H mOl hAd loN wontd t mEk H akwEntans v H bAJar. hI sImd, bF Yl akQnts, t b sac an impYrtant parsaniJ n, HO rErli vizabl, t mEk hiz ansIn inflMans felt bF evrIbodi abQt H plEs. bat `enevar H mOl mencnd hiz wiS t H wotar rAt hI YlwEz fQnd himself pat of. "its Yl rFt," H rAt wUd sE. "bAJar wil tarn ap sam dE Yr aHar--hIz YlwEz tarnN ap--n Hen Fl incradMs jM. H best v felOz! bat jM mast not Onli tEk him Az jM fFnd him, bat `en jM fFnd him."
"kadnt jM Ask him hIr dinar Yr samTiN?" sed H mOl.
"hI wUdnt kam," riplFd H rAt simpli. "bAJar hEts sasFiti, n invitESnz, n dinar, n Yl HAt sYrt v TiN."
"wel, Hen, sapOzN wI gO n kYl on him?" saJestd H mOl.
"O, Fm Sar hI wUdnt lFk HAt At Yl," sed H rAt, kwFt alyrmd. "hIz sO vEri SF, hId b Sar t b afendd. Fv nevar Ivan vencard t kYl on him At hiz On hOm mFself, HO F nO him sO wel. bisFdz, wI kAnt. its kwFt Qt v H kwescn, bikYz hI livz in H vEri midl v H /wFld /wUd."
"wel, sapOzN hI daz," sed H mOl. "jM tOld mI H /wFld /wUd waz Yl rFt, jM nO."
"O, F nO, F nO, sO i z," riplFd H rAt ivEsivli. "bat F TiNk wI wOnt gO HEr Jast nQ. not Jast jet. its a loN wE, n hI wUdnt b At hOm At His tFm v jIr enIhQ, n hIl b kamN aloN sam dE, if jMl wEt kwFitli."
H mOl hAd t b kntent wiT His. bat H bAJar nevar kEm aloN, n evri dE brYt its amjMzmants, n i waz not til samar waz loN Ovar, n kOld n frost n mFri wEz kept Hem mac indYrz, n H swOlan rivar rEsd pAst QtsFd HEr windOz wiT a spId HAt mokd At bOtN v eni sYrt Yr kFnd, HAt hI fQnd hiz HYts dwelN agen wiT mac parsistans on H solitEri grE bAJar, hM livd hiz On lFf bF himself, in hiz hOl in H midl v H /wFld /wUd.
in H wintar tFm H rAt slept a grEt dIl, ritFrN arli n rFzN lEt. darN hiz SYrt dE hI samtFmz skribld pOicri Yr did aHar smYl damestik Jobz abQt H hQs; n, v kYrs, HEr war YlwEz Anamlz JropN in f a cAt, n konsakwantli HEr waz a gUd dIl v stYri-telN n kmpErN nOts on H pAst samar n Yl its dOiNz.
sac a ric cAptar i hAd bin, `en wan kEm t lUk bAk on i Yl! wiT ilascrESnz sO nMmaras n sO vEri hFli kalard! H pAJant v H rivar bANk hAd myrcd stedili aloN, anfOldN itself in sIn-pikcarz HAt saksIdd Ic aHar in a stEtli praseSn. parpl lMsscrFf arFvd arli, SEkN lagZarIant tANgld loks aloN H eJ v H mirar `ens its On fEs lAfd bAk At i. wilO-arb, tendar n wistfal, lFk a piNk sanset klQd, waz not slO t folO. kamfri, H parpl hAnd-in-hAnd wiT H `Ft, krept fYrT t tEk its plEs in H lFn; n At lAst wan mYrnN H difidant n dilEiN dog-rOz stept delakitli on H stEJ, n wan nM, Az if scriN-mjMzik hAd anQnsd i in stEtli kYrdz HAt scrEd intM a gavot, HAt /JMn At lAst waz hIr. wan membar v H kampani waz stil awEtd; H Separd-bq f H nimfs t wM, H nFt f hMm H lEdIz wEtd At H windO, H prins HAt waz t kis H slIpN samar bAk t lFf n lav. bat `en medO-swIt, debanEr n Odaras in Ambar Jaran, mMvd grESasli t hiz plEs in H grMp, Hen H plE waz redi t bigin.
n `at a plE i hAd bin! JrQzi Anamlz, snag in HEr hOlz `Fl wind n rEn war bAtarN At HEr dYrz, rikYld stil kIn mYrnNz, an Qr bifYr sanrFz, `en H `Ft mist, Az jet andisparsd, klaN klOsli aloN H sarfis v H wotar; Hen H Sok v H arli planJ, H skAmpar aloN H bANk, n H rEdiant crAnsfYrmESn v arT, Er, n wotar, `en sadanli H san waz wiT Hem agen, n grE waz gOld n kalar waz bYrn n sprAN Qt v H arT wans mYr. HE rikYld H lANgaras sIesta v hot mid-dE, dIp in grIn andargrOT, H san scrFkN TrM in tFni gOldan SAfts n spots; H bOtN n bAHN v H AftarnMn, H rAmblz aloN dasti lEnz n TrM jelO kYrnfIldz; n H loN, kMl IvnN At lAst, `en sO meni Tredz war gAHard ap, sO meni frendSips rQndd, n sO meni Advencarz plAnd f H mYrO. HEr waz plenti t tYk abQt on HOz SYrt wintar dEz `en H Anamlz fQnd Hemselvz rQnd H fFr; stil, H mOl hAd a gUd dIl v spEr tFm on hiz hAndz, n sO wan AftarnMn, `en H rAt in hiz yrm-cEr bifYr H blEz waz Yltarnitli dOzN n crFiN Ovar rFmz HAt wUdnt fit, hI fYrmd H rezalMSn t gO Qt bF himself n iksplYr H wFld wUd, n parhAps scrFk ap an akwEntans wiT /mr bAJar.
i waz a kOld stil AftarnMn wiT a hyrd stIli skF Overhed, `en hI slipd Qt v H wYrm pyrlar intM H Opan Er. H kancri lE bEr n entFrli lIflis arQnd him, n hI TYt HAt hI hAd nevar sIn sO fyr n sO intamitli intM H insFdz v TiNz Az on HAt wintar dE `en nEcar waz dIp in har AnjMal slambar n sImd t hAv kikd H klOz of. kopsz, delz, kwYrIz n Yl hidan plEsz, `ic hAd bin mistIriasmFnz f eksplYrESn in lIfi samar, nQ ikspOzd Hemselvz n HEr sIkrits paTetikali, n sImd t Ask him t OvarlUk HEr SAbi povarti f a `Fl, til HE kUd rFat in ric mAskarEd Az bifYr, n crik n intFs him wiT H Old disepSnz. i waz pitafal in a wE, n jet cIrN-- Inan igzilarEtN. hI waz glAd HAt hI lFkd H kancri andekarEtd, hyrd, n scripd v its fFnari. hI hAd got dQn t H bEr bOnz v i, n HE war fFn n scroN n simpl. hI did not wont H wYrm klOvar n H plE v sIdN grAsz; H skrInz v kwikset, H bilOi JrEpari v bIc n elm sImd best awE; n wiT grEt cIrfalnis v spIrit hI pUSd on tYrdz H wFld wUd, `ic lE bifYr him lO n TretanN, lFk a blAk rIf in sam stil saHarn sI.
HEr waz naTiN t alyrm him At farst encri. twigz krAkld andar hiz fIt, logz cripd him, faNgasz on stamps rizembld kErakacarz, n styrtld him f H mOmant bF HEr lFknis t samTiN familjar n fyr awE; bat HAt waz Yl fan, n iksFtN. i led him on, n hI penicrEtd t `Er H lFt waz les, n crIz krQcd nIrar n nIrar, n hOlz mEd agli mQHz At him on IHar sFd.
evrITiN waz vEri stil nq. H dask AdvAnsd on him stedili, rApidli, gAHarN in bihFnd n bifYr; n H lFt sImd t b JrEnN awE lFk flad-wotar.
Hen H fEsz bigAn.
i waz Ovar hiz SOldar, n indistiNktli, HAt hI farst TYt hI sY a fEs; a litl Ivl weJ-SEpd fEs, lUkN Qt At him fram a hOl. `en hI tarnd n knfrantd i, H TiN hAd vAniSd.
hI kwikand hiz pEs, telN himself cIrfali not t bigin imAJinN TiNz, Yr HEr wUd b simpli nO end t i. hI pAsd anaHar hOl, n anaHar, n anaHar; n Hen--jes!--nO!--jes! sartanli a litl nErO fEs, wiT hyrd Fz, hAd flASd ap f an instant fram a hOl, n waz gon. hI hezitEtd--brEsd himself ap f an efart n scrOd on. Hen sadanli, n Az if i hAd bin sO Yl H tFm, evri hOl, fyr n nIr, n HEr war hanJridz v Hem, sImd t pazes its fEs, kamN n gOiN rApidli, Yl fiksN on him glAnsz v mAlis n hEcid: Yl hyrd-Fd n Ivl n Syrp.
if hI kUd Onli get awE fram H hOlz in H bANks, hI TYt, HEr wUd b nO mYr fEsz. hI swaN of H pAT n planJd intM H ancrodan plEsz v H wUd.
Hen H `islN bigAn.
vEri fEnt n Sril i waz, n fyr bihFnd him, `en farst hI hard i; bat samhQ i mEd him hari fYrward. Hen, stil vEri fEnt n Sril, i sQndd fyr ahed v him, n mEd him hezitEt n wont t gO bAk. Az hI hYltd in indisiZn i brOk Qt on IHar sFd, n sImd t b kYt ap n pAsd on TrMQt H hOl leNkT v H wUd t its fyrHist limit. HE war ap n alart n redi, evidantli, hMevar HE war! n hI – hI waz alOn, n anyrmd, n fyr fram eni help; n H nFt waz klOzN in.
Hen H pAtarN bigAn.
hI TYt i waz Onli fYlN lIvz At farst, sO slFt n delikit waz H sQnd v i. Hen Az i grM i tUk a regjMlar riHam, n hI nM i f naTiN els bat H pAt-pAt-pAt v litl fIt stil a vEri loN wE of. waz i in frant Yr bihFnd? i sImd t b farst wan, n Hen H aHar, Hen bOT. i grM n i maltiplFd, til fram evri kwYrtar Az hI lisand ANkSasli, lInN His wE n HAt, i sImd t b klOzN in on him. Az hI stUd stil t hyrkan, a rAbit kEm ranN hyrd ttYrdz him TrM H crIz. hI wEtd, ikspektN i t slAkan pEs, Yr t swarv fram him intM a difarant kYrs. insted, H Anaml YlmOst braSd him Az i dASd pAst, hiz fEs set n hyrd, hiz Iz stErN. 'get Qt v His, jM fMl, get Qt!' H mOl hard him matar Az hI swaN rQnd a stamp n disapIrd dQn a frendli barO.
H pAtarN inkrIsd til i sQndd lFk sadan hEl on H JrF lIf-kyrpit spred arQnd him. H hOl wUd sImd ranN nQ, ranN hyrd, hantN, cEsN, klOzN in rQnd samTiN Yr-- sambadi? in pAnik, hI bigAn t ran tM, Emlisli, hI nM not `iHar. hI rAn ap agenst TiNz, hI fel Ovar TiNz n intM TiNz, hI dyrtd andar TiNz n doJd rQnd TiNz. At lAst hI tUk refjMJ in H dIp dyrk holO v an Old bIc crI, `ic ofard Seltar, knsIlmant—parhAps Ivan sEfti, bat hM kUd tel? enIhQ, hI waz tM tFrd t ran eni farHar, n kUd Onli snagl dQn intM H JrF lIvz `ic hAd Jriftd intM H holO n hOp hI waz sEf f a tFm. n Az hI lE HEr pAntN n cremblN, n lisand t H `islNz n H pAtarNz QtsFd, hI nM i At lAst, in Yl its fUlnis, HAt Jred TiN `ic aHar litl dwelarz in fIld n heJrO hAd enkQntard hIr, n nOn Az HEr dyrkist mOmant—HAt TiN `ic H rAt hAd vEnli crFd t SIld him fram—H tErar v H wFld wUd!
mIn`Fl H rAt, wYrm n kamftabl, dOzd bF hiz fFrsFd. hiz pEpar v hAf-finiSd varsz slipd fram hiz nI, hiz hed fel bAk, hiz mQT Opand, n hI wondard bF H vardant bANks f JrIm-rivarz. Hen a kOl slipd, H fFr krAkld n sent ap a spart v flEm, n hI wOk wiT a styrt. rimembarN `at hI hAd bin ingEJd apon, hI rIct dQn t H flYr f hiz varsz, pYrd Ovar Hem f a minit, n Hen lUkd rQnd f H mOl t Ask him if hI nM a gUd rFm f samTiN Yr aHar.
bat H mOl waz not HEr.
hI lisand f a tFm. H hQs sImd vEri kwFit.
Hen hI kYld 'mOli!' sevaral tFmz, n, risIvN nO Ansar, got ap n went Qt intM H hYl.
H mOlz kAp waz misN fram its akastamd peg. hiz galoSz, `ic YlwEz lE bF H ambrela-stAnd, war YlsO gon.
H rAt left H hQs, n kErfali igzAmind H madi sarfis v H grQnd QtsFd, hOpN t fFnd H /mOlz crAks. HEr HE war, Sar inaf. H galySz war nM, Jast bYt f H wintar, n H pimplz on HEr sOlz war freS n Syrp. hI kUd sI H imprints v Hem in H mad, ranN aloN scrEt n parpasfal, lIdN darekt t H /wFld /wUd.
H rAt lUkd vEri grEv, n stUd in dIp TYt f a minit Yr tM. Hen hI rI-entard H hQs, scrApd a belt rQnd hiz wEst, Savd a brEs v pistlz intM i, tUk ap a stQt kaJl HAt stUd in a kYrnar v H hYl, n set of f H /wFld /wUd At a smyrt pEs.
i waz Ylredi getN tYrdz dask `en hI rIcd H farst frinJ f crIz n planJd wiTQt hezatESn intM H wUd, lUkN ANkSasli on IHar sFd f eni sFn v hiz frend. hIr n HEr wikd litl fEsz popd Qt v hOlz, bat vAniSd imIdiatli At sFt v H vAlaras Anaml, hiz pistlz, n H grEt agli kAJl in hiz grAsp; n H `islN n pAtarN, `ic hI hAd hard kwFt plEnli on hiz farst encri, dFd awE n sIsd, n Yl waz vEri stil. hI mEd hiz wE mAnfali TrM H leNkT v H wUd, t its farHist eJ; Hen, fYrsEkN Yl pATs, hI set himself t cravars i, labYriasli warkN Ovar H hOl grQnd, n Yl H tFm kYlN Qt cIrfali, '/mOli, /mOli, /mOli! `Er yr jM? its mI--its Old /rAt!'
hI hAd pESantli hantd TrM H wUd f an Qr Yr mYr, `en At lAst t hiz Jq hI hard a litl AnsarN krF. gFdN himself bF H sQnd, hI mEd hiz wE TrM H gAHarN dyrknis t H fUt v an Old bIc crI, wiT a fIbl vqs, sEiN '/rAti! z HAt rIli hM?'
H rAt krept intM H holO, n HEr hI fQnd H /mOl, igzYstd n stil cremblN. 'O /rAt!' hI krFd, 'Fv bin sO frFtand, jM kAnt TiNk!'
'O, F kwFt andarstAnd,' sed H /rAt sMHNli. 'jM SUdnt rIli hAv gon n dan i, /mOl. F did mF best t kIp jM fram i. wI rivar-bAnkarz, wI hyrdli evar kam hIr bF Qrselvz. if wI hAv t kam, wI kam in kaplz, At lIst; Hen wIr Jenarali Yl rFt. bisFdz, Her yr a hanJred TiNz wan hAz t nO, `ic wI andarstAnd Yl abQt n jM dOnt, Az jet. F mIn pAswardz, n sFnz, n sEiNz `ic hAv pQr n ifekt, n plAnts jM kEri in jYr pokit, n varsz jM ripIt, n doJz n criks jM prAktis; Yl simpl inaf `en jM nO Hem, bat HEv got t b nOn if jYr smYl, Yr jMl fFnd jYrself in crabl. v kYrs if jM war /bAJar Yr /otar, i wUd b kwFt anaHar mAtar.'
"Sarli H brEv /mr /tOd wUdnt mFnd kamN hIr bF himself, wUd hI?" inkwFrd H /mOl.
"Old /tOd?" sed H /rAt, lAfN hyrtili. "hI wUdnt SO hiz fEs hIr alOn, not f a hOl hAtfal v gOldan ginIz, /tOd wUdnt."
H /mOl waz grEtli cIrd bF H sQnd v H /rAts lAftar, Az wel Az H sFt v hiz stik n hiz glImN pistlz, n hI stopd SivarN n bigAn t fIl bOldar n mYr himself agen.
"nQ Hen," sed H /rAt prezantli, "wI rIli mast pUl Qrselvz tageHer n mEk a styrt f hOm `Fl HErz stil a litl lFt left. i wil nevar d t spend H nFt hIr, jM andarstAnd. tM kOld, f wan TiN."
"dIr /rAti," sed H pYr /mOl, "Fm Jredfali syri, bat Fm simpli ded bIt n HAts a sYlad fAkt. jM mast let mI rest hIr a `Fl loNgar, n get mF screNkT bAk, if Fm t get hOm At Yl."
"O, Yl rFt," sed H gUd-nEcard /rAt, "rest awE. its preti nIrli pic dyrk nQ, enIhQ; n HEr Yt t b a bit v a mMn lAtar."
sO H /mOl got wel intM H JrF lIvz n screct himself Qt, n prezantli Jropd of intM slIp, HO v a brOkan n crabld sYrt; `Fl H /rAt kavard himself ap, tM, Az best hI mFt, f wYrmT, n lE pESantli wEtN, wiT a pistl in hiz pY.
`en At lAst H /mOl wOk ap, mac rifreSd n in hiz jMZMal spirits, H /rAt sed, "nQ Hen! Fl Jast tEk a lUk QtsFd n sI if evrITiNz kwFit, n Hen wI rIli mast b of."
hI went t H encrans v HEr ricrIt n pat hiz hed Qt. Hen H /mOl hard him sEiN kwFitli t himself, "halO! halO! hIr--z--a--gO!"
"`ats ap, /rAti?' Askd H /mOl.
"snO z ap," riplFd H /rAt brIfli; "Yr rAHar, dQn. its snOiN hyrd."
H /mOl kEm n krQct bisFd him, n, lUkN Qt, sY H wUd HAt hAd bin sO Jredfal t him in kwFt a cEnJd Aspekt. hOlz, holOz, pMlz, pitfYlz, n aHar blAk menasz t H wEfErar war vAniSN fAst, n a glImN kyrpit v fEri waz spriNN ap evrI`Er, HAt lUkd tM delikit t b crodan apon bF raf fIt. a fFn pQdar fild H Er n karesd H cIk wiT a tiNgl in its tac, n H blAk bOlz v H crIz SOd ap in a lFt HAt sImd t kam fram bilO.
"wel, wel, i kAnt b helpd," sed H /rAt, Aftar pondarN. "wI mast mEk a styrt, n tEk Qr cAns, F sapOz. H warst v i z, F dOnt igzAktli nO `Er wI yr. n nQ His snO mEks evrITiN lUk sO vEri difarant."
i did indId. H /mOl wUd not hAv nOn HAt i waz H sEm wUd. hQevar, HE set Qt brEvli, n tUk H lFn HAt sImd mOst promisN, hOldN on t Ic aHar n pritendN wiT invinsabl cIrfalnis HAt HE rekagnFzd an Old frend in evri freS crI HAt grimli n sFlantli grItd Hem, Yr sY OpanNz, gAps, Yr pATs wiT a familjar tarn in Hem, in H manotani v `Ft spEs n blAk crI-craNks Hat rifjMzd t vEri.
an hQr Yr tM lEtar--HE hAd lost Yl kQnt v tFm--HE pUld ap, dispIritd, wIri, n hOplisli At sI, n sAt dQn on a fYlan crI-craNk t rikavar HEr breT n knsidar `at waz t b dan. HE war EkN wiT fatIg n brMzd wiT tamblz; HE hAd fYlan intM sevaral hOlz n got wet TrM; H snO waz getN sO dIp HAt HE kUd hyrdli JrAg HEr litl legz TrM i, n H crIz war Tikar n mYr lFk Ic aHar Hen evar. HEr sImd t b nO end t His wUd, n nO biginN, n nO difarans in i, n, warst v Yl, nO wE Qt.
"wI kAnt sit hIr vEri loN," sed H /rAt. "wI SAl hAv t mEk a pUS f i, n d samTiN Yr aHar. H kOld z tM Yfal f enITiN, n H snO wil sMn b tM dIp f as t wEd TrM." hI pIrd abQt him n knsidard. "lUk hIr," hI went on, "His z `at akarz t mI. HErz a sYrt v del dQn hIr in frant v as, `Er H grQnd sImz Yl hili n hampi n hamaki. wIl mEk Qr wE dQn intM HAt, n crF n fFnd sam sYrt v Seltar, a kEv Yr hOl wiT a JrF flYr t i, Qt v H snO n H wind, n HEr wIl hAv a gUd rest bifYr wI crF agen, f wIr bOT v as priti ded bIt. bisFdz, H snO mE lIv of, Yr samTiN mE tarn ap."
sO wans mYr HE got on HEr fIt, n scragld dQn intM H del, `Er HE hantd abQt f a kEv Yr sam kYrnar HAt waz JrF n a pratekSn fram H kIn wind n H `arlN snO. HE war investagEtN wan v H hamaki bits H rAt hAd spOkan v, `en sadanli H mOl cripd ap n fel fYrwd on hiz fEs wiT a skIl.
"O mF leg!" he krFd. "O mF pYr Sin!" n hI sAt ap on H snO n narsd hiz leg in bOT hiz frant pYs.
"pYr Old mOl!" sed H rAt kFndli.
"jM dOnt sIm t b hAvN mac lak tadE, d jM? lets hAv a lUk At H leg. jes," hI went on, gOiN dQn on hiz nIz t lUk, "jMv kat jYr Sin, Sar inaf. wEt til F get At mF hANkarcif, n Fl tF i ap f jM."
"F mast hAv cripd Ovar a hidan brAnc Yr a stamp," sed H mOl mizrabli. "O, mF! O, mF!"
"its a vEri klIn kat," sed H rAt, igzAminN i agen atentivli. "HAt waz nevar dan bF a brAnc Yr a stamp. lUks Az if i waz mEd bF a Syrp eJ v samTiN metl. fani!" hI pondard a`Fl, n igzAmind H hamps n slOps HAt sarQndd Hem.
"wel, nevar mFnd `at dan i," sed H mOl, fYrgetN hiz grAmar in hiz pEn. "i harts Jast H sEm, `atevar dan i."
bat H rAt, Aftar kErfali tFiN ap H leg wiT hiz hANkarcif, hAd left him n waz bizi skrApN in H snO. hI skrAcd n Savld n iksplYrd, Yl fYr legz warkN bizili, `Fl H mOl wEtd impESntli, rimyrkN At intarvlz, "O, kam on, rAt!"
sadanli H rAt krFd, "hMrE!" n Hen "hMrE-M-rE-M-rE-M-rE!" n fel t eksakjMtN a fIbl Jig in H snO.
"`at hAv jM fQnd, rAti?" Askd H mOl, stil narsN hiz leg.
"kam n sI!" sed H dilFtd rAt, Az hI Jigd on.
H mOl hobld ap t H spot n hAd a gUd lUk.
"wel," hI sed At lAst, slOli, "F sI i rFt inaf. sIn H sEm sYrt v TiN bifYr, lots v tFmz. familjar obJikt, F kYl i. a dYr-skrApar! wel, `at v i? `F dAns Jigz arQnd a dYr-skrApar?"
"bat dOnt jM sI `at i mInz, jM--jM dal-witd Anaml?" krFd H rAt impESntli.
"v kYrs F sI `at i mInz," riplFd H mOl. "i simpli mInz HAt sam vEri kErlis n fYrgetfal parsan hAz left hiz dYr-skrApar lFiN abQt in H midl V H /wFld /wUd, Jast `Er its Sar t crip evrIbadi ap. vEri TYtlis v him, F kYl i. `en F get hOm F SAl gO n kmplEn abQt i t--t sambodi Yr aHar, sI if F dOnt!"
"O, dIr! O, dIr!" krFd H rAt, in dispEr At hiz obtMsnis. "hIr, stop yrgjMiN n kam n scrAp!" n hI set t wark agen n mEd H snO flF in Yl darekSnz arQnd him.
Aftar sam farHar tql hiz efarts war riwYrdd, n a SAbi dYr-mAt lE ikspOzd t vjM.
"HEr, `at did F tel jM?" iksklEmd H rAt in grEt crFamf.
"AbsalMtli naTiN `atevar," riplFd H mOl, wiT parfikt crMTfUlnis. "wel nQ," hI went on, "jM sIm t hAv fQnd anaHar pIs v damestik litar, dan f n TrOn awE, n F sapOz jYr parfiktli hApi. betar gO ahed n dAns jYr Jig rQnd HAt if jMv got t, n get i Ovar, n Hen parhAps wI ken gO on n not wEst eni mYr tFm Ovar rabiS-hIps. ken wI It a dYrmAt? Yr slIp andar a dYr-mAt? Yr sit on a dYr-mAt n sleJ hOm Ovar H snO on i, jM iksAsparEtN rOdant?"
"d--jM--mIn--t--sE," krFd H iksFtd rAt, "HAt His dYr-mAt daznt tel jM enITiN?"
"rIli, rAt," sed H mOl, kwFt petiSli, "F TiNk wId hAd inaf v His foli. hM evar hard v a dYr-mAt telN enIwanenITiN? HE simpli dOnt d i. HE yr not HAt sYrt At Yl. dYr-mAts nO HEr plEs."
"nQ lUk hIr, jM--jM Tik-hedd bIst," riplFd H rAt, rIli ANgri, "His mast stop. not anaHar ward, bat skrEp--skrEp n skrAc n dig n hant rQnd, espeSali on H sFdz v H hamaks, if jM wont t slIp JrF n wYrm tanFt, f its Qr lAst cAns."
H rAt atAkd a snO-bANk bisFd Hem wiT yrdar, prObN wiT hiz kaJl evrI`Er n Hen digN wiT fjari; n H mOl skrEpd bizili tM, mYr t ablFJ H rAt HAn f eni aHar rIsan, f hiz apinjan waz HAt hiz frend waz getN lFt-hedd.
sam ten minits hyrd wark, n H pqnt v H rAts kaJl scrak samTiN HAt sQndd holO. hI warkd til hI kUd get a pY TrM n fIl; Hen kYld H mOl t kam n help him. hyrd At i went H tM Anamlz, til At lAst H rizalt v HEr lAbarz stUd fUl in vjM v H astoniSd n hiHartM inkreJjMlas mOl.
in H sFd v `at hAd sImd t b a snO-bANk stUd a solid-lUkN litl dYr, pEntd a dyrk grIn. an Fran bel-pUl haN bF H sFd, n bilO i, on a smYl brAs plEt, nItli engrEvd in kApitl letarz, HE kUd rId bF H Ed v mMnlFt /mr bAJar.
H mOl fel bAkwdz on H snO fram SIr sarprFz n dilFt. "rAt!" hI krFd in penitans, "jYr a wandar! a rIl wandar, HAts `at jM yr. F sI i Yl nQ! jM yrgjMd i Qt, step bF step, in HAt wFz hed v jYrz, fram H vEri mOmant HAt F fel n kat mF Sin, n jM lUkd At H kat, n At wans jYr maJestik mFnd sed t itself, "dYr-skrEpar!" n Hen jM tarnd t n fQnd H vEri dYr-skrEpar HAt dan i! did jM stop HEr? nO. sam pIpl wUd hAv bin kwFt sAtisfFd; bat not jM. jYr intalekt went on warkN. "let mI Onli Jast fFnd a dYr-mAt," sez jM t jYrself, "n mF TIri z prMvd!" n v kYrs jM fQnd jYr dYr-mAt. jYr sO klevar, F bilIv jM kUd fFnd enITiN jM lFkd. "nQ," sez jM, "HAt dYr igzists, Az plEn Az if F sY i. HErz naTiN els rimEnz t b dan bat t fFnd i!" wel, Fv red abQt HAt sYrt v TiN in bUks, bat Fv nevar kam akros i bifYr in rIl lFf. jM Yt t g `Er jMl b proparli aprISIEtd. jYr simpli wEstd hIr, amaN as felOz. if F Onli hAd jYr hed, rAti----"
"bat Az jM hAvnt," intaraptd H rAt, rAHar ankFndli, "F sapOz jYr gOiN t sit on H snO Yl nFt n tYk. get ap At wans n hAN on t HAt bel-pUl jM sI HEr, n riN hyrd, Az hyrd Az jM ken, `Fl F hAmar!"
`Fl H rAt atAkd H dYr wiT hiz stik, H mOl sprAN ap At H bel-pUl, klact i n swaN HEr, bOT fIt wel of H grQnd, n fram kwFt a loN wE of HE kUd fEntli hIr a dIp-tOnd bel rispond.