,,! ,,"T ,,MA*9E

                  ,,XII

  8,S ,I CAME BACK4 ,=A L;G "T ,I M/ H
BE5 9S5SI# ^U ! MA*9E4 ,! BL9K+ SU3ES.N
(! "DS & NI<TS 0 RESUM$1 ! SUN GOT GOLD5
AG1 ! SKY BLUE4 ,I BR1!D ) GRT] FREEDOM4
,! FLUCTUAT+ 3T\RS (! L& E2$ & FL[$4 ,!
H&S SPUN BACKW>D ^U ! DIALS4 ,AT LA/ ,I
SAW AG ! DIM %AD[S ( H\SES1 ! EVID;ES (
DECAD5T HUMAN;Y4 ,^!1 TOO1 *ANG$ &
PASS$1 & O!RS CAME4 ,PRES5TLY1 :5 !
MILLION DIAL 0 AT Z]O1 ,I SLACK5$ SPE$4
,I 2GAN 6RECOGNIZE \R [N PETTY & FAMILI>
>*ITECTURE1 ! ?\S&S H& RAN BACK 6!
/>T+-PO9T1 ! NI<T & "D FLAPP$ SL[] &
SL[]4 ,!N ! OLD WALLS (! LABORATORY CAME
R.D ME4 ,V G5TLY1 N[1 ,I SL[$ ! ME*ANISM
D[N4
  8,I SAW "O LL ?+ T SEEM$ ODD 6ME4 ,I
?9K ,I H TOLD Y T :5 ,I SET \1 2F MY
VELOC;Y 2CAME V HI<1 ,MRS4 ,WAT*ETT _H
WALK$ ACR ! ROOM1 TRAVELL+1 Z X SEEM$
6ME1 L A ROCKET4 ,Z ,I RETURN$1 ,I PASS$
AG ACR T M9UTE :5 %E TRAV]S$ !
LABORATORY4 ,B N[ H] E MO;N APPE>$ 6BE !
EXACT 9V].N ( H] PREVI\S "OS4 ,! DOOR AT
! L[] 5D OP5$1 & %E GLID$ QUIETLY UP !
LABORATORY1 BACK =EMO/1 & 4APPE>$ 2H !
DOOR 0: %E _H PREVI\SLY 5T]$4 ,J 2F T ,I
SEEM$ 6SEE ,HILLY] =A MO;T2 B HE PASS$ L
A FLA%4
  8,!N ,I /OPP$ ! MA*9E1 & SAW AB ME AG
! OLD FAMILI> LABORATORY1 MY TOOLS1 MY
APPLI.ES J Z ,I _H LEFT !M4 ,I GOT (F !
?+ V %AKY1 & SAT D[N ^U MY B5*4 ,= S"EAL
M9UTES ,I TREM#D VIOL5TLY4 ,!N ,I 2CAME
CALM]4 ,>.D ME 0 MY OLD "W%OP AG1
EXACTLY Z X _H BE54 ,I MI<T H SLEPT "!1
&! :OLE ?+ H BE5 A DR1M4
  8,& YET1 N EXACTLY6 ,! ?+ _H />T$ F !
S\?-EA/ CORN] (! LABORATORY4 ,X _H -E
6RE/ AG 9 ! NOR?-WE/1 AG/ ! WALL ": Y
SAW X4 ,T GIVES Y ! EXACT 4T.E F MY LL
LAWN 6! P$E/AL (! ,:ITE ,SPH9X1 96: !
,MORLOCKS _H C>RI$ MY MA*9E4
  8,=A "T MY BRA9 W5T /AGNANT4 ,PRES5TLY
,I GOT UP & CAME "? ! PASSAGE "H1 LIMP+1
2C MY HEEL 0 / PA9;L1 & FEEL+ SORELY
2GRIM$4 ,I SAW ! .,PALL .,MALL .,GAZETTE
ON ! TA# 0! DOOR4 ,I F.D ! DATE 0 9DE$
TD1 & LOOK+ AT ! "TPIECE1 SAW ! H\R 0
ALM EI<T O'C4 ,I HE>D YR VOICES &!
CLATT] ( PLATES4 ,I HESITAT$--,I FELT S
SICK & W1K4 ,!N ,I SNI6$ GD :OLE"S M1T1
& OP5$ ! DOOR ON Y4 ,Y "K ! RE/4 ,I
WA%$1 & D9$1 & N[ ,I AM TELL+ Y ! /ORY4
  8,I "K10 HE SD1 AF A PAUSE1 8T ALL ? W
2 ABSOLUTELY 9CR$I# 6Y4 ,6ME ! "O 9CR$I#
?+ IS T ,I AM "H TN 9 ? OLD FAMILI> ROOM
LOOK+ 96YR FRLY FACES & TELL+ Y ^!
/RANGE ADV5TURES40
  ,HE LOOK$ AT ! ,M$ICAL ,MAN4 8,NO4 ,I
_C EXPECT Y 62LIEVE X4 ,TAKE X Z A LIE--
OR A PROPHECY4 ,SAY ,I DR1M$ X 9 !
"W%OP4 ,3SID] ,I H BE5 SPECULAT+ ^U !
DE/9IES ( \R RACE UNTIL ,I H HAT*$ ?
FIC;N4 ,TR1T MY ASS];N ( XS TRU? Z A M]E
/ROKE ( >T 65H.E XS 9T]E/4 ,& TAK+ X Z A
/ORY1 :AT D Y ?9K ( X80
  ,HE TOOK UP 8 PIPE1 & 2GAN1 9 8 OLD
A3U/OM$ MANN]1 6TAP ) X N]V\SLY ^U ! B>S
(! GRATE4 ,"! 0 A MO;T>Y /ILL;S4 ,!N
*AIRS 2GAN 6CR1K & %OES 6SCRAPE ^U !
C>PET4 ,I TOOK MY EYES (F ! ,"T
,TRAVELL]'S FACE1 & LOOK$ R.D AT 8
AUDI;E4 ,!Y 7 9 ! D>K1 & LL SPOTS (
COL\R SWAM 2F !M4 ,! ,M$ICAL ,MAN SEEM$
ABSORB$ 9 ! 3TEMPL,N ( \R HO/4 ,! ,$ITOR
0 LOOK+ H>D AT ! 5D ( 8 CIG>--! SIX?4 ,!
,J\RNALI/ FUM#D = 8 WAT*4 ,! O!RS1 Z F>
Z ,I REMEMB]1 7 MO;N.S4
  ,! ,$ITOR /OOD UP )A SI<4 8,:AT A P;Y
X IS Y'RE N A WRIT] ( /ORIES60 HE SD1
PUTT+ 8 H& ON ! ,"T ,TRAVELL]'S %\LD]4
  8,Y DON'T 2LIEVE X80
  8,WELL--0
  8,I ?"\ N40
  ,! ,"T ,TRAVELL] TURN$ 6U4 8,": >E !
MAT*ES80 HE SD4 ,HE LIT "O & SPOKE OV] 8
PIPE1 PU6+4 8,6TELL Y ! TRU? ''' ,I
H>DLY 2LIEVE X MYF '''4 ,& YET '''0
  ,8 EYE FELL )A MUTE 9QUIRY ^U ! )]$
:ITE FL[]S ^U ! LL TA#4 ,!N HE TURN$ OV]
! H& HOLD+ 8 PIPE1 & ,I SAW HE 0 LOOK+
AT "S HALF-H1L$ SC>S ON 8 KNUCKLES4
  ,! ,M$ICAL ,MAN ROSE1 CAME 6! LAMP1 &
EXAM9$ ! FL[]S4 8,! GYNAECEUM'S ODD10 HE
SD4 ,! ,PSY*OLOGI/ L1NT =W>D 6SEE1 HOLD+
\ 8 H& =A SPECIM54
  8,I'M HANG$ IF X ISN'T A QU>T] 6"O10
SD ! ,J\RNALI/4 8,H[ % WE GET HOME80
  8,PL5TY ( CABS AT ! /,N10 SD !
,PSY*OLOGI/4
  8,X'S A CURI\S ?+10 SD ! ,M$ICAL ,MAN2
8B ,I C]TA9LY DON'T "K ! NATURAL ORD] (
^! FL[]S4 ,MAY ,I H !M80
  ,! ,"T ,TRAVELL] HESITAT$4 ,!N SU45LY3
8,C]TA9LY N40
  8,": DID Y RE,Y GET !M80 SD ! ,M$ICAL
,MAN4
  ,! ,"T ,TRAVELL] PUT 8 H& 6HIS H1D4
,HE SPOKE L "O :O 0 TRY+ 6KEEP HOLD ( AN
IDEA T ELUD$ HM4 8,!Y 7 PUT 96MY POCKET
0,WE5A1 :5 ,I TRAVELL$ 96,"T40 ,HE />$
R.D ! ROOM4 8,I'M DAMN$ IF X ISN'T ALL
GO+4 ,? ROOM & Y &! ATMOSPH]E ( E "D IS
TOO M* = MY MEMORY4 ,DID ,I "E MAKE A
,"T ,MA*9E1 OR A MODEL (A ,"T ,MA*9E8
,OR IS X ALL ONLY A DR1M8 ,!Y SAY LIFE
IS A DR1M1 A PRECI\S POOR DR1M AT "TS--B
,I C'T /& ANO!R T WON'T FIT4 ,X'S MAD;S4
,& ": DID ! DR1M -E F8 ''' ,I M/ LOOK AT
T MA*9E4 ,IF "! IS "O60
  ,HE CAU<T UP ! LAMP SWIFTLY1 & C>RI$
X1 FL>+ R$1 "? ! DOOR 96! CORRIDOR4 ,WE
FOLL[$ HM4 ,"! 9 ! FLICK]+ LI<T (! LAMP
0 ! MA*9E SURE 5\<1 SQUAT1 UGLY1 &
ASKEW2 A ?+ ( BRASS1 EBONY1 IVORY1 &
TRANSLUC5T GLIMM]+ QU>TZ4 ,SOLID 6! T\*
--= ,I PUT \ MY H& & FELT ! RAIL ( X--&)
BR[N SPOTS & SME>S ^U ! IVORY1 & BITS (
GRASS & MOSS ^U ! L[] "PS1 & "O RAIL B5T
AWRY4
  ,! ,"T ,TRAVELL] PUT ! LAMP D[N ON !
B5*1 & RAN 8 H& AL;G ! DAMAG$ RAIL4
8,X'S ALL "R N[10 HE SD4 8,! /ORY ,I
TOLD Y 0 TRUE4 ,I'M SORRY 6H BR"\ Y \ "H
9 ! COLD40 ,HE TOOK UP ! LAMP1 &1 9 AN
ABSOLUTE SIL;E1 WE RETURN$ 6!
SMOK+-ROOM4
  ,HE CAME 96! HALL ) U & HELP$ ! ,$ITOR
ON ) 8 COAT4 ,! ,M$ICAL ,MAN LOOK$ 96HIS
FACE &1 )A C]TA9 HESIT,N1 TOLD HM HE 0
SU6]+ F OV]"W1 AT : HE LAU<$ HUGELY4 ,I
REMEMB] HM /&+ 9 ! OP5 DOORWAY1 BAWL+ GD
NI<T4
  ,I %>$ A CAB )! ,$ITOR4 ,HE ?"\ ! TALE
A 8GAUDY LIE40 ,= MY [N "P ,I 0 UNA# 6-E
6A 3CLU.N4 ,! /ORY 0 S FANTA/IC &
9CR$I#1 ! TELL+ S CR$I# & SOB]4 ,I LAY
AWAKE MO/ (! NI<T ?9K+ AB X4 ,I DET]M9$
6G NEXT "D & SEE ! ,"T ,TRAVELL] AG4 ,I
0 TOLD HE 0 9 ! LABORATORY1 & 2+ ON EASY
T]MS 9 ! H\SE1 ,I W5T UP 6HM4 ,!
LABORATORY1 H["E1 0 EMPTY4 ,I />$ =A
M9UTE AT ! ,"T ,MA*9E & PUT \ MY H& &
T\*$ ! L"E4 ,AT T ! SQUAT
SUB/ANTIAL-LOOK+ MASS SWAY$ L A B\< %AK5
0! W9D4 ,XS 9/ABIL;Y />TL$ ME EXTREMELY1
& ,I _H A QUE] REM9ISC;E (! *ILDI% "DS
:5 ,I US$ 6BE =BI45 6M$DLE4 ,I CAME BACK
"? ! CORRIDOR4 ,! ,"T ,TRAVELL] MET ME 9
! SMOK+-ROOM4 ,HE 0 -+ F ! H\SE4 ,HE _H
A SMALL CAM]A "U "O >M &A KNAPSACK "U !
O!R4 ,HE LAU<$ :5 HE SAW ME1 & GAVE ME
AN ELB[ 6%AKE4 8,I'M F"R;LLY BUSY10 SD
HE1 8) T ?+ 9 "!40
  8,B IS X N "S HOAX80 ,I SD4 8,D Y RE,Y
TRAVEL "? "T80
  8,RE,Y & TRULY ,I D40 ,& HE LOOK$
FRANKLY 96MY EYES4 ,HE HESITAT$4 ,8 EYE
W&]$ AB ! ROOM4 8,I ONLY WANT HALF AN
H\R10 HE SD4 8,I "K :Y Y CAME1 & X'S
AW;LLY GD ( Y4 ,"!'S "S MAGAZ9ES "H4 ,IF
Y'LL /OP 6LUN* ,I'LL PROVE Y ? "T
TRAVELL+ UP 6! HILT1 SPECIM5 & ALL4 ,IF
Y'LL =GIVE MY L1V+ Y N[80
  ,I 3S5T$1 H>DLY -PREH5D+ !N ! FULL
IMPORT ( 8 ^WS1 & HE NO4$ & W5T ON D[N !
CORRIDOR4 ,I HE>D ! DOOR (! LABORATORY
SLAM1 S1T$ MYF 9 A *AIR1 & TOOK UP A
DAILY PAP]4 ,:AT 0 HE GO+ 6D 2F LUN*-"T8
,!N SU45LY ,I 0 REM9D$ 0AN ADV]TISE;T T
,I _H PROMIS$ 6MEET ,RI*>DSON1 !
PUBLI%]1 AT TWO4 ,I LOOK$ AT MY WAT*1 &
SAW T ,I CD B>ELY SAVE T 5GAGE;T4 ,I GOT
UP & W5T D[N ! PASSAGE 6TELL ! ,"T
,TRAVELL]4
  ,Z ,I TOOK HOLD (! H&LE (! DOOR ,I
HE>D AN EXCLAM,N1 O4LY TRUNCAT$ AT ! 5D1
&A CLICK &A ?UD4 ,A GU/ ( AIR :IRL$ R.D
ME Z ,I OP5$ ! DOOR1 & F )9 CAME ! S.D (
BROK5 GLASS FALL+ ON ! FLOOR4 ,! ,"T
,TRAVELL] 0 N "!4 ,I SEEM$ 6SEE A <O/LY1
9DIST9CT FIGURE SITT+ 9 A :IRL+ MASS (
BLACK & BRASS =A MO;T--A FIGURE S
TRANSP>5T T ! B5* 2H ) XS %EETS ( DRAW+S
0 ABSOLUTELY 4T9CT2 B ? PHANTASM VANI%$
Z ,I RU2$ MY EYES4 ,! ,"T ,MA*9E _H G"O4
,SAVE =A SUBSID+ /IR ( DU/1 ! FUR!R 5D
(! LABORATORY 0 EMPTY4 ,A PANE (!
SKYLI<T _H1 APP>5TLY1 J BE5 BL[N IN4
  ,I FELT AN UNR1SONA# AMAZE;T4 ,I KNEW
T "S?+ /RANGE _H HAPP5$1 &=! MO;T CD N
4T+UI% :AT ! /RANGE ?+ MI<T BE4 ,Z ,I
/OOD />+1 ! DOOR 96! G>D5 OP5$1 &!
MAN-S]VANT APPE>$4
  ,WE LOOK$ AT EA* O!R4 ,!N ID1S 2GAN
6-E4 8,HAS ,MR4 ---- G"O \ T WAY80 SD
,I4
  8,NO1 SIR4 ,NO "O HAS -E \ ? WAY4 ,I 0
EXPECT+ 6F9D HM "H40
  ,AT T ,I "U/OOD4 ,AT ! RISK ( 4APPO9T+
,RI*>DSON ,I /AY$ ON1 WAIT+ =! ,"T
,TRAVELL]2 WAIT+ =! SECOND1 P]H / /RANG]
/ORY1 &! SPECIM5S & PHOTOGRAPHS HE WD
BR+ ) HM4 ,B ,I AM 2G9N+ N[ 6FE> T ,I M/
WAIT A LIFE"T4 ,! ,"T ,TRAVELL] VANI%$
?REE YE>S AGO4 ,&1 Z "EYBODY "KS N[1 HE
HAS N"E RETURN$4



               ,,EPILOGUE

  ,"O _C *OOSE B WOND]4 ,W HE "E RETURN8
,X MAY 2 T HE SWEPT BACK 96! PA/1 & FELL
AM;G ! BLOOD-DR9K+1 HAIRY SAVAGES (!
,AGE ( ,UNPOLI%$ ,/"O2 96! ABYSSES (!
,CRETACE\S ,SEA2 OR AM;G ! GROTESQUE
SAURIANS1 ! HUGE REPTILIAN BRUTES (!
,JURASSIC "TS4 ,HE MAY EV5 N[--IF ,I MAY
USE ! PHRASE--BE W&]+ ON "S
PLESIOSAURUS-HAUNT$ ,OOLITIC CORAL REEF1
OR 2S ! L"OLY SAL9E LAKES (! ,TRIASSIC
,AGE4 ,OR DID HE G =W>D1 96"O (! NE>]
AGES1 9 : M5 >E / M51 B )! RI4LES ( \R
[N "T ANSW]$ & XS WE>I"S PRO#MS SOLV$8
,96! MANHOOD (! RACE3 = ,I1 = MY [N "P
_C ?9K T ^! LATT] "DS ( W1K EXP]I;T1
FRAG;T>Y !ORY1 & MUTUAL 4CORD >E 9DE$
MAN'S CULM9AT+ "T6 ,I SAY1 = MY [N "P4
,HE1 ,I "K--=! "Q _H BE5 4CUSS$ AM;G U
L;G 2F ! ,"T ,MA*9E 0 MADE--?"\ B
*E].SLY (! ,ADV.E;T ( ,MANK9D1 & SAW 9 !
GR[+ PILE ( CIVILIZ,N ONLY A FOOLI% H1P+
T M/ 9EVITABLY FALL BACK ^U & DE/ROY XS
MAK]S 9 ! 5D4 ,IF T IS S1 X REMA9S = U
6LIVE Z ?\< X 7 N S4 ,B 6ME ! FUTURE IS
/ BLACK & BLANK--IS A VA/ IGNOR.E1 LIT
AT A FEW CASUAL PLACES 0! MEMORY ( 8
/ORY4 ,& ,I H 0ME1 = MY -=T1 TWO /RANGE
:ITE FL[]S --%RIVELL$ N[1 & BR[N & FLAT
& BRITTLE--6WIT;S T EV5 :5 M9D & /R5G?
_H G"O1 GRATITUDE &A MUTUAL T5D];S /
LIV$ ON 9 ! HE>T ( MAN4


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