       ,,sev5

  ,k5 ,ritz ro>$ up 6! ,midpo9t precisely at six1 roll$ d{n 8 w9d{1 & sd1 8,y ,williams80
  8,i'm yr man10 ,buck sd4 ,he climb$ 96! late model f|r-:eel drive ) 8 "o bag4 ,f+}+ 8 fre%ly b&ag$ h1d1 ,buck smil$ at ! ?"| ( ,mack 5joy+ 8 extra tw5ty bucks4
  ,ritz 0 tall & l1d )a w1!r$ face &a %ock ( salt-&-pepp} hair4 8,let's get d{n 6busi;s10 he sd4 8,x's #gdj miles f ,o',h>e 6,,jfk & #gdf f ,milwaukee 6,,jfk4 ,i'm gonna get y z close 6,,jfk z ,i c1 & we're ab equidi/ant 2t ,o',h>e & ,milwaukee1 s let's call x #gdc air miles4 ,multiply t 0two bucks1 y're talk9' f|rte5 hundr$ & ei<ty-six4 ,r.d x (f 6fifte5 hundr$ =! taxi s}vice1 & we got u a d1l40
  8,d1l10 ,buck sd1 pull+ | 8 *ecks & />t+ 6sign4 8,pretty exp5sive taxi40
  ,ritz lau<$4 8,especi,y =a guy -+ | (! ,midpo9t40
  8,x 0 lovely40 ,ritz p>k$ 9 a metal ,quonset hut at ! ,waukegan airport & *att$ :ile runn+ "? prefli<t proc$ures4 8,no cra%es "h10 he sd4 8,"! 7 two at ,palwaukee4 ,!y lo/ a c|ple ( /aff p "h ?|<4 ,weird} ?an weird1 wasn't x80
  ,buck & ,ritz %>$ /ories ( lo/ relatives1 ": !y 7 :5 x happ5$1 & exactly :o !y w}e4 8,n"e flew a writ} 2f10 ,k5 sd4 8,*>t}1 ,i m1n4 ,m/'ve fl{n a bun* ( yr types :5 ,i 0 -m}cial40
  8,bett} m"oy on yr {n80
  8,y1h1 b ,i didn't "k t :5 ,i swit*$4 ,x wasn't my *oice40
  ,!y 7 climb+ 96! ,le>4 ,buck %ot hm a d|# take4 8,y 7 gr.d$80
  8,don't worry1 "pn}10 ! pilot sd4 8,i'll get y "!40
  8,y {e x 6me 6tell me if y 7 gr.d$40
  8,i 0 fir$4 ,"!'s a di6};e40
  8,dep5ds on :at y 7 fir$ =1 doesn't x80
  8,true 5|<4 ,? "| 6make y feel r1l gd4 ,i 0 fir$ = be9' too c>e;l4 ,b1t t40
  8,talk 6me10 ,buck sd4
  8,y rememb} a lot ( ye>s ago :5 "! 0 all t flak ab pu4le jump}s go9' d{n 9 icy w1!r80
  8,y1h1 until !y made "s adju/;ts or "s?+40
  8,"r4 ,well1 y rememb} t "o pilot refus$ 6fly ev5 af he 0 told 6&! public 0 assur$ "ey?+ up 6t po9t 0 expla9a# or a fluke80
  8,uh-huh40
  8,& y rememb} t "! 0 ano!r cra% "r af t1 : prov$ ! pilot "r80
  8,well1 ,i rememb} pla9 z "d1 2c y'r look9' at hm40
  8,i d feel bett}40
  8,y "k h{ _m ( ~? same model pu4le jump}s >e 9 ! air td8 ,n a "o4 ,:5 y're "r1 y're "r4 ,b 0 ,i re9/at$8 ,no4 ,once a tr|#mak}1 alw a tr|#mak}4 ,lots ( my coll1gues 7 grate;l ?|<4 ,& "s pilots' wid{s 7 pretty angry t ,i got ignor$ & !n cann$1 too late = _! husb&s40
  8,|*40
  ,z ! jet scr1m$ ea/1 ,ritz want$ 6"k :at ,buck ?"| (! 4appe>.es4 8,funny y %d ask10 ,buck sd4 8,i've got 6/>t "w+ on t 9 e>ne/ td4 ,:at's yr r1d ( x8 ,& d y m9d if ,i flip on a tape record}80
  8,f9e10 ,ritz sd4 8,dang$e/ ?+ ,i've "e se54 ',c|rse1 t doesn't make me unique4 ,i h 6say1 ?|<1 ,i've alw 2liev$ 9 ,,ufo's40
  8,y're ki4+6 ,a levelh1d$1 safety-3sci|s pilot80
  8,vaguely40
  ,ritz no4$4 8,i'm n talk+ ab ll gre5 m5 or space ali5s :o kidnap p4 ,i'm talk+ ab "s (! m docu;ta# /uff1 l "s a/ronauts h se51 & "s pilots40
  8,y "e see any?+80
  8,nope4 ,well1 a c|ple ( unexpla9a# ?+s4 ,"s li<ts or mirages4 ,once ,i ?"| ,i 0 fly+ too close 6a squad ( helicopt}s4 ,n too f> f "h ei4 ,gl5view ,naval ,air ,/,n4 ,i radio$ a w>n+1 !n lo/ si<t ( !m4 ,i suppose t's expla9a#4 ,i cd h be5 go+ fa/} ?an ,i r1liz$ & n be5 z close z ,i ?"|4 ,b ,i n"e got an answ}1 no ac"kl$g;t t !y 7 ev5 airborne4 ,gl5view wdn't 3firm x4 ,i %ru7$ x (f1 b a few weeks lat}1 close 6! same spot1 my 9/ru;ts w5t wacky on me4 ,dials sp9n+1 met}s /ick+1 t k9d ( ?+40
  8,:at did y make ( t80
  8,magnetic field or "s =ce l t4 ,cd 2 expla9a#1 too4 ,y "k "!'s no s5se report+ /range o3urr;es or si<t+s ne> a milit>y base1 2c !y j reject 'em | ( h&4 ,!y don't ev5 take s}i|sly any?+ /range )9 s"eal miles (a -m}cial airport4 ,t's :y y n"e he> /ories ( ,,ufo's ne> ,o',h>e4 ,n ev5 3sid}$40
  8,s1 y don't buy ! kidnapp+ space ali5s1 b y 3nect ! 4appe>.es ) ,,ufo's80
  8,i'm j say9' x's n l ,e4,t1 ) cr1tures & all t4 ,i ?9k |r id1s ( :at space p wd look l is way too simple & rudi;t>y4 ,if "! is 9tellig5t life | "!1 & "! has 6be j 2c (! %e} o4s--0
  8,:at d y m1n80
  8,! va/;s ( space40
  8,o s _m />s & s m* >ea t "s?+ has 6be | "! "s":40
  8,exactly4 ,& ,i agree ) p :o ?9k ~? 2+s >e m 9tellig5t ?an we >e4 ,o!rwise1 !y wdn't h made x "h1 if !y >e "h4 ,& if !y >e1 ,i'm ?9k+ !y're sophi/icat$ & adv.ed 5 t !y c d ?+s 6u we've n"e dr1m$ (40
  8,l mak+ p 4appe> "r | ( _! clo!s40
  8,s.d$ pretty silly until ! o!r ni<t1 didn't x70 ,buck no4$4 8,i've alw lau<$ ab p assum+ ~! 2+s cd r1d |r ?"|s or get 96|r h1ds & /uff10 ,ritz 3t9u$4 8,b look :o's miss+4 ,"eybody ,i've r1d ab or he>d ab or knew :o's n{ g"o 0 ei "u twelve ye>s old or 0 an unusual p}sonal;y4
  8,) all ! p :o 4appe>$1 y ?9k !y _h "s?+ 9 -mon80
  8,well1 !y#'ve got "s?+ 9 -mon n{1 wdn't y say80
  8,b "s?+ set !m a"p1 made !m easi} 6snat*80 ,buck ask$4
  8,t's :at ,i ?9k40
  8,s we're / "h 2c we 7 /r;g 5 6resi/1 or maybe we w}5't wor? ! tr|#40
  ,ritz no4$4 8,"s?+ l t4 ,x's alm l "s =ce or p{} 0 a# 6r1d ! level ( resi/.e or w1k;s1 & once t =ce got sunk in1 x 0 a# 6rip ~? p "r (f ! e>?4 ,!y 4appe>$ 9 an 9/ant1 s !y _h 6be demat}ializ$4 ,! "q is :e!r !y 7 de/roy$ 9 ! process or cd 2 reassem#d4
  8,:at d y ?9k1 ,mr4 ,ritz80
  8,at f/ ,i wd h sd no4 ,b a week ago ,i wd h told y t millions ( p all ov} ! _w 4appe>+ 96?9 air s.ds l a ;,b movie4 ,:5 ,i all{ =! fact t x actu,y happ5$1 ,i h 6all{ =! next logical /ep4 ,maybe !y're "s": specific 9 "s =m1 & maybe !y c return40
  8,t's a -=t+ ?"|10 ,buck sd4 8,b is x m ?an wi%;l ?9k+80
  8,h>dly4 ,t idea & fifty c5ts wd 2 wor? half a doll>4 ,i fly planes = m"oy4 ,i hav5't got a clue4 ,i'm / z m* 9 %ock z ! next guy1 & ,i don't m9d tell9' y1 ,i'm sc>$40
  8,(80
  8,t x mi<t happ5 ag4 ,if x 0 any?+ l ,i ?9k x was1 maybe all ? =ce ne$s 6d n{ is crank up ! p{} "sh{ & !y c get old} p1 sm>t} p1 p ) m resi/.e t !y ignor$ ! f/ "t >.d40
  ,buck %ru7$ & sat 9 sil;e =a few m9utes4 ,f9,y he sd1 8,"!'s a ll hole 9 yr >gu;t4 ,i "k ( "s p :o >e miss+ :o seem z /r;g z any"o40
  8,i wasn't talk+ physical /r5g?40
  8,nei 0 ,i40
  ,buck ?"| ab ,luc9da ,wa%+ton4 8,i lo/ a fr & co"w} :o 0 b"r1 h1l?y1 happy1 /r;g1 &a =ce;l p}sonal;y40
  8,well1 ,i'm n say+ ,i "k "ey?+ or ev5 any?+4 ,y want$ my !ory1 "! x is40
  ,ray=d ,/eele lay on 8 back1 />+ at ! ceil+4 ,sleep _h -e h>d & 9t}mitt5tly1 & he hat$ ! logy feel+4 ,he didn't want 6wat* ! news4 ,he didn't want 6r1d ! pap}1 ev5 "k+ a new "o _h flopp$ up onto ! por* 2f dawn4 ,all he want$ 0 = ,*loe 6get home s !y cd grieve tgr4 ,"! 0 no?+1 he decid$1 m l"oly ?an grief4
  ,he & 8 dau<t} wd h "w 6d1 too4 ,he want$ 69ve/igate1 6le>n1 6"k1 6act4 ,he />t$ 0se>*+ =a ,bi#1 n ! family ,bi# t _h collect$ du/ on 8 %elf = ye>s1 b ,ir5e's4 ,h}s wd h notes 9 x1 maybe "s?+ t wd po9t hm 9 ! "r direc;n4
  ,x wasn't h>d 6f9d4 ,x 0 usu,y )9 >m's r1* ( ": %e slept4 ,he f.d x on ! floor1 next 6! b$4 ,wd "! 2 "s guide8 ,an 9dex8 ,"s?+ t ref}r$ 6! ,rapture or ! judg;t or "s?+8 ,if n1 maybe he'd />t at ! 5d4 ,if g5esis m1nt 8beg9n+10 maybe revel,n _h "s?+ 6d )! 5d1 ev5 ?|< x didn't m1n t4 ,! only ,bi# v}se ,ray=d cd quote 0he>t 0 ,g5esis #a3a3 8,9 ! 2g9n+ ,god cr1t$ ! h1v5s &! e>?40 ,he hop$ "!'d 2 "s correspond+ v}se at ! 5d (! ,bi# t sd "s?+ l1 8,9 ! 5d ,god took all 8 p 6h1v5 & gave "eybody else "o m *.e40
  ,b no s* luck4 ,! v la/ v}se 9 ! ,bi# m1nt no?+ 6hm4 ,x sd1 8,! grace (! ,"l ,jesus 2 ) y all4 ,am540 ,& x s.d$ l ! religi|s mumbo jumbo he _h he>d 9 *ur*4 ,he back$ up a v}se & r1d1 8,he :o te/ifies 6~! ?+s says1 ,8,yes1 ,i am -+ qkly40' ,am54 ,-e1 ,"l ,jesus40
  ,n{ he 0 gett+ "s":4 ,:o 0 ? :o te/ifi$ ( ~! ?+s1 & :at 7 ~! ?+s8 ,! quot$ ~ws 7 9 r$4 ,:at did t m1n8 ,he look$ "? ! ,bi# & !n notic$ on ! sp9e1 8,~ws ( ,*ri/ 9 r$40 ,s ,jesus sd he 0 -+ qkly4 ,_h he -e8 ,& if ! ,bi# 0 z old z x seem$1 :at did 8qkly0 m1n8 ,x m/ n h m1nt soon1 un.s x 0 f ! p}spective ( "s--"o )a l;g view ( hi/ory4 ,maybe ,jesus m1nt t :5 he came1 he wd d x qkly4 ,0 t :at ? 0 all ab8 ,ray=d gl.ed at ! la/ *apt} z a :ole4 ,?ree o!r v}ses _h r$ lrs1 & two ( ~? rep1t$ ! busi;s ab -+ qkly4
  ,ray=d cd make no s5se (! text (! *apt}4 ,x seem$ old & =mal4 ,b ne> ! 5d (! *apt} 0 a v}se t 5d$ ) ~ws t _h a /range impact on hm4 ,)|t a h9t ( _! m1n+1 he r1d1 8,let ! "o :o is ?ir/y -e2 let ! "o :o wi%es take ! wat} ( life )|t co/40
  ,jesus wdn't h be5 ! "o :o 0 ?ir/y4 ,he wd n h be5 ! "o :o wi%$ 6take ! wat} ( life4 ,t1 ,ray=d assum$1 ref}r$ 6! r1d}4 ,x /ruck hm t he 0 ?ir/y1 s|l ?ir/y4 ,b :at 0 ! wat} ( life8 ,he _h alr pd a t}ri# co/ = miss+ x4 ,:at"e x was1 x _h be5 9 ? book = hundr$s ( ye>s4
  ,ray=d idly l1f$ "? ! ,bi# 6o!r passages1 n"o ( : made s5se 6hm4 ,!y 4c|rag$ hm 2c !y didn't seem 6fl{ tgr1 6ref} 6ea* o!r1 6h a direc;n4 ,language & 3cepts =eign 6hm 7 n help+4
  ,"h & "! he saw notes 9 ! m>g9s 9 ,ir5e's delicate h&writ+4 ,"s"ts %e simply wrote1 8,preci|s40 ,he 0 det}m9$ 6/udy & f9d "s"o :o cd expla9 ~? passages 6hm4 ,he 0 tempt$ 6write1 8preci|s10 next 6t v}se 9 ,revel,n ab tak+ ! wat} ( life )|t co/4 ,x s.d$ preci|s 6hm1 ?|< he cdn't yet make x -pute4
  ,wor/ ( all1 he fe>$ he 0 r1d+ ! ,bi# too late4 ,cle>ly he 0 too late 6h g"o 6h1v5 ) 8 wife & son4 ,b 0 he too late1 p}iod8
  ,9 ! front flyl1f 0 la/ ,sun"d's *ur* bullet94 ,:at 0 ?1 ,w$nes"d morn+8 ,?ree "ds ago he _h be5 ":8 ,9 ! g>age4 ,raymie _h be7$ hm 6g ) !m 6*ur*4 ,he promis$ he wd next ,sun"d4 8,t's :at y sd la/ week10 ,raymie _h sd4
  8,d y want me 6fix ? f|r-:eel} = y or n8 ,i don't h all ! "t 9 ! _w40
  ,raymie 0 n "o = pu%+ a guilt trip4 ,he j rep1t$1 8,next ,sun"d80
  8,= sure10 ,ray=d _h sd4 ,& n{ he wi%$ next ,sun"d 7 "h4 ,he wi%$ ev5 m t ,raymie 7 "! 6g ) hm 2c he wd g4 ,or wd he8 ,wd he 2 (f "w t "d8 ,& 0 any"o left 9 t 3greg,n8 wd "! 2 *ur*8 ,he pull$ ! bullet9 f ,ir5e's ,bi# & circl$ ! ph"o numb}4 ,lat} t "d1 af he *eck$ 9 ) ,pan-,3t95tal1 he wd call ! *ur* (fice & see if any?+ 0 go+ on4
  ,he 0 ab 6set ! ,bi# on ! b$ ta# :5 he grew curi|s & op5$ ! front flyl1f ag4 ,on ! f/ :ite-pap}$ page he saw ! 9scrip;n4 ,he _h giv5 ? ,bi# 6,ir5e on _! f/ w$d+ anniv}s>y4 ,h{ cd he h =gott51 & :at _h he be5 ?9k+8 ,%e 0 no m dev|t ?an he back !n1 b %e talk$ ab want+ 6get s}i|s ab *ur* att5d.e 2f ! *n came al;g4 ,he _h be5 angl+ = "s?+ or try+ 6impress h}4 ,maybe he ?"| %e wd ?9k hm _sual if he gave h} a gift l t4 ,maybe he 0 hop+ %e wd let hm (f ! hook & g 6*ur* 0h}f if he prov$ 8 _sual s5sitiv;y ) ? gift4
  ,= ye>s he _h tol}at$ *ur*4 ,!y _h g"o 6"o t dem&$ ll & (f}$ a lot4 ,!y made _m frs & _h f.d _! doctor1 d5ti/1 9sur.e man1 & ev5 c.try club 5tr.e 9 t *ur*4 ,ray=d 0 rev}$1 pr|dly 9troduc$ z a #gdg capta9 6newcom}s & gue/s1 & ev5 s}v$ on ! *ur* bo>d = s"eal ye>s4
  ,:5 ,ir5e 4cov}$ ! ,*ri/ian radio /,n & :at %e call$ 8r1l pr1*+ & t1*+10 %e grew 45*ant$ ) _! *ur* & 2gan se>*+ =a new "o4 ,t gave ,ray=d ! opportun;y 6quit go+ at all1 tell+ h} t :5 %e f.d "o %e re,y lik$1 he wd />t go+ ag4 ,%e f.d "o1 & he tri$ x o3a.n,y1 b x 0 a ll too lit}al & p}sonal & *all5g+ = hm4 ,he 0 n rev}$4 ,he felt l a project4 ,& he pretty m* /ay$ away4
  ,ray=d notic$ ano!r bit ( ,ir5e's h&writ+4 ,x 0 label$ h} pray} li/1 & he 0 at ! top4 ,%e _h writt51 ,rafe1 = 8 salv,n & t ,i 2 a lov+ wife 6hm4 ,*loe1 t %e -e 6,*ri/ & live 9 pur;y4 ,ray ,jr41 t he n"e /ray f 8 /r;g1 *ildlike fai?40 ,!n %e _h li/$ h} pa/or1 political l1d}s1 mis.n>ies1 _w 3flict1 & s"eal frs & o!r relatives4
  8,= 8 salv,n10 ,ray=d :isp}$4 8,salv,n40 ,ano!r t5-doll> *ur* ~w t _h n"e re,y impress$ hm4 ,he knew ,ir5e's new *ur* 0 9t}e/$ 9 ! salv,n ( s|ls1 "s?+ he'd n"e he>d 9 ! previ|s *ur*4 ,b ! clos} he _h gott5 6! 3cept1 ! m he _h be5 repell$4 ,didn't salv,n h "s?+ 6d ) 3firm,n1 baptism1 te/ify+1 gett+ religion1 2+ holy8 ,he _hn't want$ 6d1l ) x1 :at"e x was4 ,& n{ he 0 desp}ate 6"k exactly :at x m1nt4
  ,k5 ,ritz radio$ ah1d 6airports 9 suburban ,new ,york1 f9,y gett+ cle>.e 6t|* d{n at ,ea/on1 ,p5nsylvania4 8,if y're lucky1 y'll run 96,l>ry ,holmes10 ,ritz sd 8,~! >e 8 /omp9'gr.ds40
  8,! old box}8 ,he / kick+80
  ,ritz %ru7$4 8,don't "k h{ old he is 0n{1 b y c bet he didn't 4appe>4 ,:o"e 0 tak9' p mi<t've got a knock on ! no79 f ol' ,l>ry40
  ,! pilot ask$ p}sonnel 9 ,ea/on if !y cd >range a ride 6,new ,york ,c;y = 8 pass5g}4
  8,y're jok+1 "r1 ,le>80
  8,didn't m1n to1 ov}40
  8,we got a guy c get hm 6)9 a c|ple ( miles (! subway4 ,no c>s 9 or | (! c;y yet1 & ev5 ! tra9s h "s k9d (a -plicat$ r|te t takes !m >.d bad sites40
  8,bad sites80 ,buck rep1t$4
  8,say ag10 ,ritz radio$4
  8,hav5't y be5 wat*+ ! news8 ,"s (! wor/ 4a/}s 9 ! c;y 7 ! result ( 4appe>+ motorm5 & 4pat*}s4 ,six tra9s 7 9volv$ 9 h1d-ons ) lots ( d1?s4 ,s"eal tra9s ran up ! back ( o!r "os4 ,x'll 2 "ds 2f !y cle> all ! tracks & replace c>s4 ,y sure yr man wants 6get 96midt{n80
  8,rog}4 ,seems l ! type :o c h&le x40
  8,hope he's got gd hik+ boots1 ov}40
  ,x co/ ,buck ano!r premium =a ride close 5 6! tra9 t he cd walk ! re/ (! way4 ,8 driv} _h n ev5 be5 a ca2ie1 nor ! vehicle a cab4 ,b x mi<t z well h be54 ,x 0 j z decrepit & unsafe4
  ,a two-mile walk got hm 6! tra9 plat=m at ab noon1 ": he wait$ m ?an =ty m9utes )a mass ( human;y1 only 6f9d hmf am;g ! la/ half :o _h 6wait ano!r half an h|r =! next tra94 ,! zigzag ride took two h|rs 6get 6,manhattan1 & all dur+ ! trip ,buck tapp$ at ! keys on 8 laptop or />$ | ! w9d{ at ! gridlock t w5t on = miles4 ,he knew _m ( 8 loc,y bas$ coll1gues wd h alr fil$ simil> reports1 s his only hope ( scor+ ) ,/eve ,plank & hav+ ? see public,n 0 if 8 7 m p{};lly or eloqu5tly writt54 ,he 0 9 s* awe (! sc5e t he d|bt$ he cd pull x (f4 ,at ! v l1/ he 0 a4+ drama 6his {n memoirs4 ,new ,york ,c;y 0 at a /&/ill1 &! bi7e/ surprise 0 t !y 7 lett+ p 9 at all4 ,no d|bt _m ( ~!1 l hm1 liv$ "h & ne$$ 6get 6_! homes & a"p;ts4
  ,! tra9 lur*$ 6a /op1 f> %ort ( ": he _h be5 told x wd r1*4 ,! g>#d ann|nce;t ! be/ he cd make |1 9=m$ pass5g}s t ? 0 ! new la/ /op4 ,_! next jog wd h put !m 9 ! mi4le (a crane site ": c>s 7 2+ lift$ (f ! track4 ,buck calculat$ ab a fifte5-mile walk 6his (fice & ano!r five 6his a"p;t4
  ,=tunately1 ,buck 0 9 grt %ape4 ,he put "ey?+ 96his bag & %ort5$ ! /rap s he cd c>ry x close 6his body )|t x sw++4 ,he set (f at :at he guess$ 0 a f|r-mile-p}-h|r pace1 & ?ree h|rs lat} he 0 hurt+4 ,he 0 sure he _h bli/}s & 8 neck & %|ld}s 7 tir$ f ! bag & /rap4 ,he 0 sw1t+ "? 8 clo!s1 & "! 0 no way he 0 go+ 6get 6his a"p;t 2f /opp+ 9 at ! (fice4
c2  8,oh1 ,god1 help me10 ,buck br1!d1 m exasp}at$ ?an pray+4 ,b if "! 0 a ,god1 he decid$1 ,god _h a s5se ( humor4 ,l1n+ ag/ a brick wall 9 an alley 9 pla9 si<t 0 a yell{ bicycle )a c>dbo>d sign clipp$ 6x4 ,x r1d1 8,borr{ ? bike4 ,take x ": y l4 ,l1ve x = "s"o else 9 ne$4 ,no *>ge4
  ,only 9 ,new ,york1 he ?"|4 ,nobody /1ls "s?+ t's free4
  ,he ?"| ab br1?+ a pray} ( ?anks1 b "sh{ ! _w he 0 look+ at didn't %{ any o!r evid;e (a b5evol5t ,cr1tor4 ,he m.t$ ! bike1 r1liz$ h{ l;g x _h be5 s9ce he _h be5 abo>d "o1 & wob#d (f till he f.d 8 bal.e4 ,x wasn't l;g 2f he cruis$ 96midt{n 2t ! sn>l ( wreckage & wreck}s4 ,only a few o!r p 7 travel+ z e6ici5tly z he was--c|ri}s on bikes1 two o!rs on yell{ bikes j l his1 & cops on horseback4
  ,secur;y 0 ti<t at ! ,global ,weekly build+1 : "sh{ didn't surprise hm4 ,af id5tify+ hmf 6a new desk cl}k1 he rode 6! tw5ty-sev5? floor1 /opp$ ! public wa%room 6fre%5 up1 & f9,y 5t}$ ! ma9 suites (! magaz9e4 ,! recep;ni/ immly buzz$ ,/eve ,plank's (fice1 & bo? ,/eve a nd ,m>ge ,pott} hurri$ | 6embrace & welcome hm4
  ,buck ,williams 0 hit )a /range1 new emo;n4 ,he ne>ly wept4 ,he r1liz$ he1 al;g ) "ey"o else1 0 5dur+ a hide|s trauma & t he _h no d|bt be5 runn+ on adr5al9e4 ,b "sh{1 gett+ back 6famili> t}ritory--especi,y )! exp5se & ef=t x _h tak5--made hm feel z if he _h -e home4 ,he 0 ) p :o c>$ ab hm4 ,? 0 8 family4 ,he 0 re,y1 re,y glad 6see !m1 & x appe>$ ! feel+ 0 mutual4
  ,he bit 8 h& 6keep f cl|d+ up1 & z he foll{$ ,/eve & ,m>ge d{n ! hall pa/ 8 t9y1 clutt}$ (fice & 96,/eve's spaci|s (fice/conf};e room1 he ask$ if !y _h he>d ab ,luc9da ,wa%+ton4
  ,m>ge /opp$ 9 ! corridor1 br++ h} h&s 6h} face4 8,yes10 %e manag$1 8& ,i wasn't go+ 6d ? ag4 ,we've lo/ s"eal4 ,": does ! griev+ />t & 5d80
  ,) t1 ,buck lo/ x4 ,he cdn't pret5d any l;g}1 ?|< he 0 z surpris$ z any"o at 8 {n s5sitiv;y4 ,/eve put an >m >.d 8 secret>y & guid$ h} & ,buck 96his (fice1 ": o!rs f ! s5ior /aff wait$4
  ,!y *e}$ :5 !y saw ,buck4 ,~! p1 ! "os he _h "w$ )1 f"| )1 feud$ )1 irritat$1 & scoop$1 n{ seem$ g5u9ely glad 6see hm4 ,!y cd h no idea h{ he felt4 8,boy1 x's gd 6be back "h10 he sd1 !n sat & buri$ 8 h1d 9 8 h&s4 ,8 body 2gan 6%ake1 & he cd fi<t ! te>s no l;g}4 ,he 2gan 6sob1 "r "! 9 front ( 8 coll1gues & -petitors4
  ,he tri$ 6wipe ! te>s away & -pose hmf1 b :5 he look$ up1 =c+ an emb>rass$ smile1 he notic$ "ey"o else 0 emo;nal1 too4 8,x's all "r1 ,bucky10 "o sd4 8,if ? is yr f/ cry1 y'll 4cov} x won't 2 yr la/4 ,we're all j z sc>$ & /unn$ & grief /rick5 z y >e40
  8,y1h10 ano!r sd1 8b 8 p}sonal a3.t w no d|bt 2 m -pell+40 ,: made "ey"o lau< & cry all ! m4
  ,ray=d talk$ hmf 96call+ ! ,pan-,con ,fli<t ,c5t} e>ly 9 ! afn4 ,he le>n$ t he 0 6report 9 =a ,fri"d fli<t two "ds lat}4 8,re,y80 he sd4
  8,don't c.t on actu,y fly+ x10 he 0 told4 8,n too _m fli<ts >e expect$ 6be lift+ (f 0!n4 ,c}ta9ly n"o till late tm1 & maybe n ev5 !n4
  8,"!'s a *.e ,i'll get call$ (f 2f ,i l1ve home80
  8,m ?an a *.e1 b t's yr assign;t = n{40
  8,:at's ! r|te80
  8,,ord 6,,bos 6,,jfk40
  8,hmm4 ,*icago1 ,bo/on1 ,new ,york4 ,home :580
  8,satur"d ni<t40
  8,gd40
  8,:y8 ,got a date80
  8,n funny40
  8,oh1 go%1 ,i'm sorry1 ,capta94 ,i =got :o ,i 0 talk+ to40
  8,y "k ab my family80
  8,"eybody "h "ks1 sir4 ,we're sorry4 ,we he>d x f ! s5ior fli<t att5dant on yr abort$ ,h1?r{ run4 ,y got ! ~w on yr f/ (fic} on t fli<t1 didn't y80
  8,i he>d "s?+ b n"e got any (ficial ~w40
  8,:at'd y he>80
  8,suicide40
  8,"r4 ,aw;l40
  8,c y *eck on "s?+ = me80
  8,if x's 9 my p{}1 ,capta940
  8,my dau<t} is try+ 6get back ? way f ,cali=nia40
  8,unlikely40
  8,i "k1 b %e's on h} way4 ,try+ anyway4 ,%e'll m ?an likely try 6fly ,pan4 ,c y *eck & see if %e's on any (! manife/s -+ ea/80
  8,%dn't 2 too h>d4 ,"! >e preci|s few1 & y "k n"o ( !m w 2 l&+ "h40
  8,h{ ab ,milwaukee80
  8,don't ?9k s40 ,he 0 tapp+ -put} keys4 8,": wd %e orig9ate80
  8,"s": ne> ,palo ,alto40
  8,n gd40
  8,:y80
  8,h>dly any?+ -+ | ( "!4 ,let me *eck40 ,ray=d cd he> ! man talk+ 6hmf1 try+ ?+s1 su7e/+ op;ns4 8,air ,cali=nia 6,utah4 ,hey6 ,f.d h}6 ,"n ,*loe ) yr la/ "n80
  8,t's h}60 8,%e *eck$ 9 at ,palo ,alto4 ,pan put h} on a bus 6"s |tly+ /rip4 ,flew h} 6,salt ,lake ,c;y on ,air ,cali=nia4 ,f/ "t | (! /ate = t plane1 ,i'll bet4 ,%e got on a ,pan-,con plane1 oh1 an oldie1 & !y took h} to1 um1 oh bro!r4 ,enid1 ,oklahoma40
  8,5id8 ,t's n"e be5 on |r r|tes40
  8,no ki4+4 ,!y 7 ov}run ) ,dallas's spillov}1 too4 ,anyway1 %e's fly+ ,oz>k 6,spr+field1 ,ill9ois4
  8,oz>k60
  8,i j "w "h1 ,cap40
  8,well1 "sbody's try+ 6make x "w1 >5't !y80
  8,y1h1 ! gd news is1 we've got a turboprop or two d{n "! t c get h} up 96! >ea1 b x doesn't say ": %e mi<t l&4 ,x mi<t n ev5 -e up on ? scre5 2c !y won't "k till !y get close40
  8,h{ w ,i "k ": 6pick h} up80
  8,y may n4 ,i'm sure %e'll call y :5 %e l&s4 ,:o "ks8 ,maybe %e'll j %{ up40
  8,t wd 2 nice40
  8,well1 ,i'm sorry = :at y're go+ "?1 sir1 b y c 2 grate;l yr dau<t} didn't get on ,pan-,con directly | ( ,palo ,alto4 ,! la/ "o | ( "! w5t d{n la/ ni<t4 ,no survivors40
  8,& ? 0 af ! 4appe>.es80
  8,j la/ ni<t4 ,tot,y unrelat$40
  8,wdn't t h be5 a kick 9 ! tee?80 ,ray=d sd4
  8,9de$40
