
    ,,*APT] ;,X
  ,& ABV ALL ?+S1 NEXT MORN+ ,W>D5
,A!RTON CAME 96MY CELL ON MURD] 9T5T4 ,)
HM 7 ,CAPTA9 ,JAMIE1 ,DOCTOR ,JACKSON1
,PIE-,FACE ,J"OS1 & ,AL ,HUT*9S4 ;,AL
,HUT*9S 0 S]V+ A =TY-YE>S' S5T;E1 & 0 9
HOPES ( 2+ P>DON$ \4 ,= F\R YE>S HE _H
BE5 H1D TRU/Y ( ,SAN ,QU5T94 ,T ? 0 A
POSI;N ( GRT P[] Y W R1LIZE :5 ,I TELL Y
T ! GRAFT AL"O (! H1D TRU/Y 0 E/IMAT$ AT
?REE ?\S& DOLL>S A YE>4 ,":=E ,AL
,HUT*9S1 9 POSSES.N ( T5 OR TWELVE ?\S&
DOLL>S &(! PROMISE (A P>DON1 CD 2 DEP5D$
^U 6D ! ,W>D5'S BI4+ BL4
  ,I H J SD T ,W>D5 ,A!RTON CAME 96MY
CELL 9T5T ON MURD]4 ,8 FACE %[$ X4 ,8
AC;NS PROV$ X4
  8,EXAM9E HM10 HE ORD]$ ,DOCTOR
,JACKSON4
  ,T WRET*$ APOLOGY (A CR1TURE /RIPP$ F
ME MY DIRT-5CRU/$ %IRT T ,I _H WORN S9CE
MY 5TR.E 6SOLIT>Y1 & EXPOS$ MY POOR WA/$
BODY1 ! SK9 RIDG$ L BR[N P>*;T OV] !
RIBS & SORE-9FE/$ F ! _M B\TS )! JACKET4
,! EXAM9,N 0 %AME.SLY P]FUNCTORY4
  8,W HE /& X80 ! ,W>D5 DEM&$4
  8,YES10 ,DOCTOR ,JACKSON ANSW]$4
  8,H['S ! HE>T80
  8,SPL5DID40
  8,Y ?9K HE'LL /& T5 "DS ( X1 ,DOC480
  8,SURE40
  8,I DON'T 2LIEVE X10 ! ,W>D5 ANN\NC$
SAVAGELY4 8,B WE'LL TRY X J ! SAME4--
,LIE D[N1 ,/&+40
  ,I OBEY$1 /RET*+ MYF FACE-D[NW>D ON !
FLAT-SPR1D JACKET4 ,! ,W>D5 SEEM$
6DEBATE ) HMF =A MO;T4
  8,ROLL OV]10 HE -M&$4
  ,I MADE S"EAL EF=TS1 B 0 TOO W1K
6SU3E$1 & CD ONLY SPRAWL & SQUIRM 9 MY
HELP.S;S4
  8,PUTT+ X ON10 0 ,JACKSON'S -;T4
  8,WELL1 HE WON'T H 6PUT X ON :5 ,I'M
D"O ) HM10 SD ! ,W>D54 8,L5D HM A H&4 ,I
C'T WA/E ANY M "T ON HM40
  ,S !Y ROLL$ ME OV] ON MY BACK1 ": ,I
/>$ UP 96,W>D5 ,A!RTON'S FACE4
  8,/&+10 HE SD SL[LY1 8,I'VE GIV5 Y ALL
! ROPE ,I AM GO+ TO4 ,I AM SICK & TIR$ (
YR /U2ORN;S4 ,MY PATI;E IS EXHAU/$4
,DOCTOR ,JACKSON SAYS Y >E 9 3DI;N 6/&
T5 "DS 9 ! JACKET4 ,Y C FIGURE YR *.ES4
,B ,I AM GO+ 6GIVE Y YR LA/ *.E N[4 ,-E
ACR )! DYNAMITE4 ,! MO;T X IS 9 MY H&S
,I'LL TAKE Y \ ( "H4 ,Y C BA! & %AVE &
GET CL1N CLO!S4 ,I'LL LET Y LOAF = SIX
MON?S ON HOSPITAL GRUB1 & !N ,I'LL PUT Y
TRU/Y 9 ! LIBR>Y4 ,Y C'T ASK ME 6BE
FAIR] ) Y ?AN T4 ,2SS1 Y'RE N SQU1L+ ON
ANYBODY4 ,Y >E ! ONLY P]SON 9 ,SAN
,QU5T9 :O "KS ": ! DYNAMITE IS4 ,Y WON'T
HURT ANYBODY'S FEEL+S 0GIV+ IN1 & Y'LL 2
ALL 6! GD F ! MO;T Y D GIVE IN4 ,& IF Y
DON'T--0
  ,HE PAUS$ & %RU7$ 8 %\LD]S
SIGNIFICANTLY4
  8,WELL1 IF Y DON'T1 Y />T 9 ! T5 "DS
"R N[40
  ,! PROSPECT 0 T]RIFY+4 ,S W1K 0 ,I T
,I 0 Z C]TA9 Z ! ,W>D5 0 T X M1NT D1? 9
! JACKET4 ,& !N ,I REMEMB]$ ,MORRELL'S
TRICK4 ,N[1 IF "E1 0 ! NE$ ( X2 & N[1 IF
"E1 0 ! "T 6PRACTISE ! FAI? ( X4 ,I
SMIL$ UP 9 ! FACE ( ,W>D5 ,A!RTON4 ,& ,I
PUT FAI? 9 T SMILE1 & FAI? 9 ! PROPOSI;N
,I MADE 6HM4
  8,W>D510 ,I SD1 8D Y SEE ! WAY ,I AM
SMIL+8 ,WELL1 IF1 AT ! 5D (! T5 "DS1 :5
Y UNLACE ME1 ,I SMILE UP AT Y 9 ! SAME
WAY1 W Y GIVE A SACK ( ,BULL ,DURHAM &A
PACKAGE ( BR[N PAP]S 6,MORRELL &
,OPP5HEIM]80
  8,A9'T !Y ! CRAZY G9KS1 ^! COLLEGE
GUYS10 ,CAPTA9 ,JAMIE SNORT$4
  ,W>D5 ,A!RTON 0 A *OL]IC MAN1 & HE
TOOK MY REQUE/ = 9SULT+ BRA7ADOCIO4
  8,J = T Y GET AN EXTRA C9*+10 HE 9=M$
ME4
  8,I MADE Y A SPORT+ PROPOSI;N1 ,W>D510
,I SD QUIETLY4 8,Y C C9* ME Z TI<T Z Y
PL1SE1 B IF ,I SMILE T5 "DS F N[ W Y
GIVE ! ,BULL ,DURHAM 6,MORRELL &
,OPP5HEIM]80
  8,Y >E MI<TY SURE ( YRF10 HE RETORT$4
  8,T'S :Y ,I MADE ! PROPOSI;N10 ,I
REPLI$4
  8,GETT+ RELIGION1 EH80 HE SNE]$4
  8,NO10 0 MY ANSW]4 8,X M]ELY HAPP5S T
,I POSSESS M LIFE ?AN Y C "E R1* ! 5D (4
,MAKE X A HUNDR$ "DS IF Y WANT1 & ,I'LL
SMILE AT Y :5 X'S OV]40
  8,I GUESS T5 "DS W M ?AN D Y1 ,/&+40
  8,T'S YR OP9ION10 ,I SD4 8,H Y GOT
FAI? 9 X8 ,IF Y H Y WON'T EV5 LOSE !
PRICE (! TWO FIVE-C5TS SACKS ( TOBA3O4
,ANYWAY1 :AT H Y GOT 6BE AFRAID (80
  8,= TWO C5TS ,I'D KICK ! FACE (F ( Y
"R N[10 HE SN>L$4
  8,DON'T LET ME /OP Y40 ,I 0 IMPUD5TLY
SUAVE4 8,KICK Z H>D Z Y PL1SE1 & ,I'LL /
H 5 FACE LEFT ) : 6SMILE4 ,9 ! M1N"T1
:ILE Y >E HESITAT+1 SUPPOSE Y A3EPT MY
ORIG9AL PROPOSI;N40
  ,A MAN M/ 2 T]RIBLY W1K & PROF.DLY
DESP]ATE 6BE A#1 "U S* CIRCUM/.ES1 6BE>D
! ,W>D5 9 SOLIT>Y4 ,OR HE MAY 2 BO?1 &1
9 A4I;N1 HE MAY H FAI?4 ,I "K N[ T ,I _H
! FAI? & S ACT$ ON X4 ,I 2LIEV$ :AT
,MORRELL _H TOLD ME4 ,I 2LIEV$ 9 ! "L%IP
(! M9D OV] ! BODY4 ,I 2LIEV$ T N EV5 A
HUNDR$ "DS 9 ! JACKET CD KILL ME4
  ,CAPTA9 ,JAMIE M/ H S5S$ ? FAI? T 9=M$
ME1 = HE SD3
  8,I REMEMB] A ,SW$E T W5T CRAZY TW5TY
YE>S AGO4 ,T 0 2F YR "T1 ,W>D54 ,HE'D
KILL$ A MAN 9 A QU>REL OV] TW5TY-FIVE
C5TS & GOT LIFE = X4 ,HE 0 A COOK4 ,HE
GOT RELIGION4 ,HE SD T A GOLD5 *>IOT 0
-+ 6TAKE HM 6H1V51 & HE SAT D[N ON TOP !
R$-HOT RANGE & SANG HYMNS & HOSANNAHS
:ILE HE COOK$4 ,!Y DRA7$ HM (F1 B HE
CROAK$ TWO "DS AFW 9 HOSPITAL4 ,HE 0
COOK$ 6! B"O4 ,& 6! 5D HE SWORE HE'D N"E
FELT ! H1T4 ,CDN'T GET A SQU1L \ ( HM40
  8,WE'LL MAKE ,/&+ SQU1L10 SD ! ,W>D54
  8,S9CE Y >E S SURE ( X1 :Y DON'T Y
A3EPT MY PROPOSI;N80 ,I *ALL5G$4
  ,! ,W>D5 0 S ANGRY T X WD H BE5
LUDICR\S 6ME _H ,I N BE5 9 S DESP]ATE
PLI<T4 ,8 FACE 0 3VULS$4 ,HE CL5*$ 8
H&S1 &1 =A MO;T1 X SEEM$ T HE 0 AB 6FALL
^U ME & GIVE ME A B1T+4 ,!N1 ) AN EF=T1
HE 3TROLL$ HMF4
  8,ALL "R1 ,/&+10 HE SN>L$4 8,I'LL G Y4
,B Y BET YR SWEET LIFE Y'LL H 6G "S
6SMILE T5 "DS F N[4 ,ROLL HM OV]1 BOYS1
& C9* HM TILL Y HE> 8 RIBS CRACK4
,HUT*9S1 %[ HM Y "K H[ 6D X40
  ,& !Y ROLL$ ME OV] & LAC$ ME Z ,I _H
N"E BE5 LAC$ 2F4 ,! H1D TRU/Y C]TA9LY
DEMON/RAT$ 8 ABIL;Y4 ,I TRI$ 6/1L :AT LL
SPACE ,I CD4 ,LL X WAS1 = ,I _H L;G S9CE
%$ MY FLE%1 :ILE MY MUSCLES 7 ATT5UAT$
6M]E /R+S4 ,I _H NEI ! /R5G? NOR BULK
6/1L M ?AN A LL1 &! LL ,I /OLE ,I SWE>
,I MANAG$ 0%E] EXPAN.N AT ! JO9TS (!
B"OS ( MY FRAME4 ,&( ? LL ,I 0 RO2$
0,HUT*9S1 :O1 9 ! OLD "DS 2F HE 0 MADE
H1D TRU/Y1 _H LE>N$ ALL ! TRICKS (!
JACKET F ! 9SIDE (! JACKET4
  ,Y SEE1 ,HUT*9S 0 A CUR AT HE>T1 OR A
CR1TURE :O _H ONCE BE5 A MAN1 B :O _H
BE5 BROK5 ON ! :EEL4 ,HE POSSESS$ T5 OR
TWELVE ?\S& DOLL>S1 & 8 FREEDOM 0 9 SI<T
IF HE OBEY$ ORD]S4 ,LAT]1 ,I LE>N$ T "!
0 A GIRL :O _H REMA9$ TRUE 6HM1 & :O 0
EV5 !N WAIT+ = HM4 ,! WOMAN FACTOR
EXPLA9S _M ?+S ( M54
  ,IF "E A MAN DELIB]ATELY -MITT$ MURD]1
,AL ,HUT*9S DID T MORN+ 9 SOLIT>Y AT !
,W>D5'S BI4+4 ,HE RO2$ ME (! LL SPACE ,I
/OLE4 ,&1 HAV+ RO2$ ME ( T1 MY BODY 0
DEF;E.S1 &1 ) 8 FOOT 9 MY BACK :ILE HE
DREW ! LAC+ LI<T1 HE 3/RICT$ ME Z NO MAN
_H "E 2F SU3E$$ 9 DO+4 ,S SEV]E 0 ?
3/RIC;N ( MY FRAIL FRAME ^U MY VITAL
ORGANS T ,I FELT1 "! & !N1 IMMLY1 T D1?
0 ^U ME4 ,& / ! MIRACLE ( FAI? 0 M9E4 ,I
DID N 2LIEVE T ,I 0 GO+ 6DIE4 ,I KNEW--
,I SAY ,I ,,KNEW--T ,I 0 N GO+ 6DIE4 ,MY
H1D 0 SWIMM+1 & MY HE>T 0 P.D+ F MY
TOENAILS 6! HAIR-ROOTS 9 MY SCALP4
  8,T'S PRETTY TI<T10 ,CAPTA9 ,JAMIE
URG$ RELUCTANTLY4
  8,! HELL X IS10 SD ,DOCTOR ,JACKSON4
8,I TELL Y NO?+ C HURT HM4 ,HE'S A WOOZ4
,HE "\ 6H BE5 D1D L;G AGO40
  ,W>D5 ,A!RTON1 AF A H>D /RU7LE1 MANAG$
69S]T 8 =EF+] 2T ! LAC+ & MY BACK4 ,HE
BR"\ 8 FOOT 6BE> ^U ME1 )! WEI<T ( 8
BODY A4$ 6HIS FOOT1 & PULL$1 B FAIL$
6GET ANY FRAC;N ( AN 9* ( SLACK4
  8,I TAKE MY HAT (F 6Y1 ,HUT*9S10 HE
SD4 8,Y "K YR JOB4 ,N[ ROLL HM OV] &
LET'S LOOK AT HM40
  ,!Y ROLL$ ME OV] ON MY BACK4 ,I />$ UP
AT !M ) BULG+ EYES4 ,? ,I "K3 ,_H !Y
LAC$ ME 9 S* FA%ION ! F/ "T ,I W5T 96!
JACKET1 ,I WD SURELY H DI$ 9 ! F/ T5
M9UTES4 ,B ,I 0 WELL TRA9$4 ,I _H 2H ME
! ?\S&S ( H\RS 9 ! JACKET1 &1 PLUS T1 ,I
_H FAI? 9 :AT ,MORRELL _H TOLD ME4
  8,N[1 LAU<1 DAMN Y1 LAU<10 SD ! ,W>D5
6ME4 8,/>T T SMILE Y'VE BE5 BRA7+ AB4
  ,S1 :ILE MY LUNGS PANT$ =A LL AIR1
:ILE MY HE>T ?R1T5$ 6BUR/1 :ILE MY M9D
REEL$1 N"E!.S ,I 0 A# 6SMILE UP 96!
,W>D5'S FACE4
















