,P>T #a1 ,*APT] #f 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALB]T ,CAMUS 

,TEXT 3 

,V,I 

,I,T WAS AN EF=T WAK+ UP ?AT ,SUNDAY MORN+2 ,M>IE HAD TO JOG MY %\LD]S & 
%\T MY NAME4 ,AS WE WANT$ TO GET 9TO ! WAT] E>LY1 WE DIDN'T TR\BLE AB\T 
BREAKFA/4 ,MY HEAD WAS A*+ SLI<TLY & MY FIR/ CIG>ETTE HAD A BITT] TA/E4 ,M>IE 
TOLD ME ,I LOOK$ LIKE A M\RN] AT A FUN]AL1 & ,I C]TA9LY DID FEEL V]Y LIMP4 ,%E 
WAS WE>+ A :ITE DRESS & HAD H] HAIR LOOSE4 ,I TOLD H] %E LOOK$ QUITE 
RAVI%+ LIKE ?AT1 & %E LAU<$ HAPPILY4 

,ON \R WAY \T WE BANG$ ON ,RAYMOND'S DOOR1 & HE %\T$ ?AT HE'D BE ) 
US 9 A JIFFY4 ,WE W5T D[N TO ! /REET &1 BECAUSE ( MY BE+ RA!R UND] ! 
WEA!R & \R HAV+ KEPT ! BL9D D[N 9 MY ROOM1 ! GL>E ( ! MORN+ 
SUN HIT ME 9 ! EYES LIKE A CL5*$ FI/4 

,M>IE1 H[EV]1 WAS ALMO/ DANC+ ) DELI<T1 & KEPT REPEAT+1 0,:AT A 
HEAV5LY DAY60 ,AFT] A FEW M9UTES ,I WAS FEEL+ BETT]1 & NOTIC$ ?AT ,I WAS 
HUNGRY4 ,I M5TION$ ?IS TO ,M>IE1 BUT %E PAID NO ATT5TION4 ,%E WAS C>RY+ AN 
OILCLO? BAG 9 :I* %E HAD /[$ \R BA?+ KIT & A T[EL4 ,PRES5TLY WE HE>D 
,RAYMOND %UTT+ HIS DOOR4 ,HE WAS WE>+ BLUE TR\S]S1 A %ORT-SLEEV$ :ITE 
%IRT1 & A /RAW HAT4 ,I NOTIC$ ?AT HIS =E>MS W]E RA!R HAIRY1 BUT ! SK9 WAS 
V]Y :ITE B5EA?4 ,! /RAW HAT MADE ,M>IE GIGGLE4 ,P]SONALLY1 ,I WAS RA!R PUT (F 
BY HIS GETUP4 ,HE SEEM$ 9 HI< SPIRITS & WAS :I/L+ AS HE CAME D[N ! /AIRS4 
,HE GREET$ ME )1 0,HELLO1 OLD BOY60 & ADDRESS$ ,M>IE AS 0,MADEMOISELLE40 

,ON ! PREVI\S EV5+ WE HAD VISIT$ ! POLICE /ATION1 :]E ,I GAVE EVID5CE 
= ,RAYMOND -- AB\T ! GIRL'S HAV+ BE5 FALSE TO HIM4 ,SO !Y LET HIM (F ) A 
W>N+4 ,!Y DIDN'T *ECK MY /ATEM5T4 

,AFT] SOME TALK ON ! DOOR/EP WE DECID$ TO TAKE ! BUS4 ,! BEA* WAS )9 
EASY WALK+ DI/ANCE1 BUT ! SOON] WE GOT !RE ! BETT]4 ,JU/ AS WE W]E />T+ 
= ! BUS /OP1 ,RAYMOND PLUCK$ MY SLEEVE & TOLD ME TO LOOK ACROSS ! /REET4 ,I 
SAW SOME ,>ABS L\NG+ AGA9/ ! TOBACCONI/'S W9D[4 ,!Y W]E />+ AT US 
SIL5TLY1 9 ! SPECIAL WAY !SE PEOPLE HAVE -- AS IF WE W]E BLOCKS ( /ONE OR DEAD 
TREES4 ,RAYMOND :ISP]$ ?AT ! SECOND ,>AB FROM ! LEFT WAS 0HIS MAN10 & ,I 
?\<T HE LOOK$ RA!R WORRI$ ,H[EV]1 HE ASSUR$ ME ?AT ALL ?AT WAS ANCI5T 
HI/ORY4 ,M>IE1 :O HADN'T FOLL[$ HIS REM>KS1 ASK$1 0,:AT IS IT80 

,I EXPLA9$ ?AT ?OSE ,>ABS ACROSS ! WAY HAD A GRUDGE AGA9/ ,RAYMOND4 ,%E 
9SI/$ ON \R GO+ AT ONCE4 ,!N ,RAYMOND LAU<$1 & SQU>$ HIS %\LD]S4 
,! Y\NG LADY WAS QUITE RI<T1 HE SAID4 ,!RE WAS NO PO9T 9 HANG+ AB\T H]E4 
,HALFWAY TO ! BUS /OP HE GLANC$ BACK OV] HIS %\LD] & SAID ! ,>ABS 
W]5'T FOLL[+4 ,I1 TOO1 LOOK$ BACK4 ,!Y W]E EXACTLY AS BE=E1 GAZ+ 9 ! 
SAME VAGUE WAY AT ! SPOT :]E WE HAD BE54 

,:5 WE W]E 9 ! BUS1 ,RAYMOND1 :O N[ SEEM$ QUITE AT EASE1 KEPT MAK+ 
JOKES TO AMUSE ,M>IE4 ,I C\LD SEE HE WAS ATTRACT$ BY H]1 BUT %E HAD H>DLY A WORD 
= HIM4 ,N[ & AGA9 %E W\LD CAT* MY EYE & SMILE4 

,WE ALI<T$ JU/ \TSIDE ,ALGI]S4 ,! BEA* IS NOT F> FROM ! BUS /OP2 ONE HAS 
ONLY TO CROSS A PAT* ( HI<L&1 A SORT ( PLATEAU1 :I* OV]LOOKS ! SEA & 
%ELVES D[N /EEPLY TO ! S&S4 ,! GR\ND H]E WAS COV]$ ) YELL[I% 
PEBBLES & WILD LILIES ?AT %[$ SN[-:ITE AGA9/ ! BLUE ( ! SKY1 :I* 
HAD ALREADY ! H>D1 METALLIC GL9T IT GETS ON V]Y HOT DAYS4 ,M>IE AMUS$ H]SELF 
SWI%+ H] BAG AGA9/ ! FL[]S & S5D+ ! PETALS %[]+ 9 ALL 
DIRECTIONS4 ,!N WE WALK$ BETWE5 TWO R[S ( LITTLE H\SES ) WOOD5 BALCONIES 
& GRE5 OR :ITE PAL+S4 ,SOME ( !M W]E HALF HIDD5 9 CLUMPS ( TAM>ISKS2 
O!RS ROSE NAK$ FROM ! /ONY PLATEAU4 ,BE=E WE CAME TO ! 5D ( IT1 ! SEA 
WAS 9 FULL VIEW2 IT LAY SMOO? AS A MIRROR1 & 9 ! DI/ANCE A BIG HEADL& JUTT$ 
\T OV] ITS BLACK REFLECTION4 ,?R\< ! /ILL AIR CAME ! FA9T BUZZ ( A MOTOR 
5G9E & WE SAW A FI%+ BOAT V]Y F> \T1 GLID+ ALMO/ IMP]CEPTIBLY ACROSS 
! DAZZL+ SMOO?NESS4 

,M>IE PICK$ SOME ROCK IRISES4 ,GO+ D[N ! /EEP PA? LEAD+ TO ! SEA1 WE 
SAW SOME BA!RS ALREADY ON ! S&S4 

,RAYMOND'S FRI5D [N$ A SMALL WOOD5 BUNGAL[ AT ! NE> 5D ( ! BEA*4 
,ITS BACK RE/$ AGA9/ ! CLIFFSIDE1 :ILE ! FRONT /OOD ON PILES1 :I* ! WAT] 
WAS ALREADY LAPP+4 ,RAYMOND 9TRODUC$ US TO HIS FRI5D1 :OSE NAME WAS ,MASSON4 
,HE WAS TALL1 BROAD-%\LD]$1 & ?ICK-SET2 HIS WIFE WAS A PLUMP1 *E]FUL LITTLE 
WOMAN :O SPOKE ) A ,P>IS ACC5T4 

,MASSON PROMPTLY TOLD US TO MAKE \RSELVES AT HOME4 ,HE HAD GONE \T FI%+1 HE 
SAID1 FIR/ ?+ 9 ! MORN+1 & !RE W\LD BE FRI$ FI% = LUN*4 ,I 
CONGRATULAT$ HIM ON HIS LITTLE BUNGAL[1 & HE SAID HE ALWAYS SP5T HIS WEEK 5DS 
& HOLIDAYS H]E4 0,) ! MISSUS1 NE$LESS TO SAY10 HE ADD$4 ,I GLANC$ AT H]1 & 
NOTIC$ ?AT %E & ,M>IE SEEM$ TO BE GETT+ ON WELL TOGE!R2 LAU<+ & 
*ATT]+ AWAY4 ,= ! FIR/ TIME1 P]HAPS1 ,I S]I\SLY CONSID]$ ! POSSIBILITY ( 
MY M>RY+ H]4 

,MASSON WANT$ TO HAVE A SWIM AT ONCE1 BUT HIS WIFE & ,RAYMOND W]E 
DIS9CL9$ TO MOVE4 ,SO ONLY ! ?REE ( US1 ,M>IE1 ,MASSON1 & MYSELF1 W5T D[N 
TO ! BEA*4 ,M>IE PROMPTLY PLUNG$ 91 BUT ,MASSON & ,I WAIT$ = A BIT4 ,HE WAS 
RA!R SL[ ( SPEE* & HAD1 ,I NOTIC$1 A HABIT ( SAY+ 0& :AT'S MORE0 
BETWE5 HIS PHRASES -- EV5 :5 ! SECOND ADD$ NO?+ REALLY TO ! FIR/4 ,TALK+ 
( ,M>IE1 HE SAID3 0,%E'S AN AWFULLY PRETTY GIRL1 & :AT'S MORE1 *>M+40 

,BUT ,I SOON CEAS$ PAY+ ATT5TION TO ?IS TRICK ( HIS2 ,I WAS BASK+ 9 ! 
SUNLI<T1 :I*1 ,I NOTIC$1 WAS MAK+ ME FEEL MU* BETT]4 ,! S& WAS BEG9N+ 
TO /OKE UP UND]FOOT &1 ?\< ,I WAS EAG] = A DIP1 ,I PO/PON$ IT = A M9UTE OR 
TWO MORE4 ,AT LA/ ,I SAID TO ,MASSON3 0,%ALL WE GO 9 N[80 & PLUNG$4 ,MASSON 
WALK$ 9 G+]LY & ONLY BEGAN TO SWIM :5 HE WAS \T ( HIS DEP?4 ,HE SWAM 
H& OV] H& & MADE SL[ HEADWAY1 SO ,I LEFT HIM BEH9D & CAU<T UP ) 
,M>IE4 ,! WAT] WAS COLD & ,I FELT ALL ! BETT] = IT4 ,WE SWAM A LONG WAY \T1 
,M>IE & ,I1 SIDE BY SIDE1 & IT WAS PLEASANT FEEL+ H[ \R MOVEM5TS MAT*$1 
H]S & M9E1 & H[ WE W]E BO? 9 ! SAME MOOD1 5JOY+ EV]Y MOM5T4 

,ONCE WE W]E \T 9 ! OP51 WE LAY ON \R BACKS &1 AS ,I GAZ$ UP AT ! SKY1 ,I 
C\LD FEEL ! SUN DRAW+ UP ! FILM ( SALT WAT] ON MY LIPS & *EEKS4 ,WE SAW 
,MASSON SWIM BACK TO ! BEA* & SLUMP D[N ON ! S& UND] ! SUN4 ,9 ! 
DI/ANCE HE LOOK$ 5ORM\S1 LIKE A /R&$ :ALE4 ,!N ,M>IE PROPOS$ ?AT WE 
%\LD SWIM T&EM4 ,%E W5T AHEAD & ,I PUT MY >MS R\ND H] WAI/1 FROM 
BEH9D1 & :ILE %E DREW ME =W>D ) H] >M /ROKES1 ,I KICK$ \T BEH9D TO 
HELP US ON4 

,?AT S\ND ( LITTLE SPLA%ES HAD BE5 9 MY E>S = SO LONG ?AT ,I BEGAN TO FEEL ,I'D 
HAD 5\< ( IT4 ,SO ,I LET GO ( ,M>IE & SWAM BACK AT AN EASY PACE1 TAK+ LONG1 
DEEP BREA?S4 ,:5 ,I MADE ! BEA* ,I /RET*$ MYSELF BELLY D[NW>D BESIDE 
,MASSON1 RE/+ MY FACE ON ! S&4 ,I TOLD HIM 0IT WAS F9E0 H]E1 & HE AGRE$4 
,PRES5TLY ,M>IE CAME BACK4 ,I RAIS$ MY HEAD TO WAT* H] APPROA*4 ,%E WAS 
GLI/5+ ) BR9E & HOLD+ H] HAIR BACK4 ,!N %E LAY D[N BESIDE ME1 & 
:AT ) ! COMB9$ W>M? ( \R BODIES & ! SUN1 ,I FELT MYSELF DROPP+ (F 
TO SLEEP4 

,AFT] A :ILE ,M>IE TUGG$ MY >M4 & SAID ,MASSON HAD GONE TO HIS PLACE2 IT 
MU/ BE NE>LY LUN*TIME4 ,I ROSE AT ONCE1 AS ,I WAS FEEL+ HUNGRY1 BUT ,M>IE TOLD ME ,I 
HADN'T KISS$ H] ONCE S9CE ! E>LY MORN+4 ,?AT WAS SO -- ?\< ,I'D WANT$ TO1 
SEV]AL TIMES4 0,LET'S GO 9TO ! WAT] AGA910 %E SAID1 & WE RAN 9TO ! SEA & 
LAY FLAT AMONG ! RIPPLES = A MOM5T4 ,!N WE SWAM A FEW /ROKES1 & :5 
WE W]E ALMO/ \T ( \R DEP? %E FLUNG H] >MS R\ND ME & HUGG$ ME4 ,I FELT 
H] LEGS TW9+ R\ND M9E1 & MY S5SES T+L$4 

,:5 WE GOT BACK1 ,MASSON WAS ON ! /EPS ( HIS BUNGAL[1 %\T+ TO US TO 
COME4 ,I TOLD HIM ,I WAS RAV5\SLY HUNGRY1 & HE PROMPTLY TURN$ TO HIS WIFE & 
SAID HE'D TAK5 QUITE A FANCY TO ME4 ,! BREAD WAS EXCELL5T1 & ,I HAD MY FULL %>E 
( ! FI%4 ,!N CAME SOME /EAK & POTATO *IPS4 ,NONE ( US SPOKE :ILE EAT+4 
,MASSON DRANK A LOT ( W9E & KEPT REFILL+ MY GLASS ! MOM5T IT WAS EMPTY4 ,BY 
! TIME C(FEE WAS H&$ R\ND ,I WAS FEEL+ SLI<TLY MUZZY1 & ,I />T$ SMOK+ 
ONE CIG>ETTE AFT] ANO!R4 ,MASSON1 ,RAYMOND1 & ,I DISCUSS$ A PLAN ( SP5D+ ! 
:OLE ( ,AUGU/ ON ! BEA* TOGE!R1 %>+ EXP5SES4 

,SUDD5LY ,M>IE EXCLAIM$3 0,I SAY6 ,DO Y\ KN[ ! TIME8 ,IT'S ONLY HALF-PA/ 
ELEV560 

,WE W]E ALL SURPRIS$ AT ?AT1 & ,MASSON REM>K$ ?AT WE'D HAD A V]Y E>LY 
LUN*1 BUT REALLY LUN* WAS A MOVABLE FEA/1 Y\ HAD IT :5 Y\ FELT LIKE IT4 

,?IS SET ,M>IE LAU<+1 ,I DON'T KN[ :Y4 ,I SUSPECT %E'D DRUNK A BIT TOO MU*4 

,!N ,MASSON ASK$ IF ,I'D LIKE TO COME ) HIM = A /ROLL ON ! BEA*4 

0,MY WIFE ALWAYS HAS A NAP AFT] LUN*10 HE SAID4 0,P]SONALLY ,I F9D IT DOESN'T AGREE 
) ME2 :AT ,I NE$ IS A %ORT WALK4 ,I'M ALWAYS TELL+ H] IT'S MU* BETT] = ! 
HEAL?4 ,BUT1 ( C\RSE1 %E'S 5TITL$ TO H] [N OP9ION40 

,M>IE PROPOS$ TO /AY & HELP ) ! WA%+ UP4 ,MME ,MASSON SMIL$ & 
SAID ?AT1 9 ?AT CASE1 ! FIR/ ?+ WAS TO GET ! M5 \T ( ! WAY4 ,SO WE W5T 
\T TOGE!R1 ! ?REE ( US4 

,! LI<T WAS ALMO/ V]TICAL & ! GL>E FROM ! WAT] SE>$ ONE'S EYES4 ,! 
BEA* WAS QUITE DES]T$ N[4 ,ONE C\LD HE> A FA9T T9KLE ( KNIVES & =KS & 
CROCK]Y 9 ! %ACKS & BUNGAL[S L9+ ! =E%ORE4 ,HEAT WAS WELL+ UP FROM 
! ROCKS1 & ONE C\LD H>DLY BREA!4 

,AT FIR/ ,RAYMOND & ,MASSON TALK$ ( ?+S & PEOPLE ,I DIDN'T KN[4 ,I 
GA!R$ ?AT !Y'D BE5 ACQUA9T$ = SOME TIME & HAD EV5 LIV$ TOGE!R = A 
:ILE4 ,WE W5T D[N TO ! WAT]'S $GE & WALK$ ALONG IT2 N[ & !N A LONG] 
WAVE WET \R CANVAS %OES4 ,I WASN'T ?9K+ ( ANY?+1 AS ALL ?AT SUNLI<T BEAT+ 
D[N ON MY B>E HEAD MADE ME FEEL HALF ASLEEP4 

,JU/ !N ,RAYMOND SAID SOME?+ TO ,MASSON ?AT ,I DIDN'T QUITE CAT*4 ,BUT AT ! 
SAME MOM5T ,I NOTIC$ TWO ,>ABS 9 BLUE DUNG>EES A LONG WAY D[N ! BEA*1 
COM+ 9 \R DIRECTION4 ,I GAVE ,RAYMOND A LOOK & HE NODD$1 SAY+1 0,?AT'S 
HIM40 ,WE WALK$ /EADILY ON4 ,MASSON WOND]$ H[ !Y'D MANAG$ TO TRACK US 
H]E4 ,MY IMPRESSION WAS ?AT !Y HAD SE5 US TAK+ ! BUS & NOTIC$ ,M>IE'S 
OILCLO? BA?+ BAG2 BUT ,I DIDN'T SAY ANY?+4 

,?\< ! ,>ABS WALK$ QUITE SL[LY1 !Y W]E MU* NE>] ALREADY4 ,WE DIDN'T 
*ANGE \R PACE1 BUT ,RAYMOND SAID3 

0,LI/56 ,IF !RE'S A R\<H\SE1 Y\1 ,MASSON1 TAKE ON ! SECOND ONE4 ,I'LL TACKLE 
! FELL[ :O'S AFT] ME4 ,& Y\1 ,MEURSAULT1 /& BY TO HELP IF ANO!R ONE 
COMES UP1 & LAY HIM \T40 

,I SAID1 0,RI<T10 & ,MASSON PUT HIS H&S 9 HIS POCKETS4 

,! S& WAS AS HOT AS FIRE1 & ,I C\LD HAVE SWORN IT WAS GL[+ R$4 ,! 
DI/ANCE BETWE5 US & ! ,>ABS WAS /EADILY DECREAS+4 ,:5 WE W]E ONLY A 
FEW /EPS AWAY ! ,>ABS HALT$4 ,MASSON & ,I SL[$ D[N1 :ILE ,RAYMOND W5T 
/RAI<T UP TO HIS MAN4 ,I C\LDN'T HE> :AT HE SAID1 BUT ,I SAW ! NATIVE L[]+ HIS 
HEAD1 AS IF TO BUTT HIM 9 ! *E/4 ,RAYMOND LA%$ \T PROMPTLY & %\T$ TO 
,MASSON TO COME4 ,MASSON W5T UP TO ! MAN HE HAD BE5 M>K+ & /RUCK HIM 
TWICE ) ALL HIS MI<T4 ,! FELL[ FELL FLAT 9TO ! WAT] & /AY$ !RE SOME 
SECONDS ) BUBBLES COM+ UP TO ! SURFACE R\ND HIS HEAD4 ,MEAN:ILE ,RAYMOND 
HAD BE5 SLOGG+ ! O!R MAN1 :OSE FACE WAS /REAM+ ) BLOOD4 ,HE GLANC$ 
AT ME OV] HIS %\LD] & %\T$3 

0,JU/ Y\ WAT*6 ,I A9'T F9I%$ ) HIM YET60 

0,LOOK \T60 ,I CRI$4 0,HE'S GOT A KNIFE40 

,I SPOKE TOO LATE4 ,! MAN HAD GA%$ ,RAYMOND'S >M & HIS M\? AS WELL4 

,MASSON SPRANG =W>D4 ,! O!R ,>AB GOT UP FROM ! WAT] & PLAC$ HIMSELF 
BEH9D ! FELL[ ) ! KNIFE4 ,WE DIDN'T D>E TO MOVE4 ,! TWO NATIVES BACK$ 
AWAY SL[LY1 KEEP+ US AT BAY ) ! KNIFE & NEV] TAK+ !IR EYES (F US4 
,:5 !Y W]E AT A SAFE DI/ANCE !Y SWUNG R\ND & TOOK TO !IR HEELS4 ,WE 
/OOD /OCK-/ILL1 ) ! SUNLI<T BEAT+ D[N ON US4 ,BLOOD WAS DRIPP+ FROM 
,RAYMOND'S W\ND$ >M1 :I* HE WAS SQUEEZ+ H>D ABOVE ! ELB[4 

,MASSON REM>K$ ?AT !RE WAS A DOCTOR :O ALWAYS SP5T HIS ,SUNDAYS H]E1 & 
,RAYMOND SAID3 0,GOOD4 ,LET'S GO TO HIM AT ONCE40 ,HE C\LD H>DLY GET ! WORDS \T1 
AS ! BLOOD FROM HIS O!R W\ND MADE BUBBLES 9 HIS M\?4 

,WE EA* GAVE HIM AN >M & HELP$ HIM BACK TO ! BUNGAL[4 ,ONCE WE W]E 
!RE HE TOLD US ! W\NDS W]5'T SO V]Y DEEP & HE C\LD WALK TO :]E ! 
DOCTOR WAS4 ,M>IE HAD GONE QUITE PALE1 & ,MME ,MASSON WAS 9 TE>S4 

,MASSON & ,RAYMOND W5T (F TO ! DOCTOR'S :ILE ,I WAS LEFT BEH9D AT ! 
BUNGAL[ TO EXPLA9 MATT]S TO ! WOM54 ,I DIDN'T MU* RELI% ! TASK & SOON 
DRI$ UP & />T$ SMOK+1 />+ AT ! SEA4 

,RAYMOND CAME BACK AT AB\T HALF-PA/ ONE1 ACCOMPANI$ BY ,MASSON4 ,HE HAD HIS 
>M B&AG$ & A /RIP ( /ICK+ PLA/] ON ! CORN] ( HIS M\?4 ,! DOCTOR 
HAD ASSUR$ HIM IT WAS NO?+ S]I\S1 BUT HE WAS LOOK+ V]Y GLUM4 ,MASSON TRI$ 
TO MAKE HIM LAU<1 BUT )\T SUCCESS4 

,PRES5TLY ,RAYMOND SAID HE WAS GO+ = A /ROLL ON ! BEA*4 ,I ASK$ HIM :]E 
HE PROPOS$ TO GO1 & HE MUMBL$ SOME?+ AB\T 0WANT+ TO TAKE ! AIR40 ,WE -- 
,MASSON & ,I -- !N SAID WE'D GO ) HIM1 BUT HE FLEW 9TO A RAGE & TOLD US TO 
M9D \R [N BUS9ESS4 ,MASSON SAID WE MU/N'T 9SI/1 SEE+ ! /ATE HE WAS 94 
,H[EV]1 :5 HE W5T \T1 ,I FOLL[$ HIM4 

,IT WAS LIKE A FURNACE \TSIDE1 ) ! SUNLI<T SPL9T]+ 9TO FLAKES ( FIRE ON ! 
S& & SEA4 ,WE WALK$ = QUITE A :ILE1 & ,I HAD AN IDEA ?AT ,RAYMOND HAD A 
DEF9ITE IDEA :]E HE WAS GO+2 BUT PROBABLY ,I WAS MI/AK5 AB\T ?IS4 

,AT ! 5D ( ! BEA* WE CAME TO A SMALL /REAM ?AT HAD CUT A *ANNEL 9 ! 
S&1 AFT] COM+ \T FROM BEH9D A BIGGI% ROCK4 ,!RE WE F\ND \R TWO ,>ABS 
AGA91 LY+ ON ! S& 9 !IR BLUE DUNG>EES4 ,!Y LOOK$ H>MLESS 5\<1 AS IF 
!Y DIDN'T BE> ANY MALICE1 & NEI!R MADE ANY MOVE :5 WE APPROA*$4 ,! 
MAN :O HAD SLA%$ ,RAYMOND />$ AT HIM )\T SPEAK+4 ,! O!R MAN WAS 
BL[+ D[N A LITTLE RE$ & EXTRACT+ FROM IT ?REE NOTES ( ! SCALE1 :I* HE 
PLAY$ OV] & OV] AGA91 :ILE HE WAT*$ US FROM ! CORN] ( AN EYE4 

,= A :ILE NOBODY MOV$2 IT WAS ALL SUNLI<T & SIL5CE EXCEPT = ! T9KLE ( 
! /REAM & ?OSE ?REE LITTLE LONELY S\NDS4 ,!N ,RAYMOND PUT HIS H& TO HIS 
REVOLV] POCKET1 BUT ! ,>ABS /ILL DIDN'T MOVE4 ,I NOTIC$ ! MAN PLAY+ ON ! 
RE$ HAD HIS BIG TOES SPLAY$ \T ALMO/ AT RI<T ANGLES TO HIS FEET4 

,/ILL KEEP+ HIS EYES ON HIS MAN1 ,RAYMOND SAID TO ME3 0,%ALL ,I PLUG HIM ONE80 

,I ?\<T QUICKLY4 ,IF ,I TOLD HIM NOT TO1 CONSID]+ ! MOOD HE WAS 91 HE MI<T 
V]Y WELL FLY 9TO A TEMP] & USE HIS GUN4 ,SO ,I SAID ! FIR/ ?+ ?AT CAME 9TO MY 
HEAD4 

0,HE HASN'T SPOK5 TO Y\ YET4 ,IT W\LD BE A L[D[N TRICK TO %OOT HIM LIKE ?AT1 
9 COLD BLOOD40 

,AGA91 = SOME MOM5TS ONE HE>D NO?+ BUT ! T9KLE ( ! /REAM & ! 
FLUTE NOTES WEAV+ ?R\< ! HOT1 /ILL AIR4 

0,WELL10 ,RAYMOND SAID AT LA/1 0IF ?AT'S H[ Y\ FEEL1 ,I'D BETT] SAY SOME?+ 
9SULT+1 & IF HE ANSW]S BACK ,I'LL LOOSE (F40 

0,RI<T10 ,I SAID4 0,ONLY1 IF HE DOESN'T GET \T HIS KNIFE Y\'VE NO BUS9ESS TO FIRE40 

,RAYMOND WAS BEG9N+ TO FIDGET4 ,! ,>AB ) ! RE$ W5T ON PLAY+1 & 
BO? ( !M WAT*$ ALL \R MOVEM5TS4 

0,LI/510 ,I SAID TO ,RAYMOND4 0,Y\ TAKE ON ! FELL[ ON ! RI<T1 & GIVE ME 
Y\R REVOLV]4 ,IF ! O!R ONE />TS MAK+ TR\BLE OR GETS \T HIS KNIFE1 ,I'LL %OOT40 

,! SUN GL9T$ ON ,RAYMOND'S REVOLV] AS HE H&$ IT TO ME4 ,BUT NOBODY MADE A 
MOVE YET2 IT WAS JU/ AS IF EV]Y?+ HAD CLOS$ 9 ON US SO ?AT WE C\LDN'T /IR4 ,WE 
C\LD ONLY WAT* EA* O!R1 NEV] L[]+ \R EYES2 ! :OLE WORLD SEEM$ TO 
HAVE COME TO A /&/ILL ON ?IS LITTLE /RIP ( S& BETWE5 ! SUNLI<T & ! SEA1 
! TW(OLD SIL5CE ( ! RE$ & /REAM4 ,& JU/ !N IT CROSS$ MY M9D ?AT ONE 
MI<T FIRE1 OR NOT FIRE -- & IT W\LD COME TO ABSOLUTELY ! SAME ?+4 

,!N1 ALL ( A SUDD51 ! ,>ABS VANI%$2 !Y'D SLIPP$ LIKE LIZ>DS UND] COV] 
( ! ROCK4 ,SO ,RAYMOND & ,I TURN$ & WALK$ BACK4 ,HE SEEM$ HAPPI]1 & 
BEGAN TALK+ AB\T ! BUS TO CAT* = \R RETURN4 

,:5 WE REA*$ ! BUNGAL[ ,RAYMOND PROMPTLY W5T UP ! WOOD5 /EPS1 
BUT ,I HALT$ ON ! BOTTOM ONE4 ,! LI<T SEEM$ ?UDD+ 9 MY HEAD & ,I C\LDN'T 
FACE ! EF=T NE$$ TO GO UP ! /EPS & MAKE MYSELF AMIABLE TO ! WOM54 ,BUT 
! HEAT WAS SO GREAT ?AT IT WAS JU/ AS BAD /AY+ :]E ,I WAS1 UND] ?AT FLOOD ( 
BL9D+ LI<T FALL+ FROM ! SKY4 ,TO /AY1 OR TO MAKE A MOVE -- IT CAME TO MU* ! 
SAME4 ,AFT] A MOM5T ,I RETURN$ TO ! BEA*1 & />T$ WALK+4 

,!RE WAS ! SAME R$ GL>E AS F> AS EYE C\LD REA*1 & SMALL WAVES W]E 
LAPP+ ! HOT S& 9 LITTLE1 FLURRI$ GASPS4 ,AS ,I SL[LY WALK$ T[>D ! B\LD]S 
AT ! 5D ( ! BEA* ,I C\LD FEEL MY TEMPLES SWELL+ UND] ! IMPACT ( ! LI<T4 
,IT PRESS$ ITSELF ON ME1 TRY+ TO *ECK MY PROGRESS4 ,& EA* TIME ,I FELT A HOT BLA/ 
/RIKE MY =EHEAD1 ,I GRITT$ MY TEE?1 ,I CL5*$ MY FI/S 9 MY TR\S] POCKETS & 
KEY$ UP EV]Y N]VE TO F5D (F ! SUN & ! D>K BEFUDDLEM5T IT WAS P\R+ 
9TO ME4 ,:5EV] A BLADE ( VIVID LI<T %OT UPW>D FROM A BIT ( %ELL OR BROK5 
GLASS LY+ ON ! S&1 MY JAWS SET H>D4 ,I WASN'T GO+ TO BE BEAT51 & ,I WALK$ 
/EADILY ON4 

,! SMALL BLACK HUMP ( ROCK CAME 9TO VIEW F> D[N ! BEA*4 ,IT WAS RIMM$ 
BY A DAZZL+ %E5 ( LI<T & FEA!RY SPRAY1 BUT ,I WAS ?9K+ ( ! COLD1 CLE> 
/REAM BEH9D IT1 & LONG+ TO HE> AGA9 ! T9KLE ( RUNN+ WAT]4 ,ANY?+ TO 
BE RID ( ! GL>E1 ! SI<T ( WOM5 9 TE>S1 ! /RA9 & EF=T -- & TO RETRIEVE 
! POOL ( %AD[ BY ! ROCK & ITS COOL SIL5CE6 

,BUT :5 ,I CAME NE>] ,I SAW ?AT ,RAYMOND'S ,>AB HAD RETURN$4 ,HE WAS BY 
HIMSELF ?IS TIME1 LY+ ON HIS BACK1 HIS H&S BEH9D HIS HEAD1 HIS FACE %AD$ BY ! 
ROCK :ILE ! SUN BEAT ON ! RE/ ( HIS BODY4 ,ONE C\LD SEE HIS DUNG>EES /EAM+ 
9 ! HEAT4 ,I WAS RA!R TAK5 ABACK2 MY IMPRESSION HAD BE5 ?AT ! 9CID5T WAS 
CLOS$1 & ,I HADN'T GIV5 A ?\<T TO IT ON MY WAY H]E4 

,ON SEE+ ME1 ! ,>AB RAIS$ HIMSELF A LITTLE1 & HIS H& W5T TO HIS POCKET4 
,NATURALLY1 ,I GRIPP$ ,RAYMOND'S REVOLV] 9 ! POCKET ( MY COAT4 ,!N ! ,>AB LET 
HIMSELF S9K BACK AGA91 BUT )\T TAK+ HIS H& FROM HIS POCKET4 ,I WAS SOME 
DI/ANCE (F1 AT LEA/ T5 Y>DS1 & MO/ ( ! TIME ,I SAW HIM AS A BLURR$ D>K =M 
WOBBL+ 9 ! HEAT HAZE4 ,SOMETIMES1 H[EV]1 ,I HAD GLIMPSES ( HIS EYES GL[+ 
BETWE5 ! HALF-CLOS$ LIDS4 ,! S\ND ( ! WAVES WAS EV5 LAZI]1 FEEBL]1 ?AN AT 
NOON4 ,BUT ! LI<T HADN'T *ANG$2 IT WAS P\ND+ AS FI]CELY AS EV] ON ! LONG 
/RET* ( S& ?AT 5D$ AT ! ROCK4 ,= TWO H\RS ! SUN SEEM$ TO HAVE MADE NO 
PROGRESS2 BECALM$ 9 A SEA ( MOLT5 /EEL4 ,F> \T ON ! HORIZON A /EAM] WAS 
PASS+2 ,I C\LD JU/ MAKE \T FROM ! CORN] ( AN EYE ! SMALL BLACK MOV+ 
PAT*1 :ILE ,I KEPT MY GAZE FIX$ ON ! ,>AB4 

,IT /RUCK ME ?AT ALL ,I HAD TO DO WAS TO TURN1 WALK AWAY1 & ?9K NO MORE AB\T IT4 
,BUT ! :OLE BEA*1 PULS+ ) HEAT1 WAS PRESS+ ON MY BACK4 ,I TOOK SOME /EPS 
T[>D ! /REAM4 ,! ,>AB DIDN'T MOVE4 ,AFT] ALL1 !RE WAS /ILL SOME DI/ANCE 
BETWE5 US4 ,P]HAPS BECAUSE ( ! %AD[ ON HIS FACE1 HE SEEM$ TO BE GR9N+ AT 
ME4 

,I WAIT$4 ,! HEAT WAS BEG9N+ TO SCOR* MY *EEKS2 BEADS ( SWEAT W]E 
GA!R+ 9 MY EYEBR[S4 ,IT WAS JU/ ! SAME SORT ( HEAT AS AT MY MO!R'S 
FUN]AL1 & ,I HAD ! SAME DISAGREEABLE S5SATIONS -- ESPECIALLY 9 MY =EHEAD1 
:]E ALL ! VE9S SEEM$ TO BE BUR/+ ?R\< ! SK94 ,I C\LDN'T /& IT ANY 
LONG]1 & TOOK ANO!R /EP =W>D4 ,I KNEW IT WAS A FOOL ?+ TO DO2 ,I W\LDN'T GET 
\T ( ! SUN BY MOV+ ON A Y>D OR SO4 ,BUT ,I TOOK ?AT /EP1 JU/ ONE /EP1 =W>D4 
,& !N ! ,>AB DREW HIS KNIFE & HELD IT UP T[>D ME1 A?W>T ! SUNLI<T4 

,A %AFT ( LI<T %OT UPW>D FROM ! /EEL1 & ,I FELT AS IF A LONG1 ?9 BLADE 
TRANSFIX$ MY =EHEAD4 ,AT ! SAME MOM5T ALL ! SWEAT ?AT HAD ACCUMULAT$ 9 
MY EYEBR[S SPLA%$ D[N ON MY EYELIDS1 COV]+ !M ) A W>M FILM ( 
MOI/URE4 ,B5EA? A VEIL ( BR9E & TE>S MY EYES W]E BL9D$2 ,I WAS CONSCI\S 
ONLY ( ! CYMBALS ( ! SUN CLA%+ ON MY SKULL1 &1 LESS DI/9CTLY1 ( ! KE5 
BLADE ( LI<T FLA%+ UP FROM ! KNIFE1 SC>R+ MY EYELA%ES1 & G\G+ 9TO MY 
EYEBALLS4 

,!N EV]Y?+ BEGAN TO REEL BE=E MY EYES1 A FI]Y GU/ CAME FROM ! SEA1 
:ILE ! SKY CRACK$ 9 TWO1 FROM 5D TO 5D1 & A GREAT %EET ( FLAME P\R$ 
D[N ?R\< ! RIFT4 ,EV]Y N]VE 9 MY BODY WAS A /EEL SPR+1 & MY GRIP CLOS$ 
ON ! REVOLV]4 ,! TRIGG] GAVE1 & ! SMOO? UND]BELLY ( ! BUTT JOGG$ MY 
PALM4 ,& SO1 ) ?AT CRISP1 :IPCRACK S\ND1 IT ALL BEGAN4 ,I %OOK (F MY SWEAT 
& ! CL++ VEIL ( LI<T4 ,I KNEW ,I'D %ATT]$ ! BALANCE ( ! DAY1 ! 
SPACI\S CALM ( ?IS BEA* ON :I* ,I HAD BE5 HAPPY4 ,BUT ,I FIR$ F\R %OTS MORE 
9TO ! 9]T BODY1 ON :I* !Y LEFT NO VISIBLE TRACE4 ,& EA* SUCCESSIVE %OT WAS 
ANO!R L\D1 FATEFUL RAP ON ! DOOR ( MY UNDO+4 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#e1 #bba 3 ,P>T #a1 ,*APT] #f -- ,ADD$4 

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