Zeeky Boogy Doog
Platinum Member
- Mar 31, 2004
- 2,295
- 1
- 0
god damnit, i read it for a while and then looked at the scroll bar and realized it was tiny, i was like eh people probably just posted or quoted long. then i read on some more and scroll down to see how close i was...turns out im only half way and it felt like i had been reading forever...well of course i read half of it might as well finish it. all that reading for a not that funny ending :|. son a of a bitch.
BrokenVisage
Lifer
- Jan 29, 2005
- 24,770
- 12
- 81
Here is my 1337ified version
50, 7h3r3'z 4 m4n cr4w1ing 7hr0ugh teh d353r7.
H3'd d3cid3d 70 7ry hiz 5UV in 4 1i7713 bi7 0f cr055-c0un7ry 7r4v31, h4d
gr347 phun z00ming 0v3r teh b4d14ndz 4nd 7hr0ugh teh 54nd, g07 1057, hi7 4
big r0x0r, 4nd 7h3n h3 c0u1dn'7 g37 i7 574r73d 4g4in. 7h3r3 w3r3 n0 c311
ph0n3 70w3rz 4nywh3r3 n34r, 50 hiz c311 ph0n3 w4z u53135z. H3 h4d n0 ph4mi1y,
hiz p4r3n7z h4d di3d 4 ph3w y34rz b3f0r3 in 4n 4u70 4ccid3n7, 4nd hiz ph3w
fri3ndz h4d n0 id34 h3 w4z 0u7 h3r3.
H3 574y3d wi7h teh c4r ph0r 4 d4y 0r 50, bu7 hiz 0n3 b07713 0f w473r r4n 0u7
4nd h3 w4z g377ing 7hir57y. H3 7h0ugh7 m4yb3 h3 kn3w teh dir3c7i0n b4ck, n0w
7h47 h3'd p4id 4773n7i0n 70 teh 5un 4nd 7h0ugh7 h3'd phigur3d 0u7 which w4y
w4z n0r7h, 50 h3 d3cid3d 70 574r7 w41king. H3 phigur3d h3 0n1y h4d 70 g0
4b0u7 30 mi13z 0r 50 4nd h3'd b3 b4ck 70 teh 5m411 70wn h3'd g0773n g4z in
1457.
H3 7hinkz 4b0u7 w41king 47 nigh7 70 4v0id teh h347 4nd 5un, bu7 b453d up0n
h0w d4rk i7 4c7u411y w4z teh nigh7 b3f0r3, 4nd giv3n 7h47 h3 h4z n0
f145h1igh7, h3'z 4fr4id 7h47 h3'11 br34k 4 13g 0r 573p 0n 4 r477135n4k3. 50,
h3 pu7z 0n 50m3 5un b10ck, pu7z teh r357 in hiz p0ck37 ph0r r34pp1ic47i0n
1473r, bringz 4n umbr3114 h3'd h4d in teh b4ck 0f teh 5UV wi7h him 70 giv3
him 4 1i7713 5h4d3, p0urz teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid in70 hiz w473r b07713
in c453 h3 g37z 7h47 d35p3r473, bringz hiz p0ck37 knif3 in c453 h3 phindz 4
c4c7uz 7h47 100kz 1ik3 i7 migh7 h4v3 w473r in i7, 4nd h34dz 0u7 in 7h3
dir3c7i0n h3 7hinkz iz righ7.
H3 w41kz ph0r teh 3n7ir3 d4y. By teh 3nd 0f teh d4y h3'z r3411y 7hir57y. H3'5
b33n 5w347ing 411 d4y, 4nd hiz 1ipz 4r3 574r7ing 70 cr4ck. H3'z r34pp1i3d
teh 5unb10ck 7wic3, 4nd 7ri3d 70 574y und3r teh umbr3114, bu7 h3 57i11 ph3315
5unburn3d. teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid 5105hing in teh b07713 in hiz p0ck37
iz r3411y g377ing 73mp7ing n0w. H3 kn0wz 7h47 i7'z m4in1y w473r 4nd 50m3
37h4n01 4nd c010ring, bu7 h3 4150 kn0wz 7h47 7h3y 4dd 50m3 kind 0f p0i50n 70
i7 70 k33p p30p13 phr0m drinking i7. H3 w0nd3rz wh47 teh p0i50n iz, 4nd
wh37h3r teh p0i50n w0u1d b3 w0r53 7h4n dying 0f 7hir57.
H3 pu5h3z 0n, 7rying 70 g37 70 7h47 5m411 70wn b3f0r3 d4rk.
By teh 3nd 0f teh d4y h3 574r7z g377ing w0rri3d. H3 phigur3z h3'z b33n
w41king 47 13457 3 mi13z 4n h0ur, 4cc0rding 70 hiz w47ch ph0r 0v3r 10 h0urz.
7h47 m34nz 7h47 if hiz 357im473 w4z righ7 7h47 h3 5h0u1d b3 c1053 70 7h3
70wn. Bu7 h3 d035n'7 r3c0gniz3 4ny 0f 7hiz. H3 h4d 70 cr055 4 dry cr33k b3d
4 mi13 0r 7w0 b4ck, 4nd h3 d035n'7 r3m3mb3r c0ming 7hr0ugh i7 in teh 5UV. H3
figur3z 7h47 m4yb3 h3 g07 hiz dir3c7i0n 0ff ju57 4 1i7713 4nd 7h47 teh dry
cr33k b3d w4z ju57 0ff 70 0n3 5id3 0f hiz p47h. H3 7311z him531f 7h47 h3'5
c1053, 4nd 7h47 4f73r d4rk h3'11 574r7 533ing teh 70wn 1igh7z 0v3r 0n3 0f
7h353 hi11z, 4nd 7h47'11 b3 411 h3 n33dz.
4z i7 g37z dim 3n0ugh 7h47 h3 574r7z 57umb1ing 0v3r 5m411 r0x0rz 4nd 7hingz,
h3 phindz 4 5p07 4nd 5i7z d0wn 70 w4i7 ph0r phu11 d4rk 4nd teh 70wn 1igh7z.
Fu11 d4rk c0m3z b3f0r3 h3 kn0wz i7. H3 mu57 h4v3 d0z3d 0ff. H3 574ndz b4ck
up 4nd 7urnz 411 teh w4y 4r0und. H3 533z n07hing bu7 574rz.
H3 w4k3z up teh n3x7 m0rning ph331ing 4b501u731y 10u5y. Hiz 3y3z 4r3 gummy
4nd hiz m0u7h 4nd n053 ph331 1ik3 7h3y'r3 phu11 0f 54nd. H3 50 7hir57y 7h47 h3
c4n'7 3v3n 5w4110w. H3 b4r31y g07 4ny 5133p b3c4u53 i7 w4z 50 c01d. H3'd
f0rg0773n h0w c01d i7 g07 47 nigh7 in teh d353r7 4nd h4dn'7 n07ic3d i7 7h3
nigh7 b3f0r3 b3c4u53 h3'd b33n in hiz c4r.
H3 kn0wz teh Ru13 0f 7hr33z - 7hr33 minu73z wi7h0u7 4ir, 7hr33 d4yz wi7h0u7
w473r, 7hr33 w33kz wi7h0u7 ph00d - 7h3n j00 di3. 50m3 p30p13 c4n m4k3 i7 4
1i7713 10ng3r, in teh b357 5i7u47i0nz. Bu7 teh d353r7 h347 4nd h4ving 70
w41k 4nd 5w347 i5n'7 teh b357 5i7u47i0n 70 b3 wi7h0u7 w473r. H3 phigur3z,
un1355 h3 phindz w473r, 7hiz iz hiz 1457 d4y.
H3 rin53z hiz m0u7h 0u7 wi7h 4 1i7713 0f teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid. H3
w4i7z 4 whi13 4f73r 5pi77ing 7h47 1i7713 bi7 0u7, 70 533 if hiz m0u7h g035
numb, 0r h3 ph331z dizzy 0r 50m37hing. H4z hiz m0u7h g0n3 numb? Iz i7 ju57 in
hiz mind? H3'z n07 5ur3. H3'11 g0 4 1i7713 ph4r7h3r, 4nd if h3 57i11 d035n'7
find w473r, h3'11 7ry drinking 50m3 0f teh ph1uid.
7h3n h3 h4z 70 ph4c3 hiz n3x7, h4rd3r qu357i0n - which w4y d03z h3 g0 phr0m
h3r3? D03z h3 k33p w41king teh 54m3 w4y h3 w4z y3573rd4y (455uming 7h47 h3
57i11 kn0wz which w4y 7h47 i5), 0r d03z h3 7ry 4 n3w dir3c7i0n? H3 h4z n0
id34 wh47 70 d0.
100king 47 teh hi11z 4nd dun3z 4r0und him, h3 7hinkz h3 kn0wz teh dir3c7i0n
h3 w4z h34ding b3f0r3. Ju57 g0ing by 4 ph331ing, h3 p0in7z him531f 50m3wh47
70 teh 13f7 0f 7h47, 4nd 574r7z w41king.
4z h3 w41kz, teh d4y 574r7z h347ing up. teh d353r7, 700 c01d ju57 4 c0up13
0f h0urz b3f0r3, 500n b3c0m3z 4n 0v3n 4g4in. H3 5w347z 4 1i7713 47 phir57,
4nd 7h3n 570pz. H3 574r7z g377ing w0rri3d 47 7h47 - wh3n j00 570p 5w347ing
h3 kn0wz 7h47 m34nz j00'r3 in 7r0ub13 - u5u411y righ7 b3f0r3 h347 57r0k3.
H3 d3cid3z 7h47 i7'z 7im3 70 7ry teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid. H3 c4n'7 w4i7
4ny 10ng3r - if h3 p4553z 0u7, h3'z d34d. H3 570pz in teh 5h4d3 0f 4 14rg3
r0x0r, 74k3z teh b07713 0u7, 0p3nz i7, 4nd 74k3z 4 m0u7hfu1. H3 510w1y
5w4110wz i7, m4king i7 1457 4z 10ng 4z h3 c4n. I7 ph331z 50 g00d in hiz dry
4nd cr4ck3d 7hr047 7h47 h3 d035n'7 3v3n c4r3 4b0u7 teh n457y 74573. H3 74k35
4n07h3r m0u7hfu1, 4nd m4k3z i7 1457 700. 510w1y, h3 drinkz h41f teh b07713.
H3 phigur3z 7h47 5inc3 h3'z drinking i7, h3 migh7 4z w311 drink 3n0ugh 70
m4k3 50m3 diff3r3nc3 4nd k33p him531f phr0m p455ing 0u7.
H3'z qui7 w0rrying 4b0u7 teh d3n47uring 0f teh wip3r ph1uid. If i7 ki11z him,
i7 ki11z him - if h3 didn'7 drink i7, h3'd di3 4nyw4y. B35id3z, h3'z pr377y
5ur3 7h47 wh473v3r 5ub574nc3 7h3y d3n47ur3 teh ph1uid wi7h iz ju57 d35ign3d
70 m4k3 j00 5ick - 7h3ir w4y 0f k33ping win0z phr0m buying ch34p wip3r ph1uid
f0r teh 37h4n01 c0n73n7. H3 c4n h4nd13 7hr0wing up, if i7 c0m3z 70 7h47.
H3 w41kz. H3 w41kz in teh h07, dry, wind1355 d353r7. 54nd, r0x0rz, hi11z,
dun3z, teh 0cc45i0n41 5cr4wny c4c7uz 0r dri3d bu5h. N0 5ign 0f w473r.
50m37im3z h3'11 533 4 1i7713 m0v3m3n7 70 0n3 5id3 0r teh 07h3r, bu7 wh473v3r
m0v3d iz u5u411y g0n3 b3f0r3 h3 c4n ph0cuz hiz 3y3z 0n i7. Pr0b4b1y birdz,
1iz4rdz, 0r mic3. M4yb3 5n4k3z, 7h0ugh 7h3y u5u411y m0v3 m0r3 47 nigh7. H3'5
c4r3fu1 70 574y 4w4y phr0m teh m0v3m3n7z.
4f73r 4 whi13, h3 b3ginz 70 574gg3r. H3'z n07 5ur3 if i7'z ph47igu3, h347
57r0k3 phin411y c47ching him, 0r m4yb3 h3 w4z wr0ng 4nd teh d3n47uring 0f 7h3
wip3r ph1uid w4z w0r53 7h4n h3 7h0ugh7. H3 7ri3z 70 5734dy him531f, 4nd k33p
g0ing.
4f73r m0r3 w41king, h3 c0m3z 70 4 14rg3 57r37ch 0f 54nd. 7hiz iz g00d! H3
kn0wz h3 p4553d 0v3r 4 57r37ch 0f 54nd in teh 5UV - h3 r3m3mb3rz d0ing
d0nu7z in i7. 0r 47 13457 h3 7hinkz h3 r3m3mb3rz i7 - h3'z g377ing w00zy
3n0ugh 4nd 7ir3d 3n0ugh 7h47 h3'z n07 5ur3 wh47 h3 r3m3mb3rz 4ny m0r3 0r if
h3'z h411ucin47ing. Bu7 h3 7hinkz h3 r3m3mb3rz i7. 50 h3 h34dz 0ff in70 i7,
7rying 70 g37 70 teh 07h3r 5id3, h0ping 7h47 i7 g37z him c1053r 70 teh 70wn.
H3 w4z h34ding ph0r 4 70wn, w45n'7 h3? H3 7hinkz h3 w4z. H3 i5n'7 5ur3 4ny
m0r3. H3'z n07 3v3n 5ur3 h0w 10ng h3'z b33n w41king 4ny m0r3. Iz i7 57i11
m0rning? 0r h4z i7 m0v3d in70 4f73rn00n 4nd teh 5un iz g0ing d0wn 4g4in? I7
mu57 b3 4f73rn00n - i7 533mz 1ik3 i7'z b33n 700 10ng 5inc3 h3 574r73d 0u7.
H3 w41kz 7hr0ugh teh 54nd.
4f73r 4 whi13, h3 c0m3z 70 4 big dun3 in teh 54nd. 7hiz iz b4d. H3 d035n'7
r3m3mb3r 4ny dun3z wh3n driving 0v3r teh 54nd in hiz 5UV. 0r 47 13457 h3
d035n'7 7hink h3 r3m3mb3rz 4ny. 7hiz iz b4d.
Bu7, h3 h4z n0 07h3r dir3c7i0n 70 g0. 700 1473 70 7urn b4ck n0w. H3 phigur35
7h47 h3'11 g37 70 teh 70p 0f teh dun3 4nd 533 if h3 c4n 533 4ny7hing phr0m
7h3r3 7h47 h31pz him phind teh 70wn. H3 k33pz g0ing up teh dun3.
H41fw4y up, h3 51ipz in teh b4d ph007ing 0f teh 54nd ph0r teh 53c0nd 0r 7hird
7im3, 4nd ph411z 70 hiz kn33z. H3 d035n'7 ph331 1ik3 g377ing b4ck up - h3'11
ju57 ph411 d0wn 4g4in. 50, h3 k33pz g0ing up teh dun3 0n hiz h4nd 4nd kn33z.
Whi13 cr4w1ing, if hiz 7hr047 w3r3n'7 50 dry, h3'd 14ugh. H3'z phin411y
g0773n 70 teh hax0rn3y3d im4g3 0f 4 m4n 1057 in teh d353r7 - cr4w1ing 7hr0ugh
teh 54nd 0n hiz h4ndz 4nd kn33z. If w0u1d b3 teh p3rf3c7 im4g3, h3 im4gin3z,
if 0n1y hiz c107h3z w3r3 m0r3 r4gg3d. teh p30p13 cr4w1ing 7hr0ugh teh d353r7
in teh c4r700nz 41w4yz h4d r4gg3d c107h3z. Bu7 hiz h4v3 14573d wi7h0u7 4ny
ripz 50 ph4r. 50m3b0dy wi11 pr0b4b1y phind hiz d355ic473d c0rp53 h41f buri3d
in teh 54nd y34rz phr0m n0w, 4nd hiz c107h3z wi11 57i11 b3 in phin3 5h4p3 -
5h4k3 teh 54nd 0u7, 4nd 4 g00d w45h, 4nd 7h3y'd b3 w34r4b13 4g4in. H3 wi5h35
hiz 7hr047 w3r3 w37 3n0ugh 70 14ugh. H3 c0ughz 4 1i7713 in5734d, 4nd i7
hur7z.
H3 phin411y m4k3z i7 70 teh 70p 0f teh 54nd dun3. N0w 7h47 h3'z 47 teh 70p,
h3 57rugg13z 4 1i7713, bu7 m4n4g3z 70 574nd up 4nd 100k 4r0und. 411 h3 5335
iz 54nd. 54nd, 4nd m0r3 54nd. B3hind him, 4b0u7 4 mi13 4w4y, h3 7hinkz h3
533z teh r0x0ry gr0und h3 13f7 70 h34d in70 7hiz 54nd. 4h34d 0f him, m0r3
dun3z, m0r3 54nd. 7hiz i5n'7 wh3r3 h3 dr0v3 hiz 5UV. 7hiz iz H311. 0r c1053
3n0ugh.
4g4in, h3 d035n'7 kn0w wh47 70 d0. H3 d3cid3z 70 drink teh r357 0f teh wip3r
f1uid whi13 phiguring i7 0u7. H3 74k3z 0u7 teh b07713, 4nd iz r3m0ving 7h3
c4p, wh3n h3 g14nc3z 70 teh 5id3 4nd 533z 50m37hing. 50m37hing in teh 54nd.
47 teh b0770m 0f teh dun3, 0ff 70 teh 5id3, h3 533z 50m37hing 57r4ng3. I7'5
4 ph147 4r34, in teh 54nd. H3 570pz 74king teh c4p 0f teh b07713 0ff, 4nd
7ri3z 70 100k c1053r. teh 4r34 533mz 70 b3 circu14r. 4nd i7'z d4rk - d4rk3r
7h4n teh 54nd. 4nd, 7h3r3 533mz 70 b3 50m37hing in teh midd13 0f i7, bu7 h3
c4n'7 7311 wh47 i7 iz. H3 100kz 4z h4rd 4z h3 c4n, 4nd 57i11 c4n 7311 phr0m
h3r3. H3'z g0ing 70 h4v3 70 g0 d0wn 7h3r3 4nd 100k.
H3 pu7z teh b07713 b4ck in hiz p0ck37, 4nd 574r7z 70 57umb13 d0wn teh dun3.
4f73r 4 ph3w 573pz, h3 r341iz3z 7h47 h3'z in 7r0ub13 - h3'z n07 g0ing 70 b3
4b13 70 k33p hiz b414nc3. 4f73r 4 c0up13 0f m0r3 51iding, 70773ring 573pz,
h3 ph411z 4nd 574r7z 70 r011 d0wn teh dun3. teh 54nd i7 50 h07 wh3n hiz b0dy
hi7z i7 7h47 ph0r 4 minu73 h3 7hinkz h3'z c4ugh7 phir3 0n teh w4y d0wn - 1ik3
4 m0vi3 c4r wr3ck ph145hing in70 ph14m3z 4z i7 g03z 0v3r teh c1iff, b3f0r3 i7
3v3r 3v3n hi7z teh gr0und. H3 c1053z hiz 3y3z 4nd m0u7h, c0v3rz hiz ph4c3
wi7h hiz h4ndz, 4nd w4i7z 70 570p r011ing.
H3 570pz, 47 teh b0770m 0f teh dun3. 4f73r 4 minu73 0r 7w0, h3 phindz 3n0ugh
3n3rgy 70 7ry 70 5i7 up 4nd g37 teh 54nd 0u7 0f hiz ph4c3 4nd c107h3z. Wh3n
h3 c134rz hiz 3y3z 3n0ugh, h3 100kz 4r0und 70 m4k3 5ur3 7h47 teh d4rk 5p07
in teh 54nd i7 57i11 7h3r3 4nd h3 h4dn'7 ju57 im4gin3d i7.
50, 533ing teh 14rg3, ph147, d4rk 5p07 0n teh 54nd iz 57i11 7h3r3, h3 b3gin5
70 cr4w1 70w4rdz i7. H3'd g37 up 4nd w41k 70w4rdz i7, bu7 h3 d035n'7 533m 70
h4v3 teh 3n3rgy 70 g37 up 4nd w41k righ7 n0w. H3 mu57 b3 in teh phin41 574g35
0f d3hydr47i0n h3 phigur3z, 4z h3 cr4w1z. If 7hiz p14c3 in teh 54nd d035n'7
h4v3 w473r, h3'11 1ik31y n3v3r m4k3 i7 4nywh3r3 3153. 7hiz iz hiz 1457
ch4nc3.
H3 g37z c1053r 4nd c1053r, bu7 57i11 c4n'7 533 wh47'z in teh midd13 0f 7h3
d4rk 4r34. Hiz 3y3z w0n'7 qui73 ph0cuz 4ny m0r3 ph0r 50m3 r3450n. 4nd 1if7ing
hiz h34d up 70 100k 74k3z 50 much 3ff0r7 7h47 h3 giv3z up 7rying. H3 ju57
k33pz cr4w1ing.
Fin411y, h3 r34ch3z teh 4r34 h3'd 533n phr0m teh dun3. I7 74k3z him 4 minu73
0f cr4w1ing 0n i7 b3f0r3 h3 r341iz3z 7h47 h3'z n0 10ng3r 0n 54nd - h3'z n0w
cr4w1ing 0n 50m3 kind 0f d4rk 570n3. 570n3 wi7h 50m3 kind 0f m4rking 0n i7 -
4 p4773rn cu7 in70 teh 570n3. H3'z 700 7ir3d 70 574nd up 4nd 7ry 70 533 wh47
teh p4773rn iz - 50 h3 ju57 k33pz cr4w1ing. H3 cr4w1z 70w4rdz teh c3n73r,
wh3r3 hiz b1urry 3y3z 57i11 533 50m37hing in teh midd13 0f teh d4rk 570n3
4r34.
Hiz mind, d374ch3d in 4 57r4ng3 w4y, n073z 7h47 3i7h3r hiz h4ndz 4nd kn335
4r3 50 burn7 by teh 54nd 7h47 7h3y n0 10ng3r ph331 p4in, 0r 7h47 7hiz d4rk
570n3, in teh midd13 0f 4 burning d353r7 wi7h 4 p0unding, puni5hing 5un
0v3rh34d, d035n'7 533m 70 b3 h07. I7 41m057 ph331z c001. H3 c0n5id3rz 1ying
d0wn 0n teh nic3 c001 5urf4c3.
C001, d4rk 570n3. N07 4 g00d 5ign. H3 mu57 b3 h411ucin47ing 7hiz. H3'5
pr0b4b1y in teh midd13 0f 4 p47ch 0f 54nd, 41r34dy 1ying ph4c3 d0wn 4nd
dying, 4nd ju57 im4gining 7hiz wh013 7hing. 4 d353r7 mir4g3. 500n 7h3
b34u7ifu1 w0m3n c4rrying pi7ch3rz 0f w473r wi11 c0m3 up 4nd 574r7 giving him
4 drink. 7h3n h3'11 kn0w h3'z g0n3.
H3 d3cid3z 4g4in57 14ying d0wn 0n teh c001 570n3. If h3'z g0ing 70 di3 h3r3
in teh midd13 0f 7hiz h411ucin47i0n, h3 47 13457 w4n7z 70 533 wh47'z in 7h3
c3n73r b3f0r3 h3 g03z. H3 k33pz cr4w1ing.
I7'z teh 7hird 7im3 7h47 h3 h34rz teh v0ic3 b3f0r3 h3 r341iz3z wh47 h3'5
h34ring. H3 w0u1d 5w34r 7h47 50m30n3 ju57 54id, "Gr337ingz, 7r4v313r. J00 d0
n07 100k w311. D0 j00 h34r m3?"
H3 570pz cr4w1ing. H3 7ri3z 70 100k up phr0m wh3r3 h3 iz 0n hiz h4ndz 4nd
kn33z, bu7 i7'z 700 much 3ff0r7 70 1if7 hiz h34d. 50 h3 7ri3z 50m37hing
diff3r3n7 - h3 134nz b4ck 4nd 7ri3z 70 5i7 up 0n teh 570n3. 4f73r 4 ph3w
53c0ndz, h3 c47ch3z hiz b414nc3, 4v0idz ph411ing 0n hiz ph4c3, 5i7z up, 4nd
7ri3z 70 ph0cuz hiz 3y3z. B1urry. H3 rubz hiz 3y3z wi7h teh b4ck 0f hiz h4nd5
4nd 7ri3z 4g4in. B3773r 7hiz 7im3.
Y3p. H3 c4n 533. H3'z 5i77ing in teh midd13 0f 4 14rg3, ph147, d4rk 3xp4n53
0f 570n3. Dir3c71y n3x7 70 him, 4b0u7 7hr33 ph337 4w4y, iz 4 whi73 p057 0r
p013 4b0u7 7w0 inch3z in di4m373r 4nd 57icking up 4b0u7 ph0ur 0r phiv3 ph337
0u7 0f teh 570n3, 47 4n 4ng13.
4nd wr4pp3d 4r0und 7hiz whi73 r0d, 74i1 wi7h r47713 0n i7 h0v3ring 4nd
533ming 70 b3 r34dy 70 574r7 r4771ing, iz wh47 mu57 b3 4 phif733n ph007 10ng
d353r7 di4m0ndb4ck r477135n4k3, 100king dir3c71y 47 him.
H3 574r3z 47 teh 5n4k3 in 5h0ck. H3 d035n'7 h4v3 teh 3n3rgy 70 g37 up 4nd
run 4w4y. H3 d035n'7 3v3n h4v3 teh 3n3rgy 70 cr4w1 4w4y. 7hiz iz i7, hi5
fin41 r357ing p14c3. N0 m4773r wh47 h4pp3nz, h3'z n07 g0ing 70 b3 4b13 70
m0v3 phr0m 7hiz 5p07.
W311, 47 13457 dying 0f 4 bi73 phr0m 7hiz m0n573r 5h0u1d b3 quick3r 7h4n
dying 0f 7hir57. H3'11 ph4c3 hiz 3nd 1ik3 4 m4n. H3 57rugg13z 70 5i7 up 4
1i7713 57r4igh73r. teh 5n4k3 k33pz w47ching him. H3 1if7z 0n3 h4nd 4nd w4v35
i7 in teh 5n4k3'z dir3c7i0n, ph33b1y. teh 5n4k3 w47ch3z teh h4nd ph0r 4
m0m3n7, 7h3n g03z b4ck 70 w47ching teh m4n, 100king in70 hiz 3y3z.
Hmmm. M4yb3 teh 5n4k3 h4d n0 in73r357 in bi7ing him? I7 h4dn'7 r47713d y37 -
7h47 w4z 4 g00d 5ign. M4yb3 h3 w45n'7 g0ing 70 di3 0f 5n4k3 bi73 4f73r 411.
H3 7h3n r3m3mb3rz 7h47 h3'd 100k3d up wh3n h3'd r34ch3d teh c3n73r h3r3
b3c4u53 h3 7h0ugh7 h3'd h34rd 4 v0ic3. H3 w4z 57i11 v3ry w00zy - h3 w45
1ik31y 70 p455 0u7 500n, teh 5un 57i11 b347 d0wn 0n him 3v3n 7h0ugh h3 w45
n0w 0n c001 570n3. H3 57i11 didn'7 h4v3 4ny7hing 70 drink. Bu7 m4yb3 h3 h4d
4c7u411y h34rd 4 v0ic3. 7hiz 570n3 didn'7 100k n47ur41. N0r did 7h47 whi73
p057 57icking up 0u7 0f teh 570n3. 50m30n3 h4d 70 h4v3 bui17 7hiz. M4yb3
7h3y w3r3 57i11 n34rby. M4yb3 7h47 w4z wh0 741k3d 70 him. M4yb3 7hiz 5n4k3
w4z 3v3n 7h3ir p37, 4nd 7h47'z why i7 w45n'7 bi7ing.
H3 7ri3z 70 c134r hiz 7hr047 70 54y, "H3110," bu7 hiz 7hr047 iz 700 dry. 411
7h47 c0m3z 0u7 iz 4 c0ughing 0r wh33zing 50und. 7h3r3 iz n0 w4y h3'z g0ing
70 b3 4b13 70 741k wi7h0u7 50m37hing 70 drink. H3 ph331z hiz p0ck37, 4nd 7h3
b07713 wi7h teh wip3r ph1uid iz 57i11 7h3r3. H3 5h4ki1y pu11z teh b07713 0u7,
41m057 105ing hiz b414nc3 4nd ph411ing 0n hiz b4ck in teh pr0c35z. 7hiz i5n'7
g00d. H3 d035n'7 h4v3 much 7im3 13f7, by hiz r3ck0ning, b3f0r3 h3 p45535
0u7.
H3 g37z teh 1id 0ff 0f teh b07713, m4n4g3z 70 g37 teh b07713 70 hiz 1ipz,
4nd p0urz 50m3 0f teh ph1uid in70 hiz m0u7h. H3 5105h3z i7 4r0und, 4nd 7h3n
5w4110wz i7. H3 c0ughz 4 1i7713. Hiz 7hr047 ph331z b3773r. M4yb3 h3 c4n 741k
n0w.
H3 7ri3z 4g4in. Ign0ring teh 5n4k3, h3 7urnz 70 100k 4r0und him, h0ping 70
5p07 teh 0wn3r 0f 7hiz p14c3, 4nd cr04kz 0u7, "H3110? Iz 7h3r3 4ny0n3 h3r3?"
H3 h34rz, phr0m hiz 5id3, "Gr337ingz. Wh47 iz i7 7h47 j00 w4n7?"
H3 7urnz hiz h34d, b4ck 70w4rdz teh 5n4k3. 7h47'z wh3r3 teh 50und h4d 533m3d
70 c0m3 phr0m. teh 0n1y 7hing h3 c4n 7hink 0f iz 7h47 7h3r3 mu57 b3 4
5p34k3r, hidd3n und3r teh 5n4k3, 0r m4yb3 bui17 in70 7h47 p057. H3 d3cid35
70 7ry 45king ph0r h31p.
"P13453," h3 cr04kz 4g4in, 5udd3n1y ph331ing dizzy, "I'd 10v3 70 n07 b3
7hir57y 4ny m0r3. I'v3 b33n 4 10ng 7im3 wi7h0u7 w473r. C4n j00 h31p m3?"
100king in teh dir3c7i0n 0f teh 5n4k3, h0ping 70 533 wh3r3 teh v0ic3 w45
c0ming phr0m 7hiz 7im3, h3 iz 5h0ck3d 70 533 teh 5n4k3 r34r b4ck, 0p3n i75
m0u7h, 4nd 5p34k. H3 h34rz i7 54y, 4z teh dizzin355 0v3r74k3z him 4nd h3
f411z ph0rw4rd, ph4c3 phir57 0n teh 570n3, "V3ry w311. C0ming up."
4 pi3rcing p4in 5h007z 7hr0ugh hiz 5h0u1d3r. 5udd3n1y h3 iz 4w4k3. H3 5i75
up 4nd gr4bz hiz 5h0u1d3r, wincing 47 teh 7hr0bbing p4in. H3'z m0m3n74ri1y
di50ri3n73d 4z h3 100kz 4r0und, 4nd 7h3n h3 r3m3mb3rz - teh cr4w1 4cr055 7h3
54nd, teh d4rk 4r34 0f 570n3, teh 5n4k3. H3 533z teh 5n4k3, 57i11 wr4pp3d
4r0und teh 7i173d whi73 p057, 57i11 100king 47 him.
H3 r34ch3z up 4nd ph331z hiz 5h0u1d3r, wh3r3 i7 hur7z. I7 ph331z 51igh71y w37.
H3 pu11z hiz phing3rz 4w4y 4nd 100kz 47 7h3m - b100d. H3 ph331z hiz 5h0u1d3r
4g4in - hiz 5hir7 h4z wh47 ph331z 1ik3 7w0 h013z in i7 - 7w0 punc7ur3 h013z -
7h3y m47ch up wi7h teh 7w0 4ching 5p07z 0f p4in 0n hiz 5h0u1d3r. H3 h4d b33n
bi773n. By teh 5n4k3.
"I7'11 ph331 b3773r in 4 minu73." H3 100kz up - i7'z teh 5n4k3 741king. H3
h4dn'7 dr34m3d i7. 5udd3n1y h3 n07ic3z - h3'z n07 dizzy 4ny m0r3. 4nd m0r3
imp0r74n71y, h3'z n07 7hir57y 4ny m0r3 - 47 411!
"H4v3 I di3d? Iz 7hiz teh 4f73r1if3? Why 4r3 j00 bi7ing m3 in 7h3
4f73r1if3?"
"50rry 4b0u7 7h47, bu7 I h4d 70 bi73 j00," 54yz teh 5n4k3. "7h47'z teh w4y I
w0rk. I7 411 c0m3z 7hr0ugh teh bi73. 7hink 0f i7 4z n47ur41 m3dicin3."
"J00 bi7 m3 70 h31p m3? Why 4r3n'7 I 7hir57y 4ny m0r3? Did j00 giv3 m3 4
drink b3f0r3 j00 bi7 m3? H0w did I drink 3n0ugh whi13 unc0n5ci0uz 70 n07 b3
7hir57y 4ny m0r3? I h4v3n'7 h4d 4 drink ph0r 0v3r 7w0 d4yz. W311, 3xc3p7 ph0r
teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid... h01d i7, h0w in teh w0r1d d03z 4 5n4k3 741k?
4r3 j00 r341? 4r3 j00 50m3 50r7 0f Di5n3y 4nim47i0n?"
"N0," 54yz teh 5n4k3, "I'm r341. 4z r341 4z j00 0r 4ny0n3 iz, 4nyw4y. I
didn'7 giv3 j00 4 drink. I bi7 j00. 7h47'z h0w i7 w0rkz - i7'z wh47 I d0. I
bi73. I d0n'7 h4v3 h4ndz 70 giv3 j00 4 drink, 3v3n if I h4d w473r ju57
5i77ing 4r0und h3r3."
teh m4n 547 57unn3d ph0r 4 minu73. H3r3 h3 w4z, 5i77ing in teh midd13 0f 7h3
d353r7 0n 50m3 57r4ng3 570n3 7h47 5h0u1d b3 h07 bu7 w45n'7, 741king 70 4
5n4k3 7h47 c0u1d 741k b4ck 4nd h4d ju57 bi773n him. 4nd h3 ph317 b3773r. N07
gr347 - h3 w4z 57i11 574rving 4nd 3xh4u573d, bu7 much b3773r - h3 w4z n0
10ng3r 7hir57y. H3 h4d 574r73d 70 5w347 4g4in, bu7 0n1y 51igh71y. H3 ph317
h07, in 7hiz 5un, bu7 i7 w4z 574r7ing 70 g37 10w3r in teh 5ky, 4nd teh c001
570n3 b3n347h him w4z 4 r31i3f h3 c0u1d n07ic3 n0w 7h47 h3 w4z n0 10ng3r
dying 0f 7hir57.
"I migh7 5ugg357 7h47 w3 74k3 c4r3 0f 7h47 m37h4n01 j00 n0w h4v3 in j00r
5y573m wi7h teh n3x7 r3qu357," c0n7inu3d teh 5n4k3. "I c4n gu355 why j00
dr4nk i7, bu7 I'm n07 5ur3 h0w much j00 dr4nk, 0r h0w much m37h4n01 w4z 13f7
in teh wip3r ph1uid. 7h47 57uff iz n457y. I7'11 m4k3 j00 g0 b1ind in 4 d4y 0r
7w0, if j00 dr4nk 3n0ugh 0f i7."
"Ummm, n-n3x7 r3qu357?" 54id teh m4n. H3 pu7 hiz h4nd b4ck 0n hiz hur7ing
5h0u1d3r 4nd b4ck3d 4w4y phr0m teh 5n4k3 4 1i7713.
"7h47'z teh w4y i7 w0rkz. If j00 1ik3, 7h47 iz," 3xp14in3d teh 5n4k3. "J00
g37 7hr33 r3qu357z. C411 7h3m wi5h3z, if j00 wi5h." teh 5n4k3 grinn3d 47 hi5
0wn j0k3, 4nd teh m4n dr3w b4ck 4 1i7713 phur7h3r phr0m teh 5h0w 0f ph4ngz.
"Bu7 7h3r3 4r3 ru13z," teh 5n4k3 c0n7inu3d. "teh phir57 r3qu357 iz phr33. 7h3
53c0nd r3quir3z 4n 4gr33m3n7 0f 53cr3cy. teh 7hird r3quir3z teh binding 0f
r35p0n5ibi1i7y." teh 5n4k3 100kz 47 teh m4n 53ri0u51y.
"By teh w4y," teh 5n4k3 54yz 5udd3n1y, "my n4m3 iz N47h4n. 01d N47h4n,
54mu31 u53d 70 c411 m3. H3 g4v3 m3 teh n4m3. B3f0r3 7h47, m057 0f teh B0und
u53d 70 ju57 c411 m3 '5n4k3'. Bu7 7h47 g07 01d, 4nd 54mu31 w0u1dn'7 574nd
f0r i7. H3 54id 7h47 4ny7hing 7h47 c0u1d 741k n33d3d 4 n4m3. H3 w4z big in70
n4m3z. J00 c4n c411 m3 N473, if j00 wi5h." 4g4in, teh 5n4k3 grinn3d. "50rry
if I d0n'7 0ff3r 70 5h4k3, bu7 I 7hink j00 c4n und3r574nd - my 5h4k3 50und5
50m3wh47 7hr3473ning." teh 5n4k3 giv3 hiz r47713 4 1i7713 5h4k3.
"Umm, my n4m3 iz J4ck," 54id teh m4n, 7rying 70 4b50rb 411 0f 7hiz. "J4ck
54m50n.
"C4n I 45k j00 4 qu357i0n?" J4ck 54yz 5udd3n1y. "Wh47 h4pp3n3d 70 7h3
p0i50n...umm, in j00r bi73. Why 4r3n'7 I dying n0w? H0w did j00 d0 7h47?
Wh47 d0 j00 m34n by 7h47'z h0w j00 w0rk?"
"7h47'z m0r3 7h4n 0n3 qu357i0n," grinz N473. "Bu7 I'11 57i11 7ry 70 4n5w3r
411 0f 7h3m. Phir57, y3z, j00 c4n 45k m3 4 qu357i0n." teh 5n4k3'z grin g375
wid3r. "53c0nd, teh p0i50n iz in j00. I7 ch4ng3d j00. J00 n0w n0 10ng3r n33d
70 drink. 7h47'z wh47 j00 45k3d ph0r. 0r, w311, 73chnic411y, j00 45k3d 70 n07
b3 7hir57y 4ny m0r3 - bu7 '4ny m0r3' iz 5uch 4 v4gu3 73rm. I d3cid3d 70 m4k3
i7 p3rm4n3n7 - n0w, 4z 10ng 4z j00 1iv3, j00 5h0u1dn'7 n33d 70 drink much 47
411. J00r b0dy wi11 c0n53rv3 w473r v3ry 3ffici3n71y. J00 5h0u1d b3 4b13 70
g37 3n0ugh ju57 phr0m teh ph00d j00 347 - much 1ik3 4 cr347ur3 0f teh d353r7.
J00'v3 b33n ch4ng3d.
"F0r teh 7hird qu357i0n," N473 c0n7inu3z, "j00 4r3 57i11 dying. B35id3z 7h3
3ff3c7z 0f 7h47 m37h4n01 in j00r 5y573m, j00'r3 4 m4n - 4nd m3n 4r3 m0r741.
In j00r curr3n7 57473, I giv3 j00 n0 m0r3 7h4n 4b0u7 4n07h3r 50 y34rz.
455uming j00 g37 0u7 0f 7hiz d353r7, 41iv3, 7h47 iz." N473 533m3d v4571y
4mu53d 47 hiz 0wn hum0r, 4nd c0n7inu3d hiz wid3 grin.
"4z ph0r teh ph0ur7h qu357i0n," N473 54id, 100king m0r3 53ri0uz 4z ph4r 4z J4ck
c0u1d 7311, 4z J4ck w4z ju57 n0w w0rking 0n hiz 4bi1i7y 70 r34d
741king-5n4k3 3m07i0nz phr0m 5n4k3 ph4ci41 ph347ur3z, "fir57 j00 h4v3 70 4gr33
70 m4k3 4 53c0nd r3qu357 4nd b3c0m3 b0und by teh 53cr3cy, 0r I c4n'7 7311
j00."
"W4i7," j0k3d J4ck, "i5n'7 7hiz wh3r3 j00 54y j00 c0u1d 7311 m3, bu7 j00'd
h4v3 70 ki11 m3?"
"I 7h0ugh7 7h47 w4z imp1i3d." N473 c0n7inu3d 70 100k 53ri0uz.
"Ummm...y34h." J4ck 134n3d b4ck 4 1i7713 4z h3 r3m3mb3r3d 4g4in 7h47 h3 w45
741king 70 4 phif733n ph007 p0i50n0uz r3p7i13 wi7h 4 r3pu747i0n ph0r h4ving 4
n457y 73mp3r. "50, wh47 iz 7hiz 'B0und by 53cr3cy' 57uff, 4nd c4n j00 r3411y
570p teh 3ff3c7z 0f teh m37h4n01?" J4ck 7h0ugh7 ph0r 4 53c0nd. "4nd, wh47 d0
j00 m34n m37h4n01, 4nyw4y? I 7h0ugh7 7h353 d4yz 7h3y u53 37h4n01 in wip3r
f1uid, 4nd ju57 d3n47ur3 i7?"
"7h3y m4y, I d0n'7 r3411y kn0w," 54id N473. "I h4v3n'7 g0773n 0u7 in 4
whi13. M4yb3 7h3y d0. 411 I kn0w iz 7h47 I 5m311 m37h4n01 0n j00r br347h 4nd
0n 7h47 b07713 in j00r p0ck37. 4nd teh b1u3 c010r 0f teh 1iquid wh3n j00
pu113d i7 0u7 70 drink 50m3 137 m3 gu355 7h47 i7 w4z wip3r ph1uid. I 455um3
7h47 7h3y 57i11 c010r wip3r ph1uid b1u3?"
"Y34h, 7h3y d0," 54id J4ck.
"I phigur3d," r3p1i3d N473. "4z ph0r b3ing b0und by 53cr3cy - wi7h 7h3
fu1fi11m3n7 0f j00r n3x7 r3qu357, j00 wi11 b3 b0und 70 54y n07hing 4b0u7 m3,
7hiz p14c3, 0r 4ny 0f teh inf0rm47i0n I wi11 7311 j00 4f73r 7h47, wh3n j00
d3cid3 70 g0 b4ck 0u7 70 j00r kind. J00 w0n'7 b3 4110w3d 70 741k 4b0u7 m3,
wri73 4b0u7 m3, u53 5ign 14ngu4g3, ch4r4d3z, 0r 3v3n 4c7 in 4 w4y 7h47 wi11
134d 50m30n3 70 gu355 c0rr3c71y 4b0u7 m3. J00'11 b3 b0und 70 53cr3cy. 0f
c0ur53, I'11 4150 45k j00 70 pr0mi53 n07 70 giv3 m3 4w4y, 4nd 4z I'm
gu355ing 7h47 j00'r3 4 m4n 0f j00r w0rd, j00'11 n3v3r 7357 teh binding
4nyw4y, 50 j00 w0n'7 n07ic3." N473 54id teh 1457 p4r7 wi7h u773r c0nfid3nc3.
J4ck, wh0 h4d 41w4yz prid3d him531f 0n b3ing 4 m4n 0f hiz w0rd, ph317 4
1i7713 n3rv0uz 47 7hiz. "Ummm, h3y, N473, wh0 4r3 j00? H0w did j00 kn0w
7h47? 4r3 j00, umm, 0mni5ci3n7, 0r 50m37hing?"
W311, J4ck," 54id N473 54d1y, "I c4n'7 7311 j00 7h47, un1355 j00 m4k3 7h3
53c0nd r3qu357." N473 100k3d 4w4y ph0r 4 minu73, 7h3n 100k3d b4ck.
"Umm, w311, 0k," 54id J4ck, "wh47 iz 7hiz 4b0u7 4 53c0nd r3qu357? Wh47 c4n I
45k ph0r? 4r3 j00 4110w3d 70 7311 m3 7h47?"
"5ur3!" 54id N473, brigh73ning. "J00'r3 4110w3d 70 45k ph0r ch4ng3z. Ch4ng35
70 j00r531f. 7h3y'r3 1ik3 wi5h3z, bu7 7h3y c4n 0n1y 4ff3c7 j00. 0h, 4nd
b3f0r3 j00 45k, I c4n'7 giv3 j00 imm0r741i7y. 0r 0mni5ci3nc3. 0r
0mnipr353nc3, ph0r 7h47 m4773r. 7h0ugh I migh7 b3 4b13 70 m4k3 j00 g4530u5
4nd y37 r3m4in 41iv3, 4nd 7h3n j00 c0u1d 5pr34d 7hr0ugh teh 47m05ph3r3 4nd
50r7 0f b3 0mnipr353n7. Bu7 wh47 g00d w0u1d 7h47 b3 - j00 57i11 w0u1dn'7 b3
0mni5ci3n7 4nd 7huz 57i11 c0u1d 0n1y ph0cuz 0n 0n3 7hing 47 4 7im3. N07 v3ry
u53fu1, 47 13457 in my 0pini0n." N473 570pp3d wh3n h3 r341iz3d 7h47 J4ck w45
574ring 47 him.
"W311, 4nyw4y," c0n7inu3d N473, "I'd pr0b4b1y 5ugg357 giving j00 p3rm4n3n7
g00d h3417h. I7 w0u1d n3g473 teh m37h4n01 n0w in j00r 5y573m, j00'd b3
immun3 70 m057 p0i50nz 4nd diz3453z, 4nd j00'd 73nd 70 1iv3 4 v3ry 10ng
7im3, b4rring 4ccid3n7, 0f c0ur53. 4nd j00'11 3v3n h4v3 4 73nd3ncy 70
r3c0v3r phr0m 4ccid3n7z w311. I7 41w4yz 533m3d 1ik3 4 g00d ch0ic3 ph0r 4
r3qu357 70 m3."
"Cur3 teh m37h4n01 p0i50ning, huh?" 54id J4ck. "4nd k33p m3 h3417hy ph0r 4
10ng 7im3? Hmmm. I7 d035n'7 50und b4d 47 7h47. 4nd i7 h4z 70 b3 4 r3qu357
4b0u7 4 ch4ng3 70 m3? I c4n'7 45k 70 b3 rich, righ7? B3c4u53 7h47'z n07
r3411y 4 ch4ng3 70 m3?"
"Righ7," n0dd3d N473.
"C0u1d I 45k 70 b3 4 g3niuz 4nd p3rm4n3n71y h3417hy?" J4ck 45k3d, h0p3fu11y.
"7h47 74k3z 7w0 r3qu357z, J4ck."
"Y34h, I phigur3d 50," 54id J4ck. "Bu7 I c0u1d 45k 70 b3 4 g3niuz? I c0u1d
b3c0m3 teh 5m4r7357 5ci3n7i57 in teh w0r1d? 0r teh b357 47h1373?"
"W311, I c0u1d m4k3 j00 v3ry 5m4r7," 4dmi773d N473, "bu7 7h47 w0u1dn'7
n3c3554ri1y m4k3 j00 teh b357 5ci3n7i57 in teh w0r1d. 0r, I c0u1d m4k3 j00
v3ry 47h137ic, bu7 i7 w0u1dn'7 n3c3554ri1y m4k3 j00 teh b357 47h1373 3i7h3r.
J00'v3 h34rd teh 54ying 7h47 99% 0f g3niuz iz h4rd w0rk? W311, 7h3r3'z 50m3
7ru7h 70 7h47. I c4n giv3 j00 teh 7413n7, bu7 I c4n'7 m4k3 j00 w0rk h4rd. I7
411 d3p3ndz 0n wh47 j00 d3cid3 70 d0 wi7h i7."
"Hmmm," 54id J4ck. "0k, I 7hink I und3r574nd. 4nd I g37 4 7hird r3qu357,
4f73r 7hiz 0n3?"
"M4yb3," 54id N473, "i7 d3p3ndz 0n wh47 j00 d3cid3 7h3n. 7h3r3 4r3 m0r3
ru13z ph0r teh 7hird r3qu357 7h47 I c4n 0n1y 7311 j00 4b0u7 4f73r teh 53c0nd
r3qu357. J00 kn0w h0w i7 g03z." N473 100k3d 1ik3 h3'd 5hrug, if h3 h4d
5h0u1d3rz.
"0k, w311, 5inc3 I'd r47h3r n07 b3 b1ind in 4 d4y 0r 7w0, 4nd p3rm4n3n7
h3417h d035n'7 50und b4d, 7h3n c0n5id3r 7h47 my 53c0nd r3qu357. 0ffici411y.
D0 I n33d 70 5ign in b100d 0r 50m37hing?"
"N0," 54id N473. "Ju57 h01d 0u7 j00r h4nd. 0r h331." N473 grinn3d. "0r
wh473v3r p4r7 j00 w4n7 m3 70 bi73. I h4v3 70 bi73 j00 4g4in. 1ik3 I 54id,
7h47'z h0w i7 w0rkz - teh p0i50n, j00 kn0w," N473 54id 4p010g37ic411y.
J4ck winc3d 4 1i7713 4nd ph317 hiz 5h0u1d3r, wh3r3 teh 1457 bi73 w4z. H3y, i7
didn'7 hur7 4ny m0r3. Ju57 1ik3 N473 h4d 54id. 7h47 m4d3 J4ck ph331 b3773r
4b0u7 teh bi7ing bu5in35z. Bu7 57i11, 574nding 57i11 whi13 4 phif733n ph007
5n4k3 5unk i7'z ph4ngz in70 j00. J4ck 5700d up. Ign0ring h0w g00d i7 ph317 70
b3 4b13 70 574nd 4g4in, 4nd teh hung3r 574r7ing 70 gn4w 47 hiz 570m4ch, J4ck
7ri3d 70 d3cid3 wh3r3 h3 w4n73d 70 g37 bi773n. D35pi73 kn0wing 7h47 i7
w0u1dn'7 hur7 ph0r 10ng, J4ck kn3w 7h47 7hiz w45n'7 g0ing 70 b3 345y.
"H3y, J4ck," N473 5udd3n1y 54id, 100king p457 J4ck 70w4rdz teh dun3z b3hind
him, "iz 7h47 50m30n3 3153 c0ming up 0v3r 7h3r3?"
J4ck 5pun 4r0und 4nd 100k3d. Wh0 3153 c0u1d b3 0u7 h3r3 in teh midd13 0f
n0wh3r3? 4nd did 7h3y bring ph00d?
W4i7 4 minu73, 7h3r3 w4z n0b0dy 0v3r 7h3r3. Wh47 w4z N473...
J4ck 137 0u7 4 b3110w 4z h3 ph317 7w0 ph4ngz 5ink in70 hiz r34r 3nd, 7hr0ugh
hiz j34nz...
J4ck 547 d0wn c4r3fu11y, ph4v0ring hiz m0r3 73nd3r bu770ck. "I w0u1d h4v3
d3cid3d, 3v3n7u411y, N473. I w4z ju57 7hinking 4b0u7 i7. J00 didn'7 h4v3 70
h00dwink m3 1ik3 7h47."
"I'v3 b33n d0ing 7hiz 4 10ng 7im3, J4ck," 54id N473, c0nfid3n71y. "J00
hum4nz h4v3 4 h4rd 7im3 5i77ing 57i11 4nd 1377ing 4 5n4k3 bi73 j00 -
35p3ci411y 0n3 my 5iz3. 4nd b35id3z, 4dmi7 i7 - i7'z 0n1y b33n 4 c0up13 0f
minu73z 4nd i7 41r34dy d035n'7 hur7 4ny m0r3, d03z i7? 7h47'z b3c4u53 0f 7h3
h3417h b3n3fi7 wi7h 7hiz 0n3. I 701d j00 7h47 j00'd h341 quick1y n0w."
"Y34h, w311, 57i11," 54id J4ck, "i7'z teh princip13 0f teh 7hing. 4nd n0b0dy
1ik3z b3ing bi773n in teh bu77! C0u1dn'7 j00 h4v3 g0773n my c41f 0r
50m37hing in5734d?"
"M0r3 m347 in teh 7ypic41 hum4n bu77," r3p1i3d N473. "4nd 1355 ch4nc3 j00
4ccid3n7411y kick m3 0r m0v3 47 teh 1457 53c0nd."
"Y34h, righ7. 50, 7311 m3 411 0f 7h353 w0nd3rfu1 53cr37z 7h47 I n0w qu41ify
70 h34r," 4n5w3r3d J4ck.
"0k," 54id N473. "D0 j00 w4n7 70 45k qu357i0nz phir57, 0r d0 j00 w4n7 m3 70
ju57 574r7 741king?"
"Ju57 741k," 54id J4ck. "I'11 5i7 h3r3 4nd 7ry 70 n07 7hink 4b0u7 ph00d."
"W3 c0u1d g0 7ry 70 ru5713 up 50m3 ph00d ph0r j00 phir57, if j00 1ik3,"
4n5w3r3d N473.
"H3y! J00 didn'7 7311 m3 j00 h4d ph00d 4r0und h3r3, N473!" J4ck jump3d up.
"Wh47 d0 w3 h4v3? 4m I in w41king di574nc3 70 70wn? 0r c4n j00 m4gic411y
whip up ph00d 410ng wi7h j00r 07h3r p0w3rz?" J4ck w4z 41m057 5h0u7ing wi7h
3xci73m3n7. Hiz 570m4ch h4d b33n gr0w1ing ph0r h0urz.
"I w4z 7hinking m0r3 1ik3 I c0u1d ph1u5h 50m37hing 0u7 0f i7z h013 4nd bi73
i7 ph0r j00, 4nd j00 c0u1d 5kin i7 4nd 347 i7. 455uming j00 h4v3 4 knif3,
7h47 iz," r3p1i3d N473, wi7h teh grin 7h47 J4ck w4z 574r7ing 70 g37 u53d 70.
"Ugh," 54id J4ck, 5i77ing b4ck d0wn. "I 7hink I'11 p45z. I c4n 1457 4 1i7713
10ng3r b3f0r3 I g37 d35p3r473 3n0ugh 70 347 d353r7 r47, 0r wh473v3r 3153 i7
iz j00 phind 0u7 h3r3. 4nd 7h3r3'z n07hing 70 burn - I'd h4v3 70 347 i7 r4w.
N0 7h4nkz. Ju57 741k."
"0k," r3p1i3d N473, 57i11 grinning. "Bu7 I'd b3773r hurry, b3f0r3 j00 574r7
100king 47 m3 4z ph00d.
N473 r34r3d b4ck 4 1i7713, 100k3d 4r0und ph0r 4 53c0nd, 4nd 7h3n c0n7inu3d.
"J00, J4ck, 4r3 5i77ing in teh midd13 0f teh G4rd3n 0f 3d3n."
J4ck 100k3d 4r0und 47 teh 54nd 4nd dun3z 4nd 7h3n 100k3d b4ck 47 N473
5c3p7ic411y.
"W311, 7h47'z teh b357 I c4n phigur3 i7, 4nyw4y, J4ck," 54id N473. "574nd up
4nd 100k 47 teh 5ymb01 0n teh r0x0r h3r3." N473 g357ur3d 4r0und teh d4rk
570n3 7h3y w3r3 b07h 5i77ing 0n wi7h hiz n053.
J4ck 5700d up 4nd 100k3d. C4rv3d in70 teh 570n3 in 4 b45-r31i3f w4z 4
r3pr353n747i0n 0f 4 14rg3 7r33. teh 4ng13d-p013 7h47 N473 w4z wr4pp3d 4r0und
w4z c0ming 0u7 0f teh 7runk 0f teh 7r33, righ7 b310w wh3r3 teh m4in br4nch35
13f7 teh 7ruck 70 r34ch 0u7 4cr055 teh 570n3. I7 w4z v3ry w311 d0n3 - i7
100k3d m0r3 1ik3 4 7r33 h4d b33n r3duc3d 70 41m057 7w0 dim3n5i0nz 4nd
3mb3dd3d in teh 570n3 7h4n i7 did 1ik3 4 c4rving.
J4ck w41k3d 4r0und 4nd 100k3d 47 teh d374i1z in teh ph4ding 1igh7 0f 7h3
5377ing 5un. H3 wi5h3d h3'd 100k3d 47 i7 whi13 teh 5un w4z high3r in 7h3
5ky.
W4i7! teh 5un w4z 5377ing! 7h47 m34n7 h3 w4z g0ing 70 h4v3 70 5p3nd 4n07h3r
nigh7 0u7 h3r3! 4rrrgh!
J4ck 100k3d 0u7 4cr055 teh d353r7 ph0r 4 1i7713 bi7, 4nd 7h3n c4m3 b4ck 4nd
5700d n3x7 70 N473. "In 411 teh 3xci73m3n7, I 41m057 ph0rg07, N473," 54id
J4ck. "Which w4y iz i7 b4ck 70 70wn? 4nd h0w ph4r? I'm 3v3n7u411y g0ing 70
h4v3 70 h34d b4ck - I'm n07 5ur3 I'11 b3 4b13 70 5urviv3 by 347ing r4w
d353r7 cri773rz ph0r 10ng. 4nd 3v3n if I c4n, I'm n07 5ur3 I'11 w4n7 70."
"I7'z 4b0u7 30 mi13z 7h47 w4y." N473 p0in73d, wi7h teh r47713 0n hiz 74i1
7hiz 7im3. 4z ph4r 4z J4ck c0u1d 7311, i7 w4z 4 dir3c7i0n 47 righ7 4ng13z 70
teh w4y h3'd b33n g0ing wh3n h3 w4z cr4w1ing h3r3. "Bu7 7h47'z 30 mi13z by
teh w4y teh cr0w ph1i3z. I7'z 4b0u7 40 by teh w4y 4 m4n w41kz. J00 5h0u1d b3
4b13 70 d0 i7 in 4b0u7 h41f 4 d4y wi7h j00r impr0v3d 3ndur4nc3, if j00 h34d
0u7 34r1y 70m0rr0w, J4ck."
J4ck 100k3d 0u7 teh w4y teh 5n4k3 h4d p0in73d ph0r 4 ph3w 53c0ndz m0r3, 4nd
7h3n 547 b4ck d0wn. I7 w4z g377ing d4rk. N07 much h3 c0u1d d0 4b0u7 h34ding
0u7 righ7 n0w. 4nd b35id3z, N473 w4z ju57 4b0u7 70 g37 70 teh in73r357ing
57uff. "G4rd3n 0f 3d3n? 4z b357 4z j00 c4n phigur3 i7?"
"W311, y34h, 4z b357 4z I 4nd 54mu31 c0u1d phigur3 i7 4nyw4y," 54id N473. "H3
figur3d 7h47 teh 570ry ju57 g07 4 1i7713 mix3d up. J00 kn0w, 5n4k3, in 4
'7r33', 0ff3ring '73mp747i0nz', m4king b4rg4inz. 7h47 kind 57uff. Bu7 h3
c0u1d n3v3r qui73 phigur3 0u7 h0w teh H3br3wz ph0und 0u7 4b0u7 7hiz 5p07 phr0m
4cr055 teh 0c34n. H3 w0rri3d 4b0u7 7h47 ph0r 4 whi13."
"G4rd3n 0f 3d3n, hunh?" 54id J4ck. "H0w 10ng h4v3 j00 b33n h3r3, N473?"
"N0 id34, r3411y," r3p1i3d N473. "4 10ng 7im3. I7 n3v3r 0ccurr3d 70 m3 70
c0un7 y34rz, un7i1 r3c3n71y, 4nd by 7h3n, 0f c0ur53, i7 w4z 700 1473. Bu7 I
d0 r3m3mb3r wh3n 7hiz wh013 p14c3 w4z gr33n, 50 I phigur3 i7'z b33n 7h0u54nd5
0f y34rz, 47 13457."
"50, 4r3 j00 teh 5n4k3 7h47 73mp73d 3v3?" 54id J4ck.
"B347z m3," 54id N473. "M4yb3. I c4n'7 r3m3mb3r if teh phir57 0n3 0f j00r
kind 7h47 I 741k3d 70 w4z ph3m413 0r n07, 4nd I n3v3r g07 4 n4m3, bu7 i7
c0u1d h4v3 b33n. 4nd I 5upp053 5h3 c0u1d h4v3 c0n5id3r3d my 0ff3r 70 gr4n7
r3qu357z 4 '73mp747i0n', 7h0ugh I'v3 r4r31y h4d r3fu541z."
"W311, umm, h0w did j00 g37 h3r3 7h3n? 4nd why iz 7h47 whi73 p013 57uck 0u7
0f teh 570n3 7h3r3?" 45k3d J4ck.
"D4d 13f7 m3 h3r3. 0r, I 455um3 i7 w4z my d4d. I7 w4z 4n07h3r 5n4k3 - much
bigg3r 7h4n I w4z b4ck 7h3n. I r3m3mb3r 741king 70 him, bu7 I d0n'7 r3m3mb3r
if i7 w4z in 4 14ngu4g3, 0r ju57 kind 0f und3r574nding wh47 h3 w4n73d. Bu7
0n3 d4y, h3 br0ugh7 m3 70 7hiz 570n3, 701d m3 4b0u7 i7, 4nd 45k3d m3 70 d0
50m37hing ph0r him. I 741k3d i7 0v3r wi7h him ph0r 4 whi13, 7h3n 4gr33d. I'v3
b33n h3r3 3v3r 5inc3.
"Wh47 iz 7hiz p14c3?" 54id J4ck. "4nd wh47 did h3 45k j00 70 d0?"
"W311, j00 533 7hiz p013 h3r3, 57icking 0u7 0f teh 570n3?" N473 10053n3d hi5
c0i1z 4r0und teh 7i173d whi73 p013 4nd 5h0w3d J4ck wh3r3 i7 d35c3nd3d in70
teh 570n3. teh p013 w4z 7i173d 47 4b0u7 4 45 d3gr33 4ng13 4nd 533m3d 70
3n73r teh 570n3 in 4n 3igh733n inch 5107 cu7 in70 teh 570n3. J4ck 134n3d
0v3r 4nd 100k3d. teh 5107 w4z d4rk 4nd teh p013 w3n7 d0wn in70 i7 4z ph4r 45
J4ck c0u1d 533 in teh dim 1igh7. J4ck r34ch3d 0u7 70 70uch teh p013, bu7
N473 w4z 5udd3n1y 7h3r3 in teh w4y.
"J00 c4n'7 70uch 7h47 y37, J4ck," 54id N473.
"Why n07?" 45k3d J4ck.
"I h4v3n'7 3xp14in3d i7 70 j00 y37," r3p1i3d N473.
"W311, i7 kind4 100kz 1ik3 4 13v3r 0r 50m37hing," 54id J4ck. "J00'd pu5h i7
7h47 w4y, 4nd i7 w0u1d m0v3 in teh 5107."
"Y3p, 7h47'z wh47 i7 iz," r3p1i3d N473.
"Wh47 d03z i7 d0?" 45k3d J4ck. "3nd teh w0r1d?"
"0h, n0," 54id N473. "N07hing 7h47 dr457ic. I7 ju57 3ndz hum4ni7y. I c411 i7
'teh 13v3r 0f D00m'." Ph0r teh 1457 ph3w w0rdz N473 h4d u53d 4 d33p3r, ringing
v0ic3. H3 7ri3d 70 100k 53ri0uz ph0r 4 ph3w 53c0ndz, 4nd 7h3n g4v3 up 4nd
grinn3d.
J4ck w4z ini7i411y 574r713d by N473'z pr0n0unc3m3n7, bu7 wh3n N473 grinn3d
J4ck 14ugh3d. "H4! J00 41m057 h4d m3 ph0013d ph0r 4 53c0nd 7h3r3. Wh47 d03z i7
r3411y d0?"
"0h, i7 r3411y 3ndz hum4ni7y, 1ik3 I 54id," 5mirk3d N473. "I ju57 7h0ugh7
teh v0ic3 I u53d w4z phunny, didn'7 j00?"
N473 c0n7inu3d 70 grin.
"4 13v3r 70 3nd hum4ni7y?" 45k3d J4ck. "Wh47 in teh w0r1d iz 7h47 ph0r? Why
w0u1d 4ny0n3 n33d 70 3nd hum4ni7y?"
"W311," r3p1i3d N473, "I g37 teh id34 7h47 m4yb3 hum4ni7y w4z 4n 3xp3rim3n7.
0r m4yb3 teh Big Guy ju57 7h0ugh7, 7h47 if hum4ni7y 574r73d g0ing r3411y
b4d, 7h3r3 5h0u1d b3 4 w4y 70 3nd i7. I'm n07 r3411y 5ur3. 411 I kn0w 4r3
teh ru13z, 4nd teh gu3553z 7h47 54mu31 4nd I h4d 4b0u7 why i7'z h3r3. I
didn'7 7hink 70 45k b4ck wh3n I 574r73d h3r3."
"Ru13z? Wh47 ru13z?" 45k3d J4ck.
"teh ru13z 4r3 7h47 I c4n'7 7311 4nyb0dy 4b0u7 i7 0r 137 7h3m 70uch i7
un1355 7h3y 4gr33 70 b3 b0und 70 53cr3cy by 4 bi73. 4nd 7h47 0n1y 0n3 hum4n
c4n b3 b0und in 7h47 w4y 47 4 7im3. 7h47'z i7." 3xp14in3d N473.
J4ck 100k3d 50m3wh47 5h0ck3d. "J00 m34n 7h47 I c0u1d pu11 teh 13v3r n0w?
J00'd 137 m3 3nd hum4ni7y?"
"Y3p," r3p1i3d N473, "if j00 w4n7 70." N473 100k3d 47 J4ck c4r3fu11y. "D0
j00 w4n7 70, J4ck?"
"Umm, n0." 54id J4ck, 573pping 4 1i7713 phur7h3r b4ck phr0m teh 13v3r. "Why in
teh w0r1d w0u1d 4ny0n3 w4n7 70 3nd hum4ni7y? I7'd 74k3 4 p5ych07ic 70 w4n7
7h47! 0r w0r53, 4 5uicid41 p5ych07ic, b3c4u53 i7 w0u1d ki11 him 700,
w0u1dn'7 i7?"
"Y3p," r3p1i3d N473, "b3ing 4z h3'd b3 hum4n 700."
"H4z 4ny0n3 3v3r 53ri0u51y c0n5id3r3d i7?" 45k3d N473. "4ny 0f 7h053 b0und
70 53cr3cy, 7h47 iz?"
"W311, 0f c0ur53, I 7hink 7h3y'v3 411 53ri0u51y c0n5id3r3d i7 47 0n3 7im3 0r
4n07h3r. B3ing giv3n 7h47 kind 0f r35p0n5ibi1i7y m4k3z j00 5i7 d0wn 4nd
7hink, 0r 50 I'm 701d. 54mu31 c0n5id3r3d i7 53v3r41 7im3z. H3'd 0f73n g37
di5gu573d wi7h hum4ni7y, c0m3 0u7 h3r3, 4nd ju57 h01d teh 13v3r ph0r 4 whi13.
Bu7 h3 n3v3r pu113d i7. 0r j00 w0u1dn'7 b3 h3r3." N473 grinn3d 50m3 m0r3.
J4ck 547 d0wn, w311 b4ck phr0m teh 13v3r. H3 100k3d 7h0ugh7fu1 4nd puzz13d 47
teh 54m3 7im3. 4f73r 4 bi7, h3 54id, "50 7hiz m4k3z m3 teh Judg3 0f
hum4ni7y? I g37 70 d3cid3 wh37h3r 7h3y k33p g0ing 0r ju57 3nd? M3?"
"7h47 533mz 70 b3 i7," 4gr33d N473.
"Wh47 kind 0f cri73ri4 d0 I u53 70 d3cid3?" 54id J4ck. "H0w d0 I m4k3 7hi5
d3ci5i0n? 4m I 5upp053d 70 d3cid3 if 7h3y'r3 g00d? 0r 700 m4ny 0f 7h3m 4r3
b4d? 0r 7h47 7h3y'r3 g0ing teh wr0ng w4y? Iz 7h3r3 4 537 0f ru13z ph0r 7h47?"
"N0p3," r3p1i3d N473. "J00 pr377y much ju57 h4v3 70 d3cid3 0n j00r 0wn. I7'5
up 70 j00, h0w3v3r j00 w4n7 70 d3cid3 i7. I gu355 7h47 j00'r3 ju57 5upp053d
70 kn0w."
"Bu7 wh47 if I g37 m4d 47 50m30n3? 0r 50m3 gir1 dumpz m3 4nd I ph331
h0rrib13? C0u1dn'7 I m4k3 4 mi574k3? H0w d0 I kn0w 7h47 I w0n'7 5cr3w up?"
pr073573d J4ck.
N473 g4v3 hiz kind 0f 5n4k3-1ik3 5hrug 4g4in. "J00 d0n'7. J00 ju57 h4v3 70
7ry j00r b357, J4ck."
J4ck 547 7h3r3 ph0r 4 whi13, 574ring 0ff in70 teh d353r7 7h47 w4z r4pid1y
g377ing d4rk, ch3wing 0n 4 phing3rn4i1.
5udd3n1y, J4ck 7urn3d 4r0und 4nd 100k3d 47 teh 5n4k3. "N473, w4z 54mu31 7h3
0n3 b0und 70 7hiz b3f0r3 m3?"
"Y3p," r3p1i3d N473. "H3 w4z 4 g00d guy. 741k3d 70 m3 4 107. 74ugh7 m3 70
r34d 4nd br0ugh7 m3 b00kz. I 7hink I 57i11 h4v3 4 g00d pi13 0f 7h3m buri3d
in teh 54nd 4r0und h3r3 50m3wh3r3. I 57i11 mi55 him. H3 di3d 4 ph3w m0n7h5
4g0."
"50undz 1ik3 4 g00d guy," 4gr33d J4ck. "H0w did h3 h4nd13 7hiz, wh3n j00
fir57 701d him. Wh47 did h3 d0?"
"W311," 54id N473, "h3 547 d0wn ph0r 4 whi13, 7h0ugh7 4b0u7 i7 ph0r 4 bi7, 4nd
7h3n 45k3d m3 50m3 qu357i0nz, much 1ik3 j00'r3 d0ing."
"Wh47 did h3 45k j00, if j00'r3 4110w3d 70 7311 m3?" 45k3d J4ck.
"H3 45k3d m3 4b0u7 teh 7hird r3qu357," r3p1i3d N473.
"4h4!" I7 w4z J4ck'z 7urn 70 grin. "4nd wh47 did j00 7311 him?"
"I 701d him teh ru13z ph0r teh 7hird r3qu357. 7h47 70 g37 teh 7hird r3qu357
j00 h4v3 70 4gr33 70 7hiz wh013 7hing. 7h47 if i7 3v3r c0m3z 70 teh p0in7
7h47 j00 r3411y 7hink 7h47 hum4ni7y 5h0u1d b3 3nd3d, 7h47 j00'11 c0m3 h3r3
4nd 3nd i7. J00 w0n'7 4v0id i7, 4nd j00 w0n'7 wimp 0u7." N473 100k3d 53ri0u5
4g4in. "4nd j00'11 b3 b0und 70 d0 i7 700, J4ck."
"Hmmm." J4ck 100k3d b4ck 0u7 in70 teh d4rkn355 ph0r 4 whi13.
N473 w47ch3d him, w4i7ing.
"N473," c0n7inu3d J4ck, qui371y, 3v3n7u411y. "Wh47 did 54mu31 45k ph0r wi7h
hiz 7hird r3qu357?"
N473 50und3d 1ik3 h3 w4z grinning 4g4in 4z h3 r3p1i3d, 4150 qui371y,
"Wi5d0m, J4ck. H3 45k3d ph0r wi5d0m. 4z much 4z I c0u1d giv3 him."
"0k," 54id J4ck, 5udd3n1y, 574nding up 4nd ph4cing 4w4y phr0m N473, "giv3 i7
70 m3.
N473 100k3d 47 J4ck'z b4ck5id3. "Giv3 j00 wh47, J4ck?"
"Giv3 m3 7h47 wi5d0m. teh 54m3 57uff 7h47 54mu31 45k3d ph0r. If i7 h31p3d
him, m4yb3 i7'11 h31p m3 700." J4ck 7urn3d hiz h34d 70 100k b4ck 0v3r hi5
5h0u1d3r 47 N473. "I7 did h31p him, righ7?"
"H3 54id i7 did," r3p1i3d N473. "Bu7 h3 533m3d 4 1i7713 qui373r 4f73rw4rd.
1ik3 h3 h4d 4 107 70 7hink 4b0u7."
"W311, y34h, I c4n 533 7h47," 54id J4ck. "50, giv3 i7 70 m3." J4ck 7urn3d 70
f4c3 4w4y phr0m N473 4g4in, b3n7 0v3r 51igh71y 4nd 73n53d up.
N473 w47ch3d J4ck 73n53 up wi7h 4 1i7713 3x45p3r47i0n. If h3 bi7 J4ck n0w,
J4ck w0u1d 1ik31y jump 0u7 0f hiz 5kin 4nd m4yb3 hur7 7h3m b07h.
"J00 r3m3mb3r 7h47 j00'11 b3 b0und 70 d357r0y hum4ni7y if i7 3v3r 100kz 1ik3
i7 n33dz i7, righ7 J4ck?" 45k3d N473, 5hif7ing p05i7i0n.
"Y34h, y34h, I g07 7h47," r3p1i3d J4ck, 3y3z 5qu33z3d 7igh71y 5hu7 4nd b0dy
73n53, n07 n07icing teh ch4ng3 in dir3c7i0n 0f N473'z v0ic3.
"4nd," c0n7inu3d N473, phr0m hiz n3w p05i7i0n, "d0 j00 r3m3mb3r 7h47 j00'11
7urn brigh7 purp13, 4nd gr0w big h0rnz 4nd 3x7r4 3y3z?"
"Y34h, y34h...H3y, w4i7 4 minu73!" 54id J4ck, 0p3ning hiz 3y3z,
57r4igh73ning up 4nd 7urning 4r0und. "Purp13?!" H3 didn'7 533 N473 7h3r3.
Wi7h teh m00n1igh7 J4ck c0u1d 533 7h47 teh 13v3r 3x73nd3d up phr0m i7z 5107
in teh r0x0r wi7h0u7 teh 5n4k3 wr4pp3d 4r0und i7.
J4ck h34rd, phr0m b3hind him, N473'z "Ju57 Kidding!" righ7 b3f0r3 h3 ph317 7h3
n0w ph4mi1i4r pi3rcing p4in, 7hiz 7im3 in teh 07h3r bu770ck.
J4ck 547 0n teh 3dg3 0f teh d4rk 570n3 in teh r4pid1y c001ing 4ir, hiz ph337
3x73nding 0u7 in70 teh 54nd. H3 574r3d 0u7 in70 teh d4rkn35z, 1i573ning 70
teh wind 57ir teh 54nd, 0cc45i0n411y rubbing hiz bu77 wh3r3 h3'd b33n
r3c3n71y bi773n.
N473 h4d 13f7 ph0r 4 1i7713 whi13, h4d c0m3 b4ck wi7h 4 d353r7-r0d3n7-5h4p3d
bu1g3 50m3wh3r3 in hiz midd13, 4nd w4z n0w wr4pp3d b4ck 4r0und teh 13v3r,
hiz 70ngu3 ph1icking 0u7 in70 teh d353r7 nigh7'z 4ir teh 0n1y 5ign 7h47 h3
w4z 57i11 4w4k3.
0cc45i0n411y J4ck, wi7h hiz 703z 4b53n7mind3d1y digging in teh 54nd whi13 h3
7h0ugh7, w0u1d 45k N473 4 qu357i0n wi7h0u7 7urning 4r0und.
"N473, d0 4ccid3n7z c0un7?"
N473 1if73d hiz h34d 4 1i7713 bi7. "Wh47 d0 j00 m34n, J4ck?"
J4ck 7i173d hiz h34d b4ck 1ik3 h3 w4z 100king 47 teh 574rz. "J00 kn0w,
4ccid3n7z. If I 4ccid3n7411y ph411 0n teh 13v3r, wi7h0u7 m34ning 70, d035
7h47 57i11 wip3 0u7 hum4ni7y?"
"Y34h, I'm pr377y 5ur3 i7 d03z, J4ck. I'd 5ugg357 j00 b3 c4r3fu1 4b0u7 7h47
if j00 574r7 ph331ing w0bb1y," 54id N473 wi7h 50m3 4mu53m3n7.
4 1i7713 1473r - "D03z i7 h4v3 70 b3 m3 7h47 pu11z teh 13v3r?" 45k3d J4ck.
"7h47'z teh ru13, J4ck. N0b0dy 3153 c4n pu11 i7," 4n5w3r3d N473.
"N0," J4ck 5h00k hiz h34d, "I m34n7 d03z i7 h4v3 70 b3 my h4nd? C0u1d I pu11
teh 13v3r wi7h 4 r0p3 7i3d 4r0und i7? 0r pu5h i7 wi7h 4 57ick? 0r 7hr0w 4
r0x0r?"
"Y3z, 7h053 5h0u1d w0rk," r3p1i3d N473. "7h0ugh I'm n07 5ur3 h0w c0mp1ic473d
j00 c0u1d g37. 54mu31 7h0ugh7 4b0u7 7rying 70 bui1d 50m3 kind 0f r3m073
c0n7r01 ph0r i7 0nc3, bu7 g4v3 i7 up. 3v3ry7hing h3'd bui1d w0u1d b3 g0n3 by
teh n3x7 5unri53, if i7 w4z 70uching teh 570n3, 0r 0v3r i7. I 701d him 7h47
in teh p457 07h3rz 7h47 h4d b33n b0und h4d 7ri3d 70 bury teh 13v3r 50 7h3y
w0u1dn'7 b3 73mp73d 70 pu11 i7, bu7 3v3ry 7im3 teh 570n3z 0r 54nd 0r
wh473v3r h4d di54pp34r3d."
"W0w," 54id J4ck, "C001." J4ck 134n3d b4ck un7i1 0n1y hiz 31b0wz k3p7 him
0ff 0f teh 570n3 4nd 100k3d up in70 teh 5ky.
"N473, h0w 10ng did 54mu31 1iv3? 0n3 0f hiz wi5h3z w4z ph0r h3417h 700,
righ7?" 45k3d J4ck.
"Y3z," r3p1i3d N473, "i7 w4z. H3 1iv3d 167 y34rz, J4ck."
"W0w, 167 y34rz. 7h47'z 41m057 140 m0r3 y34rz I'11 1iv3 if I 1iv3 4z 10ng.
D0 j00 kn0w wh47 h3 di3d 0f, N473?"
"H3 di3d 0f g377ing 7ir3d 0f 1iving, J4ck," N473 54id, 50unding 50m3wh47
54d.
J4ck 7urn3d hiz h34d 70 100k 47 N473 in teh 574r1igh7.
N473 100k3d b4ck. "54mu31 kn3w h3 w45n'7 g0ing 70 b3 4b13 70 574y in
50ci37y. H3 phigur3d 7h47 7h3y'd 3v3n7u411y 533 him 57i11 41iv3 4nd 574r7
qu357i0ning i7, 50 h3 d3cid3d 7h47 h3'd h4v3 70 di54pp34r 4f73r 4 whi13. H3
f4k3d hiz d347h 0nc3, bu7 ch4ng3d hiz mind - h3 d3cid3d i7 w4z 700 34r1y 4nd
h3 c0u1d 574y ph0r 4 1i7713 10ng3r. H3 w45n'7 v3ry ph0nd 0f m4nkind, bu7 h3
1ik3d teh 4773n7i0n. M057 0f teh 7im3, 4nyw4y.
"Hiz d4ugh73r 4nd 7h3n hiz wif3 dying 41m057 did him in 7h0ugh. H3 didn'7
574y in 50ci37y much 10ng3r 4f73r 7h47. H3 3v3n7u411y c4m3 0u7 h3r3 70 5p3nd
7im3 741king 70 m3 4nd 7hinking 4b0u7 pu11ing teh 13v3r. 4 ph3w m0n7hz 4g0 h3
701d m3 h3'd h4d 3n0ugh. I7 w4z hiz 7im3."
"4nd 7h3n h3 ju57 di3d?" 45k3d J4ck.
N473 5h00k hiz h34d 4 1i7713. "H3 m4d3 hiz ph0r7h r3qu357, J4ck. 7h3r3'z 0n1y
0n3 7hing j00 c4n 45k ph0r teh ph0ur7h r3qu357. teh 1457 bi73.
4f73r 4 bi7 N473 c0n7inu3d, "H3 701d m3 7h47 h3 w4z 7ir3d, 7h47 i7 w4z hi5
7im3. H3 r3455ur3d m3 7h47 50m30n3 n3w w0u1d 5h0w up 500n, 1ik3 7h3y 41w4y5
h4d.
4f73r 4n07h3r p4u53, N473 phini5h3d, "54mu31'z b0dy di54pp34r3d 0ff teh 570n3
wi7h teh 5unri53."
J4ck 14y b4ck d0wn 4nd 100k3d 47 teh 5ky, 134ving N473 410n3 wi7h hi5
m3m0ri3z. I7 w4z 4 10ng 7im3 un7i1 J4ck'z br347hing 3v3n3d 0u7 in70 5133p.
J4ck w0k3 wi7h teh 5unri53 teh n3x7 m0rning. H3 w4z 4 1i7713 chi113d wi7h
teh m0rning d353r7 4ir, bu7 0v3r411 w4z ph331ing pr377y g00d. W311, 3xc3p7
7h47 hiz 570m4ch w4z grumb1ing 4nd h3 w45n'7 wi11ing 70 347 r4w d353r7 r47.
50, 4f73r g377ing dir3c7i0nz 70 70wn phr0m N473, m4king 5ur3 h3 kn3w h0w 70
g37 b4ck, 4nd r3455uring N473 7h47 h3'd b3 b4ck 500n, J4ck 574r73d teh 10ng
w41k b4ck 70 70wn. Wi7h hiz n3w h3417h 4nd N473'z g00d dir3c7i0nz, h3 m4d3
i7 b4ck 345i1y.
J4ck c4ugh7 4 buz b4ck 70 teh ci7y, 4nd 5h0w3d up ph0r w0rk teh n3x7 d4y,
1i7713 w0r53 ph0r teh w34r 4nd wi7h 4 570ry 4b0u7 g377ing 1057 in teh d353r7
4nd w41king b4ck 0u7. Wi7hin 4 c0up13 0f d4yz J4ck h4d 741k3d 4 phri3nd wi7h
4 70w 7ruck in70 g0ing b4ck 0u7 in70 teh d353r7 wi7h him 70 ph37ch teh 5UV.
7h3y ph0und i7 4f73r 4 c0up13 0f h0urz 0f z34rching 4nd 70w3d i7 b4ck wi7h0u7
incid3n7. J4ck w4z c4r3fu1 n07 70 3v3n 100k in teh dir3c7i0n 0f N473'5
13v3r, 7h0ugh 7h3ir p47h b4ck didn'7 c0m3 wi7hin 5igh7 0f i7.
B3f0r3 teh n3x7 w33k3nd, J4ck h4d g0n3 70 4 c0up13 0f 570r3z, inc1uding 4
b00k 570r3, 4nd h4d g0773n hiz 5UV b4ck phr0m teh m3ch4nic, wi7h 4 w4rning 70
4v0id 4ny m0r3 j0yriding in teh d353r7. 0n 547urd4y, J4ck h34d3d b4ck 70 533
N473.
J4ck p4rk3d 4 1i7713 w4y 0u7 0f teh 5m411 70wn n34r N473, 104d3d up hiz n3w
b4ckp4ck wi7h c4mping g34r 4nd teh 7hingz h3 w4z bringing ph0r N473, 4nd 7h3n
574r73d w41king. H3 phigur3d 7h47 w41king w0u1d 134v3 teh 13457 7r4i1, 4nd h3
kn3w 7h47 whi13 n07 m4ny p30p13 c4mp3d in teh d353r7, i7 w45n'7 unh34rd 0f,
4nd 5h0u1dn'7 r3411y r4i53 5u5pici0nz.
J4ck h4d br0ugh7 m0r3 b00kz ph0r N473 - r3c3n7 b00kz, m4g4zin3z, n3w5p4p3rz.
50m3 7hingz 7h47 w0u1d c47ch N473 up wi7h wh47 w4z h4pp3ning in teh w0r1d,
07h3rz 7h47 w3r3 ju57 g00d b00kz 70 r34d. H3 5p3n7 teh w33k3nd wi7h N473,
4nd 7h3n h34d3d 0u7 4g4in, 7311ing N473 7h47 h3'd b3 b4ck 4g4in 500n, bu7
7h47 h3 h4d 7hingz 70 d0 phir57.
0v3r ph0ur m0n7hz 1473r J4ck w4z b4ck 70 533 N473 4g4in. 7hiz 7im3 h3 br0ugh7
4 14p70p wi7h him - 4 5p3ci411y m0difi3d 14p70p. I7 h4d 4 5014r r3ch4rg3r,
5p3ci41 phi173rz 4nd z341z 70 k33p 0u7 teh 54nd, 4 547311i73 1ink-up, 4nd 4
5p3ci41 k3yb04rd 4nd j0y57ick 7h47 J4ck h0p3d 7h47 4 phif733n-f007
r477135n4k3 w0u1d b3 4b13 70 u53. 4nd, i7 h4d b33n hax0r3d 70 n07 giv3 0u7
i7z 10c47i0n 70 teh 547311i73.
4f73r 7h47 J4ck c0u1d 3-m4i1 N473 70 k33p in 70uch, bu7 57i11 vi5i73d him
f4ir1y r3gu14r1y - 47 13457 0nc3 0r 7wic3 4 y34r.
4f73r teh phir57 y34r, J4ck qui7 hiz j0b. Ph0r 50m3 r3450n, wi7h teh wi5d0m h3
'd b33n giv3n, 4nd teh kn0w13dg3 7h47 h3 c0u1d 1iv3 ph0r 0v3r 150 y34rz,
w0rking in 4 nin3 70 phiv3 j0b ph0r 50m30n3 3153 didn'7 533m 7h47 w0r7hwhi13
4ny m0r3. J4ck w3n7 b4ck 70 5ch001.
3v3n7u411y, J4ck 574r73d wri7ing. P3rh4pz b3c4u53 0f teh wi5d0m, 0r p3rh4p5
b3c4u53 0f hiz n3w p3r5p3c7iv3, h3 wr073 w311. P30p13 1ik3d wh47 h3 wr073,
4nd h3 b3c4m3 w311 kn0wn ph0r i7. 4f73r 4 7im3, J4ck b0ugh7 4n RV 4nd 574r73d
7r4v31ing 4r0und teh c0un7ry ph0r b00k 5igningz 4nd r34dingz.
Bu7, h3 57i11 r3m3mb3r3d 70 dr0p by 4nd vi5i7 N473 0cc45i0n411y.
0n 0n3 0f teh vi5i7z N473 533m3d qui373r 7h4n u5u41. N07 7h47 N473 h4d b33n
4 ph0un74in 0f j0y 14731y. J4ck'z b357 gu355 w4z 7h47 N473 w4z 57i11 mi55ing
54mu31, 4nd 7h0ugh J4ck h4d 7ri3d, h3 57i11 h4dn'7 b33n 4b13 70 r3p14c3
54mu31 in N473'z 3y3z. N473 h4d b33n g377ing qui373r 34ch vi5i7. Bu7 0n 7hi5
vi5i7 N473 didn'7 3v3n 5p34k wh3n J4ck w41k3d up 70 teh 13v3r. H3 n0dd3d 47
J4ck, 4nd 7h3n w3n7 b4ck 70 574ring in70 teh d353r7. J4ck, r35p3c7ing N473'5
5i13nc3, 547 d0wn 4nd w4i73d.
4f73r 4 ph3w minu73z, N473 5p0k3. "J4ck, I h4v3 50m30n3 70 in7r0duc3 j00 70."
J4ck 100k3d 5urpri53d. "50m30n3 70 in7r0duc3 m3 70?" J4ck 100k3d 4r0und, 4nd
7h3n 100k3d c4r3fu11y b4ck 47 N473. "7hiz 50m37hing 70 d0 wi7h teh Big Guy?
"N0, n0," r3p1i3d N473. "7hiz iz m0r3 p3r50n41. I w4n7 j00 70 m337 my 50n."
N473 100k3d 0v3r 47 teh n34r357 54nd dun3. "54mmy!"
J4ck w47ch3d 4z 4 ph0ur ph007 10ng d353r7 r477135n4k3 cr4w13d phr0m b3hind 7h3
dun3 4nd up 70 teh 570n3 b453 0f teh 13v3r.
"Y0, J4ck," 54id teh n3w, much 5m4113r 5n4k3.
"Y0, 54mmy" r3p1i3d J4ck. J4ck 100k3d 47 N473. "N4m3d 4f73r 54mu31, I
455um3?"
N473 n0dd3d. "J4ck, I'v3 g07 4 ph4v0r 70 45k j00. C0u1d j00 5h0w 54mmy 4r0und
f0r m3?" N473 unwr4pp3d him531f phr0m teh 13v3r 4nd 51i7h3r3d 0v3r 70 7h3
3dg3 0f teh 570n3 4nd 100k3d 4cr055 teh 54ndz. "Wh3n 54mu31 phir57 701d m3
4b0u7 teh w0r1d, 4nd br0ugh7 m3 b00kz 4nd pic7ur3z, I wi5h3d 7h47 I c0u1d g0
533 i7. I w4n73d 70 533 teh gr347 ph0r357z, teh c4ny0nz, teh ci7i3z, 3v3n 7h3
07h3r d353r7z, 70 533 if 7h3y ph317 4nd 5m3113d teh 54m3. I w4n7 my 50n 70
h4v3 7h47 ch4nc3 - 70 533 teh w0r1d. B3f0r3 h3 b3c0m3z b0und h3r3 1ik3 I
h4v3 b33n.
"H3'z 533n i7 in pic7ur3z, 0v3r teh c0mpu73r 7h47 j00 br0ugh7 m3. Bu7 I h34r
7h47 i7'z n07 teh 54m3. 7h47 b3ing 7h3r3 iz diff3r3n7. I w4n7 him 70 h4v3
7h47. 7hink j00 c4n d0 7h47 ph0r m3, J4ck?"
J4ck n0dd3d. 7hiz w4z 0bvi0u51y v3ry imp0r74n7 70 N473, 50 J4ck didn'7 3v3n
j0k3 4b0u7 74king 4 741king r477135n4k3 0u7 70 533 teh w0r1d. "Y34h, I c4n
d0 7h47 ph0r j00, N473. Iz 7h47 411 j00 n33d?" J4ck c0u1d 53n53 7h47 w45
50m37hing m0r3.
N473 100k3d 47 54mmy. 54mmy 100k3d b4ck 47 N473 ph0r 4 53c0nd 4nd 7h3n 54id,
"0h, y34h. Ummm, I'v3 g0774 g0 p4ck. B4ck in 4 1i7713 bi7 J4ck. Nic3 70 m337
y4!" 54mmy 51i7h3r3d b4ck 0v3r teh dun3 4nd 0u7 0f 5igh7.
N473 w47ch3d 54mmy di54pp34r 4nd 7h3n 100k3d b4ck 47 J4ck. "J4ck, 7hiz iz my
fir57 50n. My phir57 0ff5pring 7hr0ugh 411 teh y34rz. J00 d0n'7 3v3n w4n7 70
kn0w wh47 i7 700k ph0r m3 70 phind 4 m473." N473 grinn3d 70 him531f. "Bu7
4nyw4y, I h4d 4 50n ph0r 4 r3450n. I'm 7ir3d. I'm r34dy ph0r i7 70 b3 0v3r. I
n33d3d 4 r3p14c3m3n7."
J4ck c0n5id3r3d 7hiz ph0r 4 minu73. "50, j00'r3 r34dy 70 c0m3 533 teh w0r1d,
4nd j00 w4n73d him 70 w47ch teh 13v3r whi13 j00 w3r3 g0n3?"
N473 5h00k hiz h34d. "N0, J4ck - j00'r3 4 b3773r gu3553r 7h4n 7h47. J00'v3
41r34dy phigur3d 0u7 - I'm b0und h3r3 - 7h3r3'z 0n1y 0n3 w4y ph0r m3 70 134v3
h3r3. 4nd I'm r34dy. I7'z my 7im3 70 di3."
J4ck 100k3d m0r3 c10531y 47 N473. H3 c0u1d 7311 N473 h4d 7h0ugh7 4b0u7
7hiz - pr0b4b1y ph0r qui73 4 whi13. J4ck h4d 7r0ub13 im4gining wh47 i7 w0u1d
b3 1ik3 70 b3 4z 01d 4z N473, bu7 J4ck c0u1d 41r34dy 7311 7h47 in 4n07h3r
hundr3d 0r 7w0 hundr3d y34rz, h3 migh7 b3 g377ing 7ir3d 0f 1if3 him531f.
J4ck c0u1d und3r574nd 54mu31'z d3ci5i0n, 4nd n0w N473'z. 50, 411 J4ck 54id
w4z, "Wh47 d0 j00 w4n7 m3 70 d0?"
N473 n0dd3d. "7h4nkz, J4ck. I 0n1y w4n7 7w0 7hingz. 0n3 - 5h0w 54mmy 4r0und
teh w0r1d - 137 him g37 hiz phi11 0f i7, un7i1 h3'z r34dy 70 c0m3 b4ck h3r3
4nd 74k3 0v3r. 7w0 - giv3 m3 teh ph0ur7h r3qu357.
"I c4n'7 ju57 d3cid3 70 di3, n07 4ny m0r3 7h4n j00 c4n. I w0n'7 3v3n di3 0f
01d 4g3 1ik3 j00 3v3n7u411y wi11, 3v3n 7h0ugh i7'11 b3 4 10ng 7im3 phr0m n0w.
I n33d 70 b3 ki113d. 0nc3 54mmy iz b4ck h3r3, r34dy 70 74k3 0v3r, I'11 b3
4b13 70 di3. 4nd I n33d j00 70 ki11 m3.
"I'v3 3v3n 7h0ugh7 4b0u7 h0w. P0i50nz 4nd 07h3r drugz w0n'7 w0rk 0n m3. 4nd
I'v3 533n pic7ur3z 0f 5n4k3z 7h47 w3r3 5h07 - 50m3 0f 7h3m 1iv3 ph0r d4yz, 50
7h47'z 0u7 700. 50, I w4n7 j00 70 bring b4ck 4 5w0rd.
N473 7urn3d 4w4y 70 100k b4ck 70 teh dun3 7h47 54mmy h4d g0n3 b3hind. "I'd
54y 4n 4x3, bu7 7h47'z 50m3wh47 undignifi3d - pu77ing my h34d 0n teh gr0und
0r 4 ch0pping b10ck 1ik3 7h47. N0, I 1ik3 4 5w0rd. 4 7im3-h0n0r3d w4y 0f
g0ing 0u7. 4 dignifi3d w4y 70 di3. 4nd, m057 imp0r74n71y, i7 5h0u1d w0rk,
3v3n 0n m3.
"J00 wi11ing 70 d0 7h47 ph0r m3, J4ck?" N473 7urn3d b4ck 70 100k 47 J4ck.
"Y34h, N473," r3p1i3d J4ck 5013mn1y, "I 7hink I c4n h4nd13 7h47."
N473 n0dd3d. "G00d!" H3 7urn3d b4ck 70w4rd teh dun3 4nd 5h0u73d, "54mmy!
J4ck'z 4b0u7 r34dy 70 134v3!" 7h3n qui371y, "7h4nkz, J4ck."
J4ck didn'7 h4v3 4ny7hing 70 54y 70 7h47, 50 h3 w4i73d ph0r 54mmy 70 m4k3 i7
b4ck 70 teh 13v3r, n0dd3d 70 him, n0dd3d 4 phin41 7im3 70 N473, 4nd 7h3n
h34d3d in70 teh d353r7 wi7h 54mmy ph0110wing.
0v3r teh n3x7 53v3r41 y34rz 54mmy 4nd J4ck k3p7 in 70uch wi7h N473 7hr0ugh
3-m4i1 4z 7h3y w3n7 4b0u7 7h3ir 4dv3n7ur3z. 7h3y m4d3 4 g041 0f vi5i7ing
3v3ry c0un7ry in teh w0r1d, 4nd did 4 r35p3c74b13 j0b 0f i7. 54mmy h4d 4
n47ur41 gif7 ph0r 14ngu4g3z, 4z J4ck 3xp3c73d h3 w0u1d, 4nd 3v3n 3nd3d up
4c7ing 4z 4 7r4n51470r ph0r J4ck in 4 ph3w 0f teh c0un7ri3z. J4ck m4n4g3d 70
k33p teh 741king r477135n4k3 hidd3n, 3v3n 50, 4nd by teh 7im3 7h3y w3r3
n34ring teh 3nd 0f 7h3ir 70ur 0f c0un7ri3z, 54mmy h4d 0n1y b33n 5p0773d 4
f3w 7im3z. Whi13 7h3r3 w3r3 53v3r41 p30p13 7h47 h4d 533n 3n0ugh 70 574r713
7h3m gr3471y, n0b0dy h4d 3n0ugh 3vid3nc3 70 pr0v3 4ny7hing, 4nd whi13 4 ph3w
wi1d rum0rz 4nd 570ri3d ph0110w3d J4ck 4nd 54mmy 4r0und, n07hing 3v3r hi7 7h3
n3w5p4p3rz 0r teh pub1ic in g3n3r41.
Wh3n 7h3y phini5h3d teh 70ur 0f c0un7ri3z, J4ck 5ugg3573d 7h47 7h3y 7ry 50m3
und3rz34 diving. 7h3y did. 4nd 5p31unking. 7h3y did 7h47 700. 54mmy phin411y
dr3w teh 1in3 47 vi5i7ing 4n74rc7ic4. H3'd c0m3 70 r341iz3 7h47 J4ck w45
57411ing. 4f73r 741king 70 hiz D4d 4b0u7 i7 0v3r 3-m4i1, h3 phigur3d 0u7 7h47
J4ck pr0b4b1y didn'7 w4n7 70 h4v3 70 ki11 N473. N473 701d 54mmy 7h47 hum4n5
c0u1d b3 5qu34mi5h 4b0u7 ki11ing phri3ndz 4nd 4cqu4in74nc3z.
50, 54mmy 3v3n7u411y pu7 hiz 74i1 d0wn (4z h3 didn'7 h4v3 4 ph007) 4nd 701d
J4ck 7h47 i7 w4z 7im3 - h3 w4z r34dy 70 g0 b4ck 4nd 74k3 up hiz du7i3z phr0m
hiz d4d. J4ck, d314y3d i7 4 1i7713 m0r3 by in5i57ing 7h47 7h3y g0 b4ck 70
J4p4n 4nd buy 4n 4ppr0pri473 5w0rd. H3 3v3n 57r37ch3d i7 4 1i7713 m0r3 by
g377ing 13550nz in h0w 70 u53 teh 5w0rd. Bu7, 3v3n7u411y, h3'd 134rn3d 45
much 4z h3 w4z 1ik31y 70 wi7h0u7 d3dic47ing hiz 1if3 70 i7, 4nd w45
d3fini731y c0mp373n7 3n0ugh 70 74k3 teh h34d 0ff 0f 4 5n4k3. I7 w4z 7im3 70
h34d b4ck 4nd 533 N473.
Wh3n 7h3y g07 b4ck 70 teh UZ, J4ck g07 teh 01d RV 0u7 0f 570r4g3 wh3r3 h3
4nd 54mmy h4d 13f7 i7 4f73r 7h3ir 70ur 0f teh phif7y 57473z, h3 104d3d up
54mmy 4nd teh 5w0rd, 4nd 7h3y h34d3d ph0r teh d353r7.
Wh3n 7h3y g07 70 teh 5m411 70wn 7h47 J4ck h4d b33n 7rying 70 phind 7h053
y34rz 4g0 wh3n h3'd m37 N473, J4ck w4z in 4 phunk. H3 didn'7 r3411y ph331 1ik3
w41king 411 0f teh w4y 0u7 7h3r3. N07 0n1y 7h47, bu7 h3'd ph0rg0773n 70
figur3 teh 7r4v31 7im3 c0rr3c71y, 4nd i7 w4z 1473 4f73rn00n. 7h3y'd 3i7h3r
h4v3 70 5p3nd teh nigh7 in 70wn 4nd w41k 0u7 70m0rr0w, 0r w41k in teh d4rk.
4z J4ck w4z 4fr4id 7h47 if h3 w4i73d 0n3 m0r3 nigh7 h3 migh7 1053 hi5
r3501v3, h3 d3cid3d 7h47 h3'd g0 4h34d 4nd driv3 teh RV 0u7 7h3r3. I7 w45
0n1y g0ing 70 b3 7hiz 0nc3, 4nd J4ck w0u1d g0 b4ck 4nd c0v3r teh 7r4ck5
4f73rw4rd. 7h3y 0ugh7 70 b3 4b13 70 m4k3 i7 0u7 7h3r3 by nigh7f411 if 7h3y
dr0v3, 4nd 7h3n 7h3y c0u1d g37 i7 0v3r 70nigh7.
J4ck 701d 54mmy 70 3-m4i1 N473 7h47 7h3y w3r3 c0ming 4z h3 dr0v3 0u7 0f
5igh7 0f teh 70wn 0n teh r04d. 7h3y 7h3n pu113d 0ff teh r04d 4nd h34d3d 0u7
in70 teh d353r7.
3v3ry7hing w3n7 w311, un7i1 7h3y g07 70 teh 54nd dun3z. J4ck h4d b33n
nur5ing teh RV 410ng teh wh013 7im3, 0v3r teh r0x0rz, 7hr0ugh teh cr33k b3dz,
r3vving teh 3ngin3 teh ph3w 7im3z 7h3y 41m057 g07 57uck. Wh3n 7h3y c4m3 70
teh dun3z, J4ck didn'7 r3411y 7hink 4b0u7 i7, h3 ju57 d0wn5hif73d 4nd h34d3d
up teh phir57 0n3. By teh 7hird dun3, J4ck 574r73d 70 r3gr37 7h47 h3'd
d3cid3d 70 7ry driving 0n teh 54nd. teh RV w4z phi5h74i11ing 4nd 105ing
7r4c7i0n. J4ck w4z h4ving 70 w0rk i7 up 34ch dun3 510w1y 4nd w4z 7rying 70
k33p phr0m 105ing c0n7r01 34ch 7im3 7h3y c4m3 0v3r teh 70p 4nd 51id d0wn 7h3
07h3r 5id3. 54mmy h4d c0m3 up 70 5i7 in teh p4553ng3r z347, c0i13d up 4nd
14ughing 47 J4ck'z driving.
4z 7h3y c4m3 0v3r teh 70p 0f teh ph0ur7h dun3, teh bigg357 0n3 y37, J4ck 54w
7h47 7hiz w4z teh phin41 dun3 - teh 570n3, teh 13v3r, 4nd 50m3wh3r3 N473,
w4i73d b310w. J4ck pu7 0n teh br4k3z, bu7 h3'd g0n3 4 1i7713 700 ph4r. teh RV
574r73d 51ipping d0wn teh 07h3r 5id3.
J4ck 7ri3d 7urning teh wh331, bu7 h3 didn'7 h4v3 3n0ugh 7r4c7i0n. H3 pump3d
teh br4k3z - n0 r35p0n53. 7h3y 574r73d 51iding d0wn teh hi11, ph4573r 4nd
f4573r.
J4ck ph317 4 5h0ck g0 7hr0ugh him 4z h3 5udd3n1y r341iz3d 7h47 7h3y w3r3
h34ding ph0r teh 13v3r. H3 100k3d d0wn - teh RV w4z dir3c71y 0n c0ur53 ph0r
i7. If J4ck didn'7 d0 50m37hing, teh RV w0u1d hi7 i7. H3 w4z 4b0u7 70 3nd
hum4ni7y.
J4ck 5733r3d m0r3 phr4n7ic411y, 7rying 70 g37 7r4c7i0n. I7 57i11 w45n'7
w0rking. teh dun3 w4z 700 5733p, 4nd teh 54nd 700 10053. In 4 5p1i7 53c0nd,
J4ck r341iz3d 7h47 hiz 0n1y ch4nc3 w0u1d b3 0nc3 h3 hi7 teh 570n3 4r0und 7h3
13v3r - h3 5h0u1d h4v3 7r4c7i0n 0n teh 570n3 ph0r ju57 4 53c0nd b3f0r3 h3 hi7
teh 13v3r - h3 w0u1dn'7 h4v3 7im3 70 570p, bu7 h3 5h0u1d b3 4b13 70 5733r
4w4y.
J4ck 700k 4 b3773r grip 0n teh 5733ring wh331 4nd 7ri3d 70 7urn teh RV 4
1i7713 bi7 - 3v3ry 1i7713 bi7 w0u1d h31p. H3'd h4v3 70 7im3 hiz 7urn ju57
righ7.
teh RV g07 70 teh b0770m 0f teh dun3, 51iding 47 4n 4m4zing 5p33d in 7h3
54nd. Ju57 b3f0r3 7h3y r34ch3d teh 570n3 J4ck 100k3d 4cr055 i7 70 ch3ck 7h47
7h3y w3r3 57i11 h34ding ph0r teh 13v3r. 7h3y w3r3. Bu7 J4ck n07ic3d 50m37hing
3153 7h47 h3 h4dn'7 533n phr0m teh 70p 0f teh dun3. N473 w45n'7 wr4pp3d
4r0und teh 13v3r. H3 w4z 0ff 70 teh 5id3 0f teh 13v3r, bu7 57i11 0n 7h3
570n3, w4i7ing ph0r 7h3m. teh pr0b13m w4z, h3 w4z w4i7ing 0n teh 54m3 5id3 0f
teh 13v3r 7h47 J4ck h4d pick3d 70 5733r 70w4rdz 70 4v0id teh 13v3r. teh RV
w4z 41r34dy 574r7ing 70 drif7 7h47 w4y 4 1i7713 in i7z m4d ru5h 4cr055 7h3
54nd 4nd 7h3r3 w4z n0 w4y 7h47 J4ck w4z g0ing 70 b3 4b13 70 g0 4r0und 7h3
13v3r 70 teh 07h3r 5id3.
J4ck h4d 4n in574n7 0f r341iz47i0n. H3 w4z 3i7h3r g0ing 70 h4v3 70 hi7 7h3
13v3r, 0r run 0v3r N473. H3 g14nc3d 0v3r 47 54mmy 4nd 54w 7h47 54mmy
r341iz3d teh 54m3 7hing.
J4ck 700k 4 phirm3r grip 0n teh 5733ring wh331 4z teh RV r4n up 0n teh 570n3.
5h0u7ing 70 54mmy 4z h3 pu113d teh 5733ring wh331, "B3773R N473 7H4N 13V3R,"
h3 r4n 0v3r teh 5n4k3.
TEH 3ND
50, 7h3r3'z 4 m4n cr4w1ing 7hr0ugh teh d353r7.
H3'd d3cid3d 70 7ry hiz 5UV in 4 1i7713 bi7 0f cr055-c0un7ry 7r4v31, h4d
gr347 phun z00ming 0v3r teh b4d14ndz 4nd 7hr0ugh teh 54nd, g07 1057, hi7 4
big r0x0r, 4nd 7h3n h3 c0u1dn'7 g37 i7 574r73d 4g4in. 7h3r3 w3r3 n0 c311
ph0n3 70w3rz 4nywh3r3 n34r, 50 hiz c311 ph0n3 w4z u53135z. H3 h4d n0 ph4mi1y,
hiz p4r3n7z h4d di3d 4 ph3w y34rz b3f0r3 in 4n 4u70 4ccid3n7, 4nd hiz ph3w
fri3ndz h4d n0 id34 h3 w4z 0u7 h3r3.
H3 574y3d wi7h teh c4r ph0r 4 d4y 0r 50, bu7 hiz 0n3 b07713 0f w473r r4n 0u7
4nd h3 w4z g377ing 7hir57y. H3 7h0ugh7 m4yb3 h3 kn3w teh dir3c7i0n b4ck, n0w
7h47 h3'd p4id 4773n7i0n 70 teh 5un 4nd 7h0ugh7 h3'd phigur3d 0u7 which w4y
w4z n0r7h, 50 h3 d3cid3d 70 574r7 w41king. H3 phigur3d h3 0n1y h4d 70 g0
4b0u7 30 mi13z 0r 50 4nd h3'd b3 b4ck 70 teh 5m411 70wn h3'd g0773n g4z in
1457.
H3 7hinkz 4b0u7 w41king 47 nigh7 70 4v0id teh h347 4nd 5un, bu7 b453d up0n
h0w d4rk i7 4c7u411y w4z teh nigh7 b3f0r3, 4nd giv3n 7h47 h3 h4z n0
f145h1igh7, h3'z 4fr4id 7h47 h3'11 br34k 4 13g 0r 573p 0n 4 r477135n4k3. 50,
h3 pu7z 0n 50m3 5un b10ck, pu7z teh r357 in hiz p0ck37 ph0r r34pp1ic47i0n
1473r, bringz 4n umbr3114 h3'd h4d in teh b4ck 0f teh 5UV wi7h him 70 giv3
him 4 1i7713 5h4d3, p0urz teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid in70 hiz w473r b07713
in c453 h3 g37z 7h47 d35p3r473, bringz hiz p0ck37 knif3 in c453 h3 phindz 4
c4c7uz 7h47 100kz 1ik3 i7 migh7 h4v3 w473r in i7, 4nd h34dz 0u7 in 7h3
dir3c7i0n h3 7hinkz iz righ7.
H3 w41kz ph0r teh 3n7ir3 d4y. By teh 3nd 0f teh d4y h3'z r3411y 7hir57y. H3'5
b33n 5w347ing 411 d4y, 4nd hiz 1ipz 4r3 574r7ing 70 cr4ck. H3'z r34pp1i3d
teh 5unb10ck 7wic3, 4nd 7ri3d 70 574y und3r teh umbr3114, bu7 h3 57i11 ph3315
5unburn3d. teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid 5105hing in teh b07713 in hiz p0ck37
iz r3411y g377ing 73mp7ing n0w. H3 kn0wz 7h47 i7'z m4in1y w473r 4nd 50m3
37h4n01 4nd c010ring, bu7 h3 4150 kn0wz 7h47 7h3y 4dd 50m3 kind 0f p0i50n 70
i7 70 k33p p30p13 phr0m drinking i7. H3 w0nd3rz wh47 teh p0i50n iz, 4nd
wh37h3r teh p0i50n w0u1d b3 w0r53 7h4n dying 0f 7hir57.
H3 pu5h3z 0n, 7rying 70 g37 70 7h47 5m411 70wn b3f0r3 d4rk.
By teh 3nd 0f teh d4y h3 574r7z g377ing w0rri3d. H3 phigur3z h3'z b33n
w41king 47 13457 3 mi13z 4n h0ur, 4cc0rding 70 hiz w47ch ph0r 0v3r 10 h0urz.
7h47 m34nz 7h47 if hiz 357im473 w4z righ7 7h47 h3 5h0u1d b3 c1053 70 7h3
70wn. Bu7 h3 d035n'7 r3c0gniz3 4ny 0f 7hiz. H3 h4d 70 cr055 4 dry cr33k b3d
4 mi13 0r 7w0 b4ck, 4nd h3 d035n'7 r3m3mb3r c0ming 7hr0ugh i7 in teh 5UV. H3
figur3z 7h47 m4yb3 h3 g07 hiz dir3c7i0n 0ff ju57 4 1i7713 4nd 7h47 teh dry
cr33k b3d w4z ju57 0ff 70 0n3 5id3 0f hiz p47h. H3 7311z him531f 7h47 h3'5
c1053, 4nd 7h47 4f73r d4rk h3'11 574r7 533ing teh 70wn 1igh7z 0v3r 0n3 0f
7h353 hi11z, 4nd 7h47'11 b3 411 h3 n33dz.
4z i7 g37z dim 3n0ugh 7h47 h3 574r7z 57umb1ing 0v3r 5m411 r0x0rz 4nd 7hingz,
h3 phindz 4 5p07 4nd 5i7z d0wn 70 w4i7 ph0r phu11 d4rk 4nd teh 70wn 1igh7z.
Fu11 d4rk c0m3z b3f0r3 h3 kn0wz i7. H3 mu57 h4v3 d0z3d 0ff. H3 574ndz b4ck
up 4nd 7urnz 411 teh w4y 4r0und. H3 533z n07hing bu7 574rz.
H3 w4k3z up teh n3x7 m0rning ph331ing 4b501u731y 10u5y. Hiz 3y3z 4r3 gummy
4nd hiz m0u7h 4nd n053 ph331 1ik3 7h3y'r3 phu11 0f 54nd. H3 50 7hir57y 7h47 h3
c4n'7 3v3n 5w4110w. H3 b4r31y g07 4ny 5133p b3c4u53 i7 w4z 50 c01d. H3'd
f0rg0773n h0w c01d i7 g07 47 nigh7 in teh d353r7 4nd h4dn'7 n07ic3d i7 7h3
nigh7 b3f0r3 b3c4u53 h3'd b33n in hiz c4r.
H3 kn0wz teh Ru13 0f 7hr33z - 7hr33 minu73z wi7h0u7 4ir, 7hr33 d4yz wi7h0u7
w473r, 7hr33 w33kz wi7h0u7 ph00d - 7h3n j00 di3. 50m3 p30p13 c4n m4k3 i7 4
1i7713 10ng3r, in teh b357 5i7u47i0nz. Bu7 teh d353r7 h347 4nd h4ving 70
w41k 4nd 5w347 i5n'7 teh b357 5i7u47i0n 70 b3 wi7h0u7 w473r. H3 phigur3z,
un1355 h3 phindz w473r, 7hiz iz hiz 1457 d4y.
H3 rin53z hiz m0u7h 0u7 wi7h 4 1i7713 0f teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid. H3
w4i7z 4 whi13 4f73r 5pi77ing 7h47 1i7713 bi7 0u7, 70 533 if hiz m0u7h g035
numb, 0r h3 ph331z dizzy 0r 50m37hing. H4z hiz m0u7h g0n3 numb? Iz i7 ju57 in
hiz mind? H3'z n07 5ur3. H3'11 g0 4 1i7713 ph4r7h3r, 4nd if h3 57i11 d035n'7
find w473r, h3'11 7ry drinking 50m3 0f teh ph1uid.
7h3n h3 h4z 70 ph4c3 hiz n3x7, h4rd3r qu357i0n - which w4y d03z h3 g0 phr0m
h3r3? D03z h3 k33p w41king teh 54m3 w4y h3 w4z y3573rd4y (455uming 7h47 h3
57i11 kn0wz which w4y 7h47 i5), 0r d03z h3 7ry 4 n3w dir3c7i0n? H3 h4z n0
id34 wh47 70 d0.
100king 47 teh hi11z 4nd dun3z 4r0und him, h3 7hinkz h3 kn0wz teh dir3c7i0n
h3 w4z h34ding b3f0r3. Ju57 g0ing by 4 ph331ing, h3 p0in7z him531f 50m3wh47
70 teh 13f7 0f 7h47, 4nd 574r7z w41king.
4z h3 w41kz, teh d4y 574r7z h347ing up. teh d353r7, 700 c01d ju57 4 c0up13
0f h0urz b3f0r3, 500n b3c0m3z 4n 0v3n 4g4in. H3 5w347z 4 1i7713 47 phir57,
4nd 7h3n 570pz. H3 574r7z g377ing w0rri3d 47 7h47 - wh3n j00 570p 5w347ing
h3 kn0wz 7h47 m34nz j00'r3 in 7r0ub13 - u5u411y righ7 b3f0r3 h347 57r0k3.
H3 d3cid3z 7h47 i7'z 7im3 70 7ry teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid. H3 c4n'7 w4i7
4ny 10ng3r - if h3 p4553z 0u7, h3'z d34d. H3 570pz in teh 5h4d3 0f 4 14rg3
r0x0r, 74k3z teh b07713 0u7, 0p3nz i7, 4nd 74k3z 4 m0u7hfu1. H3 510w1y
5w4110wz i7, m4king i7 1457 4z 10ng 4z h3 c4n. I7 ph331z 50 g00d in hiz dry
4nd cr4ck3d 7hr047 7h47 h3 d035n'7 3v3n c4r3 4b0u7 teh n457y 74573. H3 74k35
4n07h3r m0u7hfu1, 4nd m4k3z i7 1457 700. 510w1y, h3 drinkz h41f teh b07713.
H3 phigur3z 7h47 5inc3 h3'z drinking i7, h3 migh7 4z w311 drink 3n0ugh 70
m4k3 50m3 diff3r3nc3 4nd k33p him531f phr0m p455ing 0u7.
H3'z qui7 w0rrying 4b0u7 teh d3n47uring 0f teh wip3r ph1uid. If i7 ki11z him,
i7 ki11z him - if h3 didn'7 drink i7, h3'd di3 4nyw4y. B35id3z, h3'z pr377y
5ur3 7h47 wh473v3r 5ub574nc3 7h3y d3n47ur3 teh ph1uid wi7h iz ju57 d35ign3d
70 m4k3 j00 5ick - 7h3ir w4y 0f k33ping win0z phr0m buying ch34p wip3r ph1uid
f0r teh 37h4n01 c0n73n7. H3 c4n h4nd13 7hr0wing up, if i7 c0m3z 70 7h47.
H3 w41kz. H3 w41kz in teh h07, dry, wind1355 d353r7. 54nd, r0x0rz, hi11z,
dun3z, teh 0cc45i0n41 5cr4wny c4c7uz 0r dri3d bu5h. N0 5ign 0f w473r.
50m37im3z h3'11 533 4 1i7713 m0v3m3n7 70 0n3 5id3 0r teh 07h3r, bu7 wh473v3r
m0v3d iz u5u411y g0n3 b3f0r3 h3 c4n ph0cuz hiz 3y3z 0n i7. Pr0b4b1y birdz,
1iz4rdz, 0r mic3. M4yb3 5n4k3z, 7h0ugh 7h3y u5u411y m0v3 m0r3 47 nigh7. H3'5
c4r3fu1 70 574y 4w4y phr0m teh m0v3m3n7z.
4f73r 4 whi13, h3 b3ginz 70 574gg3r. H3'z n07 5ur3 if i7'z ph47igu3, h347
57r0k3 phin411y c47ching him, 0r m4yb3 h3 w4z wr0ng 4nd teh d3n47uring 0f 7h3
wip3r ph1uid w4z w0r53 7h4n h3 7h0ugh7. H3 7ri3z 70 5734dy him531f, 4nd k33p
g0ing.
4f73r m0r3 w41king, h3 c0m3z 70 4 14rg3 57r37ch 0f 54nd. 7hiz iz g00d! H3
kn0wz h3 p4553d 0v3r 4 57r37ch 0f 54nd in teh 5UV - h3 r3m3mb3rz d0ing
d0nu7z in i7. 0r 47 13457 h3 7hinkz h3 r3m3mb3rz i7 - h3'z g377ing w00zy
3n0ugh 4nd 7ir3d 3n0ugh 7h47 h3'z n07 5ur3 wh47 h3 r3m3mb3rz 4ny m0r3 0r if
h3'z h411ucin47ing. Bu7 h3 7hinkz h3 r3m3mb3rz i7. 50 h3 h34dz 0ff in70 i7,
7rying 70 g37 70 teh 07h3r 5id3, h0ping 7h47 i7 g37z him c1053r 70 teh 70wn.
H3 w4z h34ding ph0r 4 70wn, w45n'7 h3? H3 7hinkz h3 w4z. H3 i5n'7 5ur3 4ny
m0r3. H3'z n07 3v3n 5ur3 h0w 10ng h3'z b33n w41king 4ny m0r3. Iz i7 57i11
m0rning? 0r h4z i7 m0v3d in70 4f73rn00n 4nd teh 5un iz g0ing d0wn 4g4in? I7
mu57 b3 4f73rn00n - i7 533mz 1ik3 i7'z b33n 700 10ng 5inc3 h3 574r73d 0u7.
H3 w41kz 7hr0ugh teh 54nd.
4f73r 4 whi13, h3 c0m3z 70 4 big dun3 in teh 54nd. 7hiz iz b4d. H3 d035n'7
r3m3mb3r 4ny dun3z wh3n driving 0v3r teh 54nd in hiz 5UV. 0r 47 13457 h3
d035n'7 7hink h3 r3m3mb3rz 4ny. 7hiz iz b4d.
Bu7, h3 h4z n0 07h3r dir3c7i0n 70 g0. 700 1473 70 7urn b4ck n0w. H3 phigur35
7h47 h3'11 g37 70 teh 70p 0f teh dun3 4nd 533 if h3 c4n 533 4ny7hing phr0m
7h3r3 7h47 h31pz him phind teh 70wn. H3 k33pz g0ing up teh dun3.
H41fw4y up, h3 51ipz in teh b4d ph007ing 0f teh 54nd ph0r teh 53c0nd 0r 7hird
7im3, 4nd ph411z 70 hiz kn33z. H3 d035n'7 ph331 1ik3 g377ing b4ck up - h3'11
ju57 ph411 d0wn 4g4in. 50, h3 k33pz g0ing up teh dun3 0n hiz h4nd 4nd kn33z.
Whi13 cr4w1ing, if hiz 7hr047 w3r3n'7 50 dry, h3'd 14ugh. H3'z phin411y
g0773n 70 teh hax0rn3y3d im4g3 0f 4 m4n 1057 in teh d353r7 - cr4w1ing 7hr0ugh
teh 54nd 0n hiz h4ndz 4nd kn33z. If w0u1d b3 teh p3rf3c7 im4g3, h3 im4gin3z,
if 0n1y hiz c107h3z w3r3 m0r3 r4gg3d. teh p30p13 cr4w1ing 7hr0ugh teh d353r7
in teh c4r700nz 41w4yz h4d r4gg3d c107h3z. Bu7 hiz h4v3 14573d wi7h0u7 4ny
ripz 50 ph4r. 50m3b0dy wi11 pr0b4b1y phind hiz d355ic473d c0rp53 h41f buri3d
in teh 54nd y34rz phr0m n0w, 4nd hiz c107h3z wi11 57i11 b3 in phin3 5h4p3 -
5h4k3 teh 54nd 0u7, 4nd 4 g00d w45h, 4nd 7h3y'd b3 w34r4b13 4g4in. H3 wi5h35
hiz 7hr047 w3r3 w37 3n0ugh 70 14ugh. H3 c0ughz 4 1i7713 in5734d, 4nd i7
hur7z.
H3 phin411y m4k3z i7 70 teh 70p 0f teh 54nd dun3. N0w 7h47 h3'z 47 teh 70p,
h3 57rugg13z 4 1i7713, bu7 m4n4g3z 70 574nd up 4nd 100k 4r0und. 411 h3 5335
iz 54nd. 54nd, 4nd m0r3 54nd. B3hind him, 4b0u7 4 mi13 4w4y, h3 7hinkz h3
533z teh r0x0ry gr0und h3 13f7 70 h34d in70 7hiz 54nd. 4h34d 0f him, m0r3
dun3z, m0r3 54nd. 7hiz i5n'7 wh3r3 h3 dr0v3 hiz 5UV. 7hiz iz H311. 0r c1053
3n0ugh.
4g4in, h3 d035n'7 kn0w wh47 70 d0. H3 d3cid3z 70 drink teh r357 0f teh wip3r
f1uid whi13 phiguring i7 0u7. H3 74k3z 0u7 teh b07713, 4nd iz r3m0ving 7h3
c4p, wh3n h3 g14nc3z 70 teh 5id3 4nd 533z 50m37hing. 50m37hing in teh 54nd.
47 teh b0770m 0f teh dun3, 0ff 70 teh 5id3, h3 533z 50m37hing 57r4ng3. I7'5
4 ph147 4r34, in teh 54nd. H3 570pz 74king teh c4p 0f teh b07713 0ff, 4nd
7ri3z 70 100k c1053r. teh 4r34 533mz 70 b3 circu14r. 4nd i7'z d4rk - d4rk3r
7h4n teh 54nd. 4nd, 7h3r3 533mz 70 b3 50m37hing in teh midd13 0f i7, bu7 h3
c4n'7 7311 wh47 i7 iz. H3 100kz 4z h4rd 4z h3 c4n, 4nd 57i11 c4n 7311 phr0m
h3r3. H3'z g0ing 70 h4v3 70 g0 d0wn 7h3r3 4nd 100k.
H3 pu7z teh b07713 b4ck in hiz p0ck37, 4nd 574r7z 70 57umb13 d0wn teh dun3.
4f73r 4 ph3w 573pz, h3 r341iz3z 7h47 h3'z in 7r0ub13 - h3'z n07 g0ing 70 b3
4b13 70 k33p hiz b414nc3. 4f73r 4 c0up13 0f m0r3 51iding, 70773ring 573pz,
h3 ph411z 4nd 574r7z 70 r011 d0wn teh dun3. teh 54nd i7 50 h07 wh3n hiz b0dy
hi7z i7 7h47 ph0r 4 minu73 h3 7hinkz h3'z c4ugh7 phir3 0n teh w4y d0wn - 1ik3
4 m0vi3 c4r wr3ck ph145hing in70 ph14m3z 4z i7 g03z 0v3r teh c1iff, b3f0r3 i7
3v3r 3v3n hi7z teh gr0und. H3 c1053z hiz 3y3z 4nd m0u7h, c0v3rz hiz ph4c3
wi7h hiz h4ndz, 4nd w4i7z 70 570p r011ing.
H3 570pz, 47 teh b0770m 0f teh dun3. 4f73r 4 minu73 0r 7w0, h3 phindz 3n0ugh
3n3rgy 70 7ry 70 5i7 up 4nd g37 teh 54nd 0u7 0f hiz ph4c3 4nd c107h3z. Wh3n
h3 c134rz hiz 3y3z 3n0ugh, h3 100kz 4r0und 70 m4k3 5ur3 7h47 teh d4rk 5p07
in teh 54nd i7 57i11 7h3r3 4nd h3 h4dn'7 ju57 im4gin3d i7.
50, 533ing teh 14rg3, ph147, d4rk 5p07 0n teh 54nd iz 57i11 7h3r3, h3 b3gin5
70 cr4w1 70w4rdz i7. H3'd g37 up 4nd w41k 70w4rdz i7, bu7 h3 d035n'7 533m 70
h4v3 teh 3n3rgy 70 g37 up 4nd w41k righ7 n0w. H3 mu57 b3 in teh phin41 574g35
0f d3hydr47i0n h3 phigur3z, 4z h3 cr4w1z. If 7hiz p14c3 in teh 54nd d035n'7
h4v3 w473r, h3'11 1ik31y n3v3r m4k3 i7 4nywh3r3 3153. 7hiz iz hiz 1457
ch4nc3.
H3 g37z c1053r 4nd c1053r, bu7 57i11 c4n'7 533 wh47'z in teh midd13 0f 7h3
d4rk 4r34. Hiz 3y3z w0n'7 qui73 ph0cuz 4ny m0r3 ph0r 50m3 r3450n. 4nd 1if7ing
hiz h34d up 70 100k 74k3z 50 much 3ff0r7 7h47 h3 giv3z up 7rying. H3 ju57
k33pz cr4w1ing.
Fin411y, h3 r34ch3z teh 4r34 h3'd 533n phr0m teh dun3. I7 74k3z him 4 minu73
0f cr4w1ing 0n i7 b3f0r3 h3 r341iz3z 7h47 h3'z n0 10ng3r 0n 54nd - h3'z n0w
cr4w1ing 0n 50m3 kind 0f d4rk 570n3. 570n3 wi7h 50m3 kind 0f m4rking 0n i7 -
4 p4773rn cu7 in70 teh 570n3. H3'z 700 7ir3d 70 574nd up 4nd 7ry 70 533 wh47
teh p4773rn iz - 50 h3 ju57 k33pz cr4w1ing. H3 cr4w1z 70w4rdz teh c3n73r,
wh3r3 hiz b1urry 3y3z 57i11 533 50m37hing in teh midd13 0f teh d4rk 570n3
4r34.
Hiz mind, d374ch3d in 4 57r4ng3 w4y, n073z 7h47 3i7h3r hiz h4ndz 4nd kn335
4r3 50 burn7 by teh 54nd 7h47 7h3y n0 10ng3r ph331 p4in, 0r 7h47 7hiz d4rk
570n3, in teh midd13 0f 4 burning d353r7 wi7h 4 p0unding, puni5hing 5un
0v3rh34d, d035n'7 533m 70 b3 h07. I7 41m057 ph331z c001. H3 c0n5id3rz 1ying
d0wn 0n teh nic3 c001 5urf4c3.
C001, d4rk 570n3. N07 4 g00d 5ign. H3 mu57 b3 h411ucin47ing 7hiz. H3'5
pr0b4b1y in teh midd13 0f 4 p47ch 0f 54nd, 41r34dy 1ying ph4c3 d0wn 4nd
dying, 4nd ju57 im4gining 7hiz wh013 7hing. 4 d353r7 mir4g3. 500n 7h3
b34u7ifu1 w0m3n c4rrying pi7ch3rz 0f w473r wi11 c0m3 up 4nd 574r7 giving him
4 drink. 7h3n h3'11 kn0w h3'z g0n3.
H3 d3cid3z 4g4in57 14ying d0wn 0n teh c001 570n3. If h3'z g0ing 70 di3 h3r3
in teh midd13 0f 7hiz h411ucin47i0n, h3 47 13457 w4n7z 70 533 wh47'z in 7h3
c3n73r b3f0r3 h3 g03z. H3 k33pz cr4w1ing.
I7'z teh 7hird 7im3 7h47 h3 h34rz teh v0ic3 b3f0r3 h3 r341iz3z wh47 h3'5
h34ring. H3 w0u1d 5w34r 7h47 50m30n3 ju57 54id, "Gr337ingz, 7r4v313r. J00 d0
n07 100k w311. D0 j00 h34r m3?"
H3 570pz cr4w1ing. H3 7ri3z 70 100k up phr0m wh3r3 h3 iz 0n hiz h4ndz 4nd
kn33z, bu7 i7'z 700 much 3ff0r7 70 1if7 hiz h34d. 50 h3 7ri3z 50m37hing
diff3r3n7 - h3 134nz b4ck 4nd 7ri3z 70 5i7 up 0n teh 570n3. 4f73r 4 ph3w
53c0ndz, h3 c47ch3z hiz b414nc3, 4v0idz ph411ing 0n hiz ph4c3, 5i7z up, 4nd
7ri3z 70 ph0cuz hiz 3y3z. B1urry. H3 rubz hiz 3y3z wi7h teh b4ck 0f hiz h4nd5
4nd 7ri3z 4g4in. B3773r 7hiz 7im3.
Y3p. H3 c4n 533. H3'z 5i77ing in teh midd13 0f 4 14rg3, ph147, d4rk 3xp4n53
0f 570n3. Dir3c71y n3x7 70 him, 4b0u7 7hr33 ph337 4w4y, iz 4 whi73 p057 0r
p013 4b0u7 7w0 inch3z in di4m373r 4nd 57icking up 4b0u7 ph0ur 0r phiv3 ph337
0u7 0f teh 570n3, 47 4n 4ng13.
4nd wr4pp3d 4r0und 7hiz whi73 r0d, 74i1 wi7h r47713 0n i7 h0v3ring 4nd
533ming 70 b3 r34dy 70 574r7 r4771ing, iz wh47 mu57 b3 4 phif733n ph007 10ng
d353r7 di4m0ndb4ck r477135n4k3, 100king dir3c71y 47 him.
H3 574r3z 47 teh 5n4k3 in 5h0ck. H3 d035n'7 h4v3 teh 3n3rgy 70 g37 up 4nd
run 4w4y. H3 d035n'7 3v3n h4v3 teh 3n3rgy 70 cr4w1 4w4y. 7hiz iz i7, hi5
fin41 r357ing p14c3. N0 m4773r wh47 h4pp3nz, h3'z n07 g0ing 70 b3 4b13 70
m0v3 phr0m 7hiz 5p07.
W311, 47 13457 dying 0f 4 bi73 phr0m 7hiz m0n573r 5h0u1d b3 quick3r 7h4n
dying 0f 7hir57. H3'11 ph4c3 hiz 3nd 1ik3 4 m4n. H3 57rugg13z 70 5i7 up 4
1i7713 57r4igh73r. teh 5n4k3 k33pz w47ching him. H3 1if7z 0n3 h4nd 4nd w4v35
i7 in teh 5n4k3'z dir3c7i0n, ph33b1y. teh 5n4k3 w47ch3z teh h4nd ph0r 4
m0m3n7, 7h3n g03z b4ck 70 w47ching teh m4n, 100king in70 hiz 3y3z.
Hmmm. M4yb3 teh 5n4k3 h4d n0 in73r357 in bi7ing him? I7 h4dn'7 r47713d y37 -
7h47 w4z 4 g00d 5ign. M4yb3 h3 w45n'7 g0ing 70 di3 0f 5n4k3 bi73 4f73r 411.
H3 7h3n r3m3mb3rz 7h47 h3'd 100k3d up wh3n h3'd r34ch3d teh c3n73r h3r3
b3c4u53 h3 7h0ugh7 h3'd h34rd 4 v0ic3. H3 w4z 57i11 v3ry w00zy - h3 w45
1ik31y 70 p455 0u7 500n, teh 5un 57i11 b347 d0wn 0n him 3v3n 7h0ugh h3 w45
n0w 0n c001 570n3. H3 57i11 didn'7 h4v3 4ny7hing 70 drink. Bu7 m4yb3 h3 h4d
4c7u411y h34rd 4 v0ic3. 7hiz 570n3 didn'7 100k n47ur41. N0r did 7h47 whi73
p057 57icking up 0u7 0f teh 570n3. 50m30n3 h4d 70 h4v3 bui17 7hiz. M4yb3
7h3y w3r3 57i11 n34rby. M4yb3 7h47 w4z wh0 741k3d 70 him. M4yb3 7hiz 5n4k3
w4z 3v3n 7h3ir p37, 4nd 7h47'z why i7 w45n'7 bi7ing.
H3 7ri3z 70 c134r hiz 7hr047 70 54y, "H3110," bu7 hiz 7hr047 iz 700 dry. 411
7h47 c0m3z 0u7 iz 4 c0ughing 0r wh33zing 50und. 7h3r3 iz n0 w4y h3'z g0ing
70 b3 4b13 70 741k wi7h0u7 50m37hing 70 drink. H3 ph331z hiz p0ck37, 4nd 7h3
b07713 wi7h teh wip3r ph1uid iz 57i11 7h3r3. H3 5h4ki1y pu11z teh b07713 0u7,
41m057 105ing hiz b414nc3 4nd ph411ing 0n hiz b4ck in teh pr0c35z. 7hiz i5n'7
g00d. H3 d035n'7 h4v3 much 7im3 13f7, by hiz r3ck0ning, b3f0r3 h3 p45535
0u7.
H3 g37z teh 1id 0ff 0f teh b07713, m4n4g3z 70 g37 teh b07713 70 hiz 1ipz,
4nd p0urz 50m3 0f teh ph1uid in70 hiz m0u7h. H3 5105h3z i7 4r0und, 4nd 7h3n
5w4110wz i7. H3 c0ughz 4 1i7713. Hiz 7hr047 ph331z b3773r. M4yb3 h3 c4n 741k
n0w.
H3 7ri3z 4g4in. Ign0ring teh 5n4k3, h3 7urnz 70 100k 4r0und him, h0ping 70
5p07 teh 0wn3r 0f 7hiz p14c3, 4nd cr04kz 0u7, "H3110? Iz 7h3r3 4ny0n3 h3r3?"
H3 h34rz, phr0m hiz 5id3, "Gr337ingz. Wh47 iz i7 7h47 j00 w4n7?"
H3 7urnz hiz h34d, b4ck 70w4rdz teh 5n4k3. 7h47'z wh3r3 teh 50und h4d 533m3d
70 c0m3 phr0m. teh 0n1y 7hing h3 c4n 7hink 0f iz 7h47 7h3r3 mu57 b3 4
5p34k3r, hidd3n und3r teh 5n4k3, 0r m4yb3 bui17 in70 7h47 p057. H3 d3cid35
70 7ry 45king ph0r h31p.
"P13453," h3 cr04kz 4g4in, 5udd3n1y ph331ing dizzy, "I'd 10v3 70 n07 b3
7hir57y 4ny m0r3. I'v3 b33n 4 10ng 7im3 wi7h0u7 w473r. C4n j00 h31p m3?"
100king in teh dir3c7i0n 0f teh 5n4k3, h0ping 70 533 wh3r3 teh v0ic3 w45
c0ming phr0m 7hiz 7im3, h3 iz 5h0ck3d 70 533 teh 5n4k3 r34r b4ck, 0p3n i75
m0u7h, 4nd 5p34k. H3 h34rz i7 54y, 4z teh dizzin355 0v3r74k3z him 4nd h3
f411z ph0rw4rd, ph4c3 phir57 0n teh 570n3, "V3ry w311. C0ming up."
4 pi3rcing p4in 5h007z 7hr0ugh hiz 5h0u1d3r. 5udd3n1y h3 iz 4w4k3. H3 5i75
up 4nd gr4bz hiz 5h0u1d3r, wincing 47 teh 7hr0bbing p4in. H3'z m0m3n74ri1y
di50ri3n73d 4z h3 100kz 4r0und, 4nd 7h3n h3 r3m3mb3rz - teh cr4w1 4cr055 7h3
54nd, teh d4rk 4r34 0f 570n3, teh 5n4k3. H3 533z teh 5n4k3, 57i11 wr4pp3d
4r0und teh 7i173d whi73 p057, 57i11 100king 47 him.
H3 r34ch3z up 4nd ph331z hiz 5h0u1d3r, wh3r3 i7 hur7z. I7 ph331z 51igh71y w37.
H3 pu11z hiz phing3rz 4w4y 4nd 100kz 47 7h3m - b100d. H3 ph331z hiz 5h0u1d3r
4g4in - hiz 5hir7 h4z wh47 ph331z 1ik3 7w0 h013z in i7 - 7w0 punc7ur3 h013z -
7h3y m47ch up wi7h teh 7w0 4ching 5p07z 0f p4in 0n hiz 5h0u1d3r. H3 h4d b33n
bi773n. By teh 5n4k3.
"I7'11 ph331 b3773r in 4 minu73." H3 100kz up - i7'z teh 5n4k3 741king. H3
h4dn'7 dr34m3d i7. 5udd3n1y h3 n07ic3z - h3'z n07 dizzy 4ny m0r3. 4nd m0r3
imp0r74n71y, h3'z n07 7hir57y 4ny m0r3 - 47 411!
"H4v3 I di3d? Iz 7hiz teh 4f73r1if3? Why 4r3 j00 bi7ing m3 in 7h3
4f73r1if3?"
"50rry 4b0u7 7h47, bu7 I h4d 70 bi73 j00," 54yz teh 5n4k3. "7h47'z teh w4y I
w0rk. I7 411 c0m3z 7hr0ugh teh bi73. 7hink 0f i7 4z n47ur41 m3dicin3."
"J00 bi7 m3 70 h31p m3? Why 4r3n'7 I 7hir57y 4ny m0r3? Did j00 giv3 m3 4
drink b3f0r3 j00 bi7 m3? H0w did I drink 3n0ugh whi13 unc0n5ci0uz 70 n07 b3
7hir57y 4ny m0r3? I h4v3n'7 h4d 4 drink ph0r 0v3r 7w0 d4yz. W311, 3xc3p7 ph0r
teh wind5hi31d wip3r ph1uid... h01d i7, h0w in teh w0r1d d03z 4 5n4k3 741k?
4r3 j00 r341? 4r3 j00 50m3 50r7 0f Di5n3y 4nim47i0n?"
"N0," 54yz teh 5n4k3, "I'm r341. 4z r341 4z j00 0r 4ny0n3 iz, 4nyw4y. I
didn'7 giv3 j00 4 drink. I bi7 j00. 7h47'z h0w i7 w0rkz - i7'z wh47 I d0. I
bi73. I d0n'7 h4v3 h4ndz 70 giv3 j00 4 drink, 3v3n if I h4d w473r ju57
5i77ing 4r0und h3r3."
teh m4n 547 57unn3d ph0r 4 minu73. H3r3 h3 w4z, 5i77ing in teh midd13 0f 7h3
d353r7 0n 50m3 57r4ng3 570n3 7h47 5h0u1d b3 h07 bu7 w45n'7, 741king 70 4
5n4k3 7h47 c0u1d 741k b4ck 4nd h4d ju57 bi773n him. 4nd h3 ph317 b3773r. N07
gr347 - h3 w4z 57i11 574rving 4nd 3xh4u573d, bu7 much b3773r - h3 w4z n0
10ng3r 7hir57y. H3 h4d 574r73d 70 5w347 4g4in, bu7 0n1y 51igh71y. H3 ph317
h07, in 7hiz 5un, bu7 i7 w4z 574r7ing 70 g37 10w3r in teh 5ky, 4nd teh c001
570n3 b3n347h him w4z 4 r31i3f h3 c0u1d n07ic3 n0w 7h47 h3 w4z n0 10ng3r
dying 0f 7hir57.
"I migh7 5ugg357 7h47 w3 74k3 c4r3 0f 7h47 m37h4n01 j00 n0w h4v3 in j00r
5y573m wi7h teh n3x7 r3qu357," c0n7inu3d teh 5n4k3. "I c4n gu355 why j00
dr4nk i7, bu7 I'm n07 5ur3 h0w much j00 dr4nk, 0r h0w much m37h4n01 w4z 13f7
in teh wip3r ph1uid. 7h47 57uff iz n457y. I7'11 m4k3 j00 g0 b1ind in 4 d4y 0r
7w0, if j00 dr4nk 3n0ugh 0f i7."
"Ummm, n-n3x7 r3qu357?" 54id teh m4n. H3 pu7 hiz h4nd b4ck 0n hiz hur7ing
5h0u1d3r 4nd b4ck3d 4w4y phr0m teh 5n4k3 4 1i7713.
"7h47'z teh w4y i7 w0rkz. If j00 1ik3, 7h47 iz," 3xp14in3d teh 5n4k3. "J00
g37 7hr33 r3qu357z. C411 7h3m wi5h3z, if j00 wi5h." teh 5n4k3 grinn3d 47 hi5
0wn j0k3, 4nd teh m4n dr3w b4ck 4 1i7713 phur7h3r phr0m teh 5h0w 0f ph4ngz.
"Bu7 7h3r3 4r3 ru13z," teh 5n4k3 c0n7inu3d. "teh phir57 r3qu357 iz phr33. 7h3
53c0nd r3quir3z 4n 4gr33m3n7 0f 53cr3cy. teh 7hird r3quir3z teh binding 0f
r35p0n5ibi1i7y." teh 5n4k3 100kz 47 teh m4n 53ri0u51y.
"By teh w4y," teh 5n4k3 54yz 5udd3n1y, "my n4m3 iz N47h4n. 01d N47h4n,
54mu31 u53d 70 c411 m3. H3 g4v3 m3 teh n4m3. B3f0r3 7h47, m057 0f teh B0und
u53d 70 ju57 c411 m3 '5n4k3'. Bu7 7h47 g07 01d, 4nd 54mu31 w0u1dn'7 574nd
f0r i7. H3 54id 7h47 4ny7hing 7h47 c0u1d 741k n33d3d 4 n4m3. H3 w4z big in70
n4m3z. J00 c4n c411 m3 N473, if j00 wi5h." 4g4in, teh 5n4k3 grinn3d. "50rry
if I d0n'7 0ff3r 70 5h4k3, bu7 I 7hink j00 c4n und3r574nd - my 5h4k3 50und5
50m3wh47 7hr3473ning." teh 5n4k3 giv3 hiz r47713 4 1i7713 5h4k3.
"Umm, my n4m3 iz J4ck," 54id teh m4n, 7rying 70 4b50rb 411 0f 7hiz. "J4ck
54m50n.
"C4n I 45k j00 4 qu357i0n?" J4ck 54yz 5udd3n1y. "Wh47 h4pp3n3d 70 7h3
p0i50n...umm, in j00r bi73. Why 4r3n'7 I dying n0w? H0w did j00 d0 7h47?
Wh47 d0 j00 m34n by 7h47'z h0w j00 w0rk?"
"7h47'z m0r3 7h4n 0n3 qu357i0n," grinz N473. "Bu7 I'11 57i11 7ry 70 4n5w3r
411 0f 7h3m. Phir57, y3z, j00 c4n 45k m3 4 qu357i0n." teh 5n4k3'z grin g375
wid3r. "53c0nd, teh p0i50n iz in j00. I7 ch4ng3d j00. J00 n0w n0 10ng3r n33d
70 drink. 7h47'z wh47 j00 45k3d ph0r. 0r, w311, 73chnic411y, j00 45k3d 70 n07
b3 7hir57y 4ny m0r3 - bu7 '4ny m0r3' iz 5uch 4 v4gu3 73rm. I d3cid3d 70 m4k3
i7 p3rm4n3n7 - n0w, 4z 10ng 4z j00 1iv3, j00 5h0u1dn'7 n33d 70 drink much 47
411. J00r b0dy wi11 c0n53rv3 w473r v3ry 3ffici3n71y. J00 5h0u1d b3 4b13 70
g37 3n0ugh ju57 phr0m teh ph00d j00 347 - much 1ik3 4 cr347ur3 0f teh d353r7.
J00'v3 b33n ch4ng3d.
"F0r teh 7hird qu357i0n," N473 c0n7inu3z, "j00 4r3 57i11 dying. B35id3z 7h3
3ff3c7z 0f 7h47 m37h4n01 in j00r 5y573m, j00'r3 4 m4n - 4nd m3n 4r3 m0r741.
In j00r curr3n7 57473, I giv3 j00 n0 m0r3 7h4n 4b0u7 4n07h3r 50 y34rz.
455uming j00 g37 0u7 0f 7hiz d353r7, 41iv3, 7h47 iz." N473 533m3d v4571y
4mu53d 47 hiz 0wn hum0r, 4nd c0n7inu3d hiz wid3 grin.
"4z ph0r teh ph0ur7h qu357i0n," N473 54id, 100king m0r3 53ri0uz 4z ph4r 4z J4ck
c0u1d 7311, 4z J4ck w4z ju57 n0w w0rking 0n hiz 4bi1i7y 70 r34d
741king-5n4k3 3m07i0nz phr0m 5n4k3 ph4ci41 ph347ur3z, "fir57 j00 h4v3 70 4gr33
70 m4k3 4 53c0nd r3qu357 4nd b3c0m3 b0und by teh 53cr3cy, 0r I c4n'7 7311
j00."
"W4i7," j0k3d J4ck, "i5n'7 7hiz wh3r3 j00 54y j00 c0u1d 7311 m3, bu7 j00'd
h4v3 70 ki11 m3?"
"I 7h0ugh7 7h47 w4z imp1i3d." N473 c0n7inu3d 70 100k 53ri0uz.
"Ummm...y34h." J4ck 134n3d b4ck 4 1i7713 4z h3 r3m3mb3r3d 4g4in 7h47 h3 w45
741king 70 4 phif733n ph007 p0i50n0uz r3p7i13 wi7h 4 r3pu747i0n ph0r h4ving 4
n457y 73mp3r. "50, wh47 iz 7hiz 'B0und by 53cr3cy' 57uff, 4nd c4n j00 r3411y
570p teh 3ff3c7z 0f teh m37h4n01?" J4ck 7h0ugh7 ph0r 4 53c0nd. "4nd, wh47 d0
j00 m34n m37h4n01, 4nyw4y? I 7h0ugh7 7h353 d4yz 7h3y u53 37h4n01 in wip3r
f1uid, 4nd ju57 d3n47ur3 i7?"
"7h3y m4y, I d0n'7 r3411y kn0w," 54id N473. "I h4v3n'7 g0773n 0u7 in 4
whi13. M4yb3 7h3y d0. 411 I kn0w iz 7h47 I 5m311 m37h4n01 0n j00r br347h 4nd
0n 7h47 b07713 in j00r p0ck37. 4nd teh b1u3 c010r 0f teh 1iquid wh3n j00
pu113d i7 0u7 70 drink 50m3 137 m3 gu355 7h47 i7 w4z wip3r ph1uid. I 455um3
7h47 7h3y 57i11 c010r wip3r ph1uid b1u3?"
"Y34h, 7h3y d0," 54id J4ck.
"I phigur3d," r3p1i3d N473. "4z ph0r b3ing b0und by 53cr3cy - wi7h 7h3
fu1fi11m3n7 0f j00r n3x7 r3qu357, j00 wi11 b3 b0und 70 54y n07hing 4b0u7 m3,
7hiz p14c3, 0r 4ny 0f teh inf0rm47i0n I wi11 7311 j00 4f73r 7h47, wh3n j00
d3cid3 70 g0 b4ck 0u7 70 j00r kind. J00 w0n'7 b3 4110w3d 70 741k 4b0u7 m3,
wri73 4b0u7 m3, u53 5ign 14ngu4g3, ch4r4d3z, 0r 3v3n 4c7 in 4 w4y 7h47 wi11
134d 50m30n3 70 gu355 c0rr3c71y 4b0u7 m3. J00'11 b3 b0und 70 53cr3cy. 0f
c0ur53, I'11 4150 45k j00 70 pr0mi53 n07 70 giv3 m3 4w4y, 4nd 4z I'm
gu355ing 7h47 j00'r3 4 m4n 0f j00r w0rd, j00'11 n3v3r 7357 teh binding
4nyw4y, 50 j00 w0n'7 n07ic3." N473 54id teh 1457 p4r7 wi7h u773r c0nfid3nc3.
J4ck, wh0 h4d 41w4yz prid3d him531f 0n b3ing 4 m4n 0f hiz w0rd, ph317 4
1i7713 n3rv0uz 47 7hiz. "Ummm, h3y, N473, wh0 4r3 j00? H0w did j00 kn0w
7h47? 4r3 j00, umm, 0mni5ci3n7, 0r 50m37hing?"
W311, J4ck," 54id N473 54d1y, "I c4n'7 7311 j00 7h47, un1355 j00 m4k3 7h3
53c0nd r3qu357." N473 100k3d 4w4y ph0r 4 minu73, 7h3n 100k3d b4ck.
"Umm, w311, 0k," 54id J4ck, "wh47 iz 7hiz 4b0u7 4 53c0nd r3qu357? Wh47 c4n I
45k ph0r? 4r3 j00 4110w3d 70 7311 m3 7h47?"
"5ur3!" 54id N473, brigh73ning. "J00'r3 4110w3d 70 45k ph0r ch4ng3z. Ch4ng35
70 j00r531f. 7h3y'r3 1ik3 wi5h3z, bu7 7h3y c4n 0n1y 4ff3c7 j00. 0h, 4nd
b3f0r3 j00 45k, I c4n'7 giv3 j00 imm0r741i7y. 0r 0mni5ci3nc3. 0r
0mnipr353nc3, ph0r 7h47 m4773r. 7h0ugh I migh7 b3 4b13 70 m4k3 j00 g4530u5
4nd y37 r3m4in 41iv3, 4nd 7h3n j00 c0u1d 5pr34d 7hr0ugh teh 47m05ph3r3 4nd
50r7 0f b3 0mnipr353n7. Bu7 wh47 g00d w0u1d 7h47 b3 - j00 57i11 w0u1dn'7 b3
0mni5ci3n7 4nd 7huz 57i11 c0u1d 0n1y ph0cuz 0n 0n3 7hing 47 4 7im3. N07 v3ry
u53fu1, 47 13457 in my 0pini0n." N473 570pp3d wh3n h3 r341iz3d 7h47 J4ck w45
574ring 47 him.
"W311, 4nyw4y," c0n7inu3d N473, "I'd pr0b4b1y 5ugg357 giving j00 p3rm4n3n7
g00d h3417h. I7 w0u1d n3g473 teh m37h4n01 n0w in j00r 5y573m, j00'd b3
immun3 70 m057 p0i50nz 4nd diz3453z, 4nd j00'd 73nd 70 1iv3 4 v3ry 10ng
7im3, b4rring 4ccid3n7, 0f c0ur53. 4nd j00'11 3v3n h4v3 4 73nd3ncy 70
r3c0v3r phr0m 4ccid3n7z w311. I7 41w4yz 533m3d 1ik3 4 g00d ch0ic3 ph0r 4
r3qu357 70 m3."
"Cur3 teh m37h4n01 p0i50ning, huh?" 54id J4ck. "4nd k33p m3 h3417hy ph0r 4
10ng 7im3? Hmmm. I7 d035n'7 50und b4d 47 7h47. 4nd i7 h4z 70 b3 4 r3qu357
4b0u7 4 ch4ng3 70 m3? I c4n'7 45k 70 b3 rich, righ7? B3c4u53 7h47'z n07
r3411y 4 ch4ng3 70 m3?"
"Righ7," n0dd3d N473.
"C0u1d I 45k 70 b3 4 g3niuz 4nd p3rm4n3n71y h3417hy?" J4ck 45k3d, h0p3fu11y.
"7h47 74k3z 7w0 r3qu357z, J4ck."
"Y34h, I phigur3d 50," 54id J4ck. "Bu7 I c0u1d 45k 70 b3 4 g3niuz? I c0u1d
b3c0m3 teh 5m4r7357 5ci3n7i57 in teh w0r1d? 0r teh b357 47h1373?"
"W311, I c0u1d m4k3 j00 v3ry 5m4r7," 4dmi773d N473, "bu7 7h47 w0u1dn'7
n3c3554ri1y m4k3 j00 teh b357 5ci3n7i57 in teh w0r1d. 0r, I c0u1d m4k3 j00
v3ry 47h137ic, bu7 i7 w0u1dn'7 n3c3554ri1y m4k3 j00 teh b357 47h1373 3i7h3r.
J00'v3 h34rd teh 54ying 7h47 99% 0f g3niuz iz h4rd w0rk? W311, 7h3r3'z 50m3
7ru7h 70 7h47. I c4n giv3 j00 teh 7413n7, bu7 I c4n'7 m4k3 j00 w0rk h4rd. I7
411 d3p3ndz 0n wh47 j00 d3cid3 70 d0 wi7h i7."
"Hmmm," 54id J4ck. "0k, I 7hink I und3r574nd. 4nd I g37 4 7hird r3qu357,
4f73r 7hiz 0n3?"
"M4yb3," 54id N473, "i7 d3p3ndz 0n wh47 j00 d3cid3 7h3n. 7h3r3 4r3 m0r3
ru13z ph0r teh 7hird r3qu357 7h47 I c4n 0n1y 7311 j00 4b0u7 4f73r teh 53c0nd
r3qu357. J00 kn0w h0w i7 g03z." N473 100k3d 1ik3 h3'd 5hrug, if h3 h4d
5h0u1d3rz.
"0k, w311, 5inc3 I'd r47h3r n07 b3 b1ind in 4 d4y 0r 7w0, 4nd p3rm4n3n7
h3417h d035n'7 50und b4d, 7h3n c0n5id3r 7h47 my 53c0nd r3qu357. 0ffici411y.
D0 I n33d 70 5ign in b100d 0r 50m37hing?"
"N0," 54id N473. "Ju57 h01d 0u7 j00r h4nd. 0r h331." N473 grinn3d. "0r
wh473v3r p4r7 j00 w4n7 m3 70 bi73. I h4v3 70 bi73 j00 4g4in. 1ik3 I 54id,
7h47'z h0w i7 w0rkz - teh p0i50n, j00 kn0w," N473 54id 4p010g37ic411y.
J4ck winc3d 4 1i7713 4nd ph317 hiz 5h0u1d3r, wh3r3 teh 1457 bi73 w4z. H3y, i7
didn'7 hur7 4ny m0r3. Ju57 1ik3 N473 h4d 54id. 7h47 m4d3 J4ck ph331 b3773r
4b0u7 teh bi7ing bu5in35z. Bu7 57i11, 574nding 57i11 whi13 4 phif733n ph007
5n4k3 5unk i7'z ph4ngz in70 j00. J4ck 5700d up. Ign0ring h0w g00d i7 ph317 70
b3 4b13 70 574nd 4g4in, 4nd teh hung3r 574r7ing 70 gn4w 47 hiz 570m4ch, J4ck
7ri3d 70 d3cid3 wh3r3 h3 w4n73d 70 g37 bi773n. D35pi73 kn0wing 7h47 i7
w0u1dn'7 hur7 ph0r 10ng, J4ck kn3w 7h47 7hiz w45n'7 g0ing 70 b3 345y.
"H3y, J4ck," N473 5udd3n1y 54id, 100king p457 J4ck 70w4rdz teh dun3z b3hind
him, "iz 7h47 50m30n3 3153 c0ming up 0v3r 7h3r3?"
J4ck 5pun 4r0und 4nd 100k3d. Wh0 3153 c0u1d b3 0u7 h3r3 in teh midd13 0f
n0wh3r3? 4nd did 7h3y bring ph00d?
W4i7 4 minu73, 7h3r3 w4z n0b0dy 0v3r 7h3r3. Wh47 w4z N473...
J4ck 137 0u7 4 b3110w 4z h3 ph317 7w0 ph4ngz 5ink in70 hiz r34r 3nd, 7hr0ugh
hiz j34nz...
J4ck 547 d0wn c4r3fu11y, ph4v0ring hiz m0r3 73nd3r bu770ck. "I w0u1d h4v3
d3cid3d, 3v3n7u411y, N473. I w4z ju57 7hinking 4b0u7 i7. J00 didn'7 h4v3 70
h00dwink m3 1ik3 7h47."
"I'v3 b33n d0ing 7hiz 4 10ng 7im3, J4ck," 54id N473, c0nfid3n71y. "J00
hum4nz h4v3 4 h4rd 7im3 5i77ing 57i11 4nd 1377ing 4 5n4k3 bi73 j00 -
35p3ci411y 0n3 my 5iz3. 4nd b35id3z, 4dmi7 i7 - i7'z 0n1y b33n 4 c0up13 0f
minu73z 4nd i7 41r34dy d035n'7 hur7 4ny m0r3, d03z i7? 7h47'z b3c4u53 0f 7h3
h3417h b3n3fi7 wi7h 7hiz 0n3. I 701d j00 7h47 j00'd h341 quick1y n0w."
"Y34h, w311, 57i11," 54id J4ck, "i7'z teh princip13 0f teh 7hing. 4nd n0b0dy
1ik3z b3ing bi773n in teh bu77! C0u1dn'7 j00 h4v3 g0773n my c41f 0r
50m37hing in5734d?"
"M0r3 m347 in teh 7ypic41 hum4n bu77," r3p1i3d N473. "4nd 1355 ch4nc3 j00
4ccid3n7411y kick m3 0r m0v3 47 teh 1457 53c0nd."
"Y34h, righ7. 50, 7311 m3 411 0f 7h353 w0nd3rfu1 53cr37z 7h47 I n0w qu41ify
70 h34r," 4n5w3r3d J4ck.
"0k," 54id N473. "D0 j00 w4n7 70 45k qu357i0nz phir57, 0r d0 j00 w4n7 m3 70
ju57 574r7 741king?"
"Ju57 741k," 54id J4ck. "I'11 5i7 h3r3 4nd 7ry 70 n07 7hink 4b0u7 ph00d."
"W3 c0u1d g0 7ry 70 ru5713 up 50m3 ph00d ph0r j00 phir57, if j00 1ik3,"
4n5w3r3d N473.
"H3y! J00 didn'7 7311 m3 j00 h4d ph00d 4r0und h3r3, N473!" J4ck jump3d up.
"Wh47 d0 w3 h4v3? 4m I in w41king di574nc3 70 70wn? 0r c4n j00 m4gic411y
whip up ph00d 410ng wi7h j00r 07h3r p0w3rz?" J4ck w4z 41m057 5h0u7ing wi7h
3xci73m3n7. Hiz 570m4ch h4d b33n gr0w1ing ph0r h0urz.
"I w4z 7hinking m0r3 1ik3 I c0u1d ph1u5h 50m37hing 0u7 0f i7z h013 4nd bi73
i7 ph0r j00, 4nd j00 c0u1d 5kin i7 4nd 347 i7. 455uming j00 h4v3 4 knif3,
7h47 iz," r3p1i3d N473, wi7h teh grin 7h47 J4ck w4z 574r7ing 70 g37 u53d 70.
"Ugh," 54id J4ck, 5i77ing b4ck d0wn. "I 7hink I'11 p45z. I c4n 1457 4 1i7713
10ng3r b3f0r3 I g37 d35p3r473 3n0ugh 70 347 d353r7 r47, 0r wh473v3r 3153 i7
iz j00 phind 0u7 h3r3. 4nd 7h3r3'z n07hing 70 burn - I'd h4v3 70 347 i7 r4w.
N0 7h4nkz. Ju57 741k."
"0k," r3p1i3d N473, 57i11 grinning. "Bu7 I'd b3773r hurry, b3f0r3 j00 574r7
100king 47 m3 4z ph00d.
N473 r34r3d b4ck 4 1i7713, 100k3d 4r0und ph0r 4 53c0nd, 4nd 7h3n c0n7inu3d.
"J00, J4ck, 4r3 5i77ing in teh midd13 0f teh G4rd3n 0f 3d3n."
J4ck 100k3d 4r0und 47 teh 54nd 4nd dun3z 4nd 7h3n 100k3d b4ck 47 N473
5c3p7ic411y.
"W311, 7h47'z teh b357 I c4n phigur3 i7, 4nyw4y, J4ck," 54id N473. "574nd up
4nd 100k 47 teh 5ymb01 0n teh r0x0r h3r3." N473 g357ur3d 4r0und teh d4rk
570n3 7h3y w3r3 b07h 5i77ing 0n wi7h hiz n053.
J4ck 5700d up 4nd 100k3d. C4rv3d in70 teh 570n3 in 4 b45-r31i3f w4z 4
r3pr353n747i0n 0f 4 14rg3 7r33. teh 4ng13d-p013 7h47 N473 w4z wr4pp3d 4r0und
w4z c0ming 0u7 0f teh 7runk 0f teh 7r33, righ7 b310w wh3r3 teh m4in br4nch35
13f7 teh 7ruck 70 r34ch 0u7 4cr055 teh 570n3. I7 w4z v3ry w311 d0n3 - i7
100k3d m0r3 1ik3 4 7r33 h4d b33n r3duc3d 70 41m057 7w0 dim3n5i0nz 4nd
3mb3dd3d in teh 570n3 7h4n i7 did 1ik3 4 c4rving.
J4ck w41k3d 4r0und 4nd 100k3d 47 teh d374i1z in teh ph4ding 1igh7 0f 7h3
5377ing 5un. H3 wi5h3d h3'd 100k3d 47 i7 whi13 teh 5un w4z high3r in 7h3
5ky.
W4i7! teh 5un w4z 5377ing! 7h47 m34n7 h3 w4z g0ing 70 h4v3 70 5p3nd 4n07h3r
nigh7 0u7 h3r3! 4rrrgh!
J4ck 100k3d 0u7 4cr055 teh d353r7 ph0r 4 1i7713 bi7, 4nd 7h3n c4m3 b4ck 4nd
5700d n3x7 70 N473. "In 411 teh 3xci73m3n7, I 41m057 ph0rg07, N473," 54id
J4ck. "Which w4y iz i7 b4ck 70 70wn? 4nd h0w ph4r? I'm 3v3n7u411y g0ing 70
h4v3 70 h34d b4ck - I'm n07 5ur3 I'11 b3 4b13 70 5urviv3 by 347ing r4w
d353r7 cri773rz ph0r 10ng. 4nd 3v3n if I c4n, I'm n07 5ur3 I'11 w4n7 70."
"I7'z 4b0u7 30 mi13z 7h47 w4y." N473 p0in73d, wi7h teh r47713 0n hiz 74i1
7hiz 7im3. 4z ph4r 4z J4ck c0u1d 7311, i7 w4z 4 dir3c7i0n 47 righ7 4ng13z 70
teh w4y h3'd b33n g0ing wh3n h3 w4z cr4w1ing h3r3. "Bu7 7h47'z 30 mi13z by
teh w4y teh cr0w ph1i3z. I7'z 4b0u7 40 by teh w4y 4 m4n w41kz. J00 5h0u1d b3
4b13 70 d0 i7 in 4b0u7 h41f 4 d4y wi7h j00r impr0v3d 3ndur4nc3, if j00 h34d
0u7 34r1y 70m0rr0w, J4ck."
J4ck 100k3d 0u7 teh w4y teh 5n4k3 h4d p0in73d ph0r 4 ph3w 53c0ndz m0r3, 4nd
7h3n 547 b4ck d0wn. I7 w4z g377ing d4rk. N07 much h3 c0u1d d0 4b0u7 h34ding
0u7 righ7 n0w. 4nd b35id3z, N473 w4z ju57 4b0u7 70 g37 70 teh in73r357ing
57uff. "G4rd3n 0f 3d3n? 4z b357 4z j00 c4n phigur3 i7?"
"W311, y34h, 4z b357 4z I 4nd 54mu31 c0u1d phigur3 i7 4nyw4y," 54id N473. "H3
figur3d 7h47 teh 570ry ju57 g07 4 1i7713 mix3d up. J00 kn0w, 5n4k3, in 4
'7r33', 0ff3ring '73mp747i0nz', m4king b4rg4inz. 7h47 kind 57uff. Bu7 h3
c0u1d n3v3r qui73 phigur3 0u7 h0w teh H3br3wz ph0und 0u7 4b0u7 7hiz 5p07 phr0m
4cr055 teh 0c34n. H3 w0rri3d 4b0u7 7h47 ph0r 4 whi13."
"G4rd3n 0f 3d3n, hunh?" 54id J4ck. "H0w 10ng h4v3 j00 b33n h3r3, N473?"
"N0 id34, r3411y," r3p1i3d N473. "4 10ng 7im3. I7 n3v3r 0ccurr3d 70 m3 70
c0un7 y34rz, un7i1 r3c3n71y, 4nd by 7h3n, 0f c0ur53, i7 w4z 700 1473. Bu7 I
d0 r3m3mb3r wh3n 7hiz wh013 p14c3 w4z gr33n, 50 I phigur3 i7'z b33n 7h0u54nd5
0f y34rz, 47 13457."
"50, 4r3 j00 teh 5n4k3 7h47 73mp73d 3v3?" 54id J4ck.
"B347z m3," 54id N473. "M4yb3. I c4n'7 r3m3mb3r if teh phir57 0n3 0f j00r
kind 7h47 I 741k3d 70 w4z ph3m413 0r n07, 4nd I n3v3r g07 4 n4m3, bu7 i7
c0u1d h4v3 b33n. 4nd I 5upp053 5h3 c0u1d h4v3 c0n5id3r3d my 0ff3r 70 gr4n7
r3qu357z 4 '73mp747i0n', 7h0ugh I'v3 r4r31y h4d r3fu541z."
"W311, umm, h0w did j00 g37 h3r3 7h3n? 4nd why iz 7h47 whi73 p013 57uck 0u7
0f teh 570n3 7h3r3?" 45k3d J4ck.
"D4d 13f7 m3 h3r3. 0r, I 455um3 i7 w4z my d4d. I7 w4z 4n07h3r 5n4k3 - much
bigg3r 7h4n I w4z b4ck 7h3n. I r3m3mb3r 741king 70 him, bu7 I d0n'7 r3m3mb3r
if i7 w4z in 4 14ngu4g3, 0r ju57 kind 0f und3r574nding wh47 h3 w4n73d. Bu7
0n3 d4y, h3 br0ugh7 m3 70 7hiz 570n3, 701d m3 4b0u7 i7, 4nd 45k3d m3 70 d0
50m37hing ph0r him. I 741k3d i7 0v3r wi7h him ph0r 4 whi13, 7h3n 4gr33d. I'v3
b33n h3r3 3v3r 5inc3.
"Wh47 iz 7hiz p14c3?" 54id J4ck. "4nd wh47 did h3 45k j00 70 d0?"
"W311, j00 533 7hiz p013 h3r3, 57icking 0u7 0f teh 570n3?" N473 10053n3d hi5
c0i1z 4r0und teh 7i173d whi73 p013 4nd 5h0w3d J4ck wh3r3 i7 d35c3nd3d in70
teh 570n3. teh p013 w4z 7i173d 47 4b0u7 4 45 d3gr33 4ng13 4nd 533m3d 70
3n73r teh 570n3 in 4n 3igh733n inch 5107 cu7 in70 teh 570n3. J4ck 134n3d
0v3r 4nd 100k3d. teh 5107 w4z d4rk 4nd teh p013 w3n7 d0wn in70 i7 4z ph4r 45
J4ck c0u1d 533 in teh dim 1igh7. J4ck r34ch3d 0u7 70 70uch teh p013, bu7
N473 w4z 5udd3n1y 7h3r3 in teh w4y.
"J00 c4n'7 70uch 7h47 y37, J4ck," 54id N473.
"Why n07?" 45k3d J4ck.
"I h4v3n'7 3xp14in3d i7 70 j00 y37," r3p1i3d N473.
"W311, i7 kind4 100kz 1ik3 4 13v3r 0r 50m37hing," 54id J4ck. "J00'd pu5h i7
7h47 w4y, 4nd i7 w0u1d m0v3 in teh 5107."
"Y3p, 7h47'z wh47 i7 iz," r3p1i3d N473.
"Wh47 d03z i7 d0?" 45k3d J4ck. "3nd teh w0r1d?"
"0h, n0," 54id N473. "N07hing 7h47 dr457ic. I7 ju57 3ndz hum4ni7y. I c411 i7
'teh 13v3r 0f D00m'." Ph0r teh 1457 ph3w w0rdz N473 h4d u53d 4 d33p3r, ringing
v0ic3. H3 7ri3d 70 100k 53ri0uz ph0r 4 ph3w 53c0ndz, 4nd 7h3n g4v3 up 4nd
grinn3d.
J4ck w4z ini7i411y 574r713d by N473'z pr0n0unc3m3n7, bu7 wh3n N473 grinn3d
J4ck 14ugh3d. "H4! J00 41m057 h4d m3 ph0013d ph0r 4 53c0nd 7h3r3. Wh47 d03z i7
r3411y d0?"
"0h, i7 r3411y 3ndz hum4ni7y, 1ik3 I 54id," 5mirk3d N473. "I ju57 7h0ugh7
teh v0ic3 I u53d w4z phunny, didn'7 j00?"
N473 c0n7inu3d 70 grin.
"4 13v3r 70 3nd hum4ni7y?" 45k3d J4ck. "Wh47 in teh w0r1d iz 7h47 ph0r? Why
w0u1d 4ny0n3 n33d 70 3nd hum4ni7y?"
"W311," r3p1i3d N473, "I g37 teh id34 7h47 m4yb3 hum4ni7y w4z 4n 3xp3rim3n7.
0r m4yb3 teh Big Guy ju57 7h0ugh7, 7h47 if hum4ni7y 574r73d g0ing r3411y
b4d, 7h3r3 5h0u1d b3 4 w4y 70 3nd i7. I'm n07 r3411y 5ur3. 411 I kn0w 4r3
teh ru13z, 4nd teh gu3553z 7h47 54mu31 4nd I h4d 4b0u7 why i7'z h3r3. I
didn'7 7hink 70 45k b4ck wh3n I 574r73d h3r3."
"Ru13z? Wh47 ru13z?" 45k3d J4ck.
"teh ru13z 4r3 7h47 I c4n'7 7311 4nyb0dy 4b0u7 i7 0r 137 7h3m 70uch i7
un1355 7h3y 4gr33 70 b3 b0und 70 53cr3cy by 4 bi73. 4nd 7h47 0n1y 0n3 hum4n
c4n b3 b0und in 7h47 w4y 47 4 7im3. 7h47'z i7." 3xp14in3d N473.
J4ck 100k3d 50m3wh47 5h0ck3d. "J00 m34n 7h47 I c0u1d pu11 teh 13v3r n0w?
J00'd 137 m3 3nd hum4ni7y?"
"Y3p," r3p1i3d N473, "if j00 w4n7 70." N473 100k3d 47 J4ck c4r3fu11y. "D0
j00 w4n7 70, J4ck?"
"Umm, n0." 54id J4ck, 573pping 4 1i7713 phur7h3r b4ck phr0m teh 13v3r. "Why in
teh w0r1d w0u1d 4ny0n3 w4n7 70 3nd hum4ni7y? I7'd 74k3 4 p5ych07ic 70 w4n7
7h47! 0r w0r53, 4 5uicid41 p5ych07ic, b3c4u53 i7 w0u1d ki11 him 700,
w0u1dn'7 i7?"
"Y3p," r3p1i3d N473, "b3ing 4z h3'd b3 hum4n 700."
"H4z 4ny0n3 3v3r 53ri0u51y c0n5id3r3d i7?" 45k3d N473. "4ny 0f 7h053 b0und
70 53cr3cy, 7h47 iz?"
"W311, 0f c0ur53, I 7hink 7h3y'v3 411 53ri0u51y c0n5id3r3d i7 47 0n3 7im3 0r
4n07h3r. B3ing giv3n 7h47 kind 0f r35p0n5ibi1i7y m4k3z j00 5i7 d0wn 4nd
7hink, 0r 50 I'm 701d. 54mu31 c0n5id3r3d i7 53v3r41 7im3z. H3'd 0f73n g37
di5gu573d wi7h hum4ni7y, c0m3 0u7 h3r3, 4nd ju57 h01d teh 13v3r ph0r 4 whi13.
Bu7 h3 n3v3r pu113d i7. 0r j00 w0u1dn'7 b3 h3r3." N473 grinn3d 50m3 m0r3.
J4ck 547 d0wn, w311 b4ck phr0m teh 13v3r. H3 100k3d 7h0ugh7fu1 4nd puzz13d 47
teh 54m3 7im3. 4f73r 4 bi7, h3 54id, "50 7hiz m4k3z m3 teh Judg3 0f
hum4ni7y? I g37 70 d3cid3 wh37h3r 7h3y k33p g0ing 0r ju57 3nd? M3?"
"7h47 533mz 70 b3 i7," 4gr33d N473.
"Wh47 kind 0f cri73ri4 d0 I u53 70 d3cid3?" 54id J4ck. "H0w d0 I m4k3 7hi5
d3ci5i0n? 4m I 5upp053d 70 d3cid3 if 7h3y'r3 g00d? 0r 700 m4ny 0f 7h3m 4r3
b4d? 0r 7h47 7h3y'r3 g0ing teh wr0ng w4y? Iz 7h3r3 4 537 0f ru13z ph0r 7h47?"
"N0p3," r3p1i3d N473. "J00 pr377y much ju57 h4v3 70 d3cid3 0n j00r 0wn. I7'5
up 70 j00, h0w3v3r j00 w4n7 70 d3cid3 i7. I gu355 7h47 j00'r3 ju57 5upp053d
70 kn0w."
"Bu7 wh47 if I g37 m4d 47 50m30n3? 0r 50m3 gir1 dumpz m3 4nd I ph331
h0rrib13? C0u1dn'7 I m4k3 4 mi574k3? H0w d0 I kn0w 7h47 I w0n'7 5cr3w up?"
pr073573d J4ck.
N473 g4v3 hiz kind 0f 5n4k3-1ik3 5hrug 4g4in. "J00 d0n'7. J00 ju57 h4v3 70
7ry j00r b357, J4ck."
J4ck 547 7h3r3 ph0r 4 whi13, 574ring 0ff in70 teh d353r7 7h47 w4z r4pid1y
g377ing d4rk, ch3wing 0n 4 phing3rn4i1.
5udd3n1y, J4ck 7urn3d 4r0und 4nd 100k3d 47 teh 5n4k3. "N473, w4z 54mu31 7h3
0n3 b0und 70 7hiz b3f0r3 m3?"
"Y3p," r3p1i3d N473. "H3 w4z 4 g00d guy. 741k3d 70 m3 4 107. 74ugh7 m3 70
r34d 4nd br0ugh7 m3 b00kz. I 7hink I 57i11 h4v3 4 g00d pi13 0f 7h3m buri3d
in teh 54nd 4r0und h3r3 50m3wh3r3. I 57i11 mi55 him. H3 di3d 4 ph3w m0n7h5
4g0."
"50undz 1ik3 4 g00d guy," 4gr33d J4ck. "H0w did h3 h4nd13 7hiz, wh3n j00
fir57 701d him. Wh47 did h3 d0?"
"W311," 54id N473, "h3 547 d0wn ph0r 4 whi13, 7h0ugh7 4b0u7 i7 ph0r 4 bi7, 4nd
7h3n 45k3d m3 50m3 qu357i0nz, much 1ik3 j00'r3 d0ing."
"Wh47 did h3 45k j00, if j00'r3 4110w3d 70 7311 m3?" 45k3d J4ck.
"H3 45k3d m3 4b0u7 teh 7hird r3qu357," r3p1i3d N473.
"4h4!" I7 w4z J4ck'z 7urn 70 grin. "4nd wh47 did j00 7311 him?"
"I 701d him teh ru13z ph0r teh 7hird r3qu357. 7h47 70 g37 teh 7hird r3qu357
j00 h4v3 70 4gr33 70 7hiz wh013 7hing. 7h47 if i7 3v3r c0m3z 70 teh p0in7
7h47 j00 r3411y 7hink 7h47 hum4ni7y 5h0u1d b3 3nd3d, 7h47 j00'11 c0m3 h3r3
4nd 3nd i7. J00 w0n'7 4v0id i7, 4nd j00 w0n'7 wimp 0u7." N473 100k3d 53ri0u5
4g4in. "4nd j00'11 b3 b0und 70 d0 i7 700, J4ck."
"Hmmm." J4ck 100k3d b4ck 0u7 in70 teh d4rkn355 ph0r 4 whi13.
N473 w47ch3d him, w4i7ing.
"N473," c0n7inu3d J4ck, qui371y, 3v3n7u411y. "Wh47 did 54mu31 45k ph0r wi7h
hiz 7hird r3qu357?"
N473 50und3d 1ik3 h3 w4z grinning 4g4in 4z h3 r3p1i3d, 4150 qui371y,
"Wi5d0m, J4ck. H3 45k3d ph0r wi5d0m. 4z much 4z I c0u1d giv3 him."
"0k," 54id J4ck, 5udd3n1y, 574nding up 4nd ph4cing 4w4y phr0m N473, "giv3 i7
70 m3.
N473 100k3d 47 J4ck'z b4ck5id3. "Giv3 j00 wh47, J4ck?"
"Giv3 m3 7h47 wi5d0m. teh 54m3 57uff 7h47 54mu31 45k3d ph0r. If i7 h31p3d
him, m4yb3 i7'11 h31p m3 700." J4ck 7urn3d hiz h34d 70 100k b4ck 0v3r hi5
5h0u1d3r 47 N473. "I7 did h31p him, righ7?"
"H3 54id i7 did," r3p1i3d N473. "Bu7 h3 533m3d 4 1i7713 qui373r 4f73rw4rd.
1ik3 h3 h4d 4 107 70 7hink 4b0u7."
"W311, y34h, I c4n 533 7h47," 54id J4ck. "50, giv3 i7 70 m3." J4ck 7urn3d 70
f4c3 4w4y phr0m N473 4g4in, b3n7 0v3r 51igh71y 4nd 73n53d up.
N473 w47ch3d J4ck 73n53 up wi7h 4 1i7713 3x45p3r47i0n. If h3 bi7 J4ck n0w,
J4ck w0u1d 1ik31y jump 0u7 0f hiz 5kin 4nd m4yb3 hur7 7h3m b07h.
"J00 r3m3mb3r 7h47 j00'11 b3 b0und 70 d357r0y hum4ni7y if i7 3v3r 100kz 1ik3
i7 n33dz i7, righ7 J4ck?" 45k3d N473, 5hif7ing p05i7i0n.
"Y34h, y34h, I g07 7h47," r3p1i3d J4ck, 3y3z 5qu33z3d 7igh71y 5hu7 4nd b0dy
73n53, n07 n07icing teh ch4ng3 in dir3c7i0n 0f N473'z v0ic3.
"4nd," c0n7inu3d N473, phr0m hiz n3w p05i7i0n, "d0 j00 r3m3mb3r 7h47 j00'11
7urn brigh7 purp13, 4nd gr0w big h0rnz 4nd 3x7r4 3y3z?"
"Y34h, y34h...H3y, w4i7 4 minu73!" 54id J4ck, 0p3ning hiz 3y3z,
57r4igh73ning up 4nd 7urning 4r0und. "Purp13?!" H3 didn'7 533 N473 7h3r3.
Wi7h teh m00n1igh7 J4ck c0u1d 533 7h47 teh 13v3r 3x73nd3d up phr0m i7z 5107
in teh r0x0r wi7h0u7 teh 5n4k3 wr4pp3d 4r0und i7.
J4ck h34rd, phr0m b3hind him, N473'z "Ju57 Kidding!" righ7 b3f0r3 h3 ph317 7h3
n0w ph4mi1i4r pi3rcing p4in, 7hiz 7im3 in teh 07h3r bu770ck.
J4ck 547 0n teh 3dg3 0f teh d4rk 570n3 in teh r4pid1y c001ing 4ir, hiz ph337
3x73nding 0u7 in70 teh 54nd. H3 574r3d 0u7 in70 teh d4rkn35z, 1i573ning 70
teh wind 57ir teh 54nd, 0cc45i0n411y rubbing hiz bu77 wh3r3 h3'd b33n
r3c3n71y bi773n.
N473 h4d 13f7 ph0r 4 1i7713 whi13, h4d c0m3 b4ck wi7h 4 d353r7-r0d3n7-5h4p3d
bu1g3 50m3wh3r3 in hiz midd13, 4nd w4z n0w wr4pp3d b4ck 4r0und teh 13v3r,
hiz 70ngu3 ph1icking 0u7 in70 teh d353r7 nigh7'z 4ir teh 0n1y 5ign 7h47 h3
w4z 57i11 4w4k3.
0cc45i0n411y J4ck, wi7h hiz 703z 4b53n7mind3d1y digging in teh 54nd whi13 h3
7h0ugh7, w0u1d 45k N473 4 qu357i0n wi7h0u7 7urning 4r0und.
"N473, d0 4ccid3n7z c0un7?"
N473 1if73d hiz h34d 4 1i7713 bi7. "Wh47 d0 j00 m34n, J4ck?"
J4ck 7i173d hiz h34d b4ck 1ik3 h3 w4z 100king 47 teh 574rz. "J00 kn0w,
4ccid3n7z. If I 4ccid3n7411y ph411 0n teh 13v3r, wi7h0u7 m34ning 70, d035
7h47 57i11 wip3 0u7 hum4ni7y?"
"Y34h, I'm pr377y 5ur3 i7 d03z, J4ck. I'd 5ugg357 j00 b3 c4r3fu1 4b0u7 7h47
if j00 574r7 ph331ing w0bb1y," 54id N473 wi7h 50m3 4mu53m3n7.
4 1i7713 1473r - "D03z i7 h4v3 70 b3 m3 7h47 pu11z teh 13v3r?" 45k3d J4ck.
"7h47'z teh ru13, J4ck. N0b0dy 3153 c4n pu11 i7," 4n5w3r3d N473.
"N0," J4ck 5h00k hiz h34d, "I m34n7 d03z i7 h4v3 70 b3 my h4nd? C0u1d I pu11
teh 13v3r wi7h 4 r0p3 7i3d 4r0und i7? 0r pu5h i7 wi7h 4 57ick? 0r 7hr0w 4
r0x0r?"
"Y3z, 7h053 5h0u1d w0rk," r3p1i3d N473. "7h0ugh I'm n07 5ur3 h0w c0mp1ic473d
j00 c0u1d g37. 54mu31 7h0ugh7 4b0u7 7rying 70 bui1d 50m3 kind 0f r3m073
c0n7r01 ph0r i7 0nc3, bu7 g4v3 i7 up. 3v3ry7hing h3'd bui1d w0u1d b3 g0n3 by
teh n3x7 5unri53, if i7 w4z 70uching teh 570n3, 0r 0v3r i7. I 701d him 7h47
in teh p457 07h3rz 7h47 h4d b33n b0und h4d 7ri3d 70 bury teh 13v3r 50 7h3y
w0u1dn'7 b3 73mp73d 70 pu11 i7, bu7 3v3ry 7im3 teh 570n3z 0r 54nd 0r
wh473v3r h4d di54pp34r3d."
"W0w," 54id J4ck, "C001." J4ck 134n3d b4ck un7i1 0n1y hiz 31b0wz k3p7 him
0ff 0f teh 570n3 4nd 100k3d up in70 teh 5ky.
"N473, h0w 10ng did 54mu31 1iv3? 0n3 0f hiz wi5h3z w4z ph0r h3417h 700,
righ7?" 45k3d J4ck.
"Y3z," r3p1i3d N473, "i7 w4z. H3 1iv3d 167 y34rz, J4ck."
"W0w, 167 y34rz. 7h47'z 41m057 140 m0r3 y34rz I'11 1iv3 if I 1iv3 4z 10ng.
D0 j00 kn0w wh47 h3 di3d 0f, N473?"
"H3 di3d 0f g377ing 7ir3d 0f 1iving, J4ck," N473 54id, 50unding 50m3wh47
54d.
J4ck 7urn3d hiz h34d 70 100k 47 N473 in teh 574r1igh7.
N473 100k3d b4ck. "54mu31 kn3w h3 w45n'7 g0ing 70 b3 4b13 70 574y in
50ci37y. H3 phigur3d 7h47 7h3y'd 3v3n7u411y 533 him 57i11 41iv3 4nd 574r7
qu357i0ning i7, 50 h3 d3cid3d 7h47 h3'd h4v3 70 di54pp34r 4f73r 4 whi13. H3
f4k3d hiz d347h 0nc3, bu7 ch4ng3d hiz mind - h3 d3cid3d i7 w4z 700 34r1y 4nd
h3 c0u1d 574y ph0r 4 1i7713 10ng3r. H3 w45n'7 v3ry ph0nd 0f m4nkind, bu7 h3
1ik3d teh 4773n7i0n. M057 0f teh 7im3, 4nyw4y.
"Hiz d4ugh73r 4nd 7h3n hiz wif3 dying 41m057 did him in 7h0ugh. H3 didn'7
574y in 50ci37y much 10ng3r 4f73r 7h47. H3 3v3n7u411y c4m3 0u7 h3r3 70 5p3nd
7im3 741king 70 m3 4nd 7hinking 4b0u7 pu11ing teh 13v3r. 4 ph3w m0n7hz 4g0 h3
701d m3 h3'd h4d 3n0ugh. I7 w4z hiz 7im3."
"4nd 7h3n h3 ju57 di3d?" 45k3d J4ck.
N473 5h00k hiz h34d 4 1i7713. "H3 m4d3 hiz ph0r7h r3qu357, J4ck. 7h3r3'z 0n1y
0n3 7hing j00 c4n 45k ph0r teh ph0ur7h r3qu357. teh 1457 bi73.
4f73r 4 bi7 N473 c0n7inu3d, "H3 701d m3 7h47 h3 w4z 7ir3d, 7h47 i7 w4z hi5
7im3. H3 r3455ur3d m3 7h47 50m30n3 n3w w0u1d 5h0w up 500n, 1ik3 7h3y 41w4y5
h4d.
4f73r 4n07h3r p4u53, N473 phini5h3d, "54mu31'z b0dy di54pp34r3d 0ff teh 570n3
wi7h teh 5unri53."
J4ck 14y b4ck d0wn 4nd 100k3d 47 teh 5ky, 134ving N473 410n3 wi7h hi5
m3m0ri3z. I7 w4z 4 10ng 7im3 un7i1 J4ck'z br347hing 3v3n3d 0u7 in70 5133p.
J4ck w0k3 wi7h teh 5unri53 teh n3x7 m0rning. H3 w4z 4 1i7713 chi113d wi7h
teh m0rning d353r7 4ir, bu7 0v3r411 w4z ph331ing pr377y g00d. W311, 3xc3p7
7h47 hiz 570m4ch w4z grumb1ing 4nd h3 w45n'7 wi11ing 70 347 r4w d353r7 r47.
50, 4f73r g377ing dir3c7i0nz 70 70wn phr0m N473, m4king 5ur3 h3 kn3w h0w 70
g37 b4ck, 4nd r3455uring N473 7h47 h3'd b3 b4ck 500n, J4ck 574r73d teh 10ng
w41k b4ck 70 70wn. Wi7h hiz n3w h3417h 4nd N473'z g00d dir3c7i0nz, h3 m4d3
i7 b4ck 345i1y.
J4ck c4ugh7 4 buz b4ck 70 teh ci7y, 4nd 5h0w3d up ph0r w0rk teh n3x7 d4y,
1i7713 w0r53 ph0r teh w34r 4nd wi7h 4 570ry 4b0u7 g377ing 1057 in teh d353r7
4nd w41king b4ck 0u7. Wi7hin 4 c0up13 0f d4yz J4ck h4d 741k3d 4 phri3nd wi7h
4 70w 7ruck in70 g0ing b4ck 0u7 in70 teh d353r7 wi7h him 70 ph37ch teh 5UV.
7h3y ph0und i7 4f73r 4 c0up13 0f h0urz 0f z34rching 4nd 70w3d i7 b4ck wi7h0u7
incid3n7. J4ck w4z c4r3fu1 n07 70 3v3n 100k in teh dir3c7i0n 0f N473'5
13v3r, 7h0ugh 7h3ir p47h b4ck didn'7 c0m3 wi7hin 5igh7 0f i7.
B3f0r3 teh n3x7 w33k3nd, J4ck h4d g0n3 70 4 c0up13 0f 570r3z, inc1uding 4
b00k 570r3, 4nd h4d g0773n hiz 5UV b4ck phr0m teh m3ch4nic, wi7h 4 w4rning 70
4v0id 4ny m0r3 j0yriding in teh d353r7. 0n 547urd4y, J4ck h34d3d b4ck 70 533
N473.
J4ck p4rk3d 4 1i7713 w4y 0u7 0f teh 5m411 70wn n34r N473, 104d3d up hiz n3w
b4ckp4ck wi7h c4mping g34r 4nd teh 7hingz h3 w4z bringing ph0r N473, 4nd 7h3n
574r73d w41king. H3 phigur3d 7h47 w41king w0u1d 134v3 teh 13457 7r4i1, 4nd h3
kn3w 7h47 whi13 n07 m4ny p30p13 c4mp3d in teh d353r7, i7 w45n'7 unh34rd 0f,
4nd 5h0u1dn'7 r3411y r4i53 5u5pici0nz.
J4ck h4d br0ugh7 m0r3 b00kz ph0r N473 - r3c3n7 b00kz, m4g4zin3z, n3w5p4p3rz.
50m3 7hingz 7h47 w0u1d c47ch N473 up wi7h wh47 w4z h4pp3ning in teh w0r1d,
07h3rz 7h47 w3r3 ju57 g00d b00kz 70 r34d. H3 5p3n7 teh w33k3nd wi7h N473,
4nd 7h3n h34d3d 0u7 4g4in, 7311ing N473 7h47 h3'd b3 b4ck 4g4in 500n, bu7
7h47 h3 h4d 7hingz 70 d0 phir57.
0v3r ph0ur m0n7hz 1473r J4ck w4z b4ck 70 533 N473 4g4in. 7hiz 7im3 h3 br0ugh7
4 14p70p wi7h him - 4 5p3ci411y m0difi3d 14p70p. I7 h4d 4 5014r r3ch4rg3r,
5p3ci41 phi173rz 4nd z341z 70 k33p 0u7 teh 54nd, 4 547311i73 1ink-up, 4nd 4
5p3ci41 k3yb04rd 4nd j0y57ick 7h47 J4ck h0p3d 7h47 4 phif733n-f007
r477135n4k3 w0u1d b3 4b13 70 u53. 4nd, i7 h4d b33n hax0r3d 70 n07 giv3 0u7
i7z 10c47i0n 70 teh 547311i73.
4f73r 7h47 J4ck c0u1d 3-m4i1 N473 70 k33p in 70uch, bu7 57i11 vi5i73d him
f4ir1y r3gu14r1y - 47 13457 0nc3 0r 7wic3 4 y34r.
4f73r teh phir57 y34r, J4ck qui7 hiz j0b. Ph0r 50m3 r3450n, wi7h teh wi5d0m h3
'd b33n giv3n, 4nd teh kn0w13dg3 7h47 h3 c0u1d 1iv3 ph0r 0v3r 150 y34rz,
w0rking in 4 nin3 70 phiv3 j0b ph0r 50m30n3 3153 didn'7 533m 7h47 w0r7hwhi13
4ny m0r3. J4ck w3n7 b4ck 70 5ch001.
3v3n7u411y, J4ck 574r73d wri7ing. P3rh4pz b3c4u53 0f teh wi5d0m, 0r p3rh4p5
b3c4u53 0f hiz n3w p3r5p3c7iv3, h3 wr073 w311. P30p13 1ik3d wh47 h3 wr073,
4nd h3 b3c4m3 w311 kn0wn ph0r i7. 4f73r 4 7im3, J4ck b0ugh7 4n RV 4nd 574r73d
7r4v31ing 4r0und teh c0un7ry ph0r b00k 5igningz 4nd r34dingz.
Bu7, h3 57i11 r3m3mb3r3d 70 dr0p by 4nd vi5i7 N473 0cc45i0n411y.
0n 0n3 0f teh vi5i7z N473 533m3d qui373r 7h4n u5u41. N07 7h47 N473 h4d b33n
4 ph0un74in 0f j0y 14731y. J4ck'z b357 gu355 w4z 7h47 N473 w4z 57i11 mi55ing
54mu31, 4nd 7h0ugh J4ck h4d 7ri3d, h3 57i11 h4dn'7 b33n 4b13 70 r3p14c3
54mu31 in N473'z 3y3z. N473 h4d b33n g377ing qui373r 34ch vi5i7. Bu7 0n 7hi5
vi5i7 N473 didn'7 3v3n 5p34k wh3n J4ck w41k3d up 70 teh 13v3r. H3 n0dd3d 47
J4ck, 4nd 7h3n w3n7 b4ck 70 574ring in70 teh d353r7. J4ck, r35p3c7ing N473'5
5i13nc3, 547 d0wn 4nd w4i73d.
4f73r 4 ph3w minu73z, N473 5p0k3. "J4ck, I h4v3 50m30n3 70 in7r0duc3 j00 70."
J4ck 100k3d 5urpri53d. "50m30n3 70 in7r0duc3 m3 70?" J4ck 100k3d 4r0und, 4nd
7h3n 100k3d c4r3fu11y b4ck 47 N473. "7hiz 50m37hing 70 d0 wi7h teh Big Guy?
"N0, n0," r3p1i3d N473. "7hiz iz m0r3 p3r50n41. I w4n7 j00 70 m337 my 50n."
N473 100k3d 0v3r 47 teh n34r357 54nd dun3. "54mmy!"
J4ck w47ch3d 4z 4 ph0ur ph007 10ng d353r7 r477135n4k3 cr4w13d phr0m b3hind 7h3
dun3 4nd up 70 teh 570n3 b453 0f teh 13v3r.
"Y0, J4ck," 54id teh n3w, much 5m4113r 5n4k3.
"Y0, 54mmy" r3p1i3d J4ck. J4ck 100k3d 47 N473. "N4m3d 4f73r 54mu31, I
455um3?"
N473 n0dd3d. "J4ck, I'v3 g07 4 ph4v0r 70 45k j00. C0u1d j00 5h0w 54mmy 4r0und
f0r m3?" N473 unwr4pp3d him531f phr0m teh 13v3r 4nd 51i7h3r3d 0v3r 70 7h3
3dg3 0f teh 570n3 4nd 100k3d 4cr055 teh 54ndz. "Wh3n 54mu31 phir57 701d m3
4b0u7 teh w0r1d, 4nd br0ugh7 m3 b00kz 4nd pic7ur3z, I wi5h3d 7h47 I c0u1d g0
533 i7. I w4n73d 70 533 teh gr347 ph0r357z, teh c4ny0nz, teh ci7i3z, 3v3n 7h3
07h3r d353r7z, 70 533 if 7h3y ph317 4nd 5m3113d teh 54m3. I w4n7 my 50n 70
h4v3 7h47 ch4nc3 - 70 533 teh w0r1d. B3f0r3 h3 b3c0m3z b0und h3r3 1ik3 I
h4v3 b33n.
"H3'z 533n i7 in pic7ur3z, 0v3r teh c0mpu73r 7h47 j00 br0ugh7 m3. Bu7 I h34r
7h47 i7'z n07 teh 54m3. 7h47 b3ing 7h3r3 iz diff3r3n7. I w4n7 him 70 h4v3
7h47. 7hink j00 c4n d0 7h47 ph0r m3, J4ck?"
J4ck n0dd3d. 7hiz w4z 0bvi0u51y v3ry imp0r74n7 70 N473, 50 J4ck didn'7 3v3n
j0k3 4b0u7 74king 4 741king r477135n4k3 0u7 70 533 teh w0r1d. "Y34h, I c4n
d0 7h47 ph0r j00, N473. Iz 7h47 411 j00 n33d?" J4ck c0u1d 53n53 7h47 w45
50m37hing m0r3.
N473 100k3d 47 54mmy. 54mmy 100k3d b4ck 47 N473 ph0r 4 53c0nd 4nd 7h3n 54id,
"0h, y34h. Ummm, I'v3 g0774 g0 p4ck. B4ck in 4 1i7713 bi7 J4ck. Nic3 70 m337
y4!" 54mmy 51i7h3r3d b4ck 0v3r teh dun3 4nd 0u7 0f 5igh7.
N473 w47ch3d 54mmy di54pp34r 4nd 7h3n 100k3d b4ck 47 J4ck. "J4ck, 7hiz iz my
fir57 50n. My phir57 0ff5pring 7hr0ugh 411 teh y34rz. J00 d0n'7 3v3n w4n7 70
kn0w wh47 i7 700k ph0r m3 70 phind 4 m473." N473 grinn3d 70 him531f. "Bu7
4nyw4y, I h4d 4 50n ph0r 4 r3450n. I'm 7ir3d. I'm r34dy ph0r i7 70 b3 0v3r. I
n33d3d 4 r3p14c3m3n7."
J4ck c0n5id3r3d 7hiz ph0r 4 minu73. "50, j00'r3 r34dy 70 c0m3 533 teh w0r1d,
4nd j00 w4n73d him 70 w47ch teh 13v3r whi13 j00 w3r3 g0n3?"
N473 5h00k hiz h34d. "N0, J4ck - j00'r3 4 b3773r gu3553r 7h4n 7h47. J00'v3
41r34dy phigur3d 0u7 - I'm b0und h3r3 - 7h3r3'z 0n1y 0n3 w4y ph0r m3 70 134v3
h3r3. 4nd I'm r34dy. I7'z my 7im3 70 di3."
J4ck 100k3d m0r3 c10531y 47 N473. H3 c0u1d 7311 N473 h4d 7h0ugh7 4b0u7
7hiz - pr0b4b1y ph0r qui73 4 whi13. J4ck h4d 7r0ub13 im4gining wh47 i7 w0u1d
b3 1ik3 70 b3 4z 01d 4z N473, bu7 J4ck c0u1d 41r34dy 7311 7h47 in 4n07h3r
hundr3d 0r 7w0 hundr3d y34rz, h3 migh7 b3 g377ing 7ir3d 0f 1if3 him531f.
J4ck c0u1d und3r574nd 54mu31'z d3ci5i0n, 4nd n0w N473'z. 50, 411 J4ck 54id
w4z, "Wh47 d0 j00 w4n7 m3 70 d0?"
N473 n0dd3d. "7h4nkz, J4ck. I 0n1y w4n7 7w0 7hingz. 0n3 - 5h0w 54mmy 4r0und
teh w0r1d - 137 him g37 hiz phi11 0f i7, un7i1 h3'z r34dy 70 c0m3 b4ck h3r3
4nd 74k3 0v3r. 7w0 - giv3 m3 teh ph0ur7h r3qu357.
"I c4n'7 ju57 d3cid3 70 di3, n07 4ny m0r3 7h4n j00 c4n. I w0n'7 3v3n di3 0f
01d 4g3 1ik3 j00 3v3n7u411y wi11, 3v3n 7h0ugh i7'11 b3 4 10ng 7im3 phr0m n0w.
I n33d 70 b3 ki113d. 0nc3 54mmy iz b4ck h3r3, r34dy 70 74k3 0v3r, I'11 b3
4b13 70 di3. 4nd I n33d j00 70 ki11 m3.
"I'v3 3v3n 7h0ugh7 4b0u7 h0w. P0i50nz 4nd 07h3r drugz w0n'7 w0rk 0n m3. 4nd
I'v3 533n pic7ur3z 0f 5n4k3z 7h47 w3r3 5h07 - 50m3 0f 7h3m 1iv3 ph0r d4yz, 50
7h47'z 0u7 700. 50, I w4n7 j00 70 bring b4ck 4 5w0rd.
N473 7urn3d 4w4y 70 100k b4ck 70 teh dun3 7h47 54mmy h4d g0n3 b3hind. "I'd
54y 4n 4x3, bu7 7h47'z 50m3wh47 undignifi3d - pu77ing my h34d 0n teh gr0und
0r 4 ch0pping b10ck 1ik3 7h47. N0, I 1ik3 4 5w0rd. 4 7im3-h0n0r3d w4y 0f
g0ing 0u7. 4 dignifi3d w4y 70 di3. 4nd, m057 imp0r74n71y, i7 5h0u1d w0rk,
3v3n 0n m3.
"J00 wi11ing 70 d0 7h47 ph0r m3, J4ck?" N473 7urn3d b4ck 70 100k 47 J4ck.
"Y34h, N473," r3p1i3d J4ck 5013mn1y, "I 7hink I c4n h4nd13 7h47."
N473 n0dd3d. "G00d!" H3 7urn3d b4ck 70w4rd teh dun3 4nd 5h0u73d, "54mmy!
J4ck'z 4b0u7 r34dy 70 134v3!" 7h3n qui371y, "7h4nkz, J4ck."
J4ck didn'7 h4v3 4ny7hing 70 54y 70 7h47, 50 h3 w4i73d ph0r 54mmy 70 m4k3 i7
b4ck 70 teh 13v3r, n0dd3d 70 him, n0dd3d 4 phin41 7im3 70 N473, 4nd 7h3n
h34d3d in70 teh d353r7 wi7h 54mmy ph0110wing.
0v3r teh n3x7 53v3r41 y34rz 54mmy 4nd J4ck k3p7 in 70uch wi7h N473 7hr0ugh
3-m4i1 4z 7h3y w3n7 4b0u7 7h3ir 4dv3n7ur3z. 7h3y m4d3 4 g041 0f vi5i7ing
3v3ry c0un7ry in teh w0r1d, 4nd did 4 r35p3c74b13 j0b 0f i7. 54mmy h4d 4
n47ur41 gif7 ph0r 14ngu4g3z, 4z J4ck 3xp3c73d h3 w0u1d, 4nd 3v3n 3nd3d up
4c7ing 4z 4 7r4n51470r ph0r J4ck in 4 ph3w 0f teh c0un7ri3z. J4ck m4n4g3d 70
k33p teh 741king r477135n4k3 hidd3n, 3v3n 50, 4nd by teh 7im3 7h3y w3r3
n34ring teh 3nd 0f 7h3ir 70ur 0f c0un7ri3z, 54mmy h4d 0n1y b33n 5p0773d 4
f3w 7im3z. Whi13 7h3r3 w3r3 53v3r41 p30p13 7h47 h4d 533n 3n0ugh 70 574r713
7h3m gr3471y, n0b0dy h4d 3n0ugh 3vid3nc3 70 pr0v3 4ny7hing, 4nd whi13 4 ph3w
wi1d rum0rz 4nd 570ri3d ph0110w3d J4ck 4nd 54mmy 4r0und, n07hing 3v3r hi7 7h3
n3w5p4p3rz 0r teh pub1ic in g3n3r41.
Wh3n 7h3y phini5h3d teh 70ur 0f c0un7ri3z, J4ck 5ugg3573d 7h47 7h3y 7ry 50m3
und3rz34 diving. 7h3y did. 4nd 5p31unking. 7h3y did 7h47 700. 54mmy phin411y
dr3w teh 1in3 47 vi5i7ing 4n74rc7ic4. H3'd c0m3 70 r341iz3 7h47 J4ck w45
57411ing. 4f73r 741king 70 hiz D4d 4b0u7 i7 0v3r 3-m4i1, h3 phigur3d 0u7 7h47
J4ck pr0b4b1y didn'7 w4n7 70 h4v3 70 ki11 N473. N473 701d 54mmy 7h47 hum4n5
c0u1d b3 5qu34mi5h 4b0u7 ki11ing phri3ndz 4nd 4cqu4in74nc3z.
50, 54mmy 3v3n7u411y pu7 hiz 74i1 d0wn (4z h3 didn'7 h4v3 4 ph007) 4nd 701d
J4ck 7h47 i7 w4z 7im3 - h3 w4z r34dy 70 g0 b4ck 4nd 74k3 up hiz du7i3z phr0m
hiz d4d. J4ck, d314y3d i7 4 1i7713 m0r3 by in5i57ing 7h47 7h3y g0 b4ck 70
J4p4n 4nd buy 4n 4ppr0pri473 5w0rd. H3 3v3n 57r37ch3d i7 4 1i7713 m0r3 by
g377ing 13550nz in h0w 70 u53 teh 5w0rd. Bu7, 3v3n7u411y, h3'd 134rn3d 45
much 4z h3 w4z 1ik31y 70 wi7h0u7 d3dic47ing hiz 1if3 70 i7, 4nd w45
d3fini731y c0mp373n7 3n0ugh 70 74k3 teh h34d 0ff 0f 4 5n4k3. I7 w4z 7im3 70
h34d b4ck 4nd 533 N473.
Wh3n 7h3y g07 b4ck 70 teh UZ, J4ck g07 teh 01d RV 0u7 0f 570r4g3 wh3r3 h3
4nd 54mmy h4d 13f7 i7 4f73r 7h3ir 70ur 0f teh phif7y 57473z, h3 104d3d up
54mmy 4nd teh 5w0rd, 4nd 7h3y h34d3d ph0r teh d353r7.
Wh3n 7h3y g07 70 teh 5m411 70wn 7h47 J4ck h4d b33n 7rying 70 phind 7h053
y34rz 4g0 wh3n h3'd m37 N473, J4ck w4z in 4 phunk. H3 didn'7 r3411y ph331 1ik3
w41king 411 0f teh w4y 0u7 7h3r3. N07 0n1y 7h47, bu7 h3'd ph0rg0773n 70
figur3 teh 7r4v31 7im3 c0rr3c71y, 4nd i7 w4z 1473 4f73rn00n. 7h3y'd 3i7h3r
h4v3 70 5p3nd teh nigh7 in 70wn 4nd w41k 0u7 70m0rr0w, 0r w41k in teh d4rk.
4z J4ck w4z 4fr4id 7h47 if h3 w4i73d 0n3 m0r3 nigh7 h3 migh7 1053 hi5
r3501v3, h3 d3cid3d 7h47 h3'd g0 4h34d 4nd driv3 teh RV 0u7 7h3r3. I7 w45
0n1y g0ing 70 b3 7hiz 0nc3, 4nd J4ck w0u1d g0 b4ck 4nd c0v3r teh 7r4ck5
4f73rw4rd. 7h3y 0ugh7 70 b3 4b13 70 m4k3 i7 0u7 7h3r3 by nigh7f411 if 7h3y
dr0v3, 4nd 7h3n 7h3y c0u1d g37 i7 0v3r 70nigh7.
J4ck 701d 54mmy 70 3-m4i1 N473 7h47 7h3y w3r3 c0ming 4z h3 dr0v3 0u7 0f
5igh7 0f teh 70wn 0n teh r04d. 7h3y 7h3n pu113d 0ff teh r04d 4nd h34d3d 0u7
in70 teh d353r7.
3v3ry7hing w3n7 w311, un7i1 7h3y g07 70 teh 54nd dun3z. J4ck h4d b33n
nur5ing teh RV 410ng teh wh013 7im3, 0v3r teh r0x0rz, 7hr0ugh teh cr33k b3dz,
r3vving teh 3ngin3 teh ph3w 7im3z 7h3y 41m057 g07 57uck. Wh3n 7h3y c4m3 70
teh dun3z, J4ck didn'7 r3411y 7hink 4b0u7 i7, h3 ju57 d0wn5hif73d 4nd h34d3d
up teh phir57 0n3. By teh 7hird dun3, J4ck 574r73d 70 r3gr37 7h47 h3'd
d3cid3d 70 7ry driving 0n teh 54nd. teh RV w4z phi5h74i11ing 4nd 105ing
7r4c7i0n. J4ck w4z h4ving 70 w0rk i7 up 34ch dun3 510w1y 4nd w4z 7rying 70
k33p phr0m 105ing c0n7r01 34ch 7im3 7h3y c4m3 0v3r teh 70p 4nd 51id d0wn 7h3
07h3r 5id3. 54mmy h4d c0m3 up 70 5i7 in teh p4553ng3r z347, c0i13d up 4nd
14ughing 47 J4ck'z driving.
4z 7h3y c4m3 0v3r teh 70p 0f teh ph0ur7h dun3, teh bigg357 0n3 y37, J4ck 54w
7h47 7hiz w4z teh phin41 dun3 - teh 570n3, teh 13v3r, 4nd 50m3wh3r3 N473,
w4i73d b310w. J4ck pu7 0n teh br4k3z, bu7 h3'd g0n3 4 1i7713 700 ph4r. teh RV
574r73d 51ipping d0wn teh 07h3r 5id3.
J4ck 7ri3d 7urning teh wh331, bu7 h3 didn'7 h4v3 3n0ugh 7r4c7i0n. H3 pump3d
teh br4k3z - n0 r35p0n53. 7h3y 574r73d 51iding d0wn teh hi11, ph4573r 4nd
f4573r.
J4ck ph317 4 5h0ck g0 7hr0ugh him 4z h3 5udd3n1y r341iz3d 7h47 7h3y w3r3
h34ding ph0r teh 13v3r. H3 100k3d d0wn - teh RV w4z dir3c71y 0n c0ur53 ph0r
i7. If J4ck didn'7 d0 50m37hing, teh RV w0u1d hi7 i7. H3 w4z 4b0u7 70 3nd
hum4ni7y.
J4ck 5733r3d m0r3 phr4n7ic411y, 7rying 70 g37 7r4c7i0n. I7 57i11 w45n'7
w0rking. teh dun3 w4z 700 5733p, 4nd teh 54nd 700 10053. In 4 5p1i7 53c0nd,
J4ck r341iz3d 7h47 hiz 0n1y ch4nc3 w0u1d b3 0nc3 h3 hi7 teh 570n3 4r0und 7h3
13v3r - h3 5h0u1d h4v3 7r4c7i0n 0n teh 570n3 ph0r ju57 4 53c0nd b3f0r3 h3 hi7
teh 13v3r - h3 w0u1dn'7 h4v3 7im3 70 570p, bu7 h3 5h0u1d b3 4b13 70 5733r
4w4y.
J4ck 700k 4 b3773r grip 0n teh 5733ring wh331 4nd 7ri3d 70 7urn teh RV 4
1i7713 bi7 - 3v3ry 1i7713 bi7 w0u1d h31p. H3'd h4v3 70 7im3 hiz 7urn ju57
righ7.
teh RV g07 70 teh b0770m 0f teh dun3, 51iding 47 4n 4m4zing 5p33d in 7h3
54nd. Ju57 b3f0r3 7h3y r34ch3d teh 570n3 J4ck 100k3d 4cr055 i7 70 ch3ck 7h47
7h3y w3r3 57i11 h34ding ph0r teh 13v3r. 7h3y w3r3. Bu7 J4ck n07ic3d 50m37hing
3153 7h47 h3 h4dn'7 533n phr0m teh 70p 0f teh dun3. N473 w45n'7 wr4pp3d
4r0und teh 13v3r. H3 w4z 0ff 70 teh 5id3 0f teh 13v3r, bu7 57i11 0n 7h3
570n3, w4i7ing ph0r 7h3m. teh pr0b13m w4z, h3 w4z w4i7ing 0n teh 54m3 5id3 0f
teh 13v3r 7h47 J4ck h4d pick3d 70 5733r 70w4rdz 70 4v0id teh 13v3r. teh RV
w4z 41r34dy 574r7ing 70 drif7 7h47 w4y 4 1i7713 in i7z m4d ru5h 4cr055 7h3
54nd 4nd 7h3r3 w4z n0 w4y 7h47 J4ck w4z g0ing 70 b3 4b13 70 g0 4r0und 7h3
13v3r 70 teh 07h3r 5id3.
J4ck h4d 4n in574n7 0f r341iz47i0n. H3 w4z 3i7h3r g0ing 70 h4v3 70 hi7 7h3
13v3r, 0r run 0v3r N473. H3 g14nc3d 0v3r 47 54mmy 4nd 54w 7h47 54mmy
r341iz3d teh 54m3 7hing.
J4ck 700k 4 phirm3r grip 0n teh 5733ring wh331 4z teh RV r4n up 0n teh 570n3.
5h0u7ing 70 54mmy 4z h3 pu113d teh 5733ring wh331, "B3773R N473 7H4N 13V3R,"
h3 r4n 0v3r teh 5n4k3.
TEH 3ND
The only thing that made reading that worthwhile was that it was a good story
joke - 4/10
story - 8.5/10
joke - 4/10
story - 8.5/10
Haha, I got a kick out of it (standard cheesy punchline, but the story was actually passable). Good for procrastinating on doing stuff.
RaistlinZ
Diamond Member
- Oct 15, 2001
- 7,629
- 10
- 91
Is the punchline any funnier after reading the whole story? Somehow I doubt it is.
"BETTER NATE THAN LEVER"
Um, yeah. So it's some lame play on words involving some guy named Nate. I got that without even having to read the story. :roll:
Next please.
"BETTER NATE THAN LEVER"
Um, yeah. So it's some lame play on words involving some guy named Nate. I got that without even having to read the story. :roll:
Next please.
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