TO RE-JO9 HIS FELL[ CRAFTSM5 SOME:]E AT ! BOTTOM ( HIS ,JACOB ,FLI<T1 D[N NE> ! BASE ( ! WALKWAY'S SUPPORT PO/S 9 ! LATE SEV5TE5? C5TURY4 ,AS ! <O/-HOOLIGANS /ROLL$ *E]ILY ALONG !Y SANG ! CLUB SONG ?AT ,PHYLLIS HAD 9TRODUC$1 ?\< ,M>JORIE SUSPECT$ ?AT IT WAS AN OLD SONG FROM :ATEV] MOB ?AT ,PHYLLIS US$ TO BE 91 :I* HAD SE5 ITS LYRICS MODIFI$4 

0,WE >E ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG6 ,WE >E ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG6 ,WE M9D \R MANN]S1 WE SP5D \R TANN]S1 WE >E RESPECT$ :]EV] WE GO4 ,WE CAN DANCE1 WE CAN S+1 WE CAN DO ANY?+1 'CAUSE WE >E ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG60 

,EV5 ! PUZZL$-LOOK+ ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 PICK$ ! WORDS UP AFT] A FEW REPETITIONS & SANG LU/ILY1 IF SQUEAKILY1 ALONG ) ALL ! RE/4 ,AS ,M>JORIE MUMBL$ 9 TUNE ) ! BOLD M>*+ AIR1 %E MUS$ UPON ! FACT ?AT H>DLY ANY ( ! SONG WAS TRUE4 ,!Y W]E ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG1 ?AT P>T WAS /RAI<T=W>D 5\<1 BUT IT HAD BE5 SOME TIME S9CE ANY ( !M M9D$ MANN]S OR SP5T TANN]S4 ,NEI!R C\LD !Y TE*NICALLY BE SAID TO BE RESPECT$ :]EV] !Y W5T1 NOT EV5 9 ! ORD9>Y PLACES :]E !Y W5T MO/ (T54 ,MO/ ( ! MORE REPUTABLE <O/S ?\<T ,PHYLLIS & H] CR[D W]E ECTOPLASMIC SCUM1 :ILE MO/ ( ! DISREPUTABLE <O/S AGRE$ ) !M4 ,!Y C\LDN'T DANCE = T(FEE1 & AS F> AS S++ W5T ,M>JORIE ?\<T ?AT ! UNGODLY RACKET !Y W]E MAK+ AT ! MOM5T HAD %OT ?AT CLAIM D[N 9 FLAMES AS WELL4 ,O!R ?AN MANN]S1 TANN]S1 DANC+1 S++ & COMM&+ ! RESPECT ( O!RS1 ?\<1 ! SONG WAS RI<T4 ,!Y C\LD DO ANY?+4 

,%E ?\<T AB\T ! FUNNY NI<T %E'D MET !M4 0,9DIA6 ,COME BACK1 Y\ BLOODY1 BLOODY SILLY BLOODY ?+60 ,IT WAS ! MO/ APPALL+LY-CON/RUCT$ S5T5CE ?AT %E'D EV] SPOK51 & ?ANK ,GOD %E HADN'T WRITT5 IT4 ,%E'D WAD$ \T & AS ! FREEZ+ RIV] WAT] OV]FL[$ 9TO H] ,WELL+TONS %E'D SUFF]$ H] FIR/ MOM5T ( UNC]TA9TY1 BUT BRU%$ IT TO ONE SIDE AS %E PLUNG$ DEEP 9TO ! CRAWL+ D>KNESS ( ! ,N5E AFT] H] BLOODY1 BLOODY DOG4 ,%E C\LD REMEMB] ?9K+1 AS ! COLDNESS REA*$ H] KNICK]S & H] WAI/1 0,?IS IS :AT A BRAVE LITTLE GIRL W\LD DO40 ,9 RETROSPECT1 ,M>JORIE SAW ?AT %E W\LD HAVE BE5 BETT] (F 9 ?9K+ 0,CAN ,I SWIM80 ,%E MU/ HAVE ?\<T ! ,N5E WAS %ALL[] ?AN IT TURN$ \T TO BE1 OR POSSIBLY %E WAS ASSUM+ ?AT SWIMM+ WAS SOME?+ ?AT CAME NATURALLY TO MAMMALS :5 !Y GOT \T ( !IR DEP?4 ,TO BE QUITE HONE/1 %E HAD NO IDEA :AT HAD BE5 GO+ ?R\< H] M9D1 O!R ?AN H] MISPLAC$ CONC]N = ,9DIA4 

,! RAUC\S *OIR ( SPECTRAL JUV5ILES /RODE ON ALONG ! ,ULTRADUCT1 :I* HUMM$ & RESONAT$ ) !IR SLOPPY FOOTFALLS4 ,D[N B5EA? !M1 ,*ALK ,LANE *URN$ ) PUBS1 DU/ & FANATICS1 & AS ! DEAD *ILDR5 SAUNT]$ D[N ! ELEVAT$ PI] ) ALL !IR AFT]-IMAGES %UFFL+ BEH9D !M1 !Y BECAME AW>E ?AT !Y W]E NOT ALONE UPON ! PHOSPHORESC5T PLANK+4 ,DULL LI<TS /REAM$ T[>DS !M FROM ! DI/ANT VANI%+ PO9T :]E ! WALKWAY'S P>ALLEL RAILS SEEM$ TO MEET1 RESOLV+ BRIEFLY 9TO MILKY & TRANSLUC5T FIGURES AS !Y NE>$1 !N PASS+ ?R\< ! GANG TO HURTLE ON T[>DS ! *UR* BEH9D !M4 ,!SE1 ,M>JORIE KNEW1 W]E TRAVEL]S FROM DIFF]5T TIMES AS !Y MOV$ BACK & =? ALONG ! %9+ OV]PASS4 ,SOME ( !M W]E1 NO D\BT1 ! <O/S ( ,NORMANS1 ,SAXONS1 ,ROMANS1 ,ANCI5T ,BRITONS1 :ILE A FEW W]E SMOLD]+ DEMONS & ! RE/ W]E BUILD]S4 ,TO !SE O!R VOYAG]S1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG W\LD LOOK AS FLEET+ & AS 9SUB/ANTIAL1 BRIEFLY-GLIMPS$ %APES FLICK]+ ACROSS ?AT VA/ & TIMELESS SPAN4 

,BY N[ !Y'D CROSS$ ,*ALK ,LANE & W]E PROGRESS+ OV] ! PECULI> & UNFOLD$ /RET* ( WA/EL& ?AT EXT5D$ TO ! HI< WALL ( ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,?IS WAS A />TL+ FEATURE ( ! L&SCAPE1 EV5 BY ! /&>DS ( ! <O/-SEAM1 & SO ,M>JORIE WAS NOT AT ALL SURPRIS$ :5 ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 ASK$ ! GANG TO PAUSE SO HE C\LD TAKE A LOOK AT IT4 ,FROM :AT %E'D PIEC$ TOGE!R FROM ! <O/LY CONV]SATIONS ?AT %E'D OV]HE>D1 ,M>JORIE UND]/OOD ! PAT* ( R\< GR\ND TO BE AN EXAMPLE ( A/RAL SUBSID5CE1 V]Y LIKE ! OV]LAPP$ ASYLUMS ?AT ! *ILDR5 W]E AT PRES5T HEAD+ =4 ,%E F\ND ! CONCEPT ( E!REAL COLLAPSE OBSCURELY FRI<T5+1 ! ?\<T ?AT EV5 ! ET]NAL HAD ITS BREAKABLE & TRANSI5T COMPON5TS1 & YET H]E B5EA? H] WAS ! EVID5CE4 

,P>T ( ! HI<] REA*ES ( ,MANS\L1 MADE \T ( CONGEAL$ DREAMS & MEMORIES1 HAD TUMBL$ ?R\< 9TO ! <O/-SEAM1 SO ?AT ! GRAY HALF-WORLD WAS ITSELF PRESS$ D[N 9TO ! MUD & PUDDLE-SUMPS ( ! MAT]IAL DOMA94 ,?IS L[E/1 E>?LY LEVEL1 AS SE5 FROM ! ,ULTRADUCT1 SEEM$ TO HAVE BE5 A WILD]NESS = SOME CONSID]ABLE TIME1 )\T ! CON/ANT RISE & FALL ( MORTAL DWELL+S ?AT SEE!D EV]Y:]E AB\T4 ,ONLY ! CRAGGY CONT\R L9ES ( ! NEGLECT$ L& W]E W>P+1 %IFT+ UP & D[N1 ) /RAGGLY TREES & BU%ES FL[]+ BRIEFLY 9TO LIFE BE=E !Y W]E SUCK$ BACK 9TO ! UND]LY+ CLAY1 LIKE TRANSI5T BLOOMS ( ALGAE4 ,ON ?IS RELATIVELY T9Y SCRAP ( PHYSICALLY-EXI/5T DIRT1 ! MASSIVELY EXP&$ & IMAG9>Y /RUCTURES ( ,MANS\L HAD FALL5 91 SO ?AT ! >EA ?AT !Y W]E LOOK+ D[N ON SEEM$ 9 CONSEQU5CE IMM5SE3 A YAWN+ E>?WORKS :]E /RAI<T $GES W]E CUT 9TO LOOM+ CLIFFS ( FL9T & LIME/ONE & COMPACT$ SOIL4 ,:AT W]E NO MORE ?AN PUDDLES D[N !RE ON ! BUMPY WA/E GR\ND ( ! MORTAL LEVEL W]E ALSO REFRACT$ 9 ! HI<] SPACES ?AT HAD CAV$ 9 FROM ABOVE1 ! SEP>ATE SPILLS ( PETROL-COLOR$ RA9 UNWRAPP+ 9TO AN OPAQUE LAGOON ?AT LAPP$ AGA9/ ! T[]+ & IRREGUL> MUD WALLS4 ,SE5 FROM ABOVE ! EXCAVATION LOOK$ 5ORM\S1 PREHI/ORIC1 LIKE A MON/R\S ROCK POOL :]E ! ESCAP$ FANTASIES ( ,MANS\L OR BACK-BROK5 WRAI?S FROM ! CRU%$ <O/-SEAM MI<T BE SCUTTL+ LIKE AWFUL CRABS B5EA? ! BLACK & SILV] %IV] ( ! LAKE'S REFLECTIVE SURFACE4 ,ALL 9 ALL1 IT LOOK$ LIKE A TREM5D\S PLACE = SCRUFFY LITTLE APP>ITIONS TO HAVE FUN 91 & PR$ICTABLY ! ,W>R5 TODDL] ASK$ IF !Y C\LD CLAMB] D[N & PLAY !RE = A :ILE4 ,PHYLLIS REFUS$1 ( C\RSE1 ?\< NOT 9 AN UNK9DLY WAY4 ,SOME?+ AB\T ,PHYLL ,PA9T]'S ATTITUDE TO ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 SEEM$ TO HAVE *ANG$ DRA/ICALLY S9CE !Y'D ALL BE5 TO VISIT ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*1 AT LEA/ 9 ,M>JORIE'S OP9ION4 

0,IF ?AT'S :]E Y] FANCY GOO9' !N WE'LL 'AVE A POKE ABAYT !RE A BIT LAT]1 ON AYR WAY BACK FROM ! MADH\SES4 ,WE'LL GOO & DO AYR BIT O' SCRUMP9' FIR/1 ?\<1 SO WE WON'T BE PLAY9' ON AN EMPTY /OMA* & GET %IRTY ) EA* O!R4 ',[ DOES ?AT SAYND80 

,?IS SEEM$ TO MOLLIFY !IR MASCOT1 & SO !Y CONT9U$ ON !IR WAY1 OV] ! DEEP PLUNGE ( ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD & FUR!R /ILL1 ACROSS ! RAILWAY /ATION & ! RIV]1 :I* AS USUAL MADE ,M>JORIE ?9K ( H] BIT ( BAD LUCK1 & ! ,N5E ,HAG4 

,%E HAD KN[N ?AT %E WAS GO+ TO DR[N ! MOM5T ?AT ! TOECAPS ( H] SCUFF$ %OES W]E UNABLE TO LOCATE ! RIV] BOTTOM & %E'D AT LA/ UND]/OOD ! SIMPLE PHYSICS ( H] SITUATION4 ,/ILL1 %E'D HAD ,VICTORIAN /ORIES READ TO H] :]E H]O9ES SLIPP$ PEACEFULLY & ELEGANTLY TO A WAT]Y DEA?1 !IR PETTICOATS BILL[+ UP >\ND !M1 OP5+ LIKE LACE ANEMONES1 :I* ALL MADE DR[N+ S\ND LIKE QUITE AN EASY1 DIGNIFI$ & ABOVE ALL POETIC WAY TO DIE4 ,?AT HAD1 ( C\RSE1 TURN$ \T TO BE A LOAD ( %IT4 

,9 H] PO/MORTEM READ+S %E HAD LE>N$ ?AT ! FIR/ /AGE ( DR[N+ WAS :AT EXP]TS CALL$ 0! SURFACE /RUGGLE01 :I* 9 ,M>JORIE'S [N VIEW WAS A SUCC9CT & ACCURATE DESCRIPTION ( ! PROCESS1 OR AT LEA/ AS %E REMEMB]$ IT3 ! FIR/ ?+ IS ! FRI<T5+ REALIZATION ?AT Y\'RE HAV+ DIFFICULTY KEEP+ Y\R HEAD UP :]E !RE'S /ILL AIR = Y\ TO BREA!4 ,!N1 IF Y\ CAN'T SWIM1 :AT Y\ TRY TO DO IS TRY TO CLIMB \T ( ! RIV] AS IF Y\'RE CAU<T 9 A FL[ ( /EPLADD]S RA!R ?AN ICY WAT]4 ,:5 ?AT DOESN'T WORK Y\ ?RA% >\ND 9 DESP]ATION = A BIT & !N GET TIR$1 & /OP = JU/ A SECOND1 & GO UND]4 ,AS Y\ S9K1 Y\'LL HOLD Y\R BREA? & WAIT = ! ,VICTORIAN SWOON TO COME1 SO ?AT Y\ WON'T KN[ ANY?+ AB\T :AT'S HAPP5+1 BUT IT DOESN'T1 & EV5TUALLY Y\ CAN'T HELP 444 

,M>JORIE WAS %UDD]+ & SQUIRM+ AT ! SAME TIME AS %E ?\<T AB\T IT4 ,! IDEA1 ! MEMORY ( IT1 SET H] <O/LY TEE? ON $GE & MADE H] PHANTOM TOES CURL UP4 

,EV5TUALLY Y\ CAN'T HELP OP5+ Y\R M\? & BREA?+ 9 SOME WAT]1 !N ?AT MAKES Y\ C\< SO ?AT Y\ 9HALE A LOT MORE & 444 A>R<4 ,%E C\LDN'T /& IT1 ! REMEMB]$ BLACK A*E 9 H] *E/4 ,?AT DREADFUL 9/ANT :5 Y\ UND]/& ?AT Y\ WILL NEV] DRAW A BREA? AGA91 & ?AT Y\R LIFE IS F9I%$ AS ! EMPTY1 SIL5T D>KNESS AT ! $GES ( Y\R SI<T BEG9S TO CR[D 9TO ! C5T] & ! PA9 & HORROR IS ALL HAPP5+ TO SOMEONE ELSE2 TO ?AT FAT1 SPECKY LITTLE GIRL D[N !RE4 

,IT WAS ! NEXT BIT1 ?\< - ! /AGE ( DR[N+ ?AT IS TALK$ ( EV]Y:]E BUT V]Y SELDOM WRITT5 ( 9 REPUTABLE J\RNALS - ?AT HAD BE5 ! PO9T :]E EV]Y?+ BECAME ALL WEIRD & UNEXPECT$4 ,?IS WAS ! SUPPOS$ JUNCTURE ( ! DR[N+ PROCESS :]E 0Y\ SEE Y\R :OLE LIFE FLA% BE=E Y\R EYES01 & YES1 ,M>JORIE C\LD CONFIRM FROM P]SONAL EXP]I5CE ?AT ?IS WAS JU/ :AT HAPP5$1 AL?\< NOT QUITE 9 ! FA%ION ?AT ! PHRASE W\LD LEAD Y\ TO EXPECT4 ,M>JORIE HAD ASSUM$ ?AT :5 Y\R :OLE LIFE FLA%$ BE=E Y\R EYES IT W\LD BE LIKE AN OLD ,MAC ,S5NETT FILM & FULL ( CRACKL+ PEOPLE FLA%+ ?R\< EA* COMICAL OR POIGNANT EPISODE4 ,! ACTUALITY ( :AT HAD OP5$ UP 9SIDE H] M9D AS %E HAD DRIFT$ D[N T[>DS ! RIV]-BOTTOM'S RIS+ S$IM5TS ) H] LUNGS FULL ( FREEZ+ GRE51 H[EV]1 HAD BE5 NO?+ LIKE ?AT4 ,= ONE ?+1 ! ,KEY/ONE ,KOPS SC5>IO ?AT %E'D 5VISAG$ W\LD HAVE HAD ITS GIDDY & ACCEL]AT$ 9CID5TS ALL HAPP5+ 9 A SEQU5CE1 *RONOLOGICALLY1 ) ONE ?+ FOLL[+ ANO!R4 ,?IS CAME NO:]E NE> DESCRIB+ ! PH5OM5ON ?AT ,M>JORIE HAD SUBSEQU5TLY LE>N$ WAS CALL$ 0,! ,LIFE ,REVIEW04 

,IT HAD BE5 A MOSAIC ( MOM5TS1 AN >RANGEM5T LIKE ! ,DELFT TILES ,M>JORIE HAD LATELY NOTIC$ ALL >\ND ! FIREPLACE AT ! ,DODDRIDGE H\SE4 ,EA* VITAL SECOND ( H] LIFE WAS !RE AS AN EXQUISITE MOV+ M9IATURE1 FILL$ ) ! MO/ 9T5SE SIGNIFICANCE & LIMN$ 9 COLORS SO PR(\ND !Y BLAZ$1 YET NOT SET \T 9 ANY NOTICEABLE ORD]4 ,FUR!RMORE1 EA* SC5E WAS LESS A PA9T$ VIGNETTE ?AN IT WAS A :OLE EXP]I5CE1 SO ?AT TO LOOK ON A DEPICT$ 9/ANT WAS TO LIVE ?R\< IT AGA91 ) ALL ITS SMELLS & S\NDS & WORDS & ?\<TS 9TACT1 ITS %OCK+LY /RONG PLEASURES & ITS CRY/AL-%>P ORDEALS4 

,! GL[+1 LIV+ PICTURES W]5'T A BIT LIKE1 SAY1 = 9/ANCE1 ,! ,RAKE'S ,PROGRESS1 9 ?AT FIR/LY !Y W]5'T ALL >RAY$ AS A PROGRESSION ( EV5TS1 & SECONDLY !Y DIDN'T HAVE A MORAL4 ,SOME ( ! ILLUM9AT$ EPISODES PORTRAY$ DE$S ,M>JORIE WAS NOT P>TICUL>LY PR\D (1 SOME %[$ :AT %E ?\<T ( AS H] BETT] SIDE1 & ! MAJORITY APPE>$ TO BE 5TIRELY NEUTRAL1 EV5 9SIGNIFICANT4 ,NO:]E 9 ANY ( ! GLIMM]+ VIGNETTES1 ?\<1 DID %E FEEL A S5SE ( MORAL JUDGM5T1 OR HAVE ! IMPRESSION ?AT ONE LIK5ESS REPRES5T$ GOOD ?+S %E'D ACCOMPLI%$ :ILE ANO!R SIGNIFI$ ! BAD %E'D BR\<T AB\T4 ,9/EAD1 ! =EMO/ APPREH5SION ?AT ACCOMPANI$ ! TESSELLAT$ DRIFT ( IMAG]Y WAS1 OV]:ELM+LY1 ONE ( RESPONSIBILITY3 !SE1 GOOD OR BAD1 W]E ?+S ?AT ,M>JORIE HAD DONE4 

,AS AN EXAMPLE1 %E REMEMB]$ N[ ONE ( :AT1 AT ! TIME1 HAD SEEM$ LIKE ! MORE HUMDRUM & LESS PROMIS+ SC5>IOS4 ,AMONG ! MOSAIC TABLEAUX SPREAD BE=E H] WAS A /UDY 9 S(T BR[NS & GRAYS1 ,M>JORIE & H] MO!R 9 ! UNLIT KIT*5 ( !IR H\SE 9 ,CROMWELL ,/REET4 ,H] MOM FUSS$ AT ! /OVE1 SCRAWNY & WOEBEGONE1 ) AN EXPRESSION ( EXASP]ATION AS H] LITTLE DAU<T] TUGG$ H] SKIRTS & PLEAD$ ) H]4 ,/UDY+ ! MOM5T AS IT HOV]$ ) ITS FELL[S 9 ! %IMM]+ CURTA9 HONEYCOMB$ ) MOV+ IMAGES ?AT HUNG BE=E H]1 ,M>JORIE HAD LIV$ IT ALL AGA9 D[N TO ITS MO/ M9USCULE DETAIL4 ,%E HAD SMELL$ ONCE MORE ! NO?+-SC5T ( SUET (F ! GLUT9\S BACON-&-ONION ROLL H] MO!R WAS PREP>+1 & HAD HE>D ! 9/ANTLY-FAMILI> RHY?M ( ! D5T$ BRASS TAP AS ITS SIGNATURE DRIP-PATT]N FELL 9TO ! OLD /ONE S9K4 ,ONE ( ! ,BAKELITE /EMS ( H] UGLY SPECTACLES WAS *AF+ OV] H] RI<T E>1 :]E IT HAD MADE A SORE P9K PLACE1 & MO/ ( ALL %E RELIV$ EV]Y IMPULSE1 EV]Y NOTION ?AT HAD CROSS$ H] M9D & EV]Y SYLLABLE ?AT PASS$ H] LIPS AS %E'D /OOD 9 ! GLOOMY KIT*51 BADG]+ H] POOR MO!R REL5TLESSLY1 ! SAME WORDS OV] & OV] AGA94 0,CAN WE1 MOM8 ,CAN WE HAVE A DOG8 ,:Y CAN'T WE HAVE A DOG1 MOM8 ,MOM8 ,MOM1 CAN WE8 ,I'D LOOK AFT] IT4 ,MOM1 CAN WE HAVE A DOG80 

,IT WASN'T GOOD1 IT WASN'T BAD1 IT WAS JU/ SOME?+ ,M>JORIE HAD DONE4 ,%E WAS RESPONSIBLE4 ,%E WAS RESPONSIBLE = GO+ ON & ON UNTIL H] P>5TS F9ALLY GAVE 9 & B\<T H] ,9DIA1 GOT ! DOG ?AT W\LD LEAD ,M>JORIE \T ?R\< ! RU%ES & 9TO ! *ILLY1 BREA?LESS DEEP4 ,! REALIZATION HAD BE5 %OCK+1 SOB]+1 & ONLY ONE AMONG A ?\S& SU* SMALL REVELATIONS GLITT]+ 9 ! SUP]NATURAL LOBBY-C>D DISPLAY ( HI<LI<TS EXC]PT$ FROM H] %ORT LIFE4 ,%E'D HUNG !RE 9 A K9D ( %9+ NO:]E1 CONTEMPLAT+ ALL ! MY/]IES ( H] EXI/5CE & DISCOV]+ ?AT !IR ANSW]S HAD BE5 OBVI\S ALL ALONG4 ,M>JORIE DIDN'T KN[ H[ LONG %E HAD REMA9$ 9 ?IS CONDITION - C\LD HAVE BE5 A C5TURY OR C\LD HAVE BE5 ONLY ?OSE F9AL SECONDS AS H] HE>T /OPP$ & H] BRA9 %UT D[N - BUT %E C\LD /ILL RECALL ) ABSOLUTE PRECISION H[ & :5 H] EV]LA/+ REV]IE HAD 5D$4 

,%E'D BECOME AW>E ( SUBTLE MOVEM5TS ON ! SURFACE ( ! TIME-TILES SPREAD \T !RE BE=E H] - MOV+ ?READS ( LI<T1 LUM9\S FLAWS ?AT SEEM$ TO TRAVEL FROM ! HE>T ( ! PICTORIAL ASSEMBLY TO ITS $GES - & HAD UND]/OOD AFT] A :ILE ?AT !Y W]E RIPPLES4 ,IT WAS AS ?\< ! KALEIDOSCOPE VIEW ( H] LIFE HAD BE5 MADE LIQUID OR AS IF IT HAD BE5 LIQUID FROM ! />T1 ! /ILL M5ISCUS ( A LAKE ?AT ONLY N[ WAS TR\BL$ BY SOME UNSE5 MOVEM5T 9 ITS DEP?S B5EA? ! FLA%+1 VISION>Y SURFACE4 

,?AT WAS :5 ! GIANT FACE ( ! ,N5E ,HAG HAD PU%$ ITSELF 9 ?REE BULG+ DIM5SIONS 9TO BE+ \T ( ,M>JORIE'S FLAT1 DECORAT$ SCRE5 ( MEMORIES4 

,! PICTURES BROKE AP>T 9 COLOR$ POND-SCUM2 WET BALLOON-SK9 CLOTS ( VIVID OIL-PA9T SLI!R+ LIKE RA9B[ MUC\S ?R\< ! CORPSE-FLOSS /R&S ( WE$ ?AT TRAIL$ TO EA* SIDE ( ?AT AWFUL1 SCULPT$ FACE4 ,! SLIMY FRAGM5TS ( ! DR[N$ GIRL'S RECOLLECT$ LIFE SLID D[N A LUNG+ BR[ ?RU/ =W>D SO AGGRESSIVELY ?AT IT WAS ALMO/ FLAT2 ! ?UGGI%1 N>R[ TEMPLES ( A PIKE4 ,GOBBETS ( P9K & TURQUOISE REM9ISC5CE1 /ILL ) FLUID & DI/ORT+ SCRAPS ( A FAMILI> PLACE OR P]SON ROLL+ ON !IR JELLY CONT\RS1 DRIBBL$ FROM ! =EHEAD'S GROTESQUE OV]HANG TO DRIP ACROSS ! LI<TLESS M\?S ( ! EYE-SOCKETS' GROTTO-CAVES1 OR TRICKL$ D[N ! ?REAT5+ SCY!-BLADE ( ! CREATURE'S NOSE4 ,!RE 9 ! BLACK DEP?S ( ITS EYE-PITS WAS A /ICKY MOLLUSK GLEAM &1 D[N B5EA? A HOOK$ PROBOSCIS QUITE AS L>GE AS ,M>JORIE H]SELF1 A HORRID LITTLE M\? WORK$ %UT & OP5 AS IF *EW+ MUD OR UTT]+ A COMPLICAT$ SIL5T CURSE4 ,IT HAD DEAD CATS & ! CORROD$ SKELETONS ( BICYCLES BETWE5 ITS JUTT+1 ROTT51 SUNK5 TEA-*E/ TEE?4 

,! %ATT]$ ,LIFE ,REVIEW MELT$ AWAY1 BECAME DILUT$ PIGM5T-RIBBONS FLOAT+ (F 9TO ! MURKY S\P ( ! NOCTURNAL ,N5E1 & ,M>JORIE HAD F\ND H]SELF BACK UND] WAT] BUT NO LONG] 9SIDE H] [N BODY4 ,?IS WAS TUMBL+ AWAY FROM H]1 A GRAY & LUMPY P>CEL ?AT COLLID$ SL[LY ) ! SILT$ RIV]B$ AMID ! RIS+ CUMULI ( MUCK & RUBB] ,JOHNNIES4 ,M>JORIE HAD F\ND H]SELF ADRIFT 9 A CONT9UUM ( BLACK & :ITE ?AT HAD NO TEMP]ATURE & :]E IT SEEM$ %E SPR\T$ EXTRA >MS & LEGS ) EV]Y MOVEM5T4 ,AS AL>M+ AS %E'D F\ND !SE /RANGE PH5OM5A1 H[EV]1 !Y'D NOT BE5 H] GREATE/ WORRY4 

,! ,UND9E1 ! WAT]-ELEM5TAL ?AT %E'D LAT] LE>N$ TO CALL ! ,N5E ,HAG1 HAD BE5 !RE 9 ! SUBSURFACE TWILI<T ) H]4 ,! MON/ROSITY'S 5ORM\S FACE WAS RI<T 9 FRONT ( ,M>JORIE1 HALF PIKE & HALF DE=M$ OLD WOMAN1 ! JAW HANG+ OP51 ! DECAY$ FANGS DR$G+ ?R\< ! B$-S&S4 ,! WRAI?-?+'S TRANSLUC5T BODY TRAIL$ AWAY BEH9D IT 9 ! RIV] D>KNESS1 AN 9DEF9ITELY LONG AFFAIR ?AT HAD SEEM$ TO BE MO/LY NECK1 A T5-FOOT ?ICK EEL OR P]HAPS A SECTION ( ! TRANSATLANTIC CABLE4 ,UP T[>DS ! LOOM+ HEAD-5D ( ! CREATURE WIZ5$ LITTLE >MS ?AT SPORT$ DISPROPORTIONATELY MASSIVE & WEB-F+]$ CLAWS GREW FROM ! TRUNK TO EI!R SIDE4 ,ONE ( !SE HAD UNFOLD$1 ) A BRIEF IMPRESSION ( TOO MANY ELB[S1 TO GRASP ,M>JORIE'S CONFUS$ & HELPLESS ECTOPLASMIC =M >\ND ONE ANKLE1 DRAGG+ D[N ! /RUGGL+ FRE%-HAT*$ <O/ TO ITS [N EYE-LEVEL SO IT C\LD TAKE A BETT] LOOK AT H]4 

,SUSP5D$ !RE BE=E ! HORROR ) ITS WAT]WE$ MANE BILL[+ & TWI/+ UP >\ND H]1 EYE TO SNAIL-%ELL EYE1 %E'D WAT*$ ! *EW+ MOVEM5TS ( ! <A/LY1 TOO-SMALL M\? & HAD CONCLUD$ ?AT ?IS WASN'T ! 9HABITANT ( ANY HELL OR HEAV5 ,M>JORIE HAD EV] HE>D (4 ,?IS WAS SOME?+ ELSE1 SOME?+ APPALL+ ?AT IMPLI$ AN AFT]LIFE ( 5DLESS & UNFA?OMABLE NI<TM>E4 ,:AT K9D ( A UNIV]SE WAS EV]YBODY LIV+ 91 %E'D ?\<T ) M+L$ FE> & ANG]1 :5 A T5-YE>-OLD :O'D ONLY TRI$ TO SAVE H] DOG C\LD F9D H]SELF CONFRONT$ NOT BY ,JESUS1 ANGELS OR A MU*-MISS$ GR&P>5T1 BUT BY ?IS GNA%+1 SLAV]+ ABOM9ATION ) ITS TRA9-SIZ$ HEAD8 

,! WOR/ ?+1 ?\<1 HAD BE5 ! MOM5T :5 %E'D F9ALLY MET ! APP>ITION'S GAZE1 HAD />$ 9TO ! LI<TLESS WELLS ?AT W]E ITS ORBITS & HAD SE5 ! EYES GLEAM 9 !IR DEP?S LIKE TI<T-COIL$ AMMONITES4 ,9 ?OSE VILE SECONDS1 & AL?\< %E DESP]ATELY HADN'T WANT$ TO1 ,M>JORIE UND]/OOD ! ,N5E ,HAG4 ,ALL ! AWFUL & UNWELCOME DETAILS ( ALMO/ TWO ?\S& YE>S ALONE 9 COLD GLOOM HAD RU%$ FLOOD+ ?R\< ! NEWLY-DEAD GIRL'S P>ALYZ$ AW>5ESS1 FILL+ H] ) MOONLIT METAL & ABORT$ FETUSES1 ! HATEFUL DREAMS ( LEE*ES1 UNTIL ALL ! T]ROR CAME EXPLOD+ \T ( H] 9 A LONG1 BUBBL+ SCREAM ?AT NOBODY ALIVE C\LD HE> 444 

,M>JORIE TRAIPS$ ALONG ! ,DAZ-:ITE ,ULTRADUCT BEH9D H] *ATT]+ COLLEAGUES4 ,%E KNEW ?AT %E HAD A REPUTATION = NOT SAY+ V]Y MU*1 BUT ?AT WAS ONLY BECAUSE %E WAS ALWAYS ?9K+1 TRY+ TO F9D ! RI<T WORDS TO CONVEY H] URG5T MEMORIES & FEEL+S SO ?AT %E C\LD GET !M D[N UPON A LIT]ALLY <O/-WRITT5 PAGE4 ,! ELEVAT$ WALKWAY HAD N[ BORNE !M SAFELY F> ACROSS ! RIV] & ABOVE ! SUNK5 PA/URE ( ,FOOT ,MEAD[1 ON TO ,JIMMY'S ,5D4 ,ONCE PA/ ! REM9ISC5T SWIRL & SLOP ( ! LEAD-COLOR$ TORR5T1 ,M>JORIE F\ND %E C\LD PUT ! BUS9ESS ?AT HAD HAPP5$ !RE BEH9D H]1 AT LEA/ = ! MOM5T1 & TURN H] ATT5TION TO !IR PRES5T :]EAB\TS4 

,/4 ,JAMES'S ,5D1 BUBBL+ B5EA? !M AS !Y GAZ$ D[N FROM ! S\L-BRIDGE 9TO ITS CONTEMPORANE\S FLUX1 SEEM$ TO HAVE BE5 POSSESS$ S9CE ITS 9CEPTION BY AN AIR ( BLEAK MUNICIPALITY4 ,EV5 ! ,SAXON HOVELS ?AT W]E BUILD+ & DEMOLI%+ !MSELVES D[N 9 ! DEEP] TIME-LAY]S LOOK$ TO BE TOO WIDELY SET AP>T FROM ONE ANO!R1 ) GREAT LONELY W9DSWEPT GAPS BETWE5 !M4 ,ON MORE MOD]N LEVELS1 COEXI/+ ) ! MUD-&-/RAW HUTS ( AN E>LI] V9TAGE1 CRAMP$ ,VICTORIAN %OPS BUR/ NEWLY PA9T$ 9TO LIFE & !N W5T BU/1 COLLAPS+ TO A DISAPPO9TM5T ( SOAP$ GLASS & PEEL+1 SUNBURN$ HO>D+S4 ,A BUS DEPOT BLOOM$ & DI$ REPEAT$LY1 ! D\BLE-DECK]S HUN*$ 9 A P]PETUALLY RA9-LA%$ =EC\RT1 & ACROSS ! SQUIRM+ NEI<BORHOOD A K9D ( %ABBY1 BRA% MOD]NITY WAS EV]Y:]E1 SPREAD+ & %R9K+ BACK ACROSS UNFA?OMABLE /ORE-FRONTS LIKE A BLI<T4 ,:AT WAS A ,C>PHONE ,W>EH\SE8 ,:AT WAS ,QUANTACOM8 ,ON SLACK-JAW$ WOOD5 GATES & F5C+ MADE FROM CORRUGAT$ T91 GRAFFITI WRI!D1 EVOLV+ FROM ! NEAT CALLIGRAPHY & SIMPLE S5TIM5TS ( ',DEVYL TAKE ! ,K+'1 ?R\< ,B,U,F & ,N,F,C & ,G,E,O,R,G,E ,D,A,V,I,E,S ,I,S ,9,N,O,C,5,T 9 BLUNT1 UTILIT>IAN :ITEWA% CAPITALS1 9TO A MELT$ & FLUORESC5T LEXICON ( >ABESQUES ?AT W]E ILLEGIBLE & M>VEL\S3 9SCRUTIFUL4 ,M>JORIE WI%$ ?AT %E W]E SEE+ IT 9 COLOR4 

,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG W&]$1 *ATT+1 :I/L+ & S++ D[N ! BRILLIANT BO>DWALK AS IT SWEPT OV] ,/4 ,JAMES'S ,5D1 SWOOP+ ABOVE ! ,WE$ON ,ROAD & \T TO ,DU/ON4 ,H]E1 ON ! MORE REC5T /RATA ( ! SIMULTANE\S TIMESCAPE1 !RE W]E NIC] HOMES1 AT LEA/ :5 COMP>$ ) ! ,BOR\<S' SOOT-CAUL$ T]RACES4 ,SEMI-DETA*$1 !SE W]E ! HOMES ( FAMILIES :O1 ?R\< H>D WORK OR LUCK1 HAD MANAG$ TO PUT A CONSID]ABLE & LIT]AL DI/ANCE BETWE5 !MSELVES & ! D[NTRODD5 NEI<BORHOODS !IR P>5TS HAD BE5 BORN 94 ,H\SES LIKE ! ONES 9 ,DU/ON1 NOT ! SWEET /ONE COTTAGES ( ! ORIG9AL \TLY+ VILLAGE BUT ! LAT] DWELL+S1 ALWAYS LOOK$ TO ,M>JORIE AS IF !Y HAD EXPRESSIONS ( PA9$ CONDESC5SION ON !IR BIG FLAT FACES1 PROBABLY SOME?+ TO DO ) ! >RANGEM5T ( ?OSE WIDE & AIRY MOD]N W9D[S4 ,!Y ALL LOOK$ AS IF SOMEBODY HAD JU/ DROPP$ ONE4 ,M>JORIE'S [N VIEW WAS ?AT ?OSE :O DECRI$ IT V]Y PROBABLY SUPPLI$ IT4 

,FROM H] CURR5T VANTAGE1 LOOK+ D[N UPON ! >*ITECTURE ( A DOZ5 C5TURIES OCCURR+ ALL AT ONCE1 ,M>JORIE C\LDN'T SEE ! PEOPLE1 LIVE OR DEAD1 :O MU/ PRESUMABLY BE SW>M+ ?R\< ! DIFF]5T /RUCTURES AS !Y ROSE & FELL4 ,COMP>$ ) /ATIC /REETS OR BUILD+S1 <O/S & LIV+ PEOPLE NEV] /AY$ /ILL LONG 5\< TO REGI/] 9 ! ACCEL]AT$ URBAN SIMM] ?AT WAS VISIBLE FROM UP H]E ON ! ,ULTRADUCT4 ,EV5 SO1 ,M>JORIE HAD V5TUR$ \T ?IS WAY BE=E1 D[N 9 ! ORD9>Y <O/-SEAM1 & %E KNEW AB\T ! PHANTOMS :O RESID$ 9 ! DRA9$ GRAY CUL-DE-SACS & CRESC5TS ?AT ! GANG W]E PASS+ OV]1 AL?\< !Y W]E NO:]E TO BE SE5 AT PRES5T4 

,%E KNEW1 = EXAMPLE1 ?AT ! PLEASANT MEWS B5EA? !M HAD A MU* MORE CR[D$ <O/-SEAM ?AN DID ! RUN-D[N LANES ( ! ,BOR\<S4 ,:]EAS 9 ! PHANTOM HALF-WORLD SUP]IMPOS$ OV] ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET Y\ MI<T BUMP 9TO P]HAPS ANO!R <O/ OR TWO AT ANY GIV5 TIME1 9 ?IS MORE WELL-TO-DO LOCATION !RE W]E (T5 DOZ5S ( DEAD DOCTORS1 BANK]S1 (FICE MANAG]S & NEATLY COIFFUR$ H\SEWIVES LOIT]+ BESIDE WELL-T5D$ FL[]B$S OR RUNN+ WI/FUL1 IMMAT]IAL H&S OV] ! CONT\RS ( P>K$ C>S4 ,9 ! S$ATE FRONT P>LORS ( HOMES SOLD BY GR[N-UP *ILDR5 FOLL[+ !IR P>5TS' DEA?S Y\ W\LD F9D UNCOMMUNICATIVE DECEAS$ C\PLES CRITICIZ+ ! NEW [N]'S R5OVATIONS1 FRETT+ 5DLESSLY AB\T :E!R ! VALUE ( !IR =M] PROP]TY WAS GO+ UP OR D[N4 ,SOMETIMES Y\'D SEE A CR[D ( !M3 AN O!RWORLDLY CIVIC ACTION GR\P /&+ !RE GLUMLY ON ! $GES ( SOME PREVI\SLY RURAL MEAD[ :]E !Y'D US$ TO WALK !IR ,LABRADORS & :]E A NEW C\NCIL E/ATE WAS N[ UND] CON/RUCTION4 ,EI!R ?AT OR !Y'D CONV5E 9 ! BACK G>D5 ( :ATEV] ,PAKI/ANI C\PLE HAD JU/ MOV$ 9TO ! >EA1 SIMPLY TO MUTT] DISAPPROV+LY & GL>E1 !SE DEMON/RATIONS OBVI\SLY R5D]$ D\BLY FUTILE BY ! PROTE/]S' 9VISIBILITY4 ,?AT MU/ BE1 ,M>JORIE CONCLUD$1 :Y !Y NEV] BO!R$ MAK+ ANY PLAC>DS4 

,IT WAS FUNNY1 N[ %E ?\<T AB\T IT1 ALL ! DIFF]5CES !RE W]E BETWE5 ! SPIRIT WORLD ABOVE ! ,BOR\<S & ! ONE OV] ?IS BETT] CLASS ( RESID5CES4 ,! MA9 DIFF]5CE1 P>ADOXICALLY 5\<1 WAS ?AT D[N 9 ! ,BOR\<S !RE WAS NO?+ LIKE ! NUMB] ( R\< SLEEP]S1 PEOPLE RE/+ ONLY FITFULLY 9 !IR [N AFT]LIVES4 ,MOREOV]1 ! UNHAPPY SPECT]S ( ! POOR] NEI<BORHOOD W]E = ! MO/ P>T BURD5$ ONLY BY L[ SELF-E/EEM1 A S5SE ?AT !Y W]5'T GOOD 5\< AT LIFE TO DWELL UP 9 ! HI<] DI/RICT ( ,MANS\L4 ,?AT CLE>LY WASN'T :AT WAS KEEP+ ! SUCCESSFUL TYPES BEL[ TI$ TO !IR E>?LY HABITATS1 H[EV]4 ,WAS IT1 !N1 ! OPPOSITE8 ,WAS ! SUBURBAN <O/-SEAM ?AT ! GANG W]E PASS+ OV] OCCUPI$ BY S\LS ?AT FELT !Y W]E TOO GOOD = ,HEAV58 

,NO4 ,NO1 ,M>JORIE SUSPECT$ ?AT IT WASN'T AS CLE>-CUT AS ?AT4 ,P]HAPS IT WAS MORE ?AT ! POOR HAD FEW] ?+S 9 !IR MAT]IAL LIVES ?AT !Y W]E RELUCTANT TO GIVE UP4 ,!RE WASN'T MU* PO9T1 AFT] ALL1 9 HANG+ R\ND ! HOME 9 :I* Y\'D LIV$ Y\R LIFE :5 IT HAD BE5 DEMOLI%$ OR PASS$ ON TO O!R C\NCIL T5ANTS4 ,NOT :5 Y\ W]E ONLY R5T+ ANYWAY4 ,IT WAS MU* BETT] TO GO UP 9TO ! 0MANY MANSIONS0 ( ,MANS\L1 ! WAY ?AT ! MAJORITY ( ,BOR\<S PEOPLE DID4 ,! SPIRITS >\ND !SE P>TS SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE ! SAME 9C5TIVES TO SALVATION AS !Y DID :]E ,M>JORIE HAD COME FROM1 BUT %E WAS /ILL NOT :OLLY CONV9C$ BY H] [N >GUM5T4 ,AN 9ABILITY TO LET GO ( MAT]IAL POSSESSIONS SEEM$ AN 9SUFFICI5T REASON TO =GO ! GLORIES ( ! ,SECOND ,BOR\<1 EV5 IF Y\ W]E RIDICUL\SLY PO%4 ,IT DIDN'T R+ TRUE4 ,ANYWAY1 !RE W]E A LOT ( LOVELY PEOPLE 9 ,MANS\L :O W]E BY NO MEANS WORK+ CLASS & YET :O'D RU%$ ,UP/AIRS )\T A SECOND ?\<T ! 9/ANT ?AT !IR LIVES W]E OV]4 ,LOOK AT ,MR4 ,DODDRIDGE & HIS FAMILY4 ,IT MU/ BE SOME?+ ELSE1 SOME O!R FACTOR ?AT PREV5T$ SU* A LOT ( !SE SUBURBANITES FROM MOV+ UP TO ! ET]NAL AV5UES ABOVE4 

,IT CAME TO H] AFT] A MOM5T'S ?\<T ?AT IT WAS MORE ?AN LIKELY /ATUS4 ,?AT WAS PROBABLY ! WORD ?AT H] BEG9N]-WRIT]'S M9D WAS SE>*+ =4 ,! WELL-(F PHANTOMS D[N B5EA? H] %UNN$ ,MANS\L BECAUSE ONE'S E>?LY /ATUS HAD NO MEAN+ !RE4 ,O!R ?AN BUILD]S1 DEVILS1 ,V]NALLS1 DEA?MONG]S & SPECIAL CASES LIKE ! ,DODDRIDGE FAMILY OR ,MR4 ,BUNYAN1 ,MANS\L WAS )\T RANK4 ,ONE S\L C\LD NOT BE RAT$ SUP]IOR TO ANO!R1 SAVE = 9 :ATEV] 9DIVIDUAL 9NATE VIRTUES !Y MI<T HAPP5 TO POSSESS1 & EV5 ?AT WAS 9 ! EYE ( ! BEHOLD]4 ,= ?OSE PEOPLE1 ( :ATEV] CLASS1 :O'D NEV] REALLY BE5 CONC]N$ BY /ATUS1 MOV+ UP 9TO ,MANS\L WAS NOT A DIFFICULTY4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 = ?OSE :O C\LD NOT BE> ?AT RADIANT COMMONALITY1 IT WAS TO ALL 9T5TS & PURPOSES IMPOSSIBLE4 

,%E ?\<T AB\T ! FEW SCRAPS ( ! ,BIBLE ?AT %E C\LD RECALL FROM ,SUNDAY S*OOL1 ! BIT AB\T ! CAMEL SQUEEZ+ ?R\< ! NE$LE'S EYE & H[ RI* PEOPLE W\LD F9D IT AS H>D TO 5T] ,HEAV54 ,:5 %E'D HE>D ?AT1 %E'D ASSUM$ !RE MU/ BE SOME BYLAW 9 P>ADISE PROHIBIT+ ! PO% FROM GETT+ 91 BUT N[ %E REALIZ$ IT WASN'T LIKE ?AT4 ,!RE WAS NO DOOR-POLICY 9 ,MANS\L4 ,PEOPLE KEPT !MSELVES \T1 RI* & POOR ALIKE1 EI!R BECAUSE !Y ?\<T !Y W]E TOO GOOD TO M+LE1 OR TOO BAD4 

,PURSU+ ! IDEA - IT MI<T TURN \T TO BE A POEM OR %ORT /ORY ONE DAY1 :O C\LD SAY - ,M>JORIE FELT ?AT IT C\LD ALSO BE APPLI$ TO ! BORN >I/OCRACY1 ?OSE :O W]E TRULY PO% & TRULY RI*1 ! UPP] CLASSES ) !IR C\NTRY SEATS OR CA/LES 9 ,NOR?AMPTON%IRE'S \TLY+ T[NS & VILLAGES4 ,BY DEF9ITION1 !Y'D HAVE MORE MAT]IAL POSSESSIONS TO REL9QUI% & MORE /ATUS TO GIVE UP ?AN ANYONE4 ,NO WOND] !RE W]E SO FEW T(FS 9 ,MANS\L4 ,OH1 Y\ GOT ! ODD ONE1 R>ITIES :O'D BE5 BORN TO ! PURPLE BUT HAD NEV] PLAC$ MU* /OCK 9 !IR POSITION OR HAD EV5 TURN$ !IR BACKS ON IT1 BUT !Y W]E 9 A VANI%+LY SMALL M9ORITY4 ,! VA/ MAJORITY ( PEOPLE ,UP/AIRS W]E ! WORK+ CLASSES ( A DOZ5 OR MORE C5TURIES1 ) A COM=TABLE RUMP ( MIDDL+ SORTS & !N A SCATT]+ ( ISOLAT$ ,E>LS1 ,LORDS & REP5TANT SQUIRES LIKE GOLD5 PIMPLES ON ?AT RUMP4 

,MEAN:ILE ! <O/-SEAM ( ! ,BOR\<S WAS 9 CONSEQU5CE MO/LY DES]T$1 & !SE /REETS \T 9 ! SUBURBS APPE>$ RELATIVELY ?ICK ) PO/HUM\S PR(ESSIONALS & SU*LIKE BY COMP>ISON4 ,:AT MU/ ! /ATELY HOMES BE LIKE8 ,PACK$ ) 9NUM]ABLE G5]ATIONS' REV5ANTS & BAN%EES BE>+ M$IEVAL GRUDGES1 EV]YBODY CLAIM+ S5IORITY & WOND]+ :]E ALL ! UND]L+S HAD GONE 444 ,M>JORIE %UDD]$ EV5 AS %E SNIGG]$4 ,IT WAS H>DLY ANY WOND] ?AT SU* FANCY PLACES W]E NOTORI\SLY HAUNT$3 !Y W]E DANG]\SLY OV]POPULAT$1 CREAK+ AT !IR /ONE SEAMS ) ANCE/RAL <\LS & SPECT]S1 TW5TY TO A P>LOR1 CONTRAV5+ A/RAL FIRE & SAFETY REGULATIONS4 ,IT WAS /RANGE TO ?9K ( ALL ! REGAL PILES & PALACES AS OV]CR[D$ WRAI?-SLUMS1 HEAV+ <O/LY T5EM5TS ) SYPHILITIC GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GR&-UNCLE ,P]CY RAV+ AB\T ,GLAD/ONE 9 ! NEXT ROOM1 BUT 9 SOME WAYS ! IDEA MADE P]FECT S5SE4 ,! FIR/ %ALL BE ! LA/1 & ALL ( ?AT4 ,JU/ICE ABOVE ! ,/REET4 

,TRUDG+ ALONG 9 FRONT ( ,M>JORIE1 ,PHYLLIS'S LITTLE H&FUL ,BILL WAS E>NE/LY DEBAT+ ALL ! 9S & \TS ( PHANTOM MAMMO? HUSB&RY ) ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 :O SEEM$ UNCONV9C$4 

0,IT'D TAKE AGES1 ?AT W\LD1 DIGG+ RI<T BACK TO ! ICE AGE SO AS WE C\LD R\ND UP A <O/-MAMMO?4 ,I DON'T RECKON AS Y\'VE ?\<T ?IS ?R\<40 

0,DON'T BE A TWAT4 ,( C\RSE ,I 'AVE1 & IT'LL BE A PIECE ( PISS1 ,I'M TELL9' Y]4 ,:AT DOES IT MATT] IF IT TAKES US AGES1 Y\ DAFT BA/>D8 ,I ?\<T ?AT WAS :AT ET]NITY WAS ALL AB\T1 ?+S TAK9' AGES8 ,WE CAN DIG BACK1 F9D A MAMMO?1 TAKE AS LONG AS WE WANT TAM+ 'IM1 !N BR+ 'IM BACK UP ']E FIVE SECONDS AFT] WE SET \T40 

0,H[ >E WE GUNNA TAME IT1 !N1 & ANYWAY1 H[ DO Y\ KN[ AS IT'S A HIM8 ,IT MI<T BE1 ,I DON'T KN[1 A MAMMO!SS = ALL Y\ KN[40 

0,OH1 FUCK9' 'ELL4 ,LOOK1 >E WE P>TN]S 9 ?IS MAMMO? PLAN OR A9'T WE8 ,IT DON'T FUCK9' MATT] IF IT'S MALE OR FEMALE4 ,AS = '[ WE TAME IT1 WE JU/ GA9 ITS TRU/ BY GIV+ IT A LOT ( :AT <O/-MAMMO?S LIKE TO EAT40 

0,:AT'S ?AT1 !N1 Y\'RE SO BLOODY CLEV]80 

0,I'M NOT CLEV]1 ,REGGIE1 ,I'M JU/ NOT AS FUCK9' ?ICK AS Y\ >E4 ,PUCK'S ',ATS1 ,REG4 ,WE'LL FE$ IT ,PUCK'S ',ATS4 ,NAME ME ONE DEAD ?+ ?AT W\LD REFUSE A SACK ( ,PUCK'S ',ATS40 

0,MONKS4 ,SOME ( ! <O/ MONKS1 !Y'RE NOT S'POS$ TO EAT 'EM 'CAUSE !Y RECKON !Y'VE GOT DEVILS 9 'EM40 

0,REGGIE1 WE'RE NOT GO+ TO COME ACROSS A MAMMO? :O BELIEVES ?AT1 Y\ CAN TRU/ ME4 ,!RE W]5'T ANY ,*RI/IAN MAMMO?S4 ,MAMMO?S DIDN'T 'AVE RELIGION40 

0,WELL1 P]HAPS ?AT'S :Y !Y ALL DI$ \T1 !N1 Y\ DON'T KN[40 

,M>JORIE TUN$ ! NONS5SE \T & LI/5$ TO ! OV]LAID DAWN *ORUSES ( SEV]AL C5TURIES ( BIRDS1 A BLISSFUL TIDE ( S\ND ?AT SLOPP$ ACROSS ! SKY & S\ND$ WOND]FUL DESPITE ! MUFFL+ ( ! <O/-SEAM4 ,9 FACT1 HE>D )\T ! HALF-WORLD'S DULL AC\/ICS IT MI<T WELL HAVE BE5 UNBE>ABLE4 

,! ,ULTRADUCT ROLL$ ON ?R\< ,DU/ON1 ! RAIL$ SPAN'S MAGNESIUM-RIBBON BRI<TNESS RUNN+ LEVEL ) ! MULTI-TEMPORAL BUBBL+ ( ! TREETOPS4 ,M>JORIE C\LD WORK \T :I* TREES W]E ! OLDE/ & MO/ P]MAN5T BY H[ !Y *ANG$ ! LEA/1 & BY ! WAY 9 :I* !IR UPP] BRAN*ES SEEM$ ALIVE ) A ,/4 ,ELMO'S ,FIRE ( MUT$ COLORS1 EV5 9 ! <O/-SEAM'S ,CECIL ,BEATON MONO*ROME4 ,?IS WAS BECAUSE ! OLDE/ TREES1 ALL F\R?-DIM5SIONAL CON/RUCTIONS 9 !IR [N RI<T1 POK$ UP \T ( ! MAT]IAL PLANE 9TO ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA? !RE 9 ! CORRESPOND+ REGIONS ( ,MANS\L1 ) ALL ( ! SPECIALLY-FAVOR$ PIGEONS PASS+ UP & D[N !IR TRANSC5D5TAL TRUNKS1 BETWE5 TWO WORLDS4 

,M>JORIE WOND]$ :AT IT MU/ BE LIKE TO BE A TREE1 TO NEV] MOVE UNLESS GRIPP$ BY ! W9D BUT ONLY TO GR[ UP & \TW>DS 9TO TIME1 ! B>E TWIGS RAK+ AT ! FUTURE1 CLAW+ = NEXT SEASON & ! SEASON AFT] ?AT4 ,MEAN:ILE ! ROOTS EXT5D$ D[N PA/ BURI$ PETS OR BURI$ PEOPLE1 TWI/+ ?R\< FL9T >RO:EADS & 9 AMONG ! RIBS ( ,BILL & ,REGGIE'S MAMMO?1 REA*+ = ! PA/4 ,SOMETIMES A SAWN-?R\< TRUNK W\LD EXPOSE AN EMB$D$ MUSKET-BALL1 A DEADLY LITTLE IRON METEORITE SURR\ND$ BY ! ?ICK5+ ( AGE & TIME1 ! GR[?-R+S SPREAD+ \T LIKE SURF-L9E RIPPLES TO 5GULF ?IS VIOL5T 9/ANT FROM ! #a#f#dS 9 A SMO!R+ WOOD5 TIDE4 

,W]E TREES 9 ANY WAY AW>E1 %E WOND]$1 ( ! ANIMAL & HUMAN FL[ ?AT RU%$ SO FRANTICALLY AB\T !M 9 !IR /ILL LONGEVITY8 ,M>JORIE ?\<T ?AT TREES MU/ HAVE SOME KN[L$GE ( MAMMAL ACTIVITY1 IF ONLY 9 ! BROAD HI/ORIC S5SE3 =E/$ ,NEOLI?IC VALLEYS RAZ$ TO BLACK /UMPS BY ! FIR/ L&-CLE>ANCES & ACRES ( FELL$ TIMB] TO ]ECT ! E>LY SETTLEM5TS4 ,W>S W\LD LEAVE !IR REM9D]S - SPE>S & %RAPNEL SUNK 9TO ! B>K - :ILE HANG+S1 PLAGUES & DECIMATIONS YIELD$ WELCOME HUMAN COMPO/2 NUTRI5TS TO SP>K FRE% GR[?4 ,EXT9CTIONS BR\<T AB\T ?R\< OV]-HUNT+1 :E!R BY MAN OR BY O!R PR$ATORS1 W\LD *ANGE & MODIFY ! WOODL& WORLD 9 :I* !SE TIMELESS GIANTS EXI/$1 SOMETIMES 9 A M9OR WAY1 SOMETIMES DISA/R\SLY4 ,! M\NT+ C5TURIES W\LD BE ACCOMPANI$ BY URBAN OV]SPILL1 PLANN+ P]MISSION1 YELL[ BULLDOZ]S & DIGG]S4 ,ALL ( !SE W\LD HAVE !IR IMPACT1 W\LD S5D TREMORS ?R\< ! HU%$ CONT9UUM ( AN >BOREAL CONSCI\SNESS1 A VEGETABLE AW>5ESS RIS+ & DESC5D+ ) ! SAP4 

,%E ?\<T IT LIKELY1 !N1 ?AT TREES KNEW ( ! HUMAN WORLD REMOTELY4 ,ITS L>GE-SCALE EV5TS W\LD FILT] ?R\< EV5TUALLY1 IF !SE W]E ( ADEQUATE DURATION4 ,?OSE DESPOLIATIONS & DEPLETIONS ?AT W5T ON = YE>S OR C5TURIES W\LD SURELY REGI/]1 BUT :AT ( ! MORE FLEET+ 9T]ACTIONS8 ,DID ! =E/ NOTICE EV]Y G\G$ HE>T1 EV]Y LOV]S' DECL>ATION CUT DEEP TO DISGUISE ANY =EBOD+S OR UNC]TA9TIES8 ,DID IT MA9TA9 A RECORD ( EA* WALK$ DOG & ITS PISS-MAP8 ,QUE5 ,ELIZABE? ! ,FIR/1 AS ,M>JORIE REMEMB]$1 HAD BE5 SITT+ UND]NEA? A TREE :5 TOLD ( H] SUCCESSION TO ! ?RONE1 :ILE ,QUE5 ,ELIZABE? ! ,SECOND1 SOME FIVE HUNDR$ YE>S !REAFT]1 HAD BE5 SITT+ UP ONE4 ,:AT AB\T ! ANECDOTAL APPLE TREE ?AT ,ISAAC ,NEWTON SAT B5EA? :ILE =MULAT+ ! IDEAS ?AT W\LD P[] ! MA*9E AGE1 IDEAS ?AT W\LD SET ! TRUNDL+ E>?-MOV]S ON !IR IMPLACABLE ADVANCE T[>DS ! TREE-L9E8 ,WAS !RE ANY N]V\S RU/L+ 9 ! LEAVES8 ,DID ! B\<S SI< ) WE>Y PREMONITION8 ,M>JORIE ?\<T PRIVATELY ?AT PROBABLY !Y DID1 AT LEA/ 9 A POETIC S5SE1 :I* WAS C]TA9LY GOOD 5\< = H]4 

,! ALABA/] WALKWAY ?AT ! <O/LY KIDS W]E ON WAS CURV+ NOTICEABLY N[ 9 ITS APPROA* TO ! ASYLUMS1 UP AMONG ! SIMULTANE\SLY WI!R+ & BUDD+ TREETOPS4 ,GLANC+ BACK ACROSS H] %\LD]1 ,M>JORIE C\LD SEE ! *ILDR5'S DISSIPAT+ AFT]-PICTURES FOLL[+ !M 9 A R[DY-LOOK+ ALBEIT SIL5T CR[D4 ,%E /UDI$ H] [N DUMPY LITTLE IMAGE1 /UMP+ ALONG AT ! GR\P'S RE>1 & WAS DISAPPO9T$ AT H[ /OLID & EXPRESSIONLESS %E LOOK$4 ,ALMO/ IMM$IATELY1 ?\<1 ! TRAIL+ MULTIPLE EXPOSURES CAU<T UP ) ! 9/ANT AT :I* ,M>JORIE HAD TURN$ TO LOOK BACK1 & %E F\ND ?AT %E WAS SQU9T+ )\T MU* REAL 9T]E/ AT ! RE> ( H] [N HEAD4 ,OBS]V+ ?AT FROM ?IS ANGLE %E SEEM$ TO HAVE A CASE ( PHANTOM D&RUFF %E FAC$ =W>D ONCE MORE AS ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG SL[$ TO A HALT ON ! CELE/IAL VIADUCT4 ,IT SEEM$ ?AT ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 NE$$ SOME?+ ELSE EXPLA9$ TO HIM4 

0,:Y WIZ ?AT PLACE ?AT'S 9 FRONT ( US ALL PUNNY-LOOK+8 ,I DON'T LOOK ! LIKE ( IT40 

,! TODDL] S\ND$ ANXI\S4 ,M>JORIE C\LD TELL BY H[ HE MIX$ HIS WORDS UP 9TO DREAM-TALK1 HAV+ NOT YET SETTL$ COM=TABLY 9TO ! MORE FLEXIBLE VOCABUL>Y ( ! AFT]LIFE4 ,%E KNEW EXACTLY :AT HE MEANT1 ?\<1 & %E FULLY UND]/OOD ! REASONS = ! 9FANT'S APPREH5SION4 

,UP AHEAD ( !M1 ! GL[+ BO>DWALK PASS$ ABOVE AN EXPANSE ( ! <O/-SEAM ?AT APPE>$ TO BE MU* MORE ABNORMAL ?AN WAS NORMAL1 SO TO SPEAK4 ,= ONE ?+1 !RE W]E SUDD5 FL>ES ( VIVID HUE AMONG ! UNREL5T+ GRAYNESS ( ! MUFFL$ HALF-WORLD4 ,= ANO!R 444 WELL1 ! AIR ITSELF WAS SORT ( CREAS$1 AS W]E ! FA9TLY E]IE /RUCTURES ?AT Y\ C\LD SEE ?R\< IT4 ,SPACE ITSELF APPE>$ TO HAVE BE5 HIDE\SLY MANGL$1 CRUMPL$ UP LIKE PAP] 9 A GIANT'S FI/1 ) R&OM FOLD-L9ES RUNN+ EV]Y:]E & ALL ! GR\NDS & BUILD+S ( ! PLACE B5EA? !M MADE 9TO A CLUMSY1 MAD COLLAGE4 ,?IS SPATIAL FRAGM5TATION & DI/ORTION1 ADD$ TO ! %IFT & FL[ ( DIFF]5T TIMES ?AT WAS ALREADY EVID5T1 MADE ! ASYLUMS AN AL>M+ SI<T4 ,REALITY WAS CRU%$ 9TO A FACET$1 *AOTIC TANGLE ( N[1 !RE1 & H]E1 & !N3 AN 9DESCRIBABLE TOPOGRAPHY ?AT WAS ONE MOM5T CRY/ALL9E & CONVEX & ! NEXT A FIELD ( ODD-%AP$ CAVITIES & HOLES1 :]E BLACK & :ITE 9V]T$ =MS W]E DR5*$ AT 9T]VALS BY COLOR-BUR/S ( FRI<T5+ HALLUC9ATORY BLUE1 OR HOT & LURID ,POLYNESIAN ORANGE4 ,WOND]+ H[ ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T] C\LD CONCEIVABLY MAKE S5SE ( ?IS DEM5T$ & YET SOMEH[ GLORI\S SPECTACLE TO WIDE-EY$ ,MI*AEL ,W>R51 ,M>JORIE WAS ALL E>S4 ,%E MI<T LE>N SOME?+ IMPORTANT1 & BESIDES1 %E ALWAYS MADE AN EF=T TO REMEMB] DIALOGUE4 

0,WELL1 :AT WE'RE COM9' UP TO ']E1 IT'S :AT WE CALL ! MAD-'\SES OR ! ASYLUMS4 ,IT'S A BIT LIKE ALL ?AT FUNNY WA/E-GR\ND BETWE5 ,*ALK ,LANE & ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD :AT WE SAW E>LI]1 :]E ,I SAID WE C\LD GOO AN' PLAY ON AYR WAY BACK1 IF Y] REMEMB]4 ,9 BO? PLACES IT'S A K9D ( A SUBSID5CE4 ,F] :ATEV] REASON BITS ( ,UP/AIRS 'AVE FELL ?R\< T] ,DAYN/AIRS4 ,:AT WE'RE LOOK9' AT1 DAYN 9 ! WORLD BEL[ IT'S MORE OR LESS 9 ! SAME PLACE AS ,B]RY ,WOOD1 ! M5TAL 'OSPITAL4 ,SA9T ,CRISP9'S1 :AT !Y CALL IT4 ,BUT1 BECAUSE MO/ ( 'EM :AT >E LIV9' DAYN BEL[ US >E DOOLALLY1 IT'S A BIT MORE COMPLICAT$ ?AN IT SAYNDS4 

0,SEE1 UP 9 ,MANS\L1 :]E ,I FAYND Y] 9 ! ,ATTICS O' ! ,BREA?1 ALL O' ! %OPS & AV5UES & :ATNOT >E ALL MADE FROM LIKE A CRU/ O' LIV9' PEOPLE'S DREAMS & !IR IMAG9+S4 ,! PROBLEM ']E WIZ ?AT 'ALF O' ! LUNATICS :AT PLACES LIKE ?IS 'AVE 'AD 9 'EM DAYN ! YE>S1 !Y DON'T KN[ :]E !Y >E4 ,SOME ( 'EM DON'T KN[ :5 !Y >E1 & ?AT MEANS ?AT ! >EA ( ,MANS\L ?AT'S ABOVE 'EM WIZ MADE \T ( DREAMS & MEMORIES :AT >E WRONG4 ,?\<TS1 ,UP/AIRS1 >E BUILD]'S MAT]IALS1 & IF ! ?\<TS >E FLAW$ !N ALL ! >*ITECTURE :AT'S BUILT \T ( 'EM WIZ FLAW$ AS WELL1 & ?AT'S :AT'S 'APP5$ ']E4 ,A FAULTY P>T O' ,MANS\L 'AS FELL 9 & CRU%$ ! <O/-SEAM1 & AS A RESULT ALL ! ASYLUMS 9 ,NOR?AMPTON 'AVE COLLAPS$ 9TO ONE PLACE1 AT LEA/ FROM AYR P]SPECTIVE4 ,IT'S BECAUSE ! PATI5TS DON'T 'AVE MU* IDEA :I* M5TAL 'OME !Y'RE 91 SO EV]Y?9' GETS ALL CONFUS$ UP ON ! 'I<] LEVELS TOO4 ,?AT :AT WE'RE LOOK+ AT DAYN !RE1 IT'S ! ,/4 ,CRISP9'S ',OSPITAL AT ,B]RY ,WOOD1 BUT BITS ( IT >E FROM ,SA9T ,&REW'S ',OSPITAL ON ,BILL+ ,ROAD & O!R BITS >E FROM ! MAD-'\SE :AT !RE US$ TO BE 9 ,ABBY ,P>K1 :]E ! MUSEUM WIZ N[4 ,ALL O' !M COLORS :AT KEEP FLA%9'1 ?AT'S :]E COLOR$ RUBBLE FROM ,MANS\L 'AS 5D$ UP EMB$D$ 9 ! <O/-SEAM4 ,IT'S 9 A RI<T TWO-&-EI<T1 & Y\ WAIT 'TIL WE'RE DAYN !RE 9 IT6 ,LIV9' & DEAD LOONIES EV]Y:]E1 & EV5 !Y CAN'T TELL ONE FROM ! O!R60 

,M>JORIE AGRE$ 9W>DLY4 ,IT WAS MO/ PROBABLY AS SUCC9CT AN APPRAISAL ( ! MADH\SES AS %E H]SELF C\LD HAVE COME UP )1 & %E HADN'T PREVI\SLY KN[N ?AT ! SUBSID5CE 9 ! ,SECOND ,BOR\< HAD BE5 CAUS$ BY ! FRAIL1 BROK5 M9DS ?AT W]E SUPPORT+ IT D[N 9 ! E>?LY REALM4 ,%E'D KN[N ?AT ALL ! DIFF]5T M5TAL 9/ITUTIONS OV]LAPP$1 SO ?AT DELUD$ 9MATES FROM ONE PLACE OR TIME C\LD M+LE FREELY ) ! M$ICAT$ %UFFL]S ( ANO!R1 BUT %E HADN'T FULLY UND]/OOD ! WAY ?AT IT ALL WORK$4 ,PHYLLIS'S EXPLANATION MADE S5SE ( ! />TL+ ]UPTIONS ( PURE COLOR1 TOO3 ! VISUAL QUALITIES ( A COLLAPS$ ,MANS\L REACT+ ) ! FIREWORK EMOTIONS ( ! M5TALLY DI/URB$4 

,) ,MI*AEL ,W>R5'S CURIOSITY N[ :OLLY SATISFI$ & ) HIS FE>S ONLY SOME:AT ALLAY$1 ! CLUT* ( LAT*KEY PHANTOMS HEAD$ ON ALONG ! ,ULTRADUCT1 DEEP] 9TO ! FOLD & FLUX ( ! ASYLUMS4 ,M>JORIE1 :O'D HAD H] 9N] REV]IE 9T]RUPT$ BY ! TODDL]'S QU]Y1 F\ND ?AT %E C\LD NOT RECALL :AT %E'D BE5 ?9K+4 ,NO D\BT IT HAD BE5 SOME VAGUELY LIT]>Y MUS+ AB\T BIRDS OR CL\DS OR SOME?+1 BUT N[ IT HAD VANI%$4 ,LACK+ ITS DI/RACTION1 ,M>JORIE ,MIR&A ,DRISCOLL F\ND H] ?\<TS RETURN+ TO !IR CU/OM>Y DRIFT ( %AD[$ MEMORIES & IMAGES1 ! V]Y ?+S ?AT %E 9DULG$ 9 LIT]>Y MUS+S TO AVOID4 

,! ,N5E ,HAG'S MASSIVE1 MURKY %APE HAD HUNG !RE 9 ! RIV]-BOTTOM GLOOM BE=E ! DR[N$ *ILD1 ) ITS HORRID & 9CALCULABLE L5G? TRAIL+ AWAY BEH9D IT 9TO UND]WAT] BLACKNESS4 ,BRILLIANT FRAGM5TS ( ,M>JORIE'S %ATT]$ ,LIFE ,REVIEW W]E /ILL CAU<T 9 ! /RANGL+ TANGLES ( ! CREATURE'S HAIR1 SWIRL+ & CURL+ ALL AB\T !M BO?4 ,ONE ( ! ,HAG'S UMBRELLA-PT]ODACTYL H&S WAS CLAMP$ TI<T ON ! NEWLY-DEAD GIRL'S ANKLE1 HOLD+ H] IMMOBILE AS IT /UDI$ H]4 ,RI<T AT ! BOTTOM ( ! SLIMY WELLS ?AT W]E ITS SOCKETS1 %E HAD SE5 ! SLUG-LIKE GLI/5 ( ! MON/]'S EYES & 9 !M WAS ! M]-?+'S :OLE UNBE>ABLE1 UNASK$-= /ORY2 EV]Y T]RIFY+ DETAIL ( ITS NE> TWO-?\S&-YE> EXI/5CE LEAK+ 9TO ,M>JORIE LIKE SEPTIC DRA9AGE FROM A RU/$ CI/]N4 

,IT WAS ( ! ,POTAMEIDES1 ( ! ,FLUVIALES4 ,M]R[1 NAIAD1 ,UND9E1 IT WAS ALL ( !SE & HAD BE5 CALL$ ,5ULA ONCE1 :5 LA/ IT HAD A NAME2 HAD BE5 CALL$ ',%E' :5 LA/ IT HAD SOME VE/IGE ( A G5D]4 ,?AT HAD BE5 DUR+ ! SECOND C5TURY1 :5 :AT WAS N[ ! ,N5E ,HAG HAD BE5 !N A M9OR RIV] GODDESS1 WOR%IP$ BY A CREW ( HOMESICK ,ROMAN SOLDI]S G>RISON$ AT ! T[N'S S\? BRIDGE 9 ONE ( ! MANY RIV]-=TS ]ECT$ BETWE5 H]E & ,W>WICK%IRE1 ALONG ! ,N5E4 ,?OSE ANCI5T AFT]NOONS1 ! CLOTS ( COLOR ?AT W]E SODD5 FLORAL (F]+S1 DRIFT+ ) ! CURR5T4 ,! ,LAT9 IMPRECATIONS1 HALF BELIEV+1 HALF EMB>RASS$1 MUTT]$ UND]NEA? ! BREA?4 ,5ULA - HAD ?AT REALLY BE5 H] NAME OR WAS IT A MI%E>+1 A FALSE MEMORY8 ,! CREATURE DIDN'T KN[ OR C>E4 ,IT DIDN'T MATT]4 ,5ULA W\LD DO4 

,%E'D />T$ LIFE AS H>DLY ANY?+ AT ALL1 A M]E POETIC UND]/&+ ( ! RIV]'S NATURE 9 ! M9DS & SONGS ( ! FIR/ SETTL]S2 A FLIMSY TISSUE ( IDEAS1 B>ELY AW>E ( H] [N T5U\S EXI/5CE4 ,GRADUALLY1 ! SONGS & /ORIES ?AT HAD BR\<T H] TO ! BR9K ( BE+ GREW MORE COMPLEX1 ADD+ TO H] BULK ) NEW & MORE SOPHI/ICAT$ METAPHORS3 ! RIV] WAS ! FL[ ( LIFE ITSELF1 ITS CON/ANT ONE-WAY PASSAGE ?AT ( TIME1 ITS QUIV]+ REFLECTIVE SURFACE LIKE ! MIRROR ( \R MEMORY4 ,%E'D TAK5 ON A FRAGILE SUB/ANCE1 AT LEA/ 9 ! WORLD ( FABLES1 DREAMS & PHANTOMS ?AT WAS CLOSE/ TO ! MUDDY MORTAL SPH]E1 & F9ALLY HAD BE5 MADE SPIRITUALLY CONCRETE :5 !Y'D GIV5 H] A NAME4 ,5ULA4 ,OR HAD IT BE5 ,N5DRA8 ,N5ET8 ,SOME?+ LIKE ?AT1 ANYWAY4 

,BACK !N %E'D BE5 A BEAUTIFUL Y\NG CONCEPT1 H] APPE>ANCE ?AT ( AN UNUSUALLY ELONGAT$ M]MAID1 T5 OR TWELVE FEET PR[ TO /]N1 H] FACE A FABUL\S CONFECTION4 ,EA* EYE1 !N MU* CLOS] TO ! SURFACE ( H] HEAD1 WAS AN EXQUISITE VIOLET LOTUS ) ITS MYRIAD PETALS OP5+ & CLOS+ ON ! CR9KLES ( H] SMILE4 ,H] LIPS HAD BE5 TWO FOOT-LONG CURLS ( IRIDESC5T FI%-SK9 :]E PRISMATIC HUES ( LAV5D] & TURQUOISE PLAY$1 & LU/R\S TRESSES ( DEEP BOTTLE-GRE5 DRIFT$ AB\T ! POLI%$ PEBBLE H>DNESS ( H] BREA/S & BELLY4 ,BO? H] EYEBR[S & H] MAID5HAIR W]E ( ! S(TE/ OTT] PELTS & H] EXTRAORD9>Y TAIL WAS T]M9AT$ 9 A F9 LIKE AN IMM5SE JEWEL$ COMB1 BIG AS A LONGB[4 ,H] BRI<T SCALES & H] EI<T OVAL F+]NAILS ALIKE W]E MADE FROM MIRROR1 :]E BLACK B&S ( %AD[ RIPPL$ LIKE REFLECT$ TREES4 

,%E'D EV5 HAD A LOVE1 ?OSE MANY C5TURIES AGO4 ,HIS NAME HAD BE5 ,GREGORIUS1 A /R&$ ,ROMAN SOLDI] WORK+ \T HIS T]M ( DUTY AT ! RIV]-=T1 MISS+ HIS WIFE & *ILDR5 F> AWAY 9 W>M ,MILAN4 ,HIS FLORAL (F]+S TO ! SPIRIT ( ! WAT]S HAD BE5 ! MO/ FREQU5T & ! MO/ PR(USE1 & EV]Y O!R MORN+ HE'D BA! NAK$ 9 H] *ILLY FL[1 HIS BALLS & P5IS %RIVEL$ TO A WALNUT4 ,%E REMEMB]$1 DIMLY1 ! DI/9CT SMELL ( HIS SWEAT1 ! WAY HE'D SWEEP ! WAT] BACK ACROSS HIS SCALP TO WA% ! D>K1 CROPP$ HAIR4 ,H] OPAL DROPLETS TRICKL+ D[N HIS SP9E T[>DS ! BUTTOCKS4 ,ONCE1 DUR+ HIS RIV]SIDE ABLUTIONS1 HE HAD MA/URBAT$ BRIEFLY & DIS*>G$ HIS SE$ 9TO ! TORR5T FOAM+ AT HIS KNEES1 ! CONGEAL$ SP]M SWEPT (F T[>DS ! DI/ANT OCEAN4 ,LOVESICK1 %E HAD FOLL[$ ?IS MO/ PRECI\S (F]+ ALMO/ TO ! ,WA% BE=E %E'D GIV5 UP & HEAD$ BACK = HOME1 WOND]+ ALL ! WAY AT ! F]OCITY ( ! OBSESSION ?AT HAD SEIZ$ H]4 

,!N ONE DISMAL MORN+ H] Y\NG MAN HAD GONE1 AS HAD HIS COHORTS4 ,! AB&ON$ RIV]-=T BECAME A CRUMBL+ PLAYH\SE = ! LOCAL *ILDR5 &1 )9 A FEW YE>S1 HAD BE5 SCAV5G$ & DISMANTL$ TO ! PO9T :]E IT NO LONG] S]V$ AS ANY?+ AT ALL4 ,%E'D WAIT$ & %E'D WAIT$1 WRI?+ 9 FRU/RATION D[N AMONG ! SILT & S$IM5T1 BUT %E HAD NEV] SE5 ,GREGORIUS AGA91 NOR ANY ( HIS K9D4 ,!RE HAD BE5 NO MORE FL[]S1 BUT ONLY NI<T-SOIL FLUNG UPON H] BOSOM BY ! HAIRY1 SL\*+ ,BRITONS :5 !Y ROSE EA* MORN+4 ,CLE>LY1 %E WAS NOT REG>D$ AS EV5 A DEMIGODDESS ANY LONG] &1 ACCORD+LY1 D[N 9 H] COLD1 RES5TFUL D>KNESS %E'D BEGUN TO *ANGE4 

,%E'D BE5 SO LONELY4 ,?AT WAS :AT HAD ALT]$ H] BY 9*ES1 TURN+ H] FROM LOVELY ,N5ET1 ,N5DRA OR ,5ULA TO ! ,N5E ,HAG1 TO ! MILE-LONG ?+ %E WAS TODAY4 ,H] SIMPLE SOLITUDE HAD FA%ION$ H] 9TO A MON/]1 HAD PRECIPITAT$ ALL ! DESP]ATE ACTIONS S9CE !N4 ,ALL ! DR[N$ S\LS %E'D CLAIM$1 ALL ( !M TAK5 ONLY = COMPANION%IP4 

,%E'D HELD H]SELF BACK1 HAD RE/RA9$ H] URGES = SOME SEV]AL C5TURIES BE=E %E'D GIV5 9 & GRABB$ A <O/ AS IT WAS /RUGGL+ TO ESCAPE ITS BOBB+ BODY4 ,%E HAD BE5 AW>E ?AT ONCE ?AT /EP WAS TAK5 IT WAS IRREVOCABLE1 A VILE CRIME ( ! SPIRIT FROM :I* !RE C\LD BE NO TURN+ BACK4 ,?AT'S :Y %E'D PUT ! MOM5T (F = SO LONG1 :Y %E'D HESITAT$ UNTIL ! IDEA ( AN ET]NAL LIFE )\T LOVE C\LD NOT BE 5DUR$ ANO!R 9/ANT4 ,?AT PO9T HAD BE5 REA*$ ONE SUMM] NI<T 9 ! N9? C5TURY1 ALMO/ A ?\S& YE>S AGO4 ,! MAN'S NAME HAD BE5 ,$W>D1 A /\T CR(T] 9 HIS =TIE? YE> OR SO1 :O'D TRIPP$ & FALL5 9 ! RIV] AS HE'D MADE HIS WAY HOME ?R\< ! D>K FIELDS ) A BELLY FULL ( ALE4 ,$W>D HAD BE5 H] FIR/4 

,!SE W]E NOT PLEASANT ?+S FROM H] P]SPECTIVE1 NEI!R ,$W>D'S TAK+ NOR !IR SUBSEQU5T RELATION%IP4 ,%E'D NEV] REALLY BO!R$ TO CONSID] :AT ! DR[N$ MAN'S [N VIEW ( SU* MATT]S MI<T HAVE BE54 ,DUR+ ! YE>S !Y'D SP5T TOGE!R1 ,$W>D HAD APPE>$ TO BE 9 A CONT9U\S /ATE ( %OCK OR TRAUMA ANYWAY1 RI<T FROM ! MOM5T :5 %E'D CLOS$ H] HUGE WEBB$ H& >\ND HIS ?RA%+ & DISORI5T$ SPECTRAL BODY4 ,9 HIS WID5+ EYES %E'D CAU<T H] FIR/ GLIMPSE ( :AT %E MU/ LOOK LIKE N[1 ! WAY ?AT %E MU/ SEEM TO !M1 ! HUMANS4 ,EV5 IF %E %\LD BE =TUNATE 5\< TO F9D A NEW ,GREGORIUS1 H[ W\LD %E /OP HIM SCREAM+ AT :AT %E'D BECOME8 

,$W>D1 ( C\RSE1 HAD SCREAM$ AT FIR/ - LONG BUBBL+ SPIRIT-NOISES ?AT W]E SOME:]E BETWE5 S\ND & LI<T4 ,EV5TUALLY1 HE'D FALL5 SIL5T ( HIS [N ACCORD & HAD RETREAT$ TO ! GLAZ$ & TRANCE-LIKE /ATE 9 :I* HE'D /AY$ = ! REMA9D] ( !IR C\RT%IP4 ,HE BECAME A P>ALYZ$ & />+ PET-TOY1 DRIFT+ & 9]T AS ,N5DRA OR ,5ULA BATT$ HIM ?IS WAY & ?AT BETWE5 H] CRAB-LEG F+]S OR ATTEMPT$ TO COMMUNICATE ) HIM4 ,UNABLE TO ELICIT A RESPONSE ?AT W5T BEYOND A MOAN1 A TWIT* OR A CONVULSION1 ! ,N5E ,HAG HAD AT LA/ SETTL$ = A ONE-WAY CONV]SATION ?AT W5T ON UN9T]RUPT$ = ! FULL FIVE DECADES HE WAS ) H]4 ,%E UNBURD5$ H]SELF ( H] MANY TRIALS & DISAPPO9TM5TS1 SEV]AL TIMES1 & EV5 TOLD HIM ( ! DAY :5 %E HAD *AS$ ,GREGORIUS'S CLOTT$ SP]M TO ! FRE%WAT] LIMITS ( H] T]RITORY4 ,HE MADE NO SIGN ?AT HE HE>D OR UND]/OOD H] UTT]ANCES1 & %E MI<T HAVE ?\<T ?AT %E HAD NO EFFECT UPON HIM :ATSOEV] W]E IT NOT = ! CONT9U+ DIS9TEGRATION ( HIS P]SONALITY1 %$D+ LAY]S ( AW>5ESS 9 AN EF=T TO ESCAPE ! UNREL5T+ HORROR ( HIS CIRCUM/ANCES4 ,F9ALLY1 :5 ,$W>D HAD NO MORE SELF ?AN A KNOT ( DRIFTWOOD1 ,N5ET LET HIM GO4 ,A PIECE ( <O/LY FLOTSAM1 US$-UP & SUCK$ DRY ( ITS VITALITY1 %E'D WAT*$ AS HE WAS SWIRL$ AWAY T[>DS ! EA/1 T[>DS ! SEA1 /ILL SIL5T & /ILL />+4 

,!N %E'D GONE & CAU<T ANO!R ONE4 

,H[ MANY HAD !RE BE5 S9CE !N8 ,TWO DOZ58 ,?REE8 ,! ,N5E ,HAG HAD LO/ C\NT & HAD BY N[ =GOTT5 MO/ ( H] COMPANIONS' NAMES4 ,%E ?\<T ( ALL ( !M AS 0,$W>D01 EV5 ! HALF-DOZ5 WOM5 ?AT %E'D NETT$ D[N ! DECADES1 :5 %E ?\<T ( !M AT ALL4 ,SOME ( !M HAD BE5 MORE RESPONSIVE TO H] PRES5CE ?AN ! FIR/ ,$W>D HAD BE54 ,SOME ( !M HAD TRI$ PLEAD+ ) H]1 SOME HAD EV5 ASK$ H] QUE/IONS AS !Y'D /RUGGL$ ?R\< !IR FE> TO COMPREH5D H] & TO UND]/& ! NI<TM>E !Y W]E CAU<T 94 ,ALL ( !M1 H[EV]1 W\LD S9K 9TO H] FIR/ SUITOR'S CATATONIC /ATE1 SOON] OR LAT]4 ,& :5 !RE WAS ALMO/ NO?+ LEFT1 :5 CONSCI\SNESS HAD %RUNK5 TO A NUMB1 9S5SATE DOT1 %E W\LD GET RID ( !M4 ,:5 !IR EYES CEAS$ TO FOLL[ ! R>E %AFTS ( SUNLI<T FILT]$ FROM ABOVE AS ?R\< A DIRTY GLASS1 :5 !IR :OLE S\LS W5T LIMP & DID NOT MOVE !REAFT]1 :5 !RE WAS NO LONG] EV5 ,N5DRA'S DRE>Y 5T]TA9M5T TO BE HAD FROM !M %E S5T !M (F UPON H] /ATELY & UNHURRI$ CURR5TS1 NEV] WOND]+ :AT BECAME ( !M1 :E!R !Y W\LD REMA9 AS M9DLESS HUSKS UNTIL ! 5D ( TIME OR IF !Y MI<T ONE DAY RECOV]4 ,MUTE & UNRESPONSIVE %E HAD NO MORE USE = !M1 & !RE W]E ALWAYS MORE FI% 9 ! /REAM4 

,IT - = IT WAS MO/ C]TA9LY AN 'IT' BY N[ - HAD ONLY TAK5 WOM5 :5 NO M5 W]E TO BE HAD1 HAV+ >RIV$ AT ! CONCLUSION ?AT <O/ FEMALES CAUS$ MORE FUSS ?AN !Y W]E WOR?4 ,MO/ ( ! WOM51 IT WAS TRUE1 HAD LA/$ LONG] ?AN ! M5 BE=E )DRAW+ TO A VEGETATIVE TORPOR1 BUT !Y'D ALSO BE5 MORE FI]CE & FRI<T5$ & HAD F\<T H>D] AS WELL4 ,COMB9+ ) ,5ULA'S NATURAL ANTIPA?Y TO ITS [N =M] G5D]1 ?IS RESI/ANCE HAD BR\<T \T A /REAK ( CRUELTY 9 ! ,N5E ,HAG'S NATURE1 :]E BE=E HAD ONLY BE5 ABID+ LONEL9ESS & BLEAK EMBITT]M5T4 ,ONE ( ! FEMALE ,$W>DS :O'D GOT ON ! CREATURE'S WRONG SIDE HAD BE5 SL[LY PSY*OLOGICALLY DISMANTL$1 PICK$ AP>T 9 TUMBL+ FLAKES ( A/RAL FI%-FOOD & !N1 AFT] ALMO/ N9ETY W9T]S1 HAD BE5 FLUNG AWAY4 ,! ANCI5T SUB-AQUATIC PHANTASM HAD BE5 SURPRIS$ BY ! RESPONSE ?AT ?IS DELIB]ATE TORTURE HAD AWOK5 9 IT3 A DIM1 DI/ANT GLIMM] ( S5SATION ?AT WAS ALMO/ PLEASURE4 ,OBVI\SLY1 ONCE DISCOV]$1 ?IS NEW T5D5CY TO 9FLICT SUFF]+ HAD RAPIDLY BECOME MORE URG5T1 MORE PRON\NC$1 MORE NECESS>Y TO ! RIV]-MON/]'S EQUILIBRIUM4 

,IT HADN'T CAU<T A *ILD BE=E4 ,IT HADN'T FELT ! NE$1 REG>D+ !M AS M9N[S1 NO MORE ?AN A M\?FUL :5 !RE WAS A GREAT ABUNDANCE ( MORE ADULT SU/5ANCE TO H& ) EA* NEW YE>1 ALL ( ! ACCID5TS & SUICIDES4 ,! N9ETE5? & ! TW5TIE? C5TURIES1 H[EV]1 HAD BE5 SOME?+ ( A LEAN /RET* ON ACC\NT ( ! 9CREAS+ NUMB]S ?AT W]E LE>N+ H[ TO SWIM4 ,>\ND ! JO9 ( ! TWO P]IODS1 ,N5ET HAD NOTIC$ ) DISDA9 AN OLD MAN GIV+ SWIMM+ LESSONS TO A FLOCK ( NUDE Y\NG BOYS !RE ON ! /RET* ( IT ?AT M>K$ ! OLD T[N'S WE/]N B\ND>Y4 ,9FURIAT+LY1 FROM WAT]SIDE DISCUSSIONS IT HAD OV]HE>D1 IT LAT] LE>N$ ?AT ! LONG MEAD[ 9 ! >EA1 NE> :]E ,SA9T ,&REW'S ,PRIORY ONCE /OOD1 HAD BE5 R5AM$ AFT] ?IS IRKSOME ,IRI% LIFEGU>D1 AN EX-MILIT>Y MAN NAM$ ,PADDY ,MOORE1 & WAS N[ KN[N AS ,PADDY'S ,MEAD[4 ,CONSEQU5TLY1 ?R\< ! 9T]F]+ EF=TS ( SU* PEOPLE1 MO/ ( ?OSE :O 5T]$ ! ,HAG'S PROV9CE W\LD CLIMB SAFELY \T AGA94 ,! CREATURE HAD BE5 )\T COMPANY S9CE IT HAD LET ! REMNANTS ( H] LA/ ASSOCIATE GO1 SOMETIME DUR+ ! #a#h#gS1 BUT N[ ITS DRY SPELL HAD COME TO AN 5D4 ,N[ IT HAD ,M>JORIE4 

,?IS 5TIRE TIDE ( DREADFUL HI/ORY HAD RU%$ 9TO ! HELPLESS PHANTOM *ILD1 ALONG ) A GREAT HO/ ( O!R APPREH5SIONS1 MY/]IES & GRUESOME TRIVIA P]TA9+ TO ! CREATURE'S LONG1 FAMI%$ EXI/5CE4 ,?\< TRANSFIX$ BY T]ROR1 ,M>JORIE HAD SUDD5LY KN[N ALL ! RIV]'S CL\DY SECRETS1 KN[N ! :]EAB\TS ( BO? ! MISS+ & ! MURD]$1 HAD KN[N :]E ! LO/ CR[N JEWELS ( ,BAD ,K+ ,JOHN HAD 5D$ UP1 ! ONES ?AT NEV] DID 0ALL COME \T 9 ! ,WA%04 ,! LITTLE GIRL HAD />$ 9TO ! WET GRAY SPIRAL ( ! ,UND9E'S EYE & UND]/OOD ) ABSOLUTE CONVICTION :AT WAS TO BECOME ( H]3 %E'D SP5D UNBE>ABLY PROTRACT$ DECADES1 HORRIBLY AW>E ( H[ H] V]Y BE+ WAS UNRAVEL+1 FL9*+ ITSELF TO PIECES AS IT BORE ! UNDIVID$ WEI<T ( ! ,N5E ,HAG'S ATT5TIONS1 & !N 9 ! 5D :5 EV5 ,M>JORIE'S ID5TITY & CONSCI\SNESS W]E TOO MU* TO 5DURE %E'D BE DISC>D$1 ONE MORE US$ <O/ HEAD+ = ! EA/ COA/1 DEAD TWICE OV]4 

,IT WAS AS ALL ?IS WAS S9K+ 9 ?AT !RE HAD BE5 A T]RIBLE COMMOTION 9 ! NE>BY WAT]S4 ,! ,N5E ,HAG'S GLUT9\S EYES HAD N>R[$ & CONTRACT$1 SQU9T+ 9 SURPRISE AT ?IS UNWELCOME 9T]RUPTION4 ,! HUGE FLATT5$ HEAD HAD TURN$1 SEEK+ ! S\RCE ( ! DI/URBANCE1 & !N IT HAD - 

,M>JORIE BUMP$ SUDD5LY 9TO ! BACK ( ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 :O HAD /OPP$ DEAD ON ! ,ULTRADUCT 9 FRONT ( H]4 ,! RADIANT FLYOV] WAS EVID5TLY PASS+ JU/ ABOVE A C5TRAL PO9T 9 ! WEB ( 5TANGL$ LUNATIC ASYLUMS1 ?IS BE+ :]E ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T] HAD SE5 AN ABUNDANCE ( MAD-APPLES E>LI]1 BE=E %E'D GOT MIX$ UP ) ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 9 ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?4 

0,ALL RI<T1 ']E'S :]E ,I SAW ! ,PUCK'S ',ATS4 ,!RE WIZ 'UNDR$S ( 'EM1 'ANG9' FROM ! TREES & FROM ! GUTT]9'4 ,IF WE JUMP DAYN FROM :]E WE >E N[1 WE CAN BAG ! LOT ( 'EM40 

,SO SAY+1 ,PHYLLIS CLAMB]$ NIMBLY UP ONTO ! ALABA/] RAIL ?AT $G$ ! WALKWAY1 ASK+ ,JOHN TO PASS UP ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 SO ?AT ,PHYLLIS & ! TODDL] C\LD JUMP FROM ! ,ULTRADUCT TOGE!R1 HOLD+ H&S4 ,! O!R *ILDR5 FOLL[$ SUIT1 & SOON !Y W]E ALL PLUNG+ SL[LY ?R\< ! <O/-SEAM'S TREACLE ATMOSPH]E T[>DS ! SCRUN*$-UP TIME & SPACE BEL[1 GRAY AFT]-PICTURES 9 A SME> BEH9D !M M>K+ !IR TRAJECTORIES4 ,! PHANTOM RUFFIANS FELL T[>DS ! OV]LAPP+ MADH\SE LAWNS LIKE GRACEFUL & UNHURRI$ SMOKE GR5ADES4 

,M>JORIE L&$ 9 A CR\* UPON ! %AV$ BAIZE1 ) H] /AGG]$ RA9 ( MULTIPLE EXPOSURES 9 ACCOMPANIM5T4 ,! PIECE ( LAWN %E L&$ ON APPE>$ WELL T5D$ & WAS !RE=E PROBABLY A DISPLAC$ FRAGM5T ( ,/4 ,&REW'S ,HOSPITAL1 RA!R ?AN P>T ( ! MORE L[LY NU?\SE H]E AT ,B]RY ,WOOD4 ,UPON CLOS] 9SPECTION %E C\LD EV5 SEE ! SEAMS :]E NEATLY-MANICUR$ ,/4 ,&REW'S V]GES MET ) ! MORE R\<LY-%ORN GR\NDS ( ,/4 ,CRISP9'S OR ,AB+TON ,P>K3 IRREGUL> TRAPEZIUMS & W$GES ( D>K OR LI<T GRASS FITT$ UNEV5LY BESIDE EA* O!R LIKE A POORLY MANUFACTUR$ JIGSAW1 DIFF]5T PLACES CRUMPL$ UP 9TO A S+LE L&SCAPE BY ! CAVE-9 ( ! HI<] PLANES ABOVE4 ,TILT+ H] HEAD & LOOK+ UP1 ,M>JORIE NOTIC$ ?AT ! SKY ITSELF APPE>$ PA/$ TOGE!R2 DI/9CT CL\D TYPES FROM DIV]SE LOCATIONS & FROM WILDLY V>Y+ ALTITUDES CLUMSILY JUXTAPOS$1 ) ONLY R\< TORN-PAP] L9ES DIVID+ !M4 ,FROM SOME SEGM5TS OR SLICES ( ! HEAV5S1 IT WAS DRIZZL+4 

,AS DISORI5T+ AS ! NATURAL FEATURES ( ! VIEW SU* AS ! GRASS & SKY MI<T BE1 ! FOLD$-9 & MIX$ UP BUILD+S ( ! V>I\S 9/ITUTIONS ?AT SURR\ND$ !M APPE>$ MU* MORE PECULI>4 ,/RET*ES ( IVY-COV]$ LIME/ONE ?AT W]E CLE>LY P>T ( ! ASYLUM-TURN$-MUSEUM 9 ,AB+TON FUZ$ JAGG$LY ) PALE & /ATELY %IP-LIKE BUILD+S FROM ,/4 ,&REW'S ,HOSPITAL1 METAMORPHOS+ ULTIMATELY TO ! FA9TLY S9I/] BRICK $IFICES ( ,/4 ,CRISP9'S4 ,!SE BIZ>RE1 ,VICTORIAN CON/RUCTIONS W]E MO/ PREVAL5T AMONG ! MIX ( MADH\SES1 NO D\BT BECAUSE ,/4 ,CRISP9'S WAS ! ACTUAL GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION 9 ! <O/-SEAM ?AT !SE O!R PLACES HAD BECOME CONFLAT$ )1 BO? 9 ! UPP] T]RITORIES & ! CONFUS$ 9MATE DREAMS ?OSE HI<] REALMS W]E F\ND$ ON4 

,! >*ITECTURE ( ! 9/ITUTION H]E AT ,B]RY ,WOOD HAD SEEM$ P]V]SE TO ,M>JORIE S9CE %E'D FIR/ LE>N$ ! WORD 0P]V]SE04 ,IT JU/ SEEM$ WRONG1 H\S+ ! M5TALLY DI/URB$ 9 AN UNSETTL+ 5VIRONM5T SU* AS ,/4 ,CRISP9'S1 :]E ! HI<-W9D[$ BRICK W+S HUDDL$ TOGE!R 9 A :ISP]+ CONSPIRACY1 PE]+ SUSPICI\SLY FROM UND] ! /EEP BRIMS ( !IR SLATE HATS1 & :]E A SPID]Y T[] ( NO APP>5T PURPOSE ROSE OBSCURELY FROM ! ALREADY OPPRESSIVE SKYL9E4 ,TAK5 AS A :OLE1 ,/4 ,CRISP9'S ,HOSPITAL HAD ! DEMEANOR ( A /RANGE ,BAV>IAN SOCIAL EXP]IM5T1 LEFT OV] FROM A BYGONE C5TURY4 ,!RE WAS A JAIL OR WORKH\SE FLAVOR TO ITS LABYR9?9E PA?S1 ITS CURFEW HU%1 ITS ISOLATION4 ,FRANKLY1 HAV+ FRAGM5TS ( ,/4 ,&REW'S OR ! ,AB+TON ,P>K MADH\SE MUDDL$ UP ) IT WAS RA!R AN IMPROVEM5T4 

,! <O/-*ILDR5 W]E PROGRESS+ CAUTI\SLY ACROSS ! V>IEGAT$ LAWN T[>DS A HODGEPODGE ( ASYLUM BUILD+S DOM9AT$ BY ! PURPOSELESS ,/4 ,CRISP9'S T[]1 A ?+ TOO SL5D] TO MAKE ANY S5SE SAVE AS A CREMATORIUM *IMNEY /ACK4 ,ONE ( ! HUDDL$ /RUCTURES NE> ! TURRET'S BASE WAS A PREFAB EXT5SION ( ITS NATIVE HOSPITAL1 A S+LE-/ORY UNIT :]E ON PREVI\S VISITS ,M>JORIE HAD /UMBL$ UPON V>I\S FRAM$ >TWORKS EXECUT$ BY ! 9MATES4 ,9 AMONG ! /RANGELY CAPTIVAT+ L&SCAPES ON DISPLAY1 ! BURN+ ORANGE SKIES1 ! METAL %RUBS TRIMM$ TO A DANG]\S & SPIKY TOPI>Y1 %E'D BE5 UNSURPRIS$ TO F9D PA9T$ DEPICTIONS ( ! WAY ! OV]LAPP+ MADH\SES APPE>$ :5 LOOK$ AT FROM ! <O/-SEAM1 LUMPS ( ,AB+TON ,P>K OR ,/4 ,&REW'S SPLIC$ 9 ) ,/4 ,CRISP9'S AS ?\< BY MI/AKE4 ,EV5 ! SUDD5 BUR/S ( HI<]-SPACE PH5OM5A - LIKE ! CASCAD+ MOIRE PATT]N CURR5TLY ]UPT+ FROM BEH9D ! SP9DLY BRICK SPIRE AHEAD ( !M - W]E REPRODUC$ UPON SOME ( ! CANVASSES1 A PRO( ?AT LIV+ PEOPLE 9 AN EXTREME M5TAL /ATE C\LD SOMETIMES SEE ! UPP] WORLD & ITS 9HABITANTS4 ,%E'D EV5 F\ND A CRAYON DRAW+ ( A FIGURE ?AT LOOK$ ! DEAD SPIT ( ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]1 ) ! RABBIT SK9S HUNG 9 A RANCID G>L& R\ND H] NECK4 ,IT HAD BE5 A DI/ORT$ *>COAL SKET* ?AT MADE ! <O/ GANG'S LEAD] LOOK A LOT MORE FRI<T5+ ?AN %E WAS 9 REAL LIFE OR DEA?4 

,M>JORIE'S REV]IE WAS 9T]RUPT$ BY A SUDD5 L\D1 9DIGNANT \TBUR/ FROM ! REAL ,PHYLL ,PA9T]1 ! %E] VEHEM5CE ( :I* MADE ,M>JORIE ?9K ?AT ! UNKN[N M5TAL PATI5T'S PORTRAIT MI<T HAVE BE5 MORE ACCURATE ?AN %E'D AT FIR/ SUPPOS$4 

0,SOME BUGG]'S 'AD 'EM6 ,!RE WIZ 'UNDR$S ( 'EM E>LI]1 & ALL !SE TREES WIZ NE>LY CREAK9' WI' ! WEI<T ( 'EM6 ,IF ,I F9D \T :O'S COME & NICK$ \R ,B$LAM ,J5NIES BE=E WE C\LD NICK 'EM !N ,I'LL PUN* 'IS BLOODY LI<TS \T1 EV5 IF IT'S ! ,?IRD ,BOR\<60 

,EV]YBODY ELSE1 EV5 H] PRESUM$ Y\NG] BRO!R ,BILL1 SEEM$ /UNN$ BY ! NE>-BLASPHEMY ( ,PHYLLIS'S 9C5DI>Y RANT4 ,M>JORIE GLANC$ T[>DS ! NE>BY TREES & MADH\SE EAVES4 ,%E NOTIC$ ?AT :ILE !RE W]E /ILL 5\< ,PUCK'S ,HATS GR[+ UPON !M TO PROVIDE A SATISFY+ MEAL = ! DEAD Y\NG/]S1 !RE W]E NO:]E NE> AS MANY AS ,PHYLLIS HAD L$ !M TO EXPECT4 ,WAS !IR 9FURIAT$ LEAD] RI<T8 ,WAS !RE SOME O!R WELL-9=M$ & HI<LY ORGANIZ$ <O/-SCAV5G] AT WORK H]E1 POSSIBLY A RIVAL PHANTOM GANG ATTEMPT+ TO 5CROA* UPON !IR T]RITORY8 ,M>JORIE HOP$ ?AT ?IS W\LDN'T PROVE TO BE ! CASE4 ,%E'D NEV] PREVI\SLY HE>D TELL ( GANG W>F>E 9 ,MANS\L1 BUT %E IMAG9$ ?AT IT C\LD GET LUM9\SLY UGLY4 ,WRAI?-BRAWLS SPILL+ OV] FROM ! ,MAYORHOLD1 UR*9S SW++ DREAMS OR MEMORIES ( PICKAX H&LES1 AL?\< H[ W\LD !Y DI/+UI% BETWE5 DIFF]+ GANG COLORS 9 ! MONO*ROME >5A ( ! <O/-SEAM8 ,ONE SIDE C\LD WE> BLACK1 P]HAPS2 ! O!R :ITE1 LIKE VIOL5T1 SCRUFFY *ESS4 ,H] W&]+ ?\<TS HAD GOT AS F> AS REV5GE DOOR/EP EXORCISMS :5 %E REALIZ$ ?AT %E WASN'T ?9K+ AB\T H] REAL1 PRES5T CIRCUM/ANCES AT ALL BUT WAS 9/EAD PLOTT+ A ?IRD BOOK1 PRESUMABLY A FOLL[-UP TO H] =?COM+ NOVEL AB\T ,SN[Y ,V]NALL & HIS BEAUTIFUL GR&DAU<T] HIK+ ?R\< ,ET]NITY4 

,IT WAS AS ,M>JORIE WAS =C+ H] UNRULY LIT]>Y FANCIES BACK 9TO !IR CAGE ?AT TALL ,JOHN CRI$ \T SUDD5LY4 

0,I CAN SEE ONE ( ! BLI<T]S6 ,LOOK6 ,HE'S PEEP+ FROM BEH9D ! T[]60 

,M>JORIE TURN$ 9 TIME TO SEE A T9Y FAIR-HAIR$ HEAD BOB BACK BEH9D ONE CORN] ( ! $IFICE'S BASE4 ,Y\ C\LD TELL ?AT IT WAS ?AT ( A <O/-KID BY H[ IT LEFT A GRAY /REAM ( LITTLE HEADS EVAPORAT+ 9 ITS WAKE4 ,SO1 %E'D BE5 RI<T4 ,!RE WAS A RIVAL GANG ( SPECTRAL RUFFIANS :O'D BEAT5 !M TO ! MAD APPLES4 ,!RE W]E POA*]S ON !IR L&6 ,SURPRIS$ BY H] [N S5SE ( ANGRY 9DIGNATION1 ,M>JORIE JO9$ ) ! O!R *ILDR5 AS !Y /ORM$ T[>DS ! T[]1 !IR HALF-A-DOZ5 SWELL$ 9TO A %RIEK+ ,MONGOL HORDE BY ALL ! TRAIL+ DOPPELGANG]S4 

,R\ND+ ! D>K BRICKWORK ( ! CORN] !Y /OPP$ DEAD & ,M>JORIE ONCE MORE F\ND H]SELF PIL+ 9TO ,REGGIE ,B[L]'S BACK4 ,RECOV]+1 %E PE]$ BETWE5 ! TALL] GANG-MEMB]S 9 FRONT ( H]1 TAK+ H] GLASSES (F TO POLI% !M UPON ONE SLEEVE BE=E REPLAC+ !M1 AS IF UNABLE TO BELIEVE :AT %E & H] CONF$]ATES W]E SEE+4 ,IT WAS ACTUALLY A GE/URE %E'D SE5 SOMEONE DO ONCE 9 A FILM - POSSIBLY ,H>OLD ,LLOYD - RA!R ?AN NATURAL BEHAVIOR4 ,AS IF :ATEV] />TL+ VI/A Y\ W]E SEE+ WAS A SME> ( GRIME TO BE WIP$ FROM ! L5S4 ,IT W\LD1 %E ?\<T1 HAVE TO BE QUITE AN ODDLY-%AP$ & CONVOLUT$ SME>1 ESPECIALLY 9 ?IS CURR5T 9/ANCE4 

,SOME WAY (F1 A TIME-HOLE HAD BE5 OP5$ 9 ! AIR QUITE NE> GR\ND LEVEL1 BE+ ALMO/ ?REE FEET 9 DIAMET] BY ,M>JORIE'S [N E/IMATE & BORD]$ BY ! FLICK]+ /ATIC B&S ( ALT]NAT+ BLACK & :ITE ?AT USUALLY ATT5D$ SU* PH5OM5A4 ,!RE W]E TWO T\< & GRUBBY-LOOK+ <O/-BOYS1 ONE TALL & ! O!R %ORT1 HOLD+ BETWE5 !M :AT LOOK$ LIKE SOME SORT ( LETT]$ BANN] ?AT WAS SAGG+ UND] :AT MU/ HAVE BE5 HUNDR$S ( RIPE ,PUCK'S ,HATS1 ALL ! MOI/ & 9T]LOCK+ FAIRY FIGURES 9 !IR />FI% CLU/]S1 H9TS ( COLOR 9 !IR GLI/51 FUGITIVE & DELICATE1 PIL$ UP LIKE SO MANY PRISMATIC TURNIPS ON ! /RANGE FLAG BE+ US$ TO C>RY !M4 ,N[ ?AT %E LOOK$ MORE CLOSELY ?R\< H] DEAD-EYES & H] POLI%$ SPECTACLES1 ,M>JORIE C\LD SEE ! TOPS ( SOME EMBROID]$ LETT]S ON ! BANN] ?AT APPE>$ TO SPELL \T ! WORD 'UNION' OR 'UPIOP'1 MO/ PROBABLY ! =M]4 ,HAD SOMEBODY =M$ A ,UNION 9 ,HEAV51 B>GA9+ = BETT] \TFITS & A %ORT] WORK+ EV]-AFT]8 ,FOCUS+ UPON ! TWO UNLIKELY UNION REPRES5TATIVES :O W]E AB\T TO MAKE (F ?R\< !IR W>P-W9D[ ) ALL ! /OL5 WRAI?-FOOD1 ,M>JORIE C\LD NOT HELP NOTIC+ ?AT ! L(TI] 9T]LOP] WORE A HAT LIKE ,REGGIE ,B[L]'S 444 

,ON A HEAD LIKE ,REGGIE ,B[L]'S4 ,& A BODY4 

,IT WAS ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 SEV]AL Y>DS AWAY FROM H] & FROM ! O!R ,REGGIE :O WAS /&+ JU/ 9 FRONT ( ,M>JORIE & MOAN+ 9 BEWILD]M5T AS HE SURVEY$ HIS EVIL ,PUCK'S ,HAT-?IEV+ TW94 ,! ,REGGIE LOOK-ALIKE WAS HOLD+ ONE 5D ( ! HEAVY-LAD5 BANN] :ILE ! O!R 5D WAS GRIPP$ BY A PRECISE & VIVID REPRODUCTION ( ,PHYLL ,PA9T]'S NIPP]1 R[DY LITTLE ,BILL4 ,! REAL ,BILL1 MEAN:ILE1 WAS /OOD SWE>+ FLU5TLY BESIDE HIS ELD] SI/]1 :O = ONCE DID NOT ADMONI% HIM4 ,M>JORIE TOOK H] GLASSES (F & POLI%$ !M AGA91 BE+ UNABLE TO COME UP ) ANY MORE APPROPRIATE REACTION4 ,?IS %E LEFT TO ,PHYLLIS1 :O WAS AFT] ALL ! GANG'S TITUL> LEAD]4 

0,WILLIAM6 ,:AT ! ,B- ',ELL D'Y] ?9K Y] PLAY9' AT1 Y\ EFF9' LITTLE ,C80 

,M>JORIE GASP$4 ,%E'D NEV] ?\<T ?AT ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T] W\LD BE ONE TO USE SU* CO>SE & VULG> LETT]S ( ! ALPHABET4 ,IT WAS !N ?AT BIG ,JOHN PIT*$ 91 S\ND+ ALMO/ AS ANGRY4 

0,?AT'S A ,BRITI% ,UNION ( ,FASCI/S BANN] ?AT Y\'RE HOLD+6 ,IF Y\'VE JO9$ ! ,MOSELEYITES AS WELL AS TAK+ ALL \R ,B$LAM ,J5NIES !N ,I'LL KNOCK Y\R HEADS TOGE!R60 

,BY ?IS PO9T ! SURPLUS ,BILL & ,REGGIE T[>DS :OM !SE HO/ILE COMM5TS W]E ADDRESS$ HAD MANAG$ TO MANEUV] !IR APP>5TLY ,BLACK%IRT-AFFILIAT$ MAKE%IFT /RET*] FULL ( ,PUCK'S ,HATS ?R\< ! TIME-HOLE4 ,!Y W]E ON ! GAP'S F> SIDE1 WEAV+ ! 9T]F]5CE-COLOR$ $GES BACK ACROSS ! C5T] AS !Y SEAL$ ! AP]TURE BEH9D !M4 ,JU/ BE=E ! OP5+ DISAPPE>$ COMPLETELY1 ,REGGIE & ,BILL'S D\BLES GAZ$ BACK ?R\< IT AT !IR DUMB/RUCK C\NT]P>TS4 

0,!RE'S A GOOD EXPLANATION = ALL ?IS1 SO DON'T GO BLAM9' ME40 

0,%UT UP1 ,REG4 ,LI/51 EV]YBODY1 JU/ REMEMB] ?AT ! DEVIL'S 9 ! DRIV]'S SEAT4 ,?AT WAY IT WON'T BE A SURPRISE :5 - 0 

,IT WAS AT ?IS JUNCTURE ?AT ! F9AL %IMM]+ FILAM5TS W]E DRAWN ACROSS ! BREA* 9 SPACE1 CUTT+ (F ,BILL'S TW9 9 MID-S5T5CE4 ,!RE REMA9$ ONLY ! FRACTUR$ VIEW ( ! CONJO9$ ASYLUMS1 :]E A HUNDR$ OR SO YE>S ( 9MATES W&]$ AIMLESSLY ACROSS A DIFF]5TLY-TON$ PAT*WORK ( AMALGAMAT$ LAWNS1 & !RE WAS NO?+ TO SUGGE/ ?AT ! TIME-HOLE HAD EV] BE5 !RE4 ,IT HAD VANI%$ )\T TRACE4 

,SPEE*LESS ) RAGE1 ,PHYLLIS SMACK$ ,BILL >\ND ! E>4 

0,[6 ,FUCK9' 'ELL1 Y\ MAD OLD BAT6 ,:AT >E Y] 'ITT9' ME =80 

0,WELL1 :AT >E Y\ /EAL9' ALL AYR ,PUCK'S ',ATS =1 Y] ROTT5 LITTLE BUGG]8 ,& :AT WAS ?AT BUS9ESS ABAYT DEVILS 9 ! DRIV9' SEAT80 

0,WELL1 ,I DON'T KN[6 ,>E Y\ COMPLETELY FUCK+ M5TAL8 ,I WIZ /&9' OV] ']E ! 'OLE TIME4 ,?AT W]5'T ME & ,REGGIE4 ,IT JU/ LOOK$ LIKE US40 

0,LOOK$ LIKE6 ,I'LL GI' Y\ LOOK$ LIKE 9 A M9UTE6 ,?AT WIZ Y\6 ,D'Y] ?9K AS ,I DON'T KN[ ME [N FLE% & BLOOD8 ,?AT WIZ JU/ Y\ FROM SOME:]E UP ! L+]1 FROM A MOM5T WE 5T GOT TO YET6 ,Y\'RE GUNNA DIG BACK ']E & P9* AYR MAD APPLES BE=E WE 'AVE A *ANCE TO '>VE/ 'EM1 Y\ & ?IS SILLY BA/>D /OOD BESIDE Y]40 ,PHYLLIS GL>$ AT ,REGGIE H]E4 ,DISA/R\SLY1 ,BILL TRI$ TO REASON ) H]4 

0,WELL1 '[ AM ,I SUPPOS$ TO KN[ :AT IT ALL MEANT IF WE A9'T GOT !RE YET8 ,I'M ONLY FUCK9' DEAD1 ,I'M NOT CLAIRVOYANT4 ,JOHN1 MATE1 CAN'T Y\ REASON ) H]8 ,:5 %E'S (F '] ,H,R,T LIKE ?IS ,I MI<T AS WELL NOT BO!R40 

,! GOOD-LOOK+ OLD] BOY GAVE BO? ! ]RANT DUO A REFRIG]AT$ LOOK ( WI!R+ CONTEMPT4 

0,DON'T TRY TO CREEP R\ND ME1 Y\ PAIR ( BLOODY ,NAZIS4 ,COME ON1 ,PHYLL4 ,LET'S Y\ & ME & ,MI*AEL GO & GA!R UP :ATEV] PICK+S !SE TWO B&ITS HAVE SE5 FIT TO LEAVE US )40 

,SO SAY+1 ,JOHN & ,PHYLLIS EA* TOOK ONE ( ,MI*AEL'S H&S & WALK$ (F ) ! TODDL] 9 ! DIRECTION ( A SP9NEY1 SW++ HIM BETWE5 !M 9 ! <O/-SEAM'S FEEBLE GRAVITY4 ,M>JORIE FELT A LITTLE DISAPPO9T$ AT ! WAY ?AT %E'D BE5 CASUALLY LEFT ) ! R5EGADES1 BUT ?\<T ?AT ! APP>5T SNUB WAS 9 ALL LIKELIHOOD A ?9LY-VEIL$ EXCUSE = ,JOHN & ,PHYLLIS TO SNEAK (F TOGE!R1 RA!R ?AN A P]SONAL AFFRONT4 ,BESIDES1 %E'D ALWAYS GOT ON SLI<TLY BETT] ) ,REGGIE & ,BILL ?AN %E HAD ) ,PHYLL ,PA9T] & BIG ,JOHN4 ,PHYLLIS C\LD BE EV] SO BOSSY1 :ILE ,JOHN SOMETIMES PLAY$ UPON HIS W>-H]O GOOD LOOKS TOO MU*4 ,BILL1 ON ! O!R H&1 ONCE Y\'D GOT PA/ ! LEWD REM>KS AB\T Y\R KNOCK]S OR Y\R KNICK]S1 WAS SURPRIS+LY WELL-READ & WELL 9=M$1 :ILE ,M>JORIE HAD ALWAYS HAD A S(T SPOT = POOR ,REGGIE4 ,REGGIE BORD]$ ON GOOD-LOOK+ 9 A C]TA9 LI<T1 AL?\< %E HAD TO PRIVATELY AGREE ) ,PHYLLIS'S APPRAISAL ( HIS 9TELLECTUAL FACULTIES3 HE WAS A SILLY BA/>D4 

0,:AT WAS ALL ( ?AT AB\T1 !N8 ,HAVE Y\ GOT SOME PLAN TO NICK ! ,PUCK'S ,HATS & DIVIDE 'EM UP BETWE5 Y\ TWO & Y\R NEW ,BLACK%IRT COMRADES80 

,REGGIE />T$ TO PROTE/ HIS 9NOC5CE1 BUT ,BILL GR9N$ RUEFULLY4 

0,WELL1 ,I 'AVE N[1 ,I'LL TELL Y] ?AT = FUCK9' NO?9'4 ,IF ?AT OLD C['S GUNNA BAT ME 'R\ND ! 'EAD = SUMMAT ,I'VE NOT DONE YET1 !N ,I'M GUNNA MAKE SURE ?AT ,I FUCK9' WELL DES]VE IT4 ,I DON'T KN[ SO MU* AB\T JO99' ! ,NAZIS1 AL?\< ,I'VE ?\<T V]Y (T5 ?AT ,I'D LOOK QUITE ROCK 'N' ROLL 9 JACKBOOTS4 ,NO1 ,M>GE1 ?AT WAS FUCK9' WEIRD1 SEE9' MESELF LIKE ?AT4 ,I WOND] :AT ,I MEANT AB\T ! DEVIL BE+ 9 ! DRIV]'S SEAT80 

,REGGIE LOOK$ ?\<TFUL1 OR LEA/ AS ?\<TFUL AS HE EV] DID4 

0,I RECKON AS ?AT WIZ A TRICK DONE ) A MIRROR40 

,BILL SNORT$ D]ISIVELY4 

0,REGGIE1 MATE1 Y\'RE NOT ! %>PE/ SUIT 9 ,BURTON'S W9D[1 >E Y]8 ,H[ WIZ IT A TRICK DONE ) A MIRROR8 ,!Y W]E DRAGG+ A GREAT BANN] FULL ( ,PUCK'S ,HATS :]EAS WE CONSPICU\SLY A9'T4 ,& ANYWAY1 H[ WIZ A MIRROR S'POS$ TO TALK TO US8 ,IT'S ONLY LI<T :AT !Y B\NCE BACK1 NOT VOICES4 ,N[ COME ON1 LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET BACK 9TO ,PHYLLIS'S GOOD BOOKS BY F9D+ LOTS ( FAIRY FRUIT = '] TO SC(F1 ! /ROPPY BIT*40 

,!Y W]E ALL LAU<+ N[ AT ,PHYLLIS'S EXP5SE AS ! ?REE ( !M /ROLL$ >\ND ! V>I\S CONFUS$ & FUZ$ ASYLUM BUILD+S1 PE]+ UP 9TO ! GUTT]'S UND]HANG = ANY SIGN ( ! ELUSIVE DELICACIES4 ,A F\NTA9 ( ALMO/-FLUORESC5T ACID GRE5 ]UPT$ SUDD5LY 9TO ! PIEC$-TOGE!R HEAV5S FROM BEH9D A NE>BY %$ OR ANNEX1 MAK+ !M ALL JUMP1 !N GIGGLE 9 RELIEF AS ! EFFECT SUBSID$ & WAS GONE4 

,ON :AT APPE>$ TO BE A MISPLAC$ SLICE ( ! ASYLUM *APEL FROM ,/4 ,&REW'S ,HOSPITAL !Y F\ND A LUSCI\S CLU/] ( RIPE ,PUCK'S ,HATS ?AT ! O!R ,BILL & ,REGGIE MU/ HAVE OV]LOOK$1 GR[+ !RE 9 ! %AD[$ ANGLE UND]NEA? A W9D[-L$GE4 ,REGGIE REMOV$ HIS HAT = USE AS A RECEPTACLE :ILE ,M>JORIE & ,BILL BEGAN TO H>VE/ ! ABUNDANT HYP]-VEGETABLES OR #d,D FUNGI OR :ATEV] ! PECULI> BLOSSOMS TRULY W]E4 ,REA*+ B5EA? ONE FOOT-WIDE SPECIM5 ?AT WAS ESPECIALLY MAGNIFIC5T1 ,M>JORIE P9*$ (F ! ?ICK /ALK ) H] E!REAL ?UMBNAIL & C\LD BRIEFLY HE> A HI<-PIT*$ :9E LIKE ?AT ( A SMALL MOTOR FAD+ 9TO SIL5CE1 ONE ( ?OSE S\NDS ?AT Y\ DIDN'T KN[ ?AT Y\'D BE5 LI/5+ TO UNTIL IT /OPP$4 ,%E HELD ! SPL5DID TROPHY UP1 SUPPORT$ BY BO? *UBBY LITTLE PALMS1 &1 ) A WRIT]'S EYE1 EXAM9$ IT4 

,! FAIRY FIGURES1 RADIAT+ 9 !IR DOILY PATT]N LIKE A R+ ( PAP] DOLLS1 W]E 9 ?IS 9/ANCE BLOND4 ,A GOLD5 TASSEL ( !IR MUTUAL MANE GREW FROM ! FLUFFY DOT AT ! ?+'S C5T]1 :]E ! T9Y HEADS W]E /UCK TOGE!R 9 A BRACELET LOOP1 :ILE ! M9USCULE TUFTS ( ]SATZ PUBIC HAIR ?AT SPR\T$ FROM ! 9T]SECTION ( ! PETAL LEGS WAS ALSO GOLD54 ,EV5 9 ! COLORLESS DOM9ION ( ! <O/-SEAM1 Y\ C\LD SEE A R\G$ BLU% ON !IR M9UTE *EEKS1 A SKY-BLUE GLITT] 9 ! CIRCLE ( UNSEE+ P9PRICK EYES4 ,EXCEPT ! ,PUCK'S ,HAT WASN'T REALLY A B\QUET ( PRETTY 9DIVIDUAL FAIRIES1 WAS IT8 ,?AT WAS ONLY :AT IT LOOK$ LIKE1 SO ?AT IT C\LD 5TICE <O/S TO EAT IT & SPIT \T ITS CRUN*Y BLUE-EY$ SE$S4 ,9 ACTUALITY1 ! ,PUCK'S ,HAT WAS ONE S+LE LIFE =M ) ITS [N 9SCRUTABLE AG5DAS4 ,TRY+ TO IGNORE ! W9SOME FEMALE C\NT5ANCES1 ,M>JORIE 9/EAD ATTEMPT$ TO SEE ! TRUE FACE ( ! MY/]I\S ORGANISM4 

,GAZ$ AT )\T ?9K+ ( ! CREATURE'S SEP>ATE P>TS AS M9IATURIZ$ PEOPLE1 & )\T ! NATURAL SYMPA?IES ?AT ?IS RESEMBLANCE PROVOK$1 ! META-FUNGUS WAS A TRULY HORRID-LOOK+ ?+1 A C&Y-T9T$ OCTOPUS ) SQUIRM-9DUC+ CONVOLUTIONS ?AT W]E MESSY & UNNECESS>Y4 ,R+$ >\ND ! WRONGNESS ( ITS C5TRAL HONEY$ TOP-KNOT W]E AT LEA/ FIFTE5 OR TW5TY T9Y & 9HUMAN EYES1 MANY ( !M DI/URB+LY 9V]T$1 ) \TSIDE ?IS A CONC5TRIC B& ( ROSEBUD M\?S LIKE NA/Y LITTLE SORES4 ,A B& ( SCULPT$ PSEUDO-BREA/S CAME NEXT1 !N NAVELS1 !N ! OBSC5E DIMPL+ ( ! PUD5DA :]E ! BLOND FUZZ GREW LIKE BLOTS ( P5ICILL94 ,LOOK$ AT AS A :OLE IT WAS A FRI<T5+ IC$ CAKE1 DECORAT$ ) UNN]V+ SYMMETRY BY A HALLUC9AT+ S*IZOPHR5IC4 

,BE=E %E C\LD DEVELOP AN AV]SION TO ! ?+S = ! REMA9D] ( H] AFT]LIFE1 ,M>JORIE %UDD]$ & HURRI$LY ?RU/ ! SUDD5LY-AL>M+ <O/-FRUIT 9TO ,REGGIE'S UPTURN$ B[L]4 ,:AT ) IT BE+ SO L>GE1 H] F9D IMM$IATELY TOOK UP NE>LY ALL ! SPACE 9SIDE ! HAT1 PROMPT+ ! BOYS TO IMPROVISE BY TAK+ (F ,BILL'S JUMP] ) ITS SLEEVES TI$ 9 A KNOT1 CONV]T+ IT 9TO A SOME:AT MORE CAPACI\S SACK4 ,M>JORIE WAT*$ !M = A :ILE AS !Y CONT9U$ TO COLLECT ! RIP] SPECIM5S AMONG ?OSE CR[D+ UND]NEA? ! W9D[ SILL1 LEAV+ ! IMMATURE & BLUI% SPACEMAN-BLOSSOMS WELL ALONE4 ,! DUMPY LITTLE PHANTOM GIRL DID NOT EV5 ATTEMPT TO SEE ! ALI5 C\NT5ANCE ?AT !SE CONCEAL$ BEH9D !IR 9DIVIDUAL SK9NY FETUS =MS4 ,!Y W]E QUITE HORRIBLE 5\< :5 LOOK$ AT 9 ! NORMAL MANN]4 ,IT WAS POSSIBLY ! UNBORN BABY LOOK !Y HAD TO !M1 ) ?OSE 5ORM\S HEADS1 BUT ,M>JORIE HAD ALWAYS ?\<T !Y MO/ RESEMBL$ SOME EXTRAORD9>Y PRE-NATAL DISA/]1 ,SIAMESE OCTUPLETS ) !IR SKULLS FUZ$ TO BECOME ! PETALS ( A HIDE\S DAISY4 ,M>JORIE KNEW FROM BITT] PA/ EXP]I5CE EXACTLY :AT !Y TA/$ LIKE1 BUT ALWAYS F\ND ! ACRID FLAVOR MADD5+LY DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE 9TO WORDS4 ,IT WAS A BIT LIKE EAT+ METAL1 BUT IF METAL HAD ! S(T CONSI/5CY ( N\GAT & C\LD PUTREFY 9 SOME WAY SO ?AT IT W5T S\R LIKE SWEATY P5NIES4 ,%E KNEW SOME <O/S :O W\LD EAT AN UNRIPE ,PUCK'S ,HAT IF ! ADULT FAIRY FRUIT W]E UNAVAILABLE1 BUT = ! DEA? ( H] %E'D NO IDEA H[ !Y C\LD MANAGE IT4 ,%E'D SOON] DO )\T UNTIL ! 5D ( TIME1 :I* WAS AB\T H[ LONG H] MEMORY ( ?AT FIR/ 9CAUTI\S BITE W\LD LA/4 ,BESIDES1 %E GOT ?AT SAME S5SE ( A HE>TY MEAL & SPIRITUAL SU/5ANCE PROVID$ BY ! ,B$LAM ,J5NIES FROM A GOOD BOOK !SE DAYS4 ,ON ! M9US SIDE ( ! EQUATION ?\<1 A BAD BOOK C\LD BE LEFT = DECADES & W\LD NEV] RIP5 9TO SOME?+ SWEET]4 

,BILL & ,REGGIE GA!R$ ALL ! $IBLE MAD-APPLES FROM ! CLU/] UND]NEA? ! W9D[ & !N W&]$ VAGUELY (F1 LOOK+ = MORE & HEAT$LY DISCUSS+ :AT !IR DUPLICATES MI<T HAVE BE5 UP TO1 PILF]+ ! CROP ( <O/-FRUIT BE=E ,PHYLLIS & ! GANG C\LD DO SO4 

0,WELL1 IT'S GOTTA BE US 9 ! FUTURE1 5NIT8 ,IT'S SOME?9' :AT WE'VE NOT DONE YET40 

0,Y\ DON'T KN[ ?AT4 ,IT MI<T BE US 9 ! PA/40 

0,REGGIE1 WIZ ?AT FUCK9' 'AT TOO TI<T OR SOME?9'8 ,IF IT WIZ US 9 ! PA/ !N WE'D REMEMB] IT1 Y\ TWAT4 ,& ANYWAY1 '[ W\LD WE KN[ :5 ALL ! ',AG'S ,TITS W\LD BE GR[9' ']E8 ,WE ONLY JU/ F\ND \T :5 ,PHYLLIS TOLD US4 ,NO1 Y\ TAKE MY WORD1 ,REG1 ALL ?AT BUS9ESS :AT WE SAW1 ?AT'S SOME?9' :AT WE'RE GUNNA DO4 ,ALL ?AT WE NE$ CONC]N \RSELVES AB\T WIZ :Y & :5 WE'RE GUNNA DO IT4 ,?AT1 & :AT ! O!R ME MEANT :5 'E SAID AB\T ! DEVIL BE9' 9 ! DRIV]'S SEAT40 

,! TWO BOYS HAD APP>5TLY =GOTT5 ,M>JORIE4 ,5GROSS$ 9 !IR DISCUSSION !Y ME&]$ 9 AMONG JAGG$LY JUXTAPOS$ ASYLUM BUILD+S1 SEEK+ \T FRE% PICK+S4 ,M>JORIE WASN'T ?AT BO!R$1 TO BE HONE/4 ,HAV+ RA!R PUT H]SELF (F ,PUCK'S ,HATS & !IR H>VE/+ = A FEW H\RS AT LEA/1 %E ?\<T %E'D TAKE A /ROLL ACROSS ! VA/ COMPOSITE LAWN 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! COPSE T[>DS :I* ,PHYLLIS1 ,JOHN & ,MI*AEL HAD BE5 HEAD$ :5 %E'D SE5 !M LA/4 ,A RIPPL+ FAN ( BRILLIANT YELL[ OP5$ SUDD5LY ABOVE A PREFAB OBS]VATION W+1 LA/+ = A %ORT :ILE BE=E SUBSID+ ONCE MORE 9TO GRAD$ HALF-TONES3 TO ! <O/-SEAM'S DIFF]5T %ADES ( SMOKE4 ,M>JORIE GLANC$ ACROSS H] %\LD]1 ?R\< ! DISSIPAT+ D\BLES ?AT W]E FOLL[+ H]1 & CAU<T A BRIEF GLIMPSE ( ,REGGIE ,B[L] AS HE DISAPPE>$ >\ND A MADH\SE CORN]1 /ILL /UBBORNLY >GU+ ) ,BILL4 

0,WELL1 ,I DON'T SEE :Y IT CAN'T BE US FROM ! PA/4 ,IT MI<T BE SUMMAT :AT WE DID AS WE'VE =GOT AB\T1 = ALL Y\ KN[60 

,M>JORIE SMIL$ AS %E TURN$ BACK & C>RI$ ON ALONG H] [N PA? OV] ! 9EXP]T PAT*WORK ( ! GRASS1 T[>DS ! DI/ANT TREES4 ,%E ?\<T AB\T ! FIR/ TIME %E'D SE5 ,REGGIE1 ON ! NI<T %E'D DR[N$4 ,HE HADN'T HAD HIS B[L] ON1 ON ?AT OCCASION4 ,OR HIS COAT4 ,OR ANY?+1 N[ ?AT %E /OPP$ TO ?9K AB\T IT4 

,! ,N5E ,HAG HAD TURN$ ITS ELONGAT$ FACE AWAY FROM H]1 REVEAL+ A DI/URB+ PR(ILE LIKE AN ALLIGATOR ) A BEAK4 ,ITS FLAT BR[ HAD BE5 CORRUGAT$ BY A FR[N ( PUZZL$ IRRITATION AS IT SQU9T$ ?R\< ! UND]WAT] %AD[S1 LOOK+ = ! S\RCE ( ! COMMOTION1 ! SPLA% ?AT HAD JU/ DI/RACT$ IT BE=E IT C\LD BEG9 ITS AWFUL S\L-DE/ROY+ WORK ON ,M>JORIE4 

,SOME WAY (F1 FLAIL+ 9 ! GRAY MURK ( ! RIV]1 !RE HAD BE5 A NAK$ BOY - OR AT LEA/1 !RE HAD BE5 ! DISPLAC$ SPIRIT ( A NAK$ BOY1 ) ALL ! EXTRA NAK$ >MS & LEGS ?AT ,M>JORIE W\LD LAT] REALIZE W]E ! M>K ( SOMEONE DEAD4 ,/ILL CLUT*$ TI<T 9 ! ,HAG'S WEBB$ CLAW1 %E'D FELT ! ,UND9E'S BAFFLEM5T3 AFT] A LONG DR\<T ) NO SUICIDES OR ACCID5TS = ! MON/ROSITY TO CLAIM1 HAD FATE DELIV]$ IT TWO (F]+S 9 ONE NI<T8 

,! BOY WAS LONG & :ITE & ?91 PLUMMET+ D[N T[>DS ! SILT & PRAM :EELS ( ! RIV]B$4 ,:ILE HE WAS NOT1 P]HAPS1 ! BEAUTY ?AT H] BA?+ ,ROMAN LAD HAD BE51 HE WAS AT LEA/ Y\NG1 PROBABLY MU* Y\NG] ?AN ! PAUN*Y OLD DRUNKS ?AT HAD TYPIFI$ ,5ULA'S CAT*ES FROM ! \TSET4 ,ALSO1 MO/ IMPORTANTLY ( ALL1 HE WAS A MALE4 ,9 EV]Y LIKELIHOOD ! CREATURE HAD NOT ACTUALLY BE5 LOOK+ =W>D TO DISMANTL+ ,M>JORIE1 GIV5 ITS ANTIPA?Y = FEMALES & ESPECIALLY = ?OSE TOO Y\NG TO HAVE DEVELOP$ A REAL P]SONALITY ?AT W\LD BE WOR? TAK+ TO PIECES4 ,= AN 9/ANT1 ! ,N5E ,HAG />$ AT ! /RUGGL+ NUDE FIGURE ?R\< ! SUB-AQUATIC GLOOM :ILE WEI<+ UP ! OPTIONS1 & !N IT MADE ITS DECISION4 ,! ?REE PALLID CRAB-LEG F+]S HOLD+ ,M>JORIE W]E SUDD5LY )DRAWN AS ! ,HAG LUNG$ AGA9/ ! SLUGGI% CURR5T1 MAK+ AN UPRIV] D>T T[>DS ! CLE>LY HELPLESS Y\?4 ,IT WAS AT ?IS PO9T ?AT ?+S HAD BEGUN TO HAPP5 RA!R QUICKLY1 SO ?AT ,M>JORIE HAD ONLY PIEC$ TOGE!R LAT] :AT HAD ACTUALLY OCCURR$4 

,NEWLY RELEAS$1 FLOAT+ !RE DAZ$ & FRI<T5$ 9 ! LI<TLESS WAT]S ) H] 9CORPOREAL =M GRADUALLY DRIFT+ UP 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! SURFACE1 ,M>JORIE HAD WAT*$ ! ,HAG'S FRE% PREY AS ! B>E BOY ALI<T$ ON ! MUDDY RIV]-BOTTOM4 ,%E'D HAD TIME TO NOTICE ?AT HE'D L&$ 9 A CR\*+ PO/URE :I* APPE>$ TO BE PLANN$ & DELIB]ATE1 9 CONTRA/ TO ! AIMLESS ?RA%+ ?AT HE'D DEMON/RAT$ UP UNTIL ?AT MOM5T4 ,AS ! 5TIRE /UPEFY+ L5G? ( ! HUGE ,UND9E NOS$ T[>DS HIM ?R\< ! BLACKNESS1 HE EV5 APPE>$ TO HAVE A GR9 ACROSS HIS FRECKL$1 SNUB-NOS$ FEATURES4 

,IT WAS !N ?AT SOME?+ PLUNG+ D[N 9TO ! WAT] FROM ABOVE !M HAD GRABB$ ,M>JORIE B5EA? ! >MS & HAUL$ H] UP 9TO ! CLE> NI<T AIR1 :I* %E'D DISCOV]$ %E NO LONG] NE$$ N[ %E WASN'T BREA?+ ANYMORE4 ,%E'D KN[N A MOM5T'S DREAD DUR+ :I* %E BELIEV$ H]SELF TO N[ BE 9 ! GRIP ( SOME 5ORM\S A/RAL H]R+-GULL :5 %E HAD HAD ONLY JU/ ESCAP$ ! CLUT*ES ( A MASSIVE <O/LY EEL1 BUT !SE FE>S W]E DISPLAC$ BY G5U9E BEWILD]M5T ONCE ,M>JORIE HAD TRULY GRASP$ H] SITUATION4 

,:AT WAS DRAGG+ H] AL(T HAD TURN$ \T TO BE SOME?+ EV5 ODD] ?AN ! GIANT PHANTOM BIRD ( H] IMAG9+S1 9 ?AT IT HAD SEEM$ TO BE A TRA9$ TRAPEZE ACT COMPRIS$ ( TWO UPSIDE-D[N <O/-*ILDR5 & A LOT ( E]ILY-SUSP5D$ RABBIT CORPSES4 ,A SMALL BOY WAS HOLD+ ,M>JORIE B5EA? ! >MS1 HIS ANKLES HELD 9 TURN BY A GIRL :O LOOK$ SOME:AT OLD] & WAS DANGL+ ) H] BUCKL$ %OES W$G$ 9 ! =K$ BRAN* ( AN ANCI5T TREE ?AT OV]HUNG ! RIV]4 ,WRAPP$ >\ND H] NECK WAS A LONG PIECE ( /R+ FROM :I* SWUNG ALL ! VELVET C>CASSES ?AT ,M>JORIE HAD NOTIC$4 ,?IS AT LEA/ EXPLA9$ :Y ! DEAD ANIMALS HAD LOOK$ LIKE !Y W]E FLOAT+1 BUT NOT :Y ! GIRL WAS WE>+ !M AS JEWELRY 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,! PAIR ( Y\NG A]IALI/S HAD EVID5TLY SLIC$ D[N ?R\< ! SURFACE ( ! WAT] 9 AN >C TO SNAT* UP ,M>JORIE1 ) !IR MOM5TUM C>RY+ ALL ?REE ( !M HI< UP 9TO ! AIR AS ?\< UPON A DANG]\SLY /OK$-UP SW+4 ,RI<T AT ! PEAK ( !IR TRAJECTORY1 ! LITTLE H&S B5EA? H] >MS HAD LET ,M>JORIE GO & %E'D SAIL$ UPW>D1 C>T-:EEL+ 9TO ! />LI<T ) A DREAMY SL[NESS1 JU/ AS ?\< ! AIR W]E MADE ( HONEY4 ,9 AN 9/ANT1 H] TWO RESCU]S CAME /REAK+ FROM BEL[ H] TO >RE/ H] TUMBL+ ASC5T1 ) ?IS TIME EA* *ILD GRASP+ ONE ( ,M>JORIE'S \T/RET*$ & WILDLY FLAPP+ H&S4 ,L9K$ LIKE A *>M BRACELET ! TRIO HAD SAIL$ FUR!R UP 9TO ! NI<T ?R\< ! ?ICK1 GLUEY ATMOSPH]E UNTIL !Y'D HOV]$1 TREAD+ NO?+NESS1 SOME FIFTY FEET ABOVE ! ,N5E & LOOK+ D[N AT ITS SL[ SILV] RIBBON1 ITS REFLECT$ CON/ELLATIONS4 

,?AT WAS :5 ! NAK$ ADOLESC5T BOY CAME ROCKET+ UP FROM ! RIV] AS ?\< FIR$ \T ( A SUBM>9E1 ) A LONG /REAM ( PHOTO-REPRODUCTIONS TRAIL+ ?R\< ! D>K BEH9D HIM4 ,M>JORIE REMEMB]$ ?9K+ ?AT ?IS W\LD EXPLA9 ! CR\* ) :I* ! LAD HAD L&$ ON ! RIV]B$1 ! BETT] TO PROPEL HIMSELF UP FROM ! DEP?S 9TO ?OSE />RY ALTITUDES AFT] HE'D S]V$ AS A DIV]SION = ! <A/LY RIV]-NYMPH4 ,NO SOON] HAD %E ?\<T ?IS ?AN ! PLACID ,N5E BEL[ EXPLOD$1 %ATT]$ FROM B5EA? BY A F]OCI\S IMPACT ?AT HAD MADE ALL ( ! *ILDR5 SCREAM & NOT ONLY ! RELATIVELY 9EXP]I5C$ ,M>JORIE4 

,RE>+ UP TO TREETOP LEVEL \T ( ! B5I<T$ TORR5T CAME ! FIR/ ?IRTY OR =TY FEET ( ! ,N5E ,HAG1 AS IF SOME HURTL+ UND]WAT] TRA9 HAD JUMP$ ! RU/$ TRACKS TO FL+ ITSELF 9TO ! SKY4 ,! CREATURE'S LONG UMBRELLA F+]S W]E EXT5D$ TO !IR FULLE/ ) ! GRAY & BLOT*Y MEMBRANE /RET*$ TI<T 9 BETWE5 !M AS ! T[]+1 SWAY+ MON/] RAK$ ! AIR 9 AN ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ITS ESCAP+ PREY4 ,! NUDE BOY'S E>LI] GR9 ( SELF-ASSURANCE HAD BE5 SWAPP$ = AN EXPRESSION ( SURPRISE & T]ROR AS HE REALIZ$ BELAT$LY ! M]-?+'S TRUE EXT5T & REA*4 ,KICK+ HIS LEGS & DO+ :AT APPE>$ TO BE A V]TICAL FRONT-CRAWL ! PLUCK$ & PLUCKY Y\NG/] %OT BEYOND ! SWAY+ HORROR'S GRASP1 9TO ! SAFETY ( ! SEQU9$ HEAV5S OV] ,PADDY'S ,MEAD[1 :]E ,M>JORIE & ! O!R SPECTRAL *ILDR5 FLOAT$1 BREA?LESS ) EXCITEM5T & MORTALITY4 

,! ,UND9E %RIEK$ 9 ITS FRU/RATION & ITS RAGE1 ITS DISPROPORTIONATELY T9Y =ELIMBS CLUT*+ USELESSLY AT EMPTY SPACE = SEV]AL SECONDS BE=E IT GAVE UP &1 ) A DISAPPO9T$ WAIL ?AT *ILL$ ITS N]V\S AUDI5CE1 FELL BACK T[>DS ! ,N5E LIKE A COLLAPS+ *IMNEY/ACK4 ,!RE WAS NO SPLA% AS ITS GREAT 9SUB/ANTIAL L5G? HIT ! MAT]IAL SURFACE ( ! WAT]1 ONLY AN UNN]V+ F9AL MOAN HAV+ ! S\ND ( SOME?+ ?AT HAD ONCE BE5 V]Y CLOSE TO HUMAN SPEE* BUT :I* HAD TURN$ 9TO A /RANGL$ BELL[ ?R\< DISUSE4 ,= ONE APPALL+ 9/ANT IT HAD S\ND$ AS ?\< IT W]E TRY+ TO SAY 0,GREGORIUS04 

,& AFT] ?AT1 ONCE ,M>JORIE HAD BE5 =MALLY 9TRODUC$ TO ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG1 !Y'D ALL DRIFT$ LI<T AS ?I/L$[N T[>DS ! PO9T A LITTLE FUR!R UP ! GRASSY BANK :]E ,REGGIE ,B[L] HAD LEFT ALL HIS HURRI$LY DISC>D$ CLO?+ UND]NEA? A SQUEAK+1 LI/+ DEA?TRAP CALL$ A ,WIT*'S ,HAT :I* WAS ]ECT$ 9 ! *ILDR5'S PLAYGR\ND !RE UP/REAM4 ,ALONG ! WAY !Y'D PASS$ ABOVE A BOBB+ P>CEL1 TURN+ SL[LY 9 ! PETROL %E5 & POND-SCUM ON ITS WAY TO ,SP5C] ,BRIDGE1 :I* ,M>JORIE HAD SCRUT9IZ$ = SOME TIME )\T REALIZ+ IT WAS H]2 H] HUMAN 5VELOPE1 ITS UGLY GLASSES GONE AT LA/1 ITS LUNGS ALL FILL$ ) WAT]4 

,%E HAD ALSO SPOTT$ BLOODY1 BLOODY1 SILLY BLOODY ,9DIA1 :O1 AS IT TURN$ \T1 C\LD SWIM AFT] ALL4 ,! DOG WAS SCRABBL+ UP ONTO ! BANK1 :]E NEXT IT %OOK ITSELF & !N COMM5C$ TO TROT BESIDE ! WAT]1 B>K+ AS IT KEPT PACE ) ! DRIFT+ BODY4 ,?AT HAD BE5 ?AT4 ,*APT] ,SEV53 ,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG V]SUS ! ,N5E ,HAG4 ,?AT HAD BE5 ,M>JORIE'S %ORT LIFE4 

,%E WALK$ N[ ON A PAT* ( CREW-CUT GRASS1 M[N 9TO /RIPES1 :I* MU/ PRESUMABLY BE P>T ( ! BETT]-MA9TA9$ ,/4 ,&REW'S ,HOSPITAL4 ,?IS WAS CONFIRM$ BY ! QUITE EVID5TLY BETT] CLASS ( LUNATICS AT L>GE UPON ! BROAD SWA! ( GRAY-GRE5]Y1 DOTT$ AB\T ACROSS ! NEATLY-%ORN EXPANSE LIKE *ESSM51 LO/ )\T !IR GRID4 ,AS %E PROGRESS$ ACROSS ! LAWN 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! SP9NEY1 ,M>JORIE PASS$ BY ONE LIV+ 9MATE :OM %E ?\<T %E RECOGNIZ$1 A %UFFL+ FELL[ 9 HIS SIXTIES1 DRESS$ 9 A LOOSE C>DIGAN & TR\S]S /A9$ BY BREAKFA/4 ,! POOR MAN WAS HUMM+ SOME?+ COMPLICAT$ & ASKEW B5EA? HIS BREA? AS HE MADE HIS LABORI\S WAY PA/ H]1 UNAW>E ?AT %E WAS !RE1 & %E WAS ALMO/ C]TA9 ?AT IT WAS ! OLD COMPOS] *AP1 ! ONE :O'D MADE HIS NAME LONG AFT] ,M>JORIE HAD LIV$ & DI$4 ,SIR ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD1 ?AT WAS IT4 ,HIM :O'D MADE WILD1 DELIRI\S MUSIC \T ( ,ROBBIE ,BURNS'S ,TAM ,O' ,%ANT] & :O'D OR*E/RAT$ 0,COLONEL ,BOGEY0 ) A FULL >RANGEM5T ( IMP]T95T & F>T+ BRASS4 ,BEMUS$ & BALD+1 V]Y LIKELY DRUNK OR M$ICAT$1 ,>NOLD SLIPP]$ ON ACROSS ! FRACTUR$ MADH\SE GR\NDS )\T ACKN[L$G+ H] PRES5CE1 CROON+ HIS REFRA9 ) ONLY <O/-GIRLS & ! NE>BY TREES TO HE> IT4 

,M>JORIE1 QUIETLY APPALL$1 NOTIC$ ?AT ! COMPOS] HAD A RIPE & ?RIV+ ,PUCK'S ,HAT GR[+ FROM HIS LIV]-SPOTT$ =EHEAD1 JU/ ABOVE ONE EYE4 ,%E KNEW ?AT ,B$LAM ,J5NIES FAVOR$ ! PROXIMITY ( PEOPLE :O W]E MAD OR /EEP$ 9 ALCOHOL OR BO?1 :I* %E SUPPOS$ WAS :]E !Y'D GOT !IR NAME FROM1 BUT %E'D NEV] PREVI\SLY SE5 ONE ) ITS ROOTS APP>5TLY SUNK5 DIRECTLY 9TO SOMEONE'S BRA94 ,HIS DREAMS MU/ BE 9FE/$1 OV]RUN BY TWITT]+ & M9DLESS PSEUDO-FAIRIES TO ! PO9T :]E ,M>JORIE IMAG9$ ?AT FRE% COMPOSITIONS W\LD BE NE> IMPOSSIBLE4 ,& H[ C\LD ! AFFLICTION EV] BE REMOV$ :5 BY ! V]Y NATURE ( ! #d,D FUNGUS1 NOBODY ALIVE C\LD SEE IT8 ,NOBODY1 9CLUD+ ! COMPOS] HIMSELF1 WAS AW>E ?AT IT WAS !RE4 ,M>JORIE WAT*$ ,SIR ,MALCOLM TOTT]+ AWAY FROM H] T[>DS ! RIOT ( MISMAT*$ ASYLUM BUILD+S1 ) ! PUL*RITUD9\S GR[? BOBB+ ON HIS SKULL AT EV]Y /EP4 ,! BLANK-EY$ LITTLE NYMPHS :OSE NAK$ BODIES =M$ ! BLOSSOM'S PETALS EV5 SEEM$ TO WE> M9IATURE KN[+ SMIRKS UPON !IR R+ ( OV]LAPP+ FACES4 

,M>JORIE WALK$ ON1 PASS+ BETWE5 ! OPTICAL-ILLUSION PILL>S ( ! ,ULTRADUCT AS IT SWEPT OV]HEAD ON ITS LONG >C BETWE5 ,J]USALEM & ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*1 ITS 5DLESS ALABA/] MASS CA/+ NO %AD[ ON ! COMPOSITE ( 9/ITUTION LAWNS BEL[4 ,:5 ! GRASS *ANG$ FROM LI<T TO D>K1 FROM %ORT TO %AGGY & UNKEMPT B5EA? H] LACE-UP %OES1 %E KNEW ?AT %E'D CROSS$ 9TO T]RITORY BELONG+ TO EI!R ,/4 ,CRISP9'S OR ! OLD] MADH\SE 9 ,AB+TON ,P>K4 ,! ?ICK & BRI/L+ COPSE WAS N[ MU* CLOS]1 & %E C\LD SEE ,PHYLLIS1 ,JOHN & ,MI*AEL SAUNT]+ AMONG ITS TREES1 COLLECT+ ! FEW ,PUCK'S ,HATS ?AT ! FUTURE-,BILL & FUTURE-,REGGIE HADN'T PLUCK$ ALREADY4 ,PHYLLIS WAV$ TO H]4 

0,ALL RI<T1 ,M>GE8 ,I EXPECT ?AT !M TWO ?IEV9' BUGG]S >E BO? GLOAT9' OV] '[ !Y'RE GUNNA COME BACK ']E & P9* \R ,PUCK'S ',ATS1 SOME:]E UP ! ROAD40 

,W&]+ UP TO JO9 ! O!R *ILDR5 9 ! DAPPLE ( ! OV]HANG+ LEAVES1 ,M>JORIE %OOK H] HEAD4 

0,N>4 ,!Y'RE AS CONFUS$ AB\T IT AS ! RE/ ( US4 ,Y\R ,BILL'S FILL+ 'IS JUMP] UP ) ALL ! ,J5NIES !Y CAN F9D1 TO MAKE IT UP TO Y\40 

,PHYLLIS APPE>$ SURPRIS$ BY ?IS1 & /UCK H] L[] LIP \T P5SIVELY AS %E CONSID]$4 

0,HMM4 ,WELL1 ,I SUPPOSE AS ,I'M NOT BE9' FAIR1 TAK9' ! 'UMP ) !M BE=E !Y'VE EV5 DONE ! ?+ :AT'S MADE ME CROSS4 ,BESIDES1 WE'VE F\ND 5\< MAD-APPLES JU/ ON !SE FEW TREES TO MAKE ! VISIT WOR? AYR :ILE4 ,LOOK - !Y'RE ALL RIPE & EV]Y?+1 BUT !Y'RE JU/ LITTLE UNS40 

,FE/OON$ ) HOLL[1 DECOMPOS+ BUNNIES1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG'S LEAD] HELD \T H] :ITE H&K]*IEF = ,M>JORIE'S 9SPECTION4 ,!RE AT ITS UNFOLD$ C5T] RE/$ HALF A DOZ5 T9Y ,B$LAM ,J5NIES1 ) ! BIGGE/ BE+ NO MORE ?AN TWO 9*ES 9 DIAMET]4 ,AS ,PHYLLIS HAD AFFIRM$1 ! HYP]-FRUITS W]E RIPE1 ) EV]Y FAIRY-PETAL FULLY =M$ D[N TO ! LA/ 9F9ITESIMAL DETAIL1 DESPITE ! FACT ?AT SOME ( !M MEASUR$ NO MORE ?AN HALF AN 9* FROM TOES TO CR[N4 ,M>JORIE F\ND ?AT IT TOOK BO? ! 5HANC$ VISION ( ! DEAD & H] 5TIRELY DECORATIVE ,NATIONAL ,HEAL? SPECTACLES TO SPOT ! SMALL] FEATURES1 SU* AS !IR NE>-MICROSCOPIC NAVELS4 ,) EA* SPECIM5 AT MO/ PROVID+ ONE OR TWO GOOD M\?FULS1 IT WAS EASY TO SEE :Y ?IS DW>F /RA9 HAD BE5 OV]LOOK$ BY ! TWO SCAV5G]S FROM SOME PO9T 9 ! FUTURE4 ,PHYLLIS1 ,JOHN & ,MI*AEL ALL HAD POCKETS FULL ( CO9-SIZ$ BLOOMS1 ADD+ TRANSPORTABILITY TO ! V>IETY'S ADVANTAGES4 ,!Y ALSO SEEM$ TO BE ABUNDANT1 GR[+ 9 A VIRTUAL C>PET D[N ! RE> SIDES ( ! ELMS & SILV] BIR*ES1 :]E !SE FAC$ AWAY FROM ! ASYLUM GR\NDS & TURN$ 9/EAD TO ! 9T]IOR ( ! BORD]+ WOODL&4 ,FI<T+ D[N H] REC5T SELF-9DUC$ REVULSION = ! FUNGAL CREATURES1 ,M>JORIE AGRE$ TO TRY A C\PLE1 !N A C\PLE MORE4 

,!Y REALLY W]E EXTREMELY GOOD4 ,! TA/E WAS EV5 SWEET] ?AN ?AT ( ! L>G] SPECIES1 & ! P]FUME MORE EVOCATIVE1 MORE CONC5TRAT$4 ,BETT] /ILL1 ONCE SWALL[$1 ! IMM$IATE B5EFITS W]E MORE PRON\NC$4 ,! 5]GIZ+ T+LE ( EUPHORIA P]VAD+ EV]Y FIB] ( ONE'S SELF :I* ,M>JORIE ASSOCIAT$ ) ! FULL-SIZ$ ,PUCK'S ,HATS WAS MORE NOTICEABLE H]E & SEEM$ TO LA/ = SLI<TLY LONG]4 ,FILL+ H] [N JUMP]-POCKETS ) AS MANY ( ! ?+S AS !Y W\LD HOLD1 %E ATE !M AS ?\< !Y W]E A P>TICUL>LY MORE-I% TYPE ( FRUIT-DROP1 /UFF+ ONE OR TWO 9TO H] M\? AT ONCE :ILE PLAY+ AN IMPROMPTU GAME ( TAG ) ! ?REE O!R <O/-KIDS4 ,GIGGL+ & %RIEK+ !Y RAN BACK & =? AMONG ! TREES ?AT $G$ ! MUDDL$ 9/ITUTIONS' EQUALLY DISJO9T$ LAWNS & G>D5S4 

,M>JORIE WAS FIR/ TO RECOGNIZE ! LIV+ FEMALE 9MATE :O APPE>$ TO BE P]=M+ AN 9COMPREH5SIBLE R\T9E UPON ! NEATLY-TRIMM$ ,/4 ,&REW'S GRASS NOT F> AWAY1 AL?\< IT WAS Y\NG ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 :O WAS FIR/ TO NOTICE H]4 

0,LOOK AT ?AT FUNNY LADY OV] !RE4 ,%E'S WALK+ LIKE ?AT MAN DOES 9 ! FILMS1 & DO+ CROSS$ EYES LIKE ?AT O!R MAN40 

,M>JORIE LOOK$1 ALONG ) ,JOHN & ,PHYLL1 & SAW :AT ! PAJAMA-CLAD *ILD WAS REF]R+ TO4 ,! WOMAN PATI5T SKIPP$ OR DANC$ OR WADDL$1 BACK & =?1 ACROSS AN >EA ( GRASS ?AT WAS APPROXIMATELY ! SAME SIZE AS A SMALL REP]TORY /AGE4 ,H] MOVEM5TS1 :I* SEEM$ TO 9CLUDE 9CONGRU\S BALLET-LIKE LEAPS & TWIRLS1 W]E NONE!LESS1 AS ,MI*AEL HAD OBS]V$1 AN E]ILY EXACT IMP]SONATION ( ! 'LITTLE TRAMP' WALK FIR/ MADE POPUL> BY ,*>LIE ,*APL91 ?AT MAN 9 ! FILMS4 ,TO FLE% \T H] IMPRESSION1 ! D>K-HAIR$ & MIDDLE-AG$ ASYLUM 9MATE HAD APPROPRIAT$ A LONG1 SL5D] TREE-BRAN* FROM ! NE>BY VEGETATION1 TUCK+ IT B5EA? ONE >M LIKE ,*APL9'S CANE AS %E PAC$ TO & FRO1 CONT9U\SLY MUTT]+ LONG /R+S ( ALMO/-MUSICAL NONS5SE & GIBB]I% TO H]SELF3 0,JE SUIS L'>TI/E1 LE AUTEUR & ,I LIVE1 Y\R PLURAL BELLE1 ,I LIFFEY LAV$ 9 ,LUX1 9 LI<T1 9 FLI<T1 9 FLUXURY & 9 FL[-MOTION1 GRAVUALLY UNRIV]L+ TRANSLUCID L+O1 L+] FRANK] 9 MA-WET /REAMS1 MA-SALT DREAMS AS ,I SLIDE SEE-W>D & ,I'VE NOT A LIMP-BIT NOR A B>NACLE TO H9D] ME & IT'LL COME \T 9 ! /RIP-WA%1 MURK MY WORDS1 AB\T MY ,OLD ,MAN ( ! ,HOLY ,ROAM+ ,SEA :5 HE WAS ON MY BACK OR ,I WAS1 CAT-LICK$ & ?AT'S H[ IT GOT MY TONGUE 4440 

,! 9SANE MONOLOGUE PL[$ ON1 QUITE 9DEP5D5T ( ! TWIRL$ CANE OR ! ,*APL9 WALK1 ! TWIT*-NOS$ WAGGL+ ( AN IMAG9>Y MU/A*E OR ! OCCASIONAL SURPRIS+ PIR\ETTE4 ,?\< HE'D BE5 RI<T AB\T ! WOMAN'S /RANGE GAIT1 ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 HAD BE5 WRONG :5 HE'D ASSUM$ H] EYES W]E CROSS$ 9 AN IMPRESSION ( ,B5 ,TURP9 OR :OEV] HE'D MEANT BY 0?AT O!R MAN04 ,M>JORIE KNEW ?AT ?IS WAS H[ ! WOMAN'S EYES LOOK$ NATURALLY4 ,%E 9CL9$ H] /\T BODY TO ONE SIDE SO ?AT %E C\LD SPEAK S(TLY 9TO ,MI*AEL ,W>R5'S E>4 ,%E'D NO IDEA :Y %E WAS TRY+ NOT TO MAKE A NOISE :5 ! LIVE M5TAL PATI5T C\LDN'T HE> !M ANYWAY1 BUT ?\<T IT MI<T BE 9 RESPONSE TO ! DELUD$ WOMAN'S /RONG RESEMBLANCE TO A R>E1 EASILY-/>TL$ BIRD4 ,%E :ISP]$ TO ! TODDL] 9 A PROBABLY UNNECESS>Y EF=T NOT TO SC>E ! 9MATE (F4 

0,Y\ KN[ H[ :5 Y\'RE DEAD LIKE US1 & SOMETIMES ALL Y\R WORDS GET MIX$ UP SO !Y COME \T WRONG8 ,& ,PHYLLIS OR SOMEBODY ELSE WILL TELL Y\ ?AT IT'S TAK+ Y\ A :ILE TO F9D Y\R ,LUCY-LIPS80 

,! 9FANT BL9K$ & NODD$1 %OOT+ SIDELONG GLANCES AT ! MADWOMAN :O JIGG$ ?IS WAY & ?AT UPON ! GRASSY BO>DS ( A !AT] ONLY %E C\LD SEE4 ,M>JORIE W5T ON1 /ILL 9 ! SAME PO9TLESSLY L[ MURMUR4 

0,WELL1 ?AT WOMAN !RE1 ?AT'S ,LUCY40 

,EV5 ,PHYLLIS SEEM$ A/ONI%$ BY ?IS4 

0,:AT1 ?AT'S WOSS]NAME1 OLD ,ULYSSES'S DAU<T]8 ',IM 'OO WROTE ! RACY BOOK80 ,! <O/-GANG'S LEAD] HAD ANN\NC$ H] QUE/IONS AT H] NORMAL1 RAUC\S VOLUME-LEVEL1 PROMPT+ ,M>JORIE TO GIVE UP ON H] [N SUBDU$ TONES AS %E ANSW]$ ,PHYLLIS4 

0,YES4 ,?AT'S ,LUCIA ,JOYCE4 ,H] DAD WAS ,JAMES ,JOYCE1 & %E US$ TO DANCE = HIM :5 HE WAS WRIT+ HIS GREAT BOOK1 ,F9NEGANS ,WAKE1 TO GIVE HIM 9SPIRATION4 ,:5 HE TOOK ! WRIT] ,SAMUEL ,BECKETT ON AS HIS ASSI/ANT ) ! WORK1 ,LUCIA ?\<T ?AT %E'D BE5 ELB[$ \T4 ,%E ALSO />T$ ?9K+ ,BECKETT WAS 9 LOVE ) H]1 & BEGAN HAV+ M5TAL PROBLEMS G5]ALLY4 ,%E'S UP !RE ON ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD N[1 AT ,/4 ,&REW'S1 :]E %E'S BE5 = A FEW YE>S4 ,!Y SAY ?AT ,BECKETT SOMETIMES GOES TO VISIT H] !RE1 IF HE'S 9 ! >EA4 ,H] FAMILY1 ! ONES ?AT >E ALIVE1 !Y PLAY D[N H] EXI/5CE 9 CASE IT %\LD CA/ A %AD[ ON H] FA!R OR HIS WORKS4 ,POOR WOMAN4 ,IT'S A %AME ! WAY ?AT %E'S BE5 TREAT$40 

,PHYLLIS WAS REG>D+ ,M>JORIE SUSPICI\SLY4 

0,WELL1 '[ COME Y\ KN[ SU* A LOT ABAYT IT ALL8 ,I NEV] KNEW Y\ WIZ A READ]40 

,! ROTUND GIRL PE]$ IMPASSIVELY UP ?R\< H] GLASSES AT H] RABBIT-WRAPP$ S5IOR (FIC]4 

0,I'M NOT4 ,I JU/ KEEP UP ) ALL ! GOSSIP40 

,PHYLLIS APPE>$ SATISFI$ BY ?IS1 & AFT] A FEW MOM5TS MORE ( WAT*+ ,LUCIA'S REPETITIVE & ODDLY MESM]IZ+ ACT1 ! F\R ( !M RESOLV$ TO MAKE !IR WAY BACK OV] ! BROAD SWEEP ( RECOMB9$ LAWNS & F9D ,BILL & ,REGGIE4 ,POCKETS BULG+ ) A HO>D ( ! DW>F ,PUCK'S ,HATS ?AT W\LD MORE ?AN COMP5SATE = ! ONES /OL5 BY ! FUTURE DUO1 EV]YONE AGRE$ ?AT IT HAD BE5 A V]Y NICE EXCURSION BUT ?AT !RE WAS NO PO9T 9 EXT5D+ IT N[ ?AT !Y'D GOT ! B\NTY ?AT !Y'D COME =1 OR AT LEA/ A REASONABLE SUB/ITUTE4 ,ONCE !Y'D LOCAT$ !IR TWO DISGRAC$ MEMB]S - :O IT SEEM$ ?AT ,PHYLLIS WAS PREP>$ TO PRE-=GIVE AFT] H] E>LI] PREJUDGM5T - !Y C\LD HEAD BACK UP ! ,ULTRADUCT TO ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* & POSSIBLY TAKE TIME TO PLAY ON ! SUBSID$ WA/EL& ?AT !Y'D PASS$ ABOVE :5 !Y W]E ON !IR WAY H]E4 

,M>JORIE WAS ?9K+ AB\T ,LUCIA1 ?9K+ AB\T ,SIR ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD & ALL ! O!R 9MATES1 PA/ & PRES5T1 ( ,NOR?AMPTON'S V>I\S ASYLUMS4 ,JOHN ,CL>E1 ,J4,K4 ,/EPH5 & ! C\NTLESS O!RS :OSE NAMES NO ONE SAVE = !IR IMM$IATE RELATIVES & FRI5DS W\LD EV] KN[1 ALL ( !M EV5TUALLY W&]+ ACROSS ! UNM>K$ B\ND>Y ?AT SEP>AT$ ! ACCEPTABLE & M9OR MADNESSES ( ORD9>Y LIFE FROM ! MORE UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR & OP9IONS ?AT W]E CLASS$ AS LUNACY4 ,:AT WAS IT LIKE1 %E WOND]$1 GO+ MAD8 ,W]E Y\ AW>E ?AT IT WAS HAPP5+8 ,9 ! FIR/ /AGES1 DID Y\ /ILL POSSESS A MEASURE ( SELF-CONSCI\SNESS ALL[+ Y\ TO NOTICE ?AT ! WORLD SURR\ND+ Y\ & Y\R RESPONSES TO IT W]E M>K$LY DIFF]5T FROM ! WAY !Y US$ TO BE8 ,DID PEOPLE FI<T AGA9/ IT1 ! DESC5T 9TO 9SANITY8 ,IT /RUCK H] ?AT1 = A GREAT MANY PEOPLE1 ORD9>Y LIFE ITSELF WAS SOME?+ ( A SURFACE /RUGGLE4 

,AS !Y MADE !IR WAY ALONG ! COPSE'S $GE1 TAK+ A SL[1 CIRCUIT\S R\TE BACK T[>DS ! JUMBL$ MADH\SE BUILD+S1 !Y /UMBL$ UPON TWO WOM5 :O SAT TALK+ ON A WEA!R$ B5*4 ,BO? LIV+1 NEI!R ( ! PAIR SEEM$ TO DETECT ! PRES5CE ( ! PHANTOM *ILDR54 ,FROM ! L5G? & COLOR ( ! GRASS :]E !Y W]E SEAT$1 ,M>JORIE JUDG$ ?AT ! TWO W]E ACTUALLY MAT]IALLY PRES5T 9 ,/4 ,CRISP9'S ,HOSPITAL1 RA!R ?AN OV]LAPP+ FROM ,/4 ,&REW'S 9 ! MAYHEM ( ! HI<] WORLD'S COLLAPSE1 AS BO? ,SIR ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD & ,LUCIA ,JOYCE HAD BE54 ,M>JORIE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ! PAIR1 AT ANY RATE4 ,!Y BO? SEEM$ TO BE WOM5 9 !IR MIDDLE YE>S1 ONE TALL & SOME:AT GAUNT1 ! O!R %ORT] BUT MORE FULLY R\ND$4 ,M>JORIE C\LD SEE ?AT ONLY ONE ( !M1 ! LANKY ONE1 APPE>$ TO BE A PATI5T1 :ILE H] FRI5D C>RI$ A H&BAG & LOOK$ MORE AS IF %E MI<T BE VISIT+4 ,O!R ?AN ?IS1 !RE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE MU* Y\ C\LD CALL REM>KABLE AB\T !M4 ,M>JORIE W\LD HAVE WALK$ ON IF TALL1 GOOD-LOOK+ ,JOHN HAD NOT /OPP$ SUDD5LY & />$ FROM ONE FACE TO ! O!R 9 AMAZEM5T BE=E MAK+ AN ANN\NCEM5T TO ! GR\P 9 G5]AL & TO ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 9 P>TICUL>4 

0,WELL1 ,I'LL BE BL[$4 ,I RECKON ?AT ,I KN[ !SE TWO4 ,! LITTL] ONE1 ?AT'S Y\R DAD'S C\S9 ,MURIEL1 NIPP]1 & ,I ?9K ! O!R ONE'S HIS & H] C\S9 ,AUDREY4 ,AUDREY ,V]NALL4 ,%E W5T B>MY JU/ AFT] ! W>4 ,%E US$ TO PLAY ACCORDION 9 A %[-B& ?AT H] FA!R MANAG$1 !N ONE EV5+ :5 H] MOM & DAD HAD BE5 \T D[N TO ! ,BLACK ,LION1 %E LOCK$ !M \T & SAT !RE PLAY+ 0,:ISP]+ ,GRASS0 ON ! PIANO1 OV] & OV] AGA94 ,H] P>5TS HAD TO GO & SIT B5EA? ! PORTICO ( ,ALL ,SA9TS ,*UR* ALL NI<T1 !RE ON ! /EPS1 & 9 ! MORN+ !Y HAD SOMEONE COME & BR+ H] TO ! HOSPITAL UP H]E AT ,B]RY ,WOOD4 ,%E'S BE5 H]E EV] S9CE1 FROM :AT ,I'VE HE>D40 

,M>JORIE SCRUT9IZ$ ! TALL] ( ! SEAT$ PAIR MORE CLOSELY1 9 ! LI<T ( ,JOHN'S ACC\NT4 ,! WOMAN1 ,AUDREY1 HAD A /RONG FACE & A PAIR ( L>GE & LUM9\SLY HAUNT$ EYES4 ,%E SEEM$ TO BE ADDRESS+ ,MURIEL1 H] VISITOR1 ) SOME CONSID]ABLE URG5CY1 H] C\S9'S H& GRIPP$ TI<T 9 ,AUDREY'S LONG & S5SITIVE ACCORDIONI/'S F+]S4 ,BECAUSE ,JOHN'S ANN\NCEM5T HAD CAUS$ EV]YONE TO CEASE !IR IDLE *ATT]+ & PAY ATT5TION TO ! WOM5'S CONV]SATION1 ALL F\R ( ! <O/LY *ILDR5 CLE>LY HE>D ! WORDS ?AT ,AUDREY ,V]NALL SAID NEXT1 AFT] :I* ,PHYLLIS & ,JOHN HAD BO? LOOK$ NAUSEAT$ & EMB>RASS$1 & HAD HURRI$ ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 (F BE=E HE C\LD HE> ANY MORE4 

,SOON AFT] ?AT !Y F\ND ,REGGIE & ,BILL1 :O'D GA!R$ A HUGE HAUL ( ,PUCK'S ,HATS AS AN ACT ( P5IT5CE = CRIMES !Y'D NOT COMMITT$ YET4 ,ONCE ,PHYLLIS HAD (FICIALLY =GIV5 !M = !IR IMP5D+ L>C5Y1 ! GANG ASC5D$ BACK UP TO ! ,ULTRADUCT BY LEAP+ HI< 9TO ! <O/-SEAM'S ?ICK5$ ATMOSPH]E & !N DOG-PADDL+ UP = ! REMA9D] ( ! DI/ANCE1 ,JOHN & ,PHYLLIS T[+ ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 9 BETWE5 !M4 

,AS !Y HEAD$ BACK ALONG ! DAZZL+ OV]PASS TO ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* !Y MUN*$ UPON !IR MAD APPLES & ,PHYLLIS ONCE MORE MADE !M ALL /RIKE UP ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG'S CLUB SONG4 ,M>JORIE ?\<T ?AT ,PHYLLIS WAS MO/ PROBABLY ATTEMPT+ TO MAKE LOTS ( NOISE SO EV]YBODY W\LD =GET :AT GAUNT & WILD-EY$ ,AUDREY ,V]NALL HAD SAID TO H] C\S9 :5 ! TWO ( !M W]E SITT+ ON !IR B5* & DIDN'T ?9K !Y C\LD BE OV]HE>D4 ,M>JORIE1 ?\<1 C\LD NOT =GET IT4 ,IT HAD HAD A DREADFUL R+ TO IT1 ?AT />K CONFESSION !RE AMONG ! RU/L+ & EAVESDROPP+ B\<S1 & ) H] WRIT]'S S5SIBILITIES %E ?\<T ?AT IT W\LD MAKE A P[]FUL 5D+ = AT LEA/ A L5G?Y EPISODE 9 H] =?COM+ ,*APT] ,TWELVE3 

0,\R DAD US$ TO GET 9TO B$ ) ME40 

,! GANG CONT9U$1 HEAD+ EA/ TO ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* & S++ AS !Y W5T4 

,OH1 & ! DOG WAS CALL$ ?AT BECAUSE ON ITS SIDE IT HAD A D>K BR[N BLOT* ?AT LOOK$ A BIT LIKE ,9DIA4 

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

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

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