all we left behind excerpt

8/20/2019 All We Left Behind Excerpt

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My Fndrfc Puncmhrd

Pfkon YubshNhw Vorj Boncon Soronto Pycnhy Nhw Chbef


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onh


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Kgrfon

Seh sun pgrts teh trhhs bfjh bfps, dobchn wfte egblsegcows gnc sh`rhts. Cusj grèhs ovhr teh cfrt rogc gehgc,

gnc F coumbh-èh`j teh Yost-ft on ky cgse. Ft thbbs kh to

crfvh strgfdet lor gnotehr sfx kfbhs out ol town teroude tefs

pgtèworj ol Nhw Hndbgnc trhhs. Mut teh bhgvhs grh lbgkhc

orgndh-dobc gnc so tef`j F `gn‖t fkgdfnh tehrh‖s g bgjh, kuè

bhss g bgjh eoush gnc g pgrty, sokhwehrh mhefnc tehk.

‒Grh you surh tefs fs teh rfdet wgy?‛ F gsj Bfbfte, weo

mgrhs ehr thhte fn teh kfrror ol ky pgsshndhr-shgt vfsor.

Ehr rhc koute lfbbs teh weobh lrgkh.

‒Ol òursh ft fs,‛ Bfbfte prg`tf`gbby snorts, tossfnd bfpstf`j

fnto ehr pursh gnc lfsefnd out g sfbvhr lbgsj. Peh ophns teh

`gp gnc dubps mg`j wegthvhr‖s fnsfch ft, skhgrfnd rhc ovhr

teh rfk. ‒Sehrh fs onby onh wgy, Kgrfon!‛ Bfbfte mhbbows,robbfnd cown teh wfncow gnc bhgnfnd fnto teh wfnc. ‒Lor-

wgrc, ky lrfhnc. Lorwgrc, fnto your luturh!‛

Seh sun wfnjs okfnousby teroude teh trhhs, nhgrby

sht. Seh tefn lgmrf` ol Bfbfte‖s tgnj top strhtèhs ovhr ehr


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F N D ] F C P X N C M H ] D

3

̀ bhgvgdh, gnc F `gn‖t ehbp mut tefnj gmout gbb teh tefnds Bfb-

fte jnows. Gbb teh duys seh‖s mhhn wfte gnc teh sh`rhts ehr

mocy unchrstgncs, teh sgkh wgy g lfrhlby jnows to dbow wehn nfdet grrfvhs, turnfnd on fn teh cgrj.

‒Kgrfon, ft‖s shnfor yhgr!‛ Bfbfte eoots, nucdfnd kh gs

seh bhgns out teh wfncow. ‒Th‖rh dofnd to egvh teh mhst

yhgr hvhr!‛ Peh bgudes gnc ehr egfr wefps wfbcby, `gtèfnd

wefsphrs ol sun. Gnc hvhn teoude teh trhhs gndbh fn cgrj

gehgc ol us, F `gn‖t ehbp mut skfbh gnc robb cown ky

wfncow wfte ehr. Mh`gush Bfbfte fs so lrhh, gnc so gbfvh, gncso rgcfgnt, tegt F jnow F‖c lobbow ehr gnywehrh, lor aust g

efnt ol tegt lrhhcok.

Gt teh hnc ol teh rogc teh trhhtops ophn up to unvhfb teh

bgjh, gnc teh lfngb wfnjs ol dobc sefnh ovhr teh kountgfn.

Ft kgjhs kh lordht wh bfvh nhgr Moston, or tegt crovhs ol

tourfsts chs`hnc upon our skgbb ògstgb town ol Hkhrson

fn teh sukkhrtfkh. Ft rhkfncs kh tegt on`h tefs bgnc wgs

notefnd mut vfrdfn lorhst.

F pgrj nhgr teh sgbt drgss gnc Bfbfte cruks ehr lfndhrs on

teh cgsemogrc, noccfnd to teh monlfrh my teh seorh. Swo

cozhn jfcs lrok sèoob gbrhgcy surrounc teh lbgkhs, crfnj-

fnd gnc bgudefnd.‒Bht teh kgyehk mhdfn!‛ Bfbfte sgys crgkgtf`gbby, èh`j-

fnd ehr `bhgvgdh fn teh kfrror gnc lbullfnd ehr egfr bfjh seh‖s

gmout to do onstgdh. Ky stokgè drukmbhs lrok eundhr or


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G B B T H B H L S M H E F N C

8

nhrvhs, gnc F pubb g K`Fntose gppbh lrok ky pursh.

‒Gpphtfzhr?‛ F ollhr, gnc Bfbfte boojs gt kh bfjh F‖k eobc-

fnd g lrod.‒Cgkn, Kgr-f-coocbh! Vou dot g lruft stgnc fn tehrh?‛

‒Kgymh,‛ F seoot mg`j, noccfnd to ehr lbgsj. ‒Vou dot g

bfquor storh fn yours?‛

‒Souèæ!‛ Peh drgms ky gppbh gnc tgjhs g crgkgtf` mfth,

tehn seovhs ehr lbgsj fn ky egnc. ‒Gpphtfzhrs ft fs.‛ Peh

kotfons lor kh to crfnj.

F tgjh g swfd gnc teh bfqufc fs swhht, mut tehn ft efts kyterogt gnc murns. ‒Ahsus!‛ F spft teh rhst out teh wfncow.

‒Tegt fs tegt!?‛

‒Porry.‛ Bfbfte bgudes. ‒Ojgy, kgymh you co nhhc to hgt

mhlorh you crfnj.‛ Peh egncs kh mg`j teh gppbh fn hxègndh

lor ehr lbgsj. ‒Lfnfse tegt, lruft-dfrb, gnc rhkfnc kh to lfnc

you sokh mrhgc.‛

@obc gfr seoots up ky sjfrt gs wh wgbj towgrc teh bgjh,

wfnc jfssfnd ky tefdes. F drfp teh gppbh gnc tud gt teh lgm-

rf`‖s ehk.

‒Mh òob,‛ Bfbfte sgys, croppfnd gn grk ovhr ky seoub-

chrs gnc pbgyfnd wfte teh mbonc egfr tegt lbows cown ky

mg`j. ‒Vou dot tefs.‛

Peh hyhs ky egncs mhlorh terowfnd mg`j gnotehrcrfnj, gnc F‖k not surh wegt seh tefnjs F‖vh dot, onby seh‖s

gbrhgcy sjfppfnd gehgc teroude teh rhhcs gnc kotfonfnd

lor kh to lobbow. Peh ehgcs lor teh monlfrh, gnc lrok ky


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<

gndbh teh lbgkhs spgrj grounc ehr, wfbc gnc sngppfnd.

Segt‖s Bfbfte.

Gbwgys on lfrh.F egnd my teh wgthr‖s hcdh gs Bfbfte sjfps lrok onh

phrson to teh nhxt. Peh khntfonhc tefs pgrty wgs hx`bu-

sfvh, wefè sounchc òob mhlorh, mut now tegt wh‖rh ehrh,

ft rhgbby khgns F con‖t jnow gnyonh. F con‖t hvhn shh teh

crgkg jfcs Bfbfte norkgbby egnds out wfte. F òubc mh kgc

gt ehr lor not fntrocu`fnd kh, mut F jnow mhtthr. Bfbfte

moun`hs lrok phrson to phrson bfjh g kgnf` aukpfnd mhgn,gnc F‖c rgtehr mh g wgbblbowhr tegn dht crgddhc grounc bfjh

g lordotthn puppy. Peh‖bb lfnc kh wehn seh‖s conh. Peh

gbwgys cohs.

Seh ehgt ol teh monlfrh fs surprfsfnd. Ft pulls up ky

sjfn bfjh teh lbhse ol g kgrsekgbbow. Glthr bfndhrfnd gwefbh

F cfsòvhr tehrh‖s gn fnvfsfmbh bfnh grounc teh lfrh. G ehgt

bfnh. On onh sfch ft‖s too eot to stgnc gnc on teh otehr sfch

ft‖s too òbc. Seh lbgkhs `rg`jbh, wefsphrfnd sh`rhts to teh

dfrbs stgncfnd `bosh to teh mbgzh wfte tehfr tgn bhds gnc bow-

ùt sefrts. Sehy cfd tehfr tohs fnto teh sgnc, gnc teh so`-

`hr pbgyhrs touè tehfr hbmows gnc wgfsts gnc egfr. F kovh

`boshr to teh lfrh mut teh ehgt lhhbs bfjh Bfbfte‖s mrhgte, eot

on ky nh`j.‒Tegt fl you dfvh yourshbl g chgcbfnh?‛ Bfbfte gsjhc teh

otehr nfdet, ehr mrown egfr byfnd gdgfnst ky wefth òk-

lorthr fn cgrj wgvhs. ‒Bfjh Egbbowhhn or Segnjsdfvfnd?‛

‒So lfnc g moylrfhnc?‛ F seflthc unòklortgmby mhsfch ehr.


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4

Peh bgudehc. ‒Eh cohsn‖t egvh to mh your moylrfhnc.‛

F stgrhc gt teh `hfbfnd. F‖c pgfnthc ft sgppefrh g lhw yhgrs

gdo, mut you òubc stfbb shh teh outbfnhs ol teh dbow-fn-teh-cgrj stgrs gnc unfòrn stf`jhrs mhnhgte.

‒Kgymh F wgnt g moylrfhnc,‛ F terhw mg`j gt ehr, gnc seh

robbhc onto ehr hbmow to lg`h kh.

‒Vou‖rh kfsunchrstgncfnd. F con‖t khgn do out gnc

s`rhw teh nhxt duy tegt òkhs gbond. F khgn . . .‛ Peh

pbg`hc ehr fnchx lfndhr on ky seoubchr gnc stgrthc to crgw

swfrbs teroude teh òtton ol ky sefrt. Peh cfc tegt wehnseh wgs tefnjfnd, gs fl teh òntg`t ehbphc ehr to lfdurh out

wegt seh khgnt to sgy. ‒Ft‖s not g prokfsh you‖rh kgjfnd to

kh . Ft‖s g prokfsh you‖rh kgjfnd to yourshbl. Ft‖s g prokfsh

to your mocy . Cohs tegt kgjh shnsh?‛

‒Not rhgbby,‛ F mrhgtehc. Bfbfte jnhw eow to ush ehr

egncs. Peh jnhw wegt moys wgnthc. Tegt to co wfte tehk.

Ehr lfndhrs eft ky òbbgrmonh gnc doosh mukps lrfbbhc

ovhr kh. @obc tehn eot. Eot, lor`fnd kh to stgrh gt teh `hfb-

fnd so seh òubcn‖t shh gbb teh tefnds F òubcn‖t thbb ehr.

‒Vou kgjh teh prokfsh to yourshbl, Kgrfon,‛ Bfbfte sgfc,

ehr lfndhrs trg`fnd teh ehk ol ky sjfn. ‒Bfsthn to your mocy.‛

Bfbfte cud ehr tohs fnto teh strhtè ol kus`bh gmovh

ky gnjbh gnc F òubc thbb seh wgs tfrhc. Glthr thn yhgrs olsbhhpovhrs, F jnow teh `rooj ol Bfbfte‖s nh`j. F jnow teh wgy

ehr hbmow mhncs. Seosh tohs khgnt seh wgs rhgcy lor mhc.

Or kgymh seh wgs aust tfrhc ol rhegsefnd tefs ònvhrsgtfon.

‒Po, eow cohs ft worj?‛ F gsjhc, sprhgcfnd ky mbonc


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5

egfr ovhr teh pfbbow. F nhhchc g kgp. Tgntfnd to bosh your

vfrdfnfty gnc bosfnd ft grh two vhry cfllhrhnt tefnds. ‒Fl eh‖s

not ky moylrfhnc? Tegt grh teh rubhs?‛‒Sehrh grhn‖t gny rubhs, Kgrfon.‛ Bfbfte robbhc onto ehr

sfch gnc mhdgn to mrgfc ky egfr. ‒Vou trust your fnstfn`ts.

Bht efk tgjh teh bhgc. Vour mocy jnows wegt to co.‛

‒Mut wegt fl F con‖t?‛

‒Vou wfbb.‛ Ehr lfndhrs kovhc hllortbhssby, ehr egncs

whgvfnd teh mrgfc wfteout hvhn boojfnd. ‒Vour mocy jnows

tefnds, Kgrfon. Sefnds you `gn‖t hvhn fkgdfnh.‛F cfcn‖t jnow wegt to sgy to tegt. Ehr worcs whrh bfjh

lod, untouègmbh gnc hvhrywehrh.

‒Con‖t tefnj gmout ft,‛ Bfbfte hnòurgdhc, hyhfnd ky

sfbhn`h. ‒Aust egvh lun.‛

‒Segt‖s ft?‛

‒Hgsy phgsy!‛ Ehr vof`h dot efde, bfjh kgymh tegt wgs g

bfh, gnc F lfxhc ky dgzh outsfch on teh hkpty sjy, fkgdfn-

fnd ft lubb ol lfrhlbfhs. ‒Ehbb, Kgr-f-coocbh, you‖rh eot ,‛ Bfbfte

òntfnuhc. ‒Po, ft‖s not bfjh ft‖s dofnd to mh egrc.‛

‒]fdet.‛ F nocchc, wgntfnd to mhbfhvh ehr.

‒Cgkn rfdet!‛ seh fnsfsthc, mhlorh sfttfnd up crgkgtf`gbby

gnc puttfnd on ehr kost omnoxfous @gteobf`-nun vof`h.

‒Ol òursh, you seoubc gbwgys rhkhkmhr,‛ seh stgrthc, wgddfnd ehr lfndhr fn teh gfr. ‒Vour mocy fs g thkpbh. Vou

seoubcn‖t chlfbh ft wfte onh ol teosh cfrty, cfrty moys. Vou

seoubc èhrfse ft gnc jhhp your mhgutflub lbowhr fntg`t lor

your whccfnd cgy!‛


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6

F drgmmhc g pfbbow gnc skg`jhc ehr fn teh lg`h. Th mote

coumbhc ovhr bgudefnd.

‒Vou jnow, Kgrfon . . . ,‛ Bfbfte sgfc qufhtby, gs ourbgudethr sumsfchc gnc teh skhbb ol pfnh trhhs crflthc fn

lrok teh ophn wfncow.

‒Vhge?‛

‒Vou `gn . . .‛ Peh seooj ehr ehgc, ehr vof`h bfdet gnc

cfskfssfvh, gnc F teoudet kgymh F òubc ehgr teh pgfnt

phhbfnd mg`j to hxposh teosh pbgstf` stgrs. ‒Bfjh fl you‖rh

worjfnd up to ft gnc, F cunno, you‖rh not fnto ft or wegt-hvhr . . . Vou jnow you `gn sgy no, rfdet?‛

Ky tohs cud fnto teh mhcsprhgc, squfsey gs kuc.

‒Ol òursh F jnow tegt,‛ F sgfc quf`jby, segjfnd ky ehgc

bfjh seh wgs `rgzy. ‒Teo cohsn‖t jnow tegt?‛

‒Purh,‛ Bfbfte gdrhhc, mut tehn ehr hyhs lbf`jhc to kh

bfjh seh wgsn‖t surh F khgnt ft. F pusehc mg`j teh òklorthr

gnc `rgwbhc unchrnhgte, fdnorfnd teh f`y crglt gt teh mgsh

ol ky sehhts.

‒Dooc nfdet, Bfbfte,‛ F sgfc soltby.

‒Dooc nfdet, Kgrfon,‛ seh sgfc, turnfnd oll teh bfdet,

mut fn teh cgrj F òubc stfbb ehgr ehr vof`h hèofnd fn ky

ehgc. Vour mocy jnows tefnds , ft wefsphrhc gs F stgrhc up gt

ky `hfbfnd ol sgppefrh-crownhc stgrs. Sefnds you `gn‖t hvhnfkgdfnh.


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Jurt

Sehrh grh mbg`j skucdhs gbb ovhr ky egncs. Ft‖sègrògb lrok teh lfrh pft tegt @onnhr gnc F grh mufbcfnd

lor teh pgrty, tryfnd to sht ft up mhlorh hvhryonh dhts ehrh.

Mut teh cust fs hvhrywehrh.

‒Th gbkost conh?‛ F gsj @onnhr, weo unbogcs lfrh-

wooc lrok efs PX\ gnc fs pg`jfnd terhh muncbhs unchr

hgè grk. Ft‖s fkprhssfvh lor sokhonh weo mgrhby `bhgrs

lfvh loot lfvh. Mut tegt‖s teh tefnd gmout @onnhr, eh‖s hgsy

to unchrhstfkgth.

‒Vou dot sokhpbg`h to mh?‛ eh gsjs, cukpfnd teh wooc,

gnc F seow efk ky egncs. ‒Sehrh‖s g bgjh mhefnc you,

cukmgss.‛

‒Ehy, F cfcn‖t hvhn wgnt to mh ehrh,‛ F sgy, croppfnd ky

mrfquhtths gnc wgbjfnd to teh seorh. ‒Tey cfcn‖t you dhtteh lrhsekhn to co tefs?‛

‒Sehy‖rh dhttfnd teh mhhr. Vou tefnj F‖c trust teosh A\

wfkps wfte kgtèhs? Vou wgnt to murn cown ky un`bh‖s

eoush?‛


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77

‒Tegt, gnc you trust kh to bfdet tefs tefnd?‛ F sgy, cunj-

fnd ky egncs fn teh wgthr.

‒No, F trust you to seut up gnc co gs you‖rh tobc.‛ Fskfbh gt tegt. @onnhr gbwgys jnows eow to ùt teroude teh

mubbseft. Hsph`fgbby kfnh.

Sefs monlfrh tefnd fs @onnhr‖s fchg. Jf`j oll teh shgson.

Dht bgfc. Eh‖s mhhn on kh gbb whhj gmout eow F‖k so``hr

`gptgfn gnc F mhtthr mh ehrh. Po F gk. Seoude eh egc to

prg`tf`gbby jfcngp kh to dht kh to seow up, crfvfnd kh

ehrh efkshbl. F seoubc mh fnto ft. Ft‖s shnfor yhgr. Mhst cgknyhgr ol your bflh. Segt‖s wegt ky sfsthr Aosfh woubc sgy. Gnc

wegt‖s not to bfjh gmout mhfnd gt g bgjh eoush fn teh kfccbh

ol nowehrh, crfnjfnd mhhr?

F s`rum gt teh cgkn ègrògb on ky pgbks, mut ft won‖t

òkh oll. Lu`j ft. F wfph ky egncs on ky pgnts, dhttfnd

tehk cfrty.

Sehrh‖s g eobbhr gnc ]ory gnc Sroy crfvh up wfte òobhrs

gnc mgds ol dro`hrfhs fn tehfr mg`jshgt. F stgrt ehbpfnd tehk

unbogc wehn Sroy wrhstbhs kh fnto g ehgcbo`j.

‒Ehy, ]ory, you owh kh thn mu`js. F tobc you tefs couèh

woubc seow up.‛

‒Hxùsh kh?‛ F twfst out ol Sroy‖s drfp gnc turn teh

tgmbhs so ft‖s kh wfte ky grk eoojhc gt efs

terogt. ‒Tegt‖stefs? Vou two kgjfnd mhts on kh?‛

‒Ehy, F mht on you kgn, not gdgfnst.‛ Sroy struddbhs gnc

]ory bgudes. ‒Bgy oll.‛

F con‖t bht efk do.


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7=

‒Vou jnow, your ègn`hs ol dhttfnd bgfc grh mhtthr fl F‖k

not ehrh,‛ F sgy to Sroy.

‒Sruh,‛ eh gdrhhs, stfbb struddbfnd. ‒Mut you‖rh gbwgys sokuè lun wehn you‖rh crunj.‛ Segt‖s g cfd. F rgrhby crfnj,

gnc wehn F co, whbb, ‒lun‛ fsn‖t not teh worc F‖c ush to

chs`rfmh ft. F‖k not khgn. Not onh ol teosh rgdfnd gsseobhs

or gnytefnd. F‖k aust not . . . egppy.

‒Vou con‖t nhhc to mh crunj to dht g bfttbh gss,‛ F sgy.

‒Thbb, kgymh you co, mut–‛

‒Ehy, not gbb ol us whrh mbhsshc wfte your prhtty lg`h.‛Sroy ahrjs, tgjfnd g prhthnc swfph gt ky èfn wfte teh agm.

‒Pokh ol us egvh to ush our ègrk.‛

‒@egrk?‛ F prhss ky whfdet fnto efk, kgymh korh tegn

F seoubc. ‒@egrk bfjh kgjfnd mhts on weo‖s dofnd to seow

up gnc weosh pgnts you‖rh dofnd to dht fnto?‛

‒Thbb, F wgsn‖t pbgnnfnd on dhttfnd fnto yours!‛

F twfst Sroy aust hnoude to kgjh efk stokp efs loot on

teh drounc gnc F wgft lor efk to `gbb un`bh.

‒Ehy!‛ @onnhr stgbjs up to us wfte g dfgnt mgd ol mrf-

quhtths. Eh èu`js ft gt kh, lor`fnd kh bht do ol Sroy fn

orchr to `gtè teh mgd gnc jhhp ft lrok jno`jfnd us ovhr.

Mbg`j cust jf`js up gs ft sbgks fnto ky èhst. ‒Vou two

conh kgjfnd out? Sehrh‖s g lfrh tegt‖s not dofnd to mufbcftshbl.‛

‒Ahgbous?‛ F skfbh gt @onnhr, mut eh dbgrhs gt kh wfte efs

stop-lu`jfnd-grounc lg`h.

‒Porry, Cgc, dhhhz,‛ Sroy sgys, robbfnd efs hyhs gnc toss-


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70

fnd kh g booj bfjh wh‖rh mote fn on teh aojh. Onby, Sroy

cohsn‖t jnow wehn hnoude‖s hnoude. ‒Ehy, Jurt,‛ eh òn-

tfnuhs. ‒Fs Aosfh òkfnd up lrok MX tonfdet?‛ Eh strgfdet-hns efs rukpbhc sefrt gnc terows kh g drfn. ‒F khgn, fl

tehrh‖s onh pfh`h ol gss you‖rh not dofnd to ò`jmbo`j

tonfdet, tegt‖c mh ft.‛

Seh mrfquhtths eft teh cfrt, gnc sokheow @onnhr‖s

lor`hc efs wgy mhtwhhn kh gnc Sroy mhlorh F `gn pukkhb

efk. Sroy bgudes boucby, tefnjfnd tefs fs gbb pgrt ol teh dgkh

wh‖rh pbgyfnd. Mut fl eh òubc shh eow egrc @onnhr‖s g`tu-gbby drfppfnd kh, eow kuè hllort ft‖s tgjfnd efk to eobc

kh mg`j, Sroy woubc seut up.

‒Lordht efk,‛ @onnhr sgys fn ky hgr. ‒Eh cohsn‖t jnow

wegt eh‖s sgyfnd.‛

‒@okh on,‛ Sroy procs. ‒Vou two ushc to mh teh bflh ol

teh pgrty. Thbb, seh ushc to mh gnywgy.‛

F sthp oll @onnhr gnc pubb ky whfdet mg`j. ‒Sefs fs wey

F con‖t òkh to tehsh tefnds,‛ F sgy to @onnhr unchr ky

mrhgte.

‒Lfnh,‛ @onnhr sgys, gnc lor teh lfrst tfkh ft boojs bfjh

eh rhdrhts kgjfnd kh seow up. ‒Tey con‖t you do lor g

run. Mbow oll sokh sthgk.‛

Ky egncs grh lfsts. F‖c rgtehr mrhgj Sroy‖s nosh.‒Tegt kgjhs you tefnj ky sfsthr woubc sthp out on ehr

òbbhdh hcu`gtfon to egnd out wfte you?‛ F terow gt Sroy, mut

eh seruds. Eh cohsn‖t rhgbby `grh. Eh‖s aust mustfnd ky mgbbs.

‒On`h g èhhrbhgchr, gbwgys g èhhrbhgchr,‛ eh sgys.


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73

@onnhr drfps ky seoubchr gnc pofnts to teh woocs.

‒]un, Khclorc,‛ eh sgys. ‒Th `gn sht up teh lfrh.‛

‒]fdet.‛ F bgude, onby ft‖s hcdhc wfte sgr`gsk gnc @onnhrjnows ft. ‒Vou trust tehk wfte kgtèhs?‛

‒No.‛ @onnhr boojs kh squgrh fn teh hyh. ‒F trust you

to seut teh lu`j up gnc co gs F sgy.‛ Eh tosshs kh g wgthr

mottbh gnc F ehgc lor teh trhhs.

F lobbow teh seorhbfnh, so F con‖t dht bost, gnc ̀ ut teroude

teh unchrmruse. Ky lhht pounc gdgfnst teh cfrt gnc F lordht

Sroy. Lordht @onnhr. Lordht gbb ol tehk.F put onh loot fn lront ol teh otehr gnc run. F con‖t try.

Ft aust worjs. Ft‖s bfjh tehrh‖s sokhtefnd hbsh fn tehrh tegt

turns on gnc dohs. Bfjh ft fsn‖t kh. Bfjh ft‖s sokh suphr-

eukgn-lgst kh. F con‖t jnow wehrh ft òkhs lrok–Doc

or sokhtefnd, tegt‖s wegt Kok woubc sgy. Not tegt F tefnj

F‖k suphreukgn. Not tegt F tefnj Doc egs gnytefnd to co

wfte ft.

Ft‖s aust swhgt gnc drgss, gnc cfddfnd fn your ehhbs, gnc

runnfnd tfbb your ehgrt wgnts to murst. ]unnfnd tfbb you

con‖t egvh to mrhgteh gnykorh. Sehy sgy tegt egpphns wehn

you sjycfvh, tegt teh gfr grounc you dohs so lgst tegt you

con‖t egvh to tgjh g sfndbh mrhgte. Seh oxydhn dohs rfdet

teroude your sjfn. Ft dhts fnsfch.F booj cown gt ky egncs. Sehy‖rh stfbb òvhrhc fn mbg`j.

F cukp teh wgthr lrok teh wgthr mottbh gbb ovhr tehk, mut

ft cohsn‖t ehbp.


16/31

Kgrfon

Seh monlfrh `rg`jbhs gnc F sthp `boshr to teh mbgzh. Ky grks ehgt, mut F lor`h kyshbl to stgnc wfte teosh otehr

dfrbs weo bht teh lbgkhs sfndh teh egfrs lrok tehfr sjfn. Seh

mg`j ol ky terogt stfnds wfte gb`oeob gnc F wonchr fl F

seoubc dht gnotehr crfnj, fl gbb ol tefs woubc mh hgsfhr fl F

whrh crunj. Fl tegt‖s pgrt ol wegt kgjhs Bfbfte gmbh to cgn`h

wfte teh lfrh.

F teukm teh gppbh tegt‖s stfbb fn ky egnc, turnfnd ft to

efch teh mfth Bfbfte tooj. F bflt ft to ky nosh, prhthncfnd

ft‖s untou`ehc, prhssfnd teh wgxy sjfn to ky bfps. F con‖t

jnow wegt ft fs gmout gppbhs, mut tehy‖vh gbwgys rhkfnchc

kh ol Gmh, ky bgm pgrtnhr, gnc sfttfnd nhxt to efk lrhse-

kgn yhgr, unchr teh trhh fn efs mg`jygrc. Gn unhgthn gppbh

gbwgys lhhbs bfjh tegt kokhnt–tegt phrlh`t spg`h mhlorh– wgftfnd lor efk to jfss kh. Ky bfps pgrt gnc F wonchr fl

Gmh wfbb seow up tonfdet, or fl eh‖s too skgrt lor g pgrty

bfjh tefs. F fnegbh teh tgwny gppbh s`hnt gnc fkgdfnh wegt

ft wfbb tgsth bfjh.


17/31


7<

Pwhht. Pbfdetby sour. Polt yht segrp.

Toubc ft mh bfjh tegt to jfss Gmh gdgfn? Not tegt F egvh

g ègn`h wfte Gmh gnykorh. Not tegt F cfcn‖t rufn us g bondtfkh gdo.

‒Grh you dofnd to kgjh out wfte tegt gppbh? Or hgt ft?‛

Bfbfte sgys, gpphgrfnd lrok mhefnc teh lbgkhs. F èu`j teh

gppbh gt ehr pbgylubby gnc seh cocdhs ft, teh lruft robbfnd

fnto teh lfrh.

‒Cown, dfrb!‛ seh ko`j sòbcs, sfcbfnd up mhsfch kh gnc

eoojfnd ehr grk teroude kfnh. ‒Vou dot g `rgzy strhgj fnyou, bgcy!‛

‒Vou gfn‖t shhn notefn‖,‛ F aojh mg`j. ‒Fkgdfnh fl tegt

egc mhhn g pgpgyg.‛

‒F‖c promgmby mh chgc.‛

‒Mh tegnjlub wh bfvh fn Nhw Hndbgnc, wehrh hxotf` lruft

cohsn‖t drow.‛

‒Oe, F gk.‛ Bfbfte egncs kh ehr lbgsj gnc F tgjh g swfd,

lor`fnd kyshbl to jhhp teh murnfnd bfqufc cown. F segjh ky

ehgc gs ky hgrs stgrt to muzz. Bfbfte bgudes gnc tgjhs g crfnj

ehrshbl, squhhzfnd ehr hyhs tfdet gs seh swgbbows. ‒Toooo!‛

seh hx`bgfks, rgfsfnd ehr grks gnc twfrbfnd. Ehr sjfrt bfdets

up bfjh g pgrgèuth gnc teh ùrvh ol ehr bhds mhòkhs sfb-

eouhtthc my lfrh. Yhopbh wgtè. G lhw `bgp, gnc shvhrgb moysstgrh gt ehr bhds. F wgnt to aofn ehr. F wgnt to jf`j oll ky

seohs gnc twfrb wfte ehr bgudethr, mh`gush sokheow hvhry-

tefnd fs hgsfhr fl ft‖s conh wfte Bfbfte. Peh kgjhs gnytefnd

shhk possfmbh.


18/31


74

Mut tehn ft woubc mh ky bhds unchr teosh hyhs. Ky mro-

jhn lbfp-lbops bhlt fn teh sgnc.

F booj pgst Bfbfte to teh bgjh. Ft rfppbhs sfbhntby, rhlbh`tfndteh cusjy sjy. Onby, ky dgzh fs crgwn to teh hcdh ol teh

wgthr wehrh g rhlbh`tfon ol mbg`j trhhs cfsrupts teh surlg`h.

Ft‖s fn tegt pgtè ol cgrjnhss tegt you `gn shh teh sbfky

ro`js gnc teh kuc gnc gbb tegt teh bgjh fs efcfnd. Ft‖s wehrh

onh kfdet lgbb fn gnc sfbhntby crown.

Bfbfte boshs fnthrhst fn ehr phrlorkgn`h gnc crgphs ehr-

shbl gdgfnst kh, egbl-crunj gnc shgrèfnd lor mgbgn`h. ‒Fbovh you,‛ seh sgys, nuzzbfnd ky nh`j.

‒F jnow,‛ F sgy, eobcfnd on to ehr whfdet. Peh euks lor

g kokhnt gnc F wgtè teh sjfn ol ky unhgthn gppbh ùrb

mg`j fn teh lfrh, turnfnd mbg`j wfte teh ehgt.

‒F wgsn‖t jfccfnd,‛ seh sgys, ehr vof`h dhttfnd bow.

‒Tehn F sgfc tefs seoubc mh our mhst yhgr. F khgnt tegt.

Th‖vh onby dot so kuè tfkh bhlt. Th seoubc crfnj. Egvh

lun. Bfvh ft up. Vou jnow?‛

‒Gmsobuthby,‛ F gdrhh, teh spgrjs mhefnc us mbfnjfnd lrok

orgndh to gse.

‒Hxg`tby!‛ Peh squhhzhs ky grk, gnc teh shntfkhntgbfty

fn ehr vof`h fs donh, rhpbg`hc my ehr norkgb lrfsjy ègrk.

‒Po, shrfousby . . .‛ Peh turns us fn onh kotfon, bfjh wh‖rhgttgèhc gt teh efp, gnc lg`hs us fn teh cfrh`tfon ol g droup

ol so``hr pbgyhrs. ‒Kgr-f-coocbh, tefs fs teh lfrst mfd pgrty

ol teh yhgr. Gnc, F teoudet, you jnow . . .‛ Peh nocs to teh

moys. Sehy‖rh teh sgkh droup ol so``hr pbgyhrs tegt egs mhhn


19/31


75

touèfnd hbmows gnc wgfsts gnc egfr. ‒Thbb, F teoudet tefs

òubc mh g dooc opportunfty .‛

Ky nh`j dohs tfdet wehn seh sgys teh worc ‒opportunfty.‛Peh‖s not tgbjfnd gppbhs.

Peh‖s tgbjfnd èhrrfhs.


20/31

Jurt

Seh monlfrh‖s mbgzfnd wehn F ̀ okh out ol teh woocs.F ehgr teh `bgnj ol mhhr mottbhs gnc F‖k surprfshc to shh eow

kgny phopbh egvh gbrhgcy seown up. F cfcn‖t tefnj F wgs

out fn teosh woocs lor vhry bond, mut kgymh F wgs.

Seh crfvhwgy‖s turnhc fnto g pgrjfnd bot gnc F ehgr

kusf` up gehgc. Ft‖s tegt gndry khtgb `rgp @onnhr bfjhs,

wehrh yhbbfnd fs `gbbhc sfndfnd, gnc teh mgnc `gn‖t pbgy to

sgvh tehfr bfvhs. F‖vh trfhc to hcu`gth @onnhr on dooc kusf`,

mut eh jhhps fnsfstfnd tefs seft‖s teh seft . Thbb, gt bhgst eh dot

onh pgrt rfdet.

F sngd g mhhr lrok g òobhr gbond teh wgy gnc egblwgy

teroude ft F shh teh dobchn hgdbh on teh bgmhb. Ky stok-

gè turns gnc hvhrytefnd fn ky koute dohs sour. Lu`jfnd

lrhsekhn! F ùrsh unchr ky mrhgte gnc tfp teh mottbh ovhr,Kok‖s lgvorfth shhpfnd fnto teh cfrt. Duhss, F‖k rhgbby not

crfnjfnd tonfdet.

‒Khclorc!‛

F turn to shh \gnhssg wgbjfnd fn ky cfrh`tfon. Ehr


21/31


=9

koute fs dbossy gnc seh chbfmhrgthby tfbts ehr ehgc so ehr

mbg`j egfr sbfchs oll ehr seoubchr. F èu`j teh hgdbh ovhr teh

`grs gnc fnto teh woocs, fdnorfnd teh `rgse ol dbgss tegthèohs mg`j.

‒Tehrh egvh you mhhn?‛ seh chkgncs, kovfnd fn so

`bosh F òubc jfss ehr.

‒Grounc,‛ F sgy, èh`jfnd out teh lront ol ehr gnc

rhkhkmhrfnd teh wgy seh kovhc wehn wh sjfpphc `bgss

bgst whhj. F tooj ehr to teh cudout mhefnc teh mgshmgbb

cfgkonc, wehrh ehr koute egc tegt wgxy bfpstf`j tgsth.Seh rhst ol ehr wgs solt teoude. Seh rhst ol ehr wgs worte

hnaoyfnd.

‒Thbb, dooc tefnd F lounc you, tehn,‛ seh sgys. ‒Dhttfnd

grounc gnc gbb.‛

F robb ky hyhs. Peh bfjhs tefs dgkh, mut F con‖t wgnt to

pbgy ft. Peh jnows tehrh‖s onby onh rhgson tefs worjs. Gnc

wehn ft stops worjfnd . . . whbb, tehn ft stops worjfnd. F

terhgc g lfndhr teroude ehr mhbt boop, pubbfnd ehr fn, gnc

seh egnds gn grk ovhr ky seoubchr.

‒Dhhz!‛ Peh lbfnèhs, ehr grk efttfnd teh swhgt on ky

nh`j. ‒Tegt cfc you co? Torj out or sokhtefnd?‛ Peh

souncs gnnoyhc mut ehr lfndhrs pbgy wfte ky egfr.

‒Tegt? Vou con‖t bfjh kh swhgty?‛Peh skfbhs kfsèfhvousby. ‒F bfjh mhfnd teh onh to kgjh

you swhgty.‛

F bgude gnc booj ovhr ehr seoubchr to teh row ol pgrjhc

`grs. F òubc tgjh ehr to @onnhr‖s PX\, mut eh‖s pfsshc gt kh.


22/31


=7

‒F con‖t egvh ky `gr,‛ F sgy, jnowfnd wh òubc lfnc

sokhpbg`h hbsh, mut tehrh‖s sokhtefnd fn teh gfr, gnc lor

wegthvhr rhgson, F con‖t wgnt teh hgsy gnc teh moozh. Nottonfdet.

‒Jhbbhy egs g `gr,‛ seh sgys, mgttfnd ehr bgsehs, gnc F

skfbh gt ehr phrsfsthn`h.

‒Thbb, co you egvh teh jhys to Jhbbhy‖s `gr?‛

Peh tosshs ehr egfr gdgfn gnc teh strgp ol ehr tgnj top

lgbbs lrok ehr seoubchr. Peh promgmby aust wgnts to do fnto

teh woocs.‒No,‛ seh gckfts, kovfnd fn to jfss kh, mut F skhbb mhhr,

gnc teh bgst tefnd F wgnt rfdet now fs bfpstf`j gnc dobchn-

hgdbh mrhgte. F pubb gwgy gs skoote gs F `gn gnc terow on g

thgsfnd skfbh.

‒Thbb,‛ F sgy pbgylubby, runnfnd g egnc unchr ehr sefrt,

ovhr ehr stokgè, wefè kgjhs ehr kogn eundrfby. ‒Tey

con‖t you lfnc kh wehn you egvh teosh jhys?‛

F fnè ky egnc cgndhrousby `bosh to ehr mrhgsts gnc seh

bhgns fn lor g jfss. F pubb gwgy, thgsfnd, mut seh kgngdhs to

pfn kh. Seh tgsth ol wgx sprhgcs ovhr ky koute, gnc F bht

ehr co ft. Ft‖s not so mgc, hsph`fgbby fl F con‖t mrhgteh.

‒Jhys,‛ F rhphgt wehn seh rhbhgshs kh. F crop ky egncs

gnc skfbh sfchwgys, ehgcfnd lor teh lfrh wfteout boojfndmg`j to shh fl seh‖s pfsshc or bfjhs teh ègbbhndh. Gbb F jnow

fs tegt F con‖t wgnt to chgb wfte ehr rfdet now.

F lordht gmout \gnhssg gnc wgbj to teh bgjh gnc put ky

lhht fn teh wgthr. Ft‖s lrhhzfnd. Mut teh monlfrh‖s mhefnc kh


23/31


==

so F con‖t rhgbby kfnc. Seh wgthr fs lbgt. Po lbgt ft lhhbs bfjh ft

wfbb do on lorhvhr. Ft kgjhs kh wgnt to èu`j g ro`j fn ft.

Or thn ro`js. Gnytefnd to `gush g rfppbh.‒Ehy!‛

Ft‖s @onnhr mhefnc kh, lobbowhc my g skg`j gt teh mg`j

ol ky ehgc tegt stfnds bfjh ky lhht fn teh wgthr.

‒Ptop mhfnd g couèh gnc aofn teh pgrty!‛ Eh eobcs out

g mhhr gnc F tgjh ft to eukor efk, fdnorfnd teh mbg`j bgmhb

gnc dobc wfnds.

‒Eow lgr co you tefnj tegt otehr seorh fs?‛ F gsj.‒Ptrgfdet teroude. Fl F swfk?‛

@onnhr lrowns gt kh bfjh tefs fs g trf`j. ‒F‖bb dfvh you

two lootmgbb lfhbcs,‛ eh sgys, gnc F segjh ky ehgc.

‒No wgy, tegt woubcn‖t hvhn dht you to teh `hnthr ol teh

bgjh.‛

‒F‖k sorry, bht kh `bgrfly.‛ @onnhr skg`js kh gdgfn.

‒Tegt pgrt ol ―con‖t mh g couèh‖ cfc you not unchr-

stgnc?‛

‒Peft, gbb rfdet.‛ F sthp gwgy lrok efk.

‒Swo lootmgbb lfhbcs,‛ eh rhphgts. ‒Segt‖s eow lgr you‖rh

dofnd to dht wfte wegthvhr èf`j you tgjh out tehrh. Fl F shh

you fn tegt wgthr wfteout g dfrb, F wfbb pounc teh seft out

ol you.‛‒Gbb rfdet. Yofnt tgjhn.‛

‒Dooc. Now crfnj.‛

F booj gt teh mottbh gnc gbkost turn ft ovhr so teh hgdbh

fs pofnthc gt efk. Mut F con‖t wgnt to pbgy teh kok `grc.


24/31


=0

‒Mottoks up!‛ F sgy, rgfsfnd teh mhhr gnc tfbtfnd ky ehgc

mg`j. F cown teh weobh tefnd. Ft‖s sour gnc `obc, gnc tgsths

mhtthr tegn F wgnt ft to. F egnc efk teh hkpty mottbh wehnF‖k conh. Kgymh eh cohs shh teh hgdbh on ft tehn, mut fl eh

cohs eh cohsn‖t sgy gnytefnd.

Po ku`e lor not crfnjfnd.


25/31

Kgrfon

Bfbfte s`gns teh moys fn teh `rowc, ehr hyhs pur-poshlub gnc dbhgkfnd. Peh‖s shrfous gmout tefs.

‒Bfb, wegt grh you–‛

‒Sefs fs dofnd to mh soooooo kuè lun,‛ seh fnthrrupts,

gbrhgcy moun`fnd up gnc cown.

‒F con‖t jnow.‛ F hyh teh so``hr thgk. ‒F `gn‖t sgy F‖k

fnto sefn dugrcs gnc swhgty ahrshys.‛

‒Oe, trust kh.‛ Peh bhgns fn. ‒Ft‖s wegt‖s unchr teh ahrshy

tegt you‖bb mh fnto. Gnc monus fl ft‖s swhgty!‛

‒Hw!‛

‒No, no!‛ Peh squhhzhs ky sfch. ‒Seh òrrh`t gnswhr fs,

pbhgsh, sfr, `gn F egvh gnotehr?‛ F squfrk gs seh tf`jbhs kh

gnc wh mote bgude. Mut tehn seh stops, zhrofnd fn on g tgr-

dht. ‒Oe yhs!‛ Peh `bgps ehr egncs todhtehr, lgr too gkushc wfte ehrshbl. ‒Oe, dfrb, you grh donng bovh kh.‛

‒Tegt? Teo?‛ F booj pgst ehr. Sehrh‖s ]ory Eg`jhtt,

weo egs dfndhr lrh`jbhs gnc g `gngry nosh. Eh‖s ùth, fl you

loùs on efs bhds, mut F ̀ oubc sgy tegt gmout gny ol teh so``hr


26/31


=8

pbgyhrs. Nhxt to efk fs @onnhr Gfkhs tgbjfnd thn worcs g

shònc. Efs mgshmgbb egt fs lbfpphc to teh sfch, seowfnd oll

g swhgty lorhehgc ol egfr. Sroy Mhgb fs teh mhst boojfnd olteh terhh. Gt bhgst eh‖s dot tegt eot kusf`fgn sbouè, kfnus

teh ̀ fdgrhtth.

F pfnè Bfbfte. ‒Teo?‖

‒Ygtfhn`h, drgsseopphr.‛ Peh mgts ky egnc gwgy, bgude-

fnd. ‒Vour luturh gwgfts. Ptgy ehrh.‛ Peh sjfps oll mhlorh F

egvh g ègn`h to stop ehr, gnc ky stokgè lbutthrs bfjh g

euncrhc kotes swgrkfnd g bgkp. Onby seh wgbjs rfdet pgstteh terhh so``hr pbgyhrs gnc ehgcs lor teh bgjh. Seosh kotes

fn ky stokgè co g noshcfvh wehn F shh weo seh‖s wgbjfnd

towgrc. Gbb 789 ol tehk lby strgfdet lor teh mubm‖s eot pgnh

ol dbgss, murnfnd tehfr wfnds up fn teh bfdet. F egvh to èh`j

kyshbl, mh`gush seh òubcn‖t possfmby mh ehgcfnd lor–

Onby seh fs.

Peh stops nhxt to Jurt Khclorc.

Eh stgncs gnjbh chhp fn teh wgthr wfte efs grks `rosshc

ovhr efs èhst, gnc teh lgmrf` ol efs S-sefrt fs so tfdet F `gn

shh teh kus`bh chlfnftfon unchrnhgte. Bfbfte ollhrs ehr lbgsj

gnc eh tgjhs g crfnj, bgudefnd, bfjh tehy‖rh obc lrfhncs, gnc

F wonchr wegt seh jnows to sgy to efk tegt kgjhs efk

booj so gt hgsh. Tey woubc seh pf`j Jurt Khclorc? Po``hr `gptgfn.

Dordhous. Out ol ky bhgduh. Purh, F jnow weo eh fs–

hvhryonh jnows weo eh fs. Mut eh cohsn‖t jnow kh . Eh‖s teh

jfnc ol duy you shh lrok glgr, tgwny-egfrhc, mhgutflub: eh‖s


27/31


=<

not sokhonh you g`tugbby sphgj to. F shh efk fn teh egbbs

gt sèoob, surh, mut tehrh‖s sokhtefnd hllortbhss gmout efk.

Fntgndfmbh. Eh egs tegt gmfbfty to sbfp fn gnc out ol teh bfdet,bfjh g kfrgdh you grhn‖t surh you g`tugbby shh. Mut wehn eh‖s

tehrh fn lront ol you, eh‖s tehrh –sort ol sturcy gnc mrfbbfgnt.

On teh so``hr lfhbc, runnfnd, tegt‖s wehn you rhgbby shh efk.

Hvhry kus`bh kovhs wfte g purposh, hvhry sfnhw wounc tfdet

gnc tehn rhbhgshc. Ft‖s efs drg`h, stgrtbfnd gnc unhxph`thc,

tegt sthgbs teh mgbb out lrok unchr teh otehr thgk‖s lhht gnc

sòrhs wehn tehy grhn‖t boojfnd. Ft‖s gs fl you nhvhr rhgbby shhJurt, untfb eh èooshs to mh shhn.

Jurt‖s dgzh lbf`js ovhr Bfbfte‖s seoubchrs gnc ky fnsfchs

do eot. Eh boojs gt kh bondhr tegn F jnow wegt to co wfte

gnc F lhhb bfjh F‖vh swgbbowhc g vob`gno ol stgrs. Seh skhbb ol

skojh kgjhs kh òude gnc F booj gwgy, ky egncs swhgt-

fnd, gnc F wgnt to pubb ky egfr oll ky nh`j. F nhvhr whgr ft

cown gnc fts whfdet fs too eot. F twfst teh bo`js to onh sfch

gnc phhj to teh seorh, onby tehy‖rh wgbjfnd towgrc kh.

‒Sefs fs Kgrfon,‛ Bfbfte sgys g lhw shòncs bgthr, nucd-

fnd Jurt. Eh lrowns, tfbtfnd efs ehgc gwgy lrok teh lfrh,

gnc F tefnj gmout tegt ehgt bfnh gnc wefè sfch F‖k sup-

poshc to mh on.

‒Ef,‛ eh sgys, bfdet sbfcfnd ovhr efs koute, gnc gbb F `gnco fs kukmbh g ehbbo gnc hxthnc g egnc lor efk to segjh. Ft

egnds fn teh gfr lor wgy too bond gnc F rhgbfzh no onh segjhs

egncs gnykorh. Ft‖s g stupfc dhsturh F bhgrnhc lrok wgtè-

fnd ky lgtehr gt musfnhss khhtfnds, onby–


28/31


=4

Eh tgjhs ft.

Jurt‖s egnc fs ̀ grgkhb solt gnc ̀ gbboushc gt teh sgkh tfkh.

Eh drfps kh gddrhssfvhby bfjh teh egncsegjh ftshbl fs g cgrh gncft `gtèhs kh oll dugrc. Onby F rfsh to khht efk, squhhzfnd

mg`j, gnc F `gn ehgr ky cgc‖s worcs fn teh òrnhr ol ky kfnc

sgyfnd, Vou onby dht onh ègn`h to kgjh g lfrst fkprhssfon.

‒Nf`h,‛ Jurt sgys, surprfshc, eobcfnd ky drfp. ‒Pturcy

egncsegjh. Vou con‖t usugbby shh tegt fn g dfrb.‛

‒Oe?‛ F bflt ky èfn to khht efs dgzh gnc efs mbuh hyhs

lbf`jhr wfte lfrh. ‒Tegt co you usugbby shh?‛‒Thgjnhss.‛ Eh skfbhs gt kh tehn. ‒F‖k donng bfjh you.‛

Ehgt lbgkhs, gnc F `gn‖t thbb fl ft‖s ky èhhjs or teh pft‖s

murnfnd hkmhrs spgrjfnd eot. Onby, F wgnt to stgnc fn ft.

Fs tefs wegt Bfbfte khgnt wehn seh sgfc ―trust your mocy‖?

‒Egvh lun,‛ Bfbfte wefsphrs, jfssfnd kh on teh èhhj,

gnc F rhgè out to kgjh ehr stgy. Mut seh‖s too lgst, sbfppfnd

gwgy teroude rfmmons ol skojh gnc bfdet.

Jurt tgjhs g shgt on g mbgnjht, gnc mhefnc efk teh bgjh

fs `gkoulbgdhc wfte stgrs, teh wgthr whgvfnd fnto teh sjy

gnc crownfnd teh eorfzon. F bfnh up ky tohs wfte teh mbgn-

jht‖s hcdh, nhhcfnd g bfnh tegt‖s `bhgrby chlfnhc. F sft cown

nhxt to efk, gnc teroude teh lbgkhs wh wgtè Bfbfte crop

ehrshbl fnto teh bgp ol onh ol Jurt‖s thgkkgths. Seh twostgrt kgjfnd out gnc ehr bfpstf`j òkhs skhgrfnd oll. G lhw

ol teh duys wefstbh gnc F prhss ky bfps todhtehr, tgstfnd teh

rhc ègbj on ky koute gs whbb, wgntfnd to wfph ft oll on

teh mg`j ol ky egnc.


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=5

‒Vou‖rh fn ky èhkfstry `bgss, rfdet?‛ eh sgys, efs jnhh

mrusefnd ky sjfrt.

‒Egvh mhhn gbb yhgr,‛ F sgy, hvhn teoude gbb yhgr fs bfttbhkorh tegn g lhw whhjs.

‒Vou‖rh bgm pgrtnhrs wfte Gmh Coybh.‛

F noc, surprfshc eh notf`hc.

‒Cfcn‖t you two ushc to cgth?‛

‒Tegt?‛

‒Cgth. Bfjh lrhsekgn yhgr?‛

F bgude, pubbfnd gt ky ehk, wefè hxposhs teh bfdet egfrson ky tefde. F `gn‖t mhbfhvh eh jnows tegt.

‒Xk . . . F duhss.‛ F stgrh gt efk, tryfnd to lfdurh out wey

eh‖s gsjfnd. ‒F khgn, tegt wgs lorhvhr gdo. Th‖rh not todhtehr

or–wh‖rh aust lrfhncs–whbb, not rhgbby hvhn lrfhncs, aust bgm

pgrtnhrs. Co you jnow Gmh?‛

Eh turns efs ehgc gwgy, fnvftfnd ky hyhs to teh bfdet

tegt `bfkms efs stummbh-lbh`jhc èfn. ‒Peoubc F?‛

‒No, F khgn . . .‛ F òude, pubbfnd g strgnc ol mbonc out

ol ky lg`h. Not surh wegt Gmh egs to co wfte gny ol tefs.

Glthr gbb, Gmh‖s teh skgrt, dhhjy typh gnc Jurt‖s . . . whbb,

eh‖s gbb kus`bhs gnc skobchr, kgjfnd ky fnsfchs murn. Eh

sfts up gnc cfds efs tohs fn teh sgnc. ‒Co you bfjh èhkfs-

try?‛ F gsj gwjwgrcby, gnc eh bgudes.‒Not rhgbby.‛

‒]fdet.‛ F mg`jphcgb. ‒Teo bfjhs èhkfstry?‛

‒Thbb . . .‛ Eh boojs gt kh, bfjh eh‖s gmout to kgjh g

aojh, mut tehn efs dgzh solthns bfjh eh tefnjs mhtthr ol ft.


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=6

Eh segjhs oll wegthvhr eh wgs dofnd to sgy gnc bhgns efs

ehgc on efs grk gnc boojs gt kh, phrpbhxhc. Not khgnby,

aust fnthrhsthc. F stgrh mg`j gnc teh ehgt ol teh lfrh sbfchs upky bhds. Ft‖s unòklortgmbh gnc wgy too fntfkgth, gnc gbb F

wgnt fs to booj gwgy, mut F `gn‖t. F con‖t jnow wegt to sgy

to efk. Bfbfte‖s not ehrh to kgjh tefs hgsfhr, so F stgrh, gnc

eh stgrhs mg`j, wfte teosh qufht hyhs, bfjh eh‖s shgrèfnd lor

sokhtefnd.

F‖k not surh F wgnt efk to lfnc ft.

‒Gbb rfdet,‛ eh sgys, g lbfrty skfbh sprhgcfnd ovhr efk. Ehstgncs up gnc sgnc sprfnjbhs ky bhds.

‒Xe . . .‛ F booj up gt efk, ònlushc. ‒Gbb rfdet wegt?‛

Eh bflts efs grks fn g strhtè, gnc g mgnc ol sjfn phhjs

out mhtwhhn efs seorts gnc sefrt.

‒Bht‖s co tefs,‛ eh sgys.

‒Hxùsh kh?‛ Ky vof`h squhgjs, gnc F jnow ky hyhmrows

egvh rfshn lgr too efde on ky lorhehgc. ‒Bht‖s co . . . ?‛

Eh nocs to teh bgjh. ‒Do lor g swfk.‛

F squhhzh ky grks ovhr ky èhst gnc booj gt teh bgjh.

‒Segt wgthr fs dofnd to mh lrhhzfnd.‛

Onby F con‖t tefnj eh ehgrs kh, mh`gush eh‖s gbrhgcy

ehgchc lor teh seorh. F s`rgkmbh to `gtè up wfte efk.

‒Vou‖rh shrfous?‛ F ̀ gbb out gs eh wgchs fn up to efs jnhhs.‒Ft‖s not tegt òbc,‛ eh gssurhs kh, gnc F booj mg`j to

Bfbfte lor ehbp, mut seh‖s stfbb prho`ùpfhc my teh lfrh.

‒No onh hbsh fs fn teh wgthr.‛

‒Kgrfon.‛ Jurt bo`js efs hyhs on kh. Sehy eobc kh


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sthgcy. Eobc kh lfrk. ‒Ptrond egncsegjh, rhkhkmhr? G

bfttbh wgthr `gn‖t s`grh you.‛

Ehgt lbusehs ky sjfn gnc F sbfp g loot fn teh wgthr. Ft‖sòbc–gnc yht so phrlh`tby òbc.

Eh cohsn‖t booj gwgy. ‒Vou `gn swfk, rfdet?‛

‒Ol òursh F `gn swfk.‛

‒Dooc.‛

Eh twfsts wfte tegt stgrtbfnd drg`h gnc cfvhs unchr teh

wgthr wfteout g spbgse. Eh cfvhs fn wfte gbb efs `botehs on

bfjh eh mhbonds to teh wgthr gnc ft‖s g pgrt ol efk. Eh cfvhsfn suè g wgy tegt ky bhds kovh mhlorh F `gn tefnj, gnc F‖k

unchrwgthr, fn ovhr ky ehgc, gnc unchr teosh stgrs mhlorh

F jnow tegt F‖vh conh ft. Mhlorh F hvhn jnow F wgnthc to.

all we left behind excerpt

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