the house on the corner

7/28/2019 The House on the Corner

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Imhptcr Kec

Ft whs he feircofbjy oujj Yhturohy.

Imcstcr tmrcw h skid ht tmc whjj. Mc

jkkdco ht tmc ijkid. Hjlkst gfvc lfeutcs mho

phssco sfeic tmc jhst tflc mc jkkdco!

Imcstcr trfco tk tmfed kg sklctmfea tk

ok. But ft whs tkk mkt tk tmfed! Mc trfco

jkkdfea kut tmc wfeokw. Lhybc h muac hfrpjhec


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?

wkujo orkp bkxcs grkl tmc sdy. Bkxcs kg

suppjfcs, bcihusc tmc fevhsfke whs iklfea!

Cvcrykec wkujo rusm kutsfoc tk jkkd!

But tmcrc whset he hfrpjhec tkohy.

_mcrc whset cvce h purpjc bhjjkke.

Ektmfea ikujo bc wkrsc tmhe h oujj

Yhturohy. Cspcifhjjy fe sullcr. Qcjj... hjlkst

ektmfea.

Ektmfea, cxicpt ijchefea tmc mhjj

bhtmrkkl.

Ijchefea tmc mhjj bhtmrkkl whs h `kb

tmht eccoco jkts kg ehsty, slcjjy imclfihjs.

Imcstcr mho tk sirub wftm hjj tmcsc slcjjy

imclfihjs uetfj tmcy mho hjlkst icrthfejy

jchimco tmrkuam tmc swchty, ftimy ajkvcs mc

mho tk wchr, ajkvcs tmht wcet up tk mfs

cjbkws.


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3

But wftmkut ajkvcs, tmc strheac,

mkrrfbjc imclfihjs wkujo lkst jfdcjy cht mkjcs

tmrkuam mfs mheos, jchvfea mfl hs h ifrius

wcfrok gkrcvcr!

Fg Imcstcr ohrco tk iklc kut kg mfs rkkl

ekw, mc wkujo bc spkttco heo scet fetk tmc

mhjj bhtmrkkl ht keic, `ust gkr tmc irflc kg

bcfea bkrco ke h Yhturohy. Mc bkueico hektmcr

skid kgg tmc whjj, heo jkkdco ht tmc ijkid.

"Imcstcr!" mfs lul ycjjco grkl hektmcr

rkkl. Imcstcr akt up vcry sjkwjy heo sthrtco

kut mfs bcorkkl okkr tk icrthfe okkl.

"Ikujo yku pjchsc ak thdc tmfs bfjj tk

ykur Seijc Qfjjfhl;" mfs lktmcr shfo hjlkst

pkjftcjy, ijutimfea h bhsdct kg jhueory heo

mheofea kut he cevcjkpc.

Ft whs `ust h trfid, Imcstcr decw. Mfs

lktmcr wkujo hsd mfl gkr sklctmfea slhjj

usuhjjy... Heo tmce hektmcr imkrc, heo tmce


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7

hektmcr, heo tmce bcgkrc mc decw ft, ft whs

tkk jhtc heo mc whs tryfea tk smkvc mfs

gfeacrs fetk tmksc ftimy rubbcr ajkvcs...

Seijc Qfjjfhl jfvco ofrcitjy okwe tmc

strcct. Mc whs dfeo kg wcfro heo Imcstcr

ofoe't jfdc mfs mkusc vcry luim. Mc jfvco wftm

sklc ktmcr wcfro gkjds wmk wcrc hjlkst hs kjo

hs mfl. But stfjj, Seijc Qfjjfhl's stuggy

mkusc ofoe't mhrojy iklphrc wftm tmc ujtflhtc

tcrrkr tmht hwhftco ke mfs rcture!

Imcstcr rhea tmc okkrbcjj lhey tflcs.

Ekbkoy whs iklfea. Mc jkkdco hrkueo. _mc mkusc

whs jfdc lhey ktmcrs fe tmc ecfambkrmkko, but

kjocr. _mc phfet mho spkts kg ofrt fe sklc

pjhics heo tmc bkhros wcrc irhidfea.

Ft jkkdco jfdc cvcry sfeajc mkusc mho

bcce imheaco heo rcokec heo rcphfetco cxicpt

Seijc Qfjjfhl's.

Ek kec ihlc tk tmc okkr yct! _mcrc


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whset heytmfea tk ok cxicpt jkkd ht tmc

smrubby jfttjc pjhets bcsfoc Seijc Qfjjfhls

mkusc, heo try tk pccd fetk tmc wfeokws, wmfim

mho tfey iurthfes ke tmcl.

But Imcstcr decw tmcrc whset luim tk

scc fesfoc. Mc mho bcce mcrc bcgkrc.

Imcstcr wkeocrco kvcr heo kvcr wmht whs

thdfea sk jkea! Ssuhjjy sklckec ihlc tk tmc

okkr hgtcr h gcw scikeos.

Mc jkkdco ht tmc wfeokws hahfe but tmc

tfey iurthfes heo bjfeos dcpt mfl grkl sccfea

heytmfea. Mc tmkuamt hbkut sechdfea bcmfeo tmc

busmcs heo jkkdfea tmrkuam tmc irhids. But

tmht wkujo bc sk ruoc!

Gfehjjy, Seijc Qfjjfhl sjkwjy kpceco tmc

okkr heo `ust arfeeco okwe ht mfl wftm mfs

kjo, slfjfea tcctm. Mc dfeo kg sthrco heo

slfjco heo slhidco mfs jfps gkr h lklcet.

"Imcstcr ft fs! Qmht mhvc yku akt lc


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gkr;" mc shfo brfamtjy, hs fg mc mho `ust wke

h lfjjfke buids grkl tmc swccpsthdcs.

Imcstcr mheoco mfl tmc cevcjkpc. _mc kjo

lhe tkusjco Imcstcr's mhfr heo shfo wkujo mc

jfdc sklc iheofcs;

Imcstcr hjrchoy decw wmht tmc iheofcs

wcrc. _mcy wcrc koo jfttjc phstcj bhjjs gfjjco

wftm wchd-thstfea imkikjhtc. Imcstcr ofoe't

rchjjy jfdc tmcl. But tmce mc tmkuamt kg tmc

wfeokw ijchecr bkttjc whftfea ht mklc.

_mc iheoy ofsm whs stfjj ke tmc jfttjc

thbjc wmcrc ft usuhjjy whs, heo Imcstcr sjkwjy

rchimco gkr kec kg tmc jfttjc bhjjs. Mc mkpco

tmht tmcy wkujo thstc bcttcr tmfs tflc.

Yklc kg tmc ktmcr gkjds wmk jfvco tmcrc

wcrc wheocrfea phst. _mcrc whs h smkrt,

spcithijco auy wftm grfzzy mhfr heo sklc jhoy


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wftm h grfjjy ph`hlh sct.

"@cggrcy; Mhvc yku lct Imcstcr yct;"

Qfjjfhl shfo jkuojy. Kg ikursc mc mho, lhey

tflcs bcgkrc!

"Mkw efic tk scc yku hahfe," shfo tmc

jhoy fe ph`hlhs. Ymc mho h gheiy Ceajfsm why

kg spchdfea, jfdc tmc heekueicr gkr tmht iht

gkko ikllcrifhj, heo sht okwe ke tmc gusty

ikuim by tmc thbjc.

Imcstcr trfco tk ikeicetrhtc ke imkksfea

wmfim iheoy tk cht ecxt. Yklctflcs tmc jfamt

bjuc kecs thstco bcttcr tmhe tmc pfed, mc

tmkuamt.

"Mk mk! Imcstcr ly bky!" shfo tmc grfzzy

auy, wmk lust bc @cggrcy, Imcstcr tmkuamt.

"Qc'vc `ust bcce ofsiussfea sklc

tmfeas," mc shfo, afvfea h wfed tk Qfjjfhl

tmrkuam mfs ajhsscs.

"Km, oket bktmcr tmc ochr," shfo tmc


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jhoy. "Jct mfl ce`ky tmc iheofcs."

Imcstcr wkeocrco wmht tmcy wcrc akfea ke

hbkut. _mcy wcrc hjwhys wcfro.

"Vcs jct's ekt bktmcr mfl, Huetfc,"

@cggrcy wcet ke wftm ajcc. "Hgtcr hjj, tmcy

hrc tkp scirct tmfeas. Ytrheac tmfeas. _mfeas

wc'vc bcce wkrdfea ke gkr quftc sklc tflc, wc

mhvc."

"Km, musm, @cggrcy." shfo tmc efic jhoy.

Imcstcr whtimco tmcl. _mfeas wcrc

acttfea wcfrocr tmhe usuhj.

"Ycc; Ekw yku'vc akt mfl hjj

iurfkusfty!" tmc jhoy shfo.

"Iurfkus-fgfco!" shfo Seijc Bfjj

mhppfjy.

"Iurfkus-ft-fgfco yku lche!" wcet

@cggrcy. "Mcc mcc!" Heo mc jkkdco rchoy tk

oheic h jfttjc `fa wftm mfs sjfppcrs. Imcstcr

rchjjy ofoe't dekw wmht tk ok cxicpt dccp


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lueimfea ke tmc iheoy.

"Ekw tmht's cekuam," tmc jhoy shfo wftm

suooceecss. "Ft's tflc gkr Imcstcr tk act mklc

kg ikursc."

@cggrcy scclco h bft ofshppkfetco heo

stkppco slfjfea. Imcstcr ofoe't rchjjy whet tk

jchvc. Ht jchst ekt yct.

"F oke't whet tk ak yct," mc shfo.

"Qmy; Qmy ekt;" @cggrcy shfo, jchefea

kvcr. Mfs cycs ajchlco ht Imcstcr tmrkuam tmc

spcithijcs.

"Mhvc yku akt lulbcrs fe ykur ijksct;"

@cggrcy wmfspcrco wftm lfsimfcg.

"Kr mhs h oust lkp bcce hgtcr yku;"

Seijc Qfjjfhl shfo. Mc wfedco ht @cggrcy.

"F ecvcr!" wcet tmc jhoy.

"Kr ykur tcooy rhe kgg;" @cggrcy

squchjco.


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"Km... Hm... F scc..." shfo @cggrcy

sklbcrjy. "_mc ujtflhtc tcrrkrs."

_mcrc whs ek sfae kg lkidfea ke mfs

`kjjy ghic.

"_mc ujtflhtc tcrrkrs," Qfjjfhl rcpchtco

sjkwjy hgtcr @cggrcy. Cvcrykec whs qufct gkr h

lklcet.

_mc jhoy dcpt tmfedfea gkr h jkea tflc.

"F tmfed ft's tflc wc tcjj mfl," smc

shfo wftm hbskjutc ocifsfke. Qfjjfhl heo

@cggrcy jkkdco ht mcr heo tmce bhid ht

Imcstcr.

Hs fg ke sklc fevfsfbjc sfaehj, @cggrcy

wcet heo imcidco tmht tmc wfeokws wcrc sciurc

heo iurthfeco, heo tmce Qfjjfhl wcet heo

ruggjco fesfoc h orhwcr, pujjfea kut sklc

vhrfkus phpcrs. _mc jhoy iketfeuco sfttfea ke

tmc kjo ikuim, lujjfea kvcr sklc tmkuamts.


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Qfjjfhl brkuamt tmc phpcrs heo sprcho

tmcl kut hjj kvcr tmc slhjj thbjc. _mcrc wcrc

jhrac phpcrs, heo jfttjc ektcpho phpcrs, heo

sklc tmht wcrc ikvcrco wftm strheac sirfbbjcs.

Mc dcpt pkfetfea ht tmfeas wftm h stubby

pceifj hs mc thjdco.

"Qcjj, F sthrtco kut ly ihjiujhtfkes

wftm grfppcrkjkay, but tmce F rchjfzco F

eccoco sklctmfea lkrc hehjytfihj jfdc

stuggcrfsls."

Qfjjfhl smuggjco tmrkuam tmc sthid heo

trfco tk gfeo sklc lkrc phpcrs, wmfim mc put

ke tkp.

"Gfehjjy F hrrfvco ht tmc simclhtfi B

mcrc, (mc pkfetco ht wmht jkkdco jfdc h

rfofiujkus lkusctrhp) heo tmce wftm sklc

ofggfiujty F usco tmc grfppkjkafihj

ihjiujhtfkes F mho okec bcgkrc (mcrc mc

pkfetco ht h bueim kg hrrkws, wmfim pkfetco ht

ktmcr hrrkws heo tmce bhid ht tmc gfrst


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hrrkws) ike`ueitfgfco wftm sklc vhjucs grkl

tmc thbjc kg lulbcrs..."

Qfjjfhl dcpt ke thjdfea, whvfea tmc

pceifj hrkueo.

"...hrrfvco ht tmc simclhtfi G mcrc (heo

mc pkfetco ht sklctmfea jfdc h bfkefi tkhstcr

bjucprfet) wmfim hjj jchos lc bhid tk ly gfrst

ijuc, hs F mho suspcitco ht gfrst!"

Heo tmce mc tkkd sklctmfea kut kg mfs

grket rfamt smfrt pkidct, vcry, vcry

ihrcgujjy, hs fg ft wcrc lhoc kg gfecst tfssuc

phpcr.

Mc uewrhppco ft sjkwjy heo jhfo ft kut

ke tkp kg cvcrytmfea, slkktmfea kut tmc

wrfedjcs acetjy wftm mfs kjo, skgt gfeacrs.

Imcstcr rcikaefzco ft, ft whs h Bcrzcrdcr @kc

aul wrhppcr.

Ft hjwhys mho h gueey jfttjc iklfi ke ft

tmht whs hjlkst uerchohbjc heo sklctflcs ekt


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tmht gueey. But Imcstcr hjwhys jfdco tmc

Bcrzcrdcr @kc iklfis heywhys.

"Rcho tmc iklfi," Qfjjfhl shfo

ikllheofeajy.

Ft whs h iklfi Imcstcr mho scce bcgkrc

hituhjjy. Mc kgtce akt sklc aul, heo mho h jkt

kg wrhppcrs mflscjg. Fe tmc gfrst phecj

Bcrzcrdcr @kc whs ht tmc bchim fe mfs swfl

trueds. _mce ft ceoco wftm h `kdc hbkut tmc

"shjty sch", mc rclclbcrco.

But tmc phpcr whs wrfedjco, heo tmcrc

wcrc h gcw okts kg fed, heo ft hjlkst jkkdco

jfdc ft `ust shfo "shjtfecs".

"Rcho rfamt mcrc," Qfjjfhl shfo,

ihrcgujjy pkfetfea tmc pceifj stub.

"Mcy, ft shys shjtfecs!" Imcstcr

cxijhflco.

"Cxhitjy."


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Imhptcr _wk

Imcstcr dcpt jkkdfea ht tmc aul wrhppcr.

Mc bjfedco, but tmc jfamt gjkwfea tmrkuam tmc

iurthfes whs ofl, heo tmc wkro whs stfjj

tmcrc.

Qfjjfhl iketfeuco. "Qmce F shw tmc ijuc,

F rchjfzco tmht ft whs tmc shjtfecs tmht wcrc

akfea tk ok ft. F mho tk imcid tmrcc tflcs


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`ust tk bc surc. Heo hjlkst cvcrykec jfdcs

shjtfec irhidcrs, ht jchst keic fe h wmfjc.

Cspcifhjjy gkr h akko bkwj kg skup. Ft whs h

tcrrfbjc rcvcjhtfke!"

Imcstcr jkkdco hrkueo ht tmcfr ghics.

_mcy wcrc scrfkus, cvce sho, heo mc ofoe't

tmfed tmcy wcrc pjhyfea h bfa `kdc ke mfl.

Qfjjfhl wcet tk tmc jfttjc dftimce kg

tmc mkusc, heo cvcrykec gkjjkwco wftmkut h

wkro. Imcstcr whtimco mfl act h rusty stcppfea

stkkj grkl tmc ikrecr, uegkjo ft, heo stcp up

tk tmc iupbkhro. Qfjjfhl pujjco okwe sklc

bkxcs. _mcy wcrc irhidcr bkxcs. Kec kg tmcl

mho h slfjfea sch ihpthfe ke tmc grket. Ft

whse't kpceco.

"Ycc, Imcstcr;" Qfjjfhl shfo fe h musmco


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vkfic, "_mcsc bkxcs hrc fe cvcry mkusc fe

Hlcrfih! _mhedgujjy wc gkueo tmc ijuc fe tflc.

But sklc pckpjc wfjj ekt bc sk juidy. Sejcss,

wc ihe stkp ft!"

Imcstcr jkkdco ht tmc sch ihpthfe, wmk

slfjco bhid ht mfl wmfjc bftfea ke mfs pfpc.

Cvcrykec whjdco bhid tk tmc jfvfea rkkl.

Xufidjy, Qfjjfhl smkvcjco hjj tmc phpcrs bhid

fetk tmc orhwcr heo ijksco ft tfamtjy.

@cggrcy jkkdco ht tmc ijkid heo tmce

ekooco tk tmc jhoy. "Huetfc, F hl bcafeefea tk

wkeocr wmht tflc ft fs rfamt ekw ke tmc ijkid

fesfoc tmc Autcewhjo's mhjjwhy;"

Ymc rfggjco tmrkuam hektmcr orhwcr fe

tmc ocsd heo ihlc up wftm h slhjj mheo

tcjcsikpc, heo tmce jchefea fetk tmc wfeokw


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22

smc ahzco pcrsfstcetjy gkr h wmfjc.

"F ok bcjfcvc ft's 6093."

Imcstcr jkkdco ht tmc ijkid fe tmc rkkl.

Ft whs hituhjjy hjlkst 80>>.

"6093!" @cggrcy shfo, sthrtjco.

"Hjrchoy; Qc oke't mhvc luim tflc, ok wc;"

Huetfc ijksco up tmc tcjcsikpc. "Ek, wc

oke't."

Imcstcr whse't surc wmht tk ok. Mc

tmkuamt mc lfamt try tk act mklc.

Qfjjfhl jkkdco kvcr. "Imcstcr, iklc

hjkea wftm us h gcw lkrc lfeutcs, wfjj yku;"


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_kactmcr tmcy whjdco okwe tmc strcct,

Huetfc heo @cggrcy stfjj fe tmcfr ph`hlh

rkbcs. _mcy hrrfvco ht h mkusc ke tmc ikrecr,

wmfim Imcstcr mho ecvcr bktmcrco tk jkkd ht

bcgkrc.

Mc shw ft kgtce tmkuam, cvce tmkuam ft

whs ke h ofggcrcet strcct. But ft whs vcry

ekrlhj jkkdfea heo ofoe't mhvc heytmfea

cxiftfea hbkut ft ht hjj. Qfjjfhl akt h dcy

kut kg mfs pkidct heo uejkidco tmc okkr, hgtcr

wrcstjfea wftm tmc okkr mheojc gkr h lklcet.

_mc fesfoc kg tmc mkusc whs `ust hs

bkrfea hs tmc kutsfoc, wftm gussy jfttjc

defid-dehids heo sklc okwoy gurefturc.

"Vku lust bc tmfrsty, Imcstcr, wmy oke't

yku act sklctmfea grkl tmc grfoac;" Huetfc

shfo, hs smc wcet tkwhros hektmcr rkkl.

@cggrcy heo Qfjjfhl mchoco tk hektmcr okkr,


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heo jcgt mfl tmcrc. Qftmkut heykec tmcrc fe

tmc rkkl, cvcrytmfea scclco ekrlhj hahfe. H

prctty pkricjhfe iht sthrco ht mfl grkl h

smcjg, heo tmc ikuimcs wcrc efic heo krofehry

jkkdfea.

Imcstcr whs h jfttjc tmfrsty, heo mc

ikujo scc h bcht up grfoac fe tmc dftimce,

jkkdfea efic heo ikjo.

Mc kpceco tmc okkr, heo tmcrc wcrc jkts

kg tmfeas fe tmcrc, kjo thdc-kut bkxcs heo

lfjd ihrtkes. Mkpcgujjy tmcrc wkujo bc sklc

skoh. Mc rchimco tk pusm sklctmfea hsfoc.

Imcstcr jkkdco ht kec kg tmc `hrs ke tmc

lfoojc smcjg, heo tmcrc whs sklctmfea gjkhtfea

fesfoc. Mc whse't surc fg ft whs h squfo kr

sklc dfeo kg schwcco, bcihusc ft whs vcry

bjhid heo tmc whtcr jkkdco luoojco ueocr tmc

slhjj grfoac jfamt.


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Xufidjy mc smut tmc grfoac, heo ocifoco

tk act h ajhss kg whtcr grkl tmc sfed. Mc

ofoe't whet tk scc fg tmcrc whs heytmfea cjsc

ke tmc smcjg!

Hgtcr sklc whtcr mc gcjt bcttcr, heo

tmcrc whs h dekid ke tmc grket okkr. Imcstcr

sthrtco whjdfea tk heswcr ft, but mkw ofo mc

dekw wmk whs tmcrc; Lhybc Huetfc heo Qfjjfhl

wkujoe't whet tk spchd tk tmcl, kr cjsc

sklckec whs jkkdfea gkr tmcl, kr...

_mcy dekidco hahfe. Imcstcr tmkuamt kg

mfofea bcmfeo tmc uajy ikuim.

Gkrtuehtcjy @cggrcy ihlc bulpfea okwe

tmc sthfrs heo wcet qufidjy tk tmc okkr,

kpcefea ft. H trhvcjfea shjcslhe stkko

kutsfoc. Mc mho ohrd sueajhsscs ke mfs tmfe,

jkea ghic. Mc tfppco mfs mht.

"Hrc yku fetcrcstco fe jchrefea hbkut

quhjfty ocethj ihrc;" tmc shjcslhe shfo fe h


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21

lkektkec, ecvcr imheafea mfs cxprcssfke. "F

mhvc sklc shlpjcs fe ly brfcgihsc, fg yku'o

jfdc h grcc oclkestrhtfke kg tmc lkocre

hovheics fe prcvcetfea tkktm ocihy."

"Hacet B!" @cggrcy squchjco mhppfjy.

Imcstcr ofoe't dekw wmht tk shy.

Hacet B tmc shjcslhe ihlc fe qufidjy heo

@cggrcy smut tmc okkr bcmfeo mfl tfamtjy.

Imcstcr ektfico tmht tmc shjcslhe whs wchrfea

bueey sjfppcrs gkr sklc rchske, heo mho h

jkea, wkre kut jkkdfea ghic.

"Mkw fs tmc pfpc busfecss fe Oustke;"

@cggrcy hsdco mfl fe h vcry ihsuhj why. "Kur

pjulbfea fs mhvfea sklc prkbjcls. Lhybc yku

ikujo jkkd ht ft tkk."


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26

Hacet B sht ke h gusty ikuim heo kpceco

tmc brfcgihsc ke tkp kg tmc ikggcc thbjc.

Imcstcr jkkdco, heo tmcrc wcrc rkws heo rkws

kg pfed bubbjcaul tkktmphstc, hs wcjj hs h gcw

ktmcr gjhvkrs kg tkktmphstc tubcs.

@cggrcy scclco surprfsco gkr sklc

rchske. "Ok wc ecco tmc Bubbjcaul gjhvkr; Mcrc

fe ^hxtke; _mht's ekt pkssfbjc!"

"F mhvc rchske tk bcjfcvc sk," Hacet B

shfo, heo ft whs jfdc sklckec mho orkppco h

tke kg sfjceic fetk tmc rkkl. @cggrcy whs ht h

jkss gkr wkros hs mc sthrco ht tmc brfamt rkws

kg tkktmphstc.

Imcstcr trfco sk luim tk gfaurc kut wmht

tmcy wcrc akfea ke hbkut! But mc ikujoe't

tmfed kg h sfeajc tmfea. Ft whs `ust sklc

tkktmphstc.


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9>

"F smkujo tcjj Huetfc heo Qfjjfhl,"

@cggrcy shfo gfehjjy, heo wcet tk gfeo tmcl.

Hacet B jkkdco up ht Imcstcr heo ahvc h

wchd slfjc. "Mhvc yku brusmco ykur tcctm

tkohy;" mc hsdco, heo ahvc Imcstcr kec kg tmc

shlpjcs kg bubbjcaul tkktmphstc heo h smkrt

tkktmbrusm. _mce Hacet B ijksco up tmc

suftihsc heo sthrtco tkwhros tmc sthfrwhy, heo

Imcstcr gkjjkwco mfl. Mc ektfico tmc Hacet's

gcct lhoc ek ekfsc fe tmc gjuggy bueey

sjfppcrs.

Ht tmc tkp tmcrc whs h bhtmrkkl ke kec

sfoc, heo Hacet B wcet fe heo kpceco mfs

suftihsc by tmc sfed. Ft whs h vcry bkrfea

bhtmrkkl wftm uajy phfsjcy whjjphpcr heo h bfa

lfrrkr.


35/333

98

But tmce Imcstcr shw h jhrac rhid kg

tkktmphstc tubcs ke kec whjj by tmc lfrrkr, kg

hjj dfeos heo smhpcs, heo tmc Hacet sthrtco

thdfea kut gjhvkrs grkl tmc suftihsc heo

hoofea tmcl tk tmc whjj. _mce mc stkppco, heo

kpceco up tmc ihbfect ueocr tmc sfed.

_mcrc wcrc pfpcs ueocr tmc sfed hs

usuhj, but okzces kg tmcl, twfstfea hrkueo heo

wftm jfttjc bkxcs ke tmcl fe sklc pjhics. Yklc

kg tmc pfpcs wcrc orfppfea. _mcrc whs h

strheac kokr fe tmc hfr tmht Imcstcr ofoe't

cvce rcikaefzc.

"Vku smkujo ak gfeo @cggrcy," Hacet B

shfo fe mfs ory vkfic, stfjj jkkdfea ht tmc

pfpcs. Imcstcr wcet kut heo okwe tmc sthfrs,

heo jkkdco tmrkuam sklc rkkls, but mc ofoe't

dekw wmcrc heykec lfamt bc. Mc shw Huetfc

jkkdfea fe tmc grfoac tmkuam, heo smc brkuamt

kut tmc `hr wftm tmc squfo tmfea fe ft.


36/333

92

"Ymc's jkkdfea luim bcttcr ekw," Huetfc

shfo tk Imcstcr, mkjofea tmc `hr up tk tmc

jfamt. "Hjlkst rchoy tk ak fetk tmc hquhrful

hahfe! Hrce't yku, Icifjfh;"

Imcstcr mkpco smc whse't akfea tk kpce

up tmc `hr!

But Huetfc wcet heo kpceco he clpty

iupbkhro, heo put tmc `hr fesfoc heo smut ft

hahfe. _mcrc whs h aurajfea skueo sklcwmcrc fe

tmc whjj, jfdc whtcr gjkwfea.

Qfjjfhl ihlc fe grkl tmc bhidyhro.

"Icifjfh fs bhid fe tmc hquhrful,"

Huetfc shfo wfstgujjy.

"F wfsm yku wkujoe't ehlc tmcl," Qfjjfhl

shfo. "Qmht fg kec kg tmcl ofco;"


37/333

99

"F oke't scc hey hquhrful," Imcstcr shfo

suoocejy.

"Km kg ikursc ekt," Huetfc cxpjhfeco.

"Ft's ueocr tmc mkusc, fe tmc ohrd. _mcy mhvc

tk mhvc ohrd lkst kg tmc tflc, yku dekw."

"Qcjj... wmht hbkut hjj tmht tkktmphstc;

Heo tmksc pfpcs ueocr tmc sfed; Heo Hacet B;

Qmht's akfea ke;" Imcstcr rhlbjco. Mc `ust

whetco sklctmfea tk lhdc scesc!

Qfjjfhl jkkdco hrkueo, tmfedfea kg wmht

tk shy. Huetfc pusmco mcr mhfr hrkueo. _mce

Seijc Qfjjfhl sthrtco shyfea sklc tmfeas.

"Ycc, Imcstcr, tmfs fse't h mkusc. Ft's

h rcschrim ghifjfty gkr sklc spcifhj heflhjs

tmht jfvc occp fe tmc kiche," mc shfo, slfjfea


38/333

9?

fe mfs usuhj arheoghtmcrjy why. Yklcmkw tmht

lhoc Imcstcr hjwhys gccj bcttcr.

"_mc tkktmphstc tubcs hrce't rchjjy

gfjjco wftm tkktmphstc. _mcy'rc imclfihj

cjclcets heo imclfihjs heo tmfeas. Cxicpt gkr

tmc Bubbjcaul gjhvkr, wc usc tmht gkr

brusmfea. Qc ihe act tmc rfamt imclfihjs heo

lfx tmcl fe tmc sfed, heo okwe tmcy ak tmrkuam

tmc pfpcs heo fetk tmc hquhrful, tk dccp ft

efic heo luidy jfdc tmc irchturcs ecco."

"Km," Imcstcr shfo.

"Ycc, tmcrc mhvc bcce sklc strheac

imclfihjs fe tmc kiche jhtcjy, heo sklc

strheac tmfeas mhvc bcce jfvfea tmcrc. Yk wc

mhvc tk gfeo kut hbkut tmcl, cm Imcstcr;"


39/333

93

Ft ofo lhdc scesc, fe h why.

"Kejy wc mhvc tk dccp ft h scirct ekw,

lhdfea ft `ust jfdc ft's he krofehry mkusc,

bcihusc kg... wcjj... heo wc eccoco tk hjsk

wmce... heo tmc... kg ikursc..." Qfjjfhl shfo,

suoocejy ekt dekwfea wmht cjsc tk shy.

Imcstcr ekooco tk smkw mc ueocrstkko. Ht

jchst mc tmkuamt mc ueocrstkko!

Huetfc spkdc up, jchefea ke tmc ikuetcr.

"Qc'jj mhvc tk cxpjhfe bcttcr sklctflc,

ochrfc. Qkujo yku jfdc sklc skoh;"

@cggrcy ihlc fe grkl tmc grket okkr

hahfe, heo shw cvcrykec.


40/333

97

"H phrty wftmkut lc; Mcc mcc!" mc

jhuamco.

"Yklc kg tmc pjulbfea fs wkre kut,"

@cggrcy shfo, imheafea mfs tkec. "Imcstcr, yku

ihe mcjp Hacet B wftm suppjfcs heo

hiqufsftfke4 yku'jj bc bhid fe tflc tk act

mklc gkr ofeecr. Qfjjfhl, yku ak skrt tmc

tkktmphstc rhid, ft's hjj kut kg krocr. Huetfc

wfjj iklc wftm lc heo ijche tmc whtcr gfjtcr."

Ke iuc cvcrykec bcahe busfjy akfea

hbkut. Hacet B mho iklc okwesthfrs hjrchoy but

ek kec mchro mfl bcihusc kg mfs skgt bueey

sjfppcrs. Imcstcr wkeocrco fg tmht whs wmy mc

wkrc tmcl.


41/333

91

Imhptcr _mrcc

Hacet B heo Imcstcr orkvc tk Mhrowhrc

Ocpkt fe h rusty truid wftm tmc wfeokws okwe

heo ikkj hfr bjkwfea phst. _mce tmcy whjdco

hrkueo fe tmc muac whrcmkusc. Mc wkujo pfid up

hjj tmc ofggcrcet smhpcs kg pfpcs, jkkd ht

tmcl, heo tmce pfid up sklc ktmcr kecs, sklc

kg tmcl pjhstfi heo sklc lcthjjfi.


42/333

9=

_mcrc whs he kjo skea whfjfea fe tmc

bhidarkueo wmfjc tmcy smkppco. Hacet B whs

stfjj mkjofea sklc jfttjc ikppcr tubcs heo

turefea tmcl kvcr heo tmce jkkdfea ht tmcl

hahfe. Imcstcr sthrtco tk act hetsy grkl

whftfea sk jkea gkr Hacet B tk gfeo hjj tmc

rfamt pfpcs.

_mce Hacet B whjdco hrkueo heo jkkdco ht

sklc ktmcr tmfeas, cjcitrfihj wfrcs heo

ofggcrcet mfeacs. Ft whs dfeo kg efic heo ikkj

fe tmc whrcmkusc hituhjjy, heo gkr h lklcet

Imcstcr gcjt jfdc `ust twk rcaujhr pckpjc

smkppfea gkr pfpcs kr wmhtcvcr. Mc ihlc mcrc

wftm mfs oho sklctflcs, heo tmcrc wcrc cvce

mkuscpjhets gkr shjc fe kec pjhic.

Gfehjjy Hacet B whs shtfsgfco heo tmcy

phfo gkr tmc pfpcs heo pusmco h squchdy

smkppfea ihrt bhid tk tmc truid, heo Hacet B

put cvcrytmfea fe tmc bhid. _mce mc jcheco ke

tmc truid heo rcstco gkr h lklcet.


43/333

96

_mc phrdfea jkt whs dfeo kg mkt fe tmc

sullcr sue but tmcrc whs h efic brcczc. Hacet

B wkujo dfeo kg jkkd hrkueo, heo tmce imcw ke

h tkktmpfid mc mho grkl sklcwmcrc, heo tmce mc

wkujo dfeo kg jkkd hrkueo sklc lkrc, hs fg mc

whs bkrco.

_mcrc wcrc sklc sirhaajy busmcs hahfest

h ikeirctc whjj, wmcrc kjo trhsm mho bjkwe,

heo sklc jfttjc trccs cvcry ekw heo tmce.

Hacet B whjdco hrkueo kvcr tk h busm

tmht whs arkwfea by tmc whjj. Mc cxhlfeco tmc

jchvcs qufidjy, jkkdfea ht chim brheim heo

smhdfea sklc kg tmcl. _mce mc pfidco h sfeajc

jchg tmht whs occp fesfoc tmc busm heo put ft

fe h pjhstfi bhaafc.

"Mcrc. Oke't jct tmfs bjkw hwhy," mc

shfo, mheofea tmc bha tk Imcstcr, heo tmce

tmcy akt fe tmc truid heo Hacet B orkvc kut tk


44/333

?>

tmc strcct hahfe, sjkwjy, imcidfea hjj mfs

lfrrkrs, heo tmcy wcet bhid tk tmc mkusc ke

tmc ikrecr.

Ft whs acttfea dfeo kg jhtc by tmce

hituhjjy, heo tmc wfeo mho pfidco up h jkt.

Bhid fe tmc mkusc, sklc trcc brheimcs wcrc

dekidfea hahfest h wfeokw, heo Imcstcr

suoocejy jkeaco tk bc bhid fe mfs kwe rkkl.

Huetfc mho h slhjj tcjcsikpc hahfe heo

whs jkkdfea bctwcce sklc kg tmc iurthfes.

"Ok yku mhvc h bcho ke tmc Autcewhjo's

ijkid;" @cggrcy shfo flphtfcetjy.

"Ek, ek," Huetfc shfo frrfthbjy, tryfea

tk jkkd. Ymc lkvco tmc tcjcsikpc hrkueo h

jfttjc.


45/333

?8

"_mce wc'jj `ust mhvc tk ak bhid tk

Qfjjfhl's pjhic," mc rcpjfco. "Heo Imcstcr,

yku smkujo act bhid mklc!"

"Ek kec ihe ak heywmcrc yct," Hacet B

shfo gjhtjy. @cggrcy sthrco ht mfl.

"_mcy'rc iklfea hjrchoy," Hacet B

sthtco.

"Ft ihe't bc!" @cggrcy shfo. "Mkw ofo

tmcy gfeo kut; Ofo yku act h tcjclctry ke tmc

spcitrksikpfis; Ofo yku cquhjfzc tmc fegcr-

klctry; Lftfahtc tmc suppksftfke rchofeas;"

"Jkkd!" Hacet B shfo, mheofea @cggrcy h

prfetkut wftm lfjjfkes kg tfey eulbcrs ke ft.

@cggrcy jkkdco up, mfs ghic bjhed, heo tmce

ajheico ht Imcstcr wftm ikeicre. H wmfgg kg


46/333

?2

rhfe whs ghjjfea ke tmc wfeokw's ajhss.

"F'l skrry Imcstcr, but tmcy'rc hjlkst

mcrc hjrchoy," @cggrcy tkjo mfl. "_mc

fevfsfbjc brhfe suidcrs."

"F ihe't ak mklc tmce!" Imcstcr shfo.

"Ft's tkk oheacrkus!"

@cggrcy scclco vcry upsct. "Qc'rc

rcschrimcrs, Imcstcr, ekt dfoehppcrs ! Vku ecco

tk act mklc ekw. F'jj ihjj ykur phrcets."

@cggrcy wcet fetk tmc ktmcr rkkl, heo

thjdco ke tmc pmkec gkr h jkea tflc, sklctflcs

shyfea, "um mum" kr "hjrfamt" kr "kg ikursc".


47/333

?9


48/333

??

Mc ihlc bhid fe heo sht ke tmc ikuim,

jkkdfea cvce lkrc upsct.

"_mcy harcc yku ihe iklc tk h vhihtfke

fe Hrfzkeh. Gkr h lketm."

"Qmht; Ly phrcets wkujo ecvcr ok tmht!"

Imcstcr shfo.

"F dekw," @cggrcy shfo, jkkdfea ht

ektmfea. "_mfs lches wc mhvc tk jchvc ekw !"

Hacet B spkdc up. "Gkrtuehtcjy brhfe

suidcrs lkvc sjkwjy, sk tmcy wke't rchim tmfs

mkusc gkr h wmfjc. But F oke't cvce dekw wmcrc

hjj kg tmcl hrc."

Imcstcr hjlkst gcjt jfdc iryfea. "But fg

ly phrcets..." mc sputtcrco. Ft ikujoe't bc

truc!


49/333

?3

@cggrcy spkdc, vcry iklgkrtfeajy. "Oke't

wkrry! Lhey pckpjc jfvc vcry jkea heo

suiicssguj jfvcs wftmkut tmcfr brhfes. But wc

dekw pckpjc wmk ihe rcvcrsc tmc prkicss,

Imcstcr, heo wc wfjj bc wkrdfea tk act ykur

phrcets bhid. Qc wfjj bc wkrdfea!" @cggrcy

shfo, mfs vkfic rfsfea wftm strkea

octcrlfehtfke hahfest tmc wfeo.

" Qmht hrc wc okfea;! " Qfjjfhl oclheoco,

iklfea fe qufidjy wftm Hacet B's suftihsc fe

kec mheo. "Ythrt tmc ihr."

_mce cvcrykec wcet kut tk tmc bhidyhro,

hs Qfjjfhl mheoco h tubc kg Okitkr Bubbjc's

Bubbjcaul _kktmphstc tk chim pcrske, feijuofea

Huetfc. Cvcrykec sthrtco brusmfea tmcfr tcctm

wftm kec gfeacr, jfdc h tkktmbrusm. Imcstcr

gkjjkwco qufidjy.


50/333

?7

"Fevfsfbjc brhfe suidcrs mhtc tmc thstc

kg bubbjcaul," Huetfc tkjo mfl, jchefea

ijkscjy wftm mcr bubbjcaul brchtm. "Lhdc surc

tk dccp rcpjhifea ft ourfea tmc trfp!"

_mcy hjj wcet tmrkuam h gceic heo fetk h

rkttfea smco wmcrc h jhrac, arcce ihr sht tmht

prkbhbjy mhoe't bcce orfvce fe ocihocs. _mcy

hjj pfjco fe heo Hacet B tkkd tmc wmccj,

dfidfea tmc ceafec fetk achr wftm ek ekescesc

hjjkwco. _mc ceafec rkhrco hjfvc h gcw tflcs,

heo tmce tmc ihr suoocejy bhrrcjco strhfamt

kut kg tmc smco okkrs, tmrkuam tmc gceic heo

ketk tmc strcct, turefea okwe he hjjcy.

Imcstcr jkkdco bhid, heo sklc kg tmc

mkuscs mho tureco hjj tmcfr jfamts ke. Ft whs

hjlkst hgtcr suesct, heo mc gcjt rcjfcvco gkr

sklc rchske. Yklctflcs mc wkujo okzc kgg, but

tmce Huetfc wkujo prko mfl heo rclfeo mfl tk

put ke sklc grcsm tkktmphstc.


51/333

?1

"Ok wc mhvc cekuam tubcs tk lhdc ft tk

Huetfc's mkusc;" mc mchro Qfjjfhl hsd bctwcce

okzfea kgg.


52/333

?=


53/333

?6

Imhptcr Gkur

Ft whs lkrefea. Imcstcr wkdc up. Mc

ikujo gccj mfs bco lkvfea, but mc whse't fe

bco. _mc ihr whs stfjj gjkkrfea ft ke he

fetcrsthtc mfamwhy, heo Imcstcr sht up fe tmc

bhidscht, gccjfea vcry arkaay heo wkre. But ht

jchst mfs tcctm wcrc efic heo grcsm, festcho

kg thstfea wcfro jfdc sklc lkrefeas.


54/333

3>

"Qmcrc hrc wc;" Imcstcr hsdco wftmkut

tmfedfea. But mc mho rclclbcrco hjrchoy.

"Oke't wkrry, wc'rc hjlkst tmcrc,"

Huetfc shfo sylphtmctfihjjy. "Qc'rc akfea tk

ly spcifhj mkusc fe Hrfzkeh, tk lcct up wftm h

ikethit. Cvcrytmfea's akfea tk bc gfec."

Hacet B whs stfjj ht tmc wmccj, heo tmc

ihr whse't akfea hs ghst hs ft mho bcce tmc

efamt bcgkrc. _mc ceojcss sicecry kg ofrt heo

smrubby pjhets wcet phst, hjwhys imheafea but

hjwhys tmc shlc.

@cggrcy mheoco bhid sklc jfttjc icrchj

bkxcs heo spkkes grkl tmc ajkvc bkx, heo

Imcstcr trfco tk irueim sklc kg ft okwe wftm

ek lfjd. But mc whs vcry, vcry mueary heo

ofoe't rchjjy ihrc.


55/333

38

Yklc jfttjc tkwes wcet phst, heo tmcy

stkppco tk act sklc whtcr heo tmfeas

sklctflcs, but tmce wcet ke. Seijc Qfjjfhl

wkujo hjsk buy h gcw ofggcrcet bkxcs kg

irhidcrs heo tmrkw tmcl fe tmc trued, "gkr

hehjysfs jhtcr ke", mc cxpjhfeco.

_mce tmc sicecry imheaco tk h slhjj

tkwe. Heo tmce h jhracr tkwe.

Heo tmce tmcy wcrc orfvfea okwe h efic

strcct heo hrkueo h mfjj, heo ketk h rkueo

ifrijc strcct wftm mkuscs hjj hjkea ft heo

clpty sphic fe tmc lfoojc.

_mc ihr stkppco fe grket kg h efic,

prctty mkusc wftm pfed phfet heo wmftc trfl.

Yklckec hirkss tmc why mho h lktkr mklc

phrdco ke tmc strcct, heo tmcrc wcrc sklc

smhoy trccs heo efic ocikrhtfkes cvcrywmcrc.

Imcstcr ikujo tcjj ft lfamt bc vcry mkt jhtcr

tmht ohy.


56/333

32

Ykke tmcy mho akttce kut heo akec fe tmc

grket kg tmc efic jfttjc pfed mkusc, heo

tmfeas wcrc sk ihjl heo pchicguj tmht Imcstcr

gcjt h jkt bcttcr hjj kg h suooce.

"Fs tmc ikethit ke mfs why;" Huetfc shfo

hs cvcrykec gkueo h pjhic tk sft kr akt h

luggfe grkl tmc grfoac kr jkkdco kut tmc

wfeokw ht tmc trccs. _mc mkusc gcjt `ust jfdc

mklc heo mho h jkt kg pfed heo wmftc jhic heo

sklc prctty jfttjc sthtucs heo brkwe gurefturc

tmht jkkdco vcry ikzy. Ektmfea scclco tk

rchjjy lhtim, but Imcstcr ofoe't ihrc.

Ft whs h jkea ohy tmht ohy, heo Imcstcr

dcpt tryfea tk bcht @cggrcy ht imcidcrs, wmk

hjwhys wke heo shfo "Mcc mcc!" cvcry tflc mc

`ulpco sklc kg Imcstcr's pfcics. _mc ikethit

whs suppksco tk hrrfvc tmc ecxt ohy tmkuam, sk

cvcrykec usco tmc tflc tk rcst up heo act

rchoy.


57/333

39


58/333

3?

Qfjjfhl dcpt iklpjhfefea hbkut mkw mc

jcgt mfs phpcrs wftm tmc stuggcrfsls heo

grfppcrkjkay ihjiujhtfkes bhid ht mfs mkusc,

heo mkw jkea ft wkujo thdc tk ok ft hjj kvcr

hahfe heo imcid ft heo okubjc-imcid ft.

But tmce Huetfc wkujo rclfeo mfl tmht mc

ofo rclclbcr tk brfea tmc Bcrzcrdcr @kc aul

wrhppcr fe mfs pkidct, wmcrc mc hjwhys dcpt

ft.

_mcrc whs sklc imfidce ekkojc skup gkr

ofeecr, heo ft whs vcry mkt heo spfiy heo lhoc

Imcstcr gccj tfrco, heo cvcrykec cjsc tkk.

_mcy ahvc mfl h rkkl okwesthfrs tk sthy fe,

heo cvcrykec wcet kgg tk tmcfr pjhics tk sjccp

bcgkrc ft whs cvce tmht ohrd yct.

Imcstcr jkkdco kut tmc wfeokw, gkr h

jkea tflc, tryfea tk ak tk sjccp. Mc shw phrt

kg tmc whjj kg tmc ecfambkr's mkusc, jft by

tmc lkke, heo sklc tkps kg trccs, heo cvcry

ekw heo tmce h oka bhrdco heo h ijkuo siuooco


59/333

33

tmrkuam tmc sdy vcry sjkwjy. Mc tmkuamt kvcr h

jkt kg tmfeas, heo h jkt kg lclkrfcs, but mc

ikujoe't rchjjy gfaurc kut wmht whs akfea ke,

cvce fe mfs kwe rcaujhr jfgc bhid ht mfs kwe

mkusc. Ft scclco jfdc mc mho ecvcr trfco tk

gfaurc heytmfea kut bcihusc mc ofoe't rchjjy

ecco tk bcgkrc.

Heo tmce mc wkujo jkkd kut tmc wfeokw

hahfe, heo cvcrytmfea whs sk ohrd heo qufct,

heo tmc lkke whs jfamtfea up tmc gceic, heo h

oka bhrdco hahfe, heo mc stfjj ikujoe't act tk

sjccp.

Gfehjjy Imcstcr akt up heo wheocrco bhid

fetk tmc jfvfea rkkl. _mc jfamt whs tureco

bhid ke heo @cggrcy whs sfttfea ht h thbjc fe

mfs ph`hlhs, mhvfea sklc tch kr sklctmfea.

Huetfc whs tmcrc hjsk, rchofea tmc ecwsphpcr,

Imcstcr tmkuamt. @cggrcy spkttco mfl.

"Mk mk, wmht's tmc lhttcr, Imcstcr ly

bky; Ihe't sjccp;"


60/333

37

"Ek, ekt rchjjy. F'l `ust tryfea tk

gfaurc sklc tmfeas kut."

@cggrcy tkkd h jkea sjurp kg tch heo

jkkdco ht mfl.

"Yk hrc h jkt kg pckpjc, Imcstcr. Cvce

wc hrc."

Imcstcr sht okwe ht tmc thbjc. "Rchjjy;"

@cggrcy slfjco. Huetfc whs stfjj

rchofea. "Qmy ycs, fe ghit, lkst kg us mhvc

`ust sthrtco tk ueocrstheo tmfeas," mc

cxpjhfeco.

"Fe ghit, gkr h jkea tflc, wc... tmht

fs, Huetfc heo F heo Qfjjfhl, heo wcjj, h


61/333

31

wmkjc jkt kg pckpjc... wc kejy skrt kg gcjt

tmht sklctmfea flpkrthet lfamt bc mhppcefea

hrkueo us, sklctmfea wc wcrce't rchjjy surc

wmht ft whs.

@cggrcy trfco tk tmfed kg sklctmfea lkrc

tk shy.

"Fe ghit... cvcry ekw heo tmce sklckec

wkujo shy, 'Mcy, ok yku wkeocr wmht's akfea

ke;' kr 'F wkeocr fg sklctmfea fs akfea ke'!"

"Lkstjy cvcrykec wkujo smrua heo shy

ektmfea. Heo tmht whs hjj."

"But tmce, wc wkujo gfeo sklckec cjsc

wmk shfo, 'Qcjj, ycs, F tmfed sklctmfea lfamt

bc mhppcefea, F'l ekt surc wmht ft fs.' Heo

tmce wc sthrtco wkrdfea tkactmcr, hahfest

sklctmfea, wc ofoe't dekw wmht, heo wc ofoe't

dekw cxhitjy wmht tk ok hbkut ft!"


62/333

3=


63/333

36

"_mce wc ihlc up wftm h ehlc gkr ft.

Qmhtcvcr ft fs, wc wcrce't rchjjy surc,

bcihusc wc ofoe't dekw cxhitjy wmht whs

mhppcefea, kr wmy, kr cvce mkw."

"Qc ihjjco ft _mc Qmht ."

Huetfc mho stkppco rchofea tk whtim. Ymc

heo @cggrcy ofoe't shy heytmfea gkr h lklcet,

but tmcy jkkdco rhtmcr sho. Imcstcr gcjt upsct

tkk, but mc ofoe't dekw wmy. Yklctmfea scclco

vcry wrkea but mc ofoe't cvce dekw wmy.

"F tmfed... F tmfed F dekw wmht yku

lche." Imcstcr shfo qufctjy. Huetfc put mcr

ecwsphpcr ke tmc thbjc.

"Vku scc, Imcstcr," Huetfc shfo,

"Flhafec h ikuetry fevhocs hektmcr ikuetry,

heo tmcy wfe, heo lhrim fe heo imheac hjj tmc


64/333

7>

rujcs heo heo bjkw up hjj tmc bufjofeas.

Cvcrykec fs rueefea heo sirchlfea heo tryfea

tk stkp ft. _mht wkujo bc h tcrrfbjc tmfea,

wkujoe't ft;"

Imcstcr mho mchro hbkut tmfs, heo scce

sklc bfts kg kjo whr lkvfcs ke _W. Ft ofo sccl

rhtmcr mkrrfbjc!

Huetfc iketfeuco. "But ekw flhafec...

tmcrc fs ek hrly. _mcrc fs ek fevhsfke, tmcrc

hrc ek lfjjfkes kg skjofcrs lhrimfea tmrkuam

tmc strccts wftm muac iheekes gfrfea heo

bjkwfea cvcrytmfea up. But tmfeas dccp acttfea

wkrsc heywhys!

Kejy tmfs tflc, ekbkoy ektfics. Bcihusc

jfdc wc shfo, tmcrc fs ek hrly. "

"But tmfeas hrc imheafea... heo

imheafea... heo imheafea, heo skke ekbkoy


65/333

78

rclclbcrs mkw mhppy tmc wkrjo whs, heo hjj tmc

tmfeas tmcy jkvco sk luim, sk luim tmht tmcy

wkujo mhvc gkuamt hahfest h muac hrly bcgkrc.

But ekw, tmcy oke't cvce ihrc. "

Ft whs suim he hwguj foch, Imcstcr ikujo

tcjj. Ytrheac heo hwguj, jfdc h orchl tmht

ykurc ajho tk whdc up grkl. Mc ofoe't rchjjy

whet tk flhafec ft. Ft ofoe't sccl pkssfbjc.

"But sklc kg us hrc gfamtfea, heo sklc

kg us hrc wfjjfea tk afvc tmcfr jfvcs. Yk

oke't wkrry hbkut ft."

Imcstcr jkkdco ht tmcl hahfe.

"Ekbkoy dekws cvcrytmfea, Imcstcr. Yk

yku'jj `ust mhvc tk ok wmht wc ok0 jfvc kec

ohy ht h tflc, wftmkut afvfea fe tk gchr. Fe h


66/333

72

why, wc dekw gchr fs kec kg tmc tmfeas wc hrc

gfamtfea hahfest."

Imcstcr ekooco, heo tmce hgtcr chtfea h

gcw pfcics kg sklc efic brcho, mc wcet bhid tk

mfs rkkl. Mc whs hbjc tk act tk sjccp ekw.


67/333

79

Imhptcr Gfvc

Fe tmc lkrefea, Qfjjfhl wkdc up Imcstcr

chrjy.

"F'l akfea tk ak lcct up wftm kur

ikethit," Qfjjfhl shfo, smhdfea mfl hwhdc.

"Vku lfamt whet tk iklc hjkea."


68/333

7?

Hgtcr h smkrt orfvc, tmcy lhoc ft tk tmc

supcrlhrdct, heo tmc sue whs stfjj skrt kg

rfsfea.

_mc supcrlhrdct whs h jfttjc tkk ikjo

gkr tmht chrjy fe tmc lkrefea, Imcstcr

tmkuamt, heo mc stulbjco hjkea tryfea tk bjfed

mfs cycs tk whdc up hs tmcy pusmco h ihrt

tmrkuam tmc lkstjy clpty hfsjcs. Yklc lusfi

whs pjhyfea wftm h auy sfeafea hbkut jkvc

sfidecss. _mcrc whs he kjo wklhe wftm h smhwj

jkkdfea tmrkuam tmc grkzce akkos, heo h lkl

wftm mcr dfo.

"Qmk hrc wc jkkdfea gkr;" Imcstcr hsdco,

keic mc whs hwhdc cekuam tk sthrt tmfedfea

hbkut tmfeas.

"F oke't dekw," Qfjjfhl shfo, heo dcpt

pusmfea tmc ihrt hjkea. "But tmcy wfjj mhvc

tmrcc brheos kg irhidcrs fe tmc tkp kg tmcfr


69/333

73

ihrt0 Grftz Grfsdcrs, Drueimcc Drfsps, heo

Ihpthfe Irhidcr's Brheo Ykup Irhidcrs."

_mcrc whs he ciicetrfi jhoy jkkdfea ht

bfro gkko. Ymc mho sklc irhidcr bkxcs fe mcr

ihrt, sihttcrco hjj hbkut.

"Ek, tmksc hrc tmc wrkea dfeo," Qfjjfhl

luttcrco bcgkrc Imcstcr shfo heytmfea tk mcr.

_mce h gcw hfsjcs jhtcr Qfjjfhl stkppco

tmc ihrt by tmc grkzce pfzzhs. "Jkkd, yku sthy

mcrc," mc shfo. "F'jj ak qufidjy hrkueo heo

try tk gfeo tmcl. Oke't lkvc, pjchsc," mc

shfo.

Imcstcr sthyco by tmc ihrt. Mc akt dfeo

kg tfrco kg jkkdfea ht hjj tmc ofggcrcet dfeos

kg grkzce pfzzhs, but hjj tmc whjdfea mho

wkdce mfl up. Yklcmkw ft gcjt akko fe tmc


70/333

77

lkrefea. Mc tmkuamt mc lfamt act kut h grkzce

pfzzh heo jkkd ht tmc bhid, `ust tk rcho

sklctmfea ecw, hgtcr h wmfjc, uetfj mc mho

hjlkst lclkrfzco wmfim pfzzhs mho ecw gjhvkrs

hjrchoy. Yklc rhofk sthtfke whs pjhyfea ijheay

aufthr imkros ke tmc tfeey supcrlhrdct

spchdcrs.

H siruggy jkkdfea auy whs pusmfea h ihrt

tmrkuam tmc grkzce scitfke, heo mc stkppco

hirkss tmc why heo smkvco tmrkuam tmc grkzce

brkiikjf, luttcrfea sklctmfea.

Mc mho h wmftc ueocrsmfrt ueocr h ahuoy

`hidct wftm tmc ikjjhrs tureco up, heo sklc

dfeo kg lcthj ecidjhic. Imcstcr gcjt jfdc h

strheac, slhjj dfo fe grket kg mfl. Mfs mhfr

whs vcry ofsmcvcjco but ft jkkdco fetcrcstfea

tmht why. Imcstcr hjlkst wfsmco mfs kwe mhfr

whs uetfoy ekw. Imcstcr jkkdco ht tmc

strheacr's ihrt ihrcgujjy. Fe tmc tkp rhid


71/333

71

wcrc irhidcr bkxcs, hjj ofggcrcet typcs.

_mc siruggy auy jkkdco ht Imcstcr.

"Hrc yku jkkdfea gkr sklc shjtfecs;" mc

shfo hjlkst mulkrkusjy. Imcstcr ofoe't dekw

wmht tk shy. Gkr h lklcet tmc auy jkkdco vcry

scrfkus, heo Imcstcr tmkuamt mc hjlkst lfamt

act heary.

But tmce mc suoocejy jkkdco tmrkuam tmc

brkiikjf, hahfe, shyfea rheokl tmfeas jfdc,

"wmht;" heo "km lhe" heo "wmcrc-fs-ft oket-

yku-mhvc-ft-heylkrc;".

Qfjjfhl lkscyco hrkueo tmc ikrecr,

jkkdfea wchry, heo tmce murrfco hjkea wmce mc

shw tmc auy's ihrt.

"F scc yku'rc h ghe kg Ihpthfe Irhidcr,"

Qfjjfhl shfo kggfifkusjy tk tmc uetfoy ouoc.

"Heo Grfsdcrs heo Drfsps hrce't tmht bho

cftmcr."


72/333

7=


73/333

76

_mc auy stkppco jkkdfea fe tmc brkiikjf,

heo suoocejy jkkdco dfeo kg scrfkus hahfe. But

tmce mc whs grfceojy hjj kg h suooce.

"Ly ehlc fs Eht. Ft's akko tk lcct yku

ht jhst. Hrc yku @cggrcy kr Qfjjfhl;"

"^jchsc ihjj lc Bfjj," Qfjjfhl shfo.

"_mfs fs Imcstcr, h ecpmcw."

"Kg ikursc, Qfjjfhl," tmc auy shfo,

pkppfea sklc bubbjcaul fe mfs lkutm. "Qhet

sklc;" mc hsdco Imcstcr ikrofhjjy. Imcstcr

smkkd mfs mcho, heo tmc auy, h ikethit ehlco

Eht, smruaaco. Imcstcr mho mho cekuam

bubbjcaul gkr h gcw ohys!

Ke tmc why bhid tk Huetfc's mkusc, Eht

tkkd mfs kwe ihr, he kjo rust-ikvcrco Lusthea,


74/333

1>

heo gkjjkwco tmcl bhid.

Huetfc mho sklc whggjcs heo shushac

bhdfea, heo @cggrcy whs tryfea tk lhdc sklc

dfeo kg krheac `ufic wftm h pjhstfi squfsmcr

tmfea. Eht ofoe't shy heytmfea but akt h pjhtc

heo sthrtco chtfea h bfa whggjc heo h jkt kg

tmc shushacs. Cvcrykec cjsc gkjjkwco.

"Mk mk! F aucss tmc ahea's hjj mcrc!"

@cggrcy shfo, oheifea h jfttjc fe mfs

sjfppcrco gcct.

"F wke't mhvc h jkt kg tflc tk sthy

hrkueo," Eht shfo, imcwfea jkuojy, heo pusmfea

sklc whggjc pfcics tmrkuam tmc syrup. "Lhybc h

ohy kr twk."

Gkr tmc rcst kg tmc lkrefea, tmcy thjdco


75/333

18

hrkueo tmc thbjc wftm Eht hbkut h jkt kg

tmfeas tmht Imcstcr ofoe't dekw heytmfea

hbkut. Jhtcr tmc ikevcrshtfke ihlc tk tmc

ihjiujhtfke phpcrs Qfjjfhl mho jcgt ht mfs kwe

mkusc bhid fe ^hxtke.

Qfjjfhl mho bcce tryfea tk rcok

cvcrytmfea grkl lclkry, but hs mc smkwco Eht

ke h gcw phpcrs strcwe hirkss tmc thbjc, mc

mhoe't akttce tmht ghr.

"Qhft h sci," Eht shfo. Mc wcet kut heo

ihlc bhid fe h lklcet heo sct h pfjc kg phpcrs

ke tmc thbjc. Ft whs hjj tmc ihjiujhtfkes. Mc

whs imcwfea sklc lkrc aul. Qfjjfhl sthrco ht

tmc phpcrs wftm hlhzclcet.

Eht spkdc up. "Qcjj, kec tmfea F ihe shy

fs tmhed Ako gkr tmc Dctimcrs. F oke't dekw

wmht hjj fs akfea ke wftm tmksc irhzy pckpjc,

but sklcmkw tmcy lhehaco tk act h mkjo kg

tmcsc! Ahvc tmcl tk lc ke ly why mcrc. F

gkrakt tk tcjj yku."


76/333

12

Qfjjfhl whs ht h jkss gkr wkros. Mc

jkkdco kvcr chim phpcr ihrcgujjy, pkfetfea ht

chim phrt wftm h stubby pceifj thdce grkl mfs

smfrt pkidct.

Jhtcr fe tmc hgtcrekke, hjj tmc phpcrs

wcrc sprcho kut kvcr tmc jhracr thbjc fe tmc

oce, ecxt tk h wfeokw tk afvc sklc akko jfamt.

Qfjjfhl heo @cggrcy wcrc jkkdfea kvcr

cvcrytmfea wftm Eht.

"F scc yku'vc akt tmc Lccey heo tmc

Lfey , but wmcrc's tmc Lkc ;" Eht hrauco,

pkfetfea wftm hektmcr pceifj. @cggrcy whs busy

wftm h bjucprfet.

"Kvcr mcrc," Qfjjfhl shfo, trhifea he

hrrkw ke tmc ktmcr sfoc kg tmc phpcr.


77/333

19

Eht jcheco tk h phac wftm jkts kg bkxcs,

wmfim mho ktmcr bkxcs fe tmcl tmht sklctflcs

irkssco wftm ktmcr bkxcs, wmfim mho cvce

slhjjcr bkxcs fesfoc.

"But tmc Gcc , Gfc heo Gul hrc fe tmc

rfamt pjhic, sk tmc Gkc smkujo bc fe bctwcce.

Heo tmht wkujo cxpjhfe wmy Lkc fs kvcr tmcrc

festcho kg wftm Lccey heo Lfey ," Eht hrauco

mhstfjy.

Qfjjfhl smkkd mfs mcho heo pkfetco wftm

tmc stubby pceifj tk tmc bkxcs.

"Vcs, but Gcc heo Gfc ike`uitfgfco wftm

Gkc afvcs Gul kg ikursc, sk fevcrscjy tmc Gcc ,

Gfc , heo Gul tkactmcr lches tmht Gkc fs tmcrc

flpjfiftjy."


78/333

1?

"Vku smkujo stfjj wrftc tmc Gkc fe," Eht

shfo, orhwfea h jfttjc bkx. "Ekt cvcrykec fs h

acefus ht tmfs lhtm jfdc yku."

"F'jj sprcho ecws kg tmcsc gfeofeas,"

Eht shfo h bft jhtcr hs Qfjjfhl ahtmcrco up

tmc phpcrs bhid fetk h skrt kg sthid. "_mfs

wfjj imheac h jkt kg tmfeas."


79/333

13

Imhptcr Yfx

Jhtcr @cggrcy heo Eht jcgt tk act

suppjfcs. Imcstcr whetco tk iklc hjkea wftm

tmcl, fe Eht's Lusthea, heo tmcy jct mfl.

Ykke tmcy mho jcgt tmc ifty heo ceoco up

ke he clpty ocscrt rkho. Yuoocejy Eht swcrvco

kgg tmc rkho heo ketk h jfttjc ofrt phtm,

ecvcr sjkwfea okwe.


80/333

17

Hgtcr h gcw lfeutcs mc stkppco ecxt tk h

jhrac bcht-up smhid, tmht whs irustco wftm

oust heo sheo kvcr fts wkko. Eht shfo ft whs h

"shgc mkusc", wmhtcvcr tmht whs.

Qmce tmcy wcet fesfoc Imcstcr whs

surprfsco tk scc iurthfes heo whjjphpcr

fesfoc, h jfttjc kutohtco but stfjj fe prctty

akko smhpc.

"Qmht mhvc yku akt fe mcrc;" @cggrcy

shfo, busfecssjfdc. Mc heo Eht wcet kvcr tk h

ofeay wkkoce orcsscr by kec whjj.

"Ymkw lc tmc akkos," @cggrcy spkutco.

"F'jj smkw yku tmc akkos, ly lhe, `ust

yku whtim," Eht shfo, sjfofea kec kg tmc

orhwcrs kpce. H lfst ihlc kut, heo tmcrc wcrc

rkws heo rkws kg bkxcs fe tmc orhwcr, hjj efic

heo ikjo jfdc h grfoac, heo h skgt bjuc jfamt

smfefea kut kg tmc orhwcr.


81/333

11

"Qmht fs ft;" Imcstcr hsdco.

Eht heswcrco, ecvcr jkkdfea hwhy grkl

tmc orhwcr. "@cjjygfsm Brheo Ocsscrt Acjhtfe,

lhoc wftm kejy tmc purcst heo gfecst kg

acjhtfe iklpkueos heo gjhvkr irysthjs. _mfs

phrtfiujhr brheo fs uscguj fe tmc tftrhtfke kg

hlfek hifos. H rcschrimcr stulbjco hirkss tmfs

wmfjc stuid fe _hfwhe wftmkut jhb cqufplcet."

"Yk wmht wfjj ft bc, lhe;" Eht smkt ht

@cggrcy. "Rhspbcrry; Bjucbcrry; Bheheh Jflc;"

"F tmfed tmc gjhvhekfos kg Rhspbcrry

wfjj wkrd bcst wftm tmc spciflce."

"Rhspbcrry ft fs. Gfgty bkxcs; H


82/333

1=

mueorco;" Eht rhlbjco.

"Bcttcr shgc tmhe skrry. F'jj ecco tk

okubjc-imcid tmc rcsujts." @cggrcy shfo.

Eht whs ihrcgujjy puttfea `cjjk bkxcs

fetk h styrkgkhl ikkjcr by tmc okzces. "Qcjj F

dekw tmcrc's h Lrs. Arcce jfvcs fe Ymhoyvfjjc

wmk okcs h irhzy lche OEH spcitrul, kr `ust

hbkut hey imclfstry yku whet. But tmht's h

jfttjc lkrc tmhe kut kg kur why."

Hgtcr jkidfea up tmc shgcmkusc wftm

tmrcc ofggcrcet jkids, tmcy akt bhid fe Eht's

ihr heo swcpt bhid up tmc ofrt phtm ketk tmc

lhfe mfamwhy.

Eht jfdco tmc rhofk ke sklctflcs,

Imcstcr ektfico, heo tmcrc whs sklc auy

whfjfea kvcr wmht skueoco jfdc slhsmco


83/333

16

trhsmihes heo imhfeshws.

"_mc lhimfec fs acttfea tmfrsty, F'jj

ecco tk gfjj up," Eht shfo, heo pujjco fetk h

jfttjc quhfet ahs sthtfke ht h tfey tkwe hjkea

tmc why.

"^ckpjc act tk sjccp chrjy fe slhjj

tkwes," Eht shfo, jkkdfea hrkueo. Imcstcr

jkkdco ht hjj tmc mkuscs, heo ft whs truc.

_mcrc ofoe't sccl tk bc heytmfea tk scc. H

mhrsm wfeo dfidco up tmce, bjkwfea tmfeas hjj

hrkueo wftm h ousty slcjj fe ft.

Imcstcr heo Eht wcet fetk tmc ahs

sthtfke's lfef-lhrt tk phy gkr tmc gucj. Eht

jkkdco ht hjj tmc irhidcr bkxcs ke h ofspjhy

rhid, imcidfea tmcl ihrcgujjy, but tmce wcet

tk tmc grket.


84/333

=>

"Mkw luim," Eht shfo tk tmc ijcrd fesfoc

tmc vcry kjo ahs sthtfke lfef-lhrt. @cggrcy

whs whftfea kutsfoc. _mcrc whs h spchdcr up ke

tmc whjj, but Imcstcr decw ft lust bc brkdce

bcihusc ft whs `ust pjhyfea lkstjy sthtfi,

hjtmkuam ft skueoco jfdc lusfi whs tryfea tk

act kut sklctflcs.

"Kec gfgty," tmc ijcrd shfo, ekt jkkdfea

up. "Jkkds jfdc rchj rhfey wchtmcr," mc shfo

ekw, jkkdfea ht tmcl heo slfjfea vcry mhppfjy.

Eht sthrtco ofaafea fe kec pkidct gkr lkrc

imheac.

_mc ijcrd dcpt slfjfea lkrc heo lkrc heo

lkrc. Mc jhuamco h jfttjc, fe h rkwoy why.

"Archt skea!" mc shfo.

"Mcy, tmcrc's sklctmfea tmcrc," tmc


85/333

=8

ijcrd shfo, pkfetfea tk tmc bhid okkr. Eht

stkppco ofaafea fe mfs pkidct heo jkkdco up.

_mc ijcrd tmce pkfetco hahfe. "Qhet tk

scc ft;" mc jhuamco hahfe.

Eht jkkdco grkzce gkr h lklcet, tmce

wmfspcrco tk Imcstcr, "Ak tk tmc ihr."

Imcstcr mcsfthtco gkr h lklcet. Lhybc

tmc ijcrd mho gkueo sklctmfea. Qmht whs ft;

Lhybc ft whs flpkrthet! Qmht ikujo ft...

Eht akt h mkjo kg Imcstcr heo sthrtco

gkr tmc okkr. "Act tk tmc ihr ! EKQ! "

_mc wfeo mho arkwe gfcric kutsfoc heo

tmrhsmco wfjojy ht Imcstcr's cycs. Mc rhe bhid


86/333

=2

tk tmc ihr, heo Eht wcet hrkueo tk tmc

stccrfea wmccj. @cggrcy mho scce tmcl heo whs

hjrchoy fe mfs scht. Imcstcr akt fe heo

sjhllco tmc okkr, suoocejy brchdfea fetk h

swcht. _mc ceafec sirchlco hjfvc heo Imcstcr

ektfico tmht hjj tmc jfamts fe tmc tkwe wcrc

ke ekw. _mcy rkhrco kut kg tmc ahs sthtfke,

ecvcr sjkwfea.

Imcstcr jkkdco bhid. _mcrc whs rhfe

ghjjfea kvcr tmc tkwe, but ekt kvcr tmcl, heo

sklc tcrrfbjc-jkkdfea ijkuos wcrc sikktfea fe

kvcrmcho. _mcy wcrc swfrjfea wftm gchr heo

gury.

Imcstcr jkkdco hmcho ht tmc clpty rkho

hmcho kg tmcl. "F wkeocr wmht mc whs..."

Imcstcr sthrtco tk shy.


87/333

=9

"Gkract ft," Eht lurlurco.

"But, F wkeocr," mc shfo hahfe.

" F YHFO GKRAC_ F_! " Eht sirchlco ht tmc

tkp kg mfs vkfic. _mc ihr dcpt akfea okwe tmc

mfamwhy. Imcstcr ofoe't dekw wmht tk ok.

_mce Eht sthrtco thjdfea hahfe, fe he

hjlkst trclbjfea why.

"F'jj tcjj yku wmht whs bhid tmcrc,

Imcstcr! F'jj tcjj yku wmht yku ofoe't act tk

scc," Eht shfo, mfs vkfic smhdfea wftm tchrs

heo heacr. "Ft whs tmc ghtc wkrsc tmhe ochtm.

Ecvcr cvce dekw heytmfea mhppceco. _mfed

ykurc stfjj hjfvc. But ykurc ekt."


88/333

=?

Imcstcr muoojco fe tmc bhidscht.

_mc ceafec sirchlco gury ueocr tmcl.

"Yklctmfea's akfe' ke," Eht dcpt ke

shyfea, kec mheo pjhyfea ke tmc stccrfea wmccj

tk dccp tmc ihr ke tmc rkho. "Yklctmfea's

akfea ke lhe, oke't dekw wmht ft fs." Eht

gfsmco fe tmc ajkvc iklphrtlcet wftm kec mheo

heo tkssco sklctmfea tk Imcstcr. Ft whs h

jkidct.

Imcstcr kpceco tmc akjo ijhsp, heo tmcrc

whs h jfttjc pfiturc kg sklckec. Ymc whs h dfo

jfdc Imcstcr, heo slfjco eficjy gkr tmc

pmktkarhpmcr. Imcstcr tmkuamt smc whs dfeo kg

grfceojy, heo tmkuamt smc wkujo lhdc h akko

grfceo. Gkr sklc rchske sccfea tmc slfjc lhoc

mfl mhppy.


89/333

=3


90/333

=7

"_mht's ly efcic Ofhec. Ofo prctty wcjj

fe simkkj. Bcst dfo yku cvcr whet tk lcct."

Imcstcr jkkdco ht tmc pfiturc. "Ofo smc ofc;"

mc shfo.

"Ek, ekt rchjjy. Mho h jkt kg grfceos.

Mho h jkt kg gue tkactmcr, F usco tk orfvc

tmcl pjhics."

"_mce sklctmfea sthrtco mhppcefea.

Yklctmfea akfea ke. F ofoet dekw wmht ft whs,

sk F faekrco ft. But sklctmfea whs imheafea...

F ikujo gccj ft cvcrywmcrc . Oket dekw wmht ft

whs."

Eht whtimco tmc rkho hmcho.

"Kec ohy smc iklcs kvcr, hsdco lc tk

mchr sklc ecw bheo. Ft skueoco jfdc sthtfi.

Qcfro sthtfi. F tkjo mcr tk stkp jfstcefea!

Lhoc mcr lho, rchj lho. Ecvcr hitco tmht why,


91/333

=1

sklc dfos ok but ekt mcr. Ekt Ofhec."

"F oke't dekw wmk jfvcs fe mcr mkusc

ekw. Qmkcvcr ft fs, okcse't cvce jkkd jfdc

Ofhec. Hjj mcr grfceos jkkd `ust jfdc mcr.

Qmkcvcr ft fs tmht tmcy hrc ekw. Kr wmhtcvcr.

Ek kec ihrcs."

Imcstcr jkkdco kut tmc wfeokw ht tmc

sicecry spfjjfea phst. Mc whs ajho tk bc

fesfoc tmc ihr.

Eht dcpt ke.

"F tmfed sklcwmcrc fesfoc, Ofhec fs

stfjj tmcrc sklcwmcrc, lhybc hsjccp. F mkpc

sk."


92/333

==

Imcstcr jkkdco ht tmc pfiturc. _mc afrj

whs stfjj slfjfea. Mc ijksco tmc jkidct.

_mcrc whs sfjceic gkr h wmfjc. @cggrcy

suoocejy jkkdco up.

"Qc'rc akfea tmc wrkea why. Huetfc's

mkusc fs tmht why."

"F dekw!" Eht shfo rkuamjy. "Qc ihe't

act tmrkuam yct. F oke't dekw wmce wcjj act

bhid, uetfj tmht rhfe stkps. Qcjj ak hrkueo

sklcwmcrc."

_mce tmcrc whs sfjceic. Hgtcr h wmfjc,

Imcstcr gcjj hsjccp, h jkea, mhro sjccp.

Imcstcr ofoe't whdc up hahfe uetfj chrjy


93/333

=6

tmc ecxt lkrefea, hgtcr suerfsc. Mc jkkdco kut

tmc wfeokw, heo sicecry whs stfjj rusmfea phst

but ekw ft whs gjht hs ghr hs mc ikujo

pkssfbjy jkkd, heo arccecr.

@cggrcy mho h lhp sprcho kut cvcrywmcrc

fe tmc grket scht. Cvcrytmfea whs qufct. Hgtcr

h wmfjc @cggrcy ektfico mc whs hwhdc.

"Mk mk, Imcstcr, F tmkuamt yku wkujo

ecvcr act up," @cggrcy shfo. _mc lclkrfcs kg

tmc jhst efamt wcrc ofl heo ghoco, heo Imcstcr

whs ajho. Ft whs jfdc tmc phssfea rkho mho

sirubbco tmcl hwhy bcechtm tmc ihr.

Ekw tmcrc whs hektmcr jfttjc tkwe hmcho,

but cvcrytmfea jkkdco efic heo imccry tmcrc,

wftm quhfet smkps tmht mho h gcw pckpjc akfea

fe heo kut heo h pheihdc pjhic. _mcy stkppco

ht h sfaehj jfamt, but ft whs brkdce, heo dcpt


94/333

6>

gjhsmfea rco ht rheokl tflcs, jfdc h gusc whs

akfea bcrscrd.

"Qc'jj `ust mhvc tk orfvc ke tmrkuam,"

@cggrcy shfo.

"Qhft!" Eht shfo. Mc wkujo ok sklctmfea

jfdc ikuetfea ke mfs gfeacrs cvcry tflc tmc

jfamt gjhsmco.

"Ekrsc Ikoc," Eht shfo. "Yklckec's

tryfea tk tcjj us sklctmfea. Fts jfdc Lkrsc

Ikoc, but fe tmc vfdfea hjpmhbct," mc

cxpjhfeco. _mce mc stkppco tmc gfeacr

ikuetfea.

Mc arhbbco sklc phpcr grkl tmc ajkvcbkx

heo wrktc okwe sklc guedy sylbkjs heo stuofco

tmcl. _mc ceafec whs stfjj rueefea h bft, heo

ikjo lkrefea hfr ihlc fe tmrkuam tmc ihr


95/333

68

wfeokws.

Imcstcr wkeocrco wmht tmc jfamt ikujo bc

shyfea. Ft `ust jkkdco jfdc h brkdce ifriuft.

But @cggrcy whs mcjpfea Eht wftm tmc phpcr,

heo ft whs thdfea h jkea tflc.

Eht pujjco tmc ihr sjkwjy kvcr tk h

iurb. Mc dcpt thjdfea wftmkut jkkdfea bhid.

"Imcstcr, F ecco tk hsd yku h ghvkr. Vku

scc tmht wfeokw kvcr tmcrc fe tmht mkusc; Ak

scc wmht tflc tmc ijkid smkws rfamt tmrkuam

tmcrc. Ft smkujo bc he hjhrl ijkid wftm rco

eulbcrs."

Imcstcr akt kut heo strkjjco hjkea tmc

strcct, tryfea tk jkkd ekrlhj. _mce mc jkkdco

fe tmc wfeokw heo shw ft whs 109>.


96/333

62

"Ft shys 109>," mc tkjo tmcl. Eht

tmkuamt gkr h lklcet.

"Qcjj bkys, ft jkkds jfdc wc'rc akfea tk

Ymhoyvfjjc hgtcr hjj!" Eht heekueico.

"F mkpc yku jfdc trccs, Imcstcr. Mcc

mcc!" @cggrcy shfo, turefea tk jkkd ht Imcstcr

wftm ajcc. But tmce mc tmkuamt gkr h scikeo.

"Jkkds jfdc wc wke't bc mklc fe tflc gkr

ofeecr hgtcr hjj. Heo Huetfc whs akfea tk lhdc

pkt rkhst, tkk."

Eht orkvc tmc ihr hmcho okwe tmc strcct,

heo kut kg tmc jfttjc tkwe. Imcstcr jkkdco

hmcho ht tmc mkrfzke, hs Eht gjkkrco ft okwe

tmc fetcrsthtc heo sklc lusfi irhsmco ke tmc

rhofk. _mcy ecvcr jkkdco bhid.


97/333

69

Imhptcr Ycvce

Ht efamt tmcy stkppco ht h lktcj hjkea

tmc why. _mcy mhoe't phidco luim tk uejkho

bcihusc tmcy mhoe't bcce cxpcitfea tk ak

heywmcrc, heo icrthfejy ekt hjj tmc why kut tk

Ymhoyvfjjc. Yk hgtcr thjdfea tk tmc bkrco

ijcrd ht tmc grket ocsd tmcy akt tmc dcys tk h

rkkl, heo Eht rhttjco tmc okkr kpce.


98/333

6?

Ft whs h lkocst rkkl, wftm imchp

gurefsmfeas heo he kjo, ecwjy ijcheco ihrpct.

Hgtcr @cggrcy akt sklc jhlps ke ft jkkdco h

jfttjc bcttcr, Imcstcr gcjt.

"F aucss F smkujo try heo ihjj Huetfc's

mkusc," Eht shfo. "Sejcss tmcy hjrchoy dekw."

Eht akt tmc pmkec heo sht ke tmc sfoc kg

tmc bco. @cggrcy wcet heo jkkdco ht tmc

iurthfes heo tmfeas, wmfim mho guedy phttcres

ke tmcl, sklctflcs wftm grhyco tmrchos fe sklc

pjhics.

"Mcjjk; Mcjjk;" Eht shfo. "Ek, tmfs fs

@kmeske. Lhttmcw @kmeske. Qmht; Qmht; " Eht whs

shyfea, jchefea kvcr tmc pmkec tryfea tk mchr.

"Qcjj tmheds gkr ykur mcjp. Byc."


99/333

63

Eht muea up tmc pmkec. "F ikujoe't act

tmrkuam tk tmcl. _mcy prkbhbjy jcgt tmc mkusc

hjrchoy. F wkujoe't act ikeicreco hbkut ft,"

Eht rclhrdco.

"Yk," mc shfo jcss kggfifhjjy, "Qmk

eccos sklc pfzzh;"

H jfttjc jhtcr Eht heo Imcstcr wcrc ht h

thbjc, wftm sklc ocjfvcrco pfzzh heo tmc

pjhyfea ihros grkl tmc lktcj orhwcr.

"F'jj rhfsc yku hektmcr gfvc lfjjfke,"

Eht shfo, slhidfea ke sklc pfzzh jkuojy.

Imcstcr jkkdco ht mfs ihros, tmrcc twks heo

sklc ghic ihros. @cggrcy whs scttfea tmfeas up

tk ok sklctmfea wftm hjj tmc `cjjk, heo mc

shfo Imcstcr ikujo whtim wmce ft whs hjj


100/333

67

rchoy.

Ft whs dfeo kg gue tk pjhy ihros wftm

Eht. Eht wkujo hjsk hsd Imcstcr hbkut sklc

tmfeas, heo Eht hjwhys scclco tk mhvc sklc

stkrfcs mc wkujo heswcr bhid wftm tk tchim mfl

sklctmfea, imcwfea ke lkrc pfzzh hs mc thjdco,

fe h arftty, arugg why.

_mce Eht wkujo tmrkw sklc lkrc pkthtk

imfps fetk tmc lfoojc heo afvc Imcstcr sklc

tfps ke mkw tk kut-bjugg mfl bcttcr.

"Ekw," Eht shfo, thdfea hektmcr muac

bftc, "Vku smkujoe't mhvc bct sk luim tmcrc.

Ft lhdcs yku jkkd ocspcrhtc."

@cggrcy mho sklc pkts heo phes ke h

jfttjc ihlpfea stkvc, hjj gfjjco wftm bubbjfea

`cjjk lfx.


101/333

61

"F tmfed ft's rchoy," @cggrcy shfo,

wchrfea ikkdfea lftts grkl tmc orhwcr heo

mkjofea he hjulfeul phe.

Imcstcr ihlc tk jkkd. @cggrcy tkkd h

jhrac brusm heo swhbbco jhycrs kg `cjjk fetk

tmc hjulfeul phe. Mc akt kut h pjhstfi bhaafc

tmht mho h jchg. Ft whs tmht jchg tmht Hacet B

mho thdce grkl h busm fe grket kg Mhrowhrc

Ocpkt.

_mcrc wcrc h jkt kg iups heo ajhsscs heo

luas mkkdco tkactmcr wftm lktcj ikggcc strhws,

heo sklc gfjtcrs lhoc kg ehpdfes heo ikggcc

bkxcs heo ektcbkkd phpcrs, wftm tkktmpfids

mkjofea cvcrytmfea up, heo rubbcr bheos

jfedfea ofggcrcet pfcics tkactmcr hirkss tmc

thbjc.


102/333

6=


103/333

66

Cvce tmkuam ft whs lhoc kg sk lhey

krofehry tmfeas, tmc cxpcrflcet jkkdco sk

sdfjjguj heo iklpjcx.

@cggrcy brusmco phrt kg tmc jchg fetk

kec ikggcc lua, heo sthrtco bkfjfea whtcr heo

pkurfea ft grkl kec iup tk tmc ecxt kec.

Gfehjjy, mc orfppco tmc jhst iup ketk

tmc `cjjk vcry ihrcgujjy. @cggrcy mkkdco up h

bhttcry grkl tmc _W rclktc tk cftmcr ceo kg

tmc phe, usfea jfttjc twfstfcs tmht mho lcthj

wfrcs fesfoc.

Imcstcr sthrco ht tmc rhspbcrry `cjjk.

_mc twfstfcs slkdco wftm mcht h jfttjc, but

ektmfea cjsc whs mhppcefea. @cggrcy pkfetco.

Bjhid jfecs sthrtco sprchofea kut hirkss

tmc `cjjk. @cggrcy ikpfco tmcl okwe ketk h

ehpdfe.

"Qmht fs tmht;" Imcstcr shfo wftm


104/333

8>>

wkeocrlcet.

"Ft's h OEH ikoc grkl tmc jchg," @cggrcy

cxpjhfeco.

Eht suoocejy jkkdco up grkl tmc thbjc,

wmcrc mc whs rfggjfea tmrkuam tmc ihros

prkgcssfkehjjy. "Ofo ft wkrd; Rchjjy;! "

@cggrcy whs wfpfea kgg sklc swcht. "Qmk

wkujo jfdc sklc `cjjk; Mcc mcc! "

Eht akt up heo jkkdco fetk tmc phe. Mc

smkkd mfs mcho wftm hlhzclcet.

"Feacefkus..." Eht luttcrco wftm h

jhuam, akfea bhid tk tmc jfttjc ihro thbjc.


105/333

8>8

"F whse't cvce surc lyscjg ft wkujo

wkrd ht hjj!" @cggrcy holfttco. "F oke't dekw

mhjg hs luim hs akko kjo Qfjjfhl. Kr

cspcifhjjy Lrs. Arcce! Ek kec fs surc mkw luim

smc rchjjy ueocrstheos."


106/333

8>2


107/333

8>9

Imhptcr Cfamt

_mcy jcgt hahfe ht ?0>> fe tmc lkrefea.

Eht fesfstco, cxpjhfefea tmht mc eccoco tk

rchim mfs ecxt ikethit pkfet ke tflc.

_mc ihr wcet slkktmjy okwe tmc mfamwhy,

heo Imcstcr jkkdco kut tmc wfeokw keic lkrc,

wkeocrfea h jkt hbkut wmht whs akfea ke wftm

Huetfc, heo akko kjo Seijc Qfjjfhl, heo cvce

mfs phrcets.


108/333

8>?

Mc whs bcafeefea tk gccj h bft mklcsfid,

cvce `ust tk bc bhid ht Qfjjfhl's stuggy mkusc

hahfe, chtfea pfed iheofcs heo prctceofea tmht

mc jfdco tmcl. Mc hjlkst lfssco tmc mhjj

bhtmrkkl cvce! But mc whs acttfea iurfkus tk

scc wmht Ymhoyvfjjc whs jfdc. Ft scclco jfdc

suim he flpkrthet pjhic. Ft mho tk bc.

Hgtcr h jkea, jkea orfvc tmcy lhoc ft tk

h tfey tkwe wftm h vhrfcty kg efic mkuscs.

_mcrc wcrc jkts heo jkts kg trccs, heo

jhwes, heo busmcs heo tmc ktmcr tmfeas tmht

hrc gkueo fe tfey tkwes. Yklc mkuscs mho

jfttjc jhwe krehlcets heo sthtucs. Yklc mho

stugg mheafea ke tmc grket okkr. Yklc kg tmcl

wcrc sjfamtjy jhracr tmhe ktmcrs, but ekt vcry

luim.

Ft whs h vcry efic pjhic tk bc fe

sullcr, Imcstcr tmkuamt, but tmcrc prkbhbjy

whse't tmht luim tk ok uejcss yku rchjjy jkvco

ijflbfea trccs.


109/333

8>3

"Yhy mcjjk tk Ymhoyvfjjc," Eht shfo bhid

tk Imcstcr hs mc swcrvco tmc Lusthea okwe h

tfoy strcct. _mcrc wcrc sklc jchvcs ke tmc

sfocwhjds, but ekt vcry lhey.

"Yk tmfs fs tmc pjhic;" @cggrcy wkeocrco

hjkuo. "_k tmfed F wkujo cvcr scc suim tmfeas

wftm ly kwe cycs!"

Imcstcr jkkdco cvcrywmcrc, cxpcitfea tk

scc sklctmfea lhrvcjkus. But hs luim hs mc

jkkdco fetk cvcry busm heo hrkueo chim gceic,

mc ikujoe't tcjj wmht @cggrcy whs thjdfea

hbkut. _mcrc whse't heytmfea tk scc.

Eht ahvc h jhuam. "Vcs, ekw yku ihe

ueocrstheo wmy ft hjj wkrds sk wcjj," mc shfo

tk @cggrcy wftm h sjy wfed. "Heo ek kec cvce

tmfeds twfic, rfamt;"


110/333

8>7

Imcstcr jkkdco fe hjj kg tmc wfeokws

tmcy wcet phst, heo tmcrc wcrc jkts kg

ikuimcs, sklc gurefturc, sklc phfetfeas,

bkrfea jhlps, but ft hjj jkkdco prctty luim

tmc shlc hs heywmcrc cjsc Imcstcr mho bcce.

_mcy tureco okwe sklc strccts heo stkppco tmc

ihr fe grket kg h mkusc, gfehjjy.

Imcstcr akt kut heo whjdco hrkueo fe h

ifrijc tk dccp mfs jcas grkl bcfea cxtrclcjy

skrc. Mc whs h jfttjc ofzzy hjsk.

_mcrc whs h wmftc lhfjbkx wftm tmc wkro

Arcce prfetco ke ft fe pjhfe, strhfamt

jcttcrs. _mcy wcet up tmc whjdwhy heo Imcstcr

stulbjco hjkea hgtcr tmcl. Eht dekidco jkuojy

ke tmc okkr.

_mc okkr ihrcceco mhjg-kpce, heo h wklhe

stkko bcmfeo ft mhrsmjy. Ymc whse't tmht kjo

ht hjj, but smc mho ohrd, gkaay ajhsscs heo


111/333

8>1

stccj bjhid mhfr, heo whs wchrfea h orhb orcss

wftm uajy arcy okts. But tmce mcr lkutm

skgtceco h tfey bft hs smc rcikaefzco Eht.

"F whse't cxpcitfea vfsftkrs," smc shfo.

Mcr vkfic mho h jfjtfea hiicet, heo sdfppco up

heo okwe tmc wkros brfsdjy.

"But F oke't mhvc h imkfic ekw, ok F;"

tmc wklhe shfo. H gueey afrj ihlc qufidjy okwe

tmc mhjjwhy heo ahvc tmcl h surprfsco jkkd.

Ymc jkkdco h jkt jfdc tmc wklhe cxicpt gkr mcr

vcry grfceojy cxprcssfke heo slhjj sfzc. Ft

jkkdco jfdc smc whs tmc shlc hac hs Imcstcr,

but mc tmkuamt ft whs pkssfbjc smc whse't tmht

slhrt.

"_mfs fs @cggrcy, heo Qfjjfhl's ecpmcw,"

Eht cxpjhfeco murrfcojy.

"Mcjjk," tmc efic afrj shfo. "Qc mhvce't

mho vfsftkrs gkr h wmfjc."


112/333

8>=

_mc wklhe slfjco. "Vcs, tmht fs vcry

truc. F'l Heec Arcce, heo tmfs fs ly ohuamtcr

Yujjy," smc shfo tk Imcstcr.

"Mkw luim okcs mc dekw;" Lrs. Heec Arcce

hsdco, stfjj sthrfea rfamt ht Imcstcr tmrkuam

mcr gkaay ajhsscs, hs fg smc ikujo dekw tmc

heswcrs `ust by jkkdfea ht mfl.

"Jkts," Eht heswcrco. "Qc mho tk thdc

mfl hjkea. _mcrc whse't luim imkfic."

"Oheacr tk Ykifcty ^rktkikj;" tmc wklhe

purrco. "F ofoe't dekw ft whs hiicptco tmht

ghr tk tmc wcst."

"Ek," @cggrcy shfo scrfkusjy, "FWB's.


113/333

8>6

Ijhss E. "

Mcr cxprcssfke ecvcr imheaco hs smc

sthrco ht Imcstcr.

"Qfjjfhl lust mhvc bcce ketk sklctmfea

flpkrthet," smc iketfeuco. "Qc smkujo ak tk

tmc jhbkrhtkry."

_mcy sthrtco whjdfea, heo tmce tureco

okwe h mhjjwhy heo tmrkuam h okkr wftm wmftc

oust ke ft fe sklc pjhics. _mcrc whs wmht

jkkdco jfdc h sfoc ahrhac tmht mho bcce tureco

fetk h sifcetfgfi hrch, wftm sklc thbjcs heo

bceimcs heo jkts heo jkts kg gjhsds. Ocspftc

tmc slhjj hrch's sfzc, cvcrytmfea jkkdco

prfstfec heo cxtrclcjy flpkrthet.

_mcrc wcrc smccts kg wmftc thidco up

kvcr tmc ahrhac whjjs heo cvcrytmfea whs dcpt


114/333

88>


115/333

888

vcry ijche.

"F mhvc sklc OEH spcitrksikpy F ecco yku

tk okubjc-imcid," @cggrcy shfo, gfehjjy.

"F ihe't sphrc tmc tflc," Lrs. Arcce

rclhrdco. "_mc ocjfvcry fs hjlkst mcrc! F mhvc

tk gfefsm sklc tmfeas bcgkrc tmc Ykifcty

Lcctfea tkefamt."

@ust tmce tmcrc whs h dekid ke tmc okkr.

Lrs. Arcce heo Yujjy, mcr efic dfo, wcet tk

heswcr ft. Ykke tmc wklhe ihlc bhid wftm h

tfey jfttjc gjkwcrpkt. Ft whs clpty cxicpt gkr

h jkt kg ocho ofrt.

"F rchjjy lust wkrd ekw," smc shfo

irfspjy, qufidjy lkvfea tmfeas hrkueo ke kec

kg tmc thbjcs. Yujjy wcet heo put ke sklc

akaajcs heo h sifcetfgfi hprke heo mcjpco mcr


116/333

882

lktmcr wftm tmc tmfeas, akfea grkl kec pjhic

tk tmc ktmcr heo bhid hahfe.

"F ecco tk act tk ly ecxt ikethit pkfet

heymkw," Eht rhlbjco. "Jct's ak."

Imcstcr gkjjkwco @cggrcy heo Eht kut tk

tmc mhjjwhy heo tmc grket okkr, ekt cvce surc

wmcrc tk ak ecxt.

"Vku'jj mhvc tk sthy sklcwmcrc gkr h

wmfjc," @cggrcy tkjo Imcstcr, hs Eht whvco tk

tmcl heo akt fe mfs Lusthea. "Fe tmc lchetflc

F'jj mhvc tk ak scc sklc pckpjc. Ekw tmht F'l

fe Ymhoyvfjjc, F lust lhdc tmc lkst kg ft!"

Eht's ihr rkhrco tk jfgc h gcw tflcs,

heo skke cekuam mc whs akec. Imcstcr whtimco

hs tmc Lusthea wcet okwe tmc strcct heo


117/333

889

ofshppchrco hrkueo tmc ikrecr.

@cggrcy whjdco wftm mfl tk hektmcr

strcct, ke tmc kppksftc sfoc kg tmc bjkid.

Imcstcr ikujo scc mkw smhoy ft whs cvcrywmcrc,

sk kg ikursc tmc tkwe whs ihjjco Ymhoyvfjjc!

_mc trccs wcrce't hjj tmht thjj, but

tmcy mho jkea brheimcs heo lhoc cvcrytmfea

efic heo ikkj ueocr tmc mkt sue, tmht whs

acttfea whrlcr cvcry scikeo.

@cggrcy wcet heo dekidco ke hektmcr

okkr, heo h mkuscwfgc kpceco ft, wchrfea sklc

ekrlhj ijktmcs heo jkkdfea jfdc smc whs busy

wftm h jkt kg imkrcs. Imcstcr tmkuamt smc

ikujo mhvc bcce Ijckphtrh fe he kjo lkvfc fg

smc mho whetco tk.

"Mcy, Lrs. Arcce whets tk dekw fg

Imcstcr mcrc ihe sthy h gcw lfeutcs," @cggrcy

cxpjhfeco. "Mc's vfsftfea grkl hektmcr ifty.


118/333

88?

F'jj mhvc tk cxpjhfe jhtcr!

_mc mkuscwfgc jkkdco jfdc smc ofoe't

rchjjy ueocrstheo.

_mfeas mhvc bcce acttfea mcitfi jhtcjy

heo wc ofoe't cvce pjhe ke iklfea mcrc."

"Km, kdhy!" smc shfo eficjy but qufidjy,

fe h gkrcfae why, jfdc smc rchjjy whs grkl h

mfstkrfihj lkvfc. "F'jj ak tcjj Oheey. Oke't

wkrry hbkut ft."

Imcstcr's h akko dfo. Mc wke't bc hey

trkubjc, @cggrcy shfo.

Imcstcr jkkdco hrkueo fesfoc tmc ecw

mkusc. @cggrcy whs hjrchoy akec. Ft whs ekt

tmht ofggcrcet grkl mfs kwe mkusc, but tmc

slcjj whs sk ofggcrcet heo mc ofoe't dekw

wmcrc hey kg tmc okkrs wcet tk.


119/333

883

_mc Ijckphtrh lkl ihjjco tk sklckec heo

h sjfamtjy kjocr bky ihlc okwe h sthfrihsc. Mc

whs mkjofea h iklfi bkkd heo ft jkkdco jfdc mc

whs tryfea tk dccp rchofea.

"Jkkd hgtcr mfl gkr wmfjc, wkujo yku;

Mfs ehlc fs Imcstcr. Mc's vfsftfea. Ft's dfeo

kg flpkrthet."

_mc ktmcr dfo ekooco scrfkusjy heo tmce

jkkdco up ht Imcstcr grkl tmc iklfi. Imcstcr

whse't surc wmht tk shy.

"Mcy. F'l Oheey," tmc kjocr dfo shfo, fe

h lkrc grfceojy why. "Vku jfdc iklfi bkkds;

F'jj smkw yku ly wmkjc ikjjcitfke. Iklc ke!"


120/333

887


121/333

881

Imhptcr Efec

Imcstcr wcet up tmc sthfrs. Cvcrytmfea

fe tmc mkusc whs ijche heo oustco heo tmc

whjjs wcrc h wmftc-fsm ikjkr. _mc ktmcr dfo's

rkkl whs dfeo kg jfdc Imcstcr's kejy jhracr.


122/333

88=

Imcstcr dcpt jkkdfea tmrkuam hjj kg

Oheey's ceojcss iklfi bkkds, wmfim wcrc

krahefzco fe lhey whys, heo mc cvce rcikaefzco

sklc kg tmcl. Ft scclco jfdc tmcrc whs hjwhys

lkrc tk scc. _mcrc wcrc cvce sklc ikpfcs kg

"Ypuolhe" grkl lhey ychrs hak. _mcrc wcrc

bkxcs heo bkxcs kg tmcl!

Mc wkeocrco mkw Oheey mho akttce sk

lhey! Ft whs gue tk thjd hbkut mfs ghvkrftc

fssucs, heo Oheey whs h jkt eficr tmhe Imcstcr

mho tmkuamt mc wkujo bc.

"Yk yku dekw Lrs. Arcce;" Oheey hsdco,

sfttfea ke tmc sfoc kg mfs bco heo tkssfea h

bhjj hrkueo.

"Ekt rchjjy," whs hjj Imcstcr ikujo shy.

F'vc ecvcr bcce mcrc.


123/333

886

Hgtcr tmht tmcy wcet fe tmc bhidyhro heo

jkkdco ht sklc tkkjs fe tmc smco, kr trfco tk

mft sklc bhjjs hrkueo heo wmhid krheacs wftm h

bht. Ft whs dfeo kg gue tk `ust rcjhx gkr h

wmfjc hgtcr hjj tmc tmfeas tmht mho bcce

mhppcefea hjj tmc tflc. Imcstcr bcahe tk gccj

jfdc tmfeas wkujo bc kdhy hgtcr hjj.

But tmc wchtmcr whs mkt heo Imcstcr

stfjj wkeocrco wmcrc @cggrcy whs ht. Mkpcgujjy

ft whse't heytmfea oheacrkus! Ft whs acttfea

dfeo kg jhtcr heo mc mhoe't iklc bhid yct cvce

keic. Fg mc ecvcr cvce ihlc bhid, tmce wmht

wkujo mhppce;

Oheey's lkl ihlc kut tmc bhid okkr heo

ycjjco tk mfl. Ymc whs orcssco lkrc fe h

busfecss why tmhe bcgkrc.

"F'l akfea tk h tkwe mhjj lcctfea, sk


124/333

82>

yku ak sthy ht kjo Lfsscs LiArccry's mkusc,

kdhy; Heo thdc Imcstcr, wfjj yku; Ft's `ust

bcttcr tmht why."

"Yurc, rfamt," Oheey shfo, ekoofea. Mc

jkkdco kvcr ht Imcstcr.

"_mc Ymhoyvfjjc Ahrocefea Ykifcty lccts

tmcrc tkefamt. F tmfed ft's tkefamt. Ft's ekt

sk bho. Vku'jj jfdc ft!" mc shfo

ceikurhafeajy.

Ft ofoe't thdc jkea tk whjd tk Lrs.

LiArccry's, kr wmhtcvcr tmc ehlc whs.

Imcstcr ikujo tcjj wmfim mkusc ft whs

prkbhbjy akfea tk bc bcgkrc tmcy cvce akt

tmcrc, tmkuam. _mc mkusc whs phfetco h ghoco,

ohrd kjfvc ikjkr heo mho h jkt kg vcry krehtc

heo rhrc gjkwcr busmcs fe grket, heo he krheac


125/333

828

trcc tmht whs gujj kg krheacs, heo h irhidco

gkuethfe tmht whs arkwfea kvcr wftm vfecs heo

fvy.

Ft jkkdco jfdc Lrs. LiArccry wkujo bc ht

jchst cfamty ychrs kjo, grkl tmc why tmc mkusc

whs, Imcstcr hjrchoy decw. _mcrc wcrc hjsk

sklc busmcs trfllco fetk rkueo smhpcs, heo h

ahroce sthtuc smhpco jfdc h imcss pfcic, heo

hektmcr sthtuc kg h oka, heo cvcrytmfea whs

vcry prfl heo krocrjy.

_mcrc whs hjsk h ektc stuid ketk tmc

grket okkr0 "Ymhoyvfjjc Ahrocefea Ykifcty -

709> smhrp! ". Lkst jfdcjy tmcrc whs ihbbhac

heo strheac bches gkr ofeecr. Imcstcr ofoe't

dekw heytmfea hbkut ahrocefea, heywhys.

Mkpcgujjy @cggrcy wkujo dekw wmcrc tk gfeo mfl

bcgkrc jkea!

_mc okkr kpceco heo Lfsscs LiArccry whs

tmcrc, jkkdfea pjchshet heo harcchbjc heo kjo,

heo smkrt. Ymc jct tmcl fe. _mc mkusc slcjjco


126/333

822

jfdc wcfro bches heo ihbbhac, `ust jfdc

Imcstcr mho tmkuamt ft wkujo. Mc mkpco tmcy

wkujo ht jchst mhvc irhidcrs gkr tmc lcctfea

heo lhybc sklc ktmcr sehids.

Ktmcr pckpjc hjsk dekidco ke tmc okkr

heo ihlc fe. _mcrc whs h irhzy kjo lhe wftm

phtimcs kg busmy, wfjo mhfr heo h thidy suft.

Hgtcr mfl sklc jhoy ihlc fe, wchrfea

jkuo smhwjs kvcr mcr gjhlbkyhet orcss ikvcrco

wftm tkk lhey brfamt ikjkrs.

_mce tmcrc whs h jfbrhrfhe-jkkdfea wklhe

wmk whs dfeo kg smy heo sho kr sklctmfea.

Gfehjjy, ht prcifscjy 709> ^L (Imcstcr

whs jkkdfea ht tmc ijkid sk mc decw), tmcrc

whs h stcre rhp ke tmc grket okkr, heo

cvcrykec wcet qufct gkr h lklcet. Lfsscs

LiArccry kpceco tmc okkr hahfe.

"Qcjiklc, wcjiklc, Lrs. Arcce. Heo


127/333

829

Yujjy! Ft fs hjwhys sk akko tk scc yku," tmc

kjo ahrocecr shfo swcctjy.

Lfsscs LiArccry rhfsco h wrfedjco mheo,

heo cvcrykec jkkdco ht mcr.

"F wkujo ekw jfdc tk bcafe tmfs lcctfea

kg tmc Ymhoyvfjjc Ahrocefea Ykifcty!"

Cvcrykec shfo "mkkrhy!" kr "hjrfamt!" kr

yhy!. Cxicpt Lrs. Arcce.

Heo tmce Lrs. LiArccry sthrtco h

ofsiussfke hbkut ahrocefea heo okfea tmfeas

wftm pkttco pjhets heo mkw luim skfj tk put fe

h `hr tk dccp tmc pjhets arkwfea heo wmht dfeo

kg `hr tk usc.

_mcy wcrc fetcrcstfea stkrfcs ht gfrst,

but Imcstcr ofoe't dekw wmht tmcy wcrc thjdfea

hbkut. Cvcrykec thjdco heo thjdco heo thjdco


128/333

82?

hbkut mkw tk dccp tmcfr pjhets mchjtmy heo

lhdc tmcl arkw jkts kg jchvcs.

Imcstcr decw fg mc ofoe't act bhid tk

Oheey's mkusc skke, lkst jfdcjy @cggrcy

wkujoe't dekw wmcrc tk gfeo mfl.

Lfsscs LiArccry hjsk wcet ke heo ke gkr

suim h jkea tflc hbkut dccpfea hwhy ofggcrcet

dfeos kg buas wftm bhdfea skoh, heo jkts kg

ktmcr jfttjc tfps. _mht grfceojy afrj, ehlco

Yujjy kr sklctmfea, whs sfttfea hirkss tmc why

ecxt tk mcr lktmcr, jfstcefea pkjftcjy tk

cvcry wkro.

Imcstcr jkkdco hrkueo ht tmc ikggcc

thbjc heo tmc ofefea rkkl thbjc tk scc fg

tmcrc whs h irhidcr pjhtc. Lhybc ft wkujo mhvc

imccsc. But tmcrc whs ektmfea. Ekt cvce julpy

imkikjhtcs. Ekt cvce sklc ihbbhacs!

Ekw tmc smy jfbrhrfhe whs tcjjfea h

stkry hbkut mcr tujfps, heo mkw tmcy hjlkst


129/333

823

wfjtco. Ymc jhuamco hbkut ft, heo tmc ktmcrs

ofo tkk, heo tmce smc tkjo cvcrykec cvce lkrc

hbkut tmc tujfps!

Yklckec whs smkwfea h bfa ohfsy tmcy mho

pjhetco fe he kjo skoh bkttjc.

"...heo ^rkgcsskr Ihbbhac," Lrs.

LiArccry shfo suoocejy, "mkw fs ykur wkrd

akfea;"

_mc irhzy kjo lhe wftm wfjo mhfr stkko

up, jkkdfea vcry pjchsco tk bc ektfico. Mc whs

wchrfea he cxtrclcjy uajy suft tmht mho

phtimcs fe sklc pjhics. _mcrc whs h archsy pce

stfidfea kut kg kec pkidct.

"F `ust ecco lkrc tflc! " mc ocijhrco, hs

fg mc whs afvfea h vcry flpkrthet heo

mfstkrfihj spccim. _mcrc whs h sfam kg ofslhy.


130/333

827

^rkgcsskr Ihbbhac ahvc he ceojcss,

lcheocrfea thjd hbkut sklctmfea ihjjco

^jhetklctry, heo usco h jkt kg rchjjy bfzhrrc

lhtm wkros. Imcstcr ikujo scc tmc ktmcr pckpjc

jkkdco ikegusco hjsk.

^rkgcsskr Ihbbhac dcpt phifea bhid heo

gkrtm hirkss tmc slhjj jfvfea rkkl hahfe heo

hahfe, gjhfjfea mfs mheos cvcrywmcrc tk smkw

cquhtfkes.

"Vku ihe't `ust gkric ^jhetklctry tk

wkrd! _mc pjhets oke't jfdc ft!" mc pjchoco

wftm tmc sdy hbkvc.

Mc dcpt ke rhetfea heo smhdfea mfs

gfeacr ht tmcl heo stklpfea hrkueo heo pujjfea

mfs mhfr orhlhtfihjjy tk lhdc mfs pkfet.

Yklckec shfo, "Fg tmc cquhtfkes hrc ekt

rchoy yct, tmce wc'jj mhvc tk put kgg tmc

ocjfvcry gkr h wmfjc! Qc ihe't ok tmht!"


131/333

821

Ymc whs vcry upsct. Ymc whs tmc kec

orcssco fe tkk lhey ikjkrs, wftm h brfamt

smhwj heo pfed smkcs heo thidy chrrfeas.

Cvcrykec harcco wftm mcr, heo shfo sklc lkrc

tmfeas hjj ht keic.

"^htfceic hjwhys kbthfes wmht ektmfea

cjsc ihe," Lrs. Arcce's gfrl vkfic suoocejy

shfo, heo cvcrykec ihjlco okwe tk jfstce. Ymc

mho bcce rchofea grkl h slhjj, ohrd bkkd tmht

smc mcjo fe kec mheo. Lrs. Arcce ijksco ft

hahfe heo put ft fe h mfooce pkidct. Imcstcr

whs ajho mc ikujoe't scc mcr cycs tmrkuam tmc

gkaay ajhsscs.

Yklckec wmfspcrco tk Imcstcr, "_mht whs

grkl tmc Yflpjc Bkkd!" Ft whs tmc vcry

ikjkrguj jhoy, wmk whs sfttfea ecxt tk mfl.


132/333

82=


133/333

826

"Ymc mhs ft hjj lclkrfzco, but stfjj

dccps ft mheoy!" Heo tmce smc dfeo kg afaajco

heo put kec gfeacr ke mcr lkutm scirctjy.

Lrs. Arcce iketfeuco. "_mc ocjfvcry mhs

hrrfvco, heo F mhvc hjlkst gfefsmco ly

rcschrim ke tmc imclfihjs."

But tmce cvcrykec whs thjdfea hbkut

tujfps heo `hrs hahfe. _mc prkpcr trfllfea kg

trccs, mkw tk put gcrtfjfzcr ke h gjkwcr bco,

kr cvce mkw luim tk whtcr h ahrocefh.

Imcstcr wkeocrco heo wkeocrco wmy tmcy

wkujo ihrc sk luim hbkut thdfea ihrc kg tmcfr

pjhets. Hgtcr hjj, tmcrc whs sklc dfeo kg

flpkrthet ocjfvcry, heo imclfihjs heo

cquhtfkes tmht wcrc bcfea gfefsmco!


134/333

89>

Ekw tmc ikjkrguj jhoy ecxt tk mfl whs

thjdfea sk jkuojy wftm tmc jfbrhrfhe hbkut

ahroces fe heifcet Arccic. Yujjy whs cvce

jhuamfea wftm ^rkgcsskr Ihbbhac.

Imcstcr jkkdco hrkueo ht hjj tmc pckpjc.

Ft whs strheac tk scc tmcl hjj tkactmcr mcrc,

hs fg sklckec mho imksce rheokl strheacrs tk

gfjj up tmc rkkl, jfdc pckpjc stheofea

tkactmcr fe h subwhy sthtfke kr sklctmfea.

"Ft fs ekw tflc tk ceo tmc lcctfea,"

Lrs. LiArccry shfo suoocejy, heo cvcrykec

qufctco okwe, cvce tmc ikjkrguj jhoy ecxt tk

Imcstcr.

_mce gkr ek rchske, Lrs. LiArccry

sthrtco sfeafea fe mcr kjo vkfic. Ft whs h

sjkw, orchry myle, fe h gkrcfae jheauhac, dfeo

kg sho.

_mce h gcw ktmcrs `kfeco fe, fe h qufct

why. Heo tmce tmc rcst kg tmc pckpjc. Ht jhst


135/333

898

cvce ^rkgcsskr Ihbbhac whs sfeafea ft, heo

Lrs. Arcce, heo tmc ikjkrguj jhoy, heo Yujjy.

Ft whse't sk bho, Imcstcr tmkuamt hgtcr

h wmfjc. Ft mho scclco jfdc suim h bkrfea kjo

tuec, but tmce hs cvcrykec shea ft tmc ektcs

bcihlc lkrc hjfvc heo cvcrykec's vkfics ihlc

tkactmcr hs kec smfefea skea, heo chim vkfic

lhoc tmc skea ofggcrcet heo bcttcr.

_mce sjkwjy ft ceoco heo hjj tmc vkfics

orkppco hwhy, but hjj tmc ektcs stfjj muea fe

tmc hfr.

Imcstcr jkkdco hrkueo, heo ek kec shfo

heytmfea, heo ft whs vcry qufct, but sklcmkw

ek kec eccoco tk shy sklctmfea.

Mc gcjt jfdc mc whs mklc, fe h strheac

why, h mklc mc mho gkrakttce hbkut h jkea tflc

hak, h mklc mc mho ecvcr bcce tk bcgkrc. Cvce

tmkuam tmcy wcrc hjj sk ofggcrcet, ft whs jfdc

tmcy wcrce't strheacrs heylkrc, tmcy wcrc hjj


136/333

892

tkactmcr gkr keic.

Yklckec cjsc dekidco ke tmc okkr, heo

Lrs. LiArccry jct tmcl fe. Ft whs @cggrcy.

"Ykrry F'l jhtc," mc shfo, tmce jkkdco

kvcr ht Imcstcr heo slfjco. "Qmht mhvc F

lfssco; Mcc mcc!"

"Jkts," shfo Lrs. LiArccry. "But wc

mhvce't rciftco _mc Ctcrehj Gjhlc yct. Iklc,

sft okwe pjchsc!"

_mce @cggrcy sht ke h iusmy gkktstkkj.

Cvcrykec sthrtco h efic pkcl, fe h sfea-skeay

why. Imcstcr tmkuamt ft whs dfeo kg prctty.


137/333

899

"Qc hrc iheojcs, lhey dfeos,

wftmfe kur mchrts heo fe kur lfeos,

sk lhy wc smfec `ust jfdc tmc sue,

heo wftm kur burefea wc hrc kec!

Ctcrehj Gjhlc, yku ahvc us jfgc,

wftm ykur kwe gfrcy shirfgfic,

heo hs yku ajkw fesfoc kur mchrts

chim kec bciklcs `ust wmk tmcy hrc!

Ctcrehj Gjhlc, wmht ihe rcpjhic ykur

kejy jfamt,

Ctcrehj Gjhlc, ykur gfrc sk wkeocrguj

heo brfamt!"


138/333

89?


139/333

893

Imhptcr _ce

Hgtcr tmc Ymhoyvfjjc Ahrocefea Ykifcty

lcctfea whs kvcr, Imcstcr heo @cggrcy sthyco

ht Lrs. Arcce's mkusc. Fe tmc lkrefea mc wkdc

up heo wcet okwesthfrs. But mc ikujoe't cvce

gfeo heykec. Hgtcr stulbjfea hrkueo mc gkueo

mflscjg fe tmc jhbkrhtkry hahfe.


140/333

897

Ft jkkdco jfdc Lrs. Arcce mho bcce

wkrdfea gkr h jkea tflc. Yujjy whs whtimfea h

bkwj tmht bubbjco heo bkfjco, wchrfea tmc

akaajcs heo he hprke. Yujjy jkkdco up mhppfjy

wmce Imcstcr ihlc fe.

"Vku smkujo gfeo sklc whggjcs jcgt fe

tmc dftimce," Lrs. Arcce shfo fe mcr lcjkofi

hiicet, heo tmce wcet bhid tk mcr wkrd.

Hgtcr Imcstcr mho sklc whggjcs, @cggrcy

gfehjjy wkdc up heo mho sklc tkk. _mcy wcet

kut heo okwe tmc sfocwhjd hahfe, fe tmc efic

lkrefea hfr. Ft whse't tkk mkt yct, heo hjj

tmc pjhets wcrc grcsm heo arcce.

@cggrcy shfo sklctmfea hbkut sccfea

^rkgcsskr Ihbbhac.

"F'vc hjwhys bcce h ghe kg mfs wkrd,

Imcstcr. Ekw F ihe hituhjjy scc ft up ijksc!"


141/333

891

Ykke cekuam tmcy lhoc ft tk h orhb the

mkusc ht tmc ceo kg h strcct, hgtcr akfea

hjkea gkr h wmfjc, mhrojy cvcr sccfea heykec.

_mc prkgcsskr kpceco tmc okkr hgtcr h wmkjc

lfeutc kg tmcl whftfea kutsfoc. H slcjj kg

oust heo wkko ijchecr ihlc kut grkl fesfoc,

heo mc whs wchrfea tmc shlc uajy suft hs

bcgkrc.

_mcy sht fe h rkkl fesfoc ^rkgcsskr

Ihbbhac's mkusc tmht mho bcce tureco fetk h

dfeo kg ijhssrkkl, wftm vcry wkre bjhidbkhros

heo imhfrs. _mcrc whs h jkt kg imhjd oust kr

sklctmfea cvcrywmcrc. Ft mho bcce hektmcr dfeo

kg rkkl bcgkrc, Imcstcr ikujo tcjj, grkl bfts

kg pjuas heo wfrcs fe tmc whjjs.

_mcrc wcrc sklc wcfro jkkdfea sylbkjs

orhwe ke kec kg tmc bjhidbkhros, heo prcifsc


142/333

89=


143/333

896

sdctimcs kg pjhets wftm ofggcrcet phrts

jhbcjco.

"Ghsifehtfea," @cggrcy lulbjco hs mc

jkkdco ht h vcry octhfjco imhjd orhwfea kg h

tujfp. _mcrc wcrc p

the house on the corner

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