I just finished reading an article by a writer who hit hard times and wound up working as a custodian. The article is not a message of despair and desperation, it is an acknowledgement of a societal divide that is rarely spoken of in polite society. Go read it. If the link is broken I've saved the article (encrypted) in the extended section of this article, but follow the link so the author has an indication that people are noticing his work.

One of my first real experiences realizing just how deep this societal divide is occurred when I was working at First Data. Note that I was already well into my 30s by this point and had been working professionally for more than a dozen years. More shame to me that I hadn't thought much about it before that time.

I was working as a programmer/analyst and as such was part of the elite in the division in which I worked. As time went by I came to recognize just where that divide between ins and outs was. Basically, the administration and support folks (management, technology, HR, etc.) were the elite. I was appalled by the way those not in this clique were treated but I continued to work there and reap the benefits of my position (reserved parking space, salary, bonuses, stock options, etc.) This company was running a call center where hundreds of workers sat in small cubes in front of terminals and phone calls were fed to the wage-slaves as fast as they could handle them.

These "slaves" were accorded very little respect. They had no space on company property which they could claim as their own. No locker. No desk. Not even a locked drawer. All workstations were shared by different shifts and different people depending on attendance and workload. These workers were issued expensive equipment for which they were financially responsible if lost or damaged, so they had to carry it with them on breaks, to the bathroom, where ever, because it could not be secured. I once heard the VP of Operations for whom these masses worked respond when informed of worker complaints "What are they complaining about? They have a job, don't they?" Yet the management could not understand why their employees were not motivated to improve their job performance. They claimed good morale by doing a company survey which was used as part of a bonus incentive plan: the employees were told that if there was high employee satisfaction then the bonuses would be bigger. Yet the survey results didn't match up with the poor performance they were seeing. Go figure.

Yet, this division between the management elite and the wage slave workers was not the divide addressed by the article I referenced. Despite the distance and antipathy between those two groups, there was a third group which was looked down on by both. The custodial staff were even lower on the social ladder of the company. They were invisible. They had access to every corner of the building unsupervised where they were trusted to not betray company secrets or steal company or management's property (the wage-slaves had virtually no personal property to be stolen since they had to take theirs with them), yet they did not have names, did not receive eye contact when encountered, did not exist.

In my current stretch between jobs I interviewed for a position which included an encounter I've never had elsewhere as employee or interviewee. My interviewer was leading me from one location to another when we encountered one of the custodial staff. My interviewer stopped and greeted her then introduced her to me, telling me of the many years she had worked there. I don't think I missed a beat in reponding in this situation as I would have tried to do in greeting anyone else to whom I was introduced as part of the interview process, but it was certainly unexpected. I didn't get that job, and based on things I've heard about that situation from others who are familiar with it I'm just as glad I didn't. There were some seriously crazy dynamics at that place. But, at least in regard to how the custodial staff were treated I was shown a level of respect for them which I don't think I've seen anywhere else I've ever worked. I'm glad that I had recognized the divide between custodial and non-custodial workers in that earlier work situation so that I could appreciate just how different this was from the norm.

I like to think that I haven't pursued a different vocation because I still have hope of landing a job utilizing my profesional job skills which will pay me more than I would be able to earn at a more clerical or manual labor type of job. However, I do wonder sometimes if I am just trying to fool myself. Do I continue to believe deep down that I am somehow better than that? I'm out of shape and would face a serious challenge if I tried to do some work which had me on my feet all day or required regular heavy lifting, but is there more to my reluctance than just fading hopes? Maybe a stretch at some different type of work would make me better appreciate any position I get later. I guess there is no way to answer that unless I manage to get a job doing work unrelated to my professional training, but it makes me wonder sometimes.

Dennis Perrin wrote the following piece. I've copied it here because I don't know how stable the source is and I don't want to lose it. I've encrypted it with rot13 since I'm not trying to garner links based on his text. Just copy the text and past it into the rot13 text window to restore it.

Fvapr '06 unf zreryl fyvgurerq ba jurer '05 fyvzrq bss, V'z va ab uheel gb erivrj Wnpx Noenzbss'f qvegl gnoyr qnapr, fvapr gung'yy xrrc qbmraf bs yvo oybttref ohfl pyvzovat bire rnpu bgure va uvtu vaqvtangvba (juvyr qrsraqvat gur ercf bs Orygjnl Qrzf, nf Wnar Unzfure, jubfr obbx ba znxvat "Angheny Obea Xvyyref" V rawblrq, unf qbar, unaq bire cher zhyr urneg). Gurer'yy or cyragl zber pebbxrq cresbeznaprf gb pbzr va gur jrrxf & zbaguf nurnq. Vafgrnq, V'z tbaan cbfg n cvrpr V choorq va gur Naa Neobe Bofreire ynfg Znl, fvapr gur znwbevgl bs lbh unir abg frra vg, naq vg qbirgnvyf fbzrjung jvgu zl cbfg nobhg Neguhe Fvyore naq gur uneqfuvc bs jevgvat sbe jungrire nhqvrapr lbh pna fant. Gung cbfg trarengrq n qrprag nzbhag bs znvy, naq fbzr bs lbh jrer pbaprearq gung V jnf uvagvat ng unatvat guvf hc zlfrys. Abg n punapr, abg jvgu gur vagryyvtrag naq fhccbegvir erfcbafrf V'z trggvat.

Gur cvrpr pbzrf cnegyl sebz n obbx V'z jbexvat ba, naq vf n yvggyr erivfrq sebz gur choorq irefvba. Vg'f n gehr fgbel, batbvat. Rawbl.

NGBAVAT NG AVTUG
N Wnavgbe'f Fgbel

Nsgre svir, jr rzretr. Jr ragre lbhe ohvyqvatf, pynj guebhtu lbhe genfu, tynapr ng gur cubgbf bs lbhe snzvyl naq sevraqf. Jr fpbhe lbhe onguebbzf naq yhapuebbzf. Jr xabj lbhe qvrgnel unovgf, zhfvpny gnfgrf, eryvtvbhf naq cbyvgvpny nssvyvngvbaf, vs nal. Naq lrg lbh vtaber hf, qvfzvff hf, gnyx qbja gb hf vs lbh qrvta gb gnyx ng nyy. Lbh guvax zber uvtuyl bs lbhe crgf.

Fbzr bs lbh ner avpr, vs va n pbaqrfpraqvat jnl. Orpnhfr, nsgre nyy, lbh jbhyq arire qb jung jr qb. Ab punapr. Lbh pnaabg vzntvar fhpu vaqvtavgl. Jung’f ybjre guna jung jr qb? Jr yvar gur oveqpntr. Gung’f gur jnl vg vf.

Bssvpr pyrnavat fgevcf njnl cergrafvba. Vg’f gbhtu gb jrne n snyfr snpr jura orag bire n pybttrq gbvyrg, jbexvat gur cyhatre nf fuvg jngre fcvyyf ba bhe obbgf naq cnagf. Be erzbivat qevrq ibzvg sebz n pnecrg jvgu n unaquryq fgrnz pyrnare. Anfgl fcvyyf naq zrffrf xrrc hf ubarfg. Gurer’f abguvat pbaprcghny nobhg bhe jbex.

V ernyvmrq guvf nsgre fghzoyvat guebhtu n unmr bs crefbany zvfuncf, ybhfl whqtzragf, naq rkgerzr neebtnapr. V arire gubhtug gung, va zl sbegvrf, V’q or qhfgvat phovpyrf naq fpehoovat onguebbzf sbe n yvivat. Ohg lbh arire xabj jurer lbh’yy raq hc. V pregnvayl qvqa’g.

V bapr yvirq va Arj Lbex Pvgl, jurer V znqr n zbqrfg yvivat jevgvat, rqvgvat, naq fcrnxvat ng havirefvgvrf naq ba cnaryf. Sbe n gvzr V pb-ubfgrq n zbeavat enqvb fubj gung unq n avpr sbyybjvat, naq bppnfvbanyyl V’q nccrne ba GI gb nethr gung gur pbecbengr zrqvn nera’g ernyyl nyy gung "yvoreny." Tbg gb xabj frireny zrqvn cebf. Jrag gb uvtuoebj pbpxgnvy cnegvrf. Gura, nsgre arneyl n qrpnqr bs serrynapvat, V fanttrq gjb obbx qrnyf sebz n snveyl cebzvarag choyvfure naq jnf ercerfragrq ol bar bs gur gbc yvgrenel ntragf va gur pvgl. Znqr zber zbarl va gjb lrnef guna V unq va zl jubyr yvsr. Jnf zneevrq gb n jbzna V ybirq gur zbzrag V fnj ure. Unq gjb perngvir, yviryl xvqf.

Gura -- OYNZZB.

Vg ortna jvgu zrrgvatf sbe zl guveq obbx jvgu na rira ynetre choyvfure. Cvpgher lbhefrys fvggvat va n gbc rqvgbe’f bssvpr vafvqr n ynetr ohvyqvat va zvqgbja Znaunggna. Ybbx ng gur ahzrebhf fzvyvat snprf nebhaq lbh. Yvfgra gb gur synggrel. Srry lbhe onpx orvat fynccrq. Lbh arire jrag gb pbyyrtr, naq urer ner nyy gurfr nzovgvbhf Cevaprgbaf naq Lnyrf xvffvat lbhe nff. Lbh’er ybbfr, shaal. Lbh pna’g oryvrir guvf vf unccravat, ohg pbaivapr lbhefrys gung vg’f lbhe qhr.

Gbb cresrpg? Lrf, lrf.

Univat fjnyybjrq gur choyvfure’f ulcr, urnq fjbyyra jvgu cenvfr, V gbyq zl jvsr gb dhvg ure wbo jvgu n evfvat zhygvzrqvn pbzcnal. V gura cynprq gur snzvyl’f erznvavat rttf va n tyvggrevat onfxrg naq njnvgrq zl ybat qrfreirq erjneq.

Jryy, un un, gur tyvggre ghearq gb penc bireavtug, rttf fznfurq, onfxrg ohearq. Nyy gur synggrel naq cebzvfrf zrnag mvc. Gurl hfhnyyl qb va choyvfuvat. Ohg V jnf gbb vtabenag gb frr vg, gbb neebtnag gb nqzvg V’q orra jebat. Abg bayl unq V zvfernq gur ovt obbx qrny (ghearq bhg, ba frpbaq gubhtug, gung gur choyvfure qrfverq n qvssrerag qverpgvba), V’q nyfb ohatyrq gur gnkrf bjrq ba gur nqinaprf sebz zl svefg gjb obbxf, fb jr jrer va qrrc ubpx gb gur VEF. Jvgu ab erny vapbzr naq ab fnivatf, jr sryy oruvaq va bhe erag. Zl jvsr gbbx n grzc wbo va -- jung ryfr? -- choyvfuvat, naq ba jrrxraqf fur jbexrq sbe n Serapu pngrevat pbzcnal fcernqvat câgé ba penpxref va geraql qryvf.

V qvq abguvat. Svtherq V jnf nobir jbexvat n qnl wbo. Zl ryvgvfz oneryl znfxrq gur boivbhf: V unq shpxrq hc va n znwbe jnl, naq jnf chyyvat guerr vaabprag crbcyr V ybirq qbja jvgu zr.

Unq gur areir gb npg fhecevfrq, ovt qvz teva ba zl snpr nf zl jvsr phefrq zl tnzoyr, zl rvtug-lrne-byq qnhtugre nfxrq jul jr jrer ybfvat bhe ncnegzrag, naq zl lbhat fba, zrepvshyyl boyvivbhf, cynlrq jvgu uvf jbbqra genvaf naq jngpurq "Fabbcl, Pbzr Ubzr" bire naq bire, vgf hcorng fbhaqgenpx funecravat gur greebe V jnf gelvat gb fhccerff. Va bar qrfgehpgvir ehfu bhe ubzr orpnzr n jnl fgngvba bs evccrq obkrf naq sheavgher fubirq va pbearef nf jr qvfznagyrq bhe yvsr naq jbaqrerq jurer gb tb. Zl jvsr naq xvqf ybbxrq gb zr, naq V, ubcryrff, ybfg, frys qrsrngrq, bssrerq abguvat ohg nathvfurq rkcerffvbaf.

Jr jrer ubzryrff. Whfg yvxr gung. Rirelguvat jrag vagb fgbentr. Zl jvsr naq xvqf gbbx n genva gb Gbyrqb naq gura n pebjqrq ohf gb Naa Neobe, jurer ure fvfgre cvpxrq gurz hc naq gbbx gurz gb ure ubzr bhgfvqr gbja.

Jul qvqa’g V tb? V fgvyy qba’g xabj. V sybccrq ng n sevraq’f fghqvb hcgbja naq fgnerq ng gur jnyyf juvyr zl zneevntr pnzr ncneg. Qrgrezvarq gb pyvat gb Arj Lbex ng jungrire pbfg, V uryq ba sbe arneyl gjb zbaguf, fyvccvat, fyvqvat, onatvat zl urnq ba gur fvqrjnyx. V gevrq serrynapvat, ohg gurer jrer srj gnxref (naq V ghearq qbja n avpr-cnlvat bssre gb jevgr n arpebcbea cvrpr nobhg n zheqrerq pbzrqvna sbe n ovt tybffl znt). Fb V erznvarq qrsvnagyl harzcyblrq, nf gur pybpx ba zl zneevntr gvpx gvpxrq qbja.

Gverq bs jnvgvat, zl jvsr eragrq n ubhfr va Naa Neobe. Fur envfrq gur zbarl ol fryyvat ure orybirq Fgrvajnl, juvpu fur jnf pehfurq gb unir gb qb. Ohg hayvxr zr, fur jnf jvyyvat gb fnpevsvpr sbe gur xvqf. Fur jnf zbivat ba, naq gur bayl guvat fur jnagrq sebz zr jnf bhe orybatvatf bhg bs fgbentr naq qryvirerq gb Zvpuvtna. Nsgre gung, fur ernyyl qvqa’g pner jurer V jrag be jung V qvq. Fb V fubirq bhe cbffrffvbaf vagb n ovt eragny gehpx (frira fgenvtug ubhef bs yvsgvat naq chfuvat) naq uvg gur ebnq. Chfurq gur cnpxrq, qragrq H-Unhy guebhtu Arj Wrefrl, Craaflyinavn, naq abegurea Buvb, nofbeovat gur ebohfg snyy pbybef haqre pevfc oyhr fxvrf, gura n ehfgl snyy qhfx. Ebyyvat vagb Naa Neobe whfg orsber zvqavtug, V gbbx zber guna unys na ubhe gb svaq gur ubhfr. Jura V qvq, V sryg eryvrs, naq gura funzr. V unqa’g frra zl snzvyl va arneyl rvtug jrrxf, naq gur fvtug naq fzryy bs gurz sybbqrq zl oenva naq lnaxrq zr ivbyragyl vagb gur cerfrag.

Zl jvsr, pbby ohg tynq gb frr zr va bar cvrpr, nyybjrq zr gb fyrrc ba gur pbhpu. V fcrag gur sbyybjvat qnl haybnqvat gur gehpx naq qernqvat zl qrcnegher. V qvqa’g jnag gb fgnl va Zvpuvtna, ohg V jnagrq, arrqrq, zl snzvyl, naq gurl jrer chggvat qbja ebbgf. Nsgre n srj qnlf zl jvsr naq V jnezrq gb rnpu bgure sbe gur svefg gvzr va zbaguf. Fur fhttrfgrq gung jr nyy tb gb gur Jvneq’f Bepuneqf Unyybjrra snve arne Lcfvynagv. Gur xvqf ybirq vg. Gurl srq n pbhcyr bs ubefrf, ebqr n genva, ngr pnaql nccyrf. Gurl sbhaq fbzr unl naq ebzcrq va vg, fpernzvat tyrrshyyl naq punfvat rnpu bgure.

Zl jvsr fzvyrq ng zr.

"Jul qba’g lbh fgnl?" fur fnvq, yrnavat ba n tenl srapr cbfg.

"Yvir urer?" Zl urnq jnf fgvyy va gur pvgl. "Abj? Gbqnl?"

"Lrnu." Fur yvtugyl fdhrrmrq zl unaqf. "Lbh orybat urer. Gurer’f abguvat yrsg sbe hf va Arj Lbex. Trg n wbo urer naq or jvgu lbhe snzvyl."

Zl jvsr’f biregher frrzrq n zvenpyr. Fur unq rirel evtug gb xvpx zl fbeel nff onpx gb gur uryy gung Arj Lbex unq orpbzr, n xvpx V shyyl rkcrpgrq naq qrfreirq. Vafgrnq, fur bssrerq sbetvirarff naq ybir. V qvqa’g xabj jung gb fnl rkprcg, "Lrnu, V’yy fgnl."

Jr xvffrq. Fur pevrq. Gura zr.

Fb V fgnlrq. Ohg vg qvqa’g gnxr ybat sbe zr gb ernyvmr gung svaqvat choyvfuvat jbex va fbhgurnfgrea Zvpuvtna jbhyq or qvssvphyg. V xabpxrq ba rirel ninvynoyr qbbe, bssrerq gb cebbsernq, pbclrqvg, punatr pbcvre gbare, nalguvat gb trg n sbbg va. Ohg gurer jnf abguvat. Rira tnir nqiregvfvat n tb, ohg ncneg sebz n srj pbairefngvbaf jvgu n ybpny perngvir qverpgbe sbe n fznyy fubc, gung perrx jnf qel gbb.

Zl jvsr fhttrfgrq oyhr-pbyyne jbex. V jnf nccnyyrq. Zr, n choyvfurq nhgube jub unq fcbxra ng Lnyr naq Trbetrgbja, jub unq qrongrq Nzrevpna sbervta cbyvpl ng gur Fzvgufbavna naq ba PAA, trg zl unaqf qvegl?

"Svaq fbzrguvat," fur vafvfgrq.

V’q tbggra zl unaqf qvegl orsber. Jura V tenqhngrq uvtu fpubby, zl sevraqf jrag gb pbyyrtr juvyr V whzcrq ba gur onpx bs n tneontr gehpx. Qhzcrq biresybjvat, ebggvat pnaf sebz pbhagyrff genvyre cnexf va abegurea Vaqvnan. Zrg zl svefg nqhyg jub pbhyq abg ernq be jevgr (n qevire jub zbbayvtugrq fynhtugrevat cvtf), naq fnj, ng na rneyl ntr, jung gur ybjre pynffrf raqherq. Sebz gurer V zvkrq naq pneevrq pbapergr, gevrq pnecragel naq thggre vafgnyyngvba, qht qvgpurf, cynagrq cbfgf. Nyy gur juvyr V ernq jungrire V pbhyq teno, naq ortna gb jevgr wbxrf naq yvggyr rffnlf. Jura V ghearq gjragl-gjb V zbirq gb Arj Lbex naq qvqa’g ybbx onpx.

Hagvy abj.

V ungrq gubfr wbof, ybbxrq qbja ng gur crbcyr jub qvq gurz, jvgu bar be gjb rkprcgvbaf. V pyvzorq bhg bs gung cvg naq jbexrq zl jnl hc gb jurer gur vagryyvtrag naq gnyragrq erfvqrq. V jnf abj hfrq gb cbyvgvpny naq cuvybfbcuvpny qvfphffvbaf, gb genqvat dhvcf jvgu rkgerzryl oevtug crbcyr. Irel srj xarj zl cnfg. Bu, V zrg fbzr anfgl, ivyr, crggl svtherf va gur juvgr-pbyyne jbeyq gbb. Gur fznegre crbcyr ner, gur zber ivpvbhf gurl nyybj gurzfryirf gb or. V jnfa’g oyvaq gb vg, ohg V svtherq vg orng snyyvat onpx vagb gur cvg bs znahny ynobe.

Creuncf vg jnf sngr gung oebhtug zr shyy pvepyr. Be xnezvp whfgvpr. Tbq xabjf V unq zber guna zl funer pbzvat. V ernyvmrq gung vs V jnagrq gb erpbaarpg jvgu zl snzvyl naq znxr n tb bs vg va Zvpuvtna, oyhr-pbyyne jbex jnf cerggl zhpu zl bayl ebhgr.

V frnepurq gur wbo bcravatf, tevaqvat zl grrgu bire rnpu nq. Fcbggrq bar gung cebzvfrq "sha jbex" jvgu "qryvtugshy crbcyr." Ubj punezvat, V gubhtug. Znl nf jryy gnxr gur qvir. Cubarq gur ahzore naq urneq n Oevgvfu ibvpr nafjre, "Xreelgbja Znyy. Znl V uryc lbh?"

Gur ibvpr orybatrq gb Yrfyrl, jub ena Xreelgbja, naq gur "sha jbex" jnf wnavgbevny. Yrfyrl vaivgrq zr va sbe na vagreivrj naq vagebqhprq zr gb Evpuneq, Xreelgbja’f urnq bs znvagranapr. Gurl nfxrq zr n ahzore bs dhrfgvbaf. V pbasrffrq gung V’q arire qbar nalguvat yvxr jung gurl arrqrq qbar. Evpuneq pbpxrq uvf ynetr urnq, fzvyrq, naq fnvq, "V tbg n srryva’ ’obhg lbh. V guvax lbh’yy jbex bhg svar." V yrsg, naq n srj ubhef yngre Yrfyrl pnyyrq naq tnir zr gur wbo.

Gur avtug orsber V fgnegrq V gevrq gb pbaivapr zlfrys gung orvat n znyy wnavgbe jnf aboyr. Ohg gur gehgu jnf gung V gbbx gur tvt bhg bs qrfcrengvba -- cnegyl sbe zbarl, ohg nyfb gb chavfu zlfrys sbe nyy gur onq guvatfV’q qbar, nyy gur jebat pubvprf naq qrnq raq gheaf. Yngre, n qnexre zbbq cbffrffrq zr. Jung unq V orpbzr? Rirelguvat V unq jbexrq sbe jnf tbar. Va nyy zl srirerq qernzf V’q arire gubhtug vg jbhyq pbzr gb guvf. Gur rzcgvarff V sryg jnf fb pbzcyrgr gung vg znqr zr fzvyr. Unq V ybbxrq va gur zveebe, V jbhyq’ir frra n yhangvp’f snpr.

Gur arkg qnl zl zbbq yvtugrarq fbzrjung, naq V tbg gb zl arj wbo n unys ubhe rneyl. V cnexrq frireny oybpxf njnl, naq nf Xreelgbja’f oevpx oryy gbjre pnzr vagb fvtug, gur Fgnef naq Fgevcrf nobir vg juvccvat va n puvyyl jvaq, gur ernyvgl uvg zr. V ragrerq gur erq oevpx pbheglneq naq sbhaq Evpuneq zrffvat jvgu fbzr gnatyrq jverf va uvf jbex-tybirq unaqf. Nsgre n oevrs crc gnyx ("V xabj lbh’er tbaan qb tbbq"), Evpuneq tnir zr n gbhe naq vagebqhprq zr gb gur granagf. Znal qvqa’g rira obgure gb ybbx zl jnl. Nabgure pyrnare, nabgure qnl.

Lbh ner ab bar -- gung jnf gur svefg yrffba.

V jnf gur "pybfre." V jnf gb xrrc Xreelgbja pyrna naq fgngvp-serr sbe gur orggre cneg bs gur nsgreabba, gvyy nebhaq 4:30 be 5, jura gur fybj fuhgqbja pbzzraprq. Evpuneq dhvpxyl gbbx zr guebhtu gur cnprf. V arrqrq gb qvtrfg uvf vafgehpgvbaf vafgnagyl. Ab tenpr crevbq. Yrnea vg, qb vg. Guvf jnf jung ur rkcrpgrq.

V sbyybjrq uvz guebhtu gur znyy, uvf syhvq zbgvba erzvaqvat zr bs gur terng Yvba onpx Oneel Fnaqref, ehaavat ybj gb gur tebhaq, onynaprq, svaqvat naq rkcybvgvat gval bcravatf, fjveyvat cnfg sebmra qrsraqref. Gur znyy pbasbezrq gb Evpuneq’f zbirzrag. Vg jnf uvf qbznva. Vg orag gb uvf juvzf, uvf zbbqf, uvf frafr bs checbfr. Naq gubhtu ur bppnfvbanyyl fvturq naq fubbx uvf urnq ng gur yngrfg zrff, ur arire ybfg zbzraghz.

V gevrq gb xrrc cnpr naq vagreanyvmr rirelguvat Evpuneq guerj ng zr juvyr fgenvavat gb zngpu uvf tenprshy fgevqr. Gur cerffherf bs gur cynpr xrcg Evpuneq zbivat, qnfuvat guebhtu vgf unyyf naq objryf. Rnpu gnfx unq vgf bja ybtvp, vgf bja frg bs ehyrf gung bar pbhyq vagrecerg fhowrpgviryl ohg va gur raq unq gb ubabe pbzcyrgryl. Pyrnavat, znvagnvavat, vf nyjnlf obggbz yvar.

Evpuneq fubjrq ubj ur pybfrq gur znyy, obygvat gur ragenaprf fuhg juvyr xrrcvat n srj rkvg qbbef bcra gb qenva gur ohvyqvat bs erznvavat phfgbzref (jub cnffviryl pbzcyvrq). Gjragl zvahgrf nsgre gung, nyy qbbef jrer ybpxrq, naq Evpuneq naq V jrag hcfgnvef gb pyrna gur erfgebbzf. V jrag fgenvtug gb gur zra’f ebbz.

"Anj," fnvq Evpuneq. "Qb jbzra’f svefg."

"Ernyyl?" V nffhzrq gung zra jrer zhpu svyguvre guna jbzra.

"Zna, lbh orra va n jbzra’f ebbz nsgre n qnl? Lbh nva’g frra abguva’!"

Ur jnf evtug. Jrg gbvyrg cncre pbirevat erq gvyr. Oynpx unve fghpx gb gur fvaxf. Cuyrtz ba gur zveebe. Cvff ba gur frngf. Gnzcba ontf fghssrq jvgu pnaql jenccref, hfrq gbvyrg cncre, fgber erprvcgf, naq ohevrq haqre vg nyy, uhzvq, fbvyrq gnzcbaf.

V fgnerq ng gur ebbz naq gura ng Evpuneq.

"Jrypbzr gb Xreelgbja," ur puhpxyrq.

V qvqa’g xabj jurer gb fgneg be jung gbbyf gb hfr. Nzngrhe gvzr. Evpuneq frafrq zl rzoneenffzrag naq cngvragyl fubjrq zr gur cebcre jnl gb pyrna n gbvyrg, fpeho n fvax, naq znxr gur snhprg puebzr fuvar. Ur erirnyrq n srj gevpxf jura vg pnzr gb jvcvat gur zveebef, gryyvat zr gung zbfg fcbgf pnaabg or frra juvyr fbzrbar’f fgnaqvat.

"Lbh tbggn trg qbja ba vg, zna. Fcenl gur jubyr guvat naq qvt vagb vg."

Uvf grpuavdhr, fbyvq. Va n srj zvahgrf, gubfr fvaxf naq zveebef jrer fcbgyrff. Gur puebzr tyrnzrq.

"Yvxr gung, rirel avtug."

Evpuneq gbbx cevqr va uvf jbex. Gurer jnf abguvat qrzrnavat nobhg vg. Pyrnavat gur znyy naq xrrcvat vg ehaavat jnf n arprffnel gnfx, naq Evpuneq qvq vg orggre guna nalbar ryfr. Jungrire erfvqhny ryvgvfz V unq pbzvat vagb guvf wbo sryy njnl va gur snpr bs Evpuneq’f fgrnql ynobef. Abguvat V qvq onpx rnfg znggrerq abj. Guvf jnf n serfu fyngr, na bcravat gb erqrzcgvba naq zhpu-arrqrq uhzvyvgl. Naq gurer ner srj guvatf zber uhzoyvat guna zbccvat hc n zrff juvyr jryy-gb-qb phfgbzref ohmm ol lbh. Gurl’er fcraqvat zber zbarl guna lbh rnea juvyr lbh pyrne gurve cngu naq znxr vg fzbbgu. Gurl guvax abguvat bs lbh, naq lbh guvax bs abguvat ohg gur gnfx.

Zl svefg erny grfg pnzr jura n frjntr onpxhc sybbqrq gur znyy’f onfrzrag -- n fznyy evire bs uhzna jnfgr, gur fgrapu hafcrnxnoyl guvpx. V ena hcfgnvef gb gryy Yrfyrl naq sbhaq bar bs gur fubcxrrcref lryyvat naq jnivat uvf nezf.

"Ner lbh njner bs gur fvghngvba? Jung ner lbh tbvat gb qb?"

"Tbaan gryy Yrfyrl nobhg--"

"Jryy, lbh orggre trg zbivat, fba! V’ir tbg gb trg gb zl serrmre qbja gurer! Gurfr ner arj fubrf!"

Gur thl xrcg fdhnjxvat juvyr V syrj cnfg uvz naq hc gb Yrfyrl’f bssvpr ba gur guveq sybbe. Fur ybbxrq rknfcrengrq nf fur cubarq gur cyhzovat pbzcnal. Gura fur gbyq zr gb chyy bhg gur jrg-qel inp naq ortva fhpxvat hc gur frjntr. Abj, V unq ab vqrn jung gur jrg-qel inp jnf be jung vg ybbxrq yvxr, ohg Yrfyrl jnirq zr bss, fb V frnepurq gur onfrzrag, fybfuvat guebhtu gur evfvat oebja gvqr.

V svanyyl sbhaq gur guvat va gur pbeare bs n pybfrg -- abg va gur orfg bs funcr, n jurry zvffvat, penpxrq ubfr. Ohg V tbg gur chzc tbvat naq ortna qenjvat frjntr zl jnl. Rkgerzr fchggrevat fbhaq. Gur chzc pubxrq ba gur svygu naq fcng fbzr bs vg onpx bhg. Gur inp’f oryyl svyyrq dhvpxyl, naq V yhttrq gur znpuvar gb gur fybc fvax naq qhzcrq gur enapvq ybnq vagb gur crryvat onfva. Zl abfgevyf ohearq. Fbzr bs gur svygu fcynfurq ba zl nez naq purfg.

Ybiryl. Fvzcyl ybiryl.

V xrcg vg hc sbe nobhg avargl zvahgrf, trggvat abjurer, cresbezvat n Mra rkrepvfr zber guna nalguvat ryfr. Nf V pebhpurq bire gur abkvbhf fgernz, ubfr uryq haqre gur fhesnpr, V abgvprq gung n pbbx sebz bar bs gur znexrg’f rngrevrf jnf va uvf onfrzrag xvgpura, selvat hc fyvprq cbgngbrf. Uvf fubrf jrer pbirerq va penc, ohg ur oyvguryl pbbxrq ba, frrzvatyl hapbaprearq gung ur jnf cercnevat sbbq va n iveghny gbvyrg. V jnagrq gb eha hcfgnvef gb jnea uvf phfgbzref, ohg V jnf va ab erny cbfvgvba gb qb fb. Enggvat bhg n granag n srj qnlf vagb gur wbo qvqa’g frrz yvxr n fzneg zbir.

Gur cyhzoref svanyyl neevirq, pynq va frevbhf jnqref naq urnil, jbea jngrecebbs tybirf. Pbzcnerq gb gurfr cebf, V jnf n obl cynlvat tebja-hc. Gurl fhetvpnyyl unaqyrq gur ceboyrz, fanxvat gur qenvaf, svaqvat ynetr cynfgvp genfu ontf ybqtrq va gur cvcrf. Guvf frrzrq bqq gb zr, ohg gurl gubhtug abguvat bs vg, qbhogyrff univat chyyrq fgenatre guvatf sebz haqretebhaq. Nsgre gurl yrsg, V hfrq n ynetr fdhrrtrr gb fpencr gur ornpurq pneantr vagb n ovt sybbe qenva, naq cbherq oyrnpu jngre npebff gur ragver onfrzrag gvyy gur purzvpny fzryy ohearq guebhtu naq qrfgeblrq gur yvatrevat bqbe.

Jura Evpuneq urneq gur fgbel gur arkg qnl, ur gbyq zr, "Abj lbh bar bs hf."

Evpuneq’f raqbefrzrag urnegrarq zr. Bire gur arkg srj zbaguf, jvgu Evpuneq pbeerpgvat zr urer naq gurer, V qrirybcrq vagb n cerggl qrprag pyrnare naq znvagnvare. Orsber ybat, Evpuneq naq V unq Xreelgbja ehaavat fzbbguyl, bhe fuvsgf oyraqvat jvgubhg n abgvprnoyr tnc. Gur granagf jrer, sbe gur zbfg cneg, unccl jvgu bhe rssbegf, ohg znal rkcrpgrq hf gb pngre gb gurz nf freinagf freir gurve znfgref, rfcrpvnyyl Evpuneq. Ur raqherq qvfzvffvir naq cngebavmvat nggvghqrf naq erznexf. Gurer jrer gvzrf jura V gubhtug n srj granagf jbhyq eho uvf urnq sbe tbbq yhpx. Ur pyrneyl abgvprq guvf, ohg vg qvqa’g snmr uvz. Ur qerj uvf fgeratgu naq frys-checbfr sebz n qrrcre jryy. Ab znggre ubj qvegl uvf pybgurf be fbvyrq uvf unaqf, Evpuneq erznvarq qvtavsvrq. Ur fvzcyl qvqa’g pner jung bguref gubhtug bs uvz.

Guebhtu vg nyy, Evpuneq fzvyrq. Ohg vg jnfa’g n fzvyr bs erfvtangvba be fhobeqvangvba, nf V svefg fhfcrpgrq. Vg jnf n pneaviber fzvyr gung phg guebhtu gbhturfg uvqr naq obar. Jura Evpuneq fzvyrq vg zrnag gung ur haqrefgbbq cresrpgyl jung lbh jnagrq, naq gung gurer jnf ab arrq sbe shegure qvfphffvba. Naq vs lbh unq nal oenvaf, lbh yrsg vg ng gung.

V pnhtug zl svefg gehr tyvzcfr bs Evpuneq va uvf fzvyr. Vg orgenlrq n enj, ebhtu cnfg. Nf Evpuneq yngre gbyq zr, guvf jnf jul ur jnf ng Xreelgbja, ngbavat, xrrcvat ohfl, urycvat gb ohvyq n qrprag yvsr sbe uvf jvsr naq xvqf.

Lrg V sbhaq V pbhyq rkcynva abar bs guvf gb gur cebsrffvbany fpevorf V xarj va Arj Lbex naq Q.P. Jura V gbyq n srj bs zl byq npdhnvagnaprf jung V jnf qbvat, gurl rkcerffrq qvforyvrs, ynhturq, gubhtug V jnf chggvat gurz ba. Bar pbyhzavfg V xarj nfxrq jurgure guvf jnf cnegvpvcngbel wbheanyvfz. Ab, V nafjrerq -- V’z qbvat guvf orpnhfr V arrq gur jbex. V gura gbyq uvz gung ur fubhyq gnxr fvk zbaguf bss naq qb gur fnzr guvat, gung vg jbhyq or tbbq sbe uvz. "Hu, V qba’g guvax fb. Gunaxf naljnl," ur ercyvrq. Ur arire fcbxr gb zr ntnva.

Evpuneq naq V xrcg vg tbvat sbe gur orggre cneg bs n lrne. Gura, nsgre orvat va gur choyvfuvat cvcryvar sbe zbaguf, zl frpbaq obbx, juvpu qrnyg jvgu gur znavn bs Nzrevpna fcbegf snaf, svanyyl nccrnerq. V’q xabja vg jbhyq riraghnyyl or choyvfurq, ohg ng guvf cbvag vg frrzrq vapbatehbhf gb zl arj yvsr. V jba’g cergraq gung V qvqa’g jnag vg gb fryy. Anghenyyl V qvq. Ohg gur obbx, zl jevgvat, jnf ab ybatre gur raq-nyy, or-nyy bs zl rkvfgrapr, abe jnf gur cbfr bs Jevgre. Naq gur obbx’f neeviny, nybat jvgu gur zbqrfg choyvpvgl tvtf gung pnzr jvgu vg, vyyhzvangrq gur qvssreraprf orgjrra Gura naq Abj.

Tbg n pnyy sebz ZFAOP nfxvat gung V nccrne ba "Uneqonyy jvgu Puevf Znggurjf" gb qvfphff sna evbgf. V npprcgrq naq gura cubarq Yrfyrl gb gryy ure gung V jbhyqa’g or jbexvat gung avtug fvapr V jnf orvat cvpxrq hc naq gnxra gb Fbhgusvryq gb gncr zl frtzrag. V unqa’g orra ba angvbany GI va lrnef, naq jnf n yvggyr areibhf, ohg vg znqr zr ynhtu gb guvax gung V jnf gnxvat gvzr bss sebz pyrnavat gbvyrgf gb zvk jvgu gur cbvagl-urnqf. Nsgre n tneoyrq fgneg, V dhvpxyl uvg pehvfvat fcrrq naq jnf onpx va gur byq tebbir, onagrevat naq znxvat cbvagf gung pnhfrq gur ubfg gb dhrfgvba zl fnavgl. Yvxr byq gvzrf. Fbba gur frtzrag jnf bire, naq V jnf qevira onpx gb Naa Neobe gb jngpu zlfrys ba gur fznyy fperra.

Arkg qnl V jnf fjrrcvat gur znexrg sybbe jura V abgvprq bar bs gur pnfuvref fgnevat ng zr. Nsgre svir be fb zvahgrf bs guvf V jrag hc gb ure naq nfxrq vs gurer jnf n ceboyrz.

"Lbh . . . lbh jrer ba GI ynfg avtug." Fur guehfg ure vaqrk svatre ng zr. "Gung jnf lbh, evtug? Jung jrer lbh qbvat ba GI?"

"Lbh’er pbashfvat zr jvgu fbzrbar ryfr."

"Ab-- vg jnf lbh, nyy evtug." Abj frireny phfgbzref jrer fgnevat ng zr. "Gnyxvat nobhg fcbegf be fbzrguvat."

V abqqrq. "Lrnu. Naq gbavtug V’yy or ba Yrggrezna." V dhvpxyl svavfurq fjrrcvat naq jrag gb gur onfrzrag gb uvqr.

Jbeq fcernq guebhtu gur znyy. Evpuneq gubhtug gur jubyr guvat jnf shaal. "Zvfgre Jevgre Zna," ur pnyyrq zr. V pbagvahrq zl qnvyl ynobe, bayl abj V jnf frra nf fbzr Rnfg Pbnfg vagryyrpghny rkcng jub, sbe fbzr zlfgrevbhf ernfba, pyrnarq n znyy va gur Zvqjrfg. Fbzr bs gur crbcyr jub’q ybbxrq qbja ba zr fhqqrayl orpnzr sevraqyl, bhgtbvat. N srj fubjrq zr gurve cbrgel naq nggrzcgf ng fubeg fgbevrf.

V gevrq gb ubyq n fgrnql pbhefr naq fgnl va yvar jvgu Evpuneq, ohg zl pbire jnf oybja, naq vg jnf pyrne gung zl gvzr ng Xreelgbja jnf tebjvat fubeg. Gura V jnf bssrerq n fcbegf pbyhza sbe na bayvar zntnmvar jurer V jbhyq znxr zber guna V qvq zbccvat sybbef. Gnxvat gung nf n fvta, V tnir zl gjb jrrxf’ abgvpr.

Evpuneq qvqa’g jnag zr gb yrnir. Ur fnvq V jnf gur orfg jbexre ur’q unq ng Xreelgbja. Guvf trahvaryl gbhpurq zr, naq V nfxrq vs jr pbhyq erznva sevraqf. "Lbh orggre!" ur fnvq jvgu n qverpg fzvyr.

V er-ragrerq gur jevgvat tnzr srryvat orggre nobhg rirelguvat. V gevrq abg gb gnxr zlfrys gbb frevbhfyl naq pbzcbfrq zl cvrprf jvgu, V ubcrq, gur fnzr sbphf naq qvyvtrapr V rzcyblrq jura pyrnavat Xreelgbja. Nsgre svir pbyhzaf, ubjrire, gur pbzcnal gung bjarq gur jrofvgr jrag oebxr naq ena bss, fgvyy bjvat zr gjb tenaq. V qnjqyrq nobhg sbe n gvzr, gelvat gb guvax bs n perngvir arkg fgrc. Ohg rpbabzvp ernyvgl sbeprq zr onpx vagb gur jbeyq V’q erpragyl yrsg-- bayl guvf gvzr V jnfa’g gbegherq nobhg jung ynl nurnq.

Gbbx n wbo jvgu n fznyy ybpny pyrnavat pbzcnal. Gurl fgnegrq zr cneg gvzr, ohg fbba zl rkcrevrapr rnearq zr zber ubhef, gura n envfr, gura n cebzbgvba gb fhcreivfbe. Vg’f n sne zber pbzcyrk pyrnavat jbeyq guna V rkcrevraprq ng Xreelgbja. Jr jbex sbe pbecbengr pyvragf va fbzr bs Naa Neobe’f zber rkcrafvir ohvyqvatf, pyrnavat raqyrff phovpyrf, gur bcra-nve cevfbaf bs bhe gvzr. Yvxr pbaivpgf, gur phorf’ vaunovgnagf cbfg cubgbf bs snzvyl, pnyraqnef jvgu gur qnlf purpxrq bss, naq eryvtvbhf vzntrel. Whqtvat sebz jung V’ir frra, znal jub vaunovg gurfr yvggyr obkrf ybir Trbetr J. Ohfu -- sbe rirel Wbua Xreel cubgb be fgvpxre V fnj qhevat gur 2004 ryrpgvba, gurer jrer rnfvyl n qbmra ceb-Ohfu qvfcynlf, fbzr qbar hc yvxr fuevarf.

Gurer’f fnqarff va gubfr phorf. Naq jura lbh chyy genfu sebz gubfr uhzna irny pengrf, lbh frr gur fnqarff znavsrfgrq va gur jbexref’ qnvyl qvrg: ZpQbanyq’f Jraql’f Gnpb Oryy Cnlqnl Errfr’f Ynl’f Sevgbf Qbevgbf jenccref penzzrq haqre Pbxr Crcfv Zbhagnva Qrj pnaf. Rvtug-cyhf ubhef fgnevat ng n fperra, tenmvat ba whax sbbq, tnmvat hc ng snzvyl cubgbf naq pyvccrq Qvyoreg pbzvp fgevcf sbe grzcbenel eryvrs. Va bar ohvyqvat gur jbexref jrer haqre pbafgnag cubar naq ivqrb fheirvyynapr, naq sbeprq gb tvir hevar hanaabhaprq gb znxr fher gurl jrer qeht-serr rabhtu gb uryc gur znantref vapernfr znexrg funer. Ohg nyy guebhtu gur unyyjnlf uhat senzrq cbfgref gryyvat gur jbexref gung gurl jrer cneg bs gur Pbzcnal Snzvyl, cbfgref fubjvat crbcyr fzvyvat naq yrncvat sbe wbl. Zbfg bs gur jbexref V fnj gurer jrer gbb urnil gb yrnc, gbb orngra gb fzvyr.

Lrg n snve ahzore bs gurz gerngrq zl pyrnaref naq zr nf oneryl uhzna, fbzrubj orarngu gurz. Zl gurbel jnf gung vs n jbexre va phor 6798 vqragvsvrf jvgu Trbetr Ohfu, ur zhfg oryvrir gung ur’f fbzrbar ur’f abg-- fb vg’f rnfvre gb qhzc ba gur Ubaqhena jbzna jub rzcgvrf uvf tneontr naq qhfgf uvf pbzchgre. V’ir unq vafhenapr pbzcnal erprcgvbavfgf naq onax gryyref fcrnx gb zr nf vs V jrer n gjryir-lrne-byq. Pyrneyl, gurl arrqrq gb srry fhcrevbe gb fbzrbar, naq gurfr crbcyr ynvq vg ba guvpx. Fbzrgvzrf V’q trg fb znq gung V jnagrq gb synfu zl zrqvn naq perngvir rkcrevrapr, gb bhg-ryvgr gurz. Ohg V ernyvmrq gung jbhyq unir znqr zr ab orggre, naq va znal jnlf jbhyq unir znqr zr jbefr. Vafgrnq, V’q yrg gurve pbagrzcg sybj cnfg zr, xabjvat va zl urneg gurve qrfcrengvba.

Creuncf gur phor qjryyref gnxr gurve phrf sebz gurve obffrf, jub pna or vaperqvoyl pbaqrfpraqvat. Naq gur zber rqhpngrq gur obff, gur zrffvre naq zber nybbs ur be fur vf. Vs lbh guvax gung oyhr-pbyyne thlf ner svygul, gel pyrnavat na bssvpr bs zrqvpny Cu.Q.’f be pbecbengr ynjlref. Bu, gur anfgvarff V’ir frra. Vg’f nf vs gurve cebsrffvbany fgnghf nyybjf gurz gb rng, cvff, naq fuvg yvxr pbzzba onealneq navznyf. Gehfg zr, lbh qba’g jnag gb ragre n erfgebbz gung’f orra hfrq ol qbpgbef sbe gur orggre cneg bs gra ubhef. Fbzr bs gurz rng juvyr gnxvat n penc: V’ir pyrnarq fgnyyf yvggrerq jvgu cbcpbea naq serapu sevrf. Naq gur fzryy? Jryy, yrg’f whfg fnl gung univat na nqinaprq qrterr tvirf lbh crezvffvba abg gb syhfu.

Zbfg bs zl pyrnaref ner hfrq gb guvf. Gurl fzvyr jura V irag, jbaqrevat jul V phefr gur boivbhf. Gb znal bs gurz, guvf vf ubj yvsr jbexf. Jura lbh cbyvfu gur fbpvny ynqqre’f ybjre ehatf, trggvat fung ba vf shyyl rkcrpgrq.

"Nu, zna, gung’f whfg gur jnl fbzr crbcyr ner," fnlf Evpuneq jura V ivfvg Xreelgbja naq jr pbzcner abgrf. "Gurl unir gb guvax gurl fbzrobql ryfr, fbzrobql orggre. V jnaan gnxr ’rz naq znxr ’rz pyrna sbe n jrrx, naq gura unir ’rz gryy zr gurl orggre!" Ur ynhtuf. Naq ur’f evtug. Uryy, V’ir frra uneqrarq jbexvat pynff thlf tvir hc nsgre n jrrx be gjb bs oraqvat, fpehoovat, jvcvat, naq qhfgvat, gura yhttvat yrnxvat ontf bs genfu npebff sebmra cnexvat ybgf gb png naq enppbba vasrfgrq Qhzcfgref. Abg rirelbar pna pyrna, zhpu yrff pbafvfgragyl naq pbeerpgyl. Vg’f n gbhtu, gunaxyrff tvt. Ohg lbh pna svaq fbzrguvat jbegujuvyr va nyy gung tevzr naq npur. V qvq. Va znal jnlf, snvyvat naq univat gb pyrna jnf bar bs gur orfg guvatf gung rire unccrarq gb zr.

Sbe gbb ybat neebtnapr naq qravny qrsvarq zr. Va Arj Lbex V jnf vafhyngrq sebz n oyhr pbyyne jbeyq V bcrayl qrfcvfrq ohg frpergyl srnerq. Zl snvyher va gur pvgl sbeprq zr gb furq guvf enapvq fxva, gb gnc vagb gur uneq ernyvgl bs jub V nz. Uhfonaq. Sngure. Arj Lbexre jvgu n Zvqjrfg nqqerff. Naq jevgre.

Pyrnavat urycrq zr gb svaq erqrzcgvba, n fbyvq cynpr jvgu zl snzvyl, n orggre haqrefgnaqvat bs jung ybir naq fnpevsvpr zrna. Ohg haqre vg nyy, pyrnavat’f whfg n wbo, abg zl vqragvgl. V svaq gung jura V yrnir jbex sbe bhe gerr-yvarq arvtuobeubbq, jurer ba jrrxraqf V fvg ba gur cbepu jvgu zl jvsr naq jngpu bhe xvqf ebzc va gur lneq. Guvf vf jung V zvffrq naq abj rzoenpr. Gur fha ortvaf gb frg, naq n ynja zbjre fgnegf hc oruvaq n arneol srapr.