
    ,,*APT] ,,XXXIII
  ,WE WAIT$ ALL "D = ,WOLF ,L>S5 6-E
A%ORE4 ,X 0 AN 9TOL]A# P]IOD ( ANXIETY4
,EA* MO;T "O OR ! O!R ( U CA/ EXPECTANT
GL.ES T[>D ! ,<O/4 ,B HE DID N -E4 ,HE
DID N EV5 APPE> ON DECK4
  8,P]H X IS 8 H1DA*E10 ,I SD4 8,I LEFT
HM LY+ ON ! POOP4 ,HE MAY LIE "! ALL
NI<T4 ,I ?9K ,I'LL G & SEE40
  ,MAUD LOOK$ 5TR1TY AT ME4
  8,X IS ALL "R10 ,I ASSUR$ H]4 8,I %
TAKE ! REVOLV]S4 ,Y "K ,I COLLECT$ E
W1PON ON BO>D40
  8,B "! >E 8 >MS1 8 H&S1 8 T]RI#1 T]RI#
H&S60 %E OBJECT$4 ,& !N %E CRI$1 8,OH1
,HUMPHREY1 ,I AM AFRAID ( HM6 ,DON'T G
-- PL1SE DON'T G60
  ,%E RE/$ H] H& APP1L+LY ON M9E1 & S5T
MY PULSE FLUTT]+4 ,MY HE>T 0 SURELY 9 MY
EYES =A MO;T4 ,! DE> & LOVELY WOMAN6 ,&
%E 0 S M* ! WOMAN1 CL++ & APP1L+1 SUN%9E
& DEW 6MY MANHOOD1 ROOT+ X DEEP] & S5D+
"? X ! SAP (A NEW /R5G?4 ,I 0 = PUTT+ MY
>M >.D H]1 Z :5 9 ! MID/ (! S1L H]D2 B
,I 3SID]$1 & REFRA9$4
  8,I % N TAKE ANY RISKS10 ,I SD4 8,I'LL
M]ELY PEEP OV] ! B[ & SEE40
  ,%E PRESS$ MY H& E>NE/LY & LET ME G4
,B ! SPACE ON DECK ": ,I _H LEFT HM LY+
0 VACANT4 ,HE _H EVID5TLY G"O 2L4 ,T
NI<T WE /OOD ALT]NATE WAT*ES1 "O ( U
SLEEP+ AT A "T2 = "! 0 NO TELL+ :AT
,WOLF ,L>S5 MI<T D4 ,HE 0 C]TA9LY CAPA#
( ANY?+4
  ,! NEXT "D WE WAIT$1 &! NEXT1 & / HE
MADE NO SIGN4
  8,^! H1DA*ES ( HIS1 ^! ATTACKS10 ,MAUD
SD1 ON ! AFN (! F\R? "D2 8,P]H HE IS
ILL1 V ILL4 ,HE MAY 2 D1D40
  8,OR DY+10 0 H] AF?"\ :5 %E _H WAIT$
"S "T = ME 6SP1K4
  8,BETT] S10 ,I ANSW]$4
  8,B ?9K1 ,HUMPHREY1 A FELL[-CR1TURE 9
8 LA/ L"OLY H\R40
  8,P]H10 ,I SU7E/$4
  8,YES1 EV5 P]H10 %E AC"KL$G$4 8,B WE D
N "K4 ,X WD 2 T]RI# IF HE W]E4 ,I CD N"E
=GIVE MYF4 ,WE M/ D "S?+40
  8,P]H10 ,I SU7E/$ AG4
  ,I WAIT$1 SMIL+ 9W>DLY AT ! WOMAN ( H]
: -PELL$ A SOLICITUDE = ,WOLF ,L>S51 (
ALL CR1TURES4 ,": 0 H] SOLICITUDE = ME1
,I ?"\1 -- = ME :OM %E _H BE5 AFRAID 6H
M]ELY PEEP ABO>D8
  ,%E 0 TOO SUBTLE N 6FOLL[ ! TR5D ( MY
SIL;E4 ,& %E 0 Z DIRECT Z %E 0 SUBTLE4
  8,Y M/ G ABO>D1 ,HUMPHREY1 & F9D \10
%E SD4 8,& IF Y WANT 6LAU< AT ME1 Y H MY
3S5T & =GIVE;S40
  ,I >OSE OB$I5TLY & W5T D[N ! B1*4
  8,D 2 C>E;L10 %E CALL$ AF ME4
  ,I WAV$ MY >M F ! =ECA/LE H1D & DROPP$
D[N 6! DECK4 ,AFT ,I WALK$ 6! CAB9
-PANION1 ": ,I 3T5T$ MYF ) HAIL+ 2L4
,WOLF ,L>S5 ANSW]$1 & Z HE />T$ 6ASC5D !
/AIRS ,I COCK$ MY REVOLV]4 ,I 4PLAY$ X
OP5LY DUR+ \R 3V]S,N1 B HE TOOK NO
NOTICE ( X4 ,HE APPE>$ ! SAME1 PHYSIC,Y1
Z :5 LA/ ,I SAW HM1 B HE 0 GLOOMY &
SIL5T4 ,9 FACT1 ! FEW ^WS WE SPOKE CD
H>DLY 2 CALL$ A 3V]S,N4 ,I DID N 9QUIRE
:Y HE _H N BE5 A%ORE1 NOR DID HE ASK :Y
,I _H N -E ABO>D4 ,8 H1D 0 ALL "R AG1 HE
SD1 & S1 )\T FUR!R P>LEY1 ,I LEFT HM4
  ,MAUD RCVD MY REPORT ) OBVI\S RELIEF1
&! SI<T ( SMOKE : LAT] ROSE 9 ! GALLEY
PUT H] 9 A M *E];L MOOD4 ,! NEXT "D1 &!
NEXT1 WE SAW ! GALLEY SMOKE RIS+1 &
"S"TS WE CAU<T GLIMPSES ( HM ON ! POOP4
,B T 0 ALL4 ,HE MADE NO ATTEMPT 6-E
A%ORE4 ,? WE KNEW1 = WE / MA9TA9$ \R
NI<T-WAT*ES4 ,WE 7 WAIT+ = HM 6D "S?+1
6%[ 8 H&1 S 6SAY1 & 8 9AC;N PUZZL$ &
WORRI$ U4
  ,A WEEK ( ? PASS$ BY4 ,WE _H NO O!R
9T]E/ ?AN ,WOLF ,L>S51 & 8 PRES;E WEI<$
U D[N ) AN APPREH5.N : PREV5T$ U F DO+
ANY (! LL ?+S WE _H PLANN$4
  ,B AT ! 5D (! WEEK ! SMOKE C1S$ RIS+ F
! GALLEY1 & HE NO L;G] %[$ HMF ON !
POOP4 ,I CD SEE ,MAUD'S
SOLICITUDE AG GR[+1 ?\< %E TIMIDLY -- &
EV5 PR\DLY1 ,I ?9K -- =BORE A REPETI;N (
H] REQUE/4 ,AF ALL1 :AT C5SURE CD 2 PUT
^U H]8 ,%E 0 DIV9ELY ALTRUI/IC1 & %E 0 A
WOMAN4 ,2SS1 ,I 0 MYF AW>E ( HURT AT ?"\
( ? MAN :OM ,I _H TRI$ 6KILL1 DY+ AL"O )
8 FELL[-CR1TURES S NE>4 ,HE 0 "R4 ,!
CODE ( MY GR\P 0 /R;G] ?AN ,I4 ,! FACT T
HE _H H&S1 FEET1 &A BODY %AP$ "S:AT L
M9E1 3/ITUT$ A CLAIM : ,I CD N IGNORE4
  ,S ,I DID N WAIT A SECOND "T = ,MAUD
6S5D ME4 ,I 4COV]$ T WE /OOD 9 NE$ (
3D5S$ MILK & M>MALADE1 & ANN\NC$ T ,I 0
GO+ ABO>D4 ,I CD SEE T %E WAV]$4 ,%E EV5
W5T S F> Z 6MURMUR T !Y 7 NON-ESS5TIALS
& T MY TRIP AF !M MI<T 2 9EXP$I5T4 ,& Z
%E _H FOLL[$ ! TR5D ( MY SIL;E1 %E N[
FOLL[$ ! TR5D ( MY SPEE*1 & %E KNEW T ,I
0 GO+ ABO>D1 N 2C ( 3D5S$ MILK &
M>MALADE1 B 2C ( H] &( H] ANXIETY1 : %E
KNEW %E _H FAIL$ 6HIDE4
  ,I TOOK (F MY %OES :5 ,I GA9$ !
=ECA/LE H1D1 & W5T NOISE.SLY AFT 9 MY
/OCK+ FEET4 ,NOR DID ,I CALL ? "T F !
TOP (! -PANION-WAY4 ,CAUTI\SLY DESC5D+1
,I F.D ! CAB9 DES]T$4 ,! DOOR 6HIS /ATE-
ROOM 0 CLOS$4 ,AT F/ ,I ?"\ ( KNOCK+1 !N
,I REMEMB]$ MY O/5SI# ]R& & RESOLV$
6C>RY X \4 ,C>E;LLY AVOID+ NOISE1 ,I
LIFT$ ! TRAP-DOOR 9 ! FLOOR & SET X 6"O
SIDE4 ,! SLOP-*E/1 Z WELL Z ! PROVI.NS1
0 /OR$ 9 ! LAZ>ETTE1 & ,I TOOK ADVANTAGE
(! OPPORTUN;Y 6LAY 9 A /OCK ( "UCLO?+4
  ,Z ,I EM]G$ F ! LAZ>ETTE ,I HE>D S.DS
9 ,WOLF ,L>S5'S /ATE-ROOM4 ,I CR\*$ &
LI/5$4 ,! DOOR-KNOB RATTL$4 ,FURTIVELY1
9/9CTIVELY1 ,I SLUNK BACK 2H ! TA# &
DREW & COCK$ MY REVOLV]4 ,! DOOR SWUNG
OP5 & HE CAME =?4 ,N"E _H ,I SE5 S
PROF.D A DESPAIR Z T : ,I SAW ON 8 FACE1
-- ! FACE ( ,WOLF ,L>S5 ! FI<T]1 ! /R;G
MAN1 ! 9DOMITA# "O4 ,= ALL ! _W L A
WOMAN WR++ H] H&S1 HE RAIS$ 8 CL5*$ FI/S
& GROAN$4 ,"O FI/ UNCLOS$1 &! OP5 PALM
SWEPT ACR 8 EYES Z ?\< BRU%+ AWAY
COBWEBS4
  8,GOD6 ,GOD60 HE GROAN$1 &! CL5*$ FI/S
7 RAIS$ AG 6! 9F9ITE DESPAIR ) : 8 ?ROAT
VIBRAT$4
  ,X 0 HORRI#4 ,I 0 TREMBL+ ALL OV]1 &
,I CD FEEL ! %IV]S RUNN+ UP & D[N MY
SP9E &! SW1T /&+ \ ON MY =EH1D4 ,SURELY
"! C 2 LL 9 ? _W M AW;L ?AN ! SPECTACLE
(A /R;G MAN 9 ! MO;T :5 HE IS UTT]LY W1K
& BROK54
  ,B ,WOLF ,L>S5 REGA9$ 3TROL ( HMF 0AN
EX];N ( 8 REM>KA# W4 ,& X 0 EX];N4 ,8
:OLE FRAME %OOK )! /RU7LE4 ,HE RESEM#D A
MAN ON ! V]GE (A FIT4 ,8 FACE /ROVE
6-POSE XF1 WRI?+ & TWI/+ 9 ! EF=T TILL
HE BROKE D[N AG4 ,ONCE M ! CL5*$ FI/S
W5T UPW>D & HE GROAN$4 ,HE CAU<T 8 BR1?
ONCE OR TWICE & SO2$4 ,!N HE 0 SU3ESS;L4
,I CD H ?"\ HM ! OLD ,WOLF ,L>S51 & YET
"! 0 9 8 MOVE;TS A VAGUE SU7ES;N ( W1K;S
& 9DECI.N4 ,HE />T$ =! -PANION-WAY1 &
/EPP$ =W>D Q Z ,I _H BE5 A3U/OM$ 6SEE HM
D2 & YET AG1 9 8 V WALK1 "! SEEM$ T
SU7ES;N ( W1K;S & 9DECI.N4
  ,I 0 N[ 3C]N$ ) FE> = MYF4 ,! OP5 TRAP
LAY DIRECTLY 9 8 PA?1 & 8 4COV]Y ( X WD
L1D 9/ANTLY 6HIS 4COV]Y ( ME4 ,I 0 ANGRY
) MYF = 2+ CAU<T 9 S C[>DLY A POSI;N1
CR\*+ ON ! FLOOR4 ,"! 0 YET "T4 ,I ROSE
SWIFTLY 6MY FEET1 &1 ,I "K1 Q
UNCONSCI\SLY ASSUM$ A DEFIANT ATTITUDE4
,HE TOOK NO NOTICE ( ME4 ,NOR DID HE
NOTICE ! OP5 TRAP4 ,2F ,I CD GRASP !
SITU,N1 OR ACT1 HE _H WALK$ "R 96! TRAP4
,"O FOOT 0 DESC5D+ 96! OP5+1 :ILE ! O!R
FOOT 0 J ON ! V]GE ( 2G9N+ ! UPLIFT4 ,B
:5 ! DESC5D+ FOOT MISS$ ! SOLID FLOOR+ &
FELT VACANCY 2N1 X 0 ! OLD ,WOLF ,L>S5
&! TIG] MUSCLES T MADE ! FALL+ BODY SPR+
ACR ! OP5+1 EV5 Z X FELL1 S T HE /RUCK
ON 8 *E/ & /OMA*1 ) >MS \T/RET*$1 ON !
FLOOR (! OPPOSITE SIDE4 ,! NEXT 9/ANT HE
_H DRAWN UP 8 LEGS & ROLL$ CLE>4 ,B HE
ROLL$ 96MY M>MALADE & "UCLO!S & AG/ !
TRAP-DOOR4
  ,! EXPRES.N ON 8 FACE 0 "O ( -PLETE
-PREH5.N4 ,B 2F ,I CD GUESS :AT HE _H
-PREH5D$1 HE _H DROPP$ ! TRAP-DOOR
96PLACE1 CLOS+ ! LAZ>ETTE4 ,!N ,I
"U/OOD4 ,HE ?"\ HE _H ME 9SIDE4 ,AL1 HE
0 BL1 BL Z A BAT4 ,I WAT*$ HM1 BR1?+
C>E;LLY S T HE %D N HE> ME4 ,HE /EPP$
QKLY 6HIS /ATE-ROOM4 ,I SAW 8 H& MISS !
DOOR-KNOB 0AN 9*1 QKLY FUM# = X1 & F9D
X4 ,? 0 MY *.E4 ,I TIPTO$ ACR ! CAB9 &
6! TOP (! /AIRS4 ,HE CAME BACK1 DRA7+ A
H1VY SEA-*E/1 : HE DEPOSIT$ ON TOP (!
TRAP4 ,N 3T5T ) ? HE FET*$ A SECOND *E/
& PLAC$ X ON TOP (! F/4 ,!N HE GA!R$ UP
! M>MALADE & "UCLO!S & PUT !M ON ! TA#4
,:5 HE />T$ UP ! -PANION-WAY1 ,I
RETR1T$1 SIL5TLY ROLL+ OV] ON TOP (!
CAB94
  ,HE %OV$ ! SLIDE "P WAY BACK & RE/$ 8
>MS ON X1 8 BODY / 9 ! -PANION-WAY4 ,8
ATTITUDE 0 ( "O LOOK+ =W>D ! L5G? (!
S*OON]1 OR />+1 R1 = 8 EYES 7 FIX$ &
UNBL9K+4 ,I 0 ONLY FIVE FEET AWAY &
DIRECTLY 9 :AT %D H BE5 8 L9E ( VI.N4 ,X
0 UNCANNY4 ,I FELT MYF A <O/1 :AT ( MY
9VISIBIL;Y4 ,I WAV$ MY H& BACK & =?1 (
C\RSE )\T E6ECT2 B :5 ! MOV+ %AD[ FELL
ACR 8 FACE ,I SAW AT ONCE T HE 0
SUSCEPTI# 6! IMPRES.N4 ,8 FACE 2CAME M
EXPECTANT & T5SE Z HE TRI$ 6ANALYZE &
ID5TIFY ! IMPRES.N4 ,HE KNEW T HE _H
RESPOND$ 6"S?+ F )\T1 T 8 S5SIBIL;Y _H
BE5 T\*$ 0A *ANG+ "S?+ 9 8 5VIRON;T2 B
:AT X 0 HE CD N 4COV]4 ,I C1S$ WAV+ MY
H&1 S T ! %AD[ REMA9$ /,N>Y4 ,HE SL[LY
MOV$ 8 H1D BACK & =? "U X & TURN$ F SIDE
6SIDE1 N[ 9 ! SUN%9E1 N[ 9 ! %ADE1 FEEL+
! %AD[1 Z X W]E1 TE/+ X 0S5S,N4
  ,I1 TOO1 0 BUSY1 TRY+ 6R1SON \ H[ HE 0
AW>E (! EXI/;E ( S 9TANGI# A ?+ Z A
%AD[4 ,IF X 7 8 EYEBALLS ONLY T 7
A6ECT$1 OR IF 8 OPTIC N]VE 7 N :OLLY
DE/ROY$1 ! EXPLAN,N 0 SIMPLE4 ,IF
O!RWISE1 !N ! ONLY 3CLU.N ,I CD R1* 0 T
! S5SITIVE SK9 RECOGNIZ$ ! DI6];E (
TEMP]ATURE 2T %ADE & SUN%9E4 ,OR1 P]H1
-- :O C TELL8 -- X 0 T FA#D SIX? S5SE :
3VEY$ 6HM ! LOOM & FEEL ( AN OBJECT
CLOSE AT H&4
  ,GIV+ OV] 8 ATTEMPT 6DET]M9E ! %AD[1
HE /EPP$ ON DECK & />T$ =W>D1 WALK+ )A
SWIFT;S & 3FID;E : SURPRIS$ ME4 ,& / "!
0 T H9T (! FEE#;S (! BL 9 8 WALK4 ,I
KNEW X N[ = :AT X WAS4
  ,6MY AMUS$ *AGR91 HE 4COV]$ MY %OES ON
! =ECA/LE H1D & BR"\ !M BACK ) HM 96!
GALLEY4 ,I WAT*$ HM BUILD ! FIRE & SET
AB COOK+ FOOD = HMF2 !N ,I /OLE 96! CAB9
= MY M>MALADE & "UCLO!S1 SLIPP$ BACK PA/
! GALLEY1 & CLIMB$ D[N 6! B1* 6DELIV] MY
B>EFOOT REPORT4







