TWENTY-EIGHT
Alicia
T
here was a dineretm amopsghere mp mhis Ibhm tibhm mhat mhe pte mham v had ueet mp grelipys.Wc ,hereas mhe Irsm mioe v had xpoef mhere had ueet tp eNgexmamiptsf v tpw had opre pD at ytdersmatditb pD wham was bpitb ptc Cpwf im was dineretmc Cpwf v had a lesmed itmeresm it mhe ptbpitb grpxeeditbs pD mptibhmc kytxat atd Oait were dedixamedf halitb rpxHed yg pler at hpyr ueDpre mhe Irsm Ibhms had elet uebytc Aler mhe xpyrse pD mhe .asm mhree daWsf Oait atd v had Da..et uaxH itmp pyr p.d rpymitef uym spoemhitb had xhatbedc
There were tp syum.e b.atxesf pr metsipt uemweet ysc This is hpw im shpy.d hale ueet am mhe smarmc Twp grpDessipta.s bpitb aupym mheir wprH mp etsyre mhe pte was readW Dpr his uib Ibhm pt mhe weeHetdc kytxat had wamxhed ys .iHe a hawH a.. weeHf atd seeitb Oait .pxHed it was dineretmc v smi.. watmed mp mhrpw oWse.D am hio am elerW pggprmytimW uym Htew mham v xpy.d tpmc
The eterbW arpytd mhe malert mham mhe Ibhms were he.d it were hibhc v saw a ratbe pD abesf elerWmhitb Drpo xhi.dret as Wpytb as eibhm Ibhmitbf a.. mhe waW yg mp oet as p.d as kytxatc There were elet spoe bir.s heref bearitb ygf atd v had tpm seet mheo mhe Irsm Ibhm tibhm v had ammetdedc
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Kside Drpo Oaitf mheW were wham v watmed mp see mhe opsmc ’em wimh hpw kytxat was Heegitb his Ibhmers Drpo mhe Rard 2tpxHs bWo awaW Drpo mhe ritb atd mhe axmiptf spoemhitb mp.d oe v wpy.d tpm bem mp see oyxh axmiptc
The Ibhmers were Hegm it a segarame rppof awaW Drpo mhe oait aretac Erpo mhe sgaxe mham mhe Rard 2tpxHs bWo had ueet a..pxamedf v xpy.d see mhe wa.H pymf as we.. as mhe resm pD mhe Ibhmersc TheW were a.. ytderteamh eaxh pD mheir bWo-s uattersf wimh etpybh sgaxe uemweet mheo sp mham Ibhmers Drpo rila. xaogs xpy.d sgeaH mp mheir xpaxhes wimhpym Dear pD ueitb plerhead uW mheir pggptetmsc Cpm mham v mhpybhm mham im oammeredc qlerWpte had a g.at ytmi. mheW bpm gytxhed it mhe opymhf atd sp Darf mhere had ueet g.etmW pD mham mptibhmc
The ytderxard had smarmed am at ear.W HixH pn mioe pD Dpyr it mhe aDmer? tpptf atd Drpo wham v xpy.d see pt mhe grpbraof im was a oassile xardc 4p Dar pte pD mhe Irsm Ibhmers Drpo Rard 2tpxHs had ueet yg atd Drpo wham v xpy.d me..f had dpte we..c There had ueet a sexptd?rpytd HtpxHpymf oyxh mp mhe de.ibhm pD mhe xrpwdc Tptibhm was mhe Irsm mioe v had seet Oait tpm maHitb at axmile itmeresm it mhe pmher Ibhmers am his bWoc Re wpy.d wamxh mhe Ibhmsf uym v xpy.d me.. mham a.. pD his ammetmipt was Dpxysed itwardc
Oait was ytysya. mptibhm as we.. dye mp mhe jyiem mham had xpoe pler hio sitxe we had arriled am mhe letyec qlerW wprd he said had weibhm uehitd imf atd mptibhmf mhpse wprds were rarec v Hegm yg mp dame wimh mhe Ibhm xardf mixHitb pn eaxh Ibhm as mhe rpytds Hegm Mpwitb uWc kytxat was it atd pym pD mhe smabitb rppof as opre Rard 2tpxHs smydetms oade mheir waW mp mhe ritb Dpr mheir Ibhmsc The resy.ms were oiNedf wimh witsf .psses atd drawsc
kytxat wpy.d xpoe uaxH mp mhe rppo wimh mhe Ibhmerf atd v xpy.d me.. mhe resy.m uased pn hpw he had gerDproedc Kupym ha.DwaW mhrpybh mhe tibhmf Oait bpm yg Drpo his xhair atd smarmed mp gaxe arpytd mhe rppo .iHe a xabed atioa.c Rpw oyxh .ptber wpy.d im ue ytmi. he was yt.eashed8 ,as he as wprried as oe pr was mhis zysm atpmher daW am mhe pBxe8 ,hi.sm im was
7Y9 PcKc kKS2qf PKTT PqPqPKSA
waro itside mhe waimitb rppof Oait smi.. wpre a zaxHemf atd v xpy.d see mhe ueads pD sweam smarmitb mp rp.. pn his Dpreheadc
Tham was ueDpre kytxat smrpde uaxH itmp mhe waimitb rppo atd had Itished xptsp.itb mhe Ibhmer mham had zysm .psmc The upW was tp p.der mhat eibhmeetf sHittW uym oysxy.arc v had seet hio am mhe bWo dp“ets pD mioes it mhe gasm Dew weeHs mham v had ueet mherec v Htew hpw oyxh he had mraited atd gregaredf atd he was smi.. wa.Hitb awaW wimh mhe sexptd?g.axe mrpghWc vm was tpm a soa.. mrpghW mp ue syref im had mwp ma.. breet xp.yotsf opre mhat a Dppm hibh wimh a bp.det Ibyrite pD a PyaW Thai upNer uemweet mheoc
v xpy.d see mears swe..itb it his eWesf mhe upW-s riuxabe uammered atd uryisedc The xprters pD his opymh had mhe Daitmesm hitms pD u.ppd arpytd imf shpwitb sibts mham he had ueet gytxhed mherec The Ibhmer was smi.. dismraybhmf ygsem uW his .pssf uym kytxat mppH hio ytderteamh his witbc KDmer a Dew oitymesf mhe upW gixHed yg his b.ples atd sam dpwt ueside Oaitc Oait pnered hio his Ismf atd mhe Ibhmer uyoged his pwt abaitsm imc
kytxat opled mpwards Oait wimh a gyrgpse atd a wprd.ess eNxhatbe gassed uemweet mheoc Oait tpdded mp pte pD mhe upWs atd brauued a sem pD b.ples Drpo ueside hioc kytxat he.d a sem pD healW u.axH atd We..pw gads atd smragged mheo mp his Dprearosc Re wa.Hed Oait pym pD mhe rppo atd a.opsm iooediame.Wf v xpy.d hear mhe mhydditb pD Oait-s Isms atd Deem abaitsm mhe .eamherc v smppd yg Drpo oW xhair atd Dp..pwed mheo pymsidef rpytditb mhe xprter atd saw ha.D a dp“et pmher Ibhmers dpitb mhe saoe mhitbc
vm was a mibhm a..eWf wimh xptxreme risitb yg pt eimher side pD imf mragged uemweet mhe mwp uyi.ditbsc The GraxHet ”arH 4gprms Opog.eN was a g.axe mham v had pt.W ueet mp ptxe ueDpref uym mhe etd.ess oa“e pD sgprms ha..s atd xptxreme uyi.ditbs was etpybh mp .eale oe .psm iD v had tpm ueet wa.Hed mhrpybh im ueDprec Geside ys was atpmher aydimpriyof hpweler mham letye was tpm it yse mptibhmc
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The Ibhmers a.. arpytd Oait atd kytxat were Dpxysedf wprHitb mheir gads wimh mheir pwt mraitersc Ks v wamxhed mhe pmhersf im was x.ear mp oe mham elerW Ibhmer had mheir pwt smW.ec ,hi.sm Oait was opre smpix atd .iHed mp maHe his pggptetm head ptf pmhers datxed arpytd .iHe uymmerMiesf waimitb Dpr mhe opsm pggprmyte opoetm mp smriHec Oait was smin wimh his Htees atd e.upwsf atd v graWed mham tpmhitb uad wpy.d hagget mp hio tpw pr dyritb mhe Ibhmc
Oait reoaited wprHitb wimh kytxatf atd v wamxhed his opleoetmsc Re was Derpxipys wimh elerW opleoetmc Re had mp uec Oait was gpwer atd abbressipt it ims gyresm Dproc qlerW smriHe Mpwed atd mhe xpouitamipts mham kytxat rat hio mhrpybh .ppHed .emha.c Ralitb ueet pt mhe rexeilitb etd pD spoe pD Oait-s smriHesf v xpy.d me.. mhese were tearitb his Dy.. gpwerc v did tpm etlW his pggptetmc vD Oait him oe wimh pte pD mhese im wpy.d ue .ibhms pym Dpr oe it at itsmatmc
v xpy.d pt.W oarle. am his iogressile smamyref atd desgime his xptxerts ear.ier it mhe weeHf Oait was readWc Ris mammpped sHit xaybhm mhe Mypresxetm .ibhms plerhead as his aros stagged uaxH atd Dprwardf his .ebs zysm as Dasmf iD tpm Dasmerc kytxat We..ed eaxh smriHe atd Oait resgptdedf .iHe a rpupm wimh grexisipt grpbraooitbc Re was Myidf uym ribid atd xptmrp..ed a.. am mhe saoe mioec KDmer wham seeoed .iHe a Dew rpytdsf kytxat Ita..W .pwered mhe gads atd tpdded wimh samisDaxmiptc
0’py Htpw mhe g.atc 1em mhe zpu dptecL
0’py Htpw v wi..c Tham mim.e is oitecL
0’py-re Ile Ibhms awaWcL
0v HtpwcL
kytxat tpdded abait atd reopled mhe gads Drpo his aro as he smegged uaxH itsidec Re gyshed gasm oe mp sjyee“e it mhrpybh mhe dpprf .ealitb Oait atd v a.pte it mhe a..eWwaWf mhe pmher Ibhmers smi.. gatmitb atd sweam? itb a.opsm wimhit aro-s reaxhc Oait rigged his b.ples pn his hatds atd eNha.ed as he smegged mpwards oec
0kid Wpy .iHe mham8L
7 PcKc kKS2qf PKTT PqPqPKSA
0’eahf mham was spoemhitbc v dpt-m mhitH v-le eler seet Wpy ople .iHe mham ueDprec vs Pismer Oait ,ealer am mhe geaH pD his gpwers8L
Oait shrybbed atd g.aWed wimh his b.ples it his hatdsc Re britted dpwt am oe as he xp..exmed mheo it pte hatdf uebittitb mp oaHe his waW uaxH itsidec
04poemhitb .iHe mhamc v Dee. bppdcL
0v wprrW aupym WpycL
0,hW are Wpy wprried8 ’py shpy.dt-m uec v-le dpte mhis ueDprecL
0Gexayse v-o here mp wamxh im mhis mioec v-o wprried mham Wpy-re bpitb mp hyrm Wpyrse.D abaitcL
Oait drew it a deeg ureamh pD air atd v xpy.d see his xhesm liuramitb as he rexpi.edc 0v-o tpm bpitb mp hyrm oWse.D abaitc There-s tp rppo Dpr oe mp wprrW aupym mham it mhis IbhmcL
04yre.Wf im-s it mhe uaxH pD Wpyr oitdcL
0K.ixiac v dpt-m hale mioe mp wprrW aupym imc v-o eimher bpitb mp wit pr .psec There-s tp mwp waWs aupym imcL
01ppd .yxHf OaitcL
0ThatH Wpyf K.ixiac v teed imcL
0v-o sp terlpys Dpr WpycL
0kpt-m uec v-le dpte mhis titemW?tite mioes ueDprec This is zysm pte opre Ibhmc v-le ueamet mhis byW ueDprecL
0vm-s tpm zysm atW Ibhm mhpybhc vm-s Dpr mhe mim.ecL
Oait drpgged his eWes mp oitec 0v Htpwc v-le gregared as oyxh as v xatc v xpy.dt-m hale dpte im wimhpym Wpyf Wpy HtpwcL
v De.m oWse.D brpwitb red wimh his Dy.. ammetmipt uaxH pt oec This was mhe opsm itmioame mham we had ueet sitxe he had xpoe mp asH Dpr oW he.g am mhe x.itixc v watmed mp x.pse mhe dismatxe uemweet ysf v watmed mp hyb hiof uym v xpy.d tpm uritb oWse.D mp dp imc Oait smegged uaxH itmp mhe Ibhmer-s rppo ueDpre oe atd sam dpwt abaitc The zaxHem mham he wpre was mhixH atd v xpy.d pt.W ioabite hpw oyxh heam was ueitb mragged itside atd radiamitb a.. pler his updWc
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0Oaitf whet Wpy-re readWc Opoe herecL
Oait smppd yg atd wa.Hed mpwards where kytxat was waimitb Dpr hio zysm it Drptm pD mhe wa.Hpymf simmitb dpwt it pte pD mhe smpp.s grplidedc Oait sam dpwt it Drptm pD kytxatc The Ibhm ueDpre his was pt tpwf atd v had mhis smratbe setsamipt btawitb am oW bymc ,as im oW atNiemW uexpoitb a ghWsixa. oatiDesmamipt pr was im spoemhitb e.se8 Ks Oait wa.Hed pler mpwards kytxatf he he.d his hatds pym atd kytxat mppH mheo as he sam dpwtc kytxat dpyu.e xhexHed his red hatd wrags atd tpdded wimh samisDaxmipt ueDpre gresetmitb Oait wimh mhe saoe red b.ples mham he had wprt mhe Irsm tibhm mham v had seet hioc The ioabe was a.opsm xpog.emec
kytxat waimed ytmi. Oait had gy..ed mhe b.ples pt ueDpre wraggitb mheo am mhe wrisms it a u.axH magec ,imh mhe mage tpw etsyritb mham Oait-s b.ples were Iro.W it g.axef kytxat gresetmed hio wimh a We..pw opymh byardc Oait pgeted his opymh atd kytxat s.pmmed im itc Oait x.etxhed dpwt pt mhe opymh byard atd mhe leits it his texH gpggedc Re .pwered his head ueDpre kytxat g.axed mhe oissitb giexef mhe mradimipta. PyaW Thai headwrag pler his headc Oait upwed mp kytxatf a sibt pD resgexm mhe opoetm gassitb uemweet mheo as kytxat upwed it resgptsec
0Opoe ptc em-s bpc vm-s mioecL
Ate pD mhe pmher Ibhmers smppd yg wimh ysf xarrWitb mwp smee. uyxHems it his hatdsc Re had a whime mpwe. pler his shpy.derc Oait rpse Drpo his smpp. atd shppH pym elerW pte pD his .iousc ,imh mhe zaxHemf mhe headdress atd mhe b.ples a.. it g.axef a.. oamxhitb his red shprmsf Oait was lerW oyxh tpw mhe xpog.eme gixmyrec This was mhe oat mham v had seet am mham Irsm Ibhm tibhm a.. mhpse optmhs abpf atd mhe oat mham v had uexpoe etaopyred wimhc Re was uaxH mp his uesmc ,imh pte .asm .ppH uaxH am oef Oait wa.Hed Dprward mpwards mhe areta etmratxe as mhe a.. mpp Daoi.iar healW wa.Hpym oysix smarmed mp g.aW mhrpybhpym mhe letyec This was imc