,BOOK #c1 ,*APT] #e 
,! ,RAFT]S & ! ,BEAMS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,! ,R,A,F,T,],S ,& ,! ,B,E,A,M,S 

,MA%$ 9 ! ,ATLANTIC'S IRON-GRE5 JAWS (F ,FREET[N1 ON HIS SK9NY %IP \T ( A ,BRI/OL PLUMP FROM SUG> & ! SALE ( ,AFRICANS1 ,JOHN ,NEWTON WEEPS1 MAKES PROMISES :I* HE WILL NOT IMM$IATELY KEEP1 PLEADS = AMAZ+ GRACE & ON ! SKYL9E1 LI<TN+-LIT1 >E TUMBL+ GRANITE MANES1 >E SN>L+ CAVES & HEAVY PAWS ( AVALAN*E4 ,! ,LION ,M\NTA9S1 AS ! ,PORTUGUESE ADV5TUR] ,P$RO DA ,C9TRA CALLS ! L& 9 #a#d#f#b3 ,S]RA DE ,LEAO4 ,ROM>ONG1 AS IT'S KN[N TO ! LOCAL ,M5DE TRIBESM54 ,SI]RA ,LEONE1 ! NAME TAWNY ) DU/ OR RANK ) AMBU%1 :]E SWEET HYMNS >E PRESS$ FROM V9TAGES ( MORTAL PANIC & UNDY+ %AME4 

,:5 HE GETS TO BE OLD1 ,BLACK ,*>LEY DON'T C>E = ! SONGS NO MORE & DON'T C>E = ! *APELS4 ,HE MAKES *UR* 9 EMPTY B>NS1 ) HIS ROPE-RIMM$ CONTRAPTION LEFT \TSIDE & LEAN+ UP AGA9/ A RA9 BUTT4 ,H5RY ,GEORGE1 D[N ON A H>D DIRT FLOOR1 /RAW PRICKL+ HIS KNEES ?R\< HIS WORN PANTS4 ,HE BREA!S ! MUSK ( LONG-GONE HORSES1 PALE PALMS PRESS$ TOGE!R1 TALK+ TO :ATEV] IT IS ,H5RY CAN FEEL LI/5+ TO HIM FROM SOME:]E LONG WAYS (F1 \TSIDE ( ALL ! />S & MOONS1 JU/ LI/5+ & NEV] ANSW]+ OR 9T]RUPT+1 NEV] SAY+ ANY?+ AT ALL4 ,ABOVE1 BIRDS COME & GO ?R\< GAPS BETWE5 ! SLATES1 & OV] HIS HEAD ,H5RY HE>S !IR SOO?+ LANGUAGE2 BEAT+ W+S :5 !Y ALI<T ON BEAMS & T>RY RAFT]S P9/RIP$ ) ANCE/RAL DROPP+S4 ,HIS QUIET PRAY]S FLOAT UP PA/ RUGG$ JO9TS1 PA/ B[+ TIMB]S1 RA!R ?AN 9TO A COMPANY ( M>BLE SA9TS & SAVIORS M>TYR$ 9 ! COLOR$ GLASS4 ,HE WILL ALL[ ?AT WOR%IP+ LIKE ?IS HAS L$ HIM TO IMAG9E P>ADISE AS ALL BUILT \T ( WOOD & ) A SMELL LIKE SAWDU/ & MANURE1 NOT /AIRS & /ATUES EV]Y:]E4 ,HE C\NTS ?IS VIEW ( SOME R\< HEAV5 AS PREF]ABLE TO :AT ! M9I/]S DESCRIBE1 & MU* MORE LIKELY 9 ITS REASON+4 ,:]E W\LD A ?+ ?AT'S TRULY HOLY F9D ! NE$ TO PUT ON AIRS8 ,BLACK ,*>LEY HAS NO FAI? 9 ,COLONEL ,CODY1 NOR RELIGI\S SONGS & PA9T+S1 NEI!R ANY 9/ITUTION MAK+ A BIG %[ AB\T ITSELF4 ,FROM :]E !Y'VE BROK5 HOLES 9 ! B>N RO(1 PILL>S ( TOPPL$ BRI<TNESS >E PROPP$ SLANT+ ONE AGA9/ ANO!R LIKE OLD1 DU/Y RU9S ( LI<T1 & ,H5RY SCRAT*ES AT ! BR&$ %\LD] ?R\< HIS PAT*$-UP JACKET BE=E HE COMM5CES ONCE AGA9 TO MURMUR4 

,AFRICA'S WE/ COA/1 AN ANCI5T FRONTAL LOBE 9FLAM$ & SWOLL51 BULGES 9TO COOL+ OCEAN ) ,SI]RA ,LEONE ON ! UND]SIDE1 ,GU9EA ABOVE IT & ,LIB]IA BEL[4 ,P$RO DA ,C9TRA F9DS ! C\NTRY1 NAMES IT = ! PRIDE ( HILLS AB\T ITS BAY & AFT] HIM1 9EVITABLY1 COME ! TRAD]S & ! SLAV]S2 FIR/ FROM ,PORTUGAL & LAT] ,FRANCE & ,HOLL&4 ,!N1 A HUNDR$ YE>S AFT] DA ,C9TRA'S RU9\S DISCOV]Y1 FROM ,5GL&1 :5 ,JOHN ,HAWK9S %IPS ?REE HUNDR$ S\LS TO MEET ! GREAT DEM& >IS5 FROM ?AT NATION'S COLONIES1 NEWLY E/ABLI%$ 9 ,AM]ICA4 ,TWO C5TURIES AS WE/]N ,AFRICA'S PR9CIPAL SLAVE-PORT FOLL[ & !N1 9 #a#g#h#g1 A COLLECTION ( ,BRITI% PHILAN?ROPI/S E/ABLI% A ,PROV9CE ( ,FRE$OM :]E !Y SETTLE A SMALL POPULATION ( ! ,BLACK ,POOR1 ,ASIANS & ,AFRICANS :OSE M\NT+ PRES5CE ON ! /REETS ( ,LONDON HAS BECOME TOO CO/LY TO SUPPORT1 9CLUD+ BLACK ,AM]ICANS :O1 JU/ A DECADE E>LI]1 HAD JO9$ ! ,BRITI% SIDE DUR+ ! ,W> ( ,9DEP5D5CE ) ! PROMISE ( !IR LIB]TY AS AN 5TICEM5T4 ,FIVE YE>S LAT]1 NUMB]S ?9N$ BY ILLNESS OR BY HO/ILE NATIVE TRIBES1 !SE >E AUGM5T$ BY MORE ?AN A ?\S& COME FROM ICY ,NOVA ,SCOTIA1 MO/LY ESCAP$ SLAVES FROM ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 & SUBSEQU5TLY ,FREET[N IS E/ABLI%$ AS ! FIR/ REFUGE = ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICANS :O'VE FL$ !IR WORK-GANG OR PLANTATION1 NEI<BOR+ ,LIB]IA ONLY FOLL[+ ?IS BOLD EXAMPLE AFT] ?IRTY-FIVE YE>S4 ,GRADUALLY MORE LIB]AT$ SLAVES RETURN TO SWELL ! SETTL]S' RANKS1 KN[N AS ! ,KRIO PEOPLE = !IR CREOLE TONGUE1 A ,PIDG9 ,5GLI% BY WAY ( ,AM]ICA4 ,! HAV5 FL\RI%ES1 ) BO? WOM5 & BLACKS GIV5 ! VOTE BE=E ! EI<TE5? C5TURY'S 5D4 ,9 #ahbg ! ,F\RAH ,BAY ,COLLEGE IS E/ABLI%$1 WE/]N ,SUB-,SAH>AN ,AFRICA'S FIR/ UNIV]SITY UPON ! ,EUROPEAN MODEL1 MAK+ ,SI]RA ,LEONE A HUB ( $UCATION4 ,IT IS AT ?IS 9/ITUTION 9 ! #a#i#dS ?AT ! SLEEK & H&SOME ,B]N>D ,DANIELS1 /UDY+ LAW1 BEG9S TO CONTEMPLATE A LIFE 9 ,5GL&4 

,HALF A C5TURY AGO1 BACK 9 ! #a#h#iS1 ,H5RY ,GEORGE ADMITS HE ISN'T SO MU* ?9K+ ( A LIFE 9 ,5GL& AS A LIFE AWAY FROM ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,N[ 9 HIS =TIES ) BO? P>5TS GONE HE'S GOT NO REASON TO ABIDE !RE 9 A PLACE ?AT'S NEV] DONE HIM ANY FAVORS & HAS BURNT ITS M>K 9TO HIS >M4 ,! TRU? BE TOLD1 HE'S ALL = LEAV+ SOON] BUT HIS MAMA & HIS POPPA !Y CAN'T BE> ! ?\<T ( ALL ?AT DI/ANCE OV] WAT]4 ,UNLIKE ,H5RY1 BORN D[N !RE 9 ,T5NESSEE1 ! BO? ( !M HAVE BE5 ON A LONG OCEAN VOYAGE BE=E & >5'T 9 ANY HURRY TO REPEAT IT4 0,Y\ GO1 ,H5RY10 !Y BO? TELL HIM4 0,Y\ GO OV] !RE :ILE Y\'RE /ILL Y\NG & GOT Y\R /R5G?1 & DON'T Y\ WORRY AB\T US40 ,BUT ,H5RY'S NOT ! K9D ( MAN C\LD EV] DO ?AT1 & SO HE TAKES C>E ( !M & WAITS IT \T1 IS G5U9ELY GLAD = EV]Y M9UTE !Y'RE ALIVE4 ,SOON AS !Y'RE 9 ! GR\ND1 ?\<1 HE'S GOT NO?+ HOLD+ HIM1 NO?+ TO KEEP HIM FROM HIS B]? ABO>D ,! ,PRIDE ( ,BE?LEHEM1 COME /EAM+ \T ( ,NEW>K B\ND = ,C>DIFF & 9 ONE S5SE DRAW+ 9 ! ?IRD L9E ( AN ANCI5T TRIANGLE = ,H5RY1 A PO9T$ & DANG]\S %APE CONNECT+ ,AFRICA1 ! ,U4,S4,A4 & ,5GL& ON ! /A9$ ?REE-HUNDR$-YE>-OLD MAPS4 ,ON ?OSE LONG1 LUR*+ NI<TS ( ! ,ATLANTIC CROSS+1 ?\<1 HE'S NOT ?9K+ AB\T ANY ( ?AT4 ,HE'S FLIPP+ SCORNFULLY ?R\< ,BUFFALO ,BILL *APBOOKS 9 ! SLID+ LAMPLI<T & HE DOESN'T 5T]TA9 ! SLI<TE/ ?\<T OR SPECULATION AB\T :AT ! C\NTRY ( HIS DE/9ATION MI<T TURN \T TO BE LIKE2 R>ELY ?9KS ( IT BY NAME BUT 9/EAD 9W>DLY REF]S TO IT AS ,NOT ,AM]ICA4 

,?AT ISN'T ,B]N>D ,DANIELS'S VIEW1 FROM HIS P]SPECTIVE ( ,F\RAH ,BAY ,COLLEGE 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY4 ,B]N>D HAILS FROM A ,KRIO FAMILY COMP>ATIVELY WELL-(F AFT] YE>S ( S]VICE TO ! ,MACAULEY & ,BAB+TON TRADE COMPANY1 & HE IMAG9ES ,EUROPE G5]ALLY - & ,5GL& 9 P>TICUL> - TO BE ! F\NTA9HEAD ( ALL CIVILIZATION4 ,?IS BELIEF IS PREVAL5T AMONG ! ,KRIO1 MO/LY ! DESC5DANTS ( ABSCOND$ ,U4,S4 SLAVES1 :O ?R\< UNSW]V+ LOYALTY TO !IR ,BRITI% BOSSES >E ,SI]RA ,LEONE'S DOM9ANT & MO/ PROSP]\S E?NIC GR\P1 ) NATIVE TRIBES SU* AS ! ,%]BRO1 ,TEMNE1 ,LIMBA1 ,TYRA1 ,KISSI1 & MORE LATT]LY ! ,M5DE PEOPLE DRAWN 9CREAS+LY TOGE!R 9 A %>$ RES5TM5T4 ,B]N>D IS BR\<T UP 9 ! BELIEF ?AT ! 9DIG5\S TRIBESM5 :O LIVE 9 ! ,PROTECTORATE >E SAVAGES2 EMBRACES GOLD-RIMM$ SPECTACLES & /ATELY WAI/COATS1 ?R[S HIMSELF ) GREAT] DILIG5CE 9TO HIS /UDIES 9 AN EF=T TO MORE DEEPLY UND]SCORE ! CRITICAL DIVID+ L9E4 ,HE LOOKS AT ! SOCIETY >\ND HIM1 AT ! \TBUR/S ( UNRE/ & TRIBAL RIOTS ?AT HAVE CONT9U$ 9T]MITT5TLY S9CE ! GREAT ,HUT ,TAX W> ( #ahih :5 ,BRITI% TROOPS >E S5T 9 TO SUPPRESS ! ,TEMNE UPRIS+1 & ,B]N>D SEES ! WRIT+ ON ! WALL4 ,IT'S #a#i#e#a1 ,NOVEMB]1 & ,SIR ,MILTON ,M>GAI1 BORN A ,KRIO BUT RAIS$ AS AN E?NIC ,M5DE1 IS ATT5D+ TO ! DRAFT ( A NEW CON/ITUTION :I* WILL SET ! /AGE = DECOLONIZATION4 ,B]N>D HAS ID5TIFI$ ) ! OPPRESSOR4 ,HE HAS TAK5 ON ! MA/] RACE'S FE>S & SNOBB]IES & DOESN'T WANT TO /ILL BE LIV+ 9 ! ,LION ,M\NTA9S' %AD[ :5 ! ANIMALS CONTROL ! ZOO4 ,HAV+ ACQUIR$ HIS LAW DEGREE1 HE SWIFTLY & EFFICI5TLY BEG9S TO PLAN = HIS DEP>TURE4 ,B]N>D M>RIES HIS DEVOT$ Y\NG FIANCEE ,JOYCE1 AS KE5 TO MAKE ! MOVE AS HE IS1 & >RANGES BO? !IR TRAVEL & SOME SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION ONCE !Y GET TO ,LONDON4 ,)9 ONLY A FEW DIZZY+ WEEKS HIS MISPLAC$ VISION ( ! MO!R C\NTRY HAS BE5 BUTT$ SQU>ELY 9 ! FACE BY #a#i#eS W9T] ,BRIXTON ) ITS LI<TS & CATCALLS1 TILT$ TRILBIES1 UNFAMILI> TUMULTS4 ,:EEZ+ 9NU5DO 9 ! B>B]S' %OPS4 

,HIS SCRAWNY LEGS /ILL ROLL+ FROM ! OCEAN1 ,H5RY /UMBLES D[N ! GANGPLANK 9TO N9ETE5? C5TURY ,TIG] ,BAY &1 LACK+ ,B]N>D'S EXPECTATIONS1 F9DS IT'S NOT TOO BAD & 9 NO WAY IS IT A %OCK TO HIM1 ALL ! BLACK FACES1 ALL ! FUNNY S+-SONG ACC5TS4 ,! MO/ />TL+ ?+ TO ,H5RY'S M9D IS ,WALES ITSELF1 9 ?AT HE'S NEV] 9 HIS LIFE IMAG9$ ANY:]E SO WET & OLD & WILD4 ,IT'S ONLY :5 HE MEETS ,SEL9A & !Y M>RY & NOBODY SAYS A ?+ AB\T IT ?AT HE />TS TO TRULY UND]/& HE'S SOME:]E DIFF]5T N[1 & AMONG DIFF]5T PEOPLE4 ,FROM ,AB]GAV5NY !Y HIKE UP TO JO9 ! DROV]S 9 ,BUIL? ,WELLS & >E ALONE A NI<T OR TWO1 CAMP$ \T !RE 9 ! MILLION-YE>-OLD D>K BETWE5 GIANT HILLS1 NO?+ LIKE ,KANSAS4 ,COME ! MORN+ & ! PAIR ( !M >E NAK$ AS ! DAY !Y'RE BORN & HOLD+ H&S AS !Y PICK !IR WAY SL[ & C>EFUL D[N ! /EEP BANK TO A %ALL[ /REAM :AT !Y CAN WA% 94 ,IT'S REAL COLD BUT HIS ,SEL9A IS A PLUMP Y\NG GIRL ( TW5TY-TWO & !Y'VE GOT SOME HOT BLOOD BETWE5 !M4 ,PRETTY SOON !Y'RE HAV+ M>RI$ CONGRESS /&+ UP 9 FOAM & FL[ ) ! CLE> WAT] *URN+ ALL >\ND !IR %9S1 \T 9 ! P9KNESS ( ! E>LY DAYLI<T ) NOBODY ANY:]E >\ND EXCEPT = ALL ! BIRDS ?AT >E AT ?AT TIME WAK+ UP & TRY+ \T !IR VOICES4 ,HIM & HIS NEW WIFE >E KICK+ UP A NOISE AS WELL & ,H5RY FEELS AS IF HE'S 9 AN ,$5 :]E NOBODY FELL1 ) LITTLE DIAMONDS SPLA%+ UP & BEAD$ ON ,SEL9A'S PRETTY RUMP4 ,HE FEELS ESCAP$1 & CAN'T REMEMB] ANY MOM5T 9 HIS PREVI\S LIFE FILL$ UP ) SO MU* P]FECT JOY4 ,!N1 AFT]1 :5 !Y'RE LY+ ON ! BANK TO DRY & CAT* !IR BREA?1 ,SEL9A TRACES ) H] F+]TIP ! FAD+ VIOLET L9ES ON HIS DAMP >M1 ! RIBBON ?AT MI<T BE A ROAD1 ! %APE ABOVE IT ?AT MI<T BE A BALANCE1 & %E DOESN'T SAY A ?+4 

,= ,JOYCE & ,B]N>D1 TW5TIE? C5TURY ,LONDON IS A DIFF]5T /ORY4 ,!RE'S A TEMP]ATURE 9V]SION TRAPP+ C> EXHAU/ & FACTORY SMOKE B5EA? L[ CL\D1 PEOPLE >E DY+ 9 !IR HUNDR$S & ! GOV]NM5T >E ISSU+ ! POPULACE ) USELESS PAP] MASKS 9 AN ATTEMPT TO LOOK AS IF !Y'RE DO+ SOME?+4 ,EV]YBODY'S C\<+1 SPITT+ BLACK MUCK ONTO OV]CA/ LANES ) ! ,DUREX BR&-NAME SWIMM+ =W>D \T ( BACK/REET FOG 9 /ICK+-PLA/] CREAM & LIP/ICK NEON4 ,B]N>D REALIZES BELAT$LY ?AT ,5GL& TOO IS A L& ( DI/9CT & SEP>ATE UNC\? TRIBES - CO%-BOYS & M>KET TRAD]S1 SOCIALI/S & SPIVS1 :ITE SAVAGES - UNIT$ ONLY BY !IR GRIEVANCE & AN 5VY ( !IR BETT]S4 ,WORSE1 NOBODY H]E SEEMS ABLE TO APPRECIATE ! YAWN+ GULF 9 /ATUS ?AT EXI/S BETWE5 ! BLACK M5 ( ,SI]RA ,LEONE'S ,COLONY & ?OSE ( ITS ,PROTECTORATE1 P]CEIV+ ANY COLOR$ P]SON AS A COON REG>DLESS ( !IR ELOCUTION OR !IR BE>+1 IRRESPECTIVE ( !IR SPECTACLES & WAI/COATS4 ,JOYCE PRODUCES !IR FIR/ *ILD1 A BOY NAM$ ,DAVID1 & IS PREGNANT ) !IR SECOND :ILE H] HUSB& F9DS ?AT JOBS = :I* HE'S QUALIFI$1 :]E HIS EMPLOY]S ALSO HAVE NO QUALMS AB\T HIS BE+ ,AFRICAN1 >E FEW & F> BETWE54 ,IT SEEMS TO ,B]N>D ?AT \TSIDE ! CAPITAL !RE MAY BE LAW FIRMS :O >E NOT SO US$ TO ! EASY AVAILABILITY ( QUALITY EMPLOYES AS !IR ,LONDON C\NT]P>TS & :O ?US MI<T BE MORE IMPRESS$ ) HIS IMPECCABLE QUALIFICATIONS4 ,HE DECIDES TO CA/ HIS L9E FUR!R AFIELD & AT LA/ GETS A BITE FROM A COMPANY ( SOLICITORS 9 SOME:]E CALL$ ,NOR?AMPTON JU/ AS ,JOYCE PRES5TS HIM ) A SECOND SON1 :OM HE PROPOSES !Y NAME ,&REW4 ,LOOK+ = ACCOMMODATION 9 ! NEW T[N1 ,B]N>D IS CONFRONT$ BY A POLICY EQUAT+ HIM ) BO? DOGS & ! ,IRI% :ILE EXPRESS+ A REFUSAL TO R5T PROP]TY TO ALL ?REE ( !SE CATEGORIES4 ,HIS 9FURIAT+ S5SE ( BE+ SNUBB$ IS ONLY MUDDI$ BY HIS SYMPA?Y = ! POSITION ( ! BIGOT L&LORDS4 ,IF ,B]N>D HIMSELF HAD SPACE TO LET HE KN[S HE W\LDN'T LEASE IT TO ,DICK5SIAN CRIM9ALS ) VICI\S H\NDS1 TO DRUNK5 ,IRI% LABOR]S OR TO ! GREAT MAJORITY ( HIS [N WORK%Y C\NTRYM54 ,:5 HE GETS NEWS ( ROOMS AVAILABLE NOT F> FROM ! T[N'S C5T] ON A BUSY ?OR\<F>E SEEM+LY KN[N AS ,%EEP ,/REET1 ,B]N>D'S CELEBRATORY MOOD 5DURES UNTIL ! F9AL P>AGRAPH ( ! ACCEPTANCE LETT]1 :]E IT /ATES ?AT ?IS AGREEM5T IS MADE ON ! UND]/&+ ?AT JU/ ,MR4 ,DANIELS & HIS WIFE WILL BE RESID+ AT ! FLAT1 & ?AT !RE WON'T BE ANY PETS OR1 MO/ ESPECIALLY1 *ILDR5 LIV+ !RE4 

,MEAN:ILE1 9 #a#h#i#f1 ,H5RY & HIS Y\NG WIFE GET C>RI$ TO !IR NEW HOME ON A VA/ & FOAM+ TIDE ( MUTTON4 ,FROM :AT ,H5RY UND]/&S1 ! L&SCAPE-BLEA*+ H]DS >E DRIV5 \T FROM ,BUIL? & !N P]SUAD$ TO HEAD EA/ ?R\< ,WORCE/]%IRE & ,W>WICK%IRE UNTIL !Y WA% LIKE BLEAT+ SURF AGA9/ ,NOR?AMPTON4 ,IT'S A TRACK BE5 !RE A ?\S& YE>S OR MORE1 & ,H5RY HE>S H[ 9 ! OLD DAYS1 C5TURY OR SO BE=E1 ! DROV]S LE>N TO /AY AWAY FROM 9NS :]E HORSES >E TI$ UP \TSIDE ?AT LOOK TO BE 9 TOO GOOD A CONDITION4 ,?IS IS ON ACC\NT ( H[ !SE WELL-F$ HORSES MORE ?AN LIKELY TURN \T TO BELONG TO HI<WAYM51 :O HAVE A HABIT BACK !N ( BEFRI5D+ DROV]S :O >E HEAD$ EA/1 9VIT+ !M TO CALL 9 = A DR9K ON !IR WAY BACK :5 !Y'LL HAVE TRAD$ ALL !IR %EEP = MONEY4 ,NATURALLY1 ?IS MEANS ?AT ON ! RETURN J\RNEY !Y'LL BE MORE CONV5I5T TO ROB & GET LEFT ) !IR ?ROATS CUT 9 SOME ,/RAT=D DIT*4 ,BECAUSE ( ?IS1 MO/ ( ! H]DSM5 C>RY ON \T ( ,NOR?AMPTON ) !IR %EEP & TAKE !M D[N TO ,LONDON1 SO !Y CAN HEAD BACK TO ,WALES ?R\< ,BRI/OL & D[N ?AT WAY1 MISS+ \T ! ,WORCE/] TAV]NS :]E ! HI<WAYM5 >E WAIT+4 ,IT OCCURS TO ,H5RY ?AT ?IS ,WALES - ,NOR?AMPTON - ,LONDON R\TE M>KS \T ANO!R TRIANGLE MU* LIKE ! ONE CONNECT+ ,5GL& ) ,AM]ICA & ,AFRICA1 & 9 BO? CASES IT'S A K9D ( CATTLE BE+ MOV$4 ,& !N ( C\RSE Y\'VE GOT ANO!R SIMIL>ITY 9 ?AT SOME ( ! ANIMALS ?AT ,H5RY IS 9 *>GE ( - AL?\< NOT ?AT MANY ( !M1 N[ HE COMES TO ?9K AB\T IT - HAVE BE5 BR&$4 ,! MA9 DIFF]5CE IS ! COLOR ( ! GOODS4 ,H5RY CONSID]S H[ ! MOVEM5T ( HIS FAMILY OV] G5]ATIONS HAS BE5 D[N !SE WELL-WORN PA?S ( TRADE1 :E!R ?AT TRADE BE %EEP OR PEOPLE1 ,U4,S4 /EEL OR ,BUFFALO ,BILL *APBOOKS1 & SUPPOSES ?AT !SE L9ES ( LEA/ RESI/ANCE1 :I* FIR/ GET C>V$ \T BY 5T]PRISE1 5D UP AS DE/9IES4 ,IT'S D[N !SE MONEY-TRAILS ?AT1 SAY1 Y\R GREAT-GREAT-GR&PA'S FONDNESS = A DR9K OR ELSE Y\R GR&MA'S BIG GRE5 EYES GO W&]+1 >\ND ! WORLD & ?R\< ! AGES4 ,H5RY & ,SEL9A DON'T HAVE MU* ( :AT Y\'D CALL A PLAN BEH9D !IR J\RNEY1 FIGUR+ !Y'LL MAYBE C>RY ON TO ,LONDON ) ! DROV]S & IF !Y DON'T LIKE IT !RE1 :Y1 !N !Y'LL HEAD ON BACK TO ,WALES4 ,?IS IS BE=E !Y REA* ,NOR?AMPTON & GET FUNNEL$ 9 ?R\< ITS NOR? GATE 9 A GREAT SWA! ( :ITE1 :]E !RE'S ?AT CIRCLE-*UR* ?AT'S OLD] ?AN ! HILLS1 !RE'S ?AT ALMI<TY TREE BE5 SC>R$ 9 ALL ! W>S1 & ,H5RY & HIS WIFE ,SEL9A1 ) H] MILE-LONG TICK-9FE/$ BRIDAL TRA9 TROTT+ BEH9D H] ON ! COBBLES1 FIR/ SET EYES ON ,%EEP ,/REET4 

,ELECT+ TO TAKE UP !IR NEW ADDRESS1 !RE 9 ! GRAY & TAN ,NOR?AMPTON AV5UES ( #a#i#e#d1 DEM&S ?AT ,JOYCE & ,B]N>D MAKE SOME H>D DECISIONS4 ,CLE>LY1 ! 0NO *ILDR50 RULE PRES5TS ! BIGGE/ OB/ACLE TO LIV+ 9 ! ,%EEP ,/REET FLAT & ?US TO ,B]N>D TAK+ UP HIS BE/ & ?US F> ONLY (F] ( A JOB1 BUT HE ?9KS HE CAN SEE A WAY >\ND IT4 ,UP BY TRA9 FROM ,LONDON 9 A CL\D ( /EAM & COAL-SMOKE = A VISIT TO ! PREMISES HE MEETS A W\LD-BE NEI<BOR FROM ! ROOMS D[N/AIRS1 AN AMIABLE IDEALI/ FROM ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,FRI5D%IP ,LEAGUE4 ,?IS IS SOME =M ( ?ANKFULLY 5TIRELY 9EFFECTUAL ,5GLI% SOCIALI/ CONGLOM]ATE ( ! V>IETY ?AT ,B]N>D G5]ALLY AVOIDS1 BUT 9 ?IS 9/ANCE ! OLD *AP APPE>S TO (F] ,B]N>D A SOLUTION TO HIS 0NO *ILDR5 ALL[$0 PR$ICAM5T3 ! MAN SUGGE/S ?AT HE HAS ROOM TO HIDE A *ILD 9 HIS D[N/AIRS ACCOMMODATION DUR+ ?OSE OCCASIONS :5 ! L&LORD COMES TO PAY A VISIT1 :I* W\LD GO AT LEA/ HALFWAY TO SOLV+ ,B]N>D'S QU&>Y1 ! O!R HALF ( :I* IS HIS & ,JOYCE'S SECOND BABY1 LITTLE ,&REW4 ,!IR NEW NEI<BOR CLE>LY DOESN'T HAVE ! ROOM TO HIDE TWO 9FANTS1 & AS ,B]N>D'S FIR/BORN IT SEEMS ONLY RI<T ?AT ! TWO-YE>-OLD ,DAVID %\LD TAKE PREC$5CE4 ,AFT] AN UNUSUALLY HEAT$ CONSULTATION ) HIS WIFE1 ,B]N>D DECIDES IT W\LD BE BE/ IF ,&REW W]E TO /AY 9 ,BRIXTON ) SOME RELATIVES ( ,JOYCE'S UNTIL !Y'RE E/ABLI%$ 9 ! T[N & CAN >RANGE A MORTGAGE1 CAN >RANGE A P]MAN5T ADDRESS ) ROOM = ALL ! FAMILY4 ,9 ,B]N>D'S VIEW1 ) ,&REW BE+ /ILL A FEW MON?S %Y ( HIS FIR/ BIR?DAY HE'S LESS LIKELY TO HAVE =M$ A /RONG ATTA*M5T TO HIS MO!R & WILL !RE=E MISS H] LESS ?AN ,DAVID W\LD DO4 ,B]N>D D\BTS SO SMALL A *ILD WILL EV5 BE AW>E ?AT ANY?+ IS DIFF]5T4 ,& BESIDES1 9 LAT] LIFE ! BABY WON'T BE ABLE TO REMEMB] ANY?+ AB\T IT4 ,IT WILL BE AS IF ?IS ADMITT$LY LESS ?AN IDEAL SITUATION HASN'T HAPP5$4 ,AT LA/ EV]Y?+'S >RANG$1 EV]Y?+ GOES AHEAD & ON !IR FIR/ NI<T 9 ! NEW FLAT ) ITS VIEW ( ?AT PECULI> & H>DLY ,*RI/IAN-LOOK+ *UR* ACROSS ! /REET1 ,JOYCE DOESN'T SLEEP & WEEPS UNTIL ! MORN+4 ,B]N>D1 FRANKLY1 DOESN'T UND]/& :Y %E CAN'T JU/ RESIGN H]SELF & MAKE ! BE/ ( IT4 ,!Y'RE ONLY DO+ :AT !Y HAVE TO DO1 & 9 P]HAPS A YE> IT WILL ALL WORK \T F9E = EV]YONE4 ,&REW WILL BE ALL RI<T4 ,!RE'S NO H>M DONE4 

,H5RY & HIS ,SEL9A MAKE !IR WAY D[N ,%EEP ,/REET TO ! M>KET SQU>E SO HE CAN GO COLLECT HIS WAGES FROM ! ,WEL% ,H\SE ?AT !Y HAVE !RE1 & HE KN[S FROM ! WAY EV]YBODY'S LOOK+ AT HIM ?AT HE'S GOT ! ONLY BLACK FACE 9 ! T[N4 ,IT'S NOT ?AT !Y APPE> RES5TFUL OR !Y'RE GIV+ HIM ! H>D EYE LIKE HE %\LDN'T BE !RE1 H[ IT W\LD HAVE BE5 9 ,T5NESSEE4 ,! PEOPLE ( ,NOR?AMPTON LOOK TO BE MORE PLA9 AMAZ$1 REG>D+ ,H5RY LIKE !Y W\LD ONE ( !M BIG GIRAFFES ?AT HE'S SE5 PICTURES (1 OR SOME?+ ELSE SO R>EFI$ & \T-!-WAY ?AT NO ONE HAD EXPECT$ TO SEE NO?+ LIKE IT 9 !IR T[N OR 9 !IR LIFETIME4 ,PEOPLE SMILE OR SOME ( !M LOOK %OCK$ BUT MO/LY !Y JU/ /& !RE ) !IR FACES HANG+ \T AS IF !Y DON'T KN[ :AT TO DO ) !M4 ,= HIS P>T1 ,H5RY FIGURES HE MU/ LOOK ! SAME WAY1 GAWP+ AT ! ANCI5T T[N 9 ALL ITS QUE]NESS4 ,IT'S LIKE ,H5RY & ,NOR?AMPTON >E DUMB/RUCK ) MUTUAL A/ONI%M5T4 ,FIR/ ?AT R\ND *UR*1 BE5 /&+ ON ITS SPOT EI<T HUNDR$ YE>S1 :ILE D[N ! /REET !RE'S ?AT BIG BEE* TREE MU/ BE PRETTY NE> AS OLD1 & !N Y\'VE GOT A M>KET SQU>E ?AT'S FROM >\ND ! SAME TIME1 FROM >\ND ! YE> T5 HUNDR$-SOME?+4 ,?AT'S A LONG TIME1 LONG 5\< TO MAKE HIS HEAD SP94 ,:Y1 BACK !N ! SLAVE TRADE BETWE5 C\NTRIES HADN'T BE5 9V5T$1 F> AS ,H5RY KN[S4 ,!RE'S NO ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 NO ,T5NESSEE1 & :ITE PEOPLE HAVE NEV] HE>D ( ,AFRICA4 ,!RE'S JU/ ! CIRCLE-*UR*1 ! BEE* TREE & ! WOOL5 RIV] W9D+ BETWE5 H]E & ,WALES4 ,TO ,H5RY IT SEEMS LIKE ALL ( !SE C5TURIES ! PLACE HAS BE5 H]E >E A K9D ( BREAD? OR DEP? ?AT HE CAN'T SEE BUT :I* CONSPIRES TO GIVE ! T[N A FEEL+ ( GREAT MAGNITUDE ?AT'S BIGG] ?AN ITS VISIBLE REAL SIZE4 ,AFT] !Y PICK UP ,H5RY'S PAY ! PAIR ( !M GO = A WALK UP FROM ! M>KET SQU>E & BACK TO ,%EEP ,/REET1 :]E !Y MAKE !IR WAY D[N ?IS OLD ALLEY ) A SIGN UP SAYS IT'S ,BULLHEAD ,LANE1 SO /EEP & N>R[ IT FEELS LIKE ONE ( !M NONS5SE-PLACES 9 A DREAM1 & ?AT'S H[ !Y DESC5D 9TO ! ,BOR\<S4 ,FROM ! />T IT'S ALL >\ND !M1 CLAMOR+ = !IR ATT5TION4 ,!RE'S SOME T\< OLD GIRLS LOOK FIT TO PULL EA* O!R'S HEADS (F ROLL+ 9 ! /REET \TSIDE ONE ( ! BE] E/ABLI%M5TS1 & ANY:]E Y\'RE /&+ Y\ CAN SEE >\ND A DOZ5 SIMIL> PUBLIC H\SES1 !RE'S ?AT MANY ( !M4 ,!RE'S A BL9D MAN PLAY+ ON A B>REL-ORGAN1 RABBITS HOPP+ RI<T !RE ON ! COBBLES1 EV]YBODY'S GOT A HAT ON & NOBODY'S GOT A GUN4 ,!RE'S EV]Y K9D ( CALL & CONV]SATION1 & 9 ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 :]E !Y SP5D A PIECE ( ,H5RY'S WAGES 9 ADVANCE R5T ON A H\SE !Y TAKE A %9E TO1 !Y SEE ,NEWTON ,PRATT'S A/\ND+ BEA/ DR9K+ ITS BE] & TRY+ TO /AY UPRI<T JU/ ACROSS ! /REET !RE4 ,H5RY & ,SEL9A TAKE IT = A SIGN & MOVE 9 RI<T AWAY4 ,!Y'VE GOT A :OLE H\SE TO !MSELVES1 & ?\< IT'S SMALL & W$G$ 9TO ITS SOOTY T]RACE LIKE A BOOK JAMM$ 9 A BOOK%ELF IT SEEMS MU* TOO BIG AT FIR/1 BUT ?AT'S BE=E ! BABIES />T TO P\R \T ( ,SEL9A 9 A HAPPY BABBL+ FLOOD ?AT RISES TO !IR ANKLES1 !N !IR KNEES1 & 9 :AT SEEMS LIKE JU/ A YE> OR TWO !Y'RE /&+ %\LD]-DEEP 9 *ILDR54 

,AS A GR[N MAN ,DAVID ,DANIELS CAN'T REMEMB] MU* AB\T HIS ORIG9S !RE AT ! FLAT 9 ,%EEP ,/REET1 HIS TWO YE>S AS AN (FICIAL ,BOR\<S RESID5T4 ,HIS 9FANCY1 ?AT 5DLESS CONT9UITY ( MOM5TS :5 EA* MOM5T IS A SAGA1 HAS EVAPORAT$ TO LEAVE ONLY A ?9 RESIDUE ( PICTURES & ASSOCIATIONS1 BRITTLE SEPIA SNAP%OTS TAK5 FROM FLOOR-LEVEL ) ! DETAILS & ! CONTEXT BLEA*+ \T >\ND ! $GES4 ,HE RECALLS ! 5DLESS PLA9 ( C>PET 9 ! LIV+ ROOM1 S(T BEIGE ) FRONDS & CURLICUES ?AT >E AN ACRE ( GOLD FUZZ N[ 9 HIS MEMORY1 /ABB$ BY SLANT+ BLADES ( SUNLI<T4 ,!RE'S A FLICK]+ 9T]NAL FILM-LOOP1 A FEW SECONDS LONG1 ( ,DAVID HOOK$ UP TO HIS MO!R ,JOYCE BY LEA!R RE9S & /UMBL+ UNC]TA9LY D[NHILL ALONG A SLOP+ PA? ) CRUMBL$ LOOSE-TOO? TOMB/ONES RIS+ UP TO EI!R SIDE1 :I* HE N[ REALIZES MU/ BE 9 ! GRAVEY>D ( ! ,HOLY ,SEPUL*]1 ! OLD *UR* JU/ ACROSS ! WAY4 ,:5 HE GETS TAK5 \T = WALKS IT'S ALWAYS TO ! NOR? OR EA/ ( ,%EEP ,/REET1 NEV] TO ! WE/ OR S\?4 ,IT'S ALWAYS TO ! ,RACEC\RSE JU/ A LITTLE UP PA/ ,REG5T'S ,SQU>E & NEV] D[N 9TO ! ,BOR\<S1 A DISREPUTABLE NEI<BORHOOD :]E UNBEKN[N/ TO HIM HIS FUTURE PLAYMATE ,ALMA ,W>R5 SLEEPS S\ND 9 ! BOSOM ( H] ORD9>ILY PECULI> CLAN4 ,DAVID'S 9ITIAL RECOLLECTIONS ( HIS DAD >E MORE LIKE MEMORIES ( A %IP ?AN ( A P]SON1 ) ! *E/ & G5TLE PAUN* ?R[N =W>D LIKE A BROCADE MA9SAIL SWELL$ BY TAILW9D4 ,?UMBS HOOK$ PRESID5TIALLY 9 WAI/COAT POCKETS & UP PA/ ! CR['S NE/ ( HIS TIE-KNOT1 ,B]N>D'S PR\D FACE LIKE A FLAG2 A BETT]-N\RI%$ ,JOLLY ,ROG] ) ITS TW9KL+ GLASS SOCKETS GILD$ AT !IR RIMS1 SAIL$ H]E UPON SPIC$ CURR5TS FROM ,HI< ,B>B>Y1 FROM ! LION HILLS ( ! OLD C\NTRY 9 :I* ,DAVID WAS CONCEIV$ & :I* HIS P>5TS V]Y SELDOM M5TION4 ,!N !RE >E ! DAYS ( MY/]Y & ADV5TURE :5 HIS MO!R TAKES HIM ON ! HUFF+ DRAGON TRA9 TO ,LONDON SO ?AT %E CAN VISIT FRI5DS OR FAMILY1 HE'S NOT SURE :I*1 & ,DAVID SP5DS ! AFT]NOONS 9 UNFAMILI> ,BRIXTON P>LORS PLAY+ ) A LITTLE BOY CALL$ ,&REW :O SEEMS NICE 5\<1 BUT :OM HE DOESN'T KN[4 ,:5 ,DAVID'S F\R YE>S OLD 9 #a#i#e#f1 ,B]N>D & ,JOYCE AT LA/ DISCOV] A :ITE C\PLE :O'LL >RANGE A MORTGAGE ) ! RACIALLY MI/RU/FUL BANKS4 ,!Y MOVE 9TO A PLEASANT H\SE 9 ,K+/HORPE ,HOLL[1 FUNNY LITTLE ,&REW TURNS UP UNEXPECT$LY TO LIVE ) !M & = ! FIR/ TIME ,DAVID COMES TO UND]/& HE HAS A BRO!R1 ?AT HE'S HAD A BRO!R ALL ?IS TIME & NEV] HE>D A ?+ AB\T IT UNTIL N[4 ,HE />TS TO WOND] H[ MU* ( HIS LIFE IS GO+ ON )\T HIS KN[L$GE1 />TS TO SPECULATE ON :]E & :O HIS P>5TS MI<T HAVE BE5 BE=E !Y SUDD5LY MAT]IALIZE AS A HOME-[N+ M>RI$ C\PLE 9 ,NOR?AMPTON1 JU/ AS ?\< !Y'VE ALWAYS BE5 H]E4 ,:Y DON'T ,DAVID & HIS BABY BRO!R SEEM TO HAVE GR&P>5TS8 ,>E HIS MO!R & HIS FA!R BORN LIKE GODS \T ( ! MUD & SKY1 FROM ! ,NOR?AMPTON L&SCAPE ) NO MORTAL ANCE/ORS PREC$+ !M8 ,HE HAS ! S5SE ( A BIG1 COMPLICAT$ /ORY ?AT HE'S COME 9 AT ! MIDDLE (1 & AN IMPRESSION ( A HI/ORY ?AT'S KEPT AP>T FROM HIM1 9 QU>ANT9E1 LIKE ,&REW4 ,H[ C\LD !Y NOT TELL HIM ?AT HE'S GOT A BRO!R8 ,HE BEG9S TO WORRY AB\T ANY MORE A/ONI%+ SURPRISES ?AT MI<T BE 9 /ORE = HIM4 ,GIV5 !IR NEW H\SE & NEW NEI<BORS1 GIV5 ! WAY HIS FAMILY >E 5C\RAG$ TO REG>D !MSELVES N[ !Y'RE NOT LIV+ 9 ! ,BOR\<S ANYMORE1 ,DAVID BEG9S TO WOND] :E!R HE'S EV5 ACTUALLY BLACK1 IF ,DAVID IS 9DE$ HIS REAL NAME4 

,ALMO/ AS SOON AS ,H5RY FIR/ SETS FOOT 9SIDE ! ,BOR\<S HE'S ,BLACK ,*>LEY1 LIKE ! TITLE'S JU/ BE5 WAIT+ = HIM TO TURN UP & PUT IT ON LIKE AN OLD OV]COAT4 ,HE DOESN'T M9D4 ,IT'S NOT MEANT DISRESPECTFULLY1 ! 0,BLACK0 P>T ( IT BE+ NO MORE ?AN ! HONE/ TRU?1 :ILE 0,*>LEY0 IS JU/ SOME?+ Y\ CALL M5 >\ND H]E :5 Y\ CAN'T REMEMB] :AT !IR PROP] NAME IS4 ,9 ITS WAY IT'S ALMO/ LIKE A M>K ( SPECIAL /&+1 A WAY ( ACKN[L$G+ ?AT HE'S UNIQUE & ?AT !RE'S NOT ANO!R PLACE >\ND ,NOR?AMPTON CAN BOA/ ANYBODY AS REM>KABLE AS ,H5RY ,GEORGE4 ,?\< O!R COLOR$ PEOPLE DRIFT 9TO ! T[N ACROSS ! YE>S1 !RE'S NONE ( !M SO WELL KN[N AS :AT ,H5RY IS4 ,AT LEA/ ?AT'S TRUE UNTIL #aiaa :5 ! LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM - :AT'S CALL$ ! ,COBBL]S ON ACC\NT ( ALL ! BOOTS & %OES MADE H]E 9 T[N - !Y TAKE ON A BLACK FOOTBALL-PLAY] BY ! NAME ( ,WALT] ,TULL4 ,!Y MAKE A BIG FUSS 9 ! LOCAL NEWSPAP]S1 :I* IS H[ ,H5RY HE>S AB\T IT1 & ?AT GETS HIS 9T]E/ FIR$ UP SO ?AT HE WANTS TO F9D \T ALL HE CAN AB\T ?IS NEW >RIVAL ?REAT5+ TO /EAL HIS COAL-JEWEL$ CR[N4 ,HE EV5 TAKES A RIDE UP TO ! FOOTBALL-FIELD ?AT'S (F ,AB+TON ,AV5UE TO WAT* ,TULL PLAY1 DESPITE ! FACT ?AT ,H5RY'S NEV] REALLY TAK5 TO ! GAME1 & HE'S =C$ TO ADMIT ! BOY CAN RUN LIKE LI<TN+ & HE SURE KN[S H[ TO KICK A BALL >\ND4 ,GOOD LOOK+ TOO1 A Y\NG MAN AB\T TW5TY-F\R YE>S OLD1 GETT+ ON ?IRTY-FIVE YE>S ,H5RY'S JUNIOR & ) SK9 ?AT'S A :OLE LOT LI<T] 9 ! B>GA94 ,SEEMS H[ ,TULL IS BORN AWAY D[N ,K5T :]E !Y PICK ALL ! HOPS1 ) HIS POP FROM ,B>BADOS & HIS MOM AN ,5GLI% GIRL4 ,FROM :AT ,H5RY GETS TOLD1 BO? ( ,TULL'S FOLKS >E PASS$ AWAY BE=E HE'S T54 ,HIM & HIS BRO!R ,$W>D - ! SAME NAME AS ,H5RY & ,SEL9A'S Y\NGE/ BOY - >E RAIS$ UP 9 A ,LONDON ORPHANAGE UNTIL ,$W>D'S ADOPT$ BY A ,GLASG[ FAMILY4 ,HE GOES (F UP TO ,SCOTL& & BECOMES ! C\NTRY'S FIR/ BLACK D5TI/1 IF Y\ CAN BELIEVE ?AT4 ,WALT]1 HE PLAYS FOOTBALL = SOME BOYS' CLUB ?AT'S 9 ,BE?NAL ,GRE5 OR SOMEPLACE1 :]E ! TAL5T SC\TS :AT ALL ! BIG TEAMS HAVE TAKE NOTICE ( HIM & BE=E LONG HE GETS TAK5 ON TO PLAY ) ,TOTT5HAM ,HOTSPURS1 ?AT !Y CALL ! ,SPURS4 ,?AT'S 9 #a#i#i1 & ?\< ,TULL'S NOT ! FIR/ BLACK OR BR[N MAN TO PLAY PR(ESSIONAL FOOTBALL H]E 9 ,5GL& - !RE'S ANO!R COLOR$ MAN 9 ,D>L+TON1 ,H5RY BELIEVES1 :O PLAYS AS A GOALKEEP] - ,WALT]'S ! FIR/ ONE :O'S PLAY+ \T !RE ON ! FIELD & NOT JU/ /OOD 9 GOAL4 ,HE DOESN'T /AY ) ,TOTT5HAM MORE ?AN A YE> OR TWO1 ?\<1 & AS ,H5RY HE>S ! /ORY IT'S BECAUSE ( H[ ALL ! :5 ! TEAM PLAYS (F 9 ANO!R T[N1 ALL ! SPECTATORS !RE %\T HURTFUL ?+S AT ,TULL1 COMM5TS OCCASION$ BY HIS COLOR4 ,H[ MU/ ?AT FEEL1 ,H5RY ?9KS1 TO BE /OOD 9 A /ADIUM ( PEOPLE ) !M HAT+ Y\ & RIDICUL+ Y\2 ?OSE HUNDR$S ( EYES ON Y\ & NO:]E ?AT Y\ CAN GO TO GET AWAY FROM !M UNTIL ! :I/LE'S BL[$8 ,AS F> AS ,H5RY'S CONC]N$ SOME?+ LIKE ?AT W\LD BE HIS WOR/ NI<TM>E1 & HE'S MI<TILY RELIEV$ ?AT HE SEES NO?+ LIKE IT ?OSE TIMES :5 HE RIDES OV] TO WAT* ,WALT] PLAY AT :AT !Y CALL ! ,C\NTY ,GR\ND 9 ,AB+TON4 ,EV]YONE SEEMS TO FEEL ?AT IT'S A PLEASURE HAV+ ,TULL H]E 9 ! T[N1 & ,H5RY TAKES A SORT ( PRIDE 9 HIS ASSOCIATION BY APPE>ANCE4 ,!N1 #a#i#a#d1 ?AT REAL BAD ,EUROPEAN ,W> BREAKS \T & ,WALT] ,TULL PROVES TO BE JU/ AS BRAVE AS HE'S GOOD ) A FOOTBALL :5 HE'S ! FIR/ PLAY] 9 ! T[N TO JO9 UP 9 ! >MY & GO (F TO FI<T4 ,FROM ! REPORTS :AT MAKE !IR WAY BACK FROM ! FRONT IT SEEMS ?AT HE DOES PRETTY GOOD4 ,HE FI<TS 9 ! FIR/ ,BATTLE ( ! ,SOMME & !Y MAKE HIM A S]GEANT4 ,!N 9 #aiag :5 HE'S PROMOT$ TO ,SECOND ,LIEUT5ANT & GOES (F TO FI<T AT ,YPRES & ,PASS*5DAELE1 ?AT MAKES HIM ! FIR/ (FIC] :O'S BLACK 9 ! :OLE ,BRITI% ,>MY4 ,?AT NEXT YE>1 ! LA/ YE> ( ! W>1 ,WALT] GOES BACK TO ,FRANCE = :AT'S REF]R$ TO AS ! ,SPR+ ,(F5SIVE :]E HE GETS BLEW UP & !Y CAN'T GET HIS BODY BACK SO ?AT HE NEV] EV5 HAS A PROP] GRAVE4 ,! NI<T AFT] HE HE>S ! NEWS1 ,BLACK ,*>LEY HAS A DREAM :]E ,WALT] ,TULL'S ) ,H5RY'S WE/]N H]O ,BRITTON ,JOHNSON & !Y'RE DRESS$ LIKE C[BOYS1 %ELT]+ BEH9D ! /ALLIONS :AT !Y'VE %OT = BREA/WORK & RETURN+ FIRE AS ALL >\ND !M CIRCLE :OOP+ ,G]MAN 9FANTRY ON HORSEBACK1 WE>+ FEA!R HEADDRESSES 9/EAD ( BILL-SPIKE HELMETS4 

,=TY YE>S OR SO 9TO ! AFT]W>DS1 ,DAVID GETS ON ) ?+S4 ,HE GETS ON ) HIS NEWF\ND LITTLE BRO!R1 ,&REW1 & HE GETS ON WELL ! MOM5T HE />TS S*OOL D[N AT ,/4 ,GEORGE'S 9 ! HE>T ( ,SEMILONG4 ,SO WELL1 9 FACT1 ?AT ,DAVID F9DS HE MU/ BE> ! FULL BRUNT ( HIS DAD ,B]N>D'S PR\D1 BEAM+ APPROVAL & 5C\RAGEM5T1 SOME?+ ?AT ,DAVID FEELS UNCOM=TABLE AB\T :5 HE BEG9S TO REALIZE ?AT ! SAME 5?USIASM DOESN'T GET EXT5D$ TO HIS Y\NG] BRO!R4 ,:ILE !IR MO!R ,JOYCE IS SCRUPUL\SLY EV5-H&$ 9 %[+ AFFECTION TO H] BOYS1 IT />TS TO LOOK AS IF H] HUSB& HAS ALREADY *OS5 :I* ONE ( ! *ILDR5 HE W\LD SAVE 9 ! EV5T ( H\SEHOLD FIRE4 ,:]E ,B]N>D COMES FROM1 ?IS PRAGMATIC ATTITUDE IS NOT UNUSUAL4 ,SOMETIMES LIFE IS V]Y H>D4 ,SOMETIMES ! ONLY WAY TO MAKE SURE ANY ( Y\R (FSPR+ WILL SURVIVE IS TO MAKE BRUTAL1 T]RIBLE DECISIONS & PUT ALL ( Y\R RES\RCES BEH9D JU/ ONE *ILD4 ,IT'S A /RATEGIC1 MILIT>Y APPROA* :]E RE9=CEM5TS >E S5T TO ! REGIM5TS ALREADY W9N+1 NEV] TO ! MO/ EMBATTL$ TROOPS1 ! ONES 9 MO/ IMM$IATE DANG] ( DEFEAT4 ,:Y ?R[ GOOD EF=T AFT] BAD8 ,! WID5+ DISP>ITY BETWE5 ! BRO!RS FROM !IR FA!R'S VIEWPO9T IS JU/ H[ ?+S >E1 AT LEA/ !RE AT !IR ,K+/HORPE ,HOLL[ RESID5CE4 ,IT ISN'T M5TION$ &1 AFT] A TIME1 IS B>ELY EV5 NOTIC$1 IS A ?+ ?AT CAN BE LIV$ )4 ,DAVID LOVES HIS BRO!R4 ,&REW IS HIS CON/ANT PLAYMATE1 NOT TO SAY ALMO/ HIS ONLY PLAYMATE4 ,DAVID ISN'T REALLY CLOSE TO ANY ( ! O!R *ILDR51 ! :ITE *ILDR51 9 HIS CLASS AT S*OOL4 ,HE'S CLEV]] ?AN !Y >E1 = ! MO/ P>T1 & A DIFF]5T COLOR1 NEI!R ( !SE ATTRIBUTES CONTRIBUT+ TO SOCIAL SUCCESS ) HIS CLASSMATES4 ,!RE >E O!R BLACK KIDS ?AT ,DAVID & ,&REW SOMETIMES HANG >\ND ) AT ! PLAYGR\ND ) ! SW+S & SEE-SAW ON ! ,RACEC\RSE1 BUT !SE >E MO/LY ! *ILDR5 ( ,JAMAICAN IMMIGRANTS & ,DAVID FEELS AS IF !RE IS SOME SORT ( B>RI] DIVID+ !M FROM HIM & ,&REW1 ONE ?AT HE CAN NEI!R SEE NOR UND]/&4 ,P>T ( IT'S 9 ! WAY !IR FA!R CLE>LY DISAPPROVES ( !IR NEW FRI5DS1 & P>T ( IT'S H[ HE MAKES ,DAVID & HIS BRO!R FEEL ?AT !Y %\LD DISAPPROVE AS WELL2 ?AT !Y COME FROM A BETT] BACKGR\ND ?AN !IR PALS FROM ! ,BIG ,ISL&4 ,DAVID KN[S ?IS ISN'T RI<T1 ?IS ATTITUDE1 BUT SOMEH[ IT CREEPS 9TO ?+S1 9TO JU/ PLAY+ ON A R\NDAB\T1 & MAKES AN ATMOSPH]E1 CREATES A DI/ANCE - EV5 BETWE5 HIM & BOYS & GIRLS ( HIS [N COLOR - AS IF ,DAVID'S NOT LONELY 5\< ALREADY4 ,HIS DAD'S CLASS-BAS$ SEGREGATIONI/ AG5DA AT LEA/ PAYS (F :5 IT COMES TO ,DAVID'S $UCATION4 ,LACK+ ! DI/RACTION ( COMPANIONS HE HAS LITTLE ELSE TO DO BUT GET ON ) HIS WORK1 PREP>E = ! ELEV5-PLUS EXAM9ATIONS ?AT WILL MORE OR LESS DET]M9E1 AT ?IS E>LY AGE1 ! PROSPECTS = ! RE/ ( ,DAVID'S LIFE4 ,! ONLY BREAK HE GETS FROM S*OOL+1 O!R ?AN ! TIME HE SP5DS MUCK+ AB\T ) ,&REW1 COMES 9 HIS DISCOV]Y ( FANTASY1 9 DREAMS ( NOBLE-LOOK+ PEOPLE ) A/ONI%+ ABILITIES4 ,DAVID HAS NEV] HE>D ( ,H5RY ,GEORGE MU* LESS ( ,H5RY'S H]O1 BLACK GUNSL+] ,BRITTON ,JOHNSON1 BUT P]HAPS !RE'S SOME?+ 9 HIS TRAD+ TRIANGLE-DICTAT$ BLOOD ?AT GIVES HIM A PR$ISPOSITION = ! VIBRANT ,TE*NICOLOR DREAM-LIFE ( ,AM]ICA4 ,DAVID BEG9S TO HAUNT ! BOOK & MAGAZ9E /ALL1 ,SID'S1 ?AT'S 9 ! ANCI5T M>KET SQU>E ON ,W$NESDAYS & ON ,SATURDAYS1 :]E ! EPONYM\S PROPRIETOR ) HIS CLO? CAP1 HIS MUFFL] & HIS FUM+ PIPE PRESIDES OV] A M>VEL\S >RAY ( LURID TREASURES4 ,!RE >E BOXES CRAMM$ ) YELL[+ SECONDH& PAP]BACKS :]E ! DELIRI\S JACKETS ( SCI5CE-FICTION BOOKS SEEM TO PR$OM9ATE1 & HUNG FROM ! /ALL'S UPP] REA*ES 9 ! LOCK$ F]OCI\S JAWS ( BULLDOG CLIPS >E M5'S ADV5TURE MAGAZ9ES :]E NAK$-TO-!-WAI/ M>9ES ) GRITT$ TEE? >E :IPP$ BY LOVELY WOM5 WE>+ ONLY UNDIES & SWA/IKA >MB&S1 B5EA? BLURBS :I* PROMISE HIM ,! ,K,9,K,Y ,K,R,A,U,T ,L,O,V,E-,G,O,D,D,E,S,S,E,S ,( ,T,O,R,T,U,R,E ,I,S,L,&6 ,EV5 MORE 5TIC+ FROM ,DAVID'S P]SPECTIVE >E ! R[S ( ,U4,S4 COMICS DISPLAY$ COV]-UP ON ! BOOK/ALL'S FRONT TABLE3 FLUTT]+ COLOR$ BUTT]FLIES HELD D[N BY METAL DISCUS PAP]WEI<TS4 ,IRON ,MAN BATTLES ,KALA1 ! ,QUE5 ( ! ,UND]WORLD1 & HI< ABOVE ! ?RU/+ SKYSCRAP]S ,SPID]MAN FI<TS ! ,VULTURE4 ,SUP]MAN & ,BATMAN MEET :5 BO? ( !M >E JU/ Y\NG BOYS1 H[ CAN ?AT BE8 ,! CON/ANTLY EXP&+ RANKS ( CO/UM$ *>ACT]S BECOME ! SECRET COMRADES ( ,DAVID'S IMAG9ATION1 A :OLE HIDD5 WORLD ( FRI5DS ?AT NO ONE ELSE BUT HIM APPE>S TO KN[ AB\T4 ,HE KEEPS ! COMICS HE'S COLLECT$ 9 HIS ROOM1 SPRAWLS ON HIS B$ & READS !M :ILE A WORLD AWAY D[N/AIRS HIS FA!R FUMES AB\T ! NEWS FROM SOME:]E ?AT'S CALL$ ,SI]RA ,LEONE1 :I* SOMEBODY CALL$ ,MILTON ,M>GAI HAS JU/ L$ TO 9DEP5D5CE4 ,NONE ( ?IS IS HALF AS RELEVANT OR HALF AS 9T]E/+ AS ! ,SKRULLS1 ! ,HUMAN ,TOR*1 ,/>RO ! ,CONQU]OR4 ,DESPITE ! LURE ( HIS NEW PASSION ,DAVID'S S*OOLWORK DOESN'T SUFF] & HE PASSES HIS ELEV5-PLUS4 ,?IS C]TA9LY PLEASES HIS FA!R AS IT MEANS ?AT ,DAVID WILL BE S5T TO ! PRE/IGI\S ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL = ,BOYS \T ON ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD4 ,B]N>D IS EV5 MORE DELI<T$ :5 ! ,*RONICLE @& ,E*O PO/ A J\RNALI/ & A PHOTOGRAPH] TO COV] ,DAVID'S 5TRY 9TO HIS NEW SEAT ( LE>N+1 ) A PICTURE %[+ ,DAVID 9 HIS NEW S*OOL UNI=M1 SAT AT HIS DESK !RE 9 AN O!RWISE DES]T$ CLASSROOM1 JU/ 9 CASE HE DOESN'T FEEL SUFFICI5TLY CONSPICU\S OR ISOLAT$ YET4 ,! HEADL9E READS ,F,I,R,/ ,B,L,A,C,K ,P,U,P,I,L ,= ,G,R,A,M,M,> ,S,*,O,O,L & ,DAVID'S FACE 9 ! ACCOMPANY+ IMAGE WE>S A LOOK ( W>9ESS & APPREH5SION1 AS IF HE'S GOT NO IDEA :AT'S GO+ TO HAPP5 NEXT4 

,= ,H5RY & ,SEL9A1 NE>] TO ! TURNPIKE ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY1 :AT HAPP5S NEXT IS ?AT !Y S5D !IR SEV]AL *ILDR5 (F TO ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL ?AT'S RI<T ACROSS ! /REET FROM :]E !Y LIVE1 CR[D$ AMID ! MESS ( PUBLIC H\SES1 BUS9ESSES & HOMES ALL FITT$ 9 A HUDDLE !RE BETWE5 ,SPR+ ,LANE & ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET4 ,:5 HE CYCLES \T UPON HIS ROPE-:EEL$ *>IOT TO LOOK = ODDS & 5DS EA* MORN+ ,H5RY LIKES TO HE> ! BOYS & GIRLS ALL GIGGL+ & %RIEK+ 9 !IR PLAYGR\ND ?AT'S AWAY BEH9D ! R$ BRICK S*OOLH\SE SOME:]E1 IF IT HAPP5S TO BE ! RI<T TIME ( DAY4 ,HE'LL BE COA/+ ON D[N T[>DS ,SA9T ,&REW'S ,ROAD ?AT'S GOT ! RAILWAY TRACK BEYOND IT1 PA/ ,! ,FRI5DLY ,>MS1 ! LITTLE %OPS & H\SES1 & HE'LL LI/5 = ! Y\NG/]S KICK+ UP A NOISE TO SEE IF HE CAN PICK \T HIS [N (FSPR+'S VOICES FROM AMONG !M4 ,F> AS ,H5RY KN[S1 HIS & ,SEL9A'S KIDS >E ! FIR/ ONES ( ANY COLOR AT ! S*OOL1 BUT /ILL !Y NEV] HE> AB\T NO BULLY+ OR TEAS+1 OR AT LEA/ NONE ?AT'S AB\T !IR SK94 ,ON MORE ?AN ONE OCCASION :5 HE /RUGGLES UP ,BLACK ,LION ,HILL 9TO ,M>EFAIR ) ! LIT-UP %OP W9D[S1 OR HE COA/S D[N ,BA? ,/REET :]E !Y GOT ?AT BIG D>K *IMNEY - ?AT ,DE/RUCTOR - IT OCCURS TO ,H5RY ?AT DESPITE APPE>ANCES HIM & ,SEL9A PICK$ EXACTLY ! RI<T PLACE TO RAISE !IR FAMILY4 ,IT'S TAK5 HIM A :ILE TO FA?OM IT1 BUT ,H5RY RECKONS ?AT RELATIONS OV] H]E BETWE5 ! BLACK FOLK & ! :ITE FOLK IS A LITTLE DIFF]5T TO ! WAY ?AT ?+S >E OV] 9 ,AM]ICA4 ,! BUS9ESS AB\T CLASS HAS GOT A LOT TO DO ) IT1 AS ,H5RY SEES ?+S4 ,BACK 9 ,T5NESSEE1 EV5 ! HUMBLE/ :ITE FOLK /ILL LOOK D[N ON COLOR$ PEOPLE1 MAYBE BECAUSE 9 !IR EYES A BLACK MAN'S ALWAYS GO+ TO BE A SLAVE4 ,BUT H]E 9 ,5GL&1 EV5 ?\< IT'S MO/LY ! RI* ,5GLI% PEOPLE DO+ ALL ! TRAD+1 !Y DON'T P]SONALLY KEEP NO SLAVES !MSELVES4 ,SO D[N 9 SOMEPLACE LIKE ! ,BOR\<S1 :]E ! PEOPLE & !IR P>5TS & !IR GR&P>5TS BACK TO ! KNI<TS-9->MOR DAYS >E ALWAYS ON ! BOTTOM ( ! HEAP1 !Y LOOK AT ,H5RY & ! FIR/ ?+ ?AT !Y SEE IT'S NOT A BLACK MAN1 IT'S A POOR MAN4 ,IF Y\ WANT TO KN[ ! DIFF]5CE ?AT'S BETWE5 ! C\NTRIES !N Y\ ONLY GOT TO LOOK AT !IR RESPECTIVE CIVIL W>S AS F> AS ,H5RY SEES IT1 LIV+ H]E 9 ! PLACE ?AT SUPPLI$ ! BOOTS = BO? ( !M4 ,9 ,5GL& BACK !RE 9 ! SIXTE5-HUNDR$S1 OLD MAN ,CROMWELL1 HE PRET5DS AS H[ HE'S FI<T+ = TO LIB]ATE ! POOR FROM !IR OPPRESSIONS4 ,MEAN:ILE1 OV] 9 ,AM]ICA :5 ,H5RY'S JU/ A SMALL *ILD1 OLD MAN ,L9COLN1 HE PRET5DS AS H[ HE'S FI<T+ = TO LIB]ATE ! SLAVES FROM !IR PLANTATIONS4 ,SPEAK+ FROM HIS [N EXP]I5CE1 ,H5RY RECKONS ,MI/] ,L9COLN ONLY WANTS TO GET !M SLAVES \T ( ! COTTON FIELDS D[N S\? SO ?AT !Y CAN BE PUT TO WORK 9 MILLS & FACTORIES UP NOR?4 ,& FROM :AT ,H5RY HE>S AB\T ! ,5GLI% ,CIVIL ,W>1 IT SEEMS LIKE ,MI/] ,CROMWELL'S ONLY AFT] P[] & GLORY4 ,ONCE HE'S GOT ?AT HE />TS KILL+ (F ! LEAD]S ( ! COMMON PEOPLE :AT SUPPORT$ HIM1 & 9 BO? ,5GL& & ,AM]ICA ! CIVIL W>S 5D UP ) ?OSE ?AT !Y W]E MEANT TO LIB]ATE NO BETT] (F ?AN :AT !Y W]E BE=E1 BLACKS OV] !RE1 POOR OV] H]E4 ,N[1 PUT LIKE ?AT ! W>S S\ND PRETTY MU* ! SAME1 BUT IT APPE>S TO ,H5RY ?AT :ILE BO? ( !M MO/ PROBABLY HAVE GRABS = P[] AT ! BOTTOM ( IT ALL1 9 ,5GL& IT'S PUT TO ! PEOPLE AS AN UPRIS+ AGA9/ ! BETT]-(F1 JU/ LIKE ! BUS9ESS ?AT'S 9 ALL ! PAP]S AB\T ,RUSSIA AT ! M9UTE4 ,9 ,AM]ICA1 !Y HAVE TO MAKE \T ?AT !IR ,CIVIL ,W> HAS GOT TO DO ) LIB]AT+ SLAVES1 BECAUSE ,AM]ICANS >E NEV] GO+ TO WANT TO OV]?R[ ! WEAL?Y :5 BECOM+ WEAL?Y IS ! IDEA !IR :OLE C\NTRY'S /OOD ON4 ,!RE'S ! DIFF]5CE RI<T !RE1 ?AT'S :AT ,H5RY ?9KS4 ,9 ,5GL& !Y DON'T B>ELY UND]/& ! HATE ?AT'S BETWE5 FOLKS ( DIFF]5T COLORS :5 :AT'S ON !IR M9D IS ALL ! HATE BETWE5 FOLKS COME FROM DIFF]5T CLASSES4 ,ROPE TIRES RUMBL+ ON ! COBBLE/ONES ,BLACK ,*>LEY RUNS >\ND ! ,BOR\<S LIKE A SONG :AT EV]YBODY KN[S4 ,AS LONG AS HE KEEPS TO ?IS P>T ( T[N HE DON'T GET ANY TR\BLE1 BUT !N ?AT'S ! SAME = ALL ! :ITE PEOPLE D[N H]E AS WELL4 ,HE LIKES IT H]E1 & PRIVATELY HE M>VELS AT ALL ( ! BIG & LITTLE ?+S :AT TIE IT TO ! C\NTRY ?AT HE COME FROM4 ,!RE'S ,GEORGE ,WA%+TON & OLD ,B5JAM9 ,FRANKL9 TOO1 !IR FAMILIES LEAV+ ,NOR?AMPTON TO ESCAPE ONE CIVIL W> & HEAD+ = ,AM]ICA TO HELP SET UP ! MAK+S ( ANO!R4 ,!RE'S ,CONF$]ATE BOOTS1 & ,H5RY HE>+ AB\T ,MR4 ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE'S CONSID]ABLE 9FLU5CE ON ! RE=M] ,WILLIAM ,WILB]=CE1 & !N ( C\RSE !RE'S ,PA/OR ,NEWTON WRIT+ HIS 0,AMAZ+ ,GRACE0 \T !RE AT ,OLNEY4 ,!RE'S A ,MR4 ,COREY :O'S BAPTIZ$ AT ! R\ND *UR* 9 ,%EEP ,/REET1 GOES \T TO ,AM]ICA & GETS TORTUR$ TO DEA? 9 ,SALEM1 CAU<T UP 9 ?AT ,COTTON ,MA!R WIT*CRAFT FOOLI%NESS4 ,! />S & /RIPES1 ! FLAG ( ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 ?AT'S SOME OLD VILLAGE CRE/ ! ,WA%+TONS TOOK \T ( ,B>TON ,SULGRAVE ) !M :5 !Y LEFT1 & !N !RE'S ,H5RY ,GEORGE HIMSELF1 ANO!R L9K !RE 9 ! UGLY *A9 CONNECT+ ONE L& TO ! O!R4 ,H5RY JUDD]S ON ! ,BOR\<S' /ONES & LOVES ! DIRTY MY/]IES ( HIS ADOPT$ DI/RICT1 ) ALL ! CA/(F C5TURIES JU/ LY+ HEAP$ 9 BUNDLES ON ! /REETS LIKE UNSOLD NEWSPAP]S4 ,HE LIKES ! CONVOLUTIONS ( ITS PA?S & ALLEYS - :AT !Y CALL A JITTY H]E - & EV5 ?\< ! :OLE PLACE ISN'T ANY BIGG] ?AN A HALF SQU>E MILE & HE'S BE5 LIV+ !RE = NI< ON TW5TY YE>S1 ,H5RY CAN /ILL DISCOV] PASSAGES & %ORT-CUTS HE DON'T KN[ AB\T4 ,!N COME ! W>'S 5D 9 #aiah HE SEES IT ALL BEG9 TO *ANGE1 ) ,WALT] ,TULL FILL+ AN UNM>K$ GRAVE SOME:]E AWAY 9 ,FRANCE & ! COMM5CEM5T ( ! ,BOR\<S' SL[ & PA9FUL DEMOLITION1 ALL ! 9T]E/+ Y>DS & ALLEYWAYS & COMPLICATIONS AT ! BACK ( ,M>EFAIR JU/ KNOCK$ FLAT & TURN$ TO RUBBLE ?AT W]5'T NEI!R 9T]E/+ NOR COMPLICAT$1 ALL ! LIVES & HI/ORY 9 ?OSE N>R[ LANES JU/ WIP$ AWAY LIKE !Y W]E NEV] !RE4 ,MORE & MORE GR\ND HE SEES F5C$ 9 ) %EETS ( CORRUGAT$ T91 MORE & MORE WOM5 WID[$ FROM ! W> R$UC$ TO P$DL+ =NICATION 9 ! GRAVEY>D BY ,SA9T ,KA!R9E'S ,*UR* & ! ALMI<TY T[] ( ! ,DE/RUCTOR FUM+ UP 9TO A NOONDAY SKY ?AT'S NE> AS BLACK AS HE IS4 ,A GREAT HEAV9ESS BEG9S TO TAKE UP HOME 9 HIM1 & ,H5RY NOTES ) PUZZLEM5T ?AT AMID ALL ! ALT]ATIONS ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET SEEMS TO GRADUALLY BE GETT+ /EEP]4 

,A %ORT WAY UPHILL 9 #a#i#f#d1 ,DAVID IS PLUNG$ 9TO A SUDD5 UND]/&+ ( ,5GL&'S ANTIQUITY & /RANG5ESS :5 HE FIR/ ATT5DS ! ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL 9 ,BILL+ ,ROAD AS A %ORT-TR\S]$ FIR/-YE> 9 HIS NAVY BLAZ] & COMPULSORY CAP4 ,ALREADY />T+ TO DEVELOP A KE5 DRESS-S5SE1 HE KN[S ?AT ?IS ISN'T A GOOD LOOK = HIM1 P>TICUL>LY ! %ORT TR\S]S4 ,?IS LA/ 9TUITION IS CONFIRM$ :5 HE DISCOV]S ?AT ! ,HEAD ( ,FIR/ ,YE>S1 ,MR4 ,DUNCAN ,OLDMAN1 IS AN UNRE/RA9$ BOY-FONDL] :O'S APP>5TLY ALL[$ TO CALL ELEV5-YE>-OLDS \T TO /& BESIDE HIS DESK :]E HE CAN RUN HIS PUDGY F+]S OV] !IR B>E ?I<S1 OR AT LEA/ HE CAN DO ?IS ) ! ONES :OSE P>5TS HAVE DECID$ !Y'RE NOT READY = LONG TR\S]S4 ,MR4 ,OLDMAN IS AN >*ETYPAL CREEPY *ILD MOLE/] FROM A ,*>LES ,ADDAMS C>TOON ) HIS PLUMP MOLLUSK BODY TAP]+ TO DA9TY LITTLE H&S & FEET1 HIS PORC9E NOSE & E>S & D>T+1 BEADY EYES2 ! WEB ( BUR/ BLOOD VESSELS 9 HIS *EEKS :I* L5DS HIM A P]PETUAL *OIRBOY BLU%4 ,! WORD \T 9 ! PLAYGR\ND IS ?AT ON AT LEA/ TWO SEP>ATE OCCASIONS ,MR4 ,OLDMAN HAS 9VIT$ FIR/ YE> PUPILS TO HIS NE>BY HOME = AFT]-CLASS TUITION1 :]E HE TRIES TO T\* !M UP & KISS !M4 ,9 ! TWO KN[N 9/ANCES :]E ?IS GETS BACK TO ! BOY'S P>5TS & !Y =MALLY COMPLA91 ! NEW HEADMA/] BEGS !M TO CONSID] ! GOOD REPUTATION ( ! S*OOL1 !Y SETTLE \T ( C\RT & ,DUNKY ,OLDMAN IS ALL[$ TO C>RY ON AS ,HEAD ( ,FIR/ ,YE>S ) IMPUNITY1 HIS UND]AGE S]AGLIO 9 EASY REA* >\ND HIM LIKE AN ,R4,I4-TEA*+ ,EMP]OR ,TIB]IUS4 ,! NEW HEADMA/]1 ,MR4 ,ORM]OD1 HAS REC5TLY REPLAC$ ! PREVI\S 9CUMB5T ,MR4 ,/RI*LEY AFT] ,MR4 ,/RI*LEY TOOK AN OV]DOSE ( SLEEP+ PILLS & !N W5T \T & DROVE HIS C> AT SPE$ 9TO A ROCK WALL4 ,MR4 ,ORM]OD1 BY CONTRA/1 HAS BE5 PREVI\SLY EMPLOY$ AS DEPUTY HEADMA/] AT ONE ( ! PO%] PUBLIC S*OOLS & DOESN'T SEE HIS NEW JOB AS HEADMA/] ( A GRAMM> S*OOL AS A PROMOTION4 ,AFT] ALL1 ?\< ! ELEV5-PLUS DOES QUITE A REASONABLE JOB ( MAK+ SURE ?AT ONLY A B>E M9IMUM ( BOYS FROM LESS EXCLUSIVE BACKGR\NDS CAN ATT5D ! S*OOL1 !RE'S /ILL ! RISK ?AT ,MR4 ,ORM]OD MI<T RUN 9TO A MEMB] ( ! WORK+ CLASSES OR1 9 ,DAVID'S CASE1 ONE ( ! ,HOTT5TOTS4 ,9DE$1 A FEW YE>S AFT] ,DAVID HAS MOV$ ON FROM ! E/ABLI%M5T 9 ! MID-#a#i#gS ! GRAMM> S*OOLS >E ALL TURN$ 9TO COMPREH5SIVES1 LIABLE TO TAKE 9 ! SAME RIFF-RAFF AS AN ORD9>Y SECOND>Y S*OOL4 ,ACCORD+ TO ! RUMOR ,DAVID HE>S1 = ,MR4 ,ORM]OD IT'S A DEMOTION1 AN 9DIGNITY TOO F> & ONE DAY HE GOES 9TO WORK A LITTLE E>LI] ?AN USUAL SO ?AT HE CAN FOLL[ ! EXAMPLE ( HIS PR$ECESSOR1 HANG+ HIMSELF 9 A /AIRWELL NE> ! >T ROOM4 ,FROM :AT ,DAVID UND]/&S1 ! NEXT HEADMA/] AFT] ,ORM]OD AVOIDS HAV+ TO KILL HIMSELF BY GETT+ FIR$ = /EAL+ ?REE P\NDS =TY P5CE 9 *ANGE FROM ! S*OOL'S DR9KS MA*9E1 BUT BACK :5 ,DAVID IS JU/ />T+ AT ! S*OOL ALL ?IS IS 9 ! FUTURE & ! =M] PUBLIC S*OOL 5=C] IS 9 *>GE4 ,A TALL MAN ) A DEFECT ( ! 9N] E> ?AT MAKES HIM HOLD HIS HEAD ON ONE SIDE LIKE A VULTURE ) A SNAPP$ NECK1 ,ORM]OD ATTEMPTS TO RECREATE HIS NEW S*OOL 9 ! FA%ION ( HIS OLD ONE4 ,GIV5 ! PRET5SIONS ?AT ! ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL ALREADY HAS1 ! 9/ITUTION DOESN'T NE$ A GREAT DEAL ( P]SUAD+4 ,MANY ( ! /AFF /ILL HAVE BLACK G[NS & !RE >E EV5 A FEW ( ! OLD] TEA*]S WE>+ MORT> BO>DS1 P]HAPS ! LA/ SU* 9 ! T[N TO DRESS LIKE ?IS \TSIDE ! PAGES ( ,! ,BEANO4 ,! HEADMA/]'S (FICE HAS R$ & GRE5 TRAFFIC LI<TS 9/ALL$ \TSIDE ! DOOR TO 9=M VISITORS ?AT !Y %\LD EI!R WAIT OR 5T]1 ?US EXCUS+ ,MR4 ,ORM]OD FROM HAV+ TO SAY ANY?+ AS COMMON AS 0COME 904 ,9SIDE HIS (FICE A GLASS-FRONT$ CASE CONTA9S A RANGE ( CANES DESIGN$ TO 9FLICT V>I\S DEGREES ( PUNI%M5T2 ?ICK ONES ?AT BRUISE2 ?9 ONES ?AT CUT4 ,:5 ,ORM]OD DECREES ?AT H5CE=? BOYS US+ ! OP5 AIR S*OOL POOL MU/ SWIM )\T REC\RSE TO SWIMM+ TRUNKS AFT] ! CU/OM AT HIS PRIOR E/ABLI%M5T !RE'S NOT A SQUEAK ( PROTE/ FROM ! /AFF & ,MR4 ,OLDMAN MORE ?AN LIKELY WRITES ! HEAD A LETT] ( CONGRATULATION4 ,?IS1 !N1 IS ! WORLD ?AT ALL ! NEW >RIVALS AT ! S*OOL F9D !MSELVES OV]:ELM$ BY1 BUT AT LEA/ ! :ITE ONES HAVE EA* O!R = SUPPORT4 ,DAVID HAS NOBODY4 ,HIS CLASSMATES WANT NO MORE TO DO ) HIM ?AN DID ! *ILDR5 AT ,/4 ,GEORGE'S1 & ! TEA*]S SEEM TO SEE HIM AS AN OPPORTUNITY = M9/REL %[ AMUSEM5T4 ,= A :ILE ,DAVID HOPES SELFI%LY ?AT 9 A YE> OR TWO HIS BRO!R ,&REW CAN PASS HIS ELEV5-PLUS SO ?AT AT LEA/ !RE'LL BE ! TWO ( !M TO LOOK \T = EA* O!R 9 ?IS BIGOT$ ASYLUM1 BUT ?AT ISN'T GO+ TO BE :AT HAPP5S4 ,&REW1 WELL AW>E & JU/IFIABLY RES5TFUL ( !IR FA!R'S FAVORITISM1 REALIZES ?AT H[EV] H>D HE TRIES HE'LL NEV] W9 HIS DAD'S APPROVAL & SO TAKES A MORE RELAX$ APPROA* TO S*OOLWORK1 FAILS TO CLE> ! B> ON ! ELEV5-PLUS & OPTS = ! DIM9I%$ EXPECTATIONS ( A SECOND>Y S*OOL :]E AT LEA/ !RE >E O!R BLACK KIDS4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ,DAVID IS DISCOV]+ ?AT ?\< HE MAY BE A CLASS-TOPP] AT ,/4 ,GEORGE'S1 9 AMONG !SE PREP-S*OOL $UCAT$ BOYS HE DOESN'T /& A *ANCE4 ,AFT] ?AT FIR/ YE> EV]YBODY TAKES EXAMS TO SEE :I* /REAM !Y'RE SUIT$ TO = ! REMA9D] ( !IR S*OOL C>E] & ,DAVID 5DS UP 9 ! ',C' /REAM ) ! DIVS & TRA9EE SOCIOPA?S4 ,! MA/]S & ! O!R KIDS >E ON HIS BACK AT S*OOL1 HIS DISAPPO9T$ FA!R'S ON HIS BACK AT HOME1 SO ,DAVID SP5DS MO/ ( HIS SP>E TIME AT ! ,BAXT] ,BUILD+1 OR ,AV5G]S ,MANSION1 OR 9 SOME ALT]NATIVE ,=TRESS ( ,SOLITUDE4 ,ONE BRI<T & FRE% ,SATURDAY MORN+ ,DAVID'S D[N AT ,SID'S /ALL 9 ! M>KET SQU>E4 ,! LATE/ ,M>VEL COMICS >E JU/ 9 & ,DAVID'S TRY+ TO WORK \T H[ MANY HE CAN COM=TABLY AF=D1 :E!R TO LEAVE ! ,/RANGE ,TALES OR ,FANTASY ,MA/]PIECES = ANO!R DAY1 :5 HE BECOMES AW>E ?AT ,SID'S /ALL HAS ANO!R CU/OM] & ?AT !Y'RE />+ AT HIM4 ,TURN+ SL[LY1 ,DAVID F9DS HIMSELF CONFRONT$ = ! FIR/ TIME BY ! D>K-R+$ EYES ( ,ALMA ,W>R51 :O HAS JU/ TURN$ TWELVE & ISN'T WE>+ ANY MAKEUP4 ,%E'S HOLD+ A COPY ( SOME COMIC ?AT HE'S NEV] HE>D (1 SOME?+ CALL$ ,=BIDD5 ,WORLDS FROM ONE ( ! SMALL COMPANIES HE DOESN'T BO!R )4 ,!Y BO? SMIRK CONDESC5D+LY AT ONE ANO!R'S WOEFUL TA/E & OV]HEAD ! PIGEONS FLUTT] RE/LESSLY FROM L$GE TO L$GE1 WEAV+ ?READS ( TRAJECTORY ACROSS ! SQU>E'S /ONE LOOM4 

,BLACK ,*>LEY 9 ! MA9 AVOIDS ! BETT] P>TS ( T[N1 CONF9+ HIMSELF TO ! ,BOR\<S & ! VILLAGES \T 9 ! REA*ES ( ! C\NTY1 :]E HE'S SO WELL KN[N ?AT MO!RS USE HIM AS A WAY TO MAKE !IR KIDS DO AS !Y'RE TOLD3 0,IF Y\ DON'T GET TO B$1 ,BLACK ,*>LEY'S GONNA GET Y\04 ,H5RY DOESN'T MU* C>E TO BE MADE A MON/] 9 ! EYES ( *ILDR51 BUT HE GUESSES IT'S A MEASURE ( HIS FAME4 ,HE MO/LY GETS NO TR\BLE \T !RE 9 ! VILLAGES1 ! ,H\<TONS & ! ,HADDONS & ! ,Y>DLEY ,GOBIONS & SU*1 ?\< ONCE \T NE> ,GRE5'S ,NORTON HE GETS SET ON BY A BIG GIANT ( A DRUNK5 PL[MAN :O HOLDS ,H5RY BY ONE LEG & DANGLES HIM ABOVE AN OP5 FIRE UNTIL HIS :ITE HAIR'S S+E+ & HE'S WAIL+ FIT TO WAKE ! DEAD4 ,?IS IS ! ONLY TIME ?AT ANY?+ REAL BAD HAPP5S TO ,H5RY :5 HE'S \T AB\T HIS R\NDS1 & 9 ! 5D ! FELL] LETS HIM GO & ,H5RY COMES AWAY ) ! IMPRESSION ?AT ! GIANT ONLY MEANS NE> SETT+ ,H5RY'S HEAD ON FIRE AS SOME K9D ( HALF-WIT ,GRE5'S ,NORTON JOKE1 ONE ?AT HE FULLY EXPECTS ,H5RY TO F9D COMICAL AS WELL4 ,/ILL1 IT'S ! K9D ( 9CID5T LEAVES AN IMPRESSION1 & N[ ,H5RY'S GETT+ ON 9 YE>S HE F9DS HIS TRAVELS \T >\ND ! VILLAGES >E 9 SMALL] & SMALL] CIRCLES UNTIL PRETTY MU* HIS :OLE WORLD IS R$UC$ TO JU/ ! ,BOR\<S1 NOT ?AT ,H5RY M9DS4 ,MO/ ( HIS LIFE HE F9DS HE'S GETT+ MOV$ FROM H]E TO !RE1 FROM ,T5NESSEE TO ,KANSAS TO ,NEW ,YORK TO ,WALES1 & NEV] GETS TO SETTLE 9 ONE PLACE = LONG 5\< TO FEEL ! B5EFIT ( HAV+ A COMMUNITY4 ,D[N 9 ! ,BOR\<S1 AFT] LIV+ H]E = LONG 5\<1 ,H5RY HAS COME TO UND]/& H[ BE+ 9 A DI/RICT & GETT+ TO SEE H[ EV]YBODY'S LIVES WORK \T1 9 MANY WAYS IT'S LIKE ! READ+ ( SOME HUGE & /UPEFY+ BOOK ( /ORIES :]E Y\ /ICK ) IT = LONG 5\< Y\ F9D \T :AT BECOMES ( ALL ! *>ACT]S & CIRCUM/ANCES & SO =?4 ,RATTL+ & SQUEAK+ ON HIS BICYCLE D[N ,FREES*OOL ,/REET & R\ND ! BOTTOM 9TO ,GRE5 ,/REET HE SEES Y\NG ,MAY ,W>R51 :O HE CALLS Y\NG AL?\< AFT] HAV+ ALL H] LITTLE ONES %E'S GR[N 9TO A BIG OLD GAL4 ,%E'S ROLL+ D[N ! LITTLE PA? !Y CALL ,N>R[-TOE ,LANE DRESS$ 9 H] BLACK COAT & BLACK BONNET1 LIKE A R\ND IRON B[L+-BALL ?AT RUMBLES SO'S TO LET ! N9EP9S KN[ !Y BE/ GET \T ITS WAY4 ,H5RY EXPECTS %E'S (F AB\T SOME WORK CONNECT$ ) H] CALL+ AS A DEA?MONG]1 ! WOM5 :AT !Y HAVE R\ND H]E TAKES C>E ( ALL ! BABIES & ! BODIES1 :I* ( BO? !RE >E A MI<TY NUMB]4 ,H5RY & ,SEL9A GET A WOMAN NAME ( ,MRS4 ,GIBBS COMES R\ND TO SEE !M :5 !IR *ILDR5'S BORN1 BUT ,H5RY DON'T D\BT ?AT IF ,MRS4 ,GIBBS %\LD HAPP5 TO BE UNAVAILABLE OR (F ON O!R BUS9ESS !N ,MAY ,W>R5 W\LD DO JU/ AS F9E A JOB4 ,HE FIGURES ?AT IT'S LOS+ H] [N FIR/BORN1 A SWEET LITTLE ?+ ALSO CALL$ ,MAY1 MAKES H] SO GOOD AT :AT %E DOES4 ,HE CALLS A *E]Y GREET+ TO ,MAY ,W>R5 AS HE CYCLES PA/ & 9 RETURN %E LIFTS ONE HEAVY >M & (F]S HIM A GRUFF 0,HELLO1 ,BLACK ,*>LEY1 H[ Y] DO9'80 BY WAY ( REPLY4 ,AS HE RIDES ON TO ,GAS ,/REET & D[N !RE1 ,H5RY CONSID]S ! D[NRI<T PECULI> =TUNES ( ! ,W>R5 FAMILY :AT ) ,MAY'S POP1 OLD MAN ,SN[Y ,V]NALL1 GETT+ 9 ! NEWSPAP] = CLIMB+ UP ON TOP ! T[N HALL RO( ONE TIME HE'S DRUNK & /&+ %\T+ ) HIS >M >\ND ?AT ANGEL !Y GOT UP !RE1 LIKE !Y WAS OLD FRI5DS4 ,& !N ( C\RSE !RE'S ,MAY'S AUNT1 ,SN[Y'S CRAZY SI/] ,?URSA GOT ?AT BIG ACCORDION :AT %E GOES W&]+ ! /REETS )1 PLAY+ ?AT /RANGE1 AWFUL MUSIC ) ! FUNNY GAPS 9 SO Y\ ?9K IT'S OV] JU/ BE=E IT ALL />TS UP AGA94 ,:5 ,H5RY'S GETT+ D[N NE> :]E Y\ GOT ! LITTLE BRIDGE :AT TAKES Y\ OV] TO ,FOOT ,MEAD[ HE SPIES ,FR$DY ,ALL51 A Y\NG NE']-DO-WELL :O'S NO D\BT ON HIS WAY HOME SEE+ AS HE SLEEPS UND] ! RAILWAY >*ES 9 ! MEAD[1 BE+ 9 HIS TW5TIES )\T H\SE OR FAMILY ALL ON ACC\NT ( POV]TY & DR9K4 ,H5RY CAN'T SAY AS HE APPROVES ( ,FR$DY1 :O GETS BY ?R\< /EAL+ ?+S (F PEOPLE'S DOOR/EPS1 BUT HE CAN'T HELP FEEL+ SORRY = ! BOY & ,H5RY GUESSES ?AT A BODY'S GOT TO EAT4 ,CURV+ >\ND T[>DS ! CROSSROADS BY ! ,WE/ ,BRIDGE :]E !Y GOT ! CA/LE RU9S /ILL1 !RE'S EV]Y K9D ( PEOPLE \T !RE 9 ! /REETS GO+ AB\T !IR BUS9ESS4 ,HE KN[S ALMO/ EV]YONE HE SEES1 & ALMO/ EV]YBODY ?AT HE SEES KN[S HIM4 ,HE GOES OV] ! CROSSROADS :5 IT'S SAFE & ON D[N ! ,SA9T ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 BUT :5 HE'S SAIL+ ALONG UP ! TOP !RE ) ?AT DIRTY R$ BRICK WALL T[]+ ABOVE HIM ON HIS RI<T & ALL ! TUMBL$ RU9S ( ! CA/LE POK+ FROM ! GRASS !RE ON HIS LEFT HE GETS A P[]FUL SADNESS SUDD5LY COME OV] HIM1 & DON'T KN[ :Y4 ,HE'S ?9K+ ( ,SEL9A & HIS *ILDR5 & :AT MO/ CONC]NS HIM IS !IR Y\NGE/1 LITTLE ,$W>D4 ,H5RY'S SE5 ! /RET*ES ( GRAY RUBBLE SPR++ UP >\ND ! DI/RICT AS ?\< !Y W]E PAT*ES ( SOME T]RIBLE NEW B9DWE$1 ALL ! KNOCK$-D[N H\SES BACK ( ,PET]'S ,*UR* :]E !RE'S JU/ C[SLIPS & DEAD-NETTLES N[1 & IT OCCURS TO HIM ! ,BOR\<S WILL BE DIFF]5T BY ! TIME !IR LITTLE/ IS GR[N4 ,IT'S ALL !SE DEMOLITIONS ?AT'S UNSETTL$ HIM1 PLACES ?AT ,H5RY KN[S >E /&+ = A HUNDR$ YE>S OR MORE & :AT HE'D ?\<T W\LD /& =EV]1 JU/ PULL$ D[N & GONE LIKE IT DON'T MATT]4 ,EV] S9CE ! W>'S 5D Y\ CAN FEEL IT4 ,SOME BIG *ANGE IS COM+1 & ?\< HE CAN'T PICTURE :AT ! PLACE IS GO+ TO LOOK LIKE FIFTY1 SIXTY YE>S FROM N[1 HE GETS ! FEEL+ HE MO/ LIKELY W\LDN'T C>E = IT TOO MU*4 ,HE DOESN'T LIKE TO ?9K H[ IT WILL BE = ,$W>D OR !IR O!R *ILDR5 AFT] HIM & HIS ,SEL9A >E PASS$ ON4 ,EV5 ?\< ,H5RY KN[S ?AT ,$W>D WILL BE PROP]LY GR[$ UP BY !N HE CAN'T HELP BUT IMAG9E HIM AS HE IS N[1 AS A Y\NG BLACK *ILD W&]+ ALL LONELY D[N SOME %ABBY1 COLD TOMORR[-/REET :AT ,H5RY DOESN'T RECOGNIZE4 

,DAVE ,DANIELS SKIMS OV] ! S++ T>MAC ( ! ,B>RACK ,ROAD A/RIDE HIS ,RALEI< BICYCLE1 ) ALL ?AT E>LY MORN+ ,SATURDAY POT5TIAL 9 ! BATT]+ W9D AGA9/ HIS EAG] FACE4 ,HE'S (F TO CALL UPON HIS NEW MATE ,ALMA AT H] H\SE D[N ON ! BROK5-NOS$ BUT AMIABLE R[ ( T]RAC$ HOMES BETWE5 ,SPR+ ,LANE & ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET4 ,H]E 9 #aiff ! MUSIC OV] ! TRANSI/OR RADIOS IS SWEET & EFF]VESC5T1 ,VIMTO = ! E>S4 ,MON? AFT] MON? ! COMICS FROM ,AM]ICA KEEP GETT+ BETT]1 !RE >E PROGRAMS ?AT HE LIKES ON TELEVISION1 ,DAVID HAS A PROP] FRI5D & IT'S ! POCKET-MONEY$ WEEK5D1 FULL ( ,SKY ,RAY ROCKET LOLLIES & P]HAPS A ,TAMLA ,MOT[N S+LE FROM ,JOHN ,LEV]'S1 ) NO S*OOL & ?US NO 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ HUMILIATION UNTIL ,MONDAY4 ,HE DESCRIBES A JUBILANT FREE:EEL+ >C ?R\< ,REG5T ,SQU>E1 FROM ,B>RACK ,ROAD TO ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 & AS HE DOES SO SP>ES A GLANCE D[N ,%EEP ,/REET ) ITS TOP 5D OP5+ !RE ON HIS LEFT4 ,HE KN[S ?AT ?IS IS :]E HIS FAMILY W]E LIV+ :5 !Y FIR/ >RIV$ 9 T[N1 ! YE> OR TWO BE=E HE REALIZ$ HE'D GOT A Y\NG] BRO!R1 BUT HIS ACTUAL MEMORIES >E BLURR$ & (T5 CONTRADICTORY4 ,HE CAN RECALL1 H[EV]1 ! P]AMBULATOR J\RNEYS TO ! ,RACEC\RSE ?AT AVOID EXCURSIONS TO ! WE/1 9TO ! ,H]E-,BE-,TYG]S ?ICKETS ( ,NOR?AMPTON'S D>K 9T]IOR1 ! 9L& CONT95T KN[N AS ! ,BOR\<S1 BO? DECREPIT & SOMEH[ DISGRACEFUL4 ,DAVID TELLS HIS P>5TS HE'S GOT A NEW FRI5D CALL$ ,ALMA :O HE SOMETIMES VISITS1 EV5 HAS H] R\ND HIS H\SE TO MEET HIS DAD ?AT ONCE1 BUT DOESN'T TELL !M :]E %E LIVES4 ,AS HE SLIDES 9TO ! LONG PLUNGE ( ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 ,DAVID PASSES ! DU/Y GLASS & PEEL+ EM]ALD DOOR ( ! ,C>IBBEAN CLUB ON ,BROAD ,/REET'S CORN]1 ONCE MORE OV] TO HIS LEFT4 ,SOMEONE HAS WRITT5 ON ITS WOODWORK 9 BLACK PA9T ! PHRASE ,?,A,T ,M,\,N,T,A,9 ,C,O,O,N,],Y1 :I* HE SUPPOSES IS RELAT$ TO ?AT 0,M\NTA9 ,GRE5]Y0 SONG ?AT HE VAGUELY REMEMB]S HE>+ ON ! RADIO DUR+ HIS *ILDHOOD4 ,IT /RIKES ,DAVID AS A FEEBLE-M9D$ K9D ( JOKE & HE IGNORES ! PREJUDICE1 LETT+ IT ALL WA% OV] HIM 9 /RICT ACCORDANCE ) HIS P]SONAL POLICY ON RACIAL TAUNT+1 OR RA!R DO+ HIS BE/ TO LET IT ALL WA% OV] HIM4 ,9 ACTUAL TRU? EA* WA%+ LEAVES AN UGLY TIDE-L9E RESIDUE ( /EPP$-ON ANG] 9 HIS F\RTE5-YE>-OLD SPLE51 BUT :AT ELSE CAN HE DO8 ,HIS FA!R ,B]N>D'S WAY ( DEAL+ ) IT W\LD BE TO SUPPOSE ?AT DAUB+ SLOGANS ON ! ,C>IBBEAN CLUB IS ONLY MEANT AS AN AFFRONT TO ! ,JAMAICANS :OM HE ALSO DOESN'T C>E = V]Y MU*2 ?AT BE+ A SUCCESSFUL LAWY] FROM HIS BACKGR\ND MEANS ?AT ! WORD 0COON0 IS ALMO/ C]TA9LY REF]R+ TO SOMEBODY ELSE4 ,DAVID KN[S BETT]1 /&+ 9 ! EMPTY PLAYGR\ND AT ! ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL ) A BLACKBO>D ]AS] 9 EA* H& & P\ND+ !M TOGE!R 9 EXPLOSIVE1 *OK+ CUMULI ( *ALK-DU/ :ILE HIS =M TEA*] & S*OOLMATES GIGGLE AT HIM ?R\< ! CLASSROOM W9D[ FROM 9SIDE4 ,DESC5D+ ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 SQUEEZ+ ! BRAKES AS HE APPROA*ES ,WE/ON'S ! ,NEWSAG5T HALFWAY D[N1 ,DAVID DISM\NTS & DRAGS HIS ,RALEI< UP ONTO ! PAVEM5T1 PROPP+ IT AGA9/ ! WIRE-CROSS$ HO>D+ - ) A HEADL9E AB\T ,DR4 ,*RI/IAN ,B>N>D'S HE>T TRANSPLANT - ?AT'S UND] ! FRONT W9D[4 ,PE]+ ?R\< ! FA9TLY GRE5I% GLASS HIS [N C>DIAC ORGAN FLUTT]S TO DISCOV] ?AT AT LEA/ SOME ( ! LATE/ ,M>VEL COMICS HAVE >RIV$1 !IR ,5GLI% DI/RIBUTION IRRITAT+LY ]RATIC [+ TO !IR TRANSPORT FROM ,AM]ICA AS BALLA/ TO BULK \T MORE PR(ITABLE C>GO4 ,DAVID SPOTS A NEW ISSUE ( ,! ,AV5G]S ?AT HE'LL PROBABLY PICK UP DESPITE ! FACT ?AT HE F9DS ,DON ,HECK - ! BOOK'S >TI/ - A BIT DULL1 EV5 ?\< ,ALMA SAYS %E LIKES ,HECK'S WORK4 ,) MORE 5?USIASM HE SEES !RE'S A NEW ,FANTA/IC ,F\R & EV5 MORE SIGNIFICANTLY A NEW ,?OR ) HIS IDOL ,JACK ,KIRBY'S ,TALES ( ,ASG>D 9 ! BACK ( IT4 ,HE DUCKS 9TO ! %OP1 EM]G+ JU/ UND] A M9UTE LAT] ) A HAUL ( SIX ADDITIONS TO HIS BURGEON+ COLLECTION = JU/ F\R %ILL+S & SIXP5CE4 ,/UFF+ !M 9TO ! DUFFEL BAG HE'S GOT OV] ONE %\LD] ,DAVID SADDLES UP & C>RIES ON D[N ,GRAFTON ,/REET TO ,L[] ,H>D+ ,/REET1 :]E HE TURNS LEFT4 ,IT IS IMM$IATELY APP>5T ?AT HE'S N[ 9 A COMPLETELY DIFF]5T P>T ( T[N4 ,ON ,DAVID'S RI<T A SLUMP ( RUBBLE ?AT MI<T ONCE HAVE BE5 TWO OR ?REE BLOCKS ( H\SES ROLLS D[NHILL T[>DS ,MONK'S ,POND ,/REET & ! GAT$ RE> Y>DS ( A REEK+ TANN]Y4 ,ACCORD+ TO :AT ,ALMA TELLS HIM1 ?IS IS H] EQUIVAL5T TO ,DAVID'S LI/LESS MORN+S 9 ! *ILDR5'S PLAYGR\ND AT ! ,RACEC\RSE1 FANNY+ >\ND 9SIDE GREAT CONCRETE DUCT-PIPES ON ?IS WA/EL&1 ACCID5TALLY SMA%+ UP H] F+]NAILS UNTIL !Y TURN BLACK & FALL (F :ILE ,DAVID SITS ) HIS CONSID]ABLY LI<T] BRO!R ,&REW ON A SEE-SAW ?AT'S NOT MOV+ & IS NEV] GO+ TO MOVE1 WILL ALWAYS LEAVE HIS LITTLE BRO!R /R&$ UP !RE 9 ! AIR4 ,DAVID'S NOT SURE IF IT'S HIMSELF OR ,ALMA :O HAS ! BE/ DEAL1 CONCLUD+ ?AT IT'S ULTIMATELY SIX ( ONE & HALF A DOZ5 ( ! O!R1 SW+S & R\NDAB\TS4 ,HE W\LDN'T WANT TO LIVE H]E 9 ! SOOT BL[N FROM ! RAILWAY Y>DS1 AMONG ! ROSE BAY WILL[ H]BS ROOT$ 9 ?AT SAME GRIME ) DROOP+ PETALS LIKE P9K T9FOIL1 BUT !N !RE >E TIMES :5 HE CAN SEE ! >EA'S MY/]I\S APPEAL4 ,!RE'S ! OCCASION :5 HE CALLS ON ,ALMA & %E ISN'T 91 SO ?AT HE HAS TO LEAVE A MESSAGE ) H] GR&MO!R4 ,ACCORD+ TO :AT ,ALMA FILLS HIM 9 ON LAT]1 :5 %E F9ALLY GETS HOME H] GRAN DESCRIBES ! VISITOR AS A BOY R\<LY ,ALMA'S HEI<T OR POSSIBLY A LITTLE %ORT]1 RID+ ON A BIKE1 V]Y WELL-SPOK51 WE>+ JEANS & A BLUE JUMP]4 ,ALMA1 9 AN EF=T TO SPE$ UP ! ID5TIFICATION1 ASKS H] GRAN IF ! BOY HAPP5S TO BE BLACK BY ANY *ANCE1 TO :I* ! SEV5TY-SOME?+ RESPONDS BY LOOK+ />TL$ & BEWILD]$1 SAY+ 0,DO Y\ KN[1 ,I REALLY C\LDN'T TELL Y]40 ,EV5 ,ALMA DOESN'T QUITE KN[ :AT TO MAKE ( ?IS & ,DAVID IS COMPLETELY BAFFL$1 AL?\< AT ! SAME TIME HE'S AMUS$ & HE'S ALSO IMPRESS$ 9 A WAY ?AT HE CAN'T 5TIRELY PUT HIS F+] ON4 ,HE HAS TO SAY ?AT JU/ 9 T]MS ( AN ACCEPT+1 EV5-H&$ ATTITUDE TO VISITORS1 ,ALMA'S GRAN ,CL>A HAS HIS FA!R ,B]N>D BEAT H&S D[N4 ,HE /ILL FEELS MORTIFI$ AB\T ! TIME :5 HE ASKS ,ALMA R\ND TO SEE HIS COMICS & HIS DAD 9SI/S ON 9T]VIEW+ H] ALONE 9 ! FRONT ROOM1 LIKE A ,VICTORIAN PATRI>* SEEK+ ASSURANCE AS TO H] 9T5TIONS4 ,AFT] ,ALMA'S GONE1 ,B]N>D TAKES ,DAVID TO ONE SIDE & SOB]LY EXPLA9S ?AT :ILE !RE'S NO?+ WRONG ) MIX+ ) :ITE PEOPLE1 ,ALMA ISN'T REALLY ! RI<T SORT ( :ITE P]SON = ,B]N>D'S SON TO BE SE5 HANG+ R\ND )4 ,%E'S FAIL$ ! AUDITION4 ,DAVE & ,ALMA LAU< AB\T IT & CONCLUDE ?AT 9 ! PREJUDICE LEAGUE TABLES1 CLASS BEATS RACE4 ,DAVE CYCLES ALONG ,L[] ,H>D+ ,/REET T[>DS ! TOP ( ,SPR+ ,LANE1 & ! PEOPLE ?AT HE GLIDES PA/ DON'T APPE> TO PAY HIM ! LEA/ MEASURE ( ATT5TION1 ALMO/ AS IF !Y'VE SE5 BLACK PEOPLE ON BICYCLES BE=E4 ,! BOY HUMS D[N ! ANCI5T HILL 9 AN EXHIL>AT+ RU% ONTO ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD ) DR[S+ RAILWAY Y>DS >RAY$ BEYOND IT 9 ! RU/ & SUN%9E1 P$AL+ TO SEE HIS FRI5D :O LIVES H]E 9 ANO!R WORLD1 ANO!R DECADE1 DUFFLE BAG FULL ( PRIM>Y-COLOR GODS & SCI5TI/S1 ,NEGATIVE ,ZONES & ,RA9B[ ,BRIDGES ON HIS %\LD]1 TALISMANS AS HE DESC5DS 9TO ! DI/RICT & ITS CRUMBL+ WOND]M5TS1 ITS RAUC\S PREHI/ORIC ATMOSPH]E4 

,:5 ,H5RY'S ON ,! ,PRIDE ( ,BE?LEHEM ALL !M LONG WEEKS HE READS ! ,BUFFALO ,BILL *APBOOKS :AT >E PADD+ \T ITS HOLD AS BALLA/1 BUT ?AT'S JU/ BECAUSE IT'S SOMETIMES ALL !RE IS TO DO & NOT BECAUSE ( ANY ADMIRATION HE MI<T HAVE = ,COLONEL ,CODY4 ,/ILL1 HE UND]/&S ! NE$ ?AT PEOPLE HAVE = SU* NONS5SICAL ADV5TURES1 & HE DON'T BEGRUDGE !M ?AT4 ,:AT ,H5RY RECKONS IS ?AT 9 AMID ! %OVE & EF=T & SMALL COM=T ( ?IS WORLD :5 WE'RE D[N H]E 5MIR$ 9 IT LIKE :AT WE >E1 A MAN HAS GOT TO HAVE A /> UP !RE ABOVE HIM SO AS HE CAN NAVIGATE1 & :AT ?AT /> IS1 IT'S SOME MANN] ( IDEAL :AT Y\ CAN'T REA* BUT :AT %[S Y\ ! WAY4 ,BACK !RE 9 ,T5NESSEE ON ! PLANTATION Y\ GET ! OLD /ORIES COME FROM ,AFRICA AB\T ! FE>LESS W>RIORS & ALL ! CLEV] SPIRIT-ANIMALS :AT TEA* AB\T H[ IT'S GOOD TO BE K9D TO PEOPLE & ! B5EFITS ( BE+ CUNN+ & ! LIKE4 ,AT ! SAME TIME Y\ GOT ! SONGS & ! RELIGION1 ,PA/OR ,NEWTON'S HYMN 9CLUD$1 :I* ,H5RY SUPPOSES IS ANO!R BRE$ ( ! SAME ?+1 SOME BETT] WAY ( LIV+ OR SOME BETT] PLACE :AT WE MI<T NEV] GET TO BUT :]E ! IDEA ( IT CAN KEEP US GO+ ALL ! SAME4 ,:]E IT DON'T MATT] IF Y\ F9D \T ?AT ! MAN :AT WRITES ! HYMN HAS GOT HIS %AMEFUL SIDE & DOESN'T NECESS>ILY LIVE UP TO :AT HE WRITES AB\T1 BECAUSE IT'S ! IDEAL :AT'S ! IMPORTANT ?+4 ,ON ! SAME TRACK Y\ HAVE Y\R MY?OLOGICAL 9V5TIONS LIKE1 SAY1 ,H]CULES & MADE-UP *>ACT]S FROM \T ! *APBOOKS LIKE ?AT ,%]LOCK ,HOLMES !Y GOT H]E OR1 = ?AT MATT]1 LIKE ,BUFFALO ,BILL1 A MADE-UP *>ACT] IF EV] ,H5RY MET ONE4 ,JU/ ! ?\<T !RE'S SOMEBODY ?AT CLEV] OR +5I\S OR BRAVE1 EV5 IF !Y DON'T PROP]LY EXI/ EXCEPT :5 Y\'RE ALL CAU<T UP 9 ! /ORY1 IT GIVES Y\ SOME?+ TO REA* = & TO HEAD ! WAGON ( Y\R LIFE T[>DS4 ,& !N !RE'S ! REAL M5 & WOM5 :AT 9 ,H5RY'S E/IMATION MAKE ! BRI<TE/ BEACONS & MO/ GLORI\S GOOD EXAMPLES Y\ C\LD FOLL[1 SEE+ AS !Y'RE FLE% & BLOOD & NOT SOME ANCI5T GOD OR H]O FROM A *APBOOK1 :I* MEANS MAYBE IF Y\ TRY AS H>D AS !M !N WONDR\S ?+S MI<T TRULY COME ( IT4 ,SOMETIMES :5 HE'S ASLEEP HE CALLS UP ,BRITTON ,JOHNSON1 LIKE A /EPP+ BEAUTY ON ! BO>DWALKS ( SOME GIANT PLACE :AT'S ALWAYS !RE 9 ,H5RY'S DREAMS1 TWIRL+ HIS SIX-GUNS LIKE A C[BOY 9 A MOV+ PICTURE OR ELSE DRESS+ UP LIKE A ,R$ ,9DIAN TO GET HIS WIFE & *ILDR5 BACK FROM ! ,COMAN*E4 ,:AT IT MU/ BE LIKE TO BE A MAN LIKE ?AT1 & ,H5RY HOPES ?AT IF ,SEL9A OR HIS LITTLE ONES >E EV] 9 H>M'S WAY HE'LL HAVE ! C\RAGE TO DO JU/ :AT ,BRITTON ,JOHNSON DOES1 OR AT LEA/ SOME?+ :AT'S AS BRAVE4 ,BLACK ,*>LEY GETS 5\< ATT5TION 9 ! ORD9>Y RUN ( ?+S & DON'T KN[ AB\T DRESS+ UP LIKE NO ,R$ ,9DIAN4 ,HE'LL DO IT IF HE'S GOT TO BUT !RE'S NO GREAT LIKELIHOOD ( ?AT H]E 9 ! ,BOR\<S4 ,H5RY DREAMS ( ,MO!R ,SEACOLE LIV5+ UP ! W\ND$ SOLDI]S ) SOME H]BS1 SOME RUM & MAYBE A QUICK DANCE R\ND ! FIELD HOSPITAL & G5]AL PROVISIONS /ORE %E'S GOT ON ! FRONT L9E ( ! ,CRIMEAN ,W>1 :O 9 MO/ PEOPLE'S EYES IS NEV] GO+ TO MEASURE UP TO ,MRS4 ,NI<T+ALE NO MORE ?AN ,BRITTON ,JOHNSON'S EV] GO+ TO HAVE A SILLY *APBOOK 9 HIS HONOR LIKE ,BILL ,CODY4 ,H5RY DREAMS ( ,WALT] ,TULL1 \T !RE 9 NO-MAN'S-L& BETWE5 ! TR5*ES LIKE 9 ALL ?OSE /ORIES :AT COME BACK ( H[ ! ,G]MANS & ! ,5GLI% PLAY A FOOTBALL GAME ON ,*RI/MAS DAY BE=E !Y ALL GET BACK TO BL[+ \T EA* O!R'S VITALS ! NEXT MORN+4 ,H5RY DREAMS ( ,WALT] ,TULL 9 HIS :ITE BAGGY %ORTS & CL>ET %IRT1 DRIBBL+ ! BALL BETWE5 ! TANK TRAPS & DEAD HORSES1 D>T+ ?IS WAY & !N ?AT 9VULN]ABLE ?R\< MU/>D GAS1 & BOOT+ IT HI< ABOVE ALL ! DUCKBO>DS & ! BODIES & B>B$ WIRE 9TO ! BLACK SKIES OV] ,PASS*5DAELE LIKE A BUR/+ SIGNAL-FL>E4 ,HE NEV] DREAMS AB\T ,JOHN ,NEWTON1 NEV] DREAMS ( ,JESUS1 & N[ ?AT HE'S GETT+ ON 9 YE>S ,H5RY PREF]S HIS SA9TS TO BE JU/ ORD9>Y M5 & WOM5 :O MAKE NO GREAT CLAIM TO SA9TL9ESS4 ,HE'S NOT 9 ANY WAY AN A!I/1 IT'S MORE LIKE !SE DAYS HE'S NOT SPECIALLY 9CL9$ TO PUT RELIGI\S FAI? 9 PEOPLE :AT MI<T LET HIM D[N1 OR 9 SOME 9/ITUTION O!R ?AN HIS [N SELF :O HE'S SURE (4 ,H5RY RAISES UP A R\< *UR* 9 HIS HE>T :AT HE CAN C>RY ) HIM :]E HE GOES1 POK+ >\ND 9 ! OLD B>NS & ?AT1 ) HUMM+ TO HIMSELF 9/EAD ( ORGAN MUSIC & ! /A9$-GLASS LI<T SPILL$ \T ( HIS IMAG9ATION ON ! FLOOR 9 ALL ! /RAW & HORSE MUCK4 ,H5RY ?9KS AB\T ALL :AT HE'S DONE1 TAK+ C>E ( HIS MOM & POP LIKE !Y TOOK C>E ( HIM1 CROSS+ ! GREAT WIDE SEA & SLID+ D[N UPON ,NOR?AMPTON 9 A SN[Y WOOL5 AVALAN*E1 HIM & ,SEL9A RAIS+ UP !IR *ILDR5 )\T LOS+ ANY ( !M1 & HE FEELS CONT5T$ ) HIMSELF & ) HIS LIFE4 ,IT'S BE/1 ,H5RY BELIEVES1 A MAN %\LD BE HIS [N IDEAL & *AMPION1 H[EV] LONG IT TAKES HIM TO >RIVE !RE4 

,DOGGY-PADDL+ 9 ! LAZY1 UNDEM&+ CURR5TS ( ! ',C'-/REAM1 ,DAVID JU/ AB\T COMPLETES SIX YE>-LONG POOL L5G?S ( HIS $UCATION )\T DR[N+4 ,HE SECURES ONE OR TWO SUBSEQU5TLY USELESS ,O-LEVELS1 FAILS ALL ! RE/ & DOESN'T SEE ! PO9T ( GO+ ON TO FAIL HIS ,A-LEVELS AS WELL4 ,HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE1 WANTS TO HAVE !SE YE>S ( PO9TLESS & DEMEAN+ PRELUDE OV] ) SO HE CAN GET ON ) HIS LIFE 9 SOME?+ ?AT RESEMBLES A REAL WORLD4 ,HIS DAD IS FURI\S ) DISAPPO9TM5T4 ,NO?+'S TURN+ \T ! WAY ?AT ,B]N>D WANT$4 ,BACK 9 ,SI]RA ,LEONE IT'S MILIT>Y C\P ON TOP ( MILIT>Y C\P1 ) E?NIC ,LIMBA ,SIAKA ,/EV5S F9ALLY 5D+ UP 9 *>GE & /RAI<T AWAY REVEAL+ HIS TRUE COLORS1 EXECUT+ HIS POLITICAL & MILIT>Y RIVALS BY MEANS ( A GALL[S ON ! ,KISSY ,ROAD 9 ,FREET[N4 ,BAD & GETT+ WORSE1 ?IS IS H[ ,B]N>D SEES ! PROSPECTS = HIS HOMEL& & HIS ELDE/ SON ALIKE4 ,DAVE IS DEMOT$ 9 HIS FA!R'S E/IMATIONS1 AL?\< OBVI\SLY NOT TO ! EXT5T ( HIS Y\NG BRO!R1 ,&REW1 :O HAS NEV] FIGUR$ 9 ?OSE E/IMATIONS4 ,DAVID DOESN'T C>E4 ,BE+ ! *OS5 ONE HAS ALWAYS BE5 A BURD51 & HE F9DS ?AT HE & ,&Y GR[ MU* CLOS] 9 ! COZY DO<\SE ( PAT]NAL DISAPPROVAL4 ,:ISP]+ & LAU<+ 9 ! D>KNESS AFT] LI<TS-\T !Y BEG9 TO PLAN !IR BOLD ESCAPE4 ,\TSIDE !IR P>5TS' DE>LY-WON FRONT DOOR ! #a#i#gS >E POOL+ EV5 9 ! SUMP ( ,K+/HORPE ,HOLL[1 A FLUORESC5T FRO? ( PLAT=M HEELS & /ICK-ON />S4 ,! SONG LYRICS >E ALL *ROME-DIPP$ 9 SCI5CE FICTION & ,JACK ,KIRBY HAS QUIT ,M>VEL ,COMICS TO TURN \T A /UNN+LY PROLIFIC FLOOD ( FRE% IDEAS = !IR MA9 9DU/RY RIVALS1 FULL ( W>R+ TE*NO-GODS & REVAMP$ #a#i#dS ,BROOKLYN KID GANGS4 ,MEAN:ILE1 A REAL LOCAL GANG ( VICI\S SEV5TE5-YE>-OLD APPR5TICE SK9HEADS HAVE1 SOME:AT UNCOM=TABLY1 REBR&$ !MSELVES AS 0,! ,B[IE ,BOYS0 & N[ WE> EYEL9] & C>RY H&BAGS 9 ,BAY ,CITY ,ROLL]S T>TAN4 ,! DECADE B[LS 9TO T[N RID+ A SEQU9 BLIZZ>D & LEAVES DRIFTS ( GLITT] 9 ! GUTT]S4 ,FLAUNT+ ITS FANTA/IC ,BIBA CLO!S & ,DAY-,GLO H$GEHOG HAIR IT FLIRTS ) ! TWO BRO!RS1 F9ALLY 5TIC+ !M TO RUN AWAY FROM HOME & JO9 ! CIRCUS4 ,!Y MOVE D[N TO ,LONDON JU/ AS SOON AS !Y'RE BO? OLD 5\< TO DO SO )\T NE$+ !IR DAD'S NEV]-GO+-TO-HAPP5 BLESS+S & CONS5T4 ,IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFF]5T PLACE N[ TO ! CITY ?AT CONFRONT$ ,JOYCE & ,B]N>D :5 !Y FIR/ >RIV$ 9 ,BRIXTON TW5TY YE>S BE=E1 & BE+ BLACK IS ALMO/ FA%IONABLE N[4 ,?IS PREVI\SLY UNDREAM$-( WORLD EMBRACES ,DAVE & ,&Y 9 A WAY ,NOR?AMPTON NEV] C\LD1 F9D+ !M FLATS1 F9D+ !M WORK4 ,DAVID COMM5CES HIS EMPLOYM5T AT A CLO?+ \TLET ?AT'S ! CURR5T TALK ( ! BLACK 5T]TA9M5T FIELD1 F9DS HIMSELF RECOMM5D+ GE> = ,LABI ,SIFFRE1 KUNG-FU FI<T+ ) ,C>L ,D\GLAS & DISCOV]+ ! FRAGRANT WORLD ( GIRLS 9 A WAY ?AT W\LD BE UN?9KABLE 9 ,K+/HORPE ,HOLL[ - UND] ,B]N>D'S GOLD-RIMM$ EYE & QU>ANT9$ FROM FEMALES AT A SAME-SEX GRAMM> S*OOL4 ,IT FEELS TO ,DAVID LIKE HE'S LIV+ = ! FIR/ TIME1 DRESS+ H[ HE WANTS & GETT+ A BIT ,FUNKADELIC :5 IT SUITS HIM1 MAK+ IT ?R\< ! :OLE HEADY P]IOD )\T REC\RSE TO DREADLOCKS OR AN AFRO4 ,HE & ,&REW SOMETIMES POP BACK TO ,NOR?AMPTON1 JU/ TO SEE !IR MOM & SO ?AT ,DAVID CAN CAT* UP ) ,ALMA1 BUT ! ATMOSPH]E & B>B$-WIRE SIL5CES >\ND !IR DAD MEAN ?AT ! 9T]VALS BETWE5 !IR VISITS GRADUALLY GR[ LONG]4 ,EV5 ,ALMA IS BECOM+ H>D] TO KEEP TABS ON ONCE H] T]RAC$ R[ ON ,&REW'S ,ROAD IS PULL$ D[N1 9 ! F9AL MOP-UP ( ! CLE>ANCE OP]ATION ?AT'S BE5 GO+ ON D[N 9 ! ,BOR\<S S9CE ! 5D ( ,WORLD ,W> ,ONE4 ,! ,W>R5 FAMILY GET MOV$ TO ,AB+TON1 !N ,ALMA TAKES (F ON H] [N 9TO A /R+ ( BOYFRI5DS1 B$SITS & ADDRESSES )\T TELEPHONES4 ,SL[LY ! TWO ( !M LOSE T\* BUT BY !N ,DAVID HAS HOOK$ UP ) ,NATALIE1 A BEAUTIFULLY-ASSEMBL$ GIRL FROM A ,NIG]IAN FAMILY :O'S LOOK+ LIKE A KEEP]4 ,HIS LIFE PICKS UP PACE UNTIL HE'S SKIMM+ ?R\< ! YE>S AS ?\< HE'S ON A ,RALEI< BICYCLE1 ) HIS EXHIL>ATION ONLY SLI<TLY CURTAIL$ BY ! />K FACT ?AT1 9 LIFE1 !RE DON'T SEEM TO BE ANY BRAKES4 ,Y\ CAN'T /OP & Y\ CAN'T EV5 SL[ D[N4 

,H5RY & ?IS PLACE :]E HE LIVES >E RUNN+ \T ( LUCK1 HE KN[S IT1 IF !Y EV] HAD ANY TO />T )4 ,!RE'S A /IFFNESS 9 ! JO9TS & H+ES1 !RE'S A RHEUMY QUALITY COMES 9 ! EYES & W9D[S1 & A NEV]-AGA9 FEEL TO ?+S4 ,SOME ( ! /REETS & PL5TY ( ! PEOPLE :AT HE'S BE5 FAMILI> ) >E DISAPPE>$4 ,>\ND ,*ALK ,LANE :]E IT'S ALL COM+ D[N & EV]YBODY'S MOV+ \T1 HE SEES !SE LADIES ?AT HE KN[S JU/ /OOD !RE WEEP+ & ONE SAY+ TO ! O!R 0,WELL1 ?IS IS ! 5D ( \R ACQUA9TANCE04 ,HE FEELS SORRY = ! FALL5 BUILD+S1 DU/ & RUBBLE :]E IT MEANT SOME?+ TO SOMEONE ONCE1 BUT !Y'RE H>D /ONE & IT'S ! PEOPLE1 :AT >E S(T]1 ?AT GET HURT MO/ CRUELLY4 ,IT'S ! BONDS BETWE5 !M ?AT >E DELICATE & BUILT UP OV] YE>S :AT GET TORE UP1 ALL ON A /ROKE ( SOMEONE'S P5 AT ! T[N HALL4 ,!RE'S FRI5DS & FAMILIES GET SCATT]$ )\T RHYME OR REASON LIKE SO MANY BILLI>D BALLS1 S5T %OOT+ (F TO ! F\R CORN]S ( ,NOR?AMPTON ) !IR :OLE LIVES GONE A DIFF]5T WAY & ,H5RY CAN'T BUT FEEL IT'S ALL A %AME4 ,FROM H[ HE HE>S IT1 IT WON'T BE ?AT LONG BE=E IT'S ,BA? ,/REET1 ,CA/LE ,/REET & HIS [N ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET :AT >E NEXT = DEMOLITION & HE KN[S A TIME WILL COME :5 EV5 ! ,DE/RUCTOR IS DE/ROY$1 ) ALL ( ?IS REPLAC$ BY SOME V>IETY ( GREAT BIG MOD]N ROOM+-H\SES ?AT HE DON'T MU* LIKE ! S\ND (4 ,HE ALL[S ?AT IT MI<T BE A LITTLE CLEAN] & MORE SANIT>Y R\ND H]E AFT] ALL ! *ANGES1 BUT FROM :AT HE'S SE5 ( DIAGRAMS & DRAW+S ?AT GET PR9T$ 9 ! EV5+ PAP] IT'S NOT NO:]E NE> AS FRI5DLY 9 APPE>ANCE1 & HE ISN'T C]TA9 !RE'LL BE A POSITION = NO DEA?MONG]S OR CRAZY PEOPLE SU* AS ,?URSA ,V]NALL2 = ! MOO*+ K9D LIKE ,FR$DY ,ALL5 OR ELSE ,GEORGIE ,BUMBLE2 EV5 = ,BLACK ,*>LEY ) HIS FUNNY-LOOK+ BICYCLE & C>T4 ,HE DRAGS HIS WOOD5 BLOCKS MORE ON ! ROADS N[ :5 HE'S GO+ D[N !SE TILT$ LANES = FE> ?AT IF HE PICKS UP SPE$ HIM & HIS VEHICLE ALIKE WILL BO? BE %OOK TO BITS4 ,ONE DAY :5 ,H5RY'S RE/+ ON ! GRASS UP BY ! /UMP ( ! OLD CA/LE HE GETS 9TO CONV]SATION ) A NICE 5\< Y\NG G5T :O'S WELL BR\<T-UP & SEEMS LIKE HE'S BE5 $UCAT$ QUITE A BIT 9 ANCI5T HI/ORY4 ,?IS BOY BR+S UP ! SUBJECT ( ,BLACK ,*>LEY'S SK91 BUT 9 A N]V\S WAY 9 CASE IT'S NOT POLITE TO M5TION IT1 :5 HE SAYS ?AT IT'S NOT ! FIR/ TIME ?AT !SE FALL+-D[N OLD /ONES HAVE BE5 ACQUA9T$ ) A BLACK MAN4 ,!N :5 ,H5RY ASKS HIM :AT HE MEANS HE TALKS AB\T ?IS FELL] BY ! NAME ,PET] ! ,S>AC51 A COLOR$ MAN COME FROM ! ,HOLY ,L& OR ,AFRICA :O'S LIV+ H]E >\ND ! YE> TWELVE HUNDR$1 WORK+ AS A CROSSB[ MAK] = :O !Y CALL ,BAD ,K+ ,JOHN1 NE> SEV5 HUNDR$ YE> BE=E ,H5RY HIMSELF >RIVES 9 !SE P>TS4 ,ON ! ONE H& ,H5RY WILL ADMIT TO FEEL+ A T\* DISAPPO9T$ ?AT HE ISN'T ! FIR/ MAN ( HIS COMPLEXION H]EAB\TS1 BUT !N ?AT'S ONLY PRIDEFUL VANITY1 & ON ! O!R H& HE'S PLEAS$ HE'S GOT ANO!R H]O :AT CAN SOCIALIZE ) ,WALT] ,TULL & ,BRITTON ,JOHNSON 9 HIS IDLE DAYDREAMS4 ,HE IMAG9ES H[ HE LEADS ! ?REE ( !M ON HIS CONTRAPTION ) ! ROPE 9/EAD ( TIRES1 ESCORTS ! CROSSB[-MAK]1 FOOTBALL] & C[BOY ALL ! WAY BACK HOME TO ,T5NESSEE & SIXTY YE>S AGO1 SO !Y CAN LIB]ATE ALL ,H5RY'S PEOPLE ) !IR FANCY %OOT+ & !IR DEADLY SIL5T CROSSB[ BOLTS & !IR GOAL-SCOR+ CAPABILITIES4 ,HE SLEEPS MORE !SE DAYS & SO HAS MORE TIME = ALL HIS FLI<TS ( FANCY4 ,MEANTIME \T ( HIS FRONT W9D[ & JU/ OV] ,SC>LETWELL !Y'RE TAK+ D[N ! W>EH\SES & SO ON ?AT >E AT ! BOTTOM1 SO ?AT NO MORE ?AN ?AT N>R[ T]RAC$ /RIP ( HOMES IS LEFT ON ! ,SA9T ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,A LITTLE WAY UPHILL ,! ,FRI5DLY ,>MS IS ALL %UT D[N & BO>D$ UP1 READY TO VANI% :5 ITS TIME COMES4 ,HE F9DS \T FROM SOMEBODY H[ ,MR4 ,NEWTON ,PRATT WAS TAK5 ILL & DI$ SOME YE>S AGO ) ! PNEUMONIA1 OR ANYWAY ?AT'S :AT HE'S TOLD4 ,( :AT BEFELL ,PRATT'S LEG5D>Y BEA/1 H[EV]1 ,H5RY NEV] HE>S A WORD & 9 ! 5D HE'S HALF-CONV9C$ HE MU/ HAVE DREAM$ IT1 ITS EXI/5CE BE+ TO HIS M9D A MORE UNLIKELY PROSPECT ?AN ! GET-TOGE!R BETWE5 ,WALT] ,TULL1 ,PET] ! ,S>AC5 & ,BRITTON ,JOHNSON4 ,H5RY DOZES :ILE ! WORLD \T PA/ HIS DOOR/EP COMES TO PIECES4 

,JU/ FIVE OR SIX DECADES UP ! ROAD ,DAVID IS GLID+ COM=TABLY 9TO ! #a#i#hS1 M>RI$ N[ TO ,NATALIE & BLESS$ ) TWO F9E KIDS1 ,SELWYN & ,LILY4 ,! SCI5CE-FICTION PR$ILECTIONS ( HIS BOYHOOD MEAN ?AT :5 ! FIR/ COMM]CIALLY AVAILABLE COMPUT]S HIT ! %OPS HE SEIZES ON !M ) DELI<T1 !SE FABUL\S DEVICES PREVI\SLY UNKN[N \TSIDE ! ,BAT ,CAVE4 ,HAV+ ALWAYS BE5 MU* SM>T] ?AN HIS ,C-/REAM ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL TRACK-RECORD W\LD SUGGE/1 HE QUICKLY F9DS ?AT HE KN[S NE>LY EV]Y?+ AB\T ! NEW TE*NOLOGY1 ALMO/ ALONE 9 A /ILL-DAZZL$ WORLD ?AT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ! FA9TE/ CLUE4 ,LIKE SOME EXPLOR] ON A DI/ANT1 SAVAGE PLANET :O SUBDUES ! AWE/RUCK NATIVES ) A MIRROR & A BOX ( MAT*ES1 ,DAVID'S SMOO? FACILITY ) GETT+ A RECALCITRANT MA*9E TO WORK AGA9 IS LOOK$ ON AS MIRACUL\S BY ?OSE :O WITNESS IT & BE=E LONG HE F9DS HIMSELF WORK+ 9 ,BRUSSELS1 HOME AT WEEK5DS1 AS A HI<LY VALU$ CYB]NETIC TR\BLE-%OOT]4 ,:5 HE GETS ! *ANCE HE /AYS 9 T\* ) ,&REW1 :O IS M>RI$ ) TWO *ILDR5 ( HIS [N & ALSO DO+ WELL1 BUT :ILE !RE'S BE5 A MEASURE ( RAPPRO*EM5T ) !IR DAD1 ,DAVID /ILL F9DS HE ONLY GETS BACK TO ,NOR?AMPTON ONCE 9 A BLUE MOON4 ,ALL ?AT HE SEES ( H[ ! T[N IS *ANG+ IS1 !RE=E1 A DISCONNECT$ /R+ ( SNAP%OTS 9 A POORLY-MA9TA9$ PHOTO ALBUM :]E :OLE YE>S ( CONT9UITY >E SIMPLY MISS+4 ,ON A VISIT >\ND #a#i#h#e1 AS AN EXAMPLE1 HE DISCOV]S ?AT ! T[N'S L>GELY ,JAMAICAN BLACK COMMUNITY HAS TAK5 OV] A ,VICTORIAN ,SALVATION ,>MY =T ?AT RESIDES BY ITSELF UPON ITS PAT* ( ,%EEP ,/REET WA/EL& D[N FROM ! ES!TIC PICKAX-9-!-FACE ( ,GREYFRI>S ,BUS ,/ATION4 ,DAVID IMAG9ES ?AT SOME SORT ( PRES]VATION ORD] KEEPS ! BEAUTIFUL OLD /RUCTURE /&+ AFT] EV]Y?+ >\ND IT'S BE5 TORN D[N4 ,ITS NEW 9HABITANTS1 ) CAT]PILL> LOCKS CRAMM$ 9TO KNITT$ ,E?IOPIAN FLAG BULBS ATOP !IR HEADS1 HAVE FA%ION$ ! NEGLECT$ =T 9TO AN 5]GETIC HIVE ( ,AFRO-,C>IBBEAN ACTIVITY4 ,R5AM$ AS ! ,MATAFANCANTA ,CLUB AFT] :AT ,DAVID UND]/&S IS ! ,JAMAICAN = SOME?+ LIKE 0PLACE ( %>+0 HE SEES !M M9D+ ! PRES*OOL TODDL]S1 GIV+ LOCAL >TI/S & S\ND-SY/EMS SOME:]E !Y CAN SET UP & REHE>SE & KEEP+ A P]PETUAL /EW GO+ 9 !IR CANTE5 ON ! SECOND FLOOR4 ,! BUILD+1 ) ITS ROSE-P9K BRICK FACADE & GRACEFUL SCROLLWORK ( ITS MOLD+S GIV5 LIFE BY ALL ! GO+S-ON 9SIDE IT1 LOOKS T]RIFIC4 ,:5 HE PASSES ?R\< ,NOR?AMPTON JU/ A FEW YE>S LAT] IT'S BE5 BULLDOZ$ & !RE'S NO?+ BUT ! /RET* ( YELL[+ GRASS & A FEW /ORIES AB\T EVID5TLY UNTRU/WOR?Y TRU/EES PISS+ (F BACK HOME TO ,K+/ON ) ! FUND+1 Y\NG/]S ) COLORFUL /REET-NAMES DEAL+ GANJA & EV5TUALLY POLICE RAIDS AFT] ONE TOO MANY ,B,M,WS GET SPOTT$ 9 ! $IFICE'S C> P>K4 ,SO MU* = A PRES]VATION ORD]1 IF !RE EV] WAS ONE4 ,ON ! SAME TRIP ,DAVID IS RELIEV$ TO F9D ?AT ! 9CR$IBLY OLD BEE* TREE :I* HE JU/ AB\T REMEMB]S FROM HIS 9FAN?OOD IS /ILL ALIVE & ?RIV+ 9 A C\RTY>D FUR!R ALONG ,%EEP ,/REET1 & ( C\RSE ! SIMIL>LY ANCI5T BULKHEAD ( ,/4 ,SEPUL*]'S IS RI<T !RE :]E IT ALWAYS WAS1 ?AT & ! BEE* TREE AS APP>5TLY IMMOVABLE AS ,ALMA ,W>R51 :O HE'S BACK 9 T\* )4 ,KEEP+ UP A DW9DL+ COMIC HABIT ) 9FREQU5T VISITS TO A ,COV5T ,G>D5 %OP CALL$ ,COMICS ,%[CASE1 ,DAVID FIR/ BECOMES AW>E ?AT HIS OLD MATE IS DO+ NICELY = H]SELF :5 OV]HE>+ O!R CU/OM]S DISCUSS H] REC5T COV]-WORK 9 TONES ( MUT$ AWE4 ,HE PICKS A C\PLE ( ! BOOKS UP = HIMSELF & HAS TO SAY HE'S IMPRESS$ BY ! HAUNT+ REALI/IC QUALITY ?AT ,ALMA BR+S TO SILLY ?IRTY-YE>-OLD CO/UM$ *>ACT]S BY TAK+ !M ALL MU* MORE S]I\SLY ?AN !Y W\LD SEEM TO DES]VE4 ,!N1 JU/ A FEW WEEKS LAT]1 ,DAVID MEETS ,ALMA H]SELF 9 ! SAME %OP :5 HE'S \T ) HIS T9Y DAU<T] ,LILY RID+ ON HIS %\LD]S4 ,!Y'RE BO? OV]JOY$ TO SEE EA* O!R1 HAVE A LOT ( CAT*+ UP TO DO & FROM ?AT PO9T HIS TRAVELS TO ,NOR?AMPTON >E A BIT MORE FREQU5T4 ,HE'D GO !RE MORE (T51 BUT ! SITUATION ) HIS DAD & ,&REW IS /ILL /RA9$ & AWKW>D4 ,AFT] ,B]N>D'S EF=TS TO 5C\RAGE ONE SON AT ! DISADVANTAGE ( ! O!R F\ND] ON ,DAVID'S REFUSAL TO 5GAGE 9 SU* A COMPETITION1 ! OLD MAN HAS F\ND A WAY TO C>RY HIS UNWANT$ & DIVISIVE FAVORITISM ON TO A NEW G5]ATION1 DOT+ ON ,SELWYN & ,LILY :ILE IGNOR+ ,&REW'S TWO BOYS1 ,B5JAM9 & ,M>CUS4 ,:AT P>TICUL>LY UPSETS ,DAVID ) !IR DAD'S BEHAVIOR IS H[ MU* IT HURTS ,&REW1 MU* MORE ?AN :5 IT WAS ONLY HIM ?AT ,B]N>D LEFT \T 9 ! COLD4 ,&Y C\LD %RUG ?AT (F1 BUT HE CAN'T WAT* IT HAPP5+ TO HIS BABIES4 ,HE />TS TO BECOME OBSESS$ ) MAK+ SURE HIS (FSPR+ GET ! SAME ADVANTAGES ?AT HE P]CEIVES AS BE+ HEAP$ ON ,DAVID'S PAIR1 SPURR+ !M ON ?R\< S*OOL & COLLEGE1 DOGG$LY DET]M9$ ?AT %E] ACADEMIC EXCELL5CE WILL =CE !IR GR&DAD TO ACKN[L$GE !M4 ,DAVID ADVISES ,&REW TO =GET AB\T !IR DAD1 BUT HE CAN SEE ?AT'S EASI] SAID ?AN DONE :5 IT'S Y\R [N KIDS BE+ TREAT$ BADLY RI<T 9 FRONT ( Y\4 ,HE SEES ! BITT]NESS & ! RES5TM5T 9 HIS BRO!R'S EYES1 & ,DAVID DOESN'T KN[ :]E ?IS IS GO+ BUT SUSPECTS IT'S NO:]E GOOD4 

,BLACK ,*>LEY'S DY+ 9 HIS H\SE ON ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 GETT+ \T JU/ A FEW MON?S BE=E !Y KNOCK IT D[N TO PUT UP FLATS & MOVE HIM & HIS FAMILY SOME:]E ELSE :AT !Y WON'T LIKE SO MU*4 ,SEL9A & HIS *ILDR5 COME & GO AB\T ! B$SIDE 9 A K9D ( SLEEPY BLUR ?AT ,H5RY CAN'T KEEP TRACK ( ) ! M$IC9E !Y GIVE HIM SO HIS *E/ DON'T HURT4 ,ACROSS ! ROAD HE'S TOLD IT'S PRETTY MU* ALL GONE EXCEPT = ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL & !M FEW H\SES D[N ! BOTTOM !RE4 ,HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE IT AS IT IS1 JU/ HEAPS ( BRICKS ON SCRUBL&1 BUT LIKES TO IMAG9E ?AT ONE /ABLE ?AT'S /ILL !RE 9 BACK ( ! SURVIV+ HOMES D[N ON ,SA9T ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,S9CE HE DON'T C>E TO GO TO *UR* & C\LDN'T GET !RE !SE DAYS EV5 IF HE WANT$ TO1 !N ?AT OLD B>N'S ! NE>E/ ?+ TO ,H5RY'S IDEA ( A PLACE ( WOR%IP :AT'S 9 WALK+ DI/ANCE IF ,H5RY C\LD WALK1 & :AT'S AT LEA/ 9 ?9K+ DI/ANCE SEE+ AS HE CAN'T4 ,HE PRESUMES HE'S GETT+ CLOSE TO ?AT OCCASION 9 HIS LIFE :5 IT MI<T DO HIM GOOD TO HAVE A FEW WORDS ) HIS MAK] & SO :AT HE DOES1 HE GOES D[N TO ?AT OLD %$ 9 HIS M9D )\T ONCE HAV+ NE$ TO GET \T ( HIS B$4 ,HE PICTURES HIMSELF GETT+ ONTO HIS OLD BIKE :AT HE GAVE TO HIS SON ,$W>D TO PLAY ON SOME FEW MON?S BACK AFT] IT BECOME APP>5T ?AT HE'D NOT HIMSELF BE NE$+ IT NO MORE4 ,9 HIS IMAG9ATION HE PRET5DS HE'S ROLL+ (F D[N ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 :I* IS JU/ ! WAY IT WAS ) ,NEWT ,PRATT & HIS DRUNK5 CRITT] BO? \TSIDE A LIKEWISE RESURRECT$ ,FRI5DLY ,>MS & GREET+ ,H5RY ) WELL-MEANT BUT UN9TELLIGIBLE NOISES AS HE RATTLES PA/ !M HEAD+ = ,SA9T ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 ! WAY !Y HAD :5 HE C\LD /ILL RIDE BICYCLES & !Y W]E BO? ALIVE4 ,HE SEES HIMSELF ALL Y\NG & VIGOR\S1 TURN+ HIS VEHICLE ALONG ! COBBL$ ALLEY :AT !Y CALL ,SC>LETWELL ,T]RACE ON ! RI<T !RE JU/ BE=E Y\ REA* ! MA9 ROAD1 TRUNDL+ D[N IT TO ! RE> GATES ( ! /ABLE1 :I* 9 ,H5RY'S M9D >E OP5 & NOT BO>D$ UP ! WAY HE HE>S !Y >E 9 ORD9>Y LIFE N[ ?AT ! HORSES :AT W]E ONCE )9 HAVE GONE4 ,H5RY LEAVES HIS IMAG9>Y CONTRAPTION LEAN+ UP ON ! IMAG9>Y WALL \TSIDE & PICTURES HIMSELF OP5+ ! RU/$ LAT* & GO+ 91 SUMMON+ ALL ! SC5TS & NOISES ( A PLACE LIKE ?AT AS WELL AS HE IS ABLE ) ! FLUTT] ( ! NE/+ PIGEONS & ! SMELL ( /RAW :AT'S NOT BE5 *ANG$ 9 YE>S3 /ALE OATS & A FA9T MEMORY ( DUNG4 ,LI<T ?R\< ! BU/$ SLATES ABOVE AS ,H5RY FALLS ON HIS IMAG9>Y KNEES & ASKS ! ?+ :AT HE FEELS MI<T BE LI/5+ SOME:]E IF HE'S TRULY SOON TO DIE & IF !RE'S ANY?+ HE %\LD LOOK =W>D TO AFT] ?AT HAPP5S4 ,:5 HE GETS NO ANSW]1 SAME AS USUAL1 ,H5RY ASKS HIMSELF JU/ :AT K9D ( AN ANSW] HE MI<T BE EXPECT+1 JU/ :AT K9D ( AFT]LIFE HE ?9KS ?AT HE C\LD BE CONT5T$ ) = ! LONG NEXT P>T ( ET]NITY4 ,HE'S NOT ?AT SOLD ON ! IDEA ( ,HEAV5 LIKE Y\ SEE 9 ,BIBLE ILLU/RATIONS4 ,HE'LL ADMIT ?AT IT LOOKS CLEAN & PRETTY ) ! CL\DS & M>BLE /AIRWAYS BUT1 LIKE ) !SE MOD]N BLOCKS ( BUILD+S :AT !Y SAY !Y'RE PUTT+ UP1 HE CAN'T SEE ANY PLACE = ,H5RY 9 ! PICTURE1 OR AT LEA/ NO PLACE AS LOOKS LIKE HE'D FEEL COM=TABLE4 ,WELL1 IF HE DON'T WANT ?AT1 :AT DOES HE WANT8 ,HE'S 5T]TA9$ ! NOTION :AT ! ,H9DU FELL]S HAVE ( GETT+ BORN AGA9 9 A NEW LIFE AS SOMEONE DIFF]5T1 MAYBE EV5 AS SOME K9D ( WITLESS ANIMAL1 & HE'S NOT TAK5 ) IT4 ,IF HE DIES & SOMEONE ELSE GETS BORN NEXT WEEK :O'S A COMPLETELY DIFF]5T P]SON :AT HAS GOT NO MEMORY ( EV] BE+ HIM1 9 :AT WAY IS ?AT ,H5RY ,GEORGE8 ,UNLESS !RE'S SOME?+ 9 ! IDEA :AT HE'S MISS+1 IT SEEMS PRETTY PLA9 ?AT ?AT'S SOMEBODY ELSE 5TIRELY :O'S !IR [N SELF & NOT ,H5RY ,GEORGE AT ALL4 ,NO1 :5 HE TRIES TO CALL UP HIS IDEA ( P>ADISE HE F9DS HE'S SUMMON+ ! ?+S HE KN[S1 :AT HAVE ALREADY HAPP5$4 ,HE ?9KS H[ HE'D LIKE TO SEE HIS POP AGA91 & HE> HIS MOM :5 %E WAS S++ 9 ! FIELDS4 ,HE'D LIKE TO LIVE AGA9 ?OSE C>ELESS YE>S :5 HE WAS JU/ A *ILD1 BE=E HE GOT HIS M>K :5 EV]Y?+ SEEM$ SORT ( K9DLY & MY/]I\S4 ,HE'D LIKE TO BE MEET+ ,SEL9A = ! FIR/ TIME & \T WALK+ ) H] BY ! ,RIV] ,USK :]E IT RUNS ?R\< ,AB]GAV5NY1 OR BE LY+ ) H] 9 !IR USELESS RAGG$ T5T BESIDE ! GREAT H]D AFT] !Y W]E W$ & HEAD$ \T ( ,WALES T[>DS ,NOR?AMPTON4 ,HE YE>NS TO BE BACK ON ?AT AFT]NOON :5 HE'S JU/ GOT HIS PAY & HIM & HIS ,SEL9A FIR/ SET EYES ON ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET :]E HE'LL LIVE & %ORTLY DIE1 WANTS TO BE ) HIS WIFE & LITTLE ,MRS ,GIBBS ! DEA?MONG] :5 !Y CALL HIM TO ! CONF9EM5T ROOM TO SEE HIS NEWBORN BABIES4 ,HE WANTS HIS OLD BICYCLE ) ! ROPE TIRES BACK FROM ! PA/ ALONG ) ! ABILITY TO RIDE IT4 ,IT OCCURS TO HIM ?AT :AT HE WANTS ! MO/ IS HIS :OLE LIFE AGA91 ALL ( ! ?+S :AT >E MO/ DE> & MO/ FAMILI> TO HIM4 ,IF HE C\LD HAVE ?AT1 ,H5RY RECKONS ?AT IT W\LD BE WOR? ! BR&+ & ! SEASICK NI<TS ABO>D ,! ,PRIDE ( ,BE?LEHEM4 ,?AT'S ALL HE WANTS1 BUT 9 HIS ?\<TS ! SUNLI<T TUMBL+ ?R\< ! BROK5 RO( ONTO ! RAFT]S /RIP$ ) PIGEON DROPP+S SEEMS AS ?\< IT'S GETT+ BRI<T]1 & !N LAT] :5 ,SEL9A BR+S HIS D9N] 9 TO SEE IF HE CAN EAT A LITTLE ( IT %E CAN'T R\SE HIM4 

,SOME:]E ELSE IT'S #aiia & ,B]N>D ,DANIELS1 N[ RETIR$1 DECIDES ?AT HE & ,JOYCE %\LD VISIT ,SI]RA ,LEONE ONCE MORE BE=E !Y'RE BO? TOO OLD TO TRAVEL4 ,DAVID DOESN'T KN[ A LOT AB\T ! POLITICS PREVAIL+ 9 ,WE/ ,AFRICA JU/ !N BUT ISN'T SURE ! J\RNEY IS A GOOD IDEA1 & ,&REW FEELS ! SAME4 ,!IR DAD WAVES !IR CONC]NS ASIDE4 ,HIS SONS >E ,BRIXTON BORN1 HAVE NEV] BE5 TO ,AFRICA & NO D\BT SEE IT ?R\< !IR NATIVE ,5GLI% EYES AS SOME:]E ?REAT5+1 AS A D>K CONT95T4 ,B]N>D & ,JOYCE >E ,AFRICANS & HAVE NO SU* ANXIETIES4 ,!Y'RE SIMPLY GO+ HOME1 & ,DAVID H>P+ ON AB\T ! T5SIONS GR[L+ R\ND ! LION M\NTA9S AT ! MOM5T ISN'T GO+ TO DISSUADE !M4 ,B]N>D CA/S A CURSORY GLANCE OV] ! 9T]NATIONAL PAGES 9 ,! ,TIMES1 CONCLUD+ ?AT ! SITUATION OV] !RE IS JU/ BUS9ESS AS USUAL BY ,SI]RA ,LEONE /&>DS4 ,SIAKA ,/EV5S /EPS D[N A FEW YE>S AGO 9 FAVOR ( ANO!R E?NIC ,LIMBA1 ,MAJOR ,G5]AL ,JOSEPH ,MOMOH4 ,!RE >E ALL ! CU/OM>Y ATTEMPTS AT OV]?R[1 OR AT LEA/ ALLEGATIONS ( ! SAME1 & ALL ! USUAL RETALIATIONS BY WAY ( L[-HANG+ FRUIT ALONG ! ,KISSY ,ROAD4 ,ADMITT$LY1 !RE'S ALL ?IS BUS9ESS GO+ ON ) ,MOMOH BE+ =C$ TO REE/ABLI% MULTI-P>TY POLITICS1 ) PL5TY ( D>K MUTT]+S BREAK+ \T ALREADY 9 ! OPPOSITION RANKS1 BUT ,B]N>D KN[S ?AT IF HE WAITS = A POLITICALLY CLE> DAY TO MAKE !IR TRIP !N HE & ,JOYCE WILL WAIT =EV]4 ,IT'S ALL SETTL$4 ,FLI<TS >E BOOK$4 ,!RE'S NO?+ ELSE ?AT ,DAVID1 ,&REW & !IR FAMILIES CAN DO BUT CROSS !IR F+]S & HOPE = ! BE/1 :I* OBVI\SLY NEV] WORKS4 ,9 ALL !IR FRETT+ OV] ! FRAU<T POLITICS ( ,SI]RA ,LEONE NOBODY HAS CONSID]$ :AT'S CURR5TLY HAPP5+ ACROSS ! BORD] 9 ,LIB]IA1 ?IS BE+ BLOODY & HORRIFIC CIVIL W>1 MO/ ( IT OR*E/RAT$ BY ! LEAD] ( ! ,NATIONAL ,PATRIOTIC ,FRONT1 ,*>LES ,TAYLOR4 ,?IS IS ! MAN RESPONSIBLE = ! MO/ =CEFUL & COMPELL+ SLOGAN EV] US$ 9 AN ELECTION ANY:]E3 

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,TAYLOR DECIDES IT'S 9 HIS 9T]E/S IF FI<T+ KICKS (F 9 ,SI]RA ,LEONE AS WELL4 ,HE HELPS TO F\ND ! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,UNIT$ ,FRONT ) E?NIC ,TEMNE >MY CORPORAL ,FODAY ,SANKOH1 EXP]T 9 GU]RILLA W>F>E1 TRA9$ 9 ,BRITA9 & 9 ,LIBYA4 ,:5 CIVIL W> ]UPTS 9 ,SI]RA ,LEONE1 ,B]N>D & ,JOYCE >E 9 ! MIDDLE ( IT1 9 !IR SEV5TIES1 BO? E?NIC ,KRIOS :O >E DISLIK$ BY ! NATIVE TRIBES1 ) NO FLI<TS TO OR FROM ! C\NTRY & ?US NO WAY TO GET \T4 ,IT'S T]RIFY+4 ,LIVES >E 5D+ RI<T ACROSS ! /REET 9 UNIMAG9ABLE %OCK & FE> & PLEAD+1 SELDOM ) A GUN%OT1 SELDOM SWIFTLY4 ,!RE >E FA%IONABLE NECKLAC+S ) BURN+ TIRES & TW5TY-M9UTE EXECUTIONS US+ BLUNT MA*ETES ?AT CAN LEAVE ! MURD]]S EXHAU/$4 ,C[]+ 9 !IR HOTEL ! C\PLE PE] \T FROM BETWE5 DRAWN CURTA9S AT ! DRIFT+ SMOKE1 ! ANGRY BLACK TIDE SLUIC+ UP & D[N ! /REET4 ,MEAN:ILE1 9 ,5GL&1 ,DAVID & ! FAMILY >E FRANTIC1 MAK+ CALLS TO TRAVEL AG5TS1 EMBASSIES1 & 9 ! 5D SOMEH[ !Y BR+ !IR P>5TS HOME1 SEV]ELY %AK5 BUT UNH>M$4 ,UNH>M$1 &1 9 ! CASE ( ,B]N>D1 SEEM+LY UNALT]$4 ,EV]Y?+ HE'S SE5 CONFIRMS HIS /RONGLY-HELD CONVICTION ?AT ,SI]RA ,LEONE'S NATIVE TRIBES >E SAVAGES :O ONLY B5EFIT$ FROM COLONIAL RULE & F9D !MSELVES UNABLE TO EXI/ )\T IT4 ,AS = HIS OP9IONS ON EV5TS CLOS] TO HOME1 !SE REMA9 SIMIL>LY UNAFFECT$4 ,B]N>D /ILL REFUSES TO BE/[ AFFECTION & 5C\RAGEM5T ON ,&REW'S KIDS TO ! DEGREE HE DOES ) ,DAVID'S1 :ILE ,&REW'S ATTEMPTS TO PROVE !IR FA!R WRONG BY =C+ ,B5JAM9 & ,M>CUS TO %9E ACADEMICALLY >E BY N[ +RA9$ & OBSESSIVE4 ,DAVID WAT*ES ?IS UNFOLD+ & IT'S LIKE A <O/ /ORY1 A HAUNT+1 AN UNCANNY REPETITION ( EV5TS & ATTITUDES \T ( ! PA/ E]ILY MANIFE/+ 9 ! PRES5T DAY1 9 #a#i#i#g4 ,F9ALLY HE GETS A PHONE CALL FROM HIS BRO!R ONE ,SATURDAY MORN+ :]E ,&REW CAN H>DLY TALK1 CAN'T GET ! WORDS \T PROP]LY4 ,M>CUS1 HIS ELDE/ SON1 HAS KILL$ HIMSELF4 ,&Y'S JU/ HE>D AB\T IT FROM ! COLLEGE4 ,PRESSURE ( EXAMS1 !Y ?9K4 ,OH1 ,*RI/4 ,A T]RIBLE SL[ C> CRA% ?AT'S BEGUN 9 ,FREET[N =TY YE>S BE=E REA*ES ITS PO9T ( IMPACT & ! ,DANIELS FAMILY F9D !MSELVES SAT DAZ$ & P>ALYZ$ 9 ! EMOTIONAL DEBRIS1 ) BLOSSOMS NODD+ 9 ! BREEZE ALL UP & D[N ! ,KISSY ,ROAD4 

,IT'S #aiig & ! ,RAILWAY ,CLUB ALONG ! 5D ( ! ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD BY ,CA/LE ,/ATION IS PRETTY MU* ALL ?AT ,$DIE ,GEORGE IS LIV+ =4 ,HE'S GETT+ ON1 EI<TY OR MORE1 & HE'S GOT ONE ( ?OSE ?+S ?AT HE CAN'T PRON\NCE1 SCL]OSIS OR :AT HAVE Y\1 BUT IF HE CAN GET \T FROM HIS PLACE 9 ,SEMILONG D[N TO HIS USUAL TABLE 9 ! CLUB HE'S HAPPY JU/ TO HAVE A ,GU9NESS & SEE ALL HIS FRI5DS4 ,Y\ GET ALL SORTS ( PEOPLE FROM ! DI/RICT GO+ 9 !RE1 ?AT'S :AT ,$DIE LIKES AB\T IT4 ,C\PLES ) !IR *ILDR51 LOTS ( OLD GALS & OLD FELL]S LIKE HIMSELF & ALL ! BEAUTIFUL Y\NG WOM5 :]E !RE ISN'T ANY H>M 9 LOOK+4 ,(T5 :5 HE'S 9 !RE HE'LL BUMP 9TO Y\NG ,MICK ,W>R5 & HIS FAMILY1 ,CA?Y HIS WIFE1 SOMETIMES HIS SCRUFFY-LOOK+ SI/] & HIS TWO BOYS1 ,JACK & ,JOE4 ,JACK'S >\ND SIX OR SEV5 & HE SEEMS TO LIKE HAV+ A *AT ) ,$DIE :5 HE SEES HIM4 ,$DIE LIKES IT TOO4 ,!Y MO/LY TALK A LOT ( NONS5SE ) EA* O!R & IT TAKES HIM BACK TO :5 HE WAS A BOY HIMSELF1 PLAY+ ) ALL HIS SI/]S & HIS BRO!RS ON ! PAVEM5T RI<T \TSIDE !IR H\SE 9 ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET ) HIS LITTLE WAGONS1 & !N LAT] :5 HIS DAD GAVE ,$DIE HIS [N FUNNY BICYCLE & C>T BE=E HE DI$4 ,! DAMN ?+ FELL TO BITS ONLY A FEW WEEKS AFT]4 ,IT MAKES ,$DIE *UCKLE JU/ TO ?9K ( IT :ILE HE'S CALL+ HIS CAB TO TAKE HIM TO ! ,RAILWAY ,CLUB1 BUT ?AT SETS (F A ?UDD+ 9 HIS *E/ & SO HE JU/ SITS ON ! S(A & CALMS D[N :ILE WAIT+ = ! TAXI TO >RIVE4 ,IT'S A GRAY DAY & :AT ) ,$DIE'S EYES IT'S LOOK+ K9D ( MURKY AS HE SITS !RE 9 ! T9Y LIV+ ROOM4 ,HE'S ?9K+ AB\T TURN+ ON ! LI<T JU/ = A BIT ( *E]1 DAMN ! EXP5SE1 RI<T :5 HIS C> TURNS UP & TOOTS ITS HORN \TSIDE4 ,JU/ /&+ UP MAKES HIM FEEL DIZZY1 AS IF ALL ! ?\<TS & ! S5SATIONS 9 HIS HEAD >E DRA9+ TO HIS FEET4 ,HE LETS ! CAPABLE Y\NG DRIV] %UFFLE HIM FROM HIS FRONT DOOR 9TO A BACK SEAT ( ! VEHICLE1 :]E HE NE$S HELP TO GET HIS SEAT BELT BUCKL$ PROP]LY4 ,AT LEA/ IT'S W>M1 & :5 ! 5G9E />TS UP & !Y ROLL AWAY HE'S LOOK+ \T ! W9D[ AT HIS NEI<BORS' FLATS & H\SES SLID+ BACKW>DS UP ! HILL AS HE DESC5DS D[N ,/ANLEY ,/REET T[>DS ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,/ANLEY ,/REET1 ,BAK] ,/REET & ,GORDON ,/REET4 ,IT'S TAK5 ,$DIE SOME GOOD YE>S ( LIV+ H]E 9 ,SEMILONG TO FIGURE \T ?AT !Y'RE ! NAMES ( FAM\S ,5GLI% G5]ALS :O RELIEV$ ,MAFEK+ & ALL ?AT BUS9ESS1 BACK MORE ?AN A HUNDR$ YE>S AGO4 ,= A GOOD :ILE HE'S LABOR$ UND] ! IMPRESSION ?AT IT'S ALL SOME?+ TO DO ) ! FILM ACTOR ,/ANLEY ,BAK]1 & ?AT MAKES HIM SMILE AS WELL4 ,! TAXI-CAB TURNS LEFT 9TO ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 & ON HIS RI<T !RE'S ALL ! Y>DS1 FURNITURE RECLAMATION BUS9ESSES & LOCK-UPS ?AT HAVE BE5 H]E = AS LONG AS ,$DIE CAN REMEMB]1 SOME ) SIGNBO>D LETT]+ UPON !IR PEEL+ WOOD5 GATES ?AT LOOKS TO ,$DIE'S EYE LIKE IT MI<T BE ,VICTORIAN OR SOME?+4 ,ACROSS ! ROAD FROM !SE & ON HIS LEFT1 !RE >E ! OP5+S TO ! NEAT R[ ( HILLY /REETS ?AT MAKE UP ,SEMILONG1 ALL P>ALLEL ) ONE ANO!R1 ,HAMPTON ,/REET & ,BROOK ,/REET & ALL !M4 ,$DIE'S ALWAYS BE5 V]Y HAPPY H]E4 ,HE LIKES ! NEI<BORHOOD1 BUT NOBODY C\LD SAY ?AT IT WAS DO+ WELL4 ,IT'S NOT ! WOR/ ( PLACES BY A LONG %OT1 BUT 9 T]MS ( GETT+ TAK5 C>E ( !N IT'S PLA9 ?AT ,SEMILONG'S A FAIR WAY D[N ! LI/4 ,:AT IT'S AB\T AS F> AS ,$DIE SEES IT IS ?AT :]E HE LIVES N[ IS TOO CLOSE TO :]E HE US$ TO LIVE1 :I* IS TO SAY ! ,BOR\<S1 OR ,SPR+ ,BOR\<S AS !Y SEEM TO CALL IT N[ADAYS4 ,IT'S AS IF ?+S LIKE BE+ POOR & HAV+ L[ PROP]TY PRICES >E CONTAGI\S & WILL SPREAD FROM >EA TO >EA IF !Y'RE NOT KEPT 9 ISOLATION1 MAYBE ) A BLANKET SOAK$ 9 DIS9FECTANT HUNG ACROSS ! DOOR ! WAY !Y US$ TO HAVE UP ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET :5 SOMEBODY HAD ! SC>LET FEV]4 ,JU/ LIKE ) HIS MIX-UP OV] ,/ANLEY ,BAK]1 ,$DIE CAN REMEMB] :5 HE ?\<T ?AT SC>LET FEV] IS SOME?+ ?AT ONLY PEOPLE LIV+ UP 9 ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET GOT2 ?AT MAYBE PEOPLE D[N 9 ,GRE5 ,/REET GOT AFFLICT$ BY GRE5 FEV]4 ,H[ Y\ ?9K :5 Y\'RE A Y\NG/] IS SOME?+ ?AT NEV] CEASES TO AMAZE HIM1 & HE HOPES ?AT LITTLE ,JACK IS MAYBE GO+ TO BE !RE :5 HE GETS UP TO ! CLUB4 ,\T ( ! W9D[ ON ! RI<T N[ IS ! /RET* ( TURF & TREES ?AT RUN D[N TO ! BR[N-GRE5 RIV]1 :I* 9 ,$DIE'S Y\NG] DAYS IS ALWAYS KN[N AS ,PADDY'S ,MEAD[ AL?\< HE EXPECTS !Y'VE GOT SOME DIFF]5T TITLE = IT N[4 ,HE PE]S ?R\< BLOOD%OT EYES AT ! OLD *ILDR5'S PLAYGR\ND AT ! BOTTOM ( ! GRASSY SLOPE !RE ?AT HE /ILL CALLS ,HAPPY ,VALLEY4 ,!RE'S A LITTLE SUNLI<T FALL+ ?R\< ! CL\DS TO /RIKE UPON ! RU/Y R\NDAB\T & ON ! BLADE ( ! DILAPIDAT$ SLIDE1 & ,$DIE FEELS A LUMP COME TO HIS ?ROAT BECAUSE IT'S ALL SO PRECI\S4 ,HE RECALLS ADV5TUR+ AMONG ! RE$S D[N AT ! WAT]'S $GE ) ALL ! O!R GRUBBY LITTLE BOYS1 & H[ !Y LIK$ TO SC>E EA* O!R BY PRET5D+ ?AT !RE WAS A T]RIBLE LONG MON/] 9 ! RIV] :AT W\LD SNAT* !M IF !Y GET TOO CLOSE TO IT4 ,HE LOOKS \T AT ! EMPTY MEAD[ N[ & FEELS CONV9C$ SOMEH[ ?AT ALL ?OSE DAYS >E /ILL !RE1 9 ! RU%ES1 ON ! SQUEAK+ SW+S1 /ILL GO+ ON EXCEPT ?AT HE'S TOO F> AWAY TO SEE IT ALL4 ,?AT MU/ BE H[ IT IS4 ,HE CANNOT F9D IT 9 HIMSELF TO ?9K ?AT ANY MOM5T1 ANYBODY1 ANY?+ IS EV] TRULY LO/4 ,IT'S JU/ ?AT HIM & EV]YBODY ELSE MOVES ON1 & F9D !MSELVES WA%$ UP 9 TIMES & CIRCUM/ANCES !Y DON'T FULLY UND]/& OR LIKE MU*1 NECESS>ILY1 )\T A WAY ( GETT+ BACK TO :]E !Y'RE HAPPY & CONT5T$4 ,!RE'S A LOT AB\T ! WORLD !SE DAYS ?AT ,$DIE DOESN'T HAVE ! MEASURE (4 ,HE'S NOT SURE :AT TO MAKE ( ?IS NEW GOV]NM5T ?AT JU/ GOT 91 !SE ,LABOR PEOPLE :O DON'T TALK OR LOOK MU* LIKE ! ,LABOR PEOPLE HE REMEMB]S1 & ! BUS9ESS ) ,PR9CESS ,DIANA GETT+ KILL$ 9 ?AT C> ACCID5T TAKES ,$DIE BY SURPRISE AS MU* AS ANYONE1 H[ ! :OLE C\NTRY SEEMS TO HAVE FALL5 TO PIECES = A :ILE ) ALL ! CRY+4 ,IT APPE>S TO ,$DIE LIKE !RE'S MORE NEWS ALL ! TIME !SE DAYS1 UNTIL HE FEELS LIKE HE'S FULL TO ! BRIM ) IT & ONE MORE MODEL ) AN EAT+ DISABILITY OR GANG ( RAP+ FOOTBALL]S C\LD MAKE ALL ( ! KN[L$GE ?AT'S ALREADY 9 HIM SPILL \T ON ! FLOOR4 ,BY N[ HIS TAXI'S AT ! TRAFFIC LI<TS :]E ,&REW'S ,ROAD CROSSES ! FOOT ( ,SP5C] ,BRIDGE & ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 & HE F9DS HIMSELF LOOK+ AT ! LORRY P>K JU/ PA/ ! LI<TS & ON ! F> SIDE ( ! ROAD1 ! ,SUP] ,SAUSAGE PLACE ?AT US$ TO BE A MEAD[ ) A PUBLIC BA?S UP AT ONE 5D4 ,IT'S /ILL TOO LI<T = ANY ( ! GIRLS TO BE >\ND1 & ,$DIE'S GLAD BECAUSE HE HATES TO SEE ?AT1 H[ ! WOM5 9 ?AT L9E ( WORK >E GETT+ Y\NG] ALL ! TIME4 ,HE'S TIR$4 ,! WORLD'S MAK+ HIM TIR$1 & ,$DIE FIDGETS 9 ! RE> SEAT :]E IT FEELS AS IF HIS SEAT BELT IS TOO TI<T1 LIKE IT'S NOT DONE UP ! RI<T WAY4 ,! LI<TS GO GRE51 ! C>S MOVE ON & N[ !Y'RE COM+ PA/ ! F5C$-9 LORRY P>K TO :]E ! TRA9 Y>DS >E BEH9D ! WALL !RE ON ! RI<T1 & ON !IR LEFT IS ! %ORT /RIP ( GRASS BETWE5 ,SPR+ ,LANE & ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET ?AT WAS ONCE A R[ ( T]RAC$ H\SES4 ,$DIE CAN'T HELP TAK+ A LONG LOOK UP ! /REET HE WAS BORN 9 AS HIS CAB GOES BY ! BOTTOM ( IT1 :]E ?AT E]IE S+LE BUILD+ /ILL SURVIVES D[N NE> ! CORN] !RE ALL ON ITS [N4 ,! OLD SLOPE RISES UP ) ! ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL PLAY+ FIELDS ON ONE SIDE1 & ACROSS ! ROAD !RE ON ! O!R >E ! FLATS !Y PUT UP 9 ! #a#i#cS AFT] !Y TORE D[N ! HOMES :]E ,$DIE & HIS FAMILY & !IR FRI5DS ALL LIV$4 ,! R\ND$ BALCONIES >E PEEL+ & ! 5TRANCES TO ! C\RTY>D 9SIDE HAVE ALL GOT GATES ON N[4 ,UP AT ! HILL'S TOP !RE >E ?OSE TWO BLOCKS ( FLATS BIGG] ?AN ALL ! RE/1 ,CL>EMONT & ,BEAUMONT ,C\RT1 ! T[]S /&+ !RE VICTORI\S :5 EV]Y?+ >\ND HAS BE5 KNOCK$ FLAT4 ,! /REET DON'T LOOK MU*1 HE ADMITS1 BUT IT'S :]E HE BEGAN & IT'S /ILL GOT ?AT SORT ( LI<T 9SIDE IT4 ,$DIE %UTS HIS EYES UPON HIS BIR?PLACE1 & !RE'S ALL ?OSE FLOAT+ JELLY BLOBS ( COLOR ?AT Y\ GET4 ,! ACCID5TAL PATT]N ?AT !Y HAVE TO !M REM9DS ,$DIE ( SOME?+ & HE CAN'T ?9K :AT1 !N REALIZES IT'S ! SC> HIS DAD'S GOT ON HIS %\LD] ) ! TRIANGLES1 ! WAVY L9ES4 ,HE ?9KS AB\T HIS P>5TS & IT COMES TO HIM ?AT IT'S ONE HUNDR$ YE>S EXACTLY1 MAYBE EV5 TO ! MON?1 S9CE !Y FIR/ CAME H]E TO ,NOR?AMPTON & LAID EYES ON ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET4 ,H[ AB\T ?AT8 ,DOESN'T ?AT BEAT EV]Y?+8 ,A HUNDR$ YE>S4 ,HE K9D ( FEELS ! C> PULL UP \TSIDE ! ,RAILWAY ,CLUB & K9D ( HE>S ! DRIV] SAY 0,WE'RE H]E0 :I* GIVES HIM SATISFACTION1 BUT IF TRU? BE TOLD BY !N ,$DIE'S ALREADY DEAD A GOOD FEW M9UTES4 

,UP ! L9E BY JU/ %Y ( T5 YE>S 9 #b#f1 ,DAVE ,DANIELS /ROLLS D[N SUNLIT ,%EEP ,/REET ON HIS WAY TO ,ALMA'S EXHIBITION4 ,O!R ?AN ! R\ND *UR*1 EV]Y?+ IS DIFF]5T & HE CAN'T WORK \T :I* ( ! W9D[S MI<T BE ?OSE ( HIS OLD H\SE1 ! ONE ?AT ,&REW WAS EXCLUD$ FROM1 OR EV5 IF HIS OLD H\SE IS /ILL !RE4 ,HE'S GOT A VAGUE IDEA IT MI<T BE ONE ( ?OSE DEMOLI%$ TO MAKE WAY = ! HUGE CORN$ BEEF-COLOR$ PREMISES BELONG+ TO ! ,9L& ,REV5UE1 BUT ISN'T SURE4 ,IT DOESN'T MATT]4 ,HE H>DLY REMEMB]S SP5D+ ?AT FIR/ YE> OR SO H]E1 ANYWAY1 & :AT ) ,&REW'S ELDE/ TAK+ HIS [N LIFE LIKE ?AT ,DAVID HAS COME TO BLAME ! SITUATION BACK !N 9 ! E>LY ',FIFTIES = HIS NEPHEW'S DEA?1 AL?\< HE KN[S ! TRU? ( IT IS PROBABLY A LOT MORE COMPLICAT$1 MU* LESS BLACK & :ITE4 ,?+S USUALLY >E4 ,FUR!R ALONG ! /REET HE PE]S 9 ?R\< ! OP5 GATEWAY TO ! Y>D :]E ! OLD BEE* TREE US$ TO /&1 BUT AFT] HAV+ TALK$ TO ,ALMA ON ! PHONE ! O!R NI<T HE KN[S :AT TO EXPECT4 ,! TREE IS GONE1 A ?+ AS OLD AS ! R\ND *UR* ITSELF ?AT HAD )/OOD ALL ! CRUSADES & CIVIL W>S1 F9ALLY POISON$ 9 ! NI<T BY SOME BIGWIG PROPRIETOR ( AN ADJAC5T BUS9ESS :O'S GOT PLANS = ! LOCATION ?AT ! BEE* TREE & ITS PRES]VATION ORD] >E UN=TUNATELY /&+ 9 ! WAY (1 OR AT LEA/ IF ALL ! UGLY LOCAL RUMORS ,ALMA HAS PASS$ ON TO ,DAVID >E TO BE BELIEV$4 ,HE %AKES HIS HEAD1 SUSPECT+ ?AT IT'S JU/ ! WAY ! WORLD IS GO+4 ,:5 HE REA*ES ,%EEP ,/REET'S 5D HE CROSSES A DUAL C>RIAGEWAY ?AT WASN'T !RE BE=E & WALKS BESIDE ! EMPTY YAWN ( UNKEMPT GRASS :]E ! ,MATAFANCANTA US$ TO BE1 JU/ D[N FROM ! /ILL-/&+ BUS /ATION REC5TLY VOT$ ! UGLIE/ BUILD+ 9 ! C\NTRY4 ,HE REMEMB]S ,ALMA TELL+ HIM ?AT QUITE AP>T FROM BE+ HIDE\S ! :OLE ?+ HAS ITS 5TRANCE AT ! WRONG 5D SO ?AT BUSSES HAVE TO DO A COMPLETE CIRCUIT BE=E 5T]+1 ?IS DUE TO A T[N PLANN] WORK+ ) ! BLUEPR9TS UPSIDE D[N4 ,IT'S NE>LY FUNNY4 ,HE TURNS RI<T BE=E HE GETS TO ! OLD ,FI% ,M>KET ?AT'S UP !RE AT ! TOP 5D ( ! ,DRAP]Y & WALKS D[N BY A ,*9ESE RE/AURANT ) A MULTI-/ORY C> P>K JU/ ACROSS ! BUSY ROAD4 ,HE DOESN'T KN[ ?IS PLACE AT ALL4 ,HE'S LOOK+ AT SOME SORT ( BRUTAL TRAFFIC-JUNCTION :]E !RE US$ TO BE ! *E]Y CONF9ES ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 :I* HE KN[S = ,H>RY ,TRASL]'S %OP ?AT HE & ,ALMA1 WAY BACK1 SCOP$ = COMICS ALMO/ EV]Y ,SATURDAY4 ,HE NEV] LOOKS AT COMICS !SE DAYS1 EV5 ?\< !Y'VE BECOME FA%IONABLE TO ! PO9T :]E ADULTS >E ALL[$ TO READ !M )\T FE> ( RIDICULE4 ,IRONICALLY1 9 ,DAVID'S VIEW1 ?IS MAKES !M A LOT MORE RIDICUL\S ?AN :5 !Y W]E 9T5D$ AS A P]FECTLY LEGITIMATE & (T5 BEAUTIFULLY CRAFT$ MEANS ( 5T]TA9+ KIDS4 ,AT AGE ?IRTE51 ,DAVID'S IDEA ( HEAV5 WAS SOME:]E ?AT COMICS W]E ACCLAIM$ & READILY AVAILABLE1 P]HAPS ) DOZ5S ( BIG BUDGET MOVIES FEATUR+ HIS FAVORITE OBSCURE CO/UM$ *>ACT]S4 ,N[ ?AT HE'S 9 HIS FIFTIES & HIS P>ADISE IS ALL >\ND HIM HE F9DS IT DEPRESS+4 ,CONCEPTS & IDEAS MEANT = ! *ILDR5 ( SOME =TY YE>S AGO3 IS ?AT ! BE/ ?AT ! TW5TY-FIR/ C5TURY HAS GOT TO (F]8 ,:5 ALL ?IS EXTRAORD9>Y /UFF IS HAPP5+ EV]Y:]E1 >E ,/AN ,LEE'S PO/W> FANTASIES ( :ITE NEUROTIC MIDDLE-CLASS ,AM]ICAN EMP[]M5T REALLY ! MO/ ADEQUATE RESPONSE8 ,DAVID DESC5DS 9TO A SODIUM-LIT P$E/RIAN SUBWAY SY/EM :I* TAKES HIM B5EA? ! HURTL+ TRAFFIC TO EM]GE ON ! F> SIDE ( A BROAD AUTO-WAT]FALL ?AT HE ?9KS MI<T BE CALL$ ,HORSEM>KET4 ,HEAD+ D[N BESIDE ! *URN+ FL[ ( /EEL ,DAVID ANTICIPATES ! ,B>CLAYC>D ,CR$IT ,CONTROL ,C5T] ?AT /&S ON ,M>EFAIR'S CORN] AT ! BOTTOM BUT DISCOV]S EV5 ?AT IS GONE1 REPLAC$ BY SOME V>IETY ( LEISURE_/5T]TA9M5T COMPLEX4 ,WALK+ ALONG ,M>EFAIR ALMO/ TO ! ,CA/LE ,/ATION 5D HE TURNS RI<T 9TO ,*ALK ,LANE1 :I* HE ?9KS %\LD TAKE HIM TO ! LITTLE NURS]Y :]E ,ALMA'S %[ IS HAPP5+4 ,HE'S IMM$IATELY DR5*$ 9 POPPIES1 SPURT+ FROM ! DI/RESS$ MORT> ( A V]Y OLD-LOOK+ /ONE WALL !RE ON HIS RI<T4 ,! SUDD5 SC>LET SATURATION BR+S TO M9D ! NEWS HE HE>S A FEW WEEKS BACK1 ( H[ ! EXTRADITION PROCESS ?AT WILL SEE ,*>LES ,TAYLOR TRI$ = W> CRIMES 9 A GLASS BOX 9 ,! ,HAGUE IS JU/ N[ GETT+ UND]WAY4 ,AB\T TIME4 ,FIFTY ?\S& PEOPLE DEAD 9 ! T5 YE>S ! CIVIL W> WAS GO+ ON UNTIL !Y F9ALLY DECL>$ AN 5D TO IT 9 #b#b1 & ! ,U,N PEACEKEEP+ =CES W]E REQUIR$ TO /AY !RE UNTIL1 :AT1 SIX MON?S AGO8 ,IT'S /AGG]+ TO ?9K ?AT ALL ?AT H>M & C>NAGE CAN BE 9/IGAT$ BY A S+LE 9DIVIDUAL1 PRETTY MU*4 0,I NE>LY KILL$ Y\R MA4 ,I NE>LY KILL$ Y\R PA4 ,N[ GIVE ME CLEM5CY40 ,NOT LIKELY4 ,JOYCE & ,B]N>D HAVE BE5 DEAD A YE> OR TWO BUT ,DAVID'S MEMORIES ( ?OSE FEW FRANTIC WEEKS SP5T TRY+ TO EXTRICATE HIS P>5TS FROM ,SI]RA ,LEONE'S NI<TM>E >E /ILL ) HIM1 JU/ AS %>P AS IF ! :OLE ?+ W]E /ILL GO+ ON SOME:]E4 ,ASC5D+ PA/ A HUMBLE LIME/ONE BUILD+ HE BELIEVES IS ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*1 HE NOTICES A SEEM+LY R$UNDANT DOORWAY /R&$ HALFWAY UP ONE WALL & ?9KS AB\T HIS NEPHEW1 ,M>CUS1 :O WILL N[ BE FROZ5 AT N9ETE5 =EV] 9 HIS ?\<TS4 ,HE ?9KS AB\T ! PREJUDICES ?AT HIS DAD ,B]N>D 5C\NT]$ :5 HE FIR/ >RIV$ H]E 9 ! ',FIFTIES1 & ! PREJUDICES HE BR\<T ) HIM4 ,HIS IDEAS ( /ATUS1 ! DEF5SIVE SNOBB]Y ( ,KRIO FAMILIES ESCAP$ FROM SLAV]Y TO POPULATE A ,BRITI% COLONY & E>N ! DEEP RES5TM5T ( ,SI]RA ,LEONE'S NATIVE PEOPLE4 ,ALL !SE LITTLE COGS ?AT TURN ! BIGG] COGS1 9 HI/ORY & 9 PEOPLE'S HE>TS1 A ME*ANISM ?AT'S ALMO/ IMPOSSIBLE TO P]CEIVE PROP]LY1 ITS ACTION TAK+ PLACE OV] ! SPAN ( DECADES1 C5TURIES4 ,! WAY ?AT EV]Y?+ WORKS \T4 ,= HIS [N P>T HE'S GETT+ TIR$ ( ,BRUSSELS1 WANTS TO MAYBE KICK BACK = A :ILE ) ,NATALIE & !IR TWO KIDS1 LIVE ON ! SAV+S & ,NATALIE'S 9COME = A :ILE & JU/ SEE :AT COMES UP4 ,HE WANTS TO 5JOY LIFE :ILE IT'S ACTUALLY HAPP5+ RA!R ?AN RETROSPECTIVELY OR AS A ?+ DEF]R$ UNTIL ! FUTURE4 ,IT CAN ALL BE OV] JU/ LIKE ?AT1 A SUDD5 CIVIL W>1 A LOOM+ BIG EXAM1 Y\ NEV] KN[1 & ,DAVID WANTS TO LIVE EA* MOM5T LIKE AN E?ICALLY-S\RC$ DIAMOND4 ,HE CAN SEE ! NURS]Y UP AHEAD1 A MODE/ CR[D ( PEOPLE ?AT HE DOESN'T KN[ GA!R$ \TSIDE & 9 ! MIDDLE HE SEES ,ALMA 9 A FLUFFY TURQUOISE JUMP]1 WAV+ TO HIM4 ,EV]Y MOM5T4 ,EV]Y MOM5T LIKE A JEWEL4 

,9 #ahig ,H5RY & ,SEL9A /OP DEAD 9 !IR TRACKS TO GAPE1 HALFWAY D[N ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET4 ,IT'S SU* AN UNLIKELY SI<T ?AT = A MOM5T IT FEELS LIKE !Y'RE DREAM+ OR 5*ANT$1 & !Y TAKE EA* O!R'S H&S )\T A WORD AS IF !Y W]E A PAIR ( LITTLE *ILDR54 ,TI$ UP TO ITS LAMPPO/ !RE \TSIDE ,! ,FRI5DLY ,>MS1 ! ANIMAL IGNORES !M4 ,AFT] MAYBE HALF A M9UTE1 A /\T LITTLE FELL] ) BIG SIDE-:ISK]S COMES \T FROM 9 ! PUBLIC H\SE ) A BIG GLASS ( ALE ?AT HE GIVES TO ! CREATURE1 :AT COMM5CES DR9K+ IT4 ,! MAN1 :O !Y WILL LAT] LE>N IS ,MR4 ,NEWTON ,PRATT1 LOOKS FROM ! ANIMAL TO ,H5RY & !N LAU<S4 0,BLIMEY6 ,DID Y\ TWO KN[ EA* O!R1 !N1 BACK !RE 9 ! OLD C\NTRY80 ,H5RY LAU<S AS WELL4 0,WELL1 SPEAK+ P]SONALLY1 ,I NEV] BE5 TO ,AFRICA1 AL?\< ,I'LL [N ?IS FELL]'S MOM & POP C\LD V]Y WELL HAVE ONCE RUN 9TO M9E4 ,:]E DID Y\ GET HIM1 Y\ DON'T M9D ME ASK+80 ,! MAN DOESN'T M9D AT ALL4 0,GOT 'IM FROM ,:IPSNADE ,ZOO :5 !Y'D NOT GOT ! SPACE & !Y W]E GUNNA SELL 'IM TO ! KNACK]S Y>D = GLUE4 ,HORACE1 'IS NAME IS4 ,IT LOOKS LIKE 'E'S TOOK A %9E TO Y\R Y\NG LADY40 ,H5RY LOOKS >\ND & !RE'S ,SEL9A BEAM+ LIKE IT'S ,*RI/MAS MORN+ :ILE ! R>ITY ALL[S H] TO BE PETT+ ITS D>K MUZZLE4 ,HE REG>DS ! BEA/1 ! BLACK & :ITE /RIPES ( ITS HIDE LIKE AN AMAZ+ JUNGLE FLAG /AK$ PR\DLY H]E AMONG ! COBBLES & ! *IMNEYPOTS1 ! BLACK :ISK ( ITS TAIL KEEP+ ! MEAT-FLIES (F1 ITS BRI/LY MANE :AT'S LIKE ! HAIRCUT ( A ,MOHAWK ,9DIAN & SWAY+ LIKE IT'S K9D ( DRUNK 9TO ! B>GA94 ,H5RY MAKES HIS M9D UP !RE & !N ?AT ?IS IS :]E HE'S GO+ TO LIVE1 HIM & ,SEL9A4 ,!Y /& TALK+ TO ! MAN A :ILE & HE TELLS !M ?AT HE'S ,NEWT ,PRATT & ?AT ! PLACE !Y'RE 9 IS CALL$ ! ,BURR[S1 OR ?AT'S :AT IT S\NDS LIKE1 & N[ ,H5RY LOOKS HE CAN SEE CREEP+1 JUMP+ COTTONTAILS ALL OV] :]E !RE'S ANY GRASS4 ,! VELD-HORSE BEL*ES4 ,MR4 ,PRATT ASKS HIM HIS NAME & HE SAYS ,H5RY ,GEORGE1 & ,NEWTON ,PRATT SAYS HE'LL REMEMB] ?AT4 ,BUT1 PRETTY OBVI\SLY1 HE DOESN'T4 

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,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#d1 #bba 3 ,BOOK #c1 ,*APT] #e -- ,ADD$4 

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