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  ,,HE 0 A "Y MAN1 N M ?AN TW5TY-F\R OR
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GRACE ( 8 Y\? _H HE N BE5 S CATLIKE &
T5SE4 ,8 BLACK EYES ROV$ "EY":1 CAT*+ !
MOVE;TS ( TWIGS & BRAN*ES ": SMALL BIRDS
HOPP$1 QUE/+ "E ONW>D "? ! *ANG+ VI/AS (
TREES & BRU%1 & RETURN+ ALW 6! CLUMPS (
"UGR[? ON EI SIDE4 ,& Z HE WAT*$1 S DID
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S.D+ MONOTON\SLY 9 8 E>S = H\RS1 & ONLY
XS CESS,N CD H >\S$ 8 NOTICE4 ,= HE _H
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BAL.ED A C>B9E4
  ,S T5SELY 0 HE /RUNG1 T A BUN* (
QUAIL1 EXPLOD+ 96FLI<T F "U 8 HORSE'S
NOSE1 />TL$ HM 6S* AN EXT5T T
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! SW1T /UNG 8 EYES UNWIP$1 & UNHE$$
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6APPREH5D T = : HE 0 LOOK+4 ,HE 0 NO
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MATT$ V9ES & KEEP+ A WAT*;L EYE ON !
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,"H ! "* (! WOODS *ANG$1 & HE 0 A#
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_H PA/UR$ 9 ! "DS 2F W> _H RUN !M (F4
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HE HALT$ AT AN ANCI5T RAIL F;E ON ! $GE
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PA? LAY ACR 6! FR+E ( TREES T M>K$ !
BANKS (! /R1M4 ,X 0 A M]E QU>T] (A MILE
ACR T OP51 B ! ?"\ ( V5TUR+ \ 9 X 0
REPUGNANT4 ,A RIFLE1 A SCORE ( !M1 A
?\S&1 MI<T LURK 9 T FR+E 0! /R1M4
  ,TWICE HE ESSAY$ 6/>T1 & TWICE HE
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PULSE ( W> T B1T F ! ,WE/ SU7E/$ !
-PANION%IP ( BATTL+ ?\S&S2 "H 0 NAU<T B
SIL;E1 & HMF1 & POSSI# D1?-D1L+ BULLETS
F A MYRIAD AMBU%ES4 ,& YET 8 TASK 0 6F9D
:AT HE FE>$ 6F9D4 ,HE M/ ON1 & ON1 TILL
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M51 F ! O!R SIDE1 SC\T+1 Z HE 0 SC\T+1
6MAKE REPORT1 Z HE M/ MAKE REPORT1 (
HAV+ -E 9 T\*4
  ,*ANG+ 8 M9D1 HE SKIRT$ 9SIDE ! WOODS
=A 4T.E1 & AG PEEP$ =?4 ,? "T1 9 ! MI4LE
(! CLE>+1 HE SAW A SMALL F>MH\SE4 ,"! 7
NO SIGNS ( LIFE4 ,NO SMOKE CURL$ F !
*IMNEY1 N A B>NY>D F[L CLUCK$ & /RUTT$4
,! KIT*5 DOOR /OOD OP51 & HE GAZ$ S L;G
& H>D 96! BLACK AP]TURE T X SEEM$ ALM T
A F>M]'S WIFE M/ EM]GE AT ANY MO;T4
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/I65$ HMF1 M9D & BODY1 & RODE \ 96!
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PA/ ! H\SE1 & APPROA*$ ! WALL ( TREES &
BU%ES 0! RIV]'S BANK4 ,"O ?"\ P]SI/$
MA45+LY4 ,X 0 (! CRA% 96HIS BODY (A HI<-
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FRAGILE & DEF5SE.S1 & HE CR\*$ L[] 9 !
SA4LE4
  ,TE!R+ 8 HORSE 9 ! $GE (! WOOD1 HE
3T9U$ A HUNDR$ Y>DS ON FOOT TILL HE CAME
6! /R1M4 ,TW5TY FEET
WIDE X WAS1 )\T P]CEPTI# CURR5T1 COOL &
9VIT+1 & HE 0 V ?IR/Y4 ,B HE WAIT$ 9SIDE
8 SCRE5 ( L1FAGE1 8 EYES FIX$ ON ! SCRE5
ON ! OPPOSITE SIDE4 ,6MAKE ! WAIT
5DURA#1 HE SAT D[N1 8 C>B9E RE/+ ON 8
KNEES4 ,! M9UTES PASS$1 & SL[LY 8 T5SE;S
RELAX$4 ,AT LA/ HE DECID$ "! 0 NO DANG]2
B J Z HE PREP>$ 6"P ! BU%ES & B5D D[N 6!
WAT]1 A MOVE;T AM;G ! OPPOSITE BU%ES
CAU<T 8 EYE4
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BLUE & WIDE A"P1 ) LAU<T]-WR9KLES 9 !
-]S T %[$ DESPITE ! TIR$ & ANXI\S
EXPRES.N (! :OLE FACE4
  ,ALL ? HE CD SEE ) MICROSCOPIC CLE>;S1
=! 4T.E 0 NO M ?AN TW5TY FEET4 ,& ALL ?
HE SAW 9 S* BRIEF "T1 T HE SAW X Z HE
LIFT$ 8 C>B9E 6HIS %\LD]4 ,HE GL.ED AL;G
! SI<TS1 & KNEW T HE 0 GAZ+ ^U A MAN :O
0 Z GD Z D1D4 ,X 0 IMPOSSI# 6MISS AT S*
PO9T BLANK RANGE4
  ,B HE DID N %OOT4 ,SL[LY HE L[]$ !
C>B9E & WAT*$4 ,A H&1 CLUT*+ A WAT]-
BOTTLE1 2CAME VISI# &! G+] BE>D B5T
D[NW>D 6FILL ! BOTTLE4 ,HE CD HE> !
GURGLE (! WAT]4 ,!N >M & BOTTLE & G+]
BE>D 4APPE>$ 2H ! CLOS+ BU%ES4 ,A L;G "T
HE WAIT$1 :51 ) ?IR/ UNSLAK$1 HE CREPT
BACK 6HIS HORSE1 RODE SL[LY ACR ! SUN-
WA%$ CLE>+1 & PASS$ 96! %ELT] (! WOODS
2Y4

    ,,II
  ,ANO!R "D1 HOT & BR1?.S4 ,A DES]T$
F>MH\SE1 L>GE1 ) _M \TBUILD+S & AN
OR*>D1 /&+ 9 A CLE>+4 ,F ! ,WOODS1 ON A
ROAN HORSE1 C>B9E ACR POMMEL1 RODE ! "Y
MAN )! QK BLACK EYES4 ,HE BR1!D ) RELIEF
Z HE GA9$ ! H\SE4 ,T A FI<T _H TAK5
PLACE "H E>LI] 9 ! S1SON 0 EVID5T4
,CLIPS & EMPTY C>TRIDGES1 T>NI%$ )
V]DIGRIS1 LAY ON ! GR.D1 :1 :ILE WET1 _H
BE5 TORN UP 0! HO(S ( HORSES4 ,H>D 0!
KIT*5 G>D5 7 GRAVES1 TA7$ & NUMB]$4 ,F !
OAK TREE 0! KIT*5 DOOR1 9 TATT]$1
W1!RB1T5 G>;TS1 HUNG ! BODIES ( TWO M54
,! FACES1 %RIVEL$ & DEFAC$1 BORE NO
LIKE;S 6! FACES ( M54 ,! ROAN HORSE
SNORT$ 2N !M1 &! RID] C>ESS$ & SOO!D X &
TI$ X F>!R AWAY4
  ,5T]+ ! H\SE1 HE F.D ! 9T]IOR A WRECK4
,HE TROD ON EMPTY C>TRIDGES Z HE WALK$ F
ROOM 6ROOM 6RECONNOIT] F ! W9D[S4 ,M5 _H
CAMP$ & SLEPT "EY":1 & ON ! FLOOR ( "O
ROOM HE CAME ^U /A9S UNMISTAKA# ": !
W.D$ _H BE5 LAID D[N4
  ,AG \TSIDE1 HE L$ ! HORSE >.D 2H ! B>N
& 9VAD$ ! OR*>D4 ,A DOZ5 TREES 7 BURD5$
) RIPE APPLES4 ,HE FILL$ 8 POCKETS1 EAT+
:ILE HE PICK$4 ,!N A ?"\ CAME 6HM1 & HE
GL.ED AT ! SUN1 CALCULAT+ ! "T ( 8
RETURN 6CAMP4 ,HE PULL$ (F 8 %IRT1 TY+ !
SLEEVES & MAK+ A BAG4 ,? HE PROCE$$
6FILL ) APPLES4
  ,Z HE 0 AB 6M.T 8 HORSE1 ! ANIMAL
SU45LY PRICK$ UP XS E>S4 ,! MAN1 TOO1
LI/5$1 & HE>D1 FA9TLY1 ! ?UD ( HO(S ON
S(T E>?4 ,HE CREPT 6! CORN] (! B>N &
PE]$ \4 ,A DOZ5 M.T$ M51 /RUNG \
LOOSELY1 APPROA*+ F ! OPPOSITE SIDE (!
CLE>+1 7 ONLY A MATT] (A HUNDR$ Y>DS OR
S AWAY4 ,!Y RODE ON 6! H\SE4 ,"S 4M.T$1
:ILE O!RS REMA9$ 9 ! SA4LE Z AN E>NE/ T
_! /AY WD 2 %ORT4 ,!Y SEEM$ 6BE HOLD+ A
C\NCIL1 = HE CD HE> !M TALK+ EXCIT$LY 9
! DETE/$ T;GUE (! ALI5 9VAD]4 ,! "T
PASS$1 B !Y SEEM$ UNA# 6R1* A DECI.N4
,HE PUT ! C>B9E AWAY 9 XS BOOT1 M.T$1 &
WAIT$ IMPATI5TLY1 BALANC+ ! %IRT (
APPLES ON ! POMMEL4
  ,HE HE>D FOOT/EPS APPROA*+1 & DROVE 8
SPURS S FI]CELY 96! ROAN Z 6=CE A
SURPRIS$ GROAN F ! ANIMAL Z X L1P$ =W>D4
,AT ! -] (! B>N HE SAW ! 9TRUD]1 A M]E
BOY ( N9ETE5 OR TW5TY = ALL ( 8 UNI=M
JUMP BACK 6ESCAPE 2+ RUN D[N4 ,AT ! SAME
MO;T ! ROAN SW]V$ & XS RID] CAU<T A
GLIMPSE (! >\S$ M5 0! H\SE4 ,"S 7 SPR++
F _! HORSES1 & HE CD SEE ! RIFLES GO+
6_! %\LD]S4 ,HE PASS$ ! KIT*5 DOOR &!
DRI$ CORPSES SW++ 9 ! %ADE1 -PELL+ 8
FOES 6RUN >.D ! FRONT (! H\SE4 ,A RIFLE
CRACK$1 &A SECOND1 B HE 0 GO+ FA/1 L1N+
=W>D1 L[ 9 ! SA4LE1 "O H& CLUT*+ ! %IRT
( APPLES1 ! O!R GUID+ ! HORSE4
  ,! TOP B> (! F;E 0 F\R FEET HI<1 B HE
KNEW 8 ROAN & L1P$ X AT FULL C>E] 6!
A3OMPANI;T ( S"EAL SCATT]$ %OTS4 ,EI<T
HUNDR$ Y>DS /RAI<T AWAY 7 ! WOODS1 &!
ROAN 0 COV]+ ! 4T.E ) MI<TY /RIDES4 ,E
MAN 0 N[ FIR+4 PUMP+ _! GUNS S RAPIDLY T
HE NO L;G] HE>D 9DIVIDUAL %OTS4 ,A
BULLET W5T "? 8 HAT1 B HE 0 UNAW>E1 ?\<
HE DID "K :5 ANO!R TORE "? ! APPLES ON !
POMMEL4 ,& HE W9C$
& DUCK$ EV5 L[] :5 A ?IRD BULLET1 FIR$
L[1 /RUCK A /"O 2T 8 HORSE'S LEGS &
RICO*ETT$ (F "? ! AIR1 BUZZ+ & HUMM+ L
"S 9CR$I# 9SECT4
  ,! %OTS DI$ D[N Z ! MAGAZ9ES 7 EMPTI$1
UNTIL1 QKLY1 "! 0 NO M %OOT+4 ,! "Y MAN
0 ELAT$4 ,"? T A/ONI%+ FUSILLADE HE _H
-E UNSCA!D4 ,HE GL.ED BACK4 ,YES1 !Y _H
EMPTI$ _! MAGAZ9ES4 ,HE CD SEE S"EAL
RELOAD+4 ,O!RS 7 RUNN+ BACK 2H ! H\SE =
_! HORSES4 ,Z HE LOOK$1 TWO ALR M.T$1
CAME BACK 96VIEW >.D ! -]1 RID+ H>D4 ,&
AT ! SAME MO;T1 HE SAW ! MAN )!
UNMISTAKA# G+] BE>D KNEEL D[N ON ! GR.D1
LEVEL 8 GUN1 & COOLLY TAKE 8 "T =! L;G
%OT4
  ,! "Y MAN ?REW 8 SPURS 96! HORSE1
CR\*$ V L[1 & SW]V$ 9 8 FLI<T 9 ORD]
64TRACT ! O!R'S AIM4 ,& / ! %OT DID N
-E4 ,) EA* JUMP (! HORSE1 ! WOODS SPRANG
NE>]4 ,!Y 7 ONLY TWO HUNDR$ Y>DS AWAY &
/ ! %OT 0 DELAY$4
  ,& !N HE HE>D X1 ! LA/ ?+ HE 0 6HE>1 =
HE 0 D1D ]E HE HIT ! GR.D 9 ! L;G CRA%+
FALL F ! SA4LE4 ,& !Y1 WAT*+ AT ! H\SE1
SAW HM FALL1 SAW 8 BODY B\NCE :5 X /RUCK
! E>?1 & SAW ! BUR/ ( R$-*EEK$ APPLES T
ROLL$ AB HM4 ,!Y LAU<$ AT ! UNEXPECT$
ERUP;N ( APPLES1 & CLAPP$ _! H&S 9
APPLAUSE (! L;G %OT 0! MAN )! G+] BE>D4