            ,,! ,,"T ,,MA*9E

                  ,,VI

  8,X MAY SEEM ODD 6Y1 B X 0 TWO "DS 2F
,I CD FOLL[ UP ! NEW-F.D CLUE 9 :AT 0
MANIFE/LY ! PROP] WAY4 ,I FELT A PECULI>
%R9K+ F ^? PALLID BODIES4 ,!Y 7 J !
HALF-BL1*$ COL\R (! WORMS & ?+S "O SEES
PRES]V$ 9 _S 9 A ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM4 ,&
!Y 7 FIL?ILY COLD 6! T\*4 ,PROBABLY MY
%R9K+ 0 L>GELY DUE 6! SYMPA!TIC 9FLU;E
(! ,ELOI1 ^: 4GU/ (! ,MORLOCKS ,I N[
2GAN 6APPRECIATE4
  8,! NEXT NI<T ,I DID N SLEEP WELL4
,PROBABLY MY H1L? 0 A LL 4ORD]$4 ,I 0
OPPRESS$ ) P]PLEX;Y & D\BT4 ,ONCE OR
TWICE ,I _H A FEEL+ ( 9T5SE FE> = : ,I
CD P]CV NO DEF9ITE R1SON4 ,I REMEMB]
CREEP+ NOISE.SLY 96! GRT HALL ": ! LL P
7 SLEEP+ 9 ! MOONLI<T--T NI<T ,WE5A 0
AM;G !M--& FEEL+ REASSUR$ 0_! PRES;E4 ,X
O3URR$ 6ME EV5 !N1 T 9 ! C\RSE (A FEW
"DS ! MOON M/ PASS "? XS LA/ QU>T]1 &!
NI<TS GR[ D>K1 :5 ! APPE>.ES ( ^!
UNPL1SANT CR1TURES F 2L1 ^! :IT5$
,LEMURS1 ? NEW V]M9 T _H REPLAC$ ! OLD1
MI<T 2 M ABUNDANT4 ,& ON BO? ^! "DS ,I
_H ! RE/.S FEEL+ ( "O :O %IRKS AN
9EVITA# DUTY4 ,I FELT ASSUR$ T ! ,"T
,MA*9E 0 ONLY 6BE RECOV]$ 0BOLDLY
P5ETRAT+ ^! "UGR.D MY/]IES4 ,YET ,I CD N
FACE ! MY/]Y4 ,IF ONLY ,I _H _H A
-PANION X WD H BE5 DI6]5T4 ,B ,I 0 S
HORRIBLY AL"O1 & EV5 6CLAMB] D[N 96!
D>K;S (! WELL APPALL$ ME4 ,I DON'T "K IF
Y W "U/& MY FEEL+1 B ,I N"E FELT Q SAFE
AT MY BACK4
  8,X 0 ? RE/.S;S1 ? 9SECUR;Y1 P]H1 T
DROVE ME FUR!R & FUR!R AFIELD 9 MY
EXPLOR+ EXP$I;NS4 ,GO+ 6! S\?-WE/W>D
T[>DS ! RIS+ C.TRY T IS N[ CALL$ ,-BE
,WOOD1 ,I OBS]V$ F> (F1 9 ! DIREC;N (
N9ETE5?-C5TURY ,BAN/1D1 A VA/ GRE5
/RUCTURE1 DI6]5T 9 "* F ANY ,I _H HI!RTO
SE54 ,X 0 L>G] ?AN ! L>GE/ (! PALACES OR
RU9S ,I KNEW1 &! FACADE _H AN ,ORI5TAL
LOOK3 ! FACE ( X HAV+ ! LU/RE1 Z WELL Z
! PALE-GRE5 T9T1 A K9D ( BLUI%-GRE51 (A
C]TA9 TYPE ( ,*9ESE PORCELA94 ,? DI6];E
9 ASPECT SU7E/$ A DI6];E 9 USE1 & ,I 0
M9D$ 6PU% ON & EXPLORE4 ,B ! "D 0 GR[+
LATE1 & ,I _H -E ^U ! SI<T (! PLACE AF A
L;G & TIR+ CIRCUIT2 S ,I RESOLV$ 6HOLD
OV] ! ADV5TURE =! FOLL[+ "D1 & ,I
RETURN$ 6! WELCOME &! C>ESSES ( LL
,WE5A4 ,B NEXT MORN+ ,I P]CVD CLE>LY 5 T
MY CURIOS;Y REG>D+ ! ,PALACE ( ,GRE5
,PORCELA9 0 A PIECE ( SELF-DECEP;N1 65A#
ME 6%IRK1 0ANO!R "D1 AN EXP]I;E ,I
DR1D$4 ,I RESOLV$ ,I WD MAKE ! DESC5T
)\T FUR!R WA/E ( "T1 & />T$ \ 9 ! E>LY
MORN+ T[>DS A WELL NE> ! RU9S ( GRANITE
& ALUM9IUM4
  8,LL ,WE5A RAN ) ME4 ,%E D.ED 2S ME 6!
WELL1 B :5 %E SAW ME L1N OV] ! M\? &
LOOK D[NW>D1 %E SEEM$ /RANGELY 4CONC]T$4
8,GD-BYE1 ,LL ,WE5A10 ,I SD1 KISS+ H]2 &
!N PUTT+ H] D[N1 ,I 2GAN 6FEEL OV] !
P>APET =! CLIMB+ HOOKS4 ,R HA/ILY1 ,I
MAY Z WELL 3FESS1 = ,I FE>$ MY C\RAGE
MI<T L1K AWAY6 ,AT F/ %E WAT*$ ME 9
AMAZE;T4 ,!N %E GAVE A MO/ PITE\S CRY1 &
RUNN+ 6ME1 %E 2GAN 6PULL AT ME ) H] LL
H&S4 ,I ?9K H] OPPOSI;N N]V$ ME R
6PROCE$4 ,I %OOK H] (F1 P]H A LL R\<LY1
& 9 ANO!R MO;T ,I 0 9 ! ?ROAT (! WELL4
,I SAW H] AGONIZ$ FACE OV] ! P>APET1 &
SMIL$ 6REASSURE H]4 ,!N ,I _H 6LOOK D[N
AT ! UN/A# HOOKS 6: ,I CLUNG4
  8,I _H 6CLAMB] D[N A %AFT ( P]H TWO
HUNDR$ Y>DS4 ,! DESC5T 0 E6ECT$ 0M1NS (
METALLIC B>S PROJECT+ F ! SIDES (! WELL1
& ^! 2+ ADAPT$ 6! NE$S (A CR1TURE M*
SMALL] & LI<T] ?AN MYF1 ,I 0 SPE$ILY
CRAMP$ & FATIGU$ 0! DESC5T4 ,& N SIMPLY
FATIGU$6 ,"O (! B>S B5T SU45LY "U MY
WEI<T1 & ALM SWUNG ME (F 96! BLACK;S 2N4
,=A MO;T ,I HUNG 0"O H&1 & AF T EXP]I;E
,I DID N D>E 6RE/ AG4 ,?\< MY >MS & BACK
7 PRES5TLY ACUTELY PA9;L1 ,I W5T ON
CLAMB]+ D[N ! %E] DESC5T ) Z QK A MO;N Z
POSSI#4 ,GLANC+ UPW>D1 ,I SAW ! AP]TURE1
A SMALL BLUE DISK1 9 : A /> 0 VISI#1
:ILE LL ,WE5A'S H1D %[$ Z A R.D BLACK
PROJEC;N4 ,! ?U4+ S.D (A MA*9E 2L GREW
L\D] & M OPPRESSIVE4 ,"EY?+ SAVE T LL
DISK ABV 0 PROF.DLY D>K1 & :5 ,I LOOK$
UP AG ,WE5A _H 4APPE>$4
  8,I 0 9 AN AGONY ( 4COM=T4 ,I _H "S
?"\ ( TRY+ 6G UP ! %AFT AG1 & L1VE !
,"U-_W AL"O4 ,B EV5 :ILE ,I TURN$ ? OV]
9 MY M9D ,I 3T9U$ 6DESC5D4 ,AT LA/1 )
9T5SE RELIEF1 ,I SAW DIMLY -+ UP1 A FOOT
6! "R ( ME1 A SL5D] LOOPHOLE 9 ! WALL4
,SW++ MYF IN1 ,I F.D X 0 ! AP]TURE (A
N>R[ HORIZONTAL TUNNEL 9 : ,I CD LIE D[N
& RE/4 ,X 0 N TOO SOON4 ,MY >MS A*$1 MY
BACK 0 CRAMP$1 & ,I 0 TREMBL+ )! PROL;G$
T]ROR (A FALL4 ,2SS ?1 ! UNBROK5 D>K;S
_H _H A 4TRESS+ E6ECT ^U MY EYES4 ,! AIR
0 FULL (! ?ROB & HUM ( MA*9]Y PUMP+ AIR
D[N ! %AFT4
  8,I D N "K H[ L;G ,I LAY4 ,I 0 R\S$ 0A
S(T H& T\*+ MY FACE4 ,/>T+ UP 9 ! D>K;S
,I SNAT*$ AT MY MAT*ES &1 HA/ILY /RIK+
"O1 ,I SAW ?REE /OOP+ :ITE CR1TURES
SIMIL> 6! "O ,I _H SE5 ABV GR.D 9 ! RU91
HA/ILY RETR1T+ 2F ! LI<T4 ,LIV+1 Z !Y
DID1 9 :AT APPE>$ 6ME IMP5ETRA# D>K;S1
_! EYES 7 ABNORM,Y L>GE & S5SITIVE1 J Z
>E ! PUPILS (! ABYSMAL FI%ES1 & !Y
REFLECT$ ! LI<T 9 ! SAME WAY4 ,I H NO
D\BT !Y CD SEE ME 9 T RAY.S OBSCUR;Y1 &
!Y DID N SEEM 6H ANY FE> ( ME A"P F !
LI<T4 ,B1 S SOON Z ,I /RUCK A MAT* 9
ORD] 6SEE !M1 !Y FL$ 9CONT95TLY1 VANI%+
96D>K GUTT]S & TUNNELS1 F : _! EYES GL>$
AT ME 9 ! /RANGE/ FA%ION4
  8,I TRI$ 6CALL 6!M1 B ! LANGUAGE !Y _H
0 APP>5TLY DI6]5T F T (! ,OV]-_W P2 S T
,I 0 NE$S LEFT 6MY [N UNAID$ EF=TS1 &!
?"\ ( FLI<T 2F EXPLOR,N 0 EV5 !N 9 MY
M9D4 ,B ,I SD 6MYF1 8,Y >E 9 = X N[10 &1
FEEL+ MY WAY AL;G ! TUNNEL1 ,I F.D !
NOISE ( MA*9]Y GR[ L\D]4 ,PRES5TLY !
WALLS FELL AWAY F ME1 & ,I CAME 6A L>GE
OP5 SPACE1 & /RIK+ ANO!R MAT*1 SAW T ,I
_H 5T]$ A VA/ >*$ CAV]N1 : /RET*$ 96UTT]
D>K;S 2Y ! RANGE ( MY LI<T4 ,! VIEW ,I
_H ( X 0 Z M* Z "O CD SEE 9 ! BURN+ (A
MAT*4
  8,NECESS>ILY MY MEMORY IS VAGUE4 ,GRT
%APES L BIG MA*9ES ROSE \ (! DIM;S1 &
CA/ GROTESQUE BLACK %AD[S1 9 : DIM
SPECTRAL ,MORLOCKS %ELT]$ F ! GL>E4 ,!
PLACE1 0! BY1 0 V /U6Y & OPPRESSIVE1 &!
FA9T HALITUS ( FRE%LY %$ BLOOD 0 9 !
AIR4 ,"S WAY D[N ! C5TRAL VI/A 0 A LL
TA# ( :ITE METAL1 LAID ) :AT SEEM$ A
M1L4 ,! ,MORLOCKS AT ANY RATE 7
C>NIVOR\S6 ,EV5 AT ! "T1 ,I REMEMB]
WOND]+ :AT L>GE ANIMAL CD H SURVIV$
6FURNI% ! R$ JO9T ,I SAW4 ,X 0 ALL V
9DIST9CT3 ! H1VY SMELL1 ! BIG UNM1N+
%APES1 ! OBSC5E FIGURES LURK+ 9 ! %AD[S1
& ONLY WAIT+ =! D>K;S 6-E AT ME AG6 ,!N
! MAT* BURN$ D[N1 & /UNG MY F+]S1 &
FELL1 A WRI7L+ R$ SPOT 9 ! BLACK;S4
  8,I H ?"\ S9CE H[ "PICUL>LY
ILL-EQUIPP$ ,I 0 = S* AN EXP]I;E4 ,:5 ,I
_H />T$ )! ,"T ,MA*9E1 ,I _H />T$ )!
ABSURD ASSUMP;N T ! M5 (! ,FUTURE WD
C]TA9LY 2 9F9ITELY AH1D ( \RVS 9 ALL _!
APPLI.ES4 ,I _H -E )\T >MS1 )\T M$IC9E1
)\T ANY?+ 6SMOKE--AT "TS ,I MISS$ TOBA3O
F"R;LLY--EV5 )\T 5 MAT*ES4 ,IF ONLY ,I
_H ?"\ (A ,KODAK6 ,I CD H FLA%$ T
GLIMPSE (! ,"U_W 9 A SECOND1 & EXAM9$ X
AT LEISURE4 ,B1 Z X WAS1 ,I /OOD "! )
ONLY ! W1PONS &! P[]S T ,NATURE _H 5D[$
ME )--H&S1 FEET1 & TEE?2 ^!1 & F\R
SAFETY-MAT*ES T / REMA9$ 6ME4
  8,I 0 AFRAID 6PU% MY WAY 9 AM;G ALL ?
MA*9]Y 9 ! D>K1 & X 0 ONLY ) MY LA/
GLIMPSE ( LI<T ,I 4COV]$ T MY /ORE (
MAT*ES _H RUN L[4 ,X _H N"E O3URR$ 6ME
UNTIL T MO;T T "! 0 ANY NE$ 6ECONOMIZE
!M1 & ,I _H WA/$ ALM HALF ! BOX 9
A/ONI%+ ! ,UPP]-_W]S1 6:OM FIRE 0 A
NOVELTY4 ,N[1 Z ,I SAY1 ,I _H F\R LEFT1
& :ILE ,I /OOD 9 ! D>K1 A H& T\*$ M9E1
LANK F+]S CAME FEEL+ OV] MY FACE1 & ,I 0
S5SI# (A PECULI> UNPL1SANT OD\R4 ,I
FANCI$ ,I HE>D ! BR1?+ (A CR[D ( ^?
DR1D;L LL 2+S AB ME4 ,I FELT ! BOX (
MAT*ES 9 MY H& 2+ G5TLY 45GAG$1 & O!R
H&S 2H ME PLUCK+ AT MY CLO?+4 ,! S5SE (
^! UNSE5 CR1TURES EXAM9+ ME 0
9DESCRIBABLY UNPL1SANT4 ,! SU45 R1LIZ,N
( MY IGNOR.E ( _! WAYS ( ?9K+ & DO+ CAME
HOME 6ME V VIVIDLY 9 ! D>K;S4 ,I %\T$ AT
!M Z L\DLY Z ,I CD4 ,!Y />T$ AWAY1 & !N
,I CD FEEL !M APPROA*+ ME AG4 ,!Y CLUT*$
AT ME M BOLDLY1 :ISP]+ ODD S.DS 6EA*
O!R4 ,I %IV]$ VIOL5TLY1 & %\T$ AG R
4CORDANTLY4 ,? "T !Y 7 N S S]I\SLY
AL>M$1 & !Y MADE A QUE] LAU<+ NOISE Z !Y
CAME BACK AT ME4 ,I W 3FESS ,I 0
HORRIBLY F"R5$4 ,I DET]M9$ 6/RIKE ANO!R
MAT* & ESCAPE "U ! PROTEC;N ( XS GL>E4
,I DID S1 & EK+ \ ! FLICK] )A SCRAP (
PAP] F MY POCKET1 ,I MADE GD MY RETR1T
6! N>R[ TUNNEL4 ,B ,I _H SC>CE 5T]$ ? :5
MY LI<T 0 BL[N \ & 9 ! BLACK;S ,I CD HE>
! ,MORLOCKS RU/L+ L W9D AM;G L1VES1 &
PATT]+ L ! RA91 Z !Y HURRI$ AF ME4
  8,IN A MO;T ,I 0 CLUT*$ 0S"EAL H&S1 &
"! 0 NO MISTAK+ T !Y 7 TRY+ 6HAUL ME
BACK4 ,I /RUCK ANO!R LI<T1 & WAV$ X 9 _!
DAZZL$ FACES4 ,Y C SC>CE IMAG9E H[
NAUS1T+LY 9HUMAN !Y LOOK$--^? PALE1 *9.S
FACES & GRT1 LID.S1 P9KI%-GREY EYES6--Z
!Y />$ 9 _! BL;S & 2WILD];T4 ,B ,I DID N
/AY 6LOOK1 ,I PROMISE Y3 ,I RETR1T$ AG1
& :5 MY SECOND MAT* _H 5D$1 ,I /RUCK MY
?IRD4 ,X _H ALM BURN$ "? :5 ,I R1*$ !
OP5+ 96! %AFT4 ,I LAY D[N ON ! $GE1 =!
?ROB (! GRT PUMP 2L MADE ME GI4Y4 ,!N ,I
FELT SIDEWAYS =! PROJECT+ HOOKS1 &1 Z ,I
DID S1 MY FEET 7 GRASP$ F 2H1 & ,I 0
VIOL5TLY TU7$ BACKW>D4 ,I LIT MY LA/
MAT* ''' & X 9CONT95TLY W5T \4 ,B ,I _H
MY H& ON ! CLIMB+ B>S N[1 &1 KICK+
VIOL5TLY1 ,I 45GAG$ MYF F ! CLUT*ES (!
,MORLOCKS & 0 SPE$ILY CLAMB]+ UP ! %AFT1
:ILE !Y /AY$ PE]+ & BL9K+ UP AT ME3 ALL
B "O LL WRET* :O FOLL[$ ME = "S WAY1 &
WELLNI< SECUR$ MY BOOT Z A TROPHY4
  8,T CLIMB SEEM$ 9T]M9A# 6ME4 ,)! LA/
TW5TY OR ?IRTY FEET ( X A D1DLY NAUSEA
CAME ^U ME4 ,I _H ! GRTE/ DI6ICULTY 9
KEEP+ MY HOLD4 ,! LA/ FEW Y>DS 0 A F"R;L
/RU7LE AG/ ? FA9T;S4 ,S"EAL "TS MY H1D
SWAM1 & ,I FELT ALL ! S5S,NS ( FALL+4
,AT LA/1 H["E1 ,I GOT OV] ! WELL-M\?
"SH[1 & /A7]$ \ (! RU9 96! BL9D+
SUNLI<T4 ,I FELL ^U MY FACE4 ,EV5 ! SOIL
SMELT SWEET & CL1N4 ,!N ,I REMEMB] ,WE5A
KISS+ MY H&S & E>S1 &! VOICES ( O!RS
AM;G ! ,ELOI4 ,!N1 =A "T1 ,I 0 9S5SI#4









