JulQnn - ThBridtn2ndEpg2.5 - ThVisctWhLvdM - 2ndEpilg

8/13/2019 JulQnn - ThBridtn2ndEpg2.5 - ThVisctWhLvdM - 2ndEpilg

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THEVISCOUNTWHOLOVEDME

JULIAQUINN

Contents

Begin Reading

About t e Aut o!

Co"#!ig t

About t e $ub%is e!

Ma# &'()

*ate sto+"ed a,!oss t e %a-n. g%an,ing o/e! e! s ou%de! to +a0e su!e t at e! usband-as not 1o%%o-ing e!2 3i1teen #ea!s o1 +a!!iage ad taug t e! a t ing o! t-o. and s e0ne- t at e -ou%d be -at, ing e! e/e!# +o/e2

But s e -as ,%e/e!2 And s e -as dete!+ined2 And s e 0ne- t at 1o! a "ound. Ant on#4s/a%et ,ou%d 1eign t e +ost +a!/e%ous sa!to!ia% disaste!2 So+et ing in/o%/ing 5a+ on t ei!on. o! "e! a"s an in1estation in t e -a!d!obe6s"ide!s. +i,e. it !ea%%# didn4t +atte!- i, 6*ate -as +o!e t an a""# to %ea/e t e detai%s u" to t e /a%et as %ong as Ant on#-as suitab%# dist!a,ted %ong enoug 1o! e! to +a0e e! es,a"e2

7It is +ine. a%% +ine.8 s e , o!t%ed. in +u, t e sa+e tones s e4d used du!ing t e "!e/ious +ont 4s B!idge!ton 1a+i%# "!odu,tion o1Ma,bet 2 He! e%dest son ad ,asted t e!o%es9 s e ad been na+ed 3i!st Wit, 2

*ate ad "!etended not to noti,e - en Ant on# ad !e-a!ded i+ -it a ne- o!se2

He! usband -ou%d "a# no-2 His s i!ts -ou%d be stained "in0 -it !as"be!!# 5a+. ands e6

S e -as s+i%ing so a!d s e -as %aug ing2



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7Mine +ine +ine+iiiiiiiiiiiine .8 s e sang. -!en, ing o"en t e doo! to t e s ed on t e%ast s#%%ab%e. - i, 5ust so a""ened to be t e dee". se!ious note o1 Beet o/en4s 3i1tS#+" on#2

7Mine +ine +ine+iiiiiiiiiine 28

S e -ou%d a/e it2 It -as e!s2 S e ,ou%d "!a,ti,a%%# taste it2 S e -ou%d a/e tasted it.e/en. i1 "ossib%e. -ou%d so+e o- a/e bonded it to e! side2 S e ad no taste 1o! -ood.o1 ,ou!se. but t is -as no o!dina!# i+"%e+ent o1 dest!u,tion2 T is -as:

T e +a%%et o1 deat 2

7Mine +ine +ine+ine +ine +ine +ine+ine +ine +ine +ine+iiiiiiiiiine .8 s e,ontinued. +o/ing into t e o""# %itt%e se,tion t at 1o%%o-ed t e 1a+i%ia! Beet o/en!e1!ain2

S e ,ou%d ba!e%# ,ontain e!se%1 as s e tossed a b%an0et aside2 T e $a%% Ma%% set -ou%d be !esting in t e ,o!ne!. as it a%-a#s -as. and in 5ust a +o+ent6

7Loo0ing 1o! t is;8

*ate - i!%ed a!ound2 T e!e -as Ant on#. standing in t e doo!-a#. s+i%ing diabo%i,a%%#as e s"un t e b%a,0 $a%% Ma%% +a%%et in is ands2

His s i!t -as b%inding%# - ite2

7


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S e4d beaten i+ to t e +a%%et 1o! t !ee #ea!s !unning2 S e -as da+ned i1 e -as goingto get t e bette! o1 e! t is ti+e2

7=i/e u" no-. dea! -i1e.8 Ant on# taunted2 7Ad+it de1eat. and -e s a%% a%% be a""ie!28

*ate sig ed so1t%#. a%+ost as i1 s e a,>uies,ed2

Ant on#4s e#es na!!o-ed2

*ate id%# tou, ed e! 1inge!s to t e ne,0%ine o1 e! d!ess2

Ant on#4s e#es -idened2

7It4s ot in e!e. don4t #ou t in0;8 s e as0ed. e! /oi,e so1t. and s-eet. and te!!ib%# b!eat %ess2

7


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7A . -i1e.8 e +u!+u!ed. ,u""ing e! b!east 1!o+ t e botto+. and %i1ting it ig e! unti%it sat "%u+" in is and2

He s+i%ed2

*ate sto""ed b!eat ing2

He bent 1o!-a!d and too0 t e bud in is +out 2

7O 8S e -asn4t 1a0ing an#t ing no-2

He !e"eated is to!tu!e on t e ot e! side2

T en e ste""ed ba,02

Ba,02

*ate stood sti%%. "anting2

7A . to a/e a "ainting o1 t is.8 e said2 7I -ou%d ang it in +# o11i,e28

*ate4s +out 1e%% o"en2

He e%d u" t e +a%%et in t!iu+" 2 7=oodb#e. dea! -i1e28 He e?ited t e s ed. t en "o0edis ead ba,0 4!ound t e ,o!ne!2 7T!# not to ,at, a , i%%2


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Most%# e ado!ed t at e ad it in is "ossession. but e -as sti%% !at e! 1ond o1 it2 W ene -as ab%e to 1o!get t at e ad b!i%%iant%# snat, ed it 1!o+ unde! *ate4s nose. e

a,tua%%# !e,a%%ed t at it +a!0ed so+et ing e%se6

T e da# e4d 1a%%en in %o/e2

Not t at e4d !ea%i ed it at t e ti+e2 No! ad *ate. e i+agined. but e -as ,e!tain t att at -as t e da# t e# ad been 1ated to be toget e!6t e da# o1 t e in1a+ous $a%% Ma%%+at, 2

S e ad %e1t i+ -it t e "in0 +a%%et2 S e ad sent is ba%% into t e %a0e2

=od. - at a -o+an2

It ad been a +ost e?,e%%ent 1i1teen #ea!s2

He s+i%ed ,ontented%#. t en %et is ga e d!o" to t e b%a,0 +a%%et again2 E/e!# #ea! t e#!e"%a#ed t e +at, 2 A%% o1 t e o!igina% "%a#e!s6Ant on#. *ate. is b!ot e! Co%in. issiste! Da" ne and e! usband Si+on. and *ate4s siste! Ed-ina6t e# a%% t!oo"edduti1u%%# to Aub!e# Ha%% ea, s"!ing and too0 u" t ei! "%a,es on t e e/e!@s i1ting ,ou!se2So+e ag!eed to attend -it ea% and so+e -it +e!e a+use+ent. but t e# -e!e a%% t e!e.e/e!# #ea!2

And t is #ea!6

Ant on# , o!t%ed -it g%ee2 He ad t e +a%%et and *ate did not2

Li1e -as good2 Li1e -as /e!#. /e!# good2

T e da# a1te! t at

7*aaaaaaaaaaate 8

*ate %oo0ed u" 1!o+ e! boo02

7*aaaaaaaaaaate 8

S e t!ied to gauge is distan,e2 A1te! 1i1teen #ea!s o1 ea!ing e! na+e be%%o-ed in +u,t e sa+e 1as ion. s e4d be,o+e >uite "!o1i,ient at ,a%,u%ating t e ti+e bet-een t e 1i!st!oa! and e! usband4s a""ea!an,e2

It -as not as st!aig t1o!-a!d a ,a%,u%ation as it +ig t see+2 T e!e -as e! %o,ation to,onside!6-as s e u"stai!s o! do-n. /isib%e 1!o+ t e doo!-a#. et ,ete!a. et ,ete!a2

T en one ad to add in t e , i%d!en2 We!e t e# at o+e; $ossib%# in is -a#; T e#-ou%d s%o- i+ do-n. ,e!tain%#. "e! a"s e/en b# a 1u%% +inute. and6



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7


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7I a+ #ou! -i1e.8 s e said. g%an,ing at e! 1inge!nai%s2 7T e!e s ou%d be no se,!ets bet-een us. don4t #ou t in0;8

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7O . I -ou%d28

He -as ai+ing 1o! a !e"eat "e!1o!+an,e2 He -as going to tie e! u" and%ea/e e! t e!e- i%e e sea!, ed 1o! t e +a%%et2

Not i1 s e ad an#t ing to sa# about it2

*ate s,!a+b%ed o/e! t e a!+ o1 e! , ai! and t en s,ooted be ind it2 A%-a#s good toa/e a " #si,a% ba!!ie! in situations %i0e t ese2

7O . *aaaaate.8 e taunted. +o/ing to-a!d e!2

7It4s +ine.8 s e de,%a!ed2 7It -as +ine 1i1teen #ea!s ago. and it4s sti%% +ine28

7It -as +ine be1o!e it -as #ou!s28

7But #ou +a!!ied +e 8 7And t is +a0es it #ou!s;8

S e said not ing. 5ust %o,0ed e! e#es -it is2 S e -as b!eat %ess. "anting. ,aug t u" int e !us o1 t e +o+ent2

And t en. 1ast as %ig tning. e 5u+"ed 1o!-a!d. !ea, ing o/e! t e , ai!. ,at, ing o%d o1e! s ou%de! 1o! a b!ie1 +o+ent be1o!e s e s>ui!+ed a-a#2

7


9/26


Co%in st!o0ed t e b%unt. ,#%ind!i,a% end a%+ost %o/ing%#2 7I ,an on%# s"ea0 1o! +#se%1. o1,ou!se.8 e said -it a a""# sig . 7but as 1a! as I4+ ,on,e!ned. I4/e a%!ead# -on28

=a+e da#

7I 1ai% to ,o+"!e end.8 Ant on#4s siste! Da" ne !e+a!0ed. 7- # #ou get to set u" t e,ou!se28

7Be,ause I b%ood# -e%% o-n t e %a-n.8 e bit o112 He e%d is and u" to s ie%d is e#es1!o+ t e sun as e ins"e,ted is -o!02 He4d done a b!i%%iant 5ob t is ti+e. i1 e did sa# so

i+se%12 It -as diabo%i,a%2

$u!e genius2

7An# , an,e #ou +ig t be ,a"ab%e o1 !e1!aining 1!o+ "!o1anit# in t e ,o+"an# o1%adies;8 T is. 1!o+ Da" ne4s usband Si+on. t e Du0e o1 Hastings2

7S e4s no %ad#.8 Ant on# g!u+b%ed2 7S e4s +# siste!28

7S e4s+# -i1e28

Ant on# s+i!0ed2 7S e -as +# siste! 1i!st28

Si+on tu!ned to *ate. - o -as ta""ing e! +a%%et6g!een. - i, s e4d de,%a!ed e!se%1a""# -it . but Ant on# 0ne- bette!6against t e g!ass2

7Ho-.8 e as0ed. 7do #ou to%e!ate i+;8

S e s !ugged2 7It4s a ta%ent 1e- "ossess28

Co%in ste""ed u". ,%ut, ing t e b%a,0 +a%%et %i0e t e Ho%# =!ai%2 7S a%% -e begin;8 eas0ed g!and%#2

Si+on4s %i"s "a!ted -it su!"!ise2 7T e +a%%et o1 deat ;8

7I4+ /e!# ,%e/e!.8 Co%in ,on1i!+ed2

7He b!ibed t e ouse+aid.8 *ate g!u+b%ed2

7


10/26


7Neit e! -as s e.8 e !etu!ned. +otioning to *ate2

Da" ne "onde!ed t at2 7S e is an abe!!ation.8 s e 1ina%%# ,on,%uded2

7An abe!!ation;8 *ate de+anded2

7It4s t e ig est o1 ,o+"%i+ents.8 Da" ne in1o!+ed e!2 S e "aused. t en added. 7In t is,onte?t28 S e t en tu!ned to Co%in2 7Ho- +u, ;8

7Ho- +u, - at;8

7Ho- +u, did #ou gi/e t e ouse+aid;8

He s !ugged2 7Ten "ounds28

7Ten"ounds ;8 Da" ne nea!%# s !ie0ed2

7A!e #ou +ad;8 Ant on# de+anded2

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7=ood da#. a%%.8 $ene%o"e said. a+b%ing do-n to t e gat e!ing2

7No , ee!ing.8 Ant on# -a!ned e!2

$ene%o"e b%in0ed in ,on1usion2 7I beg #ou! "a!don;8

7And unde! no ,i!,u+stan,es.8 e ,ontinued. be,ause !ea%%#. so+eone ad to +a0e su!et e ga+e !etained so+e integ!it#. 7+a# #ou ,o+e -it in ten "a,es o1 #ou! usband28

$ene%o"e %oo0ed at Co%in. bobbed e! ead nine ti+es as s e esti+ated t e ste"s bet-eent e+. and too0 a ste" ba,02

7T e!e -i%% be no , eating.8 Ant on# -a!ned2

7At %east none- t#"es o1 , eating.8 Si+on added2 7$!e/ious%# estab%is ed , eating

te, ni>ues a!e "e!+issib%e28 7Ma# I s"ea0 -it +# usband du!ing t e ,ou!se o1 "%a#;8 $ene%o"e in>ui!ed +i%d%#2

7No 8 A !esounding , o!us. t !ee /oi,es st!ong2

7uinting u" to-a!d t e ouse2

7S e4%% be do-n s o!t%#.8 *ate !e"%ied2 7S e -as 1inis ing b!ea01ast28

7S e is de%a#ing t e "%a#28

*ate tu!ned to Da" ne2 7M# siste! does not s a!e ou! de/otion to t e ga+e28

7S e t in0s -e4!e a%% +ad;8 Da" ne as0ed2

7Quite28

7We%%. s e is s-eet to ,o+e do-n e/e!# #ea!.8 Da" ne said2

7It4s t!adition.8 Ant on# ba!0ed2 He4d +anaged to get o%d o1 t e o!ange +a%%et and -ass-inging it against an i+agina!# ba%%. na!!o-ing is e#es as e !e ea!sed is ai+2

7He asn4t been "!a,ti,ing t e ,ou!se. as e;8 Co%in de+anded2



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7Ho- ,ou%d e;8 Si+on as0ed2 7He on%# 5ust set it u" t is +o!ning2 We a%% -at, edi+28

Co%in igno!ed i+ and tu!ned to *ate2 7Has e +ade an# st!ange no,tu!na%disa""ea!an,es !e,ent%#;8

S e ga"ed at i+2 7


13/26


*ate "aused again2 7I don4t 0no-28

7T!adition.8 Ant on# "ut in2

7T en - # do t e !est o1 #ou s-it, ,o%o!s e/e!# #ea!;8 $ene%o"e "e!sisted2

Ant on# tu!ned to is b!ot e!2 7Does s e a%-a#s as0 so +an# >uestions;8

7A%-a#s28

He tu!ned ba,0 to $ene%o"e and said. 7We %i0e it t is -a#28

7I4+ e!e 8 Ed-ina ,a%%ed out , ee!1u%%# as s e a""!oa, ed t e !est o1 t e "%a#e!s2 7O . b%ue again2 Ho- t oug t1u%28 S e "i,0ed u" e! e>ui"+ent. t en tu!ned to Ant on#27S a%% -e "%a#;8

He ga/e a nod. t en tu!ned to Si+on2 7


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7Not ing.8 s e said o11 anded%#. 75ust t at it4s a t!i1%e +udd# !ig t t e!e28

7Mudd#;8 Ant on# %oo0ed to-a!d is ba%%. t en ba,0 to is -i1e. t en ba,0 to t e ba%%27It asn4t !ained 1o! da#s28

7H+++. no28

He %oo0ed ba,0 to is -i1e2 His +addening. diabo%i,a%. and soon@to@be@%o,0ed@in@a@dungeon -i1e2 7Ho- did it get +udd#;8

7We%%. "e! a"s not+udd# :8

7Not +udd#.8 e !e"eated. -it 1a! +o!e "atien,e t an s e dese!/ed2

7$udd%e@is +ig t be +o!e a""!o"!iate28

Wo!ds 1ai%ed i+2

7$udd%#;8 S e s,!un, ed e! 1a,e a tou, 2 7Ho- does one +a0e an ad5e,ti/e out o1 a "udd%e;8

He too0 a ste" in e! di!e,tion2 S e da!ted be ind Da" ne2

7W at is a""ening;8 Da" ne as0ed. t-isting about2

*ate "o0ed e! ead out and s+i%ed t!iu+" ant%#2 7I do be%ie/e e4s going to 0i%% +e28

7Wit so +an# -itnesses;8 Si+on as0ed2

7Ho-.8 Ant on# de+anded. 7did a "udd%e 1o!+ in t e +idst o1 t e d!iest s"!ing o1 +#!e,o%%e,tion;8

*ate s ot i+ anot e! one o1 e! anno#ing g!ins2 7I s"i%%ed +# tea28

7An enti!e "udd%e4s -o!t ;8

S e s !ugged2 7I -as ,o%d28

7Co%d28

7And t i!st#28

7And a""a!ent%# ,%u+s#. as -e%%.8 Si+on "ut in2

Ant on# g%a!ed at i+2



15/26


7We%%. i1 #ou a!e going to 0i%% e!.8 Si+on said. 7-ou%d #ou +ind -aiting unti% +# -i1eis out 1!o+ bet-een #ou;8 He tu!ned to *ate2 7Ho- did #ou 0no- - e!e to "ut t e

"udd%e;8

7He4s /e!# "!edi,tab%e.8 s e !e"%ied2

Ant on# st!et, ed out is 1inge!s and +easu!ed e! t !oat2

7E/e!# #ea!.8 s e said. s+i%ing st!aig t at i+2 7


16/26


7I4+ not ,e!tain.8 *ate ea!d i+ sa# as e and Da" ne too0 t ei! %ea/e to-a!d -i,0etnu+be! 1i/e. 7but it see+ed as i1 I oug t to sa#so+e t ing28

*ate ,ounted to ten in e! ead. and t en su!e enoug . Ed-ina a""ened a,!oss e!.

$ene%o"e t!ai%ing t !ee ste"s be ind2 T e "ai! ad be,o+e so+et ing o1 a tea+. -itEd-ina doing a%% t e s-inging and $ene%o"e ,onsu%ting on st!ateg#2

7O .*ate .8 Ed-ina said -it a "it#ing sig 2

7Don4t sa# it.8 *ate g!o-%ed2

7


17/26


7I beg #ou! "a!don;8

7Is e be1o!e t e -i,0et o! a1te! it;8 s e !e"eated i+"atient%#2 And t en. - en $ene%o"edid not ans-e! instant%# s e added. 7Has e gone t !oug t e b%ood# t ing #et;8

$ene%o"e b%in0ed -it su!"!ise2 7E!. no2 He as about t-o +o!e st!o0es. I s ou%d t in02$e! a"s t !ee28

*ate -at, ed t e+ de"a!t t !oug na!!o-ed e#es2 S e -asn4t going to -in6t e!e -asno , an,e o1 t at no-2 But i1 s e ,ou%dn4t -in. t en b# =od. neit e! -ou%d Ant on#2 Hedese!/ed no g%o!# t is da#. not a1te! t!i""ing e! and sending e! tu+b%ing into t e +ud

"udd%e2

O . e4d ,%ai+ed it -as an a,,ident. but *ate 1ound it ig %# sus"i,ious t at is ba%% adgone s"%utte!ing out o1 t e "udd%e at t e e?a,t +o+ent s e4d ste""ed 1o!-a!d to !ea, e!o-n ba%%2 S e4d ad to do a %itt%e o" to a/oid it and -as ,ong!atu%ating e!se%1 on e!

nea! +iss - en Ant on# ad s-ung a!ound -it a "atent%# 1a%se. 7I sa#. a!e #ou a%%!ig t;8

His +a%%et ad s-ung -it i+. ,on/enient%# at an0%e %e/e%2 *ate ad not been ab%e toout o" t at one. and s e4d gone 1%#ing into t e +ud2

3a,e do-n2

And t en Ant on# ad ad t e ga%% to o11e! e! a and0e!, ie12

S e -as going to 0i%% i+2

*i%%2

*i%% 0i%% 0i%%2

But 1i!st s e -as going to +a0e su!e e didn4t -in2

Ant on# -as s+i%ing b!oad%#6- ist%ing. e/en6as e -aited is tu!n2 It -as ta0ing a!idi,u%ous%# %ong a+ount o1 ti+e to get ba,0 4!ound to i+. - at -it *ate so 1a! be indt at so+eone ad to das ba,0 to %et e! 0no- - en it -as e! tu!n. not to +entionEd-ina. - o ne/e! see+ed to unde!stand t e /i!tue o1 s"eed# "%a#2 It ad been badenoug t e %ast 1ou!teen #ea!s. -it e! a+b%ing a%ong as i1 s e ad a%% da#. but no- s e

ad $ene%o"e. - o -ou%d not a%%o- e! to it t e ba%% -it out e! ana%#sis and ad/i,e2

But 1o! on,e. Ant on# didn4t +ind2 He -as in t e %ead. so 1a! so t at no one ,ou%d "ossib%# ,at, u"2 And 5ust to +a0e is /i,to!# a%% t e s-eete!. *ate -as in %ast "%a,e2



18/26


So 1a! so t at s e ,ou%d not o"e to o/e!ta0e an#one2

It a%+ost +ade u" 1o! t e 1a,t t at Co%in ad snat, ed t e +a%%et o1 deat 2

He tu!ned to-a!d t e %ast -i,0et2 He needed one st!o0e to get is ba%% at t e !ead#. and

one +o!e to "us it t !oug 2 A1te! t at. e needed on%# to stee! it to t e 1ina% "o%e and endt e ga+e -it a ta"2

C i%d4s "%a#2

He g%an,ed ba,0 o/e! is s ou%de!2 He ,ou%d see Da" ne standing b# t e o%d oa0 t!ee2S e -as at t e ,!est o1 a i%%. and t us ,ou%d see do-n - e!e e ,ou%d not2

7W ose tu!n is it;8 e ,a%%ed out2

S e ,!aned e! ne,0 as s e -at, ed t e ot e!s "%a#ing do-n t e i%%2 7Co%in4s. I

be%ie/e.8 s e said. t-isting ba,0 a!ound. 7- i, +eans *ate is ne?t28 He s+i%ed at t at2

He4d set t e ,ou!se u" a %itt%e di11e!ent%# t is #ea!. in so+et ing o1 a ,i!,u%a! 1as ion2T e "%a#e!s ad to 1o%%o- a t-isting "atte!n. - i, +eant t at as t e ,!o- 1%e-. e -asa,tua%%# ,%ose! to *ate t an e -as to t e ot e!s2 In 1a,t. e need on%# +o/e about ten#a!ds to t e sout . and e4d be ab%e to -at, e! as s e "us ed on to-a!d t e 1ou!t-i,0et2

O! -as it +e!e%# t e t i!d;

Eit e! -a#. e -asn4t going to +iss it2

So. -it a g!in on is 1a,e. e 5ogged o/e!2 S ou%d e ,a%% out; It -ou%d i!!itate e! +o!ei1 e ,a%%ed out2

But t at -ou%d be ,!ue%2 And on t e ot e! and6

CRAC*

Ant on# %oo0ed u" 1!o+ is "onde!ings 5ust in ti+e to see t e g!een ba%% u!t%ing in isdi!e,tion2

W at t e de/i%;

*ate %et out a t!iu+" ant ,a,0%e. "i,0ed u" e! s0i!ts and began !unning o/e!2

7W at in =od4s na+e a!e #ou doing;8 Ant on# de+anded2 7T e 1ou!t -i,0et ist at-a#28 He 5abbed is 1inge! in t e a""!o"!iate di!e,tion e/en t oug e 0ne- s e 0ne-



19/26


- e!e it -as2

7I4+ on%# on t e t i!d -i,0et.8 s e said a!, %#. 7and an#-a#. I4/e gi/en u" on -inning2It4s o"e%ess at t is "oint. don4t #ou t in0;8

Ant on# %oo0ed at e!. t en e %oo0ed at is ba%%. !esting "ea,e1u%%# nea! t e %ast -i,0et2

T en e %oo0ed at e! again2

7O no #ou don4t.8 e g!o-%ed2

S e s+i%ed s%o-%#2

De/ious%#2

Li0e a -it, 2

7Wat, +e.8 s e said2

Just t en Co%in ,a+e das ing o/e! t e !ise2 7ui,0%#.8 Si+on said. st!iding 1o!-a!d2 7We ,e!tain%# don4t -ant to+isst is 28

7O . 1o! =od4s sa0e.8 e +utte!ed. -at, ing as t e !est o1 t e+ u!!ied nea!2 He sta%0edo/e! to is ba%%. na!!o-ing is e#es as e "!e"a!ed is ai+2

7Be ,a!e1u% o1 t e t!ee !oot 8 $ene%o"e ,a%%ed out2

Ant on# g!it is teet 2

7It -asn4t , ee!ing.8 s e said. e! 1a,e +agni1i,ent%# b%and2 7Su!e%# a -a!ning doesn4t>ua%i1# as , ee!68

7S utu" .8 Ant on# g!ound out2

7We a%% a/e ou! "%a,e in t is ga+e.8 s e said. %i"s t-it, ing2

Ant on# tu!ned a!ound2 7Co%in 8 e ba!0ed2 7I1 #ou don4t -is to 1ind #ou!se%1 a-ido-e!. 0ind%# +u %e #ou! -i1e28

Co%in -a%0ed o/e! to $ene%o"e2 7I %o/e #ou.8 e said. 0issing e! on t e , ee02



20/26


7And I68

7Sto" it 8 Ant on# e?"%oded2 W en a%% e#es tu!ned to i+. e added. !at e! in a g!unt.7I4+ t!#ing to ,on,ent!ate28

*ate dan,ed in a %itt%e ,%ose!2

7=et a-a# 1!o+ +e. -o+an28

7I 5ust -ant tosee .8 s e said2 7I4/e a!d%# ad t e , an,e to see an#t ing t is ga+e. being so 1a! be ind t e enti!e ti+e28

He na!!o-ed is e#es2 7I+ig t be !es"onsib%e 1o! t e +ud. and "%ease note +# e+" asison t e -o!d+ig t . - i, does not i+"%# an# so!t o1 ,on1i!+ation on +# "a!t28

He "aused. >uite "ointed%# igno!ing t e !est o1 t e gat e!ing. a%% o1 - o+ -e!e ga"ing at

i+2 7Ho-e/e!.8 e ,ontinued. 7I 1ai% to see o- #ou! "osition in %ast "%a,e is+#!es"onsibi%it#28

7T e +ud +ade +# ands s%i""e!#.8 s e g!ound out2 7I ,ou%d not "!o"e!%# g!i" t e+a%%et28

O11 to t e side. Co%in -in,ed2 7Wea0. I4+ a1!aid. *ate2 I4%% a/e to g!ant t is "oint toAnt on#. +u, as it "ains +e28

73ine.8 s e said. a1te! tossing Co%in a -it e!ing g%a!e2 7It4s no one4s 1au%t but +# o-n2Ho-e/e!28

And t en s e said not ing2

7E!. o-e/e! - at;8 Ed-ina 1ina%%# in>ui!ed2

*ate ,ou%d a/e been a >ueen -it e! s,e"te! as s e stood t e!e. a%% ,o/e!ed -it +ud27Ho-e/e!.8 s e ,ontinued !ega%%#. 7I don4t a/e to %i0e it2 And t is being $a%% Ma%%. and-e being B!idge!tons. I don4t a/e to "%a# 1ai!28

Ant on# s oo0 is ead and bent ba,0 do-n to +a0e is ai+2

7S e as a "oint t is ti+e.8 Co%in said. i!!itating sod t at e -as2 7=ood s"o!ts+ans i"as ne/e! been /a%ued ig %# in t is ga+e28

7Be >uiet.8 Ant on# g!unted2

7In 1a,t.8 Co%in ,ontinued. 7one ,ou%d +a0e t e a!gu+ent t at68



21/26


7I said be >uiet28

76t e o""osite is t!ue. and t atbad s"o!ts+ans i"68

7S utu" . Co%in28

76is in 1a,t to be %auded. and68

Ant on# de,ided to gi/e u" and ta0e a s-ing2 At t is !ate t e#4d be standing t e!e unti%Mi, ae%+as2 Co%in -as ne/e! going to sto" ta%0ing. not - en e t oug t e ad a , an,eo1 i!!itating is b!ot e!2

Ant on# 1o!,ed i+se%1 to ea! not ing but t e -ind2 O! at %east e t!ied2

He ai+ed2

He d!e- ba,02

C!a,0

Not too a!d. not too a!d2

T e ba%% !o%%ed 1o!-a!d. un1o!tunate%# not >uite 1a! enoug 2 He -as not going to +a0e itt !oug t e %ast -i,0et on is ne?t t!#2 At %east not -it out inte!/ention di/ine enoug tosend is ba%% a!ound a 1ist@si ed stone2

7Co%in. #ou4!e ne?t.8 Da" ne said. but e -as a%!ead# das ing ba,0 to is ba%%2 He ga/eit a a" a a!d ta". t en #e%%ed out. 7*ate 8

S e ste""ed 1o!-a!d. b%in0ing as s e assessed t e %a# o1 t e %and2 He! ba%% -as about a1oot a-a# 1!o+ Ant on#4s2 T e stone. o-e/e!. -as on t e ot e! side. +eaning t at i1s e atte+"ted to sabotage i+. s e ,ou%dn4t send i+ /e!# 1a!6su!e%# t e stone -ou%dsto" t e ba%%2

7An inte!esting di%e++a.8 Ant on# +u!+u!ed2

*ate ,i!,%ed a!ound t e ba%%s2 7It -ou%d be a !o+anti, gestu!e.8 s e +used. 7i1 I a%%o-ed#ou to -in28

7O . it4s not a >uestion o1 #ou!a%%o-ing .8 e taunted2

7W!ong ans-e!.8 s e said. and s e ai+ed2

Ant on# na!!o-ed is e#es2 W at -as s e doing;



22/26


*ate it t e ba%% -it a 1ai! bit o1 1o!,e. ai+ing not s>ua!e%# at is ba%% but at t e %e1t side2He! ba%% s%a++ed into is. sending it s"i!a%ing o11 to t e !ig t2 Be,ause o1 t e ang%e. s e,ou%dn4t send it as 1a! as s e +ig t a/e -it a di!e,t s ot. but s e did +anage to get it!ig t to t e to" o1 t e i%%2

Rig t to t e to"2

Rig t to t e to"2

And t en do-n it2

*ate %et out a - oo" o1 de%ig t t at -ou%d not a/e been out o1 "%a,e on a batt%e1ie%d2

7


23/26


at a s"ot on e! ea! t at -as "a!ti,u%a!%# ,a0ed -it +ud. 7I su""ose t at4s t e end o1 t e+at, 1o! us28

7I4d sa#28

7B!i%%iant 5ob t is #ea!28

7uite on "u!"ose.8 e +u!+u!ed2

7I s ou%d a/e done t e sa+e.8 s e a%%o-ed2

7


24/26


He %oo0ed at e! in o!!o!2 7O . t en it4s e/e!# +an 1o! i+se%12


25/26


T is is a -o!0 o1 1i,tion2 Na+es. , a!a,te!s. "%a,es. and in,idents a!e "!odu,ts o1 t eaut o!4s i+agination o! a!e used 1i,titious%# and a!e not to be ,onst!ued as !ea%2 An#!ese+b%an,e to a,tua% e/ents. %o,a%es. o!gani ations. o! "e!sons. %i/ing o! dead. is enti!e%#,oin,identa%2

AVON BOO*SAn I+"!int o1 Ha!"e!Co%%ins$ub%is e!s& East !d St!eet

Ne-


26/26


Canada

Ha!"e!Co%%ins $ub%is e!s Ltd2

A/enue Road. Suite ()

To!onto. ON. M R. L(. Canada

tt" ---2 a!"e!,o%%inseboo0s2,a

Ne- ea%and

Ha!"e!Co%%ins$ub%is e!s Ne- ea%and Li+ited

$2O2 Bo? & Au,0%and. Ne- ea%and

tt" ---2 a!"e!,o%%inseboo0s2,o2n

United *ingdo+

Ha!"e!Co%%ins $ub%is e!s Ltd2

KK@' 3u% a+ $a%a,e Road

London. WG 'JB. U*

tt" ---2u02 a!"e!,o%%inseboo0s2,o+

United States

Ha!"e!Co%%ins $ub%is e!s In,2

& East !d St!eet

Ne-

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