,BOOK #a#b1 ,*APT] #ae 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,:5 ,NATA%A OP5$ ,PR9CE ,&REW'S DOOR ) A FAMILI> MOVEM5T & LET 
 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y PASS 9TO ! ROOM BE=E H]1 ! PR9CESS FELT ! SOBS 9 
 H] ?ROAT4 ,H>D AS %E HAD TRI$ TO PREP>E H]SELF1 & N[ TRI$ TO 
 REMA9 TRANQUIL1 %E KNEW ?AT %E W\LD BE UNABLE TO LOOK AT HIM )\T 
 TE>S4 

,! PR9CESS UND]/OOD :AT ,NATA%A HAD MEANT BY ! WORDS3 0TWO DAYS AGO 
 ?IS SUDD5LY HAPP5$40 ,%E UND]/OOD ?OSE WORDS TO MEAN ?AT HE HAD 
 SUDD5LY S(T5$ & ?AT ?IS S(T5+ & G5TL5ESS W]E SIGNS ( 
 APPROA*+ DEA?4 ,AS %E /EPP$ TO ! DOOR %E ALREADY SAW 9 
 IMAG9ATION ,&REW'S FACE AS %E REMEMB]$ IT 9 *ILDHOOD1 A G5TLE1 
 MILD1 SYMPA!TIC FACE :I* HE HAD R>ELY %[N1 & :I* !RE=E 
 AFFECT$ H] V]Y /RONGLY4 ,%E WAS SURE HE W\LD SPEAK S(T1 T5D] WORDS 
 TO H] SU* AS H] FA!R HAD UTT]$ BE=E HIS DEA?1 & ?AT %E W\LD 
 NOT BE ABLE TO BE> IT & W\LD BUR/ 9TO SOBS 9 HIS PRES5CE4 ,YET 
 SOON] OR LAT] IT HAD TO BE1 & %E W5T 94 ,! SOBS ROSE HI<] & 
 HI<] 9 H] ?ROAT AS %E MORE & MORE CLE>LY DI/+UI%$ HIS =M 
 & H] %ORTSI<T$ EYES TRI$ TO MAKE \T HIS FEATURES1 & !N %E SAW 
 HIS FACE & MET HIS GAZE4 

,HE WAS LY+ 9 A SQUIRREL-FUR DRESS+ G[N ON A DIVAN1 SURR\ND$ BY 
 PILL[S4 ,HE WAS ?9 & PALE4 ,9 ONE ?91 TRANSLUC5TLY :ITE H& HE 
 HELD A H&K]*IEF1 :ILE ) ! O!R HE /ROK$ ! DELICATE MU/A*E 
 HE HAD GR[N1 MOV+ HIS F+]S SL[LY4 ,HIS EYES GAZ$ AT !M AS !Y 
 5T]$4 

,ON SEE+ HIS FACE & MEET+ HIS EYES ,PR9CESS ,M>Y'S PACE SUDD5LY 
 SLACK5$1 %E FELT H] TE>S DRY UP & H] SOBS CEAS$4 ,%E SUDD5LY 
 FELT GUILTY & GREW TIMID ON CAT*+ ! EXPRESSION ( HIS FACE & 
 EYES4 

0,BUT 9 :AT AM ,I TO BLAME80 %E ASK$ H]SELF4 ,& HIS COLD1 /]N LOOK 
 REPLI$3 0,BECAUSE Y\ >E ALIVE & ?9K+ ( ! LIV+1 :ILE ,I4440 

,9 ! DEEP GAZE ?AT SEEM$ TO LOOK NOT \TW>DS BUT 9W>DS !RE WAS AN 
 ALMO/ HO/ILE EXPRESSION AS HE SL[LY REG>D$ HIS SI/] & ,NATA%A4 

,HE KISS$ HIS SI/]1 HOLD+ H] H& 9 HIS AS WAS !IR WONT4 

0,H[ >E Y\1 ,M>Y8 ,H[ DID Y\ MANAGE TO GET H]E80 SAID HE 9 A VOICE AS 
 CALM & ALO( AS HIS LOOK4 

,HAD HE SCREAM$ 9 AGONY1 ?AT SCREAM W\LD NOT HAVE /RUCK SU* HORROR 
 9TO ,PR9CESS ,M>Y'S HE>T AS ! TONE ( HIS VOICE4 

0,& HAVE Y\ BR\<T LITTLE ,NI*OLAS80 HE ASK$ 9 ! SAME SL[1 QUIET 
 MANN] & ) AN OBVI\S EF=T TO REMEMB]4 

0,H[ >E Y\ N[80 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y1 H]SELF SURPRIS$ AT :AT %E WAS 
 SAY+4 

0,?AT1 MY DE>1 Y\ MU/ ASK ! DOCTOR10 HE REPLI$1 & AGA9 MAK+ AN 
 EVID5T EF=T TO BE AFFECTIONATE1 HE SAID ) HIS LIPS ONLY 7HIS WORDS 
 CLE>LY DID NOT CORRESPOND TO HIS ?\<TS73 

0,M]CI1 *]E AMIE1 D'ETRE V5UE40 "9 

 "9 0,?ANK Y\ = COM+1 MY DE>40 
  
  

,PR9CESS ,M>Y PRESS$ HIS H&4 ,! PRESSURE MADE HIM W9CE JU/ 
 P]CEPTIBLY4 ,HE WAS SIL5T1 & %E DID NOT KN[ :AT TO SAY4 ,%E N[ 
 UND]/OOD :AT HAD HAPP5$ TO HIM TWO DAYS BE=E4 ,9 HIS WORDS1 HIS 
 TONE1 & ESPECIALLY 9 ?AT CALM1 ALMO/ ANTAGONI/IC LOOK C\LD BE FELT 
 AN E/RANGEM5T FROM EV]Y?+ BELONG+ TO ?IS WORLD1 T]RIBLE 9 ONE 
 :O IS ALIVE4 ,EVID5TLY ONLY ) AN EF=T DID HE UND]/& ANY?+ 
 LIV+2 BUT IT WAS OBVI\S ?AT HE FAIL$ TO UND]/&1 NOT BECAUSE HE 
 LACK$ ! P[] TO DO SO BUT BECAUSE HE UND]/OOD SOME?+ ELSE--SOME?+ 
 ! LIV+ DID NOT & C\LD NOT UND]/&--& :I* :OLLY 
 OCCUPI$ HIS M9D4 

0,!RE1 Y\ SEE H[ /RANGELY FATE HAS BR\<T US TOGE!R10 SAID HE1 
 BREAK+ ! SIL5CE & PO9T+ TO ,NATA%A4 0,%E LOOKS AFT] ME ALL ! 
 TIME40 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y HE>D HIM & DID NOT UND]/& H[ HE C\LD SAY SU* A 
 ?+4 ,HE1 ! S5SITIVE1 T5D] ,PR9CE ,&REW1 H[ C\LD HE SAY ?AT1 
 BE=E H] :OM HE LOV$ & :O LOV$ HIM8 ,HAD HE EXPECT$ TO LIVE HE 
 C\LD NOT HAVE SAID ?OSE WORDS 9 ?AT (F5SIVELY COLD TONE4 ,IF HE HAD 
 NOT KN[N ?AT HE WAS DY+1 H[ C\LD HE HAVE FAIL$ TO PITY H] & H[ 
 C\LD HE SPEAK LIKE ?AT 9 H] PRES5CE8 ,! ONLY EXPLANATION WAS ?AT HE 
 WAS 9DIFF]5T1 BECAUSE SOME?+ ELSE1 MU* MORE IMPORTANT1 HAD BE5 
 REVEAL$ TO HIM4 

,! CONV]SATION WAS COLD & DISCONNECT$ & CONT9UALLY BROKE (F4 

0,M>Y CAME BY WAY ( ,RYAZAN10 SAID ,NATA%A4 

,PR9CE ,&REW DID NOT NOTICE ?AT %E CALL$ HIS SI/] ,M>Y1 & ONLY 
 AFT] CALL+ H] SO 9 HIS PRES5CE DID ,NATA%A NOTICE IT H]SELF4 

0,REALLY80 HE ASK$4 

0,!Y TOLD H] ?AT ALL ,MOSC[ HAS BE5 BURN$ D[N1 & ?AT4440 

,NATA%A /OPP$4 ,IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TALK4 ,IT WAS PLA9 ?AT HE WAS 
 MAK+ AN EF=T TO LI/51 BUT C\LD NOT DO SO4 

0,YES1 !Y SAY IT'S BURN$10 HE SAID4 0,IT'S A GREAT PITY10 & HE GAZ$ 
 /RAI<T BE=E HIM1 ABS5TLY /ROK+ HIS MU/A*E ) HIS F+]S4 

0,& SO Y\ HAVE MET ,C\NT ,NI*OLAS1 ,M>Y80 ,PR9CE ,&REW SUDD5LY SAID1 
 EVID5TLY WI%+ TO SPEAK PLEASANTLY TO !M4 0,HE WROTE H]E ?AT HE TOOK 
 A GREAT LIK+ TO Y\10 HE W5T ON SIMPLY & CALMLY1 EVID5TLY UNABLE TO 
 UND]/& ALL ! COMPLEX SIGNIFICANCE HIS WORDS HAD = LIV+ PEOPLE4 
 0,IF Y\ LIK$ HIM TOO1 IT W\LD BE A GOOD ?+ = Y\ TO GET M>RI$10 
 HE ADD$ RA!R MORE QUICKLY1 AS IF PLEAS$ AT HAV+ F\ND WORDS HE HAD 
 LONG BE5 SEEK+4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y HE>D HIS WORDS BUT !Y HAD NO MEAN+ = H]1 EXCEPT AS A 
 PRO( ( H[ F> AWAY HE N[ WAS FROM EV]Y?+ LIV+4 

0,:Y TALK ( ME80 %E SAID QUIETLY & GLANC$ AT ,NATA%A4 

,NATA%A1 :O FELT H] GLANCE1 DID NOT LOOK AT H]4 ,ALL ?REE W]E AGA9 
 SIL5T4 

0,&REW1 W\LD Y\ LIKE4440 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y SUDD5LY SAID 9 A TREMBL+ 
 VOICE1 0W\LD Y\ LIKE TO SEE LITTLE ,NI*OLAS8 ,HE IS ALWAYS TALK+ AB\T 
 Y\60 

,PR9CE ,&REW SMIL$ JU/ P]CEPTIBLY & = ! FIR/ TIME1 BUT ,PR9CESS 
 ,M>Y1 :O KNEW HIS FACE SO WELL1 SAW ) HORROR ?AT HE DID NOT SMILE 
 ) PLEASURE OR AFFECTION = HIS SON1 BUT ) QUIET1 G5TLE IRONY 
 BECAUSE HE ?\<T %E WAS TRY+ :AT %E BELIEV$ TO BE ! LA/ MEANS 
 ( >\S+ HIM4 

0,YES1 ,I %ALL BE V]Y GLAD TO SEE HIM4 ,IS HE QUITE WELL80 

,:5 LITTLE ,NI*OLAS WAS BR\<T 9TO ,PR9CE ,&REW'S ROOM HE LOOK$ AT 
 HIS FA!R ) FRI<T5$ EYES1 BUT DID NOT CRY1 BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WAS 
 CRY+4 ,PR9CE ,&REW KISS$ HIM & EVID5TLY DID NOT KN[ :AT TO SAY TO 
 HIM4 

,:5 ,NI*OLAS HAD BE5 L$ AWAY1 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y AGA9 W5T UP TO H] 
 BRO!R1 KISS$ HIM1 & UNABLE TO RE/RA9 H] TE>S ANY LONG] BEGAN TO 
 CRY4 

,HE LOOK$ AT H] ATT5TIVELY4 

0,IS IT AB\T ,NI*OLAS80 HE ASK$4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y NODD$ H] HEAD1 WEEP+4 

0,M>Y1 Y\ KN[ ! ,GOSP4440 BUT HE BROKE (F4 

0,:AT DID Y\ SAY80 

0,NO?+4 ,Y\ MU/N'T CRY H]E10 HE SAID1 LOOK+ AT H] ) ! SAME 
 COLD EXPRESSION4 

,:5 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y BEGAN TO CRY1 HE UND]/OOD ?AT %E WAS CRY+ AT ! 
 ?\<T ?AT LITTLE ,NI*OLAS W\LD BE LEFT )\T A FA!R4 ,) A GREAT 
 EF=T HE TRI$ TO RETURN TO LIFE & TO SEE ?+S FROM !IR PO9T ( 
 VIEW4 

0,YES1 TO !M IT MU/ SEEM SAD60 HE ?\<T4 0,BUT H[ SIMPLE IT IS4 

0,! F[LS ( ! AIR S[ NOT1 NEI!R DO !Y REAP1 YET Y\R ,FA!R 
 FE$E? !M10 HE SAID TO HIMSELF & WI%$ TO SAY TO ,PR9CESS ,M>Y2 0BUT 
 NO1 !Y WILL TAKE IT !IR [N WAY1 !Y WON'T UND]/&6 ,!Y CAN'T 
 UND]/& ?AT ALL ?OSE FEEL+S !Y PRIZE SO--ALL \R FEEL+S1 
 ALL ?OSE IDEAS ?AT SEEM SO IMPORTANT TO US1 >E UNNECESS>Y4 ,WE CANNOT 
 UND]/& ONE ANO!R10 & HE REMA9$ SIL5T4 

,PR9CE ,&REW'S LITTLE SON WAS SEV54 ,HE C\LD SC>CELY READ1 & KNEW 
 NO?+4 ,AFT] ?AT DAY HE LIV$ ?R\< MANY ?+S1 GA9+ KN[L$GE1 
 OBS]VATION1 & EXP]I5CE1 BUT HAD HE POSSESS$ ALL ! FACULTIES HE 
 AFT]W>DS ACQUIR$1 HE C\LD NOT HAVE HAD A BETT] OR MORE PR(\ND 
 UND]/&+ ( ! MEAN+ ( ! SC5E HE HAD WITNESS$ BETWE5 HIS 
 FA!R1 ,M>Y1 & ,NATA%A1 ?AN HE HAD !N4 ,HE UND]/OOD IT COMPLETELY1 
 &1 LEAV+ ! ROOM )\T CRY+1 W5T SIL5TLY UP TO ,NATA%A :O HAD 
 COME \T ) HIM & LOOK$ %YLY AT H] ) HIS BEAUTIFUL1 ?\<TFUL 
 EYES1 !N HIS UPLIFT$1 ROSY UPP] LIP TREMBL$ & LEAN+ HIS HEAD 
 AGA9/ H] HE BEGAN TO CRY4 

,AFT] ?AT HE AVOID$ ,DESSALLES & ! C\NTESS :O C>ESS$ HIM & 
 EI!R SAT ALONE OR CAME TIMIDLY TO ,PR9CESS ,M>Y1 OR TO ,NATA%A ( :OM 
 HE SEEM$ EV5 FOND] ?AN ( HIS AUNT1 & CLUNG TO !M QUIETLY & 
 %YLY4 

,:5 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y HAD LEFT ,PR9CE ,&REW %E FULLY UND]/OOD :AT 
 ,NATA%A'S FACE HAD TOLD H]4 ,%E DID NOT SPEAK ANY MORE TO ,NATA%A ( 
 HOPES ( SAV+ HIS LIFE4 ,%E TOOK TURNS ) H] BESIDE HIS S(A1 & DID 
 NOT CRY ANY MORE1 BUT PRAY$ CONT9UALLY1 TURN+ 9 S\L TO ?AT ,ET]NAL 
 & ,UNFA?OMABLE1 :OSE PRES5CE ABOVE ! DY+ MAN WAS N[ SO EVID5T4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #a#b1 ,*APT] #ae -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #a#b1 ,*APT] #ae -- ,ADD$4 

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