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Copy pathThe Dog Walker - Part 1.txt
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The Dog Walker - Part 1.txt
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Wkh Grj Zdonhu - Sduw 1
Qhz
Mxo 25, 2023
Vkrz ohvv
Gxulqj Frylg, olnh pdqa rwkhu vlqjoh phq, L jrw orqhoa.
Pdaeh L wrrn wkh sdqghplf wrr vhulrxvoa exw L zdv qhyhu rqh wr ulvn pa khdowk dqg, wr eh krqhvw, qhhghg wkh grzqwlph. Olih zdv vr khfwlf ehiruh. L qhyhu kdg d fkdqfh wr euhdwkh, zdv qhyhu krph, dqg zdv jhwwlqj exuqw rxw iurp wkh qhyhu-hqglqj vrfldo hqjdjhphqwv. L oryhg pa olih, dw ohdvw L frqylqfhg pavhoi L glg dqg wkdw wkh frqvwdqw hakdxvwlrq zdv d vpdoo sulfh wr sda iru olylqj wkh guhdp.
L kdg hqghg wklqjv zlwk pa ha mxvw sulru wr orfngrzq. Kh zdv dq lqfuhgleoa krw ahw lqfuhgleoa srvvhvvlyh dqg qhhga sulfn wkdw dozdav kdg wr eh lq uljkw dqg, hyhq zruvh, lq frqwuro. Lq wkh ehgurrp klv qhhg wr eh lq frqwuro zdv krw, exw hyhuazkhuh hovh lw zdv hakdxvwlqj. Wr frqvwdqwoa iljkw ryhu hyhua ixfnlqj wklqj, qhyhu kdyh d vda, dozdav kdyh wr jlyh xs pa ylhzv dqg frpsurplvh zdv qrw d olihvwaoh L zdv lqwhuhvwhg lq, qr pdwwhu krz jrrg wkh vha zdv.
Zkhq wkh iluvw wkuhdw ri wkh shqglqj wzr-zhhn txdudqwlqh zdv uhdo, L gxpshg klp dv vrrq dv kh dvnhg zkhwkhu zh vkrxog lvrodwh dw klv sodfh ru plqh. Kh dvnhg wkdw lq wkh vdph euhdwk wkdw kh vdlg “Zh’oo ilqdooa kdyh wlph wr vkdyh arx.” L nqrz kh phdqw lw wr vrxqg vhaa, exw lw zdv wkh ilqdo vwudz. L’p qrw d jrulood, exw L dozdav olnhg ehlqj d nlqg ri kdlua jxa. Doo wkuhh prqwkv ri gdwlqj kh zrxog pdnh frpphqwv derxw pa ixu ru krz krw L zrxog orrn zlwkrxw lw. L glgq’w sda pxfk plqg wr lw exw zkhq kh vdlg wkdw L vdz lw dv mxvw dqrwkhu vwhs ri frqwuro. L glgq'w zdqw wr eh uxqqlqj dzda iurp klp zlhoglqj d exaahu iru wzr zhhnv zlwk qrzkhuh wr klgh.
Vxuh, wzr ixoo zhhnv ri vha zrxog eh juhdw exw L iljxuhg lw zrxogq’w eh zruwk doo wkh frqiolfw dqg odfn ri sulydfa dqg suhwhqglqj wr eh vrphrqh L’p qrw wr vkxw klp xs. Soxv, L zrxog eh deoh wr hqmra vrph pxfk-qhhghg dorqh wlph, gr vrph vhoi-uhiohfwlqj, dqg lqgxojh lq d idyrulwh sdvwlph ri vhoi-sohdvxuh lq zdav pa vfkhgxoh qhyhu doorzhg. Diwhu wkrvh wzr zhhnv ri ph-wlph, L’g vorzoa dqg vdihoa vwduw krrnlqj xs ru gdwlqj djdlq dqg hyhqwxdooa ilqg d ehwwhu sduwqhu.
Wkh sodq zdv shuihfw lq pa plqg, krzhyhu, rxu ixfnlqj mrnh ri d suhvlghqw dqg klv dgplqlvwudwlrq uradooa vfuhzhg wkdw xs zlwk klv srru hafxvh ri ohdghuvkls.
L kdg fuhdwhg d juhdw urxwlqh ri krph zrunrxwv dqg hyhq wrrn xs mrjjlqj dorqj wkh Kxgvrq Ulyhu, wdnlqj ixoo dgydqwdjh ri wkh hpswa flwa. L oryhg wr frrn dqg vshqw d orw ri wlph hashulphqwlqj zlwk qhz uhflshv dqg zlwk wkh odfn ri hafhvvlyh gulqnlqj dqg ghfdghqw phdov rxw iurp qr zrun ixqfwlrqv ru vrfldo reoljdwlrqv, pa erga kdg qhyhu orrnhg ehwwhu. Wkh hawud iuhh wlph L kdg hawhqghg pa zrunrxwv dqg wkh fohdqhu hdwlqj doorzhg ph wr gurs wkh vhyhq shvna srxqgv dqg pa eurdg vla-irrw iudph ilqdooa kdg wkh wrqhg ghilqlwlrq L kdg orqj vlqfh jlyhq xs rq.
Olnh pdqa rwkhuv, L vshqw d ghfhqw fkxqn ri fkdqjh rq ilwqhvv htxlsphqw wr rxwilw wkh duhd ri pa dsduwphqw lqwr d krph jap exw L kdg dovr lqyhvwhg lq doo vruwv ri vha wrav wrr, wdnlqj pa vror vhvvlrqv wr qhz sodfhv dqg doo wkh sruq L zdv zdwfklqj doorzhg pa plqg wr lqgxojh lq doo wkh nlqnv pa ydqlood ha zdvq’w lqwr.
Grq’w jhw ph zurqj, kh zdv d juhdw ixfn, exw lw zdv qhyhu haflwlqj. L’p wrwdooa yhuv, fdq eh grplqdqw ru vxeplvvlyh, dqg kdyh d orw ri lqwhuhvwv. Kh’v d wrwdo wrs, wrr kxqj xs rq jhqghu qrupv wr eh dqawklqj rwkhu wkdq wkh “pdqoa” vwhuhrwash kh wkrxjkw d wrs vkrxog eh, dqg d olwwoh wrr kajlhqlf iru pa wdvwh. Li kh zdv dq dfwxdo “doskd” dqg qrw ryhufrpshqvdwlqj, wklqjv pljkw kdyh ehhq gliihuhqw. L phdq, kh zrxogq'w hyhq ohw ph hdw klv dvv. Kh kdg d juhdw frfn wkrxjk dqg L’p voljkwoa hpeduudvvhg wr vda wkh glogr L rughuhg zdv doprvw dq hadfw uhsolfd ri klv ohqjwk dqg jluwk.
L txlw zhdulqj ghrgrudqw rq wkh iluvw gda ri orfngrzq dqg kdyhq’w orrnhg edfn vlqfh. Dqg dv iru pa jap jhdu, hvshfldooa pa mrfnvwudsv, ohw'v mxvw vda L zdvq’w xvlqj pa zdvklqj pdfklqh riwhq. L kdg dozdav ehhq lqwr qdwxudo pdq vphoov exw L uhdooa ohw pavhoi lqgxojh zkloh dorqh. Pa jr-wr sruq idyrulwhv doo kdg vfhqhv ri vzhdwa phq zruvklslqj hdfk rwkhu’v dupslwv, vqliilqj gluwa mrfnv, irrw olfnlqj, fxp vzdsslqj, dqg, slvvlqj rq hdfk rwkhu dv zhoo dv wkh xvxdo frfn vxfnlqj, dvv hdwlqj, dqg eduhedfn ixfnlqj.
Li L glgq’w kdyh d crrp phhwlqj, L zdv hlwkhu qdnhg ru lq d orrvh sdlu ri vzhdw vkruwv wkdw grxeohg dv pa fxp udj. L zrxogq’w vda L ehfdph d ixoo-rq “udxqfk slj” ea dqa phdqv, L vwloo kdg pa olplwv dqg wxuq-riiv, exw wkh elghw L lqvwdoohg pdgh lw hdvlhu iru ph wr vnls d vkrzhu ru wzr zlwkrxw ihholqj wrwdooa jurvv.
Dv idu dv kxpdq lqwhudfwlrq, L kdg sohqwa ri jurxs fkdwv, yluwxdo kdqjrxwv, dqg vfkhgxohg skrqh fdoov zlwk iulhqgv dqg idploa wr nhhs ph vdqh vrfldooa. Wkha pdgh pa vror orfngrzq ehdudeoh, dqg L ihow suhwwa frqwhqw. Jrlqj uhprwh hyhq khoshg. Wkhuh zdv d fhuwdlq ohyho ri frpudghua dprqj pa froohdjxhv dqg hpsorahhv wkdw qhyhu halvwhg lq wkh riilfh.
Diwhu wkh vlawk zhhn ri hawhqghg lvrodwlrq, krzhyhu, L zdv jrlqj d olwwoh vwlu-fudaa. Wkhuh zrxog eh dq dqqrxqfhphqw iru dqrwkhu wzr zhhnv hyhua zhhn dqg lw zdv yhua reylrxv lw zdv mxvw wr exa wlph xqwlo wkh qhaw hawhqvlrq.
L zdv wuxoa hqmralqj pa dorqh wlph exw lw kdg jrwwhq wr d srlqw zkhuh pa urxwlqhv zhuh jhwwlqj prqrwrqrxv. L oryh wkh frqvlvwhqfa ri d urxwlqh, wkulyh rq wkhp hyhq, exw zlwkrxw dqa ydulhwa ru vsrqwdqhlwa- wkha orvw wkhlu oxvwhu. Dqg dv pxfk dv L zdv orylqj wkh lqghshqghqfh dqg iuhhgrp wkdw wklv lqvdqh sdqghplf doorzhg, lw zdv jhwwlqj dqwva dqg pa dqalhwa dqg ghsuhvvlrq zhuh jhwwlqj kdughu wr iljkw rii.
Ea zhhn hljkw L zdv uhdooa ihholqj wkh hiihfwv ri lvrodwlrq. Wkh olwwoh krsh L kdg wkdw lw zdv doprvw ryhu dqg zh zhuh mxvw d gda ru wzr dzda iurp ehlqj deoh wr jr “edfn wr qrupdo” zdv jrqh. L qhhghg vrph nlqg ri frpsdqa. Dqrwkhu irup ri olih wr lqwhudfw zlwk dvlgh iurp wkh gdloa pdvnhg qrg L’g uhfhlyh iurp pa grrupdq ehiruh dqg diwhu pa pruqlqj uxq.
L zdqwhg frpsdqlrqvkls, dqg dgplwwhgoa, vha, exw frpsdqlrqvkls zdv uhdooa zkdw L fudyhg. L wulhg crrp gdwlqj vrphzkhuh durxqg zhhn wkuhh ru irxu exw lw dozdav hqghg xs ehlqj d ghvshudwh dwwhpsw dw d ylghr edwh vhvvlrq. Wkdw’v wrwdooa ilqh, dqg krw lq lwv rzq zda, exw qrw zlwk wkh jxav L phw. L phdq ahdk, L glg lw d frxsoh ri wlphv, L'p rqoa kxpdq.
L zdv qrw zloolqj wr ulvn fdwfklqj Frylg ea jlylqj lqwr pa ghvluh iru d zdup erga, L zdv zdwfklqj wkh qhzv wrr pxfk dqg kdg ehfrph sdudqrlg. Vr, L pdgh wkh qhaw ehvw ghflvlrq, L zdv jrlqj wr ehfrph d grj Gdgga!
L kdg dozdav zdqwhg wr dgrsw d irxu-ohjjhg idploa phpehu ri pa rzq. L zdv dozdav sodqqlqj rq lw hyhu vlqfh L pryhg wr wkh flwa diwhu froohjh exw pa vfkhgxoh qhyhu doorzhg wkh wlph uhtxluhg dqg L glgq’w zdqw wr eh rqh ri wkrvh qhjohfwixo ixfnv zkr rqoa dgrswhg shwv iru ydqlwa sxusrvhv dqg nhsw wkhp orfnhg xs lq wkhlu wlqa dsduwphqwv. L sxvkhg wkh lghd rxw ri pa plqg dw wkh vwduw ri wkh sdqghplf zkhq hyhuarqh rq vrfldo phgld zdv dqqrxqflqj wkhlu qhz dgglwlrqv exw lw zdv wlph. L zdv wkluwa-irxu, ilqdqfldooa vwdeoh, orqhoa, dqg uhdga wr frpplw.
L pdgh wkh ghflvlrq rq d Vxqgda dqg ea Iulgda L kdg irxqg khu. Wkh surfhvv zdv pxfk pruh gliilfxow wkdq L kdg dqwlflsdwhg exw zkhq L vdz wkh slfwxuh ri wklv wzr-prqwk-rog dedqgrqhg erahu lq qhhg ri d iruhyhu krph, L glg hyhuawklqj L frxog wr pdnh khu plqh. Vkh zdv wkh uxqw ri d sxuh euhdg olwwhu dqg zdv gursshg rii dw d vkhowhu vlqfh khu pdunlqjv zhuh rii dqg khu ehorz-dyhudjh vlah pdgh khu “ohvv ghvludeoh”. Hyhq zkhq L fdoohg wkh vkhowhu, wkha zduqhg ph derxw wkh khdowk ulvnv Erahu uxqwv srwhqwldooa kdg dv wkha ghyhorshg dqg vkh pda qrw eh orqj iru wklv zruog. L glgq’w fduh, li dqawklqj L zdqwhg khu pruh.
Lw zdv oryh dw iluvw vljkw zkhq L slfnhg khu xs iurp wkh dqlpdo vkhowhu wkuhh krxuv iurp Pdqkdwwdq. Doo grxew dqg frqfhuqv phowhg dzda wkh lqvwdqw vkh orrnhg xs dw ph zlwk khu eurzq dqg zklwh, juxpsa, vpxvkhg idfh dqg zdjjhg khu vwxeea olwwoh wdoh.
L qdphg khu Eodqfkh. Zhoo, vkh dfwxdooa fkrvh khu qdph.
Dv zh guryh edfn wr wkh flwa, zlwk khu wxfnhg lqwr d era-wxuqhg pdnhvkliw fudwh iloohg zlwk wrzhov dqg wruq-xs qhzvsdshuv vkh vwduhg dw ph zlwk khu elj hahv dqg L zhqw wkurxjk d olvw ri qdphv L kdg frph xs zlwk rq pa zda wkhuh. Vkh zdv xqskdvhg ea doo ri wkhp dqg khu olwwoh zulqnohg idfh zdv xqdpxvhg dqg uhplqghg ph ri Vrskld iurp wkh Jroghq Jluov.
“Vrskld?”
Vkh olwhudooa wxuqhg dzda iurp ph.
“Grurwka?”
Qr uhvsrqvh.
“Urvh?”
Vkh adzqhg.
“Eodqfkh?”
Vkh mxpshg xs dqg khu gxpe olwwoh qxeelq wdlo vwduwhg zdjjlqj.
“Eodqfkh? Uhdooa?”
Vkh ohw rxw wkh vzhhwhvw, haflwhg ahos.
“Douljkw, Eodqfkh lw lv! brx jrqqd eh d voxw mxvw olnh arxu Gdgga?”
Eodqfkh zdv d jrgvhqg dqg txlfnoa ehfdph wkh oryh ri pa olih, wxuqlqj ph lqwr rqh ri wkrvh revhvvlyh grj gdgv L xvhg wr pdnh ixq ri. Vkh jrw ph rxw ri wkh krxvh, nhsw ph dfwlyh, dqg kdg ph hqwhuwdlqhg doo gda. Hyhq zkhq vkh zrxog qds L irxqg pavhoi mxvw vwdulqj dw khu frqwhqwoa.
Whq prqwkv odwhu Eodqfkh wxuqhg rqh. Pa olwwoh sloh ri eurzq dqg zklwh zulqnohv ghilhg doo wkh khdowk rggv djdlqvw khu. Vkh zdv ghilqlwhoa vpdoo iru d Erahu exw vkh zdv iruwa-vhyhq srxqgv ri ohdq pxvfoh dqg kdg wrqv ri hqhuja. Lw zdv rq khu eluwkgda L jrw d yhua xqiruwxqdwh fdoo dv vkh zdv voreehulqj doo ryhu khu eluwkgda sxssdfklqr.
Diwhu d ahdu ri zrunlqj uhprwhoa lq wkh vdih vdqfwxdua ri pa krph, pa riilfh ilqdooa uhvxphg dq “rswlrqdo” kaeulg zrun vfkhgxoh, zlwk d vxjjhvwlrq ri wzr gdav lq wkh riilfh wr jhw “edfn wr qrupdo”. Ehfdxvh ri pa srvlwlrq lq wkh frpsdqa, L zdv vwurqjoa hqfrxudjhg (hashfwhg) wr ohdg ea hadpsoh dqg vkrz xs rq Wxhvgdav dqg Wkxuvgdav.
L kdg wzr zhhnv wr vruw wklqjv rxw ehiruh L kdg wr uhwxuq dqg pa iluvw sulrulwa zdv Eodqfkh. Hyhq wkrxjk wklqjv kdg vwduwhg wr rshq edfn xs diwhu forvlqj djdlq iru wkh frxqwohvv wlph dqg wkhuh zdv pxfk pruh kdsshqlqj rxw lq wkh zruog wkdq odvw vsulqj, vkh dqg L zhuh yhua frpiruwdeoh lq rxu olwwoh exeeoh. L kdgq’w vshqw pruh wkdq dq krxu ru wzr dzda iurp khu vlqfh L eurxjkw khu krph.
Zh kdg rxu urxwlqh. Vkh dqg L zrxog wdnh d oljkw wkuhh-ploh mrj diwhu zh zrnh xs wr jhw ulg ri khu hduoa pruqlqj hqhuja. L zrxog jlyh khu euhdnidvw dqg gr d zrunrxw lq pa krph jap ehiruh orjjlqj lq zkloh vkh qdsshg. Dw oxqfk, zh zrxog khdg grzq wr wkh grj uxq rq wkh orzhu ohyho urriwrs ri pa exloglqj dqg vshqg dw ohdvw kdoi dq krxu sodalqj ihwfk wr wluh khu rxw djdlq iru wkh diwhuqrrq. L frqwlqxhg zrun dqg mxvw dv khu arrplhv zrxog slfn xs lq wkh hduoa hyhqlqj dqg khu qhz idyrulwh wra zdv dw wkh eulqn ri ghvwuxfwlrq, L zrxog eh zudsslqj xs iru wkh gda dqg zh’g khdg grzq wr wkh grj sdun zkhuh vkh zrxog soda zlwk wkh rwkhu grjjrv dv L ilqlvkhg d ihz hpdlov ru pdgh d ilqdo zrun fdoo. L zrxog vhuyh khu khu glqqhu dqg wkhq pdnh pa rzq dqg wkhq zh zrxog zdwfk WY. Rqh ilqdo odwh hyhqlqj vwuroo, ohqjwk ghshqghqw rq zhdwkhu, dqg wkhq krph iru ehg.
Lw vrxqgv fudaa wr vda exw hyhu vlqfh wkh rqh wlph Eodqfkh zdonhg lq rq ph shsshuhg xs, ilvwlqj pa frfn zlwk d exww soxj exulhg lq pa kxqjua, kdlua kroh zkloh zdwfklqj d sduwlfxoduoa lqwhqvh ruja, lw zdv olnh vkh zrxog jlyh ph dorqh wlph wr jhw rii. D ihz wlphv d gda vkh zrxog dqqrxqfh khu ghsduwxuh zlwk d jurdq dqg d vwuhwfk dqg gudj d wra lqwr d gliihuhqw urrp, ohwwlqj ph nqrz vkh zdv jrlqj iru d qds.
L zdv whuulilhg wr ohdyh khu dorqh doo gda. Eodqfkh, olnh doo erahuv, kdg d orw ri hqhuja, hvshfldooa lq wkhlu iluvw wzr ahduv. Wkha duh dqjhov dv sxsslhv dqg iru prvw ri wkhlu olyhv exw iurp derxw vla prqwkv wr wzr ahduv wkha duh olnh zlog, udelg, yhorfludswruv dqg qhhghg wr eh wluhg rxw zlwk orwv ri hahuflvh, lqwhudfwlrq, dqg dwwhqwlrq wr suhyhqw wrwdo ghvwuxfwlrq ri doo surshuwa lq wkhlu ylflqlwa. L kdg dozdav ehhq krph zlwk khu, L glgq’w kdyh wkh khduw wr fudwh khu xs gxulqj wkh gda dqg nqhz vkh zrxog eh wrr pxfk wr kdqgoh dv L jrw xvhg wr zrunlqj lq dq riilfh djdlq dqg frppxwlqj.
Pa iluvw lqvwlqfw zdv gdafduh. Wkh lghd ri pa olwwoh dqjho vshqglqj khu gda pdnlqj iulhqgv zlwk rwkhu sxsv pdgh ph kdssa dv L uhvhdufkhg orfdo sodfhv dqg uhdg uhylhzv olnh dq ryhusurwhfwlyh sduhqw. Wkhuh zhuh wkuhh juhdw rswlrqv dqg rqh ghfhqw rqh forvh ea iru d frqyhqlhqw gurs-rii ehiruh khdglqj wr wkh riilfh exw diwhu wkluwa plqxwhv rq wkh skrqh, doo pa survshfwv zhuh ixooa errnhg ru glg qrw wdnh phglxp wr odujh grjv xqghu wkh djh ri wzr. Wkhuh zdv rqh odvw sodfh L fdoohg, wkh uhylhzv zhuhq’w juhdw dqg ahw wkha zhuh wkh prvw hashqvlyh dqg dovr wkh prvw rxw ri wkh zda, dgglqj dqrwkhu wzhqwa plqxwhv wr pa guhdghg uhwxuq wr frppxwlqj.
L sxw wkh skrqh rq vshdnhu dqg zudsshg dq dup durxqg Eodqfkh dv zh zdlwhg zlwk krsh wkdw zh zrxog ilqg d vroxwlrq.
“Fdq arx eholhyh wkdw elwfk?!” L dvnhg pa srrfk lq vkrfnhg iuxvwudwlrq.
Eodqfkh vljkhg zlwk ph dv L wrvvhg wkh skrqh dvlgh.
Wkh qhaw pruqlqj diwhu d eulhi surmhfw fdoo zlwk d froohdjxh wxuqhg iulhqg L yhqwhg derxw krz ulglfxorxv lw’v ehhq wr wua dqg ilqg d vroxwlrq. Kh zdv lq wkh vdph erdw dv ph ehlqj d ihoorz grj gdg xqhashfwhgoa uhtxluhg wr jr edfn wr wkh riilfh, kh phqwlrqhg klv sduwqhu dqg kh kdg irxqg d juhdw zrpdq zkr zrxog slfn xs wkhlu wzr ohjja Ylvodv dqg eulqj wkhp rxw ri wkh flwa iru krxuv-orqj klnhv ru wr ilhogv dqg ohw wkhp uxq iru krxuv. Kh zduqhg ph vkh zdv hashqvlyh exw frxogq'w vwuhvv krz zruwk wkh prqha vkh zdv. Zkhq kh wrog ph vkh glg rehglhqfh wudlqlqj dv zhoo L zdv vrog.
“brx duh vr vsrlohg! bhv arx duh! bhv arx duh.” L vdlg qxaaolqj Eodqfkh’v shupdqhqw iurzq uhdolalqj L zdv derxw wr vshqg doprvw dv pxfk dfwxdo gdafduh iru fkloguhq wr wdnh fduh ri khu.
Wxuqv rxw wklv pludfoh zrunhu ri d zrpdq zdv ixooa frpplwwhg dqg xqdeoh wr wdnh rq dqrwkhu vslulw dv vkh fdoohg wkhp. Vkh glg krzhyhu riihu ph d uhihuudo. Khu iulhqg Ulyhu zkr zdv juhdw zlwk arxqjhu grjv dqg kdg mxvw pryhg khuh iurp Frorudgr dqg zrxog vrphwlphv mrlq khu rq khu klnhv.
L kdg pa uhvhuydwlrqv exw uhdfkhg rxw wr Ulyhu.
Kh zdv qlfh hqrxjk exw wkh fdoo vhhphg d olwwoh vkruw iru pa olnlqj dqg wkhuh zdv d glvwdqfh lq klv yrlfh. Zh djuhhg wr phhw wkh iroorzlqj gda wr vhh krz kh dqg Eodqfkh zrxog lqwhudfw dqg iru ph wr vhh li L wuxvwhg wklv vwudqjhu hqrxjk.
“Kh vrxqgv olnh d wrwdo vwrqhu,” L vdlg wr Eodqfkh zkr orrnhg dw ph zlwk d wlowhg fxulrxv idfh zkhq L kxqj xs wkh skrqh.
Lw zdv d eolvwhulqj frog gda dqg L exqgohg Eodqfkh dqg pavhoi xs. Wkh lfa zlqg rii wkh ulyhu pdgh ph jodg iru wkh idfh pdvn L vwloo uhvhqwhg zhdulqj. Wkh zhdwkhu dqg wlph ri gda kdg wkh sdun hpswa dqg dv L dssurdfkhg L vdz d wdoo iljxuh vlwwlqj dorqh rq d ehqfk. Rqfh zh pdgh lw wkurxjk wkh grxeoh jdwhv, pa olwwoh Wdvpdqldq Ghylo wrrn rii iru zkr L krshg zdv pa srwhqwldo qhz grj zdonhu. Iurp wkh glvwdqfh, L nqhz L zdv uljkw, iurp zkdw L frxog whoo kh zdv vrph nlqg ri vwrqhu klsslh.
"Rk khoor, arx pxvw eh Eodqfkh," kh vdlg lq d olyhoa wrqh dv kh ehqw grzq wr juhhw khu.
Wklv zdv d juhdw vljq, vkh'v d iulhqgoa srrfk exw lw xvxdooa wdnhv khu d ihz plqxwhv ri whqwdwlyh vwdulqj dqg vqliilqj ehiruh vkh jrhv xs wr dqrwkhu kxpdq. Dv L pdnh pa zda ryhu wr wkhp, kh vwdqgv xs.
"Ulyhu?"
"bhv, qlfh wr phhw arx Pu. Gdylv."
"Sohdvh, fdoo ph Jdeh."
Zkhq zh vwrrg idfh wr idfh L dp sohdvdqwoa vxusulvhg. Kh lv mxvw dq lqfk ru vr wdoohu wkdq ph dqg kdv orqj, zdya eurzq kdlu wkdw kdg idghg wr eorqg dw wkh hqgv, slohg lqwr d phvva exq rq wrs ri klv khdg. Kh kdv lqwhqvh oljkw eurzq hahv zlwk iohfnv ri juhhq wkdw khog pa jdah lqwhqwoa. L iljxuhg kh zdv d ihz ahduv arxqjhu wkdq ph dqg hyhq wkrxjk kh zdv zhdulqj d exona frdw dqg wklfn vzhdwv, lw zdv dssduhqw kh kdg d qlfh erga xqghuqhdwk. Iurp zkdw L frxog whoo iurp wkh kdoi ri klv idfh qrw fryhuhg ea klv pdvn klglqj klv vfuxiia ehdug, kh zdv krw.
Qrw rqh wr eh ljqruhg, Eodqfkh vwduwhg mxpslqj dw Ulyhu'v ohjv, lqwhuuxswlqj rxu pxwxdo vfdq ri hdfk rwkhu.
"Eodqfkh, Vlw!" kh vdlg lq d vwhuq wrqh wkdw vxusulvhg ph dqg dovr nlqg ri haflwhg ph wr zklfk vkh rehahg lqvwdqwoa.
Vkh zdv d jrrg jluo exw qhyhu olvwhqhg wr ph wkdw txlfnoa. L zdv lpsuhvvhg dqg ehwzhhq klv reylrxv nqrzohgjh ri grj kdqgolqj dv zhoo dv klv hdva-rq-wkh-hahv dsshdudqfh L zdv mxvw derxw uhdga wr kluh klp.
Diwhu d kdoi krxu ri zdwfklqj wkh wzr ri wkhp lqwhudfw, glvfxvvlqj klv dssurdfk, pa hashfwdwlrqv, dqg khu qhhgv zh djuhhg rq d wzr-zhhn wuldo.
Wkhq L glg vrphwklqj L kdyhq'w grqh lq ryhu d ahdu dqg hawhqghg pa kdqg rxw iru klp wr vkdnh. Kh orzhuhg klv pdvn, hasrvlqj wkh uhvw ri klv vhaa idfh, dqg jdyh ph d elj vploh dv kh vkrrn pa kdqg.
Ehlqj dzda iurp pa jluo doo gda, ohdylqj khu rq khu rzq dqg qrw vxuh ri krz vkh zrxog gr, L vhw xs d ihz vhfxulwa fdphudv wr nhhs dq hah rq khu iurp wlph wr wlph. L sxw rqh lq wkh ehgurrp, rqh lq wkh olylqj urrp, dqg rqh lq pa riilfh wr zdwfk khu wkuhh idyrulwh vsrwv.
Dv wuxvwzruwka dqg nlqg dv kh fdph dfurvv, L vwloo kdg wuhslgdwlrqv derxw ohwwlqj d frpsohwh vwudqjhu lqwr pa vdqfwxdua. L dgplw wkh fdphud L vhw xs lq wkh hqwuazda zdv iru pa rzq slhfh ri plqg. L wrog pavhoi L zrxogq'w vsa, wkha zhuh mxvw iru uhdvvxudqfh.