           ,,! ,,9VISI# ,,MAN

                   ,BY
             ,H4 ,G4 ,WELLS

               ,*APT] #BJ
   ,AT ! ,H\SE 9 ,GRT ,PORTL& ,/REET

  ,=A MO;T ,KEMP SAT 9 SIL;E1 />+ AT !
BACK (! H1D.S FIGURE AT ! W9D[4 ,!N HE
/>T$1 /RUCK 0A ?"\1 ROSE1 TOOK ! ,9VISI#
,MAN'S >M1 & TURN$ HM AWAY F ! \TLOOK4
  8,Y >E TIR$10 HE SD1 8& :ILE ,I SIT1 Y
WALK AB4 ,H MY *AIR40
  ,HE PLAC$ HMF 2T ,GRI69 &! NE>E/ W9D[4
  ,=A SPACE ,GRI69 SAT SIL5T1 & !N HE
RESUM$ ABRUPTLY3
  8,I _H LEFT ! ,*ESIL/[E COTTAGE ALR10
HE SD1 8:5 T HAPP5$4 ,X 0 LA/ ,DECEMB]4
,I _H TAK5 A ROOM 9 ,LONDON1 A L>GE
UNFURNI%$ ROOM 9 A BIG ILL-MANAG$
LODG+-H\SE 9 A SLUM NE> ,GRT ,PORTL&
,/REET4 ,! ROOM 0 SOON FULL (! APPLI.ES
,I _H B"\ ) 8 M"OY2 ! "W 0 GO+ ON
/1DILY1 SU3ESS;LLY1 DRAW+ NE> AN 5D4 ,I
0 L A MAN EM]G+ F A ?ICKET1 & SU45LY -+
ON "S UNM1N+ TRAG$Y4 ,I W5T 6BURY HM4
,MY M9D 0 / ON ? RESE>*1 & ,I DID N LIFT
A F+] 6SAVE 8 "*4 ,I REMEMB] ! FUN]AL1 !
*1P HE>SE1 ! SCANT C]EMONY1 ! W9DY
FRO/-BITT5 HILLSIDE1 &! OLD COLLEGE FR (
8 :O R1D ! S]VICE OV] HM1--A %A2Y1
BLACK1 B5T OLD MAN )A SNIVELL+ COLD4
  8,I REMEMB] WALK+ BACK 6! EMPTY HOME1
"? ! PLACE T _H ONCE BE5 A VILLAGE & 0
N[ PAT*$ & T9K]$ 0! J]RY BUILD]S 96!
UGLY LIKE;S (A T[N4 ,E WAY ! ROADS RAN \
AT LA/ 96! DESECRAT$ FIELDS & 5D$ 9 RUB#
H1PS & RANK WET WE$S4 ,I REMEMB] MYF Z A
GAUNT BLACK FIGURE1 GO+ AL;G ! SLIPP]Y1
%9Y PAVE;T1 &! /RANGE S5SE ( DETA*;T ,I
FELT F ! SQUALID RESPECTABIL;Y1 ! SORDID
-M]CIALISM (! PLACE4
  8,I DID N FEEL A BIT SORRY = MY "F4
,HE SEEM$ 6ME 6BE ! VICTIM ( 8 [N FOOLI%
S5TI;TAL;Y4 ,! CURR5T CANT REQUIR$ MY
ATT5D.E AT 8 FUN]AL1 B X 0 RE,Y N MY
A6AIR4
  8,B GO+ AL;G ! ,HI< ,/REET1 MY OLD
LIFE CAME BACK 6ME =A SPACE1 = ,I MET !
GIRL ,I _H "KN T5 YE>S S9CE4 ,\R EYES
MET4
  8,"S?+ MOV$ ME 6TURN BACK & TALK 6H]4
,%E 0 A V ORD9>Y P]SON4
  8,X 0 ALL L A DR1M1 T VISIT 6! OLD
PLACES4 ,I DID N FEEL !N T ,I 0 L"OLY1 T
,I _H -E \ F ! _W 96A DESOLATE PLACE4 ,I
APPRECIAT$ MY LOSS ( SYMPA?Y1 B ,I PUT X
D[N 6! G5]AL 9AN;Y ( ?+S4 ,RE-5T]+ MY
ROOM SEEM$ L ! RECOV]Y ( R1L;Y4 ,"! 7 !
?+S ,I KNEW & LOV$4 ,"! /OOD ! APP>ATUS1
! EXP]I;TS >RANG$ & WAIT+4 ,& N[ "! 0
SC>CELY A DI6ICULTY LEFT1 2Y ! PLANN+ (
DETAILS4
  8,I W TELL Y1 ,KEMP1 SOON] OR LAT]1
ALL ! -PLICAT$ PROCESSES4 ,WE NE$ N G
96T N[4 ,=! MO/ "P1 SAV+ C]TA9 GAPS ,I
*OSE 6REMEMB]1 !Y >E WRITT5 9 CYPH] 9 ^?
BOOKS T TRAMP HAS HI454 ,WE M/ HUNT HM
D[N4 ,WE M/ GET ^? BOOKS AG4 ,B !
ESS5TIAL PHASE 0 6PLACE ! TRANSP>5T
OBJECT ^: REFRACTIVE 9DEX 0 6BE L[]$ 2T
TWO RADIAT+ C5TRES (A SORT ( E!R1L
VIBR,N1 ( : ,I W TELL Y M FULLY LAT]4
,NO1 N ^! ,RNTG5 VIBR,NS--,I DON'T "K T
^! O!RS ( M9E H BE5 DESCRIB$4 ,YET !Y >E
OBVI\S 5\<4 ,I NE$$ TWO LL DYNAMOS1 & ^!
,I "W$ )A *1P GAS 5G9E4 ,MY F/ EXP]I;T 0
)A BIT ( :ITE WOOL FABRIC4 ,X 0 !
/RANGE/ ?+ 9 ! _W 6SEE X 9 ! FLICK] (!
FLA%ES S(T & :ITE1 & !N 6WAT* X FADE L A
WR1? ( SMOKE & VANI%4
  8,I CD SC>CELY 2LIEVE ,I _H D"O X4 ,I
PUT MY H& 96! EMPTI;S1 & "! 0 ! ?+ Z
SOLID Z "E4 ,I FELT X AWKW>DLY1 & ?REW X
ON ! FLOOR4 ,I _H A LL TR\# F9D+ X AG4
  8,& !N CAME A CURI\S EXP]I;E4 ,I HE>D
A MIA[ 2H ME1 & TURN+1 SAW A L1N :ITE
CAT1 V DIRTY1 ON ! CI/]N COV] \TSIDE !
W9D[4 ,A ?"\ CAME 96MY H1D4 ,8,"EY?+
R1DY = Y10' ,I SD1 & W5T 6! W9D[1 OP5$
X1 & CALL$ S(TLY4 ,%E CAME IN1 PURR+1--!
POOR B1/ 0 />V+1--& ,I GAVE H] "S MILK4
,ALL MY FOOD 0 9 A CUPBO>D 9 ! CORN] (!
ROOM4 ,AF T %E W5T SMELL+ R.D ! ROOM1--
EVID5TLY )! IDEA ( MAK+ H]F AT HOME4 ,!
9VISI# RAG UPSET H] A BIT2 Y %D H SE5 H]
SPIT AT X6 ,B ,I MADE H] -=TA# ON !
PILL[ ( MY TRUCKLE-B$4 ,& ,I GAVE H]
BUTT] 6GET H] 6WA%40
  8,& Y PROCESS$ H]80
  8,I PROCESS$ H]4 ,B GIV+ DRUGS 6A CAT
IS NO JOKE1 ,KEMP6 ,&! PROCESS FAIL$40
  8,FAIL$60
  8,IN TWO "PICUL>S4 ,^! 7 ! CLAWS &!
PIG;T /UFF--:AT IS X8--AT ! BACK (! EYE
9 A CAT4 ,Y "K80
  8,TAPETUM40
  8,YES1 ! TAPETUM4 ,X DIDN'T G4 ,AF
,I'D GIV5 ! /UFF 6BL1* ! BLOOD & D"O
C]TA9 O!R ?+S 6H]1 ,I GAVE ! B1/ OPIUM1
& PUT H] &! PILL[ %E 0 SLEEP+ ON1 ON !
APP>ATUS4 ,& AF ALL ! RE/ _H FAD$ &
VANI%$1 "! REMA9$ TWO LL <O/S ( H]
EYES40
  8,ODD60
  8,I C'T EXPLA9 X4 ,%E 0 B&AG$ &
CLAMP$1 ( C\RSE1--S ,I _H H] SAFE2 B %E
WOKE :ILE %E 0 / MI/Y1 & MIA[$ 4M,Y1 &
"S "O CAME KNOCK+4 ,X 0 AN OLD WOMAN F
D[N/AIRS1 :O SUSPECT$ ME ( VIVISECT+1--A
DR9K-SO45 OLD CR1TURE1 ) ONLY A :ITE CAT
6C>E = 9 ALL ! _W4 ,I :IPP$ \ "S
*LORO=M1 & APPLI$ X1 & ANSW]$ ! DOOR4
,8,DID ,I HE> A CAT80' %E ASK$4 ,8,MY
CAT80' ,8,N "H10' SD ,I1 V POLITELY4 ,%E
0 A LL D\BT;L & TRI$ 6PE] PA/ ME 96!
ROOM2 /RANGE 5 6H] NO D\BT1--B>E WALLS1
UNCURTA9$ W9D[S1 TRUCKLE-B$1 )! GAS 5G9E
VIBRAT+1 &! SEE! (! RADIANT PO9TS1 & T
FA9T <A/LY /++ ( *LORO=M 9 ! AIR4 ,%E _H
6BE SATISFI$ AT LA/ & W5T AWAY AG40
  8,H[ L;G DID X TAKE80 ASK$ ,KEMP4
  8,?REE OR F\R H\RS--! CAT4 ,! B"OS &
S9EWS &! FAT 7 ! LA/ 6G1 &! TIPS (!
COL\R$ HAIRS4 ,&1 Z ,I SAY1 ! BACK "P (!
EYE1 T\< IRIDESC5T /UFF X IS1 WDN'T G AT
ALL4
  8,X 0 NI<T \TSIDE L;G 2F ! BUSI;S 0
OV]1 & NO?+ 0 6BE SE5 B ! DIM EYES &!
CLAWS4 ,I /OPP$ ! GAS 5G9E1 FELT =&
/ROK$ ! B1/1 : 0 / 9S5SI#1 & !N1 2+
TIR$1 LEFT X SLEEP+ ON ! 9VISI# PILL[ &
W5T 6B$4 ,I F.D X H>D 6SLEEP4 ,I LAY
AWAKE ?9K+ W1K AIM.S /UFF1 GO+ OV] !
EXP]I;T OV] & OV] AG1 OR DR1M+ FEV]I%LY
( ?+S GR[+ MI/Y & VANI%+ AB ME1 UNTIL
"EY?+1 ! GR.D ,I /OOD ON1 VANI%$1 & S ,I
CAME 6T SICKLY FALL+ NI<TM>E "O GETS4
,AB TWO1 ! CAT 2GAN MIA[+ AB ! ROOM4 ,I
TRI$ 6HU% X 0TALK+ 6X1 & !N ,I DECID$
6TURN X \4 ,I REMEMB] ! %OCK ,I _H :5
/RIK+ A LI<T--"! 7 J ! R.D EYES %9+ GRE5
--& NO?+ R.D !M4 ,I WD H GIV5 X MILK1 B
,I _HN'T ANY4 ,X WDN'T 2 QUIET1 X J SAT
D[N & MIA[$ AT ! DOOR4 ,I TRI$ 6CAT* X1
) AN IDEA ( PUTT+ X \ (! W9D[1 B X WDN'T
2 CAU<T1 X VANI%$4 ,!N X 2GAN MIA[+ 9
DI6]5T "PS (! ROOM4 ,AT LA/ ,I OP5$ !
W9D[ & MADE A BU/LE4 ,I SUPPOSE X W5T \
AT LA/4 ,I N"E SAW ANY M ( X4
  8,!N--,H1V5 "KS :Y--,I FELL ?9K+ ( MY
"F'S FUN]AL AG1 &! 4MAL W9DY HILLSIDE1
UNTIL ! "D _H -E4 ,I F.D SLEEP+ 0
HOPE.S1 &1 LOCK+ MY DOOR AF ME1 W&]$ \
96! MORN+ /REETS40
  8,Y DON'T M1N 6SAY "!'S AN 9VISI# CAT
AT L>GE60 SD ,KEMP4
  8,IF X HASN'T BE5 KILL$10 SD ! ,9VISI#
,MAN4 8,:Y N80
  8,:Y N80 SD ,KEMP4 8,I DIDN'T M1N
69T]RUPT40
  8,X'S V PROBABLY BE5 KILL$10 SD !
,9VISI# ,MAN4 8,X 0 ALIVE F\R "DS AF1 ,I
"K1 & D[N A GRAT+ 9 ,GRT ,TIT*FIELD
,/REET2 2C ,I SAW A CR[D R.D ! PLACE1
TRY+ 6SEE :;E ! MIA[+ CAME40
  ,HE 0 SIL5T =! BE/ "P (A M9UTE4 ,!N HE
RESUM$ ABRUPTLY3
  8,I REMEMB] T MORN+ 2F ! *ANGE V
VIVIDLY4 ,I M/ H G"O UP ,GRT ,PORTL&
,/REET4 ,I REMEMB] ! B>RACKS 9 ,ALBANY
,/REET1 &! HORSE SOLDI]S -+ \1 & AT LA/
,I F.D MYF SITT+ 9 ! SUN%9E & FEEL+ V
ILL & /RANGE1 ON ! SUMMIT ( ,PRIMROSE
,HILL4 ,X 0 A SUNNY "D 9 ,JANU>Y1--"O (
^? SUNNY1 FRO/Y "DS T CAME 2F ! SN[ ?
YE>4 ,MY WE>Y BRA9 TRI$ 6=MULATE !
POSI;N1 6PLOT \ A PLAN ( AC;N4
  8,I 0 SURPRIS$ 6F9D1 N[ T MY PRIZE 0
)9 MY GRASP1 H[ 9CONCLUSIVE XS ATTA9;T
SEEM$4 ,Z A MATT] ( FACT ,I 0 "W$ \2 !
9T5SE /RESS ( NE>LY F\R YE>S' 3T9U\S "W
LEFT ME 9CAPA# ( ANY /R5G? ( FEEL+4 ,I 0
APA!TIC1 & ,I TRI$ 9 VA9 6RECOV] !
5?USIASM ( MY F/ 9QUIRIES1 ! PAS.N (
4COV]Y T _H 5A#D ME 6-PASS EV5 ! D[NFALL
( MY "F'S GREY HAIRS4 ,NO?+ SEEM$
6MATT]4 ,I SAW PRETTY CLE>LY ? 0 A
TRANSI5T MOOD1 DUE 6OV]"W & WANT (
SLEEP1 & T EI 0DRUGS OR RE/ X WD 2
POSSI# 6RECOV] MY 5]GIES4
  8,ALL ,I CD ?9K CLE>LY 0 T ! ?+ _H 6BE
C>RI$ "?2 ! FIX$ IDEA / RUL$ ME4 ,&
SOON1 =! M"OY ,I _H 0 ALM EXHAU/$4 ,I
LOOK$ AB ME AT ! HILLSIDE1 ) *N PLAY+ &
GIRLS WAT*+ !M1 & TRI$ 6?9K ( ALL !
FANTA/IC ADVANTAGES AN 9VISI# MAN WD H 9
! _W4 ,AF A "T ,I CRAWL$ HOME1 TOOK "S
FOOD &A /R;G DOSE ( /RY*N9E1 & W5T
6SLEEP 9 MY CLO!S ON MY UNMADE B$4
,/RY*N9E IS A GR& TONIC1 ,KEMP1 6TAKE !
FLA2I;S \ (A MAN40
  8,X'S ! DEVIL10 SD ,KEMP4 8,X'S !
PALAEOLI?IC 9 A BOTTLE40
  8,I AWOKE VA/LY 9VIGORAT$ & R IRRITA#4
,Y "K80
  8,I "K ! /UFF40
  8,& "! 0 "S "O RAPP+ AT ! DOOR4 ,X 0
MY L&"L ) ?R1TS & 9QUIRIES1 AN OLD
,POLI% ,JEW 9 A L;G GREY COAT & GR1SY
SLIPP]S4 ,I _H BE5 TOR;T+ A CAT 9 ! NI<T
HE 0 SURE1--! OLD WOMAN'S T;GUE _H BE5
BUSY4 ,HE 9SI/$ ON "K+ ALL AB X4 ,! LAWS
( ? C.TRY AG/ VIVISEC;N 7 V SEV]E1--HE
MI<T 2 LIA#4 ,I D5I$ ! CAT4 ,!N ! VIBR,N
(! LL GAS 5G9E CD 2 FELT ALL OV] ! H\SE1
HE SD4 ,T 0 TRUE1 C]TA9LY4 ,HE $G$ R.D
ME 96! ROOM1 PE]+ AB OV] 8 ,G]MAN-SILV]
SPECTACLES1 &A SU45 DR1D CAME 96MY M9D T
HE MI<T C>RY AWAY "S?+ ( MY SECRET4 ,I
TRI$ 6KEEP 2T HM &! 3C5TRAT+ APP>ATUS ,I
_H >RANG$1 & T ONLY MADE HM M CURI\S4
,:AT 0 ,I DO+8 ,:Y 0 ,I ALW AL"O &
SECRETIVE8 ,0 X LEGAL8 ,0 X DANG]\S8 ,I
PD NO?+ B ! USUAL R5T4 ,8 _H ALW BE5 A
MO/ RESPECTA# H\SE--IN A 4REPUTA#
NEI<B\RHOOD4 ,SU45LY MY TEMP] GAVE WAY4
,I TOLD HM 6GET \4 ,HE 2GAN 6PROTE/1
6JA2] ( 8 "R ( 5TRY4 ,9 A MO;T ,I _H HM
0! COLL>2 "S?+ RIPP$1 & HE W5T SP9N+ \
96HIS [N PASSAGE4 ,I SLAMM$ & LOCK$ !
DOOR & SAT D[N QUIV]+4
  8,HE MADE A FUSS \TSIDE1 : ,I 4REG>D$1
& AF A "T HE W5T AWAY4
  8,B ? BR"\ MATT]S 6A CRISIS4 ,I DID N
"K :AT HE WD D1 NOR EV5 :AT HE _H P[]
6D4 ,6MOVE 6FRE% A"P;TS WD H M1NT DELAY2
ALT ,I _H B>ELY TW5TY P.DS LEFT 9 ! _W1
--=! MO/ "P 9 ! BANK1--& ,I CD N AF=D T4
,VANI%6 ,X 0 IRRESI/I#4 ,!N "! WD 2 AN
9QUIRY1 ! SACK+ ( MY ROOM--
  8,AT ! ?"\ (! POSSIBIL;Y ( MY "W 2+
EXPOS$ OR 9T]RUPT$ AT XS V CLIMAX1 ,I
2CAME ANGRY & ACTIVE4 ,I HURRI$ \ ) MY
?REE BOOKS ( NOTES1 MY *EQUE-BOOK1--!
TRAMP HAS !M N[1--& DIRECT$ !M F ! NE>E/
,PO/ ,(FICE 6A H\SE ( CALL = LRS &
P>CELS 9 ,GRT ,PORTL& ,/REET4 ,I TRI$ 6G
\ NOISE.SLY4 ,-+ IN1 ,I F.D MY L&"L GO+
QUIETLY UP/AIRS2 HE _H HE>D ! DOOR
CLOSE1 ,I SUPPOSE4 ,Y WD H LAU<$ 6SEE HM
JUMP ASIDE ON ! L&+ Z ,I CAME TE>+ AF
HM4 ,HE GL>$ AT ME Z ,I W5T 0HM1 & ,I
MADE ! H\SE QUIV] )! SLAMM+ ( MY DOOR4
,I HE>D HM -E %U6L+ UP 6MY FLOOR1
HESITATE1 & G D[N4 ,I SET 6"W ^U MY
PREP>,NS =?)4
  8,X 0 ALL D"O T EV5+ & NI<T4 ,:ILE ,I
0 / SITT+ "U ! SICKLY1 DR[SY 9FLU;E (!
DRUGS T DECOL\RISE BLOOD1 "! CAME A
REP1T$ KNOCK+ AT ! DOOR4 ,X C1S$1
FOOT/EPS W5T AWAY & RETURN$1 &! KNOCK+ 0
RESUM$4 ,"! 0 AN ATTEMPT 6PU% "S?+ "U !
DOOR--A BLUE PAP]4 ,!N 9 A FIT ( IRRIT,N
,I ROSE & W5T & FLUNG ! DOOR WIDE OP54
,8,N[ !N80' SD ,I4
  8,X 0 MY L&"L1 )A NOTICE ( EJECT;T OR
"S?+4 ,HE HELD X \ 6ME1 SAW "S?+ ODD AB
MY H&S1 ,I EXPECT1 & LIFT$ 8 EYES 6MY
FACE4
  8,=A MO;T HE GAP$4 ,!N HE GAVE A SORT
( 9>TICULATE CRY1 DROPP$ C&LE & WRIT
TGR1 & W5T BL"U+ D[N ! D>K PASSAGE 6!
/AIRS4 ,I %UT ! DOOR1 LOCK$ X1 & W5T 6!
LOOK+-GLASS4 ,!N ,I "U/OOD 8 T]ROR4 ,MY
FACE 0 :ITE--L :ITE /"O4
  8,B X 0 ALL HORRI#4 ,I _H N EXPECT$ !
SU6]+4 ,A NI<T ( RACK+ ANGUI%1 SICK;S &
FA9T+4 ,I SET MY TEE?1 ?\< MY SK9 0
PRES5TLY AFIRE2 ALL MY BODY AFIRE2 B ,I
LAY "! L GRIM D1?4 ,I "U/OOD N[ H[ X 0 !
CAT _H H[L$ UNTIL ,I *LORO=M$ X4 ,LUCKY
X 0 ,I LIV$ AL"O & UNT5D$ 9 MY ROOM4 ,"!
7 "TS :5 ,I SO2$ & GROAN$ & TALK$4 ,B ,I
/UCK 6X4 ,I 2CAME 9S5SI# & WOKE LANGUID
9 ! D>K;S4
  8,! PA9 _H PASS$4 ,I ?"\ ,I 0 KILL+
MYF & ,I DID N C>E4 ,I % N"E =GET T
DAWN1 &! /RANGE HORROR ( SEE+ T MY H&S
_H 2COME Z CL\D$ GLASS1 & WAT*+ !M GR[
CLE>] & ?9N] Z ! "D W5T BY1 UNTIL AT LA/
,I CD SEE ! SICKLY 4ORD] ( MY ROOM "?
!M1 ?\< ,I CLOS$ MY TRANSP>5T EYELIDS4
,MY LIMBS 2CAME GLASSY1 ! B"OS & >T]IES
FAD$1 VANI%$1 &! LL :ITE N]VES W5T LA/4
,I GR.D MY TEE? & /AY$ "! 6! 5D4 ,AT LA/
ONLY ! D1D TIPS (! F+]-NAILS REMA9$1
PALLID & :ITE1 &! BR[N /A9 ( "S ACID ^U
MY F+]S4
  8,I /RU7L$ UP4 ,AT F/ ,I 0 Z 9CAPA# Z
A SWA!D 9FANT1--/EPP+ ) LIMBS ,I CD N
SEE4 ,I 0 W1K & V HUNGRY4 ,I W5T & />$
AT NO?+ 9 MY %AV+-GLASS1 AT NO?+ SAVE ":
AN ATT5UAT$ PIG;T / REMA9$ 2H ! RET9A (
MY EYES1 FA9T] ?AN MI/4 ,I _H 6HANG ON
6! TA# & PRESS MY =EH1D 6! GLASS4
  8,X 0 ONLY 0A FRANTIC EF=T ( W T ,I
DRA7$ MYF BACK 6! APP>ATUS & -PLET$ !
PROCESS4
  8,I SLEPT DUR+ ! =ENOON1 PULL+ ! %EET
OV] MY EYES 6%UT \ ! LI<T1 & AB MID"D ,I
0 AWAK5$ AG 0A KNOCK+4 ,MY /R5G? _H
RETURN$4 ,I SAT UP & LI/5$ & HE>D A
:ISP]+4 ,I SPRANG 6MY FEET & Z NOISE.SLY
Z POSSI# 2GAN 6DETA* ! 3NEC;NS ( MY
APP>ATUS1 & 64TRIBUTE X AB ! ROOM1 S Z
6DE/ROY ! SU7ES;NS ( XS >RANGE;T4
,PRES5TLY ! KNOCK+ 0 RENEW$ & VOICES
CALL$1 F/ MY L&"L'S1 & !N TWO O!RS4
,6GA9 "T ,I ANSW]$ !M4 ,! 9VISI# RAG &
PILL[ CAME 6H& & ,I OP5$ ! W9D[ & PIT*$
!M \ ON 6! CI/]N COV]4 ,Z ! W9D[ OP5$1 A
H1VY CRA% CAME AT ! DOOR4 ,"S "O _H *>G$
X )! IDEA ( SMA%+ ! LOCK4 ,B ! /\T BOLTS
,I _H SCREW$ UP "S "DS 2F /OPP$ HM4 ,T
/>TL$ ME1 MADE ME ANGRY4 ,I 2GAN 6TREM#
& D ?+S HURRI$LY4
  8,I TOSS$ TGR "S LOOSE PAP]1 /RAW1
PACK+ PAP] & S =?1 9 ! MI4LE (! ROOM1 &
TURN$ ON ! GAS4 ,H1VY BL[S 2GAN 6RA9 ^U
! DOOR4 ,I CD N F9D ! MAT*ES4 ,I B1T MY
H&S ON ! WALL ) RAGE4 ,I TURN$ D[N ! GAS
AG1 /EPP$ \ (! W9D[ ON ! CI/]N COV]1 V
S(TLY L[]$ ! SA%1 & SAT D[N1 SECURE &
9VISI#1 B QUIV]+ ) ANG]1 6WAT* EV5TS4
,!Y SPLIT A PANEL1 ,I SAW1 & 9 ANO!R
MO;T !Y _H BROK5 AWAY ! /APLES (! BOLTS
& /OOD 9 ! OP5 DOORWAY4 ,X 0 ! L&"L & 8
TWO /EP-SONS1 /URDY "Y M5 ( ?REE OR F\R
& TW5TY4 ,2H !M FLUTT]$ ! OLD HAG (A
WOMAN F D[N/AIRS4
  8,Y MAY IMAG9E _! A/ONI%;T ON F9D+ !
ROOM EMPTY4 ,"O (! "Y] M5 RU%$ 6! W9D[
AT ONCE1 FLUNG X UP & />$ \4 ,8 />+ EYES
& ?ICK-LIPP$ BE>D$ FACE CAME A FOOT F MY
FACE4 ,I 0 HALF M9D$ 6HIT 8 SILLY
C.T5.E1 B ,I >RE/$ MY D\#D FI/4 ,HE />$
"R "? ME4 ,S DID ! O!RS Z !Y JO9$ HM4 ,!
OLD MAN W5T & PE]$ "U ! B$1 & !N !Y ALL
MADE A RU% =! CUPBO>D4 ,!Y _H 6>GUE AB X
AT L5G? 9 ,YI4I% & ,COCKNEY ,5GLI%4 ,!Y
3CLUD$ ,I _H N ANSW]$ !M1 T _! IMAG9,N
_H DCVD !M4 ,A FEEL+ ( EXTRAORD9>Y EL,N
TOOK ! PLACE ( MY ANG] Z ,I SAT \TSIDE !
W9D[ & WAT*$ ^! F\R P--=! OLD LADY CAME
IN1 GLANC+ SUSPICI\SLY AB H] L A CAT1
TRY+ 6"U/& ! RI4LE ( MY 2HAVI\R4
  8,! OLD MAN1 S F> Z ,I CD "U/& 8
PATOIS1 AGRE$ )! OLD LADY T ,I 0 A
VIVISEC;NI/4 ,! SONS PROTE/$ 9 G>#D
,5GLI% T ,I 0 AN ELECTRICIAN1 & APP1L$
6! DYNAMOS & RADIATORS4 ,!Y 7 ALL N]V\S
AG/ MY >RIVAL1 AL? ,I F.D SUBSEQU5TLY T
!Y _H BOLT$ ! FRONT DOOR4 ,! OLD LADY
PE]$ 96! CUPBO>D & "U ! B$1 & "O (! "Y
M5 PU%$ UP ! REGI/] & />$ UP ! *IMNEY4
,"O ( MY FELL[ LODG]S1 A CO/]M;G] :O %>$
! OPPOSITE ROOM )A BUT*]1 APPE>$ ON !
L&+1 & HE 0 CALL$ 9 & TOLD 9COH]5T ?+S4
  8,X O3URR$ 6ME T ! RADIATORS1 IF !Y
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