The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
.pdf
&KDUOHV 'LFNHQV
VXFFHHGHG DIWHU D VKRUW EXW VPDUW UXQ DQG VRPH UDWKHU VHYHUH FURVV FRXQWU\ ZRUN XQGHU DQG RYHU WKH EHGVWHDGV DQG LQ DQG RXW DPRQJ WKH LQWULFDFLHV RI WKH FKDLUV LQ FDSWXULQJ WKLV LQIDQW ZKRP KH FRQ GLJQO\ SXQLVKHG DQG ERUH WR EHG 7KLV H[DPSOH KDG
D SRZHUIXO DQG DSSDUHQWO\ PHVPHULF LQÁXHQFH RQ
KLP RI WKH ERRWV ZKR LQVWDQWO\ IHOO LQWR D GHHS VOHHS WKRXJK KH KDG EHHQ EXW D PRPHQW EHIRUH EURDG DZDNH DQG LQ WKH KLJKHVW SRVVLEOH IHDWKHU 1RU ZDV LW ORVW XSRQ WKH WZR \RXQJ DUFKLWHFWV ZKR UHWLUHG WR EHG LQ DQ DGMRLQLQJ FORVHW ZLWK JUHDW SULYDF\ DQG VSHHG 7KH FRPUDGH RI WKH ,QWHUFHSWHG 2QH DOVR VKULQNLQJ LQWR KLV QHVW ZLWK VLPLODU GLVFUHWLRQ 0U 7HWWHUE\ ZKHQ KH SDXVHG IRU EUHDWK IRXQG KLPVHOI XQH[SHFWHGO\ LQ D VFHQH RI SHDFH ´0\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ KHUVHOI µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ZLS
LQJ KLV ÁXVKHG IDFH ´FRXOG KDUGO\ KDYH GRQH LW EHW
WHU , RQO\ ZLVK P\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ KDG KDG LW WR GR , GR LQGHHG µ 0U 7HWWHUE\ VRXJKW XSRQ KLV VFUHHQ IRU D SDVVDJH DSSURSULDWH WR EH LPSUHVVHG XSRQ KLV FKLOGUHQ·V PLQGV RQ WKH RFFDVLRQ DQG UHDG WKH IROORZLQJ ´¶,W LV DQ XQGRXEWHG IDFW WKDW DOO UHPDUNDEOH PHQ KDYH KDG UHPDUNDEOH PRWKHUV DQG KDYH UHVSHFWHG WKHP LQ DIWHU OLIH DV WKHLU EHVW IULHQGV · 7KLQN RI \RXU RZQ UHPDUNDEOH PRWKHU P\ ER\V µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ´DQG NQRZ KHU YDOXH ZKLOH VKH LV VWLOO DPRQJ \RX µ
+H VDW GRZQ DJDLQ LQ KLV FKDLU E\ WKH ÀUH DQG
FRPSRVHG KLPVHOI FURVV OHJJHG RYHU KLV QHZVSD SHU
´/HW DQ\ERG\ , GRQ·W FDUH ZKR LW LV JHW RXW RI EHG DJDLQ µ VDLG 7HWWHUE\ DV D JHQHUDO SURFODPD WLRQ GHOLYHUHG LQ D YHU\ VRIW KHDUWHG PDQQHU ´DQG DVWRQLVKPHQW ZLOO EH WKH SRUWLRQ RI WKDW UHVSHFWHG FRQWHPSRUDU\ µ ZKLFK H[SUHVVLRQ 0U 7HWWHUE\ VH
41
7KH +DXQWHG 0DQ DQG WKH *KRVW·V %DUJDLQ
OHFWHG IURP KLV VFUHHQ ´-RKQQ\ P\ FKLOG WDNH FDUH RI \RXU RQO\ VLVWHU 6DOO\ IRU VKH·V WKH EULJKWHVW JHP WKDW HYHU VSDUNOHG RQ \RXU HDUO\ EURZ µ
-RKQQ\ VDW GRZQ RQ D OLWWOH VWRRO DQG GHYRWHGO\ FUXVKHG KLPVHOI EHQHDWK WKH ZHLJKW RI 0RORFK ´$K ZKDW D JLIW WKDW EDE\ LV WR \RX -RKQQ\ µ VDLG KLV IDWKHU ´DQG KRZ WKDQNIXO \RX RXJKW WR EH ¶,W LV QRW JHQHUDOO\ NQRZQ -RKQQ\ ·µ KH ZDV QRZ UH IHUULQJ WR WKH VFUHHQ DJDLQ ´¶EXW LW LV D IDFW DVFHU WDLQHG E\ DFFXUDWH FDOFXODWLRQV WKDW WKH IROORZLQJ LPPHQVH SHUFHQWDJH RI EDELHV QHYHU DWWDLQ WR WZR \HDUV ROG WKDW LV WR VD\ ·µ ´2K GRQ·W IDWKHU SOHDVH µ FULHG -RKQQ\ ´, FDQ·W EHDU LW ZKHQ , WKLQN RI 6DOO\ µ
0U 7HWWHUE\ GHVLVWLQJ -RKQQ\ ZLWK D SURIRXQG VHQVH RI KLV WUXVW ZLSHG KLV H\HV DQG KXVKHG KLV VLVWHU
´<RXU EURWKHU ·'ROSKXV µ VDLG KLV IDWKHU SRNLQJ
WKH ÀUH ´LV ODWH WR QLJKW -RKQQ\ DQG ZLOO FRPH
KRPH OLNH D OXPS RI LFH :KDW·V JRW \RXU SUHFLRXV PRWKHU"µ
´+HUH·V PRWKHU DQG ·'ROSKXV WRR IDWKHU µ H[ FODLPHG -RKQQ\ ´, WKLQN µ ´<RX·UH ULJKW µ UHWXUQHG KLV IDWKHU OLVWHQLQJ ´<HV WKDW·V WKH IRRWVWHS RI P\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ µ
7KH SURFHVV RI LQGXFWLRQ E\ ZKLFK 0U 7HWWHUE\ KDG FRPH WR WKH FRQFOXVLRQ WKDW KLV ZLIH ZDV D OLWWOH ZRPDQ ZDV KLV RZQ VHFUHW 6KH ZRXOG KDYH PDGH WZR HGLWLRQV RI KLPVHOI YHU\ HDVLO\ &RQVLGHUHG DV DQ LQGLYLGXDO VKH ZDV UDWKHU UHPDUNDEOH IRU EHLQJ UREXVW DQG SRUWO\ EXW FRQVLGHUHG ZLWK UHIHUHQFH WR
KHU KXVEDQG KHU GLPHQVLRQV EHFDPH PDJQLÀFHQW
1RU GLG WKH\ DVVXPH D OHVV LPSRVLQJ SURSRUWLRQ ZKHQ VWXGLHG ZLWK UHIHUHQFH WR WKH VL]H RI KHU VHYHQ VRQV ZKR ZHUH EXW GLPLQXWLYH ,Q WKH FDVH RI 6DOO\ KRZHYHU 0UV 7HWWHUE\ KDG DVVHUWHG KHUVHOI DW ODVW
42
&KDUOHV 'LFNHQV
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
GHVLUH FRPSOHWHO\ H[KDXVWHG WKH VDFULÀFH ZKR KDG
KDUGO\ EUHDWK HQRXJK OHIW WR JHW EDFN WR KLV VWRRO FUXVK KLPVHOI DJDLQ DQG SDQW DW KLV UHODWLRQV ´:KDWHYHU \RX GR -RKQQ\ µ VDLG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ VKDNLQJ KHU KHDG ´WDNH FDUH RI KHU RU QHYHU ORRN \RXU PRWKHU LQ WKH IDFH DJDLQ µ ´1RU \RXU EURWKHU µ VDLG $GROSKXV ´1RU \RXU IDWKHU -RKQQ\ µ DGGHG 0U 7HWWHUE\ -RKQQ\ PXFK DIIHFWHG E\ WKLV FRQGLWLRQDO UHQXQ FLDWLRQ RI KLP ORRNHG GRZQ DW 0RORFK·V H\HV WR VHH WKDW WKH\ ZHUH DOO ULJKW VR IDU DQG VNLOIXOO\ SDWWHG KHU EDFN ZKLFK ZDV XSSHUPRVW DQG URFNHG KHU ZLWK KLV IRRW ´$UH \RX ZHW ·'ROSKXV P\ ER\"µ VDLG KLV IDWKHU ´&RPH DQG WDNH P\ FKDLU DQG GU\ \RXUVHOI µ
´1R IDWKHU WKDQN·HH µ VDLG $GROSKXV VPRRWK LQJ KLPVHOI GRZQ ZLWK KLV KDQGV ´, DQ·W YHU\ ZHW , GRQ·W WKLQN 'RHV P\ IDFH VKLQH PXFK IDWKHU"µ ´:HOO LW GRHV ORRN ZD[\ P\ ER\ µ UHWXUQHG 0U 7HWWHUE\
43
7KH +DXQWHG 0DQ DQG WKH *KRVW·V %DUJDLQ
´,W·V WKH ZHDWKHU IDWKHU µ VDLG $GROSKXV SROLVKLQJ KLV FKHHNV RQ WKH ZRUQ VOHHYH RI KLV MDFNHW ´:KDW ZLWK UDLQ DQG VOHHW DQG ZLQG DQG VQRZ DQG IRJ P\ IDFH JHWV TXLWH EURXJKW RXW LQWR D UDVK VRPH WLPHV $QG VKLQHV LW GRHV RK GRQ·W LW WKRXJK µ 0DVWHU $GROSKXV ZDV DOVR LQ WKH QHZVSDSHU OLQH
RI OLIH EHLQJ HPSOR\HG E\ D PRUH WKULYLQJ ÀUP WKDQ
KLV IDWKHU DQG &R WR YHQG QHZVSDSHUV DW D UDLO ZD\ VWDWLRQ ZKHUH KLV FKXEE\ OLWWOH SHUVRQ OLNH D VKDEELO\ GLVJXLVHG &XSLG DQG KLV VKULOO OLWWOH YRLFHKH ZDV QRW PXFK PRUH WKDQ WHQ \HDUV ROG ZHUH DV ZHOO NQRZQ DV WKH KRDUVH SDQWLQJ RI WKH ORFR PRWLYHV UXQQLQJ LQ DQG RXW +LV MXYHQLOLW\ PLJKW KDYH EHHQ DW VRPH ORVV IRU D KDUPOHVV RXWOHW LQ WKLV
HDUO\ DSSOLFDWLRQ WR WUDIÀF EXW IRU D IRUWXQDWH GLV
FRYHU\ KH PDGH RI D PHDQV RI HQWHUWDLQLQJ KLPVHOI DQG RI GLYLGLQJ WKH ORQJ GD\ LQWR VWDJHV RI LQWHUHVW ZLWKRXW QHJOHFWLQJ EXVLQHVV 7KLV LQJHQLRXV LQYHQ WLRQ UHPDUNDEOH OLNH PDQ\ JUHDW GLVFRYHULHV IRU
LWV VLPSOLFLW\ FRQVLVWHG LQ YDU\LQJ WKH ÀUVW YRZHO
LQ WKH ZRUG ´SDSHU µ DQG VXEVWLWXWLQJ LQ LWV VWHDG DW GLIIHUHQW SHULRGV RI WKH GD\ DOO WKH RWKHU YRZ HOV LQ JUDPPDWLFDO VXFFHVVLRQ 7KXV EHIRUH GD\ OLJKW LQ WKH ZLQWHU WLPH KH ZHQW WR DQG IUR LQ KLV OLWWOH RLOVNLQ FDS DQG FDSH DQG KLV ELJ FRPIRUWHU SLHUFLQJ WKH KHDY\ DLU ZLWK KLV FU\ RI ´0RUQ LQJ 3D SHU µ ZKLFK DERXW DQ KRXU EHIRUH QRRQ FKDQJHG WR ´0RUQ LQJ 3HSSHU µ ZKLFK DW DERXW WZR FKDQJHG WR ´0RUQ LQJ 3LS SHU µ ZKLFK LQ D FRXSOH RI KRXUV FKDQJHG WR ´0RUQ LQJ 3RS SHU µ DQG VR GHFOLQHG ZLWK WKH VXQ LQWR ´(YH QLQJ 3XS SHU µ WR WKH JUHDW UHOLHI DQG FRPIRUW RI WKLV \RXQJ JHQWOHPDQ·V VSLULWV 0UV 7HWWHUE\ KLV ODG\ PRWKHU ZKR KDG EHHQ VLW WLQJ ZLWK KHU ERQQHW DQG VKDZO WKURZQ EDFN DV DIRUHVDLG WKRXJKWIXOO\ WXUQLQJ KHU ZHGGLQJ ULQJ
URXQG DQG URXQG XSRQ KHU ÀQJHU QRZ URVH DQG
44
&KDUOHV 'LFNHQV
GLYHVWLQJ KHUVHOI RI KHU RXW RI GRRU DWWLUH EHJDQ WR OD\ WKH FORWK IRU VXSSHU
´$K GHDU PH GHDU PH GHDU PH µ VDLG 0UV 7HW WHUE\ ´7KDW·V WKH ZD\ WKH ZRUOG JRHV µ ´:KLFK LV WKH ZD\ WKH ZRUOG JRHV P\ GHDU"µ DVNHG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ORRNLQJ URXQG ´2K QRWKLQJ µ VDLG 0UV 7HWWHUE\
0U 7HWWHUE\ HOHYDWHG KLV H\HEURZV IROGHG KLV QHZVSDSHU DIUHVK DQG FDUULHG KLV H\HV XS LW DQG GRZQ LW DQG DFURVV LW EXW ZDV ZDQGHULQJ LQ KLV DW WHQWLRQ DQG QRW UHDGLQJ LW
0UV 7HWWHUE\ DW WKH VDPH WLPH ODLG WKH FORWK EXW UDWKHU DV LI VKH ZHUH SXQLVKLQJ WKH WDEOH WKDQ SUHSDULQJ WKH IDPLO\ VXSSHU KLWWLQJ LW XQQHFHVVDU LO\ KDUG ZLWK WKH NQLYHV DQG IRUNV VODSSLQJ LW ZLWK WKH SODWHV GLQWLQJ LW ZLWK WKH VDOW FHOODU DQG FRP LQJ KHDYLO\ GRZQ XSRQ LW ZLWK WKH ORDI
´$K GHDU PH GHDU PH GHDU PH µ VDLG 0UV 7HW WHUE\ ´7KDW·V WKH ZD\ WKH ZRUOG JRHV µ ´0\ GXFN µ UHWXUQHG KHU KXVEDQG ORRNLQJ URXQG DJDLQ ´\RX VDLG WKDW EHIRUH :KLFK LV WKH ZD\ WKH ZRUOG JRHV"µ
´2K QRWKLQJ µ VDLG 0UV 7HWWHUE\
´6RSKLD µ UHPRQVWUDWHG KHU KXVEDQG ´\RX VDLG WKDW EHIRUH WRR µ
´:HOO ,·OO VD\ LW DJDLQ LI \RX OLNH µ UHWXUQHG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ ´2K QRWKLQJ WKHUH $QG DJDLQ LI \RX OLNH RK QRWKLQJ WKHUH $QG DJDLQ LI \RX OLNH RK QRWK LQJ QRZ WKHQ µ
0U 7HWWHUE\ EURXJKW KLV H\H WR EHDU XSRQ WKH SDUWQHU RI KLV ERVRP DQG VDLG LQ PLOG DVWRQLVK PHQW
´0\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ ZKDW KDV SXW \RX RXW"µ ´,·P VXUH , GRQ·W NQRZ µ VKH UHWRUWHG ´'RQ·W DVN PH :KR VDLG , ZDV SXW RXW DW DOO" , QHYHU GLG µ 0U 7HWWHUE\ JDYH XS WKH SHUXVDO RI KLV QHZVSDSHU
45
7KH +DXQWHG 0DQ DQG WKH *KRVW·V %DUJDLQ
DV D EDG MRE DQG WDNLQJ D VORZ ZDON DFURVV WKH URRP ZLWK KLV KDQGV EHKLQG KLP DQG KLV VKRXO GHUV UDLVHG KLV JDLW DFFRUGLQJ SHUIHFWO\ ZLWK WKH UHVLJQDWLRQ RI KLV PDQQHU DGGUHVVHG KLPVHOI WR KLV WZR HOGHVW RIIVSULQJ ´<RXU VXSSHU ZLOO EH UHDG\ LQ D PLQXWH ·'ROSKXV µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ´<RXU PRWKHU KDV EHHQ RXW LQ WKH ZHW WR WKH FRRN·V VKRS WR EX\ LW ,W ZDV YHU\ JRRG RI \RXU PRWKHU VR WR GR <RX VKDOO JHW VRPH VXSSHU WRR YHU\ VRRQ -RKQQ\ <RXU PRWKHU·V SOHDVHG ZLWK \RX P\ PDQ IRU EHLQJ VR DWWHQWLYH WR \RXU SUHFLRXV VLVWHU µ
0UV 7HWWHUE\ ZLWKRXW DQ\ UHPDUN EXW ZLWK D GHFLGHG VXEVLGHQFH RI KHU DQLPRVLW\ WRZDUGV WKH
WDEOH ÀQLVKHG KHU SUHSDUDWLRQV DQG WRRN IURP KHU
DPSOH EDVNHW D VXEVWDQWLDO VODE RI KRW SHDVH SXG GLQJ ZUDSSHG LQ SDSHU DQG D EDVLQ FRYHUHG ZLWK D VDXFHU ZKLFK RQ EHLQJ XQFRYHUHG VHQW IRUWK DQ RGRXU VR DJUHHDEOH WKDW WKH WKUHH SDLU RI H\HV LQ WKH
WZR EHGV RSHQHG ZLGH DQG À[HG WKHPVHOYHV XSRQ
WKH EDQTXHW 0U 7HWWHUE\ ZLWKRXW UHJDUGLQJ WKLV WDFLW LQYLWDWLRQ WR EH VHDWHG VWRRG UHSHDWLQJ VORZ O\ ´<HV \HV \RXU VXSSHU ZLOO EH UHDG\ LQ D PLQ XWH ·'ROSKXV \RXU PRWKHU ZHQW RXW LQ WKH ZHW WR WKH FRRN·V VKRS WR EX\ LW ,W ZDV YHU\ JRRG RI \RXU PRWKHU VR WR GRµ XQWLO 0UV 7HWWHUE\ ZKR KDG EHHQ H[KLELWLQJ VXQGU\ WRNHQV RI FRQWULWLRQ EHKLQG KLP FDXJKW KLP URXQG WKH QHFN DQG ZHSW ´2K 'ROSKXV µ VDLG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ ´KRZ FRXOG , JR DQG EHKDYH VR"µ 7KLV UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ DIIHFWHG $GROSKXV WKH \RXQJHU DQG -RKQQ\ WR WKDW GHJUHH WKDW WKH\ ERWK DV ZLWK RQH DFFRUG UDLVHG D GLVPDO FU\ ZKLFK KDG WKH HIIHFW RI LPPHGLDWHO\ VKXWWLQJ XS WKH URXQG H\HV LQ WKH EHGV DQG XWWHUO\ URXWLQJ WKH WZR UHPDLQLQJ OLWWOH 7HWWHUE\V MXVW WKHQ VWHDOLQJ LQ IURP WKH DGMRLQLQJ
46
&KDUOHV 'LFNHQV
FORVHW WR VHH ZKDW ZDV JRLQJ RQ LQ WKH HDWLQJ ZD\ ´, DP VXUH ·'ROSKXV µ VREEHG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ ´FRP LQJ KRPH , KDG QR PRUH LGHD WKDQ D FKLOG XQERUQ µ
0U 7HWWHUE\ VHHPHG WR GLVOLNH WKLV ÀJXUH RI VSHHFK
DQG REVHUYHG ´6D\ WKDQ WKH EDE\ P\ GHDU µ ´ +DG QR PRUH LGHD WKDQ WKH EDE\ µ VDLG 0UV 7HW WHUE\ ´-RKQQ\ GRQ·W ORRN DW PH EXW ORRN DW KHU RU VKH·OO IDOO RXW RI \RXU ODS DQG EH NLOOHG DQG WKHQ \RX·OO GLH LQ DJRQLHV RI D EURNHQ KHDUW DQG VHUYH \RX ULJKW 1R PRUH LGHD , KDGQ·W WKDQ WKDW GDUOLQJ RI EHLQJ FURVV ZKHQ , FDPH KRPH EXW VRPHKRZ ·'RO SKXV µ 0UV 7HWWHUE\ SDXVHG DQG DJDLQ WXUQHG
KHU ZHGGLQJ ULQJ URXQG DQG URXQG XSRQ KHU ÀQJHU
´, VHH µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ´, XQGHUVWDQG 0\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ ZDV SXW RXW +DUG WLPHV DQG KDUG ZHDWKHU DQG KDUG ZRUN PDNH LW WU\LQJ QRZ DQG WKHQ , VHH EOHVV \RXU VRXO 1R ZRQGHU 'ROI P\ PDQ µ FRQ WLQXHG 0U 7HWWHUE\ H[SORULQJ WKH EDVLQ ZLWK D IRUN ´KHUH·V \RXU PRWKHU EHHQ DQG ERXJKW DW WKH FRRN·V VKRS EHVLGHV SHDVH SXGGLQJ D ZKROH NQXFNOH RI D ORYHO\ URDVW OHJ RI SRUN ZLWK ORWV RI FUDFNOLQJ OHIW XSRQ LW DQG ZLWK VHDVRQLQJ JUDY\ DQG PXVWDUG TXLWH XQOLPLWHG +DQG LQ \RXU SODWH P\ ER\ DQG EHJLQ ZKLOH LW·V VLPPHULQJ µ
0DVWHU $GROSKXV QHHGLQJ QR VHFRQG VXPPRQV UHFHLYHG KLV SRUWLRQ ZLWK H\HV UHQGHUHG PRLVW E\ DS SHWLWH DQG ZLWKGUDZLQJ WR KLV SDUWLFXODU VWRRO IHOO XSRQ KLV VXSSHU WRRWK DQG QDLO -RKQQ\ ZDV QRW IRUJRWWHQ EXW UHFHLYHG KLV UDWLRQV RQ EUHDG OHVW KH
VKRXOG LQ D ÁXVK RI JUDY\ WULFNOH DQ\ RQ WKH EDE\
+H ZDV UHTXLUHG IRU VLPLODU UHDVRQV WR NHHS KLV SXGGLQJ ZKHQ QRW RQ DFWLYH VHUYLFH LQ KLV SRFNHW 7KHUH PLJKW KDYH EHHQ PRUH SRUN RQ WKH NQXFNOH ERQH ZKLFK NQXFNOHERQH WKH FDUYHU DW WKH FRRN·V VKRS KDG DVVXUHGO\ QRW IRUJRWWHQ LQ FDUYLQJ IRU SUH YLRXV FXVWRPHUV EXW WKHUH ZDV QR VWLQW RI VHDVRQ
47
7KH +DXQWHG 0DQ DQG WKH *KRVW·V %DUJDLQ
LQJ DQG WKDW LV DQ DFFHVVRU\ GUHDPLO\ VXJJHVWLQJ SRUN DQG SOHDVDQWO\ FKHDWLQJ WKH VHQVH RI WDVWH 7KH SHDVH SXGGLQJ WRR WKH JUDY\ DQG PXVWDUG OLNH WKH (DVWHUQ URVH LQ UHVSHFW RI WKH QLJKWLQJDOH LI WKH\ ZHUH QRW DEVROXWHO\ SRUN KDG OLYHG QHDU LW VR XSRQ
WKH ZKROH WKHUH ZDV WKH ÁDYRXU RI D PLGGOH VL]HG
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
0UV 7HWWHUE\ GLG QRW HQMR\ KHU VXSSHU 7KHUH VHHPHG WR EH VRPHWKLQJ RQ 0UV 7HWWHUE\·V PLQG $W RQH WLPH VKH ODXJKHG ZLWKRXW UHDVRQ DQG DW DQ RWKHU WLPH VKH FULHG ZLWKRXW UHDVRQ DQG DW ODVW VKH ODXJKHG DQG FULHG WRJHWKHU LQ D PDQQHU VR YHU\ XQ UHDVRQDEOH WKDW KHU KXVEDQG ZDV FRQIRXQGHG ´0\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ´LI WKH ZRUOG JRHV WKDW ZD\ LW DSSHDUV WR JR WKH ZURQJ ZD\ DQG WR FKRNH \RX µ
´*LYH PH D GURS RI ZDWHU µ VDLG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ VWUXJJOLQJ ZLWK KHUVHOI ´DQG GRQ·W VSHDN WR PH IRU WKH SUHVHQW RU WDNH DQ\ QRWLFH RI PH 'RQ·W GR LW µ 0U 7HWWHUE\ KDYLQJ DGPLQLVWHUHG WKH ZDWHU WXUQHG VXGGHQO\ RQ WKH XQOXFN\ -RKQQ\ ZKR ZDV IXOO RI V\PSDWK\ DQG GHPDQGHG ZK\ KH ZDV ZDO ORZLQJ WKHUH LQ JOXWWRQ\ DQG LGOHQHVV LQVWHDG RI FRPLQJ IRUZDUG ZLWK WKH EDE\ WKDW WKH VLJKW RI KHU PLJKW UHYLYH KLV PRWKHU -RKQQ\ LPPHGLDWHO\ DS
48
&KDUOHV 'LFNHQV
SURDFKHG ERUQH GRZQ E\ LWV ZHLJKW EXW 0UV 7HW WHUE\ KROGLQJ RXW KHU KDQG WR VLJQLI\ WKDW VKH ZDV QRW LQ D FRQGLWLRQ WR EHDU WKDW WU\LQJ DSSHDO WR KHU IHHOLQJV KH ZDV LQWHUGLFWHG IURP DGYDQFLQJ DQRWKHU LQFK RQ SDLQ RI SHUSHWXDO KDWUHG IURP DOO KLV GHDU HVW FRQQHFWLRQV DQG DFFRUGLQJO\ UHWLUHG WR KLV VWRRO DJDLQ DQG FUXVKHG KLPVHOI DV EHIRUH
$IWHU D SDXVH 0UV 7HWWHUE\ VDLG VKH ZDV EHWWHU QRZ DQG EHJDQ WR ODXJK
´0\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ µ VDLG KHU KXVEDQG GXELRXVO\ ´DUH \RX TXLWH VXUH \RX·UH EHWWHU" 2U DUH \RX 6R SKLD DERXW WR EUHDN RXW LQ D IUHVK GLUHFWLRQ"µ ´1R ·'ROSKXV QR µ UHSOLHG KLV ZLIH ´,·P TXLWH P\VHOI µ :LWK WKDW VHWWOLQJ KHU KDLU DQG SUHVVLQJ WKH SDOPV RI KHU KDQGV XSRQ KHU H\HV VKH ODXJKHG DJDLQ
´:KDW D ZLFNHG IRRO , ZDV WR WKLQN VR IRU D PR PHQW µ VDLG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ ´&RPH QHDUHU ·'ROSKXV DQG OHW PH HDVH P\ PLQG DQG WHOO \RX ZKDW , PHDQ /HW PH WHOO \RX DOO DERXW LW µ
0U 7HWWHUE\ EULQJLQJ KLV FKDLU FORVHU 0UV 7HW WHUE\ ODXJKHG DJDLQ JDYH KLP D KXJ DQG ZLSHG KHU H\HV
´<RX NQRZ 'ROSKXV P\ GHDU µ VDLG 0UV 7HW WHUE\ ´WKDW ZKHQ , ZDV VLQJOH , PLJKW KDYH JLYHQ P\VHOI DZD\ LQ VHYHUDO GLUHFWLRQV $W RQH WLPH IRXU DIWHU PH DW RQFH WZR RI WKHP ZHUH VRQV RI 0DUV µ ´:H·UH DOO VRQV RI 0D·V P\ GHDU µ VDLG 0U 7HW WHUE\ ´MRLQWO\ ZLWK 3D·V µ ´, GRQ·W PHDQ WKDW µ UHSOLHG KLV ZLIH ´, PHDQ VRO GLHUV VHUMHDQWV µ
´2K µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\
´:HOO ·'ROSKXV ,·P VXUH , QHYHU WKLQN RI VXFK WKLQJV QRZ WR UHJUHW WKHP DQG ,·P VXUH ,·YH JRW DV JRRG D KXVEDQG DQG ZRXOG GR DV PXFK WR SURYH WKDW , ZDV IRQG RI KLP DV µ
49
7KH +DXQWHG 0DQ DQG WKH *KRVW·V %DUJDLQ
´$V DQ\ OLWWOH ZRPDQ LQ WKH ZRUOG µ VDLG 0U 7HW WHUE\ ´9HU\ JRRG 9HU\ JRRG µ
,I 0U 7HWWHUE\ KDG EHHQ WHQ IHHW KLJK KH FRXOG QRW KDYH H[SUHVVHG D JHQWOHU FRQVLGHUDWLRQ IRU 0UV 7HWWHUE\·V IDLU\ OLNH VWDWXUH DQG LI 0UV 7HWWHUE\ KDG EHHQ WZR IHHW KLJK VKH FRXOG QRW KDYH IHOW LW PRUH DSSURSULDWHO\ KHU GXH ´%XW \RX VHH ·'ROSKXV µ VDLG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ ´WKLV EHLQJ &KULVWPDV WLPH ZKHQ DOO SHRSOH ZKR FDQ PDNH KROLGD\ DQG ZKHQ DOO SHRSOH ZKR KDYH JRW PRQH\ OLNH WR VSHQG VRPH , GLG VRPHKRZ JHW D OLWWOH RXW RI VRUWV ZKHQ , ZDV LQ WKH VWUHHWV MXVW QRZ 7KHUH ZHUH VR PDQ\ WKLQJV WR EH VROG VXFK GHOL
FLRXV WKLQJV WR HDW VXFK ÀQH WKLQJV WR ORRN DW VXFK
GHOLJKWIXO WKLQJV WR KDYH DQG WKHUH ZDV VR PXFK FDOFXODWLQJ DQG FDOFXODWLQJ QHFHVVDU\ EHIRUH , GXUVW OD\ RXW D VL[SHQFH IRU WKH FRPPRQHVW WKLQJ DQG WKH EDVNHW ZDV VR ODUJH DQG ZDQWHG VR PXFK LQ LW DQG P\ VWRFN RI PRQH\ ZDV VR VPDOO DQG ZRXOG JR VXFK D OLWWOH ZD\ \RX KDWH PH GRQ·W \RX ·'ROSKXV"µ ´1RW TXLWH µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ´DV \HW µ
´:HOO ,·OO WHOO \RX WKH ZKROH WUXWK µ SXUVXHG KLV ZLIH SHQLWHQWO\ ´DQG WKHQ SHUKDSV \RX ZLOO , IHOW DOO WKLV VR PXFK ZKHQ , ZDV WUXGJLQJ DERXW LQ WKH FROG DQG ZKHQ , VDZ D ORW RI RWKHU FDOFXODWLQJ IDFHV DQG ODUJH EDVNHWV WUXGJLQJ DERXW WRR WKDW , EHJDQ WR WKLQN ZKHWKHU , PLJKWQ·W KDYH GRQH EHWWHU DQG EHHQ KDSSLHU LI , KDGQ·W µ WKH ZHGGLQJ ULQJ ZHQW URXQG DJDLQ DQG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ VKRRN KHU GRZQFDVW KHDG DV VKH WXUQHG LW
´, VHH µ VDLG KHU KXVEDQG TXLHWO\ ´LI \RX KDGQ·W PDUULHG DW DOO RU LI \RX KDG PDUULHG VRPHERG\ HOVH"µ ´<HV µ VREEHG 0UV 7HWWHUE\ ´7KDW·V UHDOO\ ZKDW , WKRXJKW 'R \RX KDWH PH QRZ ·'ROSKXV"µ
´:K\ QR µ VDLG 0U 7HWWHUE\ ´, GRQ·W ÀQG WKDW ,
GR DV \HW µ
50
