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

                  ,,IX

  8,WE EM]G$ F ! PALACE :ILE ! SUN 0 / 9
"P ABV ! HORIZON4 ,I 0 DET]M9$ 6R1* !
,:ITE ,SPH9X E>LY ! NEXT MORN+1 & ]E !
DUSK ,I PURPOS$ PU%+ "? ! WOODS T _H
/OPP$ ME ON ! PREVI\S J\RNEY4 ,MY PLAN 0
6G Z F> Z POSSI# T NI<T1 & !N1 BUILD+ A
FIRE1 6SLEEP 9 ! PROTEC;N ( XS GL>E4
,ACLY1 Z WE W5T AL;G ,I GA!R$ ANY /ICKS
OR DRI$ GRASS ,I SAW1 & PRES5TLY _H MY
>MS FULL ( S* LITT]4 ,?US LOAD$1 \R
PROGRESS 0 SL[] ?AN ,I _H ANTICIPAT$1 &
2SS ,WE5A 0 TIR$4 ,& ,I 2GAN 6SU6] F
SLEEPI;S TOO2 S T X 0 FULL NI<T 2F WE
R1*$ ! WOOD4 ,^U ! %RU2Y HILL ( XS $GE
,WE5A WD H /OPP$1 FE>+ ! D>K;S 2F U2 B A
S+UL> S5SE ( IMP5D+ CALAM;Y1 T %D 9DE$ H
S]V$ ME Z A W>N+1 DROVE ME ONW>D4 ,I _H
BE5 )\T SLEEP =A NI<T & TWO "DS1 & ,I 0
FEV]I% & IRRITA#4 ,I FELT SLEEP -+ ^U
ME1 &! ,MORLOCKS ) X4
  8,:ILE WE HESITAT$1 AM;G ! BLACK BU%ES
2H U1 & DIM AG/ _! BLACK;S1 ,I SAW ?REE
CR\*+ FIGURES4 ,"! 0 SCRUB & L;G GRASS
ALL AB U1 & ,I DID N FEEL SAFE F _!
9SIDI\S APPROA*4 ,! =E/1 ,I CALCULAT$1 0
R LESS ?AN A MILE ACR4 ,IF WE CD GET "?
X 6! B>E HILL-SIDE1 "!1 Z X SEEM$ 6ME1 0
AN ALT SAF] RE/+-PLACE2 ,I ?"\ T ) MY
MAT*ES & MY CAMPHOR ,I CD 3TRIVE 6KEEP
MY PA? ILLUM9AT$ "? ! WOODS4 ,YET X 0
EVID5T T IF ,I 0 6FL\RI% MAT*ES ) MY H&S
,I %D H 6AB&ON MY FIREWOOD2 S1 R
RELUCTANTLY1 ,I PUT X D[N4 ,& !N X CAME
96MY H1D T ,I WD AMAZE \R FRS 2H 0LI<T+
X4 ,I 0 64COV] ! ATROCI\S FOLLY ( ?
PROCE$+1 B X CAME 6MY M9D Z AN 9G5I\S
MOVE = COV]+ \R RETR1T4
  8,I DON'T "K IF Y H "E ?"\ :AT A R>E
?+ FLAME M/ 2 9 ! ABS;E ( MAN & 9 A
TEMP]ATE CLIMATE4 ,! SUN'S H1T IS R>ELY
/R;G 5 6BURN1 EV5 :5 X IS FOCUS$
0DEWDROPS1 Z IS "S"TS ! CASE 9 M
TROPICAL 4TRICTS4 ,LI<TN+ MAY BLA/ &
BLACK51 B X R>ELY GIVES RISE 6WIDESPR1D
FIRE4 ,DECAY+ VEGET,N MAY O3A.N,Y SM\LD]
)! H1T ( XS F];T,N1 B ? R>ELY RESULTS 9
FLAME4 ,9 ? DECAD;E1 TOO1 ! >T (
FIRE-MAK+ _H BE5 =GOTT5 ON ! E>?4 ,! R$
T;GUES T W5T LICK+ UP MY H1P ( WOOD 7 AN
ALT NEW & /RANGE ?+ 6,WE5A4
  8,%E WANT$ 6RUN 6X & PLAY ) X4 ,I
2LIEVE %E WD H CA/ H]F 96X _H ,I N
RE/RA9$ H]4 ,B ,I CAU<T H] UP1 & 9 SPITE
( H] /RU7LES1 PLUNG$ BOLDLY 2F ME 96!
WOOD4 ,=A LL WAY ! GL>E ( MY FIRE LIT !
PA?4 ,LOOK+ BACK PRES5TLY1 ,I CD SEE1 "?
! CR[D$ /EMS1 T F MY H1P ( /ICKS ! BLAZE
_H SPR1D 6"S BU%ES ADJAC5T1 &A CURV$ L9E
( FIRE 0 CREEP+ UP ! GRASS (! HILL4 ,I
LAU<$ AT T1 & TURN$ AG 6! D>K TREES 2F
ME4 ,X 0 V BLACK1 & ,WE5A CLUNG 6ME
3VULSIVELY1 B "! 0 /1 Z MY EYES GREW
A3U/OM$ 6! D>K;S1 SU6ICI5T LI<T = ME
6AVOID ! /EMS4 ,OV]H1D X 0 SIMPLY BLACK1
EXCEPT ": A GAP ( REMOTE BLUE SKY %"O
D[N ^U U "H & "!4 ,I /RUCK N"O ( MY
MAT*ES 2C ,I _H NO H& FREE4 ,^U MY LEFT
>M ,I C>RI$ MY LL "O1 9 MY "R H& ,I _H
MY IRON B>4
  8,= "S WAY ,I HE>D NO?+ B ! CRACKL+
TWIGS "U MY FEET1 ! FA9T RU/LE (! BREEZE
ABV1 & MY [N BR1?+ &! ?ROB (!
BLOOD-VESSELS 9 MY E>S4 ,!N ,I SEEM$ 6"K
(A PATT]+ AB ME4 ,I PU%$ ON GRIMLY4 ,!
PATT]+ GREW M 4T9CT1 & !N ,I CAU<T !
SAME QUE] S.D & VOICES ,I _H HE>D 9 !
,"U-_W4 ,"! 7 EVID5TLY S"EAL (!
,MORLOCKS1 & !Y 7 CLOS+ 9 ^U ME4 ,9DE$1
9 ANO!R M9UTE ,I FELT A TUG AT MY COAT1
!N "S?+ AT MY >M4 ,& ,WE5A %IV]$
VIOL5TLY1 & 2CAME Q /4
  8,X 0 "T =A MAT*4 ,B 6GET "O ,I M/ PUT
H] D[N4 ,I DID S1 &1 Z ,I FUM#D ) MY
POCKET1 A /RU7LE 2GAN 9 ! D>K;S AB MY
KNEES1 P]FECTLY SIL5T ON H] "P &)! SAME
PECULI> COO+ S.DS F ! ,MORLOCKS4 ,S(T LL
H&S1 TOO1 7 CREEP+ OV] MY COAT & BACK1
T\*+ EV5 MY NECK4 ,!N ! MAT* SCRAT*$ &
FIZZ$4 ,I HELD X FL>+1 & SAW ! :ITE
BACKS (! ,MORLOCKS 9 FLI<T AMID ! TREES4
,I HA/ILY TOOK A LUMP ( CAMPHOR F MY
POCKET1 & PREP>$ 6LI<T IS Z SOON Z !
MAT* %D WANE4 ,!N ,I LOOK$ AT ,WE5A4 ,%E
0 LY+ CLUT*+ MY FEET & Q MO;N.S1 ) H]
FACE 6! GR.D4 ,)A SU45 F"R ,I /OOP$ 6H]4
,%E SEEM$ SC>CELY 6BR1!4 ,I LIT ! BLOCK
( CAMPHOR & FLUNG X 6! GR.D1 & Z X SPLIT
& FL>$ UP & DROVE BACK ! ,MORLOCKS &!
%AD[S1 ,I KNELT D[N & LIFT$ H]4 ,! WOOD
2H SEEM$ FULL (! /IR & MURMUR (A GRT
-PANY6
  8,%E SEEM$ 6H FA9T$4 ,I PUT H] C>E;LLY
^U MY %\LD] & ROSE 6PU% ON1 & !N "! CAME
A HORRI# R1LIZ,N4 ,9 MANOEUVR+ ) MY
MAT*ES & ,WE5A1 ,I _H TURN$ MYF AB S"EAL
"TS1 & N[ ,I _H N ! FA9TE/ IDEA 9 :AT
DIREC;N LAY MY PA?4 ,= ALL ,I KNEW1 ,I
MI<T 2 FAC+ BACK T[>DS ! ,PALACE ( ,GRE5
,PORCELA94 ,I F.D MYF 9 A COLD SW1T4 ,I
_H 6?9K RAPIDLY :AT 6D4 ,I DET]M9$
6BUILD A FIRE & 5CAMP ": WE W]E4 ,I PUT
,WE5A1 / MO;N.S1 D[N ^U A TURFY BOLE1 &
V HA/ILY1 Z MY F/ LUMP ( CAMPHOR WAN$1
,I 2GAN COLLECT+ /ICKS & L1VES4 ,"H & "!
\ (! D>K;S R.D ME ! ,MORLOCKS' EYES %"O
L C>BUNCLES4
  8,! CAMPHOR FLICK]$ & W5T \4 ,I LIT A
MAT*1 & Z ,I DID S1 TWO :ITE =MS T _H
BE5 APPROA*+ ,WE5A DA%$ HA/ILY AWAY4 ,"O
0 S BL9D$ 0! LI<T T HE CAME /RAI<T = ME1
& ,I FELT 8 B"OS GR9D "U ! BL[ ( MY FI/4
,HE GAVE A :OOP ( 4MAY1 /A7]$ A LL WAY1
& FELL D[N4 ,I LIT ANO!R PIECE (
CAMPHOR1 & W5T ON GA!R+ MY BONFIRE4
,PRES5TLY ,I NOTIC$ H[ DRY 0 "S (!
FOLIAGE ABV ME1 = S9CE MY >RIVAL ON !
,"T ,MA*9E1 A MATT] (A WEEK1 NO RA9 _H
FALL54 ,S1 9/1D ( CA/+ AB AM;G ! TREES =
FALL5 TWIGS1 ,I 2GAN L1P+ UP & DRA7+ D[N
BRAN*ES4 ,V SOON ,I _H A *OK+ SMOKY FIRE
( GRE5 WOOD & DRY /ICKS1 & CD ECONOMIZE
MY CAMPHOR4 ,!N ,I TURN$ 6": ,WE5A LAY
2S MY IRON MACE4 ,I TRI$ :AT ,I CD
6REVIVE H]1 B %E LAY L "O D1D4 ,I CD N
EV5 SATISFY MYF :E!R OR N %E BR1!D4
  8,N[1 ! SMOKE (! FIRE B1T OV] T[>DS
ME1 & X M/ H MADE ME H1VY (A SU454
,MOREOV]1 ! VAP\R ( CAMPHOR 0 9 ! AIR4
,MY FIRE WD N NE$ REPL5I%+ = AN H\R OR
S4 ,I FELT V WE>Y AF MY EX];N1 & SAT
D[N4 ,! WOOD1 TOO1 0 FULL (A SLUMBR\S
MURMUR T ,I DID N "U/&4 ,I SEEM$ J 6NOD
& OP5 MY EYES4 ,B ALL 0 D>K1 &!
,MORLOCKS _H _! H&S ^U ME4 ,FL++ (F _!
CL++ F+]S ,I HA/ILY FELT 9 MY POCKET =!
MAT*-BOX1 &--X _H G"O6 ,!N !Y GRIPP$ &
CLOS$ ) ME AG4 ,9 A MO;T ,I KNEW :AT _H
HAPP5$4 ,I _H SLEPT1 & MY FIRE _H G"O \1
&! BITT];S ( D1? CAME OV] MY S\L4 ,! =E/
SEEM$ FULL (! SMELL ( BURN+ WOOD4 ,I 0
CAU<T 0! NECK1 0! HAIR1 0! >MS1 & PULL$
D[N4 ,X 0 9DESCRIBABLY HORRI# 9 ! D>K;S
6FEEL ALL ^! S(T CR1TURES H1P$ ^U ME4 ,I
FELT Z IF ,I 0 9 A MON/R\S SPID]'S WEB4
,I 0 OV]P[]$1 & W5T D[N4 ,I FELT LL TEE?
NIPP+ AT MY NECK4 ,I ROLL$ OV]1 & Z ,I
DID S MY H& CAME AG/ MY IRON L"E4 ,X
GAVE ME /R5G?4 ,I /RU7L$ UP1 %AK+ !
HUMAN RATS F ME1 &1 HOLD+ ! B> %ORT1 ,I
?RU/ ": ,I JUDG$ _! FACES MI<T BE4 ,I CD
FEEL ! SU3UL5T GIV+ ( FLE% & B"O "U MY
BL[S1 &=A MO;T ,I 0 FREE4
  8,! /RANGE EXULT,N T S (T5 SEEMS
6A3OMPANY H>D FI<T+ CAME ^U ME4 ,I KNEW
T BO? ,I & ,WE5A 7 LO/1 B ,I DET]M9$
6MAKE ! ,MORLOCKS PAY = _! M1T4 ,I /OOD
) MY BACK 6A TREE1 SW++ ! IRON B> 2F ME4
,! :OLE WOOD 0 FULL (! /IR & CRIES ( !M4
,A M9UTE PASS$4 ,_! VOICES SEEM$ 6RISE
6A HI<] PIT* ( EXCITE;T1 & _! MOVE;TS
GREW FA/]4 ,YET N"O CAME )9 R1*4 ,I /OOD
GL>+ AT ! BLACK;S4 ,!N SU45LY CAME HOPE4
,:AT IF ! ,MORLOCKS 7 AFRAID8 ,& CLOSE
ON ! HEELS ( T CAME A /RANGE ?+4 ,!
D>K;S SEEM$ 6GR[ LUM9\S4 ,V DIMLY ,I
2GAN 6SEE ! ,MORLOCKS AB ME--?REE BATT]$
AT MY FEET--& !N ,I RECOGNIZ$1 )
9CR$UL\S SURPRISE1 T ! O!RS 7 RUNN+1 9
AN 9CESSANT /R1M1 Z X SEEM$1 F 2H ME1 &
AWAY "? ! WOOD 9 FRONT4 ,& _! BACKS
SEEM$ NO L;G] :ITE1 B R$DI%4 ,Z ,I /OOD
AGAPE1 ,I SAW A LL R$ SP>K G DRIFT+ ACR
A GAP ( />LI<T 2T ! BRAN*ES1 & VANI%4 ,&
AT T ,I "U/OOD ! SMELL ( BURN+ WOOD1 !
SLUMBR\S MURMUR T 0 GR[+ N[ 96A GU/Y
RO>1 ! R$ GL[1 &! ,MORLOCKS' FLI<T4
  8,/EPP+ \ F 2H MY TREE & LOOK+ BACK1
,I SAW1 "? ! BLACK PILL>S (! NE>] TREES1
! FLAMES (! BURN+ =E/4 ,X 0 MY F/ FIRE
-+ AF ME4 ,) T ,I LOOK$ = ,WE5A1 B %E 0
G"O4 ,! HISS+ & CRACKL+ 2H ME1 !
EXPLOSIVE ?UD Z EA* FRE% TREE BUR/
96FLAME1 LEFT LL "T = REFLEC;N4 ,MY IRON
B> / GRIPP$1 ,I FOLL[$ 9 ! ,MORLOCKS'
PA?4 ,X 0 A CLOSE RACE4 ,ONCE ! FLAMES
CREPT =W>D S SWIFTLY ON MY "R Z ,I RAN T
,I 0 \TFLANK$ & _H 6/RIKE (F 6! LEFT4 ,B
AT LA/ ,I EM]G$ ^U A SMALL OP5 SPACE1 &
Z ,I DID S1 A ,MORLOCK CAME BL"U+ T[>DS
ME1 & PA/ ME1 & W5T ON /RAI<T 96! FIRE6
  8,& N[ ,I 0 6SEE ! MO/ WEIRD & HORRI#
?+1 ,I ?9K1 ( ALL T ,I 2HELD 9 T FUTURE
AGE4 ,? :OLE SPACE 0 Z B"R Z "D )!
REFLEC;N (! FIRE4 ,9 ! C5TRE 0 A HILLOCK
OR TUMULUS1 SURM.T$ 0A SCOR*$ HAW?ORN4
,2Y ? 0 ANO!R >M (! BURN+ =E/1 ) YELL[
T;GUES ALR WRI?+ F X1 -PLETELY 5CIRCL+ !
SPACE )A F;E ( FIRE4 ,^U ! HILL-SIDE 7
"S ?IRTY OR =TY ,MORLOCKS1 DAZZL$ 0!
LI<T & H1T1 & BL"U+ HI!R & ?I!R AG/ EA*
O!R 9 _! 2WILD];T4 ,AT F/ ,I DID N
R1LIZE _! BL;S1 & /RUCK FURI\SLY AT !M )
MY B>1 9 A FR5ZY ( FE>1 Z !Y APPROA*$
ME1 KILL+ "O & CRIPPL+ S"EAL M4 ,B :5 ,I
_H WAT*$ ! GE/URES ( "O ( !M GROP+ "U !
HAW?ORN AG/ ! R$ SKY1 & HE>D _! MOANS1
,I 0 ASSUR$ ( _! ABSOLUTE HELP.S;S &
MIS]Y 9 ! GL>E1 & ,I /RUCK NO M ( !M4
  8,YET E N[ & !N "O WD -E /RAI<T T[>DS
ME1 SETT+ LOOSE A QUIV]+ HORROR T MADE
ME QK 6ELUDE HM4 ,AT "O "T ! FLAMES DI$
D[N "S:AT1 & ,I FE>$ ! F\L CR1TURES WD
PRES5TLY 2 A# 6SEE ME4 ,I 0 ?9K+ ( 2G9N+
! FI<T 0KILL+ "S ( !M 2F ? %D HAPP52 B !
FIRE BUR/ \ AG B"RLY1 & ,I /AY$ MY H&4
,I WALK$ AB ! HILL AM;G !M & AVOID$ !M1
LOOK+ = "S TRACE ( ,WE5A4 ,B ,WE5A 0
G"O4
  8,AT LA/ ,I SAT D[N ON ! SUMMIT (!
HILLOCK1 & WAT*$ ? /RANGE 9CR$I# -PANY (
BL ?+S GROP+ 6& FRO1 & MAK+ UNCANNY
NOISES 6EA* O!R1 Z ! GL>E (! FIRE B1T ON
!M4 ,! COIL+ UPRU% ( SMOKE /R1M$ ACR !
SKY1 & "? ! R>E TATT]S ( T R$ CANOPY1
REMOTE Z ?\< !Y 2L;G$ 6ANO!R UNIV]SE1
%"O ! LL />S4 ,TWO OR ?REE ,MORLOCKS
CAME BL"U+ 96ME1 & ,I DROVE !M (F ) BL[S
( MY FI/S1 TREMBL+ Z ,I DID S4
  8,=! MO/ "P ( T NI<T ,I 0 P]SUAD$ X 0
A NI<TM>E4 ,I BIT MYF & SCR1M$ 9 A
PAS.NATE DESIRE 6AWAKE4 ,I B1T ! GR.D )
MY H&S1 & GOT UP & SAT D[N AG1 & W&]$ "H
& "!1 & AG SAT D[N4 ,!N ,I WD FALL 6RU2+
MY EYES & CALL+ ^U ,GOD 6LET ME AWAKE4
,?RICE ,I SAW ,MORLOCKS PUT _! H1DS D[N
9 A K9D ( AGONY & RU% 96! FLAMES4 ,B1 AT
LA/1 ABV ! SUBSID+ R$ (! FIRE1 ABV !
/R1M+ MASSES ( BLACK SMOKE &! :IT5+ &
BLACK5+ TREE /UMPS1 &! DIM9I%+ NUMB]S (
^! DIM CR1TURES1 CAME ! :ITE LI<T (! "D4
  8,I SE>*$ AG = TRACES ( ,WE5A1 B "! 7
N"O4 ,X 0 PLA9 T !Y _H LEFT H] POOR LL
BODY 9 ! =E/4 ,I _C DESCRIBE H[ X
RELIEV$ ME 6?9K T X _H ESCAP$ ! AW;L
FATE 6: X SEEM$ DE/9$4 ,Z ,I ?"\ ( T1 ,I
0 ALM MOV$ 62G9 A MASSACRE (! HELP.S
ABOM9,NS AB ME1 B ,I 3TA9$ MYF4 ,!
HILLOCK1 Z ,I H SD1 0 A K9D ( ISL& 9 !
=E/4 ,F XS SUMMIT ,I CD N[ MAKE \ "? A
HAZE ( SMOKE ! ,PALACE ( ,GRE5
,PORCELA91 & F T ,I CD GET MY BE>+S =!
,:ITE ,SPH9X4 ,& S1 L1V+ ! REMNANT ( ^!
DAMN$ S\LS / GO+ HI!R & ?I!R & MOAN+1 Z
! "D GREW CLE>]1 ,I TI$ "S GRASS AB MY
FEET & LIMP$ ON ACR SMOK+ A%ES & AM;G
BLACK /EMS1 T / PULSAT$ 9T]N,Y ) FIRE1
T[>DS ! HID+-PLACE (! ,"T ,MA*9E4 ,I
WALK$ SL[LY1 = ,I 0 ALM EXHAU/$1 Z WELL
Z LAME1 & ,I FELT ! 9T5SE/ WRET*$;S =!
HORRI# D1? ( LL ,WE5A4 ,X SEEM$ AN
OV]:ELM+ CALAM;Y4 ,N[1 9 ? OLD FAMILI>
ROOM1 X IS M L ! SORR[ (A DR1M ?AN AN
ACTUAL LOSS4 ,B T MORN+ X LEFT ME
ABSOLUTELY L"OLY AG--T]RIBLY AL"O4 ,I
2GAN 6?9K ( ? H\SE ( M9E1 ( ? FIRESIDE1
( "S ( Y1 &) S* ?"\S CAME A L;G+ T 0
PA94
  8,B Z ,I WALK$ OV] ! SMOK+ A%ES "U !
B"R MORN+ SKY1 ,I MADE A 4COV]Y4 ,9 MY
TR\S] POCKET 7 / "S LOOSE MAT*ES4 ,! BOX
M/ H L1K$ 2F X 0 LO/4