
    ,,*APT] ,,XXIV

    ,,NI<TM>E
  ,I _H N CLOS$ MY EYES ! NI<T 2F ON !
,TW5TIE? ,C5TURY1 & :AT ( T &( MY
EXHAUS;N ,I SLEPT S.DLY4 ,:5 ,I F/
AWOKE1 X 0 NI<T4 ,G>?WAITE _H N RETURN$4
,I _H LO/ MY WAT* & _H NO IDEA (! "T4 ,Z
,I LAY ) MY EYES CLOS$1 ,I HE>D ! SAME
DULL S.D ( 4TANT EXPLO.NS4 ,! 9F]NO 0 /
RAG+4 ,I CREPT "? ! /ORE 6! FRONT4 ,!
REFLEC;N F ! SKY ( VA/ 3FLAGR,NS MADE !
/REET ALM Z LI<T Z "D4 ,"O CD H R1D !
F9E/ PR9T ) EASE4 ,F S"EAL BLOCKS AWAY
CAME ! CRACKLE ( SMALL H&-BOMBS &! *URN+
( MA*9E-GUNS1 & F A L;G WAY (F CAME A
L;G S]IES ( H1VY EXPLO.NS4 ,I CREPT BACK
6MY HORSE BLANKETS & SLEPT AG4
  ,:5 NEXT ,I AWOKE1 A SICKLY YELL[ LI<T
0 FILT]+ 9 ON ME4 ,X 0 DAWN (! SECOND
"D4 ,I CREPT 6! FRONT (! /ORE4 ,A SMOKE
PALL1 %OT "? ) LURID GL1MS1 FILL$ ! SKY4
,D[N ! OPPOSITE SIDE (! /REET TOTT]$ A
WRET*$ SLAVE4 ,"O H& HE HELD TI<TLY AG/
8 SIDE1 & 2H HM HE LEFT A BLOODY TRAIL4
,8 EYES ROV$ "EY":1 & !Y 7 FILL$ )
APPREH5.N & DR1D4 ,ONCE HE LOOK$ /RAI<T
ACR AT ME1 & 9 8 FACE 0 ALL ! DUMB PA?OS
(! W.D$ & HUNT$ ANIMAL4 ,HE SAW ME1 B "!
0 NO K9%IP 2T U1 &) HM1 AT L1/1 NO
SYMPA?Y ( "U/&+2 = HE C[]$ P]CEPTIBLY &
DRA7$ HMF ON4 ,HE CD EXPECT NO AID 9 ALL
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HELOTS T ! MA/]S 7 MAK+4 ,ALL HE CD HOPE
=1 ALL HE S"\1 0 "S HOLE 6CRAWL AWAY 9 &
HIDE L ANY ANIMAL4 ,! %>P CLANG (A PASS+
AMBUL.E AT ! CORN] GAVE HM A />T4
,AMBUL.ES 7 N = S* Z HE4 ,)A GROAN ( PA9
HE ?REW HMF 96A DOORWAY4 ,A M9UTE LAT]
HE 0 \ AG & DESP]ATELY HO2L+ ON4
  ,I W5T BACK 6MY HORSE BLANKETS & WAIT$
AN H\R = ,G>?WAITE4 ,MY H1DA*E _H N G"O
AWAY4 ,ON ! 3TR>Y1 X 0 9CR1S+4 ,X 0 0AN
EF=T ( W ONLY T ,I 0 A# 6OP5 MY EYES &
LOOK AT OBJECTS4 ,&)! OP5+ ( MY EYES &!
LOOK+ CAME 9TOL]A# TOR;T4 ,AL1 A GRT
PULSE 0 B1T+ 9 MY BRA94 ,W1K & REEL+1 ,I
W5T \ "? ! BROK5 W9D[ & D[N ! /REET1
SEEK+ 6ESCAPE1 9/9CTIVELY & GROP+LY1 F !
AW;L %AM#S4 ,& "!AF ,I LIV$ NI<TM>E4 ,MY
MEMORY ( :AT HAPP5$ 9 ! SU3E$+ H\RS IS !
MEMORY "O WD H ( NI<TM>E4 ,_M EV5TS >E
FOCUSS$ %>PLY ON MY BRA91 B 2T ^! 9DELI#
PICTURES ,I RETA9 >E 9T]VALS (
UNCONSCI\S;S4 ,:AT O3URR$ 9 ^? 9T]VALS
,I "K N1 & N"E % "K4
  ,I REMEMB] /UMBL+ AT ! CORN] OV] !
LEGS (A MAN4 ,X 0 ! POOR HUNT$ WRET* T
_H DRA7$ HMF PA/ MY HID+-PLACE4 ,H[
4T9CTLY D ,I REMEMB] 8 POOR1 PITI;L1
GN>L$ H&S Z HE LAY "! ON ! PAVE;T--H&S T
7 M HO( & CLAW ?AN H&S1 ALL TWI/$ &
4TORT$ 0! TOIL ( ALL 8 "DS1 ) ON ! PALMS
A HORNY GR[? ( CALL\S A HALF 9* ?ICK4 ,&
Z ,I PICK$ MYF UP & />T$ ON1 ,I LOOK$
96! FACE (! ?+ & SAW T X / LIV$2 =!
EYES1 DIMLY 9TELLIG5T1 7 LOOK+ AT ME &
SEE+ ME4
  ,AF T CAME A K9DLY BLANK4 ,I KNEW
NO?+1 SAW NO?+1 M]ELY TOTT]$ ON 9 MY
QUE/ = SAFETY4 ,MY NEXT NI<TM>E VI.N 0 A
QUIET /REET (! D1D4 ,I CAME ^U X
ABRUPTLY1 Z A W&]] 9 ! C.TRY WD -E ^U A
FL[+ /R1M4 ,ONLY ? /R1M ,I GAZ$ ^U DID N
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6PAVE;T1 & COV]+ ! SIDEWALKS1 X LAY "!1
SPR1D \ Q EV5LY1 ) ONLY "H & "! A LUMP
OR M.D ( BODIES 6BR1K ! SURFACE4 ,POOR
DRIV5 P (! ABYSS1 HUNT$ HELOTS--!Y LAY
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D[N ^U ! SC5E F _! _M W9D[S4 ,& ONCE1 &
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/R1M4 ,I SWE> ,I SAW X MOVE1 )A /RANGE
WRI?+ GE/URE ( AGONY1 &) X LIFT$ A H1D1
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LAY D[N AG & MOV$ NO M4
  99 ,9 ^? "DS1 S SP>SELY POPULAT$ 0 !
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ASSEM# & SWEEP ACR ! C.TRY 9 3V]G+ L9ES1
DRIV+ ! RA2ITS 0SCORES ( ?\S&S 96A
PREP>$ 5CLOSURE1 ": !Y 7 CLU2$ 6D1? 0M5
& BOYS4
  ,I REMEMB] ANO!R /REET1 ) QUIET
BUILD+S ON EI SIDE1 &! PANIC T SMOTE ME
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SAW "! 0 NO?+ 6FE>4 ,! /R1M MOV$ SL[LY1
:ILE F X >OSE GROANS & LA;T,NS1 CURS+S1
BA2L+S ( S5IL;Y1 HY/]IA1 & 9SAN;Y2 = ^!
7 ! V "Y &! V OLD1 ! FEE# &! SICK1 !
HELP.S &! HOPE.S1 ALL ! WRECKAGE (!
<ETTO4 ,! BURN+ (! GRT <ETTO ON ! ,S\?
,SIDE _H DRIV5 !M =? 96! 9F]NO (! /REET-
FI<T+1 & :I!R !Y W5D$ & :AT"E 2CAME ( !M
,I DID N "K & N"E LE>N$499
  99 ,X 0 L;G A "Q ( DEBATE1 :E!R !
BURN+ (! ,S\? ,SIDE <ETTO 0 A3ID5TAL1 OR
:E!R X 0 D"O 0! ,M]C5>IES2 B X IS
DEF9ITELY SETTL$ N[ T ! <ETTO 0 FIR$ 0!
,M]C5>IES "U ORD]S F _! *IEFS4
  ,I H FA9T MEMORIES ( BR1K+ A W9D[ &
HID+ 9 "S %OP 6ESCAPE A /REET MOB T 0
PURSU$ 0SOLDI]S4 ,AL1 A BOMB BUR/ NE>
ME1 ONCE1 9 "S / /REET1 ":1 LOOK Z ,I
WD1 UP & D[N1 ,I CD SEE NO HUMAN 2+4 ,B
MY NEXT %>P RECOLLEC;N 2G9S )! CRACK (A
RIFLE & AN ABRUPT 2COM+ AW>E T ,I AM 2+
FIR$ AT 0A SOLDI] 9 AN AUTOMOBILE4 ,!
%OT MISS$1 &! NEXT MO;T ,I 0 SCR1M+ &
MO;N+ ! SIGNALS4 ,MY MEMORY ( RID+ 9 !
AUTOMOBILE IS V HAZY1 ?\< ? RIDE1 9
TURN1 IS BROK5 0"O VIVID PICTURE4 ,!
CRACK (! RIFLE (! SOLDI] SITT+ 2S ME
MADE ME OP5 MY EYES1 & ,I SAW ,GEORGE
,MIL=D1 :OM ,I _H "KN 9 ! ,PELL ,/REET
"DS1 S9K+ SL[LY D[N 6! SIDEWALK4 ,EV5 Z
HE SANK ! SOLDI] FIR$ AG1 & ,MIL=D D\#D
IN1 !N FLUNG 8 BODY \1 & FELL SPRAWL+4
,! SOLDI] *UCKL$1 &! AUTOMOBILE SP$ ON4
  ,! NEXT ,I KNEW AF T ,I 0 AWAK5$ \ (A
S.D SLEEP 0A MAN :O WALK$ UP & D[N CLOSE
2S ME4 ,8 FACE 0 DRAWN & /RA9$1 &! SW1T
ROLL$ D[N 8 NOSE F 8 =EH1D4 ,"O H& 0
CLUT*$ TI<TLY AG/ 8 *E/ 0! O!R H&1 &
BLOOD DRIPP$ D[N ^U ! FLOOR Z HE WALK$4
,HE WORE ! UNI=M (! ,M]C5>IES4 ,F )\T1 Z
"? ?ICK WALLS1 CAME ! MU6L$ RO> ( BUR/+
BOMBS4 ,I 0 9 "S BUILD+ T 0 LOCK$ 9 -BAT
) "S O!R BUILD+4
  ,A SURGEON CAME 9 6DRESS ! W.D$
SOLDI]1 & ,I LE>N$ T X 0 TWO 9 ! AFN4
,MY H1DA*E 0 NO BETT]1 &! SURGEON PAUS$
F 8 "W L;G 5 6GIVE ME A P[];L DRUG T WD
DEPRESS ! HE>T & BR+ RELIEF4 ,I SLEPT
AG1 &! NEXT ,I KNEW ,I 0 ON TOP (!
BUILD+4 ,! IMM FI<T+ _H C1S$1 & ,I 0
WAT*+ ! BALLOON ATTACK ON ! =TRESSES4
,"S "O _H AN >M >.D ME & ,I 0 L1N+ CLOSE
AG/ HM4 ,X CAME 6ME Q Z A MATT] ( C\RSE
T ? 0 ,]NE/1 & ,I F.D MYF WOND]+ H[ HE
_H GOT 8 HAIR & EYEBR[S S BADLY S+$4
  ,X 0 0! M]E/ *.E T WE _H F.D EA* O!R 9
T T]RI# C;Y4 ,HE _H _H NO IDEA T ,I _H
LEFT ,NEW ,YORK1 &1 -+ "? ! ROOM ": ,I
LAY ASLEEP1 CD N AT F/ 2LIEVE T X 0 ,I4
,LL M ,I SAW (! ,*ICAGO ,-MUNE4 ,AF
WAT*+ ! BALLOON ATTACK1 ,]NE/ TOOK ME
D[N 96! HE>T (! BUILD+1 ": ,I SLEPT !
AFN \ &! NI<T4 ,! ?IRD "D WE SP5T 9 !
BUILD+1 & ON ! F\R?1 ,]NE/ HAV+ GOT
P]MIS.N & AN AUTOMOBILE F ! AU?ORITIES1
WE LEFT ,*ICAGO4
  ,MY H1DA*E 0 G"O1 B1 BODY & S\L1 ,I 0
V TIR$4 ,I LAY BACK AG/ ,]NE/ 9 !
AUTOMOBILE1 &) APA!TIC EYES WAT*$ !
SOLDI]S TRY+ 6GET ! MA*9E \ (! C;Y4
,FI<T+ 0 / GO+ ON1 B ONLY 9 ISOLAT$
LOCALITIES4 ,"H & "! :OLE 4TRICTS 7 / 9
POSSES.N (! -RADES1 B S* 4TRICTS 7
SURR.D$ & GU>D$ 0H1VY BODIES ( TROOPS4
,9 A HUNDR$ SEGREGAT$ TRAPS 7 ! -RADES
?US HELD :ILE ! "W ( SUBJUGAT+ !M W5T
ON4 ,SUBJUG,N M1NT D1?1 = NO QU>T] 0
GIV51 & !Y F"\ H]OIC,Y 6! LA/ MAN499
  99 ,NUMB]S (! BUILD+S HELD \ OV] A
WEEK1 :ILE "O HELD \ ELEV5 "DS4 ,EA*
BUILD+ _H 6BE /ORM$ L A =T1 &! ,M]C5>IES
F"\ _! WAY UPW>D FLOOR 0FLOOR4 ,X 0
D1DLY FI<T+4 ,QU>T] 0 NEI GIV5 NOR TAK51
& 9 ! FI<T+ ! REVOLU;NI/S _H ! ADVANTAGE
( 2+ ABV4 ,:ILE ! REVOLU;NI/S 7 WIP$ \1
! LOSS 0 N "O-SID$4 ,! PR\D ,*ICAGO
PROLET>IAT LIV$ UP 6XS ANCI5T BOA/4 ,= Z
_M ( XF Z 7 KILL$1 X KILL$ T _M (! 5EMY4
  ,:5"E WE APPROA*$ S* LOCALITIES1 !
GU>DS TURN$ U BACK & S5T U >.D4 ,ONCE1 !
ONLY WAY PA/ TWO /R;G POSI;NS (! -RADES
0 "? A BURNT SEC;N T LAY 2T4 ,F EI SIDE
WE CD HE> ! RATTLE & RO> ( W>1 :ILE !
AUTOMOBILE PICK$ XS WAY "? SMOK+ RU9S &
TOTT]+ WALLS4 ,(T5 ! /REETS 7 BLOCK$
0M.TA9S ( DEBRIS T -PELL$ U 6G >.D4 ,WE
7 9 A LABYR9? ( RU91 & \R PROGRESS 0
SL[4
  ,! /OCKY>DS 7<ETTO1 PLANT1 & "EY?+7 7
SM\LD]+ RU9S4 ,F> (F 6! "R A WIDE SMOKE
HAZE DIMM$ ! SKY1--! T[N ( ,PULLMAN1 !
SOLDI] *AU6EUR TOLD U1 OR :AT _H BE5 !
T[N ( ,PULLMAN1 = X 0 UTT]LY DE/ROY$4
,HE _H DRIV5 ! MA*9E \ "!1 ) DESPAT*ES1
ON ! AFN (! ?IRD "D4 ,"S (! H1VIE/ FI<T+
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  ,SW++ >.D ! %ATT]$ WALLS (A BUILD+1 9
! /OCKY>DS 4TRICT1 ! AUTOMOBILE 0 /OPP$
0A WAVE ( D1D4 ,X 0 = ALL ! _W L A WAVE
TOSS$ UP 0! SEA4 ,X 0 PAT5T 6U :AT _H
HAPP5$4 ,Z ! MOB *>G$ PA/ ! CORN]1 X _H
BE5 SWEPT1 AT "R ANGLES & PO9T-BLANK
RANGE1 0! MA*9E-GUNS DRAWN UP ON ! CROSS
/REET4 ,B 4A/] _H -E 6! SOLDI]S4 ,A *.E
BOMB M/ H EXPLOD$ AM;G !M1 =! MOB1 *ECK$
UNTIL XS D1D & DY+ =M$ ! WAVE1 _H
:ITE-CAPP$ & FLUNG =W>D XS FOAM ( LIV+1
FI<T+ SLAVES4 ,SOLDI]S & SLAVES LAY TGR1
TORN & MANGL$1 >.D & OV] ! WRECKAGE (!
AUTOMOBILES & GUNS4
  ,]NE/ SPRANG \4 ,A FAMILI> PAIR (
%\LD]S 9 A COTTON %IRT &A FAMILI> FR+E (
:ITE HAIR _H CAU<T 8 EYE4 ,I DID N WAT*
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SPE$+ ON T HE SD3
  8,X 0 ,BI%OP ,MOREH\SE40
  ,SOON WE 7 9 ! GRE5 C.TRY1 & ,I TOOK
"O LA/ GL.E BACK AT ! SMOKE-FILL$ SKY4
,FA9T & F> CAME ! L[ ?UD ( AN EXPLO.N4
,!N ,I TURN$ MY FACE AG/ ,]NE/'S BR1/ &
WEPT S(TLY =! ,CAUSE T 0 LO/4 ,]NE/'S >M
AB ME 0 ELOQU5T ) LOVE4
  8,= ? "T LO/1 DE> HE>T10 HE SD1 8B N
="E4 ,WE H LE>N$4 ,TM ! ,CAUSE W RISE
AG1 /R;G ) WISDOM & 4CIPL9E40
  ,! AUTOMOBILE DREW UP AT A RAILROAD
/,N4 ,"H WE WD CAT* A TRA9 6,NEW ,YORK4
,Z WE WAIT$ ON ! PLAT=M1 ?REE TRA9S ?"U$
PA/1 B.D WE/ 6,*ICAGO4 ,!Y 7 CR[D$ )
RA7$1 UNSKILL$ LABOR]S1 P (! ABYSS4
  8,SLAVE-LEVIES =! REBUILD+ ( ,*ICAGO10
,]NE/ SD4 8,Y SEE1 ! ,*ICAGO SLAVES >E
ALL KILL$40





