,PRELUDE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,= MY FAMILY1 = ! PEOPLE ( ! ,BOR\<S1 & = ,AUDREY ,V]NON1 ! BE/ PIANO-ACCORDIONI/ \R CRACK$ LANES EV] KNEW4 

,BAS$ ON A 0TRUE /ORY40 

,P,R,E,L,U,D,E 

,W,O,R,K ,9 ,P,R,O,G,R,E,S,S 

,ALMA ,W>R51 FIVE YE>S OLD1 ?\<T ?AT !Y'D PROBABLY BE5 %OPP+1 H]1 H] BRO!R ,MI*AEL 9 HIS PU%*AIR & !IR MOM1 ,DORE54 ,P]HAPS !Y'D BE5 TO ,WOOLWOR?'S4 ,NOT ! ONE 9 ,GOLD ,/REET1 BOTTOM ,WOOLWOR?'S1 BUT TOP ,WOOLWOR?'S1 HALFWAY ALONG ,AB+TON ,/REET'S %OP-LIT 9CL9E1 ) ITS SPE>M9T GRE5 TIL$ MILK-B>1 ) ! GIANT DIAL ( ITS WEI<+ MA*9E TRIMM$ A REASSUR+ MAGNET R$ :]E IT /OOD BY ! WOOD5 /AIRCASE AT ! BUILD+'S RE>4 

,! /OCKY LITTLE GIRL1 SO SOLID %E SEEM$ ALMO/ DIE-CA/1 HAD NO MEMORY ( HOLD+ BACK ! SME>Y BRASS & GLASS WEI<T ( ! %OP'S SW+ DOORS SO ?AT ,DORE5 C\LD /E] ! PRAM 9TO ! VELVET BU/LE ( ! MA9 /REET GLI/5+ \TSIDE4 ,%E /RUGGL$ TO RECALL A L&M>K ?AT %E'D NOTIC$ SOME:]E ALONG ! MU*-TRODD5 R\TE1 P]HAPS ! LIT-UP SIGN ?AT JUTT$ \T FROM ,K5DALL'S RA9WE> %OP ON ,FI% ,/REET CORN]1 :]E ! M>*+ ,K LEAN$ BOLDLY =W>D AGA9/ DRIV+ W9D1 C>TOON UMBRELLA OP5 & HELD SOMEH[ BY ! LETT]'S H&LESS1 \T-FLUNG >M1 BUT NO?+ CAME TO M9D4 ,9 FACT1 N[ ?AT %E ?\<T AB\T IT1 ,ALMA C\LDN'T HONE/LY REMEMB] ANY?+ AT ALL AB\T ! EXP$ITION4 ,EV]Y?+ BE=E ! LAMP-LIT /RET* ( PAV+ ALONG :I* %E N[ F\ND H]SELF WALK+1 ) ! SQUEAK ( ,MI*AEL'S PRAM & RHY?MIC CLACK+ ( !IR MO!R'S HEELS1 EV]Y?+ PRIOR TO ?IS WAS A MY/]I\S FUZZ4 

,) *9 TUCK$ 9 H] MACK9TO%'S BUTTON$ COLL> AGA9/ DUSK'S P]VASIVE *ILL1 ,ALMA SURVEY$ ! TW9KL+ SLABS ?AT /EADILY UNW\ND B5EA? ! MESM]IZ+ BACK & =? ( H] BLUNT1 BUCKL$ %OES4 ,IT SEEM$ TO H] ?AT ! MO/ LIKELY EXPLANATION = ! BLANK GAP 9 H] RECOLLECTION WAS PLA9 ABS5T-M9D$NESS4 ,MO/ PROBABLY %E'D DAYDREAM$ ?R\< ! :OLE DULL \T+1 & HAD SE5 ALL ( ! USUAL ?+S BUT PAID !M NO ATT5TION1 CAU<T UP 9 ! LAZY /REAM ( H] [N ?\<TS1 ! PRIVATE DRIFT ( MAKE-BELIEVE & MUDDLE GO+ ON BETWE5 H] DANGL+ PLAITS1 B5EA? H] BUTT]FLY-SLIDES1 FAD$ P9K & BRITTLE LIKE C>BOLIC SOAP4 ,PRACTICALLY EV]Y DAY %E'D WAKE UP FROM A TRANCE1 EM]GE FROM H] COCOON ( PLANS & MEMORIES TO F9D H]SELF A T]RACE OR TWO FUR!R ON ?AN ! LA/ PLACE %E'D NOTIC$1 SO ! LACK ( ANY MEMORABLE DETAILS FROM ?IS CURR5T %OPP+ TRIP WAS NO CAUSE = CONC]N4 

,AB+TON ,/REET1 %E ?\<T1 WAS ! BE/ BET = :]E !Y'D BE51 & W\LD EXPLA9 :Y !Y W]E N[ MAK+ !IR WAY ALONG ! BOTTOM $GE ( A DES]T$ ,M>KET ,SQU>E T[>DS ! ALLEY NEXT TO ,OSBORN'S1 :]E !Y'D NEXT SLOG UP ! ,DRAP]Y1 PU%+ ,MI*AEL PA/ ! SEASIDE-FLAVOR$ BRICK SLAB ( ! ,FI% ,M>KET ) ITS HI<1 DU/-VEIL$ W9D[S1 !N D[N ,SILV] ,/REET1 ACROSS ! ,MAYORHOLD & 9TO ! ,BOR\<S1 HOME AMONG ! TILT & TANGLE ( ITS N>R[ PASSAGES4 

,AS COM=T+ AS ,ALMA F\ND ?IS NOTION1 %E /ILL HAD ! NAGG+ FEEL+ !RE WAS SOME?+ NOT QUITE RI<T AB\T H] EXPLANATION4 ,IF !Y'D JU/ LEFT ,WOOLWOR?'S !N IT C\LDN'T BE MU* AFT] FIVE O'CLOCK1 ) ALL ( ! T[N C5T] %OPS /ILL OP51 SO :Y W]5'T !RE ANY LI<TS ON 9 ! ,M>KET8 ,NO PALE GRE5I% GL[ CREPT FROM ! GAT$ M\? ( ! ,EMPORIUM ,>CADE UP ON ! SLANT$ SQU>E'S TOP SIDE1 :ILE ON ! WE/]N BORD] ,LIPTON'S W9D[ WAS BLACK$ \T1 )\T ITS USUAL *EESE-R9D COLOR$ W>M?4 ,%\LDN'T ! M>KET TRAD]S1 = ?AT MATT]1 /ILL BE PACK+ UP !IR W>ES1 CLOS+ !IR /ALLS D[N = ! DAY1 *E]FULLY %\T+ TO EA* O!R AS !Y KICK$ ?R\< ! SPOIL$ FRUIT & TISSUE PAP]1 FOLD+ TRE/LE TABLES UP TO LOAD ) HO(-BEAT CLANG & CLATT] 9TO BULKY1 SPLUTT]+ VANS ! %APE ( AMBULANCES1 T9 FRAMES E*O+ LIKE GONGS ) EA* FRE% >MFUL8 

,BUT ! WIDE EXPANSE WAS VACANT & ITS DRAFTY 9CL9E SWEPT AWAY UPHILL TO EMPTY D>KNESS4 ,RIS+ FROM ! GOOSEFLE% ( WET COBBLES !RE W]E ONLY LI/+ PO/S DIVID+ UP ! ABS5T /ALLS1 DR5*$ TIMB]S *EW$ LIKE P5CILS AT ONE 5D & JUTT+ FROM SQU>E1 RU/-RIMM$ HOLES BETWE5 ! HUN*BACK /ONES4 ,ONE TATT]$ AWN+ HAD BE5 LEFT BEH9D1 TOO MIS]ABLE = ANYONE TO /EAL1 ! SODD5 FLAP ( ITS SOLE W+ SLAPP+ AT 9T]VALS ABOVE ! L[1 HALF-WAK+ MURMUR ( ! W9D1 ! S\ND SNAPP$ BACK BY ! HI< BUILD+S FRAM+ ! 5CLOSURE4 ,LOOM+ FROM ITS C5T]1 BLACK ON SOOTY GRAY1 ! M>KET'S IRON MONUM5T POK$ UP 9TO ! DIRTY WA%-WAT] ( NI<T1 ORNATE ,VICTORIAN /EM RIS+ TO BLOSSOM 9 A SCALLOP$ CAPITAL CR[N$ BY A COPP] GLOBE1 MU* LIKE SOME PREHI/ORIC MON/] FL[]1 ALONE & PETRIFI$4 ,>\ND ITS /EPP$ PL9?1 ,ALMA KNEW1 W]E SMALL UNNOTIC$ BUR/S ( EM]ALD GRASS1 DOGG$LY BRI/L+ FROM ! CRACKS & CREVICES1 P]HAPS ! ONLY LIV+ ?+S BESIDE H] MO!R1 BRO!R & H]SELF TO BE AB\T ! SQU>E ?AT EV5+1 EV5 IF %E C\LDN'T SEE !M4 

,:]E W]E ALL ! O!R MO!RS DRAGG+ *ILDR5 ?R\< ! %9+ & 9VIT+ POOLS \TSIDE %OP W9D[S1 HOME = TEA8 ,:]E W]E ! TIR$1 UNHAPPY-LOOK+ M5 SL\*+ ALONG !IR SOLIT>Y PA?S BACK FROM ! FACTORIES1 ) ONE H& 9 A SORRY POCKET ( !IR NAVY TR\S]S & ! FRAY$ /RAP ( A %\LD]$ KITBAG 9 ! O!R8 ,OV] ! SLATE RO(S ?AT $G$ ! SQU>E !RE WAS NO PE>LY AURA %AD+ UP 9TO BLACK SKY1 NO :ITE ELECTRIC RAYS SPILL$ FROM ! ,GAUMONT'S /REAML9$ FRONT1 AS IF ,NOR?AMPTON HAD BE5 SUDD5LY SWIT*$ (F1 AS IF IT W]E ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T4 ,BUT !N1 :AT W]E !Y DO+ 9 T[N C5T] :5 IT WAS SO LATE1 ) ALL ! %OPS %UT & ! OBLONG GLASS EYES ( !IR BOLT$ DOORS BECOME UNFRI5DLY1 DI/ANT1 />+ BLANKLY LIKE !Y DIDN'T KN[ Y\1 DIDN'T WANT Y\ !RE8 

,TROTT+ BESIDE H] MOM1 ONE HOT H& CL5*$ ON ! COOL TUB+ ( ! PU%*AIR'S H&LE1 DRAGG+ SLI<TLY SO ?AT ,DORE5 HAD TO T[ H]1 %E BEGAN TO WORRY4 ,IF ?+S W]E NO LONG] GO+ ON ! WAY !Y %\LD BE1 DIDN'T ?AT MEAN ANY?+ C\LD HAPP58 ,GLANC+ UP T[>DS H] MO!R'S SC>F-WRAPP$ PR(ILE1 ,ALMA C\LD F9D NO SIGN ( CONC]N 9 ! S(T1 S5SIBLE BLUE EYES FIX$ ON ! PAVEM5T UP AHEAD1 OR 9 ! UNCOMPLA9+ L9E ?AT SEAL$ ! SMALL ROSE M\?4 ,IF !RE W]E ANY REASON TO BE FRI<T5$1 IF !Y W]E 9 DANG]1 SURELY ,MOM W\LD KN[8 ,BUT :AT IF !RE WAS SOME?+ HORRIBLE1 A <O/ OR BE> OR MURD]]1 & !IR MO!R WASN'T TOLD8 ,:AT IF IT GOT !M8 ,*EW+ ON H] L[] LIP1 %E MADE ANO!R EF=T TO REMEMB] :]E ! ?REE ( !M HAD BE5 BE=E ?IS HAUNT$ COBBLE/ONE 5CLOSURE4 

,9 ! %AD[S PUDDL$ AT ! M>KET'S BOTTOM FLANK NOT F> 9 FRONT1 ! HEAVYSET *ILD NOTIC$ ) RELIEF ?AT !RE WAS AT LEA/ ONE LI<T BURN+ 9 ! O!RWISE APP>5TLY DES]T$ MURK1 A RECTANGLE ( IVORY BRI<TNESS FALL+ FROM ! BIG FRONT W9D[ ( ! PAP]-%OP ON ,DRUM ,LANE'S CORN]1 ANGL+ ACROSS ! BOOT-WORN YELL[$ FLAGS \TSIDE4 ,AS IF %E HAD BE5 LI/5+ 9 UPON H] DAU<T]'S M\NT+ APPREH5SION1 ,ALMA'S MO!R LOOK$ D[N AT H] N[ & SMIL$1 NODD+ T[>DS ! %OP-FRONT ?AT WAS B>ELY MORE ?AN ?REE PRAM-L5G?S BE=E !M4 0,!'Y>4 ,AYR'S WUN BLESSID PLACE AS 5T %UT UP1 AYE80 

,ALMA NODD$1 PLEAS$ & REASSUR$1 :ILE 9 HIS CREAK+ PU%*AIR ,MI*AEL KICK$ AGA9/ ! FOOTBO>D 9 APPROVAL1 ) HIS CURLY GOLD5 HEAD ?AT LOOK$ LIKE ,BUBBLES 9 ! PA9T+ B\NC+ UP & D[N4 ,AS !Y DREW LEVEL ) ! NEWSAG5T'S ! LITTLE GIRL PE]$ ?R\< ITS TALL CLEAN PANES 9TO ! DAZZLE ( A /RIPP$ 9T]IOR :]E IT APPE>$ ?AT WORK WAS GO+ ON1 C>P5T]S LABOR+ ?R\< ! H\RS ( D>KNESS AT !IR R5OVATIONS1 NO D\BT SO AS NOT TO 9TRUDE ON ! NORMAL TRAD+ TIMES ( ! E/ABLI%M5T4 ,F\R OR FIVE M5 W]E BUSY OV] SA:ORSES !RE ON ! B>E1 NEW-LOOK+ FLOORBO>DS1 HAMM]+ & PLAN+ UND] AN UN%AD$ LI<T-BULB1 & %E NOTIC$ ?AT !IR FEET W]E NAK$ 9 ! DU/ & %AV+S PIL$ LIKE CURLS ( BUTT]4 ,W\LDN'T !Y GET SPL9T]S8 ,ALL ( !M W]E WE>+ PLA9 :ITE G[NS ?AT REA*$ !IR ANKLES4 ,ALL ( !M HAD CLOSE-TRIMM$ NAILS1 HAD SMOO? SK9 ?AT WAS RADIANTLY CLEAN AS IF !Y'D JU/ COME FROM A PROP] SIT-D[N BA?1 /ILL HAD LAV5D] TALCUM CRU/+ ON DAMP %\LD]S 9TO %APES LIKE CONT95TS4 ,!Y ALL LOOK$ S]I\S & /RONG BUT NOT UNK9D1 & MO/ ( !M HAD HAIR ?AT HUNG D[N TO ! COLL>S ( !IR FRE%LY LAUND]$ ROBES1 HEADS B5T ABOVE ROBU/ & RASP+ TOIL4 

,ONE MAN AMONG ! LABOR DETAIL /OOD ASIDE FROM HIS F\R COLLEAGUES1 WAT*+ AS !Y WORK$4 ,ALMA SUPPOS$ HE WAS 9 *>GE4 ,%E NOTIC$ ?AT1 UNLIKE ?OSE ( ! O!R M51 HIS G[N ROSE TO A C[L SO ?AT NONE ( HIS FACE WAS REALLY VISIBLE ABOVE ! NOSE4 ,HIS HAIR WAS COV]$1 BUT %E SOMEH[ FELT SURE IT WAS D>K & %ORT] ?AN ?AT ( HIS WORKMATES1 ! NECK %ORN TO SU$E BEL[ ! FOLDS ( HIS DOVE-COLOR$ HOOD4 ,HE WAS CLEAN-%AV51 LIKE ! RE/ ( !M1 RUGG$LY H&SOME FROM ?OSE FEATURES %E C\LD SEE B5EA? ! 9KY C[L-CA/ %ADE ?AT FILL$ HIS SOCKETS & CONCEAL$ HIS EYES BEH9D A PHANTOM BURGL> MASK4 ,SEEM+ TO FEEL ! *ILD'S ATT5TION ?R\< ! GLASS1 ! MAN 9 QUE/ION TURN$ TO SMILE 9 H] DIRECTION1 LIFT+ ONE H& CASUALLY 9 GREET+1 & ) AN A/\ND$1 DISBELIEV+ LUR* SOME:]E 9SIDE H] ,ALMA UND]/OOD :O HE MU/ BE4 

,! MEASUR$ PRAM-SQUEAK & ! R++ CAP-GUN DETONATIONS ( H] MO!R'S HEELS SL[$ TO A /OP AS ,DORE5 ALSO PAUS$ TO />E ?R\< ! ILLUM9AT$ W9D[1 9 AT ! NOCTURNAL LABOR]S & !IR HOOD$ =EMAN4 

0,WELL1 ,I'LL GOO T] AYR ACE4 ,LOOK ']E1 Y\ TWO1 IT'S ! ,FRIT ,BURR UN 'IZ ANGLES40 

,ALMA ?\<T ?AT 'ANGLES' WAS MO/ LIKELY AN EXPRESSION FROM ! ,BOR\<S MEAN+ C>P5T]S OR JO9]S1 BUT ! O!R T]M WAS =EIGN TO H] & %E FR[N$ UP QUE/ION+LY 9TO ,DORE5'S G5TLY MOCK+ GAZE1 AS IF H] MOM ?\<T ,ALMA WAS JU/ BE+ D5SE & %\LD HAVE KN[N AT H] AGE :AT A ',FRIT ,BURR' WAS4 

,DORE5 GAVE A MILD TUT4 0,OOH1 Y] A SAMPLE1 Y\ >E4 ',E'S ! ,FRI? ,BORH4 ,! ,?IRD ,BURR]4 ,ALL ! TIMES Y\'VE 'E>D ME GOO9' ON ABAYT 'IM1 UN YUH LOOK UT ME GONE AYT40 

,ALMA HAD HE>D ( ! ,?IRD ,BOR\<1 OR AT LEA/ IT SEEM$ %E HAD4 ,! WORDS W]E TEAS+LY FAMILI>1 & %E KNEW ?IS WAS A WAY ! P]SON ?AT %E'D UND]/OOD ! HOOD$ MAN TO BE ! MOM5T ?AT HE'D WAV$ WAS KN[N1 SOME?+ ?AT PEOPLE CALL$ HIM :5 !Y WANT$ TO AVOID HIS O!R NAME4 ',?IRD ,BOR\<'1 IF %E'D GOT IT RI<T1 MEANT SOME?+ LIKE A R5T-MAN OR POLICEMAN1 ONLY MU* MORE FRI5DLY & RESPECT$1 MORE MAGNIFIC5T ?AN EV5 ! ,R$ ,E>L1 ,E>L ,SP5C]1 SW++ ON A PUB SIGN %E'D ONCE SE54 ,%E LOOK$ BACK FROM H] MO!R TO ! TABLEAU ( ! P>TLY RECON/RUCT$ PAP]-%OP1 ! FIGURES AT !IR E>NE/ GRAFT !RE 9 A FLOOD ( BRILLIANCE1 ! NEWSAG5T'S ) ITS GLASS FRONT LIKE A FI% TANK :]E ! M5 WORK$ UND] WAT] ?AT WAS W>M & LUM9\S4 ,! C[L$ MAN1 ! ,?IRD ,BOR\<1 WAS /ILL SMIL+ \T AT ,DORE5 & H] *ILDR51 BUT HE WASN'T SO MU* WAV+ N[ AS BECKON+1 9VIT+ !M TO COME 9SIDE4 

,MOM SCRAP$ ! PU%*AIR R\ND 9 A TI<T QU>T]-CIRCLE ON ! PAVEM5T BORD]+ ! HU%$1 AB&ON$ M>KET1 /E]+ ,MI*AEL & HIS PRAM 9TO ! %OP'S GLASS 5TRANCEWAY1 SET BACK ) GRUBBY BEIGE & TURQUOISE *IPS 9 A MOSAIC RAMP BETWE5 ! DOORFRAME & ! SLIPP]Y /REET4 ,) ONE PLUMP H& /ILL CL5*$ UPON ! C>RIAGE H&LE & PULL$ 9 H] MO!R'S WAKE1 ,ALMA HUNG BACK UNC]TA9LY1 DRAGG+ H] FEET4 ,%E'D HE>D SOME:]E1 OR SOMEH[ GA!R$ ! IMPRESSION ?AT Y\ ONLY GOT AN AUDI5CE LIKE ?IS IF Y\ W]E DEAD1 DEAD BE+ AN IDEA %E HADN'T REALLY TAK5 9 AS YET BUT KNEW %E W\LDN'T LIKE4 ,ONE ( ! M5 ) FL[+ LOCKS1 ?IS ONE ) HAIR SO FAIR ?AT IT WAS :ITE1 WAS SETT+ D[N HIS H&SAW N[ & CROSS+ TO ! DOOR TO HOLD IT OP5 = !M1 G5IAL CREASES =M+ AT ! CORN]S ( HIS EYES4 ,S5S+ ! GIRL'S RELUCTANCE1 ,ALMA'S MO!R TURN$ & SPOKE TO H] 5C\RAG+LY4 

0,GOR1 Y\ >E A SOPPY DATE1 AYR ,ALMA4 ',E 5T GUNN] UR*A1 UN 'E DUN'T SEE PEOPLE V]Y ORFT54 ,GOO ON 9 UN SAY 'ELLO OR ELSE 'E'LL ?9K WE'RE RUDE40 

,) HEAD TIPP$ =W>D & H] BR[N ROLL]-PROVID$ CURLS CONCEAL$ B5EA? ! HEADSC>F'S *>COAL *ECK1 H] W9T] COAT'S L9E FALL+ FROM ! FULL BU/ 9 A PR[-LIKE SWOOP1 ,DORE5 HAD SOME?+ 9 H] MANN] ?AT MADE ,ALMA ?9K ( PIGEONS & !IR C>ELESS CALM1 !IR PA9T-BOX MOTTL$ NECKS1 ! RUFFL+ MUSIC ( !IR VOICES4 ,%E REMEMB]$ HAV+ HAD A DREAM ONCE 9 :I* %E'D BE5 SITT+ ) H] MO!R 9 !IR LIV+ ROOM D[N ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 ON ! WE/ B\ND>Y ( ! ,BOR\<S4 ,9 ! DREAM ,DORE5 WAS IRON+ :ILE H] DAU<T] KNELT !RE 9 ! >M*AIR1 SUCK+ ABS5TLY UPON ! ?READB>E PADD+ ( ITS RE> & GAZ+ ?R\< ! BACK-Y>D W9D[ \T 9TO ! TWILI<T4 ,OV] NEXT DOOR'S WALL !RE LOOM$ ! DISUS$ /ABLE ) BLACK HOLES LIKE CROSS$-\T BITS 9 DOCUM5TS1 :]E SLATES W]E MISS+ FROM ITS RO(4 ,?R\< !SE ! FLICK]+ %APES ( PIGEONS LIFT$ & DESC5D$1 B>ELY VISIBLE1 PALE TWI/S ( SMOKE AGA9/ ! D>KNESS ( ! S*OOL HILL RIS+ UP BEYOND4 ,MOM TURN$ TO ,ALMA FROM H] IRON+ BO>D & SOLEMNLY EXPLA9$ AB\T ! ROO/+ BIRDS4 

0,!Y'RE :]E DEAD PEOPLE GOO40 

,! *ILD HAD WOK5 BE=E %E C\LD ASK :E!R ?IS MEANT ?AT PIGEONS W]E ALL HUMAN <O/S1 =MS ?AT DEAD PEOPLE HAD GONE 9TO & BECOME1 OR :E!R !Y SOMEH[ EXI/$ SIMULTANE\SLY 9 ,HEAV51 :]E DEAD PEOPLE GO1 & UP AMONG ! RAFT]S ( ! D]ELICT B>N 9 ! NEI<BOR'S Y>D AT ! SAME TIME4 ,%E HAD NO IDEA :Y ! DREAM %\LD COME TO M9D N[ AS %E FOLL[$ ,MI*AEL & H] MO!R ?R\< ! DOOR1 /ILL PATI5TLY HELD OP5 BY ! SILV]-HAIR$ & G[N-DRAP$ C>P5T]1 \T ( ! NI<T 9TO ! LI<T-SOAK$ /ORE4 

,HAV+ ONE 5TRANCE ON ! M>KET & ANO!R R\ND ! CORN] 9 ,DRUM ,LANE1 ! %OP'S 9SIDE SEEM$ BIGG] ?AN %E'D ?\<T IT W\LD BE1 AL?\< ,ALMA REALIZ$ ?IS WAS P>TLY DUE TO !RE NOT BE+ ANY PAP] RACKS1 CA% REGI/]S OR C\NT]S2 ANY CU/OM]S4 ,FILL+ ! ROOM WAS ! P]FUME ( FRE%-%AV$ WOOD1 SOME:]E BETWE5 ! SC5TS ( T9N$ PEA* & TOBACCO1 & B5EA? H] FEET ! NEW-LAID FLOORBO>DS W]E AS SATISFY+LY RESILI5T AS LONGB[S1 SAWDU/ HEAP+ 9 ! UNSWEPT CORN]S4 ,WOMAN1 GIRL & BABY HAV+ /EPP$ )91 ! :ITE-HAIR$ WORKMAN :O'D BE5 HOLD+ BACK ! DOOR W5T TO HIS P>TIALLY CUT PLANK1 GR9N+ AT ,ALMA & H] BRO!R ) A GRUFF W9K ?AT 9CLUD$ !M 9 SOME UNSPOK5 & YET WOND]FUL CONSPIRACY1 BE=E RETURN+ TO HIS 9T]RUPT$ TASK4 

,UNSURE ( :AT TO MAKE H] FACE DO 9 RESPONSE TO ?IS1 ,ALMA ATTEMPT$ A HALF-HE>T$ GRIMACE ?AT CAME \T AS NEI!R ONE ?+ NOR ! O!R1 !N LOOK$ R\ND AT ,MI*AEL4 ,HE WAS SITT+ UP 5?USIA/ICALLY \T ( ! PU%*AIR1 TUGG+ =W>D ON ! *EW$ /RAPS ( HIS H>NESS - ! SAME ONE ,ALMA HAD WORN JU/ A FEW YE>S AGO - MADE ( R$ LEA!R1 ) ! FLAK+ & MU* PICK$-AT GOLD LEAF \TL9E ( A HORSE'S HEAD GRADUALLY DISAPPE>+ ON ITS FRONT4 ,MI*AEL WAS *ORTL+ 9 DELI<T1 >MS RAIS$ ) F+]S OP5+ & CLOS+1 TRY+ TO GRAB ONTO ! MILKY LI<T1 ! AIR1 ! T+L+ ,*RI/MAS ATMOSPH]E ( ?AT PECULI> MOM5T AT ! CORN] ( ! E]IE MIDNI<T SQU>E1 AS IF HE WANT$ TO TAKE HOLD ( IT ALL1 CRAM IT 9 HIS M\? & EAT IT4 ,HIS L>GE HEAD TIPP$ BACK UPON ! JIGGL+ 9FANT BODY ) A PR(ILE LIKE ! ,FAIRY ,SOAP *ILD1 BL9K+ UP AT EV]Y?+ & GURGL+ ) SU* 5JOYM5T ?AT HIS SI/] PRIVATELY SUSPECT$ HE WAS RA!R %ALL[ = A TWO-YE>-OLD1 F> TOO CONC]N$ ) HAV+ FUN TO TAKE LIFE S]I\SLY4 ,BEH9D HIM1 \T ?R\< ! %OP'S W9D[ !RE WAS ONLY BLACKNESS1 ) ! M>KET GONE & NO?+ BUT !IR LANT]N-SLIDE REFLECTIONS HANG+ 9 ! D>K1 AS IF ! NEWS & MAGAZ9E /ORE WAS ALONE & FALL+ ?R\< ! EMPT9ESS ( SPACE4 ,ABOVE H]1 9 ! ADULT *ATT] CLOS] TO ! PAP] %OP'S HI< PLA/] CEIL+1 ,DORE5 & ! HOOD$ MAN W]E TALK+ AS H] MOM ?ANK$ HIM = ASK+ !M 9SIDE & 9TRODUC$ HIM TO H] *ILDR54 

0,?IS WUN 9 ! PRAM'S AYR ,MI*AEL1 UN ?AT'S ,ALMA4 ,%E'S UT S*OOL N[1 5T Y]1 UP ,SPR+ ,LANE8 ,Y\ COME UN SAY 'ELLO T' ! ,?IRD ,BURR]40 

,ALMA LOOK$ UP BA%FULLY AT ! ,?IRD ,BOR\<1 MANAG+ A WEAK 0,HELLO04 ,SE5 FROM CLOSE UP HE WAS A LITTLE OLD] ?AN H] MO!R1 & P]HAPS MI<T HAVE BE5 ?IRTY4 ,UNLIKE ALL ! O!R WORK]S :O W]E :ITE AS *APEL M>BLE1 HIS COMPLEXION WAS MU* D>K]1 BR[N FROM H>D WORK 9 ! SUN%9E4 ,OR P]HAPS HE WAS FROM SOME:]E HOT & F> AWAY LIKE ,PALE/9E1 ONE ( ! L&S %E'D HE>D ! OLD] *ILDR5 S+ AB\T 9 ! BIG S*OOL-HALL :]E !Y W5T = PRAY]S1 UP ?REE /ONE /EPS FROM ,ALMA'S FIR/-YE> 9FANT'S CLOAKROOM1 PEGS ID5TIFI$ BY LOCOMOTIVES1 KITES & CATS RA!R ?AN BOYS' & GIRLS' NAMES4 0,QU9QU]EME ( ,N9EVEH & DI/ANT ,OPHIR 4440 W5T ! SONG1 PLACES & WORDS ?AT S\ND$ LOVELY1 SAD1 & GONE N[4 

,! ,?IRD ,BOR\< CR\*$ TO ,ALMA'S LEVEL1 /ILL ) ! SAME K9DLY SMILE1 & %E C\LD SMELL HIS SK91 A BIT LIKE TOA/ & NUTMEG4 ,%E C\LD SEE ! C[BOY H]O DIMPLE 9 HIS *91 AS IF SOMEONE HAD HIT IT ) A D>T1 BUT %E /ILL C\LDN'T SEE HIS EYES B5EA? ?AT B& ( %AD[ FALL+ FROM ! C[L'S PEAK$ BRIM4 ,:5 HE ADDRESS$ H]1 %E C\LD NOT REMEMB] LAT] IF HIS LIPS HAD MOV$1 OR :AT HIS VOICE HAD BE5 LIKE4 ,%E WAS SURE IT WAS A MAN'S VOICE1 DEEP & HONE/1 ?AT IT HADN'T S\ND$ PO%1 YET NEI!R HAD IT S\ND$ LIKE ! POKEY FIRESIDE-CORN] ACC5TS ( ! ,BOR\<S4 ,IT WAS MORE A WIRELESS 9TONATION1 & %E DIDN'T SEEM TO HE> IT ) H] E>S SO MU* AS FEEL IT 9 H] /OMA*1 W>M & WELCOME AS A ,SUNDAY D9N]4 ,HELLO1 LITTLE ,ALMA4 ,DO Y\ KN[ :O ,I AM8 

,ALMA %IV]$1 ?\<TS ALL ( A SUDD5 FILL$ ) ?UND]1 />S & PEOPLE WEEP+ ) NO CLO!S ON4 ,F> TOO %Y TO SPEAK HIS NAME AL\D BUT WANT+ HIM TO KN[ %E RECOGNIZ$ HIM1 %E TRI$ S++ ! FIR/ V]SE ( ',ALL ?+S BRI<T & BEAUTIFUL'1 :I* ALWAYS MADE H] ?9K ( DAISIES1 HOP+ ?AT HE'D GET H] AWKW>D1 TIMID LITTLE JOKE & NOT BE CROSS4 ,HIS SMILE GREW V]Y SLI<TLY WID] &1 RELIEV$1 %E KNEW HE'D UND]/OOD4 ,/ILL CR\*+1 ! ROB$ FIGURE TURN$ HIS COV]$ HEAD TO /UDY ,MI*AEL = A MOM5T BE=E REA*+ \T ONE SUN-BR[N$ H& TO RUN ITS F+]S ?R\< ! GOLD5 B$SPR+S ( ! TODDL]'S HAIR4 ,H] BRO!R CLAPP$ & LAU<$1 A PLEAS$ BUDG]IG> SQUAWK1 & ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< /RAI<T5$ FROM HIS /OOP1 RESUM+ HIS FULL /ATURE TO CONT9UE TALK+ ) !IR MOM4 

,ALMA HALF-LI/5$ TO ! ADULT DIALOGUE GO+ ON ABOVE H] HEAD AS %E GAZ$ IDLY R\ND ! %OP AT ! F\R LABOR]S1 /ILL BUSY ) !IR HAMM]S1 LA!S & SAWS4 ,DESPITE ID5TICAL :ITE G[NS & SIMIL>LY-CUT FAIR HAIR ! M5 W]E NOT ALIKE 444 ONE HAD A L>GE MOLE 9 ! C5T] ( HIS =EHEAD1 :ILE ANO!R ONE WAS CREW-CUT1 D>K & A BIT =EIGN-LOOK+ 444 YET !Y LOOK$ AS ?\< !Y CAME FROM ! SAME FAMILY1 W]E BRO!RS OR CLOSE C\S9S AT ! LEA/4 ,%E WOND]$ :AT !IR ROBES W]E MADE FROM4 ,! MAT]IAL WAS PLA9 & /RONG AS COTTON BUT LOOK$ S(T1 ) ICE-BLUE %AD[S HANG+ 9 ITS FOLDS1 SO PROBABLY IT CO/ MORE4 ,!SE MU/ BE ! APRONS WORN BY S5IOR C>P5T]S OR 'ANGLES'1 ,ALMA REASON$1 & %E HAD ! MUDDY RECOLLECTION ( A WORD OR BR& NAME ?AT %E'D HE>D ONCE :I* DESCRIB$ ! FABRIC4 ,WAS IT ',MI<T'1 OR ',MI<TY'8 ,SOME?+ LIKE ?AT1 ANYWAY4 

,DORE5 WAS MAK+ POLITE CONV]SATION ) ! HOOD$ EM95CE & V5TUR+ AT 9T]VALS ! REASSUR+ COOS ?AT ,ALMA RECOGNIZ$ FROM ?OSE TIMES :5 %E'D TRI$ EXPLA9+ ONE ( H] MORE COMPLICAT$ DRAW+S TO H] MO!R1 S\NDS :I* MEANT ?AT ,MOM HAD NO REAL UND]/&+ ( :ATEV] %E WAS BE+ TOLD BUT DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE (F5SE OR SEEM DIS9T]E/$4 ,%E MU/ HAVE CASUALLY 9QUIR$ ( ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< H[ ! WORK WAS COM+ ON1 ,ALMA DECID$1 & WAS N[ COMPELL$ TO /& & CLUCK ) HOPEFULLY APPROPRIATE SURPRISE1 APPRECIATION OR CONC]N :ILE HE REPLI$4 ,AS ) MU* ( ! TALK BETWE5 H] ELD]S1 ,ALMA ONLY CAU<T ! SL5D] GI/ ( IT & WASN'T REALLY SURE MO/ ( ! TIME IF %E'D CAU<T EV5 ?AT4 ,ODD PHRASES & OCCASIONAL EXPRESSIONS W\LD LODGE SOME:]E 9 H] M9D1 PROVIDE A COAT-RACK ( PREC>I\S HOOKS FROM :I* %E C\LD DRAPE T5TATIVE CONNECT+ /R+S1 ?READS ( CONJECTURE & WILD GUESSWORK L9K+ UP ONE NOTION ) ANO!R UNTIL ,ALMA EI!R HAD A SKET*Y COMPREH5SION ( :ATEV] %E HAD EAVESDROPP$1 OR HAD BURD5$ H]SELF ) A CONVOLUT$ & RIDICUL\S MISUND]/&+ ?AT %E W\LD CONT9UE TO BELIEVE = YE>S !REAFT]4 

,9 ?IS 9/ANCE1 /&+ LI/5+ TO H] MO!R'S V>Y+LY PIT*$ & WORDLESS 9T]JECTIONS 9TO ! ,?IRD ,BOR\<'S MONOLOGUE1 %E PICK$ H] WAY BETWE5 ! /UMBL+ BLOCKS ( GR[N-UP LANGUAGE & TRI$ H>D TO MAKE A PICTURE ( :AT ! DISCUSSION WAS AB\T1 ONE ( H] CRAYON DIORAMAS BUT 9SIDE H] HEAD1 A SC5E ?AT HAD ITS DIFF]5T BITS ALL 9 ONE ALMO/-S5SIBLE >RANGEM5T4 ,%E SUPPOS$ H] MO!R HAD ASK$ :AT ! M5 W]E BUILD+1 & FROM ! REPLY IT S\ND$ AS ?\< !Y W]E MAK+ READY SOME?+ CALL$ ! ,POR?IMO? DI ,NORHAN1 :I* W]E WORDS ?AT ,ALMA KNEW %E'D NEV] HE>D BE=E & YET :I* S\ND$ RI<T1 AS IF %E'D KN[N !M ALL H] LIFE4 ,IT WAS A C\RT ( SOME K9D1 WASN'T IT1 ! ,POR?IMO? DI ,NORHAN1 :]E DISPUTES W\LD ALL BE AIR$ & EV]YONE W\LD GET :AT !Y W]E DUE8 ,AL?\< 9 ?IS CASE1 ,ALMA ?\<T IT S\ND$ MORE LIKE ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< MEANT ! T]M ANO!R WAY1 RELAT+ TO HIS C>P5TRY1 ) ',POR?IMO? DI ,NORHAN' AS ! NAME = AN +5I\SLY COMPLICAT$ TYPE ( JO9T4 ,SOME WORDS W]E SAID AB\T IT BE+ :]E ! RIS+ L9ES CONV]G$1 :I* ,ALMA ?\<T MEANT SOME?+ SIMIL> TO 'COME TOGE!R'1 SO %E C\LD IMAG9E ?AT IT WAS P]HAPS AN OCTOPUS->M$ JUNCTION SU* AS %E SUPPOS$ Y\ MI<T GET UP 9SIDE A WOOD5 *UR* DOME1 BR++ ALL ! CURV+1 V>NI%$ BEAMS 9TO A CLEV]-CORN]$ KNOT !RE AT ! MIDDLE4 ,%E IMAG9$ = SOME REASON ?AT !RE'D BE A R\< /ONE CROSS 9LAID1 SET BACK 9TO ! POLI%$ ROSEWOOD AT ! HE>T ( ! >RANGEM5T4 

,SEEM+ TO CONFIRM ! *ILD'S 9T]PRETATION1 ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< WAS N[ SAY+ IT WAS JU/ AS WELL !RE W]E SO MANY OAKS H]E AT ! C5T] TO SUPPORT ! WEI<T & T5SION4 ,AS HE SAID ?IS1 HE PLAC$ ONE BRONZ$ H& ON ,DORE5'S %\LD]1 :I* TO ,ALMA MADE ! COMM5T SEEM TWO-SID$4 ,WAS HE TALK+ AB\T ALL ! OAK TREES /UDD+ ! T[N'S GRASSL&S1 OR PAY+ ,DORE5 A =M ( COMPLIM5T1 SAY+ !IR MO!R WAS AN OAK1 A TIMB] PILL> ?AT W\LD TAKE ! /RA9 )\T COMPLA9T8 ,H] MOM SEEM$ PLEAS$ BY ! REM>K1 H[EV]1 PURS+ H] LIPS DIFFID5TLY1 TUTT+ TO D]IDE ! ?\<T ?AT %E WAS WOR?Y ( SU* PRAISE4 

,! HOOD$ MAN REMOV$ HIS H& FROM ,DORE5'S SLEEVE1 CONT9U+ HIS EXPLANATION ( ! LABOR HE WAS OV]SEE+ :I* REQUIR$ COMPLETION BY A C]TA9 TIME1 DEM&+ ?AT HIS M5 WORK DAY & NI<T TO F9I% UP !IR CONTRACT4 ,!RE WAS SOME?+ CONTRADICTORY 9 ?IS1 IT SEEM$ TO ,ALMA4 ,%E WAS SURE ?AT ! ,?IRD ,BOR\<'S BUS9ESS MU/ BE ONE ( ! T[N'S LONGE/ /&+1 OLD] ?AN ! FIRMS :O HAD !IR PREMISES 9 ,BE>W>D ,/REET1 ) SPL9T]+ GATEWAYS OV] :I* ! PEEL+ SIGNS ( =M] [N]S W]E /ILL P>TLY VISIBLE1 LEAD+ TO QUE]LY-%AP$ MY/]I\S Y>DS4 ,SOME ( ! PUBS1 H] DAD ONCE TOLD H]1 HAD BE5 H]E S9CE ,JACOBEAN TIMES1 & %E S5S$ ?AT ! BUILD+ ( ?IS ,POR?IMO? DI ,NORHAN HAD BE5 GO+ ON = JU/ AS LONG1 W\LD /ILL BE GO+ ON A HUNDR$ YE>S FROM N[ ) ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< /ILL *ECK+ EA* DETAIL ( ITS CRAFTSMAN%IP TO MAKE SURE ?AT !Y'D GOT IT RI<T4 ,:Y DID IT S\ND SO URG5T1 !N1 %E ASK$ H]SELF8 ,IF !RE W]E C5TURIES TO GO BE=E ! JOB WAS DONE1 :Y ALL ?IS TALK ( PRESS+ DEADL9ES TO BE MET8 ,ALMA EXPECT$ ?AT ! C[L-DRAP$ MAN JU/ HAD TO PLAN AHEAD MORE ?AN MO/ PEOPLE DID1 P]HAPS BECAUSE ( HIS MORE S]I\S LONG-T]M RESPONSIBILITIES4 

,%E /OOD !RE ON ! TI<T NEW BO>DS ( ! %OP'S FLOOR ?AT MADE H] ?9K ( A %IP'S DECK1 ONE FROM ! SAME SONG ?AT %E'D HE>D ! JUNIORS S++ 9 !IR HALL1 A /ATELY ,SPANI% GALLEON SAIL+ FROM AN I/HMUS OR ! LIKE4 ,ONE H& /ILL CLASP$ >\ND ! PU%-B> ( H] BRO!R'S PRAM1 %E WAT*$ ! F\R 9DU/RI\S C>P5T]S H>D AT !IR GRAT+1 ?UMP+ WORK & ?\<T !Y SEEM$ A BIT LIKE SAILORS EV5 IF !IR LONG :ITE APRONS MADE H] ?9K ( BAK]S4 ,%E WAS B>ELY LI/5+ TO !IR =EMAN'S CONV]SATION ) H] MO!R ANYMORE1 HAV+ BELAT$LY & ) A />T REALIZ$ ?AT ALL ! WORK]S' SAW-BLADES1 HAMM]-HEADS & DRILL-BITS LOOK$ LIKE !Y W]E MADE FROM ACTUAL GOLD1 ) DIAMONDS TW9KL+ 9 !IR H&LES :]E ! SCREW HEADS \<T TO BE4 ,BEMUS$ AS TO :Y %E'D NOT NOTIC$ ?IS BE=E1 ,ALMA BECAME AW>E ( ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< & H] MO!R ONLY :5 A NAME %E KNEW >OSE FROM ! L[ MUMBLE ( !IR DISC\RSE4 

,!Y W]E TALK+ AB\T SOME?+ !Y REF]R$ TO AS A ,V]NALL'S ,9QUE/1 :I* %E GA!R$ WAS A K9D ( HE>+ TO DECIDE ! GUTT]S1 CORN]S1 WALLS & $GES ( ! WORLD1 :]E !Y ALL W]E & :O !Y ALL BELONG$ TO4 ,FROM :AT ,DORE5 & ! HOOD$ GOV]NOR W]E SAY+1 IT SEEM$ ?IS 9QUIRY WAS ! SOLE EV5T ?AT ! ASSIZE UND] CON/RUCTION !RE1 ! ,POR?IMO? DI ,NORHAN1 WAS 9T5D$ TO CONTA9 - ! ONLY REASON IT WAS BE+ BUILT AT ALL - BUT IT WAS MORE ! 9QUE/'S TITLE ?AN ITS IMPORT ?AT HAD SEIZ$ ! GIRL'S ATT5TION4 ,V]NALL WAS A FAMILY NAME1 FROM ,ALMA'S DAD'S SIDE4 ,AS %E ?\<T IT OV]1 ,ALMA REALIZ$ ?AT %E'D PICK$ UP QUITE A BIT AB\T H] CLAN'S IMM$IATE HI/ORY FROM OV]HE>D GR[NUP DISCUSSIONS1 ?+S %E KNEW BUT HADN'T PREVI\SLY KN[N %E KNEW4 ,= 9/ANCE ,MAY1 ,DAD'S MOM1 ,ALMA & ,MI*AEL'S IRONCLAD & F]OCI\S NAAN1 HAD BE5 A ,V]NALL BE=E M>RY+ ,TOM ,W>R51 ,ALMA'S GR&FA!R :O'D BE5 ALREADY DEAD SOME YE>S :5 %E WAS BORN4 ,H] O!R GR&DAD HAD BE5 DEAD AS WELL1 N[ ?AT %E ?\<T AB\T IT1 ,DORE5'S DAD ,JOE ,SWAN1 A *E]FUL1 B>REL-*E/$ FELL[ ) A WALRUS-/YLE MU/A*E1 DEAD ( ,T,B FROM WORK+ ON ! B>GES & KN[N ONLY FROM A BLEA*+ OVAL PHOTOGRAPH HUNG 9 ! LIV+ ROOM D[N ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 UP 9 ! GLOOM B5EA? ! PICTURE RAIL4 ,%E'D NEV] KN[N H] GR&FA!RS & SO !IR 9FLU5CE WAS ABS5T FROM H] LIFE & WAS UNMISS$4 ,! SAME C\LD NOT BE SAID AB\T H] GR&MO!RS1 NOT !IR GRAN ,CL>A1 ,DORE5'S MO!R :O !Y LIV$ )1 & NOT ,MAY1 !IR NAAN1 9 H] H\SE AT ! BOTTOM ( ! GRE5 BEH9D ,/4 ,PET]'S ,*UR*1 UPON ! ,BOR\<S' WE$-B\ND S\?WE/ FR+E4 

,MAY ,W>R51 =M]LY ,MAY ,V]NALL1 WAS A /\T & FRECKL$ DREADNAU<T ( A WOMAN1 ROLL+ KEG-%AP$ D[N ! TIL$ LANES ( ! COV]$ ,FI% ,M>KET MO/ ,SATURDAYS1 LEAV+ A CLE>$ PA? 9 H] WAKE & GA!R+ MOM5TUM ) EA* HEAVY PACE LIKE AN ACCUMULAT+ SN[BALL ( *E]Y MALEVOL5CE1 ! SPECKL$ J[LS 9 :I* H] *9 LAY SUNK5 %UDD]+ AT EV]Y /EP1 ! D>T+ CURRANTS ( ! EYES PRESS$ DEEP 9TO ! HEAP$ BLOOD-PUDD+ ( H] FACE GLITT]+ ) ANTICIPATION ( :ATEV] AWFUL TREAT %E'D VISIT$ ! M>KET TO PROCURE4 ,IT MI<T BE TRIPE1 OR :ELKS LIKE MUSCLE-B\ND & ORANGE SLUGS1 OR *OPP$-UP EELS 9 L>D4 ,ALMA BELIEV$ H] NAAN W\LD PROBABLY EAT ANY?+1 MI<T BE ! SORT ( P]SON :O'D EAT O!R PEOPLE IF IT CAME TO IT1 BUT !N ,MAY WAS ! DEA?MONG] = ,GRE5 ,/REET & ?AT G5]AL /RET*4 ,! DEA?MONG]S W]E WOM5 :O BR\<T PEOPLE 9 & LAID !M \T :5 !Y W]E DONE1 SO Y\ C\LD BET !Y'D SE5 SOME ?+S ALL RI<T4 ,MAY HAD BE5 BORN1 SO LEG5D W5T1 ON ,LAMBE? ,WALK ITSELF1 AMID ! SPIT & SWEEP+S ( ITS GUTT]S4 ,N[ %E LIV$ ALONE ON ,GRE5 ,/REET'S CORN] 9 A GAS-LIT1 MILDEW$ H\SE ) DOORS HALFWAY UP CROOK$ /AIRS ?AT NOBODY C\LD FA?OM1 !RE :]E ,TOMMY1 :O WAS ,ALMA'S DAD1 & HALF H] AUNTS & UNCLES HAD BE5 RAIS$4 ,FAMILY OP9ION HAD IT ?AT ,MAY HAD GR[N MEAN & OGRESS-LIKE ) AGE AFT] A DISAPPO9T$ LIFE1 BUT FAMILY OP9ION ALSO HAD IT ?AT !RE WAS A /REAK ( MADNESS 9 ! ,V]NALLS4 

,MAY'S DAD ,SN[Y ,V]NALL1 ,ALMA'S GREAT-GR&FA!R1 HAD GONE :AT ! FAMILY CALL$ 'CORN]Y' & BY ! 5D WAS EAT+ FL[]S1 :I* S\ND$ SUCCUL5T & COLORFUL TO ,ALMA1 BUT NOT REALLY WRONG4 ,SN[Y HAD R$ HAIR AS A BABY1 PEOPLE SAID1 BUT ?IS LO/ ALL ITS HUE DUR+ HIS LAT] *ILDHOOD1 AT >\ND ! SAME TIME ,SN[Y'S FA!R ,]NE/1 ,ALMA'S GREAT-GREAT-GR&FA!R1 HAD LO/ HIS M9D & HAD HIS HAIR GO :ITE :ILE HE WAS WORK+ ON ,/4 ,PAUL'S ,CA!DRAL AS A PA9T] & RE/OR] D[N 9 ,LONDON 9 ! N9ETE5? C5TURY4 ,]NE/ HAD PASS$ HIS MADNESS ON TO ,SN[Y & TO ,SN[Y'S SI/]1 ,?URSA ,V]NALL4 ,?URSA WAS REPUT$LY A GREAT SUCCESS ON ! ACCORDION DESPITE H] LUNACY1 AS WAS ,ALMA'S DAD'S PRETTY C\S9 ,AUDREY ,V]NALL1 DAU<T] ( ,SN[Y'S SON ,JOHNNY4 ,AUDREY HAD BE5 9 A DANCE B& MANAG$ BY H] FA!R AT ! F9I% ( ! W>1 & WAS N[ LOCK$ UP 9 ! MADH\SE R\ND ! TURN AT ,B]RY ,WOOD4 

,! TURN1 ! B5D1 ! TWI/1 ! CORN]3 !RE W]E QUITE A FEW 9 ,ALMA'S FAMILY :O'D GONE R\ND IT4 ,%E IMAG9$ IT MU/ BE A SUDD5 ANGLE 9 Y\R ?9K+ ?AT Y\ C\LDN'T SEE APPROA*+ 9 ! WAY ?AT Y\ C\LD SEE A CORN] ( ! /REET 9 FRONT ( Y\4 ,IT WAS 9VISIBLE1 OR NE>LY SO1 POSSIBLY SEE-?R\< LIKE A GRE5H\SE OR A <O/4 ,?IS CORN]'S L9ES RAN A COMPLETELY DIFF]5T WAY TO ALL ! O!RS1 SO 9/EAD ( GO+ =W>D1 D[N OR SIDEWAYS !Y W5T SOME:]E ELSE1 9 A DIRECTION ?AT Y\ C\LDN'T DRAW OR EV5 ?9K AB\T1 & ONCE Y\'D TURN$ ?IS HIDD5 CORN] Y\ W]E LO/ =EV]4 ,Y\ W]E 9 A MAZE Y\ C\LDN'T SEE & DIDN'T EV5 KN[ WAS !RE1 & EV]YBODY W\LD FEEL SORRY = Y\ :5 !Y SAW Y\ BLUND]+ AB\T1 BUT PROBABLY !Y W\LDN'T WANT TO /ILL BE FRI5DS ) Y\ ! WAY !Y W]E BE=E4 

,= SAY+ JU/ H[ MANY PEOPLE HAD GONE R\ND ?IS B5D1 ,ALMA REMA9$ CONV9C$ ?AT :ATEV] EXI/$ PA/ ! UNSE5 CORN] MU/ BE LONELY1 EMPTY1 & !RE'D ALWAYS BE NOBODY !RE BUT Y\4 ,IT W\LDN'T BE Y\R FAULT1 BUT IT W\LD /ILL BE SOME?+ %AMEFUL1 SOME?+ H] GRAN ,CL>A W\LDN'T LIKE1 A FAMILY EMB>RASSM5T4 ,?AT'S :Y NOBODY TALK$ AB\T ! ,V]NALLS1 & ?AT'S :Y ,ALMA WAS ALMO/ />TL$ N[ TO HE> H] MOM & ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< SPEAK+ 9 SU* REV]5TIAL TONES AB\T ?IS ,V]NALL'S ,9QUE/ HE HAD PLANN$1 ! B\ND>Y-HE>+ ALL ?IS WORK WAS BE+ DONE =4 ,WAS ?IS BRAN* ( ,ALMA'S RELATIVES SECRETLY SPECIAL 9 SOME WAY1 OR WAS ! 9QUE/'S NAME JU/ A CO9CID5CE8 ,& IF IT WASN'T ,ALMA'S FAMILY ?AT ! WORDS REF]R$ TO1 !N :AT WAS A ,V]NALL8 

,%E ?\<T IT MI<T ONCE HAVE BE5 ! T]M = SOME OLD-FA%ION$ TRADE ?AT PEOPLE US$ TO HAVE1 :I* C\LD ACROSS ! YE>S BECOME A FAMILY'S SURNAME4 ,= EXAMPLE1 ,ALMA'S FA!R ,TOMMY ,W>R51 :O WORK$ = ! BREW]Y1 HAD ONCE TOLD H] ?AT A COOP]1 YE>S AGO1 WAS :AT Y\ CALL$ A P]SON :O MADE B>RELS1 SO H] BE/ FRI5D ,JANET ,COOP]'S ANCE/ORS W]E V]Y LIKELY B>REL-MAK]S4 ,?IS /ILL DIDN'T TELL H] :AT A ,V]NALL WAS1 ( C\RSE1 OR :AT ! JOB ( BE+ ONE 5TAIL$4 ,P]HAPS ! NAME HAD BE5 CONNECT$ TO AN 9QUE/ AB\T $GES BECAUSE T5D+ BORD]L9ES & CORN]S WAS A ,V]NALL'S DUTY8 ,ALMA WOND]$ IF AMONG ! CORN]S !Y LOOK$ AFT] WAS ! B5D ?AT ,]NE/1 ,SN[Y1 ,?URSA & POOR ,AUDREY ,V]NALL HAD ALL GONE >\ND1 BUT C\LDN'T WORK \T :]E ?AT ?\<T WAS LEAD+ & SO LET IT FIZZLE \T4 

,= NO GOOD REASON ?AT %E C\LD DET]M9E1 ! NAME ,V]NALL ALSO MADE H] ?9K ( GRASS & H[ ! SCRUFFY LITTLE MEAD[ OV] ,&REW'S ,ROAD NE> ,SP5C] ,BRIDGE SMELL$ :5 IT HAD BE5 M[$1 ( GRE5 BLADES PU%+ FROM ! D>KNESS UND]GR\ND 9TO ! SUNLIT WORLD ABOVE1 AL?\< H[ ?IS HAD ANY?+ TO DO ) B\ND>IES & CORN]S WAS BEYOND H]4 ,9 H] ?\<TS %E SAW H] NAAN'S H\SE AT ! RAGG$ 5D ( ,GRE5 ,/REET1 WE$S & EV5 POPPIES GR[+ FROM BETWE5 BRICKS1 ROOT$ 9 ! RAILWAY SOOT ?AT WAS ! ,BOR\<S' \TDOOR WALLPAP]1 BLACK CURDS ?AT HUNG 9 DROOP+ PLEATS FROM ! BURNT ORANGE BRICKWORK LIKE A VEIL OV] ! WID[$ NEI<BORHOOD4 ,ACROSS ! /REET & A L[ DRY-/ONE WALL ! GRE5 ROSE TO ! BACK ( ,PET]'S ,*UR*1 BESIDE ! RE> GATE ( ! ,BLACK ,LION'S Y>D4 ,?IS WAS ! GRASSY SLOPE %E PICTUR$ ,JESUS WALK+ ON :5 PEOPLE SANG ! HYMN AB\T ! PLEASANT L&1 9 HIS LONG DRESS ) LI<TS ALL R\ND HIS HEAD & NO?+ ON HIS FEET1 /ROLL+ D[NHILL FROM ! PUB GATE T[>DS ! BOTTOM ( ,N>R[ ,TOE ,LANE & ,GOT*'S SWEET%OP1 ON ! O!R 5D ( ,GRE5 ,/REET FROM H] NAAN'S H\SE4 ,F9D+ H]SELF TRY+ TO GUESS IF ,JESUS HAD A FAVORITE SWEET %E REALIZ$ ?AT H] ?\<TS W]E W&]+ AWAY ) H] & =C$ H] RE/LESS CL\D ( CONC5TRATION BACK TO :AT H] MOM & ! MAN 9 ! :ITE HOOD W]E DISCUSS+4 

,! ,?IRD ,BOR\< WAS CONCLUD+ HIS ACC\NT TO ,DORE5 ( H[ ?+S W]E GO+1 REASSUR+ ,ALMA'S MO!R ?AT WORK+ ) WOOD HAD BE5 HIS FAMILY'S BUS9ESS S9CE TIME IMMEMORIAL4 ,HE WAS TELL+ H] ?AT ?\< ! JOB WAS LONG & W\LD BREAK MANY BACKS BE=E ITS F9I%1 ALL W5T WELL & W\LD BE DONE ON TIME4 ,ALMA C\LD NOT EXPLA9 :Y ?IS PRON\NCEM5T FILL$ H] ) SU* JOY4 ,IT WAS AS IF NOBODY HAD TO WORRY ANYMORE AB\T H[ ?+S TURN$ \T BECAUSE IT W\LD BE ALL RI<T 9 ! 5D1 LIKE :5 Y\R P>5TS REASSUR$ Y\ ?AT ! H]O WASN'T GO+ TO DIE & W\LD GET WELL BE=E ! /ORY F9I%$4 

,ALL >\ND H] 9 ! GLIMM] ( ! %OP ! C>P5T]S B5T CONSCI5TI\SLY TO !IR UNCEAS+ TOIL1 %\LD]+ PLANES UPSLOPE AGA9/ ! GRA91 BUT ,ALMA CAU<T !M LOOK+ TO SEE IF %E'D UND]/OOD :AT WELCOME NEWS ?IS WAS = EV]YONE & SMIL+ ) A QUIET SATISFACTION :5 !Y SAW %E HAD1 PR\D ( !MSELVES YET BLU%+ ) EMB>RASSM5T AT !IR [N PRIDE4 ,! ,POR?IMO? DI ,NORHAN W\LD BE BUILT1 WAS 9 A S5SE ALREADY GOOD AS DONE4 ,%E LOOK$ >\ND AT ,MI*AEL SITT+ UP AL]TLY 9 HIS PRAM4 ,EV5 HE SEEM$ AW>E ?AT !RE WAS SOME?+ SPECIAL GO+ ON & EAG]LY LOCK$ GAZES ) HIS SI/]1 HI<LI<TS DANC+ 9 HIS HUGE BLUE EYES AS HE COMMUNICAT$ HIS DELI<T ALONG !IR PRIVATE WORDLESS *ANNEL1 RATTL+ HIS RE9S EXCIT$LY4 ,ALMA C\LD TELL ?AT EV5 IF H] BRO!R WASN'T OLD 5\< TO GIVE ?+S NAMES YET1 HE /ILL KNEW 9 SOME WAY :O ! HOOD$ =EMAN REALLY WAS4 ,Y\ C\LDN'T MEET ) HIM & NOT KN[1 EV5 IF Y\ W]E A BABY4 ,MI*AEL WAS BY NATURE A CONT5T$ *ILD BUT AT ?AT MOM5T LOOK$ AB\T TO BUR/ FROM ALL ! WOND]M5T 9FLAT+ HIM1 AS IF HE UND]/OOD EXACTLY :AT ?IS GR& COMPLETION MEANT TO EV]YBODY4 ,IT OCCURR$ TO H] FROM NO:]E ?AT ONE DAY :5 %E & ,MI*AEL W]E BO? OLD !Y'D PROBABLY SIT ON A WALL TOGE!R SOME:]E & HAVE A GOOD LAU< AB\T ALL ?IS4 

,DORE5 WAS ?ANK+ ! ,?IRD ,BOR\< N[ = HAV+ ASK$ !M 9 :ILE AT ! SAME TIME %E MADE READY TO DEP>T1 *ECK+ ?AT ,MI*AEL WAS /RAPP$ BACK SECURELY & 9/RUCT+ ,ALMA TO DO UP H] MACK9TO%'S BELT4 ,EI!R ! LI<TS 9SIDE ! %OP W]E GETT+ BRI<T]1 ,ALMA ?\<T1 OR ELSE ! D>KNESS ( ! EMPTY SQU>E \TSIDE HAD TURN$ AN UNKN[N COLOR ?AT WAS WORSE ?AN BLACK4 ,%E WASN'T LOOK+ =W>D TO ! WALK HOME1 NOT TO ! VAGUE1 MUFFL$ DREAD %E SOMETIMES FELT 9 ,BA? ,/REET NOR ! NI<T JAWS ( ! 5TRANCE TO ! ALLEYWAY1 ! JITTY1 :]E IT RAN ALONG BEH9D !IR R[ ( T]RAC$ H\SES D[N BETWE5 ,SPR+ ,LANE & ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 BUT %E FELT ?AT IT W\LD SEEM UNGRATEFUL IF %E SAID SO4 ,EV5 IF IT MEANT A *ILLY TRUDGE ,ALMA W\LD NOT HAVE MISS$ ?IS = ! WORLD1 AL?\< %E /ILL WI%$ %E C\LD JUMP ?R\< ! NEXT TW5TY W9DSWEPT M9UTES ( H] LIFE TO F9D H]SELF ALREADY TUCK$ 9 B$4 

,! LI<TS 9SIDE ! %OP W]E DEF9ITELY GETT+ BRI<T]1 %E DECID$1 AS %E /RUGGL$ TO DO UP H] MAC'S ALL-(-A-SUDD5 AWKW>D BELT4 ,9 FRONT ( H]1 OR POSSIBLY ABOVE H]1 !RE W]E %9Y RECTANGLES ( GREAT] :IT5ESS HANG+ FROM ! AIR1 :I* ,ALMA REALIZ$ MU/ BE ! REFLECTIONS ( ! W9D[PANES BEH9D H] AS %E /OOD BESIDE ! PU%*AIR TRY+ TO DO UP H] COAT4 ,EXCEPT ?AT WASN'T RI<T4 ,Y\ SOMETIMES GOT A LIT-UP ROOM REFLECT$ 9 A W9D[1 BUT NOT W9D[PANES REFLECT$ 9 ! EMPTY SPACES ( A ROOM1 SUSP5D$ !RE 9 NO?+1 GETT+ :IT] & MORE BL9D+ BY ! MOM5T4 ,SOME:]E NE>1 ,DORE5 WAS TELL+ H] TO HURRY UP ) FA/5+ H] BELT SO !Y C\LD LEAVE ! G5TLEM5 TO GET ON ) !IR WORK4 ,ALMA HAD LET GO ( ! BUCKLE-5D & LO/ IT D[N A COMPLICAT$ TUCK %E HADN'T KN[N WAS !RE4 ,! MORE %E TRI$ TO EXTRICATE ! BELT ! MORE %E F\ND ?AT EXTRA SWA!S ( GAB]D9E UNFOLD$ FROM RECESSES 9 H] COAT ?AT ONLY \TFITT]S W\LD UND]/& & TANGL$ ,ALMA 9 !IR %OELACE-COLOR$ CREASES4 ,!RE ABOVE OR POSSIBLY 9 FRONT ( H] ! LEVITAT+ PANES ( LI<T BLAZ$ FI]C]4 ,NE>BY MOM WAS TELL+ H] TO GET A MOVE ON BUT ! SITUATION ) H] MACK9TO% WAS GETT+ WORSE4 ,ALMA WAS WRE/L+ ON H] BACK AGA9/ 5DLESS1 5GULF+ FABRIC :5 %E NOTIC$ ?AT ! GL[+ OBLONGS FLOAT+ !RE BE=E H] HAD A PAIR ( CURTA9S PULL$ ACROSS !M4 ,PATT]N$ ) GRAY ROSES1 !Y W]E V]Y LIKE ! ONES 9 ,ALMA'S B$ROOM4 

,?AT 9 SUB/ANCE WAS ! DREAM ?AT ,ALMA ,W>R51 :O GREW UP TO BE A MOD]ATELY FAM\S >TI/1 HAD ONE ,FEBRU>Y NI<T 9 #aiei :5 %E WAS FIVE YE>S OLD4 ,)9 A YE> H] BRO!R ,MI*AEL *OK$ TO DEA? & YET SOMEH[ GOT BETT] & WAS BACK FROM HOSPITAL UNH>M$1 AT HOME ) !M D[N ,&REW'S ,ROAD 9SIDE A DAY OR TWO1 :I* NEI!R HE NOR ,ALMA REALLY M5TION$ AFT]W>DS AL?\< IT SC>$ !M AT ! TIME4 

,!IR FA!R ,TOMMY ,W>R5 DI$ 9 #a#i#i1 ,DORE5 FOLL[+ A %ORT :ILE LAT] 9 ! SWELT]+ SUMM] HEAT ( #a#i#i#e4 ,A LITTLE UND] T5 YE>S AFT] ?AT ,MICK ,W>R5 HAD AN ACCID5T AT WORK1 :]E HE WAS RECONDITION+ /EEL DRUMS4 ,R5D]$ UNCONSCI\S 9 A SLAP/ICK WAY & ONLY WOK5 BY COLD JETS ( WAT] ?AT WORKMATES W]E US+ TO SLUICE CAU/IC DU/ \T ( HIS EYES1 ,MICK WAS RETURN$ TO LIFE ?IS SECOND TIME ) A V>IETY ( TR\BL+ ?\<TS 9SIDE HIS HEAD1 /RANGE MEMORIES *URN$ UP TO ! SURFACE :ILE HE'D BE5 KNOCK$ \T4 ,SOME ( ! ?+S HE ?\<T ?AT HE REMEMB]$ W]E SO ODD !Y C\LDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE HAPP5$1 & ,MICK />T$ TO BECOME CONC]N$ ?AT HE WAS TAK+ ON ! FE>$ & ?US UNM5TION$ TRAIT ?AT SIMM]$ 9 ! FAMILY BLOOD1 ?AT HE WAS GO+ CORN]Y4 

,:5 HE'D AT LA/ WORK$ UP ! N]VE TO TELL HIS WIFE ,CA? ( HIS FE>S %E'D /RAI<T AWAY SUGGE/$ ?AT HE TALK TO ,ALMA4 ,CA?Y'S FAMILY1 LIKE ,MICK'S1 HAD BE5 EVICT$ FROM ! GRIME-FIELDS ( ! ,BOR\<S1 ! SQU>E MILE ( DIRT D[N BY ! RAILWAY /ATION1 :5 ! C\NCIL HAD ! F9AL REMNANTS ( ! >EA CLE>$ AWAY DUR+ ! E>LY #a#i#gS4 ,SOLID & S5SIBLE & YET PR\D ( H] ECC5TRICITIES1 ,CA? HAD ?OSE QUALITIES ?AT ,MICK RECALL$ ! ,BOR\<S WOM5 HAV+3 ! DECISIV5ESS & UN%AKABLE FAI? 9 9TUITION1 9 !IR [N ABILITY TO KN[ :AT IT WAS BE/ TO DO 9 ANY GIV5 CIRCUM/ANCE1 NO MATT] H[ PECULI>4 

,CA?Y & ,ALMA GOT ON LIKE A H\SE ON FIRE DESPITE OR POSSIBLY BECAUSE ( !IR VA/ DIFF]5CES1 ) ,CA?Y OP5LY REG>D+ ,ALMA AS A MAD WIT* :O LIV$ 9 A RUBBI% TIP & ,ALMA SCA?+ 9 RETURN AB\T H] SI/]-9-LAW'S FONDNESS = ,MICK ,HUCKNALL \T ( ,SIMPLY ,R$4 ,NEV]!LESS1 ! WOM5 H>BOR$ NO?+ BUT RESPECT T[>DS EA* O!R 9 !IR SEP>ATE FIELDS ( EXP]TIZE1 & :5 ,CA? RECOMM5D$ ?AT H] HUSB& HAVE A WORD ) ,ALMA IF HE ?\<T ?AT HE WAS GO+ ,RADIO ,R5TAL1 ,MICK KNEW ?AT ?IS WAS BECAUSE HIS WIFE BELIEV$ HIS OLD] SI/] TO BE AN AU?ORITY ON HAV+ NOT JU/ LO/ ! PLOT BUT HAV+ WILLFULLY FLU%$ ! 5TIRE SCRIPT D[N ! %ITT]4 ,FUR!RMORE1 HE KNEW ?AT %E WAS MORE ?AN LIKELY RI<T4 ,HE MADE A DATE TO MEET ) ,ALMA = A DR9K ! FOLL[+ ,SATURDAY & = NO REASON ?AT HE C\LD >TICULATE >RANG$ TO SEE H] 9 ! ,GOLD5 ,LION ON ,CA/LE ,/REET1 ONE ( ! FEW SURVIV+ PUBS \T ( ! DOZ5S ?AT ! ,BOR\<S HAD 9 ITS DAY BOA/$1 & CO9CID5TALLY :]E HE'D MET ,CA? :5 %E WAS WORK+ !RE1 BE=E HE'D LIV$ ! DREAM BY M>RY+ ! B>MAID4 

,EV5 ON A ,SATURDAY !SE DAYS1 HE F\ND \T :5 HE R5DEZV\S$ ) ,ALMA1 ! ONCE PACK$ E/ABLI%M5T WAS ALL BUT EMPTY4 ,EVID5TLY ! FLAT-DWELL+ RESID5TS REMA9+ 9 ! GUTT$ NEI<BORHOOD :O W]5'T CONF9$ TO !IR FRONT B$ROOMS BY AN ,A,S,B,O USUALLY PREF]R$ TO HEAD UP TO ! SICK- & SPUNK- & /ABB+-FRI5DLY ZOO ( ! T[N C5T] RA!R ?AN 5DURE ! MORTU>Y /ILL ( PREMISES CLOS] TO HOME4 ,HIS SI/] SAT !RE AT A CORN] TABLE 9 H] UNI=MLY BLACK 5SEMBLE3 JEANS1 VE/1 BOOTS & LEA!R JACKET4 ,BLACK1 ,ALMA HAD REC5TLY EXPLA9$ TO ,MICK1 WAS ! NEW I,POD4 ,%E WAS NURS+ FIZZY M9]AL WAT] :IL/ TRY+ TO BALANCE A R\ND ,/RONGB[ BE]-MAT ON ITS $GE1 WAT*$ ) :AT LOOK$ TO ,MICK LIKE CL9ICAL DEPRESSION BY ! MAN BEH9D ! B>4 ,! ONLY CU/OM] ?AT HE'D HAD 9 ALL NI<T & IT WAS A TEETOTAL UGLY BIRD4 

,O!R ?AN TO H] FACE1 ,MICK W\LD ADMIT ?AT ,ALMA WAS :AT Y\'D CALL /RIK+ MORE ?AN UGLY1 EV5 AT ?IS LATE /AGE 9 ! GAME4 ,:AT WAS %E1 FIFTY-ONE N[8 ,FIFTY8 ,/RIK+1 DEF9ITELY1 IF BY ?AT Y\ MEANT ACTUALLY FRI<T5+4 ,%E WAS FIVE-ELEV51 ONE 9* %ORT] ?AN H] BRO!R1 BUT 9 HEELS WAS SIX FEET TWO1 H] LONG UNCUT BR[N HAIR ?AT GRAY$ TO DU/Y COPP] H]E & !RE HANG+ LIKE SAFETY CURTA9S TO EA* SIDE ( H] HI< *EEK-BON$ FACE 9 A /YLE ,MICK HAD HE>D H] ONCE DESCRIBE AS 'BOMBSITE CREEP]'4 ,!N ( C\RSE !RE W]E H] EYES1 SPOOKY & MASSIVE :5 !Y W]5'T MYOPICALLY SCREW$ %UT1 ) W>M SLATE IRISES AGA9/ :I* AN EXTRAT]RE/RIAL CITRUS YELL[ FL>$ >\ND ! PUPIL LIKE A FULL ECLIPSE1 ?ICK LA%ES CREAK+ FROM ! WEI<T ( H] MASC>A4 

,%E'D HAD1 ACROSS ! YE>S1 AT LEA/ H] FAIR %>E ( ADMIR]S BUT ! TRU? WAS ?AT ! GREAT MAJORITY ( M5 F\ND ,ALMA TO BE 0G5]ALLY AL>M+0 9 ! WORDS ( ONE ACQUA9TANCE1 OR 0A FUCK+ M5OPAUSAL NI<TM>E0 9 ! BLUNT] PHRAS+ ( ANO!R1 AL?\< EV5 ?IS WAS SAID 9 :AT SEEM$ ALMO/ AN ADMIR+ TONE4 ,MICK SOMETIMES ?\<T HIS SI/] WAS JU/ ! WRONG SIDE ( BEAUTIFUL1 BUT IT WAS FUNNI] IF HE 9SI/$ ?AT %E LOOK$ LIKE ,L\ ,RE$ ON ! COV] ( ,TRANS=M]1 OR 0A SOL>IZ$ GLAM ,FRANK5/E90 AS ,ALMA HAD ) GLEE REWORK$ IT1 SAY+ ?AT %E'D USE IT 9 ! CATALOG BIOGRAPHY NEXT TIME %E HAD AN EXHIBITION ( H] PA9T+S4 ,REVEL+ 9 ! RECEIPT OR DI%+ \T ( 9SULTS ) AN EQUAL V]VE1 ,ALMA C\LD MORE ?AN HOLD H] [N1 MA9TA9+ ) DEADPAN S9C]ITY ?AT H] ANGELICALLY GOOD-LOOK+ Y\NG BRO!R HAD BE5 SIMP]+ & EFFEM9ATE S9CE BIR?1 HAD ACTUALLY BE5 BORN A GIRL1 WAS EV5 *OS5 AS ,MISS ,PE>S AT ONE PO9T1 BUT !N UND]W5T A SEX-*ANGE OP]ATION S9CE !IR MOM & DAD HAD WANT$ ONE ( EA*4 ,%E'D FIR/ TRI$ ?IS PA9FULLY E>NE/ R\T9E \T ON ,MICK HIMSELF :5 HE WAS SIX & %E WAS N9E1 R$UC+ HIM TO MORTIFI$1 BEWILD]$ TE>S4 ,ONCE :5 HE'D TOLD H]1 NOT 5TIRELY )\T ACCURACY1 ?AT %E CAME ACROSS TO PEOPLE AS A HOMOSEXUAL MAN TRAPP$ 9 A R\< APPROXIMATION ( A WOMAN'S BODY1 %E'D SAID 0,YEAH1 BUT SO DO Y\01 !N LAU<$ UNTIL %E C\<$ & ULTIMATELY RET*$1 9ORD9ATELY PLEAS$ AS USUAL BY H] [N BON MOT4 

,/OPP+ (F AT ! B> TO WRAP A FI/ >\ND ! PLEAS+ ICICLE ( HIS FIR/ P9T HE MADE HIS WAY OV] A ?READB>E FLORAL-PATT]N$ C>PET LIKE A DIAGRAM ( SUICIDE T[>DS HIS SI/]'S *OS5 TABLE1 UNSURPRIS+LY LOCAT$ 9 ! EMPTY L\NGE'S FUR!/ ANGLE FROM ITS DOOR1 ! MISAN?ROPE'S RETREAT ( *OICE4 ,ALMA LOOK$ UP AS HE SCRAP$ BACK A *AIR TO SIT OPPOSITE H] ACROSS ! WET V5E] ) ITS SP>SE >*IPELAGO ( BE] MATS4 ,%E ROLL$ \T H] USUAL SMILE ( GREET+ :I* HE ?\<T WAS PROBABLY 9T5D$ TO GIVE ! IMPRESSION ?AT H] FACE LIT UP TO SEE HIM1 BUT S9CE ,ALMA'S T5D5CY TO OV]DO ?+S WAS EXT5D$ TO H] ,GR& ,GUIGNOL !AT] ( EXPRESSIONS ! EFFECT WAS MORE ONE ( RELIGI\SLY-!M$ MURD]ESS OR PYROMANIAC1 ?AT BUR/ ( YELL[ >SON 9 ! C5T] ( EA* EYE4 

0,WELL1 IF IT ISN'T ,W>RY ,W>R54 ,H[ 9 ,GOD'S NAME >E Y\1 ,W>RY80 

,ALMA'S VOICE WAS SMOKE-CUR$ TO AN OM9\S BASS ORGAN *ORD REV]B]AT+ 9 A ,GO?IC *UR*1 AT TIMES EV5 A LITTLE DEEP] ?AN ,MICK'S [N4 ,HE GR9N$ DESPITE HIS CURR5T M5TAL HEAL? CONC]NS & FELT S9C]ELY GLAD TO SEE HIS SI/]1 REE/ABLI%+ ALL !IR >CANE CONNECTIONS1 BE+ ) SOMEBODY COM=T+LY FUR!R GONE ?AN HE WAS4 ,MICK TOOK \T HIS CIG>ETTES & LI<T]1 PLAC+ !M BESIDE HIS BEAD$ GLASS 9 PREP>ATION = ! EV5+ AS HE ANSW]$ H]4 

0,JU/ AB\T HAD IT1 ,W>RY1 IF Y\ WANT ! TRU?40 

,EA* ( ! PAIR HAD CALL$ ! O!R ',W>RY' S9CE A MOM5T DUR+ #aiff ( :I* NEI!R HAD ANY CLE>1 RELIABLE MEMORY4 ,ALMA1 ?IRTE51 MAY HAVE BEGUN IT ALL BY US+ ,W>RY AS A RIDICUL+ T]M :5 SPEAK+ TO H] Y\NG] BRO!R1 & HE MAY HAVE HURL$ IT BACK AT H] BECAUSE1 AS %E HAD ALWAYS PRIVATELY SUSPECT$1 HE WAS F> TOO FRIVOL\S 9 HIS ESS5TIAL ATTITUDE T[>DS EXI/5CE TO MAKE UP AN 9SULT ( HIS [N1 EV5 A /UPID ONE LIKE ',W>RY'4 ,ONCE ! PAIR HAD TAK5 UP REF]R+ TO EA* O!R 9 ?IS WAY IT W\LD HAVE ALL BECOME AN IDIOTIC W> ( WILLS ?AT NEI!R C\LD REMEMB] :Y !Y W]E 9VOLV$ 91 BUT :]E NEI!R FELT ?AT !Y C\LD BE ! FIR/ TO CALL ! O!R BY !IR GIV5 NAME )\T CONC$+ AN UN?9KABLE DEFEAT4 ,?IS NOM9ATIVE T5NIS MAT* HAD C>RI$ ON1 PA!TICALLY1 = ! REMA9D] ( !IR LIVES1 LONG AFT] !Y'D BEGUN TO F9D ! COGNOM5 AFFECTIONATE & HAD =GOTT5 UTT]LY ITS HALF-BAK$ ORIG9S4 ,IF ASK$ :Y !Y BO? CALL$ EA* O!R ,W>RY1 ,MICK W\LD USUALLY REPLY ?AT COM+ AS !Y DID FROM AN 9SOLV5T BACKGR\ND 9 ! ,BOR\<S1 ,MOM & ,DAD HAD BE5 UNABLE TO AF=D A NICKNAME = EA* *ILD1 SO ?AT !Y'D HAD TO MAKE DO ) JU/ ONE BETWE5 !M4 0,NOT LIKE PO% KIDS01 AS HE'D SOMETIMES ADD ) AN AU!NTIC TONE ( BITT]NESS4 ,IF ,ALMA W]E >\ND %E'D LOOK UP AT !IR AUDI5CE ) AN ACCUS+ VEAL-CALF />E & SOLEMNLY 9/RUCT !M NOT TO LAU<4 0,?AT NAME WAS ALL WE GOT = ,*RI/MAS ONE YE>40 

,N[ HIS SI/] PLANT$ ! GRAZ$ LEA!R ( H] ELB[S 9 ! FILM ( LIQUID COV]+ !IR TABLE1 CUPP$ H] *9 BETWE5 LONG F+]S & LEAN$ =W>D ?R\< ! WEAK-TEA ATMOSPH]E 9QUIR+LY1 HEAD TO ONE SIDE SO ?AT ! LONG] LOCKS ( HAIR DRAGG$ ?R\< ! TABLE'S WET M5ISCUS1 TIPS BECOM+ %>P AS SABLE BRU%ES4 

0,TRU?8 ,:Y W\LD ,I WANT ! TRU?8 ,I WAS JU/ MAK+ CONV]SATION1 ,W>RY4 ,I W]5'T ASK+ = ! ,ILIAD40 

,!Y BO? ADMIR$ H] CALL\SNESS1 & !N ,MICK TOLD H] H[ HE'D HAD ! ACCID5T AT WORK1 HAD BE5 KNOCK$ \T & HAD HIS FACE BURN$1 HAD BE5 BL9D$ = AN H\R OR TWO & HAD BE5 WORRI$ EV] S9CE ?AT HE WAS GO+ MAD4 ,ALMA LOOK$ AT HIM PITY+LY !N %OOK H] DISPROPORTIONATELY MASSIVE HEAD & SI<$4 

0,OH1 ,W>RY4 ,EV]Y?+'S AB\T Y\1 ISN'T IT8 ,I'VE BE5 DOG R\<1 HALF BL9D & B>K+ MAD = YE>S BUT Y\ DON'T CAT* ME GO+ ON AB\T IT4 ,:]EAS Y\1 Y\ CAT* ONE FACE-FULL ( CORROSIVE *EMICALS = CLEAN+ BATTLE%IPS1 Y\ FALL TO BITS40 

,MICK PUT HIS FAG \T 9 ! A%TRAY'S SEA-BLUE POR?OLE & !N LIT ANO!R4 

0,IT'S NOT FUNNY1 ,W>RY4 ,I'VE BE5 HAV+ WEIRD ?\<TS S9CE ,I WOKE UP 9 ! Y>D ) EV]YBODY TRY+ TO HOSE ME D[N4 ,IT'S NOT SO MU* ! /UFF ?AT ,I'D GOT 9 ME EYES OR HAV+ BANG$ ME HEAD1 IT'S :5 ,I COME R\ND4 ,= A M9UTE IT WAS LIKE ,I'D GOT NO MEMORY ( BE+ =TY-N9E OR WORK+ D[N ! RECONDITION+ Y>D4 ,I'D GOT NO MEMORY ( ,CA?Y OR ! LADS OR ANY?+40 

,HE PAUS$ & SIPP$ HIS LAG]4 ,ALMA SAT ACROSS ! SOPP+ TABLE1 GAZ+ FLATLY AT HIM1 PAY+ G5U9E ATT5TION N[ %E KNEW ?AT HE WAS S]I\S4 ,MICK C>RI$ ON4 

0,! ?+ IS1 :5 ,I FIR/ COME R\ND ,I'D GOT IT 9 ME HEAD ?AT ,I WAS ?REE & WAK+ UP 9 HOSPITAL1 ?AT TIME ,I HAD ! C\<-SWEET :5 ME ?ROAT SWELL$ UP40 

,ALMA'S DEFIANTLY UNPLUCK$ BR[S TI<T5$ TO A PUZZL$ FR[N4 

0,?AT TIME Y\ *OK$1 & ,D\G NEXT DOOR DROVE Y\ UP ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 OV] ! ,M\NTS TO HOSPITAL1 SAT 9 HIS VEGETABLE LORRY8 ,WE ALL ?\<T ?AT'S PROBABLY :]E Y\ CONTRACT$ BRA9 DAMAGE1 OR AT LEA/ ,I DID40 

0,I DIDN'T GET BRA9 DAMAGE40 

0,OH1 COME ON4 ,Y\ MU/ HAVE DONE4 ,?REE M9UTES )\T OXYG5 & ?AT'S Y\R LOT4 ,!Y ALL SAID Y\ W]5'T BREA?+1 RI<T FROM ,&REW'S ,ROAD TO ,*EYNE ,WALK1 & ?AT HAS TO BE T5 M9UTES 9 A RU/Y TRUCK LIKE ,D\G'S4 ,T5 M9UTES )\T BREA?+ & Y\'RE TALK+ BRA9 DEA?1 MATE40 

,MICK LAU<$ 9TO HIS P9T & FLECK$ HIS NOSE ) FOAM4 

0,& Y\'RE SUPPOS$ TO BE AN 9TELLECTUAL1 ,W>RY8 ,TRY T5 M9UTES )\T BREA?+ SOMETIME & ,I ?9K Y\'LL F9D ?AT IT'S ALL-OV] DEA?40 

,?AT SIL5C$ BO? ( !M & MADE !M ?9K = A FEW MOM5TS )\T REA*+ ANY PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS4 ,AT LA/1 ,MICK RESUM$ HIS N>RATIVE4 

0,SO :AT ,I'M SAY+ IS1 :5 ,I WOKE UP 9 HOSPITAL :5 ,I WAS ?REE1 ,I'D NO IDEA ( H[ ,I'D GOT !RE4 ,I'D NO MEMORY ( *OK+ OR ( BE+ 9 ,D\G'S TRUCK AL?\< HE SAID ME EYES W]E OP5 ALL ! WAY4 ,?IS TIME :5 ,I WOKE1 IT WAS DIFF]5T4 ,LIKE ,I SAY1 JU/ = A M9UTE ,I ?\<T ,I WAS ?REE AGA9 & COM+ R\ND 9 HOSPITAL1 BUT ?IS TIME ,I REMEMB]$ :]E ,I'D BE540 

0,:AT1 9 ! BACK Y>D ) ! C\<-SWEET1 OR ,D\G'S TRUCK80 

0,NO?+ LIKE ?AT4 ,NO1 ,I REMEMB]$ ,I'D BE5 9 ! CEIL+4 ,I'D BE5 UP !RE = AB\T A =TNI<T1 EAT+ FAIRIES4 ,I SUPPOSE IT WAS A SORT ( DREAM ,I HAD :ILE ,I WAS \T1 AL?\< IT WASN'T LIKE A DREAM4 ,IT WAS MORE REAL1 BUT IT WAS MORE BIZ>RE AS WELL & IT WAS ALL AB\T ! ,BOR\<S40 

,ALMA WAS BY ?IS PO9T TRY+ TO 9T]RUPT & ASK+ HIM IF HE KNEW HE'D JU/ SAID ?AT HE REMEMB]$ BE+ 9 ! CEIL+ EAT+ FAIRIES = A =TNI<T1 OR DID HE ASSUME HE'D ONLY ?\<T IT8 ,MICK IGNOR$ H]1 & W5T ON TO TELL H] HIS 5TIRE ADV5TURE1 ! RECAPTUR$ MEMORY ( :I* HAD SO DI/URB$ HIM4 ,BY ITS 5D1 ,ALMA SAT SLACK JAW$ & UNSPEAK+1 />+ 9 AMAZEM5T AT H] BRO!R ) ?OSE M$ICAT$ P&A EYES4 ,AT LA/ %E V5TUR$ H] FIR/ S]I\S COMM5T ( ! NI<T4 

0,?AT'S NOT A DREAM1 MATE4 ,?AT'S A VISION40 

,E>NE/LY = ONCE ! PAIR RESUM$ !IR TALK1 !RE 9 ! GLOOM ( ! B]EFT PUB L\NGE1 REPL5I%+ !IR DR9KS AT 9T]VALS ) ,ALMA /ICK+ TO ! M9]AL WAT]1 H] PREF]R$ DRUG BE+ ! HALF-DOZ5 ,B\NTY ,B>-SIZ$ SLABS ( HA%I% /REWN >\ND H] MON/R\S FLAT UP ON ,EA/ ,P>K ,P>ADE4 ,AB\T !M AS !Y SAT ! ,GOLD5 ,LION WAS /EEP+ 9 ! OPPOSITE ( HUBBUB1 ANTI-CLAMOR DOM9AT$ BY ! WALL-CLOCK'S MORTAL ?UD4 ,! BRI<TNESS ( ! B>-%9E FLUCTUAT$ SUBTLY AT TIMES1 AS IF ! ABS5CES ( ALL ! MISS+ CU/OM]S W]E MILL+ ?R\< ! ROOM1 BR[N & TRANSLUC5T LIKE OLD CELLULOID1 OCCASIONALLY OV]LAPP+ ) 5\< ( !IR FLY-SPECK$ NON-BODIES TO OCCLUDE ! LI<T1 IF ONLY IMP]CEPTIBLY4 ,= H\RS ,MICK & HIS SI/] SPOKE AB\T ! ,BOR\<S & AB\T !IR DREAMS1 ) ,ALMA TELL+ ,MICK ! ONE %E'D HAD AB\T ! LIT-UP %OP 9 ! DES]T$ M>KET1 :]E ! C>P5T]S W]E HAMM]+ ?R\< ! NI<T4 ,%E EV5 TOLD HIM H[ )9 ! DREAM %E'D ?\<T AB\T ANO!R DREAM %E'D PREVI\SLY HAD1 ! ONE :]E ,DORE5 HAD SAID PIGEONS W]E :]E PEOPLE W5T :5 !Y W]E DEAD1 AL?\< ,ALMA ADMITT$ ?AT UPON AWAK5+ %E'D NOT BE5 SURE IF ?IS W]E SOME?+ ?AT %E'D REALLY DREAM$1 OR ONLY DREAM$ %E'D DREAM$4 

,EV5TUALLY1 :5 SOME :ILE LAT] !Y /EPP$ \T 9TO ! GU/Y %OCK ( ,CA/LE ,/REET1 ,ALMA WAS ?RUMM+ ) EXCIT$ 5]GY & ,MICK WAS LUM9\SLY PISS$4 ,?+S W]E MU* BETT] AFT] TALK+ TO HIS SI/] & 5DUR+ H] 5?USIA/IC RANT+4 ,AS !Y WALK$ D[N ,CA/LE ,/REET TO ,FITZROY ,/REET ?R\< ! <O/-NEI<BORHOOD1 ,ALMA WAS TALK+ AB\T H[ %E PLANN$ TO DO A :OLE NEW RUN ( PA9T+S BAS$ ON ,MICK'S NE>-DEA? EXP]I5CE 7:I* %E'D BY N[ CONV9C$ H]SELF ?AT HIS RECOV]$ MEMORY REALLY WAS7 & H] [N DREAMS4 ,%E MOCK$ H] BRO!R'S FE>S = HIS [N SANITY AS JU/ ONE MORE EXAMPLE ( HIS GIRLI%NESS1 HIS T]ROR-/RICK5 UNFAMILI>ITY ) ANY?+ RESEMBL+ CREATIVE ?\<T4 0,Y\R PROBLEM1 ,W>RY1 IS Y\ HAVE AN IDEA & Y\ ?9K IT'S A C]EBRAL HEMORRHAGE40 ,LI/5+ TO H] SPOOL+ \T IMPRACTICAL & TRANSC5D5TAL PICTURE-CONCEPTS LIKE A HYP]V5TILAT+ TICK]TAPE HE FELT ! WEI<T LIFT FROM HIM1 FLOAT+ 9 A SWEET & PUTRID LAG] F>T TO DISSIPATE B5EA? ! />RY1 VA/ OBSIDIAN PUDD+ B[L ( CLOS+ TIME1 9V]T$ & SET D[N UPON ! ,BOR\<S AS ?\< KEEP+ FLIES AWAY4 

,D[N FROM ! ,GOLD5 ,LION'S FRONT DOORWAY & ITS C>I\S SAGE-GRE5 TILES !Y /UMBL$1 ) - ACROSS ! VEHICLE-=SAK5 /REET UPON !IR RI<T - ! FAD+ #a#i#cS ,*9ESE PUZZLE ( SCAB-TEXTUR$ BRICK ?AT WAS ! RE> ( ,BA? ,/REET FLATS1 ,SA9T ,PET]'S H\SE1 BREAKS 9 ! WAI/-HI< BORD] WALL ALL[+ ACCESS TO TRIANGUL> /ONE /AIRWAYS %AP$ LIKE ZIGGURATS1 /EPS DROPP+ FROM ! APEX TO ! BASE AT EI!R SIDE4 ,PA/ ?AT !RE W]E ! FLATS !MSELVES ) *ISEL$ SLOTS ( ,BAUHAUS %AD[1 D\BLE DOORS RECESS$ B5EA? !IR PORTICOS2 GAUZE-CAT>ACT$ W9D[S1 MO/ ( !M UNLIT4 ,POLICE C> SIR5S SKIRL$ LIKE RADIOPHONIC WORK%OP BAN%EES FROM ! FLOODPLA9S ( ,/4 ,JAMES'S ,5D1 WE/ ( ! RIV]1 & ,MICK ?\<T AB\T HIS REC5T REVELATION1 REALIZ+ ?AT DESPITE ! UPLIFT ( HIS SI/]'S F]VID1 NE> FANATICAL RESPONSE !RE WAS /ILL A H>D K]NEL ( UNEASE RESID+ 9 ! PIT ( HIM1 ALBEIT SUNK B5EA? A LAKE ( NUMB+ AMB] SLO%4 ,SEEM+ TO CAT* HIS %IFT ( MOOD1 ,ALMA BROKE (F H] RAPTUR\S DESCRIPTION ( EXQUISITE L&SCAPES %E HAD YET TO CAPTURE & LOOK$ PA/ HIM 9 ! SAME DIRECTION HE WAS LOOK+1 AT ! BACKSIDE ( ! SIL5T & B5I<T$ FLATS4 

0,YEAH4 ,?AT'S ! PROBLEM1 ISN'T IT8 ,NOT ',:AT IF ,W>RY'S GO+ R\ND ! CORN]8' BUT ',:AT IF HE'S NOT8' ,IF :AT Y\ SAW MEANS :AT ,I ?9K IT DOES1 !N ?AT ?+ OV] !RE IS :AT WE'VE REALLY GOT TO DEAL )40 ,ALMA NODD$ TO ! D>K FLATS & BY IMPLICATION ,BA? ,/REET1 RUNN+ UNSE5 D[N !IR FUR!/ SIDE4 

0,! BUS9ESS ?AT Y\ SAW :5 Y\ W]E ) ! GANG ( DEAD KIDS1 ! ,DE/RUCTOR & ALL ?AT4 ,?AT'S :AT WE'RE UP AGA9/4 ,?AT'S :Y ,I'D BETT] MAKE !SE PA9T+S GREAT1 TO *ANGE ! WORLD BE=E IT'S ALL COMPLETELY FUCK$40 

,MICK GLANC$ AT ,ALMA DUBI\SLY4 

0,IT'S TOO LATE1 SIS1 DON'T Y\ ?9K8 ,LOOK AT ALL ?IS40 

,HE GE/UR$ DRUNK5LY >\ND !M AS !Y REA*$ ! BOTTOM ( ! R\< TRAPEZIUM ( HUN*$-UP GR\ND CALL$ ,CA/LE ,HILL1 :]E IT JO9$ :AT WAS LEFT ( ,FITZROY ,/REET4 ,?IS LA/ WAS N[ A BROAD5$ DRIVEWAY LEAD+ D[N 9TO ! %OEBOX /ACK ( ',SIXTIES H\S+ :]E ! FEUDAL CORRIDORS ( ,MOAT ,/REET1 ,=T ,/REET & ! RE/ ONCE /OOD4 ,IT T]M9AT$ 9 A CLAU/ROPHOBIC DEAD-5D C> P>K1 BLOCK ACCOMMODATION CLOS+ 9 ON TWO SIDES :ILE ! BLACK UNTIDY H$GES1 REPRES5T+ A LA/ DESP]ATE /& ( ,BOR\<S WILD]NESS1 SPILL$ OV] ON A ?IRD4 

,:5 ?IS MEAG] E/ATE HAD FIR/ GONE UP 9 ,MICK & ,ALMA'S E>LY TE5AGE YE>S ! CUL-DE-SAC HAD BE5 A BRUIS+ MOCK]Y ( A *ILDR5'S PLAYGR\ND ) A SCAL$-D[N MAZE ( BLUE BRICK 9 ITS C5T]1 BUILT APP>5TLY = FEEBLE-M9D$ LEPRE*AUNS1 & ! AUTI/IC CUBI/'S NOTION ( A CONCRETE HORSE ?AT GRAZ$ ET]NALLY NE>BY1 TOO H>D-$G$ & UNCOM=TABLE = ANY *ILD TO /RADDLE1 ) ITS EYES AN EMPTY HOLE BOR$ ?R\< ITS TEMPLES4 ,EV5 ?AT1 MORE LIKE ! AB/RACT /ATUE ( A PLAYGR\ND ?AN AN ACTUAL PLACE1 HAD BE5 LESS AWFUL ?AN ?IS DATE-RAPE OPPORTUNITY & LIKELY DOGG+ HOTSPOT1 ) ITS HA/Y SKIM ( T>MAC SPREAD LIKE *EAP1 /ALE CAVI> ACROSS ! P9K P$E/RIAN TILES B5EA?1 ! BUMPY LANES & FLAG/ONE CLOSES UND] ?AT4 ,ONLY ! GUTT] M>G9S :]E ! /RATA PEEL$ BACK 9TO SUNBURN TATT]S GAVE AWAY ! LAY]S ( HUMAN TIME COMPRESS$ BEL[1 R+ M>K+S ON ! LONG-FELL$ CEM5T TREE-/UMP ( ! ,BOR\<S4 ,FROM D[NHILL BEYOND ! C> P>K & ! NO-FRILLS TOMB/ONES ( ITS %ELT]+ AP>TM5T BLOCKS !RE CAME ! M\RNFUL %UNT & GRUMBLE ( A GOODS TRA9 ) ITS YELP & MUTT] ROLL+ UP ! VALLEY'S SIDES FROM ! CRISS-CROSS SELF-H>M SC>S ( ! RAIL TRACKS AT ITS BOTTOM4 

,ALMA LOOK$ T[>DS ! VI/A ,MICK HAD 9DICAT$1 TI<T5+ H] ?ICK-CAK$ LA%ES 9TO A CONTEMPTU\S SPA<ETTI WE/]N SQU9T SO ?AT H] EYES W]E JUMP+-SPID]S T5S+ = ! FATAL P\NCE4 

0,( C\RSE IT'S NOT TOO LATE1 Y\ GIRL4 ,!RE'S NO PO9T S5D+ Y\ A VISION IF !RE'S NO?+ TO BE DONE AB\T IT1 IS !RE8 ,&1 LOOK1 ,I'M A G5IUS4 ,!Y SAID SO 9 ! ,N,M,E4 ,I'LL DO !SE PA9T+S & WE'LL GET ?IS SORT$4 ,TRU/ ME40 

,& HE DID1 IMPLICITLY4 ,:ILE IT WAS OBVI\S TO A BL9D MAN ?AT ,MICK'S SI/] WAS BO? SELF-9FATUAT$ & DELUSIONAL1 9 HIS EXP]I5CE ,ALMA ALSO (T5 TURN$ \T TO BE RI<T4 ,IF %E SAID ?AT %E C\LD REPAIR A CATACLYSM ) SOME TUBES ( PA9T1 ,MICK WAS 9CL9$ TO PUT ! MONEY ON HIS SI/] RA!R ?AN ! METEOR /RIKE OR :ATEV] IT WAS HAD HAPP5$ TO ! ,BOR\<S4 ,ALL H] LIFE %E'D MADE P]V]SE DECISIONS ?AT HAD WORK$ \T = H] AGA9/ ALL ! ODDS & NOBODY C\LD SAY !IR ,ALMA HADN'T DONE WELL = A ,BOR\<S KID4 ,MICK HAD GOT FAI? 9 H]1 ?\< NOT ! WIDE-EY$ FAI? ( H] DEVOT$ AUDI5CE1 MANY ( :OM APPE>$ TO ?9K ( H] AS HAV+ ORIG9S )9 ! REGION ( ! SUP]NATURAL OR ELSE ! FIELD ( CL&E/9E G5ETIC RESE>*1 A GOD-S5T MUTATION :O C\LD TALK TO /ONES & RAISE ! UNBORN1 LET ALONE ! DEAD4 

0,I CAN'T BELIEVE Y\'RE ,ALMA ,W>R5'S BRO!R01 HE'D HAD MORE ?AN ONE FAN ( HIS SI/]'S PA9T+S TELL HIM1 MO/LY FEMALE WORKMATES ( HIS WIFE'S :OM ,ALMA WAS CONV9C$ ONLY RESPOND$ TO H] AS 0A BADLY MISJUDG$ LESBIAN ICON0 RA!R ?AN AN >TI/4 ,SOMETIMES1 IF !Y KNEW ,MICK'S BACKGR\ND1 !Y'D SIT LOOK+ ?\<TFUL BE=E ASK+ HIM H[ ANYONE LIKE ,ALMA ,W>R5 C\LD HAVE POSSIBLY EM]G$ FROM A NOTORI\S URBAN S\L-TRAP LIKE ! ,BOR\<S4 ,HE CONSID]$ ?IS A /UPID QUE/ION1 AS IF !RE W]E ANY O!R PLACE %E C\LD HAVE COME FROM1 ,HELL OR ,N>NIA OR SOME:]E4 ,H[ LONG WAS IT S9CE !RE'D BE5 EV5 A TRACE ( ! AU!NTIC WORK+ CLASS1 IF ITS CONSPICU\S PRODUCTS W]E TODAY UNRECOGNIZABLE AS DODOS8 ,:AT HAD HAPP5$ TO ?AT CULTURE8 ,O!R ?AN ?OSE P>TS ( IT :I* HAD BE5 TEMPT$ UP 9TO ! L[ B\<S ( ! MIDDLE CLASSES OR DRA9$ (F 9TO ! C>DBO>D JUNGLE1 H[ HAD IT ALL VANI%$ SO ?AT !SE DAYS IF !Y SAW IT1 NO ONE HAD A CLUE :AT !Y W]E LOOK+ AT8 ,:]E HAD IT GONE8 ,:Y HADN'T SOMEBODY COMPLA9$8 

,!Y'D TURN$ LEFT & W]E WALK+ D[N ! L[E/ $GE ( ,CA/LE ,HILL1 T[>DS ! WALL ( ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*1 HEAD+ = ,*ALK ,LANE1 ,M>EFAIR & ! CAB RANK ( ! /ATION AT ! BOTTOM1 ON ! 5D ( !IR BELOV$ ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,ALMA WAS BACK TO CONJUR+ ANO!R AS YET NON-EXI/5T MA/]PIECE1 EYES />+ FIX$LY 9TO ! 9K-WA% EMPTY SPACE BE=E H] AS IF %E ALREADY SAW IT FRAM$ & HANG+ !RE4 

0,I HAD ?IS IDEA1 RI<T1 :5 WE W]E TALK+4 ,I C\LD DO MY DREAM1 ! ONE AB\T ! C>P5T]S D[N AT ! CORN] ( ! M>KET 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T4 ,I C\LD DO SOME?+ REALLY BIG1 A BIT LIKE ,/ANLEY ,SP5C] ) 5ORM\S FIGURES B5T OV] !IR LA!S1 FAC+ AWAY FROM US4 ,I'LL DO SOME BITS 9 LOV+ DETAIL BUT ,I'LL LEAVE ! RE/ UNF9I%$ )1 LIKE1 DANGL+ P5CIL L9ES4 ,I'LL CALL IT ',WORK 9 ,PROGRESS' 4440 

,ALMA TRAIL$ (F1 /OPP+ 9 H] TRACKS TO GAZE UP AT ! EI<TE5?-C5TURY ,NONCON=MI/ *UR* ?AT !Y W]E PASS+4 ,SET 9TO ! T(FEE-COLOR$ /ONEWORK ( ITS UPP] /ORY WAS A CLOS$ PIT*-PA9T$ DOORWAY ?AT L$ 9TO EMPTY AIR1 CLE>LY A LOAD+ BAY ( SOME SORT1 EXCEPT :Y W\LD ANYBODY NE$ ONE HALFWAY UP A *UR*8 ,IT LOOK$ AS IF IT WAS 9T5D$ TO LEAD TO AN UNSE5 UPP] FLOOR ( ! IMPOV]I%$ DI/RICT1 ONE LONG S9CE DEMOLI%$ )\T TRACE1 OR POSSIBLY A PLANN$ EXT5SION YET TO BE CON/RUCT$4 ,%E LOOK$ FROM ! S5SELESS ANGEL-DOOR TO ,MICK & :5 %E SPOKE H] TRA9-WRECK VOICE WAS SMALL & M>VEL+1 MORE LIKE ?AT ( A LITTLE GIRL ?AN :5 %E'D BE5 ONE4 

0,?AT'S ONE ( ! PLACES1 ,W>RY1 ISN'T IT8 ,FROM 9 Y\R SEIZURE OR :ATEV]80 

,ALMA'S BRO!R NODD$ & !N 9DICAT$ ! TURF$-OV] WA/EL& UP BEYOND ANO!R C> P>K1 ON ,*ALK ,LANE APPROA*+ TO !IR RI<T AS !Y RESUM$ !IR WALK4 

0,YEAH4 ,?AT'S ANO!R1 BUT ?AT'S LIKE AN E>?WORKS4 ,IT'S MU* BIGG] ?\<1 & OLD]1 & ! PUDDLES HAVE UNFOLD$1 SORT (1 9TO A LAGOON40 

,HIS SI/] NODD$ SL[LY1 TAK+ IT ALL 9 AS %E SURVEY$ ! TUFT ( L& RIS+ BEH9D ! C>-CRE*E1 ITS SURVEILLANCE CAM]A BABYSITT] MONITOR+ H] *>GES FROM A LITT]-POCKET CORN]4 ,ONE =K$ TREE OR MAYBE A CLOSE-PLANT$ PAIR /RET*$ UP \T ( ! M\ND 9 SILH\ETTE AGA9/ ! SODIUM LAMP BLE$ ABOVE ! NE>BY /ATION4 ,TREES W]E ! 5DUR+ FEATURES ( A L&SCAPE1 ITS TRUE FACE B5EA? ! PANTOMIME DAME CRU/ ( LEISURE C5T] & DUAL C>RIAGEWAY1 COSMETIC AFFECTATIONS WIP$ AWAY AT 9T]VALS4 ,! OAK & ELM DEF9$ ! VIEW ACROSS GREAT TRACKS ( TIME1 W]E VITAL /RUCTURAL ELEM5TS1 CON/ANT AS CL\DS & LIKE ! CL\DS MO/LY UNNOTIC$4 

,AS !Y REA*$ ! TOP ( ,*ALK ,LANE1 TO ! EA/ PA/ ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* ON ITS GRASS HILLOCK W]E ! FLATS & H\SES ( ,/4 ,M>Y'S ,/REET :]E ! GREAT FIRE WAS />T$1 & PA/ ?AT ! TRAFFIC RU% ( ,HORSEM>KET1 RUNN+ UPHILL TO VOID 9TO ! DEAD MONOXIDE JUNCTION :]E ! ,MAYORHOLD US$ TO BE4 ,AHEAD ( !M ! CRACK ( ,*ALK ,LANE DIPP$ ?R\< D>KNESS1 S\? & D[N TO ,M>EFAIR'S HEADLI<T RIBBON ) ! DEVIL-DECORAT$ EAVES ( ,PET]'S ,*UR* ACROSS ! WAY1 AN IBIS HOTEL & ATT5DANT 5T]TA9M5T COMPLEX UP T[>DS T[N ON ! LEFT4 ,A NEON TUMOR /YL$ BY ,FAB]GE1 ?IS HAD BE5 RAIS$ UPON ! SITE ( ! DEMOLI%$ ,B>CLAYC>D HEADQU>T]S1 PREVI\SLY AN 5DE>+ TANGLE ( SMALL BUS9ESSES & HAIRL9E ALLEYWAYS1 ,PIKE ,LANE1 ,QU>T ,POT ,LANE1 ,DODDRIDGE ,/REET & LONG BE=E ?AT A ROYAL RESID5CE ?AT GOV]N$ ,M]CIA & ) IT MO/ ( GRUNT+ ,SAXON ,5GL&4 ,!RE W]5'T <O/S H]E2 !RE W]E FOSSIL SEAMS ( <O/S1 ONE /ACK$ UPON ANO!R & COMPRESS+ D[N TO AN EMOTIVE COAL OR OIL1 BLACK & COMBU/IBLE4 

,ALMA TRI$ TO IMAG9E ! :OLE LI/+ QU>T] RI<T FROM ,PET]'S ,WAY TO ,REG5T ,SQU>E1 FROM ,&REW'S ,ROAD TO ,%EEP ,/REET & ,SA9T ,SEPUL*]'S1 A PETRIFY+ SIDE ( BO> /ILL ) ! JUTT+ T[]-BLOCK >R[S ?AT IMPAL$ & BR\<T IT D[N1 /ILL ) ITS /REET LAMP BRI/LES & ITS ALEH\SE CRACKL+2 TRI$ IMAG9+ IT ALL 9 CONTEXT ( ,MICK'S VISION AS IF ! DI/RESS$ TOPOGRAPHY & BROK5 SKYL9E /ILL PLUGG$ 9TO SOME?+ HUMM+ & IMPALPABLE1 SOME LEG5D>Y MA*9]Y LONG DISAPPE>$ BUT /ILL P]HAPS 9 WORK+ ORD]4 ,IT WAS AWESOME & IT MADE H] NE$ A JO9T4 ,CAMPAIGN]S SAID IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO GET ADDICT$ TO OLD-FA%ION$ HA%I%1 BUT TO ,ALMA'S WAY ( ?9K+ !Y JU/ C\LDN'T HAVE BE5 TRY+4 

,!Y /EPP$ \T ( ,*ALK ,LANE ONTO ,BLACK ,LION ,HILL1 A MILLION YE>S ( GRADI5T PRESID$ OV] BY F\R HUNDR$ YE>S ( PUBLIC H\SE AT ! ASS-5D ( ,M>EFAIR4 ,BY ! ALLEY-M\? !RE'D BE5 ANO!R PAP]-%OP :]E ,ALMA FROM ! AGE ( SEV5 HAD B\<T COMICS = !IR PICTURES1 G>I% FLOTSAM %IPP$ H]E FROM ,AM]ICA AS BALLA/ ) SKYSCRAP]-SC5T$ PAGES & ELECTRIFY+ BANN]S3 ,J\RNEY 9TO ,MY/]Y1 ,=BIDD5 ,WORLDS & ,MY ,GREATE/ ,ADV5TURE4 ,OV] ! RESURFAC$ LANE HAD /OOD A MELAN*OLY GUE/H\SE HANG+ BACK BEH9D A SCRE5 ( ELD]S1 ) EXI/+ PHOTOS FROM A DATE /ILL E>LI] %[+ A MILL-LIKE /RUCTURE DOM9AT$ BY A LANT]N CUPOLA ?AT PREVI\SLY RUL$ ! CORN]4 ,!RE WAS A %ORT R[ ( FACELESS #a#i#fS H\SES P]*$ !RE N[1 BEH9D ! HI< WALL OV]LOOK+ ! MA9 ROAD1 ) T5ANTS HANG+ ON UNTIL ! >EA WAS ONE DAY G5TRIFI$1 P>T ( A ',CULTURAL ,MILE' ?AT C\NCIL WONKS HAD BLUE-SKI$ & ATTEMPT$ TO TALK UP1 BE=E !Y SOLD HI< & BAIL$ \T = SOME:]E LESS ACCUS+1 SOME:]E )\T ALL ! BAD DREAMS TRAPP$ LIKE A/RAL RIS+ DAMP 9 ! F\NDATIONS4 ,ALMA HAD FROM SOME:]E ! IMPRESSION ?AT A LOCAL C\NCILOR HAD OCCUPI$ ONE ( ! BUILD+S ONCE1 BUT :E!R HE /ILL LIV$ !RE %E HAD NO IDEA4 ,R\ND+ ! CORN] TO !IR RI<T1 !Y WALK$ D[N TO ! LI<TS & CROSS$ ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 CONT9U+ TO ! APPROA* ( ,CA/LE ,/ATION4 

,?IS WAS :]E ! SEX-COMMUT]S PULL$ 9 AT ! WEEK5DS1 PRO/ITUTE AWAY-TEAMS HOT FROM ,MILTON ,KEYNES OR ,RUGBY RID+ 9 UPON A ,SILV]L9K EXPRESS TO ! WELL-PUBLICIZ$ R$-LI<T ZONE ( ! ,BOR\<S1 ! RI* PICK+S ( ! ALL NI<T TRUCK-/OP ON ITS NOR?WE/ CORN]1 :]E ! HUMP ( ,SP5C] ,BRIDGE MET ,CRANE ,HILL AT ! FOOT ( ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 ! >EA'S NOR!RN B\ND>Y4 ,WALK+ ,A,I,D,S VECTORS & !IR MANAG]S R\T9ELY FILT]$ ?R\< ! /ATION =EC\RT1 ?R\< ! =M] M$IEVAL CA/LE :]E ,%AKESPE>E'S ,K+ ,JOHN COMM5CES1 :]E REPUT$LY !Y HELD ! WORLD'S FIR/ P>LIAM5T DUR+ ! ?IRTE5? C5TURY & RAIS$ ! POLL TAX ?AT SP>K$ (F ,WAT ,TYL]'S UPRIS+ ( #a#c#h#a1 :]E V>I\S ,CRUSADES W]E PLANN$1 :]E ,BECKET WAS CONDEMN$1 H]E AT ! 5D ( ! SOOT-BLA/$ ROAD :]E ,MICK & ,ALMA HAD GR[N UP1 !IR D]ELICT >CADIA4 ,AS !Y DESC5D$ TO ! HACKNEY CABS UNW9D+ R\ND ! /ATION'S Y>D FROM ITS FRONT 5TRANCE1 ,ALMA WAS REFLECT+ ON ! GRAVE 5ORMITY ( :AT %E'D PROMIS$ %E'D SEE ?R\<4 ,%E WASN'T GO+ TO HAVE TO SIMPLY DO !SE PICTURES4 ,%E WAS GO+ TO HAVE TO DO ! FUCK \T ( !M4 

,& %E DID4 ,F\RTE5 MON?S LAT] ON A COLD ,SPR+ ,SATURDAY 9 #bf ,MICK HAD LUN* ) HIS WIFE & BOYS UP AT !IR H\SE 9 ,:ITEHILLS1 !N WALK$ D[N ?R\< ,K+/HORPE TO ! ,B>RACK ,ROAD1 COM+ UPON ! ,BOR\<S FROM ITS NOR!A/ CORN] & ! CRAT] ?AT HAD =M]LY BE5 ,REG5T ,SQU>E4 ,HE'D PASS$ HIS DRIV+ TE/ BUT /ILL PREF]R$ TO GO BY FOOT1 %>+ HIS FAMILY'S ANTIPA?Y TO MOTOR VEHICLES4 ,NEI!R HIS SI/] & !IR P>5TS NOR ALL SAVE ONE ( !IR V>I\S AUNTS & UNCLES HAD EV] POSSESS$ A C>1 & ,MICK /ILL FELT UNEASY ON ! R>E OCCASIONS ?AT HIS DESIGNAT$ DRIV] ,CA?Y WAS AWAY1 OBLIG+ HIM TO CLIMB BEH9D ! :EEL4 

,ALMA HAD CALL$ HIM WEEKS AGO TO SAY %E'D F9I%$ ) ! PA9T+S %E'D COMM5C$ AFT] !IR MEET+ AT ! ,GOLD5 ,LION ! YE> BE=E4 ,%E PLANN$ TO KICK ! EXHIBITION (F ) A SMALL VIEW+ ?AT %E'D SET UP AT ! PLAYGR\P :]E ,PITT-,DRAFF5'S DANCE S*OOL US$ TO BE1 UP ON ONE SAW$-(F CORN] $GE ( ,CA/LE ,HILL4 ,HIS SI/] HAD 9VIT$ HIM TO SEE ! IMAGES HIS VISION HAD 9SPIR$1 9CLUD+ ',WORK 9 ,PROGRESS' ) ITS MIDNI<T C>P5T]S1 A PIECE ?AT %E P>TICUL>LY WANT$ HIM TO SEE CALL$ ',*A9 ( ,(FICE'1 & ANO!R WORK ?AT ,ALMA SAID WAS '?REE DIM5SIONAL' & :I* MI<T ONLY BE AVAILABLE = VIEW+ AT ?IS OP5+ EV5T4 

,9 SLACKS & LOAF]S & A PLA9 TAN SPORTS %IRT UND]NEA? A JACKET HE /ILL WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS GO+ TO NE$ HE /ROLL$ FAC+ ! BREEZE D[N ,GRAFTON ,/REET1 A FIT & H&SOME =TY-N9E-YE>-OLD :O /ILL MA9TA9$ A GLEAM ( 9FANT ANIMATION 9 HIS PALE BLUE EYES1 :I* W]E AT LEA/ ONE NORMAL COLOR & W]5'T SOME?+ \T ( ,VILLAGE ( ! ,DAMN$ LIKE ,ALMA'S4 ,%E ( C\RSE W\LD C\NT] ?AT %E'D KEPT H] HAIR :ILE HIS HAD MADE ! DIGNIFI$ RETREAT 9TO A CL\D ( GOLD5 FUZZ HI< ON HIS SUNTANN$ BR[1 NOT :OLLY DIFF]5T FROM ! BURNI%$1 LONELY R+LETS ( HIS BABYHOOD4 ,IF HE WAS FEEL+ RA% OR LUCKY HE MI<T PO9T \T 9 RIPO/E ?AT HE'D KEPT ALL HIS TEE?1 A LIT]AL SORE PO9T ) ! MUN*IE-PRONE & P]IODONT9ITIS-/RICK5 ,ALMA :O W\LD PROBABLY !N GL>E AT HIM1 GO DANG]\SLY QUIET & ?AT W\LD BE ! 5D ( ?AT4 ,HE REALIZ$ ?AT REHE>S+ !SE 5C\NT]S ) HIS SI/] & /AGE-MANAG+ !IR BANT] ?AT MI<T NEV] HAPP5 WAS A M>K ( 9SECURITY1 BUT 9 ,MICK'S PREVI\S EXP]I5CE ) ,ALMA IT WAS ALWAYS BE/ TO BE PREP>$4 

,! PLUNGE ( ,GRAFTON ,/REET GU%$ ) A GR[L+ /EEL & RUBB] TORR5T1 VEHICLE FL[ SWOLL5 BY A RA9 ( LUN*TIME DR9K]S1 WEEK5D %OPP+ TRIPS & BOOM+ P5IS PUBLICIZ]S1 ?REAT5+ TO OV]SPILL ITS BANKS4 ,AN ANACONDA LAM9ATE ( MOLT5 TIRE ?AT SNAK$ ACROSS ! PAVEM5T JU/ AHEAD ( ,MICK BORE TE/AM5T ?AT SU* A BREA* HAD HAPP5$ ONLY REC5TLY1 MO/ PROBABLY DUR+ ! ,FRIDAY NI<T JU/ GONE4 ,:ITE-WAT] DRIV+ BY SOME ,NETTO ,FABUL\S CRA%-DUMMY :O BL$ ,BURB]RY1 %OOT+ ! TRAFFIC ISL& RAPIDS 9 HIS HOTWIR$ KAYAK1 HOME TO ,JIMMY'S ,5D ACROSS ! RIV] 9 ! WE/1 HEAD FULL ( ,GR& ,!FT ,AUTO ,SAN ,&REAS & HORSE TRANQUILIZ]1 P9PRICK PUPILS1 SQU9T+ 9 ! SP9DRIFT ( ONCOM+ HEADLI<TS4 

,AMBL+ D[N ! DRAFTY SLOPE B5EA? A PANORAMIC SKY1 ,MICK PASS$ ! ,SUNLI<T BUILD+ ?AT WAS ON ! ROAD'S F> SIDE1 A ,*9ESE LAUNDRY ONCE ?AT BREA!D \T LONELY BA*ELOR /EAM1 BECOME AN OILY C>-REPAIR %OP /ILL1 ) ! 9CONGRU\S SOL> TRADEM>K ( ! PREVI\S E/ABLI%M5T RAIS$ 9 RELIEF FROM ITS :ITE ,>T ,DECO FACADE4 ,A LITTLE FUR!R D[N ON ! SAME SIDE !RE /OOD ! DISMAL %ELL ( ! OLD ,LABOR ,EX*ANGE :]E BO? ,MICK & ,ALMA & ! GREAT MAJORITY ( !IR ASSOCIATES HAD AT ONE PO9T OR O!R /OOD AMONG ! %UFFL+ & OBSCURELY GUILTY ABATTOIR PROCESSIONS1 L9+ UP TO BE 9SPECT$ BY A M]CILESS N9ETE5-YE>-OLD ) BOLT-GUN PHRAS+4 ,MICK WAS GRIMLY SATISFI$ TO NOTE ?AT ! D\R >BIT] ( WORK]'S =TUNES WAS ITSELF !SE DAYS R$UNDANT1 ! 9DIFF]5T PRISON-W>D] GAZE ITS W9D[S US$ TO HAVE REPLAC$ N[ BY ! LOOK ( TREMUL\S1 DISORI5T$ DREAD ?AT COMES ) GR[+ OLD 9 A DECL9+ NEI<BORHOOD4 ,!Y NEV] LIKE IT :5 IT'S !M1 ,MICK ?\<T1 AS HE PASS$ BY ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET !RE ON HIS LEFT & C>RI$ ON D[NHILL 9TO ! W9D4 

,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET1 REC$+ N[ BEH9D HIM1 HAD ONCE L$ TO ! RAIS$ BUMP :]E /OOD ,/4 ,&REW'S ,*UR*1 LONG S9CE TORN D[N1 ITSELF BUILT ON ! SITE ( ! ,/4 ,&REW'S ,PRIORY ?AT HAD BE5 !RE HUNDR$S ( YE>S BE=E & :I* ACC\NT$ = ! GREAT PREPOND]ANCE ( PHANTOM ,CLUNIAC MONKS AMONG ! DI/RICT'S RO/] ( REPORT$ <O/S4 ,AT ONE TIME1 ,MICK REMEMB]$1 ALMO/ ALL ! HALF-A-SQU>E-MILE'S MULTITUDE ( PUBS - :AT WAS IT1 EI<TY-SOME?+8 - W]E ALLEG$ TO HAVE A *ANT+ APP>ITION SEEK+ ABSOLUTION 9 ! SNUG1 OR DRAW+ PA9/AK+ ILLUM9AT$ PRICKS ) GILD$ SCROLLWORK ON ! LAVVY WALL4 ,MICK WOND]$ :]E ! SPECT]S HAD ALL GONE 9 #aig OR SO1 :5 ! LA/ FAG 5DS ( ! >EA W]E SWEPT AWAY4 ,! ,BOR\<S' MORTAL RESID5TS W]E SIPHON$ (F TO FLATS 9 ,K+'S ,HEA? LIKE ! ONE ?AT HIS NAAN ,MAY HAD DI$ 91 OR TO ! G5ETIC SUMPS ( ,AB+TON LIKE ,NORMAN ,ROAD1 :]E HIS & ,ALMA'S GRAN UPON !IR MOM'S SIDE1 ,CL>A1 HAD DROPP$ (F ! TWIG1 BO? GR&MAS PASS+ )9 WEEKS ( !IR UPROOT+ FROM ! ,BOR\<S :]E !Y'D BURI$ HUSB&S1 :]E !Y'D BURI$ KIDS4 ,:AT /RUCK ,MICK WAS ?AT CLE>LY IT HAD NEV] BE5 A BIG PRIORITY TO SUITABLY RELOCATE ,BOR\<S DREGS LIKE HIM & ,ALMA & !IR FAMILY1 :O1 AL?\< POSSIBLY DI%EVEL$1 W]E AT LEA/ ALIVE4 ,H[ MU* LESS EF=T HAD GONE 9TO ! REH\S+ ( ! REGION'S WRAI?S1 :O'D ALL BE5 DEAD1 GRUESOMELY SO1 = YE>S8 ,DID SPOOKS FROM PULL$-D[N PUBS N[ %IV] & CLUT* TI<T !IR GL[+ B$-%EETS UND] ! %OP DOORWAYS ( ,NOR?AMPTON'S C5T]1 LIKE ITS O!R DISPOSSESS$8 ,DID !Y HAVE %ELT]S = ! BODILESS AS WELL AS = ! HOMELESS2 MAGAZ9E /REET-V5DOR S*EMES = REV5ANTS1 LIKE ,! ,DEAD ,ISSUE1 MAYBE8 

,IT HAD BE5 ALONG ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET ?AT HE & ,ALMA HAD ONCE KN[N A B>B]1 =TY YE>S AGO1 ) ! UNLIKELY NAME ,BILL ,BADG]4 ,!Y'D PRET5D$1 JU/ BETWE5 !MSELVES1 ?AT HE WAS ONE ( ,RUP]T ,BE>'S ACCOMPLICES GR[N UP1 %AV$ BY HIS [N H& TO APPE> MORE HUMAN1 =C$ BY CIRCUM/ANCE TO GET A PROP] JOB4 ,HIS %OP HAD BE5 AN ODDITORIUM1 ITS CR[D+ WALLS FILL$ TO ! CEIL+ ) UNFA?OMABLE1 /RANGELY *>ISMATIC PRODUCTS LIKE ,BAY ,RUM & /YPTIC P5CILS ?AT W\LD SEAL UP CUTS & :I*1 DUR+ HIS *ILDHOOD1 ,MICK HAD ?\<T MI<T BE A H&Y ?+ TO C>RY R\ND ) Y\ SO ?AT !RE WAS AT LEA/ A *ANCE ?AT Y\ C\LD /ICK Y\R HEAD BACK ON IF Y\'D BE5 GUILLOT9$4 ,( C\RSE1 ! %OP WAS GONE N[1 BO? IT & ! *UR* REPLAC$ BY ! SAME BLOCKS ( FLATS ) :I* ! DI/RICT HAD BE5 /EADILY & SURELY TIL$ S9CE #aiba OR !REAB\TS4 ,LA/ YE> !RE'D BE5 A Y\NG1 M5TALLY ILL ,SOMALI UND] >M$ POLICE SIEGE UP ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET1 ?REAT5+ TO KILL HIMSELF1 :ILE /ILL MORE REC5TLY A C\S9 ( ,MICK'S LOVELY & =MIDABLE WIFE ,CA?Y1 H]SELF A B5IGNANT \TGR[? ( ! T[N'S NOTORI\S & HYDRA-HEAD$ ,DEVL9 CLAN1 HAD PUT ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET 9TO ! NEWS AGA9 BY /RANGL+ HIS SP\SE4 ,%E'D BE5 0DO+ HIS HEAD 901 SO HE CLAIM$4 

,! PLACE WAS CURS$4 ,ONLY ?AT LUN*TIME ,MICK HAD SE5 A HO>D+ = ! LOCAL ,*RONICLE @& ,E*O ?AT REPORT$ YET ANO!R HOOK] RAP$ & BEAT5 9 ! SMALL H\RS ( ! NI<T BE=E & LEFT = DEAD D[N AT ! BASE ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 ONLY SAV$ BY 9T]V5TION FROM A RESID5T1 SU* 9CID5TS REPORT$ EV]Y MON? AL?\< OCCURR+ EV]Y WEEK4 ,NO?+ GOOD HAPP5$ 9 ! ,BOR\<S ANYMORE BUT ONCE1 D[N ,GRAFTON ,/REET T[>DS ,CRANE ,HILL !RE LIV$ A WOMAN ?AT ,MISS ,/>M] :O HAD RUN ! PO/ (FICE W\LD SPEAK (1 :O'D BE5 /&+ ON H] /EP ONE MORN+ :5 A PASS+ /RANG] ?RU/ A NEWBORN *ILD 9TO H] >MS & RAN AWAY2 WAS NEV] SE5 AGA94 ,! *ILD WAS TAK5 9 & RAIS$1 BR\<T UP AS ?\< ! WOMAN'S [N1 & F\<T 9 ,WORLD ,W> ,ONE4 0,Y\ CAN TELL :AT A LOVELY FAMILY !Y W]E TO BR+ HIM UP01 ,MISS ,/>M] US$ TO SAY1 0BUT !Y W]E 9 ! ,BOR\<S4 ,?AT'S ! K9D ( FAMILIES ?AT WE HAD 9 ! ,BOR\<S !N40 ,& IT WAS TRUE4 ,EV5 CONFRONT$ BY ! />K REALITY ( H[ ! NEI<BORHOOD HAD 5D$ UP1 AS AN 5VIRONM5TAL HEAD-BUTT :]E ! WOMAN'S /UNN+ ACT ( ALTRUISM WAS TODAY UN?9KABLE1 ,MICK KNEW ?AT IT WAS TRUE4 ,!RE'D BE5 A DIFF]5T SORT ( PEOPLE !N ?AT SEEM$ ANO!R RACE1 HAD DIFF]5T WAYS1 A DIFF]5T LANGUAGE1 & W]E N[ IMPROBABLE AS C5TAURS4 

,HE TURN$ LEFT FROM ,GRAFTON ,/REET & 9TO ,L[] ,H>D+ ,/REET1 A LONG /RAI<T TRACK ?AT W\LD DELIV] HIM TO ,ALMA'S EXHIBITION ON ! ,BOR\<S' F> SIDE BY ! MO/ DIRECT R\TE4 ,?IS WAS :]E HIS SI/]'S LEFTY ACTIVI/ MATE ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON LIV$1 ANO!R BLOODY-M9D$ KAMIKAZE FROM ! ',SIXTIES JU/ LIKE ,ALMA WAS4 ',?OMPSON ! ,LEVEL]' %E CALL$ HIM FONDLY1 PROBABLY ONE ( H] KN[-ALL REF]5CES1 & HE LIV$ ) HIS SL9KY1 /ROPPY BOYFRI5D H]E 9 ,L[] ,H>D+ ,/REET4 ,ROMAN HAD BE5 A FIREBR& S9CE ! ,U,C,S %IP-WORK]S' /RIKE F\R DECADES E>LI]1 HAD BROK5 ?R\< POLICE L9ES TO PUN* \T ONE ( ! LEAD]S 9 A ,NATIONAL ,FRONT M>* ?R\< ,BRICK ,LANE & HAD ONCE WREAK$ T]RIBLE REV5GE UPON A UNIT ( DRUNK SQUADDIES :O'D MADE ! MI/AKE ( ?9K+ ?AT ?IS WIZ5$ T]RI] POS$ LESS ( AN IMM$IATE ?REAT ALONE ?AN !Y1 5 MASSE & >MY-TRA9$1 C\LD MU/]4 ,ROME WAS 9 HIS E>LY SIXTIES N[1 SOME T5 YE>S OLD] ?AN ,MICK'S SI/]1 BUT /ILL CLOS$ HIS JAWS UPON ! ASS ( AN OPPRESSOR ) UNDIMM$ F]OCITY4 ,AT PRES5T HE WAS ON ! MILITANT >M ( ! LOCAL ,BOR\<S ACTION GR\P1 CAMPAIGN+ TO PREV5T ! SALE & DEMOLITION ( ! >EA'S FEW REMA9+ C\NCIL DWELL+S4 ,ALMA HAD CONSULT$ ) H] OLD FRI5D ONCE OR TWICE :ILE %E WAS WORK+ ON ?IS CURR5T RUN ( PA9T+S1 %E HAD TOLD H] BRO!R1 :O W\LD NOT HAVE BE5 SURPRIS$ IF ,?OMPSON & HIS *AP %\LD TURN UP AT ! EXHIBITION ,MICK WAS MAK+ =4 

,OV] A N>R[ ROAD ! Y>D ( A C> SALESROOM HAD REPLAC$ ! WA/EL& ON :I* HE & ,ALMA HAD AMUS$ !MSELVES AS *ILDR51 SCRABBL+ URG5TLY ACROSS ',! ,BRICKS' AS !Y HAD CALL$ !IR IMPROVIS$ APOCALYPTIC !ME-P>K1 CLAMB]+ OBLIVI\S ?R\< SPACES :]E ONCE M5 & WOM5 HAD !IR R[S & SEX & *ILDR54 ,FUR!R ON W]E BUS9ESS PREMISES =M]LY [N$ BY ,CLEAV]'S ,GLASS1 ! NATIONAL 9T]E/ :]E !IR GREAT-GR&FA!R1 B>MY ,SN[Y ,V]NALL1 HAD REFUS$ A CO-DIRECTOR'S JOB BACK AT ! COMPANY'S 9CEPTION1 SPURN+ MILLIONAIRE LIFE = NO REASON ANYONE C\LD FA?OM & RETURN+ TO HIS FAMILY'S SLUM ACCOMMODATION AT ! 5D ( ,GRE5 ,/REET1 :]E SOME DECADES LAT] HE W\LD 5D HIS DAYS HALLUC9AT+1 SAT BETWE5 P>ALLEL MIRRORS 9 AN 5DLESS ALLEY ( REFLECTIONS1 EAT+ FL[]S4 

,BEYOND ! FACTORY'S S\!RN B\ND>Y ,SPR+ ,LANE W5T TRICKL+ D[N TO ,&REW'S ,ROAD PA/ ! RE> SIDE ( ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL & ITS UNMODIFI$ C>ETAK]'S H\SE1 ON PA/ ! FACTORY Y>D D[N NE> ! BOTTOM :]E A BAFFL+ & PREC>I\S SPIKE ( BRICK ROSE UP ?AT HAD A S+LE (FICE %$ JU/ SLI<TLY L>G] ?AN ! T[] ITSELF BALANC$ ON TOP1 ! OV]HANG HELD UP BY BULKY WOOD5 /RUTS4 ,?IS MADE ,MICK ?9K AB\T HIS UNE>!D MEMORIES FROM ! YE> BE=E & ( ! PO9TLESS L(T HALFWAY UP ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*1 SUBJECTS ?AT HAD A FEA!R$ :ISP] ( UNC]TA9TY AB\T !M1 SO ?AT HE DIRECT$ HIS ATT5TION TO ! HILLSIDE S*OOL ITSELF1 ITS F5C$ TOP $GE N[ PASS+ SL[LY ON HIS RI<T4 

,IT WAS A SORRY SI<T1 BUT DIDN'T HAVE ! MORBID OV]TONES /IRR$ BY ?AT 9EXPLICABLE BRICK SP>4 ,ALMA & HE HAD BO? BE5 PUPILS H]E1 :5 ALL WAS SAID & DONE1 AS HAD !IR MOM ,DORE5 BE=E !M4 ,!Y'D ALL LOV$ ! HUDDL$ R$ BRICK BUILD+ ?AT HAD SOMEH[ %\LD]$ ! RESPONSIBILITY = $UCAT+ SEV]AL G5]ATIONS 9 ?AT SURELY UNREW>D+ PROV9CE1 HAD ALL BE5 UPSET :5 ! ORIG9AL E/ABLI%M5T WAS F9ALLY DISMANTL$ & REPLAC$ BY A PREFABRICAT$ SUB/ITUTE4 ,! S*OOL WAS /ILL A GOOD ONE1 ?\<1 /ILL ) SOME ( ?OSE QUALITIES ?AT ,MICK REMEMB]$ FROM HIS BOYHOOD4 ,BO? ( ,MICK & ,CA?Y'S *ILDR51 ,JACK & ,JOSEPH1 HAD ATT5D$ ,SPR+ ,LANE ,PRIM>Y & HAD 5JOY$ IT1 BUT ,MICK MISS$ ! /EEP SLATE RO(S1 ! BULL'S-EYE W9D[S KEEP+ WAT* FROM UND]NEA? A %>PLY ANGL$ RIDGE1 ! SMOO? GUNMETAL CROSS+-B>RI]S \TSIDE /ONE-PO/$ GATES4 

,D[N AT ! BOTTOM ( ! HILL1 BEYOND ! S*OOLH\SE & ITS PLAY+ FIELDS !RE /RET*$ ! /RIP ( GRASS ON ,&REW'S ,ROAD :]E ,MICK & ,ALMA'S H\SE HAD BE51 A />TL+LY N>R[ PAT*1 B>ELY A V]GE1 :]E BY ONE E/IMATE UPW>DS ( ONE HUNDR$ & ?IRTY PEOPLE HAD EXI/$1 !RE BETWE5 ,SPR+ ,LANE & ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET4 ,!RE WAS ONLY TURF N[ UND]NEA? :I* ! BRICK /UMP ( SOMEONE'S G>D5 WALL C\LD /ILL BE F\ND1 & A FEW TREES ?AT /OOD 9 ! APPROXIMATE LOCATION ( !IR =M] HOME4 ,! SIZE & /URD9ESS ( !SE ALWAYS SURPRIS$ ,MICK1 BUT !N1 :5 Y\ ?\<T AB\T IT1 !Y'D BE5 GR[+ !RE = OV] ?IRTY YE>S N[4 

,PUZZL+LY1 T[>DS ! PLOT ( ILL-KEPT GR\ND'S S\? 5D1 TWO H\SES FROM ! ,W>R5'S BLOCK /ILL /OOD UNH>M$1 KNOCK$ 9TO ONE & FAC+ ONTO ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET1 ALL ALONE ) EV]Y?+ AB\T !M LEVEL$1 TAK5 BACK EI<T HUNDR$ YE>S TO FEATURELESS GRE5 ,PRIORY PA/URE4 ,MICK ?\<T ?AT ! DWELL+S MI<T HAVE BE5 BUILT AFT] ALL ! O!RS 9 ! R[1 POSSIBLY :]E ! FILL$-9 SPACE ( AN OLD Y>D HAD BE51 [N$ BY SOME O!R L&LORD :O'D RESI/$ :5 ALL ! SURR\ND+ PROP]TIES HAD BE5 SOLD \T FROM UND] !IR 9HABITANTS & !N KNOCK$ D[N4 ,HE'D HE>D ?AT ! ANOMAL\S SURVIV+ HOME HAD AT ONE TIME BE5 US$ AS %ELT]$ H\S+1 POSSIBLY BY ?OSE 9 C>E ( ! COMMUNITY1 BUT DIDN'T KN[ IF ?IS WAS TRUE4 ,! SOLIT>Y /RUCTURE ?AT /ILL HULK$ FROM ! GRASS$-OV] REA* :]E HE'D BE5 BORN HAD ALWAYS /RUCK ,MICK AS 9 SOME WAY 9DEF9ABLY UNCANNY1 BUT S9CE HIS EXP]I5CE ?AT NEBUL\S UNEASE HAD GA9$ A NEW DIM5SION4 ,N[1 HE F\ND1 ! PLACE REM9D$ HIM ( ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR*'S PO9TLESS A]IAL DOOR OR ELSE ! UNBELIEVABLE BRICK GR[? PROTRUD+ FROM ! FACTORY 9 ,SPR+ ,LANE2 ?+S FROM ! 9T]R$ PA/ ?AT POK$ UP 9CONV5I5TLY 9TO ! PRES5T1 HALFWAY H\SES ) !IR PORTALS ?AT W5T NO:]E1 ?AT L$ ONLY 9TO A SUGGE/IVE NO?+4 

,L[] ,H>D+ ,/REET HAD TURN$ TO ,CRISP9 ,/REET JU/ PA/ ITS JUNCTURE ) ,SPR+ ,LANE4 ,UP ON ! LEFT AHEAD TWO HULK+ MONOLI?S ROSE UP1 ! TALL ,KRAY-BRO!R =MS ( ,BEAUMONT ,C\RT & ,CL>EMONT ,C\RT1 BIRD-SOIL$ & LIME-/REAK$ HEAD/ONES SL[LY DECOMPOS+ OV] ! COMMUNITY ?AT HAD BE5 CLE>$ TO RAISE !M4 ,EASILY IMPRESS$1 ! SOON TO BE DISP]S$ FOLK ( ! ,BOR\<S HAD ALL OOH$ & AHH$ AB\T :AT !Y MI/OOK = ! SPACE-AGE PIZZAZZ ( ! TWELVE-/ORY HEAPS1 FAIL+ TO UND]/& ! HI<-RISE BLOCKS = :AT !Y W]E3 TWO UP5D$ & PISS-P]FUM$ S>COPHAGI ?AT W\LD REPLACE ! T5ANT'S BACK-WALL BAD9AGE & SUMM] DOOR/EP IDYLS ) MORE V]TICAL >RANGEM5TS1 ?9-AIR ISOLATION & ! T5SION RIS+ ) EA* NUMB] LIT UP 9 ! CLIMB+ AFT]-CURFEW LIFT1 A SUICIDE'S-EYE VIEW ( :AT HAD BE5 DONE TO ! T]RITORY >\ND !M ?AT WAS 9ESCAPABLE4 

,9 :AT MI<T HAVE BE5 TAK5 = A MOM5T ( LUCIDITY TWO OR ?REE YE>S AGO1 ! T[N BELAT$LY DEPLOR$ ! SQUALID /ACK-A-PROLE 9S5SITIVITY ( ! CON/RUCTIONS & PROPOS$ TO BR+ !M D[N1 :I* HAD MADE ,MICK'S HE>T SO>1 IF ONLY BRIEFLY1 AT ! ?\<T ?AT HE & ,ALMA MI<T \TLIVE ! MON/] BREEZE BLOCKS ?AT W]E US$ TO SMA% !IR HOME GR\ND 9TO CRACK D5S1 KNOCK+ %OPS & A DESPAIR+ DU/ ?AT SETTL$ EV]Y:]E ON PEOPLE'S HE>T/R+S4 ,HIS UNREASONABLE OPTIMISM PROV$ %ORT LIV$1 & ELEM5TS )9 ! C\NCIL HAD 9/EAD DECID$ ON ! OPTION ( (FLOAD+ ! DUAL EYESORES TO A PRIVATE H\S+ FIRM = SUMS ?AT ,MICK HAD HE>D AM\NT$ TO A P5NY EA*4 ,HIS SI/]'S ACTIVI/ MATE ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON HAD MADE D>K 9S9UATIONS AB\T BACKROOM DEALS & =M] MEMB]S ( ! C\NCIL N[ 5SCONC$ UPON ! H\S+ COMPANY'S BO>D1 BUT ,MICK HAD HE>D NO MORE AB\T ?IS = A :ILE & GUESS$ ?AT IT HAD COME TO NO?+4 ,B$=D ,H\S+ HAD REFURBI%$ ! TWO *EAPLY-PUR*AS$ BUILD+S & !Y N[ /OOD WAIT+ = A PROMIS$ 9FLUX ( KEY WORK]S1 COPS & NURSES & ! LIKE1 TO BE IMPORT$ TO ! T[N & TAKE UP OCCUPANCY4 ,IF Y\ HAD A POPULATION ?AT W]E MIS]ABLE & RE/LESS BECAUSE !Y HAD NO:]E BE>ABLE TO LIVE1 !N ! PREF]R$ SOLUTION SEEM$ NOT TO BE SP5D+ MONEY ON IMPROV+ !IR CONDITION BUT ON HIR+ MORE POLICE 9 CASE ?+S %\LD TURN UGLY1 H\S+ !SE NEW MYRMIDONS 9 PROP]TIES FROM :I* ! IT*Y & DISGRUNTL$ MAN-H]DS W]E ALREADY S]5DIPIT\SLY PURG$4 

,(F FROM BEH9D ! REAPPO9T$ & ,VIAGRA-FUEL$ ATROCITIES ( ! TWO RE>+ GIANTS1 FROM ! MORE HUMANLY-PROPORTION$ RESID5CES SPREAD BETWE5 !M & ! CON/ANT RUMBLE ( ! ,MAYORHOLD AT !IR RE>1 ,MICK CAU<T :AT S\ND$ LIKE A G>BL$ %RIEK IMM$IATELY FOLL[$ BY A DOOR-SLAM1 ! REPORT SLURR$ BY ! DI/ANCE & ! DEAD AC\/IC ( ! CONCRETE FLAT-FRONTS4 ,RUNN+ OR MORE PROP]LY C>E5+ OV] ! BLEA*$ LAWN EXT5D+ R\ND ! HI< RISE $IFICES CAME A GANGL+1 PANIC-/RICK5 FIGURE1 LOOK+ TO ,MICK'S SLI<TLY N>R[$ EYE TO BE A TE5AG] >\ND N9ETE51 BR[N-HAIR$ & PALE-COMPLEXION$1 JU/ A FEW YE>S OLD] ?AN ,MICK'S ELDE/ SON4 ,! FLAIL+ BOY WAS B>EFOOT1 CLAD 9 JEANS ?AT SEEM$ 9T5T ON M]G+ CROT* & ANKLES1 & A ,F,C,U,K TOP ?AT LOOK$ TOO L>GE & LIKELY BORR[$1 FITT+ ! DI/RAU<T Y\NG MAN LIKE AN ,$W>DIAN NI<T%IRT4 ,HE WAS GURGL+ & GASP+1 MAK+ A REPEAT$ S\ND ( HORRIFI$ D5IAL ?AT CAME \T AS 'NNUNG' & TAK+ FRANTIC LOOKS BEH9D HIM AS HE RAN4 

,:E!R ?IS CLUMP ( GIBB]+ TUMBLEWE$ HAD SPOTT$ ,MICK & VE]$ T[>DS HIM OR :E!R !IR SEP>ATE TRAJECTORIES HAD SIMPLY HAPP5$ TO CONV]GE HE C\LDN'T LAT] SAY4 ,! Y\?'S FLI<T FROM :ATEV] FRI<TS PURSU$ HIM 5D$ 9 A :EEZ+ HALT SOME FEET 9 FRONT ( ,MICK1 COMPELL+ HIM 9 TURN TO /OP DEAD 9 HIS TRACKS & TAKE /OCK ( ?IS SUDD5 & AS YET 9SCRUTABLE >RIVAL4 ,! SC>$ BOY /OOD D\BL$ OV] ) H&S PLANT$ ON HIS KNEES1 />+ ) R$ EYES AT ! E>? B5EA? HIS FEET :ILE TRY+ TO DRAW BREA? & :IMP] SIMULTANE\SLY ) NEI!R EF=T AN UNQUALIFI$ SUCCESS4 ,MICK FELT OBLIG$ TO SAY SOME?+4 

0,>E Y\ ALL RI<T1 MATE80 

,GAZ+ />TL$ UP AT ,MICK AS IF HE HADN'T REALIZ$ !RE WAS ANYBODY !RE UNTIL HE HE>D A VOICE1 ! LAD'S FACE WAS A BAG LADY ( PHYSIOGNOMY1 TRY+ TO WE> ALL ITS EXPRESSIONS AT ! SAME TIME4 ,PA/Y :ITE SK9 AT ! CORN]S ( ! EYES & LIPS TWIT*$ & CONVULS$ ?R\< A SUCCESSION ( ATTEMPTS AT AN EMOTIONAL DISPLAY1 EMB>RASSM5T1 AMAZEM5T1 BLANK$-\T DISASSOCIATION1 EA* )\T CONVICTION1 EA* IMM$IATELY AB&ON$ AS ! TREMBL+ 9DIVIDUAL SORT$ FRANTICALLY AMONG HIS CLE>LY RANSACK$ W>DROBE ( RESPONSES4 ,DRUGS ( SOME SORT1 ,MICK DECID$1 & MO/ LIKELY SOME?+ SYN!SIZ$ LA/ ,TUESDAY RA!R ?AN ! LIMIT$ >RAY ( SUB/ANCES ?AT HE HIMSELF WAS V]Y DI/ANTLY FAMILI> )1 MO/LY ?R\< ,ALMA :O HAD TRIPP$ = ,5GL& 9 H] S*OOLGIRL YE>S4 ,?IS WASN'T ACID1 ?\<1 :]E PEOPLE BURN$ ALL !IR EVAPORAT+ SWEAT AWAY 9TO AN 9C&ESC5T PEACOCK %9E1 NOR WAS ?IS LIKE ! KN[+ GR9 ( MAGIC MU%ROOMS4 ,?IS WAS SOME?+ DIFF]5T4 ,R&OM W9DS /ROK$ ! HALF-HE>T$ GRASS1 FUNNEL$ BY T[]-BLOCK BAFFLES UNTIL !Y W]E LO/1 BEWILD]$1 DISAPPE>+ 9 FRU/RAT$ $DIES1 TURN+ ON !MSELVES4 ,! KID'S VOICE1 :5 HE F\ND IT1 WAS A PIP+ YELP ?AT ,MICK SEEM$ TO RECALL FROM SOME:]E1 JU/ AS HE HAD SIMIL>LY />T$ TO DETECT A NAGG+ %AD[ ( FAMILI>ITY 9 ! TE5AG]'S D\<-TON$ FEATURES ) ?AT %AKE ( C9NAMON ACROSS ! NOSE4 

0,YES4 ,NO4 ,FUCK ME4 ,OH1 FUCK ME1 ,I WAS UP ! PUB4 ,! PUB'S /ILL UP !RE4 ,I WAS 9 IT4 ,IT'S /ILL UP !RE1 & !Y'RE ALL /ILL !RE4 ,ME MATE'S /ILL !RE4 ,?AT'S :]E ,I'VE BE5 ALL NI<T1 UP 9 ! PUB4 ,!Y W\LDN'T LET US GO4 ,FUCK ME4 ,FUCK ME1 MATE1 HELP US \T4 ,IT WAS A PUB4 ,IT WAS A PUB1 /ILL UP !RE4 ,I WAS UP ! PUB40 

,ALL ?IS WAS SAID ) WILD-EY$ URG5CY1 APP>5TLY UNCONSCI\S ( ITS TICS OR ITS OBSESSIVE REPETITIONS1 ITS CONSPICU\S LACK ( ANY PO9T4 ,MICK F\ND HIMSELF ) NO?+ HE C\LD READ 9 ! BY N[ DI/URB+LY FAMILI> Y\NG/]'S FRACTUR$ BODY LANGUAGE OR HIS BABBL+ CONV]SATION4 ,ON ! /REET'S F> SIDE A GNOME-LIKE WOMAN 9 A HEADSC>F WALK$ ALONG BESIDE ! ,UPP] ,CROSS ,/REET MAISONETTES ) CIRCULATION-DODG+ F+]S HOOK$ AB\T ! H&LES ( H] PLA/IC %OPP+ BAG4 ,%E />$ AT ,MICK & HIS UNASK$-= COMPANY1 A GL[]+ DISAPPROVAL ?AT W5T )\T SAY+1 SO ?AT HE WI%$ !RE W]E SOME CONV5I5T SEMAPHORE BY :I* HE C\LD CONVEY ?AT HE HAD SIMPLY BE5 ACCO/$ BY ?IS RAV+ /RANG] 9 ! /REET4 ,O!R ?AN PO9T+ TO HIS TEMPLE & !N TO ! AUBURN-HAIR$ KID HE C\LD ?9K ( NO?+1 SO HE SWIT*$ HIS GAZE FROM ! OLD LADY BACK TO HIS 9COMPREH5SIBLE ASSAILANT ) ! PLEAD+ EYES4 ,MICK TRI$ TO TEASE A ?READ ( S5SE \T FROM ! TUMBL+ RUBBLE ( ! Y\NG MAN'S OP5+ SPEE*4 

0,HANG ON1 Y\'VE LO/ ME1 MATE4 ,WAS ?IS A LOCK-91 !N1 ?IS PUB !Y KEPT Y\ AT ALL NI<T8 ,:I* WAS IT1 ANYWAY8 ,UP :]E80 

,! BOY1 NO MORE ?AN EI<TE51 ,MICK DECID$1 />$ IMPLOR+LY FROM \T BEH9D ! GLASS ( HIS [N FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE4 ,HE WAV$ ONE SK9NY =E>M & ITS BAGGY1 FLAPP+ SLEEVE 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 UP BEH9D !M4 ,!RE'D BE5 NO PUBS ON ! ,MAYORHOLD = SOME DECADES N[4 

0,UP !RE4 ,UP 9 ! RO(4 ,I MEAN ! PUB4 ,! RO('S A PUB4 ,! PUB'S /ILL UP !RE1 9 ! RO(4 ,!Y'RE ALL /ILL !RE4 ,ME MATE'S /ILL !RE4 ,?AT'S :]E ,I WAS ALL NI<T4 ,!Y W\LDN'T LET US GO4 ,OH FUCK ME1 ,I'VE BE5 UP ! PUB1 ! PUB UP 9 ! RO(4 ,OH1 FUCK1 :AT'S HAPP5$8 ,SOME?+'S HAPP5$40 

,MICK WAS />TL$ & C\LD FEEL HIS SCALP CRAWL AT ! NAPE1 BUT MADE AN EF=T NOT TO LET IT %[4 ,NO PO9T 9 GETT+ JUMPY :5 Y\'RE TRY+ TO TALK SOMEBODY BACK 9TO !IR SK91 AL?\< ?AT BIT AB\T ! RO( HAD GOTT5 TO HIM4 ,IT WAS TOO MU* LIKE ! WAY ?AT HE'D DESCRIB$ HIS RECALL$ MEMORIES TO ,ALMA AS ADV5TURES 9 ! CEIL+4 ,OBVI\SLY1 IT HAD TO BE JU/ HAPP5/ANCE1 A SPACE-CASE TURN ( PHRASE ?AT BY SOME FLUKE *IM$ OM9\SLY ) HIS [N *ILDHOOD EXP]I5CE1 BUT COMB9$ ) ! /ILL-GNAW+ S5SE ?AT HE'D MET ) ?IS LAD BE=E SOME:]E1 IT BO!R$ HIM4 ,( C\RSE1 IT ALSO LOAN$ HIM AN AT LEA/ IMAG9>Y COMMONALITY ) ! Y\NG MAN1 A WAY HE C\LD RESPOND COMPASSIONATELY TO ! POOR KID'S HELPLESS GIBB]I%4 

0,UP 9 ! RO(8 ,YEAH1 ,I'VE HAD ?AT4 ,LIKE :5 !RE'S PEOPLE 9 ! CORN]S TRY+ TO PULL Y\ UP80 

,! Y\? LOOK$ DUMB/RUCK1 ) HIS P9K-RIMM$ EYES WIDE & HIS M\? HUNG OP54 ,ALL ! PANIC & CONFUSION FELL AWAY FROM HIM1 REPLAC$ BY SOME?+ ?AT WAS ALMO/ DISBELIEV+ AWE AS HE />$1 SUDD5LY TRANSFIX$1 AT ,MICK4 

0,YEAH4 ,UP ! CORN]S4 ,!Y W]E REA*+ D[N40 

,MICK NODD$1 FUMBL+ 9 HIS JACKET = ! BR& NEW PACK ( FAGS HE'D PICK$ UP HALF AN H\R BACK ON ! WAY D[N ,B>RACK ,ROAD4 ,HE PEEL$ ! CUTICLE ( CELLOPHANE ?AT HELD ! PACKET'S PLA/IC WRAP 9 PLACE D[N TO ITS QUICK1 %UCK$ (F ! WRAPP]'S TOP & TUGG$ ! FOIL AWAY ?AT HID ! TI<T-PRESS$ & CORK-,BUSBI$ RANKS B5EA?1 ! CR9KL$ SEE-?R\< WRAPP+ & UNWANT$ SILV] PAP] CRU%$ TO AN AMALGAM & %OV$ C>ELESSLY 9TO ,MICK'S TR\S] POCKET4 ,TAK+ ONE HIMSELF HE AIM$ ! FLIP-TOP PACKAGE AT ! GRATEFUL TE5AG] 9 (F] & LIT UP = BO? ( !M US+ HIS PUN*-DRUNK ,ZIPPO ) ! /UTT] 9 ITS FLAME4 ,AS !Y BO? BLEW WRI?+1 TRANSLUC5T ,GILA MON/]S MADE ( BLUE-BR[N VAPOR UP 9TO ! ,BOR\<S AIR ! BOY RELAX$ A LITTLE1 LETT+ ,MICK RESUME HIS PEP-TALK4 

0,Y\ DON'T WANT TO LET IT GET Y\ D[N1 MATE4 ,I'VE BE5 UP :]E Y\'VE BE51 SO ,I KN[ H[ IT CAN BE4 ,Y\ CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S HAPP5$ & Y\ ?9K Y\'RE GO+ M5TAL1 BUT Y\'RE NOT1 MATE4 ,Y\'RE ALL RI<T4 ,IT'S JU/ :5 Y\ COME BACK FROM ONE ( !M IT TAKES A :ILE BE=E ?IS ALL FEELS REAL & SOLID LIKE IT DID4 ,DON'T WORRY4 ,IT COMES BACK4 ,JU/ TAKE IT EASY1 HAVE A ?9K AB\T IT ALL1 & GRADUALLY ! BITS ALL FALL BACK 9TO PLACE4 ,IT MI<T TAKE Y\ A MON? OR TWO1 BUT ?IS WILL ALL GET BETT]4 ,H]E40 

,MICK PULL$ A CLUMP ( CIG>ETTES \T FROM ! PACK1 APPROXIMATELY HALF A DOZ5 ?ICK1 & GAVE !M TO ! B>EFOOT PSY*OTROPIC CASUALTY4 

0,IF ,I W]E Y\1 MATE1 ,I'D GO (F & F9D Y\RSELF A QUIET PLACE TO SIT D[N :]E Y\ CAN SORT Y\R HEAD \T1 SOME:]E \T ( DOORS )\T ! CEIL+S & ! CORN]S & ALL ?AT4 ,I'LL TELL Y\ :AT1 D[N AT ! O!R 5D ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET OV] !RE1 !RE'S A NICE BIT ( GRASS ) TREES = %ADE4 ,!Y'LL BE 9 BLOSSOM >\ND N[4 ,GO ON1 MATE4 ,IT'LL DO Y\ GOOD40 

,9CR$UL\S ) GRATITUDE1 ! Y\NG/] />$ ADOR+LY AT ,MIKE1 AS IF AT SOME?+ MY?ICAL HE'D NEV] SE5 BE=E1 A SPH9X OR ,PEGASUS4 

0,?ANKS1 MATE4 ,?ANKS4 ,?ANKS4 ,Y\'RE A GOOD BLOKE4 ,Y\'RE A GOOD BLOKE4 ,I'LL DO ?AT1 :AT Y\ SAID4 ,I'LL DO IT4 ,Y\'RE A GOOD BLOKE4 ,?ANKS40 

,HE TURN$ AWAY & /UMBL$ B>EFOOT (F ACROSS ! GRIT & %ATT]$ HEADLI<T GLASS ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET CORN]1 :]E IT JO9$ ) ,CRISP9 ,/REET & ,UPP] ,CROSS ,/REET1 AS ! =M] HAD BY ?AT PO9T TE*NICALLY BECOME4 ,MICK WAT*$ HIM GO1 T5D]LY PICK+ HIS WAY OV] ! R\< PAV+ BY ! *A9-L9K F5CE ( ,SPR+ ,LANE ,S*OOL LIKE A CONCUSS$ FLAM+O1 /UFF+ ! DONAT$ CIG>ETTES 9TO A MISPLAC$ POCKET ( HIS L[-SLUNG PANTS4 ,AS HE BEGAN TO HEAD (F D[N ! HILL T[>DS ,MICK'S RECOMM5D$ QUIET SPOT1 HE /OPP$ BY ! S*OOL GATES & GLANC$ BACK4 ,MICK WAS SURPRIS$ TO SEE ?AT !RE APPE>$ TO BE TE>S /REAM+ D[N ! Y\NG/]'S *EEKS4 ,HE LOOK$ T[>DS ,MICK GRATEFULLY & ) SOME DIFFICULTY WORK$ HIS FACE 9TO A K9D ( SMILE4 ,HE GAVE A HELPLESS %RUG4 

0,I WAS JU/ UP ! PUB40 

,RESIGN$LY1 HE C>RI$ ON AWAY FROM ,MICK & WAS SOON \T ( SI<T4 ,MICK %OOK HIS HEAD4 ,FUCK KNEW :AT ?AT WAS ALL AB\T4 ,AS HE RESUM$ HIS [N WALK ALONG ,UPP] ,CROSS ,/REET1 TAK+ TI<T DRAGS ON HIS CIG>ETTE AT 9T]VALS1 IT /RUCK HIM ?AT HE FELT 9 SOME WAY ODDLY LIFT$ BY ! LUNATIC 5C\NT]4 ,NOT JU/ BY ! DUBI\S W>M GL[ ( HAV+ L5T A MODE/ H& TO SOMEBODY 9 NE$1 BUT BY ! H>D-TO-EXPLA9 REASSURANCE ?AT ! MAD BOY (F]$4 ,AN AU!NTIC ,BOR\<S NUTCASE1 JU/ LIKE HE'D RUN 9TO :5 HE WAS A *ILD1 :5 ! 9SANE W]E ?AT MU* EASI] TO SPOT & SOMEONE WALK+ D[N AN EMPTY /REET T[>DS Y\ YELL+ ANGRILY 9TO ! AIR WAS C]TA9 TO HAVE P>ANOID PSY*OSIS RA!R ?AN A ,BLUETOO? E>PIECE4 ,MICK JU/ WI%$ HE C\LD REMEMB] :]E HE'D MET ! LAD BE=E4 

,! /UFF AB\T HIM BE+ 9 ! RO( HAD KNOCK$ ,MICK BACK A BIT1 BUT ?AT HAD GOT TO BE CO9CID5CE1 OR 'SYN*RONICITY' AS ,ALMA HAD ATTEMPT$ TO EXPLA9 IT TO HIM BACK :5 %E WAS 9 H] TW5TIES & /ILL HAD A CRU% ON ,>?UR ,KOE/L]1 BE=E F9D+ \T HE'D BE5 A WIFE-BEAT+ BIPOL> RAPI/1 :I* HAD RA!R %UT H] UP4 ,AS F> AS ,MICK C\LD UND]/& ! CONCEPT1 IT DEF9$ CO9CID5CES AS EV5TS ?AT HAD SOME SIMIL>ITY OR SEEM$ TO BE CONNECT$1 BUT :I* W]5'T L9K$ UP 9 ANY RATIONAL WAY1 ) ONE CAUS+ ! O!R = EXAMPLE4 ,BUT ! PEOPLE :O'D COME UP ) ! WORD 'SYN*RONICITY' /ILL ?\<T ?AT !RE MI<T BE SOME K9D ( BOND BETWE5 !SE 9TRIGU+ OCCURR5CES1 SOME?+ WE C\LDN'T SEE OR UND]/& FROM \R P]SPECTIVE & YET OBVI\S & LOGICAL 9 ITS [N T]MS4 ,MICK HAD AN IMAGE 9 HIS M9D ( KOI C>P GAZ+ UPW>D FROM ! BOTTOM ( !IR POOL TO SEE A BUN* ( WAGGL+ HUMAN F+]S DIPP+ ?R\< ! CEIL+ ( !IR UNIV]SE4 ,! FI% W\LD ?9K ?AT IT WAS SEV]AL SEP>ATE & UNUSUALLY MEATY BAIT-WORMS1 C\LD HAVE NO IDEA !SE UNCONNECT$ WRIGGL]S W]E ALL P>T ( ! SAME UNIMAG9ABLE 5TITY4 ,HE DIDN'T KN[ H[ ?IS RELAT$ TO HIS MEET+ ) ! B>EFOOT BOY1 OR TO CO9CID5CE 9 G5]AL1 BUT IT SEEM$ 9 SOME WAY MUDDILY APPROPRIATE4 ,TAK+ A LA/ PULL ON HIS CIG>ETTE HE FLICK$ ! SMOLD]+ BUTT-5D TO ! GR\ND AHEAD ( HIM1 ITS >C LIKE SPACE JUNK BURN+ UP UPON RE5TRY1 !N EXT+UI%$ ! CRA%-L&$ EMB] UND]NEA? HIS %OE-SOLE )\T BREAK+ /EP4 ,/ILL ?9K+ FOGGILY AB\T CO9CID5CE & C>P HE LOOK$ UP ) A />T TO F9D HE WAS 9 ,BA? ,/REET4 

,HE'D BE5 WRONG4 ,HE'D BE5 QUITE WRONG TO ?9K ?AT HE WAS OV] HIS UNSETTL+ DREAM1 HIS SOJ\RN 9 ! CEIL+4 ,HE'D BE5 WRONG TO TELL ! FREAK$-\T TE5AG] ?AT IT W\LD ALL GET BETT]1 BECAUSE ACTUALLY IT DIDN'T4 ,IT JU/ FAD$ TO A DEEP HELD *ORD1 A P$AL-ORGAN DRONE BEH9D ! NORMAL NOISE ( LIFE1 A ?+ ?AT Y\ =GOT AB\T & ?\<T Y\'D PUT AWAY =EV]1 BUT IT WAS /ILL !RE4 ,IT WAS /ILL H]E4 

,HE LOOK$ ACROSS ! /REET AT ,BA? ,/REET FLATS1 !IR FRONT & NOT ! RE> HE'D SE5 BY D>K A YE> AGO ) ,ALMA4 ,S9CE HE'D HAD NO CALL TO V5TURE ?R\< ! ,BOR\<S S9CE ?AT NI<T1 HE REALIZ$ ?AT ?IS MU/ BE ! FIR/ TIME HE'D BE5 CONFRONT$ BY ! BAD SIDE ( HIS VISION S9CE HE BL9D$ HIMSELF1 KNOCK$ HIMSELF \T & RECALL$ IT1 ALL ?OSE MON?S AGO4 ,! SICK5+ PUN* HE FELT1 A BUN* ( FIVES IMPACT+ 9 HIS GUT & DRIV+ ALL ! AIR \T ( HIM WAS MU* WORSE ?AN HE'D EXPECT$4 ,LEAD5LY1 AS IF T[>D A SCAFFOLD1 ,MI*AEL ,W>R5 WALK$ ACROSS ! ROAD4 

,( C\RSE1 HE DIDN'T HAVE TO CUT ACROSS ! FLATS1 UP ! WIDE C5TRAL AV5UE ) LAWNS TO EI!R $GE1 CONCLUD+ 9 ! BROAD BRICK-SID$ /AIRS ?AT W\LD DELIV] ,MICK PRACTICALLY TO ! DOOR/EP ( HIS SI/]'S EXHIBITION4 ,HE C\LD TURN RI<T & WALK D[N TO ,LITTLE ,CROSS ,/REET1 :I* W\LD TAKE HIM BY ! L[E/ $GE ( ! %UNN$ LIV+ UNITS 9TO ,CA/LE ,/REET1 ?US CIRCUMV5T+ ! :OLE BUS9ESS1 EXCEPT ?AT W\LD PROVE ,ALMA'S CONT5TION ?AT %E'D ALWAYS BE5 MORE ( A MAN ?AN HE WAS1 & HE W\LDN'T SUFF] ?AT4 ,BESIDES1 ?IS WAS ALL RUBBI% & ,MICK DIDN'T EV5 KN[ = SURE IF ALL ?AT /UFF ?AT HE'D REMEMB]$ REALLY WAS :AT HAPP5$ :5 HE'D *OK$ ?AT TIME1 OR :E!R IT WAS ALL A DREAM HE'D DREAM$ HE DREAM$1 A SPA/IC RU% ( IMAGES ?AT HAD COME TO HIM ONLY :5 HE LAY !RE FLAT \T ON ! T>MAC ( ! RECONDITION+ Y>D ) FIREBALLS 9 HIS EYES4 ,EV5 ,MICK'S Y\NGE/1 ,JOSEPH1 HAD LONG S9CE CEAS$ TO LET BAD DREAMS COLOR WAK+ LIFE1 HAD LE>N$ ?AT ! TWO REALMS W]E SEP>ATE1 ?AT NI<T-?+S C\LDN'T GET Y\ 9 CLE> DAYLI<T :5 Y\R EYES W]5'T %UT1 & ,JOE HAD JU/ TURN$ TWELVE4 ,ATTEMPT+ AN 9DIFF]5T AIR1 ,MICK SAUNT]$ ?R\< ! C5TRAL GAP 9 ! L[ B\ND+ F5CE & UP ! SPACI\S WALKWAY1 HEAD+ = ! /EPS JU/ SIXTY OR SO FEET AHEAD1 JU/ TW5TY PACES (F4 ,:AT WAS IT1 ANYWAY8 ,= FUCK'S SAKE1 IT WAS JU/ A BLOCK ( FLATS1 9 MANY WAYS MORE PLEASANT ?AN ! O!RS ?AT HE'D PASS$ ?AT DAY4 

,HE'D GONE A /EP OR TWO BE=E ! DREADFUL /5* ( BURN+ G>BAGE MADE HIM FL9* & SNAP HIS HEAD BACK1 SCANN+ ! SURR\ND+ T]RA COTTA *IMNEYS = A S\RCE & F9D+ NONE4 ,ALMA HAD TOLD HIM ONCE ?AT TO SMELL BURN+ WAS A SYMPTOM S*IZOPHR5ICS SUFF]$ FROM1 ADD+ 0BUT !N !Y PROBABLY SET FIRE TO ?+S QUITE (T51 SO IT'S B\ND TO BE A TRICKY JUDGM5T CALL40 ,/RANGELY 5\<1 HE F\ND HIMSELF PREF]R+ ! IDEA ( S*IZOPHR5IA & ITS OLFACTORY HALLUC9ATIONS TO ! WORSE ALT]NATIVE ?AT HAD OCCURR$ TO HIM4 ,AS HE REMEMB]$ ,ALMA PO9T+ \T DUR+ !IR MEET+ ( ! PREVI\S YE>1 IT WASN'T ?AT HE MI<T HAVE GONE 9SANE ?AT WAS ! PRIME CAUSE = CONC]N1 BUT RA!R ! AL>M+ POSSIBILITY ?AT HE MI<T NOT HAVE DONE4 ,CL5*+ HIS NO/RILS AGA9/ ! P]VASIVE *>NEL REEK HE C>RI$ ON T[>DS ! /AIRS ?AT1 AS HE NE>$ !M1 TURN$ \T TO HAVE BE5 REPLAC$ DUR+ ! LA/ FEW YE>S BY A MORE :EEL*AIR-FRI5DLY RAMP4 

,A CLOT ( BLACKNESS ON ! GRAVEL PA? AHEAD ( HIM FRAGM5T$ 9TO :IRR+ *>COAL SPECKS LIKE ! PRECURSOR TO A MIGRA9E1 ) A LOOP+ O*] TURD BRIEFLY REVEAL$1 A FOOTPR9T BREAK+ ITS MID-SECTION 9TO RIDGE & TR\<1 BE=E ! CL\D ( BL[FLIES REGR\P$ & RESETTL$4 ,COM+ ?IS WAY HAD BE5 A MI/AKE4 ,! V]DANT SWA!S TO EI!R SIDE ( HIM W]E B\ND$ AT !IR F> RIMS BY LONG WALLS ?AT RAN ALONG 9 P>ALLEL BESIDE ! C5TRAL FOOTPA? & ITS BORD]+ TRACKS ( GRASS4 ,! WALLS1 BUILT 9 ! SAME D>K R$ BRICK MOTTLE AS ! RE/ ( ! ACCOMMODATION1 W]E ALLEVIAT$ BY FAUX-,BAUHAUS HALF-MOON W9D[S ?AT ALL[$ AN 9T]RUPT$ VIEW ( ! WIDE1 EMPTY /RET*ES ( SPLIT-LEVEL CONCRETE1 ! FLATS' G>D5S1 SULK+ BIRDLESS !RE BEYOND4 ,:5 HE'D FIR/ HE>D ( ,LIMBO HE HAD VISUALIZ$ !SE C\RTY>DS1 SOME:]E DISMAL :]E ! DEAD MI<T SP5D ET]NITY1 SAT ON A FLI<T ( GRANITE /EPS BEL[ A FEATURELESS :ITE SKY4 ,! SEMI-CIRCLES HAD BE5 REC5TLY ADORN$ BY FANS ( IRON SPOKES ?AT MADE !M LOOK LIKE C>TOON EYES1 ! BLACK RAILS =M+ RADII ACROSS A NEGATIVE-SPACE IRIS4 ,SE5 9 PAIRS !Y LOOK$ LIKE ! TOP HALVES ( ,EA/] ,ISL& FACES BURI$ TO !IR E>S 9 SOIL BUT /ILL ALIVE ) BEGG+1 SUFFOCAT+ GAZES4 ,Y\NG TREES ON ! V]GES1 MORE CONTEMPOR>Y ADDITIONS1 ?REW !IR GLOSS-BLACK %AD[S ON ! /IFL+ MASKS1 LIQUID & SPID]-LIKE1 9K DROPLETS BL[N TO =M RUNNY MASC>A PATT]NS BY AN 9FANT'S /RAW4 

,DESPITE ! SPE$ ) :I* ! WAVE ( SMO!R+ DEPRESSION WAS UPON HIM1 ,MICK WAS NOT AW>E ( ITS >RIVAL1 & WAS 9/ANTLY CONV9C$ ?AT :AT WAS N[ ROIL+ LIKE TOXIC FUMES 9SIDE HIS M9D HAD ALWAYS BE5 HIS PO9T ( VIEW1 HIS USUAL OPTIMISM NO?+ BUT A FRAUD1 A FLIMSY TISSUE BEH9D :I* HE HID FROM :AT HE KNEW WAS ! 9EVITABLE TRU?4 ,!RE WAS NO PO9T4 ,!RE WAS NO PO9T & !RE HAD NEV] BE5 A PO9T TO ALL ?IS GRIEF & GRAFT & GROVEL+1 TO BE+ ALIVE4 ,:5 ! HE>T FAIL$ OR ! BRA9 DI$1 HE'D ALWAYS REALLY KN[N 9SIDE1 WE JU/ /OPP$ ?9K+4 ,EV]YONE KNEW ?AT )9 !IR S9K+1 SECRET HE>T1 :ATEV] !Y MI<T SAY4 ,WE ALL /OPP$ BE+ :O WE W]E1 WE JU/ %UT D[N & !RE WAS NO:]E ?AT WE GOT BEAM$ UP TO AFT] ?AT1 NO ,HEAV51 ,HELL OR RE9C>NATION AS A BETT] P]SON4 ,!RE WAS ONLY NO?+ AFT] DEA?1 & NO?+ ELSE BUT NO?+1 & = EV]YONE ! UNIV]SE W\LD ALL BE GONE ! MOM5T !Y EXHAL$ !IR F9AL BREA?1 JU/ AS ?\< !Y & IT W]E NEV] !RE4 ,HE DIDN'T REALLY SOMETIMES FEEL ! W>M? & PRES5CE ( HIS P>5TS /ILL >\ND HIM1 HE JU/ KIDD$ HIMSELF N[ & !N ?AT ?IS WAS :AT HE FELT4 ,TOM & ,DORE5 W]E GONE1 DAD FROM A HE>T ATTACK & MOM FROM CANC] ( ! B[EL ?AT MU/ HAVE HURT SO MU*4 ,HE WASN'T EV] GO+ TO SEE !M ANYMORE4 

,MICK HAD BY ?IS PO9T REA*$ ! BOTTOM ( ! RAMP1 & ! 9C9]ATOR ODOR WAS N[ EV]Y:]E4 ,HE TRI$ TO RAISE A FLUTT] ( RESI/ANCE TO ! IRREFUTABLE AW>5ESS ?AT PRESS$ D[N UPON HIM1 TRI$ TO SUMMON ALL ! >GUM5TS ?AT HE WAS SURE ?AT HE'D ONCE HAD AGA9/ ?IS HOPELESS BLACKNESS4 ,LOVE4 ,HIS LOVE = ,CA?Y & ! KIDS4 ,?AT HAD BE5 ONE ( HIS PROTECTIVE MANTRAS1 HE WAS C]TA91 EXCEPT LOVE JU/ MADE ?+S CRUEL]1 GAVE Y\ SO MU* MORE TO LOSE4 ,ONE P>TN] DIES FIR/ & ! O!R SP5DS !IR F9AL YE>S ALONE & CRU%$4 ,Y\ LOVE Y\R KIDS & WAT* !M GR[ TO SOME?+ WOND]FUL & !N Y\ HAVE TO LEAVE !M & NOT MEET ) !M AGA94 ,& ALL SO %ORT1 SEV5TY YE>S OR SO1 ) HIM NE> FIFTY N[4 ,?AT'S TW5TY YE>S1 ASSUM+ ?AT Y\'RE LUCKY1 LESS ?AN HALF ( :AT HAD ALREADY SLIPP$ BY1 & ,MICK FELT C]TA9 ?AT !SE F9AL DECADES W\LD FLA% PA/ ) GRIM RAPIDITY4 

,EV]YONE W5T AWAY4 ,EV]Y?+ VANI%$4 ,PEOPLE1 PLACES1 TURN$ TO PA9FUL %AD[S ( !IR =M] SELVES & !N W]E PUT TO SLEEP1 JU/ LIKE ! ,BOR\<S HAD BE54 ,IT WAS ALWAYS A HALF-WITT$ DI/RICT ANYWAY1 EV5 ITS NAME4 ,! ,BOR\<S4 ,ONE PLACE ) A PLURAL WORD DESCRIB+ IT4 ,:AT WAS ?AT ALL AB\T8 ,NOBODY EV5 KNEW :Y IT WAS CALL$ ?AT1 SOME SUGGE/+ ?AT ! NAME %\LD BE SPELL$ ',BURR[S' = ITS NE/ ( /REETS SE5 FROM ! AIR1 = ITS 9HABITANTS :O BR$ LIKE RABBITS4 ,:AT A LOAD ( BOLLIX4 ,PEOPLE LIKE HIS GR&P>5TS MAY HAVE HAD SIX OR SEV5 KIDS BUT ?AT WAS ONLY SO ?AT !Y HAD SOME :O REA*$ ADUL?OOD4 ,IT WAS ALWAYS A BAD SIGN :5 BETT]-(F TYPES DREW COMP>ISONS BETWE5 UNSI<TLY <ETTO POPULATIONS & SOME ANIMAL OR O!R1 MO/ ESPECIALLY ?OSE SPECIES ?AT WE HAD1 RELUCTANTLY1 TO POISON P]IODICALLY4 ,:Y DIDN'T PEOPLE KEEP !IR LAME EXCUSES TO !MSELVES8 

,MICK REALIZ$ ?AT HE WAS NO LONG] ?9K+ AB\T DEA? AT ! SAME MOM5T ?AT HE REALIZ$ HE HAD REA*$ ! RAMP'S TOP & WAS /EPP+ ONTO ,CA/LE ,/REET4 ,HE /OPP$1 A/\ND$ BY ! SUDD5 ON_/(F LI<T-SWIT* *ANGE )9 HIM1 & GAZ$ BACK AT ,BA? ,/REET1 LOOK+ D[N ! SUNLIT PA? BETWE5 ! TWO HALVES ( ! FLATS ?AT HE'D JU/ WALK$ ALONG4 ,! LAWNS W]E LUSCI\S & 9VIT+ & ! SAPL+S HISS$ & :ISP]$ 9 ! LULL+ BREEZE4 ,MICK /OOD DUMBF\ND$1 />+ AT IT4 

,FUCK+ HELL4 

,BL9K+ HIS EYES EXAGG]AT$LY AS IF TO BANI% SLEEP1 ,MICK TURN$ HIS BACK UPON ! FLATS & MADE HIS WAY D[N ,CA/LE ,/REET T[>DS ! BASE ( ,CA/LE ,HILL1 ! RECTANGLE ( TURF !RE ON ITS CORN]1 MU* R$UC$ S9CE ,MICK'S DAY1 :]E ?AT MAN & WOMAN HAD ONCE TRI$ TO DRAG HIS SI/] 9TO !IR BLACK C> :5 %E WAS SEV51 ONLY LETT+ H] GO :5 %E SCREAM$4 ,HE HOP$ H] PA9T+S W\LD BE GOOD 5\< TO DO :ATEV] %E 9T5D$1 BECAUSE :AT JU/ HAPP5$ TO HIM WAS A DEMON/RATION ( ! =CE ?AT ?REAT5$ TO EAT EV]Y?+ !Y C>$ AB\T1 & O!R ?AN HIS SI/] & H] D\BTFUL C\NT]-/RATEGY ,MICK C\LDN'T ?9K ( ANYONE :O HAD A PLAN4 

,R\ND+ ! B5D ( ,CA/LE ,HILL TO ,FITZROY ,/REET HE SAW ?AT ! SMALL EXHIBITION WAS ALREADY 9 FULL SW+4 ,HIS SI/]1 9 A BIG TURQUOISE ANGORA SWEAT] LEAN$ UPON ! WOOD FRAME ( ! OP5 NURS]Y DOOR1 ANXI\SLY LOOK+ \T TO SEE IF HE WAS REALLY GO+ TO %[1 BEAM+ & WAV+ LIKE A PA/EL-COLOR$ *ILDR5'S ,T,V MUPPET :5 %E SPOTT$ HIM4 ,/&+ ) ,ALMA WAS A GRIZZL$ /ICKMAN ?AT ,MICK RECOGNIZ$ AS ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON1 & BESIDE HIM L\NG$ A LAVI%LY DISREPUTABLE-LOOK+ FEL9E ?IRTY-SOME?+ ) A CREAM VE/ & AN OP5$ BE] CAN1 EVID5TLY ,ROMAN'S BOYFRI5D1 ,DEAN4 ,SAT ON ! /EP NEXT TO ,MICK'S SI/] WAS ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT1 ! IT9]ANT POET ) ! SOZZL$ GR9 & TRAGIC EYES :O'D BE5 9 ! SAME CLASS AS ,ALMA AT ,SPR+ ,LANE1 TWO YE>S ABOVE ,MICK'S [N4 ,!RE W]E SOME O!RS !RE HE KNEW1 AS WELL4 ,HE ?\<T ?AT ! GOOD-LOOK+ BLACK GUY ) ! GRAY+ HAIR WAS PROBABLY ,ALMA'S OLD FRI5D ,DAVE ,DANIELS1 ) :OM %E HAD %>$ H] LONG/&+ 5?USIASM = SCI5CE-FICTION1 & HE SAW HIS SI/]'S T\< & SUNBURNT =M] #a#i#fS COCONSPIRATOR ,B]T ,REAGAN /&+ NE> AN ELD]LY YET /RONG-LOOK+ OLD WOMAN ?AT ,MICK ?\<T MI<T BE ,B]T'S MO!R1 OR P]HAPS AN AUNT4 ,!RE W]E TWO O!R WOM5 ( AB\T ! SAME AGE1 AL?\< !SE W]E G5U9E OLD G>GOYLES1 HANG+ BACK ON ! GR\P'S FR+ES1 MORE ?AN LIKELY FRI5DS ( ! OLD DE> /OOD BY ,B]T ,REAGAN !RE4 ,HE RAIS$ A H& TO ALL ( !M & SMIL$1 RETURN+ ,ALMA'S GREET+ AS HE WALK$ T[>DS ! EXHIBITION'S 5TRANCE4 ,OH1 \R SIS1 ,MICK ?\<T4 ,OH1 ,W>RY4 

,?IS HAD BETT] BE MU* MORE ?AN GOOD4 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#d1 #bba 3 ,PRELUDE -- ,ADD$4 

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