I

nvi
si
bl
eRi
chma
ncha
pter1713-
1750

Natural
ly,Geral
dwa s
n’tcomme nt
ingonthea t
tackit
self
.Whilehera t
tac
kstyl
ewasde f
ini
telypowerf
ul,
wha themea ntwasthatbeforea t
tacki
ng,sheof
tenlefther
selfwideopentobecountered.Addingt
hat
tothefactthatsheneverchangedhe ratt
acksty
le,anyoppone ntst
rongert
hanhercouldmos t
defi
nite
lybea bl
etoseet hr
oug hhera t
tac
kpa t
ternsinti
me.Ite x
plai
nedwhyGeral
dwa sa bl
et odef
eat
hersoe as
ily
.

Theonlyr
easonwhyshehadbeenabl
etowinal
lthepr
evi
ousti
meswasbec
ausetheenemi
esshe
bumpe di
ntower
efarwea k
ert
hanher.
Wi t
htha
tinmind,
theypr
obabl
ydi
dn’tha
vethecha
nceor
expe
rienc
etoanal
yzeJuno’
sat
tac
kpatt
erns.

Ger
ald,howev
er,wasmuchst
rong
erthanher
.Whatmore
,hehadbeenper
sonal
lyt
rai
nedbyL
eit
,and
heevenhaduniqueopi
ni
onsandana
lys
isonmar
ti
alar
tss
kil
l
sandatt
ackt
act
ics
.

Regar
dless
, a
fterheari
ngJ uno’sque
sti
on,
Geral
dre
pli
edinaseri
oustone,“Thi
nka boutit
.Fr
omwha t
I
’veseen,youtendt oonlyfocusonatt
ack
ing
,andmoreoft
enthannot,thatl
eavesy ouopentoget
ti
ng
count
ered!Aspr oofofthat,Iwasabl
etoeas
il
ydef
eatyousi
nceyoubarelyeverfocusondefens
e!”

Uponhea
ringtha
t,J
unopaus
edforamoment.Ra
thert
hanget
ti
nga
ng r
yforbei
ngcr
iti
ci
zed,J
uno
i
nstea
dadmitt
edthatt
hatwasapret
tyhug
efl
awofhers.
Howhadshenotnoti
cedt
hatbefor
e?

Abri
efmomentl
ater
,Junot
henl
ook
eda
tGe
ral
dbe
for
esa
ying
,“…I
see
!Tha
nky
ouf
ort
hea
dvi
ce,
Ger
ald!
”

Thi
swa sdefi
nit
elygoi
ngtohel
pJunog
rea
tlyi
nthelongrun.Nowonde
rshehadalway
sfel
ttha
ther
marti
alart
sjourneywasext
remel
ydul
l
.Asitt
urne
dout ,
s heha
dbeenli
mit
ingher
sel
ftoonl
yasing
le
att
acksty
le!

Ei
therway,shenowunder
stoodtha
tsheneededt
ofocusonle
arni
ngnewatta
ckstyl
es.
Indoi
ngs
o,s
he
wouldsur
elybeabl
etoeventual
l
yimprov
ebothherst
rengt
handma r
ti
ala
rtsski
l
ls.
S
til
l
,shecoul
dn’thelpbutthi
nktha
tli
st
eni
ngt
otheadvi
ceofwis
emenbr
oug
hta
boutmuc
hmor
e
f
avora
bleeff
ect
sc omparedtoherr
eadi
ngupt
echni
quesal
one.

What
evert
hecas
ewas,thoug
hhermindwass
etonchang
inghe
ratt
acksty
le,ol
dhabit
sdi
edha
rd,
and
J
unowaswell
awaret
hatitwasg
oingt
otak
ealotoft
imeandef
for
ttogetoutoftha
thabi
t.

Howev
er,shewas
n’tdi
she
art
enedbythatf
act
.Ins
tea
d,s
hes
impl
ycont
inue
dtos
para
gai
nstGe
ral
d,
sl
owl
ytry
ingtoc
hangeherat
tac
ksty
le.

Whil
eitmadehermovementssl
i
ghtl
ya wk
wardandcl
unky
,att
hever
yleas
t,s
hewasnolong
erge
tti
ng
de
featedi
njus
tasingl
emove.Bythetwo-
hourmark
,shewasa
lre
adyabl
etomakeuptothr
eemoves
be
foreget
ti
ngshutdown.

S
inc
etha
ttookqui
teabi
toutofhe
r,bot
hoft
hemde
cidedt
ota
kear
esta
tthet
rai
ni
ngc
our
t’
ssi
tt
ing
a
rea.

Sweat
ingprof
usel
y,Juno—whoc ouldseehowmuc hshehadimprovedjus
tfromspa
rri
ngagai
nstGer
ald
f
orthosetwohours—s i
ncer
elysa
id,“Thankyouver
ymuc hfort
oday,Gera
ld!Ify
ouhadn’
ttut
oredme,I
woul
dn’thavebeenabletoma k
et hi
smuc hprog
res
sinsuchashortamountofti
me!”

T
houg
hshes
aidt
hat
,sheunder
stoodt
hatt
her
ewa
sst
il
lav
astdi
ff
erenc
ebet
weent
hei
rca
pabi
l
iti
es…

Ei
therwa y
,itwas
n’tl
ongbe
for
eNoria
ndRaysudde
nlyrushe
di ntot
het r
ainingcourt
.Uponseei
ng
Geral
d,theanxi
ousNori
qui
ckl
yra
ntowar
dhimwhilesa
y i
ng,“G-Ger
ald!Thisisbad!Somet
hingt
err
ibl
e
hashappened…!”

Puz
zle
d,Ge
ral
dthenf
rowne
dsl
i
ght
lya
shea
ske
d,“
Wha
t’swr
ong
?”

“
W-wel
l
,Ze
li
ga ndCyr
ilwer
ecapt
uredbythos
efr
omtheHulk
eroi
cUni
on!Thoughwedi
dourbestto
g
ett
hemback
,intheend,t
her
ewe r
esimplyt
oomanyoft
hem!Wefai
ledt
os av
ethem!
”expl
ained
Nor
i.

“What
? !
”g r
owledGer
ald,
hisang
ersuddenlyspi
ki
ng.Tothinkt
hatt
heywoul
ddos
omet
hingl
i
ket
hist
o
hi
sfr
iends!TheHul
ker
oicUniont
rul
ywa sgett
ingoutofhand!

“
Thats
ettl
esit
!We’r
egoi
nga
ftert
heHul
keroi
cUnionnow!”
Aft
erdec
lar
ingthat,
Geral
dwasrea
dyt o
l
eav
etogethe
rwit
hNoria
ndRay.Nomat
terther
is
k s
,hedef
ini
tel
yha
dtos a
v ebothZ
eli
gandCyri
l
!

Be
for
ehec
oul
dle
ave
,howev
er,
hes
udde
nlyhe
ardJ
unoc
all
out
,“Wa
itami
nut
e,Ge
ral
d!”

“Y
es,Y
oungLa
dyZorn?I
fiti
sn’
tanyt
hingi
mport
ant
,I’
dverymuc
hpr
eferi
tify
ous
avedi
tforl
ate
r!I
needt
ofoc
usons
a v
ingmyfrie
ndsnow!”r
epl
ie
dGerald.

“Calmy our
sel
f,Gera
ld!Li
st
en,i
fyouweren’
ta l
readya
wa r
e,t
hema
ste
roftheHul
keroi
cUnionha
s
alr
eadyenteredtheThir
drankoft
heAv a
tarRealm!Witht
hati
nmi
nd,si
mplyc
har
gingther
eisno
dif
ferentfr
omg oi
ngonas ui
ci
demiss
ion!”expl
ai
ne dJ
uno.

As
idefromGer
aldwhohadalr
eadyent
eredtheAvatarRe
alm,theothe
rs—whowerest
il
li
ntheSag
e
Re
a l
m—wouldn’
tsta
ndac ha
nceagai
nstt
hes t
rongermembersoftheHul
ker
oicUni
on.
Withtha
tin
mi
nd, J
unodi
dn’
twantthemtojus
tthr
owt hei
rli
vesawayli
kethat
.

“Ev
enifyous
aythat,Ic
an’tj
ustl
eav
ethemthe
re!
”re
pli
edGe
ral
d.Whi
l
eheunder
stoodJ
uno’
spoi
nt,
hewasadamantaboutsav
ingZel
iga
ndCyri
l
.

Aft
eral
l
, bot
hofthe
mha dsel
fl
ess
lya
gree
dtogoonthi
speri
l
ousj
our
neywit
hhimdespit
enotknowing
muchaboutit
.Nowtha
ttheyhadgot
teni
ntot
roubl
e,i
twoul
dbei
nhumaneofGer
aldtonotatl
easttr
y
get
ti
ngthemba c
k.

“S
til
l
…Howa boutthi
s,I
’l
lse
nds omepeopl
eovert
os c
outthesi
tua
tion.
Onc ewegetaclea
rerpi
ctur
eof
whattheHul
ker
oicUni
onha supthei
rsl
eev
es,
wec anthenfor
mulat
eapl a
nt os
avethem!”sai
dJuno.
Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Ger
aldpa
usedf
oramomentbef
oreev
ent
ual
l
ynoddi
ngs
li
ght
ly.

Shewa sri
ght
.Itwa
sdefi
nit
e l
ygoingtobebet t
e rforthemiftheygotsomeonetoscoutaheadf
ir
st.Her
sugges
tionwaswaybet
terthansimplychar
gingi ntotheenemy’sbaseanyway.Bes
ides,
thosef
romt he
Hulker
oicUni
onwereprobablygoingtobeont hel ookoutf
orthem,expect
ingGeral
dtoc omes
a v
ehi s
f
r i
ends
.

Reg
ardl
ess
,see
ingt
hatGe
ral
dhadagr
eedwi
thherpl
an,t
hegroupt
henl
eftt
het
rai
ni
ngc
our
tforJ
uno
tos
endsomeofhermentos
coutt
heHul
ker
oicUni
on’
sbase…

Mea
nwhi
l
e,Z
eli
gandCy
ril
coul
dbes
eenbe
ingt
iedupi
ntheHul
ker
oicUni
onba
se’
sha
ll
.

Appear
ingsuper
iorashes
atonhi
shig
ht hrone,T
ige
r—t
hema
ste
roft
heuni
on—s
impl
ygl
areda
tthe
duoasXuioandhismenst
oodbythei
rle
a der’
ssi
de.

Reveal
ingasi
ni
st
ersmil
e,Xui
othensai
d,“
Thes
ear
ethatguy
’scompa
nions
,ma
ste
r!Nowthatwe’
ve
captur
edthem,t
hatguywil
lsur
elyc
omeovert
osa
vethem!It
’shi
ghti
mewehadourre
veng
e!”

Sneeri
ngcontemptuous
ly,Ti
gerthengr
owled,“Anyonewhodaresl
ayafing
e ronthepeopleofthe
Hulker
oicUnionmustdie!Regar
dles
s,l
ockbothofthemupinthedungeon,andhavethemg uarded
str
ict
ly!As
idefromthat
,orderevery
onetorema i
nv i
gi
la
ntata
llt
imes!I
’ms urehe’
llbecomingover
soonenough, a
ndoncehedoes ,hewon’
tbeleavingourba
seali
ve!
”

F
oll
owi
ngt
hat
,Zel
i
gandCy
ril
wer
equi
ckl
ydr
agg
eda
waya
ndl
ock
edi
ntheba
se’
sdung
eon…

“
Its
eemst
hatwet
rul
yar
edonef
ort
hist
ime
,Mr
.Ga
bri
o!”mut
ter
edZ
eli
gwi
thas
igha
shel
ook
ed
a
roundt
hedung
eon.

“Don’
tgettooanxiousjustyet
!Ibel
iev
ethatGer
aldcar
esenoughf
orust
oevent
ual
l
ycometoour
r
e s
cue!
”consoledCy r
ilwhog r
eatl
ybel
iev
edinGeral
d.Aft
eral
l,
Geral
dwast
heki
ndofper
sonwho
wouldneverabandonhisa l
l
ies.

Ofcours
e,Cyr
ilwasri
ght.Ger
aldandtheotherswerec
urrentl
ysea
te datare
sta
urantnottoof
arf
rom
theHulk
eroi
cUnion’
sbase.Si
ncetheywereseatedbythewindow,theycoul
dkeepane y
eonthe
Hulk
eroi
cUnion’sac
ti
vit
ieswhi
ledis
cussi
ngtheirne
xtste
p.

“Mymenha vema nagedt

og at
herthatyourfri
endsa recur r
e ntl
ylockedupi ntheHul keroi
cUnion
base’sdungeon.T hedungeonitsel
fisattheendoft heirba se’smainha l
l
. I
not herwor ds,we’l
lhaveto
somehowma k eitthr
oughtheirma i
nha ll
toe v
eng ettoy ourt wof r
iends!”explai
nedJ uno.“
Whi l
eit’
s
greatthatwek nowa ll
that
, howone ar
tha r
eweg oi
ngt og etpasttheHul keroicUnion’sti
ghtsecuri
ty?
Evenf romhere,wec anal
re adyseehowhea vi
l
ygua rdedt heynowa re!Hell
,the y
’vee vensetuppa t
rol
teams !Wit
ht hatinmind,we’ l
ldef
init
elygetcaughtifwehe adinr ashl
y!”mut ter
edRa yinresponse.

Hea r
ingt
hat
,Geral
da ndtheot
hersknewthatRaywasri
ght
.Wi t
hhowstri
ctt
heHul
keroi
cUnion’
s
securi
tyc
urr
entl
ywa s,i
twasevi
dentthatt
hosefr
omt ha
tunionwereex
pecti
ngGer
aldtocomesave
theduo.I
twascert
ainlyadeat
htrapli
kenoother…

“…Anyoneha
v eanyi
deasonhowwes
houl
dta
ckl
ethi
s?Wha
tabouty
ou,
YoungL
adyZ
orn?
”as
ked
Geral
dashelook
e da
tJuno.

Uponhear
inghisques
ti
on,J
unobega
nponderi
nga
swe l
l
.Whi
l
ethe
yal
rea
dyk
newwhe
ret
hehos
tag
es
were,
sav
ingthemwa sgoi
ngtopr
oveex
tremel
ydi
ff
ic
ult
…

“
…Theonl
ythi
ngI c
ant
hinkofi
stolur
ethema
wayfr
omthebas
e…Asi
defr
omt ha
t,I
hav
enoot
her
i
deahowwe’l
lev
enmakeiti
ntothei
rbas
etos
avey
ourt
wofri
ends
!”r
epl
i
edJuno.

“
Ise
e…I
wast
hink
ingt
hes
amet
hing
.Af
tera
ll
,si
mpl
yba
rgi
ngi
nisde
fini
tel
youtoft
heque
sti
on.
Reg
ardle
ss,
oncewe’v
el ur
edthema way,we’
l
ljusts
nea
kint
othe
irba
set
osa
veCy
ril
andZ
eli
g!”
mutt
eredGera
ldashelookedse
riousl
yatev
eryone.

“
We’r
efinewi
tht
hat
,Ger
ald!De
tai
lusonhowy
ouwa
ntt
hepl
ant
ogo!We
’l
lf
oll
owa
lly
ouror
der
stoa
T
!”r
epli
edNor
i.

“Wells
aid.Anywa y
,aboutthedetai
ls
…I saywes pl
itint
otwog roupstil
lthemi
ssi
onisover
.Nori,Ray
.
Youtwof ol
lowmei nt
ot hei
rbasetosaveCyri
landZ eli
g.I
’l
lbecountingonyoutwotocoverforme.As
f
oryou,Y oungLadyZorn…I k
nowt hi
sisalott
oa skfromy ou,butcouldyoubeourdi
str
act
ion?”repl
ied
Gera
ldashea lt
ernatedhisgaz
efromNor itoJ
uno.

“Noprobl
em!S i
ncewe’r
eg oi
ngwit
ht hat
,all
ofyoushoul
dawa i
tmys i
gna
lbef
oretaki
nganyact
ion.
Oncewe ’
redonewithever
ythi
ng,l
et’sr
eunit
einthefor
estr
ightout
si
deDrag
onbloodCit
y!How’
st ha
t
sound?”r
epli
edJunoasshelook
eda tGera
ld.

Hea
ringt
hat
,Ger
alds
impl
ynodde
dsl
i
ght
ly.
Wit
hanyl
uck
,thei
rpl
anwoul
dsuc
ceed…

Reg
ardle
ss,nowtha
tthepl
anwa
sfi
nal
ize
d,Junoqui
ckl
yranof
ftoca
usehavocwi
thi
ntheHulk
eroi
c
Uni
onba s
e.Shewasgoi
ngt
omakesur
ethatever
yonethe
rewasgoi
ngtobetoodi
st
ract
edtoeven
not
iceGeral
d…

Geral
d,Ray,
andNor
ithe
ms el
vesqui
ckl
ybeganmaki
ngt
hei
rwayac
rosst
hebas
e’sg
rounds
.Thank
ful
l
y,
theHulk
eroi
cUni
onhadple
ntyofhig
hwa l
ls
,andt
hatgr
ant
eda
llt
hreeoft
hempret
tygoodcov
er

Onc
ethe
ygott
oabl
i
nds
pot
,thet
ri
oqui
etl
yawa
itedJ
uno’
ssi
gna
l…

Notl
ongafte
r,al
lthr
eeofthemwa t
chedasarayofli
ghtshoti
nt ot
hesky…befor
efal
l
ingr
ighti
ntothe
Hul
ker
oicUnion’
sbase!Thebaseha
dsever
alsmal
lhouseswithinit
,andwit
hthati
nmind,
oneoft he
unf
ort
unatehousesi
nsidewentupi
nfla
mesthesecondthelighthi
tit
!
Nat
ura
ll
y,t
hisc
aus
edt
heuni
on’
spe
opl
etopa
nic
,anda
lloft
hemqui
ckl
ybeg
ant
ryi
ngt
oputt
hef
ir
e
out
.

Seeingthat
,thetr
ioknewt hatt
hiswasthei
rc uetomakethei
rwayinsi
de. Withtha
t ,
Ge ral
dandhis
partyswif
tl
yma dethei
rwa yint
otheba s
e…Onc etheywereovert
hewa ll
,all
threeofthemqui c
kly
scannedthea r
ea.Af
terconfi
rmingtha
ta l
ltheuni
on’smenwe res
ti
lldi
str
a ct
edbyt hef i
re,
Geral
dand
hispart
yquickl
ysnuckpasttheunion’
sma i
nha l
lbef
oreheadi
ngstr
aightforthedung eon…

Neari
ngt
hec ornert
hatwouldl
eadt
othedungeon,Geral
dandthetwoot
her
spee
kedtos
eeifa
nyone
wasguar
dingthedungeon’
sent
ranc
e.Tha
nkful
ly
,thereonl
yappear
edtobet
wopeopl
est
andi
ngguar
d
the
re.

Wit
ht ha
tinmi
nd,
aftermaki
ngsuret
hatt
heyha
dn’
tbee
nnot
ic
edy
et,
Ger
aldt
henr
etr
iev
edhi
s
As
trabys
sSwor
dbeforeuns
heat
hingi
t…

F
oll
owi
ngt
hat
,Ge
ral
dbol
tedt
owa
rdoneoft
heg
uar
dsbe
for
eex
per
tl
ysl
i
cinghi
sthr
oat
!

Barel
yev
ena bl
etorea
ct,bl
oodins
tant
lyg
ushe
doutoft
heg
uar
d’snowe
xpos
edt
hroa
t…Andj
ustl
i
ke
tha
t,hef
loppedtot
heg r
ound,dea
d.

Uponreal
iz
ingtha
thiscompani
onwasnolong
era
mongt
hel
i
ving
,theot
herma
nins
tant
lydr
ewhi
sown
swor
da ndatt
emptedtodeca
pita
teGer
ald!

Ofcour
se,
Ger a
ldwasabl
etoeasi
l
ydodgetheatt
ack
. F
oll
owi
ngt
hat
,hek
ick
eda
wayt
hema
n’ss
wor
d
bef
orel
andinganot
herki
ckr
ighti
ntheman’ss
tomach!

Asthemanhel
dont
ohisnowachi
ngs
toma
ch,
Ger
aldt
ookt
hec
hanc
etopunc
hhi
mint
hehea
d,
fi
ni
shingt
hemanof
fforg
ood…

Wi
thhowf
asta
nds
kil
l
ful
Ger
aldwa
s,i
twa
snowonde
rwhyhewa
sabl
etos
oswi
ft
lyf
ini
shbot
hof
t
hemof
funs
cat
hed…

Regardle
ss,nowt
hatt
heyha dbeendeal
twit
h,Ger
aldimmedia
tel
ysl
ashe
da tt
hedungeon’
schai
ns
withhissword…a
ndsecondslat
er,t
heheav
y‘cl
unk’ofcha
insc
oul
dbehe a
rdasthecha
insf
ellt
othe
ground.

Duet
ohows
har
ptheAs
tra
bys
sSwor
dwa
s,s
li
ci
ngt
hroug
hcha
insl
i
ket
hes
ewa
schi
l
d’spl
ayf
ori
t.

E
itherway,nowt
hatt
heentranc
ewa
snol
ong
erl
ock
ed,
Ger
aldpul
l
edt
hedung
eon’
sdoor
sope
nbef
ore
e
nt er
ingt
olookf
orhi
sfr
iends
…

Shor
tlyaf
ter
,anex
tre
melyi
nfur
iat
edT i
gerc
oul
dbes e
enburst
ingi
ntot
hehal
lwit
hseve
ralmenbe
hind
him.Uponseei
ngt
hetwodeadguards
,heknewforafac
ttha
tthei
rhos
tag
eshadbeensav
ed.

Das
hingout
si
de,
hewa
sjus
tint
imet
ose
eGer
alda
ndhi
sfr
iendsc
li
mbi
ngov
ert
hei
rba
se’
swa
lla
nd
es
caping
!

“
That…Thatgodd*mnedki
dsucc
eede
dinsav
inghi
sfr
iends
!Af
terhi
m!Hur
ry!
”roa
redT
igera
she
i
nst
antl
ybolt
edforGer
aldt
oget
herwi
thhi
smen.

Sinceal
lofthemwe renowovert
hebase’
swa ll
,Geral
d—whohadhea
rdTig
er’sfur
iousshout—qui
ckl
y
turnedtolookatRayandNor
ibefor
eins
truct
ing,“I
wa nty
out
wotoleadCyr
ilandZeli
ga wayfr
omthi
s
place.I
’l
lbedis
trac
ti
ngthemwhil
eyoudos o!
”

“
…Butwha
tabouty
ou-
”

“Cutt
hecr*
pa ndgetamoveonal
rea
dy!Other
wis
e,noneofusa
rel
eav
ingt
hispl
acea
li
ve!
”ret
ort
ed
Geral
d,k
nowingful
lwel
lwhatNor
iwasgoi
ngtosa
y.
Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Nor
iandRa
ycoul
donl
ysi
l
ent
lya
greea
sthe
ydi
dashei
nst
ruc
ted.

Oncetheywereoutofs
ight
,Ger
aldi
nst
ant
lybega
nr unni
ngintheotherdi
rec
ti
on.
Hewa
sgoi
ngt
olur
e
theuni
on’smenawayfromhisf
ri
endsi
fi
twasthela
s tt
hinghedid…

J
usta
sheha
dhope
d,T
ige
randhi
smenwe
rea
blet
ospothi
mashebol
tedof
fint
hedi
st
anc
e…

“
Ther
ehei
s!Ca
ptur
etha
tbr
ata
ndf
ini
shhi
mof
fforg
ood!
”or
der
edt
hef
uri
ousT
ige
rasheg
rit
tedhi
s
t
eet
h.

Si
nceTi
gerandhisdozenmenwererat
herfa
st,
theyqui
ckl
ymanagedtogai
nonhi
m.Toma k
ematt
ers
wors
e,Geral
dsoonfoundhims
elfs
andwic
hedbetweentheHul
ker
oicUni
onandacl
if
ftha
thada
bot
tomthatcoul
dn’tevenbes
een…

“
Giv
eitup,
kid!T
her
e’snowhe
ree
lset
orun!
”sc
off
edT
ige
rbe
for
esnor
ti
ng.

Ge
ral
dhone
stl
yha
dn’
tex
pec
tedT
igert
obea
blet
oca
tchupt
ohi
msoqui
ckl
y.

F
rowni
ngs
li
ght
ly,
Ge r
aldthe
ng l
areda
tTi
gerbef
orer
evea
li
ngas
lys
mil
eashet
aunt
ed,
“Gi
veup?Wha
t,
y
outhi
nky
oucana c
tual
lyki
llme?”

Uponhear
ingtha
t,Tig
erwa ssl
ig
htl
ysur
pri
sed.
Aft
era
ll
,the
rewa
snowa
yGe
ral
dwa
sgoi
ngt
obea
ble
toes
capehisc
urrentsi
tua
tion.

“
Bigt
alkcomingfr
oms omeonewho’
strappedbet
weenbe
ingbea
tentodeat
ha ndf
all
ingt
oyourdoom!
Y
ou’r
efreetotrymak
ingaleapoff
ait
h,butonl
ydeat
hint
heabyssawai
tsy
ou!”sna
rledTi
ger
.

“
Oh?We
lla
ll
owmet
otr
ythen!
”re
tor
tedGer
alda
shel
eapeddownt
hec
li
ff
!
S
tar
ingwide-
eye
d,t
hes
tupef
iedT
ige
rwasmome nt
ari
lyshoc
keds
il
entt
hatGe
ral
dwoul
dac
tua
ll
y
c
hoosetoendhi
sownl
i
ferat
hert
hanfa
lli
ntohi
shands.

E
ventua
ll
y,hi
sfr
ownretur
nedandhes
implys
nor
tedbef
orel
eavi
ngwit
hhismen,notev
enbot
her
ingt
o
l
ookdowntheabys
s.Af
teral
l
,the
rewasnowayGer
aldwasg
oingtos
urvi
vetha
tfal
l.

…Ora
tle
astt
hatwa
swha
tTi
gera
ssume
d.

Cont
rar
ytowhatTi
gerhadt
hought
, Ger
aldwasver
ymuchs
ti
ll
a l
i
ve.Al
arg
et r
eehadbrokenhi
sfal
l
,
andhewasnowintheembr
aceofsever
albra
nches
…Evens
o,theimpa
ctfr
omf a
ll
inghadbeenabi
ttoo
much,e
venforhi
m.

Wit
hthati
nmind,
Geral
dwasnowunc
ons
cious
,sus
pende
dabov
eaf
ast
-f
lowi
ngr
ive
rwi
tht
hes
uppor
t
oft
hetr
ee’
sst
rongbr
anche
s…

Whil
ethebla
cked-
outGer
aldwa s
n’teve
na war
etha
thehads
urv
ive
dyet
,Ra
y,Nor
i,Z
eli
g,a
ndCy
ril
had
j
ustmadeitt
othefor
estr
ightout
sideDrag
onbl
oodCit
y…

Seei
ngthepart
yoffourrunningover,J
uno—whoha dbeenwait
ingt
hereforthemf orqui
teawhi
le
now—quickl
ytol
dhe rme ntosupportZel
i
ga ndCy
r i
lass
herus
hedoveraswellbeforesay
ing,
“Ray
!
Nori
!You’
refi
nall
yhere!Iwass t
arti
ngtogetworr
iedthats
omethi
ngbadha dhappenedtoyou!
Speak
ingofwhic
h…Wher e’
sGe r
ald?”

Uponhear
ingt
hat
,Raypurs
edhi
sli
pss
li
ghtl
ybef
orer
epl
yi
ng,“
…He…Tol
dust
orunt
heoppos
it
ewa
y
sotha
thecoul
dbai
tthere
stoft
heHul
keroi
cUni
onawayf
romus…!
”

“
…Wha
t?Howda
nge
rous
!”r
epl
i
edJ
uno,
shoc
kedt
hatGer
aldha
ddones
uchat
hing
.
Knowi
ngtha
thewouldn’
tbeama t
chag
ains
tsoma nyoft
heHul
ker
oicUni
on’
sme
mbe
rsa
tat
ime,
Juno
waswel
lawaret
hathi
sli
fewasnowingr
avedang
er .

“Don’
twor
ry,
Mis
sZor
n.Y
ouc
anj
ustwa
ither
eforusa
sNor
iandI
goba
ckt
olookf
orGe
ral
d!”r
epl
i
ed
Ray.

“
Youcan’t
!It
’stoodanger
ous!Doreme
mbe rt
hatt
heHulk
eroi
cUnionisa
ctiv
elysear
chi
ngforusnow!
Wit
hthati
nmi nd,you’
l
lsure
lygetc
aughti
nnoti
meify
oug obac
ktolookforhim!”r
epl
iedJunoal
most
i
nst
anta
neously.

“
Wi t
hall
dueres
pec
t,Mis
sZor
n,i
fhe
’sdea
d,t
henwewon’
tha
vet
hewi
l
ltoc
ont
inuel
i
vinga
nywa
y!”
s
aidRaywit
hafi
rmtone
.

Be
for
eJunoc
oul
dev
enr
epl
y,Ra
yandNor
iha
dal
rea
dybol
tedba
ck,
ret
rac
ingt
hei
rst
eps
…

S
eei
ngthat
,Junoc
ouldonl
ysi
ghhel
pl
ess
ly.
Evenso,
shec
oul
dn’
tdenyt
hats
hewa
sfee
li
ngs
li
ght
ly
t
ouc
hed.Geral
dtr
ulyha
dgoodandl
oyal
fri
ends
…

Regar
dles
s,af
tersear
chi
ngf
orGer
aldforawhil
e,Ra
ya ndNor
iev
e nt
ual
lyarr
ive
da tt
hecl
if
fwhere
Gera
ldleape
dof ff
rom…Andtot
heirhorr
or,
theycaug
htagli
mpseofGera
ld’sj
adependa
ntly
ingona
st
onene a
rby…!

Feel
i
ngherheartski
pabe
at,
Nor
irema
ine
dsi
l
entf
oramomentbe
for
eev
ent
ual
l
yfe
eli
ngt
ear
srun
downhercheek
s …

“
…No…It…I
tc a
n’tbe…!”mumbl
edNori
toher
sel
fass
hequi
ckl
ypi
cke
dthej
adependa
ntupbef
ore
s
tar
ingi
ndi
sbel
iefatt
heabys
sbenea
ththe
m…

Howev
er,
sinc
ethej
adependa
ntwa
ssoc
los
etot
hec
li
ff
,thenGer
ald…
Pa
tti
nghe
ront
hes
houl
der
,Ra
ythens
aid,
“Ca
lmy
our
sel
f,Nor
i.Ger
aldwi
l
lbef
ine
.Bel
i
evei
nhi
m…”

I
twasdi
ff
ic
ult
,butbothoft
hemma nagedt
omoment
ari
lyc
onv
inc
ethe
msel
vest
hatGer
aldwa
sst
il
l
a
li
ve.Wi
ththat
,theywai
tedpa
tient
lyf
orhi
mbythec
li
ff
…

Howev
er,
asthehour
spassedby
,itgre
wi nc
reas
ingl
ydif
fi
cul
ttobea
r.E
vent
ual
l
y,t
heduos
hookt
hei
r
hea
dsbef
orefi
nal
l
yleav
ingthec
li
ffs
ide,f
eel
ingutt
erl
ydejec
ted…

WhenJ unos a
whowde pre
s s
edtheylook
e dwhentheduof
inal
l
ygotbac
ktot
hefores
t,s
heknewtha
t
somethingterr
ibl
emusthaveha
ppenedt oGera
ld.
Herworri
esweref
urt
herc
onf
irmedwhenshe
noti
cedt ha
thisja
dependantwasinRay’
shand.

“…MissZ
orn…Ge r
ald…he…he’
smos tpr
oba
blyfa
ll
endownacl
if
f…!Wesa
ythatsi
ncewewereonl
y
abl
etofi
ndhispendantnea
racl
i
ffs
ide…”mutt
eredRa
yinagl
oomyvoi
ceasheshowedhert
he
penda
nt.

Uponhe a
ringthat
,Juno’shea
rtsank
.Reachi
ngoutt
otakethependantfr
omhi shand,shepa
usedfora
mome ntbefor
es ay
ing,“…Let
’sr
etur
ntomyhomef i
rst
.Wec an’
tjus
tg i
veupli
k ethi
s!Aft
eral
l,
jus
t
beca
useweha v e
n’tfoundhimyet,i
tdoe
sn’taut
omati
cal
l
ymea nthathe’sde
ad! ”

“…You’r
erig
ht,Mis
sZor
n!Webel
iev
ethathewon’
tdi
etha
tea s
il
yeit
her!He’
sdef
ini
tel
ysti
l
lali
ve!
Cheerup,Nori
!Remember
,weha
vetobeli
evei
nhi
m!”decl
aredRayasheatt
emptedtocheerNor
iup
aswell
.

Hea
ringt
hat
,Nor
isl
owl
yra
isedhe
rhe
ada
ndnoddedf
ir
mly
.

See
ingthatNor
iwasfe
eli
ngali
ttl
ebetternow,J
unotookt
hec
hancetoorder
,“T
hat
’sthespir
it
!
Regar
dles
s,werea
ll
yshoul
dleav
et hi
splacewhi
lewecan.
Wearen’
texac
tlyi
nasaf
elocat
ion,sowe’
d
bes
tretur
ntobasebef
oretheHul
keroi
cUni onc
atc
hesus!
”
F
oll
owi
ngt
hat
,Junot
henqui
ckl
yledt
heot
her
sba
ckt
ohe
rhome…

Some t
imelater,
anunc ons
c i
ousGer
aldcoul
dbeseenly
ingbesi
deabla
ck -
robedandmyst
eri
ous
-l
ooki
ng
oldma n…Protect
edfromt heele
mentsbystonewa
llsa
llar
oundthe
m, theirf
aceswer
eil
l
uminat
edbya
fi
rethattheoldma nhadstart
ed.

Notl
onga
fte
r,Ger
alds
lowl
yope
nedhi
sey
es…

Uponrea
li
zi
ngtha
thewa
sst
il
lal
i
ve,
hebr
eat
hedas
ighofr
eli
ef.
Howev
er,
hequi
ckl
yre
ali
zedt
hathe
wasn’
tal
one.

Fr
owningsl
i
ght
lya
shel
ookedatt
hepe
rsons
it
ti
ngbyt
hef
ir
e,hewonder
edwhot
heol
dma
nwa
s.Wa
s
hetheonewhoha
dsav
edhim…?

“
…Who…a
rey
ou…?Di
dyous
aveme…?
”

“
Als
o…whe
rea
rewe…?
”as
kedGe
ral
dwhenher
eal
i
zedt
hatt
heywe
rei
nsi
des
omek
indofc
ave
.

T
houg
htheol
dma
nappe
aredr
agg
eda
nds
loppy
,hek
newf
oraf
actt
hathewa
sn’
tanor
dina
rype
rson.

Aft
erabri
efsi
lenc
e,t
heol
dma
nre
pli
edi
nar
aspyv
oic
e,“
…I’
mjus
tsome
onewhol
i
vesi
nse
clus
ionon
thi
smountai
n.”

Uponhea
ringt
hat
,Ger
aldwa
ssl
i
ght
lys
urpr
is
ed.
Tot
hinkt
hats
ome
onewoul
dac
tua
ll
yli
vei
nsuc
ha
pl
ace!

“
…Ma
yIk
nowy
ourna
me…?
”
“
Youc
anj
ustc
all
meOl
dHug
hes
…”r
epl
i
edt
hema
n.

S
hor
tl
yaf
ter
,Ol
dHug
hesl
edGe
ral
doutoft
hec
avet
heywer
ein…

L
ook
inga
tthes
ky,
Ger
aldwa
sgr
eet
edbyt
hes
oot
hings
ightofac
res
centmoon…

Des
pit
ehowc al
mtheni
ghtwasmaki
nghi
mfeel
,uponr
eal
i
zingt
hatt
heywer
eaboutt
oent
eradens
e
f
ores
t,Ger
aldwaspr
omptedt
oask
,“…Mindt
ell
i
ngmewhe r
ewe’reg
oing
,Ol
dHughes
…?”

Af
tera
ll
,withhowdensethef
oli
agewas,
the
ywouldsur
elybee
ngul
fedbyda
rkne
ssi
nthe
re,
andbei
ng
i
nanunli
tfores
tatni
ghtwasaveryunwi
set
hingt
odo.

T
hemor
ehet
ri
edt
ofi
gur
etheol
dma
nout
,themor
emy
ster
iousOl
dHug
hesf
eltt
oGe
ral
d.

Reg
ardl
ess
,Ol
dHug
hess
impl
yig
nor
edGe
ral
d’sque
sti
ona
ndc
ont
inue
dwa
lki
ngon…

Aboutt
enmi
nut
esl
ater
,theya
rri
veda
twha
tsee
medt
obeami
ni
atur
ewa
ter
fal
l
…

Despi
tebe
ingr
athers
mal
l
,thequi
etnes
soft
heni
ghtma
det
hes
oundofs
pla
shi
ngwa
tere
xtr
eme
ly
cl
ear.

“
…Wha
tist
hispl
ace…?
”as
kedGe
ral
dashec
uri
ous
lyl
ook
eda
round.

I
gnor
ingGe
ral
d’sques
ti
ononc
emor
e,Ol
dHug
hess
impl
yst
aredi
ndi
ff
erent
lya
tGe
ral
dbe
for
esa
ying
,
“
Foll
owme!”
Wi
tht
hats
aid,
theol
dma
nthenwa
lkedr
ighti
ntot
hewa
ter
fal
landdi
sappea
redbehi
ndi
t!

Mome nt
ari
l
ystunned,
Ger
aldqui
ckl
yshookhi
sshockof
fandcaut
ious
lys
tuc
khi
shandi
ntothe
wate
rfal
l
…be f
orefe
eli
ngt
hewa t
eryankhi
mrighti
n!Thenex
tthi
ngheknew,t
hewate
rfa
llwasa
lrea
dy
be
hindhim!

Nowt hatheknewthattherewa sahiddenare

abehindthewat
erf
all
,Ger
aldwa
spr
omptl
yre
minded
aboutthecl
assta
le,‘
JourneytotheWe s
t’
.Aft
eral
l,
therewasasi
mil
arar
eaint
het
alek
nownasthe
Wa t
erCurtai
nCaveoftheGr eatSag
e, Heav
en’sE
qua l
.

Snappi
ngoutofi
t,Ger
aldqui
ckl
ybeg
anl
ook
inga
roundbe
for
eas
king
,“…Ag
ain,
wha
tev
eni
sthi
spl
ace,
OldHughes
…?”

Theywerenowinama ss
ivespac
esurrounde
dbyst
onewa l
lstha
tgl
i
tte
redli
kest
ars
…I twa
shonestl
y
oneofthemostbeaut
if
ulsi
ghtsGer
aldhadeverwi
tne
ssed,
a ndhet
rul
yhadn’
texpe
ctedal
lthi
stobe
hiddenher
e,ofa
llpl
aces
…

I
nre
spons
e,however
,OldHughes
—whowasstandi
ngnottoofa
raway
—s i
mplyg
est
uredf
orGe
ral
dto
c
omeoverashes
aid,“
Ge tov
erher
e!T
her
e’ss
omethingIwanttos
howyou!”

Ra
isi
ngas
li
ghtbr
ow,
Ger
aldt
henhur
ri
edov
ert
otheol
dma
n’ss
ide…

Nows t
andi
ngbesi
deOldHug hes
,Ger
aldcoul
donl
yst
arei
namazementashereal
iz
edthattherewa
sa
tower
ingands
ome whatt
ransluc
ents
tonepil
l
arbe
for
ehim…St
rangers
ti
llwasthefac
tthatthe
re
seemedtobesomethi
ngwithint
hepi
ll
ar…

“
Wha
tonea
rthi
sthi
s…?
”as
kedGer
aldc
uri
ous
ly.

“
…Fi
rs
toff
,thi
spla
c ei
sca
ll
edFi
shgutCave
,andsea
ledwit
hinthiss
tonepil
l
ar,
isa
nanc
ientl
ong
swor
d
k
nownast
heF i
shgutS
word,
”expl
ainedOl
dHughesashelook
e datGera
ld.
“
…The
…Fi
shg
utS
wor
d?”a
skedGer
ald,
puz
zledt
ohea
rsuc
hanoddna
mef
oral
ong
swor
d.

Fol
lowingthat,Ol
dHug hesre
tri
evedaroll
ed-uppar
chmentf
romunderhiscoat.
Unrol
li
ngitbef
ore
Geral
d, t
hefirs
timagetheyouthsawwa sofahandsome,
str
ongmanaswe lla
sa nel
der
ly-
look
ingone
sta
ndingtogetheri
napl ac
ethatl
ookeds t
ri
king
lysi
mil
art
owherethe
yc urr
entl
ywe r
e…Nee dl
esst
osay,
i
twa sdepict
ingbothoftheminFishg
utCa v
e!

“
…Tha
t’s
…us
?”a
ske
dGe
ral
d,f
ull
yconf
use
dnow.

S
lowl
yreveal
i
ngawrysmil
e,Hug hesthenrepl
ie
d“ Bi
ngo.
Itshowsbot
hofusst
andi
ngatt
hisex
a c
t
s
pot…Youknow,whe
nI f
ir
stfoundt hispar
chmenthereandsawit
scont
ent
s,Ik
newIwasdest
inedt
o
l
eadsomeonehe
re…Andherey oua re,atl
ongl
ast
!”

Nat
ural
ly,Ger
aldwa ssur
pri
s edbya l
lthi
s.However,
giv
enhowseri
ousOl
dHug
he swasl
ooki
ngathi
m,
Ger
aldcouldte
llthatal
lthi
swa sn’tamerebluff
.Howsurr
eal
tha
tthepar
chmentwoul
dshowsuchan
ac
curat
erepresenta
tionoftheircurr
entsi
tuati
on!

“…Whatex
actl
yisa
llt
hisa
bout
,Ol
dHug
hes
?”a
ske
dthepuz
zle
dGe
ral
d,notwa
nti
ngt
obel
efti
nthe
dar
kanymore.

Howdi
dthedr
awi
ngc
omet
obe
?Wha
twa
sthi
spl
ace
?Andwhywa
sthel
ong
swor
dbef
orehi
mso
i
mport
ant
?

“Si
mplyput,y
ou’
ret
hefa
tedone
,Ge ra
ld!S
inc
ethedr
awi
ngdepi
ctsmebri
ngingyoutothi
spl
ace,
I’
m
sur
ethatyou’
ret
heonewho’
sdest
inedtodra
wtheswor
doutfr
omt hes
tonepil
l
a r
!”ex
plai
nedOld
Hughes.

“…Me?Areyous
ure…?Ca
n’ti
tbes
ome
oneel
se…?
”repl
i
edGer
ald,
sti
l
lsl
i
ght
lyi
ndi
sbel
i
efbyOl
d
Hughes
’sc
lai
m.
“
Myboy,I
’v
ebeenwait
ingheref
ory
oueve
rsi
nceIobtai
nedt
hisdra
wing.I
fyouar
en’
ttheone,
then
e
xpl
ai
nourmee
tingher
et oda
y.Wewer
esi
mplydest
inedtoc
rosspat
hs!
”saidOl
dHughesi
nrespons
e.

“
…Isee.
We l
l…what’
ssospec
ial
a boutt
heF i
shg
utS
wor
d?”a
skedGer
ald,
fina
ll
ygi
vi
ngi
nashec
uri
ous
ly
l
ook
e da
ttheswor
dwi t
hint
hestonepil
lar
…

Uponhe a
ringthatques
ti
on,OldHughesthenlook
eds er
iousl
yattheyouthbefor
erepl
ying,“
TheFi
shg
ut
Swordisanancientl
ongsword,
sai
dtog r
antit
swielde
rwa ter
bendingski
l
ls.
Sinceyou’
retheper
son
depi
ctedinthema p,I
’msureyou’
retheonlyonequal
ifi
edtowielditi
nthefir
stpl
ace!
”

Looki
ngatt
heoldman’
sse
riousga
ze,
Geral
dcoul
dsensethathewasn’
tly
ing.
Comet
othi
nkofi
t,Ol
d
Hughesdi
dn’
tre
a l
l
yhav
earea s
ontol
iea
boutsuc
hthingsi
nt hef
ir
stpl
ace.

“
…Al
ri
ghtt
hen…We
ll
,si
nceI
’
mdes
ti
nedt
opul
lthes
wor
dout
,hows
houl
dIg
oabouti
t?”a
skedGe
ral
d.

Hea
ringt
hat
,theol
dma
nthenhe
ldont
oGe
ral
d’sa
rmbe
for
epul
l
inghi
mtowa
rdas
tone…

Oni
t,Ger
alds
awt
hatapa
lmpr
intha
dbe
enc
arv
edr
ighti
ntoi
t…

“
Pla
cey
ourha
ndont
oit
!”or
der
edOl
dHug
hes
.

Sl
i
ght
lysur
pri
sedbyt
hesuddens
hout
,Ge
ral
dsi
mpl
ydi
dashewa
stol
dbef
orel
ook
ingba
cka
ttheol
d
manandaski
ng,“
…Li
ket
his?”

“
Hus
h!”r
epl
i
edOl
dHug
hes
,pr
ompt
ingGe
ral
dtoz
iphi
smout
h.

Nowt
hatbot
hoft
hemwer
esi
l
ent
,the
ywer
eabl
etohea
rtheg
urg
li
ngofwa
terf
lowi
ngi
ntot
hec
ave…
Mome nt
slat
er,bot
hofthemwa t
che
dasst
rea
msofwate
rbe g
anflowi
ngupt
hes
toneGe
ral
d’sha
nd
wason,al
lofthemrea
chingoutf
ort
hepa
lm-sha
pedi
ndentonit
…

I
tdidn’
ttakelongbefor
ethestr
eamsofwate
rwra
ppedt
hemsel
vesa
roundGer
ald’
sha
nd.Wi
tht
he
wat
erits
elfbeingt
ransl
ucent
,Gera
ldwasonl
yabl
etomak
eouttheva
gueout
li
neofhi
sha
ndbythi
s
poi
nt…

Wi
thoutwa
rni
ng,
theduowa
stheng
ree
tedbya
nex
plos
ives
oundf
rombehi
ndt
hem!

Fol
l
owingthat
,bot
hoft
he mwe r
ejusti
nti
metowit
nes
stheFis
hgutSwordfl
yi
ngoutfr
omt
hepi
l
lar
!It
wasal
sothenwhenGer
aldrea
li
zedthatt
hest
rea
msofwaterhadal
readyre
trac
ted…

Reg
ardl
ess
,hi
str
ainoft
houg
htwa
scuts
hor
twhe
nhehea
rdOl
dHug
hesc
all
i
ngout
,“Ge
tthes
wor
d,
Ger
ald!
”

Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Ger
aldt
urnedt
olooka
ttheol
dma
nbe
for
ehea
dingov
ert
oret
ri
evet
hes
wor
d…

T
hesecondhegr
abbedontoit
,asurgeofpowerr
ushedfr
omtheswordandi
ntohi
sbody.Ast
he
i
mmensepowerspr
e a
dfromhispalmbefor
espre
adingt
hroug
houthi
sbody,
Geral
dcoul
dfeel
asl
ig
htl
y
f
ami
l
iaruneasei
nhisel
ix
ir-
of-
li
fef
iel
d…

Withsomuchpowerover
fl
owi
ngwi
thi
nhi
sel
i
xir
-of
-l
if
efi
el
d,Ge
ral
dknewt
hathewa
saboutt
ounde
rgo
anothe
rbr
eakt
hrough!

“I…Icanf
eelanot
herbrea
kthroughcoming!”exc
lai
medthesur
pri
sedanddel
ig
htedGe
ral
d.I
tappear
ed
thatt
heFi
shgutSwordwasjustaspowerful
a st
heAstr
abys
sSword.Af
tera
ll
,wiel
di
ngt
heswordsa
lone
hadall
owedhimtoma k
ebr ea
k t
hroughs
!
Al
rea
dyusedtosi
mil
ars
it
uati
ons
,Ge
ral
dthe
nqui
ckl
ysa
tdownbe
for
eret
ri
evi
ngaHe
ave
n’sa
ppl
efr
om
hi
sst
ora
geringa
ndeati
ngit
.

Shor
tl
yaft
er—whe
ntheHea
ven’
sappl
etooke
ffe
ct—Ge
ral
dsuc
ces
sful
l
yent
ere
dtheS
econdr
ankoft
he
Avat
arReal
m!

“
Howa
rey
ouf
eel
i
ngnow,
Ger
ald?
”as
kedOl
dHug
hesi
nas
li
ght
lyc
onc
erne
dtone.

S
mil
i
ngs ubt
ly,
Geral
dthe
nc huckl
edbef
orer
epl
yi
ng,“
I’
mfeeli
nggr
eat
!Thes
wor
dwa
ssopowe
rful
tha
t
I
wasins
tantl
yabl
etobreakthr
oughanot
herr
anki
nmys t
reng
th!
”

Whilehewa spl
easedbya l
lthis
,hewa sal
sosli
g ht
lys
urpr
isedthathewouldbeabl
etoma k ea
bre
ak t
hroughli
kethis
.Withthats a
id, hekne
wheha dtoproperl
yt ha
nkOldHughe
safterthis
.Af
tera
ll,
haditnotbeenfortheoldma nleadinghimher e,Ger
aldwouldn’thavebe
enablet
oa c
quiretheFi
shgut
Sword,norwouldheha v
ema nagedt oinc
reasehisst
reng
thbyt hismuchi
nsuchashortamountofti
me.

Withal
ltha
tinmind,
Geral
dthenbowedbef
oretheol
dmanbe f
ores
aying
,“T
hankyouforbring
ingme
her
e,OldHughes
!WhileI
’mgrat
eful
tohav
eacquir
edtheF
ishg
utSword,I
’mst
il
lra
thercur
iousabout
i
tsname…”

La
ughingwhenhehe a
rdGe r
ald’
squest
ion,
OldHughesthenexpl
ai
ned,“Well
,inact
ual
it
y,it
struename
i
stheSwordofCourage!I
t’
soneofthetenanci
enthol
yswords,y
ouknow?T hatpoweryouinheri
ted
ear
li
er…It
’sthepowerofcourag
ethatt
hes wor
dbestoweduponyou!Youshouldknowthatonlyver
y
br
avepeoplegetac
knowledgedbythesword,a
ndthosewhodoa reg
rantedimmensepowe r!
”

Whil
ethatdi
dn’
tex
pla
inwhytheswordwasnamedtha
twa y
, Ger
aldatl
eas
tunder
stoodwhyhehad
bee
na bl
etomakeabreak
thr
oughj
ustbyhol
di
ngthesword.Aft
erall
,ha
dhenotbeenacoura
geous
per
son,hewoul
dn’
thavedar
edtota
keonthetas
kofsavi
ngthewor l
d…

S
otha
t’swhyt
heF
ishg
utS
wor
dac
knowl
edg
edhi
m…
“S
peaki
ngofwhi
ch…Doy ouknowthenamesoft
henineothera
ncie
ntholyswords
?Doyouknow
wher
etheyar
e?I’
dli
ketoobtai
nthem!”s
aidGer
ald,
clea
rlyi
nte
rest
edintheswords.
Aft
era
ll
,nowt
hat
heal
rea
dyhadoneofthe
m, t
herewasnoreas
onforhimnottogett
heothernine.

“Hmm?Wel l
,ifyou’
reinter
ested,
thefir
stswordgoesbyXyan,theSwordofDiv
ini
ty.
Asforthese
cond
andthi
rdones,t
hey’reXyan,t
heS wordofBenevol
ence,a
ndXe nit
h,theSwordofSove
rei
gnty…
Empyreanwasthefourthsword,Ibel
i
e v
e ,
andit’
stheSwordofMi g
ht.TheSwordofNobi
li
ty,ont
he
othe
rhand,i
sT i
tan,whichisa
lsothefi
fthsword.
”

“Asforswordssi
xandseven,bothoft
hema r
etheSwordsofLov
e ,
Gwa i
neandMorg
en.Theei
ght
h
swordistheoneyou’r
ecurrentl
ywiel
di
ng,F
ishg
ut,t
heSwordofCourage.I
fIr
emembercor
rec
tl
y,t
he
nint
honei scal
l
edJochem,theSwordofSol
i
tary
,andasforthef
inals
word,i
tgoe
sbythenameof
Charmell
a,theSwordofEl
eg anc
e!”

“Eac
hofthes wordsbea
runiquepowers,andanyonewhoma nag
est ocol
lectall
tenofthemwi l
lhave
powersbeyondhuma ncomprehensi
on!Witht
ha tsa
id,thewi
el
derofthoses wordswi
ll
s ur
elybecome
thest
ronge
s tper
sonintheworld!
”expla
inedOldHug he
swithaser
ioustone.

Aft
erhear
ingtha
tinformat
iondump,Geral
dfoundhimsel
fsl
i
ght
lyover
whel
me dbutal
sover
ye x
cit
ed.
Aft
eral
l
,ifhema nag
edt ocol
le
ctal
ltenoft
hea nc
ienthol
yswor
ds,hewoul
dsurel
yobtai
nenough
powert
oe venhi
sba tt
lewi
ththedemonicgod!

“
…Is
ee!T
hen,
aboutt
hel
oca
tionoft
heni
neot
hers
wor
ds…”

Shaki
nghi
shead,Ol
dHug hest
hensa
id,
“I’
mafr
aidIonlyknowwher etwooft
heswordsar
e,Ger
ald,
andoneofthemisal
readyiny
ourha
nds!Whi
l
eI dok nowwheretheTita
nSword—theSwordof
Might—i
s,y
ou’reonyourownwhenitc
omestofi
ndingtheei
ghtotherswor
ds!
”

Deli
ght
edtoknowtha
thewaspos
sibl
ygoi
ngtoobtai
nanot
herswor
dsoqui
ckl
y,Ger
aldt
henex
cla
imed,
“Youknowwheret
heTit
anS
wordis?Coul
dyoulea
dmet oi
t?”
“Ther
e’snorusht
oobtai
nthat!Af
teral
l,
y oujustgottheFi
shgutS
wor d!Rega
rdles
s,don’
tworr
ytoo
mucha boutt
heothers
words!Si
ncetheFishg
utS wordalr
eadyacknowledg
edy ou,It
rul
ybel
iev
ethat
you’
rethefat
edone!Withthati
nmind,you’l
lsurel
yobtai
nt heot
hers wor
dsoneda y!
”repl
i
edOld
Hugheswithasmi
le.

“…Isuppos
ey ou’r
eright!S
til
l
,It
rul
yappr
eci
ateyoubri
ngi
ngmeovertoday!Withouty
ourhelp,
I’
d
sur
elybeunabletoobt a
inthi
sswor
d!Worrynot
,I’
ll
surel
yrepa
yyourki
ndnessoneday!”de
clar
ed
Geral
dinag r
a t
efult
one.

La
ug hingaga
in,OldHughesthenwavedhi
shandra
t he
rnonc
ha l
ant
lybef
oresa
ying
,“That
’snot
necessary
!Afteral
l
,you’
refatedt
oobtai
nthesword!Mypurposei
ssimpl
ytobeyourgui
detoit
!
Regardles
s,Ihopeyouusetheswordwis
ely
!”

Tr
uthbetol
d,hadGera
ldnotbeent hefa
tedmast
eroftheswor
d,hewoul
d’v
es ur
elyt
ake
nt hesword
f
orhimse
lfi
nste
adofwa i
ti
ngfortheyouthtoc
ome .
Sadly
,somethi
ngswe
resimplypr
edest
ined,a
nd
Ol
dHughes,ofal
lpe
ople,under
stoodthat.

Ei
therway,
theduosoonwentthrought
hes
mallwa
ter
fal
lag
aint
oleavethear
ea.
Bythet
imet
heyg
ot
outs
ide,
however
,Geral
dwassurpris
edt
oseet
hatt
hesunwasal
readyaboutt
ori
se.

T
heyha
dn’
tbee
nint
her
efort
hatl
ong
,ha
ndt
hey
?Ti
mes
ureha
dfl
own…

Al
lofas
udde
n,bot
hoft
hemhe
ardr
ust
li
ngs
oundss
wif
tl
ycomi
ngt
owa
rdt
hemf
romt
hef
ores
t!

Wit
hbothofthemnowvi
gi
la
ntoft
hei
rsur
roundi
ngs
,Ger
aldhel
dtheF
ishg
utS
wor
dti
ght
lyi
nha
nd,
f
ull
ypr
eparedtofi
ght
…

T
hati
s,unt
ilhes
udde
nlyhe
ardaf
ami
l
iarv
oic
eca
llout
,“…I
s…I
stha
tyou,
Ger
ald…?
”

T
hev
oic
e…I
tdef
ini
tel
ybel
ong
edt
oJuno!
“…Mi
ssZ
orn?I
stha
tyou?
”as
kedGer
alda
shef
ace
dthet
rees
.
“
…Gera
ld?S
o,itrea
ll
yisy
ou!”e
xcl
ai
medJ
unoi
nex
cit
ementa
sshequi
ckl
ywa
lke
doutf
romt
het
rees
t
oge
therwi
thherserv
ant
s.

“
Wha
tbr
ing
syouher
e,Mi
ssZ
orn?
”as
kedt
hes
urpr
is
edGe
ral
dashel
ook
eda
ther
.

“Whatdoyoumeanwhatbr
ing
susher
e ?You’
vebee
ng onefort
woda y
s!S
til
l
,I k
newy ouwer
esti
ll
al
iv
e!I’
mjustg
ladIf
ina
ll
ymanage
dtoloca
teyou!Rega
rdle
ss,whata
reyoudoingal
lthewayout
her
e?”

Uponhe ari
ngJ
uno’
sques
tion,Ger
aldmome ntar
il
ytur
nedtol
ookatOl
dHughesbef
oreawkwar
dly
reply
ing,“
…Aboutt
hat
…L et’
sjus
ttal
kaboutitoncewegetba
ck.S
peak
ingofwhi
ch,howar
etherest
doing?”

“
Don’tworry
,al
loft
hemaredoi
ngfi
ne.The
y’r
ecurr
entl
yres
ti
ngupi
ntheZ
ornf
ami
l
y’sr
esi
denc
e!”
r
epl
iedJunowit
hasmil
easGera
ldheav
edas i
ghofr
eli
ef.

“
Nowt
hen…Whoi
shea
gai
n…?
”as
kedJ
unoa
ssher
ais
edas
li
ghtbr
owwhi
l
elook
inga
tOl
dHug
hes
.

Looki
ngatt
heol
dma nforawhi
l
e,Ge
ral
dthe
ntur
nedba
ckt
ofa
ceJ
unoa
sher
epl
i
ed,
“Thi
sisOl
d
Hughes,
andhe’
stheonewhosa
vedme!
”

“
…Oh?I s
ee!We ll
,theni
t’
sapl
eas
uretomeety
ou,Ol
dHug
hes
!MynameisJunoZor
n,a
ndI’mt
he
e
ldestyoungladyoftheZor
nfa
mil
y!Thanky
ouver
ymuchf
ors
avi
ngGer
ald!
”sai
dJunowit
ha
g
ratui
toustone.

Smil
i
nginresponse
, Ol
dHug hesthensaid,“
There’
snone edt
othankme!Anyonewoul
d’v
edonet
he
same!Aft
erall
,asthesa
yinggoe s
,‘Sav
ingalif
ebringsmoremeri
ttha
nbuil
di
ngaseven-
fl
oor
edpag
oda
’!
Al
so,thepl
easurei
smine,eldestyoungladyoftheZornf
a mi
l
y!”
Whil
ehenat
ura
ll
yknewa
boutt
heZ
orns
,thi
swa
sOl
dHug
hesf
ir
stt
imea
ctua
ll
yme
eti
ngs
ome
onef
rom
t
hatfami
l
y.

“
We l
l
,nowthatyou’r
es a
f e,
let
’sgobackt
omypl
ace,
Ger
ald!
”sa
idJ
uno.
Aft
era
ll
,i
tst
il
lwa
sn’
tal
ltha
t
s
afes
tayi
ngouthereforlongperi
odsofti
me.

Hear
ingt
hat,Geral
dthentur
ne dtof
acetheol
dma nbef
orea
s k
ing,
“Agre
ed!Speak
ingofwhich,why
don’
tyoucomea l
ongwithus,OldHughes
?Regar
dles
sofwhatyousay
,I’
dsti
l
lli
ketoprope
rlythank
youf
orall
thatyou’
vedone!”

“
Ger
ald’
sri
ght
!Wi
tht
hati
nmi
nd,
plea
sec
omea
longwi
thus
,Ol
dHug
hes
!”s
econde
dJuno.

I
nresponse,
howev
er ,
OldHug
hess
impl
ysmi
l
eda
shes
hookhi
shea
dbef
ores
ayi
ng,
“Wha
ttha
tsounds
l
ovel
y,I’
ll
havet
orefuse…”

S
eeingt
hattheoldmanwa sr
eal
l
yunwi l
l
ingt
ocomeal
ong,Ger
a l
dcoul
donlyhel
pl
essl
ysay,“…Wel
l,
a
lri
ghtt
hen…S i
ncetha
t’st
hecas
e,I
’l
lthanky
ouonef
inal
timethen!Worr
ynot,I
’l
lsur
elyf
indacha
nce
t
orepayyourki
ndness
!”

Chuc
kli
ngi
nrespons
e,Ol
dHug
hess
impl
yrepl
i
ed,
“Al
ri
ght
,al
ri
ght
,of
fyoug
o!Bec
are
ful
outt
her
e,a
nd
remember
!Useitwi
sel
y!”

Uponhea
ringt
hat
,Ger
a l
dnoddedf
ir
mly
.Ev
eni
ftheol
dma
nha
dn’
tre
minde
dhi
m,Ger
aldwoul
d’v
e
use
dtheswordpr
oper
lyanyway
.

F
oll
owi
ngt
hat
,Ge
ral
d,J
uno,
andhe
rme
nthens
lowl
ydi
sappe
aredi
ntot
hef
ore
st…

Howev
er,
notl
ongaf
tertha
tgroupl
eft
,as
hadowyf
igur
elea
pedoutf
romt
hef
ores
t,f
oll
owe
dbya
doz
enmoremeni
nblackgar
b…
S
toppi
ngr
ighti
nfr
ontofOl
dHughe
s,t
hes
hadowyf
igur
ethenr
eve
aledas
ini
st
erex
pres
siona
shea
ske
d,
“
Howdidi
tg o,
Maste
rHughes
?”

St
ari
ngbackattheshadowyperson,Ol
dHug hess
impl yr
epli
ed,“
T heswordisnowinGer
ald’
shands
.
Wit
hthatsai
d,it
’snowy ourt
urntodoyourjob!”
“ Heh!Butofc
our s
e!Sti
l
l,yourea
ll
ydohaveimmense
f
ores
ight
,MasterHughes…E v
erythi
nghappenedjustasyou’
vepredict
ed!”

“Hah!ItwasT i
gerwhofi
rs
tbetray
edme,soheonlyha
shimsel
ftobl
amef
ormebei
ngunk
ind!I’
l
l
defi
ni
te l
ytakeovert
heHulker
oicUni
onbytheendofal
lthi
s!
”sneer
edOl
dHug
hesashes
miledsmug
ly,
hiseye
sf i
ll
edwithdet
ermina
tion.

“
Indeed!S
peaki
ngofwhic
h,wha
taboutGe
ral
dandt
heot
her
s?Doy
ounee
dmet
ofi
ni
sht
hemof
f?”
a
skedthesha
dowyfig
ure.

Rai
si
nghispal
m, Ol
dHughesthensaid,
“Lea
vethembef
ornow.Aft
erall
,Ger
aldandhi
spart
yarest
il
l
us
efult
ous.Besi
des,s
inc
etheF i
shgutSwor
disnowi
nhi
shands
, weshoul
datlea
stwai
tforhi
mt oki
ll
Ti
gerf
orusfi
rstbef
oreanyt
hingels
e.”

“
Asy
ouwi
sh,
Mas
terHug
hes
!”r
epl
i
edt
hes
hadowyf
igur
ewi
thar
espec
tful
nod…

Na
tur
all
y,Ge
ral
dha
dnoi
deat
hatt
hes
hadowyf
igur
eandOl
dHug
heswe
rei
nca
hoot
s…

Rega
r dl
ess
,bot
hGeral
dandJ
unos
oona
rri
veda
ttheZ
ornf
ami
l
y’sr
esi
denc
e.Byt
hatpoi
nt,
thes
unwa
s
al
readyhig
hinthes
ky…

Upons
teppi
ngi
ntoNor
i’
shome
,Ge
ral
dins
tant
lyc
all
edoutf
orhi
sfr
iends
.

T
houg
hal
lf
ouroft
hemha
dbee
nsl
eepi
ngi
nthes
amer
oom—i
nsi
tt
ingpos
it
ions
—att
hatmome
nt,
uponhea
ringGer
ald’
svoi
ce,
theg
roupi
nst
ant
lyj
ol
teda
wak
eandda
shedt
owa
rdhi
svoi
ce.

Thesec
ondtheysa
whi m,Nor
iandRayweresoec
stat
ict
hatt
heyi
mmediat
elyr
anov
ert
ohi
m.Bef
ore
Gera
ldcoul
devenrea
ct,t
hetwowerealr
eadyhug
gingont
ohimti
ght
ly!

“
You…Y
oureal
lysc
are
dmehalft
odeat
h,Geral
d…!It
houg
htIwasn’
tgoi
ngtobea
blet
ose
eyou
a
gai
n…!
”cr
iedoutNor
iass
hepat
tedGer
ald’
sbacki
nherex
cit
ementandj
oy.

“
Inde
ed!Wewer eworri
edt
odeatha
boutyou,
brotherGer
ald!I
…I’
mjus
tgl
adt
haty
ou’
reok
ay…!
”
a
ddedRay,
hisenti
rebodyt
rembl
i
ngfromhowrel
ievedhewa s.

Laug
hingashepattedbot
hthei
rshoul
der
stocomfortt
hem,Ge
ral
dthe
nr epl
ied,
“There,
ther
e…I
’m
fi
nenow!S t
il
l,
I’
ll
surel
ybeshoweredwi
thbl
essi
ngsnowtha
tI’
vemanagedtogetthr
oughthi
s
di
sast
er!”

Att
hatmoment
,Zel
i
g—whohadbeenstandi
ngtoget
herwi
thCy
ril
froma
farf
orawhi
l
enow—c
oul
dn’
t
hel
pbuts
mil
eashecal
l
edout
,“Br
otherGera
ld…!”

Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Ger
aldg
otNor
iandRa
yof
fhi
mbe
for
ewa
lki
ngov
ert
oZe
li
g…

Onl
ytos
eeNor
irus
hingf
orwa
rda
nds
tandi
ngr
ightbe
for
ehi
m,s
tar
ingi
ntent
lys
tra
ighti
ntohi
sey
es…

Momenta
ril
yfroz
eninplac
e,unsur
eofwha
tNor
iwa
sev
enpl
anni
ngt
odo,
thec
onf
usedGer
aldt
hen
as
ked,
“…Is…some t
hingt
hema t
ter
?”

I
nste
adofr
eturni
ngav
erbalre
ply,
Noris
impl
yhel
dtheba
ckofhi
sne
ckbe
for
epul
l
inghi
mcl
oset
oher
f
ace…andki
ssi
nghimr
ightonhisl
i
ps!

Na
tur
all
y,Ge
ral
dwa
sle
ftut
ter
lyf
labber
gas
ted.
Tot
hinkt
hatNor
iwoul
dbet
hispr
oac
ti
ve!
E
vent
heot
her
swer
eshoc
ked,
butt
heys
oonf
oundt
hems
elv
esg
igg
li
ngl
i
kes
chool
chi
l
dren.

What
evert
heca
sewas,
nowtha
tGera
ldwasf
ina
ll
yba
ck,
Junoc
oul
dfi
nal
l
ybr
eat
hee
asy
.Ev
ery
thi
ng
wasg
oingt
obefi
nea
slonga
sGera
ldwass
afe
…

“
…Humph!So,
yousti
l
lknowhowt
or e
tur
n,huh?Andher
eIt
houg
hty
ouha
ddi
eds
ome
wher
eal
one!
”
g
rumbl
edNori
asshegl
areda
tGer
ald.

S
cra
tchi
ngthebac
kofhisheadsl
ightlyawk war
dly
,Ger al
dsimplysmil
edbackatherbeforer
eply
ing
,
“
…We l
l…Igues
sI’
mj us
taluc
kyg uy!”Mea nwhi
le,
Ol dHughescouldbeseenle
adingtheshadowyfi
gur
e
a
ndaf e
wmena cr
ossamount a
inra ngethatwassurroundedbyflames.
Withlavaandfir
eevery
where,
i
tmadethemountai
nnotonl
yfee lhot,butal
soratherint
imida
ting…

Thegroupwasher
etohe l
pt heshadowyf i
gureobtai
ntheSwordofMight,whic
h—j ustl
ik
etheFi
shgut
Swordwhichwasal
sobornint hesameg ener
a t
ion—wasanancientweapon.Whilesuchswor
dshad
r
e s
tri
cti
onsast
owhowa sa bletowiel
dt hem,ifthes
worddeemedt heuserworthy,t
henthewie
lde
r
wouldbegrant
edthesword’spowers,ande a
chs wor
dna t
ura
ll
yha ddif
fer
entpower s.

Regar
dle
ss,nowthatt
heFis
hg utS
wor dwa
sinGera
ld’
shands,i
twasthes
hadowyfi
gure’
stur
ntoobta
in
hi
sowns word.
Uponobtai
ningtheSwordofMig
ht,hewouldundoubt
edl
ybestr
ongandconfi
dent
enoughtoover
takeDr
agonbloodCit
y…

S
oonenough,
theyar
ri
vedatacav
e…a nduponent
eri
ng,
eve
ryonewa
sabl
etos
eev
ein-
li
kes
tre
amsof
l
avac
reepi
ngal
love
rtheca
v e’
swal
ls
.

Af
terwal
k i
ngforabi
t,Ol
dHughest
urnedtof
acetheshadowyfi
gur
ebefor
elooki
nga
tas t
onepi
ll
ar
whil
esayi
ng,“Thecav
ewe’r
einisc
all
edtheT
ita
nCa v
e ,
andtheSwordofMighti
swi
thi
nthest
one
pi
ll
arinf
rontofus!
”

F
rank
lys
pea
king
,thel
ayoutoft
hisc
avewa
sn’
tal
ltha
tdi
ff
ere
ntc
ompa
redt
oFi
shg
utCa
ve,
theonl
y
ma
jor
—andobv
ious
—di
ff
ere
ncebei
nga
llt
hel
avas
trea
msa
swe
lla
sthei
mmens
ehea
t.

“
Is e
e!Sot
hat
’st
hea
nci
entS
wor
dofMi
ghtt
hatpos
ses
sest
hepoweroff
ir
e!”de
cla
redt
hes
hadowy
f
igure.

“I
ndeediti
s…S eet
hats
toneoverther
e?T heonewit
hthepal
mpri
ntca
rvedi
ntoi
t?Pl
aceyourhandon
i
tandit’
l
l t
rans
fert
hepoweroffi
reint
oy ourbody
!Foll
owi
ngtha
t,y
ou’l
lbea
blet
ounlockthest
one
pi
ll
artoobtai
ntheswor
d!”expl
ainedOldHughes.

Uponhearingtha
t,theshadowyfi
gur
edidashewastol
d…a ndt
hesecondhi
spal
mfit
tedi
ntothe
ca
rvi
ng,thestoneinst
antl
yreac
tedbysummoningr
ed-hotf
lame
sthatqui
ckl
yeng
ulf
edthesha
dowy
f
igur
e’shand!

Cl
enc
hinghi
ste
eth,
thes
hadowyf
igur
ere
sis
tedt
heur
get
oshouta
shi
sha
ndbur
nedwi
thi
nthef
lames
.

“E
ndurei
t.T
hisi
stheonl
ywa yy
ou’l
lbeabl
etoobt
aint
hes
wor
d,”s
aidOl
dHug
heswhe
nhes
awhow
pal
ethes
hadowyfig
ure’
sfa
cewa sg
ett
ing.

Under
sta
ndingt
hati
fher
etrac
tedhi
shandnow,al
lhi
spr
evi
ouspai
nwould’
vebee
nfornot
hing
,the
sha
dowyfig
uresi
mpl
ycont
inuedtol
era
tingt
hepa
inasbe
stashec
ould…

Wit
hbl
uevei
nsal
readybul
gi
nghor r
ibl
yonhisar
m,t
hes
hadowyf
igur
ecoul
dn’
thel
pbuts
crea
min
ag
onywhe
nhisenti
rebodysuddenl
yigni
ted!

Bare
lyas
e c
ondlat
er,
ane
xpl
osi
ves
oundt
hatr
esoundedt
hroug
houtt
hec
avec
oul
dbehe
ardc
omi
ng
fr
ombehindthem.

L
ook
ingba
ck,
ita
ppe
aredt
hatt
hes
tonepi
l
larha
dcr
ack
edope
nduet
othei
mme
nsef
lames
…
WiththeSwordofMi ghtnowfreef
romi t
sc onf
ine
s,ev
eryonewasa
bletos
eehowbeaut
if
ult
hebla
de
was.Witht
heha ndl
ede cora
tedwithfi
eryredli
nesandthebla
deca
rvedwi
thdr
aconi
cpat
ter
ns,
the
SwordofMightt
r ul
ylookedma j
est
ic…

Bythi
spoi
nt,
theshadowyfi
gur
ehi
msel
fhadal
readyrecov
eredf
romhispai
n.Quic
klywal
ki
ngov
ert
o
thest
onepi
ll
ar,
heinsta
ntl
ygra
bbe
dtheswor
d’shandlebef
oref
orc
eful
lyy
ankingi
tout!

T
hes
econdt
hes
wor
dwa
spul
l
edout
,dr
agon-
li
kef
lame
sins
tant
lys
urg
edoutf
romt
hes
wor
d’sbl
ade
…

Asi
nist
ers
mileonhisf
ace,
thesha
dowyfi
gurethenl
i
fte
dt hes
wordhi
ghashel
aug
hedarr
ogant
ly
bef
oredec
lar
ing,
“TheSwordofMight
…It
’sf
ina
llymi
ne!Theworl
disg
oingt
obemines
oon!”

T
othes
hadowyfi
gur
e,owni
ngt
heT
ita
nSwor
des
sent
ial
l
yme
antt
hatheha
djus
tobt
aine
d
i
mmeas
urabl
epower
.

Duetot heS
wor dofMight’
sabi
li
tytocompl
etelymel
tanyoneitk
il
le
d,notonl
ywoul
dtheshadowy
f
igurenowbea bletoki
l
l i
nthebl
inkofaneye,butnobonesorbl
oodofhi
svic
ti
mswoulde
v e
nr emai
n!
I
ttrulywasate
r ri
fy
ingi
tem…

Seeingtha
tt hesha
dowyfi
g urehadsuccess
ful
l
ywiel
dedt
hesword,OldHug hest
henwal
keduptohi
m
beforesay
ing ,
“Nowtha
ty ou’veobt
ainedtheSwor
dofMight
,youmus tremembertok
eepyour
promiseofletti
ngmebeinc harg
eofDr ag
onbl
oodci
tyaf
tery
ou’v
ec onqueredit
.”

Nat
ural
ly
,OldHugheshadn’
tledtheshadowyfigur
eherewi
tht
hegoodnes
sinhishear
t.Thetrut
hwas
,
hehadonlydones
ojustsot
ha thecoul
de ndupbecomingt
hesupr
emeleaderofDr
agonbloodci
ty
onc
etheshadowyfi
gureobt
ainedtheswor d’
spower.

Asforwhyhehada ll
owedGe r
aldtoobtaintheF is
hgutS wordfirs
t,itwasess
ent
iall
ysotha
ttheTita
n
Swordcouldberetr
ieve
dinthefirs
tplac
e. Putt
ingitbluntl
y,theF i
shgutSwordacte
dasasortofseal
thatpr
eventedt
heT i
tanSwordfrombe i
ngobt ained.Thismea ntthattheTi
tanSwordcoul
donlybe
tak
e noncetheF
ishgutSwor
dwa sr et
ri
eved. I
nlayma n’ste
rms ,i
twa sbasi
cal
lyl
i
k ehowwa t
erandfir
e
c
ont
radi
ct
edea
chot
her
.

Rega
rdle
ss,
aft
erheari
ngwha
tOldHugheshadtosay,t
hes hadowyfig
urereveal
edasl
ysmil
ebe f
ore
st
ari
ngwick
edlya
ttheoldmana
shes a
id,“Y
ouk now,Ist
il
ldon’tknowforsurehowpower
fulthi
s
swor
dis,Mast
erHughes.
HowcanIbesur
ethatI’l
lbeabl
et oconquerDragonbl
oodCi
tywi
thouttes
ti
ng
i
tfi
rst
…?”

“Youdon’thavetowor r
ya boutthat!Nowt hatt
heF i
shgutSwordi
snolongersea
lingtheT i
tanSword’s
power,it
ss t
rengthhasbeeng reat
lyenhanced!As i
mpleswingoft
heswordissuf
fici
entindea l
i
ng
ma s
sivedama getoyoursurroundi
ng s
!Asforwha thappenswhenyousl
a s
hsome onewi thi
t,I
’ms ur
e
youa l
readyknowt hatt
heper sonwilli
nst
antlymelt!
”repli
edOldHugheswit
has mil
e, notr
ea l
iz
ingthat
hisf
inalmoment swerene ar
.

“Howpowerf
ul!Thoug
hagai
n,I
bel
ievet
hatIr
ea l
l
yshoul
dte
s ti
tonsomeonetose
etheeff
ect
sfor
mysel
f…”s
neeredthesmi
rki
ngs
hadowyfi
gur
ea shel
ookedatOldHugheswi
thanevi
lgl
i
ntinhi
seyes
.

Nowfee
li
ngrat
herunea
syf
romtheshadowyf
igur
e’sex
pres
sion,
OldHug
hesc
oul
dn’
thel
pbuts
tut
ter
,
“…Y
ou…W- whata
reyoupl
anni
ngtodo?”

“
Oh, not
hingmuch…I’
mj us
tusi
ngyouasmytes
tsubj
ect
!”yel
l
edt
hes
hadowyf
igur
eashei
nst
ant
ly
s
tabbedOldHughesheadwithama
lic
iouss
mil
eonhisfa
ce!

Wit
hhisheadi
nst
ant
lyc
atc
hingf
ir
e,Ol
dHug
hesc
oul
donl
ysc
rea
mina
gonya
sthef
ir
espr
eadt
othe
r
estofhi
sbody
!

Watchi
nga sfi
ery-
redli
nesbe
ganc our
si
ngthr
oug houtt
heol
dma n’
sdyi
ngbody
,thesha
dowyfi
gur
e
wasnowa bletoconfi
rmthetr
uepowe roft
heS wordofMig
ht.
Astheol
dma nhadsa
id,as
ing
lesl
ash
r
eall
ywa ssuff
ic
ienttocompl
etel
ymeltaperson!

OldHug
heshi
mse
lfha
dn’
tex
pec
teds
uchat
err
ibl
efa
tet
obef
all
hims
elf
,butt
her
ewa
sli
tt
let
hathe
coul
ddonow…
S
oone
noug
h,a
llt
hatr
ema
inedoft
heol
dma
nwa
sas
lowl
ydi
mini
shi
ngf
lame
…

“AsifI
’ds
ti
ll
haveausef
oryouaft
erobta
ini
ngtheTi
tanSwor
d…Pla
nni
ngont
aki
ngoverDr
agonbl
ood
Cit
yonmywa tc
h?Dreamon!”s
coff
edtheshadowyf
igur
easheg
lar
edatt
hedyi
ngf
lame.

Ol
dHug
heswa
smer
elyapa
wnt
ohi
m.Apa
wnt
ohe
lphi
mobt
aint
hes
wor
d…

Nowt ha
tthepawnhadfulf
il
l
edi
tspur
pos
e,i
tnol
ong
erha
danyus
etohi
m…T
hatni
ght
,cha
ose
nsued
wit
hinDragonbl
oodCi
ty.

TheHul
ker
oicUnionwascomplet
elywi
pedout,a
ndT
ige
rhi
mse
lf—t
hel
eaderoft
heuni
on—me
tag
ris
ly
endwit
hal
lhisl
imbsbutc
heredri
ghtof
fhisbody
…

Na
tur
all
y,ne
wsoft
hats
truc
kfea
rinnotonl
ythepeopl
eoft
hec
it
y,buta
lsoa
llt
hema
jorc
lanst
her
e…

Rega
rdless
,whenmorni
ngcame,Gera
ldandt
heot
herswer
er e
sti
ngi
ntheZor
nfamil
y’shomewhena
ll
ofasudden,t
heywer
ea l
ert
edbythepres
enc
eofs
evera
lpeopl
eswif
tl
yappr
oachi
ngthem.

Thesec
ondt
heyg
ott
heirweaponsre
ady,t
he ywer
ejus
tint
imetowi
tnessas
hadowyfi
gure
desc
endi
ngf
romt
hesky
, f
oll
owedshort
lya
fterbys
ever
almoremendres
sedf
ull
yinbl
ack.

“
…The
y’r
est
ronga
ndha
vema
li
ci
ousi
nte
nt,
Ger
ald.
Ple
ase,
bec
are
ful
…!”whi
sper
edJ
uno.

Geral
dhimsel
fwa swel
lawa
reofthi
s,t
houg
hhesi
mpl
ynoddedi
nrespons
e.F
romwha thecoul
dsee
,
theshadowyf
igure—whowasre
leas
ingani
mmens
emurder
ousi
ntent—hadatl
eas
tenter
edtheThi
rd
RankoftheAvata
rReal
m…
Af
teras
hor
tpa
use,
Ger
aldc
lea
redhi
sthr
oatbe
for
eas
king
,“…Whoa
rey
ou?Andwhya
rey
ouhe
re?
”

Tr
uthbetol
d,Geral
dfeltt
hathehadnevercomeacr
ossthispersonbef
ore
.Withtha
tinmi
nd,
hewa
s
wonder
ingwhytheshadowyfi
gurewasheretoca
usetroubleforhimandhisf
ri
ends
.

“Look,
jus
tha ndtheFi
shg
utS
wor
dov
era
ndI
’l
lspa
rey
ourl
i
fe!
”snee
redt
hes
hadowyf
igur
ewi
thout
beati
ngaroundthebush.

Uponhear
ingthat,
Gera
ld’
sexpr
essi
ondark
e nedalmos
tins
tant
aneous
ly.
Tothi
nkthatt
heshadowy
f
igur
enotonlyknewaboutt
heFis
hgutsword,butheal
soknewtha
titwasinGer
ald’
sposs
ess
ion!

“
Wha
tki
ndofs
wor
dev
eni
stha
t?I
don’
tknowwha
tyou’
ret
alk
inga
bout
!”bl
uff
edGe
ral
d.

“
Cutthecr
*pandst
oppl
ayi
ngdumb!I
’mwella
wa rethatOl
dHughesl
edyoutotha
tswor
d!Nowha
nd
i
toverory
ou’
l
lsoonbemeet
inghi
minthea
fte
rli
fe!”thr
eat
ene
dt hes
hadowyfi
gur
e.

Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Ger
aldi
nst
ant
lyk
newt
hats
ome
thi
ngmus
t’
veha
ppenedt
oOl
dHug
hes
.

“
…Y ou…Wha
tha
vey
oudonet
ohi
m?!
”gr
owl
edGe
ral
d,af
rownonhi
sfa
cea
sheg
lar
eda
tthes
hadowy
f
igure.

Laug hinghy steric

a l
l
yi nresponse, t
hes hadowyf i
gurethenr etort
ed,“Geral
d,Geral
d,Gerald…Y out r
uly
aret ooi nnoc entfory ourowng ood!Doy ourea l
l
yr es
pecttha tol
dbuf f
oon?Hewa ssimplyus i
ngyou!
Justs oy ouk now, heonl yletyoug ettheF i
shgutSwordfirstsothatIcouldobtai
ntheT i
tanSwor d!The
Swor dofMi g ht!Thedea lwa sformet owi peoutt heHulkeroicUniona ndmakehimthes upremel eader
ofDr ag onbloodCi tya ft
erIobtainedthes word!Ofc ours
e, thi
ngsdidn’tgoasheplanned…Butwhya mI
tel
lingy oua llthis
, you’l
lsoonbeme etinghimi nhellany
wa y !
”

Af
terhea
ringal
lthat
,Ger
aldf
oundhi
mse
lfmoment
ari
l
yfl
abbe
rga
ste
d.T
othi
nkt
hatOl
dHug
heswa
s
ac
tual
lys
uc hapers
on…
“
…Whatdoyoumeany
ouwereonl
yablet
oobtai
ntheT
ita
nSwor
daf
terI
gott
heF
ishg
utS
wor
d?How
a
ret
hoset
wothi
ngsev
enr
ela
ted?”as
kedGer
ald.

“
Hah!Yousee,
theF
ishg
utSwordwass
eal
i
ngtheTi
tanS
word!T
hank
stoy
out
aki
ngi
tawa
y,I
wasa
ble
t
oobta
intheTi
tanS
word!”ex
plai
nedt
hesha
dowyfi
gur
e.

S
otha
t’swhy
…Ita
ppea
redt
hathet
rul
yha
dbe
enus
ed.

Fol
lowingthat,t
hesha dowyfigur
eevenl i
ftedtheTi
tanSwordforGer
aldtose
e,t
heswordconst
ant
ly
emitt
ingstr
ong ,
cri
ms onfla
me sanda nov erwhel
mingaura
…“Re g
ardl
ess
,don’
tmakemerepeatmysel
f!
Handov ertheFi
shgutS wordandI’
llspareyourli
ves!Ot
herwi
se,you’
ll
allg
etata
steoft
heTit
an
Sword!”threat
enedthes hadowyfig
ur e.

Nat
urall
y,Ger
aldwasn’
tgoingtohanditov
ertha
te a
sil
y.Af
tera
ll,
theFi
shg
utSwordwasoneofthete
n
anc
ientholys
words
.Itwasn’te
a s
yforhimtoobt
ainit
,sohesureashe
llwasn’
tgoi
ngt
ojustg
iveit
awaysosimpl
y.

Tr
uthbet
old,
Geral
dals
ofeltt
hatthes
hadowyfi
gur
ewas
n’tst
rongenoug
htodefeathi
m.Wi
tht
hati
n
mind,
Ger
aldwonder
edifhecoul
dobtai
ntheTi
tanS
wor
da swell
aft
erdef
eat
inghim…

Asani
deac
ametohi
m,Ger
aldpa
usedf
oramomentbef
orey
ell
i
ng,
“Al
lofy
ou,
see
kshe
lte
rfi
rs
t!I
’l
l
dea
lwi
thhi
m!”

What
everthec
asewas
,Junoandt
heot
her
sweren’
tthes
hadowyfi
gure’
sma
tch.
Wit
htha
tinmi
nd,
t
hemstayi
ngheref
ora
nylong
erwoul
donl
yre
sulti
nthemgett
ingk
il
le
d.

Under
sta
ndi
ngthatt
he ywouldonl
ybeabur
dentohi
mint
hiss
it
uat
ion,
Ger
ald’
spa
rtys
impl
y
exc
hangedg
lanc
esbeforenoddi
ngandr
ushi
ngof
f.
OnceGeral
dwa ssuretha
ttheyweregone,hethe
nt urne
dtofacet
heshadowyfigur
ebeforedecl
ari
ng,
“Ipr
oposethatweha v
eaduel t
othedeath!J
ustthetwoofus!I
fIl
ose,y
oucanha vemylif
ea swel
las
theFi
shg
utS word!However
,you’l
lal
sohavetopromisetha
tyou’
ll
spar
emyf r
iends’l
iv
es.Deal?
”

Withoute
venthesl
i
ght
esthesi
tat
ion,
thes
hadowyf
igur
ethenr
epl
i
ed,
“Dea
l!Asi
fI’
dev
erl
osewi
tht
he
SwordofMighti
nmyhands!
”

Tothes
hadowyf
igur
e,Ge
raldwasn’
tevergoi
ngtobehi
sma t
ch.Af
teral
l
,pos
ses
singtheTi
tanSwor
d
wasaki
ntohi
mholdi
ngal
lthepowerintheworl
d,andt
hatdef
ini
tel
yser
vedt
oampl i
fyhi
sarrog
anc
e…

Ev
enso,
sinc
ebothoft
hemha dal
rea
dyent
ere
dtheT
hir
dra
nkoft
heAv
ata
rRea
lm,
itwa
sn’
tcl
earwho
woul
dbethevi
ct
oroft
hisba
ttl
e…

E
itherway,a
fte
rwi
eldingt
hei
rswordsa
ndgett
ingint
othe
iratta
ckstanc
es,bothoft
hems
impl
ygl
are
d
a
te achot
her,r
ema
iningmoti
onl
essast
heyawait
edtheotherpart
ytostr
ike…

Withoutt
hesli
ghtestwarni
ng,
theshadowyfi
gurethenl
etoutamight
yroa rbef
oreswing
inghi
ssword
andsendi
ngasur g
eoff l
amesfl
yi
ngtowardGera
ld!Withhowfas
tthesol
idifi
edfl
ameswer ef
ly
ing
t
owa rdGera
ld,anyregul
arper
songetti
nghi
tbythatatt
ackwoul
dsurel
ye ndupg et
ti
ngsli
cedi
nhalf
!

Ofcours
e,Ger
aldwasn’taf
rai
datal
l
.Inst
ead,
hesimpl
yswungt
heF
ishg
utS
wor
d,s
endi
nghi
sowns
urg
e
ofs
pa r
kli
ngwat
e rf
ly
ingtowardt
heshadowyfi
gur
e’sa
tta
ck!

I
twasc l
eart
hattheshadowyfi
gurehadforg
ottent
hatwa t
ertri
umphedoverf
ir
e.Asproofoft
ha t
,the
T
ita
nS wordwasonlyabletobeobtai
nedaft
ertheFi
shgutSwordwaspul
ledout.Wit
hthatinmind,jus
t
l
i
kehowwa t
ercoul
dputf i
reout
,theFis
hgutSwordcoul
de as
il
ycanc
eloutanyoftheTi
tanSword’s
a
ttack
s.

Wi
tht
hati
nmi
nd,
Ger
ald’
ssur
geofwa
tere
asi
l
yputoutt
hes
hadowyf
igur
e’sf
ier
yat
tac
k!
Na
tur
all
y,t
hiss
tunne
dthes
hadowyf
igur
e.Heha
dn’
tta
kent
hisi
ntoa
ccount
!

Seei
ngthatt
hes
hadowyf
igur
ewasmomentar
il
yfl
a bber
gast
ed,Geral
dqui
ckl
ytookt
hec
hanc
etof
is
h
outata
lis
man—fr
omhiss
torager
ing
—bef
oretoss
ingiti
ntothesky
!

Thenextthi
ngtheshadowyfig
ureknew,
thet
ali
smanhadbur
nedupi
nthea
ir,
summoni
ngs
eve
ral
pri
ckl
yli
anavinest
hatquic
klywrappe
dthems
elvesa
roundhi
m!

F
oll
owi
ngthat
,Gera
ldqui
ckl
ysummonedtheAs
tra
bys
sSwor
dbe
for
epoi
nti
ngi
tsbl
adet
owa
rdt
hes
ky
a
ndyel
l
ing
, “
BythePoweroft
heAst
raby
ss!”

I
mme di
ate
lyaft
er,
apurplevort
exwithf
li
cke
ringl
i
ghtningbeganf
ormi
nginthes
ky…a
nds
econdsl
ate
r,
abe
amofl i
ghtbol
tedoutofthevor
texandri
ghti
ntotheAstr
abys
sSword!

Wit
htha
tdone,Ger
aldthenswunghi
sswor
ddownha
rd,
sendi
ngas
urg
eofbl
i
ndi
ngwhi
tel
i
ghtf
ly
ing
t
owardt
hesha
dowyf i
gure!

T
heshadowyfi
gur
ecoul
donl
ysc
rea
mina
gonya
sthel
i
ghts
li
cedt
hroug
hhi
sbody
…!Unt
ilnof
urt
her
s
crea
mingfol
l
owed.

Nownothingbutashe s
,theshadowyfi
gur
ewasnomore.
Til
lhisdyi
ngbre
a t
h,hehadn’texpec
tedtobe
ki
ll
edof
fbyGe ral
ds oea s
il
y…Wi t
hthesha
dowyfi
gur
enowdea d,hi
smeninst
antl
yturnedtofacee
a c
h
ot
herbeforef
leei
ngt hearea!Aft
eral
l,
nowthatt
hei
rbos
swa sdead,t
her
ewa snopointinthem
st
ayi
ngthereforanylonger.

Rea
li
zi
ngtha
tther
ewasat
oke
nofs
ort
swi
thi
nthes
hadowyf
igur
e’sa
she
s,Ge
ral
dpi
cke
ditupt
ose
e
whatwaswr
itt
enoni
t…

Thewords‘
Ghos
tSe
ct’
hadbee
nc a
rvedi
ntr
ica
tel
yontot
hetok
e n,
andGeral
dcoul
donlyr
ais
eas
li
ght
browwhenhesawt
hat.
Whatki
ndofmyst
eri
ousorg
aniz
ati
oncoul
dtheGhostS
ectbe
…?
Hi
str
ainoft
houg
htwa
scuts
hor
twhenhes
uddenl
yhe
ardNor
ica
ll
ingout
,“Ger
ald!
”

T
urni
nga
round,
hewa
tcheda
shi
sfr
iendsqui
ckl
yra
ntowa
rdhi
m.

Stoppi
ngrig
htbefor
eGe
ral
d,Nor
ithe
nas
kedi
nac
onc
ernedt
one
,“Ar
eyoua
lri
ght
,Ger
ald?Ar
eyou
hurtanywhere?
”

S
mil
i
ngi
nres
pons
e,Ger
alds
impl
ysa
id,
“Don’
twor
ry,
I’
mfi
ne!
”

Uponhe
ari
ngtha
t,Nor
iandt
heot
her
swe
rei
nst
ant
lyr
eli
eve
d.T
othe
m,a
slonga
sGer
aldwa
sfi
ne,
all
waswel
li
ntheworl
d…

Nowthatt
hing
shadcalme
ddown,
Ger
aldt
urnedt
olooka
ttheT
ita
nSwor
dtha
twa
shov
eri
ng
mena
c i
ngl
yinthea
ir…

Wal
kingovertoit,
hethengr
abbedont
othehi
lt…andthesec
ondhedi
d,hota
ndpower
ful
ene
rgy
s
urg
edr i
ghtthroughhi
spal
ma ndi
ntohi
sel
ix
ir-
of-
li
fef
iel
d!

Wit
hhowburni
ng-hothi
sel
ixi
r-
of-
li
fef
iel
dwa snowf
eel
i
ng,
Ger
aldc
oul
dtel
ltha
tal
lthepa
inhewa
s
c
urrent
lye
xpe
rie
ncingwasduetothes
wor d’
spower
!

“
G-Ge
ral
d?Wha
t’swr
ong
?”a
skedNor
iwhe
nshes
awhi
spa
ine
dex
pre
ssi
on.

“
Sta
yba
ck!
”yel
l
edGer
alda
shequi
ckl
ysa
tatt
hes
ide.

Hear
ingthat
,Nor
iandtheother
sdi
dn’
tda
reg
ocl
oset
ohi
m.T
heyc
oul
donl
yst
area
thi
mfr
oma
far
,
hopi
ngthathewoul
dturnoutfi
ne…
Reg
ardl
ess
,Gera
ldqui
cklyt
ookoutaHe
ave
n’sa
ppl
ebe
for
edev
our
ingi
t.Onc
etha
twa
sdone
,he
i
nst
antl
ybega
nmedita
ting.

T
ohisshock
,eati
ngt
hehol
yfr
uitdi
dn’
tles
sent
hef
ier
ysens
ati
oni
nhi
sbodya
tal
l
.Inf
act
,itonl
yma
de
i
tmoreint
ense!

Y
ell
i
nginagony,Ger
ald’
sforehe
a dwasnowdr
enc
hedi
nswe
at,
showi
ngj
usthowmuc
hpa
int
he
s
word’
spowe rwasi
nfli
ct
ingontohi
m.

I
twa
sn’
tlonga
fte
rbe
for
eGer
alde
vent
ual
l
ycol
l
aps
edf
romt
heex
cruc
iat
ingpa
in!

Upons
eei
ngt
hat
,Nor
iimmedi
ate
lys
hout
ed,
“Ger
ald…!
”

Ass
heranov
ert
oche
ckonhi
m,J
unohe
rse
lfqui
ckl
yor
der
edhe
rser
vant
stoc
arr
yhi
mov
eri
ntoar
oom
tor
est
.

Unbeknowns
ttotheot
hers,
theTi
tana
ndF
ishg
utS
wor
dha
dbot
hmor
phedi
ntoas
ing
lebe
amofl
i
ght
tha
tthenent
eredGera
ld’
sbody…

I
twoul
dta
kea
nent
ir
eda
ybef
oreGe
ral
dre
gai
nedc
ons
cious
nes
sag
ain…

Whenthedaze
dyouthfi
nal
l
yawoke,t
hefi
rstt
hinghes
awwasNor
ily
ingbyt
hes
ideofhi
sbed.
He
c
ouldn’
thel
pbutt
hinkhowlov
elys
helook
ed,evenwhens
hewasa
sleep…

Herear
stwit
chi
ngashisbedsheet
srust
led,Nor
iwok
ewi
thas
tar
tbe
for
elook
inga
tGer
alda
ndj
oyous
ly
exc
lai
ming
,“G-Ger
ald!You’
refi
nal
lyawa k
e…!”
Aft
erGeral
dfai
ntedt
heda
ybe f
ore,
all
hisf
ri
endsha
dbee
nsc
are
dha
lft
ode
ath,
thi
nki
ngt
hat
somet
hingter
ri
bleha
dbef
all
enhim…

Nowt
hathewa
sawa
ke,
Nor
icoul
dfi
nal
l
ybr
eat
heal
i
ttl
eea
sie
r…

Noddi
ngs
lowl
yinr
espons
e,Ger
aldqui
ckl
yfoundt
hatheba
rel
yha
danyener
gyt
oev
enmov
e.

St
il
l,
whil
ehewasnowfeel
i
ngextr
emelyweak,
Ge r
aldc
oul
dtel
ltha
theha
dsurpr
is
ing
lyalr
eady
br
eachedi
ntoy
etanot
herr
ank!Wit
hthatsa
id,hewasnowi
ntheFour
thr
ankoft
heAv a
tarRea
lm…

Whi
l
etha
twa
sthec
ase
,whywa
shef
eel
i
ngs
owe
aka
ftera
dva
nci
ng?I
ttr
ulywa
spuz
zli
ng…

Ashet houghtabouti
t,hef
iguredtha
tithadsome t
hingtodowit
htheSwordofMig
ht.Af
tera
ll
,bef
ore
fa
int
ing ,hevag
ue l
yre
membe r
edthatnotonlyhadthefier
ypoweroft
heTi
tanSwords
urgedi
ntohi
s
body
, buthisownpowerha dalsobeencont
inuousl
ys a
ppedbysomethi
ng.

Wha
tevertheca
s ewas
,theS
wor
dofMi
ghtt
rul
ywa
sapowe
rful
wea
pon…E
venmor
epowe
rful
tha
n
t
heFi
shgutSword,i
nfac
t.

Thoughthatwasthecas
e ,whywasthesha
dowyf igurenotGera
ld’
sma t
chwhenhewieldedit
?From
wha tGer
aldcoul
dtel
l,i
twa sbeca
usehewasn’tthefatedone.Wit
hthatinmind,t
hes
ha dowyfi
gur
e
probabl
ywa s
n’tabl
etoinheri
tanduset
hes word’spoweratit
sful
les
tpotent
ial
.

Witht
hatinmi
nd,
Geral
d—bei
ngthef
atedone—pr
obabl
yex
peri
enc
edt hefull
bruntoft
hes
wor
d’s
powerduetot
heTi
tanS
wordac
knowl
edginghi
m,whi
chl
edtohi
me ventua
llyfai
nti
ng…

Af
tert
hink
ingabouti
tforawhi
le
,Geral
dfel
tthathi
sthoughtpr
oces
smades
ens
e,a
ndt
hata
llt
hatpa
in
wasnec
essar
ysothathecoul
dposs
essthef
ullpoweroftheTi
tanS
word…
Nowthathi
sque
sti
onshadbeena
nswer
ed,
Ger
aldr
etr
iev
edaHea
ven’
sappl
efr
omhi
sst
ora
ger
ing
bef
ores
lowl
ymunchingoni
t…

Notonlywasthehol
yfr
uita
bletohelphimunder
gobrea
k t
hroughs
,buti
twa
sal
soc
apa
bleofhea
li
ng
i
njur
iesandrest
ori
nghi
senerg
y.Itt
rulywasatr
easur
edspeci
almedic
ine
…

T
r ueenough,af
terf
ini
shi
ngt
hef
rui
t,Ge
ral
dpr
ompt
lyr
ega
inedhi
sst
reng
th,
andt
hea
urai
nhi
sbody
f
inall
ysta
bil
iz
ed…

Nowt
hatheha
dre
cov
ere
d,Ge
ral
dgotoutofbe
dbef
orel
eav
ingt
her
oomt
oge
the
rwi
thNor
i…

Ast
heypa
sse
dbyt
hec
our
tya
rd,
theduos
awRa
yandt
heot
hert
wof
romhi
spa
rtyc
hat
ti
ngt
her
e.

Uponr ea
li
zingtha
tGeral
dhadr
egai
nedcons
cious
nes
s,t
hes
urpr
is
edRa
yqui
ckl
yra
nov
ert
ohi
mwhi
l
e
shout
ing,“Brot
herGer
ald!Y
ou’
rea
wa k
e!”

Cyr
ilr
anoveraswel
l,
andhequic
k l
yadde
dinaconc
erne
dtone
,“Howa
rey
ouf
eel
i
ng?Ar
eyoua
lri
ght
?
Youscar
edushal
ftodea
thyes
terday,
youknow?
”

Smi
li
ngasheshookhishead,
Gera
ldthe
nrepli
ed,“
I’
mfeeli
ngfi
nenow!Thepowe
roft
heT
ita
nSwor
d
wass
implyt
ooimme nse,whi
chwaswhyIendedupfai
nti
ngyes
ter
day!
”

“I
see!Spea
k i
ngofwhic
h,Brot
herGer
ald,
Ican’thel
pbutnoti
cet
haty
ourpowe
r’si
ncr
eas
eda
gai
n…
Haveyoubrokent
hrough?
”a s
kedRa
yobserv
a ntl
yashelook
edatGer
ald.

“
You’
reri
ght
!Iwass
urpri
sedt
ofindouta
boutt
hatt
oo,
butI
gues
sI’
venowe
nte
redt
heF
our
thr
anki
n
t
heAvat
arReal
m!”r
epli
edGera
ld.

Be
inga
blet
ori
seupt
wor
ank
sinl
esst
hanawe
ek…Ge
ral
dtr
ulywa
senv
iabl
e…
“
Youreal
l
ya r
eagodf
orbei
ngabl
etobreakt
hroughs
of a
st,
Brot
herGer
ald!T
othinkthatyou’
ve
a
lre
adyenter
edt
heFour
thr
ankoftheAva
tarReal
m…Y ousi
mplyar
etoopowerf
ul!”pra
ise
dCy r
ilwi
tha
s
mile.

Aftera
ll,
r eg
ularpeoplecoul
dn’
tevenbreakt
hroughasi
ngl
eranka
fte
rcul
ti
vati
ngf
ordec
adesandev
en
centur
ies!YethereGe r
aldwas,r
is
ingther
ankssoeas
il
y!I
fthos
ewhohadtra
inedf
orsol
ongknew
aboutthi
s ,t
hey’dsurel
ybeirr
it
atedtodea
th!

Chuc
kli
ngi
nres
pons
e,Ger
alds
impl
ysa
idi
nahumbl
etone
,“I
t’
snot
hing
,rea
ll
y.I
’mj
ustr
eal
l
yluc
ky!
”

Shak
inghi
shea d,Ra
ypa use
dforamomentbef
oretaki
ngoutabl
acktokenandhandi
ngitt
oGer
alda
s
hesai
d,“Speaki
ngofwhich,Br
othe
rGer
ald,
youdroppedthi
sbl
acktoke
nt heda
ybe f
ore
…Whe r
e
exa
ctl
ydidy ougett
his
?”

“
Ah,
tha
ttok
enwa
sal
ltha
trema
ine
daf
terhedi
ed.
Why
?Doy
ouk
nowa
boutt
het
oke
n?”a
skedGer
ald.

Noddi
ngi
nre
spons
e,Ra
ythenex
pla
ine
d,“
It’
sane
xcl
usi
vei
temoft
heGhos
tSec
t!”

“
Ray
,wha
tex
act
lyi
sthi
sGhos
tSe
ct?
”Ge
ral
das
kedc
uri
ous
ly.

T
hen,
Rays
tar
tede
xpl
ai
ni
ngi
ndet
ail
.

Af
terl
is
teni
ngtotheexpl
anati
on,
Geral
dandther
estunders
toodi
tnow.
Appare
ntl
y,Ghos
tSe
ctwa
sa
pl
acewheretheg
hostsli
ved,
andthebl
acks
hadowshouldbeamemberofGhos
tSect
.

“
The
n,howc
anI
got
her
e?”
Af
terapa
use,
Ger
alda
skedbol
dl
y.

Rayopenedhi
seyeswidea
nds
tar
eda
thi
mins
urpr
is
euponhe
ari
nghi
m.Hedi
dn’
tex
pec
ttha
tGer
ald
wouldhavet
hisi
dea.

Ghos
tSectwasnotaplac
etha
tanyonec
ouldgot
o.I
twasint
heter
ri
tor
yofGhos
tRe
alm,
apl
acef
or
l
onel
ysoulsa
ndwildghost
swhic
hwererul
edbyt
heGhostKi
ng.

“
Brot
herGe
ral
d,Ghos
tSec
tisnotag
oodpl
ace.
Iti
sbe
tte
rnott
ogot
her
e!”

Ra
yremi
nde
dGe
ral
dser
ious
ly.

“Ra
y,don’
tworr
y.S
incethismatt
eri
srel
atedt
oGhos
tSec
t,I
thi
nkI
shoul
dgot
her
eandi
nves
ti
gat
e!”
Gera
ldpat
tedonhi
sshouldera
nds a
id.

Whydi
dthepe
opleofGhos
tSectc
omet oDragonbl
oodCi
tyandtr
ytos
nat
cht
hisa
nci
enthol
yswor
d
awa
y?Thi
smyst
erymadeGeral
dverypuzz
led.
Heha dtos
olv
eit.

“
Alr
ight
.Si
ncey
oui
nsi
stong
oing
,Iwi
l
lgowi
thy
ou!
”

Ra
ykne
wtha
thec
oul
dnotpe
rsua
deGe
ral
dnott
ogo,
sohec
oul
donl
ychoos
etoa
ccompa
nyhi
m.

Af
tert
hat
,Ra
ytol
dGe
ral
dthet
imewhe
nGhos
tSec
twa
sope
neda
ndi
tsl
oca
tion.

T
woda
ysl
ate
r,a
tmi
dni
ght
.

T
hiswa
stheda
ywhent
hee
ntr
anc
eofGhos
tSec
twoul
dope
n.
Ont
hisda
y,a
llt
heg
hos
tswoul
dga
the
rher
etoe
nte
rGhos
tSe
ct.

Gera
ldandRaywentt
otheentr
anc
eofGhos
tSec
t.Asf
ort
heot
hert
hree
,Ge
ral
ddi
dnotl
ett
hemc
ome
al
ongtoavoi
dbei
ngnoti
ced.

T
her
ewe
real
otofg
hos
tsa
tthee
ntr
anc
e.

I
twa
sthef
ir
stt
imeGe
ral
dha
dse
ens
oma
nyg
hos
ts,
andt
hisa
maz
edhi
m.

“
Ray
,wi
l
lthes
eghos
tshur
tpeopl
e?”

Ge
ral
dle
anedc
los
ert
oRa
yandwhi
spe
redi
ntohi
sea
r.

Rays
hookhi
sheads
li
ght
lya
ndr
epl
i
ed,
“Don’
twor
ry,
the
ywon’
t.T
oda
yist
heda
yofpe
ace
.Nog
hos
t
ca
nhurtot
herg
host
s.
”

Hea
ringt
his
,Ge
ral
dfel
tre
li
eved.

Howev
er,
the
yonl
yha
dtwe
lvehour
s,ort
obepr
eci
se,
itwa
sGer
aldwhoonl
yha
dtwe
lvehour
s.

Whentheti
mewasup,
hehadt
oleav
eGhos
tSe
cti
mmedi
ate
ly,
orhewoul
dnotbea
blet
ogetout
f
orev
erandrema
int
herea
saghos
t.

S
oon,
itwa
sti
me.
Thedooroft
hes
pir
it
ual
wor
ldope
ned,
anda
llt
heg
hos
tsf
loc
kedi
n.

Ra
yle
dGe
ral
dint
othes
pir
it
ual
wor
ldt
hroug
hthedoor
.
Oncei
nsi
de,t
heys
awahug
eghos
tci
tywher
ema
nyg
hos
tsha
dse
tups
tal
l
stos
ell
thi
ngsj
ustl
i
kea
towni
ntheol
denday
s.

T
odaywasthemos te
njoy
ableda
yfortheghostbec
aus
ethe
yc ouldcometoGhostSe
ctt
obuythi
ngs
f
ort
hemselve
s.Theonlyt
hingwast
hattheydi
dnottra
dewit
hor dina
rycoi
ns,
butcoi
nss
peci
al
lyus
ed
i
nGhostS
ect.So,t
heyhadtogotoexc
ha ng
eforsome.

“
Ray
,ar
eal
lthe
set
hing
sar
oundhe
ree
dibl
e?T
hey
’rema
kingmehung
ry!
”

Wa
lki
nga
longt
hes
tree
t,Ge
ral
dsa
wal
otoff
ooda
roundhi
mwhi
chma
dehi
mhung
ry,
sohea
ske
d.

“
Hehe,youcaneatt
hem,
butyouwi
l
llos
eal
otofma
scul
i
nea
uraonc
eyoudos
obe
caus
ethe
sea
re
f
oodforghos
ts,
nothuma
ns.
”

Ra
ysmi
l
eda
ndr
epl
i
edt
oGer
ald.

Ger
aldwa
sdis
cour
agedimmedi
atel
yuponhe
ari
ngt
his
.Hedi
dnotda
ret
othi
nka
bouti
tany
mor
eashe
di
dnotwantt
olos
ehismasc
uli
neaura
.

“
Let
’sg
o.I
’l
lbr
ingy
out
oapl
ace
!”

Ra
ytol
dGe
ral
dandbr
oug
hthi
mtoabui
l
dingnotf
ara
waywi
thbi
gst
eps
.

Onc
eins
ide
,Ger
aldr
eal
i
zedt
hati
twa
sahug
eca
sino.

T
hiswa
sac
asi
noi
nGhos
tSec
t.I
twa
sdi
ff
erentf
romt
hec
asi
nosi
nthehuma
nwor
ld.
“
Ray
,whydoI
hav
eaf
eel
i
ngt
hatt
heg
hos
tsc
an’
tfe
elme?
”

S
udde
nly
,Ge
ral
ddi
scov
ere
dsome
thi
nga
nda
skedRa
y.

Hehadafe
eli
ngthathewasbei
ngtota
llyi
gnor
ed,andtheg
host
sarounddi
dn’
tnoti
cehi
mata
ll
.Wha
t
madehi
mf e
elev
e nstr
ang
erwasthatsomeghost
sevenpass
edri
ghtthr
oug
hhisbody.

“
Bec
aus
eyoua
renotar
eal
ghos
t,t
heywon’
tdi
scov
ery
ou.
Mor
eov
er,
nohuma
nsa
rea
ll
owe
dinher
e!”

Ra
yex
pla
ine
dtoGer
aldi
mme
dia
tel
y.

WhenGer
aldhea
rdhi
m,hewa
sver
yex
cit
ed.
Tha
twoul
dmea
ntha
thewa
sinv
isi
bl
eri
ghtnow.

“Ge
ral
d,i
t’
suptoy
ounow.Youcanus
eyouri
nvi
si
bi
li
tyt
ohe
lpmeg
ambl
esot
hatwec
anwi
nsome
moneyt
obuysomegoodt
hing
s.”

Ra
ysug
ges
tedt
oGe
ral
d.

“
Alr
ight
,Ra
y.Nopr
obl
em,
jus
twa
tchme
!”

Ge
ral
dag
ree
dwi
thoutr
eser
vat
ion.
Itwa
sgr
eatt
hatheha
dfi
nal
l
yfoundhi
sadv
ant
agehe
re.

L
ate
r,RaygotGer
aldt
ost
andi
nthei
nner
mos
tpos
it
ions
otha
thec
oul
dgetag
oodpe
ept
ose
e
e
veryt
hing
.

Asf
orRa
y,hes
ati
nfr
ontoft
het
abl
e.J
ustamomenta
go,
whe
nhewa
ssque
ezi
ngt
hroug
hthec
rowd,
heha
dst
ole
nag
hos
tcoi
nfr
omag
hos
ttoma
ket
hec
oinhi
sst
art
upc
api
tal
.

S
oona
fte
r,t
heg
hos
tst
andi
ngi
nthemi
ddl
eoft
het
abl
est
art
edt
orol
lthedi
ce.

Aft
errol
li
ngf
orawhi
l
e,t
heg
hos
tcov
eredt
hedi
cewi
thal
i
d,a
ndRa
ylook
eda
tGe
ral
dwhowa
sbe
hind
theghos
t.

Af
teraqui
ckpe
ek,
Ger
aldg
aveRa
yaha
nds
igna
l.

“
Ibetl
ow!
”

Af
ters
eei
ngGe
ral
d’sha
nds
igna
l,Ra
yshout
edl
oudl
y.

T
hen,
heputt
hemone
yont
hel
ows
lot
.

Af
terma
kinghi
sbe
t,t
heg
hos
trev
eal
edt
hedi
ce.

Whenheope
nedi
t,i
twa
sinde
edal
ownumbe
r.

T
hismadetheg
hostsa
roundthemappl
ause.
Theydi
dn’
tex
pec
tRa
ytobes
ogooda
tga
mbl
i
ngs
omuc
h
s
othathehadmadeprof
it
sinjus
tonego.

Howev
er,
Raydi
dnotpl
ant
ost
opt
her
e.

S
inc
ethe
ywer
eal
rea
dyt
her
e,hewa
nte
dtoma
keaf
ort
une
.
S
oona
fte
r,t
hes
econdr
ounds
tar
ted.

J
ustl
i
kebe
for
e,t
heg
hos
tint
hemi
ddl
erol
l
edt
hedi
ce.

T
hen,
hec
over
edt
hedi
cea
gai
n.

Mea
nwhi
l
e,Ger
ald,
whowa
sbehi
ndt
heg
hos
t,t
oldRa
ythenumbe
rus
ingha
nds
igna
ls.

Af
terl
ook
inga
ttheha
nds
igna
l,Ra
yputa
llhi
smone
yont
hel
ows
lotonc
emor
e.

“
Ist
il
lwa
ntt
obe
tlow!
”

Ra
yshout
eda
ndputa
llt
hemoneyont
hel
ows
lot
.

L
ate
r,t
heg
hos
tre
vea
ledt
hedi
ce.

S
uree
noug
h,i
twa
sal
ownumber
.

Ra
ywona
gai
n.Butt
hist
ime
,hewonmuc
hmor
etha
nthef
ir
stt
ime
.

“
Alr
ight
,Iha
veha
denoug
h,s
oI’
l
lst
oppl
ayi
ng!
”

Heha
dma
deenoug
htoa
ffor
daf
eas
t.T
her
efor
e,Ra
ydi
dn’
twa
ntt
ocont
inueg
ambl
i
ng.

However
,therewasa
nunspokenrul
einca
sinosint
hehumanworl
d,a
ndtha
twa s
,thos
ewhowon
shoul
dnotlea
v e
.Ofc
our
se,thi
sappl
iedt
oc as
inosi
nthes
pir
it
ual
worl
daswell
.
“
Wai
t!
”

Be
for
eRa
ycoul
dta
kea
not
hers
tep,
afe
wghos
tss
toppedhi
m.

T
heg hos
tsta
ndingi
nthemi
ddl
ewa
lkedt
owa
rdRa
yands
tar
eda
thi
m.“
Ther
eisnos
ucht
hinga
s
l
eav
ingaft
erwinni
ng.
”

“
Why
?Doy
oug
uysha
vet
heg
utst
opl
ayt
heg
ame
?Ori
sitt
haty
ouc
an’
taf
for
dtol
ose
?”

Rayst
aredattheg hostcoldl
y.Hedidn’tex
pectt
hatt
heghos
therewouldbej
ustl
ikehuma
nsinther
eal
worl
d,playi
ngroguewhe ntheycouldn’
taf
for
dtolos
e.T
heysti
l
lwantedtober
a s
cal
swhentheywer
e
al
rea
dyg host
s.Thisir
rit
atedRa yalot.

“Huh!Youc
anei
therc
ont
inuetoga
mbleunti
lyoul
oseal
lthemone
y,ory
ouc
anha
ndov
ert
hemone
y
befor
eyoul
eav
e.Ther
earetwoopti
ons
,youchoos
e!”

T
heg
hos
tst
andi
ngi
nthemi
ddl
esne
ereda
ndwa
rne
dRa
y,s
tar
inga
thi
mwi
tht
hre
ateni
nge
yes
.

I
tsee
medt
hatt
heg
hos
tdi
dnotpl
ant
olethi
mle
ave
.

S
inc
etha
twa
sthec
ase
,Ra
ywoul
dnotl
ett
hemha
vet
hei
rwa
y.

“
Ist
hats
o?Wha
tifI
don’
tchoos
eei
theroft
hem?
”

Ra
ylook
eda
tthema
nda
ske
dag
ain.
“
The
n,don’
tbl
ameusf
ornots
howi
ngmer
cy!
”

T
heg
hos
tint
hemi
ddl
esnor
teda
nds
igna
ledt
heg
hos
tsa
roundhi
m.

Ri
ghta
fte
r,t
hes
urr
oundi
ngg
hos
tsc
har
gedt
owa
rdRa
yandGe
ral
d.

S
inc
ethe
yha
dma
det
hei
rmov
es,
Ger
aldwa
sde
fini
tel
ynotg
oingt
ospa
ret
hem.

Hes
ummonedhi
sFi
shg
utS
wor
dimmedi
ate
lya
nds
las
hedt
hem.

S
wis
h!

Atonc
e,t
heF
ishg
utS
wor
dwi
pedoutaf
ewg
hos
tsef
for
tl
ess
ly.

See
ingthi
s,t
heg hosts
tandi
nginthemiddl
eshowedfearonhi
sfa
ce.
Hedi
dn’
tknowt
hatGer
aldwoul
d
bethi
spowerful
a ndposses
ssuchapowe r
ful
weapon.

“
Youa
renotag
hos
t,butahuma
n!”

T
heg
hos
tshout
edi
nsur
pri
se.

“
Hehe.
Goodt
haty
ouk
nownow.
So,
arey
ous
ti
ll
goi
ngt
ost
opme?
”

Ge
ral
dsmi
rkeda
nda
skedt
heg
hos
t.

Now,
theg
hos
tdi
dnotda
ret
obea
rrog
anta
nymor
e.Hel
owe
redhi
she
ada
nds
aid,
“No,
Iwon’
tda
ret
o.
Pl
eas
e,y
ouma
yle
ave
!”

Hea
ringt
his
,Ge
ral
dsmi
l
edi
nsa
tis
fac
ti
on.
The
n,hel
eftt
hec
asi
nowi
thRa
y.

Af
tert
heyha
dle
ft,
Ger
alda
ndRa
yfoundas
pott
osi
tdown.

“
Wow,
tha
t’ss
omuc
hmone
y!”

Ge
ral
d’sey
esg
loweda
shel
ook
eda
ttheba
gful
lofmone
yinRa
y’sa
rms
.

“
Hehe.
Thi
sisnotr
eal
mone
y,butt
hemone
yofg
hos
ts.
”

Ra
ychuc
kle
dande
xpl
ai
nedt
oGe
ral
d.

Themoneycoul
donlybeuse
dinGhos
tSe
ct.
Itc
oul
dn’
tbeus
edi
nther
eal
wor
ld,
so,
itwa
ski
ndof
usel
essev
enift
heyhadalot
.

“
Ray
,I’
mve
ryhung
ry.
Wha
tshoul
dIdo?
”

AsGer
aldwa
sta
lki
ngt
oRa
y,hi
sst
oma
chwa
sal
rea
dyr
umbl
i
ngl
oudl
y.

“
Oka
y.L
etmes
eei
fthe
re’
sapl
acewhe
rey
ouc
anea
t.Wes
houl
dfi
ndapl
acet
ospe
ndt
hemone
y!”

Onc
ehehea
rdt
hat
,Ra
ysug
ges
tedt
oGe
ral
d.

T
hen,
Rays
tar
teds
cour
ingGhos
tSe
ctwi
thGe
ral
d.
S
oon,
Rays
awabi
gres
taur
antt
hatl
ook
eds
imi
l
art
oar
est
aur
anti
nther
eal
wor
ld.

Hel
edGe
ral
dint
other
est
aur
ant
.

“
Bos
s!”

Ra
yshout
edloudl
yonc
ehewe
nti
n,onl
ytos
eeama
ninwhi
tec
omeoutf
romi
nsi
dea
ndg
reett
hem
wi
thabri
ghtsmil
e.

“
Hehe.
Wha
twoul
dyoul
i
ket
oea
t?”

T
her
est
aur
ate
ura
skedbot
hRa
yandGe
ral
d.

Hea
ringt
his
,Ra
yandGe
ral
dwe
res
hoc
ked.
Theydi
dn’
tex
pec
ttha
tther
est
aur
ateurc
oul
dse
eGe
ral
d.

“
Youc
ans
eeme
?”Ge
ral
dlook
eda
tther
est
aur
ateuri
nsur
pri
sea
nda
ske
d.

“
Ofc
our
se!
”

T
her
est
aur
ate
urs
mil
eda
nda
nswer
ed.

Hea
ringt
his
,Ge
ral
dlook
eda
tRa
yimmedi
ate
lya
nds
tar
tedwor
ryi
ng.

“
Ray
,itc
an’
tbet
hatt
heef
fec
tofmymedi
ci
neha
spa
sse
d,r
ight
?”
Ge
ral
das
kedRa
yins
urpr
is
e,t
hen,
hequi
ckl
ytookouthi
smobi
l
ephonet
ochec
kthet
ime
.

L
ook
inga
tthet
ime
,twel
vehour
swer
enotupy
et.
Heha
donl
ybe
enhe
ref
ort
wohour
s.

Butwhyc
oul
dthi
sre
sta
ura
teurs
eehi
m?T
hisma
deGer
aldwonderi
nas
toni
shment
.

“
Bos
s,whyc
any
ous
eehi
m?”

Ra
yas
kedt
her
est
aur
ateurc
uri
ous
ly.

“
Ha!Ha
!Be
caus
eI’
mahuma
n,j
ustl
i
key
ou!
”

T
her
est
aur
ate
urs
mil
eda
nde
xpl
ai
ned.

Ra
yandGe
ral
dfi
nal
l
yunder
stoodt
hes
it
uat
ion.
So,
tha
twa
swhy
.

“
Arey
oua
lsoaha
lf-
pha
ntom?
”

Ra
yas
keds
uspi
ci
ous
ly.

Therest
aur
ate
urnoddedandsai
d,“Ye
s,I
am. L
etmeintr
oduc
emy s
elf
.MynameisGar
renHenr
y.I
’m
theowneroft
hisr
est
aura
nt,a
ndI a
ms pec
if
ic
all
yre
sponsi
bl
eforr
ecei
vi
ngpeopl
efr
omt her
eal
worl
d
here!
”

“
Nic
etomee
tyou,
Ga r
ren.I
amRa yL
eig
hton,andthisi
smyfr
iend,
Geral
dCrawfor
d.Wewe r
ehungry
,
s
owecametog
etsomefood.S
inc
ewea renothal
f-pha
ntom,
wec an’
teatt
hefoodinGhos
tSec
t!”
T
hen,
Rayi
ntr
oduc
edhi
mse
lft
oGa
rra
nande
xpl
ai
nedt
her
eas
onf
orc
omi
ngt
othi
spl
ace.

“
Nopr
obl
em.
Don’
twor
ry.
Thef
oodI
ser
vehe
rei
ssa
fef
orhuma
ns!
”

Ga
rre
nsa
idi
mmedi
ate
ly.

T
hen,
hes
eat
edRa
yandGer
alda
tat
abl
e

“
Gar
ren,
dohuma
nsc
omehe
reof
ten?
”

Onc
ese
ated,
Raya
skedGa
rre
n.

“Notreal
ly.
Mostoft
heg ues
t swhoc omehereareg
hosts
.Huma nsrar
elycome.Bes
ides
,Ionl
ycome
hereforbusi
nes
swhenthee ntranceoft
hespir
it
ualwor
ldisopen.Y
oua rethef
ir
sttwohumansfr
om
therealworl
dI’
vemet
,”Ga r
re nexpla
ine
d.

“
Rig
ht,
youdon’
tlookl
i
keor
dina
rypeopl
e.Y
oumus
tbec
ult
iva
tor
s,r
ight
?”

Af
tert
hat
,Ga
rrenl
ook
eda
tRa
yag
aina
nda
ske
d.

Ra
ywa
sst
art
ledwhe
nhehe
ardGa
rren’
swor
ds.
Hedi
dn’
tex
pec
ttha
tGa
rrenwoul
dknow.

“
Howdi
dyouk
now?
”

Ra
yas
kedi
nsur
pri
se.
“
Hehe.
Peopl
ewhoc
omet
omypl
acea
rea
llc
ult
iva
tor
s.T
her
ewoul
dn’
tbea
nyot
herpe
opl
e!”

Ga
rre
nchuc
kleda
nde
xpl
ai
ned.

“
The
n,y
oumus
tbeonea
swe
ll
!”

Ra
yst
areda
tGa
rre
n.S
inc
ehewa
saha
lf-
pha
ntom,
heha
dtoa
lsobeac
ult
iva
tor
.

“
Hehe,
I’
mnotr
eal
l
yac
ult
iva
tor
.It
’sj
ustt
hatI
bec
amel
i
ket
hisbe
caus
eofa
nac
cident
.”

Ga
rre
nla
ughedbi
tt
erl
yande
xpl
ai
ned.

Intr
uth,
therewer
ever
yfewpe
opl
ewhoc
oul
dbe
comeha
lf-
pha
ntoms
.Somebya
cci
dent
,ands
omeby
exper
iment.

Howev
er,
Raya
ndJ
unoha
dbe
comeha
lf-
pha
ntomsduet
oac
cide
nts
.

S
oona
fte
r,Ga
rre
nse
rvedal
otoff
oodont
hei
rta
ble.
All
thef
oodwa
sfr
omt
her
eal
wor
ld.

L
ook
inga
tthef
ood,
the
ire
yesg
lowed.

“
Comeon,
digi
n.T
her
e’smor
eift
hisi
snote
noug
h!”

Ga
rre
ntol
dthe
m.

Af
tert
hat
,Ger
alda
ndRa
yst
art
edf
eas
ti
ng.
“
Byt
hewa
y,di
dyoug
uysc
omehe
ref
ort
heGhos
tl
yPe
arl
?”

“
Ghos
tl
yPe
arl
?”

Ge
ral
dwa
spuz
zle
dwhenhehea
rdt
hat
.

I
twa
shi
sfi
rs
tti
mehe
ari
nga
boutt
hisGhos
tl
yPea
rl.

“
Wha
t?Y
oudon’
tknowa
bouti
t?”

Ga
rre
nsa
wGer
ald’
spuz
zledl
ooka
nda
ske
dins
urpr
is
e.

Ge
ral
dandRa
yshookt
hei
rhe
ads
.

“T
heGhostl
yPear
list
hetr
easur
eofGhostSe
ct.I
tiss
aidthati
tca
nincr
easeone’
scul
ti
vat
ionl
evel
manyf
old.
That
’swhymanysoulc
ult
iva
tor
swa nt
edtoste
a l
it.
Andyet
,youact
ual
lydon’
tknowabout
i
t?”

Ga
rre
nst
areda
tGer
aldi
nsur
pri
sea
sheex
pla
ined,
hisf
aceex
pres
singhi
sdi
sbe
li
ef.

“
The
n,whe
rec
anI
gett
hisGhos
tl
yPea
rl?
”

Ge
ral
das
keddi
rec
tl
y.

S
incetheGhos
tl
yPea
rlwa
ssopr
eci
ous
,itt
ri
gge
redGe
ral
d’si
nter
estg
rea
tly
.Now,
hewa
sthi
nki
ngof
g
e t
ti
ngit.
“
It’
snottha
teas
y.TheGhos
tl
yPearli
sint
hehandofGhostKi
ng.I
t’
sthetrea
sur
eofGhostKi
ng,
so
g
etti
ngtheGhos
tl
yPearl
wouldnotbeasi
mpleta
sk.Manysoulc
ult
ivat
orsdi
edathi
shands!
”

L
ate
r,Ga
rrent
oldt
hemwi
thadoubt
ful
look
.

Fr
omGarre
n’swords
,the
yk ne
wthatt
heGhost
lyPea
rlmustbeav
eryext
raor
dina
ryt
hing
.Bes
ide
s,the
Ghos
tKi
ngthathementi
onedwast
helea
derofGhos
tSect
.Hewasn’
tsomeonewhocoul
dbedefea
ted
bysi
mpl
yanyone.

“
Wher
eisGhos
tKi
ng?
”

Ge
ral
dcont
inuedt
oas
kcur
ious
ly.

“
GhostKi
ngisinthedeepes
tghostc
ave.T
hati
shister
ri
tor
y.Bes
ide
s,manyghos
tsol
dier
sandghost
g
eneral
sareguar
dingthepl
ace,s
oit’
sver
ydif
fi
cul
ttogeti
nsi
de.Ev
enifyoudogeti
ntot
hecav
e ,i
t’
s
v
erydi
ffi
cul
ttofi
ndtheGhostl
yPearl
.”

Ga
rre
ntol
dGer
aldt
hel
oca
tionofGhos
tKi
ngi
mmedi
ate
ly.

“
Howl
ongwi
l
ltheGhos
tSe
ctr
ema
inope
n?”

Af
terapa
use,
Ger
alda
skedGa
rren.

F
rank
lys
pea
king
,thi
swa
sal
soGer
ald’
sfi
rs
tti
mec
omi
ngt
oGhos
tSec
t.

Alt
houg
hheheardabouti
tfr
omOl
dFl
i
nt,
itwa
shi
sfi
rs
tti
mea
ctua
ll
ycomi
nghe
re,
andi
twa
sindee
da
ver
ydif
fer
entex
per
ience.
“
Onemont
h.However,
thee
ntr
anc
ewi
l
lbec
los
eddur
ingt
heda
yandonl
yope
natni
ght
!”Ga
rren
r
epl
i
edi
mme di
ate
ly.

Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Ger
aldnodde
dwi
thas
eri
ousf
ace
.

S
inc
eGhos
tSec
twoul
drema
inope
nforamont
h,i
twoul
dme
ant
hatheha
denoug
hti
met
opl
anhow
t
ogett
heGhos
tl
yPea
rl.

I
fGer
alddi
dnotk
nowa
boutt
heGhos
tl
yPe
arl
,hewoul
dnotha
vebot
her
ed.

Butnowt
hathek
newa
bouti
t,hewoul
dnotl
etg
oofs
uchag
rea
toppor
tuni
ty.

“
Good.
Gar
ren,
wene
edy
ourhe
lp.
Iwa
ntt
ogett
hisGhos
tl
yPea
rl!
”

Af
tert
hat
,Ger
aldt
oldGa
rrende
fini
ti
vel
y.

WhenGar
renhe
ardt
hat
,hewa
sshoc
ked.
Hedi
dn’
tex
pec
tGe
ral
dtoa
ctua
ll
yha
vet
hei
deaofg
ett
ing
t
heGhos
tl
yPear
l.

“
Buta
sIt
oldy
ou,
Ger
ald,
theGhos
tl
yPe
arl
isnott
hate
asyt
oobt
ain!
”

Ga
rre
nremi
ndedGe
ral
dwor
ryi
ngl
y.

“
Yes
,Iknowt
hat.Andthati
stherea
sonwhyI
’mi
nter
est
edi
nit
.Themor
edi
ff
ic
ulti
tis
,themor
eIwa
nt
t
otr
y.Andmaybe
, Iwi
l
l s
ucceed!
”
Ge
ral
dlook
eda
tGa
rre
nwi
thade
ter
mine
dfa
cea
nds
aid.

Af
terhe
ari
ngt
his
,Ga
rrenc
oul
dn’
the
lpbuta
gre
etohel
p.

“
Alr
ight
.Te
llmewha
tIc
anhel
pyouwi
th.
”Ga
rrena
ske
ddi
rec
tl
y.

“
Iha
ven’
tthoug
htofapl
any
et.
Wai
tunt
ilI
hav
eapl
an,
andI
wil
ltel
lyouwha
ttodo!
”

Ge
ral
ddi
dn’
tre
plyt
oGa
rren’
sques
ti
on,
buthes
impl
yremi
ndedhi
m.

“
Oka
y,nopr
obl
em.
Onc
eyouha
vef
ormul
ate
dapl
an,
tel
lme
,andI
wil
ldomybe
stt
ohel
pyou!
”

Ga
rre
nag
ree
drea
dil
ywi
thouta
nyobj
ect
ion.

Ri
ghtt
hen,
Gar
renc
ompl
ete
lyt
rea
tedGe
ral
dandRa
yashi
sfr
iends
.

S
inc
ethe
ywer
efr
iends
,itwa
sonl
yna
tur
alf
ort
hemt
ohe
lpea
chot
her
.

“
Rig
ht,
Iha
veag
oodt
hinghe
ret
hatI
cang
ivet
oyourdi
sci
pl
e!”

Jus
tthen,Ga
rrens
uddenl
yremember
edsomethi
ng,
andhehurr
iedl
yst
oodup.
Then,hewa
lke
dint
othe
house.
Aft
erashor
twhil
e,Ga
rrenwa
lkedoutwit
hataga
ndhandeditt
oRaydi
rec
tl
y.

“
Wha
t’st
his
?”

Ra
yrec
eiv
edt
het
ag,
andhea
skedi
ndoubta
llofas
udde
n.
“
Thi
s…”

“
Thi
sist
het
okenofGhos
tKi
ng,
rig
ht?
”

Wit
houtwa
iti
ngf
ora
nex
pla
nat
ionf
romGa
rren,
Ger
alddi
rec
tl
yrev
eal
edt
hena
meoft
het
agi
nRa
y’s
ha
nd.

“T
hat’
sri
ght
.It
’st
hetok
enofGhos
tKing,a
ndit’
sal
sothethingonag host
’sbody
.Withthi
s,y
our
di
sci
pl
ecanhavef
reeac
ces
stoGhostSe
ct.I
t’
sfi
neeveniftheeff
ectofthemedici
nehassubs
ide
d!”

Ga
rre
nlook
eda
tRa
yandGe
ral
dasheex
pla
ined.

Hea
ringt
hat
,bot
hGer
alda
ndRa
ywe
rev
eryj
oyf
ul.
Unex
pec
tedl
y,Ga
rre
nac
tua
ll
yowneds
ucha
nit
em!

“
Tha
nky
ou,
Bos
sHe
nry
!”

Ra
yimmedi
ate
lye
xpr
ess
edhi
sgr
ati
tudet
owa
rdGa
rre
n.

“Al
ri
ght,
its
houl
dbedawnsoon.
Thela
rgeent
ranc
eoft
hes
pir
it
ual
wor
ldi
saboutt
obec
los
ed.
Ial
so
needtopac
kupandl
eavet
hispl
ace
!”

Gar
renl
ookedatt
hetimei
mmediat
elya
fte
rtha
t.Hef
oundt
hati
twa
sal
mos
tea
rlymor
ning
,sohe
i
mmediat
elyr
eminde
dbothGer
aldandRay.

“
Hmm,
fine
.Bos
sHe
nry
,we’
l
lle
avef
ir
st,
the
n!”
Ge
ral
dal
sos
toodupa
nds
aidt
oGa
rren.

Af
terbi
ddi
ngea
chot
herg
oodby
e,Ge
ral
dbr
oug
htRa
yal
onga
ndl
eftt
heGhos
tSe
ctdi
rec
tl
y.

Bythetimetheywentoutofthel
arg
eentr
anceoft
heGhos
tSect
,theskyouts
idehadtur
nedwhi
te,
jus
t
l
ikethebel
lyofafi
sh.I
tmea ntt
hati
twoul
dsoonbemorni
ng.
Thelarg
ee nt
ranceoft
heGhostS
ectwas
abouttobeclos
ed.

“
Huh!

“
Thef
res
hai
riss
ogood.
It’
sinde
edv
eryc
omf
ort
abl
e!”

T
hemome
nthec
ameout
,Ra
ylook
edupa
tthes
kya
nds
ighedemot
iona
ll
yinal
oudv
oic
e.

Attha
tmome nt
,thewater
fal
lbehi
ndthemwa sres
tor
ed,andtherewerecount
les
sspl
ashe
sofwa
ter
,
sy
mboliz
ingt
hatthel
arg
ee nt
ranceofGhos
tSecthadbee
nof f
ici
al
lycl
osed.

“
Ger
ald,
Iha
veac
las
sma
tepa
rtyt
oni
ght
.Ca
nyouc
omewi
thme
?”

I
ntha
tins
tant
,Junos
ugg
est
edt
oGe
ral
d.

“
Wha
tti
mei
sit
?”

“
Sev
eno’
cl
ock
!”

“
Fine,
nopr
obl
em!
”
Ge
ral
dcha
tte
dwi
thJ
unoc
asua
ll
ybe
for
ehea
gree
dtodos
o.

S
inc
eitwa
sJuno’
scl
ass
mat
epa
rty
,Ge
ral
dcer
tai
nl
ynee
dedt
oke
ephe
rcompa
nya
ndg
owi
thher
.

Hea
ringt
hatGer
aldha
dpr
omi
sedt
ogo,
Junoa
lsor
evea
ledadel
i
ght
eds
mil
e.

Atni
ght
.

Ge
ral
ddr
oveac
ara
ndwe
ntt
ohe
rcl
ass
mat
e’spa
rtywi
thhe
r.

I
nTr
ekaCi
ty.
InRoy
alGr
andHot
el.

“
Juno,
its
eemsl
i
key
ourc
las
sma
tesa
requi
ter
ich.
”

Ge
ral
dsmi
l
eda
ndl
ook
eda
tJuno,
tea
singher
.

J
unoalsos
miledl
i
ghtl
yandresponded,
“It
’sbee
nal ongt
imesi
nceI
’vemett
hem.The
yse
ntmea
n
i
nvi
tat
ioncar
dthi
sti
mea r
ound,andthat’
swhyIknowofsuchacl
ass
ma t
epar
ty!
”

Af
ters
heha
dsa
idt
hat
,Ger
aldpa
rke
dthec
arpr
ompt
ly.
Then,
hebr
oug
htJ
unoi
ntot
hehot
el.

“
Juno!
”

Att
hatmome
nt,
the
yhea
rdac
all
frombehi
ndt
hem.

Bot
hoft
hemi
mme
dia
tel
ytur
neda
rounda
ndt
ookal
ook
.Itwa
sawoma
ninal
ongpur
pledr
ess
.She
wa
swa
lki
ngt
owa
rdt
hemwi
thag
ent
les
mil
e.

“
Rut
h!”

J
unos
uddenl
ysquea
led.

Af
ters
impl
yex
cha
ngi
ngpl
eas
ant
ri
eswi
thea
chot
her
,thet
hre
eoft
hemi
mmedi
ate
lywe
ntups
tai
rs
.

T
hec
las
sma
tepa
rtywa
she
ldi
nal
arg
eba
nquetha
ll
.

“I
hear
dthatt
hisc
las
sma
tepa
rtyi
sor
gani
zedbyt
hec
las
smoni
tora
lone.
Its
eemsl
i
keal
otofmone
y
wass
pent
!”

AsJunoandRut
hGur v
ell
we r
ewalk
ing,
theyc
hatt
edwi
the
achot
her
.Thet
hreeoft
hemope
nedt
he
dooroft
hebanquethal
landwal
kedint
othehal
l
.

Assoona
sJunoa
ndRut
hha
dent
eredt
hev
enue
,the
ysoona
ttr
act
eda
lloft
hepe
opl
e’
sat
tent
ioni
nthe
hal
l
.

“
Mis
sZor
n,t
hebea
utyi
sher
e!”

S
udde
nly
,ama
n’se
xci
tedv
oic
ewa
she
ard.

Ama
ninabl
uesui
twa
lke
dov
erhur
ri
edl
yimmedi
ate
lya
fte
rtha
t.Hec
amet
ost
andbef
oreGe
ral
dand
t
het
wola
die
s.

“
Juno,
fina
ll
yyou’
reher
e.I
’v
ebee
nwa
iti
ngf
ory
ou!
”
Themanintheblues
uitwa
sful
lofs
mil
esa
shel
ook
eda
tJunoa
ndg
reet
edher
.Hi
sey
eswer
efi
l
led
wit
hfe
rventjoy
.

T
hatper
sonwa
sJuno’
scl
assmoni
tori
nuni
ver
si
ty,
andhi
sna
mewa
sXa
nryQui
rke.

“
Ha!Ha
!Moni
tor
,you’
vee
xag
ger
atedi
t.T
hec
las
sma
tepa
rtywoul
dst
il
lbel
i
vel
yev
enwi
thoutme.
”

J
unos
mil
edf
aint
lya
nds
aid.

L
ook
inga
tXa
nrybef
orehe
rma
deJ
unof
eel
tha
thewa
sjus
tasa
nnoy
inga
sheus
edt
obei
nthepa
st.

Themaint
hingwasXa nrya
lwaysa
ddres
sedherasJuno,anditmadeheruncomfort
abl
ewhe nshe
hear
dthat
.Afte
rall
,shedidnothaveaver
ycl
oserelat
ionshi
pwit
hXa nr
y,andtheywerenotcons
ider
ed
par
ti
cul
arl
yfamil
ia
rwit hea
chother
.

However
,si
ncet
her
eweresomanype
opl
ethe
re,
Junoha
dnowa
ytos
aymuc
h.T
heywer
ecl
ass
mat
es,
andi
twasunnec
ess
aryt
ohumil
i
ateot
her
s.

“
Ala
s!J
uno,
you’
rewr
ong
.Ify
oudi
dn’
tcome,
wha
t’st
hef
unofourc
las
sma
tepa
rty
?”

Xa
nryi
mmedi
ate
lyg
rabbedt
hec
hanc
etos
ayt
hist
oJuno.

S
tandi
nga
tthes
ide
,Ge
ral
dobs
erv
edXa
nry
.Hef
eltt
hatXa
nrywa
sex
tre
mel
ygooda
tpr
etendi
ng.

I
ntr
uth,
Ger
aldha
dal
rea
dys
eent
hroug
hXa
nry
’si
nne
rthoug
hts
.Xa
nryj
ustwa
nte
dtoobt
ainJ
uno.
Unf
ort
una
tel
yforhi
m,Ger
aldwa
snota
boutt
ogi
vehi
mtha
tcha
nce
.

“
Juno,
ishet
hec
las
smoni
tory
oume
nti
one
dbef
ore
?”

Geral
ddeli
berat
elywa l
kedf
orwar
dandhuggedJuno,
aski
ngherwi
thafa
ints
mil
e.Hej
ustwa
nte
dtodo
tha
tpurposel
yinfrontofXa
nryt
olett
hela
tterk
nowt ha
tJunobel
ong
edtohim.

Seei
ngGer
aldputt
ingonsuchana
ct,
Junowa
snots
urpr
is
ed.
Ont
hec
ont
rar
y,s
hef
eltwa
rmi
nwa
rdl
y
wit
hadeepsenseofsec
urit
y.

“
Hmm.
Tha
t’sr
ight
.He
’smyc
las
smoni
tor
—Xa
nryQui
rke
!”

J
unol
ook
edobe
dienta
ndc
har
ming
,le
ani
ngc
los
etoGer
ald’
sshoul
dera
ssher
epl
i
edt
ohi
m.

S
eeingt
his
,Xa
nrywa
sst
unne
dal
lofas
udde
n.Het
ota
ll
ydi
dnotex
pec
ttha
tther
ewoul
dbes
ucha
s
cene.

“
Juno…T
hisi
s?”

Af
terapa
use,
Xanr
yas
kedJ
unos
li
ght
lya
wkwa
rdl
y.

Withoutwa i
ti
ngforJ
unotosayany
thi
ng,Gera
ldl
ookedatXanrywi
thasmil
easheg
ree
tedhim,
“Monitor,
nicetomeetyou.
Letmeint
roducemys
elf
.I’
mJ uno’
sboy
fri
end,
andmynameisGera
ld
Cra
wf ord!
”

Hea
ringt
hat
,Xa
nry
’shea
rts
kippedabea
tins
tant
ly.
I
thadnev
eroccur
redtohi
mt hatJ
unohadaboyfr
iend.I
twa
sev
enbey
ondhi
sex
pec
tat
iont
hatJ
uno
woul
dact
ual
lybri
ngherboy
frie
ndalongt
ojoi
nthec l
ass
mat
epa
rty
.

Putt
ingXanr
yas
ide,
theot
herc
las
sma
teswhower
ear
ounda
lsor
evea
leds
hoc
kedex
pres
sionsonea
fter
anot
he r
.

T
heyknewforafac
thowmadl
yXa
nryha
dtr
iedt
oga
inJ
uno’
saf
fec
ti
onsi
nthepa
st.
Howe
ver
,hewa
s
a
lway
srej
ectedbyJuno.

Y
etnow,J
unoac
tua
llyha
daboyfri
end.
Thatwoul
dindee
dmakethemfe
els
hock
eda ndi
ncredul
ous.
T
heywonder
edwhatki
ndofpe
rsonGeral
dwassi
ncehewasa
ctual
l
yabl
etoga
inJuno’
saff
e c
ti
ons.

Att
hatmoment,
Xanrywasv
erya
nnoy
edi
nwa
rdl
y,buthec
oul
dnote
xpr
esst
hat
.Ther
efor
e,hec
oul
d
onl
ypre
tendt
obefine.

“
Hel
l
o,ni
cet
omee
tyou!
”

Xa
nryr
eve
aledas
mil
easheg
reet
edGer
ald.

T
hecla
ssmatepar
tyoff
ic
ial
lystar
tedi
mmedi
atel
yaft
erthat
.Ev
eryonetookt
hei
rse
atsonea
fte
ranot
her
,
s
it
ti
ngatthedi
ni
ngtabl
ea stheyatea
ndcha
tte
da mongthemsel
ves.

Na
tur
all
y,bot
hGe
ral
dandJ
unos
ata
tthes
amedi
ni
ngt
abl
ewi
thRut
h.Ofc
our
seXa
nrywa
sthe
ret
oo.

“
Come,
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d!L
etmet
oas
ttoy
ou!
”

Att
ha tmoment,
Xanryt
ooktheini
ti
ati
vet
ost
andup,
hol
di
ngt
hewi
neg
las
s.Het
hens
mil
edf
aint
lya
t
Ger
ald,toa
ste
dtohim,ands
a i
d.
S
eei
ngt
hat
,Ge
ral
dal
soc
ordi
al
lys
toodupa
shet
oas
tedXa
nry
,“Ha
!Ha
!Tha
nky
ou,
moni
tor
!”

Af
terheha
dsa
idt
hat
,bot
hoft
hemg
ulpe
ddownt
hee
nti
reg
las
sofwi
nea
tthes
amet
ime
.

“
Ha!Ha
!Mr
.Cr
awf
ord,
you’
requi
teg
ooda
tdr
ink
ing
.Its
eemst
haty
oumus
tha
vea
lwa
ysdr
unkal
ot!
”

WhenXanr
ysawGer
aldgul
pdownt
heg
las
sofwi
nei
nsuc
haf
ranka
nds
tra
ight
for
war
dma
nner
,he
s
mil
edandtea
sedGer
ald.

“T
here’
snos
ucht
hing
.Idon’
tdr
inkwi
neus
ual
l
y.I
onl
yha
veag
las
sort
wo.
Hones
tl
y,I
’mnotg
ooda
t
dr
ink
ing!
”

Ge
ral
dres
pondedt
oXa
nryi
nav
eryhumbl
ema
nne
r.

Geral
dcoulddi
scer
nthatXa
nrywassoundi
nghi
mout.Howe v
er,s
inc
eXanr
ywant
edtosoundhimout
,
hecert
ainl
yhadtoputonanactt
oconformtoXa
nry
’sact
ion.Hewante
dtose
ewhatex
a c
tlyXa
nry
wantedtodo.

“I
ftha
t’st
hecase,Mr.Cr
awford,
youne
edtodr
inkmor
etoday
.Aft
eral
l,y
ou’
reJuno’
sboyf
ri
end.You
mustbeextr
aordi
nar
ys i
nceyouwer
eablet
obecomeJ
uno’
sboyf
ri
end.
Iwonderwhatki
ndofhig
hpos t
youhavenow.”

Xa
nryt
hens
tar
teda
ski
ngGer
ald.

Heari
ngthat
,onesoonknewt
hatXanryhadcer
tai
nl
yst
art
edtocompar
ehimsel
fwithGer
a l
dina
n
of
fensi
vemanne r
.Its
eemeda
sthoughXanrywant
edtore
tri
eveal
it
tl
ebitofc
onfi
denceandadv
ant
age
i
notheraspect
sofGeral
d.
Sti
l
l,nomatt
erwhatXa
nrywant
edtodo,i
twastonoa v
ail
.I
twa sbec
aus
eGe
ral
dfe
ltt
hatXa
nryc
oul
d
neverbec
omparedwit
hhim.
Xanrywasent
ir
elynotonparwit
hhim.

“Ha
!Ha !Moni
tor
,you’
rej
oki
ng.
I’
mnotwor
thyofahi
ghpos
t,a
ndI
’mj
ustdoi
ngas
mal
lbus
ine
ss
mysel
f.
”

Ge
ral
dsmi
l
edv
eryc
alml
yashel
ook
eda
tXa
nrya
ndr
esponded.

Hea
ringt
hat
,Xanrywasdee
plyhappyi
nwardly
.Hewaswonde
ringwha
tki
ndofj
obGer
aldha
d,but
Ger
aldhada
bsolut
elynowaytobecompa
re dtohi
m.

“
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d,y
ou’
rev
eryhumbl
e.Come
,Mr
.Cr
awf
ord.
Let
’sha
vea
not
herg
las
sofwi
ne!
”

Xa
nryl
if
tedhi
swi
neg
las
sag
aina
ndt
oas
tedGer
ald,
say
ings
uchwor
ds.
Hewa
ntedt
oma
keGer
ald
dr
unk.

Gera
ldcer
tai
nl
ywoul
dnotl
etXa
nryha
vehi
swa
y.I
twa
sbec
aus
eXa
nryc
oul
dne
veri
mag
inehowg
ood
atdr
ink
ingGera
ldwa
s.

S
oon,
thef
ir
sts
tag
eoft
hec
las
sma
tepa
rtywa
sov
er.

Af
tert
heme
al,
thes
ubs
eque
nta
cti
vi
tywa
sce
rta
inl
ythea
mus
eme
nta
cti
vi
ti
es.

“
Ladi
esandg
ent
lemen,I
’v
ebook
edt
hee
nter
tai
nmentha
llups
tai
rs
.Dog
oups
tai
rsa
ndha
vef
un.
I’
ll
pay
f
oral
lex
pens
est
onight
!”

Xa
nryt
hens
hout
eda
tthes
urr
oundi
ngc
las
sma
tesi
nal
oudv
oic
e.

Hea
ringt
hat
,thes
urr
oundi
ngc
las
sma
tesc
heer
eda
ndwhoopedl
oudl
yonea
ftera
not
her
.Itma
deXa
nry
f
eel
ver
ygood,
andhef
eltt
hatheha
dev
ery
one’
sat
tent
iona
ttha
tmoment
.

Af
tert
hat
,the
ywentt
otheent
ert
ainme
ntha
llups
tai
rs
.

Mea
nwhi
l
e,Ger
alds
atont
hes
ofaa
tthes
idewi
thJ
unoa
ndRut
h.

“
Juno,
yourc
las
smoni
tori
sver
yge
ner
ous
.”

Af
tert
heyha
dsa
tdown,
Ger
aldi
nev
ita
blyma
deas
arc
ast
icj
okea
nds
aidt
oJuno.

Qui
tefr
ankly
,Gerald’
swor
dswerefi
l
ledwit
hr i
di
cul
e.I
ntrut
h,heknewt
hatXa
nr yj
ustwant
edtoshow
hi
msel
foffbydoingso,ma
kinghi
msel
fthecent
erofat
tra
cti
on.Xa
nrywa
ntedevery
onetothi
nkthathe
wasve
rysucces
sful
.

Af
terJ
unohea
rdt
hat
,shes
aidnot
hing
.Shewa
suni
nte
res
tedi
nany
thi
ngr
ela
tedt
oXa
nry
.

J
ustt
hen,
the
ysa
wXa
nrywa
lki
ngt
owa
rdt
hem.

“Mr.
Crawf
ord,
itt
urnsoutt
haty
ou’
rehe
re.
Whya
rey
ous
it
ti
nghe
re?Doy
ouwa
ntt
ogoa
ndpl
ay
bowl
ingwi
thme?”

Xa
nrywa l
kedov
ert
oGe
ral
dands
ugg
est
ed,
ful
lofs
mil
es.
“Bowl
i
ng?Al
as!I
trul
yha
venev
erpl
ayedi
t
bef
ore.
”

Af
terGer
aldhea
rdt
hat
,hepr
etende
dtor
epl
yindoubt
.

Si
ncehewantedt
oputona
nac
t,hec
ert
ainl
yne
ededt
ogot
hroug
hwi
thi
t.Hewa
nte
dtoha
vef
unwi
th
Xanr
yprope
rly
.
“
It’
sfi
ne.
Letmet
eac
hyou.
Come!L
et’
sgoa
ndha
vef
un!
”

Af
terXa
nryhea
rdt
hat
,hewa
snotdoubt
ful
ata
ll
.Hec
hee
rful
l
ysa
idt
hist
oGer
ald.

“
Alr
ight
,the
n.I
’l
lgoa
ndha
vef
unwi
thy
ou!
”

Ge
ral
ddi
rec
tl
yag
ree
dtodos
o.Af
tert
hat
,hel
ook
edt
owa
rdJ
uno.

“
Juno,
I’
ll
goa
ndpl
aybowl
i
ngf
orawhi
l
e.J
ustha
veac
hathe
re!
”

AfterJ
unoheardt
hat,s
henatural
l
yhadnoobject
ion.
SheknewthatGeral
dcer
tai
nl
yhadhi
sown
thought
s.Nat
ural
l
y,shewouldnotst
ophim.Shecoul
donl
yremarkthati
twasnotagoodc
hoi
cef
or
Xanrytol
ookfort
roubl
ewithGeral
d.Ti
l
lthen,Xa
nrywoul
ddefi
nit
elyreg
reti
t.

S
oonGer
aldha
dar
ri
veda
tthebowl
i
nga
ll
eywi
thXa
nry
.

Bot
hXa
nrya
ndGe
ral
doc
cupi
edal
aner
espec
ti
vel
y.

“
Come,
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d.I
’l
ltea
chy
ouhowt
opl
ayt
hisg
ame
.Jus
tobs
erv
eme
!”

Xa
nrys
mil
eda
nds
aidt
oGe
ral
d.Af
tert
hat
,hepi
cke
dupabowl
i
ngba
lla
ndhel
diti
nhi
sha
nd.

Xanrywal
kedf
orwar
dandt
henex
ert
edhi
mse
lf,
pul
l
ingt
hebowl
i
ngba
lli
nhi
sha
ndba
ckwa
rdbef
ore
thr
owingi
tfor
ward.

T
hebowl
i
ngba
lls
oons
tar
tedr
oll
i
ngi
nthel
ane
.
Ba
ng!

Wi
tht
hatones
hot
,thepi
nswe
rehi
tdi
rec
tl
y.Xa
nry
’ss
hotdi
rec
tl
yknoc
keddowna
lloft
hepi
ns.

S
eeingt
hat,Ge
ral
dk newtha
tXanrycl
earl
yha
dcons
ide
rabl
eex
per
ienc
ewi
thbowl
i
ng.
Bes
ides
,hewa
s
a
lsoapers
onwithverypower
ful
stre
ngth.

I
tsee
medl
i
keXa
nryha
dde
li
ber
atel
yas
kedhi
mtopl
aybowl
i
ngt
oge
the
rjus
tfort
hes
akeofbul
l
ying
hi
m.

ButXa
nryha
das
sume
dtha
tGe
ral
dwa
stoowea
k.

Unbeknowns
ttohi
m,Ger
aldha
dpl
ayedbowl
i
ngbe
for
e.Notonl
ytha
t,buthea
lsoha
dal
otof
exper
ienc
e.

Geral
dhadde
li
be r
ate
lycl
ai
medthathedi
dnotknowhowtopl
aybowli
ngj
usts
oXa
nrywoul
dnots
ee
thr
oughhi
sact
.Itwasal
lf
orthes
akeofexpos
ingXa
nry
’st
ruec
olor
s.

S
inc
eXa
nrywa
nte
dtopl
ayt
hisg
ame,
Ger
aldwoul
dpl
aywi
thhi
mpr
ope
rly
.

“
Come,
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d.Gi
vei
tat
ry!
”

Att
hatmome
nt,
Xanr
ypi
cke
dupabowl
i
ngba
lla
ndha
ndedi
ttoGe
ral
dbef
ores
ayi
ngt
hat
.

Gera
ldr
ecei
vedt
hebowli
ngbal
landwalk
edforward,
pret
endi
ngtobeunf
amil
iarwit
hit
.Hedi
dthe
sa
mea c
ti
onasXanr
yhaddonebefor
e.Hethe
nt hr
ewthebowli
ngbal
li
nhisha
ndf or
ward.
Howev
er,
Ger
aldpur
pos
elyt
hre
witi
nana
skewma
nner
,andhedi
dnothi
tas
ing
lepi
n.

“
Ha!Ha
!Ha
!”

WhenXanr
ysa
wtha
tGe
ral
dha
dfa
il
edt
ohi
tthepi
ns,
hes
oonbur
sti
ntoar
oarofl
oudl
aug
hte
ral
lofa
s
udden.

“
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d,i
tse
emsl
i
key
oune
edt
opr
act
ic
emor
e.I
t’
ll
bef
inea
ftery
oupr
act
ic
eaf
ewt
imes
!”

Xa
nrypr
ete
nde
dtobek
inda
ndr
emi
ndedGe
ral
d.

Ger
aldal
sodi
dnotbotherabouthi
m.I
nst
ead,
hec
ont
inuedt
opi
ckupa
not
herbowl
i
ngba
lla
nd
pur
pose
lypra
cti
cedhi
sskil
l
s.

Xanr
ywasinde
edstupid,f
orheha
dnots
eent
hroug
hany
thi
ng.
Heha
dabs
olut
elynotf
oundoutt
hat
Gera
ldwasact
ual
l
ypr ete
nding
.

I
fitwa
ss omeoneels
ewhowa sprof
ess
ional
,Ger
aldwasaf
rai
dtha
tthe
ywoul
dha
vel
ongs
eent
hroug
h
i
tandfoundthathedef
ini
tel
yknewhowt opl
aybowli
ng.

Af
teras
hor
twhi
l
e,Xa
nryl
ook
edt
owa
rdGer
alda
gai
n.

“
Mr.Crawf
ord,
Iseet
haty
ou’
vepr
act
ic
edf
ors
olong
.Whydon’
tweha
veac
ompe
tit
ion?L
et’
sha
vea
r
ound,
shal
lwe?”

Xa
nrys
ugg
est
edt
oGe
ral
d.
Ge
ral
dkne
wtha
tXa
nrywa
saboutt
ost
art
,andhi
str
uec
olor
swer
eaboutt
obee
xpos
ed.

Asex
pected,
thatwa
sXa
nry
’spur
pos
e.Xa
nrywa
ntedt
ocompet
ewi
thGe
ral
dandbul
l
yhi
mfi
erc
elyi
n
or
dertohumil
ia
tehi
m.

Ge
ral
dha
dse
ent
hroug
hev
ery
thi
ng,
buthewa
sunwi
l
li
ngt
opoi
ntt
hatout
.

Cer
tai
nl
y,Ger
aldwa
snott
hek
indofper
sonwhowoul
dnotc
onf
ormt
otha
t.

“
Sur
e!”

Gera
lddi
rect
lyagr
eedt
odoso.“
Howa boutthi
s?Wedefi
ni
tel
yneedsome
thi
nga
tst
akef
ora
compet
it
ion,
rig
ht?Whatdoy
out hi
nkabout150dol
l
arsf
oraround?
”

Atthatmoment,
Xanryl
ook
edt
owa
rdGe
ral
dands
ugg
est
edt
ohi
m.Heha
dlongpl
annedas
mal
l
sc
he meinhi
sheart
.

Gera
ldsneer
edinwar
dly
.Its
eemedl
i
keXa
nrywa
sma
daboutmoney
.Hea
ctua
ll
ywa
nte
d150dol
l
arsf
or
oneroundofbowl
ing
.

“
Sur
e,nopr
obl
em!
”

Af
terapa
use,
Ger
alddi
rec
tl
yag
reedt
odos
o.

Af
tera
ll
,mone
ywa
snot
hingt
oGe
ral
d.Bes
ide
s,i
twa
sunc
ert
aint
hathewoul
dlos
ete
rri
bl
y.

E
ver
ythi
ngwa
sinhi
scont
rol
.
“
Moni
tor
,don’
tbul
l
yJuno’
sboy
fri
endi
nsuc
hat
err
ibl
ema
nne
r.I
fnot
,Junowi
l
lgeta
ngr
y!”

I
nthati
nst
ant
,amal
ecl
ass
matewhowa ssi
tt
inga
tthes
idewa
tchi
nga
not
her
’smi
sf
ort
unet
eas
edXa
nry
.
Hi
stonewasf
il
le
dwi
thr
idi
cul
eforGer
ald.

Ge
ral
dal
sodi
dnotc
area
boutt
hos
epe
opl
e.Af
tera
ll
,ev
ery
thi
ngwoul
dbek
nownl
ater
.

Ge
ral
dwoul
dhumi
l
iat
ethe
mvehement
ly,
giv
ingev
eryoneoft
hemas
oundl
esss
lap.

The
ywant
edt
obul
l
yhi
m,butt
heydi
dnotc
utt
hec
oata
ccor
dingt
othe
irc
lot
hes
.Wa
sitt
hate
asyt
o
bul
l
yhi
m?

“
Comeon!Mr
.Cr
awf
ord,
we’
l
lta
ket
urns
.Le
t’ss
eewhoha
sthehi
ghe
sts
cor
eatt
heend!
”

Xa
nryi
mmedi
ate
lydes
cri
bedt
her
ule
stoGe
ral
d.Hewa
sra
the
rimpa
tientt
obul
l
yGer
aldv
igor
ous
ly.

Ge
ral
dnoddeds
li
ght
lywi
thouts
ayi
nga
nyt
hing
.

S
oon,
thema
chi
neha
dpl
ace
dthepi
nsni
cel
y,a
ndt
hec
ompet
it
ions
tar
ted.

Xa
nrywa st
hef
ir
sttobeg
in.Het
ookabowl
i
ngba
ll
,di
rec
tl
yma
kingaper
fec
tar
cint
hea
irbe
for
ethe
ba
llf
ell
onthef
loorandr
oll
edout
.

Af
terhet
hrewt
heba
ll
,hedi
dnote
vens
par
eitag
lanc
e.Hewa
sfi
l
ledwi
thc
onf
ide
nce.

T
her
ewa
sthec
ris
psoundofac
ras
h.

Dur
ingt
hef
ir
str
ound,
Xanr
yha
dhi
tal
loft
hepi
ns,
gai
ni
ngt
enpoi
nts
.
T
her
ewe
reat
ota
loft
enpi
ns,
andonepoi
ntwoul
dber
ewa
rde
dfork
noc
kingdownapi
n.

“
Wow!
”

“
Moni
tor
,you’
res
oawes
ome
!”

“
Tha
t’sr
ight
!Moni
tori
sjus
ttooha
nds
ome!
”

S
eei
ngt
hatXanryha
dknocke
ddowna
lloft
hepi
ns,
thes
urr
oundi
ngc
las
sma
tesc
hee
redonea
fte
r
a
not
her
,al
lofthempra
isi
nghim.

F
oramome
nt,
Xanr
ywa
swa
ll
owi
ngi
nthee
njoy
mentofpl
eas
ure
.

Next
,itwasGe
rald’
stur
n.Heg
otupandpi
ckedupabowl
ingbal
l
.Geral
dcer
tai
nl
ywoul
dnotdi
rec
tl
y
showhist
rues
trengt
hduri
ngt
hatr
ound.I
twasbec
auset
hetimehadnotc
ome.

Henc
e,Ger
aldha
dtopur
pos
elyf
ail
tohi
tthepi
nsnoma
tte
rwha
t.

Af
terhehadthoughtitov
er,hethr
ewthebal
loutrandomly
.Thebowl
ingbal
lrol
l
edinthelanes
wif
tl
y
be
forerol
l
ingoutofthelane.T
heresul
twasi
nval
id,
a ndhegai
nednopoint
sfort
hatround.

“
Ha!Ha
!Ha
!Ha
!”

Tha
tscenes
oonmadeever
yonea
roundt
hatpl
acebur
sti
ntor
oar
sofl
aug
hte
r,a
ndt
heyt
houg
htt
hat
Ger
aldwasj
ustt
ooweak
.
Howev
er,
Ger
alddi
dnotbot
hera
boutt
hos
epeopl
e.

Ge
ral
dha
ddonet
hatonpur
pos
e,s
ohel
ett
hemmoc
khi
mal
lthe
ywa
nte
d.

T
hemor
etheymoc
kedhi
mnow,
thedee
pert
hehumi
l
iat
iont
heywoul
dsuf
ferl
ater
.

“
Hmm…Mr
.Cr
awf
ord,
it’
sfi
ne.
Eve
ryonema
kesmi
st
ake
s!”

Xa
nrypur
pos
elyendur
edi
tandr
efr
aine
dfr
oml
aug
hing
.Hel
ook
eda
tGe
ral
dandc
ons
oledhi
m.

Aftert
hat
,ashewa
sta
lki
ng,
hepi
cke
dupt
hebowl
i
ngba
ll
.Hes
tar
tedt
othr
owt
heba
llf
ort
hes
econd
roundoft
hegame.

T
hema
chi
neha
djus
tre
sett
hepi
nsni
cel
y.T
hes
econdr
oundoft
heg
ameha
dbe
gun.

I
twa
sthes
amea
sbef
ore
,andXa
nrydec
isi
vel
ythr
ewoutt
hebowl
i
ngba
lli
nhi
sha
nd.

T
hebowl
i
ngba
llr
oll
edont
hel
ane
,rol
l
ingt
owa
rdt
hepi
nsqui
ckl
y.

Ba
ng!

I
thi
tthepi
nss
ucc
ess
ful
l
y.

However,t
hese
c ondr
oundwa
snota
ssmoot
hast
hef
ir
str
ound,
andXa
nryonl
yknoc
keddowns
eve
n
pi
ns,g
a i
ni
ngsevenpoi
nts
.

Act
ual
l
y,Xa
nryhaddonethatpur
pos
ely
.Hedel
iber
a t
elywente
asyonGeral
d.Ifnot
,hewoul
dbe
deeme
dtoocruel
.Bes
ide
s,Geral
dwasJ
uno’
sboyfr
iendnoma t
terwha
t.HedidnotwantJ
unotoget
a
ngr
yathi
mla
ter
,thi
nki
ngt
hathewa
sent
ir
elybul
l
yingGe
ral
d.

“
Yourmov
e,Mr
.Cr
awf
ord!
”sa
idXa
nrya
shet
urnedt
olooka
tGer
aldonc
ehewa
sdone
.

I
twasnowthest
artoft
hes
econdround,
a ndGer
aldknewtha
thec
ouldn’taf
for
dtoobt
ainz
eroma
rks
a
gainort
hegapbetwee
nhi
sscor
ea ndXanry’
swouldbec
ometool
arg
ef orhi
mt ot
urnt
hegame
a
roundla
ter
.

Wi
tht
hat
,Ge
ral
dpi
ckedabowl
i
ngba
llupbef
ores
lowl
ywa
lki
ngt
owa
rdt
hel
ane
.

Thesec
ondheg oti
ntoposi
ti
on,howe v
e r
,Geral
dheardXanr
yyell
outfr
ombe hi
ndhim,“
Justmake
someboldtos
s,Mr.Cra
wford!I
t’
sfineifyoudon’
thi
ta ny
thi
ng,
justt
akeita
spract
ic
e!Af
teral
l,
you
needalotmoreofi
ttoevenbea bl
etot a
k eonme!”

Asr
oar
sofl
aug
hte
rens
ued,
Ger
alds
impl
ycl
osedhi
sey
es…Be
for
esl
owl
yope
ningt
hema
gai
n.

T
aki
ngas
tepf
orwa
rd,
Ger
aldt
hent
oss
edt
hebowl
i
ngba
ll
!

Rat
hertha
nswerv
ingtot
hesi
dethi
sti
me,
theba
lli
nst
eadr
oll
eds
tra
ightf
ort
hepi
ns,
mome
nta
ril
y
sur
pri
si
ngXanr
yandtheot
her
s.

Whil
ethesoundofbowli
ngpi
nsge
tti
ngk
nock
edoverc
oul
dbehea
rd,
Ger
aldonl
yma
nag
edt
ohi
tfi
ve
pi
ns.Wit
hthati
nmi nd,
hewasnowtwel
vemark
sbehi
ndXa
nry
.

Sincethereweresixmor eroundsbef
orethega
mee nded—wit
ht hegamecons
ist
ingofei
ghtroundsi
n
total
—Ge ral
dfeltthatbeingtwelv
ema r
ksbehi
ndXanrywas
n’treal
lyapar
ti
cul
arl
ylarg
ediff
erence.
Afterall
,hesi
mpl yneededt ogetahi
gherfi
nal
scor
ethanhi
mt owi n.

“
…Notba
d,Mr
.Cr
awf
ord!I
gue
ssy
our
eal
l
ydoha
ves
omet
ale
ntt
obea
blet
ohi
tfi
vepi
ns!
”sa
idXa
nry
a
sheinsi
nce
rel
yprai
sedGer
ald.T
rut
hbetol
d,t
hef
actt
hatGer
aldha
dma
nag
edt
ohi
tfi
vepi
nsi
nthe
f
ir
stpl
acewast
rul
yvexi
nghi
m. Howluc
ky!

Whil
etha
thitwa
scert
ainlysur
pri
si
ng,Xa
nryqui
ckl
ysummariz
edthatGeral
dst
il
lwa
sn’
tat
hre
att
ohi
m.
He’
ddefi
ni
tel
yst
il
lbeabletowinandobtai
ntha
thundreda
ndf i
ft
ydoll
ars
!

Wi
tht
hat
,the
irl
i
ttl
econt
estr
esume
dandt
het
hir
droundbeg
an.

Usi
nghisusua
l t
act
ic
,Xanryt
oss
edt
hebal
laseasi
l
yast
hef
ir
stt
wor
ounds
…andf
oll
owi
ngt
hec
lat
ter
ing
off
all
i
ngpins,onl
yasing
lepi
nrema
ine
dstandi
ng!

S
inc
ehehadmana
ge dtog
ainninepoi
nts
,Xa
nrynowha
dat
ota
loft
went
y-s
ixpoi
ntsa
ndt
hisl
edt
hos
e
s
urr
oundi
nghi
mtoinst
ant
lycheer.

Evenbef
oreGeral
dma dehismove
,howe v
er,hecoul
da l
readytel
lthatthatsa
mec rowdwa sgoi
ngto
j
eerathi
mnoma tt
erwhatscor
eheg ot
.Sti
ll
,i
twascl
eart ohi
mt hatthosespect
atorsweresi
mplyfool
s
fa
wningoverXanr
y.Withthati
nmind,t
heirj
eersmeantli
ttl
etoGer a
ld.Geral
dhadn’tevendi
spl
ayed
hi
strueca
pabil
i
tie
sy e
t.

Whatev
erthecas
ewa s,
Geraldt
henr
etr
ievedhi
sthi
rdba
lla
ndt os
sedi
tski
l
lf
ull
ywi
thoutt
hes
li
ght
est
hes
it
ati
on,
ac l
earcont
rastt
ohowhetos
s edhi
sbal
li
ntheprev
ioustwor
ounds.

Thiswasallac
cordi
ngt
oplan,ofcour
se.
Ge ra
ldhadappl
iedpe r
fectamountsofforc
etohist
hrowsto
displ
ayinc
reasi
ngamount
sofs t
rengt
hands k
il
li
ne a
chpa s
singround.Thatway,notonl
ywouldXanr
y
notbetooquicktobesus
pici
ousofhim,buthewouldal
sobea bletoensuretha
thewa smaking
progres
sinthegame.

I
fev
eryt
hingwents
moot
hly
,ev
ery
onewoul
dsur
elyha
veav
ast
lydi
ff
ere
ntopi
ni
onofhi
mbyt
heendof
t
hebowli
ngma t
ch.
Rega
rdl
ess,
asthebal
lrol
l
eds e
amlessl
yonthel
ane,
thef
ami
li
arc
lat
terofbowli
ngpi
nsc
ouldbehear
d…
Ger
aldhadmanagedtohi
tsevenpinst
hist
ime,
andhenowhadt
welvepoint
s,whi
chmeantt
hathe
wasnowonlyf
ourtee
nma rk
sbehindXanry
!

Seei
ngthatGera
ldhadma na
gedtohi
tevenmorepinst
hist
ime,Xa
nry’sex
pres
siontur
nedev
enmore
unplea
sant
.Tothinkt
hatGeral
dwoul
dbea bl
etoprogr
esss
oquick
ly!Heknewhec oul
dn’
taf
for
dtog
o
easyontheyout
ha ny
moreorthei
rsc
ore
swoul dj
ustkeepg
etti
ngcl
oser!

“…I
tappearst
hatyou’
reg
etti
ngt
hehangoft
hegameex
tremel
yquic
kly
, Mr.Cr
awfor
d!Ig
uessI
can’
tgo
eas
yony ouanymore!
”dec
lar
edXanr
y,maki
ngs
uret
oma k
eitobv
iousthathehadbeengoi
nge
asyon
Gera
ldthi
senti
reti
me.

Uponhear
ingt
hat
,Ger
aldc
oul
dn’
thel
pbutc
huc
klei
nhi
smi
nda
shet
houg
ht,
‘Iwonderwho’
str
uly
goi
ngea
syonwhonow…’

Wha
tev
ert
hec
asewa
s,t
hef
our
thr
ounds
oonbe
gan…

S
inc
eXa
nrywa
supf
ir
st,
heg
othi
sba
llbe
for
econc
ent
rat
ingha
rdont
hepi
nsbef
orehi
m…

Oncehewa sr
eady,hetossedthebowlingba
lltowa r
dthepi
nsext
remelyswift
ly!
Xanr
yreal
iz
edthathe
hadmadeami sc
alc
ulat
ionthes e
condtheballhitt
hel a
newit
haloud‘t
hud’ bef
oreswerv
ingri
ghti
nto
thegut
ter
!Withthati
nmi nd,Xanryendedupg ett
ingnopoi
ntsf
ortha
tr ound.

See
ingthat
, Xanryc
oul
dn’
thel
pbutfrown.T
othi
nkt
hathewoul
dac
tua
ll
yma
kes
uchami
st
akea
tthe
worstpos
sibleti
me!Howdi
ssa
tis
fac
tory!

Ger
aldhi
msel
fwas
n’taboutt
omisst
hec ha
ncet
oridi
cul
eXa
nry.La
ughingal
oud,
Gera
ldthenscof
fed,
“I
gue
ssyoumadeamist
akejus
tint
imeformetocat
chuptoyou,
Monitor!Y
ouhavemythanks
!”

Hea
ringt
hat
,Xa
nryg
rewi
mme
nse
lya
nnoy
ed,
thoug
hhedi
dn’
trea
ll
yha
vea
nyt
hingt
oret
ort
.Af
tera
ll
,
hewa
stheonewhoha
dbe
enc
arel
ess
.

L
aug
hingbi
tt
erl
yinr
espons
e,Xa
nryt
henr
epl
i
ed,
“…T
hat
’sr
ight
!Ig
ues
syoudoha
veac
hanc
enow!
”

Whil
eGera
lddi
dn’
tsa
yitout
,inhi
smind,
hewa st
hink
ing,
‘Goonpr
etendi
ng!Y
ou’
res
ti
ll
try
ingha
rdt
o
putupa
na c
tev
enaft
erI’
vegi
venyouapl
atf
orm,huh?’

Nowt hatitwasGer
ald’
stur
nag a
in,hef
iguredthati
twashig
ht i
mehest
arte
dclosi
ngthega
pbe t
ween
thei
rscoresevenmore.
Aslongasherema i
nedafe wpoi
ntsbehi
ndXanr
y,hewouldn’
tmakehis
capabi
li
ti
e st
ooobvi
ous,andXanrywoul
ds urel
yconti
nuebei
ngsmugabouti
tti
l
l t
heveryl
astmoment
.

Wit
hthati
nmind,Ger
aldthe
ng otupandt
ookyeta
notherba
ll
.Tos
singiti
nonefl
ui
dmot i
on,
theba
ll
r
oll
edsost
eadi
lyt
hatbytheti
mei tg
ottot
hebowli
ngpins
,al
lte
noft hemendedupf
all
i
ng!

Whilegaspsc
ouldbehear
dfromt hea
udienc
e,Xanr
y’sf
rownonl
ydeepened.
NowthatGe
ral
dhad
t
we nty-
twopoint
s,hewasonlyf
ourma r
ksbehi
ndXanry
. I
fhewa
sn’
tcaref
ul,
Ger
aldwass
urel
ygoi
ngt
o
s
urpa s
shissc
oreinthene
xtround!

“
Look
sli
keI
’ma
boutt
oca
tchupt
oyou,
moni
tor
!”s
aidGe
ral
dwi
thac
huc
kle
.

F
orc
ingal
aug
h,t
hea
wkwa
rdXa
nryt
henmov
edt
ota
kehi
sfi
ft
hba
ll
.

Henowunder
stoodthatduet
ohimwa nti
ngtowinsomuc hintheprev
iousround,heha
dgott
en
i
mpati
ent,
whi
chl edtohi
ster
ri
bleperf
ormanc
e.Asthesayi
ngwent ,
‘sl
owa ndstea
dywinst
herac
e’.
Wit
hthati
nmind, Xa
nrymadesuretocal
mhimsel
fbefor
et os
singhi
snextshot.

Na
tur
all
y,nowt
hathewa
smuc
hmor
efoc
use
d,Xa
nrywa
sabl
etog
etas
tri
kea
swe
ll
!

S
eei
ngt
hat
,hi
scl
ass
mat
esi
nst
ant
lybeg
anc
heer
ingonc
emor
e!
“
Hel
lyea
h!”

“
Awe
some
,moni
tor
!Youg
otas
tri
kea
gai
n!”

Nowthathehadre
turnedtohisnor
malperf
ormanc
e,Xa
nryc
oul
dn’
thel
pbutf
las
has
mil
e.Hewa
s
goi
ngtotr
iumphoverGera
ldifitwa
sthela
stthi
nghedi
d!

Ger
ald,
ontheot
herhand,s
implyre
tai
nedhi
spokerf
ace
.St
andi
ngt
her
eca
lml
y,i
tal
mos
tse
eme
dli
ke
hedi
dn’te
venca
reaboutXanr
y’sper
for
mance…

Thetr
uthwas,
howe v
er,t
hatGera
ldwascook
ingupaplani
nhishead.I
nhismind,
hewasthi
nki
ngt
hat
i
nstea
dofsi
mplywinni
ngthecompet
iti
onbyalands
li
de,
wouldn’
titannoyXa
nryevenmor
eifhewon
wit
honlyas
ingl
epointhi
ghert
hanXanry?

J
ustasGer
aldwasthi
nki
nghowinter
est
ingt
hatoutc
omewoul dbe,hi
str
ainoft
houghtwascuts
hor
t
whenXanr
yscof
fed,“
It’
syourt
urnnow,Mr.Cr
awford!Coul
ditbet
hatyou’r
eget
ti
ngfri
ght
enedof
me?”

Thef
actthatGeral
dsti
ll
ha dn’
tma dehi
smovema deXanrydeli
ghtedtonoend.Hishumi
li
ati
onea r
li
er
wasdef
init
elybei
ngredeeme dnow!Noddi
ngsl
i
ghtly
,Ge r
aldthenpick
edupa not
herbowli
ngballbef
ore
t
ossi
ngital
mos tnonc
halantl
y.Evenso,
heendedupg e
tti
ngye tanot
herst
ri
ke!Howa st
oni
shing
!

“
I’
ms or
ry,
monitor
!Ita
ppear
sthatI’
vehi
tall
ofthema
gai
n!I
gues
sI’
vea
lrea
dyma
ster
edbowl
i
ng!
”
r
epl
ie
dGe ral
dashesmil
edwhil
elooki
ngatXanr
y.

Cur
rent
ly,
whil
eXanrywassti
ll
aheadwit
hthi
rt
y-s
ixpoi
nts
,Ger
aldwasonl
yfourpoi
ntsbehi
ndhi
m.
Wit
honlythr
eeroundsl
eft
,thecompet
it
ionwasgoi
ngtoends
oon.Whowa sgoi
ngtobethevi
ct
or?
“…Abittooe
arlytoc
ele
bra
te,wouldn’
tyousa
y,Mr.Cra
wford?Aft
eral
l,westi
l
l ha
vethr
eeroundst
o
dec
idethevi
ctor!
”sc
off
edXanryashepick
edyeta
notherbowli
ngbal
ltost
artthefi
ft
hround.

Af
terpos
it
ioni
nghi
mse
lf,
Xanr
ythena
ime
dfort
hepi
nsbe
for
eswi
ft
lyt
oss
ingt
heba
llt
owa
rdt
hem!

Whentossi
ngabowli
ngbal
l,
therout
etheball
e ndeduplandi
nginwouldal
tert
heball
’
sstr
engt
has
wel
lasthenumberofpi
nsi
tcoul
dhit.Wi
ththatinmind,
note ver
yonecoul
djus
thitast
ri
keast
hey
pl
eas
ed. I
fthe
ywererea
ll
yunluc
ky,t
henthebowl i
ngbal
lwouldevenenduprol
li
ngint
othegut
ter
!

Evenso,Xa
nryhadmadeuseofthi
sknowledg
e—a swell
ashisa
imings
kil
l
s—tope
rfe
ctlyc
alc
ulat
ethe
di
rect
ionandst
reng
thofthebal
l
. Wit
hhows t
raightthebal
lwasnowrol
li
ng,
Xanr
ywa smoretha
n
ce
rtai
nthathehadsec
ure
dhimse l
fanot
herstr
ike!

Astheball
cras
he di
ntothepins,
every
oneheldt
hei
rbr
eat
hasthe
ywatc
hedtheonesatt
hesi
des
wobbletoandfro…Untile
ventual
ly
,onlyonepi
nre
mai
nedst
andi
ng!Wi
thni
nepinsknoc
kedov
er,
Xanrynowhadforty
-fi
vepointsi
nthebag!

Evenso,Xa
nryfel
ttha
ttheresul
tswer
en’
tidea
l.Af
tera
ll
,nowt
hatheha
dmi
sse
donepi
n,Ger
aldwa
s
onepointc
los
ertocatc
hinguptohim!

Regar
dles
s,i
twasnowGera
ld’
stur
n.Aslongashema
nag
edt
ohi
tal
lthepi
ns,
the
rewoul
donl
ybea
thr
ee-poi
ntdi
ff
ere
ncebe
tweenthei
rsc
or es
!

Pi
cki
ngt
hebal
lupbef
oreXanr
yevenhadachanc
et ota
unthim,
Ger
aldt
henc
asua
ll
ytos
sedi
tdownt
he
l
ane…onl
ytoendupget
ti
nganot
herst
ri
ke!Howstupef
ying
!

Duetot
hat
,the
rewa snowonlyat
hree-
poi
ntdi
ff
erenc
ebetweenthet
wo.
Wit
honl
ytwor
oundsl
efti
n
theg
ame,t
hewinnerofthec
ompeti
ti
onwassoontobeannounc
ed…

L
ook
ingde
ads
eri
ousnow,
Xanr
ywa
swor
ri
edoutofhi
smi
nd.
Aft
era
ll
,i
fhedi
dn’
tpe
rfor
mwe
lli
nthe
f
ina
ltwor
ounds
,mi
ssi
ngas
ing
lepi
nwoul
dre
sul
tinGe
ral
dwi
nni
ngt
hec
ompet
it
ion!

“
Ah…Sorr
ymoni
tor,
butitseemstha
tIg
ota
not
hers
tri
ke!L
uck
yme
!”s
aidGer
aldi
nana
pol
oge
tict
one
a
sheputona
ninnocentf
açade.

Heari
ngthat
,Xa
nrywass
oinf
uri
a t
edthathewantedt
opummelGera
ldtobi
ts
!Howev
er,
hek
new
bet
terthant
odothat
.Af
tera
ll
,thatwouldsur
elymak
ehiml
ookli
keasorel
oser
!

Wi
tht
hat
,thes
ixt
hroundt
henbe
gan…

Pi
cki
ngthebal
l up,
theworr
iedXa
nrycoul
dn’
thel
pbutqui
vers
li
ghtl
y.Heknewt
hatbei
ngdef
eat
edby
Ger
aldwouldsurel
ybri
nghi
mi mmens
ehumili
ati
on,
andunder
sta
ndingtha
tonl
yser
vedtoa
mpli
fyhi
s
ner
vous
ness…

Af
ters
li
ght
lyhe
sit
ati
ng,
Xanr
ythe
ntos
sedt
heba
llf
orwa
rd…Howev
er,
iti
nst
ant
lyr
oll
eda
skew!

Seei
ngt
hat,
Xanr
yins
tant
lyknewt
hatther
esul
tswoul
dn’
tlookpret
ty.
For
tuna
tel
y,hes
ti
ll
endedup
hit
ti
ngf
ourpi
ns.
Withtha
t,henowhadatot
aloff
orty
-ni
nepoint
s.

“
Ohno,i
tappear
sthaty
ou’v
ema
dea
not
hermi
st
ake,
moni
tor
!”s
aidGe
ral
dwhowa
sn’
tgoi
ngt
omi
ss
t
hec
hancetohumil
ia
tehim.

F
umi
ngma
d,Xa
nryt
houg
htt
ohi
msel
f,‘
Li
keI
’mbl
i
nd…I
cans
eet
hat
…!Y
oudon’
tha
vet
orubi
tin!
’

What
evert
hecasewas,
Xanrycouldnowonl
yhopethatGera
ldwoul
dals
oma k
eami
st
ake
.Ift
hat
ha
ppened,
thenXanr
ywouldst
ill
ha v
eonefi
nal
chancetotur
nthi
ngsar
ound…

Unf
ort
una
tel
yforhi
m,Ger
aldwa
sn’
taboutt
ogr
anthi
msuc
hac
hanc
e.
I
mme di
ate
lypi
cki
ngthebowl
ingba
llup,
Geral
dt henwal
kedt
owa r
dt hel
ane…Wit
houtev
enha
vingt
o
l
ookwherehewasthrowi
ng,
Geral
dthenconf
identl
ytos
sedi
ttowardthepi
ns.

E
ver
ydoghadi
tsday
,andi
twasnowGe
ral
d’st
urntodothemoc
king
.Af
tera
ll
,hewa
ssi
mpl
ydoi
ngt
he
s
amethi
ngt
hatXanr
yhaddonet
ohimi
nthefi
rs
tround.

Whatevert
hecas
ewa s,
asexpect
ed,nopi
nsremai
nedstandi
ng,
sig
nifyi
ngyeta
nothe
rstr
ikef
rom
Gera
ld.Wit
hthescor
esbei
ngfif
ty-
twoaga
ins
tfor
ty-
ninenow,Geral
d’ssc
orehadf
ina
ll
ysurpa
ssed
Xanr
y’s
…

Wi
thGer
ald’
stur
nov
er,
thes
tar
toft
hes
eve
ntha
ndf
ina
lroundbe
gan…

Bythi
spoint
,Xanr
yknewt ha
thec
oul
dn’
taf
for
dtome
ssupa
nymor
e.I
fhedi
dn’
tla
ndas
tri
ke,
the
nhe
wouldsur
elyl
osetoGer
ald!

Hewa sal
soworr
iedthatGeral
dwouldgetyeta
nothe
rs t
rik
e…I fthathappened,
thenXa
nrywouldsti
l
l
l
osethecompeti
ti
on,regar
dles
sofwhetherhemanagedtog e
tt hatfi
nalst
ri
keornot…Wit
hthatin
mind,hecoul
donlyprayt
hatGe r
aldma
deami sta
keinhisfi
nalthrow.

S
hak
ingt
het
houg
htof
f,Xa
nryt
henpi
ckedhi
sfi
nal
bowl
i
ngba
llbe
for
ewa
lki
ngt
owa
rdt
hel
ane…

Ashet
ooki
nadee
pbr
eat
h,Xa
nryhe
arda
shi
scl
ass
mat
esbe
ganc
hee
ringf
orhi
m.

“
Moni
tor
,comeon,
youc
andoi
t!
”

“
Yea
h!Y
ou’
l
lde
fini
tel
ywi
n,moni
tor
!”
Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Xa
nryf
elthi
sconf
ide
nces
lowl
yre
tur
ntohi
m.

Nowthatheha
dre
cov
ere
dhi
sst
reng
th,
heg
lar
eda
tthepi
nsbe
for
etos
singt
heba
llf
orwa
rdi
naf
lui
d
moti
on!

Rol
l
ingi
nas
tra
ightl
i
ne,
theba
llne
vers
wer
ved,
andi
nthee
nd,
all
tenpi
nswe
rehi
twi
thal
oudc
lat
ter
!

“S
tri
ke!
”yel
l
edXa nr
yashei
nst
ant
lyj
umpedi
njoya
ndex
cit
ement
.Att
hev
eryl
eas
thi
sfi
nal
thr
ow
wasn’
tadi
sappoi
ntment
.

Howev
er,
nowt
hatt
hatwa
sov
er,
itwa
snowGer
ald’
stur
n…

Geral
d’spe
rfor
ma ncei
nthi
sfi
nalr
oundwoul
ddeci
dewhowont hebatt
le.
IfGe
ral
dgotanot
herstr
ike,
the
nitwouldoffi
cia
ll
ybeXanr
y’sl
oss
.Howev
er,
ifGer
aldf
lubbedhi
srol
l,t
heni
twouldbeXanr
y’swin…

Looki
ngatXanr
y’ss
cor
eoffi
ft
y-ni
ne,
Ge r
aldk
newtha
theonlyha
dt ohi
tei
g htpi
nsinordert
osur
pas
s
Xanrybyasi
ngl
epoint
.Ofc
ourse,
withhoweasi
l
yhehadbeenget
ti
ngstr
ikes,hi
tt
ingei
ghtpi
nswas
nothi
ngtoGera
ld.

Wit
htha
t,Ge
ral
dthenpic
kedhi
sfi
nal
bowl
i
ngba
lla
nda
djus
tedt
hes
treng
thi
nhi
sha
nds
…bef
ore
t
ossi
ngt
hebal
lf
orward!

Swi
ft
lyr
oll
i
ngal
ongthel
ane,
thec
lat
ter
ingofpi
nsc
oul
dsoonbehea
rda
sthebowl
i
ngba
ll
’ss
tri
kel
eft
onl
ytwopi
nss
tandi
ng…

Jus
tasGe
raldha
dhopedfor,hehadma
nagedtohi
texa
ctl
yei
ghtpi
ns,
andwi
thhi
ssc
orebei
ngs
ixt
y,he
hadmanag
edtowinaga
instXanr
ybyex
act
lyonepoi
nt!

Xa
nryhi
msel
fcoul
donl
yst
andt
her
e,c
ompl
ete
lyf
labbe
rga
sted.
Tot
hinkt
hathewoul
dbede
fea
tedby
s
ome
onewhoha
dn’
tev
enpl
aye
dbowl
i
ngbef
ore
!

Ofc
our
se,
Ger
aldwa
snos
tra
ngert
obowl
i
ng,
butXa
nrydi
dn’
tknowt
hat
,nordi
dhene
edt
o.

Rega
rdles
s,des
pit
ewinni
ng,Ger
alddidn’
twantXanr
ytog
e tt
ooembarr
ass
ed.Aft
eral
l,
intheend,
he
wassti
l
lJuno’
smonit
or.Wit
hthatsa
id,Gera
ldknewhehadtogi
veXa
nryatlea
stsomeres
pect
.

Wit
ht hati
nmi nd,Ge
raldthensmi
l
edf
aint
lybe
foresa
yinginahumblet
one,
“Ig
uessI
won,moni
tor
!
Sor
ryforthat
!Howev er
,Iknowhowmuchofaproyoua r
einthi
sgame,s
oI’
mpret
tysur
eyou
del
ibera
telyl
osttome,rig
ht?”

Uponhear
ingtha
t,Xanryinst
antl
ycaug
htont
owha tGer
aldwastr
yingt
odo.Si
nceGer
aldwa
sgr
ant
ing
hi
mac ha
nc et
olessenhisshame,Xa
nrywasc
ert
ainl
ynotgoi
ngtosaynotot
hat.

Wi
tht
hat
,Xa
nryt
heng
othi
swa
ll
etbef
oref
is
hingahundr
eda
ndf
if
tydol
l
arsoutt
oha
ndt
oGer
ald.

Nat
ural
l
y,Ger
aldwas
n’ta
boutt
osa
ynot
otha
tmoney
.Af
tera
ll
,hedes
erv
edi
t,a
ndhewa
sn’
t
embar
rass
edtota
kei
t.

Nowt
hatt
heg
amewa
sov
er,
Ger
aldt
henwa
vedf
are
wel
ltoXa
nrybe
for
ehe
adi
ngba
ckt
oJuno’
ssi
de.

S
eei
ngt
hathewa
sfi
nal
l
yba
ck,
Junowa
spr
ompt
edt
oas
k,“
Wha
ttooky
ous
olong
?”

“Well
,Ij
ustpla
yedar
oundf
orawhi
l
e.Re
gar
dles
s,I
gotabi
tti
reds
oI’
mba
cknow!
”ex
pla
inedGe
ral
d
wit
haf a
intsmil
e.

Na t
ural
ly
,shebel
iev
edGe r
ald’swords.
Afterall
,ther
ewa snowayshecoul
d’veknownaboutt
he
i
nc i
dentbetwe
enGe r
aldandXa nr
y.Thenagain,evenifs
hewasawareofit
,sheprobabl
ywouldn’
tha
ve
thoughtmuchabouti
t.Hel
l,shewouldprobablyfeelt
hatGera
ldha
ddonewe l
li
nt e
achi
ngXanrya
l
ess
on.

Rega
rdl
ess
,af
terashor
twhi
l
e,bot
hoft
hemwat
chedasXa
nrywa
lke
dov
ert
othemwi
thaf
ewbot
tl
es
ofwi
neandwhatappear
edt
obesomedi
cei
nhand.

S
itt
ingr
ightbef
oreGer
ald,
Xanr
yt hensmi
l
edbef
ores
ayi
ng,
“I’
dsa
ywedi
dn’
thavetha
tmuchofag
ood
t
imeearl
ier,
Mr.Crawf
ord.Wi
ththatinmi
nd,
whatsa
yyouandmepl
ays
omethi
ngnew?”

Hea
ringt
hat
,Junoc
oul
dn’
thel
pbutf
rowns
li
ght
lya
sshel
ook
eda
tXa
nry
,wonder
ingwha
thewa
supt
o.

Geral
dhimsel
fcouldonlycontemptuousl
ythi
nk,
‘So,
comebacktol
ookf
ormoretr
oubleaft
erI
defea
tedyouearl
ier?Howr el
ucta
nttolosear
eyou?Igues
stheonl
ywaytodr
il
li
tint
oy oui
sby
showingy
outheg ri
mr eal
i
tyofthings!
’

Si
nceXanrywass
ti
llpest
eri
nghim,
Geral
dwasnolongeragai
nsthi
dinghistr
uestr
engt
h.I
fitwasa
ga
meXa nrywant
ed,thenGeral
dwasgoi
ngtopl
ayproperl
ytoshowXa nryj
usthowpowerl
esshetr
uly
wasaga
insthi
m.Xanrywasaboutt
olear
ntheha
rdwa ythatGeral
dwa sn’
tsomeonewhocouldbe
t
ri
fl
edwi t
h.

“
Notaprobl
em,monit
or!Thoug
hIwonde
rwha
tyou’
repl
anni
ngt
opl
ay?
”as
kedGe
ral
dwi
thas
ubt
le
s
mil
eaft
erasli
ghtpa
use.

Hear
ingGe
ral
d’sagr
eeme
nt,Xa
nrythenpl
ace
dthedi
cebe
for
eGer
aldbef
ores
ayi
ng,
“We
’repl
ayi
nga
gameofdi
ce.
Ha v
eyoupl
aye
dbe f
ore?”

Noddi
ngs
li
ght
ly,
Ger
aldt
henr
epl
i
ed,
“Jus
tal
i
ttl
e!”

“Tha
t’sgreattohear
!Iwon’
tbetel
l
ingyoutherule
sthen.Rega
rdles
s,whats
aywes pi
ceupthegame
bybetti
ngse v
enty-
fi
vedol
la
rsperr
ound?I’
ms urethatt
hatsmall
amountwon’tbeaniss
ueforyou.
Besi
des,youa l
rea
dygai
nedahundredandf
ift
ydollar
sfr
ommee arl
i
er!”s
ugges
tedXanry
,ahintof
annoy
anc
einhist
one.
Sinc
eheha
dbe
enhumi
l
iat
eds
omuc
hea
rli
er,
hewa
ssur
elyg
oingt
oge
tGe
ral
d
backf
ori
tthi
sti
me.

Headmi
tt
edthathehadbeenabi
ttooc
arel
essear
li
er.
Wha t
evert
hecas
ewas,
hewa save
ter
anwhen
i
tca
metodic
e .
Wi t
hthati
nmind,
hedefi
nit
elyha
dama jora
dvant
ageov
erGer
aldt
hist
imear
ound.

“
Nopr
obl
em!I
acc
ept
!”r
epl
i
edGer
ald.

Uponheari
ngtha
t,J
uno—whoha
dbe
ens
it
ti
nga
tthes
ide
—coul
dn’
the
lpbutl
ooka
tGe
ral
dwi
ths
li
ght
bewi
lder
me nt
.

T
ugg
ingonhi
ssl
eev
e,J
unot
henwhi
sper
ed,
“Hey
,don’
tgoa
cti
nga
llr
eck
les
slynow,
Ger
ald!
”

“
Don’
twor
ry,
I’
mse
nsi
bl
eenoug
htok
nowmyc
apa
bil
i
tie
s!”r
epl
i
edGer
alda
shel
ook
edba
cka
tJuno.

“
Tha
t’sr
ight
,Juno!Y
ous
houl
dbel
i
evei
nMr
.Cr
awf
ord,
youk
now?
”addedXa
nry
.

Hear
ingtha
t,J
unoc
hos
etor
ema
ins
il
ent
.Af
tera
ll
,she,
ofa
llpe
opl
e,t
rus
tedt
hatGe
ral
dwa
sn’
tonet
o
actr
eckl
ess
ly.

Wi
tht
hats
ett
led,
Xanr
ythe
npus
hedt
hedi
cet
owa
rdGe
ral
d.

Pi
cki
ngt
hemup,
Ger
aldt
henbe
gans
hak
ingt
hedi
ce.

Hewa snostr
angert
othegame,whi
chexpl
ai
nedhisc
urrentc
onfi
denc
ea g
ains
tXa
nry
.Whatmore,he
hadas ec
retwea
ponthatt
heother
swereunawar
eof,tha
tbeingt
hefactt
hathec
oul
ddi
ff
erent
iat
ethe
poi
ntsofthedi
cejus
tbyli
st
eni
ng!
Natur
all
y,thi
swasapret
tyex
clus
ives
kil
ltha
tor
dina
rypeopl
ecoul
dne
verhopet
oac
hie
ve.
Ger
ald,
however,wasnoor
dinar
ypers
on.

Wit
hal
ltha
tinmind,
itwaspret
tymuc
hseti
nstonethatGer
aldwasg
oingt
obethev
ict
orbef
oret
he
ga
meevenbega
n…Wi t
hthat,
theduot
henbega
ns ha
k i
ngthei
rdi
cear
oundforaf
ewsec
onds…

Oncebothoft
hems
topped,
Xanr
yimme
dia
tel
ysmi
l
eda
shes
aid,
“Af
tery
ou,
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d!Ma
key
our
gue
ss!”

Hea
ringt
hat
,Ger
aldt
hende
cla
red,
“Thr
ees
ixes
!”

“
Ise
e!F
ours
ixest
hen!
”shout
edXa
nryi
nres
pons
e.

F
romwha tGeral
dha
dbeenabl
etohea r
,heknewthatXa
nryde
fini
tel
yha
dtwos
ixe
s.Ger
aldha
dtwo
s
ixeshi
msel
f,whi
chwaswhyhedef
ini
tel
ycouldn’
topeni
t.

Regardl
ess
,theonl
ywa ytopr
oper
lydea
lwithXa
nrywouldbet
odeli
bera
tel
ylos
etohimforafew
rounds.Al
l
owingXanr
yt obes
mugthefi
rstf
ewroundswoul
ddefi
ni
tel
yma k
eGeral
d’se
ventua
lvi
ctor
y
muc hsweete
r.

Wi
tht
hati
nmi
nd,
Ger
aldt
hens
hout
ed,
“Fi
vef
iv
es!
”

Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Xa
nryc
oul
dn’
thel
pbuts
mil
eashede
cla
red,
“Open!
”

S
inc
eXa
nryha
dchos
ent
oope
nGe
ral
d’sdi
ce,
Ger
aldna
tur
all
yha
dtodos
o.

L
ooki
nga
tther
esul
ts
,thepoi
ntsoft
hedic
edidn’ta
ddupt
ofi
vef
iv
es.
Ins
tea
d,t
her
ewer
eonl
ythr
ee
f
iv
es,
whi
chmeantt
hatGeral
dhadlos
tthi
sround.
Ofc
our
se,
thel
osswa
sca
lcul
ate
d,a
ndGe
ral
dwa
sst
il
lpe
rfec
tl
yunderc
ont
rol
oft
hes
it
uat
ion.

“
Ala
s,i
tsee
msy
ou’
vel
ost
,Mr
.Cr
awf
ord!
”sa
idXa
nrya
shel
ook
eda
tthei
ndi
ff
ere
ntGer
ald.

Ger
aldhi
msel
fdidn’
treal
l
yc a
reaboutt
helos
s.Af
tera
ll
,i
twasonl
ysevent
y-f
ivedol
l
ars.I
naway,he
wassi
mplyr
etur
ningXanr
y’sownmoneytohim,andi
twasadet
ail
tha
tGe r
aldhonest
lyf
oundboth
hi
l
ari
ousandpat
hetic
.

Regar
dle
ss,a
fterbei
nghandedt
hemoney,Xanryqui
ckl
ytookitf
romGera
ld.I
twasalmos
tast
houg
hhe
wasworri
edthatthemoneywoul
ddi
sappe
a rorsomethi
ng,andi
tcl
ear
lyshowedj
usthowmuchXa
nry
car
edaboutmone y.

Ei
therway,nowt
hatheha
dfi
nal
l
ywons
omec
ash,
Xanr
yimme
dia
tel
ysa
id,
“Sha
llwec
ont
inue,
Mr.
Cr
a wfor
d?”

“
Finebyme
!”r
epl
i
edGer
alda
sbot
hoft
hembeg
ans
hak
ingt
hei
rdi
cea
gai
n…

T
hes ec
ondtheyst
oppeds
hak
ing
,Xa
nryi
nst
ant
lys
aid,
“Si
ncey
oul
osti
nthepr
evi
ousr
ound,
you’
l
lst
art
f
ir
st,
Mr .Cr
awfor
d!”

Noddi
ngandknowingf
orafa
ct—wit
ht heai
dofhi
skeenhea
ring
—thatXanr
yhadtwothreesandt
hree
f
ives
,Ger
alddel
ibe
rate
lya
nswere
dwr ongl
ytol
etXanr
ywinagai
nbydecl
ari
ng,
“Threef
iv
es !
”

Ge
ral
dhi
msel
fha
dthee
xac
toppos
it
edi
gi
ts
,wi
thhi
mha
vingt
wof
iv
esa
ndt
hre
ethr
ees
.

Wha
tev
ert
hec
asewa
s,Xa
nryt
hens
hout
ed,
“Fourf
our
s!”
Na
tur
all
y,i
twa
sanumbe
rtha
tnei
theroft
hemha
d.

Tobequit
efrank,Ger
aldre
all
ywa nt
edtoopenXanry’
sdicenow,butherefr
ained.Af
teral
l,
hedidn’
t
wantXanr
ytolosethatqui
ckl
y.I
nordertomakeXanry’
sdefeatrea
ll
ysti
ng,Geral
dwa sgoi
ngtoall
ow
Xanr
ytowa l
l
owi nvic
toryf
orafewroundsf
ir
st…Withthatinmind,af
terabri
efpause,Ger
aldt
hen
decl
are
d,“Fi
vefours
!”

“
Open!
”ye
ll
edXa
nrya
lmos
tins
tant
aneous
ly.

Rat
hert
hanfe
eli
ngsur
pri
sedtha
tXanr
ywouldchoos
etoopennow,Ger
aldi
nst
eadf
eltde
li
ght
ed.
Aft
er
al
l
,hehadbeenwai
ti
ngforXa
nrytodoso.
Ever
ythi
ngwassi
mplygoi
ngtopl
an…

Reg
ardl
ess
,Ge
ral
dthe
nre
vea
ledhi
sdi
cef
orXa
nryt
osee
.

Uponsee
ingthathehadwonagai
n,thecl
earl
ysa
rca
s t
icXa
nrys
aidi
nanapol
oget
ict
one,“
Apolog
ies
,
Mr.Cr
awford,buti
tappe
arst
hatyou’v
elos
tagai
n!Looksl
ik
eyou’
ll
bef
orki
ngoutmoremoneytome!”

I
tdi
dn’tt
akeageni
ust
oknowthatXanrywasal
rea
dydr
unkwi
thpowe
r.Xa
nryc
lea
rlyt
houg
htt
hat
Ger
aldwasnomatc
hagai
nsthi
minthisgame.

“Youwinsome,
y oulos
esome!”r
epl
i
edGer
aldi
nac
asua
ltonea
sheha
ndeda
not
hers
eve
nty
-fi
ve
doll
arst
otheoverj
oyedXanr
y.

See
ingthatGera
ldha
da l
rea
dylostahundredandfif
tydol
l
ars
,Junoqui
ckl
ylook
eda tGer
aldbef
ore
mutte
ringsl
ig
htl
yworri
edl
y,“Ger
ald,
justf
orgetaboutt
hegamea ndl
et’
slea
vealr
eady…!”

Whi
les
event
y-f
ivedol
l
a r
swasnot
hingtot
hem,
ifGer
aldc
ont
inue
dlos
ing
,hi
smonet
aryl
oss
eswoul
d
s
ure
lys
tac
kupt odanger
ousamounts
…
Chuckl
i
nginresponse,Ger
aldt
hensai
d,“Don’
tworry
,Juno!Thes
howhasonlybegun!Bes
ides
,I
haven’
tlos
tasingl
ec e
nt!Iwonahundredandfi
ft
ydoll
arsf
romhimea
rli
er,
soa l
lI
’vedoneisr
etur
nhi
s
ownmoney !”

Hea
ringt
hat
,Junos
impl
ychos
etor
ema
ins
il
enta
sthec
ompet
it
ionbet
weenGe
ral
dandXa
nryr
esumed.

Nowthathehadr
etur
nedal
lofXa
nry
’smoneyt
ohi
m,i
twa
shi
ght
imeGe
ral
drev
eal
edhi
str
ues
treng
th.
I
twasfi
nall
yti
metogoal
lout
!

Wi
tht
hat
,bot
hoft
hembe
gans
hak
ingt
hei
rdi
cea
gai
n.

T
hes
econdhes
awGe
ral
dst
ops
hak
inghi
sdi
ce,
Xanr
yimmedi
ate
lys
aid,
“Af
tery
ou,
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d!”

Fr
omwha tGeral
dwasabl
etohear
,Xa
nry
’sdi
ces
howedf
ourf
our
sandonet
hre
e.Asf
orhi
sowndi
ce,
Gera
ldha
df ourt
wosandonef
iv
e.

Wi
tht
hati
nmi
nd,
Ger
aldt
hende
cla
red,
“Thr
eet
wos
!”

Hea
ringt
hat
,Xa
nryy
ell
ed,
“Thr
eef
iv
es!
”

“
Open!
”shout
edGe
ral
d,nol
ong
erpl
anni
ngt
oal
l
owXa
nryt
owi
n.

Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Xa
nrywa
smome
nta
ril
yst
unne
d.T
othi
nkt
hatGer
aldwoul
dchoos
etoopenhi
sdi
ce!

Una
blet
odoa
nyt
hinga
bouti
t,Xa
nryt
henopenedhi
sdi
cea
tthes
amet
imeGe
ral
ddi
d…

“
Ohmy
…Ita
ppea
rst
hatI
onl
yha
veonef
iv
e!S
orr
ymoni
tor
,buti
tse
emsy
ou’
vel
ost
!”s
aidGer
aldi
na
c
almt
onea
shel
ook
eda
tXa
nry
.

Fi
ndingi
thar
dtobel
iev
ethathehadl
ost,
theunwi
ll
ingXanr
ythenfi
shedoutsevent
y-f
iv
edoll
arsa
nd
handedi
ttoGer
aldwhi
lesa
ying
,“…Fi
ne!Youwins
ome, y
oulosesome!Here’
sthemoney !
”

T
othi
nkt
hatheha
dtor
etur
nthemoneyt
oGe
ral
dsoqui
ckl
y!

E
itherway,Gera
ldwasnat
ura
ll
ynotdonewi
thXa
nryy
et.
Hewa
sn’
tgoi
ngt
ole
tXa
nryof
fwi
thame
re
s
ev ent
y-f
iv
e-dol
la
rlos
s!

Wi
tht
hat
,Ge
ral
dthena
ske
d,“
So,
howa
bouti
t,moni
tor
?Doy
ous
ti
ll
wis
htoc
ont
inue?
”

Nowt
hathewa
sn’
thol
di
ngba
cka
nymor
e,Ge
ral
dna
tur
all
ywa
ntedt
ocont
inuet
heg
ame.

Notfi
ndi
ngitoddthatGer
aldsuddenl
ylook
edmuc hmor
eint
erest
edint
heg ame,
Xanr
ysi
mpl
yre
pli
ed,
“Ofcour
sewe’l
lcont
inue
!Afteral
l,we’
veonlypl
ayedaf
ewrounds!I
won’tbegoi
ngea
syony
ouaft
er
thi
s,Mr.Cr
awfor
d!”

Hear
ingthatsa
mesent
enceagai
n,Geral
dfoundhimsel
fget
ti
ngincreas
ingl
yfedupwit
hthosewords.
Xanr
ywa swaytooc
onfi
dentf
orhisowngood.However,t
hemor econfi
denthewas,t
hemorearrog
ant
hebecame,andwhent
hathappened,Ger
aldknewforafac
ttha
tt hi
ngswouldn’
tendwel
lforhi
m.

Wi
tht
hat
,bot
hoft
hemqui
ckl
ybe
gans
hak
ingt
hei
rdi
cea
gai
n.

Whil
eGeral
donlyshookhisdi
ceforaroundtwos econds,Xa
nryc onti
nueds
hakinghisowndic
ef orqui
te
awhil
e.E
venso,Geral
dwa ssti
l
labletoe a
sil
ydiscer
nwha tXanry’sdi
cewere.
Af t
erall
,nomatterhow
l
ongheshookhi
sdice,Xanrywouldn’
tbea bl
et oescapeGeral
d’skeenhear
ing.
S t
il
l,
thefac
tthatXa nr
y
t
houghtt
hatsha
k i
nghisdicel
ongercouldconfuseGeraldwashones t
lyl
aug
hable.
WhenXa
nryf
ina
ll
yst
oppe
drol
l
ing
,het
hendec
lar
ed,
“It
’sf
ina
ll
ymyt
urnt
ost
artf
ir
st,
Mr.
Cra
wfor
d!”

T
houg hitha dbeenawhilesi
nceGeral
dha dla
stpl
ayed,heclear
lyr
emember edtha
ttheonewhoha d
l
osthadt herightt
oshoutfi
rst
.Thenagain,
sowhatifXa
nr ycoul
dshoutf
ir
st?Itwasimpos
sibl
eforhi
m
t
owi nint heend.Sha
kingthedic
elongerwaspret
tymuc honlyawast
eofenergy.

Regardl
ess
,Gera
ldwasqui
ckl
yabletotell
thatXenry
’sdi
ceshowedthr
eesi
xes
,onef
iv
e,andonef
our.
Sinc
ehisdic
erol
lst
hisr
oundwasn’tal
lthatg
reat,hi
schanc
esofwinni
ngha
dbe c
omeevensl
i
mme r
thanbefor
e.

F
oll
owi
ngt
hat
,Xa
nryt
hens
hout
ed,
“Thr
eet
wos
!”

Momenta
ril
ycaug htbysur
pri
se,Ge
ral
dhadn’
tex
pectedXanryt
oa c
tua
ll
yshoutanumbert
hathedidn’
t
ev
enhaveinhi
sr oll
.Ita
lmostse
emedli
kehewastr
yingt
ot r
aphim…Ofcourse,
Gera
ldwasn’
taboutto
l
etXa
nryhavehiswa y.

Wi
tht
hat
,hec
hos
enott
oope
nXa
nry
’sdi
cej
usty
et.
Ifhedi
d,i
twoul
djus
tbet
ooobv
ious
.

I
nst
ead,
Ger
alds
hout
edoutt
henumbe
rsofhi
sowndi
ce,
tha
tbe
ing
,“T
hreef
iv
es!
”

Heari
ngtha
t,Xa
nrywasdef
ini
tel
ynotg
oingt
oopenGer
ald’
sdi
ce.
Aft
era
ll
,thepos
sibi
l
ityofha
ving
thr
eefiv
eswassi
mplyt
oolow.

Af
tert
hat
,Xa
nryt
heny
ell
ed,
“Fourf
our
s!”

“Open!
”decl
are
dGe
rald.
Sinc
eGer
alddi
dn’
tha
veas
ing
lef
our
,ifhedi
dn’
tope
nnow,
howmuc
hlong
er
wouldheha
vetowa
it?

Whi
l
eXa
nryf
oundhi
mse
lfs
tunne
d,hequi
ckl
ysna
ppedoutofi
tbe
for
eopeni
nghi
sdi
ce…
Duet
oGer
aldnotha
vinga
nyf
our
sandXa
nryha
vingone,
itwa
sev
identt
hatXa
nryha
dlos
tthi
sround
aswe
ll
.

T
othi
nkt
hats
uchr
esul
tswoul
dtur
nup…Het
rul
yha
dbr
oug
htr
uinuponhi
mse
lfa
gai
n…

Wa
tchi
nga
sXa
nry
’se
xpr
ess
ions
our
ed,
Ger
alda
pol
oget
ic
all
ysa
id,
“Sor
rymoni
tor
,gue
ssI
wina
gai
n!”

ThoughXanrywasvex
edoutofhi
smindwhenhehear
dthat
,ther
ewasnot
hinghecoul
ddo.
Aft
era
ll
,
bothJunoandRuthhadbee
nwa t
chi
ngthe
mplaythi
sent
ir
etime.I
twasi
mpossi
bl
eforhimt
ogoback
onhisownbet.

Wit
hthat
,theres
ignedXa
nryc
oul
donl
yre
tur
nther
ema
ini
ngs
event
y-f
iv
edol
l
arst
hatheha
djus
twon
ba
cktoGeral
d.

Ast
hes
ayi
ngwe
nt,
‘thi
ngswoul
dal
way
sret
urnt
othei
rri
ght
ful
owne
rs’
.

Wit
hthehundr
edandf
if
tydoll
arsbac
k,Geral
dsmile
dashet
urne
dtof
aceXa
nrywhi
l
esa
ying
,“I
thi
nk
weshoul
dn’
tpl
aya
nylonger
,monitor
!It
’snotgoodtog
ambl
ethi
smuc
h!”

Whil
ehi
swordswerek
ind,
Ger
aldwa
swel
lawa
ret
hats
ayi
ngt
hatwoul
donl
yfur
the
rpr
ovok
eXa
nry
i
ntopl
ayi
ngmore.

“…Ofcours
ewe’
llc
onti
nuepla
ying!I
’v
eonlyl
ostahundredandfi
ft
ydol
l
ars
,youk
now?I
’l
lde
fini
tel
y
wint
ha ta
mountbackl
ater
!”r
epli
edXanr
yinaconfi
denttone.

Hear
ingtha
t,Gera
ldwa
sinst
ant
lydel
ig
hte
da shethoug
ht,‘
Tothi
nkt
hathe’
sst
il
ltr
yingt
oint
imi
dat
e
me!Sinc
eit’
scometot
his
,don’
tbla
memef orta
kingmoreofy
ourmoney!
’
S
omepe opl
ejustnee
dedt
obeper
si
st
ent
lya
ndme
rci
l
ess
lydea
ltwi
thf
ort
hepoi
ntt
ofi
nal
l
yge
tac
ros
s
t
hei
rthi
ckskul
ls
.

Reg
ardl
ess
,thet
wooft
hemt
henpr
ompt
lys
tar
tedt
hei
rnex
tround.

Throughouttheproce
ssofshakingt
heirdi
ce,Xanr
ykeptacl
oseeyeonGera
ld.Tohisannoya
nce,
Geralddidn’
tappeartohaveanytri
cksuphissl
eeve.
Sti
ll
,Xa
nrysi
mplyha
daf e
elingthatGer
aldwas
dif
ferent
, t
houghhecouldn’
tpinpoi
ntwhatma deGeral
dsospec
ial
…

Wha
tev
ert
hec
asewa
s,a
fte
rawhi
l
e,t
het
wooft
hems
toppe
dsha
kingt
hei
rdi
cea
tthes
amet
ime.

T
hist
ime,Geral
dha
dfourt
wosandasi
ngl
eone.I
nthegame’st
erms,
suc
hr es
ult
swereknownas
‘
l
eopard’s
inc
esomanyoft
hedi
ceyi
el
dedthesa
mev al
ue.Xa
nry,ont
heotherhand,
hadfourt
hre
es
a
ndas i
ngl
etwo.

L
ook
inga
tthev
alueofhi
sowndi
ce,
Xanr
ycoul
dn’
the
lpbuts
mil
econf
ident
ly.

S
eei
ngt
hat
,Ge
ral
dthe
nsa
id,
“Comeon,
moni
tor
!Af
tery
ou!
”

“
Fourtwos
!”de
cla
redXanr
y,evi
dent
lys
ti
ll
try
ingt
ofr
ameGer
ald.Unfort
una
tel
y,t
heonl
ywa
yhec
oul
d
s
ucceedwi
thhi
splanwa
sbyg e
tti
ngdef
eat
edbyGera
lda
gai
nthisround.

Na
tur
all
y,Ge
ral
dwa
snof
ool
sohes
impl
yyel
l
edoutXa
nry
’spoi
nts
,tha
tbe
ing
,“F
ourt
hre
es!
”

Uponhea
ringt
hat
,Xa
nryc
oul
dn’
thel
pbutf
rowns
li
ght
ly.
Howc
oul
dGe
ral
dha
vek
nownhi
sex
act
poi
nts
?

Quick
lyshak
ingthet
houg
htof
f—f
igur
ingt
hatGe
ral
dha
djus
tye
ll
edouts
omer
andomnumber
s—Xa
nry
thenshout
ed,“F
ivet
wos!
”
“
Oh?I
’l
laddonemor
ethen!S
ixt
wos
!”y
ell
edGe
ral
dinr
etur
n.

Uponhe
ari
ngt
hat
,Xa
nrywa
sst
unne
d.T
othi
nkt
hatGer
aldwoul
dbet
hisqui
ckt
oac
t!

Regardl
ess
,nowt ha
tGeral
dhadca l
le
df orsi
x,t
hes
it
uat
ionwasg
ett
ingmoreandmoredang
erous.I
fhe
cont
inuedshout
ing,hewasaf
rai
dt hatGeral
dwoul
devent
ual
l
yopenhisdi
ce.
Witht
hatinmind,Xa
nry
coul
donlychoosetoopenGeral
d’sdi
c efi
rs
t.

“…Fi
ne!I
’mopeni
ngy ours!I
don’
tbe
lievetha
tyouc
oul
dha
ves
ixt
wos
!”g
rumbl
edXa
nrya
sher
evea
led
hi
sdic
ebefor
esta
ringa tGera
ldc
onf
identl
y.

Unf
ort
una
tel
yforhi
m,not
hingwenta
ccor
dingt
oXa
nry
’spl
ans
.

“Ohmy,
I’mtr
ulysor
ry,monit
or!Itappea
rstha
tIreal
l
yhavesi
xtwos!Wha
tmor e
,notonl
ydoI
hav
esi
x
oft
hem,butI
alsohav
ea‘leopard’!
”decl
are
dGe r
aldashesmugl
ylook
edatXa
nry.

How…Howwa
sthi
spos
sibl
e?!I
twa
str
ulys
tupef
yi
ngt
oXa
nry
.

Whowoul
d’v
eguess
edthatGer
aldwoul
dgetaleopar
d!Nowonde
rGe
ral
dha
dshout
edt
hatouts
o
c
onf
ide
ntl
y!Hehadcal
cul
ateda
llt
heoddsext
remelycar
eful
l
y!

Wha
tev
ert
hec
asewa
s,t
hisf
actt
rul
yma
deXa
nrys
uff
erag
rea
tlos
s.

“
…Fine!Y
ouwinsome,y
oul
osesome!”grumbl
edXa
nrya
shet
ooka
not
hers
event
y-f
iv
edol
l
arsout
f
romhiswal
l
et,una
blet
opl
ayanytr
icks
.

T
aki
ngt
hemoney
,Ge
ral
dthe
nha
ndedi
ttoJ
unobe
for
esa
yingwi
thas
mil
e,“
Hol
dont
oitf
orme,
wil
l
y
ou,
Juno?Af
tera
ll
,i
t’
spr
oba
blyr
aret
hatmoni
tori
sthi
sge
ner
ous
!”

Uponhe ar
ingthat,Xanrywasinst
a nt
lyi
nfuri
ated.Whilehewa sfi
l
ledwit
hresent
me nt
,thet
rut
h
remainedthatheha dlost
,sohec oul
dn’
tjustburs ti
ntoanger
. Whatmore,
ifhefl
ewintoarag
enow,
Xanr
ywa swor ri
edthattheotherswouldstartcla
imingthathewa sn’
tweal
thyenoughtopl
aytheg
ame,
andthatwa saformofhumi l
iati
onhenev erwa ntedtoexperi
ence.

Hehadj
ustl
ostt
wohundr
eda
ndt
went
y-f
iv
edol
l
ars
.Itwa
sn’
tmuc
htohi
m,s
ohec
oul
dsur
elys
ti
ll
go
on…!

Bel
i
evingt
hatXa
nrywoul
dn’
twanttoc
onti
nuepl
ayi
ngaf
ters
uffer
ings
oma
nyl
oss
es,
Ger
aldt
hen
l
ookedathi
mbeforea
ski
ng,
“Ar
ey oug
oingt
opla
ymore,monit
or?”

“
Butofcour
se!Let
’sres
ume!
”dec
lar
edXanr
y.Athi
scur
rents
tate,i
twascl
eartha
tXanryhadt
he
t
empera
mentt y
pical
ofaga
mble
r.Unle
sshewonagai
nstGer
ald,hewoul
dn’tbeabl
etores
teasy
.

Nott
hatGe
ral
dwa
scompl
ai
ni
ng,
ofc
our
se.
Hewa
nte
dtos
eehowmuc
hmor
eXa
nryc
oul
dta
ke.

“
Ver
ywell
the
n,moni
tor
!Howeve
r,s
inc
ey ousugges
tedthepr
evi
ousg
ame,It
hinki
t’
shi
ght
imeI
s
ugg
est
edmyown.Whatdoyous
aywes wit
chitupali
tt
le?”a
ske
dGeral
d.

Uponhea
ringthat,
Xa nr
y—whowassuret
hathewoul
dbeablet
odef
eatGer
aldnoma
tte
rwha
tga
me
hewant
edt opla
y—t hensa
id,
“Ia
ccept
!Doshar
ethedet
ail
soft
heg
ame !
”

“I
t’
squitesi
mple,rea
ll
y .We’l
lbothhavefiv
ediceeach,
andwe’ l
lhavetog uessthepoi
ntsofour
opponent’
sdic
e .
Forexample ,
ify
oug uesscl
osetothenumberofpointsIha ve,
thenyou’ll
win.
Wit
h
myloss,I
’l
lhavetopayy outhedi
ffer
enceinpoint
sbetwe ent
hea c
tualpointsandtheamountyou
guess
ed,witheachpointsymboli
zi
ngfif
teendoll
ars
.Wha tdoyouthink
? ”explai
nedGerald.

F
indi
ngGer
ald’
sga
mei
ntr
igui
ng,
Xanr
yqui
ckl
yrepl
i
ed,
“Ag
reed!L
et’
sgowi
tht
hist
hen!
”
Forapersonwhoenjoye
dg ambl
ing,t
hey’
dsurel
yendupget
ti
ngaddi
ct
edex
tremel
yquic
klywit
hsuc
h
hig
h-ri
skhigh-
rewar
dgames.Ifi
twasn’
talr
eadyobvi
ouse
nough,
Xanr
ywassuchaper
son,andhewas
tr
ulyunfort
unatet
hatGera
ldwa shi
sopponent
.

Reg
ardl
ess
,bot
hoft
hemqui
ckl
ypi
ckedt
hei
rdi
ceupa
ndbeg
ans
hak
ing
…

T
hes
econdt
heys
topped,
Ger
aldt
urnedt
ofa
ceXa
nrybe
for
esa
ying
,“Af
tery
ou!
”

Hea
ringt
hat
,Xa
nryi
nst
ant
lywe
ntwi
thahi
ghv
alue
,st
ati
ng,
“Twent
y-f
iv
epoi
nts
!”

Ge
ral
dhi
msel
frepl
i
ed,
“Ahi
ghg
ues
s!We
ll
,Ig
ues
stha
tyouha
veni
net
een!
”

ThoughGeral
dknewtheexa
ctpoi
ntsXanr
ycur
rent
lyhad,hec
ouldn’
tjus
trev
ealt
hatnumber
.While
Geral
dha dt
oa l
way
sma k
esurehewa saf
ewpoint
saboveorbel
owXa nr
y’ss
cor
e,hewascer
tai
nthat
he’
dstil
lbeabl
etotak
eXanrydown.

Wha
tev
erthec
a s
ewa s
,nowthatthev
alueshadbeenshout
edout,
bothofthe
mdispla
yedthe
irdi
ce
f
ore
achot
hertosee
…r eve
ali
ngtwent
ypointsonGera
ld’ss
idea
ndsix
teenonXanr
y’ssi
de.

Thi
smeantthatGer
aldhadwonthi
srounds
inceGeral
d’sg
ues
swa
sonl
ythr
eepoi
ntss
hor
tofwha
t
Xanr
yha
dr oll
edwhereasXa
nrywasfi
vepoi
ntsshor
t.

S
mil
i
ng,
Ger
aldt
henl
ook
eda
tXa
nrybe
for
esa
ying
,“We
ll
,gues
sI’
vewon!T
imet
opa
yup,
moni
tor
!”

Nowfeel
ingg
loomie
rtha
nbe f
ore,Xanr
yrea
li
zedtha
tGera
ldmus
tbeexper
ienc
edi
ntheg
ame
.It
cer
tai
nl
yexpl
aine
dwhyGe r
aldhadchosent
hiss
peci
fi
cga
metoplaywi
thhi
m.
S
til
l
,nowthatt
heywereal
rea
dyinthemiddl
eofthegame,the
rewa snowa yhewasg oi
ngt
osuddenl
y
a
skfori
ttost
op.Doi
ngsowouldonl
yenduphumi l
i
ati
nghim,andforXanr
y,hisdi
gni
tyandpri
dewere
a
boveal
lels
e.Witht
hati
nmind,hehandedyeta
nothers
eventy-
fi
vedoll
arstoGeral
d.

Whileitwast
ruetha
thewa sri
ch,hishe
a r
tst
il
lachedtohavetohandGera
ldthatmoney.Aft
erall
,
thoughthemoneyheha dlostwasnothi
ngparti
cula
rlynot
eworthyt
ohim,thefa
ctremainedtha
the
hadn’twonasing
lecentfr
omGer ald.Xanr
yhadsimplybeenlos
ingmoneythi
senti
reti
me!

Ger
aldhi
mselfc
oul
dn’
tre
all
ybebl
amed.Af
teral
l,
Xanrywastheonewhoha
dwa nt
edtocont
inue
pl
ayi
ngthi
senti
ret
ime
.Xanr
ywassi
mplyre
apingwhathehadsownforc
ont
inua
ll
ytr
yingt
ooffend
Ger
ald.

Regardl
ess
,nowtha
tthi
sroundwa
sov
er,
Ger
aldt
henl
ook
eda
tXa
nrybef
orea
ski
ng,
“So,
onemor
e
round,monit
or?
”

Af
ters
uff
eri
ngs
oma
nyl
oss
es,
Xanr
yce
rta
inl
ydi
dn’
twa
ntt
ost
ic
kar
ounda
nymor
e.

Bythispoi
nt,heknewthatGer
aldhads
omehiddenabil
it
ythathadbeenall
owinghi
mtowinsoma ny
ti
me sinarow.Xanryhadal
sobecomeawaret
hatGera
ldhadsimplybeenpret
endi
ngtobeweakthis
enti
retime.Withthati
nmind,
itmadesens
ethathi
mc onst
antl
ylooki
ngdownonGe r
aldwoul
dle
a dto
suchanoutcome!