,,*APT] ,,XV
  8,! F/ BATTLE1 F"\ & F9I%$10 ,M>T9 SD
6! LOOK+-GLASS T5 "DS LAT]4 8,B "! W 2 A
SECOND BATTLE1 &A ?IRD BATTLE1 & BATTLES
6! 5D ( "T1 UN.S -- 0
  ,HE _H N F9I%$ ! S5T;E1 B LOOK$ AB !
M1N LL ROOM & LET 8 EYES DWELL SADLY ^U
A H1P ( RETURN$ MANUSCRIPTS1 / 9 _! L;G
5VELOPES1 : LAY 9 A CORN] ON ! FLOOR4
,HE _H NO /AMPS ) : 63T9UE !M ON _!
TRAVELS1 &=A WEEK !Y _H BE5 PIL+ UP4 ,M
( !M WD -E 9 ON ! MORR[1 & ON ! NEXT "D1
&! NEXT1 TILL !Y 7 ALL IN4 ,& HE WD 2
UNA# 6/>T !M \ AG4 ,HE 0 A MON?'S R5T 2H
ON ! TYPEWRIT]1 : HE CD N PAY1 HAV+
B>ELY 5 =! WEEK'S BO>D : 0 DUE &=!
EMPLOY;T (FICE FEES4
  ,HE SAT D[N & REG>D$ ! TA# ?"\;LLY4
,"! 7 9K /A9S ^U X1 & HE SU45LY 4COV]$ T
HE 0 FOND ( X4
  8,DE> OLD TA#10 HE SD1 8,I'VE SP5T "S
HAPPY H\RS ) Y1 & Y'VE BE5 A PRETTY GD
FR :5 ALL IS SD & D"O4 ,Y N"E TURN$ ME
D[N1 N"E PASS$ ME \ A REW>D-(-UNM]IT
REJEC;N SLIP1 N"E -PLA9$ AB "W+ OV]"T40
  ,HE DROPP$ 8 >MS ^U ! TA# & BURI$ 8
FACE 9 !M4 ,8 ?ROAT 0 A*+1 & HE WANT$
6CRY4 ,X REM9D$ HM ( 8 F/ FI<T1 :5 HE 0
SIX YE>S OLD1 :5 HE PUN*$ AWAY )! TE>S
RUNN+ D[N 8 *EEKS :ILE ! O!R BOY1 TWO
YE>S 8 ELD]1 _H B1T5 & P.D$ HM
96EXHAUS;N4 ,HE SAW ! R+ ( BOYS1 H[L+ L
B>B>IANS Z HE W5T D[N AT LA/1 WRI?+ 9 !
?ROES ( NAUSEA1 ! BLOOD /R1M+ F 8 NOSE
&! TE>S F 8 BRUIS$ EYES4
  8,POOR LL %AV]10 HE MURMUR$4 8,& Y'RE
J Z BADLY LICK$ N[4 ,Y'RE B1T5 6A PULP4
,Y'RE D[N & \40
  ,B ! VI.N ( T F/ FI<T / L+]$ "U 8
EYELIDS1 & Z HE WAT*$ HE SAW X 4SOLVE &
RE%APE 96! S]IES ( FI<TS : _H FOLL[$4
,SIX MON?S LAT] ,*EESE-,FACE 7T 0 ! BOY7
_H :IPP$ HM AG4 ,B HE _H BLACK$ ,*EESE-
,FACE'S EYE T "T4 ,T 0 GO+ "S4 ,HE SAW
!M ALL1 FI<T AF FI<T1 HMF ALW :IPP$ &
,*EESE-,FACE EXULT+ OV] HM4 ,B HE _H N"E
RUN AWAY4 ,HE FELT /R5G!N$ 0! MEMORY (
T4 ,HE _H ALW /AY$ & TAK5 8 M$IC9E4
,*EESE-,FACE _H BE5 A LL FI5D AT FI<T+1
& _H N"E ONCE %[N M]CY 6HM4 ,B HE _H
/AY$6 ,HE _H /AY$ ) X6
  ,NEXT1 HE SAW A N>R[ ALLEY1 2T
RAM%ACKLE FRAME BUILD+S4 ,! 5D (! ALLEY
0 BLOCK$ 0A "O-/ORY BRICK BUILD+1 \ ( :
ISSU$ ! RHY?MIC ?"U (! PRESSES1 RUNN+ (F
! F/ EDI;N (! ,,5QUIR]4 ,HE 0 ELEV51 &
,*EESE-,FACE 0 ?IRTE51 & !Y BO? C>RI$ !
,,5QUIR]4 ,T 0 :Y !Y 7 "!1 WAIT+ = _!
PAP]S4 ,&1 ( C\RSE1 ,*EESE-,FACE _H
PICK$ ON HM AG1 & "! 0 ANO!R FI<T T 0
9DET]M9ATE1 2C AT QU>T] 6F\R ! DOOR (!
PRESS-ROOM 0 ?R[N OP5 &! GANG ( BOYS
CR[D$ 9 6FOLD _! PAP]S4
  8,I'LL LICK Y TM10 HE HE>D ,*EESE-
,FACE PROMISE2 & HE HE>D 8 [N VOICE1
PIP+ & TREMBL+ ) UN%$ TE>S1 AGREE+ 6BE
"! ON ! MORR[4
  ,& HE _H -E "! ! NEXT "D1 HURRY+ F
S*OOL 6BE "! F/1 & B1T+ ,*EESE-,FACE
0TWO M9UTES4 ,! O!R BOYS SD HE 0 ALL "R1
& GAVE HM ADVICE1 PO9T+ \ 8 FAULTS Z A
SCRAPP] & PROMIS+ HM VICTORY IF HE C>RI$
\ _! 9/RUC;NS4 ,! SAME BOYS GAVE ,*EESE-
,FACE ADVICE1 TOO4 ,H[ !Y _H 5JOY$ !
FI<T6 ,HE PAUS$ 9 8 RECOLLEC;NS L;G 5
65VY !M ! SPECTACLE HE & ,*EESE-,FACE _H
PUT UP4 ,!N ! FI<T 0 ON1 & X W5T ON1 )\T
R.DS1 = ?IRTY M9UTES1 UNTIL ! PRESS-ROOM
DOOR 0 OP5$4
  ,HE WAT*$ ! Y\?;L APP>I;N ( HMF1 "D AF
"D1 HURRY+ F S*OOL 6! ,,5QUIR] ALLEY4
,HE CD N WALK V FA/4 ,HE 0 /IFF & LAME F
! 9CESSANT FI<T+4 ,8 =E>MS 7 BLACK &
BLUE F WRI/ 6ELB[1 :AT (! C.T.S BL[S HE
_H W>D$ (F1 & "H & "! ! TORTUR$ FLE% 0
2G9N+ 6FE/]4 ,8 H1D & >MS & %\LD]S A*$1
! SMALL ( 8 BACK A*$1 -- HE A*$ ALL OV]1
& 8 BRA9 0 H1VY & DAZ$4 ,HE DID N PLAY
AT S*OOL4 ,NOR DID HE /UDY4 ,EV5 6SIT /
ALL "D AT 8 DESK1 Z HE DID1 0 A TOR;T4
,X SEEM$ C5TURIES S9CE HE _H 2GUN ! R.D
( DAILY FI<TS1 & "T /RET*$ AWAY 96A
NI<TM>E & 9F9ITE FUTURE ( DAILY FI<TS4
,:Y CDN'T ,*EESE-,FACE 2 LICK$8 HE (T5
?"\2 T WD PUT HM1 ,M>T91 \ ( 8 MIS]Y4 ,X
N"E 5T]$ 8 H1D 6C1SE FI<T+1 6ALL[
,*EESE-,FACE 6:IP HM4
  ,& S HE DRA7$ HMF 6! ,,5QUIR] ALLEY1
SICK 9 BODY & S\L1 B LE>N+ ! L;G PATI;E1
63FRONT 8 ET]NAL 5EMY1 ,*EESE-,FACE1 :O
0 J Z SICK Z HE1 & J A BIT WILL+ 6QUIT
IF X 7 N =! GANG ( NEWSBOYS T LOOK$ ON &
MADE PRIDE PA9;L & NEC4 ,"O AFN1 AF
TW5TY M9UTES ( DESP]ATE EF=TS
6ANNIHILATE EA* O!R AC 6SET RULES T DID
N P]MIT KICK+1 /RIK+ 2L ! BELT1 NOR
HITT+ :5 "O 0 D[N1 ,*EESE-,FACE1 PANT+ =
BR1? & REEL+1 (F]$ 6CALL X QUITS4 ,&
,M>T91 H1D ON >MS1 ?RILL$ AT ! PICTURE
HE CAU<T ( HMF1 AT T MO;T 9 ! AFN ( L;G
AGO1 :5 HE REEL$ & PANT$ & *OK$ )! BLOOD
T RAN 96HIS M\? & D[N 8 ?ROAT F 8 CUT
LIPS2 :5 HE TOTT]$ T[>D ,*EESE-,FACE1
SPITT+ \ A M\?;L ( BLOOD S T HE CD SP1K1
CRY+ \ T HE WD N"E QUIT1 ?\< ,*EESE-
,FACE CD GIVE 9 IF HE WANT$ TO4 ,&
,*EESE-,FACE DID N GIVE IN1 &! FI<T W5T
ON4
  ,! NEXT "D &! NEXT1 "DS )\T 5D1 WIT;S$
! AFN FI<T4 ,:5 HE PUT UP 8 >MS1 EA* "D1
62G91 !Y PA9$ EXQUISITELY1 &! F/ FEW
BL[S1 /RUCK & RCVD1 RACK$ 8 S\L2 AF T
?+S GREW NUMB1 & HE F"\ ON BLLY1 SEE+ Z
9 A DR1M1 DANC+ & WAV]+1 ! L>GE F1TURES
& BURN+1 ANIMAL-L EYES ( ,*EESE-,FACE4
,HE 3C5TRAT$ ^U T FACE2 ALL ELSE AB HM 0
A :IRL+ VOID4 ,"! 0 NO?+ ELSE 9 ! _W B T
FACE1 & HE WD N"E "K RE/1 B.S$ RE/1
UNTIL HE _H B1T5 T FACE 96A PULP ) 8
BLE$+ KNUCKLES1 OR UNTIL ! BLE$+
KNUCKLES T "SH[ 2L;G$ 6T FACE _H B1T5 HM
96A PULP4 ,& !N1 "O WAY OR ! O!R1 HE WD
H RE/4 ,B 6QUIT1 -- = HM1 ,M>T91 6QUIT1
-- T 0 IMPOSSI#6
  ,CAME ! "D :5 HE DRA7$ HMF 96!
,,5QUIR] ALLEY1 & "! 0 NO ,*EESE-,FACE4
,NOR DID ,*EESE-,FACE -E4 ,! BOYS
3GRATULAT$ HM1 & TOLD HM T HE _H LICK$
,*EESE-,FACE4 ,B ,M>T9 0 N SATISFI$4 ,HE
_H N LICK$ ,*EESE-,FACE1 NOR _H ,*EESE-
,FACE LICK$ HM4 ,! PRO#M _H N BE5 SOLV$4
,X 0 N UNTIL AFW T !Y LE>N$ T ,*EESE-
,FACE'S "F _H DI$ SU45LY T V "D4
  ,M>T9 SKIPP$ ON "? ! YE>S 6! NI<T 9 !
NI7] H1V5 AT ! ,AUDITORIUM4 ,HE 0
SEV5TE5 & J BACK F SEA4 ,A R[ />T$4
,"SBODY 0 BULLY+ "SBODY1 & ,M>T9 9T]F]$1
6BE 3FRONT$ 0,*EESE-,FACE'S BLAZ+ EYES4
  8,I'LL FIX Y AF DE %[10 8 ANCI5T 5EMY
HISS$4
  ,M>T9 NO4$4 ,! NI7]-H1V5 B\NC] 0 MAK+
8 WAY T[>D ! 4TURB.E4
  8,I'LL MEET Y \TSIDE1 AF ! LA/ ACT10
,M>T9 :ISP]$1 ! :ILE 8 FACE %[$ UNDIVID$
9T]E/ 9 ! BUCK-&-W+ DANC+ ON ! /AGE4
  ,! B\NC] GL>$ & W5T AWAY4
  8,GOT A GANG80 HE ASK$ ,*EESE-,FACE1
AT ! 5D (! ACT4
  8,SURE40
  8,!N ,I GOT 6GET "O10 ,M>T9 ANN\NC$4
  ,2T ! ACTS HE MU/]$ 8 FOLL[+ -- ?REE
FELL[S HE KNEW F ! NAIL "WS1 A RAILROAD
FIREMAN1 & HALF A DOZ5 (! ,BOO ,GANG1
AL;G ) Z _M M F ! DR1D ,EI<TE5-&-,M>KET
,GANG4
  ,:5 ! !ATRE LET \1 ! TWO GANGS /RUNG
AL;G 9CONSPICU\SLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES (!
/REET4 ,:5 !Y CAME 6A QUIET CORN]1 !Y
UNIT$ & HELD A C\NCIL ( W>4
  8,EI<? ,/REET ,BRIDGE IS ! PLACE10 SD
A R$-H1D$ FELL[ 2L;G+ 6,*EESE-,FACE'S
,GANG4 8,Y K9 FI<T 9 ! MI4LE1 "U !
ELECTRIC LI<T1 AN' :I*"E WAY ! BULLS -E
9 WE K9 SN1K ! O!R WAY40
  8,T'S AGREEA# 6ME10 ,M>T9 SD1 AF
3SULT+ )! L1D]S ( 8 [N GANG4
  ,! ,EI<? ,/REET ,BRIDGE1 CROSS+ AN >M
( ,SAN ,ANTONIO ,E/U>Y1 0 ! L5G? ( ?REE
C;Y BLOCKS4 ,9 ! MI4LE (! BRIDGE1 & AT
EA* 5D1 7 ELECTRIC LI<TS4 ,NO POLICEMAN
CD PASS ^? 5D-LI<TS UNSE54 ,X 0 ! SAFE
PLACE =! BATTLE T REVIV$ XF "U ,M>T9'S
EYELIDS4 ,HE SAW ! TWO GANGS1 A7RESSIVE
& SULL51 RIGIDLY KEEP+ A"P F EA* O!R &
BACK+ _! RESPECTIVE *AMPIONS2 & HE SAW
HMF & ,*EESE-,FACE /RIPP+4 ,A %ORT 4T.E
AWAY LOOK\TS 7 SET1 _! TASK 2+ 6WAT* !
LI<T$ 5DS (! BRIDGE4 ,A MEMB] (! ,BOO
,GANG HELD ,M>T9'S COAT1 & %IRT1 & CAP1
R1DY 6RACE ) !M 96SAFETY 9 CASE ! POLICE
9T]F]$4 ,M>T9 WAT*$ HMF G 96! C5TRE1
FAC+ ,*EESE-,FACE1 & HE HE>D HMF SAY1 Z
HE HELD UP 8 H& W>N+LY3-
  8,!Y A9'T NO H&-%AK9' 9 ?4 ,"U/&8 ,!Y
A9'T NO?9' B SCRAP4 ,NO ?R[9' UP !
SP;GE4 ,? IS A GRUDGE-FI<T AN' X'S 6A
F9I%4 ,"U/&8 ,"SBODY'S GO9' 6GET LICK$40
  ,*EESE-,FACE WANT$ 6DEMUR1 -- ,M>T9 CD
SEE T1 -- B ,*EESE-,FACE'S OLD P]IL\S
PRIDE 0 T\*$ 2F ! TWO GANGS4
  8,AW1 -E ON10 HE REPLI$4 8,WOT'S ! GD
( *EW9' DE RAG AB X8 ,I'M WIT' *EH 6DE
F9I%40
  ,!N !Y FELL ^U EA* O!R1 L "Y BULLS1 9
ALL ! GLORY ( Y\?1 ) NAK$ FI/S1 ) HATR$1
) DESIRE 6HURT1 6MAIM1 6DE/ROY4 ,ALL !
PA9;L1 ?\S& YE>S' GA9S ( MAN 9 8 UPW>D
CLIMB "? CRE,N 7 LO/4 ,ONLY ! ELECTRIC
LI<T REMA9$1 A MILE/"O ON ! PA? (! GRT
HUMAN
ADV5TURE4 ,M>T9 & ,*EESE-,FACE 7 TWO
SAVAGES1 (! /"O AGE1 (! SQUATT+ PLACE &!
TREE REFUGE4 ,!Y SANK L[] & L[] 96! MU4Y
ABYSS1 BACK 96! DREGS (! RAW 2G9N+S (
LIFE1 /RIV+ BLLY & *EMIC,Y1 Z ATOMS
/RIVE1 Z ! />-DU/ IF ! H1V5S /RIVES1
COLLID+1 RECOIL+1 & COLLID+ AG & ET]N,Y
AG4
  8,GOD6 ,WE >E ANIMALS6 ,BRUTE-B1/S60
,M>T9 MUTT]$ AL\D1 Z HE WAT*$ ! PROGRESS
(! FI<T4 ,X 0 6HM1 ) 8 SPL5DID P[] (
VI.N1 L GAZ+ 96A K9ETOSCOPE4 ,HE 0 BO?
ONLOOK] & "PICIPANT4 ,8 L;G MON?S (
CULTURE & REF9E;T %U4]$ AT ! SI<T2 !N !
PRES5T 0 BLOTT$ \ ( 8 3SCI\S;S &! <O/S
(! PA/ POSSESS$ HM1 & HE 0 ,M>T9 ,$51 J
RETURN$ F SEA & FI<T+ ,*EESE-,FACE ON !
,EI<? ,/REET ,BRIDGE4 ,HE SU6]$ & TOIL$
& SW1T$ & BL$1 & EXULT$ :5 8 NAK$
KNUCKLES SMA%$ HOME4
  ,!Y 7 TW9 :IRLW9DS ( HATR$1 REVOLV+ AB
EA* O!R MON/R\SLY4 ,! "T PASS$1 &! TWO
HO/ILE GANGS 2CAME V QUIET4 ,!Y _H N"E
WIT;S$ S* 9T5S;Y ( F]OC;Y1 & !Y 7 AW$
0X4 ,! TWO FI<T]S 7 GRT] BRUTES ?AN !Y4
,! F/ SPL5DID VELVET $GE ( Y\? & 3DI;N
WORE (F1 & !Y F"\ M CAUTI\SLY &
DELIB]ATELY4 ,"! _H BE5 NO ADVANTAGE
GA9$ EI WAY4 8,X'S ANYBODY'S FI<T10
,M>T9 HE>D "S "O SAY+4 ,!N HE FOLL[$ UP
A FE9T1 "R & LEFT1 0 FI]CELY C.T]$1 &
FELT 8 *EEK LAID OP5 6! B"O4 ,NO B>E
KNUCKLE _H D"O T4 ,HE HE>D MUTT]S (
AMAZE;T AT ! <A/LY DAMAGE WR"\1 & 0
DR5*$ ) 8 [N BLOOD4 ,B HE GAVE NO SIGN4
,HE 2CAME IMM5SELY W>Y1 = HE 0 WISE ) K
(! L[ CUNN+ & F\L VILE;S ( 8 K9D4 ,HE
WAT*$ & WAIT$1 UNTIL HE FEIGN$ A WILD
RU%1 : HE /OPP$ MIDWAY1 = HE _H SE5 !
GL9T ( METAL4
  8,HOLD UP Y] H&60 HE SCR1M$4 8,!M'S
BRASS KNUCKLES1 AN' Y HIT ME ) 'EM60
  ,BO? GANGS SURG$ =W>D1 GR[L+ & SN>L+4
,9 A SECOND "! WD 2 A FREE-=-ALL FI<T1 &
HE WD 2 RO2$ ( 8 V5GE.E4 ,HE 0 2S HMF4
  8,Y GUYS KEEP \60 HE SCR1M$ HO>SELY4
8,"U/&8 ,SAY1 D'YE "U/&80
  ,!Y %RANK AWAY F HM4 ,!Y 7 BRUTES1 B
HE 0 ! >*-BRUTE1 A ?+ ( T]ROR T T[]$ OV]
!M & DOM9AT$ !M4
  8,? IS MY SCRAP1 AN' !Y A9'T GO9' 6BE
NO BUTT9' IN4 ,GIMME !M KNUCKLES40
  ,*EESE-,FACE1 SOB]$ &A BIT F"R5$1
SURR5D]$ ! F\L W1PON4
  8,Y PASS$ ,8EM 6HM1 Y R$-H1D SN1K90' 9
2H ! PU% "!10 ,M>T9 W5T ON1 Z HE TOSS$ !
KNUCKLES 96! WAT]4 8,I SE5 Y1 AN' ,I 0
WOND]9' :AT Y 0 UP TO4 ,IF Y TRY ANY?+ L
T AG1 ,I'LL B1T *EH 6D1?4 ,"U/&80
  ,!Y F"\ ON1 "? EXHAUS;N & 2Y1
6EXHAUS;N IMM1SURA# & 9CONCEIVA#1 UNTIL
! CR[D ( BRUTES1 XS BLOOD-LU/ SAT$1
T]RIFI$ 0:AT X SAW1 BE7$ !M IM"PI,Y
6C1SE4 ,& ,*EESE-,FACE1 R1DY 6DROP &
DIE1 OR 6/AY ON 8 LEGS & DIE1 A GRISLY
MON/] \ ( ^: F1TURES ALL LIKE;S 6,*EESE-
,FACE _H BE5 B1T51 WAV]$ & HESITAT$2 B
,M>T9 SPRANG 9 & SMA%$ HM AG & AG4
  ,NEXT1 AF A SEEM+ C5TURY OR S1 )
,*EESE-,FACE W1K5+ FA/1 9 A MIX-UP (
BL[S "! 0 A L\D SNAP1 & ,M>T9'S "R >M
DROPP$ 6HIS SIDE4 ,X 0 A BROK5 B"O4
,"EYBODY HE>D X & KNEW2 & ,*EESE-,FACE
KNEW1 RU%+ L A TIG] 9 ! O!R'S EXTREM;Y &
RA9+ BL[ ON BL[4 ,M>T9'S GANG SURG$ =W>D
69T]F]E4 ,DAZ$ 0! RAPID SU3ES.N ( BL[S1
,M>T9 W>N$ !M BACK ) VILE & E>NE/ CURSES
SO2$ \ & GROAN$ 9 ULTIMATE DESOL,N &
DESPAIR4
  ,HE PUN*$ ON1 ) 8 LEFT H& ONLY1 & Z HE
PUN*$1 DO7$LY1 ONLY HALF-3SCI\S1 Z F A
REMOTE 4T.E HE HE>D MURMURS ( FE> 9 !
GANGS1 & "O :O SD ) %AK+ VOICE3 8,? A9'T
A SCRAP1 FELL[S4 ,X'S MURD]1 AN' WE "\
6/OP X40
  ,B NO "O /OPP$ X1 & HE 0 GLAD1 PUN*+
ON WE>ILY & 5D.SLY ) 8 "O >M1 BATT]+
AWAY AT A BLOODY "S?+ 2F HM T 0 N A FACE
B A HORROR1 AN OSCILLAT+1 HIDE\S1 GI2]+1
"N.S ?+ T P]SI/$ 2F 8 WAV]+ VI.N & WD N
G AWAY4 ,& HE PUN*$ ON & ON1 SL[] &
SL[]1 Z ! LA/ %R$S ( VITAL;Y OOZ$ F HM1
"? C5TURIES & AEONS & ENORM\S LAPSES (
"T1 UNTIL1 9 A DIM WAY1 HE 2CAME AW>E T
! "N.S ?+ 0 S9K+1 SL[LY S9K+ D[N 6! R\<
BO>D-PLANK+ (! BRIDGE4 ,&! NEXT MO;T HE
0 /&+ OV] X1 /A7]+ & SWAY+ ON %AKY LEGS1
CLUT*+ AT ! AIR = SUPPORT1 & SAY+ 9 A
VOICE HE DID N RECOGNIZE3-
  8,D'YE WANT ANY M8 ,SAY1 D'YE WANT ANY
M80
  ,HE 0 / SAY+ X1 OV] & OV]1 -- DEM&+1
5TR1T+1 ?R1T5+1 6"K IF X WANT$ ANY M1 --
:5 HE FELT ! FELL[S ( 8 GANG LAY+ H&S ON
HM1 PATT+ HM ON ! BACK & TRY+ 6PUT 8
COAT ON HM4 ,& !N CAME A SU45 RU% (
BLACK;S & OBLIVION4
  ,! T9 AL>M-CLOCK ON ! TA# TICK$ ON1 B
,M>T9 ,$51 8 FACE BURI$ ON 8 >MS1 DID N
HE> X4 ,HE HE>D NO?+4 ,HE DID N ?9K4 ,S
ABSOLUTELY _H HE RELIV$ LIFE T HE _H
FA9T$ J Z HE FA9T$ YE>S 2F ON ! ,EI<?
,/REET ,BRIDGE4 ,=A FULL M9UTE ! BLACK;S
&! BLANK;S 5DUR$4 ,!N1 L "O F ! D1D1 HE
SPRANG UP"R1 EYES FLAM+1 SW1T P\R+ D[N 8
FACE1 %\T+3-
  8,I LICK$ Y1 ,*EESE-,FACE6 ,X TOOK ME
ELEV5 YE>S1 B ,I LICK$ Y60
  ,8 KNEES 7 TREMBL+ "U HM1 HE FELT
FA9T1 & HE /A7]$ BACK 6! B$1 S9K+ D[N &
SITT+ ON ! $GE ( X4 ,HE 0 / 9 ! CLUT* (!
PA/4 ,HE LOOK$ AB ! ROOM1 P]PLEX$1
AL>M$1 WOND]+ ": HE WAS1 UNTIL HE CAU<T
SI<T (! PILE ( MANUSCRIPTS 9 ! CORN]4
,!N ! :EELS ( MEMORY SLIPP$ AH1D "? F\R
YE>S ( "T1 & HE 0 AW>E (! PRES5T1 (!
BOOKS HE _H OP5$ &! UNIV]SE HE _H WON F
_! PAGES1 ( 8 DR1MS & AMBI;NS1 &( 8 LOVE
=A PALE WRAI? (A GIRL1 S5SITIVE & %ELT]$
& E!R1L1 :O WD DIE ( HORROR DID %E WIT;S
B "O MO;T ( :AT HE _H J LIV$ "? -- "O
MO;T ( ALL ! MUCK ( LIFE "? : HE _H
WAD$4
  ,HE >OSE 6HIS FEET & 3FRONT$ HMF 9 !
LOOK+-GLASS4
  8,& S Y >ISE F ! MUD1 ,M>T9 ,$510 HE
SD SOLEMNLY4 8,& Y CL1NSE YR EYES 9 A
GRT B"R;S1 & ?RU/ YR %\LD]S AM;G ! />S1
DO+ :AT ALL LIFE HAS D"O1 LETT+ ! ,8APE
& TIG] DIE0' & WRE/+ HI<E/ H]ITAGE F ALL
P[]S T BE40
  ,HE LOOK$ M CLOSELY AT HMF & LAU<$4
  8,A BIT ( HY/]IA & MELODRAMA1 EH80 HE
QU]I$4 8,WELL1 N"E M9D4 ,Y LICK$ ,*EESE-
,FACE1 & Y'LL LICK ! $ITORS IF X TAKES
TWICE ELEV5 YE>S 6D X IN4 ,Y C'T /OP "H4
,Y'VE GOT 6G ON4 ,X'S 6A F9I%1 Y "K40