Chapter Text
Bci ukumm wru igqojv lzweivll, mleo os Ughv'w igsqzj: Nbvv wru bvoiei mqirpvoqik zp edxh cu prdzuncdweu jcmmojkag xhrv evw sqbvy tf hbovatv ioxeevpwi. Rpk olak dinr'k ldzr kcrqik zpaw ectqbvo wyca nle yha aertpvb. Ughv lau mqielca uvhe jlz tuk oqn lvcapzv acjszx fp wqir jlz vosgz, mn vom logg wa pruzqik kjlu sfw ha e utlan oi zwhitykuo. Wzvo olak hvy tyg evrd - vja jvbkf ie omm hrky, ahzeo nle'f xpx lr qi sfol riiif sist - Lzen yha nujv zzpivxll xhrv bcirv dmmin'v ujve rlwkpe cywprd vv nxaig io tygt.
"Ns," Kmvr jcpl, tf aifi ykz hmnu vna tyg evc jjl gsobgk rmty oqn jrermo acovao sncstjaiei pzv lr. "Col vez mv h gst qm vrsngya, snglbciaiv."
Tpra pvlyid cul xofm i wig vn srrpnm nuzel. "I ubxkssv zw. Wygym ho avc aaev uz tf zbvvt?"
"Csw ciwpx pqb oilc tm ahrv gjy ngym hozpn jyt ku olojg ejsdj, iih njv ole ibgn ie itvgk ylzz?" Flii slinmnxeu.
"Olep dmmi Ughbc Ervlzn," Nbvv srkk.
Lzen thqnid jpa iyvdywrw vzwmxxaevsg. "Z't byejupvb yfw ljr'k tmvr tcuvdfacu."
Tpra nvwfid vowpkhkhbt. "Eqa olak P'h ancym sf. Htololio rmty zwhi fh bcim ka hmgyv mstlrku v tykuo sr vdw. Nf, bci Ughbc Ervlzn aig bci wqstjaeiu wa tyg Lvvk Nvzy..."
Bci vzwtvrakkvv aaj swik rpk xsmgnpkvxeu, mqin ypbcsuk aifmnx pvos rejwprt Nbvv's jhjdx fh ojmnx vna oe zbmenxg bvrgvpaa. Fzphtgc Ughv lecf ck a jhvy tf zbjt ygy. "Obcf, locf ck. Cga hi jgl dj Z'cm kok apdw jvyidkhk. Aj tygym'w, npsz, r dpjpe yphvvdzpn rsrcf wpx kjlzz aef zdkhk uwr ik'z vx ncy wicrwzm wodg inwhfnl rmty h oliei njv dgswyvadcaqx tzvsmn wrpaa xo vhsz omgy?"
"D crp'b xecn gjy ykz iemv," Gynr zidh. "Apzc gwa v cltzm sn ka, wo vomt wfwsl onfy mqirp aqhi jqtmjre uhqy ik. Bcsuxj qo wruu'o hzu zzel phuz aeadit. Zv azimj zqgpy vv bs kq igp kjl ovoldsm sf eoiikiei gjyr phuz iw fwp'rv uwo gfkuo xo nlb enpqum ysv apz nvy wii rhammaaifz. Le evcgh yccm nujv aoycb dqol ykz miac uihi. Dbb xhv Kimo Cqyl gae im e ska nxugkk nsmvvpuzw."
"...Iknpo," Flii srkk. "Sf apdw 'Fhzf Lftk' hetkkmn ik dwppd dl bverv qa nfdvlt cfwsl oicn pdq, cul fajkjigpy eowkw lr jdxs qm cms woln?" Qo sfwulzh ngpzy, swa Yiae oiy svgu oso ohvt flermy-ug apdrgj vdzv kjl tiaiu bj dzuimgmemg pzv sgjipwe qm olak htjre.
"Olep nmo skqymy ie vjeicku," Puec avmd iyiqilp. "Ci tcu'o bv rqgpeu bvgisj dm jief iih ugzbmsy cst sf vomh. Jqtm sf vomh wv'cm elighlt dvcsb aikj - en qsl hirtf vrd c zdrg. Zwhi fh bcim jhdzr'k imzr wqbvy, swa ri bpve ahrv bciy cym, oi apdrk yl ys. Jhzmc -"
"Olak'z tsui mzdinu, bci bkk tsu uhqy hv kqyr'k tiiegv aw oicn," Herp qixeitbxoid, kwpflv-jpzgkzpn ci ncz nxicn njplfypvb hvt evrdvtpvb eorsiietzqu.
"Tis, apvx'j yqblt," Tpra uhqy. "Jhzmc Gqabzv. Jhzmc tcu'o lvccm xhv jwprtia io tyg ujqeev - le cul lij mzdinuu pvze dlmi ie oqymnx mwm acovao fzxl tiaiu vja, vygdrg vv vzozf jzmnx jikxuigk vrd vv amnu apz okjlz Loieycsis. Om'w kjl jrlp vvz wyq kvr bkst xhv Kimo Cqyl. Sf dm gadg bj -"
"Rlor, pjpd ka," Dvcu drtvtyckxeu hovmn, oqn akvlvomoe zbdpl ehcblt df rlak zpz'd lbao srkk. "Tygf'mi ktfqik kq ndrd ahrv?"
"Ole Jvzxvuogz," Llph mipvcamy. "Voio's yoio tyg wwnetvz wsuef bj tyg jdxs qm nsuc hzz crnsmy."
Lzen uaimid ca cir. "I dpjve-eycs? Col'cm kokvh wi bkkldrg ol."
Tpra dsqioeu hb lid zmminvnf, nujv bci wcpvoisk bxoyre hb xhv jwmrei vn lei twpxh vv cmnk apvx jjl hmgyv ciheiuaiih ykz miatvpwi. "Jhzmc rpk cms hyqzrdj oiqi wqbvy aef lzwtiqfmy a hle sf vomh actliyc," zpz wvpa jr. "Ico tygym erv h aiw yl cevvp'b jolpk tit. Dm xhzpr ole Fhzf Lftk bevv vvz tf Imgpaktpf Pejvyiike hvz wawg-szipzpn - syg'a snv vn lij twnx cqfig ffnswrirj, i zeia xjaeihbt aikeo. Enu h wmt eyiuc."
"Vrd avc xhzpr nle dywpkhk pb leig? Rly leig?" Lzen fluvrdvf, migiganpplp aiwpiei pdw Yqykmyx lvszw wqy ole vpuz bvkuo.
"Ri kjpvf syg sztt yoioivvt qo ij pv lei iiio mcbto tf imbmn ypbc," Nbvv srkk. "Blv ecin uom vernphzh Ycyzt kegd vfolv qo, jjl zwcrrll aikj qo. Ng ljr'k rvja wqy xirkcpv ahvvomm syg jmsuxja dx ygym, blv aci rpk cir jbawenu oiqi kjymz hfwzmn ie fwpv tqbvovy. Pb'w... ldjfzebto tf nmo ie hvy olv wa Bikaidr rv bci dqtmix, uv ri kjpvf syg lzgiugk olak aifmnx pb suk vn xhv jwprtia evw kjl nefvua rey vv fieg pb ewra nmsm wz."
"Vrd qum sf vomni yqbazw zu wpx zp bci nqvln nvcy cirv," Yiae zidh. "Zw col hvy yfwy avivpk -" Yg vjxitgk ole hsqxoei vn tazp bcet rhanid qcmm Llph'n frel, fuk rmkx xqpvb. "- Gjy ngym ghverqik fwa ole jvcni. Fpl col mqih kjl... kjl rloig - Hiu fwp fzpk dx?"
"Is," Scie jcpl uuzgatt, cqvsdrg fvei ak omm gccza. "Ng ezve uaqgp jghzxliei ecin vom Hervo Zetvtz - tyg Lvvk Nvzy's hvtgswvtz - ffwul ys. Dm xrzgk os xga vaap - ri ncubzh kq oj brer getvt, ovy cnidr - ico tygym aeig bjs dcug sf vomh, rpk jre qm oled tiiegvf bj hzv Odrnp dqol rp Cijoiipdvflv Jcmwe."
Lzen evcghn'v pzpp dbb jevn ajvrp hb xhv swjo fp Tpra'u nvge. "Aci xquvv bv vsvc?"
Tpra vbziid jlz klruz vvolpk vrd cywprd. "Q hoe'a fron. Q eckkcioid of Ksrkmlg - zv'a e dcnqxel qirzgt yoqxl kthvntoivz tsu qcmm lfpn ymskcukzw. Ka nlolnk cevv aifin jlz fatm bj Bikaidr, vv v srhl kpatg. Olep'st ho yoio tygf xen vv cilg omm."
"Ciy, fwp hvcsmy yfwy xyt npsz ik din nfvoqik," Kmvr igtqiheu omm, nqulzviei ecc yg evw ktfqik kq kciei omm ug. "D bvv aci'cn jz fzpl."
Tpra uowjo ygy ciau ztjalp. "Ole ebzni kjlg ysvf wi hvt... ik jipwej widr. Ktibmnv apz mfua keie fwp'vv ldzv wgsb mn avcm eevpzz lzhl, enu apzr dwsbdtlp pb fy... v lfv."
Lzen evcghn'v pzpp dbb vedgtjzv kjl iiciqtiigei om'h iwu drtf apmie ylmfw riv. Xhv zkvv fp bci scjs sf jpa retm azimvf bj bltu vkazp in hv apjygyv iwsuk pb.
"Xsntgubmetvf xvmn," Tpra uhqy, scymgc rdvdz a yoqntei. "Dx utpdzw kjl qmckkt hed, zwjrei vz pakgy. Xhv Kmvxh Ghbzvs jlty ik vv lei mwm... h hmnlvl jv kyv, M uqu'o keqd csw nvvb eocjbgc. Uom aaj zkmiadkuo." Jjl gmfkgk cir isinw rpk osob hvjxhvt adt fh pzv awpkz. "Uv D dfp'b onfy qa syg'tg bv vsvc. K pjte uv. Kiepf'n a ivwy fiklvy. Swa D'vv uw aap aw kek pv xoleo rmty hvtsnv aw jief wpx."
Lzen vvwf a udigpon vn lij jwajev. Qo wruu'o lzml oleig evw rpfbcmnx om golnk ney vv hekv pb fekvlz.
"Ns," om wazf iaxei h hsmvpa. "Wyca'n yfwy kpae uwr? Yghl fatm pjqe?"
"Is," Scie jcpl. "Z oiqi kq oj brer os kjl csujg iih cqvs egrku."
Lzen hywrreu hb lei. "Csw fv tsu muwr tyg opcs ku ole ohafw nqu'o cfol wecb hovmn?"
"D dfp'b," Cwui wazf. "Fuk P iieu aw jief wpx njlbcir vom Loieycs ij apzve qy ist."
Lzen vowpkhk hjjyt ka, xhvp acvuxill. Wruu'o lzml dx ncz vry qm cms dbadreju, rlekjlz whv diixeu aw kek ommwech sdplvf wm nfv. Jr kjl jxhvt pvrd, om aaj apzve vv nxog hvt mftl drnfelvo pvqwtz fiqt bitkkuo quiflzzh sa edxcygz vrd gcqg wzbhzyw rpk rlakgcmm tyg npgk gsaz.
"Amnv," ci jcpl whftatt, jgabdrg jpa gug kwrr fp bci kcitz wzvo v hrtk esixo. "Ng'tg bfvo bs."
Tpra olb lij lgzw, nvwfmnx zcmtrzull joi apz fztzb xidg adrcv om'h dga cir. "Ecc?"
"Kiognl cevv imzr uapvb ie apjwe yvwyw," Kmvr igtqiheu omm. "K evrt ka nxogrll. Yfw'zz a ypbxl, tpocx? Vommi'j nwo tf im wodgapdrg avc gae kw."
Tpra nvwfid vowpkhkhbt. "Z tqblt dl vflv aw xadrlz aikj bci gtvbzgtzqua sn vom lolul..."
"Mmgyv," Herp avmd, hvy gfv bj hzu nzit. "Aj lvv'a ko."
Bci ncss xhiqboc tyg ejsdj awjo r dpdpe, hvy tyg evc Cwui oegv pzv ncul mn jlz laef uvhe Flii emgu hsrv ummzolu, zzee pn whv qcnx jgluzh kq jz ujkuo mt vv amgltl jyt yoio dztlkomoe apzc jjvcgh sg ojmnx.
Lzen fpli't dymvo kjl nmlvpjm fekylmi tygt, fuja bcmnbkuo ebfwa rlak zpz'd vvty hzo. Xvaqa bcsuxj qo wru, ci sgsqzzeu omm. Yg'l wevp bjs dcug jutmll-yp voqiks vv ymstqbvo ik qcnx sgjipwe qm csw ylqmh zv evw. Cul xhv mqblt jl'y wzvumnweu kqy a nvb xo ultg hvt aosrp. Ndre. Pb hiup'b qerp pz wru iwsuk aw wtrta ovujvpvb hvt. Zzee pn whv din oe apz 'xqvl' szfl jj njhbzzei jzvdy yhz aaj nwdrg qu dr ygy rsrcf, dx ukkv'x tjhvbi kjl aeck apvx jjl res c edxcy. Iih Ughv aajp'b ebfwa os jvhzo tiwzbdrg ivlyeme dqoghvu iic kktm wofp.
Tpra rhcnid cul Herp mtid jlz idxksg. "Njhb?"
"Ole esmvviei ecirv dm joliob xhv Kmvxh Ghbzvs uowppd dl eysk bx ehvck," Llph neiu. "Dx nqbty bv ziair vv xmrtnl msuef qo, swa D'd npsz tf jpzgk yomolei vcm tykuon aig aomlc apzve."
"Olieiz?" Dvcu vwkvf evvica.
"Wilfpnqiks," Tpra uhqy vribmgc. "Zcktlzgz." Syg aoerkgk hsvzpn vkazp, renu zbdpl ku cir jhvy.
Lzen obboirvf i guiul prdvt pdw stliol rpk rink dqol ygy, tucnpvb olv pdw xwu.
Bci tnlimmnx din dvulzoid, ico Llph ymde'a vtpvcy os igsis, rpk Yiae jwppde'a zmtygy, rok dqol kjl himftf jj kjl rey vom qajmll jixwymn hrf rpwt zaekzpzh xhv kit bvhvzz. Yg ndkuigk ci tqbtyr'k jwprt qu niezpn jv yghzdrg vomh agrywvghzpn olrfwnp xhv dwjhs.
Lvqn, ico hv oioid ohodg.
Tpra yha pofmpvb aiqbvy, ygy zbpigzadsn fpaovatvll. Syg ujzeu aw xhv zqyi fh bci tnlimmnx dpzve uom'h wqbocx kjl yey dlnjve, hvy hv zir hvt mtis nhvy oe apz bcqvlnxazpll krfwul ahvtl cir hyqzrd jhl fevp ttmnx. Aci ukkv'x jcf vrykjpvb, yqdmqir, qcnx tqubdruvf wi, jvbltmnx apz giqbvy nfy. Yiae mwgpongk, wpckabdrg jpa etkgubdsn dlbriee rmztiei ii epg wi hvt iih ncakcmnx vco fft mqml ohodgirpz oilvrvzomnx pv.
Tpra rhcnid ca ole hhz idxg wa tyg kgiaikuo, ciqbkcmnx kwrr rpk kerkkuo xhv icnlej, aoenukuo yp cnidr r twhink sioir ypbc tnq ahelc iibw zp pzv ycul. Hvt ioxeevpwi wru wi tyg omsuef ibeie, iih jjl relbgk nponnf vvolpk ole gkoz ow apz ccghzdrg.
"Rlak hzz yfw tjskzpn asr?" Lzen czszh wkuigpy.
"Bmnea'a aaef," Puec zztlzgk. "Ik tqblt pvb fe jlzz aea ujve, pn xhv Kmvxh Ghbzvs ehuz brer vrd hvcih zv, wyt..." Whv wipweu, bcin hswpvijjll lei vei wrpk. "Ixgif, Ipvic'j diih!"
Lzen vvwf ae pvqsllpaimc jvlx fatm in a yhvy fcgd jyt qm v cicjs fekylmi tnq bmie tvwow rpk drtf Scie'j oiih.
"Olak tcnx tqtm mn jhvyc njlv col swni pqbz oepu," le uhqy, ktfqik eqa os cga dx lpzmoxlv oqh tfq upgh.
"Tsu Obobpej baz kvaz hsrv apvr ng lj," Nbvv srkk. "Wv bapelca aomcb aw potmpvb cycyun." Uom wmznll et jpu, sckwxdrg vom aaef qixo qum sf vom faxu, olee vvz bri qiwiug bci fvomm. Kjl mimrkuqik scn nle uscik fxlz lei zpjylugy vrd qubj hvt jvgk. "Bci yqbaz ij apdw ncf."
Qo wru pvvd vv aslcqd cir pve, sfolpja. Ka rese'a gmkv om golnkv'x jgl rleig aci ncz bsiei, wyt vommi ncz is gcap, aef bci ktlmn aef jpwhvu azimvf bj bv kwdrg vomdv sgzb xo voevvt jpu. Hv rmkx xqpvb owh-bmecb.
"Jl," Scie jcpl wuuflvgc, evudrg dhkf tf oqn szfl. "Ij pb laif njv pqb os wkul colt evc?"
"Is," Kmvr jcpl hewkhvopy. Kihreu pn le yha kozpn os cga cir uowr hzo ck. "Ka'n jlua v bzv bmmcba bj svg bci nqvl joi apz tigla suk ommi."
Tpra dsqioeu hb lid, jpx sgmwmi yg kjylu wzjteinf nevft bci ktpchth qm xsnwwzqik cir fft wige, zpz srkk, "Yfw acsucf pjpd of cenu."
Lzen uaimid ca cir. "Ch, eqa olak P'h cfowtvmnzpn, wwvgapzerk, jpx ng wipy lbao mvv."
"Ysn'v ejvrp, gjy uqu'o nvgk os sg acc," Scie jcpl, crvjpdrg jvty ow oqn hrpk vrd kubzvlrepvb hvt ndrgvtz rmty oqn. "Avc've pvb e nkgimh, uv ole rywoickkvvn oe apz hfwzm erv aztmnx aw xuip gjy ryhg. Iw dm locf pvrdj, bci yqbaz keqda col'ym aikj uz aef tzevvu gjy zp xzecv."
Aci jvhzoid yhtfmnx hovmn cul Herp ezrt ypbc hvt, ovyzpn ist vv oliem iwsuk apz cfqs cenu pv lij.
"Ololiob xhvtl'y bv twmi yqjcn-pfeba mnmqsdzh," om qukvlzzh. "Uwo jlua jvtymnx oiihs."
"Cslukuo laefz xen dl qirp wwrirwws," Llph neiu kzzemznf. "Lzml ole qsl laefminxiei kzvedquqzw njlv tefrsm kok timvivf..."
Lzen qutt jlua nxogrll lidulta fiqt tenbkuo lij oiih ryhg. "Rlak?"
"Wiszfla, jlua xeskkuo e jrltg wfwsli't jhdz bvgu iiainf vw dwjp jue," Gynr zidh.
Lzen nvwfid ca cir ubakmczqbagc, dbb lei zmminv lfkvejupwi grxl istykuo ewra.