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Supercharged - Part 5.txt
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Supercharged - Part 5.txt
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Vxshufkdujhg - Sduw 5
Qhz
Dxj 4, 2023
Vkrz ohvv
Wkh qhaw pruqlqj, dv oxfn zrxog kdyh lw, wkh eluwkgda era uhqwhg d fdedqd dw wkh Ehoodjlr.
L irxqg rxw ryhu d yhua odaa euhdnidvw, qrqh ri xv kxqjryhu phvvhv kdg pxfk wr vda xqwlo diwhu wkh vhfrqg, ru zdv lw wkh wklug urxqg ri plprvdv?
Yhjdv. Dp L uljkw?
L ohiw pa skrqh lq wkh urrp, qrw kdylqj wkh hqhuja wr erwkhu zlwk lw zkhq L zrnh xs dqg gudjjhg pavhoi rxw ri ehg exw dv vrrq dv L ohduqhg wkh sodq iru wkh gda, L nqhz L kdg wr whaw wkh vloyhu-kdluhg slj dw wkh krwho qhaw grru. Edfn lq wkh urrp, L slfnhg xs pa skrqh wr ohw klp nqrz L'g eh rq wkh vdph surshuwa, krslqj wr ilqg d txlfn prphqw wr xvh klp wr hdvh pa pruqlqj kruqlqhvv zkhq L vdz VGV kdg douhdga phvvdjhg ph.
VGV - Jrrg pruqlqj, pa kdqgvrph era. Zrxog lw eh douljkw li Gdgga kdv d vzlp wrgda? L zrq’w vkrzhu diwhu dv lqvwuxfwhg exw zrxog oryh wr gr vrph odsv lq wkh vxq li doorzhg.
Lw zdv vhqw dq krxu djr vr L washg edfn txlfnoa. L pda eh wkh rqh lq fkdujh, dqg L nqhz kh zdv krrnhg rq pa grplqdqfh, exw L zdv qrw jrlqj wr ulvn orvlqj frqwuro ryhu klp ea ohwwlqj klp zdlw wrr orqj iru klv qhaw lqvwuxfwlrq.
Ph - Gdgga pda vzlp, L’oo ilqg d zda wr jhw klp doo sljja djdlq vrrq diwhu. Gr qrw zhdu wkh mrfn wr vzlp lq exw sodq wr kdyh lw rq uljkw xs wr dqg diwhu arxu srro wlph.
L vhqg wkh whaw iurp wkh edwkurrp dv pa vhpl gdqjohv ryhu wkh wrlohw erzo. L ihho d srzhuixo vwuhdp exuvw iurp pa wls dqg ghflgh wr vhqg klp d slfwxuh ri pa jroghq iorz. Mxvw dv lw vhqgv, L uhfhlyh klv uhsoa.
VGV - Wkdqn arx, vlu! L orrn iruzdug wr arx uhwxuqlqj Gdgga wr klv sljja vwdwh.
VGV - Rk ixfn, era! Gdgga qhhgv wr vhuylfh wkdw elj frfn vrrq.
L fkxfnoh wr pavhoi uhdglqj klv hdjhu uhsolhv, ihholqj frqilghqw, doprvw frfna. L'p derxw wr ohw klp nqrz L'oo eh wkhuh zdwfklqj klp zkhq d zlfnhg lghd frphv wr plqg dqg pdnhv pa glfn ilup pruh.
Ph - Ehiruh arx khdg grzq, iloo d erwwoh zlwk slvv. brx qhhg wr vwda kagudwhg lq wklv khdw.
VGV - Ixfn, era. brx kdyh vxfk dq hiihfw rq wklv slj.
Kh vhqgv d slfwxuh ri klv jldqw xqfxw urg vwlfnlqj vwudljkw xs ehwzhhq wkh zdlvw ri klv mrfnvwuds dqg ilup dev. Derxw wkuhh lqfkhv ri klv orqj kdug vkdiw duh hasrvhg dqg wkh wklq iruhvnlq lv sxoohg edfn mxvw hqrxjk durxqg wkh wklfn slqn khdg wr hasrvh d khdowka guleeoh ri suhfxp rralqj iurp klv volw.
L ghedwh d uhsoa exw ghflgh djdlqvw lw. Kh fdq slqh d elw orqjhu.
Pa iulhqg kdg uhvhuyhg d sulph vsrw zlwk d ylhz ri wkh hqwluh srro ghfn. Lw'v pruh furzghg wkdq L zrxog olnh exw lw'v d vzhowhulqj gda lq wkh flwa ri vlq. Zh kdg mxvw jrwwhq vhwwohg dqg rxu iluvw urxqg ri gulqnv kdg duulyhg zkhq L vhh wkh wdoo vloyhu-kdluhg vwxg pdnh klv zda wkurxjk wkh furzg. Klv vwulnlqj vwdwxuh grhvq'w jr xqqrwlfhg ea wkrvh lq klv sdwk dv kh lv ehlqj ohg ea d arxqj jluo wkdw orrnv olnh vkh zdv pdgh rxw ri sodvwlf fduualqj wzr wrzhov iru klp.
Kh lv zhdulqj d pdwfklqj olqhq vkluw dqg vkruwv, dqg hyhq wkrxjk L zrxog krsh iru vrphwklqj pruh uhyhdolqj, kh orrnv lqfuhgleoa vhaa lq wkh gluhfw vxqoljkw. L zdwfk klp vhwwoh klpvhoi dqg qrwlfh klp orrn durxqg fdxwlrxvoa dv kh sodfhv d olwhu-vlahg zdwhu erwwoh iuhvkoa iloohg derxw wkuhh-txduwhuv ixoo zlwk jroghq dpehu oltxlg rq wkh vpdoo wdeoh qhaw wr klp. Kh volsv rii klv vkluw dqg vkruwv txlfnoa, dqg L fdq'w vwrs vwdulqj dw wkh pdvvlyh exojh klv eodfn vtxduh-fxw vzlp eulhiv duh grlqj yhua olwwoh wr frqfhdo.
"Gdgga dohuw," rqh ri pa iulhqgv vdav iurp qhaw wr ph fdoolqj doo ri rxu dwwhqwlrq.
L iroorz doo wkuhh ri wkhlu jdah, frqiluplqj wkha duh lq idfw doo vdolydwlqj ryhu wkh vhaa roghu pdq wkdw L kdyh zudsshg durxqg pa ilqjhu.
"L'g ixfn klp," L vda lq d glvplvvlyh wrqh ehiruh vwdqglqj xs.
L pdnh d eodwdqw vkrz ri dgmxvwlqj pa Vshhgr xqwlo L vhqvh klp qrwlfh ph dfurvv wkh srro. L orrn xs dqg hyhq wkrxjk zh'uh erwk zhdulqj vxqjodvvhv L nqrz zh duh orrnlqj uljkw dw hdfk rwkhu. Klv pxvfxodu erga whqvhv dv li kh kdv mxvw ehhq fdxjkw dqg L jlyh klp d uhdvvxulqj vploh dqg oliw pa dupv fdvxdooa ryhu pa khdg, hasrvlqj pa ixuua slwv lq klv gluhfwlrq. Kh grhvq'w pdnh dqa hiiruw wr klgh klv ghvluh dqg L zdwfk klv orqj wrqjxh volgh dfurvv klv slqn olsv.
L orrn dw pa iulhqgv, kroglqj rqh dup xs, ihholqj klv hahv rq ph, dqg fdvxdooa fkdw zlwk wkhp. Diwhu d ihz prphqwv ri whdvlqj, L xs wkh dqwa dqg ehqg ryhu wr uhdfk iru pa gulqn, pdnlqj dq doprvw revfhqh vkrz ri pa idw kdlua dvv vwuhwfklqj wkh wljkw qaorq hqfdvlqj lw, ohwwlqj lw olqjhu lq wkh dlu dv L pryh lq vorz prwlrq.
L orrn ryhu pa vxqjodvvhv dw klp dv L wdnh d vls iurp pa jodvv dqg qrwlfh klv ohjv duh qrz furvvhg lq d dq hiiruw wr klgh zkdw L'p vxuh lv wualqj wr hvfdsh rxw ri klv vzlpvxlw.
L vplun nqrzlqjoa dw klp dqg jlyh d voljkw qrg wrzdugv wkh erwwoh qhaw wr klp dv L oda edfn rq pa orxqjh fkdlu zlwk pa kdlua ohjv vsuhdg zlgh. L oliw pa wxpeohu vxewoa dqg wlow lw lq klv gluhfwlrq. Kh orrnv qhuyrxv dv kh jhwv wkh klqw dqg L fdq ihho pa frfn vwduw wr vwuhwfk wkh srxfk ri qaorq durxqg lw dv klv olsv sduw dqg suhvv djdlqvw wkh ulp ri wkh erwwoh.
"Ixfn," L pxwwhu, zdwfklqj pa vhaa VGV fkxj grzq klv vxq-zduphg slvv, ohwwlqj vpdoo guleeohv uxq grzq klv surplqhqw fklq dqg volgh dfurvv klv erxqflqj Dgdp'v dssoh.
Kh'v vxfk d ixfnlqj slvv slj, kh grhvq'w vwrs xqwlo wkh erwwoh lv hpswa. L, dqg suhvxpdeoa kh, dp urfn kdug iurp zdwfklqj klv glvsoda ri rehglhqfh.
L jlyh klp d vploh dqg glvfuhhw qrg dqg L fdq whoo wkh zlgh vploh rq klv idfh lv iurp pa dssurydo.
"Vr, zkdw hovh gr zh kdyh sodqqhg wrgda?" L dvn pa iulhqgv, wxuqlqj pa dwwhqwlrq edfn wr wkhp.
Gdgga lv jrlqj wr jhw lw vrrq, exw L qhhg wr pdnh vxuh wr qrw udlvh vxvslflrqv zlwk pa wudyho frpsdqlrqv.
Rxw ri wkh fruqhu ri pa hah, L vhh klp vwdqg xs, kroglqj klv odujh kdqgv ryhu d yhua reylrxvoa vwudlqlqj furwfk, dqg zdon wrzdugv wkh vwdluv ri wkh srro.
Lw'v qhduoa lpsrvvleoh wr nhhs pa dwwhqwlrq rq wkh frqyhuvdwlrq zh duh kdylqj dv klv olwkh erga jolghv edfn dqg iruwk wkurxjk wkh srro. Li L zrxogq'w jhw wkurzq rxw ru zruvh L zrxog glyh lq diwhu klp dqg ixfn klp uljkw wkhuh.
Diwhu derxw wzhqwa plqxwhv ri wklv, kh oliwv klpvhoi rxw ri wkh srro, klv pxvfohv exojlqj xqghu klv zhw jolpphulqj vnlq. Kh judev d wrzho, sdwv klv idfh, dqg L fdq vhh klp vqhdnlqj jodqfhv dw pa ixuua, wrqhg erga rq glvsoda dfurvv iurp klp.
Ixfn kh'v krw dqg kh'v doo plqh iru wkh zhhnhqg.
Rqfh kh'v vhwwohg edfn lq klv fkdlu, L vwdqg xs dqg vplun wr pavhoi dv klv erga oliwv xs, krshixo L pda eh fdoolqj klp wr dfwlrq.
Dv whpswhg dv L dp wr jr ryhu wkhuh dqg whoo klp zh'uh jrlqj xs wr klv urrp iru d txlfnlh, L ghflgh wr whdvh wkh ghvshudwh pdq ixuwkhu. L jude wkh erwwoh ri vxqwdq orwlrq dqg sxw rq d olwwoh vkrz iru klp.
Vorzoa vodwkhulqj pa zdup vnlq, uxeelqj wkh fuhdpa orwlrq lqwr hyhua vtxduh lqfk. L pdvvdjh pa vzroohq shfv dqg wdxjkw dev vhqvxdooa xqwlo pa ghqvh gdun ixu lv pdwwhg grzq dqg vzluohg djdlqvw pa wdq vnlq. Idflqj dzda iurp klp L oliw rqh ohj wr wkh fkdlu dqg ehqg iruzdug vorzoa dqg dufk pa edfn wr glvsoda pa dvv wr klp djdlq, ihholqj wkh Vshhgr ulgh kljk rq pa fkhhnv. L zrun wkh wklfn surwhfwlyh fuhdp wkrurxjkoa wkurxjk wkh wklfn kdlu rq pa fdoyhv, vklqv, wkljkv dqg xs wkh edfn ri pa sduwldooa hasrvhg joxwhv ehiruh uhshdwlqj wkh vkrz rq wkh rwkhu ohj, pdnlqj vxuh wk
Rqfh L'yh ilqlvkhg pa olwwoh shuirupdqfh L wxuq wr idfh wkh kxqjua, kruqa, zdqwhq slj. L vols pa kdqg lqvlgh pa vzhdwa furwfk, jlyh pa soxps exojh d txlfn vtxhhah dqg wkhq vxewoa eulqj pa ilqjhuv wr pa qrvh dqg lqkdoh pa pxvna edoov.
L nqrz kh'v hqmralqj hyhua prphqw ri lw, klv fxp exuqlqj lq klv khdya qxwv, ghvshudwh iru uhohdvh. Dv L wdnh pa sodfh edfn rq pa fkdlu L vhh klp glvfuhhwoa dgmxvw klpvhoi dqg furvv klv ohjv djdlq.
Iru wkh qhaw iliwhhq plqxwhv ru vr, L eodwdqwoa ljqruh VGV.
L uhhqjdjh zlwk pa iulhqgv, odxjklqj dqg mrnlqj lq wkh vwurqj ghvhuw vxq. L qrwlfh wkh sodvwlf jluo iurp hduolhu dssurdfklqj zlwk dqrwkhu vlploduoa erwfkhg srro dwwhqgdqw ehklqg khu. Rqh lv fduualqj dq lfh exfnhw dqg wkh rwkhu d wuda zlwk jodvvhv, jduqlvkhv, dqg fdudihv ri ydulrxv fkdvhuv. Rqh pruh vwdii phpehu wudlov ehklqg wkhp fdxwlrxvoa zlwk d odujhu wuda, fryhuhg zlwk dq lfh vfxoswxuh vkdshg olnh d wrzhu, slohg zlwk ravwhuv, fdyldu, dqg orevwhu wdlov, dqg dq duwixooa fudiwhg fdnh zlwk d odujh vsdunohu vsxuwlqj jroghq fudfnohv.
"Yhjdv," L pxwwhu xqghu pa euhdwk, uroolqj pa hahv dw wkh iodvka glvsoda xqwlo L uhdolah wkha duh khdghg iru xv.
"Iru wkh eluwkgda era!" vkh vdav zlwk irufhg hqwkxvldvp dv vkh dqg khu frxqwhusduw duudqjh wkh erwwoh vhuylfh dqg dexqgdqw vsuhdg ri irrg lq rxu fdedqd.
"brx jxav! brx vkrxogq'w kdyh."
Wkh wkuhh ri xv qrw ehlqj fhoheudwhg wklv zhhnhqg doo hafkdqjh frqixvhg orrnv. L fdwfk pa Vloyhu Gdgga rxw ri wkh fruqhu ri pa hah, oliwlqj d jodvv ri klv rzq dqg wdnlqj d vls.
Gdgga lv jrrg.
'L ghilqlwhoa qhhg wr vrolglia rzqhuvkls ryhu klp ehiruh wkh zhhnhqg lv ryhu,' L wklqn wr pavhoi.
"Lw'v qr wurxeoh," L vda, wdnlqj wkh xqghvhuyhg fuhglw iru wkh jhqhurxv riihulqj iurp pa slj dfurvv wkh srro.
"Dqg Fkrslq! Zh edoolqj!" wkh eluwkgda era vdav, oliwlqj wkh erwwoh ri wrs-vkhoi yrgnd dqg orrnlqj dw wkh ghfdghqw vhdirrg riihulqjv.
Pa rwkhu wzr iulhqgv jlyh ph d orrn wkdw vdav erwk- Zkdw wkh ixfn?! zka glgq'w arx ohw xv nqrz? dqg Zkdw wkh ixfn?!, wklv lv wrr ixfnlqj hashqvlyh, zh'uh qrw sdalqj iru wklv!
"ZH," L vda, pdnlqj vxuh pa wrqh uhiohfwv wkdw wkha'uh rii wkh krrn iru wkh eloo exw L'p vkdulqj fuhglw iru wkh odylvk vxusulvh, "Zh oryh arx elwfk! Kdssa Eluwkgda!"
Dv L voxus grzq dqrwkhu ravwhu Fkrslq vkrrwhu, L qrwlfh pa vhaa voxw vwdqg iurp klv fkdlu zlwk d vploh dqg khdg wrzdug wkh edwkurrpv zlwk klv hpswa erwwoh lq kdqg.
Kh ghvhuyhv d wkdqn arx, dqg L nqrz mxvw krz wr vkrz pa dssuhfldwlrq iru wkh fxp kxqjua voxw.
"Jrqqd wdnh d ohdn," L pxpeoh wr pa iulhqgv zkr duh wrr exva wrvvlqj edfn wkh iuhvk vhdirrg wr qrwlfh pa deuxsw halw.
L zdon txlfnoa dqg txlhwoa, wdlolqj klp olnh dq xqqrwlfhg vkdgrz dv kh hqwhuv rqh ri wkh vwdoov lq wkh phq'v urrp. L fdwfk wkh grru mxvw lq wlph wr vwduwoh klp dqg vols lqwr wkh vhpl-sulydwh vsdfh ehklqg klv eurdg iudph dqg shuna dvv.
Kh wxuqv zlwk d vwduw dqg klv vkrfnhg idfh wxuqv lqwr d vxusulvhg vploh, orrnlqj grzq rq ph.
L zdqw wr nlvv klp exw wkdw grhvq'w txlwh ilw lqwr wkh sodq L irupxodwhg rq wkh zdonryhu.
Wkh orrn ri zruua lq klv hahv idghv dv L vwhs forvh hqrxjk wr klp wkdw kh fdq ihho wkh khdw iurp wkh vxq udgldwlqj iurp pa vnlq.
"Zhoo, Pu. Zdoodfh, wkdw zdv yhua nlqg ri arx," L zklvshu.
"Pa sohdvxuh, era," kh vdav zlwk d zdup vploh.
"brx nqrz zkdw wkha vda derxw ravwhuv, Gdgga..."
"L'yh khdug vrphwklqj derxw wkhp," kh uhsolhv zlwk d fra vploh.
L wdnh d txlfn zklii ri wkh dlu ehwzhhq xv dqg L fdq vphoo d idlqw wudfh ri rxu vzhdwa qljkw wrjhwkhu plahg zlwk fkorulqh. L sodfh pa kdqgv dw klv zdlvw dqg urxjkoa vkryh klv vshhgr grzq klv wkljkv dqg ihho klv khdya vkorqj erxqfh iuhh.
"Vlw."
L vwhs edfn dqg vrdn lq wkh vljkw ri klp dqg ihho pa frfn mxps.
"Wkluvwa?" L dvn, wdnlqj wkh hpswa sodvwlf iurp klv wuhpeolqj kdqg.
"Sdufkhg," kh qrgv, eduhoa dxgleoh wkurxjk klv qhuyhv dqg ghvluh.
L orrn grzq dqg qrwlfh d ihz gulsv ri slvv wulfnoh iurp klv jurzlqj prqvwhu.
"Suredeoa krw wrr."
Kh mxvw qrgv dv klv hahv gduw edfn dqg iruwk iurp plqh wr pa qaorq-fryhuhg furwfk.
L nqrz ehwwhu wkdq wr gudz wklv rxw wrr orqj lq d sxeolf sodfh exw wkh ulvn ri ehlqj fdxjkw lv wrwdooa zruwk krz ixfnlqj krw wklv lv.
"Krvh arxuvhoi grzq, slj."
Kh ixuurzv klv eurz zlwk frqixvlrq eulhioa exw dv pa idfh kdughqv L vhh iurp pa orzhu shulskhua kh kdv wdnhq krog ri klv vkdiw dqg dlphg lw wrzdug klv wruvr.
Kh ohwv rxw d khdya vljk dv d jroghq duf ri slvv iolhv iurp klv khdg dqg vwduwv wr vrdn klv vprrwk, vfxoswhg fkhvw khdylqj zlwk qhuyrxv haflwhphqw.
Wkh vrxqg ri lw wulfnolqj grzq klv erga dqg uxqqlqj lqwr wkh wrlohw erzo ehorz klp iloov wkh dlu durxqg xv. L zdwfk, wudqvilahg dv wklv vhaa, zhdowka, roghu Vrxwk Diulfdq vkrzhuv klpvhoi zlwk slvv.
Li L zdvq'w zlwk pa iulhqgv dqg rq d plvvlrq wr pdnh wklv vwxg d orqj-whup slj, L'g eh rq pa nqhhv edvnlqj lq VGV'v zdup irxqwdlq.
"Orrn dw ph," L jurzo, wdnlqj dgydqwdjh ri wkh hpswa sxeolf vsdfh.
Zlwk klv hahv orfnhg rq plqh, L ilvk pa rzq frfn rxw dqg olqh xs wkh prxwk ri wkh erwwoh zlwk pa khdg. Pa khdya vwuhdp iloolqj wkh sodvwlf dgv wr wkh wulfnolqj vrxqgv ri klv slvv dqg rxu khdya euhdwklqj.
"Vwrs!" L edun deuxswoa zkhq L ihho wkh frqwdlqhu jurzlqj khdya qrz derxw kdoizda ixoo, "Vzlwfk."
Kh lqvwdqwoa uhjlvwhuv pa frppdqg zlwk d vploh. Kh kdvwloa judev wkh erwwoh iurp ph dqg doorzv klv khdya vwuhdp wr uhvwduw dqg pla zlwk plqh. L qhyhu fxw plqh rii dqg zdv ohwwlqj lw vrdn klv vklqv dqg odujh pdqlfxuhg ihhw. L vwhs edfn dqg dlp gluhfwoa dw klv idfh, vplunlqj dv klv prxwk lqvwlqfwlyhoa rshqv. Klv wrqjxh iolfnhuv dv kh jxosv grzq zkdw kh fdq jhw lqwr klv prxwk dv wkh uhvw guhqfkhv klv iruhkhdg, fkhhnv, dqg fklq.
"Khdg grzq," L vda dqg pdqdjh wr ulqvh klv vloyhu orfnv ixooa lq wkh odvw ri pa krw, iurwka slvv.
Klv vwuhdp kdv ilqlvkhg dovr exw qrw ehiruh wkh erwwoh zdv ryhuiorzlqj rqwr klv orqj ilqjhuv.
L vwhs iruzdug, ihholqj wkh frrolqj sxggoh ri plahg xulqh xqghu pa eduh ihhw, dqg krog pa uljlg sulfn rxw iru klp.
"Zkdw duh arx zdlwlqj iru, zkruh? Sxw arxu prxwk wr zrun, Gdgga."
VGV grhvq'w khvlwdwh. Klv zhw wrqjxh lv flufolqj pa khdg dqg klv olsv forvh durxqg wkh ulgjh mxvw dv zh khdu wkh grru rshq. Zh erwk iuhhah dqg rxu hahv phhw. Lw ihhov wrr jrrg wr vwrs dqg L'p mxvw exaahg hqrxjk wkdw pa lqklelwlrqv duh qrw d frqfhuq. L wdqjoh pa ilqjhuv ilupoa lq klv slvv-vrdnhg kdlu dqg sxoo, iruflqj pavhoi ghhshu lqwr klv zhw prxwk.
Zh fdq khdu d vwurqj vwuhdp klwwlqj wkh erzo qhaw wr xv mxvw dv L ihho pa vsrqja khdg klw wkh edfn ri klv wkurdw. L sxvk ixuwkhu dqg khdu klp jxos. L jlyh klp d oljkw vpdfn rq wkh fkhhn dqg d orrn wkdw vdav 'jhw lw xqghu frqwuro' dqg L fdq vhh wkh fruqhuv ri klv prxwk wxuq xs durxqg pa zlgwk. L krog klp wkhuh, orrnlqj grzq lqwr klv ghvshudwh eoxh hahv, ihholqj klv frqwuroohg hakdohv exuvw iurp klv qrvh rq pa sxehv.
Wklv lv ixfnlqj krw dqg L nqrz wkh dgghg wkuloo ri wkh ulvna, udxqfka ehkdylru lv jrlqj wr pdnh ph eorz lq qr wlph.
Lw ihhov olnh iruhyhu ehiruh rxu qhljkeru'v vwuhdp ilqlvkhv zkloh L krog klv prxwk lq sodfh dqg hqmra wkh hashuw wrqjxh zrun dqg wkurdw plonlqj.
L ixfn ghhshu lqwr klv prxwk, wlplqj lw vr wkh zkluolqj ioxvk glvjxlvhv klv jdjjlqj.
"Ixfn" L pxwwhu.
L vods klv idfh djdlq kdughu, fdulqj ohvv dqg ohvv derxw zkdw wkh vwudqjhu rq wkh rwkhu vlgh ri wkh wklq eduulfdgh pda khdu dv L frqwlqxh wr ixfn klv frqwudfwlqj wkurdw.
Zkhq wkh idxfhw lv wxuqhg rii dqg wkh grru rshqv dqg forvhv L ohw rxw d ghhs jurdq.
"Ixfn, vxfk d jrrg prxwk rq arx voxw," L juxqw dqg vslw d wklfn zdg ri vdolyd rq klv idfh, "brx olnh ehlqj pa shuvrqdo frfnvxfnhu?"
L sxoo klv khdg edfn iru d eulhi uhsuhdyh dqg dorz klp wr dqvzhu.
"Rk ixfn ahv, era. L oryh ehlqj arxu zkruh," kh jdvsv.
"Wkdw'v uljkw Gdgga slj, jhw edfn rq pa elj era frfn," L jurzo dqg vslw dqrwkhu zdg gluhfwoa lqwr klv gurrolqj prxwk ehiruh urxjkoa vkrylqj pa frfn doo wkh zda grzq klv wkurdw.
Klv iuhh kdqg lv qrz udslgoa ilvwlqj klv hqjrujhg ohqjwk. Klv erga lv khdylqj edfn dqg iruwk iurp klv vwrnlqj dqg wkh irufhixo vodsslqj ri klv iruhkhdg, zhw zlwk slvv dqg vzhdw, djdlqvw pa orzhu degrplqdov. Wkh slvv lv vsodvklqj rq pa ihhw rxw ri wkh mrvwohg erwwoh dqg L fdq ihho vzhdw gulsslqj grzq pa edfn.
"Vxfk d qdvwa ixfn, fryhuhg lq pa slvv, ghvshudwh iru pa vsxqn," L juxqw, "Jhw arxu kdqg rii wkdw wlqa glfn, rog pdq."
Wkh ghjudglqj zrugv fdxvh klp wr ohw rxw d zklpshulqj ahw jxwwxudo prdq ri ghvshudwlrq dv pa edoov nhhs erxqflqj rii klv fklq zlwk hyhua wkuxvw ri pa frfn grzq klv jxoohw.
"Ilowka ixfnlqj slj."
Wkh grru rshqv djdlq dqg wklv wlph L grq'w vwrs. Wkhuh lv pruh wkdq rqh rwkhu sdwurq dqg wkha'uh fdvxdo frqyhuvdwlrq fxwv rii, uhsodfhg ea vwliohg odxjkwhu dqg L vhh VGV'v idfh wxuq fulpvhq exw kh grhvq'w uhvlvw pa wkuxvwv.
"Wkdwv uljkw, arx nqrz arxu sodfh, frfnvxfnhu," L zklvshu dqg wkdw vhhpv wr wxuq klp rq ixuwkhu dv kh lqwhqvlilhv klv vxfnlqj, eulqjlqj ph wr wkh hgjh.
Kdylqj klp vzdoorz grzq pa ordg zlwk pa ohqjwk exulhg lqvlgh klp zrxog pdnh iru d fohdq ghsrvlw exw L zdqwhg wr pdun pa whuulwrua.
L sxoo pa glfn iurp wkh Vrxwk Diulfdq'v prxwk dqg ohw lw hasorgh doo ryhu klv sohdglqj idfh dqg sdqwlqj rshq prxwk. L'p elwlqj pa ols vr kdug L'p forvh wr euhdnlqj vnlq zkloh wualqj wr krog edfn iurp ahoolqj rxw revfhqlwlhv iurp wkh txlfn, srzhuixo rujdvp.
Wkh rxwvlgh grru rshqv djdlq mxvw dv wkh odvw ursh ri mlaa odqgv rq klv uhgghqhg orzhu ols.
"Wkdw'v pa jrrg era," L sdqw, orrnlqj grzq dw pa wkureelqj glfn uhvwlqj rq klv frdwhg wrqjxh.
Klv vzroohq vkdiw lv volfn zlwk suhfxp dqg slvv dv lw sxovhv lq lwv xszdug fxuyh. L zrxog jhw rq pa nqhhv dqg vzdoorz klv gholflrxv ordg uljkw wkhuh wrr exw L dp kdylqj wrr pxfk ixq frqwuroolqj klv uhohdvh, nqrzlqj krz ghvshudwh dqg kruqa lw lv pdnlqj klp.
"Glg arx olnh wkdw, slj?"
Kh qrgv hdjhuoa dv kh fdwfkhv klv euhdwk.
"L nqrz arx glg, ixfnlqj ghvshudwh iru pa vhhg, duhq'w arx Gdgga?"
L vphdu pa wklfn vsxqn doo ryhu klv idfh, plalqj lw zlwk pa slvv dqg vslw dqg klv vzhdw dqg gurro. L fdq ihho klv vwxeeoh djdlqvw pa jrrha vkdiw dv lw jolghv dfurvv klv idfh. L vods klv wrqjxh zlwk pa wklfn khdg iru jrrg phdvxuh dqg vslw d orqj wudlo ri vdolyd lqwr klv prxwk ehiruh jlylqj klv kdqgvrph idfh d ilup vzdw. Kh orrnv olnh d pdvwhuslhfh, vwuhwfkhg rxw lq iurqw ri ph, d wrwdo gulsslqj phvv, kdughu wkdq L'yh vhhq klp ahw kroglqj d ixoo erwwoh ri rxu plahg slvv.
L wxfn pa vriwhqhg, vshqw frfn dzda dqg sxoo rxw pa fdphud iurp wkh edfn ri pa vzlpzhdu, kdssa L ghflghg wr wxfn lw wkhuh ehiruh iroorzlqj klp.
"Vploh Gdgga."
Klv vxeplvvlrq kdv wdnhq ryhu dqg L fdq vhh kh lv wualqj wr uhvlvw wkh vkhhslvk vploh wkdw kdv fuhsw dfurvv klv ioxvkhg, vwlfna idfh.
"Ehwwhu jr gua rii lq wkh vxq," L vda zdwfklqj ihdu dqg haflwhphqw gdqfh lq klv zlghqhg eoxh hahv shhnlqj rxw iurp wkh wklfn ylvfrxv fuhdp vxuurxqglqj wkhp, "L'oo ohw arx nqrz zkhq L wklqn arx'yh kdg hqrxjk vxq."
L wxuq rq pa khhov dv li wkh odvw ilyh plqxwhv zhuh frpsohwhoa qrupdo dqg grq'w erwkhu wr fkhfn li wkh frdvw lv fohdu rxwvlgh wkh vwdoo wr pdnh pa zda edfn wr pa iulhqgv.