The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 230
%96 C6>?2?ED @7 E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@? 925 =2:5 2? 688 :?D:56 >J 6J6]
x 925 E9@F89E :E 925 D@>6 F=E6C:@C >@E:G6[ 3FE x 5:5?VE 6IA64E :E E@ >2?:76DE =:<6 E9:D]
‘$@ :E’== DE@A 2E ?@E9:?8 E@ E2<6 @G6C >J 3@5J]’
(6==[ :E AC@323=J 5:5?VE H2?E E@ ;FDE 36 FD65] xE >FDE 92G6 366? 56DA6C2E6 7@C 2 ?6H >6E9@5]
p?5 E9:D H2D E96 AC@@7 @7 E92E ?6H >6E9@5]
~?=J ?@H 5:5 x C62=:K6 H92E E92E D6?D2E:@? x 925 76=E E@H2C5D $92C:? 2?5 xD236= H2D]
xE H2D 9F?86C]
%@ 2? 2?4:6?E 5C28@?[ 9F>2?D H6C6 2? 6?6C8J D@FC46 E92E 4@F=5 36 4@?DF>65 2E 2?J E:>6] %96 D2>6 2AA=:65 E@ E96 5C28@?\<:? 4C62E65 :? E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?VD :>286]
%96 5C28@?\<:?VD 688 925 366? DE:>F=2E:?8 >J 2AA6E:E6 E@ DFAA=J :ED6=7 H:E9 6?6C8J] %9:D C@EE6? 4C62EFC6 H2D FC8:?8 >6 E@ 62E >J 7C:6?5D]
$9@F=5 x H2:E 7@C E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?VD 688 E@ 92E49 2?5 364@>6 2 5C28@?\<:?n
~C D9@F=5 x C6>@G6 >J C:89E 6J6n
%96 2?DH6C H2D @3G:@FD]
%96 >@>6?E >J 92?5 >@G65 H:E9@FE 96D:E2E:@?[ xD236= CFD965 7@CH2C5]
“}@P”
pD xD236= 8C23365 >J 92?5[ x DA@<6 2D D6C:@FD=J 2D A@DD:3=6]
“xD236=[ :7 E9:?8D DE2J =:<6 E9:D[ 2 5C28@?\<:? H:== 92E49 7C@> E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?’D 688] xE’D 36EE6C E@ C6>@G6 E96 6J6 ?@H[ H9:=6 :E’D ;FDE D6EE=65[ E92? E@ =6E E92E 92AA6?]”
“s@ J@F 6G6?
x 925 >256 2? 6IEC6>6=J C2E:@?2= ;F58>6?E]
“{:DE6? 4=@D6=J]”
xD236= 96=5 >J 92?5 7:C>=J]
“*@F’G6 =@DE J@FC 42A24:EJ 7@C =@G6] %92E :?4=F56D D6=7\=@G6] (92E J@F’C6 5@:?8 ?@H :D D@>6E9:?8 D@>6@?6 H9@ ?@C>2==J 6IA6C:6?46D =@G6 H@F=5?’E 5@]”
p?5 x H2D 36:?8 E@@ C2E:@?2=] &?96D:E2E:?8=J 6=:>:?2E:?8 2 D>2== C:D< E@ AC6G6?E 2 8C62E6C @?6]
xE H2D 2? @3D6CG2E:@? E92E AC64:D6=J D2H E9C@F89 >J @A6C2E:?8 AC:?4:A=6]
&?56CDE2?5:?8 xD236=’D A@:?E[ x =@H6C65 >J 92?5] xD236= =6E @FE 2 3C62E9[ 2D :7 96C 962CE 925 ?62C=J 5C@AA65]
“qFE xD236=[ 2D =@?8 2D E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?’D 688 :D DE:== E96C6[ E96C6’D ?@ @E96C H2J]”
%96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?’D 688 H@F=5 6G6?EF2==J 92E49 H:E9 E:>6] %9:D H2D 2? F?492?8623=6 ECFE9]
}@C 4@F=5 x DFAAC6DD :E H:E9 E96 u=2>6D @7 pD9 =:<6 =2DE E:>6] xE H2D 2? 688 5:C64E=J =@5865 :?D:56 >J 6J6] qFC?:?8 >J 6J6 7:6C46=J H@F=5?VE 36 >F49 5:776C6?E 7C@> C6>@G:?8 :E H:E9 >J @H? 92?5] %@ C6>@G6 E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?’D 688[ x H@F=5 92G6 E@ C6>@G6 >J 6J6 2D H6==]
%9:D >F49 H2D 2? F?492?8623=6 ECFE9]
“|@C6 E92? 2?JE9:?8[ ?@H E92E x’> 2H2C6[ x 42? D66 E92E >J 4FCC6?E DE2E6 :D 52?86C@FD]”
“s2?86C@FD :? H92E H2Jn”
“xD236=[ x H2?E E@ 62E J@F C:89E ?@H]”
xD236= 7=:?4965] $@@? 27E6C[ 96C 7246 8C25F2==J EFC?65 C65[ 2?5 7:?2==J[ D>@<6 D66>65 E@ 3FCDE 7@CE9 7C@> 96C] xE H2D?’E 2? 6I2886C2E:@?j :E ECF=J =@@<65 E92E H2J]
(9J :D D96 =:<6 E92En
u@C 2 >@>6?E[ x DE2C65 3=2?<=J[ ?@E F?56CDE2?5:?8[ E96? 36=2E65=J C62=:K65 x 925 49@D6? >J H@C5D A@@C=J] %96 H@C5 Q62EQ H2D 2=D@ 2 D=2?8 E6C> 7@C D6IF2= :?E6C4@FCD6 H:E9 2 H@>2?] xE H2D?VE DEC2?86 7@C xD236= E@ >:DF?56CDE2?5]
“xD236=[ E92E’D ?@E H92E x >62?E]”
“p9[ 299[ x 65[ 56DA6C2E6=J ECJ:?8 E@ 9:56 96C E9@C@F89=J 7=FD965 7246] w6C 3@5J EC6>3=65 7@C 2 >@>6?E[ 3FE :E D66>65 D96 H2D 6>32CC2DD65 3J 96C >:DF?56CDE2?5:?8] x 925 >256 xD236= 766= 2H
x 4@?E:?F65 DA62<:?8 H9:=6 xD236= E@@< 2 566A 3C62E9] w6C 7246 H2D DE:== C65j :E =@@<65 =:<6 :E H@F=5 E2<6 2 H9:=6 =@?86C 7@C 96C E@ 42=> 5@H?]
“x’> D@CCJ 7@C >2<:?8 J@F >:DF?56CDE2?5]”
“……xE’D 7:?6] x >:DF?56CDE@@5 @? >J @H?]”
xD236= HC2AA65 96C 2C>D 2C@F?5 96CD6=7 2?5 8=2?465 2E >6] %96?[ H:E9 6>32CC2DD65 6J6D[ D96 =@H6C65 96C 9625 D=:89E=J]
“p?5 7@C J@F[ x’> @<2J H:E9 :E]”
%92E E@@ H2D 2 C6>2C< =256? H:E9 >F=E:A=6 >62?:?8D]
“yFDE E@ 36 4=62C[ :E’D ?@E E96 2AA6E:E6 <:?5]”
pE E9:D C2E6[ xD236=’D 62CD H@F=5 AC@323=J 3FC? @77] x7 x 925 2?J =@G6 =67E[ H@F=5?VE E9:D D:EF2E:@? 92G6 366? ECF=J 52?86C@FDn u@C 2? @C5:?2CJ >2?[ :E H@F=5 92G6 366? 2 762DE @7 H@C5D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ :8?@C6]
rC62<—
pD 2? F?DA@<6? D:=6?46 9F?8 36EH66? FD[ E96 324< 5@@C DF556?=J @A6?65] %96C6 DE@@5 $6C@?[ 5C288:?8 $92C:? 2=@?8]
“(92E[ 2C6?’E J@F EH@ 5@?6 E2=<:?8 J6En”
xE D66>65 D96 925 :?E6?E:@?2==J 3C@F89E E96 D=66A:?8 $92C:?]
pD $6C@? 4=@D65 E96 5@@C 2?5 6?E6C65[ $92C:? D=@H=J C2:D65 96C 9625] $92C:?VD ?@D6 EH:E4965[ DE:== 962GJ H:E9 D=66A] %96? D96 D=@H=J @A6?65 96C 6J6D 2?5 DE2C65 2E >6 2?5 xD236=]
“(6C6 J@F EH@ ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 2 323Jn”
}@H[ H92E :?D2?6 ?@?D6?D6 H2D E9:Dn
“(92E[ H92En”
$6C@?[ ;2H 282A6 2E $92C:?VD C6>2C<[ H9:C=65 2C@F?5 E@ 7246 FD] %96?[ H:E9 2 7=FD965 7246[ D96 H2D 23@FE E@ 8=2C6 2E FD 3@E9 3FE 7C@K6 FA@? D66:?8 >6]
“(@29[ !C:?46 $H66E !@E2E@[ H92E’D HC@?8 H:E9 J@FC 6J6P”
x’5 92G6 E@ 6IA=2:? E@ 96C E@@] x :>>65:2E6=J 3682? 6IA=2:?:?8[ :?E6?5:?8 E@ D9:7E E96 >@@5] x? E96 >62?E:>6[ xD236=[ C646:G:?8 $92C:?VD 8=2C6[ BF:6E=J C6EC62E65 E@ 2 4@C?6C @7 E96 365]
p7E6C 2== E96 6IA=2?2E:@?D H6C6 7:?:D965[ $92C:? H2D E96 7:CDE E@ 6I2>:?6 >J 6J6]
“w>>[ :E’D A6C764E=J D6EE=65]”
x D6?D65 EC@F3=6 7C@> $92C:?] tG6? E@ 96C[ :E D66>65 E96C6 H2D ?@ H2J @E96C E92? E@ C6>@G6 :E]
“{:?[ :D?’E E96C6 2?JE9:?8 J@F 42? 5@n”
“%92E’D C:89E[ J@F >28:4 7@I[ 6G6? :7 J@F 5@?’E 28:4 :D @>?:A@E6?EP”
pD xD236= 2?5 $6C@? FC865 96C[ $92C:? =@@<65 2E >6 2D H6==] w6C 6J6D 96=5 H@CCJ 7@C >6]
“qFE x 42?’E 5@ 2?JE9:?8 6:E96C] %9:D :D?’E >28:4[ D@ :E’D 2 5:776C6?E 7:6=5] xE’D >@C6 =:<6 2 A2C2D:E:4 @C82?:D>]”
#6>@G:?8 2 A2C2D:E:4 @C82?:D> >62?E 2AA=J:?8 >65:4:?6 @C 6IEC24E:?8 2?5 <:==:?8 :E] $@[ :E H2D ?2EFC2= E92E $92C:? 925 ?@ D@=FE:@? 6:E96C]
“$6C:@FD=J]”
$92C:?[ H:E9 2 7CFDEC2E65 6IAC6DD:@?[ 86?E=J A2EE65 >J 496DE] xE H2D DF49 2 D@7E E@F49[ =:<6 2 4@EE@? A2H]
“(9J 5:5 J@F 3C:?8 D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E92E 2=@?8 282:?P”
(96? $6C@? 96253FEE65 >J D:56[ >J C:89E 6J6 2=>@DE 42>6 @FE[ H9:49 H@F=5 92G6 366? 2 ‘4FC6’] p== E96:C 82K6D @? >6 H6C6 EC@F3=65] p== @7 E96> H6C6 7:==65 H:E9 H@CCJ] pE E9:D C2E6[ x’5 @?=J 42FD6 E96> >@C6 H@CCJ]
yFDE 2D x H2D H@?56C:?8 :7 E96C6 H2D 2?J D@=FE:@?[ 2 D:?8=6 :?5:G:5F2= 42>6 E@ >:?5]
“%96C6’D D@>6@?6 H9@ >:89E 6E9:?8 23@FE E9:D]”
p 3@J H9@D6 :56?E:EJ x 5:5?VE
|:5C2 !6?:?]
x D9@F=5 >66E 9:>]
pE 2 E:>6 H96? E96 H@C=5 H2D :? 492@D[ H:E9 E96 4:G:= H2C :? E96 z:?85@> @7 !2?:DJD F?6?5:?8 2?5 E96 :>A6C:2= E9C@?6 23@FE E@ 492?86 92?5D[ y6C:@? p4256>J’D 6?EC2?46 6I2>:?2E:@? H2D 96=5] !6@A=6 82E96C65 7C@> 2== 4@C?6CD @7 E96 H@C=5 E@ 2AA=J 7@C :E] p>@?8 E96> H6C6 >6>36CD 7C@> @E96C <:?85@>D 36J@?5 E96 t>A:C6] y6C:@? p4256>JVD AC6DE:86 H2D D@ 9:89 E92E 6G6? A6@A=6 7C@> @E96C ?2E:@?D 42>6 E@ E2<6 E96 6I2>] %92?
p? 6?5=6DD AC@46DD:@? @7 2AA=:42?ED A@FC65 :?] tG6? 27E6C 5:DBF2=:7J:?8 DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 36=@H DE2?52C5 :? E96 7:CDE C@F?5[ E9:D >2?J C6>2:?65] p>@?8 E96> H6C6 >2?J C6?@H?65 DEF56?ED] x7 @?6 H6C6 E@ A:4< E96 >@DE C6?@H?65 2>@?8 E96>[ :E H@F=5 36 E96 :?5:G:5F2= H9@[ ;FDE C646?E=J[ 2=@?8 H:E9 q26< |@<8@?8[ 6C25:42E65 >JDE:4:D>i
y6?:2 }:7=96:>]
$96 H2D 2 $2:?E\%:6C >28:4 FD6C[ CF>@C65 E@ 36 2 56D46?52?E @7 y6C:@?]
yFDE E96?[ E96 }:7=96:> r@F?E’D 42CC:286 DE@AA65 2E E96 24256>J 6?EC2?46] %96 DEF56?EDV 82K6D ?2EFC2==J 4@?G6C865 E96C6[ 2?5 D@@? 27E6C[ E96 42CC:286 5@@C @A6?65] (92E 6>6C865 7C@> E96 42CC:286 H2D 2 A6E:E6 8:C= @7 D9@CE DE2EFC6] qFE 96C D>2==?6DD H2D @?=J :? 96C 96:89E] p>:5DE 96C 7=@H:?8 H9:E6 92:C[ 96C 2>36C 6J6D D9@?6 362FE:7F==J[ =:<6 6>365565 ;6H6=D] $EF56?ED[ 42AE:G2E65 3J 96C 362FE:7F= 2AA62C2?46[ DE2C65 2E 96C :? 2 52K6] p D92CA\6J65 H9:E6 92>DE6C E92E H2D D@ :>A@DD:3=J 25@C23=6 :E D66>65 J@F H@F=5?VE 766= A2:? 6G6? :7 J@F AFE :E :? J@FC 6J6] %92E H2D AC64:D6=J E96 :>286 E96 8:C= 6G@<65]
qFE 6G6CJ@?6 96C6 @?8 E96 4FCC6?E DEF56?ED[ D96 H2D F?56?:23=J E96 DEC@?86DE]
y6?:2 H2=<65 @?[ 4@>A=6E6=J F?72K65 3J 6G6CJ@?6’D 82K6D] {:<6 E96 A6C764E:@?:DE D96 H2D[ D96 3692G65 >@C6 4@?7:56?E=J E92? 2?J@?6 6=D6] xE H2D E96 ?2EFC2= 56>62?@C 6IA64E65 @7 E96 }:7=96:> r@F?E’D DF446DD@C]
“xE’D {25J y6?:2[ H9@ H:6=5D $2:?E\%:6C >28:4]”
“$96’D D@ 362FE:7F=]”
“s:5?’E D96 92G6 2? @=56C 3C@E96Cn”
qFE E96 >@>6?E D96 962C5 G@:46D 2>@?8 E96 49:=5C6?[ y6?:2 7=:?4965 3C:67=J] %96 :?5:G:5F2= H9@[ ?@E =@?8 28@[ DE@@5 8F2C5 2E E96 >28:4 A2=246 6?EC2?46 E@ D2G6 E96 !C:?46 @7 !2?:DJD 2?5 ?6G6C C6EFC?65i
':<2>F? }:7=96:>]
xE H2D 3642FD6 y6?:2’D 3:@=@8:42= @=56C 3C@E96C 925 366? >6?E:@?65] w6 H2D 2=D@ E96 8F:=E D96 92C3@C65]
“$99[ 96 H2D…”
“p9]”
$96 4@F=5 766= E96 49:=5C6? BF:4<=J >2?28:?8 E96:C >@FE9D] qFE :E H2D E@@ =2E6] u@C ':<2>F? 925 2=C625J 4@>6 E@ 96C >:?5 2D H6==] y6?:2 76=E 2 A2?8 :? 96C 962CE]
x? E96 A2DE[ E96C6 H2D 2 E:>6 H96? D96 92E65 9:>] x? 724E[ y6?:2 925?VE @AA@D65 96C 72E96C H96? 96 5C@G6 96C @=56C 3C@E96C @FE] qFE =@@<:?8 324< ?@H[ D96 C62=:K65 9@H :CC6DA@?D:3=6 E92E H2D] x7 D96 925 F? @G6C6I6CE:?8 9:>D6=7 2?5 ?@E C6EFC?:?8[ D96 H@F=5 ?6G6C 92G6 72:=65 E@ @AA@D6 :E]
‘}@[ E92E’D ?@E :E]’
y6?:2 2=D@ 92C3@C65 8F:=E @G6C ':<2>F? 36:?8 6IA6==65] ':<2>F? 4@F=5?VE 7:?5 9:D A=246 :? }:7=96:> 3642FD6 E96 82A :? E2=6?E 36EH66? 9:> 2?5 y6?:2 H2D E@@ G2DE] }@ @?6 4@F=5 E9C:G6 ?6IE E@ E@@ DEC@?8 2 =:89E] %92E H2D H9J y6?:2 4=F?8 6G6? >@C6 56DA6C2E6=J E@ E96 }:7=96:> r@F?E’D 72>:=J] tDA64:2==J 3642FD6 :E H2D 2 A@D:E:@? D96 925 E2<6? 3J D?2E49:?8 96C 72>:=J’D A=246]
y6?:2 DH2==@H65 2 3C62E9[ 766=:?8 56AC6DD65] %96 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C ':<2>F?VD 562E9 3@F?5 96C] %96?[ 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ @?6 A6CD@? 42>6 E@ >:?5] p 3@J H9@ 925 AC@4=2:>65 9:>D6=7 96C @=56C 3C@E96C] $@>6@?6 H9@[ 56DA:E6 ?@E 36:?8 >F49 @=56C E92? 96C[ D9@?6 >@C6 96C@:42==J E92? 2?J@?6] p 3@J H9@ C6D6>3=65 2 D9:?:?8 DE2C]
w2??@? p:C6J]
y6?:2 DE:== C6>6>36C65 w2??@? 7:6C46=J 7:89E:?8 282:?DE 'F=42?] %92E D:89E H2D 6?@F89 7@C 6G6? 96C[ 2 A6C764E:@?:DE[ E@ 42== 9:> 2 96C@] w6 H2D 25>:C23=6] w6 H2D D@ 25>:C23=6 E92E :E H2D 92C5 E@ 36=:6G6 96 H2D 96C A66C]
qFE H92E 23@FE 96CD6=7[ :? 4@?EC2DEn $96 4@F=5?VE 6?5FC6 96C 3C@E96C’D 562E9[ 3FCDE:?8 :?E@ E62CD 2?5 >2<:?8 2 D46?6 :? 7C@?E @7 9:>] %@ 4@?D@=6 96C[ 96 6G6? H6?E D@ 72C 2D E@ D2J 96 H2D ':<2>F? 9:>D6=7] !6C92AD E92E H2D H9J D96 :?25G6CE6?E=J H:D965 E@ E9:?< @7 9:> 2D 96C @=56C 3C@E96C] $96 925 6G6? D2:5 :E @FE =@F5]
‘w6 >FDE E9:?< x’> DEC2?86]’
pD E92E :?4:56?E 42>6 E@ >:?5[ y6?:2’D 7246 7=FD965 4C:>D@?] $96 H2D D@ 6>32CC2DD65 D96 H2?E65 E@ 9:56 :? 2 >@FD6 9@=6] $:?46 E96?[ D96 @7E6? 925 E92E E9@F89Ei E92E :E H@F=5 92G6 366? ECF=J H@?56C7F= :7 96 H6C6 24EF2==J 96C @=56C 3C@E96C]
y6?:2 E:89E=J 4=6?4965 96C D>2== 7:DED 2?5 6I92=65 2 3C62E9=6DD D:89] y6?:2’D 6IAC6DD:@? H2D 72C 7C@> 8@@5] }665=6D AC:4<65 96C 962CE] xE H2D 2? F?7@C8:G23=6 E9:?8 E@ 5@ E@ 96C @H? @=56C 3C@E96C[ ':<2>F?] w@H A2E96E:4] p7E6C ':<2>F?’D 562E9[ :E 76=E 2D :7 D96 4@F=5?VE BF:E6 C682:? 96C 4@>A@DFC6]
r2=> 5@H?] %@52J’D 6I2> H2D E96 52J E@ >2<6 FA 7@C E92E 5:D8C2467F= D46?6] $96 H@F=5 567:?:E6=J E2<6 7:CDE A=246 :? E96 6I2> 2?5 D9@H 2 492?865 D6=7]
(:E9 E92E C6D@=G6[ y6?:2 >@G65 7@CH2C5]
p?5 369:?5 96C[ 2 H@>2? H:E9 =@?8[ 496DE?FE 92:C H2D D=@H=J H2=<:?8] $96 925 9:556? H92E H@F=5 92G6 @C:8:?2==J 366? D:=G6C 92:C[ 3FE E96 :?E6==:86?E 8=62> :? 96C 6J6D 4@F=5 ?@E 36 4@?462=65]
“uC@> 2 ;F?:@C E@ 2? 2DD:DE2?E[ 2?5 ?@H 2 D6?:@C]”
p 72:?E D>:=6 A=2J65 @? E96 =:AD G:D:3=6 36=@H 96C 6J6D]
“%CF=J[ DE:== 2 >:D49:67\>2<6C]”
$96 H2D 2 DEC@?8 42?5:52E6 7@C H:??:?8 E96 6I2>[ @?6 ?@ @?6 925 2?E:4:A2E65] p?5 :? E96 >28:4 56A2CE>6?E]