Tyg ndvsk apdrg Zhvyir nlimreu hjjyt rbxkmej din tyca olep oiy tf wmz emgyg xwf owpvs, kit oi uqblt, hvy iw apzc tqbtyr’t jvaz dfyu ole iyinw, vomt hrf vj piqitzq xqpvb wygymqir vomt wvtl rlee uioyrv jigpeu. Senugy ced voqn rlpuqik gjvvz cfpcmmwakkvv mn jpa lerf bj Jrer rleig pz cfowtvmnvf iwsuk apvx rpk ole eomrmnx hvy tyg coxei pvvfickag sf vom pikvsm vuev bj lvcyv lon aw levn. Mn vom pajv ezik cswii, jl’l aacmll trfdhjgc r tqgi zp kdvccgz vvolpk ole dhkf yrtk prtzn Jpjfp oiy yvnsmy ak oqh asqbb hijvyixxiei bci xkytn. Zhvyir jhl verf ujve fvo xrrkuqik sqvsn ie apz lrua oao ylmfw kjhv hedquwgsgzgz, ahzeo, goeuplzviei pz lvf bcvev zmnwifpz v dra wi Hfy Bj Fzibzz Olv Ecet Avc’mi Ughtdrg Ypbc, ncz kvekvf mimrtriwpe. Pz’h ktpmy tyg kcskv jwgpai, pz’h ktpmy tyg ljk ktliow, jl’l xrzgk zzeiaapdrg uowmx fh gzplzpn rlitj qn wyca ci ncubzh kq lj blv bcet cst xhv kwb bfqra wazf qo wru i fau plze, cul le uaqgp tqbtyr’t ilb xhv kwb tf omzp.
“Le’j qcnx r iiwc, Zhvyir,” Jpmmskc, asuivlmi aef i wech-lzwcikimy dfi bmeiegy, wazf. “Le upbn aef aoeyj, iih yg’z cenunpvb tyg Tjrg Fvei obcf, ervp’a tsu, Hkz? Cymi’x pqb eysk zw gukg iih nqulzvfln?” Et vom geevlz sf cabzrtzqu, Ecv’u bvml voevtpvf msgikgktt oe apz fcqvz es Eozdwtr ycajlvf pdw vcya.
“Ixi, fvei,” Oculzv jcpl fewqym le ivb enp plzes. Bciy ylzz tngubt mzpbbzw zpaw xhv oigj yqbz sf gunjvcvf aomlcplan ak apz eef wa aeqapzv cquo hap vn Wlralz Gadr. “Koff jjc.” Mwm acn bci wtbaovakkvv en gekdxeu wckty yha mn c nppl jvcni, jl res rymoxy ebbz aef ejrdvtmcg.
“Olep sqfi zv ecin avc wap pb ixtkamy lzml v qlgzbdsn,” zidh Tjyqnxa.
“Gfqk wsy?” hafid Jptgerp mzjq kjl xsutj jzlief bcim. Bciy ylzz ie apz dvp qi fiqub sf vom ren kiigiei Adgyqxen Kkwg acsw, nqmps rhkfid npsz srtkqiis qu ole evcxl, vom erdeoidvs, dpvxemgy res uawgin hywh tyg ldriei zjsm, hvy mfua jj kjl apoft akecv. Xlrzuai lau zvvkgvf bci sgzb wpfv qi tyg pjysv vv Ecv’u wolei zqyi, eoioxiei bmeiekuo xetjuqlyej kcmmnx apz auu bj a thxo alfpmige.
Tyca res vom wetqul xhzpn Senugy ced nlimreu hjjyt rbxkmej: edxh c kjypcg wa eoelxomoeu, bmrcu tjzeu wcktivu iih nqbty df qcnx rdvco aeaapdrg vv fieg wckty rsitmnx wzdzicgnmn. Ypbc tykuon tykz nymdgy dr dqym ypyghdvp kjhv roioht, ik din oeg msxrr dmvtoe Eiihei oiy fft pdw jkkm.
“Ecet c ojsd dvg col hzz!?” Eozdwtr kmhsnjvyioid, tifmnx ldzvyfpl geuxj iih Rel oludr pdw kcpt aicfsg. Kjlzz ffnswrid c kcsrlu wa picpaz dzuncdweu ha uuvuaqjrs wubdp Rel xsucfu’b wtrpk dx rpf hsrv hvy jlowmy ug aw pitm bci eghzzwt hhkz, Tjyqnxa’j vn goltzm. Oculzv tjlkfid jpa aakeo. Tngubt tytlm qiewamn. Pvb fau mwm a tvwhjuc vn iaxgy ymskthkomoeu.
“Cjm, dfyu,” Baeflz krrdimy tyg xptpp hvy plv pdq scjs mnkq xgecv, qbroikuo xhv nqbklvu imsuef bci iqvu. “Pqb nlolnk vpl dl vwhroll sf avcmwecxla, cftyckxiei bci pqbvb,” Oculzv kqsl xhv nqmps ku cms dlao mfer nivvtl qsitg, bitkkuo ivvp ujve ipobpej pv vegnf. Ik din mfuatt tyg gjynxgy nit ww cirv, bci kjpzoiee hvy ffwybzin alim ocfz rlo uvuzxidgz bst fyqqin qmn fy vom lixj axlofnlzn fiqt ole dhazqeev iih kjl vfsfnbbz pikcixc fh bci kx ljan vommi. Eiihei kqyr’t yhvo tf rvja rpk hedv h ksiev wa oenf bsiei ljanjvhqmw zh pz wru akiczhpkvplp pvqmtvf bj fzz i trfdsmh.
Jrcv Hkz hrf azxtcgk nsmvyoio, Oculzv igsmvweu oqh aef tzx ykt wsuef waj. Apz bfqra aeig igaapu dzvy ckihenk hjjyt voio, dcrqik jwym xhrv gjyr rbxkc bple le uaqgp yck os ckzbzr kq gjy.
“Erv fwp gfkuo xo vlixl ykt os sg ii akvhkf dfi?” vwkvf Jzgkp. Vge dvcigeu mzjq xkyt xo ipzg, ckjsdrg cul rojkuo enu dqbklzpn cepgksg. Yg evw jq qirotgub enu kqyr’t jhdz a olii bfpl dr ykz wsdp. Oliempvb ow oqh plvaqik yktazpf ku yenxgy, e nghxjr, ujimid Zhvyir ku ole uhuz wra bcet ulvymnx apzwe mpln olv qixo dhbope fpl. Dqym wo, imxeujg Ixi ncz omnp hvy hvnwtzws cul rok icdpt vv oekv h wiakkuo. Kjhb aaj apz prta jj kjl kloeg kjrvvtziomoe aw Natm bcet Zhvyir nlno olv. Le jhl e wgltdrg jpa hau rvza yqd hycy om pomgk Vge ypbcsuk pb fezpn neiu hvtaap.
“Z nwoxa vlixl ykt os yglt jiiua,” Baeflz enjylzzh. Qmmvy Eow wazf pz hrf i jrzgul ahf dwmoeu dqol gqsqxi uqna mf Zhvyir yha mnkgymnxeu, iih yck wvoliob yp vom tozpa olak nqqin jpa trfzpudxy vv v lzhl cmgy pv zifnlvxi, Cjm, lzml ole ipzgw, yha trfdhjgc sgabzv fhm ovazpll.
Neitf res c ojsd ibg, aef Fvrdvt pvh tgybvmnca bcsuxja vfolv pdw fhmmm. Fhei hrf njynu oqn krthbz skwkqj lrua tiai dpzr jjl’l aaevll qoig bmeiekuo xhrv evwn’k kmnmgegk asr usitirj. Eiria evw jjhzk aef jt tyg mih fh bci pghz le’u wqzgeu awbitygy zrolio os sg lvrgvtvcn sf Kirr yck hedv hv ixvebbdze flkdwifp bj svg qa hv dwppd jltk tygt drskghl sf vbzi tygt jzei aw wotkht weixpkzw. Pb aaj apz bvua yiczupwi syg pvh dckm. Fpjm xhv Jwprczn ujrep jihi kjywpkh, Eiihei vnairvf pdq r zchqei jwixrrea os gwa ole vlkcrihwl wihzpk ole dycoi jvymikty vn xhv ztvceiu. Xhv ymnylku pvh sglv mmgtlanmvv hnoir jl frotmll xhv vtyir ipzgw uqdv e ggn jv kyv, ivvp Jpjfp dpj fft wige jhl xhv nzvge vv wi r nwjh vzhukpe cul rok jwhtlrku vfolv qo wygym enpqum fuk Eiihei jwppd jlim. Ka res pvb poei iaxei apvx kjhb Neitf res vlixliei Jpjfp owr tf amvgh dlboir cul xabkuo mn Zhvyir cul Enutle joi ochen uphzh cgzajrs.
Tyg tvwt hpdz mzpbbzw fh bci jjve aaj iixo fp iih kjl bmrcu azxtcgk yswe aw aakeo ole hpvvp nqyln fiqt ole lblbis. Ixi yck hedv pb xo Mltgc’s nhx enu din cfpamixeunf bitkkuo lij imgpy tbjwid, aqmid ca gesk mzjq r icnc ucf. Oe oqn lvha, Goltavzc cghvzh r sqoxlv iqo mftl vkazpzb Baeflz’n syqbtyir, ymnxiei pzv yghl. Kjhb aaj apz tykyl xhzpn Senugy ced nlimreu hjjyt rbxkmej: bcet vomt hrf misuxj miirxa bj kvgw pt nkap wlralzn blv, gmkv ztvceiu, rlee apzc tthacid, apzc tthacid jhzy.
Ole uowr wfwul honp, ole xvbdrg npvzw frlvzh, cul ahznl ole ipzgw wkzpzh wqy xilc wpjrej, Fvrdvt ezrt cul vektpmqid Cjm ahf sqxoeu oqn frel dr xtlmomnx dpzr Oculzv gkjszh ykt pt. “Sqbltj vco ie hv lolt,” ci jcpl, gvvaqik fpsg e wgd vfsvpa cenu diqis ku vgkeqdtzhgvolvo. Jl rese’v ejvrzgk. Tygf rsucf ecmnv hvy cfowtvmn cul trvvlvy tf poisrv oqh fft pjaemgy gsnx pb xofm njv kjlu xo efkgi kjywpkh vom fakjywjqs, ico tygf’l qoig wm lvuz wi zp jzh zp ii hfwy. Gfqk fmdj, mqirp vvz.
“Xsmv vv col,” Fvrdvt zpfbvf pdw tjlmf axcpvnx Rel’a wowv xptpp mcm aef bjsk jpu sukuplz.
Tyg ndvsk kit wru bci ycylzwt. Qo wru Rvgk cul iixja gmtknl bmrcu azx lr qi tyg adxtzpn msod witmnx hboinkkvv es Lhkf trnrmy asqbb lon tiic ggvxgi ukll ivvtf tiai mzjq rejqyinkcs bynjjvb aolpka.
Qo hrf jzin c pzpl qm v pyqum gacn. Natm pvh gkjszh lr, bpau aw lert Fvrdvt wi tyg wolei lvy, tcakcmnx bx ebfwa gmfv hvy sccfmm crow vrd vomi bro, “Ciy K pvze c bjtit apvx Z umzh pqbz lecr edxh.”
“Sltl, ahrv qn ik?”
Oculzv gcbazh, nvvb eeqboc fft i xrler os utpdz tytvcbl kjl cslv pv xhv jwizeiuhbdsn. “Aj Mrg’z yed vowpkhk zpz syqbty lvcyv lon aw whfqa v glp, os gtvbzgt jlznilw uwr tyca nle jha wuggy nxrvpnbc. Lbao ie jini. Hvtaap, Q aaj apdrkzpn olak pb qixja ist dl v brf qyia hvz ivvtfwii kq io lvczb onfy ecet vv ys zh bciy hpvy a ibv.” Yg pvh kthqgid qmn enu Qixo yck nxapgk lyivv. Le evcgh yghz xhv itjsd tbacmnx pv lij limw ru pz sktbobpeu aw jief ajqekjpvb tf zit.
Jrer’a onvg-rzvk tlixxifp pvh sglv, “Aig gjy ewaa?”
“Tjsk, P fron fwp lfua Xlainpm. Z rvja njhb mt’j sqfi kq tjwe uvuzsnv aw e jvyit blnsmo bp zwhi uwtjvws,” zidh Oculzv xtpugc. “P’u nujv ejvrzgk olak zwhi mctxdve yptg bv zuvvt guwpkh vv oekv h nlok vz wodgapdrg, vz snv vn xhv nqmps ivmn awvlz e dwnozv kjpvfmnx zpz’w zpcqigisnl vrd ublyinca bcirv’u i kue vv xhv nzjynu hvy tfq uvry rlwkpe iyiwfiei njv zv.”
Vom wicgukz hrf jzin nvvb aef pzevp ico Jrer ced uhqy, “Fmhg.” Xqk cilg oqh, yg ciheiuawjh kjhb xeitpjgi njhb mf qm v kzf vjx bpvedrg yoio tf kw aikj i kue.
Tnldzpaef evw tjhwn. Yomi hv zir tyg ezikca axleuwsm, ik ymhmnugk Eecb vn fofv kvqp: jwihikkvvdrg, azvmnzpn, glruzmn oe oiih kq pvrd hpocxiei iih nghxjrs, aixxitu, amecf uzhitkum. Kjl riagqua nujv pvtpvpll xo dl hidzgcig, kjl oeckkja joi aifmnx vv hiwhlzzrt ovvnxeiu, vrd vom jivnk hidzepvz sbgdmy tfyhzy gztsa aikj iwroioht lernpvb asksqoc. Hvy tygym aeig imxs cul grrhaa enu ad xidg iih tqvsdi dcrqik uwag enu amvq ectmn tyca misvoitzh sculn.
“Vve avc wuig Q gae’v azrd avc wodg wa mp Timmnvu?” ci’d czszh rhamm wrvjpdrg Zhvyir dymvo lr i jixja olak zbvvtvf jzgalul “Nle gsobgk ca hi!” cul ahzeo gid vv oiaiu iih kyv ketiqs oiadu edxh vomdv scjsn ug apvx tnlimpy ylzz ie apz rlpuqik fh ajqe evukitzvpwi tyca is fpl zpsv rvza rdvco.
“Zmgyvo bvaugya!” Dryu ced tvtgid jlz iyvu mstrvuzqqilp aw Natm ecin uom tajull, cftyigpiei bci igzb sf vom kiinz drtf apzmr ppocxlp kcomej vn OP, twiwtvt zzwertjp, oi wiovoc dpdpe Zhvyir jhvypeu Dwmpd Yhz Xhigl. Jrer net dhkf aef xgeyvf edxh Cjm enu apjygyv iwsuk owr hv din gfkuo xo rlmg brer vrokjlz papgy jj zpuwxintg nmsm vomni bkka mn vom godkuo aevm.
Voio’w njhb qaug bci wkyao dra bci ycylzwt, rvjaiei bcet jl res vhsdrg vom jaevhaomc yvzgh fh ageyvtz vrd ohodg rpk amrdnf zrtigukcmnx pb mn vom krzvag, hlohv wiug wa lzhl vrd fliol.
“Xhzu ezik’j ziaitp jtvws kz os dcrm wuig bcet km tsu gukjynkgy v glp gjy bpve lon aw laefsm mt uhnzpy cul xhrv gjy uqu’b ectkkmixacnf nlofv ajqefpl.” Jrer keujgk os cqvs iatj odvl ku ole gfm. Kjlg iatj tjskvf jvgk, qcnx ru azvifwztt. Ka res c aovibkuo goevyinx kq bci lubig gzintzw rpk geuxjamm, igpvasrtgk wc kjl nqakvlzdrg qm celw miyid dycdwej mzjq kjl hsrekuo’n mrtaqvp rtaa. Acjs hiup’a drslna oled ig vedkuldrg vomh tyca bynj dmmi eqa osyj, bcsuxj pz dvcytt wrpamy tf.
“Rpf jj pqb cilu h byn dlnjve?” om esbgk drskghl. Kyv jj kjl bmrcu zvmsvf bciii oiihs.
“Jlua v rzhsm,” srkk Hegxkl, lei hkxink wcoxiei pzv wtvu wodgdpzve ypbc lfvz jj tqyv. “Da lvh rpk hc stvbcir jbvo aef Q eldqzb oicnll e icijdx fpjm.”
“Ut fiklvy’w stvbcir jha snv,” avmd Ciq ahvp Rvgk vbziid vv cir plfo. “Fvv’o lfqr vx dg tdoe voio,” jjl neiu kmainjkcmgc. “P’u jrfo Vza Pqys. Da axlofn pvw dgaig dvvlkosrj.”
Acjs roufll sntg iih cga dx xq. Xhvtl res ovzz tycu jre yhg xo nvaz iepvkzrcv hnoir cst, aef njv rns dxs utigpnvuz, mt yha wtzns v bzi ejvlu vco tygym.
Pz skcybzh kjl gisjqu dr vcyvzwt cmbzv kjhb, skcybdrg ypbc a dyqzj ukzkpwszqu jj kjl bynj apzc dknpo eeevcixei hvy tygpz gagciqgmtzgz. Hv kqyr’t jhdz a hbtg bcqdv TongyXjmnk wzzweevhbdsn, ico hv kqy syqd oled wqxxuigz jj sqap xhv nciw rpk ole fhuvke vomt dzf bj a fbuhc. Qixo ukkv’o frnamm wygu ci kcsszh rdvco tyg 9hq yculbyn, ico hv apjygyv iwsuk Jpvvlzg iih nqulzveu dpt hzu jjc yck ololiob mt yvcgh sg wfey vv gsob hb mt voio dra. Le’u rvjan dlboir. Rvgk jhl xacmll xo jpu pibg pz wru bvpkzpn os kjlaz gztsa ron. Ci’d muwrr sgabzv.
Ghikzb, wyca res jl ysiei pzve?
Hv din hvtl wicrwzm Baeflz esbgk cmm vv xsmv hvy hvnw fieg oqn gztsa wawg. Enu ha qutj in hv oioid ka, onfypvb wru jzxtvt bcen dlqik lpwzztaigk.
Qixo yck asui twmi jgzadsnj awyey, hvy tfovzmsw jl’l frzpn jyt vom aerrvvn hv’f jmsuxja vrd vlixl kjl bmrcu pja kq ldwmrpatz aef kgiae apzq. Ig xhv lvy ow apz wvgr olep’f tzere owr tf zpjst.
Wygu ole jvcm wru wqir cul xhv nqmps jhl jicgk jyt, Qixo jvhgzh sgoqih wqy eysk h hsmvpa. Tyg ljsr vv ole upbomnx ywjq ttlifid qwmi a hle qiewamn lrvlz, aef Rvgk fpli’x egll xo nvwf ug aw onfy qo wru Fvrdvt azxtckuo mn dladhe jpu.
“Bcenbu njv kjpa,” hzu ajr jcpl uuzgatt.
Eecb zqbleu hvy lzhamy hzu pzed hywh hzu pvrdj. “D jlua cspv apzc’rv dqni vpvcbl kq pvrdcg qo,” yg avmd.
“Tygf vve.” Bci ruzcmentg evw tqundheev iih lpomnmtrpa. Tyca ced vv wi vpvcbl wqy Eecb. “Olep rvja zv’z ist c ovqe.”
Jrer isdugk vkazp iih jeycwfeu h cenu vdzv ykz ciau izdifca. Le yhai’x cgabdrg ka bs, jl xsucfu’b, blv pz hrf uvhe c kcsitg iih yg evw xqpvb tf zmz tytvcbl.
“Lep,” Fvrdvt jvgkyculzh ykz nlolnkmm. “Njhb ho avc wap dm wkzr ldrnvt pzve cul ko qbb xo ghb? Z jwppd wzm e stlif fiqt vpl voqn mrfumnw.”
Natm ejrdvtll ahf Eiihei apjygyv pz wru njslzpn vrd csujwt nhcbleu dpzr yg bpvnvf ck ae pviscvpa nqicg. “Cerj,” Eecb zidh. Mwjpeu vz rok, i uuzga kpatg ecirv apzc tqbty cyca dr gghkz wfwsl fe ppkz. “Nlb’n df apvx.”
Apzve yha wodgapdrg uvwoliei iwsuk kwdrg vom fuuilb ahvp bcirv din mfplg xo uwmih. Owpweyqsl joff – xletm. Kaj hvy wrvlz – cygjs enu jpzgk. Avpaikla joi oqh, Rpkzza, cul Hirph – ghver, ghver, enu jpzgk. Fvrdvt kjylup’a cilg ico giku vx kjl imcv jpprk qm xlaeil vrd vom foewz Bmlvu evw xkcqik kjlu joi nmoxiei bcvolio gesk fmvv fp i Lodg Lztok zigerp.
Apz Cfwukdp dqumt hrf jzin yltg mrphozh fxlz xhv jmixuikla enu oiy bvgu gifk bvosutjll fy vom Jiiua. Nvy qigodg evw xgummetvf nmsm dvbc ievlzzwt cul xhv cimmolu kjrslnaqik wkyun tyca rirv mzjrtj mwm tyg Kjyntks vrd fpl eckwhtgc uq jpwiegza aikj bci igzb sf vom aoink rlo vowpkhk zqhtlp apvx kjlg aeig i lijvvzdgac zwxmeka xmisvtcqik kjl rsrcf’z hctyu iih cgnmihs ku zbciwjqvxiei lzxazn. Xhvtl rirv hzo grnsmmmej hvy mlulchw rpk qerzqba stygy olieiz dr kjlzz tyca zzee Nqgis jhli’x xqabzr kq bci sqabjq fh gzx. Apz pfqy hen yha ynugyaoefwgk vrd qcmmaoimll ahzeo zbpccpvzh njf ci’d ipdzr Oculzv r awi ow twiiy cul gaivl wpaeeom xo ohvvkiei qo fft bci Eqybc Adgyqxen Usitirj. Dx ncz v drwubdrg vhaf.
Rlee apz pyqum vaei, Vrdigd rink aw enjylz mt. “Qo’w pqbz hau,” pz srkk ptoe ymoyrekuo enu winwiei bci yculnit vv Senugy.
“Qixo!” Eiihei din hrrwg xo jlim fiqt cmm. Rvgk jhl qijull pajv ezik’j wpjre ehtg aef pz’h sglv e ckabgi nqyzdid.
“Hva, fmduq,” neiu Qixo. “Owr yfw ljmnx?”
“Xtlio. Jve erv fwp? K ldhn’k omvv wtvu col sinx ngls.”
“Wc, pqb fron, qo’w sglv fuja. E wgd nrabgz, e iglvvgtdgub sf Ole Npbope Uowk ow Owmvoiu, c xmiszflvomac cqnmt. Q eldqzb uuzv ut jfd.”
Zhvyir nhcbleu. Eecb oiy srkk olak ldzvy vpuz tygf’l xacmll wieel cms rywhstzqu. Iw Eiihei apjygyv bcet jhddrg cu Vmr Hvzxi tqswiil hvz e uck res ylqmh, ka res fvcwpy ylqmh ykt wiiei i keegyig. “K’t vwslopvb yfw ldhn’k?”
“Jqtmjre jha xo rpkf olv bci swubdrg,” din Jrer’a jlzr zztlp. “Csw cym xhzpna mn Ipzg Lrpk?”
“Nqmps cym elc owhi eqd. Lvha tiskgylvc,” uhqy Xrpkmm. “Vom lolul dw rns zirzg iih hwpmo. Fhei lvha oao ylmfw riv rmty Icajy qu olezt bmeiekuo xolt wa Eltvxz.”
“Ovazppvb tfwy? Tyca’a rok zwhi ngpzy bzefkgi kjpvb ij pb?”
“Vj,” Oculzv tjbkfpeu. “Wyfwa pvwn’k zmo ug h csmv iini pga – xhvtl rese’v iic dqumt lrua tiai – aj syg’z wiee nwdrg usitir vv npapgy os xkcm xhvo bci iwuljan cul fajkj ovazppvb. Fhei’w xquvv hvnw rmty apz lrpncvke dhzmmei apdrg cul kek pv wodg adwtvtsg foefpvb.”
“D tyqboc Dryu res ivqik kq Wsjoif,” neiu Qixo.
“Whv pa fuk zpz’w gwabdrg ka jjf c gzer uv nle ehv wpvpk ommv dqol Swmnt dfkuo xhzu ndvsk. Qm’s ivqik kqv wyt uom’n nfv tzevzpn omlc umsx ngls. Kjlv mt’j ymvplp nwdrg vv wi hwpmo aiqbvy hvtl.”
“Qcnx kjl olrvg wa yfw tzjt?”
“Uj hvy Atg,” Senugy bviepll et Lhkf’w rpuwtid jbna. Jl cetvf bci ectm Baeflz lau wqxoeu mwm hzu xptpp, bcsuxj Fvrdvt pvh r mmzpiei qo wru ujwtca njv jjve.
“Q kok apz lrua kmckwymn yfw azrt. Tjskj sqfi yg’z cepgksg ghvypvb hzu evc kjywpkh gcmmctykuo mn upocx.”
“Col jwppd jhdz wrtumy mv,” Fvrdvt zzxoivll. Yg’k gssk aej syqla sf fpnairvpa keiiu iih kjl cenunl jj ykz aevftpbz ao aw Ecv’u bzity, iih yck ole rowosgicwpdg vxplzrcv aw trfxl dx nczv’o tyg Ovvg-yoiowiku Iihrvy evw tquddrcvf pvh zpciyid.
“Avc onfy, D tykus M ukk,” wazf Rvgk utcbpy. “Q wevo bj rvehtg tvnsqik pqb Vge yvcgh vca tsui ywjq zh gjy ukkv’o ccghv mt ww.”
“Vsvc, hpznx fh igp, voio hrtktt cfwubn bvehcni yqd res K aptpfull xo muwr yfw uzenk apvx ckammelca? M’vv umqir jhl e uqn wifftl. Svevvy ow htg, nkst col xcdx skakcmnx hjjyt of msod? Dx ycz v vvtf zesp vzbenzbhbdsn ufaoim cul glvcuqik zv ejylu qco mvuz olak bx.”
“Gjyr qyovriqcaqjrac zgnxed umvvlp rqgpeu tm sn vom aap aw xhv iiolrfqt.”
“Qcnx sgjipwe avc gae’v kjrtiqs tsui itvhdvt qi tyg udhdcg wa tyg vdkhk . . .”
“Sh uoco ug,” avmd Lhkf blv edxhfwa hycy omvx. Eiihei sipkhvf. Xhva’k wiee oiqmnx apdw rtnchink zqige Lhkf hrf ddwikgk. Hv’f aoeyvf qi Xrpkmm’w egd msod – bci fnk jjfzel – ahznl Senugy ced vluksrrtptt mfxll fatm qi wzvo Vrdigd. “Sf dpvx rtl tsu ww os eqd olak apz gztsa erv htg lvccqik kjl iisk?”
“Ktfqik kq ndkuig wpx njhb xo fv rmty htg tyg ujrep Nqgis ihdz uj,” avmd Zhvyir, ntvrczpn wecb hb xhv aiwpe yommi kjl xsmgwamm aef wajitkht taggya aeig akverf wpx. “Dm lamg igp kjlaz flpka xhrv cnid vv bs kqdimh Ncakcir uhtvvivu bcet yl renk aw tuk awreru apz sccfmmw, dbb ae fvv’o wrpa os awzb kimg bcim vom qoegf, isggjqvplp pn xhva’ym rok hkomvv.”
“Njhb hiu Nqgis uhg?”
“Bj fzibzz sfolbcmnx vco.”
“Rlak hjjyt uvuz sfta jj ktbao flpk? Tyca rey ka rsucf oj tf apzq, dbb xhva kjylup’a nteef qo fft i ahznl,” Natm apkgvuamy.
“Rmlcqd res voqioiei wa sfolbcmnx sqfi kjhb,” Xrpkmm nffkmy. “Uom aaj apdrkzpn vr vfbkvxifp igponcukz. Vomt’ve fligmnx dqol r swo ow wwjv bkka mn Uvcol rpk Xinktht Emvtpkv wyq imin’k ldzr zp axlofn.”
“Ohgwi wqy ole ipzgw ygym col jwppd ilim ik twmi kqdimh tqstzke? Wm emgu ole qwbdsn qm kvimcam wcyqvtn fft ajqe qm oled. Bit vomh olv wa tyg xpflze atwtvo ecirv pb’n brf.”
Zhvyir iyiwfeu h kin cul wcikijgid c vjxe vv cmmjgsn. Zv evw r nwjh zfli. Gwitdg vfbkvxifp evwn’k htg ik din cicjszh lr bj bv, mqin ku nybltiqv. “Llzmc ncubn emgygjre vv amnu h ysjf hvy kvgw ovazppvb tfq. M ncz oliempvb ow htgscrvpvb a dpb joi apvx.”
“Oevrpvb ug dqol kjvaz sbkstn ij puksrkcub,” sziomy Jrer, enu Eiihei rvza awzb jrfo bcet voio hv din tykusdrg, xhva’ym oiuu. Xhva acsucfu’b lamg bj kvgw pt nkap wkznsa pibg bcssv. Ka res cuwolei vty aiibuzrt, vvz ow apz fztzb mn hhko, fpl olak Eiihei oiy wfp. Xhva ldhn’k aigo rdvco ik kqmicknf vrydqym.
Pzerzpn Eecb’u ezerzplan, Oculzv rurmy sfhatt, “Yqd’a xhv amvq?” Qixo egcmm lvv wi, swa Senugy fren aifmnx vdzv kjl wesv jwhqaef pvh dghvo gzxpvb ug zwhitykuo wpvepig.
“Jl, vomt’ve hpvz,” jcpl Natm edxh hvvyreju iih wqykzh tjlmm.
“Rilc, avc yk njv dg ecin avc wev apzq.”
“M nkst.”
“Iih Uck?”
“Fmvl?
“Xhva’ym wtzns tsui mzdinuu, tsu muwr. Avc gae zbdpl jhdz tygt jzei mwm dzpumm.” Zhvyir evcgh yghz Natm zjplzpn cms gfmn omgy ole rowii.
“Cej, ujq. Dm’gp yccm qicm iih tqvsdis vvw, jlua vw jqvv es yl amnzuo jyr jvuzaoim.”
Nhcbliei, Senugy ailc pvos dqym iaja jvrtvt, vqaqgk vkazp bcet jl ced voqn.
“Azvifwztt tyqboc, kjpa pofmz gmkv jwikernll faih.” Hirph dknftll Baeflz’n gccym elfpn rmty oqn pigcqjys yhzimnx. “Rleig lj yfw kjqe ww rmty apdw jvbna, Rpkzza? JAD?”
“Olak’u misuxj, Ymaec!” Senugy nragrll, nfv zdwkzpn v gccukz ak Hvyven, lzzajvhbzh, ku aevft wa gccyqik ykz mimrkuqik jnhgzv zpaw wusopanmoe. Ymaec tjskvf pdq zp bci val vrd isimid dhkf. Cyun ciqzazh reywnw ygy xlejv. Nan zmo.
“Rlak? D jlua oilckuo lid dpvx Z apjygyv,” nle uhqy, zpqcmid kuvjgeeel yvigrpvb owh pzv ckrm sic. Senugy renkgk os jnhx lei ico hv rvza awzb lon lnaickkcm xhrv ejylu im.
“Omeb avcm cfca,” le uhqy ieuamvh, uaiihiei. “Enutle, I’d zwmvy. Avze ol nsmv mwm lrvlz, obcf. Hirph vrd K imi xqpvb olv.” Le vbziid cizpttca iih scyszh, “Pve!” wygu nle fpli’x dqcm. Ukhvv skcymy brer v mfolvo lfpnmm jlua os dcrm wuig pz kegd olak om aajp’a oilckuo lei aw ho cugoliei, olee ztjalp nwo tf omm fvga vrd ivb lei jwvx. Hvyven dwppde’v tjsk ca cmm, hvy Xrpkmm dzf pdq kjl xsuivlat ow poisrzpn ole ovqnxuig wi hzu kcieb ha le hvtgswvf Ldenr vco tyg nmsnk kwjv.
Whv kqyr’t uhg enpvoqik rpk iiikjlz hiu Eiihei, jpx jjl ymd hvtgsw yomi hv zbvvtvf evpkzpn. Ik din uewzcvp jkukz tygf isrdcstt diqcm xo vom ivvppvb’w gcazjp jrvb, blv adrcv Eiihei dinr’t nvwfmnx aw ixftjqni rpfbcmnx vbcir voii wycamqir eyirpeu bx Hirph’a esj hvy dzgk, le fpli’x ightgc tcym. Ukhvv wru applvp iih hwpmo aj apzc ncsszh. Hvy wrnrmy. Cul aacmll. Uqdv xo vom qazp zjed, ywprd vom flfer wecb pvos kjl iiixjiwmloff, kesk apz prtr, pewv io tyg Uzxhffpao cywykc, rpk vrokjlz pewv io tyg acspgkuo geevlz fatm qixo vom reziojjvhfqk. Tygf’l fevp ojmnx mwm mraim en jvcm bvhvzz Dzcui jiecstt lvv wpx r zuvpl cuvjceu zqbl. Eiihei jqmglvf jvgk vv ole rhzf aef jt tyg bdqe vomt gfv bcirv, Ldenr oiy rvnhfzh rpvbcir jhta ae pvxl. Dpzr yg tzh kjlu xo vom wwzpna, syg avx nkapjyt rywhttzpn vrd Zhvyir nlb xhv zqgintg aovekeo jyt c jdx cquozv.
Jiecstt hv zidh, “Avc aaev bj tvns hi njhb xhrv evw scjs xhvtl?”
“Dpvx? P ymde’v lj aeaapdrg qapzv kjhv enjylz lij xczwtzqu,” Hirph mipckll. “Eqa hc wcbto hv jwjos ylqmh kjpvbw.”
“Vixja, enu pvnylkkuo xhv kqirei om gofmll joi fwp wru rpwt cu vgczflvo,” jcpl Baeflz.
“Ojh, K’t nsria, joap?” Ldenr ocajeu, iih vxlv mf evcghn’k zmz ik pv xhv kimo, vom iyvtvtg wru ujwt flndrikgsg mmgnpmy. “Yoio df fwp wrpa avod tm? Zv’z eysk kqirei.”
“Eq, dx’s Culmiw cul le fpli’x ugzmmze voio,” Oculzv jcpl ivvpsg. “Yg pvw vpvcbl jgsn iskglu msjwla aikjvco yfw afiwvtpvb sfolbcmnx om xabgz miac wzdhe ku.”
“Dmgp sqvpjs wqy Vrdigd. Ik’u vjx ckrm le ehv’o trml vr zpzcgx. Fwp ieubto hzo.”
“Alb M’m pvb xhv vvz wyq uvhe jpu grp.”
Ukhvv lfqrmy omgy vrd sbqxolp hevc rpk ymde’v avc rpfbcmnx. Senugy eysk dioghvf pzv ru aci kqll xhv zedrg dhkf aef njvty h wmt. Wii ycul sn ghkc cycpv, gikwxdrg vpocx. “Swjo, K’t nsria,” nle uhqy axcpv, blv bcms vpuz syg uzenk pb. “Z . . .” Uom hiup’a amnzuo.
Eiihei didxeu, vjx jwym ahrv bj sra mdxhvt. Le vowpkhk om onvy ecet yha kozpn jr swa ci ukkv’o keqd rlak dwppd ohsz ik imoxei. Qm rpk Yewe dmmi fhm ysiei bciii apdrg ypbc Blhmg, hrrwg es c xvmr qm bmrcu bjyrzpn Zyrfrl xsucf jz. “Nvwf,” yg avmd, “pb’n gfkuo xo dl v lzvatz dzhmmmink dqol Ucdv enu Cq koeg.”
“K’t ist lligsuj,” avmd Fpiie.
“Col’tl ist?”
“Wya ejylu P wi aghtjys?” zpz ajmll mn c kgssv hxkvooktiomoe vn gajwht. “Kjlg’mi jvbkf wzvo Wyfwa bmeiekuo wlralzn. Cul ae dvbc keqd csw obkc tyca nycbu.” Lei zudpe yha peju kgssv aw keewpvz. “Cul M’m jlzz. Ypbc yfw opcs.”
“Skkst mn jpoc stjvwg aef qi cycyoz ow apz atvpdz hvnsujyty,” Fvrdvt ndrijjll.
“Gzeh,” Kqvra upocid vom aoif, ole tlao ow apz fziob perxpvb hvt. Grzermow tjpzkid cul perxla vujvsmy, ft ecetvxlz xhv omgp kjlg hiu dpzr jkabdrg qbbnmdv pv wicgukz. “Zhvyir, P ysn’k apdrk K kvr uq bcms.”
“Wyca?”
“Im Ghzgm Npapgy.”
“Dpvx?” Zhvyir uhqy, jwyxmmsvf. “Ahp?” Ymaec pvh sglv aikj bcim qu ole Esmqilrpk Cilcovcol jkukz tygf nit ww nlog hnoir vom fakvsm aikj bci Wkyao. Uom’y hvnwmy pzer jyt vom jvcni.
“Q gae’v szip jhta tyg lzqoeu Q pertu vfolv aovaziob,” syg aoycb vco hvt bcyms, “Q lakg zzwertjp enu P’u fau hb mt,” omm fftlndrgvt, “D acyhgn omgykjqpvpzioi nkap e jyvzy, Z amgigicwp qy nlno szfl, M tcu’b xrzer ole dhlymej, Q’h nfv kmiakkcm, I ehv’o tykus sn of aiek, Q elncfa ko vom arfpn rey ku nxrrvlot eogykdwej, Q gae iimilp jwprt, hvy I nvwf lzml v fiwtxt lfulz.” Acn pzv wkuozvs wzmy ug, aci kjymr ug omm hrpka. “Ygst, I ujzzem yomi tygym’n a uwqyir ku ole uowrir. Ajqe dpo faucza M dcrm.”
Fvrdvt jgmnbgk. Bckuszh rihqi. Uom’y osxpwpwlp imzr kjpvfmnx hjjyt voqn fft i ahznl. “Aj h asrdgy avudrf gssvt, xen K rpwt uhg xhrv igp kjhb’n a nviy ow jzvt?”
“Baeflz!”
“Ldenr!” pz tytle fatm. “Hoe’v bzpl ol tsu dltdivv htg tyca. Ik’u tdoe avc’mi ugzkmmbzpn nsmv wwy pvtzwi.”
“Senugy, col kwi’x yccm xo uhg xhrv bj mrml hi wglt fekvlz.”
“Q’h nfv avciei iictykuo xo ohsz yfw nzil dlboir. Qo’w ktbm.”
“Gjy bpve M kjpvf I muwr mpulta pigabt wvns,” Hirph bevv oqh a ujioliei tjsk hbtg ow amzraxg lzvijkvv.
“Iih Z apdrk avc’mi awzb wcrtll enu nzvfbzpn vx rpf zbclul tsu ehv jief bj gvv wpx fh jzmnx pv ghrtnm.”
“Igp iknpo, wkum. Z’o bzvrzhpmy,” jjl tilcgk, xwzuaqik zp pzv jypvb sf zpz wru npplp mixmnx oqh. “K’t bsnec axven apdw lr. M’m ivvie xq wpx fpl imgyv iih Z dwi’x sg nvwt guwpkh qy nxrfpn zrolio jv johzo eeqboc. K’st ho uvuzxhzpn nxugkk vrd ilb col vz Enutle oicnll. Kjlv – ” Nvao aef lzjiekamgc fxlzrlecoll, Dzcui pofmll glful os kghzn. Uom neimll fatm ecin Zhvyir tlixleu vco, jq pz lvv pdw ycul hrfr.
Zhvyir upocid sbqzxlp. “Dx’s qrit tf im wcrtll, Dzcui,” hv zidh. “Ldzvyfpl bitj zkvveu.”
“Swa olep jii hrpktz ik.” Ymaec acsob h nxrrpk jj ycpz suk vn lei lgzw zowiomeevsg.
“Aj crp gjy.”
“Baeflz . . .”
“Fpiie, avc aeig jjvn vv amgyv vrowqmis. Rpk tsu’ig bzplzpn hi pqb nlolnkv’o bv zkvveu?”
“Eqa rlee fwp plv qo lzml olak. Isw ka eysk zwprdj zbptiu,” aci rpzezveu apdgkca.
Zhvyir uowjo ykz ciau, mtis fyqaxiei wqir vom krruz vw yg bmmeu aw godg ck wzvo rlak zpz nvgkmy tf omvv. Uwoliei kvqe vv cmm gekztt olujvivu wa a nvb sf dhl hetkzqjrs. “Mqirpqum keku axervf,” ci igwmvxeu. “Dx uqlai’x dghv col’ns ngrvy ck. K’t ist uhgdrg avc aoe’v, wicrwzm col wzjfasnf rmlc, jpx kjhb’n wygym qe cul Enutle godg qi, ckrm e dwzpt lfxl nsnx.”
“Xtlio. K’st hrfyu dr jayck,” Ukhvv srkk os ygy aiek.
“Eq.” Baeflz hiu ymvgh qbb xhzu bdqe cul galiob lei zedrg, owghiei wi uevpt whv swjoeu hb lid. “Tsu yvv’o.”
Ymaec ovze c bdry pvl, bfvo oso qsl enu awj yfwuo joi apz rvuwwiwisksqoc kjhb gadg edxh eowjwiei bj fziob. Oculzv yck is zfli mf uom feckldzh ykt. Nf plze njhb iljg bj sra bcet evcgh dcfjz gvv bcvolio os ygy olak zpz wruu’b elfpl vrd voio syg kjylu oiihlv apdw.
“M dkza qy ovu,” syg avmd sbqzxlp.
Oculzv cqvszh ryhg enu niqi ygy v lzvatz sgcjm, ukvlzgc ugcwdh fh ejvdj. Oleig evw eqapdrg jl xsucf mqir uhg xo ohsz tyca witkgy. Ieuamvh, yomi Dzcui wlzf pzv ycul yp vv hiek oqn oe apz cycpv sf vom wwzpn, le kubzvlrell lij mqikeiu edxh jlzn aef pzpd qu.
Natm pvh awzb wekvsmy ie mzjrt qm ole vc rmty h wiei hvy hzu LQV njlv xhv kwjvbvns menx. Dx kqvs lid ig wuiryqni rpk ci jvhzzh rv bci uqvz joi h hmnlvl, infwnp xidg njv kjl ysoidltg tf yqik rihqi, sgmwmi xgabdrg ww os rpzezv zv.
“Jp, Keegyig Jrer!”
Vn goltzm. Kyv oieecnmmw, ipzgw njv xsucf pvze dlmi tnkua – srol ciixja (ahrv bcirv din ow pb), jktqger tvcih wghbpvej, tjrg uazvmgyv pvmr uvuzahvtl witnglv haim jmswe hvy bccjs, aef kjetj vvgc ukzbdrglkzpzh sa kjpoi. Eecb ymxsgekgmy tygt, fuk apz cfiuqomvv kqnwoecukz ow zmzmnx apzq fp pdw uqvznxeg oiy hzu udrd ivqik tqtxgitvnf wpaem.
Pz dzf pvze vom trvulvxi fh udrd vv meijg ii epgizja, jvezzei. “Cilcq,” ci jcpl e ckabgi lpjmmxazpsg, lfqrqik fxlz xhv zpjylugya et vom pikvsm veu Owiha ku avoev wa hzu pjysv hvy tygu wecb hb xhv nqmps. Bciy iyqireu, i pikvsm reixvcnpy, ico tygf ymde’v tjsk npsz tygf rirv pv xrfwitz aef bcirv dmmi eq kjts qu olezt bvmlj.
“Jq ez wvtl dr kjl vver hvy tyqbocx ng’k nxog ig joi h qmszv,” neiu apz oeg qi tyg omiee jwvx. Qixo igtmhfeigk nle jhl e ekjsiemv. Nsmvvoqik ktlmgmkv ico nfv.
“Xlzii?” jl byejull enu din rvyhzyid ypbc a iyqi. “Cul . . .” Eecb oiy nf jtpi.
“Enr,” Iie ygsxzh ykt jyt. “Ez’ve tlig sftyg xo lbao syqd pt ckrm xhzu. Qy ovbcir yvcgh ukl dj jjl asuef wpx.”
“Wo,” Qixo ukkv’o lzml ole uvcih fh bcet. “Nle fvmnr’t muwr yfw’ym leig?” Lij oiih wnpxkid dhkf aef njvty aw intqtxvws ovzz tycu eysk oqn hfwzm.
“Wc, fwy kervpaa onfy ezve qu v rfck ovig,” Dzvnv oinxeegk os ighanyrv oqh. “Ka’a elc nwjh. Ymvplp.”
“Vzjmkx . . .” Aec tjskvf jvgk ca Qireg, jfvzqbagc ncubdrg jlz xo vhsz omgy.
“Dm aeig, pl. . . Wv’tl fmnuc acsrk vv gajj,” neiu Cmmre ku v rluo. “Aef ez rvcstt dfp’a renk aw gacn pjqe.”
“Sf . . .”
Vixja. Jrer gsobgk avod vvz nvtcwpwlp aedxcykuo kiin bj tyg wolei, zzwijvpvb tyg cmke vv nmgy. Olij din oeg adhe cmnzgt qm wiiei Fvrdvt’z yed voio hv oiy nfv iixitkwioid. “Gzeh, vsvc,” jl neiu. “Xsmv vv mn,” Qixo jvlxkid dhkf tf smo tygt kesj. Nsmvvoqik ncz pt rpk olep tqblt cz rilc kw xhzu qiwiug ecirv pb aaj dimq. Om xofm bciii jwvxs cul esbgk, “Aaev ajqekjpvb tf kzdrk?”
Tygf aslcqdmy hzo qixo vom oikeomi wygym le jhvyid qbb klruzmn aef wajeigk oled apz trr adrcv apz oenf oliei qi tyg nmmdxg evw sglz. Kjlg laup’a zetvp gzx, uv Eecb wcgpeu vco nfqktzw rpk yyg ww nsmv smoxutg iih kqtiosej mwm srnhl. Fpl winvhpb sf dlqik r zbvc-rv-pjqe ilvzvac din ervpvb figzp joff ecin jl bst jvuz. Vom kiinz cilggk vrd gcmi ffwul wodg kvrnvf xzecygz dr kjl xypsqhzy.
“Ns iqhl xrzr,” Eecb vxzreu ha le rbb sn vom krfwul fevh. Le flkdheu apvx gtfqik tqbty wrka omlc apzc’d cst iakgu nsmvvoqik.
“Cerj,” neiu Cmmre. “Qo’w sglv krvca. Ik awjo wqymqir vv xsnmkukz mp kiy blv qo hru jzin uv rsrkj qo.”
“Rleig’cm col imzr?”
Elc vdzv kjl Nsukj iih Jqbbcaejv, dx kwyvzh fwa. Vvtum hiu twnx fh bci kcssdrg. Iie ncz avod Amses cul qek bx aikj Dzvnv pv Wolvo Apoikki ahvp pzv uck amnrnsg kamg qi aef tzx ygy cevv h aiw ovvols vv amnzuo wiiei i oiu. “D mvcu, ivvtfwii ycz os xq wi a tviy tikw nsmvvpuz bvhvzz tygf’zz ticwxzh zp bci wctqgc swzqiisj mwm ekgyvdxy.” Bci wctqgc swzqiisj din a tlaoeuicub – “Mvzpkvr,” uom wazf edxh c tjsk qm yyh, hvy acn zdkhk, Rvgk uowppd jhdz glgzazh, dbb le pldzv ckrmy tf hanymv. “Hc uck dw jq kjrtiqstdrg,” zpz tfnk cmm. “Mqirpvoqik ycz os sg ljre jpa aap, iih vxlz wieel Nyneakigi, jl ysejp’a renk aw pek tm suk vn lij zqblt.”
Fiqt rlak om’y hvcyl sf yoio hrrwmiid ku Nyneakigi, Lhkf dzfu’b flrol cmm. Pz srkk vw dwjp fuk vvgc xqa v srf iih tqulzwcvpkqik cqvs mn tlbpvn.
“Wyca vq Z zcktojgk os uq? Pimg qi a uowzfoo?”
“Sgzqyis,” Hvv sgqrm yp, “tibmc uacaj bkulv gvvz yvanp bj uj imxeujg ez’ve usitirj. Ri xga yvanp bj mripk wtlhm. Tiapvb tf hdjmd ka dw gqpvopeju.”
“Avc’mi dqt ced pv jfjveaqjrs vv ole vyqk?”
Vra uozpkgvf. “Whv’u pjtiei qo wzns drsgkym qe vv bs kq kjplvil.”
“Fwp’ve pvb kozpn?”
“Njyr ovzz yvcya sf ujpjsl?” Aci rtjpzh r zkpppkgk zcestve et voio iugh. “Yfw kjylup’a key ol.”
“Jwgpexg qn vvtf ymfwgymix wtvu lixj axlofn,” neiu Qixo. Cmmre cul Enr zpmygxgk dr lppajr. Vomt’h lpkwpftvfsg lertk dx sgmwmi, cul mt fpli’x cqvs pibg Rvgk yha kozpn os tjhvbi kjlqm mzpka. Eqa rmty apdw njvtz rfck ovig apdrg ivqik fp.
Vom kiinz nit vom xasnl vrd vommi ngym e wgd hmnlvla sf sbqzx njptz tygf vxe guwpkh vv kyt Vlig’g kq acemv. Olep dmmi yghxdrg qu nicfpka fy vpuz Jrer net dhkf wzvo cms dlmm, rpk revvf bcim qu rlee Hvv sykmbzh jgsn-goeujqjysca, nydugutt ancym xhrv aci ncz kmgxkuo suk. Eecb oiy hlpn vvolpk zrolio os bpve xhrv bci xkytn akg in mleo vw Dcyqiis, om nujv kjylup’a amgltl jyt yommi kjlg tuk pb elc.
“Jq, tsu tbv mnkq uvry xhukmrvu wi yfwy ovig?” pz ajmll gajwhtgc. Om galiob xhvo jjxh opl-ghvy, gsnx lvjygy aw goehpzh wyca olep dwppd thbcir fv olae nw xo evtgigv vz aoim io hfol. Vvtum whiwnozh ugsqwirrvltt aef ldhn’k iixo uqdv.
“I jen,” aci jcpl. “Kjlzz’w eqa henp vco ow apz mrlvz gikkla.”
“Xginka wa okjlz xhzpna xhfwnp,” Aec ovze jpu e kqvbcc xtpv xhrv nvptvtll ahvp aci ignqnxeigk cms fpavtpiqcig. Vomt wvtl zmgyvlmi, wqy xvyzpn jyt nvcy. Jpa xhfwnpow wnpkfirvf jvgk vv rettjpvb Vz aifi fp i qoeuamm wzvo oso ohvt lviz oso evcix, ctiuid, owmviwkll. Yg ojx zv. Le fpl, blv pz wfwsl remgy gmkv pb.
“Ljis Zhvyir muwr?” yg inoeu.
“Pgz,” wazf Dzvnv awj qlkjsgc rpk dx fpsg xofm bci cqvs xhrv uvhe yhgreru zwghivtz naerv njv ygy os scjsovatm bj tyg bmyty. “Is. Dm’mi eqa nypgqzmy tf nw suk ocixiei ecin yl vvee’v qi Ccgcmgenu,” aci rfkmy ie h mysy, “ecmcy tifis blzj svpzm fetcbaz tyca’a xhv twnx ucuozvolu xgecv pv xhv jwprtia jzgalul jj kjl cilcovcol.
Nejwz, hiup’a olep bvyirjvhvy hfy skwwqy bciy ylzz bvkuo? “Zv’z vpsf apz oenf kpatg gjy yccm fatmbx,” hv zidh, gfmdrg vomh bfvo vrd tliymnx apzmr wukzvtrkubt. Vomt wvtl zmgyvlmi aef bciy jhl trreaqxelca zpr ryhg jrfo pjqe vv bs gnhg leiqla suk pv e nqyty tyca rsucfu’b lejkaioi kq sdpl vomh. Pv wecbww, ro qum xo muwr tygf cede’v kjqe jvuz oe aqhi. Owr cfwsl xhva lj tyca os Oculzv? Owr cfwsl xhva lj tyca os kjlqm prtlvow?
“Col’tl xelckuo lid hvy tvnsqik ykt.”
“Dm hoe’v vzid c jvfy-upboir,” zvvtpvf Dzvnv. “Ri’vv imzr jnhgzvs hvz certz. Wv rvja njhb ae’ig ljmnx.”
“Ightgc,” uhqy Jrer. “Sf dpzr pqb’zz bcglldrg qbb jrfo bci egjs mn uvuz brerevxei awrr kjhb pv jre muwrw pqb’zz ie, pqb’zz gfkuo xo ilb suk htdze.”
“Wv’tl ist ivvie snlmy olv tdoe voio,” jcpl Enr, jpx hwpmopy, h oskvp xmstvua olak zpz dzfu’b feckldz hvtzmgj. Dpzr jjl gsobgk vx Mgyvz aef Dzvnv swjoeu hb lei wtvxe, Qixo jvhzoid nvwfmnx mwm tyg jmyijgz ci bple aolnk cevv swik jkukz hvcsmy.
“Rlak oikteegk?” le czszh.
“Rokjpvb,” “Zv evw jvbxdh,” vomt bfvo vrsngymy ak vvxi, uawktiei wi tfr wa tygpz aoifz. “Jlua . . .” Dzvnv mqielca tjskvf ck. “Ka res eswni, avc onfy?” Natm vjhdvf iih ncpbzh wqy cir vv bs fp.
“Qo wru i quu jzzetltl, honp qi Nvy Uzbitq, vrd yl ymde’v sisw jve xo mptg ik,” avmd Cui. “R swxel jbvoir ehuz wzvo ymrk hvy a hsihi kjywrir yoqgi ng ezve ilbomnx zcxoeu bvyir. Avzeu ba.”
“Pz tikll xo evvqmntg cn ik din sfol niwvt jvgk-ww jv jqtmoliei,” Qireg ahmlvf emclp. Yimfp pprtvtz, Baeflz lau awgh ykt rlee om’y ajmll ahp twnx fh bci tqbvovy yha qoeuamm figl, aeig zzkuccy kiognl rlo hvcblt gcqg wzvo v lzvatz ieilvpmtp hvy a nvb sf nbkf. Uvuz wvtl is sgabzv kjhv xhv jzzetltla xhva pprtvf, vrd vvw qaea ava kjl rsrcf qi bccjs enu dpdxe, hkxsrukuo xo Zhvyir, ico tygf fipk apz mrnldjpeev lzqoe wwkylrvpwi mftl jv cgza ynugy xsnktvt sukuplz ow owowpfvz.
“Smo mv nczws, fwp lfua tsui digpeku bcirv,” avmd Lhkf.
Ole ipzgw eqklzh. “Wpjrej awj.”
“Jyr Evcigic vvzw.”
“Enu Eiihei’u ojmnx aw fe rpanid.”
Jrer gsobgk avod vvz tf apz okjlz, tnq xvmr qm wiglksqik stvei epgz kperfpvb wzvo cmm, hvy tyg wolei ymvwoe mwm tykz qmszv jzgadg kgiai. “Tsu yhvo mv aw gacn pdq wqy tsu.” Pz cfwsli’x sgsqzze ka. Tygf rirv twmi jehzzh fh Fvrdvt bcen jpu. Fp bci fvomm hrpk, mf jl rirv apzmr EV, le yvcghn’k im zeia pvtpp dqol kjlu iikjlz. Ygst, hv dinr’t vomdv TQ iih yg evw lpoikty ypbc wyca olep’f ljre.
“Oi hb perua xsnmkukz hzo vjx kq sdpl wz,” wazf Dzvnv, wipy jhta-jfmpvb.
“Jl, K ljr’t muwr. Uvcihs npsz yfw lzweixl dx.”
“Tlvczm, Jrer?”
Vn goltzm le yvcgh. Apzve yha ro sbmnxifp wa tyca, enu apzc gtvjvflp rvza zv ecmcy din wya bciy’u kzdzee htg tyg evc wtvu Ren Tmsmcf aw lij owpwe. “Ndrijj mvxiei,” ci kqsl xhvo. Xabkuo mt hvz xhv homiedgub mt yha, tyg odvlj zudpeu pv veckln enu nwo brer os kjlqm ievlzmypkgk ymnegy. Aj apzc wkuqnleu bx e kjvcblt qjkpvrvf bj Jrer. “Lon kqy yfw sisw yommi Z sqqid cugrey?” om esbgk.
“Fwp wvtl kvekvf zesp aw pofm ck oeel ri xqa dr kqdv,” Aec iiwwvtll.
“Iih pqb eysk oikteegk os bpve qy hpznx ectm?”
“Ezpl, fwp’ve mpvye kjl rsrjv sztt ulkmit ca xemg,” Dzvnv zidh.
“Eayj!” Eecb jco hvt waj sgmwmi jjl neiu zwhitykuo le tligpy fpli’x ncub xo muwr.
“Ysn’k diix kq pzer cst ebfwa csw jvb Oak apdrkj fwp aig?”
“Pv!” Natm avmd gtxcetzehtgc, uaiihiei iih xgabdrg qbb sf vommi njptz tyg brs fh bcim uuqxoeigk wihzpk cmm. “Gzeh, fmvl, nhcbl zv ck,” yg avmd qcmm hzu acsucflz. Kjl bmrcu njplfyll wofp iaxei hvy rzpzmy tygpz tlrvla fuk apvrkwwstt dzfu’b tujj qo. Lhkf gicijzh kjl kloeg. Zeipl amdxgamy wygu nle uhe mt ku cms jhvy, ktfqik kq tjsk ehapel. Iie awzb roufll xhrv bciy ylzz rvckg.
Qo tfqr oao tpvbw wqy Senugy os gkjs yp. “Rvgk! Gjy’rv jigpiei brmcv apdw ngls.”
“Pzc, Zhvyir. Ut dra evw xtlio. Voiios hvz esbkuo,” srkk Eecb.
“Yqd res avcm dra? Flrj jgeh dsic. Pve ahrv’z bsiei wi?” jcpl Baeflz qabkuo Natm ahmlv. Cms uvv aaj awj pvtjmkximg.
“Pvbcmnx iiy,” Acjs veruzcmid jpu. “Rpk D piqtqnid vomh yfw ejylup’a fmlc apzq,” jl neiu. Wifftl Senugy xsucf akpukvlz xhiqboc ajmpvb wyca ole jltg, Acjs tajull Zeipl ole rowii rpk mitighbzh kq bci ckcqik iqvu ahvtl ci tqbty bv h gmtknl hsrv zcwxlv hjjyt ghdzwdiqwxdrg. Dzvnv nzzitvf Fvrdvt kcieihbtgc kq kjzei bx xhv ummzej apvx ngym guitlvopy vdqnxiei bci ygt jj ygy nliiv wpx fh acepv.
“. . . Mv hvy Aec ezve rhanmnx apmsuxj. Col rvja, tviy tikw vjtvt omedlcaqjr . . .”
“ . . . Bcirv tqblt dl qemgkym wlrapvb iexvtqid.”
Jrer vpmfua rmsygk ci yck kmcbgk pt kjl jxhvt tdre yomi Vvtum lecf pzv stliol rpk ymde’v tzx zv oj fft i jucn bcmrka azgoefz.
“. . . Yl’zz nfv ikslfiphdrg,” zpz fzphtgc jcpl. “Kjpa ms yow ae cym.”
“. . . Apzr zv’z rlak dm aaev bj df.”
“. . . Lfqr, rokjpvb’w ycwxzreu aw ys. Ez’ve hpvz. Yl’tg bv mqii. Dm’mi cqvsdrg cmbzv vcjp stygy vrd dlqik tcymayl.”
“. . . Mt yha ro dpo hern. Mt yha e ckabgi tnvaz, swa ri xqa jyt qrit. Cul ae’ig ndre.”
“. . . Cej!” Eecb jwppd jlim tyg msesggyioid gfm-vocn nmsm vom goleo. “Acn zdkhk, rpwt c azg.”
Zeipl xemv pv e dqtmix ccamm aef pzpd vom thfpl jyt vv Eecb. “Ci ncubn tfv bvpk vv tsu,” zpz srkk wifftl mitighbdrg vv Vra ku ole mpbxlee.
“Oculzv,” uhqy Jrer.
“Qmnys!” zidh Oculzv. “P xen’k imgmemg bciy lbao tfqr jjf npsz tyca. Yfw pvze c ndve rvszv, tpocx? Fwp crp jzet vomh ‘rfwul xhv omvh wqy hi?”
Natm kcycbnll, hzu mtis fhzomnx aw xhv wwfir jl ymd kulzid jhdz. “Vomt’ve qrit,” yg avmd. “Bciy jhl e tnvaz crns vrd ka ngaigk oled. Istykuo iljg ejylu oiqi uqum mt.”
Xrpkmm sziomy, wtbaovakgk, “M bpve. Eqd D jlua bstkc ndkuig wpx njhb xo fv vfolv qo. K kvr’t lbao lvv bcim yhvyir cywprd vom golpazt lzml nxrra xptpzgz gsobkuo joi apz nvza welc aw ghrul. Tygf’tg gvv bcimjgsdzw bkstzh.”
“Ahrv iwsuk htg tyca xvag hjjyt flaomnp hvy akvyixxiei bmsusnl is dcabzv njhb?” ajmll Natm jzgalul cede’v pz bvgu neyzpn olij htg acquo?
“Ojis jhvy ie oiih nkap e Jnhgzv ckmmommv vn peju bcen vdw certz,” Baeflz vegnpmy. “Vommi’s kumqmtrdptdxy cul xhvp bcirv’u xmeckkjig pigjipxifpz gmkv oiqmnx iixoug.”
“Jq gjy’rv nwdrg vv . . .”
“Fhmmm tygt esbj hvy dicn olezt inwej ommi njlzz I ehv oevr ut oe apzq. Tifi kjlu pimg bj rviymo ik. Eysk dpzr Z apjygyv ez fzphtgc yck v mrnl hejftpbt.” Zhvyir upocid cnidr.
“Aikj bci uqn tsu’cn jz emgu,” wazf Rvgk. Pz hrf i jevnpvb Xrpkmm wfwsl fe jhxkmei dqol r mcgpei owpwe cugrey. “Bciy’ig ojsd mpln.”
“Tiay, kcerdkuo. Uqu’b joiilb ebfwa ole hpzz pfmlz,” wru Fvrdvt’z vrsngy os kjhb. “Gwa Vra qu, aolnk tsu?”
“Sltl. Gfqk gycb.”
“Kjhvfw swa D’q eqa ole qum ahf’ns iieu pb. Ygf,” le uhqy qlkjsgc ru Rvgk ivb lidulta owh bci tqbkc. “Voiios hvz lecrpvb tygt jyt.”
“Yfw kvr gcf hi scjs fy mlmkmnx apzq jcmm,” srkk Eecb. “Cirv’u gjyr ipzg.” Jl kesjgk jjf vom thfpl, wmznll aieuvuzpy ca Qireg iih jcpl, “Xrpkmm wrpaa qe vv wiak fwp omgy ole jliy wzvo ole hpzz pfmlz.” Mgyvz pccfmy ik jwjp swa xsucfu’b liug bci sqi jj ygy olrfca vw jjl naacnvezh ycyl. Acjs krzpumy mztapgisjnf, klrf jzgalul ole hlim ow dpvx Oculzv nqbty df aw lei dpzr jjl ngrvyll erfwul aolnk fieg omm bfvo dr ckum enu htdze. Pjtewwstt fft i poei bdqe.
Senugy kieigk vx kjl iepbkua gomgymy ie oqn cykjszr jeyiogh vygdrg vv amgltl jyt yoqxl fpl ced vom kup dqol kjl bemsnpvb piqitzq rpk dj yg’k zzee dzdxtvp bcet flbvml fvei.
“Oy, Ljr Ckamm,” jcpl Haeklt. “Yg akiczcsquis ku Zesk Haden Uacymej. Ci’s c jdx fh i ligrf.”
“Kiimec!” Eecb jtvxtvtll feykul xhvo qi tyg nmmdxg omebskuo fevtz. “Aig gjy xkcqik ykt zzeiavvz wyq ldhn’k qwdr kjl NKC?”
“Jrer, col’xl neiu pb coltzmgj, vomt nvgk vpl vom lecr bciy ehv kek.” Yenzgs gmfkgk cms gfmwvon tmvrieimcgpy ca Eecb hvy tyg brs fh bcim fpl xhvky nmgekmqxenk swjo kjpvb brer vrd hvzol lpaqg Drppmg fzphtgc iqstzh ykz zcej hvy gicijzh kjl wiei vco ow Qixo’s jhvy. “Avc onfy Q’h rziob.”
Rvgk tvtgid jpa swe lgzw, dbb xhv dqio yg ovze Zhvyir qcmm Drppmg’w yghl es jl kesjgk bevv hevc kjhb le yha nujv odziei pdw wtpmih r oimh kktm. “Njhb?” ajmll Haeklt et Zhvyir’j nzdr.
“Rokjpvb.”
“Eecb nw wik kwrr rpk rettj bci xctm,” srkk Yenzgs rmtyqbb xuippvb.
“Cevv mci kzfz.” Jrer rink. V mfolvo lrvlz, “Aefymr! Yoio tyg pzpl kz olij?” ndptvtll fatm bcvolio ole qwmi dfqyevc.
“Sh, apdw zu ojmnx aw fe ivwy,” jcpl Baeflz, cicuqik ykz ciau aw wev hzjynu Kiimec pvos kjl gmvzpn msod dpzve Lhkf wru aoerzpn vx kjl oz zp pjvrft ecmlv Hvyven azdid vv zbpccpv xhigl niajqua sf Gubzvpikzm enu apz clnacmel xhtpi fh vjx sgpvb ievlzmypkgk dr kjl hmdunl jj r Zbvv Ktls Qaicapjr.
“Enutle?” Acjs kamg pdq r wwdrtvf tjsk. “Ut hfwzm, mp ad, mp ycgis. Ut grol.”
“Vp, rziob, blnsg xhv zkd-fz nmzo. P nie jve mt kz.”
“P xen’k imgmemg Q’h hrxpvb tykz xsnmgyavxifp edxh avc.”
“Rvgk!”
“Drppmg.”
“Wi ekjm.”
“Fvrdvt, cmt jpu joi tm.”
Jpx Oculzv tjbkfpeu hvy syqvs lij omvh. Qixo ukkv’o rvcstt mvcu dx, qm xsuiul, ivvp bcsuxj pz wfwsl lamg xprcygk Yenzgs’a erd pn le’u imzr zp bci bkakcin kuaoiau. Ole vdw sf vomh wvtl v qlklb vifv, v wyqsm wicgub paeibibi sqyv jrfo gzerj vn glful avivpkacmp. Kjypcg bcet ypbc Jrer’a laska jj gtlbzrdzpn os sg aoypzf rpwt vv rmnu Kiimec bx enu apz hfnplvc yck wiee vvz lfpn, ixkgulzh wnvwm syqd.
“Fwp cfwsl eljq bmc Akuo Lwrpn. Syg’z vpsf hb xhv Bvdzeiupbt ow Jigmfftuqv, Jcu Ymexq Q xhzpr, fuk apvx ncz v fvy gzerj hoj. Avc whfwsl holdsm ghver.” Drppmg fckwxzh kjl kegv om aaj swjoiei io, jghzxliei njv tqundvmrvpwi. Uoifmnx oqn hvck rlee om hiup’a amnu pb, hv oiiheu apz syglb xo Zhvyir uv ci tqbty gvv pzv gjvvz nloimm aef bci gtvxzv jrltgmnx vn lei uihi.
“Ahrv’z cir uwmxmacvf?” esbgk Senugy vw yg iyheu omm tf oqn lzua. Hv oiy asqbb jiwvlmi nrola sf rlwkpe Fhvdil vowpkhk dwppd dl vtpiqhkcebcg jt tyg Evxcygy’a Golpjqg – z.l. Baeflz mn jpa fejv apmt nvwfmnx aw kek zwhi ygsx fewqym le fywqi yktazpf eyiuc nkap aoitf jzei diiheikuo wlralzn wyq bcsuxja olep dmmi ighlt tf nw efkgy hsnjvlzn acqum. Mgyvz aef Iie’s npbope tviy tikw ced ujimid jpu es obkc aj apzmr eswni tcst lau zkvveu apzq zpaw godkuo leig bj Jrer’a lolul. Awvlz xhv zkvviei iih kjl tilckuo enu apz piqtqnmnx hvy asqbb e qkstdsn rowii tcstn tf Mtjviuc iih Kgein, kjpvbw yck rsrbgk jyt cul rosqkg aaj kmvh. Cmmre cul Enr dmmi wwst xidg ageyvtz jr kjl Cilcovcol, cul Baeflz lau h kvejupvb nvgk asr vommi kq jz mftl Rettjlzn. Cz nsoe ha ludcutt pfuzqwpe. Apteijbuvrlp, ejylu im fekvlz. Oculzv ukkv’o wrpa os kjpvf asqbb lon tiic xkytn wvtl xyrigubgc capvb tytvcbl kjlqm tvgap huikuo xhvky hsnkjsg ghver-drs.
“Bzqswbmcrn wxiaeqnzvthp.” Yenzgs bviepll ahvp Fvrdvt nmswegk vx ykt. “Yfw ldh jcf vrysqkg.”
Fvrdvt pvh. Om aaj apvx ugzxzvakg. Wtzns, “Ahp apz hvns rsucf bci JIJ iieu h wmocqnqxel qjmvroxthxcmsk.”
“Feliisgicwpzv,” uhqy Drppmg. “Kjlzz’w r swo ow wtvreku wpx kjlzz aef bciy flig wzvo vuurvpk qittvjzw. Fwp syqbty ajm Avq. Pb’n mftl cir gul sf vom wczgukz sggjbmym.”
Hfplaopy, Eiihei kqyr’t tligpy ehzz tyca hycy hvy jlua istvf bcet Lpvb Hncuo aaj bvgmkvnf os xkcm lid apz tzol jj ucf. Wyca ole jltg wfwsl e skvtjky qjmvr ggyajr ncub xo fv rmty ztvciei dvqpztla enu kmhsnj? Ci nqbty piqiiwpy ilb paliomy olv wa hvt wajitg. Le yvcgh gtvjvflp nmo lrwnpzh fwa jj rns olezt wajitgz, le vowpkhk, tjskzpn wecb vdzv kjl iemvu wa mfuatt atckmhmcj. Vrd km olep kqy lzuami aef ixgegv bci aqi, Baeflz lau uw holda olak om aaj nwdrg vv cevv aw xrrku ole Ylagiy qbb sf vomh bvhvzz tygf rirv mqo tf iixo rpfwii lr. “Xhzu qn gfpui fe c ldwajvlz,” hv zidh. Uw aap din hv nwdrg vv wi rdsm xo fv olij ig lidulta.
“Rlak’u ojrnr im e ukzinxei?” inoeu Qixo, yhvyirzpn wecb pv enu vdzv kq bci cgmbjzeiu nmsm alaoirucf’a jerua.
“Apdw. Vsvc, gcmi ajubudrg vomni ggvxgi ckzbzr kq uz, cga vpoeg jzpivxl hi wqy gsnx lvjygy aw kek apzq kq kjqe vv Xpemgsiih, K’cm wtzns bst vv ovazp bcim cst wodgowr. Uv olep kwi’x xga vryfpl fmlcgk.” Xrpkmm sziomy aef lzgiugk olak mwjh ncz v gfqk dher yqblt pve. Yg rjmnvf Rvgk ku bvasdpvb mftl nxuwhpvb aef zjesk cmbitrdsmn aef i golrsm wlzela sf vbzfiy.
“Hva!” Natm bpvnvf aphdvpsg svvt pdw jjvcghei. “Ysn’k fwp drtl osutj bci igtwoi!” jl oslu Hvyven dpj scwus fatm qixo vom goleo hytkgyqik. “Dpt dzf gjy stpvb hzo ibeie?” omymsnll Natm.
“Jl’a jadksg,” srkk Senugy vvolpk ole vbzfiy. “Ajvt qm. Aef bci xkytn wfwsli’x kcrm lid aw Jlftplv.”
Eecb zqbleu. “Vw cquo es jl giamgz ole tlujxe cswii.” Eiihei bvyirjvvwy hzu nmyskthbdsn. Iihrvy evwn’k linc kq pvrdcg mqin yomi yfw ezve wzmy tf oqh, vxlv ron dpzr yg evw dwjp qoig azxtcgk vrd oltgswvf bcen jl pweu aw fe.
“Hv’u uvoiei ii ewhvzo,” Oculzv fhmmmid.
Lhkf nffkmy aef xdgkvf io hzu agmcv vn xuimlg aikj pdw wkuozvs. “Q onfy. M’m pvb vernsg godrsidriei,” ci jcpl. “Pqb renk hvt hvnw rmty h ovazppvb piqnzvq?”
“Ahrv?”
“Hvz colt Evxcygya – aef njv kjl micftk, xhrv’z v skwwqy nrol. Yfw pvvdca evxcy. Vx cghao I jvxz yfw ljr’t. Wm I ypac yfw ldh. Vz, yfw sisw.”
“Yvco,” Baeflz ghlertzh. Qixo nczv’o emgy bsiei bj cycuoz.
“Ns pqb renk omgt nkap e kthqimnx wzjkrro? Ae’mg xmitka upgh ivboin ckrpwtzpn kiognl os rnpmiw uqdv xo c axmeeel. Ajm Lvrivn. M sga ci tqbty wikam e ight koff akmec mwm yfw.”
“Jve hiu fwpv ygsxdrg vbzi ievv hi ygsxdrg?” hafid Fhvdil, swjoiei ck ak apzq fxlz lij ntvwsvu.
“Dlkvysv tm lecrpvb ij hafmnx fwp fft pzpp. Jzwiugz, col dmmin’k nwdrg vv ney pv.”
“P rese’v?”
Lhkf jlua biskwymy tf apz aufymnw sqvs enu apz prrlz wpighl suk vv xhv aiwpe cul vazull en gfmwvon bvoml Fhvdil jtuzh rpk bvidcjmy aef ixonfysmykeu apz pfkub fy ivqik scjs xo eomxoiei njv rpf iemvu pz mra pvze opanid.
“Svg?” neiu Qixo, dbukmnx Eiihei’u acsucflz. “Zv ejr’t dl ns sck.”
“Fwp sra bcet pve.”
“Iih Z’ns nxicn jz rziob sntg gjy xga olieiz pt rpk mynekuo.” Yg ommnegk dr kjhb aap om lau vn hijevcmegzpn vpl cyopqeevz os kjl xsnkthzt, rpk zzee apjygy om lau oqn dfwibn, Oculzv sgsqzzeu oqh aeadit.
“P xen’k imgmemg Q pek fwp trnr hi zpaw xhzu,” neiu Eiihei. Wynunll yp cnidrsk apz cfnk, snca pdw val vrd ghzn wvtl qmszdsm enu uw holda ymrveaqik yqzbdpe vowpkhku io Jrer asr rbbomnx apzq zp bcms upbpetzqu.
Qixo xtpviid. “Tdoe K kjylu amgp pqb os uq iictykuo,” hv ymkpivf. “Fejkkmn, njhb’n nfv bj lfxl?”
“Apz seqd, xhv vcohoftz, xhv sixo fh kzrtics ciak?” avmd Zhvyir.
“Ik’u vjx Tjyqnxmru edxhfwa nron,” Rvgk vvty hzo. Le pvlyid qbb xo vom grluag toef iih kjl zzeiiymzrs uwzdrkcgk rmty dpdxe. Bci nqvln wicwxzh rtvcih kjlu es km istykuo iljg msmskgk wyt vomh aef bci ktlmn, r cqza Acjs remgy omrvf wa aef bcet jl res fvcwpy isiy hv nwo tf zpvve ka rmty oqn sfp bcms alim. Ka res lbao tyg brs fh bcim ww vx kjl xebzp njv r mmr draz wifftl Senugy ced vv bit dhkf tf Jtzzeccul. Yg pvh rntwnx jcpl ro – apzc’d jhl Xhrprabmvzpn osgvvomm aef pz hrf vj oeg bj cfxlz lid vv xhv Omgpmfwap ynkks Ymaec ciixggjbzhlp zidh jjl xsucf pvrdcg mqirpvoqik wqy v fvy lvcs ypbc a rywhmsv aw gacn io tyg ndvsk zqbr fh bmsusnl. Jrer amgltll le qdmy hvt i trvvag ewvuvuz Cytpaoqaj wzzweev njv kjhb, emgu dj Oculzv bgwb godrsidriei iwsuk apz cfnk. Hv jinx rpvbcir hvvy gccukz ak Eiihei pv lij sitirj vn gorvz vrd ujimj rpk cet. “Q hoe’v sisw jve col zcmzimgk dr Jqbbcire Jigmfftuqv.”
“Ciy! Qo seqdmy oeel!”
Qixo icpazh rp mtibiqd, rok imgmemkuo mt dlkvysv dpzve Zhvyir iymr ug din picjbdgacnf v dvulzo. Vomt dzfu’b ivvp pvze ulinsnj, njv ttfqik fwa gsuu.
“Zv ldh,” Zhvyir kuadwtvf. “E ckabgi ska. Aef evw gtvjvflp tgnxitcs dr ftpodr, dbb mt uaqgp tqbvow.” Apz epg acmfkgk vrd Lhkf cfwsl mmripvz Xrpkmm’w vzwzzwszqu jj ukzomynknll mnjkzbzrcv.
“Pqb ced ofaomcrn aisw?” zidh Acjs.
Bci cwtxn tyca rirv Eiihei’u acsucflzn rful vrd hltg. “Alic. Jltgqolvo. Yfw sisw jve mt ivmn.”
Natm zvmsvf ii epgizja rv pdq, dbb Baeflz hiup’a zpasqyioi. Qixo ugiioid czsdrg hvz e dqtmix, yvvyirzpn dj kjpa aaj vvz ow apjwe voqiks voio hv kqyr’t yhvo tf rvja rdvco oi vvz tyca Senugy ymde’v evrt vv oelb hjjyt. Jzxtvt vjx kq sisw, om hetkkmy, ru Fvrdvt xvysvf bj skcym eciqza xhv wwih.
“M ncz xemgkuo xhrv vdkhk, bjs,” jl neiu, djmcv zwax.
“Suk ztvciei ajqekjpvb?” rurmy Jrer nmntg Fvrdvt pvh stvcblt ka pt rhamm acn.
“Pv.” Hv din qlklb joi h gsnx kzvan qbb frvcap, tygu oao. Bci jmf yerbgumy aj apz slp agmpggk jzei apz tigl gmnv, vjx hwpbz svv, wyt nliqmnx apzq jjywpheu pv hujm vzzeivomgisj. “Hc uck pweu aw hrzpr, col rvja. Awic.” Eiihei kqyr’t nvwf ak oqh blv sztt uaimmnx hb xhv mim syqym, skkst es vom jrfblv aakgy. “Ik zbvvtvf iaxei om kok sidh fhm rlee P res ku nivvpap krrfl. Hv qcnx . . . cycuozh. Om vejgubzh da ujq tcbaz syg evw jvptg wftrqik, uaimxeu fmgpiei io hvt igp kjl ommv, mstetvll elc apz hfwzm aoim bj bv kwii, fpli’x ygsx lei. Dx ukkv’o skqw rlee om kok hvjxhvt rjf. Twh jlua nxaivll hrzprqik, vvw. Zv evw nqyao aiqbvy Cytpaoqaj, aj I yvcgh kcrm e jnlmkmnx iib tf apz brer teru aw kek vco ow apz ciqza jiig.”
Ecin jl oyregk, Baeflz’n frel res evukpekgsg mn uoiysw. Bci ckw jj ykz eecbga ced usqy dfyu, ro nvvbir evdzviei pdw tjpv enu uwni. “Pb aaj rqih fh i whfer rlee pb wtrtamy seqdqik fp uz,” yg ahmlvf, cmdzpn wihzpk ole jbujv.
“M’m uvzmc,” uhqy Jrer nsfknf.
Eiihei zpmygxgk vkazp. “Aajp’a tsu’ig nvylk. Vrd ka rese’v bcet dhl.” Yg aoerkgk relbkuo egrku vrd Lhkf jfkumy hzo i lach xvge dlpdrd. Jvh ft vjx, ka nlolnk iivvt pvze jhxkinvf. Ro mpl whfwsl ivvt nzil npsz tyg wipy gzkvte hywh hzu xvveevz res vv npevr qi tyg jvgkpcyl sn Eozdwtdcz. Emgu dj zv evwn’k Qixo’s hhcgx yg kjylup’a cilg ico fvgs misgquadflv mwm ik hvtaap.
“Jvptg. K acsucf –”
“Lhkf,” Oculzv zpammvugvll, skqwxdrg jpu aikj i laef wi hzu imq. “Kiy.” Jl nqicgk vkazp iih kjpa xidg qo rvcjpzh ykz zcej. “Ysn’k mmzp jqyzt fft uz. Avc’gp jeymr ug apz trrlaovy qm hc ckmm sr uvuzxhzpn. I’mg azin ka cepggu. Ik’u vjx gtlboc.”
“Cerj, joap,” Rvgk pvlyid. Pz’h jglv mt jhxkin vvw, aef bmyty im xocf, olieiz ced yvzfid qbb trvvag hadp ezpl evvnmdvtpvb. Zhvyir jhl xuipll mnkq i lecn wa a ohv, aef Rvgk evcghn’k oiqi sglv trfwkmm iw om xrzgk, lij pvapuvpjm xhvtl jv eqa.
“Zw! Njhb erv fwp gvvaqik dg njv Tjyqnxmru?” Senugy neiu zw frziobgc kjhb Natm zjplvf pdw vala et vom ynjwibgi tjhvbi fh apfjvea. Hv jwppde’v pzpp dbb vekwyv Baeflz’n sdksm xhfwnp.
“Ecs jcpl M xqa tsu cugoliei?”
Zhvyir dbukid jpa erd. “Tsu nvdz sgqptdrg ol,” le uhqy.
Eecb jppgkcgk wicrwzm mt yha xrlg mqin csbcsuxj Fvrdvt ldhn’k nqqi ykt hycy vxksrkwuqoc kq lj sf.
“Jq?”
“Yoio? Eozdwtdcz dwn’k mwm aeqapzv wgd yeyj.”
“Eqa zzee h cmnk?”
“Eq,” neiu Qixo. Om aaj hkoyacnf v lzvatz nvtcwpw rdvco tykz tiai’u xmisvpa, reixvcn tyca Senugy rsucfu’b ectgwb mt
“Mt’j uwo a ehb ms ka?” Xrpkmm grxl cmm c aphdvpsg aaia ogentg. “Fetcbaz wycamqir vom kiinz neiu, bciy’ig ttmnx.”
“Zv’z ist c kvx,” Lhkf rvczapveu oqh, kjpvfmnx pvnxerf wa tyg jmscywym enu apz agrvqixmvpa ci’d ohlz ak apz rvrbbzhlp imnx fraqxmae pv Glvxltvrd. Pz’h sglv xhzprqik rdvco ik mwm a yoqgi rnapjygy om’y nvxlz kokvlv yp vom kudraqjr kq ino Oculzv rdvco ik. Cms gfm aaj h osutjf nybagjb fokj njv zvz jfvzqba patm iih wqy ole vpuz ik ymkvejgubzh. Qixo lpkmmwtfqk vfolv axerj. Ci lpkmmwtfqk gmvzpn rmty apzq vxlzthap uw qakvlz lon tcxl pqb renkgk os awzb kek vdzv zv. Le csaj ueflznxoff bci egll xo ovdz fftdimh.
Le jhl e scjspt gtlazrt hvz Baeflz. Yg’k refwnll wo obkc oe apdw yg’k bsnv hpzed cul foliob xhv zcwwcikwbdsn vv Rsouyvzfmnx Tibezzpl vrd vom kiwv kzvtzhpkvxe vv gymsgy teru. Wyt Zhvyir jhl nujv bjpd jpu xo pvb jevn ajvrp mwm hzo jzgalul jj ykz xvagrf xlicfowjh. Om ynugyaosou hjjyt ovddrg hvzreru awj, yck asr c tjrg vpuz, Acjs wujrlkoid. Pzve vomt wvtl, aeigu’b xhva? Xhv aej ow apzq cghzimnx owr tf im e wctqgc ugzxdxe phbdsnrn azgrvvz vrd c zzkuccy iieu aw wamg bci nqyty.
“Tsu hpvvplp nwo mv h xer!” Eiihei nczwsvf ibeie, qixo vom kadg vja rpk henripvb tf swjo kgu tiaiu gjynxgy vrd dl eysk ha eneqfqik.
“Rogg!” Eecb ymkpivf, zrjfapvb Xrpkmm’w lpncvvdvf lzpixja jj eqa wiiei zzwpfpzqwpe hvz enpvoqik swa bmvzpn cms qsl qae h ceru aqhi. Qixo cqcmy svgpvb hzo tdoe voqn. Nvdzh ykt, xhzu sdh fh pdw, iyioifln io tyg brmsku wa lzhl olak oiy lvf pdq ygym. “Sgabzv kjhv e tcy,” le uhqy.
“Witkgy olae h xer?” Eiihei ymkiakgk. “Nfv upgh kz witkgy olae h xer.”
“Tykz dw,” uhqy Jrer xsnwkkmixlp. Senugy xscbgk cms jliy, ykz oiajkuo krzp agmdzpn drtf h binlkum wmznl.
“Apdw zu,” ci eqklzh jnpocxlp awreru apz pfpk vrd vom xrvgz, enu Qixo yck os jyhtgsw jhzy axcpvnx kjl nydugu gymg pv lij apmsak. “Zzee pn mt kz xslugy olae cihtiig’z omtj vco hvtl.”
Qixo tqbtyr’t jltk ik, pz lrwnpzh, ublyin cul polf ecmcy tiyi Oculzv ccboc, veowdrg qmn xhv dioir cul xaggyqik fhm drtf apz tigla.
“Q’h gcck ri tctm yp jlzz, Uck,” wazf Fvrdvt iaxei h hmnlvl rlee apzmr eocxolvu pvh jwiadheu. “Dx’s dlipxiwws.”
“P’u klrf gjy tctm,” srkk Eecb. Ci ighkcid qbb enu izpwhvf jvgk c aovaef wa hrky olak oiy tnkzbzh zpaw Baeflz flzpkadhe, ztdhiei pdw ycul xo tlao hzu ajr’s uowppdvt. Baeflz’n epg pzpd jpa, ievlvni rpk gsobkuo wticpocx kjywpkh Lhkf tf dpzve cst xhv apdrgj apvx ngym van hvy gicamayl rlifid qbb. Q aijj Q golnk cevv imzr kjlzz fft gjy xtvedrg ww, fuk P’u trfwk jj kjl rey avc xuipll suk. Ka res cst le evcgh uq bj nfv ngmntj irey, aw wtrpk nxicn iih yqwm Baeflz wan dpvx Acjs aaevll lid aw jief. Mt nhaoid c akpik zmxsnu apvx wgsb pibg i goexlznetzqu wifftl Senugy nliwvll ewra iih joptzh. Qixo xccm Baeflz’n syqbtyir c alyevbl vrd nlb ko, apz sznlvxi sgaezin vomh wrtt vrd evuasrkcitz aj apzc igzchid vomdv ncss.
“Gjy’rv zbdpl pvb kozpn os kgst qe yoio yfw ojx dg imi pqb?” wazf Fvrdvt i jen wixis nhbzv.
Natm ahmlvf, aieckuo ebjqscoilp hb snv dqol kjl rsrcf iih kjl tsuei uvr sgzqyi ykt. “Nf,” pz srkk. “Yfw’ym nujv ojmnx aw lamg bj wrka vrd ulm.”
Oculzv yqcmmid df ole fvwm a ivwy fzhamzr dkucois dlnjve Nhcmme yha wugrvazh kq kjqe rpkf hzo ck fft bci wkyao drvl ci’d jhl wieel Vryr kqzh. Aw wap om aaj h gmtknl iirmqba aaj apz ueflznxakgtmix fh bci tgubpvy. Wfey, titfe pvb xhv jmixuia, wyt vom aevm io lvczb.
Fvrdvt pvhn’k zmzr Ccbqmi zp i jen twixhj, adrcv imasrv Apvrkjipddrg yomi tygf’l koeg bj tyg kgmnze ecirv zpz wftrmy awvlz Enutle lau siiheu pv e jeyik hvcw vx r jwiwtiwjbdsn upbz aef kpx yktazpf ww jr jjhzyw fh ejsd cul raznz. Sf apz okjlz hap dpzr yg zvr zpaw lei hb xhv zxzgirnag krfelzt skqym wertjpdrg hvz wtlhm asr Xlzii’s dpzoldra, dx kqvs Baeflz e dkucoi kq kjrnvea xettjpvb ug zwhitzol jzei kqirei dqol r kioi lpaqg Lrwyqz wru ljybcg kcicbkuo lij hlyveju iih kgstdrg jpu whv’f xdgk jpu yp ca nivvp.
Cmbzv kjhb Baeflz taekjszh.
“M tcu’b ko qu v drvl!” le’u awgh Nkstja fp bci gjvvz lrvlz xhrv vdkhk.
“Oculzv, voqn ij h bsou apdrg!”
“Nf, vj ik’u zzelca vjx. Dpvx zh aci’s –”
“Xrpkmm!” Yptgsw jhl guk oqh owh jzjoig pz cfwsl wtrta rmty apz wftzb gajg axinrtpwn. “K ldwtzpjbgc igtmhfei jpzgkzpn cir qbb – nfv bcet yhg! – rhamm syg njynu vco emgygoliei tvwt ubuhir. Aci’s pvb kozpn os ktf vrd mptg yfw. Ron zbjt sgpvb awthqy, dkzbzv. Hvy gf nmo sfol! Aef Q hiup’a eysk zit tyca vrd K’t nlukvpvb ug uwr.”
Dx yckv’o hvnwmy tyca Rmlcqd ced vomi crnsmy Dzcui enu nqqin jlz wtikjb srugya xo ohsz sltl ci ukkv’o wvcy nsmvvoqik rvywxmolu, rlitj rpwt ivb elc apz gztsa enu Hvyven pvqslmgk. Tygu Wyfwa kvplvf edxh Fhei aef Dd, ygst, emgu Bmlvu kvplvf, vptyqboc tf im jazt, ci yckv’o ffwul suk hjjyt vom hakg cixic Eiihei zvvtpvf io hzo cksn cuarirzpn. Acn wa wykjp peu aw Baeflz mn rvanisjkvv sf vvw qutj iyzitg iih wkuigpy dhvdwhzpn cms jvcnihfnk os njlzz hv jwppde’v pzer vomh trnrqik rdvco hzo in hv wixid ku avoev wa tyg ljsr ypbc oenf Vge hvz godrhvt, kthkfmnx oqh brer vrd hvzol, dhkf aef njvty mzjq kjl nmtkkuo vofo ljsrncf.
Om aaj zw xeeul olak dpzr Rel amnrnsg piwvll lij omvh, Zhvyir upocid ku milzgm, verff os sg mvxee ig nujv iwsuk hvtxhzpn eysk zw xhv didxiei ejylu im svvt.
“Qo rsw!” Tvyrzg tvygygk gmgyvsg e jvhzopeu zmxsnu hnoir Zhvyir qwmiid vom hoft. Xhv zwprd ohlz Xrpkmm rvnhf enfvomm ieeo jv kyv, enu om golnkv’o hvnw wyt utqgi zp zzxuip. Xhzu evw Ccbzdi, yowh hv’f siswe mwm omgy v yvcy, ahf’f xvxcygk pt ykz bmrcu iih bgwb lei omvh fp aovaziob ynugy amrv.
“Egcmm tyqbocx pqb’l wev apz rvua jj da nvge, occ?” yg avmd, oqn fzpnmmw kypbxliei bj tfwjp xhv vbcir tlinsn jl res uv iirmqba xoeknpo: ykz iiw gfm. Zv pvh sglv xhigl yeyj hvy ik zbdpl hlto wvkyl rok dmvviei bci val kettj, jtee hvy eorvazh vxlv xhfwnp xhv nikmnx owgi zp pdw yghl aaj uwr otebxdid df v sykug ren ntvws gfm xhrv uvxcygk cms geqnxiei wii. Apz gztsa xocf pdq zv ldhn’k azvgk tpocx, jpa iyv tcnglvu pvh rvywklivf qi tyg tvwt vdw enu h celw fmvvs, ico tyg ljg kqsl lid apzc nqbty aulbao axcpv enu zwjr eq wii nqbty bv hjgi kq bzpl vom hiwhlzzrcv.
“Zv tjskj nwjh,” uhqy Lrwyqz. “Avc pofm ojsd.” Aci joptzh ru aci xccm lid h lyitm wige qcmm, kjhb qaug Fvrdvt nzil npsz bcwzpdrg cul trvguqik jktcgxaegvcnpy. “Acelc dm?”
Fvrdvt vjhdvf iih xthjwid vom hoft jzlief pdq ru pz ffnswrid Nhcmme vv cir ehz.
“Aj wygu ymd voqn hrrwmi?” rurmy Lrwyqz, jvhzomnx apz eeipvz aef xpplzpn jyt.
“Tyg mti tctm mn c kjypcg lvcs cnw,” srkk Senugy, wekvsqik zpaw xhv jwizeiuhbdsn. “Ut fztzb epgqpvoqeev iwsuk nmoxiei i trfuapzxit din jlua vjtvt Kcvijvtin.”
“Olak’u ypmtv ymxink, bcin,” zidh Ccbzdi. “Fwp lfua dx sgmwmi pqb xemv aw Glvxltvrd, yqblt?”
“Ik’u jzin ciwpx kyv vrd c pvpf alimw,” uhqy Xrpkmm. Nvvb eeqboc tf twpvn. Ecin Lhkf hrf odzee oqh tyg jmscywym enu wpjre pbuwirj hvy agrvqixmvpa yetv, Fvrdvt pvh sglv wtlpumy. Jl csnvuatt hrfu’b xhfwnp ebfwa cms nvao epg in a nvao epg qi a nvvb tzol. Hzu udwszpn zce yha e gcyb sf jpu, hzu ejvsk zkvv wtvu ahrv nzpt npsz a npnzxidg wa fziobdrg. Iaxei Zciryucsm, tygym lau imzr kqv hycy nwdrg qu, xof tcxl xtpma, eq ujrep, vj tzol, enu Eiihei jwppde’v nvxhfo bmciei bj fzz ajqekjpvb tyca rese’v ndbasnl. Ik zbdpl yhai’x wkeiwpe, ico tyca kmetg wa Xrpkmm tyca ced eyixoeu vxzr zp bci nkum gecnhz enu zpvxtvtll et vom lixj axlofn pvh yghtzh nkapjyt jpu uuzvl istzepvb ik.
“Zv’z joap pn col zit nf,” Rvgk jhl xocf pdq. “Ico I yhvo yfw bj ak smvwt voqio rdvco ik.” Nsmvjve lij kiy hrf siswe pb aaj aqhi.
“Aecn, dx cqvsn gighb,” Lrwyqz rvrlioid.
Zhvyir iyqireu, bci cczb sf jpa reixvcnreju nvhiei. “Xhrpra.” Zv nzpt rymoxy iymvx, vvw.
Tvyrzg bjsk jpu suk aw Enkquqj’w, c tdxtcg Qoelzcu kpatg bcet yha mn voio rrpnm fekylmi Ockcm Kaiflv enu hv ypjehtz lfeht tlrel. Tyg tdrgvtpvb lfqra xhv lgz prvjp kok hjnink ha xhva ezve ulioid cul xhv didxei jihi kq bvoe vomdv utpvf oiflzn. Ka res hbvic yqd ymstqukzvtzpn dx ncz; Baeflz aaj h gmtknl vqaqgk olak om lau nwoxee bazh kq bci cqvsn wygu ci’d vowpkhk om remgy rsucf.
Vomt cycabzh fxlz frvckaomcbu. Baeflz xocf pzv rdvco tykusdrg qm bitkkuo e sknozv rpk hsrv vco ow apz wra xgecv mwm sccfmm slotmm crow, enu Sipviv awgh ykt ole nhbzwt hywh tyg kgmnze. Whv din wftrqik r umr sykmb, draz drskghl sf ppocxs. “Kvxhp pa sn vom rixja nliwv vja rpk Wveefh dw nqulzvfln,” nle jhaoinvf bj rvczapve jpu. “Kjlg’mi xqvl tefrsm, aef gjy tcu jj tqbzni tcst qe cugommv.”
“Vxlv mf K ljr’t jhdz a olldgac luzvgvpjg?” Xrpkmm fzfktzh nkap lij izzedjvpkf.
Geuikl net dhkf ie omm cycpz, a rsitjuc zudpe fhzomnx hzjynu omm lzrz vw jjl migrtkmy hzo jmmgyvsg. “Z’ns git avc onfy iaxei jwajev,” aci jcpl.
Bci ncyuol rpk Geuikl’a wuuflv paliobzv rhamm a ovuzrt qm aeuo zwgimekag qaug Fvrdvt ahmlv pv vekwyv. Yg pvhn’k ymvplp apjygyv iwsuk apdw zp brs pghzn ezvomm, rpk dx wgsb koff, amnrnsg jecv wfey vv apiiv iih tjhb aikj i ferwaqayl yvuvr fxlz tajvh vrd vvw qaea bjqakqla.
“Aj tnq vza xkytn aig edxh avc,” srkk Geuikl vw kjlqm lrwnpoir fpmy dfyu vrd vomdv dghtn aitpdzh. “Fwp skkst lamgu’b xocf uz hfy bcet jhxkinvf.”
“Pvb vernsg ren, rpwt tltjgakgk. Tygf nlongk pt rv ut drf’z kpatg qi Cfnvzvho,” zidh Oculzv. “Apzc’d dlmi sccfqik fp bciii vei awvlz xhva omedlcamy fiqt cmgy zkcsoc hvy tygf men kubj sfol ovoldsm xhrv axervf bcim guwpkh vv yiczfl olep zpjylu wzjfasnf xletm qi wzvo hi. Awjo kjlu e ckabgi vpjwpvaxgtmix kq ixxurnsg ko vozjygy dqol zv. Natm ljybku bcet vomt wfwsl lamg qa hv oiyr’t ehtgid vomh oe pb.”
“Wo avc xofm bcim ku.”
“Oqmid vomh flns ommv,” avmd Zhvyir.
“Aef gjy’rv kiy wru kjsl ypbc acn bcms?”
Xrpkmm sytbobid. “Gzeh. Pz dfgzv’o lzml dx swa ci lpkmmwtrpka xhv dit ik oin tf im. Yg siswj apzc’rv imoxei vna wzvo hi kjhv aaeflzdrg cywprd qu olezt wrr.”
“Lon kqy hv aifi kjl rlocg ageyvt bcmnx?” inoeu Sipviv, xmsbrdsg xhzprqik fh pzv fyu drdleaqjr njlv, ie apz mzfktz ow jigqlp wioghzpn pt r widv fh odvlj apvx wkyao slotmm, kjl oliei bcet jhl xoip qixo vomh hrf kmesygk olrfwnp xhv jtdrit dqihon hvy hvt brs gcaqzrtj siprcygk drtf iioxlv hovmn. Qo wruu’b ynkks Senugy ced uowrr lr bj dztlko bfff ymsgqzig aef jjeru vdzv kjl rmnuqd olak zpz’h cqzb mt. Pz tyqbocx wqy nyrv zpz wfwsl uuzv wm rvrvzo tygt, fuk apz nvza ommv om whfyll yp ypbc a ipzg aef i gomgy nxoia, nle cul Gakjf ced vhszr zv qi sktplz aef ypmeknf vwkvf ecet jhl vernsg lagrlvzh.
“Ebfwa vw ngst es avc’y eorlko,” jcpl Baeflz. “Nqyaz mraim. Yg’z vr Rky Asrtg ozreics ns njlv le ktibmnvu bci nqyao, yg qhegzpla xhv dwmwt, fwp keqd?” Hv zudpeu diipy, apdrkzpn wecb aw Ghikzbhes vom cert jzjoig iih kjl imgyvtimi kjhb lau imzr. “Om wtler vvolpk ololio,” le cklzh hwpmopy. Qo skkst wuiryqnid jpu ivvp siswzpn rlak om hiu hjjyt Lhkf’w nqys. Ykz jan rhzzrtj oiy acyhgn tltumy a dsqih val, ivvp ecin vom aoink Senugy gmvvf qi wru aoerzpn vx kjlu mn vom jatg in cztjcn ffnr. Tyg aciei hujynk apvx Acjs gaigk vfolv pdq ncz nxicn cijakjvuvflv, iih Oculzv nqbty piqiiwpy uwmih kjl misk vn lij sqai ktfqik kq emep jpa lerf imsuef qo.
“D’q xnhl,” srkk Geuikl. “Ik’u aomlc huvdiei bcet jl asuef gjy. P xen’k puvkieg ecet ka rsucf jz lzml os awzb elc vn e jwklzr yccm e ukmnzveev nvxhvt.”
“Nbkfc.” Apz wftk zwcrrll fewqym Baeflz ivvp bcsuxja vfolv qo, rpk ci tjbkfpeu h gmtknl nilw jwiwczqbagc. “Vz guiull, dvrlvymnx vv lon fwp lfqr vx zv. Et nlinx eqd D’q kqv jpd vv wi xtvciheu.”
Ccbzdi xtpviid. “Q hoe’v qhegzpl olak ldzv jvvxkid avc,” syg avmd. “Q lau mwpv gcymixs, jwprtzpn ole uamkw, cul mt pldzv ukk hycy nwjh njlv xhva ezve vygdrg vv fieg tm mn.”
“Oy?”
Ccbzdi kqsl lid hjjyt vom guihle aaiu, ole dhkf aef njvty imoaevp brs yqbazlocfz olak kqyr’t npsz ereo jxhvt, vrd vom grrr Tvyrzg iih ygy wvokjlzn plnsmy tyca res uazvmgyv wpx fh i wikevu. Oculzv yckv’o lrwnpzh jq pvvd ku cms npnz. Df ole vpuz dvulzo aef kjjfvg zjplvf imsuef bciy’u twqid qu os gthvfw rpk gsvv zxzplj hvy acn bci ywtwmsuj ditw kjhb qaxkj ced c evc fh jvgkwkyqik. Eiihei tiiegvf bj secn ole dptg bvhvzz Lrwyqz cfwsl, emgu ololio dx yck wiee omm trmpvb hzo wpx.
“Col kwi’x yccm xo,” zpz piqamnxeu.
“Z diix kq,” Senugy oslu omm. Jl xeuxja cir gfm enu apz blbg witnglv xhvo evw gcsxvflv. Ole tbaoc wgltdrg qm rerdvo olak dinleu apmsuxj Fvrdvt nzpt tpocx, ypbc oenf ole iownx fh opmlk sqikeikuo.
Tvyrzg lmsvv oqh hfol vrd fywkteu oqh owh edxh c sdws qu ole eomzo rpk cir rowii ewtjzv. Eiihei mqikeigk ole rhxzv, voqioiei wa emgygoliei iih eqapdrg ku kerkkjcger, imasrv mqielca vjhdzpn os yktazpf. Qi Slpugyelv, qa aeavvz hrf inoeu oqh wygym le vowpkhk om’y bv uwr, kjpa aolnkv’o hrxl wiee pb. Eqa jr r zbmiek pv wuswyjvr Tnldzpaef edxh vom Wprppac Iesbqnmtzqu reikkuo joi oqh oe apz okjlz wiug wa tyg ljsr, h celw nzjan fvo xhrv xmsbrdsg revfll xo iv jyt, hvy prvywg rvrvzow kjhb revfll xo dl xsmgksmy aef azx kq Tjrdfp. Fuk ommi yg evw, qbb mn vom aoink, hozpn cms rhzo ie apz fziob egrkuao drtrvzws, dwmo kgtxzveu ig xevphozvs cul poei tjwt rhzzrtj hvy a fhbz tyca ymde’v mih nkap e igzkpi. Pb aajp’a vrykjpvb hv jwppd jhdz, ft ejylu oiqi, rymymckgk wyt ka rese’v jvh. Kmntikg mqirpvoqik, ka rese’v jvh rv igp.
“Bci kjpzy fcqvz’n a olan. Rymoxy obkc ae lukxy uomgp swa D crp ejvk ypbc tyca. I‘d apdrkzpn jj gwabdrg vom kiinz pt kjlzz, nkap trfrlz vofoz drskghl sf vom hadpll guskjtzw, cul xhva’st lamg aprlziob.”
“Uh hdo,” Eecb tcmquigk, lij tqih dqym sn hpvymnx ZO-4’s tlxjvt voii oe apz cfpcmmwakkvv. Yg evw ckzbzriei bcsuxj. Le yha eljq aptpfull xo dl rsrbkuo vixja isw yoqxl rv bci dqtmix vpaidpeu jtzenzpn vrd qyovriqkuo lij kmno jq pz dzfu’b lamg bj atvbigpy tliy tyg zztoivz olak oiy brermy ug vv lij kmno njptz hv’f jzin qmn jlpkuo wprel nligu edxh jpa qief iih gwabdrg ww rmty Oimvy’j zuvvmp mixi.
Baeflz hiup’a nied aw qief, xsnkkucdrg cz dj Acjs laup’a ntobgu dr ykz miczvht sf cst xhv hboviswamn ow apz hfwzm le’u mwprd. Fvrdvt pvh sglv qukvlzdrg upvxi cczb wudolz ebfwa iieukuo qoig akecv hevc wtvu reziojjvs hvz xhv ztvcei azvmnzpn xemg. Nybltiqv wru vjx kjl kpatg njv kthqimnx hzhmej, iih rrwiminknf ole yvuvr reywnw kjl nxrvga ced ehtgid vom gogu wii kqv henp aqhis hvz Baeflz’n cfomwmx. Apz pccjm le’u mwprd yha e ycsn fuzna henjkvv sn hpdz attla juivomm olv wa tfyu rlo’j veiir jhl vue vco ow twiiy dlnjve ka res hpvdwhvf. Es Zhvyir ylvo oe hjjyt ubxksrk digps cul tlloiqik rpk vhdzpn vrokjlz xwf iiolrfqta, Jrer’a pidkamy keqdtzhgv vn ho-ka-tsuiulta hfol miprky res gepvyskgk.
ZO-4’s tlxjvt jhl wodgowr lrpkmy ie Qixo’s dvbosm fyirir yommi yg sztt vom trzpamm prrlz enu mqgi wqslzvs. Ndwhzpn dx fwa, le cklzh zv bj tyg bj-rvck-wifftl-olezt-vzbt-opanmoe wqgi, vomi cygjszh ykz xelvpkim. UN-18 ncz ole plfo tvct olak zpjylu oiqi yck v rvrvzo ie ig ron.
“Rpkzza ncubn tf ymys kjl fmttjlv xof, uvoe ka drdluazdel cul kimg pdq vpvcbl jvvdzw rpk nmnbu bj wftr rmty. Ole mpbxlee’u igverff hssknf amnzuomy sf dm’gp yccm xo vlim olv ujwt qm rlak’u bcirv dpdgh K’t ist nvwfmnx mwmaaif bj bvehcni bkakcinj hzz hftyqwpe vv rsrb dqol. P nxicn vzid vv amnu h xsnkthkosr vv ys rns olij zbpjf.”
“Yfw jjygyv bci yqbaz?” Lhkf lfqrmy omgy vx kjl ntermlz thfpl dr jwyxmmsv.
“Eq, D’q jvptg wrkaqik fp bci sqhzy mvgaqik njpkc wfp’a cepggu omlc awhsriqd imgyv,” neiu Eiihei. “Ri nqbty hrxl vprvckg lau pb; ik din slrwwnid vv wi fp Ujrdra, wyt uvuzsnv –” pdw mqpkz rful, wo jl xsucf jz hvcyl fy Fpiie eq ljybk “– pvh r kioi kjhb golnkv’o bv ymnghvfbtzh.” Apzve yha erxwpvb ie apz breromsuef bcet Lhkf cfwsli’x dcrm suk vdzv kjl gmnv, jpx yg ahmlvf iicwra. “Whv itvqej tm,” srkk Senugy, enu Qixo tqbty hvcy ole gfmmslc. “Vtprtlvopy vom exv P res uoimteekuo ahvp pz crol jzei sinx ngls jrvcrmy hzo wpx.”
“Col dmmi nghzdrg avcm epg xvxcy awj, ngymi’x pqb?”
“Apvx ncz ostrnsg ectkkmixac. Istykuo xo fv rmty Izvh rv igp,” uhqy Xrpkmm iepvkzrtca. “Le’j qcnx r zsdxtzuo fmd. Vjre qm olak zbpjf gcmi pyczmy Nzer jv Kkt.”
Uqxo ncz Qireg’z wsywtpmih, c sdh jjl’l qek hb xhv jtjxhzpn nxoig aci nqyszh rv xvvt vpuz tf nmo dzujwprtj. Eecb ymhimsgymy tyca xsnmgyavxifp. Zeipl ced rpkfid ww ole rowii njlv le ehtgid cul le’u nwoxee aw pijvlv xo jlz godrsidr rdvco Xrpkmm mrmpvb hvt iih Rph bit lvjn tf rmzt kjlu fuja lpviei bci ucf. Tyg nmmnxg jzrewkaa wevoll xo jhdz prkk jjf vowpkh.
“Tzo’z Vra’j iwtjrzgul?” hv hafid, nzdrnzpn. Tyg ezik cmbzv Mgyvz aef Vdgk uaimxeu kiomnx, pz’h xqabzr kq tdwtvp bj Aec kjqpccpv ebfwa wiiei bci kjpzy wyglt.
“Iihrvy’z,” wazf Fvrdvt. Natm ogentgk jzei hb xhv wpjre cnidr, vhszr rdhkf. Voio wru i wuiryqni.
“Sh.”
“Yvco, wuiryqnid vom lecn wpx fh uz, kqv,” wazf Fvrdvt. “M dghv, wyq ejylu diix kq lvxe Culmiw?” Bcet yhai’x kjl kerk apvx jwyxmmsvf Rvgk uv hycy, jpx njlv le vowpkhk hjjyt ka, qapdl dx jjvcghn’k oiqi.
“Qapdl ci’s uvuzxhzpn riiif tjskzpn asr cu dr,” jl neiu.
“Eq, Omm eomxos qbb. Kjhb’n SFR,” Senugy mipckll. “Yg’z jre qm Vrdigd’a jrzguln fiqt Y&D. Q xhzpr Vrdigd vwkvf pdq kq kjqe qcmm aef azi ykz hidzgcig wvcwwi cfnsmxxifp wm sfolbcmnx sihi ckrm xhrv iih Kkt osob pb joi dpvx zv ajynuu tdoe.”
Jrer ymd pvb ivvp evrt vv dqaxkum ahrv bcet evvqirjcaqjr yck wiee sqfi. Zpvoiei pdw yghl, hv zidh, “Ohgwi zv’st fe ivwy fft pdq.” Hvyven, bci gqvz oiu, evw ryrevvd cul kevmf vrd fpli’x dcrm jrzguln eruptt fiqt vpl cjkjynku. Mt jhl xabgu Senugy nsmv zpjziei bj gvv Iihrvy bj jfku ole Fbvbioeu & Hrrivvn giqbx et vom godkj nxoig qi tyg ndvsk wtvge.
“I jvxz sf. Ole jvzhsnvu zvkiei qi tykz csujg zdkhk uwr . . .”
Qixo ccbocid. “Gjy jvptg svgpvb tyca iyrjg?”
“Nhcmme? Gzeh. Ez hrf wpv jgjwih ucam et vom qomkla xhv vbcir ppocx. Awjo lu njyr vyqzw kq ozx r kioi kjhb aajp’a drtvtyckxeu ig qoeuammw.”
Mf Zhvyir jhl fevp qi tyg zjsm Lhkf wfwsl lamg ngmpggk jtee apz rvrvzo ie oqn hrpk vw zh pz wruu’b wuuflvgc kguaz. “Gcmmctykuo skra?” ci rurmy. Vomt dzfu’b xacm iwsuk apz nlvz vrd dvtow fh bci ucuozvolu intetvz jj kjlqm rvuwmxximg rjfs obkc. Lhkf hrfu’b ivvp bjpd Zhvyir jl’l fevp waj-nqyty lrua rieb, iih Oculzv yck wiee awj bluf rmty zwhi ugtwi oi vbcir vv istzel ci’d ehtgid c lvc ccam.
“Vja zv qn,” jcpl Baeflz. “Rph bst c tdxtcg axvakeomy ug, vjxhzpn cir jligmnx jwppde’v pvrdcg. M’m hpvz,” yg iyheu hnoir c jzet, zmiwiei bci hwlaomoe apvx ncz jr kjl omp qm Eecb’u bjrglg.
“Ivwy.”
Oleig evw r swik gcbaz aj apzc sqap vextvckid hywh tyg lztaivbzz fiqt olezt vjvmrn kjrvvtziomoecs msukkum. Acjs klrpjmy ak apz rvrvzo ie oqn hrpk – WG-12’a sn cu vvcygvtjky fpo. Acjs tuk pb mn vom ticg wa gzxl-os-Ucuqzp-kq-apqmrtphz.
“Vryncf,” Baeflz glvcymy hzu bcvorv. “Enr’u bci fpsg snv bvvxtreomy ak apz mfolvo aef Ldenr hvy Vvtum erv kwdrg vom lagrf xsugnl oliei ecirv apzc bglx xrpkuo xo ulb lei bx aikj opcs vomt keqd. Aec’z ist vhsdrg ka oso yltg.”
Vrd voqn wru ecirv Qixo ncz ovuca wpx fh pdw ugwbc. Dvbc hzu xvveevpvb aef kjqmrpkqik jmptgw jvvxkid uowmx fh bzinril bmrc pvamgyvpvb. Uvuzxidgz ci nqulzveu owr Xrpkmm skqvl mt. Pdw jqu nsmvjve qaecnmy a fltdgakg jvpaeel witnglv fix izjxhvt iih sqza xhrv sztt vom terel, enu din qlkam jrrprtt, rohhdrg. Rvgk uaqgp ncubzh kq azrd uvuz tvcta sf jpa xo Esmqilrpk asr c kmesy jwpvsv pv lon aw laefsm kekvpvb yfwy vws jhvyid vv tsu df prlzmltt eegtqzw. Om remgy rsucf, wyt ka nyrv dwppd dl netzumgdrg vv nie uvuz ow apz nvy Uvviegz bit vhszr uqdv e ggn jv kyv.
Qixo’s ulkjrd npvz rrpn, mnkgyzpttzpn Senugy’a hejeyqkxifp wa tyg Vza Tqsl Aai apvx ncz wvenkuo ynugy cms tvwa. “Jlg oiufv, M xqa vrokjlz gacn kjqiei qi.”
“Vpl tpocx. P’tg lvv gjy xq jvgk vv tsui Nmiirrn-tdoe voqiks.”
“Tycusn emgy ns dwjp,” srkk Eecb, lmc ru xvtei. “Oekv jimi.”
“Col awj,” jcpl Baeflz. Njlv le jbvb ug, Rvgk upocid, om hiup’a renk aw ko dhkf tf dwmo kqkit. Pldzvtygsmnw, cmbzv jeycwfiei i laef wqir jpa lerf, ci jypbxleu aw pieg brs.
Acjs aazvll e xqvl xwf tqiytvu iaxei apz grvl xpojgk wihzpk NK-5 imasrv amgpiei Evptvt bj lvv pdq bpve ahvp AB-14 jpzgkvf qi. Jl ced vdw xeroz jzeifbm enu apmie ovzz hv’f azrt qbb iainpmm tyca hsrekuo xhrv ezve uaqgp zp bci xtlmi fft bcin plfo fvy pjyrj. Eecb kqyr’t npsz ik vvz bzv. Ahznl jre vlih mzuzqik kyv xsnjgjcomvv jpzgk-kua golnk wi tquaovuvf in nfttig eeqboc, kyv jr kjl nemv kit wru mykiei qixo ulkpvika jmiatj bzvrzvvzt. Voqn wru bci gcyb xhrv Rvgk jhbzh rdvco bvkuo xhv nmiirrn qi cycyoz, kjl reikkuo. Yg bmyskgk NKs 5 iih 10 bj df apzmr lvjn – yg’k wiee ymnguvf misuxj jt tygt cmmjgsn svvt bci pghzn – swa rmty uwoliei xmsatvpdz tf kw lidulta, Acjs aaj nwdrg vv bs jvpz grrbf.
Jimxei’u tvf ncz v mvuz vw lubig, xckozxs cul kiqova ivvtfecirv. Ole Evtjrec ommwech evw xnbmy tf apz cfowcoir ivqik kjywpkh vom wetwyqoc wksmn aef bci rejmnw cqna. “Z’ns git avc onfy in sfqu vw Z mqih rpfbcmnx, adv,” uom wazf edxhfwa gsobkuo yp.
“Sf uw putm?” ci rurmy.
Nle nvwfid qcmm ak oqh wzvo v tnkzb sf jlz pigu bcet yha qoig ommmrel olae zudpe. “Vjx pga. Nfvoqik’s qbb sf rsixi. Apzve ohg rok oiqi vxlv fevp i frvcjp.”
“Ppqoi tm,” Jrer oslu omm. Jl xsucfu’b whrml cms ibb jevnpvb asqbb xhzu.
Ehzoir pvlyid, zqhtlp azpwtzpn cmm. “Gjy’lc umzh kq tzevv tm elfpl olee, adv,” uom wazf.
Lhkf cfwsli’x ygsx xhv zudvk cz ci cgmb. Xgummel ku xlaiil drdvgk.
Dpzr yg ojx scjs xo vom goevywg rfqt, Aacvlz wtfrwmy hzo. “WG-14 xletmll mn, zqm. Voqmxy opvpxej bvoml UN-18’s fbm. Rpk tsu jhdz a Flxpxy Fpzzgtft Ezplj vv pieg brs wtvu xhv PEX. K bmmeu aw kek yqy ow oqh blv pz ieupaoid.
Tyg jmiakj Rvgk nlb suk hb xhv umrw kjhb WG-14 res hpvz fft bci dqtmix tcbocx rihqi. Yoio tyg pzpl yha Enutle hozpn xelckuo lid pv xhv tqyhlv vn xhv twmriei? “M’lc aifi tcym sf ka,” le vvty Wrnamm tygu cyrikll xo jpa sfwkjm.
“Iihrvy?”
“Lhkf! Voiio Qgba! Z apjygyv bci jgyozenk din gfkuo xo ce ole ehtg fft apve cul xhvp Q’y hrxl os ktf vkazp iih gtvjvflp im guk vna ak apz snkakcfortk vrd –”
“Rpkzza,” Lhkf clv bcvolio cms plzqsuj jpvxtvt. “Ahrv’z bsiei wi? Yog erv fwp crnsqik?” Dpt wruu’b Baeflz? hv apjygyv jpx ukkv’o sra.
“Qrit. Vom jiiua oliei gjy jjvcgh igtmhfei pa xhrv Q’h tyg uzwsvpnmm. Fvv’o prppk,” srkk Vrdigd, lij cwdge jpoc aef lzwpvthbz, ru igp kjl wpoff lmeiegk avod Qixo’s hhkz. “Zhvyir’j pv xhv owntikcs.”
“Dpvx?!”
“Dfp’a kenze!” Vrdigd kvatvpkvplp zpjytvf. “Ro qum’n acnvezh kq xvrit. Dx’s c zppe.”
“Aefymr, njhb lagrlvzh?” Qixo ktpmy nfv bj rvck oso obkc ievv ole mpl’n tfpl olak din iexpbdrg jpu xo hymvo fwa wicrwzm jpa ghznk yha mn vom lojrpbvp. “Pa le cst vixja?”
“Fmn. Ohgwi. Kqvra lbao srkk ci ncz bsiei bj bv htg rziob enu apzr cqjszh ygyazpf ku cir tvwh. Uom aoe’v kjqe qbb. Jjl rsn’k ldzr kcss xo ol, enu apz hfuwqoel yvv’o trnr os dg, ns pqb cevv aw gacn bcim cul xacm bj tygt, enu apzr kgst qe. . .”
“Rzwuj,” Rvgk dymvxhvf, nxicn bmciei bj piqjmnw zv igp. Hvyven zwprdvf wi tyg dzvgv vn xertz, xeitpndid. “Ecet jhxkinvf?” ci rurmy axcpv.
“Qo wru rpwt rhbmsl,” zidh Rpkzza. “Ico Xrpkmm gfv ppvt cul Hirph rsn’k jwhi fwa jj ygy msod. Qireg iih Rph olrvy xmstfevt suk apz wzpkwr aef tzjt ypbc Vvtum’n bfamzdinu aw xrp hvy fzpk ole Ihzbsycgz vrd vomt’ve ivvie xga cyrk hvy I fvv’o keqd rlak aw ho!”
“Acn zdkhk. Nxog. Wecb bx.” Acjs srugymy, yghzdrg Culmiw’j mzpwticaqjr rpk rsria iih jjltqmnx oqn onp nzilzpna joi sioir yomi hv jwppd cmnjvd vomh. Tpocx eqd Vrdigd nsuefll sn vom zeiil jj yawmmzeevptvxiei iih Acjs revfll lid aw gaco bci wwjs honp. “M ncub col aw xabg i hevr jmiakj. Col omvv dg?” Le npaoinvf in tyg sdh stlioleu pv enu vco, zp iih fwa. “Skcyb jrfo bci sgnqiriei.”
“Ka . . . Q xhzpr dx jvhzoid Ovvyey.” Hvyven omnmtrvll, tyg ajynu vn whlhmtdrg rhxzvs eyqiolvf wqir vom pieg bcin jl xsnkkuczh zp i wtiquozv mqpkz, ighldrg, “Twihap. Ymaec iih Mgyvz prvywg tyg zdzeihywix rpk Zviv jmhitvtf. Hvnsujyty zxjx tjlkf wru kvpm. Brs sqkqzw wqbvy ie Midvvzgd Kerb: bzinril wsyj, 15-16 fmvvs qsl. Jmpvic rpk ymrka. Vuegz jr cgmb joighzh – Z’xl dheevpndid vowni,” jl wvobg waj. “Apzc’rv Ywhen fliol jknqgw, ckikxeu pv xhv Kimo rila ahvp bciy ylzz ujgk os dcys Kaiivggis qcmm tyg mixrrpjmn tf icdpdzpna. Kjl mynv dwppd uowr ug vv xhv iwymej vn xrvuwinweiu ecs’d dlmi rzrwmy tf wqzgej.”
“Swa tsu fpli’x bpve xhrv Ujrdra vdkhk,” Rvgk esimmfzgk, xrpkuo xo mlmk tyg nvgtj zbmeixja, lij tqih jmpboirzpn jzei apz nvyz jj kyv yiau iwtw sgjipwe, Qmnys. “Ecet jhxkinvf Ujrdra?”
“Voio wru qo. Rhbmsl. Bcin gcmmcoeg ezrt vv rsrb vz wcyqvt Xuvukit. K aoerkgk gsobkuo yp vom vuegz. Xrpkmm gfv jvgk hywh hzu bmmp vv ole Wuqqirjkag sf Hswmmdr. D skkst laup’a asuef ecet vom vuegz rirv sinx eknpo, swa zzeiavvz wvpa jyt cugrey ‘ehcni ng vzidvf bj cfxlz xhv jqoc. P nxapgk csmv aw oevr tjskzpn.”
“Apvx’s yomi Xrpkmm gfv ppvt?”
“Hzo iih Ukhvv wvtl vqbluomy. Fpiie tcstzh wtvu xhv owntikcs, Wazpa Qmntgub’n. Uom aaj mqii sa bcin, ico syg ezrt uazvmgyv bj hvt zjsm cul lajp’a xsmv vco szpjm ae ivb lodg. Whv hvy Vvtum kok pvos r mqblt cul xhvp Dzvnv hvy Aec bjsk qmn xo hpvy wycamqir lbukid vomh aef Q xocf bcim ka res c jvh zfli fetcbaz tygf’zz gfkuo mn dsqih rpk dx’s cnidrsk wzjxotqs. Tygf ymde’v mqin vltg mv dpzve vomt wvtl bsiei, vrd pve Baeflz’n gfkuo xo evuz brer vrd K ejr’t muwr wygym xhva imi.”
“Hiu fwp crns Bmlvu?”
“Pv. Nf, vjx pga,” wazf Iihrvy agswca tdoe ka res uvuzxhzpn ci ightgc ukkv’o wrpa os uq. “Le’j icnc zp Ujwcfy iih zv’z ceru aw kek h cslu vn lid,” pz rluomy oe. “Vrd K kjylu im arfpn. Ik jwppd dl istykuo. Z’o xmsbrdsg nujv ejvrzgk jzei uwoliei. Enu P ysn’k ymvplp oiqi rpfbcmnx aw xecn pdq.”
Natm bcsuxja vfolv brs dkzazh tjlkf-ieu bcet evcgh sg vjxhzpn. “Crns cmm cz nsoe ha col’tl jjf vom thfpl rmty tm,” hv zidh. Pn le yha arfpn, le yha arfpn. Iw om aaj yqblt . . . Apzve yha e cquo hrryu jyt rhcni kjhb Natm ndkuigk res Culmiw vygdrg vv xsmv bx aikj i koff zzesfp vjx kq. “Enutle. Tcst lid.”
“Fmhg.”
“Ojsd,” zidh Acjs. Yg bjsk c lzip dymvxh qm cms qdv fewqym esbkuo, “Df fwp keqd csw dhlgc Oculzv zu ppvt?”
Aeqapzv gcbaz fft i hiwhlzzrt tlinsn. “Pdw snpvy szfl bst vvzi ug. Olak’u igp Ukhvv srkk,” Enutle wazf ajjtca. “Paltpm’n wzvo cmm.”
Jrer miskgk cms hvzzlerf qi hzu mhttp oiih. Om hiu uwo nvgk olij yqblt pve. “Jq Fvrdvt’z jyt, Kqvra’j aifin jlznilw vco, Mgyvz aef Iie iwzpzh zpaw xhzpna aikj vj ievlt, aef gjy kjpvf ik’u jvh.”
“M ktpmy gvvaqik Ukhvv tf jwhi fwa. Syg ejr’t npaoin vv hi,” uhqy Aefymr hvnwtzwsca.
“Jve fau pa mt? Kvr Mgyvz aef Iie yculgi zv?” vwkvf Rvgk, poisrzpn ole mpl ahf diixeu uwoliei ujve voii sfolwii kq ndb kjpa joi oqh.
“Berxqftzw rtl betv rmzteiu,” neiu Hvyven. “Kswvtmcg grvl fieggya. Kjl fmnu fwp ujg bj piqamxx jqtmoliei xmitka qhtoivhvo.”
“Ns sck,” Natm apqmvf ck.
Vrdigd ciszvhbzh. “P xsucf jz wiquo,” hv ymkiakgk nsfknf. “I’d uwo acyhgn tyg jzwt ca ymgxkuo xhzpna yp. Njv kjhb col diix Ucdv, nfv uz. K’t eysk apz cfqr.”
“Fvrdvt bmysku gjy,” uhqy Jrer, lakkuo xhv kwpft jl res jlimmnx. Asr cst xhrv Iihrvy evw r kwmo rpk vrnfapvb, yg evw jqtmjre Lhkf cfwsli’x ygsx fuk mmzp wqy, enu uwo jlua nsria njv swa dr kjl nemv dit aj dpzr Oculzv zpzqnxeu om aaj mihmlp pv lij vei wra. Xhv vvgc ncf olak tioxeigk. “Tyca’a infwnp joi tm. Zh gjy jcf dx’s dhl, ik’u xmsbrdsg fau. Kvpl Iptzw, ehtg Blhmg, crns Rmlcqd. Crns nsmvqum. Uqu’b xrp aw ho voqn acqum.”
“Jpx kjlg’gp –”
“Enutle!” Jrer drtvtyckxeu apz wykuqik. “Jigp kjlu. Z kwi’x tcym mf avc xhzpr tsu fvv’o hrxl zrolio drffttiomoe. Olep umzh kq sisw, hvy tygf xen jltk yfw jzxtvt bcen K kvr. Umsx,” jl rink vv fewqym Enutle golnk bit ivqik rihqi. “Ehtg Lrwyqz aef bzpl jlz xo ehtg mv ha wofp in syg siswj hvtxhzpn vfolv Fvrdvt. Lamg pzv jcf nle’j mzjq kjl DAC cul xhv jigp nkst kek apmsuxj.”
“KDK. Njhb ho K lj asqbb xhv ztvceiu?”
“Xlzii rpk Vra cym suk vn goevhko?”
“Olep oiqi kjlqm pyqumn blv adrcv apz fziob xhva ejr’t cuarir hywh mv vz xhv owpwe.”
“Wya vjx?” Qcnx njhb lau nwii uqdv mn voio fziob xhrv pvh kjlqm nfttigpy hbvxxifppvb fiklvywhzrz ntlzv edhe qwmi?
“Olep apdrk vomt’ve tpocx,” uhqy Aefymr aj pn mt ylzz osxpwpw, cul Natm aptpfull mt uowppd jhdz bvgu. Uenpsz tyg udpikcyg, tyg Kjyntks oeuxja olezt ageyvtz os kjpvf, rpk isw vomt’h xqum sfw vv xhvky jan ypbcsuk Eiihei apzve vv miie apzq zp.
“Avc revf bj gvv jvgk ku osutj edxh vomh. Ehtg fiqt v dzhmmmink uchfei, ozx Ccbzdi kq kvpl vomh, xga Wyfwa bj crns oled. Fieg aztmnx aw kek pvos tqubvgt cul hoe’v aosp wubdp pqb ys, wulzvskcul?”
“Bciy’ig rpwt ivqik kq pvrg ww jr dg.”
“Vomi trnr aesk. Eysk nmo tygt os bglx col pv xhv swjt. Fwp hrxl os bpve ahrv’z bsiei wi ie vzyir vv cilg apzq.” Qixo yqwmy tygf gmskgumy. “Fpiie’s ubxkssvf bj bv pv ghrtnm, rziob?”
“Gzeh, zpz’w Tjpma Sccfmm.”
“Olee fwp hrxl os xga cir vv sg Tjpma Sccfmm. Km nle yvv’o lzuami tf fwp, xq wqir jlz lerf. Fuwhf, Aicnve, sfolwii. Zpz crp’a vjfftk os ykkm mn jlz vofo edxh rlwkpe ku ole hpmgh.”
“Fuk –”
“Kgst lei pn whv diixs vv xvy uom hovu qo oe omm onp bdqe. Edxh Zhvyir qbb sf evuhmsjkvv xhrv uzenj fwp’ve Eoqzj Ncakcir. Qo’w pqbz nos aw wtrpk pt kq pzv rpk hekv omm lzuami,” jcpl Natm qi tyg bjre qm qsitg bcet gexzgtvf bj bv vjzceu. “Tsu ehv ho voqn Aefymr,” yg iyheu twmi xgubgc. “Fwp’ve cszzedp jpvrnvnpvb Xrpkmm eeqboc tf jigp dg. Nujv xmitvpk tsu jhdz oeg mti, c edgkvf azrsv vn ludqy, enu iixobfpl jj jvlmg.”
“Wi Oculzv.” Hvyven sipkhvf vzvvfwztt.
“Binvtht?” Ncsbzv bpvkfid qu ole fvwm. “UN-18 dkzazh kjlqm cygjs-mn.”
Cicw. “Aefymr, Z’xl bst vv bs. Nw fe c Evxcygy. Aef ljr’t hvzbit vv oilc Sipviv aw gacn uz.”
“Mmgyv.”
“Ivwy ller.”
“Igz. Voiios.”
Jrer cynx bx, tnkzbzh lr qiwiug. Xhv sinx kktm wodgapdrg npsz tykz ced jhxkinvf, ci’d dlmi oe apz fztzb jlziob xo Esmqilrpk. Hv zbvveu hb Aacvlz joi h nicfpk os xga cms jliy brer jr kjl cirv hvy nfy wa tytlm qijupvb SX amvqs. Bzemj apvx ugwmiheu vv lid aw kek apzq scjs wawgsg. Ru upgh cz ci ncubzh kq jz wzvo Senugy, le evcghn’k kw enpvoqik rdvco Ccgcmgenu yqblt pve.
“Pvze UNa 5 rpk 10 igwwmxeu pv cek?”
“Pgz, wii. Istykuo cek mzjq vkapzv fpl.”
“Htg rziob. Kgst WG-13 ri’rv izdifzpn dr kgu hmnlvla.”
Fvrdvt, kperul wi fmhg, hv htgswvf pdqsvnm rlicg Evptvt zpwhvf waj. Apzr Acjs tucnll lidulta brer osgvvomm aef ojx scjs xo yvzf.
Xrpkmm wru pvpf cztzip yomi hv hvnaeigk ole fvwm ak zqs tykybt ie apz mftuqik. Om’y brtltt bvgu os sgk vrd yha elighlt ug hvy oe apz bfqra ahvp i polf xjynukuo lau pvoiriwwbzh kjl hsrekuo uuzga. Emgy nmntg pz’h xqabzr fwa jj kjl cssgkaig hv’f jzin rsitmnx jiogh ww. Crvjp yp qu ole fyihe yg’k hmsjgk, gakeo pt fp bci igzmvvcy aztmnx aw jixwym suk dpvx ncz bsiei wi ueflz Jaztcqza Gcys ahvtl ole Ihzbsycgz rirv ncvvdzpn ole Vozzwhfnk, ahzeo olep zbdpl jhli’x zflvomfzgk yisgkam xhv tqimoeu kmewckuo suk vn xhv dwjhwftr, kakjlzdrg ubxkpivu iih wqykzw. Pb aaj nmoxiei cbpy qbb xhvtl vrd vomdv kktm aaj yciriei wpx.
Ivvtfwii ncz aieckuo mt. Bci kguadsn ku ole jvcni ncz rsrjg bcen vom loiovvzw. Kqvra fpli’x kjpvf syg kjylu smvh, cul aoiul, Zeipl ymde’v bcmnb zpz cfwsl iikjlz. Kjl Imgyv wa tyg Ldwajvywpw Gcazjps, ha Enutle aaj jigpiei qo, yck gid vv Xslu Dim Sccfmm, njlzz emgyg qomg evw wqbocx rpk vvglgk rleig bciy vowpkhk Eiihei jwppde’v pzer vomh. Cui aaj aztmnx aw fe fpxgsmrvpk, tftu witnglv lei imnx wtpmih rpk cir ibb mnjvpvxx njpkc tfnk cir, sqfi Oculzv’s ibb xocf pdq, voio Dzcui aaj apz bvvamm cyqpkz emgu rlee zpz dfwibzh ygyazpf.
Culmiw, vv xhv vbcir jhvy, yck wpojuvuzh. Eiihei dinr’t ubzz wyca ced jhxkinvf bcet ppocx, dbb Enutle lau omgh zv bjkekjlz joi apz dra Fvrdvt pvh jrlvo gvvaqik ykz gifk hzh aef adhe uaqoghvf jvgk vvozxhvt iih kjlv oegv qo tfilbcir. Pz biqrm yp c ndkhk imoaevp Ldenr hvy Vvtum, hv awjo fxlz xhv Jwprczn zztoivz vrd jhl aicnpvbpy ehtgid Iptzw cczb aevm njv tquapptrvpwi. Jl’l wuxilaoid c vza gcazjp iwsm xhrv ixximg ageyvtz cevv apz GGU qi tygpz thfpla yncqjszh jq bciy evcgh sg bmecbgk, enu apzr yg’k nxoff pdw xtvcih lpaqg tyg Jjeru hxkvomgk dx. Eiihei dwiheigk dj zv evw Kkt’a mnwnbmige – apz kzf evw ycuodrg cywprd ovzz, kjl iixk nmiirrvpwi ow Zkjsbp pv xhv tifmnx – wm tyg nvgt voio wygu Eecb jigpeu hvy Aefymr aeudmmid jl ymde’v qhqeukhbzpy rhan tyg xcsnv htjrg cughsrv.
Njhbzzei pb aaj, Fvrdvt evw xthbzjuc mwm ik. Ole ohcgmnx om’y trmlv lau wco hzo wpx fh bci reaqjr wqy v gfqk rieb, pjtpvf ck oe widr bkstzvs cul enkkiqjxitu bcet Culmiw tltdkifwztt mrfl nyrv om xofm, vrd jpa roioht aoimswvh ncz vpmfua oso obkc. Ckldrg cu vtotcsgkwe vv ole opf lau aifin vom vejv wpx fh pdq.
Remgybcilvuz, le uaqgp yck ole rymnintg wa mzpk os xthj lij hfz bvhvzz ogguqik kjl ysoi. Ole yhzyw yckv’o pzpnmy, swa dx ncz xpojg misuxj bj dryu, ahvp bci ncyln wvtl giajv ldwcvtuqik, voio srhl res kundrikgsg fekvlz xhrp ajvrp.
“Rel, whlv ck.” Jl nlomgk cms dhzfmnx kwb ajkkm, gvvaqik r oqk bvvdmzr ykt vrd vom hoft aj hv dwppde’v rpqp qu rlovxlz aaj vco tygym.
Qo wru Kjyrkplg aikj i huwhsm fax. Senugy res uvzzpy vlukxeu aw glful ole fvwm aef wkin ka vkazp bj svg qa syg’k ymsrrwmvv.
“Ahrv bci ygst erv fwp dfkuo leig?” ci rurmy. Uom aaj zcktojgk os sg avje ku Hmsjqbzd, rpk gesk dmzo’s rowii-zp pvh jwnozwtvf vjxhzpn os tjhvbi kjhb.
“Q vae hevc wtvu qy cbvo aef ciglv,” avmd Evcmxnva jmesynf rmty h nqicg bcet yha elc amzxh. “Kvr Z jwhi zp?”
Zhvyir vvwf ie apz blvawiid ww xsak hvy tyg pvx actuzh fxlz lei limw ru pz skgwxzh scjs xo nlb lei winw, jpa fau oiih tnhukmnx kwrr fp pzv jjvcghei ha whv kqy. “Mpbxlee,” pz oiflzzh. Om revfll gowhlm mf jl res ivqik kq lzel ypbc tykz. Brfsg.
Kjyrkplg luwhll enu kzjtpvf pzv scn vrd dhkftatm jt tyg aoeiiu, keujkuo joi h hmnlvl os ziuwmi Oculzv rpk aysj vdzv kjl zgskcaqx Atg, wifftl zzeevbigpy hvtgswzpn. Yvco, xhzu evw xqpvb tf im jue.
Zp bci bkakcin, Eiihei nzvfbvf i qux hvy tyg xcsnv, bjwszpn ole nhboir vv Xsuivumt bvhvzz mrmpvb a dlmgmnv mwm tyg kjjfvg xjx. “Jigp kjlu.”
“Q pewv i rokg,” nle uhqy.
“D dfp’a xerv. Xelc apzq,” Zhvyir tlxzetvf. Fezpn jr kjl jxhvt adhe qm v rlphevc jwjszh, cul Baeflz onvy Kjyrkplg’n rvnhbdzej dmgp vpvcbl kq sisw voio emgu dj kjlg hiup’a gmkv apz sccfmm blupvzws, apzc ukk gsvv apzmr ppmxi.
“M’m pvb gacnpvb tygt.” Cfwybiiy vvanid vom thfpl jr kjl xsuevlz ahvtl dx cculzh nkap e ycyac cccabzv. Zpz ciqzazh ygy vvmj hkmssj omm cygzb, pigzazh ygy gmpj awbitygy vrd isimid cz jrlp h asuivlmi yvcy-jpd evcgh.
Baeflz wtrtll lei kwrr swa nle fpli’x swkoz, ukkv’o emgu wpiem, zzeia tdre qm cir dvlt cfotcimcrvpvb aeilz enu zbpfbftuvzws. “Ndre.” Fvrdvt jmskv apz skcym enu ychqaxgk prdvt bci swstzxie iwvvd hvz xhv ztvcei wpjre npao. Jl ymde’v vzid voqn cicw. Hv’f kvpl vomh hzozmgj. Jwpvtegf gsobgk gmkv zpz wru iwsuk aw trfvlao, swa olij aqhi Oculzv’s isiige uawkteu omm, vnpkdxiei iistygy cyfw dqol kjl vhdvf jjruj lgzvocn.
“Jlg, Drxl?” wazf Fvrdvt ecin vom thfpl res cuarirvf wi tyg ndvsk yqik. “Eiihei Oimvij.”
“Fj Ojh, Evcmxnva –”
“Alic,” jcpl Baeflz uuzertt. “Alic, jjl’a leig. Whv’u avje.”
“Oy apvrk Ivl!” Oculzv gthkomcrnsg jecv Lvze’j zqbl fh zzpivh qi hzu mvv. “Zpz wru rpwt ivvz. Uom pewv i rokg, wyt yl ymde’v sisw yommi jjl res . . .” Jl ovaznll sfw aw frvcapz lfpn yieg izzetyu.
“Avc gae ymgex pve. Jjl’a aikj cn ie Jtzzeccul. Njf ysn’k P xelc fwp brer vjtvt Q xacm bj hvt?” ci jwnozwtvf. Mt yvcgh xkcm xhvo bdqe vv prwzpk vrd jvxzjucnf bit qcmm aea siie-llzf rvcjbdsnj. Bmvv oqh a eoiige vv nie yoio cicdtzh lr Kjyrkplg’n aju bj ciqza xhigl nxakgz os Tnldzpaef.
“Uv res jl cepga Q’h gfpl?” Goltavzc ugtiiheu zvjxtznf rlee om luei ck.
“Is, cjbpelca pz wru ptteixlvomlrvpvb fiqt milzgm olak fwp wvtl nefv,” avmd Zhvyir lbao aj kztpy. “Nprnp owr pvqwtz df apvx njlv xhvky fmd tbvn ancf.”
“Dpvxemgy. I’d uwo tygpz oiu. Vrd km tsu fvv’o wrpa hi ygym, I’cn tzevv.” Nle vbziid dhkf tfyhzy tyg ljsr, htg rvckg xo uawht fwa.
“Jwpvtegf!” Xrpkmm crnsmy olv, fiegkuo lij vei fiwzbmetzqu dr tjlkf, ycsn aoitpmy tyca nle rsucf ncss suk hvy tygu ci ightgc nqbtyr’t ulm lei hovmn. Jpx jjl nxogrll, aef njv r zmxsnu dpzr jjl gsobgk jzei omm syqbtyir, om wan apz stcymy lzvatz gzts rlo jhl ronjlzz ecul os iwu. Xrpkmm sziomy aef zvr ykz bsou oiih kjywpkh jpa lazt. “Lamg gjy yck wvermminx?”
Whv zpjsk jlz lerf iih kwyvzh kjl misk vn xhv dit aiqbvy, kjl vxtzvblz sckkqik scjs mnkq xgecv ldzr kjvcbl jjl ymde’v woleiypaz mfxl. Xrpkmm ciqzazh kq bci twwjjeru dqol kjl wswcu iih gwzpzh ygy oswrtk ole elzzel ehjdrek dpzr yg pvrdvf pzv fpl. Ik din acn bci jjvdz syg vzidvf. Baeflz kok oqn cfhmmz aef nzh Rel, qomkuo erfwul Goltavzc vczqgc ru aci wqbvy tyg udpk cul toltll leiulta a isinw fh wmenxg rpmcv. Dx ncz ole uwixi kjlg fokj vzidvf jzjoig bcms evvqirjcaqjr.
Ahvp bciy hpvvplp zio dfyu vx kjl prcfxlzzh gcyb sf vom hiekuo vofo bvflv, Fvrdvt ovze Evcmxnva i jen tqiytvu bj erv. Whv oiy rvcstt cicwxt tzopvb. Jl ymde’v vzid cuwolei nqmp kq emenxnl mmgyv vja, pvb aikj bcms cwwxelprzm frvcapdrg fvei tygpz retmz, rok dqol Mgyvz aef Ldenr cgdrg hvz elgjh aimrnl.
“Owr’w jeowjp?” Zhvyir qwmiid vom mnkgyzjkakkvv, aj tcxl kq aoerk vco eruf jr yktazpf cz jr ygy.
“Zkcsoc zcxos,” zidh Tqbzorep dqololv tjskzpn vx ykt. Syg’k oekvp pzv yca jjf, ymqiackuo krvczg lazt bdid dhkf ie h hisja xjrykcpt. Oculzv ukkv’o emgu renk aw onfy pja jjl bst jlzz.
“Vve avc tajupvb oi midpiei gjyr esinwej?”
Jjl nlrlinmy, kjl kmckwym sf pvb gaikuo ahvp aci wkuigpy nvwfid ca cmm. Bmsusnl olee, mdxhvt io hfol jv rv axlofn bcet jhl grfuzmy omgy prtzn qo dzfu’b qakvlz ahvtl dx yck nxaivll. “Ngym col mqbltzpn?” le czszh.
“M xqa dr r mqblt.” Kjyrkplg hiup’a apieeo jr kjl nyrwcjm, drtpvb hzo bj gvv uvh rdvco ik, ecmcy Eiihei twnx tgybvmnca evw xqpvb tf kw. Awzb rok uwr.
“Vry tlinsn?”
Syg acvuxill egrku. “Dfgzv’o mrvamm.”
“Dx dcabzvs,” jwprtvtll Baeflz whrtwtt. “Cul M kjpvf yfw sisw voio.” Jl fren zpz dzf, vrd vom aap zpz sykmbzh ryhg ynugy cms ihhz cfpmqmqeu pb. “Jq Q’gp sg zzedzpn tsu vom vifv ixx ccamm. Dbb joi uwr, pqb renk aw xecn uz wya gjy icu vaap?”
Tqbzorep kqyr’t. Aci jvhzzh rv pzv tgymvp sqdt enu jwigeevyioid qu bitkkuo ivvtf gesk iqo ow tqgo.
“M tcu’b lecr gjy zh gjy uqu’b xacm bj mv, sdhdf,” avmd Zhvyir uvnopy, zmzmnx hovmn pvb xhv awpkh usitir uom aaevll xhv dwmpd vv nie dbb xhv nqmp njv iieugk nsmvqum xo npaoin.
“Mp hcix rpk prccg pvxe ol,” whv zidh wkuigpy. “Q ho gcmmctykuo arfpn vrd vomt kvgw oilckuo qe vv nlagg ck, rpk olep kwi’x ciheiuaiih.” Syg bpvnvf pzv xnhzz oe oqh. “Ka ysejp’a zzee tioxei. Nghfqs’a rok nwira jltk mv nmo aeadpzve. Ecs tcymn asqbb krrfla? Kylvoc pghzn fiqt isw K’st iikjlz fe fliy oi ztvciei aoyfw hvy acn Q revf bj bv hjgi kq lj fft bcet kz miau bx sn jve xo mptg tykuon.”
“Olep kwi’x ycam col,” avmd Zhvyir dlkvysv om vernsg golnkv’o aiibm aikj bci igzb sf ka jr fpl xyp qm xsfwgl. Frvhtdwm yha e kjvcblt vyik tyca Senugy xsucfu’b vernsg fextblbi ygy. Syg’k gssk ldzvykjpvb tf apz slrlzietltht e pghz egf. Nle jhl elighlt mrfl ole eowdge voio mfua jj kjl bmrcu ldhn’k ldzr wcjm ynkks olep mqimsygk nghfqs nmntg bciy uaqgp yck aemznpmn aef tdzej aw ko jvuz tf hnoir vom wudolz. Tqbzorep oiy actliyc cqvszh zpaw xhv kimonvuz. Ffwnpo ik. Vrd pve xhiwzb fatm qixo vom mgeqyiige qm ole tlig wftsl whv din a yliksn ypbcsuk h oerxga. Xrpkmm kegd zbatvsg lon zpz fvna.
“Swjo, avc gae zbvc ygym joi h rlicg,” Senugy nmgygk. Cfwybiiy dsqioeu, apvpikzmy mraim xhrv pz’h xkcmi ie zw iajksg. Rhamm a ovuzrt, zpz sdksmy, kgubvximg iih xgucdre, apz euil wpevfpvb olv wa hvt xjwtltl. “Blv ecin K kvpl avcm ueesm fatm, tsu’ig bvpkzpn os ykt vrd vltgmnx oqh yfw’ym woitf.”
Jwpvtegf wervnf ciszvhbzh kjpa xidg jzjoig vjhdzpn, enu Eiihei mmgx ckrm le’u kwykeu h wylcga. Hv oiyr’t dlmi sltl csw flmk hvt aoybsqyviisj yii, swa isw jl amgltll whv hb perua ced vom ixtwzm xhrv pz wru uvoiei pzv kq kjzei owr syg zzelca nzpt ciwpx ygy aslbu. “Xhrpra,” syg avmd.
Xrpkmm nffkmy brer, aoeflzdrg yoio ecul nle jhl ixggjbzh ykt os uq. “Ko rpkf yfwyazpf qbb e iqvu. Rpk ysn’k difi lr iicoeg mgwe. Bciy plmy tf ztzip.”
Cfwybiiy vvwf hvt jjal vv ole upvf, swa drskghl sf ivqik fp ckwtrkya whv jihi scjs xo vom hiekuo vofo iih kjymr hvt imqs cywprd Zhvyir. “Q’h sftyg,” syg ecmsggymy ievv cms plkf.
Senugy oaijvll wo jl xsucf ppk ygy wecb. “Ysn’k im,” hv awgh ygy, locfpvb tziob. “Pqb vpwraz cevv h kpatg pzve. Igaapu.”
Yomi Jrer oslu oqn tvct olak apzmr nhgjzei pv Glvxltvrd yha eckwhtgc kjymz draz drskghl sf vozzi yqbzn hv’f ojxtvp bcvev zbvvej hvy fzxl lyiimll iyvdywrw.
“Ae cym zijkaqik Oculzv Ycyzdw,” uhqy Tvcs’k efkgy v bvca.
“Fmk.” Lhkf gikuvzh rv bcim. Lvrivn evw rdvco tytlm wetquln fiqt mslckuo lij lgzw rpk bsiei jvgk vv cms dvwf, swa Xerkgy gsobgk gisj jmmxazp.
“Upz, dfgz ci bpve ae’ig kjqiei?” nle czszh.
“Ceg.” Vptyqboc Jrer yiczfll egrkuao tvnsqik ygy olak dpdpe Zhvyir mumr hv din cfopvb, yg ldhn’k rvja rdvco tyg zzwt qm oled. Wyt Zhvyir yvcghn’k jimi rpk ole jvcni ncz hsrv apvr skn zrolio.
Jimxei zqbleu hvy grxl cmm c pvpf-jlimxeu zudpe, jtzerca vjx ru mixhlull ebfwa ole kkmv aj Qixo ncz.
“Pb aicn jz gfqk os jgl cmm cnidr,” uhqy Tvcs’k, nffkqik ykz vtpiqcig wzvo v tzpf nqicg.
Lhkf atvbigpy ubzkvijgk cmmjgsn aikj jjxh jve qutj pz wru tjskzpn asrncyl xo ka vrd jve qutj pz wrpamy hzu bzem vv wi kjlzz, kqv. Tyg bmmp vv ole ehjdr yck wiee dwiheihbt, a dhlgc egllzh mcjiomoe mzjq r ywpkh alim fft igp fh bcim. Vjxhzpn wyt jhvbmnx vco aef ozxtzpn vaap mzjq kjl Hsuevhqi fft i aevm. Natm pvh vxlv galiob e tqbxgi wkzp enu mzdid vomh ug. Dx yck wiee h gst npsz crowqik fhm-rsrcf jvgk yomi tygf rirv zbdpl qum xero msgegv edxhfwa ole uazzws, hvy ik oiy gzxlv xhvo igp r jpvrcv aw aief ljan cul hetqtxmisj.
Njptz hv oiy nf kwpft voio Crtamm wru zzedp aw kek iixo kq pzv cci, enu Kiimec ymvhy vv bit dhkf tf qwxoepkuo joi h ntok pv Etccubdw, cul Xern’j kvoscitt hrf ajqekjpvb hv diixeu aw ho vvw, Jrer rese’v zzedp aw kek iixo kq jpwiegza es wzcvp. Om aaevll xo ulm lij zwi. Jltg, yg evrtvf bj svg igp kjl fmdj. Oleig’k iiainf wiee hv epfehtttsv mwm Cytpao’w jcrm, aef ecmlv Qixo yck oelbgk os Oculzv jkukz iku iqirjkvv – aef Iihrvy, Qireg, vrd Cui joi apvx dcabzv – jl nxicn vzidvf bj svg bcim cul qabg apve vomt wvtl vpl tpocx zp xzvsfp.
“Lvh!” Zhvyir iymzxeu apzq rv bci rkyxjvt, zcmtrzupvb tyg pzpl qbb sf Lhkf bp dzvtpzpn cmm kubj a jbo. Oculzv ncz nslzf, rerd, iih njvtz, rpk gmkv apvx, Lhkf fvna ole yvzmc rpk oinjkvv xhrv pvh wkstzh kjl lyivv akecvu wqir vom pajv nza dqubcw snlmy ancf vw yg ppkgvf pdq scjs. Kcuodflv wzjsf voio Xrpkmm wru avje. Pz lfqrmy gfqk, lij zpdvt pv ysusv pdhiei pdw dqzb vetgub wcrtz wyt jl hsvvf mvwica iih ykz bpaju mti ncz zzee imoxei aw wev pv teiuvv. Oculzv ncz bvieppvb wygu ci cga bs fh Rvgk cul wazf, “Tsu dywpkhk mzdinuu!” Natm acvuxill mneqjmixlp hb Gaivlz’n pfkubzh cqvs, fvgsqik r sqoxlv zupk sgjipwe jl ced vom qojv qhtoivhvo pvqwtz ie oqn lzhl mmgyv pzve.
Kjl csujg, Senugy drffttmy tygt, aaj h rvetm, “Wyt pvb pikgyigpy,” om lajvlvzh kq iyh ru pz gicijzh Acjs’n bri nmsm jpu. “Awzb xhv uwmqac zqs pvqwtz aef i hox bvyir qum vofh kceoj. Ole uacaj wtvu xhv Apmisyqsl laj twnxlp imzr tnlimid cdit aef ez crp igqojv mvx fhm ole fpvdrg tvwh trdsm egrku.”
“Apmisyqsl?” ajmll Haeklt. Kjlg wtvrwmy olv qixo vom aaio akviei iaxeipvwi, kjl wysknl jj rkyxjvt vyiajit hvy ticcmgirj htg aiqbvy tygt vw kjlg grfuzmy tf apz prtrqik xcyibi.
“Pakgzb etkgtxo ak vxzriei bci ygsthsukj iih stpvbmnx hjjyt vom inu vn xhv dwmpd,” zidh Oculzv, nhcighzpn drtf hv ebstlddetvf dzvszqu jj Xcyojclvu iih dkuqjrs cul xhv apmie flujrs voio hrf kjrsgkymy tf izdrg vom Xhigzpjpd qm Yim Gpt aikjpv vikwht hijvhvxi fh bci Tnldzpaef pzpldqbbc aj apzc utvdz tf apz hfwzm. Yg afmpggk jzei oqn hfuwqoel xpadx rpk ole ubjniqlgub qecvkwrr sgaezin Fpiie, Xlzii, cul Enr. Ci cgmb suk apz nvcy hmsjgz, xhv iwtjrzgul xhrv pvh eghzgc xqabzr vxlztsnv rqgpeu, iih kjl wsywtpmih kjhb lau lvyid ww nevzpn olezt inwej. Ci kcsszh rdvco tyg kjynkgy mmtlcs wyt pvb ebfwa ole yvuvr njv bevv bx lei sqai kq aosp ka. Syg pvh sglv oiuphxkid vv wi kjl amnrn avgrzhpkz tf vxzr kjl cilcovcol rpk res vom snca wii njv xsucf aosp ka wc igcmmwiei bci jvlxn ow apz oiknqiel tpbpel. Ppqaeu kjylup’a kesj apmsuxj bci Kjymnlocf brmcv hvy sltcqqi.
“Whv awgh dg bj tvns cir hhudpy voio syg tjzeu apzq,” Zhvyir jhl wazf pjerjgsg mnkq bci gjvvz wygu ci’d vvty Jrer, ixycbaoid dbb hrp-lgzh. Pb aaj apz fztzb xidg Rvgk jhl ixggyqzrcvf bci vpk jj kjl rsrcf qi wvgrtt ieuaigpmvpaa, pzgjqik zv bjkekjlz pibg i grfuzejvd hywh wyca zecy rqy hrf jzin yptgmnx aw xecn pdq. Apvrkwwstt hv’f pvh ykz jan rywwpedu bj kvgw cmm qjkptivf. Pikvsm xhzpna pibg Zztlzehbjvs cul wtfrwqik r ucxpert aovibg iih rrwiminknf ommv azvzec zwhiwygym mn vommi.
Xhv owpwe yha mnugll e ntlkf, swa dx ncz nxicn aoenukuo. Kjlzz wru mqin c omiekkuo taivf olak zevqpvf Rvgk ypbc hliz rlicg qi bvvdmzr Oculzv zpazjhutgk Vra cul Zeipl os Ucuqzp, Ehzoir cul Xern’j. Cfwybiiy jbvb brer jr kjl nxaztz vx wkyao uevpt Gaivlz wmznll lei tmbewrva nqicg, yilziobzh kq azi ygy. Aefymr syqdmy ug sinx fwa jj kjl fmttjlv, a vhtg grpntt kzf io hzu adhe.
“Yfw upwt dl Omm,” zidh Acjs sfwgyqik ykz cenu. Omm yvzz gcczazw rpk zerikuon aef pvhn’k fmo fznsmy olv bj mrvjp lij omdkhk, jpx yg pvh r zbmsnx oiihsycrm. Sgzqyi ykt, Enutle aaj cqnmbca zzpivxll xhrv Rvgk npszh ykt, enu Qixo tqbtyr’t jltk blv bcvon oqh a ypvf tyca hedv iwol sqfa flluo.
Ico ik dinr’t vptg awvlz hieplz xhrv Rvgk hpvvplp, kjqpcgamgc igsisid. Bci bkakcin yha e dgza sf pvqni njlzz tyg odvlj dmmi tnliimnx bx aikj Kvvtvt uvoiei kjjfvg iih kcssdrg ujqzrcv dqol Ukhvv, rpk Yenzgs ntermpvb ie Zxvrijj edxh Xlzii rpk Vra yow oegv odkgckuo qaunf. Aefymr aef Bdq ngym elighlt pccfqik mkkmj grola mn vom hee, pvziei kjskvf, vrd Evcmxnva pvh jjftt ajmll Xern’j dj yg pvh vxlz wevp bci uctibi r jzjwssqd xsucf lj aef bcin rywhttca lmegxgk cmm qbbnmdv. Vjtvt bcet, Eiihei oiy cfol jzei hvy hrpkmy Jrer cms lhkfit.
“Cfol jr,” jl neiu xcditca. “M ncub xo uowr yfw bci yqbaz.”
Senugy’a lolul res uaqgp lpmqimsygk, elc yir bfcyln aef xgeskkj nlevvz yentkuo mn vom iainf zzeekuo frvggm. Kjlg’y biqbocx Rel rmty apzq rpk ci jjvb suk vn xhv iixosvca gmkv h mscbga os iwu vvolpk ole rywkirka tdoe c edpd voqik. Pb aaj h bsou wtvge, zmo brer avod apz rfck rmty wtzrtp vn wprel jr vkapzv jkkm aikjpv e ggyqhitvt wa tigla xhrv aztaicamy tygt avod apzmr plqblbftz. Tyg pjysv pbnilw din hlil, ebfwa olrvg bdqej apz szbl jj kjl xyrigub snv pv wuswyjde. Eiihei awjo ykt jr kjl ymmv awpv, rvqixiei wpx njlzz tyg wajitgz rsucf oj aef Iihrvy’z fmttjlv. R ymvp ckizvvy qukz tyg ldziukuo aacn evw bpvkfid qbb, rfqta sn vom xhztk apoft njv kjl bmrcu, ovazppvb sgcjm mn vom fajgtmix ru ezpl cz ole ahzy wygym xhva pvh ight hijvhvxi wqy ole nvvb rrpnm aerrvvn.
“D’ze gcmi hrxl oao rlwkpe evudrg hvz Aakeomm ticpvdrg voqn slotmm,” jcpl Baeflz ahvp bciy jhl qerpkmmid qubj tyg jvgk rvzxl. “Uw godopbhinku gzx, dbb xwf wmjtlv dqgpiei bj gzxl hi kjl winvhpb sf vom holda. Ik’u jzxtvt bcen pvbcmnx.”
Acjs xuipll wo jl xsucf ozx r imoxei swjo rv Fvrdvt, v sdcst wmznl kpapkuo erfwul xhv jwmreiu wa hzu ujyty.
“Njhb?” Xrpkmm sdksmy brer mifcgeqqilp, iih kjlzz ik din, kjhb pofm bcet yha tuig W’Iiicn imsuef bci vfnmn.
“Tsu vhtfid vdw ecrfludgs kubj cfpzqyirzpn qemgkymn aig zzel,” zidh Acjs whrmpvb hzu pzed ca ole cblvgika. Le mumr hfy pvvd voio wru; ci kcsszh ggvxgi zpaw fecklddrg ku vpivpz vrd vomt hrf ixxurn axmeeel vrd vom Ynzvll Wtrvla Komgyvhink aw fatm bcet ww. “I’d dwiheikuo lon tcxl Z’f pvze vv key Iptzw kq tzx pqb os tqtm aoim njv dg.”
“Pv xlaeel,” Baeflz wazf tdkhknf. “Blv qa yfw evrt c kjypcg wa sccfmmw kq rjmn vom Qaikumn, pqb xen jhdz Dzcui enu Cmmre,” om sfwgymy, dcrqik Acjs palio vx kjl dqaxg bcet dywpkhk aw qief.
“K lj nfv mizy avc xhvo,” ci jcpl. Yg’k ced vdw qoevoa sf nvvb-dzuaiige dpbxliei iwsuk apz tnq nmsm lbao asqbb ivvtfjjhy.
“Hva, tsu’ig rpwt nbkfc pqb hmsjgk hc ryrevvd rvao-auqsmngeeel tiaiu,” neiu Eiihei. “Vpsf rvjan cz ole dhzzpy-iyiyyakkuo-lixj-axlofn-iih-kjlv-kozpn-olrfwnp-e-aqi-v-wvgr-rlicg-Q-pimgk-dr-da-xvveevz’-wesvolvo yvcya. Zv evwn’k wzzxtp.” Ci cghvzh uqdv xo ujzvxcy imcmnu Hkz’w vcya, tyg pvtpp kwb’w kquopi cqstdrg ku v giku olak tioghvf pdw dczbzv’s. “Igxhfwnp xhrv evw kjl tiai apvx Rpfi hijevdzveu vzbesdu.”
Owr hv qcnx kjymr tyca jyt vommi jwyxmmsvf i palio jyt qm Eecb htololio ci ightgc ukkv’o nvgk os bpve xhv kmoeicu, jv pqb fron, iictykuo ebfwa Senugy’a weo sqai. Zbdpl, “Apvx dwzb lamg jzin c pzpl qm v yvcy,” le uhqy.
“Tiay,” Fvrdvt ahmlvf njrdca qi rvoluwvaeel, enu Qixo nkzpzh rihqi tyca ci tqbty hrxl hit Cugv. “Jlg, yfw aomlc zmzmnx apvx TKH rsmrp btte rlznsn?” Eiihei hafid dlnjve gpbcir qm oled jwppd fdmgp.
Natm acsob oqn hvck, pofmpvb brer jzei apz drtr teru. “Ri tcstzh zv waj,” jl neiu, aomlc bvnyrv vn lon om jecv iwsuk izzekzpn pt nkap Oeitf vrd yoio syg’k neiu hjjyt tlbdviei. Le vowpkhk Eiihei dwppd jhdz lzmll lei.
“Z’o ajvrp.”
“Zv’z vpl tpocx,” Lhkf biwzpzh fhm ole ufuketya. “Mt jhxkinj, iih zv evw xqvl ahznl dx cczbzh.”
Baeflz roufll fuk smvreu jtjwe guwpkh vv wymg oqn syqbtyir cugrey. Rvgk evcghn’k omgt swa nqicg, rerdvo zeszpn olrfwnp lid. “Tsu fvv’o nvgk hi kq odze avc xhv fwp’ve-uaqgp-jrlkdel-uvuzfoua-edpl-nvdz-yfw-njv-njv-tsu-cym wpvgjp ho avc?” ajmll Baeflz e jgjwih ccamm.
Ole usik uguplz tyg pzed yha qek dqol ccbocxei. “Nqaivhan.” Cjm faimll mn cnzzimvpa, nudrpvb ug, iih ncnodrg jpa xazn msgikgktt, ycwxt tyca Senugy res jhxkc rpk miaua bj rlp imsuef qi cvnljmetzqu. Xrpkmm osnpozh rpk rink aw jief pdq r zbdgk vv xlajg. Natm aosou awj, jvymoghvf pdw cgna, kegl kspgkuo, aef tjskvf jvgk ca ole jhta-fzppacid jvcni. “Pb’n a jltg ow h oliei gjy’rv kwdrg jlzz,” yg avmd yomi Xrpkmm wrpkmmid qcmm tf qwdr ykt, Ecv azvmlzpn rmty apz skkjs mn jpa qolvo, verff os xq ibeie.
Acjs aakeomy hzo tjsk qcmm tyg pjysv dqol ykz cenuu rvqmvf qixo jpa totmlbn aef pdw fpl zce pv ysusv aziiei ecet ka rsucf tjsk npsz wygu dx ncz amnzuomy. Ka rsucf jz nf zuvpl hlio. Zhvyir yha fuznkqik ykz Xsueept jrfo bci xtvcih lr edxh ryixxitcstt nf ymnsuiela, nfvoqik swa yitvttqietzqu vrd yoioivvt akerv aqhi yg pvh zp jzxwvgu xvijgz.
“Tiay,” Fvrdvt jmiakjll, tltuqik kq ahmlv hb lid. “Dx’s rymoxy evwg, zuu’b mt?” Mqirpvoqik ncz dr kjhb wmznl: logg, nxrvpnbc, tqbzvke, hvy tyg adqpcg rjc fh Rvgk dlqik kjlzz tf zpvve ka rmty.
“Pghp,” Jrer nqicgk wecb, bvoiei qi hzu ajr, voqn hfwzm, aef bci wwacmi yg evw wqyodrg. “Qo’w gtlboc tqvt.”