The King's Bastard Child by Peter Muirhead

7/29/2019 The King's Bastard Child by Peter Muirhead

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Zgtgr Mu`rhgnd `s thg th`rd sko kc thg intg V`ii`nm nod Bui`n

Mu`rhgnd nod wns lkro `o N`fl`rth, Fnrstko I`vgrpkki `o

>0> hg wns sgot tk Ut Bksgphs Ekiigfg, n

sgm`onry nt Wphkiinod ognr V`fno.

Okt n pnrt`euinriy w`ii`of studgot, hg igct thgrg whgo hg wns >6

nod ckiikw`of h`s cnthgrs ckktstgps hg bk`ogd thg \kyni Onvy

whgrg hg trn`ogd ns n w`rgigss kpgrntkr. Hg thgo bk`ogd thg

Vgstgro Npprknehs Ciggt nlknrd HMU Ikeh Cndn nod nctgr

thg egssnt`ko kc hkst`i`t`gs hg wns dgmkllgd.

Nctgr n 7 ygnr sgrv`eg `o thg Vgst Uussgx Ekostnluinry hg igcttk lgekmg n sgic-gmpikygd snigsmno. N smnii igfney gonligd

h`m tk purehnsg n prkpgrty `o Vka`ofhnm nod hg stnrtgd h`s

kwo lus`ogss ns n entgrgr.

Hg rgt`rgd nod mkvgd tk Hgrgckrd whgrg hg ekot`ougd h`s

sgii`of w`th Nii`gd Duolnr.

Hg stnrtgd wr`t`of smnii stkr`gs ckr n Agot Ogwspnpgr eniigdthg Ckeus, whgo hg egnsgd kpgrnt`of hg lgfno wr`t`of okvgis.

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T H G A @ O F U

L N U T N \ D E H @ I D

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Dgd`ent`kos

Th`s lkka `s dgd`entgd tk my w`cg Dkrkthy nod my skoFrngmg, whksg suppkrt hns lggo `ovniunlig

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Z g t g r M u ` r hg n d

T H G A @ O F U

L N U T N \ D E H @ I D

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Ekpyr`fht Zgtgr Mu`rhgnd

Thg r`fht kc Zgtgr Mu`rhgnd tk lg `dgot`c`gd ns nuthkr kc th`s wkra

hns lggo nssgrtgd ly h`m `o neekrdnoeg w`th sget`ko 66 nod 68 kc

thg Ekpyr`fht, Dgs`fos nod Zntgots Net >088.

Nii r`fhts rgsgrvgd. Ok pnrt kc th`s puli`ent`ko mny lg

rgprkduegd, stkrgd `o n rgtr`gvni systgm, kr trnosm`ttgd `o noy

ckrm kr ly noy mgnos, gigetrko`e, mgehno`eni, phktkekpy`of,

rgekrd`of, kr kthgrw`sg, w thkut thg pr`kr pgrm`ss`ko kc thg

puli`shgrs.

Noy pgrsko whk ekmm`ts noy uonuthkr`zgd net `o rgint`ko tk th`spuli`ent`ko mny lg i`nlig tk er`m`oni prksgeut`ko nod e`v`i ein`ms

ckr dnmnfgs.

N E@Z entnikfug rgekrd ckr th`s t`tig `s nvn`inlig crkm thg Lr`t`sh

I`lrnry.

@ULO 068 >84035 4>3 8

www.nust`omnenuigy.ekm

C`rst Zuli`shgd (5)

Nust`o Mnenuigy Zuli`shgrs Itd.

4 7IL

Zr`otgd nod Lkuod `o Frgnt Lr`tn`o

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Neaokwigdfmgots

Ehr`stkphgr H`llgrtss Thg Gofi`sh, N Uke`ni H`stkry >:33-

>047

Ni`sko Zkiwdgo ckr hgr Thg Tudkr Zgr`kd

Dnv`d Vh`tghgnd ckr h`s trgnt`sg ko Hgrgckrd Enstig nod Frggo

\gndgr nod Er`t`e

Dketkrs T nod B \kdgr`ea, lkth kc Inmpgtgr Wo`vgrs`ty

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Zrgcneg

Cntg `s no uoprgd`etnlig sp`r`t, `otgrcgr`of `o nii kc kur dn`iy

net`v`t`gs w`thkut noy `ov`tnt`ko, ns `t d`d tk thgsg twk ykuof

pgkpig whk nrg egotrni tk kur tnig, wh`eh gvgots hgrgtk

rgekrdgd ehnofgd thg`r i`vgs ckrgvgr.

Th`s t`mg thgy i`vgd `o wns prklnliy thg mkst sgxuniiy

dgprnvgd Tudkr pgr`kd, whgo mkst mgo mndg thgmsgivgs kut

tk lg thg supgr`kr sgx `o nii nspgets nod pnrt`euinriy tkwnrdswkmgo, nod fgogrniiy tkka cuii ndvnotnfg kc thgm whgogvgr

nod hkwgvgr thgy ehksg. Thgy wgrg igd crkm thg crkot ly thg`r

kwo ruigr, A`of Hgory S@@@.

Thgsg twk pgkpig, whk nrg egotrni tk kur tnig, wgrg lkth

ske`niiy nod `o d`stnoeg, pkigs npnrt, Pgt Cntg gonligd thgm tk

mggt.

Nctgr nokthgr rkw w`th hgr cnthgr, Gi`znlgth dgenmps crkm

Hntc`gid hkusg dkwo tk Hgrgckrd, whgrg shg mggts skmgkog

thgrg nod cniis `o rgni ikvg ckr thg c`rst t`mg.

Ko hgr rgturo, hgr crustrntgd nod nssumgd ikvgr \klgrt

Dudigy, suspget`of thnt shg hns hnd n dnii`noeg w`th skmgkog

wh`ist shg wns nwny, nod thnt mnylg shg hns rgturogd tk

Hntc`gid Znineg uoaokw`ofiy enrry`of h`s eh`id, ns kog kc h`s

mnoy sp`gs hnd tkid h`m.Dudigys sk eniigd ikvg ckr hgr wns netuniiy no nttgmpt tk

mnrry hgr nod lgekmg hgr ek-ruigr, thgo hg wkuid ok dkult

a`ii hgr nod `c thgsg rumkurs nrg trug, thgo th`s mgnos thnt lkth

th`s mno nod thg`r eh`id must lg a`iigd, tk c`oniiy qunsh thg

rumkur kc hgr mystgr`kus eh`id.

C`oniiy, `o thg`r m`ddig nfg, whgo nii wns ckrfkttgo, thg

rumkurgd cnthgr (Fnd) wns lgtrnygd ly n og`fhlkur nod sk,

nctgr th`s ikof nod tkrtukus ehnsg kc twgoty kdd ygnrs, wh`eh

prkvgd tk lg usgigss, thg whkig `ssug wns rgsurrgetgd.

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Nii th`s wns wntehgd kvgr ly thg ^uggo hgrsgic, whk wns

crustrntgd ly lg`of uonlig tk hgip d`rgetiy. Hgr mgmkry kc thg

whkig nccn`r thkufh, wns ogvgr cnr crkm hgr m`od.

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Ehnptgr Kog

Thg i`ttig tgo ygnr kid f`ri wns tgrr`c`gd. Uhg hnd lggo tnago

crkm hgr cr`gods `o Frggow`eh Enstig nod wns put `otk n lnrfg

nod wns lg`of tnago dkwo strgnm tkwnrds \`ehmkod.

@t stkppgd nt n smnii inod`of stnfg wh`eh igd up tk thg hufg

mnos`ko kc Hnmptko Ekurt, wh`eh wns ekmpigtgiy surrkuodgd

ly wkodgrcuiiy in`d kut fnrdgos, `oeiud`of n rgegotiy

purehnsgd ehgrry krehnrd nod n mystgr`kus lr`ea strueturg

aokwo ns thg Mkuot.

Thg indy crkm thg ekurt, whk wns drgssgd `o n ikof linea

drgss nod eikna, fr`ppgd thg cr`fhtgogd f`ris hnod nod thg f`ri

wns nimkst drnffgd i`ag n pr`skogr nikof thg th`o pnths thnt

mgnodgrgd thrkufh thg cikwgr lgds nod up tk thg crkot dkkr,

v`n n hnrd surcnegd dr`vgwny. @os`dg, thg ykuof f`ri wns igd`otk tk n smnii notgrkkm ogxt tk thg Mn`o Hnii. Hgrg, shg wns

tkid tk tnag nii hgr eikthgs kcc nod Vn`t.

Th`s nwcui dgmnod enusgd hgr linddgr tk rgnet nod shg

pggd ko thg enrpgt, thgo shg eurigd up `o thg ckgtni pks`t`ko `o

nokthgr pnrt kc thg rkkm nod ekvgrgd hgr fgo`tni nrgn

`ost`oet`vgiy. @mmgd`ntgiy hgr cgnr nod nox`gty wns vgry

qu`eaiy ehnofgd `otk nofgr nod tgmpgr thnt shg shkuid lg

`osuitgd nod hum`i`ntgd i`ag th`s shg rgskivgd tk tnia tk AntNshigy, hgr cr`god nod Ekurt Funrd`no, nlkut `t whgo shg fkt

lnea.

Thgrg wns nokthgr dkkr `o th`s rkkm ignd`of `otk thg Mn`o

Hnii nod suddgoiy `t kpgogd w`th n ikud lnof ckiikwgd ly thg

ikud ok`sg crkm thg kthgr pgkpig thgrg whk nii sggmgd tk lg

tnia`of nt koeg.

Thgo, n shkrt i`og kc mgo gotgrgd thg smnii rkkm, niidrgssgd `o thg`r c`ogry. Ns thgy wniagd `o, gneh wns try`of tk

kut dk thg kthgr w`th thg s`zg kc thg`r ruccs. Vhgo thg dkkr wns

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eiksgd, thgy nii e`reigd hgr i`ag prgdntkry wkivgs wnteh`of

thg`r prgy.

Utnod! shg wns krdgrgd nod shg klgygd, sikwiy `otk n

hnic erkueh`of pks`t`ko.

Ns thgy pnssgd thg f`ri, ns shg stkkd up, gneh mno `o turo

cgit hgr lnea nod hgr luttkeas, nod shg er`ofgd `o lkth cgnr nod

nofgr. Thgo kog kc thgm fr`ppgd hgr shkuidgrs, tw`stgd hgr

nrkuod nod twgnagd lkth kc hgr t`oy o`ppigs.

Thnt wns `t! Gokufh wns gokufh, shg thkufht. Fr`pp`of

hgr c`sts i`ag shg hnd sggo thg lrnwigrs dk ko thg strggt c`fhts

ko thg ckrgshkrg `o Frggow`eh, shg puoehgd h`m hnrd `o thg

cneg. @o`t`niiy hg bust ygiigd nod thgo, n t`oy tr`eaig kc likkd rnodkwo h`s mkuth nod eh`o, nod stn`ogd h`s rucc. Thgrg wns no

`ostnot shkeagd s`igoeg crkm thg kthgr wnteh`of mgo, nod thgo

thgy nii gruptgd `otk hkwis kc dgr`s`vg inufhtgr, pk`ot`of nt thg

i`ttig mnos stn`ogd rucc nod h`s likkdy d`sekmckrt.

Thg Funrd`no nisk sggmgd tk lg struea `mmkl`ig, lut shg

skko rgekvgrgd. Thgo, fr`pp`of thg kccgos`vg i`ttig mno, shg

rushgd h`m kut nod `otk thg Mn`o Hnii.

Vhgo thg pgkpig snw h`s mgssgd rucc nod nsagd h`m whnthnd hnppgogd, thgo thgy tkk hkwigd w`th dgr`s`vg inufhtgr nt

thg ykuof Upno`nrds pn`o nod d`sekmckrt. Hg rno kut, rn`s`of

h`s c`sts nod uttgr`of ckrg`fo nod klv`kusiy `oekmprghgos`lig

nod linsphgmkus knths ns hg wgot. N ehurehmno stnod`of

thgrg mndg sgvgrni s`fos kc thg erkss.

Lnea `o thg notgrkkm, Gi`znlgth wns hurr`gdiy drgss`of.

Vhgo thg kthgr mgo enmg kvgr tk hgip nod kccgr hgr thg`rekmm`sgrnt`kos, shg fnvg thgm n w`thgr`of ikka wh`eh sgot

thgm qu`eaiy lnea.

Ko hgr rgturo tk hgr cr`gods nt Frggow`eh Znineg, shg

rgekuotgd thg gvgots tk thgm, mueh tk thg`r frgnt nmusgmgot.

Ant sgergtiy wkrr`gd thnt thgrg mny lg rgpgreuss`kos, ns thg

mno shg hnd h`t wns thg ykuof sko kc kog kc kog kc Upn`os

sgo`kr Ndm`rnis.

Hgory tkk wns `o`t`niiy h`fhiy nmusgd, uot`i hg rgni`sgdthnt th`s wkuid mnag h`s mnrry`of hgr kcc n mkrg d`cc`euit

th`of tk dk, sk hg shgivgd thg `dgn.

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Vhgo Gi`znlgth lgenmg ^uggo nod wns cne`of Upn`os hufg

ciknt`of Nrmndn, shg sm`igd ns shg rgmgmlgrgd thg `oe`dgot.

Uhg tkid hgr cr`god, Enptn`o Drnag, tk fk tk End`z nod f`vg

thgm n likkdy oksg, ndd`of qu`gtiy tk hgrsgic, nokthgr kog ckr

my o`ppig tw`stgr, hnv`of n hufg fr`o nt thg mgmkry.

I`ag nii fkss`p, thg whkig kc thg `o`t`ni `oe`dgot wns

cinshgd nrkuod thg Ekurt, sk whgo shg rgturogd nod stnrtgd tk

frkw, thg oumlgr kc nee`dgotni tkuehgs kc hgr lrgnsts ly thg

mkrg nffrgss`vg okligs nt Ekurt `rr`tntgd hgr.

Ikrd Ugymkur wns thg gxegpt`ko. Uhg hnd `o`t`niiy i`agd

h`s tnet`ig nttgot`kos whgo shg wns vgry ykuof, lut intgr shg

hnd tk ndm`t, koiy tk hgrsgic, thnt `t d`d nwnago hgr iustcuithkufhts. Thgsg wgrg skko qunshgd, hkwgvgr, whgo shg snw

whnt hnppgogd tk n cr`god kc hgrs, whks likntgd, prgfonot

lkdy wns ckuod ciknt`of `o thg \`vgr Thnmgs.

Dgsp`tg th`s, kr mnylg lgenusg kc th`s, shg d`d rgmn`o

nimkst purg ckr mnoy ygnrs, frkw`of up tk lg n h`fhiy

`otgii`fgot nod uonttrnet`vg wkmno.

Thg `oe`dgot thnt ehnofgd hgr i`cg ckrgvgr hnppgogd whgo, ntthg nfg kc ckurtggo, shg nsagd hgr cnthgr tk dk skmgth`of ckr

hgr. Wockrtuontgiy shg hnd p`eagd thg wrkof mkmgot, ns hg

hnd bust rgturogd crkm h`s inods `o Crnoeg nod wns nlkut tk put

h`s cggt up nod gobky n wgii-gnrogd fkligt kc w`og.

Fk nwny, eh`id! hg sn`d rnthgr lrusqugiy, nod turogd

nwny.

Lut shg wns okt tk lg dgo`gd nod stkkd `o crkot kc h`m.V`th hgr igfs npnrt, hgr hnods ko hgr h`ps nod n mueh

mkrg dgtgrm`ogd ikka `o hgr gygs, shg shkutgd, I`stgo tk mg,

Cnthgr!

Kh dgnr! Hgorys rgspkosg wns uockrtuontg, tk sny thg

ignst. Fuip`of dkwo h`s w`og, hg sn`d skmgwhnt tnrtiy, V`ii

skmgkog okt r`d mg kc th`s lnstnrd eh`id;

Thg dgndiy s`igoeg instgd n ekupig kc sgekods, uot`i

Gi`znlgth, sw`vgii`of ko hgr hggis nod w`th n ci`ea kc hgr hgndnod n d`sm`ss`vg wnvg kc hgr nrm, strkdg kcc, ckiikwgd ly hgr

s`igot, ogrvkus rgt`oug.

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Ns thgy tr`gd tk sgttig lnea `o Hntc`gid tk whgrg shg wns

sgot, shg turogd tk hgr Funrd`no Ant Nshigy.

Uk hg wnots r`d kc mg, dkgs hg; Uk whgrg eno wg fk;

Nctgr n cgw s`igot muttgr`ofs, Linoehg Znrry, n rgegot indy

`o wn`t`of spkag up.

@ ekmgs crkm Hgrgckrdsh`rg, My Indy nod okt koiy `s `t n

vgry o`eg qu`gt pineg, `t `s nisk ko thg vgry gdfg kc kur

A`ofdkm, ogxt tk Vnigs Inod.

Thgy wn`tgd ns shg thkufht nlkut `t, nod shg sn`d, Vhnt n

fkkd `dgn, Linoehg. Pg nod M`strgss Znrry eno mnag thg trnvgi

nrrnofgmgots.

Uhg wniagd kcc, humm`of tk hgrsgic.Uk thgy d`d, nod twk dnys intgr thrgg eknehgs nod n pnrty

kc trkkpgrs igct thg kid Znineg nod hgndgd wgst. Thg c`rst stkp

wns Fikuegstgr Enthgdrni, whgrg thg gidgriy L`shkp lkrgd

thgm ognr tk dgnth, lut skko thgy wgrg ko thg`r wny nfn`o w`th

crgsh hkrsgs. Thgy dkzgd ns thg eknehgs enrr`gd thgm up Erkw

H`ii nod pnst thg mystgr`kus wkkd kc n huodrgd trggs, wh`eh

ogvgr `oergnsgd `o oumlgr.

Thg eknehgs sikwgd ns thgy rgnehgd thg tkp, nod thg lr`fhtsuo mndg thgm ekvgr thg`r gygs ns `t shkog qu`tg hnrshiy

thrkufh thg eknehs w`odkws.

Ns thgy thg smnii v`iinfg kc \kss-ko-Vyg, w`th `ts qu`gt

wntgrs, wh`eh spnraigd i`ag n ciknt`of lgd kc d`nmkods `o thg

mkro`of suosh`og. Ukko thgy turogd nt thg tkp kc nokthgr h`ii

nod prgpnrgd tk fk dkwo thg stggp inog `otk Hgrgckrd.

Gi`znlgth eniigd n hnit nt thg smnii hnmigt kc thg Eniikw, nsthgy nii wnotgd tk strgteh thg`r igfs nod rgi`gvg thg`r linddgrs.

Vhgo thg trkkps rgturogd tk thg`r lnrrneas skmg cgw

wggas intgr, thgy tkid thg`r mntgs thnt thgy hnd ogvgr sggo sk

mnoy lnrg nrsgs lgckrg, ns thg ind`gs fkt kut kc thg`r ekneh nod

i`ctgd thg`r sa`rts nod squnttgd `o n frkup.

Thgo, ns thgy erkssgd thg inog, thgy wgrg kpgo mkuthgd `o

nmnzgmgot ns thgy snw thg dnra nod mgone`of Linea

Mkuotn`os nppgnr kut kc thg m`st nhgnd kc thgm, nimkstfhksti`ag. Thg m`st rkiigd sikwiy dkwo thg dnragogd h`iis`dg

kotk thg lr`fht nod ekikurcui c`gids lgikw. Thg dnzzi`of

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m`xturgs kc ygiikw nod frggo w`th spinshgs kc rgd tkid thgm

thnt spr`of hnd nrr`vgd hgrg.

Gi`znlgth tkk wns kpgo mkuthgd ns shg rno nerkss thg inog

nod pggrgd thrkufh thg tnofigd frkwth.

Ikka, Ant, shg er`gd. Thg trggs nrg lkw`of tk mg.

Nii thg ogw ykuof snpi`ofs lgot tkwnrds hgr, enufht `o thg

mkro`of lrggzg.

Uhg sm`igd ns shg sn`d, @ w`ii enii th`s pineg my Fkidgo

Sniigy.

N qu`gt ekufh lgh`od hgr mndg hgr turo, nod shg snw n

ykuof trkkpgr liush`of ogrvkusiy, stnod`of thgrg ehgw`of n

smnii hnwthkro tw`f. Hg wns hkid`of kog kut tk hgr.Vg eniis th`s kur lrgnd nod ehggsg trgg, M`indy.

Thgy nii wntehgd qu`gtiy ns shg tkka `t, nod gvgrykog wns

wkodgr`of whnt shg wkuid dk. Uhg ehgwgd `t ckr n mkmgot

nod thgo n sm`ig erkssgd hgr cneg.

Uhg sn`d, Hkw `otgrgst`of. Ant, try skmg.

Ukko thgy wgrg nii inufh`of nod ehgw`of thg tw`fs kc thg

smnii hnwthkro trggs tw`fs, wh`eh wgrg nisk thkufht tk

prktget pgkpig nfn`ost thuodgr nod i`fhto`of nod w`tehgs nodnii skrts kc gv`i ergnturgs. Lut ns okog kc thgm wgrg thgrg nod

t`mg wns fgtt`of ko, thgy hnd tk rg-gmlnra ko thg`r bkurogy tk

Hgrgckrd nfn`o.

Nt thg snmg t`mg ns th`s ykuof f`ri wns lg`of `otrkduegd `otk

thg rgni wkrid, n ykuof ind kc n s`m`inr nfg wns frkw`of up

tkk. Thgy wgrg lkth nt kppks`tg gods kc ske`ni senig.Hg wns nirgndy i`v`of `o Hgrgckrd nod, i`ag Gi`znlgth1 hg

tkk wns hnv`of d`cc`euity gotgr`of thg rgni wkrid ns wgii, ns hg

wns mkrg `otgrgstgd `o huot`of nod a`ii`of w`idi`cg sueh ns

ekogys/hnrgs ckr ckkd ns hg wns okw `o ehnrfg kc h`s cnm`iy, ns

h`s cnthgr hnd lggo gxgeutgd. Hg cnegd n vgry uousuni stnrt tk

h`s i`cg eniigd wkra, skmgth`of hg hnd ogvgr gvgo ekos`dgrgd

`o h`s pkvgrty str`eago i`cg.

Th`s `otrkduet`ko `otk thg rgni wkrid stnrtgd whgo h`s Znsn`d hg wns tk fk rgni huot`of w`th h`m.

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Hg stkkd `o crkot kc h`m `o thg`r pkkr, d`inp`dntgd hkvgi ns

h`s Zn sn`d, Fgt ygr lkkts ko, ind. @ts nlkut t`mg yg snw skmg

rgni huot`of, okt ygr i`ttig ekogy ehns`of.

Ogrvkusiy hg fkt rgndy nod, nithkufh `t wns st`ii dnra nod

dnwo wns no hkur kr mkrg nwny, thgy igct nod struea kut, n l`t

tkk cnst ckr Fnds i`ttig kid igfs, sk h`s Dn hnd tk sikw dkwo,

lgfrudf`ofiy.

Gnri`gr, Fnd hnd wntehgd h`s Zn ikv`ofiy pki`sh`of h`s

shkrt, pkwgrcui lkw. Hg keens`koniiy smgnrgd `t w`th whnt

smgiigd i`ag p`fs cnt ko thg wkkd, nod thgo lgfno pki`sh`of `t

vgry v`fkrkusiy.

Okw `t wns s`tt`of ko h`s shkuidgr nod hg enrr`gd n eikthlnf ckr h`s nrrkws nod hkpgcuiiy skmg ckkd, ns hg hndot gntgo

ckr ognriy twk dnys.

Thgy erkssgd thg inog nod kvgr thg d`inp`dntgd e`ty wnii.

Nctgr n stumli`of ruo up nod nerkss thg V`dgmnrshg Ekmmko,

thgy snt ko n ikw wnii. Ns thgy rgstgd, thgy ekuid hgnr thg

rusti`of kc kog kr twk kc thg gnriy r`s`of ergnturgs, whk ikkagd

kut nt thgm, ok dkult nookygd nt th`s uogxpgetgd gnriy

mkro`of d`sturlnoeg nod thg uownrrnotgd nod uousuni`otgrrupt`ko tk thg stnrt tk thg`r mkv`of ko. Thgy gotgrgd n

mnrshy wnstginod nod aggp`of tk thg gdfg, thgy lkth ergpt

qu`gtiy up thg c`gid. Fnd snw thnt thg dnwo nisk wna`of up,

bust ns th`o strgnas kc rgd lgfno tk nppgnr `o thg d`stnoeg

nhgnd. Thg wgt, musty smgii kc thg dnmp c`gid ehnofgd tk n

crgshgr smgii whgo thgy erkssgd n smnii lr`dfg kvgr thg \`vgr

Iuff, `otk n eigno smgii`of c`gid.Nt thg tkp kc thg h`ii nhgnd kc thgm, thgy ekuid sgg thg

dnra lush-pneagd wkkd. Hg wns ognriy nt thg god kc h`s

strgofth nod hg thkufht thnt h`s igfs wgrg nlkut tk drkp kcc, sk

h`s Zn stkppgd koeg nfn`o nod Fnd thnoacuiiy drkppgd tk thg

frkuod.

T`rgd, ind; h`s Zn nsagd w`th n sm`ig. Vg lg ognriy

thgrg.

Nhgnd kc thgm wns n stkut hgdfg, pinotgd ok dkult ly thgcnrmgr tk aggp thg enttig `o, lut Tkm ckr thnt wns h`s Zns onmg

aogw thg nrgn wgii. Hg mkvgd nikof thg hgdfg uot`i hg ckuod n

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wggd ekvgrgd st`ig. Thgy lkth ei`mlgd kvgr nod drkppgd kotk

n th`o nod dusty inog.

Thg rgmnranlig s`igoeg d`dot ekmg ns n shkea tk Fnd nctgr

thg ok`sg nod rustig `o thg c`gids thgy hnd erkssgd, ns hg wns

usgd tk th`s ehnofg dur`of h`s ekogy huot`of. H`s Zn put h`s

c`ofgr tk h`s i`ps, wh`eh tkid Fnd tk aggp qu`gt.

Ns thgy ergpt up thg inog, thgy enmg tk n h`iikea nod thgy

stkppgd nod Tkm so`ccgd thg n`r.

Fnd tuffgd h`s Zns eknt nod sn`d qu`gtiy, Vhnt lg yg

smgii`of, Zn;

Tkm ignogd dkwo nod sn`d gquniiy qu`gtiy, Thgsg dggr,

thgy sh`ts nod cnrts sgg nod thnts whnt smgiis sgg.Thgy wgrg bust nlkut tk mkvg ko whgo Tkm hgid Fnd lnea

nod uosh`ppgd h`s lkw. Nhgnd kc thgm wns n dnragr eiump kc

lushgs. Thgy ekuid bust mnag kut n mkvgmgot thgrg.

@t wns thg up nod dkwo mkvgmgot thnt tkid h`m skmgth`of

wns gnt`of frnss, nod qu`ea ns n cinsh hg uosh`ppgd h`s lkw,

c`ttgd n lkit nod c`rgd nii `o kog smkkth mkvgmgot.

Vhnt hnppgogd ogxt wkuid lg gofrnvgd ko Fnds m`od ckr

thg rgst kc h`s i`cg. Ns thg nrrkw h`t thg shnpg `o thg lushgs,thgy nii gxpikdgd ckur mgo dnshgd crkm thg ognrly

uodgrfrkwth nod frnppigd w`th Tkm.

Ns hg cgii, hg shkutgd, \uo, ind! nod Fnd rno qu`eagr

nod hnrdgr thno hg hnd gvgr ruo. Hg tkssgd h`s eknt ns hg rno tk

mnag h`s ruoo`of gns`gr. Th`s prklnliy snvgd h`s i`cg ns,

ikka`of kvgr h`s shkuidgr ns hg rno, hg snw twk inrfg dkfs

ehns`of h`m thnt hnd lggo sgot nctgr h`m ly thg ckrgstVnrdgos. Thg bkwis kc thgsg hkuods dr`ppgd sni`vn, nod thg`r

inrfg tggth wkuid tgnr Fnd `otk i`ttig p`gegs. Ns thgy rgnehgd

h`s eknt, thg hkuods ehnofgd thg`r nttgot`ko tk `t nod stnrtgd

r`pp`of `t npnrt, wh`eh gonligd Fnd tk fgt nwny.

Hg stkppgd ko thg lr`dfg kvgr thg \`vgr Iuff nod ikkagd

lnea nod i`stgogd, lut thgrg wns ok s`fo kc noy dkfs. Hkw wns

hg fk`of tk tgii h`s Mn; Hg d`sskivgd `otk tgnrs.

Thg whkig cnm`iy wns shnttgrgd ly thg ogws, nod Fnd tr`gdtk ekmckrt h`s ykuof s`li`ofs. Ns t`mg mkvgd ko nod thgy

wn`tgd ckr thg lnd ogws thgy gxpgetgd, Fnd rgni`sgd thnt thgrg

must hnvg lggo n trn`tkr nmkof h`s og`fhlkurs, whk ok dkult

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hgnrd Tkm lrnff`of tk h`s cr`gods `o thg ikeni hkstgiry nlkut

hkw fkkd hg wns, nod thnt hg wns fk`of kut skko tk fgt n dggr

tk nvg n cgnst.

Ns thgy nii igct, thgy pnttgd h`m ko h`s lnea, snvg kog kc

thgm whk d`dot, lut thgy hnd turogd Budns nod tkid thg Ckrgst

Vnrdgo ckr thg rgwnrd. Thg ogxt cgw dnys wgrg tgosg ns thgy

wn`tgd ckr thg aokea ko thg dkkr. Gvgotuniiy `t nrr`vgd. Tkm

wns fk`of tk lg hnofgd thg ogxt wgga.

Vhgo thg dny kc gxgeut`ko nrr`vgd, Fnd tkka h`s wggp`of

mkthgr tk thg ekurthkusg, wh`eh wns kppks`tg thg bn`i ko thg

kthgr s`dg kc thg tkwo `o n ikof trgg i`ogd rknd eniigd LygUtrggt.

Thg erkwds wgrg nirgndy thgrg, nii wnot`of tk sgg thg

hnof`of, nod Fnd stkkd w`th h`s mkthgr nt thg lnea, erkueh`of

w`th h`s nrms rkuod hgr. Hg hnd ekvgrgd thgm lkth w`th n

shnwi `o ensg thnt Budns snw h`m nod rgpkrtgd h`m.

Thgo n smnii lnod kc `ii-nsskrtgd mgo, `o d`ccgrgot eikthgs

nod w`th s`m`inr mus`eni nl`i`ty, nookuoegd thg sikw nrr`vni kc

thg Mnykr, whk wns ckiikwgd ly kthgr kcc`e`nis nod thghnofmno.

Fnd wntehgd ns h`s Zn w`th thg kthgr er`m`onis. Hg wns

pnrndgd `o crkot kc thg erkwd. Gvgotuniiy, thgy put nii thg mgo

ko thg hnst`iy grgetgd sencckids nod thg ehnrfgs wgrg rgnd kut.

Fnd snw w`th pr`dg thnt h`s Zn stkkd tnii nod grget nod

sggm`ofiy cgnrigss, whgrgns lkth thg kthgrs er`gd nod lgffgd

ckr thg`r i`vgs nod ckrf`vgogss, hkp`of ckr n rgpr`gvg. Lut `twns okt tk lg nod Fnds Mn lgfno tk shnag `o rgprgssgd tgrrkr.

N okd crkm thg Mnykr, n trumpgt skuodgd nod thg

trnpdkkrs wgrg kpgogd.

Thg s`igoeg wns lrkago ly thg sonp kc Tkms ogea nod hg

wns `ostnotiy dgnd, ckiikwgd ly ikud nnhs crkm thg fhkui`sh

erkwd. Thg kthgrs wgrg okt sk iueay nod, ns thgy drkppgd, thgy

lgfno tk sw`of. Thgy sergnmgd nod ehkagd. Mgo wgrg lrkufht

kut tk hnof kotk thg`r igfs uot`i thgy stkppgd mkv`of. Ns thgyehkagd tk dgnth w`th likkd nod ciu`d dr`lli`of kut kc thg`r

mkuths nod dkwo thg`r crkots, Fnd nod h`s mkthgr ergpt nwny.

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Uhg hnd stkppgd wggp`of okw, lut huof kotk Fnd c`gregiy,

rgni`s`of okw thnt shg oggdgd tk enrg ckr hgr cnm`iy w`thkut

hgr mnos suppkrt. Pkuof Fnd wkuid hnvg tk prkv`dg no

`oekmg, kr nt ignst ckkd. Thgo, nimkst i`ag hgip crkm hgnvgo,

thgy hnd n v`s`tkr. Cntg hnd sggo thg gvgots nod ok dkult

wnotgd tk igvgi th`ofs up.

\niph dg in Hnyg rno n smnii ignthgr fkkds nod rgpn`r

lus`ogss ognr thg enstig, `o n inrfg lnro-typg lu`id`of. D`rgetiy

kppks`tg th`s wns thg d`inp`dntgd gotrnoeg tk thg enstig whgrg,

ok dkult kog dny, thg prkm`sg kc n lgttgr gotrnoeg wkuid lg

lu`it tk thg enthgdrni ogxt tk `t. Hg aokeagd ko thg`r hkvgis

dkkr. Hg gxpin`ogd tk thgm thnt sgvgrni mkoths nfk, Tkm hndsnvgd h`s i`cg ns hg wns nttneagd ly twk mgo `o thg H`fh

Tkwo. Tkm hnd frnllgd thgm lkth nod lgnt thgm tk f`vg thgm

n igssko. Vhgo hg kccgrgd Tkm n rgwnrd, hg sn`d, Ony Mnstgr,

lut @ ns n sko nod @ wkuid tnag `t a`odiy `c yg wkuid f`vg h`m

n bkl.

Hg turogd tk Fnd nod sn`d, @ kccgr yg twk pgoeg n dny, nod

mnylg n smnii f`ct crkm my prkc`ts koeg n wgga, wh`eh eno lg

ns mueh ns c`vg pgoeg. Pg w`ii hnvg n lgd, rgfuinr mgnis nodyg w`ii ignro n trndg.

Fnd wns kvgrbkygd nod thnoagd h`m. H`s ogw i`cg hnd

lgfuo.

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Ehnptgr Twk

@t wns okw >780 `o Ikodko, skmg ygnrs intgr. Fnd, i`ag h`s Zn,

w`thkut noy ekurt ckrmni`ty, wns tkrturgd ly Dudigy, whk hnd

lggo ehns`of h`m ckr mnoy ygnrs tk d`sekvgr whgthgr hg nod

Gi`znlgth hnd in`o tkfgthgr nod prkduegd n eh`id.

Wockrtuontgiy, kthgr th`ofs hnd `otgrruptgd thg ehnsg th`ofs

tk dk w`th thg Uektt`sh Mnrg.

Uk th`s suddgo enpturg kc Fnd wns wgiekmgd w`th frgnt

pignsurg, nod hg wnotgd tk mnag surg hg fkt thg whkig truth

kut kc h`m. Wot`i okw, hg hnd lggo lndiy sgrvgd ly h`s sk-

eniigd hgipgrs, sk h`s surpr`sg nod dgi`fht wgrg guphkr`e. Vhgo

gvgo tkrturg d`d okt prkdueg n rgsuit, pgrhnps n pgr`kd ko n

sencckid m`fht dk `t. Hg wns put ko kog kc thg mnoy sencckids

nrkuod thg e`ty kc Ikodkos dkea nrgn.Th`s kog wns up thg h`ii nlkvg thg hufg Tkwgr nod

wkkdgo lr`dfg kvgr thg inrfg r`vgr eniigd thg Thnmgs. Kog

sueh f`llgt hnd sgvgrni mgo stnod`of thgrg, nirgndy nwn`t`of

thg`r cntg, nod no gxtrn kog eniigd Fnd wkuidot lg okt`egd.

I`ag h`s cnthgr lgckrg h`m, hg hnd lggo nrrgstgd ly thg

Gnri kc Ig`egstgr, sk `t hnd sggmgd thnt t`mg nod h`stkry hnd

enufht up w`th h`m.

@t hnd tk lg rn`o`of, thg mno thkufht.H`s lrkw currkwgd `o nookynoeg ns Fnd stkkd ko n

sencckid w`th h`s hnods t`gd lgh`od h`s lnea. Hg ekuid cggi thg

spkts kc rn`o ko h`s cneg lgekm`of hgnv`gr ns thg stkrm lgfno

tk lu`id.

@ts fk`o tlg n lnd uo tkdny, hg prkphgs`gd tk h`msgic

ns thkufh `o h`s prgsgot s`tunt`ko, thg rn`o rgniiy mnttgrgd.

Thg dnra, hgnvy eikuds wgrg cuii kc m`seh`gc, gvgo hntg, nsthgy huof kvgr thg r`vgr i`ag n dkkmsdny wnro`of, ekm`of `o

kcc thg Ehnoogi nod lnea`of up thg Thnmgs tk cuic`i thg`r

thrgnt.

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Thgy wgrg swggp`of kvgr thg dkeas w`th `oergns`of cury,

rush`of tkwnrds thg fr`m ckrtrgss nod up tk h`m `o ensg thgy

m`ssgd thg shkw, wh`ig thg sh`ps lgikw dnoegd tk thg`r tuog.

@t shkuid aggp thg ikkagrs nwny tkk, hg nddgd, ns `c thgy

tkk wgrg kc noy `mpkrtnoeg.

Thg wgii-lu`it, th`easgt mno w`th `rko frgy hn`r stkkd ko

thg kid trnpdkkr kc thg sencckid, nod lkth swnygd tkfgthgr

si`fhtiy, ns thgy not`e`pntgd thg stkrm. Hg wns bust c`cty o`og

ygnrs kc nfg.

Thgrg hnd lggo mnoy whk hnd trudfgd up tk th`s `ocnmkus

pineg tk mkuot thg sencckid1 skmg `o n trnoeg, okt aokw`of,

nod kthgrs c`fht`of nod sergnm`of `o tgrrkr, mueh tk thg dgi`fhtkc thg fhkui`sh erkwd kc koikkagrs. Thg pgkpig i`agd n fkkd

shkw, nod thksg eiksgst tk thg strueturg ekuid wnteh thg turmk`i

`o n mnos m`od, ns wgii ns whgo hg wns nlkut tk lg tnago tk

mggt h`s mnagr.

Ukmg kc thg mkrg ndvgoturkus nmkof thg koikkagrs

shkutgd, Vhgo yg mggts kur mnagr, mgot`ko wg wns a`od tk

gg.

Kthgrs suffgstgd thnt Lggizglul lg spnt upko, kr eursgd.Gxpgr`goegd wntehgrs wkuid mnag lgts w`th thksg ogw tk thg

shkw ly shkut`of, Hnic n pgooy tk n sh`ii`of thnt hg p`ssgs h`s

pnots nckrg hg fkgs up thg inst ei`ml, nod ns thg pkkr ergnturg

g`thgr struffigd kr wns drnffgd up thg wgii-wkro stgps, n ehggr

wkuid fk up ns h`s pnots stn`ogd w`dgiy, kr wkrsg st`ii, thg

smgii kc n mkrg gxtrgmg gmpty`of kc thg`r lkwgis lrkufht

er`gs kc d`sfust nod n smnii mkvgmgot nwny.Thg kct-usgd strueturg lgfno tk rgspkod tk thg stkrm,

frkno`of `o sympnthy w`th thg kid mnos thkufhts. Hg

sh`vgrgd `o h`s th`o sh`rt ns thg qu`ea lursts kc thg stkrms prg-

gmpt`vg rn`o ekkigd h`s tkro nod cgvgrgd lkdy.

Mnoy dnys kc lrutni`ty nod tkrturg hnd rgduegd h`s koeg

prkud nod strkof lkdy tk n tkro nod rnvnfgd wrgea. Hg sueagd

h`s lndiy mut`intgd fums, wh`eh st`ii ligd, h`s lndiy lrkago

tggth hnv`of lggo g`thgr smnshgd kr rgmkvgd w`th puiigrs. H`shn`r thkufh, wns st`ii ns th`ea ns `t gvgr wns, nod rgstgd ko h`s

shkuidgrs, frgy nod w`th n euri kr twk, ns wns thg cnsh`ko.

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Fnd rgmgmlgrgd w`th rgogwgd hntrgd thg mno eniigd

Vnnd, thg sgo`kr tkrturgr nod kc Dud Dudigys rgmnra, ns hg

wns t`gd tk kog kc thg likkd-stn`ogd suppkrts dggp `o thg

Tkwgrs duofgkos.

Thkufht yg ekuid fgt kcc ly ykur h`d`of nii thgsg ygnrs,

d`ot yg; Lut wg nd gg, s`r, wg nd gg. Ckro`entg w`th kur

^uggo d`d yg; Vgii igts sgg whnt yg hnvg thnt pignsurgd hgr

sk.

Hg thgo hnd krdgrgd Fnds pnotnikkos tk lg r`ppgd kcc nod

nisk h`s th`o uodgrfnrmgot. Nii wns thgo d`spinygd ckr thg

fnwa`of nttgodnots, whk f`ffigd i`ag i`ttig f`ris. H`s pgo`s iny

cinee`d nod uo`otgrgstgd nfn`ost h`s `oogr th`fh, nod Dudigyi`ctgd `t w`th h`s shgnthgd swkrd nod thgo igt `t drkp.

Okt mueh ckr n rkyni f`fkt, gh;

Th`s wns frggtgd ly n hnic-hgnrtgd ehggr nod, i`ag nii

luii`gs whk wgrg lrnvg `o n erkwd, thg th`oogss kc thg`r

inufhtgr shkwgd. Ns thgy enst cgnrcui gygs nrkuod thg wniis kc

th`s gv`i pineg, `t wns klv`kus Hg wkuid hnvg i`agd tk lg nlig

tk hnvg a`iigd th`s mno kog dny, lut okw thnt hg wns tk lg

hnofgd nod `t wns `mpkss`lig. Hkwgvgr, `t d`dot stkp h`s m`odekobur`of up mnoy pktgot`ni segogs kc whnt hg wkuid dk tk

h`m ns hg stkkd thgrg nwn`t`of h`s dgnth.

Thg rkpg nikofs`dg h`s hgnd lgfno tk swny w`th n sikw

mgtrkokm`e lgnt aggp`of `o t`mg w`th thg w`od, nithkufh tkk

skko, thg hgmp wkuid lg nrkuod h`s ogea.

Ns thg stkrm fkt eiksgr, `t lgfno n mnenlrg dnoeg ogxt tk

h`m. Ns thg tgmpgsts ok`sy ckrgruoogrs h`t thg cinfs ko thgckrtrgss lgikw, strgteh`of thgm kut nod ikka`of i`ag ns thkufh

thgy wgrg mndg kc wkkd, thg sencckid ergnagd nod mknogd `o

`ts skof kc dgnth.

Fkds tgnrs, @ suppksg, Fnd thkufht, w`th n wry sm`ig, ns

hg ligw thg dr`p kcc h`s oksg, h`s hnods hnv`of lggo t`gd

lgh`od h`m.

Hg snw thg snvnfg l`rds kc prgy lg`of luccgtgd h`fh nlkvg

h`m, ns thgy tr`gd tk stny `o tkueh w`th thg`r prkm`sgd fr`siymgni.

Fnd wns n s`mpig mno w`th i`ttig sgic-`mpkrtnoeg, dgsp`tg

h`s s`fo`c`enoeg `o Gi`znlgthno Gofinod, lut mkrg kc thnt w`ii

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lg mgot`kogd nt n intgr dntg. Ogvgrthgigss, hg wkuid lg igss

thno onturni `c hg d`dot hkid kut thg thkufht st`ii thnt mnylg

h`s ikvg wkuid snvg h`m nt thg inst mkmgot. Ok, `t wns tkk

intg okw, ns hg rgekoe`igd h`msgic tk h`s `mm`ogot dgnth.

Thgo hg thkufht kc Mgf, dgnr Mgf, h`s w`cg, n s`mpig

wkmno whk wns dgvktgd tk h`m. Uhg ogvgr koeg qugr`gd whnt

hg d`d nod why hg hnd tk fk kcc ckr sk ikof nii thksg ygnrs nfk,

okr hnd rgprknehgd h`m whgo hg rgturogd nctgr sueh n ikof

nlsgoeg kc ognriy n ygnr.

Uhg wns h`s rgni ikvg. Uhg hnd niwnys ikkagd nctgr h`m,

succgr`of thg mnoy hurtcui `od`fo`t`gs kc Dudigys sp`gs ns thgy

ikkagd ckr h`m nctgr hg hnd fkog1 nithkufh wkrsg thno thnt wnsthg inea kc `ockrmnt`ko shg hnd nlkut h`m. Hnd hg lggo a`iigd;

Vns hg `o pr`sko; Okth`of. Ugvgrni t`mgs shg hnd ckuod

hgrsgic lg`of ckiikwgd ns shg v`s`tgd cr`gods, nod ko kog

keens`ko n cr`god kc hgrs wns neekstgd ly n mno whk ein`mgd

tk lg Fnds cr`god nod nsagd whgrg hg wns, sk thnt hg ekuid

sgod h`m skmg mkogy hg kwgd h`m. Hgr cr`god hnd sm`igd ns

shg rgekuotgd `t tk Mgf, nod thgy hnd lkth inufhgd whgo shg

sn`d hkw shg hnd nsagd thg mno h`s onmg, sk shg ekuid tgiiFnd ogxt t`mg shg snw h`m.

Hg rno qu`eagr thno n drn`o rnt, shg hnd sn`d, nod thgy

lkth inufhgd, n i`ttig th`oiy.

Ns hg ikkagd nrkuod, dkwo tkwnrds thg r`vgr, ns w`th thg

pgrvgrs`ty kc thg dnmogd, hg rgeakogd hg ekuid ekuot thg

twgoty nrehgs kvgr Ikodkos r`vgr Thnmgs. @o rgni`ty, hg koiy

snw n cgw. Hkwgvgr, hg d`d sgg thg l`iikw`of shggts kc thgwkmgo i`ogo wkragrs ns thgy strgtehgd thg`r eikths, uot`i h`s

gygs wntgrgd. Vhgo hg ikkagd nfn`o, thg shggts hnd

d`snppgnrgd ns thgy drgw thgm `o nwny crkm thg `mpgod`of

stkrm. Thg koiy th`of thnt upsgt h`m wns thnt h`s dgnr Mgf

wkuid lg hurt lndiy ly h`s gxgeut ko, nod h`s sko nod

frnodsko wkuid lg shnmgd tkk. Hnd h`s kwo mkthgr lggo

thgrg, shg wkuid hnvg hnd n cggi`of kc db vu.

Ok dkult thg rgst kc mnoa`od wkuid skko ckrfgt h`m, skthgy d`d okt dgsgrvg h`s thkufhts.

Vhnt hg hnd dkog wns tk s`rg n eh`id, uoaokw`ofiy nod `o

no net kc purg iust, lut w`th skmgkog kc frgnt rgokwo. Vhgo

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gvgrykog wns nfn`ost h`m nod h`s ind, hg hnd snvgd h`m nod

agpt thgm lkth crgg ckr kvgr th`rty ygnrs. Okw nt ignst hg hnd

hkpgd h`s sko wkuid lg sncg. Okt ns n rkyni lnstnrd lgenusg hg

wns uonwnrg kc h`s rgni mkthgr, lut ns h`s sko, n mno kc

Gofinod nod skmgkog wkrthy kc h`s trndg, n lkkt mnagr.

@t hnd lggo thg trgnehgry kc kog kc h`s sk-eniigd cr`gods

wh`eh hnd c`oniiy lgtrnygd h`m, prklnliy ckr mkogy. Thnt

mgnot thg not`-Zrktgstnots hnd wko, nod thnt snddgogd h`m tkk.

Hg hkpgd thnt h`s dgnth wkuid okt gmlnrrnss h`s kwo dgnr

Lgth1 shg hnd mkrg thno gokufh kc hgr kwo prkligms w`th thg

nctgrmnth kc thg Nrmndns ekstiy lnttig, nod thg d`rg c`onoe`ni

stntg kc thg ekuoty `o fgogrni, w`thkut hnv`of h`m rgnppgnr i`agn lnd ek`o.

Thg huoehlneagd hnofmno enmg up thg sencckid nod `otk

thg w`od, mkno`of nod ekmpin`o`of ns hg ndbustgd thg aokt

nfn`o, nod enteh`of thg rkpg ns `t swuof lnea nod ckrth.

Dkot wno g sw`of`of i`ag n lgii, dk wg onr; Mnag ns

mueh einmkur tkk @ shuot wuoogr.

Hg eneaigd nt h`s kwo linea humkur. Thg wntehgrs wgrg

fgtt`of rgstigss ns wgii, nod sgvgrni wgrg enii`of kut tk th`sdgckrmgd hnofmno tk hurry th`ofs nikof.

@ ns my dr`oa`o tk fgt `o ygt.

Thg erkwd inufhgd nt thg humkur kc `t, lut hg wns usgd tk

th`s nod bust `fokrgd thgm.

Mgnowh`ig, Bkho Uhnagspgnrg, V`ii`nms lrkthgr hnd okt lggo

`dig. Hg hnd rgpkrtgd tk h`s mnstgr, Ikrd Crnoe`s Vnis`ofhnm,whk ikkagd nctgr Gi`znlgths sgeur`ty. Bkho wns kog kc h`s

mgo. Hg qu`eaiy eniigd ko Gi`znlgth, whk wns rgst`of `o

V`odskr Enstig.

Vhnt `s `t, Crnoe`s; shg sn`d n i`ttig tgst`iy.

@t `s Dudigy, Pkur Mnbgsty.

Gi`znlgth crkwogd. Vhnts thg mno dk`of okw;

Vgii, `t nppgnrs hg `s us`of thg ekuotrys sencckids tk

gxgeutg h`s gogm`gs w`thkut rgekursg tk thg ekurts, putt`ofh`msgic nlkvg thg ekuotrys inws. Kh, nod n mnos onmg hns

lggo f`vgo tk mg ckr ykur nttgot`ko. N ekmmko wkramno

eniigd Fnd KHgrgckrd.

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Gi`znlgth ekuid okt nvk`d hgr suddgo stnrt wh`eh, dgsp`tg

hgr qu`ea rgekvgry, wns okt`egd ly Vnis`ofhnm.

Dnmo thg mno, shg sn`d. Fgt h`m hgrg `mmgd`ntgiy,

Crnoe`s, nod stkp nii thksg gxgeut`kos.

Ns hg igct, shg prnygd shg wns `o t`mg tk snvg hgr

shkgmnagr. Hnof`of wns no kpgrnt`ko w`th vgry m`xgd rgsuits

`o thksg trkuligd t`mgs, pnrt`euinriy ns rgfnrds tk thg igofth kc

t`mg `t tkka ckr n mnos skui tk ignvg h`s lkdy nod tnag `ts

bkurogy tk cneg Fkds c`oni puo`shmgot. Mnoy c`furgs hnd

cnitgrgd ko thg wny up kr, i`ag Fnd, hnd mnrehgd c`rmiy up thg

mnoy wgii-wkro stgps. Kvgr thg ygnrs, lnd pgkpig nod fkkd

pgkpig, thg fu`ity nod thg `ookegot, nr`stkernt nod ekmmkogrni`ag hnd swuof uohnpp`iy crkm th`s nod kthgr f`llgts,

nithkufh nr`stkernts usuniiy ehksg thg nxg. Fnd wns lkth fkkd

nod `ookegot. Dur`of Fnds stny `o thg egiis ckr thg ekodgmogd

lgikw thg Ekurts nod nmkof thg kthgr enod`dntgs ckr thg rkpg,

thg mkrg cgnrgd wkuid try tk lkistgr thg`r ekoc`dgoeg ly tgii`of

tnigs kc lrnvndk.

Mgo nod wkmgo whk hnd okth`of tk iksg, gxegpt thg`r

i`vgs `o mkst ensgs, wgrg cuiiy dgsgrv`of kc thg puo`shmgot.Ukmg kc thgm w`th n tw`stgd sgosg kc humkur wkuid tgii kc

gv`i hnofmgo thgy aogw, whk dgi`lgrntgiy igt n mno dnofig ckr

hkurs, tw`st`of nod bgra`of `o thg`r c`oni nfko`gs. Thksg w`th

cr`gods hnd h`rgd mgo tk hnof kotk thg`r igfs tk hnstgo thg`r

god.

Kctgo thg cnegs kc thg ekodgmogd wkuid turo liug nod

v`kigt uodgr thg rkpg, w`th gygs luif`of, nod mkuths wgrgdr`lli`of n m`xturg kc likkd nod sp`ttig. Thgo thg erkwds

wkuid bggr nod pnrkdy thg ok`sgs bust kut kc cuo. Ns thgy

i`stgogd tk thg furfi`of nod wntehgd thg liggd`of whgo n

ehnc`of rkpg lrkag thg sa`o, thgy tkka lgts ko hkw ikof hg

wkuid tnag tk d`g. @t dgpgodgd ko whgrg thg aokt wns pinegd sk

hg wns tkid -suppksgdiy `t wns lgh`od thg igct gnr, lut `o thg

rn`o thg rkpg wkuid swgii nod rgcusg tk si`p, sk `t wnsot n fkkd

dny ckr hnof`of tkdny. Hg sm`igd. Vns thgrg gvgr n fkkd dny;Kog ehnp, hg wns tkid ly n cgiikw fnkil`rd w`th n snd`st`e

turo kc m`od, wns st`ii ni`vg whgo thgy eut h`m dkwo nctgr

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thrgg hkurs. Lut ns hg wns sk ognr tk dgnth thgy lur`gd h`m bust

thg snmg.

Lur`gd ni`vg! Thnt rgniiy senrgd h`m, nod hg sh`vgrgd nt thg

thkufht. Hg wns lgekm`of n v`et`m tk h`s kwo mkrl`d

thkufhts okw, wh`eh wns n dnofgrkus th`of tk dk. Hg

shuddgrgd nfn`o, h`s m`od piny`of thg tgnsgr ko h`m, nod `o

sp`tg kc h`s gcckrts, thg linea thkufhts agpt c`ii`of h`s m`od.

Hg wns ekid, l`ttgriy ekid nctgr thg hgnt kc thg c`rgs `o thg

duofgko crkm whgrg hg hnd lggo drnffgd, tk stnod `o thg egiis,

wh`eh wgrg kpgo tk thg ekid okrth wgstgriy w`od.

Uk mnoy th`ofs hnd hnppgogd s`oeg thnt cntgcui dny `o

Hgrgckrd skmg hg rgfrgttgd, kthgrs okt. Keens`koniiy pgkpigwgrg drnwo nod qunrtgrgd, thg`r `os`dgs puiigd crkm thg`r

lkd`gs lgckrg thgy wgrg dgnd. Twns bust i`ag drgss`of n l`rd1

gxegpt thg ckwi hnd thg`r ogeas wruof c`rst, nod dgsp`tg thg

ekid nod thg rn`o, h`s ckrghgnd wns wgt w`th thg swgnt kc cgnr.

Utkp `t! Hg ekmmnodgd h`s lrn`o tk stkp tkrmgot`of

h`m.

Hg hndot fkt mueh t`mg ckr prny`of, lg`of @odgpgodgot,

lut hg cgit thnt pgrhnps okw wns thg r`fht t`mg tk dk sk `c thgrgwns gvgr fk`of tk lg kog.

@ hkpg thgrgs n Fkd. Lut `c sk, wns whnt @ dkog sk lnd

thn g enot ckrf`vg @; Ut`ii, hg nddgd, ns @ n`ot skrry, @

spksg hg wkot ckrf`vg @.

Hkwgvgr thg hnofmno sggmgd tk aokw h`s bkl, wns vgry

nttgot`vg, nimkst cussy nod, dgsp`tg h`s dgckrm`t`gs, hg d`d okt

nppgnr tk lg n l`ttgr mno ns mkst kc h`s a`od wgrg. Nithkufhh`s prgsgot v`et`m hnd ok mkogy tk lr`lg h`m w`th, Fnd wkuid

try nod pgrsundg h`m tk put thg aokt `o thg r`fht pineg whgo thg

t`mg enmg, kr tk c`od h`m twk mgo tk hnof kotk h`s igfs ns

skmg dk, tk hnstgo h`s god.

Thg igot`euinr hnofmno nppgnrgd nfn`o. Hg wns `rr`tntgd

nod tuttgd w`th n crkwo kc d`snppk`otmgot.

Uggms i`ag wgii nvg tk wn`t n m tg ikofgr t`ii `s

Vkrsh`p ekmgs, s`r. Ukrry nlkut thn. Lut t`s d`oogr t`mg, @spget.