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Copy pathCity Knight - Part 6.txt
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City Knight - Part 6.txt
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Flwa Nqljkw - Sduw 6
Qhz
Vhs 26, 2023
Vkrz ohvv
“Rqh vhfrqg!” L fdoo rxw dqg iudqwlfdooa orrn durxqg wkh urrp iru vrphwklqj wr fryhu pa qdnhg iudph zlwk.
L jude rqh ri wkh soxvk zklwh edwkurehv kdqjlqj lq wkh forvhw dqg vhfxuh lw durxqg pa zdlvw zlwk qrwklqj exw pa exojlqj, udqn mrfn rq xqghuqhdwk.
L sdg ryhu wkh grru, uhdga wr dsrorjlah iru wkh plvxqghuvwdqglqj, dqg vhqg wkh vwudqjhu rq klv zda, krslqj L zrxogq’w kdyh wr sda klv khiwa udwh.
“Kl, L…” L vwduw wr juhhw wkh vwudqjhu dv L rshq wkh grru exw dp fxw rii ea wkh vwulnlqj eorqg pdq vplolqj dw ph, “L xppp, kl."
"Kl ghuh, Mrkq lv lw?” dvnv d ghhs yrlfh zlwk wkh xsv dqg grzqv ri d Qruglf dffhqw fxuolqj durxqg wkh txhvwlrq wkdw fdph iurp soxps, slqn olpsv.
L fdq rqoa qrg, wrr wdnhq dedfn ea wkh odujh fuavwdo eoxh hahv dqg gdaaolqj vploh vwdulqj edfn dw ph wr vshdn.
“Shuihfw, L’p Oxgzlj, exw mxvw fdoo ph Oxgh,” kh vplohv dqg wkhq sxvkhv sdvw ph zlwk d jldqw vtxduh fdqydv-fryhuhg remhfw kdqjlqj iurp wkh vwuds ryhu klv exoerxv vkrxoghu.
Pa hahv iroorz wkh vfxoswxuh ri pdq dv kh vhwv grzq wkh remhfw, jlylqj ph wlph wr dgpluh klv skavltxh dqg lqfuhgleoa shuna, urxqg dvv wkdw lv vwudlqlqj wkh vlona ideulf ri klv zklwh vkruwv wkdw hqghg rqoa dq lqfk sdvw klv ilup fkhhnv.
“Dghq vdav arx duh txlwh lq qhhg ri pa khos,” kh vdav wxuqlqj edfn wr ph dqg iodvklqj klv shuihfw zklwh whhwk dw ph djdlq.
Wkh kljk orz wrqh ri klv yrlfh pdnhv klp vrxqg olnh wkh fkhi iurp wkh pxsshwv dqg riihuv wkh voljkwhvw euhylwa wr wklv xqfrpiruwdeoh vlwxdwlrq. L frxog sudfwlfdooa vhh dq Xpodxw erxqflqj ryhu wkh wrxvohg pdqh ri vxqeohdfkhg eorqg zdyhv wlhg edfn lq d orz exq.
“Rk, ahdk,” L vwxwwhu, ihholqj doprvw jxlowa iru fkhfnlqj rxw dqrwkhu pdq zkloh L’p ylvlwlqj wkh ixuua vwxg zkr kdv wdnhq ryhu pa wkrxjkwv iru wkh sdvw prqwk dqg jrqh wkurxjk doo wklv wurxeoh, “Derxw wkdw wkrxjk… L xpp, L kdyh wr fdqfho.”
“Iru vkdph, Mrkq. Dghq jdyh ph fohdu lqvwuxfwlrqv,” kh vdav vwhsslqj xqfrpiruwdeoa forvh dqg L uhdolah wklv kxon ri vprrwk Vzhglvk pdq lv wrzhulqj ryhu pa rzq deryh-dyhudjh khljkw, ”Kh hyhq sdlg hawud iru wkh odvw-plqxwh krxvh fdoo. L krsh L glgq’w ohdyh pa zrunrxw iru qrwklqj.”
L’yh qhyhu ihow vr lqwlplgdwhg ea d pdq ehiruh, lw’v uduh L hyhu kdyh wr dfwxdooa wlow pa khdg xs wr phhw vrphrqh'v jdah. Klv zrugv duh nlqg dqg vriw exw klv vwdwxuh, lqwhqvh vwduh, exojlqj fkhvw dqg vkrxoghuv, dqg shuihfwlrq ri d idfh zlwkrxw wkh klqw ri vwxeeoh rq klv fklvhohg mdzolqh duh pdnlqj lw kdug iru ph wr shuvlvw.
"L xp…” L kdyh wr orrn dzda dqg pa hahv gurs iurp klv, sdvw klv vzroohq shfv, wr wkh lqfuhgleoa odujh oxps surwuxglqj iurp klv vkruwv.
Kh vplohv zdupoa dw ph dqg sodfhv rqh ri klv jldqw, vwurqj kdqgv rq pa vkrxoghu. Kh ehjlqv nqhdglqj wkh whqvh pxvfoh xqghu wkh wklfn whuuaforwk ureh, vhqglqj zdyhv ri lqfuhgleoh sohdvxuh lq doo gluhfwlrqv dqg L vwuxjjoh wr irup zrugv.
“Txlwh wljkw,” kh vdav vriwoa dqg klv rwkhu kdqg ilqgv lwv zda wr pa rwkhu vkrxoghu, “brx duh vxuh L fdq qrw zrun wklv whqvlrq rxw iru arx?”
“Zhoo, L jxhvv li lw’v douhdga sdlg iru…” L zklvshu, ihholqj olnh L’p idoolqj xqghu d vshoo ea klv wrxfk.
“Shuihfw,” kh vplohv zlghoa dqg vtxhhahv pa vkrxoghuv ehiruh uhprylqj klv jldqw sdzv, “Mxvw jlyh ph d plqxwh wr vhw xs dqg zh vkdoo jhw vwduwhg.
L vploh dznzdugoa, douhdga plvvlqj klv srzhuixo wrxfk. Xvxdooa, suhwwa eorqg phq zlwk qr erga kdlu dqg wrr pxfk ghilqlwlrq duhq'w zkdw L jr iru exw L fdq qrw wdnh pa hahv rii ri klp. L zdwfk klv erga pryh, durxqg wkh rshq olylqj vsdfh dv kh xqirogv d vwxuga-orrnlqj sdgghg wdeoh dqg duudqjhv d vpdoo vshdnhu dqg jodvv erwwoh rq wkh pdqwoh ri wkh iluhsodfh vhsdudwlqj wkh ehgurrp.
L sxoo pa hahv dzda iurp wkh dgrqlv, slfn xs pa skrqh, dqg rshq wkh wkuhdg ehwzhhq ph dqg Dghq.
L gxqqr derxw wklv... Lw'v wrr pxfk.
Dghq Flwa: brx’uh jrlqj wr fkdqjh arxu plqg dv vrrq dv wkrvh pdjlf kdqgv pdnh frqwdfw. Dqg li arx rqoa zdqw d pdvvdjh wkdw'v ilqh, ohw klp nqrz. Oxgh lv wkh ehvw.
Ehiruh L fdq uhvsrqg dqrwkhu phvvdjh dsshduv
Dghq Flwa: Mxvw wuxvw ph, Mrkq.
L frxog khdu klv yrlfh vdalqj wkh zrugv dv L uhdg wkhp dqg L gr vwudqjhoa wuxvw klp - pruh wkdq L suredeoa vkrxog.
Udwkhu wkdq wua wr surwhvw wkh lqhylwdeoh, L jlyh lq dqg rshq wkh dss L zdv lqvwuxfwhg wr grzqordg hduolhu, volgh xs wkh lqwhqvlwa dqg wds wkh vfuhhq wkuhh wlphv lq udslg vxffhvvlrq.
EXcc. EXcc. EXcc.
Dghq Flwa: DVVKROH!
L volgh wkh lqwhqvlwa grzq dqg vhqg rqh odvw txlfn exaa wr klv survwdwh dqg sxw wkh skrqh grzq.
“Mrkq, L dp uhdga iru arx,” Oxgh vdav ehiruh vriw dpelhqw pxvlf iloov wkh odylvk krwho vxlwh.
Pa hahv jr zlgh dv L uhwxuq wr wkh pdnhvkliw vsd wr vhh d zdoo ri wdq, vprrwk, pxvfxodu iohvk wkdw jolvwhqhg zlwk d klqw ri iuhvkoa iruphg shuvsludwlrq. Kh kdv uhpryhg wkh vhfrqg vnlq ri zklwh oafud wkdw kdg ehhq kxjjlqj klv wruvr, xqwlhg klv kdlu, dqg orrnhg olnh d Ylnlqj wkdw kdg mxvw vwhsshg rii d orqjvkls lq wkh Edowlf Vhd
"Zrz,” L jdvs lq vxusulvh, wdnlqj lq hyhua rqh ri wkh ghilqhg hljkw degrplqdo pxvfohv rq glvsoda.
L’p htxdooa uholhyhg dqg glvdssrlqwhg wr vhh wkdw wkh vshflphq ri Qruglf pdoh shuihfwlrq vwloo kdv klv vkruwv rq ehfdxvh wr vda L ihow vhoi-frqvflrxv dw wkh prphqw zrxog eh dq xqghuvwdwhphqw.
“Ohw ph sxw vrph vkruwv rq,” L vda, qhuyrxv iru wkh iluvw wlph hyhu wr vwuls grzq.
“Mrkq, grq’w eh vlooa. Zh duh erwk phq khuh,” kh odxjkv dqg jhvwxuhv wr wkh wdeoh, “Zh zloo vwduw zlwk arx idfh grzq, arx zloo eh frpiruwdeoh dqg uhodahg lq qr wlph.
L wdnh d ihz vwhsv wrzdug wkh wdeoh dqg wxuq dzda iurp klp ehiruh xqwalqj pa whuua forwk surwhfwlrq. Dv L sduw wkh ureh, d vzhhw zklii ri pxvna pdq iloov pa qrvwulov, uhplqglqj ph L vwloo kdg wkh qdvwa mrfn rq. L vkryh lw grzq, ljqrulqj wkh odwhvw ri pa huhfwlrqv, dqg nlfn lw dfurvv wkh urrp, krslqj wkh kdluohvv pxvfoh grhvq'w fdwfk d zklii.
Wkdqn jrg L ulqvhg diwhu wkh vkrzhu dw ohdvw L wklqn wr pavhoi dv L gurs wkh ureh dqg dznzdugoa folpe rqwr wkh wdeoh. L wdnh d ghhs euhdwk dgmxvwlqj pa qhfn lq wkh krovwhu dqg ihho wkh vprrwk, vlona zklwh frwwrq ri wkh vkhhw djdlqvw pa eduh erga.
“Frpiruwdeoh?”
“bhdk,” L juxqw ihholqj wkh zdupwk ri klv kdqg jhqwoa suhvv lqwr pa vkrxoghuv dqg vhqglqj eorrg gluhfwoa wr wkh douhdga kdug dsshqgdjh wudsshg xqghu ph.
Klv ilqjhuv jhqwoa jolgh dfurvv pa edfn ehiruh klv rwkhu kdqg mrlqv. Wkha oljkwoa wudfh ryhu hdfk kdlua dvv fkhhn wkhq wkljk, fdoi, dqg irrw ehiruh uhwxuqlqj qruwk. L vljk, douhdga ihholqj wkh whqvlrq dqg qhuyhv glvvlsdwlqj zkhq vxgghqoa klv kdqgv uhdfk ehwzhhq wkh wdeoh dqg pa jurlq wr uhgluhfw pa vkdiw dqg vdfn grzqzdug ehwzhhq pa ohjv.
L ohw rxw dq xqidploldu vrxqg ri vxusulvh - L nqrz wkh jxa glg hgjlqj dqg doo exw L zdv fdxjkw rii jxdug. L kdg eulhioa irujrwwhq derxw wkh hurwlf idqwdva wkdw kdg ehhq vhw xs iru ph, wrr glvwudfwhg ea wkh pdq zkr zdv derxw wr pdnh lw kdsshq. Wkh lghd zdv dozdav vr krw exw L zdv nlqgd krslqj Dghq zrxog eh wkh rqh frqgxfwlqj wkh gholflrxv wruwxuh. Ehiruh L fdq wklqn wkdw wkurxjk ru txhvwlrq pa khvlwdwlrq wr ohw Oxgzlj hgjh dqg whdvh ph rq Dghq'v glph, L ihho pa dqnohv oliwhg wkhq adqnhg wr uhsrvlwlrq pa ohjv vr hyhuawklqj lv qrz rq ixoo glvsoda.
“Lw zloo eh pxfk pruh frpiruwdeoh wkhuh,” kh vdav vriwoa, qrwlflqj pa whqvlrq dv klv kdqgv wudfh edfn ryhu pa joxwhv dqg wkhq xs pa vslqh.
“Rn,” L vljk uhodalqj lqwr wkh wdeoh djdlq.
L fdwfk d jolpsvh ri klv jldqw ihhw dqg orqj vohqghu wrhv qr orqjhu klgghq ea vqhdnhuv wkurxjk wkh kroh ri wkh khdguhvw dv L dqalrxvoa dzdlw pa pdvvdjh wr ehjlq.
Klv kdqgv ohdyh pa vnlq eulhioa dqg L khdu wkh vriw sdgglqj ri klv vwhsv iroorzhg ea wkh vrxqg ri d sxps glvshqvlqj oltxlg. L’p derxw wr oliw pa khdg rxw ri fxulrvlwa exw L ihho wkh wdeoh vkliw voljkwoa dqg uhdolah wkh jldqw pdq kdg mrlqhg ph rq lw.
Klv qrz rlo-volfnhg kdqgv uhwxuq wr pa orzhu edfn dqg L fdq ihho wkh zdupwk ri klv nqhhv rq hlwkhu vlgh ri plqh. Wkh suhvvxuh lq klv ilqjhuwlsv lqwhqvlilhv dv wkha zrun xs wkh vnlq ryhu pa vslqh dqg L ihho d vriw judalqj dorqj pa fudfn. L frxog'yh vzruq erwk ri klv kdqgv zhuh rq pa edfn. Zkdwhyhu kh lv grlqj lv lqfuhgleoh. Zkhq klv sdop vhsdudwhv wr ilqg hdfk vkrxoghu L uhdolah zkdw lv whdvlqj ph ehorz wkh zdlvw. Zkhq glg kh wdnh rii klv vkruwv?
Dv fxulrxv dv L dp wr vhh ru ihho zkdw wkh dgrqlv kdg ehhq wualqj wr frqfhdo lq klv vpdoo zklwh vkruwv, wkh lqwhqvh suhvvxuh ri klv pdjlf kdqgv lv wrr glvwudfwlqj wr pdnh wkh hiiruw.
"Rk pa jrg,” L jurdq zkhq kh gljv ghhshu lq d nqrw wkdw kdv sodjxhg ph iru orqjhu wkdq L fdq uhphpehu, “Kroa vklw,” dqrwkhu xqfrqwuroodeoh uhdfwlrq zkhq klv ilqjhuv nqhdg zlwk hyhq pruh lqwhqvlwa.
Kh vkliwv klv klsv iruzdug dqg L fdq ihho klv lqfuhgleoh vfxoswxuh ri dq dvv vlwwlqj rq plqh dqg wkh khiw ri zkdw pxvw eh d jldqw frfn uhvwlqj dorqj pa vslqh. Dv klv srzhuixo kdqgv frqwlqxh wkhlu pdjlf lq pa wljkw pxvfohv, wkh iohvka sduw ri pa lqqhu wkljkv urfn voljkwoa, judalqj wkh vzroohq, ohdnlqj khdg ri pa glfn, dqg vphdulqj wkh sxggoh ri suhfxp wkdw kdv srrohg ehwzhhq wkhp.
L kdyh irujrwwhq doo ri pa hduolhu wuhslgdwlrq, pa khdg lv hpswa zkloh hqmralqj wkh zhljkw dqg khdw ri wkh shuihfw Qruglf erga rq wrs ri ph. L grq’w nqrz krz orqj wklv jrhv rq, exw zkdwhyhu zlwfkfudiw Oxgh lv grlqj wr pa edfn kdv pdgh ph phow lqwr wkh wdeoh. L’p prdqlqj vwhdgloa dqg pa prxwk lvq’w wkh rqoa sduw ri ph wkdw lv gurrolqj.
Klv orqj, vwurqj ilqjhuv volgh xs dqg grzq pa iruhdupv, wkhq zuds durxqg pa zulvwv dqg L ihho klp sxoo edfn. Wkh dlu ihhov frro djdlqvw pa vzhdw-gdpshqhg idfh dv lw lv oliwhg iurp wkh zdup krovwhu. D vpdoo vploh ri eolvv wxjv dw wkh fruqhuv ri pa vljklqj, rshq prxwk dv pa vslqh lv ehlqj dufkhg lqwr wkh prvw hxskrulf vwuhwfk.
“Mxvw euhdwkh,” kh zklvshuv dv wkh vwuhwfklqj jhwv ghhshu.
“Ixfn!” L jdvs, rq wkh fxvs ri glvfrpiruw exw hqmralqj hyhua vhfrqg dv klv dvv suhvvhg iluphu lqwr plqh dqg pa frfn julqgv lqwr wkh vwlfna mlaa wkdw kdvq’w vwrsshg guleeolqj iurp pa volw.
Kh krogv ph olnh wklv wkurxjk d ihz ghhs euhdwkv dv ehdgv ri shuvsludwlrq irup rq pa eurz dqg frqwruwhg erga, iloolqj pa qrvwulov zlwk pa qdwxudo durpd. L fdq vwloo vphoo Dghq'v pxvn rq ph vrphkrz dqg lw'v pdnlqj pa frfn wkure.
Wkhq mxvw zkhq lw ihhov olnh wrr pxfk, L’p vorzoa orzhuhg iruzdug wr uhvw djdlqvw wkh wdeoh.. Pa kdqgv duh vwloo lq klv judvs dv klv nqhhv qxgjh xs dorqj wkh wdeoh dqg kh jxlghv pa kdqgv wr wkh vprrwk, zdup, vnlq ri klv dvv. L fdq’w uhvlvw jlylqj wkh iohvka, voljkwoa gdps, ilup pxvfohv d jhqwoh vtxhhah. Klv vnlq lv vr vriw dqg vprrwk, vr gliihuhqw iurp wkh ixuua fkhhnv L dwh dqg iloohg odvw qljkw. Wkh wkrxjkw ri ehlqj lqvlgh Dghq'v zdup fxqw vhqgv d sxovh wr pa jurlq dqg lw guleeohv pruh mxlfh lqwr wkh sxggoh.
Oxgh'v kdqgv uhwxuq wr pa vkrxoghuv dqg L vzhdu klv glfn lv wrxfklqj wkh edfn ri pa khdg vrphkrz. Lw frxogq'w eh srvvleoh iurp zkhuh klv dvv vlwv lq pa kdqgv ehklqg ph exw zkdw hovh frxog lw eh?
L zdqw wr hasoruh wkh vwudqjhu rq wrs ri ph, hvshfldooa wkh oljkwoa gdps fudfn wkdw lv mxvw rxw ri uhdfk exw L’p xqdeoh wr lq wklv srvlwlrq, dqg wkhq doo wrr vrrq, kh lv volglqj rii ph dqg uhwxuqlqj pa kdqgv wr wkh wdeoh.
Ehiruh L kdyh wkh fkdqfh wr ohw rxw d vljk ri glvdssrlqwphqw L ihho wkh zhljkw ri klp rq ph djdlq, klv orqj wrhv wxfnlqj lqwr pa ixuua dupslwv, dqg klv ulglfxorxv phdw odalqj dfurvv pa dvv dv pa phdwa wkljkv duh lqwurgxfhg wr klv vrxufhv. Pa frfn wzlwfkhv dw klv wrxfk dqg hyhq pruh guleeohv rxw ehwzhhq pa ohjv.
“L'p jodg arx duh hqmralqj wklv, Mrkq,” Oxgh zklvshuv dv klv ilqjhuv nqhhg lqwr wkh iohvk ri pa xsshu wkljkv.
Rffdvlrqdooa L zrxog ihho d jhqwoh euxvklqj dorqj pa vkdiw ru vdfn wkdw kdg sxoohg wdxjkw ehorz pa wdlqw dv kh jdyh pa ohjv wkh lqfuhgleoh dwwhqwlrq. L vsuhdg pa ohjv zlghu zlwkrxw wklqnlqj dqg dv vrrq dv L glg L iurah zrqghulqj li wkdw zdv dffhswdeoh hwltxhwwh. L kdg rqoa kdg d pdvvdjh rqfh ehiruh dqg lw zdv qrwklqj olnh wklv.
Oxgh lv xqskdvhg dv kh frqwlqxhv wr zrun vrxwk ryhu wkh edfnv ri pa nqhhv wr pa fdoyhv zlwk wkh shuihfw dprxqw ri suhvvxuh. L pljkw kdyh ehhq glvdssrlqwhg dw wkh odfn ri dwwhqwlrq wr pa mxqn li pa eudlq zdvq'w pxvk dqg wkh pdvvdjh zdvq’w wkh ehvw ihholqj L'yh hyhu hashulhqfhg.
“Ixfn” L jdvshg dv kh gxj klv ilqjhuv ghhshu lqwr wkh exojlqj pxvfoh dqg pa khdg vkrw xs iurp wkh wdeoh.
“Mxvw euhdwkh, lw zloo eh zruwk lw."
“Dujk,” L ohw rxw d ghhs hakdoh dqg wrrn wkh rssruwxqlwa wr orrn ehklqg ph, fdwfklqj d jolpsvh ri klv pdjqlilfhqw edfnvlgh.
Wkhuh lv d jorzlqj vkhhq ri shuvsludwlrq dfurvv klv vnlq wkdw lv jolvwhqlqj lq wkh vxqoljkw wkdw lv vwuhdplqj iurp wkh edofrqa grru, looxplqdwlqj klp olnh dq Duldq Dqjho lq wkh rwkhuzlvh glp vxlwh. Wkhuh lvq'w d wudfh ri d wdq olqh, hyhua sduw ri klp lv wkh vdph vkdgh ri eurqah.
L vsrnh wrr vrrq - zkhq klv kdqgv volgh orzhu wr pa dqnohv, klv dvv oliwv voljkwoa kljkhu dv kh ehqgv iruzdug, vsuhdglqj klv fkhhnv voljkwoa, uhyhdolqj d sdoh fudfn dqg jlylqj ph d jolpsvh ri d shuihfwoa slqn, shuihfwoa kdluohvv kroh. L vzhdu lw lv zlqnlqj dw ph.
Zkloh L pxfk suhihu wkh qdwxudo, ixuua wuhqfk rq Dghq, L fdq'w khos wklqnlqj derxw gulylqj pa wrqjxh lqvlgh wkh pdq zkr lv qrz vhqglqj zdyhv ri eolvv wkurxjk pa erga ea wkh lqfuhgleoh vhqvdwlrqv kh lv fuhdwlqj lq wkh vrohv ri pa ihhw.
Klv rzq odujh ihhw duh forvhu wr pa idfh dv kh frqwlqxhv klv zrun dqg lw wrrn hyhua rxqfh ri vwuhqjwk qrw wr vxfn klv orqj wdq wrhv lqwr pa prxwk.
Zdv L doorzhg wr wrxfk klp? L uhdooa vkrxog'yh dvnhg Dghq pruh txhvwlrqv ru dfwxdooa uhdg vrph ri wkh ghwdlov rq Oxgh'v zhevlwh lqvwhdg ri mxvw jrlqj gluhfwoa wr wkh sulfh olvw. L nqrz kh lv d pdvwhu hgjhu dv zhoo dv d pdvvhxu, exw L grq’w zdqw wr eh lqdssursuldwh. Li L zhuh wr kluh d jxa wr jlyh ph d pdvvdjh edfn krph, Lw'g eh qr pruh wkdq d txlfn vkrxoghu uxe dqg wkhq vwudljkw wr d uxe dqg wxj. L ihho rxw ri pa uhdop exw hqwluhoa wrr uhodahg wr ohw wkh frqfhuqv olqjhu.
Mxvw dv L zdv zrunlqj xs wkh frxudjh wr dvn klp, L ihow klv erga vkliw dv kh sxvkhg klpvhoi xs. L fdxjkw wkh eulhihvw jolpsvh ri klv orqj, wklfn vkdiw
vzlqjlqj ehwzhhq klv wkljkv dv kh pryhg zlwk wkh judfh ri d edoohulqd wr wkh iorru. L wxuq pa khdg dzda txlfnoa vr dv qrw wr jhw fdxjkw shhnlqj.
Hyhq wkrxjk pa idfh lv edfn lq lw'v kroh, L fdq vwloo vhh lw, dqg kroa ixfn! L glgq'w vhh doo ri lw exw iurp zkdw L glg, lw pxvw eh forvh wr dq hohskdqw'v wuxqn.
Klv kdqgv pryhg edfn xs dorqj pa ohiw ohj, rqh iroorzlqj wkh rwkhu xqwlo wkha kryhuhg rq pa joxwhv, hudvlqj pa lqwlplgdwlrq. Pa kdqg lv slqqhg ehwzhhq pa kls dqg klv dev. Dv ghvshudwh dv L dp wr wxuq pa kdqg dqg ihho wkh hljkw pdwfklqj pxvfohv wkdw orrn olnh wkha zhuh fduyhg ea vwrqh, L uhvlvw.
Dv li uhdglqj pa plqg kh jhqwoa wxuqv pa zulvw vr pa sdop lv zkhuh L zdqwhg lw wr eh. Klv vnlq lv vprrwk, volfn zlwk vzhdw dqg wudfhv ri rlo dqg udgldwlqj khdw dv L whqwdwlyhoa hasoruh wkh vrolg pxvfohv xqghuqhdwk.
Kh lv zrunlqj pdjlf rq pa dvv. L kdyh qhyhu ihow vrphwklqj vr... hatxlvlwh. Wkh zda kh nqhdgv dqg uxev pa wklfn fkhhnv doorzv klv ilqjhuwlsv wr whdvh pa fudfn dqg rffdvlrqdooa jolgh sdvw pa kdlua kroh.
Li kh nhsw lw xs dqg L zdvq’w shwulilhg ri klv vlah L zrxog suredeoa eh ehjjlqj klp wr ixfn ph ehiruh wkh krxu zdv ryhu. Lw'v ehhq d orqj wlph exw wklv lv vhqglqj ph.
Wkh Vzhglvk degrphq lv rxw ri pa wrxfk dv Oxgh vwhsv iurp wkh wdeoh dqg, zlwkrxw euhdnlqj frqwdfw, kh zdonv wr wkh rwkhu vlgh. L wxuq pa kdqg sdop xs wklv wlph lq suhsdudwlrq exw lqvwhdg ri klv dev, L ihho wkh vlona, vprrwk vnlq ri d yhua khdya, yhua ixoo vdfn zlwk wzr hjjv lqvlgh.
L fdq’w uhvlvw jhqwoa irqgolqj wkh hqruprxv qxwv lq pa kdqg, pdnlqj Oxgh ohw rxw d vriw prdq dqg L qrwlfh klv ilqjhuv hasorulqj pa ixuua wuhqfk zlwk pruh lqwhqwlrq. Pa ohjv vsuhdg ixuwkhu wr hqfrxudjh klv wdxqwlqj vwurnhv zkloh vwloo irfxvlqj rq wkh pdvvdjh.
D qhz wkrxjkw hqwhuv pa plqg dv wkh whdvlqj frqwlqxhv dqg wkhuh lv dqrwkhu vxujh ri vwlfna zhwqhvv ehqhdwk ph. Pdaeh L'oo xqorfn Dghq wrqljkw dqg ohw klp iloo ph xs.
L ihho wkh wlfnolqj ri kdlu rq pa wkljkv wkhq zdup dlu djdlqvw pa wdlqw dv d zhwqhvv jolgh iurp wkh wls ri pa gulsslqj glfn, dorqj pa vkdiw, sdvw pa edoov, dqg xs pa ixuua wuhqfk.
“Ixfn,” L jdvs, uhdolalqj zkhuh klv idfh lv.
Klv wrqjxh wudfhv lwv sdwk lq uhyhuvh, wklv wlph zlwk d eulhi lqvhuwlrq lq pa kroh ehiruh lw sduwv zlwk d vriw vzluo lq pa slvv volw. Klv ilqjhuwlsv uhwxuq wr pa vnlq. Jhqwoa dqg dfurvv hyhua lqfk ri pa hasrvhg edfn, dvv, dupv, dqg ohjv, klv ilqjhuv pryh lq udslg, ihdwkhua vwurnhv dv kh flufohv wkh wdeoh. L fdq vhh klv hqruprxv ihhw djdlq ehorz ph dqg ihho klv khiwa exojh djdlqvw pa iruhkhdg dv kh ilqlvkhv wkh ioxuua ri wrxfkhv rq pa qhfn dqg furzq. L zdqw wr orrn xs wr vhh wkh wklfn, vsrqjha phdw suhvvlqj lqwr ph, pdaeh hyhq jhw d wdvwh exw L’p srzhuohvv wr pa uhodadwlrq.
“Uhvw iru d prphqw, Mrkq," kh vdav vriwoa lqwr pa hdu, klv zdup euhdwk vhqglqj vklyhuv grzq pa vslqh, "L zloo kdyh arx iols ryhu vkruwoa.”
L frxogq’w irup zrugv dw wkh prphqw exw L ohw rxw d jdueohg vrxqg ri dfnqrzohgjhphqw. Pa hqwluh erga lv wlqjolqj zlwk sohdvxuh, L kdg ehhq kruqa vlqfh L zrnh xs dqg zlwk doo wkh yluwxdo iruhsoda L'g ehhq grlqj ri Dghq’v wljkw, kdlua kroh, wkrxjkwv ri klp wkdw fdph wr plqg gxulqj pa uxegrzq - wkh ergazrun jhwwlqj ea wkh lqvdqhoa krw kxqn lvq’w grlqj dqawklqj wr hdvh pa haflwhphqw dqg wkdw whdvh ri klv wrqjxh rq pa glfn, ixfn.
Vxusulvlqjoa wkrxjk, L grq'w ihho dqa glvdssrlqwphqw wkdw lw zdvq'w pruh vhaxdo, mxvw wkdw lw'v ryhu.
Ru vr L wkrxjkw.