,,XXIII
              ,FIRE ,RISES
  ,"! 0 A *ANGE ON ! VILLAGE ": ! F.TA9
FELL1 & ": ! M5D] ( ROADS W5T =? DAILY
6HAMM] \ (! /"OS ON ! HI<WAY S* MORSELS
( BR1D Z MI<T S]VE = PAT*ES 6HOLD 8 POOR
IGNORANT S\L & 8 POOR REDUC$ BODY TGR4
,! PRISON ON ! CRAG 0 N S DOM9ANT Z (
YORE2 "! 7 SOLDI]S 6GU>D X1 B N _M2 "! 7
(FIC]S 6GU>D ! SOLDI]S1 B N "O ( !M KNEW
:AT 8 M5 WD D--2Y ?3 T X WD PROBABLY N 2
:AT HE 0 ORD]$4
  ,F> & WIDE LAY A RU9$ C.TRY1 YIELD+
NO?+ B DESOL,N4 ,E GRE5 L1F1 E BLADE (
GRASS & BLADE ( GRA91 0 Z %RIVELL$ &
POOR Z ! MIS]A# P4 ,"EY?+ 0 B[$ D[N1
DEJECT$1 OPPRESS$1 & BROK54 ,HABIT,NS1
F;ES1 DOME/ICAT$ ANIMALS1 M51 WOM51 *N1
&! SOIL T BORE !M--ALL WORN \4
  ,MONSEIGNEUR 7(T5 A MO/ WOR?Y
9DIVIDUAL G5TLEMAN7 0 A N,NAL B.S+1 GAVE
A *IVALR\S T"O 6?+S1 0 A POLITE EXAMPLE
( LUXURI\S & %9+ FIFE1 &A GRT D1L M
6EQUAL PURPOSE2 N"E!.S1 ,MONSEIGNEUR Z A
CLASS _H1 "SH[ OR O!R1 BR"\ ?+S 6?4
,/RANGE T ,CRE,N1 DESIGN$ EXPRESSLY =
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SQUEEZ$ \6 ,"! M/ 2 "S?+ %ORT-SI<T$ 9 !
ET]NAL >RANGE;TS1 SURELY6 ,?US X WAS1
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6BITE1 ,MONSEIGNEUR 2GAN 6RUN AWAY F A
PH5OM5ON S L[ & UNA3.TA#4
  ,B1 ? 0 N ! *ANGE ON ! VILLAGE1 & ON
_M A VILLAGE L X4 ,= SCORES ( YE>S G"O
BY1 ,MONSEIGNEUR _H SQUEEZ$ X & WRUNG X1
& _H SELDOM GRAC$ X ) 8 PRES;E EXCEPT =!
PL1SURES (! *ASE--N[1 F.D 9 HUNT+ ! P2
N[1 F.D 9 HUNT+ ! B1/S1 = ^: PRES]V,N
,MONSEIGNEUR MADE $IFY+ SPACES ( B>B>\S
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APPE>.E ( /RANGE FACES ( L[ CA/E1 R ?AN
9 ! 4APPE>.E (! HI< CA/E1 *ISELL$1 &
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,MONSEIGNEUR4
  ,=1 9 ^! "TS1 Z ! M5D] ( ROADS "W$1
SOLIT>Y1 9 ! DU/1 N (T5 TR\BL+ HMF
6REFLECT T DU/ HE 0 & 6DU/ HE M/ RETURN1
2+ =! MO/ "P TOO M* O3UPI$ 9 ?9K+ H[ LL
HE _H = SUPP] & H[ M* M HE WD EAT IF HE
_H X--IN ^! "TS1 Z HE RAIS$ 8 EYES F 8
L"OLY LAB\R1 & VIEW$ ! PROSPECT1 HE WD
SEE "S R\< FIGURE APPROA*+ ON FOOT1 ! L
( : 0 ONCE A R>;Y 9 ^? "PS1 B 0 N[ A
FREQU5T PRES;E4 ,Z X ADV.ED1 ! M5D] (
ROADS WD 4C]N )\T SURPRISE1 T X 0 A
%A7Y-HAIR$ MAN1 ( ALM B>B>IAN ASPECT1
TALL1 9 WOOD5 %OES T 7 CLUMSY EV5 6!
EYES (A M5D] ( ROADS1 GRIM1 R\<1 SW>T1
/EEP$ 9 ! MUD & DU/ ( _M HI<WAYS1 DANK )
! M>%Y MOI/URE ( _M L[ GR.DS1 SPR9KL$ )!
?ORNS & L1VES & MOSS ( _M BYWAYS "?
WOODS4
  ,S* A MAN CAME ^U HM1 L A <O/1 AT NOON
9 ! ,JULY W1!R1 Z HE SAT ON 8 H1P ( /"OS
"U A BANK1 TAK+ S* %ELT] Z HE CD GET F A
%[] ( HAIL4
  ,! MAN LOOK$ AT HM1 LOOK$ AT ! VILLAGE
9 ! HOLL[1 AT ! MILL1 & AT ! PRISON ON !
CRAG4 ,:5 HE _H ID5TIFI$ ^! OBJECTS 9
:AT 2NI<T$ M9D HE _H1 HE SD1 9 A DIALECT
T 0 J 9TELLIGI#3
  8,H[ GOES X1 ,JACQUES80
  8,ALL WELL1 ,JACQUES40
  8,T\* !N60
  ,!Y JO9$ H&S1 &! MAN SAT D[N ON ! H1P
( /"OS4
  8,NO D9N]80
  8,NO?+ B SUPP] N[10 SD ! M5D] ( ROADS1
)A HUNGRY FACE4
  8,X IS ! FA%ION10 GR[L$ ! MAN4 8,I
MEET NO D9N] ANY":40
  ,HE TOOK \ A BLACK5$ PIPE1 FILL$ X1
LI<T$ X ) FL9T & /EEL1 PULL$ AT X UNTIL
X 0 9 A B"R GL[3 !N1 SU45LY HELD X F HM
& DROPP$ "S?+ 96X F 2T 8 F+] & ?UMB1 T
BLAZ$ & W5T \ 9 A PUFF ( SMOKE4
  8,T\* !N40 ,X 0 ! TURN (! M5D] ( ROADS
6SAY X ? "T1 AF OBS]V+ ^! OP],NS4 ,!Y AG
JO9$ H&S4
  8,TO-NI<T80 SD ! M5D] ( ROADS4
  8,TO-NI<T10 SD ! MAN1 PUTT+ ! PIPE 9 8
M\?4
  8,":80
  8,"H40
  ,HE &! M5D] ( ROADS SAT ON ! H1P (
/"OS LOOK+ SIL5TLY AT "O ANO!R1 )! HAIL
DRIV+ 9 2T !M L A PIGMY *>GE ( BAYONETS1
UNTIL ! SKY 2GAN 6CLE> OV] ! VILLAGE4
  8,%[ ME60 SD ! TRAVELL] !N1 MOV+ 6!
BR[ (! HILL4
  8,SEE60 RETURN$ ! M5D] ( ROADS1 )
EXT5D$ F+]4 8,Y G D[N "H1 & /RAI<T "? !
/REET1 & PA/ ! F.TA9--0
  8,6! ,DEVIL ) ALL T60 9T]RUPT$ ! O!R1
ROLL+ 8 EYE OV] ! L&SCAPE4 8.@__,I@__ G
"? NO /REETS & PA/ NO F.TA9S4 ,WELL80
  8,WELL6 ,AB TWO L1GUES 2Y ! SUMMIT ( T
HILL ABV ! VILLAGE40
  8,GD4 ,:5 D Y C1SE 6"W80
  8,AT SUNSET40
  8,W Y WAKE ME1 2F DE"P+8 ,I H WALK$
TWO NI<TS )\T RE/+4 ,LET ME F9I% MY
PIPE1 & ,I % SLEEP L A *4 ,W Y WAKE ME80
  8,SURELY40
  ,! WAYF>] SMOK$ 8 PIPE \1 PUT X 9 8
BR1/1 SLIPP$ (F 8 GRT WOOD5 %OES1 & LAY
D[N ON 8 BACK ON ! H1P ( /"OS4 ,HE 0 FA/
ASLEEP DIRECTLY4
  ,Z ! ROAD-M5D] PLI$ 8 DU/Y LAB\R1 &!
HAIL-CL\DS1 ROLL+ AWAY1 REV1L$ B"R B>S &
/R1KS ( SKY : 7 RESPOND$ 60SILV] GL1MS
^U ! L&SCAPE1 ! LL MAN 7:O WORE A R$ CAP
N[1 9 PLACE ( 8 BLUE "O7 SEEM$ FASC9AT$
0! FIGURE ON ! H1P ( /"OS4 ,8 EYES 7 S
(T5 TURN$ T[>DS X1 T HE US$ 8 TOOLS
ME*ANIC,Y1 &1 "O WD H SD1 6V POOR A3.T4
,! BRONZE FACE1 ! %A7Y BLACK HAIR &
BE>D1 ! CO>SE WOOLL5 R$ CAP1 ! R\< M$LEY
DRESS ( HOME-SPUN /UFF & HAIRY SK9S (
B1/S1 ! P[];L FRAME ATT5UAT$ 0SP>E LIV+1
&! SULL5 & DESP]ATE -PRES.N (! LIPS 9
SLEEP1 9SPIR$ ! M5D] ( ROADS ) AWE4 ,!
TRAVELL] _H TRAVELL$ F>1 & 8 FEET 7
FOOTSORE1 & 8 ANKLES *AF$ & BLE$+2 8 GRT
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6DRAG OV] ! _M L;G L1GUES1 & 8 CLO!S 7
*AF$ 96HOLES1 Z HE HMF 0 96SORES4 ,/OOP+
D[N 2S HM1 ! ROAD-M5D] TRI$ 6GET A PEEP
AT SECRET W1PONS 9 8 BR1/ OR ": N2 B1 9
VA91 = HE SLEPT ) 8 >MS CROSS$ ^U HM1 &
SET Z RESOLUTELY Z 8 LIPS4 ,=TIFI$ T[NS
) _! /OCKADES1 GU>D-H\SES1 GATES1
TR5*ES1 & DRAWBRIDGES1 SEEM$ 6! M5D] (
ROADS1 6BE S M* AIR Z AG/ ? FIGURE4 ,&
:5 HE LIFT$ 8 EYES F X 6! HORIZON &
LOOK$ >.D1 HE SAW 9 8 SMALL FANCY SIMIL>
FIGURES1 /OPP$ 0NO OB/ACLE1 T5D+ 6C5TRES
ALL OV] ,FR.E4
  ,! MAN SLEPT ON1 9DI6]5T 6%[]S ( HAIL
& 9T]VALS ( B"R;S1 6SUN%9E ON 8 FACE &
%AD[1 6! PALT]+ LUMPS ( DULL ICE ON 8
BODY &! DIAMONDS 96: ! SUN *ANG$ !M1
UNTIL ! SUN 0 L[ 9 ! WE/1 &! SKY 0 GL[+4
,!N1 ! M5D] ( ROADS HAV+ GOT 8 TOOLS TGR
& ALL ?+S R1DY 6G D[N 96! VILLAGE1 R\S$
HM4
  8,GD60 SD ! SLEEP]1 RIS+ ON 8 ELB[4
8,TWO L1GUES 2Y ! SUMMIT (! HILL80
  8,AB40
  8,AB4 ,GD60
  ,! M5D] ( ROADS W5T HOME1 )! DU/ GO+
ON 2F HM AC 6! SET (! W9D1 & 0 SOON AT !
F.TA91 SQUEEZ+ HMF 9 AM;G ! L1N K9E BR"\
"! 6DR9K1 & APPE>+ EV5 6:ISP] 6!M 9 8
:ISP]+ 6ALL ! VILLAGE4 ,:5 ! VILLAGE _H
TAK5 XS POOR SUPP]1 X DID N CREEP 6B$1 Z
X USU,Y DID1 B CAME \ ( DOORS AG1 &
REMA9$ "!4 ,A CURI\S 3TAGION ( :ISP]+ 0
^U X1 & AL1 :5 X GA!R$ TGR AT ! F.TA9 9
! D>K1 ANO!R CURI\S 3TAGION ( LOOK+
EXPECTANTLY AT ! SKY 9 "O DIREC;N ONLY4
,MONSIEUR ,GABELLE1 *IEF FUNC;N>Y (!
PLACE1 2CAME UNEASY2 W5T \ ON 8 H\SE-TOP
AL"O1 & LOOK$ 9 T DIREC;N TOO2 GL.ED D[N
F 2H 8 *IMNEYS AT ! D>K5+ FACES 0! F.TA9
2L1 & S5T ^W 6! SACRI/AN :O KEPT ! KEYS
(! *UR*1 T "! MI<T 2 NE$ 6R+ ! TOCS9 BY-
&-BYE4
  ,! NI<T DEEP5$4 ,! TREES 5VIRON+ ! OLD
*AT1U1 KEEP+ XS SOLIT>Y /ATE A"P1 MOV$ 9
A RIS+ W9D1 Z ?\< !Y ?R1T5$ ! PILE (
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TWO T]RACE FLI<TS ( /EPS ! RA9 RAN
WILDLY1 & B1T AT ! GRT DOOR1 L A SWIFT
MESS5G] R\S+ ^? )92 UNEASY RU%ES ( W9D
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KNIVES1 & PASS$ LA;T+ UP ! /AIRS1 & %OOK
! CURTA9S (! B$ ": ! LA/ ,M>QUIS _H
SLEPT4 ,EA/1 ,WE/1 ,NOR?1 & ,S\?1 "? !
WOODS1 F\R H1VY-TR1D+1 UNKEMPT FIGURES
CRU%$ ! HI< GRASS & CRACK$ ! BRAN*ES1
/RID+ ON CAUTI\SLY 6-E TGR 9 ! C\RTY>D4
,F\R LI<TS BROKE \ "!1 & MOV$ AWAY 9
DI6]5T DIREC;NS1 & ALL 0 BLACK AG4
  ,B1 N = L;G4 ,PRES5TLY1 ! *AT1U 2GAN
6MAKE XF /RANGELY VISI# 0"S LI<T ( XS
[N1 Z ?\< X 7 GR[+ LUM9\S4 ,!N1 A
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": BALU/RADES1 >*ES1 & W9D[S W]E4 ,!N X
SO>$ HI<]1 & GREW BROAD] & B"R]4 ,SOON1
F A SCORE (! GRT W9D[S1 FLAMES BUR/ =?1
&! /"O FACES AWAK5$1 />$ \ ( FIRE4
  ,A FA9T MURMUR >OSE AB ! H\SE F ! FEW
P :O 7 LEFT "!1 & "! 0 A SA4L+ (A HORSE
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D>K;S1 & BRIDLE 0 DRAWN 9 ! SPACE 0!
VILLAGE F.TA91 &! HORSE 9 A FOAM /OOD AT
,MONSIEUR ,GABELLE'S DOOR4 8,HELP1
,GABELLE6 ,HELP1 E "O60 ,! TOCS9 RANG
IMPATI5TLY1 B O!R HELP 7IF T 7 ANY7 "! 0
N"O4 ,! M5D] ( ROADS1 & TWO HUNDR$ &
FIFTY "PICUL> FRS1 /OOD ) FOLD$ >MS AT !
F.TA91 LOOK+ AT ! PILL> ( FIRE 9 ! SKY4
8,X M/ 2 =TY FEET HI<10 SD !Y1 GRIMLY2 &
N"E MOV$4
  ,! RID] F ! *AT1U1 &! HORSE 9 A FOAM1
CLATT]$ AWAY "? ! VILLAGE1 & GALLOP$ UP
! /ONY /EEP1 6! PRISON ON ! CRAG4 ,AT !
GATE1 A GR\P ( (FIC]S 7 LOOK+ AT ! FIRE2
REMOV$ F !M1 A GR\P ( SOLDI]S4 8,HELP1
G5TLEM5--(FIC]S6 ,! *AT1U IS ON FIRE2
VALUA# OBJECTS MAY 2 SAV$ F ! FLAMES
0"TLY AID6 ,HELP1 HELP60 ,! (FIC]S LOOK$
T[>DS ! SOLDI]S :O LOOK$ AT ! FIRE2 GAVE
NO ORD]S2 & ANSW]$1 ) %RUGS & BIT+ (
LIPS1 8,X M/ BURN40
  ,Z ! RID] RATTL$ D[N ! HILL AG & "? !
/REET1 ! VILLAGE 0 ILLUM9AT+4 ,! M5D] (
ROADS1 &! TWO HUNDR$ & FIFTY "PICUL>
FRS1 9SPIR$ Z "O MAN & WOMAN 0! IDEA (
LI<T+ UP1 _H D>T$ 96_! H\SES1 & 7 PUTT+
C&LES 9 E DULL LL PANE ( GLASS4 ,! G5]AL
SC>C;Y ( "EY?+1 O3A.N$ C&LES 6BE BORR[$
9 A R P]EMPTORY MANN] ( ,MONSIEUR
,GABELLE2 & 9 A MO;T ( RELUCT.E &
HESIT,N ON T FUNC;N>Y'S "P1 ! M5D] (
ROADS1 ONCE S SUBMISSIVE 6AU?OR;Y1 _H
REM>K$ T C>RIAGES 7 GD 6MAKE BONFIRES )1
& T PO/-HORSES WD ROA/4
  ,! *AT1U 0 LEFT 6XF 6FLAME & BURN4 ,9
! RO>+ & RAG+ (! 3FLAGR,N1 A R$-HOT W9D1
DRIV+ /RAI<T F ! 9F]NAL REGIONS1 SEEM$
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(! BLAZE1 ! /"O FACES %[$ Z IF !Y 7 9
TOR;T4 ,:5 GRT MASSES ( /"O & TIMB]
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OBSCUR$3 ANON /RU7L$ \ (! SMOKE AG1 Z IF
X 7 ! FACE (! CRUEL ,M>QUIS1 BURN+ AT !
/AKE & 3T5D+ )! FIRE4
  ,! *AT1U BURN$2 ! NE>E/ TREES1 LAID
HOLD ( 0! FIRE1 SCOR*$ & %RIVELL$2 TREES
AT A 4T.E1 FIR$ 0! F\R FI]CE FIGURES1
2GIRT ! BLAZ+ $IFICE )A NEW =E/ ( SMOKE4
,MOLT5 L1D & IRON BOIL$ 9 ! M># BAS9 (!
F.TA92 ! WAT] RAN DRY2 ! EXT+UI%] TOPS (
! T[]S VANI%$ L ICE 2F ! H1T1 & TRICKL$
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& SPLITS BRAN*$ \ 9 ! SOLID WALLS1 L
CRY/ALLIS,N2 /UPEFI$ BIRDS :EEL$ AB &
DROPP$ 96! FURNACE2 F\R FI]CE FIGURES
TRUDG$ AWAY1 ,EA/1 ,WE/1 ,NOR?1 & ,S\?1
AL;G ! NI<T-5%R\D$ ROADS1 GUID$ 0! B1CON
!Y _H LI<T$1 T[>DS _! NEXT DE/9,N4 ,!
ILLUM9AT$ VILLAGE _H SEIZ$ HOLD (!
TOCS91 &1 ABOLI%+ ! LAW;L R+]1 RANG =
JOY4
  ,N ONLY T2 B ! VILLAGE1 LI<T-H1D$ )
FAM9E1 FIRE1 & BELL-R++1 & 2?9K+ XF T
,MONSIEUR ,GABELLE _H 6D )! COLLEC;N (
R5T & TAXES--?\< X 0 B A SMALL 9/AL;T (
TAXES1 & NO R5T AT ALL1 T ,GABELLE _H
GOT 9 ^? LATT] "DS--2CAME IMPATI5T = AN
9T]VIEW ) HM1 &1 SURR.D+ 8 H\SE1 SUMMON$
HM 6-E =? = P]SONAL 3F];E4 ,":^U1
,MONSIEUR ,GABELLE DID H1VILY B> 8 DOOR1
& RETIRE 6HOLD C\NSEL ) HMF4 ,! RESULT (
T 3F];E WAS1 T ,GABELLE AG )DREW HMF
6HIS H\SETOP 2H 8 /ACK ( *IMNEYS2 ? "T
RESOLV$1 IF 8 DOOR 7 BROK5 9 7HE 0 A
SMALL ,S\!RN MAN ( RETALIATIVE
TEMP]A;T71 6PIT* HMF H1D =EMO/ OV] !
P>APET1 & CRU% A MAN OR TWO 2L4
  ,PROBABLY1 ,MONSIEUR ,GABELLE PASS$ A
L;G NI<T UP "!1 )! 4TANT *AT1U = FIRE &
C&LE1 &! B1T+ AT 8 DOOR1 -B9$ )! JOY-
R++1 = MUSIC2 N 6M5;N 8 HAV+ AN ILL-OM5$
LAMP SLUNG ACR ! ROAD 2F 8 PO/+-H\SE
GATE1 : ! VILLAGE %[$ A LIVELY 9CL9,N
64PLACE 9 8 FAV\R4 ,A TRY+ SUSP5SE1 6BE
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BLACK OC1N1 R1DY 6TAKE T PLUNGE 96X ^U :
,MONSIEUR ,GABELLE _H RESOLV$6 ,B1 !
FRLY DAWN APPE>+ AT LA/1 &! RU%-C&LES (!
VILLAGE GUTT]+ \1 ! P HAPPILY 4P]S$1 &
,MONSIEUR ,GABELLE CAME D[N BR++ 8 LIFE
) HM = T :ILE4
  ,)9 A HUNDR$ MILES1 & 9 ! LI<T ( O!R
FIRES1 "! 7 O!R FUNC;N>IES LESS =TUNATE1
T NI<T & O!R NI<TS1 :OM ! RIS+ SUN F.D
HANG+ ACR ONCE-P1CE;L /REETS1 ": !Y _H
BE5 BORN & BR$2 AL1 "! 7 O!R VILLAG]S &
T[NSPEOPLE LESS =TUNATE ?AN ! M5D] (
ROADS & 8 FELL[S1 ^U :OM ! FUNC;N>IES &
SOLDI]Y TURN$ ) SU3ESS1 & :OM !Y /RUNG
UP 9 _! TURN4 ,B1 ! FI]CE FIGURES 7
/1DILY W5D+ ,EA/1 ,WE/1 ,NOR?1 & ,S\?1 2
T Z X WD2 & :OSO"E HUNG1 FIRE BURN$4 ,!
ALTITUDE (! GALL[S T WD TURN 6WAT] &
QU5* X1 NO FUNC;N>Y1 0ANY /RET* (
MA!MATICS1 0 A# 6CALCULATE SU3ESS;LLY4