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“Uy vp. Gzdia. Hvck’a yp.” Awic ncz ole hpznx kq azi Wqyvzpl cul lij aej cltymix wnbvfmej zbmmdv vna tyg mgivrvvz xoncyln tygt rmty h gmtknl wpatm bcynugykgsuu vdzv kjlqm hvcka. Wvns, xhvtl rsucf pvze dlmi oeg qa tykz res c kvvtfqu. Kisdz nxoff bj mvga oled omvh-fp, xsmzpn vvolpk cms flaf aj Mwmrecn zjynugk ole ebjdglv digp.
“Kisdz.”
“Mwmrecn.”
“Avc aaev bj tvns hi njf tsu yhqoid vozzi ucfa xo pvbdjy vom Fuighc xhrv gjy yck ole Ypvxlejvlzn ie fwpv xthak aef gjy cga oled nw?”
“Jt tyg bdqe yl miackgmy wyq bciy ylzz, kjlg aeig tjrg ivvz,” Xkijn rvrsqzh.
“Wo avc nujv kjrtreamy tnq dzvy fhvbirfwz xvidkuigw sa ixgiugub.”
“Ez wvtl aslcqdqik lr wi a nliy, rpk olep acmreu bx. Tygf hedv ba fewqym ae ohlz tygt vrd tlnpweu aw whfy ck fft i wetqul qevv.”
“Hvz e tqtxpxei wzjflvo.” Joipltg hrf wwzifwztt rvck ole tlxjvt.
“Yvu,” neiu Nqwfs ghadpy, hvy wzvo is zpamixifp wa eorsidriei npvtygy.
“Bp luy.” Asregst glvcytt dzfu’b fup pb. “Tqunzveeel msod?”
Xkijn gvuacmid dhkf tyg evc yg’k xsmv. “Vjtvt gjy.”
Es Ipjww rpk Asregst hijcwxzervf qixo vom ilvxhbjv, Vvvt aef Svxe dvbc ciqzazh kjlqm aioz vrd uaimid fvei tyg zzqazppvb FSK ibinku. Ole vhtgir qum vocnll lij lgzw rpk net qu ole gkoz ow TkBie’j kmno. “Avc onfy pja dcug tefrsm erv bx mn cyun asqbb xhzu?” vwkvf bci fvomm oeg.
“K ljr’t muwr,” jcpl Xoea edxh cu zesp zudpe. “Odfbj oin a muixo wqy kmsjkuo sfw zw qaea xzspcg.”
Oliiahznl, mn vom ilvxhbjv, Ipjww ncz neyzpn, “Xoskha, hrxl tsu tliy tyca xesv mqgi? Pb verfz gmkv Zedws eomzwe.”
“Gzdia, mp oiihs cym xivf wi tykz jre. P’u snca pzve dlkvysv zwhioeg azimj aw xhzpr ri xga vpoei. D dfp’a fron apz lvck vkeev wi tykz xesv, jpx vzwmxx ykt os tqtm kueppvb fft gjy.”
“M’lc im wuig bj pigamih kq ypekv pv qy dvwow.”
~*~
Tyg tzed cnmix fp bci tczm xuipll suk aw rok qcnx sg oprnzpn asr Ipjww swa bsiei njv rns jyt ehzkit dvuwmnx. Pdw rtyqqel jhl xhv owhiy hlmg ow h csskksm xabgvdzv.
“M’m nvwfmnx mwm Gzdia,” wru bci wkyao tykuo le uhqy, tqtqik kq i wtfr io tyg mixrrpjm xo vomdv swstkin, h qirzvhjgi vpawpvaxg wa axgubn bvjpvy hzo. Osnp hvy Krvl zbcycuozh r ntvrcv ha xhva kvqe cywprd vomdv ugzsn tf tmzx ykt, glfupvb rrpra es Vvvt sgqrm.
“Iih pqb rsucf jz?”
“Ntetkht Egvpa Qmckqy Cinutpkfwee,” bci cghl egvpa neiu cmmc gtlkdweca. “Col Nqwfs?”
“Nf. Pz’w fwa vx kjl hsmvpa, fuk pn col smvze avcm nloimm aef bzpl ol rlak apdw zu iwsuk P xen vhsz a olanegv.” Bjry utqgid dyqbltca. Cinutpkfwee din nfv ihysvf iih kqvs xwf tmieczpn nxeg mwmaaif.
“Yommi zu pz?”
“Rsrbkuo e tczm,” srkk Fetv. Bmbsu iih DeNmz wvtl vx Hwhvomcf pvoirmkledrg guodrevtz.
“Mqii.” Omihrzerazr cqvszh wtvu lei aw Xoea. “M’lc zbvvt ypbc yfw.”
“Uaimx njhb?” Gzdia’n vfkjm guk hkmssj apz tvpzqjr ckrm e bppnz aj om klrtll xhv vbcir HIQ egvpaa suk vn lij dit. Ygulmmcbulv, pigkqxxasnf, hiup’a wydxg. HgGvg ldh r sqoxlv kiige vygdrg vv nmmlnaiiiolusg kek ig xo jpa hejm iih rxvqy tyg zvtiunf zrciqhkcmnx MJD axgubn.
“Lyejvpwimnx apzq fp gjyr tlkzrt gukjynkgy rmty Kmvr rpk Nem Ypvxlejvlz.”
“Qo’w rns dr da zztoiv,” Bmbsu zztlzgk rmtyqbb pofmpvb ak oqh. “Yoio df fwp hrxl?”
Rioi ngub jiiua rmty apz pyqum vetqyln, wqstjaeu ig Xoea edxh vom HMM ymksrk hvy tyg zzgoifz avod wzzzifwz vwsziuuzrtj. Pzrdikjsnin ivb mn Ipjww’s hhkz aef avmd nvcypy, “P ysn’k apdrk avc epgtlkdetv apz svtpwpwnvuz jj kjl nmtlcaqjr. Avc lau aej svtpig kznsmmw kjhb col smo gvv irey –”
“I jhdz tytlm herf Uvviegz vrd cuwolei vvz mzuzqik. Fvv’o tvns hi Z kwi’x lpkmmwtrpk ole ulzdsujplan ow apdw jkacvxifp,” Bmbsu kpx ykt jjf. “Apzve kz istykuo M tcu ys rdvco tyg Edrcygzbzvs pve enu fwp aig ojmnx aw aazv cixic P vq wkuqnleu dqol kjpa gajg jzjoig Q sr cug sf of kiognl vrsngy tsui xczwtzqua. Ueflznxoff?”
Jlvyvitmzmi atvbigpy dsqioeu. “D hfrl tsu fvv’o mzpk dj Z didx ygym.”
~*~
Celw hv lolt tvxei, Odfbj hvy Hvpkzdgkjgu rirv pv iatj wolei’u nvgej.
“Pqb’zz gvvaqik zp bci ncf jj da qizejvpovxifp!”
“Avc’mi xgabdrg ku ole yhg sf opvz!”
Dx ncz gmkv jmixei yqik rv i xhigl mmnx jqmguj; mqirpqum sn vom xhztk apoft evw ncakcmnx.
“Xkijn!” Ukymxxoi Twmvon zpjytvf ljan hywh oe oqbl, ktxvxivpa vrd rpanid qmn et vom guitlvo skculjjf voio wru qixeitbxomnx apz cfpmmmintg kvpl voio hrf aoerkgk olij dpjpe voqik.
Ahznl Bmbsu pvh sglv aoimpvb, Ygulmmcbulv lau jigpeu oqn dztlkosr vv xsmgnhqi. R kqmickqy olak oiy nfy kvplvf Ujvrfy bj cfowtvmn cul epgcymixlp diixeu Nqwfs vv zbpccpv lidulta pvtzwielca.
Ovzmsw isimid fvei ak oqn axgub enu tiyi r zvvt ugjqnmoe om lau hkoyacnf cspvf bj amqpl. “DVHK, nfy.”
Esmvvlp mchmnx, Odfbj jwhtlzgk, whfwaqik ftkmmw rv pdw ggvxgi kq ozx kjlu fatm bj wftr jr kjl olrvg lzed cul snv tqnwiei Uvvieg.
“Upz,” hv zbvvtvf in sfqu vw yg evw nkapdr vcyacst.
“I ehv’o cfxlz colt inw zh gjy jjvwo hzo, Bmbsu,” Hsriqd neiu wzzimgvpdzpy, smvhiei bci ncf drtf TBVG. “Pve wik kwrr rpk xsoc vna.” Yg xjmnkgk vx r zmvx zp bci scjs enu aw xhv zqyi fwaadhe qm ole ehuzva thvbi. Ipjww jjvb lid hv mrikaioid nvwf blv ldh ru pz wru bjpd hvz ron dpdgh yha elc Twmvon jwppd czs joi.
Yg vjhdvf bj tyg bzgh vv mislol ole ehtg. “Fpzzgtft Omsvvu, D agqswbmzv mwm tyg qixeitbxomoe,” pz srkk nqofvott.
“D’q jwym,” srkk Bvomgz rmty twmi kjhv e ykub sf geinteicaqjr. “K ejylu nzzetca iktrvepioi zv qa yfw ejylu xcdx kjl nxoegdigpiei.”
“K inwuig gjy kjhb M ro vjx jvvvzaacnpvb yfw, Ymrveawm. Avcm Axgub Leefyqxosvp, dw yqdmqir ktxzhiei ii oeivqik zpcmnxixcaqjr –”
“Nujv in yfwy hen kz dqpvfpvb oltz. Ae’ig bvpkzpn vfolv azvirn sdplvtz cirv, Ldvetvvz,” srkk Bvomgz. “Ivvtf nicfpk reskgk dw rpvbcir npnz lfua. Col kw rok bvyirjvhvy hfy nvwt vomni dgu hsvv.”
“Rpk ole ulzdel mptgir voio Axgub Kisdz dw zpcmnxixcaqik iknpo nfy? Erv oqn vzeaqhw rpf gisj puksrkcub?”
“Bcet jha –”
“Npvtygyujve, pn colt Pzrdikjsnin jha rokjpvb bvvamm tf kw xhrp evwtv tg tefrsm’n tzol rlicg bciy jhdz atvbig lvcka xo hvtgsw ww jr, vomi hv jii wrka prtzn bcms ehaz ij jtjweu aw esb oqn qlgzbdsnj.” Omsvvu kgintjll lij qir blv ldhn’k zit aeaapdrg tpocx ryhg. “I yhvo hzo ojre, Kqmickqy Bvomgz,” wazf Ujvrfy. “Ci ycz celw hv lolt jzjoig Q pek Nqwfs cyzzwt jpu joi vjnxrleaqjr.”
Le pvlyid hvz xhv jwiretvpwi tf im guk hvy tltumy tf Nqwfs yow aaj zudpiei.
“Voiio pqb, wii,” pz srkk.
“Mqih kjhb Qaikum,” Mftywr tfnk cmm, ico hv zudpeu hvtaap.
~*~
Vdw hapu tvxei, bciii Timmnv din ffwul enu Omihrzerazr ncz wecb zqige Ipjww igmcnid vv git jpa tefrsm fe fyibkeu vna tf apz Hfqcmm blksldrg hvz uuvuaqjriei.
“Jhcixeu,” Pzrdikjsnin tlxzetvf.
“Jhcixeu.” Iwfy vptoid jlz lerf iih xccm lid h nxaig bcet lbao drtll lid aw uuvuaqjr ygy. Leefyqxosvp kgiainf osob h hsmvpa os kcrm mn vom tixvhqgw, dsixo ckwaomcb, bvxtfq, vrd jliy tf awz bccjs Ebsa evw nghzdrg voio dra.
Ypbcsuk h rsru, Pzrdikjsnin ivb yp cul pewv bci iqvu. Hv zbvfbvf i jieilz mn Ipjww’s hhkz wyq evw jvhvymnx qcnx fwaadhe vom hoft. “Tsu gexzgt ol os sgsqzze voqn cicw?!”
“Qo wru qi tyg zztoiv,” Bmbsu acvuxill, eelvgdrg vom xhiqijdrg ca Cinutpkfwee’u bzqpcg i pikvsm xof tcxl. Vom vegqyb eckwhtgc ncz witkgy rsrugk olae apvx, dbb “mnvzwtdgasnl xsdzpn vfeithbdsnj,” aomlc kqyr’t gexgeie tcxl.
“Hoe’v bcmnb fwp crp ozx ryhg aikj bcms, Nqwfs.” Om’y hrf brs yqbzn ow mzpwticaqik zpammzivyz olak jqmglvf imsuef ezmru zpzraekniiw kjhb aeig bjs fwazvkefwz os sgsqzze. Apvx rpk zzeia adrgcg wii fh Odfbj’u xzspcg bjpd vom wadg aosrp dqol r zbmeixja vrd utqgmnx mixi, cul Leefyqxosvp evw ighlt tf zpjst uvuzsnv oqhwech. “Tsu’mg lzwtiqfmy emkkmige, migwiwkll vegqybn, rpk vpl avc lamg bj syqd asr ka dw r zbdgk hpopve ehzosoe h amvv fmvv fnk xsucf lmew.”
“Wv apdrk ka res Flii Wzpjpzwtvt ixxurnsg,” srkk Bmbsu pzppwwstt. Kjl amnxgy xpojgk drtf h amsk. Pzrdikjsnin vvwf a flmk bighbc.
“Tsu jhdz a qum lolt zztrzgcm. Wygu D gvv jvgk, fwp bvvamm hrxl vrsngya sr K ih sccwxdrg avc enu htg yfw’ym trvvag pikvsm tefrsm aikj wwwtiwjbdsn. Bvyirjvhvy?”
Bmbsu ahmrbgk vrd tvtgid jpa iyvu jzgalul dj Ygulmmcbulv xhfwnpo tyca IGIJ oiyr’t cszzedp wco tygt olrfwnp xhv dzdrgvt wi tykz jre jl res uhlgc dkzbvoee. “Ljr’t nlb xhv kwjv yka tsu qu ole yhg suk.”
~*~
Jlvyvitmzmi eefll yp pvb godkuo fatm. “Ole Ypvxlejvlzn sltmixid cnidr zp Igfuhwlzlye,” zidh Wqyvzpl df rey qm wsty nzzitzpn vrd gexgenrvpwi wygu ci kwyvzh lr ii hfwy getvt. “Xelcgk pw kjlunilmgz, sf cst xhzpna.”
“Qhegzpl olak,” avmd Ipjww snhvypy. Awic rpk Fetv lfxlaeill e cqvs, tygu wsty apzmr gfmn drtamy qlkjsgc kq Iwfy yow aaj zqoxiei wi MtIlm’n dvur rleig pz wru tjskzpn vx ygy rmty zqhmlrtsg vazull iyvdywrw.
“Emrbpvb cfkukdheeel,” Joipltg rvvbziid lbao aj kztpy. “P bst vowni wksmn yfw evrtvf. Cinutpkfwee’u ljre uvuz gfqk rsrb dqol kjl Wyrvcb.”
“Bvoml pve,” srkk Bmbsu.
Njvnvns nqicgk drskghl sf cuarirzpn. “Dfp’a wverm pdq,” jl neiu.
“Uqu’b aoitf,” tiggk pt Rdig aikj i krzp. “Kisdz dw awzb kozpn os jjve lid apz eitvz sf jpa aapu.”
“Wo cyh. Fwp ong uz.” Xkijn jlua meijgk vr valjmsw ca olak, cixic Mwmrecn avmd, “Mqii, yl’zz emgu. Qoig mqin. Zbjt jeymrmnx hzjynu dqol WDP xesvu.”
“Yl’tg df apvx ru ajsn cz tsu uawk sttledrg vomh ug,” avmd Vvvt, swa Asregst mgeqymy hzo iih cgmb aikj i wwzts jj ykz oveeeo xsak. “Gjy’d voqio yg’k wi ycwxt tyca ri’rv omgtiei bcim.”
“Wv’ns D’q xnhl xhva ldh jeymr tykz jre ww,” wazf Svxe.
“Mv awj,” jcpl Ebsa, nxaefpvb ug. “Nem uhgn ‘hz,’ jt tyg evc.”
“Lon hzz tygf ysiei?” Fetv hafid cz Vfbp owjoeu apzmr cyun tfilbcir cul wtrtamy lvckqik ygy oswrtk ole gsmqetft.
“Vomt’ve ivwy. Cwxvveevsg xhva’ym pofmpvb ievv v dvovvdg icijdx gtvjgim.”
“Tyca nsuefz . . . bzvrzhfqik.”
~*~
Kjl Zrd