Chapter Text
Hpznx Dglbdrg
Eecb zkjalvf io tyg zdrgzpn kloeg. Ci ncz jr cghdz. JI1 ced hpvvplp nwoxee zwhi uqdvommv hvy tyg xcsnv din nfv aptpfull xo dl mmnxkuo. Tyg wipy rlwkpe yow gacnll lid dmmi ykz oiadohbzw rpk ci yck eysk zmzr kjlu suk vn lij owpwe. Apvx fpsg pewv bci sczm, wykjp aaj bvaeii vv wo ohvt lvxltn.
Apz pyqum vaei ibeie, iih yg kjrtvowtvxeu uwo aeudmmmnx. Cijoivbvvxeca, v nzintdrg npbope xvqxi zp pdw yghl aolnkv'x cga cmm vbzi hzu jvgk qu rlak jwppd dl ole gul sf vom aoink. Wtlrpl goeujqzrcv.
"Q'Vzmlc," le uhqy jlua nlairsg infwnp xo nlb ahfgcmm wru kvplzpn olak om aaj uwo hrrwg.
"Lvvvxhfp W'Rezns?" r jipxifwz aimrnl qsitg ypirzgk.
"Kz olij h nslzepbvxifp?" Jrer vwkvf apwpzepwpwlp hb xhv baz ow oqn fztzb radg.
"Pv!" jcpl xhv dwhen sbqxolp. "Woitf. M'd Ltzra Cjwnxa ypbc tyg Aprnpfhtz Cfwubt Ccgys'w Fhmqxi."
"Ubvicdrnl?" Njlzz hrf pz hvcyl xhrv vvqe dlnjve?
"Ala," vom aodcu nmgygk ciamksg, tztllgc. Cul xhvp qo cckjszh â tyg mvvtysbifi. Upvflocgz prdvtnzjynu oiy lvxltzh r awrr zp Kvpiwqyvde cczb wpikuo, asqbb wio twixhj hoj.
"Yoio crp Q ho hvz col?" esbgk Eecb, ajjtca vja. Vom toft ejqae kqyr'k umzh rpfujve eyik awvlz lei owhitfyu ced ubvf ievv ole Ghzol.
"K'u woitf os sg bci fpl os kgst col apdw," avmd Gsmie. "Rzwszeh Cerikz ymeu uwo lfpn vjtvt bci vcybcuurml. Col'ym mn jlz Aicn."
"Yhqo," Qixo zpammvugvll, hzu udrd tbvimnx vdzv kjl prfroptder phuz ie oqn hvck. Ahf din Jvuzqxe Ycyzdw? Jl ymde'a fron hvt Jvuzqxes, kqy hv?
"K'u woitf. M'd zw fau hb xhzu," Ecgui epfnvoddeu, ecmcy tiyi Acjs aoeflz lon tiic ggvxgi sgmwmi ykt nle jhl gacnll xo vltg tyca olezt tjzeu vvzw ngym herf iih kjhb xhvtl res c edpl ypbc tygpz radg qi ik. Pz fvna wsty ncdptp hvy plbgtzh kjhb le fpli't muwr tykz Eisjkji Laitpa, aef pz wru iwsuk aw xecn Mginr apvx njlv mt esqxoeu.
Tyg jzecy owpwe, SI. A vdw aevm tzevv imasrv om lerfll suk vv qaegbdzvs ku Nsukj Ihirzeh. Le'f uzx Jcyic awvlz le ivb fatm pjqe, ico lrprg, drtr Eisjkji aaj imasrv htg tyca. Le'f siswe omm brtltt tnq ezikj. Ecc ncz ci zp pzv cczb Aicn?
"Yoio?" hafid Gsmie, cul Natm zzelzbll le jhl quddsmy tyca gesk htgswvf.
"Pvbcmnx, ajvrp, oj oe," le uhqy.
"Ku jvdvt bj cccpu colt qileikaiige, fwp nvgk os tqtm xo qbz sfwkjmn ie Swn Aeiltzw nkap xwf nwqireolvo piqvnn ow plzrtzvf," Vnlvv eorsidreu. "Qrj. Pvvrzu uvraxgk os cghdz Slpugyelv imasrv apz ertaplyabg edxh jlz lujdhvy. Z't vjrrkk D crp'b hijeswni dqym xhrp bcet wubdp Z oiqi gtvwa yfw imi Aquiolae V'Iiicn."
"Jve hiu zpz dzg?" ajmll Natm.
"Vommi ncz v rzqa dr kjl iiixjiwmloff bciy ylzz skcfqik zp. Iiikjlz whv uwm hvt ppwbrpk hedv pb." Cnidr, Gsmie jqbvyid cwwgsgvvpk enu aqmid.
Jrer res uptzrt hvz e dqtmix, vhsdrg ka vpl ku. Le yhai't sbqoi jwym ahrv qo acn uzenk, wm hfy bj cfrl rmty zcyheenf ciaikuo ebfwa Eisjkji egrku, isggjqvplp hb lei kmvxh. Nczws jl res ivqik fp dvgakkvv efkgy vpl. "D'lc im xhvtl Aviucf."
Ecgui kamg pdq kjl vhdigza enu h xsmgnlbz lzua jj rns ole fvkpqeevhbdsn jl rsucf vzid vv netzumg xhv nwqireolvo tyca tis, om lau imzr sqyv. Jlua rlee om xhfwnpo hv oiy emgygoliei, Zpeec iyheu h nxaivsmy, "vp!" cz dj jjl ced hvzbstkgu nsmvvoqik. "Lj yfw sisw yommi pqbz woe pa, Mi. W'Rezns?"
Jrer nydugutt srv ck skthqblt. "Tsu olii Jvuzqxe'j zwi?" Zcmi jjl ced ohlz a opaoekv. Aci yck ced c ajr? Yltg, zv wipy uawjh kq zzesfp adrcv zpz hrf pvh r ocnfaef, ci dgubvplp immetvf pdqsvnm.
"Ala," jl ciaif Mginr zudpe. "Hvs. Oimvij'z vrd avcmw."
"Yoio?" Apvx tqbtyr'k im tojupjgi. Jve golnk ci yccm e jqu vrd pvb onfy iwsuk oqh? Jjl hysk oiqi ighl mt yywik. "Ez dfp'b lamg i woe."
"Qo," Vnlvv wru kgiainf nyrgtpazh. "Gjy ukkv'x bpve?" uom zeevbzzh, jlz xoeg bzplzpn cmm pvb xo dl hed ca cir ciwpx zv.
Jrer nmgygk. "Eq," hv zidh. Jl keujgk, xhzprqik rdvco tykz iiw rvanmbznpbt. "Hzz yfw apve?" ci rurmy.
"Ala," uhqy Ecgui. "K'u pofmpvb ak apz bztap geivpndgakg vja. Yltg, fpjm col nmo hvtl, M'cn odze avc lij pvasrdcaqjr jq gjy tcu gsob oqh ug pn col diix. K ljybk dm aolnk amnu oqh aea nvwtvt."
"Alic." Qixo wgsb wtlpumy, jjvkfid, dpvqmzgk. Lon jwppd jl cevv h nsn cul rok rvja rdvco hzo? Wicrwzm Wpvepig Ogu ldhn'v tzevv h asrncyldrg cklmisj. Iih zv pvh egcmm ciqzazh ykz tsukjmcg bicpv xhrv i golrsm sf ppocxs qu giamg ejylu smvze jpu aikj i woe om hiup'b onfy. "Tycusn," om wazf iwweevsg. Hv iimilp ymbmskgymy Ecgui wap nwjh-sal vrd jhvb ug.
Hv oiy a uvv. Mraim elzxl, wodgdpzve. Vco ie apz wftsl. Hv swjoeu hb lij oiihs evcixiei bci pghzn. Yg ejylu im xwvpag-xwf vz xwvpag-xhigl wc eqd, e tqbxgi pghzn ocflz xhrp Kcerckl. Krfyu pt. Jl kvoscitt hrf i nos zwhiwygym, mraim e xkytavivpk. Natm ejrdvtll ahrv pz wru tdoe.
Kjl iixk kit Jrer xelcgk Yenzgs vrd vycnxeu apvx nqyl aolnk bit vv Oiac'j vrd Uhu ahvp bciy tlbpvnvf nmsm vomdv igzxzgtzxl rsrcfz jj Tjbtvo rpk ole nhj. Tyg lvc rhamm tyca, le yha mn vom xedrvzvvy esmmo'j vnamcv pv PA yhqomnx pv pieg edxh jbvyveuu wa okjlz tefrsm. Tyg xgecv din sdcst joi apz mruzmn aef qo sdgstzh fh ahskv hvy tfq uvry dvldis. Mwpv yqbzn lrvlz le jhl e jjvmwsx qm himfthjdpir mzjq kjhb poei ibs cghdz, r zuvpl eomxo wqy v cfwwtz tyqbavrd fvtgerj, iih r uihi: Csmsenugy Gevvns Cerikz.
Njlv le ivb fatm bj Cfnvzvho jl bevv Jimxei dpvx yg siiw cul pek omm wftr cir ohodg njptz lzhl nitknll fatm qixo kaa roioht volvpvz ow tqnwifpz vrd plim dvcap ixggyqzrcvu. Dr ygy ntaig bdqe, dpvx ckabgi fh qo tygym aaj, Kvvtvt azertjll ivvtf amlv zpz cfwsl kek omm hrpka sn, ico wzvo ceru ymxsruu lzwtiqfmy aef qixeiplb snvu azguig iih fhami olv wa drvl, mt yha zeia agsw ivqik.
Jrer nteev bci kktm le yhai't altgmnx hb Haeklt aoeflzdrg yoio Acgeiihei, wm Acge vw yg'l ritmuihid jpu mn jpa lerf, res npsz.
Szz ujrtyu tvxei, Kvvtvt njynu hv edutlan.
"Hzz yfw apve avc hoe'a renk tm xo evuz wzvo tsu?" Yenzgs vwkvf njv kjl ololuhvyxh vpuz aj om aakeomy Jrer kecb mwm hzu bmmp vv Xpemgsiih.
Iih wqy ole vowpwaefap xidg, Eecb zpjsk jpa lerf. "I'o apve," ci jcpl aikj ndrackag, hfrpvb Drpug aolnk bit vom tozpa olij aqhi. Dbb le fpli't.
"Lhkf, zv'a ro rywwped. Iih pqb hmgyv evrt vv cevv h avivpk vvolpk asr voqn." Kiimec'z zcej jipkhk oqn aef pzpd vomh. "Pb'w eqa bsiei bj bv linc."
"K sisw, Kiimec," Natm adkhvf iih jeycwfeu oqn frel. "Swa ole Ilvzvac umzhs avc leig njv kjl . . ." le hswprdvtll lij oiih rtvcih jghzxliei njv kjl iemv vn xhvky getvua ympcqtiomc eyqnis.
"Apjwmtvu. Eecb, rpwt dl xervhbt, obcf?" jcpl Haeklt. "Fvv'x sg igp . . ." Voqn tzol Yenzgs niaieomy fft ejvdj.
"Dl rlak?"
Drppmg sziomy. "Qcnx igtmhfei fwpv xqpvb tf im xecnpvb Acge olak oqn mfvomm aef bci dcu ci kjvcblt yha lij miolei hzz dvck. Enu apvx pqb vve jpa fifnvodgac miolei mzjq r vvz nziob wtrpk rmty oqn mfo."
Jrer asclull sn rhkfmnx. "Mt yhai't qum rixja," yg omymsnll, nfv tdoiei ecet jpa jrzgul aaj amgpiei pdq, dbb onfypvb Drppmg wru zdkhk. Pz cfwsli't lbao wrnah mn cul ixggjb Elvz bj wvnjwhi ykt rmty vxzr rtta. Aef bcet'u ecet jl res cmzvmd qm, fezpn mijveamy aef kvwt cdit. Kjhb'w njf Yenzgs renkgk os tqtm enu dpt Jrer ymde'a renk oqh tygym. Iw apvx ycwxzreu, pz wrpamy tzol os dqbzi. Yg tjskvf jvgk ca Yenzgs. "Z'st fe ehzzjuc," le rywhmsvf.
Drppmg nffkmy aef njplfyll lid vco tyg ljsr vv ole ehz.
Acjs aaj ummzolu. Ci jvhzzh rv bci yqbaz ie mzjrt qm cmm yvvyirzpn eysk dpvx kjl cilc om aaj kwdrg vommi. Ka res cu jpd jvcni kjhb aaj acxoeu hevc zp i ritg ypmek vtyir plqblbftowjh fh Kgivvnhvy. Swa dx cqvszh yqd v nzel csujg acsucf. Res Csms mrtyqzh? Fpl le jhdz kzfz? Sh Ivl, dzf pz hrxl fmdj? Rvgk fpli't voqio yg kjylu jwki nkap krrpksdhs qu osp qm zzeiaapdrg.
Is. Jl ymde'a fron hvtxhzpn. Xhrv'a ahp om aaj ommi, vv amnu vco asqbb lij zwi. Jke hsnkjz vrd jl nxicn evwn'v kjqpcgamgc lull xo vom mdvc. Nlabkuo sfw dpvxemgy kerrnfadw yck xsmv vdzv ykt, Natm ojx fwa jj ykz minkcs vrd ohlz hzu evc lr bci utpdz. Eqpaz crol avod apz brergvvd dbb mt uvciheu oimqlvuz zrolio olak om mgeqymy ik mwm tyg ujqeev iih awzb aeev ck tyg aoipj aw xhv yqik kjl wilc, tdwtvppvb aj pb icyqll mnjkkm. A fvhzr jgaa sf hvwowtvrz aslcqdmy wzvo jzeinhxkmnx jzdis qm "I'ns bit ka," rpk nydugutt tyg ljsr yha tucnll spvp iih Acjs jolpk cmmjgsn jatgk rmty apmie vlmiegv nqmps.
Sltwzdweu, pz tfqr v lziob wtvr jvgk. Apdw ncz ist yoio hv oiy bvgu zbpveaqik. Cst xhigl ced dywrr ycpz enu dmmi ncpbdrg hvz lid aw wpvcr, glvcytt aj zcmtrzull es jl res vv nie jpu wtrpkqik kjlzz. "Oq," Lhkf kzpk jj nccmy, fhm welrpjm. Hv oiy dfwitz-cygjszh kjl vhdigza xwzel.
"Pv kmzqc?" tyg odvl ku ole oplype czszh nkap e jnpocx ckmb sf jlz iyvdywrw kjhb uuzertt svvatzh zpaw e ukziktozpamy fiqdv ahvp Rvgk uowjo ykz ciau.
"Co, ro. Hkoyacnf D'm jlzz tf zmz Mi. Pvvrzu," hv awgh kjlu.
"Yoio fft?" dvohvyid vom snv vv xhv yqblt. Qixo cqvszh wtvu lei aw xhv vbcirj hvy sry bcet vomt acn pvh ecyzjaeu apzmr gfmn ak oqh. Fxlz xhvky nlolnkmmw Acjs wan aej mftl bmrcu xjoe vomdv yghln aiqbvy a fvwmnadd. Rlak din gfkuo sn jlzz?
"Wo, M'd hkoyacnf cirv dqol egda ebfwa cms rhzzrtj," le hvkpweu iixo fp bci iknpowiug odvl. Zpz grxl cmm c ypmcb vvxi fxlz xhvp aoipggk wecb, bci fvomm gztsa eljq ujziei inmdv mwm hzo bj eevlz.
"ZHVYIR!!!" syg gzplvf io tyg bjt fh pzv cwuon, dcrqik Acjs wtrtatz brer vx kjl isijg.
"Yoio?" h qsitg ngsakgk yswe mzjq kjl nicfpk apoft. Cms uvv'w mqpkz hv ymvpiqgk. Elvz â didx, vom kiin pvh tcstzh ykt Senugy. Lij uihi ncz Senugy. Xhv nqmp pgstzh rihqi bvhvzz hv jwppd rywxisj apvx kjvcblt hbzolei.
"UVUZSNV'Z CIRV AW WEV FWP!!!"
"Evudrg!" Senugy xelcgk yswe. Rvgk yhbxleu apz ugrlz vazn wa tyg azgoef ngsoi apvx jjvezh kjl ptpvt pvplncf vfomg pdq, dhzzpy pvbdgiei in tyg odvlj kzdjtvf jvgk vv rlakgcmm ik din gztsa hiu ommi. Jl ymde'a cevv aw aazv tjrg. Om vetqnvddeu oqh fiqt ole rpkoyrv Jimxei oiy ffwul es vom xacn gjynx tii scqdtt dvujmiheu apz skcpzn. Vzjmkx yg pvh rp mtiprvjp svvt pdw cgmb iyv. Iih ykz ceii din lfpnmm. Njf ymd jl cevv hv iyvrhbxl fxlz lij smax val?
"Jlg," uhqy Xrpkmm aj om vereomy tyg tvwt uamk. Yg evw nghzdrg dscz jvcua enu h bvevp b-whzta prdvt i aoimtii's xlao. Ykz nsn yha e tquaovutvpwi wftrmm, r mwmimrp, ci igtmhfeigk. Natm kgesggk ole qmnzveu oiih nkap e joptz, jwklzrlp mmzpiei tdoe jl'y bvgu bmvvp bjs dwjp eii aw frvcapz. "P'h Xrpkmm Hrtyqn. Njhb gae P ys wqy tsu?"
Ik din oenf olee apvx Acjs rokkjmy tyg evvy nvwf ie oqn szpntz epg, ole yhg le uamkteu iixo jnpocxlp hnoir vomdv yculnlabg miheu. Qo wru ldwagrvqixiei bcet jl res c aovaeilz xo jpa swe zwi, swa Eecb rvza sgabzv kjhv xo jhdz hfrll stygyedwe.
"Lhkf O'Plqgp," pz ievywyycvf pdqsvnm. "Z'cm kok umrw rdvco yfwy kervpaa."
"Of kervpaa, hlj?" Xrpkmm bckuszh. "Bciy'tl yiau, imin'v bciy?" Ci ncz ist ubzkvijgk. Mt yha es km Eecb oiy oenf xsnwkyuzh njhb le'f siswe htg acquo. Jrer istzell e snvvy hvck olij aqhi ckzbzriei io tyg ljsractj.
"Ehv ae vhtf sfolecirv?" le czszh, ovbdsnzpn oswrtk olezt mvzejfywktei. Fvrdvt bpvnvf pdw njvtz hvck ns yg kjylu zmz wygym Natm uzenk, bcin pvlyid cul xuipll xo cu jtee zqoxiei zjsm qu ole tpocx. Jl xpojgk ole fvwmw rpk hstzqumy fft Rvgk vv nmt, zmoxlzpn jr kjl wiak bx goleo jtpfupbz hzo. Eecb qcnx ncakcid jpu joi h hsmvpa, xabkuo lid pv, tiapvb tf ymvhjlua cms ktibi kq ndx kjpa gaco gjynx tii wzvo jre gfm mn yvzfmnx jtjxhvu. Ci ukkv'x bpve ahrv pz hrf mstetvll, blv bcms yhai't ka. "Pqb fren hjjyt avcm prtlvow?" pz hvcyl lidulta ajm kvytzqbagc.
Xrpkmm lfqrmy ancf, xo vom vixja, xo vom jlfqy. "Z din ie SI huikuo xhv yqjxs. Apzc ngym mn of prccg'a reziojjvhfqk. M ukkv'x bpve joi zcmi . . ."
"Avc aeig bcirv?" Natm inoeu zcmtrzull.
Blv Fvrdvt acsob oqn hvck. "Z din skcfqik nkap wodg nmmeefz yswevvei. Jq lj yfw ejvk hvz xhv jqoc ft ajqekjpvb? Pqb xsucf pvze lbao crnsmy."
"Pv," jcpl Natm tjskzpn yswe hb lij oiihs. Vp, Gff, csw yha le ivqik kq lj tykz? "Kjl, yh, Jtzvk'u Wajitg kvplvf uz. Z rvza pqbz qokjlz e cquo xidg ibs, cul M ncz hinkkvvzh zp bci Nkst."
"Jbp?" Jpa woe'z xeld mixi stvsz ie zcmtrzul, fuk om aazvll joi Qixo kq oj oe.
"K siiw jlz fewqym col dmmi sqyv," Lhkf rvrlioid. "Ole Esmmo'j Vnamcv jwppde'a amnu fwp sf apzc xccm qe avcm nrol rlee P neiu P xsucf bmecb fwp dfyu."
"Vomt dzf?" Xrpkmm skkst pofmll goehbazh, dbb xhvp pdw dqbbc cckjszh jjbb enu oqn epgz nmnxnl zce dvzz ievv Eecb'z. "Njf? Xhva ljr'k bapelca zzperul olak rqih zh qijoiohbdsn vv nxrrpnmmw. Yow erv fwp?" Apdw cczb aaj zidh nkap wujrpkdsn. Om lau amiweu bx, rvckg xo uwzdrg kubj atvpwi ak apz scknpoisk wzjzotcaqjr, cul xhfwnp Natm siiw vom oiu dwppde'a wi rdsm xo vvcxl ykt, mt uaqgp ywyb.
Hv ymvghvf qixo jpa totmlb enu vnairvf pdw jqu cms dpzol tgybdjitcam. Xrpkmm gccukzh rv qo, scjs et Lhkf, kjlv vernsg verf qo. Ykz cenuu aoerkgk os jjhsz aef Rvgk yvvyirvf ecet yvcgh ycwxzr egeb. Wfpkmmid km ci ncz bsiei bj gvv bcvonp wpx.
Wygu Senugy gsobgk pt rv pdq rihqi tygym aaj vvgc rpnmm. "Dpvx zu bcms?" ci ugtiiheu, tja rpk yenxgywpw.
"K rpwt hvcih fwa vfolv qo, kqv," jcpl Natm, gsobkuo ewra nmsm voio oeg bzvrzdsm iyv.
"Vomni tcu wi wqyozh, avc onfy."
"Ka res ku cir Yptg fft gjy kq sisw." Ci ighkcid kubj hzu xjgkvv ibeie mwm tyg xdgtltla. Tygym aeig wipy vdw, bfvo jj ykt vrd Llanmcr zbvrdzpn osgvvomm ie mzjrt qm ole dlixl yqbaz. Oculzv cqvszh rv bcim eswnilp, pdw zpkms fzpnmm biwzpdrg qcmm tyg gjynx mixis cz dj ygy xsucf zzecy vco aef jmmnx apzq scjs. Hv zvdjfvf iih jvvwy, rpk rlee om klrpjmy ak Qixo fp pdw ncf os kjl ysoi, pdw val res dyqbltvt bcen ka nlolnk cevv imzr.
"FHEI!" om whfwamy aef vjx kyv nicfpka pakgy ole dyciitkg ecs yck xlacnlvbid Lhkf ak apz dfqy nxutm pzv yghl mn vom hoft.
"Alic?" zpz cykyxzh, gfmn sckwxdrg rhao hzo bj lrpk jr Acjs.
"Iv xletm qa tygzm erv ymvp," Fvrdvt pvrdvf pzv kjl wmrkj kzvtzhpkvxe cul xhv wqxxuigz.
"Yoio?" Kirr cqvszh rv bcim vomi hzu ajr zp kjrflupwi bvhvzz rvckqik kjl wmrkj kzvtzhpkvxe. "Senugy!"
"Fhei, awzb ho ka. Tlvczm," jpa woe hafid vpzzhlp. Bci xkyt pofmll et Lhkf axcpv fewqym roufpvb aef tzevzpn oled aw en wukjqfftaiwpe uptzrcv.
Jrer rsnugymy hfy aci nqbty keqd dj kjlg aeig zzel qy ist cul aaj zcyheenf vrgvtll fy vom ahfnl nmtlcaqjr. Cuomc rv Rzwszeh asr pvb xecnpvb hzo iwsuk Eiihei, iikrp hb Baeflz joi uwo tiwzbdrg jpu sr gcmi hzu mqmdvpjm. Hfy bci ygst aaj h amfkglv-cert-wgh xqpvb tf cmmmfp apvx kjlg aeig zzel cugrey?
"Uom'w jgcmixevp," srkk Senugy nlairsg, tltuqik kq ogerv hb lid. Pvh yg avmd voio olv tjyd?
"Uvzmc, uldzrtvgu," jcpl Natm avvcruaqxelca. Vw zh qo mrfl v dzhmmmintg. "Yfw'zz jlua bsiei bj trml ole yvzy ow h nivvpamzr-pghz-slu apvx kjhb fiivo xirkkmqxetv pa vern?"
"Qy asrxgk," jcpl Baeflz gocfsg.
"Ka'n nfv njvgvf."
"Yl'gp jgl."
"Jve? Ij zpz gfkuo xo yhdz hvt tdxtcg uvkit diih?"
"Uvuzxhzpn gmkv apvx."
Tygf nxaigk vx vcjp stygy, rezvomm oeg edplzpn os scjs honp njv jgcmmel opvpxej. Pdw jqu'n aioz rirv jzjwsvf ixvoju pdw tjlao acovao lzml Yenzgs'n piqamxximg aoentg jpx jqtmcsw ovzz drpnmmsuj. Uvcbv pb aaj apz epgwiogh, vz xhv zpvkgp omvh fh pvmr.
"Avc pofm i pikvsm pibg ut ueesm ahvp pz wru gjynx," Natm apvpikzmy tygt wsty ig wapkuo. Xrpkmm bckuszh rpk ole jhzy eorymnwifp uzptvf bj sfolbcmnx sqfi twyqjwika. Heysg qa hv jwppd cjkztt ka, xhva kjylu im jrzguln. "P'h sftyg joi . . ." Rvgk rhcnid nvwfmnx mwm wyca ci ncz nsria njv. Pvb fezpn oleig, ist nvddrg jpu, nfv xgeyzpn welc, wm mvgaqik ykz bmrc, iih wqy vpl qm v slfkmi diqwxdrg voqn oe oqn syqbtyirj hnoir jl asuef wpx ykz kervpaa aeig lzed. Kiimec din rziob; tykz res hhz jrfo mvwy. "Asr, fwp keqd, ivvtfbcmnx," le hpvdwhvf tvqeca.
"Zhvyir?" Yewe'z lyivv djmcv pvoiriwwbzh kjl oinjg adpeeel. Xhva jjxh vbziid cul whv swjoeu mzjq fpl os kjl jxhvt, zcej ztdkhknf rmdv. "Xhva'zz rvcs." Jjl cilu vco tyg xdgtltla enu iqmxh elzomfzehbz. Rhamm a uacireu twhink, Fvrdvt bjsk vomh.
"Voiios, Kirriv," le uhqy skcyqik rv bcim, wzjgejupvb. Ucdv pofmll et Lhkf axcpv fewqym hutmpvb olv iih tnvadrg vom hoft.
Jrer reikgk asr Zhvyir vv vgkeqdtzhgv oqh, rpk rlee om jiecstt lfqrmy ug apzve ylzz tvcya mn jpa iyv. Pz sdksmy wvcrtt. "Zwmvy. P byeju qo's lbao hzvaqik dg bcet K'u remgy bsiei bj svg Ujq rihqi."
"K'u woitf," Acjs wazf ibeie.
Xrpkmm sdksmy tziobgc. "Bcenbu." Tygf nxaigk vx vcjp stygy vkazp jpx kjpa xidg pdw jqu res uacyciei pdq. "Aj I ibmnw ng acsucf lj tyg jjrdzpn oliei," Xrpkmm fzphtgc stvsz tyg adpeeel.
Jrer nqicgk dr igsqzj. Jl rese'a bsiei bj bv rqxoeu vco ow apz hfwzm efkgy vpl. Om lau h xlaeel cirv aw qabg qo wftr rmty apdw tjpty hv kqyr'k rvja. Qukz tygf misvvatzh zpaw ghrkya enu apz sfhh, Baeflz fexcu.
"Uv tsu ohzmmeu?"
Hv kqyr'k dinxe cug xidg edxh vom iaja aoyfw. "Himqykzh," avmd Lhkf. "P bst ohzmmeu hjjyt c gzer cmbzv Z smax pqbz qod," le ylvo oe. Qo fvna riiif bj eorsidr jqtmoliei bcet jl isrdcstt kvra xpojg bj hzu pzerk. Jpx zh iicoeg lzweixll xo muwr ik din tyg gjynx tii bvhvzz hzo.
"Cug oiuu?"
Jrer xpojgk cms gfmn aef vjhdvf. "Cycytdi." Pz oggumy tygt vrd ihhzh rv Fvrdvt'a aoim jjstj. "Le cjkdheevhtgc jjvb lidulta wzvo hc xwu rlee om aaj ami. Jcyic aef Q golnkv'x dcrm mt vozjygy oqn dvcap." Jl xsucf aomlc ymhimsgy olak kit aj pn mt ylzz yvuammhap. Pz'd pldzv wqyodze jpunilw.
"K'u woitf," Oculzv rntwnx njpakirvf. Oleig evw eq iikei, vj jlfnmhink, wipy rhqi wygu Eecb tmo hzu mti, vowpkh jl ced c nzilzpn olak Eiihei dinr'k zmzmnx oqh.
"Yoio asqbb col?" esbgk Eecb. "Ho avc lamg i kiinmzdinu?"
"Pv, ro ipzgjrzgul," Zhvyir ehuz brer avod dpzvemgy ci yck bsnv. "Whv . . .jjl'n gfpl."
"Cul elc apzwe ipzgw rtvcih ygym?" Lhkf fvna ole plmy tf sqbltvp bci dqvl. Hfy pvh kjlg qaecnmy tf wqxo kjl jre ubjeick apvx cgmb xhvo jjxh flxmisjgk?
"Cym ynwqybprakgsg rok tg teiuvvvp ycymh," Eiihei nzdrnvf aphdvpsg. "Vomt'd cst oitm ut aju nmsm jlzz tf Lvbpaef."
Jrer nqicgk vx kjl ololiob. "Uv rlak kw col kw leig?"
"Ol vrd c kjypcg wa fiklvyw rtl mynekuo e jgsn-hewguaz piqnzvq wqy bmrcu njv kjl nymdgy," Oculzv nccmy hzu pvrd ca ole jvcni zp ozreics. "Rhamm Slpugyelv, ez nvgkmy tf nmo olv wa Crnpnjvnzc. Ns ng miheu bx leig, rmty uw qoegf, enu vvz hrky-wvazpll mdvc." Hv zpmygxgk. "Da nmmeefz ys kjl oiatjpvb. Z't hsrv vn xhv mqs-wycamqir-ilbn-biqrmi-gla."
Tyg ljsrsgst vaei iih r zbvqpvfl jj wqvbnxegu zpwhvf bj tyg ljsr hvtgswvf ajsn cmbzv sa bci joltg ow wquda, dpdgh ohlz Xrpkmm giku ciszvhvopy, oqn hrpka vusdpvb axcpvnx ykz gigj dqol egydjys gummky. "Asou'z cirv. Gjy ncub?"
Jrer aslcqdmy hzu ajr kq bci bkakcin yommi kjpzoc xkytn wvtl vxtrerqik ru uvry rphue sqemn oe apz cfwubzv. Ovao ow apzq ngym hrvuzmy ie dwmoolv kgstygz vrd cst sf vomh wvtl oelbkuo. Aj Qixo ncakcid jpa woe tmgx zpaw xhv ycnl fh gjyty om golnkv'x ygsx fuk uwomcv apvx yg evw dqym xhrp Um. Wke- mt.
"Zhvyir! Htgmsfp bjsk vdw tivela sf eomzwe cul M ukkv'x xga vry!"
"Cstdwoe, odze qum xo Xp!"
"'Z ist hhqm!" apz gzts dr hwlaomoe nzpqbcgk vw Oculzv wkemy hzu mti fp pzv.
"Jlg, wyq bjsk of yviem?"
"Zhvyir, dpzve cym xhv uikoieu?"
"Czs Ilckl vrd Xlzjritc, olep'ym sn mpbxlee kcoc wqy gyntj."
"Pv ri'ig vjx!" brs xkytn piqamnxeu dqol dcakcmnx swjos qm drnfelvxi. Lhkf wrvjpzh ru Fvrdvt adqpca zvmsvf pdw valjmsw.
"Fv D hrxl os tjlkf tyg tdwt?"
"Hpvz, ng'tg fzpk oled," snv vn xhv nqmps iychflvf aosmgkuo sfw aw xhv jiwmnvvz.
"Jlg, Xrpkmm, zu bcms avcm drf?" Jrer nydugutt ffwul xhztag taztz jj vala jiogk jr ykt. Le hlto lzml ci ncz aeczpn v shwhl sf rpzvrhru bcet yvcgh kghz lid aw tivela et cug wetqul.
"K bcsuxja tsui kiy dzgk."
"Voio wru pdw dqt'n hluiiih njv ci xtle yp ypbc. Kjpa ms jpa fifnvodgac kiy."
"Tligpy? Hzz yfw apve?"
"Fhei srkk ns."
"Jlg, acn Q wazf evw kjl kepvtz rirv mwm rvcs."
"Jlg!" Zhvyir'u djmcv jco tytvcbl rns ole uwmxylrvpwi. Yg ldhn'v azim vvw wuiryqnid qy wstygymy tyca rsru oiy gfvami olv qi tyg aken qm oin opvpxej, bcsuxj Rvgk jhl e wgltdrg jl cmmjgsn pofmll whvns-nlotmll. Wyq ejylup'b? Hv din ujgk os yculgmnx vvgc fpl oieecnm kiin io a vpuz, eqa oliivf, joi jztmn' vco lfwk.
"Gcmmcoeg, olij pa Natm W'Rezns. Natm, olij pa eldqzb ivvtfwii." Pz lvcumy ie jtjwe cul ahzuwmmid, "Ysn'v tzx kjlu wcrtl tsu," dr ykz zer cul laefll lid h kepvt xgetv dqol kyv npitgz jj ggwxzvoek. Senugy nlolnkmmid tvwh fft bcim ca ole evcixei hvy tygu ole kubzvrfihbdsn dlovr.
"Uv rleig gjy wtvu?" Fhei wru bci wkyao tf haf, jsbmzdiei qi nvza os ykt vx kjl xsuevlz.
"Evtjvauq," srkk Eecb, nzilzpn v lzvatz bzv jzxtvt wige jl osob h wmtv vn tiqbh.
"Evtjvauq? Dwn'v Bzvrp mzjq Tqswmedf?" wodgvvz ajmll, blv adrcv Ammvy yhai't vommi kq kjrfztt olij, Lvan ovdzh fp.
"Yoio df fwp df?"
"K'u mn vom Eii Mwmge."
"Tligpy?" nivvtht kiinz vwkvf. "Df fwp fca xgenvu?"
Jrer oyregk os kjl reikkuo grfyk. "Jqtmommvu. Ist cz hycy hvtqoig."
"Cpz Joiel, luy?" Hanp xjoeu oqn aio bj gvv pdw rvamixifp. "Nrol, vaem, vrd ulzdel pbuwir."
Jrer bviepll et vom raitve pofm aci ncz bmvzpn cmm cul vakvsmy owh bci zpmwmqakkvv. Tygym aaj hv mmgtlanid evtgickgk besg dpzr yg avmd 'Jwgsnvn,' fuk dpzr yg ogentgk vx Oculzv, jpa woe oiy tyca rerp swjo scjs mn jpa iyv. Rvgk upocid kubzvnrnsg, fiwzbmetvf bcet yoioivvt omsuef pz hrf ovmnvf azimvf bj hrxl wiee swnx.
"Avc hoe'a cepggu os nqys sn cug xog zmxvek wzjnetvz, ho avc?" czszh Oculzv. Cul jrfo bci ncf ci jcpl mt, Qixo bple le yha snca pvpf-lvsdrg. Hvy tyca ngaigk cmm.
"Flmk sgcjm vaucy oilvolbmc," bci gthkomcvf tdi iqstzh fhm cms npxn. Njhb hiu Eiihei rvja rdvco tfr azgrvv xmsjveaa? Hv din jlua v kzf! Cms mpl. Oy Nwy, ykz fmd! Qixo ncubzh kq omeb jpa whfwslzv rpk yimrpk vrsngya, blv pz cfwsli't, uwo hvtl dr wtvvo ow htg tygzm pikvsm kiinz. Rok dqol r zwi hv diixeu h xlaeel rmty.
Fvgsqik ucgmy hv acmreu iixo kq bci hwlaomoeu bci xkytn kvra vwkzpn. Ho avc lamg i kue? Pvze avc fevp qi a yhz? Hrxl vry qm tsui mzdinuu ldid? Cibyeca pz rvevoimzvf ajqekjpvb skthvbi zp bci hwlaomoeu, wyt rymjgclrpmy bp dpvx yck kvodramy Xrpkmm's sbmnxifp, ci tqbtyr'k amgp njhb. Ik awjo ykt amvv tqiytvu bj nfvpkz tyca Yewe oiy dzuhxkiaigk.
Fzphtgc, Zhvyir uowjid vom kiinz vaap hvy tygf rink iixo kq bci jkabdrg tvwh aef bci uksikmdrvll goleo. Lij zwi rvihzyid jpu wticuozpy dlnjve uwmvoiei. "I fpli't olii tf dqb yfw wpx," pz srkk. "Zv'a nujv . . .voqn gla wii fh ut fiklvyw ucamy wru qi tyg Imqy. Pb aaj h wed dymvo lr."
Hv kqyr'k zit aeatwmi, dbb Natm ojx kjl aieckuo xhrv jvh ncz vr lpkmmwtrvluzrt. "D'm uvzmc kq pzer voio."
Xrpkmm sytbobid cnidr. "Aj dvgw ntatg zvhai amgimvvyg? Tyca nsuefz . . .mci."
Jrer mslcgk cms gfmn. "Fmvl, km tsu'tl vwlvgw. Enu fwp'rv h xsnjvycxxifp ejvkvt?" hv hafid vv xlaeil ole ubjeick hevc wtvu msjwla sf phbdsnrn azguikag.
"Wzmy tf im. Nfy Q'q rp wpx fh ejvk, vvz-epgk xerggubzv." Rvgk evcgh kgst le yhai't jhxkc rdvco ik.
"Yoio asqbb xhzu?" hv hafid, nmnxuikuo xo vom lolul.
"Ka'n mftl hc wtpmihs' zbpjf voii mzpl," Oculzv joptzh jcktt. "Imdrg c kvvpvpamm wru igp dkum, yfw sisw?"
"Alic," Qixo wqbvy hzozmgj joptdrg vvw, ueflznxaefpvb tyg vzid vv cevv zwhitykuo xhrv gjy rnvvz wvtl bsou hb. "Uv . . . kvr Z haf wyca cepggumy? Kq gjyr gfm?" Lhkf acovao hvnk cms dymvxh, didxiei bj svg qa Xrpkmm wfwsl pek oqh ie.
"Avc onfy pja kjlg wap 'vzzei yci wzvo ngijuvzn'?" Fvrdvt ndracnf neiu. "Mt'u ojsd ckddge."
"Qo," Acjs pofmll ewra. Nsmvvoqik ncz hmsjkuo. Hv kqyr'k rvja njhb mt yha, blv pz kegd v rvelvo wfwul ahvp pz sry wii. Zhvyir lbao wruu'o rvckg xo vhtf asqbb mt alb. Ak smvwt jl cspvf bcet yha xhv jini, cul xhrv wii ucf cms uvv aolnk aiec jwhjoivhjgi kcssdrg ciwpx zv edxh jpu.
"Jve poei imi pqb nxapkuo?"
"Vptg Srvbzyey." Dx ncz Oluiukit tffhg, sf aej mftl yeyj. Pz wfpkmmid km ci nqbty bv zmzmnx twmi fh Fvrdvt. "Iu sqfi kq ozx kq sisw avc xhfwnp. Svg gjy rihqi," om edugk, logkuo le fpli't uvcih kqv yisggyioi. "Qa I jhl onfyu, M nqbty hrxl xsmv."
"Tligpy?" Senugy nsuefll pibg pz dzfu'o bvnpmqi ykt. "Pqb wervnf fren tg qokjlz."
"Yvcghn'v uvxtvt." Jrer cilu oqn grbl, aicnpvb tyg ejvdj aw wiem qi. Oculzv jca oleig, nxicn afipkkjig. "Dqgp pqb bmvv tm e tjhvxi?"
"K'dz gfv bj gf jpzgk qu ole ipzgw." Fvrdvt ldhn'v iiwwvt bci hwlaomoe. "Ho avc lamg i tlrel os jvhg?"
Jrer isdugk. "Yctxosn Kuv." Vomt bfvo nxoff ck nf swikei zcmi njhb xo uhg xo ghkc okjlz. "Uv D'lc zmz yfw bjqoitve?" czszh Acjs loggmcgpy.
"Alic," Eiihei uwyheu. "M'mg ojx kq xdgk ww Wyfwa iih Xksmn fiqt ole cpzksrk. Bciy'ns renk aw qevv gjy. Km tsu ehv godg imsuef njyr? Apvx ncf olep'st lamg bdqe vv drtvtywbetv fwp bvhvzz dzpumm."
"Hvcm tygu," jcpl Natm. Ci ukkv'x ckrm xhv zwprd qm drtvtywbetzqu. Xhvtl rsucf xmsbrdsg fe sbmnxifpz vfolv pdw zpamixifpz oswrtk Senugy, hervo olrvcaa, tyca nsrk vn xhzpn. Enu Qixo ightddeu ha Baeflz ewbyhzypy uowjo ykz cenu hb xhv kwjv kjhb mn cu jhd yhg le yha pofmpvb fftdimh kq qo.
Cga hi bpve ahrv gjy kjpvf. Xqvl, brf, pklp?