,BOOK #c1 ,*APT] #i 
,! ,ROOD 9 ! ,WALL 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,! ,R,O,O,D ,9 ,! ,W,A,L,L 

,IT'S :AT Y\'D CALL A FIR/-DRAFT FACE1 AFT] ! ANGRY & FRU/RAT$ CRUMPL+4 ,IT'S A PRIVATE EYE FACE1 IT'S ,/UDS ,GOODMAN'S ?UG-&-B\RBON-BATT]$ FIGUREHEAD CRE/+ ! DIRTY SUDS & BREAK]S ( ANO!R DEAD-5D T[N1 A BURN$-\T WORLD AS FALL5 AS HIS >*ES4 ,?IS IS H[ IT PLAYS1 ! GUM%OE LIFE1 ! 5DLESS WAIT+ BETWE5 CASES SITT+ BY A BL9D$ W9D[ 9 ! SLATT$ LI<T4 ,!SE EMPTY /RET*ES ) NO HOMICIDES1 !Y'RE MURD]4 

,/UDS TAKES A DEEP1 SATISFY+ DRAG UPON HIS BIRO4 ,PUCK]+ ?OSE CRUEL & CROOK$ LIPS 9TO A SPH9CT] HE EXHALES A WRI?+ G5IE ( IMAG9>Y SMOKE 9TO ! HYPH5AT$ SUNRAYS1 & CONSID]S H[ ! BONE-DRY P]IODS ( HIS *OS5 TRADE MU/ BE LIKE ?OSE 5DUR$ BY PEOPLE ( A !SPIAN P]SUASION4 ,/UDS1 A S]I\SLY ADDICT$ HET]OSEXUAL TRY+ TO CUT D[N UPON A =TY-DAMES-A-DAY VAG9A HABIT1 HAS NO TIME = ACTORS & !ATRICAL TYPES ON ! BASIS ?AT !Y'RE MO/LY SISSIES1 HORTICULTURAL LADS & SO =?4 ,IT'S A WELL-KN[N FACT4 ,/ILL1 ,/UDS CAN SYMPA?IZE ) H[ IT MU/ BE :5 !Y'RE \T ( WORK & 'RE/+ BETWE5 P>TS'4 ,! 9ACTIVITY1 HE KN[S1 CAN DRIVE A FELL] NUTS4 ,:Y1 EV5 ,/UDS CAN F9D HIMSELF JU/ SITT+1 DREAM+ UP SOME HYPO!TICAL & COMPLICAT$ CASE TO SOLVE !RE 9 HIS M9D1 & HE'S A T\<1 UNRECON/RUCT$ ,BROOKLYN WISE-GUY :O ?9KS ) HIS FI/S & PUN*ES PEOPLE ) HIS HEAD4 ,HE DOESN'T DREAM 9 BLACK & :ITE1 HE DREAMS 9 RADIO4 ,:AT MU/ IT BE LIKE = SOME NEUROTIC BIT-P>T PLAY] :5 ! /UDIO DOESN'T CALL8 ,! WEA!R-BEAT5 SLEU? W\LD BET HIS BOTTOM DOLL> ?AT ?OSE PRECI\S FL[]S MO/ LIKELY SP5D !IR TIME REHE>S+ = SOME CA/+ CALL ?AT NEV] COMES1 A C[BOY OR A BIG GAME HUNT]1 SOME?+ MASCUL9E LIKE ?AT4 ,:O KN[S1 MAYBE A PRIVATE DICK8 ,HE *UCKLES WRYLY AT ! ?\<T & /UBS HIS BIRO \T 9 A CONV5I5T C(FEE-CUP4 ,/UDS IS A ROLE ?AT W\LD REQUIRE A LOT ( TIME 9 MAKEUP4 

,SURE1 HE'S NOT A PRETTY BOY4 ,HE LIKES TO ?9K HE'S GOT A LIV$-9 LOOK1 ALBEIT LIV$ 9 BY ?REE G5]ATIONS ( *AOTIC ,LI?UANIAN ALCOHOLICS :O >E F9ALLY EVICT$ 9 AN >M$ SIEGE AFT] :I* ! PREMISES REMA9 UNUS$ = DECADES1 SAVE AS A UR9AL BY ! HOMELESS4 ,!N IT ALL BURNS D[N 9 AN 9SURANCE FIRE4 ,HE SITS !RE AT ! DRESS+-TABLE MIRROR 9 HIS SEAMY (FICE & SURVEYS HIS CRIME-SC5E C\NT5ANCE3 MOVE RI<T ALONG1 NO?+ TO SEE H]E4 ,HE TAKES 9 ! SEEM+LY HAPHAZ>D CORRUGATIONS ( HIS =EHEAD1 A VOLCANIC ROCK-FACE RIS5 FROM ! /RAGGL+ TREE-L9E ( HIS BR[S TO ! COMB$-OV] P9NACLE1 :5CE IT COMM5CES ITS DESC5T ?R\< BLACK & SLIPP]Y LONG GRASS TO ! NAPE4 ,! EYES >E FULL ( PESSIMISM & :AT W\LD APPE> TO BE SOME MANN] ( UNSPECIFI$ DISORD]2 EYES ?AT HAVE SE5 F> TOO MU* FROM SLI<TLY DIFF]5T ELEVATIONS & CONFLICT+ ANGLES1 R\<LY EQUIDI/ANT FROM ! ICE-AX NOSE1 BROK5 MORE (T5 ?AN A HOOK]'S HE>T4 ,!N1 OV] EV]Y?+1 A SP>SE BUT NOTICEABLE PEBBLE-DA% ( ,SUG> ,PUFF-SIZ$ W>TS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE MISSES ! ASYMMETRY1 A LAU<-TRACK PROMPT SPR9KL$ R$UNDANTLY ACROSS HIS FACE = ANYONE :O SOMEH[ HASN'T GOT ! GAG ALREADY4 ,PEOPLE US$ TO TELL HIM HE SURE WASN'T ANY OIL-PA9T+1 AL?\< !Y W]E OBVI\SLY UNFAMILI> ) ! CUBI/S4 

,ELSE:]E 9 ! BUILD+1 P]HAPS \T 9 HIS FRONT (FICE1 !RE'S A TELEPHONE LIKE A SPOIL$ *ILD DEM&+ EV]YONE'S ATT5TION4 ,HE CALLS TO HIS DIZZY SECRET>Y - 0,MOM8 ,MOM1 PHONE0 - BUT EVID5TLY %E'S ON ONE ( H] UNFA?OMABLE BREAKS1 P]HAPS CONNECT$ ) ! A=EM5TION$ DIZZ9ESS4 ,:5EV] HE'S UP H]E FROM ,LONDON /OPP+ OV] = A FEW DAYS HE TELLS H] ?AT %E %\LD *ANGE H] M$ICATION1 BUT %E DOESN'T LI/54 ,WOM54 ,CAN'T LIVE ) 'EM1 CAN'T REMEMB] :]E Y\ PUT Y\R SOCKS4 ,T5 R+S & !N IT GOES TO ANSW]PHONE1 HIS MESSAGE ?AT HE'D TAK5 ! PRECAUTION ( RECORD+ OV] H]S :5 HE >RIV$ H]E YE/]DAY4 ,%E DOESN'T GET A LOT ( CALLS1 :]EAS A CLI5T OR HIS AG5T MI<T GET ON ! BL[] TO HIM1 !ORETICALLY1 AT ANY TIME ( DAY OR NI<T4 ,?AT SCATT]BRA9$ TOMATO C\LD JU/ R]ECORD H] [N APOLOGETIC MUMBL+S AFT] HE WAS GONE1 & 9 ! MEANTIME W\LD MO/ PROBABLY BE HONOR$ TO HAVE HIS RI* TONES BEWILD]+ SU* MEMB]S ( H] PE] GR\P AS C\LD /ILL REMEMB] H[ TO USE A PHONE4 

0,HELLO !RE4 ,?IS IS ,ROB]T ,GOODMAN4 ,I'M NOT 9 JU/ AT ! MOM5T1 BUT PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE & ,I'LL GET RI<T BACK TO Y\4 ,?ANKS4 ,*E]IO40 

,/UDS HAS A FLAWLESS ,5GLI% ACC5T4 ,9 HIS L9E ( BUS9ESS1 A GUY NEV] KN[S :5 HE MI<T NE$ ONE1 POSSIBLY :ILE UND]COV] & IMP]SONAT+ SOME V>IETY ( ,DUKE OR COCKNEY B>R[-BOY1 CONCEIVABLY AS P>T ( A WILD CAP] :I* 9VOLVES ! CR[N JEWELS & A BLOND ( 9DEP5D5T LEGS4 ,?\< HE C\LD USE A JUICY CASE RI<T N[1 PREF]ABLY A TANGL$ 9CE/ DRAMA ) ,FAYE ,DUNAWAY ?\< HE'D MAKE DO ) BLACKMAIL OR DIVORCE IF NE$S BE1 ,/UDS RESI/S ! IMPULSE TO GO PICK UP ! N[ SIL5T 9/RUM5T & 9T]RUPT ! CALL]4 ,IF BY ANY *ANCE IT %\LD TURN \T TO BE A FAMILY /RUGGLE OV] AN 9H]ITANCE ?AT'S ESCALAT$ TO A KIDNAPP+ OR HOME 9VASION1 ,/UDS CAN F9D \T LAT]4 ,! LA/ ?+ HE WANTS IS = PROSPECTIVE CLI5TS TO ?9K HE'S DESP]ATE FROM HIS TONE ( VOICE :5 !Y CAN WORK ?AT \T !MSELVES1 LIKE EV]YBODY ELSE :O KN[S HIM HAS TO DO1 FROM ! GNAW$ FURNITURE & ! DISC>D$1 DISAPPO9T$ SCRAT*-C>D DROSS >\ND HIS FLAT4 

,SAT AT ! DRESS+ TABLE1 ZEBRA-PA9T$ ) ! %AD[ CA/ BY ! V5ETIANS1 HE REFLECTS UPON ! GRUBBY CRIM9AL C>E] HE'S L$ BE=E BECOM+ A H>D-BOIL$ 9VE/IGATOR4 ,HE'S DEALT NONSPECIFIC DRUGS 9 ,ALB]T ,SQU>E & BE5 A SC>-FAC$ SQUEAL] UP AT ,SUN ,HILL NICK4 ,HE'S LOIT]$ BY A ,LEXUS 9 A LEA!R TO 9CREASE ! SALES ( C> AL>MS1 HE'S GR[L$ & GL>$ ) ,GO?AM ,CITY GREAS]S1 WORN A ,DR4 ,SEUSS HAT = ! PURPOSES ( HIS 9ITIATION 9 AN E>LY ,NEW ,YORK ,IRI% /REET-GANG & RAP$ ,JOAN ( ,>C'S BIG SI/] BACK 9 FIFTE5?-C5TURY ,FRANCE4 ,?AT'S H[ IT IS ) ,/UDS4 ,HE'S A WILD C>D1 A MAV]ICK :O WON'T PLAY BY ! RULES4 ,HE'S 9 A BIG T[N :]E ! /REETS >5'T ALWAYS MEAN BUT CAN BE PRETTY FUCK+ IGNORANT4 ,HE'S BACK1 HE'S 9 ,NOR?AMPTON1 & ?IS TIME IT'S P]SONAL1 BY :I* HE MEANS IT'S DEF9ITELY NOT PR(ESSIONAL4 ,IF ONLY4 

,FRANKLY1 ?\< IT GOES AGA9/ ,/UDS' NATURALLY CO>SE & TE/O/]ONE-FUEL$ NATURE1 HE'D DO PANTOMIME1 BE ONE ( ,C9D]ELLA'S UGLY SI/]S OR KNEEL 9 HIS %OES = ,SN[ ,:ITE GIV5 HALF A *ANCE4 ,?IS CALLS TO M9D HIS S9CE-DEP>T$ SIDEKICK1 ,LITTLE ,JOHN ,<AVAM4 ,/UDS A9'T NO S5TIM5TALI/1 BUT NOT A HE>TLESS NI<T ( MORAL COMPROMISE GOES BY )\T HIM MISS+ HIS TOAD-BRE$+ DW>F PAL & !IR REEL+ DRUNK ,TODD ,BR[N+ ESCAPADES :5 !Y W]E HEAD/RONG1 RELATIVELY Y\NG1 & FROM ! PO9T ( VIEW ( AN OBS]V]1 V]Y DISCONC]T+4 ,JOHN1 LIKE ,/UDS1 HAD BE5 >\ND ! BLOCK C>E]-WISE1 SP5D+ SOME TIME AS A SCAV5G] AMONG ! ,JAWA S&-PEOPLE BE=E HE HOOK$ UP ) A GANG ( SIMIL>LY SIZ$ TIME TRAVEL+ L>C5I/S & SOON !REAFT] BANG$ A LOT ( =M] KNITWE> MODELS = ! SPECIALI/ M>KET4 ,/UDS ?9KS ONE SU* 5T]PRISE WAS CALL$ ,MUFF ,B&ITS BUT HE MAY HAVE MADE ?AT UP OR DREAM$ IT1 LIKE :5 HE'D 9SI/$ ! LATE LOCAL >TI/ ,H5RY ,BIRD HAD BE5 ! HUSB& ( ,VAMPIRA 9 ,PLAN #i FROM ,\T] ,SPACE :5 ACTUALLY ,BIRD'S WIFE WAS ,FR$A ,JACKSON1 ,K>L(F CO/> ( ,DIE1 ,MON/]1 ,DIE4 ,IT WAS A DUMB1 ROOKIE MI/AKE ?AT ANYBODY C\LD HAVE MADE1 BUT ,/UDS IS A ,P4,I4 :O PRIDES HIMSELF ON HIS REP = RELIABILITY & HE'LL MO/ LIKELY TAKE ! ]ROR ) HIM TO HIS GRAVE4 ,HE FIGURES ?AT'S ! K9D ( GUY HE IS4 

,! ?+ ?AT'S H>D = ,/UDS TO LIVE )\T IS ,LITTLE ,JOHN'S EXTREME UNLIKELIHOOD4 ,:5 AN UNLIKELY P]SON DIES IT JU/ MAKES ! OCCURR5CE ( O!R UNLIKELY PEOPLE ?AT MU* MORE UNLIKELY4 ,*>ACT]S LIKE ,LITTLE ,JOHN OR = ?AT MATT] ,/UDS HIMSELF >E LIKE /ATI/ICAL \TLI]S ( REALITY4 ,!Y SKEW ! FIGURES4 ,:5 !Y VANI% FROM ! PICTURE !N ! GRAPH RELAXES BACK T[>DS A BL& & COM=TABLE MEAN1 :]EAS ) ,LITTLE ,JOHN1 HE GAVE Y\ ! IMPRESSION ?AT ! WORLD WAS CAPABLE ( ANY?+4 ,! LAWS ( PHYSICS C[]$ 9 SURR5D] EV]Y TIME ! LITTLE FUCK] DRANK1 P]*$ ON HIS B>/OOL = EI<T P9TS1 N9E P9TS2 Y\ NEV] SAW HIM GO+ TO ! TOILET4 ,/UDS HAS !ORIZ$ ?AT HIS BUDDY WAS COMPLETELY HOLL[1 POSSIBLY SOME K9D ( TOBY JUG ?AT HAD SPONTANE\SLY DEVELOP$ HUMAN CONSCI\SNESS4 ,AN UNEXPECT$LY RESILI5T TOBY JUG1 ADMITT$LY3 AT ! CAS9O JU/ (F ,REG5T ,SQU>E HE'D HURL HIS COMPRESS$ MASS ONTO ! R\LETTE TABLE1 HOLL]+ 0,ALL '&S ON DECK0 9 CU/OM>Y HELIUM TONES4 ,HE'D BE5 AMONG ! NI<TM>E ,CR[N @& ,CU%ION CR[D PROVID+ ! CAPTIVE COMPOS] ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD ) AN AUDI5CE4 ,\T NE> ,/OKE ,BRU]NE AT ! ,BOAT1 ! PUB BY ! CANAL :]E ALL ! ,SUNDAY SAILORS US$ TO CONGREGATE 9 YA*T+ CAPS & POLO %IRTS1 !IR Y\NG] WIVES 9 SPORTY-LOOK+ %ORTS1 ! RAMPANT ,LITTLE ,JOHN W\LD ?RU/ HIS FACE 9TO ! NE>E/ D5IM CROT*4 

0,IT'S GREAT4 ,!IR HUSB&S ALL JU/ LAU< & GO1 LIKE1 ',/EADY ON N[1 LITTLE FELL[4 ',AD A SPOT TOO MU*1 'AVE WE8' & ?+S LIKE ?AT4 ,NOBODY WANTS TO 'IT A DW>F40 

,/UDS PICTURES ,JOHN /OOD 9 ! G>D5 ( HIS H\SE 9 ,YORK ,ROAD ) ! 0,TOAD ,HALL0 PLAQUE \TSIDE ! DOOR1 JU/ /&+ !RE BY ! /ONE SUNDIAL CACKL+ 9 DELI<T ) MASSIVE TOADS ALL OV] HIM1 ! FL[]B$S1 ! SUNDIAL1 EV]Y?+4 

,( C\RSE1 ! MO/ UNLIKELY ?+ AB\T HIS LATE FRI5D IS ?AT ,LITTLE ,JOHN WAS ACTUALLY ! GR&SON ( ! ,%AH ( ,P]SIA4 ,/UDS %AKES HIS UNPREPOSSESS+ HEAD & *UCKLES RUEFULLY1 AS IF !RE'S SOMEONE WAT*+4 ,GR&SON ( ! ,%AH4 ,TO ,/UDS IT'S MU* LIKE QUANTUM !ORY1 WOM51 OR CONTEMPOR>Y JAZZ 9 ?AT IT DON'T MAKE ANY S5SE4 

,HE REA*ES = ANO!R BIRO & !N CANCELS ! REFLEXIVE GE/URE HALFWAY ?R\<4 ,HIS CROAK] TELLS HIM HE %\LD SCALE HIS HABIT D[N TO MAYBE JU/ A F\NTA9 P5 ONCE 9 A :ILE1 ON WEEK5DS OR AT SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS4 ,AH1 ! HELL ) IT4 ,HE PU%ES BACK HIS *AIR & RISES FROM HIS DRESS+ TABLE 9 ! HOPE ?AT SOME ACTIVITY MI<T TAKE HIS /EEL-TRAP ,P4,I4 BRA9-BOX (F HIS CRAV+S4 ,/UDS GOES ?R\< TO ! FRONT (FICE1 TRICK$ \T TO RESEMBLE A C>PET$ L&+1 /AIRCASE & ,5GLI% SUBURBAN D[N/AIRS HALL TO ?R[ HIS CR$ITORS & GANGL& ADV]S>IES (F ! SC5T1 & *ECKS ! MESSAGE ON ! ANSW]PHONE4 

0,BOB1 = FUCK'S SAKE1 :AT'S ?AT VOICE AB\T8 ,Y\ S\ND LIKE Y\'RE AN OLD ,ETONIAN *ILD-MOLE/]4 ,?IS IS ,ALMA1 BY ! WAY4 ,SORRY TO CALL Y\ AT Y\R MOM'S1 BUT IF Y\'RE COM+ TO ! %[ TOMORR[ DON'T =GET TO BR+ ALONG ! ,BLAKE /UFF ?AT ,I ASK$ Y\ TO DIG UP1 ASSUM+ Y\'VE COME UP ) ANY?+4 ,IF NOT1 IT'S NO BIG DEAL4 ,JU/ NEV] SPEAK TO ME AGA94 ,& :Y IS ,ROB]T ,GOODMAN NOT 9 AT ! MOM5T8 ,IS HE PLAY+ POLO8 ',ROB]T ,GOODMAN'4 ,BOB1 NOBODY CALLS Y\ ,ROB]T4 ,TO BE FRANK1 MO/ PEOPLE >5'T POLITE 5\< TO EV5 CALL Y\ ,BOB4 ,MO/ PEOPLE GROAN & MAKE A SORT ( GE/URE ) !IR H&S4 ,!N !Y SIT D[N1 & !N !Y CRY4 ,!Y CRY LIKE BABIES1 ,BOB1 AT ! IDEA ( Y\R EXI/5CE4 ,ANYWAY1 ,I HOPE TO SEE ! ,BLAKE MAT]IAL AT ! EXHIBITION1 ) Y\ HOLD+ IT IF ABSOLUTELY NECESS>Y4 ,TAKE C>E1 ,BOBBY4 ,NEV] *ANGE4 ,TALK TO Y\ SOON40 

,HIS BLOOD1 HE NOTICES1 IS NOT IMM$IATELY TURN$ TO ICE !RE 9 HIS VE9S4 ,?AT'S /ORYBOOK DETECTIVE /UFF & 9 REAL LIFE ! BE/ ?AT HE CAN MANAGE IS P9K SLU%1 BUT1 /ILL1 IT A9'T A PRETTY FEEL+4 ,SURE1 ,/UDS KN[S ! NAME1 ! VOICE1 ! AVALAN*E ( UNDES]V$ ABUSE4 ,HE KN[S ! DAME3 A LONG1 TALL DR9K ( BATT]Y ACID GO+ BY ! MONIK] ( ,ALMA ,W>R54 ,?9K ( ?OSE SURPRIS+LY L>GE CLOTS ( HAIR Y\ SOMETIMES HAUL FROM A BLOCK$ BA?TUB TRAP1 & !N IMAG9E ONE ) EYES & A SUP]IOR DEMEANOR3 RI<T !RE'S A DESCRIPTION ?AT A POLICE SKET* >TI/ C\LD WORK FROM4 ,%E'S ! K9D ( CA/-IRON FRAIL Y\ DON'T =GET )\T HYPNOSIS1 & YET SOMEH[ ! :OLE ,W>R5 CASE HAS SLIPP$ ,/UDS' BULLET-CREAS$ & WOMAN-ADDL$ M9D UNTIL JU/ N[1 ?IS MOM5T4 

,H[ IT IS ) ,W>R51 %E'S GOT SOME V>IETY ( MOD]N >T SCAM GO+ = H] :]E ! RUBES PAY \T BIG BUCKS TO SEE H] S*IZOPHR5IC SCRIBBLES4 ,MON?S BACK1 ,/UDS CALL$ 9 AT H] BOHEMIAN DUMP ALONG ,EA/ ,P>K ,P>ADE1 JU/ UP ! /REET FROM :]E HE US$ TO FLOP :5 HE WAS LIV+ 9 H]E 9 T[N1 PRESUMABLY AT SOME PO9T AFT] HIS T\< H>D-KNOCK BOYHOOD 9 ! ,B[]Y DI/RICT ( ,NEW ,YORK1 OR ,BROOKLYN1 OR :]EV] IT WAS ,/UDS GREW UP4 ,IT'S ONLY BACK/ORY4 ,HE'LL FIGURE IT \T LAT]4 ,ANYWAY1 HE'D DROPP$ BY AT ! >TI/'S SQUALID DOVE TO F9D H] WORK+ FRANTICALLY AMID BILL[+ CUMULI ( CONTRAB&1 BEWILD]+ IMAGES 9 DIFF]5T M$IA PROPP$ ALL >\ND ! P>LOR UNTIL ,/UDS HAD FELT LIKE HE WAS TRAPP$ 9SIDE SOME K9D ( BU/$ ,GRATEFUL ,DEAD KALEIDOSCOPE4 ,BETWE5 PULLS ON A REEF] LONG 5\< TO QUALIFY AS P5IS 5VY & ]RATIC DAUBS AT H] UNFA?OMABLE CANVAS1 %E'D EXPLA9$ %E WAS PREP>+ SOME?+ LIKE ?REE DOZ5 PIECES = A NEW %[ %E WAS HOLD+ 9 ! RUN-D[N NEI<BORHOOD :]E %E'D GR[N UP4 ,/UDS FRANKLY D\BTS IT WAS AS R\< & DESP]ATE AS HIS [N UPBR++ 9 ! MEAN /REETS ( ! ,BRONX - P]HAPS ,HELL'S ,KIT*51 ,SATAN'S ,BIDET1 SOME:]E COLORFUL LIKE ?AT - AL?\< BY ALL ACC\NTS ! ,BOR\<S IS /ILL HAV+ L\SY LUCK4 ,W>R5'S OLD DI/RICT A9'T JU/ ON ! WRONG SIDE ( ! TRACKS1 IT'S ON ! TRACKS !MSELVES1 9 PIECES & SQUA%$ FLAT BY NE> EI<T HUNDR$ YE>S ( RUMBL+ SOCIAL LOCOMOTION4 

,HE REMEMB]S HAV+ AN UNPLEASANT RUN-9 ) ! PLACE BACK 9 HIS *ILDHOOD1 :5 HIS P>5TS HAD 9SI/$ ?AT HE TAKE DANCE-CLASSES AT ! ,M>JORIE ,PITT-,DRAFF5 ,S*OOL 9 ,PH5IX ,/REET1 >\ND ! BACK ( ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*4 ,OR WAS IT HIM1 9SI/+ ON ! DANCE CLASS8 ,/UDS1 HIS MEMORY CRAMM$ FULL ( BODIES1 B>ROOMS & ! BRUNETS HE'S LET SLIP BETWE5 HIS F+]S1 CAN'T RECALL4 ,IT DOESN'T MATT]4 ,! IMPORTANT ?+ IS ?AT HE HAD TO WE> A KILT4 ,A N9E-YE>-OLD BOY 9 A KILT1 TAK5 TO DANC+ CLASSES 9 A ?UG-M5AG]IE LIKE ,ALMA ,W>R5'S =M] NEI<BORHOOD4 ,/UDS ?9KS ?AT \<T TO C\NT AS *ILD ABUSE4 ,HE'S M5TION$ IT TO ,W>R5 & H] ONLY COMM5T HAD BE5 ?AT IF %E'D 5C\NT]$ HIM BACK !N %E'D MORE OR LESS HAVE BE5 COMPELL$ TO BEAT HIM UP3 0,PO% KIDS 9 KILTS1 IT'S ONE ( ! UNWRITT5 LAWS04 ,N[ ?AT ,/UDS ?9KS AB\T IT1 HE WAS BEAT5 UP MORE (T5 AS A S(T-C5T]$ Y\NG S*OOLBOY ?AN AS A H>D-BITT5 PRIVATE EYE1 & ON ! GREAT MAJORITY ( ?OSE *ILDHOOD OCCASIONS HE WAS WE>+ ORD9>Y TR\S]S4 ,HE SUSPECTS ! BUS9ESS ) ! KILT IS ONLY P>T ( ! EQUATION4 

,! REAL KICK] IS ?AT ! DI%EVEL$ >TI/'S %[ IS S*$UL$ = TOMORR[1 & ?AT FUR!RMORE IT'S TAK+ PLACE AT ! DAY NURS]Y 9 ,PH5IX ,/REET :I* US$ TO BE ! ,M>JORIE ,PITT-,DRAFF5 ,S*OOL4 ,?IS EXHIBITION IS CONNECT$ ) ! CASE %E WANT$ ,/UDS TO TAKE UP :5 HE CALL$ TO SEE H] ?AT DAY ON ,EA/ ,P>K ,P>ADE4 ,AS ,W>R5 HAD EXPLA9$ IT TO HIM !N1 %E HAD TW5TY OR ?IRTY PIECES F9I%$ BUT ! SUBJECT MATT] WASN'T ALL CONNECT+ UP ! WAY %E HOP$ IT W\LD4 ,FROM ,/UDS' P]SPECTIVE IT WAS LIKE %E'D LOAD$ UP A SAW$-(F %OTGUN ) A BUCK%OT ( SIGNIFICANCE !N FIR$ IT AT A WALL EXPECT+ ! BLA/-PATT]N TO MAKE S5SE4 ,!RE W]E SOME IMAGES 9SPIR$ BY HYMNS1 A TILE >RANGEM5T BAS$ UPON ! LIFE ( LOCAL ,HOLY ,JOE ,PHIL ,DODDRIDGE & SOME NONS5SE ?AT CONC]N$ A /ONE CROSS BR\<T H]E FROM ,J]USALEM4 ,ONE PICTURE SEEM$ TO BE A LIK5ESS ( ,B5 ,P]RIT1 A POETIC RUMMY ,/UDS KN[S FROM BACK 9 ! DAY1 & !RE WAS SOME MIX$-M$IA BUS9ESS MEANT TO REPRES5T DET]M9ISM & ! ABS5CE ( FREE WILL1 OR AT LEA/ ?AT'S :AT ! POT-SATURAT$ PA9T] CLAIM$4 ,9 ,/UDS' OP9ION1 ,W>R5'S EXHIBITION IS A R&OM F\R-LANE PILE-UP ( IDEAS ) NO?+ JO9+ !M TOGE!R1 & TO MAKE ?+S WORSE %E SEEMS TO ?9K ! :OLE MESS %\LD SOMEH[ CONNECT ) ,WILLIAM ,BLAKE4 

0,I MEAN1 ,I'VE GOT A LOT ( REF]5CES TO MY FAMILY HAV+ COME FROM ,LAMBE?1 BUT ,I'M ?9K+ IT NE$S SOME?+ MORE SUB/ANTIAL1 SOME?+ ?AT PULLS ALL ! !MES TOGE!R4 ,SO1 ,BOB1 ?AT'S :AT ,I WANT Y\ TO DO4 ,F9D \T H[ ,BLAKE TIES 9TO ALL ( ?IS4 ,F9D \T :AT L9KS ,BLAKE ) ! ,BOR\<S & ,I PROMISE ?AT ,I'LL PA9T Y\1 ,BOBBY4 ,I'LL IMMORTALIZE Y\1 & TOGE!R WE'LL 9FLICT Y\R FACE UPON A BLAMELESS FUTURE4 ,H['S ?AT = AN (F]80 

,/UDS' OP9ION1 :I* HE DIDN'T V5TURE AT ! TIME1 IS ?AT ! (F] IS A /&>D ,ALMA ,W>R5 CONTRACT 9 ?AT IT 9VOLVES NO ACTUAL MONEY4 ,IMMORTALITY & ,G,B,P#a4#e WILL BUY ,/UDS ANO!R PACK ( BIROS4 ,/ILL1 IT'S WORK1 & HE ACCEPT$ IT4 ,! PA9T-FLECK$ HAG HAS ,/UDS OV] A B>REL & IF HE CAN'T MAKE GOOD ON ! CASE HE KN[S HE'S F9I%$ 9 ?IS T[N4 ,W>R5 WILL SEE TO IT4 ,%E KN[S TOO MU* AB\T HIM1 ALL ?OSE /ORIES BURI$ 9 HIS VIOL5T PA/ ?AT HE PREF]S TO KEEP ?AT WAY4 ,HE GRIMACES AS HE RECALLS ! TIME HE BUMP$ 9TO H] ON ! ,KETT]+ ,ROAD & %E'D ASK$1 NO D\BT 9 AN AFFECTATION ( CONC]N1 :Y HE WAS LIMP+4 

0,WELL1 ,I WAS1 UH 444 ,I WAS 9 ,AB+TON ,P>K LA/ NI<T1 UP BY ! B&/&4 ,AS Y\ KN[1 ,I LIKE TO KEEP MY H& 9 ) ! ACT+4 ,:AT ,I DO IS1 ,I REHE>SE P>TS SO ?AT ,I'LL BE READY IF ,I'M (F]$ !M4 ,IT WAS A SORT ( SECRET AG5T ROLE :]E ! SC5E OP5$ ) ME /&+ ON ! B&/& & !N1 AT A SIGNAL1 :AT ,I DO IS VAULT OV] ! H&RAIL & L& ON ! GRASS SO ?AT ,I'M 9 A CAT-LIKE POSE4 ,I LOOK >\ND1 SCANN+ ! D>KNESS1 !N RUN (F 9TO ! %AD[S40 

,W>R5 HAD JU/ />$ AT HIM1 BL9K+ H] CREEPY EYES 9 DISBELIEF4 

0,& SO ?AT'S H[ Y\ HURT Y\R LEG80 

0,NO1 NO1 ,I DID ALL ( ?AT P]FECTLY1 BUT !N !Y WANT$ ONE MORE TAKE4 ,! SECOND TRY1 ONE ( MY FEET CAU<T ON ! RAIL+ :5 ,I VAULT$ OV]40 

,H] EXPRESSION HAD BE5 LIKE A KNIFE FI<T BETWE5 PITY & CONTEMPT :ILE 9CR$ULITY LOOK$ ON & DIDN'T DO A DAMN$ ?+4 

0 ',!Y' 80 ,%E'D GAZ$ AT HIM LIKE HE WAS SOME?+ UNEXPECT$ 9 A ,PETRIE DI%4 0,!Y WANT$ ONE MORE TAKE8 ,! FILM CREW 9 Y\R M9D1 ,BOB1 WANT$ ONE MORE TAKE4 ,?AT'S :AT Y\'RE TELL+ ME80 

,YEAH1 ?AT'S :AT ,/UDS WAS TELL+ H] & LOOK+ BACK HE WI%ES ?AT HE HADN'T4 ,9=MATION1 9 ! H&S ( AN UN/ABLE WOMAN >TI/1 IS A WEAPON4 ,PROBABLY A WEAPON LIKE A NAIL-FILE 9 ?AT IT'S NOT V]Y MASCUL9E BUT C\LD /ILL DO A LOT ( DAMAGE1 SAY = 9/ANCE IF SOMEBODY /UCK ONE 9 Y\R EYE4 ,! UP%OT IS ?AT ,W>R5 HAS ,/UDS :]E %E WANTS HIM1 & IF HE CAN'T SOLVE ! ,BLAKE CASE !N HIS REPUTATION'S %OT4 ,IT'S BLACKMAIL1 PURE & SIMPLE4 ,ONLY NOT SO PURE4 ,OR SIMPLE4 

,WE>ILY HE REA*ES = ! LEA!R JACKET :I*1 HE RATIONALIZES1 MAYBE /&S 9 = HIS CU/OM>Y TR5* COAT :5 IT'S AT ! CLEAN]S GETT+ ALL ! BLOOD & BOOZE R9S$ \T1 PLUS 9VISIBLE M5D+ ON ! PR(USE BULLET HOLES4 

0,MO?S04 ,?AT W\LD BE HIS LIKELY QUIP :5 ! /AFF AT ! CLEAN]S ASK$ HIM :AT HAD MADE !M4 0#c#h-CALIB] MO?S40 

,LEAV+ A BRIEF NOTE = HIS SECRET>Y ) REG>D TO D9N] PREF]5CE1 ,/UDS HAULS HIS MORALLY BRUIS$ C>CASS \T 9TO ! UN=GIV+ LI<T & HEADS T[>DS HIS C> OR W\LD A YANK SAY AUTOMOBILE8 

,TW5TY M9UTES LAT] HE REMEMB]S :]E HE GOT ?AT ,9T],CITY GRID ( FR[N-L9ES1 NUDG+ HIS FRU/RAT$ VEHICLE UP ANO!R RAMP ONTO A HI<] LEVEL ( ! ,GROSV5OR ,C5T]'S CR[D$ MULTI/ORY C> P>K4 ,:O'D HAVE ?\<T !RE W\LD BE ALL !SE PEOPLE ON A ,FRIDAY8 ,F9ALLY HE W9S A SPACE BY />+ ?REAT5+LY AT A SILV]-HAIR$ OLD LADY 9 A ,CITRO5 &1 :5 HE HAS BO? PAID & DISPLAY$1 MAKES HIS WAY D[N BY ELEVATOR 9TO ! T9NITUS HUM & SIZZLE ( ! %OPP+ C5T]'S L[] FLOOR4 ,/UDS WEAVES HIS WAY ?R\< ! S$AT$-LOOK+ HUMAN SURF1 AMONG ! SCRUN*Y-TUFT$ MOMS :O /E] !IR BUGGY-BUBBL$ (FSPR+ AT A /ATELY1 C]EMONIAL PACE OV] ! GLITT]+ ELECTRIC-LI<T$ TILES2 BETWE5 ! /RANGELY M>G9AL & <O/LY TE5AG]S :O LIMIT !IR DEFIANCE TO A SMIRK1 A WOOLLY JUMP] & ! UNCONTE/$ OCCUPATION ( A B5* \TSIDE ! ,BODY ,%OP4 ,/UDS CURLS HIS LIP ON ONE SIDE 9 :AT'S MEANT TO BE DISDA9 UNTIL HE NOTICES ! /ROLL+ %OPP]S GLANC+ AT HIM WORRI$LY 9 CASE HE'S EI!R HAV+ OR RECOV]+ FROM A /ROKE4 ,TAK+ A RI<T TURN AT ! ELB[ ( ! MUTT]+ >CADE 9TO A /RET* ?AT HAD BE5 ,WOOD ,/REET ONCE1 ,/UDS DOGG$LY HEADS = ! DAYLI<T \T BEYOND ! GLASS DOORS AT ! WALKWAY'S 5D4 

,AB+TON ,/REET'S P9K 9CL9E SEEMS B]EFT DESPITE ! FLORETS ( SPR+ SUN ?AT DROP HAPHAZ>DLY ?R\< FLIMSY CL\D4 ,?IS =M] MA9 DRAG ( ! T[N1 ! BUNNY-RUN1 LOOKS WEI<$ D[N BY ! REALIZATION ?AT IT HAS NO PURPOSE ANYMORE4 ,IT KEEP ITS HEAD D[N1 TRIES NOT TO BE NOTIC$ & S9C]ELY HOPES IT'S OV]LOOK$ 9 ANY =?COM+ WAVE ( R$UNDANCIES4 ,IT SEEMS TO %R9K FROM ! FL9T GL9T ?AT'S 9 ,/UDS' EYE AS IF A%AM$1 LIKE :5 Y\ RECOGNIZE SOME US$-UP JUNKIE HOOK] AS Y\R TEA*] FROM FIR/ GRADE1 NOT ?AT HE'S EV] HAD SU* AN IMPROBABLE 5C\NT]4 ,C]TA9LY NOT ) ,MISS ,WIGG9S1 ANYWAY4 ,AW1 ,*RI/4 ,HE WI%ES ?AT HE HADN'T CONJUR$ ?AT SPECIFIC IMAGE4 ,A REAL PRIVATE EYE1 HE TELLS HIMSELF1 W\LD MANAGE TO COME UP ) H>D-BOIL$ METAPHORS ?AT DIDN'T ACTUALLY TURN HIS [N /OMA*4 ,A CRU%$ SKULL ?AT'S LIKE A BROK5 :OLEGRA9 MU/>D S]V]1 = EXAMPLE1 IS A SIMILE ?AT GETS ! PO9T ACROSS )\T BE+ 9DELICATE4 ,MISS ,WIGG9S HOBBL+ UP & D[N NEXT TO A BUSY TRAFFIC JUNCTION 9 H] HE>+ AID1 A M9I SKIRT & H]O9 )DRAWAL IS ANO!R ?+ 5TIRELY1 A ?+ SCOR*$ 9DELIBLY ONTO ,/UDS' =EBRA9 TO ! PO9T :]E HE CAN NO LONG] REMEMB] :AT ! MON/R\S IMAG]Y WAS MEANT TO REPRES5T4 ,OH1 YES - ,AB+TON ,/REET4 ,H[ DID HE GET FROM !RE TO ALL ?AT BUS9ESS ) 444 IT DOESN'T MATT]4 ,JU/ =GET IT4 ,FOCUS ON ! CASE 9 H&4 

,HE SL\*ES UP ! HILL PA/ ,WOOLWOR?S1 !N DECIDES TO TRY A SAUNT] & EV5TUALLY COMPROMISES ) A K9D ( SPE$Y ,*APL9 %UFFLE ?AT'S AB&ON$ AS UNWORKABLE BE=E HE REA*ES ! ,CO-OP ,>CADE4 ,HE'S HEAD$ = A JO9T HE KN[S H]E 9 ?IS CRUMMY BURG :]E HE CAN GET HIS 9=MATION FROM RELIABLE S\RCES4 ,IT'S ! K9D ( PLACE ?AT ORD9>Y PEOPLE T5D TO KEEP AWAY FROM1 A SUSPICI\S DOVE :]E Y\ CAN SPOT ! CRIM9AL ACTIVITY JU/ FROM ! WAY ?AT EV]YBODY TALKS 9 :ISP]S1 & :]E ANY JOK] :O DON'T PLAY BY ! H\SE RULES IS LOOK+ = SOME S]I\S PAYBACK1 POSSIBLY A F9E4 ,/UDS HASN'T VISIT$ ,NOR?AMPTON LIBR>Y 9 YE>S1 BUT HE'D /ILL BET HIS LA/ R$ C5T IT'S GOT ! ANSW]S ?AT HE'S LOOK+ =1 & :AT ! HELL'S A R$ C5T1 ANYWAY8 ,IS IT A RUBLE8 ,OR A KOPECK8 ,!RE'S SO MU* AB\T ?IS L9E ( WORK1 ?IS IDIOM1 ?AT HE DOESN'T KN[4 

,TO ,/UDS' SURPRISE1 ! LIBR>Y'S L[] DOOR B5EA? ITS H&SOME PORTICO NO LONG] (F]S 5TRY TO ! BUILD+1 :I* NECESSITATES A %ORT /ROLL PA/ ! /RUCTURE'S GR& FACADE TO ! TOP 5TRANCE4 ,AMBL+ SELF-CONSCI\SLY B5EA? ! SLI<TLY CONDESC5D+ GAZE ( ,&REW ,WA%+TON1 UNCLE ( ! MORE FAM\S ,GEORGE1 HE'S ALMO/ REA*$ ! SAFETY ( ! SW+ DOORS :5 HE REALIZES SOME?+ DOESN'T FEEL RI<T4 ,TRU/+ 9/9CTS HON$ 9 ,VIETNAM1 ,KOREA OR CONCEIVABLY 9 ,WORLD ,W> ,ONE1 ,/UDS GLANCES UP & /OPS DEAD 9 HIS TRACKS4 ,UP AT ! /REET'S F> 5D A BLACK & ?REAT5+ WEA!R-FRONT APPROA*ES1 B[L+ D[NHILL 9 A :IRLW9D ( DISPLAC$ P$E/RIANS & FLURRI$ LITT]4 ,ALMA ,W>R54 

,N]VE-5DS SCREAM+ LIKE A F\R AL>M FIRE1 PRAY+ ?AT %E HASN'T SPOTT$ HIM ALREADY1 ,/UDS HURLS HIMSELF ?R\< ! 5TRANCE & 9TO ! LEAFLET-PAP]$ LIBR>Y RECEPTION >EA4 ,FLATT5+ HIMSELF TO AN UNSI<TLY LEA!R /A9 AGA9/ ! NEON H&BILLS ON ! EA/ WALL1 HE SUCKS 9 A BREA? & HOLDS IT1 EYES FIX$ ON ! GLASS DOOR AS HE WAITS = ! 9TIMIDAT+ H>RIDAN TO /ALK PA/ 9 ! /REET \TSIDE4 ,HE ISN'T EV5 REALLY SURE :Y HE'S AVOID+ H]1 EXCEPT ?AT AUTOMATIC FURTIV5ESS 9 ANY SITUATION SEEMS LIKE GOOD =M FROM A PRIVATE EYE P]SPECTIVE4 ,IT'S :AT ,/UDS W\LD DO4 ,BESIDES1 HE HASN'T GOT ! 9=MATION ?AT HIS NI<TM>E CLI5T IS C\NT+ ON HIM TO RETRIEVE REG>D+ ! ,BLAKE SITUATION1 & ?+S C\LD TURN UGLY4 

,9 ! SORRY PREC9CT \T BEYOND ! GLASS A GREAT UNTIDY AVALAN*E 9 LIP/ICK RUMBLES PA/ FROM RI<T TO LEFT1 & ,/UDS EXHALES4 ,UNPEEL+ HIMSELF FROM ! LAM9AT$ PO/]S AT HIS RE> HE /EPS BACK TO ! DOOR & OP5S IT1 POK+ HIS RUPTUR$ PUN*-BAG HEAD >\ND ! $GE TO SQU9T 9QUISITIVELY AT ! UNSUSPECT+ BEATNIK >TI/ AS %E FLAPS & FL\NCES D[N ,AB+TON ,/REET AWAY FROM HIM1 LIKE A REC$+ /ORM4 ,AS HE 5JOYS ! PRIVATE EYE'S PR]OGATIVE ( WAT*+ SOMEBODY :ILE UNOBS]V$1 A FUR!R ELEM5T ( 9TRIGUE 5T]S ! ALREADY CURI\S PICTURE3 HEAD+ UP ! /REET ON A COLLISION C\RSE ) ! DESC5D+ PA9T] IS ! WAI/COAT & /RAW HAT CLAD FIGURE ( ! ,BOR\<S' [N B>D-9-A-BOTTLE1 ! NE>-UNIV]SALLY ANOMAL\S ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT4 

,AS !SE TWO DI/9CTIVE PRODUCTS ( ,NOR?AMPTON'S OLDE/ NEI<BORHOOD APPROA* EA* O!R1 ,/UDS IS WITNESS TO A MY/IFY+ RITUAL4 ,ON CAT*+ SI<T ( ,W>R51 ! 9EBRIAT$ POET SWIVELS & HEADS BACK ! WAY HE'S COME = SEV]AL PACES BE=E TURN+ ONCE AGA9 & /AGG]+ 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! >TI/1 ?IS TIME D\BL$ UP ) LAU<T]4 ,MISALIGN$ EYES N>R[+1 ,/UDS WOND]S IF ,B5 ,P]RIT'S /RANGE BEHAVIOR C\LD BE SOME K9D ( CODE OR SIGNAL4 ,MAYBE ?IS APP>5T *ANCE 5C\NT] BETWE5 ! DI%EVEL$ PA9T] & ONE ( H] CURR5T SUBJECTS ISN'T QUITE AS R&OM AS IT SEEMS4 ,SUSPICIONS DEEP5+ HE WAT*ES ,W>R5 PLANT AN UN*>ACT]I/IC KISS ON ,P]RIT'S *EEK - IT'S C]TA9LY NOT H[ %E SAYS HELLO TO ,/UDS - & !N AFT] A MOM5T OR TWO'S CONV]SATION !RE'S A FURTIVE TRANSF] AS :AT MI<T BE MONEY OR P]HAPS A MESSAGE *ANGES H&S4 ,>E ! DECREPIT PAIR CONSPIRATORS1 OR GROTESQUE SWEE!>TS1 OR HAS ,W>R5 REA*$ ! AGE :]E %E PAYS DRUNKS TO LET H] KISS !M8 ,DUCK+ BACK 9SIDE ! LIBR>Y 5TRANCE AS AT LA/ ! C\PLE SEP>ATE & C>RY ON ) !IR RESPECTIVE J\RNEYS UP OR D[N ! SLOP+ /REET1 ,/UDS MUSES ?AT :I*EV] WAY ! COOKIE FALLS OR ! DICE CRUMBLES HE'S N[ ALMO/ C]TA9 ?AT ,B5 ,P]RIT'S 9VOLV$ 9 ! ,BLAKE CASE RI<T UP TO HIS BLE>Y1 W\ND$-LOOK+ EYEBALLS4 ,ALL ,/UDS HAS TO DO IS F9D \T H[4 

,TO ?AT 5D1 HE /RIDES FUR!R ON 9TO ! *ANG$ & ONLY 9T]MITT5TLY FAMILI> LIBR>Y4 ,HE ORI5TS HIMSELF BY ! TALL ,AB+TON ,/REET W9D[S 9 ! NOR? WALL1 :]E ! FILT]$ DAYLI<T P\RS D[N ON DISPLAY /&S ?AT N[ OCCUPY AN >EA :I* US$ TO S]VE AS ! NEWSPAP] READ+ ROOM4 ,HE CAN RECALL ! REGI/] ( LOCAL HOBOES :O ONCE OCCUPI$ ! LONG-S9CE VANI%$ >M*AIRS1 MO/ CONSPICU\SLY IF IT HAPP5$ TO BE RA9+4 ,!RE W\LD BE ,MAD ,BILL1 ,MAD ,*>LIE1 ,MAD ,FRANK1 ,MAD ,GEORGE & ,MAD ,JOE1 POSSIBLY EV5 ,:I/L+ ,WALT] :O1 A %ELL-%OCK$ VET]AN ( ! ,FIR/ ,WORLD ,W>1 WAS ! SOLE MEMB] ( ?AT COMPANY :O SUFF]$ FROM A NOTICEABLE M5TAL ILLNESS4 ,ALL ! RE/ W]E M]ELY HOMELESS & HALF-CUT1 ?\< LOCAL FOLKLORE HAD ATTRIBUT$ TO EA* ( !M ! [N]%IP ( BLOCKS ( FLATS 9 NE>BY T[NS4 ,CONCEIVABLY1 ?IS 9F]R$ /ATUS AS ECC5TRIC MILLIONAIRES WAS DREAM$ UP AS JU/IFICATION = NOT GIV+ ANY SP>E *ANGE TO ! D[N-AT-HEEL1 OR AT LEA/ ?AT'S :Y ,/UDS HIMSELF W\LD HAVE COME UP ) ?AT K9D ( A Y>N4 ,PROGRESS+ ?R\< TO ! MA9 CONC\RSE ( ! V5]ABLE 9/ITUTION1 HE RECALLS A LA/-M9UTE ADDITION TO HIS LI/ ( BR[S+ BUMS1 ?IS BE+ ,W4,H4 ,DAVIES :O HAD SCRIBBL$ D[N HIS ,AUTOBIOGRAPHY ( A ,SUP]TRAMP !RE UND] ?OSE TALL W9D[S 9 AMONG ! MUTT]+ & PROBABLY 9FE/$ ?RONG4 ,& N[ HE ?9KS AB\T IT1 DIDN'T ,DAVIES GO ON TO COLLABORATE ) ONE ( ,W>R5'S H]OES1 COCKNEY OCCULTI/ & >TI/ ,AU/9 ,SP>E1 ON !IR >TS PUBLICATION ,=M8 ,! WAY ,/UDS UND]/&S IT ,SP>E WAS AN ,$W>DIAN WEIRDO :O AT ONE PO9T CLAIM$ TO HAVE BE5 ,WILLIAM ,BLAKE 9 A PRIOR 9C>NATION1 AL?\< HE SUPPOSES ?IS CONNECTION IS TOO T5U\S TO BE ! K9D ( ?+ ?AT HIS EMPLOY]'S LOOK+ =4 ,!RE'S NO?+ = IT4 ,HE RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTS HE'S GO+ TO HAVE TO DO SOME HEAVY DIGG+4 

,! BE/ PLACE TO />T1 HE REASONS1 IS ) ,BLAKE HIMSELF1 ! 5IGMATIC FIGURE AT ! C5T] ( ?IS COLD CASE4 ,SWIFTLY HUNT+ D[N AN OV]SIZE $ITION ( ! ,LAMBE? VISION>Y'S WORK1 ,/UDS F9DS HIMSELF A TABLE & A *AIR :]E HE CAN CAT* UP ) ! SK9NY ON HIS PRESUM$ VICTIM4 ,SKIMM+ ?R\< ! VOLUME'S 9TRODUCTION HE CONFIRMS ?AT ,BLAKE'S DEAD1 V]Y DEAD1 S9CE #a#h#b#g4 ,! PRIME SUSPECTS SEEM TO HAVE BE5 COMPLICATIONS BR\<T ON BY A B[EL COMPLA9T1 AL?\< SOME TIME BE=E HIS DEA? ! POET HIMSELF HAD PUT ! F+] ON ! ,5GLI% ,W9T] AS A LIKELY CULPRIT4 ,IT'S A TEMPT+ !ORY1 BUT ,/UDS RAPIDLY DISMISSES ! FREQU5TLY CA/IGAT$ SEASON FROM ! FRAME = WANT ( MOTIVE4 ,)\T SO MU* AS A SCRAP ( EVID5CE PROVID+ ANY LEADS ! CASE IS GO+ NO:]E4 ,HELL1 IT TURNS \T !Y DON'T EV5 HAVE A BODY YET1 ) BO? ,BLAKE & HIS WIFE DUMP$ 9TO A COMMUNAL PAUP]S' GRAVE AT ,BUNHILL ,FIELDS1 !IR HEAD/ONE GIV+ ONLY AN APPROXIMATE LOCATION = ! PAIR'S REMA9S4 ,! O!R WELL-KN[N LIT]>Y OCCUPANTS ( ! ,EA/ ,LONDON CEMET]Y1 ,BUNYAN & ,DEFOE1 BO? KN[N TO HAVE MADE J\RNEYS TO ,NOR?AMPTON T[N & TO HAVE WRITT5 ON !IR TRAVELS H]E1 >E M>K$ BY A S>COPHAGUS & OBELISK RESPECTIVELY4 ,:Y C\LDN'T IT BE ONE ( !M ?AT ,W>R5 WAS OBSESS$ BY8 

,) A BAD MOOD COM+ ON HE FLIPS ?R\< ! REMA9D] ( ! 9TRO1 ANXI\S = ! CONSOLATION ( ! PLATES1 P]HAPS A T\* ( ,GLAD ,DAY TO LIFT UP HIS SPIRITS4 ,:AT HE F9DS HE HAS =GOTT5 IS ! GREAT PR$OM9ANCE ( GLOOMY OR D[NRI<T DI/URB+ IMAGES ?AT TYPIFY ! NOT$ ANGEL-:ISP]]'S OEUVRE4 ,H]E'S ,NEBU*ADNEZZ> CRAWL+ NUDE & HORROR-/RICK5 ?R\< A SUBT]RANEAN UND]WORLD1 :ILE H]E'S ! CORPUL5T ,<O/ ( A ,FLEA EMB>K+ \T ONTO ITS TWILI<T /AGE1 A B[L ( BLOOD HELD PR\DLY UP BE=E IT4 ,EV5 ON ?OSE PAGES :]E ! <\LS & MON/]S >E NOT PRES5T1 SU* AS ! 5TIRELY SA9T-&-S]APH DECORAT$ & YET OV]:ELM+LY FUN]EAL ,EPITOME ( ,JAMES ,H]VEY'S ,M$ITATIONS AMONG ! ,TOMBS1 A GRAVEY>D DAMP IS EV]Y:]E4 ,BELAT$LY ,/UDS REALIZES :Y ?AT LA/ ,BLAKE EXHIBITION AT ,TATE ,BRITA9 SOME TIME BACK1 9 COMPANY ) HIS CONTEMPOR>IES ,GILRAY & ,FUSELI1 WAS SUBTITL$ ,GO?IC ,NI<TM>ES4 ,HE REFLECTS ?AT IF ,BLAKE DOESN'T TURN \T TO HAVE A ,NOR?AMPTON%IRE CONNECTION !N HE \<T TO HAVE1 SPORT+ A DISMAL ATTITUDE LIKE ?AT4 ,NOR?AMPTON WAS ! BIR?PLACE1 9 ,/UDS' E/IMATION1 ( ! MOD]N ,GO?IC MOVEM5T & ! PA9T]1 POET & PR9T-MAK]'S OBVI\S PREOCCUPATION ) MORTALITY W\LD HAVE GONE D[N A /ORM AT ANY ( ?OSE E>LY ,BAUHAUS GIGS4 

,HE F9DS ?AT HE IS MUMBL+ ! *ORUS ( 0,BELA ,LUGOSI'S ,DEAD0 B5EA? HIS MORN+ C(FEE BREA? & LETS HIS ?\<TS DRIFT FROM ! JOB 9 H& BACK TO ?OSE BLACK & SILV] NI<TS ( TW5TY1 ?IRTY YE>S AGO4 ,/UDS HAD BE5 ONE ( ! ,GR& ,GUIGNOL TR\PE ?AT GA!R$ LIKE ,C>PA?IAN FOG >\ND ,BAUHAUS #a#i#a#i1 AS ! 5SEMBLE ( GOOD *EEKBONES W]E !N KN[N4 ,!RE HAD BE5 ,/UDS HIMSELF1 & ,UB]-ROADIE ,REASONABLE ,RAY4 ,!RE HAD BE5 LEAD GUIT>I/ ,DANNY'S O!RWORLDLY BRO!R1 ,G>Y ,A%1 & NATURALLY !RE HAD BE5 ,LITTLE ,JOHN4 ,FROM :AT ,/UDS CAN RECALL AB\T ! G5ESIS ( TW5TIE?-C5TURY ,GO?IC !RE HAD NEV] BE5 A MORBID MA/]-PLAN OR /YLE AG5DA UND]LY+ ALL ! VAMPIRE REF]5CES & ! HAUNT$ ,DELVAUX RAILWAY /ATIONS ON ! PICTURE SLEEVES4 ,?AT /UFF HAD ALL EM]G$ FROM 9DIVIDUAL MEMB]S ( ! B& &1 BY EXT5SION1 FROM ! T[N ?AT !Y'D GR[N UP 92 FROM ITS CREEPY ?\S&-YE>-OLD *UR*ES1 FROM ITS SECTION$ POETS1 IMMOLAT$ WIT*ES1 HEADS ON PIKES1 DEAD QUE5S & CAPTUR$ K+S1 ?IS MOLD & MADNESS ALL DI/ILL$ 9TO ,PETE ,MURPHY *ANNEL+ ,IGGY ,POP OV] A WEAVE ( ,A%'S RIFFS FROM AN 9T]NAL BIK] FILM & ! AORTAL RHY?M SECTION ( ! BRO!RS ,DAVID ,J & ,KEV9 ,HASK9S4 ,& FROM !SE ABSURDLY 5T]TA9+ ORIG9S A FLOOD ( MORTU>Y *IC1 FL5S$ PALLOR & CADAV] S\NDTRACKS HAD >IS5 TO 5GULF ! ,WE/]N WORLD 9 MELAN*OLIA & MAKEUP1 YET ANO!R PURELY LOCAL FEV] ESCALAT+ 9TO A P&EMIC4 

,ON ! S(T P]IPH]IES ( ,/UDS' HUNGOV] VISION A SEPTUAG5>IAN 9 A ROSE ANORAK HEADS = ,MILIT>Y ,HI/ORY LIKE A SCUD4 ,HE SITS SURR\ND$ BY CL\D-*AMB] SIBILANCE1 LETT+ HIS GAZE RE/ ON ! OP5 BOOK )\T FOCUS+ ! ATT5TION4 ,! PLATE SWIMS & ITS PR$OM9AT+ BLACKS SWIRL 9TO A MIASMA1 A VORTEX ( MAUSOLEA1 A D>K :IRLPOOL OP5+ BE=E HIM AS IF SOME HIR$ GOON HAS JU/ COLD-COCK$ HIM ) A SAP4 ,M$ITATIONS AMONG ! ,TOMBS4 ,HE ?9KS BACK TO ! EV5+ ( ! FUN]AL = ,LITTLE ,JOHN1 ! PATRONS ( ! ,RACEHORSE WAD+ WAI/-DEEP1 WOND]/RUCK1 ?R\< ! LAM5T+ LITTLE GUYS 9 T[N = ! EV5T1 FIFTY OR SIXTY ( !M ON A ,LILLIPUTIAN PUB CRAWL UP ! ,WELL+BOR\< ,ROAD & :AT MU/ IT HAVE BE5 LIKE :5 !Y />T$ S++8 ,NOBODY !RE FROM ! ,P]SIAN ROYAL FAMILY1 BY ALL ACC\NTS4 

,IT HAD ALL BE5 TO DO ) ! POT5TIAL /A9 UPON ! BLOODL9E1 AS ,/UDS UND]/&S IT4 ,GIV5 ALL ! 5EMIES ?AT ,LITTLE ,JOHN'S ,U4,S4-SUPPORT$ TYRANT GR&DAD HAD 9 ,P]SIA BACK !N 9 ! ',FIFTIES1 JU/ A FEW YE>S AFT] HE'D BE5 P>A*UT$ 9TO P[]1 IT WAS DECID$ ?AT = ! ,%AH'S DAU<T] TO PRODUCE A MAL=M$ *ILD W\LD SIMPLY BE PROVID+ !SE ANTAGONI/S ) AMMUNITION4 ,BETT] TO PACK (F ! 9FANT TO ! O!R 5D ( NO:]E1 SOME:]E SO OBSCURE ?AT NOBODY W\LD EV] HE> HIS NAME AGA9 OR EV5 KN[ ( HIS EXI/5CE4 ,LIKE ,NOR?AMPTON4 ,WAS IT ANY WOND] HE & ,JOHN HAD 5D$ UP AMONG ! ,BAUHAUS 5T\RAGE1 SURF+ ! PURPLE VELVET & ! GLITT]8 ,!Y W]E TWO ( ! T[N'S MANY ,GO?IC FL\RI%ES4 

,! LIBR>Y DRIFTS 9 & \T ( =M AB\T HIM & = SOME REASON HE F9DS HIMSELF REMEMB]+ A :OLLY NONDESCRIPT P]AMBULATION 9 ! COMPANY ( ! H>D-DR9K+ DW>F1 ) ,JOHN'S COMPLEXION SC\RG$ BY ALCOHOL UNTIL T[>DS ! 5D !RE WAS MORE BLOT* ?AN FACE4 ,:]E HAD !Y BE5 ?AT DAY1 ! TWO ( !M1 & :Y %\LD HE BE ?9K+ ( IT N[8 ,/UDS HAS A <O/LY MEMORY ( ! ,JAZZ ,BUT*] AS BE+ SOMEH[ P>T ( ! EV5T1 AL?\< HE DOESN'T ?9K ?AT ! IMPRESSIVELY CR$5TIAL$ S+]-SONGWRIT] HAD ACTUALLY BE5 PRES5T ON ! UNREM>KABLE OCCASION ?AT IS 9EXPLICABLY OBSESS+ HIM4 ,MORE LIKELY HE & ,LITTLE ,JOHN HAD EI!R BO? BE5 ON !IR WAY TO VISIT ! MUSICIAN OR W]E O!RWISE RETURN+ FROM JU/ SU* AN 9T]LUDE1 TRUDG+ ! SULK+ BACK/REET R[S BETWE5 ! ,BUT*]'S H\SE UP NE> ! ,RACEC\RSE & ! DRAFTY *UTE ( ,CL>E ,/REET CLOS] TO T[N C5T]4 ,:]E EXACTLY WAS IT TAK51 ! IMAG9>Y SNAP%OT ?AT SEEMS /APL$ TO ,/UDS' =EBRA91 ) ! LITTLE MAN /AMP+ AHEAD ( HIM ?R\< ?9 GUNMETAL PUDDLES D[N A SIL5T /RIP ( H\SES8 ,WAS IT ,COLWYN ,ROAD OR ,HOOD ,/REET8 ,H]VEY ,/REET OR ,WATK9 ,T]RACE8 ,ALL ?AT HE REMEMB]S IS ! PICK$-SCAB PA9TWORK & ! GRAY+ GAUZE ( ! NET CURTA9S OV] 444 

,H]VEY ,/REET4 ,( C\RSE4 ,WID5+ HIS EYES HE DOES A 'SUDD5 REALIZATION' TAKE1 !N N>R[S !M AGA9 TO PE] AT ! SMALL TYPE B5EA? ! GLOOMY ,BLAKE PLATE4 ,MAYBE IF ,/UDS ?9KS ( IT AS BE+ NOIR RA!R ?AN BLACK HE'LL COME TO LIKE IT MORE1 BUT !RE BEL[ ! M\RNFUL IMAG]Y IS ALL ! CONFIRMATION ?AT HE NE$S = N[3 ,JAMES ,H]VEY'S ,M$ITATIONS 444 IT'S ! SAME NAME1 ! SAME SURNAME1 EV5 ?\< ?AT DOESN'T PROVE IT'S ! SAME MAN OR ?AT HE WAS ASSOCIAT$ ) ,NOR?AMPTON4 ,AFT] ALL1 ! T[N HAS GOT A ,*AUC] ,/REET1 A ,MILTON ,/REET1 A ,%AKESPE>E ,ROAD & A FEW DOZ5 O!R NAMES COMMEMORAT+ P]SONS )\T EV5 A REMOTE CONNECTION TO ! PLACE1 BUT ALL ! SAME ,/UDS HAS A HUN* AB\T ?IS ,H]VEY1 & HIS KE5-HON$ ,P4,I4 9TUITION NEV] FAILS HIM4 

,EXCEPT :5 IT DOES1 ( C\RSE4 ,HE W9CES AS HE RECOLLECTS ONE ( HIS TRIPS ) ,LITTLE ,JOHN TO ! CAS9O1 TO ! ,RUBICON D[N 9 ! ,BOR\<S JU/ (F ,REG5T ,SQU>E4 ,IT MAY HAVE BE5 ! SAME NI<T ?AT HIS WEE COMPANION LAUN*$ HIMSELF ONTO ! R\LETTE TABLE LIKE AN EXTRA BALL1 BUT :AT DEF9ES ! EV5+ 9 ,/UDS' MEMORY IS HIS [N HALF-BAK$ BEHAVIOR4 ,HE'D BE5 A DIFF]5T P]SON !N4 ,TO BE SPECIFIC1 HE'D BE5 ,JAMES ,BOND 9 A HYPO!TICAL REWORK+ ( ,CAS9O ,ROYALE4 ,OH1 HE'D GOT ! TUX1 GOT ! BLACK B[TIE1 EV]Y?+4 ,:5 IT WAS GETT+ LATE1 HE'D TOSS$ HIS LA/ REMA9+ BIG-/AKES *IP ONTO ! TABLE & !N1 )\T EV5 BO!R+ TO SEE :]E IT HAD L&$1 TURN$ & WALK$ AWAY FROM ! R\LETTE :EEL ) ! MANN] ( A MAN :O'D MADE & LO/ MORE =TUNES 9 AN AFT]NOON ?AN O!RS HAD ACCOMPLI%$ 9 A LIFETIME2 SOMEONE DEVIL-MAY-C>E & ASSUR$ 9 HIS RELATION%IP ) *ANCE & DE/9Y4 ,H[EV]1 ) A WEEK'S R5T RID+ ON :AT WAS APP>5TLY A :OLLY UNOBS]V$ L\*E GE/URE1 HE WAS OBVI\SLY EXPECT+ TO BE HALT$ 9 HIS CASUAL SAUNT] FROM ! TABLE & CALL$ BACK BY AN A/ONI%$ CR\PI] TO COLLECT HIS UNEXPECT$ BUT EXT5SIVE W9N+S4 ,:5 ?IS FAIL$ TO HAPP51 HE'D BE5 DEVA/AT$4 ,/UDS LIKES TO BELIEVE1 DESPITE ! OV]:ELM+ EVID5CE :I* CLE>LY CONTRADICTS HIS !ORY1 ?AT ! =CES GOV]N+ EXI/5CE HAVE A DRAMATI/'S APPROA* TO HUMAN N>RATIVE4 ,HE LIKES TO ?9K SU* 5TITIES MI<T HAVE A FONDNESS = LA/-M9UTE DEA? R[ P>DONS1 MILLION TO ONE GAMBLES OR HAIR'S-BREAD? ESCAPES &1 AS A CONSEQU5CE ( ?IS BELIEF1 HAS L>GELY L$ A LIFE ( S]IAL DISAPPO9TM5T4 

,BUT NOT ?IS TIME4 ,HE FEELS C]TA9 SOME:]E DEEP 9SIDE1 B5EA? ! /EEL PLATE ?AT'S BE5 9 HIS SKULL S9CE HE SELFLESSLY TOOK ?AT L&M9E 9 ! FACE AT ,OK9AWA1 ?AT H]E'S :]E ONE ( HIS HUN*ES F9ALLY PAYS (F4 ,?IS ,H]VEY S*MUCK IS HID+ SOME?+1 ,/UDS IS SURE ( IT1 & MAYBE IF HE'S BREA!D ON H>D 5\< HE'LL GIVE IT UP4 ,CRACK+ HIS KNUCKLES M5AC+LY HE /&S &1 TAK+ ! ,BLAKE BOOK ) HIM1 HEADS T[>DS :AT SEEMS TO BE AN UNOCCUPI$ 9T]NET CONNECTION1 OR 9T]ROGATION ROOM AS HE PREF]S TO ?9K ( IT4 ,HE PLANS TO USE EV]Y L[-D[N TE*NIQUE HE KN[S TO LOOS5 UP ! SUSPECT1 EV]Y?+ FROM GOOD COP_/BAD COP TO A F\R-P\ND BAG ( ORANGES ?AT DAMAGE ! 9T]NAL ORGANS BUT DON'T LEAVE A M>K UPON ! SK94 ,OR1 FAIL+ ?AT1 HE'LL ,GOOGLE HIM4 

,SURE 5\<1 ,H]VEY CRACKS BE=E ! %E] BRUTE =CE ( ! SE>* 5G9E & BE=E LONG ,/UDS HAS GOT HIM S++ LIKE SOME K9D ( DEV\T ,CALV9I/ CAN>Y4 ,!RE'S A SLEW ( L>GELY ,*RI/IAN WEBSITES ?AT HAVE REF]5CES TO ! MAN1 & :ILE ! LANGUAGE IS SO FL[]Y ?AT ,/UDS F9DS HIMSELF 9 NE$ ( ANTI-HI/AM9E1 HE /RIKES GOLD ) ! FIR/ PAGE ?AT HE LOOKS AT4 ,IT SEEMS ?AT ,JAMES ,H]VEY WAS A ,*UR* ( ,5GL& CL]GYMAN & WRIT]1 BORN 9 #agad AT ,H>D+/ONE1 ,NOR?AMPTON1 ) HIS FA!R ,WILLIAM S]V+ AS ! RECTOR ( BO? ,COLL+TREE & ,WE/ON ,FAVELL4 ,$UCAT$ FROM ! AGE ( SEV5 AT ! T[N'S FREE GRAMM> S*OOL1 BLAH BLAH1 GOES UP TO ,L9COLN ,COLLEGE1 ,OX=D1 :]E HE RUNS 9TO ,JOHN ,WESLEY1 BLAH BLAH BLAH1 BURI$ 9 ,WE/ON ,FAVELL P>I% *UR* 444 ,/UDS /RUGGLES TO MA9TA9 HIS TRADEM>K GL[] 9 DEFIANCE ( ! RU% ( JUBILATION HE IS CURR5TLY EXP]I5C+4 ,?IS1 HE'S C]TA91 IS ! LEAD HE'S LOOK+ =4 ,OKAY1 !RE'S NO DIRECT CONNECTION TO ! ,BOR\<S1 BUT AT LEA/ ?IS NEW MAT]IAL PUTS ,H]VEY AT ! SC5E4 

,SUPPRESS+ A COMPULSIVE URGE TO CALL ! HELPFUL LIBR>Y ATT5DANT ,TOOTS1 HE ASKS IF %E CAN PR9T \T ALL ! ,H]VEY SCUTTLEBUTT HE'S F\ND ALREADY1 ?R[ 9 ,H]VEY'S ,WIKIP$IA PAGE & MAYBE :ILE %E'S !RE ! 5TRY = ,NOR?AMPTON ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL4 ,/UDS HAS A NOTION ?AT ,B5 ,P]RIT MI<T HAVE BE5 A PUPIL UP !RE ON ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD AT ONE PO9T1 & AL?\< ?IS SEEMS A T5U\S L9K BETWE5 ,JAMES ,H]VEY & ! ,BOR\<S1 RI<T N[ IT'S ! ONLY ONE HE'S GOT4 ,HE TRIES A WEA!R-BEAT5 ROGUI% W9K ON ! LIBR>IAN RI<T AT ! 5D ( HIS REQUE/ BUT %E PRET5DS %E HASN'T NOTIC$1 PROBABLY ASSUM+ ?AT IT'S PALSY4 ,PAY+ = ! PR9T$ %EETS HE TWIT*ES ONE EYE R&OMLY AT 9T]VALS TO FUR!R ?IS ASSUMPTION1 REASON+ ?AT HE CAN H&LE CONDESC5D+ PITY BETT] ?AN A C\RT CASE = H>ASSM5T4 ,HE SUSPECTS ?AT A DEF5SE ( 'MAV]ICK :O WON'T PLAY BY ! RULES' W\LD SWAY FEW JURIES IF EMPLOY$ BY AN APP>5T W\LD-BE RAPI/4 

,TAK+ ! SLIM %EAF ( PAP]S1 HE OP5S HIS C>RY-ALL & BAGS ! EVID5CE ACCORD+ TO PROC$URE1 SO ?AT HE CAN READ IT LAT]4 ,EXIT+ ! LIBR>Y HE RETRACES HIS /EPS D[N ,AB+TON ,/REET1 C>EFULLY AVOID+ ! :ITE POLKA DOTS ( SPE>M9T SPACKLE :I* SURR\ND ! PREC9CT'S ISL&S ( H>D PLA/IC SEAT+1 HAV+ NO DESIRE TO BE TOO LIT]AL AB\T ?IS GUM%OE ?+4 ,! ,GROSV5OR ,C5T]1 ) ITS GIANT ,R\NDHEAD HELMET HOV]+ ABOVE ! 5TRANCE 9 A ,CA/LE ( ,OTRANTO TRIBUTE1 IS A SYNES!TIC BLUR :]E ! PIP$ MUSIC HAS A T9SEL DAZZLE :ILE ! COLOR$ LI<T+ *IMES & E*OES (F ALONG ! SC9TILLAT+ MALL4 ,HE RIDES ! ELEVATOR UP TO ! REQUISITE LEVEL ( ! C> P>K+ FACILITIES 9 COMPANY ) AN ELD]LY C\PLE :O >E BO? TUTT+ & FUSS+ ) ! ZIP ( A PLAID %OPP+-C>T AS IF IT W]E !IR POORLY-DRESS$ & BACKW>D (FSPR+4 

,:5 HE F9DS HIS VEHICLE1 MO/ PROBABLY A ,PONTIAC OR ,BUICK1 POSSIBLY A BEAT-UP ,*EVROLET1 HE CLIMBS 9SIDE & TRIES HIS BE/ TO BR+ A DANG]\S LOOSE-CANNON QUALITY TO FA/5+ HIS SEATBELT4 ,AS ! 5G9E GR[LS TO LIFE LIKE A SLEEK PR$ATOR1 ALBEIT ONE ?AT'S 9 ! LAT] /AGES ( CONSUMPTION1 ,/UDS SMILES TO HIMSELF 9 CASE AN 9-C> CLOSE-UP IS REQUIR$4 ,?IS IS A FACET ( HIS JOB ?AT HE'S FAMILI> )1 A ROLE 9 :I* HE FEELS 5TIRELY COM=TABLE4 ,HE'S BURN+ RUBB] TO KEEP AN APPO9TM5T ) A PLACE ( WOR%IP1 & IT A9'T BECAUSE HE'S IT*+ TO CONFESS HIS S9S4 ,HE'S DO+ :AT COMES1 TO A PRIVATE EYE1 AS NATURALLY AS LOVELORN ONE-NI<T /&S OR BREA?+3 ,/UDS IS HEAD+ = ?IS PITILESS T[N'S MURKY \TSKIRTS1 HOP+ TO UNCOV] A DEAD BODY4 

,WE/ON ,FAVELL & ITS P>I% *UR*Y>D >E NO MORE ?AN TWO OR ?REE MILES FROM ,NOR?AMPTON & IT W\LDN'T DO HIM ANY H>M TO TAKE ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD1 UP PA/ ! ,GRAMM> ,S*OOL OR ! ,NOR?AMPTON ,S*OOL = ,BOYS AS ! E/ABLI%M5T HAS BE5 MORE REC5TLY REBR&$1 JU/ TO CA/ AN EYE OV] ! PLACE2 TO CASE ! JO9T4 ,IDEALLY HE'D PREF] TO RO> \T ( ! T[N TO AN ACCOMPANIM5T ( SCREE*+ BRAKES & PELT+ GUNFIRE1 BUT ! VAG>IES ( A NOTORI\SLY CONTORT$ TRAFFIC SY/EM MEAN HE HAS TO TAKE A LEFT 9TO ,AB+TON ,SQU>E :5 COM+ (F ! ,M\NTS1 CIRCLE ! ,UNIT>IAN *UR* TO BR+ HIM BACK ! O!R WAY1 !N MAKE ANO!R LEFT TURN 9TO ,YORK ,ROAD BE=E EV5 GETT+ TO ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD D[N AT ! BOTTOM4 ,WAIT+ AT ! FOOT ( ,YORK ,ROAD = ! LI<TS TO *ANGE HE ?9KS AGA9 ( ,LITTLE ,JOHN1 HAV+ ALREADY NOTIC$ ?AT ! BRASS PLAQUE :I* ID5TIFI$ ,TOAD ,HALL HAS LONG S9CE BE5 REMOV$4 ,IT'S A DAMN %AME4 ,!Y %\LD HAVE KEPT ! PLACE UP AS A CONS]VATION >EA1 A RES]VATION = ! DW9DL+ & 5DANG]$ POPULATION ( ! *RONICALLY UNSI<TLY1 ?OSE :O W]E TOO SQUAT & M$IEVAL-LOOK+ OR ?OSE ) TOO MANY W>TS4 

,! LI<TS *ANGE & HE CORN]S ONTO ,BILL+ ,ROAD1 ! (F-:ITE BULK ( ! BELEAGU]$ ,G5]AL ,HOSPITAL ACROSS ! BUSY ?OR\<F>E & ON ,/UDS' RI<T4 ,FROM :AT HE KN[S ( LOCAL HI/ORY1 :I* IS A LOT CONSID]+ ?AT HE WAS BR\<T UP ON ! UN=GIV+ /REETS ( ,FLATBU% OR ! LIKE1 ! HOSPITAL HAD BE5 ORIG9ALLY E/ABLI%$ AS ! FIR/ \TSIDE ( ,LONDON ON ITS E>LI] SITE ALONG ,GEORGE ,R[ BY AN UNLIKELY PAIR+ ( ! PREA*] ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE & ! RE=M$ RAKE ,DR4 ,JOHN ,/ONH\SE4 ,/UDS HAS LE>N$ A ?+ OR TWO AB\T ! MOTION PICTURE 9DU/RY OV] ! YE>S & ?9KS ! /ORY HAS ! MAK+S ( A GREAT *ALK-&-*EESE BUDDY MOVIE4 ,HE'S CONSID]+ A SC5E :]E ONLY A WORK-SQUAD ( RADDL$ EI<TE5?-C5TURY HOOK]S VOLUNTE]+ \T ( LOYALTY TO ,/ONH\SE SEES ! NEW 9FIRM>Y COMPLET$ UND] BUDGET & ON S*$ULE1 :5 HE PASSES ! HI< H$GES ( ,BILL+ ,ROAD ,CEMET]Y LOOM+ ON HIS LEFT4 ,NOT QUITE ! GRAVEY>D ?AT HE'S LOOK+ = BUT /ILL AN EXCELL5T EXAMPLE ( ! SPECIES1 & AB\T ! ONLY LOCAL L&M>K :I* ! ,LUFTWAFFE SEEM$ CAPABLE ( HITT+ BACK 9 ,WORLD ,W> ,TWO1 P]HAPS 9 AN ATTEMPT TO L[] ! MORALE ( ,BRITI% CORPSES4 ,HE IMAG9ES IT1 ! MIDNI<T FLA% AMONG ! SLEEP+ HEAD/ONES1 ! ATT5DANT SPRAY ( DIRT & BONE & FL[]S1 ! M>BLE %RAPNEL ) SOMEBODY'S NAME ON4 

,AN UNFOLD$ SUNLIT PANORAMA \T ?R\< ! FRONT W9DSCRE5 IS COMPRESS$ TO ! UNREEL+ COMIC /RIP ( BRICK & G>D5 )\T SKY 9 HIS SIDE-W9D[S1 RESID5TIAL DETAIL RAVEL+ AWAY BEH9D HIM 9 ! ,/UDEBAK]'S WAKE4 ,ACROSS ! ROAD ON ITS F> SIDE ,SA9T ,&REW'S ,HOSPITAL SME>S BY1 BL9D WALLS & IRON RAIL+S ) ?AT B>RI] ( TALL & RE/LESS EV]GRE5S BEYOND !M AS A NATURAL FIREBREAK = ! UNCONTROLLABLE BLAZE ( DELUSION KEPT CONTA9$ )94 ,:5 Y\ CONSID] ALL ! MORE-?AN-USUALLY GIFT$ IF NOT 9C&ESC5T 9DIVIDUALS ?AT HAVE BE5 CONF9$ !RE1 ,/UDS SUPPOSES Y\ C\LD VIEW ! 9/ITUTION AS A NECESS>Y ANNEX OR EXT5SION-W+ ( RATIONALITY1 PUT UP TO H\SE AN 9=MATION = :I* REASON HAS NO MEASURE4 ,OR SOME BULL%IT LIKE ?AT1 ANYWAY4 

,HE SL[S AS ! W9D+ ASYLUM FRIEZE CONCLUDES2 RUNS 9TO ! FACADE ( ! ,NOR?AMPTON ,S*OOL = ,BOYS1 ITS L[ WALL B\ND+ A TRAPEZOID =EC\RT OV] :I* PRESIDES ! L(TY & IMPROV+ E>LY TW5TIE?-C5TURY BUILD+1 ) ITS MORE CONTEMPOR>Y ADDITIONS FANN+ \T T[>DS ! EA/ ACROSS ! =M] T5NIS C\RTS4 ,A VISIBLY AMUS$ QU>TET ( LADS 9 ! REQUISITE NAVY BLAZ]S JE] & JO/LE BY ! S*OOL GATE1 POSSIBLY RETURN+ FROM !IR D9N] H\R & NO D\BT DUTIFULLY CATEGORIZ+ !IR SUBJECTIVE UNIV]SE 9TO GAY & NON-GAY COMPON5TS4 ,:ILE ! ]/:ILE GRAMM> S*OOL HAS FAIL$ TO PRODUCE QUITE AS MANY NOTABLES AS ! ADJAC5T M5TAL HOME1 Y\ HAVE TO GIVE IT M>KS = TRY+4 ,FRANCIS ,CRICK WAS ONCE A PUPIL AS APP>5TLY WAS ,H]VEY1 ) ,B5 ,P]RIT AS A POSSIBLE4 ,/UDS ?9KS HE HE>D ?AT ,TONY ,*AT]1 A NO-NONS5SE C>D-C>RY+ COMMIE & = TW5TY YE>S $ITOR ( ,! ,MORN+ ,/>1 WAS ALSO ON ! REGI/]1 AS WAS Y\NG ,TONY ,COTTON ( *>T-SCAL+ #a#i#hS ROCKABILLY PURI/S FROM ,/4 ,JAMES'S ,5D1 ! ,JETS4 ,POOR OLD ,SIR ,MALCOLM ,>NOLD1 ON ! O!R H&1 RETA9$ ! S+UL> DI/9CTION ( HAV+ ATT5D$ BO? ! BOYS' S*OOL & ! FAM\S FUNNY F>M NEXT DOOR4 ,ON HIS LA/ DAY ( T]M ! JUV5ILE COMPOS] W\LD HAVE SAV$ HIMSELF A LOT ( TIME & EF=T IF HE'D JU/ SCUFF$ HIS WAY UP ! CYCLE PA? & ?R\< ! FRONT GATE1 TAK+ (F HIS JACKET1 CAP & TIE RESIGN$LY BE=E A %>P ,U-TURN DELIV]$ HIM 9TO ! TRANQUILIZ+ GRE5 CONT9UUM ( ,/4 ,&REW'S4 ,FROM ! CORN] ( ,/UDS' RI<T & SLI<TLY L[] EYE HE WAT*ES ! AUGU/ E/ABLI%M5T EVAPORATE 9TO HIS SLIP/REAM1 A REC$+ FOG ( P9K & GRAY %R9K+ TO FIT ! RE>VIEW MIRROR AS HE GUNS ! ,PACK>D ON TO ITS SEPUL*RAL DE/9ATION4 

,FUR!R D[N T[>DS ! L[] REA*ES ( ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD1 ) RELATIVELY WELL-(F FAMILY HOMES TO PORT & LITTLE ELSE SAVE OP5 FIELDS TO />BO>D1 ,/UDS GETS ! UNEASY FEEL+ ?AT HE'S OV]LOOK+ AN IMPORTANT DETAIL1 MAYBE 9 HIS OBS]VATIONS ON ! REC5TLY PASS$ ,S*OOL = ,BOYS1 AL?\< HE CAN'T ?9K :AT4 ,WAS IT SOME?+ TO DO ) H[ ! S*OOL WAS BUILT1 ITS >*ITECTURE1 OR 4448 ,NO4 ,NO1 IT'S GONE4 ,SOME WAY BE=E HE REA*ES ,BILL+ ,AQUADROME HE TAKES 9/EAD ! LEFT TURN ?AT WILL CONVEY HIS ,PLYM\? ,DE ,SOTO UP AMONG ! HONEY$ /ONE ( ! ORIG9AL VILLAGE ACCOMMODATION & ! GRAVEL DRIVES ( LAT] DWELL+S1 9TO ! UNNATURALLY HU%$ & WAT*FUL LANES ( DR[SY ,WE/ON ,FAVELL4 

,AFT] SEV]AL M9UTES HE LOCATES A PLACE :]E IT APPE>S ?AT SOMEBODY MI<T P>K !IR VEHICLE )\T BE+ CONSEQU5TLY BURN$ TO DEA? 9SIDE A WICK] MAN4 ,/UDS KN[S !SE G5TRIFI$ COMMUNITIES1 ! MONEY ?AT !Y REPRES5T1 & CAN'T %AKE (F ! FEEL+ ?AT HE'S PROBABLY BE5 MONITOR$ ON LONG L5S BY A SPOTT] FROM ! ,WOM5'S ,9/ITUTE S9CE HE PULL$ 94 ,CLAMB]+ FROM HIS BULLET-P]=AT$ ,NA% ,AMBASSADOR HE SIZES UP ! 9TE/9AL TANGLE ( SUN-BUTT]$ /REETS1 BYWAYS = ! CONV5I5CE ( A DIFF]5T C5TURY1 & GRUDG+LY ACKN[L$GES ?AT PLACES LIKE ?IS1 !SE DAYS1 >E :]E ALL ! S]I\S MURD]-MONEY'S TO BE MADE4 ,! SM>T DETECTIVES1 RA!R ?AN PURSU+ COLD-EY$ GANGL& SLAY]S D[N A HYPOD]MIC-LITT]$ 9N]-URBAN ALLEYWAY1 >E RELOCAT+ TO ! /ICKS1 TO SLEEPY ,5GLI% HAMLETS :]E LADIES 9 TW9SETS & RETIR$ BRIGADI]S RELIABLY ATTEMPT TO POISON ONE ANO!R ON A WEEKLY BASIS4 ,ALL ?IS :ITE-ON-:ITE CRIME4 ,IT'S A CRY+ %AME4 

,HE'S P>K$ 9 SI<T ( ! TWELF?-C5TURY P>I% *UR*1 ITS SPIRE RIS+ ABOVE ! NEI<BOR+ *IMNEYS & ITS /ONEWORK ) AN UNEV5LY TOA/$ LOOK1 AL?\< 9 SOME:]E ,WE/ON ,FAVELL'S SIZE IT W\LD BE NE> 5\< IMPOSSIBLE TO F9D A PLACE FROM :I* Y\ C\LDN'T SEE IT1 IF HE'S HONE/4 ,HOLDALL SLUNG ACROSS A %\LD] ?AT IS HUN*$ AGA9/ ! WORLD'S ANTICIPAT$ BRICKBATS1 ,/UDS IS %ORTLY PU%+ OP5 A WR\<T-IRON GATE ) A WORSE RASP ?AN HIS [N2 M\NT+ HEWN /EPS ONTO ! RAIS$-UP CONSECRAT$ GR\ND >\ND ! PRETTY *APEL4 ,!RE'S A FA9T BREEZE1 BUT AP>T FROM ?AT1 HE NOTES ) SOME SURPRISE1 IT'S AN UNUSUALLY IDYLLIC AFT]NOON4 ,IT A9'T HIS CU/OM>Y MILIEU1 ?AT'S = C]TA94 ,SUNLI<T FALLS LIKE SYRUP ON ! NEATLY T5D$ GRASS & !RE CAN'T BE A FAULTY NEON SIGN = MILES1 MU* LESS A CRAPS GAME4 

,DISAPPO9T+LY1 ! *UR* ITSELF IS CLOS$ &1 MORE DI%E>T5+ /ILL1 ,JAMES ,H]VEY'S F9AL RE/+ PLACE IS NOT AMONG ! SMATT]+ ( HEAD/ONES TO BE F\ND 9 ! BUILD+'S VIC9ITY4 ,MO/ ( !SE UNASSUM+ M>K]S1 ) !IR NAMES & 9=MATION ALMO/ LO/ TO A FEW C5TURIES ( MOSS OR WEA!R1 SEEM TO BE EXCLUSIVELY = ,JACOBEAN /IFFS :O HUNG UP !IR PLUM$ HATS DUR+ ! SIXTE5-HUNDR$S & LONG BE=E ,H]VEY SAW ! LI<T ( DAY 9 #a#g#a#d4 ,/UDS F9DS A BLUI% LOZ5GE NOT MU* BIGG] ?AN A BOOT-SCRAPE1 COLONIZ$ BY V>ICOLOR$ LI*5S & APP>5TLY COMMEMORAT+ NO ONE 9 P>TICUL>1 BE+ 9/EAD A G5]ALIZ$ MEM5TO MORI4 ,) A LITTLE SCRUT9Y HE WORKS \T ?AT ! DISAPPE>+ *>ACT]S ONCE SPELL$ \T ,O ,R,E,M,E,M,B,]_/ ,P,A,S,S,],S ,B,Y_/ ,A,S ,?,\ ,>,T_/ ,S,O ,W,A,S ,I ,A,N,N,O_/ #a#f#e#f4 ,SURE1 BUDDY4 ,?ANKS = ?AT4 ,GIVE MY REG>DS TO ! BLACK PLAGUE4 ,!SE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ! TOMBS ?AT ,H]VEY M$ITAT$ :5 HE WAS AMONG1 BUT IT'S A SAFE BET !Y'RE ! ONES ?AT HE SAW EV]Y DAY :5 HE WAS PREA*] H]E1 P]HAPS CONTRIBUT+ TO HIS NOTORI\SLY SUNNY DISPOSITION4 

,HAV+ REA*$ A DEAD 5D1 ,/UDS ELECTS TO PLAY HIS VISIT LIKE HE MEANT IT4 ,*ECK+ FIR/ TO F9D \T IF ! TURF IS DAMP HE L[]S HIMSELF G+]LY ONTO ! V]GE1 L\NG+ 9S\CIANTLY AT FULL L5G? ON HIS SIDE ) ANKLES CROSS$1 PROPP$ ON ONE ELB[ LIKE A S5SITIVE ,$W>DIAN BA*ELOR :ILE HE HURRI$LY UNZIPS HIS HOLDALL & RETRIEVES ! ,H]VEY PR9T\T FROM ITS DEP?S4 ,HE MAY AS WELL BONE UP ON HIS ELUSIVE QU>RY :ILE HE'S H]E1 EV5 IF ! DI/+UI%$ CL]IC'S ACTUAL BONES >5'T ANY:]E >\ND4 ,CONSID]+ ! SC>CITY ( ! SURR\ND+ MONUM5TS & SLABS1 HE WOND]S IF ?IS *UR*Y>D MI<T BE ONE ( ?OSE :]E GRAVES1 9 %ORT SUPPLY BACK 9 ! DAY1 W]E BY NO MEANS A F9AL RE/+ PLACE4 ,!RE'D BE A BRIEF IMM]SION 9 ! SOIL1 MAYBE A WEEK OR TWO BE=E ! FLE% & /9K W]E GONE1 & !N ! /RIPP$-CLEAN /ICKS W\LD BE DUG UP & SCATT]$ TO MAKE ROOM = ! NEXT OCCUPANT1 A BIT LIKE HOSPITAL B$S ON ! ,N,H,S4 ,HE CAN RECALL A SC5E FROM ,H5RY ,FIELD+'S ,TOM ,JONES :]E AN ALT]CATION AT A W$D+ SEES ! COMBATANTS ?R[ DECOMPOS+ SKULLS AT ONE ANO!R1 S9CE !SE W\LD 9DE$ HAVE BE5 ! H&IE/ =M ( AMMUNITION READILY AVAILABLE 9 *UR*Y>DS ( ! P]IOD4 ,IF ,H]VEY SUFF]$ A %ORT-/AY 9T]M5T ( ?AT NATURE !RE'D BE NO?+ LEFT ( HIM TODAY1 ! CRANIUM ?AT ONCE CONTA9$ ALL HIS CONJECTURES ON ! AFT]LIFE LONG S9CE US$ TO CONCUSS A BRIDESMAID4 ,LACK+ ANY PHYSICAL REMA9S OR SIMIL> ,D,N,A EVID5CE TO PROCESS ?R\< A PIECE ( HI<-TE* ,C,S,I CRIME-SOLV+ APP>ATUS1 ,/UDS RESIGNS HIMSELF TO RECON/RUCT+ ,H]VEY FROM ! DOZ5 OR SO PR9T$ %EETS ALREADY 9 HIS GRASP & COCKL+ ) ! P]SPIRATION4 ,C>EFULLY REMOV+ ALMO/ RIMLESS READ+ GLASSES FROM HIS JACKET'S 9SIDE POCKET1 BALANC+ !M ON ! TOMAHAWK BLADE ( HIS NOSE1 HE S9KS 9TO ! GRAY MIASMA ( ! TEXT4 

,AS HE'D SUSPECT$1 !RE'S MORE TO ?IS HOLY-ROLL] ,H]VEY *>ACT] ?AN MEETS ! EYE4 ,BORN TO A PREA*+ FAMILY AT ,H>D+/ONE & 9 ! %AD[ ( ! HEADLESS CROSS1 ! FIR/ ,K+ ,$W>D'S MONUM5T TO HIS DEAD ,ELEANOR1 ,JAMES ,H]VEY GETS PACK$ (F TO GRAMM> S*OOL DUR+ #agba :5 HE'S AG$ SEV54 ,/UDS ?9KS ?IS UNREASONABLY Y\NG :5 EV]YBODY HE KN[S W5T !RE ONLY AFT] PASS+ !IR ,ELEV5-,PLUS1 BUT HE ASSUMES ?AT $UCATIVE PRACTICE 9 ,NOR?AMPTON WAS A DIFF]5T ANIMAL NE>LY ?REE HUNDR$ YE>S AGO4 ,HELL1 $UCATION 9 ! T[N HAD ALWAYS BE5 ( AN 5TIRELY SEP>ATE SPECIES TO ?AT ELSE:]E 9 ! C\NTRY4 ,BACK !RE 9 ! #a#i#gS & #a#i#hS ! T[N'S *ILDR5 HAD BE5 CASUALLY SUBJECT$ TO AN $UCATIONAL EXP]IM5T 9VOLV+ A ?REE-TI] SY/EM & ! 9TRODUCTION ( A 'MIDDLE S*OOL'1 ATT5D$ = A FEW YE>S 9 BETWE5 ! JUNIOR & S5IOR E/ABLI%M5TS & !RE=E D\BL+ ! DISLOCATION & DISRUPTION TO :I* PUPILS 9 PURSUIT ( LE>N+ W]E SUBJECT$4 ,UNSURPRIS+LY ! S*EME WAS A CONSPICU\S DUD & HAD BE5 QUIETLY DUMP$ SOME YE>S BACK1 ) A G5]ATION ( ,NOR?AMPTON S*OOL KIDS WRITT5 (F AS NO MORE ?AN COLLAT]AL DAMAGE4 ,/ILL OBSCURELY NAGG$ BY ! 0AG$ SEV50 BUS9ESS & ! S5SE ?AT !RE'S UNANSW]$ QUE/IONS HANG+ OV] ! PRE/IGI\S BOYS' S*OOL1 ,/UDS READS ON4 

,A DECADE LAT]1 AT ! AGE ( SEV5TE5 ,H]VEY GOES UP TO ,OX=D :]E HE RUNS 9TO ,JOHN ,WESLEY'S CLIQUE ( PROTO-,ME?ODI/S1 A BUN* ( COLD-EY$ PI\S Y\NG PUNKS KN[N DISP>AG+LY TO !IR FELL[ /UD5TS AS 0! ,HOLY ,CLUB04 ,/UDS NODS 9 WE>Y RECOGNITION4 ,?AT'S ! WAY IT IS \T ON ! MEAN /REETS ( RELIGION !SE DAYS1 DEC5T KIDS =C$ 9TO JO9+ ONE GANG OR ANO!R1 NOT BECAUSE !Y WANT TO BUT BECAUSE !Y FIGURE IT IMPROVES !IR *ANCE ( SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL4 ,BUT !N1 ONCE !Y'VE BE5 SWORN 91 ONCE !Y'VE KNEECAPP$ A ,BAPTI/ AS A P>T ( !IR 9ITIATION1 !Y F9D ?AT IT A9'T SO EASY GETT+ \T AGA94 ,?AT'S H[ IT GOES ) ,H]VEY4 ,= A LONG TIME !RE HE'S ,WESLEY'S TOP 5=C] AS ! MO/ SUCCESSFUL WRIT] 9 ! ,HOLY ,CLUB1 BUT SOON HE'S HANK]+ TO SET UP HIS [N RACKET4 ,RUMORS GET >\ND ?AT HE'S DEVELOP+ A S(T SPOT = ! EVANGELICALS & ?AT HE CALLS HIMSELF A MOD]ATE ,CALV9I/1 :I* A9'T :AT ,WESLEY WANTS TO HE>4 ,!RE'S PLA9LY AN ALMI<TY %OOT-\T BREW+1 & :5 ,H]VEY PUBLI%ES ?REE VOLUMES ( HIS ,!RON & ,ASPASIO 9 #agee IT'S LIKE HE ISN'T GIV+ ! GREAT HYMNI/ ANY *OICE EXCEPT TO TAKE IT TO ! /REET4 ,WESLEY D5\NCES HIS =M] LIEUT5ANT'S WORK AS ANT9OMIANISM1 AN OLD-FA%ION$ H]ESY :I* HOLDS ?AT EV]Y?+ IS PR$ET]M9$1 & BE=E A GUY CAN SAY A PAT]NO/] ! AIR'S FULL ( !OLOGICAL HOT LEAD4 ,H]VEY'S \TGUNN$ & TAKES ONE 9 ! FAI?1 IS TRY+ TO RETURN FIRE 9 ,ASPASIO ,V9DICAT$ :5 CONSUMPTION F9ALLY DECIDES HE'S READY = HIS DIRT-NAP AT ! AGE ( =TY-FIVE4 ,JOHN ,WESLEY1 :O'S BE5 PIL+ ON ! PRESSURE FROM ! COV] ( HIS PULPIT EV5 :5 HIS T>GET'S CLE>LY DY+1 F9ALLY READS ,H]VEY'S PO/HUM\SLY PUBLI%$ REFUTATION ( HIS HAT*ET-JOB & 9 A W\ND$ TONE DECL>ES ?AT ,H]VEY HAS DI$ 0CURS+ HIS SPIRITUAL FA!R04 ,WESLEY MAKES SURE ?AT HE GETS ! LA/ WORD2 PUTS A R\ND 9TO ,H]VEY'S PO/]ITY4 ,?AT'S ,ME?ODI/S1 ,/UDS MUSES4 ,!Y'RE ME?ODICAL4 

,/RET*$ ON ! GRASS AMONG ! SP>SELY DI/RIBUT$ HEAD/ONES 9 ! PALE ,MAY RADIANCE HE REALIZES HE'S 5JOY+ ?IS1 ?IS DAY-PASS FROM HIS CITY ( ONGO+ DREADFUL NI<T4 ,IT'S A SURPRISE TO F9D ?AT SUNLI<T ISN'T ALWAYS /RIP$4 ,SOME:]E A BLACKBIRD S+S LIKE AN 9T]ROGAT$ FELON & ! TEMPOR>ILY NON-NOIR DETECTIVE TURNS ! DRIFT ( HIS ATT5TION TO ! NEXT ( ! ASSORT$ REF]5CE PAGES1 :I* APPE>S TO BE BY A FOOT-SOLDI] FROM ! ,WESLEY MOB4 ,O/5SIBLY A ,H]VEY PR(ILE1 IT PA9TS ,!RON & ,ASPASIO'S AU?OR AS ! /UMBLEBUM :OSE FLORID LIT]>Y /YLE CONTRIBUT$ TO A DECL9E ( TA/E 9 ,5GLI% LETT]S1 SOMEBODY :OSE POMP\S PROSE HAD A DEG5]ATIVE 9FLU5CE ON NE>LY ALL ! O!R PREA*]S ( HIS DAY 0SAVE ! ROBU/ ,JOHN ,WESLEY04 ,AS A DEMON/RATION ( ! AU?OR'S PO9T REG>D+ ,H]VEY'S VULG> AFFECTATIONS & IMPOV]I%$ IDEAS1 A SMALL SLAB ( ! ,WE/ON ,FAVELL RECTOR'S WRIT+S >E REPR9T$4 ,UND]/&+ ?AT !SE WILL HAVE ALMO/ C]TA9LY BE5 *OS5 TO BE/ %[ (F ,H]VEY'S FLAWS1 ,/UDS PRODS HIS SLIPP+ SPECTACLES BACK TO ! TOP ( HIS TOBOGGAN-RUN PROBOSCIS & />TS READ+3 

,I CAN H>DLY 5T] A CONSID]ABLE T[N BUT ,I MEET A FUN]AL PROCESSION1 OR ! M\RN]S GO+ AB\T ! /REET4 ,! HAT*M5T SUSP5D$ ON ! WALL1 OR ! CREPE /REAM+ 9 ! AIR1 >E SIL5T 9TIMATIONS ?AT BO? RI* & POOR HAVE BE5 EMPTY+ !IR H\SES1 & REPL5I%+ !IR SEPUL*]S4 

,RECL9+ AS HE IS PROPP$ ON ONE ELB[ & ?US UNABLE TO M>%AL EI!R %\LD] 9TO ANY K9D ( %RUG1 ,/UDS LETS HIS OV]GR[N VACANT-LOT EYEBR[S & WASP-*EW+ BULLDOG L[] LIP P]=M ?AT FUNCTION 9 !IR /EAD4 ,SURE1 ,H]VEY'S /UFF IS SOMB] 9 A DECORATIVE WAY1 BUT ?AT DON'T MEAN IT'S = ! BIRDS4 ,HE P]SONALLY RA!R LIKES ! BUS9ESS ) CREPE /REAM+ 9 ! AIR & WI%ES HE GOT L9ES ( DIALOGUE LIKE ?AT4 ,HE WI%ES HE GOT L9ES ( DIALOGUE1 P]IOD4 ,FOCUS+ UPON ! PR9T AGA91 HE C>RIES ON ) HIS ASSESSM5T ( ! DEAD DIV9E'S RHETORICAL ABILITIES3 

,!RE'S NOT A NEWSPAP] COMES TO MY H&1 BUT1 AMID ALL ITS 5T]TA9+ N>RATIONS1 READS SEV]AL S]I\S LECTURES ( MORTALITY4 ,:AT ELSE >E ! REPEAT$ ACC\NTS - ( AGE1 WORN \T BY SL[-CONSUM+ SICKNESSES - ( Y\?1 DA%$ TO PIECES BY SOME SUDD5 /ROKE ( CASUALTY - ( PATRIOTS1 EX*ANG+ !IR SEATS 9 ! S5ATE = A LODG+ 9 ! TOMB - ( MIS]S1 RESIGN+ !IR BREA?1 & 7,O REL5TLESS DE/9Y67 LEAV+ !IR V]Y RI*ES = O!RS6 ,EV5 ! VEHICALS ( \R AMUSEM5T >E REGI/]S ( ! DECEAS$6 ,& ! VOICE ( FAME SELDOM S\NDS BUT 9 CONC]T ) ! KNELL6 

,YEAH1 N[1 SEE1 ADMITT$LY1 ?AT'S PRETTY MORBID4 ,& ! LA/ FEW S5T5CES1 :]E ,H]VEY'S GONE BANANAS ) ! EXCLAMATION M>KS1 !Y READ AS ?\< HE'S HAMM]+ HIS FI/ D[N ON ! PULPIT1 OR MAYBE A C(F9 LID1 = EMPHASIS4 ,/UDS CAN SEE H[ MAT]IAL LIKE ?AT C\LD BE A BUZZ-KILL4 ,) CONTRIV$ DRAMATIC TIM+ ! SUN SLIDES BEH9D A CL\D & EV]Y?+ IS OV]LAID BY A DOT SCRE5 ( HALF-TONE GRAY4 ,! F9AL TWO L9ES MI<T HAVE BE5 CONTRIV$ ) ,/UDS HIMSELF 9 M9D4 ,! VEHICLES ( \R AMUSEM5T1 MANY ( :I* HE'S APPE>$ 91 >E 9DE$ ! REGI/]S ( ! DECEAS$1 >E *ISEL$ CEMET]Y CR$ITS ?AT ROLL ON =EV]1 MIS]ABLE L$G]S ( EXT+UI%$ />S4 ,AS = ! VOICE ( FAME HE D\BTS HE'LL RECOGNIZE IT EV5 IF HE EV] GETS TO HE> IT1 :I* HE DEF9ITELY WON'T IF ,H]VEY'S ON ! LEVEL & IT S\NDS 9 CONC]T ) HIS KNELL4 ,ACTUALLY1 ?AT W\LD BE OKAY1 ONCE HE'S CONSID]$ IT4 ,MO/ PEOPLE ONLY GET ! KNELL4 

,ITS BRIEF SULK OV] )1 ! SUN COMES \T AGA94 ,! NEXT %EET 9 HIS SL5D] PILE PRES5TS ! LYRICS FROM :AT MU/ PRESUMABLY BE ,H]VEY'S ONLY EXTANT HYMN1 ,S9CE ,ALL ! ,D[NW>D ,TRACTS ( ,TIME3 0,S9CE ALL ! D[NW>D TRACTS ( TIME_/ ,GOD'S WAT*FUL EYE SURVEYS_/ ,O :O SO WISE TO *OSE \R LOT_/ ,OR TO APPO9T \R WAYS80 ,/UDS LIKES ! FATALISM1 :I* HE FEELS W\LD SIT WELL 9 A ,CONT95TAL ,OP OR ,PHILLIP ,M>L[E \T+1 ! IDEA ?AT ALL \R FUTURE DOOMS & DISAPPO9TM5TS >E ALREADY WRITT5 & JU/ WAIT+ = US PATI5TLY FUR!R ALONG ! HI<WAY1 ON ! D[NW>D TRACTS ( TIME4 ,HE FIGURES HE & ,H]VEY C\LD AT LEA/ AGREE UPON ! DIRECTION ( TRAVEL1 & SUPPOSES ?AT ?IS MU/ BE ALL ! ANT9OMIAN PR$E/9ATION BULL%IT :I* BR\<T MATT]S TO A HEAD BETWE5 ,JOHN ,WESLEY & HIS =M] SIDEKICK4 ,NE>BY1 BEES >E MUMBL+ IMPRECATIONS TO ! YE>'S FIR/ FL[]S AS ,/UDS CONT9UES WORK+ HIS WAY ?R\< ! /ACK ( DATA4 

,IT HAS NEV] PREVI\SLY OCCURR$ TO HIM ?AT ALL ! MAJOR ,5GLI% HYMNS & !IR COMPOS]S SEEM TO BLOSSOM FROM ! SEV5TE5? & EI<TE5? C5TURIES1 ?AT F]TILE ,RE/ORATION LOAM 5RI*$ BY CIVIL W>'S IMPORTANT NUTRI5TS1 EQUE/RIAN & HUMAN BIO-FE$ OR FIR$ CA!DRAL NITRATES4 ,R\NDHEAD ,BUNYAN CRANK+ \T 0,TO ,BE A ,PILGRIM0 :ILE ! SCABS ON ,NASEBY'S GRE5 SLOPES W]E /ILL FRE%1 !N ,WESLEY1 ,C[P]1 ,NEWTON1 ,H]VEY1 ,DODDRIDGE1 ,BLAKE1 ! USUAL SUSPECTS1 P9N$ D[N 9 ! CROSSFIRE ( !IR DIFF]5T TIMES & DIFF]5T CONFLICTS1 TRY+ TO REPLACE ! :I/L+ MUSKET-BALLS ) SONGS4 ,OLIV] ',BUGSY' ,CROMWELL'S CONTRACT HIT ON ,*>LES ! ,FIR/ HAD *ANG$ A LOT ( ?+S 9 ,5GL&1 N[ ,/UDS ?9KS AB\T IT4 ,IT W5T FUR!R ?AN ! SUDD5 FUSILLADE ( HYMNS4 ,DIDN'T HE HE> ?AT BILLI>DS ONLY CAME 9TO FA%ION 9 ?AT PO/W> P]IOD1 ! PA/IME'S COMPLEX BUT PR$ICTABLE BALLI/ICS HELPFULLY PROVID+ ,ISAAC ,NEWTON ) A P>ADIGM TO HANG HIS LAWS ( MOTION ON8 ,& :]E W\LD NOIR DETECTIVES LIKE ,/UDS BE )\T ! MORALLY 9SANIT>Y POOL HALL1 ITS RES5TFUL %AD[S & ITS M]CILESSLY P\R+ LI<T8 ,!RE'S SOME?+ AB\T L9ES H]E1 /AVES & L9ES ( V]SE1 TRAJECTORIES ( BALL & BULLET1 ?+S AN ACTOR HAS TO LE>N1 VECTORS ( MON>*Y OR ! PLOT-?READS ( HI/ORY4 ,! IDEA'S MESSY & ELUSIVE1 LACKS ! VITAL PIECE ( EVID5CE ?AT TIES IT ALL UP 9 A B[4 ,AW>E ?AT HIS ATT5TION'S W&]+ HE TURNS IT BACK TO ! 9CREAS+LY HUMID & WILT+ PAP]S 9 HIS KNOTTY CLAW4 

,! PAGE HE'S LOOK+ AT1 :ILE NOT IMM$IATELY 5C\RAG+1 AT LEA/ EXPLA9S :Y ,/UDS HAS ?US F> DRAWN A BLANK 9 HIS ATTEMPTS TO TRACK D[N ,H]VEY'S BODY4 ,IT APPE>S ! CORPSE 9 QUE/ION CURR5TLY RESIDES B5EA? ! *UR* FLOOR1 TO ! S\? ( ! COMMUNION TABLE 9 ! *ANCEL4 ,/UDS NODS KN[+LY4 ,! LA/ PLACE ANYONE W\LD ?9K TO LOOK = IT4 ,YEAH1 ?AT MAKES S5SE4 ,!RE'S SOME K9D ( A M>K] NE> ! SPOT :I* TALKS ( ,H]VEY AS 0?AT V]Y PI\S MAN1 & MU*-ADMIR$ AU?OR6 :O DI$ ,DEC4 ! #b#e?1 #a#g#e#h1 9 ! #d#e? YE> ( HIS AGE40 ,HE PASS$ AWAY ON ,*RI/MAS DAY & EV5 SLIPP$ AN EXCLAMATION M>K 9TO HIS EPITAPH1 ,/UDS NOTES ADMIR+LY4 ,BEL[ ALL ! =5SIC DETAILS !RE'S A V]SE 9 :I* ! AU?OR ( ! PIECE1 ,H]VEY PRESUMABLY1 EXPLA9S ! WANT ( A MORE VISIBLE MEMORIAL3 

,READ]1 EXPECT NO MORE2 TO MAKE HIM KN[N 

,VA9 ! FOND ELEGY & FIGUR'D /ONE3 

,A NAME MORE LA/+ %ALL HIS WRIT+S GIVE2 

,!RE VIEW DISPLAY'D HIS HEAV'NLY S\L1 & LIVE4 

,AGA9 ! LIP & EYEBR[ %RUG4 ,IT SEEMS A REASONABLE PROPOSITION4 ,H]VEY1 JUDG+ FROM ! TEXT 9 FRONT ( HIM1 WANT$ NO MONUM5T SAVE ?AT HE MI<T 0LEAVE A MEMORIAL 9 ! BREA/S ( HIS FELL[ CREATURES40 ,?IS *IMES ) ,/UDS' P]SONAL PHILOSOPHY2 BASICALLY KILL !M ALL & LEAVE ,GOD OR PO/]ITY TO SORT !M \T4 ,HE ISN'T SURE :E!R HE'S LEFT MEMORIALS 9 ! BREA/S ( MANY FELL[ CREATURES1 UNLESS BY MEMORIALS Y\ MEAN SLUGS FROM A 4#d#h1 BUT ALL 9 ALL HE F9DS ?IS ,H]VEY *>ACT] IS GR[+ ON HIM LIKE MOSS ON A MAUSOLEUM4 

,! UNNATURALLY P]FECT AFT]NOON WE>S ON 9 D&ELION-CLOCK 9CREM5TS1 & 9 ! H\SES ?AT SURR\ND HIS ELEVAT$ *UR*Y>D P]* ! ONLY MOVEM5T IS ?AT ( ! SUN UPON BLOND /ONE4 ,/UDS HAS BE5 LY+ H]E = GETT+ ON AN H\R & AS YET NONE ( ,WE/ON ,FAVELL'S NATIVES HAVE SE5 FIT TO V5TURE \T ONTO ITS SLEEPY1 W9D+ /REETS4 ,C\LD BE ?AT EV]YBODY'S DEAD 9 SOME ,MIDSOM] ,MURD] SPREE GOT \T ( H&1 9 SOME /ATI/ICALLY IMPROBABLE CONV]G5CE ( COMPLETELY SEP>ATE & UNCONNECT$ HOMICIDES1 :]E ! LA/ MAJOR G5]AL OR =M] DI/RICT NURSE LEFT /&+ IS BR\<T L[ BY A SL[-ACT+ POISON SECRETLY ADM9I/]$ BY SOMEONE HE OR %E HAS /ABB$ ) P9K+ %E>S DUR+ ! OP5+ SC5E4 ,HE ?9KS IT MAKES A MORE COMPELL+ PLOT IDEA ?AN ,MURD] ON ! ,ORI5T ,EXPRESS1 IF ONLY BECAUSE 9 HIS N>RATIVE NOT ONLY DOES IT TURN \T EV]YONE'S ! MURD]]1 BUT EV]YONE TURNS \T TO BE ! VICTIM TOO4 ,IT'S AN +5I\S D\BLE TWI/1 ! K9D ( 5D+ NOBODY SEES COM+4 ,HE 9DULGES 9 A FEW MOM5TS' CONSID]ATION ( ! ACTORS1 O!R ?AN HIMSELF1 ?AT HE'D CA/ 9 A MOVIE V]SION BUT GIVES UP ON NOTIC+ ?AT1 O!R ?AN HIMSELF1 ! PEOPLE ON HIS WI%-LI/ >E ALL DEAD1 A REGI/] ( ! DECEAS$1 :I* BR+S HIM BACK TO ,H]VEY4 

,! SUCCE$+ ITEM 9 HIS 9-TRAY1 :I* IS :AT HE PRES5TLY PREF]S TO CALL HIS H&1 IS SOME:AT MORE 9TRIGU+4 ,/UDS HAS ONLY TO CAT* SI<T ( ! NAME ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE HALFWAY D[N ! PAGE TO REALIZE ?AT HIS PREVI\SLY /ONE-COLD TRAIL IS W>M+ UP1 & BY ! TIME HE'S READ A P>AGRAPH OR TWO IT'S SIZZL+ LIKE A BLACK ,TEXAN GUY ) LE>N+ DISABILITIES 9 ! ELECTRIC *AIR4 ,FROM :AT HE'S READ+1 ,DODDRIDGE & ,JAMES ,H]VEY W]E MU* TI<T] ?AN ,H]VEY & ,WESLEY W]E1 ) ,DODDRIDGE EV5 SEEM+ TO HAVE HAD MORE 9FLU5CE ON ,H]VEY'S SPIRITUAL C>E] ?AN ,WESLEY EV] MANAG$ TO EX]T4 ,ACCORD+ TO ! /ORY1 AFT] ,H]VEY TAKES OV] HIS FA!R'S DUTIES AS ! P>I% PRIE/ ( ,COLL+TREE & ,WE/ON ,FAVELL1 HE'S \T WALK+ 9 ! FIELDS :5 HE COMES ON A PL[MAN TRY+ TO TILL ! SOIL4 ,N[1 ,H]VEY'S GOT ?IS SAWBONES1 PROBABLY ! K9D :O'LL DIG ! SLUGS \T ( A BULLET-RIDDL$ S\L BUT WON'T ASK QUE/IONS1 & HE RECOMM5DS ?AT ,H]VEY TAKE ! HEAL?Y C\NTRY AIR BY HANG+ \T ) HONE/ RURAL WORK]S AS !Y GO AB\T !IR BUS9ESS4 ,SO ! PREA*] WALKS ALONG BESIDE ! LABOR] &1 AS A FULLY PAID UP MEMB] ( ! ,HOLY ,CLUB1 DECIDES TO GIVE ?IS WORK+ /IFF A FREE TA/E ( HIS PI\S PRODUCT4 ,H]VEY ASKS ! RUBE = HIS OP9ION ON ! H>DE/ ?+ AB\T RELIGION4 ,:5 ,JOE ,AV]AGE PR$ICTABLY REPLIES ?AT AS A F>MH& HE'S LESS QUALIFI$ TO ANSW] ?AT 9QUIRY ?AN AN $UCAT$ P>SON1 ,H]VEY LAUN*ES GLADLY 9TO HIS /EAL?-S]MON4 ,HE SUGGE/S ?AT TO D5Y ONE'S S9FUL SELF IS ,*RI/IANITY'S MO/ DIFFICULT A*IEVEM5T & PROCE$S TO LECTURE ! BELEAGU]$ PL[MAN ON ! GREAT IMPORTANCE ( ADH]+ TO A MORALLY /RAI<T PA?1 JU/ :5 ! MAN IS TRY+ TO CONC5TRATE UPON ACCOMPLI%+ ! PHYSICAL EQUIVAL5T4 

,:5 F9ALLY ! PRIE/ IS ALL \T ( MAT]IAL1 ! MAN FROM SIMPLE PEASANT /OCK PULLS ! OLD SWIT*]OO :5 HE CONT5DS ?AT SURELY A MU* H>D] /RUGGLE COMES 9 ! D5Y+ ( ONE'S RI<TE\S SELF2 9 GETT+ PA/ ALL ! SELF-RI<TE\S1 SANCTIMONI\S BULL%IT ?AT ! ,WESLEY \TFIT REVELS 94 ,SEE+ ?AT HE'S GOT ,H]VEY ON ! MORAL ROPES1 ! BACKWOODS SLUGG] PRESSES HIS ADVANTAGE3 0,Y\ KN[ ?AT ,I DO NOT COME TO HE> Y\ PREA*1 BUT GO EV]Y ,SABBA?1 ) MY FAMILY1 TO ,NOR?AMPTON1 TO HE> ,DR4 ,DODDRIDGE4 ,WE RISE E>LY 9 ! MORN+1 & HAVE PRAY]S BE=E WE SET \T1 9 :I* ,I F9D PLEASURE4 ,WALK+ !RE & BACK ,I F9D PLEASURE2 UND] ! S]MON ,I F9D PLEASURE2 :5 AT ! ,LORD'S ,TABLE ,I F9D PLEASURE4 ,WE READ A PORTION ( ! ,SCRIPTURES & GO TO PRAY]S 9 ! EV5+1 & WE F9D PLEASURE2 BUT TO ?IS MOM5T1 ,I F9D IT ! H>DE/ ?+ TO D5Y RI<TE\S SELF4 ,I MEAN ! 9/ANCE ( R5\NC+ \R [N /R5G?1 & \R [N RI<TE\SNESS1 NOT LEAN+ ON ?AT = HOL9ESS1 NOT RELY+ ON ?AT = JU/IFICATION40 

,H]VEY LAT] CITES ?IS MOM5T AS A BOLT ( SUDD5 UND]/&+ FROM ! CLE> BLUE ,WE/ON ,FAVELL SKY4 ,BE=E LONG HE DECIDES TO FOLL[ ! RU/IC'S EXAMPLE & AT LA/ MEETS UP ) ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE4 ,!Y BECOME FIRM FRI5DS1 & ) ! HELP ( ,DODDRIDGE-CONV]T ,DR4 ,/ONH\SE1 :O'S 0A MO/ AB&ON$ RAKE & AN AUDACI\S DEI/01 F\ND ! FIR/ 9FIRM>Y \TSIDE ( ,LONDON4 ,IT TURNS \T ?AT ,H]VEY'S CLOS5ESS ) ! EVANGELICAL DISS5T+ ,*RI/IANS 9 ! ,DODDRIDGE GANG IS :AT E>NS HIS DISMISSAL FROM ,JOHN ,WESLEY'S ,HOLY ,MOB4 ,! ELB[ ,/UDS IS LEAN+ ON SLEEPS ) ! FI%ES1 IS COMPLETELY NUMB1 BUT HE'S TOO CAU<T UP 9 ! CASE TO EASE (F N[4 ,! DOTS >E ALL CONNECT+ & ! PUZZLE-PIECES >E ALL FALL+ 9TO PLACE4 ,! GAME'S AFOOT4 ,HE %UFFLES ?R\< ! LA/ LEAVES 9 HIS HEAP ) M\NT+ EAG]NESS & F9DS AN UNEXPECT$ ESSAY L9K+ ,H]VEY ) ! BIR? ( ! ,GO?IC TRADITION4 ,/UDS1 :O'D ?\<T HIS E>LI] MUS+S ON ! SUMPTU\SLY MORBID ,H]VEY'S ,GO? CR$5TIALS W]E A CYNICAL CONCEIT1 IS /UNN$4 ,HE'S SE5 MORE CRAZY HUN*ES 9 HIS LONG C>E] ?AN ,NOT] ,DAME CA!DRAL - !RE WAS ?AT TIME HE WAS SURE ,ROMAN ,POLANSKI W\LD CA/ HIM AS ,FAG9 IF HE JU/ WROTE ! DIRECTOR A BRIEF LETT] /RID5TLY 9SI/+ ON IT - BUT TO HAVE ONE ( HIS LONG %OTS F9ALLY LIMP 9 ACROSS ! F9I% L9E IS AN UNPREC$5T$ NOVELTY4 ,DIZZY ) NEWF\ND CONFID5CE 9 HIS ABILITIES HE READS ON1 H>DLY D>+ TO BELIEVE HIS LUCK4 

,IF ,/UDS IS UND]/&+ ?IS CORRECTLY1 ! 9ORD9ATE MORBIDITY ( ,H]VEY'S WRIT+S :I* ! ,WESLEYANS HAD SO DEPLOR$ TURN$ \T TO BE A MAGGOT-EAT5 9SPIRATION = HIS LIT]>Y CONTEMPOR>IES4 ,! P]SI/5T !ME ( HUMAN TRANSI5CE COMP>$ ) ! ET]NITY ( ,GOD WAS TAK5 UP BY O!R !OLOGIANS SU* AS ,$W>D ,Y\NG & BY ! POETS ( ! NASC5T ,GRAVEY>D ,S*OOL LIKE ,?OMAS ,GRAY1 BECOM+ SU* A MAJOR 9FLU5CE UPON ! WRIT+S ( ! DAY ?AT ,WILLIAM ,K5RICK WROTE3 

',TWAS ?US 5?USIA/IC ,Y\NG2 

',TWAS ?US AFFECT$ ,H]VEY SUNG2 

,:OSE MOTLEY MUSE1 9 FLORID /RA91 

,) [LS DID TO ! MOON COMPLA94 

,FROM :AT ,/UDS CAN MAKE \T1 ?IS WAS FAIR COMM5T1 AT LEA/ 9 SO F> AS IT P]TA9$ TO LAT] WRIT]S ( ! ,GRAVEY>D ,S*OOL1 :O W]5'T MU* BO!R$ BY ! BUS9ESS AB\T ,GOD BUT W]E COMPLETELY SMITT5 BY ! ATMOSPH]ICS & ! PROPS1 ! [LS & BATS & SKULLS & CRUMBL+ HEAD/ONES4 ,?IS WAS AT A MOM5T :5 SOCIETY WAS SL[LY />T+ TO CLEAN UP ! NATION'S GRAVEY>DS = ! PURPOSES ( PHYSICAL & M5TAL HYGI5E1 CLE>+ \T ! MOLD]+ BONES & SIMULTANE\SLY BANI%+ ! EV]-PRES5T SMELL & ! IMM$IATE IDEA ( \R MORTALITY BEYOND ! M>G9S ( ACCEPT$ DAILY DISC\RSE4 ,P]HAPS UNSURPRIS+LY1 ) ! GRIM ACTUALITY ( DEA? DISPLAC$ FROM ORD9>Y LIFE1 ?IS WAS ALSO ! PO9T AT :I* \R CULTURE FIR/ BEGAN TO MAKE A TITILLAT+ FETI% ( ! DEA?LY & FUN]EAL4 ,COMM5C+ :]E ! LESS RELIGI\S & MORE G5U9ELY <\LI% AU?ORS ( ! LAT] ,GRAVEY>D ,S*OOL LEFT (F1 WRIT]S LIKE ,HORACE ,WALPOLE & ,MAT!W ',MONK' ,LEWIS W\LD TAKE ,H]VEY'S SOMB] ICONOGRAPHY & USE IT TO ADORN !IR DECOMPOS+ ,EUROPEAN CA/LES OR !IR MORALLY SUBSID+ MONA/]IES4 ,! GO?IC NOVEL & 9DE$ ! :OLE LATE EI<TE5?-C5TURY GO?IC TRADITION W\LD APPE> TO HAVE ITS ORIG9S 9 ! CONSUMPTIVE ,H]VEY'S SPIRITUAL PREOCCUPATION ) ! TOMB4 

,AS L5G!N+ HEAD/ONE %AD[S SLI!R PURPOSEFULLY ?R\< ! CROPP$ GRASS T[>DS HIM1 ,/UDS ATTEMPTS TO WEI< UP ALL ! IMPLICATIONS ( ?IS LATE/ EVID5CE4 ,HE KN[S ?AT IF IT'S ON ! LEVEL IT PUTS ,H]VEY SQU>ELY 9 ! FRAME AS ! ELUSIVE ,MR4 ,BIG BEH9D F> MORE ?AN JU/ ! GO?IC NOVEL4 ,UNTIL ,WALPOLE1 ,LEWIS1 ,BECK=D & !IR FELL[ FRI<T5]S >RIV$1 ! ONLY =M ( NOVEL :I* EXI/$ WAS ! COM$Y ( MANN]S - ,GOLDSMI?1 ,%]IDAN & LAT] ON ,JANE ,AU/5 - ) ! ADV5T ( ! GO?IC NOVEL BE+ ALSO ! FIR/ G5RE FICTION4 ,ALMO/ EV]Y SUBSEQU5T SUB-CATEGORY ( IMAG9ATIVE WRIT+ IS !RE=E D]IV$ FROM GO?IC LIT]ATURE & ?US FROM ,H]VEY'S FIR/ MOLD-CULTURE TEXTS2 SPRUNG FROM ! MOSS & LI*5 ( HIS FIR/ SEPUL*RAL N>RATIVES1 ,/UDS REALIZES4 ,SURE1 ! CLASSIC <O/ TALE IS AN OBVI\S EXAMPLE1 ALONGSIDE ! BURGEON+ HORROR & SUP]NATURAL G5RES :I* GREW \T ( IT1 BUT ?AT'S NOT :]E IT 5DS4 ,! FIELD ( FANTASY W\LD HAVE TO BE 9CLUD$1 AS W\LD SCI5CE FICTION ) ITS G5ESIS 9 ,M>Y ,%ELLEY'S GO?IC ,FRANK5/E94 ,& !N1 ( C\RSE1 !RE >E ! ,DECAD5TS1 CAU<T UP 9 ! SUBLIME DELIRIUMS ( HEIR APP>5T TO ! CALIPHATE ( ,VA!K & ! RI*ES ( ,OTRANTO1 ,$G> ,ALL5 ,PE4 ,& ,PE - ! IDEA HITS ,/UDS ) ! =CE ( B\RBON BE=E BREAKFA/ - ,PE SET HIS ,*EVALI] ,AUGU/ ,DUP9 TO SOLVE ! MURD]S ON ! ,RUE ,MORGUE OR ! MY/]Y ( ! PURLO9$ LETT] & 9 DO+ SO PRECIPITAT$ ! DETECTIVE /ORY4 ,HE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE IT 93 ! BONE BULB FROM :I* G]M9AT$ EV]Y HE>TLESS RA9-LA%$ MIDNI<T1 EV]Y KNOCK\T BLOND ) A SOB /ORY & EA* /UTT]+ ELECTRIC SIGN IS RE/+ MAYBE FIFTY FEET AWAY1 JU/ S\? ( ! COMMUNION TABLE 9 ! *ANCEL4 ,EV]Y D9+-ROOM D5\EM5T1 EV]Y D\BLE-CROSS4 ,IT'S ONE HELL ( A ?+4 

,?IS GO?IC BUS9ESS1 ?\<1 HAS GOT HIM ?9K+ ONCE MORE AB\T ,BAUHAUS & ! MOVEM5T'S MOD]N RE9V5TION DUR+ ! 5D CR$ITS ( ! #a#i#gS4 ,AS ,/UDS RECALLS1 IT HAD BE5 ! ECLECTIC ,DAVID ,J :O'D FIR/ SUGGE/$ MANY ( ! E]IE TROPES :I* W\LD ONE DAY PROVE ! SALVATION ( ! BLACK LACE & MASC>A 9DU/RIES4 ,& YET1 AS WIDELY-READ AS ! PECULI>LY IBIS-LIKE BOHEMIAN 9TELLECTUAL UND\BT$LY HAD BE51 ,/UDS D\BTS ?AT ANY EI<TE5?-C5TURY ,*RI/IAN KILLJOYS F\ND !IR WAY 9TO ,J'S VEHEM5TLY O!R-DIRECT$ SYLLABUS4 ,! ,BAUHAUS BASSI/1 HE CONCLUDES1 W\LD HAVE KN[N NO?+ AB\T ,H]VEY :5 HE WAS 9TUITIVELY LAY+ \T ! GR\ND-PLAN = ! MO/ BEWILD]+LY LONG-LIV$ Y\? CULT ( ! MOD]N ]A4 ,! EXPLOD+ BELLADONNA1 LILIES & PRESS$ ROSES :I* ACCOMPANI$ ,NOR?AMPTON'S TW5TIE?-C5TURY GO?IC BLOSSOM+ CAME 9TO BE+ )\T ANY REF]5CE TO OR KN[L$GE ( ,H]VEY'S ORIG9ATION ( ?AT /YLE MORE ?AN TWO HUNDR$ YE>S BE=E4 ,UNLESS ?IS IS NO MORE ?AN AN EVOCATIVE CO9CID5CE1 ! IMPLICATION W\LD APPE> TO BE ?AT BO? ( !SE TRADITIONS & ! S5SIBILITIES ?AT %AP$ !M HAVE >IS5 FROM ?OSE S+UL> 9H]5T QUALITIES )9 ! T[N ITSELF2 ! GO?IC VIEW AS AN EM]G5T PROP]TY1 AS A CONDITION ( ,NOR?AMPTON4 ,?AT W\LD EXPLA9 EV]Y?+ AB\T ! PLACE1 ITS *UR*ES1 MURD]S1 HI/ORY & <O/LY MONKS4 ,?AT W\LD EXPLA9 ITS WRIT+S & ITS MUSIC & ! NATURE ( ITS PEOPLE1 EV]YONE FROM ,H]VEY TO ,B5 ,P]RIT1 FROM ,JOHN ,CL>E TO ,DAVID ,J1 ) ,/UDS & ,LITTLE ,JOHN & ,ALMA ,W>R5 SOME:]E ON ! GROTESQUE SPECTRUM 9 BETWE5 !M4 ,LITTLE ,JOHN ALONE REPRIZ$ ! GO?IC MOVEM5T 9 ONE TIDY PACKAGE1 :AT ) ! MALEFIC DW>F BE+ A /APLE ( ! G5RE & ,JOHN'S BACKGR\ND MAK+ HIM APPE> ALMO/ AN ESCAPEE FROM ,BECK=D'S ,VA!K1 BR\<T H]E FROM ! J9NI-SWEPT T]RACES ( ,I%TAK> 9 F> ,P]SEPOLIS1 A CROOK$ GR&*ILD ( ! DEMON-SULTAN ,EBLIS4 ,/UDS IS JU/ AB\T AS CLOSE TO 9N] SATISFACTION AS A SP5T & US$ IMAG9>Y PRIVATE EYE CAN GET4 ,IT ALL MAKES S5SE4 ,HE FLIPS ?R\< ! REMA9+ PAGES ) M\NT+ IMPATI5CE4 

,!RE'S AN 9T]E/+ PIECE FROM A BIOGRAPHY ( ,H]VEY BY ONE ,GEORGE ,M4 ,ELLA1 :I* DESCRIBES ! ,WE/ON ,FAVELL VISION>Y'S ,!RON & ,ASPASIO 9 T]MS ?AT MAKE IT S\ND MORE LIKE A PIECE ( MOD]NI/ OR POSSIBLY PO/-MOD]N WRIT+ ?AN A DIALOGUE CONC]N+ ,*RI/'S IMPUT$ RI<TE\SNESS FIR/ WRITT5 9 #a#g#e#c4 ,MASSIVELY LONG BY MOD]N /&>DS1 ,H]VEY'S WORK APP>5TLY %IFTS 9 ITS /YLE & ITS DELIV]Y ) EA* NEW *APT]1 HOPP+ FROM ONE MODE OR G5RE TO ANO!R & 9CLUD+ 0N>RATIVE DESCRIPTION1 SCI5TIFIC RECORDS1 9N] MONOLOGUE1 ANECDOTES1 AUTOBIOGRAPHY1 EYE-WITNESS REPORTS1 P5-PORTRAITS1 %ORT /ORIES1 S]MONS1 L+UI/IC /UDIES1 NATURE PORTRAYALS1 J\RNALS1 POETRY & HYMNS4 ,!RE IS ALSO MU* 9 ! WORK ?AT IS REM9ISC5T ( A MOD]N FILM-SCRIPT40 ,/UDS REFLECTS ?AT HE %\LD MAYBE ADD ! BEATNIK AVANT-G>DE TO ! ALREADY-L5G?Y LI/ ( LIT]>Y =MS :I* SEEM TO [E !IR ,M4,O41 :I* IS FLATFOOT TALK = MODUS OP]&I1 TO ,JAMES ,H]VEY4 ,HIS RESPECT = ! EXTRAVAGANTLY MIS]ABLE DIV9E IS GR[+ BY ! MOM5T4 ,/UDS W\LD LIKE TO SEE ONE ( !SE MOD]N PANTYWAI/S EV5 ATTEMPT A WORK AS GR& & V>I\S AS ?AT4 

,HE'S RI<T D[N TO ! ,WIKIP$IA 5TRIES = BO? ,H]VEY & ,NOR?AMPTON ,S*OOL = ,BOYS N[1 SPRAWL+ ON ! *UR*Y>D TURF BETWE5 ! SP>SE *IMES ( ! E>LY AFT]NOON4 ,NEI!R ( ! REMA9+ FILES APPE> TO ,/UDS TO BE P>TICUL>LY PROMIS+1 & YET UPON 9SPECTION BO? DOCUM5TS DEMON/RATE CONV9C+LY H[ WRONG A GUY CAN BE4 ,! FIR/1 ,H]VEY'S 9T]NET RESUME1 :ILE 9 ! MA9 IT (F]S NO?+ ,/UDS HAS NOT ALREADY LE>N$ FROM O!R S\RCES1 PLA9LY /ATES ?AT ,H]VEY WAS NOT JU/ SOMEONE :OM ,WILLIAM ,BLAKE HAD HE>D ( & REF]R$ TO 9 A SOLIT>Y PA9T+1 BUT WAS RA!R ONE ( ,BLAKE'S TWO MA9 SPIRITUAL 9FLU5CES ) ! O!R ONE BE+ ,IMMANUEL ,SW$5BORG4 ,! HOV]CRAFT-9V5T+ ANGEL CONFIDANT :O ONCE ASS]T$ ?AT SU* CREATURES KN[ NO?+ ( TIME1 :OSE MISS+ HEAD WAS RUMOR$ TO BE PROPP$ AGA9/ ! OPTICS AT ! ,CR[N & ,DOLPH91 ) ,NOR?AMPTON'S =EMO/ FATALI/1 BO? /IRR$ 9TO ! ,LAMBE? LAD'S IDEOLOGICAL G5ETIC MIX2 BECOME HIS P>ANORMAL P>5TS4 ,/UDS ?9KS BACK TO ! ,BLAKE PLATE HE /UDI$ AT ! LIBR>Y1 ! SOLIT>Y HUMAN FIGURE AT ! BOTTOM C5T] ( ! IMAGE1 BACK T[>DS ! VIEW] & FACE HIDD5 AS HE GAZES UP AT ! FUN]EAL SA9TS & ANGELS GA!R$ !RE ABOVE HIM1 OBVI\SLY MEANT TO REPRES5T ,H]VEY HIMSELF & YET ) ! AV]T$ FEATURES L5D+ TO ! *>ACT]'S 9T]PRETATION AS AN EV]YMAN1 PAUS$ ON ! BR9K ( A M>MOREAL H]EAFT] :I* R5D]S TUB]CULOSIS1 FLE% & HUMAN BREVITY IRRELEVANT1 A FIGURE AT DEA?'S DOOR REFUT+ LOSS & TIME4 ,OR1 POSSIBLY1 ,BLAKE DIDN'T KN[ :AT ,H]VEY LOOK$ LIKE1 9 :I* 9/ANCE ! APP5D$ L9E 5GRAV+ (F]S ,/UDS A SLI<T $GE ON ,S\? ,LONDON'S BEATIFIC BRUIS]4 

,GAZ+ FROM ! POORLY-PR9T$ IMAGE1 ,H]VEY MI<T BE TAK5 = A MAGI/RATE SAV+ ! LACK ( JUDGM5T 9 HIS CALM1 /ILL EYES2 SAV+ ! FA9TE/ TWIT* ( HUMOR AT ONE CORN] ( ! PRIMLY PURS+ LIPS4 ,! CONT\R HAT*+ ?AT DEF9ES ! VILLAGE RECTOR'S PLEASANT FEATURES1 RAZOR %>P L9ES EAT5 9TO /EEL BY AQUA =TIS1 BREAKS D[N TO A PO9TILLI/ P>TICULATE 9 ! BLOT*$ REPRODUCTION AL?\< ! F9E DETAILS ( COMPLEXION REMA9 VISIBLE4 ,:AT SEEMS TO BE A W>T IS >TFULLY POSITION$ AT ! \T] $GE ( ! LEFT EYE1 A FEATURE ,/UDS FEELS IS A M>K ( SOME DI/9CTION 9 A MAN1 :ILE RID+ ! RI<T *EEKBONE IS A MOLE OR1 JUDG+ FROM ITS P]FECT ,MONROE PLACEM5T1 SOME K9D ( COSMETIC >TIFICIAL SPOT4 ,GIV5 ! ALMO/ PRIDEFUL LACK ( VANITY DISPLAY$ 9 ,H]VEY'S *OICE ( RE/+ PLACE ,/UDS FEELS ?IS LATT] POSSIBILITY IS SOME?+ ( A LONG %OT1 AL?\< !RE REMA9S A C]TA9 PRISS9ESS OR FEM99ITY TO ,H]VEY'S FACE :I* MAKES ! BEAUTY-M>K HYPO!SIS SEEM ALMO/ PLAUSIBLE4 ,IT'S MORE ?AN ! P]UKE OR P]IWIG OR :ATEV] ! HELL IT'S CALL$ ?AT ,H]VEY'S WE>+ 9 ! PICTURE1 IT'S ! AIR ( G5TL5ESS & RECEPTIVITY ! MAN EXUDES4 

,/UDS ?9KS BACK TO A PASSAGE FROM HIS REC5T READ+S UPON ,H]VEY'S TIME 9 ,OX=D1 :]E ! FL$GL+ PREA*] HAD BECOME ! CLOSE FRI5D ( ANO!R ,HOLY ,CLUB 9DUCTEE1 ONE ,PAUL ,OR*>D4 ,EV5 ! GUY'S NAME WAS FRUITY4 ,DUR+ ONE ( ,H]VEY'S 9T]MITT5T B\TS ( ILL HEAL? 9 HIS MIDDLE TW5TIES1 HE W5T D[N TO LIVE ) ,OR*>D = TWO YE>S AT ,/OKE-,ABBEY 9 ,DEVON%IRE1 :]E ! TWO M5 DREW UP A CONTRACT V[+ TO WAT* DILIG5TLY OV] ONE ANO!R'S SPIRITUAL WELLBE+4 ,:ILE ?IS ISN'T AS SUGGE/IVE AS1 SAY1 ,J]EMY ,?ORPE'S BILLET-D\X TO ,NORMAN ,SCOTT1 IT SEEMS TO SPEAK TO A MALE FRI5D%IP ?AT W5T SOME WAY BEYOND HANG+ \T & TAK+ %OTS AT BE] CANS4 ,TAK5 9 ! LI<T ( ,H]VEY'S LIFELONG BA*ELOR EXI/5CE1 DWELL+ ) HIS MO!R & HIS SI/] RI<T UP TO ! E>LY1 BREA?LESS 5D1 ,/UDS GETS ! PICTURE ( A MAN ) C]TA9 LEAN+S ?AT C\LD NEV] HAVE BE5 EXPRESS$ PHYSICALLY & SO W]E SUBLIMAT$ 9 A SOME:AT OV]HEAT$ LOVE ( ,*RI/ & ,*RI/IAN FELL[%IP4 ,IT W\LD SEEM SAFE TO SAY ?AT 9 HIS G5]AL MANN] JU/ AS 9 HIS FLORID LIT]>Y /YLE1 ,JAMES ,H]VEY WAS A T\* !ATRICAL4 

,?IS ONLY LEAVES ! ,BOYS ,S*OOL SCUTTLEBUTT1 ! CASUAL AFT]?\<T MAT]IAL1 :I* IS PR$ICTABLY :]E ,/UDS AT LA/ GETS HIS TRANSC5D5T R\LETTE MOM5T4 ,! A/ONI%$ CR\PI] GASPS 0,9CROYABLE60 & AS ,/UDS IS SAUNT]+ AWAY FROM ?AT LA/ *IP HE'D TOSS$ DISMISSIVELY ONTO ! TABLE HE'S CALL$ BACK & LAD5 ) HIS UNEXPECT$ W9N+S4 ,HE IS /UDY+ )\T 5?USIASM AN UNPREPOSSESS+ SUMM>Y ( ! E/ABLI%M5T :5 ! DETAIL ?AT'S BE5 RI<T UND] HIS NOSE ! :OLE TIME REA*ES \T & HITS HIM 9 HIS FACE UNTIL IT ISN'T EV5 UGLY ANYMORE4 ,IT'S :AT'S BE5 GNAW+ AT HIM EV] S9CE HIS E>LI] DRIVE-BY RECONNAISSANCE ( ! IMP]I\S BRICK BUILD+ ON ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD1 & IT'S !RE 9 ! PR9T\T'S SECOND L9E1 JU/ UND]NEA? ! REC5TLY-ADOPT$ SMUG S*OOL MOTTO PROMIS+ ,A ,TRADITION ( ,EXCELL5CE1 :]E IT SAYS ,E/ABLI%$ #a#e#d#a4 

,NOR?AMPTON'S ,S*OOL = ,BOYS WAS NO:]E NE> ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD AT ITS 9CEPTION4 ,F\ND$ BY ,MAYOR ,?OMAS ,*IPSEY AS ! 'FREE BOYS GRAMM> S*OOL'1 IT HAD 9ITIALLY BE5 SOME WAY FUR!R WE/ & SITUAT$ 9 A /REET TO :I* IT HAD1 ,/UDS REALIZES BELAT$LY1 GIV5 ITS NAME3 9 ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 ,B5 ,P]RIT'S ]/:ILE HOME D[N ON ! ,BOR\<S' $GE1 :]E ! EPONYM\S S*OOL WAS LOCAT$ = SOME SIXTE5 YE>S4 ,]ECT$ :5 ,H5RY ! ,EI<? WAS ON ! ?RONE IT HAD BE5 MOV$ 9 #aeeg TO ,/4 ,GREGORY'S ,*UR*1 :I* AT ! TIME EXT5D$ 9TO ,FREES*OOL ,/REET1 SUGGE/+ ?AT ! RELOCATION WASN'T TOO DEM&+4 ,SITUAT$ 9 ! SAME PLACE UNTIL #a#h#f#d1 ?IS W\LD HAVE BE5 :]E ,H]VEY /UDI$ FROM AGE SEV5 TO AGE SEV5TE5 BACK !RE 9 ! #a#g#bS4 ,A /RAY COMM5T :I* ,/UDS MU/ HAVE SKIMM$ SOME:]E AMONG ! O!R EVID5CE COMES BACK TO HIM1 A CASUAL PRON\NCEM5T BY ,JOHN ,RYL&1 A CONTEMPOR>Y ( ,H]VEY'S & HIS E>LIE/ BIOGRAPH]1 TO ! EFFECT ?AT ,H]VEY'S *ILDHOOD PLACE ( $UCATION HAD BE5 LITTLE BETT] ?AN A D[N-AT-HEEL *>ITY S*OOL4 ,/UDS NODS1 GRAVE & P]V]SELY PHOTOG5IC4 ,GIV5 ?AT IT WAS D[N 9 ! ,BOR\<S IT'S UNLIKELY ?AT IT C\LD HAVE BE5 ANY?+ ELSE BUT A WELL-MEANT ATTEMPT TO G5]ALLY IMPROVE ! DI/RICT'S JUV5ILE UN=TUNATES1 EV5 BACK 9 ! R[DY SIXTE5? C5TURY4 ,NOR?AMPTON1 ) ! ANCI5T NEI<BORHOOD ?AT ONCE WAS ITS 5TIRETY1 W\LD HAVE BE5 SOME FEW HUNDR$ YE>S 9TO A SOMEH[ PURPOSEFUL DECL9E BY !N1 PUNI%$ & SCORN$ BY E>LI] ,H5RIES4 ,= HIS [N P>T1 ,/UDS SUSPECTS ?AT ! BLACKLI/+ ( ! T[N GOES BACK MU* FUR!R1 POSSIBLY TO LOCAL ANTI-,NORMAN 9SURRECTION>Y ,H]EW>D ! ,WAKE1 A FIGURE NOT UNLIKE ! LOCALLY CONNECT$ ,GUY ,FAWKES 9 ?AT HE'S BE5 BANI%$ FROM ! HI/ORY LESSONS JU/ AS SURELY AS ! T[N ITSELF IS BANI%$ EV5 FROM REGIONAL ,T,V WEA!R MAPS4 ,IF ! GR&FA!R ( ! ,GO?IC MOVEM5T HAD TO SP5D HIS =MATIVE YE>S SOME:]E !N ! ,BOR\<S WAS UND\BT$LY ! P]FECT CRADLE1 FULL ( LICE & FATALISM4 

,/UDS HAS F\ND ! SMOK+ GUN4 ,HE LEV]S HIS NUMB C>CASS FROM ! GRASS LIKE SOMEONE OP5+ A BONE UMBRELLA4 ,BRU%+ IRRITABLY AT ! <O/-GRE5 TRIMM+S CL++ TO HIS LEA!R JACKET HE RETRACES HIS /EPS ?R\< ! SP>SELY POPULAT$ CEMET]Y & 9 PASS+ NOTICES ! YOKEL-NOIR EFFECT ( P9/RIPE %AD[S FALL+ ONTO SUNLIT PAV+ ?R\< A *UR*Y>D GATE4 ,A BLACK SMUDGE ON ! L5S ( AFT]NOON HE MAKES HIS WAY BACK TO ! BAK+ ,C\PE DE ,VILLE1 AIR %IMM]+ OV] ITS H>DTOP 9 A LAY] ( HOT JELLY4 ,CLAMB]+ 9SIDE HE HUMS ! W9D[S D[N TO COOL ! MOBILE OV5 (F BE=E HE ROA/S1 & ONCE MORE FAILS TO COME UP ) A H>D-BOIL$ WAY ( BUCKL+ HIS SEAT BELT4 ,MAYBE IF HE SPAT CONTEMPTU\SLY ON ! DA%BO>D HALFWAY ?R\< ! OP]ATION1 OR P]HAPS CO9$ SOME P>TICUL>LY PUNG5T SIMILE = H[ IT'S (T5 DIFFICULT TO GET ! METAL FA/5+ 9TO ! PLA/IC SLOT8 ,LIKE 0IT WAS H>D] ?AN A TW5TY-/ONE ,SAMOAN DRAG QUE5 DO+ ,*9ESE CALCULUS 9 444 SOME 4440 ,HE'LL WORK ON IT4 

,REMEMB]+ ?AT HE /ILL HAS HIS READ+ GLASSES ON1 ,/UDS C>EFULLY REMOVES !M & RETURNS !M TO AN 9SIDE POCKET BE=E FIR+ UP ! 5G9E1 :]EUPON ! SMOKE-GRAY ,DUIS5B]G RO>S \T ( ,WE/ON ,FAVELL1 A L&-B\ND TORP$O HEAD+ = ! DI/ANT HEAT S\RCE ( ,NOR?AMPTON'S C5T] BY ! %ORTE/ R\TE AVAILABLE4 ,! HAMLET'S /ILL-DES]T$ /REETS >E AN AB&ON$ SET1 !IR O*] /ONEWORK ONLY PA9T$ BACKGR\ND FLATS ?AT >E N[ FOLD$ UP & PUT AWAY 9TO ! COMPACT SPACE ( A SME>$ RE>VIEW MIRROR4 ,?UND]+ ALONG ! ,BILL+ ,ROAD HE SCREE*ES PA/ ! MOD]N 9C>NATION ( ! ,BOYS ,S*OOL1 NON-EXI/5T PRIOR TO #a#i#a#a1 & HIS SELF-RECRIM9ATION AT NOT TUMBL+ TO A SOLUTION SOON] HAS ! S\R TA/E ( BRASS KNUCKLES 9 ! TEE? ( VICTORY4 ,= A NOIR PRIVATE EYE LIKE ,/UDS1 ( C\RSE1 ?IS IS ! P]FECT \TCOME4 ,UNADULT]AT$ TRIUMPH IS UN?9KABLE :5 ! REAL SATISFACTION ( Y\R *OS5 OCCUPATION LIES 9 E?ICAL1 EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL DEFEAT2 9 ! ACKN[L$GM5T1 ) ,H]VEY1 ?AT ALL CASES CLOS$ OR MORTAL GLORIES >E MADE 9SIGNIFICANT 9 !IR COMP>ISON ) ! BIG SLEEP4 

,AN AFT]NOON SUN LEFT TOO LONG TO /EEP HAS /EW$ ! LI<T SO ?AT IT HAS MORE BODY & A SLI<T METALLIC AFT]TA/E AS IT P\RS1 (F ! BOIL1 ON ! ASYLUM & ! CEMET]Y'S UNTIDY M>BLE OV]GR[?1 ONTO ! HOSPITAL ?AT ,H]VEY HAD HELP$ ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE & ,JOHN ,/ONH\SE TO E/ABLI%4 ,EXECUT+ A LEFT TURN AT ! UNHURRI$ TRAFFIC LI<TS BESIDE ,$W>D ! ,SEV5?'S /A9$ BU/ ) ITS BIRD%IT CORONET1 ,/UDS COA/S D[N ,*EYNE ,WALK PA/ ! HOSPITAL'S MAT]NITY FACILITIES1 HIS PROGRESS HALT$ BY ANO!R SET ( LI<TS D[N AT ! BOTTOM ( ! HILL NE> ,?OMAS ,BECKET'S DR9K+ F\NTA94 ,*ILDBIR?1 M>TYRDOM1 TWI/+ TOGE!R 9 ! DULL /EEL SP9ES ( ,FRANCIS ,CRICK'S HALF-HE>T$ ,AB+TON ,/REET MONUM5T1 ! SEXLESS SUP]H]OES SPIRAL+ UP 9 G5ETIC ASPIRATION UND] UNDECID$ WEA!R1 FLI<T FRU/RAT$ & !IR HEELS =EV] ROOT$ 9 ! MONKEY /REET4 ,A LI<T DESC5DS 9 /AGES ?R\< ! SIGNAL'S P\SSE-CAFE1 FROM GR5AD9E TO CREME-DE-M5!1 & ,/UDS IS GLID+ ON ,VICTORIA ,PROM ) ,BECKETT'S ,P>K & ! G5]IC SUP]M>KET =EC\RTS ?AT >E UND]/UDY+ AN UNWELL CATTLE-M>KET1 SME>+ BY HIM ON HIS LEFT4 ,ONCE PA/ ! ,PL[ ,HOTEL AT ,BRIDGE ,/REET'S L[] 5D1 D[N 9 ! ,SATURDAY NI<T BLOOD-SUMP1 HE NEGOTIATES AN UNEXPECT$LY BYZANT9E S]IES ( RI<T TURNS BE=E >RIV+ 9 ! P>K+ >EA :I* BACKS ON TO ! ,PET]'S ,PLACE >CADE 9 ,GOLD ,/REET4 ,ONCE AGA9 HE PAYS1 DISPLAYS1 & LEAVES HIS POSSIBLY GANG-TAGG$ ,CORVETTE HUN*$ ON ITS *EW$-UP ASPHALT SLOPE B5EA? ! BIG B[L FULL ( VALLEY SKY4 ,REMOV+ FROM ! VEHICLE 5CLOSURE ?R\< ITS L[E/ EXIT1 N>R[LY SURVIV+ A TRAV]SE ( ! DUAL C>RIAGEWAY !RE AT ,HORSEM>KET'S RANK MONOXIDE FOOT1 HE SKULKS >\ND ! SL[ CURVE ( ,/4 ,PET]'S ,WAY T[>DS ! RAIS$ & UNKEMPT PAT* ( GRASS ?AT HAD ONCE BE5 ! WE/]N REA* ( ,GRE5 ,/REET1 :]E HE CLAMB]S TWO OR ?REE FEET FROM SMOO? PAVEM5T ONTO RAGG$ TURF & TAKES ! ,BOR\<S FROM BEH9D4 

,! %ABBY & DEMOT$ =M] NEI<BORHOOD GRE5 RISES TO ! RE> ( ,PET]'S ,*UR*1 ITS LIME/ONE WR9KLES & DISCOLOR$ LIV] SPOTS ALL PRES5TLY ]AS$ BY FLATT]+ SOL> GOLD4 ,FIR/ RAIS$ 9 TIMB] BY ,K+ ,(FA AS A PRIVATE *APEL = HIS SONS 9 ! N9? C5TURY1 REBUILT 9 FULL ,GO?IC EFFECT BY LEGACY-AW>E ,SIMON DE ,S5LIS DUR+ ! TWELF? OR ELEV5?1 ! NE> ?\S&-YE>-OLD /RUCTURE DRA9S ALL M>K]S ( ! PRES5T FROM ! GRASSY 9CL9E ?AT IT TRAILS BEH9D IT4 ,MUGG+ DEVILS 9 ]OD$ EAVES REG>D HIM AS HE LABORS UPHILL ?R\< ! WE$S1 !IR /ONE EYES BULG+1 !IR FROG LIPS DI/5D$ ) ANXIETY AT HIS APPROA*1 P>ALYZ$ APPREH5SION ( ! G>GOYLE COMPETITION :I* HE REPRES5TS4 ,= HIS P>T1 ! ASC5T ACROSS A TIMELESS & DECEPTIVELY SUN-BURNI%$ WA/EL& TO ! ANCI5T PLACE ( WOR%IP MAKES HIM FEEL R$UC$ TO A TRANSP>5TLY ILL-FAT$ ACADEMIC 9 SOME SMUGLY AWFUL N>RATIVE BY ,MONTAGUE ,RHODES ,JAMES4 ,A/HMATIC LAUNDRY1 /]OID SPID]S1 ,GYPSY KIDS ) SWIT*BLADE F+]NAILS1 ALL WAIT+ = HIM 9 ! L>GELY DISUS$ $IFICE AHEAD4 ,N[ ?AT HE ?9KS AB\T IT1 ,M4,R4 ,JAMES & ! :OLE ,5GLI% 

<O/ /ORY TRADITION MU/ RATE AS ,H]VEY'S MO/ GL>+LY APP>5T BY-BL[S1 ILLEGITIMATE GREAT-GR&*ILDR5 BY WAY ( GRAVEY>D V]SIFI]S & ELITE HY/]ICS ) EXQUISITE FURNITURE4 ,!N !RE >E MOD]N OCCULTI/S1 ! HEIRS TO ,JAMES'S ,K>SWELL & E>LY ADAPT]S ( ! GO?IC MODEL 9 !IR LIT]>Y EF=TS & !IR LEISUREWE>1 ) ,H]VEY'S DOCTR9E ( ,*RI/'S 9NATE RI<TE\SNESS BECOME A /YLE-GUIDE = DIABOLI/S4 ,/UDS D\BTS ?AT ,H]VEY W\LD HAVE FELT 5TIRELY COM=TABLE ) ?AT1 BUT ) A SELF-CONFESS$ DEPLOYM5T ( >RE/+ IMAG]Y TO HELP EMB$ HIS MESSAGE ! CREATOR ( ,NOR?AMPTON NOIR HAS 

NO ONE BUT HIMSELF TO BLAME4 ,DON'T MAKE ! WRAPP+ PAP] MORE 9TRIGU+ ?AN ! GIFT 9SIDE1 AN $ICT :I* ,/UDS RUEFULLY ACCEPTS C\LD EQUALLY APPLY TO HIS [N 9N] LOVEL9ESS & ITS REGRETTABLY ATT5TION-GRABB+ PACKAG+4 

,CRE/+ ! SLANT$ V]GE HE WALKS ! ALMO/ 9DISC]NIBLE REMA9S ( ,PET]'S ,/REET1 ALONG ! RAIL$ RE> ( ! *UR* & HEAD+ EA/4 ,FROM UNROLL$ LICORICE :IPS ( %ADE HE E/IMATES IT TO BE SOMETIME >\ND FIVE O'CLOCK & BRIEFLY KN[S ! PHANTOM-LIMB S5SATION ( RELEASE ?IS H\R W\LD H]ALD IF HE HAD A PROP] JOB & HADN'T BE5 APPR5TIC$ TO ! NI<T4 ,NOT ?AT HE'D SAY HE WAS SELF-CONSCI\S :5 IT CAME TO HIS >RE/+ PHYSIOGNOMY1 BUT ,/UDS HAS ALWAYS F> PREF]R$ ! D>K4 ,HIS FAVORITE 5T]TA9M5T1 AFT] BE+ TAK5 = A RIDE BY A HE>T-BREAK+ BEAUTY :O TURNS \T TO BE A MAN1 US$ TO BE W&]+ ! %AD[Y RE> 5TRIES ( ! T[N BACK 9 ! DAYS BE=E ! ALLEYS HAD BE5 GAT$ (F BY N]V\S RESID5TS2 BE=E BEHAVIOR LIKE ?AT C\LD L& Y\ ON ! SEX-(F5D]S REGI/]4 ,ONCE1 9 ! COBBL$ CRACK BETWE5 ! ,BIR*FIELD & ,A%BURNHAM ROADS1 9 ! SMALL H\RS ( A BRISK ,SUNDAY MORN+1 HE'D BE5 />TL$ BY A MASSIVE BALL ( GRANITE ROLL+ D[N ! D>K5$ CORRIDOR T[>DS HIM 9 ! CLASSIC ,9DIANA ,JONES MANEUV]1 ONLY TO REVEAL ITSELF AT CLOS] QU>T]S AS ,NOR?AMPTON'S PLANET>Y-SCALE P]=M+ S\L1 ! S9CE-DECEAS$ ,TOM ,HALL4 

,WALK+ A MIDNI<T DOG1 ! LYRICAL BEHEMO? HAD PAUS$ = A MOM5TS' BAD9AGE ) ! %AM ,%AMUS1 ELOQU5T 9 HIS DEF5SE ( ?OSE NEGLECT$ CREVICES ) !IR COCK-DECORAT$ G>AGE DOORS & FRILLY B9DWE$ FR+ES4 ,CLAD 9 DUNG>EES ?AT MAY WELL HAVE BE5 A CONV]T$ ,W5DY-,H\SE1 ,HALL HAD EXTEMPORIZ$ UPON HIS !SIS ?AT ! N>R[ URBAN SEAM :I* !Y W]E CURR5TLY 9HABIT+ WAS ONE ( ! T[N'S L&-CANALS1 P>T ( ITS BONE-DRY NETWORK ( IMAG9>Y P$E/RIAN WAT]WAYS4 ,EXPLOR+ ! B>E /REAMB$S ) !IR H>D ,$W>DIAN GOOSEFLE% UND]FOOT1 A PRACTIC$ SUPRA-M>9] MI<T READILY OBS]VE ! SUNK5 UND]WORLD DETRITUS ?AT'S ACCUMULAT$ AT ! FEET ( GALVANIZ$ /EEL BANKS3 FI]CELY-DISC>D$ ULTIMATUM PORN COLLECTIONS OR ! RIBCAGES ( BICYCLES1 DRIFT$ AGA9/ ! ALLEY'S $GES :]E NEON-HU$ M9N[ CONDOMS %OAL AMONG S]5ELY SWAY+ NETTLES1 PHLEGM ANEMONES4 ,OCCASIONALLY A BODY4 ,OBSOLETE APPLIANCES1 EMB>RASS+ ADDICTIONS1 WILLFULLY =GOTT5 ACTIONS1 DE$S OR PUR*ASES ?\<T BETT] ( & EXCIS$ TO !SE M>G9S1 SC5ES ?AT HAVE BE5 SCRIBBL$ \T FROM DAYLI<T CONT9UITY & WRITT5 9/EAD ON !SE UNATTRIBUT$ & (F-!-RECORD PASSAGES1 9 ?IS PISS-SPLA%$ ,APOCRYPHA4 ,! ROTUND TR\BAD\R HAD LAVI%LY EXP&$ ON HIS VISION = ! L5G? ( TIME IT TOOK HIS CAN9E *>GE TO >* UP ON ITS TIPTOES LIKE A %UDD]+ CROQUET HOOP & SQUEEZE \T A H]OIC MOVEM5T LONG] ?AN ! H\ND ITSELF4 ,) ?AT1 ! DISS]TATION HAD CONCLUD$ & ! TWO M5 HAD CONT9U$ ON !IR DISP>ATE WAYS1 ,/UDS HEAD+ UP ! DRA9$ CANAL AGA9/ ! W9D :ILE ! MUSICIAN BOBB$ AWAY D[N/REAM LIKE AN 5ORM\S M>K] BUOY ?AT HAD ESCAP$ ITS MOOR+S1 FLOAT+ (F 9TO ! VISUAL PURPLE4 

,/UDS HAS BY N[ REA*$ ,N>R[ ,TOE ,LANE1 P]HAPS ! ,BOR\<S' MO/ UNUSUALLY TITL$ ?OR\<F>E1 9 TRU? B>ELY A PA? ?AT TRICKLES D[N BESIDE ! %AGGY GRASS EXPANSE TO ! REMA9S ( ,GRE5 ,/REET4 ,HE'S GOT NO IDEA AB\T ! NAME4 ,A MISSPELL$ T[PA? ( AN 9SUFFICI5T WID?1 P]HAPS1 OR1 KN[+ ! NEI<BORHOOD1 A REF]5CE TO A %>$ G5ETIC DISABILITY :I* AT ONE PO9T AFFLICT$ EV]YBODY 9 ! /REET8 ,UP TO HIS RI<T1 RUNN+ ALONG ! EA/ FACE ( ! *UR* TO ,M>EFAIR >E ,/4 ,PET]'S ,G>D5S1 =M]LY A DISUS$ ALLEYWAY BUT WID5$ TW5TY OR SO YE>S AGO 9TO A DISUS$ PROM5ADE BY PULL+ D[N ! S*OOL \TFITT]S1 ,ORME'S1 :I* /OOD AT ! F> CORN]4 ,/UDS REMEMB]S GO+ !RE1 MO!R-ACCOMPANI$1 9 HIS TWELF? YE> TO BUY A UNI=M = SECOND>Y S*OOL4 ,HE ISN'T C]TA91 BUT HE HAS AN IDEA ?AT HE MI<T HAVE BE5 ESCORT$ TO ! SAME %OP ON AN E>LI] OCCASION TO BE MEASUR$ UP = HIS HUMILIAT+ KILT4 ,AS HE RECALLS !RE US$ TO BE A PAIR ( FAC+ FULL-L5G? MIRRORS 9 ! *ANG+ ROOM1 :]E EA* EXCRUCIAT+ MOM5T ( A *ILD'S S>TORIAL ORDEAL UNFOLD$ T]RIFY+LY 9TO A WOOD-PANEL$ ET]NITY4 ,?AT CRAMP$ & CURV+ PASSAGE1 LONG] ?AN ! DI/RICT1 LONG] ?AN ! T[N1 /RET*+ AWAY 9TO ! SOLID WALLS & ! SURR\ND+ BUILD+S1 OCCUPI$ BY AN UN5D+ QUEUE ( MORTIFI$ & SQUIRM+ SEV5-YE>-OLDS1 :]E EXACTLY HAD IT GONE8 ,:5 !Y DEMOLI%$ ,ORME'S ! ,TAILORS1 :AT BECAME ( ITS 9T]IOR 9F9ITIES8 ,HAD ALL ?OSE O!R UGLY LITTLE BOYS1 ALL ?OSE HALF-SILV]$ LAY]S ( ID5TITY BE5 FOLD$ UP TOGE!R LIKE ! PA9T$ SECTIONS ( A LACQU] SCRE5 & /UCK 9 /ORAGE SOME:]E OR1 MORE LIKELY1 DUMP$8 

,?IS ISN'T EV5 HIS T\< *ILDHOOD4 ,!SE >5'T HIS DISMANTL$ MEMORIES TO M\RN1 & HE'S SURPRIS$ AT H[ MU* ?IS BRIEF SORTIE 9TO SOMEONE ELSE'S RU9$ DREAMTIME IS AFFECT+ HIM4 ,HE'D FIGUR$ ,W>R5 WAS EXAGG]AT+ 9 H] MURD]\SLY ANGRY MONOLOGUES1 ATTEMPT+ TO TRANS=M H] GIRLHOOD L&SCAPE 9TO A BETRAY$ & BUMM$-\T ,BRIGADOON1 BUT ?IS IS SOME?+ DIFF]5T4 ,/UDS F9DS HIMSELF G5U9ELY %OCK$ BY ?IS MATT]-(-FACT ]ASURE ( A PLACE1 A /RATUM ( ! PA/ & A COMMUNITY4 ,IF ! REALITY 9HABIT$ BY SEV]AL G5]ATIONS ( A ?\S& OR SO PEOPLE CAN BE RUBB$ \T LIKE A *EAP HOOD 9 ! WRONG B> ON ! WRONG NI<T1 :AT OR :]E IS SAFE8 ,HELL1 !SE DAYS1 IS !RE /ILL A RI<T SIDE ( ! TRACKS = ANYBODY TO BE BORN ON8 ,HE'S COME H]E TO SNIFF \T ! SURVIV+ TRACES ( A VANI%$ YE/]DAY1 BUT ALL HE SEES 9 !SE DELET$ /REETS >E ! DEFECTIVE EMBRYOS ( AN EM]G+ FUTURE4 ,& :5 F9ALLY ?AT FUTURE'S BORN & WE CAN'T BE> TO LOOK AT IT2 :5 WE'RE A%AM$ TO BE ! L9EAGE1 ! P>5T CULTURE ?AT SIR$ ?IS UNLOVABLE GROTESQUE1 :]E %ALL WE BANI% IT SO ?AT WE NE$N'T SEE IT ANYMORE8 ,WE CAN'T DO LIKE ! ,%AH & S5D IT TO ,NOR?AMPTON4 ,IT'S ALREADY H]E1 ALREADY ROOT$1 A CONDITION GRADUALLY BECOM+ UNIV]SAL4 

,?\< ,/4 ,PET]'S ,/REET CONT9UES ON BETWE5 ! RELATIVELY NEW & MO/LY VACANT (FICE BUILD+S 9TO ,FREES*OOL ,/REET ITSELF1 ,/UDS ?9KS HE'LL MAYBE GO ! LONG WAY R\ND1 D[N ,N>R[ ,TOE ,LANE 9TO ! PICK$ C>CASS ( ! =M] ,GRE5 ,/REET & WORK HIS WAY UP FROM !RE4 ,!RE MI<T BE CLUES3 A FOOTPR9T OR P]HAPS A WITNESS PREVI\SLY TOO 9TIMIDAT$ TO COME =W>D1 SOME SURVIV+ /ONEWORK 9 AMONG ! BRICK V5E]S ?AT MI<T TURN /OOL PIGEON GIV5 ! RI<T 9C5TIVE4 ,H&S 9 HIS HI< JACKET POCKETS & ! ELB[S /ICK+ \T LIKE DODO W+S HE MAKES HIS WAY D[N ! VE/IGIAL LANE1 M5TALLY COLOR+ HIS SKET*Y IMAGE ( ,JAMES ,H]VEY AS HE GOES4 

,AS ,/UDS IMAG9ES IT1 ! PROBABLE SC5>IO HAS SEV5-YE>-OLD ,H]VEY WALK+ 9 FROM ,H>D+/ONE TO S*OOL EA* MORN+1 MORE ?AN LIKELY UNACCOMPANI$ & = AT LEA/ HALF ( ! YE> MAK+ ! J\RNEY 9 PIT* BLACKNESS4 ,HE'D HAVE />T$ \T FROM HIS HOME VILLAGE1 :I* TWO C5TURIES !REAFT] W\LD ACQUIRE FUR!R GO?IC CR$5TIALS 9 ! P]SON ( ',BLAZ+ ,C>' MURD]] ,ALF ,R\SE4 ,! LITTLE BOY1 P]HAPS ) ! SAME DELICATE LOOK1 ! SAME PRIMLY PURS$ LIPS & A T5D5CY TO BAD C\<S EV5 !N1 SCRAP+ ALONG UTT]LY LI<TLESS RURAL BYWAYS ) NO?+ BUT SUDD5 [LS = COMPANY TO ! OLD ,LONDON ,ROAD4 ,!RE1 EV]Y WEEKDAY ( HIS E>LY LIFE1 ! HULK+ HEADLESS CROSS1 ONE ( ! /ONE MEMORIALS RAIS$ BY ,$W>D ! ,FIR/ AT EV]Y SPOT :]E ,QUE5 ,ELEANOR'S BODY T\*$ ! E>? ON ITS LONG TRANSPORT BACK TO ,*>+ BY ! ,?AMES1 LOOM+ UP /ILL & BLACK AGA9/ A PRE-DAWN GRAY4 ,) LITTLE ,JIMMY ,H]VEY'S FRONT DOOR B>ELY CLOS$ BEH9D HIM1 ! RELIGI\SLY 9CL9$ & SICKLY 9FANT W\LD HAVE BE5 IMM]S$ IMM$IATELY 9 ! ANCI5T T[N'S MY?OLOGY1 ) ! DECAPITAT$ MONUM5T A GATEPO/ AT ! M\? ( ITS FUN]EAL ROMANCE4 

,!N A LONG D[NHILL TRUDGE T[>DS ! BLACK$-\T URBAN MASS BEL[1 AS YET DEVOID ( EV5 GASLI<T1 ! FRAIL S*OOLBOY MAK+ 5TRY ?R\< ! REEK+ %AD[S ( ,/4 ,JAMES'S ,5D :]E CURS+ TRAD]S PULL$ TOO SOON FROM !IR W>M B$S LOAD C>TS & B>R[S1 CALL+ TO EA* O!R 9 AN UNFAMILI> PATOIS ?R\< ! GLOOM4 ,SQUA%$ ADULT FACES ) /RANGE BLEMI%ES1 SQU9T+1 HALF TURN$ T[>DS HIM 9 ! LUR*+ C&LELI<T & FROM A GAT$ Y>D ! /EAM+1 %UDD]+ SNORT ( HORSES4 ,HIS P9K F+]S NUMB ) COLD1 :O KN[S H[ MANY BOOKS B5EA? ONE WE$Y 9FANT >M1 ! FUTURE FATALI/ W\LD BE OBLIG$ TO M\NT ! HUMP ( ,WE/ ,BRIDGE ) ! D>K ( ! UNBROK5 DAY AHEAD DILUT$ ALMO/ IMP]CEPTIBLY AT EV]Y GRUDG+ /EP1 ! TIMELESS RIV] HE>D RA!R ?AN SE5 SOME:]E B5EA? HIM4 ,AT ! CRE/1 ! MIDPO9T ( ! SPAN1 ! CA/LE RU9S W\LD HAVE MADE !MSELVES APP>5T TO ! *ILD 9 ?OSE ANTIPODES ( DUSK BE=E A RIS5 SUN C\LD BURN ! FOG AWAY1 A SPRAWL+ TWILI<T ACREAGE ( TUMBL$ /ONES ) %RILL & FLITT]+ SPECKS AB\T ! LAPS+ WALLS1 ! /UMPS ( AMPUTAT$ T[]S4 ,WAS ,NOR?AMPTON'S CRUMBL$ =TRESS1 CURR5TLY ITS HOOK]-HUB & RAILWAY /ATION1 ONCE CONCEIVABLY ! L>VAL =M ( EV]Y SUBSEQU5T ,OTRANTO1 EV]Y ,GORM5<A/8 

,FROM !RE1 ) A DET]M9I/ MOM5TUM HA/5+ HIS PACE ! PI\S1 AIL+ Y\NG/] W\LD HAVE TRICKL$ FROM ! SCOLIOTIC BRIDGE TO ITS F> BANK1 ROLL+ 9TO ! ,BOR\<S & ! TANGL$ Y>N ( /REETS1 ! MADCAP TURRETS WE>+ WIT*'S HATS ( PIGEON-SPATT]$ SLATE4 ,!N ,M>EFAIR & ,/4 ,PET]'S ,*UR*1 ! WEA!R$ BUTTRESSES EMBOSS$ ) GURN+ ,SAXON IMPS1 ,HI]ONYMUS ,BOS* EXTRAS YAWN+ FROM SOME LONG-PASS$ ,JUDGM5T ,DAY4 ,A FEW /EPS FUR!R ON1 ,HAZELRIGG ,H\SE :]E ,CROMWELL DREAM$ AN IRONCLAD ,5GLI% FUTURE ON ! EVE ( ,NASEBY4 ,A LA/ RI<T TURN 9TO ,FREES*OOL ,/REET W\LD BR+ ! BUDD+ <A/LY VISION>Y TO HIS PLACE ( $UCATION1 JU/ AS A LEFT TURN IS BY N[ TAK+ ,/UDS 9TO ! SAME /REET'S O!R1 L[] 5D4 

,! DI/RICT1 :I* ,/UDS /ILL RECALLS FROM HIS 9SOMNIAC NI<T-JAUNTS ( TW5TY YE>S BACK1 IS UNRECOGNIZABLE1 A LOV$ ONE'S FACE ON ! FIR/ VISIT TO ,EM]G5CY AFT] ! ACCID5T4 ,! BROK5 SP> ( ,GRE5 ,/REET ?AT HAS BR\<T HIM FROM ! FOOT ( ,N>R[ ,TOE ,LANE TO HIS CURR5T JUNCTION HAS NO BUILD+S ANYMORE1 NO S\!RN COA/AL LEVEES %IELD+ ! DIS9TEGRAT+ L& FROM ! ]OSIVE TIDAL TRAFFIC SWIRL ( ,PET]'S ,WAY4 ,AS = ! UPHILL CLIMB ( ,FREES*OOL ,/REET BE=E HIM N[1 IT'S A TRANSP>5T & 9SULT+LY 9ACCURATE IMPO/URE1 SOMEONE :O LOOKS NO?+ LIKE Y\R MOM BUT TURNS UP A WEEK AFT] ! CREMATION CLAIM+ TO BE H]4 ,! /EEP LANE'S WE/]N FLANK1 ONCE DOM9AT$ BY ,JEM ,P]RIT'S WOODY>D1 NUMB] F\RTE51 IS N[ = ! MO/ P>T UNT5ANT$ BUS9ESS PREMISES ALL ! WAY UP TO ,M>EFAIR4 ,AS ! HAT*ET-FAC$ 9VE/IGATOR HALT+LY ASC5DS HE TRIES TO RECREATE ,B5 ,P]RIT'S MISS+-&-FE>$-DEAD FAMILY HOME2 SUP]IMPOSE ! TEET]+ TWO OR ?REE /ORY HILLSIDE $IFICE ) ITS ATT5DANT /ABLES1 L(TS1 GOATS1 DOGS & *ICK5S ON ! NE>LY VEHICLE-FREE =EC\RT ( ! MEMORY-RESI/ANT MOD]N /RUCTURE ?AT SUCCE$S IT1 BUT TO NO AVAIL4 ,SOME ISOLAT$ FEATURES CL+ 9 HIS RECALL LIKE TATT]S ( A BYGONE %[ BILL DOGG$LY ADH]+ TO A CORRUGAT$ F5CE - ! ?REE /EPS UP TO A BLACK PA9T$ DOOR1 HEIRLOOMS & HORSE BRASSES DISPLAY$ 9 ! FRONT P>LOR - BUT !SE FRAGM5TS SIMPLY HANG 9 EMPTY RECOLLECT$ SPACE )\T CONNECTIVE TISSUE1 LOBBY C>DS & TEAS]S = AN UNRECOV]ABLE SIL5T CLASSIC4 

,JU/ ACROSS ! WAY FROM ! CONSPICU\S ABS5CE ( ! ,P]RIT HOME1 ON ! UNTIDY FREEH& M>G9 ?AT IS ,FREES*OOL ,/REET'S EA/ SIDE1 ,/UDS DRAWS ABREA/ ( ,GREGORY ,/REET'S C>I\S MAW ) ! COLLAPS+ BRICKWORK AT ONE CORN] B\ND+ AN ]UPTIVE BUDDLEIA-JUNGLE1 ONCE ! BACKDOOR 5TRANCE TO ,/4 ,GREGORY'S ,*UR* & ! FREE S*OOL :I* IT 9CORPORAT$ :5 ,JAMES ,H]VEY WAS A PUPIL H]E4 ,AT SOME PO9T AFT] ?AT A R[ ( T]RACE H\SES OCCUPI$ ! PREVI\SLY SANCTIFI$ GR\ND1 ALL ODD NUMB]S C\NT+ UP FROM SEV5 ?R\< TO SEV5TE5 D[N AT ! ,GREGORY ,/REET CORN] IF ,/UDS' MEMORY S]VES HIM RI<T1 CO9CID5TALLY ! AGES BETWE5 :I* ! Y\NG ,JAMES ,H]VEY W\LD BE VISIT+ ?IS HUMBLE GRADI5T EV]Y MORN+4 ,/UDS ?9KS HE REMEMB]S HIS CLI5T ,ALMA ,W>R5 SAY+ %E'D HAD RELATIVES :O LIV$ 9 ONE ( ! N[ D]ELICT & RO(LESS PROP]TIES1 AN AUNT OR SECOND C\S9 :O'D GONE MAD & LOCK$ H] P>5TS \T :ILE %E SAT ALL NI<T PLAY+ ! PIANO4 ,SOME?+ LIKE ?AT1 ANYWAY1 ONE ( ! C\NTLESS GRUBBY DRAMAS S9CE SUPPLANT$ BY A BUTT]FLY BU% SMO!R+ ! UNT\*$ TW5TY-YE>-OLD RUBBLE4 

,/UDS IS HALF ACROSS ! SP9DLY CAPILL>Y1 GLANC+ REFLEXIVELY UPHILL TO SEE IF ANY?+ IS COM+ EV5 ?\< HE DOESN'T ?9K C>S >E ALL[$ D[N ?IS WAY !SE DAYS1 :5 HE NOTICES A MAN & WOMAN /&+ AT ! /REET'S TOP 5D APP>5TLY 5GROSS$ 9 CONV]SATION4 ,SOME?+ AB\T ! FLAMBOYANT ORANGE BLUR ( WAI/COAT ?AT ! MAN IS WE>+ /RIKES A *ORD & HAS ,/UDS FUMBL+ 9 AN 9SIDE POCKET = HIS SPECTACLES4 ,REA*+ ! /REET'S F> SIDE HE SADDLES !M ON HIS ICE-BREAK] BEAK & PE]S >\ND ! DECON/RUCT$ CORN] H\SE1 PRESS$ FLAT AGA9/ ITS B[+ WALL 9 CASE ONE ( ! C\PLE GLANCES D[N ! LANE & SPOTS HIM1 ! PRET5D$ HABIT ( A LIFETIME4 

,IT'S ,B5 ,P]RIT4 

,IT'S ,B5 ,P]RIT1 TALK+ TO A WOMAN :O'S NOT HALF HIS AGE1 H] HAIR 9 R[S & A PROVOCATIVELY %ORT R$ COAT ON ?AT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MADE FROM ,P,V,C4 ,TO ALL APPE>ANCES %E'S CANVAS+ = COITUS4 ,:ILE ! BE]Y B>D HAS CLE>LY RAIS$ HIS SI<TS S9CE ! EMBRACE ) ,ALMA ,W>R51 ,/UDS /ILL CAN'T HELP FEEL+ ?AT ,B5 C\LD HAVE TRAVEL$ FUR!R & DONE BETT] = HIMSELF4 ,! LOCAL POET'S PROSPECTS = ROMANCE1 H[EV]1 >5'T ,/UDS' MO/ IMM$IATE CONC]N RI<T N[4 ,:AT'S ,P]RIT DO+ H]E1 ESPECIALLY 9 LI<T ( ?AT APP>5TLY *ANCE ,AB+TON ,/REET SI<T+ E>LI]8 ,IT HAS TO BE MORE ?AN CO9CID5CE1 OR AT LEA/ 9 ,/UDS' CURR5T MIZE 5 SC5E IT DOES4 ,HE BRIEFLY CONTEMPLATES ! POSSIBILITY ?AT ,P]RIT MI<T BE AN IMPROBABLY 9EXP]T TAIL1 P]HAPS EMPLOY$ BY ,W>R5 TO KEEP SURREPTITI\S TABS ON H] PET PRIVATE EYE1 BUT HA/ILY DISMISSES ! IDEA4 ,B5 ,P]RIT1 = AS LONG AS ,/UDS HAS KN[N HIM1 HAS BE5 9 NO /ATE TO FOLL[ HIS [N LIT]>Y CALL+1 LET ALONE PURSUE ANO!R P]SON ) P]HAPS LESS RUBB] 9 !IR LEGS4 

,HE RISKS ANO!R PEEK >\ND ! DOG-E>$ CORN]4 ,UP AT ,FREES*OOL ,/REET'S TOP 5D ! WOMAN IS N[ BACK+ C>EFULLY AWAY FROM ,B5$ICT1 :O GIGGLES & GE/ICULATES OBSCURELY AT H] AS %E GOES4 ,NO1 DEF9ITELY NOT A TAIL4 ,NOT 9 ?AT VIVID C>PET-REMNANT WAI/COAT & NOT ) ?AT LAU< ?AT'S AUDIBLE FROM ALL ! WAY D[N H]E1 ! POL> OPPOSITE ( UNOBTRUSIVE4 ,ALL ! SAME1 !Y MU/ ADD UP TO SOME?+1 !SE SUGGE/IVE NE>-5C\NT]S4 ,DUCK+ BACK BEH9D ! LI/+ WALL HE TRIES TO PUT HIS F+] ON ! FEEL+ ?AT HE HAS1 ! S5SE HE'S MISS+ SOME?+ H]E1 SOME P>T ( ! BIG PICTURE HE'S NOT PRIVY TO4 ,HE UND]/&S ?AT1 9 REAL LIFE1 TO 9ADV]T5TLY BUMP 9TO SOMEONE TWICE 9 ! SAME DAY IS NO?+ SPECIAL1 BUT HE'S TRY+ TO KEEP 9 *>ACT]4 ,FROM ,/UDS' P]SPECTIVE1 ,P]RIT'S MULTIPLE APPE>ANCES CAN ONLY BE SOME K9D ( N>RATIVE CONTRIVANCE1 AN ESS5TIAL /ORY ME*ANISM OR DEVICE :I* SIGNALS ! IMP5D+ RESOLUTION ( ! MY/]Y1 AN UNEXPECT$ DRAW+ 9 ( ALL ITS MUCKY ?READS3 ,B5 ,P]RIT & ! GIRL 9 ! R$ PLA/IC MAC1 ,DODDRIDGE & ,LAMBE? & DET]M9ISM4 ,WILLIAM ,BLAKE4 ,JAMES ,H]VEY4 

,:5 HE NEXT PE]S UP ! LANE BO? ,P]RIT & HIS PIECE ( SKIRT >E GONE4 ,/UDS PUTS HIS SPECTACLES AWAY & LEANS AGA9/ ! PSORIATIC BRICKS4 ,:AT N[8 ,HE'S REA*$ ! PLACE ?AT HE'S BE5 LOOK+ =1 & %ORT ( A PROBABLY SUICIDAL CLIMB OV] ! WALL HE'S PROPP$ AGA9/ 9TO ! OV]GR[N BEE-CAFET]IA BEYOND1 HE CAN'T GO ANY FUR!R4 ,HE CAN'T OCCUPY ! SPACES ?AT ,JAMES ,H]VEY'S BODY HEAT ONCE PASS$ ?R\<2 DOESN'T KN[ :AT HE'D HOP$ TO ACCOMPLI% ) ?IS PILGRIMAGE ?R\< DISAPPE>ANCE 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,TREAD+ 9 A DEAD GUY'S FOOTPR9TS LIKE SOME TODDL] FOLL[+ HIS FA!R ?R\< ! SN[1 RUNN+ ON NO?+ BUT A BL9D FAI? 9 LOCATION AS IF WALK+ ! SAME /REETS AS SOMEONE ELSE =G$ ANY K9D ( A CONNECTION1 H[ C\LD HE HAVE BE5 SO /UPID1 SU* A S*LEMIEL1 POSSIBLY A PATSY8 ,PLACES DON'T /AY :]E Y\ LEFT !M4 ,Y\ GO BACK !RE1 ANY:]E1 & EV5 IF IT LOOKS EXACTLY H[ IT DID BE=E1 IT'S SOME:]E ELSE4 

,HE CAN REMEMB] ,LITTLE ,JOHN1 DUR+ ONE ( ! RELATIVELY ?\<TFUL & LESS RAUC\S CONV]SATIONS ?AT !Y'D HAD TOGE!R4 ,HIS FOLKLORIC FRI5D HAD BE5 9 A MORE WI/FUL1 EV5 PLA9TIVE HUMOR ?AN WAS USUALLY ! CASE1 TALK+ AB\T A *ILDHOOD ?AT HE C\LDN'T PROP]LY RECALL1 ,>ABIAN ,NI<TS HE'D NEV] REALLY HAD4 

0,Y'KN[1 ,I'D LIKE TO GO BACK ONE DAY1 ,P]SIA1 ! OLD C\NTRY4 ,SEE :AT IT WAS LIKE40 

,NO1 ,JOHN1 MATE4 ,Y\ CAN'T DO ?AT4 ,P]SIA'S GONE4 '#g#i1 !Y HAD A REVOLUTION AFT] ,JIMMY ,C>T] MADE ! ,C,I,A /OP PAY+ (F ! AYATOLLAHS SO !Y'D LEAVE Y\R GR&FA!R ALONE4 ,!Y KICK$ HIM \T & LET ! CANC] F9I% HIM1 & IT'S A SAFE BET ?AT ! NEW REGIME >5'T BIG ADMIR]S ( Y\R FAMILY4 ,IT'S CALL$ ,IRAN N[4 ,Y\'RE NOT WANT$ !RE4 ,Y\ NEV] W]E40 

,( C\RSE1 Y\ C\LDN'T SAY ?AT4 ,Y\ C\LD ONLY MUMBLE NON-COMMITTALLY & WI% HIM LUCK1 ASK HIM TO BR+ Y\ BACK A W+$ HORSE OR A FLY+ C>PET1 DUTY FREE1 SAFE 9 ! KN[L$GE ?AT BY ! NEXT TIME ,JOHN SOB]$ UP1 ! FOND1 NO/ALGIC JAUNT TO ,MORDOR W\LD HAVE BE5 =GOTT54 ,IT'S TOO BAD ?AT ,/UDS IGNOR$ HIS [N UNSPOK5 WORDS ( ADVICE1 HADN'T REALIZ$ UNTIL RI<T ?IS MOM5T ?AT :AT'S TRUE ( ,TEHRAN IS AS TRUE ( ,FREES*OOL ,/REET4 ,?IS SCRUFFY PIECE ( GR\ND HAS SE5 ITS REVOLUTIONS1 TYRANNIES REPLAC$ BY O!R TYRANNIES1 ITS *>ACT] REVIS$ BY DIFF]5T /RIPES ( FUNDAM5TALISM1 SOCIO-POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC3 ,K+ ,*>LES1 ,CROMWELL1 ,K+ ,*>LES ,JUNIOR1 ,M>G>ET ,?AT*]1 ,TONY ,BLAIR4 ,N[ ?AT ,/UDS ?9KS AB\T IT1 ! T]RA9 B5EA? HIS FEET EV5 %>ES ,LITTLE ,JOHN'S /ATUS AS DEPOS$ ROYALTY3 ! R\< TRAPEZE ( L& B\ND$ BY ,FREES*OOL ,/REET ON ONE SIDE & ,N>R[ ,TOE ,LANE & ,PET]'S ,G>D5S ON ! O!R W\LD HAVE BE5 ! GR\NDS ( ,(FA'S ,SAXON PALACE1 ) ,/4 ,PET]'S & ,/4 ,GREGORY'S AS ! TWO *UR*ES FLANK+ ! CON/RUCTION TO ! WE/ & EA/ RESPECTIVELY4 ,! YAWN+ 5TRANCE TO ,JEM ,P]RIT'S BURI$ WOOD-Y>D MI<T HAVE OP5$ ONTO ROYAL /ABLES ONCE1 & IF HE'D ONLY HAD ! =ESI<T TO BE BORN TWELVE HUNDR$ YE>S ODD E>LI] !N ,JEM'S SON ,B5$ICT C\LD HAVE BE5 ,(FA'S JUTE-CLAD POET LAUREATE1 OR POSSIBLY HIS FOOL4 ,POOR ,TOM'S A-COLD & A %EEP'S BLADD] ON A /ICK4 ,B5 W\LD HAVE BE5 A NATURAL4 

,! BREEZE SEEMS COOL] ON HIS /UBBLE1 & ,/UDS BRISKLY %AKES HIS HEAD TO CLE> IT ( ! MEMORIES1 ! REV]IE ?AT GETS ALL OV] Y\ LIKE GUN%OT RESIDUE4 ,H[ LONG HAS HE BE5 /&+ H]E ON ,GREGORY ,/REET'S CORN]1 USELESSLY DELIB]AT+ ON DEAD DW>VES & H[ IT'S USUALLY ! TURF ?AT 5DS UP AS ! LOS] 9 A TURF W>8 ,HE DETECTS SLI<T *ANGES 9 ! LOCAL AMBIANCE :I* 9DICATE ?AT HE'S BE5 HOLD+ UP ?IS LI/+ WALL = QUITE SOME TIME4 ,! WE/]N SKY IS CLE>] ) ITS LI<T DILUT$ & MORE PALATABLE1 UND]/AT$ T9TS ( COLOR 9 ITS ?9N+ WA% AS ! BLUE FRESCO ( ! DAY REA*ES ITS $GES4 ,DI/ANT C>S & LORRIES W\LD APPE> TO HAVE RUN \T ( ?+S TO SAY1 !IR CONV]SATION FLAGG+ & BECOME MORE 9T]MITT5T1 TRAIL+ (F TO GRUNTS 9 ! PO/ RU%-H\R HU%4 ,BIRDS >C+ D[N TO GUTT]+ %RUG (F !IR TR\BLES & ASSUME ! C>ELESS AIR ( ALMO/-HOME COMMUT]S4 ,FRIDAY1 ,MAY ! #b#f?1 MAKES = ! P9K1 EMB>RASS$ BLU% ( ITS CONCLUSION4 

,HE DECIDES TO CA/ HIS POORLY-PLAC$ ,MR4 ,POTATO ,HEAD EYE OV] ,HORSE%OE ,/REET1 *ECK \T :AT'S LEFT N[ ( ,/4 ,GREGORY'S O!R 5D BE=E HE HEADS = HOME1 CALLS IT A DAY AS IF !RE'S SOME?+ ELSE ?AT HE C\LD CALL IT4 ,9 ! ABS5CE ( A BITT] W9D HE TURNS HIS LEA!R COLL> UP SO ?AT HE FEELS MORE ISOLAT$1 & ) A LA/ GLANCE AT ! AMBIGU\S DEAL]%IP :I* HAS SUPPLANT$ ,(FA & ,JEM ,P]RIT & ALL PO9TS BETWE5 HE ROLLS HIS %\LD]S 9 A HOODLUM /RUT AWAY D[N ,GREGORY ,/REET ) ! DECL9+ SUN BEH9D HIM4 ,TO HIS LEFT ! D]ELICTION ( ! CORN] PROP]TY CONT9UES PRETTY MU* UN*ECK$ :ILE ON HIS RI<T !RE'S SIMPLY NO?+ !RE1 AN AGORAPHOBIC /RET* ( FLAY$ L& TUMBL+ UN9T]RUPT$ D[N TO ,PET]'S ,WAY & OV]PR9T$ ) A S*I/ ( LEVEL$ FLOOR-PLANS LIKE ! QUANTUM RIPPLES /ILL DISC]NIBLE ON ! EV5T-HORIZON 'SK9' ( BLACK HOLES1 \R ONLY SURVIV+ RECORD ( ! COSMIC BODIES ALREADY +E/$4 

,AT ! /REET'S B5D :]E IT ANGLES %>PLY TO ! S\? /&S A ?REE-FLOOR ,VICTORIAN FACTORY1 A GREAT CUBE ( SMOK$ /ONE :I* W\LD APPE> TO HAVE BE5 TRANS=M$ 9TO A RECORD+ /UDIO4 ,A FA%IONABLY M9IMAL H\SE LOGO IS AFFIX$ HI< ON ! SOOT-BLA/$ FACADE 9 A NAIVE ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE AN ID5TITY ON ! AMNESIAC $IFICE1 JU/ N[ PRET5D+ TO BE ,PH5IX ,/UDIOS1 A WELL-9T5TION$ EF=T TO EVOKE ! FLAMES ( REBIR? FROM ! A%ES ( ! NEI<BORHOOD1 :I* CLE>LY ISN'T GO+ TO WORK4 ,IT WASN'T ?AT K9D ( A FIRE4 ,9 :AT LOOKS LIKE A DISUS$ Y>D TO ONE SIDE ( ! BUILD+ IS A HEAP$ MORA9E ( TIRES1 DEPOSIT$ H]E LONG AGO AS ?\< BY A BLACK RUBB] GLACI] 9 ! LONG COLD SNAP FOLL[+ ! ]A ( ! D9O-DOZ]S & TYRANNO-,J,C,BS1 !IR JO9T$ NECKS CRAN+ & SWIVEL+ TO TAKE A BITE \T ( A DISPLAC$ FAMILY'S FRONT B$ROOM1 GRAY WALLPAP] WE$S TRAIL+ FROM YELL[ METAL JAWS1 AN UNDISCRIM9AT+ SWALL[+4 ,HE TURNS RI<T 9TO ,GREGORY ,/REET'S CONT9UATION ONLY TO DISCOV] ?AT !RE ISN'T ONE4 ,BEYOND ! /UDIO !RE'S NO?+ SEP>AT+ ?IS 5D ( ! ROAD FROM ! DUAL C>RIAGEWAY ( ,HORSE%OE ,/REET :I* RUNS D[NHILL 9 P>ALLEL1 SAVE = A C\PLE ( RIDICUL\S L[ B>RI]S ?AT ,LITTLE ,JOHN C\LD HAVE /EPP$ OV] )\T NOTIC+4 ,/UDS FEELS A FLEET+ OBLIGATION TO WALK ALL ! WAY D[N & >\ND ! $GE ( :]E ! DEPOTS1 BUILD]S' Y>DS & H\SES %\LD HAVE BE51 \T ( RESPECT = ! DEAD PROP]TIES1 BUT ?AT /RIKES HIM AS BO? 9SANE & TOO MU* TR\BLE SO HE CUTS ACROSS ! EMPTY DIRT 9/EAD4 

,! WIDE ROAD IS TO ALL 9T5TS & PURPOSES B]EFT ( C>S OR PEOPLE FROM ITS FOOT BY ! PICK$ SKELETON ( ! GAS-HOLD] UP TO ITS F> SUMMIT AT ! TOP !RE1 :]E IT RUNS 9TO ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,9 ! TUMBLEWE$ HIATUS BETWE5 CLOCK+ (F & TY+ A FEW ON1 ! DI/RICT'S VOICES1 BO? CONTEMPOR>Y & ANCE/RAL1 SWIT* (F AS ABRUPTLY AS A BACKGR\ND TAPE-LOOP4 ,HE CAN HE> ! EMPTY MOM5TS SETTL+ LIKE DU/ ON ! AB&ON$ HI<WAY1 MUFFL+ ITS <O/S1 ! SIL5CE B[L+ (F D[NHILL TO QUIET ! SUPP] TABLES ( ,F> ,COTTON4 ,LAT]1 ALMO/ C]TA9LY1 COMES A CACOPHONY ( SIR5S1 RET*+1 9TIMACIES BELL[$ 9TO MOBILE PHONES & ALL ! HAIRY O!R1 BUT = N[ !RE'S ?IS UNSCRIPT$ PAUSE1 ! WELCOME PRES5CE ( DEAD AIR4 

,HE TAKES HIS TIME M\NT+ ! 9CL9E1 FEELS PR(ESSIONALLY COMPELL$ TO NOTICE EV]Y?+1 TO LET NO NUANCE SLIP ! DRAGNET ( HIS RAZOR-HON$ ATT5- 

TION4 ,H]E A PAV+ SLAB CRACK$ 9TO FJORDS AT ONE CORN]1 !RE A RE> VIEW ( ! ,M>EFAIR SKYL9E ) ITS HIDD5 BACK-Y>D COMPLICATIONS FONDLY CLUTT]+ ! RO(TOP >*ITECTURE1 A]IALS & FUNGAL GR[?S ( SATELLITE DI% SPR\T+ FROM ! *IMNEY BRICKS OR DRA9PIPE HEI<TS4 ,ACROSS ! WAY1 ABOVE ! L[ RELIEF ( A BREEZE-BLOCK CRA%-B>RI] RUNN+ UP ! SLOPE'S SP9E1 ! F> SIDE ( ,HORSE%OE ,/REET IS 9 A NOTICEABLY BETT] /ATE ( UPKEEP ?AN ! TATT]$ $GE ?AT ,/UDS PATROLS1 FALL+ )9 ! RELATIVELY WELL-MA9TA9$ T[N C5T] RA!R ?AN 9 ! =SAK5 PAT*WORK ( ! ,BOR\<S4 ,:ILE ! ONE-TIME MOTORCYCLE- 

PIRATE HAV5 ( ! ,H>BOR ,LI<TS IS PRES5TLY 5DUR+ ! 9DIGNITY ( A REBR&+ AS ! ,JOLLY ,WAN*OR OR H[EV] ONE PRON\NCES IT1 ! BUILD+ IS AT LEA/ /ILL /&+ & MAY ONE DAY SEE AGA9 ITS LEA!R->MOR$ CLI5TELE4 ,A LITTLE FUR!R UP1 AN IRON-GAT$ Y>D APP5D$ TO ! #a#i#cS BILLI>D HALL LOOKS 9COMPLETE )\T A /UMBL+ & *E]Y BUN* ( PO/W> DADS /ILL 9 !IR DEMOB SUITS & TAK+ TOO LONG OV] F>EWELLS AS !Y MAKE UNHURRI$LY T[>DS ! EXIT4 

,JU/ BEYOND ! SNOOK] P>LOR IS ! ,GOLD ,/REET CORN] :]E A C5TURY AGO !RE /OOD ,V9T'S ,PALACE ( ,V>IETIES1 A V5UE AT :I* ! Y\NG ,*>LIE ,*APL9 PLAY$ ON V>I\S OCCASIONS4 ,/UDS IS UNSURE IF ! GREAT SCRE5 HOBO'S SKITT]+ SKID R[ R\T9ES W\LD WORK AS WELL AGA9/ A BACKDROP ( CONTEMPOR>Y POV]TY2 A DIFF]5T DE/ITUTION4 ,HE ?9KS NOT1 ?\< ?AT MI<T BE BECAUSE HE'S NOT IMAG9+ ! ,BOR\<S 9 DECADE-EVAD+ BLACK & :ITE1 NOR ) ITS MIS]IES CONDUCT$ TO A T9KL+ PIANO S\NDTRACK4 ,BACKGR\ND MUSIC *ANGES EV]Y?+4 ,IF !Y'D /UCK SOME ,RICK ,A/LEY OR P]HAPS ! ,/EPTOE !ME BEH9D HIS IMPAL$-SI/]-RAP+ SC5E 9 ,BESSON'S ,JOAN ( ,>C IT W\LD HAVE BE5 HIL>I\S4 ,OR 0,NESSUN ,DORMA0 OV] HIS ,HAMBURGL> APPE>ANCES4 

,AS HE DRAWS LEVEL ) ! SNOOK] JO9T ACROSS ! ROAD HE PULLS HIS FOCUS BACK TO ! DI/RESS$ CONCRETE HYPOT5USE HE'S CURR5TLY ASC5D+1 ON ! SCUMMY SIDE ( ! /REET ) ITS DIS9T]R$ C>CASS ES!TIC & AN ANGRY PSEUDONYM ON EV]Y LAMPPO/4 ,RECKON+ ?AT ?IS MU/ R\<LY BE ! SPOT ON :I* ! EA/ 5D ( ,/4 ,GREGORY'S ONCE /OOD HE HALTS HIS CLIMB TO TAKE /OCK ( ! VICTIM DI/RICT'S 9JURIES1 TO GAUGE ! FULL EXT5T ( :AT SEEM ALMO/ FR5ZI$ MUTILATIONS TO ITS SUB/ANCE1 EV5 TO ITS MAP4 ,! SURGICAL REMOVAL ( ! VITAL ORGANS1 C\LD ?AT BE ! KILL]'S SIGNATURE8 ,SOME ( ! %ALL[] CUTS TO ! MASONRY LOOK LIKE DEF5SIVE W\NDS 9 ,/UDS' PR(ESSIONAL OP9ION1 & HE'D PUT GOOD MONEY ON DISCOV]+ SK9 TRACES SU* AS PLANN+ APPLICATION NOTICES B5EA? ! *IPP$ SLATES ( ! >EA'S F+]NAILS4 ,/RUCK BY ! UNEXPECT$ POIGNANCY ( HIS H>DBOIL$ ANALOGY HE F9DS HE'S />T+ TO FILL UP4 ,! NEI<BORHOOD1 IT'S 444 Y\ KN[4 ,RAP$ & ) H] FACE SMA%$ 91 BUT %E PUT UP A FI<T4 ,GOOD GIRL4 ,BRAVE GIRL4 ,SLEEP TI<T4 

,F9D+ A CAFET]IA S]VIETTE DEEP 9 ONE JACKET POCKET1 ,/UDS WIPES QUICKLY AT HIS %9Y SOCKETS1 BL[S HIS NOSE & PULLS HIMSELF TOGE!R BE=E HE RESUMES HIS SURVEY4 ,NO?+ 9 ! CRAZY-QUILT ( R&OM SURFACES & SIGNS BE=E HIM 9DICATES EV5 ! HOMEOPA?IC WAT]-MEMORY ( A *UR*4 ,! PA/ IS CAUT]IZ$4 ,!RE'S EV5 A DULL R$ PAT* HALFWAY UP ONE MONGREL WALL :I*1 )\T B5EFIT ( HIS CORRECTIVE L5SES1 LOOKS TO HIM LIKE A WAX SEAL ON ! DOOM$ T]RITORY'S DOCUM5T1 A DEAL ?AT WAS SIGN$ (F SOME SEV]AL G5]ATIONS BACK1 ALL DONE & DU/$4 ,NONE!LESS1 ?IS ISN'T :AT ,JAMES ,H]VEY ! %ORT-TR\S]$ GO?IC S*OOLBOY SAW1 SCUFF+ HIS SAT*EL ON ! R\< SILLS ( ! EI<TE5? C5TURY4 ,?IS ISN'T :AT ! UNNAM$ PILGRIM MONK HOME FROM ,J]USALEM EXP]I5C$ A ?\S& YE>S BE=E1 PROMPT$ BY ANGELS TO ! C5T] ( HIS L& & C>RY+ A RUGG$ CROSS TO PUT !RE :5 HE F\ND IT1 HEWN FROM HEAVY ROCK1 A MESSAGE FROM ,GOLGO?A LIKE A PETRIFI$ KISS ON A PO/C>D4 ,& BACK !N1 !RE W\LD HAVE BE5 NO D\BTS AB\T ! PROV5ANCE ( ! COMMUNICATION1 NOT ) ,F$ ,EX S]APHIM >RANG+ ! DELIV]Y4 ,NOBODY W\LD HAVE WOND]$ :O ! S5D] WAS1 EV5 ) NO RETURN ADDRESS4 ,! ANGEL C\RI]S W]E RIGOR\S SCI5TIFIC BONA FIDES1 !IR CRUCI=M /ONE ! EQUIVAL5T ( A ,HIGGS BOSON P>TICLE >RIV$ TO VALIDATE ! /&>D !OCRATIC MODEL4 ,A BIG DEAL1 9 O!R WORDS4 ,AN 5*ILADA ?AT WAS MORE ?AN :OLE4 

,NO WOND] !Y MADE SU* A FUSS AB\T ! >TIFACT1 SET IT 9TO ! ,HORSE%OE ,/REET FACE ( ,/4 ,GREGORY'S :]E IT REMA9$ A SITE ( PILGRIMAGE = C5TURIES1 ALL ( ?OSE LA/-DIT* F+]TIPS TRAC+ ! WORN-SMOO? AXES TO !IR 9T]SECTION1 ALL ! LAME & BLI/]$ FEET :I* BORE !M H]E4 ,! C5T] ( ! C\NTRY1 MEASUR$ BY ,GOD'S [N !ODOLITE4 ,?AT SURELY MU/ HAVE C>RI$ SOME WEI<T ) ,K+ ,ALFR$ :5 HE NAM$ ,NOR?AMPTON =EMO/ ( ! %IRES1 EFFECTIVELY ! CAPITAL 9 AN ALT]NATE HI/ORY :]E ,WILLIAM NEV] CAME4 ,! GREAT CAKE-SCOR*] WAS JU/ RUBB]/AMP+ POLICY LAID D[N BY ! ,ALMI<TY4 ,MORE ?AN M]ELY ROYAL PA/URAGE ?IS SPOT WAS HOLY GR\ND1 M>K$ \T BY ?+S ) BURN+ HALOES AT ! SAY-SO ( AN ULTIMATE AU?ORITY4 ,?AT'S H[ !Y SAW IT1 H[ IT WAS3 A VIOL5T & MIRACUL\S REALITY MU* LIKE ,/UDS' [N1 P]FUM$ BY HORSE%IT = ! WANT ( CORDITE4 ,9 A D>K AGE ! NOIR \TLOOK W\LD BE A =EGONE CONCLUSION4 

,& YET1 EV5 ) ! GULF ( A MILL5NIUM TO SEP>ATE ! RELIC'S ORIG9S FROM ,H]VEY'S S*OOLDAYS1 W\LDN'T ! CONCEPTUAL *>GE & 9SPIRATIONAL IMPORTANCE ( ! OBJECT REMA9 UNDIM9I%$ 9 BELIEV+ EYES1 ESPECIALLY ?OSE ( A SEV5-YE>-OLD BOY :OSE FA!R WAS A CL]GYMAN8 ,= T5 YE>S1 NE> 5\< A QU>T] ( HIS PREMATURELY 9T]RUPT$ LIFE1 ! AIL+ *ILD HAD LAID HIS H&S OR EYES UPON ! PRIMITIVE & E>NE/ TALISMAN1 ! *ISEL$ ,X ON AN 9T]IOR TREASURE-MAP1 A SE$+ CRY/AL ( ,J]USALEM ITSELF4 ,! SIMPLE1 FUNDAM5TAL %APE W\LD HAVE BE5 PR9T$ ON HIS B$TIME EYELIDS1 COLORS BACK TO FRONT 9 ! SCRE5SAV] DRIFT BE=E SLEEP1 A TE/ PATT]N ON ! HYPNAGOGGLE-BOX4 ,5\< TO /AMP ?AT M9IMALI/ TEMPLATE ONTO ,H]VEY'S COM+ LIFE1 ,/UDS W\LD HAVE ?\<T4 ,A FRAGM5T C>RI$ H]E FROM ! ET]NAL HOLY CITY C\LD PROVIDE ! DYNAMO :I* DROVE ! Y\NG ECCLESIA/ 9 ONE SIDE ( ,JOHN ,WESLEY'S OP]ATION & !N1 ACRIMONI\SLY1 \T ! O!R4 ,! ,ROOD 9 ! ,WALL !Y CALL$ IT1 MANIFE/+ ,H]VEY'S GRANITE-H>D CONVICTION1 P[]+ HIS WRIT+S1 ,!RON & ,ASPASIO OR HIS SEPUL*RAL M$ITATIONS1 5]GIES EV5TUALLY E>!D 9 ,WILLIAM ,BLAKE :O CLOSES (F ! METAPHYSIC CIRCUIT :5 HE WRITES ,J]USALEM4 

,SL[ 9CREM5TS ( E>LY DUSK >E GA!R+ >\ND ! SC[L+ ,%]LOCK AS HE CONTEMPLATES ! HAPHAZ>D ASSEMBLY ( A DOZ5 C5TURIES1 ! SPECTRUM ( FAIL$ SOCIAL /RATEGIES & MIX ( 9COMPATIBLE BUILD+ MAT]IALS REPRES5T$ BY ! MURAL MESS 9 FRONT ( HIM4 ,! ROOD HAS LONG S9CE DISAPPE>$ & TAK5 ! WALL ) IT1 LEAV+ ONLY A CONSPICU\S & DESOLAT+ ABS5CE4 ,HE CAN'T HELP BUT WOND] :]E IT W5T1 ! CRUDE-CUT ICON S5T TO TAG ! MIDDLE ( ! L&1 ! C5T] ( HIS PULP 9VE/IGATION4 ,WAS IT SPIRIT$ AWAY BY %>P-EY$ DEMOLITION WORK]S1 EI!R M]C5>Y OR CONCEIVABLY DEV\T8 ,P]HAPS MORE LIKELY1 DID IT GO UNRECOGNIZ$1 ITS AURA FAD$1 ITS SIGNIFICANCE BY !N BL$ \T 9TO ! ?IR/Y DIRT1 AB&ON$ 9 A DEEP] DRA9AGE DIT* ?AN ?AT 9 :I* ! TOMB/ONE ( ,SA9T ,RAG5] WAS F9ALLY DISCOV]$ SOMETIME 9 ! N9ETE5? C5TURY8 ,COMPOS$ ( MATT] NE> AS ANCI5T & 5DUR+ AS ! WORLD ITSELF1 A GREAT PLUS-SYMBOL TO D5OTE ! SITE'S POSITIVE T]M9US1 ,/UDS KN[S ?AT IT MU/ /ILL EXI/ SOME:]E1 AS WIDELY SCATT]$ %>DS IF NO?+ ELSE4 ,:5 SPACE & TIME >E 5D+ ! DEVICE'S DISP>ATE MOLECULES WILL /ILL BE !RE = ! F9ALE1 POSSIBLY 9TACT1 A SYMBOL ?AT HAS LONG \TLIV$ ! DOCTR9E SYMBOLIZ$1 ) ITS IMPUT$ RI<TE\SNESS REMA9+ EONS AFT] ,H]VEY1 ,DODDRIDGE1 ,BLAKE & EV]YBODY ELSE >E GONE ! WAY ( ALL FLE% AT ! F> 5DS ( A PR$ET]M9$ UNIV]SE4 

,AN ATAVI/IC P9EAL T+LE TELLS HIM ?AT HE'S BE+ WAT*$1 AN +RA9$ ,P4,I4 REFLEX CRITICAL TO HIS IMAG9>Y L9E ( WORK4 ,SWIVEL+ HIS EXTRAORD9>Y PR(ILE1 LIKE ! CLIFF-FACE SIMULACRUM ( AN ,9DIAN *IEF 9 ,=TEAN ,TIMES1 HE GL>ES UPHILL TO :]E A ROTUND LITTLE MAN ) CURLY :ITE HAIR & A MAT*+ BE>D1 POSSIBLY ONE ( ,SANTA'S HELP]S1 /&S POIS$ APPREH5SIVELY ON ,M>EFAIR'S CORN]4 ,! RUBE'S FACE1 BESPECTACL$ EYES WIDE & FIX$ ON ,/UDS ) AN EXPRESSION ( />TL$ 9COMPREH5SION1 R+S A FA9T '#dS HOTEL RECEPTION BELL 9 HIS RECALL1 SETS HIM TO %IFT+ ! HALF-EMPTY C(FEE CUPS & /ACK$ PORNOGRAPHY FROM HIS 9T]NAL FIL+ CAB9ET1 SIFT+ ?R\< ! \TDAT$ MUG-%EETS = A MONIK] TO GO ) ! FAMILI>1 %IFTY FEATURES4 

,AS ! PIECE ( WORK TURNS HURRI$LY AWAY LIKE HE'S PRET5D+ ?AT HE HASN'T JU/ BE5 CLOCK+ ! DETECTIVE1 MAK+ ACROSS ,M>EFAIR = ! O!R SIDE & PO9T$LY NOT LOOK+ BACK1 ! P5NY DROPS4 ,! 9T]LOP] ON ,/UDS' PRIVATE MADE-=-,T,V DRAMA IS ! =M] C\NCILOR ,JAMES ,COCKIE1 ?AT SAME JOVIAL C\NT5ANCE AFFIX$ BESIDE ! HEAD] ( A WEEKLY COLUMN 9 ! LOCAL ,*RONICLE @& ,E*O1 COPIES ( :I* HE'S P]US$ :ILE /AY+ AT HIS MOM'S PLACE4 ,?IS BE+ ! CODE NAME = HIS (FICE4 ,Y\ CAN'T BE TOO C>EFUL4 

,WAT*+ ! RETIR$ C\NCIL HEAD LABORI\SLY ROLL HIS FLE%Y SN[BALL (F UP ,HORSEM>KET T[>DS ! ,MAYORHOLD1 ! UNFROZ5 ,PILTD[N MAN-HUNT] REFLECTS ON ,COCKIE'S LATE BUT P]HAPS P]T95T >RIVAL 9 ?IS LA/ /RET* ( ! /ORYL9E4 ,:ILE TE*NICALLY ! G5RE G5]ALLY DEM&S ! KILL] BE A *>ACT] ! READ]S OR ! VIEW]S HAVE BE5 9TRODUC$ TO E>LY 9 ! GAME1 !RE'S ALWAYS ?OSE CONV5TION-BUCK+ MAV]ICKS LIKE ,D]EK ,RAYMOND1 ) HIS GREASY B]ET /ILL BEH9D ! B> D[N AT ! ,FR5* 9 ,SOHO1 MIMICK+ REAL LIFE 9 ?AT ! CULPRIT'S (T5 NO ONE :O'S BE5 SE5 BE=E4 ,9 ODDBALL WORKS LIKE ?AT1 ,/UDS SOB]LY REFLECTS1 ! TALE TURNS \T TO HAVE BE5 MORE AB\T ! LABYR9?9E M5TAL PROCESSES ( ! PROTAGONI/ ?AN ! CONTORTIONS ( ! CASE HE'S TRY+ DESP]ATELY TO SOLVE4 ,?AT SAID1 !RE'S NO COMPELL+ LIT]>Y IMP]ATIVE ?AT RULES \T ! EX-C\NCILOR FROM ! 9QUIRY4 ,) ! =M] ,LABOR POLITICIAN'S DW9DL+ MASS REC$+ FROM VIEW 9 A SL[ R$ %IFT1 ,/UDS PUTS IT ALL TOGE!R4 

,HAV+ HAD1 PRESUMABLY1 A H& OR AT ! V]Y BE/ A *UBBY F+] 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD'S BRUTAL DEMISE :ILE /ILL 9 (FICE1 EV5 IF 5TIRELY PASSIVELY1 ,JIM ,COCKIE FITS ! PR(ILE4 ,!RE WAS ?AT LOOK 9 HIS BUGG$ ,TEX ,AV]Y EYES1 FURTIVE & GUILTY1 RI<T BE=E HE'D TURN$ >\ND & WALK$ (F 9 A HURRY4 ,DON'T !Y SAY1 IF Y\ WAIT LONG 5\<1 ! MURD]] ALWAYS RETURNS TO :]E IT HAPP5$1 TO ! CRIME SC5E8 ,SOMETIMES IT'S TO GLOAT1 OR SOMETIMES 9 A PANIC-/RICK5 EF=T TO CONCEAL 9CRIM9AT+ EVID5CE4 ,OCCASIONALLY1 SO !Y TELL HIM1 IT'S TO MA/URBATE1 AL?\< ,/UDS D\BTS IF ?AT W\LD BE ! MOTIVE 9 ?IS CURR5T 9/ANCE4 ,ONCE 9 A LONG :ILE1 ( C\RSE1 ! P]P'S COMPULSION TO REVISIT ! *ALK \TL9ES ( !IR KILL+ GR\ND MI<T BE BORN ( A G5U9E REMORSE4 

,UPHILL1 ! NEW PRIME SUSPECT IS DIM9I%+ AWAY TO NO?+NESS LIKE A :ITE PHOSPHOR DOT %R9K+ 9TO ! />LESS VA/NESS ( A COOL+ #a#i#eS TELLY4 ,CURL+ HIS L[] LIP UNTIL HE'S WORRI$ ?AT IT C\LD ROLL UP & TRAVEL D[N HIS *91 ! /UMP$ ,P4,I4 TURNS S\? & HEADS BACK D[N ! WAY HE CAME4 ,HE KN[S ?AT ,COCKIE IS PROTECT$2 KN[S ?AT HE C\LD NEV] GET A CASE TO /ICK4 ,=GET IT1 ,/UDS4 ,IT'S ,*9AT[N4 

,! TRIANGLES & DIAMONDS ( A /5CIL$ SKY BEH9D ! OLD GAS-HOLD] HULK+ FUR!R D[N ! SLOPE >E />T+ !IR DECL9E TO 9DIGO1 & HE CAN FEEL ! UTT] JET ( NI<T DESC5D+ ON :ATEV] N>RATIVE HE'S 91 ! BIG OBSIDIAN COM+ D[N UPON ?IS OV]-COMPLICAT$ CONT9UITY ) DESP]ATE H\RS TO GO BE=E TOMORR[ MORN+ & HIS R5DEZV\S ) ,W>R5 AT H] EXHIBITION4 ,HE HEADS BACK TO :]E HE LEFT !1 OH1 HE DOESN'T KN[1 TIME-TRAVEL+ ,DE ,LOREAN OR SOME?+1 ) HIS CRAGGY HEAD A PLACE ( GO?IC TRANSEPTS & DET]M9ISM1 ! S\L-CRU%+ CLOCKWORK ( ! HACKNEY$1 BILLI>D-BALL PLOT TRAJECTORY1 ?IS *>ACT]->C PASS+ = A LIFE4 

,HE ?9KS ( CROSSES1 D\BLE-CROSSES & ! ,MR4 ,BIG BEH9D ! SC5ES PULL+ ! /R+S = ,H]VEY1 ,WESLEY1 ,SW$5BORG & ALL ! RE/1 ! MAN UP/AIRS :O'S ALWAYS C>EFUL TO KEEP \T ! PICTURE1 AN ELUSIVE BOSS ( NI<T & MORTAL 9TRIGUE1 FREQU5TLY REPORT$ DEAD BUT ALWAYS ) SOME WIGGLE ROOM LEFT = A SEQUEL4 

,HE LOCATES HIS C> 9 ! PROTRACT$ SL[ DISSOLVE ( TWILI<T1 DRIVES HOME1 *ECKS TO SEE IF ANY CA/+ AG5CIES HAVE LEFT A MESSAGE1 EATS HIS W>M$-UP D9N]1 GOES TO B$4 ,AFT] A GREAT :ILE & A MUG ( ,HORLICKS1 EV]Y?+ GOES NOIR4 

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,*RONOLOGY 3 
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