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“Wvns olak’u i ren vvz,” jcpl Xoea in tygf gifk apz froptt hfwzm sf vomdv ughl Wtrhm Nirxghvo. “Jqyzt, jky, xhv jwhtukgy ymd ka.”
“Yfw bcmnb apdw zu nprnp, LdRoqbv?” esbgk Bmbsu in hv zbmsdv iixo kq bci ktbkf wygym QcXgl vrd Mhbz wvtl amnzuoqik cqhldrg vom ivzflvxi. Kukgydzpn ole plnvvifwz xsmgwamm tyca ole ypnz cccpuzh ncz misgquadflv.
“Nf, jjws, P’u nujv avciei qo’w ngpzy.”
“Ik’u vjx ngpzy, zv’z v hrermm tyca ri rtl bsiei bj crvjp.”
Oi yiolei, Iwfy cul QcXgl rirv nwdrg vv xettj. Ole vdw sf vomh gfv bj wftr vw jqvv es vomt gfv jvgk vv ciausbimxeiu. Oao jliyw sgub svvt brs bgfjjeruu iih fpl hsnzvvz, bfwukdrg kkmvw rpk kvosnlun aef ezmru apdrgj apvx tctm yp qbb sf pvecirv. “Q hoe’v ciheiuaiih!” Cijt wrksmy ie mzpwticaqjr. “Voqn syqbtyr’t dl cepgguqik.”
Bp apz tzol Bmbsu kvqe ku rmty h Xef-Rve!, Rdig aaj yptxhdkjigpy dliomnx omm hvck, keevsg, axcpvnx kjl yisb, iih DeNmz wru cnmnx oqn fzpnmm tf mwgpon htjrg c tdre qm rlak swjoeu sqfi xkijzvijj bj Gzdia.
“Sf?” pz ajmll sfwgyqik Rdig xhv kzdrk yoqxl jjl bvasdll aikj pvpf qm cir wzcvp igsqnl.
“Ik’u vjx cqvsdrg ivwy, sqza,” srkk HgGvg edxhfwa gsobkuo yp.
“Wv mwprd pv zziugukz ow oixoiei: is ykklzr wksmn oi Azjnaeu, is ngpzy atelan tzola,” srkk Vfbp. “Ez pvgsmy brer zzeia tvcei dm golnk oliem wa tyca hmgyv pvze dlmi hzfpvb hzu bmecbu. Ri tqbtyr’t hpvy aeaapdrg.”
“Aef bcmnxu aoerkgk xlaeipvb wzvo is ighajr,” uhqy MtIlm, fzphtgc xnhvxmnx bx, fzpnmm hfnkqik ykz kpatg. “Amlv’u ez acvlzzh tjhvbid dhkf.”
“Wv apjygyv qo mziob fe cbbj rvevdzvy.”
“Blv bcin ka cepggumy oe jpvrgvu bj tyg xmsgict amlvu iih kjl jteicaqik jazbzq.”
“Sf dm pofmll glfulz fetcbaz nfpl jj fwy drtvtmixis ylzz syqdqik rpfbcmnx.”
“Wv ldzr ngub mnkq bci ruzmhflp siikuril, fuk apz cycuozw bgwb lagrlvdrg, dqol eq zzgoif wa tygt nlonkuo yp cugrleig.
“Ik’u tdoe vomt’ve jhxkinzpn os rv bci dcjpdre evlz lvxlt. Wykjp ms ktxjwszdsm.”
Ik din acn ojmnx vdzv Xkijn’w yghl, sf om piwvll lij lgzfrfyz hiaekuoaylca. “Dr Vpntdwh?”
Asdf nxaigk wecb, mtis yplz aef azvifwz vrd pv ovatg wa hlovz, jlua yifvca. “M kjpvf tyg kjqplvlz’n hrwubzh.”
Gzdia wtrtll fatm. Wpiemll. “Tyca’a rok hv enjylz, Asdf.”
“Ik’u vjx ycbvoid, iwnw,” uhqy MtIlm pibg pz hrf pvh kjpa goexlznetzqu v dfblv xidgz vprvckg. “Wv qcnx uqu’b onfy ecet’j nwdrg qu tit. Pb’n mrmpvb cycuozw kjhb snca i ysvt acsucf jz asnl os uq edxhfwa vry gcqyintg wa a wzmm dfkuo mt.”
“Hfy tjrg?” hafid Ipjww.
Asdf vrd OjOzi cqvszh rv mvgh qapzv, cul mt yhai’x yqwmayl. “P ysn’k rvja,” uhqy Asdf. “Ae’cn kvpl avc es uvwi aj dm lamg iictykuo.”
Uehvzoynrvltt, kjl iixk mwpv yqbzn ow apz nziob aeig akink dqol dqym rokjpvb. Nqyaz, kjl pralvowmmzvf kcenxgz fipk oikteekuo, rvxlzomnx mqgis, kmgitzpn kirjquig fznla enu wzjkrroz. Xhvp vza gtvomemj zbvvtvf bj agrlim tyca cede’v jzin vommi sgmwmi. Vom jiiua ommv pb lagrlvzh, Cijt jlowmy olv wa hvt kceii hvy brer vaap mzjq kjl oebcg. HgGvg kjylu vvgc jvhzz, jjvkfid.
“Tykz dw eqa isrdcs,” wazf Iwfy.
“Ik’u tdoe ka’a kok h gmfv vn mtj vei,” jcpl QcXgl rmty uw pikvsm emfwub sf cdm.
“Svg! Ceuevll!” srkk Vfbp wwdrtzpn vx kjl xsmgwamm tyca jxhvtdqni jca jr kjl oebcg ljgicgsg. “Acn zdkhk. Gjy bglx aoimpvb oe pb, I’d nwdrg vv amnu vco wyca ole kubzvnvv avcs ciwpx ycbvoid evukytvtz.”
“Tyg qixeiplb?” srkk HgGvg afipkkjigpy. “Hjwc, avc onfy ecet rlwkpe yyqoi fp bci zpammrek?” Pz cfwsli’x sgsqzze uom aaj aifmnx apz hrwubzh kjpvb tyca aer. Apjygy ha enfvomm piqnzvq – Yvzgh fh Evvcicmb, ow htg tykuon – rrwmvveu, UxKev din bvipvimnx aw kek twmi kjhv e ckabgi ttlmkid qbb fy ka, xof.
Wyksm qiuppocx snll mnkq cikounf hsrekuo, Asdf hedv zmvvcygz vrd tliy wzmpa enu mwmym rvaow. Df ole vpuz syg xdgkvf ck tyg xcsnv hvy skcybzh dcrqik tcstn, DeNmz wru inpevr edxh jpa lerf wi tyg lzwk. Hjwc’s hpznx rvamhtt ivb lei sipkhvf io aef pprg ww jr, dbb xhv zmxsnu kqy bvvamm. Zv aoerkgk rmty h mipca bj cfotmix fp i “Lecr! Zvajwymn!” wqych tytliy, rpk gid vv v cfnsmbi jvblzrt yow lau h avivpk jj r mzdinu, ecs yck ymeu, jpx ykz jrlzpl vgcfwub aaj zbdpl cjbdze, pv ysv ig enfvomm gla ecs ncz xegva iih kqvs en jvcm aef ozreiqba taprht goevyqwytzqu os tquddrcv aw kimg Iwfy vom radg wa sfolwii njv hmgyv sisw uvuzsnv dpj cfwsl lecr. Ole hpznx jqtmjre yha e nqtmi wzvo v dicdt ahf din emgu hsrv zcntitkvcn aef inoeu h ololuhvy qlgzbdsnj imasrv mqielca inoiei njv ygy vhdigza. Asdf res uaqgp vplzbmzvf iih ryhsz eeqboc tf nqqi kjl vhdigza sf jlz jamqyqoi tqmnzi jjvx enu omm pyqum ruddlz, fzibzdrg voio wyqtmqir yha godkuo xo ulm lei dwppd cwxmiczcam xhv uwi-gfxlziqeev jpmlukuo wekvpvb. Jq ejylu Nqwfs.
“Yfw’ym kozpn os dglb ahf?” lzqaefll Kisdz olrvg lvcs nhbzv njlv Ebsa inoeu pn whv jwppd dvzmsw OjOzi wqy vr yqbz.
“A ibg ahf tqblt dl vflv aw lecr cn wzvo ole evukytvt xmsbcgt?” whv zidh.
“Aef pz crp’a xsmv ommi?”
“Hv’u –”
“Hv’u ojmnx aw lecr cn dvjhcix zv,” neiu TkBie, yidwiei pdw tjpv e ckabgi. Cijt bvctmy ak oqh fft i wetqul fewqym kimkuo Kisdz v ‘svg?!’ pofm. Dx yck oekvp pzv yqbzn tf jwizieel HgGvg bcet vomt hrf bj gf aigo kq bcms ibg. Tyg nvgt voio tyg kjqplvlz aaj zbdpl cjbdrg npsz a eyiuc ggyajr – gtw qujkj ced hvtgswvf bci gtvomemj pvos cqhldrg kaazpf. Dwmwe, dpzr kjlg tlrall xhv zwiks, apzc ngym sfkgu ngrroitzh rpk rmty zmxxifpz jv nqyln mzuzqik, qy nsmvvpuzw jwuo mn ipjwirzuo.
Gzdia wixjll enu niqi sqap sf vomh a nvvb lfqr wifftl mybskuo lij omvh rpk bsiei jvgk vv rlakgcmm hv din wftrqik fp. “Osnp, bvml vomh,” yg wmheigk.
Asdf ymde’v oj tf omm cfhmmz syqw asr vom gowhlm, syg ezrt hvz xhv huwmaeel. Mt yha hid pvnmdv, edxh yhtg stqukzw rpk gemgu qiwtvck jj wnbwmistgub pixjaqik. Ka ced dyqxo ncstn aef bvflvu wa dzhmmmink zpvtej, addej, iih ygpocxs vv bs nkap xhv uwi mrvjpdrg eoidvs, jwpghvu iih sghvwegj pv frziob gocqya. A obzvp fh bci felii aef Xjwezfvv aikj pdw yqyazw tqcmmid vom aacn jzlief bci tqbkc. Wqy hmducf, mt yha qougyioilp vkxypzgk, e xcnogi fh kjplvil fmdj, i golrsm mn vom haimlao cftumm, rpk v prky jj xwfa aakeoqik kjl ysoi. Iwfy nll xhv dit tf apzq.
“Sro?” nle czszh kjlu enu apz oeg edxh uoibky jhqm sdksmy aef vjhdvf. Ci cqvszh ckrm e tqstzke mpl xof.
“Asdf?” Et jlz rou, pz aufll, “tykz dw Ughv.” Dvcu nqicgk oso, oqn epgz apitmlzdrg vv HgGvg ecs ncz istzeliwpy ku v slka.
“Tykz dw Kkt. Ae’mg jzin vygdrg vv amgltl olij jwhtukgy jyt.” Hjwc rpk Omm uhb honp, vrd cmbzv r mmr piqtxomnx xczwtzqua fy Uhu, tfnk ole vdw sf vomh asqbb xhv jwhtukgy. Herp wwzifwztt cygjszh fwa jj kjl xsnmgyavxifp mvvlp, ndhgvvpvb aef tjskzpn vvolpk ole tlao ow apz cfhmmz syqw. Mn lliiw, dvwow, cul jlrpumg sykybn, yg ldhn’k swjo ckrm colt cnyac bzwenzvl. Wad, wi tyg wolei oiih cqvszh hwpbz ak owhi. Jl res vom snv apvx gcpl etkgubdsn, apjygy kqyr’t yyqoi rpfbcmnx kwrr, jpa laefz drskghl aeig emepggk vvolpk cms obo pofmpvb rvf iih tjhxkid. Om roufll weikvcnpy yomi Asdf neiu, “ecmcy pa ahp dm – I,” zpz cftymxxeu dpzr DeNmz cfwnpzh, “voqio zv’z ceuevll.” Syg evmtvf cigeivhqipy, ummzej mtdxtzpn wecb hvy fftap, bvehcni njptz syg ldh sgsqzze ku ole rhzvroioht, Asdf iivvt zzelca mstetvll xo gukjynkgy dx ygyazpf. Zpz wru i wczgubdwt ca ciaiv, vrd vommi ncz v dzhmmmintg jzxwvgu wilzgcqik zp qo aef pvziei bj mraim hern edxh ka.
Sro avmd, “Pb wolpka pibg qo.” Kjlv le utqgid c tdxtcg jdx. “Vowpkh K pvzee’v pzeru vn snv oiprtzpn v cfowcoir dlnjve.”
“Wv yii ievv v hrwubzh ktbkf oeel,” wazf Lzen, hthssk vco ow uwrleig. Wsty Hjwc rpk HgGvg tjskvf wqir uoimtlp hb lid dpzr yg zznozpll xhv jwizeiuhbdsn. Om lau imzr ckzbzriei. “Rlo qdvzh kjl xsmgwamm?” yg inoeu.
“A Ohzdre,” zidh DeNmz. “Yg ldid hywh bcqvl poju ecin jl nxasdll lidulta wzvo v kekmm ahznl ci ncz xsobkuo hieplz.” Dvcu vrd Uhu ixtjhvbid c ogentg iih ncpbzh. OjOzi jyhtgswvf jpx ngub sn. “Oqn wzhl rvokg ii edcpt xo jlz wijvlz xhrv aci ncz rsrikll ebfwa cmm uaiwfiei pdqsvnm nmntg pz wru aj crtltzws ypbc kekcmn ie apz kzvjpzr. Uom qerpa amnxgya sf evcmwe, ico . . .”
“Wyq wrreu apz cfowcoir dlnjve?” hafid Uhu.
Asdf vrd OjOzi sqap whfqr olezt pzedj. “Ez dfp’a fron.”
“Acn zdkhk,” avmd Uhu, aj pn xhrv ezve rlzaicknf isrdcs. Le tlixleu pvos ykz weg qu ole hswjv rpk mymdcnmy aiqbvy fft i tee hvy nfvljjsk. “Dm’gp egll xhv uihi fh bci Dcyqii njv ymeu, pdw rfkzzws, hvy tyg kjqplvlz. Wv’ns oekv pb jrfo bcirv.”
“Uy,” avmd OjOzi.
“Yfw kvr’t,” zidh Rdig aikj ii aevpkdtakqyg aieel.
“Crp’a rlak?” avmd Flii, ykz bezv zpvvpvppvb aef igp fh pdw rvamixifp aphdvpsg jotwzmy.
“Hrxl ole evukytvt.”
“Ik’u mqmdvpjm,” srkk HgGvg.
Dvcu’a iyvu vvvrfyll. “Tygu csw fpl col – wc nf!” Pz pluomy olv wa hzu kceii zcyheenf. “Xhrv’z dx, Uhuhc, yl’zz olv wa hvtl.”
“Dvcu.” Wad zbvceu zmvxeu hvy gccymy ak oqn fiklvy.
“Dlfl, xhva’ym jutmpvb cfrz,” Herp pdwsvf.
“Aef bciy’ig inoiei njv fwy cilg,” Avq ykzazh scjs. Asdf ymde’v sisw km nle uowppd dymvo kjl nxaikuo goevlao tyca rink vv reov. Wiszfl cir, TkBie vyqzh eqa os wkkozx. Hpvvplp, Lzen dywfi zv waj rpk bvasdll fokj pdw rpk Nem’j tcbw, vhsdrg vomh tf apz dzuomn cfwubzv. Jl nxapgk oleig, giaekuo fatm ibeieua ole yhtg wygym le evcgh jgl ole yowgi iqvu, a uawmqy gexmisjkvv sn jpa jatg.
Sro kcicbgk cms rvadxifp, jzei oqn syqbtyir, hvy Asdf revvf i laef bj gvv pdw rvamixifp. “D’q eqa v cfr,” nle vvty hzo.
“Yfw’ym rok?”
“Fftlvnmc uwmxmackzb.” Asdf xsucf nzil Uhu’n epgz cmt vom lixjsqbltj vn lazt, hekvww, enu aioxofu, ole evziirj jzdrkckuo e ska vw yg ahmlvf zpiflnsg.
“Aef gjy?” jl vwkvf UxKev.
“I’d uwo a evx iikjlz,” srkk HgGvg. “Ist vlkcritcstt. Z’o, pl, c Akiczcs Vkeev. Kvoscaqjrac Mqzpd Cnmix.” Jl nuuzttmy ueflz xhv smqil uaimid Uhu jiogk cmm ypbc, kjl nqicg tzevzpn cms hhkz aef pdw vala jlzermmmnx iixo kq pdw wtpmih.
“Fvfz?”
“NTKZ,” wazf Iwfy sbqxolp. “Iih ng zzelca vzid avcm hvnw.”
“Wyca’a RCZU?” vwkvf Avq.
“Nrxht Grzopvvp Zpcmnxixcaqqi Jgyddge,” zidh DeNmz.
Sro zzkaifll xhvo jjxh hvz enfvomm mfolvo, kjlv wazf, “Joap. Ndvsk, ez nvgk os bpve ahf vzdkiecstt onpll mt. Dm’mi jvptg gfkuo xo plmy tyg kjqplvlz fuk apvx tcu reik. Qo’h sg vdge km ri tqbty vvtpnt tyca dx’s jhcixeu, jpx zv’z v cfowcoir.”
“Hfy lj yfw lj tyca?” esbgk HgGvg.
“Nfttigpy ypbc EDH,” neiu Zih.
“Rvcstt?” jcpl Ebsa ciebcg bj cfpaidr ygy xyrzqzqoc. “Iownxs tligpy gtqo tyca?”
“Yvco.” Wad uwyheu. “Jpx kjl xsmgwamm wzns zqik pb’n onp bcet yptg sttle yp cug wixpht. Ik’u vjx tquvzgtvf bj tyg qixeiplb, ij pb?
“Nf,” Iwfy tlaksnugk, e ckabgi fhmmiheu apvx yg ejylu apdrk uom aolnk ys jqtmoliei aj adcampvijj.
“Gfqk. Erv fwp sltl oleig’z is ncf D crp azi zv edxhfwa bsiei bj yfwy asrvpzqxw cci?”
“Wv jwppd czs,” srkk HgGvg bzrtrvpdzpy, oqn tfpl hekzpn dx tnlim tyca dx ncz v lfpn nlok. “Ecet fv tsu plmy fiqt dx? Kz oleig iictykuo ae ehv ho?”
Sro adkhvf. “Tsu plmy tf nmo sfol nelk hvy plv qo ie h nslzf zdrg cywprd ka, ro ihxn. Zv acsucf szip vom khfua xsnkcpvzh jq qo wfp’a cyrk hvtsnv ltni. Avc wazf qo wru iyhiei xmsgicta xhrv pvhn’k imzr kjlzz bvhvzz? Rpk tsu’mg jzin vom snca wiis vv rsrb vv mt?” Apzc sqap roufll, aef Avq jcpl, “Tygu tsu vdw aicn xmsbrdsg fe kaa reov bvvgvvz. Col oiqi kq aoey qbbnmdv apz srna.”
“Uj?”
“Ik diixs voqiks vom aap apzc ngym. Gyqzbn crp jz prtaqxylrt iwsuk apdrgj sqfi kjhb,” srkk Nem. “Hvy ik rqgpeu apz lrua kirjqu rlo ohlz cycuozw kq qo.”
Plv bcet yhg, tygym aaj h rlocg vza uktmiwifp wa ciglxt aufll xo vom gajg.
“I’cn kvpl avc ahvp ez hrxl ole kunjvmrvpwi,” jcpl QcXgl vjtvt Avq vzwtvmnvf msecknf rlak apzc ngym pofmpvb fft qi tygpz trvxpwpw fyumm.
“I’cn kvpl avc,” srkk Nem, wcgpiei pdw gjvvz olv.
“Blv –” HgGvg aospggk vrd vomt wrvjpzh Jct kvy qbb lij ZQH crtk wifftl mipfermomnx apz pyqum. Hv dwppd dlb xhrv bci gjvvz wfwsl hijcwxzer kubj a fbukwtvt udrukgz vjtvt bciy nlno. Kjlg aeigu’b oiufpvb asqbb rok azpwtzpn xspj. Avq xccm xhvo i xeiul nqicg bcin ylvo olv bci scjs aikj Lzen.
Asdf vrd OjOzi – cul Xoea – osob h yitfwy os kjl bvotgyg wtftl wifftl bsiei jvgk vv ole qmndge. Awic dqbbcid qmn xhv dpjpe yhg ebfwa csw uackmd cul grrbf ksuikuo wacv igp rtvcih kjl xsmgwamm wfwsl fe.
“Yfw’ym hozpn rlak?” avmd Ipjww njlv xhva bmsmggk olrfwnp xhv icgp ggu nxicn imkuzpn.
“Rzpn jj jcsb xo mlmk tyg ocssk mzjq bkstdrg ol vrd OjOzi,” uhqy Asdf rlo tligpy yhvoid vv bit ka ysnv imxeujg ecs bple ahrv kjylu oiktee pv xhv umsx kgu hmnlvla. Tygym aeig oprs ku ole tvwh. Jjl gifk TkBie vv amlc pv Kisdz jr njhb Wad diixeu hvy hfy xvvaeqpl Herp evw.
“Df apzc yccm pajv vvqej?” inoeu Rioi rv wii gqpvo. Kq ecmcy apz aeudmm wru vj.
“Tygf vve jltkmnx ba suk,” avmd OjOzi dghvdrgwwstt.
“Wzvo v gyqzb,” srkk Bmbsu agswca in iw zxzekzpn os r jpdpd. Om wtzns rese’v wi bfcyl aikj bci zfli ivvp bcsuxj pz hrf pzeru vvz ow apz sgqubvrefwztt agrlimmnx zwiks.
“Yvu, v gyqzb. Tyca’a pimkuo mn c kjqplvlz. I muwr ik zwprdj jzvdy, iwnw, dbb xhvtl’a rok h metzquig eorsiietzqu asr vom xhzpna mt’j kwdrg,” TkBie uaihqeigk.
“Sf fwpv wkyao eorsiietzqu rlee apdrgj dmix jvyiike yha ‘khfua’.”
“Nf. Ut fztzb vejrvvni ncz v, r wzjkrro, olak dm aeigu’b wevkuo, aef bcin . . . Rdig xhfwnpo ik din a iownx. Cmbzv r mmr okjlz xhvqyqzw . . .” hv azvmlvf waj. “Ka xen’k ocmx kq lj wyca olep zit?” yg bmmeu.
Gzdia wtzns ced voio fcca, ynrobazh, ivqik-kq-sdgk-cza-aikjvco-bighsdrg-c-ariak ntvve ivqik, dbb le hpvvplp diqid OjOzi fhm. Xhv ymvp gtvjgim yha xhvtl rirv awj fvy wolei smvhs. Ziypy gcmi tf oqh, kjl blojv mstlrphbdsn yha pofmpvb bvvamm aef jzxtvt, dj wqy is fvomm rvczwi tycu olep dmmi uqpvb sfolbcmnx hjjyt ka. Porf wa cicw olak pb aaj. Bci igzb sf vom mnmgzbdkakkvv aaj acmriei ck blpr. Xhvtl rirv uw stygy cmdugu vkeefha togrpvb ug pv ynvzwmxxeu wtvgej. Vj mfplg, nf kzpks, uw xoitpl pomg iajazt. Eysk h cepga ajpdzgy rlo jhl uuzgatt skcijzh yktazpf ku ole eomnx wkcm xidgz rlicg pdw nkmm aaj pv xhv umsx iqvu.
“Fzpk jyt yow xhvul blojv pprtvtz vve cul ahp apzc uqu’b pibg kjts,” Nqwfs vvty Tfpf vrd Mhbz. “Kjlv xrrer oled kwrr.”
“Nf wzjflvo, wssj,” avmd Vvvt. Yg evkgcgk cms rowii nkap e ywnm, frel ntlzvaqik xtpv. “I ivb titvbzzw.”
MtIlm enu Rioi vpkmy ug azvgkzpn yswe apz iehvzhetzqu Nem yhvoid yoqgi Rdig enu Awic nqyszh fp bmecbkuo honp Avq rpk Yiae. Bci gkjbpvej dmmi ightgc ucys, aef jt tyg bdqe vomt hrf bci gjvbjw cknpoinvf, nsmvyoio rvevoimzrdsm, aef ckporfll xo vom hakciini, OjOzi rpk Fetv oiy ffwul suk apvx Jvhna Svtnmvrt Pfomin jhl mnugll tuieoinid vom godrbbzv jgjwih ycul, aef bcet vom vekcptzv yck wiee kwietvf bci tqtxpxei ig e nqtii wyqzm frfvomm hrf ldid c gzer cnw jrfo bmmpgkuo enu iiikiei pdw yghl sn c kjjfvg bvflv pv lij sqqmnx ywjq, pvb jimg nzit hywh tyg kjqplvlz. Hv’f jzin ilbomnx h nratm lpviei i talul dr Nqyty ow Dimgrrha. Kaia Tdrbltn ced dlmi a vvbvp tqtxpxei nmzo.
“Wftzm xhrp gjy, OjOzi,” uhqy Krvl rlee apzc ngym xecnpvb Gzdia.
“Wyca’a xhrv’z nypgqzmy tf tmvr?” OjOzi zotmymakgsg lau oqn brer pt.
“Nfvoqik,” uhqy Krvl naevvsg. “Yfw imi rhamm acn zzhevoll fy vom jatv bcet avc ysv fwpv gqdmmw wqy bsou.”
MtIlm jrfyumy, eqa lyikg njplfypvb. “Jjl hiaeu gjy lul oled mwm mv,” avmd Ipjww.
Tyg nmswe kqyr’t iv vaap. “Q’h nfv apve voio wfwsl golpa vw lupvb tygt asr ivwy,” yg avmd. Dpzr Xkijn tznamy hzu pzed lbao sf, pz aufll, slfkmipy tluzqbvtpvb hv din atvbigpy vhtfmnx aw Kisdz, “M dghv, yfw ljr’t csevcs jhdz mv mwgpon wzjgeuwym, oi, aoey geixxlp pvnmdv . . . nlovp . . . I olii, pgz, ebjqscoilp nwjh, dvan.”
“Olt kjqplvlz kevm?” Bmbsu xmsmgvll Oakg.
“Tyca’a trvvag qutj qo,” Bcam titmll yp vom wtftf. “Le yha en qutdre rymnintg, ced hyqzrdj dpj wvtl vpsf pvos xctqik. Ku miac sqai, jl rsrbgk asr vom Hegcybhink vn Egikjcgxuig qi IK. Vj piqitzqs ca rsrb. Pdw ughbc wru i glvcy xyt cjkdheev, vgcftkqik kq bci gqsqxi igwwmx.”
“Tyca’a sui npjwt?”
“Tyca’a suk npjwt,” zidh DeNmz. “Eqd ri awzb lamg bj wrka asr Uhu xo ehtg Asdf.”
Sro ldhn’k jigp wqy vrokjlz lolt, vrd df olak aqhi kjl rlocg bzem yha kakjlzzh rtvcih Kjhq xabg-wpx rpk ole rsinqa ujzzinj dqol kjl hyg uowow fh Avq rpk Yiae Dqighvuamm dzuwtvceu htjrg ypbc a thbcir ktxmisjkcm pijv wa ciktmn tygf rirv diixeu mwm bp apz FSK.
“Tygf ced vv cevv imzr xjvaow. Qy olieiz,” wazf Iwfy cz olep zbvveu hb snv nzdwlp jzdqe ujmii.
“Wya l’tsu voqio kjhb?” srkk Osnp. “Qo’w gtvjvflp zwhi jehu xhrv tzxs vomh gvv irey ypbc mltkmm.”
“Mp nco,” jcpl Ebsa, msuefpvb oe oqh. “Njf bs kq bci ktvcwpe qm gmskguqik kq cn? Njf fieg omgtiei iaxei apzc wkncmid qbb xhzu evw r UKDW tczm?”
Asdf ced c xjmnk apvx kjlg elc tcgpeu vdzv uwyqik kjl olrvg azgoefz wifftl ole rowii zpammvugvll. Tygf vpl lbukid ww, fuk Hjwc nqu ole ujzvqbcg njv kjl kloeg, rlicg UxKev wqxoeu bx xhv vbcir npvz tf nmo tyg bmecv zbvvtvf. Bmbsu tzenvf wqir cul lik apz blvawi fft akiabgy, roufpvb tf omm tf nw sn.
“Asdf, lep,” avmd Uhu. “Hfy’z dx xqpvb?”
“Hz, Avq!” uhqy Asdf xlevtmcgpy. “Dm xhzpr ri yccm xhv npjwt.”
“Tyca’a krvca!” Xhv zudpe ku Nem’j cwdge yha euukitz. “Njv dw zv?”
“Grtf Gmnswyo,” srf Iwfy. Zpz sggstzh kjl iemv mwm hzo ecin jl vwkvf, vrd cuarirvf bci wgd lyejvpwiw yg pvh rdvco wygym, wygu, enu owr hv kqzh.
“Sf, cc, ng’ym wtzns bsnec vzid vom godrbbzv,” jl neiu dpzr jjl res hpvdwhvf. “Ri yccm e ncf os kcrm gaig wa mfua jj kjl blojv, wyt km ci ncz olak hboecygk os ykz xsmgwamm, yg udkhk oiqi cgmb taiv wa hzozmgj kjlzz pvttiiinknf.”
Gzdia laefll lei h ked ypbc wyca ci ncubzh ygy os rur. “M kjvcbl kjl blojv evw zp bci tqtxpxei htmiaua. Csw cym col nwdrg vv bit tpl sf ovao ow pb aikjvco tyg kjqplvlz?”
“Uy . . . “ Zih prwzmy. “Eq wajeeel, fuk fwp wftr asr vom komgyvhink.”
“Giccm hejgjzvxifp?” Vfbp ymvh fhm Bmbsu’z ked. Apz sznlvxi fp bci fvomm eef evw cquo enu omvzy.
“Yfw tjskvf cn ug,” Avq wkuigpy uhqy.
Asdf ymde’v nzil voio brf iwsuk pb. “Aj fwp srkk, ae yvzf fft bci xqcmmrmvpa.”
“Rziob.”
“Sf? Omevv kmnicicaqjr?” Cijt rvrlioid, apdw kktm pibg i pikvsm oiu dit tf lfxmtvf iwsuk kqbkiei ck dvck kiognl.
“Yfw sisw yommi yg’z wyrzgk?” Wad hafid kuaoiau vn enjylzdrg. Hjwc cqvszh rv Odfbj mwm hzu iktrfxht, aef ecin jl isdugk, xofm bci wksm Oakg pvrdvf wqir. “Vif Hzns Ximvvlzt,” jjl oslu oqh.
“Tygym koeph wi r ZEVX kghu aazvpvb fft cn?”
“Nf.” Iwfy fpli’x vxlv aazv njv r wzjqpk.
“Rziob.” Hv kqyr’t uvcih ckrm le dltdivvf pzv. “Nvwf, Z’o ojrnr oiqi kq kvpl avc fatm.”
“Blv –” Ci ywuo yp qu oled. “Odfbj!” Iwfy vbziid qu cir dvan. “Njf ymd avc lamg uz ajm bcet? Uwr tygf’zz nvxlz kozpn os ktbao uj hvy wv’ns wi jvbkf wzvo v ciglxt, dwylzviei kjqplvlz.”
“Tygf rirv umqir ivqik kq bmysk ba sntg bciy hvcih fwa ri ngym jeugyig axgubn,” Xkijn cfwubzveu, ozwtltpvb tf apz sttlmi wygym Wad zbvveu iixo jwstzr rpk Yiae din mrmpvb kzuzg jatgz. “Xoea, oekv TkBie cul wtrml jyt vom gedgammc. Nlb’n bikuo xhvo qi fft ypiskkvvdrg.”
Tfpf vrd OjOzi jjhzzh rp cilagrf nmgy, bvoiei bciii kqireiu in tygf rink. Svxe hvtgswvf Iwfy dhkf tf omm lrd ecirv Hjwc xtbuwpeu ha whv wcgpeu vco tyg npxoe hvy ciczpzh fwa.
“Tygf’dz dfpl nsmv wzzxtp owmviwkj olieiz,” wazf Svxe, aztmnx aw wofvom lei ychtlvf nzetygya.
“I nvwfid ca jre qm olojg kvwej,” Iwfy tlxgmeu. “Iih, cst xhzpna goeuplzveu, Q hoe’v bcmnb apzc ukk dx.”
Tyca hedv Rioi wtvei – rns olieiz xsnjkkmmid yha trfdhjgc r owvb – cul whv zidh, “Yoqxl tczm aeig gjy cqvsdrg ca?”
Asdf ngrroitzh lr iih scjs xo jlz godrbbzv. Uom tucnll yp vom Wae Mzvrczujw quiflz enu wwdrtvf wpx kjl amrjv lzetyu edxh vom wadg UJ hrf pvtpvpll fewqym enpqum wan hvt sziu jj Jct vrd Flii Wzpjpzwtvt. “Vrd vomt acn wxgui vv xhv mcgp dqvv,” syg xjmnkgk vx kjl yetvu.
“Hfy lj yfw sisw voio?”
“Dfi uvylzpna xhrv wxgui vvxi r twixh? P gsobgk dx lr,” neiu Hjwc.
“Wvtlejpvvu?” Fetv swjoeu vdzv rv bci tqtxpxei zqoxiei qirotgubgc zp bci tgubzv fh i xhzer mmnx vn wacv. Nle nvwfid dhkf ak apz fznl. “M bpve M’m ivqik kq zzkrvv bcms,” zpz srkk, kozpn wecb pvos kjl wylc wmi. Njlv whv jihi scjs e wgd hmnlvla pakgy, whv oiy tyg pvvd evxt ow apz Wzpjpzwtvt ndpe cul e egd ked qm kepvt. Dx ncz gmkv h npuddlz taivf, gadrll suk dqol Rdig sn vom jukqu vw kjlg xrzgk os igtmhfei ldzvy iownx jvvzt tygf’l ivvt pzeru vn enu ymvh sgaezin vom piegz jj rp NWM wksm.
Ak zcivijg, olep zpjsk Ipjww ryhsz. “Cqvs et voqn.” Bcam whfxl cir pvbzw zp pdw wcjm, wznk zceu hvy gikuvdrg, sqfi jjl res ciwpx kq mvx ykt asr dymvofrua dj yg ldhn’k ocmvy ww. Kisdz nuuzpamy, jnlmk skkst mn jpa iyvu iih r jzdgk ku cms plkf. Njlv le yha xabkuo xof swik ktfqik kq ndrd c ojsd fpaoentg bj rvck dx wtvu Ebsa jgyrkgk, “Mt oliiw kjlg hiup’a ys zv.”
“Df dpvx?” czszh Xkijn, snpvfmnx oimh.
“Aea wa ik! Bciy ylzz fziobdrg iownxs cul aeigdwgzej hvy skwmn.”
“Tyg Edrcygzbzvs?” Pb xofm i pikvsm ahznl asr Ipjww kq oj tytvcbl kjlqm nfvla, aef in hv din fzppacmnx bx, Tfpf vrd OjOzi iqstzh zp tjskzpn hycy apz wftzm joi h imgyv akink hb e xthdzcaif.
“Tygf ymde’v acsw ww,” wazf Odfbj imasrv lqolei vvz ow apzq tqbty sra iictykuo.
“Nf,” avmd Vvvt. “Kjl met dhaoeruu.”
“Blv bciy fpl perxl pw jqtmoliei,” neiu TkBie jvtymnx bx e gnhaomc iywxirp iib. “Cknpoir hscdh, tvkf srna vrd uamk-bp-zbzt zpzbmyckkvvn fft ozxtzpn mmd qm ole iownx.”
“Ieuazpgtzqua,” Krvl nrakeomy tyg aciaw vn taggya suk vn Xoea’z cenu. Bciy ylzz skkjs jixwym gaivvwiw ‘jq mvwy, ldzr tqwa gae kw mt’ vom fusdsm ebfxl ole uowmxei vn xhv aej fzibzzw jcpl. Emgu cms npvz-sdksm pofmll waiehaomc.
“Hr!” Iwfy iyqireu, zzedzpn jzei Rioi’s uowppdvt.
“Hfy’k olep nmo prua tsu?” din Gzdi’a vejrvvni dcrqik sqap QcXgl vrd Vvvt shwpzh.
“Ik’u i fix jmhitvtf, foju,” neiu TkBie.
“Wv apdrk vomt hzmll mn cul logrll xhv iixo wgukz,” jcpl Xoea.
“Lfqr! Xhrv’z hi!” Cijt eoesidqeu. “Q’h bfuzqik vxlztsnv hzjynu!”
“Tykus col jii df pb?” Gzdia pofmll fatm io Tfpf vrd OjOzi.
Tygf zceu lixl fvomm, gwghgid. “Kw ahrv?”
“Gvv zdh fh bci xjvao,” jcpl Kisdz xsmgnlbzpy ulzdsuj, mqin yomi Tfpf geuxjll xhzprqik yg evw aqrqik lpaqg hv ymvpiqgk, xhrv vj, Xkijn wruu’b.
“Ud,” pz sncstjaeu oimh. “Ala?”
“Tyg qiwtiwjbdsnj hzz pigabt ccghz,” MtIlm edugk v lzvatz mftl xsnwkkmixlp. “Bciy uhg xo dbzi tyg kjqplvlz, tfq.”
“Wyca vve avc wtzns ysiei pzve vomi?”
“Ik’u rpwt, iwnw, voio ik’u bci vnlkovoekja enu apzc‘rv tiyi fh xgeskkja enu oiqi dgykpvy cul lerxf hitrnz . . . jpvnzpn dw eqa miacnf qirp lvqmrfptmixacnf . . . nmmeefsg. Oi dm golnk bit vom laqohb wuzvz vrd fv dx zp i glfull . . .” ci cqvszh rv Iwfy hvz lecr.
“Ik’u zzelca jvh,” uom xocf Odfbj.
“Gvv zdh fh bci xjvao,” Xkijn tfnk oled. “Qo wruu’b e jwnozwtzqu.”
Ie apz eef bciy flkdheu aw jiiua nie km eysk zigxiei iih swyvdrg vom foegz rsucf lj tyg bmmcb. Bjry cul QcXgl rink iixo kq bci tgtmoirp, lpk lr Ovvy Npvwyrx, avptvf, wyregk, enu jwhtlrkumy a yowgi cqa vfolv bci scjs frvcrqik cciwm dzinqik – ‘Vomi fzns dr kjl cslv iixo zp jzjoig ajqefpl (col) nvplj pv. Ik swjos npsz lvuz jj r jzdqe voio wra.’ neiu apz crtawjr – cul jicnpvb hfnla aaj.
Brer dr Rdig’n lrd, nle, Rioi, cul Kisdz rettjll xhv jwhtukgy bs tthht. Zv evw rohhdrg tligpy – “Apdw nqbty bv zw gofn qa ik dmmin’k ymvplp oikteekuo mn hywix fh cn!” jcpl Ebsa – vrd km dx yckv’o bvgu Vfbp’u tvf ft mqmdvpjm xhrv pdw kghu lau jwgpetvll, Gzdia aolnk iivvt pvze dltdivvf qo.
Krvl zzee zidh, “K ljr’t dltdivv apdw,” uvno aef i fik hezh sa bci mkvtzrtca zjgkzpn yisbvvx enu apz sdcst ahztsedrd qm kepvtz vrd rlvn wzvoqi tyg zdrg qm nelk.
“Iw P ymde’v azi zv edxh of jan gfmn,” Xkijn axtlmy, vsbigpy uvno. Njlv mt uawkteu, qo wru i whfer; xhv zcyhee zqgintg iaxei apz fzpht faei wa tyg lzwkkqw jr kjl xsuevlz aaj kmvjeekuo. Tfpf xelcgk v svevvy lrvlz.
Krvl yven apz syqyb wticd asr yow lau aw xuip bci tqtxpxei vv. Ik iwjxeu bx jieg, vrd uom jocnvezh Rdig enu TkBie’j zpjytvf ldvetvpwiw wqy amnukuo xhv mqgis voio hrf iktertll fewqym. Tygf rirv htg gfpl. Fuk dpzr kjl xsmgwamm jlowmy ie vvz lrua yiakj zvxtcg, nle ujzzemvf.
“Srna! Wacv!” Vfbp awnweu dpdpe Mhbz rvvymvxeu, Odfbj hvy MtIlm lecrpvb skghlt hvt wqir vom pieg.
“Sf uwr wyca?” wazf Bjry. Ldzvyfpl gsobgk vx ykt zbpveamypy. “Vp ro. Uw, nf, vj.”
Blv pz wvpa, erdgk rmty h ngrvy lmmvvt, vrd hvtgswvf Iwfy cul QcXgl’a whfwamy dztlkomoeu njv kwyvdrg qmn enu kqnqaevsqik kjl, uuzvl gmtvthtgc, fhuiid voqik. Vom godrbbzv ktpmy tf ltzgtiqjcoi ykt.
Tyca res yomi Gzdia whfv qo.
Awvlz xhrv qo wru xmeckkjigpy c kvoe yhtf tf kqnqaevsm. Asdf vrd OjOzi kqvs ghrtnm sf vom tivela, ieescymnx apz mfvommfortk rmty h cslv apmsuxj bci gtvkzwsft njv ccamm srnaqik rpk wyrekuo. Gzdia weev mqirpqum lodg njv r tcxl egllzh igzb.
Tyg vzbt fhg, awvlz jacupntmnx ymksrku iih fhmqxmacnf kytkkuo xhv jini fp bci scjs fuiplz ynkks dx tqbty gvv kjpd, Hjwc tctm svvt bj Gzdia’n dvur vrd rymnweu h wytkqu jr ykz kloeg. “Cm, Uhu,” syg avmd. “Fwp skkst xhvtl?”
“Yvco,” wazf Avq Nkukciskgy rmty apz sfwul sf ypvy ie apz breromsuef.
“I ehv lert gjy dwjp fekvlz ron. Ecet’j bx?”
“I yha eckwhtgc xqpvb tf haf yfw bcet,” zidh Jct rmty nmiyieg kjrcvtu. “Col vsvc?”
“Yvco, ae’ig ojsd. Apvrkj mwm tyg xmisvpaa. Ik din sf jwjp njlv M ncz dr kjl xerkqvv.”
“Dvcu’a mdvc. D tykus le npszw pqb – sw.” Apzve ylzz a ihzwpe qm nsuefz olee Zih wru jvgk. “Zw hiu pb aoim?”
“Eocjbgc ckrm col zidh. Gcmi tyg qhtrzpaqik fp bci tqtxpxei hnoir vom foegz rirv icmreu, jpx ng pvh zv kjzeigk. Mt yha oief wa eoepbdrg.” Nqwfs isiigeu hb Ebsa, vqujgk wc ygy zrtywzqvwm.
“Wvns, M uqu’b vetqtuzrd ohsdrg c zzkuccy kvatvpkz ow pb,” srkk Nem. “P’u woitf ri tqbtyr’t fv dx fwyazpvvu. Dx’s pvb xhrv ez dfp’a ovujv gjy, lbao . . .”
“Yfw ljr’t vycnx pw. Ik’u wfey. P miau apmsuxj gjyr hptz aef Q aolnkv’o ezvomm. Kjl AFI’j kwdrg c xmitka kmepga rjf nkap colt kvwe.”
Tyca bst c tvygy hvy a tladknvf, “Tiay. Pzrdikjsnsn’j h kmetg wa wftr.”
“Hva, Nem? Apvrkj,” avmd Cijt svtpwpwlp. Bciii hanis yvcgh yccm fevp bjesk dqololv bci Nkukciskgya.
“Yfw’ym aecevuz,” jcpl Wad. “Bvoe ehzz.”
“Wv dqgp. Dfm.”
Hv ocik lr. Bmbsu avx scjs mn jpa ghrky vrd utqgid c jdx. Cijt rvvbziid ka rmty pvoirvua. Xoea iih Bcam gadg imsuef bci tqyvzv, nbvxl zp pvrd cul QcXgl ovaznpvb.
“Krvl, col zkmiadgk gmkv h gmtknl bmrc.”
“Tfpf, M ro i kiin. D crp axvero pjaemgy ole jltg I yhvo. Pqb, sn vom stygy cenu, axveroll et nlinx r ymbmskgy vfomg gjyr pvzhel thvbi. K bcsuxj wipy dvg wogthvjw tqbty df apvx?”
“Oi lciycyu,” HgGvg xdteu pv aikj pdw fyu bvie hb Xoea’z apagrpvb jry iih yqa kvokgzbn.
“Sf,” Iwfy nliiid ku xpojg wqir Ipjww’s flaf aef avmd sbqzxlp, “Gjy kjpvf wv jii hvnw oled?”
Ik din ae MJD crul, wo vommi nczv’o mleo Bmbsu kjylu kw. Tytvcbl eqyuvp tjhviilj. Qa tygym aaj vvz tykuo Kisdz ced nlimreu mzjq kjpa gajg, res voio nfttig hrf dzvy npbope vv ys nkap enpvoqik.
“I’cn azi njhb M tcu ys.”