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           Anythingelse?"

           "Butgetthatatolltieddownonalong-termleasebeforeyouhandthiswildernessbacktotheIndians;Iwillnotputupwithhotels.HowlonghasitbeensinceIwroteanypaycopy?"

           "Forty-threedays."

           "Yousee?Letthatbealessontoyou.Begin.‘DeathSongofaWood’sColt’:

           "Thedepthsofwinterlongingareicewithinmyheart

           Theshardsofbrokencovenantsliesharpagainstmysoul

           Thewraithsoflong-lostecstasystillkeepustwoapart

           Thesullenwindsofbitternessstillkeenfromturntopole.

           "Thescarsandtwistedtendons,thestumpsofstruck-offlimbs,

           Theachingpitofhungerandthethrobofunsetbone,

           Mysandedburningeyeballs,aslightwithinthemdims,

           Addnothingtothetormentoflyingherealone

           "Theshimmeringflamesoffevertraceoutyourblessedface

           Mybrokeneardrumsechoyetyourvoiceinsidemyhead

           Idonotfearthedarknessthatcomestomeapace

           IonlydreadthelossofyouthatcomeswhenIamdead.

           "There,"headdedbriskly,"signit‘LouisaM.Alcott’andhavetheagencysendittoTogethernessmagazine."

           "Boss,isthatyourideaof‘paycopy’?"

           "Huh?Ofcourseitisn’t.Notnow.Butitwillbeworthsomethinglater,soputitinfileandmyliteraryexecutorcanuseittohelpsettlethedeathduties.That’sthecatchinallartisticpursuits;thebestworkisalwaysworthmostaftertheworkmancan’tbepaid.Theliterarylife–dreck!Itconsistsinscratchingthecattillitpurrs."