
    ,,*APT] ,,XIV
  8,( C\RSE1 "!'S NO WAY ( TELL+ :AT
ANYBODY WANTS F :AT !Y SAY40 ,"DLI<T
RU2$ ,BOB'S REBELLI\S E> ) 8 QUIRT &
POND]$ ) 4SATISFAC;N ! ^WS HE _H J
UTT]$4 ,!Y DID N SAY :AT HE _H M1NT !M
6SAY4 8,:AT ,I'M DRIV+ AT IS T Y SAY
FLATFOOT$ T Y WON'T MEET ME AG1 & Y GIVE
YR R1SONS1 B H[ AM ,I 6"K !Y >E YR R1L
R1SONS8 ,ME2E Y J DON'T WANT 6GET
ACQUA9T$ ) ME1 & WON'T SAY S = FE> (
HURT+ MY FEEL+S4 ,DON'T Y SEE8 ,I'M !
LA/ MAN 9 ! _W 6%OVE 9 ": ,I'M N WANT$4
,& IF ,I ?"\ Y DIDN'T C>E A :OOP 6SEE
ANY?+ M ( ME1 :Y1 ,I'D CLE> \ S BLAM$ QK
Y CDN'T SEE ME = SMOKE40
  ,DEDE SMIL$ AT HM 9 AC"KL$G;T ( 8 ^WS1
B RODE ON SIL5TLY4 ,& T SMILE1 HE ?"\1 0
! MO/ SWEETLY WOND];L SMILE HE _H "E
SE54 ,"! 0 A DI6];E 9 X1 HE ASSUR$ HMF1
F ANY SMILE %E _H "E GIV5 HM 2F4
  ,X 0 ! SMILE ( "O :O KNEW HM J A LL
BIT1 ( "O :O 0 J ! L1/ MITE ACQUA9T$ )
HM4 ,( C\RSE1 HE *ECK$ HMF UP ! NEXT
MO;T1 X 0 UNCONSCI\S ON H] "P4 ,X 0 SURE
6-E 9 ! 9T]C\RSE ( ANY TWO P]SONS4
  ,ANY /RANG]1 A BUSI;S MAN1 A CL]K1
ANYBODY AF A FEW CASUAL MEET+S WD %[
SIMIL> SIGNS ( FRLI;S4 ,X 0 B.D 6HAPP51
B 9 H] CASE X MADE M IMPRES.N ON HM2 &1
2SS1 X 0 S* A SWEET & WOND];L SMILE4
,O!R WOM5 HE _H "KN _H N"E SMIL$ L T2 HE
0 SURE ( X4
  ,X _H BE5 A HAPPY "D4 ,"DLI<T _H MET
H] ON ! BACK-ROAD F ,B]KELEY1 & !Y _H _H
H\RS TGR4 ,X 0 ONLY N[1 )! "D DRAW+ 6A
CLOSE &) !M APPROA*+ ! GATE (! ROAD
6,B]KELEY1 T HE _H BROA*$ ! IMPORTANT
SUBJECT4
  ,%E 2GAN H] ANSW] 6HIS LA/ 3T5;N1 & HE
LI/5$ GRATE;LLY4
  8,B SUPPOSE1 J SUPPOSE1 T ! R1SONS ,I
H GIV5 >E ! ONLY "OS8--T "! IS NO "Q (
MY N WANT+ 6"K Y80
  8,!N ,I'D G ON URG+ L ,SAM ,SCRAT*10
HE SD QKLY4 8,2C1 Y SEE1 ,I'VE ALW
NOTIC$ T FOLKS T 9CL9E 6ANY?+ >E M* M
OP5 6HE>+ ! CASE /AT$4 ,B IF Y DID H T
O!R R1SON UP YR SLEEVE1 IF Y DIDN'T WANT
6"K ME1 IF--IF1 WELL1 IF Y ?"\ MY FEEL+S
"\N'T 6BE HURT J 2C Y _H A GD JOB )
ME'''0 ,"H1 8 CALM 3SID],N (A POSSIBIL;Y
0 SWAMP$ 0! FE> T X 0 AN ACTUAL;Y1 & HE
LO/ ! ?R1D ( 8 R1SON+4 8,WELL1 ANYWAY1
ALL Y H 6D IS 6SAY ! ^W & ,I'LL CLE> \4
  ,&) NO H>D FEEL+S2 X WD 2 J A CASE (
BAD LUCK = ME4 ,S 2 H"O/1 ,MISS ,MASON1
PL1SE1 & TELL ME IF T'S ! R1SON--,I ALM
GOT A HUN* T X IS40
  ,%E GL.ED UP AT HM1 H] EYES ABRUPTLY &
SLI<TLY MOI/1 HALF ) HURT1 HALF ) ANG]4
  8,OH1 B T ISN'T FAIR10 %E CRI$4 8,Y
GIVE ME ! *OICE ( LY+ 6Y & HURT+ Y 9
ORD] 6PROTECT MYF 0GETT+ RID ( Y1 OR (
?R[+ AWAY MY PROTEC;N 0TELL+ Y ! TRU?1 =
!N Y1 Z Y SD YRF1 WD /AY & URGE40
  ,H] *EEKS 7 FLU%$1 H] LIPS TREMUL\S1 B
%E 3T9U$ 6LOOK HM FRANKLY 9 ! EYES4
  ,"DLI<T SMIL$ GRIMLY ) SATISFAC;N4
  8,I'M R1L GLAD1 ,MISS ,MASON1 R1L GLAD
= ^? ^WS40
  8,B !Y WON'T S]VE Y10 %E W5T ON
HA/ILY4 8,!Y C'T S]VE Y4 ,I REFUSE 6LET
!M4 ,? IS \R LA/ RIDE1 &''' "H IS !
GATE40
  ,RANG+ H] M>E AL;GSIDE1 %E B5T1 SLID !
CAT*1 & FOLL[$ ! OP5+ GATE4
  8,NO2 PL1SE1 NO10 %E SD1 Z ,"DLI<T
/>T$ 6FOLL[4
  ,HUMBLY ACQUIESC5T1 HE PULL$ ,BOB
BACK1 &! GATE SWUNG %UT 2T !M4 ,B "! 0 M
6SAY1 & %E DID N RIDE ON4
  8,LI/51 ,MISS ,MASON10 HE SD1 9 A L[
VOICE T %OOK ) S9C];Y2 8,I WANT 6ASSURE
Y ( "O ?+4 ,I'M N J TRY+ 6FOOL >.D ) Y4
,I L Y1 ,I WANT Y1 & ,I 0 N"E M 9 E>NE/
9 MY LIFE4 ,"!'S NO?+ WR;G 9 MY 9T5;NS
OR ANY?+ L T4 ,:AT ,I M1N IS /RICTLY
HONORA#-0
  ,B ! EXPRES.N ( H] FACE MADE HM /OP4
,%E 0 ANGRY1 & %E 0 LAU<+ AT ! SAME "T4
  8,! LA/ ?+ Y %D H SD10 %E CRI$4 8,X'S
L A--A MATRIMONIAL BUR1U3 9T5;NS /RICTLY
HONORA#2 OBJECT1
MATRIMONY4 ,B X'S NO M ?AN ,I DES]V$4 ,?
IS :AT ,I SUPPOSE Y CALL URG+ L ,SAM
,SCRAT*40
  ,! TAN _H BL1*$ \ ( ,"DLI<T'S SK9 S9CE
! "T HE CAME 6LIVE "U C;Y RO(S1 S T !
FLU% ( BLOOD %[$ R1DILY Z X CREPT UP 8
NECK PA/ ! COLL> & OV]SPR1D 8 FACE4 ,NOR
9 8 EXCE$+ 4COM=T DID HE DR1M T %E 0
LOOK+ ^U HM AT T MO;T ) M K9D;S ?AN AT
ANY "T T "D4 ,X 0 N 9 H] EXP]I;E 62HOLD
BIG GR[N-UP M5 :O BLU%$ L BOYS1 & ALR %E
REP5T$ ! %>P;S 96: %E _H BE5 SURPRIS$4
  8,N[1 LOOK "H1 ,MISS ,MASON10 HE 2GAN1
SL[LY & /UMBL+LY AT F/1 B A3EL]AT+ 96A
RAPID;Y ( UTT].E T 0 ALM 9COH]5T2 8,I'M
A R\< SORT (A MAN1 ,I "K T1 & ,I "K ,I
DON'T "K M* ( ANY?+4 ,I'VE N"E _H ANY
TRA9+ 9 NICE ?+S4 ,I'VE N"E MADE LOVE
2F1 & ,I'VE N"E BE5 9 LOVE 2F EI--& ,I
DON'T "K H[ 6G AB X ANY M ?AN A ?"U+
IDIOT4 ,:AT Y WANT 6D IS GET 2H MY
TOMFOOL ^WS & GET A FEEL (! MAN T'S 2H
!M4 ,T'S ME1 & ,I M1N ALL "R1 IF ,I
DON'T "K H[ 6G AB X40
  ,DEDE ,MASON _H QK1 BIRDLIKE WAYS1 ALM
FLITT+ F MOOD 6MOOD2 & %E 0 ALL 3TRI;N
ON ! 9/ANT4
  8,=GIVE ME = LAU<+10 %E SD ACR ! GATE4
8,X WASN'T RE,Y LAU<T]4 ,I 0 SURPRIS$ (F
MY GU>D1 & HURT1 TOO4 ,Y SEE1 ,MR4
,H>NI%1 ,I'VE N BE5'''0
  ,%E PAUS$1 9 SU45 FE> ( -PLET+ ! ?"\
96: H] BIRDLIKE PRECIPITANCY _H 2TRAY$
H]4
  8,:AT Y M1N IS T Y'VE N BE5 US$ 6S*
SORT ( PROPOS+10 ,"DLI<T SD2 8A SORT (
ON-!-RUN1 ,8,H[DY1 GLAD-TO-MAKE-YR-
ACQUA9T.E1 WON'T-Y-BE-M9E0' PROPOSI;N40
  ,%E NO4$ & BROKE 96LAU<T]1 9 : HE
JO9$1 & : S]V$ 6PASS ! AWKW>D;S AWAY4
,HE GA!R$ HE>T AT ?1 & W5T ON 9 GRT]
3FID;E1 ) COOL] H1D & T;GUE4
  8,"!1 Y SEE1 Y PROVE MY CASE4 ,Y'VE _H
EXP]I;E 9 S* MATT]S4 ,I DON'T D\BT Y'VE
_H SLA!RS ( PROPOSALS4 ,WELL1 ,I HAV5'T1
& ,I'M L A FI% \ ( WAT]4 ,2SS1 ? A9'T A
PROPOSAL4 ,X'S A PECULI> SITU,N1 T'S
ALL1 & ,I'M 9 A CORN]4 ,I'VE GOT 5 PLA9
HORSE-S5SE 6"K A MAN A9'T SUPPOS$ 6>GUE
M>RIAGE )A GIRL Z A R1SON = GETT+
ACQUA9T$ ) H]4 ,& "R "! 0 ": ,I 0 9 !
HOLE4 ,NUMB] "O1 ,I C'T GET ACQUA9T$ ) Y
9 ! (FICE4 ,NUMB] TWO1 Y SAY Y WON'T SEE
ME \ (! (FICE 6GIVE ME A *.E4 ,NUMB]
?REE1 YR R1SON IS T FOLKS W TALK 2C Y "W
= ME4 ,NUMB] F\R1 ,I J GOT 6GET ACQUA9T$
) Y1 & ,I J GOT 6GET Y 6SEE T ,I M1N
FAIR & ALL "R4 ,NUMB] FIVE1 "! Y >E ON
"O SIDE ! GATE GETT+ R1DY 6G1 & ME "H ON
! O!R SIDE ! GATE PRETTY DESP]ATE & B.D
6SAY "S?+ 6MAKE Y RECONSID]4 ,NUMB] SIX1
,I SD X4 ,& N[ & F9,Y1 ,I J D WANT Y
6RECONSID]40
  ,&1 LI/5+ 6HM1 PL1SUR+ 9 ! SI<T ( 8
E>NE/1 P]TURB$ FACE & 9 ! SIMPLE1 HOMELY
PHRASES T B EMPHASIZ$ 8 E>NE/;S & M>K$ !
DI6];E 2T HM &! AV]AGE RUN ( M5 %E _H
"KN1 %E =GOT 6LI/5 & LO/ H]F 9 H] [N
?"\S4 ,! LOVE (A /R;G MAN IS "E A LURE
6A NORMAL WOMAN1 & N"E M /R;GLY DID
,DEDE FEEL ! LURE ?AN N[1 LOOK+ ACR !
CLOS$ GATE AT ,BURN+ ,"DLI<T4 ,N T %E WD
"E DR1M ( M>RY+ HM--%E _H A SCORE (
R1SONS AG/ X2 B :Y N AT L1/ SEE M ( HM8
,HE 0 C]TA9LY N REPULSIVE 6H]4 ,ON !
3TR>Y1 %E LIK$ HM1 _H ALW LIK$ HM F ! "D
%E _H F/ SE5 HM & LOOK$ ^U 8 L1N ,9DIAN
FACE & 96HIS FLA%+ ,9DIAN EYES4 ,HE 0 A
FIGURE (A MAN 9 M WAYS ?AN 8 M]E
MAGNIFIC5T MUSCLES4 ,2SS1 ,ROM.E _H
GILD$ HM1 ? D"\Y1 R\<-HEWN ADV5TUR] (!
,NOR?1 ? MAN ( _M DE$S & _M MILLIONS1 :O
_H -E D[N \ (! ,>CTIC 6WRE/LE & FI<T S
MA/];LLY )! M5 (! ,S\?4
  ,SAVAGE Z A ,R$ ,9DIAN1 GAM#R &
PR(LIGATE1 A MAN )\T MORALS1 ^: V5GE.E 0
N"E GLUTT$ & :O /AMP$ ON ! FACES ( ALL
:O OPPOS$ HM--OH1 YES1 %E KNEW ALL ! H>D
"NS HE _H BE5 CALL$4 ,YET %E 0 N AFRAID
( HM4 ,"! 0 M ?AN T 9 ! 3NOT,N ( 8 "N4
,BURN+ ,"DLI<T CALL$ UP O!R ?+S Z WELL4
,!Y 7 "! 9 ! NEWSPAP]S1 ! MAGAZ9ES1 &!
BOOKS ON ! ,KLONDIKE4 ,:5 ALL 0 SD1
,BURN+ ,"DLI<T _H A MI<TY 3NOT,N--"O
6T\* ANY WOMAN'S IMAG9,N1 Z X T\*$ H]S1
! GATE 2T !M1 LI/5+ 6! WI/;L & IMPAS.N$
SIMPLIC;Y ( 8 SPEE*4 ,DEDE 0 AF ALL A
WOMAN1 )A WOMAN'S SEX-VAN;Y1 & X 0 ?
VAN;Y T 0 PL1S$ 0! FACT T S* A MAN TURN$
9 8 NE$ 6H]4
  ,& "! 0 M T PASS$ "? H] M9D--S5S,NS (
TIR$;S & L"OLI;S2 TRAMPL+ SQUADRONS &
%AD[Y >MIES ( VAGUE FEEL+S & VAGU]
PROMPT+2 & DEEP] & DIMM] :ISP]+S &
E*O+S1 ! FLUTT]+S ( =GOTT5 G5],NS
CRY/ALLIZ$ 962+ & FLUTT]+ ANEW & ALW1
UNDR1M$ & UNGUESS$1 SUBTLE & POT5T1 ! _S
& ESS;E ( LIFE T "U A ?\S& DECEITS &
MASKS ="E MAKES = LIFE4 ,X 0 A /R;G
TEMPT,N1 J 6RIDE
) ? MAN 9 ! HILLS4 ,X WD 2 T ONLY & NO?+
M1 = %E 0 FIRMLY 3V9C$ T 8 WAY ( LIFE CD
N"E 2 H] WAY4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 %E 0 VEX$
0N"O (! ORD9>Y FEM99E FE>S & TIMIDITIES4
,T %E CD TAKE C>E ( H]F "U ANY & ALL
CIRCUM/.ES %E N"E D\BT$4 ,!N :Y N8 ,X 0
S* A LL ?+1 AF ALL4
  ,%E L$ AN ORD9>Y1 HUMDRUM LIFE AT BE/4
,%E ATE & SLEPT & "W$1 & T 0 AB ALL4 ,Z
IF 9 REVIEW1 H] AN*ORITE EXI/;E PASS$ 2F
H]3 SIX "DS (! WEEK SP5T 9 ! (FICE & 9
J\RNEY+ BACK & =? ON ! F]RY2 ! H\RS /OL5
2F B$"T = SNAT*ES ( S;G AT ! PIANO1 =
DO+ H] [N SPECIAL LAUND]+1 = SEW+ & M5D+
& CA/+ UP ( M1GRE A3.TS2 ! TWO EV5+S A
WEEK ( SOCIAL DIV].N %E P]MITT$ H]F2 !
O!R /OL5 H\RS & ,SATUR"D AFNS SP5T ) H]
BRO!R AT ! HOSPITAL2 &! SEV5? "D1
,SUN"D1 H] "D ( SOLACE1 ON ,MAB'S BACK1
\ AM;G ! B.S$ HILLS4 ,B X 0 L"OLY1 ?
SOLIT>Y RID+4 ,NOBODY ( H] ACQUA9T.E
RODE4 ,S"EAL GIRLS AT ! ,UNIV]S;Y _H BE5
P]SUAD$ 96TRY+ X1 B AF A ,SUN"D OR TWO
ON HIR$ LIV]Y HACKS !Y _H LO/ 9T]E/4 ,"!
0 ,MADEL9E1 :O B"\ H] [N HORSE & RODE
5?USIA/IC,Y = S"EAL MON?S1 ONLY 6GET
M>RI$ & G AWAY 6LIVE 9 ,S\!RN ,CALI=NIA4
,AF YE>S ( X1 "O DID GET TIR$ ( ? ET]NAL
RID+ AL"O4
  ,HE 0 S* A BOY1 ? BIG GIANT (A
MILLIONAIRE :O _H HALF ! RI* M5 ( ,SAN
,FRANCISCO AFRAID ( HM4 ,S* A BOY6 ,%E
_H N"E IMAG9$ ? SIDE ( 8 NATURE4
  8,H[ D FOLKS GET M>RI$80 HE 0 SAY+4
8,:Y1 NUMB] "O1 !Y MEET2 NUMB] TWO1 L
EA* O!R'S LOOKS2 NUMB] ?REE1 GET
ACQUA9T$2 & NUMB] F\R1 GET M>RI$ OR N1
AC 6H[ !Y L EA* O!R AF GETT+ ACQUA9T$4
,B H[ 9 ?"U WE'RE 6H A *.E 6F9D \ :E!R
WE L EA* O!R 5 IS 2Y MY SAVVEE1 UN.S WE
MAKE T *.E \RVS4 ,I'D -E 6SEE Y1 CALL ON
Y1 ONLY ,I "K Y'RE J ROOM+ OR BO>D+1 & T
WON'T D40
  ,SU45LY1 )A *ANGE ( MOOD1 ! SITU,N
APPE>$ 6,DEDE RIDICUL\SLY ABSURD4 ,%E
FELT A DESIRE 6LAU<--N ANGRILY1 N
HY/]IC,Y1 B J JOLLY4 ,X 0 S FUNNY4 ,H]F1
! /5OGRAPH]1 HE1 ! NOTORI\S & P[];L
GAMBL+ MILLIONAIRE1 &! GATE 2T !M ACR :
P\R$ 8 >GU;T ( P GETT+ ACQUA9T$ & M>RI$4
,AL1 X 0 AN IMPOSSI# SITU,N4 ,ON ! FACE
( X1 %E CD N G ON ) X4 ,? PROGRAM (
FURTIVE MEET+S 9 ! HILLS WD H 64CONT9UE4
,"! WD N"E 2 ANO!R MEET+4 ,& IF1 D5I$ ?1
HE TRI$ 6WOO H] 9 ! (FICE1 %E WD 2
-PELL$ 6LOSE A V GD POSI;N1 & T WD 2 AN
5D (! EPISODE4 ,X 0 N NICE 63TEMPLATE2 B
! _W ( M51 ESPECI,Y 9 ! CITIES1 %E _H N
F.D "PICUL>LY NICE4 ,%E _H N "W$ = H]
LIV+ = YE>S )\T LOS+ A GRT _M ( H]
ILLU.NS4
  8,WE WON'T D ANY SN1K+ OR HID+ >.D AB
X10 ,"DLI<T 0 EXPLA9+4 8,WE'LL RIDE >.D
Z BOLD IF Y PL1SE1 & IF ANYBODY SEES U1
:Y1 LET !M4 ,IF !Y TALK--WELL1 S L;G Z
\R 3SCI;ES >E /RAI<T WE NE$N'T WORRY4
,SAY ! ^W1 & ,BOB W H ON 8 BACK !
HAPPIE/ MAN ALIVE40
  ,%E %OOK H] H1D1 PULL$ 9 ! M>E1 :O 0
IMPATI5T 6BE (F = HOME1 & GL.ED
SIGNIFICANTLY AT ! L5G!N+ %AD[S4
  8,X'S GETT+ LATE N[1 ANYWAY10 ,"DLI<T
HURRI$ ON1 8& WE'VE SETTL$ NO?+ AF ALL4
,J "O M ,SUN"D1 ANYWAY--T'S N ASK+ M*--
6SETTLE X IN40
  8,WE'VE _H ALL "D10 %E SD4
  8,B WE />T$ 6TALK X OV] TOO LATE4
,WE'LL TACKLE X E>LI] NEXT "T4 ,? IS A
BIG S]I\S PROPOSI;N ) ME1 ,I C TELL Y4
,SAY NEXT ,SUN"D80
  8,>E M5 "E FAIR80 %E ASK$4 8,Y "K
?OR\<LY WELL T BY ,8NEXT ,SUN"D0' Y M1N
_M ,SUN"DS40
  8,!N LET X 2 _M ,SUN"DS10 HE CRI$
RECK.SLY1 :ILE %E ?"\ T %E _H N"E SE5 HM
LOOK+ H&"SR4 8,SAY ! ^W4 ,ONLY SAY ! ^W4
,NEXT ,SUN"D AT ! QU>RY'''0
  ,%E GA!R$ ! RE9S 96H] H& PRELIM9>Y
6/>T+4
  8,GD NI<T10 %E SD1 8&--0

8,YES10 HE :ISP]$1 ) J ! FA9TE/ T\* (
IMPRESSIVE;S4

  8,YES10 %E SD1 H] VOICE L[ B 4T9CT4
  ,AT ! SAME MO;T %E PUT ! M>E 96A CANT]
& W5T D[N ! ROAD )\T A BACKW>D GL.E1
9T5T ON AN ANALYSIS ( H] [N FEEL+S4 ,)
H] M9D MADE UP 6SAY NO--& 6! LA/ 9/ANT
%E _H BE5 S RESOLV$--H] LIPS N"E!.S _H
SD YES4 ,OR AT L1/ X SEEM$ ! LIPS4 ,%E
_H N 9T5D$ 63S5T4 ,!N :Y _H %E8 ,H] F/
SURPRISE & 2WILD];T AT S :OLLY
UNPREM$ITAT$ AN ACT GAVE WAY 63/]N,N Z
%E 3SID]$ XS 3SEQU;ES4 ,%E KNEW T ,BURN+
,"DLI<T 0 N A MAN 6BE TRIFL$ )1 T "U 8
SIMPLIC;Y &
BOYI%;S HE 0 ESS5TI,Y A DOM9ANT MALE
CR1TURE1 & T %E _H PL$G$ H]F 6A FUTURE (
9EVITA# /RESS & /ORM4 ,& AG %E DEM&$ (
H]F :Y %E _H SD YES AT ! V MO;T :5 X _H
BE5 F>!/ F H] 9T5;N4








