,,! ,,9VISI# ,,MAN

                   ,BY
             ,H4 ,G4 ,WELLS

               ,*APT] #BB
             ,9 ! ,EMPORIUM

  8,S LA/ ,JANU>Y1 )! 2G9N+ (A SN[/ORM 9
! AIR AB ME--& IF X SETTL$ ON ME X WD
2TRAY ME6--WE>Y1 COLD1 PA9;L1
9EXPRESSIBLY WRET*$1 & / B HALF 3V9C$ (
MY 9VISI# QUAL;Y1 ,I 2GAN ? NEW LIFE 6:
,I AM -MITT$4 ,I _H NO REFUGE1 NO
APPLI.ES1 NO HUMAN 2+ 9 ! _W 9 :OM ,I CD
3FIDE4 ,6H TOLD MY SECRET WD H GIV5 ME
AWAY--MADE A M]E %[ & R>;Y ( ME4
,N"E!.S1 ,I 0 HALF M9D$ 6A3O/ "S
PASS]-BY & ?R[ MYF ^U 8 M]CY4 ,B ,I KNEW
TOO CLE>LY ! T]ROR & BRUTAL CRUELTY MY
ADV.ES WD EVOKE4 ,I MADE NO PLANS 9 !
/REET4 ,MY SOLE OBJECT 0 6GET %ELT] F !
SN[1 6GET MYF COV]$ & W>M2 !N ,I MI<T
HOPE 6PLAN4 ,B EV5 6ME1 AN ,9VISI# ,MAN1
! R[S ( ,LONDON H\SES /OOD LAT*$1 B>R$1
& BOLT$ IMPREGNABLY4
  8,ONLY "O ?+ CD ,I SEE CLE>LY 2F ME1 !
COLD EXPOSURE & MIS]Y (! SN[/ORM &!
NI<T4
  8,& !N ,I _H A BRILLIANT IDEA4 ,I
TURN$ D[N "O (! ROADS L1D+ F ,G[] ,/REET
6,TOTT5HAM ,C\RT ,ROAD1 & F.D MYF \TSIDE
,OMNIUMS1 ! BIG E/ABLI%;T ": "EY?+ IS
6BE B"\--Y "K ! PLACE--M1T1 GROC]Y1 L951
FURNITURE1 CLO?+1 OIL PA9T+S EV5--A HUGE
ME&]+ COLLEC;N ( %OPS R ?AN A %OP4 ,I _H
?"\ ,I %D F9D ! DOORS OP51 B !Y 7 CLOS$1
& Z ,I /OOD 9 ! WIDE 5TR.E A C>RIAGE
/OPP$ \TSIDE1 &A MAN 9 UNI=M--Y "K ! K9D
( P]SONAGE ) ',OMNIUM' ON 8 CAP--FLUNG
OP5 ! DOOR4 ,I 3TRIV$ 65T]1 & WALK+ D[N
! %OP--X 0 A DE"P;T ": !Y 7 SELL+ RI2ONS
& GLOVES & /OCK+S & T K9D ( ?+--CAME 6A
M SPACI\S REGION DEVOT$ 6PICNIC BASKETS
& WICK] FURNITURE4
  8,I DID N FEEL SAFE "!1 H["E2 P 7 GO+
6& FRO1 & ,I PR[L$ RE/.SLY AB UNTIL ,I
CAME ^U A HUGE SEC;N 9 AN UPP] FLOOR
3TA9+ SCORES & HUNDR$S ( B$/1DS1 & 2Y ^!
,I F.D A RE/+-PLACE AT LA/ AM;G A HUGE
PILE ( FOLD$ FLOCK MATTRESSES4 ,! PLACE
0 ALR LIT UP & AGREEABLY W>M1 & ,I
DECID$ 6REMA9 ": ,I WAS1 KEEP+ A CAUTI\S
EYE ON ! TWO OR ?REE SETS ( %OPM5 &
CU/OM]S :O 7 ME&]+ "? ! PLACE UNTIL
CLOS+ "T CAME4 ,!N ,I %D 2 A#1 ,I ?"\1
6ROB ! PLACE = FOOD & CLO?+1 & 4GUIS$1
PR[L "? X & EXAM9E XS RES\RCES1 P]H
SLEEP ON "S (! B$D+4 ,T SEEM$ AN A3EPTA#
PLAN4 ,MY IDEA 0 6PROCURE CLO?+ 6MAKE
MYF A MU6L$ B A3EPTA# FIGURE1 6GET M"OY1
& !N 6RECOV] MY BOOKS & P>CELS ": !Y
AWAIT$ ME1 TAKE A LODG+ "S": & ELABORATE
PLANS =! -PLETE R1LIS,N (! ADVANTAGES MY
9VISIBIL;Y GAVE ME 7Z ,I / IMAG9$7 OV]
MY FELL[-M54
  8,CLOS+ "T >RIV$ QKLY 5\<2 X CD N H
BE5 M ?AN AN H\R AF ,I TOOK UP MY POSI;N
ON ! MATTRESSES 2F ,I NOTIC$ ! BLS (!
W9D[S 2+ DRAWN1 & CU/OM]S 2+ M>*$
DOORW>D4 ,& !N A NUMB] ( BRISK "Y M5
2GAN ) REM>KA# ALACR;Y 6TIDY UP ! GDS T
REMA9$ 4TURB$4 ,I LEFT MY LAIR Z ! CR[DS
DIM9I%$1 & PR[L$ CAUTI\SLY \ 96! LESS
DESOLATE "PS (! %OP4 ,I 0 RE,Y SURPRIS$
6OBS]VE H[ RAPIDLY ! "Y M5 & WOM5 :IPP$
AWAY ! GDS 4PLAY$ = SALE DUR+ ! "D4 ,ALL
! BOXES ( GDS1 ! HANG+ FABRICS1 !
FE/OONS ( LACE1 ! BOXES ( SWEETS 9 !
GROC]Y SEC;N1 ! 4PLAYS ( ? & T1 7 2+
:IPP$ D[N1 FOLD$ UP1 SLAPP$ 96TIDY
RECEPTACLES1 & "EY?+ T CD N 2 TAK5 D[N &
PUT AWAY _H %EETS ( "S CO>SE /UFF L
SACK+ FLUNG OV] X4 ,F9,Y ALL ! *AIRS 7
TURN$ UP ON 6! C.T]S1 L1V+ ! FLOOR CLE>4
,DIRECTLY EA* ( ^! "Y P _H D"O1 HE OR %E
MADE PROMPTLY =! DOOR ) S* AN EXPRES.N (
ANIM,N Z ,I H R>ELY OBS]V$ 9 A %OP
ASSI/ANT 2F4 ,!N CAME A LOT ( "Y/]S
SCATT]+ SAWDU/ & C>RY+ PAILS & BROOMS4
,I _H 6DODGE 6GET \ (! WAY1 & Z X WAS1
MY ANKLE GOT /UNG )! SAWDU/4 ,= "S "T1
W&]+ "? ! SWA!D & D>K5$ DE"P;TS1 ,I CD
HE> ! BROOMS AT "W4 ,& AT LA/ A GD H\R
OR M AF ! %OP _H BE5 CLOS$1 CAME A NOISE
( LOCK+ DOORS4 ,SIL;E CAME ^U ! PLACE1 &
,I F.D MYF W&]+ "? ! VA/ & 9TRICATE
%OPS1 GALL]IES & %[ROOMS (! PLACE1 AL"O4
,X 0 V /2 9 "O PLACE ,I REMEMB] PASS+
NE> "O (! ,TOTT5HAM ,C\RT ,ROAD 5TR.ES &
LI/5+ 6! TAPP+ ( BOOTHEELS (! PASS]S-BY4
  8,MY F/ VISIT 0 6! PLACE ": ,I _H SE5
/OCK+S & GLOVES = SALE4 ,X 0 D>K1 & ,I
_H ! DEVIL (A HUNT AF MAT*ES1 : ,I F.D
AT LA/ 9 ! DRAW] (! LL CA% DESK4 ,!N ,I
_H 6GET A C&LE4 ,I _H 6TE> D[N WRAPP+S &
RANSACK A NUMB] ( BOXES & DRAW]S1 B AT
LA/ ,I MANAG$ 6TURN \ :AT ,I S"\2 ! BOX
LABEL CALL$ !M LAMBSWOOL PANTS1 &
LAMBSWOOL VE/S4 ,!N SOCKS1 A ?ICK -=T]1
& !N ,I W5T 6! CLO?+ PLACE & GOT TR\S]S1
A L\NGE JACKET1 AN OV]COAT &A SL\* HAT
--A CL]ICAL SORT ( HAT )! BRIM TURN$
D[N4 ,I 2GAN 6FEEL A HUMAN 2+ AG1 & MY
NEXT ?"\ 0 FOOD4
  8,UP/AIRS 0 A REFRE%;T DE"P;T1 & "! ,I
GOT COLD M1T4 ,"! 0 C(FEE / 9 ! URN1 &
,I LIT ! GAS & W>M$ X UP AG1 & ALT ,I
DID N D BADLY4 ,AFWS1 PR[L+ "? ! PLACE 9
SE>* ( BLANKETS--,I _H 6PUT UP AT LA/ )A
H1P ( D[N QUILTS--,I CAME ^U A GROC]Y
SEC;N )A LOT ( *OCOLATE & C&I$ FRUITS1 M
?AN 0 GD = ME 9DE$--& "S :ITE BURGUNDY4
,& NE> T 0 A TOY DE"P;T1 & ,I _H A
BRILLIANT IDEA4 ,I F.D "S >TIFICIAL
NOSES--DUMMY NOSES1 Y "K1 & ,I ?"\ ( D>K
SPECTACLES4 ,B ,OMNIUMS _H NO OPTICAL
DE"P;T4 ,MY NOSE _H BE5 A DI6ICULTY 9DE$
--,I _H ?"\ ( PA9T4 ,B ! 4COV]Y SET MY
M9D RUNN+ ON WIGS & MASKS &! L4 ,F9,Y ,I
W5T 6SLEEP ON A H1P ( D[N QUILTS1 V W>M
& -=TA#4
  8,MY LA/ ?"\S 2F SLEEP+ 7 ! MO/
AGREEA# ,I _H _H S9CE ! *ANGE4 ,I 0 9 A
/ATE ( PHYSICAL S]5;Y1 & T 0 REFLECT$ 9
MY M9D4 ,I ?"\ T ,I %D 2 A# 6SLIP \
UNOBS]V$ 9 ! MORN+ ) MY CLO!S ^U ME1
MU6L+ MY FACE )A :ITE WRAPP] ,I _H TAK51
PUR*ASE1 )! M"OY ,I _H TAK51 SPECTACLES
& S =?1 & S -PLETE MY 4GUISE4 ,I LAPS$
964ORD]LY DR1MS ( ALL ! FANTA/IC ?+S T
_H HAPP5$ DUR+ ! LA/ FEW "DS4 ,I SAW !
UGLY LL ,JEW (A L&"L VOCIF]AT+ 9 8
ROOMS2 ,I SAW 8 TWO SONS M>VELL+1 &!
WR9KL$ OLD WOMAN'S GN>L$ FACE Z %E ASK$
= H] CAT4 ,I EXP]I;ED AG ! /RANGE S5S,N
( SEE+ ! CLO? 4APPE>1 & S ,I CAME R.D 6!
W9DY HILLSIDE &! SNI6+ OLD CL]GYMAN
MUMBL+ ,8,DU/ 6DU/1 E>? 6E>?10' & MY
"F'S OP5 GRAVE4
  8,8,Y AL10' SD A VOICE1 & SU45LY ,I 0
2+ =C$ T[>DS ! GRAVE4 ,I /RU7L$1 %\T$1
APP1L$ 6! M\RN]S1 B !Y 3T9U$ /ONILY
FOLL[+ ! S]VICE2 ! OLD CL]GYMAN1 TOO1
N"E FALT]$ DRON+ & SNI6+ "? ! RITUAL4 ,I
R1LIS$ ,I 0 9VISI# & 9AUDI#1 T OV]:ELM+
=CES _H _! GRIP ON ME4 ,I /RU7L$ 9 VA91
,I 0 =C$ OV] ! BR9K1 ! C(F9 RANG HOLL[ Z
,I FELL ^U X1 &! GRAVEL CAME FLY+ AF ME
9 SPADE;LS4 ,NOBODY HE$$ ME1 NOBODY 0
AW>E ( ME4 ,I MADE 3VULSIVE /RU7LES &
AWOKE4
  8,! PALE ,LONDON DAWN _H -E1 ! PLACE 0
FULL (A *ILLY GREY LI<T T FILT]$ R.D !
$GES (! W9D[ BLS4 ,I SAT UP1 &=A "T ,I
CD N ?9K ": ? AMPLE A"P;T1 ) XS C.T]S1
XS PILES ( ROLL$ /UFF1 XS H1PS ( QUILTS
& CU%IONS1 XS IRON PILL>S1 MI<T BE4 ,!N1
Z RECOLLEC;N CAME BACK 6ME1 ,I HE>D
VOICES 9 3V]S,N4
  8,!N F> D[N ! PLACE1 9 ! B"R] LI<T (
"S DE"P;T : _H ALR RAIS$ XS BLS1 ,I SAW
TWO M5 APPROA*+4 ,I SCRAM#D 6MY FEET1
LOOK+ AB ME = "S WAY ( ESCAPE1 & EV5 Z
,I DID S ! S.D ( MY MOVE;T MADE !M AW>E
( ME4 ,I SUPPOSE !Y SAW M]ELY A FIGURE
MOV+ QUIETLY & QKLY AWAY4 ,8,:O'S T80'
CRI$ "O1 & ,8,/OP "!10' %\T$ ! O!R4 ,I
DA%$ R.D A CORN] & CAME FULL TILT--A
FACE.S FIGURE1 M9D Y6--ON A LANKY LAD (
FIFTE54 ,HE YELL$ & ,I B[L$ HM OV]1 RU%$
PA/ HM1 TURN$ ANO!R CORN]1 & 0A HAPPY
9SPIR,N ?REW MYF FLAT 2H A C.T]4 ,9
ANO!R MO;T FEET W5T RUNN+ PA/ & ,I HE>D
VOICES %\T+1 ,8,ALL H&S 6! DOORS60' ASK+
:AT 0 ,8UP10' & GIV+ "O ANO!R ADVICE H[
6CAT* ME4
  8,LY+ ON ! GR.D1 ,I FELT SC>$ \ ( MY
WITS4 ,B--ODD Z X MAY SEEM--X DID N O3UR
6ME AT ! MO;T 6TAKE (F MY CLO!S Z ,I %D
H D"O4 ,I _H MADE UP MY M9D1 ,I SUPPOSE1
6GET AWAY 9 !M1 & T RUL$ ME4 ,& !N D[N !
VI/A (! C.T]S CAME A BAWL+ ( ,8,"H HE
IS60'
  8,I SPRANG 6MY FEET1 :IPP$ A *AIR (F !
C.T]1 & S5T X :IRL+ AT ! FOOL :O _H
%\T$1 TURN$1 CAME 96ANO!R R.D A CORN]1
S5T HM SP9N+1 & RU%$ UP ! /AIRS4 ,HE
KEPT 8 FOOT+1 GAVE A VIEW HALLO6 & CAME
UP ! /AIRCASE HOT AF ME4 ,UP ! /AIRCASE
7 PIL$ A MULTITUDE ( ^? B"R- COL\R$ POT
?+S--:AT >E !Y80
  8,>T POTS10 SU7E/$ ,KEMP4
  8,T'S X6 ,>T POTS4 ,WELL1 ,I TURN$ AT
! TOP /EP & SWUNG R.D1 PLUCK$ "O \ (A
PILE & SMA%$ X ON 8 SILLY H1D Z HE CAME
AT ME4 ,! :OLE PILE ( POTS W5T H1DL;G1 &
,I HE>D %\T+ & FOOT/EPS RUNN+ F ALL "PS4
,I MADE A MAD RU% =! REFRE%;T PLACE1 &
"! 0 A MAN 9 :ITE L A MAN COOK1 :O TOOK
UP ! *ASE4 ,I MADE "O LA/ DESP]ATE TURN
& F.D MYF AM;G LAMPS & IRONM;G]Y4 ,I W5T
2H ! C.T] ( ?1 & WAIT$ = MY COOK1 & Z HE
BOLT$ 9 AT ! H1D (! *ASE1 ,I D\#D HM UP
)A LAMP4 ,D[N HE W5T1 & ,I CR\*$ 2H !
C.T] & 2GAN :IPP+ (F MY CLO!S Z FA/ Z ,I
CD4 ,COAT1 JACKET1 TR\S]S1 %OES 7 ALL
"R1 B A LAMBSWOOL VE/ FITS A MAN L A
SK94 ,I HE>D M M5 -+1 MY COOK 0 LY+
QUIET ON ! O!R SIDE (! C.T]1 /UNN$ OR
SC>$ SPEE*.S1 & ,I _H 6MAKE ANO!R DA% =
X1 L A RA2IT HUNT$ \ (A WOOD-PILE4
  8,8,? WAY1 POLICEMAN60' ,I HE>D "S "O
%\T+4 ,I F.D MYF 9 MY B$/1D /ORE-ROOM
AG1 & AT ! 5D A WILD];S ( W>DROBES4 ,I
RU%$ AM;G !M1 W5T FLAT1 GOT RID ( MY VE/
AF 9F9ITE WRI7L+1 & /OOD A FREE MAN AG1
PANT+ & SC>$1 Z ! POLICEMAN & ?REE (!
%OPM5 CAME R.D ! CORN]4 ,!Y MADE A RU%
=! VE/ & PANTS1 & COLL>$ ! TR\S]S4
,8,HE'S DROPP+ 8 PL"U10' SD "O (! "Y M54
,8,HE M/ 2 "S": "H40'
  8,B !Y DID N F9D ME ALL ! SAME4
  8,I /OOD WAT*+ !M HUNT = ME =A "T1 &
CURS+ MY ILL-LUCK 9 LOS+ ! CLO!S4 ,!N ,I
W5T 96! REFRE%;T-ROOM1 DRANK A LL MILK
,I F.D "!1 & SAT D[N 0! FIRE 63SID] MY
POSI;N4
  8,IN A LL :ILE TWO ASSI/ANTS CAME &
2GAN 6TALK OV] ! BUSI;S V EXCIT$LY & L !
FOOLS !Y W]E4 ,I HE>D A MAGNIFI$ A3.T (
MY DEPR$,NS1 & O!R SPECUL,NS Z 6MY
":ABS4 ,!N ,I FELL 6S*EM+ AG4 ,!
9SURM.TA# DI6ICULTY (! PLACE1 ESPECI,Y
N[ X 0 AL>M$1 0 6GET ANY PL"U \ ( X4 ,I
W5T D[N 96! W>EH\SE 6SEE IF "! 0 ANY *.E
( PACK+ & A4RESS+ A P>CEL1 B ,I CD N
"U/& ! SY/EM ( *ECK+4 ,AB ELEV5 O'C1 !
SN[ HAV+ ?AW$ Z X FELL1 &! "D 2+ F9] &A
LL W>M] ?AN ! PREVI\S "O1 ,I DECID$ T !
,EMPORIUM 0 HOPE.S1 & W5T \ AG1
EXASP]AT$ AT MY WANT ( SU3ESS1 ) ONLY !
VAGUE/ PLANS ( AC;N 9 MY M9D40