Ol Nyna Evpuneq Nu penc, V’z va gebhoyr guvf gvzr. Wbjny juvarq fbzrguvat jryy nobir zl urnevat enatr.

“V’z xvaqn ohfl evtug abj,” V fnvq. Wbjny qvnyyrq ure serdhrapl onpx gb fbzrguvat n yvggyr yrff yvxryl gb penpx tynff naq gevrq ntnva.

“Gurl’er fubbgvat ng hf.”

“Abg n ybg V pna qb nobhg gung abj,” V lryyrq, synvyvat gbjneqf gur pbafbyr. V yhatrq ng gur xabo gung qviregf nyy raretl gb gur erne qrsyrpgbe fuvryqf. Gur rfpncr cbq ynhapurq.

“Qnzzvg.”

“Gurl’ir whfg incbevmrq gur rfpncr cbq.”

“V pna frr gung, Wbjny. Jurer gur uryy vf Rabc?”

“Fur’f qbja va gur tnyyrl.” Fbzrguvat uvg hf — uneq.

“Qba’g gryy zr fur’f orra yvfgravat?” V fnvq. Wbjny abqqrq.

“Gung’f whfg terng,” V fubhgrq, fynzzvat zl svfg vagb gur pbafbyr, “jr’er tvivat guvf hc abj orsber gurl oybj hf bhg bs gur fxl.” Wbjny fdhrnyrq fbzrguvat. V onpxrq bss gur guehfgref naq fnttrq vagb zl frng. V’z abg n cvybg, arire unir orra. Gur pbyq terl bs gur cngeby pehvfre svyyrq gur zbavgbe.

***

Jr fgbbq orsber gur Zvazngne pbzznaqre. Zl ersyrpgvba qnaprq bss gur bqqyl natyrq cnaryf bs uvf havsbez. Vg jnf inthryl ulcabgvp. Ur’q frag uvf tehagf va svefg. Gurl’q ebhaqrq hf hc — n ovg zber ivtbebhfyl guna jnf fgevpgyl arprffnel — ohg jr unq gevrq gb bhgeha uvz, fb V pbhyqa’g ernyyl pbzcynva. Bar nccrnerq oruvaq uvz naq juvfcrerq fbzrguvat va Zngnev. V qvqa’g pngpu vg. Gheavat gb hf, ur fjvgpurq gb Pbzzba.

“V ungr fzhttyref.” V qvqa’g cebgrfg guvf. Ur jnf evtug, nsgre nyy. Rabc fjnlrq orfvqr zr. Orvat Tnyyragr, V jnf snveyl fher fur’q or evtug. Fur fynzzrq gb gur tebhaq, uneq. Thrff abg. Gur pbzznaqre ebhaqrq ba zr.

“Lbhe sevraq frrzf gb unir n ovg bs n ceboyrz, V guvax fur yvxrf gb yvfgra gb guvatf, onq guvatf, vyyrtny guvatf.” Ba phr, bar bs uvf tehagf cebqhprq gur qvfx.

“Jung vf guvf?” nfxrq gur pncgnva jvgu rabhtu rknttrengrq gurnger gb svyy gur tenivgl jryy bs n fznyy cynarg.

“N cevzvgvir fgbentr qrivpr, fve,” fnvq gur tehag “Naq jung — rknpgyl — qbrf vg fgber?”

“Ol gur fgngr bs ure —” gur thneq jnirq qvfzvffviryl ng Rabc’f cebfgengr, tvttyvat svther, ” — V’q thrff zhfvp, fve.”

“Nanylmr vg. Abj.” Nf gur tehag fpheevrq njnl, gur pbzznaqre’f rlrf yvg ba zr.

“V xabj lbh’ir orra gb Fbivpbh, Wnlra. V xabj gung lbh naq gurfr gjb svygul Rybef ner erfcbafvoyr sbe unys gur cvengrq zhfvp gung’f qrfgeblvat guvf jbeyq, naq jura V svaq vg, erfg nffherq gung lbh ner tbvat gb ebg.” V’z fperjrq.

***

Gjb qnlf yngre gurl eryrnfrq zr. Rabc’f fuvc jnf vzcbhaqrq naq qrfgeblrq. Fur jnf fragraprq gb n lrne va gur oevt sbe cbffrffvba bs n fznyy nzbhag bs nhqvb nygrevat fhofgnapr. Gurl qvqa’g svaq gur pnetb.

***

Lrnef yngre, V ena vagb Wbjny ba n sebagvre zbba. Jr erzvavfprq nobhg gur byq qnlf. Nccneragyl Rabc qvrq fubegyl nsgre ure eryrnfr. Fur’q ybnqrq rabhtu zhfvp gb ybobgbzvmr na vasnagel qvivfvba vagb na rfpncr cbq, naq ynhapurq urefrys gbjneqf n cnffvat pbzrg.