,,! ,,9VISI# ,,MAN

                   ,BY
             ,H4 ,G4 ,WELLS

               ,*APT] #BA
            ,9 ,OX=D ,/REET

  8,IN GO+ D[N/AIRS ! F/ "T ,I F.D AN
UNEXPECT$ DI6ICULTY 2C ,I CD N SEE MY
FEET2 9DE$ ,I /UM#D TWICE1 & "! 0 AN
UNA3U/OM$ CLUMSI;S 9 GRIPP+ ! BOLT4 ,0N
LOOK+ D[N1 H["E1 ,I MANAG$ 6WALK ON !
LEVEL PASSABLY WELL4
  8,MY MOOD1 ,I SAY1 0 "O ( EXALT,N4 ,I
FELT Z A SEE+ MAN MI<T D1 ) PA4$ FEET &
NOISE.S CLO!S1 9 A C;Y (! BL4 ,I
EXP]I;ED A WILD IMPULSE 6JE/1 6/>TLE P1
6CLAP M5 ON ! BACK1 FL+ P'S HATS A/RAY1
& G5],Y REVEL 9 MY EXTRAORD9>Y
ADVANTAGE4
  8,B H>DLY _H ,I EM]G$ ^U ,GRT ,PORTL&
,/REET1 H["E 7MY LODG+S 0 CLOSE 6! BIG
DRAP]'S %OP "!71 :5 ,I HE>D A CLA%+
3CUS.N & 0 HIT VIOL5TLY 2H1 & TURN+ SAW
A MAN C>RY+ A BASKET ( SODA-WAT]
SIPHONS1 & LOOK+ 9 AMAZE;T AT 8 BURD54
,AL? ! BL[ _H RE,Y HURT ME1 ,I F.D "S?+
S IRRESI/I# 9 8 A/ONI%;T T ,I LAU<$
AL\D4 ,8,! DEVIL'S 9 ! BASKET10' ,I SD1
& SU45LY TWI/$ X \ ( 8 H&4 ,HE LET G
9CONT95TLY1 & ,I SWUNG ! :OLE WEI<T 96!
AIR4
  8,B A FOOL (A CABMAN1 /&+ \TSIDE A
PUBLIC H\SE1 MADE A SU45 RU% = ?1 & 8
EXT5D+ F+]S TOOK ME ) EXCRUCIAT+ VIOL;E
"U ! E>4 ,I LET ! :OLE D[N )A SMA% ON !
CABMAN1 & !N1 ) %\TS &! CLATT] ( FEET AB
ME1 P -+ \ ( %OPS1 VEHICLES PULL+ UP1 ,I
R1LIS$ :AT ,I _H D"O = MYF1 & CURS+ MY
FOLLY1 BACK$ AG/ A %OP W9D[ & PREP>$
6DODGE \ (! 3FU.N4 ,9 A MO;T ,I %D 2
W$G$ 96A CR[D & 9EVITABLY 4COV]$4 ,I
PU%$ 0! BUT*] BOY1 :O LUCKILY DID N TURN
6SEE ! NO?+;S T %OV$ HM ASIDE1 & DODG$
2H ! CABMAN'S F\R-:EEL]4 ,I D N "K H[ !Y
SETTL$ ! BUSI;S4 ,I HURRI$ /RAI<T ACR !
ROAD1 : 0 HAPPILY CLE>1 & H>DLY HE$+ :
WAY ,I W5T1 9 ! F"R ( DETEC;N ! 9CID5T
_H GIV51 PLUNG$ 96! AFN ?R;G ( ,OX=D
,/REET4
  8,I TRI$ 6GET 96! /R1M ( P1 B !Y 7 TOO
?ICK = ME1 & 9 A MO;T MY HEELS 7 2+
TRO45 ^U4 ,I TOOK 6! GUTT]1 ! R\<;S ( :
,I F.D PA9;L 6MY FEET1 & =?) ! %AFT (A
CRAWL+ HANSOM DUG ME =CIBLY "U ! %\LD]
BLADE1 REM9D+ ME T ,I 0 ALR BRUIS$
SEV]ELY4 ,I /A7]$ \ (! WAY (! CAB1
AVOID$ A P]AMBULATOR 0A 3VULSIVE MOVE;T1
& F.D MYF 2H ! HANSOM4 ,A HAPPY ?"\ SAV$
ME1 & Z ? DROVE SL[LY AL;G ,I FOLL[$ 9
XS IMM WAKE1 TREMBL+ & A/ONI%$ AT ! TURN
( MY ADV5TURE4 ,& N ONLY TREMBL+1 B
%IV]+4 ,X 0 A B"R "D 9 ,JANU>Y & ,I 0
/>K NAK$ &! ?9 SLIME ( MUD T COV]$ !
ROAD 0 FREEZ+4 ,FOOLI% Z X SEEMS 6ME N[1
,I _H N RECKON$ T1 TRANSP>5T OR N1 ,I 0
/ AM5A# 6! W1!R & ALL XS 3SEQU;ES4
  8,!N SU45LY A B"R IDEA CAME 96MY H1D4
,I RAN R.D & GOT 96! CAB4 ,& S1 %IV]+1
SC>$1 & SNI6+ )! F/ 9TIM,NS (A COLD1 &)!
BRUISES 9 ! SMALL ( MY BACK GR[+ ^U MY
ATT5;N4 ,I DROVE SL[LY AL;G ,OX=D ,/REET
& PA/ ,TOTT5HAM ,C\RT ,ROAD4 ,MY MOOD 0
Z DI6]5T F T 9 : ,I _H SALLI$ =? T5
M9UTES AGO Z X IS POSSI# 6IMAG9E4 ,?
9VISIBIL;Y 9DE$6 ,! "O ?"\ T POSSESS$ ME
WAS--H[ 0 ,I 6GET \ (! SCRAPE ,I 0 IN4
  8,WE CRAWL$ PA/ ,MUDIE'S1 & "! A TALL
WOMAN ) FIVE OR SIX YELL[-LABELL$ BOOKS
HAIL$ MY CAB1 & ,I SPRANG \ J 9 "T
6ESCAPE H]1 %AV+ A RAILWAY VAN N>R[LY 9
MY FLI<T4 ,I MADE (F UP ! ROADWAY
6,BLOOMSBURY ,SQU>E1 9T5D+ 6/RIKE NOR?
PA/ ! ,MUSEUM & S GET 96! QUIET 4TRICT4
,I 0 N CRUELLY *ILL$1 &! /RANGE;S ( MY
SITU,N S UNN]V$ ME T ,I :IMP]$ Z ,I RAN4
,AT ! NOR?W>D CORN] (! ,SQU>E A LL :ITE
DOG RAN \ (! ,PH>MACEUTICAL ,SOCIETY'S
(FICES1 & 9CONT95TLY MADE = ME1 NOSE
D[N4
  8,I _H N"E R1LIS$ X 2F1 B ! NOSE IS 6!
M9D (A DOG :AT ! EYE IS 6! M9D (A SEE+
MAN4 ,DOGS P]CV ! SC5T (A MAN MOV+ Z M5
P]CV 8 VI.N4 ,? BRUTE 2GAN B>K+ & L1P+1
%[+1 Z X SEEM$ 6ME1 ONLY TOO PLA9LY T HE
0 AW>E ( ME4 ,I CROSS$ ,GRT ,RUSSELL
,/REET1 GLANC+ OV] MY %\LD] Z ,I DID S1
& W5T "S WAY AL;G ,MONTAGUE ,/REET 2F ,I
R1LIS$ :AT ,I 0 RUNN+ T[>DS4
  8,!N ,I 2CAME AW>E (A BL>E ( MUSIC1 &
LOOK+ AL;G ! /REET SAW A NUMB] ( P
ADVANC+ \ ( ,RUSSELL ,SQU>E1 R$ %IRTS1
&! BANN] (! ,SALV,N ,>MY 6! =E4 ,S* A
CR[D1 *ANT+ 9 ! ROADWAY & SC(F+ ON !
PAVE;T1 ,I CD N HOPE 6P5ETRATE1 & DR1D+
6G BACK & F>!R F HOME AG1 & DECID+ ON !
SPUR (! MO;T1 ,I RAN UP ! :ITE /EPS (A
H\SE FAC+ ! ,MUSEUM RAIL+S1 & /OOD "!
UNTIL ! CR[D %D H PASS$4 ,HAPPILY ! DOG
/OPP$ AT ! NOISE (! B& TOO1 HESITAT$1 &
TURN$ TAIL1 RUNN+ BACK 6,BLOOMSBURY
,SQU>E AG4
  8,ON CAME ! B&1 BAWL+ ) UNCONSCI\S
IRONY "S HYMN AB ,8,:5 % WE SEE 8
,FACE80' & X SEEM$ AN 9T]M9A# "T 6ME 2F
! TIDE (! CR[D WA%$ AL;G ! PAVE;T 0ME4
,?UD1 ?UD1 ?UD1 CAME ! DRUM )A VIBRAT+
RESON.E1 &=! MO;T ,I DID N NOTICE TWO
UR*9S /OPP+ AT ! RAIL+S 0ME4 ,8,SEE
'EM10' SD "O4 ,8,SEE :AT80' SD ! O!R4
,8,:Y--!M FOOTM>KS--B>E4 ,L :AT Y MAKES
9 MUD40'
  8,I LOOK$ D[N & SAW ! "Y/]S _H /OPP$ &
7 GAP+ AT ! MU4Y FOOTM>KS ,I _H LEFT 2H
ME UP ! NEWLY :IT5$ /EPS4 ,! PASS+ P
ELB[$ & JO/L$ !M1 B _! 3F.D$ 9TELLIG;E 0
>RE/$4 ,8,?UD1 ?UD1 ?UD1 ,:51 ?UD1 % WE
SEE1 ?UD1 8 FACE1 ?UD1 ?UD40' ,8,"!'S A
B>EFOOT MAN G"O UP !M /EPS1 OR ,I DON'T
"K NO?+10' SD "O4 ,8,& HE A9'T N"E -E
D[N AG4 ,& 8 FOOT 0 A-BLE$+40'
  8,! ?ICK (! CR[D _H ALR PASS$4
,8,LOOKY "!1 ,T$10' QUO? ! "Y] (!
DETECTIVES1 )! %>P;S ( SURPRISE 9 8
VOICE1 & PO9T$ /RAI<T 6MY FEET4 ,I LOOK$
D[N & SAW AT ONCE ! DIM SU7ES;N ( _!
\TL9E SKET*$ 9 SPLA%ES ( MUD4 ,=A MO;T
,I 0 P>ALYS$4
  8,8,:Y1 T'S RUM10' SD ! ELD]4 ,8,DA%$
RUM6 ,X'S J L ! <O/ (A FOOT1 A9'T X80'
,HE HESITAT$ & ADV.ED ) \T/RET*$ H&4 ,A
MAN PULL$ UP %ORT 6SEE :AT HE 0 CAT*+1 &
!N A GIRL4 ,9 ANO!R MO;T HE WD H T\*$
ME4 ,!N ,I SAW :AT 6D4 ,I MADE A /EP1 !
BOY />T$ BACK ) AN EXCLAM,N1 &)A RAPID
MOVE;T ,I SWUNG MYF OV] 96! PORTICO (!
NEXT H\SE4 ,B ! SMALL] BOY 0 %>P-EY$ 5
6FOLL[ ! MOVE;T & 2F ,I 0 WELL D[N !
/EPS & ^U ! PAVE;T1 HE _H RECOV]$ F 8
MO;T>Y A/ONI%;T & 0 %\T+ \ T ! FEET _H
G"O OV] ! WALL4
  8,!Y RU%$ R.D & SAW MY NEW FOOTM>KS
FLA% 962+ ON ! L[] /EP & ^U ! PAVE;T4
,8,:AT'S UP80' ASK$ "S "O4 ,8,FEET6
,LOOK6 ,FEET RUNN+60' ,"EYBODY 9 ! ROAD1
EXCEPT MY ?REE PURSU]S1 0 P\R+ AL;G AF !
,SALV,N ,>MY1 & ? N ONLY IMP$$ ME B !M4
,"! 0 AN $DY ( SURPRISE & 9T]ROG,N4 ,AT
! CO/ ( B[L+ OV] "O "Y FELL[ ,I GOT "?1
& 9 ANO!R MO;T ,I 0 RU%+ H1DL;G R.D !
CIRCUIT ( ,RUSSELL ,SQU>E1 ) SIX OR SEV5
A/ONI%$ P FOLL[+ MY FOOTM>KS4 ,"! 0 NO
"T = EXPLAN,N1 OR ELSE ! :OLE HO/ WD H
BE5 AF ME4
  8,TWICE ,I D\#D R.D CORN]S1 ?RICE ,I
CROSS$ ! ROAD & CAME BACK ON MY TRACKS1
& !N1 Z MY FEET GREW HOT & DRY1 ! DAMP
IMPRES.NS 2GAN 6FADE4 ,AT LA/ ,I _H A
BR1?+ SPACE & RU2$ MY FEET CL1N ) MY
H&S1 & S GOT AWAY ALT4 ,! LA/ ,I SAW (!
*ASE 0 A LL GR\P (A DOZ5 P P]H1 /UDY+ )
9F9ITE P]PLEX;Y A SL[LY DRY+ FOOTPR9T T
_H RESULT$ F A PU4LE 9 ,TRAVI/OCK ,SQU>E
--A FOOTPR9T Z ISOLAT$ & 9COMPREH5SI#
6!M Z ,CRUSOE'S SOLIT>Y 4COV]Y4
  8,? RUNN+ W>M$ ME 6A C]TA9 EXT5T1 & ,I
W5T ON )A BETT] C\RAGE "? ! MAZE ( LESS
FREQU5T$ ROADS T RUNS "HABS4 ,MY BACK _H
N[ 2COME V /IFF & SORE1 MY TONSILS 7
PA9;L F ! CABMAN'S F+]S1 &! SK9 ( MY
NECK _H BE5 SCRAT*$ 0HIS NAILS2 MY FEET
HURT EXCE$+LY & ,I 0 LAME F A LL CUT ON
"O FOOT4 ,I SAW 9 "T A BL MAN APPROA*+
ME1 & FL$ LIMP+1 = ,I FE>$ 8 SUBTLE
9TUI;NS4 ,ONCE OR TWICE A3ID5TAL
COLLI.NS O3URR$ & ,I LEFT P AMAZ$1 )
UNA3.TA# CURSES R++ 9 _! E>S4 ,!N CAME
"S?+ SIL5T & QUIET AG/ MY FACE1 & ACR !
,SQU>E FELL A ?9 VEIL ( SL[LY FALL+
FLAKES ( SN[4 ,I _H CAU<T A COLD1 & D Z
,I WD ,I CD N AVOID AN O3A.NAL SNEEZE4
,& E DOG T CAME 9 SI<T1 ) XS PO9T+ NOSE
& CURI\S SNI6+1 0 A T]ROR 6ME4
  8,!N CAME M5 & BOYS RUNN+1 F/ "O & !N
O!RS1 & %\T+ Z !Y RAN4 ,X 0 A FIRE4 ,!Y
RAN 9 ! DIREC;N ( MY LODG+1 & LOOK+ BACK
D[N A /REET ,I SAW A MASS ( BLACK SMOKE
/R1M+ UP ABV ! RO(S & TELEPH"O WIRES4 ,X
0 MY LODG+ BURN+2 MY CLO!S1 MY APP>ATUS1
ALL MY RES\RCES 9DE$1 EXCEPT MY
*EQUE-BOOK &! ?REE VOLUMES ( MEMOR&A T
AWAIT$ ME 9 ,GRT ,PORTL& ,/REET1 7 "!4
,BURN+6 ,I _H BURNT MY BOATS--IF "E A
MAN DID6 ,! PLACE 0 BLAZ+40
  ,! ,9VISI# ,MAN PAUS$ & ?"\4 ,KEMP
GL.ED N]V\SLY \ (! W9D[4 8,YES80 HE SD4
8,G ON40