,,W> ,,( ,,! ,,_WS

              ,,*APT] ,,T5
             ,,9 ,,! ,,/ORM

  ,L1!RH1D IS AB TWELVE MILES F ,MAYBURY
,HILL4 ,! SC5T ( HAY 0 9 ! AIR "? ! LU%
M1D[S 2Y ,PYR=D1 &! H$GES ON EI SIDE 7
SWEET & GAY ) MULTITUDES ( DOG-ROSES4 ,!
H1VY FIR+ T _H BROK5 \ :ILE WE 7 DRIV+
D[N ,MAYBURY ,HILL C1S$ Z ABRUPTLY Z X
2GAN1 L1V+ ! EV5+ V P1CE;L & /4 ,WE GOT
6,L1!RH1D )\T MISADV5TURE AB N9E O'C1 &!
HORSE _H AN H\R'S RE/ :ILE ,I TOOK SUPP]
) MY C\S9S & -M5D$ MY WIFE 6_! C>E4
  ,MY WIFE 0 CURI\SLY SIL5T "?\T !
DRIVE1 & SEEM$ OPPRESS$ ) =EBOD+S (
EVIL4 ,I TALK$ 6H] REASSUR+LY1 PO9T+ \ T
! ,M>TIANS 7 TI$ 6! ,PIT 0%E] H1VI;S1 &
AT ! UTMO/ CD B CRAWL A LL \ ( X2 B %E
ANSW]$ ONLY 9 MONOSYLLA#S4 ,_H X N BE5 =
MY PROMISE 6! 9NKEEP]1 %E WD1 ,I ?9K1 H
URG$ ME 6/AY 9 ,L1!RH1D T NI<T4 ,WD T ,I
_H6 ,H] FACE1 ,I REMEMB]1 0 V :ITE Z WE
"P$4
  ,= MY [N "P1 ,I _H BE5 FEV]I%LY EXCIT$
ALL "D4 ,"S?+ V L ! W> FEV] T O3A.N,Y
RUNS "? A CIVILIS$ -MUN;Y _H GOT 96MY
BLOOD1 & 9 MY HE>T ,I 0 N S V SORRY T ,I
_H 6RETURN 6,MAYBURY T NI<T4 ,I 0 EV5
AFRAID T T LA/ FUSILLADE ,I _H HE>D MI<T
M1N ! EXT]M9,N ( \R 9VAD]S F ,M>S4 ,I C
BE/ EXPRESS MY /ATE ( M9D 0SAY+ T ,I
WANT$ 6BE 9 AT ! D1?4
  ,X 0 NE>LY ELEV5 :5 ,I />T$ 6RETURN4
,! NI<T 0 UNEXPECT$LY D>K2 6ME1 WALK+ \
(! LI<T$ PASSAGE ( MY C\S9S' H\SE1 X
SEEM$ 9DE$ BLACK1 & X 0 Z HOT & CLOSE Z
! "D4 ,OV]H1D ! CL\DS 7 DRIV+ FA/1
ALBEIT N A BR1? /IRR$ ! %RUBS AB U4 ,MY
C\S9S' MAN LIT BO? LAMPS4 ,HAPPILY1 ,I
KNEW ! ROAD 9TIMATELY4 ,MY WIFE /OOD 9 !
LI<T (! DOORWAY1 & WAT*$ ME UNTIL ,I
JUMP$ UP 96! DOG C>T4 ,!N ABRUPTLY %E
TURN$ & W5T IN1 L1V+ MY C\S9S SIDE 0SIDE
WI%+ ME GD HAP4
  ,I 0 A LL DEPRESS$ AT F/ )! 3TAGION (
MY WIFE'S FE>S1 B V SOON MY ?"\S REV]T$
6! ,M>TIANS4 ,AT T "T ,I 0 ABSOLUTELY 9
! D>K Z 6! C\RSE (! EV5+'S FI<T+4 ,I DID
N "K EV5 ! CIRCUM/.ES T _H PRECIPITAT$ !
3FLICT4 ,Z ,I CAME "? ,OCKHAM 7= T 0 !
WAY ,I RETURN$1 & N "? ,S5D & ,OLD
,WOK+7 ,I SAW AL;G ! WE/]N HORIZON A
BLOOD-R$ GL[1 : Z ,I DREW NE>]1 CREPT
SL[LY UP ! SKY4 ,! DRIV+ CL\DS (! GA!R+
?"U/ORM M+L$ "! ) MASSES ( BLACK & R$
SMOKE4
  ,RIPLEY ,/REET 0 DES]T$1 & EXCEPT =A
LI<T$ W9D[ OR S ! VILLAGE %[$ N A SIGN (
LIFE2 B ,I N>R[LY ESCAP$ AN A3ID5T AT !
CORN] (! ROAD 6,PYR=D1 ": A KNOT ( P
/OOD ) _! BACKS 6ME4 ,!Y SD NO?+ 6ME Z
,I PASS$4 ,I D N "K :AT !Y KNEW (! ?+S
HAPP5+ 2Y ! HILL1 NOR D ,I "K IF ! SIL5T
H\SES ,I PASS$ ON MY WAY 7 SLEEP+
SECURELY1 OR DES]T$ & EMPTY1 OR H>ASS$ &
WAT*+ AG/ ! T]ROR (! NI<T4
  ,F ,RIPLEY UNTIL ,I CAME "? ,PYR=D ,I
0 9 ! VALLEY (! ,WEY1 &! R$ GL>E 0 HI45
F ME4 ,Z ,I ASC5D$ ! LL HILL 2Y ,PYR=D
,*UR* ! GL>E CAME 96VIEW AG1 &! TREES AB
ME %IV]$ )! F/ 9TIM,N (! /ORM T 0 ^U ME4
,!N ,I HE>D MIDNI<T P1L+ \ F ,PYR=D
,*UR* 2H ME1 & !N CAME ! SILH\ETTE (
,MAYBURY ,HILL1 ) XS TREETOPS & RO(S
BLACK & %>P AG/ ! R$4
  ,EV5 Z ,I 2HELD ? A LURID GRE5 GL>E
LIT ! ROAD AB ME & %[$ ! 4TANT WOODS
T[>DS ,A4LE/"O4 ,I FELT A TUG AT ! RE9S4
,I SAW T ! DRIV+ CL\DS _H BE5 PI]C$ Z X
7 0A ?R1D ( GRE5 FIRE1 SU45LY LI<T+ _!
3FU.N & FALL+ 96! FIELD 6MY LEFT4 ,X 0 !
?IRD FALL+ />6
  ,CLOSE ON XS APP>I;N1 & BL9D+LY VIOLET
03TRA/1 D.ED \ ! F/ LI<TN+ (! GA!R+
/ORM1 &! ?"U BUR/ L A ROCKET OV]H1D4 ,!
HORSE TOOK ! BIT 2T 8 TEE? & BOLT$4
  ,A MOD]ATE 9CL9E RUNS T[>DS ! FOOT (
,MAYBURY ,HILL1 & D[N ? WE CLATT]$4
,ONCE ! LI<TN+ _H 2GUN1 X W5T ON 9 Z
RAPID A SU3ES.N ( FLA%ES Z ,I H "E SE54
,! ?"UCLAPS1 TR1D+ "O ON ! HEELS ( ANO!R
&)A /RANGE CRACKL+ A3OMPANI;T1 S.D$ M L
! "W+ (A GIGANTIC ELECTRIC MA*9E ?AN !
USUAL DETONAT+ REV]B],NS4 ,! FLICK]+
LI<T 0 BL9D+ & 3FUS+1 &A ?9 HAIL SMOTE
GU/ILY AT MY FACE Z ,I DROVE D[N !
SLOPE4
  ,AT F/ ,I REG>D$ LL B ! ROAD 2F ME1 &
!N ABRUPTLY MY ATT5;N 0 >RE/$ 0"S?+ T 0
MOV+ RAPIDLY D[N ! OPPOSITE SLOPE (
,MAYBURY ,HILL4 ,AT F/ ,I TOOK X =! WET
RO( (A H\SE1 B "O FLA% FOLL[+ ANO!R %[$
X 6BE 9 SWIFT ROLL+ MOVE;T4 ,X 0 AN
ELUSIVE VI.N--A MO;T ( 2WILD]+ D>K;S1 &
!N1 9 A FLA% L "DLI<T1 ! R$ MASSES (!
,ORPHANAGE NE> ! CRE/ (! HILL1 ! GRE5
TOPS (! P9E TREES1 & ? PRO#MATICAL
OBJECT CAME \ CLE> & %>P & B"R4
  ,& ? ,?+ ,I SAW6 ,H[ C ,I DESCRIBE X8
,A MON/R\S TRIPOD1 HI<] ?AN _M H\SES1
/RID+ OV] ! "Y P9E TREES1 & SMA%+ !M
ASIDE 9 XS C>E]2 A WALK+ 5G9E ( GLITT]+
METAL1 /RID+ N[ ACR ! H1!R2 >TICULATE
ROPES ( /EEL DANGL+ F X1 &! CLATT]+
TUMULT ( XS PASSAGE M+L+ )! RIOT (! ?"U4
,A FLA%1 & X CAME \ VIVIDLY1 HEEL+ OV]
"O WAY ) TWO FEET 9 ! AIR1 6VANI% &
REAPPE> ALM 9/ANTLY Z X SEEM$1 )! NEXT
FLA%1 A HUNDR$ Y>DS NE>]4 ,C Y IMAG9E A
MILK+ /OOL TILT$ & B[L$ VIOL5TLY AL;G !
GR.D8 ,T 0 ! IMPRES.N ^? 9/ANT FLA%ES
GAVE4 ,B 9/1D (A MILK+ /OOL IMAG9E X A
GRT BODY ( MA*9]Y ON A TRIPOD /&4
  ,!N SU45LY ! TREES 9 ! P9E WOOD AH1D (
ME 7 "P$1 Z BRITTLE RE$S >E "P$ 0A MAN
?RU/+ "? !M2 !Y 7 SNAPP$ (F & DRIV5
H1DL;G1 &A SECOND HUGE TRIPOD APPE>$1
RU%+1 Z X SEEM$1 H1DL;G T[>DS ME4 ,& ,I
0 GALLOP+ H>D 6MEET X6 ,AT ! SI<T (!
SECOND MON/] MY N]VE W5T ALT4 ,N /OPP+
6LOOK AG1 ,I WR5*$ ! HORSE'S H1D H>D R.D
6! "R & 9 ANO!R MO;T ! DOG C>T _H HEEL$
OV] ^U ! HORSE2 ! %AFTS SMA%$ NOISILY1 &
,I 0 FLUNG SIDEWAYS & FELL H1VILY 96A
%ALL[ POOL ( WAT]4
  ,I CRAWL$ \ ALM IMMLY1 & CR\*$1 MY
FEET / 9 ! WAT]1 "U A CLUMP ( FURZE4 ,!
HORSE LAY MO;N.S 7HIS NECK 0 BROK51 POOR
BRUTE67 & 0! LI<TN+ FLA%ES ,I SAW !
BLACK BULK (! OV]TURN$ DOG C>T &!
SILH\ETTE (! :EEL / SP9N+ SL[LY4 ,9
ANO!R MO;T ! COLOSSAL ME*ANISM W5T /RID+
0ME1 & PASS$ UPHILL T[>DS ,PYR=D4
  ,SE5 NE>]1 ! ,?+ 0 9CR$IBLY /RANGE1 =
X 0 NO M]E 9S5SATE MA*9E DRIV+ ON XS
WAY4 ,MA*9E X WAS1 )A R++ METALLIC PACE1
& L;G1 FLEXI#1 GLITT]+ T5TACLES 7"O ( :
GRIPP$ A "Y P9E TREE7 SW++ & RATTL+ AB
XS /RANGE BODY4 ,X PICK$ XS ROAD Z X W5T
/RID+ AL;G1 &! BRAZ5 HOOD T SURM.T$ X
MOV$ 6& FRO )! 9EVITA# SU7ES;N (A H1D
LOOK+ AB4 ,2H ! MA9 BODY 0 A HUGE MASS (
:ITE METAL L A GIGANTIC FI%]MAN'S
BASKET1 & PU6S ( GRE5 SMOKE SQUIRT$ \ F
! JO9TS (! LIMBS Z ! MON/] SWEPT 0ME4 ,&
9 AN 9/ANT X 0 G"O4
  ,S M* ,I SAW !N1 ALL VAGUELY =!
FLICK]+ (! LI<TN+1 9 BL9D+ HI<LI<TS &
D5SE BLACK %AD[S4
  ,Z X PASS$ X SET UP AN EXULTANT D1F5+
H[L T DR[N$ ! ?"U--8,ALOO6 ,ALOO60--& 9
ANO!R M9UTE X 0 ) XS -PANION1 HALF A
MILE AWAY1 /OOP+ OV] "S?+ 9 ! FIELD4 ,I
H NO D\BT ? ,?+ 9 ! FIELD 0 ! ?IRD (! T5
CYL9D]S !Y _H FIR$ AT U F ,M>S4
  ,= "S M9UTES ,I LAY "! 9 ! RA9 & D>K;S
WAT*+1 0! 9T]MITT5T LI<T1 ^! MON/R\S 2+S
( METAL MOV+ AB 9 ! 4T.E OV] ! H$GE
TOPS4 ,A ?9 HAIL 0 N[ 2G9N+1 & Z X CAME
& W5T _! FIGURES GREW MI/Y & !N FLA%$
96CLE>;S AG4 ,N[ & !N CAME A GAP 9 !
LI<TN+1 &! NI<T SWALL[$ !M UP4
  ,I 0 SOAK$ ) HAIL ABV & PU4LE WAT] 2L4
,X 0 "S "T 2F MY BLANK A/ONI%;T WD LET
ME /RU7LE UP ! BANK 6A DRI] POSI;N1 OR
?9K AT ALL ( MY IMM95T P]IL4
  ,N F> F ME 0 A LL "O-ROOM$ SQUATT]'S
HUT ( WOOD1 SURR.D$ 0A PAT* ( POTATO
G>D54 ,I /RU7L$ 6MY FEET AT LA/1 &1
CR\*+ & MAK+ USE ( E *.E ( COV]1 ,I MADE
A RUN = ?4 ,I HAMM]$ AT ! DOOR1 B ,I CD
N MAKE ! P HE> 7IF "! 7 ANY P 9SIDE71 &
AF A "T ,I DESI/$1 &1 AVAIL+ MYF (A DIT*
=! GRT] "P (! WAY1 SU3E$$ 9 CRAWL+1
UNOBS]V$ 0^! MON/R\S MA*9ES1 96! P9E
WOODS T[>DS ,MAYBURY4
  ,"U COV] ( ? ,I PU%$ ON1 WET & %IV]+
N[1 T[>DS MY [N H\SE4 ,I WALK$ AM;G !
TREES TRY+ 6F9D ! FOOTPA?4 ,X 0 V D>K
9DE$ 9 ! WOOD1 =! LI<TN+ 0 N[ 2COM+
9FREQU5T1 &! HAIL1 : 0 P\R+ D[N 9 A
TORR5T1 FELL 9 COLUMNS "? ! GAPS 9 !
H1VY FOLIAGE4
  ,IF ,I _H FULLY R1LIS$ ! M1N+ ( ALL !
?+S ,I _H SE5 ,I %D H IMMLY "W$ MY WAY
R.D "? ,BYFLEET 6,/REET ,COBHAM1 & S G"O
BACK 6REJO9 MY WIFE AT ,L1!RH1D4 ,B T
NI<T ! /RANGE;S ( ?+S AB ME1 & MY
PHYSICAL WRET*$;S1 PREV5T$ ME1 = ,I 0
BRUIS$1 WE>Y1 WET 6! SK91 D1F5$ & BL9D$
0! /ORM4
  ,I _H A VAGUE IDEA ( GO+ ON 6MY [N
H\SE1 & T 0 Z M* MOTIVE Z ,I _H4 ,I
/A7]$ "? ! TREES1 FELL 96A DIT* & BRUIS$
MY KNEES AG/ A PLANK1 & F9,Y SPLA%$ \
96! LANE T RAN D[N F ! ,COLLEGE ,>MS4 ,I
SAY SPLA%$1 =! /ORM WAT] 0 SWEEP+ ! S&
D[N ! HILL 9 A MU4Y TORR5T4 ,"! 9 !
D>K;S A MAN BL"U$ 96ME & S5T ME REEL+
BACK4
  ,HE GAVE A CRY ( T]ROR1 SPRANG
SIDEWAYS1 & RU%$ ON 2F ,I CD GA!R MY
WITS SU6ICI5TLY 6SP1K 6HM4 ,S H1VY 0 !
/RESS (! /ORM J AT ? PLACE T ,I _H !
H>DE/ TASK 6W9 MY WAY UP ! HILL4 ,I W5T
CLOSE UP 6! F;E ON ! LEFT & "W$ MY WAY
AL;G XS PAL+S4
  ,NE> ! TOP ,I /UM#D ^U "S?+ S(T1 &1 0A
FLA% ( LI<TN+1 SAW 2T MY FEET A H1P (
BLACK BROADCLO? &A PAIR ( BOOTS4 ,2F ,I
CD 4T+UI% CLE>LY H[ ! MAN LAY1 ! FLICK]
( LI<T _H PASS$4 ,I /OOD OV] HM WAIT+ =!
NEXT FLA%4 ,:5 X CAME1 ,I SAW T HE 0 A
/URDY MAN1 *1PLY B N %A2ILY DRESS$2 8
H1D 0 B5T "U 8 BODY1 & HE LAY CRUMPL$ UP
CLOSE 6! F;E1 Z ?\< HE _H BE5 FLUNG
VIOL5TLY AG/ X4
  ,OV]COM+ ! REPUGN.E NATURAL 6"O :O _H
N"E 2F T\*$ A D1D BODY1 ,I /OOP$ & TURN$
HM OV] 6FEEL = 8 HE>T4 ,HE 0 Q D1D4
,APP>5TLY 8 NECK _H BE5 BROK54 ,! LI<TN+
FLA%$ =A ?IRD "T1 & 8 FACE L1P$ ^U ME4
,I SPRANG 6MY FEET4 ,X 0 ! L&"L (!
,SPOTT$ ,DOG1 ^: 3VEY.E ,I _H TAK54
  ,I /EPP$ OV] HM G+]LY & PU%$ ON UP !
HILL4 ,I MADE MY WAY 0! POLICE /,N &!
,COLLEGE ,>MS T[>DS MY [N H\SE4 ,NO?+ 0
BURN+ ON ! HILLSIDE1 ?\< F ! -MON "! /
CAME A R$ GL>E &A ROLL+ TUMULT ( RU4Y
SMOKE B1T+ UP AG/ ! DR5*+ HAIL4 ,S F> Z
,I CD SEE 0! FLA%ES1 ! H\SES AB ME 7
MO/LY UN9JUR$4 ,0! ,COLLEGE ,>MS A D>K
H1P LAY 9 ! ROAD4
  ,D[N ! ROAD T[>DS ,MAYBURY ,BRIDGE "!
7 VOICES &! S.D ( FEET1 B ,I _H N !
C\RAGE 6%\T OR 6G 6!M4 ,I LET MYF 9 ) MY
LAT*KEY1 CLOS$1 LOCK$ & BOLT$ ! DOOR1
/A7]$ 6! FOOT (! /AIRCASE1 & SAT D[N4
,MY IMAG9,N 0 FULL ( ^? /RID+ METALLIC
MON/]S1 &(! D1D BODY SMA%$ AG/ ! F;E4
  ,I CR\*$ AT ! FOOT (! /AIRCASE ) MY
BACK 6! WALL1 %IV]+ VIOL5TLY4