
    ,,*APT] ,,III
  ,Z ,M>T9 ,$5 W5T D[N ! /EPS1 8 H&
DROPP$ 96HIS COAT POCKET4 ,X CAME \ )A
BR[N RICE PAP] &A P9* ( ,MEXICAN TOBA3O1
: 7 DEFTLY ROLL$ TGR 96A CIG>ETTE4 ,HE
DREW ! F/ :IFF ( SMOKE DEEP 96HIS LUNGS
& EXPELL$ X 9 A L;G & L+]+ EXHAL,N4
8,0,GOD60 HE SD AL\D1 9 A VOICE ( AWE &
WOND]4 8,0,GOD60 HE REP1T$4 ,& YET AG HE
MURMUR$1 8,0,GOD60 ,!N 8 H& W5T 6HIS
COLL>1 : HE RIPP$ \ (! %IRT & /U6$ 96HIS
POCKET4 ,A COLD DRIZZLE 0 FALL+1 B HE
B>$ 8 H1D 6X & UNBUTTON$ 8 VE/1 SW++
AL;G 9 SPL5DID UNCONC]N4 ,HE 0 ONLY
DIMLY AW>E T X 0 RA9+4 ,HE 0 9 AN
EC/ASY1 DR1M+ DR1MS & RECON/RUCT+ !
SC5ES J PA/4
  ,HE _H MET ! WOMAN AT LA/ -- ! WOMAN T
HE _H ?"\ LL AB1 N 2+ GIV5 6?9K+ AB
WOM51 B :OM HE _H EXPECT$1 9 A REMOTE
WAY1 HE WD "S"T MEET4 ,HE _H SAT NEXT
6H] AT TA#4 ,HE _H FELT H] H& 9 HIS1 HE
_H LOOK$ 96H] EYES & CAU<T A VI.N (A
B1UTI;L _S2 -- B NO M B1UTI;L ?AN ! EYES
"? : X %"O1 NOR ?AN ! FLE% T GAVE X
EXPRES.N & =M4 ,HE DID N ?9K ( H] FLE% Z
FLE%1 -- : 0 NEW 6HM2 =(! WOM5 HE _H "KN
T 0 ! ONLY WAY HE ?"\4 ,H] FLE% 0 "SH[
DI6]5T4 ,HE DID N 3CV ( H] BODY Z A
BODY1 SUBJECT 6! ILLS & FRAILTIES (
BODIES4 ,H] BODY 0 M ?AN ! G>B ( H] _S4
,X 0 AN EMAN,N ( H] _S1 A PURE & GRACI\S
CRY/ALLIZ,N ( H] DIV9E ESS;E4 ,? FEEL+
(! DIV9E />TL$ HM4 ,X %OCK$ HM F 8 DR1MS
6SOB] ?"\4 ,NO ^W1 NO CLEW1 NO H9T1 (!
DIV9E _H "E R1*$ HM 2F4 ,HE _H N"E
2LIEV$ 9 ! DIV9E4 ,HE _H ALW BE5
IRRELIGI\S1 SC(F+ GD-NATUR$LY AT ! SKY-
PILOTS & _! IMMORTAL;Y (! S\L4 ,"! 0 NO
LIFE 2Y1 HE _H 3T5D$2 X 0 "H & N[1 !N
D>K;S "ELA/+4 ,B :AT HE _H SE5 9 H] EYES
0 S\L -- IMMORTAL S\L T CD N"E DIE4 ,NO
MAN HE _H "KN1 NOR ANY WOMAN1 _H GIV5 HM
! MESSAGE ( IMMORTAL;Y4 ,B %E _H4 ,%E _H
:ISP]$ X 6HM ! F/ MO;T %E LOOK$ AT HM4
,H] FACE %IMM]$ 2F 8 EYES Z HE WALK$
AL;G1 -- PALE & S]I\S1 SWEET & S5SITIVE1
SMIL+ ) P;Y & T5D];S Z ONLY A _S CD
SMILE1 & PURE Z HE _H N"E DR1M$ PUR;Y CD
BE4 ,H] PUR;Y SMOTE HM L A BL[4 ,X />TL$
HM4 ,HE _H "KN GD & BAD2 B PUR;Y1 Z AN
ATTRIBUTE ( EXI/;E1 _H N"E 5T]$ 8 M9D4
,& N[1 9 H]1 HE 3CVD PUR;Y 6BE !
SUP]LATIVE ( GD;S &( CL1N;S1 ! SUM ( :
3/ITUT$ ET]NAL LIFE4
  ,& PROMPTLY URG$ 8 AMBI;N 6GRASP AT
ET]NAL LIFE4 ,HE 0 N FIT 6C>RY WAT] = H]
-- HE KNEW T2 X 0 A MIRACLE ( LUCK &A
FANTA/IC /ROKE T _H 5A#D HM 6SEE H] & 2
) H] & TALK ) H] T NI<T4 ,X 0 A3ID5TAL4
,"! 0 NO M]IT 9 X4 ,HE DID N DES]VE S*
=TUNE4 ,8 MOOD 0 ESS5TI,Y RELIGI\S4 ,HE
0 HUM# & MEEK1 FILL$ ) SELF-4P>AGE;T &
ABASE;T4 ,9 S* FRAME ( M9D S9N]S -E 6!
P5IT5T =M4 ,HE 0 3VICT$ ( S94 ,B Z !
MEEK & L[LY AT ! P5IT5T =M CAT* SPL5DID
GLIMPSES ( _! FUTURE "LLY EXI/;E1 S DID
HE CAT* SIMIL> GLIMPSES (! /ATE HE WD
GA9 60POSSESS+ H]4 ,B ? POSSES.N ( H] 0
DIM & NEBUL\S & TOT,Y DI6]5T F POSSES.N
Z HE _H "KN X4 ,AMBI;N SO>$ ON MAD W+S1
& HE SAW HMF CLIMB+ ! HEI<TS ) H]1 %>+
?"\S ) H]1 PL1SUR+ 9 B1UTI;L & NO# ?+S )
H]4 ,X 0 A S\L-POSSES.N HE DR1M$1 REF9$
2Y ANY GROSS;S1 A FREE -RADE%IP ( _S T
HE CD N PUT 96DEF9ITE ?"\4 ,HE DID N ?9K
X4 ,= T MATT]1 HE DID N ?9K AT ALL4
,S5S,N USURP$ R1SON1 & HE 0 QUIV]+ &
PALPITANT ) EMO;NS HE _H N"E "KN1 DRIFT+
DELICI\SLY ON A SEA ( S5SIBIL;Y ": FEEL+
XF 0 EXALT$ & _SUALIZ$ & C>RI$ 2Y !
SUMMITS ( LIFE4
  ,HE /A7]$ AL;G L A DRUNK5 MAN1 MURMUR+
F]V5TLY AL\D3 8,0,GOD6 ,0,GOD60
  ,A POLICEMAN ON A /REET CORN] EY$ HM
SUSPICI\SLY1 !N NOT$ 8 SAILOR ROLL4
  8,": DID Y GET X80 ! POLICEMAN DEM&$4
  ,M>T9 ,$5 CAME BACK 6E>?4 ,8 0 A FLUID
ORGANISM1 SWIFTLY ADJU/A#1 CAPA# ( FL[+
96& FILL+ ALL SORTS ( NOOKS & CRANNIES4
,)! POLICEMAN'S HAIL HE 0 IMMLY 8 ORD9>Y
SELF1 GRASP+ ! SITU,N CLE>LY4
  8,X'S A B1UT1 A9'T X80 HE LAU<$ BACK4
8,I DIDN'T "K ,I 0 TALK9' \ L\D40
  8,Y'LL 2 S++ NEXT10 0 ! POLICEMAN'S
DIAGNOSIS4
  8,NO1 ,I WON'T4 ,GIMME A MAT* AN'
,I'LL CAT* ! NEXT C> HOME40
  ,HE LI<T$ 8 CIG>ETTE1 SD GD NI<T1 &
W5T ON4 8,N[ WDN'T T RATTLE Y80 HE
EJACULAT$ "U 8 BR1?4 8,T COPP] ?"\ ,I 0
DRUNK40 ,HE SMIL$ 6HMF & M$ITAT$4 8,I
GUESS ,I WAS10 HE A4$2 8B ,I DIDN'T ?9K
A WOMAN'S FACE'D D X40
  ,HE CAU<T A ,TELEGRAPH ,AV5UE C> T 0
GO+ 6,B]KELEY4 ,X 0 CR[D$ ) Y\?S & "Y M5
:O 7 S++ S;GS &
"E & AG B>K+ \ COLLEGE YELLS4 ,HE /UDI$
!M CURI\SLY4 ,!Y 7 UNIV]S;Y BOYS4 ,!Y
W5T 6! SAME UNIV]S;Y T %E DID1 7 9 H]
CLASS SOCI,Y1 CD "K H]1 CD SEE H] E "D
IF !Y WANT$ TO4 ,HE WOND]$ T !Y DID N
WANT TO1 T !Y _H BE5 \ HAV+ A GD "T 9/1D
( 2+ ) H] T EV5+1 TALK+ ) H]1 SITT+ >.D
H] 9 A WOR%IP;L & ADOR+ CIRCLE4 ,8 ?"\S
W&]$ ON4 ,HE NOTIC$ "O ) N>R[-SLITT$
EYES &A LOOSE-LIPP$ M\?4 ,T FELL[ 0
VICI\S1 HE DECID$4 ,ON %IPBO>D HE WD 2 A
SN1K1 A :9]1 A TATTL]4 ,HE1 ,M>T9 ,$51 0
A BETT] MAN ?AN T FELL[4 ,! ?"\ *E]$ HM4
,X SEEM$ 6DRAW HM NE>] 6,H]4 ,HE 2GAN
-P>+ HMF )! /UD5TS4 ,HE GREW 3SCI\S (!
MUSCL$ ME*ANISM ( 8 BODY & FELT 3FID5T T
HE 0 PHYSIC,Y _! MA/]4 ,B _! H1DS 7
FILL$ ) K T 5A#D !M 6TALK H] TALK1 -- !
?"\ DEPRESS$ HM4 ,B :AT 0 A BRA9 =8 HE
DEM&$ PAS.NATELY4 ,:AT !Y _H D"O1 HE CD
D4 ,!Y _H BE5 /UDY+ AB LIFE F ! BOOKS
:ILE HE _H BE5 BUSY LIV+ LIFE4 ,8 BRA9 0
J Z FULL ( K Z _!S1 ?\< X 0 A DI6]5T K9D
( K4 ,H[ _M ( !M CD TIE A LANY>D KNOT1
OR TAKE A :EEL OR A LOOK\T8 ,8 LIFE
SPR1D \ 2F HM 9 A S]IES ( PICTURES (
DANG] & D>+1 H>D%IP & TOIL4 ,HE REMEMB]$
8 FAILURES & SCRAPES 9 ! PROCESS (
LE>N+4 ,HE 0 T M* 6! GD1 ANYWAY4 ,LAT]
ON !Y WD H 62G9 LIV+ LIFE & GO+ "? !
MILL Z HE _H G"O4 ,V WELL4 ,:ILE !Y 7
BUSY ) T1 HE CD 2 LE>N+ ! O!R SIDE (
LIFE F ! BOOKS4
  ,Z ! C> CROSS$ ! Z"O ( SCATT]$ DWELL+S
T SEP>AT$ ,OAKL& F ,B]KELEY1 HE KEPT A
LOOK\T =A FAMILI>1 TWO-/ORY BUILD+ AL;G
! FRONT ( : RAN ! PR\D SIGN1
,,HI79BO?AM'S ,,CA% ,,/ORE4 ,M>T9 ,$5
GOT (F AT ? CORN]4 ,HE />$ UP =A MO;T AT
! SIGN4 ,X C>RI$ A MESSAGE 6HM 2Y XS M]E
^W+4 ,A P]SONAL;Y ( SMALL;S & EGOTISM &
PETTY "UH&$;S SEEM$ 6EMANATE F ! LRS
!MVS4 ,B]N>D ,HI79BO?AM _H M>RI$ 8 SI/]1
& HE KNEW HM WELL4 ,HE LET HMF 9 )A
LAT*-KEY & CLIMB$ ! /AIRS 6! SECOND
FLOOR4 ,"H LIV$ 8 BRO!R-IN-LAW4 ,!
GROC]Y 0 2L4 ,"! 0 A SMELL ( /ALE
VEGETA#S 9 ! AIR4 ,Z HE GROP$ 8 WAY ACR
! HALL HE /UM#D OV] A TOY-C>T1 LEFT "!
0"O ( 8 NUM]\S NEPHEWS & NIECES1 & BR"\
UP AG/ A DOOR )A RES.D+ BANG4 8,! P9*]10
0 8 ?"\2 8TOO MIS]LY 6BURN TWO C5TS'
WOR? ( GAS & SAVE 8 BO>D]S' NECKS40
  ,HE FUM#D =! KNOB & 5T]$ A LI<T$ ROOM1
": SAT 8 SI/] & ,B]N>D ,HI79BO?AM4 ,%E 0
PAT*+ A PAIR ( 8 TR\S]S1 :ILE 8 L1N BODY
0 4TRIBUT$ OV] TWO *AIRS1 8 FEET DANGL+
9 DILAPIDAT$ C>PET-SLIPP]S OV] ! $GE (!
SECOND *AIR4 ,HE GL.ED ACR ! TOP (! PAP]
HE 0 R1D+1 %[+ A PAIR ( D>K1 9S9C]E1
%>P-/>+ EYES4 ,M>T9 ,$5 N"E LOOK$ AT HM
)\T EXP]I5C+ A S5SE ( REPUL.N4 ,:AT 8
SI/] _H SE5 9 ! MAN 0 2Y HM4 ,! O!R
A6ECT$ HM Z S M* V]M91 & ALW >\S$ 9 HM
AN IMPULSE 6CRU% HM "U 8 FOOT4 8,"S "D
,I'LL B1T ! FACE (F ( HM10 0 ! WAY HE
(T5 3SOL$ HMF = 5DUR+ ! MAN'S EXI/;E4 ,!
EYES1 W1SEL-L & CRUEL1 7 LOOK+ AT HM
-PLA9+LY4
  8,WELL10 ,M>T9 DEM&$4 8,\ ) X40
  8,I _H T DOOR PA9T$ ONLY LA/ WEEK10
,MR4 ,HI79BO?AM HALF :9$1 HALF BULLI$2
8& Y "K :AT UNION WAGES >E4 ,Y %D 2 M
C>E;L40
  ,M>T9 _H 9T5D$ 6REPLY1 B HE 0 /RUCK 0!
HOPE.S;S ( X4 ,HE GAZ$ ACR ! MON/R\S
SORDID;S ( S\L 6A *ROMO ON ! WALL4 ,X
SURPRIS$ HM4 ,HE _H ALW LIK$ X1 B X
SEEM$ T N[ HE 0 SEE+ X =! F/ "T4 ,X 0
*1P1 T 0 :AT X WAS1 L "EY?+ ELSE 9 ?
H\SE4 ,8 M9D W5T BACK 6! H\SE HE _H J
LEFT1 & HE SAW1 F/1 ! PA9T+S1 & NEXT1
,H]1 LOOK+ AT HM ) MELT+ SWEET;S Z %E
%OOK 8 H& AT L1V+4 ,HE =GOT ": HE 0 &
,B]N>D ,HI79BO?AM'S EXI/;E1 TILL T
G5TLEMAN DEM&$3-
  8,SE5 A <O/80
  ,M>T9 CAME BACK & LOOK$ AT ! B1DY
EYES1 SNE]+1 TRUCUL5T1 C[>DLY1 & "! L1P$
96HIS VI.N1 Z ON A SCRE51 ! SAME EYES :5
_! [N] 0 MAK+ A SALE 9 ! /ORE 2L
-SUBS]VI5T EYES1 SMUG1 & OILY1 &
FLATT]+4
  8,YES10 ,M>T9 ANSW]$4 8,I SE5 A <O/4
,GD NI<T4 ,GD NI<T1 ,G]TRUDE40
  ,HE />T$ 6L1VE ! ROOM1 TRIPP+ OV] A
LOOSE S1M 9 ! SLATT]NLY C>PET4
  8,DON'T BANG ! DOOR10 ,MR4 ,HI79BO?AM
CAU;N$ HM4
  ,HE FELT ! BLOOD CRAWL 9 8 VE9S1 B
3TROLL$ HMF & CLOS$ ! DOOR S(TLY 2H HM4
  ,MR4 ,HI79BO?AM LOOK$ AT 8 WIFE
EXULTANTLY4
  8,HE'S B5 DR9K9'10 HE PROCLAIM$ 9 A
HO>SE :ISP]4 8,I TOLD Y HE WD40
  ,%E NO4$ H] H1D RESIGN$LY4
  8,HIS EYES 0 PRETTY %9Y10 %E 3FESS$2
8& HE DIDN'T H NO COLL>1 ?\< HE W5T AWAY
) "O4 ,B ME2E HE DIDN'T H MORE'N A C\PLE
( GLASSES40
  8,HE CDN'T /& UP /RAI<T10 ASS]T$ H]
HUSB&4 8,I WAT*$ HM4 ,HE CDN'T WALK ACR
! FLOOR )\T /UMBL9'4 ,Y HE>D 'M YRF ALM
FALL D[N 9 ! HALL40
  8,I ?9K X 0 OV] ,ALICE'S C>T10 %E SD4
8,HE CDN'T SEE X 9 ! D>K40
  ,MR4 ,HI79BO?AM'S VOICE & WRA? 2GAN
6RISE4 ,ALL "D HE E6AC$ HMF 9 ! /ORE1
RES]V+ =! EV5+1 ) 8 FAMILY1 ! PRIVILEGE
( 2+ HMF4
  8,I TELL Y T PRECI\S BRO!R ( YRS 0
DRUNK40
  ,8 VOICE 0 COLD1 %>P1 & F9AL1 8 LIPS
/AMP+ ! ENUNCI,N ( EA* ^W L ! DIE (A
MA*9E4 ,8 WIFE SI<$ & REMA9$ SIL5T4 ,%E
0 A L>GE1 /\T WOMAN1 ALW DRESS$
SLATT]NLY & ALW TIR$ F ! BURD5S ( H]
FLE%1 H] "W1 & H] HUSB&4
  8,HE'S GOT X 9 HM1 ,I TELL Y1 F 8 "F10
,MR4 ,HI79BO?AM W5T ON A3US+LY4 8,AN'
HE'LL CROAK 9 ! GUTT] ! SAME WAY4 ,Y "K
T40
  ,%E NO4$1 SI<$1 & W5T ON /IT*+4 ,!Y 7
AGRE$ T ,M>T9 _H -E HOME DRUNK4 ,!Y DID
N H X 9 _! S\LS 6"K B1UTY1 OR !Y WD H
"KN T ^? %9+ EYES & T GL[+ FACE 2TOK5$
Y\?'S F/ VI.N ( LOVE4
  8,SETT9' A F9E EXAMPLE 6! *N10 ,MR4
,HI79BO?AM SNORT$1 SU45LY1 9 ! SIL;E = :
8 WIFE 0 RESPONSI# & : HE RES5T$4 ,"S"TS
HE ALM WI%$ %E WD OPPOSE HM M4 8,IF HE
DOES X AG1 HE'S GOT 6GET \4 ,"U/&6 ,I
WON'T PUT UP ) 8 %9ANIGAN -- DEBOT*9'
9NOC5T *N ) 8 BOOZ+40 ,MR4 ,HI79BO?AM
LIK$ ! ^W1 : 0 A NEW "O 9 8 VOCABUL>Y1
REC5TLY GL1N$ F A NEWSPAP] COLUMN4 8,T'S
:AT X IS1 DEBOT*9' -- "! A9'T NO O!R "N
= X40
  ,/ 8 WIFE SI<$1 %OOK H] H1D SORR[;LLY1
& /IT*$ ON4 ,MR4 ,HI79BO?AM RESUM$ !
NEWSPAP]4
  8,HAS HE PD LA/ WEEK'S BO>D80 HE %OT
ACR ! TOP (! NEWSPAP]4
  ,%E NO4$1 !N A4$1 8,HE / HAS "S M"OY40
  8,:5 IS HE GO9' 6SEA AG80
  8,:5 8 PAY-"D'S SP5T1 ,I GUESS10 %E
ANSW]$4 8,HE 0 OV] 6,SAN ,FRANCISCO
YE/]"D LOOK+ =A %IP4 ,B HE'S GOT M"OY1
YET1 AN' HE'S "PICUL> AB ! K9D ( %IP HE
SIGNS =40

8,X'S N =A DECK-SWAB L HM 6PUT ON AIRS10
  ,MR4
,HI79BO?AM SNORT$4 8,"PICUL>6 ,HM60

  8,HE SD "S?+ AB A S*OON] T'S GETT9'
R1DY 6G (F 6"S \TL&I% PLACE 6LOOK =
BURI$ TR1SURE1 T HE'D SAIL ON H] IF 8
M"OY HELD \40
  8,IF HE ONLY WANT$ 6/1DY D[N1 ,I'D
GIVE HM A JOB DRIV9' ! WAGON10 H] HUSB&
SD1 B ) NO TRACE ( 2NEVOL;E 9 8 VOICE4
8,TOM'S QUIT40
  ,8 WIFE LOOK$ AL>M & 9T]ROG,N4
  8,QUIT TN4 ,IS GO9' 6"W = ,C>RU!RS4
,!Y PD 'M MORE'N ,I CD AF=D40
  8,I TOLD Y Y'D LOSE 'M10 %E CRI$ \4
8,HE 0 WOR? MORE'N Y 0 GIV+ HM40
  8,N[ LOOK "H1 OLD WOMAN10 ,HI79BO?AM
BULLI$1 8=! ?\S&? "T ,I'VE TOLD Y 6KEEP
YR NOSE \ (! BUSI;S4 ,I WON'T TELL Y
AG40
  8,I DON'T C>E10 %E SNI6L$4 8,TOM 0 A
GD BOY40 ,H] HUSB& GL>$ AT H]4 ,? 0
UNQUALIFI$ DEFI.E4
  8,IF T BRO!R ( YRS 0 WOR? 8 SALT1 HE
CD TAKE ! WAGON10 HE SNORT$4
  8,HE PAYS 8 BO>D1 J ! SAME10 0 !
RETORT4 8,AN' HE'S MY BRO!R1 AN' S L;G Z
HE DON'T [E Y M"OY Y'VE GOT NO "R 6BE
JUMP+ ON HM ALL ! "T4 ,I'VE GOT "S
FEEL+S1 IF ,I H BE5 M>RI$ 6Y = SEV5
YE>S40
  8,DID Y TELL ,8;M Y'D *>GE HM = GAS IF
HE GOES ON R1D90' 9 B$80 HE DEM&$4
  ,MRS4 ,HI79BO?AM MADE NO REPLY4 ,H]
REVOLT FAD$ AWAY1 H] _S WILT+ D[N 96H]
TIR$ FLE%4 ,H] HUSB& 0 TRIUMPHANT4 ,HE
_H H]4 ,8 EYES SNAPP$ V9DICTIVELY1 :ILE
8 E>S JOY$ 9 ! SNI6LES %E EMITT$4 ,HE
EXTRACT$ GRT HAPPI;S F SQUEL*+ H]1 & %E
SQUEL*$ EASILY ^! "DS1 ?\< X _H BE5
DI6]5T 9 ! F/ YE>S ( _! M>RI$ LIFE1 2F !
BROOD ( *N & 8 9CESSANT NA7+ _H SAPP$ H]
5]GY4
  8,WELL1 Y TELL ,8;M TM1 T'S ALL10 HE
SD4 8,AN0' ,I J WANT 6TELL Y1 2F ,I =GET
X1 T Y'D BETT] S5D = ,M>IAN TM 6TAKE C>E
(! *N4 ,) ,TOM QUIT1 ,I'LL H 6BE \ ON !
WAGON1 AN' Y C MAKE UP YR M9D 6X 6BE D[N
2L WAIT9' ON ! C.T]40
  8,B TM'S WA% "D10 %E OBJECT$ W1KLY4
  8,GET UP E>LY1 !N1 AN' D X F/4 ,I
WON'T />T \ TILL T5 O'C40
  ,HE CR9KL$ ! PAP] VICI\SLY & RESUM$ 8
R1D+4

