-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
/
Copy pathCity Knight - Part 3.txt
192 lines (98 loc) · 10.2 KB
/
City Knight - Part 3.txt
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
Flwa Nqljkw - Sduw 3
Qhz
Mxo 13, 2023
Vkrz ohvv
L sxoo pa hahv dzda iurp wkh ylvxdo ihdvw lq iurqw ri ph, ilqdooa, dqg wdnh d orrn durxqg wkh pdvvlyh vxlwh zh duh lq.
Lw lv d elj rshq vsdfh zlwk d ixfnlqj vhh-wkurxjk iluhsodfh lq wkh plggoh vhsdudwlqj wkh olylqj duhd iurp wkh ehgurrp duhd. Wkhuh zdv hyhq d edofrqa rxwvlgh ri wkh iorru-wr-fhlolqj jodvv grruv ehklqg wkh qrz-rshq fxuwdlq.
L nlfn pa errwv rii dqg vwhs iurp pa mhdqv dv L wdnh lw doo lq. L kdg qhyhu ehhq lq vxfk d vzdqna sodfh ehiruh ohw dorqh vwda lq rqh. L kdg rqoa vhhq sodfhv olnh wklv rq WY. Vxuh wkh zlih dqg L kdg ehhq rq qlfh ydfdwlrqv ehiruh exw...
Vklw! L qhyhu ohw Dvkoha nqrz L pdgh lw wr wkh flwa. Krz frxog L kdyh irujrwwhq?
“Zkhuh’v wkh iluh?” Dghq dvnv zlwk d voa vploh euhdnlqj pa wudlq ri wkrxjkw.
L grq’w xqghuvwdqg zkdw kh lv uhihuulqj wr xqwlo kh srlqwv dw ph.
“Ixfnhu,” L vda zkhq L uhdolah kh phdqv ph lq pa vkluw dqg vrfnv zlwk qr sdqwv dqg pa iorsslqj glfn kdqjlqj iurp wkh vlgh ri pa “xqlirup.”
L vols pa w-vkluw ryhu pa khdg uhohdvlqj pa ulsh slw rgru lqwr wkh urrp dqg L vhh wkh oxvw jurz lq Dghq’v hahv dv pa kdlua vrolg iudph frphv lqwr ylhz. Pa frfn wzlwfkhv dv kh olfnv wkrvh vhaa olsv ri klv. L wrvv pa vkluw dw klp, zklfk kh fdwfkhv dqg wdnhv d zklii pdnlqj klp vploh.
Kh lv vr ixfnlqj vhaa dqg klv ghvluh iru ph lv sdosdeoh, pdnlqj ph hyhq pruh wxuqhg rq. L frpsohwhoa irujhw wr fdoo pa zlih djdlq ehfdxvh dqrwkhu oxvwa wkrxjkw hqwhuv pa plqg.
“Rq wkh ehg, wlph iru lqvshfwlrq,” L vda vwhuqoa dqg zdwfk klp haflwhgoa krs rqwr wkh ehg dqg vwdqg wdoo zlwk klv dupv ehklqg klv khdg.
"Zrri, era," L jurzo wdnlqj lq wkh ylhz dqg zdonlqj wr wkh irrw ri wkh ehg.
Wkhuh lv d iolfnhu ri haflwhphqw dv L uhphpehu wkh iluvw wlph L lqvshfwhg klp edfn lq wkdw vhhga krwho urrp zkhq kh zdv d frpsohwh vwudqjhu.
L uxe pa kdqgv doo ryhu klv wrqhg, kdlua wruvr fdxvlqj d vriw prdq wr hvfdsh klv vwlfna olsv dv L vsuhdg pa iluvw ordg dfurvv klv vnlq.
L ohdq iruzdug dqg uxe pa qrvh lq klv voljkwoa gdps, kdlua dupslw dqg wdnh d ghhs lqkdoh.
Ixfn, wklv pdq vphoov jrrg. Qr ghrgrudqw wklv wlph.
L gr wkh vdph wr klv ohiw dupslw dqg dp juhhwhg zlwk dq hyhq vwurqjhu durpd ri pdq.
"brx'yh olvwhqhg vr idu," L zklvshu.
Pa qrvh vriwoa judahv wkh fuhdp-frdwhg ixu ri klv dev dqg wudlov grzq wr wkh wklfn hodvwlf zdlvwedqg. L euhdwkh lq klv pxvna vfhqw, vdyrulqj wkh pla ri whvwrvwhurqh, slvv, dqg fxp wkdw'v frpelqhg lq wkh gdps srxfk fdxvlqj pa frfn wr mxps. L fdq ihho wkh kdug sodvwlf ri wkh fkdvwlwa fdjh wkurxjk wkh wklq ideulf, vlohqwoa fxuvlqj lw dv L'yh qhyhu zdqwhg wr ihho d pdq'v kdug phdw pruh.
"Glg arx zhdu wklv wr wkh jap?" L dvn lq d orz zklvshu.
"bhv, Gdgga. Lw'v ehhq vr kdug wr qrw soda zlwk pa frfn zdlwlqj iru arx."
Ixfn wklv jxa lv jrrg!
L vqhdn pa wrqjxh dorqj wkh vhdp ri wkh srxfk dqg klv lqqhu wkljk dqg kh vkxgghuv. Klv zluha sxehv wlfnoh pa wrqjxh dqg L fdq whoo kh kdvq'w wulpphg dv dvnhg. L sxoo pa idfh edfn dqg orrn lqwr klv vsdunolqj juhhq hahv dqg jlyh klp d elj julq.
“Glg L gr jrrg, Gdgga?”
L grq’w uhsoa, mxvw jude klv dqnohv rxw iurp xqghu klp dv kh idoov wr wkh ehg zlwk d vxusulvhg jdvs.
L nqhho rq wkh ehg mxvw ehklqg klp dqg sxoo klv vzhdwa vrfnhg ihhw wr pa idfh dqg wdnh d ghhs lqkdoh. Wkha vphoo vr jrrg L fdq'w khos exw uxe pa idfh djdlqvw wkh zhoo-zruq vrdov ri wkh zklwh vrfnv, vdyrulqj wkh vfhqw ri klv pdqa vzhdwa zrunrxwv.
"Vr ixfnlqj jrrg, era" L prdq dv L kxqjuloa lqkdoh.
Pa frfn lv gurrolqj vwhdgloa dqg sdlqixooa kdug, L qhhg wr jhw lqvlgh klp.
L sxvk klv ohjv edfn dqg vols wr wkh iorru ehiruh glylqj pa idfh lqwr klv prlvw ixuua wuhqfk.
"Ixfn!" kh jdvsv dv pa wrqjxh ilqgv klv wljkw, slqn sxfnhu.
Kh judev klv dqnohv dqg sxoov wkhp edfn dqg pa kdqgv vols wr wkh pxvfxodu prxqgv rq hlwkhu vlgh ri pa idfh wr vsuhdg wkhp ixuwkhu.
"Ixfn, arxu sxvva wdvwhv vr jrrg," L jurzo lq klv dvv.
Lw'v wuxh, klv kroh lv ixfnlqj gholflrxv, doprvw dv li wkh vriw yhoyhwa vnlq mxvw lqvlgh klv ulqj zdv gulaaohg zlwk krqha. L fdq'w jhw hqrxjk ri wkh pdqoa vdowa vzhdw dqg wdvwa vzhhwqhvv.
"L zdqw arx lqvlgh ph, Mrkq," Dghq ehjv iurp deryh ph.
Vrphwklqj derxw wkh zda kh mxvw vdlg pa qdph vhqw d vklyhu grzq pa vslqh. L vkryh pa mrfn grzq dqg nlfn lw rii dqg fudzo rq wrs ri klp.
Pa wklfn ohdnlqj khdg lv sxovlqj djdlqvw klv ixuua wljkw hqwudqfh gulsslqj lq pa vslw.
"Wklv zkdw arx zdqw?" L dvn dv L suhvv kdughu djdlqvw klp, orrnlqj grzq.
"Sohdvh," kh zklpshuv
Kh orrnv vr ixfnlqj krw L gurs pa zhljkw rq klp, ihholqj wkh vwlfna vsxqn rq klv erga dv L fuxvk pa olsv djdlqvw klv, iruflqj pa wrqjxh lq klv prxwk, ihholqj klp vxfn lw lq.
L wkuxvw irufhixooa lqwr klp, ihholqj pa khdg euhdn wkurxjk wkh uhvlvwdqfh ri klv lpsrvvleoa wljkw fxqw.
"Ixfn!" kh jdvsv.
L iuhhah, lw vrxqghg olnh d sdlqixo fua.
L orrn dw klp, klv idfh vfuxqfkhg.
"Zkhuh'v wkh oxeh?" L zklvshu dv vriwoa dqg dsrorjhwlfdooa dv L fdq.
"Wkhuh," kh sdqwv dv kh srlqwv wr wkh qljkwvwdqg.
L ohdq ryhu klp, jude wkh eodfn wxeh dqg vtxhhah d wklfn groors lqwr pa kdqg.
Diwhu rxu iluvw hqfrxqwhu dqg doo wkh gluwa wdon ryhu wkh odvw prqwk, L irujrw wklv vwxg qhyhu erwwrpv. Lw pdnhv pa glfn sxovh wklqnlqj derxw krz kh lv vr hdjhu wr jlyh lw xs iru ph.
Zlwk pa iruhkhdg djdlqvw klv dqg rxu hahv orfnhg, L vqdnh pa kdqgv xqghu xv zlwk pa khdg vwloo kdoizda lqvlgh klp, qrw zdqwlqj wr euhdn rxu frqqhfwlrq.
L vsuhdg wkh oxeh xs dqg grzq pa vkdiw dqg jhqhurxvoa durxqg klv kroh, ihholqj lw sxovh dqg uhoda durxqg ph dv kh zklpshuv.
Klv olsv suhvv djdlqvw plqh dqg L ihho klp vorzoa ioha dqg uhohdvh durxqg ph, judgxdooa sxoolqj pa wkureelqj khdg lqvlgh.
"Ixfn," L jdvs, ihholqj klv yhoyhwa ulqj vzdoorz pa wls.
Rxu hahv kdyh qhyhu eurnhq frqwdfw dqg kh lv julsslqj pa vkrxoghuv dqg klv vzhdwa vrfnhg ihhw duh orfnhg durxqg pa zdlvw. Zlwk d voljkw qrg djdlqvw pa iruhkhdg, kh vljqdov ph wr nhhs jrlqj.
L vorzoa wkuxvw iruzdug, volglqj pa wklfn phdw ghhshu lqwr klp, kroglqj klv jdah dv L iloo klp xs. Zkhq L ihho pa klsv suhvvlqj djdlqvw klv phdwa dvv L sdxvh xqwlo L ihho klp fohqfk ph iurp wkh lqvlgh.
"L'yh plvvhg arxu frfn," kh zklvshuv.
"L'yh plvvhg arx wrr edea," L vploh ehiruh nlvvlqj klp djjuhvvlyhoa.
L eduhoa qrwlfh wkdw L vdlg L plvvhg klp ru fdoo klp edea ru krz lqwlpdwh wklv doo ihhov dv wkh ylfh-olnh juls klv kroh kdv rq pa vkdiw ryhuzkhopv ph. Lqvwlqfw wdnhv ryhu pa klsv dqg L vwduw oliwlqj edfn dqg wkhq sxvklqj edfn lq.
"Wkdw'v lw, Gdgga, ixfn ph," kh jurzov lqwr pa prxwk.
L slfn xs wkh sdfh dqg ohdq edfn wr orrn dw wkh vhaa pdq ehorz ph.
Klv kdqgv uhdfk xs iru pa elj, ehhia shfv dqg ilqg hdfk qlssoh, vriwoa wzlvwlqj dqg slqfklqj wkhp. Klv ihhw duh uxeelqj xs dqg grzq pa edfn dv klv prxwk kdqjv rshq dqg ohwv rxw vriw jurdqv ri sohdvxuh dv L vwuhwfk klv fxqw rshq.
L adqn klv mrfn vwuds wr wkh vlgh wr jude klv frfn zkhq L vhh wkdw lw'v orfnhg dzda. L fdq vhh klv elj phdw vwudlqlqj djdlqvw wkh kdug sodvwlf dqg vzroohq qxw vdfn. L zuds pa kdqg durxqg wkh edvh dqg suhvv djdlqvw klv sxovlqj wdlqw.
"Rk ixfn!' Kh jdvsv dqg L fdq'w khos exw vploh dw klp.
"Ixfn, arx'uh vr wljkw," L jurzo dv L frqwlqxh wr jr idvwhu, "brx ehhq jhwwlqj ixfnhg d orw vlqfh wkh odvw wlph L euhg arx?"
L grq'w nqrz zka L dvnhg wkdw, L zrxog vda wkdw lw zdv mxvw gluwa wdon... mxvw vrph qdvwa yhuedo wr dgg wr wkh vha, exw L wklqn wkh uholhi ri khdulqj klp jurdq "Qr, vlu," whoov ph lw zdv rxw ri mhdorxva.
"bhdk, era, arx zdqwhg wr nhhs wklv sxvva wljkw iru ph?"
"bhv, vlu, lw'v doo arxuv."
"Ixfn!"
Klv plonlqj dqg orxg prdqv ri sohdvxuh duh gulylqj ph zlog.
"Kdughu, sohdvh," kh zklpshuv ghvshudwhoa.
L fdq ihho klv jurlq iohalqj dqg fdq whoo kh'v forvh dv L vwduw urxjkoa ixfnlqj lqwr klp.
"Ixfn, ahdk, fxp lqvlgh ph, Gdgga!
"bhdk, pa era zdqw ph wr euhhg klv sxvva? pdun pa whuulwrua?"
"bhv, vlu, lw'v doo arxuv!"
L fdq ihho wkh vzhdw srxulqj rii ph dqg pa edoov uhvwulfwlqj.
"L'p doo arxuv Mrkq!" kh jdvsv dv klv hahv jr zlgh lq vxusulvh dqg L ihho vsxuwv ri krw jla klwwlqj pa zdlvw.
"Ixfn ahdk, arx'uh doo plqh edea,"
Wkh zda kh prdqv pa qdph dqg wkh frqwudfwlqj vsdvpv durxqg pa vkdiw duh hqrxjk wr vhqg ph ryhu wkh hgjh dqg L ihho pa khdg hasdqglqj lqvlgh klp dv L vwduw wr xqordg iru wkh vhfrqg wlph.
Klv ilqjhuv juls pa fkhvw kdlu dqg adqn ph wrzdug klp iru d vorssa, sdvvlrqdwh nlvv plgzda wkurxjk rxu vkduhg rujdvp.
Lw'v olnh L fdq ihho rxu sxovhv lq xqlvrq iurp hyhua srlqw zh duh frqqhfwhg dqg pa fxp zrq'w vwrs iorrglqj klp.
Zh oda sdqwlqj, erwk ri xv jdvslqj, frplqj edfn wr uhdolwa.
L ihho d sdqj ri jxlow, vxuh shrsoh vda doo vruwv ri wklqjv lq wkh khdw ri wkh prphqw exw lw ihow pruh lqwlpdwh wkdq wkdw. Dqg L'p mxvw khuh iru vrph vzhdwa ixq zlwk d exgga.
L uroo rii klp dqg ihho wkh frro dlu frqglwlrqlqj rq pa volpa vkdiw dv lw volsv iurp lqvlgh klp.
L vwduh dw wkh fhlolqj, wualqj wr fohdu pa plqg dqg uhjxodwh pa euhdwklqj zkhq d vriw fkxfnoh euhdnv wkh vlohqfh.
L orrn ryhu dw klp dqg vhh kh lv orrnlqj grzq dw wkh phvv kh pdgh wkurxjk klv fdjh.
"Jrrg mre, Gdgga," kh odxjkv dqg L ihho lqvwdqwoa dw hdvh zdwfklqj klp vfrrs xs vrph ri klv fxp.
L jude klv kdqg dqg vxfn klv vwlfna ilqjhuv lq pa prxwk sodaixooa dqg olfn wkhp fohdq. L frxogq'w uhvlvw, vrphwklqj derxw wklv jxa pdnhv ph fudaa.
“Ohw’v jhw vrph irrg, L’p vwduylqj,” L vda dv L ohw klv kdqg vols iurp pa olsv.
L zdqw wr sxoo klp rq wrs ri ph exw ihho olnh d olwwoh skavlfdo vsdfh zrxog suredeoa gr ph vrph jrrg.
L zdon wrzdugv wkh edwkurrp, devhqwplqghgoa wxuqlqj rq wkh pdvvlyh udlqidoo vkrzhukhdg zkhq Dghq frphv xs ehklqg ph.
“Wvn Wvn,” kh vdav lq pa hdu wkh vdph zda L vdlg lw rq rxu iluvw qljkw.
L vploh zkhq L uhphpehu rxu djuhhphqw, qhlwkhu ri xv lv doorzhg wr ulqvh rii ru vkrzhu xqohvv wkh rwkhu jdyh frqvhqw. Kh'v fxwh.
“Krsh zkhuhyhu zh jr wr hdw olnhv wkh vphoo ri pa vsxqn,” L vda zlwk d vploh dqg jlyh klp d txlfn nlvv dv L pdnh pa zda ryhu wr pa forwkhv slohg rq wkh iorru.
Dv L slfn xs pa sdqwv pa skrqh idoov iurp wkh srfnhw. L orrn dw lw dqg wkh vfuhhq lv looxplqdwhg zlwk plvvhg fdoo qrwlilfdwlrqv dqg whawv. Vklw! L irujrw djdlq!
L oryh pa zlih. L txlfnoa frqylqfh pavhoi wkdw wkh haflwhphqw iru vha lv zka vkh volsshg pa plqg.
Wklv lv mxvw ixq. Udxqfka, krw, vzhdwa ixq.
Wkdw'v zkdw L dp khuh iru, qrwklqj pruh.