The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

8/9/2019 The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

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8/9/2019 The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

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]gj KhlufajhtSi`ktkls ks riung dir Fbmksih N`jhh kts mjbm`y

Ay5B`tihNbhsoy

Fbmksih Fbmmy N`jhh ks tgj lihtrivjrskb`

fbyir id tgj ajbutkdu` tiurkst tiwh id \bhtb

Qktb, Lb`kdirhkb. @ksb ]rulli`k, gjr drkjhm bhm

trjbsurjr id gjr `bst lbfpbknh, gbs ajjh

bamultjm. ]gj ih`y tgkhn `jdt bt tgj sljhj idtgj lrkfj ks b sgilokhn l`ujb l`uj wktg

Fbmmys hbfj ih kt. Bhm tgj nbfj ajnkhs. \gj

jfabros ih b mjspjrbtj guht dir bhswjrs,

dkhmkhn firj sgilokhn l`ujs kh b mbhnjrius

nbfj tgj bamultir wbhts ti p`bywktg

Fbmmy.

@jbrh Firj |Uihmjrvbh ih \lrkam |Uihmjrvbh.lif

8/9/2019 The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

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B`si ay B`tih Nbhsoy

Mbro Fiih

]gj Srimkny

E.M. \tbhtih Fystjrkjs

Tbhksgjm

B \gkp Sissjssjm

Iut id ]kfj

8/9/2019 The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

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8/9/2019 The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

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UIHMJQTBH

]gj Khlufajht

Lipyrkngt 133= ay B`tih @. Nbhsoy

Qjqujsts dir khdirfbtkih sgiu`m aj bmmrjssjm ti5

Uihmjrvbh, Nrbhm Qbpkms, Fklgknbh =;:7-3-

8/9/2019 The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

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]gjrj wjrj dkvj id us, diur fjfajrs id tgj liuhlk` bhm fj, FbyirFbmksih N`jhh. K sj`mif usj tgj hbfj Fbmksih jxljpt ih `jnb`milufjhts bhm jvjh tgjh ih`y wktg rj`ultbhlj. Fy dbtgjr ti`m fj

kt wbs b niim hbfj, strihn, mjlkskvj, bhm fbejstkl. Kt wbs fy fks-

dirtuhj ti aj airh wgk`j fy dbtgjr, b gkstiry pridjssir bt tgj Zhk-

vjrskty id \bhtb Abrabrb, wbs rjbmkhn b akinrbpgy ih Ebfjs

Fbmksih. Mbm nit b niim rjbm? K wbs stulo wktg tgj hbfj. Kf tgbho-

du` tgbt gj wbsht rjbmkhn b aki id Z`yssjs \. Nrbht. Kt tiio yjbrs id

njht`j hbnnkhn, aut hiw jvjh gj lb``s fj Fbmmy.

\bhtb Qktb ks tgj p`blj K lb`` gifj, bs mi riung`y 21:,333 itgjr

pjip`j. B sfb`` lkty ay fist stbhmbrms, kt ks brnj jhiung ti privkmj

jvjrytgkhn b pjrsih hjjms5 gispktb`, li``jnj, hklj gifjs, wkmj

strjjts, bhm bh jyj-pippkhn vkjw. @ilbtjm ih tgj iljbh sgirj, jkngty

fk`js hirtg id @is Bhnj`js bhm eust siutg id \bhtb Abrabrb, \bhtb

Qktb skts `koj b ejwj` bnbkhst tgj usub``y ariwh libstb` fiuhtbkhs.

]gj bzurj Sblkdkl wbtjrs n`kttjr kh tgj suh`kngt, lii` tgj lkty kh tgj

mby, bhm privkmj b wbrf a`bhojt id bkr kh tgj jvjhkhn. Jvjry mby ks

pklturj-pistlbrm fbtjrkb`. ]i tiurksts \bhtb Qktb ks Jmjh? ti tgj rjst

id us kt ks gifj.

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8/9/2019 The Incumbent by Alton Gansky, Excerpt

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]gj Lgbfajr id Liffjrlj prifitjs iur tiwh bs Lb`kdirhkbs

Gjbvjh. Ih fist mbys K bnrjj? ih itgjrs K lbht gj`p aut hitklj tgbt

b `ktt`j gj`` iizjs blriss iur airmjrs.^gjh K gbm `jdt fy iddklj ti fboj fy wby ti tgj liuhlk` lgbf-

ajr, tgj suh gbm b`rjbmy sjt bhm b s`ba id nrby l`iums gbm ri``jm kh,

vjk`khn tgj stbrs bhm fiih. Bh jbsy mrkzz`j gbm ajnuh ti strjbo fy

wkhmiw, sjhmkhn skhuius vjkhs id wbtjr liurskhn drif gjbmjr ti

sk``. K gipjm tgks wbs hit bh ifjh.

Kvj ajjh tgj lktys fbyir dir twi yjbrstwi lgb``jhnkhn yjbrs.K bf tgj tiwhs dkrst j`jltjm fbyir. Ajdirj tgj j`jltkih twjhty-diur

fihtgs bni, tgj fbyir wbs sj`jltjm drif skttkhn liuhlk` fjfajrs,

bs wktg fist lktkjs iur skzj. @bst j`jltkih, giwjvjr, wbs mkddjrjht.

Lbhmkmbtjs rbh bt `brnj, tgj dkrst tkfj skhlj 27:2, wgjh iur tiwh

khlirpirbtjm. Kt wbs b git rblj, du`` id lihtjstbhts, jblg ljrtbkh tgjy

wjrj tgj ajst pjrsih dir tgj eia bhm tgbt bhy itgjr lbhmkmbtj wiu`m

`jbm tgj lkty khti uttjr rukh bhm mjnrbmbtkih. K wih. K miht ohiw

giw, aut wgjh tgjy liuhtjm tgj `bst ab``it, fy hbfj wbs ih tip.

Sjrgbps kt wbs ajlbusj K gbm b`rjbmy sjrvjm twi diur-yjbr tjrfs ih

tgj liuhlk`. Ir fbyaj kt wbs ajlbusj K wbs tgj ih`y wifbh kh b lih-

tjst id skx wbhhb-ajs.

]wi id tgj itgjr lbhmkmbtjs sbt bt tgj ajhlg wktg fj. @brry u,

bh blliuhtbht id Lgkhjsj mjsljht, gbm lifj kh tgkrm. Gj wbs b nrb-

lkius `isjr bhm tgj `jbst pria`jfbtkl fjfajr id tgj lkty nivjrh-

fjht. @brry gbm spjht gks lgk`mgiim kh ]jxbs bhm lbfj ti \bhtb

Qktb wgjh gks dbtgjrs dkrf trbhsdjrrjm gkf. Km ohiwh @brry dir skx

yjbrs aut stk`` strunn`jm ti rjlihlk`j gks Bskbh dblj wktg gks siutg-

jrh blljht.

Eih Bm`jr gbm b`si diungt gbrm dir tgj sjbt. Gj gbm fihjy bhm

iutspjht fj ih tgj lbfpbknh twi-ti-ihj. B `bhoy bttirhjy, gj

trjbtjm tgj lbfpbknh `koj tgj lrkfkhb` lbsjs gj trkjm ajdirj `ilb`

eumnjs. Gj bttblojm tgj itgjr lbhmkmbtjs wktg tgj d`bkr bhm eiy id b

]gj Khlufajht

7

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guhtjr a`bstkhn pgjbsbhts iut id tgj soy. Gj pbkm `ktt`j bttjhtkih ti

fj, bssufkhn K wbs tgj mbro girsj id tgj nriup. Gj sgrjmmjm piir

@brry.]gjy wjrj ba`j ti rjfbkh ih tgj liuhlk`, skhlj tgjkr sjbts wjrj

hit up dir j`jltkih dir bhitgjr twi yjbrs. ]gbt wbs twi yjbrs bni.

Aitg fjh wjrj ihlj bnbkh prjsskhn tgj d`jsg, fbokhn prifksjs, bhm

`jvj`khn bllusbtkihs.

]gj lgbfajr wbs qukjt bhm bttjhmbhlj spbrsj. ^gjh lihtri-

vjrskb` fbttjrs brj ih tgj bnjhmb, tgj mbro`y pbhj`jm gb``s lbh gi`mup ti 1:3 bnktbtjm, bhm idtjh `ium, lktkzjhs. ]gks hkngt wbs `iw-ojy.

]gj bnjhmb wbs riutkhj, wktg ih`y ihj ktjf id auskhjss tgbt wbs

l`isj ti lihtjhtkius5 bh bppjb` dir b lihmktkihb` usj pjrfktdir b `ilb`

lgurlg tgbt wbhtjm ti fivj ti b hjw sktj. Diur pjip`j, tgrjj fjh

bhm ihj wifbh, sbt tinjtgjr l`isj ti tgj bks`j. ]gjy wjrj wgkspjr-

khn ti jblg itgjr. K bssufjm tgjy rjprjsjhtjm tgj lgurlg. Blriss tgj

bks`j tgbt aksjltjm tgj lgbfajr sbt \uj Gi`tih, lgbkrpjrsih id tgj

S`bhhkhn Liffksskih. \gj wbs tgjrj ti spjbo bnbkhst tgj bppjb`.

\bhtb Qktb gbs ih`y ihj hjwspbpjr, b mbk`y lb``jm tgjQjnkstjr.

]gjy gbm sjht ihj rjpirtjr, wgi sbt tgrjj riws ablo, gjbm kh gbhm.

Gj `iiojm rjbmy ti mizj. Gbrm mby bt tgj lifputjr, K bssufjm.

K `jt fy jyjs mrkdt ti tgj ablo wb`` id tgj lgbfajr. Kt dbljs tgj

lihlrjtj p`bzb bhm diuhtbkh tgbt nrjjts bhy id tgj pua`kl wgi fboj

tgjkr wby ti tgj sjbt id tgjkr lkty nivjrhfjht. ]gj `kngts id tgj

lgbfajr rjd`jltjm idd tgj n`bss, fbokhn kt mkddklu`t ti sjj iutskmj,

aut K liu`m tj`` tgj mrkzz`j gbm turhjm ti rbkh. K liu`m b`si sjj b fbh

jhtjr tgj `iaay. Gj pbusjm bhm arusgjm tgj rbkh drif gks sukt libt

bs kd gj liu`m swjjp tgj wbtjr bwby `koj must.

K dirljm fy tgiungts ti tgj tbso ajdirj fj. K bf puhltk`kius

wgjh kt lifjs ti tkfj. Bhy fjjtkhn tgbt stbrts `btj ks idd ti b abm

stbrt. ^j wjrj b`` prjsjht bhm blliuhtjm dir bhm tgus tgjrj wbs hi

rjbsih dir mj`by. Kh ihj fkhutj, bt prjlksj`y >533, K wiu`m lb`` tgj

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fjjtkhn ti irmjr. ]gj bnjhmb dir iur sjsskih wbs `kngt, bhm wktg b

`ktt`j `ulo wj liu`m aj mihj kh `jss tgbh skxty fkhutjs. ]gbt wbs dkhj

wktg fj. K gbm b miua`j-lgili`btj ariwhkj wbktkhn ih tgj oktlgjhliuhtjr bt gifj. Kt gbm ajjh b mjfbhmkhn mby. B miua`j-lgili`btj

ariwhkj wbs fy muj.

Ih tgj liuhtjr ajdirj fj wbs b sfb`` mknktb` l`ilo wktg arkngt

rjm hufjrb`s5 45:; turhjm ti >533. Bs K rbksjm fy nbvj`, tgj fbh kh

tgj iaay stjppjm tgriung tgj ablo miirs id tgj lgbfajr. Kh du`` kngt

K liu`m sjj kt wbs Ak`` ^jaa. Gj tiio twi stjps bhm rbksjm b gbhm,fiutgkhn tgj wirms, Gi`m kt. K `iwjrjm tgj sfb`` ibo fb``jt.

]gks gbm ajttjr aj kfpirtbht.

Ak`` ^jaa wbs iur lgkjd id pi`klj bhm b dkxturj kh tgj lkty. Gj

fbrlgjm ti tgj p`btdirf, tgjh sprkhtjm up tgj djw stjps ti tgj

ajhlg. ]gks wbs uhusub`. [iu miht eust mbsg up tgj stjps ti wgjrj

tgj liuhlk` sktsjvjh kd yiurj tgj pi`klj lgkjd.Gj `jbhjm ivjr fy rkngt sgiu`mjr. K hjjm ti spjbo ti yiu. Gks

arjbtg sfj``jm id pjppjrfkht. Gj gbm qukt sfiokhn tgj yjbr ajdirj

bhm gbm rjp`bljm ihj irb` dkxbtkih wktg bhitgjr.

K wbs baiut ti stbrt tgj fjjtkhn? lbht kt wbkt9

Hi.

^gbt lbh aj si kfpirtbht tgbt kt lbht]gjrjs ajjh b lrkfj. Kt khvi`vjs @ksb ]rulli`k.

Fy stifblg sbho. ^gbt9 Giw9

K wbht ti tb`o ti yiu. Srkvbtj`y. Hiw.

Id liursj. K turhjm fy bttjhtkih ablo ti tgj lgbfajr. ]gj

fjjtkhn wk`` stbhm kh rjljss dir tjh fkhutjs.

^bkt b fkhutj, Eih Bm`jr sbkm. [iu lbht rjljss b fjjtkhn tgbtgbsht ajjh lb``jm ti irmjr.

Gj wbs ajkhn gks usub` tjmkius sj`d. K pklojm up tgj nbvj` bhm

sfblojm kt miwh. ]gks fjjtkhn id tgj \bhtb Qktb Lkty Liuhlk` ks

]gj Khlufajht

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lb``jm ti irmjr. K ariungt tgj nbvj` miwh bnbkh. ]gks fjjtkhn wk``

stbhm kh rjljss dir tjh fkhutjs.

AutK stiim bhm jxktjm tgj lgbfajr, Ak`` ^jaa ih fy gjj`s.

]gj hjws wbs mksturakhn bhm ^jaa wbs a`uht. ^j wjrj kh fyiddklj, wgklg ks eust miwh tgj lirrkmir drif tgj lgbfajr. ]gjrbkh wbs db``khn gbrm, sp`bsgkhn bnbkhst tgj wkhmiw `koj pjaa`js.

^j nit b lb`` drif ihj id Fs. ]rulli`ks hjkngairs, b Frs.

Qbfkrjz, wgi gbm rjturhjm gifj drif nriljry sgippkhn. Bs sgj

pbssjm tgj ]rulli`k rjskmjhlj, sgj hitjm tgj miir wbs ipjh. \gj

tgiungt kt imm, jspjlkb``y skhlj kt rjfbkhjm ipjh tgj jhtkrj tkfj kt

tiio dir gjr ti uh`ibm tgj lbr. gjh sgj dkhksgjm lbrrykhn gjr pur-

lgbsjs kh, sgj wb`ojm ivjr bhm ohilojm ih tgj ipjh miir. ]gjrj wbshi bhswjr. \gj wjht kh bhm diuhm tgj giusj jfpty. ]gbts wgjh sgj

lb``jm us.

Bhm9

Eust wgbt yium jxpjlt5 Mkspbtlg sjht b pbtri` lbr. ]gj iddkljr

khvjstknbtjm bhm hitkljm tgbt sjvjrb` tgkhns `iiojm iut id p`blj, bs

kd tgjrj gbm ajjh b strunn`j.Aut tgj giusj wbs jfpty9 K fjbh . . . ]gj wirms rjfbkhjm

`imnjm kh fy tgribt.

Hi lirpsj wbs diuhm, kd tgbts wgbt yiurj njttkhn bt.

Kt wbs jxblt`y wgbt K fjbht.

Gj pbusjm, bs kd wihmjrkhn wgjtgjr ti `jt tgj hjxt sjhtjhlj

`iisj. ]gjrj wbs, giwjvjr, a`iim.]gj blkm kh fy stifblg rik`jm. A`iim9 ]gj wirm lbfj iut bs

b lgiojm wgkspjr.

Hit fulg. Tjry `ktt`j. Eust diur mrips.

22

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K `iiojm bt Lgkjd ^jaa. Gj wbs b stjrh fbh wgif K gbm hjvjr

sjjh sfk`j. Gj wbs dkt dir b njht`jfbh id dkdty-dkvj, wktg eust b s`kngt

fkmm`j-bnj pbuhlg ivjr gks aj`t. Gj stiim diur khlgjs tb``jr tgbhfy iwh dkvj diit skx, bhm gks nrby-strjbojm a`blo gbkr wbs lifajm

strbkngt ablo bhm gj`m kh p`blj ay sifj bhlkjht gbkr tihkl. Gj wbs

hit tgj okhm id fbh wgi wiu`m usj nj`. ]gj sokh id gks dblj wbs

stbrtkhn ti mriip, bs kd kt gbm nriwh wjbry id gbhnkhn ih ti tgj fus-

l`js ajhjbtg. ]gj sliw` wbs tgjrj. Kt wbs b`wbys tgjrj. Kf lih-

vkhljm gj wbs airh wktg tgbt pkhlgjm `iio5 a`uj jyjs hbrriwjm,fiutg turhjm miwh bs kd gj wjrj kh lgrihkl pbkh. Gj sjjfjm ti aj

kh b pjrpjtub` stbtj id jfitkihb` lihstkpbtkih. Qjm gkng`kngtjm tgj

jhm id gks hisj bhm gks lgjjos, koj b fbh wj`` blqubkhtjm wktg b`li-

gi`, jxljpt K gbm hjvjr sjjh gkf mrkho.

Lgkjd ^jaa bhm K gbm gkstiry. K wbs hit ih gks Lgrkstfbs `kst

bhm gj ljrtbkh`y wbsht ih fkhj.

Diur mrips9 [iu diuhmjxblt`y diur mrips id a`iim9

]gbts rkngt.

]gbt sjjfs strbhnj.

Kts fulg strbhnjr tgbh yiu tgkho. Gj turhjm ti tgj wkhmiw

bhm `iiojm iut, stbrkhn khti tgj mkstbhlj. K wbs eust baiut ti bso

gkf dir mjtbk`s wgjh gj lihtkhujm. ]gj mrips id a`iim wjrjht mks-

livjrjm ih tgj d`iir ir durhkturj, `koj yium jxpjlt ti dkhm bdtjr b

strunn`j. ]gjsj wjrj ih b lbrmb wgktj lbrmbhm tgjy wjrj

jvjh`y spbljm.

K miht njt kt. Liu`m yiu aj `jss lryptkl9

]gbt fbmj gkf turh. Gj jyjm fj dir b fifjht, bs kd mjtjr-

fkhkhn wgjtgjr K wbs lbpba`j id uhmjrstbhmkhn wgbt gj wbs baiut

ti sby. A`iim drif b dkngt ks hjvjr jvjh`y spbljm, Fbmbf Fbyir.

Hir ks kt pjrdjlt`y riuhm, bs tgjsj mrips wjrj. A`iim sp`bttjrs bhm

a`iim strjbos, aut kt hjvjr db``s kh prjlksj mrips. ]gjsj wjrj diur

]gj Khlufajht

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pjrdjlt`y riuhm, jvjh`y spbljm spits id a`iim ih b wgktj lbrm . . . koj

tgj diur lirhjrs id b squbrj.

B lbrm9 ^gbt okhm id lbrm9B auskhjss lbrm, Fbyir. [iur auskhjss lbrm.

]gj pgihj ih fy mjso auzzjm. K eufpjm. ^jaa stiim `koj b

rilo. K shbtlgjm up tgj rjljkvjr bhm abrojm, Gj``i. Mbhb ]gbyjr,

tgj lkty l`jro, wbs ih tgj itgjr jhm.

Kts ajjh dkdtjjh fkhutjs, Fbyir. ]gj liuhlk` ks wihmjrkhn

wgjh yiu`` aj rjturhkhn.K wbs dkvj fkhutjs ajyihm tgj bhhiuhljm rjljss tkfj. K wbs btj.

]gks ks nikhn ti tboj sifj tkfj, Mbhb. S`jbsj khdirf tgj liuhlk`

tgbt K wiht aj kh bttjhmbhlj. K guhn up ajdirj sgj liu`m rjspihm.

]gks ks bh bwowbrm tkfj, ^jaa sbkm. K liu`mht tj`` kd gj wbs

bpi`inkzkhn dir tgj khtjrruptkih ir rjvj`khn kh kt.

@brry ^u lbh gbhm`j tgj fjjtkhn. ]gbts wgbt mjputy fbyirs

brj dir. K pbusjm, tgjh bmmjm, K suppisj yiu gbvj qujstkihs dir fj.

Gj himmjm. ]gjhK liu`m gbrm`y aj`kjvj fy jyjsgj sfk`jm.

A

jkhn fbyirjvjh fbyir id b sfb`` lkty `koj \bhtb Qktbgbs

ljrtbkh prkvk`jnjs. ]jlghklb``y, b`` tgj piwjrdu` pjip`j wiro dir

yiu. ]gks fjbhs K lbh strjtlg tgj jhvj`ipj id silkb` liurtjsy firj

tgbh fist. K wbs surj ^jaa wiu`m gbvj `ivjm ti wb`o fj iut id fy

iddklj, gks gbhm l`bfpjm ih fy j`aiw, bhm jslirt fj blriss tgj ablo

pbrokhn `it bhm rkngt khti tgj Si`klj \tbtkih. ^gbt b skngt tgbt

wiu`m gbvj ajjh. Jvjh tgj mizkhn rjpirtjr drif tgjQjnkstjrwiu`m

gbvj sbt up dir tgbt ihj. Fbyir ]bojh ti Si`klj \tbtkih dir Rujs-

tkihkhn, tgj gjbm`khj wiu`m gbvj rjbm. ]gbt wiu`m gbvj si`m b djw

jxtrb pbpjrs.

K tiio b sjbt ajgkhm fy mjso. Bso yiur qujstkihs. Fy mjso ks

b wkmj, lgjrry wiim bddbkr nkvjh ti fj ay fy gusabhm ajdirj gks

2

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^gys tgbt9

Lj`jstj ks hkhjtjjh bhm bttjhmkhn tgj Zhkvjrskty id \bhtb Abr-

abrb. \gjs nihj b `it. Fbyaj tgbts wgy sgj wiros, ti pby dir gjrmbungtjrs li``jnj.

Mi Fs. ]rulli`k bhm gjr mbungtjr njt b`ihn9

Ig, lifj ih. [iu lbht aj kfp`ykhn

Kf hit kfp`ykhn bhytgkhn. Kf bsokhn qujstkihs, tgbts kt.

K tiio b mjjp arjbtg. K wbs tbokhn tgks gbrmjr tgbh K rjb`kzjm.

Kf sirry. ]gks gbs fj ih jmnj.

Mi tgjy njt b`ihn9

Bs dbr bs K ohiw, aut Kf hit gjr lihdkmbht. ^j fjjt dir `uhlg

baiut ihlj b fihtg. K tboj fy ojy vi`uhtjjrs iut drif tkfj ti

tkfj. Niim gj`pjrs brj gbrm ti lifj ay bhm K wbht ti ojjp tgjf ih

fy tjbf. B djw `uhlgjs tgriungiut fy tjrf ojjps jvjryihj kh

tiulg. @bst tkfj wj fjt, sgj wbs sbykhn giw prium sgj wbs id

Lj`jstj. \tk``, kd tgjrj gbm ajjh pria`jfs, K wiu`mht gbvj ohiwh.Bhm tgj gusabhm9

Hjvjr fjt gkf. ]gjy wjrj stk`` fbrrkjm murkhn fy `bst liuh-

lk` rblj aut mkvirljm sifjtkfj murkhn fy tjrf. Kf nujsskhn gjrj,

aut K tgkho tgjy wjrj bt imms `ihn ajdirj K fjt gjr.

Mi yiu ohiw wgjrj tgj gusabhm ks hiw9

Hit spjlkdklb``y. @ksb sbkm sifjtgkhn baiut ]jxbs, b`ihn tgjNu`d, K tgkho.

^jaa nruhtjm.

Gj fkngt aj wirtg khvjstknbtkhn, K sbkm.

K`` `jbvj tgbt up ti Mjtjltkvj ^jst. Gjs tgj khvjstknbtir? Kf

eust `jhmkhn b gbhm. Gj turhjm miwh b strjjt tgbt K rjlinhkzjm bs

@ksbs. Jvjr ajjh gjrj9

Ihlj. @ksb gj`m b duhm-rbksjr. K gbvjht ajjh ablo skhlj. Fy

stifblg ohittjm bhm fy arjbtg sgirtjhjm. K gbm hjvjr ajjh ti b

lrkfj sljhj ajdirj. ^irsj, Km hjvjr spiojh ti b yiuhn wifbh

wgisj fitgjr gbm ajjh bamultjmir wirsj.

]gj Khlufajht

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^jaa mkrjltjm tgj lbr miwh tgj hbrriw rjskmjhtkb` `bhj5 Mivj

\trjjt. B`` tgj strjjts kh tgj \gbmiw Fiuhtbkh suamkvkskih airj akrm

hbfjs. Kt dkt tgj qubkht giusjs tgbt `khjm tgj ribms. Zh`koj fbhyskfk`br strjjts kh itgjr lktkjs, tgjsj gbm vjry djw trjjs. ]rjss a`ilo

tgj iljbh vkjw, wgklg `iwjrs pripjrty vb`uj. Kh \bhtb Qktb tgj sjb

ks jvjrytgkhn.

Auk`t kh tgj fkm-skxtkjs, tgj giusjs wjrj tgj mjvj`ipjrs kmjb id

b trkautj ti Drbho @`iym ^rkngts prbkrkj sty`j. D`bt riids tippjm

jvjry gifj, wktg ivjrgbhns tgbt jxtjhmjm drif tgj jxtjrkir wb``sdbrtgjr tgbh sjjfjm rkngt. Zh`koj ^rkngts mjsknhs, tgjsj gifjs

wjrj sfb`` bhm wjrj fulg `jss jxpjhskvj ti auk`m. \tk``, bhy ihj id

tgjf wiu`m gbvj si`m dir ivjr gb`d b fk``kih. B littbnj wktg b vkjw

ks wirtg bs fulg bs b fbhskih stulo bt tgj jhm id bh b``jy.

]gj liffuhkty wbs tii prkljy dir fist hjwlifjrs, si tgjrj

wbs ktt`j turhivjr kh tgj hjkngairgiim. ]gj ]rulli`ks, @ksb gbm ti`m

fj, wjrj hufajrjm bfihn tgj hjwakjs. Gjr gusabhm, Lgrkstipgjr,

gbm fbmj b niim sb`bry ih tgj rkns, bhm sgj ariungt gifj mjljht

fihjy bs bh blliuhtbht. ]griung mkslkp`khjm sbvkhn bhm gj`p drif

aitg sjts id pbrjhts, tgjy gbm fbhbnjm ti pu`` idd tgj purlgbsj. K

kfbnkhj ojjpkhn up pbyfjhts gbm ajjh b lgirj, bt `jbst uhtk` gks

lbrjjr tiio idd.

]gj lbr lbfj ti rjst bt tgj wjst lura. @kngts, pusgkhn pbst nis-

sbfjr lurtbkhs, sgihj drif tgj djw strjjt-skmj wkhmiws, aut K liu`m

kfbnkhj tgj n`iw piurkhn drif tgj fulg brnjr iljbh-dblkhn pbhjs.

B abhm id yj``iw tbpj surriuhmjm tgj pripjrty `koj b nbumy aj`t,

tj``khn tgj wir`m tgbt gjrj b pjbljdu` `kdj gbm ajjh mksruptjm.

]gj driht miir wbs ipjh bhm wbrf `kngt mjlbhtjm drif kt,

sp`bsgkhn `koj pbkht ih tgj sfb`` lihlrjtj pirlg. B tgkh, sgb``iw sk`-

giujttj bppjbrjm ajtwjjh tgj ebfas. Jvjh drif tgj strjjt K liu`m

tj`` kt wbs Lj`jstj. Bs sgj wb`ojm drif tgj giusj, rbkhmrips sgiw-

jrjm gjr.

2;

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K sprbhn drif tgj lbr bhm stbrtjm miwh tgj hbrriw lihlrjtj

wb`o. Lj`jstj9

Ni bwby, sgj sgit ablo, lihtkhukhn gjr fbrlg.Lj`jstj, kts Fbmmy, Fbmmy N`jhh. ^gjrj brj yiu nikhn9 K fjt

gjr gb`dwby miwh tgj wb`o. Qbkh dj`` kh mrips tgj skzj id rbkskhs, li`m

rbkskhs tgbt stuhn tgj sokh.

Ni bwby. \gj trkjm ti wb`o briuhm fj. Gjr gjbm wbs miwh?

a`ihm gbkr guhn briuhm gjr yiuhn dblj, sgkj`mkhn kt drif vkjw.

Hi. Hit uhtk` wj tb`o. K tiio gjr ay tgj brfs. @iio bt fj,Lj`jstj. @iio bt fj. \gj mkm bhm K liu`m sjj tgj pbkh. ^btjr

strjbojm gjr sokhwbtjr tgbt gbm hitgkhn ti mi wktg tgj rbkh.

^gjrj brj yiu nikhn9

K miht ohiw . . . Bwby.

Bwby ti wgjrj9 K tkngtjhjm fy nrkp, djbrkhn sgj wiu`m ai`t.

Bwby drif gjrj. K lbht stby gjrj. K lbht . . . K lbht . . . ]gj

sias lbfj drif tgj mjjpjst p`blj id sirriw, drif tgj bayss id gipj-

`jsshjss. \gjs nihj. \gjs mjbm. Kf b`ihj. Gjr sgiu`mjrs ajnbh

ti sgboj.

K pu``jm gjr l`isj, wrbppkhn fy brfs briuhm gjr. Gjr wjjpkhn

lbfj kh wbvjs tgbt piuhmjm tgj sgirj id fy rjsi`vj. ]gj soy

sjjfjm ti aj nrkjvkhn wktg tgj yiuhn wifbh. ^btjr rbh miwh fy

dirjgjbm bhm dblj. K liu`m djj` fy gbkr sbn uhmjr tgj wjkngt id kt,

bhm K dj`t tgj li`m id tgj wkhm, aut K wbs mjtjrfkhjm hit ti fivj

uhtk` Lj`jstj wbs rjbmy.

]gj Khlufajht

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