           ,,! ,,9VISI# ,,MAN

                   ,BY
             ,H4 ,G4 ,WELLS

                ,*APT] #D
     ,MR4 ,CUSS ,9T]VIEWS ! ,/RANG]

  ,I H TOLD ! CIRCUM/.ES (! /RANG]'S
>RIVAL 9 ,IP+ )A C]TA9 FUL;S ( DETAIL1 9
ORD] T ! CURI\S IMPRES.N HE CR1T$ MAY 2
"U/OOD 0! R1D]4 ,B EXCEPT+ TWO ODD
9CID5TS1 ! CIRCUM/.ES ( 8 /AY UNTIL !
EXTRAORD9>Y "D (! ,CLUB ,FE/IVAL MAY 2
PASS$ OV] V CURSORILY4 ,"! 7 A NUMB] (
SKIRMI%ES ) ,MRS4 ,HALL ON MATT]S (
DOME/IC 4CIPL9E1 B 9 E CASE UNTIL LATE 9
,APRIL1 :5 ! F/ SIGNS ( P5URY 2GAN1 HE
OV]-RODE H] 0! EASY EXP$I5T ( AN EXTRA
PAY;T4 ,HALL DID N L HM1 & :5"E HE D>$
HE TALK$ (! ADVISABIL;Y ( GETT+ RID (
HM2 B HE %[$ 8 4LIKE *IEFLY 03C1L+ X
O/5TATI\SLY1 & AVOID+ 8 VISITOR Z M* Z
POSSI#4 8,WAIT TILL ! SUMM]10 SD ,MRS4
,HALL1 SAGELY1 8:5 ! >TISKS >E 2G9N+
6-E4 ,!N WE'LL SEE4 ,HE MAY 2 A BIT
OV]BE>+1 B BILLS SETTL$ PUNCTUAL IS
BILLS SETTL$ PUNCTUAL1 :AT"E Y L 6SAY40
  ,! /RANG] DID N G 6*UR*1 & 9DE$ MADE
NO DI6];E 2T ,SUN"D &! IRRELIGI\S "DS1
EV5 9 CO/UME4 ,HE "W$1 Z ,MRS4 ,HALL
?"\1 V FIT;LLY4 ,"S "DS HE WD -E D[N
E>LY & 2 3T9U\SLY BUSY4 ,ON O!RS HE WD
RISE LATE1 PACE 8 ROOM1 FRETT+ AUDIBLY =
H\RS TGR1 SMOKE1 SLEEP 9 ! >M*AIR 0!
FIRE4 ,-MUNIC,N )! _W 2Y ! VILLAGE HE _H
N"O4 ,8 TEMP] 3T9U$ V UNC]TA92 =! MO/ "P
8 MANN] 0 T (A MAN SU6]+ "U ALM UN5DURA#
PROVOC,N1 & ONCE OR TWICE ?+S 7 SNAPP$1
TORN1 CRU%$1 OR BROK5 9 SPASMODIC GU/S (
VIOL;E4 ,HE SEEM$ "U A *RONIC IRRIT,N (!
GRTE/ 9T5S;Y4 ,8 HABIT ( TALK+ 6HMF 9 A
L[ VOICE GREW /1DILY ^U HM1 B ?\< ,MRS4
,HALL LI/5$ 3SCI5TI\SLY %E CD MAKE NEI
H1D NOR TAIL ( :AT %E HE>D4
  ,HE R>ELY W5T ABROAD 0"DLI<T1 B AT
TWILI<T HE WD G \ MU6L$ UP ENORM\SLY1
:E!R ! W1!R 7 COLD OR N1 & HE *OSE !
L"OLIE/ PA?S & ^? MO/ OV]%AD[$ 0TREES &
BANKS4 ,8 GO7L+ SPECTACLES & <A/LY B&AG$
FACE "U ! P5TH\SE ( 8 HAT1 CAME )A
4AGREEA# SU45;S \ (! D>K;S ^U "O OR TWO
HOME-GO+ LAB\R]S2 & ,T$DY ,H5FREY1
TUMBL+ \ (! ,SC>LET ,COAT "O NI<T AT
HALF-PA/ N9E1 0 SC>$ %AME;LLY 0!
/RANG]'S SKULL-L H1D 7HE 0 WALK+ HAT 9
H&7 LIT 0! SU45 LI<T (! OP5$ DOOR4 ,S*
*N Z SAW HM AT NI<TFALL DR1MT ( BOGIES1
& X SEEM$ D\BT;L :E!R HE 4LIK$ BOYS M
?AN !Y 4LIK$ HM1 OR ! REV]SE--B "! 0
C]TA9LY A VIVID 5 4LIKE ON EI SIDE4
  ,X 0 9EVITA# T A P]SON ( S REM>KA# AN
APPE>.E & BE>+ %D =M A FREQU5T TOPIC 9
S* A VILLAGE Z ,IP+4 ,OP9ION 0 GRTLY
DIVID$ AB 8 O3UP,N4 ,MRS4 ,HALL 0
S5SITIVE ON ! PO9T4 ,:5 "Q$1 %E EXPLA9$
V C>E;LLY T HE 0 AN 8EXP]I;TAL
9VE/IGATOR10 GO+ G+]LY OV] ! SYLLA#S Z
"O :O DR1DS PITFALLS4 ,:5 ASK$ :AT AN
EXP]I;TAL 9VE/IGATOR WAS1 %E WD SAY )A
T\* ( SUP]IOR;Y T MO/ $UCAT$ P KNEW T1 &
WD !N EXPLA9 T HE 84COV]$ ?+S40 ,H]
VISITOR _H _H AN A3ID5T1 %E SD1 :
TEMPOR>ILY 4COL\R$ 8 FACE & H&S2 & 2+ (A
S5SITIVE 4POSI;N1 HE 0 AV]SE 6ANY PUBLIC
NOTICE (! FACT4
  ,\ ( H] HE>+ "! 0 A VIEW L>GELY
5T]TA9$ T HE 0 A CRIM9AL TRY+ 6ESCAPE F
JU/ICE 0WRAPP+ HMF UP S Z 63C1L HMF ALT
F ! EYE (! POLICE4 ,? IDEA SPRANG F !
BRA9 ( ,MR4 ,T$DY ,H5FREY4 ,NO CRIME (
ANY MAGNITUDE DAT+ F ! MI4LE OR 5D (
,FEBRU>Y 0 "KN 6H O3URR$4 ,ELABORAT$ 9 !
IMAG9,N ( ,MR4 ,G\LD1 ! PROB,N>Y
ASSI/ANT 9 ! ,N,NAL ,S*OOL1 ? !ORY TOOK
! =M T ! /RANG] 0 AN ,AN>*I/ 9 4GUISE1
PREP>+ EXPLOSIVES1 & HE RESOLV$ 6"UTAKE
S* DETECTIVE OP],NS Z 8 "T P]MITT$4 ,^!
3SI/$ =! MO/ "P 9 LOOK+ V H>D AT !
/RANG] :5"E !Y MET1 OR 9 ASK+ P :O _H
N"E SE5 ! /RANG] L1D+ "QS AB HM4 ,B HE
DETECT$ NO?+4
  ,ANO!R S*OOL ( OP9ION FOLL[$ ,MR4
,FE>5SIDE1 & EI A3EPT$ ! PIEBALD VIEW OR
"S MODIFIC,N ( X2 Z1 = 9/.E1 ,SILAS
,DURGAN1 :O 0 HE>D 6ASS]T T 8IF HE *OSES
6%[ 5SELF AT FAIRS HE'D MAKE 8 =TUNE 9
NO "T10 & 2+ A BIT (A !OLOGIAN1 -P>$ !
/RANG] 6! MAN )! "O TAL5T4 ,YET ANO!R
VIEW EXPLA9$ ! 5TIRE MATT] 0REG>D+ !
/RANG] Z A H>M.S LUNATIC4 ,T _H !
ADVANTAGE ( A3.T+ = "EY?+ /RAI<T AWAY4
  ,2T ^! MA9 GR\PS "! 7 WAV]]S &
-PROMIS]S4 ,SUSSEX FOLK H FEW SUP]/I;NS1
& X 0 ONLY AF ! EV5TS ( E>LY ,APRIL T !
?"\ (! SUP]NATURAL 0 F/ :ISP]$ 9 !
VILLAGE4 ,EV5 !N X 0 ONLY CR$IT$ AM;G !
WOM5 FOLKS4
  ,B :AT"E !Y ?"\ ( HM1 P 9 ,IP+ ON !
:OLE AGRE$ 9 4LIK+ HM4 ,8 IRRITABIL;Y1
?\< X MI<T H BE5 -PREH5SI# 6AN URBAN
BRA9-"W]1 0 AN AMAZ+ ?+ 6^! QUIET
,SUSSEX VILLAG]S4 ,! FRANTIC GE/ICUL,NS
!Y SURPRIS$ N[ & !N1 ! H1DL;G PACE AF
NI<TFALL T SWEPT HM ^U !M R.D QUIET
CORN]S1 ! 9HUMAN BLUDGEON+ ( ALL !
T5TATIVE ADV.ES ( CURIOS;Y1 ! TA/E =
TWILI<T T L$ 6! CLOS+ ( DOORS1 ! PULL+
D[N ( BLS1 ! EXT9C;N ( C&LES & LAMPS--:O
CD AGREE ) S* GO+S ON8 ,!Y DREW ASIDE Z
HE PASS$ D[N ! VILLAGE1 & :5 HE _H G"O
BY1 "Y HUMORI/S WD UP ) COAT-COLL>S &
D[N ) HAT-BRIMS1 & G PAC+ N]V\SLY AF HM
9 IMIT,N ( 8 O3ULT BE>+4 ,"! 0 A S;G
POPUL> AT T "T CALL$ ! 8,BOGEY ,MAN02
,MISS ,/AT*ELL SANG X AT ! S*OOLROOM
3C]T 7IN AID (! *UR* LAMPS71 & "!AF :5"E
"O OR TWO (! VILLAG]S 7 GA!R$ TGR &!
/RANG] APPE>$1 A B> OR S ( ? TUNE1 M OR
LESS %>P OR FLAT1 0 :I/L$ 9 ! MID/ ( !M4
,AL 2LAT$ LL *N WD CALL 8,BOGEY ,MAN60
AF HM1 & MAKE (F TREMUL\SLY ELAT$4
  ,CUSS1 ! G5]AL PRACTI;N]1 0 DEV\R$
0CURIOS;Y4 ,! B&AGES EXCIT$ 8 PROFES.NAL
9T]E/1 ! REPORT (! ?\S& & "O BOTTLES
>\S$ 8 J1L\S REG>D4 ,ALL "? ,APRIL &
,MAY HE COVET$ AN OPPORTUN;Y ( TALK+ 6!
/RANG]2 & AT LA/1 T[>DS ,:ITSUNTIDE1 HE
CD /& X NO L;G]1 & HIT ^U !
SUBSCRIP;N-LI/ =A VILLAGE NURSE Z AN
EXCUSE4 ,HE 0 SURPRIS$ 6F9D T ,MR4 ,HALL
DID N "K 8 GUE/'S "N4 8,HE GIVE A "N10
SD ,MRS4 ,HALL--AN ASS];N : 0 Q UNF.D$--
8B ,I DIDN'T "RLY HE> X40 ,%E ?"\ X
SEEM$ S SILLY N 6"K ! MAN'S "N4
  ,CUSS RAPP$ AT ! P>L\R DOOR & 5T]$4
,"! 0 A FAIRLY AUDI# IMPREC,N F )94
8,P>DON MY 9TRU.N10 SD ,CUSS1 & !N !
DOOR CLOS$ & CUT ,MRS4 ,HALL (F F ! RE/
(! 3V]S,N4
  ,%E CD HE> ! MURMUR ( VOICES =! NEXT
T5 M9UTES1 !N A CRY ( SURPRISE1 A /IRR+
( FEET1 A *AIR FLUNG ASIDE1 A B>K (
LAU<T]1 QK /EPS 6! DOOR1 & ,CUSS APPE>$1
8 FACE :ITE1 8 EYES />+ OV] 8 %\LD]4 ,HE
LEFT ! DOOR OP5 2H HM1 & )\T LOOK+ AT H]
/RODE ACR ! HALL & W5T D[N ! /EPS1 & %E
HE>D 8 FEET HURRY+ AL;G ! ROAD4 ,HE
C>RI$ 8 HAT 9 8 H&4 ,%E /OOD 2H ! DOOR1
LOOK+ AT ! OP5 DOOR (! P>L\R4 ,!N %E
HE>D ! /RANG] LAU<+ QUIETLY1 & !N 8
FOOT/EPS CAME ACR ! ROOM4 ,%E CD N SEE 8
FACE ": %E /OOD4 ,! P>L\R DOOR SLAMM$1
&! PLACE 0 SIL5T AG4
  ,CUSS W5T /RAI<T UP ! VILLAGE 6,BUNT+
! VIC>4 8,AM ,I MAD80 ,CUSS 2GAN
ABRUPTLY1 Z HE 5T]$ ! %A2Y LL /UDY4 8,D
,I LOOK L AN 9SANE P]SON80
  8,:AT'S HAPP5$80 SD ! VIC>1 PUTT+ !
AMMONITE ON ! LOOSE %EETS ( 8 =?COM+
S]MON4
  8,T *AP AT ! 9N--0
  8,WELL80
  8,GIVE ME "S?+ 6DR9K10 SD ,CUSS1 & HE
SAT D[N4
  ,:5 8 N]VES _H BE5 /1DI$ 0A GLASS (
*1P %]RY-- ! ONLY DR9K ! GD VIC> _H
AVAILA#--HE TOLD HM (! 9T]VIEW HE _H J
_H4 8,W5T IN10 HE GASP$1 8& 2GAN 6DEM& A
SUBSCRIP;N = T ,NURSE ,FUND4 ,HE'D /UCK
8 H&S 9 8 POCKETS Z ,I CAME IN1 & HE SAT
D[N LUMPILY 9 8 *AIR4 ,SNI6$4 ,I TOLD HM
,I'D HE>D HE TOOK AN 9T]E/ 9 SCI5TIFIC
?+S4 ,HE SD YES4 ,SNI6$ AG4 ,KEPT ON
SNI6+ ALL ! "T2 EVID5TLY REC5TLY CAU<T
AN 9F]NAL COLD4 ,NO WOND]1 WRAPP$ UP L
T6 ,I DEVELOP$ ! NURSE IDEA1 & ALL !
:ILE KEPT MY EYES OP54 ,BOTTLES--
*EMICALS--"EY":4 ,BAL.E1 TE/-TUBES 9
/&S1 &A SMELL (--EV5+ PRIMROSE4 ,WD HE
SUBSCRIBE8 ,SD HE'D 3SID] X4 ,ASK$ HM1
PO9T-BLANK1 0 HE RESE>*+4 ,SD HE WAS4 ,A
L;G RESE>*8 ,GOT Q CROSS4 ,8,A DAMNA#
L;G RESE>*10' SD HE1 BL[+ ! CORK \1 S
6SP1K4 ,8,OH10' SD ,I4 ,& \ CAME !
GRIEV.E4 ,! MAN 0 J ON ! BOIL1 & MY "Q
BOIL$ HM OV]4 ,HE _H BE5 GIV5 A
PRESCRIP;N1 MO/ VALUA# PRESCRIP;N--:AT =
HE WDN'T SAY4 ,0 X M$ICAL8 ,8,DAMN Y6
,:AT >E Y FI%+ AF80' ,I APOLOGIS$4
,DIGNIFI$ SNIFF & C\<4 ,HE RESUM$4 ,HE'D
R1D X4 ,FIVE 9GR$I5TS4 ,PUT X D[N2 TURN$
8 H1D4 ,DRAU<T ( AIR F W9D[ LIFT$ !
PAP]4 ,SWI%1 RU/LE4 ,HE 0 "W+ 9 A ROOM )
AN OP5 FIREPLACE1 HE SD4 ,SAW A FLICK]1
& "! 0 ! PRESCRIP;N BURN+ & LIFT+
*IMNEYW>D4 ,RU%$ T[>DS X J Z X :ISK$ UP
*IMNEY4 ,S6 ,J AT T PO9T1 6ILLU/RATE 8
/ORY1 \ CAME 8 >M40
  8,WELL80
  8,NO H&--J AN EMPTY SLEEVE4 ,"L6 ,I
?"\1 T'S A DE=M;Y6 ,GOT A CORK >M1 ,I
SUPPOSE1 & HAS TAK5 X (F4 ,!N1 ,I ?"\1
"!'S "S?+ ODD 9 T4 ,:AT ! DEVIL KEEPS T
SLEEVE UP & OP51 IF "!'S NO?+ 9 X8 ,"! 0
NO?+ 9 X1 ,I TELL Y4 ,NO?+ D[N X1 "R D[N
6! JO9T4 ,I CD SEE "R D[N X 6! ELB[1 &
"! 0 A GLIMM] ( LI<T %9+ "? A TE> (!
CLO?4 ,8,GD ,GOD60' ,I SD4 ,!N HE /OPP$4
,/>$ AT ME ) ^? BLACK GO7LES ( HIS1 & !N
AT 8 SLEEVE40
  8,WELL80
  8,T'S ALL4 ,HE N"E SD A ^W2 J GL>$1 &
PUT 8 SLEEVE BACK 9 8 POCKET QKLY4 ,8,I
0 SAY+10' SD HE1 ,8T "! 0 ! PRESCRIP;N
BURN+1 WASN'T ,I80' ,9T]ROGATIVE C\<4
,8,H[ ! DEVIL10' SD ,I1 ,8C Y MOVE AN
EMPTY SLEEVE L T80' ,8,EMPTY SLEEVE80'
,8,YES10' SD ,I1 ,8AN EMPTY SLEEVE40'
  8,8,X'S AN EMPTY SLEEVE1 IS X8 ,Y SAW
X 0 AN EMPTY SLEEVE80' ,HE /OOD UP "R
AWAY4 ,I /OOD UP TOO4 ,HE CAME T[>DS ME
9 ?REE V SL[ /EPS1 & /OOD Q CLOSE4
,SNI6$ V5OM\SLY4 ,I DIDN'T FL9*1 ?\<
,I'M HANG$ IF T B&AG$ KNOB ( HIS1 & ^?
BL9K]S1 >5'T 5 6UNN]VE ANY "O1 -+
QUIETLY UP 6Y4
  8,8,Y SD X 0 AN EMPTY SLEEVE80' HE SD4
,8,C]TA9LY10' ,I SD4 ,AT />+ & SAY+ NO?+
A B>EFAC$ MAN1 UNSPECTACL$1 />TS SCRAT*4
,!N V QUIETLY HE PULL$ 8 SLEEVE \ ( 8
POCKET AG1 & RAIS$ 8 >M T[>DS ME Z ?\<
HE WD %[ X 6ME AG4 ,HE DID X V1 V SL[LY4
,I LOOK$ AT X4 ,SEEM$ AN AGE4 ,8,WELL80'
SD ,I1 CLE>+ MY ?ROAT1 ,8"!'S NO?+ 9
X40' ,_H 6SAY "S?+4 ,I 0 2G9N+ 6FEEL
F"R5$4 ,I CD SEE "R D[N X4 ,HE EXT5D$ X
/RAI<T T[>DS ME1 SL[LY1 SL[LY--J L
T--UNTIL ! CUFF 0 SIX 9*ES F MY FACE4
,QUE] ?+ 6SEE AN EMPTY SLEEVE -E AT Y L
T6 ,& !N--0
  8,WELL80
  8,"S?+--EXACTLY L A F+] & ?UMB X FELT
--NIPP$ MY NOSE40
  ,BUNT+ 2GAN 6LAU<4
  8,"! WASN'T ANY?+ "!60 SD ,CUSS1 8
VOICE RUNN+ UP 96A %RIEK AT ! 8"!40
8,X'S ALL V WELL = Y 6LAU<1 B ,I TELL Y
,I 0 S />TL$1 ,I HIT 8 CUFF H>D1 & TURN$
R.D1 & CUT \ (! ROOM--,I LEFT HM--0
  ,CUSS /OPP$4 ,"! 0 NO MISTAK+ ! S9C];Y
( 8 PANIC4 ,HE TURN$ R.D 9 A HELP.S WAY
& TOOK A SECOND GLASS (! EXCELL5T VIC>'S
V 9F]IOR %]RY4 8,:5 ,I HIT 8 CUFF10 SD
,CUSS1 8,I TELL Y1 X FELT EXACTLY L
HITT+ AN >M4 ,& "! WASN'T AN >M6 ,"!
WASN'T ! <O/ ( AN >M60
  ,MR4 ,BUNT+ ?"\ X OV]4 ,HE LOOK$
SUSPICI\SLY AT ,CUSS4 8,X'S A MO/
REM>KA# /ORY10 HE SD4 ,HE LOOK$ V WISE &
GRAVE 9DE$4 8,X'S RE,Y10 SD ,MR4 ,BUNT+
) JUDICIAL EMPHASIS1 8A MO/ REM>KA#
/ORY40


