              ,,*APT] ,,IX

  ,AT HALF-PA/ N9E1 T NI<T1 ,TOM & ,SID
7 S5T 6B$1 Z USUAL4 ,!Y SD _! PRAY]S1 &
,SID 0 SOON ASLEEP4 ,TOM LAY AWAKE &
WAIT$1 9 RE/.S IMPATI;E4 ,:5 X SEEM$ 6HM
T X M/ 2 NE>LY "DLI<T1 HE HE>D ! CLOCK
/RIKE T56 ,? 0 DESPAIR4 ,HE WD H TOSS$ &
FIDGET$1 Z 8 N]VES DEM&$1 B HE 0 AFRAID
HE MI<T WAKE ,SID4 ,S HE LAY /1 & />$ UP
96! D>K4 ,"EY?+ 0 4M,Y /4 ,0& BY1 \ (!
/ILL;S1 LL1 SC>CELY PRECEPTI# NOISES
2GAN 6EMPHASIZE !MVS4 ,! TICK+ (! CLOCK
2GAN 6BR+ XF 96NOTICE4 ,OLD B1MS 2GAN
6CRACK MY/]I\SLY4 ,! /AIRS CR1K$ FA9TLY4
,EVID5TLY _SS 7 ABROAD4 ,A M1SUR$1 MU6L$
SNORE ISSU$ F ,AUNT ,POLLY'S *AMB]4 ,&
N[ ! TIRE"S *IRP+ (A CRICKET T NO HUMAN
9G5U;Y CD LOCATE1 2GAN4 ,NEXT ! <A/LY
TICK+ (A D1?WAT* 9 ! WALL AT ! B$'S H1D
MADE ,TOM %U4]--X M1NT T "SBODY'S "DS 7
NUMB]$4 ,!N ! H[L (A F>-(F DOG ROSE ON !
NI<T AIR1 & 0 ANSW]$ 0A FA9T] H[L F A
REMOT] 4T.E4 ,TOM 0 9 AN AGONY4 ,AT LA/
HE 0 SATISFI$ T "T _H C1S$ & ET]N;Y
2GUN2 HE 2GAN 6DOZE1 9 SPITE ( HMF2 !
CLOCK *IM$ ELEV51 B HE DID N HE> X4 ,&
!N "! CAME1 M+L+ ) 8 HALF-=M$ DR1MS1 A
MO/ MELAN*OLY CAT]WAUL+4 ,! RAIS+ (A
NEI<BOR+ W9D[ 4TURB$ HM4 ,A CRY (
8,SCAT6 Y DEVIL60 &! CRA% ( AN EMPTY
BOTTLE AG/ ! BACK ( 8 AUNT'S WOOD%$ BR"\
HM WIDE AWAKE1 &A S+LE M9UTE LAT] HE 0
DRESS$ & \ (! W9D[ & CREEP+ AL;G ! RO( (
! 8ELL0 ON ALL F\RS4 ,HE 8ME['D0 ) CAU;N
ONCE OR TWICE1 Z HE W5T2 !N JUMP$ 6! RO(
(! WOOD%$ & ?;E 6! GR.D4 ,HUCKLEB]RY
,F9N 0 "!1 ) 8 D1D CAT4 ,! BOYS MOV$ (F
& 4APPE>$ 9 ! GLOOM4 ,AT ! 5D ( HALF AN
H\R !Y 7 WAD+ "? ! TALL GRASS (!
GRAVEY>D4
  ,X 0 A GRAVEY>D (! OLD-FA%ION$ ,WE/]N
K9D4 ,X 0 ON A HILL1 AB A MILE &A HALF F
! VILLAGE4 ,X _H A CRAZY BO>D F;E >.D X1
: L1N$ 9W>D 9 PLACES1 & \TW>D ! RE/ (!
"T1 B /OOD UP"R NO":4 ,GRASS & WE$S GREW
RANK OV] ! :OLE CEMET]Y4 ,ALL ! OLD
GRAVES 7 SUNK5 IN1 "! 0 N A TOMB/"O ON !
PLACE2 R.D-TOPP$1 WORM-EAT5 BO>DS /A7]$
OV] ! GRAVES1 L1N+ = SUPPORT & F9D+ N"O4
8,SACR$ 6! MEMORY (0 ,S-&-,S _H BE5
PA9T$ ON !M ONCE1 B X CD NO L;G] H BE5
R1D1 ON ! MO/ ( !M1 N[1 EV5 IF "! _H BE5
LI<T4
  ,A FA9T W9D MOAN$ "? ! TREES1 & ,TOM
FE>$ X MI<T 2 ! _SS (! D1D1 -PLA9+ AT 2+
4TURB$4 ,! BOYS TALK$ LL1 & ONLY "U _!
BR1?1 =! "T &! PLACE &! P]VAD+ SOLEMN;Y
& SIL;E OPPRESS$ _! _SS4 ,!Y F.D ! %>P
NEW H1P !Y 7 SEEK+1 & 5SCONC$ !MVS )9 !
PROTEC;N ( ?REE GRT ELMS T GREW 9 A BUN*
)9 A FEW FEET (! GRAVE4
  ,!N !Y WAIT$ 9 SIL;E = :AT SEEM$ A L;G
"T4 ,! HOOT+ (A 4TANT [L 0 ALL ! S.D T
TR\#D ! D1D /ILL;S4 ,TOM'S REFLEC;NS
GREW OPPRESSIVE4 ,HE M/ =CE "S TALK4 ,S
HE SD 9 A :ISP]3
  8,HUCKY1 D Y 2LIEVE ! D1D P L X = U
6BE "H80
  ,HUCKLEB]RY :ISP]$3
  8,I WI%T ,I "K$4 ,X'S AW;L SOLEMN L1
,,A9'T X80
  8,I BET X IS40
  ,"! 0 A 3SID]A# PAUSE1 :ILE ! BOYS
CANVASS$ ? MATT] 9W>DLY4 ,!N ,TOM
:ISP]$3
  8,SAY1 ,HUCKY--D Y RECKON ,HOSS
,WILLIAMS HE>S U TALK+80
  8,O' C\RSE HE DOES4 ,L1/ 8 SP]RIT
DOES40
  ,TOM1 AF A PAUSE3
  8,I WI% ,I'D SD ,MI/] ,WILLIAMS4 ,B ,I
N"E M1NT ANY H>M4 ,"EYBODY CALLS HM
,HOSS40
  8,A BODY C'T 2 TOO "PIC'L> H[ !Y TALK
'B\T ^!-Y] D1D P1 ,TOM40
  ,? 0 A DAMP]1 & 3V]S,N DI$ AG4
  ,PRES5TLY ,TOM SEIZ$ 8 -RADE'S >M &
SD3
  8,SH60
  8,:AT IS X1 ,TOM80 ,&! TWO CLUNG TGR )
B1T+ HE>TS4
  8,SH6 ,"! 'TIS AG6 ,DIDN'T Y HE> X80
  8,I--0
  8,"!6 ,N[ Y HE> X40
  8,"L1 ,TOM1 !Y'RE -+6 ,!Y'RE -+1 SURE4
,:AT'LL WE D80
  8,I DONO4 ,?9K !Y'LL SEE U80
  8,OH1 ,TOM1 !Y C SEE 9 ! D>K1 SAME Z
CATS4 ,I WI%T ,I _HN'T -E40
  8,OH1 DON'T 2 AFE>D4 ,I DON'T 2LIEVE
!Y'LL BO!R U4 ,WE A9'T DO+ ANY H>M4 ,IF
WE KEEP P]FECTLY /1 MAYBE !Y WON'T
NOTICE U AT ALL40
  8,I'LL TRY TO1 ,TOM1 B1 ,"L1 ,I'M ALL
(A %IV]40
  8,LI/560
  ,! BOYS B5T _! H1DS TGR & SC>CELY
BR1!D4 ,A MU6L$ S.D ( VOICES FLOAT$ UP F
! F> 5D (! GRAVEY>D4
  8,LOOK6 ,SEE "!60 :ISP]$ ,TOM4 8,:AT
IS X80
  8,X'S DEVIL-FIRE4 ,OH1 ,TOM1 ? IS
AW;L40
  ,"S VAGUE FIGURES APPROA*$ "? ! GLOOM1
SW++ AN OLD-FA%ION$ T9 LANT]N T FRECKL$
! GR.D ) 9NUM]A# LL SPANGLES ( LI<T4
,PRES5TLY ,HUCKLEB]RY :ISP]$ )A %U4]3
  8,X'S ! DEVILS SURE 5\<4 ,?REE ( 'EM6
,"LY1 ,TOM1 WE'RE GON]S6 ,C Y PRAY80
  8,I'LL TRY1 B DON'T Y 2 AFE>D4 ,!Y
A9'T GO+ 6HURT U4 ,8,N[ ,I LAY ME D[N
6SLEEP1 ,I--0'0
  8,SH60
  8,:AT IS X1 ,HUCK80
  8,!Y'RE ,,HUMANS6 ,"O ( 'EM IS1
ANYWAY4 ,"O ( 'EM'S OLD ,MUFF ,POTT]'S
VOICE40
  8,NO--'TA9'T S1 IS X80
  8,I BET ,I "K X4 ,DON'T Y /IR NOR
BUDGE4 ,HE A9'T %>P 5 6NOTICE U4 ,DRUNK1
! SAME Z USUAL1 LIKELY--BLAM$ OLD RIP60
  8,ALL "R1 ,I'LL KEEP /4 ,N[ !Y'RE
/UCK4 ,C'T F9D X4 ,"H !Y -E AG4 ,N[
!Y'RE HOT4 ,COLD AG4 ,HOT AG4 ,R$ HOT6
,!Y'RE P'9T$ "R1 ? "T4 ,SAY1 ,HUCK1 ,I
"K ANO!R O' !M VOICES2 X'S ,9JUN ,JOE40
  8,T'S S--T MURD]9' HALF-BRE$6 ,I'D
DRU!R !Y 0 DEVILS A D]N SI<T4 ,:AT K9 !Y
2 UP TO80
  ,! :ISP] DI$ :OLLY \1 N[1 =! ?REE M5
_H R1*$ ! GRAVE & /OOD )9 A FEW FEET (!
BOYS' HID+-PLACE4
  8,"H X IS10 SD ! ?IRD VOICE2 &! [N] (
X HELD ! LANT]N UP & REV1L$ ! FACE ( "Y
,DOCTOR ,ROB9SON4
  ,POTT] & ,9JUN ,JOE 7 C>RY+ A H&B>R[ )
A ROPE &A C\PLE ( %OVELS ON X4 ,!Y CA/
D[N _! LOAD & 2GAN 6OP5 ! GRAVE4 ,!
DOCTOR PUT ! LANT]N AT ! H1D (! GRAVE &
CAME & SAT D[N ) 8 BACK AG/ "O (! ELM
TREES4 ,HE 0 S CLOSE ! BOYS CD H T\*$
HM4
  8,HURRY1 M560 HE SD1 9 A L[ VOICE2 8!
MOON MI<T -E \ AT ANY MO;T40
  ,!Y GR[L$ A RESPONSE & W5T ON DI7+4 ,=
"S "T "! 0 NO NOISE B ! GRAT+ S.D (!
SPADES 4*>G+ _! FREI<T ( M\LD & GRAVEL4
,X 0 V MONOTON\S4 ,F9,Y A SPADE /RUCK ^U
! C(F9 )A DULL WOODY A35T1 & )9 ANO!R
M9UTE OR TWO ! M5 _H HOI/$ X \ ON !
GR.D4 ,!Y PRI$ (F ! LID ) _! %OVELS1 GOT
\ ! BODY & DUMP$ X RUDELY ON ! GR.D4 ,!
MOON DRIFT$ F 2H ! CL\DS & EXPOS$ !
PALLID FACE4 ,! B>R[ 0 GOT R1DY &!
CORPSE PLAC$ ON X1 COV]$ )A BLANKET1 &
B.D 6XS PLACE )! ROPE4 ,POTT] TOOK \ A
L>GE SPR+-KNIFE & CUT (F ! DANGL+ 5D (!
ROPE & !N SD3
  8,N[ ! CUSS$ ?+'S R1DY1 ,SAWB"OS1 &
Y'LL J \ ) ANO!R FIVE1 OR "H %E /AYS40
  8,T'S ! TALK60 SD ,9JUN ,JOE4
  8,LOOK "H1 :AT DOES ? M1N80 SD !
DOCTOR4 8,Y REQUIR$ YR PAY 9 ADV.E1 &
,I'VE PD Y40
  8,YES1 & Y D"O M ?AN T10 SD ,9JUN
,JOE1 APPROA*+ ! DOCTOR1 :O 0 N[ /&+4
8,FIVE YE>S AGO Y DROVE ME AWAY F YR
"F'S KIT*5 "O NI<T1 :5 ,I -E 6ASK = "S?+
6EAT1 & Y SD ,I W>N'T "! = ANY GD2 & :5
,I SWORE ,I'D GET EV5 ) Y IF X TOOK A
HUNDR$ YE>S1 YR "F _H ME JAIL$ =A
VAGRANT4 ,DID Y ?9K ,I'D =GET8 ,! ,9JUN
BLOOD A9'T 9 ME = NO?+4 ,& N[ ,I'VE
,,GOT Y1 & Y GOT 6,,SETTLE1 Y "K60
  ,HE 0 ?R1T5+ ! DOCTOR1 ) 8 FI/ 9 8
FACE1 0? "T4 ,! DOCTOR /RUCK \ SU45LY &
/RET*$ ! RU6IAN ON ! GR.D4 ,POTT] DROPP$
8 KNIFE1 & EXCLAIM$3
  8,"H1 N[1 DON'T Y HIT MY P>D60 &! NEXT
MO;T HE _H GRAPPL$ )! DOCTOR &! TWO 7
/RU7L+ ) MI<T & MA91 TRAMPL+ ! GRASS &
TE>+ ! GR.D ) _! HEELS4 ,9JUN ,JOE
SPRANG 6HIS FEET1 8 EYES FLAM+ ) PAS.N1
SNAT*$ UP ,POTT]'S KNIFE1 & W5T CREEP+1
CATLIKE & /OOP+1 R.D & R.D AB !
-BATANTS1 SEEK+ AN OPPORTUN;Y4 ,ALL AT
ONCE ! DOCTOR FLUNG HMF FREE1 SEIZ$ !
H1VY H1DBO>D ( ,WILLIAMS' GRAVE & FELL$
,POTT] 6! E>? ) X--& 9 ! SAME 9/ANT !
HALF-BRE$ SAW 8 *.E & DROVE ! KNIFE 6!
HILT 9 ! "Y MAN'S BR1/4 ,HE REEL$ & FELL
"PLY ^U ,POTT]1 FLOOD+ HM ) 8 BLOOD1 & 9
! SAME MO;T ! CL\DS BLOTT$ \ ! DR1D;L
SPECTACLE &! TWO F"R5$ BOYS W5T SPE$+
AWAY 9 ! D>K4
  ,PRES5TLY1 :5 ! MOON EM]G$ AG1 ,9JUN
,JOE 0 /&+ OV] ! TWO =MS1 3TEMPLAT+ !M4
,! DOCTOR MURMUR$ 9>TICULATELY1 GAVE A
L;G GASP OR TWO & 0 /4 ,! HALF-BRE$
MUTT]$3
  8,,T SCORE IS SETTL$--DAMN Y40
  ,!N HE RO2$ ! BODY4 ,AF : HE PUT !
FATAL KNIFE 9 ,POTT]'S OP5 "R H&1 & SAT
D[N ON ! 4MANTL$ C(F94 ,?REE--F\R--FIVE
M9UTES PASS$1 & !N ,POTT] 2GAN 6/IR &
MOAN4 ,8 H& CLOS$ ^U ! KNIFE2 HE RAIS$
X1 GL.ED AT X1 & LET X FALL1 )A %U4]4
,!N HE SAT UP1 PU%+ ! BODY F HM1 & GAZ$
AT X1 & !N >.D HM1 3FUS$LY4 ,8 EYES MET
,JOE'S4
  8,"L1 H[ IS ?1 ,JOE80 HE SD4
  8,X'S A DIRTY BUSI;S10 SD ,JOE1 )\T
MOV+4
  8,:AT DID Y D X =80
  8,I6 ,I N"E D"O X60
  8,LOOK "H6 ,T K9D ( TALK WON'T WA%40
  ,POTT] TREM#D & GREW :ITE4
  8,I ?"\ ,I'D GOT SOB]4 ,I'D NO BUSI;S
6DR9K TO-NI<T4 ,B X'S 9 MY H1D YET--
WORSE'N :5 WE />T$ "H4 ,I'M ALL 9 A
MU4LE2 C'T RECOLLECT ANY?+ ( X1 H>DLY4
,TELL ME1 ,JOE--,,H"O/1 N[1 OLD FELL]--
DID ,I D X8 ,JOE1 ,I N"E M1NT TO--'PON
MY S\L & HONOR1 ,I N"E M1NT TO1 ,JOE4
,TELL ME H[ X WAS1 ,JOE4 ,OH1 X'S AW;L--
& HM S "Y & PROMIS+40
  8,:Y1 Y TWO 0 SCU6L+1 & HE FET*$ Y "O
)! H1DBO>D & Y FELL FLAT2 & !N UP Y -E1
ALL REEL+ & /A7]+ L1 & SNAT*$ ! KNIFE &
JAMM$ X 96HM1 J Z HE FET*$ Y ANO!R AW;L
CLIP--& "H Y'VE LAID1 Z D1D Z A W$GE TIL
N[40
  8,OH1 ,I DIDN'T "K :AT ,I 0 A-DO+4 ,I
WI% ,I MAY DIE ? M9UTE IF ,I DID4 ,X 0
ALL ON A3.T (! :ISKEY &! EXCITE;T1 ,I
RECKON4 ,I N"E US$ A WEEPON 9 MY LIFE
2F1 ,JOE4 ,I'VE F"\1 B N"E ) WEEPONS4
,!Y'LL ALL SAY T4 ,JOE1 DON'T TELL6 ,SAY
Y WON'T TELL1 ,JOE--T'S A GD FELL]4 ,I
ALW LIK$ Y1 ,JOE1 & /OOD UP = Y1 TOO4
,DON'T Y REMEMB]8 ,Y ,,WON'T TELL1 ,,W
Y1 ,JOE80 ,&! POOR CR1TURE DROPP$ ON 8
KNEES 2F ! /OLID MURD]]1 & CLASP$ 8
APP1L+ H&S4
  8,NO1 Y'VE ALW BE5 FAIR & SQU>E ) ME1
,MUFF ,POTT]1 & ,I WON'T G BACK ON Y4
,"!1 N[1 T'S Z FAIR Z A MAN C SAY40
  8,OH1 ,JOE1 Y'RE AN ANGEL4 ,I'LL B.S Y
= ? ! L;GE/ "D ,I LIVE40 ,& ,POTT] 2GAN
6CRY4
  8,-E1 N[1 T'S 5 ( T4 ,? A9'T ANY "T =
BLU2]+4 ,Y 2 (F YOND] WAY & ,I'LL G ?4
,MOVE1 N[1 & DON'T L1VE ANY TRACKS 2H
Y40
  ,POTT] />T$ ON A TROT T QKLY 9CR1S$ 6A
RUN4 ,! HALF-BRE$ /OOD LOOK+ AF HM4 ,HE
MUTT]$3
  8,IF HE'S Z M* /UNN$ )! LICK & FU4L$ )
! RUM Z HE _H ! LOOK ( 2+1 HE WON'T ?9K
(! KNIFE TILL HE'S G"O S F> HE'LL 2
AFRAID 6-E BACK AF X 6S* A PLACE 0HMF--
*ICK5-HE>T60
  ,TWO OR ?REE M9UTES LAT] ! MURD]$ MAN1
! BLANKET$ CORPSE1 ! LID.S C(F91 &! OP5
GRAVE 7 "U NO 9SPEC;N B ! MOON'S4 ,!
/ILL;S 0 -PLETE AG1 TOO4


