,,*APT] ,,XXXVI
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=EMA/1 ! =E & MA9 BOOMS1 &! =E & MA9
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!M BACK "U SAIL1 B ! W9D BA6L$1 !N DI$
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BOAT *ECK$ 9 XS =W>D LUNGE 0! H1VY DRAG
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  ,NI<T 2GAN 6FALL1 & 6MAKE MATT]S
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ISL& -- = LIFE EV54 ,IF X HAS N"E BE5
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PREP>$ 6BRAVE ! SEA4 ,WE H NO FOOD1 NO
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SURVIVE ! NI<T )\T BLANKETS3 ,I "K H[
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(! COLD ALW >\S$ ME4 ,H[ ,MAUD CD /& X 0
2Y ME4 ,I 0 TOO TIR$ 6?RA% MY >MS AB &
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! MORN+ %E 0 CAU<T 0A COLD CRAMP1 & AF
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LI<T = \R ISL&4 ,AT LA/ X %[$1 SMALL &
BLACK1 ON ! HORIZON1 FULLY FIFTE5 MILES
AWAY4 ,I SCANN$ ! SEA ) MY GLASSES4 ,F>
AWAY 9 ! S\?-WE/ ,I CD SEE A D>K L9E ON
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  8,FAIR W9D60 ,I CRI$ 9 A HUSKY VOICE
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ONLY 7 WE HUNGRY1 B WE 7 N[ SU6]+ F
?IR/4 ,\R LIPS 7 DRY & CRACK$1 NOR CD WE
L;G] MOI/5 !M ) \R T;GUES4 ,!N ! W9D
SL[LY DI$ D[N4 ,0NI<T X 0 D1D CALM & ,I
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6! HUT4
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DID1 = ,I AWOKE 6F9D ,MAUD COOK+ D9N]4
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PAT5T W1K;S4
  8,Y "K ,I 0 TRAVELL+ 6,JAPAN = MY
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0 N V /R;G4 ,I N"E WAS4 ,! DOCTORS
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X 0 GRAVE1 ,I 9/.ED 8 /ATE;T T HE 9T5D$
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5DUR$ PA9 2Y \R -PREH5.N4
  ,I NOTIC$ Z WE TALK$ OV] 8 3DI;N1 T
,MAUD'S SYMPA?Y W5T \ 6HM M & M2 YET ,I
CD N B LOVE H] = X1 S SWEETLY WOMANLY 0
X4 ,2SS1 "! 0 NO FALSE S5TI;T AB H]
FEEL+4 ,%E 0 AGRE$ T ! MO/ RIGOR\S
TR1T;T 0 NEC IF WE 7 6ESCAPE1 ?\< %E
RECOIL$ AT ! SU7ES;N T ,I MI<T "S "T 2
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[N10 %E PUT X4
  ,9 ! MORN+ WE _H BR1KFA/ & 7 AT "W
0"DLI<T4 ,I F.D A LI<T K$GE AN*OR 9 !
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RUNN+-L9E COIL$ D[N 9 ! /EM1 ,I R[$ WELL
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SMALL AN*OR -- TOO SMALL 6HOLD H] 9 ANY
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A3OMPLI%$ :AT AN ORD9>Y MA*9I/ WD H D"O
9 Z _M H\RS4 ,I _H 6LE>N MY TOOLS 62G9
)1 & E SIMPLE ME*ANICAL PR9CIPLE : S* A
MAN WD H AT 8 F+] 5DS ,I _H LIKEWISE
6LE>N4 ,& AT ! 5D ( ?REE "DS ,I _H A
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SATISFAC;N ! OLD W9DLASS _H GIV51 B X
"W$ & MADE MY "W POSSI#4
  ,9 HALF A "D ,I GOT ! TWO TOPMA/S
ABO>D &! %E>S RI7$ & GUY$ Z 2F4 ,& T
NI<T ,I SLEPT ON BO>D & ON DECK 2S MY
"W4 ,MAUD1 :O REFUS$ 6/AY AL"O A%ORE1
SLEPT 9 ! =ECA/LE4 ,WOLF ,L>S5 _H SAT
AB1 LI/5+ 6MY REPAIR+ ! W9DLASS & TALK+
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REF];E 0 MADE ON EI SIDE 6! DE/RUC;N (!
%E>S2 NOR DID HE SAY ANY?+ FUR!R AB MY
L1V+ 8 %IP AL"O4 ,B / ,I _H FE>$ HM1 BL
&
HELP.S & LI/5+1 ALW LI/5+1 & ,I N"E LET
8 /R;G >MS GET )9 R1* ( ME :ILE ,I "W$4
  ,ON ? NI<T1 SLEEP+ "U MY 2LOV$ %E>S1
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A />LI<T NI<T1 & ,I CD SEE ! BULK ( HM
DIMLY Z HE MOV$ AB4 ,I ROLL$ \ ( MY
BLANKETS & CREPT NOISE.SLY AF HM 9 MY
/OCK+ FEET4 ,HE _H >M$ HMF )A DRAW-KNIFE
F ! TOOL-LOCK]1 &) ? HE PREP>$ 6CUT ACR
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_H N MADE !M FA/4 ,? WD N D =A DRAW-
KNIFE1 S HE LAID HOLD (! RUNN+ "P1 HOVE
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)! DRAW-KNIFE4
  8,I WDN'T1 IF ,I 7 Y10 ,I SD QUIETLY4
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  8,HELLO1 ,HUMP10 HE SD4 8,I KNEW Y 7
"H ALL ! "T4 ,Y C'T FOOL MY E>S40
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  8,I'D R 4APPO9T Y10 HE LAU<$1 & TURN$
ON 8 HEEL & W5T AFT4
  8,"S?+ M/ 2 D"O1 ,HUMPHREY10 ,MAUD SD1
NEXT MORN+1 :5 ,I _H TOLD H] (! NI<T'S
O3URR;E4 8,IF HE HAS LIB]TY1 HE MAY D
ANY?+4 ,HE MAY S9K ! VESSEL1 OR SET FIRE
6X4 ,"! IS NO TELL+ :AT HE MAY D4 ,WE M/
MAKE HM A PRISON]40
  8,B H[80 ,I ASK$1 )A HELP.S %RUG4 8,I
D>E N -E )9 R1* ( 8 >MS1 & HE "KS T S
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HM40
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?9K40
  8,"! IS "O WAY10 ,I SD GRIMLY4
  ,%E WAIT$4
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  8,X WON'T KILL HM10 ,I SD4 8,& 2F HE
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,I F.D ! PO9T ( BAL.E 9 ! =EMA/ & ATTA*$
MY HOI/+ TACKLE A FEW FEET ABV X4 ,MAUD
HELD ! TURN ON ! W9DLASS & COIL$ D[N
:ILE ,I H1V$4 ,_H ! W9DLASS BE5 9 ORD] X
WD N H BE5 S DI6ICULT2 Z X WAS1 ,I 0
-PELL$ 6APPLY ALL MY WEI<T & /R5G? 6E 9*
(! H1V+4 ,I _H 6RE/ FREQU5TLY4 ,9 TRU?1
MY SPELLS ( RE/+ 7 L;G] ?AN ^? ( "W+4
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CD N BUDGE ! W9DLASS1 6HOLD ! TURN ) "O
H& &)! O!R 6?R[ ! WEI<T ( H] SLIM BODY
6MY ASSI/.E4
  ,AT ! 5D ( AN H\R ! S+LE & D\# BLOCKS
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:ILE ! TOP (! MA/ OV]HUNG ! WAT] F> 2Y !
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DESPAIR$ 9 ! OLD WAY4 ,I 0 ACQUIR+ M
3FID;E 9 MYF & M 3FID;E 9 !
POSSIBILITIES ( W9DLASSES1 %E>S1 & HOI/+
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  ,:ILE ,I 0 3SID]+ ! PRO#M1 ,WOLF ,L>S5
CAME ON DECK4 ,WE NOTIC$ "S?+ /RANGE AB
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8 MOVE;TS 0 M PRON\NC$4 ,8 WALK 0 ACTU,Y
TOTT]Y Z HE CAME D[N ! PORT SIDE (!
CAB94 ,AT ! BR1K (! POOP HE REEL$1 RAIS$
"O H& 6HIS EYES )! FAMILI> BRU%+ GE/URE1
& FELL D[N ! /EPS -- / ON 8 FEET -- 6!
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8 >MS = SUPPORT4 ,HE REGA9$ 8 BAL.E 0!
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DECK4
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  ,%E NO4$ H] H1D2 & ,I CD SEE SYMPA?Y
W>M 9 EYES4
  ,WE W5T UP 6HM1 B HE SEEM$ UNCONSCI\S1
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LIFT+ 8 H1D 6KEEP ! BLOOD \ ( X &
DESPAT*+ ME 6! CAB9 =A PILL[4 ,I AL BR"\
BLANKETS1 & WE MADE HM -=TA#4 ,I TOOK 8
PULSE4 ,X B1T /1DILY & /R;G1 & 0 Q
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SUSPICI\S4
  8,:AT IF HE %D 2 FEIGN+ ?80 ,I ASK$1 /
HOLD+ 8 WRI/4
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EYES4 ,B J !N ! WRI/ ,I HELD L1P$ F MY
H&1 &! H& CLASP$ L A /EEL TRAP AB MY
WRI/4 ,I CRI$ AL\D 9 AW;L FE>1 A WILD
9>TICULATE CRY2 & ,I CAU<T "O GLIMPSE (
8 FACE1 MALIGNANT & TRIUMPHANT1 Z 8 O!R
H& -PASS$ MY BODY & ,I 0 DRAWN D[N 6HM 9
A T]RI# GRIP4
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MOVE4 ,8 FREE H& W5T 6MY ?ROAT1 & 9 T
MO;T ,I KNEW ! BITT]E/ =ETA/E ( D1? E>N$
0"O'S [N IDIOCY4 ,:Y _H ,I TRU/$ MYF )9
R1* ( ^? T]RI# >MS8 ,I CD FEEL O!R H&S
AT MY ?ROAT4 ,!Y 7 ,MAUD'S H&S1 /RIV+
VA9LY 6TE> LOOSE ! H& T 0 ?ROTTL+ ME4
,%E GAVE X UP1 & ,I HE>D H] SCR1M 9 A
WAY T CUT ME 6! S\L1 = X 0 A WOMAN'S
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HE>D X 2F1 DUR+ ! S9K+ (! ,M>T9EZ4
  ,MY FACE 0 AG/ 8 *E/ & ,I CD N SEE1 B
,I HE>D ,MAUD TURN & RUN SWIFTLY AWAY
AL;G ! DECK4 ,"EY?+ 0 HAPP5+ QKLY4 ,I _H
N YET _H A GLIMM]+ ( UNCONSCI\S;S1 & X
SEEM$ T AN 9T]M9A# P]IOD ( "T 0 LAPS+ 2F
,I HE>D H] FEET FLY+ BACK4 ,& J !N ,I
FELT ! :OLE MAN S9K "U ME4 ,! BR1? 0
L1V+ 8 LUNGS & 8 *E/ 0 COLLAPS+ "U MY
WEI<T4 ,:E!R X 0 M]ELY ! EXPELL$ BR1?1
OR 8 3SCI\S;S ( 8 GR[+ IMPOT;E1 ,I "K N1
B 8 ?ROAT VIBRAT$ )A DEEP GROAN4 ,! H&
AT MY ?ROAT RELAX$4 ,I BR1!D4 ,X FLUTT]$
& TI<T5$ AG4 ,B EV5 8 TREM5D\S W CD N
OV]COME ! 4SOLU;N T ASSAIL$ X4 ,T W ( 8
0 BR1K+ D[N4 ,HE 0 FA9T+4
  ,MAUD'S FOOT/EPS 7 V NE> Z 8 H&
FLUTT]$ =! LA/ "T & MY ?ROAT 0 REL1S$4
,I ROLL$ (F & OV] 6! DECK ON MY BACK1
GASP+ & BL9K+ 9 ! SUN%9E4 ,MAUD 0 PALE B
-POS$1 -- MY EYES _H G"O 9/ANTLY 6H]
FACE1 -- & %E 0 LOOK+ AT ME ) M+L$ AL>M
& RELIEF4 ,A H1VY S1L-CLUB 9 H] H& CAU<T
MY EYES1 & AT T MO;T %E FOLL[$ MY GAZE
D[N 6X4 ,! CLUB DROPP$ F H] H& Z ?\< X
_H SU45LY /UNG H]1 & AT ! SAME MO;T MY
HE>T SURG$ )A GRT JOY4 ,TRULY %E 0 MY
WOMAN1 MY MATE-WOMAN1 FI<T+ ) ME &= ME Z
! MATE (A CAVEMAN WD H F"\1 ALL !
PRIMITIVE 9 H] >\S$1 =GET;L ( H]
CULTURE1 H>D "U ! S(T5+ CIVILIZ,N (!
ONLY LIFE %E _H "E "KN4
  8,DE> WOMAN60 ,I CRI$1 SCRAMBL+ 6MY
FEET4
  ,! NEXT MO;T %E 0 9 MY >MS1 WEEP+
3VULSIVELY ON MY %\LD] :ILE ,I CLASP$ H]
CLOSE4 ,I LOOK$ D[N AT ! BR[N GLORY ( H]
HAIR1 GL9T+ GEMS 9 ! SUN%9E F> M PRECI\S
6ME ?AN ^? 9 ! TR1SURE-*E/S ( K+S4 ,& ,I
B5T MY H1D & KISS$ H] HAIR S(TLY1 S
S(TLY T %E DID N "K4
  ,!N SOB] ?"\ CAME 6ME4 ,AF ALL1 %E 0
ONLY A WOMAN1 CRY+ H] RELIEF1 N[ T !
DANG] 0 PA/1 9 ! >MS ( H] PROTECTOR OR
(! "O :O _H BE5 5DANG]$4 ,_H ,I BE5 "F
OR BRO!R1 ! SITU,N WD H BE5 9 NOWISE
DI6]5T4 ,2SS1 "T & PLACE 7 N MEET1 & ,I
WI%$ 6E>N A BETT] "R 6DCL MY LOVE4 ,S
ONCE AG ,I S(TLY KISS$ H] HAIR Z ,I FELT
H] REC$+ F MY CLASP4
  8,X 0 A R1L ATTACK ? "T10 ,I SD3
8ANO!R %OCK L ! "O T MADE HM BL4 ,HE
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  ,MAUD 0 ALR RE>RANG+ 8 PILL[4
  8,NO10 ,I SD1 8N YET4 ,N[ T ,I H HM
HELP.S1 HELP.S HE % REMA94 ,F ? "D WE
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