,,*APT] ,,III
     ,I ,,MAKE ,,ACQUA9T.E ,,( ,,MY
                ,,UNCLE

  ,PRES5TLY "! CAME A GRT RATTL+ ( *A9S
& BOLTS1 &! DOOR 0 CAUTI\SLY OP5$ & %UT
6AG 2H ME Z SOON Z ,I _H PASS$4
  8,G 96! KIT*5 & T\* NAE?+10 SD !
VOICE2 & :ILE ! P]SON (! H\SE SET HMF
6REPLAC+ ! DEF;ES (! DOOR1 ,I GROP$ MY
WAY =W>D & 5T]$ ! KIT*54
  ,! FIRE _H BURN$ UP FAIRLY B"R1 & %[$
ME ! B>E/ ROOM ,I ?9K ,I "E PUT MY EYES
ON4 ,HALF-A-DOZ5 DI%ES /OOD ^U ! %ELVES2
! TA# 0 LAID = SUPP] )A B[L ( PORRIDGE1
A HORN SPOON1 &A CUP ( SMALL BE]4 ,2SS
:AT ,I H "ND1 "! 0 N ANO!R ?+ 9 T GRT1
/"O-VAULT$1 EMPTY *AMB] B LOCKFA/ *E/S
>RANG$ AL;G ! WALL &A CORN] CUPBO>D )A
PADLOCK4
  ,Z SOON Z ! LA/ *A9 0 UP1 ! MAN REJO9$
ME4 ,HE 0 A M1N1 /OOP+1 N>R[-%\LD]$1
CLAY-FAC$ CR1TURE2 & 8 AGE MI<T H BE5
ANY?+ 2T FIFTY & SEV5TY4 ,8 NI<TCAP 0 (
FLANNEL1 & S 0 ! NI<TG[N T HE WORE1 9/1D
( COAT & WAI/COAT1 OV] 8 RA7$ %IRT4 ,HE
0 L;G UN%AV$2 B :AT MO/ 4TRESS$ & EV5
DAUNT$ ME1 HE WD NEI TAKE 8 EYES AWAY F
ME NOR LOOK ME FAIRLY 9 ! FACE4 ,:AT HE
WAS1 :E!R 0TRADE OR BIR?1 0 M ?AN ,I CD
FA?OM2 B HE SEEM$ MO/ L AN OLD1
UNPR(ITA# S]V+-MAN1 :O %D H BE5 LEFT 9
*>GE ( T BIG H\SE ^U BO>D WAGES4
  8,>E YE %>P-SET80 HE ASK$1 GLANC+ AT
AB ! LEVEL ( MY KNEE4 8,YE C EAT T DROP
P>RIT*80
  ,I SD ,I FE>$ X 0 8 [N SUPP]4
  ;,O1 SD HE1 8,I C D F9E WANT+ X4 ,I'LL
TAKE ! ALE1 ?\<1 = X SLOCK5S ,7MOI/5S7'
MY C\<40 ,HE DRANK ! CUP AB HALF \1 /
KEEP+ AN EYE ^U ME Z HE DRANK2 & !N
SU45LY HELD \ 8 H&4 8,LET'S SEE ! LR10
SD HE4
  ,I TOLD HM ! LR 0 = ,MR4 ,BALF\R2 N =
HM4
  8,& :O D YE ?9K ,I AM80 SAYS HE4
8,GIVE ME ,ALEX&]'S LR40
  8,Y "K MY "F'S "N80
  8,X WD 2 /RANGE IF ,I DIDNAE10 HE
RETURN$1 8= HE 0 MY BORN BRO!R2 & LL Z
YE SEEM 6L EI ME OR MY H\SE1 OR MY GD
P>RIT*1 ,I'M YR BORN UNCLE1 ,DAVIE1 MY
MAN1 & Y MY BORN NEPHEW4 ,S GIVE U ! LR1
& SIT D[N & FILL YR KYTE40
  ,IF ,I _H BE5 "S YE>S "Y]1 :AT ) %AME1
WE>I;S1 & 4APPO9T;T1 ,I 2LIEVE ,I _H
BUR/ 96TE>S4 ,Z X WAS1 ,I CD F9D NO ^WS1
NEI BLACK NOR :ITE1 B H&$ HM ! LR1 & SAT
D[N 6! PORRIDGE ) Z LL APPETITE = M1T Z
"E A "Y MAN _H4
  ,M1N:ILE1 MY UNCLE1 /OOP+ OV] ! FIRE1
TURN$ ! LR OV] & OV] 9 8 H&S4
  8,D YE K5 :AT'S 9 X80 HE ASK$1 SU45LY4
8,Y SEE = YRF1 SIR10 SD ,I1 8T ! S1L HAS
N BE5 BROK540
  8,AY10 SD HE1 8B :AT BR"\ Y "H80
  8,6GIVE ! LR10 SD ,I4
  8,NO10 SAYS HE1 CUNN+LY1 8B YE'LL H _H
"S HOPES1 NAE D\BT80
  8,I 3FESS1 SIR10 SD ,I1 8:5 ,I 0 TOLD
T ,I _H K9SFOLK WELL-TO-D1 ,I DID 9DE$
9DULGE ! HOPE T !Y MI<T HELP ME 9 MY
LIFE4 ,B ,I AM NO BE7>2 ,I LOOK = NO
FAV\RS AT YR H&S1 & ,I WANT N"O T >E N
FREELY GIV54 ,= Z POOR Z ,I APPE>1 ,I H
FRS ( MY [N T W 2 BLI! 6HELP ME40
  8,HOOT-TOOT60 SD ,UNCLE ,EB5EZ]1
8D9NAE FLY UP 9 ! SNUFF AT ME4 ,WE'LL
AGREE F9E YET4 ,&1 ,DAVIE1 MY MAN1 IF
Y'RE D"O ) T BIT P>RIT*1 ,I CD J TAKE A
SUP ( X MYF4 ,AY10 HE 3T9U$1 Z SOON Z HE
_H \/$ ME F ! /OOL & SPOON1 8!Y'RE F9E1
HALE"S FOOD--!Y'RE GR& FOOD1 P>RIT*40
,HE MURMUR$ A LL GRACE 6HMF & FELL TO4
8,YR "F 0 V FOND ( 8 M1T1 ,I M9D2 HE 0 A
HE>TY1 IF N A GRT EAT]2 B Z = ME1 ,I CD
N"E D MAIR ?AN PYKE AT FOOD40 ,HE TOOK A
PULL AT ! SMALL BE]1 : PROBABLY REM9D$
HM ( HOSPITA# DUTIES1 = 8 NEXT SPEE* RAN
?US3 8,IF YE'RE DRY YE'LL F9D WAT] 2H !
DOOR40
  ,6? ,I RETURN$ NO ANSW]1 /&+ /I6LY ON
MY TWO FEET1 & LOOK+ D[N ^U MY UNCLE )A
MI<TY ANGRY HE>T4 ,HE1 ON 8 "P1 3T9U$
6EAT L A MAN "U "S PRESSURE ( "T1 & 6?R[
\ LL D>T+ GL.ES N[ AT MY %OES & N[ AT MY
HOME-SPUN /OCK+S4 ,ONCE ONLY1 :5 HE _H
V5TUR$ 6LOOK A LL HI<]1 \R EYES MET2 &
NO ?IEF TAK5 )A H& 9 A MAN'S POCKET CD H
%[N M LIVELY SIGNALS ( 4TRESS4 ,? SET ME
9 A MUSE1 :E!R 8 TIMID;Y >OSE F TOO L;G
A 4USE ( ANY HUMAN -PANY2 & :E!R P]H1 ^U
A LL TRIAL1 X MI<T PASS (F1 & MY UNCLE
*ANGE 96AN ALT DI6]5T MAN4 ,F ? ,I 0
AWAK5$ 0HIS %>P VOICE4
  8,YR "F'S BE5 L;G D1D80 HE ASK$40
  ,?REE WEEKS1 SIR10 SD ,I4
  8,HE 0 A SECRET MAN1 ,ALEX&]--A
SECRET1 SIL5T MAN10 HE 3T9U$4 8,HE N"E
SD MUCKLE :5 HE 0 "Y4 ,HE'LL N"E H SPOK5
MUCKLE ( ME80
  8,I N"E KNEW1 SIR1 TILL Y TOLD X ME
YRF1 T HE _H ANY BRO!R40
  8,DE> ME1 DE> ME60 SD ,EB5EZ]4 8,NOR
YET ( ,%AWS1 ,I D>E SAY80
  8,N S M* Z ! "N1 SIR10 SD ,I4
  8,6?9K O' T60 SD HE4 8,A /RANGE NATURE
(A MAN60 ,= ALL T1 HE SEEM$ S+UL>LY
SATISFI$1 B :E!R ) HMF1 OR ME1 OR ) ?
3DUCT ( MY "F'S1 0 M ?AN ,I CD R1D4
,C]TA9LY1 H["E1 HE SEEM$ 6BE \TGR[+ T
4TA/E1 OR ILL-W1 T HE _H 3CVD AT F/ AG/
MY P]SON2 = PRES5TLY HE JUMP$ UP1 CAME
ACR ! ROOM 2H ME1 & HIT ME A SMACK ^U !
%\LD]4 8,WE'LL AGREE F9E YET60 HE CRI$4
8,I'M J Z GLAD ,I LET Y IN4 ,& N[ -E
AWA0' 6YR B$40
  ,6MY SURPRISE1 HE LIT NO LAMP OR C&LE1
B SET =? 96! D>K PASSAGE1 GROP$ 8 WAY1
BR1?+ DEEPLY1 UP A FLI<T ( /EPS1 & PAUS$
2F A DOOR1 : HE UNLOCK$4 ,I 0 CLOSE ^U 8
HEELS1 HAV+ /UM#D AF HM Z BE/ ,I MI<T2 &
!N HE BADE ME G IN1 = T 0 MY *AMB]4 ,I
DID Z HE BID1 B PAUS$ AF A FEW /EPS1 &
BE7$ A LI<T 6G 6B$ )4
  8,HOOT-TOOT40 SD ,UNCLE ,EB5EZ]1 8"!'S
A F9E MOON40
  8,NEI MOON NOR />1 SIR1 & PIT-MIRK10
,7D>K Z ! PIT7' SD ,I4 8,I CANNAE SEE !
B$40
  8,HOOT-TOOT1 HOOT-TOOT60 SD HE4
8,LI<TS 9 A H\SE IS A ?+ ,I D9NAE AGREE
)4 ,I'M UNCO FE>$ ( FIRES4 ,GD-NI<T 6YE1
,DAVIE1 MY MAN40 ,& 2F ,I _H "T 6ADD A
FUR!R PROTE/1 HE PULL$ ! DOOR TO1 & ,I
HE>D HM LOCK ME 9 F ! \TSIDE4
  ,I DID N "K :E!R 6LAU< OR CRY4 ,! ROOM
0 Z COLD Z A WELL1 &! B$1 :5 ,I _H F.D
MY WAY 6X1 Z DAMP Z A P1T-HAG2 B 0GD
=TUNE ,I _H CAU<T UP MY BUNDLE & MY
PLAID1 & ROLL+ MYF 9 ! LATT]1 ,I LAY D[N
^U ! FLOOR "U LEE (! BIG B$/1D1 & FELL
SPE$ILY ASLEEP4
  ,)! F/ PEEP ( "D ,I OP5$ MY EYES1 6F9D
MYF 9 A GRT *AMB]1 HUNG ) /AMP$ L1!R1
FURNI%$ ) F9E EMBROID]$ FURNITURE1 & LIT
0?REE FAIR W9D[S4 ,T5 YE>S AGO1 OR P]H
TW5TY1 X M/ H BE5 Z PL1SANT A ROOM 6LIE
D[N OR 6AWAKE 9 Z A MAN CD WI%2 B DAMP1
DIRT1 4USE1 &! MICE & SPID]S _H D"O _!
WOR/ S9CE !N4 ,_M (! W9D[-PANES1 2SS1 7
BROK52 & 9DE$ ? 0 S -MON A F1TURE 9 T
H\SE1 T ,I 2LIEVE MY UNCLE M/ AT "S "T H
/OOD A SIEGE F 8 9DIGNANT NEI<B\RS P]H )
,J5NET ,CL\/ON AT _! H1D4
  ,M1N:ILE ! SUN 0 %9+ \TSIDE2 & 2+ V
COLD 9 T MIS]A# ROOM1 ,I KNOCK$ & %\T$
TILL MY GAOL] CAME & LET ME \4 ,HE C>RI$
ME 6! BACK (! H\SE1 ": 0 A DRAW-WELL1 &
TOLD ME TO 8WA% MY FACE "!1 IF ,I
WANT$20 & :5 T 0 D"O1 ,I MADE ! BE/ ( MY
[N WAY BACK 6! KIT*51 ": HE _H LIT !
FIRE & 0 MAK+ ! PORRIDGE4 ,! TA# 0 LAID
) TWO B[LS & TWO HORN SPOONS1 B ! SAME
S+LE M1SURE ( SMALL BE]4 ,P]H MY EYE
RE/$ ON ? "PICUL> ) "S SURPRISE1 & P]H
MY UNCLE OBS]V$ X2 = HE SPOKE UP Z IF 9
ANSW] 6MY ?"\1 ASK+ ME IF ,I WD L 6DR9K
ALE--= S HE CALL$ X4
  ,I TOLD HM S* 0 MY HABIT1 B N 6PUT HMF
AB4 8,NA1 NA10 SD HE2 8,I'LL D5Y Y NO?+
9 R1SON40
  ,HE FET*$ ANO!R CUP F ! %ELF2 & !N1
6MY GRT SURPRISE1 9/1D ( DRAW+ M BE]1 HE
P\R$ AN A3URATE HALF F "O CUP 6! O!R4
,"! 0 A K9D ( NO#;S 9 ? T TOOK MY BR1?
AWAY2 IF MY UNCLE 0 C]TA9LY A MIS]1 HE 0
"O ( T ?OR\< BRE$ T GOES NE> 6MAKE !
VICE RESPECTA#4
  ,:5 WE _H MADE AN 5D ( \R M1L1 MY
UNCLE ,EB5EZ] UNLOCK$ A DRAW]1 & DREW \
( X A CLAY PIPE &A LUMP ( TOBA3O1 F : HE
CUT "O FILL 2F HE LOCK$ X UP AG4 ,!N HE
SAT D[N 9 ! SUN AT "O (! W9D[S & SIL5TLY
SMOK$4 ,F "T 6"T 8 EYES CAME COA/+ R.D
6ME1 & HE %OT \ "O ( 8 "QS4 ,ONCE X WAS1
8,& YR "M80 & :5 ,I _H TOLD HM T %E1
TOO1 0 D1D1 8,AY1 %E 0 A BONNIE LASSIE60
,!N1 AF ANO!R L;G PAUSE1 8,:AE 7 ^! FRS
O' YRS80
  ,I TOLD HM !Y 7 DI6]5T G5TLEM5 (! "N (
,CAMPBELL2 ?\<1 9DE$1 "! 0 ONLY "O1 & T
! M9I/]1 T _H "E TAK5 ! L1/ NOTE ( ME2 B
,I 2GAN 6?9K MY UNCLE MADE TOO LI<T ( MY
POSI;N1 & F9D+ MYF ALL AL"O ) HM1 ,I DID
N WI% HM 6SUPPOSE ME HELP.S4
  ,HE SEEM$ 6TURN ? OV] 9 8 M9D2 & !N1
8,DAVIE1 MY MAN10 SD HE1 8YE'VE -E 6! "R
BIT :5 YE CAME 6YR UNCLE ,EB5EZ]4 ,I'VE
A GRT NO;N (! FAMILY1 & ,I M1N 6D ! "R
0Y2 B :ILE ,I'M TAK+ A BIT ?9K 6MYSEL0'
( :AT'S ! BE/ ?+ 6PUT Y TO--:E!R ! LAW1
OR ! ME5I/RY1 OR MAYBE ! >MY1 :ILK IS
:AT BOYS >E FONDE/ (--,I WDNAE L !
,BALF\RS 6BE HUM#D 2F A :E5 ,HIEL&
,CAMPBELLS1 & ,I'LL ASK Y 6KEEP YR T;GUE
)9 YR TEE?4 ,NAE LRS2 NAE MESSAGES2 NO
K9D ( ^W 6ONYBODY2 OR ELSE--"!'S MY
DOOR40
  8,UNCLE ,EB5EZ]10 SD ,I1 8,I'VE NO
MANN] ( R1SON 6SUPPOSE Y M1N ANY?+ B
WELL 0ME4 ,= ALL T1 ,I WD H Y 6"K T ,I H
A PRIDE ( MY [N4 ,X 0 0NO W ( M9E T ,I
CAME SEEK+ Y2 & IF Y %[ ME YR DOOR AG1
,I'LL TAKE Y AT ! ^W40
  ,HE SEEM$ GRIEV\SLY PUT \4 8,HOOTS-
TOOTS10 SD HE1 8CA0' CANNIE1 MAN--CA0'
CANNIE6 ,BIDE A "D OR TWO4 ,I'M NAE
W>LOCK1 6F9D A =TUNE = Y 9 ! BOTTOM (A
P>RIT* B[L2 B J Y GIVE ME A "D OR TWO1 &
SAY NAE?+ 6NAEBODY1 & Z SURE Z SURE1
,I'LL D ! "R 0Y40
  8,V WELL10 SD ,I1 85\< SD4 ,IF Y WANT
6HELP ME1 "!'S NO D\BT B ,I'LL 2 GLAD (
X1 & N"O B ,I'LL 2 GRATE;L40
  ,X SEEM$ 6ME 7TOO SOON1 ,I D>E SAY7 T
,I 0 GETT+ ! UPP] H& ( MY UNCLE2 & ,I
2GAN NEXT 6SAY T ,I M/ H ! B$ & B$CLO!S
AIR$ & PUT 6SUN-DRY2 = NO?+ WD MAKE ME
SLEEP 9 S* A PICKLE40
  ,IS ? MY H\SE OR YRS80 SD HE1 9 8 KE5
VOICE1 & !N ALL (A SU45 BROKE (F4 8,NA1
NA10 SD HE1 8,I DIDNAE M1N T4 ,:AT'S M9E
IS YRS1 ,DAVIE1 MY MAN1 & :AT'S YRS IS
M9E4 ,BLOOD'S ?ICK] ?AN WAT]2 & "!'S
NAEBODY B Y & ME T "\ ! "N40 ,& !N ON HE
RAM#D AB ! FAMILY1 & XS ANCI5T GRT;S1 &
8 "F T 2GAN 65L>GE ! H\SE1 & HMF T /OPP$
! BUILD+ Z A S9;L WA/E2 & ? PUT X 9 MY
H1D 6GIVE HM ,J5NET ,CL\/ON'S MESSAGE4
  8,! LIMM]40 HE CRI$4 8,TWELVE HUNN] &
FIFTE5--T'S E "D S9CE ,I _H ! LIMM]
R[PIT6 ,7SOLD UP7' ,DOD1 ,DAVID1 ,I'LL H
H] ROA/$ ON R$ P1TS 2F ,I'M 0) X6 ,A
WIT*--A PROCLAIM$ WIT*6 ,I'LL AFF & SEE
! SES.N CL]K40
  ,&) T HE OP5$ A *E/1 & GOT \ A V OLD &
WELL-PRES]V$ BLUE COAT & WAI/COAT1 &A GD
5 B1V] HAT1 BO? )\T LACE4 ,^! HE ?REW ON
ANY WAY1 & TAK+ A /AFF F ! CUPBO>D1
LOCK$ ALL UP AG1 & 0 = SETT+ \1 :5 A ?"\
>RE/$ HM40
  ,I CANNAE L1VE Y 0Y\RSEL0' 9 ! H\SE10
SD HE4 8,I'LL H 6LOCK Y \40
  ,! BLOOD CAME 6MY FACE4 8,IF Y LOCK ME
\10 ,I SD1 8X'LL 2 ! LA/ Y'LL SEE ( ME 9
FR%IP40
  ,HE TURN$ V PALE1 & SUCK$ 8 M\? IN40
  ,? IS NO !1 WAY0 HE SD1 LOOK+ WICK$LY
AT A CORN] (! FLOOR--8? IS NO ! WAY 6W9
MY FAV\R1 ,DAVID40
  8,SIR10 SAYS ,I1 8)A PROP] R"E;E = YR
AGE & \R -MON BLOOD1 ,I D N VALUE YR
FAV\R AT A BO4LE'S PUR*ASE4 ,I 0 BR"\ UP
6H A GD 3CEIT ( MYF2 & IF Y 7 ALL !
UNCLE1 & ALL ! FAMILY1 ,I _H 9 ! _W T5
"TS OV]1 ,I WDN'T BUY YR LIK+ AT S*
PRICES40
  ,UNCLE ,EB5EZ] W5T & LOOK$ \ (! W9D[ =
A:ILE4 ,I CD SEE HM ALL TREMBL+ &
TWIT*+1 L A MAN ) PALSY4 ,B :5 HE TURN$
R.D1 HE _H A SMILE ^U 8 FACE4
  8,WELL1 WELL10 SD HE1 8WE M/ BE> &
=BE>4 ,I'LL NO G2 T'S ALL T'S 6BE SD (
X40
  8,UNCLE ,EB5EZ]10 ,I SD1 8,I C MAKE
NO?+ \ ( ?4 ,Y USE ME L A ?IEF2 Y HATE
6H ME 9 ? H\SE2 Y LET ME SEE X1 E ^W & E
M9UTE3 X'S N POSSI# T Y C L ME2 & Z =
ME1 ,I'VE SPOK5 6Y Z ,I N"E ?"\ 6SP1K
6ANY MAN4 ,:Y D Y SEEK 6KEEP ME1 !N8
,LET ME GANG BACK--LET ME GANG BACK 6!
FRS ,I H1 & T L ME60
  8,NA1 NA2 NA1 NA10 HE SD1 V E>NE/LY4
8,I L Y F9E2 WE'LL AGREE F9E YET2 &=!
HON\R (! H\SE ,I CDNAE LET Y L1VE ! WAY
YE CAME4 ,BIDE "H QUIET1 "!'S A GD LAD2
J Y BIDE "H QUIET A BITTIE1 & YE'LL F9D
T WE AGREE40
  8,WELL1 SIR10 SD ,I1 AF ,I _H ?"\ !
MATT] \ 9 SIL;E1 8,I'LL /AY A:ILE4 ,X'S
M J ,I %D 2 HELP$ 0MY [N BLOOD ?AN
/RANG]S2 & IF WE DON'T AGREE1 ,I'LL D MY
BE/ X % 2 "? NO FAULT ( M9E40