,,! ,,"T ,,TRAVELL]

                  ,,III

  8,I TOLD "S ( Y LA/ ,?URS"D (!
PR9CIPLES (! ,"T ,MA*9E1 & %[$ Y !
ACTUAL ?+ XF1 9COMPLETE 9 ! "W%OP4 ,"! X
IS N[1 A LL TRAVEL-WORN1 TRULY2 & "O (!
IVORY B>S IS CRACK$1 &A BRASS RAIL B5T2
B ! RE/ ( X'S S.D 5\<4 ,I EXPECT$ 6F9I%
X ON ,FRI"D1 B ON ,FRI"D1 :5 ! PUTT+ TGR
0 NE>LY D"O1 ,I F.D T "O (! NICKEL B>S 0
EXACTLY "O 9* TOO %ORT1 & ? ,I _H 6GET
REMADE2 S T ! ?+ 0 N -PLETE UNTIL ?
MORN+4 ,X 0 AT T5 O'C TD T ! F/ ( ALL
,"T ,MA*9ES 2GAN XS C>E]4 ,I GAVE X A
LA/ TAP1 TRI$ ALL ! SCREWS AG1 PUT "O M
DROP ( OIL ON ! QU>TZ ROD1 & SAT MYF 9 !
SA4LE4 ,I SUPPOSE A SUICIDE :O HOLDS A
PI/OL 6HIS SKULL FEELS M* ! SAME WOND]
AT :AT W -E NEXT Z ,I FELT !N4 ,I TOOK !
/>T+ L"E 9 "O H& &! /OPP+ "O 9 ! O!R1
PRESS$ ! F/1 & ALM IMMLY ! SECOND4 ,I
SEEM$ 6REEL2 ,I FELT A NI<TM>E S5S,N (
FALL+2 &1 LOOK+ R.D1 ,I SAW ! LABORATORY
EXACTLY Z 2F4 ,_H ANY?+ HAPP5$8 ,=A MO;T
,I SUSPECT$ T MY 9TELLECT _H TRICK$ ME4
,!N ,I NOT$ ! CLOCK4 ,A MO;T 2F1 Z X
SEEM$1 X _H /OOD AT A M9UTE OR S PA/ T52
N[ X 0 NE>LY HALF-PA/ ?REE6
  8,I DREW A BR1?1 SET MY TEE?1 GRIPP$ !
/>T+ L"E ) BO? H&S1 & W5T (F )A ?UD4 ,!
LABORATORY GOT HAZY & W5T D>K4 ,MRS4
,WAT*ETT CAME 9 & WALK$1 APP>5TLY )\T
SEE+ ME1 T[>DS ! G>D5 DOOR4 ,I SUPPOSE X
TOOK H] A M9UTE OR S 6TRAV]SE ! PLACE1 B
6ME %E SEEM$ 6%OOT ACR ! ROOM L A
ROCKET4 ,I PRESS$ ! L"E OV] 6XS EXTREME
POSI;N4 ,! NI<T CAME L ! TURN+ \ (A
LAMP1 & 9 ANO!R MO;T CAME TM4 ,!
LABORATORY GREW FA9T & HAZY1 !N FA9T] &
"E FA9T]4 ,TM NI<T CAME BLACK1 !N "D AG1
NI<T AG1 "D AG1 FA/] & FA/] /4 ,AN $DY+
MURMUR FILL$ MY E>S1 &A /RANGE1 DUMB
3FUS$;S DESC5D$ ON MY M9D4
  8,I AM AFRAID ,I _C 3VEY ! PECULI>
S5S,NS ( "T TRAVELL+4 ,!Y >E EXCESSIVELY
UNPL1SANT4 ,"! IS A FEEL+ EXACTLY L T "O
HAS ^U A SWIT*BACK--(A HELP.S H1DL;G
MO;N6 ,I FELT ! SAME HORRI# ANTICIP,N1
TOO1 ( AN IMM95T SMA%4 ,Z ,I PUT ON
PACE1 NI<T FOLL[$ "D L ! FLAPP+ (A BLACK
W+4 ,! DIM SU7ES;N (! LABORATORY SEEM$
PRES5TLY 6FALL AWAY F ME1 & ,I SAW ! SUN
HOPP+ SWIFTLY ACR ! SKY1 L1P+ X E M9UTE1
& E M9UTE M>K+ A "D4 ,I SUPPOS$ !
LABORATORY _H BE5 DE/ROY$ & ,I _H -E 96!
OP5 AIR4 ,I _H A DIM IMPRES.N (
SCA6OLD+1 B ,I 0 ALR GO+ TOO FA/ 6BE
3SCI\S ( ANY MOV+ ?+S4 ,! SL[E/ SNAIL T
"E CRAWL$ DA%$ 0TOO FA/ = ME4 ,! TW9KL+
SU3ES.N ( D>K;S & LI<T 0 EXCESSIVELY
PA9;L 6! EYE4 ,!N1 9 ! 9T]MITT5T
D>K;SES1 ,I SAW ! MOON SP9N+ SWIFTLY "?
H] QU>T]S F NEW 6FULL1 & _H A FA9T
GLIMPSE (! CIRCL+ />S4 ,PRES5TLY1 Z ,I
W5T ON1 / GA9+ VELOC;Y1 ! PALPIT,N (
NI<T & "D M]G$ 96"O 3T9U\S GREY;S2 ! SKY
TOOK ON A WOND];L DEEP;S ( BLUE1 A
SPL5DID LUM9\S COLOR L T ( E>LY TWILI<T2
! J]K+ SUN 2CAME A /R1K ( FIRE1 A
BRILLIANT >*1 9 SPACE2 ! MOON A FA9T]
FLUCTUAT+ B&2 & ,I CD SEE NO?+ (! />S1
SAVE N[ & !N A B"R] CIRCLE FLICK]+ 9 !
BLUE4
  8,! L&SCAPE 0 MI/Y & VAGUE4 ,I 0 / ON
! HILL-SIDE ^U : ? H\SE N[ /&S1 &! %\LD]
ROSE ABV ME GREY & DIM4 ,I SAW TREES
GR[+ & *ANG+ L PU6S ( VAP\R1 N[ BR[N1 N[
GRE52 !Y GREW1 SPR1D1 %IV]$1 & PASS$
AWAY4 ,I SAW HUGE BUILD+S RISE UP FA9T &
FAIR1 & PASS L DR1MS4 ,! :OLE SURFACE (!
E>? SEEM$ *ANG$--MELT+ & FL[+ "U MY
EYES4 ,! LL H&S ^U ! DIALS T REGI/]$ MY
SPE$ RAC$ R.D FA/] & FA/]4 ,PRES5TLY ,I
NOT$ T ! SUN BELT SWAY$ UP & D[N1 F
SOL/ICE 6SOL/ICE1 9 A M9UTE OR LESS1 & T
3SEQU5TLY MY PACE 0 OV] A YE> A M9UTE2 &
M9UTE 0M9UTE ! :ITE SN[ FLA%$ ACR ! _W1
& VANI%$1 & 0 FOLL[$ 0! B"R1 BRIEF GRE5
( SPR+4
  8,! UNPL1SANT S5S,NS (! />T 7 LESS
POIGNANT N[4 ,!Y M]G$ AT LA/ 96A K9D (
HY/]ICAL EXHIL>,N4 ,I REM>K$ 9DE$ A
CLUMSY SWAY+ (! MA*9E1 = : ,I 0 UNA#
6A3.T4 ,B MY M9D 0 TOO 3FUS$ 6ATT5D 6X1
S )A K9D ( MAD;S GR[+ ^U ME1 ,I FLUNG
MYF 96FUTUR;Y4 ,AT F/ ,I SC>CE ?"\ (
/OPP+1 SC>CE ?"\ ( ANY?+ B ^! NEW
S5S,NS4 ,B PRES5TLY A FRE% S]IES (
IMPRES.NS GREW UP 9 MY M9D--A C]TA9
CURIOS;Y & "!) A C]TA9 DR1D--UNTIL AT
LA/ !Y TOOK -PLETE POSSES.N ( ME4 ,:AT
/RANGE DEVELOP;TS ( HUMAN;Y1 :AT WOND];L
ADV.ES ^U \R RUDI;T>Y CIVILIZ,N1 ,I ?"\1
MI<T N APPE> :5 ,I CAME 6LOOK NE>LY 96!
DIM ELUSIVE _W T RAC$ & FLUCTUAT$ 2F MY
EYES6 ,I SAW GRT & SPL5DID >*ITECTURE
RIS+ AB ME1 M MASSIVE ?AN ANY BUILD+S (
\R [N "T1 & YET1 Z X SEEM$1 BUILT (
GLIMM] & MI/4 ,I SAW A RI*] GRE5 FL[ UP
! HILL-SIDE1 & REMA9 "!1 )\T ANY W9TRY
9T]MIS.N4 ,EV5 "? ! VEIL ( MY 3FU.N !
E>? SEEM$ V FAIR4 ,& S MY M9D CAME R.D
6! BUSI;S ( /OPP+4
  8,! PECULI> RISK LAY 9 ! POSSIBIL;Y (
MY F9D+ "S SUB/.E 9 ! SPACE : ,I1 OR !
MA*9E1 O3UPI$4 ,S L;G Z ,I TRAVELL$ AT A
HI< VELOC;Y "? "T1 ? SC>CELY MATT]$2 ,I
WAS1 S 6SP1K1 ATT5UAT$--WAS SLIPP+ L A
VAP\R "? ! 9T]/ICES ( 9T]V5+ SUB/.ES6 ,B
6-E 6A /OP 9VOLV$ ! JAMM+ ( MYF1
MOLECULE 0MOLECULE1 96:AT"E LAY 9 MY
WAY2 M1NT BR++ MY ATOMS 96S* 9TIMATE
3TACT ) ^? (! OB/ACLE T A PROF.D *EMICAL
REAC;N--POSSIBLY A F>-R1*+ EXPLO.N--WD
RESULT1 & BL[ MYF & MY APP>ATUS \ ( ALL
POSSI# DIM5.NS--96! ,UN"KN4 ,?
POSSIBIL;Y _H O3URR$ 6ME AG & AG :ILE ,I
0 MAK+ ! MA*9E2 B !N ,I _H *E];LLY
A3EPT$ X Z AN UNAVOIDA# RISK--"O (!
RISKS A MAN HAS GOT 6TAKE6 ,N[ ! RISK 0
9EVITA#1 ,I NO L;G] SAW X 9 ! SAME *E];L
LI<T4 ,! FACT IS T 9S5SIBLY1 ! ABSOLUTE
/RANGE;S ( "EY?+1 ! SICKLY J>R+ & SWAY+
(! MA*9E1 ABV ALL1 ! FEEL+ ( PROL;G$
FALL+1 _H ABSOLUTELY UPSET MY N]VE4 ,I
TOLD MYF T ,I CD N"E /OP1 &)A GU/ (
PETUL.E ,I RESOLV$ 6/OP =?)4 ,L AN
IMPATI5T FOOL1 ,I LU7$ OV] ! L"E1 &
9CONT95TLY ! ?+ W5T REEL+ OV]1 & ,I 0
FLUNG H1DL;G "? ! AIR4
  8,"! 0 ! S.D (A CLAP ( ?"U 9 MY E>S4
,I MAY H BE5 /UNN$ =A MO;T4 ,A PITI.S
HAIL 0 HISS+ R.D ME1 & ,I 0 SITT+ ON S(T
TURF 9 FRONT (! OV]SET MA*9E4 ,"EY?+ /
SEEM$ GREY1 B PRES5TLY ,I REM>K$ T !
3FU.N 9 MY E>S 0 G"O4 ,I LOOK$ R.D ME4
,I 0 ON :AT SEEM$ 6BE A LL LAWN 9 A
G>D51 SURR.D$ 0RHODOD5DRON BU%ES1 & ,I
NOTIC$ T _! MAUVE & PURPLE BLOSSOMS 7
DROPP+ 9 A %[] "U ! B1T+ (! HAIL-/"OS4
,! REB.D+1 DANC+ HAIL HUNG 9 A CL\D OV]
! MA*9E1 & DROVE AL;G ! GR.D L SMOKE4 ,9
A MO;T ,I 0 WET 6! SK94 8,F9E
HOSPITAL;Y10 SD ,I1 86A MAN :O HAS
TRAVELL$ 9NUM]A# YE>S 6SEE Y40
  8,PRES5TLY ,I ?"\ :AT A FOOL ,I 0 6GET
WET4 ,I /OOD UP & LOOK$ R.D ME4 ,A
COLOSSAL FIGURE1 C>V$ APP>5TLY 9 "S :ITE
/"O1 LOOM$ 9DIST9CTLY 2Y ! RHODOD5DRONS
"? ! HAZY D[NP\R4 ,B ALL ELSE (! _W 0
9VISI#4
  8,MY S5S,NS WD 2 H>D 6DESCRIBE4 ,Z !
COLUMNS ( HAIL GREW ?9N]1 ,I SAW ! :ITE
FIGURE M 4T9CTLY4 ,X 0 V L>GE1 =A SILV]
BIR*-TREE T\*$ XS %\LD]4 ,X 0 ( :ITE
M>#1 9 %APE "S?+ L A W+$ SPH9X1 B ! W+S1
9/1D ( 2+ C>RI$ V]TIC,Y AT ! SIDES1 7
SPR1D S T X SEEM$ 6HOV]4 ,! P$E/AL1 X
APPE>$ 6ME1 0 ( BRONZE1 & 0 ?ICK )
V]DIGRIS4 ,X *.ED T ! FACE 0 T[>DS ME2 !
SI<T.S EYES SEEM$ 6WAT* ME2 "! 0 ! FA9T
%AD[ (A SMILE ON ! LIPS4 ,X 0 GRTLY
W1!R-WORN1 & T IM"P$ AN UNPL1SANT
SU7ES;N ( 41SE4 ,I /OOD LOOK+ AT X =A LL
SPACE--HALF A M9UTE1 P]H1 OR HALF AN
H\R4 ,X SEEM$ 6ADV.E & 6REC$E Z ! HAIL
DROVE 2F X D5S] OR ?9N]4 ,AT LA/ ,I TORE
MY EYES F X =A MO;T & SAW T ! HAIL
CURTA9 _H WORN ?R1DB>E1 & T ! SKY 0
LI<T5+ )! PROMISE (! ,SUN4
  8,I LOOK$ UP AG AT ! CR\*+ :ITE %APE1
&! FULL TEM];Y ( MY VOYAGE CAME SU45LY
^U ME4 ,:AT MI<T APPE> :5 T HAZY CURTA9
0 ALT )DRAWN8 ,:AT MI<T N H HAPP5$ 6M58
,:AT IF CRUELTY _H GR[N 96A -MON PAS.N8
,:AT IF 9 ? 9T]VAL ! RACE _H LO/ XS
MANLI;S & _H DEVELOP$ 96"S?+ 9HUMAN1
UNSYMPA!TIC1 & OV]:ELM+LY P[];L8 ,I MI<T
SEEM "S OLD-_W SAVAGE ANIMAL1 ONLY ! M
DR1D;L & 4GU/+ = \R -MON LIKE;S--A F\L
CR1TURE 6BE 9CONT95TLY SLA94
  8,ALR ,I SAW O!R VA/ %APES--HUGE
BUILD+S ) 9TRICATE P>APETS & TALL
COLUMNS1 )A WOOD$ HILL-SIDE DIMLY CREEP+
9 ^U ME "? ! LESS5+ /ORM4 ,I 0 SEIZ$ )A
PANIC FE>4 ,I TURN$ FRANTIC,Y 6! ,"T
,MA*9E1 & /ROVE H>D 6READJU/ X4 ,Z ,I
DID S ! %AFTS (! SUN SMOTE "? ! ?"U/ORM4
,! GREY D[NP\R 0 SWEPT ASIDE & VANI%$ L
! TRAIL+ G>;TS (A <O/4 ,ABV ME1 9 !
9T5SE BLUE (! SUMM] SKY1 "S FA9T BR[N
%R$S ( CL\D :IRL$ 96NO?+;S4 ,! GRT
BUILD+S AB ME /OOD \ CLE> & 4T9CT1 %9+
)! WET (! ?"U/ORM1 & PICK$ \ 9 :ITE 0!
UNMELT$ HAIL/"OS PIL$ AL;G _! C\RSES4 ,I
FELT NAK$ 9 A /RANGE _W4 ,I FELT Z P]H A
BIRD MAY FEEL 9 ! CLE> AIR1 "K+ ! HAWK
W+S ABV & W SWOOP4 ,MY FE> GREW 6FR5ZY4
,I TOOK A BR1?+ SPACE1 SET MY TEE?1 & AG
GRAPPL$ FI]CELY1 WRI/ & KNEE1 )! MA*9E4
,X GAVE "U MY DESP]ATE ONSET & TURN$
OV]4 ,X /RUCK MY *9 VIOL5TLY4 ,"O H& ON
! SA4LE1 ! O!R ON ! L"E1 ,I /OOD PANT+
H1VILY 9 ATTITUDE 6M.T AG4
  8,B ) ? RECOV]Y (A PROMPT RETR1T MY
C\RAGE RECOV]$4 ,I LOOK$ M CURI\SLY &
LESS FE>;LLY AT ? _W (! REMOTE FUTURE4
,9 A CIRCUL> OP5+1 HI< UP 9 ! WALL (!
NE>] H\SE1 ,I SAW A GR\P ( FIGURES CLAD
9 RI* S(T ROBES4 ,!Y _H SE5 ME1 & _!
FACES 7 DIRECT$ T[>DS ME4
  8,!N ,I HE>D VOICES APPROA*+ ME4 ,-+
"? ! BU%ES 0! ,:ITE ,SPH9X 7 ! H1DS &
%\LD]S ( M5 RUNN+4 ,"O ( ^! EM]G$ 9 A
PA?WAY L1D+ /RAI<T 6! LL LAWN ^U : ,I
/OOD ) MY MA*9E4 ,HE 0 A SLI<T CR1TURE--
P]H F\R FEET HI<--CLAD 9 A PURPLE TUNIC1
GIRDL$ AT ! WAI/ )A L1!R BELT4 ,S&ALS OR
BUSK9S--,I CD N CLE>LY 4T+UI% :--W]E ON
8 FEET2 8 LEGS 7 B>E 6! KNEES1 & 8 H1D 0
B>E4 ,NOTIC+ T1 ,I NOTIC$ =! F/ "T H[
W>M ! AIR WAS4
  8,HE /RUCK ME Z 2+ A V B1UTI;L &
GRACE;L CR1TURE1 B 9DESCRIBABLY FRAIL4
,8 FLU%$ FACE REM9D$ ME (! M B1UTI;L K9D
( 3SUMPTIVE--T HECTIC B1UTY ( : WE US$
6HE> S M*4 ,AT ! SI<T ( HM ,I SU45LY
REGA9$ 3FID;E4 ,I TOOK MY H&S F ! MA*9E4